Bilingual

America, 1926: What a Forgotten 100-Year-Old Report Says About Who We Are
19 days ago
- President Hoover commissioned 'Recent Social Trends' in 1929, a detailed report on 1920s America, highlighting parallels and contrasts with 2026.
- Similarities between 1926 and 2026 include technological unemployment fears (mechanization vs. AI), economic anxiety amid wealth, and immigration restrictions after high inflows.
- Differences include rural dominance, lack of indoor plumbing/electricity for millions, limited women's suffrage, child labor, and scarce consumer goods like cars and phonographs.
- The typical American in 1926 was a white 26-year-old male, first in family to finish high school, moving from farm to city for unstable manufacturing/retail jobs, earning $100/month without unemployment insurance.
- Economy: Roaring Twenties peak with balance as key concern; rural crisis from surplus and tractors; urban growth from migration; anti-immigrant sentiment led to 1924 restrictions; manufacturing and clerical jobs rose; chain stores and mergers boomed; automotive industry revolutionized life.
- Culture: Women's rights advanced with more working women and flapper culture; Prohibition caused black market growth and deaths from poisoned alcohol; childhood changed with more education and intensive parenting; sports were unprofessional with short baseball games.
- Media: Print media (books, magazines, newspapers) thrived before radio dominance; radio raised concerns about mass manipulation and loss of individuality, similar to modern internet fears.
- Future predictions from 1926 anticipated audiobooks, streaming video, remote work, and AI-like automation fears, while warning technology could erode traditional values, with money becoming a central value.
The Declaration of Independence
18 days ago
- The post reflects on the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, emphasizing its radical ideals and global influence.
- It argues that the Declaration's preamble asserts universal individual rights and the social contract, challenging contemporary norms of monarchy and divine rule.
- The author critiques misconceptions that the American Revolution was 'conservative,' highlighting its inherent radicalism in promoting self-determination and equality.
- Discussion includes the Declaration's bill of grievances against King George III, noting parallels to modern governance issues in the U.S.
- The post encourages reading the Declaration to understand its principles, which demand societal improvement and inclusivity beyond initial shortcomings like slavery.
- It addresses the Second Amendment and militias, debating their historical context versus modern interpretations and community versus individualistic gun culture.
- Comments from readers add historical precursors like the Corsican Constitution and Dutch Act of Abjuration, comparing revolutionary ideas across cultures.
- The conversation touches on political themes, including critiques of current U.S. leadership and the tension between liberal republic ideals and ethnonationalist tendencies.
- International perspectives, such as from Canada, highlight the Declaration's impact on North American history and ongoing geopolitical tensions.
- Overall, the post and comments celebrate the Declaration's enduring legacy while urging reflection on its ideals in contemporary society.
The Clouds of Hiroshima
15 days ago
- The iconic mushroom cloud over Hiroshima is primarily known through photographs taken from planes, with the most famous one being a cropped snapshot by tail gunner Bob Caron.
- Other aerial photographs include a wider shot by Caron that better conveys scale, reconnaissance images of pyrocumulus smoke clouds hours after the bombing, and 16mm film footage by physicist Harold Agnew.
- Japanese ground-level photographs, such as those by Mitsuo Matsushige taken minutes after detonation, provide a striking sense of immediacy and scale, showing the cloud's immense size from a human perspective.
- Several photographs, including one from Honkawa Elementary School and another by Seizo Yamada, offer unique angles, though some timings and identifications remain debated or unclear.
- The exact height of the Hiroshima mushroom and smoke clouds is hard to determine, but they were vastly taller than modern skyscrapers, exceeding the One World Trade Center by over ten times.
Britain's Nearly Revolution of 1926
4 days ago
- The article discusses the 1926 General Strike in Britain, focusing on its historical significance and the events leading up to and during the strike.
- It highlights the role of key figures like Robin Page Arnot, who helped organize the strike in Northumberland, and the efforts of the Communist party.
- The piece contrasts the public memory of the strike with other historical events, such as the abdication crisis of 1936, noting the strike's lesser prominence in national narratives.
- It details the conditions in the coal mining industry, including dangerous working conditions, wage disputes, and the industry's decline post-World War I.
- The article describes the government's response, including the declaration of a state of emergency, the recruitment of special constables, and the use of media like the BBC.
- It covers the Trades Union Congress's (TUC) role in the strike, their initial solidarity, and the eventual calling off of the strike based on a compromise proposed by Herbert Samuel.
- The aftermath saw employers pushing back against union gains, but the labor movement eventually influenced political outcomes, leading to the Labour Party's election victory in 1945.
- The article concludes by reflecting on the historical importance of the strike and its impact on modern Britain, including the NHS and working-class representation.
Déjà View: Someone already tried this
5 hours ago
- Before committing to an idea, research companies that have tried it before.
- Learn about their history: when they lived, when they died, and what killed them.
- Use this knowledge to avoid repeating their mistakes.

Hasty Briefsbeta

#historical analysis

America, 1926: What a Forgotten 100-Year-Old Report Says About Who We Are

The Declaration of Independence

The Clouds of Hiroshima

Britain's Nearly Revolution of 1926

Déjà View: Someone already tried this