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.

Emancipating the Ladies from Hell

Posted on June 8, 2012 by davidsberry

At last the forces of unionism are drawing together something approaching a campaign to save their union. The latest co-ordinated assault in the pages of the Hootsmon involved offsetting Swinney’s announcement of a new tax regime in Scotland by a … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Politics | Tagged | Leave a comment

But Don’t Mention the War

Posted on June 7, 2012 by davidsberry

It seems that last weekend’s jubilee was a big hit across Germany. Several channels carried coverage and there appears to be a certain fascination with things ‘Englische’. Some touchy Scots find the endemic continental verbal sloppiness between ‘British’ and ‘English’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Commerce, Politics | Leave a comment

Do You Know Who I Used to Be?

Posted on June 5, 2012 by davidsberry

Zero Mostel’s classic line from The Producers had special resonance this weekend. Despite the weather and Philip’s hospitalisation, the jubilee seems to have gone off well and those many enthusiasts well pleased with events. I tried to watch the concert … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Leave a comment

Veni; Vidi; Vicar

Posted on June 4, 2012 by davidsberry

Andrew Marr is usually good value, especially in the wilderness that is Sunday morning television. This week, despite the crush of Jubilee pressure, he did not disappoint, with a feisty performance against the Prime Minister over Hunt and leading Toynbee … Continue reading →

Posted in Community | Leave a comment

Dahn Sahff Inna Smoke, Innai?

Posted on May 28, 2012 by davidsberry

And so, for my first time this year, I made a pilgrimage to the Imperial Capital—and resplendent the old girl looks too in her much-delayed Spring sunshine finery. Having lived there for a number of years on-and-off, it’s a place … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Irrtumliche Weltanschauung

Posted on May 25, 2012 by davidsberry

A fascinating conversation flashed amongst the Twitterati yesterday on the unevenness of foreign  language teaching ability in Scottish primary schools, despite a recent move to introduce a second foreign language there. Let’s leave aside for a minute whether the Doric … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | Leave a comment

Bams Oot the Windae

Posted on May 24, 2012 by davidsberry

They say there’s a first time for everything. In today’s Torygraph, Alan Cochrane found common cause with SNP Defence spokesperson Angus Robertson MSP and—for the first time to my recollection—I find myself agreeing with both of them. Arch-unionist Alan is, … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | 5 Comments

Taking the temperature: what the Eurobarometer tells us about attitudes to the economic crisis

Posted on May 23, 2012 by davidsberry

Taking the temperature: what the Eurobarometer tells us about attitudes to the economic crisis.

Posted in Politics | 1 Comment

It’s the Education, Stupid

Posted on May 22, 2012 by davidsberry

Politicians of all stripes seem ferally inclined to have a go at one another. But one area on which even they all agree is on the importance of education. And, having led the world in getting its broad citizenry into … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | 1 Comment

Drachmatis Personae: Angela vs Bob

Posted on May 21, 2012 by davidsberry

In my second Silicon Valley job 30 years ago, I launched the engineering department of a start-up PC company years before IBM rolled out the PC or Apple the Macintosh. ACS was run by the most plausible Southern good-ole-boy salesman … Continue reading →

Posted in Commerce, Politics | 1 Comment