Is the Green Investment Bank part of a Unionist fightback?
Nothing, it seems, is done by government these days without at least one eye on the constitution. Just look at this morning’s decision on the Green Investment Bank. Edinburgh had been lobbying for the...
View ArticleOpinion: How to avoid the no experience / no employment catch-22
By Colin Borland So the controversy – complete with protests, crisis talks, questions in the House and corporate casualties – about whether or not the long-term unemployed should be offered unpaid...
View ArticleHerman, I miss you … but you tasted great
It’s only been a day, but already I’m kind of missing Herman – funny how someone can be part of your life for just a short time, in this case ten days, but really make an impression. Herman came to...
View ArticleJackie Mason, a mensch among men
Mazel tov! If we take the meaning as “Congratulations” rather than its other traditional translation “Good luck” it is certainly in order for Jackie Mason, currently on his last ever UK appearances...
View ArticleThe Friday song: Wur doomed
The latest topical song from the Sensational Alex Salmond Band is Wur Doomed.
View ArticleWeir’s week: Multimillion debts, £75k prize and 0.273 points
By Stewart Weir Saturday Celtic’s winning run was always going to come to an end sooner or later. It just so happened to be at Pittodrie as Aberdeen halted the Hoops as they went for a 21st consecutive...
View ArticleOpinion: Only bold ambition helps meet rising demand
By Martin Sime Organisations across the third sector are fighting the seemingly impossible battle of continuing to meet growing demand for high-quality services despite substantial funding cuts. With...
View ArticleReview: 4 a.m. by Nina de la Mer
By Alex Wood Nina de la Mer was born in East Kilbride. She studied modern languages at the University of Sussex in Brighton, where she now lives with her husband and daughter. She has also lived for...
View ArticleScotland again have to face Italy in wooden spoon decider
Two steps forward and three steps back. All the progress that Scotland seemed to have made against France was thrown away on Saturday as the Scots went down 32–14 in Dublin. More importantly, Scotland...
View ArticleUseful Scots word: skail
By Betty Kirkpatrick When I think of kail (last week’s Scots offering), I think of skail. This is not because the words rhyme, as I am rarely tempted to try my hand at verse. You should be thankful for...
View ArticleFriday song: Gordon Brewer
The latest topical song from the Sensational Alex Salmond Band concerns the High Priest of Newsnicht and king of the convoluted question, Gordon Brewer. The band's Best Of 2011 album is also available,...
View ArticleThe Schockemöhle of the New: a canter round the joys of eventing
By Elizabeth McQuillan Those non-horsey folk allocated tickets for a horse-related sport during the 2012 Olympics might feel a tad disappointed, but it can be quite exciting. Honest. You might think...
View ArticleOpinion: A Christian argument in favour of gay marriage
I am a Christian. I believe in the sanctity of marriage. I believe it is an institution that should be strengthened. That is why I believe that people who want to get married should be encouraged to...
View ArticleWeir’s Week: waterfalls, escorts, the F1 reboot and a losing streak
By Stewart Weir Saturday Another Six Nations weekend. So that’ll mean another loss for Scotland, this time in Dublin against Ireland. However, despite the reversal, there were still nodding, knowing...
View ArticleItaly 13 Scotland 6: is it now time for Andy Robinson to go?
Sampling the blogosphere is like taking a straw poll in a pub towards closing time. You don’t get a representative sample but it gives you some idea of where the hard edges of public opinion are. In...
View ArticleOpinion: Trickle-down economics – what to do with Scotland’s water?
By John Knox “Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink,” bemoans the Ancient Mariner in Coleridge’s long and rambling poem. I feel his pain. He is surrounded by an ocean of water but his ship is...
View ArticleHow to fight famine and destruction – from the master of laughter
By Philipp Hedemann in Addis Ababa A man in a doctor‘s white overalls laughs hysterically and rolls on the floor. His eyes bulge, sweat and tears pour down his flushed face, saliva streams from the...
View ArticleThere will be no bevvying: UCS work-in recalled in rarely seen films
By Chris Bartter Later this week, in the auditorium at Glasgow’s Mitchell Library, two films are being shown in the latest event to mark the 40th anniversary of the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders work-in....
View ArticleHow the Budget affects Scotland
Good for whisky drinkers, bad for smokers. Good for oil and video games industries, bad for those waiting to start on all those "shovel-ready" projects we have heard so much about. This, in bald terms,...
View ArticleBudget 2012: Good for computer games, whisky and North Sea oil
There was some good news for Scottish business in the Chancellor’s Budget. The most significant was his announcement of measures to boost investment in the North Sea oil industry. There will be new tax...
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