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.

More Important Than Knowledge

Posted on July 27, 2012 by davidsberry

Albert Einstein was no dummy. He believed imagination to be more important than knowledge. And that mantra that would serve Scots well as they gather information to help them decide their future in about two years. None of us should … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Tagged | 2 Comments

Eff Ofgem

Posted on July 26, 2012 by davidsberry

The legacy of Thatcher is a long one. Despite folk tradition (especially in Scotland), all that she did was not evil. But her successors’ efforts to create a real market in industries like railways and energy have proved illusiory.  See … Continue reading →

Posted in Commerce | Tagged | Leave a comment

Buildin’ a Brig Tae the Bass

Posted on July 22, 2012 by davidsberry

It’s a truism that natives of any given place seldom appreciate what they have all about them: sunshine in LA is a given, as is the waterborne romance of Venice or the cultural kaleidoscope of London. As a kid growing … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment | Leave a comment

North of East Coast Eden

Posted on July 21, 2012 by davidsberry

On June 26th, the UK Department for Transport published its Consultation on the East Coast Rail Franchise, to which all assiduous anoraks will have replied by the closing date of September 18th. The summary of results are to be published, … Continue reading →

Posted in Transport | Tagged | Leave a comment

Disease in Common

Posted on July 20, 2012 by davidsberry

Those keen on Scotland becoming a normal country often cite other countries as examples for such a situation. Many serve well in this role—including affluent Norway who “separated” peacefully from Sweden just over a century ago and has been a … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | Tagged | Leave a comment

Don’t Get MoD, Get Even

Posted on July 17, 2012 by davidsberry

Fibre-optic broadband is humming with the opening salvos of debate on the announcement from the SNP’s highheidyins that they have placed Scotland’s defence strategy—including NATO membership—as a keynote topic for discussion at the party’s upcoming Autumn Conference. Defence Spokesperson Angus Robertson … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Tagged | 1 Comment

Go Get ‘Em, Gramps

Posted on July 16, 2012 by davidsberry

The following letter was sent by an 86-year-old to their bank manager, who, displaying far more chutpah and humanity than most modern bank managers display, had it published in the New York Times: “Dear Sir: I am writing to thank … Continue reading →

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Dishonesty as a Cash Cow

Posted on July 15, 2012 by davidsberry

For more than the last decade, a selection of informed voices have warned about PFI/PPP. But they have done so from the wilderness because every stripe of government bar the SNP at Scottish or UK level has regarded ‘Public/Private Partnerships’—whether … Continue reading →

Posted in Commerce, Politics | Tagged | 1 Comment

Worthwhile Yet Untaxing Read

Posted on July 14, 2012 by davidsberry

James Aitken’s measured thoughts in his Legal Knowledge Scotland blog are always worth a read but Friday’s is particular value in information provided vs time spent to absorb it. Regular readers of this blog will have noted my trouble getting what I … Continue reading →

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South Suburban Salvation

Posted on July 13, 2012 by davidsberry

Edinburgh’s train services suck. As a result, its public transport sucks. Even if the trams are completed—including the abandoned original loop to Leith, Granton and Craigleith—it will still have a third-world transport system. In the absence of any underground at … Continue reading →

Posted in Transport | Tagged | 4 Comments