politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » The Euro elections are being totally overshadowed by Scotland and that could have an impact on May 22nd
Maybe it is because I’m on my way home from Edinburgh after being immersed totally in Scottish politics for two days but I am convinced that the immensity of what will be decided on September 18 is overshadowing everything.
I really liked the giant horse-head statues anyway, but they look perhaps even better illuminated at night.
On-topic: not sure it'll affect the actual voting too much south of the border. North, the SNP would welcome a good result but probably won't care if it's bad.
Agree entirely that the referendum is eclipsing an election that would have pretty low interest anyway.
Sorry Mike but here in Cornwall I have not heard one person mention the issue unprompted (apart from the occasional Mebyon Kernow dreamer). Most of us more concerned about the weather, how many visitors will come this year, whether the rail link will survive the next high tide.
Toploader played my Freshers week - I was informed afterwards that they were 'really good' by some friends. Thought they were a crock of shite personally.
ON topic - one thing is clear is that the complacency in the NO camp has now, finally, been blown away, mainly thanks to me and my blogs in the Telegraph, and maybe the polls too. Even the Guardian is acknowledging that the fight is real and serious.
Theoretically this should benefit the NO campaign, as they will, now, presumably pump money and resources into winning a referendum they had hitherto presumed was a walkover.
However, given their penchant for cocking things up, who knows.
I presume when the referendum is won you will be taking on the title "The Man Who Saved Britain"
ON topic - one thing is clear is that the complacency in the NO camp has now, finally, been blown away, mainly thanks to me and my blogs in the Telegraph, and maybe the polls too. Even the Guardian is acknowledging that the fight is real and serious.
Theoretically this should benefit the NO campaign, as they will, now, presumably pump money and resources into winning a referendum they had hitherto presumed was a walkover.
However, given their penchant for cocking things up, who knows.
I presume when the referendum is won you will be taking on the title "The Man Who Saved Britain"
He deserves nothing less than Fid. Def. as his reward...
I could've mentioned some tracks from Dragon Age: Origins too, amongst other games.
Anyway, this is a nice track from Vagrant Story, one of my favourite games (probably second to Phantasy Star IV). It's aged bloody terribly due to being one of the first 3D RPGs, so the graphics are rough and there's no voice-acting, but the translation from Japanese is staggeringly good: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMcSr4PyutQ
Sitting on velvet covered chairs eating smoked salmon sandwiches doesn't seem really very 'giggy'
As long as the booze is up to scratch it sounds fine by me provided the music isn't too demanding; Mozart or any of the Baroque is about as much as I can manage these days.
Wasn't always like that, of course, probably the best "gig" I ever went to was The Who at the Kennington Oval in the very early seventies. The music was rubbish, the view was worse but I fell in with a young lady and got my brains banged out afterwards, which was fantastic. David Bowie at the North London Polytechnic was much the same (can't remember the year but Spiders from Mars was just about to be released). At the same venue at about the same time Elkie Brooks got her boobs out on stage and the whole thing developed into a near orgy. The best band of that time for a libidinous audience was, in my experience, the Pink Fairies.
Increasingly when I attend social events or have a social break in the middle of business meetings, the conversation turns to the IndyRef. The people who are affluent and highly educated, especially middle class Labour voters tend to think NO will win easily. I try and convince them they are detached from the majority of our fellow countrymen and that there are as many who are convinced YES will win. When I am talking to employees of clients etc they are almost universally YES voters and the more London figures "threaten" us with dire consequences, the more determined they are to vote YES. It is 1998 all over again but this time it is Scottish Labour rather than the Scottish Tories who are getting it all wrong.
ON topic - one thing is clear is that the complacency in the NO camp has now, finally, been blown away, mainly thanks to me and my blogs in the Telegraph, and maybe the polls too. Even the Guardian is acknowledging that the fight is real and serious.
Theoretically this should benefit the NO campaign, as they will, now, presumably pump money and resources into winning a referendum they had hitherto presumed was a walkover.
However, given their penchant for cocking things up, who knows.
I presume when the referendum is won you will be taking on the title "The Man Who Saved Britain"
He deserves nothing less than Fid. Def. as his reward...
We should replace democracy with an absolute dictatorship - Sean Thomas and/or Paul Staines. Anyone not supporting this idea 100% to be boiled alive, and their families minced for kebabs...
If the SNP do less well than expected in the Euro elections, would it undermine the independence campaign to any extent? Or might it lull supporters of the Union into a false sense of security?
ON topic - one thing is clear is that the complacency in the NO camp has now, finally, been blown away, mainly thanks to me and my blogs in the Telegraph, and maybe the polls too. Even the Guardian is acknowledging that the fight is real and serious.
Theoretically this should benefit the NO campaign, as they will, now, presumably pump money and resources into winning a referendum they had hitherto presumed was a walkover.
However, given their penchant for cocking things up, who knows.
I presume when the referendum is won you will be taking on the title "The Man Who Saved Britain"
He deserves nothing less than Fid. Def. as his reward...
We should replace democracy with an absolute dictatorship - Sean Thomas and/or Paul Staines. Anyone not supporting this idea 100% to be boiled alive, and their families minced for kebabs...
Not adverse to the concept, as second best to going back to an Elizabethan monarchy, but I think you'll find TSE has first dibs on the dictator for life job.
If the SNP do less well than expected in the Euro elections, would it undermine the independence campaign to any extent? Or might it lull supporters of the Union into a false sense of security?
They'll do fine I think. Lib Dems are the ones with the 'expectation management' about...
Is it invidious of the public to expect the standards of behaviour in the HoC to reflect those of an ordinary workplace in the 21st,not 19th Century? The Speaker mentioned at PMQs that children were watching.If the HoC is not a fit place for children to witness,is it fit for purpose?
If the SNP do less well than expected in the Euro elections, would it undermine the independence campaign to any extent? Or might it lull supporters of the Union into a false sense of security?
It would probably have a negative effect for a few weeks but then the Bannockburn and Commonwealth Games would change the story. However if the Nats do well and win the 3rd Euro seat then expect SLAB to press the panic button and some Scottish Labour figures to start filling their breeks as the reality starts to set in.
The trouble with 80s bands is that they all think they can come back, and can still play and sing like they did back in the day. We go to Rock City in Nottingham a lot, and as my wife is still a rock chick, we see a lot of her favourite 80s rock bands who are still touring. We saw Magnum there a while ago, and I swear I heard Bob Catley's hip give out when he tried to put his foot on top of a speaker stack, honestly, he stood there with a rictus grin, still belting out his lyrics, until the song finished, and he gingerly croffled off stage! It has to be said, a lot of 80s hair metal bands haven't aged well. I have a Kerrang magazine with a picture of my teenaged wife in rock chick uniform, draped over Motley Crue during a promo night at Rock City. I'm biased, but she still looks hot today. Nikki Sixx, Mickey Mars and the rest of the Crue look like the effing Walking Dead nowadays!
The trouble with 80s bands is that they all think they can come back, and can still play and sing like they did back in the day. We go to Rock City in Nottingham a lot, and as my wife is still a rock chick, we see a lot of her favourite 80s rock bands who are still touring. We saw Magnum there a while ago, and I swear I heard Bob Catley's hip give out when he tried to put his foot on top of a speaker stack, honestly, he stood there with a rictus grin, still belting out his lyrics, until the song finished, and he gingerly croffled off stage! It has to be said, a lot of 80s hair metal bands haven't aged well. I have a Kerrang magazine with a picture of my teenaged wife in rock chick uniform, draped over Motley Crue during a promo night at rock city. I'm biased, but she still looks hot today. Nikki Sixx, Mikki Mars and the rest of the Crue look like the effing Walking Dead nowadays!
Was in Corporation Sheffield Saturday night, good to hear Rock City is still around - Jilly's in Manchester got taken over by a f*cking Tesco
It has to be said, a lot of 80s hair metal bands haven't aged well. I have a Kerrang magazine with a picture of my teenaged wife in rock chick uniform, draped over Motley Crue during a promo night at Rock City. I'm biased, but she still looks hot today. Nikki Sixx, Mickey Mars and the rest of the Crue look like the effing Walking Dead nowadays!
Wendy James from Transvison Vamp looks a bit odd now too.
Quite so, Mr Stopper. The Hurstpierpoint and District Gentlemen's Temperance Association (Junior Section) had an outing to see Jethro Tull a few years back. The sight of Ian Anderson trying gamely to stand on one leg while he played one of his flute solos and running out of puff and balance half-way through was, frankly, embarrassing. Mind the audience hadn't aged well either, the smell of over-full colostomy bags was strong and getting to the bar was difficult because of all the wheelchairs.
The trouble with 80s bands is that they all think they can come back, and can still play and sing like they did back in the day. We go to Rock City in Nottingham a lot, and as my wife is still a rock chick, we see a lot of her favourite 80s rock bands who are still touring. We saw Magnum there a while ago, and I swear I heard Bob Catley's hip give out when he tried to put his foot on top of a speaker stack, honestly, he stood there with a rictus grin, still belting out his lyrics, until the song finished, and he gingerly croffled off stage! It has to be said, a lot of 80s hair metal bands haven't aged well. I have a Kerrang magazine with a picture of my teenaged wife in rock chick uniform, draped over Motley Crue during a promo night at rock city. I'm biased, but she still looks hot today. Nikki Sixx, Mikki Mars and the rest of the Crue look like the effing Walking Dead nowadays!
Was in Corporation Sheffield Saturday night, good to hear Rock City is still around - Jilly's in Manchester got taken over by a f*cking Tesco
Rock City is alive and kicking. They get big acts there, considering the size limitations. Around the time of Download at Donington race track, you usually get a few of the headliners playing "secret" gigs.
The trouble with 80s bands is that they all think they can come back, and can still play and sing like they did back in the day. We go to Rock City in Nottingham a lot, and as my wife is still a rock chick, we see a lot of her favourite 80s rock bands who are still touring. We saw Magnum there a while ago, and I swear I heard Bob Catley's hip give out when he tried to put his foot on top of a speaker stack, honestly, he stood there with a rictus grin, still belting out his lyrics, until the song finished, and he gingerly croffled off stage! It has to be said, a lot of 80s hair metal bands haven't aged well. I have a Kerrang magazine with a picture of my teenaged wife in rock chick uniform, draped over Motley Crue during a promo night at Rock City. I'm biased, but she still looks hot today. Nikki Sixx, Mickey Mars and the rest of the Crue look like the effing Walking Dead nowadays!
I believe much of this is down to post-modern irony but if it makes a buck for the old guys then so much the better.
I saw Adam and the Ants were touring the other day although he has not strictly ever left us.
Quite so, Mr Stopper. The Hurstpierpoint and District Gentlemen's Temperance Association (Junior Section) had an outing to see Jethro Tull a few years back. The sight of Ian Anderson trying gamely to stand on one leg while he played one of his flute solos and running out of puff and balance half-way through was, frankly, embarrassing. Mind the audience hadn't aged well either, the smell of over-full colostomy bags was strong and getting to the bar was difficult because of all the wheelchairs.
Jethro Tull is one of Mrs J's favourite bands (up there with Kate Bush and pre-Collins Genesis), and so I was dragged down to watch them play in Southampton a few years ago. I know f'all of their songs, and the theatre's acoustics were the worst I have ever heard. It was awful, but she loved it.
Her taste in music is as questionable as her taste in men... ;-)
If the SNP do less well than expected in the Euro elections, would it undermine the independence campaign to any extent? Or might it lull supporters of the Union into a false sense of security?
It would probably have a negative effect for a few weeks but then the Bannockburn and Commonwealth Games would change the story. However if the Nats do well and win the 3rd Euro seat then expect SLAB to press the panic button and some Scottish Labour figures to start filling their breeks as the reality starts to set in.
Hmm, been reading your comments with interest. On this particular issue, do you suggest that because voting for the SNP is - more or less - a crude surrogate for voting Yes in the indy ref? Or are you also thinking that a good vote for the SNP would basically ring the alarms, because it would confirm that a lot of voters don't believe the scare stories from the unionist side? [edit: specifically on EU membership]
hmm, OGH comes back from a week with Scottish political geeks and asks if Scottish politics is the most important thing in the world?
Not convinced.
There is a lot to be said for NickP's point about if people really cared they would get out and vote but a lot of the changes brought about by Europe (of which there have been a very great deal and not of no import) are unnoticed by members of the public.
If, for example, it was an EU requirement for kebab shops to heat their kebabs to 83.7 degrees and keep them covered and not less than 1.6metres from the shop counter, the general public might not realise that this was an EU directive. But for those affected, it matters a great deal and is an impediment to efficiency.
ON topic - one thing is clear is that the complacency in the NO camp has now, finally, been blown away, mainly thanks to me and my blogs in the Telegraph, and maybe the polls too. Even the Guardian is acknowledging that the fight is real and serious.
Theoretically this should benefit the NO campaign, as they will, now, presumably pump money and resources into winning a referendum they had hitherto presumed was a walkover.
However, given their penchant for cocking things up, who knows.
NO need to stop running up the white flag, emotionally and intellectually. Their approach and some of their arguments sound morally bankrupt. Talking about how much money Scots get out of the UK and how screwed they will be if they don't vote NO is wrong approach. Talking about how Scotland will get more powers anyway if they vote NO is also the wrong approach.
They need to show some positive leadership and inspire Scots as to why Scotland remaining a united part of the UK is part of an exciting, optimistic vision for Scotland's successful long-term future.
If they can't win that argument then, no matter what happens in September, in the medium-long term the UK will lose Scotland regardless.
Quite so, Mr Stopper. The Hurstpierpoint and District Gentlemen's Temperance Association (Junior Section) had an outing to see Jethro Tull a few years back. The sight of Ian Anderson trying gamely to stand on one leg while he played one of his flute solos and running out of puff and balance half-way through was, frankly, embarrassing. Mind the audience hadn't aged well either, the smell of over-full colostomy bags was strong and getting to the bar was difficult because of all the wheelchairs.
Jethro Tull is one of Mrs J's favourite bands (up there with Kate Bush and pre-Collins Genesis), and so I was dragged down to watch them play in Southampton a few years ago. I know f'all of their songs, and the theatre's acoustics were the worst I have ever heard. It was awful, but she loved it.
Her taste in music is as questionable as her taste in men... ;-)
We saw them in Southampton too, at the Civic Centre. I wonder if we were at the same performance. The curry House round the corner was rather good.
ITV4 - 19:30 - LIVE FA Youth Cup Arsenal V Chelsea (Radio Times) [You can just imagine me being one of those people from benefits st or gogglebox if you like]
Quite so, Mr Stopper. The Hurstpierpoint and District Gentlemen's Temperance Association (Junior Section) had an outing to see Jethro Tull a few years back. The sight of Ian Anderson trying gamely to stand on one leg while he played one of his flute solos and running out of puff and balance half-way through was, frankly, embarrassing. Mind the audience hadn't aged well either, the smell of over-full colostomy bags was strong and getting to the bar was difficult because of all the wheelchairs.
Jethro Tull is one of Mrs J's favourite bands (up there with Kate Bush and pre-Collins Genesis), and so I was dragged down to watch them play in Southampton a few years ago. I know f'all of their songs, and the theatre's acoustics were the worst I have ever heard. It was awful, but she loved it.
Her taste in music is as questionable as her taste in men... ;-)
We saw them in Southampton too, at the Civic Centre. I wonder if we were at the same performance. The curry House round the corner was rather good.
I think it was 2009 or probably 2010. And yes, it was at the Guildhall / Civic Centre.
On music: I am constantly told The Beatles were pioneering, amazing, epoch-making, ground-breaking, amazing songwriters, musically brilliant, the best band ever etc.
I'm not at all qualified to comment on that. I know very little about the technical and historical side of music. In many respects, I'm sure they were. After all, they are the most consistently popular band of all time.
I don't know if it's over-familiarity, or over five decades of hype, but I've listened to many of their tracks, repeatedly, over the years. All I know is that, personally, I find them a bit boring; they do nothing for me.
On music: I am constantly told The Beatles were pioneering, amazing, epoch-making, ground-breaking, amazing songwriters, musically brilliant, the best band ever etc.
I'm not at all qualified to comment on that. I know very little about the technical and historical side of music. In many respects, I'm sure they were. After all, they are the most consistently popular band of all time.
I don't know if it's over-familiarity, or over five decades of hype, but I've listened to many of their tracks, repeatedly, over the years. All I know is that, personally, I find them a bit boring; they do nothing for me.
I like to wind up Beatles fans by calling them a second rate Oasis prelude.
Simple Minds? Have they been mentioned? Are they Scottish? Can I ever get don't you forget about me out of my head?
Absolutely. The best Scottish band by a distance. On the waterfront, Belfast Child, Alive and Kicking. Saw them in Dundee more years ago than the band and I would want to admit.
But my favourite gig ever was the Rolling Stones at Edinburgh Castle. They did an unplugged set that was just magic and a version of "Like a rolling stone" I will never forget.
Seen him six or seven times since the first time in 1988. Always a great performance and rarely less than 3 1/2 hours on stage and 25+ songs. Best live performer around for the last 3 decades.
I've seen Springsteen over sixty times, right back to Hammersmith in 1975. Far and away the best live performer of my generation, he also does solo tours and the Seeger Sessions stuff, I saw that Sean mentioned the Pogues, the Seeger stuff is like that. Who else could make this into a great live song:
Saw someone recommend The National and they are very good, also the Hold Steady are excellent. Not sure if anyone likes Jake Bugg but his first album was amazing for one so young.
On topic I am hoping to take part in a bleather together session in Edinburgh on Wednesday which is telephone canvassing.
It remains a concern to me that there is a lot of activity in Aberdeen to the north, Edinburgh to the south and some evidence of life in SLAB in Glasgow but Dundee remains a dead spot. Absolutely zilch locally that I can see.
Dave Lee Roth at the NEC Birmigham, 1991ish. He'd broken a rib leaping about during the previous night's gig, and took it easy that night, more of a stand up show than a rock concert, but he did swig profusely from a bottle of Jack Daniels. He was superb. I never got to see Van Halen, though. If ony they'd stop bickering enough to tour soon.......
Absolutely. The best Scottish band by a distance. On the waterfront, Belfast Child, Alive and Kicking. Saw them in Dundee more years ago than the band and I would want to admit.
Still touring. Saw them last year with Ultravox in support, got tickets for July.
On music: I am constantly told The Beatles were pioneering, amazing, epoch-making, ground-breaking, amazing songwriters, musically brilliant, the best band ever etc.
I'm not at all qualified to comment on that. I know very little about the technical and historical side of music. In many respects, I'm sure they were. After all, they are the most consistently popular band of all time.
I don't know if it's over-familiarity, or over five decades of hype, but I've listened to many of their tracks, repeatedly, over the years. All I know is that, personally, I find them a bit boring; they do nothing for me.
I find some of their stuff decent and catchy, but for the most part I'd agree. Such is the fervour of their fans, and the intensity of their legacy, that I rarely feel it wise to be totally honest about that though.
If the SNP do less well than expected in the Euro elections, would it undermine the independence campaign to any extent? Or might it lull supporters of the Union into a false sense of security?
They'll do fine I think. Lib Dems are the ones with the 'expectation management' about...
Even before the latest slump they were briefing about returning no MEPs, so it will be...interesting to see how hard they try to spin returning one or two, if they manage it, as some kind of victory. One of my favourite political pastimes is seeing how hard party hacks and their hack-like supporters have to twist themselves in knots to spin something as good or acceptable for them in the face of tremendous reasons to think otherwise.
Imagine George Osborne sat in Parliament as an MP of the ‘Conservative & Tory’ Party. Imagine this affiliated party was funded by a large business conglomerate, the Tory Group. Now imagine Osborne boasted of helping to change the law so that the Tory Group could strike a merger deal for its Tory Bank arm.
Let’s say the deal went sour, the Chairman of Tory Bank was engulfed in scandal and turned out to be totally unsuited for the job, then the Group was forced to sell 70 per cent of it just to stave off disaster. Members of the board brought in to reform Tory Group resign in the face of internal opposition, and finally the company reports losses of £2.5 billion – but still intends to keep funding George Osborne and his fellow Conservative & Tory MPs.
What would Ed Miliband, Ed Balls and Chuka Umunna have to say about such a situation?
Absolutely. The best Scottish band by a distance. On the waterfront, Belfast Child, Alive and Kicking. Saw them in Dundee more years ago than the band and I would want to admit.
Still touring. Saw them last year with Ultravox in support, got tickets for July.
Ahh those names bring back a lot of memories of my more youthful days. Band I most regret never getting to see live has to be Fleetwood Mac, and I am now so fecking jealous of Seant for having seen The Pogues live in their heyday.
You can tell when themes crash. OGH has launched 2 threads today, (will we have a third) on the Scottish referendum, and has caused almost everyone on PB to discuss anything but that subject.
The great yap about pop groups and stars (which has gone on for 5 hours), is boring my tits off; mainly because after the Beatles and Queen everything else is crud.
One can also tell that today is a slow news day, when Farage has not been mentioned as doing something dastardly for hours now.
Quite so, Mr Stopper. The Hurstpierpoint and District Gentlemen's Temperance Association (Junior Section) had an outing to see Jethro Tull a few years back. The sight of Ian Anderson trying gamely to stand on one leg while he played one of his flute solos and running out of puff and balance half-way through was, frankly, embarrassing. Mind the audience hadn't aged well either, the smell of over-full colostomy bags was strong and getting to the bar was difficult because of all the wheelchairs.
I'm a big Tull fan and I am pleased to say Anderson has stopped trying to play the flute while standing on one leg. However his voice is shot, and you don't realise how much the band relied on his distinctive vocals until you hear him trying to sing the old numbers now. He can't. I saw him on the Thick As A Brick 1&2 tour, and he had a stunt double doing most of the vocals on TATB "1" while he had obviously written TATB2 to suit his current vocal range.
You can tell when themes crash. OGH has launched 2 threads today, (will we have a third) on the Scottish referendum, and has caused almost everyone on PB to discuss anything but that subject.
The great yap about pop groups and stars (which has gone on for 5 hours), is boring my tits off; mainly because after the Beatles and Queen everything else is crud.
One can also tell that today is a slow news day, when Farage has not been mentioned as doing something dastardly for hours now.
Comments
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-26936703
I really liked the giant horse-head statues anyway, but they look perhaps even better illuminated at night.
On-topic: not sure it'll affect the actual voting too much south of the border. North, the SNP would welcome a good result but probably won't care if it's bad.
Agree entirely that the referendum is eclipsing an election that would have pretty low interest anyway.
I smiled
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGEc8KBKO8I&list=RDXGEc8KBKO8I
And of course, the Proclaimers.
All excellent.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFcG0pBhKPA
She thought the big story of the EU elections would be the collapse of LD support.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10769926/Google-hangout-Why-is-Ukip-still-stealing-Conservative-voters.html
twitter.com/election_data/status/456742060096114688
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regions_of_England
The Telegraph @Telegraph 2h
George Alagiah has been diagnosed with bowel cancer http://fw.to/S14dolX (Photo: BBC) pic.twitter.com/zuNegQlesJ
I could've mentioned some tracks from Dragon Age: Origins too, amongst other games.
Anyway, this is a nice track from Vagrant Story, one of my favourite games (probably second to Phantasy Star IV). It's aged bloody terribly due to being one of the first 3D RPGs, so the graphics are rough and there's no voice-acting, but the translation from Japanese is staggeringly good:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMcSr4PyutQ
Goodbye Mr MacKenzie
Swiftly followed by Hipsway, Hue & Cry, Love & Money
Wasn't always like that, of course, probably the best "gig" I ever went to was The Who at the Kennington Oval in the very early seventies. The music was rubbish, the view was worse but I fell in with a young lady and got my brains banged out afterwards, which was fantastic. David Bowie at the North London Polytechnic was much the same (can't remember the year but Spiders from Mars was just about to be released). At the same venue at about the same time Elkie Brooks got her boobs out on stage and the whole thing developed into a near orgy. The best band of that time for a libidinous audience was, in my experience, the Pink Fairies.
http://www.ippr.org/images/media/files/publication/2014/04/England-local-dimension_Apr2014_12120.pdf
After first having read the research:
http://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/n7j4epfe7j/University of Cardiff_England sample Results 121128.pdf
"special pleading" does not quite cover it......
I guess this report (based on research nearly 18 months old) was designed to underpin Miliband's "sunk without trace" localism speech....
One of only 3 guys in the audience for Horse in Birmingham.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27062091
Cardiff LOL !
Is it invidious of the public to expect the standards of behaviour in the HoC to reflect those of an ordinary workplace in the 21st,not 19th Century?
The Speaker mentioned at PMQs that children were watching.If the HoC is not a fit place for children to witness,is it fit for purpose?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27062577
It has to be said, a lot of 80s hair metal bands haven't aged well. I have a Kerrang magazine with a picture of my teenaged wife in rock chick uniform, draped over Motley Crue during a promo night at Rock City. I'm biased, but she still looks hot today. Nikki Sixx, Mickey Mars and the rest of the Crue look like the effing Walking Dead nowadays!
I saw Adam and the Ants were touring the other day although he has not strictly ever left us.
Her taste in music is as questionable as her taste in men... ;-)
Not convinced.
There is a lot to be said for NickP's point about if people really cared they would get out and vote but a lot of the changes brought about by Europe (of which there have been a very great deal and not of no import) are unnoticed by members of the public.
If, for example, it was an EU requirement for kebab shops to heat their kebabs to 83.7 degrees and keep them covered and not less than 1.6metres from the shop counter, the general public might not realise that this was an EU directive. But for those affected, it matters a great deal and is an impediment to efficiency.
(Made up story about kebab shops. I hope.)
They need to show some positive leadership and inspire Scots as to why Scotland remaining a united part of the UK is part of an exciting, optimistic vision for Scotland's successful long-term future.
If they can't win that argument then, no matter what happens in September, in the medium-long term the UK will lose Scotland regardless.
http://youtu.be/WFNAZGgt1VQ
I'm not at all qualified to comment on that. I know very little about the technical and historical side of music. In many respects, I'm sure they were. After all, they are the most consistently popular band of all time.
I don't know if it's over-familiarity, or over five decades of hype, but I've listened to many of their tracks, repeatedly, over the years. All I know is that, personally, I find them a bit boring; they do nothing for me.
Saw them in Dundee more years ago than the band and I would want to admit.
But my favourite gig ever was the Rolling Stones at Edinburgh Castle. They did an unplugged set that was just magic and a version of "Like a rolling stone" I will never forget.
I've seen Springsteen over sixty times, right back to Hammersmith in 1975. Far and away the best live performer of my generation, he also does solo tours and the Seeger Sessions stuff, I saw that Sean mentioned the Pogues, the Seeger stuff is like that. Who else could make this into a great live song:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rTebgVrHEVM
Saw someone recommend The National and they are very good, also the Hold Steady are excellent. Not sure if anyone likes Jake Bugg but his first album was amazing for one so young.
It remains a concern to me that there is a lot of activity in Aberdeen to the north, Edinburgh to the south and some evidence of life in SLAB in Glasgow but Dundee remains a dead spot. Absolutely zilch locally that I can see.
And what about Aztec Camera and Orange Juice?
The great yap about pop groups and stars (which has gone on for 5 hours), is boring my tits off; mainly because after the Beatles and Queen everything else is crud.
One can also tell that today is a slow news day, when Farage has not been mentioned as doing something dastardly for hours now.
Martin Barre can still play the guitar, though.
http://blogs.channel4.com/paul-mason-blog/