Some good news, for a change: The press — and humans in general — have a strong negativity bias. Bad economic news gets more coverage than good news. Negative experiences affect people more, and for longer, than positive ones. So it’s natural for things like Russia’s incursion into Ukraine or the rise of ISIS or […]
Padraig Reidy over at Index on Censorship wonders when people will stop blaming the tool (e.g. facebook) as opposed to the behaviour (e.g. terror planning, crime). Will this ever end? Hopefully. As time goes on, the distinction between the internet and THE INTERNET will become clearer. THE INTERNET is a culture; the place where the […]
Renters face €1k water charge deposits | Irish Examiner: In a statement last night, the landlords’ group said that, despite Government claims that property owners could take unpaid water charge fees out of a tenant’s rent deposit, existing legislation prevents this. The association stressed this would be “a blatant contravention of tenancy and letting agreements […]
In an attempt to encourage (I presume) the use of otherwise valuable and well-located land, the Government is proposing a new bill to create a ‘vacant land levy’. However, Local authorities, OPW and semi-states will be exempt, and these are the very people with quite a large amount of unused land in prime locations. Local […]
thejournal.ie – “Turns out Ireland was telling the truth about company taxes. Unlike nearly everyone else…“. A new report from PwC and the World Bank found Ireland had one of the most efficient company tax systems in the world and the best in Europe when it came to total taxes on business and the time […]
Amazingly, the Philae lander recorded the sound (through the landers’ legs) of the first landing on the comet, when it bounced back up into space. We have a recording of a space probe bouncing off a comet. Off a comet! ESA have made it available via soundcloud here : The sound of touchdown.
I saw a most odd exchange on twitter the other night. I was surprised at some of the statements, and to be frank, I’d thought that perhaps some drink had been taken, as they say. Dr. Grimes, one of the participants, took the time to Storify the exchange. Read on – ” Remember that time […]
n. the smallest measurable unit of human connection, typically exchanged between passing strangers—a flirtatious glance, a sympathetic nod, a shared laugh about some odd coincidence—moments that are fleeting and random but still contain powerful emotional nutrients that can alleviate the symptoms of feeling alone. The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows — xeno.
