I bought a Kindle a few years ago. I’m not a massive reader, but I do love the idea of reading on trips and the likes. It was so long ago since I really read anything that I wanted to jump start myself again. For me, that’s usually making a purchase. Want to start working out? New runners. Starting a new job? Get an iPad for paperless note-taking. Want to start reading? Buy a new e-reader.
Naturally, my first thought was Kindle, but then I figured I should look at the alternatives and boy am I glad I did. I picked up the Kobo Clara Colour and love it. But not for the reason I bought it.
Ok, I Bought It for Colour e-Ink
I’m just going to get it out of the way. The main reason I now love the Kobo Clara Colour isn’t the colour e-ink screen. So feel free to just buy the Kobo Clara BW (that’s BW for black and white).
But that is the main reason I bought it. Kindle still doesn’t do colour and I figured I might like reading some comics or something. To be honest, my early plays around with colour content haven’t been good. The magazines are complicated to make sense of and the colours are washed out.
The colour e-ink screen uses battery faster than regular e-ink and also isn’t as bright as traditional black and white e-ink.
90% of regular reading doesn’t need colour and the other 10% isn’t essential anyway. Oh, I do get a colour cover which is great. But you really really don’t need it.
In fact, I got the Kobo Clara Colour at a better price because it’s not selling as well. My stubbornness knows no bounds because I now knew I was buying the lesser device. For colour. That I didn’t need.
Just buy the black and white one.
I digress. The point I’m making that’s far more important that the two Kobo models. I want to talk to you about the slam dunk reason to pick a Kobo over Kindle.
Free eBooks on Kobo (from Irish Libraries)
Aside from the colour e-ink thing, I did do some digging into whether I could read e-books from the library on a Kindle. It turns out you can’t. Who knew that Amazon really only had interest in your reading books that they sell you.
The Kindle is the iPhone of e-readers. I keep calling my Kobo “a Kindle” because it’s the best known e-reader by a long way. But it really shouldn’t be. Amazon is just happy to be a loss-leader in this space. That means they’ll make a small loss on selling you a Kindle, knowing you’ll have to come crawling to them for all the content and pay for that instead.
It’s genius business. Horrible business, but also a little genius.
But I’m a member of the Dublin City Libraries and I know they let me read e-books. Surely there would be a way to download an e-book from the library and read it on my e-reader. As it happens, because I went with Kobo, there was.
How to Download Irish Library e-Books to e-Readers
First things first. Get on over to your local library website and get yourself a new account.
Now that you’re a library member, congrats. You’re part of the elite and have access to an incredible amount of resources. Seriously, you’d be amazed what libraries have to offer. Ballyfermot has a video and audio recording studio and most libraries have a home efficiency test kit. Libraries are class.
Next, you will need some sort of computer. Both Windows and MacBooks will work. To transfer files from your machine to your Kobo e-reader, you’ll need Adobe Digital Editions.
Now, search for and download whatever books you want. Irish libraries use BorrowBox. This is the same app that lets you read on tablets and phones. After you’ve searched and found the book you want, download it and click the file that gets downloaded. This shortcut/link will open in Adobe Digital Editions.
Connect your Kobo e-reader by USB cable to your machine and drag the file across when your Kobo e-reader appears in Adobe Digital Editions.
That’s it. You’re ready to read digital books from Irish libraries on your e-reader.
I haven’t tested this extensively, but I will say that achieving this much was relatively easy. And once you crack this, it’s free books for life. Score.
It’s not a perfect solution, mind. Kobo will sell you books too and Kobo’s premium service hasn’t had a book I was looking for yet. Also, just because these are digital books doesn’t mean there is an endless supply of them. You might have to wait for someone else’s loan to end before you can pick up a digital copy of a book (just like the old days).
But as I head into my second week with my Kobo e-reader, I don’t regret it and I’ve read more in the past week that I probably have in the whole year up till this point. And that’s saying something. I’m not calling this a review. I might do a deeper review of my new Kobo Clara Colour. But for now, I’d implore you to consider not buying a Kindle, and instead buy an e-reader that supports BorrowBox.
There are a few lines that usually hold up to a fair bit of scrutiny in tech. “If it’s free, you’re the product” and “if it seems too good to be true, it probably is”. A recent YouTube video from MegaLag confirms this is the case for Honey. Honey is a “free” web browser extension (Chrome extension, Firefox extension etc) widely promoted by influencers promising discount codes for you, the consumer. But MegaLag’s investigations have uncovered a raft of shady practices which are likely costing you money.
What is Honey (the web browser extension)?
Honey was founded in 2012 before it got leaked on Reddit and went viral. By 2014 the extension had experienced explosive growth with over 900,000 users already using it. It’s understandable why.
Online shopping had also been growing during this period and discount codes were emerging as a powerful level for online stores to pull. Discount codes simply let companies give generic or personalised discounts to customers, encouraging them to make a purchase.
The promise to customers was so simple. Install Honey and make sure you’re always getting the best deal. Honey promised that it would automatically apply discount codes even if you missed them. Something that’s happened to me before and something which is extremely annoying.
Honey went on to raise millions of dollars in funding as the potential for the platform grew. Potential that PayPal spotted, buying the company in 2020 for $4 billion, renaming the app PayPal Honey.
Why Honey is Bad for Consumers
While the promise of Honey is simple, in practice, the extension was actually misleading customers, both to the benefit of businesses and Honey. This is what MegaLag uncovered in his investigations.
Much of the promotion around PayPal Honey centred on you always ensuring you get the best deal just by having the extension installed. Honey promised to always have the latest and best discount codes, so why bother scouring the internet for them yourself.
Well, I’ve worked in many ecommerce companies and I can tell you that discount codes cause as many problems as they solve. Every single time a discount code is created, the same conversation takes place.
“Okay, we’re creating a 50% off code for existing customers, but what happens if this leaks on Reddit?”.
The idea of PayPal Honey is that should a discount code leak and be working, Honey should pick it up and make sure any customer with the extension gets that discount, even if the company selling didn’t really intent for that to happen.
But then PayPal Honey started partnering with businesses. This means businesses would offer Honey specific discounts, like “HONEY10” to give 10% off. MegaLag’s video shows instances where the Honey extension would promote the 10% off discount and ignore discount codes that offered greater savings.
Suddenly, the extension that promised to save you money was now costing you money by lulling you into a false sense of security and misleading you with lesser discounts.
Influencers Also Getting Caught Out By Honey
A large proportion of MegaLag’s investigation doesn’t focus on consumers at all. It actually focuses on influencers and specifically influencers that have promoted Honey like Linus Tech Tips and Marques Brownlee.
In a fairly technical deep dive, MegaLag shows us how Honey steals the credit for sales from influencers and platforms that use affiliate marketing.
Affiliate marketing is really common, we use it here at Goosed. Basically, when we like a product, we will recommend some places you can buy it. If one of those places you can buy from offers affiliate programs, we’ll use a special link to the product on that site. You don’t pay anything extra, but this link means we get a tiny percentage of the sale in return for sending you over to that shop.
We haven’t noticed anything specifically ourselves, but what MegaLag shows in his video is rather shocking. When customers click affiliate links from a YouTube or a media outlet like ourselves, and they have the Honey extension installed, through some programming magic in the background, Honey reattributes the sale to itself, taking the credit from the influencer or platform that did all the work.
I’m not going into the depths of this element even though it is the crux of MegaLag’s video. I’m not on a personal vendetta here to protect a revenue channel for Goosed. I’m more annoyed by how Honey is misleading consumers with lowball discount codes to protect businesses.
Should You Uninstall Honey?
I have just uninstalled Honey, but I’ll admit I was probably going to uninstall it anyway. It rarely comes up with any actual discount codes for me and is a waste of space on my browser toolbar. But this video was the final straw. When good ideas get taken over by big companies for big money, the consumer rarely benefits.
Honey, at in it’s youth, was a great idea. But PayPal Honey has grown into a trojan horse. A trojan horse where I’m not entirely sure who is losing out most from businesses, influencers and other outlets, or you, the consumer.
The only thing I know for sure is that if you want to get the best deals all the time, you are better off doing some research instead of relying on just Honey.
MegaLag’s Honey Video
I highly recommend watching MegaLag’s full video on this. It’s a little over 20 minutes, but it will show you the shady side of online businesses. As I opened with, if something seems too good to be true, your defences should prick up.
Also, in one part of the video we see MrWhoseTheBoss promoting Honey while wearing a Huel t-shirt. Double whammy of warning!
If you enjoyed his video and appreciate his investigative journalism, consider joining MegaLag’s Patreon.
It’s been nearly one month since Nikita Hand won her civil case against Conor McGregor. Winning this case meant Conor McGregor was found by a jury to have sexually assaulted Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel in 2018 and he would be forced to pay nearly €250,000 in damages.
What followed was a long overdue boycott of McGregor brands and the end of deals which used his image.
But one major brand stood aside from this movement and did nothing. EA Sports.
The Conor McGregor Boycott
In the immediate aftermath of the High Court ruling against McGregor, brands because to distance themselves from the former UFC fighter. McGregor had used his fame over the years to grow and sell his Proper No. Twelve whiskey brand but had since expanded further. Forged Irish Stout had grown in popularity, both on tap in a selection of pubs and in cans from off-licenses.
The company that had bought McGregor’s stake in Proper No. Twelve, but continued to use his likeness, dropped McGregor from the brand’s marketing collateral. Asda, Tesco, SuperValu, Centra, and others stopped selling Forged Irish Stout and Proper No. Twelve whiskey in a boycott affecting hundreds of outlets across Ireland and the UK.
Far from being a beacon of morality normally, JD Wetherspoon removed the stout from its Irish pubs, while both Dublin and Cork airport bars ceased selling McGregor’s products.
Closer to our wheelhouse of tech, IO Interactive removed McGregor’s likeness from their Hitman game. The game developer acted swiftly to distance themselves from McGregor, which left me believing it would only be a matter of time until EA Sports released a similar statement.
EA Sports Refuse to Drop Conor McGregor
Conor McGregor is the former face of EA Sports’ UFC gaming franchise. For years, McGregor was the up-and-coming star of one of the world’s fastest growing sports companies. Understandably so. McGregor was a sporting phenomenon in his prime, but his acts since rising to fame leave him outside the space of potentially “separating art and artist”.
What he has done is unforgivable and reprehensible. This is the same man that reportedly punched an elderly man in a Dublin pub for not wanting to drink his whiskey. The warning signs were there, long before the sexual assault case, for us as the public and brands wanting to capitalise on McGregor’s fame.
McGregor features in the playable charachters of UFC 5
Before IO Interactive dropped McGregor, I had reached out to EA Sports through the usual media channels to ask if they would be making a statement on the matter. I was informed there were internal discussions and that any statement would take time owing to the involvement of the wider EA Sports teams in the U.S. I gave it plenty of time given any statement would be difficult to work towards legally. McGregor, being a massive figure still in UFC, would mean lots of legal agreements were in place causing a world of difficulties to unload him.
I’ll admit that to take such an action would be a lengthy legal process for EA Sports, but I still assumed that was in the works given the public outcry for action against McGregor.
No statement came.
I now assume no statement will come, as EA Sports have stood by and continued to retain McGregor for UFC 5.
Why EA Sports Didn’t Drop McGregor
It’s disappointing to see one of the world’s biggest game developers stand by and do absolutely nothing in a scenario like this.
I can only speculate as to why. EA Sports has made strides for women in sport in recent years, adding the Women’s World Cup and women’s characters in Ultimate Team. So why would they retain Conor McGregor, who was found by a jury to have sexually assaulted Nikita Hand?
I can only speculate, given that EA Sports has not addressed the issue. But I have some theories.
UFC has a very difference fan base to the likes of EAFC game (formerly better known simply as FIFA). It doesn’t have anywhere near the reach of the soccer game. UFC itself doesn’t have that kind of reach either, and so EA Sports likely decided it was easier not to upset the fan base the UFC game has be removing “an icon” from the playable roster.
Rather than stand with women, EA Sports chose the “easy option” of doing nothing and hoped it would blow over. I’m not going to put too much into the fact than I’m writing this article because it would appear their approach worked. No one has mentioned the inaction from EA Sports.
Secondly, it’s possible that UFC themselves dug their heels in over dropping McGregor. I have to admit, I’m not overly sure whether EA Sports even truly considered dropping McGregor. If the idea was put to UFC, it’s possible that they resisted EA Sports dropping one of the best known faces on their roster. Even if it’s been years since he fought and he may never fight again, it remains that McGregor is expected to return to the octagon as some stage, however unlikely that may actually be.
For me, that would still be little too late from a brand that has a company values page in complete contradiction of supporting someone like McGregor.
Publicly distancing itself from McGregor—either by issuing a statement or terminating contracts—would align more closely with its stated values and commitments to inclusivity, integrity, and a welcoming community. Whether that happens or not, time will tell.
Since electric scooters became legalised in Ireland, they haven’t really been welcomed with open arms. I initially found a ban on electric scooters being carried on public transport as being safety overkill. I was certain the way forward was to create an approved list of scooters which are available for sale from reputable sellers.
Then I read this story about Lainey Cameron and her scooter apparently bursting into blames. I first assumed this was another cheap electric scooter, but then I read the article. Lainey had bought this scooter in Dublin for about €1,500. Looking closely at the pictures, I can see this doesn’t appear to be a cheap knock off scooter.
Image courtesy of RTÉ
This looks to be a Kugoo Kirin M4, going by the name on the upright and the rear bar for your foot when riding. It’s also in the upper range of price for electric scooters, so it fits Lainey’s description. Assuming it was purchased from a reputable seller who in turn purchased from a dealer or straight from the manufacturer, it’s highly concerning to see a scooter like this go on fire.
While the article doesn’t say for certain that the electric scooter caused the fire, I find it highly unlikely anything should be looked at as the cause.
This story leaves a very massive question mark over electric scooters and how to safely own and charge one. Though I have to point out here, Lainey did absolutely nothing wrong. The scooter was charging at home but while she and her family were still there. They were observing it and I have no reason to believe there was an incorrect charger being used.
How to Charge an Electric Scooter Safely
So, from here on in, I’ll be talking about how to safely charge electric scooters. But I’m in no way saying Lainey wasn’t doing enough. From what I’ve read, she wasn’t doing anything outside the manufacturer instructions and this is a truly awful thing to have happened to her and her family.
Use the Charger Your Scooter Came With
One of the most important things you can do when charging your electric scooter is using the correct charger. This is either the one your scooter came with, or a replacement supplied by the manufacturer that is suitable for your scooter.
It is really handy having a charger at home and in the office, for example. And I recommend this if you buy a second charger which is officially supported by your scooter and recommended by the manufacturer.
Using a charger which is not suitable for your scooter can cause dangerous levels of overheating and may take some safety features out of play that remove the potential for dangerous fires.
Stay Vigilant for Damage
What disappoints me most about this story is that this seems to be a reputable electric scooter brand. It’s an eye opener for me because I had, until now, assumed these scooters would be safe.
Charge Away from Your Home
We’re often told not to leave devices like washing machines running unsupervised. However, the advice changes for electric scooters. Speaking to RTÉ, Dublin Fire Brigade Station Officer Darren O’Connor recommends that, if possible, electric scooters should be charged away from the home. Whether that be a bike storage unit or a shed.
I live in Dublin with an electric scooter. I have a bike shed, but no charging facilities. It’s nearly impossible to charge an electric scooter as an apartment dweller. If I want to charge it, it’s happening in my living room. I plug it out as soon as it’s finished, but it now going to be a nervier time than it used to be.
O’Connor then recommends that you should be on the lookout for potential indicators that your scooter has some sort of power fault. For example, he recommends that you “have the unit serviced if the performance changes, if you notice overheating on the battery, or difference in the length of time it takes to charge”.
I would well believe it is only a matter of time until we read of home insurance being nullified because a home fire started as result of an electric scooter fire, despite these incidents being few and far between.
If you must charge at home, there is one more thing worth investing in.
Buy an Electric Scooter Charging Bag
You can do everything right. You can charge the scooter with correct accessories, away from your home, plug it out when it’s finished and everything else. Still, it appears a scooter could still catch fire.
If that happens, you’d be very grateful if you were charging your scooter in a fire bag.
ICe Bag S2 is fireproof and allows for charging
This is the IC2 Bag S2. It’s a fireproof bag you can place your electric scooter in while it is charging. It even has a small hole for your charging cable to pass through.
In the event of a fire, having a suitable fire bag like this can dramatically contain the damage caused. This video demonstrates this really well.
Electric scooters are powered by reasonably large lithium batteries. When these catch fire they are difficult to stop and can cause devastating damage. Containing this energy inside a fire bag means you can greatly reduce or stop the amount of damage caused by an electric scooter fire.
I do have to stress that electric scooter fires remain incredibly rare consider the vast number of these devices in Ireland. But when they do occur, they can be devastating.
At over €100, you’d be forgiven for feeling like these are an expensive item to purchase. But after reading the story above and knowing something like this could either stop it or dramatically reduce the impact of that fire, the price tag is a small one.
Respect Water Ratings
One point that rarely gets made about electric scooters is to respect their waterproofness rating. IPX7 ratings mean your electric scooter is suitable for use in Ireland. Let’s face it, Ireland is a wet country and having the proper rating means the internal electronics of your scooter are safe, even when flying through puddles.
If you use a scooter that isn’t rated for use in the rain and it rains, you run the risk of plugging in a compromised device and causing some sort of fire.
Should TfI Have Banned Electric Scooters?
It’s disappointing for me to write this article because I was vehemently against TfI banning electric scooters. Electric scooters, despite these rare instances of fire, remain incredibly useful when it comes to connecting Dublin’s fractured public transport network.
I’m still against public shared scooters schemes coming to Dublin because they are an eyesore and will leave scooters littered across already quite narrow footpaths in an old city. That’s why I always recommended private ownership, so charging can take place at home.
After reading the harrowing story of Lainey Cameron and her mother Lorraine, it’s difficult for me to simply right this off as an isolated incident. Seeing the Kirin logo on the side of the scooter made my heart sink. This is a reputable brand bought in a reputable store, which should leave customers confident that a fire like this shouldn’t happen.
The only recommendation I can make is that if you have an electric scooter, and you charge it at home, you should be doing so in a fire bag. While I’m sure these are not flawless either, they do seem to provide considerable protection against an electric scooter fire.
But this article is about information, not scare-mongering. And fires like this are relatively rare, not that the Cameron family will take any solace from that.
Banning scooters outright on public transport is a disproportionate action versus the benefit they offer thousands of people nationwide.
The sooner we have some sort of regulation on the manufacture of electric scooters alongside an approved list of electric scooter which have reached an approved level of quality, the better. Because the horse has bolted. Electric scooters are popular and won’t be disappearing any time soon. We need to learn how to live with them, safely.
I could be totally wrong here, but if I recall correctly, we used to have a number in Ireland that answered every and any question. It was 11811 or 11850. You’d call up and ask for a business’s phone number, or you could just ask some sort of question and get an answer. It was wildly expensive to do so too. What a business model.
Anyway, this is in my mind because OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has launched a phone number connected to ChatGPT. This means people in eligible regions can now send a WhatsApp message to ChatGPT and ask it a question.
In the U.S. and Canada, there is also a free phone number which allows people to speak directly with ChatGPT. This is currently limited to 15 minutes, but OpenAI said this may change in future.
I’ve already tested this and it does work. You simply save the ChatGPT phone number (+1-800-242-8478) or (001-800-242-8478) into your phone book and the contact will then appear in your WhatsApp contacts, ready to answer your questions.
While the WhatsApp messaging obviously requires a phone which supports the WhatsApp app itself, the new call function will work from anywhere. This is an exciting removal of the cost barrier to experiencing what “AI” services have to offer.
Given the time of year, I can see ChatGPT being a hit around many Christmas tables this year, both starting and ending a few arguments.
Dublin City Libraries have introduced Communication Boards and some digital communication devices. These tools will be available in the libraries to help pre or non-verbal visitors, or visitors with communications issues.
Communication Boards
A communication board is a visual tool that helps non-verbal or pre-verbal individuals express themselves. It typically consists of symbols, pictures, words, or letters that represent common needs, wants, or emotions, such as food, drink, toilet, or feelings. By pointing to or indicating a specific symbol, individuals can communicate their thoughts, make choices, or share their feelings. This makes communication boards especially useful for people with conditions like autism, cerebral palsy, or other challenges that affect verbal expression.
Communication boards are highly customisable to meet the user’s specific needs. Dublin City Libraries have worked closely with Finding Charlie’s Voice to design their own Communications Boards. The goal is to help these people communicate their needs in the library.
Augmentative and Alternative Communications Devices (AAC)
In addition to the Communications Boards, some libraries are also implementing Lightwriters. These are tech to speech devices and are available at a limited number of libraries.
At Central Library, visitors will be able to use the SL-50. A simple text-to-speech devices, allowing people to type what they want to say.
At Cabra and Ballymun, visitors will have access to the TD I-110 SGD. This is similar to a Communication Board but in digital format.
TD I-110 SGD
These initiatives from Dublin City Libraries are part of the Dublin City Council’s wider efforts to become a more autism-friendly city.
I’m in an unusual position to comment on the news that RIP.ie will now charge funeral directors €100 per death notice. I used to be an undertaker for my family business before burying my Dad, the boss himself, – a unique thing to be able to say. And I’m also a website guy. You’re on my website right now. Gas, isn’t it?
This week, The Irish Times, owners of RIP.ie, announced they would start charging funeral directors €100 per death notice to much uproar from, well everyone. I honestly, don’t fully get the backlash beyond “monetising death”, but Ireland has been doing that for a long long time.
It’s Uneasy News That Provokes an Emotional, Irrational Reaction
As soon as I heard that RIP.ie was being bought by The Irish Times, I knew this day would come. RIP.ie had become the most bizarre platform in the country. Millions of views on a monthly basis. Millions of views from people just wanting to know who died today. The Irish Times bought the platform earlier this year for an undisclosed fee, but you can be sure it was a pretty penny given the potential income with those traffic numbers.
We all know us Irish do death better than anyone. Irish wakers are legendary, and the death notices on the radio have been a cultural phenomenon for many years. It was obvious that we would shift towards online, and that’s where RIP.ie came in.
RIP.ie was a family run business offering a simple solution to informing people about local deaths in a digital world. I remember when they first got in touch with us. My Dad was always a surprisingly digital forward man. He didn’t know how to use a computer very well, but he knew they were the future.
That’s why I’ve had computers at my fingers from the age of two.
He immediately said yes to offering RIP.ie to our own customers as a place to announce a death. Before long, people were asking for it before we could suggest it. RIP.ie wasn’t just one of Ireland’s biggest death websites, or biggest websites in the news space. It was one of Ireland’s biggest websites; full-stop.
Charging for Death Notices
Death notices are extremely typical around someone’s passing. People locally, nationally and internationally want to know if a neighbour, or long-lost friend as passed away. The world is a big place, and keeping up to date with who’s still alive can be tough when you get to a certain age.
The media packages for a funeral were typical. In my experience, most would take local newspapers and radio, while some would also take national newspapers and even newspapers abroad if they had moved away in their lifetime. Soon, RIP.ie was as typical as anything and it covered all bases. People could find local deaths, deaths in other counties and even any death in Ireland from anywhere in the world – all thanks to RIP.ie.
We did pay for RIP.ie but it wasn’t a mandatory service fee if I recall correctly. The idea was we’d pay a couple of hundred a year to have better looking panels beneath our announcements and some advertising around the website if people are looking for a funeral director. I was almost sure at some stage we paid something in exchange for a number of notices, but from what I’ve read about the RIP.ie controversy this week – I could be wrong.
On our bills, we would list “Media” and break down a cost for each item individually. Whether it was print, radio or digital, being charged for a death notice is completely normal. There is also an option to not have a death notice, but everyone wants it. It’s supply and demand.
Funerals are Expensive
Our family business was exactly what you expected from a local business mainly servicing the local parish. We delivered our service for a very fair price. Once we came home from a days work, we waited for, the usually local, family to come to us looking for a bill when they were ready. In fact, we were so fairly priced that I could never see myself taking it on as a full-time living. Hence, I’m a “former undertaker”.
Our bills were fair and transparent. We listed “Media” with prices for each placement. We’d also include the amount you were paying for, and what you were paying for, for every single service we billed you for.
We had no interest in price gouging people during a tough time. We weren’t in the business of “but sure the credit union is paying” but we were offering a service and as you would expect, every service bakes in some profit.
We all live in a capitalist society. There’s simply no avoiding it. Your doctor, dentist, mechanic, therapist or gardener are not in it for the love of you. They are offering a service that you want or need to avail of.
I will, however, admit that funeral directors are slightly different. We care deeply about our customers who were going through a difficult loss. We stress about everything running smoothly because we want you to worry about nothing else during such a horrible time.
Whenever we increased the price of a product needed or service provided, it pained by auld lad because he kept the margins fair trim. I remember he was shocked to learn what people in other counties were paying for funerals. Sometimes double what we were billing. We couldn’t get our heads around it.
But it’s a good time to be reminded that funerals are expensive in general. That €100 for RIP.ie might be unpalatable off the back of The Irish Times buying such an outlet, but it’s still a good deal.
The Price of Death Notices
When you post a death on RIP.ie it’s permanent. There are virtual condolence books, links to streams and church locations and it’s all available globally. This is something Irish radio stations or most Irish print media can’t match. Yet, many would charge over this amount for a death notice.
Today, if you go to the Irish Independent’s parent website, MediaHuis, you can book a death notice. Just a few days listing a death could cover over €50. The same could be said for any local radio or print media. It’s not all that unusual for death notices alone to cost from €50 to €300, depending on family requests.
I guess this is why it makes sense that I was a bit surprised by the backlash at €100. It’s a permanent listing on Ireland’s largest website, accessible globally.
What surprised me about coverage of this story is that everyone is being spoken to; politicians, funeral directors, RIP.ie themselves, but no one is talking to the families of those affected. If you’ve ever paid for a funeral, and I’ve been on both sides of this part, you’ll see the cost of death notices in general and €100 is about average.
The difference with RIP.ie is that it’s been taken over by a big media group and it’s being seen as a cash grab. Which it might very well be, but a website of that size with global appeal isn’t free to run. In fact, it can be somewhat costly.
Storm in a Teacup
I can’t help but see this as a storm in a teacup. You’ll have forums galore screaming that “this is a disgrace” and that The Irish Times is preying on vulnerable people.
This is the growth in digitisation of a death service. That is all. I have a few hot takes around this too. For example, I would argue this is the exact same as when The New York Times bought Wordle. People had something for free, and feared it would be locked behind a paywall. Wordle remains free today, but the negative sentiments that came with it just being bought at all – will linger forever.
Fears will live on that RIP.ie will eventually be locked behind a paywall. Something I very much doubt will happen. The traffic that RIP.ie gets is free traffic that won’t tolerate friction and keeping those volumes up is essential. Naturally, this means charging the funeral directors who pass the cost on to their customers (as they would for other media), is the logical way forward.
What I find most amusing about the people who are up in arms about this news, is that no one takes issue with the fact most funerals will include contributions towards the priest and other services from the church if having a religious funeral. You could argue this is usually a “voluntary contribution”, but I’ve never seen it not offered or rejected.
If you see the value in a florist getting some money from providing a service to a funeral, I’m afraid you can’t give out about RIP.ie setting a price tag on their services. Anyone who’s planning a funeral can request access to this service, or reject it. This all happens in a conversation with your funeral director who will outline the services you can avail of and how much they cost. Then it’s over to you if you want to avail of these service or not.
This new charge is simply bringing the cost of a digital platform in line with traditional print media and radio. A digital platform which arguably offers far more of a service and far greater reach.
As a savvy online shopper, you’re likely aware that prices on Amazon can vary significantly depending on your location. But did you know that you can potentially save money by taking advantage of price differences across European Amazon stores? In this article, we’ll explore the possibilities and limitations of shopping on Amazon across Europe, and provide you with practical tips on how to make the most of this strategy. Namely, this includes Hagglezon and despite this awkward intro, it’s not even sponsored.
Understanding Amazon’s European Presence
Amazon has a significant presence in Europe, with dedicated stores in several countries, including the UK, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy. Each store has its own pricing, inventory, and shipping policies, which can result in varying prices for the same item. Additionally, Amazon has a single European marketplace, which allows sellers to list their products across multiple countries.
2025 will see the Irish Amazon website launch, leaving many wondering if Ireland’s new Amazon website will bring deals or headaches over working out where to get the best value.
Can You Shop on Amazon Across Europe?
In theory, there’s nothing stopping you from shopping on Amazon across Europe, as long as you’re willing to navigate the potential complexities of international shipping and customs. However, the practicality of this approach depends on several factors, including your location, the item you’re purchasing, and the shipping costs involved.
The European Union has been pushing a single digital market for a long time. However, there are practical issues here. For example, Ireland is an island – this make deliveries here tougher and more expensive, despite the EU’s best efforts. Looking at Holyhead one more time.
Generally, the EU expects that Amazon, with the exception of local laws on taxes etc, would sell the same product in different EU markets for the same price. Not doing so is against the EU’s single market concept.
There is one way to ensure you are nearly always getting the best deal.
Using Price Comparison Tools
To make the most of Amazon’s European price differences, you can use price comparison tools like Hagglezon.com. This website allows you to search for items across multiple European Amazon stores, including the UK, Germany, France, and Spain. By comparing prices, you can often find significant savings on the items you want.
I quickly checked a non-Amazon eInk reader there and between Italy and Spain, there was a €10 swing. Not much, but it’s something.
Now, it’s not always an ironclad saving. It’s essential to consider the shipping costs and customs implications. Sometimes the transport costs from the EU can be lower than the UK tariffs, making it worth comparing prices across different stores. However, customs and VAT on imports should be accurately calculated by Amazon UK for any items sold to an Irish address.
So what can we expect from Amazon’s new Irish store in 2025?
Amazon’s Irish Market
Interestingly, Amazon UK is still the primary store intended to cover the Irish market, despite the launch of a new fulfillment center in Ireland. This means that Irish customers can access some, but not all, benefits of Prime, as well as an Irish version of Prime Video on their UK subscription.
But this is changing in 2025.
Amazon.ie will launch in 2025, providing a dedicated platform for Irish businesses to grow locally and internationally. Irish businesses can now register to sell globally through the site. The store will offer a localised shopping experience with over 100 million products, including more from Irish SMEs, competitive prices, and fast delivery and returns, supported by a partnership with An Post.
More than 1,000 Irish SMEs currently sell over 5.5 million products on Amazon, generating €170 million in export sales in 2023, including €100 million outside the EU, and supporting over 2,500 Irish jobs. Globally, over 60% of Amazon’s sales come from independent sellers, primarily SMEs.
All in all, whether we like Amazon or not, lots of people shop there. Amazon is swallowing up online spend before the company even has an Irish presence. Expect that to grow even more now that Amazon has a proper focus on Ireland.
Shopping on Amazon can lead to great deals, even if you go across Europe. But keep your wits about you and use as many tools as you can to make sure you’re keeping ahead of the pricing curve. It might even make buying PC parts here in Ireland a little easier, but I honestly feel that we’re still not going to have powerbanks available to buy.
This article was created with the support of Goosed.ie’s in-house AI-assisted writing tool, designed to aid our writers, not replace them. While the tool offers outlines and context, all content is crafted and edited by the Goosed team.
Two years ago I built a gaming PC. It was incredibly fun. That machine is now an absolute work horse for me. I maxed out so many specs and have the ultimate desktop for gaming and productivity. However, it wasn’t cheap and I learned some valuable lessons about building a gaming PC in Ireland as a result. Some lessons I want to pass on to you.
Why Build a Gaming PC?
As a gamer, you’re likely no stranger to the eternal conundrum: should you buy a pre-built gaming PC, build one yourself or just stick out life with a gaming console. I faced this very question.
My first bit of research was wandering the shops of Ireland for pre-built machines. Harvey Norman, Currys and some indie shops had some pre-built machines. Every last one of them had old parts or overpriced parts hidden behind gaudy RGB. RGB distracts and I built my own gaming PC with no priority on RGB. Since, I’m riddled the thing with RGB, but don’t let it distract you. RGB doesn’t earn you FPS.
PinkyBoi – The gaming PC build of someone that says “RGB doesn’t matter”
I already had a PlayStation 5, but… I don’t know. It just wasn’t scratching the itch for me.
So it was time to build my own PC for the first time in a very long time. In fact, I think I only ever really upgraded my old machine with a GPU and the likes in the past.
The Case for Building Your Own Gaming PC
Building a gaming PC from scratch can be a cost-effective and rewarding experience. By sourcing individual components from online retailers like Amazon or specialist PC stores like Caseking.de, you can create a custom-built machine that meets your specific needs and budget.
It can often work out cheaper or offer better performance for the same money, or less, building your own computer. This approach allows you to choose exactly the components you need, avoiding the bloat and unnecessary features that can drive up the cost of pre-built PCs.
It also opens up the chance of second hand parts which can be almost as reliable as new parts.
PC Parts Builder is a fantastic website where you can start to dream about your new machine. Here, you can put togther lists of every part needed to make a functioning gaming PC. The site will even estimate what size of power supply you’ll need and if certain parts are not compatible.
I don’t know many people who have built a gaming PC that don’t have dozens of theoretical PCs in PC Parts Picker that never get built.
Which brings us onto the biggest issue with building a gaming PC in Ireland.
Where to Buy Gaming PC Parts in Ireland
The worst part about building a PC in Ireland is that we have next to no shops selling parts on the high street. There aren’t that many online options either, but here’s what I found works.
Websites Shipping to Ireland
Irish PC builder websites like Paradigit.ie are the cloest to home, but rarely offer the best value and have limited stock. Turning to mainland Europe, I had sourced some options from Caseking.de and Amazon.de in Germany. The value is a bit of a mixed bag with these sites along with some longer shipping times, but patience will return some decent avenues to PC parts for budding gamers in Ireland.
Beware the UK
Then, there are the traps like UK websites. Unfortunately, Brexit means there can be massive charges on the import of your parts. I had read up on these charges seeing that PC parts were supposed to be exempt, but this potentially is just for businesses. Either way, I tried to argue with both Irish and UK customs over charges on some parts that I paid and got nowhere. So unless it’s highly specific and the only place you can find something – stay away from the UK.
The only exception to this is using a service like OOHPod up in the North. But not every company will ship to the North and OOHPod won’t forward so you’ll have to go get it too.
The High Street
If you do find a high street retailer that does parts, I’d wager that 5 minutes on Google will bring you to a German website offering the same items or better at a much better pricepoint. Sure, you’ll have to wait but one lesson I learned is that being patient with parts can save you a small fortune.
Shop local is well and good until shopping local limits your choice and costs a small fortune.
But what about saving money with the second hand market?
Buying Second Hand
Adverts.ie is an ok spot to buy second hand parts, but it’s very hit and miss in terms of supply. Ireland just doesn’t have a culture of PC building, so the circulation of parts is low. Remember, there’s no comeback if something breaks after you buy it on Adverts either.
One shop you’ll find a surprising range of items is CeX. But as I pointed out a few years ago, value is pretty low when you spend money in CeX. Naturally, the exception to this being if you are trading in quite a few items and in return you get good store credit. It might work out for you. They’ll also usually give you a decent warranty too.
So my advice is to be patient. Build your part list using PC Part Builder and check what you can source second hand, if anything at all. Next, look towards European retailers and be patient with their shipping times. Finally, if all else fails, look towards the UK but try be saavy about getting items from there to Ireland.
How Much to Spend on a Gaming PC?
I can’t honestly answer this question in an article like this. I overspent massively on my PC because it spiralled out of control. I was first looking at AM4 motherboards but then thought to myself – I want upgrade paths in a few years. So I went with AM5 which supports DDR5. Suddenly, you’re shopping at higher pricepoints because everything is current. The bonus is you will get longer from the machine and even have the chance to buy new parts over the coming years to keep it fresh.
I’m only heading into my third year with my PC and I’m considering a new CPU to upgrade my, to be honest perfectly good, Ryzen 7 7700x.
I don’t need to, but this is the challenge with PC building. You typically want to keep going, but don’t have the release of a build to scratch the itch. I’m already looking at building a NAS just to keep my mind busy!
While there are countless websites and creators out there talking about how much you should spend on a gaming PC, Ireland is a unique case. Linus Tech Tips will make certain recommendations, but the parts just won’t be available in the volume or price in Ireland or even the EU to a certain extent.
I just recommend looking at the game you want to play most, or maybe two or three games. Check the specs and start building a list on PC Parts Picker. Then shop around and shop around some more to make sure you are getting the very best deal.
What I will say is buying a gaming PC for less than €1,000 is tough. And if you’re shopping in the likes of Harvey Norman, a lot of what you’re paying as part of that €1,000 is bloat and not performance. They have to make their margins, it’s your job to trim that back to as little as possible. This is why building a PC from parts you painstakingly source is where you find the best value.
Can a Gaming PC Last 15 Years?
While it’s unlikely that a gaming PC will last 15 years without any upgrades, it’s not impossible. With careful maintenance and regular upgrades, a well-built gaming PC can easily last 5-10 years.
It is also a bit like Trigger’s broom from Only Fool’s and Horses too though.
What you consider to be your gaming PC might last for a very long time. But how many parts will remain untouched in that time period? As I said earlier, a key strategy with PC-building is upgrade paths. That means that after 5 years, you could add a new GPU, some additional RAM and a new CPU along with maybe a new monitor. Some would argue the PC is somewhat the same because the motherboard wasn’t changed or the cost was well spread out or recovered from selling items second hand, and maybe that’s fair.
It’s Not Easy, But You Should Build a Gaming PC (Even in Ireland)
Building a gaming PC can be a fun and rewarding experience, offering a level of customisation and cost-effectiveness that’s hard to match with pre-built PCs. By sourcing components from online retailers like Amazon or specialist PC stores like Caseking.de, you can create a machine that meets your specific needs and budget.
Being an island has it’s benefits (still waiting for the zombie apocolypse) but it comes with massive draw backs too (glares at Holyhead).
Take your time, because the one thing I’m not – is patient. Looking back at building my beloved PinkyBoi PC, I spent a lot of money making mistakes (ordering from the UK) and just being impatient.
Upgrade Paths: Some parts will be with you for a long time. I got a power supply far beyond what I needed so I can upgrade parts in the coming years.
Resale Value: Ireland doesn’t have much of a second hand PC parts market. But if you’re patient, selling parts on Adverts will lead to sales. If you’re impatient, you can also sell older parts at a discount.
Customs: Check customs laws on imports from the UK. Or wait till you’re over there yourself and use Amazon or OOHPod lockers to manage deliveries.
CeX: It’s probably one of the best spots in Ireland in terms of supply. But the value usually stinks. Approach with a hige degree of caution
Shop with your Head: So aside from patience, don’t be overly romantic with “shop local”. I understand the market isn’t big here, but this approach will have you paying over the odds, or worse (genuinely) buying older parts that don’t do what you need.
This article was created with the support of Goosed.ie’s in-house AI-assisted writing tool, designed to aid our writers, not replace them. While the tool offers outlines and context, all content is crafted and edited by the Goosed team.
It’s 11pm the night before I have to leave at 6.30am for a flight. I decide to put a movie on the bedroom projector to help me get to sleep a little earlier than usual. I choose a new movie Carry-On because it’s one of those films I’m happy enough to just let dissolve into the background as I sleep.
I stay awake for the full movie because it’s absolutely gripping, yet ludicrious, from start to finish. Here’s the spoiler-free intro to the movie.
What is Carry-On About?
Rather surprisingly, Carry-On is written by T.J. Fixman, the same man from the Ratchet & Clank video game franchise fame. It’s likely causing some confusion in Ireland and the UK given the classic British comedy of the same name.
The story follows a TSA agent, Ethan Kopek, in LAX during the busiest day of the Christmas season. His girlfriend is pregnant and hoping for him to work towards a better career.
He believes this should be him moving into monitoring the scanners at the airport. He gets his chance, but also more than he bargained for as he’s soon contacted by a “fixer” trying to get a suspect package through security, a task he plans to achieve through threatening Ethan and people connected to him.
The story follows the inner turmoil that this places on Ethan as he is torn between saving his loved ones or potentially letting a harmful device through security and the consequences that could follow that.
Is Carry-On Worth Watching?
Absolutely. This film should have been awful. 10 minutes in I was left asking “how do they plan to get another 10 minutes out of this story, let alone a whole movie.”
T.J. Fixman has written a compelling, if not entirely likely or realistic, story that the actors and charachters deliver brilliantly.
There’s one particular high-point of drama where you can sense the reality leaving the movie, but I was totally ok with it.
Carry-On is the modern day Die Hard and it’s totally obvious that’s what the plan was here. Make a movie that sparks a debate about whether or not it’s a Christmas movie. The movie is littered with Christmas songs and borderline tributes to Die Hard itself with Ethan channeling his best John McClane.
After the first hour, once you’re happy to leave reality behind, you’re in for a banger of a enjoyable Christmas movie, good enough to be enjoyed solo or with family. And sure look, what else are you going to be doing over the next few days anyway.
