We had to wait so long for the sound of gloating that I started to think unionists must have been flattered by Sinn Fein's "Charter for Unionist Engagement", launched today. Was that why they had decided not to mention the Irish Election results, in which Sinn Fein lost a TD, rather than doubling its Dail team as republicans had hoped?
Then the DUP new boy, Alastair Ross, popped up in the middle of a debate on literacy and numeracy to suggest that republicans spend more time studying their figures, especially their election figures.
Sammy Wilson followed through by suggesting Sinn Fein need a lesson in subtraction and negative numbers.
How cruel when someone is just trying to reach out to you...
Jim Shannon, the fluent Ulster Scot speaking DUP MLA for Strangford, is concerned about the welfare of the poor old Red Grouse. He wants his colleague the Environment Minister Arlene Foster to consider the impact of birds of prey on the grouse population. Arlene acknowledges that the Red Grouse population is low but she's not convinced the Hen Harrier, the bird of prey in the frame, is the most likely culprit. She points out that the Hen Harrier is eating so many smaller birds such as the Meadow Pipit and the Skylark that it hasn't got room to fit any grouse in its tummy.
So who could be preying on the Red Grouse? It's a mystery. It surely isn't Jim Shannon himself, who as this blog noted earlier, is in favour of extending the shooting season...
In a written answer, the Education Minister Catriona Ruane has acknowledged to the Ulster Unionist Ken Robinson that males are under-represented in the teaching profession. Ms Ruane suggests various ways of addressing this, such as targeting all male schools and male groups in mixed schools for career presentations. Strangely, though, there's no suggestion of 50/50 recruitment, even though it was the prescription for another well known profession.
The Assembly has a new party and a new party leader. The Speaker told MLAs this morning that Dr Kieran Deeny has registered the Independent Health Coalition with the Electoral Commission. He's the leader. Making yourself into a party is a sensible move as it qualifies you for more privileges around Stormont - a financial allowance and better accommodation. The only wonder is that the Omagh doctor took so long to register. According to the Electoral Commission website, he hasn't got an emblem yet - any suggestions for an Independent Health logo?
I'm 
