June 2010 – Page 3 – Slugger O'Toole

Belfast – a tale of three protests

Blank on June 25, 2010, 8:51 pm | Readers 6

Belfast is protest central tomorrow – for the leftie, libertarian, socialist, republican or just plain serial moaner you are positively spoilt for choice. In the best traditions of protest, you will have to choose because three protests take place separately and are essentially competing. You could join the protest against the DUP/SF drafted bill that would restrict the right to public assembly – Stop the Public Assemblies Bill, leaving the Arts College at 12pm heading towards the City Hall. You …

LRO celebrates one year in orbit

Pete Baker on June 25, 2010, 3:52 pm | Readers 1

Launched on 18 June 2009, Nasa’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter sent back its first images of the lunar surface shortly afterwards and has just completed its first full year in orbit. To celebrate Nasa has put together a short video of ten cool things its found – some of which I may have noted at the time. Image credit: Nasa/Goddard/Arizona State University. Video credit: NASA/Goddard. Pete Baker

‘Comrade Newton’ ignores the fact NI’s best jobs are in the public sector

Peter Bunting on June 25, 2010, 3:18 pm | Readers 17

To we are offering Peter Bunting, Assistant General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions a platform to respond to Newton Emeron’s piece ‘Days of whine and roses maybe over, Comrade’ in yesterday’s Irish News. His argument was, briefly, that public sector wages should be brought down towards the same level as those in the private sector.

Ciste nua do Ghaeilge ó thuaidh; ach b’fhéidir go tagann próiseas ró dothuigthe leis

Mick Fealty on June 25, 2010, 12:45 pm | Readers 5

An buíochas do Con fá an cuntas seo ar an ciste nua infheistíochta don Ghaeilge (£8m ar fáidh trí bliana). Ach tá ceist buartha ag Con: cé leis an t-airgead sa chiste seo? An poiblí go hiomlán, nó páirtí príobháideach? B’fhéidir De réir an méid atá cloiste agam, is tacadóirí Shinn Féin den chuid is mó na baill atá ar mBórd seo. B’fhéidir gurb iad na Gaeil is Gaelaí ar chlár na cruinne, ach ní leor sin. Na h-ainmneacha a …

Friday post: Beyond the idea of free schools…

Mick Fealty on June 25, 2010, 12:15 pm | Readers 1

Fascinating 4 minute Ted presentation from Dave Eggers from McSweeneys, aka the Pirate Supplies Shop, aka a tutorial centre… There’s now 826 centres across the world manned by volunteers… The nearest one we know of, is Fighting Words in Dublin… Adults just giving lots of face time to kids who need it 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 …

Will anyone here object….

Blank on June 25, 2010, 11:55 am | Readers 31

With continuing speculation on a visit by the British Queen to Ireland one person is ahead of the game. Danny Morrison has been talking to the BBC about struggling through the crowds at Glastonbury and being rewarded with a courteous chat from Prince Charles. When we got up it was Prince Charles… He was the only person out of quarter of a million wearing a shirt and tie. He asked myself and my brother Ciaran did we actually camp out …

Suspected ETA terrorist arrested in Belfast

Pete Baker on June 25, 2010, 11:49 am | Readers 4

RTÉ reports that the Spanish interior ministry has identified a 40-year-old man arrested in Belfast on Thursday, under terrorism legislation in a joint operation between the PSNI and Spanish police, as Fermin Vila Michelena. From the BBC report Michelena is a suspected member of the armed Basque separatist group ETA and wanted in Spain for a number of attacks. The Spanish interior ministry said he was the subject of three arrest warrants. The ministry said he was part of ETA’s Madrid cell …

Fianna Fail Cumman raffling tickets to meet the Queen…

Mick Fealty on June 25, 2010, 11:28 am | Readers 5

So Brian Cowan has finally announced the Queens trip is definitely on. It’s been something of an open secret around Leinster House since last February, and Fianna Fail at large it seems. (Just when was he planning to tell the rest of us?) For a good example of how far down the list briefing the press comes, see this little fundraiser for the local Newtownshandrum Junior B Hurling Team 2010 posted on Facebook in the last few days: With the …

Did capitalism end slavery?

Mack on June 25, 2010, 11:04 am | Readers 2214

Don Boudreaux thinks so – The fact is that slavery disappeared only as industrial capitalism emerged. And it disappeared first where industrial capitalism appeared first: Great Britain. This was no coincidence. Slavery was destroyed by capitalism. To begin with, the ethical and political principles that support capitalism are inconsistent with slavery. As we Americans discovered, a belief in the universal dignity of human beings, their equality before the law, and their right to govern their own lives cannot long coexist …

Photograph of the Day – Red White Blue

Moochin Photoman on June 25, 2010, 7:00 am | Readers 2

Moochin PhotomanPhotographer and visual artist based in Belfast. I have facilitated community based workshops with groups as diverse as visually impaired individuals in Dungannn, Travellers across Northern Ireland, Young Offenders and many community groups across Belfast. My work has exhibited extensively here in Northern Ireland in group and individual shows and has been shown in North America and i had my first solo international exhibition in New Zealand. I have been the recipient of a number of grants from the …

Army makes safe substantial viable device in South Armagh

Pete Baker on June 24, 2010, 9:39 pm | Readers 14

A three day security alert in Keady, south Armagh, ended today with Army technical officers making safe a reported 160lb bomb. Police believe a fire started in the area on Sunday morning was an attempt to lure officers into an ambush. In February there was a failed improvised mortar attack on the police station in Keady. From the RTÉ report At a press facility today, Area Commander Chief Inspector Ken Mawhinney said that those responsible were intent on killing or causing serious …

Commenters: “Ungovernable as the tribal lands of Pakistan”

Mick Fealty on June 24, 2010, 4:50 pm | Readers 6

On Slugger, we’re currently in the process of packing down a tight set of rules which we hope to share with other political blogs who are keen on promoting civil engagement between their commenters. Top of the list of things we hope to capture is a clearer understanding of the difference between a breach of the rules of civility and and a set of politics you (ie, a complainant) simply don’t like, as Neil Swidey notes in a feature piece …

Catholic Church: the lobby and its fear of the public square

Mick Fealty on June 24, 2010, 1:26 pm | Readers 5

It has to be the strangest pairing in the Blogosphere, but my old Telegraph colleague, Damian “the blood-crazed ferret” Thompson has taken rather a shine to old Splintered lately… mostly for his acute observation of the politics of the high end of the English Catholic Church… Almost at random here’s a particularly interesting snippet on their modus operandi as seen by Splintered: Lobbying ministers is fine, but lobbying ministers at the expense of any other methods, like, oh, making a public …

“Kaiser Wilhelm had a master plan for Europe…”

Pete Baker on June 24, 2010, 12:14 pm | Readers 23

The Irish Times reports pointed criticism from former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt of the recent German and French bickering in Europe. And the report notes some interesting comments from Ulrike Guérot, Berlin head of the European Council on Foreign Relations… Leading European think tanks were more critical about Mr Schmidt’s “Wilhelmine” remarks. “As much as I see his point, that Germany is being perceived in Europe in a negative way, Kaiser Wilhelm had a master plan for Europe whereas in Berlin …

Photograph of the Day – Sentinel

Moochin Photoman on June 24, 2010, 8:19 am | Readers 3

Moochin PhotomanPhotographer and visual artist based in Belfast. I have facilitated community based workshops with groups as diverse as visually impaired individuals in Dungannn, Travellers across Northern Ireland, Young Offenders and many community groups across Belfast. My work has exhibited extensively here in Northern Ireland in group and individual shows and has been shown in North America and i had my first solo international exhibition in New Zealand. I have been the recipient of a number of grants from the …

The DUP should stop sniping at Saville

Brian Walker on June 23, 2010, 11:37 pm | Readers 8

Liam Clarke adds to the Slugger case for public disclosure of HET files and backs it up with the powerful example of the battle of St Matthew’s. The HET has the raw data to answer most of the questions of the troubles; if not to the level of proof required for prosecution, then at least to a level useful in the writing of history. They hold the records of every police investigation, as well as intelligence reports and the findings …

A smashed in face – blame the parents?

Blank on June 23, 2010, 8:44 pm | Readers 9

The brutal assault of 13 year old Shannon Smyth with a brick (at least) in Moyard is currenty being investigated by the PSNI and is considered a possible sectarian attack – she required 14 stitches to her face, lost teeth and suffered numerous cuts. Almost as disturbing as the actual incident is the response from some to it here on Slugger and elsewhere. Since outlets such as the BBC, Belfast Telegraph, Newsletter and even PSNI stated the assault took place …

Cowen: No obstacle to Queen Elizabeth II visit

Pete Baker on June 23, 2010, 6:53 pm | Readers 10

As RTÉ reports [Updates added] The Taoiseach has indicated that Queen Elizabeth II will probably make a state visit to Ireland before the end of next year. Speaking in London after a meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron, Mr Cowen indicated the visit might be before the end of President Mary McAleese’s second term in office at the end of next year. The Taoiseach said that no obstacle now exists to prevent a state visit to Ireland by Britain’s queen …

“I think that at the moment we let them off the hook…”

Pete Baker on June 23, 2010, 5:25 pm | Readers 4

The BBC notes the Prime Minister’s comments during Question Time in the Commons on the issue of Sinn Féin MPs’ expenses – which we have previously been told is a matter for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA). The comments themselves leave few hostages to fortune. From Hansard [scroll down] Q11. [3692] Dr William McCrea (South Antrim) (DUP): Yesterday, we were told that resolute action was necessary to deal decisively with our country’s debt. Does the Prime Minister believe that …