Monday, December 31, 2012
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Thursday, December 27, 2012
The Edinburgh Royal Military Tattoo: A look into Scotland's past
Today, the Edinburgh
Royal Military Tattoo is is Scotland's biggest, best-selling
spectacle, attracting an international audience each year of some
217,000 people and seen by almost 100 million people in 30 countries.
63 years ago the Edinburgh Royal Military Tattoo was just a display
consisting of three groups; The Royal Scots, The Highland Light
Infantry and the Woman's Royal Army Corp; as they marched and played
with the Edinburgh Castle as the backdrop. The following year of 1950
saw the first incarnation of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo as
the event grew to having 8 participating groups. In the 62 years
since the first Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo it has grown to be
the grand event that we see today were almost two dozen international
group come to Edinburgh, Scotland every August.
The military
tattoo dates back almost four hundred years when the Scottish
regiments were part of the Dutch mercenary troops. They would march
out at night and beat on drums to let the tavern owners know it time
to turn off the taps and send the soldiers back to the barracks for
the night. In later years when military complexes became more self
contained the nightly patrol of the troops has become more of a
ceremony announcing the end of the day. That ceremony has since
become known as the military tattoo or tap toe.
When you do see the Royal Edinburgh
Military Tattoo you are witness to a sight you won't forget as the
hush of night falls over Edinburgh Castle, the gates and drawbridge
open. The sounds of bagpipes and drums fill the air as meshed
soldiers march out across the castle drawbridge followed by two of
the most well known heroes in Scottish history, Robert of Bruce and
Sir William Wallace. The audience is then regaled with daredevil
motorcyclist, fireworks, highland dancing, music and precession
marching of the international troops. When the spectacle winds down,
and the audience is still in awe of all that they have just witness,
we hear a voice shout through the crowds saying “Will ye no come
back again'?”. Once the question is ask a might roar of the crowd
answers “Oh, yes and very soon.”
There are many other things to see and
do while you are in Edinburgh taking in the Royal Military Tattoo.
One of those is to visit Edinburgh
Castle itself and take in some of the rich history of Edinburgh
Castle as well as the Monarchy of Scotland. Once there you can view
the history of Edinburgh castle that goes back over 2,000 years when
archaeologist say the first human settlement inhabited the area
around the rock that now houses Edinburgh Castle. It isn't until 1130
A.D when there David I builds the first Castle on the site and
dedicates it to his mother Queen Margret. Afte3r Edinburgh Castle was
built it became the royal residence for the next 500 years seeing
many invasions, such as, the taking of the Castle in 1296. Edinburgh
Castle was last occupied by a monarch in 1633 by Charles I right
before he was crowned the King of Scotland.
If you are one for all the gory details
of Scotland's history you might visit the Edinburgh
Dungeon where you can buy a ticket to tour the dungeon, hear
about the bloody 500 year history and take 2 frighting rides. While
there you just might meet up with the ghost of one of the many
prisoners that have been housed in the walls of Edinburgh Dungeon.
One of those ghost might be Sir William Wallace, of Braveheart fame,
who was held there before being put through a grizzly torture and
death.
Reveiw: A multi-pack of brain flakes
A multi-pack of brain flakes by Ethan
Holmes consist of seven well written fictional short stories that tap
into the Psyche. Each one of the stories depicts individuals in
circumstances many of us could find ourselves faced with in our
lives. In each of the stories the main characters faces choices that
could change their lives.
In the first story “Anger Management”
the main character Harry Houghton faces the frustration that plagues
most authors, even the most successful ones, as they try to get their
first novel published. Harry Houghton, just like most of us, doesn't
give up on his dream of being published.
The second story “The Man Who Ate
Popcorn” tells the story of George (no last name) and his addiction
to popcorn. Most of us know someone like George that has something
they obsess about but probably not to the point that George does
about his popcorn.
His third story “Fifteen Feet”
tells the story of a young boy suffers though a bad home life. As so
often with someone in these circumstances he tends to make matters
worse for himself. The story depicts his thoughts of the way he feels
toward his tormentors and what he would like to do to change the
circumstances.
In his forth offering “Lost and
Unfound” regales with thoughts that have gone through most of our
minds as we visit one of the many giant theme parks. As you read the
story you can sympathizes with the man as he deals with the overly
sweet employees.
In “From Bagels to Bars” follows an
average man as he face the annoyances that face many of us as we are
out on the roads and in a hurry.
With his sixth story “Don't forget
you change” we see through the eyes of Jack as a cashier deals with
little annoyances of waiting on customers. It is a story that anyone
involved in sales can relate with in their daily lives.
The
final story “Have some milk and cookies” follows the plight of
three friends Billy, Frankie and Dennis as they deal with a bully.
Even though these are not my favorite
type of stories I did find myself hooked as I eagerly read each one
taking in the circumstances and wondering if I would handle them the
same way or do something different. Once you read these you will
find yourself wondering what you would do if you were in these
stories. I would recommend this book to readers that enjoy about how
ordinary people find themselves in situation that take them to their
breaking point.
The one thing I would have liked to see
is that the author could have made some separation to let the reader
know there was a time shift. One such example would be that in the
last story there should have been a separation to tell the readers of
a flashback to a previous experience as they were discussing what to
do about their bully problem.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Monday, December 24, 2012
Sunday, December 23, 2012
My Dearest John,
December 14, 1978
I went to the door today and the
postman delivered a partidge in a pear tree. What a
thoroughly delightful gift. I couldn't
have been more surprised.
With deepest love and devotion,
Agnes
December 15, 1978
Dearest John,\par
Two turtle doves. What a really unusual
surprise. Now I have thee birds. You are so
thoughtful and I must truly say I have
never received such a gift.
With deepest love,\par
Agnes\par
December 16, 1978\par
Dear John,
Oh, aren't you the extravagant one. Now
I must protest. I don't deserve such
generosity. Three french hens. They are
just darling, but I must insist, you've
been so kind.
Love,
Agnes
December 17, 1978
Dear John,
Today the postman delivered four
calling birds. Now, really, they are beautiful
but don't you think enough is enough.
You're too romantic.
Affectionately,
December 18. 1978\par
Dearest John,
What a surprise. Today the psstman
delivered five golden rings. One for every
finger. You're just impossible, but I
sove it. Frankly all those birds squawking
are beginning to get on my nerves.
All my love,
Agnes
December 19, 1978
Dear John,
When I opened the door there were
actually six geese a laying on my front door steps.
So you're back to the birds again, huh.
Those geese are huge. Where will I keep
them. The neighbors are complaining and
I can't sleep through the racket. Please
stop.
Cordially,
Agnes
December 20, 1978
John,
What's with you and those fucking
birds? Seven swans a swimming? What kind of a
goddamn joke is this? There's birl shit
all over the house and they never stop
with the racket. I can't sleep at night
and I'm a nervous wreck. It's not funny, so
stop with those fucking birds.
Sincerely,
Agnes
December 21, 1978
O.K. Buster,
I think I prefer the birds. What the
hell am I going to do with eight maids of
milking? It's not enough with all those
birds and eight maids of milking, but
they have had to brin their goddamn
cows. There is shit all over the lawn and
I can't move in my own house. Just lay
off me. Smart ass....
Agnes
December 22, 1978
Hey Shithead,
What are you? Some kind of saddist. Now
there are nine pipers playing and
christ do they play. Thet've never
stopped chasing those maids since yesterday
morning. The cows are hetting upset and
they're stepping all over those screeching
birds. What am I going to do. The
neighbors have started a petition to evict me.
You'll get yours,
Agnes
December 23, 1978
You Rotten Prick,
Now there's ten ladies dancing. I don't
know why I call those sluts ladies. They
have been balling those pipers all
night long. Now the cows can't sleep and they've
got diarrhea. My living room is a river
of shit. The commissioner of buildings
has subpeond me to give cause why the
building shouldn't be condemned. I'm
getting the police after you.
One who means it,
Agnes
December 24, 1978
Listen Fuckhead,
What's with eleven lords leaping on
those maids and ladies. Some of those broads
will never walk again. Those pipers ran
through the maids and have been committing
sodomy on the cows. All twenty of the
birds are dead. They have been trampled
to death in the orgy. I hope you are
satisfied you rotten vicious swine.
Your sworn enemy,
Agnes
December 25, 1978
Dear Sir,
This is to acknowledge your latest gift
of twelve fiddlers, fiddling, which you
have seen fit to inflict on our client
Miss Agnes McHulstein. The destruction,
of course, was total. All
correspondence should come to our attention. If you
should attempt to reach Miss McHulstein
at Happy Dale Sanitarium the attendants
have instructions to shoot you on
sight. With this letter please find attached
a warrant for your arrest.
Badger, Bonder & Cahole\par
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW
YEAR
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Friday, December 7, 2012
Sunday, December 2, 2012
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