Author: shaned

Categories
psychology

brimming with possibility

Much of modern media seems like background noise
An endless drone of marketing static. Selling me burgers, cars, movies
One catchy jingle mingles with another. I can’t tell the difference anymore.
I often feel media saturated, my brain soaked through with an incoherence of thoughts, images, sounds, pleas, intentions, subversions and inversions.
The words and images like an old friend, warm and inviting.
But they’re just passing by
& All I hear is static.
They’ve oversold.

Categories
politics

Putin’s Russia

Just seen a brilliant documentary of Channel 4’s More4 station. Death of a Nation is a compelling look at modern Russia. The documentary shows widespread disatisfaction with “Managed Democracy” which seems to be at odds with much of the freedom and civil liberties that we associate with democracy. It puts a lot of our (& my own) whinging about bipartate politics into poignant perspective. It also dismisses Putin’s presentation to the west and highlights a violent and authoritarian regime similiar to Western perceptions of the old USSR. Russia seems like a country on the brink of disaster, caught between the extremes of unchecked capitalism and dictatorial communism. No side truely in control.
The documentary was narrated by Marcel Theroux, Louis’ less sardonic and altogether more thoughtful brother. I won’t discuss it further as it really needs to be watched to be appreciated.

Categories
education

University of the South East?

I sincerely hope the proposed University of the South East gets the go ahead. However, while I’d prefer it to be University College Waterford I’m more concerned about the logistics than the nomenclature. Calling it the University of the South East is one of those political decisions which are necessary when you need to sell an idea to politicians who are already counting the cost in votes elsewhere. (e.g CORK) However, the title is still problematic as there’s a perception that the less specific the region represented by a college’s title, the less significant it is. This is a worldwide perception but it’s particularly strong in the UK as new universities were created in the 60s by upgrading advanced institutes of technology. No, the irony of this is not lost on me but why hinder yourself from the outset?
However, the other issue is the logistics of a widely distributed campus. It just doesn’t work. In an era when inter disciplinary research is being promoted it’s wild to suggest that schools should be distributed amongst Waterford, Kilkenny, Wexford etc. It would be a shame to think that Waterford would campaign so hard and so long for a University only to see the chance to establish a critical mass of courses, facilities & expertise impractically distributed throughout the South East.

Categories
politics

Rambling on the radio

I’m still in a state of shock. Although it could be the antibiotics I’m taking for my throat infection. Someone from WLR called me this afternoon about my last political blog entry. Apparently I’m convincing the impressionable young voters of Waterford to spoil their votes. Well, I think I overdid the “it’s ironic of course” schtick in the interview but I’m still a little bemused that enough people are reading my blog to make it news worthy and that anyone thought it wasn’t a humorous if slightly jaundiced view of Waterford electioneering.
To give the post it’s context, it came about from many discussions with colleagues and friends about the upcoming election. It’s fair to say that most aren’t enthused about any of the candidates and even less impressed by their election claims and promises. There’s also the depressing feeling that if we don’t have a minister we’ll be ignored for another 5 years so needs must … All the evidence points to this being true and if WLR want to run a feature on this I’ll surely give them a hand. They should also give Cian “WellBoy” Foley a call as he’s sure to have an opinion or 20.
So why are “yoof” so jaded with the current elections? Perhaps it’s the essentially bi-partisan hegemony of governance in Ireland. To use an analogy it’s like saying we can have spaghetti on toast or beans on toast for another 5 years. We may liven them up with some red tomatoes or some green parsley. Even some mature cheddar. We’re not getting an omelette though no matter how much we plead. Personally, I’d like steak but there’s not a single party in Ireland that can offer me one 🙂
Equally we’re not afforded the right to vote for “None Of The Above”. Surely, in a democratic society we should be allowed to reject the election candidate list? Unfortunately our choice is to vote or not to vote (that is the question!).
On the grounds that we do have real choices in a proportional representation system like we have in Ireland it is our civic duty to have a good hard look at each candidate and their policies and rank them. If there are 7 candidates then list all 7 in order of preference. This is the closest thing you’ll get to “None of the Above” so take advantage of it!
It occured to me that my comments may have been construed as a genuine desire to run for public office. Someday I may do so. I also realise that blogging about blogging is the technological equivalent of eating yourself feet first. However, as was demonstrated in my radio interview I’m not averse to cramming both feet into my mouth 🙂