Random Learning #52
The Defence of the Realm Act was enacted by the United Kingdom parliament days after World War I started and granted the government extraordinary wartime emergency powers. Expanded throughout the…
Friedliche Revolution
Friedliche Revolution, known as Peaceful Revolution in English, were the 1989 non-violent protests against the East German communist government which led to its demise. The protests' origins were the Monday's…
Monument to the Battle of the Nations
Also known in German as Völkerschlachtdenkmal, the Monument to the Battle of the Nations commemorates the 1813 epic battle where Napolean was defeated by the combined armies of Russia, Prussia,…
Random Learnings #51
Though evidence is inconclusive and reasoning disputed, Khrushchev may have proposed that the Kaliningrad enclave become part of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic. The Lithuanian leader Sniečkus declined because over…
Random Learnings #50
Sovetsk, Russia is part of the Kalingrad enclave, physically separated from mainland Russia. It's even further separated from mainland Russia as planes can no longer fly over the Baltics but…
From Here I Can See Russia!
Sarah Palin is often misquoted as saying I can see Russia from my house! - thank you, Tina Fey - but I can say I saw Russia from my rental…
Random Learnings #49
Dexter Gordon's Wikipedia page mentioned that he was unable to perform in New York City bars or dancehalls - essentially any place that served alcohol, more importantly the places that…
Random Learnings #48
During Game 2 of the NLCS, the announcers remarked how the New York Mets' team colors were chosen to represent the Brooklyn Dodgers (blue) and New York Giants (orange), teams…
Random Learnings #47
Czechoslovakia first came into existence at the conclusion of World War I and the collapse of the Austria-Hungarian Empire. The new country immediately needed to create a working government, establish…
Random Learnings #46
"A Peasant Leaving His Landlord on Yuriev Day" by Sergei V. Ivanov I thought that Russian serfs were essentially slaves - a belief supported by many English-language references - but…