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Imagine living in a place where a move to Lerwick was a move to a much more populated place? :U
The Internet is having a big impact on competitive chess and we haven't quite come to terms with what that will mean. Similarly, the Internet has a big impact on Island life and people haven't quite come to terms with what that will mean. What is for sure is that on the long winter nights in places like the Out Skerries when there isn't a lot else to do, chess is a pretty good use of the Internet compared to some of the alternatives.
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The last post was from me rather than Peter
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From BBC news website. Scotland page.
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Scotland's smallest secondary school - Skerries in Shetland - is set to close next summer, after a narrow vote.
The school, which has three pupils, serves the Out Skerries, a small smattering of islands an hour and a half's ferry journey east of the Shetland mainland.
Shetland Islands Council made the decision to close it on the casting vote of its convener.
It came after a two-and-a-half hour meeting ended in a 10-10 vote.
The council has previously argued that Skerries pupils would get a better schooling if they were educated in Lerwick, and that closing the school would save almost £74,000 a year.
Islanders - who fear closure could force many families to leave the small island community - said they hope the decision can still be reversed.
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I am somewhat surprised that after a tied vote the casting vote was not used to support the status quo.
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Just an idle (but, of course, loaded) question:
What fraction of an expenses claim / junket / consultant's fee is £74,000?
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Donald,
your idle (loaded) question deserves an idle (loaded) reply.
Isn't £74,000 the proposed MP salary after a sizeable pay rise?
Couldn't they simply recruit an MP at the current salary to run and maintain the school for them?
