No prizes for what's leading the news this morning. 'Confusion' might be the politest way of summarizing what's going on. Some of the European and Asian politicians being interviewed are markedly less polite in their description of unfolding events :https://www.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2026/03/14/a-week-is-a-long-time-in-politics-and-war/
Today the weather is calm and sunny. In fact the air's warm enough to make you believe you're not in Scotland but somewhere exotic like Kiawah.
The students are also out in force. For a moment we think they're up early but it's soon apparent they're winding down after yesterdays revelries. There were three outstanding rugby matches played on Saturday afternoon so the local hostelries were well frequented from noon to late. Scotland were beaten by Ireland.
Last night there was an 'Oktoberfest'. This is some sort of fancy dress event where the lads wear lederhosen and the girls dirndls. It starts late and is only winding up now. Angus can't help but think that for a whole host of reasons lederhosen rank right up there with the kilt for the most impractical male attire ever invented.
Remember bank tellers ? :https://davidoks.blog/p/why-the-atm-didnt-kill-bank-teller
I have not shown this article to the farmers wife - or her football mad sons :https://newrepublic.com/article/207273/trump-2026-world-cup-chaos Is this sour grapes or is there some substance to the story ? Will a group of teenage lads even notice ?
Dog people and Crufts:https://observer.co.uk/style/features/article/among-the-dog-people-at-crufts
It's been talked about over the last couple of weeks but Cuba makes its first mainstream appearance here thanks to our local Professor :https://paulkrugman.substack.com/p/phillips-obrien-on-iran
France beat England 48-46 in one of the most exciting Six Nations games ever. This unusual Marseillaise is a reminder that alone among all the nations of the world only the French know the words of every verse of their national anthem :https://x.com/Valen10Francois/status/2031325300701704347
7 comments:
Hari Om
Sigh... the Scot/Ire match was a heartbreaker for the Blues, but all credit to the Greens for their leprechaun ways!
Do the students need education in reading a calendar? YAM xx
As for Oktoberfest in March. Students will happily find any excuse to drink beer and party.
I enjoyed the article on Crufts (apart from the snarky comments on poodles). I also found the conversation between Krugman and O'Brien fascinating, albeit terrifying. Based on an overnight post, Trump does appear to be trying to take the "I broke it, now you fix it" approach with Europe, et al, although I'm not sure there will be many takers. As for the World Cup, I have been thinking about the farmer's wife and her sons - in a different world, this would have been the year we would have gone again, but I am really worried.
It is good to hear that the locals get to play the old course, in all to many places the locals get shut out. My father's home course was bought by an investment group that all but closed it to those who lived in the area.
The town of Foxborough has no intention of paying for that foolishness with their tax dollars and FIFA is not in a hurry to be coughing up the money. Trump is putting out statements that Iran's athletes are welcome but may get offed while here. Americans are telling FIFA and the Olympics to move the games now while they can. I think FIFA is not fronting the money because they are quietly looking elsewhere. Of course the neighborhood kids should not come without adults. Trump is deep into dementia propped up by idiots who are trying to hurry the "rapture" by telling troops they are in a holy war. Farmer's wife is correct to worry. BTW, my own daughter's house is 2 miles from the White House.
Is your son looking for another school yet? I hear Scotland is really lovely and safe. XXX
Thank you for the O'Brien/Krugman piece, clear eyed insight into the nightmare that is the Trump administration. They literally have no idea what they are doing and even worse, no earthly idea how to extricate themselves from the mess they have created. As a former US Army officer I am horrified at the changes in the US military. The idea that the Iran conflict is a holy war is just one more example of those changes. No good will come of this.
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