Thoughtland

PK column in The National: Fragile masculinity of Hefner’s ‘Playboy’ world is all too obvious

By Pat Kane. First published on SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2017

AS the disco lights flash around the death of Hugh Hefner, founder of Playboy and all its mildly stained works, I have two stories about my tangential encounters with the soft-porn empire (other than some fumbly teenage memories). Granted, they may reveal as much about me as about the phenomenon itself.

The first is an admittedly terrible recollection. It’s 1989, and my brother and I are on a music-promotional tour of Germany. It’s not going well, and we irascibly rumble toward the final appointment of the day.

PK column in The National: Here's how a bold approach to housing policy could transform Scotland

By Pat Kane. First published on SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2017

HOUSING should be one of the most urgent topics for public-minded Scots. We have an evident crisis; we have many fluent advocates and activists in this field; and we have some (though not the full range) of the governing powers that might address it.

I’ve seen the programme for the forthcoming Common Weal conference, Housekeeping Scotland – happening the day before the SNP conference begins on October 8 – and it is a full menu of reforming busyness. Need something to do in your “day job”? Enough here for any minister.

PK column in The National: Is bitcoin the future?

By Pat Kane. First published on SEPTEMBER 16TH, 2017

WHEN a genuinely powerful new technology comes into the world, it shakes apart old institutions and ways of doing things. And as the woodwork squeaks, out come the freaks, quacks and chancers – pushing open these cracks with all the irrational exuberance that humans have always brought to their trading relations.

Thus it is that we find Baroness Michelle Mone, the underwear queen of Scotland and irrepressible lifestyle entrepreneur, taking a shot at the head of JPMorganChase, the US’s biggest bank. On what basis?

PK column in The National: Salvador Dali revisited

By Pat Kane. First published on SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2017

THE case would have undoubtedly pleased the incorrigible old surrealist. Directed by a paternity claim, the body of Salvador Dali was exhumed from its tomb in Figueres a few months ago. A DNA test was applied to some fingernails and bones, and the results came in this week. No joy for the claimant, unfortunatly, who was – of course – a TV fortune teller from Gironi.

And to top it all off, Dali’s embalmer proclaimed himself “delighted” that the artist’s famous waxed moustache was still intact and pointing at “ten past ten”. So the estate of Dali – its worth currently estimated at €300 million – remains indivisible.

PK column in The National: Our economy can take off with indy – but we must work on a flight plan

By Pat Kane. First published on SEPTEMBER 2ND, 2017

THE stage-setters in the ScotGov events team should award themselves an extra Tunnock’s teacake at the end of this week.

Nicola Sturgeon’s speech on the Scottish economy took place at a Prestwick factory that used to build Spitfires, and now houses a high-end aircraft components manufacturer … called “Spirit”, no less.