Ordinary Dubliners want to talk about the coming election for the US Presidency, given any excuse. In fact, the Europeans we meet want to talk about the coming election, given any excuse.
And everybody talks about the American economy, but especially Americans.
All that is by way of introduction to two podcast episodes that I found fascinating and accurate in representing the mainstream of English-speaking European thought about the US. (more…)
The Open House Dublin event last year was one of our best Dublin experiences. This weekend is the 2008 Open House event. We’re excited about it, and we’ll have lots of Dublin architecture to share next week!
In preparation, I had lunch at The Cake Café in the Daintree Building this week. It is a gorgeous oasis off my favorite busy street in Dublin, and an achievement in sustainable design, to boot. There were dozens of bicycles parked under an integrated shelter across from the restaurant part of the building, and young and old cyclists were continually coming and going — but not to the café. Maybe I’ll find out why on my next visit.
From the best word-a-day website, at wordsmith.org:
serein
PRONUNCIATION:
(suh-RAN [the second syllable is nasal])MEANING:
noun: Fine rain falling from an apparently cloudless sky, typically observed after sunset.ETYMOLOGY:
From French serein, from Old French serain (evening), from Latin serum (evening), from serus (late).USAGE:
“She must have caught a chill from the serein, that’s all!” Raphael Confiant; Mamzelle Dragonfly; Farrar, Straus and Giroux; 2000.
Here in Dublin, I’ve observed serein during the morning, afternoon, and evening as well. I don’t know of any uniquely Irish slang for this type of rain, although there are lots of words and colloquial phrases for heavier rain.
There must be a word for serein, given how common it is here (and how uncommon it is everywhere else I’ve lived).
We visited Kilkenny, about 90 minutes from Dublin by car, on a gorgeous Saturday in September. The main attractions are the city’s High Street and the large and well-kept Kilkenny Castle.
As usual, we have a set of photos for you, along with lots of words. Here’s the link to the photoset on Flickr:
We had a great day out, and we’re delighted to share it with you! (more…)
For our second day in Antrim, we decided to start our day with a dip in the ocean. Then we backtracked along the coastal route to see the Giant’s Causeway and to walk across the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. We toured the Old Bushmills Distillery at midday and enjoyed the sunny drive home. (more…)
Last week was gorgeous — sunny and warm. I’d call it an Indian summer.
Yesterday, the temperature seemed to drop a few degrees with every rain shower that passed through. Today is cold. It is more than an autumnal chill; winter sent its forward scouts to Ireland this Thursday.
We drove the Causeway Coastal Route in Northern Ireland two weeks ago. We had gorgeous weather, and the coast itself was a marvel. We spent two days touring County Antrim (which is north-east of Belfast) and we have lots of photos to share, of course.
The photoset for Saturday, the first day of the trip, is now available for your entertainment. Go to the Flickr webpage for the day’s photos first. If you’d like to use the slideshow feature, click on the first photo (the upper-left corner of the grid) and start from there. (more…)
A complaint of US workers: “Supposedly American companies lay off American workers and hire cheap labor in Mexico (or China or India).”
A complaint of Irish workers: “Supposedly Irish companies leave Irish workers to redundancies and hire cheap labour in the US.”
In case you missed Tina Fey’s acceptance at the Emmy Awards, for Best Actress in a Comedy Series, 30 Rock (video link):
I want to thank my parents for somehow raising me to have confidence that is disproportionate with my looks and abilities. Well done, that is what all parents should do.
The Bugle Staff agree, unanimously.
The doorbell rang after 10:30 last night. Anita woke me up to ask if I’d heard it. The radio was playing in our bedroom, and I insisted that it was just a sound effect from some commercial.
It rang again, more insistently this time. There was no doubt that somebody was at our front door.
“I locked the gate, I swear I did,” Anita said as we put on some clothes to meet our unexpected visitor. We talked quickly, in low voices, as we walked the length of our flat: Who would ring at this hour? Somebody we know? A neighbour? A Guard?
I made a brief case for not answering, on the grounds that it would bring nothing but trouble. I don’t remember how I lost that argument in just a few seconds. (more…)
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