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Notices

Welcome to the Notices page of The Capital Scot.  This page is intended to accommodate increasing numbers of items that do not fit into any established category on this site.  The Capital Scot welcomes .

The Old High Kirk in Kilmarnock

(Posted December 2, 2007)

(Reference earlier notices 1 and 2)  After having read the reference to the Old High Kirk in Kilmarnock entry, I see that it is dated 2004, before the Restoration took place.  I am pleased to tell you that the first major phase has now been completed and the Church is wind and weather tight and looks super, in fact the colour is the same as it was when it was built and we understand that it was originally harrled or rough cast.  Please see Welcome to the Old High Kirk Website.

4-H'ers to Visit Scotland!

How you can help!

(Posted March 11, 2007)
The Capital Scot received this notice of a cultural - and agricultural - experience being planned for some 4-H'ers this year in Scotland.  Any support, in cash or in kind, that readers might be moved to provide will be most welcome. Please see contact information at the end of this article.

"I am taking five 4-H members (four of them girls who live and work on their family's farm) to Scotland for an eight-day Study Tour during the first half of July.  Participants on the study tour are developing individualized educational objectives, around which we have started planning our itinerary.  Each young person will explore an area of interest in the land-based sciences, as well as a topic that will help them understand cultural diversity.

"The young people will research their topics before the trip, help the adult educators plan educational experiences and opportunities in Scotland, keep a journal during the trip, and prepare a seminar on their topics when they return.  We expect the young people to present their seminars to their local 4-H club, at their school, and to sponsoring organizations who have supported the trip.
"Here are some of the land-based science topics that interest our young people:
    - European perspectives on pesticide usage and organic farming
    - Bio security and food chain safety: what Britain has learned from 'mad cow disease'
    - Genetic engineering with livestock and crops (remember, Scotland is the home of Dolly the Sheep!)
    - Deforestation and moorland management
    - Grasslands management, grazing, and protection of water quality.
"Some of the cultural topics that interest our participants include:
    - The Scottish Parliament and improving participation in the democratic process
    - The history of ancient Celtic sport and its influence on modern track and field
    - The welfare state in Britain, and how it compares to US social services
    - The industrial revolution in Scotland and its influence on the culture of North America
    - Traditional Highland dance, Pipe Bands, and Scottish music.

"Tentative Itinerary:
  We plan to fly to Glasgow the first week in July.  We will stay in hostels and cook many of our own meals.  Tentatively, we are looking at the following itinerary:
    - July 4, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, Scotland's only National Park, for overview of Scotland's geology, climate, and natural history
    - July 5, Family Farm visit in Central Scotland New Lanark World Heritage Site to study the Industrial Revolution and tour the preserved 18th century utopian mill worker company town
    - July 6, Stirling, arguably Scotland's most historic city, for overview of Scottish social and political history
    - July 7, Doune and Dunblane Annual Agricultural Show
    - July 8, Stirling Highland Games
    - July 9, Edinburgh Tour historic sites and Scottish Parliament Seminar on bio-security and genetic engineering
    - July 10, St. Andrews for seminar on growing and managing turf and landscapes for golf courses and European approach to pesticide usage
    - July 11, Cairngorms to study fish farms and aquaculture Loch Ness
    - July 12, Depart Glasgow for return to Pennsylvania.
"Qualifications of Adult Educators/Chaperones:  Dr. Kim McManus has primary responsibility to planning and delivering the educational components of the tour, as well as organizing logistics in country.  She is uniquely qualified to provide this experience because she lived and worked in Scotland from 1997-2004.  Dr. McManus is qualified not only as an educator, but has the knowledge of and contacts in Scotland to ensure a safe, successful, and substantive experience for participants.
"We are undertaking an ambitious program of fundraising including candy sale, auction, sausage sale, running concession stands at 4-H events, a greenhouse sale.  The kids are working hard.
"Still, especially given the exchange rate, it will be an expensive trip.  We plan to stay in hostels and cook most of our own meals.  We have submitted a proposal to USAir and we are hoping they will give us a really good rate for our flights.
"So, we appreciate whatever help or support we can get.

Donations may be made to 4-H Development Fund and sent to:   Cambria County 4-H Development Fund, Penn State Extension in Cambria County, 499 Manor Drive, Ebensburg, PA 15931.  Tel: 814-472-7986.

"Thanks very much for your kind offer to post us on your website and include us in your newsletter.
"Best regards - Kim"
Dr. Kim McManus, County Extension Director and Youth Development/4H Educator Penn State Cooperative Extension in Cambria County, 499 Manor Drive, Ebensburg, PA 15931-0390.  Tel: 814-472-7986  Fax: 814-472-7987.  Or: .

The McLellan Festival

(Posted February 25, 2007)
I am the chairman of The McLellan Festival Steering Group which exists to celebrate the work and legacy of Robert McLellan the Scottish playwright, poet and short story writer who wrote, amongst other things, "Jamie the Saxt" and the Linmill Stories. This year marks the centenary of his birth and we are holding a special celebration on the Isle of Arran where he lived and worked for forty years in the little clachan of High Corrie. Members may be interested in details of the festival which can be found on the website. We are also running a poetry competition for poems in English and Scots and a play competition for plays written in any form of Scots or Scots dialect. If you are interested please contact me - , Carlo, Corrie Shore, Isle of Arran, Scotland, KA27 8JA.

The British Connection Out of Business!

(Posted February 25, 2007)
The British Connection Shop and Tearoom on Royal Street, Old Town, Alexandria, VA is closing this weekend (02/25/07) after 17 years of providing British products including items of Scottish taste such as Irn Bru and haggis (on order).  According to the proprietor there is, at this time, no other store planned for Alexandria that will provide items of British - and specifically Scottish - interest.

Britannia Pottery - Replacement Pieces

The Capital Scot's attempts to respond to the following question have resulted in returned e-mail.  Q  A reader asked:  My mum has a scottish 'Britannia Pottery' dinner service in blue and white china.  Unfortunately, the lid to her vegetable dish met with an unfortunate end.  The dish is 8 inches in diametre.  I found your address on Google, and you can only imagine how happy she would be to have a replacement/contact to obtain another.  A  Thank you for the question.  While I am not an expert on pottery, I notice that a Google search on Britannia Pottery results in a lot of possibilities for one to investigate.  See, for example, Pottery Studio and Replacements, Ltd. of the Britannia Pottery Co.

Teenager Wants to Wear Kilt!

Student asked to change out of kilt seeks dress code change - Nathan Warmack wanted to honor his heritage by wearing a Scottish kilt to his high school dance. Then a principal told him to change into a pair of pants.  Also, see Teen Fights for Right to Wear Kilt.  Readers have an opportunity to voice their support online for Nathan Warmack's right to wear his kilt.

The Family of Bruce International

(Posted November 28, 2005)
This notice pertains to an earlier one (posted June 12, 2005) about the Family of Bruce.  Thomas Allen Bruce, , Lieutenant to the Chief of the Name of Bruce, provided the following information:  On October 14, 2005, the officers of both the Family of Bruce Society and Bruce International met in Stone Mountain, Georgia, to consolidate the two organizations into one.  

Pipers and Drummers Needed!

(Posted November 13, 2005)
The Pipe Band of the Saint Andrew's Society of Washington, DC and the American Clan Gregor Society needs new recruits to replace veteran members who are likely to retire in the next several years.  The band meets every Wednesday night from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. at Julius West School, 651 Great Falls Road, Rockville, MD.  There is a class for beginners from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.  Thete is no charge for lessons.  Call Matt Kuldell at 703-613-7431 (day) or 703-641-5858 (evening) for information and driving directions.

Koshered Haggis for Sale?

(Posted October 23, 2005)
Can any reader help with this question which refers to Kosher Haggis Problem Revealed? I am a seventh generation Scottish-American, a Piper, and also studying ... to become a ... Rabbi.  I have wondered about my fond Haggis being Kosher for a while.  Thank you for your insight!  BTW, do you know of anywhere I can purchase Haggis already koshered?

More Scones

(Posted August 9, 2005)
A reader - referring apparently to the notices below Culture Bashing and A Passion for Heritage - wrote: Referring to the item about English scones and Scottish scones.  I've no desire to get into cultural wrangling but there is no such thing as an English scone.  It is simply a scone, which by definition is Scottish.  It doesnt matter where you are from, if you bake from a scone recipe, or template, you are baking a Scottish delicacy, not a scone defined by the country you bake it in.  You dont talk about French or Italian caviar, or American and Australian escargots.  Caviar is Russian and escargots are French.  The scone derives its name from the village of Scone in Perthshire near Scone Palace, the coronation centre of ancient Scottish kings. ... It is like talking about English haggis and Scottish haggis or English whisky and Scottish whisky.  Haggis and whisky are haggis and whisky, which by definition are Scottish.  If you call the latter whiskey then you understand it to be either Irish or American (although, incidentally, whiskey was also the original Scottish spelling).  Cheers.

Family of Bruce in America

(Posted June 12, 2005)
A reader who did not provide an e-mail address asked: Is the 'Family of Bruce Society' still in existence?
The last address The Capital Scot used for the Family of Bruce Society in America, in April 2000, was: Mrs. Ernestine B. Firth, National President, Family of Bruce Society in America, 90 Chestnut Street, Bristol, New Hampshire 03222
They did not have a Web site or e-mail.  Also, I believe that they were not sanctioned by any family chief/head.  Reference to Mrs. Firth may be found on the Web at:
    GRANITE SKYES, Newsletter of the Strathspey & Reel Society of New Hampshire
    GRANITE SKYES, Newsletter of the Strathspey & Reel Society of New Hampshire
    some mention of the Family of Bruce Society and Mrs. Firth at The Ellen Payne Odom Genealogy Library Family Tree, The Family Tree - December/January 2003, Wee Snippets (4)
    some mention of the Family of Bruce Society and Mrs. Firth at <celtic-culture/scottish-clans/part1> [NOTE As of 3/26/06 a broken link.]
    some mention of the Family of Bruce Society and Mrs. Firth at SCOTTISH ORGANIZATIONS AND VENDORS ONLINE Updated February 11, 1996 with a note that the Family of Bruce Society in America's annual meeting is held at Banner House, Grandfather Mountain, Banner Elk, North Carolina
    some mention of the Family of Bruce Society and Mrs. Firth at the History of Bruce at GENMSC-L Archives 1995-06 > 0802240340

Origins of Toast Here's tae us?

(Posted May 29, 2005)
I am seeking the provenance of the toast 'Here's to us and those like us ... and they're all dead'.  I read somewhere that it originated around the Battle of Culloden but I really need your help.
There is an answer at the FAQ.  However, readers are encouraged to weigh in with their knowledge to assist the questioner.

Walk for Wallace

(Posted May 22, 2005)
"William Wallace was executed in London on the 23rd August 1305.  700 years later we are bringing him home to Scotland.
"He was captured at Robroyston, Glasgow on the 3rd August and taken to London.  Scottish historian and author David R. Ross will be walking that same route starting on 3rd August and arriving in London on 22nd August.  David wishes to undertake this journey alone as his personal tribute to Wallace.  On the 23rd August he will walk the final 6 miles from the scene of his trial at Westminster Hall to Smithfield where Wallace was butchered.
"At St. Bartholomew's Church in Smithfield there will be a memorial service, which due to the small size of the church will be invitation only.  This will take the form of a funeral service with the centrepiece being a coffin into which all are invited to place their thoughts, tributes and hopes for the nation of Scotland.
"The contents of this coffin will be The Spirit of Wallace.  A spirit which has inspired a nation for 700 years ö and now it is time to bring it home!
"The service will be attended by weel kent Scots from all over the world, members of The Wallace Clan, Wallace Society and ordinary patriots.  It will be filmed for release on DVD so that Scots worldwide will have the opportunity of owning a chronicle of these historic events.
"The coffin will then be brought back to Stirling where it will lie in state at The Smith Art Gallery and Museum and there will be a further opportunity for people to include their own tributes.
"On the 11th September the coffin will be officially handed over to Lanark where there will be a day of celebration before delivery of the coffin to St. Kentigerns Kirk where Wallace was married.  There it will form the centrepiece of the new Wallace Memorial - a place where Scots can now reflect, thank and honour our greatest hero.
"These events will be a huge tribute and also the celebration of a nation Wallace kept alive.
"This will be a very theatrical event taking over the whole of Lanark town centre and culminating in a procession of 700 torches from the kirk to Castlebank Park where the day will end with musical tributes from Clan Wallace, Ronnie Brown, 100 pipers, and Ted Christopher and Bannockburn.
"To Wallace, and all those who died for our country, with him and over all the years since, we are eternally grateful.  kinlochroag@glowinternet.net

The Crofters! (Followup)

(Posted April 10, 2005)
You may recall the story still on your site called The Crofters!.  After a period of silence following the death of the proprietor Morsgail Estate have come after this crofter again with a vengence.  At the time of the proprietor's death we closed down the website at http://www.morsgail.co.uk/ but have reopened it due to this recent relaunching of their campaign of harrassment.  kinlochroag@glowinternet.net

Mystery about "Queen Mary's Prayer"

(Posted February 20, 2005)
The following mail was received from a reader about the article "Queen Mary's Prayer":  I have a, 8" by 10" paper with the typed poem of 'Prayer of Mary, Queen of Scots' listed at the bottom.  The poem starts off with 'Keep us, O God from pettiness; let us....' and ends with 'Amen' and then hand written is the name 'stenstrom' followed then by the title.  Does this mean this person 'stenstrom' wrote it?  Does it have any value?  It belonged to my ex-mother-in-law who died at the age of 74 in 2002.  She was a linguist  I do not know how she came to have this.  Thanks for any information.

If any reader has information about this, please contact susanmallon@earthlink.net.

Unanswered Mail to The Capital Scot

(Posted October 10, 2004)
The Capital Scot lost his e-mail files due to a system problem.  If you have sent me a Contact or Subscribe/Unsubscribe message and not received a reply, please re-send to .  Thank you and apologies for any inconvenience.
Also, one reader sent a question, with an incorrect return address, about the Edinburgh Vaults.  That question is answered at the FAQ (Edinburgh Vaults).

Culture Bashing

(Posted September 12, 2004)
A reader - referring apparently to the notice below A Passion for Heritage - wrote: You guys are so stuck on yourselves.  It's one thing to be pround of where you come from, but to bash on other cultures the way you do is just wrong and prejudiced.  One of my best friend's family is 100% Scottish, and they are the nicest people.  People like you who set up this web site give your culture a bad name.  By the way, I've tried the sconery's scones and they are terrific and the owner doesn't have a pinch of Scots in her.

Celtic Feet

(Posted September 5, 2004)
A reader wrote: "I read somewhere on the internet that a long second toe was an absolute indicator that one was of Celtic heritage.  The article said that one could be Celtic and not have the Celtic toe, but that having the Celtic long second toe was unmistakable proof.  Since that time, I have been observing people's feet.  I have found a great number of long second toes on people from Thailand and India.  I have also seen them on Mexican Indians.   I have only seen three on caucasians.  Does this mean they are those people from Thailand and India, and the Mexican Indians might be throwbacks to an ancient Celtic ancestor? Also, a question not related to the above: My great grandfather was a Russian Jew.  He stood 6'7" and had brilliant red hair.  He was an immensely muscular man who was an railroad worker in Russia.  My big question is: Does it sound like my Great Grandfather may have had some Celtic genes? My grandfather and my father were also red heads.  My dad had one green eye and one ! purple eye.  Not a question--just throught it was interesting."

The reader may have been referring to the article Celtic Or Saxon Feet? and related links on this site's past features.  If any reader can help with these questions, please , and a reply will be forwarded to the writer.

King Robert the Bruce

(Posted August 29, 2004)
A reader wrote: "On your website you mention someone called Robert the Bruce.  I take it that you mean Robert the Bruce, King of Scots (his correct title) or King Robert the Bruce.  In his own lifetime Good King Robert several times refused to accept letters from the Pope (among others) addressed incorrectly to himself - not to King Robert.  To call King Robert simply Robert the Bruce is to give the English the victory that they sought to achieve in not recognising Scotland as a sovereign nation.  King Robert spent most of his life fighting for recognition of himself as King of an independant Scotland and to call him Robert the Bruce is not correct, as I'm sure he would tell you if he was around."

The reader subsequently told The Capital Scot of his village, Tullibody [lot's of pop-ups!], not far from Bannockburn.  According to the Web site, which gives the village's history from its founding until modern times:  "...  Tullibody was founded in the year 834 AD by Kenneth McAlpin, King of Scots. ...  It was at this time that King Kenneth is said to have founded the present village, which he called 'Tirl-bothy' ".  Recommend visiting the site for more interesting Scottish history.

The Capital Scot welcomes readers who have studied King Robert the Bruce to contribute articles to the Robert the Bruce section of this site.  Contibuters will receive, of course, full credit, copyright, etc.  That part of the site has been neglected since the "Family of Bruce" stopped offering the essay awards.

A Passion for Heritage

(Posted August 22, 2004)
A reader wrote: "We Scots really must band together to promote our heritage.  Everyone knows about England and Ireland,but our attitude of, 'It doesn't matter; we know who we are and what we've done' is quite detrimental.  For instance, I have seen quite a few English scones lately, but no Scottish ones.  I have heard that only griddle-baked scones are Scottish, and baked ones are English.  Several Scots and I stopped at the Sconery in Grand Rapids, Michigan - separately - and tried to convince the owner of the Scottish origin, and she refused to believe this.  There are English scone mixes out there, but no Scottish ones.
"Also, if one looks at the AAA planning map of Europe, one will discover that the area we call Scotland is marked only, Great Britain.  While this is technically true, there is no mention of Scotland.  It may as well be merely a part of northern England!!!
"If we don't start being more vociferous about our identity, devolution will be meaningless!!! Promote Scotland! Don't let her fade into the sunset!"

The Old High Kirk in Kilmarnock

(Posted June 25, 2004)
(See The Old High Kirk in Kilmarnock below.) Due to the recent financial recession the two main Grant Fund bodies have reduced the level of funding and our restoration project has now had to be divided into phases.  We hope that scaffolding will be in place next spring and that phase one can commence then.  Subsequent follow on phases (there should be another three) will extend the restoration period by some years dependant on availability of financial support.

Modern Celtic Newsletter

(Posted June 25, 2004)
A reader asked a question but gave no e-mail address for a reply.  "Is there a modern Celtic news letter? If so can you send me the addresses?"
Recommend that you do a Google search on the terms [celtic newsletter] and take your pick of numerous - apparently mostly commercial - sites and ewsletters.

The Crofters!

(Posted August 31, 2003)
 "I am writing to as many webmasters with Scottish/Clan related sites as I can to try and get support for a crofter friend in Lewis.   Hopefully with enough support we can help him save his Highland Cattle, Sheep and Land.
 "Rather than go rabbiting on I would ask you to just check out the support site - www.morsgail.co.uk If you feel you would like to support us by emailing your friends and adding your voices to our plight we would be very grateful.
 "In a time when everybody is plagued by junk mail please believe me there is no catch to this email.  What is at risk is a Man's land and his cattle.
 " Kind regards - Jude"

The Old High Kirk in Kilmarnock

(Posted August 2, 2003)
 "We are writing to you to ask for your help.  When our best friend Ron Gonnella, the Scottish violinist was alive, he adjudicated at the Virginia Highland Games and Fiddle festivals, and we often spoke about St.  Andrew's societies throughout the world.  It is for that reason that we are trying to connect with as many as we can because we are trying to ask for help to restore our Church which has a very interesting history.
 "The Old High Kirk in Kilmarnock was built in 1732, before Robert Burns was born, but we know that he came to Kilmarnock and had strong connections with the Laigh Kirk and our Kirk, in fact John Wilson, the publisher of the famous Kilmarnock Edition is interred in our Kirkyard as are many others connected with Robert Burns, the artists the Tannock Brothers are also buried in our Kirkyard.  The Land and the Church were a gift from the Earl of Kilmarock and his friend Lord John Orr of Barrowfield, who realised the need for the Church at the top end of the town, as up to that time, there was only one Church, originally set up by St Marnock in the 6th Century.  Sadly the Earl's Jacobite affiliation led to his untimely death as he was executed at the Tower of London for his Jacobite allegience.
 "In the 1860s when the Church became too small for the worshipping congregation a very ambitious scheme to double the size inside by extending the balcony, etc.  reflooring the Church, etc. and this was paid by asking the most wealthy families if they would like to have a new stained glass window dedicated to a fam! ily member or members and in fact the response was such that they appointed a the foremost stained glass artists of their day W & W.J. Keir Brothers from Glasgow( who also worked on windows in Glasgow Cathedral).  They decided to have every window replaced with a new stained glass window and presented in chronological order Old Testament scened downstairs and New T. upstairs.  They carried out many more ambitious alterations and the entire "facelift" took about ten years and was great success.  This set of windows is quite unique and we are as proud of them as our Robert Burns connections. The ravages of time have caused the congregation to raise and spend a great deal on the maintenance and preservation of the building and windows, etc., as we feel that they are of such historical significance apart from their architectural interest and beauty that we h! ave to treat our building with the respect it deserves.
 "It is difficult to ask for funding and help when this is such a time of recession,and money has to go in so many directions, but we thought that many of their decendents whom we know have gone abroad, may be willing to help us achieve our goal.
 "Would you perhaps be able to suggest sources of funding we could contact please?
 "If you would like to see pictures of the windows and more detailed information about the Old High Kirk, we have set up a web site and are encouraging people to visit the web site and our Kirk.
 " We have a very extensive Kirkyard, which has been mapped in detail and we would be delighted to help anyone who is trying to trace their family roots and may have connections with our Church in Kilmarnock.
 "We would be delighted to hear from anyone who is interested.
 "Our web site! address is http://www.e-ayrshire.co.uk/ohkweb/.  [Link no longer available on 7/14/05.]  Thank you for the time you have taken to read this.
 "Yours Aye
 "Margaret Anne Aitchison"

Ancestral Scotland on the Mall!

(Posted June 20, 2003) Ancestral Scotland http://www.ancestralscotland.com/ will be participating at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall in Washington DC.  The event runs from Wednesday 25th to the Sunday 28th June and then from Wednesday 1st to Sunday 5th July.  Joining AncestralScotland in the tent are the General Register Office for Scotland, the National Archives of Scotland and the Scottish Archive Network.  In the AncestralScotland tent there'll be computers for those who want to search online for their ancestral records, informal seminars from the experts on using records to understand the past, and lots of advice on what to see and do when you walk in the footsteps of your ancestors back in Scotland.  For anyone travelling by metro, the Festival site is located by the Mall exit at the Smithsonian Station.

Saint Columba's Voyage - 2003!

(Posted June 7, 2003) David Levite (Virginia) of the Saint Andrew's Society of Washington, DC will join a group of men from the USA, Ireland and Scotland who will follow the voyage of Saint Columba!

The year 2003 marks the 200th Anniversary of the arrival of the Selkirk Settlers to the community of Belfast, Prince Edward Island.

(Posted May 25, 2003)  "The 'Selkirk Settlers' were a group of Scottish colonists brought to Prince Edward Island in 1803 by Thomas Douglas, the 5th Earl of Selkirk.  These Highland men and women sailed on three ships: the Polly, the Dykes, and the Oughton.  The Polly arrived on August 7th, the Dykes (on which Lord Selkirk traveled) disembarked on August 9th, and the Oughton arrived on the 27th.  About 400 of the approximate 800 colonists brought by Lord Selkirk settled in the Belfast area.  Most of these settlers had been passengers on the ship Polly.
 "From August 7th through August 10th, the Belfast Historical Society, in conjunction with the Caledonian Club, will host the 200th Anniversary and the Annual Highland Games at the Lord Selkirk Provincial Park in Eldon.  Over this four-day extended weekend, planned activities include: genealogy workshops and lectures, displays and exhibits, concerts, traditional highland athletic competitions, piping competitions, reenactments of the Selkirk Settlers arrival, highland dance competitions, guest speakers, and kilted classic golf ournaments.
 "Additional information may be found on our web page at: http://www.islandregister.com/skye/skye2003.html.  We invite you to come celebrate this great event with us.
 "Linda Jean Nicholson MacKenzie, Event Coordinator, Belfast Historical Society RR 1, Belfast, PE C0A 1A0, Canada.  Tel: 902-659-2209".

Help Us Save Nessie!

(Posted April 28, 2003) "I am Nora Jones questsearch@hotmail.com.  You did an article on me located at http://www.thecapitalscot.com/pastfeatures/nessie1.html.  Scotland On Line has pulled the plug on the Web cam.  I am sending the same email to everyone that did an article or interview with me.  Please read the following and if you want to contact me you can through the petition.  Thank You.
   "Please Help Us Save Nessie By saving the live web cam at Scotland on line.  Sign the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/2brnot2b/petition.html
   "After 4 years of giving people all over the world a chance to visit Loch Ness with out having to leave the house, Scotland on Line has pulled the plug on their live web cam.
   "I am personally outraged, and somewhat confused at their decision.  I am not just anybody.  Because of that site's existence I got to live my dream.  I was the first person to ever get a picture of the Loch Ness monster off live web cam.  I do not understand why they would take down the camera after all the publicity, and awards that Scotland On Line has received form it.  The technology of having the "Live Streaming Web Cam" on Loch Ness paved the way for people all over the world to begin search for clues and possibly find the long awaited answer into the mystery of The Loch Ness monster.  Without the Camera the possibility of proving Nessie's existence is back to nil.  There were many articles about the great opportunity Scotland On Line has brought to Science and how that camera heightened the possibility of discovering the Enigma that has had us wondering since 1933.
   "The camera was unintrusive it didn't hurt the wildlife (gas and oil from boats) or disturb the peace (loud outboard motors) on the Loch and it zoomed in at certain hotspots where Nessie has been sighted throughout the history of the Witness sightings.  Now unless you go to Scotland, have a high powered Camera and get lucky to be close enough to the creature there is no way anyone is going to get a picture.
   "There are many articles about my pictures as well as Gavin Joth (my dear friend who won the William Hill Award), and Andrew Whyley who got the first underwater images of what could possibly be Nessie from the live web cam on the Scotland on Line site.  In each case after Scotland on line got the publicity for each of these events they disappeared from our lives as well as the Press's.  Scotland On Line never supported any of us during the time that they were online or during the time that they received all the publicity from us.
   "Just as Nessie is everyday, we were used as a means to make money and now after all the hype and hits their site gets because of us and Nessie their explanation is they must move on to other things.
   "A web cam is a low maintenance thing what would it hurt for them to leave it running? My only thought since my involvement with this site has been that they do not want for the truth to be discovered. They didn't expect any of us to get such good pictures.  They changed the views several times after each of our pictures was made public and many nights when there was a lot of activity the server would go down.
   "The only reason I can imagine to take down the web cam is that for the past three years they have had their people watching the images and if Nessie was getting active or if she would happen to surface they would loop a similar image in that didn't have any activity and keep the images of Nessie from coming into public view.  The camera has either got too expensive to maintain because of having to pay all these people to baby sit or Nessie is so active they cant catch every image; someone might get a really good picture, good enough to prove her existence; someone has bought them out and closed down the Camera.
   "If I am wrong why not keep the web cam running to prove me wrong?
   "All I ever wanted was to prove these creatures existence to save them from extinction.  That is all nothing more and these people are keeping that from happening.  What they are saying is she is real and we don't want you people to know the truth.
   "Scotland On Line suggested that I go to Cam vista and watch the loch.  The difference between Scotland On Line's and all the other web cams: Scotland On Line is a live streaming web cam the images move on a two second delay which made it very close to being there; with the zoom in the naked eye one could see across miles easily. The Other Web cams on Loch Ness are not "Live Streaming" they are still shots and it is like looking at a painting.
   "Please Help Us Save Nessie By saving the live web cam at Scotland on line."
   Nora R. Jones

Help a Grauduate Student!

(Posted March 15, 2003) Please, if you are from Scotland, assist this graduate student with her project.
   "Hi,
   "I am graduate student at George Mason University studying Health Communications.  I am writing you with the hopes that you can help me with an assignment.  I need to interview people from various cultural backgrounds about their health related beliefs.  Interviewees would actually need to be from Scotland, or another country other than the U.S.  These are very general questons that would take about fifteen minutes to answer.  Any assistance that you can provide me with contacting interviewees, or being interview yourself would be much appreciated!
   "Thank You!
   "Jeannie McPherson" <jeanniemcpherson@yahoo.com>

The Archaeolink Prehistory Park needs help!

(Posted February 23, 2003) A wonderful wonderful Visitor centre "Archaeolink Prehistory Park" in what is now called Aberdeenshire is under threat of closure.  It is two miles south of the town of Banff which was in Banffshire until recently.  A reduction or total withdrawal of its funding by Aberdeenshire Council has jeopardised the Centres continued existence.  Please go to http://www.scotshistoryonline.co.uk/archaeo.html to read further information and vote in the on-line petition.

Got a 12-15 year old son/grandson/greatgrandson speaking with a Highland accent?

(Posted February 23, 2003) The Capital Scot received the following notice, forwarded from the Saint Andrew's Society of Washington, DC: "My name is Sean Brown.  Im an amateur film maker who is putting together a short film based on a true story which happened in June of 1781 to a drummer in the 71st Regiment of Highland Foot in Columbia, VA.  (The period name of the battle is 'Point of Forks'.)  Anyway, I have just about everything set to shoot this Spring but for one small glitch...I need a 12-15 year old that can speak with a decent highland accent.  Granted, not an easy task...but the objective is worth it.  Im a historical purist.  And I want to make films that are based entirely on historically accurate events that can be used in education to translate more readily to 'teaching' kids than just hearing about the event from their teacher.  Kids today are far more visual and less imaginative and this is a solution I came up with.  I would be eternally in your debt if you were able to help in any way.  This film's budget wouldnt allow to transport an actor to the US for the shoot, so the more local the better.  Again, thanks for your help! Please feel free to contact me at my home (410)266-5099 or at citadel90@yahoo.com."

Scottish Celebration - 300th Anniversary of St. Petersburg, Russia

(Posted January 30, 2003) The Capital Scot received the following e-mail from Russia.  If any reader has a musical group interested in participating in the event described, please contact kentler@spb300.com.

St.Petersburg, 30.01.2003.
Dear Sir,
According to recommendations from the organizers of the Russo-Scottish Folk Festival in Moscow, we would like to ask you about the possibility of participation of a professional Scottish folk Orchestra in St.Petersburg during its Anniversary the last week of May, 2003.  We already contacted the National Youth String Orchestra of Scotland but they can't come before June, 2003.  We know that you that have good contacts with folk orchestras, and you can give us professional advice.  We would propose to an orchestra that wishes to participate a special "walking" folk concert along Nevsky avenue.  Obviously we make all trip arrangements, and we pay all participants' expenses.  We hope for a positive reply.
Please, send your reply and proposal as soon as possible to kentler@spb300.com or to Fax +7 (812) 320 5603.
Best regards,
Alex Kentler

Coordinator
064, Official Informational Service
of 300th Anniversary of St.Petersburg.

Antique Bible Questions

The Capital Scot received the following e-mail from an unknown reader on 11/7/04.

  "I have a similar query.  I was not the original writer of this question but have 2 books, Vol i and ii, in what appears to be a two volume set as they cover all books of the bible, Old and New Testament.  Help please.  Do you know where can I find more information on these books; and do you have any idea of their value?  Mine were printed in 1846 also by MACKENZIE.  My e-mail is bprole@clear.net.nz  Thank you in advance for your help.
[Please contact The Capital Scot if you have any information.  ( .]

The Capital Scot received the following e-mail from readers on 6/19/03.

My parents own a set similar to this.  However, I could not find a date printed in the Bible itself.  It says it's publisher was William MacKenzie (Glasgow, Howard Street, Southbridge, Edinburgh).  Is there any way to tell the age of this set? Were they all published in 1844?

I have the same antique bible question.  The only difference is my bible was published by the Caxton Press in London.  The only date I can find is in an inscription that says July 9, 1857.

The Capital Scot received the following e-mail from an unknown reader on 8/26/02.

  "I have recently bought an antique Bible, The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments, according to the authorised version; with explanatory notes, practical observations, and copious marginal references.  By Thomas Scott, Rector of Aston Sandford, Buks.  A New Edition, with an Introductory Essay, and numerous additional notes, critical, explanatory and practical.  BY REV. WILLIAM SYMINGTON, D.D. Glascow. VOL 1.  Printed and published by MACKENZIE, WHITE, & Co.  Glascow.  1844.
  "I wish to know who many publications of this book there was (how rare this book is).  What the value of something like this would be.  Or any other information about this book that may be helpful."

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