Six cabin crew and me the only passenger! Did I dream that?
From Insider today:
‘Regional (sic) airline Loganair has said it will take over some services provided by flybmi . Loganair will operate flights from Aberdeen to Bristol, Oslo and Esbjerg from March 4 – describing this as a “significant expansion” of its Aberdeen base.’
https://www.insider.co.uk/news/loganair-take-over-flybmi-flights-14013585
When I say Scotland’s favourite, I mean my favourite. I flew several times to Shetland in the 90s to deliver IT in-service for teachers. My module ran in February, so the landings were like a trip to Alton Towers as passengers screamed and I realised why the free drink had been so generous.
Talking-up Scotland 
IT? You?
LikeLike
Harrumph!!
PG Dip Ed Comp 1986
Lecturer in Educational Computing, Craigie College, 1984-1994
Author of 5-14 Mathematics: Information Handling Outcome Staff Development pack issued to all schools in former Strathclyde region in early 90s.
Among many in journals:
The ambiguous embrace; twenty years of IT in UK primary schools, British Journal of Educational Technology 33 (4) 2002
Presented above to stunned IT evangelists at a teachers’ conference in Texas – not one question!
May have lost some ground but still blogging, tweeting and sharing at 67. Having sex at 67 too though living at 65! 🙂
LikeLike
There was another more tecchy guy employed too. I helped him talk to women.
LikeLike
Ah, I’m glad you clarified (?) the final assertion there, I was puzzling over its relevance, and was beginning to wonder if, perhaps, you were getting so carried away with your boasts we were venturing outside the field of educational accomplishments…
LikeLiked by 1 person
God bless you, John. You are an inspiration to us all!
And sex at 67!
Keep it up (!), there may be a sexbot* along to replace you/us sometime soon.
Then, released from earthly duties, you may, like the Buddha, contemplate enlightenment and seek Nirvana.
Or you can, like the rest of us, head for the pub.
LikeLiked by 1 person
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1467-8535.00277
Cited by 8. 8!!! After 16 fn years!!! I love social media!
LikeLike
Boasts? Facts!
LikeLike
Should I have put more smiley faces in???
LikeLike
FACTS! yes, of course, facts, whoever implied otherwise? Look above, you already have a supporter of your incredible manliness – but didn’t you know that anything below 70 years old is still YOUNG?
Anyway, your amazing virility aside, I have to say 8 citations after 16 (fn) years is a bit on the … low? … side. Well, that’s academics for you eh? They only go around citing whoever is trending at the time, they have no sense of value. But, still, its a published paper and 8 citations is 8 citations – not to be sniffed at, wonder how many of your readers have that many…?
(I actually have a ‘published’ paper, for an obscure scientific group/conference (wood rotting international group blahblah mumble mumble), ,,, the last I checked (oh, it might be about 16 years old too!) I think it had one citation – so there ye go, top billing to you!)
Have you checked out my updated procedural plan? I am about to check on it – its way back buried where you suggested I put in an intro – so if you have been slacking and daydreaming of all your achievements instead of answering the key feedback question, I might roll my eyes, and possibly sigh heavily.
LikeLike
Don’t think my intentions came across well. Manly? Me!? Was an attempt at irony. Not having sex at No.65. Only 12 houses in street.
8 citations fn pathetic! That was my point about soc media.
Wood rotting? Fascinating!
Your plan. Think I did reply directly under it..
LikeLike
In ascending order:
the next one
Nope, not fascinating 🙂
I think 8 citations is good …
I took it as irony, but thought it best to get in there with a few sharps barbs about virility because it was a fun thing to do. Well, amusing for me, like 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
This one:
So, most people are feeling very uncertain (Brexit), and the SNP keep delaying calling an independence referendum until they know the outcome of the Brexit fiasco – until things are more certain – and seemingly do not feel prepared without that. I would like to suggest to the SNP that it is THEY that should be offering certainty and stability and should not be waiting for anything from Westminster. Obviously our (England – Scotland) lives are forever bound, we are next door after all, and decisions will have be made based on Westminster politicking, but does an independence referendum and the future negotiations really depend on Westminster to such a great degree, and we must wait for them to (never) sort themselves out? We will always be plagued by the vagaries of Westminster, and many of us just want that to be gone.
But before I suggest anything, like another empty demand from a panic attack, I would like to present a possibility – so I need to know how people would feel if they were presented with a procedural plan with a rough timetable on how decisions would be made, who would be negotiating, what role the Scottish government and parliament would take, and how often and in what manner the public and institutions would be consulted – would this type of plan give people certainty or some form of surety?
I’ve written out as a rough example of 18 points that seem to be of reasonable length, and each of which could be expanded on in supplementary material (which should include ‘if point X fails, then point Y will need to be extended by 2weeks’ sort of thing) – this is just to try and outline what I mean by a procedural plan, but if you have any insights to what should be included/changed, it would be good to know –
———
In the event of a vote for independence, Scotland should:
1. Immediately appoint a negotiating team, these will be chosen from/by —-, and affirmed through the Scottish Parliament / committee, no longer than one week after the vote date.
2. The negotiating team will be given a brief that will be led by this document and its supplementaries, details will be decided and agreed on by parliament/committee and the team, within 4 weeks of the vote date.
3. Key matters that will need to be negotiated are: (a) defence, (b) debt, (c) assets – mainly how all these will be apportioned. Options that result from these negotiations will be presented to the Scottish public for consultation before any final decision.
4. Negotiate and have confirmed land and sea borders, in accordance with international law. Any alteration to legally entitled borders will need to be agreed upon. An exclusive economic zone should be created. Any major changes will be put to consultation.
5. Discussions will be held on (a) broadcasting and telecommunications (b) social security (c) taxation (d) business registration (e) all reserved and semi-reserved matters, to determine the best method of hand-over of powers and how much cooperation we can expect. These should not require public consultation unless there is a major change in policy.
6. Discussions will be held regarding (a) legal matters (b) health care (c) education (d) policing (e) fire service, to determine the level of cooperation there will be between states. Only if there is major change will the public be consulted.
7. The outline of a framework for future trade agreements with the uk will discussed, and an agreement made before the union ends. Public consultations will be made, and representatives of Scottish business and industry will take an active part.
8. In the event of any refusal to negotiate by the uk government, legal advice will be sought from the UN (relevant department). In the event no legal route can be found, Scotland will immediately dissolve the treaty of union, and apply sanctions until negotiations can resume. All negotiations should be concluded within 18months of the vote.
9. Immediately after the vote, and not later than one week after, the current Scottish government will apply for EU membership, and will appoint a negotiating team to ensure an agreement is reached at the same time as Scotland dissolves the treaty of union. Any major changes from our current status with the EU will be consulted on.
10. Immediately appoint a central bank for government, this will be done with the agreement of the Scottish Parliament. The relationship between government and bank should be clearly stated, and a timeline for establishing the independent currency set out within 8 months of the vote. Any financial markets required for international trade should be proposed and an outline plan for their structure within this time and not later than a year after the vote.
11. Begin appointing tax revenue staff and setting up tax collection systems that will enable an easy transition, through the Scottish government. Auditors will be appointed and all will be answerable to the current Scottish Parliament. Tax laws and rules will remain as they are in the UK until after the first Scottish general election.
12. Expand social security and appoint staff and systems to enable a smooth transition of payments, through the Scottish government and parliament. Updated policies can be made through the current parliament, if they can be implemented at the same time.
13. Create a Customs and excise department, and a team appointed to analyse import and export options. Ports, shipping, airfreight options should be identified and plans to upgrade any infrastructure or build fleets should be presented no later than six months after the vote.
14. Debate proposals on defence in parliament, and present options for consultation within a year of the vote.
15. Create a written constitution, that is simple and can be understood by all. Options should be decided on by consultation, and the final constitution decided on by a vote.
16. By the end of 18 months be in a position to dissolve the treaty of union and make all fiscal, economic and political decisions itself. Political parties wishing to stand in Scottish elections and represent Scottish citizens must be registered in Scotland, and if elected swear fealty to the Scottish citizens, based on any impending outcome of the new constitution.
17. Put in place legal mechanisms that enforce the need to debate, put viable proposals forward, and decide on, a preferred political system within 10 years of the union being dissolved.
18. Have a general election within 6 months, or soon after, depending on the outcome of negotiations and a stable electoral commission being in place. This election should be serious one with registered political parties putting forward clear policies for the economy, tax systems, foreign policy etc. At this stage, membership of international bodies such as NATO can be debated. The method by which each party would bring forward their revised political system should be included.
——-
So, if you were presented with something like that as a ‘template for independence’, would you feel reassured, or horrified? Does it imply more, or less, certainty? How do you think union-supporters would feel about it?
I believe that ‘Certainty’ comes from the WAY you go about things, not what it is you actually do – if you don’t keep people informed and stick by your word, uncertainty prevails. I’d like to to present that to the SNP as something they should consider, that is, they can offer certainty WITHOUT knowing what the Brexit outcome will be – and put it forward as something that should still be done in the event of remain.
There is no point in going into details about the economy or tax when that will likely change – those are not constitutional matters -, and we have to accept there will be a proportion of former-unionists involved in making decisions as well.
P.s. I’m happy for people to say it’s a shit idea, that’s why I’m asking.
LikeLike
It’s a shit idea!
LikeLike
Jeeeezo, John, you’ve just made me snotter out loud in work and tear-up from trying to suppress a laugh there. Stop it!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
No it isn’t. I’ve been hacked!
LikeLike
Feel sure I responded under the original which was…..somewhere.
LikeLike
Found it at: https://thoughtcontrolscotland.com/2019/02/16/is-the-snp-really-not-doing-enough-or-is-that-just-media-neglect/comment-page-1/#comment-21112
It is impressive. I hate to say this but I doubt if many would have the willpower to really engage with it outside of groups like Common Space and PG policy
groups.
TuS a bit lightweight and short bulletin for it?
Hoover might it be a good start for your own blog.with a clearer focus than TUS I’d happily promote it via my huge fanbase (kidding!)
LikeLike
Ahhh, I see, how could I have missed that most thorough comment of yours?
Anyway, yes, that’s fine that the question is now here instead of buried, and- BigJon999 made a good comment on the concept.
What you are really saying is that it is too long winded and people will have forgotten what the question is before they reach the end — hmm, I should not have finished on the ‘its okay to say its shit’ , should I?
I just want to know about the concept – does it fill you with joyful certainty? The list is to try and demonstrate the level of detail… bah – you really think no one can be bothered engaging? Jeez, that doesn’t hold up much hope for us ever gaining independence! If we all think that someone else will do it for us…
LikeLike
Agh, as I left the digital world behind there, I realised that was very badly put, my hissy fit wasn’t directed at you or the readers John, just the world at large – I meant, yes you are very correct that your blog isn’t the right place for complex pompous dissertations with difficult questions! And it is only my own insecurity on assumptions I have made about people that make me want feedback.
Your suggestion of starting my own blog, I know you’ve made it before, is a good one, but despite the evidence I just don’t have the time to maintain such a thing – when I start inundating you with comments (and I do appreciate your tolerance) I am avoiding other things, it has developed into my avoidance strategy (the more comments,,,, the more things that are building up!). Anyway, I have tons of other things to prioritise and was aware I can’t avoid most any longer, then was panicking about giving some input to try and influence a quicker resolution to us getting the referendum as I won’t have any time to put to it soon. It’s my own disorganisation and the fact that I can only focus on one thing at a time that leads to the panic (there has been so much to learn, and I wanted to look more into the culture studies as well, but they’ll have to wait) – of wanting to contribute, but have a limited ability to do so. And, basically, time is up for any concerted effort from me.
Anyway, I do wholly agree with you, and it was only me putting the pressure on me to do something, and giving myself a deadline.
And you do have a huge fan base! I see folks linking to your articles all the time these days. What are your rankings like now? I think you provide the best service out of any Indy blog, especially when you do your opinion pieces, they are fantastic.
LikeLike
Thanks for everything. Sorry I’m not thorough. It’s a problem I’m cursed by. Too busy writing the next thing to care for my readers.
LikeLike
‘Twas a joke, you are as thorough as you should be, never apologise when you should not, and never apologise for being you, and don’t pick out out the only negative of a throwaway comment – sarcasm really doesn’t come over well when the subject looks like criticism I know – it wasn’t meant as such, but comes across as such when I do a panic, hence my floundering excuses. You are doing more than you ever need to be, and I really do apologise for being so critical, it was irony in my own mind, but that definitely doesn’t translate well!
LikeLike