Occasionally I get caught on film.
And even rarer... I have to put all photos on the interweb.
http://www.taghairmdubh.com/determination.htm
Yep... your narrator has been a-protestin' and it's been caught on camera. MY camera in fact. I didn't know other people knew how to work it...
“Never let it be said that any enemy of Macgregor ever saw him defenceless and unarmed,” [offending person shown the door] “Now it is all over - let the piper play "Ha til mi tulidh.” Alleged Last Words of Rob Roy Macgregor
Last night I memorised the entire list of the Kings of the Picts from the Pictish Chronicle. I’m not lying, it was a horrible experience. I was testing out some memory mojo I learned in a book, and surprisingly it actually worked. Drest, Talorc, Nechtan I, Drest 2, Galan, Drest 3, Drest 4, Gartnait, Cailtram, Talorc 2 and Drest 5. Look them on somewhere, cos I didn’t.
You don’t have to believe me. In fairness there’s no way for me to prove this outwith you turning up at one of the events I go to and asking me to do it.
The thing that I find interesting is all the wee details that I didn’t know about along the way. They get obscured by the Bruce and the Wallace and are the kinds of trivia I obsess about. Like
But… now I’m just pointing out weird historical things I found interesting. Although you can’t tell me the exile during the eclipse wasn’t a haunting image… I wish I could paint… I guess that’s my point. If you explore Scottish history more, she sucks you deeper in….
" To a Scot, the past clings like sand to wet feet,
and is carried about as a burden.
The many ghosts are always a part of them, inescapable."
Geddes MacGregor
I'm not going to lie to you... the recent upgrading of the terror threat level worries me. Not because we're going to die screaming like pigs in an abattoir but because our personal freedoms are at threat and because we seem to bay for blood manipulated by the media against the wrong people.
It seems that I should therefore stand as the accuser rather than the accused. Who is to blame for the recent bomb attacks in London and who caused the situation in Glasgow Airport. Who's to blame? You fucking are.
Yes, that's right. And as V said in the movie "V for Vendetta":
"I suspect even now, orders are being shouted into telephones, and men with guns will soon be on their way. Why? Because while the truncheon may be used in lieu of conversation, words will always retain their power. Words offer the means to meaning, and for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth. And the truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn't there? Cruelty and injustice, intolerance and oppression. And where once you had the freedom to object, to think and speak as you saw fit, you now have censors and systems of surveillance coercing your conformity and soliciting your submission. How did this happen? Who's to blame? Well certainly there are those more responsible than others, and they will be held accountable, but again truth be told, if you're looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror. I know why you did it. I know you were afraid. Who wouldn't be? War, terror, disease. There were a myriad of problems which conspired to corrupt your reason and rob you of your common sense."I saw a person I hold in high regard call for the expulsion of Muslims who believe in Sharia law from our wee bit hill and glen. Aye, we're scared, but should be become Nazi's in penance for our own crimes? We failed to stop our intervention in the American Imperialism which caused these problems... When we let airplanes stop at our airports to torture innocent people, should we hold SOMEONE ELSE accountable?
The last thing our country needs right now is another three hundred years swearing fealty to unionists for simply being allowed to be a subject of Brenda Windsor.
I thought I would take this opportunity to address a few myths regarding Independence. In my own way... (ahem).
Myth 1: Home Rule means Pope / Prod Rule:
Dear god... this is by far my least favourite. This tends to centre around the West of Scotland and, frankly, should stay there. It's propagated by bigots who can't argue with you. It's directed towards their alcoholic neighbours and housewives who don't want to think for themselves. There... I said it. If you believe this: you are a moron.
I feel I should at least bother to try and refute this rather than just rant about idiots like this not being allowed internet access or telephones.
To my mind, we don't have the depth of division in Scotland that is apparent in traditionally sectarian countries. Yes, there is sectarian violence, but this has never been exploited by political parties, per se. The "myth" has proved to be a feature in some areas for the Labour Party, but by no means would I suggest that this is endemic in top levels of the party.
Equally, take politics today. Voters in Airdrie, traditionally "labelled" a protestant heartland got angry (and rightly so) against Labour in Karen Whitefields constituency precisely because she stood idly by and let Catholic Coatbridge build all it's nice shops, leisure centres, bowling alleys and cinemas while finding something else to while their hospital was shut down. Chances are that Karen's game is a bogey and the SNP will get Airdrie. Nobody brought up religion, if you read the local newspapers is bread-and-butter politics being discussed.
My reasoning is that you aren't morons. Yes, our system is complete shit, but I have a higher opinion of you than that at the first opportunity you'll wander off and batter the next ethnic minority at the first opportunity. I've sat behind you in buses. You're quite nice. Really...
Myth 2: Ooh... Nationalism... that's bad... that's like... violent and stuff...
This one rips my knitting as well.
After the Perth AGM of Independence First I was in a pub with a guy who I discussed my membership of Siol nan Gaidheal. He was a left winger and brought up the fact that we're all bad nasty fascists and racists and so were the SNP and... You get the point. This comes more from the left than it does the right, but it's pretty endemic. It usually uses "Yugoslavia" as the "Aaa ooh!" part of it's song.
My answer to that is this: all politics has blood on it's hands. The left winger who makes allegations of racism is conveniently forgetting the blood on his own hands. I'll bet he's wearing a Che Guevara t-shirt. How many people did Che kill? He led ACTUAL revolutions. Now... that didn't involve him going to Bolivia to sell copies of the Socialist Worker. He took a gun.
And all over Europe and North America you'll find a trail of blood attributed to Socialism. You'll find Germany's Red Army Faction; Frances Actione Directe (sic); Red Brigades here, there and everywhere. Diet Red Brigades, Cherry flavour Red Brigades, Maoists, Trots and Commies all of who have rifles under their beds. You can go up to the Northwest of America and find the United Freedom Front and Red Guerrilla Resistance blowing up and robbing their way through New York. Lets be honest, the death toll is fucking huge.
Swing to the right wing and you'll find the Conservatives. Nothing bad about them, surely? Surely that nice Dictator Maggie Thatcher, who managed - miraculously - to have two separate wars and not invade someone once, didn't have links to nasty violent political people.
It's best not to ask them yourself. They'll probably neglect to mention Enoch "Rivers of Blood" Powell and Oswald "Crazy Bastard" Mosely (who was a member for the Tories in Harrow... which was nice): posters boys of your friendly neighbourhoodie fascists: the BNP, C18, National Front. They also might neglect to point out that they've sat next to "Psycho fun boy" Ian Paisley numerous times in numerous parliaments.
Your ballot paper is drenched in blood from the right wing to the left wing. Since the SNP was formed, it has been the most consistent vehicle for Independence. And they got a parliament without killing anyone. A damn sight better than the one gotten in Northern Ireland which has been dumped more times than I, or my wheely bin has been. Equally, the organisation I'm a member of: the SRSM helped persuade the groups who formed the original SSP that independence was a groovy idea and that they should hop on board the Indy train and dance to crappy folk music like the rest of us.
My point to unionist is this: if you want to look for violent ghosts in shadows, you'd be better served looking in your own political parties rather than in my Pro-Independence belief system. Most of the unionist parties have had members who have either advocated or attempted to create rivers of blood.
Myth 3: We cannae afford it Captain... there's nae merr money!
I can't help being patronising sometimes. It's just who I am:
Oh really... the country who spawned the guy who INVENTED the Bank of England can't build a decent economy. The country who spawned THE OTHER GUY who first documented Capitalism can't work out how to pay the bills? (William Paterson fae Tinwald in Dumfries and Galloway founded the Bank of England and Adam Smith fae Kirkcaldy worked out capitalism an' that).
Frankly, if you're stupid enough to subscribe to that myth you just lost the right to talk to me.
Myth 4: Black Gold
I think I missed that meeting. You know... the one where it was agreed that your country has to have oil to exist. Or to economically proper...
Ssshhhh... I just had an idea. If you're Irish you'd better go read something else. By that argument we should invade so that we can liberate them from their "non oil"ness. It would be only honourable on our part. We'd be doing them a favour.
They've a successful economy and don't have oil. Hmmm...
Either way, there is NO PROOF being documented that Oil is about to run out in the North Sea. And if it does... So what? Other countries proper, why the hell can't we?
Myth 5: Passports and Border Guards
My good friend Alyson probably worries about this one. Her current squeeze, Stevie from Jasper Carrot country, might be affected by the very issue.
Aside from the fact that people living here would get naturalisation rights and nationality IF THEY WANTED IT... It's in most of the manifestos and press briefings.
Honestly, Pro Indy supporters are all rather Swedish and nice about this issue. We want to be cool and nice and groovy and don't want to make your life, like, hard... dude. We're all cool.
I can guarantee there won't be any sniper towers this side of Gretna at any time. If "Stevie" is stopped at the border, it's merely because I fancy his girlfriend and nothing to do with the fact he's English....
The following is a video of SRSM speeches back in 1990.
The SRSM Video.
Once upon a time I posted this... Chris Moyles, on todays Radio One Show reminded that the reason I despise local radio is because they've nothing to say that's worthwhile.
And then something happened a couple of week back some people were discussing some shinto on a forum I frequent and it ACTUALLY happened. Someone broadcast a Radio Show I couldn't miss... It just felt right. I didn't have to bugger off to the kitchen to avoid being patronised, I didn't get to shout at the Brit Broadcasters who were playing Keane because a few London stations though they were "cool" or because they were banging the drummers girlfriend... (this bit might be libellous though...)
So... maybe they're just learning and there's the odd delay and sometimes the songs end a bit early... but in this case it's just enigmatic. On the basis of the three episodes I've listened to thus far there even seems to be a structure: one hour of folky tunes, and the next hour for modern music. Interspersed are interviews, new Scottish music, snippets, comment and general humour and propaganda.
For someone who has listened to BBC Radio One because there was -- "fuck all else to do" - Friggin' in the Riggin' -- I've FINALLY got something to listen to.
And therefore SO DO YOU. Go to Radio Free Scotland and work out how to listen from there. It's pretty simple. If you can't listen, then either a) your computer is shit or b) you are a moron. There... I've said it. LISTEN.
Why? Because this gives us, as a pro-independence movement, credibility. You can HEAR people talking our talk on a wednesday and friday at 9pm. You can send your stuff via email to the DJ and you can just listen in and switch off feeling good.
You've got to admire how little of a fuck the Italians give about foreign countries. Can you imagine Union Jack McConnell sending diplomats from their Edinburgh embassay to trial?
It's interesting to walk through the mire of propaganda and realise how little you know. On another board, people were discussing this article about this tv show. Then a comrade mentioned an article which discussed the politics of Joel Surnow, the creator of 24.
How can someone like myself, Socialist, Republican and fully paid-up Independentista dig the torture and human rights abuses by anti-Hero Jack Bauer? Partly it's because I don't like programs like Shameless or Skins. I live in an urban environment, some of my mates have jobs, some don't, some people have sex, some don't, sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. What I don't want to watch is some crappy TV rip-off of real life to remind me what I either SHOULD be doing, or how someone else is wandering aimlessly about their lives in THEIR way.
Take the office. I WORK in an office. I know people who dug the office because "it's just like in here." Aye, of course... How fucking self-involved is that? It's the same self-involved shinto that goes own when people justify - seriously - their own family nightmares being "just like the Simpsons."
I like different. I'm not going to go home from my job to watch TV and someone else going to THEIR job. It's why I broke "The Sims" CD in half twenty minutes after I put the fucking thing in my PC.
Typically, I like 24 and Jack Bauer because it is conservative propaganda. It's reverse psychology for me. It's a fantasy poll on torture in the modern era. It's also the only show (aside from Battlestar Galactica) which try to use those old Bogart-style alpha male characters. I like flawed genuis's and anti-heroes rather than your average wet metrosexual postcard man who's got all the charisma of your average second division player.
I'll update you (since you asked) about work on MY novel. It's almost done. I've two chapters to finish and bearing in a mind a cursory spell-check and etc it's done.
When it's done I'll be redesigning the blog and including it on the right hand side. This is because I'm putting it up on lulu.com along with the photobook I put up there a while ago.
Rock X (pronounced rock ex and not rock ten as Karen in my work suggested at one point...) is a science fiction comedy in which the two main characters, Max and Kaz battle their way through various parallel universes to save their main compadre: YOU. Yep. You've gone missing and unless Max and Kaz find you all sorts of bad and unspecified things might happen. You got that right YOU are in my book. You've had sex with all the persons you've ever wanted and felt warm and squishy in several different parallel universes.
I'd like to take this opportunity to put my "official" SRSM hat on and thank all members and friends who attended this joint event. I also thank you all for your patience with the traffic problems which caused the delay in the Glasgow contigents arrival.
Special thanks to Zed who gave a memorable and welcome speech. Thanks to Jim for piping for us (at pretty short notice as well I believe). Thanks to the Siol, Na Fir Dileas, Crann Tara and even the contingent from Embra Indy First who showed up. I've more than likely forgotton someone; best way to remedy that is to PM me who i've forgotten so that I can pretend I remember later on...
Donald was missed as he's currently skiving in hospital. We missed his historical input and personality. I'm sure he was sorry to miss the scattering of Dave Leadbetter's ashes (as well as a certain other event that happens at the end).
I'd also like to (publicly) thank Mr. Miles. Donald has been dealing with MM in helping to rebuild the SRSM Flag collection after a theft last year. If it wasn't for Mr Miles we simply wouldn't HAVE a flag collection right now. I'm not sure whether he would like be thanked or not, but he's been brilliant in helping us.
Most importantly, we were there to pay tribute to the dead of Glencoe and all others who have died because of tyranny in this country. We do it because we refuse to forget. We also refuse to consign those people to a history book. They were our brothers and sisters, and EVERYONE who turns up, does so because they recognise this.
We marched in silence. Well... you did. I didn't. I could hear Republicans marching alongside Jacobites alongside Socialists and alongside ordinary people. It should be incompatible. But it's not. Most of us believe in Independence. And we all were there for the same purpose. That, to me, was louder than the usual music we have playing when we march to the Glencoe monument.
Everyone there should be immensely proud. People were marching, some of whom want different types of an independent Scotland. But we all have the same respect for our ancestors, and I believe, for each other. I think the old Siol slogan (not sure who came up with it) "To act when words go unheeded" is most appropriate here.
I didn't get the chance to speak to everyone as much as I'd have liked, but I'll see you all somewhere else and make up for it.
I wanted to get a couple of things off my chest and "officially" thank you all.
Appendix: You won't recognise some of the names in this post. Use the links and investigate.
Firstly I need to point out one thing. My Vivitar Vivicam camera which costs £30 was a great investment. Except for the miniscule detail that it's scared of the dark and takes horrible pictures in dark areas. Otherwise it's fan-flippin' tastic.
The Burns Night itself should have been a complete disaster: Albannach failed to show until literally the last minute and none of the other musicians turned up. That being said though, the two tunes they DID do were worth waiting for and the food and speakers were great. This was a fantastic night, and certainly memorable for all the right reasons, and a few of the wrong ones as well.
Patrick Scott Hogg took us through the Republican Burns, the one the establishment would much rather we all pretended didn't exist, but the one through whom we glimpse a Scotland through deeply philosophical and intelligent eyes. It's ironic, but some of the most genius pieces of Burns are the very ones the Burns Establishment wants us to write out of history.
The weapons you can see in one of the photos were part of a talk given by David R Ross, all round good egg and one of the best historians you're likely to read. I was tempted to post the one of me with his Claymore, but we'll leave that to another time...
The bottom-most picture you can see is a rather artsy shot of Albannach. This was one of the worst photos I was experimenting on with Paint Shop Pro in an attempt to get a "Max Payne 2" Graphic Novel shot.
I've been talking about this IRL for a while now, and at the behest of people I know, I think the subject should be broached about the lamentable state of Scottish Radio.
On Xmas morning, I was setting up the Freeview box that was a prezzie for mumsie and cos she wasn't up, I ended up on BBC Radio 7, instead of finding out what Sky Three was actually like. It was this brilliant documentary about Kenny Everett. I mind as a kid being gutted that he had been sacked from Radio One - not because of the sacking, but because he ended up in a London Radio Station I wouldn't be able to hear.
My politics should dictate I should be glued to Clan FM, Clyde or XFM Scotland or whatever... I guess... I can't face it, honestly. Alyson at work insists that Dominik Diamond is a cunt. I'm guessing Anne Diamond's little boy (???) will just have to live without the blonde bombshell's input on this one. I like the guy because I can recognise who he is.
And here's the reason I don't listen to Scottish Radio: Ross King. I mind him on Radio Clyde. Then I mind him on Pebble Mill and finally as a Weatherman before ending up on GMTV. As nice and fluffy as Ross obviously is, I want something DANGEROUS or someone that actually MEANS something on the radio. I'm not talking about Scotty McClue, because frankly I don't like TalkSHITE or any form of Radio where they have more talk than they have records.
Nicky Campbell on Radio One once took the smeg out of Scottish Radio by taunting the DJs that they all sounded like Deputy Dog. For years I've never been able to listen to the local stations because I keep seeing the wee varmint in my head while some guy introduces some "70s Classics with Rah-Rah-Rasputin!!!
Because of Mr. Fujitsu Seimens here I get to listen to Last FM . If it wasn't for that I wouldn't have heard Shadows Fall... Ah... memories... Well, partially that's my point. I should be able to hear some guy in Scottish Accent taking his music seriously, being comedically dangerous or simply doing something different.
What seems to happen is this: Mr John Nightly gets his own show on some poxy channel no-one listens to for three weeks and electrifys the airwaves. Not too many people hear him except a big broadcaster who takes him somewhere else (TV, Radio in England, whatever...) I can live with that, because money is always going to talk, but we end up left with the pish that Glasgow's nightclubs spawn who frankly have more teeth than brains and can't have an Ad break without having a "funny" competition...
The Text ordering the massacre of Glencoe.
Ballacholis
Feb. 12, 1692
Sir:
You are hereby ordered to fall upon the Rebels, the MacDonalds of Glencoe, and put all to the sword under 70. You are to have especial care, that the Old Fox and his Sons do upon no account escape your Hands, you are to secure all the avenues that no man can escape: this you are to put in Execution at five a Clock in the Morning precisely, and by that time or very shortly after it, I’ll strive to be at you with a stronger party. If I do not come at five, you are not to tarry for me but fall on. This is by the King’s Special command, for the good and safety of the country, that these miscreants may be cut off root and branch. See that this be put in execution without Feud or Favor, else you may expect to be treated as not true to the King or Government nor a man fit to carry Commission in the King’s Service. Expecting you will not fail in the fulfilling hereof as you love yourself, I subscribed these with my hand.
Signed Robert Duncanson
For Their Majesties Service
To Captain Robert Campbell of Glenlyon
The following is a letter sent to the SSP [National Secretary Pam Currie] by the SRSM:
Dear Pam,
I write you to notify you that the SRSM platform has taken the decision to disaffiliate from the Scottish Socialist Party. This decision was taken at an EGM on Thursday 19 October.
The catalyst was certainly the recent handling of our motion to conference to entrench clause 5 of the Party's constitution – the third time that he motion has been talked out. You will be aware that the reasons given by the platform was the final straw, for some, who found the explanation unacceptable. I must say that the Chair's remarks, when questioned by one of our members, were highly subjective. We believe that over the past few years sections of the Party did not want this passed and sought to portray the motion as bureaucratic and anti-democratic.
However, the wider reason for our decision is the Party's minimal activity on the national question. While there is no doubting the SSP's unequivocal stance for a
Yours faithfully,
Gerry
Convenor
SRSM
I'm not a folk music fan. That's why the video below doesn't contain any. It's not that I dislike it, it's just I only ever listen when I'm at the various events I go to.
This is an experiment for me. There are a number of far better vids out there, but I figured I'd have a play around with both YouTube and Windows Movie Maker. Bear in mind there is a disintegration of quality on YouTube (because they prefer it to be fast rather than have quality).
Joe Middleton (http://www.scottishindependence.com and http://www.independence1st.org) wrote a good piece about the march: http://scotland.indymedia.org/newswire/display/3284/index.php
Have a swatch:
Draft Two of my Novel is complete. Fanks to Mumsie Firefox for the use of her computer while I was delocated from Firefox HQ.
And that bastard thing still isn't done. It was my fault entirely. I had included what was intended to be an 'ironic' character in my sci-fi comedy. It then transpired that it is in fact impossible to create an 'ironic' character using the name 'The Widowmaker'. Who'd've thunk it...
Anyway, there are two female characters he can be replaced by (which DOES work...) So rewrite three will have to get rid of a number of pointless tricks I tried.
My favourite line from the Novel is from a Character called Ben: "My friend Mhari knows a word called ferapy and finks you need it."
So... how are you? I can tell at least a couple of my three readers checked out the Tribal Music post (and someone even replied... it happens so rarely I barely check...)
I also had an e-mail about my rant about "Francis the Second" and who "Francis the First" was and then proceeded to threaten a "Pillar Box War part two" in an otherwise relatively well received article. Firstly, thanks to Jovan for taking the trouble to e-mail me. Always appreciate contact. When I'm not on dial-up I'll reply (still at Mumsie Firefox's).
I will (therefore) explain to the rest of you about Francis I. It is not that I didn't "know" who Francis I was. It was just that I didn't actually care. I checked Wikipedia for him, and a couple of online sources and soon realised I wanted to go to "mysistershotfriend" and consequently stopped and went for a cold shower. And that was my point. However legitimate a claimant he may or may not have been, he lost. Bonnie Prince Charlie TRIED and failed. From what I can tell, the later ones didn't even try. Why am I supposed to care?
The same is true of Elizabeth the Second, while she may well have had an ancestor called 'Elizabeth I' a) I remain "uncaring" because she's royalty and b) we never had an Elizabeth I in SCOTLAND. You need to remember that I'm a Republican and while I can tell you what colour clothes Scottish Republican John Baird wore while in the army regiment he was in a good ten years before the 1820 insurrection (Green - he wasn't a Red Coat) I haven't researched too much shinto about Jacobite claimants.
I know I'm not interested in it and act accordingly. Fortuntely I know people who ARE into that kind of thing, and their enthusiasm and general interest in their subject usually makes it more entertaining to listen to.
I'm happy to publish a Jacobite article or two explaining things I've little chance of researching. Besides, I like Jacobites. Don't agree with them, but think they're perfectly nice and fun people to get drunk with at commemorations, and you can't say fairer than that. So, there you have it: a free offer of Jacobite propaganda on a Scottish Republican Website. We'll call it an Xmas present. My e-mail address is on the right. Mark the subject heading: "You are a Commie Republican Bastard."
Anyway, bored now, bye.
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