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.

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 →

Posted in Commerce | Tagged | Leave a comment

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

It’s Democracy, Stupid

Posted on July 11, 2012 by davidsberry

It’s a curious world we live in. Yesterday, unionists presented a panel of “election experts” to frame a single referendum question for consideration by the Electoral Commission. The launch of the panel came as Scotland Office Minister David “Nae Scottish Mates” … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Tagged | 2 Comments

Like Wolves at Lambing

Posted on July 10, 2012 by davidsberry

With the blog a week ago titled The Whole Wunch of ‘Em, I hoped to have cleared the air about the scale of malaise gripping the country’s morals and proposed some ideas from others how things could be actively improved. … Continue reading →

Posted in Commerce | Tagged | 2 Comments

Butcher’s Choice

Posted on July 8, 2012 by davidsberry

Many column inches have been expended in pursuit of ‘nasty nats’—those Scots impatient to live in a normal, independent Scotland but whose impatience provokes them into rash statements and personal attacks on those who stand in their way. I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Community | Tagged | Leave a comment

Time to Play Chemin de Fer

Posted on July 7, 2012 by davidsberry

Today the Torygraph reports that MPs have announced that over-optimistic forecasts for passenger demand have left taxpayers “saddled with £4.8 billion of debt” over the 68-mile HS1 London-Folkestone Channel Tunnel rail link. Total taxpayer support over the period to 2070 … Continue reading →

Posted in Commerce, Transport | Tagged | Leave a comment