After our heady victory in the Satin Pajama, best political weblog competition, it seems we’ve made it to the final of the Weblog Awards. We are up against some of the big beasts in the UK blogosphere, so we’ll have to wait and see what kind of impact we have in the voting figures. You can vote each day, if the spirit moves you, when the voting opens in the UK section. Just scroll up and down the main page …
Jeff Jarvis has been briefing the Guardian (though I can’t believe he didn’t charge an honorarium). If you’re in the business, or are charged with thinking about where all this Internet stuff is going, you should read this tightly packed and referenced screed on how journalism will shift from publishers to builders of relationships. 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 …
Spotted by the Eagle-eyed John Fay. Columnist with the Sunday Times in Ireland, Alan Ruddock, stopped by the Guardian’s Media section to give his thoughts on the way the Irish media is covering the Irish Ferries dispute[reg may be required, or try BugMeNot] The Irish media operate in a bubble that shields them from an evolving Irish society. Journalists are rarely sacked and can expect a job for life once they have union membership and a staff position. Culturally, they …
Gonzo assessed the situation, as of this morning, with regard to the proposed Community Restorative Justive guidelines and David Hanson went on the record, in November, on what those guidelines should look like. Those proposals have now been made public [pdf file], for a period of consultation *ahem* as NIO minister David Hanson states here “No decision on the way forward will be taken until the Government has fully considered all the views expressed by respondents as a result of …
Other weddings get the headlines today, but in Kilsheelan, Co. Tipperary, over the weekend there was a somewhat better-kept secret than the ceremony hosted at Sir John Leslie’s castle in 2002. Brian Warner, aka Marilyn Manson, married burlesque dancer Heather Sweet, aka Dita Von Teese, [who is rather pejoratively described as a stripper in the Belfast Telegraph] in, according to this report, a midnight ceremony with “children in makeup, dressed in these wonderful 19th century outfits, serving absinthe frappe”.. the …
There’s a brewing row in the States. This guy has been idly speculating about the source of the funding behind some of the US big bloggers to take on the mainstream at news production, and thinks he’s hit a raw nerve. Thanks again to David. 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 …
How Irish Dancing saved America’s Erotic Clubs. 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
Before we completely end our “coverage” of George Best on Slugger, just a few concluding thoughts. My favourite Best story was told to me second hand by my old mate Bernard on Saturday night. It is from the Swiss German woman who opened the whole food shop in Holywood back in the mid eighties. If I get some details wrong, it’s due to the lateness of the hour and the fact it was told to me some time after my …
CHUCK Feeny‘s bankrolling of some community restorative justice schemes that refuse to co-operate with the police is expected to run out in the spring. However, Government draft guidelines to be published today will propose making future State funding for these schemes dependent upon police supervision and sharing information with the police. The ‘guidelines’, even when finalised, can be ignored by CRJ… but at a price. The Sunday Times has predicted some of the Government proposals: An independent body, with police …
THE Secretary of State has finally succeeded in uniting the police and Sinn Fein on a single issue – opposition to his amnesty for members of the security forces suspected of terrorist acts or co-operation with loyalist paramilitaries during the Troubles. Gerry Adams believes those police and soldiers guilty of state killings or collusion… must be held to account, while the Superintendents’ Association of Northern Ireland opposes “equivalence” between “terrorist suspects who have fled justice” and “serving/former police officers, or …
BBC Radio Ulster’s Seven Days doesn’t appear to be online, but you can take my word for it that there was a blazing row on it yesterday, resulting in Ulster Unionist politician David McNarry walking out of the studio.McNarry’s premature exit from Broadcasting House was prompted by a debate over the Orangeman David Burrows appointment (not election, as McNarry rightly pointed out) to the Parades Commission – a quango McNarry wants abolished. But in the course of the discussion, a …
FORMER Northern Ireland police chief Sir Ronnie Flanagan gained a lot of experience policing a divided society while in charge of a transforming public service. Now he’s going to share that valuable knowledge with the new Iraqi police force, though republicans will no doubt question the ex-Special Branch leader’s ability to weed out terrorist sympathisers – a major part of the task facing him in Basra.The Guardian reported: [Defence Secretary] John Reid, acknowledged that there was a “problem” with the …
AS Mick noted, flickr has some great pics on it, and as I was idly clicking ‘refresh’ on the home page to look for new pics, I spotted this one. Nothing unusual about posters advertising a Christmas pantomime, but they wouldn’t have allowed a few weeks ago.Not so long ago, there was an anti-fly postering drive and Belfast City Council covered over all the Opera House posters on the hoarding near it, but they’ve all been replaced with these new …
The BBC has the funeral in pictures (though Flickr’s the place, where I’ve just kicked off a new group). There’s also clips of some
Well, it was tens rather than hundreds of thousands, according to Reuters. According to one policeman I spoke to the road from the Best house to the lights at the Newtownards Road was lined with forty thousand. Not bad, for the pig of a day it was. It was quiet and dignified demonstration of mass affection, nothing hysterical. When it passed people simply applauded, then turned and walked home. Just like a football match. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of …
to a young child MÁRGARÉT, áre you gríeving Over Goldengrove unleaving? Leáves, líke the things of man, you With your fresh thoughts care for, can you? Áh! ás the heart grows older It will come to such sights colder By and by, nor spare a sigh Though worlds of wanwood leafmeal lie; And yet you wíll weep and know why. Now no matter, child, the name: Sórrow’s spríngs áre the same. Nor mouth had, no nor mind, expressed What heart …
The BBC is webcasting lots of coverage of the funeral. Click here to watch the national coverage of the funeral, or here to watch the BBC NI coverage. You can listen to Radio Five Live’s coverage here, or Radio Ulster’s coverage here. Phew. Aaron_Scullion
James Kelly, the Methuselah of Irish journalism (who filed a report at Windsor Park the day Belfast Celtic players were crudely attacked, both on and off the pitch, at the end of the forties) has this to say about the Best funeral: Back home to his native rain sodden came the body of a legend, to an amazing emotional farewell never seen before, that I can recall, in a city where by some magic the deal of the football hero, …
As luck would have it, I happen to be in Belfast this morning. It wasn’t planned that way, but… The town is strangely quiet. The opinion here is split between the sceptics who think the whole Bestie thing is a hype and those who think it will be the biggest event in the history of Northern Ireland. That remains to be seen. If you want to follow the day’s events the ‘best’ way is through UTV, who are webcasting their …
While UTV carry the Press Association report noting the GAA statement expressing shock and bemusement at the police’s search of the Casement Park Social Club, as well as recording that “The Association has confirmed that it has reported the matter at the highest level to the Dublin Government” [But not the Police Ombudsman? – Ed], the BBC have another comprehensive round-up of today’s events, including quotes from Joe O’Boyle, Chairman of the Antrim County Board. Pete Baker
