Blogs

The Loch Ness Monster is rarely out of the news. Despite all attempts to dismiss tales of a monster in Loch Ness (Scottish Gaelic: Loch Nis) there appears to be no end to claimed sightings of Nessie, as the creature is affectionately known. In an interview last month Scottish First Minister Nicola Surgeon said she believed in Nessie. Over many years people have claimed to have seen Nessie in the Loch and their descriptions have led to speculation that, if it exists, it could be related to the plesiosaurs.

A former Spanish Police Chief (Civil Guard) has defended the use of torture of suspects in the Basque country.

He was interviewed by the Spanish television station TV3.

Report here from Argia:

http://www.argia.eus/albistea/former-civil-guard-defends-torture-basques...

‘ROTTEN RIGHT FROM THE START’ - RED HERRING ON THE NEW IRISH POLICE COMMISSIONER

James O’Toole pulls no punches in this YouTube report for RED HERRING on the appointment of former PSNI man Drew Harris to head the Garda Síochána.

He says:

‘the last two Garda Commissioners over their stint as Garda Commissioner became mired in corruption so Leo Varadkar has decided to cut out that developmental phase and go for someone whose rotten right from the start'

Archaeologists searching for a lost Scottish monastery linked to the famous Book of Deer, have unearthed a rare Norse artifact. Archaeologist Alison Cameron and her team have found a stone gaming board which would have been used to play the Norse strategy game Hnefatafl. Hnefatafl is a board game with an odd number of playing spaces. The pieces would have been set out on the board with the king on the central square, surrounded by his defenders. The attacking pieces would have been asymmetrically placed around the edge of the board. 

Hardly has Nicola Guffogg and her Treasury chums socked me with another extortionate tax demand this year than the latest report from ‘Popeye’ (aka Alex Allinson MHK) and Co suggests that Alf Cannan should take over Manx Radio or at least pour more money into it. This will be grist to the mill for Alf and his trusty sidekicks like Nicola and Sheila at the Treasury bunker. Meanwhile the other political members like Bill Henderson MLC will nod their heads like those santa figures you saw in toy shops years ago.

Who says you have to go to Tynwald Hill to enjoy Tynwald Day. Saying that Howard Quayle looked a bit crestfallen that Mec Vannin had not entered an appearance. At least I think that’s the question he appeared to be answering the report on MTTV was a bit disjointed. I warm to Howard at moments like this ok he may not be cutting edge at Brexit but he knows how to play to the local crowd

Meanwhile PAG (the Travelwatch of Manx politics) couldn't believe there luck although from the stall shot later it didn’t seem that business was brisk.

I’ve not been much moved to attend Tynwald in recent years the decline for me started in 1979 when the ‘common folk’ and their carrying on was unceremoniously booted of the ‘Fairfield’ t the memorial field behind.

I lifted my aversion to the ‘show’ one year when Guardian journalist John Sweeney was over. ‘You must come to the fair I said’ - I was well rewarded as he ran about comparing it to Trumpton.

Despite being President of Mec Vannin for many years I have respected the decision of the Committee though to attend the ‘Tynwald Day’ despite my own personal aversion.

Tynwald Day (Manx: Laa Tinvaal), the National Day of the Isle of Man (Mannin) is held on the 5th of July. It is when the government for the Isle of Man go to Tynwald Hill to read a summary of the laws passed over the last year. The reading is given in Manx Gaelic and English. The artificial hill, which is thought to have started as a Bronze Age burial mound, is made up of four circular platforms. It is said to have been a meeting place for the Celtic midsummer assembly. Hence there is a large Celtic Cross on the site representing the sun god, Lugh.

There are no Celtic teams competing in the finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the international association football (soccer) competition, currently taking place in Russia. For most of those living in the Celtic nations and who enjoy watching football, the tournament has provided an exciting spectacle. People may have their favourite teams, others just want to watch a good game of football and remain neutral as to the outcome.

Cornish Bard, language speaker and activist Clive Baker has been a part narrator in both English and Kernewek in a BBC Radio 4 production venturing into the world of Richard David James, known better by his alias 'Aphex Twin'.

Richard James is an Irish-born ground breaking electronic musician best known for his influential and idiosyncratic work in styles such as ambient techno and Intelligent Dance Music (IDM) during the 1990s and beyond.