Category Archives: History

“WHY 2018 WAS THE BEST YEAR IN HUMAN HISTORY.”

Posted on January 11, 2019 by Philip

“WHY 2018 WAS THE BEST YEAR IN HUMAN HISTORY.” Nicholas Kristof had an op ed with that headline in the New York Times (January 5, 2019). Kristof has lots of support for his thesis. For one example, Kristof writes: “Until … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, History, Politics | 1 Comment

GLOTTOPHOBIE.

Posted on December 31, 2018 by Philip

GLOTTOPHOBIE.I have posted a number of times on the French efforts to standardize their language. For example, I posted here about how it was not until the nineteenth century that France was able to establish a national language which prevailed … Continue reading →

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HOW BAD WAS THE LONG WINTER? THE PHOTOGRAPH.

Posted on December 1, 2018 by Philip

HOW BAD WAS THE LONG WINTER? THE PHOTOGRAPH. I went on the internet to confirm how bad the “Long Winter” in 1880/1881 was. This article by Lee Svitak Dean on the Minnesota Star/Tribune site (February 10, 2014) describes the blizzards … Continue reading →

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THE LONG WINTER AND PRESERVING CIVILIZED MANNERS.

Posted on November 30, 2018 by Philip

THE LONG WINTER AND PRESERVING CIVILIZED MANNERS. The location of Viking privies reminds me of a question that the members of our family asked whenever Laura Ingalls Wilder’s great book THE LONG WINTER was being read aloud. The family was … Continue reading →

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AN ANCIENT DANISH PRIVY.

Posted on November 29, 2018 by Philip

AN ANCIENT DANISH PRIVY. I posted here about an explanation of the archaeological significance of poop by Anna Rothschild on Gross Science. This article on the Ars Technica website by Annalee Newitz is about the find in southeast Denmark of … Continue reading →

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WHAT’S LEFT TO LEARN—POMPEII AND HERCULANEUM.

Posted on November 28, 2018 by Philip

WHAT’S LEFT TO LEARN—POMPEII AND HERCULANEUM. I have rejoiced in both new archeological finds and in discoveries that there is more to be found. I knew that much of Herculaneum is unaccessible. I came across a factoid in a review … Continue reading →

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ADAM SMITH ON THE POTATO—“STRONG MEN AND BEAUTIFUL WOMEN”.

Posted on November 27, 2018 by Philip

ADAM SMITH ON THE POTATO—“STRONG MEN AND BEAUTIFUL WOMEN”. Adam Smith’s recommendation for potatoes featured an appeal to vanity that any modern marketing man would be proud of. In Part 1 of Chapter 1 of THE WEALTH OF NATIONS, he … Continue reading →

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ADAM SMITH AND THE POTATO.

Posted on November 26, 2018 by Philip

ADAM SMITH AND THE POTATO. The importance of potatoes for economic growth from 1750 to 1950, as measured in the Nathan Nunn and Nancy Quian article I cited yesterday, can be traced back to Adam Smith’s campaign for the potato … Continue reading →

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AN UPDATE ON THE HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE OF THE POTATO.

Posted on November 25, 2018 by Philip

AN UPDATE ON THE HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE OF THE POTATO. I have posted before on the important role of the potato in economic growth. For example, I posted here on Professor William Mcneill’s argument that: “…in northern Europe, … by feeding … Continue reading →

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A THANKSGIVING STORY FROM 2008.

Posted on November 22, 2018 by Philip

A THANKSGIVING STORY FROM 2008. I have posted on this story several times. I think of it every Thanksgiving. Here are the comments on the post about the Battle of Midway. Janice McCoy says: June 30, 2008 at 9:12 PM … Continue reading →

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