RTE 1: 'Today' with David McCullagh

I like him.

It must be awful for her that Pat is still on at the weekends, reminding everyone of what we’re missing during the week.

David had some interesting chats with people who found that their business model, to their surprise, wasn't really paying. Most blamed no govt support, etc, etc, etc. David surprisingly never asked them why they thought their business would be a success, why they opened, was the business model really a paying proposition, etc, etc.

Lots of people in fairly good jobs see what they think is an opening in cafes, coffee shops, child minding, clothes shops and the likes. They seem to believe it can't be that difficult to earn an easy few bob and work on their own with not a lot of know how required. Most of the so called business's were never an option really, but because it wasn't a huge amount to open up that there had to be profits made.

Blaming agencies and govt for their own failings is becoming a popular argument, but in fairness, a fair amount of business models are just people thinking how simple and easy it is to run a business, pay rent, pay insurance, pay staff, deal with revenue, management, hiring staff and keeping customers happy.

There's 4 coffee type shops/cafes in my own town and I'd bet big money that none of them are a viable business. Very easy to blame different business support agencies for it not working, but personally I see lots of them were never going to work anyway. Anyone going to open a small business needs to ask themselves, what am I earning now before I open this place, how big a turnover would I need after EVERYTHING is paid before I earn that amount out of this business? They might be in for a rude awakening but obviously a lot of them don't do this due diligence.

Maybe a question mark instead of an exclamation mark dude…..please?

In any case, I've done what you requested and hope it helps in making it easier for you to read.

These "search for a country music star" sections each morning this week are like nails on a chalkboard.... horror show.

will have to watch on News Now, but as he seems to be perennially unimpressed I find that to be suprising.

His new signature tune should have been "That don't impress me much"

Nah…McCullagh unsuited for that kind of programme, permanently forcing it and just going thru the motions .

Feigned enthusiasm I fear.

All our radio now seems to be of the shallow red top variety with anything goes. Repeated over and over each day and ‘ sorry the clock has defeated us’ is used far too often to avoid any meaningful content creeping in.

Except of course in sport… sport gets in depth analysis and seemingly endless comment with not only its own designated programmes but also with more slots in main programming, making time available for anything else even less.

I remember Radio Éireann - current output is not even close in content and quality.