Musings and Marketeerings (Free subscription) | 01/11/2009
When you’ve been called mad by Iain Banks, you know you’re in for an interesting holiday. And after a week of – well, weather – on the Isle of Mull, I’m beginning to think Banksy had the right of it. Mull is beautiful – glacier-carved rocky severity shrugging its way out of blankets of rich autumnal colour. Cloud lifts in wisps from the mountaintops – they...
Out of My Gord (Free subscription) | 28/10/2009
Originally published in MediaPost's Search Insider , July 2, 1009 In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes" -- Andy Warhol, 1968 When Warhol made his oft-quoted prediction, he was referring to the ability of media to push anyone into the bright glare of the spotlight for a fleeting brush with celebrity. What he couldn't have anticipated was the strange twist the Web would throw...
Canadian Financial DIY (Free subscription) | 09/10/2009
How do Canada's universities rate when compared with the best in the world. Pretty darn good, I'd have to conclude after looking through the just-published latest Times Higher Education - QS World University Rankings 2009 . The ranking are based primarily on ratings of 9300 academics around the world, along with, in order of declining importance, research productivity, student-faculty ratios, employer...
The Friday Wrap (Free subscription) | 28/08/2009
I have had a week’s break at work between a staycation in St Andrew’s (golf - appalling, fish restaurants - brilliant) and a visit to the World Skills championships in Calgary (where I am hoping to make contact with Canadian colleagues and understand the contribution we can make to World Skills London 2011). Those who are interested in fantastic customer service in a value for money proposition...
Rock on the Streets (Free subscription) | 25/08/2009
Daniel Johnston has announced a few details about his forthcoming album due out later this year. Johnston is set to release his new album, ‘ Is And Always Was ‘, on October 6 via Eternal Yip Eye Music/High Wire Music . The musician teamed-up with solo artist/Beck collaborator Jason Falkner on the forthcoming album. Johnston has also dates for a forthcoming world tour. The jaunt is set...
Torchwood Newsroom - Searching the Rift (Free subscription) | 20/07/2009
WARNING : Needless to say if you haven't seen any of the new Torchwood season be careful clicking any links relating to it until it has been shown in you locale, as it will seriously spoil your enjoyment, no really it will, so don't OK. Don't forget to vote for Torchwood: Children of Earth - Day One , in our online poll. SyFy Portal has Preview: 'Torchwood: Children Of Earth' Cannot Be Missed , a spoiler-free...
Cottages Scotland (Free subscription) | 20/07/2009
Self Catering Holiday Cottage, Isle of Mull. In a remote location between Craignure and Iona, Ardchrishnish enjoys uninterrupted views of Loch Scridain. A traditional two storey holiday cottage, it has been lovingly renovated, retaining much of its original charm. Time seems to stand still on this idyllic island and the property is ideally located for exploring and visiting its attractions. The short...
Speed of Dark (Free subscription) | 12/07/2009
In 2005 Mark Hamilton (wearing the hat in the photo above) returned home to Calgary from Scotland with a broken heart and a head full of inspiration that he poured into his band Woodpigeon. He is quoted as saying that Woodpigeon’s latest album, Treasury Library Canada, the followup to the 2008 debut Songbook, helped him [...]
SoundsXP (Free subscription) | 14/05/2009
Woodpigeon , a collective from Calgary, Canada, who contain members of several other bands worth investigating including The Consonant C and Scotland's Eagleowl are principally the vehicle of Mark Hamilton, a charming, eloquent, tea-drinking chap who, were it not for the fact that he is Canadian, you might be excused for thinking had somehow been created by Ray Davies. On record, Woodpigeon make delicately...
Market Wire (Free subscription) | 27/04/2008
CALGARY, ALBERTA (MARKET WIRE) Nexen Inc. announced today that the BP plc Forties Pipeline System has been temporarily shutdown because of a two-day strike on April 27 and 28, 2008 by workers at Ineos' Grangemouth refinery in Scotland. The Grangemouth refinery provides essential utility services to the operation of the Forties pipeline at BP's Kinneil plant. As a result, Nexen has temporarily shut-in...
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