Category Archives: History

Ancestry

Posted on November 20, 2019 by odeboyz

Last month both Jan and I were invited to my cousin’s and his wife’s fiftieth wedding anniversary. It wasn’t until near the date of the celebration we learned that four of our children(?), their partners and grandchildren were also invited. … Continue reading →

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John Muir’s religious environmentalism and the Yosemite National Park

Posted on November 16, 2019 by odeboyz

John Muir is a towering figure in American environmental history. He was a geologist, botanist, mountaineer, journalist, author, confidant of Presidents and industrial leaders, co-founder of the Sierra Club and much more. His opinions were eagerly sought and often acted … Continue reading →

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Technology and beneficial job destruction

Posted on November 14, 2019 by odeboyz

Introduction Traditionally work was regarded as a necessity. This is challenged by constant improvements in technological devices and strategies. Entire sectors of employment have disappeared. The changes cause immediate pain through unemployment, which is the price of economic innovation. Constant … Continue reading →

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It’s a bit extreme but….

Posted on November 7, 2019 by odeboyz

Peggy

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John F Kennedy, Dallas, November 1963

Posted on October 31, 2019 by odeboyz

All language is loaded with biases, which shape understanding. There are a five examples below illustrating this point. Kennedy went to Dallas in 1963 and died Entirely correct and uninformative: Kennedy died. The death of a president is intrinsically important … Continue reading →

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Football Review: England 5- Kosovo 3: September 2019

Posted on September 16, 2019 by odeboyz

In the annals of English football this will count as yet another victory in a qualifying match for the European championships. And it is. Unfortunately all it does is feed Scottish style delusions. In the two halves England won one, … Continue reading →

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John Maynard Keynes on the First World War

Posted on September 9, 2019 by odeboyz

If the European Civil War is to end with France and Italy abusing their momentary victorious power to destroy Germany and Austria-Hungary now prostrate, they invite their own destruction also, being so deeply and inextricably intertwined with their victims by … Continue reading →

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Eight million Nazis: the challenge for the Allies in 1945

Posted on August 29, 2019 by odeboyz

The victorious Allies crushed Nazi Germany. Germany had eight million Nazis with a civilian population who were, mostly, complicit in Nazi atrocities. The Allies had to be pragmatic. They targeted the ‘worst of the worst’ with the new retrospective crimes … Continue reading →

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The Exodus Incident: when emotion met geopolitics

Posted on August 8, 2019 by odeboyz

A common view at the time was that he [Bevin] was antisemitic and this influenced his policies.1 Introduction In an act of imperial hubris, Britain accepted the Mandate2 for Palestine. It was meant to run from 1923 to 1948. Britain … Continue reading →

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Dorothy Thompson’s Christmas Card list

Posted on August 5, 2019 by odeboyz

Dorothy frowned and said she simply couldn’t forgive him [Hobsbawn] for accepting the Companion of Honour: ‘OK for an actor or entertainer, but absolutely not for serious, critical intellectual work – I’m afraid I had to strike him off my … Continue reading →

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