This is my second stint at the Scottish Roundup. The last occasion was in March, but it does prove that if those in control like you can’t think of anyone else – they invite you back!

The heading here of course relates to the rather optimistic view of some with relation to the outbreak of the world wars and their possible duration. There has been much reflection on those particular periods in history in recent weeks and not just on remembrance. Yesterday (Saturday 20th) for example saw the 65th anniversary of the beginning of the Nuremberg Trials. The indictments against more than twenty prominent Nazis and six corporate institutions had been prepared in the six months which had elapsed from the end of the war.

In the Nuremberg trials every word spoken and every document referred to had to be translated into several languages, and yet the court took less than 11 months to deliver its verdicts.

Back to the present then and a trial that took a somewhat longer time to organise, and it would seem, is taking an eternity to reach its conclusion. The Sheridan Trial Blog has been updated mainly by James Doleman since the start of the case. Mr Doleman one would suspect is a supporter of Tommy and Gail Sheridan but he does try, with varying degrees of success, to steer a middle course and report proceedings in an objective manner. All human life is there in the comments section from, one would suspect, everyone ranging from political activists to those with a legal interest. Most post anonymously with the attendant bravado that permits.

Her Majesty may have been rather too busy to concern herself with how her Advocate was faring against the Sheridans, as the Royal Family basked in the reflective glow of the announcement of a wedding next year. It is fair to say that Scott at Love and Garbage doesn’t seem to be aligning himself with the widespread delight expressed by the great and, it has to be said, the good, on the news.

Politics is never far from the headlines and with the Holyrood elections looming next spring Gordon Johnston reports on the possible move north of the always enigmatic George Galloway in pursuit of his search for a seat. At the same time Gordon reflects on a similar move south for Gerry Adams in Ireland.

On procedural matters at Holyrood, Lallands Peat Worrier reports on the failure of Margo McDonald’s End of Life Assistance Bill to attract sufficient support. One suspects though that this particular issue has not reached the end of its life.

The fact that so many lives end prematurely assisted by alcoholic excess, and the lack of support for another Holyrood bill has been exercising the keyboard of The Burd who also has a wonderfully mature and reasoned article on Gig Etiquette

The etiquette at last night’s gig at the Fox and Hounds was impeccable. My good friend Helpless Dancer anticipates an acoustic night starring James Grant (Love and Money) and harmonica virtuoso Fraser Spiers which I can testify lived up to the promise.

Helpless Dancer’s blog centres very much on music and his insight and knowledge on the subject is well worth a look as is The Islay Blog which covers two subjects dear to my heart viz. malt whisky and photography. Armin (for it is he) takes stunning photographs of which this shot of the Paps of Jura published on Friday, is a fine example.

The news that the SNP government has declined to invest the £12 million required to allow for software updates which would continue the option for separate tax raising powers by a Scottish government elicits quite different responses from Devolution Matters and Andrew Reeves

Anne Bonnar meanwhile, concerns herself with other aspects of the budget cuts and how the arts and culture will be affected.

And while we are talking numbers adjacent to those in the telephone directory Suitably Despairing gives a green view on the continuing saga of Donald Trump’s mission to convert a large acreage of scrub (and that’s only his hair! – boom! boom!). The article is illustrated by a fine photo of the Trumpster.

Peter Curran gives his view on the relative merits of the Glasgow and Edinburgh quality press, pointing out what he sees as a changing political stance by the Herald and Scotsman.

And whilst the polls are predicting a torrid time for the Lib Dems in the upcoming Holyrood hustings, one activist at least is still a believer. However Caron’s posting about bullying is the kind of personal blogging which can strike a chord with many.

Hopefully some of the money raised by Children in Need can help some of Caron’s modern day counterparts although as with all fundraising, there’s always a scam following not far behind.

The wonderfully named Aye Tunes is looking for nominations for Scottish Christmas recordings.

After all it’s only four weeks on Saturday.

One wonders if the war, for Tommy at least, will be over by then.

Editing the Scottish Roundup is a first for me but I can’t help thinking there is a whiff of nostalgia and deja-vu in the air as I look through the news headlines and how the Scottish blogosphere interprets it in its own inimitable and diverse way.

It’s the run up to an election, Labour are grimly hanging on to power, and transport strikes threaten travel chaos.Although spring may be officially here today, it feels at times as if we should set our clocks back to 1978…..

That does seem an awful long time ago and takes me back to when I was 18. Andy G isn’t quite my vintage but as a mature student he found it amusing and I think quite flattering to be asked for his ID to prove his age.

Two stories regarding prominent Scottish political women have featured heavily in this weeks deliberations. All Media Scotland give the facts and Lallands Peat Worrier gives his insight into the case of former MSP Frances Curran and her failed defamation action against the Daily Record. The story has its roots in the 2006 defamation action brought by Tommy Sheridan against News International in which he described his erstwhile colleagues in the SSP in less than flattering terms. LPW questions the wisdom of men and women bringing defamation actions and would prefer even more freedom of speech.

One wonders if another female politico, namely Anne Moffat, the Labour MP in East Lothian is perhaps proof of the old adage that politicians simultaneously speak out of both sides of their mouths (and sometimes elsewhere!) Jamie Livingstone reports on the MP’s battle to avoid de-selection by her constituency party, whilst at the same time negotiating a pay off and reported £30,000 per year pension from Parliament on the grounds of ill health.
However Jamie at the The Gallus Glaswegian provides proof that there is still idealistic enthusiasm in some corners of the party.

The perennial issue of rising fuel costs through higher duty as outlined in this week’s budget and its implications for island living is reported at Hebridean News Today

The Vinyl Villain obligingly continues the nostalgia theme by reporting on his trip in 1984 to see the Style Council and how he found himself alone and cold with no money in Amsterdam in the early hours of the morning.Still on music and nostalgia Clinically Fed Up uses an old logo and the 70′s campaign of “Home Taping is Killing Music” to illustrate the issues involved in digital file sharing. The wonderfully named Aye Tunes reports on the demise of Findo Gask who seem to have followed Aberfeldy as naming their band after a Perthshire town.

Back to the politics and retrospectivity (is that a word?) Michael Greenwell would like to see confidential papers released by government immediately rather than waiting 20 or 30 years. SNP Tactical Voting reports that two more former ministers have been drawn into the lobbygate issue and that this story has a bit still to run. Subrosa is in election mode and highlights the News of the World’s declaration of support for David Cameron – hardly a surprise but she has an alternative name for the paper.

David Fagan gives a North Lanarkshire councillor’s view of a meeting on the thorny issue of school closures.

Mr Eugenides crystallises the subject of the Roman Catholic Church and sexual abuse, in his own concise fashion and elicits several comments as one would expect. He also features a story about those rascally brothers Peter and Christopher Hitchens and how they have made peace despite their wildly conflicting views on religion.

Kenny MacAulay meanwhile gives us an insight into the sharp end of his job as an Episcopal priest in the run up to Palm Sunday next week.

Finally two ladies who are moving forward with varying degrees of certainty. Missy M gives an almost Luddite view on mobile phones in General and iPhones in particular in her familiar style. Jade Dickinson meanwhile can barely conceal her excitement at moving to her new house which leads me out of my simultaneous wander through the blogosphere and memory lane.