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Well, this week saw some of the hottest temperatures we've seen so far. On Monday it was 42c (107f) coming out of Salem at about 1745, and Tuesday was just a single degree cooler. Quite toasty! I wouldn't say I'm used to it, but I certainly don't find it uncomfortable. The night-time is worse, when you're trying to sleep, but not too bad. The air conditioning in the apartment helps, although it isn't as effective as it could be. The hot stuff only lasted the two days, however, and this past few days have only reached the mid 80s (upper 20s).

Would you believe that I've agreed to play for the Jesters rugby team in the upcoming Nike World Masters sports tournament? The moniker is a bit misplaced as it's actually open to anyone, not just great sportsmen (which certainly lets me out!), and the rugby I'm playing is over 35s. However, there are teams coming from Chicago and San Jose, so it should be fun. The games are Saturday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and, of course, I managed to twist my ankle playing soccer on Saturday (stopped the shot and saved the goal, though!). I don't think it's too bad, though, so I should be ok for training on Tuesday. I'm looking forward to it.

This Saturday we went shopping and got Graham his first pair of soccer boots, so he's pleased as punch. He wanted to go out and try them, but they've gone and lost the good ball we bought a couple of weeks back. With my ankle I didn't want to go kicking about anyway, so he'll have to wait.

Socccer has featured large around here this week. I found out on Thursday that I was coaching a 5th grade Rec-Plus team for sure, and I had until the following Thursday (6th) to get the registration fee paid. Yikes! Plus, I've only got 12 names so far, and they'll be playing full 11-a-side soccer. Double yikes! I've also agreed to coach a 1st Grade boys team because they were short of volunteers. At least they're running some coaching clinics for the next 6 weeks, which takes care of Wednesday (6-9). I'll probably do the 5th grade on Thursday, which leaves Tuesday for the 1st grade. Looks like I'll have to miss the rugby training again...

There was mass disappointment on Saturday. According to the schedule Fox were supposed to be showing Celtic vs. Dunfermline on Satuday and Hearts vs TEE Sunday. You can guess from the 'supposed to' in the last sentence that we were left Celticless. Given the results of the 2 games, rats! Let's hope that this was a 1 off, and that we'll be getting the Scottish soccer in the future.

The other big news is that I've registered our domain name and got the new web-site working. If you're reading this you'll already have managed to track to the new web-site. I'm still working on the e-mail, but by the end of the week we should be using xxx@deans-inter.net, where xxx is each of our names, so hold off for the moment.

The other thing we did this week was to buy some tickets for a rock concert. Some American super group? Nope. Some country star like Garth Brooks? Hell, no! (Ugh! Even the thought of that - a worse fate than could be imagined...) No, we're off to see Jethro Tull. We come half way round the world and go to see a band we saw in MacDuff. Can't wait!

Here in the US the 'scandal' surrounding Bill Clinton has moved on a stage. The story so far, for those who are new to the case, involves the question whether Bubba had, errr, 'relations' with one Monica Lewinsky in the White House when she was an intern (trainee) there. She joins a queue of women who have claimed involvement of one kind or another with the man. However, the next thing is whether he asked her to lie about it, and whether he has, himself, lied about it. Monica has now been granted immunity from prosecution so we may finally get the truth, especially as she has supplied an item of clothing (a dress, I believe) from which samples could be used for DNA testing.

The thing is that I really don't believe that most people care two hoots whether Bubba did or did not anything with Monica. He remains very popular with the masses, and really the only people who are gaining from this whole affair are the media. Imus in the morning has gained terrific mileage and is still going.

Personally, I am not so much concerned whether he did do anything as to whether he lied on his deposition and asked Monica to do the same. Either way, it won't really affect him, and I don't see it affecting him much. If he didn't do anything then he's clear. If he did he'll just do a Swaggart and say he lied to protect his family and he's in the clear.

I note from the news on the radio that this past week has seen the Gay Games in Amsterdam, sort of like the Olympics. Now, I don't know about you, but I regard this as discrimination of the very worst kind. Just imagine if they tried to hold a 'Striaght Games'. Your ears would be ringing with all the cries of discrimination! Yet, it's ok for the gays to have their own games, straights not welcome. I sometimes think that the positive affimation movement has gone too far, and that the biggest crime you can commit is to be a middle aged, white heterosexual male.

This is a similar subject to the question of male/female balance in the new Scottish Parliament. The SNP seem to be taking the encouragement approach (which I wholly agree with, btw), and Labour the Female only approach (which is totally abhorant, and probably subject to challenge in court on sexist grounds). I know I wouldn't vote for Labour if they only selected a female candidate on the basis of her sex. If she's the best person, then that's a different matter entirely.

I also see in the Herald that they ran a story about a drugs company paying people (mostly students) to be human guinea pigs for new drugs. They were disgusted that this sort of thing should happen on two counts. The first, and one that I agree with, is that the students are so badly off that they are having to resort to this. I think the removal of the grant system has potentailly left the further education system to the better off. All should have access to education without putting themselves in hock up to the eyeballs to do it. Their second point (getting back to the main story!), was that humans should be used at all. Well, Duh! If they stop testing on animals, how the heck are they supposed to test whether their inventions are going to have any effect on the problem at hand? If they can't test on animals, that only leaves humans. Alternatively, they could always give up drug research...

Well, that's definitely enough for this week. I'll catch you all next week.