Category Archives: Community

Pro-Life v. Roe v. Wade

On Friday, June 24th, the US Supreme Court eliminated the constitutional right to an abortion. The Court overturned Roe v Wade, a 1973 landmark decision which ruled that the constitution protects a pregnant woman’s right to choose to have an … Continue reading

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Sun, Sand and Sorted!

To all our English friends who have languished in queues and been bounced around Gatwick, East Midlands or Manchester airports by Cryin’-Air or Easy-Jilt in thwarted attempts at your first real holiday in three years, have you considered you might … Continue reading

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You Can Tell Republicans…but You Can’t Tell ‘Em Much

Gun violence in America reared its ugly head yet again in Uvalde TX. It can be scant comfort to those trying to comprehend this  in Britain, where guns are uncommon and not part of the culture, to know that Americans … Continue reading

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Have Anorak—Will Travel: Reston

The publicity over the opening of London’s £19 bn Elizabeth Line (formerly Crossrail) yesterday rather overshadowed ScotRail’s newest station opening at Reston at a millionth the cost. Largely the result of stalwart campaigning by the Rail Action Group East of … Continue reading

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Have Anorak—Will Travel: Dunbar

Few ScotRail customers notice that it changes timetables each May and December because the changes are typically minor. This May is different. The standard timetable shows losses to some services, reflecting reduction in passengers since Covid. Worse than that, an … Continue reading

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Disentangling Holyrood Voting

“The Scottish Parliament, adjourned on the 25th day of March in the year 1707, is hereby reconvened” —Winnie Ewing MSP, 12th May 1999 Whether you’re a unionist or a nationalist, those words from 23 years ago started Scotland down a … Continue reading

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The End of the End of Empire?

Just over a century ago, at the end of the Great War, Britain bestrode the world. Its rivals in the colonial stakes were either humbled, like Germany, or war-torn, like France. Great chunks of the globe, like Namibia and Tanganyika, … Continue reading

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Have Anorak—Will Travel: Morpeth

A month after the Scottish Government took ScotRail back into public control, it would be unreasonable to expect the traveling public to notice major changes. A fares review to simplify (and perhaps lower) the welter of faes is promised, but … Continue reading

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Seasonal Heresy

It is Easter Sunday—the main event in the Christian calendar, despite Christmas having overtaken it in the minds of many. The proportion of those people who regard themselves as Christian has, after decades of decline, stabilised this millennium. This hokds … Continue reading

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More Archimedes; Less Aristotle

“Science can amuse and fascinate, but it is engineering that changes the world.” —Isaac Asimov, Much has been made in the two years since Brexit that Britain can forge new trade relations with the world. When asked what form these … Continue reading

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