The winter sun rises over Tynemouth as surfers get an early start today. Pic: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire

HERE ARE THE things we learned, loved and shared today.

THINGS WE LEARNED

#BELFAST More than 1,200 people attended a peace rally in Belfast today, where they held two minutes of ‘no silence’ to help show their support for peace in Northern Ireland.  The event came after recent unrest over the flying of the Union flag at the City Hall in Belfast.

#CONNECTICUT Police in Connecticut said today that people are posing as the Newtown shooter online, and that authorities are investigating who they are. Those responsible may find themselves prosecuted. Lieutenant Paul Vance told reporters that he is confident they have the “best of the best” working on the tragic case, in which 27 people – including 20 children – were killed. President Barack Obama is to attend an interfaith vigil for the victims this evening.

#INVESTIGATION An investigation is underway after seven City Bin Co trucks were “burned out” on Friday evening. Gardaí are investigating and the company says that it is certain the incident will not affect its service to people in Dublin.

#OVER THE LIMIT Thirteen per cent of people responding to an AA survey admitted that they have travelled with a driver who was over the limit. Forty per cent of those polled said they had run the risk of driving ‘the morning after the night before’ while unsure if their blood alcohol level had returned to within the legally permissible limit.

#BUDGET The Seanad could put a 90-day block on the government’s Budget plans to introduce welfare cuts and PRSI increases. It is to vote on the proposals this week, and it emerged that a number of Labour senators are to meet with senior party ministers to discuss their grievances ahead of the vote.

To mark the 16th Anniversary of the C Case ruling in Ireland by the European Council of Human Rights (ECHR), a group of activists and artists, led by students from NCAD performed a collection of C Case Christmas Carols outside the GPO in Dublin this afternoon. Artist Siobhan Clancy said: “Legislation on X is long overdue”.  (Pic: Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland)

THINGS WE LOVED

• These letters to Santa are pretty much the cutest things we’ve ever read in our lives.
• Is there anything better than pugs singing death metal songs? We don’t think so.
• This is one hungry dog. But look at what happens when he gets too enthusiastic…

THINGS WE SHARED

• A thought-provoking piece on growing up mixed-race in today’s Britain.
• In the wake of the tragic Newtown shootings, parents may be worrying about how to talk to their children about what happened. Here is a popular piece from the New York Times on how parents can talk to their children about tragic events such as this.
• It’s an oldie but a goodie – a dog who guided police to a house that was on fire. Good dog! (via Reddit)

(toxicblitzTV/YouTube)