Tonight!

Demining on the steppe - and the thorny issue of the landmine ban Behind the scenes on the long-read for Prospect magazine about demining, landmine ban treaties, and the war in Ukraine

A long-read for Prospect magazine: reporting from SE Ukraine on demining
& conversely, on the scramble to leave the Mine Ban Treaty by countries threatened by Russia.

Blog & extra pics:
www.jenstout.net/post/deminin...

Article w/Julia Kochetova (!) pics: www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/world/europe...

Drifting North to St Andrews - Signing with Dominic Hindle | Events at Waterstones Bookshops | Waterstones Events at Waterstones get you closer to the books and authors you admire most. Find information and tickets about Drifting North to St Andrews - Signing with Dominic Hindle today.

Prior to the event at @waterstones.bsky.social Dundee in October with @palebackwriter.bsky.social I'm going to be dropping by Waterstones in St Andrews to sign books and have a bit more of an informal chat www.waterstones.com/events/drift...

Aasmah Mir: I saw first-hand how the BBC indulges its sexist men The presenter and one-time MasterChef contestant can’t understand how no one acted when she complained about Gregg Wallace — or another star’s appalling comment

This is a really good, thoughtful piece by @aasmahmir.bsky.social. The problem is not only the men who make the comments - it is the men who stand by and say nothing. Not just at the BBC but everywhere

www.thetimes.com/article/1ceb...

The Taliban letters show us what learning really is — hope

Poring over the correspondence between a British author and a female writer in Afghanistan helped me see that education is the only chance women there have of better life | ✍️ Gabriella Bennett

The embarrassing failures at Dundee University are the failures of Scotland The ripple effect of the university’s financial meltdown risks draining the lifeblood out of the city centre and beyond

The failings of the University of Dundee are the failings of Scotland. Column for @thetimes.com

www.thetimes.com/article/c9b5...

Can’t wait to read!

Hi Gerry. Thanks for reading and sharing. The piece intends to draw attention to the issues D&G faces not sugarcoat them. It is an honest account of my visits over the years. All the best to you. PS I don't live anywhere near the central belt

Balbirnie stone circle

Balfarg henge

Walking from Balfarg henge to David Harding’s Henge in Glenrothes, beginning with the new town Neolithic at Balbirnie stone circle #publicart

There’s so much good stuff in there today. I particularly loved @palebackwriter.bsky.social’s column on Ian Hamilton Finlay’s grouchy letters.

Thanks hen xx

It's a Valentines theme for this week's #OnlineArtExchange with @artukdotorg.bsky.social.

Our pick is this screenprint - Love by Ian Hamilton Finlay HRSA❤️

Westfield 2 Tenants' Handbook : Cumbernauld Development Corporation : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive Handbook for new tenants of the Westfield council housing estate in Cumbernauld, Scotland, UK. This handbook has pages for house type ST 2067, a three bedroom...

How we lived. A handbook for new tenants of the Westfield council housing estate in Cumbernauld from 1977. Also love the groovy font. archive.org/details/west...

When building a home means rebuilding a person The LA fires have destroyed thousands of homes, but as history shows, starting over can sometimes bring out our creative best. By Gabriella Bennett

I wrote about the LA fires and why they prove that home is a process not a product
www.thetimes.com/article/9be1...

I think it makes sense to think of insurers as an indicator species. It shouldn't shock anyone they aren't in it for altruistic reasons. It is a business, dependent on risk estimation, and they have the resources to look further ahead and more deeply than any local or regional government ever could.

my biggest achievement this week has been getting out of bed before 9am. when will everyone stop doing THINGS

The young people keeping Scotland’s historic buildings alive A new generation of conservationists are using digital tools to protect the country’s heritage

Millennial conservationists are coming to building restoration after training to be video game designers. Their digital skills are put to good use as they archive, scan and document chapels, cathedrals and keeps. My piece for @thetimes.com

www.thetimes.com/article/9e3b...

Remembering Edna O'Brien born on this day 1930:

“We all leave one another. We die, we change - it's mostly change - we outgrow our best friends; but even if I do leave you, I will have passed on to you something of myself; you will be a different person because of knowing me; it's inescapable...”

Thank you @palebackwriter.bsky.social for the mention in your latest @timesscotland.bsky.social column. Our volunteers are pictured here packing gifts to send to children and young people in mental health wards over Christmas. We hope these gifts create many much-needed moments of joy

Burning gigantic vermin in effigy on a St Pancras housing estate 1931 (very short youtube, no sound)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnAZ...

In my latest Substack, I’ve revisited Scottish artist Alasdair Taylor, whose life & work I became immersed in last year. Despite being championed by Alasdair Gray & James Kelman, his star waned as he aged. Playing the art game saps a creative soul. airtsandpairts.substack.com/p/rediscover...

Best Building in Scotland: Honoured to present the Andrew Doolan Award for the Burrell Collection to John McAslan and Partners at V&A Dundee. Congratulations! #DoolanAward
#Architecture

The Burrell Collection wins the RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland award for 2024!

Tonight is the night we reveal the winner of this year’s RIAS Doolan Award! A joy to be a judge. Our shortlist of Scotland’s best buildings:

1) Science + Teaching Hub, University of Aberdeen
2) Ardoch
3) North Gate Social Housing
4) The Burrell Collection
5) The Fruitmarket (no space for pic!)

👋

"Listing showcases what a country feels is important to them...these are the buildings we think are 'us'."

Architect Gurmeet Sian on C20's #ComingOfAge campaign celebrating the best buildings turning 30, in another must-listen episode of the Open City podcast. 🎧

open.spotify.com/episode/3FUu...

WiJ Scotland launches 2025 mentoring scheme - find out how to apply — Women in Journalism Scotland Women in Journalism Scotland has launched the fifth round of its successful mentoring scheme. Are you an early to mid-career journalist in Scotland looking to develop your practice? Do you have sp...

The Women in Journalism Scotland mentoring scheme is open. I know lots of women journalists who have had a rough year: we can find you a mentor to help with confidence, career redirection, whatever you need www.wijscotland.com/news/wij-sco...