Category Archives: History

Definition of a Puritan

Posted on March 10, 2022 by odeboyz

…..someone who worries that somebody, somewhere might be enjoying themselves.

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Queen Victoria and Childbirth

Posted on March 3, 2022 by odeboyz

Queen Victoria, 1837-1901, had nine children and numerous grand-children.1 The 19th century was an era of large families but many babies didn’t survive into adulthood. Childbirth was dangerous for both mother and child. Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, wanted her to … Continue reading →

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Garry Kasparov’s phenomenal memory

Posted on February 24, 2022 by odeboyz

“I was to be tested by seeing if I could identify each game by looking at the position on the board….. I said, ‘I’m honoured you are interested in understanding the human mind, but I hope you will forgive me … Continue reading →

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Three German Generals, 1906-16

Posted on February 17, 2022 by odeboyz

During the Great European Peace, 1871-14, German generals were redundant. There hadn’t been a German army on a battlefield since 1871. To compound their misery, German society was militaristic. Kaiser Wilhelm II wore full military uniform on every occasion. He … Continue reading →

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Putin visits Estonia

Posted on February 10, 2022 by odeboyz

Immigration officer says: “Name?”.“Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin”.“Address?”“Kremlin, Moscow, Russia”.“Occupation?” “I’m just visiting.”

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Book Review: Robbie Morrison ~ Edge of the grave (2021)

Posted on February 7, 2022 by odeboyz

Glasgow’s brutal history was ‘created’ by endemic poverty and squalor which brutalised the population in the period 1900-32. The context of hard physical work and grinding poverty led to the infamous Glasgow ‘Razor’ gangs. The outbreak of the First World … Continue reading →

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Black Lives Matter: Segregation in Education

Posted on January 20, 2022 by odeboyz

This is George W. McLaurin in 1948 being segregated from the rest of his University class. He was the first African-American to attend the University of Oklahoma. He became a Professor and because of his courage he enabled minority groups … Continue reading →

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John von Neumann:* aversion to exercise

Posted on January 10, 2022 by odeboyz

Equally, von Neumann had no interest in sport and, barring long walks (always in a business suit), he would avoid any form of vigorous physical exercise for the rest of his life.  When his second wife, Klari, tried to persuade … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Tim Bouverie ~ Appeasing Hitler: Chamberlain, Churchill and the Road to War (2019)

Posted on December 13, 2021 by odeboyz

This is a ground breaking account of the 1930s. It’s meticulous history. The front cover ‘blurb’ quotes Antony Beevor saying, “An astonishing debut.’ and Beevor is one of the Britain’s greatest historians. Great history writing is literature. Bouverie welds his … Continue reading →

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Religion, Politics and the Execution of Oliver Cromwell

Posted on December 6, 2021 by odeboyz

Oliver Cromwell: died 3rd September, 1658; executed 30th January, 1661 “…while the clergy offered prayers for the king in churches across the land, the coffins were taken to the Red Lion Inn in Holborn. Carters then carried the rotting bodies … Continue reading →

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