http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/ Latest from the online edition en-gb Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:29:47 +0000 Copyright (C) 2010 Clyde and Forth Press Ltd http://www.clydeandforthmedia.co.uk/feeds/ 12 http://www.clydeandforthmedia.co.uk/furniture/dp_logo_500x75.png http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/ Scots are very far flung, or should be, as an Englishman once remarked. Far flung meaning of course there aren't many countries in the world where you won't find a Scotsman. We seem to take delight in straying far from home in some obscure and exotic places. Political, social and economic changes resulted in emigration of Scots all over the globe. I always take a special pleasure in meeting a fellow Scot no matter where I go. http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/02/05/396747-shanghaid-in-shanghai/ http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/02/05/396747-shanghaid-in-shanghai/ Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:29:21 +0000 Opinion It was just a matter of time. Bowing to International and Foreign Office pressure, the embargo on Scottish Haggis has been lifted here in the US after twenty one years. Banned since 1989 as part of the mad cow disease outbreak. As in prohibition era times when we had 'Rum Runners' plying their trade off the New England coast, the haggis smugglers are now out of business. The days of high speed Dag Hammer speed boats transporting bootleg and counterfeit haggis from Canada and the Caribbean will soon be a thing of the past. Haggis Smugglers, just like the Rum Runners of the 1930s, will have to go legit. The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Haggis (ATFH) of course will have to be closed. Sad to see the end of an era, but I don't think I will miss bathtub haggis. http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/29/396503-bootleg-haggis/ http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/29/396503-bootleg-haggis/ Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:26:17 +0000 Opinion "WHAT a shower" (Press, 21st January), says it all about so many things that are clearly wrong with the spending of our cash by Fife Council. http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/26/396301-what-a-shower-says-it-all/ http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/26/396301-what-a-shower-says-it-all/ Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:56:15 +0000 Opinion IT MUST have been very galling for Douglas Chapman to praise the excellent report on Calaiswood Primary School recently. http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/26/396300-education-services-half-term-report-must-do-better/ http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/26/396300-education-services-half-term-report-must-do-better/ Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:54:36 +0000 Opinion READERS may not know of the talk given in Saline Community Centre on "Financial Winners and Losers of Wind Turbines". http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/26/396299-huge-sums-associated-with-wind-turbines/ http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/26/396299-huge-sums-associated-with-wind-turbines/ Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:53:05 +0000 Opinion I've just watched the video production 'We're for Fife' and I think it does have potential. It was a little thoughtless however to have American singers perform the production. I'm not sure what Flying Officer Biggles and his aircraft were doing in the video, but it looked good. I really did like the video scenery and having repetitious models didn't bother me. You can never have too many blondes. The Kingdom is a very beautiful place and deserves advertising exposure. I conducted a random 'Across the Pond Poll' of the Fife promo video. Four of my readers are very much for it, three thought it a little tacky and one abstained as she doesn't know where Fife is… On a five thousand pound budget I wasn't expecting a Quentin Tarantino blockbuster and I think it does the job… barely. http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/22/396252-and-the-winner-is/ http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/22/396252-and-the-winner-is/ Fri, 22 Jan 2010 10:36:35 +0000 Opinion Christmas is over. We're well into January. What this actually means, finally, is some decent telly. But forget the return of 24 and Lost, the most unmissable US show of the next few weeks is Leverage. http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/19/388374-got-leverage/ http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/19/388374-got-leverage/ Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:06:04 +0000 Opinion DR Bob McLellan of the council transportation service, has already admitted that there is no prioritising of the areas that have been selected. http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/19/396095-only-hotspots-should-be-targeted-for-speed-bumps/ http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/19/396095-only-hotspots-should-be-targeted-for-speed-bumps/ Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:58:07 +0000 Opinion COUNCILLOR David Mogg complaining about responsible residents of Dunfermline 'carping' is a bit like the pot calling the kettle black. http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/19/396093-were-not-carping-councillor/ http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/19/396093-were-not-carping-councillor/ Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:56:34 +0000 Opinion As a former sailor I am really starting to get a little ticked at the Somalia pirates who keep hijacking our ships in the Gulf of Aden. None of the commercial shipping which pass through this region appear to be armed and if you look at the makeup of the crews it is understandable why they are not allowed firearms. When I say makeup, I mean the origin of the crew, not the stuff you put on your face. Many of the sailors on board these ships have more in common with the pirates than with their country of registry. German owned tanker, registered in Liberia with an Indonesian crew en-route to Halifax, NS. Not all the ships of course have this type of crew but they do make the easiest targets. What happened to the Merchant Marine? Some of these ships are pretty disgusting rust buckets and I think the pirates may be doing us a favour in some cases. http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/15/396028-taxing-times-are-here/ http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/15/396028-taxing-times-are-here/ Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:03:16 +0000 Opinion SOMEONE outwith the council is needing to take a close look at how they are spending our money. The services are getting worse and worse every year. http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/14/395979-nothing-to-show-for-our-council-tax/ http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/14/395979-nothing-to-show-for-our-council-tax/ Thu, 14 Jan 2010 12:56:22 +0000 Opinion MY husband can't be expected to come home from working 10-hour shifts every night and clear paths etc. http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/14/395978-husband-has-to-clear-streets-after-10hour-shift/ http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/14/395978-husband-has-to-clear-streets-after-10hour-shift/ Thu, 14 Jan 2010 12:54:40 +0000 Opinion WHY were the roadside grit bins not collected in spring as they used to be? Why were they not replaced and filled before winter set in? Why was there only less than one third of the minimum requirement of grit in store? Why were stocks not built up during the summer months? http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/14/395977-questions-on-grit-shortage/ http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/14/395977-questions-on-grit-shortage/ Thu, 14 Jan 2010 12:53:16 +0000 Opinion THE continuing debacle over who is to blame at Fife Council for the state of roads and pavements in residential areas gives little credit to elected councillors who would rather shift the blame onto officials than be up front and accept that with positions of responsibility and meagre additional allowances comes the actual responsibility for services and the way they operate. http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/14/395976-no-point-in-blame-game/ http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/14/395976-no-point-in-blame-game/ Thu, 14 Jan 2010 12:49:10 +0000 Opinion WE have wasted hundreds of thousands of pounds messing up our roads and it is proposed to spend a further £50,000 without any evidence being provided of any requirement. http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/14/395982-traffic-calming-is-a-misnomer/ http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/14/395982-traffic-calming-is-a-misnomer/ Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:05:13 +0000 Opinion IN your issue of 31st December you include a coloured photograph of the fire station and an article describing its design by James Shearer. http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/14/395980-what-was-original-colour-of-fire-station/ http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/14/395980-what-was-original-colour-of-fire-station/ Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:00:05 +0000 Opinion I still follow articles and discussions on The Forth Bridge. Zero outbursts of enthusiasm over The Frunnel but I am optimistic. Sailors who serve on board a ship's maiden voyage are termed 'Plank Owners' and they are entitled to a piece of planking when the ship eventually is scheduled to be scrapped. Like a lot of Rosyth residents who were at the original opening in 1964 of the Forth Bridge, I was one of the first residents to walk over the bridge. I think that makes me a Bridge Plank Owner. From what I have read the Bridge desperately needs all the planks it has and I will wait until it closes before I unbolt my chunk of planking. The true noteworthy people of course are the workers who constructed the bridge, several of whom died and they do deserve a memorial. I was ten years old when the bridge opened and I assumed it would last longer than me. Ferry service linking North & South Queensferry is impractical and in rush hour would resemble the Dunkirk evacuation. http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/08/395788-free-beer-at-cleos/ http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/08/395788-free-beer-at-cleos/ Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:03:43 +0000 Opinion Hello New Year: Rather than make more New Year resolutions, this year I have decided to recycle the ones I made last year. Those resolutions were dead in the water by mid-Jan, so this year should be a breeze when it comes to fulfilling resolutions and also it is nice to go green for a change. If I keep my expectations low, I am rarely disappointed. I do think New Year resolutions are admirable but it would be a first for me if I ever managed to accomplish one. Seeing the Old Year out and welcoming the New Year, always gives me time for a nostalgic pause and reflect on the past year. That usually lasts about five minutes before the champagne kicks in and it's time to do it all over again….. http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/12/31/395551-hello-new-year/ http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/12/31/395551-hello-new-year/ Thu, 31 Dec 2009 10:14:20 +0000 Opinion Christmas Day 2009. As a former British soldier and later a US Navy Sailor I spent many a Christmas far from home. I've spent holidays standing Guard duty, Mate of the Day and patrolled the streets of Londonderry during my time in uniform. Christmas away from home can be lonely. Would I do it again?, (definitely) and do I have any regrets? (none). I think I am one of the luckiest people in the World to have been able to serve two countries in my life, doing what I always enjoyed. This is the time of year when I think about our young men and women serving their country far from home, in harms way, and I wish them all a safe and speedy return. "Fair winds and following seas" - Traditional Naval Blessing http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/12/24/395431-christmas-across-the-pond/ http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/12/24/395431-christmas-across-the-pond/ Thu, 24 Dec 2009 21:45:44 +0000 Opinion Christmas Day 2009 As a former British soldier and later a US Navy Sailor I spent many a Christmas far from home. I've spent holidays standing Guard duty, Mate of the Day and patrolled the streets of Londonderry during my time in uniform. Christmas away from home can be lonely. Would I do it again?, (definitely) and do I have any regrets? (none). I think I am one of the luckiest people in the World to have been able to serve two countries in my life, doing what I always enjoyed. This is the time of year when I think about our young men and women serving their country far from home, in harms way, and I wish them all a safe and speedy return. "Fair winds and following seas" - Traditional Naval Blessing http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/12/24/395429-christmas-across-the-pond/ http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/12/24/395429-christmas-across-the-pond/ Thu, 24 Dec 2009 21:16:25 +0000 Opinion I watch History, National Geographic and Who-Dun-it channels here in Metropolitan Washington and I do get overwhelmed by having four hundred channels to select from. I limit my watching to just four, the BBC of course being one of them. I watched a documentary recently, on Geological formations in Scotland (Fife coastal area) which were discovered in the early 1800s, which maintains that at one time Scotland was a part of N. America. I gave some thought to this discovery and totally disagree. My theory is that N. America was at one time a Part of Scotland (not vice versa). Well, that is my contribution to science and I hope I have set the geological record straight. http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/12/18/395247-geological-record/ http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/12/18/395247-geological-record/ Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:15:36 +0000 Opinion THE joy of the shoe box isn't just for the child who lives abroad - it really lifts the spirits of everyone involved, and we look forward to doing it all again next year. http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/12/15/395113-appeal-lifted-spirits-of-everyone-involved/ http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/12/15/395113-appeal-lifted-spirits-of-everyone-involved/ Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:47:53 +0000 Opinion IT'S time for some serious negotiation between the council and the railway companies. http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/12/15/395097-rail-travel-must-be-kept-within-the-means-of-the-travelling-public/ http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/12/15/395097-rail-travel-must-be-kept-within-the-means-of-the-travelling-public/ Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:56:52 +0000 Opinion OF course, we must support our military when on duty abroad but not the outrageous policies of Brown and co who see London as the centre of a global power with worldwide policing responsibilities. http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/12/15/395096-mr-brown-needs-a-reality-check-at-the-ballot-box/ http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/12/15/395096-mr-brown-needs-a-reality-check-at-the-ballot-box/ Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:53:34 +0000 Opinion I'M TRYING to locate an ex-navy friend last heard of in your area. http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/12/15/395095-can-you-help-find-exnavy-friend/ http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/12/15/395095-can-you-help-find-exnavy-friend/ Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:10:44 +0000 Opinion