scottsdad

I really don't know. It's strange - we're not strangers. We get on well. Thinking back, it might be related to the snow. I live at the end of a cul de sac and when the snow hit last month, I went out first thing and cleared the snow from the street (including past his house). When I was done, he came out with a big snow shovel and said something like "I was about to do that". Maybe he feels this is evening it up?

The politicians I've met: Keith Brown, as discussed. Richard Simpson (retired MSP) - good guy, very smart. Michael O'Neill - never really took to him. Felt to me like the constituency was a pain when his real work was at Westminster Michael Russell - met him twice. The first time was a fleeting 2-minute chat at a climate conference in Perth. Second time was about 3 years later and he remembered my name and what we had talked about. That was impressive. John Reid - Seemed pleasant enough. Helen Liddell - hell's bells! After 5 minutes talking to her I felt like I'd been through a washing machine. Very sharp mind and made me utterly confused about straightforward stuff. Linda Fabiani - I wrote part of a speech for her in my civil service days. She delivered it OK, but really did her best when she put the speech aside and just started talking.

That's fair enough. But asking if simply having grass means it's green space (from my recollection he asked of Recreation Park was green space as it had a football pitch in the middle) - and he has been leader of the council for a couple of years by this point.

For my uni, our plan is to have classes of maximum size of 50 from September onwards. Been a really tough year, especially for new students. So many 17/18 years olds doing it all online, no real uni experience, and bags of stress. More mature students handling it a little better, but everyone is struggling. As the academic year has gone on, more and more students are suffering from stress and anxiety. Referrals to student counselling is up 300%. My own mentees have been in touch, all struggling to cope. Things that in a normal year would be minor issues are getting blown right out of proportion. Hoping for a better 2021/22 AY.

Vacant look, slack jaw, reads whilst mouthing the words...yep, same guy.

You're missing the desire to keep this going into 2023 and beyond. The desire to tell kids and grandkids that you, like the Greatest Generation, sacrificed your liberty to make the country better for them. You're missing the desire to have the soap opera of virus/variant/lockdown/vaccine wars carry on and be our main source of both news and entertainment. You're missing the need to change goalposts to make sure that people live in fear for longer. You're missing the Message from Above.

Good God! Keith Brown! I was in the community council in Alloa when he was leader of Clackmannanshire Council. Thick doesn't even come close. I remember seeing the council's planner explaining the concept of green space to him in a meeting once. I'm sure he writes with crayons.

I've always voted. Even in the AV referendum of 2011, even the European elections. But this time I'm just feeling really disillusioned. I'm hoping that I see a leaflet or advert that catches my eye and sparks my interest again. Like I said originally, the Tory leaflet was Ruth Davidson and that Ross gut standing with arms folded, and every word about saying no to Indyref 2. The utter lack of policies struck me, and then I thought - I'm not sure what anyone's policies are right now. I know Covid has sucked the life out of the election (and possibly me) but I just want someone to give me something worth voting for.

I'm happy to leave it and tell myself he saved me a job. But I just wanted to make sure I wasn't the only one who thought it strange.

That's the thing - he did the whole thing. My side as well. Left the cuttings on my grass.

There is a hedge that separated my back garden from my neighbour's. It has grown a wee bit wild over the winter. On Saturday I saw my neighbour in my garden trimming it with hedge clippers. Don't get me wrong, I would have done it myself probably this week. And he has done a good job. But a heads up was surely called for.

My nephew is called Jamie. He has no choice - his parents decided against "James" for the birth certificate, denying him the chance of being a James, Jim, or Jimmy, and put Jamie on it. You're right - seems weird on an adult.

Have A Cigar Us And Them Comfortably Numb Sorrow (is this the first post-Waters suggestion?) One Of These Days

I'm three years Twitter free and much happier for it. Never tried the others.

Interesting take. I think the SNP really is stale now in office. Independence aside, I'm not sure that they're up for more years of government. They've made things a bit better across the board, but wouldn't anyone? I have voted SNP in recent years and when I think about it, it has become a habit. Just the natural thing to do - like voting Labour was once upon a time. Less than 2 months out from the election, I don't know what they're proposing other than inderef2. I like in a town where there is crime, and I do worry about my kids round here. The roads are a shambles, more potholes than tarmac. Unemployment is a concern (not for me, but for my neighbours). The schooling is good, the bins are improving.

I've voted in every election I've ever been eligible for, starting with the 1997 devolution referendum. This approaching election and I think - nah. I really might not vote. Nobody on offer excites me, or makes me feel like they have anything to offer. Looking at the runners and riders: SNP: 14 years in power and they're creaking a bit. What legacy do they have? The NHS, education, police, fire - none have really been improved. They have independence going for them, sure, but what else? This is a government we're voting for, Tories: They have one policy as far as I can see, and that's not holding a referendum. So if they win they'll spend 4 years not doing something. What else do they have? They put a leaflet through my door a few weeks back and the entire thing was about a referendum. Nothing on crime, economy, education, etc. Labour: No thanks. 2014 killed them for me, gleefully parading round Scotland telling us we were hopeless. Gordon Brown touring care homes frightening folk with "Your UK pension will stop" and saying that cross-border blood and organ donations will stop. Lies, denigration, never again. Liberals: No thanks. 2010 killed them for me. Bedroom tax, tuition fees in England, enabling every single austerity measure and running down the NHS ahead of a global pandemic (cheers, lads). They'll sell every policy they have for a ministerial job. Greens: Don't know much about them except their young guy spent some time a while back in twitter fights about Winston Churchill. I'd expect this from an adolescent, not an MSP. You might get the idea that none of this crown makes me want to vote for them. Feeling really down about this election.

Badgey!

Jessica De Gouw is fantastic in this

Genuine question. I've listened to Jason Leitch on Off The Ball for most of the pandemic and thought that if anything he was an excellent communicator. Compare him to Vallance and Whitty down south, who can barely string a sentence together. So...why are folk here so against him?

Researchers Warn Of New Giant Covid-19 Variant Large Enough To Swallow Grown Man Whole

If it was a case that the vaccines were a drug, like ibuprofen, we would be. But as they're biological agents rather than chemicals, there are fewer people capable of making them, the testing and quality control is through the roof, and the supplies of raw materials limited.

Just for you:

Always a danger with these racial types. It's not enough that you're born in Scotland, raised in Scotland, received a Scottish education and are now a minister in a Scottish government....the question these types go back to is ancestry. Where was your granny born? And her granny? As if that matters. "Not a Celt like me" - might as well say "not white like me"

The Tanzanian President has died, apparently from Covid. My PhD student is from Tanzania, and he went home for a break in August. When he got back i asked him what the restrictions were like in Tanzania. Simple answer: none. According to my student, they are more concerned about Malaria. He spent 2 weeks going to theme parks, clubs, parties etc. He self-isolated upon his return - but read up on the Tanzanian president's remedies for Covid. Steam inhilation and prayer.

Adrian Dunbar this morning on BBC Breakfast with Naga and Charlie. Charlie - an annoying runt at the best of times - got under his skin by demanding an acting performance leading to Dunbar saying something like "I'll give you a bit more, son". Joyous.