What makes Scotland think they'll get to keep all "their" oil?

North Sea Oil is to Scottish politics what gold rings are to Golumn - it's a corrupting influence on all debate and distorts all rational analysis of the pros and cons of independence. But never mind the arguments over the valuation of reserves or the fact that over-reliance on a single (finite) commodity tends to damage economies ('Dutch Disease') - what makes supporters of Scottish independence think that, in the event that they break away, the rest of the UK will simply let them keep it all?

Geographical proximity has never been the sole determinant of sovereignty (eg: Falklands, Gibraltar) and the North Sea Oil Fields were developed by Britain, not Scotland, in waters that are owned by Britain, not Scotland. In this age of increasing energy insecurity, it seems naive to expect that England, Wales and Northern Ireland would simply sign away all rights to North Sea oil, simply because Aberdeen happens to be closest to most of the rigs...

Would it kill them to put an electronic information board up in Trafalgar Square?

I walk through Trafalgar Square nearly every day and there's all manner of stuff that happens there - from concerts to performances, cinema screenings to art exhibitions. But almost never do they bother to tell anyone what's going on. Consequently, I, and many others, wander through, part-interested, part-frustrated, wondering what, for example, the display of thousands of china mugs is for (turns out it was to promote a Channel 4 documentary, "The Human Footprint"). An electronic noticeboard in the square explaining what's going on would put my mind at rest and, you never know, it might encourage a few more people to turn up to the stuff they put on.

Why isn't it Beyonce AND Shakira?

I'm not especially concerned by the fate of either woman, but it seems to me a little unfair that the single Beautiful Liar is performed by "Beyonce Featuring Shakira", given that the whole song and video is based on the two of them having almost identical roles - singing in equal meaure, performing the same dance routines and even looking pretty interchangable. Neither of them wrote the song.

Presumably Beyonce's brand managers decided she should be pre-eminent. Not very sisterly.

Does Vernon Kay play any contemporary music on his Radio One shows?

A long car journey with little alternative but to listen to the professional Boltonian prompted the question. His playlist included such dad-rock favourites as Ocean Colour Scene, Oasis, Starsailor, Elvis, The Police and so on. Not a single record from 2007.

He makes DLT look down with the kids.