A glance at the week that was
TeXting, teXting
Move over metrosexuals, your time is over: here come the Metrotextuals: men who sign off their text messages to each other with a kiss (x), and it has nothing to do with sexual orientation. In fact, men in Britain have become so openly affectionate when it comes to mobile technology that new research indicates nearly a quarter of them regularly seal texts to their male pals with a kiss. “Metrotextuality” is most widespread among 18- to 24-year-old males with three-quarters regularly signing off with a kiss, and 23 per cent of this age group saying they even appreciate an “x” in a text exchange from people who aren’t close friends. It’s not just younger men that are embracing the 24th letter of the alphabet, however: one in 10 men over 55 often completes a text to another male with a kiss, according to the T-Mobile poll.
Mass appeal
Back on these shores, 18- to 24-year-olds may well be texting merrily most of the time, but chances are the phones are on silent for one activity that's on the rise: attending Mass.According to a new survey, weekly and monthly church attendance has increased in Ireland since our economy took a nose-dive. The Red C poll found weekly church attendance has increased 4 points to 46 per cent, while monthly attendance is at 65 per cent. Fianna Fáil voters are most likely to attend church at least once a month, while Green Party voters are the least likely. As for the text-happy 18-24 year olds? more than 50 per cent of them go at least once a month, while 31 per cent claim to attend Mass weekly.
"One wall was more than enough"
Berliner Hans-Joachim on the wall being erected in the city to keep non-ticketed punters from a U2 concert taking place to celebrate the fall of the original Berlin Wall
We now know
The Irish arts sectorbrings in €782 million a year and employs 26,519 people, new research has found. The report, commissioned by the Arts Council, also reveals €76 million of Arts Council funding generates €192 million in turnover.
Eating a lot of processed foodhas been linked to depression. A team from University College London found people who ate fresh fruit, veg and fish were at less risk than those who ate a lot of processed foods.
British prime minister Gordon Brownprefers X Factor to Strictly Come Dancing.
By numbers
1,500
The number of pubs that stopped operating in the past five years, according to a new report
€100m
The amount private fee-paying schools received in support from the taxpayer last year, according to new figures
156
The number of titles on the Impac literary award’s longlist, released this week