http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/ Read our columnists' pages for interesting comment on Welsh news, sport in Wales, rugby, football and lifestyle topical issues. en-gb http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/12/valleys-boy-daniel-gives-big-apple-a-welsh-flavour-91466-20894010/ Sun, 11 May 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/12/valleys-boy-daniel-gives-big-apple-a-welsh-flavour-91466-20894010/ WE were standing in the most marketable square mile on the planet and two of the biggest faces glowing on the giant illuminated adverts belonged to a Welshman and Welshwoman. In Times Square they call the digital hoardings “spectaculars” – and the striking features of Joe Calzaghe and Duffy certainly added to the dizzying spectacle of New York’s commercial heart. http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/12/watch-out-there-are-mallercisers-about-91466-20894188/ Sun, 11 May 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/12/watch-out-there-are-mallercisers-about-91466-20894188/ IT was a clear message. “Leap into summer”, it said. If only it were that easy. http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/11/amy-s-pappy-daze-91466-20891019/ Sat, 10 May 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/11/amy-s-pappy-daze-91466-20891019/ I WAS watching a documentary about crack scarecrow Amy Winehouse the other night. http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/11/first-ladies-in-waiting-for-lib-dem-leadership-91466-20890894/ Sat, 10 May 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/11/first-ladies-in-waiting-for-lib-dem-leadership-91466-20890894/ LAST week, following local election results which the Welsh Liberal Democrats could justifiably claim as making steady progress, I remarked that all that was left to settle was for leader Mike German to keep his promise, stand aside and make way for his successor. http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/11/stop-giving-us-the-brown-stuff-gordon-91466-20891194/ Sat, 10 May 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/11/stop-giving-us-the-brown-stuff-gordon-91466-20891194/ GORDON Brown tells us that he feels our pain. “I am someone who believes passionately in opportunity and fairness,” he says. http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/11/clever-or-just-a-little-lib-dim-91466-20891184/ Sat, 10 May 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/11/clever-or-just-a-little-lib-dim-91466-20891184/ MOST people are in general agreement that Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg’s interview with Piers Morgan in GQ, in which he boasted of bedding “no more than 30” women was a PR disaster for the wet-behind-the-ears politico. http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/10/an-ordinary-task-for-world-s-power-hungry-91466-20887829/ Fri, 09 May 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/10/an-ordinary-task-for-world-s-power-hungry-91466-20887829/ THE people having spoken, I was standing in my favourite spot overlooking a sun-blessed Barry Island beach. There were few other people around and so it was at its tranquil, glorious best. http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/10/the-first-word-hannah-jones-91466-20882192/ Fri, 09 May 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/10/the-first-word-hannah-jones-91466-20882192/ WHO is your inspiration? Mine is my mother and my late grandmother. That’s not such big news, is it? After all, I drone on about the former all the time but rarely talk about the latter because something gets stuck in my throat when I start to think about her. http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/12/shocking-facts-behind-supermarket-voucher-scheme-91466-20891551/ Sun, 11 May 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/12/shocking-facts-behind-supermarket-voucher-scheme-91466-20891551/ PARENTS have spoken of their shock after learning that they would have to spend £127,000 at the supermarket to get enough vouchers for the cheapest computer in Tesco’s Computer For Schools scheme. http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/10/the-insider-peter-finch-91466-20881407/ Fri, 09 May 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/10/the-insider-peter-finch-91466-20881407/ WE’RE crossing the city by metro, rush hour, hanging on the strap. This is Budapest, the twin cities of Buda and Pesht. You drop the ‘h’ if you’re a visitor. http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/10/mind-matters-tryst-williams-91466-20882017/ Fri, 09 May 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/10/mind-matters-tryst-williams-91466-20882017/ The head and shoulders portrait in front of me is my first glimpse of the dad who walked out before I was born http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/10/women-s-own-lynne-barrett-lee-91466-20882018/ Fri, 09 May 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/10/women-s-own-lynne-barrett-lee-91466-20882018/ Stray too far into the more “girly” areas of a menu, and it’s Russian roulette on an oversized plate http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/10/mind-boggling-insanity-on-a-massive-scale-is-the-only-explanation-for-boris-vote-91466-20888303/ Fri, 09 May 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/10/mind-boggling-insanity-on-a-massive-scale-is-the-only-explanation-for-boris-vote-91466-20888303/ IF last week’s local elections have taught us one thing, it is that Londoners are a bunch of complete halfwits. http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/10/essex-man-also-wants-his-say-on-devolution-for-wales-and-scotland-91466-20888788/ Fri, 09 May 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/10/essex-man-also-wants-his-say-on-devolution-for-wales-and-scotland-91466-20888788/ ANDREW MACKINLAY is a bumptious and friendly man, a Labour MP with a constituency on the Essex coast. Few people in Wales will have heard of him, but he’s started taking a keen interest in Celtic affairs. http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/09/good-nagging-works-91466-20883077/ Thu, 08 May 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/09/good-nagging-works-91466-20883077/ NAGGING works. http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/09/a-book-launch-is-an-exciting-event-but-there-s-no-time-to-unwind-91466-20883737/ Thu, 08 May 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/09/a-book-launch-is-an-exciting-event-but-there-s-no-time-to-unwind-91466-20883737/ I’M writing this the day after I had an exciting time at Cardiff University, which organised a launch for a small book I’ve written called, The Naked Darwinist. I’m hoping this paper will run a piece on it shortly. http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/08/tales-of-the-truly-unexpected-see-reason-heading-for-the-last-laugh-91466-20877263/ Wed, 07 May 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/08/tales-of-the-truly-unexpected-see-reason-heading-for-the-last-laugh-91466-20877263/ A YEAR ago today Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness tore up the rule-book and went into government together in Northern Ireland. This was the equivalent of Manchester United and City deciding to share a stadium. http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/07/spitting-into-a-tiny-plastic-container-91466-20871242/ Tue, 06 May 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/07/spitting-into-a-tiny-plastic-container-91466-20871242/ IT’S Friday morning and I am sitting on the bed spitting into a container resembling a contact lens holder. http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/07/mugabe-s-long-goodbye-has-raised-new-worries-91466-20871529/ Tue, 06 May 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/07/mugabe-s-long-goodbye-has-raised-new-worries-91466-20871529/ As the fallout from Zimbabwe’s disputed presidential election continues with little end in sight, Prof Paul Moorcraft examines Robert Mugabe – the tyrant who refuses to relinquish nearly three decades of power http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/07/blair-basks-on-treasure-island-as-brown-sinks-91466-20871605/ Tue, 06 May 2008 23:00:00 GMT http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2008/05/07/blair-basks-on-treasure-island-as-brown-sinks-91466-20871605/ YOU’VE heard of The Unsinkable Molly Brown. Coming to a polling booth near you – The Sinkable Gordon Brown.