From Cameron
Hiya, folks.
The world is a funny place right now, isn’t it? It seems like Trump has snookered himself in Iran. But he isn’t the first U.S. President to do that. Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine… just last night, I finally heard someone else (Yanis Varoufakis) say what I always say – for the United States, endless war isn’t a mistake. It’s the point. It’s how Military Keynesianism works. You want a long war to justify continual military expenditure. The geopolitical result of the war doesn’t matter, as long as there is profit to the military-industrial complex.
Meanwhile, AI is getting more powerful every month. I’m bouncing between Claude, ChatGPT and DeepSeek every day, playing their answers off each other. Humanoids are ramping up. El Nino is coming. Climate change is torching Europe and Canada and Australia’s gearing up for a brutal summer.
I recently discovered this series of historical documentaries that Lucasfilm produced in 2007. I’ve watched a couple on the Russian Revolution and Lenin, and they were very good.
I loved the latest diorama video from Bobby Fingers. Laughed really hard at this one.
This weekend I was listening to a remastered version of Rowicki conducting Shostakovich’s 5th Symphony. Pretty thrilling recording and my current favourite recording (although that changes regularly). I’m reading a great book at the moment (SHOSTAKOVICH SYMPHONIES AND CONCERTOS, An Owner’s Manual, David Hurwitz) that does a detailed deep dive into the 5th.
I also started reading The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin, recommended to me by Claude, when I pointed it at my ebook library at asked it to recommend a new novel. I’m a few chapter in and starting to get into it. I nearly gave up after the first chapter, but Claude advised me to stick with it. Apparently it’s pretty well regarded by SF aficionados.
Today marks five years since Chrissy and I started training in wing chun. We’re so grateful for kung fu! It’s changed our lives. I’m turning 56 in October, and I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in. Here’s a photo of me doing drills with my Russian mate Aleksei at his black belt grading last Friday night. Obviously having too much fun. This was before he elbowed me in the Adam’s Apple during the sparring session (still hurts!).
C
My Thought For The Day
“But more than that, my eyes were drawn to her perfect loveliness. I looked at her, a stranger, and every other breath strained to force its way from my chest. A clamp like a tightening fist seized my heart. A voice in my blood said yes, yes, yes … The ancient Sanskrit legends speak of a destined love, a karmic connection between souls that are fated to meet and collide and enrapture one another. The legends say that the loved one is instantly recognised because she’s loved in every gesture, every expression of thought, every movement, every sound, and every mood that prays in her eyes. The legends say that we know her by her wings—the wings that only we can see—and because wanting her kills every other desire of love.”
Excerpt from
Shantaram
Roberts, Gregory David
Our TikTok of the Week
When the Black Death hit Europe in 1348, who did the Christians blame? The Jews. And the poor. Because some things never change. Blame the minorities for all of our problems. And you know things are desperate when the person making sense is the Pope.
@tpnhistory When the Black Death hit Europe in 1348, who did the Christians blame? The Jews. And the poor. Because some things never change. Blame the minorities for all of our problems. And you know things are desperate when the person making sense is the Pope. pope christians christianity jews #historytime history #blackdeath #plague
♬ original sound – Cam & Ray TPN History – Cam & Ray TPN History
Our Most Recent Episodes
Here’s what we’ve been up to recently. Hope you’re enjoying (some or all of) them. Thanks for your support!
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Cold War · Published 20 July 2026 Cold War 313: Pick Up the Gun (CUBAN REVOLUTION #38)The CIA didn’t want Cuba buying weapons from Britain, so Allen Dulles quietly leaned on the British ambassador to kill the deal…. hoping Cuba would get desperate enough to buy from the Soviets instead, at which point the US could say “look, commies” and invade. Pick up the gun. Meanwhile, Gordon Gray – the man formally tasked with overthrowing Cuba – came from a family that ran R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, which is interesting given that Cuba is, you know, where… |
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The Bullshit Filter · Published 24 July 2026 The Grand Chessboard: America’s Playbook for World Domination – BS Filter #149Today we crack open Zbigniew Brzezinski’s 1997 playbook – The Grand Chessboard – and find out it basically predicted every war the US has picked since, and why that was always the point. If you would like to listen to the full episode, sign up and become a supporter of the show! It’s less than the cost of a single coffee a week. The post The Grand Chessboard: America’s Playbook for World Domination – BS Filter #149 appeared first on… |
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QAV Australia · Published 5 August 2026 Meet the Fokkers: Value Trap or Bargain of the Year?: QAV AU #931 |
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