A Wicked Story

Of a sick young man.

This sounds like a Hollywood movie--to think that there are people like this walking the streets?
It's a long article but worth a read.

"AN ACADEMICALLY gifted public schoolboy nicknamed "The Brains" by his devoted elderly parents was jailed for life yesterday after he admitted killing them before using their credit cards in a £30,000 spending spree with his girlfriend." Story in Full

It is a unimaginable how this could happen. And there it is hard to know that he only got convicted of manslaughter for this, but he was diagnosed with a disorder. It's a tricky case for sure.

St. Abbs

Last week the house took a trip to St. Abbs Head. The 3 hour hike was marked with natural wildlife--numerous species of birds, beautiful scenery and a landscape that the students said so eloquently 'typifies Scotland'.




Here's one of me and Mike posing on one of the cliffs.


The sea birds are in abundance! They nest on the cliffs and fish the coastal waters--not to mention make LOTS of noise.

Our walk back past Loch Muir led us by this abandon boat house.

Mardi ~ Dienstag ~ Martedi ~ Martes ~ Tuesday

"Summer Vacation" The Prelude (1805)

Bright was the summer's noon when quickening steps
Followed each other till a dreary moor
Was crossed, a bare ridge clomb, upon whose top
Standing alone, as from a rampart's edge,
I overlooked the bed of Windermere,
Like a vast river, stretching in the sun.

—William Wordsworth (1770–1850)


It's been a wonderful summer thus far in bonny Scotland. Generous amounts of sun and temperatures of 70-75 almost every day for the past several weeks. Hay fever and allergies too, but we're managing.

And so now that it is summer, even though I recently found out that I AM certified and able to teach, summer holidays will preclude me from doing so. I have an extraordinary sense of bad timing, or it just wasn't meant to be. With school and the fall program starting soon, I probably won't have the time to teach now.

On a brighter note, I was asked to teach the Scottish Colloquium once again this fall, so I can stop worrying about how my US bills are going to get paid for a few more months. I am literally just making it month to month, which scares the crap out of me, but Tim is right when he says, the money always comes. I would just like to see it SEVERAL months in advance--I'm a worry wart damn it! Anyway, back to the course, naturally, I have begun to revamp what I did last spring and am quite excited about the new direction I am going to take the students. There will be 53 students, which is quite a relief, because the another 81 like last spring would have surely been overwhelming, considering I will be in school full time as well.

Tim's 35th birthday was bittersweet for him. Even though we had a lovely evening at our friend's Sandy and Victoria's home, it was also the day he found out about the Director's position, opening in June 2006, being given to someone else. Knowing how the process went and knowing how completely qualified, competent and utterly passionate he is about the importance and meaning of studying abroad and this program, the actions and decisions of the leadership team were a disgrace and shameful. However, we look on the bright side, and we know that we will be happy together and our careers will move on in other directions. Back to the birthday, Sandy cooked a delightful meal (it was his 45th birthday that day too!) and along with several other guests, we enjoyed a lovely dinner, some wine and some laughs to celebrate the for the birthday boys.

On a final good note, our July plans are to return to the states for a week long visit. Originally it was just too expense to spend our whole month's salary to get us back to Scotland from the US trip home we'd been planning. So, it was just going to be Tim returning and I'd take a wee trip to Spain to backpack. Well, in a fortuitous turn of events, some generous and gracious people in my life have afforded me the chance to join Tim and make it back to US and then back to Scotland, so I do thank them dearly, although I do not know who all was involved. Thank you, ever so much, your extreme kindness cannot be repaid in paper currency; it will however, be through love and friendship 'for the rest of mine'.

River Esk Cleanup

As part of a Wellness class and community project, most of the house students and faculty took part in an 3 hour clean up of a portion of the River Esk that lies on the Dalkeith Country Park estate. It was a muddy, stinky job, but well worth the effort, our mental wellness and sense of community it garnered.

Before... Yes, some of the girls REALLY got into the spirit!

Tim, Art, Leah and Emily struggle to pull out some rubbish!

In the end, a massive pile of mostly, BIKES!! Yikes! Look them all!

Extra Extra, Read All About It!

Does anybody else have the Ann Murray “Little Good News” song pop into their heads as they read the papers? Today was one of those days.

The debate over evolution rages on in Pennsylvania, where “a new bill would permit districts to include instruction on Intelligent Design. Bill sponsor Rep. Thomas C. Creighton says the current code is biased toward "atheists who promote evolution theory," while opponents warn the bill could set a dangerous precedent."

So just atheists acknowledge science? There are NOOOOOOOO people of religion who acknowledge science? And, if you think about it, Intelligent Design speaks of a ‘power’ that inspired the world we live in and all its glory. Well, doesn’t Darwin’s natural selection theory, where the fittest survive, species adapt, change and ‘perfect’ themselves, yes, evolve into something better, essentially speak to this ‘intelligent design’ that creationists are purporting?



Flag Burning—it’s back. Four times they’ve tried to make this a constitutional amendment since 1989. They always seem to use the examples of how upset soldiers would be if they knew the flag was burning. Well, just maybe some, most, maybe all, would say, we fight for the US so people can choose to hang the flag or burn it, whenever they feel like it, to express whatever speech they want to.

G8 'still selling weapons to worst regimes'
I was very interested to read an article on the G8 and the fact that something like 80% of the world's weapons held by the worst regimes are actually sold to them by the powerful 8, the ‘great powers’ as they are called in the international relations field of study. So, they are trying to solve the problems of poverty, AIDS and environmental blight all the while they are still supplying terrible weapons to terrible dictators who are certainly adding the numbers in poverty, not fighting an AIDS epidemic and slowly destroying the environment in the process. What’s wrong with this picture—hey, Left Hand, meet the Right One. Do you two know what the other’s doing?

Pentagon Creating Student Database: Recruiting Tool For Military Raises Privacy Concerns
I’m sure we have NOTHING to worry about here. This sounds just fine to me. (Run kids, run very fast, hide!)

"One Committee's Three Hours of Inquiry, in Surreal Time"
This goddamn story is just completely crazy. Many, many people should go to prison for this one. The brazen tactics of Jack Abramoff's are unbelievable. I have to think Senator Biden had a LOT of fun this one during the committee’s questioning session. This is the most fucked up scandal I’ve read about recently. The first paragraph would grab anyone’s attention: “Yesterday's Senate hearing into superlobbyist Jack Abramoff's alleged defrauding of Indian tribes had something for everyone. There was the yoga instructor who took the Fifth. There was the lifeguard selected to run a think tank from a beach house at Rehoboth. And there was Exhibit 31, an e-mail from Abramoff to a rabbi friend.”



In case anyone is suddenly feeling nostalgic for the song, here are the lyrics, enjoy.


A Little Good News
Anne Murray
Written by Charles Black, Rory Bourke, and Thomas Rocco

I rolled out this morning
Kids had the mornin' news show on
Bryant Gumbel was talkin' 'bout the fighting in Lebanon
Some senator was squawkin' 'bout the bad economy
It's gonna get worse you see, we need a change in policy

There's a local paper rolled up in a rubber band
One more sad story's one more than I can stand
Just once how I'd like to see the headline say
"Not much to print today, can't find nothin' bad to say", because

Nobody robbed a liquor store on the lower part of town
Nobody OD'ed, nobody burned a single buildin' down
Nobody fired a shot in anger, nobody had to die in vain
We sure could use a little good news today

I'll come home this evenin'
I'll bet that the news will be the same
Somebody takes a hostage, somebody steals a plane
How I wanna hear the anchor man talk about a county fair
And how we cleaned up the air, how everybody learned to care
Whoa, tell me

Nobody was assassinated in the whole Third World today
And in the streets of Ireland, all the children had to do was play
And everybody loves everybody in the good old USA
We sure could use a little good news today

Nobody robbed a liquor store on the lower part of town
Nobody OD'ed, nobody burned a single buildin' down
FADE
Nobody fired a shot in anger, nobody had to die in vain
We sure could use a little good news today

To Marilyn

One of the first things I had to do as a teacher in a community building activity was to free write about a topic that was important to me. My mother had been dead less than a year, and it was on my mind that day. I wrote this 7 years ago and shared it with my co-workers.

My mother had an interesting way of saying all of her kids’ names. She had a beautiful quality all mothers do that made each of us kids feel like we were the most special person in the world. She spoke my Brother Seth’s name with brief authority. He was the oldest. She gave him an edge and the slightest bit more respect than the others. She spoke Todd’s name with a heart, understanding of the son who knew so much and would teach the rest of us that knowledge. Sometimes I still get a chill when I think about how my brother would say a joke or a funny story and she would sing so low in her throat, “oh, Todd!” She spoke Dion’s name with soft, slow tones. She always ended his name on a long note, almost as if to make him feel special that much longer. Not DEEon, but DeeOOON. Lori was her baby. Mom’s facial expression after saying Lori’s name was enough to make you cry. Mom lit up with anxious curiosity and would slide Lori’s name off her tongue in a twirl, like she was reciting poetry. When she spoke my name, oh, words can’t describe how I felt. When I hear “Ryan”, “Ryan”, it was as if she was breathing more life into me, as she first did 24 years ago. With her gone, it is hard to go with the thought that I’ll never hear her say our names again. However, I rest on the fact that I know, at any time I want, I can always say, mom.

Today would've been Mom's 55 birthday. Happy Birthday Mom.

Weekend in June

I spent most of yesterday in Edinburgh.

I started my day off at Elephant and Bagels for a cup of coffee and to read my book. I was contemplating checking out "Open Day" at the University of Edinburgh to see if it was for undergraduates or postgrads. Once I arrived on campus it was clearly a day for the former, so I walked around a wee bit, chatted with some folks about international student orientation, and made my way to the the Museum of Scotland. Having lived here for almost 11 months, I am surprised I hadn't been there yet, but, once I went in, I feel like in 11 months, I learned a lot of the history on display already.

The rest of the day was split between the Dutch Oven, Starbucks and Sala Cafe for coffee and studying. I met Tim at the Blue Moon for dinner, and we called it a night with popcorn and a movie, Inside I'm Dancing. Great movie.

Got up early and had some breakfast in the palace--Timmy style eggs and cheese and toast. After a nice walk, we decided to grab a bottle of champagne, some snacks, our books and lawn chairs and hit the beach North Berrwick! It was 25 degrees (80 Farenheit) here and the beach was heaving! A good weekend so far.

One thing on our minds, whether or not Tim gets the Director's job. The interviews were held yesterday, and so we should here by Monday if not this weekend.

Bits and Bobs

My team took last place in the quiz last night...played on the wee group from Stout's team.

Registered for my National Insurance Number today. Naturally it is going to take 4-6 weeks for it to arrive. I'm glad I really didn't want to work while I lived in Scotland.

Read that Terri Schiavo was actually in a irretrievable vegetative state after all...no shit.

On this day in 1982: 1982: Argentine forces in the Falklands Islands surrender after 73 days of fighting.

I finished my summer reading list book, Understanding International Relations and started The Globalization of World Politics, and I Love it!

I still have to buy Tim's birthday present...ugh. what do I get?

I heard that Aunt Marlys is in the hospital with stomach pains. I need to email the hospital with get well wishes. It is her 55th birthday in a couple days.

Tim and I return to the states for a week on July 13 and we still haven't booked tickets back!! Damn summer airfare prices.

I officially ditched Hotmail for Gmail email account and so far so Good!

I'm hungry and glad that it is Deli Day!

I've heard back from 3 of the 10 or so places I've applied for scholarships with the "sorry, the applicants were of such high calibre..." bull. Damn the devil! as I would say.

We may get away this weekend to St. Andrews or possibly the Lake District, not sure yet.

G8 Alternatives

The meeting of the G8 Summit at Gleneagles, Scotland is getting quite a bit of press, and for many reasons.

The the potential £100 million price tag for police and set up is stirring up the pot.

What is a reasonable price tag for these major, rich and industrialized nations to come together to help solve some global problems? Should that pay their own way? Should they not meet at all? Would the consequences of not meeting be greater than the price tag?

There are many planned protests and books and websites that are " G8 Alternatives ".

The protesters have much to protest about. The G8 epspouses Western values frequently. It is especially capitalistic in its approaches. It frequently neglects the groups it claims it is helping--the structure of global politics, or lack thereof, removes accountability and enforcement.

The agenda-setting and topics on climate change will surely spark a row with the US.

It's like asking someone to vote away their right to vote. Some of the biggest offenders, like with climate change controls, are the developing nations themselves. What will it take to get these nations, like the US, to comply with the attempted 'humanitarian intervention'.

All of this is happening the summer before I start a program in International and European Politics! Naturally, I am excited to see how each of these issues and others are resolved in the press and in the board rooms of Gleneagle.

G8 Comes to Scotland

The G8 Summit will meet in Gleneagles Scotland this year on July 6-8.

It began in 1975 when the president of France invited leaders of 5 nations together to discuss the economic problems of day. Originally, it was France, Germany, Italy, UK, US and Japan, but later included Canada and Russia. It doesn’t have a set structure or any kind of permanent administration, but each country sort of leads it (makes the agenda) on a yearly basis. The leaders of these countries try to reach informal agreements about measures they which to cure or give aid to. They may, in turn, take individual or cooperative action on those agreements. Essentially, it is an organisation that is trying to manage, perhaps facilitate or guide, globalisation.

In the past, the G8 has set up programs to help many causes: the Global Fund to Fight AIDS and Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Health Fund) are 2 examples.

The main themes for the G8 in 2005 are Africa and climate change. Both are pressing issues for the world. Africa demands particular attention as the world’s poorest continent. Climate change is happening and should be of concern for all. Holding the G8 Presidency gives the UK the chance to focus international attention on tackling these issues. (More info)

The issue of Africa is very significant. The UK is pressing the rest of the G8 nations into a debt forgiveness policy for the poorest nations. It looks like that will become reality after today’s news. Chancellor unfortunate Catch 22 with Africa’s problems – Africa needs investment and improved infrastructure to develop, but companies are not attracted to invest in such a undeveloped (expensive to operate in) area.

There is an dynamic in International Relations of overt and covert actions. There are some ‘rules of the game’ where countries and leaders know how they and each other should act, and then, there are reasons for how they actually do. This is of course du to the importance of issues like trade, economic markets and security—these will certainly be on everyone’s ‘hidden agendas’. But let’s hope that compassion and generosity and problem solving for this century’s greatest problem will trump selfishness and greed.

Banning the Rainbow Flag

Some of the community and local council in Westminster want to ban the rainbow flag because they view it as visual clutter that discourages the local economy and offends visitors. I think the same could be said for a lot of places by a variety of people! Why this item, why now?

How do can we accept/adopt a universal standard of what is "right" when groups have different definitions of that work into their idea of "right"? A conundrum indeed.

Is it possible to find even the thinnest piece of commonality (humanity seems natural, but I think that it is too simple?) that we can agree on for symbols, tolerance, preservation of heritage or (sub) cultural pride?

Tough question... I'll have to ponder that for a while.

I'm Sending A Letter

I am experiencing frustration. I think it stems from the fact that, essentially, I am applying my American cultural values/norms to Scottish systems and way of life.

I went to Edinburgh University today to inquire about getting a matriculation (registration) card, so that I may access the library system so that I may complete the summer reading list. I cannot get a matriculation card right now, but they’d let me know when I could. I need a matriculation card to enrol for a library card. Without a library card, I cannot access the journals, books and periodicals on the reading list. Basically, I’m stuck. The most frequent answer when I asked about this interesting conundrum: “I don’t know.” Grrrrr. Calm down Ryan

In addition, it has been six months since I applied to supply teach in the schools over here and after numerous phone calls, fees, paperwork, applications, I am officially on the list, but haven’t received a call from my contact who is “out of the office” for who knows how long. Of course, for anyone who knows me, I’m sending a letter. The following letter was mailed today to: the First Minister (like Prime Minister of Scotland), Education Minister, Head of Education of the Scottish Executive, my Member of Scottish Parliament (MSP), the local Midlothian Council and the Chief Executive of the national teacher registration organisation. I cannot wait to hear what they have to say.

I have to ask myself, what is all this trying to teach me? Patience? Persistence? Determination? A different way of doing things? I think I need to rely on the motto from my first master’s program: “Trust the Process”. I’m still sending the letter!



Dear ___ :

It is with the humblest of intentions and sincere altruism that I write to you today. I am an American who moved to Scotland last fall because my partner accepted employment for a study abroad program; as a result, I was granted a 20 hour a week work visa. After fulfilling a volunteer post, I decided to seek work as a supply teacher for the local schools to earn an income, fulfil a need that the schools have and integrate myself into the wonderful community that I live in, Dalkeith of Midlothian. I started my inquires with the Midlothian Council about becoming a supply teacher in late November; since the winter holiday consumes much of December, I waited until January 2005 to send my first letter and application to GTC Scotland.

I am writing to you today to express my concern over how much time the process took. It was not until 2 June, 2005, that I received my letter confirming that my personal details had been forwarded to the person who would place me on the call list for work. At this point, I am still waiting to be called. I am aware of the necessity for criminal background checks and the occasional need for outside organisations to review some materials, but I think the process may be excessively drawn out. Though the process took six months, I do not believe it reflects negatively on the national organization, GTC Scotland or the local organisation, Midlothian Council, as both are merely completing there portion of the process. I believe that the method, as a whole, is a convoluted one. I speculate that part of the problem lies with the duplicate paper work (regarding references, applications, previous employment information, medical assessments, etc) that is required by applicants or the processing requirements of the paper work (many different levels of bureaucracy handling specific documents). I earnestly feel that there may be some room to streamline this process.

My concerns are being forwarded to you for several reasons. I am intrigued and impressed by the newly devolved Scottish parliament and governing system. I decided to follow the intent of this new system, and make my views heard; as Scottish Executive website expresses, I may:
• Have different ideas about what should be done;
• Have an interest in a particular policy area or
• Have expertise in, or particular insights into, a particular policy area;

I have been a politically active government teacher for six years in the state of Minnesota. I know that education and government systems have rules and operating procedures in place based on the historic needs and laws respective of their communities and nation. I am also aware that at times, after many committees, individuals and agencies contribute to a system, that the end result may not operate, once implemented, as the creators envisioned. My concerns are being passed along because I want to help. Having lived in the Dalkeith community for almost a year now, I am aware of the need for supply teachers and teachers in general; letters from the Midlothian Council and articles in the Scotsman have made this fact evident. I am a qualified—with two education degrees, able-bodied and ambitious professional who is ready to help and work in the local schools, and yet I have been held up for six, and mostly like, by the time it is finished, 7 months from fulfilling this wish.

I would like to make you and other individuals within the system aware of these concerns, in hope that it may lead to constructive changes. Ultimately, it may lead to a more efficient and responsive system. I appreciate that the change process may a gradual one, but I also know that if I want change to happen, I have to be a part of that change; hence, my letter to you today.

I hope that my sentiments reach you as they were intended, a friendly observation and not a condescending or arrogant criticism. I am simply one person who ‘immigrated’ here, at least for a short term, who is attempting to access a system in a country that is in need and in search of professional workers. As I am starting a full time graduate program in 3 months at the University of Edinburgh, I fear that my efforts—phone calls, letters, paperwork—time and over £100 of fees and postage will all be for naught.

I sincerely appreciate your work and efforts in your role. I have a great deal of respect for individuals who work for the public and/or in the education field. I also want to thank you for taking the time to read my letter and address any of the concerns where and when they are appropriate within your sphere of influence. This letter and your response may do one of two things. It may either enlighten me to the reasons for this exceptionally deliberate system or it will begin a productive dialogue for healthy change. Either way, I am eager to receive your reply on this matter.

Kind Regards,

More Visitors

My co-worker and good friend Gail showed up on the steps of the palace on Monday. Her daughter and son-in-law, Brianna and Chris, joined her and they are all enjoying 10 days in the UK. We spent some time on the mile seeing the castle, St. Giles, the palace and parliament, but we did a few different things that I haven’t yet experienced, which makes for some fun for all of us. One evening, the four of us decided to do a literary pub tour. It highlighted several pubs—and favourite watering holes—for Scotland’s greatest writers of and since the enlightenment. The two actors were a delight to listen too—our small group was escorted from The Grassmarket pub, the Beehive down the mound the Newtown pubs of Milnes and Abbotsford. The history and acting were great. The next evening, we drove to Peaston, south of Dalkeith a few miles, and visited Glenkinchie whisky distillery. The exhibit and tour were educational—the trick to how different types of whisky acquire their taste was what I was seeking. I now realize why I like the lowland brands a wee bit more—less smoky and fired with coal not peat.
My good friends were away this morning. They will make their way through Glasgow, the Lake District and finally Wales before they get back to London for their flight.

Because I was a little tired from staying up a wee bit too late at Sam’s with Cath and some other regulars, I took the better part of the afternoon to watch Bread and Roses. Of course after watching a movie where a downtrodden group of people organizes and gains their rights, I feel like I am not doing enough for any number of causes that I could be doing more. So, the guilt sets in, and I off to educate myself and continue the book on International Relations, and maybe, some day, I’ll change the world too.

Tonight: Dinner at Neil and Stuarts at their new apartment.