Scottish Journalism

So, not one single Scottish news outlet, or the BBC have chosen to include in their coverage of the padeophile ring the fact that the main suspect, the HIV positive one, is a former secretary of Celtc Boys Club in Edinburgh.  No doubt the Rangers fans will have noticed and today’s sectarian bile fest will be full of such references, and the return of Big Jock Knew.  Normally it is the Celtc fans who have the delusions that everyone is against them (they are but not for the reasons stated).

Genius

Just when I thought the Onion had gone a bit soft, they come out with http://www.theonion.com/content/whitehousewar/blog/dac 

Brilliant

Copying Kenneth Again ;-)

Actually, I’m not bored with blogging (with some social networking sites, yes), but I have registered with Blipfoto and have managed a  few days of blipping so far.

See blipfoto.com/studyview for more.

Glasvegas

OK, so it sounds like the JAMC fronted by Les McKeown but I quite like it on first 3 listens.  As someone at work said, its a brave decision to sing in that accent, and I can hear a  few melodies borrowed from elsewhere, but thoughtful lyrics, easy guitar and wall of sound.  What’s not to like?

Less Controversy

Is it alright with everyone if I say I quite like the new Verve album?

Cycling Madness

OK, I admit I can be a bit anal but I was having a real issue on my commute to work, three miles of which is along an off-road cycle path from Stenhouse Cross to Edinburgh Park.

The path is marked with this symbol(although the other way round) and the wide paved area has a white line down it, with occasional pictures of bikes on the cycling side.  However, it goes past Broomhouse and Saughton Mains, and I was forever having to slalom around folk wandering onto the ‘cycle’ side (or even worse, try to see dog leads extending over it).

Imagine my total surpise when in an email from the city cycling officer I found out that

 ”The segregated paths which you refer to are defined legally under the Roads Scotland Act 1984 which overrides the Access Reform Act. On these paths cyclists may only use the cycle side but it is legal for pedestrians to be on both sides of the path.” 

What on earth is that all about?  Who thought that that was a good idea?  That means Middle Meadow Walk, where there is often a problem with pedestrians wandering into the path of fast moving cyclists is actually working as designed.

I also asked about the painted No Cycling signs on Bruntsfield Links and the Meadows, and what effect they have.

“I have been investigating the impact of the Access Reform legislation on the legality of paths for cycling and in particular on the Meadows. I am currently awaiting a legal opinion to confirm my understanding which is as follows:

• Paths which have cycle signing are obviously legal for cyclists to use (this is predominantly the Middle Meadow Walk/Leamington Walk route)
• Paths which have been adopted by the Council but do not have cycle signing are not legal to cycle on (this is Jawbone Walk/Coronation Walk/Boys Brigade Walk)
• Paths in the Meadows which have not been adopted by the Council are legal to cycle on (these are mainly the minor paths between the above paths) 

I appreciate that this may seem a bit confusing but once we are sure of the legalities the Council will ensure that the paths are signed correctly. Whilst the Council may not be able to use signage banning cyclists on some paths (due to the Access legislation) we do not intend to encourage cycling on these paths where they are not suited for shared use.”

Must go watch Terry Gilliam’s Brazil again.

He’s Not The Messiah, He’s A Very Naughty Boy

Welcome back Deek; I might even put a bet on that you are top scorer in the SPL this year.  You’ve a lot to prove to everyone.  Looking forward to the Arabs game, even if both our arabs are out on loan.  Talented footballers, who helped give me a few good days over the last two years, especially the cup win, I hope Benji comes back refreshed and that Zouma and his wife are fine.

Home Alone

I’ve a weekend of just me and the kids coming up, and normally that can be a bit daunting but this weekend, the eldest starts proper music lessons.  She has a lovely new violin from Stringers and is very excited.  She wants to play just like Mr Fowler’s eldest.  Cue ‘Twinkle Twinkle’ in a few weeks time.

Methadone Pity

Last week at panel I was lectured by one of Edinburgh’s more infamous junkies that my drinking coffee was just like his 130ml daily methadone/30 ml diazepam script.  I’m still struggling with his logic.  Coffee makes me alert and able to focus.  He and his partner are so strung out that they cannot be left unsupervised with their children.

It’s not class, or prejudice.  Alcohol and some other drugs can be managed around childcare but opiates dominate the lives of those using them, financially, physically and in terms of focus.  I can let my kids dominate my life some days, in time or emotional energy; they can never put anything else before stablising/being straight.  I’m still in favour of decriminalisation but that comes with a cost for those who choose to use the strongest drugs as their way of getting through life.  That cost may have to be their right to bring up children; I’ve yet to meet a junkie that can make even a start of a reasonable job of it.

Schools

Today’s Guardian has a fantastic article written by former Fast Show comic Arabella Weir http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/sep/03/publicschools.schools which puts my thoughts on ‘choice’ and the politics of private schooling very well, and certainly much better than I ever could.

I still consider my secondary school gave me more than just the exam certificates to go to university, but rather a set of experiences and integration with others that I’d never have got at one of Edinburgh’s many private establishments.  It also gave me a group of friends, many of whom I’m still in touch with, something primary school friends who went to private high school missed out on (although I’m sure Stevie got some good clients out of it…)

Interesting that unlike Blair, Gordon Brown send his eldest to a normal school; my approval rating for him more than doubled, much like my approval of his predeccesor sunk when he chose a sectarian school and not to have his youngest have the MMR.  We have a duty to set an example.