by Jonathan Cook, The Unz Review: Western publics are being subjected to a campaign of psychological warfare, where genocide is classed as ‘self-defence’ and opposition to it ‘terrorism’ Israel knew that, if it could stop foreign correspondents from reporting directly from Gaza, those journalists would end up covering events in ways far more to its […]

  When a PhD student took a second look at laser survey data collected in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, he discovered an entire hidden city built by the ancient Maya people. A new study published this week in Antiquity reveals the impressive scope and scale of the newly discovered city complex, which researchers named Valeriana.   Previously Unknown Maya City Comprises Over 6,000 Structures Detail of the Valeriana site from the lidar survey. Source: Antiquity.   Concealed beneath the jungle canopy in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, the recently revealed Maya city ruins were “hidden in plain sight” near modern buildings and highways. Researchers named the city Valeriana after a nearby freshwater lagoon. The ruins date back between 250 and 900 CE, during the Classic Period of ancient Maya history. At its peak from 750 to 850 CE, Valeriana may have been home to up to 50,000 people—a higher number than the area’s modern-day population.   Valeriana shows “all the hallmarks of a Classic Maya political capital” and comprises over 6,000 structures. These include temple pyramids rivaling the ones at Tikal and Chichén Itza, as well as a ball court, broad causeways, amphitheaters, and enclosed plazas. The study also revealed a dense urban sprawl, with terraces and houses covering the hillside outside the ancient Maya city center.   Lidar Technology Reveals Ancient Ruins Lidar survey view of the ancient Maya city ruins recently discovered in Mexico. Source: Antiquity.   The Maya city ruins were discovered using lidar, a type of laser survey that maps structures hidden under vegetation. A lidar survey involves a remote sensing technique in which laser pulses are fired from an overhead airplane, and objects on the ground below are mapped according to the time it takes the laser signal to bounce back to its origin.   Luke Auld-Thomas, a PhD student in archaeology at Tulane University and lead author of the new study, explained, “Scientists in ecology, forestry, and civil engineering have been using lidar surveys to study some of these areas for totally separate purposes. So what if a lidar survey of this area already existed?” Indeed, Auld-Thomas’s analysis of existing lidar survey data—originally collected to monitor carbon in forests—revealed the ancient Maya city complex. It is the first to be found in the east-central Campeche region of Mexico. Researchers also believe that Valeriana was second in density only to Calakmul, the largest known ancient Maya site in Latin America.   “There’s a Lot More to Be Discovered” The pyramid at Chichén Itzá, an ancient Maya city in Yucatán State, Mexico. Source: Wikipedia Commons.   The researchers’ next step is to actually visit the site. They also hope to search for more remnants of ancient Maya civilization using lidar survey data. Of Valeriana’s unexpected discovery, Auld-Thomas said, “The government never knew about it; the scientific community never knew about it. That really puts an exclamation point behind the statement that, no, we have not found everything, and yes, there’s a lot more to be discovered.”   Thomas Garrison, an archaeologist who was not personally involved in the study, told Live Science, “Unfailingly, everywhere that this sort of work is done, there’s more settlement [discovered]. It all provides more pieces for this huge puzzle, and every puzzle piece counts.”

  One of the final victories of the Progressive Era was the passage of the 18th Amendment to the US Constitution. Today, however, this amendment is hardly hailed as a victory. Unlike the groundbreaking 19th Amendment that granted women’s suffrage, which was passed the same year, the 18th Amendment is now a cautionary tale. In 1920, the Temperance Movement in the United States finally got a strong majority of Congress and the state legislatures to ban the sale of alcohol. This created the era known as Prohibition, which lasted until 1933 with the passage of the 21st Amendment. Why did Prohibition end? How could something so strongly supported in 1920 be so strongly reviled in just 13 years?   Setting the Stage: Alcohol Consumption in the 1800s A photograph of ceramic whiskey bottles, circa 1900, that could lead to overconsumption as consumers would fill the bottles themselves from barrels. Source: National Public Radio (NPR)   Today, many people scoff at the concept of Prohibition during the 1920s. Given contemporary norms, it seems outrageous to think that the federal government needed to ban alcohol. However, the move to ban alcohol was not as outlandish in the early 1900s. Consumption of alcohol actually peaked in 1830 and was much higher than today. Much of this was likely influenced by the fact that alcohol was cheaper and safer than most other beverages; the distilling process killed harmful microbes. Culturally, alcohol was very important for social gatherings, and there was little understanding of alcoholism and addiction; people who drank too much were simply considered poor of character.   With relatively few other taxes compared to today, alcohol was an important source of tax revenue. Distilling whiskey was also highly regarded and even the career of a post-Revolutionary War George Washington. As less medical knowledge existed in the 1800s, alcohol was even regularly considered a de facto medicine. For all social classes, alcohol was embedded in daily life in a way not experienced today. This could lead to frequent problems of overindulgence, and public drunkenness was not uncommon.   Setting the Stage: The Temperance Movement Marchers with the Anti-Saloon League, part of a larger Temperance Movement, protested consumption of alcohol made easier by bars and saloons. Source: PBS Learning Media   Public drunkenness was criticized, but the true Temperance Movement arose from religious origins during the Second Great Awakening of the 1830s and 1840s. Inspired by religious fervor, many Americans signed pledges to abstain from alcohol completely during those decades. Reformers argued that alcohol consumption led to violence, illness, and the abuse of women and children. By the mid-1830s, as many as ten percent of Americans were members of the American Temperance Society.   Although their intensity decreased somewhat after the Second Great Awakening, temperance societies resurged after the American Civil War. Wartime whiskey rations for soldiers concerned many that the government supported alcohol consumption, and alcoholism by soldiers during the war was common. Alcohol sales were often limited after the war to prevent over-imbibing by returning soldiers, who could commit horrible acts while intoxicated. Back then, there was little medical or psychological knowledge of conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), so self-medicating with alcohol was not abnormal.   Setting the Stage: The Progressive Era Toward the end of the Progressive Era, World War I helped add patriotism to the Temperance Movement by linking alcohol consumption to harming the war effort. Source: The Mob Museum   The Progressive Era of the 1890s to 1920 was a significant boost to the overall Temperance Movement. Millions of Americans felt that the government should be active in trying to improve the lives of the downtrodden, including immigrants and children. As the Progressive Era enveloped the nation, it helped the Temperance Movement become nationwide rather than regional to the South and West. People became more accepting of the idea that the government should limit people’s actions for the good of others. Americans were also now more sensitive to the plight of women and children, who were often the targets of abuse when men over-imbibed on alcohol.   As women’s political voice expanded during the Progressive Era and the pursuit of women’s suffrage, it increased the power of the Temperance Movement. Women were driving figures in the movement, with some—like Carrie Nation—even smashing saloons. Many Progressive reformers adopted women’s arguments that alcohol weakened the fibers that bound society together and led to physical abuse. The Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) was the largest women’s organization in the world and influenced the Progressive Era and had considerable political influence.   1919: Eighteenth Amendment Passes The 18th Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified by enough states to become national law in 1919, creating the era of Prohibition. Source: National Archives   While many cities and states had passed pro-Temperance laws by the 1910s, a nationwide law regulating alcohol had not yet been passed despite the popularity of Progressivism. World War I, however, helped put the Temperance Movement over the top in terms of political power. Progressives argued that alcohol consumption was harmful for the war effort and maintaining national unity during a time of conflict. Many even criticized beer as German, and thus anti-American. On December 18, 1917, eight months after the United States joined the war, Congress passed the 18th Amendment to ban the consumption of alcohol.   Immediately after the amendment was passed by two-thirds of both chambers of Congress, US President Woodrow Wilson began making executive orders that limited the resources available for alcohol. As the 18th Amendment went to the states for ratification, Wilson also passed an executive order in September 1918 banning the production of beer. Thus, states were incentivized to ratify the amendment; alcohol was being limited anyway due to the increased executive powers granted by war. On January 16, 1919, the 18th Amendment was ratified by the 38th necessary state, banning alcohol manufacture and sale across the country.   1920: Prohibition Enforced With Volstead Act An image of the Volstead Act, which was passed by Congress to enforce the 18th Amendment and Prohibition. Source: PBS Learning Media   Constitutional amendments guide and limit federal laws; a law was needed to define the bold but ambiguous language in the 18th Amendment. For example, what was meant by “intoxicating liquors”? Why was there no mention of consumption, as opposed to manufacture, sale, and transportation? Controversially, the federal law passed by Congress to define and enforce the 18th Amendment was stricter than many legislators had anticipated. The Volstead Act was vetoed by president Woodrow Wilson, but Congress overrode the veto.   The Volstead Act banned all alcohol, not just hard liquor as many original supporters of the proposed 18th Amendment had assumed. Ironically, the 18th Amendment included a one-year delay for implementation, meaning Prohibition would not begin until 1920…just as Progressive fervor began to wane. As government power decreased overall in the victorious aftermath of World War I, Prohibition created a massive new law enforcement and regulatory complex. Quickly, Americans consumed alcohol as the clock toward 1920 wound down.   Problems With Prohibition A newspaper headline from December 5, 1933 announcing the end of Prohibition due to the ratification of the 21st Amendment of the US Constitution. Source: Illinois Public Media   Progressives hoped that Prohibition would improve Americans’ health, reduce drunkenness and abuse, and cause a decrease in crime. Unfortunately, crime increased as Americans tried to continue their alcohol consumption. This led to illegal bars, illegal manufacture of alcohol, and illegal transportation of alcohol—each with its own new vocabulary and subculture. Illegal bars, known as speakeasies, could become dens of crime as they were hidden from law enforcement. This likely increased violence as criminals in speakeasies knew that police would not be summoned.   Illegal alcohol stills created moonshine in rural areas, and illegal transportation networks were created to run alcohol to speakeasies. On America’s roads, stock car racing was born out of the need for bootleggers to build and drive fast cars that could outrun law enforcement. Fast boats were used by rumrunners to smuggle in foreign-made alcohol that was parked in ships in international waters. Organized crime grew rapidly to take advantage of the need for planning and networking to process Americans’ continued demand for alcohol. The Mafia, colloquially known as “the Mob,” eagerly ran alcohol in America’s big cities.   1929: The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre A Thompson “Tommy” submachine gun, which became popular with gangsters and mobsters during Prohibition and were used in the infamous 1929 St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. Source: NPR   The high profits won from controlling illegal alcohol in big cities quickly led to turf wars among organized criminal gangs. Gangs would form alliances for protection and to intimidate rivals. Crime in the United States increased significantly. While many Americans initially romanticized speakeasies, bootleggers, moonshiners, and rumrunners, their crimes came to overwhelm local and state law enforcement. Innocent civilians could be caught up in their violence. By the late 1920s, many citizens were growing weary of Prohibition.   On February 14, 1929, organized crime had its bloodiest chapter to date. In Chicago, four gangsters impersonating police officers intercepted seven gangsters from a rival operation. The seven accosted men, believing they were being arrested by police, voluntarily lined up against a wall. Instead of being arrested, the seven were gunned down by Thompson submachine guns, colloquially known as “Tommy” guns. Americans were shocked by the slaughter, and many felt that Prohibition was the cause of the violence.   Early 1930s: The Great Depression and Prohibition As the nation suffered from the Great Depression, many urged a repeal of Prohibition so that alcohol, or at least beer, could be sold and taxed to raise revenue for aid. Source: PBS   The shock of the infamous St. Valentine’s Day Massacre was followed a year later by a rapidly eroding US economy. As the Great Depression resulted in mass unemployment and plummeting tax revenues, many Americans questioned the wisdom of continuing to spend money on enforcing Prohibition. Courts were overwhelmed by Prohibition-related charges, leading to the birth of common plea bargains. The Depression made many citizens feel that Prohibition was a waste of resources, especially as alcohol was one of the things many folks with money would still pay for.   Quickly, many began advocating for a repeal of Prohibition on economic grounds. The sale of alcohol could be taxed, raising desperately-needed revenue for government services like social welfare. Before Prohibition, excise taxes on the production of alcohol had been a major revenue source for states. The economic boom of the Roaring Twenties had prevented states from feeling the pinch, but those days were over. Anti-Prohibition protesters argued that consumers might be willing to spend more if they could get alcoholic beverages at restaurants and other venues. Prohibition was accused of essentially locking up the flow of spending from people who still had money.   1933: The Twenty-First Amendment Passes Democratic presidential nominee Franklin D. Roosevelt helped Democrats sweep control of the White House and Congress in 1932, setting up the 21st Amendment. Source: The Mob Museum   In 1932, voters were ready for a change in leadership. Incumbent US President Herbert Hoover, a laissez-faire Republican, was widely unpopular due to his lack of support for direct aid to the unemployed. His rival, an economic liberal Democrat named Franklin D. Roosevelt, promised a New Deal for the American people. This included his support for abolishing the 18th Amendment and repealing Prohibition. However, since Prohibition was created by a constitutional amendment, it could only be repealed by the same.   Landslide victories for Democrats across the United States in November 1932 created legislatures across the country that would ratify a new amendment overturning the 18th. President Roosevelt and a new crop of Democratic legislators entered office in the spring of 1933—too slow for many Americans desperately awaiting aid. Quickly, the Volstead Act was amended to re-allow beer in April. On December 5, 1933, the 21st Amendment was ratified, creating “Repeal Day.” Millions of Americans eagerly returned to purchasing alcohol legally, and spirits rose as FDR implemented his promised New Deal.   Legacy: It’s Better to Tax Than to Ban A 2023 map of the United States showing which states allow and tax recreational marijuana sales. Source: Tax Foundation   The spirit of the 21st Amendment is often referenced today in regard to another intoxicant: marijuana. In recent years, more US states have decriminalized or outright legalized the growth, sale, and consumption of (small amounts) of marijuana. Similar to arguments in the early 1930s, many proponents of legalized marijuana argue that states can raise revenue from excise taxes on the substance. As of 2024, twenty-four US states and Washington DC have legalized marijuana.   Since the first state legalized medical marijuana in 1996, proponents of marijuana have occasionally called for a constitutional amendment to make legalization uniform across US states and territories. They point to the tax revenue benefits of legalization, which include $4 billion generated in 2023. However, due to the difficulty of passing a constitutional amendment, and with the last one being passed in the early 1990s, it is unlikely to see one about marijuana legalization anytime soon. Marijuana legalization will likely remain a state-by-state issue for the next few decades, at least.

  In 1606, less than a year after the Gunpowder Plot, Shakespeare was undoubtedly influenced by Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators in writing Macbeth. However, there are also some intriguing personal details that may make the bond between these two influential figures even more compelling. For William Shakespeare, writing for two contrasting monarchs: Queen Elizabeth I and King James I (King James VI of Scotland) meant his works often concerned the political life of the nation. Arguably one of the most influential moments came in November 1605 with the discovery of Guy Fawkes beneath Westminster Hall preparing to light a fuse that would bring death to Parliament and its King.   What Family Connections Did Shakespeare Have with Guy Fawkes? Engraving of the Gunpowder Plot conspirators, Crispijn de Passe the Elder, 1605. Source: National Portrait Gallery, London   The most direct link between William Shakespeare and the Gunpowder Plot is via his father, John Shakespeare. John Shakespeare’s true faith is the subject of debate. However, what is known is that illegal Catholic writings were found in the attic of John Shakespeare’s home in Stratford Upon Avon. He was also known to have been friends with William Catesby, father of Robert Catesby (lead conspirator of the Gunpowder Plot). Furthermore, William Shakespeare’s mother’s family, Mary Arden, was descended from a family known for their Catholic faith which had seen several of the family imprisoned and even executed for an attempted assassination of Elizabeth I.   With so many close connections to Catholic sympathisers and radicals, William Shakespeare may have felt compelled to make his loyalty to the Protestant King James I explicit by writing Macbeth.   How Did Shakespeare Address Treason/ the Divine Right of Kings? Portrait of King James I of England. Source: The Royal Household, London   When James VI of Scotland ascended the English throne as King James I he was immediately met with a troubled country. Catholics had been oppressed under Queen Elizabeth I and they would continue to face persecution under their new king. Debate over who should rightfully sit on the English throne mingled political and religious concerns making it an uneasy transition for King James. Although Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot is the most famous of the plots against King James’s life, it was far from the only one. Therefore, Shakespeare (under the King’s patronage) would have felt urged to address the public on the subject of the divine right of kings. The description of the murdered King Duncan as possessing silver skin and golden blood gives the monarch a saintly appearance.    To make the point clearer still, the scene of the crime is described by Macduff: “Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope the Lord’s anointed temple, and stole thence the life o’ the building.” There is no ambiguity that regicide is the most terrible of crimes. In the play, the the murder of King Duncan also has a catastrophic impact on the natural world at times describing apocalyptic scenes of floods, storms and cannibalism amongst animals. With vivid imagery, Shakespeare’s play upholds the status quo of hereditary succession and gives a warning to those who would dare to follow in Guy Fawkes’s steps.   How Did the Grisly Execution Affect Shakespeare? Etching of Guy Fawkes and conspirator executions in Old Palace Yard by Claes Jansz Visscher, 1606. Source: National Portrait Gallery, London   The first death in Macbeth is the reported one of the traitorous Macdonald. The thane has betrayed his king by supporting the invading ‘Norweyan’ force. In the first act of Macbeth, Shakespeare describes the thane’s death in grisly detail “unseamed from the nave to the chops…fixed his head upon the battlements.” Presumably as a stark warning to other would be traitors. Although the thane is killed in battle (by Macbeth), the manner of his death is striking in its similarity to another ‘traitor’ who would have been well known to the original audience.   The execution of Guy Fawkes is perhaps one of the most famous in English history. With wood block carvings of his torture and eventual execution showing in detail the effects of being hung, drawn and quartered. After death, Guy Fawkes and his fellow plotters faced the final indignity of their body parts being distributed “to the four corners of the kingdom” as a warning to others. An uncannily similar fate to described both at the beginning and the end of Shakespeare’s play (where Macbeth’s head is the final warning) so that the message is clear to all.    What Role Did the Mermaid Tavern in Cheapside Play? An Elizabethan drinking tavern. Source: Alamy   A popular drinking haunt of Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators, The Mermaid Tavern was once a fixture of Cheapside’s nightlife. It was home to an (in)famous Elizabethan-era drinking club: ‘The Mermaid Club’.  As well as being a known location for the Gunpowder plotters to meet, a number of literary minds also found inspiration there: John Donne, Ben Jonson and Francis Beaumont are known to have spent time there. Most significantly, Shakespeare is rumoured to have frequently met with his acting troupe here (a rumour, alas, unproven).   The tavern burnt down during the Great Fire of 1666, but its legend as a hive of activity is memorialised in the poem Lines on a Mermaid Tavern by John Keats. Perhaps suggesting that Shakespeare rubbed shoulders with Guy Fawkes is a stretch…but it is certainly possible.

  Passed down from one generation to the next, Irish folklore is ingrained in Ireland’s rich culture. Tales of the brave giant Finn MacCool, leader of the Fianna tribe, are some of the most widely celebrated. These stories continue to be used to describe the landscape. The Giant’s Causeway, Lough Neagh, the Isle of Man, and Ailsa Craig—according to the mythology—all owe their existence to Finn.   The Birth of a Legend Finn MacCool depicted on the wall of Finn MacCool’s bar in Bushmills, by the author, Alex Johnson, 2024   Finn’s early life is recounted in The Boyhood Deeds of Fionn which is believed to date from the 12th century CE and was translated into English by John O’Donovan in 1859. Finn’s father, Cumhall, was a leader of the Fianna who were groups of roving hunter-gatherers spread across the island of Ireland.   Cumhall died before Finn was born when he was slain at the Battle of Cnucha (modern-day Castleknock) and his mother, Muirne, fled fearing execution. Shortly after his birth, Finn was sent to live with his aunt and was raised in secret in the forests of the Slieve Bloom Mountains (Sliabh Bladma in Gaelic). It was there that Finn learned to hunt and fight.   For years, Finn roamed the Irish countryside, and it is said that by the age of ten, he was already regarded as an outlaw and marauder, capable of committing plunder on anyone who was an enemy. With a magic sword as his weapon, Finn was a fearsome opponent.   Finn’s Famous Feud An aerial view of Lough Neagh. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Probably the most famous and frequently recounted tale about Finn tells the story of a feud with a Scottish giant called Benandonner. It is often used to explain several geographical features in the landscape.   If Irish legend is to be believed, Finn set about building a causeway so he could get to Scotland without getting his feet wet. This story concerns Benandonner, who decided he would fight Finn and stop him from reaching Scotland. Benandonner crossed the Irish Sea, but news of his journey reached Finn before he did. Finn returned home where his wife, Oona, dressed him as a baby. When Benandonner reached their home, he believed the baby to be Finn’s son and upon seeing the size of the baby was terrified of how big Finn would be.   To add further insult to injury, Oona offered Benandonner a griddlecake filled with iron which chipped his tooth. Oona ridicules Benandonner, telling him that Finn can eat the cakes without any trouble, and she feeds one to Finn—still dressed as a baby—to prove her point. Terrified of meeting Finn, Benandonner fled back to Scotland and smashed Finn’s causeway on the way back, creating the Giant’s Causeway as we see it today.   Neither Finn nor Benandonner ever attempted to fight in person again, but their feud continued to be played out across the Irish Sea.   An aerial view of the Isle of Man. Source: Wikimedia Commons   It was during this feud that Finn is said to have scooped up a large chunk of Irish land to throw across the sea to Scotland, with the hope of crushing Benandonner. The hole this exposed is said to have filled with water, creating Lough Neagh, the largest lake anywhere in the British Isles.   He missed, however, and the clump of land landed in the middle of the Irish Sea, creating what we now know as the Isle of Man. As much as there is, of course, no truth in this tale, the Isle of Man is not dissimilar in shape to Lough Neagh although it is slightly larger; Lough Neagh covers an area of 151 square miles and the Isle of Man spans 220 square miles.   Ailsa Craig, photo by Diego. Source: Unsplash   Another aspect of the landscape attributed to Finn is Ailsa Craig, an uninhabited island in the Firth of Clyde around eight miles off the Ayrshire coast. According to Scottish folklore, Ailsa Craig is a pebble that fell from the apron of another Scottish giant known as the Cailleach, who was crossing the Irish Sea because she hoped to marry Finn.   The Impact of a Legend The Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland, by the author, Alex Johnson, 2024   There is no firm opinion on who, or what, the myths of Finn were based on. What is certain, however, is that Finn MacCool’s impact on Ireland has been a significant one. The term “Fenian” stems from Finn’s name, with the folklore being known in Gaelic as the “Fhiannaiocht,” or the Fenian Cycle in English.   It was from this legend that the Fenian Brotherhood—an American organization that fought for the creation of an Irish Republic, free from British rule—took its name. Members of their Irish counterpart, the Irish Republican Brotherhood, who led the Republican forces through the Easter Rising in 1916 and the War of Independence that followed, became known as Fenians.   Even during the more recent troubles in Northern Ireland, the term Fenian has been used to describe Catholics living in the country. While the modern usage of the term tends to be derogatory, it proves the importance of Finn as a symbol of the Irish identity.   The Causeway Coast: In Finn’s Footsteps The Giants Causeway, by the author, Alex Johnson, 2024   Tourism authorities have dubbed Northern Ireland’s north coast the “Causeway Coast,” and today its namesake, the Giant’s Causeway, is the most visited site in the country. There is no better place to learn more about Finn MacCool. The Giant’s Causeway is open year-round and is free to visit on foot. However, purchasing a ticket also grants you admission to the Visitor Centre where you can hear more about Finn while also learning about the geography and geology of the landscape — and the more truthful reason the Causeway exists.   Not to debunk the myth of feuding giants, the Giant’s Causeway was actually created by volcanic activity during the Paleocene Epoch, around 60 million years ago. Molten basalt from the volcano flooded into the chalk, contracting as it cooled. This contraction caused the basalt pillars to fracture, leaving the causeway we see today.   If you prefer the myth though, paying visitors to the Causeway receive an audio guide that lets you listen to the story of Finn MacCool as you descend to the impressive stones.   More Than a Giant Dunluce Castle on the Causeway Coast, Northern Ireland, by the author, Alex Johnson, 2024   While the Causeway Coast may take its name from the basalt columns, there is a lot more to see on a visit to this coastline. Every way you turn, there are more fascinating tales to be told.   Dunluce Castle, around five miles west of the Causeway sits on a basalt outcrop, connected to the mainland by a footbridge. The castle was built in the 13th century CE by the 2nd Earl of Ulster, Richard Og de Burgh before falling into the hands of the McQuillan family in 1513. They were defeated and pushed out of Dunluce by the MacDonald clan in the 16th century and the site was left to decline when the clan lost their fortune during the Williamite War of 1689 to 1691. It is now preserved by the government and is a remarkable sight.   Another of the coastline’s top visitor attractions is Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, around eight miles east of the Giant’s Causeway. The rope bridge connects the mainland with Carrickarede Island and is suspended some 30 meters (98 feet) above the sea.   Originally constructed by salmon farmers in the 18th century, the current bridge was erected in 2004. Salmon fishing ended in the area at the start of this century when salmon numbers were massively depleted, but the bridge remains an important tourism site and is the only connection between the island and the mainland.   Old Bushmills Distillery glass, by Sam Barber. Source: Unsplash   Just two miles from the Giant’s Causeway, the town of Bushmills has become a thriving hub as a result of the Causeway’s draw for tourists. Long before those tourists came in their thousands, Bushmills was on the map for another reason: whiskey.   Old Bushmills Distillery is the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world, having been granted a royal license in 1608, although the current distillery didn’t open until 1784. Bushmills whiskey is one of the most famous brands of Irish whiskey and is sold all over the world.   As far back as 1890, their whiskey was shipped to America and the Far East by their own steamship, the SS Bushmills. America quickly became Bushmills’s most important market, and the distillery suffered heavily during Prohibition. But Bushmills survived and today, the distillery is open for tours and tastings and is a fascinating activity to tie in with a visit to the Causeway.   Practical Information Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, by Michael Shannon. Source: Unsplash   The best way to travel the Causeway Coast is to drive its length by car, starting in Belfast and finishing up in Londonderry, both of which are full of intriguing history, albeit some of it rather troubling. It is possible to do the trip in one day, but an overnight stay along the route makes for a more relaxed journey.   Small guesthouses are dotted along the coast, with hotels in Bushmills and at the Giant’s Causeway itself. In the summer months, the coastal town of Portrush is a hive of activity making for an excellent place to stay.   If driving isn’t an option, Translink’s 172 and 402 bus services provide a frequent link to all the major attractions along the Causeway Coast, connecting with rail services in Coleraine and Portrush.

Jerry Cantrell's new solo album I Want Blood features members of Guns N' Roses, Metallica and Faith No More

How many of us are weary? Our lives are so full, so stressful, and so hurried we only feel troubled. There is no peace for the weary. We live in an exhausted world where the pace of our days has left many of us empty. But there is another way.

“That hurt like hell. Thank you so much.” Of all the “Thank you for the sermon today, Pastor” comments I’ve received over the years, that one was particularly memorable—and particularly encouraging. It came from a man I knew well—a thoughtful, humble, family-focused, Jesus-loving owner of an auto repair business. He wasn’t an elder or a deacon, but he prayed for me every day. I cherished his friendship, and though I never would’ve intentionally hurt him, this man’s words were a helpful reminder that biblical preaching can often cause deep but good and necessary pain. We teach to present our people complete in Christ. We direct their lives to God revealed in Jesus. So when they say, “Good message,” I’m glad. But I’ve also learned that when the truth hurts, when it’s hard and raises questions rather than words of encouragement, that’s a good sign too. ‘I Know, Because of the Pain’ The same year that my friend told me my sermon hurt, I read the French classic Diary of a Country Priest by Georges Bernanos. On the subject of the ministry of God’s Word, the priest says, Deeply biblical preaching can often cause deep but good and necessary pain. Teaching is no joke, sonny! . . . Comforting truths, they call it! Truth is meant to save you first, and the comfort comes afterward. . . . The Word of God is a red-hot iron. And you who preach it best go picking it up with a pair of tongs, for fear of burning yourself, you daren’t get hold of it with both hands. . . . Why, the priest who descends from the pulpit of Truth, with a mouth like a hen’s vent, a little hot but pleased with himself, he’s not been preaching: at best he’s been purring like a tabby-cat. Mind you that can happen to us all, we’re all half asleep, it’s the devil to wake us up, sometimes—the apostles slept all right at Gethsemane. . . . And mind you many a fellow who waves his arms and sweats like a furniture-remover isn’t necessarily any more awakened than the rest. On the contrary. I simply mean that when the Lord has drawn from me some word for the good of souls, I know, because of the pain of it. (emphasis mine) Why must the truth sometimes hurt? Because “the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). God’s Word proclaimed will lay things open, right down to the bone, and that’s going to hurt in order to heal. It’s OK to admit that too. Not Designed to Entertain Truth be told, sermons aren’t designed for enjoyment and certainly not for entertainment. Sermons are designed to inform, liberate, convict, inspire, confront, comfort, challenge, build, disturb, subvert, and demolish. They’re search-and-destroy missions launched by the Holy Spirit against the strongholds of falsehood erected in our minds by hell. They’re a dead-raising summons to people who prefer graves to grace. Sermons drive out darkness—and sometimes that’s accompanied by agony. “That sermon angered me” or “That message was painful” might be far better responses to a Sunday message than any other words one could or should say. “My chains fell off” is also acceptable. Sermons drive out darkness—and sometimes that’s accompanied by agony. That’s why Annie Dillard was wise to observe that Christian worship services are hard-hat areas where people are under construction—and sometimes, the dust is going to fly. It’s a shared pain. Pastors’ tears when preparing and preaching are real. We repent of our sins as we seek to offer the red-hot iron of the gospel to all. We know it’ll be painful but not harmful. Call to Repentance and Renewal Not unlike Eustace Scrubb in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, we experience the painful plunging of Aslan’s sharp claw into our souls, ripping away the scales of our dragonish thralldom, restoring our humanity: Then the lion said—but I don’t know if it spoke—“You will have to let me undress you.” I was afraid of his claws, I can tell you, but I was pretty nearly desperate now. So I just lay flat down on my back to let him do it. The very first tear he made was so deep that I thought it had gone right into my heart. And when he began pulling the skin off, it hurt worse than anything I’ve ever felt. The only thing that made me able to bear it was just the pleasure of feeling the stuff peel off. My old friend knew that pain. He knew that truth. He knew the word he’d heard that day, the word that “hurt like hell,” was actually heaven-sent, calling him to repentance and renewed faith, calling him to take painful steps outside his comfort zone and to make some crooked paths straight. And he did. Friends, that’s a good message. That’s what a sermon is for.