North East news columnists, comment & opinion

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Mind your virtual manners

YOU either get Facebook and other social networking sites, or you don’t. Me? Although I’m on Facebook I have to admit I don’t get it. Perhaps it’s the banal nature of the messages posted on the site. Read

A sign of tough times

RECESSION, what recession? There’s no recession, it appears, in the world of pawnbroking. Business, it seems, has never been better for the industry. Read

A speed camera with manners

I CAN’T believe I’m saying this but let’s hear it for the good old speed camera.Read

Time to laugh at yourself

THERE’S something about Smoggies. Every time Middlesbrough is criticised on television - and it happens quite often - they line up to defend their town.Read

In Toon with local heroes

DR Joan Harvey is a brave lass and no mistake. The psychology lecturer at Newcastle Uni, for that is what she is, has conducted research in what makes a hero. Read

Driving us all crazy

TAKE a man from his car and you can expect trouble. Big trouble. Now, I’m no petrolhead, but I like my car and I don’t like busybodies who threaten to curb how and when I can use it. Read

Good cheer?

THERE was lots of cheering at St James’s Park during the pre-season friendly against Leeds.Read

Artist or gimmick maker?

BY now Angel of the North sculptor Antony Gormley has unveiled his latest work of art.Read

Lesson in life

THE following was in my email basket.Read

Bowled out

I’M stumped for words after last week’s column suggesting that Freddie Flintoff might have gifted the Ashes to Australia.Read

Protect teachers from pupils’ lies

I DON’T know how many adults have been the target of false accusations by children. But I do know this . . . the system is loaded against them. Read

Flintoff fails the Test

WHAT on earth is Freddie Flintoff thinking? The timing of his announcement that he is retiring from Test cricket could not have been worse. Read

Keep a check on your health

GOT to say I was surprised by the recent report claiming a million people with diabetes are not getting the NHS care they need.Read

Ed’s Jack the Ripper criticism is a bit rich

NICE to see former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie still breaking news stories . . . even if it was more than 120 years after the event.Read

Lewis Hamilton's speedy demise

LEWIS Hamilton might as well get a copyright logo printed on his forehead. A new painting, in motor oil, has been unveiled. Read

Mobile phone firm Phones 4u made a bad call

WOULD you like to tell Bear Grylls that he’s not popular to his face? Bear Grylls, adventurer, former SAS soldier, youngest person to climb Mount Everest, Chief Scout. Read

Big Brother madhouse fear

IT didn’t take long for Big Brother to behave badly.Read

Clough toughs out his stand

BRIAN CLOUGH is back where he belongs.Read

Sign on sign off for Ant and Dec?

ANT and Dec queuing up at the dole? Could happen.Read

An iron lady or man of steel?

IT was the week when Home Secretary Jacqui Smith was finally forced to resign from the Cabinet, Britain’s Got Talent runner-up Susan Boyle was admitted to the Priory, and there was more uncertainty over the future of Newcastle United.Read