back to article YES: Scotland declares independence ... from the dot co dot uk empire

Scotland has shaken off the shackles of its English oppressors by ditching the vicious Sassenach web address system – and replacing it with a homegrown one. Anyone living in the People's Republic of Salmond can now manually secede from their Tory overlords in Westminster by choosing a new .scot suffix. Previously, the coddled …

  1. jake Silver badge

    Eh?

    "Here in London, it's considered a little parochial to tie yourself to just one godforsaken corner of the earth. But in Scotland, it's a badge of pride."

    England is one godforsaken corner of the earth. Ask the Romans ... I got me Os & As in Yorkshire (Harrogate Granby Highschool) in the late 1970s/early 1980s. It was a VERY parochial experience. In other words, pot-kettle-etc.

    1. frank ly

      Re: Eh?

      Harrogate? We used to dream of going to Harrogate. That was where all the posh, sophisticated, cosmopolitan people lived. You were lucky!

      [I got my Os & As in the early 70s in the West Riding. You are largely right about the parochialism.]

      1. jake Silver badge

        Re: Eh?

        For "posh, sophisticated, cosmopolitan people", read "aged, retired, out of retirement money people".

        In retrospect, it was pretty awful. At least the Punk scene kept us kids alive. A gig, two pints & 5 fags for under a quid and a half. Seemed like a good deal at the time.

        And we always had John Peel(RIP) to listen to on the transistor when we got home.

        Kids these days smearing their fondle-slabs without actually experiencing the reality of life have no idea how bad their lives are.

      2. AbelSoul
        Childcatcher

        Re: Eh?

        Harrogate? We used to dream of going to Harrogate. That was where all the posh, sophisticated, cosmopolitan people lived. You were lucky!

        "Lucky? We used get half an hour before we went to bet, share a small bag of gravel for breakfast before heading down t'pit for 25 hours a day..."

        etc, etc, etc.

    2. This post has been deleted by its author

    3. big_D Silver badge

      Re: Eh?

      Memories!

      My father used to go up to Harrogate every year for a trade show, when I was a kid (70s). He'd come back with tins full of Farrah's Harrogate Toffee!

      I remember using the tins to carry my school lunch money in.

    4. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Maybe it's because I'm *not* a Londoner...

      "Here in London, it's considered a little parochial to tie yourself to just one godforsaken corner of the earth. But in Scotland, it's a badge of pride."

      I can't figure out if this is cleverly subtle but intentional self-deprecation, ironically acknowledging London's up-its-own-arse self-obsessed insularity (in which case, well done). Or whether it's genuine and the author genuinely lacks any awareness of the irony in his/her/its statement.

      Sadly, I suspect the latter is more probable.

      If so, I hope you choke on your "Skanky Burger" at whatever shitty, overpriced faux-austerity establishment is in favour with navel-gazing tw**s this week (or are gourmet burger joints so last month?), thus missing your appointment at the old-school wet-shave barber (Estb. 1967) you didn't give a toss about until it was featured in Time Out.

      Thinking about this, if some evil genius was to come up with a plan to rid the planet of self-obsessed Londoners while leaving everyone else intact, it would *have* to involve Oyster Cards. F****** Oyster cards. Seriously... no-one outside the M25 gives a f*** about them or your problems with the arse-activated readers for the marmalade-based magnetic stripe on the zone 47 prepay cards or that their plutonium content has caused you to grow a third nipple. It's not my problem, I couldn't give a toss.

      Ditto Boris Johnson.

      Seriously, a "Soylent Green" Oyster card made from Boris Johnson would be *the* ultimate symbol of Navel-Gazing London in existence.

      Er, okay, I think I'm finished now.

      (*) Seriously, I did a quick Google out of curiosity for "London burgers". As if to confirm my opinion, the first bloody result was a Time Out entry on a joint called "Advisory." which was "named after the Asian Women's Advisory Centre formerly on this site". How f****** hipster can you get?

    5. RobHib
      Stop

      Re: Eh?

      "England is one godforsaken corner of the earth. Ask the Romans ..."

      ...So is Scotland, the Romans proved it with a wall!

  2. al 3
    Facepalm

    A bit rich coming from the 'People's Republic of Boris' , the truly godforsaken corner of the earth :-)

    But hey, prodding this subject will always get you the attention you so crave .... who am I to dissapoint :-)

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      how long before...

      Mr Salmon decrees that the preferred TLD is '.ssr' and not .scot

      meaning Scottish Socialist Republic

      even if the vote is September goes agin him?

      I refrained from .sssr (Scottish soviet socialist republic) because that would give the wee man even more delusions of grandeur

      1. Charlie Clark Silver badge

        Re: how long before...

        I refrained from .sssr (Scottish soviet socialist republic) because that would give the wee man even more delusions of grandeur

        I don't know. I can imagine Mr Putin being only too happy to help him out: out go the Tridents in come the Russian subs…

      2. wolfetone Silver badge

        Re: how long before...

        You don't know how lucky you are boy, back in the SS, back in the SS, back in the SSSR.

        If Scotland get independance, I'll be the first one to move there. Anything for a life without the Tories ruling over me.

        1. MrXavia

          Re: how long before...

          But is the SNP the Lesser of two evils?

          I think I'd have to choose the Tories over the SNP, not that I really like the Tories... they are just the best of a bad bunch for now...

        2. El_Fev

          Re: how long before...

          Yeah yeah you say it, and then they get in and your still here leeching off the rest of us! go now, will pay your fare!

        3. Jedit Silver badge

          "If Scotland get independance, I'll be the first one to move there."

          I'll swap you - if Scotland gets independence, I'll be the first to leave. Take a look at the report on Scottish independence in the current issue of the Economist. Salmond's plan for independence is to spend all the oil money and hope it brings in business. Students of history will note that in general terms this is painfully similar to the Darien Project, where Scotland overcommitted its existing resources to New World colonisation in the hope that this would bring in great wealth. The gamble didn't pay off, and the result was... Scotland having to sign the Act of Union.

          1. Day

            Re: "If Scotland get independance, I'll be the first one to move there."

            Students of history will know that the Darien scheme actually involved a place in Panama. How is this "in general terms [...] painfully similar" to spending oil money to attract business? I can't say anything at all about the independence movement, because I know nothing about it. However, your analogy is preposterous.

            1. billse10

              Re: "If Scotland get independance, I'll be the first one to move there."

              ". How is this "in general terms [...] painfully similar" to spending oil money to attract business? .... However, your analogy is preposterous."

              It's as preposterous as calling John Law an economist (Wikipedia) or Gordon Brown an honest, intelligent and clever man (read Jonathan Powell's excellent book on Machiavellian politics if you think for one moment Brown was not a total *).

          2. Ally 1

            Re: "If Scotland get independance, I'll be the first one to move there."

            What the..

            Oil will be 10% of Scottish GDP. Salmond is talking of getting loans of 3% GDP to stimulate businesses and create unemployment for the first three years of a Scottish parliament.

            How can you compare that to the Darien project, where the majority of Scotland's wealth was tied up..Hyperbole much?

            The other option is to sit back and have no investment and watch the country wither and die. Hell no, we don't want investment in our country, who needs jobs or industry when the oil runs out!

            1. Charlie Clark Silver badge

              Re: "If Scotland get independance, I'll be the first one to move there."

              Oil will be 10% of Scottish GDP. Salmond is talking of getting loans of 3% GDP to stimulate businesses and create unemployment

              What more of it? ;-)

              Salmond is a smooth talker and a canny (no irony intended) politician (he's still a shit like the rest of them). However, I do think that much like Arafat he may actually prefer remaining First Minister a Scotland within the UK than of an independent Scotland because it is electorally extremely advantageous to be able to blame England/The Tories/London for things.

              I hope the referendum in September goes well and sees a large turnout. I also hope that the "better together" campaign finds better arguments than the financial ones. Devolution has been an undoubted success, more of it please including to the English regions. Tax raising powers (and concomitant responsibility).

              I can also recommend the piece in this week's Economist that covers many of the practicalities of dealing with independence. Worth reading whatever side you take on the issue.

              1. Ally 1

                Re: "If Scotland get independance, I'll be the first one to move there."

                lol, well spotted! And thanks for the link. Salmond is also a good economist. I get where you are coming from re blaming England, but in some cases it's entirely justified..maybe not even England, but the south east.

                We end up paying for laws like the bedroom tax, and the government guarantee of mortgage deposits for houses, which are laws solely intended to deal with a shortage of housing in the south east. In Scotland houses are bigger, and there were long lists of people looking for smaller houses to avoid the bedroom tax. The smaller houses just didn't exist, Now Holyrood has to pay Westminster £15m per year from its budget just to cover the costs of the tax.

                The Better Together campaign has been woeful. I can't remember any positives..It's either negative, usually without backing; you won't get the £ (so you'll cut your nose off to spite your face?), you won't get into Europe (we already are..and that question could be solved in minutes if Cameron actually asked it), or emotional..but we fought together in the war (and so did the USA, when did it split from Britain?) There's kinda bribery..we'll give you more powers (which ones?..Not sure, but more, loads, honestly). There's not one aspect of their campaign that says Scotland will be a better country in the UK.

          3. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: "If Scotland get independance, I'll be the first one to move there."

            The Darien Scheme was an investment in equal parts by both England and Scotland. At the last minute, England pulled out of the scheme, leaving Scotland to go it alone. Had England not bowed to pressure by the East India Company, the scheme may well have succeeded.

            I'm voting yes in September, but regardless of how the vote goes, I'll be putting my effort in to doing what I can to make our country a great one. It's a shame you don't share the same love of your country.

            1. Anonymous Coward
              Anonymous Coward

              Re: "If Scotland get independance, I'll be the first one to move there."

              Investment in Darien was from individuals not nations. The political background of planting a colony in Spanish-claimed territory at a time when England wanted Spain onside while the English were at war was France should not be underestimated.

              What would more capital have done for Darien? It seems to have been badly managed under very trying circumstances.

          4. auburnman

            Re: "If Scotland get independance, I'll be the first one to move there."

            I think you'll have a hotly contested race on your hands if you want to be first out. Good to know some people would move TO Scotland though, more houses for the people who want to stay in Britain.

          5. dervheid

            Re: "If Scotland get independance, I'll be the first one to move there."

            Always one ill-informed idiot:

            The Scottish nobles were coerced into the Act of Union, not just by the disater of the Darien Project, but by the 'Alien Act' which, had they not acceeded, would have resulted in their property in England being forfeit.

            Propagated by the results of greed on both sides of the 'union'.

            Either way, all that shit was over 300 years ago. Some of us have gotten over that, and are looking to the future, not the sordid past (some seem unable to see past 1690). With the obvious exception of the recent, and ongoing, draining of ALL the UK's wealth into the coffers of the Tories and their cohorts. An iScotland will be the kick in the knackers the political system in the entire UK needs, but so many seem to be so afraid of initiating

            1. TheColinous

              Re: "If Scotland get independance, I'll be the first one to move there."

              This. I live in Surrey, about one hour from Waterloo, and I hope the Scots vote to leave because it may - I say may - bring the whole rotten edifice down around Cameron's ears. If Scotland votes yes, that will encourage Plaid Cymru too, so they'll be next in line.

              Westminster is rotten to the core, and someone ought to take it out back and shoot it dead like the shambling zombie it is. Scotland leaving is the best chance for that ever happening.

        4. serendipity

          Re: how long before...

          Yeah right. Cos the last labour government was such a success ;-)

          A tenner says you're just a wind bag and you won't move even if Salmond gets his way!

          Are we on?

      3. Ally 1

        Re: how long before...

        And yet he was elected democratically with a clear majority in a parliamentary system that was specifically designed not to have a majority. Unlike Cameron who actually runs the country with his one Scottish MP..which one is the dictator again?

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: how long before...

          "which one is the dictator again?"

          Oooh .. i know this one ... the one who thinks the future of an entire country should be decided by less than fifteen percent of it's population and that the other eighty five percent shouldn't even be consulted. Yes, that one ..

          1. Ally 1

            Re: how long before...

            The future of Scotland will be decided by 100% of the people living there. That's democracy. Scotland voted to be part of the union, and it has the mandate to have a vote about it's future. If England wanted to leave the UK would it be forced to aks Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales?

            Scotland being ruled by a party that has only one MP and 16.7% of the Scottish vote..no democracy whatsoever

            1. EssEll

              Re: how long before...

              If England wanted to leave the UK would it be forced to aks [sic] Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales?

              Actually, right now, yes I'm pretty sure it would have to ask...

              "Mr Scotland/Wales/Northern Ireland, Mr England here. I'm taking your central financial institution and your armed forces away from you, amongst other things. Soz. LOL".

              "Aye like f*ck you are, jimmy." (I'm Scottish, I'm allowed to racially stereotype my own people.) "What are we meant tae dae? You gonna gie us some spondoolies as compensation, so we can build our own army and create our own central financial structure?"

              "LOLOLOL You always were the funny one, Jock. Not my problem. TTFN!"

              Something along those lines?

      4. big_D Silver badge

        Re: how long before...

        Using the word Socialist is enough to drive most Americans into a frothing frenzy these days. ;-)

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: how long before...

          Using the word liberal is enough to drive most Americans into a frothing frenzy these days. ;-)

      5. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: how long before...

        And had you asked a citizen of CCCP to vocalise those initials to our ears it would sound like SSSR, the cyrillic C is pronounced like the latin S.

  3. Alister

    Here in London, it's considered a little parochial to tie yourself to just one godforsaken corner of the earth.

    Which is why we made such a fuss over the .london domain...

    1. Nick Ryan Silver badge

      By fuss do you mean "ignore the useless new suffix entirely"?

      1. Alister

        By fuss do you mean "ignore the useless new suffix entirely"?

        Ah, you misunderstood. The "We" was not "We the Regtard community", it was "We the local government of Boris".

        I quote:

        "There is enormous interest in Dot London right across the capital, not just from high-street brands but also the small businesses that are the lifeblood of London’s economy. London leads the world in technology and our businesses are among the most dynamic and innovative anywhere, so it is no surprise so many see Dot London for the great opportunity it is.”

        <cough> Bollocks </cough>

        1. Nick Ryan Silver badge

          Great big hairy ones at that.

          So far I've yet to see any evidence of interest anywhere across the capital. The only "interest" seems to comes from those that are trying to sell them.

          1. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            So far I've yet to see any evidence of interest anywhere across the capital. The only "interest" seems to comes from those that are trying to sell them.

            But, but, Boris says there is, so it must be true??

  4. David Roberts

    Another money earning scheme

    Promoted by Registrars.

    Most people use Gogle to find web addresses and only see the text extension to an email address so how important is the domain?

    Unless, of course, you are protecting a valuable trade name in which case you are being held to ransom.

    1. MJI Silver badge

      Re: Another money earning scam

      Spelling corrected

      1. Jellied Eel Silver badge

        Re: Another money earning scam

        Confused. Press release claiming a glorious day for the techno-scot. But nic.scot appears to be sitting in.. Bulgaria?

  5. WonkoTheSane

    Scotland using English tld?

    Shouldn't the tld be .alba ?

    1. Charlie Clark Silver badge

      Re: Scotland using English tld?

      Moot: the vast majority of Scots speak a descendant of Anglo-Saxon and not Gaelic (around 80,000 I believe).

      The bigger problem is how all these vanity domains erode the underlying sense of the domain name system.

      1. Dan 55 Silver badge

        alt.swedish.chef.bork.bork.bork

        What, you mean you you're one of those Luddites which doesn't want domain names to end up like the alt hierarchy from Usenet groups? Why ever not?

        1. Jellied Eel Silver badge

          Re: alt.swedish.chef.bork.bork.bork

          .alba was blocked by Albania for passing off and to avoid confusion.

          .sco forked to .ibm and .nov and may still be in dispute resolution.

          .wee and .eck are available from alternative registrars. Premiums apply to golden registrations.

          .midge is reserved for the Scottish Air Force.

          According to ISO 3166-2:GB it should be .sct anyway.

    2. Al Jones

      Re: Scotland using English tld?

      .alba might be a bit confusing for those who have encountered the phrase "Perfidious Albion".

    3. J.G.Harston Silver badge

      Re: Scotland using English tld?

      No, a country code TLD should be TWO characters.

  6. Colin Brett
    Joke

    Will this be open to non-Scotland-based businesses?

    A famous race course, for instance, might be interested in a.scot .

    Colin

  7. Ken 16 Silver badge
    Facepalm

    Is Great taken?

    It will be now

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Is Great taken?

      no, the P is being taken ..

  8. rmacd

    Subsidised?

    Get your facts straight. We put more cash into the UK coffers than we get back out. If we're talking subsidy junkies, look at rUK first.

    1. Charlie Clark Silver badge

      Re: Subsidised?

      I agree that El Reg got it wrong but my understanding is that it's currently even stevens re. North Sea oil and money from Whitehall.

      London has its own collection of subsidised masses: bankers, TechCity and anyone benefitting from the various subsidised mortgage schemes.

    2. Velv
      Flame

      Re: Subsidised?

      So Scotland subsidises the UK. Great. That's what being part of a caring communal society is about. Those who can contribute more, do contribute more. A progressive taxation policy.

      Or are you not aware of the proposed taxation structure from the White Paper. It's great how the poor insist "the rich should pay more" - well you know what - you're probably an educated technical person if you're reading El Reg. You probably earn above the national average. You're the rich, please pay more!!!

      I'm guessing you're the petulant selfish child in the mirror of Mr Salmond. "It's our oil and we'll use the money for ourselves only and screw anyone whose poor 'cause its OURS not yours".

      1. This post has been deleted by its author

      2. Ally 1

        Re: Subsidised?

        Better than the yours is ours we have now..UK take the oil money, spend it in the south east and then call us subsidy junkies, even though we pay average UK taxation without the oil money

    3. MrXavia

      Re: Subsidised?

      I think it all depends on who's figures you believe, and where you draw the borders when it comes to things like north sea oil...

  9. frank ly
    Gimp

    re. " ... the chains of digital bondage"

    Will the ISPs in Scotland be blocking such sites as a matter of principle?

    1. Paul Crawford Silver badge
      Unhappy

      Re: re. " ... the chains of digital bondage"

      Given the way the MSPs went ever further than the UK's "extreme porn" bill, then yes they will because a portion of them are small-minded petty Calvinists and a lot of rest think too much of the opinions of the Daily Fail and similar.

  10. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    I can see an opportunity to really piss of the scots here.

    I've just registered williamwallace.scot It's going to be an English appreciation page :)

    1. I ain't Spartacus Gold badge
      Trollface

      Now there's an idea...

      I shall create a site forthwith, which allows you to categorise pictures of attractive and less attractive ladies plus men in skirtskilts. I shall call it:

      whatshotwhatsnotwhats.scot

    2. Nick Ryan Silver badge

      Ah yes, the wonders of hollywood rewriting history.

      More "Scots" fought against William Wallace than for him and overall more English fought than Scots.

      As for tartan, AIUI, it's generally a rather modern invention particularly with the concept of different patterns being unique, protected or related to certain areas. Previously it was just a name for a woven wool fabric that was traditionally patterned in horizontal / vertical patterns because it made it look more interesting and the colour consistency was generally so poor that if you attempted a plain colour fabric it would show the imperfections in colouring.

      1. Ally 1

        I think you are getting mixed up with Bonnie Prince Charlie and Culloden to be honest.

  11. alain williams Silver badge

    Not an ISO 3166 code

    So it isn't a real country TLD therefore it is a vanity one.

    Are they also going to get their own 'phone telephone country code or continue to live under +44 ?

    1. Paul Crawford Silver badge

      Re: Not an ISO 3166 code

      Same country code most likely, just like USA & Canada do.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Not an ISO 3166 code

        if Mr Salmond wants independence he should get it. All of it. Everything. Get his own country code, his own TLD, his own bailout fund for RBS - which still seems to be based in Scotland despite being majority owned by this mythical creation called "rUK" (which doesn't exist, the country is the UK, with or without one tiny part)

        1. Ross K Silver badge
          Mushroom

          Re: Not an ISO 3166 code

          if Mr Salmond wants independence he should get it. All of it. Everything. Get his own country code, his own TLD, his own bailout fund for RBS...

          And in return, the "rUK" can take its nuclear detritus back from Faslane, Hunterston, Chapelcross, Dounreay, Vulcan, Rosyth, etc, etc?

          Seeing as we're giving things back to their rightful owners, y'know?

          1. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: Not an ISO 3166 code

            Bedwetting Scotland, endlessly bullied by those nasty English.

            Or,

            Proud Scotland, gleefully up to it's armpits in the Empire, World War I, World War II, Cold War, etc., etc.

            You decide!

          2. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: Not an ISO 3166 code

            And in return, the "rUK" can take its nuclear detritus back from Faslane, Hunterston, Chapelcross, Dounreay, Vulcan, Rosyth, etc, etc?

            Yes, and the employment related to same.

            1. Ross K Silver badge
              WTF?

              Re: Not an ISO 3166 code

              Yes, and the employment related to same.

              Aye right, as they say.

              Using Scotland as a nuclear waste dump is totally worth it if it brings in a few jobs, eh?

          3. Halfmad

            Re: Not an ISO 3166 code

            and we can get at the oil under Faslane.

        2. This post has been deleted by its author

        3. captain veg Silver badge

          Re: Not an ISO 3166 code

          > the country is the UK, with or without one tiny part

          Not really. The kingdoms concerned are those of England and Scotland. If the Scots vote to leave, they dissolve the union.

          -A.

  12. FunkyEric

    Can we?

    Build a big wall to keep them out if they leave the UK?

    1. AbelSoul

      Re: Can we?

      Build a big wall to keep them out if they leave the UK?

      Well, as long as your on the other side of it from me, I'll help you build it.

  13. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Requirements for registration seem vague but genorously encompassing

    "scot domains are for the use of the Scots community of interest online, wherever they are in the world"

    And then mentions Scottish business as one example. Now the company that employs me is registered in Scotland, and although it's operational base is in a green-and-pleasant-corner-of-England, could I not argue that paying an Edinburgh lawyer to act as the registered address is contributing to the Scottish economy and therefore I could register a .scot address for our company name?

    PS it says "Additionally, they must not provoke hatred or intolerance of any individual or group within or outwith Scotland." so that rules out the use for an anti-English woad brigade site

    PPS now I think of it, weren't southern Celts such as the Iceni, likers of woad as well?

  14. Miss Config
    Happy

    And This Whisky Is A Scotch

    How long before brands of Scotch whisky use '.scot' ?

    For 'authenticity', obviously.

    Glenlivet.scot, f'rinstance.

    1. phil dude
      Coat

      Re: And This Whisky Is A Scotch

      that would be "Glenlivet.fr" or possibly "Glenlivet.eu" ...

      P.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: And This Whisky Is A Scotch

      www.englishwhisky.co.uk.scot ?

  15. poopypants

    Well, if things don't work out

    maybe Scotland would consider becoming part of the Australian federation. We invited the Kiwis, but they have this thing about ex convicts. Or possibly they're just jealous because we have more sheep.

    We admire the Scots' outstanding achievements in the fields of alcohol consumption and fried foods - the most outstanding example of which is the fried Mars Bar.

    1. disgruntled yank

      Re: Well, if things don't work out

      Or maybe Gnu Caledonia? Free as in free whisky?

    2. Havin_it
      Pint

      Re: Well, if things don't work out

      >fried Mars Bar

      Pah. Spoken like someone who's never tried a deep-fried Crunchie ;)

      Still, I'm in. Will our passports be ready before the end of Scottish Summer (1 Aug)?

      Icon: The only "VB" right-thinking regtards should be interested in...

      1. Witts

        Re: Well, if things don't work out

        Try deep fried toffee crisp - it's glorious.

        I have heard a wicked rumour of a place in Dundee that somehow manages to deep fry skittles. I have no idea how that would work, but it sounds like the kind of thing that will leave scars

    3. Witts

      Re: Well, if things don't work out

      We should totally build a tunnel!

  16. Curly4

    Before Independence

    Now that Scotland has its own .scout extension maybe Scotland should also drop the use of English and readopt Scottish as the official language. That would prepare the people for Independence.

    1. wyvis

      Re: Before Independence

      The English language is derived from Germanic that was spoken in Northubria and the south of Scotland, long before it was spoken in the south of England. The reason its called English is purely a numbers game

  17. Keith 72

    Was the article supposed to be humorous?

    Or just plain offensive?

    Regardless of the result of the referendum, there are many businesses - known throughout the world - that are proudly and uniquely Scottish.

    1. M.Zaccone
      Headmaster

      Re: Was the article supposed to be humorous?

      Surely only one Scottish business can be uniquely Scottish ? If more than one is Scottish then they aren't unique?

    2. diodesign (Written by Reg staff) Silver badge

      Re: Or just plain offensive?

      I am not able rightly to apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question.

      C.

      1. Awil Onmearse
        Joke

        Re: Or just plain offensive?

        To apprehend them, one would surely need a warrant for their arrest?

      2. Havin_it
        Boffin

        Re: Or just plain offensive?

        Mugging Babbage, Drew? Geek points ahoy :)

  18. John Smith 19 Gold badge
    Happy

    Now how about a .wales, .ulster and .england as well?

    Fair exchange.

    Currently Scottish polls are showing 58% against independence and 47% for, but Sean Connery and Allan Cummins are still solidly in favor.

    1. Al Jones

      Re: Now how about a .wales, .northernireland and .england as well?

      "58% against independence and 47% for"

      Are you expecting some people to be voting early and voting often?

      1. John Smith 19 Gold badge
        Happy

        Re: Now how about a .wales, .northernireland and .england as well?

        "Are you expecting some people to be voting early and voting often?"

        Who can say?

        While I'm aware Northern Ireland is the formal name of the place I think you'll find Ulster is the one the locals will prefer.

        Although I think they'll continue to say "no" for the time being.

        1. Al Jones

          Re: Now how about a .wales, .sixcounties and .england as well?

          Some of the locals call it the 6 counties.

          If you were to include the 300,000 "Ulstermen" who live in the 3 Ulster counties in the Republic, you might find that Ulster, like the man from Del Monte, says Yes!

  19. wyvis

    The Darrian Project was not a Scottish Goverment scheme but was undertaken by a group of wealthy business men. Perhaps those who so protest their knowledge of the subject should revisit the history and the political part England played in it. Oh those pesky jocks how dare they think they could possibly do better than be ruled by Westminster. Consider how the rUK would of paid for the 522 million for Barclays had it not been for the US goverment bailing it out. Likewise, what about the £46 milion that the UK goverment paid out for RBS, to which 90% of its losses can be atributed to its LONDON side of the business. Personally, I would keep the .uk part, and perhaps go for something that was more fitting like bye bye.uk

    1. disgruntled yank

      Not really Keatsian

      You aren't silent upon your pique on Darien.

  20. Awil Onmearse
    Mushroom

    Ah, independence.

    Arguably most pro-independence people want rid of Trident. After today's circus in parliament I'd prefer we kept it and turned Cheltenham to glass at the earliest opportunity. Where's the half-joking icon to go with the half-offensive article?

    1. M.Zaccone
      Big Brother

      Re: Ah, independence.

      Interesting. So ...you think Scotland won't have its own versions of GCHQ, MI5, MI6 etc. ?

      1. Awil Onmearse

        Re: Ah, independence.

        Depends what you mean by "versions", insofar that those organisations are in turn "versions" of, say the KGB, or SAVAK, for example. I should imagine Scottish "versions" would have their necks substantially wound in.

  21. J.G.Harston Silver badge

    "Now Scotland has joined other important parts of the world such as London, Berlin, New York City and, er, Wales by getting a proper web address."

    It's not a proper web address. If it's not a two-letter country code, it's not a two-letter country code TLD, it's not a proper web address.

    When is somebody going to painfully kill these people destroying the hierarchial internet naming structure?

    1. Awil Onmearse

      "It's not a proper web address. If it's not a two-letter country code, it's not a two-letter country code TLD, it's not a proper web address."

      Yeh, like .net and .org, right? Just sayin'..

      1. EssEll

        Or '.com' for that matter.

  22. Richard Cranium

    What does it cost ...

    to set up a gTLD and then what are the running costs? There's a USD185,000 application fee but I saw an estimate of total year one cost being USD1M. If that's right, who's footing the bill?

  23. John Smith 19 Gold badge
    Coat

    Now for the die hard Nats can they also have "Scotia" as well?

    Just kidding.

  24. dalsegno
    Alien

    Why do you hate the Scots so much?

    "Here in London, it's considered a little parochial to tie yourself to just one godforsaken corner of the earth. But in Scotland, it's a badge of pride."

    But surely at theregister.co.uk/ you are also being parochial by tying yourself to the godforsaken corner of the earth called the uk?.

  25. smartypants

    I hate nationalism

    Sometimes we're supposed to be in favour of it, but honestly, what does it get you other than alienation of other people for being the wrong nationality and the occasional war that comes from that process?

    UKIP and Scottish Nationalism. Both the same poison in the end, though at least the xenophobes in the first group are consistent in their xenophobia, those in the latter group arguing oddly about union being bad if it's with their direct neighbour that they have most in common with, but good if talking about union with other EU countries like Hungary or Malta.

    I can't wait for the bloody referendum to be over.

    People are people. That's what should matter. Anything else is bollocks.

    1. Phil.T.Tipp

      Re: I hate nationalism

      I'm going to poorly plagiarise Sir Frankie Boyle, in an effort to expose the stupidity of political union:

      "Unionism is the belief that two separate countries are better together, unless they're Ireland."

      Frankie Boyle

  26. Anonymous Coward
    Alien

    Ohhhhh-Can I register www.Montgomery.scot then?

    The engines cann'a take no more, Cap'n!!!

  27. Andalou

    Salmond forces 50% increase in costs to businesses for online presence

    Is how some will happily headline this news.

  28. The Refudiator

    Let Freedom Ring (2)

    Sorry, sorry.....that was uncalled for.

  29. The Refudiator

    Let Fredom Ring!

    I suppose .cheap was taken.

  30. Dylan Fahey

    Ye'all can keep your snide remarks

    IF IT AIN'T SCOTTISH, IT'S CRAP !

  31. John Doe 6

    Arrr...

    Wouldn't a "proper" TLD for Scotland be .sc (or funnier .sco) ?

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