From the Seattle Times yesterday: When I became a San Juan Islander in the late 1970s, the Washington ferries were a world marvel. Countless magazine articles extolled the ships. I remember a National Geographic piece describing people flying kites off a ferry stern. Seeing a green-and-white ferry pull into the dock took your breath away. Today the ships are rust-streaked and embarrassing. The metal deck plates on some boats creak and wobble underfoot. Who knows what the girders hidden beneath look like, much less the engines. The galleys are closed as often as not, and dispensing machines have handwritten out-of-order signs taped … Continue reading Rust-streaked and embarrassing ferries, decks creak and wobble underfoot in world’s richest economy

Thanks to cuckooshoe for this. Above from Spice (Scottish Parliament) today. Council tax reminder: Continue reading What has the SNP ever done for us – Free prescriptions and tuition fees and lowest council tax plus the highest wages in the UK

Look at that middle column and admire the success of the Scottish Government in handling potentially live-threatening labour disputes in the health sector. Many lives saved. Look at that middle column and admire the success of the Scottish Government in handling potentially career-threatening labour disputes in the education sector. Many futures saved. You’d think BBC Scotland researchers and Conor Matchett at the Scotsman, would have this on their favourites list. Doesn’t look like it does it? Continue reading Scotland – An impressive but invisible in the media industrial action backwater

Again, thanks to Dorothy for alerting me to this: While, I’m sure the BMA Scotland and the BBC would love to just conclude ‘Police Scotland are investigating 10 cases..’ using that fine grasp of sums and zero grasp of statistics they regularly reveal, how many cases in Scotland can I actually find? Zero, zilch, diddly. No one is reporting this. Of course, I may be missing one. Do tell if I have but searches of Police scotland medical negligence cases just gets my Lucy Letby and Sussex! Wait! Those Glasgow hospital baby deaths, surely. Well Police Scotland did launch an … Continue reading 105 police investigations of negligence in one English hospital and none at all in Scotland

Many thanks to Dorothy for alerting me to this: “The RSC is pushing for a tenfold reduction of the limit for individual PFAS types – from 100ng/l to 10ng/l – as well as an overall limit of 100ng/l for the total amount of PFAS. It would bring the UK closer to the EU and Scotland, which have a stricter limit of 100 ng/l for the sum of 20 specific PFAS in treated water. Some countries have stricter limits, with Denmark’s set at just 2ng/l for four individual PFAS, and the US Environmental Protection Agency has proposed dropping limits on some to just 4ng/l.” … Continue reading Forever chemicals – Scotland has stricter limit

By Jim Stamper I find Brian Barbour’s perspective in his letter (Scotsman 27 November) very difficult to comprehend.  He mentions failures of the SNP not setting up a Scottish energy company but doesn’t seem to question the UK Government not doing so, despite energy being a retained power.  Instead UK Governments sold off all our oil and gas resources to private companies leaving us exposed to extreme energy price increases following the Russian / Ukraine conflict with very adverse resultant effects including huge inflation.  He doesn’t suggest the UK Government should be taking public ownership of the Grangemouth refinery despite … Continue reading Grangemouth closure symbolic of UK Government failures

Revealed yesterday, the Scotsman‘s Conor Matchett and Kevin Hague’s These Islands made 360 freedom of information requests of the Scottish Government. According to the University of London in 2010, the average costs, in Scotland, were £189 and 7.2 hours of staff time. According to the Bank of England, inflation since 2010 has been 48% so we can make that £189 no £280. Just those two cost us £100 000. The total 900 by just the top ten, cost us £254 000 and 6 480 hours of staff time – 5 full time staff! Continue reading Conor Matchett tops list of dirt-digging journalists costing Scottish taxpayer quarter of a million and five full-time staff in just one year

From Public Health Scotland today: During the quarter ending 30 September 2023, the 90% standard was met, with 99.7% of patients attending a screening appointment within 52 weeks of referral. One patient waited more than 52 weeks to be screened. https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/ivf-waiting-times-in-scotland/ivf-waiting-times-in-scotland-quarter-ending-30-september-2023/ The evidence for the headline’s claims? These two research studies in 2022: 83% of respondents felt sad, frustrated and worried often or all the time as a result of fertility problems and/or treatment, 47% experienced feelings of depression often or all the time, and 10% experienced suicidal feelings often or all the time. However, a further 30% reported suicidal … Continue reading Scotland’s stunning 99.7% IVF programme creates life, save lives and reduces NHS mental health demands

From the Herald, headlining the online version, today: Scotland faces an influx of XL bully dogs from south of the border, campaigners have warned, after Scottish ministers refused to follow the Prime Minister’s decision to ban the breed. no clickbait links any more here What’s the evidence? I’d be ashamed to have to offer this level of evidence unless I was writing one of my much disregarded mock-up/spoof/satires. Are XL Bullies fully banned in England? From 1 February 2024 it will be a criminal offence to own an XL Bully dog in England and Wales unless your dog has a Certificate … Continue reading Complete BS from the Herald!

Ferries from the English mainland to the Isle of Wight, population 141 000, take between 40 minutes and 1 hour. Foot passenger return tickets cost between £18.80 (day) and £27.70. Wightlink, the source of the above prices seem very cagey about publishing precise charges for cars so I searched for 4 people in an average family car sailing 30 November and returning 23 December and was quoted between £120 and £133. Local MP Bob Seeley of the governing party (Con) has described them as ‘some of the most expensive on earth’ but has/can do nothing about them. Ferries from the … Continue reading SNP Government-owned ferries saving island communities costs at massive 50% off the going rate