Category Archives: History

Random Thoughts (16)

Finland has some weird sports competitions.  Each time I return to Europe, rents have doubled. Tweets cannot change laws, regulations or rules. Each time Donald Trump tries to do so, he should be laughed at. Why can’t Microsoft Windows move … Continue reading

Posted in Bolivia, Czech Republic, Finland, Language, Military, North Korea, Philosophy, Poland, Politics, Religion, Sports, Technology, USA, World War II | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Humberstone, ghost town in the desert

When you spot a name like Humberstone on a map of South America, the interest is already piqued. As I asked the bus driver to let me get off there, in the middle of the Atacama Desert, he looked at … Continue reading

Posted in Chile, Economics, History, Photography, Travel | Tagged , | 19 Comments

D-Day Movie Recommendations

Always on 6 June, I have a feeling of gratitude to the more than 160,000 Allied troops that landed in Normandy on 6 June 1944 (D-Day) and marked the beginning of the second phase of the liberation of Europe (after … Continue reading

Posted in Cinema, History, Military, World War II | Tagged , | 14 Comments

Germany 1945-1949

These two films illustrate – with quite drastic footage, you are warned – what the Allied powers thought of Germany immediately after the end of World War II. They did see, correctly in my view, a continuity of German militarism … Continue reading

Posted in Cinema, Cold War, Germany, History, Holocaust, Military, USA, World War II | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Random Thoughts (12)

If you have doubts about humanity, listen to this podcast about a hospital in Israel treating wounded and sick Syrians. I wouldn’t have thought that many people read articles as long as the one about my decision to return to … Continue reading

Posted in Albania, Armenia, Cinema, Cold War, Finland, History, Israel, Military, Syria, USA, World War I | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

The Miners’ Cemetery

In my article about Chacaltaya, I mentioned the cemetery I found at the foot of Huayna Potosí and made the offhand remark that the whole village of Milluni had died. It turns out that this was right, but that the true story … Continue reading

Posted in Bolivia, History, Military, Photography, Politics, Travel | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Random Thoughts (11)

Mohammad Mostafaei, the lawyer with whom I was arrested in Iran, has written a book. He says I am in it too, but I can’t read Norwegian, so I have to wait for a translation. Does anyone still remember José Echegaray … Continue reading

Posted in Books, France, History, Human Rights, Iran, Language, Law, Mexico, Military, Politics, Sports, Travel, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sean Spicer explains Gas Chambers

Pro tip: if you want to make historical comparisons, read a bit about history before you do so. Saying about Hitler that “he was not using the gas on his own people the same way that Assad is doing” displays … Continue reading

Posted in France, History, Holocaust, Military, Politics, Syria, USA, World War II | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Career or Love – You can’t have both

From a 1953 edition of The Girl Friend comes a test for women who need to choose between pursuing a “career” (which probably meant being a secretary) and “love” (meaning a boring life as a housewife). Interesting that you couldn’t have both. … Continue reading

Posted in History, Life, Love | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Random Thoughts (10)

What a week in South America. Venezuela is moving closer to dictatorship  and in Paraguay, protesters set the Parliament building on fire. Too bad I don’t have time to be everywhere myself. Both would be extremely interesting right now. I … Continue reading

Posted in Austria, Books, France, History, Human Rights, Military, Politics, Sports, Travel, USA, Venezuela | Tagged , , | 3 Comments