No man but a blockhead ever wrote but for money. Dr. Samuel Johnsonnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Tue, 8 Sep 2026 19:47:15 GMTBlogger http://www.blogger.com726125http://addiator.blogspot.com/en-ushttp://addiator.blogspot.com/2022/09/naming-king.htmlhistorynoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Tue, 13 Sep 2022 15:13:00 GMTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908919.post-4039043092357903581 So we have a king Charles the Third.  Charles 1 had his head chopped off by Cromwell when they realised he was so arrogant and treacherous that they could not have him as a constitutional monarch. Charles 2 suffered from satyriasis. Apparently, if an attractive woman came into his presence he was apt to greet her by fondling her breasts and thrusting his hand between her legs.&0http://addiator.blogspot.com/2022/06/trust-in-media-plummeting-worldwide.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Mon, 20 Jun 2022 13:13:00 GMTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908919.post-6540886369191530341 "Nearly two out of five people polled in an annual Reuters study have reported sometimes or often avoiding consuming news. The survey was conducted by the media behemoth across 46 countries earlier this year and published on Tuesday.Avoidance among British respondents has soared the most, with 46% claiming to shun the news “sometimes” or “often” – nearly twice as many as in 2016. 0http://addiator.blogspot.com/2022/06/pentagon-investigates-itself-finds-it.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Fri, 10 Jun 2022 13:51:00 GMTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908919.post-1759165497220219861 "An internal Pentagon investigation has found that a 2019 airstrike that killed up to 64 civilians in Syria did not violate US rules of engagement or the law of war, and was not carried out with “wanton disregard.” "The military admitted to killing four civilians, but insisted that the remaining 60 may have been terrorists, as “women and children in the Islamic State sometimes took 0http://addiator.blogspot.com/2022/06/big-winners-of-wests-military-spending.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Fri, 10 Jun 2022 13:36:00 GMTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908919.post-7429923651020715457"In Europe, BAE Systems and Thales are among the big winners from the Ukraine-arming spree. BAE makes ammo and artillery shells, as well as MILAN anti-tank missiles, which France and Italy sent to Ukraine. It also makes Stormer HVM armored vehicles, which the UK provided to Kiev.Thales produces the NLAW shoulder-launched anti-tank missiles and the Starstreak anti-aircraft missiles, which 0http://addiator.blogspot.com/2022/05/firefox-murder-or-suicide.htmlfirefoxnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Mon, 16 May 2022 11:15:00 GMTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908919.post-8527946180083432521I have been using Mozilla’s Firefox browser for many years. Its privacy features are outstanding. They are far better than those of Safari or Chrome or any other browser. Another strength is  that it has also a good number of extensions; though not as many as it used to have. Incessant revisions and a declining market share have made developing Firefox extensions less and less attractive.All0http://addiator.blogspot.com/2022/04/nitrogen-apocalypse.htmlpoliticsnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Fri, 1 Apr 2022 22:28:00 GMTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908919.post-2416776732880853132In the UK gas and electricity prices have increased enormously from the 1st April 2022. I will be paying an extra £2450 more per year, There are threats that there may be bigger increases in energy prices in October. These increases are pushing up inflation but may a minor issue compared to what will happen to food prices.Take a look at a Youtube video series called Harrys Farm. He is reporting a0http://addiator.blogspot.com/2022/03/does-war-in-ukraine-prove-we-dont-need.htmlopinionpoliticsnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Thu, 24 Mar 2022 19:54:00 GMTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908919.post-315157219167461230When NATO was formed in the late 1940s it was to counter the threat of massed soviet armour rolling into Western Europe. Though that was never a very realistic threat it is even less credible now.  For example, if the population and GDP of Russia is compared with that of the NATO countries.Russia’s population is 145 million. The combined population of the NATO counties is 952 million [0http://addiator.blogspot.com/2022/03/president-zelenskys-dog-and-pony-trick.htmlpoliticssickofitnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Thu, 24 Mar 2022 19:43:00 GMTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908919.post-4221496179013405341 The “Daddy, I want a pony” tactic goes roughly like this:Little girl: Daddy, I want a pony! Want pony! Want want want pony!
Dad: Uhm, no, uhm, uhm, no, how about a dog?
Little girl: No no no NO! Want pony! PONY! …Dog? Well, ok then.At this point the dad thinks, “Phew, that was a close call!”. The little girl on the other hand thinks “Wow, that’s the easiest dog I ever got.” Zelensky’s pony 0http://addiator.blogspot.com/2022/03/war-in-ukraine-is-it-1939-again.htmlhistorypoliticsnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Tue, 22 Mar 2022 15:21:00 GMTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908919.post-4590251872074936556 In 1939 Britain and France feared that Germany was going to invade Poland, so they guaranteed its independence.  It was a very foolish thing to do. Geography meant that they had no way of helping Poland. Also, the two countries were so financially and militarily weak that they not even save themselves [as Germany demonstrated shortly afterwards when it invaded France].Most importantly,0http://addiator.blogspot.com/2022/03/russias-trump-card-fertilisers.htmlhistorypoliticsnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Mon, 7 Mar 2022 18:38:00 GMTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908919.post-5152189767864162535During WW1 the British Royal Navy blockaded Germany. It has been estimated that over 600,000 Germans died as a result. The most effective part of the blockade was that it stopped Germany obtaining supplies of fertiliser. Food production fell and people starved. A recent BBC article about the Norwegian company Yara suggests we are likely to see serious fertiliser shortages as a result of the 0http://addiator.blogspot.com/2022/03/lessons-from-history.htmlhistorynoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Mon, 7 Mar 2022 18:09:00 GMTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908919.post-2698276922271676192 Who started the First World War?  No, it wasn’t Germany.It was the Austro-Hungarian Empire. They wanted to attack Serbia but they knew that Russia supported Serbia. They needed a powerful ally.The German Kaiser was a fool and gave the Austro-Hungarians a guarantee of support and the attack on Serbia started.Unfortunately, a web of public and secret treaties then dragged in Russia and 0http://addiator.blogspot.com/2022/02/my-car-insurance-just-got-cheaper.htmlbusinesssickofitnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Sun, 27 Feb 2022 22:57:00 GMTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908919.post-887848483966693005I just got the renewal notice for my car insurance. It is over £50 less than last year.Why?The car is the same. The drivers are the same. I live in the same place. I have had the full no claims discount for years.I wonder if it is anything to do with this -"The biggest shake-up to the insurance industry for decades takes place on Saturday, when insurers will be banned from quoting policyholders0http://addiator.blogspot.com/2022/02/ukraine-manufactured-conflict.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Tue, 22 Feb 2022 14:20:00 GMTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908919.post-1552178550305864425 "Over 40 member states have monitors in the Ukraine monitoring mission. The head of the mission is Turkish, and almost all members have a military or diplomatic background. There are 700 monitors, and they have been in Ukraine since 2014. Their job is to patrol both sides of the civil war conflict zone and to record infringements of the ceasefire and de-escalation agreements, bringing 0http://addiator.blogspot.com/2021/11/caspar-milquetoast.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Fri, 19 Nov 2021 16:17:00 GMTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908919.post-4276865155531277244Caspar Milquetoast is a character created by H. T. Webster in 1925. He appeared in a cartoon strip called The Timid Soul. Webster described Milquetoast as "the man who speaks softly and gets hit with a big stick”. Though it would be more accurate to describe him as a man who speaks softly because he is afraid of being hit with a big stick. Websters characterisation most likely comes from 0http://addiator.blogspot.com/2021/11/paying-workers-more.htmlbusinesshistorynoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Thu, 11 Nov 2021 15:38:00 GMTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908919.post-612666850930059004When Ford introduced production lines in his car plant it had an immediate effect on output.“Production time for a single vehicle fell from twelve hours to ninety-three minutes, with a new car rolling off the line every three minutes.  It was noisy and tedious for workers, but it was also surprisingly well paid: from 1914 Ford paid $5 for an eight-hour day, about double the industry’s 0http://addiator.blogspot.com/2021/11/the-foolish-tech-giants.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Thu, 11 Nov 2021 15:36:00 GMTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908919.post-4148102503532986106The tech giants have demonstrated that they are able and willing to censor senior politicians and silence political discourse. Thats both worrying and very foolish. They must subscribe to the view that free speech is wonderful as long as it is speech you agree with.  It is generally unwise to show how much power you really have because once you do somebody will try and take it 0http://addiator.blogspot.com/2009/02/bribes-not-bombs.htmlhumourpoliticsnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Tue, 13 Aug 2019 19:17:00 GMTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908919.post-8596282488122974135Why have governments been so keen to legislate against civil liberties in the name of protecting us against terrorism, but remain so very reluctant to regulate financial markets. Let me suggest a reason. Banks offers juicy directorships to retired politicians and senior civil servants. Terrorist organizations do not. That needs to change. I have always argued that if terrorists really want to 1http://addiator.blogspot.com/2005/09/dont-worry-about-it.htmlhumournoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Fri, 9 Aug 2019 21:43:00 GMTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908919.post-112777104607144034Yeah, don't worry about it.0http://addiator.blogspot.com/2009/07/kids-getting-you-down.htmlhealthhistoryhumournoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Fri, 9 Aug 2019 20:26:00 GMTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908919.post-4112643191904815967Are the  domestic chores getting you down? How about a shot of Dexedrine?[Brand name for dextroamphetamine].  The advertisement claims that "Many housewives -- are crushed under a load of dull, routine duties that leave them in a state of mental and emotional fatigue...Dexedrine will give them a feeling of energy and well-being, renewing their interest in life and living." Maybe 0http://addiator.blogspot.com/2008/07/best-building-in-world-certosa-di-pavia.htmlbloggers selectionhistorynoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Sat, 20 Jul 2019 11:31:00 GMTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908919.post-4780681586927845212 The foundations for the Certosa di Pavia [aka the Carthusian Monastery of Pavia] were laid in 1396. Over the centuries patrons came and went, but enough money flowed to the monastery to create what I think is the finest building in the world. What makes it my favourite is not only the architecture [the marble facade is considered by many to be the most beautiful monument in 0http://addiator.blogspot.com/2005/02/bloggers-selection-grand-balcon-sud.htmlbloggers selectionroutesnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Fri, 19 Jul 2019 18:52:00 GMTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908919.post-110883916342201747 The Grand Balcon Sud is a path which runs high along the side of the Chamonix valley from Brevent to Lac Blanc. There is another very good path on the north side of the valley, but the southern path has marvellous views of Mont Blanc and the Augille du Midi. The best way to walk the path is to take the cable car from Chamonix to the station at Brevent and then walk north along to La 1http://addiator.blogspot.com/2005/02/forgotten-history-scapa-fl_110823866174264713.htmlbloggers selectionhistoryscubanoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Fri, 21 Jun 2019 20:04:00 GMTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908919.post-110823866174264713 High Seas Fleet Scapa Flow is a sheltered anchorage in the Orkneys, to the north of the Scottish mainland. During the First World War it was the main anchorage for Britain's Grand Fleet. After the end of the First World War 78 ships of the German High Seas fleet were interned in Scapa, with some of the original crews aboard each ship. On the 21st June 1919 the German sailors began scuttling 0http://addiator.blogspot.com/2019/06/how-university-lecturers-are-appointed.htmleducationsickofitnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Wed, 19 Jun 2019 13:36:00 GMTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908919.post-6543917982489286880It often comes as a surprise to those outside academia to discover how relatively unimportant teaching ability is considered in many university recruitment decisions. In one institution in which I worked, we took the radical step – resisted by some colleagues – of introducing sample teaching sessions as part of our appointment process.As the students were leaving, after its first try out, one had0http://addiator.blogspot.com/2005/02/from-raubwirtschaft-to-kleptocracy.htmlhistorypoliticsnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Fri, 7 Jun 2019 13:31:00 GMTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908919.post-110899269255366676 I am currently reading Michela Wrong’s ‘In The Footsteps of Mr Kurtz’. This excellent book is about Mobutu Sese Seko’s regime in the Congo. Wrong describes this as being a kleptocracy, which means a government by thieves. I looked up the full definition in Wikipedia which gives a number of examples of such states; including Indonesia under Suharto, Peru under Alberto Fujimori, the Federal 0http://addiator.blogspot.com/2005/07/forgotten-history-bastides-and-burghs.htmlhistorynoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Wed, 5 Jun 2019 14:03:00 GMTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7908919.post-112160917598753371 Bastides are small fortified towns which were built in France from the 13th century. Many survive to this day, particularly in Lot and the Dordogne. I have visited several, but I did not understand their significance until I read this Wikipedia article. Before the bastides were built the peasants either lived in isolated hamlets dotted about the countryside, or in houses clustered around 0