AS one of those who voted against giving politicians potential “big brother” powers I find Mr Howlin’s remarks about voter confusion befuddling.

I NOTE that former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern thinks Gay Mitchell will win the Presidential election.

I BELIEVE that presidential hopeful David Norris has expressed a preference for rejoining the British Commonwealth.

AS an avid science fiction fan, I just love when the commander of a space station or ship puts it into auto-destruct mode during a crisis.

FINANCE Minister Brian Lenihan attributes blame for our financial woes to events beyond his control.

US President George W Bush is to be lauded for speaking out about human rights violations in Cuba.

MORE and more in recent times I hear TV and radio newsreaders, and other commentators, talking about our ‘police’ when discussing crime and other matters.

A WEST Belfast audience was recently told by the Taoiseach’s man in the Seanad, Eoghan Harris, that “cultivation of victimhood is not going to bring any peace to this country”.

I JUST love this New Ireland hypocrisy.

AS a one-time producer of audiovisual experiences for interpretative centres like the new one at the Cliffs of Moher, we in the business used to aptly call some of them ‘interruptive centres’.

ASBOs — like asbestos before them — are being hailed as a cheap, wonderful, fireproof and insulating substitute by their promoters.

SINCE President George W Bush has approved a fund towards “boosting democracy” in Cuba, we in the EU should consider a contribution towards the same for the United States.

IN view of the American public’s opinion of the Bush administration, will the Government now return Shannon airport to civilian control?

SINCE when have the Ryder Cup organisers become a state within a state?

WHY this slave-like following of English soccer clubs? No other country on the planet engages in this bizarre behaviour.

COULD last week’s mystery buyer of the original copy of our national anthem be somebody from the IRFU?

SINCE Dublin’s Parnell Street has an intersection, surely Peter Stringfellow’s ladies can be better described as “comely maidens dancing at the crossroads”.

WILL Dublin’s proposed new riverside cable car become known as ‘The Jiffy over the Squiffy?’

WHILE Bertie Ahern is rearranging our rebellious history, why not a new national anthem?