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!

The virus is out of control in Wales. The infection level is nearly NINE times higher than in Scotland, more than TWICE as high as in England? Who is to blame? Does the buck stop somewhere? And deaths, bad, bad, too: Nearly THREE times as many are dying in Wales as in Scotland and nearly TWO times as many as in England. Are the Welsh people being failed? By whom? Who is in charge? Is it the Labour Party? I know, the public service broadcaster will be informing the people, speaking truth to power, eh? Not a peep. Imagine those … Continue reading ‘Mark Drakeford must go’ anyone? ‘Labour fails Wales’ Anyone? No?

Two weeks ago the Prime Minister faffed about with his facemask, joking about the seriousness, or not, of having to wear one. The media gaggle laughed it off. The Express sided with his waddling boorishness. The Labour opposition said nothing. Yesterday, the Express and the rest of the gaggle, especially BBC Scotland, were of a different mind: Blind to the behaviour of their own leader, the Scottish Tories got all high and hypocritical with the First Minister. Reporting Scotland headlined the story as long as they could before it collapsed under the weight of its own Brass Tacks parody. Boris … Continue reading What was bad for the goose (Nicola) was not bad for the gander (birdbrain Boris)