Sunday, November 25, 2007

SNP THREAT TO OAKSHAW OBSERVATORY

The advent of Winter brings many changes. Some for the worse such as cold wet weather traffic chaos and, more importantly, abandoned football matches. But, and this time it is a good but, some for the better because this is the time of year where sky gazing is at its most rewarding. On a clear night the stars and planets put on a dazzling display which mankind cannot match and it’s all for free. All you need do is glance up at the sky. Better still if you can find a place that doesn’t suffer from light pollution or blot out the lights by raising your hand to the side of your eye as this causes a dramatic difference - try it and see.

Two weeks ago I was reading about a visiting comet which was visible to the naked eye in the north eastern sky. Despite travelling at thousands of miles per minute this comet remained visible for several weeks and never seemed to move, thus emphasising its size and distance from Earth.

Incredibly this comet up until recently was only visible through a powerful telescope. The theory is that something catastrophic happened such as a mighty collision or an explosion which suddenly made it visible to the naked eye -fascinating stuff.

Anyway the bad news is that the world famous Oakshaw Observatory could be being run down. Its traditional access from Oakshaw street has been closed and visitors have to find their way to the main door of the museum and request a visit to the Observatory. They are given no assistance or instruction on how to do this. Worried Buddies are concerned that this is the thin end of the wedge and the latest underhand cut back by the SNP/ Lib Dem administration. This is an act of cultural vandalism and they ought to be ashamed.

I visited the Observatory before and used the telescope when it was trained on Saturn. What I saw was breathtaking. There were the famous ‘rings of Saturn’ as clear as a bell. Exactly the same as they were in my “Dan Dare” comic all those years ago. An unforgettable experience - would the SNP dare close it?

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Terry,

Either you have employed a ghost writer or perhaps Rayleen is at the keyboard here.

Whilst the syntax and punctuation are not perfect ("it's" is short for "it is" and not "its" as in "belonging to"), it is very clear that these are not the neanderthal cave writings that we know and love.

Rayleen, if you so desperately need to make a political point, try revitalising your own blog and more importantly, try to find a point that is worth making.

Anonymous said...

Funny, I remember trying to access the Observatory about 4 years ago and no-one in the Museum gave me any help then.

Hmmm, maybe unhelpfullness of staff isn't a political matter and is actually a departmental operational issue?

Anonymous said...

I 'observe' that someone would seem to have gotten your pal Wendy Alexander into trouble. Any idea who? Have you been interviewed under caution yet?

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

(edgar) 26/11/07 because I was away I dictated some stuff which was written up by my other daughter - does being critical of syntax and punctuation allow you to believe that you have won an argument ?

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

(Political Athesist aka Mutt aka ?) 26/11/07 Or maybe these are recent developments, once you find your way to the museum the staff are as always polite and helpful.

Shug Niggurath said...

Barging onto these comments to see if you fancy doing a post about the donations 'controversy' that's doing the rounds the now - especially as Wendy is involved and she is your MSP.

I don't know too many labour party members to ask - and I'd like to know the answers from inside the bunker (so to speak)...

Anonymous said...

Ah, so what you actually meant to dictate was something along the lines of:

"There are no instructions at the observatory on how to get to the museum and request a visit"

If this is what you meant, then you are correct in as much as this information should be available for visitors.

Again, however, this is an operational matter for the relevant council department and hardly constitutes proof of some insidious conspiracy.

After all, ALL local councils regardless of political leadership have well documented cases of incompetence and error.

Anonymous said...

So you are saying that she posted on your site posing as you (under your byline) when the correct blogger thing would have been to invite her profile to be an author on your site?

If you are lying about this then how can we be sure you are telling the truth about anything?

Anonymous said...

Terry, how does it feel discovering that you have been using Zionist money to promote the Labour party considering your unflattering opinions about Israel?

Surely that's a straw to break the camel's back and you'll do the principled thing and now leave the pro-Zionist Labour party?

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

(Rabbie) 20:20 I’m writing this from one of my holiday homes and the ‘Harry Margolis’ can’t get me.

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

(Shug Niggurath) 22:27 I’ll try to answer any questions if you wish but, you may be disappointed, as I’ve said repeatedly Wendy has my absolute support as does Gordon Brown.

Anonymous said...

"Wendy & Gordon have my full support."

Ah well, that's them for the slammer then.

Are your knees not sore from crawling Cllr?

Anonymous said...

Terry,
Why did you not post my comment re Hugh Henry and the Labour Party passing the vote on making charges to the elderly on sheltered housing.

Scared?

Anonymous said...

Baroness Adams demands her donation to the labour party should have been kept secret.

I would too if I was her, after all she spent many a decade having a good living out of her meal ticket and the thought of the hoi polli knowing her personal business is a disgrace, what does it cost to buy off a good socialist these days in the House of Lords, £150 a day? Ah socialism, whit a great career choice.

Go on Terry vent your spleen on Wendygate. CIA? Mossad? Mickey Mouse Fan Club?

Anonymous said...

what is happening in the observatory "COTTAGE". Read it in the PDX..The first for all news in Paisley.
How does terry feel about bendy now that she and her brother have been proved useless.Just give mr bean a kiss and all will be well........ dougie bunnie

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

(Political Athesist aka Mutt aka ?) 30/11/07 - I didn’t say it was a conspiracy it was my constituents who came to me with the theory based on the SNP’s track record. I would say that the SNP would close something like this on the basis that it’s not Scottish, it’s universal.

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

(2342Shrek - 2342Shrek) 30/11/07 - she didn’t post I dictated it to her and she typed it, complicated eh ?

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

(Binyamin Not-a-yahoo) 01/12/07 - no amount of money, Zionist or otherwise can exempt Israel from it’s crimes and, I don’t know what you are on about.

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

(rabbie) 02/12/07 - don’t you find all this just a bit desperate, you need to get out a bit more.

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

(Anonymous) 02/12/07 - I’ve written about this already.

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

(Lenins Ghost) 03/12/07 - dealt with this already.

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

(paisleyman) 04/12/07 - I take it that you know someone out there who understands this drivel.