There are some great posts this week from the blogosphere of Scotland. Thanks to all who got in touch with their nominations.

Bellacaledonia wants a debate on Scottish independence and says the time is right for the discussion. http://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2010/08/26/they-have-no-mandate-reclaiming-scotland-part-1/

A Burdz Eye View takes the opportunity of the news that Jack McConnell is leaving politics to reassess his legacy. http://burdzeyeview.wordpress.com/2010/08/28/hit-the-road-jack/

Lena the Hyena blogs about some people’s vitriol towards Kenny McAskill over the Lockerbie bomber release. http://lenathehyena.wordpress.com/2010/08/22/think-tank-director-the-baroness-and-the-shriek-of-english-bigotry/

Philosophical Zombie talks about the spirit level debate and asks, why can’t we be more like Singapore?  http://philosophicalzombie.wordpress.com/2010/08/26/speak-softly-and-carry-a-big-society/

Alex Massie reviews Alistair Beaton’s Caledonia. at the Edinburgh Festival http://www.spectator.co.uk/alexmassie/6229495/oh-caledonia.thtml and says “There’s a great play to be written about Darien. This isn’t it.”

Whilst Ellen goes for the more lowbrow end of the cultural scale and makes no apology for it. Her (and her family) review the first episode of this year’s X Factor http://living.stv.tv/health-fitness/family/193698-x-factor-is-hitting-the-spot-in-my-family/ and she has trouble knowing how to talk to her postie on her own blog: http://bundance.blogspot.com/2010/08/why-cant-i-handle-truth.html

The Absurdists tries out the sports pages to see what all the fuss is about: http://theabsurdistshequeen.blogspot.com/2010/08/scottish-football-news-is-breath-of.html

A sad tale of sartorial disaster from me, Misssy M, this week: http://misssymartin.blogspot.com/2010/08/tales-from-hood.html

Yeah Okay bye is on a blog marathon this week. www.yeahokbye.blogspot.com I’m not going to pick any one post in particular because they all pretty much want to make you take a sledgehammer to your house and start rebuilding it. Choose your own favourite.

Claire O’Gallagher on the BBC learning Scotland has memories of Edwin Morgan visiting her school. He did a lot of that- my own sister met him at secondary school and I was taken on a school trip to the theatre where he read his poems to schoolchildren. A great Scot. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/scotlandlearning/2010/08/edwin-morgan.shtml

And now to what I’m hoping to become a regular feature- Blipfoto blog posts. This week the Blipfoto “Life Turns” Video was premiered at the Edinburgh Festival. Did your photo make it in. Watch it here. http://www.blipfoto.com/lifeturns/

And this week Blip highlights are here:

Meeester Feature on The Mither Tap http://www.blipfoto.com/Meestermartin

Daisyglaisy meets some strange characters in Oldmeldrum’s new square: http://www.blipfoto.com/view.php?id=700480&month=8&year=2010

Alive and Kicking is up early with the dew http://www.blipfoto.com/view.php?id=700138&month=8&year=2010

This’ll make us feel better about the rain, David Lewis is blipping in Canada http://www.blipfoto.com/view.php?id=700463&month=8&year=2010

Snapping Aboot has some new additions to his family http://www.blipfoto.com/view.php?id=699630&month=8&year=2010

There were some great nominations this week but not a lot to choose from, so we need more of you to be nominating or putting yourself forward. If you want to be included you can nominate your own stuff, you know- it’s OK to blow your own bassoon. Just email us or send us a message on twitter. Follow us @ScottishRoundup on twitter. Email us at scottishroundupp@gmail.com

News and Politics

This week in Scotland sees the first anniversary of the release of the convicted Lockerbie bomber, Al Megrahi on compassionate grounds. Predictably the UK media have jumped on this date and well, the fact that he lives on. But are Scots bloggers doing the same? It seems the media coverage of the anniversary is getting our goat more than anything.  SNP Tactical Voting takes exception to the London Evening Standards coverage. And the Lallands Peat Worrier analyses public opinion. Forget about complaining about Al Megrahi being sent home, Rolled up Trousers calls for a new inquiry into the bombing itself.

In party political news, we’re all wondering if Charles Kennedy is about to defect. Gordon MacMillan at Hurry Up Harry has the latest insider info.

I wonder what was the last straw for Kennedy?  Surely the council housing announcement this week won’t have sat well with a lot of Lib Dems. The news that there may no longer be a council house for life has also caught Demitrius’s attention

And Caron looks at the coalition’s latest bombshell about taking benefits away from those addicted to drugs

Malc in the Burgh marks the first 100 days of the Tory/Lib Dem coalition

Subrosa looks at why for thousands of soldiers the Iraq troops withdrawal is a long drawn out process with an end even further in sight.

Obituary

Sadly two great Scots  died this week, poet Edwin Morgan and writer and activist Jimmy Reid. Here are some blogger tributes to them:

Go lassie Go on Edwin Morgan

Quotables put together some Edwin Morgan quotes to commemorate Edwin Morgan’s life

And if you’re a Gaelic speaker you can read this commemoration on BBC Gaelic Blog

Joan McAlpine tells us about Jimmy Reid’s funeral.

Bella Caledonia talks about Jimmy’s life as a Scottish socialist

And Gallus Glaswegian feels the loss of “the greatest MP we never had”.

Families and Friends

Hopeman Man finds a photo of his dad and brothers that brings back memories and prompts him to think about his dad and grabbing a moment in time.

Phil’s Phrase a Day continues with other gems from his daughter. Do you remember getting this involved in a book?

Talking of books, writer Nicola Morgan continues to give authors and wannabe authors tips on writing that bestseller. This week she considers what gets readers turning pages.

And of course this was the week that most Scottish kids went back to school. My son, Indy, went to the “big school” and it got me wondering why I was so nervous for him- could it have been memories of my first day?

And Big Rab’s girl trotted off to secondary as well, and this got him thinking about whether school days really are the best of your life. I defy anyone over the age of 35 to not recognise some of these school day memories.

On the subject of Ellen is thinking along the same lines  and is still upset about the removal of school milk by Mrs T .

Sadly one of Aberdeen’s best live music venues has sadly closed down. Here is a eulogy to Moshulu from someone posting on Aberzine who has a host of great memories of the place. Me? I’m still upset about the Venue closing down in 1988.

Design, Photography and Art

I thought it was about time we started to look at the expanding world of microblogging on Blipfoto. There are some great little photo blogs out there by an army of Blippers. Here are some that caught my attention this week for Scots Blippers:

Meeester M and the story of the Turra Coo

In keeping with the Back to School theme here’s DaisyGlaisy take on the first day back.

BeefyLorelei has possibly the coolest garden ornament I’ve ever seen

Rising early for a shift at the hospital Dr Ben shares his morning view when most of us are still in bed.

It’s a Dobb’s Life snaps one of Aberdeen’s hothouses of talent, Captain Tom’s studios and rehearsal rooms.

Moving away from Blipfoto, on the design front  Plan B thinks about the design of her home, Yeah Okay Bye looks at the architectural drawings of Laura Barnard and a new blog from a jewellery maker who used to be an electrician in His Majesty’s  Theatre. How did Hamespun get here from there?

Monty Python spoke the truth when they sang…“Finland, Finalnd, Finland. The place where I’d quite like to be “  A wee bit of cooking goes to Finland. No cooking though, she was presumably enjoying Finnish food, which is world reknown (anyone who’s ever been to Finland is laughing right now)  Her photoblog is here

And finally on the culture front, Scots Whayhae previews the Edinburgh Book Festival.

Something for Everyone

Mr Farty looks at the miracle properties of water and has a fight with science experts who dispute his methods

Mike Ritchie’s PR blog talks about dealing with a client who admits to knowing nothing about their public image.

Scot goes Pop talks about this decade’s Gold Blend type advertising saga: The BT ads . Bring back Maureen Lipman’s Beattie, I say.

And another ad makes Real Street think about pride and Islam.

ShopaHolly gives us a top ten of her favourite meals. And knowing her, they’ll be thrifty too.

And this bizarre story just in Bogey man volunteers at soup kitchen. He says he wants to give something back. Bless him.

And if you’ve not got enough of football in a summer full of it then head over to Scotzine for a fix and read their fan’s account of the Athens v Dundee United game .

Oh and finally folks,  it’s that old chestnut . Indeed I was a victim to it myself at London Fields Lido the other week along with countless others visiting our English cousins this summer. It’s the curse of the Scottish banknote. Absolvitor- gives us the facts before we make false assertions!

Can I have a Jerry Springer Final thought moment? Indulge me. Every time  my blog is featured on the round up I get loads of new visitors, which is great. But does anyone ever comment on any of the new blogs they visit? Do us a favour, if you read any or all of the posts in this week’s or any weeks roundup- say hello, leave a comment. And keep the nominations coming in for next week.

If anyone wants to edit next week’s roundup let me know, as I am Roundup Mighty Overlord for the next few weeks.

Cheers Scots bloggers and readers!

Misssy M

Welcome to this week’s Scottish Roundup.

I’ve been left in charge for the first time and I do feel rather like a teenager whose parents have left them ‘on trust’, the urge to plunder the drinks cabinet is almost uncontrollable. However, I can probably postpone the rampage long enough to share a peep into the blogosphere of Scotland.

Actually, I’ve enjoyed reading a great many new blogs – often taking me to subject areas I don’t normally visit. The trip out of my blogging comfort zone has been refreshing and inspiring.

Speaking of comfort zones (see what I did there?), at Bright Green Scotland the discussion is how to achieve election success: it’s crucial to campaign outside of areas of moral high ground and previous glory. The message for the Greens is that it’s time to get a little uncomfortable.

Then there’s a look to the future. At Fear and Loathing in Glasvegas, Iain Hepburn ponders the future of Gaelic broadcasting and whether that’s the same thing as the future of Gaelic broadcasters. Sticking with matters future, Kenny’s of Rant Tank fame is inspired by the Gadget Show and discusses the use of new media in advertising.

If not the future, certainly with a futuristic sound, ScotGovCamp explains what happens at a self-organised unconference. It sounds a lot more sensible than my 1994-esque imaginings.

By pleasant accident, the blogging road has taken me rain-drops-on-roses-style past some of my favourite things. Coastrider‘s photographs illustrate how a perfectly ordinary mid-week bike ride with a few chums and take a weary soul to some wonderful countryside. It almost inspired me to get the bike out of the shed…

Bagging Scotland for his Munro of the month has picked Buachaille Etive Mor – that great big thing that looms at the mouth of Glencoe. For my money, it’s one of the most glorious and satisfying hills to be had.

And to the next, Scotswhayhae provides inspiration of the inevitable nasty weather, after all there’s no point in climbing a hill if you can’t see anything. In their look at the Scottish books that deserve a good reading, they feature Iain Bank’s The Wasp Factory. It’s IB’s first literary effort and, arguably, one of his best.

One of my favourite buildings – Donaldson’s school for deaf in Edinburgh – is there in its gleaming glory on Suitably  Disparing‘s blog. SD argues that for once, the plan to build a new hotel in the city, is a good one if it preserves the splended building.

And who doesn’t like a day out with the weans? Cartside grasps the opportunity to take her family to one of Scotland’s pick-your-own fruit farms. I bet you didn’t even put that on your things-to-do-before-school starts list.

Still fruity, rehabilitated tabloid sub editor Julie Scrumptious invites us to pav our cake and eat it. Her headlines are nearly as good as her recipes.

A different kind of fruity brings us to Missy M and her very snigger-some tale of children learning to swear.

But as Voltaire said: “A witty saying proves nothing.” Or at least he did the other day at the Glasgow-based quotabl.es.

Key change here: major to minor. Many of the posts I read tackled the baddies, taking on the nasties and giving them what-for.

In gloomy mood, Slugger O’Toole argues that the Calman recommendations will bring economic misery for Scotland. Marvellous.

Turning to the miserable subject where no one comes out winning, NewsnetScotland suggests that the BBC’s coverage of the Megrahi affair has lacked editorial neutrality lately.

Gender imbalance anywhere (and let’s face it, the ladies usually come off worse) is pretty poor show in these enlightened times. So Lallands Peat Worrier kicks off a lively debate about a supposed gender gap among SNP supporters. Burdz Eye View explains the feverish activity among MSPs and wonders about how to get jobs for the girls without upsetting the political apple cart.

Phew grown-up bit over. Scottish Rebel lifts the mood with some thoughts about Robert Burns’ years in his home town of Dumfries.

And finally. Laura Boyd reflects on a year of living with leukaemia and hints of some charity bash loveliness to come

I’ll keep this updated regularly – if you want a blog adding, drop me a line through via MacNumpty so I can post it here! Anyway, I’ll be around, as will the following:

Alex Massie

BellgroveBelle

Bernard Salmon

Caron

Holyrood Patter

Malc in the Burgh

Keep checking here for more, as and when they emerge!

Don’t worry if you’re looking for this week’s roundup. I’ve had a busy weekend and busy-ish week, so the roundup will be a bit late this week. I anticipate to have it up by this evening.

In the meantime, I’m going to share with you some information on an event that you might find interesting. I’ve already posted this on my personal blog, but some people reading this might be interested so I’ll mention it here too. Thanks.

I’ve recently been doing little bits and pieces helping out with the organisation of a very interesting event called ScotWeb2. It will take place on 31 October from 1000 to 1600 at the Holyrood Campus of Edinburgh University.

It will be an informal barcamp / unconference-style event. It’s being organised by Alex Stobart who works at the Scottish Government. Dave Briggs is also helping out and the event will be backed by BT.

I’ve mostly been trying to drum up interest among bloggers because it could also be a good opportunity for some bloggers to meet up and talk shop a bit. But it will be about much more than that. It will be about the application of web 2.0 technologies in general, in government, in the private sector and in the ‘third sector’.

Among the speakers will be Simon Dickson of Puffbox; Ross Ferguson of Dog Digital; Iain Henderson from MyDex; Stewart Kirkpatrick, former editor of Scotsman.com, now at w00tonomy; James Munro of Patient Opinion; and someone from BT to talk about Tradespace.

The best news is that attendance is open to anyone who is interested and it is free. All you have to do is sign up through Eventbrite and print out the ticket.

If you’re interested, keep an eye on the ScotWeb2 website. It’s not quite finished yet but it will be fleshed out soon enough.

More information from the Eventbrite page:

Web 2 seminar hosted by Edinburgh University, supported by BT and for all those interested in learning about Web 2 from practitioners, government and business users.

An informal, bar camp style event allowing participants to listen, network and share experiences with those who have designed and are managing Web 2 services.

Speakers and workshop leaders from Health, Business, Web design, Colleges and Universities, Social Enterprises, Social Media, Journalism, Government and Civic Society…

Other from Web 2 companies, Web 2 social enterprises, Web 2 designers ( public and private sector ), Not for Profit organisations, Academia, Business and the public sector will be there to run work-shops and explain their experience of Web 2…

There will be talks, opportunities to break out into discussions and to mix with those speakers who have used and built web 2 applications, and who are wishing to see change in the way users interact with their service providers and elecetd representatives.

There is an e-mail list here

If you are interested in web 2 as a subject covering communications, marketing, consultation, participation, engagement or service provision then this event will be of interest.