7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/
1st of November 2011
Dear Sir/Madam,
CAMPING INTENTS
The exposed solum in Princes Street is a welcome sign that Edinburgh's tram project has resumed with a vengeance.
But should the Council really be permitting its navvies to set up an encampment in St Andrew Square? The whole area now looks rather tawdry and, as we have seen from the recent problems at Dale Farm, once established, these sort of unauthorised developments can be somewhat difficult and expensive to remove. But perhaps these costs have already been fully budgeted for now that the project is finally being properly managed and we are promised no more financial overuns?
John Eoin Douglas
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
19th of October 2011 - Unwanted Support
7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/
19th of October 2011
Dear Sir/Madam,
UNWANTED SUPPORT
I fear that support from the Roman Catholic Church is in danger of polluting perfectly reasonable opposition to same-sex marriage.
A Church rocked by often substantiated charges of child sexual abuse of both genders by its Priests can expect little public credibility for its teachings on other sexual matters. And the fact that the Catholic hierarchy sat back and allowed one of its most influential priests, the late Father Anthony Ross OP, to be not only a notorious homosexualist but also one of the founders of the erstwhile Scottish Homosexual Rights Group can only lead to further accusations of "Do as I say not as I do".
Whilst the person in the pew may not see the irony of a Church riddled with practitioners of aberrant sexual activities opposing same-sex marriage, the person in the street certainly will.
John Eoin Douglas
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/
19th of October 2011
Dear Sir/Madam,
UNWANTED SUPPORT
I fear that support from the Roman Catholic Church is in danger of polluting perfectly reasonable opposition to same-sex marriage.
A Church rocked by often substantiated charges of child sexual abuse of both genders by its Priests can expect little public credibility for its teachings on other sexual matters. And the fact that the Catholic hierarchy sat back and allowed one of its most influential priests, the late Father Anthony Ross OP, to be not only a notorious homosexualist but also one of the founders of the erstwhile Scottish Homosexual Rights Group can only lead to further accusations of "Do as I say not as I do".
Whilst the person in the pew may not see the irony of a Church riddled with practitioners of aberrant sexual activities opposing same-sex marriage, the person in the street certainly will.
John Eoin Douglas
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
28th of September 2011 - End Of The Road For Women Drivers
7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/
28th of September 2011
Dear Sir/Madam,
END OF THE ROAD FOR WOMEN DRIVERS
Whilst the Saudi authorities are clearly going too far in administering corporal punishment to women drivers, the underlying prohibition seems sound.
Were the UK to ban women drivers, the societal benefits would be manifold. Roads budgets could be slashed due to less wear and tear on the resulting empty roads, unemployment would be cut at a stroke as the more afluent rushed to employ male drivers, and the school run would become a thing of the past leading to increased juvenile fitness.
That it would also make a major contribution to road safety goes without saying!
John Eoin Douglas
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/
28th of September 2011
Dear Sir/Madam,
END OF THE ROAD FOR WOMEN DRIVERS
Whilst the Saudi authorities are clearly going too far in administering corporal punishment to women drivers, the underlying prohibition seems sound.
Were the UK to ban women drivers, the societal benefits would be manifold. Roads budgets could be slashed due to less wear and tear on the resulting empty roads, unemployment would be cut at a stroke as the more afluent rushed to employ male drivers, and the school run would become a thing of the past leading to increased juvenile fitness.
That it would also make a major contribution to road safety goes without saying!
John Eoin Douglas
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
21st of September 2011 - Single Ivory Tower
7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/
21st of September 2011
Dear Sir/Madam,
SINGLE IVORY TOWER
It is high time that the Scottish Government took on the vested interests of the educational establishment by creating a University of Scotland in order to rationalise the current distressing mishmash of Universities and former Polytechnics masquerading as such.
The ongoing saving in the emoluments of Principals alone would more than pay for any re-organisation costs and the resulting ability to keep fees down could encourage more students from England to seek the advantages of a traditional four year Scottish education thereby increasing the cultural diversity of our fair land.
Such a move would certainly be as logical as the proposed national Police and Fire Services and would be likely to have even more public support.
John Eoin Douglas
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/
21st of September 2011
Dear Sir/Madam,
SINGLE IVORY TOWER
It is high time that the Scottish Government took on the vested interests of the educational establishment by creating a University of Scotland in order to rationalise the current distressing mishmash of Universities and former Polytechnics masquerading as such.
The ongoing saving in the emoluments of Principals alone would more than pay for any re-organisation costs and the resulting ability to keep fees down could encourage more students from England to seek the advantages of a traditional four year Scottish education thereby increasing the cultural diversity of our fair land.
Such a move would certainly be as logical as the proposed national Police and Fire Services and would be likely to have even more public support.
John Eoin Douglas
Monday, September 19, 2011
19th of September 2011 - Drawing A Line
7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/
19th of September 2011
Dear Sir/Madam,
DRAWING A LINE
With estimated costs of the Edinburgh to Galashiels railway steaming rapidly towards £300M, surely now is the time to pull the plug on this White Elephant?
The savings would more than cover the shortfall in Edinburgh's Tram Budget thus allowing trams to reach the Waterfront at Newhaven. This would benefit many more people than a few Liberal Democrat voters in the Borders - most of whom will, whether or not the Border Union line re-opens, continue to drive into Edinburgh to partake of vital facilities largely absent from their rural idyll like decent supermarkets, shopping malls and gainful employment!
John Eoin Douglas
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/
19th of September 2011
Dear Sir/Madam,
DRAWING A LINE
With estimated costs of the Edinburgh to Galashiels railway steaming rapidly towards £300M, surely now is the time to pull the plug on this White Elephant?
The savings would more than cover the shortfall in Edinburgh's Tram Budget thus allowing trams to reach the Waterfront at Newhaven. This would benefit many more people than a few Liberal Democrat voters in the Borders - most of whom will, whether or not the Border Union line re-opens, continue to drive into Edinburgh to partake of vital facilities largely absent from their rural idyll like decent supermarkets, shopping malls and gainful employment!
John Eoin Douglas
Friday, September 2, 2011
2nd of September 2011 - Tram Vision
7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/
2nd of September 2011
Dear Sir/Madam,
TRAM VISION
Edinburgh Council's grudging decision to build the trams to St Andrew Square does not go far enough. Having suffered so much disruption, the people of Leith are entitled to see the whole scheme built.
Serious consideration should now be given to building the rest of the line using voluntary labour. After all, many miles of so called "preserved" railways (not to mention the Crich Tramway Museum) have had their lines laid or re-laid by volunteers and Leith Walk could soon resound to hordes of tram enthusiasts happily clinking away in their leisure hours with picks and shovels.
The Community Councils in Leith have amongst their members many persons of skill including retired civil engineers who I feel sure would be happy to contribute by supervising the project. It could also be an opportunity for persons subject to Community Service Orders to assist their community.
Judging from the previous progress made by the professionals, if a start was to be made before Christmas, the St Andrew Square - Leith section could be in service long before the portion running to the Airport.
John Eoin Douglas
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/
2nd of September 2011
Dear Sir/Madam,
TRAM VISION
Edinburgh Council's grudging decision to build the trams to St Andrew Square does not go far enough. Having suffered so much disruption, the people of Leith are entitled to see the whole scheme built.
Serious consideration should now be given to building the rest of the line using voluntary labour. After all, many miles of so called "preserved" railways (not to mention the Crich Tramway Museum) have had their lines laid or re-laid by volunteers and Leith Walk could soon resound to hordes of tram enthusiasts happily clinking away in their leisure hours with picks and shovels.
The Community Councils in Leith have amongst their members many persons of skill including retired civil engineers who I feel sure would be happy to contribute by supervising the project. It could also be an opportunity for persons subject to Community Service Orders to assist their community.
Judging from the previous progress made by the professionals, if a start was to be made before Christmas, the St Andrew Square - Leith section could be in service long before the portion running to the Airport.
John Eoin Douglas
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
10th of August 2011 - A Costly Ass
7 Spey Terrace
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/
10th of August 2011
Dear Sir,
A COSTLY ASS
It is not just glaziers who will benefit from the current spate of riot and insurrection. The greatest rewards will accrue to lawyers who will not only be more than adequately remunerated for defending and prosecuting those allegedly involved, but will also rake it in at public expense through civil actions.
According to the Association of British Insurers, uninsured people who have suffered loss in the riots can claim compensation from the police under the Riot (Damages) Act 1886. No doubt insurance companies will seek to recover payouts to their own customers via the same route.
The resulting costly legal battles to decide liability should ensure that legal practitioners on both sides will ride any recession whilst the public will no doubt be double-dipped in having to pay both higher taxes and raised insurance premiums whatever the outcome of lengthy litigation.
John Eoin Douglas
Edinburgh
EH7 4PX
Telephone: 0131-550 0895
E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
Blog: http://johneoindouglas.blogspot.com/
10th of August 2011
Dear Sir,
A COSTLY ASS
It is not just glaziers who will benefit from the current spate of riot and insurrection. The greatest rewards will accrue to lawyers who will not only be more than adequately remunerated for defending and prosecuting those allegedly involved, but will also rake it in at public expense through civil actions.
According to the Association of British Insurers, uninsured people who have suffered loss in the riots can claim compensation from the police under the Riot (Damages) Act 1886. No doubt insurance companies will seek to recover payouts to their own customers via the same route.
The resulting costly legal battles to decide liability should ensure that legal practitioners on both sides will ride any recession whilst the public will no doubt be double-dipped in having to pay both higher taxes and raised insurance premiums whatever the outcome of lengthy litigation.
John Eoin Douglas
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