Saw this at the weekend. It made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end, and no I don't fancy the chicks in it, I just thought it was fantastic. I admire Branson, I'll admit it. Love the way everything is seen as an opportunity, in a positive light. The world needs more positive people in my opinion. So this is perfect - especially for the week that's in it - remembering something bright and shiney that started in a recession and is still around, still looking fabulous.
On one side of the Atlantic you have hope, on the other you have a plane-load of PMA. Go on, smile & be positive...look for any opportunity that might be lurking under a snowcloud and bloody run with it.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Who are you gunning for?
OK so I haven’t read every single one of them…yet…but at first glance here’s who I’ll be crossing my fingers for on Saturday 21st February 2009.
Best Popculture Blog
Raptureponies: http://raptureponies.wordpress.com
Best Blog from a Journalist
Unarocks: http://unarocks.blogspot.com
Best Food/Drink Blog
Italian Foodies: http://italianfoodies.wordpress.com
If only for the lovely photos!
Best Fashion Blog
Lili Forberg: http://missliliphoto.wordpress.com/
Best Arts and Culture Blog
Confessions Of A Film Critic: http://maguiresmovies.blogspot.com
Mostly commentless ;)
Best Political Blog
Tuppenceworth.ie Blog: http://tuppenceworth.ie/blog
Best Group Blog
The Lives Of Others: http://thelivesofothers.wordpress.com
Because some of the posts can be quite haunting.
Best Use of the Irish Language in a Blog
The Spanish Exposition: http://spanishexposition.blogspot.com
Coz Rosie’s great…
Best Technology Blog/Blogger
Digital Darragh: http://digitaldarragh.com
Honestly, I have no right to have an opinion on this; I really am quite clueless
Best Sport & Recreation Blog
Irish Rugby Blog By Peter Bills: http://blogs.independent.ie/peterbills
Ahem. I know nothing about GAA or ze foozeballingz…
Best News/Current Affairs Blog
Bock The Robber: http://bocktherobber.com
Best Specialist Blog
Paul Dervan: Random Thoughts On Marketing: http://pauldervan.com
Best Newcomer
Seriously. How on earth are the judges going to choose…here’s my top 5 in no particular order:
The National Lottie: http://thenationallottie.com
This Is What I Do: http://darraghdoyle.blogspot.com
Red Lemonade: http://redlemonade.blogspot.com
Chancing My Arm: http://chancingmyarm.blogspot.com
Darren Byrne: http://darrenbyrne.com/wordpress
Best Blog of a Business
Weddingdates.ie: http://weddingdates.ie/blog
Best Music Blog
Nialler9: http://nialler9.com
Best Personal Blog
Yeah, I’m not going to be able to pin any names to the flagpole for this one either.
The Spanish Exposition: http://spanishexposition.blogspot.com
This Is What I Do.: http://darraghdoyle.blogspot.com
Infantasia: http://infantasia.blogspot.com
Annie Rhiannon: http://annierhiannon.blogspot.com
Head Rambles: http://headrambles.com
Dante And The Lobster: http://dante-andthelobster.blogspot.com
Raptureponies: http://raptureponies.wordpress.com
The National Lottie: http://thenationallottie.com
Chancing My Arm: http://chancingmyarm.blogspot.com
Best Humour Blog
Twenty Major - Still Smoking In Dublin Bars: http://twentymajor.net
Coz I laugh out loud. Heartily. Regularly.
Best Photo Blog
Annie Rhiannon: http://annierhiannon.blogspot.com
Good luck everybody!
Link to Blog Awards..blog...
Best Popculture Blog
Raptureponies: http://raptureponies.wordpress.com
Best Blog from a Journalist
Unarocks: http://unarocks.blogspot.com
Best Food/Drink Blog
Italian Foodies: http://italianfoodies.wordpress.com
If only for the lovely photos!
Best Fashion Blog
Lili Forberg: http://missliliphoto.wordpress.com/
Best Arts and Culture Blog
Confessions Of A Film Critic: http://maguiresmovies.blogspot.com
Mostly commentless ;)
Best Political Blog
Tuppenceworth.ie Blog: http://tuppenceworth.ie/blog
Best Group Blog
The Lives Of Others: http://thelivesofothers.wordpress.com
Because some of the posts can be quite haunting.
Best Use of the Irish Language in a Blog
The Spanish Exposition: http://spanishexposition.blogspot.com
Coz Rosie’s great…
Best Technology Blog/Blogger
Digital Darragh: http://digitaldarragh.com
Honestly, I have no right to have an opinion on this; I really am quite clueless
Best Sport & Recreation Blog
Irish Rugby Blog By Peter Bills: http://blogs.independent.ie/peterbills
Ahem. I know nothing about GAA or ze foozeballingz…
Best News/Current Affairs Blog
Bock The Robber: http://bocktherobber.com
Best Specialist Blog
Paul Dervan: Random Thoughts On Marketing: http://pauldervan.com
Best Newcomer
Seriously. How on earth are the judges going to choose…here’s my top 5 in no particular order:
The National Lottie: http://thenationallottie.com
This Is What I Do: http://darraghdoyle.blogspot.com
Red Lemonade: http://redlemonade.blogspot.com
Chancing My Arm: http://chancingmyarm.blogspot.com
Darren Byrne: http://darrenbyrne.com/wordpress
Best Blog of a Business
Weddingdates.ie: http://weddingdates.ie/blog
Best Music Blog
Nialler9: http://nialler9.com
Best Personal Blog
Yeah, I’m not going to be able to pin any names to the flagpole for this one either.
The Spanish Exposition: http://spanishexposition.blogspot.com
This Is What I Do.: http://darraghdoyle.blogspot.com
Infantasia: http://infantasia.blogspot.com
Annie Rhiannon: http://annierhiannon.blogspot.com
Head Rambles: http://headrambles.com
Dante And The Lobster: http://dante-andthelobster.blogspot.com
Raptureponies: http://raptureponies.wordpress.com
The National Lottie: http://thenationallottie.com
Chancing My Arm: http://chancingmyarm.blogspot.com
Best Humour Blog
Twenty Major - Still Smoking In Dublin Bars: http://twentymajor.net
Coz I laugh out loud. Heartily. Regularly.
Best Photo Blog
Annie Rhiannon: http://annierhiannon.blogspot.com
Good luck everybody!
Link to Blog Awards..blog...
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Something Fun
My Mum sent me this today:
What goes through your mind when someone says "Let's go for a drink"?
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
I don't usually complain officially, but...
As suggested by Damien Mulley...
to complaints@rte.ie
date 13 Jan 2009 15:27
subject New Afternoon Plan on 2fm
Good afternoon,
I would just like to add my voice to the huge number of emails I understand are flooding into you guys in RTE since this article alerted the public, bloggers and Facebook troops to the new afternoon plans on 2fm. I am sure you have heard it all before so I will not waste your time by ranting here, I will just ask you to note the disappointment of many including me, at your decision eliminate the quirky and different nature of Rick O'Shea's show, choosing instead to turn it into an iPod session. It's tough enough for us all in a recession-filled January without sapping a bit of fun out of the afternoons. I respectfully request that you reconsider your decision.
Kind regards,
MJ
Out of Office AutoReply: New Afternoon Plan on 2fm
Thank you for contacting complaints@rte.ie Your e-mail will be responded to as soon as possible.
RTÉ Corporate Communications
Go raibh maith agat as ucht do theagmhála chuig complaints@rte.ie Cuirfear freagra ort a thúisce agus is féidir linn.
***Update***
Response:
Thank you for your e-mail.
Your comments in relation to the Rick O'Shea Show will be included in our Audience Log of calls and e-mails, which is circulated for information to senior management in RTÉ Radio and is reviewed at the weekly meeting of the Editorial Board.
We appreciate you taking the time to make your views known to us.
With best regards,
RTÉ Information Officer
to complaints@rte.ie
date 13 Jan 2009 15:27
subject New Afternoon Plan on 2fm
Good afternoon,
I would just like to add my voice to the huge number of emails I understand are flooding into you guys in RTE since this article alerted the public, bloggers and Facebook troops to the new afternoon plans on 2fm. I am sure you have heard it all before so I will not waste your time by ranting here, I will just ask you to note the disappointment of many including me, at your decision eliminate the quirky and different nature of Rick O'Shea's show, choosing instead to turn it into an iPod session. It's tough enough for us all in a recession-filled January without sapping a bit of fun out of the afternoons. I respectfully request that you reconsider your decision.
Kind regards,
MJ
Out of Office AutoReply: New Afternoon Plan on 2fm
Thank you for contacting complaints@rte.ie Your e-mail will be responded to as soon as possible.
RTÉ Corporate Communications
Go raibh maith agat as ucht do theagmhála chuig complaints@rte.ie Cuirfear freagra ort a thúisce agus is féidir linn.
***Update***
Response:
Thank you for your e-mail.
Your comments in relation to the Rick O'Shea Show will be included in our Audience Log of calls and e-mails, which is circulated for information to senior management in RTÉ Radio and is reviewed at the weekly meeting of the Editorial Board.
We appreciate you taking the time to make your views known to us.
With best regards,
RTÉ Information Officer
Friday, January 9, 2009
Thought for the weekend
I read something yesterday that I thought quite apt.
"Advice is like snow - the more softly it falls, the better it takes hold."
I might take note of that myself this year when doling it out.
"Advice is like snow - the more softly it falls, the better it takes hold."
I might take note of that myself this year when doling it out.
~~~
PS did anyone notice that we'll be calling him Sir Terry now?
Thursday, January 8, 2009
New Year and a New Beat
There's a scurry of activity on the entrepreneurial front so far this year, and us only a week in. I'm delighted to see it. Lots of people working away on business plans; I was getting emails over the Christmas asking me for cashflow projection templates and information on available grant aid from various sources. Lots of people gearing up for the new year, planning their attacks on the recession! I love it.
As predicted, not many of the businesses are ground-breaking and mad. This is not the time for risk taking. OK, some people are thinking about starting luxury businesses which I have to question, and gently ask a few tough questions about proving a demand for the service/product before they invest 90% of their redundancy package in a frills-filled start-up. I'm not a damp squib, I'm a realist. I wouldn't be able to sleep if I say idly by and didn't make a few realistic suggestions here and there.
However the majority of people dropping by and asking questions are planning to start normal businesses, assured that the recession will create a bubble of opportunity for high quality value for money service offerings. And I couldn't agree more. I've said it before - this period of time will bring out a desire for quality, stuff that will last and give the best value for money. So it turns out that Frugal Ireland has been hiding behind Tiger Affluence all along - who knew?! The crappy half-arsed low-quality rip-off merchants will fall away, out of the marketplace and the quality businesses will remain. Hurrah.
Over the entire course of the Christmas period I only met one retailer who was rude, and didn't have the phrase "customer service" in his dictionary. He was a dic in fact. But his business partner made up for it by being utterly lovely and helpful. So that's just one person who took a sale for granted. The rest of the country has been realising that the customer is back to being king - and values their revenue enormously. Hurrah for the consumer.
So if you are thinking about starting a business and wondering what to get just right - remember the simple things. Service at a decent price, with a smile. That's it.
Simplicity I tell you. All the best ideas are so simple and straightforward. The trick is not to overcomplicate things. Good luck!
As predicted, not many of the businesses are ground-breaking and mad. This is not the time for risk taking. OK, some people are thinking about starting luxury businesses which I have to question, and gently ask a few tough questions about proving a demand for the service/product before they invest 90% of their redundancy package in a frills-filled start-up. I'm not a damp squib, I'm a realist. I wouldn't be able to sleep if I say idly by and didn't make a few realistic suggestions here and there.
However the majority of people dropping by and asking questions are planning to start normal businesses, assured that the recession will create a bubble of opportunity for high quality value for money service offerings. And I couldn't agree more. I've said it before - this period of time will bring out a desire for quality, stuff that will last and give the best value for money. So it turns out that Frugal Ireland has been hiding behind Tiger Affluence all along - who knew?! The crappy half-arsed low-quality rip-off merchants will fall away, out of the marketplace and the quality businesses will remain. Hurrah.
Over the entire course of the Christmas period I only met one retailer who was rude, and didn't have the phrase "customer service" in his dictionary. He was a dic in fact. But his business partner made up for it by being utterly lovely and helpful. So that's just one person who took a sale for granted. The rest of the country has been realising that the customer is back to being king - and values their revenue enormously. Hurrah for the consumer.
So if you are thinking about starting a business and wondering what to get just right - remember the simple things. Service at a decent price, with a smile. That's it.
Simplicity I tell you. All the best ideas are so simple and straightforward. The trick is not to overcomplicate things. Good luck!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Happy New Year Everybody
Just a quick note to wish everyone all the best for 2009. I look forward to blogging a lot more this year! 2008 was great in so many ways...it's been lovely to read lots of blogposts this past week looking at the upside of the last year! Damien, Lottie, Rick, just to mention a few.
Also thank you to Darragh for mentioning this here little blog on his recent followers post. You're my first follower Darragh!
I was going to change the background for this blog - fresh start for new year etc. But instead I have started a whole new blog instead ;) Come visit, if you are so inclined...
Happy Noo Beer ya'll
Also thank you to Darragh for mentioning this here little blog on his recent followers post. You're my first follower Darragh!
I was going to change the background for this blog - fresh start for new year etc. But instead I have started a whole new blog instead ;) Come visit, if you are so inclined...
Happy Noo Beer ya'll
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