Some Other Scotland - Ep22 - Forest

This Week:

• Harald takes drastic steps to collect his prize.
• Craig starts a fire.
• Razer gets a history lesson.

This week’s news story:

Villagers agree to buy forest

changed to the alternative:

Villages buy forests

A number of community groups across Scotland are in the process of bidding for local woodland areas to be owned by villages as part of the Forestry Commission’s National Forest Land Scheme. Residents of Closeburn in Dumfries and Galloway were amongst the first to take advantage of the scheme, with several other villages in the Borders and across central Scotland starting the process of community ownership.

Further Information

BBC News - Read the original story.

Some Other Scotland - Ep21 - Bees

This Week:

• Charles finds music and a lift.
• Razer picks a side.
• Erica and Tania find a clue to Sengar's whereabouts.

This week’s news story:

Human race could perish without bees

changed to the alternative:

Bee disappearances a growing threat to Human Race

A debate in the Scottish Parliament has raised concerns about the rapidly declining bee population in the UK and beyond. A number of reasons, including the increase in the population of the Varroa mite ongoing use of pesticides in farming and even the prevalence of mobile phone masts, have been attributed to the fall in numbers, but scientists have yet to identify a means of reversing the trend. Agricultural experts have highlighted the impact on crops that is already being seen, due to the lack of cross-pollination by bees.

Further Information

BBC News - Read the original story.

Some Other Scotland - Ep20 - Baby Records

This Week:

• Calum researches the list of unmarked graves.
• Sykes follows the new lead.
• Calum discovers unexpected links in his list.

This week’s news story:

Investigation into stolen baby records

changed to the alternative:

Decades of baby records stolen

A hospital in Aberdeenshire has confirmed that birth records dating back over twenty years have been stolen. The files contained details of parents’ home addresses as well as details about each birth, blood types and dates of admission. NHS Grampian have instigated a full investigation of how the records were taken and have issued a statement of apology to all affected patients.

Further Information

BBC News - Read the original story.

The Boom Effect - Bid for SOS and more

Several months ago I pulled together all the short stories I have written within the world of "Some Other Scotland" and produced a small, 40-page booklet for promotional use only. It features all the short tales written up to that time, as well as one story that has yet to be published (and will not be for at least another threee months). Only six were produced and most have now been given away as competition prizes. I have donated another signed copy of the booklet to "The Boom Effect", along with a signed copy of the Lunacy Board's first album, "Eponymous Debut".

Tee Morris was the first person to podcast an audio-book and is widely-respected in the world of new media, having also published books on Twitter and podcasting. The recent death of his wife, Natalie, prompted his close friends in the online community to set up a fund to help support his young daughter, known online as 'Sonic Boom'. "The Boom Effect" is holding an online auction on the 27th February 2010 to raise more money for this fund and features an incredible range of signed books and artwork, jewellery and bespoke services (such as getting a song written for you).

Update:

The auction raised a total of $8,343.75, with $55 of that being for the two items below. Thanks to all bidders for showing an interest and congratulations to the winners!

• More details about the signed "Some Other Scotland" booklet auction lot.
• More details about the signed "Eponymous Debut" CD auction lot.

Some Other Scotland - Interlude 03

Interlude 03:

• New website location.
• Introducing the Wiki

The new website address is www.someotherscotland.com

The 'Some Other Scotland' Wiki can be found at www.someotherscotland.com/wiki

Thanks go to Katharina from the Luscious Leftovers podcast for her amazing work in bringing the wiki to life.

Some Other Scotland - SpinOff 03 - The Three Coos

The next spin-off story to feature at Some Other Scotland is a little different.

This is a variation on the popular fairytale 'The Three Billy Goats Gruff', but this is as told by Razer, so it has a little more local flavour.

It was inspired by odin1eye from the View From Valhalla blog. That is a good source of reviews of other podiobooks you might want to investigate if you are enjoying SOS.

Some Other Scotland - Ep19 - Great Scot

This Week:

• Harald moves in closer to Charles.
• Razer deals with a sinking feeling.
• Charles starts to hatch a plan.
• Erica and Tania assess the Merk damage.
• Sykes' suspicions are confirmed.

This week’s news story:

Peter the Great's right-hand Scot

changed to the alternative:

Pages missing from diary of Peter the Great's Scottish General

Scholars have announced that they believe several pages have been removed from the diary of Patrick Gordon, a Scot who held a senior rank in Peter The Great's army. They claim inconsistencies in the text suggest that up to a month's information may have been replaced by a series of paragraphs indicating the soldier was offered work in Vienna, only to be told shortly afterwards he was no longer required. The diary was published in full for the first time in the UK this year.

Further Information

BBC News - Read the original story.

Promo for "Luscious Leftovers" podcast.