GREAT newspaper corrections of our time. A London-based newspaper, after the news that One Direction was going to take a hiatus from performing, published an article on previous boy-bands. Later in the week it printed the correction: "A feature about coping with boy-bands splitting up mistakenly said that the Bay City Rollers wore tartan socks. Although the band were fond of tartan garments, their socks were striped."

Didn't everyone know that?

MEANWHILE in Glasgow at the weekend, Paisley rocker Paolo Nutini was giving a great open-air concert at Bellahouston. Possibly the only criticism came from a south-sider who declared: "Ah couldnae get oot the Asda car park because of that Paolo Nutini" although in fairness we think she was referring to the traffic and parking problems rather than claiming that Paolo himself was stopping her egress.

Thanks to social media we know that parents can often embarrass their children, as one young lad posted after the concert: "My mam enjoyed Paolo Nutini too much, and is now throwing up noodles on a Happy Bus somewhere between Glasgow and Livingston." So perhaps not so happy for the other passengers.

TALKING of social media, Orkney Library staff realised how much people rely on it as they put up a notice for customers last week: "There will be no wi-fi in Kirkwall or Stromness libraries after 12 pm. Counselling will be available for those affected."

SO Alex Salmond doesn't always get along with the BBC. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was asked at the Edinburgh Television Festival if Alex, who was of course once the Herald's horse racing tipster, would ever give up watching the BBC. She cannily replied that if the BBC wanted to keep Alex as a viewer, "All they have to do is run horse racing programmes"

THE BBC in Scotland has been accused by SNP supporters of being politically biased, so perhaps the nationalists won't be surprised that Sarah Smith, daughter of former Labour leader John Smith, is favourite with bookies Ladbrokes to be the new Scotland Editor at the Beeb. Perhaps not taking it entirely seriously, Ladbrokes have also made Patrick Thistle's fearsome mascot Kingsley a 500/1 outsider for the post.

OUR mention of house names reminds Glasgow expat Gordon Sinclair, now resident in St Andrews, of someone buying a disused stone-built public toilet in the Fife town because of its great location and turning it into a private house. Gordon says it's only if you know the house's previous life that you appreciate why the new owners have named it The Wee House.

A READER walking behind some young lads in Glasgow's Buchanan Street wanted to shout out: "Yes there is!" when he heard one of them state emphatically: "It's like the Olympics - there's no prize for coming second."

THE relegation of St Mirren has meant a return to their ancient rivalry with Greenock Morton who will visit Paisley in November. We presume the announcer at the game will be told not to play Cher's "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves" when the Morton fans arrive as he did a few years ago. More subtle is the announcer at Raith Rovers who plays Martha & The Vandellas "Dancin' In The Streets" when the team come out - a jokey reference, of course, to the infamous BBC commentator's remark: "They'll be dancing in the streets of Raith tonight" after the Rovers were promoted to the old First Division in 1967.