Category Archives: History

Book Review: Ruth Harris ~ The Man on Devil’s Island: Alfred Dreyfus and the affair that divided France (2010)

Posted on August 17, 2020 by odeboyz

This biography is more than a Life. Ruth Harris’s meticulous study of French politics, the Roman Catholic church, the Army, Anti-Semitism and human drama is stunning. She reveals intellectuals who took up the cause of a Jewish army officer: the … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Philip Kerr ~ Hitler’s Peace (2005)(2020)*

Posted on August 3, 2020 by odeboyz

Sometimes an author strikes lucky and invents a character which is utterly compelling and becomes the motif of their entire career. Lee Child’s Reacher, Ian Rankin’s Rebus are excellent examples. The reader looks forward to the next Reacher novel almost … Continue reading →

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In Times Past

Posted on August 3, 2020 by odeboyz

The peoples of the land knew, their world Each plant, the uses they might be put to The elixir’s and the cautions inherent In the most benign and kindly plants.  For longer years than may be remembered Avoided nightshade’s, or … Continue reading →

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Three Countries: One Story

Posted on July 20, 2020 by odeboyz

Apartheid – South Africa Naziism – Germany Segregation – USA

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The Importance of the Incheon Landings: Korea 15th September- 15th October, 1950

Posted on July 16, 2020 by odeboyz

“I predict,” said general of the Army Omar Nelson Bradley, “that large scale amphibious operations will never occur again.”* Background Amphibious landings were critical in the Second World War. In the Pacific war, they were the strategically brilliant ‘Leapfrogging’ technique … Continue reading →

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Karl Marx studied in this room

Posted on July 9, 2020 by odeboyz
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Why the west is stagnant

Posted on July 6, 2020 by odeboyz

Thomas Piketty, the French economist, calculates that more than half of total wealth in Germany today is inherited — an estimate confirmed by German economists. In the 1960s and 1970s, the share was just a little over 20 per cent. … Continue reading →

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Using Torture properly (?) a lesson for the USA

Posted on July 2, 2020 by odeboyz

Empirical evidence on contemporary torture is sparse. The archives of the Spanish Inquisition* provide a detailed historical source of quantitative and qualitative information about interrogational torture. The inquisition tortured brutally and systematically, willing to torment all who it deemed as … Continue reading →

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A very brisk Mother Superior in a French convent

Posted on June 25, 2020 by odeboyz

[Her] account includes being told by the [Mother] Superior that if a doctor advised a surgical operation, “your Superiors will decide whether your life is of sufficient value to the community to justify the expense. If it is not, you … Continue reading →

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Putin’s favourite Stalin joke

Posted on June 22, 2020 by odeboyz

As Stalin walked down the ranks of the troops he heard a thunderous sneeze. Fearing an assassination attempt he roared, “Who sneezed?” There was no answer and the troops froze in terror. He turned to the KGB colonel and said, … Continue reading →

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