EVERY SUNDAY MORNING, I try to rip through three broadsheets, 1000 unread electronic newsfeeds and 1000 unread mailing list items. I never succeed, because I normally stop after finding 10 interesting things in the Sunday papers. Like today's readings, enjoyed under a deep blue Irish sky.
1. In Ireland, the garda has ruled against Sikhs wearing their turbans on duty. The ban is so ill-advised, so ignorant of multicultural issues, and so strident ("Immigrants have to adapt to Irish ways.") that it's not going to last through the Christmas shopping season. In Ireland, multiculturalism must be more than accepting both an Indian and a Chinese restaurant in the same town.
2. What family expense has risen faster than the cost of groceries or clothing? A: Childcare.
3. Why do American pilots kill British troops in blue-on-blue friendly fire incidents? For the answer, you have to look at the squadron numbers of the Reservists deploying into southwest Asia and remember that you increase you promotion opportunities when you discharge your rounds on targets before returning to base.
4. If you don't want to post your whinging about Irish drivers to Shite Drivers.com, what can you do instead? A: Ring 1890 205 805 and bitch to the Garda Trafficwatch. Too bad they don't take text messages or MMS videoclips.
5. What action man could thank his hours of practise in a simulator for helping him become the guy to beat? A: Lewis Hamilton.
6. When the Irish Communications Regulator starts including mobile broadband users in its statistics of connected Irish consumers, is Comreg certifying these users are receiving broadband speeds? A: No.
7. Two of the most popular Long Distance Romance devices are internet-enabled vibrators (saw one at Warwick a few years ago) and Wi-Fi wine glasses called "Lovers' Cups."
8. Where's Blogorrah this week? A: In a Culture Report.
9. A recent Price Waterhouse Coopers survey showed that 71% of Irish chief executives were dissatisfied with the cost of doing business in the Republic of Ireland and about half claimed Northern Ireland would feature in their expansion plans. Belfast is on the brink of a boom. It's a logical peace dividend.
10. "Like an aging, bloated and poorly made-up drag queen, The Rose of Tralee reared its ugly head once again. This programme is beyond a joke and everybody knows it, not least the cynical bankrupt hacks who conspire in its accursed perpetuation. Presented as intrinsically authentic, an unvarnished expression of timeless Irish femininity, the show is actually one of the most artificial conceits on contemporary television, the ball-gowned embodiment of unreality TV."
1. John Burns -- "Turbanned" in The Sunday Times Focus, August 26, 2007 and "Gardai Face Turban Lawsuit", an article by John Burke on the front page of the Sunday Business Post today plus "Rebel TD Tells Lenihan to Cop On Over Turban Issue" by Shane Coleman on the front page of the Sunday Tribune today. Accompanied by cogent commentary from Diarmuid Doyle in the Sunday Tribune as he writes "Common sense dictates Sikh must wear turban on duty".
2. Louise McBride -- "Childcare costs have risen 15% in two years" on the front page of The Sunday Business Post, August 26, 2007
3. Michael Smith and Bob Graham -- "In the Line of Fire" in The Sunday Times Focus, August 26, 2007.
4. Una Mullally -- "Safety Boss Praises Bad Driving Site" in the Sunday Tribune News, August 26, 2007.
5. Patrick Murray -- "Learner in the Fast Lane" in the Sunday Tribune Magazine, August 26, 2007.
6. Maxim Kelly -- "Comreg to include mobile broadband figures" in the Sunday Tribune Business section, August 26, 2007.
7. Oliver Bennett -- "In it for the Long Haul" in The Sunday Times Magazine, August 26, 2007.
8. Dave Baker and Sarah Blakemore -- "Ruff and Tumble" in The Sunday Times Culture, August 26, 2007.
9. Carissa Casey -- "And We're All Off to Belfast" in The Sunday Times Business Focus, August 26, 2007.
10. Liam Fay on television in The Sunday Times Culture, August 26, 2007.
