Bowie for Glastonbury.

[eFestivals]

Sounds a bit like Dave and the EU.

Ahhh, the default response to avoid the question, blame the English.

Lots of nice words, none of which address the point.

And I still havent heard 1 valid reason why Scotland couldnt gain EU entry.

There's no reason why it couldn't, the point is all about when it might.

It's called The Lisbon Treaty. It sets out the entry criteria for new member states. There is only one entry criteria, and: it's a lengthy process; certain conditions have to be met which Scotland does not currently meet; it requires a new member state to join the Euro; it requires a new member state to adopt the full open borders thing (which the UK has an opt-out on).

The EU is not a sovereign organisation which can impose things on its members. It's fully dependent on the views of its members.

A fudge might be come up with to try and help Scotland, but unfortunately for Scotland that fudge would require treaty amendments and that would require the agreement of every current member state, and referendums in many of those states (including the UK). So that doesn't end up being any quicker in the end - tho it might perhaps get Scotland an opt-out on the Euro and open borders thing (it probably won't on the central bank, and lender of last resort for its financial centre things).

If all the current timescales (such as date of independence) apply iScotland will spend some time (how long no one knows, tho expect 2 years minimum) outside of the EU. It's unavoidable.

There's possibly a way round all of these nasties, but it would (amongst other things) require Salmond to stand up and say he's bullshitted Scotland, so iScotland will get the bad deal to save Salmond's face.

We have most of the gas, the biggest oil reserves, the biggest wave and wind power and fishing in Europe,

completely irrelevant. There's a whole host of structural criteria that need to be met (see below).

and we have been a contributing member for 40 years!

No, Scotland has not been a member for 40 years. The UK has been.

Theres never been a country better equipped for entry.

Not true at all - tho i get what you're meaning and for those parts it's very true.

There are all the structures and instruments of an independent sovereign nation which are needed which Scotland does not have. More importantly than those (cos much of that will be transferred from the UK) is that those structures have no history of operation under the new sovereign govt of iScotland, and so nothing of those new structures can be safely assumed.

Also for the people that think this is all about Salmond, give it a rest. Please. Its soooo boring.

And yet you are giving the Salmond line, which is out of step with the actual irrefutable facts. There's not many facts in this issue (cos most is opinion), but the facts of the EU entry criteria are indisputable.

So if this vote is not about what Salmond is saying, why is just about every yes campaigner spouting the factually inaccurate Salmond line?

Salmond could retire this afternoon, wouldnt change the message.

Very true. It would still be his message.

Stay informed.

Very good advice, but wingsoverscotland is not the place you'll do that, as the above gets to prove.

Edited March 17, 2014 by eFestivals

[snoopyhill]

I don't think Salmond would allow it to leave as it has the national statue of Mel Gibson there.

Ha ha that cause quite a bit of fuss during its time at the Wallace Monument.

The statue is no longer in Stirling it's back in Brechin with Tom Church the sculptor he was looking for a buyer £350000.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallace_Monument

[eFestivals]

Tom Church the sculptor he was looking for a buyer £350000.

Mel Gibson would be happy to pay that for a statue of himself I reckon.

[Wooderson]

Anyway, perhaps this thread should get back to Bowie. Ive been out of work too long with too much time on my hands. Enough.

One of the most interesting threads on the site now mate.

[CaledonianGonzo]

in the bigger picture, whether it's good or bad, economically or otherwise in the short term, isn't it better to have less divisions between us overall?

That's what they tried to tell the Mau Mau, the Mahdist Sudanese and the mutinous Sepoy of the Upper Ganges.

[Wooderson]

That's what they tried to tell the Mau Mau, the Mahdist Sudanese and the mutinous Sepoy of the Upper Ganges.

And the Irish.

[russycarps]

That's what they tried to tell the Mau Mau, the Mahdist Sudanese and the mutinous Sepoy of the Upper Ganges.

Yes because 21st century Scotland is comparable to those events. I don't know how you cope up there.

[mrtourette]

Yes because 21st century Scotland is comparable to those events. I don't know how you cope up there.

Only by putting their differences aside and working together as one can they throw off the shackles of the evil oppressors.

Edited March 17, 2014 by mrtourette

[russycarps]

I've just read only a mere 12,000 people were killed in the Mau Mau uprising, which is nothing compared to what's going on in the killing fields of princes street in Edinburgh right this second by the colonial english scum

Edited March 17, 2014 by russycarps

[CaledonianGonzo]

It was a joke. It's like they say - two nations divided by a common language :-(

For the benefits of clarity, that was also a joke.

[It doesn't get any better]

Interesting and relevant though this independence discussion is, is there any real reason why David Bowie cannot headline?

I mean definite reasons like he has another booking somewhere else?

Not just speculation.

[CaledonianGonzo]

Because there's no suggestion that he has reversed his decision to retire from live performance.

[eFestivals]

is there any real reason why David Bowie cannot headline?

he loves a country he doesn't care enough about to live in? Or was that Sean the milkman?

[russycarps]

Interesting and relevant though this independence discussion is, is there any real reason why David Bowie cannot headline?

I mean definite reasons like he has another booking somewhere else?

Not just speculation.

because if he's going to do some kind of one-off special gig it'll take place in the country closest to his heart: the USA.

I cannot think of a single reason why he would pick glastonbury.

[UEF]

he loves a country he doesn't care enough about to live in? Or was that Sean the milkman?

Ah yes, Sean Connery. 007.

So-called because that's the exact number of times he's visited Scotland.

[Villa Rosie]

Maybe Glastonbury could take off some of the pressures of performing live, could possibly get away easier with doing a shorter set than people going to his last ever show and getting 1 hour 20 minutes.

If he was thinking of performing live again a festival slot could be a good thing to see how he still feels about it. Surely it would be a final string of shows than one single last show I beleive

[Klyde]

Maybe Kate Moss could sing a few of the hits for him.

[russycarps]

Maybe Glastonbury could take off some of the pressures of performing live, could possibly get away easier with doing a shorter set than people going to his last ever show and getting 1 hour 20 minutes.

If he was thinking of performing live again a festival slot could be a good thing to see how he still feels about it. Surely it would be a final string of shows than one single last show I beleive

Sadly you're living in a dream world.

Even if he did play it would be a disappointment anyway. How could he possibly top 2000? Even if he was at full fitness, how do you beat that gig? It's pointless to try.

[Lynsey Cox]

I also reckon he thinks the new arcade fire album is a bit shit

Glad I am not the only person who thinks this!!

[Richard Waller]

He's the master of secrecy too. Anyone who can keep the making of an album a secret, in this day and age, with the likes of Facefook and Twatter, would have no problem keeping a Glastonbury headline slot a secret too.

Believe. . .

That's the thing that amazed me most when the album was announced, it seemed to be commonly accepted knowledge that he'd retired. He's one of the biggest stars on the planet, he's always going to be of interest. I remember not long before the announcement NME put a story on their site about him making a public appearance. He was buying a bloody sandwich! If you can't keep buying a sandwich quiet, how can you keep the whole process of making an album quiet? Especially now.

I'd be ecstastic if he did it but I'm not expecting him to. I didn't expect him to release another album, either...

[Zoo Music Girl]

Probably nothing, but...

On 6music they were just trailing some music news for later which would be the 'most exciting live music news for years'...

Bowie tour? Not sure what else would fall under that category.

Annoyingly, though, they did say that they might not be able to announce it today and were awaiting confirmation.

[Zoo Music Girl]

Ignore above post: it was a Kate Bush tour.

Admittedly, probably bigger news than Bowie.

[A Guy Called Matt]

Glad I am not the only person who thinks this!!

No there are lots of us who think that :-)

[A Guy Called Matt]

Ignore above post: it was a Kate Bush tour.

Admittedly, probably bigger news than Bowie.

I am pretty sure there has been more exciting news than a Kate Bush Tour?

Wow!

[FloorFiller]

I am pretty sure there has been more exciting news than a Kate Bush Tour?

Wow!

Kate Bush hasn't toured since 1979 (her only tour), so it's a pretty big deal if true

Edited March 21, 2014 by FloorFiller