FREEDOM!!!!

Trust me Eldo- I never met an Ameican who didnt immediately fall in love with it and then proceed to eat far more than any sane Scot would in one sitting (and I knew a lot of Americans once upon a time). Its truly delicous when done right. Just not safe.

But in its defence visually you did not exactly pick the most flattering picture, thats too flat and not square enough- an amateurs tablet. Heres what it should look like

That does look tastier, but I'd still be scared to actually eat any of it.

It's fine- you come back down of the sugar high about a week later and your heart rate returns to normal soon after. The trick is not to make too much- because you will eat it all, you won't be able to help yourself.

This sounds worryingly like somebody tried to take the effects of buckie and transform it into candy/sweet form.

I know- genius isn't it? (And you can of course add buckie to the mix to give it, and you, that extra kick and make you really fligh, landing times however may vary and a safe landing is not guaranteed!)

On the one hand we have the unionists saying that Scotland could not survive on its own, on the other we have the Tories telling us their economic way is the only way to growth and refusing to go down the route the Scottish government is going down (as far as devolution allows that is).

And the result?

'The latest Bank of Scotland Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) showed an improvement in employment levels and a slight increase in new business in the private sector.
According to the survey, the rate of growth was stronger than that recorded at the UK level.
The rise in employment levels in June marked the seventh increase in the past eight months.
Meanwhile, a marginal decrease in new work placed with manufacturers was more than offset by growth in the service sector.
Donald MacRae, chief economist at Bank of Scotland, said: "The June PMI showed a welcome pick-up in the Scottish economy with both manufacturing and services recording growth. Employment rose across all sectors while cost pressures continued to ease."
Finance Secretary John Swinney said: "Despite the ongoing challenges, there are positive indications that the recovery continues in Scotland. This latest PMI survey indicates that private sector growth remains positive for the 18th consecutive month and that new business continues to grow. Scotland outperformed the UK as a whole in terms of output growth, new orders and employment generation."'



The other parties can jaw all they like, but results is what wins votes come election times.
And we could be doing even better if we had the ability to raise and spend our own capital.

And the other, insane side, to Scotland......



"Companies setting up shop are forced to change their livery. Traffic lights are smashed in defiance. It seems astonishing that a town could detest something so much, but Larkhall does.
For it is green that provokes so much ire in this Lanarkshire town just outside Glasgow. Yes, the colour.
So far, the contempt with which the emerald tint is held in the town has prompted the sandwich chain Subway to change its traditional signage to black and the local pharmacies to switch their frontage to blue.
The reason is simple, if slightly strange, and stems from sectarianism and football rivalry. In Larkhall, green is immediately associated with Catholicism, Irish republicanism and the football team Glasgow Celtic. And in Larkhall, the vast majority of people proclaim themselves to be Protestant, unionist, and supporters of another Glasgow football team, Rangers.
Well aware of the strength of feeling, many shops have relented accordingly. But this week the supermarket chain Asda defiantly said it would not be changing its traditional green logo, should it open a new store in Larkhall.
There had been suggestions, apparently from locals and certainly from one local newspaper, that the store would present a unique blue frontage, but this was denied by a spokeswoman, who said: "We use this across Scotland and the UK, and feel it is popular and well recognised."
But that has not gone down well. Because the new store, should it be built, would bring a rare flash of green to the town. Wander down the streets, home to the town's 15,000 residents, and only one front door is green. Traffic lights, with their green bulbs, are another victim. Between 2004 and 2007, 205 sets of traffic lights were smashed, costing the council nearly £17,000 to repair. There have even been claims that drunken youths have attempted to set fire to grass."- The Independent

That's pathetic if true.

Pathetic and true Eldo.
Doesn't suprise me sadly, I worked for a brief period behind a counter in a shop, and you learn quickly when someone asks for a lighter to ask 'what colour?'- as things can get ridiculously unpleasant you sell a rangers fan a green one or a celtic fan a blue one.

A government body that is efficient and does what its supposed to? (this sort of thing would never happen in America- stopping the private sector ripping everyone off!!) from the BBC-


'The body set up to support capital spending by government, its agencies and councils in Scotland has claimed to have saved £131m during the past year.
In its annual assessment, the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) reports saving £2m more than it did last year.
The trust believes its efficiency drive has cut costs on the school building budget so much that it can afford to construct another 12 schools.
The organisation was set up by the SNP government.
It aims to find ways to avoid the excess profits made from private financing of public sector projects.'

Pettytyrant101 wrote:

"fuck it" is the solution to all problems. a toast to that please!

Yh the fuck ones are applicable to me too! Classy Wales

'Scotland is set to become the first part of the UK to introduce gay marriage after the SNP government announced plans to make the change.
Scottish ministers confirmed they would bring forward a bill on the issue.
Political leaders, equality groups welcomed the move, but it has been strongly opposed by the Catholic Church and Church of Scotland.'- BBC

for us for doing the right thing. Got some backers you might not automatically expect either such as; 'the United Reformed Church, the Quakers, and the Buddhists'

'Same-sex couples in Scotland currently have the option to enter into civil partnerships and the Holyrood government has insisted no part of the religious community would be forced to hold same-sex weddings in churches.'


I still dont get why all these concessions to bigotted churches. If its the democratic law of the land either apply it or bugger off out our country. I dont get why just because they claim to beleieve in an unprobvabe God they get expemption from employment and equaily laws every other institute and business in the land has to adhere to.
And what does it say for these churches and their loving God when they are asking for the legal right to continue to persecute and discriminate sections of society?
We're better off without that unpleasant influence in our land.

I'd love Scotland to become the first religion free country- not ban it, as thats just as bad, but rather the first where these out of date notions simply die off and go completely out of vogue.

can't people just accept love in different forms and get on with their life? this doesn't really have anything to do with them! Anyway, I feel embarrast that there is this debait in the first place. Of course people who love each other very much and tend to spend the rest of their life together should marry and have equal rights when it comes to married couples. I mean, when it comes to like, what's the word, inherit after people dies, then a wedded man/lady has more rights in regards to that, than a partner. Same goes for like taxes and such (not an expert, but I think this is correct).

We already have civil partnerships here Norc- they are basically marriage in all but name and give the inheritance rights ect to the partner- regardless of sexuality.
But gays still can't get married only partenered or whatever you'd call it.

The Church likes to say marriage is defined by God as a man and a women- but thats simply a lie. Commonly used phrases for getting married like 'tying the knot'- betray the roots of the prechristian marriage ceremonies of pagan Britain.
The Christian God has nothing to do with it- He's a late arrival to the marriage notion. Christians did not invent the concept and certainly have no claim to defining it.

very true, petty. Maybe the gays and all could found a new religion. I bet it would be populare.

just came across this.

Nice.

Good for Scotland and good for the SNP! That's great to hear Petty, I didn't know such a change was even in the works.

Ball's in you court, Westminster!

Some reactions as reported by the BBC to the SNP decision.

Nicola Sturgeon, deputy first minister of Scotland

"We are committed to a Scotland that is fair and equal and that is why we intend to proceed with plans to allow same sex marriage and religious ceremonies for civil partnerships. We believe that this is the right thing to do."

Spokesman for Catholic Church in Scotland
"The Scottish government is embarking on a dangerous social experiment on a massive scale. However, the church looks much further than the short-term electoral time-scales of politicians.
We strongly suspect that time will show the church to have been completely correct in explaining that same-sex sexual relationships are detrimental to any love expressed within profound friendships.
However, in the short term and long term the church does not see same-sex marriage as an appropriate and helpful response to same-sex attraction."

Hazel Marzetti, NUS Scotland
"Thousands of students contacted the Scottish government and urged them to back equal marriage. The government has listened to these voices and demonstrated that Scotland is a shining example of a progressive, inclusive society that others should take their lead from.
It's now time for the leading religious institutions who have fought so hard against this legislation to see the light and welcome loving couples who wish to be married in their institution into their fold."

Free Church of Scotland
"This is a truly sad day for Scotland, and we urge the Scottish government to reconsider their plans."

Grant Costello, chairman of the Scottish Youth Parliament
"Equal marriage is the civil rights battle of our generation. Today, the Scottish government made it clear it stands with our generation on the side of equality."

Tom French, the Equality Network
"Same-sex marriage is about equality and freedom. The freedom for couples, and religious and humanist groups that want to, to celebrate same-sex marriages.
But equally, upholding the freedom of other religious groups to say no to same-sex marriages. That's the right way for Scotland to deal with the different opinions on this."

The Rev Alan Hamilton, Church of Scotland
We are concerned the Scottish government is rushing ahead on something that affects all the people of Scotland without adequate debate and reflection."

LGBT Youth Scotland
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people deserve the exact same rights as any other person in Scotland and LGBT young people want this unequal, segregated system to end now."

Shabnum Mustapha, Amnesty International
The choice to marry or not to marry should be just that - a choice. It should not be denied because of someone's sexual orientation or gender identity."

Johann Lamont, Scottish Labour leader
"While this has not been an easy debate, we must now build on the emerging consensus to deliver real marriage equality for Scotland."

Grahame Smith, general secretary, STUC:
We know that too many LGBT workers are isolated at work, because they fear their colleagues' negative reaction to coming out about their relationships.
The introduction of equal marriage sends a strong signal that diverse relationships and families are to be celebrated and supported in a modern Scotland."

Colin Macfarlane, director of Stonewall Scotland
We've never sought so-called gay rights - all we've ever sought are exactly the same rights and entitlements that everyone else takes for granted."

Patrick Harvie, Green MSP
It's clear that religious freedom can be protected and extended within existing equality law, and I would urge the Scottish government not to delay progress until the changes they want are made by the UK government."

Willie Rennie, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader
This is a small but important step for equality in Scotland. I'm sure there will be bumps on the road but Nicola Sturgeon can count on my support to deliver equality in marriage."

Scottish Conservatives
After weeks of confusion, the SNP finally seems to be moving towards a position that was set out in its manifesto."

Prof Alan Miller, chairman, Scottish Human Rights Commission
Countries throughout Europe and around the world are increasingly recognising same-sex marriage in law and it is right that Scotland should join them."


For me the Churches couldnt be more out of step with the mood if they tried. From people I have spoken to about it everyone is in favour, doesn't see what the fuss is about and that they should just get on with it.
And not sure what the Church of Scotland guy is on about- the SNP held thebiggest consultation on this ever held here- it got more responses than the independence consultation.

The Catholic Church have just appointed a new head Bishop in Scotland, Bishop of Glasgow Philip Tartaglia. I dont think he is going to be very popualr.
Early in the year a Labour MP David Cairns died aged 44.
At a speech the Bishop brought this up (and shortly after the death when friends and loved ones were still grieving) and said:

"Recently in Scotland there was a gay Catholic MP who died at the age of 44 or so and nobody said anything and why his body should just shut down at that age, obviously he could have had a disease which would have killed anyone, but you seem to hear so many stories about this kind of thing.
But society won't address it."

Mr Cairns died from from acute pancreatitis. I am pretty sure if you look it up it wont list being gay as a cause of this. (Like a good Scot the buckie probably got him before he hit 50).
It beggars belief this bigotted idiot is head of the Catholic Church here now.

Norc wrote:just came across this.

Awwwwwww!

The Catholic Church never fails to disgust. The Church of Scotland needs to get with the times too. I'm really glad that Scotland as a whole is able to ignore the bigots and move forward with equality, though. I'll admit that I was happy to see the mention of Quakers supporting the cause. I don't consider myself a Quaker anymore but I still feel a certain affinity for them, having been raised in a Quaker meeting. Good on them as well as the Reformed Church, the Buddhists, and everyone else who supported marriage equality

And the airplane story definitely made me smile too.