Scotland Skybar

[Glasgow 2097]

Originally Posted by legslikeaspider

I'm friends with a guy who is now on the exec of the SSP, though he wasn't on the exec back in 2002 when the story broke. Whilst he says he is not remotely surprised at the allegations surrounding Mr Sheridan (a good friend of his was unambiguously and sleazily hit on by Tommy), he is absolutely heartbroken at the way the story has undermined the credibility of parties on the left. I am sad about this too. It strikes me that there are many people in that movement who are genuinely motivated and behave with integrity and now find themselves a laughing stock because of the arrogant, irresponsible actions of the man who was synonymous with their cause.

That's the danger when a small party is reliant on, or driven by, a single personality: if that personality malfunctions, everyone's going to get hurt. To the casual observer (i.e. most voters) in the 1990s, Tommy Sheridan was Scottish socialism, and vice versa. His ego has always been rampant. The SSP took advantage of this recognition upon its formation, putting Sheridan front and centre at all times. When it worked in getting the SSP a seat in the inaugural Scottish Parliament elections, and when it worked in adding another five seats in the 2003 elections, everything was fine and dandy. But the SSP must have been aware they were riding Sheridan's wave all along. Rosie Kane didn't reach parliament because of who she was, or because of any demonstrated political competence on her part. She got there because Sheridan won enough of the vote to carry her and four others into Holyrood with him. It was his stage, and his show.

Of course, much of the above is true for larger parties as well - the average Glasgow Labour voter could have named Gordon Brown but not their local candidate - but larger partiers are more fault-tolerant in the event that the driving personality suddenly goes all Walter E. Kurtz on them.

After the SSP/Solidarity split, the SSP campaigned hard for the 2007 elections and were rewarded with a collapsed vote and a wipeout. Solidarity did comparitively little campaigning, Sheridan lost his seat, but the party still won more votes than the SSP (~31,000 vs. ~13,000). Where Sheridan goes, the majority of the Scottish socialist vote goes. If he goes to jail for a number of years, the SSP will breathe a sigh of relief and hope that the casual socialist voter will return to them. Sheridan's hardcore fanbase will stick with Solidarity, or form something else.

It would be harsh to say the SSP lived by Sheridan and died by him, but the thought does persist nonetheless. Will they survive? Almost certainly. Will they ever hold six seats in Holyrood again? Maybe - if they find another charismatic personality like Sheridan. But what's to stop the next guy/gal going rogue?

[Ahhhh]

Ho ho, hopefully gorgeous george will steal a whole pile of Glasgow labour votes

[mediadave]

I don't know if Gorgeous George would be an improvement for the left on Sheridan - it's well known that Galloway has, um, similar predelictions to Sheridan.

[Glasgow 2097]

The Skybar seemed the best place to put this.

When I'm home in July next year, I'm going straight from the airport to Balbir's. Indian restaurants in Australia simply aren't in the same league as ours.

Glasgow wins title of Curry Capital of Britain

Glasgow has been named Curry Capital of Britain for a record fourth time in the past 10 years.

It fought off competition from 11 other UK cities to take the title which was being run during National Curry Week.

Glasgow City Council submitted an entry with four local restaurants. They were judged top in areas such as standards of food, service and cleanliness.

Glasgow was represented in the final by Balbir's, KoolBa, Mister Singh's India and Mother India café.

Lord provost Bob Winter said: "I am delighted the title is coming back to Glasgow where it belongs. It's wonderful news.

"Winning the Curry Capital of Britain title this year is very much down to our four chosen ambassadors. They do our city proud."

Members of the public were asked to vote for their favourite Indian restaurant and of the 66 Glasgow restaurants to receive a nomination, Balbir's, KoolBa, Mister Singh's India and Mother India Café secured the most.

They went on to impress the judges with their innovative dishes, first class service and "incredible fundraising".

Glasgow won the Curry Capital of Britain title in 2002, 2003 and 2006. It was runner up in 2004, 2005 and 2007.

This year Bradford came second with Wolverhampton in third place.

[M_Riaz]

Aye you are missing home Glasgow 2097, and we are the inventors of the most famous dish of them all as well.

Curry Focus


http://www.youtube.com/user/AFP#p/search/0/Ekf4JNOKwg8

The Ali family of the Shish Mahal restaurant in Glasgow have lodged a claim to the European Union to have Chicken Tikka Masala made a “Protected Designation of Origin��?.

The restaurant owners claim that they invented the dish in the 1970s by adding a sauce to the Chicken Tikka dish.

The claim for recognition by the European Union has been submitted by the Labour MP for Glasgow Central.

The Ali family claim that they just want Glasgow to be recognised as the source of what is now the most popular curry in the UK.

But if Chicken Tikka Masala gets the protected designation, then the curry wouldn’t be able to be made outside Glasgow in the same way that champagne can only come from the Champagne region of France.

It’s hard to say how the claim will progress through the legal system and it could be at least two years before the result is known.

We’re sure that the claim will be strongly contested by curry makers throughout the United Kingdom.

Maybe you should stock up the freezer with Chicken Tikka Masala just in case Glasgow wins the case.

[Ahhhh]

Happy Christmas all!

[DXNewcastle]

Originally Posted by M_Riaz

The Ali family of the Shish Mahal restaurant in Glasgow have lodged a claim to the European Union to have Chicken Tikka Masala made a “Protected Designation of Origin��?.

The restaurant owners claim that they invented the dish in the 1970s by adding a sauce to the Chicken Tikka dish.

Wasn't the Shish Mahal round the corner from its present location, down on Gibson Street (in the block that's now been demolished near Otago Street) back in 1970?

If that was them, then I have fond memories of, er, helping them out, at the end of a day with any unsold dishes!

[The Boy David]

Merry Christmas folks!

[djmaxliving]

Nollaig chridheil.

[indiekid]

Best wishes guys! Get extra trainwrecked for me since I have to get up early to work in the Boxing Day sales

[NorthLimitation]

Merry Christmas / Nollaig Chridheil

Hope you all had a great day, really enjoyed it myself

[Sweet Zombie Jesus]

Merry Christmas!

On a related note, has anyone else been to the Ghosts of Christmas thing at the Arches? If having the living shit scared out of you is your kind of thing then it's definitely worth a look.

[M_Riaz]

Originally Posted by DXNewcastle

Wasn't the Shish Mahal round the corner from its present location, down on Gibson Street (in the block that's now been demolished near Otago Street) back in 1970?

If that was them, then I have fond memories of, er, helping them out, at the end of a day with any unsold dishes!

Aye thats the one DXNewcastle, i was in their new place a while back and its just not the same taste, Mr Ali has went a bit too upmarket... the curry dishes are not as spicy as they were in the 80s.

[M_Riaz]

Happy New Year to you all and indeed a great new Decade

[DXNewcastle]

Originally Posted by M_Riaz

Aye thats the one DXNewcastle, i was in their new place a while back and its just not the same taste, Mr Ali has went a bit too upmarket... the curry dishes are not as spicy as they were in the 80s.

Thanks for confirming that.
It seems that many good Indian Restaurants have fallen into the same cycle - seeking a more affluent market with contemporary decor and menus, at the expense of basic good food at good prices; the Shish Mahal having done exactly that. (Lots of pubs have done just the same, of course).

Still, I was more curious to understand how thay could assert any Intellectual Property rights or protected status over such a widely adopted dish as Chicken Tikka Masala! There's some good IP lawyers in Glasgow but I'm sure even they would be challenged by this suggestion!

Hope you all have a great 2011 !

[maccoinnich]

Happy New Year everyone!

[NorthLimitation]

Bliadhna mhath ur dhut, Mac Coinnich Bha deoch orm gu mor air an oidhche challainn

Happy new year everyone!

[Sweet Zombie Jesus]

happy new year to all

[The Boy David]

Happy new year everyone!!

[NorthLimitation]

If everyone could sign this petition to abolish the Inverness curfew, that would be fantastic. The curfew will come under review on January the 10th and it's essential that the campaign is successful. Inverness is (I believe) the only Scottish city to have such draconian measures forced upon its night life and it's really holding it back, so please just take a couple of minutes to sign.

http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_pe...d.cgi?INVCURFW