This year’s Doune the Rabbit Hole Festival will be at the Cardross Estate near Port of Menteith again from 21-3 August. As our long-term readers know, while there is no formal link between this blog and Doune the Rabbit Hole, and the festival has no political view, the general tone, tenor and atmosphere of the event is one likely to appeal to people who enjoy this blog, and I shall as ever be running the bars.
I can’t quite describe what makes this little festival more appealing than others. It has an extraordinary sense of community and idealism, and I always find it seriously refreshing and uplifting, with confidence in my fellow human beings restored. The bands are very eclectic, and a reminder that great live music is made all over Scotland by people that largely you have never heard of. A particular selling point is that it is very family friendly, and it is not just that there are one or two examples that enable you to say the age range is 9 weeks to 90, it really is like that.
To say that it is a not for profit event is an understatement. We need people to buy tickets, and you can do so here. If you can afford it, you really will have fun. For those short of cash or free to enjoy hard graft (and it is quite tough), readers of and commenters on this blog make up a high proportion of the volunteers who are needed to make it happen at all.
I do hope many of you will come again this year, either as guests or volunteers. Lifelong friendships are forged, and it is great for me to meet you in real life rather than virtually, though I am more free to pull you a pint than engage in profound discussion. The bar – the Whistleblower’s Arms – will have an even wider range of superb local ales and ciders. I can taste it already.
I am happy to tell you that a month’s consultancy work has mended my personal finances, and I shall be back from Africa next week. We shall therefore avoid the need for a donate button to keep the blog going after all, rather to my relief. I should have been at Julian Assange’s birthday party in the Ecuador Embassy today, and am sorry to miss it. Happy Birthday, Julian. There is a good exposition of the state of his case here, for those interested in fact rather than derogatory mainstream media slogans. Julian, Chelsea and Edward have done so much to improve human understanding and resist the powers of the corporate state, and each has had a normal life denied them.
Alcyone
“Did anybody read that shit?”
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It was, wasn’t it. Contained the germ of a good idea but became boringly long. Sofia, being young, is not used to the booze.
Craig is running the bar “you” not “they”…
““Speaking as a Yorkshireman”
How about you don’t speak at all? Just take a break …”
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Seconded.
I’ll bet a fiver that “Dave Hansell” is not a newcomer to this blog…
Node,
I’m afraid I concur with Dreoilin. Yourself, Nevermind, Ba’al, Mary (who has already left) RobG et al do not need to be contaminated by association.
Indeed, one, more or all, of you may be next in line for the ad hom approach of those with challenged attention spans or who cannot discuss their way out of a wet paper bag.
I suggest to avoid this that likely recipients of this approach take Dreoilin’s advice en masse ( in much the same spirit as embodied by the Paul Newman character in Cool Hand Luke). A couple of weeks in their own echo chamber would be an interesting experiment to observe if anyone catches my meaning.
PS. I’ll see your sadass and raise you Dreoilin.
Dave Hansell
“Indeed, one, more or all, of you may be next in line for the ad hom approach of those with challenged attention spans or who cannot discuss their way out of a wet paper bag.”
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Was that a stab at some Tony Opmoc-like humour (as recommended by Resident Dissident)? I don’t think I’ve seen you “discussing” anything on here so far.
Mark Golding
UK pilots bombing Syrian Army and civilians, not Islamic State.
The Syrian army are civilians who refused to allow USUKIS Al Qaida and Daesh to take over their country. Al Qaida and Daesh are mercenary combatants for USUKIS
Lying is normal for our political class. The failure of their colonial project could not be more complete.
Ah, yes, the British addiction to clandestine warfare, ROS, another reason why Britain must exit the EU. The EU has incorporated UN Res. 2151 compliant Security Sector Reform into CSDP. That would cramp the UK’s style of illegal warfare, which is inseparable from the most fundamental wellsprings of British culture.
—
[ Mod: Caught in spam-filter for 4 hours : Timestamp subsequently changed from 14:44 –> 18:44 ]
HateSpunk
Why don’t you have the decency to resign from this blog?
The nazi salute, has a whiff of ……… Why is her madj getting blackmailed?
How come the zionist supremacists can have access to her knicker draw? Whilst her SIS are busy wigging on the usual suspects?
Fred
17 Jul, 2015 – 2:50 pm
The Commission [Freedom of Information] will be chaired by Lord Burns, and will comprise the Rt Hon Jack Straw, Lord Howard of Lympne, Lord Carlile of Berriew and Dame Patricia Hodgson.
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I agree with you for a change Fred.
“The veteran Labour MP [Jack Straw] is himself facing questions over what he knew about a Libyan rebel, Abdel Hakim Belhadj, being sent by the CIA to be jailed and tortured by Colonel Gaddafi’s regime. His possible role in the rendition of the terror suspect may yet be disclosed by FOI requests.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9210126/Jack-Straw-calls-for-FOI-act-to-be-rewritten.html
I seem to get admonished for calling out these vermin for what they are.
I will just say that the big thing that people in Greece and Scotland have in common is that they no longer believe the BS peddled by the mainstream media.
http://www.thepressproject.gr/details_en.php?aid=79064
@Habbabkuk (la vita e’ bella)
18 Jul, 2015 – 7:42 pm
Why don’t you just admit who you are?
I know who you are.
And remember, we’re coming for you…
Nods/Node do you fancy yourself as a Whistleblower? Oh you poor, poor sod! What an existence you must have. You really do need to get yourself a life.
I’m glad, however, to see you researching Krishnamurti. Even though you completely missed the irony of your quoting.
The key that Shelley did not give to you
Is that no cultural interlude will make a mind that’s new
Quote, quote, quote is all that ye can do
The second-hand human being knows not of the truth
^The above verse also brings us back on topic^
Further, inspired by your dumbness, I shall be studying:
” J. Krishnamurti & D. Bohm – The Ending of Time”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dAyQ6mO6Os
Ganglion, I shall leave you with a challenge: I submit Krishnamurti was the wisest human being, (in his understanding of the whole of LIFE and all that it entails and encompasses), to have walked the planet in modern times. Which, probably also means in all time. Challenge it!
*not* = nothing. No thing.
Dreoilin
18 Jul, 2015 – 4:56 pm
“I don’t know about Tony Opmoc, but Mr Hansell is certainly very fond of himself (and the sound of his own voice, so to speak).”
“Speaking as a Yorkshireman”
“How about you don’t speak at all? Just take a break …”
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Ah Dreoilin, the champion of freedom of speech!
(and defender of the trolls).
Now that footage of the Queen mother; Edward VIII and Her Majesty Elizabeth, has come to light performing the Nazi salute; should our media not demand an apology and explanation from the Royal Household?
They did from footballer Nicolas Anelka and French comedian Dieudonne M’bala M’bala for performing the reverse Nazi salute.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/6548665/Their-Royal-Heilnesses.html
Then there was Prince Harry and the Nazi uniform debacle.
Somehow I don’t think Remembrance Sunday will ever be the same.
Ba’al Zevul
17 Jul, 2015 – 12:47 pm
“O/T: Cameron condemns fat slags scrounging hardworking taxpayers’ money*, as usual –“
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Date: July 16, 2015
Source: King’s College London
Summary:
“The chance of an obese person attaining normal body weight is 1 in 210 for men and 1 in 124 for women, increasing to 1 in 1,290 for men and 1 in 677 for women with severe obesity, according to a new study.
The findings suggest that current weight management programs focused on dieting and exercise are not effective in tackling obesity at population level.”
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/07/150716180913.htm
Cut their benefits; they’re malingering!
“Now that footage of the Queen mother; Edward VIII and Her Majesty Elizabeth, has come to light performing the Nazi salute; should our media not demand an apology and explanation from the Royal Household?”
I think considering it was 1933 before the atrocities of the National Socialists in Germany had come to light plus the fact that the Queen was only six years old so wouldn’t have known what she was doing anyway are strong mitigating circumstances.
What was Arthur Donaldson’s excuse?
Resident Dissident
I was going to reply to your post regarding the Royal Nazi salute but you seem to have been censored for some reason.
From what I remember, you seemed to be saying that, because the Queen was only seven at the time she was quite innocent of her actions and I agree.
However the actions of her mother and father are a different matter.
If you want to defend their position please do so.
However the actions of her mother and father are a different matter.
If you want to defend their position please do so.
No I don’t – but then I don’t want to dig them up so that they can be made to apologise unlike yourself.
Good to see you’re out on day release again, Mr Scorgie, it’s been a while, hasn’t it.
I should add that I have no problem whatsoever with the Sun publishing the Nazi salute pictures – they reflect the thinking at the time which later on grew into appeasement and which allowed the totalitarians of their time to gather strength and make things even worse in the long run. But pursuing dead people and children at the time for apologies is just otiose.
Mr Scorgie
“Ah Dreoilin, the champion of freedom of speech!
(and defender of the trolls).”
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That’s a bit cheeky coming from an apologist for female genital mutilation.
Hi Craig was wondering if the Sun’s leaking of the royal photos is to divert attention away from Cameron’s illegal bombing of Syria of which one of Murdoch’s companies was granted oil drilling rights from Israel.
Joe
My guess is that it was some member of the Royal Household wanting a few extra bob – and the story being one that sells newspapers. Just money rather than a conspiracy.
Sigh..I would once again ladies and gentlemen request that you remain on topic and please stop using the blog to chew at each other like rats off a sinking ship..if you really want to snipe and bitch at each other on a personal level, I am sure there are other forums you can do so…
Alcyone/Villager 9.00pm : “Ganglion, I shall leave you with a challenge: I submit Krishnamurti was the wisest human being, (in his understanding of the whole of LIFE and all that it entails and encompasses), to have walked the planet in modern times. Which, probably also means in all time. Challenge it!”
Did Krishnamurti believe he was the wisest human being in all time?” If not, then you are claiming to be wiser than him.
Node, I’ll give you credit for not terming K’s work as ‘bilge’ and ‘psychobabble’.
The man is not important. His work is. Others declared him to be the World Teacher. He did not deny it, although he consistently denied that he was important, only what he had to say. He was not a philosopher in the sense that he theorised. Everything he had to say was grounded in hard logic and rationale, unlike your statement.
To readers of this site, I’d strongly recommend f you’re at all interested in K, start by watching his talk at the UN.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcga8ATBNh0
A deceitful sockpuppet has been unearthed. Well spotted Node.
PS I have been absent due to illness and have not been toppled off my perch by any Old Testament prophet or similar. Thanks to those here who expressed concern. Better now and thanks to SECAMB paramedics – lifesavers.
There are endless ways to seek attention.
Showing compassion to an embittered, divisive individual is like arguing with a drunkard. They wouldn’t know Truth if it hit them between their eyes.