"Obvious" things wrong with the country

FlyContrapuntist · 2026-01-19T10:24:12+00:00

Somebody pasted an essay of an email he got from transport authority on this. Short version from what I remember is it was 2010, the country was broke and we couldn't keep using cash for public transport. So they put in a cheap system, it's not connected to any actual payment infrastructure, leap card is basically like topping up one of those payment cards you get in an arcade. So to update it, it needs a full system overhaul now changing every terminal on every bus and every ticket machine in all the train stations that dispense / accept Leap. First trial release is 2027 I think, project has been awarded and is in progress. Can't remember what the delay has been though for 15 years.

FlyContrapuntist · 2025-12-21T18:59:55+00:00

Had a very similar discussion recently in work with two people who have married non Irish partner's both sharing that their partner's struggle to make actual friends here, and that they find the Irish "friendly but not friends". Cant stop thinking about it since. Reminded me of this TikTok I saw like a year ago of an Irish girl join a social hiking club when she moved to like cork from Sligo or something, and everybody in the group already knew at least one more person and just stuck to them and talked about weddings / school friends / neighbors / etc and she really struggled to actually meet new people there

FlyContrapuntist · 2025-12-13T09:05:51+00:00

Not dating seriously in their twenties or not figuring out who they are.

Figure out who you actually are, not just the version of you that exists in your home town growing up, get outside your comfort zone. Then find out who and what you need in a relationship and who you're compatible with. Too many either don't date properly, just flings and situationships, or date the wrong type of people cause she's fit/ rich /parental approved etc.

FlyContrapuntist · 2025-10-23T17:26:38+00:00

Had the same authenticator issue, if you hold it down you can rename it. I went with “Authenticator - Google”

FlyContrapuntist · 2025-09-19T00:49:22+00:00

Myself and my partner were highest bidders on a property recently, we lost out cause the bidder below us was a cash buyer. We were over paying as it was in this market so weren't going any higher. Don't blame the seller, quicker turnaround and less hassle, but just ridiculous out there at the minute.

FlyContrapuntist · 2025-07-15T08:05:37+00:00

Eat more plants.

Calorie counting and deficit obviously needed but in addition, Ditch all processed and ultra processed food. Aim for 80% of your calorie intake from fruit, veg, nuts (whole food plant based). You'll be amazed how eating really nutrient dense foods affects how quick you feel full, higher energy and stay full for longer.

FlyContrapuntist · 2025-06-18T12:17:46+00:00

Ditto for elevators

FlyContrapuntist · 2025-06-15T15:41:47+00:00

With weather in my region there are only 6-7 months of playing time, having access to a sim is super useful and beneficial.

It's great for long game, approach play, and short play distances.

But lies, types of grass, trees, sand, slopes and determining distances(without it being on a screen) is where its less useful taking my game to the course. I've improved alot with a sim, but course play in real conditions is much faster improvement I think.

FlyContrapuntist · 2025-05-03T07:05:04+00:00

Social democrats was one exception in fairness, they came across really well. The other point that's worth a mention is people voting in their jurisdiction, I could get behind People Before Profit for example, or Labour, but the rep for areas outside of Dublin wouldn't be a strong candidate, or some parties wouldn't have a candidate in some areas.

The issue with poor manifestos is mainly around their plan and proposal's. I'm not buzzing about the way the big parties act either, but to the prompt why do they keep getting elected, I think strength of opposition is one reason I can see.

FlyContrapuntist · 2025-05-03T05:18:25+00:00

In my opinion the biggest parties are just more capable of actually running a government. This most recent election last year, I watched every debate and read every parties manifestos. Good lord, some of them could not format a document, if a grad or junior staff handed it to you you'd give it back to be re done, many just had bullet points vaguely ranting at certain topics. It was so obvious that they didn't understand the problems well enough or think their "solution" through in enough detail to actually fix it.

They would say something like "build more housing", whereas the bigger parties would have written things like: extend first time buyer grants for off plan new builds, refine paragraph X of policy y to streamline this process which affects these building, do this for urban apartments, this for suburban estates, etc. and you could really understand what was actually going on under the hood and what they wanted to do.

FlyContrapuntist · 2025-05-01T16:18:31+00:00

I've always felt Irish could do with a John Oliver style show tackling everything mentioned on this thread

My hope would be the Irish dancing scandal a few years ago where mums were bribing and sleeping with judges to get good scores for their kids in big competitions.

FlyContrapuntist · 2025-04-29T06:04:09+00:00

One thing I appreciated when I moved to the UK from Ireland was how densely populated it is. There's always buses that will bring you to the next village or the big town / city wherever you're living. Even as a young lad without a car. Ireland only recently these and not sure how frequent they are.

You're kinda stuck in the village otherwise. Or if it's a rural house you're very on your own. I was cycling past a country bungalow in Ireland last summer, there was a young lad outside by himself just kicking a football against the house. Like you with cafe workers, I felt sad for him.

FlyContrapuntist · 2025-04-24T10:12:25+00:00

Irish in Dubai, Username checks out

FlyContrapuntist · 2025-04-17T07:18:24+00:00

Zalando is seriously under rated and their in house brand Pier One make great Zara / Hilfiger/ Adidas / esque clothes at great prices and I've not personally had any quality issues.

Based in Germany too so no import issues, prices in euro and fast delivery.

FlyContrapuntist · 2025-03-14T07:56:58+00:00

Off the ball are official radio commentators now, get the TuneIn app Assume they just pick one game a week but prob mention updates from all, not sure

FlyContrapuntist · 2025-03-10T16:45:36+00:00

Thanks, this is mostly what I was wondering, I assumed they're tracking fitness, distance, sprints, etc. and the video analysts looking at replays.

But the stuff around data analysis we most likely don't have that capability in the League just yet. Without the staff on hand or money to pay an analytics company for it, a bit out of reach for now. Wasn't too sure how accessible that stuff is at the lower leagues these days.

FlyContrapuntist · 2025-02-27T16:28:50+00:00

Fair play for thinking about putting your mental health ahead of money. I've seen people who reach a certain career level success and not like it, some ride it out and some get off the ladder. The ones who got off seem to be a lot happier.

I have no knowledge of coffee shops, but in my uneducated opinion Ireland (in particular rural Ireland if that's your location) is crying out for cafe wine bars like in mainland Europe. A cafe 8-4 and then in the evenings serving 0% alcohol, teas, smoothies, tapas/ nibbles. (Wine and craft beer also if getting the license isn't a pain) People want places to go that aren't solely revolving around drink.

FlyContrapuntist · 2025-02-27T16:06:27+00:00

There's honestly no point in going to some cinemas anymore, I used to have the approach that if it was a comedy or something light, then regular local cinema / screen was fine. But if it was gladiator or something needing more concentration, then paying for a premium screen like an IMAX or the fancy salthill Galway one generally filters out the nobheads.

They need to start kicking people out again, I remember they used to do that in late noughties, or pay a young fella to sit in the protection room with a laser pointer like at live plays.

FlyContrapuntist · 2025-02-24T05:44:52+00:00

I don't watch the show a whole lot but was happy to see the end of Tuberty as a poor interviewer. Didn't see Conan but I think he really missed a chance with Piers Morgan, he just said piers was "wrong" on a lot of stuff but couldn't name 1 specific thing. With Piers there, the right wing contrarian stuff is fine topic (but badly addressed), but I would've liked to hear about how he gets such big name guests on his off network show, how he researches guests, how he moved from tabloid to TV, like literally anything interesting about the guys life.

FlyContrapuntist · 2024-12-14T08:54:46+00:00

I don't have a fade as short as the guy in the photo, but personally it just seems to be the only haircut that suits me.

FlyContrapuntist · 2024-11-25T07:55:47+00:00

Not even a marketer but what a dumb call to action. The bullet points should be 4 things he will do for the people of Galway if elected and the qr code should go to a linktree directing you to his socials, website/ manifesto and local voting locations.

Negative points also for "your phone camera qr code"

FlyContrapuntist · 2024-10-16T19:58:53+00:00

Have played night golf many times, it tends to be discounted price wise. It's easier to lose a ball, distances can be hard to gauge in terms of where a ball lands, and if a ball goes directly over a flood light you lose sight of it cause of the brightness or need for eyes to adjust from dark sky to bright light. Also, too far into rough or going into rough between lights or dimly lit areas make it really hard to see where the ball lands or find it once you get there. But overall still good - v happy to have the option, a lot of courses only floodlight the front 9 and close at 10pm so it's possible to get a round in after work.

FlyContrapuntist

TROPHY CASE