Thursday 23 May 2013
There used to be a phrase in Northern Ireland to characterise those who carried out non-political illegal activity. Remember "ordinary decent criminals"? They were burglars, car thieves, muggers, TV licence dodgers, double do-ers and spivs. Fair enough, it's a wide moral compass to the word "decent" but we got the point.
Sheryl Sandberg says that it's ok for women to cry in the office – "I cry at work" – adding that women are not "one type of person Monday through Friday" and "then a different person in the nights and weekend. I think we are all of us emotional beings and it's ok for us to share that emotion at work".
Sometimes life's just inexplicable. Take poor Ryan Dolan.
Stephen Hawking is either a hypocrite or a fool. How else can you explain his decision to boycott Israel?
What is it about Olivia Colman? Everybody likes her. (And quite right too.)
So Rolf Harris had been arrested months before but it only came out a few weeks ago to a chorus of speculation but no charges yet. The release of his name to the press was never formally sanctioned but no one seemed overly bothered about the fact he hadn't been charged, the moment traditionally when two things happen – the suspect's identity enters the public domain and public comment ceases until the trial.
By now you've probably watched the latest viral YouTube hit of the woman trying to parallel park in Fitzroy Avenue in Belfast. First things first, the lads responsible for it were incredibly winning. Their commentary (complete with charming north Antrim accents) was rather droll – "Get in ye girl ye!" indeed. They were chivalrous, too, even going so far as to offer to help the woman to park. We will forgive the odd sexist remark.
Viva Forever!? Viva Six Months!, more like. The closure of the Spice Girls musical followed a critical savaging and disappointing ticket sales.
One of the reasons Belfast ice skater Katie Scarbrough gave for deciding to write her blog was to keep family and friends "in the know" as she battled what tragically turned out to be terminal cancer.
One day. 24 hours. 1,440 minutes. Is that too much to ask? A single day without being reminded that life in Northern Ireland is Groundhog Day re-written as existential horror and certainly not as upmarket romcom.
There was much consternation on Sunday Sequins – Radio Ulster's right-on religious affairs show – when it came to the paper review and a story about a famous Northern Ireland radio personality deciding to leave the country for good.
Double standards, girls! In a 'his and hers' survey about what constitutes 'a real man', amidst all the usual bumph about eating quiche and washing dishes, it emerged that 52% of women think that a RM shouldn't flinch when dealing with the removal of spiders.
With the arrest of Rolf Harris – even now an amazing way to begin a sentence – the sunny era of the Seventies and Eighties finally died. I'm talking about my childhood and probably the childhoods of anyone between 35 and 45.
You can always rely on celebrities to make you feel good about yourself. Step forward Peaches Geldof.
Well, if you can't get away with fiddling your expenses, you can always do less work for the money you are getting ...
The emotional nationwide outburst occasioned by the sad death of former PM Margaret Thatcher – how odd that sentiment seems – is a mirror-image of the outpouring on Princess Diana's demise.
I've been working all my adult life since leaving university. All that time I have been paying tax on my earnings. I have never been hospitalised. Any dental work I have had I have paid for.
Shortly before Christmas, many of us watched transfixed, appalled and horrified by Carol Morley's documentary Dreams of a Life, the story of Joyce Carol Vincent, whose body lay undiscovered for nearly three years in her flat.
Margaret Thatcher has been the most important public figure of my lifetime – thus far.
There is something of a frenzy afoot in Britain. The struggle of the Anglican Church to avoid appointing women as bishops and its resistance to gay marriage has been encroaching ever closer on politics and increasingly preoccupying commentators in the media.
Twitter booming as social media destination
Mobile phone coverage can only be blocked in a specific area if there is a severe terrorist threat for a maximum of six hours.
The Government's emergency response committee, Cobra, is to reconvene to discuss security measures after a man was butchered in broad daylight on the streets of London.
Two men have been arrested after separate attacks on mosques following the terrorist incident in Woolwich.
Christian Wade was "shocked and humbled" to learn he had gone one better than Jonny Wilkinson by scooping a unique double at the Rugby Players' Association awards.
Former Manchester United and England defender Brian Greenhoff has died, aged 60.
Mike Tindall is relishing the chance to test his experience against Gloucester's youth when he lines up for the Barbarians against England on Sunday.
Apprentice reject Uzma Yakoob has said it was far more stressful being on the women's team than working with the men.
The Rolling Stones' return to Hyde Park will see them team up with former guitarist Mick Taylor, but there will be no reappearance of the white dress Mick Jagger wore at the original 1969 gig because he has lost it.
The Hangover III star Heather Graham says she will miss playing sexy stripper Jade because the excitement makes up for her "boring" real life.
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