# Scottish News

My favourite quote at present:

> “Character, in the long run, is the decisive factor in the life of an
> individual and of nations alike.” – Theodore Roosevelt

In some year, I don’t know when, but definitely quite a long time ago
indeed, Scotland became part of England. This might have had something
to do with King James. Anyway, the point is, Scotland didn’t exist
properly for quite a long time. Throughout this whole period of not
existing the Scots whined and whined about their situation until, in
1997, Scotland got given its own parliament by Tony Blair. Ripper.
Scotland, as an almost-country, also has its own cricket team, soccer
team and [soft drink that tastes remarkably like Creamy Soda despite
being bright orange](http://www.irn-bru.co.uk/).

So, that’s Scotland. The following are stories that have recently
appeared on the front page of the the BBC’s page of [Scottish
news](http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/scotland/). They are
impeccably newsworthy all.

[William’s university fails quiz
challenge](http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/scotland/newsid_1602000/1602093.stm)\
“The Scottish university won the contest in 1983 and a university
spokeswoman said this year’s performance was no reflection of the future
prospects of the team members.”

[Asian market cheers whisky
producers](http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/scotland/newsid_1623000/1623775.stm)\
“Taking this into account, they said a more representative figure would
be that from June 2000 to June 2001, which puts volume up 8% and value
up 6%.”

[Irish played ‘major role’ in
Scotland](http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/scotland/newsid_1619000/1619628.stm)\
“A leading historian has claimed that the Irish made a far greater
contribution to Scottish society than they have been given credit for.”

[University counts cost of fire
damage](http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/scotland/newsid_1617000/1617643.stm)\
“Professor Sir Graeme Davies said that a substantial amount of research
had been lost in the fire. But he stressed that students’ work will not
be adversely affected.”

[Ads boost for Scotch
beef](http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/scotland/newsid_1613000/1613159.stm)\
“Quality Meat Scotland, the body which promotes beef, lamb and pork,
says the campaign is needed as sales have continued to fall despite the
excellent reputation of Scottish meat.”

[McLeish reveals report card
trauma](http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/scotland/newsid_1611000/1611960.stm)\
“Henry McLeish has revealed that an unfavourable report card from
school marked a major turning point in his life.”

(To make sense of some of the stories you need to know that Henry
McLeish is the First Minister of Scotland.)

P.S. I do love Scotland _dearly_. The reason I am occasionally reading
Scottish news stories is that I want to go live in Edinburgh next year.
Scotland really does have character; it’s those interfering southerners
at the BBC who make it seem not so.

P.P.S. For good Scottish reading, visit
[Nine](http://www.jinxremoving.org/).