Thus every kind their pleasure findThe savage and the tenderSome social join and leagues combineSome solitary wanderAvaunt away! the cruel swayTyrannic man’s dominionThe sportsman’s joy, the murdering cryThe fluttering gory pinion Now Westlin’ Wins by Robert Burns, 1786 Robert Burns, 200 years ago, a farmer unavoidably pragmatic about his animals you have to assume, seems to have had no time for the unequal mass slaughter of birds by the gentry not doubt trampling his fields to get at their tiny prey. Sadly, today, they’re still at it and indignant should we try to make them at least pay for their … Continue reading BBC, STV and the press not touching a story of the SNP’s attempts to limit ‘the fluttering gory pinion’ because it’s massively popular as we approach the election

On BBC News at 1pm today, revealing a decline in the number of hospital treatments carried out under Labour in 2025, from 7.4m to 7.31m. All things being equal, pro rata, that’d be around 730 000 in Scotland. According to Audit Scotland, no friend to the Scottish Government, the equivalent figure was 1.3m pushing twice as many. Source: https://audit.scot/publications/nhs-in-scotland-2025-finance-and-performance Here’s the AS boss. I’m guessing he doesn’t mention the above. Continue reading Shock as BBC UK use annual data to reveal that NHS Scotland did nearly twice as many treatments per head, as NHS England in 2024

On BBC News at 1pm today, revealing an increase in the number of A&E patients waiting 12 hours or more, to 10.5% under Labour in 2025. In NHS Scotland, the average was 5.5% marginally over half the number waiting 12 hours or more. Source: https://publichealthscotland.scot/healthcare-system/urgent-and-unscheduled-care/accident-and-emergency/main-points/all-ae-sites What did Jackie Baillie think that same year, 2024? Continue reading Shock as BBC UK reveal that TWICE as many NHS England Type 1 A&E patients waited 12 hours or more than in NHS Scotland in 2024

Thanks to stewartb for alerting us to this: From the National Police Chiefs Council (for England & Wales and with Police Scotland in attendance): the above graph makes clear the hard evidence that four major police forces in England have the evidence of a significant flow of drugs into Scotland by criminal groups in their areas. Notably, the reported presence of these gangs in 50 locations, from Thurso to Aberdeen and down to East Ayrshire, is not mapped in detail. There are 6 544 County Lines across the UK so around 650 in Scotland. Contrary to the hopes and messaging … Continue reading Police Chiefs confirm Scotland is victim of drug gangs from London, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool crossing border

The San Juan Islands are part of an archipelago in the Pacific Northwest of the United States between the U.S. state of Washington and Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The San Juan Islands are part of Washington state, and form the core of San Juan County. In the archipelago, four islands ONLY are accessible to vehicular and foot traffic via the Washington State Ferries system. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Juan_Islands#HeroSection From the Islands Weekly, yesterday: San Juan Islands brace for decade of ferry uncertainty despite billion-dollar state investment | New boats won’t serve islands; aging vessels and service disruptions are “the new normal,” officials warn – The stark reality: None of the three new … Continue reading Lifeline burned by State Governor – 19 000 Canadian islanders with no bridges to mainland shockingly left out of new lifeline ferries scheme

From Marine Link yesterday: Trio of WSF Vessels Pulled from Service for Mechanical Issues – At Washington State Ferries, 2026 has started with a thud, one ferry each of the first three days of the year were pulled from service for mechanical problems. Here’s a rundown. Tacoma [29] was taken off our Seattle/Bainbridge route Saturday night, Jan. 3. The ferry has an oil tube problem that’s causing elevated shaft bearing temperatures. Divers will start repairs Thursday, Jan. 8, and the work should be completed next week. Wenatchee is running single-boat service on our Seattle/Bainbridge route for now. Walla Walla [54] was removed from our … Continue reading Three out of 21 ferries pulled out of service in first 3 days of year to cripple Canadian service