Henry "Harry" Ferguson was an inventor who was constantly tinkering and trying new things. In the course of his life, he helped to revolutionize the tractor, helped revive the fortunes of an American automobile company's farm implements, and his name was known worldwide. Henry Ford was the son of emigrants from Cork who revolutionized automobile manufacturing. Together, these … [Read more...] about A Tale of Two Henrys & Their Tractors
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Macklin’s Cross
It looks like it's trying to clear this morning, though waves of drizzle betimes pass through. Our friend Thomas says "betimes." I like it. A little while ago our neighbors Anne and Joe Kelley stopped to tell us that Joe Macklin had died during the night. The Macklins live in the small house on the crossroads at the end of our lane, where we turn to go into Roscommon. It's … [Read more...] about Macklin’s Cross
Sardonic Joe
Joe Queenan's no-holds-barred satirical writing is not for every palate. He jabs, stabs, pokes, prods, and otherwise mangles various aspects of American culture (not to mention European culture and Third World culture) like a dentist performing a root canal without an anesthetic or a disgruntled postal worker creating balloon animals. It's often not pretty, but is certainly … [Read more...] about Sardonic Joe
A Day in Capitan Sarmiento
The alarm clock rang. My consciousness slowly roused. 5:30, the illuminated digital figures hazily proclaimed. I steadily regained my faculties after what amounted to about four hours sleep. What in God's name was I doing getting up at this unearthly time? I was supposed to be on vacation. Forty-five minutes later, following a tepid shower and a breakfast consisting of coffee … [Read more...] about A Day in Capitan Sarmiento
Northern Ireland in Crisis?
The more things change, the more they stay the same, was one cynic's response to the election results in Northern Ireland on November 26, which resulted in overwhelming victories for Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Gerry Adams's Sinn Féin Party. Other, less cynical observers point out that the majority of voters, 70 percent, chose to support pro-Agreement … [Read more...] about Northern Ireland in Crisis?