• Contact
  • About
  • Authors
DONATE
NEWSLETTER SIGN UP
  • Login
Bylines Scotland
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Bylines Scotland Breaking News
    • Europe
    • King Charles III
    • Queen Elizabeth II
    • Scotland
    • War in Ukraine
    • World
    blue background, A younf woman holding a large black sign that says VOTE ! in white letters

    Scottish elections: young people more likely to vote if they started at 16 – new study

    Healthcare word seen in a scrabble

    “Leave no one behind” – the Health Foundation’s report into health inequalities in Scotland 2023.

    Sign saying NHS Greater Galsgow & Clyde in front of a hospital building

    Concern over patients waiting in corridors for free beds at Glasgow Superhospital

    A row of tall houses on the left, with parked cars in front on the side of the street

    Saving Scotland’s tenements

    Ben Nevis. Forground has green shrubbery, then background a mountain with two tops. Blue sky with a few streaky clouds

    Exploring the Highest Mountain in the British Isles: A Guide to Ben Nevis

    Image via Steller Systems, a potential candidate.

    Cancelling future frigates could be final nail in the coffin for the UK

    A hospital corridor with trolleys on the sides.

    Glasgow hospitals halt non-urgent operations due to pressure

    A scene of people demonstrating, holding Scotland flags. One man wears a tartan cap and holds a blue flag with both the Scottish cross and the EU stars on it.

    Is Alister Jack sane?

    Cartoon by Stan

    Film reviews award season

    Trending Tags

    • Democracy
    • Devolution
    • Brexit
    • Ukraine
  • Politics
    • All
    • Council Areas
    • Europe
    • Holyrood
    • Liz Truss
    • Rest of UK
    • Tories
    • United Kingdom
    • Westminster
    • World
    blue background, A younf woman holding a large black sign that says VOTE ! in white letters

    Scottish elections: young people more likely to vote if they started at 16 – new study

    A scene of people demonstrating, holding Scotland flags. One man wears a tartan cap and holds a blue flag with both the Scottish cross and the EU stars on it.

    Is Alister Jack sane?

    Image Malcom Laverty

    The Brown plan

    The climate change impacts of Russia’s war with Ukraine

    Britain wastes £1bn on drones to monitor English Channel

    The Autumn Statement – time to take a closer look

    Photo Mtaylor848, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

    Christmas cheer for Tesco if grim reading for the political classes

    Scottish independence isn’t going away

    Russia as a low-tech nation

    Trending Tags

    • Crime
    • Equality
    • Johnson
    • Scottish National Party
  • Business
    • All
    • Agriculture
    • Aviation
    • Corporations
    • Energy
    • Fishing
    • Natural Resources
    • Shipbuilding
    • Trade
    • Transport
    • Workers
    A row of tall houses on the left, with parked cars in front on the side of the street

    Saving Scotland’s tenements

    A large red researcgh vessel in the sea with ice sheets all around it on the water.

    Rosyth shipyard attracts UK Government contract to maintain fleet of scientific research vessels

    large posts saying 'Glasgow Airport Business Park' on the left and right of a road leading away from the main road in the front. . On that road leading away building with walls almost entirely existing of windows.

    Why doing business in Scotland may be better for your corporate wellbeing

    A mountain of spools forming a tree on the left, a sandy area to the right and a row of houses at the back. mountains in the distance on the right

    The Ullapool Giving Tree

    Electric off-roader heralds return of vehicle mass-production in Scotland after 40 years

    Photo Mtaylor848, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

    Christmas cheer for Tesco if grim reading for the political classes

    Ferguson Marine will weather the storm

    Order placed for remaining five Type 26 Frigates on the Clyde

    Police Scotland not investigating Scottish government over ferry contract criminality

    Trending Tags

    • Health
      • All
      • Assisted dying
      • Covid
      • Influenza
      • Polio virus
      • Respiratory
      • Scientific Research
      Healthcare word seen in a scrabble

      “Leave no one behind” – the Health Foundation’s report into health inequalities in Scotland 2023.

      Sign saying NHS Greater Galsgow & Clyde in front of a hospital building

      Concern over patients waiting in corridors for free beds at Glasgow Superhospital

      A hospital corridor with trolleys on the sides.

      Glasgow hospitals halt non-urgent operations due to pressure

      Two more unions reject Scottish Government NHS pay offer

      GMB union reject Scottish Government pay offer to NHS staff

      Lymphocites gathering

      How careful should we be when choosing a scientific term?

      Code Black – A mayday from the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital

      The challenges facing mental health care in Scotland

      Illustration by author

      What are the boundaries to push science to its safety limits for the benefit of discoveries?

      Trending Tags

      • Environment
        • All
        • Air Pollution
        • Biology
        • Climate Change
        • Wildfires
        Ardnish wildfire by Leslie Barrie, CC BY-SA 2.0 Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic — CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons'

        Fire threats in the Scottish countryside

        Wood stove at the foot of the bed in the Danish Blue room at Pig Hill Inn, Cold Spring, New York. Printed with permission and confirmed to be licensed under the terms of the cc-by-2.0.

        When smoke gets in your eyes

        Opening of the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP27 in Egypt. Photo courtesy of the UNFCCC

        COP27 and the inconvenient truth

        Viscum album in trees

        Night of the strangling figs: a biological horror story

        Out & about with Charlie Mac: Cycling to the heart of Scotland – the National Cycle Network 7

        Scotland's mountain footpaths

        How do we care for Scotland’s mountain footpath network?

        climate science

        PM to be chosen by people with little grasp of climate science

        Trending Tags

        • Opinion
        No Result
        View All Result
        • Home
        • News
          • All
          • Bylines Scotland Breaking News
          • Europe
          • King Charles III
          • Queen Elizabeth II
          • Scotland
          • War in Ukraine
          • World
          blue background, A younf woman holding a large black sign that says VOTE ! in white letters

          Scottish elections: young people more likely to vote if they started at 16 – new study

          Healthcare word seen in a scrabble

          “Leave no one behind” – the Health Foundation’s report into health inequalities in Scotland 2023.

          Sign saying NHS Greater Galsgow & Clyde in front of a hospital building

          Concern over patients waiting in corridors for free beds at Glasgow Superhospital

          A row of tall houses on the left, with parked cars in front on the side of the street

          Saving Scotland’s tenements

          Ben Nevis. Forground has green shrubbery, then background a mountain with two tops. Blue sky with a few streaky clouds

          Exploring the Highest Mountain in the British Isles: A Guide to Ben Nevis

          Image via Steller Systems, a potential candidate.

          Cancelling future frigates could be final nail in the coffin for the UK

          A hospital corridor with trolleys on the sides.

          Glasgow hospitals halt non-urgent operations due to pressure

          A scene of people demonstrating, holding Scotland flags. One man wears a tartan cap and holds a blue flag with both the Scottish cross and the EU stars on it.

          Is Alister Jack sane?

          Cartoon by Stan

          Film reviews award season

          Trending Tags

          • Democracy
          • Devolution
          • Brexit
          • Ukraine
        • Politics
          • All
          • Council Areas
          • Europe
          • Holyrood
          • Liz Truss
          • Rest of UK
          • Tories
          • United Kingdom
          • Westminster
          • World
          blue background, A younf woman holding a large black sign that says VOTE ! in white letters

          Scottish elections: young people more likely to vote if they started at 16 – new study

          A scene of people demonstrating, holding Scotland flags. One man wears a tartan cap and holds a blue flag with both the Scottish cross and the EU stars on it.

          Is Alister Jack sane?

          Image Malcom Laverty

          The Brown plan

          The climate change impacts of Russia’s war with Ukraine

          Britain wastes £1bn on drones to monitor English Channel

          The Autumn Statement – time to take a closer look

          Photo Mtaylor848, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

          Christmas cheer for Tesco if grim reading for the political classes

          Scottish independence isn’t going away

          Russia as a low-tech nation

          Trending Tags

          • Crime
          • Equality
          • Johnson
          • Scottish National Party
        • Business
          • All
          • Agriculture
          • Aviation
          • Corporations
          • Energy
          • Fishing
          • Natural Resources
          • Shipbuilding
          • Trade
          • Transport
          • Workers
          A row of tall houses on the left, with parked cars in front on the side of the street

          Saving Scotland’s tenements

          A large red researcgh vessel in the sea with ice sheets all around it on the water.

          Rosyth shipyard attracts UK Government contract to maintain fleet of scientific research vessels

          large posts saying 'Glasgow Airport Business Park' on the left and right of a road leading away from the main road in the front. . On that road leading away building with walls almost entirely existing of windows.

          Why doing business in Scotland may be better for your corporate wellbeing

          A mountain of spools forming a tree on the left, a sandy area to the right and a row of houses at the back. mountains in the distance on the right

          The Ullapool Giving Tree

          Electric off-roader heralds return of vehicle mass-production in Scotland after 40 years

          Photo Mtaylor848, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

          Christmas cheer for Tesco if grim reading for the political classes

          Ferguson Marine will weather the storm

          Order placed for remaining five Type 26 Frigates on the Clyde

          Police Scotland not investigating Scottish government over ferry contract criminality

          Trending Tags

          • Health
            • All
            • Assisted dying
            • Covid
            • Influenza
            • Polio virus
            • Respiratory
            • Scientific Research
            Healthcare word seen in a scrabble

            “Leave no one behind” – the Health Foundation’s report into health inequalities in Scotland 2023.

            Sign saying NHS Greater Galsgow & Clyde in front of a hospital building

            Concern over patients waiting in corridors for free beds at Glasgow Superhospital

            A hospital corridor with trolleys on the sides.

            Glasgow hospitals halt non-urgent operations due to pressure

            Two more unions reject Scottish Government NHS pay offer

            GMB union reject Scottish Government pay offer to NHS staff

            Lymphocites gathering

            How careful should we be when choosing a scientific term?

            Code Black – A mayday from the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital

            The challenges facing mental health care in Scotland

            Illustration by author

            What are the boundaries to push science to its safety limits for the benefit of discoveries?

            Trending Tags

            • Environment
              • All
              • Air Pollution
              • Biology
              • Climate Change
              • Wildfires
              Ardnish wildfire by Leslie Barrie, CC BY-SA 2.0 Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic — CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons'

              Fire threats in the Scottish countryside

              Wood stove at the foot of the bed in the Danish Blue room at Pig Hill Inn, Cold Spring, New York. Printed with permission and confirmed to be licensed under the terms of the cc-by-2.0.

              When smoke gets in your eyes

              Opening of the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP27 in Egypt. Photo courtesy of the UNFCCC

              COP27 and the inconvenient truth

              Viscum album in trees

              Night of the strangling figs: a biological horror story

              Out & about with Charlie Mac: Cycling to the heart of Scotland – the National Cycle Network 7

              Scotland's mountain footpaths

              How do we care for Scotland’s mountain footpath network?

              climate science

              PM to be chosen by people with little grasp of climate science

              Trending Tags

              • Opinion
              No Result
              View All Result
              Bylines Scotland
              No Result
              View All Result
              Home Shape of Things to Come

              It’s not fun any more, I’m considering a return to the home planet

              Could the gloom and doom of Bylines Scotland's of Shape of Things to Come foresee a rise in therapy sessions and antidepressants?

              Ian KinseybyIan Kinsey
              09-01-2023 09:04
              in Shape of Things to Come
              Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

              Bylines Scotland’s scribes have been prolific this past week offering their predictions, aspirations and shots in the dark for 2023 in our The Shape of Things to Come series. Overall their peering into the future presented a 12 month outlook that is not too awe inspiring for the coming Chinese Year of the Rabbit — which starts 22 January with the Lunar New Year and ends 9 February 2024.

              One can excuse their tarnished optimism. It’s understandable. When this exercise was conducted on media platforms worldwide during the festive season a scant year ago I wonder if anyone came close to the “Get me out of here I’m a human being!” gong show that was 2022.

              Who would have predicted that Czar Vlad the Mad would invade Ukraine? How many believed that within two months of the invasion if not sooner, we’d be watching news footage of Russian T-72 tanks rumbling down Khreshchatyk, Kyiv’s main thoroughfare. Nearly a year later we, well most of us, can only admire the spirit and tenacity of the Ukrainian people. Sláva Ukrayíni!

              Back in the dis-United Kingdom there was little, if any, glory. There’s no need to torment our loyal readers by recapping the ‘Tory Horror Picture Show’. Anyway, some will be unable to read this as they’ve had to cancel their internet provider, and there’s no place to put the computer on top of anyway after chopping up the furniture to keep the makeshift fireplace burning.

              Get ready for a bumpy ride

              On New Year’s Day the inaugural Shape of Things to Come was published and Martin Roche led off with a light-hearted prose; the headline: The hard right has lost the public on Brexit – prepare for a vicious backlash. Martin believes the electorate, climbing slowing up Ben Brexit, is beginning to see a beacon in the distance as the fog of misconception (that some might call lies) lifts. In truth it is the light of the economy and standard of living that is racing downhill towards them.

              And everyone but the people in charge since 2010 will be blamed for the national decline. Discord between the London government and its diminishing supporters, and practically everyone else, will be “different from the past; nastier, more personal and more brutal.”

              Not exactly a fuzzy-warm outlook, Martin. Makes me consider a trip to the Channel coast, help migrants come ashore, climb into their now empty dingy and paddle like hell to France.

              Phoenix rising from the ashes

              Dr Pam Jarvis wrote that of the many unexpected events of 2022, somewhat buried beneath other, more dramatic headlines, is that “it is shaping up to go down in history as the year in which social media began to eat itself.“ There’s an image to get out of your head today.

              In her article, Hopefully new social media platforms will avoid Twitter and Facebook’s pitfalls, Pam was optimistic that “one potential phoenix may arise from the ashes being raked in the tumultuous twenties, and something to look forward to with hope rather than dread, as the new year dawns.”

              An outlook that ends on a high note. See it’s not all gloom and doom. Thank you Pam. Are we starting to see 2023’s Shape of Things to Come in a more positive light? Perhaps I’ll postpone the journey southward.

              No! Not the oven-ready guy?

              When I asked Charlie McCarthy for a prediction for the year ahead he handed over three: Politics, Poverty, Putin. I watched as the walls of optimism crumble in my head.

              Bylines Scotland’s resident Nostradamus wrote, Vladimir Vladimirovich “Putin will not last the year as the President of the Russian Federation.” Regime change in Moscow will be a prerequisite for peace talks and weakened Russian forces will be pushed out of Ukraine.

              Increasing numbers of food banks are feeding those who cannot make ends meet and who cannot put enough food on the table to feed themselves and their children. Schools will become the feeding ground for the nation’s children.

              As for politics, the Conservative Party will commit regicide (again) in October if the poll ratings for the Sunak-led government do not improve. In the wings stands Boris, an oven-ready prime minister who did take the Tories to victory in 2019.

              What, Charlie? No locust?

              Semafor Z, then it’s game over

              “Enough is enough!” is Jenny Wilson’s battle cry in What will 2023 bring. I feel this year is a turning point. She rightfully so cites the brave young people standing up against dictators, where as in the UK “laws have been passed… which take away individual rights and freedoms.”

              Jenny asks us to look toward Generation Z, the young people born in the new Millennium who are now hitting their 20s, who may be “our hope for the future. According to new research carried out in the US and the UK on their age group, generation Z are highly collaborative, self-reliant, and pragmatic. People are now appreciating the strength and pragmatism of this generation.” The most famous Gen X’er is Greta Thunberg, who turned 20 on 3 January.

              Those who might think Generation Z is the endgame for humanity as it is the last letter in the Latin alphabet, fear not. The next generation follows the Greek alphabet; aleph, beta, etc. We should only worry when future generations are reduced to using semafore.

              There’s one more item that Jenny wishes for in 2023, but I’ll save that cracker for latter.

              It’s not back. It just never went away

              A new wave cometh and it’s smarter. Dr Patricia S Paton sounds the alarm by writing the basic principles of Public Health have been ignored. Now we must face the consequences. Introducing XXB.1.5. No it’s not the latest RAF interceptor. It’s a variant of Covid-19. You may have noticed lately that Covid is back in the news with increased hospitalisations and, in the flu season, is adding significantly to the strain on the NHS everywhere. And the government isn’t clapping. Some might say it’s crapping. There are no current vaccines for XXB.1.5 and if you’ve had Covid it’ll give it to you again. There’s a lot to digest but it is a serious, must, read.

              Boots to Ground time

              Charlie McCarthy promoted his monthly Out and About series for 2023, letting us know where he’s cycling the hidden trails or putting boots on the ground walking about beautiful Scotland. And after reading what came beforehand it might be good to get out and about — while you still can.

              Two out of three B-words

              The Shape of Things to Come closed off with Bylines Scotland’s editor-in-chief taking a peak at transportation in 2023. Specifically predictions for buses and bikes that are doable. But not quite sure about the other B-word?

              George Allison foresees the introduction of new bike-sharing stations in major cities and towns across Scotland. Also “electric buses could use advanced battery technology that provide clean and efficient transportation.”

              Another uncertain year

              That was the week that was, for the year that will be. A bit of a roller coaster ride, frightening at times. We might say, “Well. it can’t be worse than last year.” However, last year WAS worse than the year before, and ditto all the way back to 2016 and the Brexit referendum.

              Still it’s a beautiful world, if you find the right people to hang about with, the right places to live or visit, what to take seriously and when to have a good laugh. I admit I had my doubts reading and editing through the gloom and doom and uncertainties of 2022-23 as to whether I’d stay here, but decided at the last minute to call off the trip to the home planet.

              Oh, yes, I almost forgot to mention.

              George wants us to consider a return of the blimp, for public transport to remote regions of Scotland.

              Jenny want to find a way to talk to the animals. But she does admit some of the questions they’d ask would be difficult for us to answer. It’s really no big deal. I talk to my cat every day.


              We need your help! The press in our country is dominated by billionaire-owned media, many offshore and avoiding paying tax. We are a citizen journalism publication but still have significant costs. If you believe in what we do, please consider subscribing to the Bylines Gazette 🙏

              Tags: BrexitCovidDemocracyrights and libertiesSAR2social mediaToriesTransportationWar in Ukraine
              Previous Post

              Auldhouse Roundabout; Glasgow’s cycle collision hotspot

              Next Post

              The five must see places in Scotland for tourists

              Ian Kinsey

              Ian Kinsey

              Ian Kinsey was the first editor-in-chief at Bylines Scotland. He currently writes the weekly column, "Just a Thought|". A native of Salford, Ian has lived and worked in the Middle East, Europe, the USA and Canada before settling down in Scotland. In his eclectic career he has been a pilot, television and radio presenter, newspaper correspondent, public and media relations consultant, and aviation manager at Boeing and CHC Helicopter. Now retired, Ian finds solace in writing, music, reading philosophy, researching history, and playing with the cat.

              Related Posts

              Image by Malcolm Laverty
              Bikes, Buses and Blimps

              Predictions for buses and bikes are doable. But not quite sure about the other B-word?

              byGeorge Allison
              7 January 2023
              Image by Malcolm Laverty
              New Covid variants and the NHS

              The basic principles of public health have been ignored. Now we must face the consequences

              byDr Patricia S Paton
              5 January 2023
              Image by Malcolm Laverty
              Enough is Enough

              What will 2023 bring? I feel this year is a turning point

              byJenny Wilson
              4 January 2023
              Politics, Poverty and Putin

              You want to know the three P’s for 2023? Well, since you asked …

              byCharlie McCarthy
              3 January 2023
              Shape of Things to Come

              Hopefully new social media platforms will avoid Twitter and Facebook’s pitfalls

              byDr Pam Jarvis
              2 January 2023
              Next Post
              Loch Seaforth. Photograph by Alan Jamieson from Aberdeen, Scotland printed under CC BY 2.0 Creative Commons — Attribution 2.0 Generic — CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

              The five must see places in Scotland for tourists

              Subscribe to our newsletters
              CHOOSE YOUR NEWS
              Follow us on social media
              CHOOSE YOUR PLATFORMS
              Download our app
              ALL OF BYLINES IN ONE PLACE
              Subscribe to our gazette
              CONTRIBUTE TO OUR SUSTAINABILITY
              Make a monthly or one-off donation
              DONATE NOW
              Help us with our hosting costs
              SIGN UP TO SITEGROUND
              We are always looking for citizen journalists
              WRITE FOR US
              Volunteer as an editor, in a technical role, or on social media
              VOLUNTEER FOR US
              Something else?
              GET IN TOUCH
              Previous
              Next

              LATEST

              blue background, A younf woman holding a large black sign that says VOTE ! in white letters

              Scottish elections: young people more likely to vote if they started at 16 – new study

              31 January 2023
              Healthcare word seen in a scrabble

              “Leave no one behind” – the Health Foundation’s report into health inequalities in Scotland 2023.

              30 January 2023
              Sign saying NHS Greater Galsgow & Clyde in front of a hospital building

              Concern over patients waiting in corridors for free beds at Glasgow Superhospital

              27 January 2023
              A row of tall houses on the left, with parked cars in front on the side of the street

              Saving Scotland’s tenements

              27 January 2023

              MOST READ

              blue background, A younf woman holding a large black sign that says VOTE ! in white letters

              Scottish elections: young people more likely to vote if they started at 16 – new study

              31 January 2023
              close up picture of part of a violin

              Amateur orchestra delivers rousing performance in first post-lockdown concert

              26 January 2023
              A row of tall houses on the left, with parked cars in front on the side of the street

              Saving Scotland’s tenements

              27 January 2023
              Healthcare word seen in a scrabble

              “Leave no one behind” – the Health Foundation’s report into health inequalities in Scotland 2023.

              30 January 2023

              BROWSE BY TAGS

              Alister Jack Brexit Christmas Climate change cost of living crisis Covid Culture Defence Democracy Devolution Gender Recognition Reform Glasgow Halloween health History Holyrood independence IndyRef2 Johnson Journalism Liz Truss Long Covid Monarchy nationalism NATO NHS Nicola Sturgeon politics Poverty Putin Russia Sars-CoV-2 Scotland Security Security and Defence shipbuilding SNP Sunak Supreme Court Tories Tourism Twitter Ukraine UK Supreme Court War in Ukraine
              Bylines Scotland

              We are a not-for-profit citizen journalism publication. Our aim is to publish well-written, fact-based articles and opinion pieces on subjects that are of interest to people in Scotland and beyond.

              Bylines Scotland is a trading brand of Bylines Network Limited, which is a sister organisation to Byline Times.

              Learn more about us

              No Result
              View All Result
              • Bylines network
              • About
              • Authors
              • Contact
              • Donate
              • Privacy

              © 2022 Bylines Scotland. Citizen Journalism | Local & Internationalist

              No Result
              View All Result
              • Home
              • News
                • Scotland
                • World
              • Politics
                • Council Areas
                • Europe
                • Holyrood
                • Rest of UK
                • Westminster
              • Business
                • Fishing
                • Trade
                • Transport
              • Health
              • Environment
                • Climate Change
              • Opinion
              • Donate

              © 2022 Bylines Scotland. Citizen Journalism | Local & Internationalist

              Welcome Back!

              Login to your account below

              Forgotten Password?

              Retrieve your password

              Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

              Log In