In my latest column in BOSS Magazine, I explain how Normandy’s William the Bastard improved his nickname and the sound of English.
pgs. 30-33. Yes, there is a mistake on the last page. Proofreaders should edit words but not centuries.
For the past five years I have been writing a history column for BOSS magazine. And I have yet to run out of history. In fact, here is my latest column-on The Spanish-American War:
http://issuu.com/dixonvalve/docs/1354198938bosswinter2012/28
Spain made a perfect enemy. The government was repressive and vile, the country was weak, and it had something worth stealing. Really, the Philippines, Cuba and Puerto Rico were too tempting not to conquer. We were even an improvement over the Spanish.
Yes, we could also have extorted the Virgin Islands from Denmark, but even the Hearst Newspapers would have had a difficult time conjuring stories about Danish atrocities. “Defenseless Natives Expected to Eat Herring.” “Children Taught to Spell Kierkegaard.” No, we saved ourselves the embarrassment and just bought the damn islands.