Tag Archives: news

Water, Water Every Where, Nor any drop to drink 

Posted on March 29, 2026 by Stephen Shellard

I may not have been paying much attention in my school English literature lessons, but these lines from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, seemed suddenly to resonate with a number of themes which have been capturing my recent extracurricular … Continue reading →

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Unclubbable

Posted on February 7, 2026 by Stephen Shellard

Political Parties.  Why we need more of them—But not too many! There was a time when, despite my coming of age journey in the 1960s through the First Newry cubs, boy scouts and senior scouts, I  considered myself an unquenchable … Continue reading →

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From Moral Ambition to Moral Yearning

Posted on January 14, 2026 by Stephen Shellard

A Reflection on the Dangers of Moral Certainty Name the four US presidents who have been assassinated!   That’s a challenge which one might expect in a pub quiz.  Team members, such as myself, who have been roped in at the … Continue reading →

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The Curse of Small Political Parties

Posted on August 16, 2025 by Stephen Shellard

How Fringe Factions Fuel Dysfunction in Israel and Beyond [1,097 words, 6 minutes read time]  When Hamas attacked Israel on October 7th 2023, they massacred 1,195 people, 736 Israeli civilians (including 38 children), 79 foreign nationals, and 379 members of … Continue reading →

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Finding a Way Through

Posted on June 11, 2025 by Stephen Shellard

Basic Income, Artificial Intelligence and Reimagining Immigration Universal Basic Income (UBI) – that is to say provision of a living allowance for all citizens regardless of their employment status – is an idea that has interested me for many years. … Continue reading →

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The Reporter

Posted on April 25, 2025 by Stephen Shellard

A lament for a small town newspaper Not long after publishing my memoir, Remembered Fragments, I thought it might be an idea to contact the Newry Reporter in order to draw this momentous event to their attention. After all, at … Continue reading →

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Did I Say That?…Next Question!

Posted on March 2, 2025 by Stephen Shellard

Arguments for Defence and Foreign Aid Spending in a Volatile World.  [2130 words] I’ve spent a good part of my life arguing in favour of defusing conflict by means of unilateral disarmament and negotiation.  I now find myself in the … Continue reading →

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Inauguration Blues …

Posted on January 23, 2025 by Stephen Shellard

I  was not paying a great deal of attention as President Donald J Trump went through the ceremony of his inauguration. Clearly, it was a great day for Trump’s admirers and the 1,500 felons he pardoned for their complicity in … Continue reading →

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The Monarchy is Dead …

Posted on December 30, 2024 by Stephen Shellard

But We’re Not Quite Sure What to Do About it So far as I am aware the only significant political party which openly opposes the monarchy in current UK politics is Alba and their ambitions are stated in orderly and … Continue reading →

Posted in Comment, Other Constitutional discussion | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Far between sundown’s finish and midnight’s broken toll

Posted on December 15, 2024 by Stephen Shellard

I saw a post on Facebook recently, an excoriation of racism. Maybe I thought it a little self-righteous in its sentiment, but I couldn’t think of any comment that wouldn’t itself seem a little self-righteous.  I don’t really know the … Continue reading →

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