Hurray for Countries More Than 200 Years Old!

Summary: I wish I was alive during Medieval times!

Phrase of the day: "Scott free" (i.e. "He got off Scott free.")
Of course American's use this too (but I notice we don't use archaic phrases as often as the Brits). There's an interesting story that may or may not be where the word came from. The wife of a duke of Scotland visited him at the Tower of London a day before his execution. She brought in her maids, dressed him up like a woman and ushered him out without the guard blinking! And so he got off Scott free. Just one of the lovely stories I heard today at the Tower of London.

The next time I go to London I will: ... probably not go. The dollar will be too worthless.

From The Washington Post:

"Oh, the amazing shrinking dollar.

"The U.S. currency tumbled last week to a record low after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates, continuing the dollar's six-year slide. Behind the latest drop is the expectation of weaker U.S. growth and stronger overseas economies. The slump took the dollar below $1.40 for each euro and put it at parity with the Canadian dollar for the first time in more than 30 years.

"While U.S. tourists might think twice about a vacation abroad, investors are discovering a variety of ways to make a buck betting against the buck."

Ah yes, people who are already billionaires will benefit, and I’m sure I’ll put something about it on our Web site this week.

The money thing really is the only thing really weighing on me over here. And I get paid the same amount in dollars as other people who did the internship in the past, yet it is worth less, boo. I hope I can make it. And I hope they pay me ASAP before the dollar plummets like gas prices rise!

America sucks. sucks. sucks. sucks. sucks.

OK that feels better. It’s my own fault for being in London right now, so let the debt incur!

What I learned today: A lot of the eggs in the grocery store aren't refrigerated. Is it OK that I eat them?

More London Exploration!
The Tower of London is well worth the 13 pounds to enter, especially if you are a history buff like me. I saw the crown jewels, which was cool, but looking at diamonds locked up in a case doesn't do too much for me. My favorite part was definitely the history in the other parts of the tower, such as the mystery of the murdered princes in the Bloody Tower.

I’ve loved medieval history for forever, and when I was little I was fascinated by the nine-day uncrowned queen, Lady Jane Grey, who was executed at the Tower (I was a weird kid). I saw her name etched on the wall of the prison and saw the place she and two other queens of England were imprisoned.

Tower of London

[Edit: I added my own photo to replace an earlier one.]

I am listening to: Dixie Chicks, “The Long Way Around”

... Because that's what I always seem to do.