dougiedanger

Was that not the original Wine Shed beyond the main stand? I have vague recollections of my first footballing experience in Inverness, being in among the Clachers in the Wine Shed, and being scared at all the shouting, and the heady smell of booze.

You actually raise another serious questionmark against separation there - which I am sure you will try also to categorise in your so called "Project Fear". But with less than 9% of the BBC's current licence fee revenue, I would be interested to see what kind of service a Scottish equivalent would be able to provide - even if it were to try to raise a few more quid by imposing lots of adverts on viewers of and listeners to... what? The BBC is actually an excellent example of one of the fundamental benefits of the Union - economies of scale. Self-interest, perchance?

I fear you oversimplify. FWIW I see Salmond as assertive, if occasionally a bit smug. Not in the least inclined to bluster- affable even when faced with the winduppery of the likes of Paxman. Unfortunately CB seems to have a dose of the passive/aggressives and the hatred of Salmond the man is there in every sneering reference. Play the ball not the man is what I say ;-) Fair points, it's a neat diversion to turn this vote into a referendum on Salmond or the SNP, as that seems to give an excuse for not facing the real question: do you believe your country should be independent? If it helps the doubters: I am sure in an independent country a form of the BBC will still exist, as will the cafeterias at Tesco, Morrison's, etc., and all BB badges will still be valid.

While we await Oddquine's latest mauling of CB, I will note his diversionary tactic of twisting the vote into a referendum on Alex Salmond rather than a vote on whether the Scottish people want to take full responsibility for governing their own country. People are often quite like those they profess to hate, so we find in CB's posts much of the self-important bluster and pontificating that he claims to dislike in the First Minister. Anyway, I will let Oddquine deliver her far more incisive critique of his latest guff.

Shouldn't be long before Oddquine is here to rip CB a new one. Again.

It's probably a positive thing for the Yes campaign that all the smug, ill-informed, fearful, and downright irritating types seem to be lining up with the No side.

Once again, a shockingly lenient 'punishment' handed down for gross misconduct at the new club.

Maybe it was an exciting game.

And as the holder of a United Kingdom passport, because the UK is the country in which I was born, I am assuming that - along with others like minded - I would be entitled to retain it since I should not be obliged to surrender it in the event of the majority of voters in my local area of the UK deciding that they want to separate from it. Churchillian, CB, Churchillian. Oh, yes.

Probably East End neds that are bored, neglegted and do not know any better. Unfortunately the East End has massive social problems with high youth crime rates. It would be unfair to associate such an incident with Celtic FC much as I despise them. Their fans were excellent towards my son and I today. Glad nobody got hurt. They were nice to you but you despise them?

That your flegs flying behind ye too?

Heard it was the notorious lead singer from The Fall.

A piggery would be fit for pigs FFS.

Think this will be glossed over.

Never had you down as a Daily Mail reader, L. Big shock that.

So that's Laurence, Dougal and Banners in the No camp, quite the unholy alliance.

True, the Scotland squad worries me more.

Interestingly too, the Rangers seem to be on a one-way trip to administration.

Who you backing L? Norman Tebbit "cricket test" type question.

You are right with your first sentence Laurence If you go through life , whether it be at work, or with the girls, or anything else worrying about being popular, what are you? I have always said, " be your own man, think for yourself, and believe in yourself". If you get ridiculed for your beliefs then tough. You are entitled to have your beliefs. Anyone who watches Westerns knows lynch mob mentality never works. I am no Rangers fan by any stretch, I was brought up in highly Catholic Lancashire by Irish nuns, I sang " Hail Glorious St. Patrick ", in assembly at school every morning. I was taught to detest protestants above all else. I just feel this Rangers business, has gone on long enough. It is not good for football in Scotland, It is not helping the top division, It is not helping Glasgow. I can't see how it is helping anybody. I think the sooner we get back to the status quo , the sooner Scotland can get a national team to be proud of. I can see that young men glory in a fallen giant, we all had a good laugh, but how long before we realise we have created a false set up. As Douglas Bader, told the Germans " Rules were made for fools, and the guidance of wise men ". Maybe the men are not wise, or they implemented the rules without guidance. I am not the oracle, I just say it as I see it. Don't know how to tell you this Laurence, but Rangers died, went out of business, the big L, kaput. There is no status quo to go back to, and who would want that back anyway? Most of us are relishing the moment and looking forward to something other than the past of sectarianism and outright cheating.

It is a disgrace that the Rangers had to play into the wind at the weekend, haven't they suffered enough?

Surely this is a dilemma and not a paradox, Laurence? Anyway, happy birthday when it comes.

This is a summer thread CB.

Well, I would vote for Oddquine, and do appreciate her robust, fact-filled style.

Freedom from living under a government that the country did not vote for, that is run by and for an elite that grows richer and more powerful by the day. Freedom from sending our children to wars that mean nothing to us, from spending billions on those wars and the weaponry they require; freedom to decide what your own economic and social priorities are; and the freedom to take responsibility for those decisions. Those kinds of freedoms. At the same token, England has had to put up with Labour when they have been extremely unpopular there - I think they should also be ruled by the party they vote for - again, that would preferably be under federalism but I do think they have every right to complain about the last 15 years of unrepresentative government more than Scotland (80s Thatcherism in reverse). England voted for Labour in those years, if they hadn't done so, there is no way Labour would have been in government. And the version of Labour they and we got was one set up to please the Home counties.