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Comment on Foreigners 2 by Simon Varwell

July 10, 2014, 4:09 am
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Well put, Iain. I’ve heard it too once or twice, again from English people, who have said they’d leave. And it’s mystifying – why would a country need or depend on increased competences in order to discriminate? Which reserved power is the tipping point for racism – broadcasting? Defence? Welfare? Taxation? And if Scotland wants to be racist towards the English, surely we have more than enough ability at the moment through education, health, culture etc – not to mention human nature.

While there is a minuscule under-current of anti-English racism in Scotland, not to mention anti-Polish, Irish and Pakistani (to name just three more), it’s all both negligible in size and also irrelevant to the referendum debate because it will (and does) happen whatever the political settlement.

I think, as you suggest, such people wrongly conflate criticism of the (English-dominated) Westminster system, corporate elite, landed class and so on, with the English people. Which is manifestly absurd.

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Comment on Carcassonne and the fireworks by Willy peel

July 19, 2014, 12:12 am
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It is NOT Bastille day. It is Fete nationale. And for 700,000 people watch the fireworks would require 45 acres for the people and 400 acres for car parks. Carcassonne has neither available. Maybe 70,000 but never 700,000.

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Comment on Carcassonne and the fireworks by Simon Varwell

July 19, 2014, 4:29 am
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In English, it very much IS Bastille Day. This blog is in English. And I never said 700,000 watched the fireworks.

Geez, if this is the tone you take when commenting on strangers’ blogs, I wonder what you’re like when meeting people for the first time.

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Comment on The European overland adventure by See Here

July 25, 2014, 6:03 pm
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Comment on An email from Alain de Botton by senuke xcr crack blackhat

July 25, 2014, 6:29 pm
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Comment on Another Courier article by alloy wheel refurb Darlington

July 26, 2014, 5:11 pm
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I have read so many articles or reviews about the blogger lovers however this paragraph
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Comment on The European overland adventure by Wireless Headphones For tv

July 26, 2014, 6:13 pm
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An outstanding share! I have just forwarded this onto a coworker who was doing a little research on this. And he in fact ordered me breakfast due to the fact that I found it for him... lol. So allow me to reword this.... Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending some time to discuss this matter here on your website. Stop by my blog post <a href="http://www.sabaratnamsundaramoorthy.com/35356/" rel="nofollow">Wireless Headphones For tv</a>
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Comment on The East Coast Highland Chieftain: a review of First Class by Simon Varwell

February 25, 2014, 1:01 am
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It’s a lovely journey isn’t it Tam? Yes do try to go for First Class next time – so much nicer.

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Comment on Errors by John A. A. Logan

April 12, 2014, 9:50 am
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Yes, Simon, this is an important upside of self-publishing. For non-fiction authors especially, the ability to add/edit/update information, with new editions, can be a boon, too.

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Comment on Cruises and murals by Gus Binnie

August 20, 2014, 4:24 pm
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I have a grand view of the Moray Firth from my house. I’m well used to seeing rigs and oil-related vessels passing, but cruise ships always add a wee bit of variety. The most notable event was when the Wind Surf passed by. I’d never have known the name of this unusual ship had it not been for the list that the Port of Invergordon publishes (http://www.cfpa.co.uk/Cromarty_Firth_Port_Authority/media/Document-Library/Cruise/Cruise-Lines.pdf)

On paper, visiting cruise ships should be a good thing. But only if there is a significant amount of money ending up in the local economy. If it’s simply a case of point-and-click and then back to the boat for dinner, then obviously that’s not happening. Is it a genuine opportunity to visit a beautiful part of Scotland, or just a “toilet stop”?

Then you mentioned the crews: “groups of young, south-east Asian men obviously glad to get a bit of daylight” I recall seeing a documentary somewhere that highlighted the lives of those who work on cruise ships. While many of them get higher wages than they would working in their home countries and are able to provide more for their families, the sea does not respect employment rights. They work long hours without rest days and are simply expected to get on with it or bugger off.

We wouldn’t put up with this, but hey – I managed to book a really cheap cruise for my holiday. How cool is that?

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Comment on Cruises and murals by Simon Varwell

August 21, 2014, 9:50 am
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Couldn’t agree more Gus. Cruises sound like they’re a good thing to get in, but I’m dubious as to how much money really goes into Invergordon itself, never mind the surrounding area.

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Comment on A horrible time to be in Scotland by Joanna Macpherson

September 2, 2014, 7:19 am
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And how and who will pay for this perfect utopia?
Best wishes

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Comment on A horrible time to be in Scotland by Simon Varwell

September 2, 2014, 7:29 am
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Hello Joanna, thanks for your comment. That’s spectacularly off-topic, but while I’m here, it’ll be paid for in the same way things are paid for now or indeed in any country across the world: through various individual and corporate revenue streams. What am I missing?

Oh, and who said it would be a perfect utopia?

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Comment on A horrible time to be in Scotland by Iain Todd

September 2, 2014, 7:43 am
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I completely disagree with this. I’m voting no and I have absolutely no fear of a yes vote.

The Beatles were a great band. They split up and had solo careers. Those careers were great but were they individually as good as the Beatles?

I believe Scotland would be a successful independent country and have a great solo career but I believe Scotland can achieve more by staying with the Band.

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Comment on A horrible time to be in Scotland by Jon Palmer

September 2, 2014, 7:55 am
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Good article Simon and I think in essence you’re right. And it is backed up by that first response from Joanna. I have spent a lifetime at the forefront of change and when one describes a dream of a better future a standard negative response is to say its utopian, meaning unrealistic. I used to take this as a criticism – a nice little put-down – but recently I have come to relish it. It means you are on to something. Of course one might not achieve everything one strives for, and things will certainly change and develop along the way – but the principle desire of pursuing a better life, a better way of doing things, implies change, unease and yes hard slog. So for some its simpler to say it is unrealistic. But where would the world be today without all those pioneers: artists, thinkers and doers who believed in changing things for the better and making it happen?

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Comment on A horrible time to be in Scotland by Simon Varwell

September 2, 2014, 8:23 am
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Hello Iain. Perhaps you disagree with the tweet that inspired my post, then? Do you think it’s a horrible time to be in Scotland, or a wonderfully exciting time to be here because of all the debates and discussions that have arisen?

I’m glad you think Scotland could work independently, and while I like your band metaphor, it could work both ways. The Stone Roses had a classic first album, a long and tortuous hiatus, and then perhaps the epitome of the difficult second album. After years of separate activity, they’re only now talking to each other (echoes of Ireland and the UK’s slowly warming relationship?). And tell me which is the most successful artist – Take That, or Robbie Williams. Call the motivation of the Yes camp “creative differences”, if you will, but I don’t think we’re impressed with the UK’s difficult second album.

Jon – thank you, good points. Yes, it may be a long slog. Fear maybe does drive people to merely write off something as unrealistic. I guess it’s that classic Gandhi quote – “First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, and then you win.” Not sure whether fear and accusations of being unrealistic count as the ridicule or fight stage, though…

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Comment on A horrible time to be in Scotland by Michael Ferguson

September 3, 2014, 4:05 am
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Great post Simon.

Iain, I think that some of the Beatles themselves would tell a different story! As a band John, Paul, George and Ringo had a wonderfully productive 10 years or so. But from what I gather from recorded interviews, by the end John Lennon and George Harrison felt that being part of the group was no longer in their own interest. Seemingly things were being held together at that stage by an overly dominant McCartney, while the others felt that the existence of the band was serving Paul’s interests disproportionately.

Have a listen to the Lennon Wenner/Rolling Stone 1971 interview, where John Lennon says:
“That is one of the main reasons the Beatles ended. I can’t speak for George, but I pretty damn well know we got fed up being side-men for Paul.”

I reckon if you could ask them (it’s shame we can’t), Lennon and Harrison might have considered their post-Beatles music to be their best, and most authentic work.

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Comment on A horrible time to be in Scotland by Iain Todd

September 3, 2014, 4:10 am
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I disagree with the tweet because it does not reflect my experience or the many no voters I know.

The independence debate has been great for scotIand. I love the fact that people want to debate the issue, I love the fact that the vote could go either way. I love that people are passionate. Its a great time to be in Scotland.

Scotland will be fine whether the vote is a yes or no. So lets vow to use the passion, intelligence and drive that we all have to put our own case positively!

PS – The stone roses begat the the seahorses who were terrible. Luckily I think Scotland is more like Mani and we’d go off and be cool in Primal Scream :-)

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Comment on A horrible time to be in Scotland by Martin Fraser

September 3, 2014, 4:26 am
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I agree with the statement in the original tweet, it’s a horrible time to be in Scotland because the debate has gone completely off track. I’ve not been on Facebook for weeks, and will not until after the vote, due to the amount of abuse being thrown around at no voters.

Instead of lively and reasoned debate we get eggs thrown and names called. Instead of understanding that perhaps some people have a different point of view, we, the no voters, must be scared! The mindset of the yes campaign is such that they can’t even begin to consider the other sides point of view.

I see the benefits of independance, I understand why some might think it’s a good way forward, I absolutely understand the arguments. I’m not afraid or ignorant, I just disagree.

The yes campaign themselves have said that Scotland is one of the richest nations on Earth. We, the Scottish people, did that as part of a strong United Kingdom. It seems to me that we should only risk that priviliedged position for a really good reason, and this is not that.

The argument is not about how Westminster are doing things wrong, it’s about how Holyrood can do any better, and I’m simply not convinced that they can.

Consider this. The much talked about austerity measures in place. They are the result of a global financial crisis. I don’t, and can’t, blame the then sitting government for a global problem, but some do. Now who was at the helm when this happened? Not David Cameron, not Alex Salmond, but the leader of the Labour party. Now ask where his constituancy is.

What makes the yes campaign think that swapping the beurocracy in Westminster for the same in Holyrood is going to make things better? It’s going to be the same from a different office, and that’s not worth risking the unknowns.

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Comment on A horrible time to be in Scotland by Simon Varwell

September 3, 2014, 5:13 am
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Thanks for the latest round of great comments, folks.

Iain/Michael, we’re perhaps starting to stretch the “UK as a band” metaphor! But one last thought – Iain, if Scotland is more like Mani, does that make Primal Scream the Nordic Council? :o)

Martin – thank you for your thoughts. We must be watching different debates though. Yes, there’s been violence – Jim Sillars was egged too, not to mention threatened with violence in anonymous notes and told that it was good his wife was dead. Someone was sentenced the other day for threatening Alex Salmond with assassination. A bin outside a Yes shop was set on fire. An elderly Yes activist in Edinburgh had his arm broken. Signs and posters have been damaged by both sides. But this is the work of a tiny fringe of idiots.

The vast majority of the debate has been about exciting re-imaginations of Scotland – a plethora of books, websites, events, campaign groups, think tanks, conferences, podcasts, artwork, music and much more that simply didn’t exist a year or two ago. The transformation of the country into one that is willing to think and express itself in new ways is utterly astonishing. If you think that the referendum has spawned only abuse, and even then abuse only targeted at No, then look around at the massive festival of ideas going on behind you. You’ve been missing out.

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