Edinburgh's Burning - Dial 999

Got another post from my erstwhile artist friend, Max von Denizen:

----- Original Message -----
From: maxvondenizen@yahoo.co.uk

To: firefox1297@msn.com

Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 10:53 PM

Subject: Accident

Kenny,

think both your readers may be interested in this.

As you know, I was up at the Scottish Parly back in October for a rather chilly rally.

There I was with my Union Jack and somehow it caught fire. Such an embarrassment!

Max

Scottish History in Schools

The Scottish Executive Minister, Patricia Ferguson, is about to announce educational changes which will lead to the abolition, in practical terms, of any teaching of Scottish history and culture in Scottish schools.

Please consider writing a note supporting Donald Smith's very concisely and diplomatically worded petition, to be handed in to the Scottish Parliament on St Andrew's Day, before Ms Ferguson makes her announcement.

If you would care to support the following petition prepared by Donald Smith, please email your support to him at

donald@scottishstorytellingcentre.com

Donald thinks 500 names will be needed to make a real splash and catch the St Andrews Day opportunities. So please copy and paste this article and Email it as widely as possible through the week to everyone you know.

"This is our last chance before Patricia Ferguson's announcements, so we need to make this impressive - or desist." Donald Smith

Petition to be submitted to the Scottish Parliament on St Andrews Day, 30th
November:

Recognising that critical self-awareness of Scottish history, literature and languages is vital to a confident, successful and outward-looking Scotland, we submit that the present arrangements for the study of these disciplines at primary, secondary and tertiary levels are inadequate, and request that they be reviewed and effective frameworks established to ensure that all citizens of Scotland have the opportunity to understand these key aspects of their own society and culture.

I had intended to write a "stream of unconsciousness" for this, like I did for the Red Picture I put yesterday, unfortunately I'm feeling rather low because of a chest infection, so I really can't be bothered.  

Stream of Unconsciousness - Red

There’s no hill on George Square on which to sing your murder ballads; no piper to commemorate your passing; not enough flags to mark all the stains of your blood.

Serpents tempt you; merchants, gentlemen prevent you and always the carpet of your blood will stain this horizon.

Genially you will prevent the transgressions into your own life, blot out the pain and misery, and ignore the unwanted children clogging up the Clyde from the Second World War. The stories of your children’s children’s violence will be merely spots on newsprint, taunting, telling, devalued by a face you soon forget.

This is the abortion song, the claim of right to your forgotten memories. The sad tales of heroism and heartache had only been forgotten because of shame and ill-kempt storyteller’s beer glasses crashing on the floor.

They wrapped you up tight in ships, sailing to Australia to be eternally forgotten. However, you, a few, made it home. A few of you would not forget.

Some of you would preach to the stars like some entranced and enchanted political preacher. You were all your heroes, unparalleled and unconquerable. You were all your misfits rejected and repented.

It is the pulsing in your own subconscious, the Neolithic anger you maintain is your given right…

It survived, it seems, somehow… despite the conjecture of intellectuals. In spite of “what he meant to say was,” and “so I said.” Maybe someone should try to climb one of these hills, rather than constantly building new ones. Maybe someone should take the small hills and create a giant pyramid with an eye in it.

The Saltire Boards of Cumbernauld 2

Below is a post from an old compadre of mine from my Bloody Write Writer's Group days, Max Von Denizen. I reported before how he'd put up some Saltire Boards around Cumbernauld in a copy of the Scottish Patriots campaign up North.

As soon as he puts up some more, I'll forward the photies on...

From: maxvondenizen@yahoo.co.uk

To: firefox1297@msn.com

Sent: Monday, November 14, 2005 12:50 PM
Subject: RE: Photies

Kenny, (and no doubt both your readers)

I'm sure you'll enjoy the photo's I've attached. They were taken around the b-roads between Cumbernauld and Airdrie.

I've got some more made up, more photies when I can,

now can I put these photies somewhere where people will actually see them now?

Max Von Denizen

Dark Harvest Arts Group

Attention All Wal Mart Shoppers...

Well brothers and sisters… thought I’d report in some normal stuff for a change, rather than merely forward stuff on or rant.

I’ll tie up a few loose ends: I was accepted into Neurocam as an entry level. My first assignment is relatively straightforward, though because I’ve been taking it seriously I’ve managed to complicate things. All I can say about it that it’s “a long-term investment.” Brothers and sisters who’ve watched BBC TV show “Spooks” or the BBC TV show “Spy” probably have seen it in action, and to be honest, should probably apply.

I also came across the Neuroboards (in a manner of speaking) and therefore the Subculture that surrounds Neurocam. It’s intriguing to see ordinary people doing astonishing things. There’s a subculture behaving like ill-trained spooks. I’m doing it because I genuinely enjoy exploring the internet’s various subcultures as a new land in which we all inhabit. I don’t know if these people do or not, but I’m intrigued by various characters therein: Chris Titan the mystical rebel, Teigan, the Neurocam Operative promoted and public, and all the little elves hanging around the boards…

This meandering carousel is a place which seems to exist because our western culture is bankrupt and seeking some kind of fulfilment which our own brothers and sisters seek in everyday life. It’s why they don’t vote or participate in society. Have we seen so many movies that we’ve finally decided that we don’t just want to watch James Bond but to BE him? There’s an incoherent tribal element here, something fascinating in the rejection of this rejected and apparently useless generation.

“In the world I see - you are stalking elk through the damp canyon forests around the ruins of Rockefeller Center. You'll wear leather clothes that will last you the rest of your life. You'll climb the wrist-thick kudzu vines that wrap the Sears Tower. And when you look down, you'll see tiny figures pounding corn, laying strips of venison on the empty car pool lane of some abandoned superhighway… You're not your job. You're not how much money you have in the bank. You're not the car you drive. You're not the contents of your wallet. You're not your fucking khakis. You're the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world.” Tyler Durden – Fight Club (1999) – David Fincher (dir), Brad Pitt (Tyler Durden), Edward Norton (Jack / Narrator), Chuck Palahniuk (novel), Jim Uhls (screenplay)

So, maybe I’m a philosopher in the Village of the Damned, or maybe I’m a Ned trying to find something… Either way my assignment is being completed tomorrow.

Max has been promising me some pictures of his “Saltire Boards” for some time now, and hasn’t provided. He’s said, finally, that they’ll come next week. I met him in the photo section of Cumbernauld Tesco and made him put the fucking film in Tesco to get developed… No excuses now…

You’ll also probably notice an increase on Spam in the comments section. No idea why, but fuck it, I guess it’s some kind of recognition.

I’ve been trying out different formats of cameras, specifically my Nettar and Rolleicord. I got the photos easily enough: Kilsyth, Glasgow, Stonehaven, everywhere… Finally I got around to trying to get them developed, and managed to traipse around every shithole in western Scotland to get them developed. Cumbernauld doesn’t develop 120 Roll film anymore, apparently. One place in Glasgow refused me because there was “a kink in the machine.” Another Glasgow place I left because “We can only develop the film, not print it. WTF? Clearly my favourite format, film, is dying, slowly… Soon we’ll all be digital; chemistry and photography will have parted ways and we’ll be giving even more money to Bill Gates.

BBC SPORT | Football | No Scots for GB Olympic football

Kenny: If I might interject your blogging enjoyment for a time: YES! FUCKING YES! GAUN THE SFA! [dances embarrassingly]

BBC SPORT | Football | No Scots for GB Olympic football: "No Scots for GB Olympic football

There will be no Scots in the 2012 Olympic team

Plans for a Great Britain football team at the London 2012 Olympics will go ahead without any Scottish involvement.

The Scottish FA ruled out participation but have no objection to the other home nations forming sides for the men's and women's Olympic and Paralympic teams.

England and Northern Ireland are in favour, while the Welsh FA, having initially opposed the idea, are now deciding whether to reconsider.

Once they have made a decision, team selection proposals will be drawn up.

The Scottish FA had been given written assurances by Fifa president Sepp Blatter that taking part in the 2012 Games would not affect their separate identity in world football.

But the Scots fear that Blatter may not be in power in 2012 and his successor may have other views.

London 2012 organisers had promised the first event of the Games - the opening football match - would kick off at Hampden Park, Glasgow, if the Scots supported the idea of a British team.

The Great Britain team would be limited to players aged under 23 but three overage players would be allowed.

Britain qualify automatically as Olympic hosts.

But it is unlikely there will be a British Olympic football team beyond 2012, because no united British team plays in the European Under-21 Championships, which act as the qualifying tournament."

The Daily Record - NEWS - A NATTY PRINGLE NUMBER

The Daily Record - NEWS - A NATTY PRINGLE NUMBER: "A NATTY PRINGLE NUMBER

KNITWEAR giants Pringle have launched a T-shirt bearing a patriotic quote from the Declaration of Arbroath.

The designer Declaration shirt, which will go on sale around the world, will bear the slogan: 'As long as 100 of us remain alive, we will never on any conditions be brought under English rule.'

The move is being seen by some as a political statement by Pringle, who have become a recognised brand for Scotland around the world.

The Borders company have long used the Lion Rampant in their designs.

Famous for their diamond-patterned knitwear, Pringle have seen their fortunes soar since aiming for the high fashion market and turned over �23million last year.

And the shirt, which will be priced at �50, has been seized onby the SNP."