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The Italian Ex-Fascist Whose Acting Skills Saved Thousands of Jews During the Holocaust
Meet Giorgio Perlasca (left), an Italian businessman and ex-fascist who cleverly — and audaciously — used international law and acting skills to save thousands of Hungarian Jews during the Holocaust. Perlasca was once a committed fascist who had fought for Italy in its brutal war against Ethiopia, as well as for the Nationalists in the… Continue reading
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The Italian Doctor-Turned-Horticulturalist Who Befriended Thomas Jefferson, Served the American Revolution, and Contributed to the U.S. Declaration of Independence
Philip Mazzei (1730–1816) was an Italian physician, merchant, and author who may have inspired one of the most famous quotes in the U.S. Declaration of Independence and political history. Mazzei studied medicine in Florence and practiced in the Ottoman Empire before moving to London in 1755, where he became a wine merchant. Fascinated by news… Continue reading
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The Only Woman on D-Day
Of the nearly 160,000 people who embarked for Normandy on this day in 1944, there was only one woman, Martha Gellhorn — who was not supposed to be there. Fans of Ernest Hemmingway may know Gellhorn as his third wife, but she was a powerhouse in her own right who deserves far more attention outside… Continue reading
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The World’s Most Powerful Passports in 2023
Some fast facts about passports (generally and in terms of “power”), courtesy of Ranking Royals. What is a Powerful Passport? The most powerful Passport is the one that provides visa-free or visa-upon-arrival access to a greater number of countries worldwide. For instance, the Japanese and Singaporean Passports are considered the most powerful Passport in the… Continue reading
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New Mexico USA
New Mexico is the only state whose license plate says “USA” at the end (this is from our rental when we visited last November). This reflects a widespread belief among many Americans that it is not part of the U.S. The biggest and most obvious reason for the misconception is the state’s name, which isn’t… Continue reading
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The Rise of the Middle Powers
Foreign Policy has a great piece exploring the rise of six so-called “middle powers“—a complex and often nebulous classification of countries that occupy the space between “regular” nations and the “great powers” that substantially influence global geopolitics, economics, and culture. American political analyst Cliff Kupchan describes middle powers as “countries with significant leverage in geopolitics” but that… Continue reading
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Mongolia Rising (Again)?
Amid all the great power politics, smaller nations are leveraging their natural resources and/or strategic locations to punch above their weight. French President Emmanuel Macron stopped in Mongolia some weeks back on the way home from the higher profile G7 Summit in Japan. This was the first time a French president officially visited the country.… Continue reading
About Me
Humanist | Bibliophile | Writer | Wiki Editor | World Citizen | Esquire (J.D. / LL.M.)
Recent Posts
- The Italian Ex-Fascist Whose Acting Skills Saved Thousands of Jews During the Holocaust
- The Italian Doctor-Turned-Horticulturalist Who Befriended Thomas Jefferson, Served the American Revolution, and Contributed to the U.S. Declaration of Independence
- The Only Woman on D-Day
- Australia is the first country to let patients with depression or PTSD be prescribed psychedelics
- The World’s Most Powerful Passports in 2023
Kosmopolite 