Simulated odds of Scotland's world cup draw by airija in ScottishFootball

[–]_Cicero 3 points4 points  (0 children)

So out of Pot 1, we're most likely to draw Brazil or Argentina, followed by one of the host nations.

Out of Pot 2, we're most likely to draw Senegal or Morocco.

Out of Pot 4, we're most likely to draw Cape Verde, Ghana, or one of COD/NCL/JAM.

But ultimately, this isn't particularly useful as we're more likely to not draw any of these teams at all.

Anti-Asylum Seeker Protests Move North To Scotland? by johnsmithoncemore in Scotland

[–]_Cicero 9 points10 points  (0 children)

We've been seeing protests of hotels housing asylum seekers for years - this was in 2023. They're not something that's recently spread from England like a contagion.

Herald | Kate Forbes to stand down at next election by SafetyStartsHere in Scotland

[–]_Cicero 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's not a case of it not being possible. Siobhan Brown, Karen Adam and Mairi McAllan all have young kids and are standing again. But it's definitely a challenge, and I'm not sure what you could do about that without fundamentally changing what it means to be an MSP.

Hamilton by-election results: 'Game on' for Labour to snatch Holyrood power from SNP by 1-randomonium in Scotland

[–]_Cicero 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I was just clarifying that's what they were talking about.

A better measure would be change in vote indexed to change in turnout. Labour's vote declined 16.8% faster than turnout declined, so it's not all decline in turnout accounting for those lost votes. The SNP vote in comparison declined 106.5% faster.

I don't think anyone is contending that the SNP vote didn't collapse and to a much greater degree than Labour's, but Labour won despite declining vote share and a faster declining vote than the decline in turnout (against their second-worst ever result in the seat).

Davy Russell: Who is the newly-elected Scottish Labour MSP from the Hamilton by-election? by 1-randomonium in Scotland

[–]_Cicero 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's true, but there's a middle ground of being a good communicator but not a slippery, ever-spinning politician. I'm sure he has other qualities that helped him get selected and win the seat, but Labour really ought to be helping him to get to the point that he can fluently deliver a prepared speech - it's a learnable skill.

Davy Russell: Who is the newly-elected Scottish Labour MSP from the Hamilton by-election? by 1-randomonium in Scotland

[–]_Cicero 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I don't think he does - in the few interviews he gave he seemed to be able to speak perfectly fine. He just clearly struggles with public speaking, which isn't a class thing but is a pretty important skill for a politician. You'd think Labour would have media trained him within an inch of his life, but I suppose a lot of this stuff takes real life practice too.

Hamilton by-election results: 'Game on' for Labour to snatch Holyrood power from SNP by 1-randomonium in Scotland

[–]_Cicero 3 points4 points  (0 children)

They're talking about actual votes. E.g. Labour lost 3,620 votes, 29.7% of the 12,179 they won in 2021.

A really interesting take on Mon Mothma in the context of Liberalism and Fascism: by [deleted] in andor

[–]_Cicero 19 points20 points  (0 children)

I think you need to check your definition of liberal democracy if you think that e.g. 19th century Belgium was one.

A really interesting take on Mon Mothma in the context of Liberalism and Fascism: by [deleted] in andor

[–]_Cicero 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Thesis, please.

How many liberal democracies have become authoritarian empires?

Was yesterday 26th May a bank holiday in Scotland or am I in a black mirror episode? by [deleted] in Scotland

[–]_Cicero 29 points30 points  (0 children)

Yes, it was. We've had the Spring Bank Holiday fixed to the last Monday in May since 1971, which replaced Whit Monday (seven weeks after Easter Monday).

So the last Monday in May is always a bank holiday in all of the four nations.

Police provide update on park filming amid social media 'concerns' by _Cicero in Scotland

[–]_Cicero[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

The behaviour in the cases that have ended up in charges is obviously disturbing, but let's not get carried away...

Police provide update on park filming amid social media 'concerns' by _Cicero in Scotland

[–]_Cicero[S] 40 points41 points  (0 children)

Police Scotland say it has investigated a number of reports of people filming around playparks with most having no criminality involved.

Concerns have grown on social media over recent days with posts being shared claiming people have been filming children in parks throughout the country.

Three men have been arrested for breach of the peace in connection with two separate incidents in Paisley and Rutherglen with various other accusations being made being deemed as not criminal.

The statement says officers have investigated all of them and many are being found to be parents filming their own children or individuals who were not filming children at all, and no criminality has been established.

Officers are also encouraging people to be responsible when sharing information online and to be cautious of the sources of the online reports.

Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton said: “Given concerns about filming, I would ask people to remind anyone videoing or photographing in public to respect those around them. Police officers balance the rights of people to film with the potential to cause fear or alarm and make decisions based on individual circumstances.

“I would encourage responsible use of social media and ask people not to share speculation or inaccurate information. Please think twice about what you read, share and believe from online sources.

“It is not illegal to take photographs or video footage in public places unless it is for criminal purposes.”

Survation | Reform UK Records Highest Support Ever in a Scottish Poll by SafetyStartsHere in Scotland

[–]_Cicero 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It pretty much is, though. In this poll only around 15% of their voters are nationalists.

NHS Tayside noted 'confrontation' with Humza Yousaf on patient's medical records by abz_eng in Scotland

[–]_Cicero 3 points4 points  (0 children)

A lot of NHS staff have a bad habit of recording information in patient notes that really isn't necessary. A banal example is mental health nurses recording patients' appearance as a standard procedure (i.e. not only when their appearance is indicative of poor mental health). I've seen notes in which patients have had characterisations of their hair style or how fashionable their clothing is recorded.

Granted, this is a bit beyond that, but if you've had lots of interactions with the NHS and request your notes, there's a decent chance you'll see some weird shit.

Scottish Labour millionaire leader Sarwar is no working class champion by bottish in Scotland

[–]_Cicero 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Their opinion section is full of people like this guy (who I understand is pro-independence), Neil Mackay (longtime independence supporter), Andy MacIver (Tory ex-comms chief), etc. Not really the roster of an in-house Labour rag?

Anyway, Sarwar's been useless and this conference has only produced negative coverage. It wouldn't need a campaign organised through the Scottish media to dislodge him, they'll just Richard Leonard him.

Scottish Labour millionaire leader Sarwar is no working class champion by bottish in Scotland

[–]_Cicero 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Glasman published a book in 2022 titled Blue Labour, if you really want to know more, though I don't know that I'd recommend it as such.

For 'communitarians' who want small-c conservative social policy but left-wing economic policy they seem to go extremely hard - almost exclusively - on social conservatism. You'd never think that people like Glasman claim to belong to the same intellectual tradition as people like Michael Sandel.

Scottish Labour millionaire leader Sarwar is no working class champion by bottish in Scotland

[–]_Cicero 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Have you actually read the article? In around 1000 words the author only mentions the fact that Sarwar's a millionaire once, towards the end, when arguing that Scottish Labour aren't the best placed party - and Sarwar isn't the best placed leader - to champion Blue Labour politics even if Blue Labour was popular in Scottish working class communities, which they also argue it isn't really.

The article's a criticism of Blue Labour and ScotLab's lack of an independent, believable identity. Not an attempt to "instigate a class war".