Category Archives: Community

Ehhhh: What’s Up, Doc?

Posted on June 22, 2012 by davidsberry

Yesterday saw the first UK-wide doctors’ strike in decades. It was over proposed changes to their pensions and, although the government tried to play it down and a fair number of doctors showed up for work anyway, there were still … Continue reading →

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Who You Calling ‘Foreign’?

Posted on June 19, 2012 by davidsberry

I often wonder at the genuineness of unionist ‘confusion’ at what Scotland being a normal country would involve. Every other day another academic is dragged out from some ivory tower to furrow his distinguished brow over whether the sun could … Continue reading →

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Stranger Scotland; Untied Kingdom: It SSUKs

Posted on June 18, 2012 by davidsberry

I am encouraged by rumours of an imminent ‘No’ campaign launch. It is high time that those who claim the present Union is the best of all possible worlds for the Scottish people extended their campaign beyond procedural quibbles and … Continue reading →

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In Deep Guano

Posted on June 14, 2012 by davidsberry

After years of biting my tongue, I have put myself on our major local charity’s ‘shit list’. This week, East Lothian Council’s new Cabinet approved a paper several years in the making, setting up an arm’s-length North Berwick Harbour Trust … Continue reading →

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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 →

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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 →

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Creative Skintland

Posted on May 18, 2012 by davidsberry

And while we, as we were yesterday, are on the topic of the arts and creativity in Scotland, today’s Herald carries a piece on how Creative Scotland is shaking up the way it disburses the £50-or-so-million of their largesse to … Continue reading →

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Physician: Heal Thyself

Posted on May 15, 2012 by davidsberry

One of the few things upon which political parties the length and breadth of the country agree these days is the sanctity of the NHS. So Macca’s musical question of 1967: “—will you still need me, will you still feed … Continue reading →

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An Army Fit for a Better Nation

Posted on May 14, 2012 by davidsberry

Twitterati with political agendas (especially Jim Murphy and staff of sundry opposition politicians) have been deprecating military careers in any Scottish Defence Force. Their argument is twofold: 1) more grievous losses to units and their identities would happen under independence … Continue reading →

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All In It Together?

Posted on May 9, 2012 by davidsberry

You don’t hear that phrase much these days (especially from ConDem spokespersons). Perhaps it’s because the stats for this last year—the year that Osbo forecast we’d start to see the positive effect of a paper money mountain for his banker … Continue reading →

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