Brian O’Neill

China cracks down on people storing their dead relatives in apartments…

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In most parts of the world, when the housing market crashes, people stop buying. But in certain parts of China, a property bust has created a bizarre new “growth” sector: apartments for the dead. Known as “Bone Ash Apartments,” these …

Arnold Carton

Should rich people get extra votes at the election?

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Most rich people own companies, they provide employment, they understand how our economy works. Should we give rich people 100 votes each at the next election, while restricting the rest of us to just a single vote? After all, they …

Brian O’Neill

Open Sunday – discuss what you like…

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The idea for Open Sunday is to let you discuss what you like. Just two rules. Keep it civil and no man/woman playing. Comments will close at 12 pm on Monday.

Brian O’Neill

Open sunday – politics free zone…

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In addition to our normal open Sunday, we have a politics-free post to give you all a break. So discuss what you like here, but no politics. Comments will close at 12 pm on Monday.

Allan LEONARD (Mr Ulster)

Curating the conflict: Everyday Objects and the challenge of representing the Troubles

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An online panel discussion hosted by The Peace Museum in Bradford brought together museum professionals, academics, and heritage practitioners to explore how the conflict in and about Northern Ireland has been represented in exhibitions. Chaired by Dr Louise Purbrick of the Royal …

Houdi McCabe

Storytime with Houdi – Cordless Chris and the caravan of love…

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As a nineteen year old trainee manager in Dublin in 1981, I never imagined I would end up in war torn Belfast four years later. I spent the next two years as deputy manager in the company’s biggest shop in …

Brian O’Neill

Incompetence – or are special needs children being used as political footballs?

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Yesterday I wrote about the Education Authority’s decision not to run summer schemes for children with special needs. By the afternoon, that position had quietly evaporated. Suddenly, everything was back on. Funding found, problems solved, show back on the road. …

Brian O’Neill

The International Olympic Committee bans transgender athletics from female categories…

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The Olympics has taken a new stand on one of the most toxic culture war battlefields over the last few years – that of transgender athletes. From The Guardian: In a 10-page document outlining its new policy, the IOC makes …

Brian O’Neill

Special needs kids are the latest to pay for Stormont dysfunction…

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It’s fair to say our general expectations of Stormont are on the low side. The best we can hope for at this stage is they do no harm, but every now and again they manage to surpass themselves with their …

Slugger Team

Jury Finds Social Media Giants Liable for Harm to User’s Mental Health

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A court in the US has found that Meta (the company behind Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp) and Youtube) deliberately built addictive social media platforms. According to the BBC A Los Angeles jury has handed down an unprecedented win for a young …