Interior Decoration.

Given the shambles that is what's left of Scotland's financial services industry it is good to see that other potential industrial giants are emerging to replace it.

"A FAMILY-OWNED Scottish textile company is set to have a key role in helping the Obama family redecorate the White House. Biggar-based Calzeat Ltd are expected to produce the fabrics that will be used by the celebrity interior designer Michael Smith when he begins work on redecorating the presidential home over the coming months."

Good luck to them and great to see the Obamas doing something for Scottish business.

Happy Thanksgiving.

And a little known about White House tradition that has been going on for the last sixty one years.

"This year marks the 61st anniversary of the National Thanksgiving Turkey presentation. Though live Thanksgiving turkeys have been presented intermittently to presidents since the Lincoln administration, the current ceremony dates to 1947, when the first National Thanksgiving Turkey was presented to President Harry Truman ... The 2008 National Thanksgiving Turkey and its alternate are from Ellsworth, Iowa and were raised under the direction of National Turkey Federation Chairman Paul Hill. The 20-week old turkey, weighed about 45 pounds, when he was driven to Washington. The National Thanksgiving Turkey was raised using normal feeding and other production techniques. The one exception is they were provided increased interaction with people so that they would be prepared for their role at the White House Ceremony. After the presentation, the turkey will be flown first class to Disneyland Resort in Southern California, where he will be the grand marshal of "Disney's Thanksgiving Day Parade." After the parade, guests will be able to visit the turkey in Frontierland section."

Well done to Pumpkin and Pecan ... the main turkey and his "alternate."

Tony and Barney.

Mr Smith wishes to highlight the latest example of the "special relationship" between former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President George W. Bush ... the annual Whitehouse Barney Cam footage.

During the clip, Tony even owns up to something which the average Scot probably knew but wished to dis-believe namely his comment to Barney that "As someone born in Edinburgh, Scotland, it's always good to see the Scots doing well. (Barney looks at the camera, tilts his head and a "boing" sound effect is heard. Barney's daydream ends and he's sitting with Miss Beazley on Mrs. Bush's lap in front of the Christmas tree in the Blue Room.)"

Cheesy. But one thing is very certain, it is very unlikely that current British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will feature in W's last Barney Cam spoof next year. They may share some initials in their names but that is about as far as the "special relationship" goes between George and Gordon.

Edinburgh's White House

Mr Smith spotted the fact that Edinburgh can boast it's own "land mark" White House which is somewhat difference in appearance if not in style, from the American President's Pennsylvania Avenue mansion in Washington.

Can anyone spot the difference?