links for 2010-03-06

"Americans have every right to be angry at us," Google spokesperson Janet Kemper told reporters. "Though perhaps Dale Gilbert should just take a few deep breaths and go sit in his car and relax, like they tell him to do at the anger management classes he attends over at St. Francis Church every Tuesday night."

Most importantly for Ireland, Mr Fitzgerald raises the fundamental issue of accountability. It would be nice to be able to dismiss his perception that the Irish elite has little interest in taking responsibility for its actions and inactions. He is, unfortunately, right. There is precious little evidence that those at the top in the banks, in government or in the wider nexus of business and politics really understand the idea of being answerable for the disaster they caused.