The Famine began quite mysteriously in September 1845 as leaves on potato plants suddenly turned black and curled, then rotted, seemingly the result of a fog that had wafted across the fields of Ireland. I have been told that the cause was actually an airborne fungus originally transported in the holds of ships traveling from North America to England. Somewhat ironic then if you consider home many Irish families in turn fled to North America because of it. Let no one say we Irish have not had a sense of humor in the annuals of history.

In Any event, The Great Famine was a period of mass starvation, disease and emigration between 1845 and 1852. Outside of Ireland it is more commonly called The Irish Potatoe Famine. Within Ireland, and amongst my own family it was referred to as an Gorta Mór or great hunger.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: an Gorta Mór, Boston, Buffalo, Emigration, England, History, Ireland, Irish Famine, Memorial, Potatoe, Potatoe Famine, Technorati

Coffin Ships are a rather sad part of Irish history. Originating during the Great Irish Famine, and of course the prison ships to Botany Bay. The first vessel with Irish convicts for Botany Bay arrived in Port Jackson on 26 September 1791.

They were called “coffin ships,” because so many poor souls had been dying on them as of late, leaving behind widows and orphans and broken families. Typically untrustworthy vessels, these ships were purchased literally from salvage yards (where they awaiting dismantling) by unscrupulous owners who had no intention of repairing them. Sailors who agreed to serve on board these floating wrecks typically knew nothing of the dangers until they were well out at sea, vagabonds, and those desperate for work (of which there were plenty) quickly volunteered.

Concerned only with profits, these same ship owners heavily overburdened the ships then insured them against expected losses of cargo. They were quite literally worth more at the bottom of the sea than upon it.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: America, Brehon Law, British North America, Coffin Ship, Daniel McDonagh, Famine, Gerard Keegan, History, Ireland, irish, New York, poverty, Quebec, Robert Whyte, Technorati

This article being updated regularly (sometimes as often as several times a minute at current) Please hit your refresh button regularly to see the latest updates at the bottom of the page.

Earthquake and Tsunami Hits Japan and the Pacific Region

The first sign of a tsunami arriving is the water pulling away from the coastline. It’s being reported Diamond Head Reef is now exposed -@TWCBreaking

Here is a link to the Arrival Times

Since BloodSpite and I are extremely busy today, here is a Live News Feed to keep you abreast:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

We’ll be updating this throughout the day. Please check the jump for latest updates. Follow us on Twitter for up to the minute reports from sources including the Pacific Tsunami Center, US Military, and NOAA.

We’ll do the work so you don’t have too.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Event, Hawaii, History, Japan, Natural Disaster, Tsunami, Wave, West Coast

This story was first published by myself on March 3rd 2007 at Techography. I republished it here in 2010. – BloodSpite

On Easter Monday, shortly after noon, Patrick Pearse and a band of ill armed and ill prepared poets and romantic patriots rose in rebellion took control of the General Post Office in

central Dublin and several other strategic sites around the city. The Irish Republic was proclaimed in Dublin, and the insurgent Tricolour suddenly broke upon startled eyes flying from the flagstaff above the General Post Office in the very heart of the Irish capital.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: 1916, Dublin, Eamon Ceannt, Easter Monday, Easter Rising, General Post Office, History, Ireland, James Connolly, Joseph Plunkett, Patrick H Pearse, Revolution, Sean MacDiarmada, Technorati, Thomas J Clarke, Thomas MacDonagh

Every March our long term readers know that things get a little more….green around here. We also focus about 90% of our article writing to all things Irish.

With that in mind, we have written about literally countless subjects on Ireland, including music, politics, and even my own family history.

What we’d like to know is: whats something you want to learn about Ireland? Is there something you’d like us to research, and write about this March?

Give us some feedback, drop some ideas in the comments. Consider us your personal researchers this March. We’ll do the leg work and the writing, you do the reading and suggesting.

Also don’t forget that St. Patrick’s Day is the date for our annual blog meet. It will be held at our traditional location of Celtic Grill in Bentonville, Arkansas. We have held this blogmeet for going on 7 years running, and it’s still going strong. So be sure to RSVP with us so we can meet, drink and be merry!

Tags: Announcements, Annual, Arkansas, Bentonville, Blog Meet, Celtic Grill, History, Ireland, irish, March, Reader input, St Patricks Day, Technorati

This is a 2 part article, written by both authors of Registered Evil. As many things in our history, different people, were in different places with different perspectives. These are ours. -BS

Challenger: 25 years later, Still a Painful Memory.

January 28, 1989…

Seems like a long time ago…I remember it vividly though.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Apollo 1, Challenger, Christa McAuliffe, Dick Scobee, Edward White, El Onizuka, Frontier, Greg Jarvis, History, Judy Resnik, Mike Smith, NASA, Odyssey, Roger Chaffee, Ron McNair, Shuttle, Space, Technorati, Virgil Grissom

This is a 2 part article, written by both authors of Registered Evil. As many things in our history, different people, were in different places with different perspectives. These are ours. Part 2 is here. -BS

January 28, 1986.

I was attending Elementary school in Virginia Beach, VA. My dad was stationed at NAS Oceana, and we lived in Pungo, VA at the time. Nanny Creek Rd I think. The whole address escapes me now.

My teacher, Mrs Paxton I believe her name was, had rolled a TV in our classroom to watch the shuttle lift off. 3rd grade was cool like that then. I’m a young buck, I know.

As most school systems were at the time, they were excited that a teacher had been selected to go in to space: Christa McAuliffe.

How many dreams started, and ended that day?

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Apollo 1, Challenger, Christa McAuliffe, Dick Scobee, Edward White, El Onizuka, Frontier, Greg Jarvis, History, Judy Resnik, Mike Smith, NASA, Odyssey, Roger Chaffee, Ron McNair, Shuttle, Space, Technorati, Virgil Grissom

Amongst those of us who are in telecommunications, America has two tower icons.

However, one will end up in the junk yard this week and the other might gain national prominence and be assured longevity.

For those located in Hawaii, or in Tennessee both are landmarks that are easily remembered and well known.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Cellular, Hawaii, Historical Register, History, Honolulu TV Tower, Radio Tower, Tear down, Technorati, telecommunications, Tennessee, Tower Dogs, Towers, WSM Tower

I originally posted this back in 2004 at Techography. It’s short and sweet, like all Thanksgiving posts should be in my opinion. The time isn’t one for waxing eloquent, or long drawn out speeches. Its one for reflection. – BS

I could try to write something poetic. I could try to write something intriguing, in depth and hammering, tear jerking or maybe even emotional.

I’ll leave it to Doc Russia and the rest to write serious pieces.

Instead I’ll let someone else’s words fit the bill for me this Thanksgiving.
More after the Jump

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Doc Russia, Hands that Built America, History, Reflection, Technorati, Thanksgiving, U2

In the military, sometimes the line between you and the life you have is a thread. That thread can mean the difference in life and death. The difference between success and failure. Outright jubilation and utter tragedy.

Threads are funny things. We can hang by them, or be hung by them. Caught up and tangled in them or have them cut us loose in a instant.

There’s often no rhyme or reason to those threads or their actions. I do not think I have ever met a military veteran who does not believe in luck to some degree or another.

No matter how religious one may or may not be, sometimes there is just no other explanation. Guardian angels, luck, it’s all the same ball of wax.

Occasionally though, the stories are all to surreal, to amazing to not be given a lot of thought on later in life.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Bill Weaver, Blackbird, History, Life, Military, SR-71, Technorati, Thread

My Family has served this country for over three generations.

Today is our day.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Family, generations, History, Technorati, Veterans Day

Yeah these are usually in v00d3ws purview but this song has been in my head for over two days.

It’s an excellent song with a good historical basis.

Tags: Dropkick Murphys, Green Fields of France, History, Music, Technorati, World War One

If you have ever seen the ESPN movie The Junction Boys, or read the history of the event, or even the book, then you probably already have an idea of where I am heading with this.

If not, then let me try to lay it out, fellow fans, because this has been on my mind all morning.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Bear Bryant, Football, Future, Go Vols, Go Volunteers!, History, Motivation, NCAA, SEC, Technorati, The Junction Boys, Unviersity of Tennessee

How is that you say? Tennessee obviously has some military traditions. Their football team was once commanded by a General. The dragoon uniform worn by Tennessee regulars during the Mexican War is the current uniform worn by the color guard at UT Knoxville athletic events.

But how in the world does Georgia fit in to this equation?

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Bulldogs, Football, History, Military, NCAA, SEC, Technorati, University of Georgia, University of Tennessee, Volunteers

104 years.

That’s how long it’s been since these two former SEC Goliath’s have faced each other with both teams holding losing records. The last time was in 1906.

v00d3w and I struggled to decide what to call this week. We settled on Civil War. Not only because he and I are rooting for the opposing teams, but because Derrick Dooley, the current Tennessee football coach, is the son of Legendary Georgia coach Vince Dooley.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: BloodSpite, Football, Game, Georgia, Go Dawgs!, Go Vols, Go Volunteers!, History, NCAA, Rival, SEC, South, Technorati, Tennessee, Tradition, v00d3W

I have heard many speeches in my time pertaining to victory and heralding change in our world and our country.

But tonight’s…just rang hollow with me.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: History, Oration, President Obama, Randy Pausch, Ronald Reagan, Speech, Technorati, Thabo Mbeki, Tony Blair

“We can’t hold back the hands of time, its just something we got to do.”

Yup.

Critters first day was Monday. The morning was….interesting. She was all excited until she realized her mother and I would not be staying with her the entire day. Then we piled in to the gym. Here too, a problem arose. Critter is much like me, in not enjoying being amongst crowds. So there she sat in the middle of the gym with her hands over her ears, and head burrowed to block the noise. So of course you can guess what happened when the the Principal fired up the PA system.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Critter, Family, First Day, History, Home, Love, Mark on the Wall, Parkinsons, School, Technorati

I first wrote this back in March of 2005 at Techography.com. Since I’m being a complete bum this week and posting a lot of my old stuff from Techo on here, I figured i might as well throw this one on the burner as well. Enjoy! – BS

As many know I am a history buff. That love of history also applies to the wild and zany.You learn lots of really important things through this type of self education. Like Don’t Kiss a Rattle snake.

Seem’s pretty simple right? We are a world of extremely inteligent people. Or perhaps we are merely a world of extremely self congratulatory people. Just for fun I thought I would cover some serious “Well Duh”s” that have occured in the last century or so, and then you can try to answer the question your self.\Are we really the most intellegent race on the planet? Or just the most self centered?

Enjoy!

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: History, I think it's funny!, Technorati, Weird