Present Tense »

• The national sport…

  April 21, 2008 @ 11:44 am | by Shane Hegarty

  …is waving at TV cameras. And the RTÉ report from yesterday’s Tipperary v Galway match features a world class display from several individuals, and clearly confirms our place as the world leaders at edging into shot.

  As ever, most of the wavers are kids (including an impressive nipple-rubbing display at the very end), but there is the all-important quota of middle-aged men getting a slice of the action so they can get a cheer in the pub later in the evening.

  Watch it (from exactly 2 minutes in) here.

  Feel your national pride swell.

• Dear RTÉ…

  March 19, 2008 @ 2:03 pm | by Shane Hegarty

  If you decide to have a “Lost” blogger - you know, someone who can marvel over and tease out the myriad clues and red herrings and revelations – then it’s probably not great to ask someone who opens by admitting:

  As this week’s ‘island’ blogger I first of all have to admit that I’m not the biggest ‘Lost’ buff in the world.

• Saturday column: RTÉ’s taxation programme

  March 8, 2008 @ 4:47 pm | by Shane Hegarty

  Taxes, you will not be amazed to hear, are not popular. Politicians spend their careers promising to cut them. People spend their days whingeing about them.

  When it comes to the television licence fee, some spend their lives dodging them. About 15 per cent of households don’t have one, RTÉ recently complained. Although, given the attitude of the licence fee ads – condescending, scornful – even the most conscientious citizen must feel like rebelling. (more…)

• 1 Pat Kenny = 3 Derek Mooneys

  February 29, 2008 @ 10:17 am | by Shane Hegarty

  Those RTE salaries in full:

  1) Pat Kenny: €849,139
  2) Gerry Ryan: €558,990
  3) Marian Finucane: €455,190
  4) Joe Duffy: €367,804
  5) Ryan Tubridy: €346,667
  6) Derek Mooney: €242,408
  7) Marty Whelan!: €229,056
  8 ) Miriam O’Callaghan: €221,383
  9) John Kelly: €204,675
  10) Bryan Dobson: €193,610

  Some thoughts: (more…)