When you Wish Upon a Star

This West Lothian man went far.

The chairman of Disney Consumer Products Worldwide is Andrew Mooney originally from Whitburn, West Lothian and is today featured in the Edinburgh Evening News. The son of a late miner who then worked at the British Leyland plant at Bathgate.

Having left school at 16 to become a trainee accountant instead of going to college Mooney worked up his experience level while others were getting their qualifications. Via 20 years with Nike where he was worldwide head of marketing, Disney came headhunting for him in 2000.

After a recent trip to Scotland he reflects in relation to how we are placed to rise the economic downturn:

"Scotland is a hotbed of creative talent, for example in video
gaming.

"I think there is a lot more opportunity than Scotland is taking advantage
of.

"The good news is multi-national companies will see Scotland as a good
place to invest, but it is equally easy for them to take the money out of
Scotland."

While Andrew himself took life by the scruff of the neck, others can and probably will surely do the same in the current environment. We'll see who can ride the tide and come out strong at the other end.

Trump Tweak too Tame

All along the issue regarding the initial rejection of Donald Trump's golf resort in Aberdeenshire wasn't about the foreign investment, wasn't to prevent job creation it was about the environmental impact.

When the initial casting vote of Martin Ford went with the status quo thus rejecting development it was only under the plans presented at that time. All planning applications have to viewed on what is present not supposition of what may be done. Indeed immediately following that initial rejection and before the escalation of the whole Trumpgate scenario the planning committee had said they would reconsider it if substantive environmental concerns were taken on board by the American developer's team.

Well after Trump blasted around, attacking everyone left, right and centre he has updated his plans, although only slightly. The damage to the sand dune area which is designated a site of special scientific interest has been lessened, but not sufficiently say the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) who say this area should and can be left unharmed.

This may be a last minute tweak to try an appease the environmentalist and have been recommended by the SNP to show that there is a little give from Trump's side ahead of the review of the called in plans. However, as this is now taken out of the hands of the local authority's planners who originally requested a resubmission taking on board the local concerns, Trumpgate will rumble on.

Jack at Odds with Gordon: Again

Earlier this week Gordon Brown told us that 60% of Scots would be doing it, along with him. However, Scotland's First Minister Jack McConnell has revealed he will not be one of them. Jack has said that while he is personally disappointed he will be supporting Scottish based enterprise, determination and graft.

He will also be looking at those that provide flair and seeing how they progress with interest, possibly a veiled snub at Gordon and those that have merited the Chancellor's support. So yet again the Scottish Labour Leader is at odds with the heir apparent at Westminster.

I just hope Gordon doesn't ask for his ball back just because Jack is preferring to support Trinidad and Tobago or Angola with thier Scottish based players over the neighbouring English in this World Cup. Mind you as most of the teams with Scottish-based talent in their ranks are unlikely to get past the first phase of play it should be situation normal for the Tartan Army come the later stages of the tournament.