Operating in more southerly, temperate, calmer waters and in the affluent Seattle area, Washington State Ferries have only 14 of their 21 ferries in service and performance is so bad the State Government is warning: ‘customers to consider early-morning or late-night sailings, or getting to the ferry by walking, biking or using transit.’ Today, they have announced: “Ferry travelers should also prepare for possible last-minute schedule changes,” the WSDOT wrote in its press release. “Sailings may be delayed or canceled with short notice due to WSF’s current lack of relief crewing or an unexpected mechanical issue within the system’s aging … Continue reading Angry Canadian islanders in awe at Scotland’s 99% ferry service as Government just blames company for aging fleet

In the Herald today, the above letter ends with the breakdown of the Corran ferry, owned and run by Highland Council being blamed on CalMac. How could that happen? Well, in Corran ferry: The five-minute crossing that opens up the world on 18 May 2023, BBC Scotland, only in 12th of 13 paragraphs, tell readers: Mary Ann accuses Highland Council of lacking emergency planning and says businesses, including those involved in tourism, are suffering because of the longer journey times and reputational damage to the area. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-65632882 Wait, say any of the readers getting to the end: ‘What’s this got … Continue reading Thanks to BBC reporting, an islander blames CalMac for a failed local council ferry

Today, the National has: Royal Navy nuclear submarine saved moments before sinking. With the depth gauge failing, the UK’s nuclear deterrent started sinking towards its crush depth, which would have led to chaos and an emergency mission to recover the sub and 140 members of crew. https://www.thenational.scot/news/23934349.royal-navy-nuclear-submarine-saved-moments-sinking/ but for BBC Scotland, it was only: Nuclear-armed submarine suffered malfunction. A Royal Navy nuclear submarine suffered a “concerning” malfunction while diving, the BBC has been told. The incident on board the unnamed Vanguard class submarine, which carries the UK’s trident nuclear missiles, happened more than a year ago while it was preparing … Continue reading Submarine Shambles! ‘Saved moments before sinking’ or just ‘suffered malfunction?’

From ITV, on 11 October 2023, but only spotted now after a month of careful concealment by the BBC: Kaye Adams‘s dispute with HMRC over a potential £124k tax bill is being heard in court for the third time, four years after the legal battle first began. The Loose Women panellist, 60, won a previous court case in 2019, which was then reheard in 2021, with an upper tribunal also siding with the TV star. However, following an appeal from HMRC a Court of Appeal judge ordered that the case be reheard once again, for the third time. HMRC claims that Kaye … Continue reading BBC hiding Kaye Adam’s loose standards on paying £124 000 tax put Matheson’s £11 000 roaming charges into perspective

From BBC Scotland today under the headline: Our children are being failed by the condition of their school: Parents have told of their despair at the state of their children’s special school – and their 20-year battle for a replacement building. St Clement’s in Dingwall provides education for three to 18-year-olds, with pupils receiving additional needs support for physical disabilities and neurological conditions. Part of the school is more than 100 years old, and has corridors and doorways not fit for wheelchairs. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cekp217kmg7o The report also has 5 mentions of the Scottish Government and one of the Education Secretary but … Continue reading Highland Independents have ‘failed children’ after 27 years in control while SNP Government reduces poor condition schools by 77% in only 16 after Labour’s neglect is ended

From the Guardian today: The NHS is to hand a key role in handling patient data and share of a £480m contract to the US spy technology firm Palantir this week, the Guardian can reveal. NHS England is set to confirm that Palantir’s joint bid with professional services company Accenture to operate the NHS’s new “federated data platform” (FDP) has been successful. It is preparing to make an announcement on Tuesday that is likely to spark fierce debate about the safety of patient data, public trust in the NHS and Palantir’s suitability to be involved in the FDP. The construction of the platform is … Continue reading SNP Government praised for keeping your health data out of hands of Labour sponsor US spy-tech firm Palantir

I’m an atheist, thank dog. It’s not often I find myself in a majority so it’s great to be one of the dominant group in Scotland. Is it a ‘Celtic’ thing? Scotland, Wales and Cornwall? Interesting to see we’re right next to the big believers in Northern Ireland. Are they really believers or just members? Continue reading Scots lead race to get a grip on reality

In the Guardian today: More than half of all hospitals in England and over two-thirds of those in London offer substandard care, an Observer investigation has found. In one hospital emergency department, inspectors reported patients being treated in corridors and deadly diseases such as sepsis and cancer not being diagnosed. The Observer analysed the ratings by Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors of 254 general hospitals – excluding those that provide single services or specialised care. Seven were rated as “inadequate” and 122 as “requires improvement” – 51% of the total. The situation was significantly worse in London. Of 37 hospitals in the capital, 25 … Continue reading 254 English hospitals substandard – Scotland’s media unable to find even one here

In the Observer today under the headline – Police ‘enabling dangerous officers’ with high rate of complaint failures in England and Wales: Campaigners are calling for the police to be stopped from “marking their own homework”, after the Observer found 40% of internal investigations by forces into serious complaints were overturned following independent reviews. At 14 police forces, 50% or more of their internal investigations were found “not reasonable and proportionate” after independent reviews. Cumbria constabulary were the worst performing force, with 87% of their reviewed internal investigations being found to be flawed by the IOPC. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/nov/19/police-enabling-dangerous-officers-with-high-rate-of-complaint-failures-in-england-and-wales In Scotland 29.6% were overturned. … Continue reading ‘Dangerous officers’ – 14 English forces 72% more likely to overturn complaint from member of public than Police Scotland