Scotland is to be handed sweeping new powers from the Government in its biggest power grab since devolution ten years ago, including powers to cut income tax, the Daily Mail reports. Nationalist ministers will be able to set drink-drive and speed limits, air gun controls as well as controversially having an unprecedented control of taxation – including stamp duty. Holyrood will seize a 10% share...
The Eyeball Collector by F.E. Higgins (Feiwel & Friends 2009) : a recommendation by Greg Leitich Smith from GregLSBlog. Seven Characteristics You Need to Get Published by Carolyn Kaufman from QueryTracker.net. Peek: "The first thing every real writer needs is a willingness to learn and grow. All agents or editors—no matter how busy—are interested in quality work." 2009 Cybils...
On Sunday 22november a community library was opened, instigated by the North Howe Transition Toun movement and housed in Monimail Tower North Fife . The Library occupies the top floor of this 16th century tower and is accessed by this narrow spiral stone staircase above the room which displays much historic information. Already there are many books donated which can be borrowed or read in the comfortable...
John Fardell, Lari Don and Keith Gray have been named as this year's winners for the 2009 Royal Mail Awards, Scotland's largest children's Book Prize which is voted for exclusively by Scottish children themselves. Author/Illustrator John Fardell won the Early...
Fair Isle is a windswept island half way between the Shetlands and the Orkneys. It has given its name to a particular style and range of pattern design knit that is unique to the island. Although many of the patterns did not originate on the island itself, and could well have come from a number of different areas of Europe, particularly parts of Scandinavia in which Fair Isle and the Shetlands share...
I've just come across a new blog by Alan Trench called Alan certainly seems well qualified to blog on this subject. Here is how he describes himself: I am an academic, associated with the University of Edinburgh and the Constitution Unit at University College London. I am also a solicitor admitted in England and Wales, now non-practising. My work on devolution has concentrated on intergovernmental...
The Sunday Mail reports that Jeremy Irons is going to star in The End Time , a film about St. Columba , the Irish monk who brought Christianity to Scotland in the 6th century. The film will be directed by Norman Stone, whose credits include the original C.S. Lewis biopic Shadowlands (1985). Regarding his new film's main character, Stone says: "He was not a saintly saint and this film will be...
The Daily Mail is angry and this time it's not immigrants, youth gangs or single mothers who are to blame, but the evil empire that is the exam board AQA and its decision to put text messaging on the curriculum. Have a look at this article to get an idea of what it's all about. But also have a read of some of these really sensible and funny comments from readers (possibly not your average Daily Mail...
News reaches me of Charlton interest in an 18 year old Livingston forward as well as the sorry departure of national team boss, George Burley. First the Charlton interest. The Scottish Mail on Sunday ran a story about live-wire attacker Andrew Halliday. The youngster has a host of English clubs chasing him for signature in January but apparently the only concrete offer so far has come from the Addicks....
The Scottish Defence League in, er, action A rabble of English neo-Nazi thugs were driven out of Scotland yesterday after failing in their bid to stoke race hatred Hundreds of police hemmed in the pack of racists and BNP thugs - calling themselves the Scottish Defence League - as they gathered at a pub in the centre of Glasgow. The drunken mob left the Cambridge bar on Cambridge Street and moved to...
Kicking off with a round-up of reports from the stormy weather that affected mostly just the very southern parts of the UK over the weekend. There were 2 reports of tornadoes, both from East Anglia: Mini tornado hits Lowestoft and 60 houses damaged as tornado hits Benfleet - the latter was actually filmed by a UKweatherworld forum member and can be see on youtube here . There's also excellent discussion,...
So Mr. Attitude had a little meltdown yesterday morning. Actually I should say Mr. Attitude and I, because when all was said and done I was worn out and feeling like the most incompetent parent ever. It began over his tendency to be overly dramatic when he is losing at a video game. I reminded him to keep his voice down. He argued that I never yell at Calvin when Calvin overreacts to video games. Right...
There's no better way to escape the holiday madness than by curling up in front of an open fire in a quiet cottage. Find late offers on cosy hideaways from Scotland to the Isle of Wight Scotland Adielin Cottage A snug traditional property – formerly an estate worker's cottage – in the Angus Glen of Glen Clova. With views across the glen, it is set in its own garden, on a quiet, single-track...
Glasgow North East was a dreadful result for the SNP and a pretty good one for Labour. Cast your minds back to last May when Michael Martin announced his resignation and ask yourself if there would have been a single person in Scotland predicting Labour would out poll the SNP by 3 to 1 in this by-election? Cast your minds back further to July 2008 when the SNP won in the neighbouring, and near identical...
By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982 Congratulations to Wille Bain , Labour's new MP for Glasgow North East. As with defeat, there are important lessons to be learned from victories - and this was an expected, though reassuring, success. Labour devised and stuck to a strong strategy in Glasgow. With a local candidate and a lively grassroots campaign, it played to Willie Bain's strengths - and the party's....
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