16 METRO Friday, September 18, 2009 D Dolphin drop in: Surfer Andrew Brooks is surprised when a pod of 40 to 50 dolphins join him as he catches a wave at Cape Adieu, in South Australia Picture: AP The Big Picture Is licence fee farce? Paid with licence money: Tubridy I think that it is a total farce that RT receives financing from both commercial resources and also from licence fees. I never watch their TV stations and never listen to their radio programmes and am extremely vexed to have to shell out 160 a year to keep that bloated gasbag Gerry Ryan in profiteroles or whatever it is he uses to stuff his word hole. It is galling that the national network no longer provides live coverage of the Heineken Cup. This is a tournament that in the past two years has been won by two Irish teams and yet the Irish fan has to watch it on a pay network! What does the hard-working licence payer receive in return? Constant re- runs of Murder, She Wrote! An anachronistic show that does more for racial stereotyping than Prince Philip. And dont get me started on that smarmy, pencil-necked geek Tubridy! One-F, by e-mail Why do we have to have a licence to own an object? I recently had a heated discussion (I lost) with the TV licence people as I have a television set but it has no aerial and none of the channels are tuned in. It is used purely for watching DVDs. When I explained that since I didnt use their service then I dont need a licence, right? Wrong. If you have an object in your home that can conceivably pick up a signal then you have to have a licence. If you have an aerial in your house or if you live in a building that has a communal aerial, even if you are not hooked up to the aerial and do not have a TV, you need a licence. If you have a radio or even a broken TV and are unable to receive a signal, it is regarded as Dublins best-read letters page Metro Mail E-mail letters to mail@metroireland.ie with a name. Or text us. Text MAIL followed by comment and name to 53131. *Texts cost 30cent per message + standard network charges. SP. Oxygen8 Communications, Hospitality House, Cumberland Street South, D2. Customer service number 0818286606 talk to us Get the point: In regards to hippys comment about the Leaving Cert and how point-centred and conditioned we Irish students are she hasnt a clue what shes on about. Im in 3rd level and all my friends and I are doing courses not because they will pay well (Im in Arts), but because they are interesting. I think she should get her facts right before she starts mouthing off and generalising the Irish. No nonsense UCD-er Big decision: Victoria, how can you make a decision about having children on your own. Your husband should have a say in this too. Im very surprised that after five years of refusals youre still together. If my partner refused having children with me I would definitely reconsider the relationship again. NH, by e-mail Something to chew on: PD, I had to sit with a guy for two days who did this constantly, eventually I told him to chew with his mouth closed. Another terrible noise is the sound of someone eating an apple, slurping, sucking, dribbling all over themselves. And dont get me started on noisy cereal eaters. EF, by e-mail In Brief capable of being repaired so you must have a licence for it. In the UK you have to have a TV licence but there are no ads on BBC between programmes. Here RT get your TV licence money and the money for advertisements as well so that they can pay Tubridy and Gerry Ryan. If I used their service I would happily pay for the (very expensive) TV licence but since I dont use their service why the hell did I have to pay 160 last week or face a fine of 1,200 and a day in court? Siobhan, by e-mail Anti-EU campaigners claim that the Lisbon Treaty would require Ireland to provide military assistance to other Member States. The decision taken following our initial referendum states that: It will be for Member States... to determine the nature of aid or assistance to be provided to a Member State which is the object of a terrorist attack or the victim of armed aggression on its territory. Such help could, therefore, be simply humanitarian, if we so choose. Elva Cullen, by e-mail Sendusyour txt I had a conversation recently with two of my European brothers and have found out a disturbing fact they shave their armpits (dont ask how this came up in conversation!). Is this normal in mainland Europe? Jonny Bass Thanks to the guy who gave me his spare Coldplay ticket on Monday night. What a gentleman and what a great gig! F The highly regarded Wall Street Journal has stated that the Irish Government is engaging in scare tactics to secure a Yes vote! Same treaty same result? Dan In response 2 Antonio F... twitches r not cruel 2 horses. In fact they release hormones 2 relax horses and does not harm or cause the horse pain. Jess O C, vet nurse Now that Ceann Comhairle John ODonoghue has given an apology I wonder if he is going to give the money back to the State? Pissed off Kev txt MAIL to 53131* index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html