Today – Page 8 – General History

A classic Anglo/American sports car, almost forgotten

The original Jensen Interceptor / joc.org.uk

The Jensen Interceptor came in two phases; Jensen made the original Interceptor between 1950 and 1957 at the Carter’s Green factory in West Bromwich in the north of England. The newly established Jensen Motors then built another high-powered sports car between 1966 and 1976 at the Kelvin Way factory.

The first model had used fibre-glass a great deal in the 1950s model, but the later model returned to a steel pressed body-shell, with a new design by the Italian firm Carrozzeria Touring. The 1950s model was also Italian designed and built (by Vignale) until Jensen began production themselves with some faint but subtle modifications. (more…)

By Dean Swift| 2013-02-13T11:21:09+00:00 February 13th, 2013|A History of North America, A history of the motor car, British History, Italian History, Today, US History|0 Comments

SPAIN today: a prediction and some questions

Morning, noon and night it is predicted by the Spanish news programmes that Mariano Rajoy may resign and take his Popular Party with him. The reason, we are told, is that an ex-treasurer of the party has said that he made extra payments to high ranking members of the PP since 2008 or before. The news programmes insists that these ‘payments by plain envelope’ mean ‘black money’, or payments NOT declared on tax forms. This is now found to be palpably untrue. Rajoy has even taken the unprecedented step of publishing his tax declarations on his own website. The payments are part of the declared emoluments and expenses, and as such are completely legal – if rather rich-making.

Showing the kind of hypocritical cynicism that I had hoped had vanished with Felipe González, leaders of the PSOE are insisting on ‘complete investigations’ of something that has been completely investigated. This is not unusual at all. But for the saintly Rubalcaba to put on his most Dominican face and find all this ‘disgraceful’ would be extremely funny, a Brian Rix Aldwych farce, if it were not so serious. If the PSOE’s plans to dislodge the Popular Party via articles and headlines in their organ El País lead to Sr. Rajoy’s resignation, Spain will be in the same position as it was on the unexpected and unnecessary abdication of King Alfonso XIII in the Thirties, which led indirectly to the Spanish Civil War. (more…)

By Dean Swift| 2013-02-10T12:06:53+00:00 February 10th, 2013|EU History, Philosophy, Spanish History, Today, World History|0 Comments

SPAIN: from black comedy to farce

Not even the Monty Python team could have invented the present situation in the democracy with a monarchy, Parliament, and civilized population called Spain. The Marx Brothers might have shaken the head and said, “No-one would believe such a script, so fergettaboudit!” (more…)

By Dean Swift| 2013-02-01T12:20:06+00:00 February 1st, 2013|English Language, EU History, History of the Cinema, Humour, Philosophy, Spanish History, Today|0 Comments

Feminism – a 20th century phenomenon?

A young Suffragette throws herself under the King’s horse at the Derby / scotsman.com

There will I suppose be frenzied and furious cries from members of the ‘gentler sex’ after (not) reading this post in General-History. The title will be enough to raise feminine hackles. “Phenomenon indeed!” Why should a thirst for equality be described as a ‘phenomenon’?

Feminism is an almost international movement concerning the social, political and economic rights of women. For the most part feminism’s voices demand equal rights for both sexes, but some would go further; they assert the right of women to separate development.

For as long as can be remembered women were subjected to their menfolk, and excluded from a proper education, economic independence, the right to own property, have a bank account in their own name, but, hardest of all, excluded from political representation. It is difficult to know why, as one woman’s vote requires the same thinking ability as any man has. (more…)

By Dean Swift| 2013-01-30T13:02:20+00:00 January 30th, 2013|British History, English History, Jewish History, Today, World History|0 Comments

The Peninsula War (1807-14)

Joseph, brother of Napoleon Bonaparte /fuenterrebollo.com

Napoleon Bonaparte decided he would imitate the Roman emperors. Instead of listening to his better senses, he invaded the Peninsula of Spain and Portugal, causing one of the Napoleonic Wars, and a very great deal of unnecessary bloodshed. Spain is included in the very short list of nations it is unwise to invade or attempt to occupy. (more…)

By Dean Swift| 2013-01-27T13:51:04+00:00 January 27th, 2013|British History, English History, French History, German History, History of Portugal, Spanish History, Today, World History|0 Comments

The Percy family, marching with English history

Alnwick Castle in Northumberland / tumblr.com

This is more usually a first or Christian name, and sometimes encourages unfair laughter: “Come on Percy, show ‘em wot you got!” As a surname or family name it should inspire respect, possibly awe because the Percy family have figured in British history almost since the damp mists of Time.

The Percys were marcher lords (q.v.) in the far north-east of England. A William de Percy was given vast lands by William the Conquerer in return for helping him conquer England. He fought beside Duke William the Norman bastard at the Battle of Hastings (1066). (more…)

By Dean Swift| 2013-01-23T12:18:57+00:00 January 23rd, 2013|British History, English History, History of the Cinema, Scottish history, Today, World History|7 Comments

Cinematic car chases

Steve Macqueen driving his special Mustang in the film Bullitt / kellycarcommunity.com

There are second-unit directors whose speciality is the car chase. These are usually urban, but the countryside has also seen some hair-raising examples. I have chosen two of my favourites – so popular with me that I even inflict them on my friends.

The first occurs rather a long way in to a first-class thriller with Steve McQueen driving his own special supercharged Ford Mustang. The bad men are in a Dodge Challenger. Each car has a very special exhaust note, and the director Peter Yates uses these exhilarating sounds as the accompanying sound loop to Lalo Schifrin’s music. Of the two automobiles Steve’s Mustang is the more obvious racer, but the Challenger has a bigger engine, and a very good bespectacled driver inside. When the car chase becomes obviously crucial, there is a good shot of the passenger in the Challenger fastening his safety belt. Mr McQueen uses no safety belt that we can see, just a very concentrated expression. (more…)

By Dean Swift| 2013-01-20T16:12:26+00:00 January 20th, 2013|History of the Cinema, Today|0 Comments

Pontiac

Algonquin Chief Pontiac / macmillanmh.com

Some of our many readers will be disappointed that this post is not composed about the finely-produced American quality motorcar that I fear has passed away and perhaps been buried. No, I talk about Pontiac, born around 1720, leader of a ‘Native America’ confederacy of tribes, most of his life a faithful friend to the French in North America.

After the defeat of the French armies in 1759, and subsequent occupation of their forts by the English, Pontiac assembled the many Algonquian tribes ready to face what he considered would be typically English intransigence, expansion, and untrustworthiness. (more…)

By Dean Swift| 2013-01-20T13:20:25+00:00 January 20th, 2013|A History of North America, British History, Today, World History|0 Comments

The Hohenzollern family

William ! of Prussia / en.wikipedia.org

Of all the great and influential German families, descending from the mists of time, always involved in something – providing kings, making a nuisance of themselves, being or not being involved in charitable causes etc., the Hohenzollern top the list. There are still plenty of them around, but their power has waned. (more…)

By Dean Swift| 2013-01-18T12:46:45+00:00 January 18th, 2013|Austrian history, British History, English History, German History, Greek History, Russian history, Scandinavian history, Spanish History, Today, World History|0 Comments

Armies

A moment’s rest during The Great War / frivolousendeavour.wordpress.com

There are times when we believe that that History is nothing but series of forgettable dates, the names of Kings or Presidents or Prime Ministers, and the Battle of This or the Battle of the Other. We may be right, but History is also the events of yesterday, that we may try to compare with the events of BC. It is also the history of armies. (more…)

By Dean Swift| 2013-01-16T13:02:55+00:00 January 16th, 2013|Today, World History|0 Comments