Alert readers will probably already be familiar with the philosophical proposition of Schrödinger’s cat. (The less alert can click the link for a short and easy primer.) The hypothetical experiment posited by 20th-century Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger has entered into popular culture. But increasingly and disturbingly, it’s also becoming the guiding principle of mainstream media journalism.
Certain viewers should steel themselves at this point, because we’re about to briefly talk about football before moving on to other things later in the article. You can consider that your trigger warning. We’ll let you know when it’s over.
The lines above were issued to the press yesterday by The Rangers International Football Club plc, a football club (the clue’s in the name) formed in 2012, yet which lays claim to the history and achievements of a previous club of a similar name which was liquidated for bankruptcy the same year, having been formed in 1872.
And eagle-eyed logic fans may have spotted something of a contradiction.
We had an interesting conversation last night with someone who was prepared, quite legitimately, to credit Scottish Labour with a little more good faith over their proposed plan to mitigate Tory tax credit cuts than we were. But we had a lot of trouble coming to an agreement over the arithmetic, and we tend to think that backs up our cynicism.
Labour have presented their supposed funding for the policy in an incredibly dishonest and disingenuous way, and it seems to have confused the media to the point where nobody in the print or broadcast media has challenged what appears to be a huge and (to us at least) incredibly obvious gaping hole in the finances.
Gordon Brown, last seen wailing that The Vow had been “betrayed”, appears to have jumped ship a little early when it came to changing his position on it for what by our count is the fourth or fifth time so far.
The video clip below is from Russia Today, which is in no way an impartial news outlet. However, it’s dangerous and unwise to reflexively dismiss any message purely because of the medium. Heck, even the Daily Mail tells the truth sometimes.
His views are expert and worth listening to. (The full interview is here.) Readers can, as ever, decide for themselves whether to believe him or David Cameron.
A convention of the world’s finest satirists pulling a 24-hour shift on Red Bull couldn’t come up with anything to beat Labour’s position on renewing the UK’s Trident nuclear weapons system. Following an overwhelming vote at the Scottish Labour conference this afternoon, these are the current cut-out-and-keep standings:
It’s been brought to my attention that you recently shared a quote attributed to the TV presenter and Westminster political commentator Andrew Neil, and that in response Mr Neil has strongly denied making the statement in the quote, namely:
“Devolution, the Calman Commission, the Scotland Bill, the Edinburgh Agreement – all of this and more you have is because Westminster parties are scared of the SNP. If you vote ‘No’ you massively change the balance of power and they will not only give you nothing, but will probably take powers away from the Scottish Parliament”.
I find it very strange that he denies making that statement.
Another three months have come and gone – where does the time get to, eh? – so it’s time for a quick Wings readership-stats update. There’s nothing particularly interesting or dramatic about them, so we’ll just give you the numbers and move on.
UNIQUE VISITORS IN OCTOBER 2015: 293,793
PAGE VIEWS: 4,616,334
In what’s been mostly a very sleepy time for politics, we’re thrilled with that.
Captain Caveman on The Plague: “Who cares what anyone “thinks”, moron (or more accurately, what hyperbole they might have used in one speech). That doesn’t…” Aug 5, 16:00
agentx on Anatomy Of A Grift: “Personally I would stay well clear of the lot of them and not bother even checking what they are up…” Aug 5, 15:57
James on The Plague: “Fuckwit cave dweller; ask some of your Tory chums what they think. You will find your answer there ‘maaate’.” Aug 5, 15:46
Red on Anatomy Of A Grift: “Science fiction story idea – I Have No Dick And I Must Steal” Aug 5, 15:43
Ex President Xiden on Anatomy Of A Grift: “Some SNP election slogans over the years: Yes we can. Win the best for Scotland . 1997 Release our potential.…” Aug 5, 15:42
Ian on Anatomy Of A Grift: “In reference why someone might get a refund from GoFundMe, on their website it states “The GoFundMe organizer may have…” Aug 5, 15:39
Captain Caveman on The Plague: “@Fatso You originally said: “… that Scottish nationalism is classed as an attempt to overthrow ‘parliamentary democracy’ [lol] in the…” Aug 5, 15:28
James on The Plague: “The usual unionist wails “naw it isnae” “naw he didnae”… Black is white, up is down blah blah blah. Did…” Aug 5, 14:58
Insider on The Plague: “Fatso @12:52 @1:47 So what are the names of these Scottish Nationalist terrorist organisations then ?? You made the claim,…” Aug 5, 14:46
Aidan on The Plague: “I asked you James, which organisations were proscribed under the terrorism act (as you said they were) which is a…” Aug 5, 14:29
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on The Plague: “SUPPORT GROUP PROMOTING MALE ‘CHESTFEEDING’ SPARKS OUTRAGE A group in Edinburgh promoting the practice of biological men ‘chestfeeding’ babies has…” Aug 5, 14:14
Captain Caveman on The Plague: “There is no official UK legal, security, or counter-terrorism classification that defines Scottish nationalism as an attempt to “overthrow parliamentary…” Aug 5, 14:12
James on The Plague: ““…the passage of Rishi Sunak’s speech, under the heading ‘The dangers’, that starts with Ru**ia, I*an, N**th K*rea and C*ina……” Aug 5, 13:47
James on The Plague: ““…the passage of Rishi Sunak’s speech, under the heading ‘The dangers’, that starts with Russia, Iran, North Korea and China……” Aug 5, 13:46
Aidan on The Plague: “Which Scottish nationalist organisations are proscribed as terrorist organisations James?” Aug 5, 13:26
Campbell Clansman on The Plague: “When Lech Walesa tried to free Communist Poland, the Polish Communist security forces used to wake him up in the…” Aug 5, 13:03
James on The Plague: “Good old Adrian, as usual he is sticking up for his unionist spook colleagues on the Scotch floor at Vauxhall…” Aug 5, 12:52
Northcode on The Plague: “If you look at the long-term behavioural patterns, the colonisation dynamic isn’t really the controversial part… it’s the predictable part.…” Aug 5, 12:36
lothianlad on The Plague: “He messed with the wrong man when he tangeled with you Sturat! Stand strong. All cowards fold eventually.” Aug 5, 12:13
Chas on The Plague: “Well Done Northclown. You managed to beat Alfie Boy in bringing up the Colonialism mince. What a good little acolyte…” Aug 5, 12:09
Athanasius on The Plague: “All this petty lawfare is so unbecoming. She needs to man up.” Aug 5, 11:34
Aidan on The Plague: “Have you been arrested in the middle of the night? If what you are saying is true (which obviously, it…” Aug 5, 11:21
Aidan on The Plague: “Alright Russell Crowe” Aug 5, 11:11
Alf Baird on The Plague: “On the contrary, Hatey, colonial state security services and its numerous ‘confidential agents’ afforded immunity are behind all ‘the repressions…” Aug 5, 10:47
Northcode on The Plague: “Ultimately, this unwelcome situation comes down to Scotland being colonised. And if you can’t see why that is then you…” Aug 5, 10:11
Frank Gillougley on The Plague: “I dunno. I know nothing other than truth is often stranger than fiction. Art imitating life and life imitating art…” Aug 5, 10:01
Onlokker on Or Something: “Anybody else enjoying the wee nutcase Sturgeon noising the SNP and Swinney up? Burning all bridges, and nobody likes her,…” Aug 5, 09:50
Grace Green on The Plague: “In my more than forty years’ experience of persecution for being vaccine injured, when things happen out-of-hours – letters sent…” Aug 5, 09:43
Captain Caveman on The Plague: “Thank you Rev Stu for shining a light on all of this, so that the rest of us can truly…” Aug 5, 09:35
100%Yes on The Plague: “The Sturgeon now Swinney years will go down in history as the docile years in Scottish politics and the most…” Aug 5, 09:23
