5 haunted castles of Scotland

Glamis Castle

Built in the 14th century and the ancestral home to the Lords of Glamis, and the current home to the Earl and Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne, Glamis Castle of Angus, Scotland, has a long tradition of ghostly tales and other weirdness. Common stories include visions of the Grey Lady, who supposedly haunts the castle's chapel, and the White Lady, thought to be the spirit of Janet Douglas, a woman who was a widow of the Sixth Lord of Glamis and who was burnt at the stake on charges of witchcraft and conspiracy to poison King James the Fifth.

Then there is the odd, historical tale of the Monster of Glamis, who was a real, historical person. This poor figure was Thomas Bowes-Lyon, who would have been the next Lord of Glamis, but according to records he died the day he was born on October 21, 1821. A village rumor soon spread that Thomas was still alive though deformed and was raised and eventually died in a secret chamber within the castle. To this day, rumors abound that only members of the nobility know the real truth behind this tale.

And lastly, there is the legend of one Earl Beardie, who was a guest in Glamis Castle hundreds of years ago. As the tale goes, it was a Sabbath night when the Earl was looking to play cards but could find no one who would play with him. Supposedly the Earl swore that he would play cards with the devil himself if the devil would only appear and play the game. The story continues that a mysterious, cloaked figure soon appeared at the castle in the middle of the night and this person agreed to play cards with the Earl. Supposedly the Earl lost his soul to the devil in a bet during the game. And to this day, the Earl's ghost is said to haunt the castle, screaming and yelling. Sometimes the sounds of dice rolling are said to be heard.

Ballindalloch Castle

The first parts of this castle in Banffshire, Scotland, were built in 1546, though many additions have been made to it throughout the centuries. Probably the best-known ghost tale of this castle is that of the Green Lady, who is said to haunt the dining room.

Ballindalloch Castle is also known for several more sightings of female ghosts, though there are no strong records of who these could have been, though one is suspected to have been a rejected lover who still pines away for her beau.

Also, the ghost of a certain General James Grant is said to occasionally appear riding a white horse on the grounds around the castle. The general is supposedly buried nearby and there is some speculation his spirit lives on to watch over the castle.

Dunstaffnage Castle

Dunstaffnage Castle is one of Scotland's oldest stone castle, having been originally built in the 13th century five miles north of Oban, Scotland. This castle is in a remote location along the coast and is surrounded by water on three of its sides.

Only one ghost is usually named with this castle, a ghost called the Ell-maid of Dunstaffnage. Who she was, no one knows, but her appearance is rumored to herald major events in the lives of the castle's owners.

Duntrune Castle

Portions of the castle are nearly 800 years old, and it is still lived-in to this day.

This castle has a unique ghost who has been called the Piper of Duntrune. According to old tales, a piper was sent by the MacDonald clan to spy upon the Campbell clan, who then were keepers of Duntrune Castle. The piper was discovered as a spy and then imprisoned within a tower of the castle. The MacDonald clan decided to attack the castle, but the piper realized the MacDonald's were outnumbered. He then tried to alert the approaching MacDonalds by playing a warning song on his pipes. The MacDonalds, fortunately for them, heard the pipes and backed off. The piper's fate was not so fortunate. The Campbells too had heard the music playing; they pulled the piper from the tower and cut off his hands (or fingers, according to some versions of the tale). The piper is said to still haunt the tower, with pipe music sometimes being heard there. Also, poltergeist-type activity has been reported in some parts of the castle. Interestingly enough, at one point during renovations of Duntrune Castle, a hand-less skeleton was discovered. The poor soul was then laid to rest nearby.

Muchalls Castle

Another ghost called the Green Lady is said to haunt Muchalls Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Apparently there is a tunnel beneath the castle and this tunnel runs to the near sea. Years ago, a young lady ventured into the tunnel to meet your lover out by the waters, but she drowned when the tide came in and filled the tunnel. She is said to haunt, and sometimes even appear, in one of the rooms of the castle.

10 reasons to live in Lexington, Kentucky

1. Horses: Lexington, Kentucky, sits right in the middle of horse country. The city is surrounded by horse farms. Near downtown is the Red Mile Harness Track, on the outskirts of town is the Keeneland thoroughbred track. Also, one can visit the Kentucky Horse Park for horse-related events and history on these beautiful animals.
2. Basketball: Yes, Lexington is home to the University of Kentucky and UK basketball, one of the best college basketball programs in the nation. Go Blue!
3. College: The University of Kentucky campus offers many different degrees and opportunities, as well as plenty of fun, but it's not the only college in town. Transylvania University is downtown, and offers a fine education for those who might want to go to a smaller school
4. Bourbon: That's right! Drink up! Lexington also happens to be not too far off The Kentucky Bourbon Trail. So stop by and have a drink, y'all.
5. History: If you're a history buff, there's plenty to enjoy about Lexington. Start with the Lexington History Museum. Plenty of famous people have spent time in Lexington, including John Hunt Morgan, Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis.
6. Climate: Sure, Lexington has its winters and summers, but generally you don't get the worst of either season. You don't have to worry about scorching heat nor snow piled up to your waist.
7. Arts: Lexington has a thriving arts community. Check out a performance at the Lexington Opera House, or attend the Women Writers Conference. And there's much, much more, including plenty of art galleries downtown.
8. Parks: Lexington has more than 100 parks, some with areas for dogs to run off the leash and two parks with 18-hole disc golf courses.
9. Shopping: There's tons of places to shop. Just two of them are Fayette Mall on Nicholasville Road and Hamburg Place just off I-75.
10. Minor league baseball: Lexington also happens to be home to the Lexington Legends, a Class A affiliate with the Houston Astros.

5 things to do in County Nottinghamshire, England

Sherwood Pines Forest Park

This forest is 165 square miles, and it surrounds the village Edwinstowe. In legends Sherwood Forest was the secret home to Robin Hood and his band of merry men, but today you can find plenty of walking, biking and horseback riding paths. A portion of the park is a reserve.

Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem

Originally built in 1189, this pub claims to be the oldest public drinking place in all of England. Is it true? Who knows? Other pubs make the same claim. All that being said, the building that is the pub today is only about three hundred years old. One thing that makes this pub so unique is its caves. That's right, caves. The pub itself extends into a sandstone wall. Drinking rooms in the back are actually within the caves.

Newstead Abbey

Besides being a priory from 1170 to to 1539, Newstead Abbey is also known as the boyhood home to the poet, Lord Byron. In fact, Byron's favorite dog, Boatswain, is buried on the grounds, a giant marker on the spot engraved with one of Byron's best-known works, "Epitaph to a Dog."

Nottingham Castle

This castle commands a presence over the whole town of Nottingham, resting atop cliffs 130 feet high to the southwest and looking down upon the town. But don't expect a castle from the Middle Ages. Instead there is a mansion, now turned into a museum, that has stood on the site between 1674 and 1679. However, records show a castle stood on the site as far back as 1067, and possibly even earlier. Parts of the castle from before 1674 can still be seen as a garden wall for the mansion.

Creswell Crags

For some reallyold history, you need to check out Creswell Crags, a series of cliffs with caves that house etchings and engravings in the walls that are believed to be as old as 12,800 years old, maybe older. Also, plenty of flint tools and worked bones have been found at the site and are on display at a museum there. You can find the crags east of Derbyshire, before one would get to Nottingham. You can take a tour of the caves or enjoy a walk around the area.

5 things to do in Chillicothe, Ohio

If you have the pleasure to visit south-central Ohio, specifically the Chillicothe region, here are five things worth checking out.

Chillicothe Paints

If it's summer, that means it's baseball season, and there's no finer way to spend a warm summer day at the ballpark. The Chillicothe Paints are a minor league baseball team affiliated with the Prospect League. The prices for entry, souvenirs and food and drink are usually pretty reasonable, and you'll see some decent baseball. Sit up close to the action (but watch for those fly balls) and enjoy baseball the way it's meant to be.

Hopewell Culture National Historical Park

About four miles north of Chillicothe, Ohio, on Ohio 104 is the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park. Here you can learn about the ancient Hopewell culture which existed about 2,000 years ago. There are 23 of these pyramid-shaped mounds of earth at the park, and there's plenty of green space, too. Take the family for the day.

Tecumseh!

This outdoor drama is usually available to see from early June to late August. If you're not familiar with outdoor dramas, they're basically plays performed outdoors. This one is about the life of Tecumseh, a Shawnee war chief who tried to bring together various Native American tribes in a war against encroaching settlers. This drama is full of lots of action, with explosions and gunfire, so be prepared! Lots of fun.

Gus Macker

If you're a basketball fan, this is right up your alley. Every June in Chillicothe, the Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament takes up most of downtown. Not only can you watch some amateur basketball action, but you can also take part if you sign up in time. All ages are welcome, so the kids can play, too. There are also food and drink readily available, and contests. The dunking contest is always a fan favorite.

Feast of the Flowering Moon

This three-day event takes place in May, and its focus is strongly upon the Native American background of the region. As always, there's plenty of concessions, but there are also live music performances by Native Americans and there are plenty of vendors from whom you can buy gifts and goodies. Arts and crafts are also on display, and many of them are usually for sale.

5 places to visit on the Isle of Wight

St. Catherine's Oratory

On the southern side of the Isle of Wight there is a region of chalk hills known as St. Catherine's Down near St. Catherine's Point, the southernmost part of the island. Out here atop what is called St. Catherine's Hill is an old, stone lighthouse that is at least 600 years old. The view is breathtaking, and those who study history will want to spend some time here taking in the sites. Not too far away is a modern lighthouse and another lighthouse, a partial one, that was started a couple of hundred years ago but never finished.

Dinosaur Isle

Having only been opened to the public for a little less than ten years, Dinosaur Isle is a gigantic museum about ... can you guess? Dinosaurs! There are more than 30,000 items, mostly fossils, to view in the museum, and if that's not enough for you, there's also a learning center, a gift shop, artwork and even a restaurant right next door. On the east side of the town of Sandown on the east side of the Isle of Wight, Dinosaur Isle is located a short distance from a tourism area full of food and fun.

The Old Smithy & Gardens

Located in the village of Godshill on the southern side of the Isle of Wight, The Old Smithy & Gardens offers plenty for those with a green thumb. You can stroll through beautiful gardens to check out the local flora, but this is also a great place to shop for fashionable clothing. There's even a coffee shop if you need something to pick you up, and tasty treats are also available. And if you like searching for unusual gifts, you've got to check out the gift shop here.

Calbourne Water Mill

The water mill in the village of Calbourne in western central of the Isle of Wight has been in working condition for hundreds of years, and you can actually sign up for and attend classes on millworking taught by an actual millwright. This is a perfect spot for a family vacation as there are camping sites, museums, miniature golf, cooked and baked goods, and much, much more. Especially enticing for those who like the outdoors are the walkways through local forests and around area ponds.

Brading Roman Villa

If you're an ancient history buff, especially if you like to learn about ancient Rome, the Brading Roman Villa in the small town of Brading on the eastern side of the Isle of Wight is worth your visit. Here you will find the remains of an actual Roman courtyard villa that was in working order until about 400 A.D. Most of what you can see are the floors of the villa, five of the rooms covered with beautiful mosaics, but parts of some walls still remain. There are also some remains of farm buildings, and there are plenty of exhibits about Roman history, specifically relating to the region, within the halls of the tourism center at the site. Special events are held at the villa from time to time, so check the schedule on the Website if you plan on visiting.

Other travel links

5 Things to do in County Nottinghamshire, England

5 unique bakeries in Lexington, Kentucky

5 Odd Roadside Buildings in America

The biggest balls in the world

World's Largest Ball of Paint

33 years ago, Mike Carmichael of Alexandria, Indiana, started with a baseball. Then he added some paint. And more paint. And even more paint. Now, all those years later, he's up to more than 22,000 layers of paint on this ball. Weighing in at about a ton and a half, the World's Largest Ball of Paint has made it into the Guinness Book of World's Records. If you're ever in Alexandria, Indiana, look Mike up and add another layer of paint to hi famous ball.

World's Largest Ball of Twine

This is a tough one. See, there are actually several places that are said to be home to the largest ball of twine in the world. The Darwin Twine Ball Museum in Darwin, Minnesotta, says it has the world's largest ball of twine. Then there's Cawker City, Kansas, which say it has the largest twine ball in the world, started by Frank Stoeber more than 50 years ago. Let us not forget James Frank Kotera's huge twine ball, which is touted as the world's heaviest twine ball, in Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin. And last, but not least, is the twine ball in Branson, Missouri, that is owned by Ripley's Believe It or Not. So, who has the largest ball? I don't want to give a definitive answer, because it might start a war of balls in the twine community, but supposedly that twine ball in Branson has been certified by Guinness Worlds Records. Let's just leave it at that. Below is an image of the twine ball in Branson.

World's Largest Ball of Barbed Wire

Ouch! Don't touch the barbed wire! Believe it or not, the reported world's largest ball of barbed wire currently resides in Jackson, Wyoming with the Ripley's folks. What is it with all these middle America states and giant balls? I guess some folks really need a hobby. To that end, J.C. Payne of Cawker City, Kansas (remember that place from above?) is working on beating the record.

World's Largest Ball of Rubber Bands

This is another one that's not so easy to answer. Several people say they have the world's largest ball of rubber bands. John Bain of California says his ball is the biggest. However, the Guinness folks say Joel Waul of Florida has the biggest ball of them all. And until recently, Steve Milton of Oregon apparently had the world's largest ball of rubber bands. Once again, I'll generally side with the people at Guinness, but who knows? So many folks want the biggest ball, this record could be broken again at any time. Pictured below is Joel Waul with his big ball.

World's Largest Ball of Stamps

That's right. Stamps. A group of stamp collectors back in the 1950s in Boys Town, Nebraska, put this big baby together. Today it can be viewed (and touched!) at the Leon Myers Stamp Center. If you're ever in Nebraska, drop in for a ball.

10 places with funny names

Big Bone Lick State Park, Kentucky

Yes, this is a real place in northern Kentucky. I actually camped there as a kid. Not only is there plenty of great fishing and camping there, but for added chuckles, this park actually sits between the small towns of Rabbit Hash and Beaverlick. This park is important historically because there are lots of fossils found there, especially fossils of mammoths, and it was a stopping point for the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1803.

Sexmoan, Philippines

In all fairness, this town in the Pampanga province of the Philippines has been renamed Sasmuan. Apparently the name "Sexmoan" was a mistranslation or mispronounciation by Spanish settlers of the town's original name of Sasmuan, but when the Spanish government colonized the province about four hundred years ago, the name Sexmoan stuck for a long while.

Mount Wank, Germany

This is actually the name of a mountain in Germany near the border with Austria. There is a cable car system that allows travel back and forth between Mount Wank and the Bavarian resort town ofGarmisch-Partenkirchen. That cable car system is actually known as the Wankbahn. Mount Wank is a popular spot for mountain climbers, hikers and paragliders.

Puke, Albania

Puke is the name of the capital town of the Puke District in northern Albania. They even have a football (soccer, for you Yanks) team called the Klubi Sportiv Terbuni Puke. The name "Puke" is actually an English word, a translation of the Albanian word Puka.

Hell, Michigan

No jokes about Michigan, especially Detroit, are needed, right? Hell is an unincorporated area with a population of less than 300 people is southeastern Michigan just outside the city of Ann Arbor. How did this place get such a name as Hell? One story taken out of history is that when the founder of the region was asked what he wanted to name the place, he said something like, "You can name it Hell for all I care."

Wetwang, England

This small village is located in East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It seems the villagers here don't mind the funny name of their place, because in the past they have appointed honorary mayors of television personalities who have on air made a few chuckles about Wetwang.

Boogertown, North Carolina

Boogertown is a small region that lies in southwestern North Carolina in Gaston County not too far from the town of Gastonia and the city of Charlotte. I've been there. There's not much there, just a few houses and trailer out in the countryside. Probably be a quiet place to settle down, if that's what you're seeking.

Toad Suck, Arkansas

Almost right smack dab in the middle of the state of Arkansas is a little community known as Toad Suck. Annually there is a festival there called Toad Suck Daze. And how did this place get its name? Historical rumors abound, but the most popular one is that steam boats used to tie up at a nearby dock on the Arkansas River back in the 1800s and then the boat crews would venture forth to a local tavern; upon seeing the boat crews tossing back their drinks, one of the locals commented, "They suck on the bottle until they swell up like toads."

No Place, England

Yes, there really is a small village known as No Place. It sets in northern County Durham in England near the town of Stanley. How did this village get its name? No one knows for sure, but one possibility is that it's a shortened version of the term "Northern Place."

Boring, Oregon

Okay, this unincorporated region's name comes from a logical place. One of the earliest residents in this northwestern Oregon region was a fellow named W.H. Boring, and the place received its name from him. Apparently the local residents have a sense of humor about the name of their little spot, because the village slogan is "The most exciting place to live."

More links of the unusual

5 Odd Roadside Buildings in America

5 Unusual Foods in a Can

20 Foods with Funny Names

10 historical facts about tarot cards

1. Tarot cards are first mentioned historically in the 1440s in northern Italy.
2. Originally tarot cards were used for games, but generally more complicated card games than we know today. Tarot cards often lacked numbers and sometimes even proper suites, so players had to depend upon the images upon the cards and remember which cards were more "powerful" or ranked higher than other cards.
3. Playing cards arrived in Europe in the late 1300s from China, though China has a tradition that playing cards originally came from India perhaps more than a thousand years ago. Tarot cards grew out of those first gaming cards that reached Europe.
4. The occult history of tarot cards is entirely fabricated, having been created by French occultist Jean-Baptiste Alliette who in 1785 first publicly used such cards for divination purposes before an audience.
5. Alliette popularized the use of tarot cards for divining the future and for other occult purposes. Before him, tarot cards had never been used themselves directly for magic, though they had been known to be used as placemarkers in books that were used to divine the future.
6. Though it was Alliette who lead the charge on using tarot with magic, Swiss clergyman Antoine Court deGebelin had published a book titled Le Monde Primitif in 1781 that studied the symbolism of tarot cards and concluded they were related to occult history and magic, specifically the history and mythology of ancient Egypt.
7. Tarot decks usually have 78 cards and five suits. Regular playing cards usually number 52 and have only four suits.
8. One of the suits in a tarot deck is a trump suit made up of allegorical images. Regular playing cards do not have a trump suit usually, though in some games one of the regular suits can be used for a trump suit. Also, trump cards are not unknown in games with regular playing cards.
9. A tarot deck traditionally has one Fool card. Regular playing cards often have instead a Joker, or commonly two Jokers.
10. The history behind the meaning of the word "tarot" is unknown. Some scholars believe it is related to the Italian word "tarocchi," which is a card game played with tarot cards.

Other historical links

10 historical facts about toasters

10 unusual revolvers

10 historical facts about toilet paper

Could you have been Hitler?

In his book "How to Win Friends and Influence People," public speaking and sales guru Dale Carnegie wrote that when dealing with an angry person, tell the person something similar to "If I were in your shoes, I would want the same thing as you." This is expected to calm the person down somewhat, perhaps even get them to see things from your perspective since you are obviously willing to see things from their perspective.

Carnegie goes on to explain that you can say such a thing to an angry person without lying to them. After all, if you had the same life experiences and genetic makeup as the angry person, then you would obviously see things their way.

Carnegie goes further and writes, "The only reason you are not a rattlesnake is that your parents were not rattlesnakes."

Thus, a friend recently put this question to me, "If you had the same brain and body and life experiences as Adolf Hitler, would you have made the same choices as Hitler?"

My Answer

The following is taken from an e-mail of mine, and is my answer to my friend:

"Looking at it from a purely physical point of view, I don't know if I can say I wouldn't make the same choices as Hitler. If you have the same brain and same body as Hitler, and grew up exactly in every detail as he did, for all intents and purposes you ARE Hitler.

The only arguments I could offer against such a thing would tend toward the metaphysical and/or spiritual. One could argue each of us has a unique soul, possibly coming with its own imprint from God or the universe or whatever is out there. If that should be the case, I suppose it's possible even with Hitler's brain and body and upbringing, we could turn out differently than he did. This would lean somewhat toward Calvinism, suggesting that God has a fate and possibly a mental state that is unique to each of us."

What Do You Think?

Admittedly, my answer to my friend was simplistic. It was meant to be. It was only an e-mail, after all, and e-mails are not necessarily the best communication form available for such topics. I'll probably talk this over with my friend in person the next time we see one another.

Also, though my answer leaned heavily towards spirituality and religion, even mentioning Calvinism, I was not trying to place my answer in a form that made any judgements. I was pushing no agenda, simply trying to come up with the best answer I could with my own Western world, Judeo-Christian background and education. Also, Hitler is used simply for the ease of having a common focal point of evil, what with the historical figure's general reputation, and this is not necesarily meant to be a study of the actual man or of actual events surrounding him. Someone like the Marquis de Sade or Jeffrey Dahmer or one of a thousand other humans that have been labeled evil by general society could have been used as well. In other words, this is not about judgements of morality, but about metaphysical (and possibly scientific or spiritual) possibilities.

Something bothers me a bit about my answer, though, and I'm not sure what it is. So, I'm seeking other ideas, suggestions and arguments. I'm throwing it out there to anyone who would like to offer an answer or just their own thoughts. Please post below. I'd especially be interested in hearing any scientific possibilities, and ideas from non-Western philosophies, though all ideas are more than welcome.