Wisconsin in Scotland--Students Arrive

Apparently the pub directly outside the manor house in Dalkeith has a banner, Welcome University of Wisconsin Students, flying proudly out front. Conveniently located, the pub allows students to stumble home in about 100 yards. You can take the students out of Wisconsin, but you can't take Wisconsin out of the students....they drink wherever they are. The first official event for them was a one hour lecture on responsible drinking. All faculty were also required to attend....

Scotland Forever

Students arriving at Dalkeith are greeted by a piper. I suspect Scotland has raised more money from the tourism/piper industry than it ever did from coal or oil. But bigger even than the pipes is the Scots diaspora--from the 18th century on, an overwhelming number of people left Scotland for greener pastures (actually, any pastures), in Canada, the United States, and Australia. Scratch almost anyone in these places, and you'll find a displaced Scot. So maybe the students have a genetic thrill to the sound of the pipes.

Bush comes to Minneapolis

As part of his initiative for American competition, Bush showed up in front of a hand-picked audience of 3M employees yesterday. He said nothing, promised nothing, but had his piacture taken with the well-scrubbed, nice looking 3M types, several of whom were black. That boy never misses an opportunity to pander to almost anyone. That's why he's so popular with the hard right types--the plutocrats clear their throats, and GW bends over. It's kind of like a wind up toy--they cough, he bends....

Journey to the Northern Counties

OLGS has arrived in Scotland, and is exploring the castle. Joe High School (the swimmer) and I will join him in March--after the end of the Minnesota High School League's swimming season. Joe will attend Dalkeith High, which may be even less tony than Minneapolis South High. We shall see. There is apparently a pool....