From Contrary So, there are questions I’ve been asking myself about all the numbers – mortality figures – that are being released, as the Editor pointed out the graphs are always misrepresentative. Now as more data is known I’d have expected better analysis and some actual comparative data, again as the Editor has mentioned, on normal mortality – instead, we have seen a ramping up of the fear-inducing hype and more draconian measures from government, but at the same time not seeming too bothered about following good practice to keep mortality to a minimum. Then there is the frankly bizarre … Continue reading Are few extra deaths actually directly due to the coronavirus?

BBC complaint get’s non-answer after one month My complaint on 2nd March: Misreporting organised crime  The presenter said: ‘New figures reveal there are one hundred and twelve organised crime groups operating in Scotland but fewer than at any time in the past five years. A report by the Scottish Government’s Serious Organised Crime Task force says that although the number of gang members is down around 30%, the criminal groups are widening their scope. They’re not just dealing drugs they’re also targeting vulnerable bank customers.’1. Nowhere does the report use these words nor does it suggest any ‘widening of scope’ … Continue reading Reporting Scotland Editor: ‘We are not spoon-fed by press/news releases from any organisation.’

From Electricity Info yesterday: ‘Scotland’s first floating tidal power farm to be set up in Orkney. The 4MW scheme is being developed by Scottish firm Orbital Marine Power, which has created the world’s most powerful tidal turbine – the O2. The first of the two turbines is expected to be connected to the grid by the end of this year, with a view to being fully operational in early 2021. When up and running, the pioneering floating devices are predicted to generate enough electricity to power up to 3,400 homes – around a third of Orkney’s needs. The turbines are … Continue reading First floating tidal power farm for Orkney in Scotland’s ‘Persian Gulf’

Close-up of new infections and new deaths: It’s not clear how Scotland Coronavirus Tracker has been able to redistribute the 40 deaths announced ‘late’ yesterday but, based on the above, the new deaths trend seems relatively flat if elevated. More obviously encouraging is the apparent trend in new cases, down for the second day. This is one to watch for later today. Continue reading New cases fall and despite delayed figures ‘spike’ is mortality trend containable?

This is one of ‘our’ occasional and not much read odd posts. Serious-minded readers should move on quickly and avert their eyes. I’m not a twitcher but in my early years followed my grandad’s interest in the birds. When I heard of the ‘row’ over naming another Glasgow hospital, a part of my brain, not often consulted, inserted the thought that nightingales are foreign to Scotland. The above line, I think, is on the money: ‘It’s a’ very gude but I wad na gie the wheeple of a whaup for a’ the nightingales that ever sang’ Quite. Readers are invited … Continue reading Please, no nightingales in Scotland?

Not anywhere in the BBC, north or south, but in the P&J yesterday and passed to us by one of our regular feeders, Ann Forbes: Two Inverness companies have joined forces to produce face shields to help protect frontline NHS staff during the pandemic. Workers at 4c Engineering and Aseptium, who are neighbours at Inverness Campus, contacted Raigmore Hospital to ask how they could use their expertise in technology, rapid manufacturing and decontamination of surgical instruments to help NHS staff. They have now produced 800 shields and aim to give 1,000 to health workers there. The design is being made … Continue reading BBC Scotland accused of not reading the P&J as Inverness companies join forces to produce face shields

40 death announcements delayed by family notification procedures were added to the 10 from the last 24 hours, announced today. This takes the mortality rate to 4.8% up from 3.2% yesterday. These 40 deaths will be spread across a number of previous days in a distribution as yet unknown but will further clarify the trend. On a positive note, the figure of 10 in the last 24 hours, down from 16 the previous day, suggests a still fairly ‘gentle’ curve. The UK rate is 8.7% but seems likely to be affected in a similar way as full data from death … Continue reading Mortality rate climbs to 4.8% after delayed figures are released but still likely to be half UK average

This must the best so far. What a hoot. The Herald headlines a tweet by Douglas Alexander and two, yes two, tweets agreeing with him. The Herald’s Jack Aitchison (14) wrote: ‘A ROW has emerged online following the naming of Glasgow’s new temporary hospital at the SEC. We told yesterday how the emergency facility to treat coronavirus patients is to be named in honour of a Maryhill nurse – Louisa Jordan. Jordan dedicated her life to aid efforts during the first world war in countries including Serbia – before dying of typhus aged 36.’ Alexander thought it should be named ‘Nightingale Glasgow’ because we’re all in … Continue reading Stop it my sides hurt! Herald imagines a ‘row’ based on 1 hasbeen politician and 2 twitterers

The BBC Wales reported commended for tasteful depoliticised image selection. The BBC Scotland reported condemned as ‘political’ and inappropriate. The BBC Wales mortality graph which one judge described as ‘unique, in all of UK media, in its accurate use of a line graph to show an actual trend, as opposed to a distorted and scaremongering pile-up of death!’ BBC Scotland’s preferred graph, described by one of the judges (14) as: ‘All wrong! I knew when I was in P7, how to use a line graph properly. Who are those eejits at BBC Scotland?’ Continue reading BBC Wales tops journalism quality award as BBC Scotland are shamed by last place

From Brian McGowan: In response to COVID-19, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s clinical physics team have converted 100 anaesthetic machines to ventilators. The First Minister thanked clinical physics teams across Scotland in Parliament today for their efforts on increasing ventilator capacity by repurposing equipment. This is part of the board’s overall mobilisation plan to quadruple critical care capacity to cope with COVID-19, as requested by the Scottish Government. Patients with coronavirus often have difficulty breathing and ventilators are used in hospital to help with this. A team of 12 technicians in the past few days converted the medical equipment at … Continue reading NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde convert 100 anaesthetic machines to ventilators