Author Archives: davidsberry

About davidsberry

Local ex-councillor, tour guide and database designer. Keen on wildlife, history, boats and music. Retired in 2017.

High Street Robbery

In the past, this scribe has criticised East Lothian Council (ELC) for its economic innumeracy. As examples, it couldn’t make its pie-beans-and-chips staff canteen wash its face, so they leased it to two ladies who turned it into the money-spinner … Continue reading

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The Right to Arm Bears

This week saw another mass shooting in the USA when eight people were killed and seven injured in Texas by a right-wing supremacist wielding an assault rifle, bringing the number of mass shootings there to over 200 this year alone. … Continue reading

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Rishi, Don’t Lose That Number

A week ago, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak traveled north to address the faithful with a sermon in the SEC.  He played the usual refrain of how the SNP are failing Scotland and how the Tories are “delivering for all parts of … Continue reading

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The House that Jock Built

On Wednesday, April 19th, our new First Minister launched his flagship “New Leadership; a Fresh Start for Scotland” into rather choppy seas. With the SNP’s former leader, CEO and Treasurer all under a cloud, whatever message he hoped to get across … Continue reading

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Wars Begin at Calais

“Fog in the Channel; Continent cut off!” — The Times, 22 October, 1957 Despite a rehearsal of delays and confusion over last weekend when holidaymakers had to queue for up to 24 hours at Dover to get away to the Continent, more … Continue reading

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Republicans Wrecking Their Own Republic

“The Constitution of the United States does not make governing easy. If anything, it makes it harder, because it requires that the majority respect the minority. When the Constitution works as it should, and opposing sides must come together to … Continue reading

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No Fooling!

Humza Yousaf’s Government—March 29th 2023 10 Cabinet Secretaries + 18 Ministers (In 2007, the first SNP Government appointed a total of 16) Kate Forbes (formerly Finance), Keith Brown (formerly Justice) & Ivan McKee (formerly Economy & Business) move to the back … Continue reading

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Channelling John Wayne

This week, democracy in the USA again came under threat as former president Trump held a rally in Waco, Texas, where in 1993 a 51-day government siege of the headquarters of a religious cult gave birth to the modern anti-government … Continue reading

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Words to the Wise to the Winner

Three candidates stepped forward, laid out their stalls, clashed in debate and this was supposed to be the quiet run on as SNP members voted for their choice. Then two of the candi dates for SNP leader questioned the election … Continue reading

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R.A.S. Puttin

The first anniversary of Putin’s “Special Military Operation” to envelop Ukraine back in the arms of Mother Russia has been the focus of much media attention. However, most of it has focussed on plucky and resolute Ukraine and the unexpected … Continue reading

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