Author Archives: davidsberry

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About davidsberry

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

Fleein’

Posted on December 11, 2015 by davidsberry

Just back from a tour of sundry airports, it is hard not to be struck by the differences between airports in Britain and those countries who take air travel seriously, such as the USA. Scotland is particularly ill-served, having a … Continue reading →

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Time to Learn Mandarin

Posted on December 8, 2015 by davidsberry

山雨欲来风满楼 (shān yǔ yù lái fēng mǎn lóu) “Coming events cast their shadows before them“ Coming to the end of ten days in and around San Francisco, I am struck by how much the old place has changed. This 74th … Continue reading →

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Patrician Politics

Posted on December 4, 2015 by davidsberry

It would seem that, having led his party to multiple unpredicted victories before having the grace to fall on his sword when he failed to clear the final hurdle of the Independence Referendum, the political death of His Eckness has … Continue reading →

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Wha’s Like Us?

Posted on December 3, 2015 by davidsberry

Being in a far-flung corners furth of Scotland for the last week (Glendale AZ; Sonoma CA) the marking and portent of St Andrew’s Day had slipped by me until somebody tweeted a link to Stephen Daisley’s OpEd column for STV … Continue reading →

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America’s Higher Education Brought Low

Posted on December 2, 2015 by davidsberry

Rarely accused of being conservative (big or small ‘c’), reading George Will is not my natural territory. Being in agreement with him is even more of a stretch. But being in the Land of the FGree just now, I found … Continue reading →

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La Marseillaise

Posted on November 17, 2015 by davidsberry

As the crowds streamed out of the Stade de France after the bloodthirsty events of Friday, they began singing the French national anthem; the crowds gathered to hear Hollande’s speech from Versailles did the same. Anyone who has witnessed even … Continue reading →

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You Know You’ve Been Quangoed

Posted on November 13, 2015 by davidsberry

Last week, we outlined the largely unaccountable role of quangos in running Scotland and the unconscoinable salaries that their senior managers pull down. This week, we give the details. If they all took a 10% cut in salary, they would all … Continue reading →

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In Remembrance

Posted on November 11, 2015 by davidsberry

There has been a flood of commentary on social media about Remembrance Day and poppies being worn to honour it. Not all are favourable and some, indeed, highly critical. These latter appear to come from a number of positions, including: … Continue reading →

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Angels or Vampires?

Posted on November 6, 2015 by davidsberry

According to SCVO there are over 45,000 Third-Sector organisations (i.e. charities) in Scotland, employing a total of 138,000 people with a turnover totalling just under £5bn each year—getting on for 10% of our GDP. Many of them do sterling work … Continue reading →

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Millionaires Only

Posted on October 28, 2015 by davidsberry

Anyone who has visited this blog more than cursorily will have twigged that I love where I live. North Berwick is not the perfect place. But having been round the world and lived abroad for a quarter-century in six different … Continue reading →

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