The Iron Law of the Bagpipes...

...states that: the closer you get to the damn things the worse they will sound. From the other side of a drizzle-shrouded glen, bagpipes can, I imagine, sound something akin to beautiful (hmmm - you might want to make that two glens just to be safe). On the other hand, when they are being broadcast from close range (say the street outside your office) it is not possible for them to sound anything but like some form of war crime involving a chainsaw and a cat. Dear god, please make that busker stop...