Well, they asked me back so either they were desperate or I didn’t mess it up too badly on my first round-up outing.  But it’s always a pleasure to surf the Scottish blogosphere in search of rambling, ranting and ruminating about all things Scottish.

But what’s this?  Philosophical Zombie writing about the revolt in Libya and A Scottish Liberal pondering the psychology of its deluded dictator.  What’s in Kelvin’s Head offers thoughts and a prayer for Christchurch, while Moridura manages to combine New Zealand and Libya in a post about Black Tuesday.  

Elsewhere, on the eve of Ireland’s General Election, Bella Caledonia analyses the state of Ireland and Irish politics from Dublin, Alex Massie considers where Ireland currently stands in the Kubler-Ross model of grief and Sean McP senses change is in the air in the People’s Republic in his Blogfeast.

More globetrotting:  Bright Green Scotland flits to Cardiff to interview the Welsh Green leader, Craig Murray considers if an American killer has diplomatic immunity in Pakistan, Go Lassie Go wonders if the layout in the Norwegian Parliament might be good for Holyrood and Dear Scotland wonders why the *glamour friendly* twixt Scotland and Brazil is being played in England.

Holyrood Chronicles hotfoots it to Spain, SNmr commemorates the end of the Banana Wars, Another Side of Lesley Riddoch sends a podcast from the most Northern town in the world, and Scotland for the Senses even manages to find a little bit of Italy in Perthshire.

Some bloggers focus on UK matters: Munguin’s Republic has a wee pop at David Cameron’s interpretation of an ethical foreign policy, Scots and Independent tries to define the Big Society (while Ellen Arnison decides it’s patronising nonsense), the Absurdist imagines – hilariously – a conversation between Jacqui Smith and civil servants, Sub Rosa laments no one noticing that the British Government robbed its pensioners and Caron’s Musings manages to link the EU, fluffy handcuffs and the AV referendum all in one post.

Sheesh!  Did no one stay home this week?  Fortunately they did, allowing me to use my most favourite Scottish word – in the world!

For what we get from the staycationers is a remarkable, rip roaring gallimaufry (look it up!)

Ben Lomond Press reckons the SPL and Scottish League merger is a marriage of connivance;  Suitably Despairing is eh, suitably despairing, at the news that baby boomers are the worst eco villains; The Streetlamp Doesn’t Cast Her Shadow Anymore - what a great blog title! - looks at the band, Conflict, and how one of its songs became a criminal offence; Will Patterson bids adieu to one of the Parliament’s old guard in his Notebook, as does Iain McWhirter Now and Then, Tales from the Dark Side entertains with his awards for the worst guide in the world and the Drum Up outlines which up and coming Scottish cyclists the Braveheart Fund will be supporting in 2011. Oh, and Jacqui Blogs Off with a tale about Strawberry, the Blue Meanies and Bulldog (you’ll just have to read it).

In what can only be termed – enviously – as the Pointy Heids Corner, Malc at Better Nation examines whether states can, or should, legitimately use force;  Scot Goes Pop explores the themes at work in Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel Never Let Me Go; Devolution Matters discusses constitutional reform and flawed constitutional processes; A Place to Stand debates Public Choice theory and the reinvention of political science; Lallands Peat Worrier dissects Scotland’s recorded crimes and offences involving firearms and Absolvitor celebrates a legal victory over local authorities that might help families with a child with additional support needs. 

Don’t these boys realise we all kent their faither?!

More talent in evidence in the blogosphere and in Scotland. Scots Whay Hae looks forward to Glasgow’s Aye Write festival, Let’s Get Lyrical posted a review and audio clips of its session with Alasdair Roberts and Robin Robertson, and A Burdz Eye View (yep, that’s me) rounds off her contribution to Get Lyrical month with a guest post from a Mad Mackerel.  Thoughtland made a passionate defence of libraries, and the Mitchell library in Glasgow, in particular, while the Scottish Book Trust details how one teacher in residence found expression through poetry. Song, by Toad promotes the latest album from Ringo Deathstarr, Peenko has a whole host of downloads available, including Admiral Fallow, King Creosote, Mondegreen and Broken Records, and the Indelible Ink strand of Dear Scotland reviews the biography of the wonderful Stuart Adamson (the Skids, Big Country).

Ach but we wouldn’t be Scottish without a fair number of us focussing on the parochial.  Which doesn’t mean these bloggers didn’t have big thoughts to share nor points to make. 

Thus, Freedom-2-Choose highlights new Scottish Government guidelines which aim to make mental health services smoke free, Planet Politics seeks an apology from Dundee Council’s leader over spurious claims about the previous Labour administration’s alcohol consumption, and Holyrood Horrors pokes fun at a Unionist defecting to the Unionists.  Meanwhile, Lena the Hyena and  Blerr de Blerr Blerr  lament the loss of arts and enteprise funding for the Union Terrace gardens project in Aberdeen.  And in probably the most parochial post of the week on an issue of wider significance, Ewan Aitken reveals how he is still fighting for the No 12 bus. 

Finally, Nicholas beneath the Kilt wraps up this theme rather neatly with his post on why Power Corrupts, taking us all around the world and all the way home again, and sharing a word or two of Burns on the way.

That, folks, is your lot. 

Around the world in 50 Scottish blogs, and if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to shake the sand out of my flip flops and pack the suntan lotion away for the next trip.

The 5 Rs above is but a tiny part of the smorgasbord we have on offer for you today. Thank you for the wonderful array of nominations you’ve sent in. Keep them coming. If you can nominate one particular post rather than a whole blog, that would be particularly helpful. And also, don’t feel shy about nominating your own stuff. It’s not big headed – it makes sense. If you think you’ve done something good, let us know about it via the box on the right, by e-mail or on Twitter (@scottishroundup).

The week started with Valentine’s Day. Clockwork Orange has a remarkably common sense take on the sickly nature of the occasion. I’m not sure how much romance there would have been in Misssy M’s dentist’s house – and she also wins the prize for corny headline of the week for her story of professional discord.

Adventures of a lady in training brings us news of a project for International Women’s Day to raise awareness of the 100 million missing women across the world. That’s around 20 times the population of Scotland. If you want to help out, there are two things you can do – get knitting, or if that isn’t your bag, publicise it.

Sadly, we discovered this week that Gavin Fern, a Glasgow man who had been missing for 3 months, had been found dead in Fife. Nocturnal Emissions remembers the banter they had when they worked together.

Turning to matters cultural, Scots Whay Hae looks ahead to the Glasgow Film Festival, Creative Culture Scotland unveils its 2010 award winners and Gavin Evans teaches me something I didn’t know about court toilets. AC/DC tribute band Hell’s Bells have been playing in Aberdeen, and Day of the Tripods was there with camera. And then Inneski Adventures carried the curious case of the bus driver’s reading material. I wonder if he was Team Edward or Team Jacob. This probably shouldn’t belong in the culture section, but Innocent in Australia recounts a visit to one of holy grails of Australian television.

Wildlife has featured in our inbox this week. Comment Online discusses some of the issues around reintroducing beavers to Tayside and the actions of Northern Constabulary over the demise of a sea eagle are discussed by Raptor Persecution Scotland.

Sticking with animals, some of you will mock me for including this, but you may well find yourself in a position where you might need this skill. One day, you may be faced with enticing a reluctant rabbit to take oral medication. Read my husband’s so far foolproof method.

From animals to the glorious outdoors, In a Bun Dance thinks we might be mollycoddling our kids too much after an exhilarating return to the hills where she mis-spent her youth. Her post reminded me of a nightmare Sunday afternoon trek down a misty Burn of Sorrows when I was convinced I was going to die as darkness fell. Maybe if I’d had more such walks as a child, I wouldn’t have been quite so terrified.

Soft Thistle writes about having her instincts about her son’s condition confirmed by doctors.

In politics, there’s been a frisson of excitement injected into the Holyrood campaign by a new poll challenging the conventional wisdom that it’s a shoo-in for Iain Gray. Alex Massie asks if this means Alex Salmond is “the comeback kid”. Will Patterson speculates on potential coalitions.

Iain Gibson, the Scottish Conservatives’ Holyrood media guy, writing at Scotland Votes tries to give the Scottish Tories a unique selling point. Meanwhile I suggest that the Tory MSP Bill Aitken should resign his front bench position for his comments about a series of rapes in Glasgow and Andrew Reeves questions the company Tory MEPs are keeping in Europe.

This was the week when the legislation enabling the Alternative Vote referendum to go ahead on 5th May received Royal Assent at 54 minutes past the 11th hour. Fairer Votes Edinburgh asks whether the timing is a calculated insult to Scotland. Also on constitutional reform, the Burd is not impressed with the cosiness of the politicians’ agreement to look at 5 year fixed terms for Holyrood.

Former Labour leader Wendy Alexander announced her departure from politics to spend more time with her young family. Writing at The Steamie, Joan McAlpine says that all may not be as it seems, suggesting that all is not harmonious in the Scottish Labour camp.

Brian Souter has surprised nobody by flashing his wallet in the direction of the SNP. Lallands Peat Worrier describes his slightly mixed feelings about the tycoon’s generosity.

Finally, Bella Caledonia has some thoughts on the nature of political leadership and the changes we are seeing across the world.

That’s all for this week. Next Sunday you are in the capable hands of The Burd.

. I am very grateful to Subrosa, who stepped in at very short notice to be this week’s editor. Some nominations have come in since she prepared it, and I’ve added them at the end.

Anyway, on to the main event – firstly, Subrosa’s Roundup:

Welcome to this week’s Roundup. Some excellent nominations were received and I’ll do my best to include as many as possible. It’s been a hectic week politically in Scotland although our domestic politics have been dwarfed by the ‘people power’ of Egypt. Good luck to them. Debra Storr ssuggests democracy is failing in Aberdeenshire, so Egypt has a long and arduous road to a democratic free society.

The release of Megrahi has been quite a talking point on the BBC and Moridura – the Scottish blogosphere’s resident video-clipping expert – hasn’t failed us. He’s been documenting some of the televised discussion. Joan McAlpine attacks the jugular of Scottish Labour but I hae ma doots she’ll receive a response, don’t you?

The behaviour of a Scottish ex Labour MP hit the national headlines. I’m sure Jim Devine’s blatant lies left many of us open-mouthed in amazement and wondering just how such a man could reach the elite position of sitting in the House of Commons as a Scottish MP. Caron has a little of the inside story - made more intriguing because of her personal knowledge of the man – and Indygal feels sorry for him, but only to a degree.

I smoke despite, or perhaps in spite of, the protestations of those who class me as a threat to society. MPs can smoke in certain areas of Westminster; Iain Gray surely manages to have a puff somewhere in Holyrood; prisoners can smoke – yet the Royal Edinburgh Hospital is now a no-go area for smokers and Belinda puts the case for continuing to keep psychiatric hospitals’ smoking rooms exempt. Even a non-smoker couldn’t argue with the validity of her argument.

The Scottish Government’s budget was passed by Parliament last week yet councils have been leaking information about their own cuts for weeks. Burdz Eye View voices who she thinks will suffer most.

Michael Traill draws our attention to the latest consultations launched by the Government and they should concern all of us.

Tris has an incredible experience in Morrison’s with the Daily Express while another couple of bloggers have issues with the Daily Mail. Mairi is struggling with her daily reading addiction and Ellen has some tips which may help. Go for it Mairi!

The mention of the Daily Mail brings me nicely to the subject of sex. The Peat Worrier is at his best when analysing statistics and this week he has his molars into the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey which throws up some interesting comparisons within the last decade. I too posted about sex this week as I strongly disapprove of schools teaching 3rd years in sex and relationships then training them to pass on the information to 1st years.

Stuart of Bright Green Scotland complains about DECC’s announcement that they would start a review of the feed-in Tariff rate for Solar and Anaerobic Digestion while Suitably Despairing has a more common digestion problem.

Valentine’s Day is tomorrow. For me it’s purely a commercial event because we should appreciate those we love every day. Softthistle certainly appreciates her mum.

That’s it for this week. Thanks to Caron for her kindness in posting this as I’m completely baffled by the technical intricacies of WordPress. Please continue to submit any blog posts you think deserve a wider audience. The email address is on the right or we can be contacted on Twitter. I hope the next seven days are kind to you.

And thanks again to Subrosa for stepping in at such short notice. Now on to those later nominations: Firstly, A Scottish Liberal has some thoughts on the implications of Mubarak’s departure. The View fae the Wee Pennyland is a new blog which in one of its first posts muses on what Cameron’s multiculturalism speech means for Scotland.

That’s all for this week. Thank you all the nominations you’ve been sending us. Keep them coming in – and don’t be shy to nominate your own posts. All the editorial team spend much longer online than could ever be considered healthy, but we still can’t check out every Scottish blog. So, if you’re particularly proud of something you write, tell us.

In recognition of the fact that yesterday was Save Our Libraries day every section of the Scottish Round Up this week has been sponsored by a well known figure from literature.

The Manly Pursuits Section sponsored by Ernest Hemingway

Nope – I just can’t rouse myself to even have a glimmer of interest in sport.  Sorry.  Before you say, yes I know it’s sexist, no I don’t care.  However, In at the Shallow End has started a blog about learning to swim as an adult – a brave thing to do.

The Family Corner sponsored by Enid Blyton

O Mammy finds suddenly that she is a grandmother – to what appears to be a bag of flour. Transatlantic Blond takes her baby boy to enjoy the Gallery of Modern Art, in Glasgow (these educations need to start early). BellegroveBelle reports on what must be the exhausting work of combining being a Councilor and activist with having a seven month-old.

The Save our Libraries Protest Blogs sponsored by Philip Larkin

Bear Bahoochie listens into people’s conversations in libraries so that we can snigger – always welcome.  Kids, Craft and Chaos explains why libraries are for life, not just economic boom times.  Scot’s Whay Hae also writes eloquently about libraries, his favorite at GOMA and our own Scottish Poetry Library.

Culture Corner sponsored by Leonard Cohen

The Daily Dose pay’s tribute to the legend that is the Barrowlands, while Set in Darkness – Scotland tells us all about the jolly time to be had listening to Celtic fusion at Celtic Connections.  Nikki’s Blog gives us her thoughts on The Kings Speech, which is useful because I’ve heard it turns you royalist and now I’m too scared to go.

The Edinburgh Report tells us about Lung Ha’s Theater Company, which certainly sounds worth catching if you are in either Edinburgh or Glasgow.  One Night Stanzas invites you to a series of poetry and film workshops.

The Political Corner sponsored by George Orwell

FairerVotesEdinburgh regales us with the harrowing tale of how one activist become addicted, yes addicted, to cold calling people about the referendum – shocking.

Moved to Comment also highlights the genuinely sobering fact that while 900 jobs are going at Aberdeen City Council the upkeep on the civic car (please note the singular) costs around £967 a week, a car that has been caught several times illegally parked.

Love and Garbage has a long rant at the telly, asking the question that we all have occasion to ask when watching the news (or particular early morning “news” shows which take viewers text seriously) “are BBC journalists and government ministers bloody stupid”.  You know the answer, don’t you?

Better Nation also looks at the issue of broadcasting and politics, mainly the lamentable lack of much on the BBC political output that recognises or is relevant to devolved areas, formerly known as “the regions” to which “the north” is also a proxy partner in the area of broadcasting in that none of us appear to really get acknowledged or taken seriously  – rather like an unhappy marriage.  Most of that last bits mine.

The Environmental bench (not made of teak) sponsored by Ted Hughes

Son of the Rock asks some interesting questions about climate change denial and the motivation and limits in those who stand up to what they see as an apparent “tyranny”.

Bright Green does some pretty deep thinking about the situation in the Arab world and how ultimately it’s all interlinked, and it all comes down to oil.

Aberdeen Voice clears up that matter of whether or not Donald Trump wanted to use Compulsory Purchase Orders to evict people from their own homes so he can build the biggest penis extension in the world.  Oh no he didn’t!  Oh yes he did!

Self Promotion Corner – sponsored by William McGonagall

Ach, of course there’s me.  I’m doing a wee reading at the launch of a poetry anthology I’m in and you’re all invited, do come.