It's now time to make up your mind Mr Nesbitt 

Mike Nesbitt has used a variation on that particular theme for the past few months: yet it sounds pretty tinny when heard against the background noise of joint letters, joint leaflets, joint dinners, joint hosting of the Unionist Forum, a joint candidate in Mid Ulster and then leaving the door open for joint ventures at other elections.

Dissidents compromised by intelligence successes but still determined to strike 

In the world of intelligence they hear a lot of chatter coming out of the different dissident camps.

Horrors of rape need to be faced by the world for once 

If you're a Twitter or Facebook user, you're possibly weary of hearing about the Steubenville footballers' rape trial. As weary as hearing of, say, Justin Bieber's tantrums or horse meat jokes.

It's jam tomorrow, but not much in this year's Budget 

This was not an easy Budget for the chancellor to deliver – particularly when it is set in the context of slashed growth forecasts, removal of the UK's AAA credit rating and rising national debt levels.

Press freedom is sacrificed on the altar of cynicism 

It was billed as Armageddon for the Press – the day that unruly newspapers would be put to the lash and whipped into line once and for all.

Why can't we do comedy as brave as South Park? 

It takes a while to recover from the suffocating cultural smugness of Red Nose Day. The millions raised for charitable causes are, of course, to be welcomed. But what a price has had to be paid.

Personal journey of pain laid bare for the cameras 

The Story of a Lifetime series on BBC One Northern Ireland has profoundly affected me as a broadcaster.

One ill-timed tweet and cue the chorus of condemnation 

Here's the thing about Twitter – it allows you to say anything you like and it also punishes you for saying anything you like. You're caught somewhere between absolute freedom and absolute condemnation.

Frankly, Pope must ring changes like his namesake 

The cabbies were quick to dub him 'Pope Frankie', and, doubtless, most of the Franks and Francises and Franciscos in Christendom and beyond will be pleased to have a papal namesake.

Osborne's bitter pill may be sweetened by fuel levy U-turn 

The Chancellor of the Exchequer had a tough time of it last year with the Budget. The 'pastie tax', now so infamous it has its own Wikipedia page, was just one of many policies dropped in a series of humiliating U-turns.

Breaking news ... it's another black day for journalism 

The promised showdown between the UK's political leaders over creating a new Press regulator turned out to be a phoney war.

Border pays rich dividends to anti-partition republicans 

For someone who has spent most of his adult life trying to abolish it, the border has been very good to Thomas 'Slab' Murphy.

Ulster's brave fighters deserve uniform praise 

Shock and awe' is a phrase the world became familiar with 10 years ago as a US-led coalition invaded Iraq to topple the regime of Saddam Hussein.

'Fat girl rodeo' is weigh too serious to be laughed at 

Fat girl rodeo' is a game which I had not heard of until recently. The 'game' is played like this: you grab a 'fat' woman in a club and hang on to her, yelling 'yee-hah' until they throw you off.

Time to start process of ending separate schools 

The most-recent Belfast Telegraph/LucidTalk opinion poll on integrated education, which re-affirmed strong majority support, has added to the need to take steps to provide what the majority in Northern Ireland really wants.

New man a sign times may just be a-changing 

Prior to his election as Pope eight years ago, Benedict XVI said that the Holy Spirit does not guarantee the election of a good Pope, instead he guarantees that a bad Pope will not destroy the Church.

The courts deal with paedophiles not a stiff upper lip 

Cover-up, not points swap, put Huhne on road to ruin 

The cover-up, they say, is always more devastating to a political career than the original crime. When the cover-up involves a crime, a mistress and a vengeful ex-wife, then you are definitely on to a loser.

Good news ... but don't cheer too loudly, Alasdair 

Increasingly, by-elections are becoming the political equivalent of the internet phenomenon the Harlem Shake. Prior to election day, the parties dance and joust, while the general public pays little attention.

Scourge of division can be ended by a renewed effort 

The current situation in the Stormont Executive and on our streets will require a major policy response by the Labour Party when, hopefully, it returns to power in two years' time.