Damien Mulley

For the record, I don’t care or give a fig about “content labels” and all that other insufferable snakeoil shite. I am against a blogger code of conduct which some predatory scum are trying to force on a group in order to cash in on mass hysteria. Had the Guardian actually read my post properly, besides copying and pasting from Paul Walsh’s blog post, which egotistically assumed (without checking) I had been talking about his idea, they would have known that. I would have expected something better from BBC Print Lite. I would have also expected a link to what they falsey said I had written. It is easier to make false claims and not back it up, isn’t it though?

While on Content labels, I’ll make a special label from pipecleaners and toilet rolls and call it the lazy research label. I hereby award it to Jemima Kiss for that piece that was vomited on to the web tonight.

One more thing for Paul and Jemima, I may write a column for the Sunday Tribune, but labeling me as a Sunday Tribune columnist as if it were my main job is completely incorrect. You might as well refer to me as a mechanic because I put oil into my car once. Had Jemima sent an email, picked up a phone or sent a pigeon winging its way to Ireland, she’s have known I am a Technical Writer by trade and do far too many other things, including writing now and then for the Sunday Tribune. (And having a whole load of fun doing it too. 🙂 )

Hey Guardian, please buy a packet of extra large clues. K, thanks, bye.

Edit: Thanks to Green Ink:

A.J. Cahill seems to be the one candidate so far that has a better grasp of the online turf that any other candidate, anywhere in Ireland. AJ is blogging and not afraid to pull some punches with this post about Dominic Hannigan and he is making some quite fresh and original videos and putting them up on YouTube:

(I think they’re the best videos so far since he now talks to locals about local issues in them)

A first for an Irish Election candidate, A.J. Cahill, I think is the only candidate to use Google Ads to get the message across. When you search for Fianna Fail or Fine Gael on Google, you may notice this ad on the right from AJ:

And also if you do searches for candidate names like Dominic Hannigan and Thomas Byrne, you will also see the above ad or a slight variation:

The online arena is still new and possibly too new to have an impact at this election but getting it right now and getting respect now is probably not going to harm your chances and if any media are talking about the campaigns online, it’ll be people like A.J. that people will probably talk about.

Blogging, YouTube and Google Ads, nicely done sir.

Few tips for A.J. though:

• Integrate the blog into your website. No need to have it on blogspot. (Possibly too near the election to move now.)
• No need either to have ads return when someone puts in your name, your blog comes up at the top anyway.
• Your blog is not on the front page of results for “Meath East” or “East Meath”, you should change that and modidy your blog keywords to fix that. Only Thomas Byrne shows up on the first set of results. There is an IrishElection post about Dominic Hannigan alright.

Edit: It was pointed out that people were unable to ascertain what solutions A.J. has or were wondering is he marketing himself as a protest vote.

For calls from 02 at least.

Sticking with the telecoms theme but wearing a tinfoil hat…

Seems o2 is increasing the cost per minute of accessing 1850 numbers. Consumers who ring the number won’t be hit with the price, instead they will still pay their 20.66 cents per minute but network operators who manage the 1850 numbers also had to pay 02 around 4 cents a minute for them to connect the call. Now they want 16 cents a minute from the operators. All well and good but someone, somewhere has to pay it, and the telcos will hardly take a hit like that and not pass it on. So it looks like the crowd who own the number will be paying a good deal more. Many charities as well as businesses use this lo-call number. This might make it uneconomical for many to continue this. Trouble is ComReg have already approved this price increase. ComReg have 21 days to decide to approve this or not.

I think Voda, 02, Meteor and 3 might be a bit pissed. Not only did Digiweb get a cheap wireless broadband licence, they are now making it into a roaming service for users so they can have broadband on the move and now ComReg have given them the 088 mobile phone range for this service. That to me is effectively a 5th mobile phone company in Ireland and at a fraction of the cost of a “real” mobile licence. How much did eircom just pay for a 3G licence? 🙂 I don’t envisage the big mobile phone companies being pleased. I am also hearing that ComReg are quite pushing wireless providers to start with nomadic Wimax (vapourware) and again are probably open to the idea of providing dedicated number ranges for the service.

Here’s the Digiweb PR bumpf:

Digiweb Ltd (www.digiweb.ie) has today announced that it has been awarded the 088 mobile number range for mobile phone services in Ireland.

Digiweb will provide true mobile broadband and mobile phone services to all regions of Ireland over the next 18 months. This will effectively end the digital divide, offering state-of-the-art broadband and voice services equally throughout the country – from the heart of the largest towns and cities, into the deepest rural community.

Comreg’s decision today follows on from its prior award of a national Wideband Digital Mobile Data Service license (WDMDS) to the company, and in combining these two authorisations Digiweb will now establish a significant force for change in both the Broadband and Mobile phone markets in Ireland.

Commenting on the announcement, Colm Piercy, Managing Director at Digiweb stated “We are delighted to have been awarded the 088 number and appreciate ComReg’s foresight in seeing the potential our 4G Mobile network will have in delivering new competition and better services to the Irish consumer. We will introduce new services and benefits which are simply unavailable from today’s mobile operators including, true always-on broadband with low latency and DSL-like speeds, alongside flexible, low cost mobile phone services. Its ironic that Ireland’s first mobile number – 088 – will now become the newest and most sought after number in Ireland!�

Really tempting I have to say because each hotel room in Hotel Fox in Copenhagen is individually designed by an artist. Example 1, Example 2, Example 3. I’m sure I can find cheaper but less interesting places to stay in during Reboot. But…

Update: Booked it.

It’s not a website dumbass, it’s a fucking “online office“. Get with the times!

This is a really cool Flickr Tag Browser.

Ireland Turns Dictatorship. Yes. Quite.

Apparently, this is me with a tache. Justin Mason has a better tache.

6 Ministers stuck in a lift. Would you like to be stuck in a lift with Harney and Hannifan? Bertie would be a laugh but the other 5? They called in the army to get them out.

In the States, to keep you watching the ads, they now have mini- programmes on during the ads. Are these ad widgets? Maybe they could make ad breaks shorter so?

New blog. De Midlander. From Cowen country.

The dildo song:

Sung to the tune of that horrible Venga Boys “We’re going to Ibiza” or as the locals on the no. 2 route in Cork call it “IzeBeetZaaahhh” The Zaaahh bit is said like you are using it to threaten someone with a head-butt. Anyways. Conor mentioned trips to Silicon Valley

Perhaps we are getting too used to having the Valley come to us in Europe and it is time to return the compliment and meet all those people we admire on their turf? I’m open to helping to arrange something like this later this year. Who would like to discuss this further?

James has now pointed out that return flights with Aer Lingus are as low as €450 return. So why not go later this year, in November? I’m up for it. Many of the tech people in Ireland now have a great contact list of people over there so why not go a step further and have a St. Patrick’s Tech Day while there? Rent a big room and have all the Irish that are coming over present their services to the room. Nothing too long-winded. Quick demos from everyone, then off the stage and network with all the folks. Why just tour and talk, you might as well gather people in a room and pitch. Maybe there’s a few rich Irish angels out there who would feel patriotic enough to invest in an Irish company?

Oh and like getting drunk on St. Patrick’s day, you don’t have to be Irish to partake. 🙂

After that, why not go to France?

Krishna had a nice post the other day about expanding your network and I see Paul Browne is also talking about networking. Many people at ShareIT Cork and at the Cork Open Coffee had not heard of LinkedIn before and it’s a handy resource for meeting some people who work in business and IT both Ireland and the rest of the world. A new Ireland-centric site doing something like this is one from Investnet (The Irish First Tuesday people). Anyone can register for the Create and Innovate Network. This is my LinkedIn profile.

eircom have announced that they are to upgrade another 319 exchanges in Ireland. They have not given a timeframe for when these will happen though. They previously announced they were upgrading another 100 exchanges this year. Again, no news when this year they’ll be enabled. This will bring the number of exchanges to 900 or so that will be getting broadband which is about 96% of working lines. It still doesn’t mean every line connected can handle broadband because some lines are really poor in standard but 450 more exchanges are now going to be enabled under new eircom compared to old eircom. This is a very positive move and I’d glad to see them once again say that the demand excuse was bullshit. Enabling another 450 exchanges shows it to be the case. Let us hope they give the missing 4% plus those who have crap copper some kind of wireless service to make up for this.

Again and I’ll put it in bold. There is no timeframe for when he below exchanges will be enabled:

Carlow

Ardattin
Hacketstown
Killerig Cross
Leighlinbridge
Milford

Cavan
Blacklion
Loch Gowna
Mountnugent
Redhills
Tullyvin

Clare

Ballyalla
Ballymacahill
Bridgetown
Broadford
Bunratty
Clarecastle
Cooraclare
Crusheen
Doonbeg
Feakle
Kildysart
Kilfenora
Kilkee
Kilkishen
Kilmaley
Kilmihil
Quin
Rockmount
Tulla
Whitegate

Cork
Araglin
Ballincurrig
Ballycondon
Ballycotton
Ballydesmond
Ballyhooley
Baltimore
Banteer
Boherbue
Burnfort
Castletownshend
Churchcross
Clonakilty
Clonbanin Cross
Donoughmore
Drinagh
Dungourney
Eyeries
Freemount
Glanworth
Glengarriff
Glenville
Goleen
Inchigeelagh
Kealkill
Killinadrish
Kilnamartyra
Knocknagree
Knockraha
Liscarroll
Macroom
Mallow Substation
Minane Bridge
Rossmore
Rylane
Schull

Donegal

Ballygorman
Burtonport
Carrigans
Churchill
Cloghan
Creeslough
Glencolumbkille
Kerrykeel
Killea
Kincasslagh
Lettermacaward
Linsfort
Malin
Narin
Pettigo
Rathmullen
Rossnowlagh
St Johnston

Dublin

Naul

Galway

Abbeyknockmoy
Ahascragh
Aughrim
Ballyconneely
Ballygar
Ballymoe
Barnaderg
Belclare
Carnmore
Castleblakeney
Clonbern
Cregmore
Duniry
Furbo
Kilconly
Kilconnell
Kilrickle
Kiltormer
Kiltulla
Laurencetown
Leenane
Lettermore
Menlough
Miltown
Rosmuc
Tubber
Williamstown
Woodford

Kerry

Anablaha
Ballybunion
Ballyferriter
Ballylongford
Camp
Caragh Lake
Castlegregory
Dromartin Cross
Duagh
Fenit
Glenbeigh
Headford
Kilgarvan
Knocknagoshel
Miltown
Mounthawk
Moyvane
Rathmore
Scartaglin
Sneem

Kildare

Athgarvan
Ballytore
Brannockstown
Calverstown
Coill Dubh
Kildangan
Kilmeage
Mageney
Moone
Rathmore

Kilkenny

Coon
Cuffesgrange
Glenmore
Gowran
Inistioge
Kells
Kilmoganny
Loughboy
Oldtown
Paulstown
Piltown
Tubrid
Tullogher

Laois

Ballacolla
Ballickmoyler
Borris In Ossory
Clonaslee
Rosenallis
The Heath

Leitrim

Carrigallen
Cloone
Drumsna
Keshcarrigan
Kinlough
Leitrim Village
Rossinver

Limerick

Ardagh
Athea
Ballingarry
Ballyhahill
Ballylanders
Bruree
Croom
Drumcollogher
Effin
Fedamore
Hospital
Kildimo
Kilfinane
Knocklong
Murroe
Obriens Bridge
Oola
Templeglantine

Longford

Aughnacliffe
Lanesboro

Louth

Clogherhead
Edmonstown
Hackballscross
Togher
Tullyallen

Mayo

Ayle
Ballyglass
Ballyhean
Barnatra
Bekan Cross
Belcarra
Bohola
Bonniconlon
Kilmaine
Knock Airport
Knockmore
Laherdane
Liscarney
Murrisk
Partree

Meath

Beauparc
Carlanstown
Carnaross
Clonmellon
Crossakiel
Drumconrath
Hill Of Down
Kildalkey
Kilmainham Wood
Lobinstown
Moynalty
Newtown
Monaghan
Annayalla
Broomfield
Newbliss
Rockcorry
Scotshouse
Tullynahinera

Offaly

Ballinagar
Ballycumber
Collins Lane
Five Alley
Killeigh
Moneygall
Mount Bolus
Mucklagh
Rahan

Roscommon

Arigna
Athleague
Ballinlough
Ballydangan
Ballyforan
Castleplunkett
Cloonfad
Cootehall
Cornafulla
Croghan
Curraghboy
Donamon
Fourmilehouse
Hodsons Bay
Kilmore
Kiltoom
Loughglynn
Monksland
Tulsk

Sligo

Ballinafad
Ballintogher
Calry
Dromore West
Gurteen
Rosses Point

Tipperary

Ardcroney
Ballinderry
Ballingarry
Ballyporeen
Birdhill
Borrisokane
Cappawhite
Clerihan
Cloughjordan
Donohill
Drangan
Dromin
Emly
Golden
Gortnagowna
Grange
Gurtnahoe
Hollyford
Lattin
Lorrha
Mullinahone
Newcastle Village
Portroe
Puckane
Rathcabbin

Waterford

Ballyduff
Ballymacarbry
Bonmahon
Cappagh
Lemybrien
Rathgormack

Westmeath

Ballinahowen
Castletowngeoghan
Collinstown
Crookedwood
Horseleap
Lismacaffrey
Milltownpass
Moyvore
Multyfarnham
Rathowen

Wexford

Barntown
Beechgrove
Blackwater
Bree
Clonroche
Curracloe
Foulksmills
Hollyfort
Kilmore Quay
Kilmuckridge
Taghmon

Wicklow

Coolboy
Donard
Glenealy
Kilbride
Kiltegan
Shillelagh

See how many electrcity/bulb puns are in this Irish Times article.

What the hell is happening in Cork in the jobs front?

Conor Pope’s Pricewatch blog on Ireland.com. Nice to be linked. Nice to see blogs there.

Via Tim Worstall is this wonderful debut blog post from Dan Hardie.

Hacking Venture Capital.

Smaller online communities = better interaction. As social sites grow, average interaction per user goes down.

Gay Adoption in the States:

Nearly a third of adopted children in the District of Columbia live with gay or lesbian parents … gay and lesbian parents are raising 4 percent of all adopted children in the country. Roughly 100,000 foster children await adoption, the study reported …

I find the fact that 100,000 foster kids are looking to be adopted to be a shockingly high number. Some other U.S. adoption facts.

A nice write-up by David Hollingworth who went to ShareIT in Cork.

DRM free, the music might be but they charge more for it. Ripoff.