Profile for Kensei
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Latest posts from Kensei (see all)
Kensei has posted 47 times (0 in the last month).
Why is blackmail illegal?
So, you’ve probably seen the story about David Letterman being blackmailled over his affairs. This forms the basis of a thought provoking piece in the New Yorker asking why blackmail is illegal: A final call went out to Walter Block, the libertarian economist. Block believes that blackmail, like smoking, is “yucky” but should be legal. [...] more »
Bleg: What is the issue with money for P&J?
Exciting innovation! The excellent Freakonomics blog occasionally runs a “bleg” defined as: A bleg = blog + beg — i.e., using a blog to beg for information. In that spirit, the following types of comment keeps popping up regarding the devolution of Policing and Justice: PSNI is in serious financial trouble at present, if a [...] more »
“But I don’t happen to believe in Unionism”
H/T to qubol for this. On a predictably heated thread on football eligibility from a few years back: IJP Go join the UUP. Posted by kensei on Oct 24, 2007 @ 11:28 PM Why would I join the UUP? Well, the North Down Westminster seat in due course? Or a walk-in for MEP? If I [...] more »
On the uneasy morality of violence
This article from Vincent Browne does eventually wind up comparing the killing of Louis Mounbatten to the Nazis in a roundabout way, but his attempt at working through his logic should be appreciated rather than scorned. Many on this site profess a moral certainty in their favoured direction over the Troubles that I have never [...] more »
“Bloggers are nerds. This is obvious.”
Fantastic speech by John Hodgman at Radio & TV Correspondents’ Dinner with President Obama in attendance. Subtle, clever, and genuinely funny. Truly worthy of the best nerds. more »
The state of the SDLP is leading to a crisis in Nationalism
I think Mark, in common with others, has underrated the Sinn Fein performance in the North. Brian lamented parties playing up the significance of topping the pole, but seemed miss that whatever Chris or commentators here might have posted, the SF leadership assuredly did not do it. They also largely resisted the temptation to cause [...] more »
Musical Interlude
So a little interlude on one of my other interests. A now extensive gig going record has revealed that it is painfully rare to catch band that is special, especially a local one. I stumbled over The Lowly Knights supporting California indie folksters Port O’Brien, and they accomplished the very rare feat of being better [...] more »
The Unpost
Or the “Social Media Super Political Text Vortex” if you prefer. Inspired by Mick’s unconference, I am having an unpost. No doubt you, like me, get through about a zillion articles that you either forget about a bit later, aren’t entirely relevant to the remit of the site, or you don’t have time to dig [...] more »
Fungiblity
Stephanie Flanders nails why I found it impossible to build the requisite outrage at the expenses scandal: The idea is this: money is fungible. Put simply, that means one £50 note is the same as any other. They all have the same value and they will all buy the same amount of stuff. Put it [...] more »
Childish
So someone finally asked me why it’s the Ulster Conservative and Unionist New Force, or CUMBLA. The Daily Show With Jon Stewart M – Th 11p / 10c 10 F#@king Years – NAMBLA thedailyshow.com Daily Show Full Episodes Economic Crisis Political Humor I love the Daily Show. more »
Latest comments from Kensei (see all)
Kensei has commented 298 times (0 in the last month).
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Comment on “…republicans are in a rather worse position than the SDLP”
on 29 January 2010 at 8:01 pm
Mic
Lads, do you read Brian Feeney for balance? No, you read him for insight.
So “insights” from the last two days:
– Getting involved inn the IRA was really because you wanted to screw children / your mum / open wounds
– SF and their voters are entirely driven by hatred of Prods
Perhaps you’d be better picking insights from these articles with a scalpel and not a shovel? Or generally adding some value rather simply dumping things here?
And no, Mick, I’m convinced you are a Tory because your sympathies don’t appear to tilt anywhere else, and they do appear to tilt in a fashion that sympathises with even the most ludricrious positions. Not much symapthy with SF; they are in default.
How are you voting in the next election, by the way?
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Comment on Secret talks on Unionist Unity hosted by the Orange Order, before Hatfield…
on 29 January 2010 at 4:19 pm
Pete
It does?
Yes. Anything else?
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Comment on Secret talks on Unionist Unity hosted by the Orange Order, before Hatfield…
on 29 January 2010 at 4:17 pm
Mick
So let me turn your question around and ask you what did SF do other than try to spin May 08 into a deadline that they had nothing to do for?
Did you miss the supporting the police? And coming out an very publicly criticising the dissidents? I seem to recall MMG getting an award from somewhere……
In fact, they did a shitload more for Unionist confidence than the DUP, which is probably why MMG gets at least a tiny bit fo respect form taht quarter.
SF made it abundantly clear that they couldn’t live with no P&J devolution. People are now complaining it’s come to the logical conclusion fo that.
If the timeline was totally meaningless, Mick, why have it in the document? You set expectations. What is its purpose? Answers on a postcard please.
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Comment on “…republicans are in a rather worse position than the SDLP”
on 29 January 2010 at 4:10 pm
Seymour
Right now, the SDLP should be “all guns blazing” attacking the Shinners for their threats to bring down the Executive at a time when evidence is emerging that the majority of Northern Irish people from both communities want Power Sharing to be a success.
They can do that, and they’ll get tanked. Attackign SF does not prove you are any better at wringing progres sout of the DUP. It doesn’t indicate that you have any of your opwn ideas. And attack dog politics can be a big turn off. It would be minimal help to the SDLP.
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Comment on “…republicans are in a rather worse position than the SDLP”
on 29 January 2010 at 3:36 pm
Apparently the evidence for SF voters fanatically hating Unionists is, um, voting SF.
Second, it makes the asusmption that current arrangements are the end game and immutable, which seems to be the MSM view but oddly they seem to believe Scotland could withdraw form the Union under the irght conditions.
Third, SF or anyone else is perrfectly entitled to pull the plug if there is anythign they can’t live with. That is entirely within the negotiated agreements. Also brinkmanship is a strategy with diminishing returns, but it is a perfect valid tactic.
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Comment on “They’re unprofessional with what they’re doing.”
on 28 January 2010 at 10:56 pm
Fitz
Its humourous, but strikes me as a quote taken out of context or otherwise managled.
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Comment on SWOTing the parties: Weaknesses of the DUP
on 27 January 2010 at 10:17 pm
– Haven’t really prepared their electorate for necessary compromises
– No real strategy in the event of collapse, unlike UUP
– Blanket blocking of anything SF wants has soldified SF’s support rather than damaged them
– Robinson fundamentally weakened by expenses and Iris scandals, even if he holds on to his position
– Some occassional lapses of discipline and solo runs — a leadership fight might bring divisions to the fore
– They are almost certain to lose seats in any forthcoming Assembly election
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Comment on “All tender and effeminate notions must be stilled by a cold and single-blooded passion.”
on 27 January 2010 at 6:34 pm
jtwo
If theyd on’t follow whaty Slugger says, then it doesn’t count or they have it all wrong. See also P&J devolution
Islamic suicide bombers take this diseased sexuality to its ultimate conclusion by turning their very bodies into weapons.
This is so bad I just can’t dignify the rest of it with comment.
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Comment on SWOTing the parties: Strengths of the DUP…
on 27 January 2010 at 5:19 pm
Mick
I think you are better divving up generally positives and generally negatives. You’ll have too many threads and too much confusion otherwise
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Comment on SWOTing the parties: Strengths of the DUP…
on 27 January 2010 at 5:06 pm
- They can probably tolerate no deal; the Unionist electorate never punish people for saying no.
- Electorate might back them if it looks like they are going to further negotiations
- Leverage, at least while they are the largest Unionist Party: having frustrated SF so far there is a lot left on the table to negotiate
- Some good electoral cycles mean they have a broader spectrum of Unionist opinion than they traditionally did, and a wider bas eof representatives.
- The TUV make them look relatively less extreme
- The UUP seem insistent on repeatedly messing up
- One or two able MPs that could be moved to the Assembly if needed to shore up performance
- Generally decent discipline
- Incoming Tory Government may be more favourable, allowing them to play for time
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