step away from the pumpkin!

A couple of seasonal posts coming up. Since the BBC have decided to inform us that pumpkins are now usurping turnips as the vegetable of choice at Halloween.. unless you’re Baldrick that is.. *ahem*.. here’s a useful animated guide to carving your Jack O’Lantern.. found by Cullen at Half a Pica Distance away. Pete Baker

Hacks hanging on..

At The Front Page, Emily Bearn isn’t impressed by the general media’s setting up camp at Cromwell Hospital in an attempt to cover George Best’s condition on a minute-by-minute basis – see examples here, here, here, here, here and here. How about giving George Best, his family and friends and the staff of the hospital – not to mention the other patients – a little dignity and space.. and move the caravan on? Pete Baker

Unravelling…?

WE seem to be at the ‘tying-up-loose-ends’ stage of the political process, or at least, that’s the impression we’re supposed to be getting. But there are some pretty fundamental issues to be addressed if this really is the endgame that is supposed to precede the return of a devolved government. Cracks are opening up as the parties get down to the nitty-gritty of policing, justice and dealing with the past…Issues such as the proposed amnesty for suspected terrorist fugitives and …

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Smoke and mirrors behind the U-turn…

THE fiasco over the introduction of a smoking ban in the UK doesn’t just show how the Government is in complete disarray on the issue, it demonstrates the level of contempt it has for Northern Ireland. Announcing the ban here earlier this month, the Health Minister (a heavy smoker until recently) said “no-one has a right to subject colleagues and workmates to the dangers and hazards of second-hand smoke and passive smoking. No-one has a right to subject members of …

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Smoke and mirrors behind the U-turn…

THE fiasco over the introduction of a smoking ban in the UK doesn’t just show how the Government is in complete disarray on the issue, it demonstrates the level of contempt it has for Northern Ireland. Announcing the ban here earlier this month, the Health Minister (a heavy smoker until recently) said “no-one has a right to subject colleagues and workmates to the dangers and hazards of second-hand smoke and passive smoking. No-one has a right to subject members of …

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Transferring in the next few hours…

In the next few hours we will be moving over to the new software platform. Once moved we’ll be free to open the sorely missed comments zone again. Although our readership figures have remained relatively bouyant, we’ve missed your company and robust challenges to Slugger’s good authority. In the meantime, can I ask all bloggers to refrain from blogging until I can give the all clear! It will make Big Blog’s job a lot easier and expedite matters more quickly. …

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Britain and Ireland launch reception…

The Britain and Ireland site has been live for nearly a week now. But we have a launch reception at the Institute of Governance in Queens tomorrow evening starting at six o’clock. Trevor Ringland, former Irish rugby International and British and Irish Lion will be giving the keynote speech for the first sports related issue. If you want to come along let Catherine know at [email protected] or call 00 353 (0)1 707 1929. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. …

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What future for CRJ after SF accept policing?

Thoughts, prompted by a recent edition of the Politics Show, from the Broom of Anger blog on the role of organisations like Community Restorative Justice after any prospective acceptance of policing by Sinn Fein. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Fabian Britishness seminar…

One of the key recommendations of A Long Peace? was for Unionists to involve themselves in the wider loing term debate about the changing nature of Britishness. Next January the Fabians are running a massive conference on the subject. It will be interesting to see whether in the final event, Unionists do get themselves involved in that wider discussion. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the …

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President Bush’s SCOTUS nominee withdraws

Mick previously noted the increasing difficulties facing President Bush’s nominee to the US Supreme Court, White House counsel, Harriet Miers. Today Harriet Miers announced she has withdrawn her nomination, sparing the President, potentially, further damaging displays of public opposition to the nomination from Senators of both parties. More here and at the SCOTUSblog. Or, as Ken puts it – “Yay. Our three minute national nightmare is over.” Pete Baker

Right Honourable Ian Paisley…

This is a few days old now, but it seems that Ian Paisley has finally made it into the British political establishment. He’s now officially a member of the Privy Council, a body that has not corporately met in over fifty years, but which will give Dr Paisley privileged access to matters of national import and security. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media …

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When democracy gets in the way..

In the absence of an operational NI Assembly, the announcement of a smoking ban in all public areas can be made by NIO Minister Shaun Woodward to an invited audience at the Waterfront Hall. Alas, when it comes to a functioning polity, such proposals must negotiate the trickier waters of democratic politics. In this case resulting in a partial smoking ban, described as unworkable in this report, which also notes Tony Blair as being against a total ban.. in England. …

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Given level playing field Republicans should back police

Interesting interview with the South African minister for intelligence Ronnie Kasrils in Daily Ireland. In it he draws parallels between his own party, the ANC, and Sinn Fein. He also urges that party to engage professionally and ethicly once it is satisfied there is a level playing field on policing. The question remains as to how and when the party will read that the playing field to be ‘level’. Legislation to effectively pardon ‘on the runs’ appears to be in …

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Lisburn City Council facing legal action on access to Cherry Room

The decision by Lisburn District Council to deny the use of the Cherry Room to same-sex [civil] marriage ceremonies, a motion proposed by Alliance Party Councillor Seamus Close, and initially passed by the Council, caused discord among councillors when the issue gathered media coverage. It has also prompted a protest at Wednesday’s council meeting by the Gay Rights Association and they may take the council to court to challenge the decision. Pete Baker

Guy Fawkes programme goes ahead!

An amendment to a story we blogged back in August on a documentary on Guy Fawkes and the conspiracy to foment Catholic revolution in England he was involved in. It seems that despite attempts to block its broadcast, it is destined to go ahead as planned on ITV 1 at 9.45pm, next Tuesday 1st November! Unfortunately I’ll be in Denmark and won’t get to see the live version. But we hope to have the comments back by then. Let us …

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Transfer continues…

We are still working on getting the comments back, although I know it’s killing some of our bloggers to know what people think of the various issues we kick up through the various blogs, as much as it has frustrated some of you not being able to have your say! The company doing the transfer is working as quickly as it can, but it is a complex procedure if we are to retain all the back stories from the last …

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Rates rise expose another democratic deficit

No one, it seems, is happy with the £1 a week rates rise announced by Secretary of State Peter Hain. The Newsletter puts it down to Hain’s left wing extravagances. If ever there was an indication of what the term democratic deficit emans, it has to be a sudden 19% jump in the cost of local services!In the absence of Stormont, the only means of expressing dissent over spending and tax decisions is through local councillors. However the various quangos …

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Non government racks up £100 million tag

Tom Peterkin examines the cost of a mothballed Stormont, now sitting at £100,000 over the last three years of inactivity. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

State Department petitioned to lift fundraising ban

Following Peter Hain’s decision to restore Sinn Fein’s allowances, seven members of the US House of Representatives have petitioned the State Department to lift the ban on Sinn Fein’s fundraising in the US. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Following the money…

THE controversy over the handling of a PSNI contract has been raising eyebrows of late, including the High Court judge who called for an investigation into alleged corruption. It’s so serious, even the DUP’s Sammy Wilson wants external investigators too look into matters, a position more favoured by nationalists (but readily explained by the fact that the company owner is a DUP councillor). Paranoia reigns, but with the PSNI investigating itself, will we really find out if there were any …

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