Let me say before I put this point of view that there is no excuse whatsoever for the violence and vandalism which took place in Manchester on Wednesday night. The footage of policemen being set about by angry mobs and cars being destroyed were sickening. They were reminiscent of the inner city riot scenes of the early 80’s. The difference was that then it was protest fueled by poverty and desperation whilst on Wednesday it was just wanton hooliganism fueled by drink and drugs and carried out by lumpen idiots.The “UVF” chants of these charmers were clearly audible. I know Rangers as a club have been working very hard on the sectarian problem but unfortunately with some elements the paramilitary chants and tedious songs about catholics and the pope continue .

Let me say though that the Manchester politicians and police were woefully unprepared for the ENTIRELY PREDICTABLE events of Wednesday night. Some reports put the numbers of visitors at over 200,000. When I heard the arrangements for the biggest invasion of Scots in to Manchester since Bonnie Prince Charlie, I couldn’t believe it. Surely the sensible thing would have been to show the game on big screens at the stadia in Manchester? As well as Old Trafford (to where the game should have been switched anyway) there are stadia at Wigan, Bolton, Oldham, Bury, Stockport and Rochdale. All these locations have good public transport links and there is not a green field between Manchester and any of them. Hosting the screens at these locations would have meant dispersal of the supporters and controlling their drink intake (and their access to missiles). Charging £20 for tickets would have covered the stadia costs. The other advantage would have been that the authorities would have known the numbers they’d have been dealing with.

I heard that before this game there hadn’t been one arrest at Rangers 18 previous European ties this season. Their fans had been complemented for their behaviour in Florence (known for heavy handed policing). Apparently there may have been up to 10,000 “casual” supporters of English clubs causing aggro too.

As I say, the conduct of the imbeciles who attacked people and property is to be condemned 100%. The arrangements and organisation for the whole affair should not though escape scrutiny in any enquiry.

Paul Keegan that is!

If he can pot a few like this I won’t be complaining! (from Bohemeians v. Bray in the Eircom League)

Yes the free kick man was Bobby Ryan!

It was with great sadness that I learned of Tommy’s passing this morning at a tragically young age. Tommy once said that his epitaph would be “Andy Goram broke my heart”. Former Rangers goalkeeper Goram said it was the greatest compliment he had ever received from a fellow professional.

Tommy Burns once broke my heart. In 1989 Dumbarton visited Celtic Park for a Scottish Cup tie. With about twelve minutes to go and with the score at 0-0 Tommy came on as a sub and scored with his first touch to set Celtic up for a 2-0 victory.

Tommy Burns, a very good footballer, football manager and coach. Renowned as a family man and a thoroughly decent human being. My thoughts are with his family.

Postscript to the UEFA final. There was always a danger of this.

BBC NEWS

Thoroughly deserved victory for Zenit St. Petersburg. Rangers in a one-off situation were simply too cautious for too long and then when they threw caution to the wind they were rewarded with a goal to make it 2-0 for Zenit. Having watched highlights of Rangers game at the weekend I was surprised that Walter Smith didn’t play Novo from the start. Rangers however got to the final by dull grinding determination and stuck to the tactic.

It was a spectacular occasion but not a great game.

Rangers fans can have no complaints at the outcome.

Looking back at previous Scottish triumphs in Europe, it highlights quite how the game has changed. When Celtic won the European Cup in 1967, all the players except one were born within twelve miles of Celtic Park. The exception was Bobby Lennox, born 30 miles away in Saltcoats. In 1972 when Rangers won the Cup Winners Cup again it was with an all Scottish line up as was Aberdeen’s in 1983 when they won the same trophy. Tonight Rangers will field players from Spain and the French African colonies amongst others. Mind you they have their most Scottish squad for years so maybe that has something to do with the spirit they have shown thus far in the UEFA cup.

I come from a long line of Rangers supporters. At one time my uncle ran the local supporters bus. My first ever football match was between Rangers and Arsenal. My second was between Rangers and Celtic. For about 37 years though my loyalties have been with my local team Dumbarton and that is where they’ll remain but I wish Rangers well and hope they bring the cup back to Scotland. I also hope that the supporters behave themselves and attract headlines for the right reasons.

There is little doubt that Zenit St Petersburg are favourites for this game after their stunning 4-0 semi final victory against Bayern Munich. However it’s a final and anything can happen. Who’d bet against this being another nail biting penalty shoot-out?

I feel I may have been a wee bit hard on Wendy and Scottish Labour so I’d like to offer some practical assistance by way of this apparently simple but actually rather tricky test. If the Labour people took this test I’m sure it would sharpen up their decision making skills.
I got 12/14 which I’m quite pleased with - let me know how you get on.
Nae prizes!

Click Here

From Ananova

A Chinese peasant has made a solar water heater - using only beers bottles and hoses.

The beer bottles lie on a board in rows, all connected by hoses which allow cold water to flow through them and be heated by the sun. “I invented this for my mother. I wanted her to shower at any time more comfortably,” says Ma Yanjun, a carpenter, of Qiqiao village, Shaanxi Province. “A real solar water heater is too expensive to me, so I came up with the idea of making one on my own.
“I hope this invention can be promoted nationwide, and allow mothers in undeveloped rural areas to have a hot shower.” Ma has now helped more than 20 families in the village to make and install their own beer bottle solar water-heaters.
He says he will build a public bathroom for the village using his invention when he has the money to buy enough beers.

Mary Queen of Scots

The Battle of Langside, the biggest battle to ever take place in Glasgow (apart from the 1980 Scottish Cup Final) was fought on May 13th 1568. It was the final defeat of Mary Queen of Scots.

Because of the religious situation in Scotland Mary Queen of Scots had been forced to abdicate in favour of her infant son James VI in 1567. Mary’s half brother James Stewart Earl of Moray was acting as regent on behalf of his nephew. Mary had remained Roman Catholic but Scotland was now a protestant country. Although Mary had a lot of support even from some protestants, the tide had turned against her.

The monument erected in the 19th century to commemorate the battle.

Having escaped from Loch Leven Castle in Fife, Mary Queen of Scots having assembled a force of around 6,000 attempted to reach Dumbarton Castle in the west. The earl of Moray quickly assembled an army and attempted to cut her off as she travelled to the south of Glasgow. Moray held the high ground at Langside and after an exchange of cannon fire, this became an advantage in the ensuing hand to hand fighting. Mary’s army was routed and she fled to England where, after 19 years of imprisonment, she was beheaded at Fotheringay Castle by her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I.

A full account of the battle and the background to it can be found here

None!  - it doesn’t need changing!

From Boing Boing

A lightbulb in a firehouse in Livermore, CA, has been burning continuously since 1901.

In 1901, when the tiny bulb was first screwed into place inside a so-called hose cart house, it cast its light on a simpler era.Back then, horse-pulled carts carried water to fires. The bulb burned day and night, hanging at eye level from a 20-foot cord. Its job: to break the darkness so firefighters responding to calls wouldn’t have to fumble to light the wicks of their kerosene lanterns. Manufactured by the Shelby Electric Co. of Shelby, Ohio, the bulb soon outlived its maker, which closed in 1914.

Later, in the main firehouse, it illuminated more modern rigs as horses were replaced by gas-fed engines.

It didn’t always receive kid-glove treatment.

Climbing atop their engines, firefighters returning from World War II and Korea often would give the bulb a playful swat for good luck. The next generation — the Vietnam veterans and the younger kids — used it as a target for Nerf basketball practice.

Then, in 1972, a local reporter checked records and interviewed old-timers to trace its history. Firefighters suddenly realized they had a treasure.

“The good-luck slaps and target practice stopped,” Bramell recalls. “We figured, ‘Wow, maybe we should take care of this bulb.’ “