Things Don't Last

Ever notice how things don’t last anymore? I once had a dryer that lasted twenty years...never even a repair call. That dryer died in the fourth year of my current marriage. Now, in only eight years, we are getting another dryer. Ditto on the washing machines. Twenty years, not a problem. Broke within a week of the old dryer. Washing machines, however, have it even rougher than dryers. We bought the third washing machine of our marriage this past fall.

I lived in a house in Germany that was over five hundred years old. I am getting worn out trying to maintain my current forty year old house. Nothing lasts anymore.

When our kids are gone and we buy our house in Scotland, I’m opting for one that is at least two hundred years old. I have my eye on one that was built in 1698 on the Isle of Islay off the west coast of Scotland. It is currently owned by an English family who use it all of two months each year. The house overlooks my ancestral home of Finlaggan Castle (my MacDonald roots are showing). This is a picture of the castle ruins from the front gate of the house.

Or if I had $7 million laying around today I’d buy Borthwick Castle, which came on the market just last month. Borthwick Castle was completed in 1430. With walls fifteen feet thick, it was virtually impregnable . Mary Queen of Scots visited the castle frequently. Oliver Cromwell laid seige to the castle in 1650. It was the last castle in Scotland to fall to Cromwell. Damage caused by Cromwell's artillery to the tower on the left is still visible. They built ‘em to last back in those days!

Books…I’ve got books that are falling apart and are less than ten years old. Then I have my old books. The ones I like to collect. I’m talking two hundred plus years. My oldest complete book was printed in 1611…ok it was rebound in the 1800’s, but the pages, though yellowed are still supple. They made them to last back then. I have a partial book of the Acts of the Scottish Parliament from 1497, it was damaged in a fire in 1712, but the remaining pages are still supple. Once upon a time things were made to last and/or be repaired. Nowadays it’s, throw it away and buy another.

There is one thing I am glad doesn’t last – teenagers! Mine are driving me crazy. I’m glad I never was one!

Saint Patrick Special

As I stated about a year ago on this blog, one of the reasons there is a Saint Patrick's Day, is that one of my ancestors, Niall of the Nine Hostages (Irish King, brigand, pirate depending upon your point of view) kidnapped the son of a Welsh noble. That young man, Succat Morgannwg eventually became known as Patricius...Saint Patrick. Well, that's one of the stories about the origin of Saint Patrick. Niall is most often "credited" with the kidnapping and Patrick did originate somewhere along the west coast of the Isle of Britain.

As Monday (Saint Patrick's Day) is a special day for those of Irish descent, I'm taking a hop across the Irish Sea to my second favorite home away from home, Ireland. In fact, we will travel all the way across Ireland to the Atlantic Coast in the west to County Clare and County Kerry. The west coast of Ireland, like the west coast of Scotland, is wilder and more rugged than the east coast. It is the west coast of both countries that gets battered by Atlantic storms. The brief tour begins in County Clare and the limestone topography known as "The Burren".


Above is the megalithic portal tomb at Poulnaborne. Radiocarbon dating of human remains found here in 1986 indicate that burials took place between 3800 and 3200 B.C.E. An interesting fact is that structures like this (called dolmens) are found on every continent except Antartica all dating around the same time period between about 5,000 B.C.E and 2,000 B.C.E.


The Cliffs of Mohr are another popular tourist attaction near Doolin in County Clare. Sandstone capped limestone cliffs that rise over 600 feet above the Atlantic Ocean below, the Cliffs of Mohr are relentlessly pounded by wind and wave. Large sections break off and tumble into the waves below every few years. Although there are signs urging caution, there are no barriers. Thrill-seakers can oft be seen crawling up to the very edge of the cliffs for spectacular photos.


Old abandoned cemetaries can be found all over Ireland. Celtic crosses are common like this one. This picture was taken at sunset around 10PM in Killilagh Church yard near Doolin in County Clare. The church was built around 1400 and abandoned around 1849.

Above is the Dingle coastline in County Kerry at Coumeenoole. The cluster of modern houses on the distant coastline sits among Neolithic "hive houses" that dot the pastures above.


So I had to include me engaging in one of my favorite activities anywhere, but Ireland makes it special. Yes, I'm wearing a rain jacket. During this particular week in Ireland on the Dingle Peninsula it rained almost everyday. Hey, there is a reason it is "the Emerald Isle". My two favorite places in Ireland are Donegal and Dingle. Many have heard of "The Ring of Kerry". Dingle Peninsula across Dingle Bay from "The Ring" is lesser known, has fewer tourists and is therefore more relaxing during the height of the tourist season.

Mid-July in Ireland is fuschia time. The countryside along the west coast in particular is covered with red and purple color from the fuschias. These were photographed in the backyard of our cottage in Ventry on Dingle.

Finally in County Clare on the shores of the River Shanon, you find Bunratty Village and Bunratty Castle. Durty Nellys outside the castle was established in 1620 and still draws quite a crowd, especially on a pleasant summer day. The original Inn has been much modifed over the centuries.

The first structures to occupy the site of Bunratty castle were a Viking trading camp around 970 C.E. A series of smaller fortresses occupied the site from 1270 with the current structure having been completed in 1425. The castle boasts the largest collection of 15th century furniture and furnishings in Ireland. Bunratty Castle and Bunratty Folk Park are major tourist attractions in County Clare. With Shannon Airport nearby, the Folk Park and Castle receive a flood of visitors either as they arrive in Ireland or as they are departing.

A favorite attraction of the Castle is the Castle Dinner. With castle staff dressed in period garb, visitors are entertained in the Great Hall with traditional Irish folk music interspersed with Irish music from the 15th century.

A Farewell...

This is a farewell…of sorts. After this, no more will I post “heavy” topics here. This blog will be reserved for non-controversy. My other blog Complex Topics is where I will continue to post sensitive issues and where bare-knuckle brawling is expected. I came to this conclusion visiting other blogs. Simply put, there are at least three major topics that ought not to be blogged about (with comments turned on), if one does not wish gloves to come off: religion, politics and human sexuality (gay rights).

No one posts on these topics without having strong convictions of their own. Posting these topics is only done to advance one’s view on those topics. Despite protestations to the contrary, few people who make such posts are really interested in having their point of view skewered and they are equally unwilling to defend their position with facts or well-conceived logic.

What they seek is a pleasant “discussion” with like-minded friends who will not seriously challenge their thought processes or assertions. They welcome an occasional buffoon whose arguments consist of “I don’t care what you think” or “Boo Hoo” or any number of inane comments, because then they can put on their condescending leftist liberal airs (there, I said it) and lecture that person. Throw them a serious challenge (delivered in condescending conservative airs) and they protest, “but I just wanted a discussion. This is going nowhere, leave me alone”.

A recent visit to another blog with political content brought me to this conclusion. The blogger posted a handful of facts extracted primarily from a blatantly slanted news article and concluded with his highly charged input. Given the facts posted and the blogger’s prior statements of political leanings, I assumed he was continuing to push his political view about the Republican Presidential candidate. Most of the comments were like-minded cheerleading, sage nodding and shaking of heads over how wise we are and how evil this politician is and oh how evil America has become. A handful of comments went completely in the other direction…way out there condoning torture. Yes, the topic was President Bush's recent veto.

When I finally joined the discussion, I came in hard. It was clear to me that most, if not all the participants in the “discussion” knew nothing beyond the news article. They had not read the legislation about which they were commenting. They had not read any statements apart from those provided in the article. They had not drawn any conclusions except those conveniently laid out for them in the article or the original post. Or the obvious, "torture is bad".

I challenged all to read the legislation, and read the real statements…multiple times. Some were content to draw implied conclusions from quotes, but took offense when I did the same to their comments. I was taken to task for assuming they had not read the legislation or other primary sources. Excuse me, but if you tell me that according to Genesis, God created Eve first, and Adam from her rib, then I would accuse you of not reading Genesis and I would be right. “His damn job is information-seeking on political issues!” I was told, by one person defending another with the air of “how dare you say he didn’t read the source material.”

Um, well, about the same time that comment came through, the person whose “damn job is information-seeking on political issues” steps forward to admit he had not read the source documents and that he relies on other agencies to synthesize things for him…agencies that happen to share his political views. Now let me state that I consider this individual to be honorable. I can give no higher acclaim. I do not know if he saw the other comment before his admission, but to admit at all that he did not read the source documents showed integrity. That I respect. Those who truly know me know this to be true. I am old fashioned in this sense: I am willing to die over a point of honor.

As the discussion wound down and the blogger who made the original post rejoined the discussion, he too wound up admitting that he had simply plucked his disjointed “facts” from the news article he had cited. Only one person commenting ever asserted that they had read the source documents. So, it seems I was right all along, most had not read the source documents. After being taken to task for accusing others of not reading the sources, I was right. The readers’ conclusions were formed based upon what a third party wanted the readers to believe.

It’s an election year. People are charged up with their political views. They happily latch on to reports that reinforce those views, seldom bothering to check the facts. Let the “experts” do the analysis for me, they say. Not me. Social and political commentary is but a starting point. On issues I care about and wish to publicly comment upon, I educate myself not with other’s opinions, but with the facts from which opinions and conclusions are drawn. As much as I respect and like George Will, I check his facts.

So I have promulgated some “laws” and “corollaries”.

1. In discussing religion, politics or gay rights, there will be mud. Deal with it.

2. Do not post about religion, politics or gay rights unless you are prepared to get dirty, or stay the hell out of it.

3. Any discussion of religion, politics or gay rights isn’t really a discussion, but a bare-knuckled brawl. Deal with it.

4. When posting about religion, politics or gay rights, be certain you have your facts straight, in context, and can back them up, or be prepared to be skewered.

5. In posts about religion, politics or gay rights, anything not a fact will be pure raw emotion. Deal with it.

6. Don’t visit blogs where the owners want to have a “discussion” about religion, politics or gay rights, unless you intend to agree with their every word. They seldom really mean it.

7. If in doubt about #6, sit back for a bit and watch the flow of the "discussion". Enter only if mud is flying freely and people are not bemoaning the fact.

I shall henceforth follow my self-promulgated laws and corollaries when navigating through blog land. And so, Writer’s Musings bows out of further charged “discussion”. It’s too hard to keep the furniture clean if there is mud flying and I do like to lighten up now and then.

Charged topics will be moved to Complex Topics where all nice furniture, rugs and such have been removed. Feel free to take off the gloves, grab a handful of mud and fight for what you believe in. Think of it as cage-fighting in blogosphere. The only rules are no direct name-calling or excessive profanity permitted. Imply all you want. Asking charged leading questions. Fling inuendo. Don't boo hoo when the mud smacks you in the face.