2nd of January 2012 - Police Holiday

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

2nd of January 2012

Dear Sir/Madam,

POLICE HOLIDAY

I am concerned to see that Greater Manchester Police are financing a free trip to India for a chief superintendent and a family liaison officer in order to meet with the father and family of Anuj Bidve, who was shot in the head in Salford on Boxing Day.

I cannot see that this can in any way assist in carrying out the police duty of bringing the unfortunate Mr Bidve's killer to justice.

If public money is to be spend on foreign travel in connection with the case, it would be much better spent on bringing Mr Bidve's family to the UK. But this move would probably not be popular with those who seek to restrict travel to the UK from the Indian sub-continent.

John Eoin Douglas

29th of December 2011 - Banking On An Increase

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

29th of December 2011

Dear Sir/Madam,

BANKING ON AN INCREASE

I was astounded to learn that Scottish local government minister Derek Mackay has frozen councillors' pay for another year.

I was impressed by the argument, when our banks were in crisis, that restricting the remuneration of senior bankers in failing banks would lead to a diaspora of banking talent as all the best bankers left for higher paid jobs with only poor quality staff still in post.

This argument surely applies to local government and it would be regrettable were Mr Mackay's freeze to lead to our councils degenerating into a morass of the unemployed and unemployable especially as strong and wise leadership will be required to steer councils through the difficult times ahead.

John Eoin Douglas

13th of December 2011 - Measured Response

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

13th of December 2011

Dear Sir/Madam,

MEASURED RESPONSE

Now that we are in the season where dissemination of accurate information about weather conditions can mean the difference between life and death, I can only hope that journalists will take the time to convert Metric units into Imperial ones when dealing with Met Office and other Government provided forecasts.

Like most people of my age group, when it comes to snow, I know what 6 inches looks like but the equivalent in centimeters is something which I cannot easily visualise. Likewise, with temperature, elevation and wind speed.

Whilst EU compliant officialdom may seek to kill off us old dinosaurs to hasten its goal of compulsory Metrication by effectively withholding such essential information, I would urge the media to be more considerate.

John Eoin Douglas

1st of December 2011 - Banged To Rights

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

1st of December 2011

Dear Sir/Madam,

BANGED TO RIGHTS

There is only one thing to be done with the people who have complained to the BBC about Jeremy Clarkson's clearly humourous remarks about strikers: they should all be taken outside and executed in front of their families.

John Eoin Douglas

23rd of November 2011 - Off Pitch

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

23rd of November 2011

Dear Sir/Madam,

OFF PITCH

The Scottish Government's attempts to legislate against "offensive behaviour" at football matches demonstrates the total lack of understanding of what is essentially a working class sport by middle class lawyers and self styled intellectuals.

Intrinsic to Soccer is a tribalism which often spills over into ritualised verbal and physical violence off the pitch. For a significant proportion of match goers, it provides a weekly safety valve for the pent up aggression which they are, quite rightly, unable to vent in daily life. The Saturday scrap between opposing supporters is part of the genuine working class football experience and is well understood by the real football fans who inhabit the terraces rather than watching on TV.

It is sad to see MSPs buying into the commercialisation of the sport which requires a squeaky clean family image in order to attract major advertisers. They should stick to the violence of Rugby with its off pitch politesse and stop trying to impose their standards on a milieu of which they are totally ignorant.

John Eoin Douglas

22nd of November 2011 - Keeping Warm

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

22nd of November 2011


Dear Sir/Madam,

KEEPING WARM

Today's story in the Scottish Sun about cops seizing a Celtic fan's Pope scarf has given me an idea for a new business.

Surely Rangers and Hearts fans would be interested in scarves depicting the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. The Kirk might appreciate the publicity and, unlike the Papal version, fans would have to buy a new one every year.

John Eoin Douglas

7th of November 2011 - Bleeding Obvious

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

7th of November 2011

Dear Sir/Madam,

BLEEDING OBVIOUS

I am alarmed to learn that men who have sex with men are to be allowed to contribute to the UK's national blood supply.

As the testing regime of the Blood Transfusion Service is more than adequate, I have never been one of those bigotted individuals who fear transmission of diseases such as HIV or Hepatitis though this route. What concerns me is the way in which homosexuality is once again being normalised in our society without regard for the consequencies.

What if transfusion of "gay blood" spreads homosexuality? This could account for the increasing prevalence of same-sex attraction in an age where blood transfusions are a common occurence. I would hate to see people understandably refusing a life-saving transfusion for fear of contracting sexual perversion. Perhaps more research is called for?

John Eoin Douglas