Most every year I do this — go back through my blog archives and post a link to the first post I made each month. The results are random, to say the least; there’s no consistency. But about six of these are worthwhile. Which six? That’s for you to find out. January: Winter Misanthropy: It … Continue reading 2018: The Year in Review
Tag: Scotland
In 1918, a troop ship carrying American soldiers to Europe was torpedoed off the coast of Scotland. Though many were saved from the waters by other ships in the troop convoy, the bodies of nearly 200 soldiers washed ashore on the island of Islay. What ensued was a recovery of the bodies by the island’s … Continue reading An American Flag, Sewn in Scotland, Returns Home
This morning at work I listened to BBC Radio 4’s The World at One program. It’s a news program I’ve never listened to — usually, I listen to the BBC World Service’s Newshour — but I wanted to get a feel for what was happening on the ground in the wake of the Brexit vote … Continue reading Brexit and the Scottish Independence Question
Yesterday I was in Mt. Airy, Maryland for the Mid-Maryland Celtic Festival. I attended two years ago, when it was the Frederick Celtic Festival. Same location — the Mt. Airy Fire Department Fairgrounds — just a slightly more accurate name. Two years ago, a sudden torrential squall developed mid-afternoon, and it was so thoroughly soaking … Continue reading Celtic Festivals and Baseball Games
A couple of things that caught my attention today. Dear Steven Moffat: The Husbands of River Song – At work yesterday, a coworker asked me what I thought of the Doctor Who Christmas special. I found myself struggling for words. The ending worked for me, even though I recognized how emotionally manipulative it was. The … Continue reading Link Round-Up: December 29
Here are some things I read today that interested me. Do Christians And Muslims Worship The Same God? – Yes. Next question? (For more about this, see my link round-up for December 17th.) NPR 12 Days of Christmas Songs: ‘Christmas Time Is Here’ Is A Hymn for the Ages – As part of their “12 … Continue reading Link Round-Up: December 21
If I could live anywhere in the world, where would I live? I think about the question from time to time. If I found a job that could support me there or if money were no object, where would I go? Believe it or not, I have two answers, one which is slightly more realistic … Continue reading Transatlanticism
Yesterday, Scotland voted on its independence from the United Kingdom. Early this morning, the ballots were counted. By a margin of 400,000 votes, Scotland voted 55-45 to remain within the UK. I collected my tweets from last night, which showed history as it happened — the vote totals as they came in (retweeted from the … Continue reading Scotland’s Independence: Final Thoughts
Yesterday, Scotland voted on its independence from the United Kingdom. While I plan on having a longer post with my thoughts on the historic event and its results, for the moment I want to share with you — and preserve for history — my live-tweeting of the results as they came in last night along … Continue reading History As It Happened: Live-Tweeting the Scottish Referendum
On Thursday, Scotland will vote on whether or not it should remain in the United Kingdom. While I have no say in Scotland’s future and my opinion won’t matter, I do have some thoughts on the issue. The romantic in me wants to vote Yes. The romantic in me wants to see an independent Scotland. … Continue reading Scotland’s Independence: My Thoughts
Sunday evening I learned a band I liked had broken up. The band is Aerials Up. Unsurprisingly, they’re from Scotland. When I wrote about Aerials Up originally, I wrote that “there’s a certain similarity to Arcade Fire in the sound of Aerials Up; there’s a similar instrumentation, a similar mixture of male and female voices. … Continue reading On the Demise of a Band I Liked
For March I’m planning a trip to New York City. I put my vacation request in yesterday for a few days in the middle of the month. The Lewis Chessmen are on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art through early April, and they’re something I would very much like to see while they’re on … Continue reading On the Lewis Chessmen