Our 'friends' over at A Tangled Bigot Web:

"Once Green, Now Black

[...] I'm sure O'Rourke didn't mean any offence, though it shows how the demographic composition of the Republic of Ireland is starting to breed the hyper-sensitive tripe over anything that might be construed as having racist overtones. For my part, I have found the phrase 'working like blacks' to be totally erroneous. My experience of working with black Africans in particular has shown them to be among the most indolent people in the workplace. Most must believe that a hard day's work ended with the cessation of slavery [...]

Posted by A McC on January 11, 2006 at 08:08 AM |"

Update 12/01/06: Apparently both Vance and McCann have been doing online interviews recently. From McCann's:

"When attending interviews for jobs in your chosen profession of counselling do you give genuine and honest answers to questions about your social/political opinions or do you nod towards the approved "PC" answer?

Why, the PC answer of course. It is bad enough being a white, Protestant male in the jobs market of Britain 2006 plc, without further hampering your case with political honesty.

[...]

Was President Clinton's involvement in the NI peace process helpful? Or would things have been better off had he not become involved?

Are there any bi-national or intercommunal examples of conflict resolution that in your opionion provide a useful template for Northern Ireland?

Has Ian Paisley been a helpful figure as respects community relations?

No it wasn't helpful. It was gross interference by a foreign leader to curry favour with a section of the American voters who had spent the best part of thirty years dropping cents into hats to fuel a murder campaign against British citizens. It was partisan and malevolent.

The best template would be to treat Irish republicans the way the Israelis have treated the Palestinians. There must never be one iota of constitutional compromise with them.

Ian Paisley is a by-product of circumstances, not an initiator of them. His rise is directly linked to the desire by a section of the minority community to destroy the Union. Remove that threat, and Ian Paisley ceases to be a hindrance to community relations.

[...]

Have you ever shown a Muslim acquaintance any of your writings on Islam and Muslims? If so, what was his or her reaction?

I keep my work life and my blogging life entirely separate. People at work are unware that I have a website. Whatever my personal feelings about Islam, I sometimes have to work with Muslims for the good of my disabled clients. Their experiences should not be disrupted by any possible dislike between myself and another staff member. So the answer to your question is 'No!"

It also seems that the two have now discovered podcasting:

"January 08, 2006

ATW PODCAST - COMING YOUR WAY!

ATW generates many more daily stories than your average blog, and I hope you enjoy reading them. Our ever growing site traffic meter rather indicates that you do, which is great. Now we want to enhance this by providing you with a regular ATW weekly podcast - which you can download and listen to each week with exclusive material, and all at no cost! You can get to hear my dulcet tones (Prepare yourselves!) and because this is downloadable you can play it back on your Ipod/MP3 player at your convenience! It should make those car journeys pass more quickly."

We can imagine.

Fortunately, we think not. From the iTunes Music Store terms of Service:

"e. The Service may offer interactive features that allow you to, among things, submit or post information and materials on areas of the Service accessible and viewable by other users of the Service and the public. You agree that any use by you of such features shall be your sole responsibility, shall not infringe or violate the right of any other, contribute to or encourage unlawful conduct, or otherwise be obscene, objectionable or in poor taste. Moreover, you hereby grant iTunes a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license to use such materials as part of the Service, and in relation to Products, without any compensation or obligation to you.

iTunes reserves the right not to post or publish any materials, and to delete, remove or edit any material, at any time in its sole discretion without liability."

Update 12/01/06: correction on McCann's name, as per the comments.