The Herald’s health correspondent manages to develop a case for stricter, legally-enforced, lockdown in Scotland based on data from South Africa and South-east England and allegedly ‘woeful’ compliance ,despite evidence to the contrary, in Scotland, where the Herald is published and read, though by woeful numbers. The ONS has just informed us that the infection level is falling, uniquely, in Scotland. There were fewer new cases yesterday than the day before and the 7-day average is only slightly up on the previous week. The infection rate in Scotland is currently far lower than in England or Wales. Why might that … Continue reading Bringing you the news where you live but not about where you live

What’s with the inverted commas? Is it Scottish-made or not? Anyhow, from Energy Voice on the 22nd: Scottish renewable energy firm Simec Atlantis said today the tidal generation system it designed and built has arrived in Nagasaki harbour, Japan. Simec Atlantis said the AR500 tidal generation system would initially operate at a capped maximum generation output of 500kW, as data collection and device validation are undertaken for the client and Japanese regulatory bodies. It also announced last year plans to build the AR2000 tidal generation system – which would be the largest and most powerful single axis turbine in the world. Scottish … Continue reading Scotland to build largest and most powerful turbine in the world

I’m getting a non-Covid headache. There’s a new fast-spreading strain. Richard Leonard said it’s 70% faster so we need 70% more testing. I used to be a Primary teacher. I often found it a bit of a challenge explaining to some 11 year-olds why it’s not that simple. But, the ONS say that the infection level in Scotland has fallen? And, there were only 1 165 new cases yesterday, down from 1 314 the day before and a peak of 1 504 on the 21st. So, infection levels are falling ‘as’ the new strain spreads faster? Where’s Devi Sridhar? Continue reading Infection levels fall as new strain spreads faster….eh, whit?

From BBC Scotland, a classic display of ‘balanced’ reporting to completely distort the truth: The Scottish government said the agreement announced on Thursday was “a bad deal for fishing”. But the UK government has insisted the deal will allow Scotland’s fishermen to flourish outside the EU. Until the end of this year, the UK will be bound by the EU’s rules including the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). There will then be a five-and-a-half year transition period for the fishing industry. Asked where the biggest compromises had been made, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK had wanted “complete control over … Continue reading Now Glenn Campbell misrepresents the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation

‘As’, as in the use above, is another of those lazy little words like ‘after’ and ‘among’ that so-called journalist like to use to put ideas in your head and to suggest that something bad has happened. You’ll remember all those folk who died after something in Glasgow’s superhospital but not because of that something? So, the government relaxes the rules for Christmas day and bang (!) more than 1 000 people get infected. Just like that! That woman they interviewed in Glenrothes warned us that would happen as she reported being unable to get a vaccine appointment for her … Continue reading Infections fall ‘as’ rules relaxed?

My latest T shirt. Chosen by my daughter as the latest in her winning sequence of T shirts featuring so far Marx, Chomsky and Vic Reeves. It’s no idle threat. Watch what you say. I will blog you. I’ve done it to Nicola Sturgeon, Kevin McKenna, Iain Macwhirter and only recently to Prof Linda Bauld. Look what’s happened to their careers. Well, not much, I suppose. My Boxing Day reading, chosen by my son: Frankie’s Little Red Book to go with the Little Read one from Mao. This early paragraph is thought-provoking from Scotland’s leading public intellectual: I hope you’re … Continue reading A Christmas threat from the Editor

BBC UK had some news for us. Covid infection levels are rising everywhere except in Scotland, where they are falling. Here are the comparative figures: The BBC Scotland website avoided the comparative data but has this fact for you: Reporting Scotland were certainly not inclined to any comparative news that you might think meant Sturgeon was any use, and kept it minimal with this: Ooooh! Sounds a lot doesn’t it? None were going to show you this: What, the infection rate in the last 24 hours was TWICE as high in Northern Ireland, nearly THREE times as high in England … Continue reading No Christmas cheer from ‘exceptional’ Reporting Scotland

Professor Linda Bauld is almost the model public intellectual – clear, careful, insightful. She regularly performs a very valuable function for us all, almost On Sky TV News two days ago, she was happy to tell the interviewer: 1: The Scottish Government has done far better in communicating with the people. 1: Research has shown greater confidence among Scots in the actions of their government. Now, this is going somewhere isn’t it? It should be. Greater confidence leads to greater compliance. The researchers were certainly going there. And, greater compliance means lower infection levels. Obviously? 1 plus 1 equals 2? … Continue reading Can even (especially) a professor’s thoughts be controlled so that they won’t even add up 1 + 1?

My nomination for the song to carry us to independence is McFadden and Whitehead’s ‘Ain’t no stopping us now.’ D:Ream’s ‘Things can only get better unless you live in Belgrade or Baghdad or Kabul or..’ is forever tainted by Labour. McFadden? Whitehead? Scottish ancestry clearly. The words fit and the tune is uplifting. Ain’t No Stoppin Us Now!We’re on the move!Ain’t No Stoppin Us Now!We’ve got the groove!There’s been so many things that’s held us downBut now it looks like things are finally comin’ aroundI know we’ve got, a long long way to goAnd where we’ll end up, I don’t … Continue reading 2021: Ain’t no stoppinG us now!