October 2022
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Commonplace Fun Facts Bob Dole was accustomed to being the big name in his family. As long-time U.S. Senator from Kansas, Senate Republican Leader, 1976 Vice Presidential nominee, and 1996 Presidential nominee, he was recognized wherever he went. His wife, Elizabeth, was no shrinking violet, however. An accomplished politician in her own right, she served…
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Commonplace Fun Facts In the never-ending battle for market share, Pepsi has consistently taken second place against its rival, Coca-Cola. Fortunately, the rivalry between the companies has been limited to commerce. Had it broken out into an actual shooting war, there’s no question Pepsi would have emerged as the industry’s lone superpower. Its victory would…
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The birth of a baby is a joyous occasion, even in war time. I don’t know if it is a specific Jewish tradition, but I know it is a Dutch one, that the birth of a child is announced in the newspapers. As did Harry’s parents, Willy and Rose, when he was born on October…
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Approximately 25,000 Jews from Germany and Austria sought refuge in the Netherlands in the 1930s after the Nazis came to power. They were welcomed in the Netherlands because many Dutch were appalled by the treatment of the Jews in Germany. The photograph above shows a large protest meeting in the Amsterdam R.A.I. in 1938 against…
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Originally posted on I didn't have my glasses on….: ? at the haunted house while waiting to enter the performances began fire dancers monsters pumpkin head evil clowns lasers, smoke even a bad dj – (‘diablo -international dj’) like being caught up in a campy carnie rave party and then we went in for a…
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In my opinion 1993 was the worst year in Pop music-I have no scientific data to back this up, it is just based on the re-runs of Top of the Pops on BBC4. Most of the songs are awful and hardly memorable. Luckily the rock track on this episode of Rocktober is not from 1993…
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I am often very critical of the Dutch during World War II, but it would be unfair if I wouldn’t highlight the Dutch heroes from time to time. Louis Romuald Hubert Dobbelmann was born on July 1, 1911 in Rijswijk. He had three older sisters and a younger brother and sister. His father was the…
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Karl Rauscher was a member of part of the Luftwaffe. Specifically of the so-called Werftabteilung; charged with repair and scrapping of downed aircraft. During the war years he was stationed in a large number of European countries. He made a photographic report of his long journey; a special collection of photos of up to 1500…
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To be honest, I was never a great fan of Charlie Chaplin. I was always more of a fan of the Laurel and Hardy-type of humour. I find that Charlie Chaplin’s movies are quite dated when compared to the aforementioned, Laurel and Hardy films. However, there is one notable exception. There has been one Chaplin…
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The number of victims of the Holocaust is just so difficult to fathom. When you talk about millions it just becomes a number it is just something that our human mind can’t comprehend. It is often better to remember those who were murdered, one by one. Today I am remembering Jesaia Swart. He was murdered…
History of Sorts 