From BBC Scotland today: Scotland’s target for cutting planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions has been missed after a bounce back following the pandemic. Total emissions were 49.9% lower in 2021 than in 1990 but the target for the year was a 51.1% cut. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-65960717 So, a shortfall of only 1.2% against a target of 51.1%, is a ‘miss?’ It is more ‘a near miss‘ technically? Also is the 1.2% gap reliably accurately measured? No. Although the primary emission inventory is continuously being improved, the uncertainties in the emission estimates must still be considered high https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/assets/documents/reports/empire/naei/annreport/annrep99/chap4_6.html The Scottish Government, above, has managed … Continue reading Scotland has pretty much hit greenhouse gas emissions target

In September 2021, BBC Scotland’s Glenn Campbell just loved the above and tweeted it enthusiastically. Last week, Campbell fell of his bike and tweeted these images: Comment from Humza Yousaf or, indeed anybody? Nothing at all. We’ve had plenty goes at Campbell but we’re taking no pleasure in this because we’re grown-up. See: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=Glenn Continue reading Humza Yousaf shows Glenn Campbell how to be a man

Allan Dorans was the only SNP MP on the committee. The above requires no further comment. Source: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/40412/documents/197199/default/ Continue reading Partygate: How only the SNP had the guts and the will to reflect the anger of the people

Both the ‘Labour Party’ a Newcastle-based political group and the Edinburgh-based SNP have been accredited to campaign in Rutherglen and Hamilton West, for the recall of former SNP MP and minor offender, already punished, Margaret Ferrier. If Ferrier is recalled by 10% of her constituents, it’s expected that both will also campaign in the subsequent by-election. It is of course not impossible that too many of the folk in the area will feel they just can’t be arsed and Ferrier will continue as the MP. I’d be entertained by that outcome. The presence of a Newcastle-based party in this Scottish … Continue reading Calls for SNP to stand in Newcastle against local Labour Party there

From the Express, today: Air pollution has INCREASED in Glasgow‘s Low Emissions Zone since the rules were enforced by the council at the start of June. According to site data from the city centre, four key indicators of pollution have actually went up so far this month compared with May. In one instance, the levels actually now exceed legal limits. The Air Quality in Scotland website records nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels of 43.0 in June, compared with 37.1 in May, with the legal limit being 40. Nitrogen dioxide can cause respiratory problems in humans and even chronic lung disease through prolonged exposure. Nitrogen … Continue reading Combined Express/Tory dumb reading of Glasgow pollution figures

Popular twitterer and eminent statistician, Independent Voices, has posted the above, as a foretaste of a larger poll, coming soon. Psychologists will quickly recognise the correlation here between wishing to deny their fellow Scots the joys of full independence and the refusal to either have the responsibilities of owning a pet or, if they must, going for sad wee birds kept in a cage. The symbolism is spot-on. We have a big dog and very bossy cat. We’ve had one dog, four cats, two rabbits and countless rodents in the past. A close friend has two reptiles which can retire … Continue reading Leading researcher finds correlation between denying freedom to Scots and caging pets

From NCPR, Canada, on May 24, 2023: The evening of Mother’s Day a couple of weeks ago, the ferry that connects Wolfe Island with mainland Canada in Kingston went out of service due to a mechanical failure. The ferry didn’t run again until well past the beginning of the workday Monday morning. The ferry’s been a point of frustration for more than a year now for the 1,400 people who live year-round on Wolfe Island, which is where Lake Ontario empties into the St. Lawrence River. The island population balloons to several thousand residents and tourists in the summer. The … Continue reading Research shows CalMac to be more reliable than top Canadian ferry operator

The Oban to Craignure ferry service on Sunday 18 June operated all 8 sailings on time – 100%. CalMac’s 383 sailings that day, across Scotland’s isles, operated at 98.7% reliability. The previous day, Saturday 17 June, 12 of 21 sailings were cancelled due to engine problems. The day before, reliability was at 90%, with 2 of 21 sailings cancelled. The Herald suggests today, Fresh ferry chaos with two ageing CalMac vessels side-lined. They do admit below, but without first having told us the cancellations were only the previous evening or that only 12 of the 21 that day had been … Continue reading Oban to Mull ferry back at 100% reliability after only hours out of service

On another busy Saturday, CalMac’s 287 Clyde sailings were hit by what local Conservative Councillor, Billy Jack, said was ‘a devastating failure by the SNP‘ as 1 of the 16 Arran crossings was cancelled, meaning a ‘shameful‘ only 87.5% on time. And, and, all of the 1 planned Campbelltown sailings was cancelled meaning a zero service! Local businesses have now been forced to use the road round by Inverary. Conservative councillor, Bobby Jack, said ‘We are not on an isthmus! Who told ye that?’ Overall, Clyde sailings thus failed to meet the 100% target, registering only 99.3% on time. Not … Continue reading Fake ferry fury as CalMac’s Clyde services are only 99.3% on time

After the Scotland victory in Norway against a team with players apparently worth individually more than all of them put together, commentators, including Norwegian ones, were most impressed by the solidarity of the Scotland team. I was too, and have been for some time now. Football is a team game so its not really surprising when combinations of star individuals, like say Paris St Germain, can’t beat more modest but more cohesive opposition. Croatia recently is another case in point. Greece and Denmark have won competitions in the past based on a similar principle. For some reason ‘smells like team … Continue reading Smells like team spirit as Scotland aim for European Championship Nirvana