Anthony McIntyre's Blog, page 591

No Milk Today

Christopher Owens 🔖 Sometimes, recent events just help write the review for you. Michelle O’Neill’s recent comments about there being “no alternative” to IRA violence has been dissected by various commentators (some of whom pointed to John Hume as a shining example, while ignoring the vitriolic abuse hurled at him 30 years ago for dealing with Sinn Fein) and reassembled in bad faith by various

A Morning Thought @ 1516

Belarusian ‘Railway Partisans’ Face Death Penalty

Simon Pitani  ☭ The Belarusian regime is threatening “railway partisans”, arrested for sabotaging signalling equipment to disrupt the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with the death sentence.18-July-2022Criminal investigators have passed a file on the first three cases – Dzmitry Ravich, Dzianis Dzikun and Aleh Malchanau of Svetlagorsk – to court prosecutors.From left: Dzianis Dzikun, Aleh Malchanau

Bookers Dozen @ Max Thrax

Max Thrax 🔖answers thirteen questions in Booker's Dozen. TPQ: What are you currently reading? MT: Cogan's Trade - George V. Higgins Along with Jim Thompson and Georges Simenon, Higgins was a primary influence on me. Cogan's Trade is his third novel and the basis of the 2012 Brad Pitt vehicle, which changes the location from Boston to New Orleans. As always, Higgins's dialogue is excellent. It's

A Morning Thought @ 1515

Lynx By Ten To The Power Of Two Hundred And Ninety Three

Ten links to a diverse range of opinion that might be of interest to TPQ readers. They are selected not to invite agreement but curiosity. Readers can submit links to pieces they find thought provoking.Before We Conform, Or Condemn, Let Us At Least Be CuriousSinn Féin remains most popular party by wide margin, new poll showsSinn Féin wants 10 years taken off contribution limit for state

France Latest Country To Scrap TV Licence

Matt Treacy ✒ On Tuesday, France became the latest country to scrap its television licence.Following on an election promise from President Macron, the Senate approved the proposal to scrap the tax by 170 votes to 57. This means that it will also be certain to pass through the National Assembly.Macron had basically stolen the idea from Marine Le Pen’s National Rally manifesto, and it proved to be

Memories Of The Red Army Days ✑ RIP Colin Blaney

Caoimhin O’Muraile ☭ It was with sorrow and fond memories that I learned of the death of Colin Blaney in early July 2022. Colin was a leading member of the Manchester United travelling away fans back in the seventies and eighties, the Red Army, who I met on a few occasions at away games. I did not know him well, but well enough to hold brief conversations with in various public houses away at

A Morning Thought @ 1514

In The Name Of The Son

Kate Yo ✒ They would be willing to sacrifice small lives for great reputations." - Chris Mullan to Paddy Armstrong. In Life after Life.There is no prison play or production that does not show how the human spirit can soar. Gerry Conlon embodied this spirit both in jail and out of it. What came across as Gerry's nervous energy was a lust after the truth to clear his name, and his daddy's name.