FSU Politics/Current Events V

The same could be said about Russia - less than 5% of their strikes had been directed against ISIS. So, Russia, by the same standard you applied to Turkey, is not really fighting ISIS.

 

There are two groups of countries (or groups) fighting ISIS:
1. US, France, UK, Kurdish Peshmerga, Iraqi government - fighting ISIS because they want to defeat ISIS and the extremism they represent
2. Turkey, Russia, Hezballah - fighting ISIS occasionally, as a part of their larger strategy in the region, protecting their clients or allies. Russia and Hezballah protect Assad, Turkey protects Turkomans.

 

I believe the current situation is best summed up like this:

 

Dan Carlin's 'Hardcore History' is excellent. I finished the WWI podcast in two weeks - quite an accomplishment considering there's roughly 25 hours of material. An anti-History Channel rendition of WWI. Lots of primary source material and a heavy focus on the social history of the event. All other main-stream retellings of the conflict just valorize the military commanders and diplomats. Carlin himself puts that WWI Germany army into his top 5 military outfits of all time. A bit odd considering they lost, but they pretty much fought the Allies by themselves. They delivered knockout blows to the Serbs, Russians, and Italians while pushing the French and English to the brink.

Unfortunately, his WWII Eastern Front podcast, 'Ghosts of the Ostfront,' is disappointing. Just not the same manic dedication to details, and he glosses over many events. If you like Dan Carlin I think you will enjoy Mike Duncan's 'Revolutions' podcast. Duncan is not quite the story weaver as Carlin, but the depth and quality is on par with Carlin and I would say Duncan's approach is a bit more 'academic' (or maybe its because of his monotone, melancholy delivery).

 

I second Duncan's Revolutions podcast, which is great (though I didn't really enjoy his Rome series nearly as much).

I also think there are a number of great WWI books that have been published recently due to the centennial that I think do a better job than the podcasts, particularly The Sleepwalkers by Christopher Clark and Towards the Flame by Lieven. There's also Margaret MacMillan's the War that Ended peace, though I like that one less personally.

 

I listened to ‘Wrath of the Khans.’ One issues I have with ancient history, or poorly documented history, is that the events are observed through a veil of ignorance. Many details left unexplained, other events heavily speculated. Nevertheless, excellent series (and credit goes to the historians that Carlin sites - they’re the ones attempting to remove the veil).


I enjoyed the anabaptist episode. I believe it is only one episode. I come from a fervent form of Protestantism. If you’ve ever socialized with Sac Slavs I think you’ll understand (to note I am agnostic now). Anyway, an excellent analysis of religious fatalism and its broader consequences. Further proof that secularization can’t come soon enough.


I think I’m going to move on to Audible or that other thing you suggested.

 

Yes, Pentecostals are a branch of Protestantism. It's a relative new movement (early 1900's), so it is far down the evolutionary tree of Protestantism. I just use the Protestant as an umbrella term for Baptists, Charismatics, Pentecostals, etc.

 

All of history is that way. If you can tell me what Sir Edward Grey was really thinking in the month leading up to WWI, you'll be the darling of the WWI historical community.

Beyond that, you'd be surprised how much we know - the more turbulent and interesting period of the Roman Republic, for example, has a stunning amount of historical sources given that it occurred over 2000 years ago. There's arguably more scholarship on that period of history than on any other ever, despite the "veil of ignorance", as you call it.

 

What you say is true. But the depth and scope of well documented events makes for far more interesting history than the ambiguities of poorly registered civilizations. The great civilizations of the Americas give us very little compared to their contemporaries half a world away. Early Mongolian conquest, and much of what we know of Ghengis Khan, was written after the fact and politically motivated to paint Khan in good light.

 

My favorite area (as of this very second) of historical research is the sub-roman Britain. There is a lot of literature written about it but it all encompasses a very small amount of the available data and the rest is speculation. The sub-roman Britain truly is an example of Dark Ages.

half of what's written on the topic is a "prediction of the as yet undiscovered past".

 

You would be surprised how much this is true for all history.

 

Golden Horde lasted much longer than the usually offered 15th century date. It had survived into early 18th century. With Moskva as its capital.

 

This guy, this guy knows. ^

 

What's up nicephoras, you still around?

 

Yo. You gotta tag people

 

Haha no idea how that works but glad to see you still got the message.

Miss our NBA talks, more entertaining than ESPN talking heads
You think Raptors going to close Warriors out tonight? Sounds like Durant might be playing..

 

Was taking to my friend in Toronto about this. I think they get the job done.

 

Wow what a beautiful game until Lowry hit the side of the backboard, Splash Bros did just enough, now they'll be playing with extra mojo after Durant tore his achilles for them. Guessing that Toronto will get it done in Game 7, strange seemed like they went away from Siakam late...