Radio War Nerd #256 — Ethiopia-Tigray Fighting + Western Sahara

As someone transplanted to the North (Sweden) as a young adult, I appreciate John’s comments on the locals blithely going about their business in the bone-chilling artic conditions while we frail types suffer. However, note that most of these hardy northeners whine and wilt as soon as the temps pass say 25 deg C with a modicum of humidity. During those few hot days of the year I can finally recapture my pride, and gloat over my superior fortitude and consitution :)

Any good book on Ethiopian history?

What's the book WN mentioned?

I appreciate the SNL-Franco reference; recently watched an episode from the first season with my dad and that came up. Turns out (contrary to what my parents have always told me) a majority of skits have ALWAYS been duds!

Gyms and Restaruants have NOT proven to be sites of spread of Covid, people are looking for scapegoats bc lockdowns didn't work and keeping kids out of school was the disaster everyone knew it would be.

Literally, partly how the Rw genocide started, yes it was an internal conflict but assholes whit patents on truths, and teflon against mistakes where rife.

Big factor being left out is all the pastafarie NGO/diplo/experts that were averse to Abeyie due to his history in inteligence, their depression regarding welfare increases in Africa and such. The Oromo thing was legitimate but got fueled by the we now where the party is crowds and when to leave the shit behin and tell mother we are now an ethiopia expert. TPLF imho is a opportunistic force trying to grab federal power under te guise of Tigray

John's story about the Saudi teacher who used Seinfeld in his lessons reminded me of Larry Charles' story of how every bootleg DVD seller in Saudi Arabia would without fail have a copy of Seinfeld next to Borat and Mein Kampf. Re: Western Sahara, Democracy Now recently re-released their documentary that they secretly filmed inside the territory. It's very rare to see actual footage from Western Sahara and its well worth a watch. https://www.democracynow.org/2020/11/27/four_days_in_occupied_western_sahara

could I have the newsletters mentioned in the beginning of the episode messaged to me on here? Thanks for reading

Canadian here, no one says “bonus”, at least in Ontario

I find I tolerate cold BETTER as I get older but I DO have added insulation.....