Tag Archives: history

The Hundred Years’ War, Taxes, and the Modern State

Posted on August 10, 2013 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: The Hundred Years’ War (waged from 1337 to 1453, so it was actually 116 years long) was a series of conflicts between England and France over control of the French monarchy. The war actually had roots that went … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Economics | Tagged history, Hundred Years War, Middle Ages, once it starts it never ends, taxes | 12 Comments

Crusader Follies: Peter Bartholomew and the Holy Lance

Posted on August 4, 2013 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: One of the first major victories for the Europeans of the First Crusade was the capture of Antioch. After eight months of laying siege to the city, the Christian knights captured it in May 1098. However, their victory … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy and Religion | Tagged history, Middle Ages, The Crusades | 10 Comments

Hiking Cold Spring and Breakneck

Posted on July 7, 2013 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: I had some time off from work recently, so, semi-active, nature-lovin’ guy that I am, I decided to do a little hiking. I try to go hiking a couple of times a year. I find that getting … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Personal reflections, The Good Life | Tagged Breakneck Ridge, bullfrogs, cicadas, Cold Spring, Constitution Island, hiking, history, Hudson River, Hudson Valley, nature, New York, New York Central Railroad, Pollepel Island, Revolutionary War, Storm King Mountain, West Point | 8 Comments

Of Kings, Coinage, and Castration

Posted on May 27, 2013 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: I recently watched the first two seasons of “Monarchy,” a BBC series covering the history of the English kings and queens going back to the late Roman period. Despite the ridiculously affected speech of narrator David … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Personal reflections, Politics and Economics | Tagged BBC, Ben Bernanke, David Starkey, England, Henry II, history, inflation, Lew Rockwell, Monarchy, Paul Krugman | 7 Comments

Things I’ve Learned from World History

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: As I mentioned way back here, I’ve been avoiding television and radio in an effort to wean myself from idiocy. As part of that effort, I’ve been partaking of some of the Great Courses offered by The Teaching Company. … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Publishing and Writing, Education, Philosophy and Religion, Politics and Economics | Tagged history, The Great Courses, The Teaching Company, Western Civilization, World History | 32 Comments

Ben Franklin’s Eight Reasons for Dating Cougars

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Enzo Nakamura

Enzo Nakamura writes: This sequence, from the newish video game, ASSASSIN’S CREED III, left me agape. At least we’re using technology to bring our forefather’s insights to the youth of today.

Posted in Computers | Tagged Benjamin Franklin, Cougars, history, OMG, sex, technology, Video Games | 3 Comments

Learning from Las Vegas: the Duck v. the Decorated Shed

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: While in Vegas, I was lucky enough to get a guided tour of the downtown area from a long-time resident who works for the Nevada Gaming Commission and I talked with another friend who’s a writer with … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Books Publishing and Writing, Commercial art, Photography | Tagged Caesars Palace, Caesars Palace Forum Shops, Dave Hickey, decorated shed, Denise Scott Brown, dichotomies, duck, history, Las Vegas, learning from everything, Learning from Las Vegas, modernism, parking lots, reading, Robert Venturi, Steven Izenour, The Strip, The Venetian, vernacular | 12 Comments

A Short Note on the Formation of the Western Legal Tradition

Posted on August 27, 2012 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: It’s quite easy to graduate from law school without learning much legal history. (It’s quite easy to graduate law school without learning how to be a lawyer, too, but that’s a rant for a different time.) OK, you … Continue reading →