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Jack P Taylor's Political and Historical Curiosities

Apr 19, 2018

Embassies are fascinating entities having existed for longer than the concept of the modern nation-state.

They are often misunderstood and can offer a unique insight into the diplomatic issues that countries face.

In this episode I cover:

What embassies and consulates are,

Their unofficial varieties like from Taiwan,


Apr 2, 2018

Thomas Midgley Jr. was undoubtedly a great inventor, yet he was far from a great man.

Midgley was recognised by J. R. McNeill, a pioneer of the study of environmental history, as having “had more impact on the atmosphere than any other single organism in Earth's history“.

Midgley's inventions have...


Mar 22, 2018

A lot of wonderful things can be said about Truman, particularly his attitude to the office of the President.

We can not say wonderful things about Truman's idea to internationalise the waterways of Europe. 

It was a silly idea and one given far too much attention by Truman. 

In this episode I give what detail is...


Mar 5, 2018

The Academy Awards/Oscars are the culmination of the Hollywood award season and celebrates the prior years greatest cinematic accomplishments.

In this episode I look at what the Academy Awards are, their history, what they recognise, what films are eligible, and how they are nominated.

Sample Official Screen Credits...


Feb 11, 2018

Countries do not change their name often, and far less often their alphabet. 

Kazakhstan will soon be doing both to become Qazaqstan.

In this episode I cover the why, what, when, who, and how of this change.