a rough route marked by colossal statues

It happens, occasionally, that I have to prove to someone that I did actually earn all the degrees listed on my curriculum vitae. Usually this demonstration is performed for my employer, when OPM audits the personnel files and decides they can't read my academic records.

He climbed the mango tree

While today's news that Rusty the red panda had escaped the National Zoo launched a thousand whistleblower jokes in this company town, it also immediately reminded me of a favourite poem from my childhood.

sweet music here that softer falls

For whatever foolish reason, when the weather turns cold, I turn nostalgic.

I'm haverin, Rabbie, but ye understaun

Burns Night is on the list of things about which I am ambivalent, mostly because of the accretions of sentiment on and about it.

Vindicated

Those of you who know me know that I have long claimed the best chip shop in the world is the Anstruther Fish Bar. It turns out I am not the only person to think so.