Month: August 2013
Lonely hearts
A picture taken earlier today at Edinburgh’s Mela festival. In the upper half of the shot, a busy Yes Scotland tent buzzing with activists and interested members of the public. In the foreground, another forlorn “Better Together” campaigner looking around hopefully for someone, anyone, to talk to about how Scotland’s …read more
This one’s for Willie
We’re just going through some reports from the top-secret “public meeting” of the No campaign in Glasgow today. Scores of empty seats (in a venue holding hundreds fewer than the packed-out Yes Glasgow launch), a fracas involving someone protesting about Trident, and the same tired old lines from the same …read more
Without honour or shame
We’d imagine, in fairness, that you need to be endowed with a pretty well-polished brass neck to stand as a Conservative politician in Scotland at all. So perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised at the sheer nerve of Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson yesterday as she gave a speech to an …read more
At one remove
Saturday is notionally our comedy day, but it’s nice to see the Scotsman joining in with the fun this week. We’re rapidly coming to the conclusion that the failing paper is now being operated as some sort of elaborate ironic prank, and the lead home-news story this morning does nothing …read more
Moyes calls for calm in powderkeg match
With Liverpool hosting Manchester United tomorrow in a potentially powderkeg encounter, United manager David Moyes has called on supporters of both clubs to behave. …read more
Missing walker named as experienced climber
Police issued a photograph of a hillwalker missing in Glencoe as the search entered its third day yesterday. …read more
Internet predator who groomed girl aged 9
A north-east “predator” has been jailed for almost three years after he was caught grooming schoolgirls on social networking sites. …read more
Evans heading for his Federer dream match
Dan Evans is one win away from a probable meeting with Roger Federer – and he knows how improbable that sounds. …read more
OAP slams council’s ‘pure greed’ badge fee
A MORAY man plans to raise a petition against the £20 fee imposed by councils for the Blue Badge disabled parking permit. …read more
Them and them and us
A curious facet of the independence debate in recent weeks has been the rise in – mostly, but not exclusively, Unionist – commentators rubbishing the idea that Scots are significantly different in their social attitudes from people in the rest of the UK. It’s been pointed out that a majority …read more
Thanks for the kidney dad, you’re my hero
A MORAY kidney transplant patient has been given a second shot at life thanks to her “amazing” dad whom she has hailed her hero. …read more
Man bites watchdog
Having spent the best part of two years shining an unforgivingly critical spotlight on the Scottish and UK media, we can have no complaints when we come under the same sort of scrutiny. So we didn’t mind a bit when the right-wing Spectator columnist (is there any other kind?) Alex …read more
More Thoughts on Scots Independence – by Falloch and (Again) by Winston Smith
Winston Smith’s post yesterday has provoked some reaction, as I thought it might. Winston himself has provided a lengthy follow-up piece, but first I want to offer you Falloch’s opinion in which he goes through Winston’s piece and comments on … Continue reading →
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Moray school visit for Scottish sporting stars
SCOTTISH Commonwealth Games medallists David Carry and Susan Egelstaff made a visit to Moray to promote next year’s Glasgow sporting extravaganza. …read more
Super Pumas return to service
THE Super Puma helicopter fleet will return to service. …read more