Hamish

I was going to suggest that too and 100% concur! The intro to the song is absolutely ideal and something fans can easily chant along to in a menacing style. You don't even have to like AC/DC to see that this song would be great. A lot of sports teams in the US come out to this.

I lived in the US (Cali) for 3 years. I recently applied for a new work visa (which I eventually got) but it was a TOTAL nightmare...

I don't understand really why the opposition parties won't support a referendum? I can understand them not wanting independence (sort of!) but having a referendum is finding out what the people want; the people are, after all, who politicians are supposed to represent in government! Surely it's a good way to lay the independence matter to rest once and for all one way or another? It's arrogant of them to block us having the chance to make a decision on this most important of issues. It's like they think the general population can't be trusted to decide what future the country should have and they'll decide that for us using their infinite wisdom! I think the SNP have been the most open and transparent party in their first 100 days since we got devolution, doing everything they said they would and for the interest of Scotland, not the interests of Westminster!

There may be the possibility of a 'proper' rock festival in the Black Isle next summer/ autumn. Watch this space... :011:

I don't agree that America and 'the Jews' are at more risk the UK. Logistically the UK is a far easier target than either Israel and the US so, although the terrorists would LIKE to target them, in actual fact Britain is at more risk of an attack.

Have always agreed with that - never said we were ever "a prime target", just that we would always be "a target", independent or not. Scotland (as well as Wales & Northern Ireland) contain targets that although of "lesser importance" to the terrorists than just about anything in London or the big cities of USA still have the effect of making the news worldwide and disrupting people in Toronto, New York, Washington etc when something happens. This whole plot, whilst it appears amateur in its execution appears to have been carefully planned and the perpetrators dont appear to have raised any eyebrows when getting ready for it ... and that is worrying. Terrorist attacks are like icebergs Hamish .... you only see the small tip, but there is a lot more to it than the bit you actually see. We are lucky that our security services - for the most part - ensure we dont see the rest of the iceberg by nipping a lot of these ideas in the bud. In Toronto 30+ people were arrested before Xmas for plotting stuff here. Recently, people were arrested In Los Angeles for plotting to blow up fuel lines under LAX airport and those are only the ones that have made the news. That propoganda video that surfaced 10 days ago is not only a speech to "graduates" in the videos but seen as inciting people already in Canada and Germany and who may sympathise with certain groups to think of "joining the fight". Many in Canada see it as a only a matter of time. I still maintain that Britain is the number 1 target for Islamic terrorists in the world right now and recent events seem to support that. The more we can distance ourselves from Britain politically, the safer we'll be. I can see no argument in that.

But presumably ones who've lived and worked here for some time do know the difference...

maybe not "as much" Hamish, but please dont confuse that with "not at all" http://www.libertypost.org/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=101209 - The "order of importance" list published after the July 05 bombings in London - Jews first then Christian nations with America and Britain topping the list. Take note that Spain and Australia (who were both targeted with real bombs) as well as Canada and Italy are specifically mentioned. http://www.thestar.com/News/article/227170 - As recently as 10 days ago, both Germany and Canada were specifically named as targets in a Taliban/Al Qaeda propaganda video. http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=3333817&page=1 - Did authorities have prior knowledge of these attacks ? (maybe not the specifics, but at least the general threat)/ Also, there is further talk of the targeting of Canada and Germany ..... Scotty, at no point did I say there was no risk. All I said that we'd be at less of a risk which you appear to be agreeing with now. And although all those other countries are apparently being targeted, to date, nothing's happened there yet. I'm not saying it won't but the fact that attacks are relatively frequent in the UK compared to other EU/ NATO countries says a lot to me.

I think it's VERY obvious we would be a lesser target (obviously we cannot eliminate the risk emtirely) if we were not part of the UK. And I go back to my original point, no other EU or NATO countries are being targeted nearly as much as the UK.

Scotty, that's not strictly true. The UK (primarily due to it's involvement in the Iraq conflict) is the number one target for Islamic terrorists in the world. How many attacks or attempted attacks have their been in other EU countries? Not very many. Scotland needs to disassociate itself with British conflicts to be a safer place. To me that is absolutely crystal clear.

I also forgot about Blackie Lawless of WASP...

well actually im 18 and i voted for th first time in may so really that DOES mean i'm allowed to talk with the adults!! :blah01: im a supporter of th union because iv got afew english relatives but also i personally believe that scotland wont be any better off than it is at th moment if we we're independent. i'm not saying we would be worse off, i think we would be jst exactly th same as we are now. also for security i think it is extremely important that we stay within the union. also i want to make clear that this doesnt make less proud to be scottish. i think u can be easily scottish and british without being in an orange lodge :015: :015: I've got English relatives and friends but why should that make any less of a case for independence? Remember, independence is a pro-Scottish issue, not an anti-English one. And your security argument baffles me? Scotland is a far more dangerous place because of Britain's involvement in the Iraq War. We need to distance ourselves from that situation to increase our security.

All good singers mentioned so far (well, Bono??? - good singer but not a rock voice!). I'll interject my opinion - it has to be Noddy Holder! And John Foggerty a close second. And the late Bon Scott third.

To be honest, no, it's a bit too cryptic for such an uneducated person as myself. :001:

Not sure if I've ever heard Jimmy Page sing...

I'm not biting! :001:

A drunken discussion I had with some friends not so long ago. Which recorded singer would say has the best voice for rock music? I've got my candidate but I'll wait and see if anyone else is of the same opinion!

Fair enough but you're never going to get me to go to Rock Ness! :001:

Sorry Charles, it certainly isn't an argument of 'whinging Jocks' anymore (if it ever has been). We're better off in pretty much every way to be separted from England/ Britain. You're living in the past if you can't see how things are changing. And if you want to look at it in the most basic level, we (especially in the north of Scotland) have been a very discrete culture since Roman times.

I've just caught onto this thread and have spent some time reading through the posts. My feeling is that there is a dwindling number of people who are living in the past and clinging onto the idea of the Union being good for Scotland. Allegedly educated people like Charles Bannerman worry me with their deluded perception of the real changes that are happening within Scottish society in relation to the option for home rule (especially given his educational role). The Union is thankfully coming to an end; it's only a matter of time and I couldn't be happier about that. I see no reason why any proud Scot would now want to be associated with what England or Britain has become to be associated with (speak to most people from another country and they think of Britain/ England as imperialist war-mongerers). The inner cities of England are heading for chaos in the next decade; racial tensions are increasing and the 'urban' culture which spawns gang crime is getting ever worse. How anyone can want to be associated with these problems, I don't know. And the financial argument for staying in the Union is a complete joke and there is a tide of understanding of that in Scotland also. I feel that the problem is 300 years of negative propaganda eminating from Westminster to keep us in check - in some people this has resulted in an institutionalised feeling of inadequacy and the need to rely on the 'strength' of the Union. It is now England that needs Scotland, not the other way round. Does anyone think that if Scotland was such a financial weight around England's neck that they would have put up such strong resistance to independence? I really feel that the SNP are far more cencerned about Scotland's interests compared to a party with a vested interest in Westminster. It's too early to say but I really feel that the average person in Scotland will see a positive difference over the next few years. The added powers that full independence will bring will allow us to compete and prosper as a proper country within Europe rather than a poor annex of England.

Arse!

Was it not DU though that were demanding the £20 fee yesterday?

I don't think so. She's far too polite :001:

Dating sites? What ever happened to getting blootered, letting the Dutch courage set in and picking up someone who's entirely incompatible for you and regretting it for the next 3 years? It was always better in the good old days!

SH!TE :008: