What is going on in the republican movement ? Is the IRA defunct or not? Everyone really needs to know this . I think we assumed that when they decommisioned their arms all those years ago that they were finished with all of that .We assumed that the conflict had run its course and was […]
August, 2015
A political dialogue
Picture by vectorportal A: Cui bono? B: I beg your pardon? A: I said ‘Cui bono’ – it’s Latin. Loose translation: Who gains? B: Oh right. I thought you had something stuck in your windpipe. Who gains what? A: Who gains from this hullabaloo over the deaths of Gerard Davison and Kevin McGuigan? B: I know […]
Help!
OK. This is the most important blog I’ll write this year and your response to it will help decide the quality of life for fellow human beings. On Sunday 6 September, The Waterside Half-Marathon will take place in Derry. In the teeth of common sense and medical advice from experts around the world (right, […]
The deaths of Gerard Davison and Kevin McGuigan
It was co-incidental that I (and several others) were writing about the fact that the IRA is now defunct, when the killing of Kevin McGuigan occurred. His death was seized on by the media, who declared that it was the work of the IRA, in response to the killing of Gerard ‘Jock’ Davison some months […]
ADVENTURES IN SITE -BUILDING AND THE MENDACITY OF TECHNOLOGY by Harry McAvinchey
Bah !! Humbug!! Am I alone in being nostalgic for switches and buttons and simplicity? Simple human interaction even?There was a time when you knew where you were with technology as it was. A radio ; a record player; a car.. You had levers, switches and buttons. It’s like the discovery that a simple lead […]
Is the North of Ireland really just an economic drain? by Seamas Óg
Picture by reynemedia There has been a lot of discussion on how to get a United Ireland; will it happen? What will it look like? How can unionists be persuaded to vote for it? Although I think the more important question is how can all Catholics in the North and Southerners in general be persuaded? […]
Down with The Deficit!
Picture by Conservatives It’s amazing the stuff people tell us we should be worried about. Take, if you will, The Deficit. This was a popular topic back in the days of Thatcher, who told us that running a country was like running a household budget: you must above all avoid debt. David Cameron, along with […]
Politicians and the electorate: can social media bridge the gap?
Picture by Alcanter214 I’m very impressed by the level of interest that’s been shown in this site in recent days. Comments by readers have been thoughtful and detailed, and arguments (in many if not all instances) have been built on logic and evidence, rather than trying to poke a stick in the other guy’s eye. […]
SMOKE ,SMOKE,SMOKE THAT VAPER OUTSIDE by Harry McAvinchey
“Smoke, smoke, smoke that cigarette Puff, puff, puff and if you smoke yourself to death Tell St. Peter at the Golden Gate That you hate to make him wait But you just gotta have another cigarette” That’s part of a great old country and swing song that was performed by among others Tex Ritter […]
Election time, politically engaged or disengaged? Whose problem? by Seamas Óg
Picture by Democracy Chronicles Whilst attending a debate on nationalism the issue of voter apathy arose. I have to admit to making the comment that for the first time in 18 years I spoilt my vote because not one politician had been at my door. A SF rep told me that was no excuse […]