Days after Scotland’s drug deaths fell by 21% in one year, BBC Scotland think they have a new toy – alcohol deaths: Call for emergency response to alcohol deaths. New figures out on Tuesday could show that the number of alcohol-specific deaths is higher than drug deaths. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-66615583 It’s not in the online report above but, in the seconds available to them in their BBC Breakfast insert on alcohol deaths, Reporting Scotland found space to remind us that drug deaths remain the highest in Europe! Hopefully, higher than drugs deaths? How handy is that? Scotland’s media have something to live … Continue reading Alcohol deaths ‘might’ go up tomorrow- did you know Scotland’s drug deaths are ‘still the highest in Europe?’

As Scotland’s media report a 20% fall in non-weather related cancellations and an unspecified overall fall, by Scotland’s CalMac ferries, in 2022/2023, BC Ferries in affluent Canada’s British Columbia, operating in lower latitudes, warmer and less windy seas, report a 36.5% increase in all cancellations from April – June 2023 compared with the same period in 2022. Just as cancellations soared so did profits, by 10%, for the shareholders of BC Ferries. CalMac ferries make no profits and are generously subsidised for the often small populations in Scotland’s islands. The rest of us, including the folk of the not-so-comfortable Rutherglen … Continue reading Ferry cancellations surge by shocking 36%….in Canada

George Islay MacNeill Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen, above, an Islay man like Glenn Campbell of BBC Scotland, at the heart of the Empire. Robertson campaigning last Saturday for a Modern Studies teacher who surely knows what sort of thinker he, Robertson, is: The former secretary general of Nato has said that Scottish independence would be cataclysmic for the West in an era of international turmoil. Speaking in the US, Lord Robertson said a “debilitating divorce” after a “Yes” vote in September would threaten the stability of the wider world. He said he believed the US administration was worried … Continue reading Rutherglen and Hamilton West Labour candidate must surely be squirming when he sees this man campaigning for him

The Herald’s Martin Williams should know the difference between ‘news’ and history. Today he has: CalMac defends record in wake of ‘spiralling’ ferry cancellations. Ferry operator CalMac has defended its record after new figures revealed “spiralling” cancellations impacting lifeline ferry services to island communities. https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/23750458.calmac-defends-record-wake-spiralling-ferry-cancellations/?ref=ebln&nid=1220&u=54f15f1382a35160f5f9fbd9de82faff&date=280823 Non-weather related cancellations fell from a peak of 5,805 in 2021-22, to 4,620 in 2022-23. If Williams were reporting last year at this time he might reasonably point to an increase. That would be ‘the news’ last year but it’s not now because ‘the news’ is that they’re fallen by more than 20%. Also, ‘the … Continue reading CalMac cancellations are ‘spiralling’ but downwards and threaten no lifelines

Labour’s attempt to deflect from their inner crisis has prompted a Freedom of Information request to scrape the bottom of the Clyde estuary for something anything they can chuck via the media in Scotland. Reporting Scotland gleefully added the story last night but don’t seem to have it written-up, sorry, copied and pasted into their website yet. Why the Morning Star should be helping the Labour campaign escapes me. Key points covered: Non-weather related cancellations rose from 1,371 in 2017-18 to a peak of 5,805 in 2021-22, before dropping last year. There were 4,620 sailings axed for reasons not related … Continue reading Ferry cancellations fall by massive 20% in one year to offer 97.2% reliability for islanders

Prof Lindsay Paterson is in the Sunday National today with research presumably rejected by his usual chums at the Herald, Scotsman or Times but reported by Judith Duffy. Scottish independence ‘not going away’ according to major analysis It’s good, really really good and most encouraging for the Yes movement. With Alasdair Galloway (below) I read it with a confused mind. Regulars will know I have debunked Paterson’s always critical analysis of educational affairs such as attainment data and gaps therein. His reading of the data is always very gloomy and blames SNP ministers for that. He’s a numbers guy who … Continue reading Numbers Prof says ‘Stable 60% Yes majority by 2030s!’

In March 2023: Montreal’s mayor vowed Monday to tighten regulation of Airbnb as a search continued for six people missing after a fire swept through a building that included Airbnb units https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/canada-airbnb-fire-body-found-b2304644.html To my knowledge there have been no incidents like this in Scotland but I also did not know about this: The Scottish Government’s new licensing scheme requires hosts of these properties to display energy performance ratings on listings, have adequate buildings and public liability insurance, as well as various fire and gas safety precautions. https://www.insider.co.uk/news/edinburgh-could-see-80-reduction-30765958 Really? People from other parts arrive in Edinburgh to live in flats without the above … Continue reading Airbnb – Scottish Government acts to protect lives and create space, peace and quiet for locals

George Square Glasgow this morning. https://www.meteoblue.com/en/weather/webcams/glasgow_united-kingdom_2648579 Lanark this morning. https://www.meteoblue.com/en/weather/webcams/glasgow_united-kingdom_2648579 The Herald’s David Leaks this morning: How Rome’s rubbish emergency mirrors Scotland’s own litter woes Is some Scottish Labour communications officer just back from Rome and thinks: ‘If Jackie Baillie can compare a serial baby killer to a water-born fungus, why can’t I do Rome and Scotland?’ Continue reading George Foulkes accuses SNP Council of keeping streets clean on purpose?

The Herald has this today: Scottish students from deprived backgrounds are far less likely to get into university than their equivalents south of the border, the Scottish Conservatives have claimed. https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/23749348.pupils-deprived-backgrounds-less-university-access/ Once more, a journalist accepts Tory propaganda based on a fundamental misunderstanding of Higher Education in Scotland. UCAS only deals with 2/3rds of the University Applications for Scottish universities the other 1/3rd are processed in Scotland and probably consist of those going to a local College, first to do HNC & HND level, then transferring into University and those doing the Direct Access route. Both of these routes are … Continue reading Higher Education access in Scotland misunderstood to facilitate Tory propaganda