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Clearly Slugger’s readership is widening. I recently came across Right Wing News’ top 100 political websites, which the owner, John Hawkins, compiled using the Alexa index. It roughly measures readership numbers. Whilst Slugger is not included, we have calculated that if it had been we would have ranked at number 60. The Truth Laid Bear Ecosystem has been ranking blogs for the last year or more. Here the chief criterion is how many blogs link to yours. In this case, …

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In the run up to tonight’s UUC meeting, Alex Kane says (reprinted here) that the much talked about defining moment has to be the emergence of a single leader for the party, and that all other matters under discussion pale in comparison. By Alex. Kane It is not a pretty sight. The cellotape and sticking plasters have yellowed and peeled. The wounds are exposed. The members are turning on themselves, publicly in Upper Bann and Lagan Valley, and more discreetly, …

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Dan Keenan does not believe there is any hope of compromise in what may be a winner takes all battle between Donaldson battle at the UUC meeting tonight. 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

William Graham reviews the latest release from The Cadogan Group Picking up the Pieces. It calls for realignment within both Nationalism and Unionism, to take account of the profound changes since the signing of the Belfast Agreement. 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

Rebecca Blood has put her presentation to the recent Blogtalk conference in Vienna on her own website Rebecca’s Pocket. It’s an exploration of confirmation bias that can be found within the weblog phenomenon, where blogs tend to link to other blogs or news sources that affirm the blog owner’s opinons. She picks out Slugger O’Toole and Dialogue Now, as two that deliberately break that rule. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of …

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The controversy over the International monitoring body continues to broaden as David Ervine suggests that greater clarfication might help the moderate leadership of the UUP convince it’s more sceptical colleagues. 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

The Newsletter’s editorial this morning calls for the UUP to get its act together, almost regardless of the outcome of the Council. 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

A full inquiry (subs needed) is to be commissioned into one of the dustiest and most forgotten corners of the troubles – the bombing of Dublin and Monaghan in May 1974. 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

Malachi O’Doherty reckons this is Donaldson’s last chance for leadership of the UUP. He also thinks he may have already missed the boat. 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

In fact Slugger has made it to no 9 in Technorati’s Top 50 Newcomer Blogs. I’m not sure how they have put the rankings together, but it looks good. 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

I’m afraid this story is rather rough in tone and clearly this Conservative councillor has caused gross offence to the family of the young man concern in the tragic incident mentioned. However. The sentiments he expresses towards Northern Ireland in general, even if the langauge used is extreme, are not uncommon amongst many in England. Thanks to Newt for bringing it to our attention! Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the …

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Jeffrey Donaldson reveals more of his ideas about how progress might be made beyond the current political impasse. The latest big idea is to have a second referendum once the review process is complete. Such a move would fit in perfectly with the DUP’s idea of pitching the review as a new Agreement. There is no reason why any agreement which emerges from those negotiations should not go to the people in a referendum. I am all for the people …

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Is the resignation of Pauline Armitage a straw in the wind for the anti-Agreement faction within the UUP? Since she was suspended from the party in November 2001, she has least to lose. Tantalisingly, although she has expressed admiration for Bob McCartney, she is holding off deciding where she will eventually run to for cover. 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 …

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True to form Brian Feeney finds a way to outflank all other Nationalist thinkers on the subject of the RIR. He argues that the origins of the home battalions of the Regiment in and of themselves hark back to the past: The RIR’s existence means the British administration endorses the unionist community’s definition of itself as the official community, literally an arm of the British state while the nationalist community is a deviant community with a secondary status in society. …

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There are a few things happening out the wider world and for those of you less familiar with the world of blogging, here are some sites worth looking at. The Irish at home: Paul Dunne is what Irish in Britain calls a Nationalist with a capital ‘N’. Though not strictly a blog, nevertheless David Vance’s A Tangled Web represents an genuinely independent Unionist voice on the internet. Clickonsean is less political than literary, whilst Smoke Signals is great for picking …

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In an attempt to keep political debate going Gerry Adams calls for the two governments to go ahead and complete the terms of Belfast Agreement as laid down in the Joint Declaration without the UUP. However, if the Donaldson faction win the day at the UUP and the Joint declaration is rejected, the nationalist side will have turned up to play a game with no opposition. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts …

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As Unionists are busy all this week lobbying the 860 odd members of the UUC to vote one way or the other, nationalists now have the opportunity to fly a few kites in advance of the Autumn’s review (if you are nationalist or moderate Unionists) or re-negotiation (if you’re a member of the DUP or a UUP hardliner) of the Belfast Agreement. Mark Durkan makes some suggestions as to how momentum might be kept going in the absence of democratic …

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Ma Bear has spotted that Dublin is hosting the World Association of Newspapers. Lots of links to stories on the threats to press freedom. 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

James O’Sullivan, a native of Dingle, Co Kerry writes in with his response to A Long Peace?, and suggests that the argument over which Union is better than the other (Irish or British) may have outlived its utility. By James W. O’Sullivan Williamsburg, Virginia USA There is so much included in “The Long Peace” which is sensible, heartening and wise. However there is a recurrent contextual flavour which compels a focus on, and resolution of, the historical alternatives evident in …

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Dissident UUP MP David Burnside has been doing a little digging in the Westminster parliament. He has asked Paul Murphy what the monthly running costs of (a) the Northern Ireland Assembly, (b) Members of the Assembly and (c) the Assembly administration have been since the Assembly was dissolved. And Murphy’s reply: The Assembly was dissolved on 28 April. The monthly running costs based on financial transactions for May 2003 are as follows: Assembly Secretariat-staffing – �785 000 Assembly Secretariat-running costs …

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