Venezuela`s crisis could be a case study for a social science graduate course in any respectable university. Nevertheless, for years on WAIS I have been trying to explain Venezuela`s hows and whys, as much as the whats. To explain what is happening is easier, mostly because it is based on measurable facts, observations and anecdotes. It is obviously harder to dig into the causes and development of things.
I hope, as a grateful and loving pupil, to be the first to deliver this great news to WAIS: Professor Paul Preston has been knighted in the 2018 Queen`s Birthday Honours:
I have been fascinated by the recent postings by various WAIS colleagues about genealogy. For me, research into one´s family background is a means of feeling a personal connection with history--enabling me to relate to historical events that my own flesh and blood participated in. Imaginatively stepping into an ancestor´s shoes (or armour, as you will read below).
The Dean of WAISers, David W. Pike, has published five new books on WAISworld. Not only are the e-books free and universally available, but they are also the first titles since the Prof. Hilton days to carry the WAIS imprimatur.
(Eugenio Battaglia, Italy, 12/13/19 4:53 am) In response to Brian Blodgett (11 December), Somalia was not the union of two different nations but the union of two countries both having the same Somali nationality. So it is not a clear example. < ...
Read more(John Eipper, USA, 12/12/19 11:47 am) So what country has the most public holidays? My comments on David Duggan's post limited the candidates to nations sharing a border with Malaysia's neighbor. I had Thailand in mind for ...
Read more(David Duggan, USA, 12/12/19 8:47 am) I'm going to guess Malaysia. JE comments: We're getting very warm. Malaysia and our Holiday Nation do share a common neighbor. If my geography serves me, we'v ...
Read more(Brian Blodgett, USA, 12/12/19 5:31 am) Going off a completely scientific line of reasoning, I figured the winner for the most public holidays would be a country that has a high percent of people with the same religion. As for which religi ...
Read more(Alan Levine, USA, 12/12/19 4:03 am) As for the country with the most public holidays, I'll guess Bhutan or India or Nepal. JE comments: Alan, this is the closest guess so far. You're thinking outside the box, but--ouch-- ...
Read more(Edward Jajko, USA, 12/12/19 3:39 am) What about the Vatican State? Every day is a commemoration of at least one saint. Some days commemorate All Saints or All Souls; and throughout the year there are special days like ...
Read more(Enrique Torner, USA, 12/12/19 3:19 am) Japan? Germany? Such efficient, hard-working countries? No way! The winner for most official holidays has to be Spain, the laziest country in the world, according to Mariano José de Larr ...
Read more(Silvia Ribelles de la Vega, USA, 12/12/19 2:57 am) John E asked for WAISer guesses on the nation with the most official holidays. My vote is France. My brother lives in Paris and it seems as if they are having picnics day in and day out because ...
Read more(Tor Guimaraes, USA, 12/11/19 12:25 pm) Last night I watched a series about the "Dubious Friends of Donald Trump. I had heard many rumors about his Russian mob connections which saved him financially when the regular banks wanted noth ...
Read more(Brian Blodgett, USA, 12/11/19 8:48 am) Eugenio Battaglia's comment (December 6th) that "no new country was ever born out of the peaceful, voluntary union of various nations" caught my attention. I bring up the Somali Republi ...
Read more
