Newton at The Detail at his withering best as he tries to grab that most Protean of Troubles/Peace Process™ watchwords, collusion… 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 case you don’t see it, here’s Newton Emerson’s take on the week’s news over at the Detail… Of particular note it is unacceptable for an ageing Unionist peer to say what the Catholic Church in fact believes on the issue of homosexuality… [No, no, no that’s okay, because 70% of Catholics don’t actually believe what they say they do… – Ed] Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on …
It’s that Day again! [Again!? – Ed]. You can spend the day listening to Radio 4. Or you can watch this excellent video again. It’s tradition! Those of a sensitive disposition are duly warned, again, that James Joyce enjoys the language in all its fecund nuttiness. Pete Baker
I’m grateful to my cousin John for this one (who I understand very occasionally subjects himself to the ordeal of reading Slugger)… 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
As spotted by the Guardian Eurozone crisis live blog. John McGuirk @john_mcguirk Spoilt vote of the day. #eureftwitpic.com/9rjkab Let’s see if the embed works. Pete Baker
The Guardian’s Charlie Skelton is in Chantilly, Virginia, ahead of the, whisper it, annual Bilderberg conference – “a small, flexible, informal and off-the-record international forum in which different viewpoints can be expressed and mutual understanding enhanced”. As he says at the Big G’s US News blog Everything’s set. The hotel is being primped and hoovered, the security is arriving, the press is nowhere to be seen, and I just had a really boring crab salad. It’s shaping up to be a vintage Bilderberg. …
Having made a expression of interest in hosting Euro 2020, the FAI, SFA and WFA are not actually committed to bid and presumably won’t until they work out: 1, whether even together they can afford it; 2, whether they have even a pup’s chance of getting before spending a penny on any prospective campaign. Having noticed that the poor IFA has been once more jilted by its neighbours, Professor Billy McWilliams is trying to broker a rival bid for Northern …
Great spot by DUP Press Officer Clive McFarland on Facebook… 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
You start this off thinking the introduction goes on too long, and then you spend the rest of it thinking it didn’t go on long enough… They say that if you remember the sixties you weren’t there… Well, hand on heart, I was there in the 80s, and I really, really don’t remember this… But YOU may know differently… H/T John, and Popbitch… Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet …
Peter’s been mulling over the possibility of President Obama coming to Northern Ireland… Well, is feidir leis, of course… But our Secretary of State may have a better chance of getting his current Secretary of State (she’ll be stepping down for any next term) than the Prez himself… 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 …
I’m sure there’s no significance at all in the timing of this story… As the somewhat excitable BBC science report’s headline has it – “Sex-starved fruit flies turn to drink” In an article in Science, researchers suggest that alcohol stimulates the flies’ brains as a “reward” in a similar way to sexual conquest. The work points to a brain chemical called neuropeptide F, which seems to be regulated by the flies’ behaviour. Human brains have a similar chemical, which may react …
In the Irish Times, the peerless Miriam Lord on the latest shenanigans in the Dáil Meanwhile, the saga of the Promiscuous Notes rumbles on. It was Gerry Adams’s turn this time to wave them provocatively at the Taoiseach. The Spanish have the right idea, said the Sinn Féin leader. They took the toro pos los cuernos in Europe this week and got themselves a reduction in their budget deficit targets. “Will the Taoiseach follow the lead of the Spanish government, …
RTÉ may be trying again with the terrible twins, but the BBC have decided to send a relative newcomer to the Eurovision Song Contest in Baku this year – the 75 year old Arnold George Dorsey, better known as Engelbert Humperdinck. No members of the public were consulted in the decision. Will he do better than Blue’s 11th place finish last year… Pete Baker
The peerless Miriam Lord reckons Eamon O Cuiv is playing an old Fianna Fail game, but this time it’s Sinn Fein who will be relieved: So is this the end? Not really. Young Dev was infuriatingly vague about his intentions. He won’t say whether he’ll be voting Yes or No in the referendum. “You cross bridges when you come to them.” So for the foreseeable future, he will remain the loneliest backbencher in Ireland, eyes burning into Micheál’s shoulderblades as …
The RTÉ selected panel, and those members of the Irish public who voted, have, once again, decided that Jedward will represent Ireland RTÉ in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest – to be held in Baku in May. And Louis didn’t even need to fix the voting this year. [Allegedly! – Ed] Indeed. Whether RTÉ are any more willing to host next year’s final than they were this one is another matter. [At least it’s not another turkey! – Ed] You might …
Here’s something to distract and amuse [and offend? – Ed] Possibly… The Guardian’s Tim Dowling points to graphic artist Yanko Tsvetkov’s satirical Mapping Stereotypes project – the Ultimate Bigot’s Calendars of Europe, and the World. As Tim Dowling says No matter where you’re from, you should be able to find something here to offend you. [Is it “Safe For Work”? – Ed] Probably… If you’re working from home. ANYhoo… I was particularly offended amused by “Europe According to the Greeks”, “According to …
As Crooked Timber’s Maria Farrell says, “words to live by”, people. In today’s Irishman’s Diary, Frank McNally offers a “history of Ireland in 100 excuses”. 78. We made those pre-election promises in good faith. It was only in government we realised how bad the country’s finances were. 79. It was a complex but legitimate business arrangement. 80. The money was only resting in my account. 81. You try running three houses on my salary and see how you get on. …
With all the intense focus around Scottish devolution here on Slugger, we missed what has to be the best blog post of the week on Storyful… another tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. As someone once said. 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. …
The Daily ShowGet More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook Somewhat after the fact, but worth it for the crack… 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
How many times have we looked for and not got an apology from a serving politician? No ‘S’ word from Martin or Gerry, or the Doc. We’re still waiting for one for Tom’s car crash election night speech. And whilst Big Al tried to make a go of it last night on Newsline, it seems no one quite believed that he really, really meant it. So here ya go. We have the solution. It’s a pro forma apologia (H/T to …
