BBC NEWS | Scotland | Scots ‘higher’ on happiness scale.

You know, a lot of people have been noticing a change in Scotland over the last wee while.

I can’t put my finger on it but there is definitely a feeling of optimism around.

Unlike the rest of the UK house prices are rising, if only slightly, and employment is growing.

We’ve seen the SNP make a pretty good job of things so far given their very slender 1 seat lead.

I was impressed by the sharp contrast between the professional SNP campaign in Glasgow East and the hapless pish that emanated from the Labour camp.

They deserved to lose just on their performance in the campaign let alone for the graft and thievery they’ve all indulged in.

So yes, although I wasn’t asked!, I think I am a little happier for being in Scotland these days than I have been for a while.

I’ve often said that I’d like to live to see an Independent Scotland and I’m beginning to think it might just happen

This says it all!

Saw this comment on an article in the Scotsman and it’s got to be a piss take, surely!

Apparently this dude calling himself Da Bear is worried about our civil rights as there was a scare that maybe the swords used for sword dancing were to be banned under new legislation. It’s so Brig-a-Doon it’s fantastic.

Umm… You folks are so screwed … Sorry for the American idiom, but why the heck do you allow your Scottish heritage, traditions and identity be tossed down the politically correct toilet of such governmental tyranny? I have read enough Scottish history to see the deep burning fires of freedom that seared your hearts for 600 years, and now… what.. soft mannered droids, dependent on the failed dreams of a Socialist workers paradise , entire generations without passion and soul? How can any Scotsmen or Scotswoman look at themselves in the mirror each morning and not be ashamed of their lack of basic freedoms? No guns, no knives, no protection from criminals, no free speech, no privacy, almost no property rights, and no possible redress of the Orwellian nightmares of immigration and nationalization.

Wake up and smell the falafel’s…I hate to spread the unvarnished truth, but you folks are so screwed!

Of course, everything he says is absolutely true, by heck!…

…it’s just the image of indignant rage that makes me laugh.

I fucking hate “Braveheart” Yanks and their stupid sentimentalised view of Scotland.

And of course we all know that the US is the “Land of the Brave…”, well for those that still survive.

FREEDOM!! (As long as you’re rich)

No, the way to Independence and away from the ‘failed dreams of a Socialist workers paradise’ is not through the ‘deep burning fires’ of passion but through the democratic process.

Scots have a more realistic view of themselves and I hope we’re now seeing that Independence IS an option.

Just make sure that when the election comes round that you keep the faith and vote SNP.

clipped from www.independent.co.uk “Smokers’ groups and manufacturers have condemned government proposals to clamp down on cigarette vending machines and packets of 10 in an attempt to stop children and young people smoking.”

The NannyNazis are rapidly running out of ideas in their campaign to “de-normalise“ smoking.

These latest ideas are just fucking daft. They won’t have any effect on youth smoking, other than to make it more appealing. It’ll be a challenge to get your hands on a packet of fags - and the guy with the fags will get “respect”.

I’ve never once said that smoking is a good thing, indeed I think we should use all the available existing laws to stop young people from buying tobacco.

We have good enough laws in place - just enforce them. Any retailer found to be selling fags to minors should lose their licence to sell tobacco - no questions, no appeals just take the licence away. And the same goes for drink, by the way.

Scotland has increased the legal age to buy tobacco to 18 - good I say.  But once you reach 18 then you’re free to choose whether you smoke or not - in exactly the same way you decide to climb mountains or not or drive very fast motor bikes or not.

These are all risky activities but we should all have the choice about which risks we want to take in life.

As far as banning fag-machines is concerned I couldn’t give a fuck! They’re a complete rip-off anyway and I’d be delighted to see the greedy bastards who operate them out of business.

No branding? So what, I don’t smoke the packet so a plain white one is fine by me. Actually leaves more room to doodle on it - unless they cover it with pictures of dying people or diseased organs.

Many great inventions started as a scribble on the back of a fag packet!

Hiding them under the counter? Sounds OK to me…

…Or am I supposed to feel like a dirty old pervert when I go into a shop and surreptitiously ask for 20 in a plain bag please!

This is de-normalisation at work.

So no, I’m not one of the pro-smokers complaining about the latest ravings. I don’t care - these measures are bound to be completely pointless and will do nothing to stop youngsters seeing smoking as ‘cool’.

And anyway, how will they roll a decent joint with out some baccy.

Maybe they’ll just skin-up with pure grass instead - looks like it’ll be easier for them to get a hold of than tobacco.