234 more views! After six months of falling readership, an increase, if tiny. The number of visitors is, however, down again by around 4 000. The ‘big’ reads: The global presence: Still surprisingly big in Romania? Continue reading Better things?

The infection rate increases in Scotland but surges frighteningly at more than twice the rate in all other parts of the UK. Senior doctors call for the public to follow the rules in the strongest and most dramatic of terms so far: BBC Scotland, broadcasting in the least infected part of the UK, headlines the threat. BBC England seems not to know what its role is: Fiddling as Romney Marsh burns? Continue reading Not helping

Insider is a supposedly non-partisan site but writer Ken Symon is by no means so. This report with the deceptive choice of photo and headline suggests the Scottish Tories had the guts to vote against the Brexit deal when in fact they were the only ones creepy enough to support it. The text could have been written by Davidson herself. Symon, long-time Better Together activist, has previous: WRIGGLING CARE HOME GROUP OWNER WANTS TO PAY FOR DIFFERENT ANSWERS THAT DON’T BLAME CARE HOME GROUPS NOVEMBER 2, 2020 In another piece from Better Together activist Ken Symon: A care home group … Continue reading Business mag is just front for Tory propaganda

I’m a bit surprised to see that The Herald has a ‘Senior Rangers Writer‘. I feel sure they must have one for Celtic. I’ll do the Junior Bairns Writer job part-time for nothing. You can’t have a Senior Bairns Writer. It doesn’t work, does it? Anyhow back to the main story: Jack’s argument that the game must go on, unlike in England where a surge among footballers and other staff, has resulted in mass call-offs because the ‘pandemic protocols‘ in Scottish football are working. He’s also correct, though he may not know it, because the background community infection level in … Continue reading The Herald’s ‘Senior Rangers Writer’ is correct

According to the Guardian yesterday: Absence rates in some hospitals are now between 8% and 12%, versus the health service’s normal level of 4%, just as the NHS comes under the greatest strain in its history. Three days ago, The Scottish Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties warned health services were in danger of being overwhelmed. Their warning was heavily reported in the Scottish media: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-55458992 However, as Andrew Marr put it, when you look at the data, isn’t the truth that it isn’t? Here are the data: There are approximately 160 000 staff in NHS Scotland. The absence level peaked at … Continue reading Why is NHS Scotland staff absence so much lower?

Facilitating the profiteering of international organised crime groups, the actions of corrupt elites and kleptocrats, and those funding efforts to undermine democracy By stewartb: It seems somehow fitting to write on this topic on the day of final victory for the Brexiteers and their apologists – on Day One of a glorious, global Britain. It also seems fitting to focus on an especially egregious issue on the day when the lack of agency for Scotland’s electorate is shown up so starkly. We may read about such things with distaste and worse but we in Scotland can do precious little to … Continue reading This precious Union

Not much reported but in the small print of the BBC report clearing Andrew Marr of bias just because he used the wrong data to lie to viewers, is a requirement that he and his staff get help. Again, not reported in the media, but Talking-Up Scotland’s chief statistician has got the contract to provide the help. Being either lazy or just smart, he has simply been forwarding readily available UK Gov stats to the Marr team. Here are the latest: So the infection rate over the last seven days has been nearly 4 times higher than in Scotland, in … Continue reading Andrew Marr show to get help

Though it has been only two days of increases after more than a week of falling numbers from the 21st, the last two day’s data are concerning. From 969 on the 28th to 1 895 yesterday and now, 2 045 today, I feel sure we’re all holding our breath. BBC Scotland has been quick to report a ‘record’ rise and the Herald has, for the first time ever, correctly chosen ‘surge’. Having spent much time in the past downplaying the significance of changes in figures, I must recognise these increases as ‘major.‘ BBC UK, perhaps hardened by the last few … Continue reading Major increase in infections in Scotland but to less than Half of that in every other part of UK

It’s been coming for some time. Ian Macwhirter, apparent supporter of independence in 2014 but soon disgruntled supplier of bitter opinion pieces attacking Nicola, NHS Scotland and anything Scottish, has finally come out. This revisionist piece today places him well for a career in London as a house jock. He writes: Like him or loathe him, Boris Johnson will tonight become one of the most important political figures of the past century when the House of Commons finally votes for his Brexit trade deal. Thus ends nearly half a century of British membership of the European Union, and the Brexit culture war … Continue reading Macwhirter for top job at Telegraph?