We discuss Operation Banner, where the British military deployed to Northern Ireland from 1969 to 2007, supposedly as a peace-keeping force. But as Dolores O’Riordan put it, “It’s the same old thing since 1916.”

We discuss the events leading up to the Partition, as well as the blowback from the decision to divide the island in two.

To begin our understanding of the Troubles we have to go back—way back. We cover the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century, the creation of the Irish Plantation system, that bastard Cromwell, and end with the 1800 Acts of Union.

As a prelude to a multi-episode series, we have an overview discussion of the Troubles, an ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland that lasted into Race and Tyler’s lifetimes.

We continue our series about literary theory by discussing the movie Spotlight through the lens of formalism.

We discuss the creation of the Dickin Medal, the UK’s highest military honor for animals, which has been awarded to brave horses, dogs, pigeons, and a single cat.

We discuss the fate of a seed bank located in Leningrad—a city where millions were slowly starving to death.

Our sixth salmagundi! This macédoine of an episode features eight unrelated but fascinating discussions. None of these brief topics could be an episode on their own, but they deserved to be heard so we created this omnium gatherum for your enjoyment.