5 May marks 200 years since

PeterCS wrote:

Bradman wrote:Which one of the yankee robber barons said history was bumkem?

The Model T man (any colour, as long as it's black). "... more or less bunk", to be more exact.

General W.T. Sherman, on War, is more interesting reading.

Very different messages at different times, in different roles - while driving old Dixie down in the war, or out to massacre Injuns, he had the scent of blood in his nostrils.

But afterwards, rueful variations on "War is Hell". From one who knew.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Tecumseh_Sherman

Yes, I know that's wandering off Marx. But this is The Bails.

With all this discussion about General Sherman, this had to be the omen bet at Sha Tin (Hong Kong) on Sunday. Huge odds too!

https://www.williamhill.com.au/horse-racing/81247321/hong-kong-9

I don't minds the odd omen bet. And the odds on this one........?

Pity you dug it up after the event.

2/3rds of the Irish voted for Abortion rights. Uncle Karl would be happy. Another blow struck for rationalism.

... and one of my favourite Melbourne pubs - The Last Jar - hosted Irish emigres watching the referendum results come in.

Never been married to a Catholic horrie?

Bradman wrote:Never been married to a Catholic horrie?

Nah ... went out with a few, all of whom were anti CC, even if some were still damaged by the CC. At one stage I went out with a Chilean woman who as a kid had been expected to become a nun. Told me stories that made my hair curl.

the worst ones are those who stoutly defend it but don't live it. going to have to revise some old lecture notes reunification must be just around the corner

Bradman wrote:the worst ones are those who stoutly defend it but don't live it.  going to have to revise some old lecture notes reunification must be just around the corner

You could be right about reunification, though it could be another couple of generations away. Yeats was a crazy, albeit remarkable loon, however he was pretty much right about the CC being a barrier to unification.

The gay and now abortion reform referenda show the clear signs. You can hear the sounds of the shackles being loosened.

well i would have thought the whack job protestants might be the sticking point.

farking stupid device is now coming up with chinese characters

Bradman wrote:well i would have thought the whack job protestants might be the sticking point.  

farking stupid device is now coming up with chinese characters

hehehe.. the whacko proddies also campaigned against both referenda. Sectarianism and religious nutbaggery is the ball and chain on Ireland, but their manacles are loosening.

Speaking of ball and chain -

Allium triquetrum

Have never been a fan of flags
Cloth that is torn and stained
Nor symbols bent and dented on heads
Wielded by folk with peculiar beliefs

If you follow the faint trail through the woods
Instead of the symbol at its end with a candle
Smell the scent of the three cornered leek one
And regard the flower of wild Irish garlic.

There are three shades on the tricolour
Only of them is right
White for the peace not between but within us
That flower of wild Irish garlic.

The orange of the ball, the green of the chain
are fading with each effort and strain

Maybe a place freed from religious control
Can find anew the joy of a woodland walk.
Where one can find the colour composed of all colours
That is the flower of wild Irish garlic.