"Today in History"

I enjoy reading about the facts and events that occurred 'on this day'.

Today, for example:

• A bad day for King Charles I. Today in 1647, Scots handed him over to parliamentary forces. And today in 1649 he was beheaded at Whitehall Palace, London, having been convicted of treason.

February 1st (tomorrow)

• In 1708, Alexander Selkirk, a sailor born at Lower Largo, Fife, was discovered on the island of Juan Fernandez, near Chile, where he had survived for four years after being abandoned by his ship. His story inspired Daniel Defoe to write Robinson Crusoe.

Well, for me, today, January 31st, Ryan Johnson is accepted into the University of Edinburgh's MSc/Dip program in International & European Politics. If the financial end works out, I'll begin on Sept. 12, 2005.

Gearing up for the Spring Program

With all the faculty here, it feels like a vibrant and active place of learning and life again. Rosemary arrived first, last Tuesday. The five of us were able to share several nice meals with her and get to know each other a little bit better. She will be teaching women's studies courses and a literature (British, women authors) course.

Gene and Lisa, and two bright and beautiful children, arrived on Thursday. They are the old pro's over here--Gene is on his third visit and Lisa a remarkable 7th time here! I love that! Gene will teach three sections in the area of Art History. Lisa will be doing what I did last fall, the Internship coordinatror; a post she as done before!

Claire and Joe and their two cheerful and curious sons arrived on Friday. Clair will teach three sections on business courses, primarily in the areas of human resources and ethics, which I think sounds fascinating.

After naps and settling in and making their way around the house a few times, we all went to the Cavalier for dinner on Friday night.

We are kicking off the program today, this last day in January, with the Faculty Orientation. I think I will offer some of the great coffee that Lisa sent us to start us off with special treat. I think it is going to be a fun semester. Students arrive in 4 more days.

Amélie

I recently finished watching the movie Amélie, starring Audrey Tautou! Wow, what a great movie! The acctress and the story are superb. It opened to great reviews in 2001. It is a story about a woman who is raised by an absent father, even more absent -mentally- after the death of her mother. Friendless and a bit of a loner, events suddenly change for Amélie when she discovers a small tin box, and returns it to its rightful owner. The images, the sound, the story, everything about this movie was magical; you will laugh out loud in parts! However, perhaps it was the actress herself that made it so beautiful. Tautou has a remarkable of expressing herself both in words but more so in the way she holds herself, uses facial expressions, and simply, when she is pausing or perhaps expertly reflecting on the nuance of a scene.

So when I read about the debate/discussion of filming the Davincci Code the realy and historic Rosslyn Chapel or a movie set recreation, I was doubly intrigued to read that Audrey Tautou will starring in the film version along side Tom Hanks. She will of course be playing Detective Sophie Neveu. I was excited to see the film version anyway, but with the addition of her to the cast, I am even more so now. On the main story of that article, it will be a shame that they can't film it at the real Chapel, which looks to be how it will turn out. Nevertheless, tourism and interest in the secret societies and symbols will surely peeked as a result of the movie.

Making Headlines in the UK

Friday, January 28, 2005

Birthdays today in the States:

Ryan "Schmitt Dog-Schmitty" Scmitt, 30.

Bill Kettering, 40 something.

Happy Birthday gents!

Traci Anderson Mara, 30. Happy Birthday!

Dalkeith/Edinburgh
43° is the high today, and 38°F is the forecasted low. Sunny, Very sunny.
Sunrise at 8:15 AM Sunset at 4:38 PM

Immigrants 'cost UK 2bn a year'
Britain's generosity is being 'abused' by immigrants who now cost the country 2 billion a year, Tory leader Michael Howard will say. Town hall spending on asylum has risen thirtyfold since...
Guardian Unlimited
Much like US conservatives, the Tories appear to be playing the fear card and using immigrants as their pawns.

Shipman's youngest victim identified as four-year-old girl murdered in hospital Independent
This is just the craziest story! This doctor apparently may have killed as many as 250 people during his tenure!

Murdered schoolboy 'not bullied' Guardian Unlimited
A very sad story about a young boy who was stabbed as a result of peer pressure and 'not bullying'. Well, if this isn't a case of bullying, I don't know what is.

Student Sally 'unlawfully killed' BBC
A bizzare murder case where a woman was leaving NYE festivities and her apparent killer jumped to his death hours later, before it was decided that she had been murdered. Her last few texts indicated she was in trouble, but weren't received due to the delay because of the excessive volume of NYE texts.

'Say no until you're ready' is sex health message to children The Scotsman
Again, similar to the policy being promoted in the US and Minnesota, but I don't think it is the right focus. There's something missing, perhaps education? Kids are exposed to so much more and growing up faster, if you will, and need more that "Just say no" message.

I may be the only one who appreciates this..

but I needed to remember it, and, I thought I'd share the laugh, if you know Dion humour.

So, basically, Dion's emails are ALWAYS this dumb, never remembering where I moved, playing tough guy, etc, yada yada yada. He sends me: Just a Reminder David Hasselhoff "You're still a Homo" email, for the like the fifth time. My Reply:

I HATE YOU.

His Response:
nice centering on i hate you. What?, did you use your
centering tab. hey im going to orlando in june and
need to find cheap tickets where do i look, help me
you sumbich. did i even say happy birthday to you on my
last message, i hope not, you might think i care or
something, besides, my give a damn is busted. how did
you like my evite card...oh never mind i NEVER sent
one...lol. ok, now i'm just being cruel. so how is
potatoe land. did you guys have another famine yet.
you damn dirty irish. got your postcard. nice drawing.
it looks pretty animated over there. must be fun
living in a cartoon. so is the NRA giving you guys
trouble over there still, i hope not. just wear lots
of green to blend in, and always answer "and I like
them too!" with your best lepercaun accent.

What the hell does that kid smoke??? I love that little sumbitch.

Learned a little history today about The Supreme Court

ON A RELATED TOPIC, this week's Slate magazine is making a case for having Scalia as a Chief Justice while the Democrats bargain for a more moderate associate justice to take his place. Not a bad idea, but I think the selfish and bible-banging Republicans are not going to allow any deals and any nonPro-life judges because of that huge 'moral mandate' they have with the 2004 election results. We'll see I guess. Rehnquist should be stepping down soon. I have read some talk about a O'Connor Chief Justice-ship... now that would be interesting, but I don't think it will happen.

The whole reason this issue caught my eye today, is that the book I'm currently reading, How the Scots Invented the Modern World, makes a mention about just where this third branch appeared from and how James Wilson--who embraced Philosopher Thomas Reid's notion of "common sense" and man's innate ability to observe and realize his surroundings using this common sense, had put it up the idea of a Supreme Court ("a jury to the counry") to James Madison and other members of the 1787 Continental Congress. And here we are today, 217 years after a Scot gave life to the idea, debating about the make up of that jury to the country. Interesting.

F-I-L-I-B-U-S-T-E-R, Can y'all say that?

The Republicans in Congress (lets just say Bill Frist) are not playing fair; or at the very least, are trying to change the rules again. The Washington Post and other news outlets have been chatting about this for that last few weeks now.

"At issue is a seldom-used, complicated and highly controversial parliamentary maneuver in which Republicans could seek a ruling from the chamber's presiding officer, presumably Vice President Cheney, that filibusters against judicial nominees are unconstitutional. Under this procedure, it would take only asimple majority or 51 votes to uphold the ruling -- far easierfor the 55-member GOP majority to get than the 60 votes neededto break a filibuster or the 67 votes needed to change the rulesunder normal procedures."

He says Democrats use of the filibuster a "formula for tyranny by the minority." Okay, has Bill heard of the concept of 'majority rules with respect to minority rights'? It is essentially the concept that the founding fathers wanted for the Senate; the Senate - our most deliberative and wisest of the congressional bodies, where debates are not supposed to go fast, where we have staggered and long 6 year terms, unlimited debate, etc.

These characteristics prevent us from adopting crazed or ill advised ideas that come from large segments of the populous after a monumental event (war/famine/charasmatic charlatan) unduly influences them. It protects us from our own haste.

Keep an eye on Bill, he's a shifty one!

Burn's Night

Tonight it's Burns Night, a celebration of Scotland's greatest poet (born 1759). So now you have a good reason to try haggis. What do you mean, what's it made of???

The annual celebratory tribute to the life, works and spirit of the Scottish poet, Robbie Burns who was born in 1759 and lived just 35 years and died in 1796 (It is widely believed that Burn's early death was due to a medical condition that was aggravated by a heavy drinking habit! He died happy, right? I know, I know, terrible Ryan!

The celebration usually includes a "Burns Supper" range from formal gatherings to informal parties. Most Burns Suppers will have some sort assembling of traditional rituals that includes the eating of a traditional Scottish meal, the drinking of Scotch whisky, and the recitation of works by, about, and in the spirit of the Bard.

I've haven't read too many poems, but I have read this one and enjoy it. I've pasted the easier-to-read English version here. I think it is cunning to compare oneself to a mouse and then relay the "guilt of thought or conscience" to the mouse about oneself, or the act of being human.

To a Mouse
(Whilst ploughing on a November day, Burns ruined the nest of a field mouse. He ponders why the creature runs away in such terror)

Oh, tiny timorous forlorn beast,
Oh why the panic in your breast ?
You need not dart away in haste
To some corn-rickI'd never run and chase thee,
With murdering stick.

I'm truly sorry man's dominion
Has broken nature's social union,
And justifies that ill opinion
Which makes thee startleAt me, thy poor earth-born companion,
And fellow mortal.

I do not doubt you have to thieve;
What then? Poor beastie you must live;
One ear of corn that's scarcely missed
Is small enough:I'll share with you all this year's grist,
Without rebuff.

Thy wee bit housie too in ruin,
Its fragile walls the winds have strewn,
nd you've nothing new to build a new one,
Of grasses green;
And bleak December winds ensuing,
Both cold and keen.

You saw the fields laid bare and waste,
And weary winter coming fast,
And cosy there beneath the blast,
Thou thought to dwell,Till crash;
the cruel ploughman crushed
Thy little cell.

Your wee bit heap of leaves and stubble,
Had cost thee many a weary nibble.
Now you're turned out for all thy trouble
Of house and homeTo bear the winter's sleety drizzle,
And hoar frost cold.

But, mousie, thou art not alane,
In proving foresight may be in vain,
The best laid schemes of mice and men,Go oft astray,
And leave us nought but grief and pain,
To rend our day.

Still thou art blessed, compared with me!
The present only touches thee,
But, oh, I backward cast my eye
On prospects drear,
And forward, though I cannot see,
I guess and fear.


Speaking of "Scottish-ness", apparently Sean Connery has the most pleasant voice to listen to, according to a poll in the Scotsman. It is an interesting article that essentially exhibits the sort of pride that Scots have for their own identity and their sense of "Scottishness". They LOVE their identity, and I can appreciate that!

89.3 The Current

I got an email about a new radion station that you can easily listen to at work... check it out if you haven't already. Basically, Minnesota Public Radio's The Current is easy listening music with little talk.

Quick Weekend Wrap up

Well ~ after HOURS on the computer, and over coming one HUGE glitch in how I was uploading pictures _I really am as dumb as I look_ the webpage should be updated through 2004. However, I am getting better, really, and I plan on re-tooling some of the clumsy (sp?) <don't you hate it when a word doesn't seem like it is spelled right?> pages. Oye vay ! !

I got to spend the day on Friday with Wade and his new assistant Jess as the SCSU students have already arrived for the Alnwick program. We toured Hollyrood Palace, the new Parliament building (and got an official tour this time!) and the Edinburh Castle--although having been there 5 times in the last 5 months, I didn't stay there long.

Tim and I venture over to the Royal Museum on Chambers Street. It's an amazing place, as you can imagine, housed in a remarkable building. I am going to try to get back there this week once or twice more, because in the 90 minutes we had, we didn't make it out of the science section even!

The four of us spent a nice evening having a Thai dinner at Phuket Pavillion (4 out of 5 stars to me, but Tim's meal didn't sit well with him) and after one drink at The Street, we ended our evening and exhausting day of sight seeing and travels at Sam's in Dalkeith.

Saturday night we watched Open Water. Definately low budget, but holy shit, I will NEVER go scuba diving!!! We also had a chance to view Human Stain, with Anthony Hopkins. Great movie. A fascinating story about lying to oneself and how it affects your life. I'd recommend!

This Week: Faculty begin to arrive, starting Tuesday.

'Auld Reekie' Ghost and Torture Tours

My Birthday brought me into Edinburgh-to endure the cold rain and wind of a Scottish winter. I walked up the Royal Mile, stopped at the Jolly Judge for a pint and to read a fun book. I moved along down the Royal Mile toward North Bridge, and headed for the ‘The Street’ to continue a leisurely day of reading and imbibing. Around 600pm, Tim met me at the Blue Moon, probably our favorite little café, for dinner. We enjoyed our typically great service, chomped up our sandwiches, Chicken & pesto baguette for me, a BLT for him, and headed into the cold to the Tron Kirk, for an “Auld Reekie” ghost and torture tour. Our animated guide, Champagne, started us off with gruesome stories, above ground.

A ‘tron’ is a long white stick used for measuring, sort of like a scale. It is used to make sure that the merchant isn’t over charging or under-weighing goods to the citizens of Edinburgh. Those merchants who are caught misusing or not using a tron are taken by the ear, and nailed to the front door of the tron kirk (kirk is a word for church). The dishonest merchant must remain there for three days, and endure the spitting, heckling and throwing of objects by passers by; or, they could run, ripping off part or all of their ear, and be marked for life, never to be a merchant again. Note to self, when selling items, use a TRON!

We headed down narrow streets, through dim wynds and scary closes as the tour progressed. We heard about Burke and Hare, Edinburgh’s, if not Scotland’s most infamous body snatchers come serial killers. Body Snatching in Edinburgh was so frequent that certain graveyards had large walls, railings and watchtowers erected. Anatomy schools had difficulty in obtaining freshly interred cadavers, because they were only allowed one per year (a criminal, who had died, usually). People would dig up graves and bring the bodies to the local hospitals, and claim £10 for their work. Burke and Hare, devised their own methods of getting victims drunk, at places like the White Hart Inn, in Grassmarket, and suffocating them. It proved easier than digging up graves.

Apparently, on a side story, a group of grave robbers had waited until a funeral procession had left, dug up the grave and found an old woman in the coffin, with all of her jewelry still on. They decided to pull off the rings and sell them for extra money. Due to her aged and knotted fingers, they didn’t come off, and so they began to cut her fingers off with a knife. After the cutting began, the woman screamed out in agony, and, behold, she was not dead!! (Turns out, she may have ‘seemed dead’ or perhaps been in a coma, and thus, they buried her.) Well, to avoid burying near dead folks in the future, little bells were installed in coffins, on the off chance, you woke up to find yourself buried alive, you could try your chances at ringing the bell and hope someone hears you.

Oh, Burke was betrayed by Herr, who turned King's evidence on Burke, as they were eventually caught ( a medical student recognised the usually LIVE and chipper prostitute on the table in front of him--as he was with her the night before) and Burke was hung; ironic has it sounds, his body was donated to the hospitals for science, and his bones still hang in a museum today. Herr moved to London, was trapped in a limestone mine by locals who discovered his sordid past, escaped, now blind and severely burned by the corrosive and abrasive mineral, he died a blind and penniless on the streets of London.

We moved out of the wind and cold and into the underground chambers of South Bridge Street. We moved through a museum-like room, with the largest collection of actual torture devices in Europe. I don’t even want to get into the horrific things that did to alleged witches—lets just say there was some serious blood, pain and toture, involved ALL parts of the body. Those witch-hunting bastards were creative with their madness… makes me wonder WHO should have been the ones being tortured.

The chambers, being very dark and cold, were scary in and of themselves. We got to see where a real witch’s coven still meets, 21 days a year (usually around the cycle of the moon). Apparently, they were in one chamber, that was deemed to haunted and evil, and they had instances of beasts appearing and coming out of the a mirror, in the late 90’s, as it served as some kind of portal. The mirror cracked and, at one meeting, a small piece flew off into one of the witch’s face. They left the chamber to disuse, leaving a hole of evil, where their pentagram of protection once lay, to scare the shit out of future tourists, like Tim and I. We ended in the darkest and most haunted of chambers, where the emergency light never works, no matter how many times the bulb is replaced. It was the site where upwards of 150 indigent and impoverished people died, literally baking to death, in a brutal fire that ripped through the streets of Edinburgh, and the Tron Kirk, in the early 1800’s.

£7, some good stories, no ghost sightings, 2 out of a possible 5 stars (go on a warm night too!).

Thirty IS the new Black

30 Random links, funnies, not-so funnies, about me, about the world and about "30"

1. Born today...age 30
You are the first to admit that you are not perfect. Despite the fact that you never consider yourself above reproach, you are nevertheless strong-willed and confident. You are always willing to pick yourself up by your bootstraps and have another go -- if not for practical reasons, then for the mere fact that you enjoy your own efforts and you are eager to learn the lessons that come with trying again and again to achieve a desired goal. In the end, however, you have a knack for grabbing hold of the brass ring at the last possible moment.You are sensitive, sentimental and quick to share your feelings with others. Your romantic skills are well developed, and you are never one to disappoint a close friend, lover or spouse. You give what is asked, and more. You take only what you need.

2. My birthday horoscope, Holy shit, could it BE any more me? (in my best Chandler impression)

3. Thirty Years War, 1618–48, general European war fought mainly in Germany.

4. Thirty Tyrants, oligarchy of ancient Athens (404–403 B.C.). It was created by Lysander under Spartan auspices after the Peloponnesian War. Critias and Theramenes were prominent members. It was overthrown at Piraeus (now Piraiévs) by Thrasybulus.

5. I feel great about 30; it makes me sound important now.

6. A 30-30 is a rifle using a cartridge approximately .30 inch in diameter, originally having a powder charge of 30 grains but now of various charges

7. Thirty in Spanish is treinta; Italian: trenta; French: trente

8. Bush in 30 Seconds

9. 30 facts you should know about your horses feet

10. 30 Facts about Body building

11. thir·ty : a sign of completion : usually written 30

12. When you’re 30, you’re friends through you a kick ass surprise birthday party!

13. About 25% of men show some signs of baldness by the age of 30.

14. By the age of30-somethings are increasingly living the lives of teenagers, putting off having children, living at home or in rented accommodation and living a vastly different lifestyle to their parents’ generation.

16. The characteristics you develop by the age of 30 are likely to be those you display when you are 70.

17. Most adults will lose all their teeth by the age of 30 .

18. In Roman numerals, thirty is XXX.

19. Alexander the Great was conqueror of the Persian Empire and explorer of the Indian frontier by the age of 30 .

20. 30 reason's Eminem is bad for music

21. Thretty is old Scottish for Thirty

22. My 30 "Astrological Chart" on
How You Approach Life and How You Appear To Others
High-spirited, enthusiastic, and exuberant, you love adventure, change, exploring new territory, and are not happy confined to the same safe, familiar, secure little world all the time. You have a strong restlessness and yearning for something greater than anything you've yet experienced, and you often live in your dreams and visions for the future. You tend to believe that the grass is greener somewhere else and you like to keep moving, either literally or figuratively. Idealistic and optimistic, you always expect something better ahead. You love to have a goal, something to aim for, but once you achieve it you are on to something else. You are ever on the lookout for new opportunities and you are a gambler, willing to take risks and to break new ground. The possibility of discovering something new is what makes life interesting for you. You have great faith in life and bounce back quickly from disappointment and failure.

The Inner You: Your Real MotivationSerious, disciplined, and quietly ambitious, you are driven to prove yourself and to achieve material accomplishments and success. Your work, your position in the world, and your contributions to society are very important to you. You will persevere through enormous hardship and frustration in order to reach a goal you have set for yourself, and you often sacrifice much in the area of personal relationships and home life in order to do so.

23. Thirty rhymes with Dirty.

24. 30 reasons to own a distiller

25. A Lady Who Thinks She is Thirty

26. Blog of Not-So-Famous People at 30

27. By 30, my parents had 5 children under the age of 12.

28. Next to be 30... Melissa S, Jenny R, Jamie L, Christine R, Linnea L, Stacey Starken

29. Latest 30 Jokes

30. Happy 30th Birthday.

Narrative

Good For a Laugh

Dinner at Kitty and Donnie’s is a trip. They welcomed us into their wee home for tea one night. Of course, “tea” in this sense, is what they refer to as dinner. There is tea, the drink, and there is high tea, the meal.

Kitty had plenty of food prepared; enough for 8, and of course there was only four of us. Potatoes, two types of vegetable, roast beef with lots of gravy, and wine or milk or coffee or tea. The conversation is what is really important. Dinners last longer than at home. You talk at great lenght over dinner; it could be politics, life, the weather, and, for our conversation, a large part about the WIS program. But talking is very important. There is no hurry to leave the table. It is just good etiquette to have seconds, converse, and be merry. I think we sat at the table for a good 2 hours. What is funny about this couple, who’ve been married and living in this house for 40 years, is how they communicate. They are constantly at each other in a humorous and, it seems at times, not so humorous fashion. “Shut Up Donnie!” is heard a good 10-12 times in any given sitting. Kitty is always telling Donnie to shut up, because he can’t tell the story correctly. Donnie is always telling her to hurry up, with the current story and any number of bird walks the story has taken, because she “talks to much” and can't finish a story. It is story after story; insert “Shut up Donnie” and “She never shuts up” ever so often from each of them, and you have a night at Kitty and Donnies. The main course is done, and Kitty offers coffee/tea and the cheese and biscuit platter; it also includes fruit and chocolate sweets as well. Of course, it doesn't matter that you've just eaten half your body weight in food, you eat more.
Kitty offers a few more insults at Donnie. They really do love each other, so we laugh, uncomfortably at their exchanges. They offer more food, drink. Then we smoke. They refuse to let you smoke your own cigarettes, because they’ve made their bi-annual trip to France via a ferry to pick up cheap smokes and bottles of booze and beer. That is one of their stories. They load up their car, drive south through England, drive onto the ferry, and being the regulars they are, the salesman fill the car up full, and then they ferry back. The car never leaves the boat. They simply shop for the duty free stuff, and make their way north back to Scotland. It’s a good system, and their guests benefit. Of course, we’ve heard this story a number of times. That is the other thing; we hear most of the stories several times. Part of the Kitty and Donnie charm. We smoke more, and now have a wee bottle of Stella Artois. Kitty calls a ‘light lady lager’. We know better. We retire into the sitting room and listen to more stories. They have no children and serve as host families to students. They are wonderful people with so much insight, humour and life to give to people and conversation. We tell them our thanks, and upon leaving, Donnie, of course, loads up a sack with 6 or 8 wee bottles of Stella, no matter of much we want to decline (as is not necessary to give us anything!), but, they won’t have any of it and we are taking it whether we want to or not. Ga'night! See yous la' er! and the door closes.

Five Years!

I said it the other night and it sounded silly, but it should be illegal. That “it” is Tim and I. The fact that Tim and I are so happy and experiencing so much together is a blessing. I love that man. Tim and I have so much fun together—from sitting around our flat, cuddled up in blankets watching Mean Girls, laughing our asses off at one of the better SNL-genre movies made, to exploring the emotions of visiting some place new, like Melrose Abbey—our favourite trip last fall—to the seedy Red Light District of Amsterdam. I love the way he spends hours making the perfect dinner for me—salads, sauces and the little extras, not to mention the great presentation—every night. I love how he has this mischievous little boy grin on his face every time he looks at me (when we’re alone) like he’s plotting to rip my clothes off have his way. I love that he loses his glasses five minutes after he takes them off. I love that I make him nervous when I am in the car and he is driving. I love how he gets excited about something he’s just learned or completed and can’t wait to tell me, no matter what I am doing. I love that fact that I’m comfortable enough with him to allow him to tear me away from the life I knew in Minnesota—family, friends, teaching—to Scotland, to live, learn and grow! He gives me more back rubs than I give him. He hates it when I scold him; I love that I have that affect on him. He hates that I rip the covers off him at night when I roll over—and yet he worries than I’m cold at night and grabs another quilt for me when I have none. He buys me little treats out of the blue and always gives me a random card with a cute love note when I least expect it. He humours me when I want to go have a pint—even if it is getting late; or when I want to have just one more, when I have already had enough. I appreciate that he wants to teach me about the places we go and the new things we experience when we go places he’s been before. I love that he knows me and my idiosyncrasies and lets me be who I am. I love how, even though we agree on so much, we argue about politics like we are perfect strangers, always challenging each other. I love how impatient he can be in a line or with a bad service experience and how I try to amuse him out of his annoyed state—I’m humbled when it only works half the time. I love that our nickname is the same for each other—‘boy boy’. I love his optimism. I love how likes to reflect on and chat about how we met. I love that we’ve been together for as long as we have. Lots of laughter, just a few tears, and a whole lotta loving companionship. Here’s to five years boy boy. Ryan

Description

Morning
We awake to the wind howling in the old fire place—knocking the doors upstairs to and fro, the whisper of air seeping into the room. It is very, very dark. The 12 foot wooden window shudders hardly need to be closed, for sunlight before 8 o’clock on a January morning is improbable. The heaters hum. Rubbing the sleep from our eyes, we stumble in the darkness for the door. Cold. We are quickly reminded where we live. No amount of space heaters and bambinos are going to heat the massive and faded elegance of a 293 year old manor home full of imperial halls and majestic windows. It is on with the slippers and to the servery for coffee. The chill is overwhelming. A peek outside through the servery door reveals a wet wind twirling through what would have been the stables; ideal for deliveries for Duchess Anne’s stately home. The first several drops of coffee make a sharp “ping” noise before giving in to the impression of a splashing puddle; the piping hot chocolate-coloured liquid will surely help avert the chill of a brisk morning. Looking out the windows, sagging glass distorts the images of fresh rain on the ground, magpies fluttering in the trees and the feathery clouds hastily cruising beyond our ken. Walking across the long marble hallway with a full cup of coffee, opening ten-foot doors—two doors for each room—proves rejuvenating; a new day is upon us.

Impressions

Mince and tatties
snooker
"Call On Me"
dyed hair
long conversations at and after dinner
bagpipes
the Chippy
black taxis
Two horses in the pasture
“Hiya!”
Heather blooming in December
Cath
Liam
Anne Marie
Jeanette
Bill
Ian
Gavin
Bus stops
Magpies, hopefully an odd number
1711--Dutchess Anne's palace is complete after 10 years
“elderly people” crossing
Scissor Sisters
Robbie Burns Day – January 25th
Dalkeith-Gilmerton-Edinburgh
Hogmanay
The smell of a coal fire
Little girl ghost
4 o’clock sunsets
“Fit to hellish”
tiny stools in pubs
Bonnyrigg
Loanhead
Princes Street
Queues
Oye!
Crackers—the Christmas toys
Walking
The Scotsman
The Guardian
WH Smith
Whitecraig hotel
Rose Street
Tristan
The “IS”
How the Scots Invented the Modern World
Melrose Abbey
Sexism
Class-ism
“lock in”
Leith Walk
Pink Triangle
Meeting at “half eight”
Henry & Anne
Richard & Cath
Pints
Dram of Highland Park or McCallums
Take Away
Sausage Rolls
the Opal Lounge
The New Town
Arthur's Seat
Dalkeith Country Park
Holly Trees
CC Blooms
Quiz Nights
Marble Fire places
Molly & Jane
Jim and Sus
Lothian-bus, street, council
Dido
1341--Douglas family buys the Dalkeith Castle
Fleshmarket Close
Waverly
Thistle Street
Next
River Island
the "sick man of Europe"
Piemakers
John & Mary
Marble Hall
Royal Mile
Deacon Brodies

What's the word?

Blog is the word.

It is worthy of note that the most looked up word of the year was "blog". These online journals will surely have an effect on literacy, knowledge and perceptions of a great deal of people. My greatest hope would be that it allows for a more polite, humane and enlightened culture.


Merriam-Webster's Words of the Year 2004 (http://www.m-w.com/)

Based on online lookups, the #1 Word of the Year for 2004 was
Blog noun [short for Weblog] (1999) : a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer.

Other words in the Top Ten List for their definitions in the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary:

2. incumbent
3. electoral
4. insurgent
5. hurricane
6. cicada
7. peloton : noun (1951) : the main body of riders in a bicycle race
8. partisan
9. sovereignty
10. defenestration

November is Done... Still working on December

Okay, November's page is done. I'm struggling to learn how to "program" under my new domain.

A Plea to the Minnesota Legislature

Greetings Everyone -
With all that is going on in the world, it is difficult sometimes to focus on taking care of our families and friends and ultimately anyone else who may be in need (help to the tsunami victims, for example). I recognize that we all lead busy lives, and cannot take one every 'battle' that comes across our desk or inbox or family dinner table, but you have any sympathies towards civil rights, please read and take action, if only to click on the email link to say, please vote "no" on HF 0006.
Let's not be one of the states that legislates discrimination. Please write the letters, emails and connect with anyone you can to prevent this from passing. If you are willing to write a letter as I have and you find it difficult what to write about, I've listed some talking points and put a list of House Members Names and emails at the bottom of this email, as a friendly gesture.
Equality is an issue important to me and I trust it is for you also. Thanks for hearing me out.

Minnesota’s Anti-Marriage Amendment has been introduced! A Constitutional Amendment to bar all legal recognition of same-sex couples was introduced in session last Thursday, as House File 0006 (HF006). We will need your help to defeat this Amendment and keep Minnesota a fair-minded state!
Within two days of the start of the 2005 legislative session, Mary Liz Holberg, R (36A-Lakeville), Jeff Johnson, R (43A-Plymouth), Paul Gazelka, R (12A-Brainerd), Sondra Erickson (R-16A-Princeton) and Dan Severson (R-14A-Sauk Rapids) introduced a bill in the Minnesota House, proposing an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution that “only the union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota. Any other relationship shall not be recognized as a marriage or its legal equivalent.”

FROM: http://www.outfront.org/

"This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in." Theodore Roosevelt

Talking points on marriage equality
GLBT People and Marriage
Growing up, each of us is taught that one day finding a soul mate and building a life together is an integral part of the American dream, and GLBT people share in that dream. Gay and lesbian couples share their lives, their loves, and their hearts just like any other couple does.
Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender couples are patriotic, hard-working citizens who pay their taxes and support their country the same as any other American. GLBT couples love each other just as deeply and their commitment to one another is just as resolute as it is for heterosexual couples.
The 2000 Census showed that same-sex couples are living in nearly every county in this country. Estimates from the Census and other studies show that there are at least 1 million children in America being raised by GLBT parents. All children deserve the stability and protections that come from having two parents who are legally bonded by marriage. Discriminating against children just because of who their parents happen to be is wrong.
Marriage is a major building block for strong families and communities. Denying marriage to GLBT couples weakens GLBT couples and families.
The Basics of Marriage
Through marriage, couples are granted more than 1,000 federal rights, benefits and responsibilities under law - along with hundreds of state level rights and protections. The government uses the legal recognition of marriage to grant these rights, which include Social Security survivor benefits, hospital visitation rights and the ability to inherit a spouse's property without being taxed.
Many of the rights that come with marriage are recently established rights, not age-old traditions. For example, Social Security was established in 1935. Survivor's insurance was added in 1939. Family and medical leave didn't come into existence until the '90s.
Domestic partnership and civil unions are important steps to full marriage equality for GLBT couples - but they ultimately support the notion that GLBT couples are separate and unequal from other Americans, which is wrong.
Recognizing that GLBT couples have the same need for rights and protections that other couples do does not undermine or harm marriage rights of heterosexual couples. How can GLBT couples and families receiving the rights and responsibilities of marriage harm heterosexual marriage?
Shouldn't groups that support family values, value all families? Americans who support family values should support strengthening all American families.
Religious vs. Civil Marriage
Civil marriage and religious marriage are two separate things. Religious institutions will never be forced to bless relationships with which they disagree, just as today religious institutions can refuse to marry couples of different faiths or individuals who have been divorced.
Many religions and faith based traditions recognize and welcome gay and lesbian couples into their congregations - others do not. Religious institutions will always be able to define marriage as they see fit, however the state should treat all people and all families equally under the law.
Public Opinion
The country is grappling with this issue. We must educate people on the rights that come with a marriage license, and the difference between civil and religious marriage, and we must ensure that fairness is always a part of the discussion.
Majority support does not make something right or wrong. In 1983, 16 years after the Supreme Court struck down anti-interracial marriage laws in Loving v. Virginia, only 43 percent of Americans approved of interracial marriage.
In 1948, 19 years before the Supreme Court's ruling in Loving v. Virginia, the California Supreme Court ruled on an interracial case, Perez v. Lippold, with a four justice majority affirming the right of interracial marriages. The majority opinion said that each person seeking a license to marry the "wrong" kind of person, "finds himself barred by law from marrying the person of his choice and that person to him may be irreplaceable. Human beings are bereft of worth and dignity by a doctrine that would make them as interchangeable as trains."
The decision in Perez, marked the beginning of the end of race discrimination in marriage -- before legislators in most states were willing to stand against discrimination, and before the polls showed the public's acceptance of equality in marriage or other civil rights. Some state had to show leadership, and the court was properly asked to provide it through a direct and timely challenge to existing discrimination. History has upheld that decision, and we now view those judges as civil rights heroes.

T-Shirts ~ Revised ~

I just read an article about wearing T-shirts with messages on them in schools.

We can, in this country say and have speech on our T-shirts that promotes what we believe, but, we have to be careful of that speech in a public domain.

Can someone wear a T-shirt that says: "Homosexuality is Shameful" or “Straight Pride” in a public school?

The message the first shirt sends is a direct judgement on a group of people. The second shirt could certainly imply that same sentiment, but it could mean many things. It is left up to interpretation, which stirs up a different debate.
Perhaps my set of virtues cloud my realisation of what is occurring; while I identify the language on these T-shirts to be lawful in a private setting, they should not be allowed in a public school. And I understand that virtues should only be applied within contexts which they were formed, but in this case, it was a public school.
Perhaps I’m oversimplifying. I look at some of what the student’s wear and see overt messages of hate. It would be impossible to prevent all messages (coded, covert, hidden or undiscovered) that could send a message of hate, but I think it is possible to discriminate between the blatant messages of hate than, perhaps, the more sophisticated. Not that society should keep its feeler on for what the new “slam” is against sub-groups.

Perhaps it is semantics. Someone says Free Speech, someone else says Hate Speech.

Perhaps I’m confusing rights with ethics.

“What are we left with when we can’t condemn certain behavior that we think is wrong?” said Mr. Crampton, the chief counsel for the American Family Association Center for Law & Policy, based in Tupelo, Miss.

I think it is absurd for Mr. Crampton make such a claim. My reply to him is that you can, only you may not do it in a public school.

"It's The Little Things"

I recently finished this Lena Williams book.
Like the cover states, it is "candid and enlightening--what blacks and whites say about each other".

I actually won the book in a drawing at a Future Teacher's of American Convention in Dallas, Texas last February. I've been waiting to have the free time to read it, and now I do.

It was an interesting read; a quick one as well, which is rare for me. Williams quickly points out that readers may not agree with everything she says, which, frankly peaked my curiosity. I wanted to disagree with her about something at reading that. However, there wasn't much too disagree with and that is probabaly because she uses, primarily, people's stories, their perceptions. This struck me as significant. Race, gender, class, religion and how people view other people, oops, can't forget sexual orientation!-- is mostly about people's perceptions and subsequent assumptions. Noticing all that "all" the black kids sit together at lunch (just as all the Asian, Latino or white for that matter) and assuming they are being exclusive is a good example, and its one Williams references in her book. Making the assumption that someone who goes to church every Sunday, or a temple, or synagogue, is a religious zealot who can see no good in people that are different than they or who share different values is wrong. I learned more about me than I had expected when I read the book. I assume so often that I am going to be enlightened by someone's views on a subject and than be a smarter person afterwords, when, having to process the book and its conclusions and implications I needed to incorporate other non-race characteristics, learned how intolerant I can be.

In the Fashion of Time Magazine's Quotes page

"You are going to have to pry this bag from my cold, dead hands. So we'll just call this a carry-on, okay?" Ann, on being asked what she's going to say to the airline when she returns to the US with her large piece of luggage (had she had received it!)

Karey, Lisa & Ann arrived a day later than expected (ice storms in Newark and baggage handlers on strike in Philly and "something about sugar"). Fortunately, they made it. Unfortunately, they made it sans luggage. Now, their luggage never made it, so our morning ritual came to be sitting in our flat, having our coffee, and bitching to Jerry or Charlie, whoever was on that day, about where the luggage was. On one of the last days, and you have to realize we are tired, so very tired (both b/c its the morning after a crazy night, and, its been too long with out luggage), they connected Ann to the head office of Continental in Houston. Naturally, it goes without saying, but Ann is so eloquent, she was heard saying, "Yeah, Houston, we've got a fuckin' problem!" Needless to say, we made the best of it and relied on humour to get us through.

"Don't be giving me Evils!" Vicky, from Little Britain

Naturally we had to inject a little humour into our week with all the trials the girls went through (having almost no clothes, make up, etc.) This phrase became a favourite real quick. I think we used it no less than 84 times in 6 days.

“Boi oi oi oi nnng!” The sound the street sign makes when Ryan walks smack, full on, right into it.

Well, we met up with some friends of Lisa’s sister’s husband’s mates Bryan Danny, at Ricks on Frederick Street. We needed to pick up some First Foot tickets for the following evening’s Hogmanay (NYE) celebration. Little did Bryan know, that we ultimately would not need the tickets because we had 2 different sets of 2 tickets and their were 5 of us, so we went to England instead. Good times.
Well, from Rick’s we went to The Standing Order for a cheap drink. Well, the name is true to what you do there, and the standing got old, so headed over to Dirty Dicks or the Bad Ass on Rose Street, but they were too full. This led us to the Scotsman for a pint a picture of an authentic kilt (and not one of them skirt-like kilts, a REAL kilt) wearing gentleman, for which the girls were able to take pictures. After a run to the chippy, we headed to Three Sisters to dance and meet Danny, and then it happened: we’re walking, and I’m looking down at the mobile phone, Lisa is dropping bags because she’s tired of carrying them and whinging about Danny, and Ann and Karey are walking behind me, and I hit it, the street sign. Damn, no way to save face there. Just keep on walking Ryan. Ann and Karey promptly fall to their knees and laugh, hard, for a while, and then resumed the walking.

“Holiday-the-shit outta the mutherfucka” Ann, in the taxi ride home, about walk she would do if she could to the cute boy.
Well, Chasers found Lisa enjoying, and then not, and then again, enjoying Danny’s company. I’m proud to say she found out what a snog was. Ann was doing well, chatting up a boy name Seif. And, Karey and I, being the married ones, were chatting with, not up, the other guy, Keisha. Some dancing and more snogs later for the girls led us to our second Chippy run. It’s about 3am now, so it’s justified. On asking if Lisa should see Danny again, and have more than a snog with him on this holiday, is Ann’s reply. I think it is inferred what ‘holiday’ means.

“You don't even KNOW me!” Lisa’s response to her most recent date telling her that she can’t save the world. They’ve since broken up. It was used just slightly less than “Don’t be giving me Evils!”

“Luggage is STILL not found? US 1, Scotland 0” Ryan, impersonating Phoebe in the Friends where they fly to Vegas for the wedding episode and she’s comparing Vegas to England. Scotland, being so dark, so cold and so…closed (shops, busses, etc) due to the holidays, didn’t fare well on many occasions on this trip.


“Mind your own business.” Karey, responding to Ryan, who commented on the excessive amount of wine she had drunk one evening by the fire in the formal Dining hall at Dalkeith House. This phrase came it real handy over the next few days.

”I'm Married, I don' t have to do anything!” Karey again, still on the wine buzz, on why she is so lazy (and that’s mentally lazy, not physically lazy). Yeah, good luck with her Cody, she's ALL yours.

”It's amazing how I think differently, soberly.” Lisa, drunk.

"You're Pretty." Response to Lisa, by Everyone. In addition, it was the universal response by everyone, to anyone, when someone said something especially stupid.

”She loves her panties.” Karey, in response to everyone in the room looking at her like she’s a freak when she said that Abbey, her puppy, had her first period before they got her fixed.

”We like it inside.” Karey, in the Roslyn Glen Hotel pub, after waiting 45 minutes for a bus that never showed and a taxi that was 30 minutes late, having a pint to warm us up. We did enjoy the Roslyn Chapel (very busy, I’m sure mostly due to Davinnci Code fame), but it was a bitch to get out of the wee little town!

”Fuck the nachos, I want a hand job!” Karey, at the Blue Moon, where they forgot our nachos.
Well, our last night out brought us from Roslyn Chapel to the Opal Lounge on George Street for posh cocktail before dinner. Well, it was turning out to be splendid little evening and drink when we, along with the cute lesbian couple behind us, and the entire wait staff, noticed the young man and woman making out beside us! It was fairly obscene, involved a hand job and lots of neck licking. They would sip on their pints and make out and stare at each other. The worst part about it, not to mention they were street side in front of the window, was seeing their very young baby, sitting in the baby pram next to them, watching them as well.

After not receiving our nachos at the Blue Moon to a simple oversight, Karey’s quick holiday wit kicked in, and spread some holiday joy.

Well, needless to say, little miss Karey was on fire in Scotland. Karey is the new Cam.

We laughed all the way to The Street where we met up with 2 Tennis Balls Danny and his mates, Bryan (and wife Kyra), Darren and Bob. Very good night, LOTS of Ikea.

Good Times!