I have never been on Spring Break in Scotland before

We are off for spring break today-6 days and five nights in the western Highlands and the Islands off the west coast of Scotland. I'll take pictures and try to throw a few on here. We're not entirely planned out, but ferries to Mull, Iona and the Isle of Skye are in the works. If we're feeling really bold, we'll climb Ben Nevis (Scotland's highest point), since we are making a stop in Fort William.

In the meantime, here some articles that caught my eye or were forwarded, in case you want a little bit of reading.

Don't Fear the Blogger--a bit of a defense of bloggers from a rogue editorialist in the LA Times

Story By Numbers provides a wee bit of reading humour; a friend of a friend's blog

Deathbed Conversion -- Why Tom Delay is fuck nut for the urging doctors to keep Schiavo alive when he "let" his own father die in '88.

Finally, My Way - Has anyone else come across this site or do they use it as there home page? There is something about the simplicity that is appealing, but then I am sure that I just want to change from my current one because, that's what I do, I change/rearrange/organize excessively.
I have a problem.

Back again soon.

Visit to MN Approaching

So little time, so much hate. I'm coming back to MN soon!

Okay, I'm gonna be back in MN for 10 days for two weddings--and I am very excited to watch my baby sister and one of my oldest and dearest friends getting married (um, still not sure if I am the maid of honor yet---for strangers to this blog, yeah, that's me on the right) but I guess I'll find out!!

However, when I am home, I am certainly going to find some time to go back to see the the "kids," as I like to call them, (including the little one on the left above, so I can hate her) to for some good times.... a drunk dial from the states this morning (3am US time, 9am UK time, thanks!) tells me that we are going to have some fun... I can't wait see all of you.

My debate to take up boxing

I just finished watching Million Dollar Baby and NOW I get the controversy. I must be especially thick because I had missed all references to the ending and why Catholics were protesting the hell out of it!

In light of the Shiavo case, I am sure it’s only intensified people’s feelings. Decent movie, powerful story, but not sure it deserved all the accolades; just my opinion.



So I just sent off another bundle of paperwork for yet another scholarship. I seriously hope that all my referee’s work and my qualifications earn me some money! The £9,000 for tuition—read $18,000—added to my existing debt, is going to kill any chances of me ever owning property. Maybe I’ll take up boxing…


Sitting in Sala Café Bar on Broughton Street, I was reviewing the handbook and syllabus for my course work. Cover your eyes, HOLY FUCK, I have a lot of damn reading to do! I will never complain about not having enough to do again. To give you an idea, just for ONE week of ONE of the three classes I’ll be taking in the fall, the reading list to be prepared for class:


Week 2 Readings
p Allen, David, and Michael Smith (1998), “The European Union’s Security Presence: Barrier, Facilitator, or Manager?,” in The European Union in the World Community, Carolyn Rhodes, ed., 45-63. London: Lynne Rienner Publishers.
p Allen, David, and Michael Smith (1991), “Western Europe’s Presence in the Contemporary International Arena,” in The Future of European Political Cooperation: Essays on Theory and Practice, Martin Holland, ed., 19-39. London: Macmillan.
p Allen, David, and Michael Smith (1990), “Western Europe’s Presence in the Contemporary International Arena,” Review of International Studies 16, 1 (Summer): 19-37.
p Bretherton, C., and J. Vogler (1999), The European Union as a Global Actor, London: Routledge, Chapter 1, pp. 15-45.
p Cameron, Fraser (1998), “The European Union as a Global Actor: Far from Pushing Its Political Weight Around,” in The European Union in the World Community, Carolyn Rhodes, ed., 19-43. London: Lynne Rienner Publishers.
p Cosgrove-Sacks, Carol (2001), “The EU as an International Actor,” in Europe, Diplomacy, and Development, Carol Cosgrove-Sacks, ed., 3-28. Houndsmill, Basingstoke: Palgrave.
p Cremona, Marise (2004), “The Union as a Global Actor: Roles, Models and Identity,” Common Market Law Review 41: 553-573.
p Duke, Simon (2002), “Preparing for European Diplomacy?,” Journal of Common Market Studies 40, 5: 849-870.
p Duke, Simon (1999), “Consistency as an Issue in EU External Activities,” EIPA Working Paper 99/W/06.
p Ginsberg, Roy H. (1999), “Conceptualizing the European Union as an International Actor,” Journal of Common Market Studies 37 (September): 429-454.
p Ginsberg, Roy H. (2001), The European Union in International Politics, Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, Inc., Chapters 1-3, pp. 1-55.
p Govaere, Inge, Jeroen Capian and An Vermeersch (2004), “In-Between Seats: The Participation of the European Union in International Organizations,” European Foreign Affairs Review 9, 2 (Summer): 155-188.
p Haaland Matlary, Janne (2004), “Human Rights,” in Contemporary European Foreign Policy, Walter Carlsnaes, Helene Sjursen and Brian White, eds., 141-154. London: Sage Publishers.
p Hill, Christopher (1993), “The Capability-Expectations Gap, or Conceptualizing Europe’s International Role,” Journal of Common Market Studies 31, 3 (Spring): 305-328.
p Hocking, Brian (2004), “Diplomacy,” in Contemporary European Foreign Policy, Walter Carlsnaes, Helene Sjursen and Brian White, eds., 91-109. London: Sage Publishers.
p Jorgensen, Knud Erik (2004), “European Foreign Policy: Conceptualising the Domain,” in Contemporary European Foreign Policy, Walter Carlsnaes, Helene Sjursen and Brian White, eds., 32-56. London: Sage Publishers.
p Jupille, Joseph and James A. Caporaso (1998), “States, Agency, and Rules: The European Union in Global Environmental Politics,” in The European Union in the World Community, Carolyn Rhodes, ed., 213-229. London: Lynne Rienner Publishers.
p Knodt, Michele, and Sebastiaan Princen (2003), Understanding the European Union’s External Relations, Routledge.
p Manners, Ian J., and Richard G. Whitman (1998) “Towards Identifying the International Identity of the European Union: A Framework for Analysis of the EU’s Network of Relationships,” European Integration 21: 231-249.
p Peterson, John, and Mark A. Pollack, eds. (2003), Europe, America, Bush, Routledge, Chapter 1, pp. 1-12.
p Peterson, J., and Sjursen, H., eds. (1998), A Common Foreign Policy for Europe?, London: Routledge, Chapters 1-2, pp. 3-36.
p Pollack, Mark A. (2001), “International Relations Theory and European Integration,” Journal of Common Market Studies 39, 2: 221-244.
p Pollack, Mark A., and Gregory Shaffer (2001), “Chapter 1,” in Transatlantic Governance in a Global Economy, Mark Pollack and Gregory Shaffer, eds. Rowman and Littlefield Press.
p Putnam, Robert (1988), “Diplomacy and Domestic Politics: The Logic of Two-Level Games,” International Organization 42: 427-460.
p Rhodes, Carolyn (1998), “Introduction: The Identity of the European Union in International Affairs,” in The European Union in the World Community, Carolyn Rhodes, ed., 1-17. London: Lynne Rienner Publishers.
p Sedelmeier, Ulrich (2004), “Collective Identity,” in Contemporary European Foreign Policy, Walter Carlsnaes, Helene Sjursen and Brian White, eds., 123-140. London: Sage Publishers.
p Sjostedt, Gunnar (1977), The External Role of the European Community, Farnborough, Saxon House.
p Smith, Karen (2003), European Union Foreign Policy in a Changing World, Cambridge: Polity Press, Introduction and Chapter 1, pp. 1-51.
p Smith, Michael E. (2004), “Toward a Theory of EU Foreign Policy-Making: Multi-Level Governance, Domestic Politics, and National Adaptation to Europe’s Common Foreign and Security Policy,” Journal of European Public Policy 11, 4: 740-758.
p Smith, Michael E. (2001), “Diplomacy by Degree: The Legalization of EU Foreign Policy,” Journal of Common Market Studies 39, 1: 79-104.
p Tewes, Henning (2001), Germany, Civilian Power and the New Europe, Palgrave Macmillan.
p White, Brian (2004), “Foreign Policy Analysis and the New Europe,” in Contemporary European Foreign Policy, Walter Carlsnaes, Helene Sjursen and Brian White, eds., 11-31. London: Sage Publishers.
p White, Brian (1999), “The European Challenge to Foreign Policy Analysis,” European Journal of International Relations 5, 1.
p White, Brian (2001), Understanding European Foreign Policy, Houndsmills, Basingstoke: Palgrave, Chapters 1-3, pp. 1-70.
p Whitman, Richard (1998), From Civilian Power to Superpower? The International Identity of the European Union, Basingstoke and New York: Palgrave.
p Youngs, Richard (2004), “Normative Dynamics and Strategic Interests in the EU’s External Identity,” Journal of Common Market Studies 42, 2: 415-435.

p Readings on the US and European Integration
p Ellwood, David W. (1992), Rebuilding Europe: Western Europe, America and Postwar Reconstruction, London and New York: Longman.
p Featherstone, Kevin, and Roy Ginsberg (1996), The European Community and the United States in the 1990s: Partners in Transition, 2nd edition, London: Macmillan.
p Gann, Lewis Henry, and Peter Duignan (1998), Contemporary Europe and the Atlantic Alliance, Blackwell Publishers: Oxford.
p Grosser, Alfred (1980), The Western Alliance: European-American Relations since 1945, London: Macmillan.
p Gardner, Anthony Laurence (1997), A New Era in US-EU Relations?: The Clinton Administration and the New Transatlantic Agenda, Brookfield, VT: Ashgate.
p Lundestad, Geir (1997), “Empire” by Integration: the United States and European Integration, 1945-1997, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
p Milward, Alan (1984), Reconstruction of Western Europe, 1945-51, London: Methuen.
p Philippart, Eric, and Pascaline Winand, eds. (2001), Ever Closer Partnership: Policy-Making in US-EU Relations, Brussels: P.I.E.-Peter Lang.
p Pollack, Mark, and Gary Shaffer, eds. (2001), Transatlantic Governance in a Global Economy, Rowman and Littlefield Press.


Needless to say, I’ve already purchased a few books and started reading; they weren’t cheap either; I really need to look into this boxing thing…

"It Can't Come Quickly Enough"

One of the best albums I have heard in a very long time, Scissor Sisters (by the group of the same name), 2004. Buy it, love it. At least five of the 11 songs made it huge on the radio and made this group the top selling act in the UK for 2004; the kicker, they are an American band! They are probably too queer looking to get the time of day in the US (and two of them are actually queer), but I can hope America embraces them by the time I return home.

Here's the lyrics to one of my favorites--and, ironically perhaps, one of the six that did not make radio play.

It Can't Come Quickly Enough

Sailling through the tunnels In the morning by yourself
There's a very special feeling
True sensation all is well
If you stand and reach your arms out wide
Close your eyes and try to fly
It's an underground illusion
Tricking you from side to side

We knew all the answers
And we shouted them like anthems
Anxious and suspicious
That God knew how much we cheated

It can't come quickly enough
And now you've spent your life
Waiting for this moment
And when you finally saw it come
It passed you by and left you so defeated

Skyscrapers rise between us
Keeping me from finding you
If the concrete architecture
Dissapeared there'd be so few
Of us left to navigate and
Defend ourselves from the tide
It's an underground illusion
Tricking you from side to side

There's no indication of
What we were meant to be
Sucking up to strangers
Throwing wishes to the sea

It can't come quickly enough
And now you've spent your life
Waiting for this moment
And when you finally saw it come
It passed you by and
Left you so defeated

What is your bias?

Surprisingly, for all I am on about when it comes to religion, my results on bias showed something else!

"Thank you for your participation. In this study, we are investigating conscious and unconscious preferences for different topics varying in importance, familiarity, and relevance to the self. Your result, reported below, is already corrected for the order in which you performed the task. "

Your data suggest a slight automatic preference for Religion relative to Atheism

"Depending on the magnitude of your result, your automatic associations may be described as 'slight', 'moderate', 'strong', or 'little to no preference (or identity)'. How implicit associations affect our judgments and behaviors is not well understood. Also, the score described above may be influenced by a number of variables including your familiarity with the categories and the particular items used to represent the categories. As such, the score should serve as an opportunity for self-reflection, not as a definitive assessment of your implicit thoughts or feelings. This and future research will clarify the way in which implicit thinking and feelings affects our perception, judgment, and action."

The topic of this task was randomly assigned to you from a list of approximately 100 topics. You are welcome to complete as many sessions as you wish, and every session will be a different topic. Some will be topics you have thought about many times, others might be new or unusual topics that you have not considered before. Just return to the login page and enter your email address to start again.

From this study we hope to learn more about variations in conscious and unconscious thoughts and feelings that people have for a variety of domains. With this knowledge, we hope to better understand the nature of our preferences for domains that are familiar or unfamiliar to us. If you have unanswered questions about the task, please review background information about this research and follow the links to the questions of specific interest to you. Thanks again for your participation."

GIVE IT A SHOT!!
Take a test at Project Implicit's website and see what may be lingering in your psyche.

Office Politics

I recently read about work place bullies and I wonder often it occurs, or, if indirectly, I am a bully. Granted, my office is rather small these days, with 4 peers in this office and our admin team in the next room, but, I think that this topic is a vital one to assess in all work places. In every place that I have worked, it seems that the biggest area of concern when it came to a place running smoothing was to be honest about people’s shortcomings (in a constructive way) and praising people’s assets or contributions (sincerely).

The ill-will between colleagues and the decay of a sense of community in a business, school or organization stems from people’s inability to confront the little (and sometimes large) issues that arise. An action that challenges the established office or group norms or expectations of the work place sets the conflict ball rolling. The issue of interpreting rules leads to the concepts of fairness and ethics. The non-perpetrators take the apparently “easy” way out and discuss the perpetrator behind their back.

The alternative, of expressing your feelings—and ultimately getting the heart of the matter and probably reconciling the issue—is more difficult to take on. People fear conflict, but have no problem stirring up and intensifying that conflict-feelings by the back room gossip.

The differences of opinions and leadership style are present in our organisation. I must remember that the pros of forthrightness, however difficult it is to be, outweigh the cons of silence and the enduring resentment.

The twist of my situation: taking my own advice and applying it in a work place where I also live!

"A gay priest woman, are you mad!?!?"

Quote from Daffyd, 'the ONLY gay in the village' on the television show Little Britian

A refreshing look at the gay in churches issue today as the Scottish Church backs gay priests! I honestly think that the churches and politicians who are siding against gay rights and recognition are shooting themselves in the foot and will be viewed as xenophobes (well, to some they already are) by the mainstream public in a few short years. This passage addresses a similar idea: "It strikes us as a real pity that the Anglican Church has been tearing itself to pieces over what seems a relatively trivial issue when they could be tackling more pressing matters like world poverty or the Aids epidemic."

In Scotland, the Episcopal church is Scotland's answer to the Church of England (England's official religion), so this is a significant break from their 'sister' branch.

It's good to live in Scotland.

1,000 of years of History

­­The weekend brought us to the magnificent and historic towns of Durham and York. We departed at 645am from Dalkeith Palace and headed south. Stopping in Newton on the Moor, we picked up our friend and tour guide, Christine. Our first stop was Durham. The city, built essentially to honor St. Cuthbert (or at least his remains) and the cathedral have been standing since for almost 1,000 years. Learning about the cultural influences and the ‘era’ which led to the unique architectural styles and buildings:
Celts 751BC – 42AD.
Romans 42-409
Saxons 410-1065 (Vikings and other invaded during this time as well)
Normans 1066-1215

Durham Cathedral was amazing. I was excited to learn, being the non-art historian that I am, about different era’s gothic architecture. The cathedral, when you stood in the Quire (where the choir would sing), had examples of four distinct types of period architecture. Depicted in four different directions on four windows were:
Early English Gothic, Decorative Gothic and Perpendicular Gothic and finally Tudor.

The city is full of historic and beautiful pieces to observe, take in and reflect on. Having said that, there are great pieces missing from these cathedrals and castles and cities as well—such as statues, art and symbols of early peoples.
This dichotomy—the care and detail placed in the creation and preservation of such magnificent objects vs. the violent cultural destruction of many of those objects during the reformation— demonstrates the collision of long term fundamental beliefs with the passions and extremism of the short term hysteria and emotions.


After a city walk, we got back on the coach and travelled south for an hour, to a city that is 1,000 years older than Durham; the city of York.

Our group of 42’s first priority was to check into the hostel. We disembarked the coach and walked to Mickelgate (gate means street) where our hostel was located. It was my first hostel experience, and fortunately, even after a few bumps and a change in room assignments, it was a decent one.

It is Friday evening, so once we threw down our bags, we are free to play. Tim and I ran into a few of the students and decided to join them for a pint at a dinner by day / night club by night place called Yates. We moved on to join our tour guide for dinner at Café Uno and had—as always with Christine—a delightful conversation about the program, the news and politics! We headed back to the hostel because we made plans to hit the 80’s danceclub, Reflex, with some students. And 80’s it was—cheesy, leisure suits and music ranging from Cindy Lauper to Bon Jovi to Bryan Adams. I think the highlight of the evening was dancing a circular raised dance floor, about 6 feet in diameter, that rotated slowly as you danced. Pretty well aware of the fact that 20 odd Americans drinking and screaming to 80’s music on a rotating dance floor must have been quite a silly sight—every student seem to have 2 camera’s in their hand as the flashes from digital cameras sparked about every 20 seconds. Technology is really preventing the contemporary adage of “What happens on the rotating dance floor at the 80’s bar in York STAYS the rotating dance floor at the 80’s bar in York” of ever really ring true anymore.

The daylight came early. Being so close to the equinox, it is remarkable how such a few short weeks ago, the dark loomed for long hours, but now, the light is peering through the windows at nearly 6am!

A shower and to the lobby to read my book (working on Angel and Demons), and it was a city walls tour of York. We couldn’t have asked for better weather. Christine took us around the 2,000 year old city and walls into the neatest and most picturesque parts of York—the Shambles, the Minster and through some tiny little snickleways.
The combination of Viking, Saxon, Roman and Norman influence on this 2,000 year old city provides a epic sense of uniqueness and history.

As a result, we have foundations of buildings and art that have been the study and influence of much of the Western world’s art and philosophy.

The coach ride home, of course, involved a pseudo-pub quiz of 40 questions. It was a close battle between 5 teams, but the Eboracum Rockets edged out the Jorvik Vikings by 2 points. It was then up The Incredibles to take us home—via DVD.

A super time for all I think. Nice job Tim.

Thinking

Selling almost everything I own, my car, most of my clothes, my computer, getting rid of my cell phone, and closing out odds and end bank or credit “accounts” and leaving a way of life and transplanting myself into Scotland has been a cathartic experience. Not having a full time job, living on fewer materials both in terms of money and household items has made me think. Thinking is all I have sometimes. I think…

I don’t wake up and worry about work.

I don’t rush off to shower or slam down my breakfast or contemplate my long and sometimes dangerous icy commute to work.

I don’t have the debate about what to wear, who will I impress and is it the “right” look for work/meetings/etc.

I don’t “stay late”.

I don’t feel like my day runs me.

I walk slower.

I rest more.

I think about people and relationships.

I read more.

Then I wonder what my life would be like had I not moved. I’d be under pressure to meet a deadline for some committee, worrying about papers to grade and “stay late” just to get caught up. Worry, fear, worry.

I am grateful to have had this time to take a step back and write those letters, take those pictures, see a different slice of life, and have long conversations; I am glad that I had the opportunity to get out of the rut of working for the weekend and praying Monday never comes.

I wish everyone could do it.

"I must learn to love the fool in me - the one who feels too much, talks too much, takes too many chances, wins sometimes and loses often, lacks self-control, loves and hates, hurts and gets hurt, promises and breaks promises, laughs and cries. It alone protects me against that utterly self-controlled, masterful tyrant whom I also harbor and who would rob me of human aliveness, humility and dignity but for my fool." T. I. Rubin

Lesson in Patience

"There are all kinds of energies circulating around upstairs, and you're not quite sure how to act. Well, it's not just you. But since you're far more adaptable to changes like these, offer your help to those who aren't."

Those "energies" referenced in my horoscope are spot on. It is a true lesson in patience to continually accept that details of living in a house with 100 other people—varying values, personal priorities, hidden agendas and communication styles to name a few—and negotiate all of them into my day, my mental picture, or more aptly put today, my “energies”. Compile these details with all of cultural differences, which at first don’t see like many, but after almost 9 months, number significantly, and it is a valuable lesson.

I will try to be more adaptable in all of my daily exchanges.

Up Oor Close

Life in the city in the early 1900's until World War II was an amazing microcosm of an ideal world community, but it did have its downsides.

I just finished reading Jean Faley's book, Up Oor Close. It describes what life was like in the tenament housing schemes in Glasgow. Imagine having 5-10 people living in sometimes 3 rooms (Kitchen, Room, Room), where beds came out of the wall or were placed under other furniture when not in use. Imagine keeping a place like that clean, and the around the clock housework--beatings of rugs, scrubbing of fireplaces, floors and eating spaces to keep a place clean and sanitary. Imagine the lack of proper storage space and having to shop at markets weekly or daily to get the necessities. Imagine having friends over to entertain, the crowded space, but also the fun and laughter and songs that were sung and closeness that we all know initimate spaces add to parties and relationships. Imagine meeting people, courting and the lack of privacy; then imagine how much privacy was honored because it was so special. Imagine a community raising children because of the proximity to folks and their neighbors. Imagine the simplicity of a wedding ceremony--money was tight, you lived with your parents even after the wedding. Imagine the horse drawn funeral carriage making its way down the narrow streets and the magificent outpouring of emotion and mourning when a member of the community died. Imagine child care and births at home, how the neighborhood would band together and aid each other in the rearing and care of a newborn; especially if 'ye had twins'. Imagine how illness and disease could spread so quickly in such set ups, and it did. Imagine at times, large number of people falling ill to TB and dying. Imagine how life would change, become less community oriented, more distant, more expensive and less cohesive when the tenament systems were done away with after WWII--lessons on life, many forgotten.

That is what this book was about.

Household appliances and raw meat

Tim was digging into the refridgerator and opened up a container of bits of semi-cooked bacon; unfortunately, with so wee room to set anything down in our make shift kitchen/living/dining room, he dropped the pink pork product on our flat's beautiful brown (insert sarcasm here) carpet. Naturally a string of loud and emphatic swear words were strewn about the room, but it was the strange squealing noise that the vacuum was making that prompted me to look at Tim with a questioning look.

"Maybe that's because I just vacuumed up raw meat?" I guess there are just certain things you don't expect to hear; that was one of them.

We went to see Sideways last night. It was a very intelligent and deliberate story. Deliberate as in slow, but not in a bad way; it was sort of how I would like to view and live life (not either character, just the pace).

Tagline: In search of wine. In search of women. In search of themselves.

Plot Outline: Two men reaching middle age with not much to show but disappointment, embark on a week long road trip through California's wine country, just as one is about to take a trip down the altar.

See it if you like wine; leave the movie liking it more or never wanting a Pinot Grigio again.

X-rated TV

So last night on Channel 4, pretty known to be the channel that pushes all the censor buttons and has the most American programming (Simpsons, Friends, etc) and overall makes an effort to be the ratings catcher with glitz, smut and shock, had a program about the MOST Controversial and/or X-Rated things ever shown on TV. First of all, I found it ironic to have a show about all the things TV shows can't show! Second, I quickly discovered that they DID in fact show all the things they weren't supposed to show. But first, I have a side story.

We were invited over to John and Mary’s flat for a wee bit of bubbly as sort of a post birthday (Mary’s 57th was last Friday) drink and to discuss there travels to the Mull of Galloway. They described this wonderfully scenic, hilly and vibrant coast as they travelled this peninsula, which, on a map, appears to look like a flaccid penis. (John made this leap for us, go figure.) Well, you can imagine the commentary about going up and down on this, pen-ninsula and all the 12 year old humour flying about the room…

Pan to an hour later in our flat. Tim and I are watching this TV Show, X-Rated: The TV They Tried to Ban. This was a Feature-length documentary charting the most contentious, controversial and scandalous TV moments that have outraged and offended the moral guardians of our nation over the last 40 years. What is hysterical is that they, of course you know it was coming, show all of these moments! It was pretty much your gay kisses and gratuitous nudity. Some of the issues that made it a little closer to the top of the list were the gay sex scenes from Queer as Folk, set in Manchester, and an “Animal Passions” show; yes, bestiality. Okay, I need to interject with a comment here… can I just say, that a phone caller excerpt that they included about “Animal Passions” show basically said “this is disgusting… … what will they show next, gay sex?!?!”. I was like “Oye!!! How rude is that bastard for saying that!!” I wasn’t too impressed for the producers to edit that portion that way, but what the hell can I do! The top three MOST controversial, ended up being less about sex and more about religion. #3: a show that had college students in a “live” oiuja board reading summoning Satan and others (that ended up to be a hoax). #2 a show poking fun of sending a paedophile off to space in a capsule (and oops, an 8 – year old child accidentally got locked in there too). #1 Jerry Spring’s Opera, opening on Jan. 5, 2005: depicted Jesus as an overweight gay man and swearing A LOT during his struggles with Satan and other issues. Awe, gotta love the Brits.

1st Amendment up for debate again

Slate's latest coverage of the Sumpreme Court's latest case raises some pretty good questions. The article is also covered by the First Amendment Center pretty well.

After reading these articles and trying to grapple with the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, I wonder if a solution might not be to just put out a disclaimer. Because you could easily argue that religious words and/or symbols are art, couldn't or shouldn't public places simply remove any possible endorsement of the religion. For example, "The thoughts or ideas reflected by the historical documents and displays in does not necessarily reflect the beliefs of the state." Inevitably, I am assuming the Supreme Court will shoot down any efforts to deliberately display something (intentionally establishing religion), but I can see them allowing, say the Texas statue, and ask for a disclaimer.

7 Days 7 Questions

If you're into media quizzes (where you try to identify from multiple choices the correct answer of the "goings on" of the week), check out the BBC 7 Days 7 Questions quiz this week. I scored a 6 out of 7. It's another way of reading the paper, so to speak, and getting caught up on news and entertainment. It will also either enhance or give you a new appreciation of teachers!!

Wow, March 1st Already

It is week four of the spring term. The students are busy writing their reflection statements and I am even busier trying to read them all. All 83 student has to write 24 pages.... hmmm, what was I thinking!!! That is at least 1,992 pages, and that doesn't include their 5-6 page research papers--that is an extra 450 pages or so. Oye. I'll learn.


It is a pleasure to report that our team won the Sam's Quiz last Wednesday. 9-10-7-4-10 for a total of 40/50. Even during the round of "4" we had the high score. It was fun to win, but it will be hard to defend because these questions and categories come from out of nowhere sometimes. "Carl Perkins" was a major coup for our team this week! Anyone know who he is???


Friday brought most of the house, via 2 buses to the Wallace Monument and Sterling Castle. The Wallace Monument, which was built for Braveheart's inspiration, William Wallace, Scottish hero during the late 1200's. It was completed in 1869 after eight years' construction--some of the time was due to money issues, troubles with the design and the controversies about who was managing the project. It statnds 220 feet high and is placed prominently on the Abbey Craig two miles north of the city of the city of Stirling (the city where Wallace scored a huge victory over the English in 1297. It was an impressive 246 steps up and down with 4 levels--level one memorializing Wallace, level 2 shedding light on key figures in the Scottish Enlightenment, level 3 was a tribute the construction (and significant bail out by the locals donations) and the top level (extremely windy that day--you know, the kind that makes you cry its so windy). The pictures will be on mywebsite soon.

We boarded the bus and headed to Stirling Castle. It is an impressive place and looks like the Edinburgh Castle a great deal (it even sits atop a large hill similar to the castle of the capital). The Castle has a significant amount of history and is credited with being the site of a great deal of influential events for the royalty, including baptism, crowning or their deaths--James the IV, James the V, Mary Queen of Scots, James the VI (and his Queen, Mary of Guise) and others to name a few. During a long and bloody history Stirling Castle has been attacked or besieged at least 16 times. It is impressive, if you could see and actually on the castle walls, to wonder how a castle as grand as this one fell. The impressive buildings that were commissioned by the Kings for royal ceremonies made it the most impressive castle and royal meeting place in the UK for its time. The combination of Christian and pagan symbols embedded into the walls via gargoyles and tapestries demonstrates the role of religion and the evolution of it in Scotland.

The castle is an architectural, historical and religious relic of Scotland's past.

This week I am writing my second Leave of Absence letter. I had a little pang of home sickness as I was writing it. It made me think, even though I am obviously having a stellar time here, than I will be here for a while yet and that I am missing my friends and family and home!! It is good to have something to long for.

On a brighter and similar note, I was able to meet (sort of by coincidence, but I think it might be something more than that) the director of International and European Politics program that I was accepted too. He was a very nice guy and is giving me a lot of information about what to expect, reading lists and some of the course syllabi from the previous terms. I am very happy that I made this connection and we have since been emailing a few times. I am feeling really confident about the situation and, as I've said too many times, I cannot wait to start!