“Perhaps it’s best to simply regard Gerry’s book as the political equivalent of an ageing hardman action star taking a role in The Expendables…”

The Guardian’s Marina Hyde on the “exciting publishing news”, the terms may be used advisedly, of the forth-coming publication of Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams’ Little Book of Calm Little Book of Tweets.  From the Guardian article Enormous congratulations to Gerry Adams, who is formally elevated to irony’s army council. The Sinn Féin president is the subject of exciting publishing news, with the forthcoming release of a collected volume of tweets and selfies. According to the party bookshop’s blurb, “this …

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A year in the life of MLAs and the like standing around looking awkward…

END OF YEAR FUNNIES: If you haven’t liked it yet, you should. MLAs and the like standing around looking awkward classes itself on Facebook as a Political Organisation. Now it has pulled together a great compendium of embarrassing photos of, erm, MLAs and the like. Not under any circumstances to be confused with “arlenefoster.holdings”.

What on earth were they thinking: #Partitionists!!!

I have nationalist friends who seethe at the idea that the Republic has no so easily segued to being called Ireland, and the rest of us being called Northern Ireland. Semantically it squeezes out the notion of a broader (non national) identity of Irishman or Irishwoman. Yet, that’s one of the outworkings of the Belfast Agreement. The claim on Northern Ireland, the Republic became internationally defined as Ireland. This is one of the reasons why some people believe the same agreement …

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“For those who can’t read Greekdebtspeak, well, you’re on your own”

With European leaders, including Syriza’s erstwhile ally the Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, warning Greek voters that they will be, effectively, deciding whether or not they want to stay in the eurozone, the BBC takes a side-ways look at the wording of the controversial 5 July referendum the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tspiras suddenly announced at the weekend.  From the BBC article Voters go to the polls for the Greek referendum. pic.twitter.com/xpp3OWEvgX — Jamie Ross (@JamieRoss7) June 29, 2015 Here’s the …

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“As Returning Officer for the Constituency of Tax Disc Holders…”

Well, who bought the most political car screen tax holder discs over the election? Who was least afraid to show their political affections in public?  That would be…   We suspect Sinn Fein’s strong showing is the revised version which came post Slugger’s intervention [on their behalf]… 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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Two’s Trouble: Double Acts in Irish History

Barring one slip up in Celtic Park, the Republic of Ireland soccer team’s latest campaign has so far seen the shrewd marshalling of limited resources by two generals rather than one. The team’s defensive and occasionally offensive strategy underpinned by a positive psychology begs the question whether O’Neill and Keane might be the latest in the long line of famous double acts in Irish history. Only this time the focus has shifted from fighting and politicking to football and punditry. …

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CERN: “poorly thought out explanations like that just detract from how cool the Force really is.”

  Great news from Cern, for the day that’s in it… Researchers at the Large Hadron Collider just recently started testing the accelerator for running at the higher energy of 13 TeV, and already they have found new insights into the fundamental structure of the universe. Though four fundamental forces  – the strong force, the weak force, the electromagnetic force and gravity – have been well documented and confirmed in experiments over the years, CERN announced today the first unequivocal …

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UPDATED: A little car accessory for #GE2015? [Shinners, look away now! – Ed]

I love the enterprise that General Elections often bring out on the net. Now that we don’t need to have a paper version of the road tax disc in the front windscreen David Storey of StoreyTech has come up with taxdiscposter.co.uk. From a local point of view, Alliance, the SDLP and the UUs seem to have missed the cut. And, erm, Sinn Fein might be wishing they had too:     Can’t see David shifting too many of those… Update: …

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Kickstarter idea for dealing with Stormont’s new (much bigger) deficit from, erm, Greece…

Aha, whilst we’re talking no longer talking about the Irish Syriza, here’s an idea we might use to fill the fiscal hole at Stormont which has suddenly opened up on Monday morning… 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

Tweet of the day (whilst some drugs enjoy a brief liberation from the Irish statute book)

Ahem, just this. And this. Then this… And now the Budget. Noonan added one euro excise duty to a bag of yokes. Amid protests from opposition he said “you do the meth”. #ecstasy — Oliver Callan (@olivercallan) March 10, 2015 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

“Is maith liom curraí, curraí le mo yoghurt…”

H/T do an Tuairisceoir… Agus seo iad na focail… Curraí my Yoghurt Is maith liom curraí, curraí le mo yoghurt Yoghurt le mo curraí, curraí le mo yoghurt Yoghurt le mo curraí, curraí le mo yoghurt Yoghurt le mo curraí, curraí le mo yoghurt Gaeilge sa leithreas Ag caint liom féin An doras faoi ghlas Agus mé gan srian An dtiocfaidh tú amach liom? Ta Gaeilge agam Labhróidh mé leat Gach aon am Gaeilge sa leithreas Ní féidir liom stopadh …

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“This Hallowe’en the past is back to haunt them… Here’s Gerry….”

Oliver Callan is on fine form this series. Just check out Micheal Martin’s Trick or Treat sketch or the one about Enda’s not able to get a shower out of Irish Water… Or indeed, the one where Mary Lou and Gerry spend the winter in a old hotel… 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 …

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“Glory be the day, Mr Yeats!”

As the man said…  It’s tradition! Those of a sensitive disposition are duly warned, again, that James Joyce enjoys the language in all its fecund nuttiness. Enjoy! Pete Baker

Quick STOP THE PRESS! Religious prejudice rediscovered in Northern Ireland…

Not sure what others make of this latest culture war controversy, but I think Jim Sheridan captures my own confusion at the broad surprise in the media and the political classes… Quick STOP THE PRESS ….Northern Irish Politicians may be prejudiced against someone of a different religion! #AnnaLo #WhatsNew — Jim Sheridan (@Jim_Sheridan) May 29, 2014 Shared space anyone? Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider …

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#GerryAdams: So is he the Messiah or not?

It is true that the DUP have their comedians like Sammy Wilson, but to my own (admitted Catholic ear) the Shinners tell better jokes. Take Mary Lou at their Dublin rally last night: (1) Mary Lou tells a joke: An Orangeman gets to the pearly gates but is turned away by St Peter. He peers inside and sees Gerry Adams, and.. — Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) May 6, 2014 (2) ..says, “Hang on, Gerry Adams is in there.” St Peter corrects him: …

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Con Politics…

Just saying… [Put… the bunny… back… in the box. – Ed] Pete Baker

The many many faces of Arlene Foster…

The many faces of Arlene. Ms Foster up close and personal with Kelly on Nolan pic.twitter.com/NRVYpkqflO — Squinter (@squinteratn) February 28, 2014 Right, sorry Arlene, but I’m afraid cannot resist sharing this masterpiece by the Andersonstown News man’s man Squinter, aka Robin Livingstone…. 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. …

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Ever been at a Taytoff? (Yep, well, seems we ‘nordies’ lost the very first away fixture)

It’s A Taytoff. Ireland has a single, but highly partitioned (like the island itself) brand of potato crisp most of us love (and most of the rest of the world could not care less about): And here, courtesy of Bodger, is the result: [We was robbed!] 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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Sochi Olympic success

Heh. Some wonderfully humorous choreography in evidence at the Sochi 2014: Winter Olympics closing ceremony.  It made me laugh out loud.  They wouldn’t have had long to arrange it… [Photograph: Barbara Walton/EPA] As the Guardian live-blog adds, For anyone who slept through the opening ceremony, here’s a reminder of the failed snowflake-ring, and its tongue-in-cheek recreation this evening. Performers sing as the Olympic rings are presented during the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics. Photograph: Yuri Kadobnov/AFP/Getty Images Performers …

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This is why Alan Shatter is in really BIG trouble…

The role of any Justice Minister in any jurisdiction is by definition a thankless task, but I think this from John Burns of the Sunday Times is well worth sharing… 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