Lesbian Arab blogger They lie to us. Sometimes we find out and, I suspect, most of the time we don’t. The latest example is a young lesbian Arab blogger, who was claimed to have been kidnapped in Syria last week. All sorts of people were outraged at her fate and calls were made for this, […]
June, 2011
The naked PM and other embarrassing things
I try not to take pleasure in the thought of David Cameron swimming in the nip off the Antrim Coast or in any other way ally myself with the thousands, maybe millions who recently have enjoyed thinking about Cameron’s prime ministerial parts shivering in the grip of our scrotum-tightening waters. Maybe it never happened. Maybe […]
The naked PM and other embarrassing things
I try not to take pleasure in the thought of David Cameron swimming in the nip off the Antrim Coast or in any other way ally myself with the thousands, maybe millions who recently have enjoyed thinking about Cameron’s prime ministerial parts shivering in the grip of our scrotum-tightening waters. Maybe it never happened. Maybe […]
Ben Clingain RIP
This post is untypically non-political. I heard today that a former classmate of mine, Ben Clingain, died in Cleveland, Ohio yesterday. I did a book of interviews (‘Tales Out of School: St Columb’s College, Derry in the 1950s’) last year and Ben was one of those I interviewed. Like himself, the interview turned out modest, […]
Ben Clingain RIP
This post is untypically non-political. I heard today that a former classmate of mine, Ben Clingain, died in Cleveland, Ohio yesterday. I did a book of interviews (‘Tales Out of School: St Columb’s College, Derry in the 1950s’) last year and Ben was one of those I interviewed. Like himself, the interview turned out modest, […]
Maskey win and North-South meeting – predictable outcomes
Two events: one from yesterday, the other to come later today. Neither is of particular significance. Yesterday Paul Maskey was elected in West Belfast, polling, what was it, just over 70% of the vote. Last time out, Gerry Adams collected just over 71% of the vote. Maskey’s next rival, the SDLP ‘s Alex Attwood, came […]
Maskey win and North-South meeting – predictable outcomes
Two events: one from yesterday, the other to come later today. Neither is of particular significance. Yesterday Paul Maskey was elected in West Belfast, polling, what was it, just over 70% of the vote. Last time out, Gerry Adams collected just over 71% of the vote. Maskey’s next rival, the SDLP ‘s Alex Attwood, came […]
The Commons knows its place; why can’t John O’Dowd?
John O’Dowd had a difference of opinion with the TUV’s Jim Allister up in Stormont the other day. Allister referred to him as “Her Majesty’s Minister for Education”. “I am not Her Majesty’s Minister for Education” O’Dowd told the once-potent threat to the DUP. “I am the people’s Minister for Education, a title of which […]
The Commons knows its place; why can’t John O’Dowd?
John O’Dowd had a difference of opinion with the TUV’s Jim Allister up in Stormont the other day. Allister referred to him as “Her Majesty’s Minister for Education”. “I am not Her Majesty’s Minister for Education” O’Dowd told the once-potent threat to the DUP. “I am the people’s Minister for Education, a title of which […]
Limavady neutral environment? Don’t give the cat a seizure
William Ferguson Massey Gerry Anderson says he longs to live somewhere else because of arguments over them, John Hume’s da said you couldn’t eat one, and last night Councillor Boyd Douglas (TUV) brought one into a meeting of Limavady Borough Council. The union flag displayed by Councillor Douglas was contrary to the no-flags-in-the-chamber policy of […]