Monthly Archives: January 2016

Spotlight – a review

Posted on January 31, 2016 by Grouse Beater

Some readers might remember a wonderful little film years ago called The Station Agent, (2003) a film that ought to have won an Oscar for the maker’s débute, but it never got a wide release in cinemas, and mass popularity is … Continue reading →

Posted in Film review, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

The Power and the ‘Cringe’

Posted on January 30, 2016 by Grouse Beater

  We are not worthy With an endless torrent of ridicule from unionists and neo-colonials piped hot or cold by the media every day is it any wonder Scots are prone to a poor self image? Collectively, the ever-spiralling upwards … Continue reading →

Posted in Scottish Politics, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Jumping the Snark

Posted on January 27, 2016 by Grouse Beater

Or, how to recognise trolls, snark, and bat crazy sociopaths on the Internet. The motivation for this subject, trolls, snark and internet abuse, issues from an unsolicited insult on Twitter from an an addled academic calling herself ‘History Woman’, aka, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 28 Comments

A. S. Neil

Posted on January 22, 2016 by Grouse Beater

An occasional series on great Scots unjustly ignored or forgotten. The dark days I think it prescient to discuss teacher and dominie [headmaster] A.S. Neill at a time politicians are jumping all over the Scottish Education system for no valid reason … Continue reading →

Posted in Great Scots | 16 Comments

Car News: The Fire Hydrant

Posted on January 18, 2016 by Grouse Beater

  My first automobile related essay. You have seen them in countless films, and probably parked close to one if visiting a city in the States. They sit on the sidewalk, humble though its duty is great, a silent sentinel. … Continue reading →

Posted in Transportation | 1 Comment

The Revenant – a review

Posted on January 16, 2016 by Grouse Beater

  I got an  unsettling feeling when I saw Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Birdman last year. Did the director really think scenes he had devised worked? Did no one advise him? The narrative was highly imaginative if over-wrought, but I didn’t believe … Continue reading →

Posted in Film review, Uncategorized | 7 Comments

Two Years of Age

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Grouse Beater

  The essay site is two years old today. I began it as a personal exercise, never meant for public consumption. It was my intellectual discipline. Months before it began I’d gotten into a discussion with some right-wing friends and found … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 28 Comments

Of Vocal Millionaires

Posted on January 11, 2016 by Grouse Beater

Hypocrisy lies in being vile and cruel about an individual when he’s alive and then praising him when he’s dead. It is interesting to see those who are normally outspoken in favour of Scotland’s rights exercise self-censorship on the death of … Continue reading →

Posted in Scottish Independence Referendum | 10 Comments

The Hateful Eight – a review

Posted on January 9, 2016 by Grouse Beater

  When Tarantino – you’ve truly arrived when people need use only one of your names –  released his second film, Pulp Fiction, critics dubbed him a post-modern director. I’ve never known when post-modern began or where it ends, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Film review | 3 Comments

Torrance the Terrible

Posted on January 3, 2016 by Grouse Beater

Freelance, ‘self-styled’ (his phrase) biographer, David Torrance, is one of those media people who rise without trace. One day a lowly reporter for Scottish Television, the next pontificating everywhere about Scotland’s natural home being United Kingdom, and writing unofficial biographies. He … Continue reading →

Posted in Scottish Politics | 22 Comments