PullMyFinger

That is not actually confirmed yet. If they lose to Hearts, Kilmarnock beat St Mirren and Dundee, Dundee Utd. beat St Johnstone and Aberdeen, and we lose to St Johnstone then they end up 7th at the split. So depending on results, we could secure them their top six place on Friday. Aberdeen have 41 points, County 45 points. How can they finish 7th or lower? Don't ever doubt me!

Noted So, are you on it? I'd say the next derby is the biggest ever. Shades, chains, flames, bikini clad ladies, blood, sweat, tears,...

That's feckin fantastic and sets up another derby. A top 6 Highland derby. Unbelievable Jeff!

You're welcome, Mr Adams. Please, please, please can we have County on the last day of the season.

Racial tension, would you say there's a racist (rather than nationalist) element in the independence movement? If so, any more than the norm of any group of people? Do you write for the Radio Times?

Don't know much about them (other than a cracking weekend in Prague!) but don't they speak different languages, which makes separation desirable or even inevitable? Their languages were very similar. Think English and Scots. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Slovak_and_Czech Anyway language is not a reason to split, look at the US, Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, India, etc. who have multiple languages. Should Scotland gain independence are we to split the country again (gaelic speakers, Scots speakers, English speakers, Polish speakers) ? I think not. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Languages_of_Scotland_1400_AD.svg

The SNP love “Braveheart” because it helps them in their cynical aim of fostering xenophobia and getting little kids beaten up. Story in the Radio Times. http://wingsoverscotland.com/we-paid-for-this/#more-31692

I would agree that the debate won't really get going until the TV debates happen, and they could be very influential. However it'll be Alastair Darling, the head of the Better Together campaign, rather than the PM. I don't think Cameron actually has any official role in all this, and if he got too involved Salmon would play the "meddling in affairs that are for the Scottish people to decide" card. As the most senior officer of YesScotland, it should be Blair Jenkins against Alastair Darling. This pleases me. Meddling or not, as the prime minister it is Camerons responsibility to preserve the UK. He should and I suspect will debate against Alex Salmond at some point in the summer or early autumn next year. This pleases me, too. Am I easily pleased? Ask me on 22nd September 2014.

As long as I don't mention Jimmy Crankie's tadger I'm okay. Oh feck........

The mock poll at Glasgow University had a low turnout (higher than most student polls) and many students were either unaware or disinterested in the poll. Traditionally the establishment at Glasgow University is very much unionist, consider that the CPPR is based there and how they reported recent events in respect to the future of North Sea Oil. It would be unwise to take such a poll and use it as some evidence of a drop in support for independence. What next? The poll on this thread? Ridiculous really to think like that. The only polls of any relevance are taken over a large section of the population and a wide demographic mix. Getting 16 & 17 year olds the right to vote is good, getting them to vote will be a different thing completely. Their life experiences won't amount to a great deal and so they may be more idealistic, then again some (probably most) will vote the same way as their parents. I believe that the debate will come up for discussion in schools before the referendum but I doubt if that will help give the young adults both sides of the argument in a balanced way. A certain teacher on this forum is conspicuous by his absence on this thread. Then again like most unionists he has nothing positive to say about the union, just attacks on the pro-independence side. This is an argument that is often rolled out and one which on the face of it sounds convincing. I certainly don't know what countries these all are but I do know that many of these countries were previously under the subjugation of a larger power in a way in which even the most ardent of nationalists could never honestly argue that Scotland is. The countries of the former Soviet bloc spring to mind, for example. I don't underestimate the importance of the fact that none of these countries wants to go back, but let's not overestimate it either. It is important that we compare like with like if this sort of argument is to be used. After all, let's not forget that large numbers of citizens of some of these recently independent countries have chosen to leave their countries and live in Scotland! Citizens of countries like Latvia and Lithuania may be glad to be free from Russian domination but they still feel they are better off in a Scotland which is part of a Union than in their own independent countries. Other countries have separated on clear ethnic or religious divisions which are also not relevant to our situation. Rather than trundle out what are really rather meaningless statistics, it would be more constructive to identify countries which had similar levels of prosperity, freedoms etc as Scotland before gaining independence and to identify how the people have benefited both financially and culturally as a result. If someone in the "yes" camp could provide some evidence of benefit in a country where comparison was meaningful, then that would be a helpful contribution to the debate. Similarly, if someone in the "no" camp could provide evidence to the contrary, that too would be helpful. Here's a list of the 34 countries, the most relevant ones would be Czech Republic and Slovakia who have both benefitted from parting. Interesting that Germany is there and it's been a mixed bag since reunification, the east is wealthier and the west has generally maintained their standard of living but are subsidising the east through taxation. They are also heavily into the Euro project which hasn't been good for them lately. Kazakhstan is an interesting one, the oil industry there is booming now and the investment required, technical staff and knowledge base wouldn't have been available in the times of the USSR with the closed doors policy. Politically it's a basketcase though. Edit, I see Mr Malmsteen beat me to the list

I'm not sure what the figures are for the declaration and personally they don't mean anything to me. What signing the declaration does is give good leads to the campaign for volunteers to help with leafletting, etc.. This year we should expect to have a new leaflet every couple of months increasing next year and stopping 16 weeks befor the referendum date when the campaign proper starts and hopefully we'll have some live discussion on national television where both sides have their case heard. So come on folks, we can do it with your help.

What's that? I've never heard of it. Never mind, I googled it. http://planetivy.com/news/1596/scotland-moves-ever-closer-to-independence-from-britain-with-a-meeting-held-in-a-cineworld/

Of course if you are more passive you can simply sign the declaration here; http://www.yesscotland.net/declaration

Is there the tiniest hint of irony there? Should have worded that one better! The stories in the press about the oil boom that will help the British economy surely strengthens the case for the use of oil in an independent Scotland. They have been saying that there is not enough oil for an independent Scotland. Now, all of a sudden there is enough for the United Kingdom. That the story in the Telegraph about Vince Cable was omitted from the Scottish section is quite telling, however there is some positive news coming through the media. I'll see how it goes but if we get honest impartial reporting and the Yes campaign get a fair hearing on the telly, I can't see past a majority vote for independence. Better still, sign up as a volunteer. Even if you just deliver a few leaflets, your help will make the job easier for the more established volunteers. http://www.yesscotland.net/volunteer You can even become an ambassador for the Yes campaign. http://www.yesscotland.net/ambassadors Anyone in the Moray constituency who may be interested can PM me and I'll put them in contact with the relevant people.

Another fine piece from Rev. Stu. Campbell aka WingsOverScotland. http://wingsoverscotland.com/the-oil-debate-for-busy-people/

Is there the tiniest hint of irony there? I would argue with those figures but yes, we could do more good with £2 billion than spend it on ICBMs (how old does that make me?). Public spending tends to spiral out of control so maybe a couple or three of your list but certainly not "all of the above" as the poster claims. Consider that the last Labour/Liberal coalition at Westminster supported a scheme to build a simple tramline in Edinburgh. This white elephant project will have cost about the same per mile as the Channel Tunnel did(3 tunnels were made).

Instead of treating, we get tricked, Instead of kisses, we get kicked! This is a must see, Jackie Bailey calls for emergency legislation because Labour councils won't tow the Scottish party line. The video won't be available for long though. http://www.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/scotland-21956343

First off, thanks for your excellent post CorrieHarrier and welcome to CaleyThistleOnline. Sit down sonny, grown ups are talking.

He's still an ICT player, good luck to him!

Good luck to him, more money and a few hours closer to Spain. Easy decision imho.

Did you go to the School of Hard Knocks before you went to the University of Life?

I think you're confusing politician with policy maker, but that's another debate. I have come into contact with a few SNP politicians at local, regional and national level and as with anyone else each has their own personality which is definitely a good thing. Debate amongst large groups and disagreement about policy produces many ideas and the best ideas generally float to the top. Looking at the political parties in this country now, how many would make a choice regards a major policy live on national television at their conference? SNP did this regards NATO membership, democracy in action. Greens do this but not in the public eye. LibDems do this then renege on each policy as it suits them, Labour used to but don't even bother now and the Tories used to many years ago.

Why don't you do "University of Lfe" cliches?

Well, this is fun. http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/scotland/article3723157.ece Lets' look at this, "no spare money" as "it will be swallowed up by the deficit". So, by staying in the UK our deficit is increasing (borrowing is now and has always been, higher under this ConDem government than under the Labour government), but an Independent Scotland clearing our deficit is a bad thing! Uncertainty, fear, bollox! So who are CPPR? Lets look at an extract from this page on BellaCaledonia. http://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2012/02/23/the-professor-the-think-tank-the-black-black-oil/ Edit as spoiler didn't work. And reformatting as cut and paste was awkward.

I've been unemployed...and I'd not have had a problem working for my benefits....but I would have had a problem working for big businesses like Tesco, Poundland etc. It's not a lot different, imo, to the working tax credit set up.....both are predicated on adding to the profits of big business at taxpayers expense.....both for the big business doing the employing....and the big business doing the placements. I'd have been happy to do voluntary work for charities/local councils on the lines of Community Service etc though....much more useful doing stuff that charities/councils can't afford to do anymore as the government cuts back on funding everything which isn't pensions, wars and military equipment than do what firms who make millions in profit could easily pay someone to do. . Absolutely agree with this but why make it compulsory. A willing volunteer is better than two or more conscripts.