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.

Coffee-Coloured Punters

Posted on September 13, 2013 by davidsberry

Being old enough to remember main cultural moves in Western society for the latter half of the 20th century, one element that keeps returning to me as various unionists meld the peoples of Britain into one prosperous happy family is … Continue reading →

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A Geographic Concept

Posted on September 11, 2013 by davidsberry

It seems Viking is doing a special on bulk-buy venom this week as ex-MP & Highland Free Press veteran Brian Wilson is using a vat-load in his busy  quill. His article in the Hootsmon today (Weds 11th) is well worth … Continue reading →

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Disproving the First Law

Posted on September 10, 2013 by davidsberry

After a career spent largely pushing paper around in pursuit of ever more complex computer electronics, I returned to Scotland twenty years ago, bringing back an MGB already twenty years old and engaged mechanic buddy Colin to help restore it. … Continue reading →

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2013 Festival of Politics V—Defence

Posted on August 30, 2013 by davidsberry

This was, for me, the highlight of the whole weekend. Unlike the other panels, which consisted largely of academics and commentators—albeit very capable ones—this featured two heavyweight politicians at the top of their game. They did not disappoint. Professor Louise … Continue reading →

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2013 Festival of Politics IV—Public Attitudes

Posted on August 28, 2013 by davidsberry

Chaired by the respected Ian Macwhirter, this FoP session launched right into the psephology of the upcoming referendum vote, powered by a deluge of data and graphs from John Curtice and his usual enthusiasm for the subject. In illustrating the … Continue reading →

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2013 Festival of Politics III—Economics

Posted on August 27, 2013 by davidsberry

Rushing from the Europe session to this one with no time allowed in the schedule was another gripe I had for the organisers but, as with the earlier session, it was worth it. Chaired ably by Sir Jeremy Peat of … Continue reading →

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2013 Festival of Politics II—Europe

Posted on August 26, 2013 by davidsberry

For me, it had an inauspicious start. Booking places on-line went easily but the ‘ticketless’ tickets were anything but. Staff at the parly were their old surly selves and entirely not clued-in on where events were happening or when—to the … Continue reading →

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2013 Festival of Politics I

Posted on August 24, 2013 by davidsberry

After a full day trying to scoot around Holyrood from one session to the next, a myriad of ideas, questions, opinions and opportunities compete for blog coverage. But before that, the overwhelming impression with which I was left after today … Continue reading →

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Two Genders, Separated by a Common Humanity

Posted on August 23, 2013 by davidsberry

I paraphrase Mark Twain’s pithy observation about the Americans and the British because Bill Walker’s conviction this week for unsavoury behaviour towards a number of women in his life has brought the whole spousal abuse issue back into front-page debate. The … Continue reading →

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Kailyaird Kulchur

Posted on August 22, 2013 by davidsberry

Margaret Curran MP has come in for some stick in these columns for being venally closed-minded when it comes to her nationalist political opponents. Nonetheless her piece in today’s Hootsmon has much to commend it in its broad and staunch … Continue reading →

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