Month: June 2013
For A’ That 29 – It’s All Got Emotional
Speymouth
For the 29th episode of the For A’ That podcast Andrew and I went back to doing a two-hander – it’s been a while.
With a number of things going on this week we did our best to get through quite a few of them.
First up was the Scottish Referendum …read more
Project: Guerilla Cinema
Speymouth
The Cinema That Comes To You
Once upon a time, not so many years ago, the people of Scotland spent their weekend evenings in their local picture houses. Today we find these places of communal activity, shared laughter, tears and education lost to the power of large commercial …read more
Bella’s Break
Speymouth
Bella is on her holidays. We’ll back soon, sun-kissed, relaxed and refreshed by the elixir that is the Hebridean air. Continue reading …read more
Gaelic Revival from Portree to Leith
Speymouth
Are there signs of a gaelic revival beag air bheag? Modest and scattered but nevertheless visible? Numbers in pre-school in Continue reading …read more
The Scottish Independence Podcast 26 – Jack Foster
Speymouth
For the 26th Scottish Independence Podcast I spoke with Jack Foster who is the writer and narrator of a few films I’m sure most of you have seen by now.
The first he made was Precious Few Heroes
Whether you’re for or against an independent Scotland, or maybe …read more
Living on an Island: Scotland and the London Question
Speymouth
By Gerry Hassan, The Scotsman, June 29th 2013
May 2015: Boris Johnson wins the UK general election and declares London de facto independent from the rest of the UK, stating that it will from now on keep the taxes it raises and spend most of the money it needs itself.
Rewind …read more
A slogan for Glasgow? I have a few choice words | Kevin McKenna
Speymouth
Apparently, ‘People Make Glasgow’. Next they’ll be telling us that bricks make buildings and wheels go on cars
The meaningless lexicon of marketing has been scraped clean in civic Scotland’s latest attempt to justify another spurious branding exercise. All the usual dismal phrases are there: “key sectors”; a “driver” …read more
A case of ‘unfriendly fire’ from The Scotland Institute defence study experts
Speymouth
By Russell Bruce The Scotland Institute was set up a year ago by academic and businessman Azeem Ibrahim with the Continue reading …read more
Interest rate rise needed
Speymouth
By George Kerevan
Faithful readers of this column will know that I have scant regard for Sir Mervyn King’s forecasting abilities. So when he gave a valedictory message to the Treasury Committee this week on the future of interest rates, I shivered.
Ian Brady gives permission for biography to Scottish author
Speymouth
By Lynn Malone
Moors murderer Ian Brady, who will discover this week whether a mental health tribunal has determined him sane or insane, has grudgingly given permission for an award winning Scottish journalist and author to record his biography.
Jean Rafferty has been corresponding with the …read more
Pandering to Racism
Speymouth
Here in Ghana people are stunned by the announcement that a bond of £3,000 will have to be submitted by visa applicants to the UK, redeemable on return.
It is unpleasant for a nation to be singled out as comprised of particularly untrustworthy individuals against whom special measures are needed. Theresa …read more
The Man Who Didn’t Disappoint
Speymouth
Nelson Mandela was a rallying focus for any progressive thinker of my generation. I attended numerous events of which the aim was to free Nelson Mandela. I carried a torch through Edinburgh, danced round a bonfire in Dundee and talked to the startled tourists in Norwich cathedral, among other things.
That …read more
Scotland's an enlightened country – unless you're female | Kevin McKenna
Speymouth
Scotland beats England in its compassionate ways. Just a shame about the misogyny
It is sometimes too easy to mock the quest of successive Holyrood administrations to make Scotland one of the most socially enlightened countries in the world. Surely, though, there can’t be much wrong with a culture …read more
For A’ That 28 – Dons, Docus & Duress
Speymouth
So we’re back from our two and a half week break and this time Andrew and I had Callum McCormick as guest. Callum is a contributor to Bella Caledonia and a PhD student.
Up for discussion were the SNP and Mark McDonald’s victory last night in the Donside …read more
Introducing Duggy Dug – The indy debate is about to get a whole lot clearer
Speymouth
Amid referendum myth and misinformation, independence fear and uncertainty and Yes versus No it can be difficult to make sense of it all.
In a time of confusion you need someone you can trust to tell the truth, someone whose loyalty is beyond question … and who better …read more