Pay freeze for GPs, dentists and consultants >> Health
GPs, dentists and hospital consultants face a pay freeze in the next financial year. The Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration Body has recommended a zero per cent increase for senior doctors and dentists, 1.5 per cent for the most junior doctors (foundation house officers) and one per cent for other grades. Junior doctors are unlikely to get the full amount, however, as the English Department of Health has indicated that it does not accept a “compelling case” for the recommended 1.5 per cent increase, and wants it to be just one per cent. In making its recommendation, the pay review body... Read more
The red terror that is the US census >> World
For Republicans, and guests at the Tea Party, everything Barack Obama tries to do smacks of socialism. Health care? Who needs it? Europeans and Canadians may like their systems, but that’s because they’re commies. And so is Obama. Car insurance? Huh! Same thing. Now, however, it seems that even the US national census is also a great socialist, red,... Read more
A glimpse into the musings of Fidel >> World
Having been told last night (Horizon, BBC2) that it is quite possible we may be living in a multiverse rather than a universe as we have always thought, and still grappling with that staggering thought today, I came across Fidel’s Reflections in the Cuban state organ Granma, only to find that he, too, feels intimidated by the immense magnitude of... Read more
General Election will be on 6 May … probably >> Politics
Gordon Brown appeared to end the speculation over the election date this morning by giving the clearest indication to date that polling day will be on 6 May. The Prime Minister announced this morning that a budget would take place in “two weeks time” on 24 March. A budget on 24 March would give the parties six weeks between that date and a General... Read more
Giving your money to the cloud >> Business and Technology
By David Calder A company in a converted steading outside Dalkeith aims to change the way everyone thinks about about their finances using cloud computing. Cloud computing is a simple enough idea. Instead of data being kept on a person’s PC, it is kept remotely on someone else’s server. Instead of buying a word processor, spreadsheet or... Read more
The secret of a long and happy sex life? Be healthy and be a man >> Health
Men and women are living longer than ever before, but are they still having sex? Yes, say researchers in the US, but how often, and how enjoyable it is depends partly on their gender and partly on their state of health. The researchers, from the University of Chicago, have also come up with estimates for how many years of sexually active life we have... Read more
Winter’s red deer deaths may balance population >> Outdoors
Over the coming weeks and months, as the deepest Highland snowfields seen for decades steadily recede, there will be some sad sights in the glens. The ferocity of winter has been such that upland animal populations have taken a substantial hit, none more so than the red deer population. In mid-February, the BBC reported “fears that an entire generation... Read more
UK Border Agency vigil for dead asylum family >> Politics
By Allan Laing Two days after a family of failed asylum seekers leapt to their deaths from a block of flats in Glasgow, a group of neighbours today held a vigil outside the offices of the UK Border Agency in the city. As the authorities continued their investigation into what drove the victims – believed to be a father, mother and son originally from... Read more
Microsoft rains on Apple’s iPad parade >> Business and Technology
Of course it’s just coincidence, but details of a new device Microsoft is apparently working on have leaked out just as Apple announced when the iPad would be available. But despite being billed as an “iPad killer” Microsoft’s Courier would be a very different beast. If the pictures on technology blog Engadget are to be believed, the device... Read more
This week’s winner of the Caledonian Mercury ‘comment of the week’ >>
I am proud to announce this week’s winner of the Caledonian Mercury “comment of the week” award. The bottle of Jura goes to Soosider for this thoughtful response to Gordon Brown’s evidence to the Chilcot Inquiry: Soosider It is interesting how perceptions change. I was at the time undecided about the rights or wrongs about going to war... Read more
Expert witness: Has bomb bay heating fault forced Nimrod retirement? >> Politics
By James Jones James Jones was a Nimrod engineering officer, responsible for carrying out flight trials at A&AEE Boscombe Down (now QinetiQ), prior to aircraft entering service in 1968. In 1969, he flew in XV230 – the aircraft which crashed in Afghanistan in 2006, killing 14. Since that accident he has acted as a technical advisor to the families... Read more
Puerto Rico heading for referendum on constitutional status >> World
Puerto Ricans may soon be asked to make a momentous decision that could turn their commonwealth island into the 51st state of the American union. Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House of Representatives, is expected to introduce a bill this week that would granting Puerto Ricans a referendum on the island’s future status. Puerto Rico has enjoyed a... Read more
That’s why Iceland’s gone mum on our debt >> World
The people of Iceland may appear to have overwhelmingly rejected proposals to pay back their £2.3 billion debt to Britain in the wake of the collapse of Icesave bank – many accusing Britain of bullying tactics – but it’s not that they don’t want to pay up, they just don’t like the terms. Bloggers on the Reykjavik Grapevineseemed to... Read more
Useful Scots word: glamour >> Heritage
By Betty Kirkpatrick Many of the televised reports on the recent Oscars ceremony were as much concerned with what the rich and famous were wearing as with the identity of the winners and the losers. There for us all to see was the fact that Hollywood is still synonymous with glamour. But what is this do with Scots? A great deal, because the word glamour... Read more
High jinks over Sport Relief map of celebfest cycle >> Outdoors
I’m curious about something and could do with a bit of help, if you have a spare minute or two (well, a minute or 30) in which to make a few calculations. Here’s what it is. The start of March saw a seven-strong bunch of celebs cycle from John o’ Groats to Land’s End to raise money for Sport Relief. The seven were Fearne Cotton, David Walliams,... Read more
Medicine, laptops and the web get their Avatar moment >> Business and Technology
Avatar might have had a bad night at the Oscars, but it’s done nothing to slow the flow of 3D technology. Early adopters can even now pick up an Acer Aspire 5738DZG laptop complete with the requisite glasses from Amazon for £546.43 including delivery. As with so many technologies there’s more than one way of achieving the same end. With 3D media... Read more
‘In politics there is no place for the prophets’ >> World
Two years ago Cubans were heartened when President Raúl Castro offered the hope of political and economic reforms. Has he delivered on his reform promise? Some consumer goods that were previously unavailable are now on sale, but how has the privatisation of state collective farms gone? Cuban historian Miguel Iturría Savón, who also describes himself... Read more
In praise of Sandra Bullock >> Entertainment
Just before prizegiving, Steve Martin asked the Oscars audience: “Who doesn’t love Sandra Bullock?” Alec Baldwin added, before looking skywards: “Well, tonight we may find out.” Seems almost everyone does indeed love Sandra Bullock. Carey Mulligan may have starred on the “Blink” episode which landed Steven Moffat the job as Dr... Read more
Iraqi David beats Na’avi Goliath at the Oscars >> Entertainment
So David beat Goliath, in Na’avi form. The 82nd annual Academy Awards saw the little guys of The Hurt Locker helmed by the tall woman, Kathryn Bigelow, take home six gold statues at the expense of the early favourite Avatar, which nabbed three. There were a reported 180million households watching. It would be a fair few more in this country if Sky... Read more
Diary: Tories claim EU a threat to sporrans >> Politics
The Tories have warned about a threat to Scottish sporran sellers after it emerged that the sale of new seal-skin sporrans will be banned from this August. Conservative MSP Nanette Milne warned today that EU plans to curb the sale or rental of seal skins from this August could have a major impact on sporran sellers. Ms Milne said the plans were “unclear”... Read more
