Take Your Pick

John O'Sullivan puts his house on the line

Saving the Union

Cornish self sufficiency

The con of money

I was bored. Then became furious.

Planning considerations to recapture the Falkland Islands

C+ for Kim Jong-Un

The Battle For Labour: More Guardianology

Divide and Rule

Mega Caption Competition

Government delays kill over 500 accident victims

So, why exactly am I practising Law again?

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The Independence Debate - Unionist Websites

click to enlarge

On Thursday I came across the above website, 'Unity Scotland'. It calls itself 'a campaign organisation which believes that the future of Scotland and its people is best served by remaining as part of the United Kingdom.' 

Obviously the site has been published by the pro-union side of the debate and it's good to know someone is making an effort to attract an online audience. However, after digging a little deeper I found the site does not state who is responsible for it, but mentions 'Unity Scotland therefore is not driven by parliamentarians, but by you'.

By me?  Indeed not. 

Indignantly I emailed the contact address for further information because the site is asking for people's money, although camouflaged as a 'Friend of Unity Scotland'.  In fact there are four standards of Friend - varying from a Red to a Platinum (£15 to £100 a year).  If you are foolish enough to send money to an anonymous organisation, you can become a Platinum member and receive a 'free' Unity Scotland golf umbrella which, in reality will cost you £50 - the difference between a Blue and Platinum Friend(ship).

Once I realised this site may not be driven by parliamentarians but was obviously driven by politicians, I decided to ask my Twitter followers if anyone knew the site owner(s). The replies arrived within minutes and thanks to all who answered.

The domain is registered to a Callum Campbell who lives in Bridge of Allan. One respondent was kind enough to mention that 'funnily enough Bridge of Allan has a conservative councillor called Callum Campbell who lives at the same address at that stated on the domain registration'.

It was also mentioned that the site seems to be in need of a bit of an update as there's nothing new in their news items since 6 November. Ah, the enthusiasm of the unionists!

Further information was that the address for the receipt of monies - 1 St Colme Street, Edinburgh - is a suite of offices and my informant says, "it looks like they're renting a desk in order to run a twitter feed and not much else right now."

Mr Campbell is no shrinking violet so why doesn't he state his political allegiance on the Unity Scotland site?  Why imply the site is not politically structured when it clearly is?  

Sites similar to Unity Scotland will become more plentiful as we go towards the independence referendum date, but I hope others will be more candid. What the people need is open and honest debate.  Mr Campbell's site, because of its lack of openness, does his cause no favours. In fact it conveys an aura of sleaze.  Of course, not all those in favour of the union will behave in such a manner, will they?

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His Sacrifice Will Not Be Forgotten

"His sacrifice will not be forgotten," said the parents of Rifleman Sachin Limbu, 23 years old and a member of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles.

Rifleman Sachin Limbu died last Monday at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham 18 months after being injured by an IED in Afghanistan.  His parents were with him.

Lt. Col Gez Strickland, his Commanding Officer on Operation Herrick 12, said:

"The Rifleman's sacrifice has prevented him from fulfilling a rewarding career but his inspiring determination not to succumb to his injuries for so long was in the true sprit of those Gurkhas who have gone before him.

'He was highly cherished and loved by his fellow Gurkhas and left his mark on all those that had the honour to meet him.

'As the only son of a retired Gurkha this will have been devastating for his family; our thoughts and prayers are with them at this difficult time.'

Rifleman Limbu's father was a Gurkha Senior NCO.

"In hospital the young man fought against incredible odds for a very long time with more courage than I have ever seen in another human being, helped at every step by his wonderful, loving parents," added Lt. Col. Strickland.

All too often we forget the role the Gurkhas take within our military. His death is no more important than the others who have died before him, but it's appropriate to remember those who struggle every minute of the day to stay alive.  They deserve our prayers, be they religious or words of help from one human to another.

source

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Will Britain Become Involved In The Latest US Military Operation?

The political arena of Iowa has been uppermost in the western media this week while a more important development has been taking place.

Under the label of the 'Austere Challenge 12' the US Army is looking to increase co-operation with the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and will hold one of the largest joint exercises in the two nations' history in 2012. This drill has happened annually recently but in 2012 it is far bigger than previous exercises.

In an interview with CNN last week, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs General Martin Dempsey, said, "Preparations for a military option against Iran are evolving to a point that they would be executable if necessary."

The two armies will hold a massive ground forces exercise - Austere Challenge 12 - in Spring this year and the drill is unprecedented in its size.

It will include the establishment of US command posts in Israel and IDF posts at EUCOM headquarters in Germany - with the ultimate goal of establishing joint task forces for the event of a future large-scale conflict in the Middle East.

RT reports that America previously equipped Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates with enough arms to wreck any chance of an Iranian nuclear weapon programme from nearby, but now the US have added forces on-the-ready in Israel and Germany.  The US is equipping Saudi Arabia with nearly £30 billion F-15 war places, a deal that comes shortly after Washington worked out a contract with Dubai to give the UAE advanced 'bunker buster' bombs that could decimate underground nuclear operations in neighbouring Iran.

Iran's threat to close down the Strait of Hormux, a vital path for the nation's oil trade, resulted in the US dispatching 15,000 marines to the area.

This action may be taking place in distant lands but I have to ask the question -will the UK become involved?  Sadly it will - if Obama clicks his fingers.

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Scotland Needs A National Anthem

How I brimmed with pride when Flower of Scotland was played by the Queen Victoria School's Pipes and Drums at the first 5 Nations played in the then new Murrayfield stadium back in the early 90s. The acoustics created a lag between the band and voices, but it didn't seem to be noticed by anyone at the event - other than the Drum Major. At the time it seemed appropriate to have a 'special' anthem for rugby internationals and it was quickly adopted by the football fraternity too.

However, over the years my opinion has changed. Flower of Scotland wasn't written for pipe bands and, aside from the politically correct argument regarding the lyrics, it sounds a bit of a dirge.

Piper Donald Glass is calling for a more modern anthem. I'm not so sure about 'modern' but Mr Glass is correct when he says a new anthem should be a quick 4/4 march composed for the pipes. Words which people can remember easily and a tune that sticks in the mind are essential too.

Over the years there have been calls for Scotland to have its own national anthem, but with the Commonwealth Games coming here in 2014, now is the time when action should be taken.

None of the old favourites such as 'A Man's a Man' or 'Scotland the Brave' will do. We need something new and uplifting, rejuvinating and memorable.

Maybe our First Minister should have a wee word with Mr Glass. Many senior pipers and drummers compose for their instruments and I'm sure amongst our abundance of talented musicians in every musical sector, an outstanding anthem could be created.

Let's not talk more about it - it's time for action.

I've placed a poll in the sidebar should you care to vote.

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