Sunday evening vinyl: Aoife Nessa Frances - Land of No Junction (2020). The record that both got me through lockdown *and* formed a key part of the soundtrack to finishing up my second book. To quote a very cliched saying, I could listen to her sing the phonebook.
'Environmental protection is a worthy objective. If, however, it is allowed to become obsessional, then development will stop; and we can forget about more employment since the factories and farms and services which give that employment will not set up or expand - for "environmental reasons."'
A glimpse into how environmental Concerns were seen as getting in the way of economic interests
Nally, secretary to the Irish government, in response to draft proposals for an Irish Environmental Protection Agency, in 1990. (The Irish EPA eventually came into being in 1992.)
A full day in the archives, reading about energy, US MNCS, and environmental regulation. Bliss.
Next week's history seminar here in Galway features Dr Colm Mac Gearailt on 'Irish History in Secondary Schools, 1924-69'. The seminar takes places at 4pm, Wed 24 Jan, Room G010, Hardiman Building. All welcome - in person or register for Zoom at
https://forms.office.com/e/d7Bg2N2gCgToday I learned... that Ed Simons and Tom Rowlands (The Chemical Brothers) studied history at the University of Manchester. Witness this photo of Ed Simons reading Keith Jenkins _Re-thinking History_. Photo from the new - and highly recommended - book, Paused in Cosmic Reflection.
Me: "Do you know this song?"
Five-year-old: "Yes - it's 'The Very Next Day'."
A career in writing music quizzes awaits.
A reminder, courtesy of Richard Scarry.
Got this Christmas card (made by
@twisteddoodles) for my brother, who works in IT. His verdict: "genius'. I wholeheartedly agree.
Research has found that kids do better at primary school if their fathers regularly spend time with them on interactive engagement activities like reading, playing, telling stories, drawing and singing.
Yet another argument to ensure dads take their #PaternityLeave
https://business.leeds.ac.uk/download/downloads/id/476/piece-report.pdf
Claudine Mangen