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Newsletter 12th January 2018

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  • Newsletter 12th January 2018

    For the latest news from Scotland see our ScotNews feed at:
    http://www.electricscotland.com/

    Electric Scotland News

    We're now nearing the Robert Burns Supper period so do look around to see if there is one in your area. And of course we have amazing resources on Robert Burns with lots of unique content so feel free to use these if you are participating. See our Burns section at: http://www.electricscotland.com/burns/index.html

    I was out and about this week getting my semi annual eye and hearing tests. All came out ok but it was a challenge as I got stuck going out and again got stuck getting back into my garage due to all the snow. This morning most of the snow had gone but I see the US is sending more snow to us later this week.

    Scottish News from this weeks newspapers
    Note that this is a selection and more can be read in our ScotNews feed on our index page where we list news from the past 1-2 weeks. I am partly doing this to build an archive of modern news from and about Scotland as all the newsletters are archived and also indexed on Google and other search engines. I might also add that in newspapers such as the Guardian, Scotsman, Courier, etc. you will find many comments which can be just as interesting as the news story itself and of course you can also add your own comments if you wish.

    Clan searches for burial spot of Ulysses of the Highlands
    A search is underway for the final resting place of a revered chief of Clan Cameron who was known as the Ulysses of the Highlands given his brute strength and fighting prowess.

    Read more at:
    https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/c...ands-1-4653810

    Scots diabetes patients seeing astonishing results from strict diet
    Patients from NHS Lothian participated in what is believed to be the first trial in the world that has successfully reversed the effects of type 2 diabetes.

    Read more at:
    https://www.scotsman.com/news/health...diet-1-4654892

    Failing boys at school, failing society
    The education system is failing white working class boys. It’s not news and it’s not peculiar to the UK different studies across the wider world have been saying it in academic language for some time.

    Read more at:
    http://sceptical.scot/2018/01/failin...iling-society/

    Britain's trading future lies across the Pacific
    The world’s centre of gravity is moving. Just as in the 18th century it shifted from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic, so in the 21st it is shifting from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

    Read more at:
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018...g-future-lies/

    Burns Night traditions and their origins
    Whether in a formal Burns Supper club setting, or just toasting with a dram at home, Burns’ Night gives the whole country a chance to reflect on our contribution to the world.

    Read more at:
    https://www.scotsman.com/news/burns-...gins-1-4656480

    Canada files WTO complaint against US over trade rules
    Canada has filed an expansive complaint with the World Trade Organization, accusing the US of breaking international trade rules.

    Read more at:
    http://www.bbc.com/news/business-42639459

    Tayside butcher delighted after pie named best in the world
    An Angus butcher’s shop has been named this year’s world Scotch pie champion.

    Read more at:
    https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news...ed-best-world/

    Britain lines up post-Brexit trade deals with dozens of non-EU countries
    Lord Price, who quit as international trade minister in September, told the Commons 36 countries wanted to sign free trade agreements

    Read more at:
    https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/531552...t-trade-deals/

    Does the continued boom in UK manufacturing prove the Brexit doomsayers wrong?
    Just 18 months after the Brexit vote, I doubt there were many Remainers who would have expected the British manufacturing sector to perform so strongly over such a sustained period, particularly considering the global political turmoil we’ve experienced in that time.

    Read more at:
    http://www.cityam.com/278574/debate-...g-prove-brexit

    The Act of Union 1707: An Economic Union
    Because of some fairly ridiculous arguments about whether or not the UK is a single market, I've found myself reading the Union with England Act 1707 - the "Act Ratifying and Approving the Treaty of Union of the Two Kingdoms of SCOTLAND and ENGLAND".

    Read more at:
    http://chokkablog.blogspot.ca/2018/0...mic-union.html

    Having Reservations
    As architect of the Scottish Parliament, Donald Dewar argued that everything that could be devolved should be devolved!. A corollary of that would be to say we should seek to devolve powers unless there is a compelling reason not to.

    Read more at:
    http://chokkablog.blogspot.ca/2018/0...ervations.html

    Electric Canadian

    Industrial Canada
    Added volume 15 which you can read at:
    http://www.electriccanadian.com/tran...rial/index.htm

    This is the final volume in the set I discovered.

    Transactions of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers
    I discovered a lot of volumes of these transaction which are very detailed and note that they are very popular downloads so assume civil engineers are enjoying the details given in these transactions.

    I've added the first volume and will add others each week. You can view these at the above page at:
    http://www.electriccanadian.com/tran...rial/index.htm

    Information reflecting the Eastern Townships of Lower Canada
    In which The British American Land Company intend to commence operations for the Sale and Settlement of Lands in the ensuing Spring. (3rd December 1833) (pdf)

    You can read this at: http://www.electriccanadian.com/pioneering/balc01.pdf

    A History of New Brunswick for use in Public Schools
    By G. U. Hay D. Sc. (pdf)

    While we have another larger history on the site I thought this might be an easier read so added it to the site and you can read this at:http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...unswickhay.pdf

    Pathfinders of the West
    Being the thrilling story of the adventures of the men who discovered the Great Northwest, Radisson, La Verendrye, Lewis and Clark by A. C. Laut (1904) (pdf)

    You can read this at: http://www.electriccanadian.com/pion...dersofwest.pdf

    Hunger for tomatoes turns Canada into greenhouse superpower
    This is an article I came across which I hope you'll enjoy and it can be read at:
    http://business.financialpost.com/fe...eenhouse-power

    Science at DFO
    The video that you are about to see is designed to give you a bit of a snapshot overview of our Sector, its depth, its breadth, its incredible scope, you’ll get a chance to get a feel for the wide, wide array of work that we do from coast to coast to coast, at sea, on land and occasionally even in the air.

    You can view this at: http://science.gc.ca/eic/site/063.ns..._09E1B311.html

    New Canada web site
    Canada has come up with a new web site Canada.ca which can be seen at:
    https://www.canada.ca/home.html

    Canada.ca helps you find Government of Canada information and services on any device, including computers, tablets and smart phones. There are many government departments and agencies, and it is sometimes difficult to know who does what. That is why Canada.ca is organized by topic and task.

    Electric Scotland

    Fortunes Made in Business
    Series of original Sketches, Biographical and Anecdotal from the recent History of Industry and Commerce by Various Writers in two volumes (1884).

    I thought this might be an interesting read so you can read this publication at:
    http://www.electricscotland.com/busi...inbusiness.htm

    The Parish of Fordoun
    Chapters in its History or Reminiscences of Place and Character by Charles A Mollyson (1898) (pdf)

    You can read this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ishfordoun.pdf

    A Critical Essay
    On the Ancient Inhabitants of the Northern parts of Britain or Scotland containing an Account of the Romans, of the Britains betwixt the Walls, of the Caledonians or Picts, and Particularly of the Scots with an Appendix of Ancient Manuscript pieces by Thomas Innes, M.A., (1879)

    You can read more about the author and read this book at:
    http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...nes_thomas.htm

    Twelve years of a soldier's life, from the letters of Major W.T. Johnson
    by Johnson, William Thomas, 1827-1893 (pdf)

    You can read this book at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...welveyears.pdf

    A Hawick Word Book
    By Douglas Scott (2018) (pdf). Placed a link to this book at the foot of our page about Hawick. It's over a thousand pages so quite a resource.

    You can read this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/history/hawick/

    Manuscripts in the Charter Chest at Cluny Castle
    Relating to the Clan Chattan and the Cluny of 1745. Added a link to this book on our Clan Chattan page at:
    http://www.electricscotland.com/webc...c/chattan.html

    Robert Burns Lives!
    Auld Lang What?! from Sainsbury's Grocery Chain

    As a young boy, I used to hang around the public library in my hometown of Mullins, South Carolina and, as an adult I have enjoyed building a personal library over these many years, including approximately 8,000 Scottish books. I gave my religious books to an African- American minister, longtime friend and sheriff of Fulton County, Georgia, as they represented another part of my life that had ended years before. Books have always played an important role in my life and still do as I approach my 80th birthday. My collection will probably keep growing until I die. Some books will more than likely trickle in to my home probably from book dealers here in the States and the United Kingdom even after I’m gone. Perhaps a few don’t understand my passion for books, but I do not expect them to. If I had not picked up this habit of buying books many years ago, I would have much more money in my bank account today, but one thing is for sure, I would not be richer! I learned this from author and newspaper man Pete Hamill who is right on target.

    Beanie Crosby, my friend from high school days in the 1950s, wrote me some time back saying “when I saw you at our class reunion it brought back so many good memories. Memories I will cherish the rest of my life. Let’s get together and reminisce about the good old days.” Since we played basketball on our high school team, there would be many such memories to recall. Beanie ran my campaign for student body president; we won! More memories! Sixty years of memories. Talking about all these experiences is what Old Lang Syne means.

    Some say Robert Burns is more praised than read. It is also said he “is the most recited Poet by drunken men”. Burns Clubs worldwide have become a favorite whipping post by his critics. So as we approach our annual Burns Night Suppers, let us look briefly at the one song that defines Burns. Whatever Burns Night is to you this year, make it your best one and be able to remember it the next day! Many thanks to the good people at Sainsbury’s grocery chain in the United Kingdom for recently posting the article below on their website and to Alastair for sending it to me. (FRS: 1.10.18).

    You can read this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...s_lives261.htm

    Helenore, or The Fortunate Shepherdess
    I found a new version of this famous tale which includes some great information on the author and also of the area and people where he lived.

    You can read this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...w/review14.htm

    The Story

    The Act of Union 1707: Religion
    By Kevin Hague

    For a blog post explaining the economic foundations of Scotland's place in the United Kingdom, I was reading the Union with England Act 1707 - the "Act Ratifying and Approving the Treaty of Union of the Two Kingdoms of SCOTLAND and ENGLAND".

    The Act also ratifies the Hanoverian Succession1 which (since the Act of Settlement 1701) excludes Catholics (or anybody who has married a Catholic) from inheriting the Crown. Given the Monarch's role as Supreme Governor of the Church of England this is unsurprising - but the stark language used is quite shocking to a contemporary reader

    "II. That the Succession to the Monarchy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and of the Dominions thereunto belonging after Her Most Sacred Majesty and in default of Issue of Her Majesty be, remain and continue to the Most Excellent Princess Sophia Electoress and Dutchess Dowager of Hanover and the Heirs of Her body being Protestants upon whom the Crown of England is settled by an Act of Parliament made in England in the twelth year of the Reign of His late Majesty King William the Third entituled An Act for the further Limitation of the Crown and better securing the Rights and Liberties of the Subject And that all Papists and persons marrying Papists shall be excluded from and for ever incapable to inherit possess or enjoy the Imperial Crown of Great Britain and the Dominions thereunto belonging or any part thereof And in every such case the Crown and Government shall from time to time descend to and be enjoyed by such person being a Protestant as should have inherited and enjoyed the same in case such Papists or person marrying a Papist was naturally dead according to the provision for the Descent of the Crown of England made by another Act of Parliament in England in the first year of the Reign of their late Majesties King William and Queen Mary entituled An Act declaring the Rights and Liberties of the Subject and settling the Succession of the Crown"

    [There's a load more on "securing the Protestant Religion and Presbyterian Church Government" in provision XXV]

    This brought to mind the fact that in the Scottish independence referendum in 2014, there's evidence that Catholics were significantly more likely to vote Yes than Protestants - if you like, were more likely to vote to scrap this Act. I think few in Scotland will be surprised by this fact, but I suspect a good many don't understand the possible historical reasons why.

    There may be other correlating factors (e.g that Catholics in Scotland may have a markedly different sage or socio-economic profile than Protestants), but it's at the very least interesting to note that religion is a better predictor of whether someone is likely to have voted Yes (or No) than either place of birth or gender.

    And that's it for this week and hope you have a great weekend.

    Alastair
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