

515: No Such Thing As A Reindeer Stockbroker
32 snips Jan 25, 2024
This podcast covers interesting topics such as crockery and code breaking at Bletchley Park during World War II, the tradition of smashing plates at Greek restaurants, ship captains in the 1700s and their nautical slang, unconventional warfare tactics in naval history, reindeer living conditions and adaptations, clinical lycanthropy, and eccentric historical figures and MPs.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Secrecy and Women at Bletchley Park
- Bletchley Park was so secretive that many of its workers never knew exactly what others were doing.
- The site was predominantly staffed by women, outnumbering men eight to one during WWII.
Sailors Used as Living Sails
- 18th century sea captains sometimes used sailors as living sails, manning the foreshrouds to resist strong winds.
- Commodore George Anson recorded how 200 sailors climbed rigging to save sails during storms, though some were lost overboard.
Pine Tree Riot Sparks Revolution
- Britain’s shortage of large trees led to colonial disputes over the ownership of prime ship-mast pine trees.
- The Pine Tree Riot was an early protest signaling colonial resistance before the American Revolution.