I never come off a radio or TV programme without feeling yet again that the broadcasting media allow you to scratch the surface of a topic only. I had that old familiar feeling yesterday and today, after participating in two discussions. Yesterday was the Ulster Museum (no, Virginia, the question of it catering to nine counties […]
April, 2015
MRS WHITE RIDES AGAIN by Harry McAvinchey
I just thought you’d all need to read this .There was some discussion about “Mrs White” some time ago and I must admit I had problems initially believing that she was, in reality , no more than a comical construct cobbled together by a team of writers with the idea of selling the creation to […]
The DUP and referendophobia
Well, last night’s TV debate was a fractious wash-out, but it did sluice into the public debate one important point: the DUP don’t like referendums. You’ll remember Arlene Foster’s response when there was talk of a border poll: “Be careful what you wish for” she warned those seeking one. In other words, if a referendum […]
ARE THE DUP REALLY FIT FOR GOVERNMENT? by Harry McAvinchey
I just don’t think so….I’m asking myself the question after Jim Wells , our Health Minister , abandoned ship in the wake of the homophobic mess he created. The question I’m asking myself is “Are the DUP really fit for government in these secular times?” This being the 21st century ,it is a radically […]
So who’s going to win?
As people who visit this blogsite probably know, I lay claim to be among the top five worst predictors in the universe. I could no more number-crunch and come up with a sound prediction than I could spend a pleasant evening with the Doddses comparing mushroom-growing techniques. If it’s “What’s going to be the state […]
CHIMPS IN COURT by Harry McAvinchey
My little two -year old golden granddaughter’s current fixation is on all things “monkey” ….or I should say “mOnkeeey” , which is how she says it .She has two furry toys “Big Monkey” and “Little Monkey2”, both of which have to be attended to ; wheeled about , brought to bed , picnicked with and […]
So tell me, Nigel…
Oh dear. Oh dear oh dear oh dear. If the DUP had gone into a huddle and said “Right guys, let’s think of something that’ll make it harder for any UK party to go into coalition with us. Mmm. Let’s see… Sammy – could you say something about evolution?…Nah, doesn’t have that zing. Edwin – […]
On being the same and different
It’s funny (that’s funny-peculiar, although I suppose there are funny-ha-ha things as well, some intended, some not) what you see on TV. I was watching the RTÉ news last night and the end bit – after Eileen or whatever the newscaster’s called had said good night – there was a sequence of several minutes where […]
Gallipoli and all that
To start with a personal point: for reasons which are a mixture of fear and disgust, I believe taking human life in any circumstances is a truly awful thing. That’s why I’ve always admired people like the Quakers who refuse to involve themselves in armed conflict of any kind, while other religious denominations find no irony […]
THE CAT IS OUT OF THE BAG by Harry McAvinchey
Jim Wells and the DUP have , once again , allowed their paranoia to climb out of that leery old sack of rotting potatoes.As Health Minister , he follows in the grand tradition of his former minister Edwin Poots in waving that anti-gay flag. With Mr Poots it was the plague of “gay blood” , […]