Saturday Snippet: Nelson evacuates Corsica in the face of revolutionaries

  Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson is perhaps the most famous of Britain’s “seadog Admirals”, earning a brilliant military reputation at battles such as Cape St. Vincent, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the Nile and Copenhagen, before his final victory – and death – at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. One of his accomplishments was as a Captain in… Continue reading Saturday Snippet: Nelson evacuates Corsica in the face of revolutionaries

Saturday Snippet: One woman’s nightmare experience of hyperinflation

  The news that natural gas costs in Europe are already ten times higher than a year ago, and likely to go higher this winter, has sparked near-panic in European governments.  Electricity generation is directly affected, so overall energy prices are likely to reflect a similar increase.  The average consumer in Europe simply can’t afford… Continue reading Saturday Snippet: One woman’s nightmare experience of hyperinflation

Her Majesty the Queen

  The death of Queen Elizabeth II of Britain yesterday has opened the floodgates of commentary around the world.  I can’t add anything to the plaudits of those who were her subjects, admirers and friends, so I won’t even try.  Instead, I’ll try to portray her as my parents and their friends saw her. They’d… Continue reading Her Majesty the Queen

An elderly but still pugnacious lady prepares for her facelift

  I’m sure most readers are aware that the battleship USS Texas, launched in 1912 and a veteran of both World Wars, has just been moved to a floating dry dock for extensive repairs and rehabilitation.  After 110 years since her launching, she needs them. The images below are circulating on social media.  They’re probably… Continue reading An elderly but still pugnacious lady prepares for her facelift

In memoriam: Mikhail Gorbachev

  Reams have already been written about the death of Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union before its collapse.  I think one of the most appropriate thoughts comes from the blogger at HMS Defiant: Two men encompassed the beginning of the end of the Cold War. Ronald Reagan could not have accomplished… Continue reading In memoriam: Mikhail Gorbachev

Saturday Snippet: One of the legends of the Victorian era

  Following last Saturday’s look at Jingoism and the poetry of Sir Henry Newbolt, I’ve had several requests from readers for more from that period.  I’m happy to oblige. Alfred, Lord Tennyson was one of the greatest poets of the Victorian era and the entire 19th century.  He was Poet Laureate of Britain for most… Continue reading Saturday Snippet: One of the legends of the Victorian era

The mausoleum of Genghis Khan – found at last?

  Archaeology World reports: Construction workers employed in road building near the Onon River in the Khentii province of Mongolia, have discovered a mass grave containing the remains of many dozens of human corpses lying upon a large rudimentary stone structure. Forensic experts and archaeologists were called to the site, which was revealed to be… Continue reading The mausoleum of Genghis Khan – found at last?

Saturday Snippet: By Jingo, we’ll do it!

  The term “Jingoism” has become an epithet for hard-line, extreme nationalism, and as such has fallen out of favor.  However, in the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was common among all levels of British society, and was the philosophy that informed much of the British Imperial system and its colonies.  (America had its… Continue reading Saturday Snippet: By Jingo, we’ll do it!

An interesting twist on animal history

  I was intrigued to read that the semi-wild horse herd on Assateague Island, off the shores of Maryland and Virginia, may have a more interesting ancestry than previously thought. Where did the ponies come from? Until recently, most historians and scientists have thought that the herd grew from horses left to graze by English… Continue reading An interesting twist on animal history