Open sunday – politics free zone…

Street vendor with a suitcase

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. Brian O'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any …

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Open Sunday – discuss what you like…

open sunday sign, signage, open

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'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any political party. When not …

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Open sunday – politics free zone…

Street vendor with a suitcase

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. Brian O'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any …

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They should have listened to this guy…

The United States has spent EIGHT TRILLION DOLLARS fighting and policing in the Middle East. Thousands of our Great Soldiers have died or been badly wounded. Millions of people have died on the other side. GOING INTO THE MIDDLE EAST IS THE WORST DECISION EVER MADE….. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 9, 2019 Brian O'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background …

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With God on Our side…

I’ll just stick this here… 🚨 NOW: Faith leaders are in the Oval Office praying over President Trump for him, our country, and our troops God Bless the United States of America 🙏🏻🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/yHffB7YGy0 — Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) March 5, 2026 Brian O'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I …

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Home heating oil prices jump 50% in less than three days…

pug covered with blanket on bedspread

Last week my parents were talking about ordering oil, so when the news hit about the American attacks on Iran, my first thought was to jump on the internet on Saturday morning and order them some oil. I’m glad I did. I managed to get them 500L for £297. Looking at the same website today, I noticed that 500L would now cost me £447, a 50% increase in only three days. Some of the increase is due to the price …

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Open Sunday – discuss what you like…

open sunday sign, signage, open

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'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any political party. When not …

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Open sunday – politics free zone…

Street vendor with a suitcase

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. Brian O'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any …

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Green Party win Gorton and Denton by-election…

Many people think that Keir Starmer blocked Andy Burnham from running in the by-election because he did not want to face a leadership challenge from him. Now his decision will come back to haunt him, as Labour have lost the seat to the Green Party. Some Labour MPs have been quick to put the boot into Starmer: Blame for Labour’s defeat lies squarely with Keir Starmer and his clique. They put factional interests over having the candidate best placed to …

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When it comes to sport, should we be more Norwegian?

panorama city view

In the recent Winter Olympics, Norway topped the medal table, an impressive feat for a country of only 5 million people. Now, obviously, they have two things going for them: They’re absolutely loaded and can invest in sport. They have a lot of snow, which I imagine is useful for winter sports. But there does seem to be something else more important going on, Norway’s attitude to youth sport. A recent post from writer Brad Stulberg gives a good insight: …

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“80% of pubs are owned by people from a Catholic background”

people inside bar

An interesting article in today’s Irish News: Communities Minister Gordon Lyons failed to consider testimony that the majority of pubs in Northern Ireland are “Catholic-owned” ahead of largely rejecting reforms of the licensing system, it is argued in legal filings. Historical figures drawn up by the main trade industry group stated 80% of pubs are owned by people from a Catholic background, which should have formed part of an equality assessment by the minister and his department, according to the …

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Peter Mandelson arrested….

From the BBC: at around 16:30 GMT this afternoon Mandelson was seen being led away by plain clothes police officersand put into the back of an unmarked car In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said a 72-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office and has been taken to a London police station for interview It says the arrest followed searches at homes in Wiltshire and Camden Mandelson hasn’t publicly commented in recent weeks on the Epstein …

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Open Sunday – discuss what you like…

open sunday sign, signage, open

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'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any political party. When not …

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Open sunday – politics free zone…

Street vendor with a suitcase

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. Brian O'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any …

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Do our MLAs deserve a £14,000 pay rise?

a person stacking coins on top of a table

From the Irish News: Stormont MLAs could receive a 27% pay rise under a proposal from a new independent pay body. The Independent Remuneration Board has made a determination to increase annual salaries for the politicians from £53,000 to £67,200 – a bump of 26.8%. The board has also introduced new measures to provide for a reduction in MLA salaries should the institutions collapse again. Alan Lowry, the chairperson of the new IRB said the decision to uplift salaries was …

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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested…

From the BBC: Thames Valley Police arrested Andrew, who turns 66 today, earlier this morning The former prince was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public officeand he is in custody Police are searching addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk Thames Valley Police said he was arrested after a “thorough assessment”, with an investigation now opened   Brian O'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. …

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Open Sunday – discuss what you like…

open sunday sign, signage, open

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'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any political party. When not …

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Open sunday – politics free zone…

Street vendor with a suitcase

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. Brian O'NeillManaging Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any …

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Northern Ireland petrol prices at their lowest in 25 years…

a person filling a car with gas at a gas station

Some good news for drivers, amid all the endless gloom. Petrol prices have never been lower. From the Irish News: The price of petrol in Northern Ireland is at its lowest in real terms for almost 25 years. Average prices last week were 124.2p per litre for petrol, according to the NI Consumer Council. In 2002, the average UK price of a litre of petrol was 71p. However, inflation has increased prices by 87% since 2002, making 71p the equivalent …

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The Assembly has no time for disabled kids, but enough time to discuss TV shows…

boy writing

From the BBC: Some parents of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) have said they are “devastated” there is not enough time at Stormont to change the law to mandate support for them when they leave school. The Health Minister Mike Nesbitt told assembly members that “we have run out of time” to change the law before the next election. Alma White, whose 18-year-old autistic son Caleb is about to leave school, said young people with SEN were “being failed”. …

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