Author Archives: davidsberry

Unknown's avatar

About davidsberry

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

It’s the Unity, Stupid!

Posted on October 18, 2015 by davidsberry

This blog was to be all about this weekend’s SNP Conference at the AECC. I had several key points (I thought) all lined up, ready to be expounded: SNP Conferences have become bland as other major parties: little controversial is … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Tagged | Leave a comment

Rewilding Highland Ecology

Posted on October 14, 2015 by davidsberry

As a Scot descended in part from Appin Stuarts, I get emotional crossing the Highland Line, feeling the huge flanks of the mountains close around me like a herd of giant cattle and suffusing me with subtle feelings between awe … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment | Tagged | 3 Comments

Misogyny? It Costs Us All

Posted on October 7, 2015 by davidsberry

Gender equality has been a hot topic for a long time, especially in business. And, despite laws designed to ensure equal pay for equal work between men and women, the pay gap persists and hiring practices continue to discriminate, especially … Continue reading →

Posted in Community | Tagged | Leave a comment

We Need To Talk About: Budget Underspends

Posted on October 5, 2015 by davidsberry

Originally posted on The Common Green:
Q. When is a surplus not a surplus? A. When someone is talking down the Scottish Government. Today the Auditor General published its annual report detailing an independent opinion on how well the Scottish…

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

USA: The Finest Oligarchy Money Can Buy?

Posted on October 3, 2015 by davidsberry

Of the human characteristics, hunger and ambition have a bad rap, considering that we might all still be living in caves without them. However much we aspire to reduce their importance, it is the civilised comfort created by them that … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Tagged | Leave a comment

Clearing Away the Past

Posted on September 29, 2015 by davidsberry

A prominent feature of the East Lothian shoreline and visible all round the Forth, Cockenzie Power Station spanned half a century. Once an embodiment of the proud coal tradition in the West of the county, it followed on immediately from … Continue reading →

Posted in Commerce | Tagged | Leave a comment

Scottish Learning Festival 2015

Posted on September 23, 2015 by davidsberry

Taking over most of Glasgow’s SECC, this two-day event ticks all the right boxes for who’s involved. Its programme ranges far across the issues associated with school education in Scotland, covering topics that tawse-wielding disciplinarians of the mid-20th century—let alone … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | Tagged | Leave a comment

Blame the Wrinklies

Posted on September 21, 2015 by davidsberry

Before we wade into this blog, disclosure is required: 1) I am a wrinkly, being two years past retirement age and so admit a personal interest in their welfare and; 2) this blog is full of charts and figures. Numerically … Continue reading →

Posted in Community | Tagged | Leave a comment

Pole Danzig

Posted on September 18, 2015 by davidsberry

Since joining the Union and building the British Empire, Scots have rather forgotten the close ties they once enjoyed with Europe. The ‘Auld Alliance’ with France (forgotten by most French) was the least of it. From the Middle Ages onward, … Continue reading →

Posted in Community | Tagged | Leave a comment

Borderline

Posted on September 17, 2015 by davidsberry

It being a particularly bright and clear late summer day and it also being ten days into the media hype surrounding the launch of the Borders Railway (teething troubles ought to be ironed out?) the time seemed propitious to hop … Continue reading →

Posted in Transport | Tagged | Leave a comment