26th of foot

Over £17 million Mr Sheened. It's a veneer, as I suspect the seperated brethern have been indulging in considerable mischief.

As of this morning, I believe 46,000 tickets had been sold.

Monday afternoon, Phil McThreeorisitfournames was tweeting hot gossip that Craig Whyte was back on the Rangers scene. Yesterday, he produced several paragraphs highlighting the exact details that BBC Scotland have released today. Once again, Mad Phil has been included in the loop and I suspect directly from a senior designation within Pacific Quay CSC.

BBC Scotland's Chief Football Reporter will be right on the case, as soon as Peter Lawwell tells him.

Stewart Regan is burst. Peter tells the usual on message broadcast and print media crew to prepare the ground. Peter will tell Eric to headhunt another Chief Executive who will do as telt. Peter will tell the crew to get behind the new CE, until he tells them, he/she is burst. Ewing Grahame is a cnut.

When complaints were made about his posted/tweeted piece of John Greig's statue walking off his plinth. He was forced to publically apologise; however, Channel 4's regional commissioner, Stuart Cosgrove had him on BBC Scotland's, 'Off the Ball' for 20 minutes to profer mitigation. Cosgrove prompted Thompson throughout, truly sickening.

A smoke bomb is initiated by a detonator. As a pyrotechnic, it has a minimum safety distance of 30 ms. They are an unecessary nuisance that could morph into an occasional danger.

In light of today's not guilty verdicts delivered by the SFA reference the displaying of the offensive zombie banner at ra Stydome, Sellik's expression of, "surprise and disappointment that the case made it to a hearing" is truly sickening. The banner depicted an inverted evolutionary process, a gravestone, and a zombie being shot by a balaclava clad gunman. The toted weapon was an AR 15 Armalite. Obviously, only the sensitivities of ra Yahoos count. To compound this, Jim ra Tim Delahunt on Radio Snyde tonight explained to a fellow hooped horror of a caller that the banner was okay up to the point of depictation of a weapon. The evolutionary process was funny, the gravestone is a fact, but the shooting aspect is wrong. Maybe it's just me but I find the evolutionary aspect to be the most offensive, and ra Yahoos have plenty of previous in this regard. Dr Josef Goebbels would approve of Snyde, it's only a few years past that Keevins was allowed to continually compare Ibrox on a Euro night as, "akin to a Nuremberg rally". Yep, four flags(one union, one saltire, and two with the club crest) being waved as the PA blasted several film theme tunes; "was akin to a Nuremberg rally". Despair does not begin to cover it.

D'Art', Maintaining your discipline, well done you. No doubt, conditioned by legendary Royal Navy adherence to Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash. We, reticulating amid the Airborne Snake cast an envious glance at the fun you bootnecks enjoyed. Two out of three ain't bad, I hear the rum was undrinkable? Pegasus Loyal RSC.

The 'Rip it up and start again' analogy is a good one. Thirty-five years ago, I wandered into the John Street Union(Strathclyde Uni') and watched a band of young blades attempt syncopated rhythm combined with a soaring baritone vocal. Edwyn Collins had just formed Orange Juice and I believe were the iconic Postcard Records first signing? The sound of young Scotland first achieved recognition with Orange Juice's Rip it up and start again. Edwyn Collins achieved far greater success as a Producer and was at the height of his fame in 2005 when he suffered a double cerebral hemorrhage. Paralysed on the upper right side of his body and unable to speak, he began the slow process back. Unable to play or even strum a guitar, he decided to rip it up and start again. He took up electric piano. He was a trained graphic artist and right handed, he retrained himself to sketch with his left hand. Years of speech therapy allowed him to recover his voice and last year he recorded another album. Rip it up and start again is entirely appropriate to Rangers, perhaps the Ibrox PA announcer can be persuaded to air the tune pre-match? Although in these times, we might have to credit the track to 'Citrus Jiuce'?

In 30 seconds he went from succulent lamb to trucculent bam.

This is an excellent article, the corrolation between Andrew Marr's quote and our experience of BBC Scotland is direct.

Two O'Clock.

The ground was prepared, the usual suspects welcomed heavy artillery to the fray. A reporter of international standing, survived the backstreets of Basra and took cover in the componds of Afghanistan; Channel 4's Alex Thomson's attention had been turned to the blight of succulent lamb journalism. Well, he came, he saw, and promptly made an arse of himself. His appearance on Radio Snyde was comedy gold, he unfolded an A4 piece of paper and read a perceived threat from a false e-mail account. Further, he informed the listenership that he was passing said piece of paper to the police. The e-mail addy, 'leggoisblotto.com' might have gave it away; but ra Polis announced a day later, 'no further enquiries'. Alex was losing face, laughed out of town, and even those that previously lionised him were now suffering collective embarrassment. Spiteful Alex then tweeted and distributed by e-mail a YouTube piece of animation showing John Greig's statue stepping down from the plynth and walking away. It was a so called piss-take on McCoist's, "we don't do walking away". The memorial to the 66 Rangers supporters who failed to return from an old firm New Year's game was deliberately sullied. Alex Thomson was forced to apologise unreservedly and quite rightly so, he had been played as a useful idiot. However, Thomson was then given a platform on BBC Radio Scotland that very week of the apology. Cosgrove, Channel 4's Regional Commissioning Editor brought him on to 'On the Ball' to allow considerable mitigation. The unreserved apology morphed into if you construe it as offensive then yep, I apologise. Cosgrove prompted him throughout, unintentional and misinterpreted. This week's issue of Private Eye spears Thomson : Alex Thomson's valiant doorstep efforts to force Kelvin McKenzieto talk on camera for Channel 4 news about his coverage of Hillsborough swiftly became an internet hit complete with the inevitable accoutrements of YouTube remixes, debates on Jeremy Vine's Radio 2 show and outraged complaints to Ofcom. But was Thomson really the ideal man for the job given that just three months previously he had to issue an unreserved apology via the Channel 4 website for posting a link to a video which he admitted could be, "interpreted as disrespectful to the memory" to those who died in the Ibrox Disaster of 1971? Sixty-six Rangers fans were killed in a crush on the terraces of the Glasgow stadium in what until Hillsborough, was the worst loss of life at a British football ground. Private Eye's higlighting Thomson's appropriateness is something the Bears' support should utilise as a building block in our fight against the continuing hatred. Cosgrove's complivcity should NOT be forgotten either, the very next week on On the Ball, Irvine Welsh spent an hour on the show plugging his latest work. Big Stu' did not ask Welsh's motivation for the naming of his late 70s band in Edinburgh, 'Stairway 13'. I wonder why?

When I read Jim Spence's comment on Twitter, immediately I contrasted it with Archie MacPherson's appearance on Scotland Tonight back in May. He articulated his genuine surprise at the level of hatred being expressed towards Rangers and Rangers supporters. When asked to highlight this thought, he recalled the canteen at BBC Scotland on the evening of Rangers appearance in the UEFA Cup final in 2008. Archie recalled, "an explosion of deafening noise when Zenit scored" and commented, "a Scottish team playing in a European final and dozens of Scots are willing their defeat". Positivity and togetherness?

It's the arse end of BBC Radio Scotland's coverage of Spartak losing their spark in the CL. The theme has morphed into ra Sellik carrying the flag for Scotland(although they failed to specify which flag), big AmDram Quine, Rheinhart Gordon squeals delight before reading a noted Tweet. Dundee United their official Twitter account to formally congratulate ra Sellik on both result and performance. They sign off, 'Team Scotland'. Now, most of us Gersnetters have long suspected dearest Stephen Thompson enjoys blowing Peter's cheese. However, it appears all sand-dancing adherents must comply, BBC Scotland's Jim Spence has tweeted, "there is an amazing sense of togetherness and positivity in Scottish football this season". Nauseating? Is Peter Lawwell the Ayotollah of Gorgonzola? We should be told.

I was listening to BBC Radio Scotland on Saturday morning, the general sports show was hosted by former Scottish rugby international, John Beattie. His guests were former Boxing world champion, Alex Arthur and former world champion cyclist, Gareme Obree. The topic in discussion was the Ryder Cup and the aggresive atmosphere being faced by team Europe by local American golf fans. Thus, John Beattie poses the question, what's the worst atmosphere faced by you guys? Obree answers with a world championship hosted in 35-40 degree heat, Alex Arthur talks about a fight in Glasgow where banners were hung from bridges across the M8 motorway. John Beattie then offers the Scottish international team bus being stoned on the way to a game, in Edinburgh. Both Arthur and Obree chorus, "in Edinburgh"? Beattie replies, "ach they were young Hibs supporters thinking we were the Rangers team bus". Everybody laughs in the studio. The point of this bon mot is to highlight the surprise and discust that our own rubgy team being subjected to smashed windows on their bus in Edinburgh, to the immediate change to sniggering relief that the motive was acceptable because the kids thought it was the Rangers team bus.

It's NOT just Salmond, let's look at those elected members for Govan/Ibrox at varying levels. 1. Councilors - James Adam(Labour), Alison Hunter(SNP), Stephen Dornan(Glasgow First), and Fariha Thomas(Labour). 2. Scottish Parliament MSP - Nicola Sturgeon(SNP), Deputy First Minister. 3. European Parliament MEP - George Lyon. 4. Westminster MP - Iain Davidson(Labour). Only Davidson above has made any statement or comment on the Rangers saga. All the others' silence has been deafening. In excess of 250 jobs are/were in danger in one constituency and they said nothing. Personal or political preferred prejudice? You decide.

Oh, I nearly forgot. Seven/eight years ago, Liam's younger brother was attending Aberdeen University and he had to quickly shut down his Facebook page. Lots of references to the Ibrox Disaster.

BBC Scotland has as many Aberdeen supporters as Yahoos. Liam McLeod, Rheinhart Gordon, Jonathon Sutherland, Michael Grant, Rob McLean, .................................. etc are all Dandy Dons. Remember, a couple of seasons past and Abergreen are being skelped 9-zip at ra Stydome and those cuddly Red Ultras are chorusing, 'we hate Rangers more than you'. In terms of the derivation of the complete and utter hatred for our club displayed these last several months, I suggest folks attempt to view an Aberdeen 'zine from 25 years past, 'the Nothern Light'. It ran for a decade or so, was A4 size, and had excellent production. It habitually depicted Rangers supporters with wire coat hangers protruding from our heads, failed abortions. Seriously, 90% of what has become accepted humour on Only an Excuse, Cowan and Cosgrove, Naked Radio, .....etc emanated from the Nothern Light(filtered through Not the View).

Green will have to take a leaf out of Lawwell's book. Circumnavigate punishments(or is that the consequences), but get your message across by proxy. Like the late Paul McBride QC, oft described as, "a source close to the Celtic Board". He articulated ra Sellik's mindset and since he had no official connection to the club, result. The choreography was such, I am sure Eric Riley and Lawwell tut-tutted on the appropriate committtees along with the other useful idiots.

Remember, the Sheriff will NOT make judgement on a case unless it's presented to him/her. It is the job of the PF to decide whether it is in the public interest to progress a case, or even ask the police for a report. There was a high profile case 3-4 years past whereby a GP was the recipient of 5 charges. Assaulting his wife, assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, BotP, and Aggravated BotP. Reference the last charge, he accused the arresting officers(and there were a dozen of them) of being motivated by religeous prejudice. Seamlessly, after hitting his wife and a police officer with a piece of deck planking, he assumed vicTIM status. The case progressed and he was found guilty on four charges. The Aggravated charge was dropped by the PF. Why? No explanation given. The above is not unusual.

Particularly Cosgrove, he has a proven track record. He laments the lack of frequency of the term and questions it's withdrawal. Of course, back in the mid-90s, Stuarty was arrested(but not charged) at Queen Street station after a Rangers/St Johnstone semi-final at ra Stydome. After a 4-0 doing, he lost his discipline and indulged in a chorus of, 'Can you spot a handsome H**'? Now, the PF decided NOT to pursue the charge and there's the rub. A number of PFs in west central Scotland will often drop such a case, whilst progressing others with necessary vigour. Remember the statistics must show sectarianism to be a one-way street.

We know the 'H' term is the preferred comfort blanket of the Haters. It is their common currency. Large swathes of both broadcast and print media will condemn Dick King, whilst sniggering and continuing to utilise the term themselves.