Jack P Taylor's Political And Historical Curiosities

BBC English: the BBC Advisory Committee on Spoken English, its history, and its effect on the English language today. The BBC Advisory Committee on Spoken English lasted only around fifteen years before World War 2, yet its effects can still be felt today. In this episode I'll talk you through the committee's history and it effects us today. Apologies again for the 24 hour delay on releasing this weeks episode. As advance warning I will be on holiday for the first two weeks of August so there will likely be no podcasts on the 6th or 13th - unless you pay $1million mwahaha

In the early 19th Century Chicago barely existed, by the the late 1840s it was growing rapidly. With no sewage system it had numerous issues with disease, and being level with Lake Michigan there was no way to build a traditional sewer system. The solution was to raise Chicago up to fourteen feet in places, and then later to reverse the Chicago river.  This episode covers all this and more! Before and after image for Chicago River reversal: https://chicagoriverstories.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/canal_image.jpg?w=640

Victim identification is an incredibly important part of resolving a disaster. For families, and loves ones it can be difficult to gain closure without their loved ones remains. Similarly those charged with resolving disasters can struggle to know where to place resources e.g. counselling if they do not know who has perished. As with any process which humans have needed since well day one, like farming, we have refined it. This episode covers a history of Disaster Victim Identification including major developments. Link to the INTERPOL guide: https://www.interpol.int/Media/Files/INTERPOL-Expertise/DVI/DVI-Guide-new-version-2013

Submarine cables account for over 99% of international internet traffic. You will use them everyday on the latest pieces of technology. Yet this infrastructure is based on old knowledge. In this episode I'll take you through 170 years of submarine cables helping us to communicate. Link to Stuff You Missed in History Class episode on Transatlantic Telegraph Cable: http://www.missedinhistory.com/podcasts/transatlantic-telegraph.htm

Le Tour de France started in 1903 and since then it's history has become dominated by war, politics, drugs, and most importantly amazing feats of physical prowess. I'll cover the first 110 years of its history and I hope you enjoy. If you curious how the French Cycling Federation's name is actually said in French: Union Velocipedique France

A tale with an intro by Hayes, a story by FDR, and a possible conclusion under Obama. The Presidential Library is a fascinating concept. In this episode I explore how they started, how they've developed, and how they may be changing drastically with Obama.  The link to the Politico article "Presidential Libraries Are A Scam. Could Obama Change That?" May be found here: http://archive.is/r6wjR  

In this 3rd episode of three recorded partly during my bike ride I fill you in on the Victoria Cross medal's history, and the story of Charles Upham - the most highly decorated Commonwealth soldier of World War 2. The link to donate to the National Autistic Society if you're feeling generous is here: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/jackptaylor

In this 2nd episode of three recorded partly during my bike ride I fill you in on Albertopolis the area of the London built with the profits from the Great Exhibition of 1851 by Prince Albert. The link to donate to the National Autistic Society if you're feeling generous is here: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/jackptaylor

In this 1st episode of three recorded partly during my bike ride I fill you in on Highgate Cemetery's history and its famous occupants. The link to donate to the National Autistic Society if you're feeling generous is here: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/jackptaylor

The title says it all really so I don't what you are looking here for. Go away. Oh you wan't that link to when each constituency should roughly be declared. Here you go: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jun/08/what-time-does-each-constituency-declare-its-results-in-the-2017-general-election

Today I discuss Pu Yi the Last Emperor of the Qing Dynasty and of Imperial China. I won't say any more detail as #nospoilers

In this week's episode I'll cover from 1292 to 1417 discussing: how the Avignon Papacy of the Catholic Church began, the Popes of the Avignon Papacy, how the Papacy returned to Rome, the issues this return caused including Anti-Popes, and finally how these issues were resolved. CGP Grey's "How to Become Pope" video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF8I_r9XT7A As ever thank you for listening. Please share with your friends, colleagues, and dogs. 

In this week's episode I discuss the fascinating history of the least populous national jurisdiction in the world - the Pitcairn Islands. Covering: Early settlers, Discovery, HMS Bounty, Mutiny on the Bounty, Early settlement on the Pitcairn Islands, Murder, Re-discovery of the mutineers, A constitution being drafted, Emigration - twice, The Pitcairn Island's Philatelic Bureau, The 2004 sexual abuse trials, The future of the Pitcairn islands. As ever thank you so very much for listening. Please do subscribe if you're new around here and leave a review if you're not. 

Not only an early episode but one that is current! A history of the European Broadcasting Union - which you'll probably find boring. Then a history of Eurovision in all its glory. Imgur album: http://imgur.com/a/TqdiB Thanks as ever for listening!

In this final episode we cover: The 9/11 attacks Afghanistan The International Criminal Court Iraq The 60th anniversary of the UN The election of Ban Ki-Moon The Arab Spring - notably Libya Syria Crimea - very briefly The UN today Lord of the Rings and the Ents (it hopefully makes sense) A super long episode A teaser for next week Thank you everyone for listening

In this episode we cover: Somalia, Rwanda, Yugoslavia, Sergei Lavrov, Iraq and oil-for-food, Kofi Annan's election, UNSC expansion, The International Criminal Court, & Kosovo.

In this episode I cover 60 years of history for OPEC - a tale of oil and power Covering its founding How its membership expanded The oil embargoes of 1967 and 1973 A kidnapping ft. Carlos the Jackal Oil prices instability in the late 70s and 80s How OPEC made a $1 trillion in one year

In today's episode the UN gets out of it's funk. I cover: The Iran-Iraq war The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait How the USSR became the Russian Federation Yugoslavia and Somalia interventions

No. 10 Downing Street, and the rest of the street actually, are today's topic. I'll cover: Why Downing Street is famous, How Downing Street was built, Who built Downing Street and why, Cocks and the Germans, Sir Robert Walpole's contribution, How No. 10 was a merger of various houses How PMs have used 10 Downing Street, How numbers 11 and 12 also came to be used, How Balfour began PMs using the house as their primary residence, That black door, Renovations and refurbishments, Mortar attacks by the IRA, How PMs adapt the building to their needs, Other little tidbits.

In today's episode I cover 1968 to 1985 in the UN's history, discussing: The 1968 Protests in Czechoslovakia Rhodesia and the first US veto in the UNSC China's representation in the UN The Yom Kippur war The UN Security Council chamber's renovation Many many wars in around 85 words. Invasions from outer space The boy who cried wolf Horrendous cliches