Stapes

Did he deliberately choose the seat in front of the guy in the blue suit, white shirt and red tie? Betwwen that and his orange jacket. What a dick!

Just don't get this at all. Someone is going to be seriously hurt. A few years back in Amsterdam my mate's wife put a bottle to her mouth and was just about to drink when a ball bounced off the ground and up into the bottle, smashing her teeth.

It's pretty clear from the article that the 'journalist' is attempting to create a story out of very little. Should guys have flashed? Should they have jumped in the fountain? Should they have lit a couple of flares? The answer will vary depending on who you ask. Desperate-to-be-offended middle Englanders and Daily Mail journalists will no doubt condemn it as an absolute disgrace on a day that should be set aside for respect of those who died and served. As someone who was there (and was there simply to take in the atmosphere - I wasn't drinking as I had my son with me) these were all minor things. Is showing you baws clever - no. Is it offensive - well offence is in the eye of the beholder, so yes, to some it is. Is it something that justifies being splashed all over the front page of a national newspaper and vilified. No, not even close. But here's the thing. Many Scots attended the service and the silence was impeccably observed (I was there). But by the time Trafalgar Square started to get crowded the remembrance event was over. By a good two or three hours. Indeed, they had dismantled the stage by the time people started singing. And many of those Scots who were in the Square were ex-soldiers - the ones most attuned to what respect is required. An ex-soldier over on Facebook, who was there, put it best when he said that he spoke to a number of ex-soldiers and their response was along the lines of 'the fallen would be happy for us to have a drink'. For me the negative story comes about because of a combination of two things - the politicisation of the whole remembrance day/poppy which has happened in the last 15 years (no poppy on strips in 1999), and a growing dislike of us uppity Scots in the establishment media (which has grown since we were 'given' our own parliament in 1999).

Guy on the radio earlier saying that if Evan Mcmullin wins Utah he could effectively be voted as president by the House of Reps. Not sure if his politics, but can he be worse?

Sadowitz is a genius, but yes, he does get stuff taken down (I've heard he checks online every single day). Something in the back of my head is telling.me it's something to do with him not wanting people to be able to analyse his magic tricks and steal them. What sticks out for me is Absolutely. Such a great show, but nothing else out at the same.

Just got two. The £45 and £35 were sold out.

I've been on 34 and 7 to go. Go figure!

Time fairly firing down now. Currently at 36 minutes.

Didn't know you could start queuing before 12. Over an hour to go. Can see this slipping away!

Perhaps related to this: http://fortune.com/2016/03/09/make-donald-drumpf-again/

An absolute legend. Couldn't find this on YouTube, but love this song. Could have picked any of a hundred though. Freewheeling and Blood On The Tracks are two of the greatest albums of all time. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xlaxvj_bob-dylan-let-me-die-in-my-footsteps_music

This? http://www.ifyouonlynews.com/racism/trump-threatens-to-fine-anyone-who-releases-tape-of-him-saying-n-word-so-people-are-crowdfunding/

We once lived on the top floor of a flat in Edinburgh. The neighbour directly below us was a young guy and he'd hang his feet out his window to the front of the building and cut his toenails onto the path below. Dirty *********.

First time I've listened in a couple of years. Some very clued up Yes supporters. The English SNP member was great. The unionists did what unionists tend to do - blame everything on the SNP. And by and large they all sounded as if they fit nicely into that demographic that is largely made up of unionists - over 65s.

I take your woman who doesn't know how to make a local phone call, and raise you a woman who doesn't know her left from right.

The NLS maps only go up to 1938 so I'll check the later ones next week. The other place to check would be the Valuation Rolls.

A fit of rage apparently. When I was writing my book on Springsteen someone used it to describe an older guy's reaction when an early Bruce band came on stage at a posh event. Have used it ever since!

Yes, but the very mention of it sends unionists into conniptions, which is always fun to watch.

I have a real issue with gambling generally. I've never gambled personally, but the level of money I see people losing stuns me (I have a family member who has spent pretty much every penny he's ever earned in a bookies (and the pub) for the past 20 years). The gambling ads on TV and on football shirts is having a massive negative impact on society generally, but also on today's kids. They'll see it as the norm to hit the bookies, and once the addiction kicks in ... When I was a councillor we discussed with officers the possibility of limiting bookies in the town and were told that, unlike pubs or restaurants, there is no over-provision for bookmakers. As such they can open up shop after shop and nobody can do a thing. And that's what they started to do, primarily because the big payout bandits were limited to, IIRC, two per shop. They were opening shops just around the corner from another shop, just to get two more machines in the town. Legally they had every right to do so. Morally repugnant. Utter parasites.

Silver Streak was one of the first movies I ever saw in a picture house. But can't see Wilder without humming 'Putting on the Ritz'

No Way Out with Kevin Costner is great. What a twist. But this is from one of the greatest books ever written and films ever made:

Watched a Kazhakstan boxer take a Russian apart and the decision went against him. Most embarrassed athlete at the games? Watch the 2nd handover at the 4x100m relay between the St Kitts and Nevis runners. Hilarious stuff.

Fair point. The 200m swimming medley was a team of Scots, which I didn't realise until I saw that list. Pretty impressive.