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.

Girl Talk

Posted on August 17, 2014 by davidsberry

Last night’s TV included 2003’s Mona Lisa Smile, a film I had not seen. As a period piece of cloying post-war American consumerist culture, the location, set design and wardrobe depts get full marks but the screenplay—written by two men—seemed … Continue reading →

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It Cannae Be Canny—Can It?

Posted on August 14, 2014 by davidsberry

Last week’s FM Questions did not much advance the sum of human knowledge as JoLa insisted on asking the same question (“What is “plan B” if currency union is not an option?”) four times in an obviously scripted attempt to … Continue reading →

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Douglas Alexander: Politician, Thinker, Great Briton

Posted on August 13, 2014 by davidsberry

While I don’t entirely share Jamie’s degree of criticism, I admit Douglas’ SoS piece seriously undermined my previous level of regard for him as a unionist who avoided falling into closed-minded, hate-filled clichés typical of Brian Wilson, Ian Davidson et … Continue reading →

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The Poond in Yer Pocket

Posted on August 10, 2014 by davidsberry

The British Pound (£UK) has a long history as a currency. Prior to the 1707 Union of the Parliaments it was known as the English pound as the ‘Pund Scots’ was of rather less value—not least because of the country … Continue reading →

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Anorak of the Year

Posted on August 4, 2014 by davidsberry

Health warning: this blog is one only anoraks are likely to love. Ten years ago, Lothian Buses made great play of receiving the ‘Bus Company of the Year’ award for 2002 and emblazoned the fact on their buses. In the … Continue reading →

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Делать хорошую мину при плохой игре*

Posted on August 1, 2014 by davidsberry

“It is the servant who takes the money” —Lawrence of Arabia As a young man, I was proud to be British. But the more I became familiar with its Establishment and could compare it with other cultures, the more that … Continue reading →

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Quis Custodiet Legis Latori?

Posted on July 29, 2014 by davidsberry

If another smug unionist argument repeats the claim that bigger is automatically better and that we can all relax in the arms of Big British Brother, I may have to reach for the boke bag. Let’s leave aside unanswered questions … Continue reading →

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Marking-Time Season

Posted on July 13, 2014 by davidsberry

Never having been one to body-swerve touchy issues, it is nonetheless with some trepidation that this blog is dedicated to questioning the usefulness to anyone of high-profile public display of whatever your religious beliefs happens to be. While they are … Continue reading →

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Century-Old Lesson Still Unlearned

Posted on July 9, 2014 by davidsberry

Since posting The Bitter Legacy of Sykes-Picot a couple of weeks back, I have run across a couple of points substantiating the thesis therein, namely that two untraveled mandarins were ill-qualified to carve up one of the world’s great powder kegs … Continue reading →

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Why Yes is the Answer III: It’s the Economy, Stupid

Posted on July 2, 2014 by davidsberry

There is a clear case for an independent Scotland to prosper more than it has to date within the UK. I confess that I have not examined all the contrary evidence put out by HM Gubmint on its website at … Continue reading →

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