Scunnered

That the biggest Yes crowd I've seen in the media yet.

Here he is on David Cameron (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scotland/11088465/A-defence-of-the-Union-straight-from-the-heart.html) : What a thoroughly decent chap! Here's his take on Salmond (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/11073598/Alex-Salmond-Meet-the-bully-behind-the-mask.html) : He gave the reporter a bag of Licqorice Allsorts! What a despicable excuse for a human being!

He seems to be rather more than just "no". I've come across a few of his columns in the Telegraph in the last few weeks, and the word that some of them bring to mind is "barking". http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/alancochrane/

I don't think it's entirely down to that. The Lowlands has always been more densely populated than the rest of the country, mostly because it's flat and easy to build on (and also agriculturally productive, although that's maybe less of a factor these days, partly due to all the building that's taken place). Much of the land to the north and south would be a lot more difficult to maintain a large population on, because it's basically just very bumpy and very hard rock. It's probably less of a problem in central Scotland than it would be in many ares of England, because there's very little use of groundwater: possible contamination of aquifers isn't really an issue. The idea still disturbs me somewhat though, possibly due to simple irrationality.

This is a weird reversal of the historical situation. There's been a movement for Scottish independence from about the 1920s onwards. This was often dismissed on the grounds that Scotland couldn't make it on its own because it had no natural resources. But wait! Oil is struck in the North Sea in the 1960s! All of a sudden things aren't looking so bad. There's an SNP resurgence, a fixed devolution referendum in 1979, suppressed government reports about Scotland's economic viability, and 20 years or so of the oil-funded Thatcher Miracle. Now the oil's running out again. Guess what? Scotland won't be able to make it on its own because it'll have no natural resources ...

Alan Cochrane really seems to have a big grudge about something. What is his problem?

That seems entirely reasonable. In a similar way, the outcome of a general election could have a major impact on things like research funding, tuition fees, pensions, and so on; but if the management of a university were to hint even slightly to its staff and students that they might want to vote in a certain way, there would be a major outcry, and rightly so.

Just for the avoidance of doubt, let me point out that they're most emphatically on the "no" side. Independence referendum: Senior figures in the Orange Order describe Scottish nationalism as 'a divisive and evil enemy' : http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/independence-referendum-senior-figures-orange-4251804

It didn't say that a couple of hours ago...

She appears to be the daughter of Crispin James Alan Nevill Money-Coutts, 9th Baron Latymer. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crispin_Money-Coutts,_9th_Baron_Latymer He's I'm sure they're very nice people, but I can feel my prejudices stirring...

I'm still rahter mystified by David Cameron's contribution on Wednesday. He seems to have flown to Edinburgh, gone to the Scottish Widows offices, given a speech to a bunch of their employees, and then gone straight back to London. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/11088354/Scottish-independence-A-historic-plea...-in-the-manner-of-Westlife.html What was the point of that? Did they think that speechifying to the staff of Scottish Widows was going to the decisive act that would help the average Scot in the street to see the light?

You think? More than ten years ago we had The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 (Wikipedia), which It's highly probable that this is going to be extended very soon. From June this year: I think there's a serious commitment to reform here, regardless of the outcome of the referendum.

Ah, of course. I'd forgotten how the banks have always been spot-on with their prognostications about the economy.

But why do we care about the banks? Why are their opinions so important in matters of politics and democracy?

http://i100.independent.co.uk/article/labour-mps-drowned-out-by-star-wars-theme-in-glasgow--eJvCorVPVx No comment.

The Hound.

Here's the Telegraph on David Cameron's visit to Edinburgh today: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/11088354/Scottish-independence-A-historic-plea...-in-the-manner-of-Westlife.html Quite entertaining. There's a good bit about Mr. Prescott at the end.

... or maybe Jacob Rees-Mogg and his nanny. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Rees-Mogg

. . . Oooh! Intriguing!

No. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Carswell No.

[Resists temptation to make joke in dubious taste]

He's returned to the Dark Dimension after helping the company to get off the ground.

Apparently it's the Japanese word for the daily interest rate per 100 Yen: http://ejje.weblio.jp/content/%E3%81%B2%E3%81%B6 ... and perhaps also "genitals".

Presumably that's tax-free. That's more than many people's entire take-home pay (including me).

I'm sure you'd have to produce some kind of official certificate of proficiency in the language before you'd get admitted to a university. Still, that should suit wealthy teenagers who can spend a year or so in the country before starting their studies...