Category: General

It is generally believed that the rocket launched by North Korea was a failure.

That didn’t stop the North Korean media telling their citizens that the mission was a success and that a satellite was now in orbit transmitting revolutionary songs.

The opening paragraph in an article by Vincent Hogan in today’s Irish Independent.

In Cardiff Airport yesterday, one brazen Irish rugby supporter faced a complication at check-in. He sought to bring one of the corner-flags from the Millennium Stadium on board his flight as hand luggage.

The ground-staff insisted that this rather conspicuous memento, thieved in the fevered celebrations of Ireland’s first Grand Slam triumph since 1948, needed to be checked in.

“Okay,” the supporter finally relented. “But can you mark it ‘fragile’?”

What a game, I watched it at home and like most people was literally on the edge of my seat but also lying on the floor, pacing up and down the living room, perched on the coffee table, running out into the garden in fright and ecstasy, alternatively kissing and shaking my fist at the screen.

Moggy, who is strictly a soccer fan cat, had had enough by the second half and headed for the shed.

When asked was he nervous during the game, that genius Brian O’Driscoll said that it was easier to play than to watch.

Feck, I’d certainly agree with that.

Boss of Celtic Bookmakers, Ivan Yates, only got five golden minutes on Today with Pat Kenny (Friday) but, still, that must be worth at least €5,000 in commercial advertising rates. That’s a potential grand total of €35,000 for Ivan over the four day festival.

“What are you doing to me Pat? I’ll be ending up in Alice Leahy’s homeless list.” Ivan joked as he declared that the Alice Leahy Trust charity was “now up a whopping €1431” from his charity bets.

A listener called in to thank Ivan for winning tips and said he had taken a ‘right few bob’ from Ivan’s opposition. I’ll bet that opposition wouldn’t mind such losses in exchange for exclusive access to Pat’s show.

Here’s a suggestion to RTE for next year’s Cheltenham racing festival.

Send out a note to all bookmakers in Ireland inviting them to bid for a ten minute exclusive spot on Pat’s show for each day of the four day festival. A minimum bid of, say, €5,000 could be set but I’d be surprised if €10,000 couldn’t be raised for a deserving charity.

Either way, it would easily beat Ivan’s nag ‘Whopping €1431’ by a good number of lengths.

(Previous posts: Here, here and here).

Copy to:
Pat Kenny

Ivan Yates continues in his very clever exploitation of Pat Kenny (Thursday) and RTE.

The figures today are (at minimum) €30,000 for Ivan in very valuable exposure on the national airwaves and minus €75 for Pat.

The €500 so far given to Pat to bet on horses at Cheltenham has resulted in a loss of €75, so the chosen charity is ‘up’ €425. And remember, it’s Ivan who is advising Pat on ‘best’ bets.

The lucky charity to receive such incredible munificence is the Alice Leahy Trust. It’s reported that special security arrangements have been made with the Army Ranger Wing to escort the final winnings to Alice.

Alice herself was unable to make comment as she is still overwhelmed by the sheer generosity of it all.

Copy to:
Pat Kenny

Ivan Yates got another golden ten minutes on Today with Pat Kenny (Wed).

Yesterday’s charity betting brought in a grand total of €225. Pat hasn’t yet revealed what charity is to receive the huge sum and this is very wise on his part as there is bound to be vicious competition for such a vast amount of money.

I have no idea what the going rate is for commercial advertising on such a high profile show as Pat’s but it must be at least a few thousand per minute, but let’s be conservative and say €1,000 per minute.

So, to date, the score is €20,000 for Ivan – €225 to charity. Those feck’in bookies you just can’t be up to them.

It’s great to see that good relations have been re-established between Russia and the US.

The mistake in translation on a gift presented by Hillary Clinton to her Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, added to the more relaxed atmosphere.

It was hilarious to learn that Clinton had assured her Russian opposite that her staff had worked hard to ensure that the translation was accurate.

Horror of the day.
Laugh of the day.

Is it me or is U2 experiencing some problems in promoting their new album.

The ‘impromptu’ gig on top of BBC Broadcasting House obviously involved some detailed forward planning including live broadcast on the Chris Evans’ Show.

Ok, maybe I’m morphing into an old fuddy duddy but I believe this stunt has been done before – several times.

Some advertisements are clever and funny but some are funny without meaning to be.

A current ad promoting a car suggests that ‘extras’ are now a common mechanism employed by businesses to extract more money from customers.

The ditty runs:

“These days even some of the most basic things are considered extra but when you buy a Chevrolet extras are standard.”

The ad goes on to give some humorous examples of customers being surprised when charged ‘extras’ for services provided.

But the ad then finishes with the warning. “Delivery and related charges not included.” In other words – extras.