This was initially published a couple of months ago now, so apologies to those who have read it elsewhere, but I think it's definitely worth highlighting Jim Cusack writing in the Irish Independent about how prosperous Northern Ireland, and specifically Northern Irish Poor Oppressed Filthy Rich Catholics, have become in recent years.

I've picked out the highlights below, but I'd really encourage anyone with 5-10 minutes free to read the whole article.

earlier this year, when the Rich List for Northern Ireland was published , there was one little detail that went completely unnoticed -- well over half of those on it were Catholics. Places one, two and three were all filled by Catholics. The richest part of Belfast, the Malone Road -- think Ballsbridge in Dublin 4 -- now has a Catholic majority.

...

Isn't Northern Ireland supposed to be, er, depressed, like, after three decades of terrorist violence? Aren't the Catholics supposed to be "oppressed" like Gerry Adams keeps banging on about and the Southern meeja still seems to believe?

...

Truth is, cross the Ormeau Bridge over the Lagan, up into those nice leafy streets, and the arriviste MCCs would rather be seen wearing shell suits and trainers than vote Sinn Fein. Gerry, baby: Middle Class Catholics define their social position primarily through the distance between themselves and you and your voters. About as many Catholics vote Sinn Fein in south and south west Belfast as in Dun Laoghaire. If you live in a part of Belfast that has a street sign in both Irish and English, any self-respecting MCC would cross the road to avoid you.

I'm not quite sure what to make of it. I am certain that if there is a relative increase in wealth among Catholics vis a vis Protestants then it is of their own making and based in no small part on different attitudes to education. On a brighter note, the accepted wisdom is that with money comes power and influence, so it would be nice to believe that Cusick is right and that it also brings a gulf with Sinn Fein and their brand of victimhood-based ethno-nationalism and a shift in priorities away from simply one-upping the Prods.

Celtic fans visiting Belfast Zoo have complained to councillors after they were the victims of vicious, provocative sectarian taunts. Everything Ulster contacted the fans who rubbished claims that it was in fact they who instigated the altercation with sectarian chants.

Anti-sectarianism charity Nil By Mouth have called on the zoo to take action following the incident. The Zoo's chief executive has said he will investigate.

Hun Ping has apologised for any offence caused after mimicking playing the flute.

Celtic fan and renowned academic Leaich Spiedal posted his views on an internet forum, claiming the action was "typical of the bigotry entrenched in NI zoology" before continuing "Anyway, i'd rather be a Paki than a Hun!!!"

£3 million was budgeted last year on trying to reduce the relatively large number of people taking their own lives in Northern Ireland, a problem which the executive is resolved to tackle and one that disproportionately affects young people (and males at that).

With this in mind I find it a little odd that Newry and Mourne Council would glorify the taking of ones own life in a manner so overt as renaming a playpark in "honour" of hunger striker Raymond McCreesh. I might humbly suggest it's also something their equality unit may want to look at.

This kind of thing really winds me up.

A Tory frontbencher has apologised after using a racist phrase during a House of Lords debate.

Lord Dixon Smith retracted the remark in the chamber, saying: "I apologise, my Lords. I left my brains behind. I apologise to the House."

The 73-year-old said later the phrase "nigger in the woodpile" was in common use when he was younger.

Fair enough. Something which used to be in the lexicon is now deemed unacceptable, he absent mindedly used the phrase, and immediately apologised. The guy had no malintent with his choice of words, just clumsiness.

But Labour MPs called for him to be sacked, with one saying the remark was "deeply offensive".

Keith Vaz, chairman of the home affairs committee, said: "I regard this remark as racist, because it's deeply offensive.

"It shows a lack of understanding and sensitivity to the ethnic community and seems to come from a throwback age when people used that kind of phrase as if it was normal."

NO IT DOESNT! All the charges laid by Vaz may very well be true, but this instance is not evidence in itself. Racism is one of those instances where political correctness was obscured the real meaning of a concept. I once had a lecturer inform me that those who say the likes of "I fancy a chinkie tonight" are quilty of racism. Utter nonsense. There is no intent there, there is no feeling of hatred towards those of a different race, there is simply a clumsy use of the English language.

Keith Vaz - grow up. Collect whatever gong Geoff Hoon has promised you, and clear off. Criticise a Tory for a million and one things, but faux outrage at a genuine mistake, particularly when the it's a charge of racism, is just not on.

Miller wants Gaelic-medium schools to drop A-levels.

Writing in the Andersonstown News (page 10, hope that link works with their dodgy site), Marty Miller has suggested Gaelic-language schools drop A-levels to strike a blow for a united Ireland.

"The schools in [Northern Ireland] should follow the same curriculum as their counterparts in the Irish medium sector in the [Republic]. That means pupils sitting the Leaving exams [instead of A-levels]."
Mairtin O Muilleoir, Andersonstown News, 7th July 2008

He goes on to argue that there "should be one curriculum for the whole country [sic]" and that it would be "a boon for Irish unity".

When this sort of shite comes from the Sinn Fein party rag, is it any wonder you have to question Caitriona Ruane's bias against the English-medium sector?

I have heard a rumour today which I'm hoping to God is true (and I've no reason to disbelieve it).

If what I've heard is true I know at least one other Northern Irish blogger who will be celebrating for apparently Deez (née Hunters) bar 600 capacity venue is to undergo another change of management.

Several months ago Hunters was taken over. The new owners/management, with their obviously vast aptitude for marketing, decided that they would attempt to attract the scummiest, most brain-dead and most yobbish segment of the market they possibly could (reports of punters spitting on the floor should really come as no surprise therefore). In pursuit of the lowest-common-denominator they renamed the bar "Deez" (yes, with a z), purchased a small yellow car and plastered it with pink spots and the new logo, deemed that the establishment was no longer a simple pub, oh no, it became a "600 capacity venue" and finally decided that the bar should have it's own (completely tasteless) Bebo page rather than a web site.

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It's been a while (6 months, apparently) since I did a quote of the day but I've just been directed to Charlie Brooker's blog at the Guardian's Comment is Free and after reading a few paragraphs I knew I'd find a soundbite worth passing on to EU readers, so here goes.

"we're all led to believe we're somehow unique and important, that we have a destiny, that we matter in some way. But this doesn't add up. There are billions of us. An infinite swarm of haircuts and anuses, that's humankind for you. We can't all be "special". The vast majority of us are meaningless energy blips, and we'd do well to remember the fact. Maybe if we saw ourselves as merely part of the herd (which is, after all, what we are), we'd be more inclined to work together to solve the planet's problems."

Being slagged off is good for you

I'm a bit of a fan of the Gerry Anderson show on Radio Ulster. Hence, I'm also a big fan of On the Air. This weeks edition is absolutely hilarious. Take a look.

I watched a quiz on TV recently where there was a multiple choice question (roughly) as follows: In what country is the stock exchange known as the BSE?
A. India B. Japan C. Thailand

I knew Japan has the Nikkei and I knew Bombay had been changed to Mumbai. I also "knew" this was because the British colonists had misinterpreted the natives saying "Mumbai" as Bombay* (sounds plausible if you imagine Mumbai in an Indian accent). Not able to think of any other Indian cities beginning with B, I concluded it must be in Bangkok, Thailand.

Apparently not. India's main stock exchange is still the Bombay Stock Exchange.

"So what?" I hear you cry. I'll not pretend this has a major impact on Northern Ireland, though I there may be a few parallels with our own Stroke City. Apparently the Bombay Stock Exhchange, Bombay Times, Bombay High Court and Bombay Scottish School are now being targeted by vandals who enjoy the support of a nationalist political grouping (the "Army of Shiva") who have been accused of orchestrating violence against Muslims. 12 years ago they succeeded in having Bombay redesignated Mumbai. What was Madras is now Chenai, Calcutta is Kolkata and there are calls for Goa to be renamed Govapuri.

Colm Bradley has outlined some ways he thinks the GAA can remove the barriers to Unionists joining. Just over a year ago I outlined that the GAA has a de facto ban in Unionists joining. Unfortunately Google hasn't cached it, so some of the substantive points are below the fold. The main contention I have though, is that the GAA is explicitly a political organisation, and should not be treated as a sporting organisation unless and until it sheds the vestiges of a political pressure group.

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