RANDOM THOUGHTS...

In Missouri (where Danny, our man in America, lives) there is today, a state of emergency in anticipation of the decision of the grand jury about whether or not a white police officer, who shot dead an unarmed black youth, will face prosecution. 

A series of leaks has suggested that the officer Darren Wilson will not be indicted. He shot the victim, Michael Brown, after an altercation, which occurred when Wilson stopped Brown and a friend for jaywalking. 

Wilson pleads self defence. 

Our thoughts are with Danny and all Missourians tonight. Hope that there is no trouble, but if there is, that you are far from it.
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“There’s a lot of people who say there’s a lot of wealthy people in that room. If they all pay their taxes in the right way we wouldn't need these fundraisers singles – what would you say to that?” asked Steven Secker of Bob Geldof.

“I think they’re total b*****ks,” Geldof responded.

Of course, in a way it's true. If 'superstars' paid their taxes there would still be Ebola, and, because it is happening in Africa, and not in Europe, no one would have done that much more about it. Governments wouldn't pay anything more and we'd still need these fund raisers. 

But it doesn't detract from the fact that a lot of these so called stars don't pay their taxes....eh Gary?

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Scots wha hae wi Alex bled,

Scots wham Darling aft misled,

Welcome tae yir Tory bed,

Cuts an misery.

(By John Jappy, independence campaigner of note, who apparently suffered a heart attack on the day he tweeted that little ditty, but who fortunately was treated swiftly at Raigmore Hospital and is now back home.) Speedy recovery to full health to him!

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With the SNP conference this weekend and all the ensuing excitement, I neglected to pay tribute to my own personal superstar pal, Petula Clark, on the occasion of her 82nd birthday. As is pretty much usual for her, Petula was working, giving two concerts in Geneva, Switzerland, as part of a massive tour of France, Switzerland and Belgium. Her friends got her a cake, though...  and I see some of her family appearing stage right...

Joyeux anniversaire, Pétula, et merci encore mille fois pour toute la musique et l'amitié.

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So these are the shoes that everyone has been going on about. I have to say that I didn't notice... Honestly I was listening to what she was saying and I'm not the most observant of people when it comes to what people are wearing...

So what do you think...will they take off?

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Finally, for those who missed the comments on the last blog post...

We've noticed for a few days that Niko wasn't commenting, and John pointed out that his blog appeared to be for invited guests only.

Well, the reason was that Niko was in Belfast following the death of his brother.

Everyone at Munguin's Republic wishes Niko and his family well at this sad time in their lives.

We hope he'll soon be back with us.