This week’s Scottish Roundup is brought to you by the letter E and the number 6…
It was compiled by Hercules Moments’ Eoin Smith (@eoinsmith), a journalist, student and magician from Aberdeen.

Let’s kick things off with  an uncharacteristically political – but comfortably surreal – moment, as The View from the Hills compares Scottish political parties to classic Star Trek villains. Will Scotland be assimilated by the dastardly Borg, terrorised by the Klingons, or did you vote for the ever-multiplying Tribbles?

Set in Darkness discusses politics of a local sort, extolling the benefits of countryside wind farms to Scottish villages like Fintry: “Whilst some wind farms are cash cows for a single land owner, or the developers, not Fintry. The village of Fintry secured a wind turbine on the farm, and take a 15th share of the income. Using that money, they are investing in both their village and their future. The plans are for a carbon neutral village.” Inspiring stuff, I’m sure you’ll agree.

Love and Garbage also gets in on the topical act: as founder of WICILEACS (Worldwide International Campaign for Information Liberation from Executives and Cabinets on Scones), he describes how he has refused to co-operate with himself in the writing of his upcoming unauthorised autobiography.

Scottish author Wulf Kurtoglu releases the first chapter of his upcoming book written in Shetlandic, ‘Braken Fences’, for free via his blog. Also to be released in English, the book depicts a near future society and promises to “explore themes of identity, allegiance and freedom”.

Elsewhere in Scotland, Kids, Craft and Chaos took a trip with the family to the “Musical Forest” at Loch Drunkie, near Callandar. There they played with giant instruments strewn around the forest and, quite understandably, jumped in some big puddles. Who wouldn‘t?

The riskily-named Whale Oil Beef Hooked describes how he overheard an odd conversation about curing hiccups, while In A Bun Dance describes how she has developed the exact opposite to a bucket list. (Warning: the latter link contains a sweary word.)

Writer Emma Kempsell laments the recent demise of R.E.M. as she struggles through a brisk Scottish morning. Meanwhile, over on The Blurst Times, Graeme Aitken enthuses about “Scotland’s other national drink” – Irn Bru – as makers AG Barr release a new, limited edition spicy variety: Fiery Irn Bru.

And finally, in a strange case of mistaken identity, Scottish magicians Fifth Dimension reveal how a national magic magazine once reported that they had been inducted to the Las Vegas Walk of Fame… only to later discover all was not as it seemed.

Have a good week, and happy blogging…

This week’s Scottish Roundup is compiled by Hercules Moments’ Eoin Smith (@eoinsmith), a journalist, student and magician from Aberdeen.

A Bit About Music

Aldous Huxley once said that “after silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.” And it seems that Scotland’s music bloggers share this sentiment. The Shoogly Peg recently went to see Take That in concert, and marvelled how the singing quintet “radiate happiness”. He writes that the manband “constantly give the impression that being in Take That is preposterously fantastic […] and that being in a Take That audience is only marginally less stupendous than actually being in Take That.”

At the other end of the spectrum, journalist Euan L. Davidson muses on the etiquette of music reviews, and how sometimes you have to look beyond your friendships and connections to present an honest reaction to the music. It seems, though, that mutant science punk rock band We Are The Physics’ fans have no problem in expressing their views as they are shocked to hear the band have utilised an acoustic guitar in the recording of their sophomore album.

As a journalist and music fan, I’ve been lucky enough to meet some of my favourite bands and musicians. Emma Kempsell has learned the value of “[taking] risks in the city” after just missing out on meeting one of her favourite bands, TV on the Radio. Perhaps they’ll meet up in New York, though. (Warning: this link contains a naughty word. If you are of a nervous disposition, you are advised to take the necessary precautions.)

A Bit About Everything Else

Sometimes you come across a piece of writing that draws you into a much bigger project that you weren’t ever aware of before. Diary of an Office Girl: Not A Spy is a day-to-day account of a female spy who not only has assignments and terrorists to worry about – “the rescue mission was not successful, which is a staggering understatement considering a fair number of the team are dead” – but also ex-boyfriends and comfort-eating cakes from Greggs.

In the world of real-life politics, Love and Garbage takes a philosophical look at the SNP website, asking “if a speech is removed from a website, does it really exist?” Elsewhere Duncan Stephen, a.k.a. Doctor Vee, has created the “Ed Milliband Random Statement Generator” which is, quite simply, genius.

Over on The Blurst Times, an online newsblog written by journalism students, Joe Sutherland discusses the merits of the newly unveiled Nintendo U, which despite sounding like a 21st Century university is actually a games console with a controller that “looks almost like the lovechild of a Dreamcast controller and an iPod Touch”.

If you’d rather read about the great outdoors than technological advances, one blogger recently took part in The Caledonian Challenge, a mammoth hike through the Scottish wilderness: “I have always thought that Scotland was pretty awesome and the best of the scenery majestic,” writes The View from the Hills. “But walking into Glencoe at dusk, from high up above the Devil’s Staircase was beyond awesome. The sheer scale of Glencoe is breath-taking.”

The Ben Lomond Free Press recently posted a poem about the “sing-el fish”, a Scottish variation of the Great British institution: fish and chips. Whilst you’re reading, you might want to chow down on some delicious-looking lemony mackerel pâté as described – and photographed enticingly – by Wendy at A Wee Bit of Cooking.

And finally, sometimes we all just need to relax a little, as described so simply by Confessions of a Creative Writer. (Warning: this link also contains the aforementioned naughty word.)

Have a truly fantastic week.