Inside View

Blog software breakdown

ASYMPTOMATIC -- On the heels of Richard Stallman visiting Dublin to hammer home the important of free software, Slashdot points to required reading for anyone considering a way of enabling community-generated content and visitor comments through a content management system. The "Blog Breakdown List" is topical, considering the amount of discussion surrounding the Movable Type licensing models.

Sunset in Manhattan

YOU ALWAYS HOPE it's clear in New York City on May 28th and July 12th because Manhattan floods with sunlight precisely down the centerline of every street. The skyscrapers that line the gridded streets of NYC's tallest boroughs normally block the setting sun. It's important to remember not to look directly at the sun when enjoying these sunsets.

Dealing with metaphors

KILMAINHAM -- While walking around the Irish Museum of Modern Art, I find myself connecting to some paintings through metaphors. I look at one and it reminds me of something I might have seen before. The visual stimulation is powerful. It causes me to think more about what I have personally experienced before and that leads me to spasms of self-doubt. The doubts stem from my lack of art history, But should the concreteness of a painting stem only from the annals of art? Can't I bring my personal associations to an appreciation of an art work?

Some of my colleagues enrolled on the MAVIS pogramme caution me against reverting to an imaginative but personal framework. For when I do I often see a world of associations well-evolved from the image in front of my nose.

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Julian Schnabel -- C-V.J. Nicknames of Maitre D's & Other Excerpts from life
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Certified Neapolitan pizza

KILKENNY -- I used to have stone-baked pizzas when visiting Sicily and the Italian-Americans who ate slices with me insisted those pizzas were not authentic. Made in Sicily by a Catanian? Not authentic? It turns out the cheese used in the Sigonella Inn was not mozzarella from the southern Apennines--therefore not truly a Pizza Magherita.

Moms online

FAST COMPANY -- Nielsen Research says there are 31m moms online. Their demographic: they're 38, tend to be married, are very smart -- college educated -- and are working moms. In Nielsen's mind, "moms forever have been key decision makers. What's interesting is how that translates to the Internet."

Undersea blog

GREENPEACE -- A green G now appears in my news aggregator as I track an undiscovered world on the Greenpeace blog. "Veiled by water and far below the surface, the mysterious dark ocean depths are rich with life. Biologists estimate that somewhere between 500,000 and 5,000,000 marine species have yet to be discovered, some dating back to prehistoric times. But these very species are in serious danger from one of the world's most destructive fishing practice - bottom trawling."

Straight-talking Michael O'Leary

FT -- One of the best things about reading the Financial Times is the occasional interview, letter or advertorial by Michael O'Leary from Ryanair. The British papers and Irish press cover O'Leary verbatim--something a stateside news outlet couldn't afford because O'Leary is a salty dog. This week, FT asked O'Leary what Ryanair was doing about the demands the Belgian authorities have made for the return of €3.5m in subsidies received by the airline. "We have written back to say fuck off."

The state of it

KILKENNY -- The State of It is a website run by a staff of Kilkenny teenagers covering issues from shopping to activities. Its cop-on factor is higher than many other listening posts sourced from around Ireland. Recognising this attribute, government agencies should connect the dots and go directly to this credible voice for teenagers.

Vikings couldn't spread memes

CLONMEL -- One of my biggest delights is "360 degree education" through which I learn by what students write. I gave top marks to an essay by Denise Kelly in which she explains why Columbus got credited with the discovery of the New World, not the Vikings. Columbus landed 500 years after intrepid Viking explorers and proved he could spread the meme of the New World better than the Vikings.

Compromise in company IT

CLONMEL -- Many organisations have to live with the rules set by the CIO. Sometimes that means having company desktops locked down and administrative rights to laptops restricted so people cannot install unapproved software on the network. I understand this but also resist the constraints.