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Category: Life

The English and Their History: Review

Since Brexit, I had always wanted to read about the peculiarity of Euroscepticism in England, and the reasons England voted in stark difference from Scotland on the Remain/Leave referendum.  I started with the single-volume history of England — The English and Their History by the historian Robert Tombs. As an engineering grad, I did not take a formal course in history. Reading this book would be an enjoyable learning experience and rectify that mistake. The Brexit referendum would impose that the whole of the United Kingdom (of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) exits Europe.  The term Brexit, of course, refers to the exit of Great Britain. In truth, it was a slim majority of older, working-class England that was itching…

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Wins and Losses

Even in the remotest parts of the globe, it seemed unlikely that one could avoid news about the elections in the United States. The drama and uncertainty are still ongoing, even as the voting process has been completed. Like we do often do after every large operation, we should take stock of wins and losses in the process.

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Newsletters and Electronic Anti-library

The explosion of newsletters has some people worried that there are too many newsletters and the landscape will soon be transformed into an unfettered electronic jungle-like social media. In my view, complaining that there are too many newsletters is like complaining that there are too many books and too many magazines in the world. I postulate that newsletters should be treated similarly to books and magazines on the bookshelf in your home library. Subscribe a lot, but read for fun.

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Assorted: Ladakh, O’Connor and Thiel

In light of the ongoing skirmishes in Ladakh region the Indian subcontinent, I came across an interesting essay by Peter Worthington, who co-founded Toronto Sun (and who was its editor-in-chief for 12 years), on his first-hand observations in India-China conflict of 1962. It is an informative essay despite its brevity, with many highlights including a searing description of the valor of Sikh units despite the loss, an interview with sorrowful Nehru is visited by a large rat running across the carpet (Worthington feels sorry for him), and an interlude with Dalai Lama where he reminisces about Heinrich Harrer (played by Brad Pitt in Seven Years in Tibet).  Both India and China seemed embarrassed – one because was defeated so easily,…

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