“Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all others because you were born in it.” ~George Bernard Shaw
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, which I totally missed, I’m posting a photo of Newgrange, built between 3300-2900 BC. It’s a prehistoric site in Ireland with some fancy megalithic art and a window that allows for 15 minutes of light during the winter solstice. It’s certainly not my favorite Irish thing, but really, how often can I talk about Joyce and Shaw and Wilde and Beckett?
The Newgrange claim to fame is that it was built 500 years before the Great Pyramids of Giza. Not to burst anyone’s bubble, but you really can’t compare a simple passage tomb with the Great Pyramids. I’m not saying Newgrange isn’t cool. But let’s get a little perspective and give Egypt its due. You’ve got Joyce and Shaw and Wilde and Beckett, you really don’t need to trump the pyramids, do you? You know what Oscar Wilde said: “One should always play fairly when one has the winning cards.”
MamaPeg is Watching You said,
March 18, 2008 at 6:12 pm
There’s always Saint Joseph Day… No one thinks of Santa Guiseppi, patron saint of laborers and a real saint – not like that poser Saint Patrick!
julieluongo said,
March 18, 2008 at 11:04 pm
I like Saint Flairpool of San Seriffe, the patron saint of patron saints.
julieluongo said,
March 18, 2008 at 11:16 pm
You always wondered if saints needed saints, didn’t you? Well, now you know.
MamaPeg is Watching You said,
March 19, 2008 at 6:46 am
Happy Saint Joseph’s Day – and get back to work, will ya?
julieluongo said,
March 19, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Apparently we missed St. Joseph’s day. According to wikipedia, if it falls during Holy Week it’s moved to the week before. So, it was on Saturday.
Jennifer said,
March 19, 2008 at 2:40 pm
I’m sad that you missed St. Patrick’s Day. It’s my favorite holiday, well second favorite after Christmas. Next year, I will be making a huge corned beef and cabbage dinner in a new house. If I don’t throw myself off a bridge first.
Did you know St. Cajetan is the patron saint of job seekers?
julieluongo said,
March 19, 2008 at 11:10 pm
I ate a bunch of corned beef a week before St. Patrick’s Day. We couldn’t wait.
JIm said,
March 20, 2008 at 9:17 am
Saints are all stupid dummy faces.
julieluongo said,
March 20, 2008 at 10:31 am
Except for Crummy Saint, the patron Saint of Toast.
Phlegm said,
March 20, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Newgrange is way better than the pyramids. Egyptians think they are so cool with their three-dimensional triangular-shaped thingies. But you don’t see them building into hillsides, do you? No. Because that takes talent.
Saints are dead people.
MamaPeg is Watching You said,
March 21, 2008 at 9:01 am
I dunno, I know some peeps and they are truly saints. Me, I’ll be roasting in hell someday. Why? Because I knew better!
MamaPeg is Watching You said,
March 21, 2008 at 9:02 am
And I agree with Phlegm. I mean look at the Etruscans… They built into the hillsides too. Of course, they were graves. Hmmm… I’m sensing a theme here.
messiestobjects said,
March 21, 2008 at 2:16 pm
You know who else built into hillsides? Hobbits, that’s who.
There’s no way I can make this comment less dorky, is there?
Phlegm said,
March 21, 2008 at 2:58 pm
EXACTLY.
Hobbits are so underrated.