Author Archives: odeboyz

Italian peasants in the 1920s

Posted on November 8, 2018 by odeboyz

Iris Origo and her husband bought an estate in Val d’Orcia, which was 3500 of parched eroded acres with 25 poverty-stricken farms: In a dark airless little room they found an old man dying and a woman giving birth in … Continue reading →

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Donald Trump asks for advice from Abraham Lincoln

Posted on November 5, 2018 by odeboyz

Trump: How can I make Democrats love me? Lincoln: Go to the theatre. Chris

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The Nasty Party

Posted on November 4, 2018 by odeboyz

The Tories don’t care Pile on the misery, some more Universal credit, payment delays Well that’s just – how it is. They can force you into work Doesn’t matter if its zero hours Doesn’t matter if it’s at the minimum … Continue reading →

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Overland by Stagecoach: Wyoming, circa 1900

Posted on November 1, 2018 by odeboyz

  Nine people squeezed inside the stagecoach. Any additional passengers sometimes travelled on the roof. Passengers remained sandwiched together for about 22 days, with only brief stops for meals and changes of stock or equipment.

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The origin of Fish and Chips in Britain

Posted on November 1, 2018 by odeboyz

The dish of white fish, typically cod or haddock, fried in a thin coat of flour, was a favourite particularly among Sephardic Jews, who fried it on Friday nights to prepare for the Sabbath, as the Mosaic laws prohibited cooking. … Continue reading →

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Tourism in a finite world: London 2018

Posted on November 1, 2018 by odeboyz

The British invented organised tourism in the 18th century. The Grand Tour was tourism for aristocratic young men. They were supposed to expose themselves to European influences and culture before settling down. Many young aristocrats brought European architectural ideas back … Continue reading →

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A caring grandson

Posted on October 29, 2018 by odeboyz

Grandson: Gran-ma I think you should do more walking. Grand-ma (sceptically): Really? Grandson: Yes. You could take the tortoise for a walk. It would do you good. Mike W.

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Book Review: Martin Cruz Smith ~ The Arkady Renko novels

Posted on October 29, 2018 by odeboyz

The British Detective Inspector genre has reached new levels of sophistication in its numerous iterations. There is a pretty standard characterisation used by most authors and so thrillers depend almost entirely on ever more ingenious plots. However, no matter how … Continue reading →

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Japanese social discipline

Posted on October 25, 2018 by odeboyz
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Fancy banking in the Ukraine?

Posted on October 25, 2018 by odeboyz

There is a bank in Ukraine that is offering *21%* interest on a checking account. But you must take 10,000 steps a day, tracked by their app, to qualify. Miss one day and you get nothing. I can’t decide if … Continue reading →

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