Humour

The Battle of Handforth – a subject for future murals…?

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The world of Lockdown has certainly proved to be a weird one over the past year. When you’re confined to your home there are only so many activities with which to amuse yourself. Many of us have binge-watched Netflix box sets, binge-read books, binge-listened to entire CD collections – or just binged, generally… Parents have had to learn home-schooling pretty rapidly, Eurovision, the Olympics and Wimbledon were suspended, and Joe Wicks became an international hero in a way that wouldn’t …

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In true Bloomsday style, “Samuel Beckett got outrageously drunk…”

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If you don’t know by now, it’s tradition!  [We know… – Ed]. Those of a sensitive disposition are duly warned, once again, that James Joyce enjoys the language in all its fecund nuttiness. And another reminder of a brief history of the day, from the Guardian, which includes this great 1924 quote from Joyce on Ulysses – “I have to convince myself that I wrote that book. I used to be able to talk intelligently about it.” Joyce’s last Bloomsday would take place on 16 June 1940, when the author was …

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Quote of the week…

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The DUP’s 10 MPs are increasingly driving the party – apart from Ian Paisley, whose increasingly entertaining media appearances suggest he has been locked in the boot. Newton Emerson in the Irish News 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

Happy Bloomsday, intolerable Joyceans everywhere!

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If you don’t know by now, it’s tradition!  [We know… – Ed]. Those of a sensitive disposition are duly warned, once again, that James Joyce enjoys the language in all its fecund nuttiness. And a reminder of a brief history of the day, from the Guardian last year, which includes this great 1924 quote from Joyce on Ulysses – “I have to convince myself that I wrote that book. I used to be able to talk intelligently about it.” In June of …

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Tweet of the Day: Irish Threat Levels…

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Actually, it was yesterday, but nice one Martin… Irish Threat Levels 1. 'Tis grand2. Bit ropey3. Didn't see that coming4. Totally bolloxed5. Fucked altogether — martinmcmahon (@williamhboney1) May 24, 2017 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

Meanwhile, up in God’s Waiting Room…

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Kyle PattersonCurrently studying for a software development MSc at Queen’s University, Belfast. I also draw political cartoons. Find me on the internet: Twitter: @TheAuthority88 Facebook: facebook.com/KylePattersonCartoonist/

Quote of the Day: Driverless vehicles…

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Phillip Hammond in today’s Budget Speech slipping in a wee joke or two… Does driverless vehicles sound familiar, by any chance? 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

Headline of the week…

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Now, I think I really have seen everything… 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

“Two balloons”? And the Facebook age finally strikes the Alliance party.

| Readers 3878

Looks like someone sneaked into the Alliance Party’s closed Facebook group and came out telling tales. Or maybe it was just someone inside the party who wasn’t too chuffed at the nature of some of the offline online chatter: In an exchange with supporters in the ‘Alliance Party Activists and Volunteers’ group about councillors Geraldine Rice and Vasundhara Kamble, Mrs Long wrote: “These two are complete balloons. They staged a sitdown protest when Anna Lo got a standing ovation because …

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Vote Nobody 2016!

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Ahead of the third, and final [thankfully! – Ed], televised debate between the Republican and Democratic parties candidates for US President, BBC Trending reports on the campaigns for the best person for the job – none of the above! Survey show that dissatisfaction with the two major party candidates is particularly acute amongst young people. According to one survey released Tuesday, nearly a quarter of voters under 35 would prefer to see a giant meteor hit Earth rather than have either …

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Creator of LAD takes to the boards…

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The originator of LAD John-Paul Whearty, has outed himself, just in time to publicise his upcoming production Adventures in Ulster… He comments to the Irish News… “I would describe LAD as like being in a band. We have had a really successful first album and now it’s time to go from there. I see myself working in comedy across different mediums but perhaps leaving LAD behind and creating something else.” Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written …

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HMQ banters with the deputy First Minister… “I’m still alive..”

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Here’s when Martin met the Queen of England in her Royal Gaffe at Hillsborough… shortly before going to open a couple of new platforms at Bellarena… 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

Post Brexit word from Eric Cantona [PS, Will Grigg’s on fire]

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That would be Eric Cantona as you have never seen him before, nor are likely to ever again… 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

And so #LOLCats strike back in the name of, Remain… #CatsAgainstBrexit

| Readers 251

https://twitter.com/RupertMyers/status/744913610573516801   Now he's been helped through the arguments, Slammers today declared himself one of the #CatsAgainstBrexit pic.twitter.com/ZwhMh7uYSD — Rich Nelmes (@nelmes) June 20, 2016 He's done his sums, and leaving just doesn't add up 🐱 #CatsAgainstBrexit pic.twitter.com/POkG7KmZOP — Matt Rogers (@mattsyourlot) June 20, 2016 Chaka is 19 & part Persian. She worries she might be deported if Boris knows where Persia is. #CatsAgainstBrexit pic.twitter.com/L5pagYLQzG — DrSuzanneConboy-Hill (@strayficshion) June 20, 2016 Mine want free movement of European birds. #CatsAgainstBrexit pic.twitter.com/o8YcnNCu3A …

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Start your #Brexit playlist with “Should I stay or should I go now?”

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLQJVKP3YlM Please do share your own favourite soundtracks appropriate to the times that are in it… [cutting and pasting the URL will embed the YouTube video] And we will add them all to Slugger’s Brexit Playlist (and here on Spotify) so you can play them anywhere, anytime… 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 …

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Happy Christmas, intolerable Joyceans everywhere!

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If you don’t know by now, it’s tradition!  And Brendan’s cryptic crossword in today’s Guardian nods in the general direction… Those of a sensitive disposition are duly warned, once again, that James Joyce enjoys the language in all its fecund nuttiness. Adds I should have also noted this brief history of the day that it’s in, also from the Guardian, which includes this 1924 quote from Joyce on Ulysses – “I have to convince myself that I wrote that book. I used to be …

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“Oh Claire… You are the answer to our prayers…”

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STORMONT LOVE: Claire, the moment we met you we swear, we thought you were going nowhere, not trying to mean that’s just how it seemed. But then, we found ourselves thinking again, and maybe you could be our friend. This may come as news, but beggars can’t choose.

So please, could we interest in a Ministry?

“…laughing at unionists is not the revenge that Booby Sands had hoped”.

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Today Newton Emerson gives the most plausible explanation as to why Unionism is finally out punching and out pacing political nationalism I’ve read since the start of Slugger O’Toole. It’s a real keeper. What follows is highlights. You really do need to read the whole thing… My Irish News colleague Fionnuala O Connor has asked why unionism seems comparatively “perked-up” beside “stale nationalism”. The answer may be something many unionists do not believe in – evolution. As an unpopular people …

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Sinn Féin decommission “Booby Sands” leaflet

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As the BBC Trending report notes As unfortunate typos go it could have hardly been worse. The Republic of Ireland is currently a few days into a general election campaign that is taking place amid the backdrop of the hundredth anniversary of the Easter 1916 rising. In one campaign leaflet, Mary Lou McDonald, the deputy leader of Sinn Fein – the fourth-biggest party in the last Irish parliament – wanted to be quoted invoking the spirit of one of the …

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[Cough] This is what politics really looks like when you’ve stripped out all the meaningful content…

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Would you Adam and Eve it?Peter Serafinowicz gives Donald Trump a cockney makeover.No words were changed. Posted by Slugger O'Toole on Friday, 29 January 2016 And here’s one person’s reasoning as to why populists like Trump always win… 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