Thursday, July 31, 2008
On the subject of commenters…
These guys are probably my favourite double act on the web. They go from the deadly serious to the apparently trivial. Here’s Mickey Kaus and Bob Wright talking about commenters on blogs and what they mean. Bob’s a fan and thinks they add something vital to the Bloggingheads.tv site. Mickey’s a sceptic, and doesn’t permit comments on his own blog. It gets a bit hard core just about ten minutes in, where Mickey says “one of the bad things [about the internet] is that you pay attention to your commenters”. Hmmm…
Mick Fealty @ 08:06 PM
Victims to lose chance to pursue Libyan government in US courts?
The Newsletter is reporting that the US administration is close to finalising a bill which would see the remaining sanctions against Libya lifted in exchange for out of court compensation settlements for US victims of Libyan supported terrorist attacks. This deal would, however, exclude non-US citizens including those in Northern Ireland who were victims of IRA terrorist attacks which received Libyan logistic support; these are reported to include Enniskillen, Teebane and the Shankill Fish shop. Jeffrey Donaldson has already raised this issue with the Bush administration and has said that he will continue to pursue it. According to Willie Frazer of FAIR Democrats in the House of Representatives and Senate may oppose the legislation.
Turgon @ 08:06 PM
“We have water..”
The strong indications have already been noted, but we now have confirmation from the latest samples taken by Nasa’s Phoenix lander
“We have water,” said William Boynton of the University of Arizona, lead scientist for the Thermal and Evolved-Gas Analyzer, or TEGA. “We’ve seen evidence for this water ice before in observations by the Mars Odyssey orbiter and in disappearing chunks observed by Phoenix last month, but this is the first time Martian water has been touched and tasted.”
Pete Baker @ 06:58 PM
“Back-up dancers prefer anonymity..”
Time for a little levity.. and a little science. Via the Guardian’s Ian Sample who spotted it here. As I noted previously, the Guardian’s had some great articles on the Large Hadron Collider at Cern. And as Ian says, “Yes, it’s a rap about particle physics, yes it mentions antimatter and the Higgs boson, but you know what? I quite like it. There, I said it.” And you know what? So do I. Enjoy the Large Hadron Collider rap! Seriously.
Pete Baker @ 06:05 PM
“The community is totally opposed to this event..”
Echoes of St James’? The BBC report an “attack on the home of of a community worker” in the Dunclug estate in Ballymena after the “removal of bonfire material” intended to mark the anniversary of internment. Sinn Féin MLA Daithí McKay, and SF Cllr Pádraig Mc Shane, claim to have been assaulted in the area this morning and blame “criminal and anti social elements who are using this bonfire as a cover for other activities”, adding “The community is totally opposed to this event”. And the Ballymena Times have interviewed the “community worker”, Barry Gordon - who as Chairman of the Dunclug Partnership Group welcomed the 2006 announcement of a £4.75 million funding package for the estate - and describe last night’s events as “believed to be dissident-republican led”. The report also notes
A large number of police officers and a helicopter were deployed to help defuse the tense standoff at the home of Barry Gordon which lasted from 11.00pm until almost 2.00am.
Adds Interestingly, although the Sinn Féin press statement identifies him as a councillor, in the BBC Newsline video report Pádraig McShane - who actually bears the brunt of the assault after Daithí McKay is initially punched - is only identified as a “community worker” and, as in the Ballymena Times report, as Chairman of the Dunclug Residents Association. But wasn’t he elected to Moyle District Council, to represent the Glens area, in a by-election in December last year after SF’s Marie McKeegan resigned her seat? Anyway, with the assailant clearly visible in the footage, I trust that Mr McKay and Mr McShane will be pressing charges? Update A 21-year-old Ballymena man has been charged with assault, disorderly behaviour and affray.
Pete Baker @ 01:08 PM
P&J deal could harm Alliance
Noel McAdam presents a counter-argument to why taking the P&J post would be electorally good for Alliance and bad for most other parties. It would involve a volte face on Alliance’s chosen role as ‘unofficial’ opposition and when they ‘helped’ the process before by re-designating they suffered electorally in the 2003 Assembly elections with a drop to 3.7% from 6.5%.
Fair Deal @ 12:02 PM
Councillor of the Week: Roberta Dunlop
All politics is local. As the poet Patric Kavanagh once said, “while the provincial man looks to the opinion of the metropolis, the parochial is never in any doubt about the social and artistic validity of his parish” And it’s true, despite the rather cynical view some commenters here on Slugger, that the public generally retains a high opinion of the local councillors. That’s largely because they are the first call when you want to get something done. Approachability is critical. Which is why Roberta Dunlop is our Counicllor of the Week.
Mick Fealty @ 11:30 AM
“The schemes being accredited today are..”
No sooner is the funding announced than those other 10 CBRJ schemes are accredited. Timing, eh? According to the Northern Ireland Criminal Justice Minister, Paul Goggins MP
“I have carefully examined all the relevant information on these schemes and share the view expressed by the Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice that there is no cause for concern in the way that Community Restorative Justice (Ireland) schemes now operate.”
That would be this view by the CJI. And this is how those schemes operate.
Pete Baker @ 11:28 AM
Challenging times for Victims Commission
With one legal challenge continuing, it has emerged that there is another challenge, this time in the Industrial and Fair Employment Tribunals in Belfast, against the First and deputy First Ministers’ setting up of the 4-member Victims Commission. Interesting detail from the Belfast Telegraph report
Dr Marie Breen-Smyth was offered one of the four jobs announced by Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness in January, but she turned it down — asking what had happened to the single post she applied for a year ago. And she warned officials at the time that the plan to appoint four Commissioners was a recipe for disaster.
Which suggests that one of the current 4 Commissioners was, at best, the fifth choice for the job. The report also notes that
Dr Breen-Smyth declined to comment on her legal action. A spokesman for OFMDFM said: “These cases are due to come before the tribunals and will be strenuously defended by OFMDFM. In the circumstances it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
Ms Williamson’s lawyers want Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness called to the High Court to explain the reasons why they expanded the job. Mr Macdonald said the First Ministers have “stonewalled” because they are “refusing to say what they were thinking and doing during the relevant period”. Mr Justice Gillen is expected to rule over the summer on whether Mr McGuinness and the former First Minister should have to give evidence.
Unless they try the [new] Reynolds defence..
Pete Baker @ 11:10 AM
“a completely astonishing revelation”
If you haven’t heard of the Antikythera Mechanism before this will probably be more startling than the revealed seabed off Rathlin Island. The “technological marvel of antiquity” was discovered by sponge divers in 1901 near Antikythera, a small island off Greece’s south coast, and has perplexed and astonished researchers ever since. The complicated gearing mechanism is believed to have been constructed between 150-100BC. In 2005 a 8-tonne X-ray machine was transported to Greece to study the mechanism and the results, which have just been published in Nature, link the mechanism not just to scientific calculations, but to important cultural events. The report has also been picked up here and here. And there’s a fascinating video presentation at the Nature website well worth viewing.
Pete Baker @ 09:03 AM
£1m for special HET investigation
The Irish News reports that a special team within HET will investigate the murders of the Mount Vernon UVF gang and the NIO has provided £1m in funding (subs reqd).
Fair Deal @ 08:45 AM
“It is entirely within the rules for Assembly members..”
The Belfast Telegraph’s “Open Stormont” campaign continues. Six months after an initial FOI request to reveal the names of landlords of Assembly politicians’ constituency offices was made, and refused, the paper has successfully challenged that refusal. We already knew about one of those landlords. But, as David Gordon reports, as well as the number of politicians claiming rental expenses for party-owned premises, there are a number of otherwise anonymous Society’s named as landlords.
Pete Baker @ 08:16 AM
UUP selects
Former Councillor Basil Johnston has been selected by the UUP to run for the Enniskillen by-election. The BBC says the TUV will decide later this week. There seems little talk of what is happening on the nationalist side or whether SF will face a republican challenge.
CORRECTION The statistics quoted on a previous thread about Sylvia Hermon’s voting records for Labour were incorrect.
Fair Deal @ 08:07 AM
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Feile An Phobail Hits 20 With An Impressive Cast
Feile an Phobail celebrates its twentieth anniversary this year with probably the most impressive line up to date, starting this Saturday and running until the 10th August. The Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Ardal O’Hanlon, Brian Kennedy, The 4 of Us, Robert Ballagh, Tom Hayden, Nuala O’Loan, Gillian Slovo, Michael Patrick McDonald, Geraldine Hughes, Kathy Sinnott and Ronan Bennett are the headlining acts and speakers, though there are many, many more impressive acts, dramas and exhibitions to cater for all. Events have been organised for across west Belfast but also the City Centre, with a special marquee at Bank Street hosting a number of concerts.
Chris Donnelly @ 09:24 PM
Maurice Hayes at John Hewitt summer school
The BBC’s Arts Extra was from the John Hewitt summer school on Monday. I was driving past the Armagh exit on the M1 at the time and was sorely tempted to turn south. Elenwe would have gone mad, however; ah the problems of being married. Since I did not go to it I cannot comment much on the events. The Irish Times has an article about Maurice Hayes’ lecture on the peace process; entitled “A Game of Two Halves.”
Turgon @ 08:07 PM
Murphy remanded on bail until the end of December
Already delayed longer than expected, the trial of Thomas ‘Slab’ Murphy will be delayed further. His legal challenge to the validity of the order from Dundalk District Court sending him for trial in Special Criminal Court was previously rejected, but the “good republican” has now been granted a judicial review of the decision to try him at the non-jury court on tax evasion charges. The High Court proceedings will be heard on 18 November. [And thence to the Supreme Court? - Ed] Adds I’m not clear on whether a judicial review has actually been granted or whether just an application for a review will be heard in the High Court. I suspect the latter.
Pete Baker @ 06:48 PM
“And that raises one of the mysteries..”
It’s certainly a fascinating discovery, although I’m not sure why the BBC are so startled by the revealed seabed off Rathlin Island. The somewhat breathless report suggested “some [unknown] cataclysmic event” was responsible. Except that there’s already evidence that, over 6000 years ago, a rapid rise in sea levels transformed the landscape elsewhere on the archipelago “in a relatively short period of time”. Surely that could account for these findings? I know there are some geologists out there, any ideas? The survey is supported by the UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency [MCA] and the Marine Institute of Ireland and the MCA have released a video of the Rathlin results [Windows media file]. Adds The BBC report can be viewed here
Pete Baker @ 04:37 PM
Creation and the TUV (and zombies)
Voltaire said that “If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent Him.” Politics like nature abhors a vacuum and as such I would submit that if the TUV did not exist it would be necessary to invent it. Whatever the rights and wrongs of the moves by the DUP over the last 18 months and whether or not that represents a victory or defeat for unionism, their acceptance of power sharing with SF left a group of unionists without a party to represent their political position.
Turgon @ 12:43 PM
“A total of £600k over the next three years..”
Northern Ireland Criminal Justice Minister Paul Goggins, MP, has announced a funding package of £600,000 over the next three years for accredited Community Based Restorative Justice (CBRJ) schemes. The funding will be jointly provided, on an equal basis, by the Criminal Justice Agencies and The Atlantic Philanthropies. That’s despite criticisms of the CJI report on those currently unaccredited schemes.
Pete Baker @ 08:59 AM
New media keeping pressure on Iris
Interesting piece from former SDLP media guru, Conall McDevitt, on the role the internet has played in sustaining the pressure on Iris Robinson over her anti-gay remarks. He notes how Facebook groups have been started in the aftermath of the comments and that many Youtube videos have been recorded highlighting the controversy.
Chris Donnelly @ 08:47 AM
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Obama playing better abroad than at home?
Whatever you think about Barack Obama he has a certain brilliance in how he handles the media. But even after all the plaudits in Europe and an extremely tired and ropey campaign from John McCain his media qualities do not appear to be playing for him in the national polls. Think World Cup Final in 1974 (those of you who can remember that far back). 70 minutes of Dutch Total Football and one goal; twenty minutes of German precision, two goals and the championship of world soccer!
Mick Fealty @ 05:35 PM
a ‘profane use of the sacramentals’
It isn’t exactly a return to the extraordinary repressiveness of the first 50 years but RTÉ are right to challenge a Broadcasting Complaints Commission ruling that the use of images of “rosary beads, a priest’s collar and a bible or breviary”, as a background to a factual report on the Ferns inquiry report, were “likely to cause offence contrary to taste and decency guidelines.” Apparently one viewer had complained about what he claimed was a ‘profane use of the sacramentals’. From the RTÉ report
Opening the case for RTÉ today, Paul O Higgins SC said it was an unusual case with a flavour of the 1950s. Mr O’Higgins said the BCC had adjudicated on a complaint made by one person out of possibly hundreds of thousands of viewers. He said the decision was taken on the basis that the images were inappropriate and therefore likely to cause offence contrary to taste and decency guidelines.
Mr O’Higgins stressed the guidelines applied to matters of violence and sexual content and that the BCC had no jurisdiction to rule on the use of imagery in this case. He said the BCC had not found that the images were tasteless or indecent but rather sought to exercise a refined editorial judgement which it was not entitled to do. He said to do so amounted to giving the BCC a form of censorship not previously known in the history of the state.
Adds As wild turkey suggested in the comments zone, the original BCC ruling can be found here - direct link to word document here. It’s not the first ruling by the BCC against RTÉ which has relied on the belief that “sacraments should be treated with respect.” Update RTÉ reports that the two sides have reached a “settlement” rather than go through with the High Court hearing. Which is rather unsatisfying I would have thought, since the original BCC ruling still stands.. even if RTÉ don’t have to tell anyone about it..
Pete Baker @ 04:04 PM
The Milk Turns Sour As Sectarianism Rears Its Ugly Head
Two under age soccer teams from Dublin participating in the Milk Cup tournament have changed their accomodation following a sectarian attack on the original accomodation venue- a block of flats- of the clubs in Coleraine. A spokesperson for one of the targeted clubs, Crumlin United, said sectarian remarks were shouted.
“There were bottles, cans of beer, bricks and all sorts coming over towards the kids. The kids were terrified. Some of them are 14, others are 15,” he said.
Tournament organisers have condemned the incident. UPDATE: Joe Duffy’s Liveline had a conversation with Paul Hammond, one of the Crumlin United coaches, in which he describes a series of attacks on the accomodation involving several groups (and not one individual), attacking the front and rear of the accomodation. The team had to sleep in a homeless shelter last night.
Chris Donnelly @ 01:55 PM
“Policing here is still very much enshrined in politics.”
De facto leader of the UDA, Jackie McDonald, has already signalled that organisation’s intention to hold onto “the peoples’ guns” even as that ‘train’ service prepares to be cancelled. Meanwhile, interesting timing for out-going Assistant Chief Constable Peter Sheridan to be making waves with his comments in the Irish News [subs req for now]. Helpfully, the Belfast Telegraph repeats them. Naturally there’s been a certain focus on the apparent admission that police already have intelligence on the location of loyalist paramilitary arms dumps. From the Irish News report - Asked whether police have intelligence in place to locate loyalist weaponry, Mr Sheridan says: “Well, the short answer to that is yes — and then if the opportunity to arrest and prosecute is there, we will.” [Update Peter Sheridan has rejected the suggestion that police already know the locations saying he had said that they had intelligence systems in place to try to locate the arms dumps]. But of equal, if not more, interest is this further admission.
“Policing here is still very much enshrined in politics. No other police service has an IMC (Independent Monitoring Commission). No other police service has an IICD.”
Adds And according to a BBC report
Security Minister Paul Goggins and Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde met members of the [UDA’s] ruling “inner council” on Monday night. The NIO has confirmed Mr Goggins had private talks with the political representatives of the UDA and what it called “other leading loyalists”. The BBC understands they included the majority of the UDA’s inner council.
Pete Baker @ 12:11 PM
“We’re a sovereign nation, start respecting that fact…”
Over on Brassneck I’ve picked up on the Open Europe poll that came up with a 71% majority against a second poll on Lisbon. On Sunday morning Lorraine McNamara Mullaly of Open Europe went up against Minister of State for European Affairs Dick Roche on the Wide Angle programme on Newstalk. She ends up taking a roasting for being part of a British think tank interfering in Irish affairs. Roche has some legitimate questions about the framing of the pol questions, but the Minister also has some awkward questions about the Commission’s apparently deliberate misbriefing of the press ahead of the release of the Eurobarometer poll in June. You can hear the interview here.
