9th of May 2014 - Food Debate

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

9th of May 2014

Dear Sir/Madam,

FOOD DEBATE

The current vociferous campaign against Halal and Shechita slaughter of food animals is a transparent excuse to get away with showing the sort of prejudice against Moslems and Jews that is no longer acceptable in a multi-racial and multi-faith society. After all, if anybody really cared about animal suffering, they'd be vegans and not debating about whether pre-stunning is necessary.

As an atheist carnivore, I can merely attest to the infinitely superior flavour of animals killed by these methods. Unfortunately, I have been unable to procure a supply of pork so killed. But if any of your readers know of a religion or culture which mandates killing in this way and eats pig meat, I would be glad to hear from them.

John Eoin Douglas

12th of April 2014 - Tram Measures

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

12th of April 2014

Dear Sir/Madam,

TRAM MEASURES

Whilst reading about the latest problems with Edinburgh's Trams (Evening News 12 April), I couldn't help but notice that the deficient lengths of track were described in metres and kilometres.

The Victorian engineers who built our original system did a very good job using feet and inches. Perhaps it is this fetish for metrication (one unfortunately shared by your newspaper) which has led to uncertainty and imprecision in construction and has brought us to the present fiasco?

In the increasingly likely event that everything has to be dug up again and the tracks relaid, it is still not too late to insist on the use of Imperial measure thus restoring appropriate precision and familiarity to the undertaking.

John Eoin Douglas

2nd of April 2014 - Team Rationalisation

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

2nd of April 2014

Dear Sir/Madam,

TEAM RATIONALISATION

I really do not see what the fuss is anent the possibly bankruptcy of Heart of Midlothian Football Club.

In this day and age, surely no Scottish city needs to have more than one football team? A merger between Hibernean and Hearts would do much to promote the Scottish Government's anti-Sectarian agenda. And it would also allow either the Gorgie or Easter Road stadia to be re-developed for much needed social housing.

A move like this in Edinburgh could show the way to Scotland's second city and encourage Glasgow to follow a similar approach with Celtic, Rangers and Partick Thistle - not all of whom are even currently active in top league football.

John Eoin Douglas

3rd of December 2013 - Haymarket Misery

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

3rd of December 2013

Dear Sir/Madam,

HAYMARKET MISERY

It seems that scaremongering by the pedal cycling minority is now to further inconvenience Edinburghers and in particular those who are mobility challenged.

The closure of the taxi rank at Haymarket will impact those who have difficulty in walking to "nearby" cab ranks.

But if it saves one cyclist...

John Eoin Douglas

23rd of November 2013 - Off Their Bikes

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

23rd of November 2013

Dear Sir/Madam,

OFF YOUR BIKES

I deplore calls for Heavy Goods Vehicles to be banned from Central London during the day because of the percentage of these vehicles involved in the death of cyclists. Such a ban would do immeasurable harm to the economy of the Capital and would cost us all dear.

As 100% of these fatal incidents involved pedal cycles, surely it would be more to the point to ban these dangerous contraptions during the rush hour? Or, better still, permanently.

After all, if it saves one child...

John Eoin Douglas

25th of October 2013 - Green Grangemouth Alternative

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/
 

25th of October 2013

Dear Sir/Madam,

GREEN GRANGEMOUTH ALTERNATIVE

For those for whom environment is more important than industry, it's sad that the plants at Grangemouth are to re-open. The last week of closure has seen a remarkable improvement in air quality in the area.

Surely the Green Agenda would be to move these polluting activities to poorer countries and re-use the land for building call centres - the staffing of which Scottish workers seem to be particularly well suited and able to compete on price and quality with the likes of India. In fact, why not a swap?

John Eoin Douglas

21st of October 2013 - Making Tracks Safe

7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/

21st of October 2013

Dear Sir/Madam,

MAKING TRACKS SAFE

Once again I hear the moans of Edinburgh pedalists over their precious bicycles being trapped in tram tracks and throwing their burdens to the ground. Somehow, previous generations of cyclists managed perfectly prior to the departure of the last Edinburgh tram in 1956 - with some lines even having a third slot to negotiate.

But, something must indeed be done. It is clear that safety should be the watchword of our City. For minimal expenditure on a few road signs, traffic managers could ban cyclists from all areas with tram tracks. It's something most right thinking Burghers would support. And, after all, if it saves one child...

John Eoin Douglas