Whoosh
The Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond is on Hearts and Minds tonight, ahead of his visit to Stormont on Monday. He is planning to travel to Northern Ireland courtesy of Whoosh, a Polish airline which has just started up flights between Dundee and Belfast. It's definitely a new Europe..
Just before the First and Deputy First Ministers meet the Scottish First Minister to discuss a Celtic Confederacy, the Deputy First Minister is meeting a group of Canadian Native Americans to discuss the Haudenosaunee or Iroquois confederacy. The Native American "Clan mothers" are veterans of battles with the Taser armed Ontario State Police over what they regard as the illegal annexation of their land.
I am sure there are all kinds of interesting historical analogies to be drawn. But for now I don't know whether to watch "Braveheart" or "The Last of the Mohicans" to prepare for what I may have to report next Monday.
I'm 
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thanks for the heads up mark, should be an interesting interview.
Mark
I suggest you forget about watching 鈥淏raveheart鈥 over the weekend and, instead, study the complete DVD series of 鈥淭he Sopranos鈥. The latter will provide you with much better research material in advance of the planned meeting involving the First and Deputy First Ministers and the Scottish First Minister. In effect, rather than discussing a Celtic Confederacy, they see the meeting as the first step in breaking away from the London Mafia Family (local representative, Peter Hain) and forming a new Celtic Mafia Family (鈥淐osy Nostry鈥 in Ulster-Scots).
If you think about it, Alex S., Ian P. and Martin M. and a number of others in our Assembly have characteristics similar to leading members of the Soprano Family (power-seeking, manipulative, scheming, Machiavellian) which, as aficionados of the TV series know, is a dysfunctional mob family that both fascinates and nauseates.
Monday鈥檚 meeting is essentially about formally agreeing who will fill the top jobs that are found in most Mafia organisations, typified by the Soprano Family. The following is my best guess about the positions to be filled on Monday. Given that this is a structure new to Here I have also set out brief Job Descriptions:
路 The Don (Godfather): All major decisions fall to the Don. He has ultimate control over all monies. Uses his authority to keep everyone in line.
路 Underboss: Second-in-command and careful to ensure that his decisions are consistent with those of the Don; sometimes groomed to succeed the Don.
路 Capo (Lieutenant): The number of Capos depends on the size of the Family. A Capo leads his own section of the family and his territory may be defined geographically, as in 鈥渆verything west of the Bann belongs to Rackets 鈥 The Stakeknife鈥 O鈥橫urphy鈥. A successful Capo is one who makes a lot of money for the Family.
路 Consigliere (Adviser/Counsellor): Required to give impartial advice based on even-handedness rather than blood feuds; does not engage in petty sniping at weak Family Members. While nominally appointed as an employee by the Family, the Consigliere is usually loyal to the Don.
路 Wiseguys: Usually two Wiseguys who run messages for the Don and Underboss; they often pick up on rumours of internal dissent and will have a quiet word in the boss鈥檚 ear as necessary.
Mark, not being a Made Man, you are not bound by Omerta, so your task for Monday is to give us an early indication of who is going to fill these posts. In the circumstances, I think it鈥檚 vitally important that you play a straight bat in interviewing the participants. Don鈥檛 repeat your recent blunder of asking 鈥渟tupid questions鈥 because the consequences could be dire (Mark, think Godfather II 鈥 鈥渉e sleeps wit da fishes鈥). Be a Goodfella!
Our prayers are with you and we look forward to your Blog entry on Monday evening (Deo Volente).
Frank
Carryduff
Mark and all,
FYI - I suggest you read more about the Iroquois struggle on this website and the related links:
Theirs is an incredible struggle!! and a fair cause!!
Thanks,
Victor - Dublin