Independent scientists and doctors are showing their corporately funded counterparts how science and medicine should be done. In a WhatsApp group‚ independent professionals with differing views have been debating whether there was […]

Find out how job numbers are being misrepresented Harrison Smith on The American Journal Tuesday detailed how Americans are being displaced by the Biden administration and the UN replacement migration agenda.

Welcome back to What We’re Reading‚ a weekly behind-the-scenes peek at the stories our team has been discussing. Building blocks There’s something so satisfying about digging into solutions with deep roots. That’s the case with the stories RTBC founder David Byrne shared this week about the enduring success of social housing in Vienna: one in The Guardian about how Vienna became the world’s most livable city‚ and another in the Financial Times about how co-housing is helping families stay there.  “The Viennese solution didn’t happen overnight‚” David points out. “It’s been in place for I think 100 years now‚ and amazingly despite changes in government it survives.” And David should know: He wrote a story about Vienna’s affordable housing for RTBC way back in 2019. Travel with care Contributing Editor Peter Yeung drew our attention to the 2024 edition of Fodors’ annual “No List‚” a collection of places its editors suggest visitors “reconsider” this year. “I think it’s such a brilliant idea and something that is so lacking from the world of travel‚” says Peter. “It uses robust reporting to show the damaging impact of tourism — the elephant in the room — but also suggests alternatives of what we can do instead.” Cruise ship passengers crowd the walkway at the Doge’s Palace in Piazza San Marco on a busy day in Venice‚ one of the destinations on Fodors’ 2024 “No List.” Credit: Kirk Fisher / Shutterstock A frequent‚ impact-conscious traveler himself‚ Peter wrote for us last summer about some of the ways we can be better tourists. What else we’re reading The neglected clean heat we flush down the drains — shared by Editorial Director Rebecca Worby from the BBC This Cheap Street Fix Saves Lives. Why Don’t More Cities Do It? — shared by Audience Engagement Manager Mariel Lozada from Bloomberg Austin Community College considers offering free tuition to high schoolers who graduate this spring — shared by Rebecca Worby from KUT Radio Elsewhere in our channels… Contributing Editor Michaela Haas has received lots of enthusiastic notes from readers of her recent story about a surprising way to stop bullying. The story may have surprised us‚ but the response doesn’t — clearly this is a resonant topic! We love to hear from readers: Reach us at info@reasonstobecheerful.world. The post What We’re Reading: Vienna’s Housing Secrets‚ Alternative Travel and More appeared first on Reasons to be Cheerful.

  An oddity in medieval history is knowing an exact date. On May 29‚ 1453‚ the Byzantine Empire fell to the Ottomans. And just like that‚ 1‚500 years of Roman and Byzantine history ended. The end did not come suddenly but only after a long decline‚ lasting years‚ often mixed with civil wars and external pressure. Long before the Empire’s rise‚ Byzantium the city was founded in the 7th century BC. Sitting astride the Bosphorus Strait‚ Byzantium controlled the only entrance to the Black Sea. This strategic location was gold as the city later would be the economic powerhouse for centuries derived from key Asian and European trade routes.   From City to Capital Map of Byzantine Constantinople. Source: History.com   Location played a key role in 330 CE. The Roman Emperor Constantine I saw Byzantium’s trading‚ strategic‚ and political advantages. In 330‚ it became the official Roman capital. Rome fell in 476 to Odoacer‚ a German mercenary who disposed of the last Emperor‚ leaving only the Eastern Empire. Over several centuries‚ the changes went beyond politics. The Empire made Christianity the official religion‚ and Greek replaced Latin. And the Empire prospered during this continuation and change.   The next several hundred years also saw many events that affected the Empire. The Arabs stormed in from the Arabian Peninsula‚ conquering Egypt in 640. Various Germanic western kingdoms rose and fell‚ most tangling with Byzantine forces—other threats‚ like the Sassanid Empire and Seljuk Turks came from the East. Before 1000‚ the Empire reached its maximum size‚ from Spain to the west to the Middle East. But the constant wars never ceased. Internal strife took its toll‚ too. Now trouble brewed‚ coming from the East. Enter the Seljuk Turks‚ aimed at Anatolia‚ the heart of the Empire.   A Crucial Battle and Waning The ill-fated Battle of Manzikert. Source: Daily Sabah.   The disastrous Battle of Manzikert in 1071 displayed the cracks in Rome’s successor. The Seljuk Turks defeated a sizeable Byzantine army‚ forcing the Empire to pay tribute. Large swathes of Anatolia now become Seljuk territory. Manzikert hit the Empire’s territory and psyche. The loss of Anatolia proved devastating to the military‚ losing their biggest territory to for military recruitment. In the years following this battle‚ Byzantine historians lamented the Empire’s wane started here. The following decades only proved them right.   That Slippery Slope Entry of the Crusaders in Constantinople‚ by Eugene Delacroix‚ 1840. Source: Historynet.com   The year 1204 saw the Empire take a worse‚ crueler hit that caused irreparable damage. The large Fourth Crusade‚ destined for Egypt‚ pivoted and sacked the capital Constantinople. Fueling this campaign was money and political desires. Constantinople’s fabled wealth made it an irresistible target‚ and Venice‚ a trading rival‚ sought to control the Empire’s trade routes. The surprise attack succeeded‚ followed by three days of looting and the Empire carved up.   The “Latin Empire” lasted until 1261‚ when troops from Trebizond retook Constantinople. But the Empire never regained its former glory or domains. Civil wars again weakened imperial power. And its most aggressive threat loomed.   Expansion At the Empire’s Detriment 1204 Byzantine Political Map   The Byzantine Empire’s greatest and final adversary arose in Anatolia – the Ottomans. These Turks proved themselves more capable than the Seljuks. To the Ottoman’s delight‚ the Mongols wreaked havoc across the Middle East.     The Ottomans expanded‚ absorbing smaller Muslim states. By 1354‚ the Ottomans took Byzantine territory‚ spreading into Europe. Their armies defeated the Serbs at the Battle of Kosovo in 1389‚ cementing their hold. By 1451‚ the Ottomans surrounded the Empire‚ leaving slivers. The Empire’s existence became precarious.   The Final Acts Constantinople’s fortifications Source: Wikimedia Commons   The mid-15th century Byzantine Empire picture was not a rosy one. All attempts at restoration achieved mild results. Besides the inexorable Ottomans‚ other enemies like the Serbs and Bulgarians conquered Imperial territory. Even the Venetians popped up‚ taking a Greek city or two. Throw in another civil war‚ and the Empire looked right for the plucking.   The Empire’s situation went from precarious to dire after 1440. The Ottomans crossed the Bosphorus Straits‚ conquering as they did‚ enveloping Constantinople. A two-year siege in 1444 failed‚ defeated by the Theodosian Walls. In vain‚ the Byzantine Emperor Constantine XI Palaiologos appealed to the West‚ but little aid came. The Pope wanted control of the Orthodox Church was one reason. Others wanted to scavenge any spoils.   In 1453‚ the Ottomans under Sultan Mehmed II struck. They used artillery and infantry to breach Constantinople’s mighty walls. The siege lasted for fifty-five days. Constantine XI’s defenders‚ numbering 7‚000‚ fought but lost. Per tradition‚ Mehmed allowed three days of looting. On May 29‚ 1453‚ Byzantium fell. The Ottoman expansion paused but then revved again‚ storming further into Europe. Some Byzantine cities resisted‚ with the last snuffed out by 1461.

January 17‚ 2024

The trials and tribulations – sometimes self-induced – of trying to be a prog band in America

It’s no coincidence that he spent his honeymoon in the Soviet Union. “Jewish” Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) forced a full Senate vote on a resolution that would order the U.S. to investigate alleged Israel war crimes in its mission to destroy the Hamas terrorist network‚ and withhold military aid if they are found to have […]

63 years ago today‚ President Eisenhower went on television to deliver his farewell address after two full terms as president. He prepared it along with his brother Milton and chief speechwriter‚ calling it a “solemn moment in a decidedly unsolemn time” where he would attempt with every fiber in his lungs to warn a nation […] The post Good News in History‚ January 17 appeared first on Good News Network.

Queens of England‚ or as some of these would be‚ queens of Great Britain‚ were undoubtedly under immense pressure whether they were consorts (queens due to their husbands being kings)‚ regents (holding the title for their child‚ usually a son)‚ or regnants (holding the title for themselves‚ usually with a husband titled “prince”). One of […] The post 10 English Queens Who Suffered Greatly appeared first on Listverse.

History is filled with stories of executions and revenge‚ but some people take it a step further. In some cases‚ a person’s crimes are so egregious their enemies decide that being dead is no excuse for carrying out an execution! Yes‚ some people have died‚ been dug up‚ and put to death all over again […] The post 10 People Who Were Posthumously Executed appeared first on Listverse.