You iBalling me, soldier?
By Rory Reynolds
Have you ever wondered what might be lurking around the next corner? Well, one Edinburgh company has found the answer. It’s called the iBall – but it’s not the latest Apple gadget. It’s a military-grade field device for British special forces – including the SAS.
Electronics company Dreampact, which has just three staff, has won a contract from the Ministry of Defence to supply the iBall to British troops.
The iBall is a futuristic surveillance device that wouldn't be out of place in the Mission Impossible movies
The team’s innovative idea for a camera fixed inside in a protective ball captured the imagination of the judges and took the plan from to drawing board into the field.
Once completed, the iBall may be used in combat situations in Iraq or Afghanistan, or by elite British anti-terror squads .
The iBall, which is roughly the size of a cricket ball, is intended to be thrown into rooms before special forces storm in, or even fired from a grenade launcher through windows or doors. The camera inside then immediately stabilises itself within the ball and relays high quality pictures to the assault team outside.
Paul Thompson, company director, says the design freedom that the MoD gave them led to this wacky idea.
“We entered the Ministry of Defence’s Competition of Ideas and you pretty much had a blank sheet of paper, so you suggested an idea, they showed it to their top guys and if they liked it they funded it.
“It was very exciting, its not often you get the chance to develop something you’ve thought of yourselves. After we were selected we managed to get on the BBC News website and after that we had an awful lot of interest, emails from all over the world.
The iBall echoes the kind of futuristic devices used by Tom Cruise in the blockbuster Mission Impossible series, in which Cruise’s character bounces a camera ball down a corridor to get the drop on unsuspecting terrorists.
Paul added: “At the minute we’re looking at means of getting it into production and how to develop it further. As far as the electronics go we’re happy but we might need a bit of help designing the exterior. We normally design circuit boards and act as consultants for various firms, so we might need some assistance to develop a hard-wearing, rugged exterior, fit for the battlefield.
Twee tweed to storm Stornoway
By Rory Reynolds
THOUSANDS of trendy New Yorkers are eagerly awaiting fashion designer Lusmila McColl’s latest range of Harris Tweed – but her beloved Hebridean Isles will get first dibs.
The in-demand Scots-American is hoping to whip up a Gael storm in Stornoway this week with her unique take on traditional Scottish dress. And she’s even created a tweed wedding dress for the special show designed by Ann McCallum of Hebridean Dreams, Lewis.
Harris tweed has been a hit in NYC for over 20 years
The new designs, which are aimed at young hipsters, are inspired by McColl’s love of her Scottish roots and the rich history surrounding the famous Harris tweed.
She said: “The history of this fabric weaves itself not only through the culture of the Scottish people but extends itself out to the world.
“Tweed is more than a fabric; it is a brand identity, a cultural icon and a personal statement.
And the event looks to be a huge boost for the profiles of Scottish companies that produce traditional dress. Harris Tweed Textiles, who worked with McColl on her new range, as well as many other fashion designers have found their wares in demand all over the world.
A spokesman said: “Harris Tweed Textiles has the Scottish determination to succeed and we will continue to push Harris Tweed to be used in fresh and innovative ways. This event will showcase our exciting designs and versatility for au couture, fashion, soft furnishings and more.
And McColl isn’t the first to give the traditional dress a stylish makeover. Vivienne Westwood first wowed fashion show goers with her 1987 Harris Tweed collection, Nike created limited edition sports trainers made from the material while Andre 3000 of Outkast fame includes tweed jackets as a major part of his fashion collection.
Bruichladdich toasts to success
By Rory Reynolds
One of Scotland’s few independent whisky distilleries has reported unexpected rise in profits amid fears that the industry will suffer in the economic recession.
Bruichladdich's X4, famous for causing insanity
Bruichladdich, Islay’s only independent distillery, saw in increase of 15% in sales from 2008 despite the fact that industry analysts predicted a fall in sales.
The distillery’s turnover for 2008 was £7.9million up from £6.8million in 2007.
“Despite the environment – economic climate change, global financial warming, and banking meltdown, we are forecasting continued growth” said CEO Mark Reynier. “Bruichladdich appeals to sophisticated palates, while the variety of our bottlings stimulates the more open-minded consumer. We’re not only preaching to the converted.” “This is an exciting, innovative, but authentic brand, in a deeply consolidated industry where 80% of production is owned by five groups. We are premium, quality and niche.”
The distillery, famous for its peaty, smoky flavour, re-invests all profits back into the business. It plans to increase production by 15% to an all-time high of 800,000 litres of alcohol, all of which is bottled onsite.
Bruichladdich distillery was re-launched in 2000 after being closed for six years. It is the largest employer on the Isle of Islay after the state and employs 49 people – more than the other eight Islay distilleries put together.
New web-based support for Scottish carers
By Rory Reynolds
Scottish professionals who assist carers in looking after relatives received a boost today after the Princess Royal Trust set up the first dedicated website to support them.
Social workers, teachers and health professionals will be able to use the online database to access the latest tools, resources and news concerning the carers they support.
The database, funded by finance firm Legal & General, will ensure that the best techniques are passed on to those who support unpaid carers as well as young carers – those who support their parents or relatives.
Carole Cochrane, Chief Executive at The Princess Royal Trust, said that support for carers is crucial: “Caring can take its toll on someone’s physical and mental health. It is vital that carers are identified and supported at the earliest stage possible so that they have access to the support they need.
“Professionals in health, education and social care sectors are often the first point of contact and we are confident that this website will give them access to the latest information and thus be instrumental in making a difference to the lives of carers.
“The Princess Royal Trust is grateful that Legal & General have supported us in making this website a reality.”
Victoria Linton-Crook, Business Development Director at Legal & General, added: “Legal & General are pleased to have supported The Princess Royal Trust and to help them achieve their aim of reaching professionals who help carers through the internet.
“Supporting the use of information sharing and communication through the internet plays a key role to all those working with carers, as it is an accessible and speedy way to access relevant information.
“The Trust’s work is crucial as we see the number of carers in the population continuing to grow and the likelihood of each of us taking on a caring role in the future increasing.”
The Princess Trust in Scotland supports carers and young carers through at network of 29 centres, which will also be involved with the online database.
The database will also ensure that carers are aware of any benefits they may be eligible for. and is the latest in a number of initiatives to help carers to manage better in Scotland.
Since October 2008 carers who look after a relative, friend or neighbour for 35 hours per week or more have been eligible for the Carer’s Allowance. Carers can claim £48.65 per week with an additional £27.15 if they qualify for Carer’s Premium Allowance.
Stun guns, syringes, knives, baseball bats: No this isn’t LA
by Rory Reynolds
Stun guns, syringes, baseball bats and socks containing snooker balls are just some of the offensive weapons seized from people every day in Edinburgh.
New police statistics show that two people every day are caught in Edinburgh in possession of some of these weapons.
The report has also shown a 35% rise in people arrested for carrying a knife in public over the last three years.
Stun guns are among the thousands of weapons seized every year
Police claim that the increase is because of more aggressive stop and search tactics, as well as a string of operations outside nightclubs and on buses in the city.
In 2006 the Scottish Parliament passed legislation extending the maximum prison term for carrying a knife to four years.
Solicitor General for Scotland Frank Mulholland QC said that tougher guidelines for police and prosecutors meant “those caught carrying knives are being taken off the streets more quickly and kept in custody for longer.
Additionally, figures were unveiled yesterday showing significantly higher conviction rates since the legislation passed, with 78% of convictions for carrying a knife resulting in imprisonment.
A police spokeswoman said: “We believe the force has a key role to play in prevention through enforcement. The Edinburgh violence reduction programme and the Unight scheme are a vital part of this, both acting as deterrents and making carrying a knife socially unacceptable.
“The rise in the number of people caught in possession of a knife is testament to the proactive approach we are taking to make sure our communities can live without the fear of violent crime, with targeted initiatives as part of a number of ongoing campaigns.
Edinburgh Napier principal wins prestigious IOD award
By Rory Reynolds
Scotland’s Higher Education credentials received a major boost on Friday as the Principal of the Edinburgh Napier University was awarded Public Sector Director of the Year for Scotland at the Institute of Directors Scotland Awards.
Professor Joan Stringer was given the prestigious award for her contribution to higher education in both the UK and internationally on March 9.
Principal Joan Stringer
The award comes after Edinburgh Napier was named number one modern university in Scotland and the fifth best in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2009.
Professor Stringer said she was delighted to receive the Public Sector Director award.
She said: “It is deserved recognition of the continuing importance of higher education, and is a reflection too of the importance that Edinburgh Napier University places in ensuring that education be made available to all those who can benefit from it.”
Crawford Beveridge, an Executive Vice President and Chairman of Sun Microsystems, who nominated Principal Joan Stringer for the IOD Award, added: “Professor Stringer has made a significant contribution to higher education and these awards are well deserved recognition of that. Professor Stringer’s inspiring leadership and strong sense of direction has delivered a vibrant, confident and successful educational institution.”
Professor Stringer was previously a Lecturer in Public Administration after studying history and politics at the University of Keele. She was awarded a PhD in industrial training policy in 1986.
She was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2001, and is Scotland’s only female university principal.
Executive announces tough anti-crime measures
By Rory Reynolds
Tough new sentencing laws aimed at tackling organised criminals and drug dealers were unveiled today by the Scottish Government.
Police will have more powers to tackle organised crime
Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill will also target those found distributing or in possession of hardcore pornography and allow police to retain forensic evidence relating to sexual assaults and child abuse for a longer period of time.
The Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said that new legislation would give the police and the courts more power.
He said: “This Bill can significantly strengthen the hand of our law enforcement agencies to tackle serious organised crime linked to drugs, money laundering, human trafficking and sexual exploitation and give police and the courts new powers to deal with predatory sex offenders.
“There can be no hiding place for those who peddle drugs and despair on our streets and no compromise in curbing the activities of predatory adults whose behaviour poses a risk to our children and others.”
The bill will also raise the age at which children can be prosecuted in the adult courts from eight to 12 and end the remand of children in adult prisons.
The Justice Secretary added said: “Our investment in policing has delivered record numbers of officers on our streets, while crime is at its lowest level in a generation.”
SCOTLAND’S DRIVING FORZA
Forza Italia!
Hey…are the Scots-Italians suddenly taking over their adopted nation?
While Scotland prepares for the much-hyped Alex Salmond-led Homecoming 2009, you have to say the Italians who settled here in the 20th Century aren’t in the frame.
Because the ones who came, saw and conquered back in the day, have simply stayed.
The first generation, who for the most part stopped at Greenock, on the way to a new life in the New World and just didn’t go any farther, built their New Jerusalem – or should that be New Genoa? – at this chilly edge of Europe.
The next generation consolidated their parents’ work ethic and became true Scots/Italian.
The present generation – well, they seem to have really taken off in recent years.
As we stand on the edge of 2009, it could well be that Bishop Philip Tartaglia of Paisley becomes the Pope’s main man in Britain. That’s if he can squeeze past Archbishop Mario Conti of Glasgow to get there.
In politics, the Scottish Cabinet includes firebrands Elish Angiolini, Scotland’s Lord Advocate, and Linda Fabiani, Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture and a holder of a Cavaliere, the equivalent of a knighthood in Italy.
In Sport, Scotland’s highest earner is Dario Franchitti, the darling of the American IndyCar circuit and husband to Holywood actress Ashley Judd. And in 2009 he could be passed by Paul Di Resta, tipped as David Coulthard’s successor in F1.
In football, names like Macari, Marinello, Tortolano, Baldacchino and Moscardini have rung like a bell for generations.
Controversial artist Jack Vettriano is among the most famous Scots-Italians.
In Rugby, Scotland field a three-quarter line including Danielli, Di Rollo and Di Luca.
While in the field of entertainment, the names Daniela Nardini, Tom Conti, Paul Coia, Sharleen Spiteri, impressionist Ronni Ancona, Oscar-winner Peter Capaldi, and The Bill’s George Rossi are a huge factor in our daily showbiz diet. Ken Stott’s Sicilian mother reportedly stopped off in Scotland on her way to the United States and never left, while Academy Award winner Anthony Minghella’s, parents were both Scots Italian.
There’s more – Blue Peter girl Romana D’Annunzio, GMTV Hollywood reporter Carla Romano, TV presenter John Amabile, blue-eyed soul hunk Paolo Nutini and comic genius Armando Iannucci. Top record producer Stephen Lironi is also Mr Clare Grogan.
Even Bond theme singer Alicia Keys was raised by her Scottish/Italian mum in New York. And last night on Taggart DI Ross revealed his Italian granddad had died in an internment camp during the war, so he’s really a Rossi.
The Arts? Look no farther than Scotland’s premier painter Jack Vettriano, author Giovanni Pontiero, best-selling author Joe Pieri, sculptor and artist Sir Eduardo Paolozzi and portrait artist Alberto Morrocco OBE. Artist, author and director Richard Demarco OBE is said to have introduced Sean Connery to acting while lecturing at the Edinburgh College of Art, while Mary Contini’s highly acclaimed Dear Francesca is a widely read book about her forefathers coping on arriving in Scotland from Italy.
In music, Salvatore Cleminson was the stable of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band for years, while The Fratellis and Del Amici gave themselves Italian names to be cool. And Nicola Benedetti is undoubtedly Britain’s hottest classical talent.
In terms of business, Scottish Italians have become household names. Rocco Forte’s hotel group has spread worldwide, worth over £350 million, while ice cream makers Di Rollo and Nardini’s ice are a cut above the rest.
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- Domenico Crolla holding the world’s most expensive pizza, the Pizza Royale 007, which was sold at auction for £2,150
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- Sergio Casci’s black comedy, American Cousins, about New York gangsters laying low in Glasgow, was nominated for a BAFTA.
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- Bishop of Paisley Philip Targaglia could be the next Archbishop of Westminster
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- Sir Rocco Forte’s hotel empire is worth over £350 million
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- IndyCar champ Dario Franchitti with his wife, Hollywood actress Ashley Judd
And if you ever get in a spot of bother with the law look no farther than Joe Beltrami. The top Glasgow brief was so infamous that criminals would demand “Get me Beltrami” in an attempt to stay out of prison – he even helped 12 clients to escape the hangman’s noose.
Just this month Domenico Crolla, scion of a family which made their name here as luxury food suppliers, has been made Scottish Restaurateur of the Year.
He said: “I think many immigrants who come to Scotland do so temporarily to make money, learn English, and then go home. But we Italians have really invested in Scotland because it is our home, and we’ve integrated well here.
“The Scots are a very welcoming people, not just to tourists, but to immigrants as well, so there have never been obstacles or barriers for us to overcome. But I also think Italian Scots compete against each other a great deal, that’s why, for example, the quality of Italian food in Scotland is among the highest in the world.”
Although with the sudden influx of Poles and the march of smart Asian entrepreneurs goes on, the Italian familia has been quietly consolidating and expanding its position in our society – arguably we could one day have a Scots Italian First Minister, cardinal, leaders of industry, captains of the national rugby and football teams and number one bands.
Glasgow band The Fratellis gave themselves an Italian name because it sounded cool.
Screenwriter Sergio Casci, whose Bafta-nominated film American Cousins celebrated the Scots-Italian connection, says it is an important part of modern culture: “When you speak to a lot of Scots, especially Scots of a certain age, and ask them where they first met their husbands and wives, chances are they met them in an Italian ice cream shop – In the early 60s, late 50s, that is where young folk used to go.”
Forza Italia? You ain’t seen nothing yet, mamma!
SCOTLAND’S BLAZING SADDLES
SCOTLAND’S BLAZING SADDLES
EDINBURGH IS leading the way on a two-wheeled path to a brighter tomorrow – and it’s being led by its very own golden boy Chris Hoy, British Sports Personality of the 2008.
The heady mix of city congestion, the surge to a healthier lifestyle and the dazzling Olympic exploits of triple-gold hero Chris Hoy and globetrotting endurance champ Mark Beaumont have spurred people to get on their bikes.
The much-vaunted tram system is a long way off, city streets are as clogged as ever and 2008 has brought crippling increases in the cost of motoring.
So thousands and thousands of new recruits to pedal power has suddenly given the city the look of Beijing – not the Olympic velodrome this time – but the streets of the Chinese capital thronged with what Katie Melua made famous as nine million bicycles.
And Edinburgh powerhouse Hoy is surely the man who has changed the city’s outlook as far as the eye can see.
Becoming the greatest Scottish sportsman ever, with the lung-busting efforts which brought him that unique Olympic haul, has been a beacon of encouragement to everyone.
And you only need to look at some of the city’s universities and colleges to see a view reminiscent of the 1950s, with thousand and thousands of bicycles tied up in the quads.
But it isn’t just our arteries, the ozone layer and the speed of traffic which benefits. Cycle shops are declaring 2008 as the annus mirabilis of their trade. Gerald Homeyard, manager of the Edinburgh Bike Co-op chain says he has scores of new customers.
“More than ever we’re selling £200-£300 bikes, our entry level range. Customers often say they’re looking for something to cycle to work on, but they also tend to go for mountain rather than road bikes, so they can go for a bike ride at the weekend.
“There was a huge surge in demand over the summer, as petrol prices reached £1.20 a litre, but it hasn’t stopped since then. It was difficult to keep up with the demand for a while.
Chris Hoy winning his third gold medal at Beijing 2008
“I think the ‘Chris Hoy effect’ certainly comes into it, but we also have what we call the ‘Mark Beaumont effect’. Since the summer we’ve had dozens of people coming to us saying that they’re going to cycle around Britain, across Europe and even down through Europe to North Africa. They tend to be more experienced cyclists, but sometimes not, quite worryingly!
“I think this surge is because of the feats that people like Mark Beaumont, who is Guinness World Record holder for the fastest cycle around the world, have achieved. Cyclists like him and Chris Hoy have made cycling is quite fashionable these days, quite cool.”
Jock Shaw, President of Scottish Cycling, said that the ‘Chris Hoy effect’ has come ever sooner than predicted.
He said: “The huge increase in grass-roots participation is reflected across all disciplines. There’s Go Ride clubs opening all over Scotland, even in areas where there are limited facilities.
‘Here’s hoping some of these youngsters will continue to demonstrate the potential to be part of the Glasgow 2014 Games.
And Chief Exec Jackie Davidson added: “The success of Chris Hoy and the British Cycling Team at Beijing firmly put Scottish cycling on the sporting map. And not only did hosting the Mountain Bike World Cup at Fort William this year leave us with superbly equipped facilities for the Commonwealth Games, we also took the World Championship. It’s just stunning that all this could happen in one year and truly inspiring to youngsters looking to get involved.”
Mark Beaumont arriving in Paris after 194 days on the road and beating the previous record of 276 days
One man who knows all about inspiration is David Hoy. His son Chris is Scotland’s most successful Olympian ever. So what’s the key to success?
“I think just hard work, and his character, He likes training. He tries to set a personal best every day of his life. Every time he goes into the gym he tries to add a kilogram on the bar, every time he gets on the bike he tries to take another hundredth off his last time.”
“He always finished second to a guy called Matt Boyle. He was never up there but he just kept plugging away. You’ve seen other kids who were winning all the time and when they get beaten they don’t like it so they stop what they’re doing. As long as they’re enjoying it and they’re doing pretty well, there is not a lot between first and second.”
“The ironic thing is that it wasn’t even me who taught him to ride a bike. He went to his uncle’s one day and came back riding his bike, but he’s always been driven like that.”
And you can’t underestimate the health benefits of cycling. According to BUPA “new cyclists covering short distances can reduce their risk of death (mainly due to the reduction of heart disease) by as much as 22 per cent.”
If that isn’t enough of an incentive, then cycling to and from work every day burns five and a half kilos of bodily fat every year.
And it’s been proven that exercise before or after work can greatly improve coping with stress, your mood and raise self-esteem.
So get on your bike and your pedals could win you medals in life’s great road race.
SCOTTISH TV DRAMAS SNUBBED BY LONDON
JUST TWO hours of independent TV drama produced in Scotland were shown UK-wide last year, a report has shown.
And that was the decidedly niche-market tale of a gay couple struggling with the tenets of the homosexuality laws in 1950’s Scotland, Consenting Adults.
Independent Scottish television companies are on the decline, while their English counterparts are booming, according to the research by the Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television (PACT).
Since 2004 there has been a 50% increase in the number of hours produced by independent production companies.
And while there has been an increase of 13 per cent in the number of TV hours produced north of the border, a total of 298 hours, this was still well short of the 346 hours produced in 2004.
Last year ITV sourced just 10 hours of TV from Scotland, a 53% reduction on the year before. Channel Four produced more with 41 hours, but was still 18% down on the previous year. Even altogether, Scotland’s programme production is still dwarfed by the 6,000 hours produced in London.
The PACT report calls for the “bias against out-of-London indies (independent production firms)” to be addressed by having quotas and a genuine commitment to the change of culture in the industry.
The report has sparked widespread concern from MSPs and the NUJ that more jobs in the Scottish media will go. In a debate on Friday MSPs condemned plans to cut 70 jobs at BBC Scotland, along with the cuts already underway at The Herald, Sunday Herald, and the Evening Times. This comes after BBC Scotland axed 96 jobs earlier this year, and hundreds of jobs at loses at ITV in September.
According to SNP’s Stuart McMillan MSP: “This enhances the Scottish Broadcasting Commission’s case for a Scottish digital channel. It is time for London-centric broadcasting to come to an end and to allow Scotland to shine with the talent that is on offer here.”
First Minister Alex Salmond gave his support for a Scottish digital channel and added that, with regards to The Herald’s redundancies, in no other industry could a company fire all of its staff and make them re-apply for their jobs.
Consenting Adults was the only independently produced Scottish drama shown UK-wide in 2008
A recent Price Waterhouse Cooper study for the BBC Trust showed that BBC spending had a significantly greater impact on Scotland and other UK regions when it was with independent, rather than in-house production teams.
David Strachan, chair of PACT’s nations and regions committee, said that with the number of digital channels still rapidly growing, there has been a reliance by the “London-based networks on in-house teams and independent producers based in the capital. It is dangerous if UK television becomes a plaything of a metropolitan elite divorced from the rest of the country.”
PACT’s Head of the Out of London project Dawn Simpson added: “The dramatic decline in network programming outside of London in the last few years is hugely detrimental not only to the industry but to the UK public, who are missing out on an enormous pool of talent,” she said.
“While we welcome the BBC’s Out of London strategy, it should not be left entirely to them. We would like to see Channel 4 make a similar commitment in order to truly fulfil their PSB obligations.”
In 2006 Michael Grade commended TV production in the nations and regions: “I believe passionately that it’s wrong that talent has to come to London to get a job. The history of British Broadcasting over the last 40 years shows there’s an enormous wealth of talent outside of London.”
