Giant Metaphors Screw With Scottish Parliament

It's been almost two weeks since Scotland's attempt at self-government was felled by both a missing screw and a loose screw (because just one idiomatic expression would not suffice for such an inept body), which in turn caused a 12-ft. beam to fall at Holyrood, the new $750-million dollar Scottish parliament building.

The accident, which happened while parliament was in session, narrowly avoided injuring legislators. And it forced an evacuation of the chambers that continues to this day. Reports say repairs may take months.

In the meantime there's been nothing but squabbling over where, how, when, and if to move the legislative body while the beam is fixed.

The authorities are aware they have to find somewhere soon, because the saga over the broken beam and the peripatetic Scottish Parliament has gone from crisis to farce.

Excruciatingly well-detailed coverage of the ongoing saga here. A view of Scottish self-government from below Hadrian's Wall here.