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The Capital Scot ®

At The Capital Scot you will find information about Scottish heritage, Scotland, and organizations and events of interest to Scots and Scots-at-heart living and working in the Washington, D.C. area.  You will access links to information about Scottish places of interest, Scotland's history, clans, societies, book reviews, the Reformation in Scotland, the Scottish Literary Forum, a variety of articles, Scottish holidays, and genealogy research.  See more information about this non-commercial site at "About".

Readers of The Capital Scot are encouraged to sign the petition for formal recognition of National Scots, Scots-Irish Heritage Month.

Last update: 8/29/10  -   Features of the Week       Not Necessarily Scottish       Humor       Genealogy Related       Community Involvement      

Features of the Week - -

New Articles this Week:
    Snapshot of Scotland shows an optimistic nation:  SCOTS are becoming more optimistic about money and happier with their local neighbourhood, public services and healthcare, according to a wide ranging study of attitudes.
    The revolution which created the Church of Scotland:  It's the 450th anniversary of the ending of the session of the Scottish Parliament which brought about the Reformation.  The supremacy of the Roman Catholic Church was ended when it was replaced by the Calvinist Confession of Faith.  When members of the Scots Parliament ended their session on 24 August, 1560, they had created a revolution.
    Why is Britain braced for a mackerel war?:  As far as fishing is concerned, relations between the UK and Iceland have been as turbulent as the waters of the North Atlantic where their disputes have been played out.
    Seasons of Rural Scotland Photo Competition:  Our new photo competition challenges you to capture the 'Seasons of Rural Scotland'. We're looking for your photos of community events, landscapes, wildlife, sporting events - anything at all as long as it reflects one of the four seasons!
    Robert Burns:   25 January 2009 marked 250 years to the day since Scotland's national poet was born.  This website celebrates Rabbie Burns's life and achievements in poetry and song.   Some of Scotland's biggest names have recorded 533 (so far!) of Robert Burns's works for our collection.   You can also explore the archive alphabetically, by theme or by year.
    In pictures: Edinburgh festivals [Photos]
    Shows' 'ingenious' film technique:  The International Festival's director said two shows he has brought to Edinburgh which use projectors and raw action are not a substitute for cinema.  Jonathan Mills said Sin Sangre and The Man Who Fed Butterflies use an 'ingenious' blend of live performance alongside widescreen cinematic images.  The effect leaves the audience wondering who on stage is real and who is a projected image.  The Teatro Cinema shows are from Santiago in Chile
    Heritage sites open to the public:  Properties usually closed to the public, or which charge an entrance fee, are being opened to the public for free.   Hundreds of properties in Scotland are opening their doors on weekends throughout September.   Doors Open Days is co-ordinated by the Scottish Civic Trust with the help of local authorities, civic societies and heritage associations.   Viewings of private homes and behind the scenes tours of public buildings are available.
    Glasgow University funeral for Scots poet Edwin Morgan:  Mourners from the world of politics and academia will pay tribute at the funeral of Scotland's national poet Edwin Morgan.  They will gather at the University of Glasgow service for the 90-year-old who died last week. ...  He was appointed the inaugural Poet Laureate for Glasgow in 1999 and Scotland's first national poet - or Scots Makar - by the Scottish Parliament in 2004.  ...  He penned more than 60 poetry books and was the last remaining member of the 'Big Seven' poets of Hugh MacDiarmid, Robert Garioch, Norman MacCaig, Iain Crichton Smith, George Mackay Brown and Sorley MacLean.

Scotland's Saints in September
    St. Molaise (September 12)
    St. Adamnan (September 23)
    St. Conwall (September 28)

New and Updated Items:
Reminders       Events (September 4-5, Virginia Scottish Games)       Events (September 13 Claire Lynch Band)       Events (September 25, 21st Annual Fredericksburg Welsh Festival)             Events (October 2 Williamsburg VA Scottish Festival Citizens for the Classics at the Arlington County Fair, 8/19-8/22
New  Community Involvement (Anjo Gakuen High School Wind Orchestra)

Regular Weekly Articles:      *National Scots, Scots-Irish Heritage Month      Scottish Holidays and Anniversaries      Significant Scottish Heritage Events in Scotland

Not Necessarily Scottish - -

General Interest

    NASA - Massive Attack:  This image shows the eruption of a galactic 'super-volcano' in the massive galaxy M87, as witnessed by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and NSF's Very Large Array (VLA).   At a distance of about 50 million light years, M87 is relatively close to Earth and lies at the center of the Virgo cluster, which contains thousands of galaxies.

            Labor Day

Humor

    Obama Declares Victory, Sort Of, Depending On How You Look At It

Genealogy Related

    The Fairfax Genealogical Society of Fairfax County, Virginia - a worldwide research group - General Membership Meeting, Thursday, September 23, 7:30 p.m. - Turning Fiction Into Fact - Are the family stories really true?  Learn helpful, systematic strategies to discover the truth behind family legends and correct the family record, without losing the charm of the myth.  Meetings are held in the Lecture Hall of Kilmer Middle School, 8100 Wolf Trap Road, Vienna, VA.  Admission is free and visitors are welcome.

    The Scottish Genealogy Society:  The Society, based in Edinburgh and founded in 1953, helps with research into Scottish family and local history.

Community Involvement

    Citizens for the Classics at the Arlington County Fair, 8/19-8/22.  Our Arlington County Fair table is the main way Citizens for the Classics can increase public awareness of and support for Latin in our schools.  We need your help in staffing this table to make it a success.  We guarantee you will enjoy encouraging visitors to take our brochures and sharing your opinions of why studying Latin is valuable!

    VIP Dances has been bringing singles over 30 together in the Northern Virginia area since 1995 who enjoy dancing and socializing in a relaxed atmosphere.  No membership is required.

    The Amadeus Concerts:  Dedicated to enhancing the enjoyment, understanding, and accessibility of fine music in Northern Virginia.  Under the direction of Artistic and Executive Director A. Scott Wood, our concert series features professional musicians performing solo, ensemble, and orchestral works.  We also present education and outreach programs designed to reach new audiences.

    May 18 - Citizens For The Classics spring meeting, 7:30 p.m.  At the home of Ann Hafer.  Our program will include the following:  Vale et vade in pace to Mary Ann Ullrich, Foreign Language Supervisor, APS, who is retiring;  Enrollment report for Latin in APS;  Election of officers:  Plans for CFTC's table at 2010 Arlington County Fair, 19-22 August;  Your ideas to support Latin in APS.  Please reply if you plan to attend.

    The Fairfax Community Calendar lists monthly and special events as well as courses, etc.

    The Campagna Center operates high-quality programs that support children in Alexandria by providing services that allow them to arrive at school ready to learn and ensure they are academically successful at each grade level.  The center sponsors many community events.  (See also Christmas Walk on this site and on the Campagna Center site.

Sir Alexander Gray (1882-1968) Scotland:  This is my country, the land that begat me.  These windy spaces are surely my own.  And those who toil here In the sweat of their faces are flesh of my flesh, and bone of my bone.

A favorite quote from fiction:  "I am Connor Macleod of the Clan Macleod.  I was born in the year 1518 in Glenfinnan on the shores of Loch Schiel.  I cannot die.  I am immortal."  (From the movie The Highlander)

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The Capital Scot ® is published by Jim MacGregor, FSA Scot, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland

The Capital Scot ® is published in loving memory of Almut MacGregor (1940-2009) who encouraged Jim to be The Capital Scot