Vagueness and the Aftermath - A sporadic diary

[Kev B]

Just done mine. Are we early this year?

Just done mine. Never mowed a lawn in February before.

Global warming Kev.

I blame Donald Trump.

Me too he's a tosser.

[RED-DOG]

The whole of Alex Salmond's evidence to the committee is available on BBC iPlayer.  (Search Alex Salmond)

I'll tell you what, he's bloody good.

[Karabiner]

Anyone cut the lawn yet this year?

My hair needs mowing..

[Rod Paradise]

The whole of Alex Salmond's evidence to the committee is available on BBC iPlayer.  (Search Alex Salmond)

I'll tell you what, he's bloody good.

He's good, a talented orator, but it's a bit of a tell that he insisted on his evidence being published as part of the case before he'd agree to appear in front of the committee, giving him parliamentary privilege and not running the risk of a defamation  of character suit....

[RED-DOG]

What a complex man you are Rod, and I mean that as a compliment.

Rarely have I seen one individual with such a broad range of knowledge, interests and opinions.

I always enjoy your input.

[tikay]

What a complex man you are Rod, and I mean that as a compliment.

Rarely have I seen one individual with such a broad range of knowledge, interests and opinions.

I always enjoy your input.

Yup, from legal procedures to gun barrels in the space of a few minutes.

[RED-DOG]

The whole of Alex Salmond's evidence to the committee is available on BBC iPlayer.  (Search Alex Salmond)

I'll tell you what, he's bloody good.

He's good, a talented orator, but it's a bit of a tell that he insisted on his evidence being published as part of the case before he'd agree to appear in front of the committee, giving him parliamentary privilege and not running the risk of a defamation  of character suit....

I'm struggling to understand why evidence that is in the public domain has been redacted.

[Rod Paradise]

What a complex man you are Rod, and I mean that as a compliment.

Rarely have I seen one individual with such a broad range of knowledge, interests and opinions.

I always enjoy your input.

Thanks Red, I usually describe it as a head full of useless shite .

In all seriousness I read  a lot, going by my kindle records I'm on about 250-300 books a year, then add in magazines, googling rabbit holes, this forum, other forums. I then manage to retain just enough to be able to make a decent guess which helps narrow down a google search.

[Rod Paradise]

The whole of Alex Salmond's evidence to the committee is available on BBC iPlayer.  (Search Alex Salmond)

I'll tell you what, he's bloody good.

He's good, a talented orator, but it's a bit of a tell that he insisted on his evidence being published as part of the case before he'd agree to appear in front of the committee, giving him parliamentary privilege and not running the risk of a defamation  of character suit....

I'm struggling to understand why evidence that is in the public domain has been redacted.

My understanding is the evidence could have been used to identify one or more of the women who accused him of varying degrees of sexual assault. Under the law their identities are to be protected (indeed there's one man in jail & another trying to avoid the same for contempt of court because they have published names). Since this hearing is a committee not a court the court rules have precedence. If it was  a court hearing of course the redacted evidence would be held in camera.

I find a resemblance in this with the famous (in Scotland at least) case of Tommy Sheridan, another brilliant orator, who seemed to expect party loyalty to be personal loyalty, and hit back trying to take them all down with him, when others refused to tell lies or cover up for them.

They should maybe change the saying to Hell hath no fury like an ageing prima-donna politician scorned. I think we'll see further evidence of that with Trump, and I'd put money on it happening with Boris de Pfeffel Johnson when he eventually takes it too far.


Tommy Sheridan:

Oor Tommy was jailed for protesting the Poll Tax & took the Scottish Socialist Party from the far fringes of politics to actually contesting seats.

The News of the World did a hatchet piece about Tommy shagging all over the place. Tommy took them to court for defamation (the same as suing for libel in England) and won £200,000.

Then the NotW got evidence that Tommy had told lies during the case. Tommy, being unpopular with the establishment, was soon facing a perjury trial. Found guilty and banged up again for 3 years of which he was inside for 1.

The NotW then came under investigation for planting bugs (starting with a bug identified in Tommy's car), phone hacking and perjury. Andy Coulson the Editor was charged with perjury but later acquitted.

Finally, the NotW appealed the damages awarded to Tommy, but lost.

I've chatted about the case with Colin Fox (current co-convenor of the SSP) and it knocked the party into a real tailspin, and Sheridan's actions in court were devastating to some of the colleagues he attacked.





 

[RED-DOG]

Thanks Rod.

I was going to say I've always loved law but when I stop to think about it the law is often stupid. I think what I really love is the way people interpret the law and how they manipulate the English (or Scottish) language to do so.

I do love court cases though.

I think I'm even starting to love politics, I just wish they would just conduct things in a less childsh fashion.

Will there be another Scottish independence referendum and could an independent Scotland work?


I do have a vested interest BTW, this is John McCready, my great great grandfather on my father's side.

Click to see full-size image.

[RED-DOG]

For those of you what likes listening to fings, you can hear some interesting coverage of Alex Salmon's trial and get some help with the peculiarities of Scottish law here.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0864016

[RED-DOG]

Baby stoat video.



https://youtu.be/2HFSaxIsJCE

[Kev B]

Thanks Rod.

I was going to say I've always loved law but when I stop to think about it the law is often stupid. I think what I really love is the way people interpret the law and how they manipulate the English (or Scottish) language to do so.

I do love court cases though.

I think I'm even starting to love politics, I just wish they would just conduct things in a less childsh fashion.

Will there be another Scottish independence referendum and could an independent Scotland work?


I do have a vested interest BTW, this is John McCready, my great great grandfather on my father's side.

Click to see full-size image.

Tom that is a fantastic image. Is it a painting or a photograph?

[Geo the Sarge]

Unusual to see bagpipes on right shoulder.

Geo

[Rod Paradise]

For those of you what likes listening to fings, you can hear some interesting coverage of Alex Salmon's trial and get some help with the peculiarities of Scottish law here.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0864016

Be careful of trusting the BBC on this. Their Scotland Editor Sarah Smith (daughter of Labour leader John Smith) is already under fire for completely misrepresenting (lying about) what Salmond said. She's previous for this, tell lies on the TV apologise through Twitter.