Category: Northern Ireland

Belfast, Fairer Votes, London, news, Northern Ireland, scam3 Comments

DOH2AV – twitter and website fail

Michael McFarland Campbell

A quick lesson to those in the NO2AV DOH2AV campaign HQ.

Not all your followers on twitter actually support you.

The NO2AV DOH2AV Advocates page had until very recently, some twitter avatars of people that they are portraying as supporters of theirs. Sadly, this included many people who are part of the Yes to Fairer Votes campaign.

NO2AV Fail
NO2AV make clumsy error over who supports them.

Now, anyone who goes to check on this site now, will find that the twitter avatar strip has been removed. Continue reading “DOH2AV – twitter and website fail”

Belfast, christian, Gaeilge, news, Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland life, Royal FamilyLeave a comment

it’s not difficult to get the words right

Michael McFarland Campbell
God save the Queen - Dia leis an Bhanríon.

On Accession Day, I thought I’d give a little hand to all the Ulstermen and women who seem to have some confusion about the words of the National Anthem. Continue reading “it’s not difficult to get the words right”

Belfast, Conservatives, DUP, Education, Lib Dems, news, Northern Ireland, politics, Scotland, Sinn Féin, United Kingdom, Wales1 Comment

freedom, fairness, and responsibility: but not to NI!

Michael McFarland Campbell

freedom, fairness and responsibility The three words that we are told by the Liberal Democrat Federal Party website sum up the Coalition Government’s Programme. However, I don’t see how it is promoting any of those when you consider what has just happened to the devolved countries’ finances. HM Treasury changed the rules Formerly, departments were allowed to carry over money from one year to another. In this way, Northern Ireland’s Department for Education had built up a reserve of £87m (2008 figures). Usually, making savings, is considered a good financial practice: building up reserves in case of need in the … Continue reading freedom, fairness, and responsibility: but not to NI!

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APNI, DUP, Metro, news, NIRailways, Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland life, politics, Regional Development, Sinn Féin, Translink, Transport, TUV, UUP, Wales2 Comments

linguistic diversity should be a positive benefit to all

Michael McFarland Campbell

The proposal that we should have the possibility of bilingual traffic signs in Northern Ireland is seen as divisive. However, I think it could have a much more positive benefit to our country in general.

Until many, mostly political unionists and cultural Protestants, stop seeing any language use other that of English as an attack on being British, we will have a hard job in using any such language. However, as I have said before, and has been said by many, if these self same people would look back in their heritage they would find that they are likely to have ancestors who used Irish, and if not Irish, then Scots Gaelic. Scots Gaelic of course like Welsh is in use on roadsigns in other parts of their so-beloved United Kingdom. In other words, they need to relearn the history of this island and come to the understanding that diversity is often a way of unifying a whole country. Continue reading linguistic diversity should be a positive benefit to all

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Belfast, gay, HIV, LGBT, MRSA, Northern Ireland1 Comment

all so wonderfully normal (part 2)

Andrew McFarland Campbell

Last night, my friend Conor and his flatmate invited Michael and me to their New Year’s Eve party, in their flat in the Titanic Quarter. There were probably about ten people there, and we spent the evening playing with the Xbox, listening to music, and generally being social. There was also some alcohol consumption, but as a non-drinker I’m going to draw a veil over that. At midnight, we watched Big Ben* on the BBC, and yes Michael and I kissed. It was a completely normal New Year’s Eve party for all of us. Re-read that last sentence: it was … Continue reading all so wonderfully normal (part 2)

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Belfast, news, Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland lifeLeave a comment

George Woodman MBE: a small appreciation

Michael McFarland Campbell
Full shot of a MBE including the case it is gi...
Image via Wikipedia

Those who work in Parliament Buildings at the present within the Northern Ireland Assembly, and those who have in the past will know George Woodman*, Parliamentary Librarian, who has been honoured by Her Majesty The Queen by being made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the New Year’s Honours this year.

George has always been there when you want some help in looking something up in the Parliamentary Library (sorry – now the Assembly Library). Continue reading “George Woodman MBE: a small appreciation”

Blogging, Media, news, Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland life, politicsLeave a comment

BBC NI notices the NI blogosphere – corrected

Michael McFarland Campbell

It seems that BBC Northern ireland has been noticing the Northern Irish blogosphere. Well done. We’ve been around for some time… Gareth Gordon writes… I think it only attracts a certain type of people. I don’t necessarily think its a broad representative cross-section of opinion or even punditry and it can at times attract extremist views on the blogosphere. It is a pity, however, that [due to BBC editorial policy] Mr Gordon does not follow the usual courtesy of bloggers – that of linking to the various sites named. Therefore, in a spirit of helpfulness. Here are the links… 1690 … Continue reading BBC NI notices the NI blogosphere – corrected

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Belfast, gay, Health, HIV, MRSA, news, Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland life, PVL-MRSA3 Comments

my name is Andrew

Andrew McFarland Campbell

My name is Andrew, and I am living with HIV. You might think that I am HIV positive – I am not. I am living with HIV because my boyfriend*, Michael, the man I love,  is HIV positive. I am living with HIV because HIV has a direct impact on my life. I am also, to some extent, living with PVL-MRSA, because Michael has that too. Today Michael had an appointment at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, and his doctor took the opportunity to screen me for MRSA, because there was a chance that I was an asymptomatic carrier. It … Continue reading my name is Andrew

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charitable, Conservatives, Lib Dems, London, news, Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland life, politics1 Comment

the big society: does it apply to Northern Ireland?

Michael McFarland Campbell

The latest news from the Coalition Government in Westminster is a scheme whereby customers using bank cards could give money to charity. As a trustee of The HIV Support Centre, a local charity, this sounds like it could be a source of welcome money. But I have quite a number of questions. How would such money be distributed? How would the charity/charities be chosen? Is this to eliminate charity boxes in corner shops/bars etc.? I cannot see how this could be done in a fair way to help those charities that are reasonably small – yet are vital to local … Continue reading the big society: does it apply to Northern Ireland?

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