From my Inbox today

U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe plans to leave office Congressman
Jim Kolbe, of Tucson, Ariz., will not campaign for re-election next year. Kolbe, who came out in 1996, is the only openly gay Republican in Congress. Democrats Barney Frank of Massachusetts and Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin are the only other openly gay members of Congress.

Editorial: NCLB needs a rewrite
A Los Angeles Times editorial says by allowing some states to use a student improvement model to measure schools' success, U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings has injected some "sanity" into NCLB's unwieldy provisions. The newspaper applauds the law for revealing how poor and minority students were doing, but argues that instead of administrative tweaks, NCLB needs an overhaul.

Gays decry Vatican ban; priest quits
After many weeks of leaks and speculation, the Vatican has published its instruction on gays in the clergy.

Vote topples Canadian government
After months of political instability, the government of Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin fell Monday evening when three opposition parties united to topple him with a no-confidence vote in the House of Commons.

Bush to Outline Broad Iraq Plan; Push on Training
American military officials in Iraq said they have requested $3.9 billion for next year to help train and equip Iraqi troops.

The concluding paragraph of a letter from Hillary
I know when America leads with its values and fearlessly faces the facts, we make the best decisions. That is what is missing at the highest levels of our government, and what we desperately need now – answers to the questions about Iraq that only the President can provide. I hope he will level with the American people and provide us those answers in his Annapolis speech and give us the plan that has been sorely lacking.
Sincerely yours,

Hillary Rodham Clinton



"People who enjoy what they are doing invariably do it well."
--Joe Gibbs,football coach, NASCAR team owner

Thought for the Day

Don't live with regrets; reflect and live for today and tomorrow. Live for people far and near. Live to be on 'top of the world' and sing, sing, sing.

From 2002 - a great but underplayed song by some wonderful writers and performers.

DIXIE CHICKS - Top Of The World

I wished I was smarter
I wished I was stronger
I wished I loved Jesus
The way my wife does
I wish it had been easier
Instead of any longer
I wished I could have stood where you would have been proud
But that won't happen now
That won't happen now

There's a whole lot of singing that's never gonna be heard
Disappearing everyday without so much as a word somehow
Think I broke the wings off that little song bird
She's never gonna fly to the top of the world right now
Top of the world

I don't have to answer any of these questions
Don't have no God to teach me no lessons
I come home in the eveing
Sit in my chair

One night they called me for supper
But I never got up
I stayed right there in my chair
There's a whole lot of singing that's never gonna be heard
Disappearing everyday without so much as a word somehow
Think I broke the wings off that little song bird
She's never gonna fly to the top of the world right now
Top of the world


I wished I'd a known you
Wished I'd a shown you
All of the things I was on the inside
I'd pretend to be sleeping
When you come in in the morning
To whisper good-bye
Go to work in the rain
I don't know why
Don't know why

'Cause everone's singing
We just wanna be heard
Disappearing everyday without so much as a word somehow
Wanna grab a hold of that little song bird
Take her for a ride to the top of the world right now

To the top of the world
To the top of the world
To the top of the world
To the top of the world
To the top of the world
To the top of the world
To the top of the world
To the top of the world

Almost homesick

I have three essays to write and don't even know HOW to start one of them... as there is no question to actually answer. Ugh. 'Picking your own topic' is hard, and not in the 'it's a nice challenge' hard, but, as a non-expert, it would be nice to have some guidance on what to investigate further. Okay, I am whining.

It's post-Thanksgiving, in a country that doesn't celebrate it, so we are left with the longing for home but faced with the 'business as usual' and no reconciliation between the two.

Tim is heading to Alnwick today to hang out with Kris and Jodi who stayed with us last weekend, toured the Highlands, and are now visiting Wade in England. Dinner and probably drinks tonight and tomorrow they visit Val and Stan and some other old friends for meals and such. I'm gonna stay here and attempt to get some work done on these essays - ugh, I am just so damn stressed out over them!!! At least the one, the other two will write themselves I think.

Went to Mrs. Henderson Presents last night. Good movie - second half was better than the first, but it made me think of home, and missing it, but also of how much this time abroad will be good for my perspective and how I approach life. One part 'life is short, live it' and the another part thinks 'appreciate what you have or it will be gone' and yet, another part, 'careful what you ask for, you may just get it'. Touching movie, uplifting soundtrack, and great acting - who doesn't just love Dame Judy Dench?

I haven't started a 'countdown' to when I return to the US and I doubt that I really will - but conversation with John and Mary and Tim at drinks before the film made me think of and realize how quickly it is coming! Assuming the dissertation work gets down, I'll be moving back to the US about 8 months! Crazy!

I wonder if our friends remember what we sold them versus what we lent them? I wonder if I do? I miss my plants. Is that weird? I am not disliking life here, but it's like Tim and I (and perhaps John and Mary as well) are experiencing a kind of collective homesickness; we've had several conversations about going 'home' recently. Well, it certainly isn't a reflection of our unhappiness here, but perhaps a reflection of the strength in the ties to and or love of our friends and families back home.

Home soon.

New Member to the Family!

I am an UNCLE again!!! Let's see, this is the 9th time, I think?

My sister Lori and brother-in-law Cory had their first child together. Big sister and brother Alexis (almost 10 now!) and Jordon (6) will be there to help out!

Welcome Alayna Renee Eskelson

IEP First Term Trip

Pictures of 'the Burn' from the first weekend in November.

My IEP group spent the weekend there for academic and social reasons. The home is an 18th century manor home, beautiful place! The rest of the pictures... a community building activity.

















































Tali, me, Iason, Mahalia, Finnoula, Jessica and Lyon.

Finally some photos!

One of my favourites... Tim, Pete, Al and Ian

Kelly, Katie, Krista and Britany

Al and Brittany
(photos are courtesy Brittany!!)

Halloween Madness at the Dalkeith House - 2005

Most of the 49 students attended, and 'most of the most' dressed up for a pre-Halloween party. As our 10 day break landed on top of October 31, everyone was away on the actual day!


Halloween in a haunted palace makes it so much more...

Elections and I have nothing to say!! Wow!

It is the day after US elections, albeit not a very big year, and I have nothing to say! I have been too busy to stay caught up on the latest crack - but you KNOW I voted by absentee...

So, what's new here?

Classes are going well - I am just starting my 'Sociology of Nationalism' essay. I am going to meet with the professor tomorrow, but I am leaning towards the topic of nationalism and identity - perhaps a critical theorist perspective; is nationalism, as it exhibits itself gendered? unfavourably racially or ethnically biased? or perhaps always driven by the hegemon?

Today's seminar on 'class' and how the middle class influences the establishment of nation-states helped a little in making the choice finally. I was looking at the topic of justice, but I think that might be a bit broad for a 4,000 word essay.

This weeks lectures in IR and IPEU courses actually pretty good - not that they are normally bad, but they were more engaging and got away from the reading a bit more, which is a nice challenge. IR focused on social constructivist theories - which, are bit hard to wrap your brain around, but once you get it, it makes sense. And, suprisingly, the lecture in IPEU on the European Monetary Unit (union) was interesting, mostly because Howarth had to go off the cuff a bit since his powerpoint didn't work; more professors should teach on the fly I think.

We are in week 10 of the semester for WIS program. The students are all back from their 10 day break and most of them are glad to be 'home'. We have such a nice bunch this semester!!

At the end of the month we get to greet our friend Kris Mumm (and her friend) to Scotland!! She's obviously been before, and will spend most of her time in Alnwick with Wade, but we did get tickets to go see PamAnn in Glasgow, so we will hop on the train and have a fun night out!! PamAnn is HYSTERICAL! I saw her and blogged about it in August - good bitchy funny!

Other good news - I JUST found out today that Tim booked us for Gran Canaria for December 17!!! So, a nice reward for the end of the program and me getting all my essays and first term done, an equatorial holiday will be an amazing hot and fun beach get away!

Finally - I am looking forward to lots of friends coming over in December! Kim, Amy, Chris, Tammy, Boy Corey, Dan and Gentry are all arriving after Christmas! We'll have a full house and the holidays are best spent with good friends. I am excited.

Okay - I must work now!

Pub Quiz

Saturday night at The Burn 2005 - Pub Quiz.

The best round for all teams was on The Simpsons. What does that say about our knowledge and values???? It was all good fun. I'll let visitors test their knowledge - it was the entire group's best category overall.

CATEGORY: The Simpsons

Where do the Simpsons reside?
742 Evergreen Ter.
8000 Springfield Dr.
1313 Mockingbird Ln.
77 Sunset Strip

In the thrilling two-part cliffhanger "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" what was the motive for gunning down Springfield's evil billionaire nuclear-plant owner?

• He siphoned all the oil from underneath the elementary school
• He set up a giant sun-blocking device so residents would have to use his nuclear energy
• He took candy from a baby
• He couldn't remember Homer's name

What is Homer's job at the nuclear plant?

• Pyrotechnical engineerS
• afety inspector
• Drone #305
• Assistant to the assistant's assistant

What is Krusty the Clown's real name?

• Lou Krustoleum
• Engelbert Krumperdinck
• Herschel Krustofsky
• Krusty D. Clown

Which of these celebrities didn't appear on Krusty's comeback special?

• Elizabeth Taylor
• Johnny Carson
• Bette Midler
• Luke Perry

Bart and Homer both sold their souls in different episodes. Bart got $5. What did Homer get?

• Absolute power
• $425.37
• A new bowling ball
• A donut

Hank Azaria has voiced approximately 40 Simpsons characters? Which voice does not belong to him?

• Moe
• Superintendent Chalmers
• Principal Skinner
• Chief Wiggum

When Marge and Homer first met in high school, where were they?

• A football game
• Detention
• The Slurp 'N Gulp
• A Pink Floyd concert

What is Kwik-E-Mart proprietor Apu's last name?

• Managatageepylog
• Nahasapeemapetilon
• Inagadadavidaman

Marge starred in which Broadway-style musical?

• Hamletmania
• Oh, Streetcar!
• Cat on a Sizzlin' Tin Roof
• High Hair Follies
  

Answers
742 Evergreen Ter.
He took candy from a baby
Safety inspector
Herschel Krustofsky
Elizabeth Taylor
A donut
Principal Skinner
Detention
Nahasapeemapetilon
Oh, Streetcar!

The Burn Long Weekend

Twenty-three students were led by three professors to The Burn, a country house at Edzell near Brechin, which is few miles north of Dundee. Lyon, Jacqueline (Taiwan), Afka (Netherlands), Tali, Andi, Alex, Walt, Greg, Neetha, Kevin, Sureni, (U.S.) Chad (Canada), James W., James Brown (Scotland), Naoise, Finnoula (Ireland), Jessica (Switzerland), Jennifer, Isabel (England), Magalia (German), Iason (Greece), Christian (Norway), and myself joined University of Edinburgh lecturers Dr. Chad Damro, Dr. Mark Aspinwal (U.S.) and Dr. Annicka Bergman (Sweeden) for a 2 day 2 night academic and social weekend. Our gracious hosts opened up the 18th century manor home - one dedicated to educational groups from all over the world.
We arrived about 5pm - explored the old home, checking out all the interesting nooks and crannies, the sitting rooms and the marvellous art, regal stairwells, entry ways and architecture. The bar - open very limited hours - opened and we indulged in a pre-dinner drink. Dinner was served at 7pm - Mince and Tatties, and then we all moved into the large sitting room, started a fire, and Chad hosted 2 rounds of mock ‘Question Time’, a popular British show that brings experts and the public together to discuss topical political or social issues. It was a great laugh and our panel did great!

We drank far more than we needed to I am sure, but at the end of the day, we stared at the beautiful star-filled sky, listened to the roar of the river and had great conversations about sex, politics and humanity. We are SOOO smart when we are drinking, I’m sure we solved the world’s problems before we went to bed, unfortunately, no one remembered the next day.

Saturday morning we had breakfast at 9:00am - most made - and then we had a 3 hour International Relations Simulation. I know I am a nerd, but I LOVE stuff like this! We had to role play - Diplomats, Peacekeepers, Refugee Relief Workers, Human Rights Workers, Provision of Aid workers, and try to problem-solved an implement a plan to help ‘Zadora’, a country divided into the power-holding Balboans, the most populous Achoa, and the resource rich but ethnically unlike the other two Kikuyas. The two main issues that seem to arise - the immediate and short term plan tended to need to be more aggressive, perhaps more interventionist but the long term plan and ideals discussed tended to promote non-intervention and self-determination. Nevertheless, we enjoyed ourselves and had a great learning experience.

A run for me, a walk and or soccer for others and others yet took a nap for their free time, but we returned as a large group when the bar opened. Dinner was fish and chips and then it was a massive and fun Pub Quiz! Mahalia, Jennifer and Iason did most of the work making it, but since I typed it and therefore knew all the answers, I was the reader for the evening. Four teams of 6 including the lecturers made for good size teams. The lowest score each sub-round had to act sing a song (Dancing Queen) or act out ‘light bondage’ which made for some laughs and surely some great pictures (which are coming). Fast forward to midnight - The final results…

1. Gigalos 82 points
2. The Others 81 points
3. The ‘Burn’ Outs 79 points
4. Norfolk & Chance 77 points

It was hysterical to hear the conversations and different nationalities asserting themselves as experts on this or that, be it history or the Simpsons.

From there it was downhill. The wine flowed and the cigarettes were doled out, and even more (incoherent) conversations about sex, politics and humanity - popular themes of the weekend! Unfortunately for me, I can rarely turn down a conversation on any of these topics, and I was up until 4:00am - but, on the early end of those who went to bed believe it or not. I won’t even describe how tired we were at the 9:00am breakfast and 10:00am departure.

2 papers done

I happily concluded my second paper. I had to discuss the extent of the conflict between the cosmopolitan and communitarian conceptions of global duty. I found this paper to be a little easier to write and it involved more ‘me’ in the work. I really enjoyed thinking about the different philosophy’s - Kant or Hegel - peaceful society and universal morals or community values and self-determination. I discovered, beyond the fundamental struggle between these two normative International Relations theories, that Individual vs. Community ‘First’ debate may be much bigger than this paper. I am thinking of how it may apply to my third essay in my Nationalism course and ultimately my dissertation. The trick will be, however, to find a new angle on an old debate.