Skull and Crossbones

I’m still in a surly mood today, after a crappy day yesterday, so I’ll keep this short. I’ve got the top 100 list done – now I just have to write the album by album synopsis, which will basically say why I like it and what the album means to me. It’ll be a fascinating read.

Hmm… sarcasm is lost in print.

Anyway, Kerrie and I heard this on BBC News yesterday (thanks to our Sirius satellite radio, which I’m sure I’ll gush over on this site someday soon) – in Alnwick (pronounced Ann-ick), England, the Duchess of Northumberland, who resides in the very castle that Kerrie stayed in during her time in St. Cloud State’s study abroad program, has finally introduced an incredibly controversial poison garden to the large Alnwick Garden, which is situated just outside the castle walls.

The story is here. Not only are poisonous plants being introduced, but illegal and controlled substances as well, such as “Cannabis, opium poppies, magic mushrooms and coca – the source of cocaine.” Obviously, there’s a big stink about this, but all of it has been cleared by the local government. I just think it’s really cool that this kind of thing is being done for education – the only way anyone can enter the poison garden is during specific times and with a guide – and that this garden, which has been the Duchess’ project for years now, is aiming to teach people about plants, water, and nature, instead of just being there to be pretty.

It is, though, just a garden, and it’s very British of me to actually care a lot about what happens to it. But, hey, I thought it was interesting.