September 2, 2010
Grouse shooting has contributed tens of millions of pounds to the Scottish economy over the last decade, according to the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT).
The sport also brings the additional benefit of providing local jobs in rural areas, as well as helping to protect the local environment.
The GWCT is now urging the Scottish Government to support the industry in order to protect its contribution to the economy.
A report produced by Strathclyde University showed that the sport brought in £23.3 million to the country and created more than 1000 jobs. It also showed that more than 40% of estates were able to recover all of their costs of producing grouse, up from just 1% in the early 90s.
However, the report also indicated the possibility of tougher times ahead for the industry as the number of grouse shot 
fell by around half between 2001 and 2009 and grouse numbers have been put under pressure by disease and predation.
The GWCT’s Dr Adam Smith said: “This report clearly shows that Scotland is benefiting to the tune of millions of pounds from economically active moors, where grouse shooting is the main aim.
He added: “The GWCT is working with the Scottish Gamekeepers Association and other bodies to ensure that policies and tools are developed by government and agencies that ensure grouse shooting can continue.”
Despite the harsh winter scientists believe grouse numbers are fairly healthy.
Posted in All pieces, Serious pieces | Tagged game and wildlife conservation trust, grouse, scottish government, strathclyde university, scottish gamekeepers association, scottish economy | Leave a Comment »
August 18, 2010
A Forfar man was sentenced four months in prison after admitting to stealing to fund his drug addiction.
The Forfar Sheriff Court on Thursday Steven Clarke (27), of Lordburn Place, pleaded guilty to stealing DVDs worth £115.85 from Tesco while on bail for an earlier theft at the Factory Store in Castle Street.
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Posted in All pieces, Serious pieces | Tagged police, forfar, court, crime, tayside police, forfar sheriff court, theft, drug addict, heroin, tesco | Leave a Comment »
August 18, 2010
A Forfar man has been jailed after he drove away from a police station while banned from driving.
Twenty four- year-old Paul George Hosie of Glenclova Terrace was sentenced to five months in prison and disqualified from driving for four years at Forfar Sheriff Court on Thursday (12th).
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Posted in All pieces, Serious pieces | Tagged police, forfar, court, crime, banned driver, driving offence, tayside police, police chase, forfar sheriff court | Leave a Comment »
August 17, 2010
The Scottish SPCA is seeking fundraising volunteers in Angus, Fife and Tayside to support their Scottish Animal Week, which runs from September 6-12.
The charity will use the cash to support the hundreds of abused, abandoned and injured animals in their care.
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Posted in All pieces, Serious pieces | Tagged fife, charity, sspca, Scottish spca, sharon comrie, Angus, Fife and Tayside Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre, tayside, animals, dog food, dogs, cats, cat food, rabbits, supermarkets, scottish animal week, september, fundraising, volunteers | Leave a Comment »
July 1, 2010
Whether you are working from home, studying for a degree or simply taking a stroll through cyberspace you deserve someplace stylish to travel the world from. Following on from the other articles in the beautiful but useful series, the office is next to get some beauty treatment.
Why is a raven like a writing desk? … Because Poe wrote on both. Unlike the dead poet however, the chances are your missives come in digital form rather than flowing from a fountain pen. It’s a much less romantic image, isn’t it?
But fear not! This stunning oak desk will bring the romantic touch back to the process of writing – even if all you have to say is “Check out this video LOL”
£348.37 (reduced from £769.95) on Amazon
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Posted in All pieces, Fun pieces | Tagged pretty, internet, amazon, edgar allan poe, edgar allan poe the raven, the raven, why is a raven like a writing desk, oak furniture, bookcase, laptop, working from home, university study, danielle steele, chicklit, chick lit, De'Longhi Icona ECO310.B Pump Espresso Machine (Azure Blue), Espresso Machine, De'Longhi Icona Espresso Machine, De'Longhi Espresso Machine, De'Longhi, ovetto, ovetto bin, ovetto recycling bin, recycling bin, bin, weather station, wall clock, EVE, WALL-E, pixar, disney | Leave a Comment »
May 31, 2010
Recently lot of my friends have been raving about Illegal Jack’s on Edinburgh’s Lothian Road. One in particular, Adam, never seems to be out of there. As he’s normally a man of good taste, my boyfriend and I thought we’d give it a try.
First impressions of the restaurant itself is that it was spartan in the extreme. Perhaps they were aiming for minimalist chic, what they arrived at was something more akin to a school canteen: wooden tables and cushionless benches were laid out in uniformed lines and thus was utterly charmless.
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Posted in All pieces, Serious pieces | Tagged ice cream, food, restaurant, mcdonalds, Fajitas, Burritos, Quesadillas, Natchos, Buffalo wings, Salad, madras college, illegal jacks, edinburgh, canteen, tacos, cutlery, benches, school, lothian road, tex-mex, tex-mex restaurant, tex-mex restaurant edinburgh, illegal jack's edinburgh, mexican food, restaurant lothian road, plastic cutlery | 1 Comment »
May 28, 2010
Invariably when you go to see a band in the local pub they are either absolutely terrible, or a carbon copy of whichever bands that they are tying to emulate.In the latter case, the bar staff might as well have put on a CD and turned the volume to max for all the difference there is in the sound.
Fortunately, this is not the case with The Minders. The Fife Four piece manages to play well known songs while still giving each and every one their own unique twist. Whether it is upping the tempo or altering the bassline each tune is subtly different to the polished studio output of the original and that is what sets this band apart.
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Posted in All pieces, Fun pieces | Tagged bar, music, band, bassist, The minders, bass guitar, razorlight, feeder, the dandy warhols, rolling stones, les main, marc bolan, stevie watt, billie joe armstrong, green day, t.rex, teenage kiks, the undertones, jumpin' jack flash, jumping jack flash, cd, cover, tempo, bass, bassline, bar staff | 1 Comment »
April 28, 2010
My Undergraduate dissertation. The maths may be a little shaky but it serve to highlight where the stigma attached to mental illness may be originating. In the end, Edinburgh Napier University awarded this piece 62% – a little disappointing but still reasonable.
This dissertation is submitted in part fulfilment of the regulations for the
BA (Hons) Degree in Journalism
Edinburgh Napier University 2010
Abstract
The study analyses the relationship between the mental health profession and the print media, specifically how depression and bipolar disorder are represented by newspapers. The study compares the differences between the tabloid and the broadsheet press when reporting on issues relating to depressive illness.
The study shows how instances of negative language and the types of stories reported can have an effect on the readers’ opinion and concludes that this could be detrimental to the opinions held about mental illness.
The research method utilised was content analysis. This allowed first hand assessment of the relevant issues and of the treatment by the print media of the illnesses and those suffering mental ill health. By considering both a broadsheet and a tabloid publication the articles gathered had as broad a range of opinion as possible.
The study aimed to prove four hypotheses. Hypotheses one and two related to article subject matter and aimed to prove a rise in reporting of mental health issues as well as proving that the broadsheet would feature the issue more heavily.
Hypotheses three and four assessed whether negative language had decreased between the study years and which newspaper had fewer instances of negative language.
Of these hypotheses one and three were proved. Two was found to be half true and four was disproved entirely. Therefore the conclusion was reached that while mental health reporting had increased, negative language was still too frequent to allow an unbiased presentation of depressive illness.
Acknowledgements
Alison McIntosh, for proofreading and general guidance
Kate Smith, for supervising this project
Peter McIntosh, for his constant encouragement and endless support
Jacqueline McIntosh, for her encouragement
Henry Topping, for helping with mathematical calculations
Kenneth Topping (Registered Mental Nurse), for his mental health expertise
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Posted in Random, Serious pieces | Tagged depression, crazy, youtube, mental health act, the sun, napier university, Edinburgh Napier University, mental illnes, manic depression, bipolar disorder, NHS, Dissertation, The Times, news corp, rupert murdoch, iris robertson, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, alice in wonderland, lewis carroll, adam ant, stuart goddard, royal free hospital, kenneth topping, van gogh, vincent van gogh, mike tyson, evander holyfield, lennox lewis, Charles ’Nish’ Bruce, Nish Bruce, Charles Bruce, psychotic, mad deranged, Archibald Hartrick, Press Complaints Commission Editors’ Code of Practice, Press Complaints Commission, pcc, rmn, ken topping, kenny topping | Leave a Comment »
March 10, 2010
Nathan Sparling
A candidate for the Edinburgh Napier Student Association presidential election has withdrawn from the contest.
Nathan Sparling issued a statement this morning indicating that he felt unable to continue due to the ‘inappropriate actions’ of the NSA.
Mr Sparling also outlined his concern that he had received a ‘First and Final Warning’ from the elections committee without right of reply, saying: “It was the first I had heard of the complaint submitted to the Elections Committee, and I had not been given the right to respond.
“As you will be aware, it is also within my Human Rights to be given the right to respond to a complaint where disciplinary action could be taken.”
The warning was received after Mr Sparling had previously contacted Programme Representatives to inform them of an Emergency Senate.
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Posted in All pieces, Serious pieces | Tagged edinburgh napier, facebook, the journal, NSA, nathan sparling, student elections, journalgate, Napier Student's association, Napier Student's association election committee, human rights, Finlay MacCorquodale | Leave a Comment »
March 8, 2010
Department store Debenhams is to trial size 16 mannequins in an effort to appease the average British woman. As a lady of larger proportions, all I can say to that is – woohoo!
Most shops use model of size 8 or 10 to display their wares – despite the fact that the average size in the UK is a 14-16. And despite the fact the average is a 14-16, many people remain shockingly intolerant of ‘fatties’.
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Posted in All pieces, Serious pieces | Tagged Debenhams, size 16, size 16 mannequinns, larger, bigger, fat, fattism, sizism, bigotry, fatties, descrimination, race hate, Daily Mail, nasty, Crystal Renn, Victoria Beckham, posh spice, VB, the three billy goats gruff | 2 Comments »
Grouse shooting has contributed tens of millions of pounds to the Scottish economy over the last decade, according to the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT).
fell by around half between 2001 and 2009 and grouse numbers have been put under pressure by disease and predation.
