Category: News
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Archaeologists unveil gaming culture of 7th century Anglo-Saxons
An extremely rare gaming piece is dug up at an early medieval royal complex at Lyminge, Kent. The piece was used for a game that’s similar to backgammon. Archaeologists discovered the piece in what was probably it’s original ‘gaming setting’, namely an Anglo-Saxon royal hall. Anglo-Saxons loved games. Their strong gaming tradition is reflected in…
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Designer of legendary Kalashnikov-rifle deceased today at 94
The AK-47 rifle is famous for its use in the Russian army and later as a weapon of choice for terrorist and freedom fighters alike. In many third world countries, the gun has become a symbol for rebel fighters. It is the only weapon that’s depicted on a country flag (Mozambique). The weapon is the…
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The historical precedent for America’s fast food strikes
Thousands of American fast-food and retail-workers striked last week, in protest of their extremely low wages. These strikes have a historical precedent. In modern history, Americans thought that waiters and waitresses just couldn’t be organized in a worker-union. These unskilled workers weren’t allowed to join larger labor movements, in spite of their poor working conditions.…
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Vienna Philharmonic withdraws honorary awards for top-nazi’s after 68 years
The world famous Vienna Philharmonic orchestra has posthumously declined six nazi-leaders their honorary awards. Among them are Arthur Seyss-Inquart and Baldur von Schirach. Historian Oliver Rathkolb investigated the history of the Vienna Philharmonic during the war. He concluded that the Viennese music ensemble enthusiastically embraced the nazi regime. After the ‘Anschluss’ of 1938, the unification…
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American post-war policy created conditions for Kim-dynastie to become all powerful
Last week, the new Korean leader Kim Jong Un executed his uncle, who was accused of betraying the “warmest paternal love” by his 30-year-old nephew. Kim Jong Un’s Uncle was likely a threat to his supreme command. His execution was a result of a power struggle of the inner circle of North Korea’s ruling family. The origins of this notorious and all-powerful dynasty, that…
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These are the last days of paper money. A historical survey
Some eschatological thinkers expect that the end of the world is nigh as soon as paper money isn’t used anymore. If that’s true, the last judgement is upon us. Last week, the Bank of England, the central bank of the United Kingdom, announced plans to start printing money on polymer. This thin and flexible plastic…
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The earliest pet-cats came from China
Approximately 5.400 years ago the first cats were domesticated in North China. That is about thousand years earlier than the first pet-cats in Egypt appeared. Chinese archaeologists made this conclusion after the analyzed cat-bones that were found in the Shaanxi Province in China. These first house-cats were smaller than modern cars. Scientists believe that cats were living along humans because the…