Tuesday 28 August 2012

Ken Maginnis Quits The UUP

Ken Maginnis has quit the Ulster Unionist Party. Maginnis was the MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone between 1983-2001. He recently caused uproar for remarks he made regarding homosexuality. He described homosexuality as deviant and unnatural. He also described homosexual relationships as a "rung on the ladder" towards beastility.

Wednesday 22 August 2012

Danica Thrall Pictures









EU Students Studying At Scottish Universities Increase

According to official figures, 3,535 EU students had been accepted in Scottish universities by A-level results day last week, an increase of 123 compared to the same time last year.

The 3.6 per cent increase was more than the 3.1 per cent rise in the number of Scottish students given a place. Data published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency has shown the number of EU students has almost doubled over the past decade to 15,930.

Monday 20 August 2012

Sunday 19 August 2012

Danica Thrall On Celebrity Big Brother


Danica Thrall is a glamour model currently in the Celebrity Big Brother house. Some of her fellow housemates don't like the fact that Danica takes gifts of rich men for nothing in return. I watched another TV programme on the internet yesterday called Sex, Lies and Rinsing Guys which featured Danica and two other attractive young women. Danica says she meets these guys online on Twitter or Facebook and never in person. She has a list of items on Amazon were men can purchase whatever they want to buy her and Amazon will ship it to her. Is what Danica does just part of our something for nothing consumer driven society or something far more sinister?

Saturday 18 August 2012

Gordon Brown Claims Almost £20,000 in Travel Expenses

Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown claims nearly 20,000 pounds for air travel. In all, he has claimed £19,237 in parliamentary expenses on air travel between London and Edinburgh between June 29 2010 and Jan 23, 2012. Yet he has only voted in 15% of the parliamentary votes since the General Election. And has only spoken 3 times in Westminster since the General Election.

Paul Ryan Paid 20% Tax On His Income In 2011

Paul Ryan paid 20% tax on his income in 2011.In 2011, the Ryans paid $64,764 in federal taxes on $323,416 of gross adjusted income. In 2010, the couple paid $34,233 on income of $215,417. While Ryan’s congressional salary is $174,000, much of the other income came from Janna, a former tax lawyer who has significant holdings and investments of her own.

Friday 17 August 2012

Unemployment Down In Scotland

First Minister Alex Salmond welcomed the figures.

He said: "The figures for youth employment show that the Scottish government's efforts to help young people are paying off, and the rate of female unemployment is now below the UK average.

"However, while these are welcome trends, there are still too many people in Scotland without work, and more needs to be done."

He called on the UK government to increase capital investment.
The number of jobless fell by 5,000 to 214,000 between April and June, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data.The Scottish unemployment rate now stands at 7.9%, which is just below the average of 8% for the whole of the UK.The claimant count in Scotland also fell by 800 from June to 142,600 in July.

Wednesday 15 August 2012

Easy Rider


Owen Patterson why do we need him as Secretary of State? The truth is we don't. The Assembly and Executive both are working fine. There is no need for him at all.Maybe David Cameron could relieve him of his duties and Owen could spend more of his time horse riding.

Monday 13 August 2012

London Olympics Increase Support For Scottish Independence

“The London Olympics, which were hailed as a reaffirmation of Britishness, have in fact made Scots more likely to support independence, according to a poll published in yesterday’s Sunday Times.
The Panelbase survey found that 12% of respondents said that the Olympics had made them more likely to vote in favour of independence, as opposed to just 8% of Scots who say they feel more British because of Team GB’s performance.
The poll also found that the gap between support for independence and support for the Union is now only nine points – requiring a swing of just 4.5% for a Yes vote in 2014. 35% of Scots say they intend to vote in favour of independence, with 44% saying they intend to vote against.
The poll of almost 800 Scots also showed that 29% believe Scottish athletes should compete for Great Britain after independence while double that, 58%, say Scotland should represent itself.
The findings show the opposite effect to that predicted by the anti-independence parties and the London based media. It was widely claimed that the London Olympics would create a wave of pro-British sentiment which would make Scots less inclined to vote in favour of independence in 2014.
The results of yesterday’s poll suggest that Scots feel more alienated from the UK’s version of Britishness as a result of the Games.”

Saturday 11 August 2012

Mitt Romney And Paul Ryan Together

Paul Ryan Is The GOP Choice For Vice President

So Paul Ryan is Mitt Romneys pick for running mate. The 42 year old Congressman from Wisconsin is Chairman of the House Budget Commitee. He graduated from Miami University in Ohio. He is a Roman Catholic and is married with three children. As architect of the GOP budget plan, Ryan pushes for tax cuts for both corporations and individuals. He advocates turning Medicare into a voucher program, shrinking food stamp and turning Medicaid into a block grant program that would turn power over to states. Slashing federal spending is at the heart of the proposal.

Friday 10 August 2012

Pele Is Given Honorary Degree


The greatest ever footballer Pele has been awarded a honorary degree from the University of Edinburgh. The football legend who first played for Brazil in a World Cup when he was only 17 years old. He played 605 times for Brazilian side Santos and scored 589 goals.After receiving the award at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, he said: "I thank not only my family, but all my friends, my players, because you cannot do things alone."I have a lot of people who helped me to be here."Always I was very focused in respecting people, and trying to do my best, this is one way, I thank God, to give back to the people who love me."Most important to me is, not disappointing the people who admire me, the people who love me - that I tried to do, all my life." Pele was also Minister for Sport in Brazil.

Thursday 9 August 2012

Golden Girl Katie


Katie Taylor from Bray County Wicklow wins a gold medal for Ireland in the lightweight womens boxing final well done Katie.

Justin Bieber Gives Hair Care Advice To Prince William


"I don't know why he doesn't just get those things, those products. You just take Propecia and your hair grows back. Have you not got it over here?" so says the Canadian singer.

Wednesday 8 August 2012

Viva Bangordub!

Bangordub is great. The blogger who first came to my attention on the much missed Ulster's Doomed! Blog. His mild mannered middle class backround has been a great asset to him. His own blog is a great read and thought provoking. Often making me ask questions like why is his blog better looking than mine? Or he must
be paying good money to get such a tidy looking layout? Any how on with the show keep up the good work Bangordub.

Sign Of The Times


Recently Danny Kennedy the UUP minister for Roads had been getting some stick from his fellow Unionists for giving the A5 road scheme the green light. So Danny decides to put up road signs in Fermanagh and Tyrone saying Welcome To Northern Ireland. Some people who actually live in these areas unlike Alastair Ross the DUP MLA for East Antrim who rushed to Dannys defence pulled these signs down. No doubt Danny will order that these signs be replaced. And that a short time later they will be pulled down again. Such is life in the Six Counties.

Tuesday 7 August 2012

SNP Call On Westminster To Change Course On The Economy

The SNP called on the UK Government to change plan on the economy and boost capital spending on infrastructure projects, after Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said the triple A credit rating was not the ‘be all and end all.’
The credit rating has previously been hailed by the UK Government as evidence of the credibility of the government’s economic programme.
SNP Treasury spokesperson Stewart Hosie MP said:
“After talking up the importance of the UK’s credit rating, Danny Alexander is now desperately downplaying expectations.
“His comments signal a remarkable turnaround from the UK Government which has used the credit rating as an excuse to press ahead with their failing austerity agenda.
“The UK Government’s economic plan simply isn’t working – if the credit rating isn’t the ‘be-all-and-end-all’ then surely it’s the death-knell for an austerity agenda which is damaging to the UK’s growth prospects.
“The Treasury has been desperately clinging to the triple A credit rating to justify an agenda of severe cuts without any economic stimulus. With two of the three main credit agencies already putting the UK on negative outlook, it looks like they are also losing faith. This leaves them with nowhere to turn but a u-turn.
“The UK Government needs to get capital spending up now, in order to get growth and confidence back into UK economy.
“The UK’s approach contrasts starkly with the Scottish Government which is making the most of every available pound to help grow the economy out of recession. The Scottish Government has consistently called for an injection of capital investment from the UK Government in “shovel ready” projects - but so far this has fallen on deaf ears.”
“It’s time for the Coalition Government to stop ignoring all the evidence that their policies aren’t working, switch to a plan B and invest in “shovel ready” projects to get the economy moving again.”

Monday 6 August 2012

Morrissey Attacks Blustering Jingoism

"I am unable to watch the Olympics due to the blustering jingoism that drenches the event. Has England ever been quite so foul with patriotism? The 'dazzling royals' have, quite naturally, hi-jacked the Olympics for their own empirical needs, and no oppositional voice is allowed in the free press. It is lethal to witness. As London is suddenly promoted as a super-wealth brand, the England outside London shivers beneath cutbacks, tight circumstances and economic disasters. Meanwhile the British media present 24-hour coverage of the 'dazzling royals', laughing as they lavishly spend, as if such coverage is certain to make British society feel fully whole. In 2012, the British public is evidently assumed to be undersized pigmies, scarcely able to formulate thought. So says the former Smiths lead singer.

Cameron Cutie Quits


Louise Mensch the Tory MP for Corby has resigned.Mensch who was once tipped for high office has left to spend more time with her husband and three children.

Sunday 5 August 2012

Billionaires For Mitt Romney


Thanks to the Senator Bernie Sanders we now know who has given money to  the super PACs:

1). Sheldon Adelson, owner of the Las Vegas Sands Casino, is worth nearly $25 billion, making him the 14th wealthiest person in the world and the 7th richest person in America. While median family income plummeted by nearly 40% from 2007-2010, Mr. Adelson has experienced a nearly eightfold increase in his wealth over the past three years (from $3.4 billion to $24.9 billion). Forbes recently reported that Adelson is willing to spend a “limitless” amount of money or more than $100 million to help defeat President Obama in November.

2. The Kochs (David, Charles, and William) are worth a combined $103 billion, according to Forbes. They have pledged to spend about $400 million during the 2012 election season. The Kochs own more wealth than the bottom 41.7 percent of American households or more than 49 million Americans.
3. Jim Walton is worth $23.7 billion. He has donated $300,000 to super PACs in 2012.
4. Harold Simmons is worth $9 billion. He has donated $15.2 million to super PACs this year.

5. Peter Thiel is worth $1.5 billion. He has donated $6.7 million to Super PACs this year.

6. Jerrold Perenchio is worth $2.3 billion. He has donated $2.6 million to super PACs this year.

7. Kenneth Griffin is worth $3 billion and he has given $2.08 million to super PACs in 2012.                                    
8. James Simons is worth $10.7 billion and he has given $1.5 million to super Pacs this year.
9. Julian Robertson is worth $2.5 billion and he has given $1.25 million to super PACs this year.
10. Robert Rowling is worth $4.8 billion and he has given $1.1 million to super PACs.
11. John Paulson, the hedge fund manager who made his fortune betting that the sub-prime mortgage market would collapse, is worth $12.5 billion. He has donated $1 million to super PACs.
12. Richard and J.W. Marriott are worth a combined $3.1 billion and they have donated $2 million to super PACs this year.
13. James Davis is worth $1.9 billion and he has given $1 million to super PACs this year.
14. Harold Hamm is worth $11 billion and he has given $985,000 to super PACs this year.
15. Kenny Trout is worth more than $1.2 billion and he has given $900,000 to super PACs this year.
16. Louis Bacon is worth $1.4 billion and he has given $500,000 to super PACs this year.
17. Bruce Kovner is worth $4.5 billion and he has given $500,000 to super PACs this year.
18. Warren Stephens is worth $2.7 billion and he has given $500,000 to super PACs this year.
19. David Tepper is worth $5.1 billion and he has given $375,000 to super PACs this year.
20. Samuel Zell is worth $4.9 billion and he has given $270,000 to super PACs this year.
21. Leslie Wexner is worth $4.3 billion and he has given $250,000 to super PACs this year.

22. Charles Schwab
 is worth $3.5 billion and he has given $250,000 to super PACs this year.

23. Kelcy Warren
 is worth $2.3 billion and he has given $250,000 to super PACs this year.

Saturday 4 August 2012

Jenna Jameson Endorses Mitt Romney


The former porn star Jenna Jameson has endorsed Mitt Romney for president. She said :"I'm very looking forward to a Republican being back in office. When you're rich, you want a Republican in office."

Friday 3 August 2012

Trouble On The Gold Coast


DUP North Down Councillor John Montgomery was asking questions about local businesses having to pay for a multi-million pound regeneration package for Bangor and Holywood Town Centres. When Wesley Irvine kept interjecting.Mr Montgomery replied "Aren't you getting your jackboots out a bit early in your reign?" to the new DUP Mayor of North Down. Mr Trevor Polley the Councils Chief Executive said local businesses would not be asked to invest in the regeneration package. Under the Master Plan Holywood would get a total of £1,000,000 council investment. And Bangor would get £2,500,000 invested in regeneration which would be doubled by the Department of Social Development.

Money Makes The World Go Round

The SNP brought in 5.03 million pounds in 2011 compared with 1.8 million pounds in 2010 and 2.5 million pounds at the previous peak five years ago, according to the Electoral Commission.
Last year the SNP spent 3.4 million pounds, another record total, up from 2.1 million pounds in 2010.
The SNP received high-profile donations including the gift of almost 1 million pounds from the late national poet Edwin Morgan. Another 1 million pounds was donated by Europe's biggest lottery winners, Colin and Chris Weir from Largs in Ayrshire.
In contrast, the Tory Party's income almost halved, dropping by almost £20 million to its lowest level since 2003, to £23.7 million.
The Labour Party's income also fell, from £36.3 million to £31.3 million.
The Liberal Democrats' income was £6.2 million, down by more than £3 million.

Thursday 2 August 2012

The Man Who Could Cost Mitt Romney The Presidency

Virgil Goode from Virginia is running on a Constitution Party ticket for President. Mr Goode is a former Congressman for the Republican Party. According to a recent PPP opinion poll he is on 9% in Virginia where Obama is leading Romney by 14%.He is running on a conservative platform including term limits for members of Congress increased border security and a balanced federal budget and smaller government. He also wants to audit the Federal Reserve and end Foreign Aid.

Party Political Finance In The Six Counties

Party           Income        Expenditure

Alliance       £201,520     £251,575
DUP             £615,052     £444,125
SDLP           £429,941     £339,858
SF                £1,266,079  £1,163,106
UUP             £353,583     £345,274

Wednesday 1 August 2012

Harry Reid Says Mitt Romney Didn't Pay Any Taxes For Ten Years




Harry Reid the US Senate Majority Leader has given a interview to the Huffington Post website saying that Mitt Romney didn't pay any taxes for 10 years. A month or so ago, he said, a person who had invested with Bain Capital called his office."Harry, he didn't pay any taxes for 10 years," Reid recounted the person as saying."He didn't pay taxes for 10 years! Now, do I know that that's true? Well, I'm not certain," said Reid. "But obviously he can't release those tax returns. How would it look?"You guys have said his wealth is $250 million," Reid went on. "Not a chance in the world. It's a lot more than that. I mean, you do pretty well if you don't pay taxes for 10 years when you're making millions and millions of dollars."