French Revolution Notes

Louis 16 inherited vast kingdom that was highly regionalized, diverse and complex… Lands often divided over generations to small crops , each region own taxes/laws, there were city states etc. Much share cropping. “Low productivity, antiquated methods, little sign of improvement.” yet mid-18th century had reliable crops. However, later 18th century had unpredictable crops. Yet landowners did fine as rents and land values continued to rise. Most industry based on agriculture so impacted most people. Although Britiain had expelled France from many colonies, present-day Haiti’s crops created substantial wealth on. Northern french coast but not other inland areas.

Source: Oxford History of the French Revolution

Thirteen (13) 112 Year Olds Receiving Social Security Benefits

According to Social Security records, 13 people receiving social security benefits are 112 years of age. The first benefit check was mailed in 1940.

Robert note: To be 112, you were born around 1903. Ballard was still a city, the Titanic was not yet built, there had not been a World War and my long-deceased grandparents weren’t born. There was no TV or radio, cars were not yet common and Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb had not yet played their first major league games. Russia was still a Tsarist state. Amazing there are people alive who were born before all this.

Source: The Seattle Times (3/15/15)

A Site That Compares Modern Celebrities To Medieval Aristocrats

NPR reported this week on a site that publishes paintings of nobles from the Middle Ages next to photos of today’s celebrities. They show a king in furs and jewels next to a rapper in jewels and furs, for example.