Ian James Parsley

I’ve had worse evenings, to be fair.

Bielefeld are of course due to play Sportfreunde Lotte or SV Rodingshausen in the Westphalian Cup Final the same day as the German Cup Final - a game they must win to be guaranteed participation in next season's German Cup...

Do you think I’ll get away with wearing this to work tomorrow?!

If it actually happens…!

Yes, and seems to be confirmed by the BBC NI correspondent.

Leaving NI’s goods exports to the EU 60% higher per capita than in the rest of the UK.

I’m at an absolute loss to explain this…

Lower Thames Crossing plan for Essex and Kent is approved The 14-mile (22.5km) road will link the A2 and M2 in Kent with the A13 and M25 in Essex.

If I've calculated correctly, this would bring £350m-£400m into the NI capital budget over 6-7 years.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

@niroads.bsky.social

Gene found to link obesity risk in labradors and humans Scientists have found a genetic cause of many labradors' - and some people's - tendency to overeat.

Basically, I’m a Labrador…

Explains a lot.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Sadly, like Cadbury's and Walker's, it's halfway gone, that is true - but not quite the whole way!

#IStandWithCanada

Germany – divisions old and new The provisional result of the German Federal Election is now known. The CDU-CSU “Union” did indeed emerge in front, albeit on a relatively low overall share of 28.5%; the AfD emerged se…

A brief view on the results of the Federal Election in Germany:

ianjamesparsley.wordpress.com/2025/02/24/g...

#BTW2025

It’s Election Day in #Germany - my brief guide for outsiders, noting that the outcome is *proportional” so maps like the below are of limited value.

ianjamesparsley.wordpress.com/2025/02/18/ger…

#BTW2025

German Federal Election – what to watch for The next major election worldwide falls this Sunday (23rd) in Germany. At issue, at this crossroads in time, is who will lead Germany (and thus the European Union’s largest economy and member…

As we approach Sunday, I have updated my post on the forthcoming Federal Election in #Germany - a quick overview of the system, the issues and the parties.

ianjamesparsley.wordpress.com/2025/02/18/g...

#BTW2025

German Federal Election – what to watch for The next major election worldwide falls this Sunday (23rd) in Germany. At issue, at this crossroads in time, is who will lead Germany (and thus the European Union’s largest economy and member…

It’s election time again… my brief guide to the Federal Election in #Germany this Sunday:

ianjamesparsley.wordpress.com/2025/02/18/g...

Every good wish to you both

History of the different codes of Rugby/Gridiron Football The Rugby World Cup saw a rise in discussion about the history of the game. Some of this discussion pre-dated 1863-1871, which, as I noted at the time, was somewhat odd as there was no meaningful &…

It’s Six Nations and Super Bowl weekend, so what is the history of Rugby and Gridiron Football?

Scarily, this piece is a decade old…!

ianjamesparsley.wordpress.com/2015/11/02/h...

Ach I'm sorry to hear this. Every good wish to her (and you).

It’s not only rugby where there’s a huge concentration towards Leinster/Dublin area (though it’s the most obvious example). Doesn’t bode well for international teams or competitive all-island leagues/cups in a range of sports.

Union flags erected beside planned housing development and leisure centre an attempt to ‘intimidate’ nationalists The flags issue is the latest to hit the town of Castlederg after a pre-Christmas row which saw signs being erected warning residents to boycott local businesses

My Private Member’s Bill, as proposed, is all about regulating and enabling flags to be flown respectfully for commemoration or celebration.

This, however, is intimidation and exclusion…

www.irishnews.com/news/norther...

Have your say here:

www.surveymonkey.com/r/emblemsbill

… or not…

The whole point of studying the 1930s is to foster hyper-awareness.

We should be nervous, pessimistic, jumpy. We should call out the first rumblings, the accidental tells, the faintest glimmers.

Because it was so monstrous that even the whiff of it is existential

Urgent appeal to find missing 28-year-old man last seen two days ago Dale Nixon was last seen in the Knockbracken area on Sunday, January 19

Missing Person Appeal

Dale Nixon is approx 5’11; large build.

Last seen wearing grey puffer jacket, green track bottoms and blue/yellow trainers.

Anyone who may have sighted Dale, contact PSNI 101 and quote serial “1471 20/01/25” with any information.

www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/norther...

Agreed on all points, as ever!

“This is undemocratic and the Secretary of State doesn’t understand us therefore we should collapse our local democratic institutions and hand him more power over us” - like, seriously, how does an educated man come up with such self-evident lunacy?

Fundamentally it lies with the Health Minister.

But it certainly isn’t the First Minister’s role to provide ongoing commentary. Ministers are there to *act*!

Northern Ireland hospital pressures are dire - Michelle O'Neill Northern Ireland politicians are facing calls to take action over long delays at emergency departments.

The crisis in the NHS in NI has been flagged for over a decade. Reforms were spelled out long ago. But we have no systematic action. It seems from here that it lies in politics. Without casting stones for clickbait, is that fair? Where does responsibility lie?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Morning coffee may lower risk of heart disease-related death, research suggests The study did not say why coffee in the morning reduces the risk and whether it was the sole cause.

Good news... for me, anyway... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Actions, not words, required after racial equality review, says Bradshaw Actions, not words, required after racial equality review, says Bradshaw

Actions not words required on racial equality - and we need some urgency from the First and deputy First Minister after the review of the current strategy showed such major deficiencies:

www.allianceparty.org/actions_not_...

‘I’m 100% faithful!’ What The Traitors tells us about human nature The hit series is as compelling as it is jaw-dropping. Fuelled by deception, flawed logic and unconscious bias, it’s no wonder it has proved a field day for psychologists

Are you going to be “100% faithful” in 2025?

I was interviewed for this Guardian article by Elle Hunt ahead of the new season of #TheTraitorsUK about the psychology of the whole thing.

Wishing 100% of you a Happy New Year!

www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...?

But politicians (with the odd honourable exception) will always pick the populist route.

To fix this, for example, we need to close buildings - and we know this.

Politicians delaying transformation are actually *causing harm*. We need to be frank and honest about this.