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Electric Scotland News
I've just finished reading a book about Russia deciding now was the time to start a war with Europe and so they have invaded the EU and of course due to the unpreparedness of NATO and the EU they have succeeded. This is all due to cuts in defence forces throughout Europe and so called political correctness and lack of decision making power in the EU. And then of course we are reading all about Ukraine right now!
We also hear about how this is really a European problem and not really anything to do with the US apart from their connection with NATO. And of course we are hearing on the news just how dependent Germany is on Russian Oil & Gas, how France is wanting to sell two of their warships to Russia and the UK is concerned about their City of London financial centre. And on it goes.
I was also sent a copy of an article carried in the Economist magazine in which they are discussing Finland and Sweden when it comes to possible Russian aggression and the fact neither are full NATO members.
And then with the Israel and Gaza crisis we are also getting reports on the huge amount of civilian casualties but we also hear of the virtual extermination of Christians in the Middle East So Israel is becoming the only safe place for Christians in the Middle East and now they are under attack.
I can't help feeling Christians are not being well served by either our Politicians nor our mainstream News Media.
-----
It has been an eight year journey to secure .scot - dictated by ICANN's application and selection process - so we're very excited by this news and hope you will be too. Your support for our not-for-profit, community bid was very much appreciated.
For the first time, it will now be possible for the Scottish community to identify itself on-line. This will open up new possibilities for business, as well as for arts, music and language. Previously, anyone wanting a domain name in Gaelic had to use the Anglicised version of their name but now .scot can handle all six Scottish languages and dialects.
Ahead of the general launch of .scot, we are running a Pioneer program for a limited number of Scottish businesses as well as cultural, voluntary and civic organisations. The Pioneer program is intended to provide a truly unique marketing opportunity for those who share our vision for .scot.
Pioneers will have first choice of domain name (subject to trademark rights of others) and can apply for names which might normally be retained as Premium names. Pioneers can have their domain name go live from 15th July - up to 70 days in advance of anyone else - will receive publicity as a .scot Pioneer and be able to use the launch of .scot for marketing purposes.
In parallel with the Pioneer stage, we will have a Sunrise/Landrush phase running for 60 days from 15th July. During this period, interested parties can apply for their choice of domain name but allocation will be decided only at the end of that period. All approved Sunrise/Landrush domain names will go live simultaneously with the full general launch planned for 23rd September. More details of the Sunrise/Landrush terms, benefits and how to register will be available on our website soon.
We very much hope you will become a member of our on-line .scot community and help us spread the word...!
If you are interested in becoming a .scot Pioneer please get in touch and we'll send you more information and an application form.
Sląinte,
The dotScot Team
dotScot Registry Ltd
5 Blythswood Square
Glasgow G2 4AD
Scotland UK
T: +44 (0)141 225 6285
E: info@dotscot.net
W: www.dotscot.net
------
And when it comes to the Scottish Referendum we are just not getting the facts... claims and counter claims abound. How anyone can make sense of all the so called facts I just don't know unless you are willing to dig and dig for the actual facts.
It really is not my place to suggest which way Scots should vote and I myself do not have a vote and living in Canada I'm not going to be affected either way. I have tried to raise topics and provide information to make you think and want to find out more.
I felt free however to raise the whole question of EU membership as that will be dealt with after the referendum. However that is really as far as I felt I could go. And in case you don't know I am against Scotland becoming a member of the EU. Instead I want Scotland to join EFTA and the EEA and thus become part of ALL Europe and not just the part regional EU.
All I can say is that you can visit our section on Independence at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/independence/index.htm
where I have tried to provide reading material for you to consider.
I do believe there are legitimate questions about our borders, immigration policy, financial services, banking and pensions, currency, and the affect on tourism and exports. Also legitimate questions on the value of North Sea oil and gas, the ability of Scotland to continue to provide free education and the role the EU plays in all this.
It seems to me there are those that want Independence no matter what. There are those that want to stay together no matter what. Then of course the people who are yet struggling to make a decision. All I can really say is that this is not a party political fight where if you get it wrong you can just vote in a new political party. This is a generational changing vote that will affect your children and children's children. However, if the vote should go YES then in the years ahead Scotland is bound to develop its own political system so what is today need not be the same in the years ahead. I'll leave it at that.
Electric Canadian
History and Folklore of the Cowichan Indians
We've now completed this book with the final stories.
You can read this book as we get it up at: http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...chan/index.htm
Duck Lake
Stories from the Canadian Backwoods By E. Ryerson Young.
This is a new book we're starting which can be read at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/pion...lake/index.htm
This book is quite light reading and would be suitable for younger children as well I think.
Also added "Guide to the Duck Lake District" (pdf). This is a wee pamphlet which provides information on the District. It is easy enough to read but you'll need to zoom in quite a bit to read it column by column as it's a three column publication. I added this to the above book index page.
From Britain to British Columbia
By J P Sheldon (1887).
This is another of these older scans in pdf format where you'll need to zoom in to read it. I do think it's worth the effort as it makes an interesting read.
You can get to this at http://www.electriccanadian.com/history/bc/engtobc.pdf
Farley Mowat, Acclaimed Canadian author
I posted up a wee page about him but also provided a link to an external site where you can watch some videos about him.
You can get to this page at http://www.electriccanadian.com/makers/mowat_farley.htm
The Flag in the Wind
This weeks issue was compiled by Jim Lynch along with a Synopsis this week. I must say he's more like his old self with this issue as he's covering a good range of topics!
You can read this issue at http://www.scotsindependent.org
Electric Scotland
Thomas Dick Lauder
Hope you are enjoying his book, Lochandhu. Started on the final Volume 3 and you can find these at the foot of the page
at:http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...er_thomas1.htm where we've added chapters V & VI.
Alan Cunningham
This distinguished poet entered the world under those lowly circumstances, and was educated under those disadvantages, which have so signally characterized the history of the best of our Scottish bards.
Now started on Volume 3 and have added Pages 45 to 97.
You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/musi...gham/index.htm
The Northern Highlands in the Nineteenth Century
Some years ago I published the 2 volumes in this set. Well I have now found a third volume is now available and so have started to work on this.
Added the issue for 1853...
The year 1853 opened with the new Government under the Earl of Aberdeen, which replaced the short-lived administration of Lord Derby and Air Disraeli. Lord Aberdeen’s Government was really a coalition, including such statesmen as Lord John Russell, Lord Palmerston, and Sir James Graham, and representatives of a younger generation like Air Gladstone, the Duke of Argyll, and Earl Granville. The Earl of Clarendon was Foreign Secretary. Mr Gladstone made his first great mark as a financier, by a Budget which lowered interest by changes in stocks, readjusted the income-tax and legacy duties, and reduced taxes on 133 articles. Mr Gladstone extended the income-tax from incomes of £150 to those of £100 a year, and sketched a scheme for getting rid of the tax in 1860—a hope, however, which was not realised. The Budget brought the finances of the country into a stable condition, and was generally acceptable.
During the year a dispute arose between Russia and Turkey, which finally resulted in the Crimean war. In the first instance the dispute was between the Greek and Latin Churches regarding the holy places in Palestine. This question was solved, but in course of it the Emperor Nicolas of Russia claimed a protectorate over the Greek Christians in Turkey, which claim the Porte resisted. The Emperor sent as Ambassador to Constantinople Prince Alensohikoff, a man of dictatorial temperament who embittered the quarrel. The Turkish side was supported by the British Ambassador, Sir Stratford Canning, who was raised to the peerage as Lord Stratford de Redcliffe. A Congress of the Powers held at Vienna, failed to bring the parties to terms. The British and French Governments ordered their fleets to Besika Bay, at the mouth of the Dardanelles, to guard against a sudden attack on Constantinople. On 2nd July the Russians crossed the Prutli, invading the Turkish principalities, but even then wiar was net declared. The next step, however, was an attack by a Russian naval force on a squadron of Turkish ships at Sinope, when the latter were destroyed. The news of this attack aroused .passionate indignation throughout Europe. Both the British and French Governments were anxious to avoid war, but when the year closed all the omens pointed to the conflict which was soon to break out.
You can read this issue (No. 12) at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ands/3no12.htm
Henry Dryerre
Compositor, Poet, Journalist and Musician.
Now added another three Worthies...
Peter Reid
Lily Harris
William Geddes
You can read these at: http://www.electricscotland.com/poet...erre/index.htm
Poets and Poetry of Scotland from the earliest to the present time
Comprising characteristic selections from the works of more noteworthy Scottish poets with biographical and critical notices. By James Grant Wilson (1876)
Now on Volume 2 with...
Pages 177 - 280 added this week.
You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/poets/
Samuel Smiles
Newspaper Editor, Author and Social reformer has been added to our Significant Scots page.
This is another biography we're adding. I've added this week...
Chapter XVII - The Huguenots - Travels in France
Chapter XVIII - The North Frisian Islands
You can read this book at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...les_samuel.htm
Book of the Old Edinburgh Club
We have acquired copies of 12 volumes of this club's publications and we're going to add one a week.
Now added volume 9 which includes...
Incidents and Documents, A.D. 1513-1523 By R. K. Hannay
Shipping and the Staple, AD. 1515-1531 By R. K. Hannay
Edinburgh Engravers By John C. Guy with illustrations
The Old Tolbooth: Extracts from the Original Records By John A. Fairley
The Sedan Chair in Edinburgh By James H. Jamieson with illustrations
You can read these at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../edinburghclub
Enigma Machine
Now have up puzzle 71.
You can get to this one at http://www.electriccanadian.com/life.../enigma071.htm
A Highlander Looks Back
By Angus MacPherson.
Continued to add chapters to this book and hope these are of interest due to me giving you an entire chapter last week!
You can read this book at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...back/index.htm
The Great Floods of August 1829
In the Province of Moray and Adjoining Districts by Sir Thomas Dick Lauder.
This week added...
Chapter V. The River Divie, with its Tributary the Dorback, to Dunphail
Chapter VI. The River Divie - Dunphail
You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../floodsndx.htm
Weird Tales - Scottish
Added a number of new tales this week such as...
The Tapestried Chamberl or The Lady in the Sacque
Highland Snowstorm
Legend of the Dropping Well
Wandering Willie's Tale
The Haunted Ships
The Unknown
The Rescue
As we already had a page about Strange Tales from Scotland I decided to add the book to that page athttp://www.electricscotland.com/history/strange.htm
Robert Burns Lives!
Edited by Frank Shaw
World Congress of Scottish Literatures, University of Glasgow, 2-5 July 2011, By Rhona Brown, University of Glasgow
My utmost thanks to the University of Glasgow’s Rhona Brown for volunteering to write a brief piece on the recent World Congress of Scottish Literatures held in Glasgow. When looking at our website’s Index, you’ll find that Rhona has been a faithful supporter of Robert Burns Lives! with this being her fourth article. It is an easy task to recognize good people, and Rhona certainly fits that category. The Congress featured two fields of study - Scottish literatures and that of Robert Burns - and both were introduced by worldwide scholars. I cheered when I learned that other such congresses will be held every three years in various international cities so maybe more of us will be able to attend. I’m also hoping that perhaps some of the participants of the recent congress will agree to submit their papers to Robert Burns Lives!, thereby giving more people access to their writings. This is how Robert Burns learned so much about Scotland and the world – by reading the papers and books of scholars before and during his time. Thanks in advance to those who would be so kind as to share their work with us. (FRS: 7.23.14)
You can read this article at
http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...s_lives205.htm
Where we've been able to also add to it the opening remarks from Mike Russell MSP and thanks to him for copying us into this in time for this issue.
The Life of Hugh Heugh.D.D.
We have this person in our Significant Scots section to which I've now added a link to a book about him in pdf format and a review of done by the North British Review.
You can get to this at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...heugh_hugh.htm
You Decide
Provided a link to the new Government web site "You Decide" which is putting the case of being Better Together.
You can visit this site at https://www.youdecide2014.uk/
Rambles Round Glasgow
As the Glasgow Commonwealth Games starts this weekend I thought I'd provide you with a list of resources we have about Glasgow and added them to this page at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/glasgow
The 2014 Rhind Lectures
An introduction to the 2014 Rhind Lectures by Emeritus Professor John Waddell, NUI Galway, on "Archaeology and Celtic Myth - an exploration"
This link will take you to our Community where you can get the link to the Introduction and the actual lectures which are available on YouTube.
http://www.electricscotland.org/show...5160#post15160
Skye Terriers
Read an article on how these wee dogs are now an endangered species. I thought I'd include this on the site and it can be read at:http://www.electricscotland.com/pets...hland.htm#skye
And Finally...
A PATRIARCH
On a gravestone in the churchyard of Fyvie, Aberdeenshire, is the following inscription:-"Erected to the memory of Alexander Gray, some time fanner in Mill of Burns, who died in the 96th year of his age. having had thirty-two legitimate children by two wives."
That's a pretty good start at building the clan!
AN EXACTING PRISONER
An anecdote illustrative of the condition of Scottish prisons thirty·four years ago is given by Lord Cockburn in his "Journal":- "We have had good specimens of the present condition of some prisons. One man was tried at Inverness for prison breaking, and his defence was that he was ill-fed, and that the prison was so weak that he had sent a message to the jailer that if he did not get more meat he would not stay another hour, and he went out accordingly."
WASTE LAND
When some one said to Burns that the farm of Ellisland consisted of good ground, the poet exclaimed, "Good ground! and so it is, save what is stones. It is not land, sir; it is the riddling. of the creation!"
AN AWKWARD SITUATION
On the return of the Earl of Eglinton from the American war, where he had been serving as colonel in his regiment, he was much annoyed by the interrogatories of his mother, whose maternal fondness could never be satisfied with the marathon of the toils and perils to which he had been exposed. More than usually teased on one occasion, he good humouredly replied, "Deed, mother, to tell the truth, the greatest difficulty and annoyance I experienced was when, in endeavouring to clear a fence, I happened to leap into a close column of very long nettles!" - no enviable situation for a man with a kilt on.
And that's it for this week and hope you all enjoy your weekend.
Alastair
I've just finished reading a book about Russia deciding now was the time to start a war with Europe and so they have invaded the EU and of course due to the unpreparedness of NATO and the EU they have succeeded. This is all due to cuts in defence forces throughout Europe and so called political correctness and lack of decision making power in the EU. And then of course we are reading all about Ukraine right now!
We also hear about how this is really a European problem and not really anything to do with the US apart from their connection with NATO. And of course we are hearing on the news just how dependent Germany is on Russian Oil & Gas, how France is wanting to sell two of their warships to Russia and the UK is concerned about their City of London financial centre. And on it goes.
I was also sent a copy of an article carried in the Economist magazine in which they are discussing Finland and Sweden when it comes to possible Russian aggression and the fact neither are full NATO members.
And then with the Israel and Gaza crisis we are also getting reports on the huge amount of civilian casualties but we also hear of the virtual extermination of Christians in the Middle East So Israel is becoming the only safe place for Christians in the Middle East and now they are under attack.
I can't help feeling Christians are not being well served by either our Politicians nor our mainstream News Media.
-----
It has been an eight year journey to secure .scot - dictated by ICANN's application and selection process - so we're very excited by this news and hope you will be too. Your support for our not-for-profit, community bid was very much appreciated.
For the first time, it will now be possible for the Scottish community to identify itself on-line. This will open up new possibilities for business, as well as for arts, music and language. Previously, anyone wanting a domain name in Gaelic had to use the Anglicised version of their name but now .scot can handle all six Scottish languages and dialects.
Ahead of the general launch of .scot, we are running a Pioneer program for a limited number of Scottish businesses as well as cultural, voluntary and civic organisations. The Pioneer program is intended to provide a truly unique marketing opportunity for those who share our vision for .scot.
Pioneers will have first choice of domain name (subject to trademark rights of others) and can apply for names which might normally be retained as Premium names. Pioneers can have their domain name go live from 15th July - up to 70 days in advance of anyone else - will receive publicity as a .scot Pioneer and be able to use the launch of .scot for marketing purposes.
In parallel with the Pioneer stage, we will have a Sunrise/Landrush phase running for 60 days from 15th July. During this period, interested parties can apply for their choice of domain name but allocation will be decided only at the end of that period. All approved Sunrise/Landrush domain names will go live simultaneously with the full general launch planned for 23rd September. More details of the Sunrise/Landrush terms, benefits and how to register will be available on our website soon.
We very much hope you will become a member of our on-line .scot community and help us spread the word...!
If you are interested in becoming a .scot Pioneer please get in touch and we'll send you more information and an application form.
Sląinte,
The dotScot Team
dotScot Registry Ltd
5 Blythswood Square
Glasgow G2 4AD
Scotland UK
T: +44 (0)141 225 6285
E: info@dotscot.net
W: www.dotscot.net
------
And when it comes to the Scottish Referendum we are just not getting the facts... claims and counter claims abound. How anyone can make sense of all the so called facts I just don't know unless you are willing to dig and dig for the actual facts.
It really is not my place to suggest which way Scots should vote and I myself do not have a vote and living in Canada I'm not going to be affected either way. I have tried to raise topics and provide information to make you think and want to find out more.
I felt free however to raise the whole question of EU membership as that will be dealt with after the referendum. However that is really as far as I felt I could go. And in case you don't know I am against Scotland becoming a member of the EU. Instead I want Scotland to join EFTA and the EEA and thus become part of ALL Europe and not just the part regional EU.
All I can say is that you can visit our section on Independence at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/independence/index.htm
where I have tried to provide reading material for you to consider.
I do believe there are legitimate questions about our borders, immigration policy, financial services, banking and pensions, currency, and the affect on tourism and exports. Also legitimate questions on the value of North Sea oil and gas, the ability of Scotland to continue to provide free education and the role the EU plays in all this.
It seems to me there are those that want Independence no matter what. There are those that want to stay together no matter what. Then of course the people who are yet struggling to make a decision. All I can really say is that this is not a party political fight where if you get it wrong you can just vote in a new political party. This is a generational changing vote that will affect your children and children's children. However, if the vote should go YES then in the years ahead Scotland is bound to develop its own political system so what is today need not be the same in the years ahead. I'll leave it at that.
Electric Canadian
History and Folklore of the Cowichan Indians
We've now completed this book with the final stories.
You can read this book as we get it up at: http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...chan/index.htm
Duck Lake
Stories from the Canadian Backwoods By E. Ryerson Young.
This is a new book we're starting which can be read at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/pion...lake/index.htm
This book is quite light reading and would be suitable for younger children as well I think.
Also added "Guide to the Duck Lake District" (pdf). This is a wee pamphlet which provides information on the District. It is easy enough to read but you'll need to zoom in quite a bit to read it column by column as it's a three column publication. I added this to the above book index page.
From Britain to British Columbia
By J P Sheldon (1887).
This is another of these older scans in pdf format where you'll need to zoom in to read it. I do think it's worth the effort as it makes an interesting read.
You can get to this at http://www.electriccanadian.com/history/bc/engtobc.pdf
Farley Mowat, Acclaimed Canadian author
I posted up a wee page about him but also provided a link to an external site where you can watch some videos about him.
You can get to this page at http://www.electriccanadian.com/makers/mowat_farley.htm
The Flag in the Wind
This weeks issue was compiled by Jim Lynch along with a Synopsis this week. I must say he's more like his old self with this issue as he's covering a good range of topics!
You can read this issue at http://www.scotsindependent.org
Electric Scotland
Thomas Dick Lauder
Hope you are enjoying his book, Lochandhu. Started on the final Volume 3 and you can find these at the foot of the page
at:http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...er_thomas1.htm where we've added chapters V & VI.
Alan Cunningham
This distinguished poet entered the world under those lowly circumstances, and was educated under those disadvantages, which have so signally characterized the history of the best of our Scottish bards.
Now started on Volume 3 and have added Pages 45 to 97.
You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/musi...gham/index.htm
The Northern Highlands in the Nineteenth Century
Some years ago I published the 2 volumes in this set. Well I have now found a third volume is now available and so have started to work on this.
Added the issue for 1853...
The year 1853 opened with the new Government under the Earl of Aberdeen, which replaced the short-lived administration of Lord Derby and Air Disraeli. Lord Aberdeen’s Government was really a coalition, including such statesmen as Lord John Russell, Lord Palmerston, and Sir James Graham, and representatives of a younger generation like Air Gladstone, the Duke of Argyll, and Earl Granville. The Earl of Clarendon was Foreign Secretary. Mr Gladstone made his first great mark as a financier, by a Budget which lowered interest by changes in stocks, readjusted the income-tax and legacy duties, and reduced taxes on 133 articles. Mr Gladstone extended the income-tax from incomes of £150 to those of £100 a year, and sketched a scheme for getting rid of the tax in 1860—a hope, however, which was not realised. The Budget brought the finances of the country into a stable condition, and was generally acceptable.
During the year a dispute arose between Russia and Turkey, which finally resulted in the Crimean war. In the first instance the dispute was between the Greek and Latin Churches regarding the holy places in Palestine. This question was solved, but in course of it the Emperor Nicolas of Russia claimed a protectorate over the Greek Christians in Turkey, which claim the Porte resisted. The Emperor sent as Ambassador to Constantinople Prince Alensohikoff, a man of dictatorial temperament who embittered the quarrel. The Turkish side was supported by the British Ambassador, Sir Stratford Canning, who was raised to the peerage as Lord Stratford de Redcliffe. A Congress of the Powers held at Vienna, failed to bring the parties to terms. The British and French Governments ordered their fleets to Besika Bay, at the mouth of the Dardanelles, to guard against a sudden attack on Constantinople. On 2nd July the Russians crossed the Prutli, invading the Turkish principalities, but even then wiar was net declared. The next step, however, was an attack by a Russian naval force on a squadron of Turkish ships at Sinope, when the latter were destroyed. The news of this attack aroused .passionate indignation throughout Europe. Both the British and French Governments were anxious to avoid war, but when the year closed all the omens pointed to the conflict which was soon to break out.
You can read this issue (No. 12) at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ands/3no12.htm
Henry Dryerre
Compositor, Poet, Journalist and Musician.
Now added another three Worthies...
Peter Reid
Lily Harris
William Geddes
You can read these at: http://www.electricscotland.com/poet...erre/index.htm
Poets and Poetry of Scotland from the earliest to the present time
Comprising characteristic selections from the works of more noteworthy Scottish poets with biographical and critical notices. By James Grant Wilson (1876)
Now on Volume 2 with...
Pages 177 - 280 added this week.
You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/poets/
Samuel Smiles
Newspaper Editor, Author and Social reformer has been added to our Significant Scots page.
This is another biography we're adding. I've added this week...
Chapter XVII - The Huguenots - Travels in France
Chapter XVIII - The North Frisian Islands
You can read this book at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...les_samuel.htm
Book of the Old Edinburgh Club
We have acquired copies of 12 volumes of this club's publications and we're going to add one a week.
Now added volume 9 which includes...
Incidents and Documents, A.D. 1513-1523 By R. K. Hannay
Shipping and the Staple, AD. 1515-1531 By R. K. Hannay
Edinburgh Engravers By John C. Guy with illustrations
The Old Tolbooth: Extracts from the Original Records By John A. Fairley
The Sedan Chair in Edinburgh By James H. Jamieson with illustrations
You can read these at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../edinburghclub
Enigma Machine
Now have up puzzle 71.
You can get to this one at http://www.electriccanadian.com/life.../enigma071.htm
A Highlander Looks Back
By Angus MacPherson.
Continued to add chapters to this book and hope these are of interest due to me giving you an entire chapter last week!
You can read this book at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...back/index.htm
The Great Floods of August 1829
In the Province of Moray and Adjoining Districts by Sir Thomas Dick Lauder.
This week added...
Chapter V. The River Divie, with its Tributary the Dorback, to Dunphail
Chapter VI. The River Divie - Dunphail
You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../floodsndx.htm
Weird Tales - Scottish
Added a number of new tales this week such as...
The Tapestried Chamberl or The Lady in the Sacque
Highland Snowstorm
Legend of the Dropping Well
Wandering Willie's Tale
The Haunted Ships
The Unknown
The Rescue
As we already had a page about Strange Tales from Scotland I decided to add the book to that page athttp://www.electricscotland.com/history/strange.htm
Robert Burns Lives!
Edited by Frank Shaw
World Congress of Scottish Literatures, University of Glasgow, 2-5 July 2011, By Rhona Brown, University of Glasgow
My utmost thanks to the University of Glasgow’s Rhona Brown for volunteering to write a brief piece on the recent World Congress of Scottish Literatures held in Glasgow. When looking at our website’s Index, you’ll find that Rhona has been a faithful supporter of Robert Burns Lives! with this being her fourth article. It is an easy task to recognize good people, and Rhona certainly fits that category. The Congress featured two fields of study - Scottish literatures and that of Robert Burns - and both were introduced by worldwide scholars. I cheered when I learned that other such congresses will be held every three years in various international cities so maybe more of us will be able to attend. I’m also hoping that perhaps some of the participants of the recent congress will agree to submit their papers to Robert Burns Lives!, thereby giving more people access to their writings. This is how Robert Burns learned so much about Scotland and the world – by reading the papers and books of scholars before and during his time. Thanks in advance to those who would be so kind as to share their work with us. (FRS: 7.23.14)
You can read this article at
http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...s_lives205.htm
Where we've been able to also add to it the opening remarks from Mike Russell MSP and thanks to him for copying us into this in time for this issue.
The Life of Hugh Heugh.D.D.
We have this person in our Significant Scots section to which I've now added a link to a book about him in pdf format and a review of done by the North British Review.
You can get to this at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...heugh_hugh.htm
You Decide
Provided a link to the new Government web site "You Decide" which is putting the case of being Better Together.
You can visit this site at https://www.youdecide2014.uk/
Rambles Round Glasgow
As the Glasgow Commonwealth Games starts this weekend I thought I'd provide you with a list of resources we have about Glasgow and added them to this page at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/glasgow
The 2014 Rhind Lectures
An introduction to the 2014 Rhind Lectures by Emeritus Professor John Waddell, NUI Galway, on "Archaeology and Celtic Myth - an exploration"
This link will take you to our Community where you can get the link to the Introduction and the actual lectures which are available on YouTube.
http://www.electricscotland.org/show...5160#post15160
Skye Terriers
Read an article on how these wee dogs are now an endangered species. I thought I'd include this on the site and it can be read at:http://www.electricscotland.com/pets...hland.htm#skye
And Finally...
A PATRIARCH
On a gravestone in the churchyard of Fyvie, Aberdeenshire, is the following inscription:-"Erected to the memory of Alexander Gray, some time fanner in Mill of Burns, who died in the 96th year of his age. having had thirty-two legitimate children by two wives."
That's a pretty good start at building the clan!
AN EXACTING PRISONER
An anecdote illustrative of the condition of Scottish prisons thirty·four years ago is given by Lord Cockburn in his "Journal":- "We have had good specimens of the present condition of some prisons. One man was tried at Inverness for prison breaking, and his defence was that he was ill-fed, and that the prison was so weak that he had sent a message to the jailer that if he did not get more meat he would not stay another hour, and he went out accordingly."
WASTE LAND
When some one said to Burns that the farm of Ellisland consisted of good ground, the poet exclaimed, "Good ground! and so it is, save what is stones. It is not land, sir; it is the riddling. of the creation!"
AN AWKWARD SITUATION
On the return of the Earl of Eglinton from the American war, where he had been serving as colonel in his regiment, he was much annoyed by the interrogatories of his mother, whose maternal fondness could never be satisfied with the marathon of the toils and perils to which he had been exposed. More than usually teased on one occasion, he good humouredly replied, "Deed, mother, to tell the truth, the greatest difficulty and annoyance I experienced was when, in endeavouring to clear a fence, I happened to leap into a close column of very long nettles!" - no enviable situation for a man with a kilt on.
And that's it for this week and hope you all enjoy your weekend.
Alastair