Someone in the Sunday press reminded me of the worst words on TV, that's "except for viewers in Scotland, who have their own programme" this was usually met in our house with a chorus of "whit ? F.F.S. no again" over to the white heather club while the rest of Britain get the live football and , me and my brothers got slapped about the head by our mother for our language.
On one occasion me and said brothers and some mates travelled to the nearest pub where you could choose not to watch Scottish TV, this was in Largs and was mobbed with football fans who wanted to watch the nail biting World Cup game between England and Poland, despite BBC Scotland showing Scotland playing at the same time. Was that unpatriotic ? no, it was common sense, I'm glad I saw the game live, England failed to qualify because of the heroics of one Jan Thomashevski the Polish keeper famously described by Brian Clough in the match commentary as a "clown"
I relate this story because there are people, (Salmond and the SNP) who want to take us back there, the operative word is BACK not forward, think River City, Fran n Anna, kilts, pipes, Shinty, Gaelic, the horror of Hogmanays to awful to mention, likewise Tam Cowan. The Scottish news at six doesn't often take up more than 15 mns. and then it's stories about a cute dog adopting kittens it's a non event and always needs padding out.
This is Salmond TV - " it might be rubbish but by god at least it's Scottish rubbish"
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38 comments:
Well, for once, Councillor, you have my genuine commisserations. Alas, however, you also have my money! So, if it's a choice between getting back my £8bn p.a. and saving you from "kilts, pipes, Shinty, Gaelic, the horror of Hogmanays", well, how can I put it? Parting is such sweet sorrow?
Do you live in the same country as the rest of us? If Scotland becoming independent means we all start behaving like a caricature then why didn't we start seeing caber tossing in the streets when devolution came in? Why does more power for Scotland mean people will stop watching American movies, eating Indian, Chinese, Mongolian, Polish or Spanish food?
Why when Ireland became independent did they not all start dressing as leprechauns? What is it that's peculiar about Scottish people that we can't run ourselves and apparently don't have any culture other than tourist tat?
I'm far from convinced that independence is a good move for Scotland but if the above is the best the pro-union Labour party can come up with then it looks inevitable. Sorry to be so blunt but Labours tactic of sneering and scaremongering about independence is a gift to the SNP and does nothing to further the unionist cause.
I cannot see how a multi cultural city like Glasgow would turn into Brigadoon because of a change of government. Are you saying the SNP would outlaw all non-indigenous cultural expression in an independent Scotland? If so then say so and supply evidence.
I'm not Scottish by birth (so maybe this isn't my business) but have lived here most of my life, I have friends who believe in independance and friends that don't. None of them have ever expressed any hatred of me or my culture and have taken part in religious and cultural events with me and my family. In contrast I've never taken part in anything particularly 'Scottish' with them. To me their culture seems more American apart from the drinking.
*Please don't ban me I want to know what you think*
Sorry but what is 'Shinty'? Theres a pub near my house which has a sign up for it but its a bit rough so I'm too scared to go in!
with all respect, i have to ask if the real problem might be with scottish tv.
canada's cbc has a similar mandate to provide "home-grown" news, and they are most assuredly able to fill an hour every night with world-class news.
in fact, with the possible exceptions of john stewart and keith olbermann, peter mansbridge might be the best news anchor in north america.
I agree. We get local editions of national papers etc. as well. I'd rather have the real thing.
Patrick
david duff - OK let's all concede again, david duff is a very very clever chap now, can you please abandone the ego trip and tell us what you are on about.
Anna Smirnova - I wouldn't dream of banning you I don't do that - I will give you the benefit of the doubt and say that you seem to be taking my comments a bit too literally, do I really need to explain it ?
Check my details and you will see I'm not speaking for the Labour Party.
Your last para. Is encouraging and leads me to think that whatever you are you are not English, my experience of nationalists is that the glue which holds them together is a hatred of the English.
That's why Salmond is trying again to stir up anti English feeling with this latest bout of girning and, I make the point that he and the SNP are willing to foist a sub standard situation on us for that end.
Anna Smirnova - Shinty ? Used to be shown on Scottish TV regularly it's a game played with sticks and a ball, usually accompanied by atrocious weather and watched by two men and a dog but, diligently reported by Scottish TV.
I fear it making a come back to our screens with gaelic commentary and sub titles.
I will probably get flack for this but if there is a more boring less skilful sport anywhere on the planet I've yet to see it.
fake consultant - With all respect I think you may be missing the point.
This is another con by the SNP to stir up trouble, the point is that we do not need this, we have a perfectly good news system and if the talent is in Scotland to make other films etc. The money will find it.
Sorry, Councillor, if my elliptical prose lost you. It's quite simple, we in England pay you in Scotland approximately £8bn a year net of oil receipts. Now, I've nothing against the Scots, after all, half of me is Scottish, too, but at £8bn quid I'm afraid, my dear old thing, you're now a tad too expensive - and being a Jock you would sympathise with that financial predicament, I'm sure.
In fact as a result of this little exchange, I have, like Baldrick, thought of "a cunning plan" which is to be even more obnoxious than normal to all you Jocks on this site in order to raise anti-English ire and hasten the triumph of the 'Scots Nats Prats' which in turn will leave me better off.
You, Councillor, with your shrewd, political perspicacity have already seen that an independent Scotland will be as big a joke as it will be a disaster but, hey, if Lemmings are fetching 10p a pound,let me point you to the nearest cliff!
Councillor,
What are your thoughts on Wendy for leader?
David Duff - Old thing, Scotland and England are both British therefore you don't really have a complaint, we are all equal citizens.
We Scots. of course keep the Sabbath and everything else we can grab, while the Welsh pray on their knees and their neighbours and the Irish don't know what they want but will die fighting for it while the English, claim to be self made men thus relieving the almighty of a terrible responsibility.
Unfortunately for You old boy I'm British and I hail from that part of Britain called Scotland same as you except you hail from that part of Britain called etc.
Patrick - The Soviet Union, no matter how you cut it, saved our skins, I know you must find that unpleasant to think of but it's true it was all in the news at the time.
The apartheid wall ? Why are Palestinians reduced to living on a tiny percentage of what was once theirs ? Why are there 6.5 million Palestinian refugees ? Why are Israelis still stealing land from Palestinian Arabs in the West Bank ? Why are they shooting Palestinian women and children ? Why are they locking up thousands of innocent Palestinians ?
The East German party nights and the East German longing for stability, jobs and houses are the consequences of the lies and propaganda which they were fed for years by the Americans and a supplicant West.
The Yanks say jump and the grovelling West says how high ?
Those East Germans who bought 'the American/West German dream' are learning the hard way, just like Willie Loman.
anon - Wendy as leader ? having been her election agent for 9 yrs. would you like to guess ?
You could say that we come from different traditions in the Labour Party and we regularly take different views about things but, after approx. 40 yrs in active politics I have found her to be the hardest working and the brightest politician I have come across, she is formidable.
She will be an outstanding Labour leader and an outstanding first minister in due course.
"my experience of nationalists is that the glue which holds them together is a hatred of the English."
Kind of similar to your hatred of nats? Your obsession with the nats supersedes any common sense your posts might otherwise display. Only you could turn a story about England v Poland into a Salmond diatribe. Given that there's no scuh thing as bad publicity, Alex mus owe you a pint or two.
Councillor
Bring back the Hogmanay White Heather Club is what I say, with Wee Andy, Sweet Moira, Big Kenneth & the Brian Sievewright Dancers. Much better than the crop of unwashed & unfunny left wing cretins we get now.(Does Ben Elton ring your bell?)
Anna S - if you want Brigadoon, try Plockton.
jim lewis - you are even more of a babbling clown now than you were a couple of months ago.
byeck - are we not suffering enough embarrassment with the SNP at Holyrood without bringing that crowd back ? show some mercy man.
"jim lewis - you are even more of a babbling clown now than you were a couple of months ago. "
I spoke with him on Saturday and he seemed just like normal despite everything he has been through this last month. He had quite a few nice things to say about you!!!
"jim lewis - you are even more of a babbling clown now than you were a couple of months ago."
That must have taken you all day to come up with. Once again, you summon all the power of your dazzling intellect and come up with a personal insult. I must have imagined the England v Poland v Salmond story. My apologies.
Patrick - The Soviet Union, no matter how you cut it, saved our skins, I know you must find that unpleasant to think of but it's true it was all in the news at the time... etc, etc, etc.
Eh? All I said was that Northern Irish TV is shit. And who is Willie Loman?
Patrick
Jim lewis - if you don't like being insulted you should not deal in insults. The England V Poland was a reasonable and real example of what I think Salmond would inflict on us, your argument on this is senseless.
Patrick - there seems to be some mix up here, anyway Loman was created by the late great Arthur Miller.
"The England V Poland was a reasonable and real example of what I think Salmond would inflict on us, "
And therein lies the crux of Jim's argument. He disagrees with you and your attitude to the SNP. It makes him a free thinker with opinions of his own that differ from yours, it does not make him a babbling clown.
Although Fidel would agree with you.
"I spoke with him on Saturday and he seemed just like normal despite everything he has been through this last month. He had quite a few nice things to say about you!!! "
Thanks big fella, that's kind of you. Actually, I almost look back on the last month with pleasure, if that isn't perverse. I'm philosophical about it. I still have a wife, and the routine of hospital visits, combined with 3 weeks off work, may well have done me some good. However, I don't recommend it as a rest cure.
RFS - Jim's criticism of this post was nonsensical and your support for him is predictable and dense.
Jim lewis - was this misdirected, did you mean it to go to RFS.
No, and yes
jim lewis - what am I missing here ?
You asked two questions. I answered them. Since big words seem to bother you, I thought I'd keep it simple.
Jim's comment was that the post itself is nonsensical, and you call him a clown. I point this out and you call me dense.
Do you see the pattern here?
jim lewis that's a cowardly answer.
RFS - Yes the pattern is that neither of you is very bright but perhaps you could help - why did jim whom you do not collude with answer yes and no ? what has that post got to do with me ?
"Yes the pattern is that neither of you is very bright but perhaps you could help - why did jim whom you do not collude with answer yes and no ? what has that post got to do with me ? "
Terry, you will forgive me for not taking advice on what is not very bright from someone who posts this?
And I hope to collude with Jim this evening. 7:30pm kick-off against Renfrew RFC if you are interested Terry, as a councillor you have an open invite to matches.
RFS - A meeting between you and Jim, an intellectual hot house.
Do you as a practitioner give any credence to the well known theory that most rugby players are guys who didn't have the ability or intelligence to play football ?
Please wear some kind of protective head gear, it's never too late.
"Do you as a practitioner give any credence to the well known theory that most rugby players are guys who didn't have the ability or intelligence to play football ? "
There are 11 rules of football, there are more than 11 laws that govern my position on the pitch alone.
I also have two sets of lineout codes in my head (live and spare in case the live ones get broken), a set of back row calls and a set of back line moves to ensure that not only can I provide lineout and scrum ball but when I emerge from tight play I do not stray into a worked move where I don't belong.
Added to that Jim is a time served tradesman and I am an IT professional.
FYI I gave up football in secondary school because it was not robust enough for me (well, that is how the team coach described it when he declined my offer of further service in a strip). Although our Full Back is also a footballer but we forgive him because he is not as soft as the other footballers we have known in our time.
Not that you support discrimination or anything.
RFS - I'll take that as a yes then shall I ?
I imagine someone of your dazzling intellect would.
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