Snowden and the Nobel Peace Price

The deadline for nominations to the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize expires tomorrow, i.e., nominations need to be post-stamped by tomorrow. Only certain people are qualified to nominated, and those qualified include members of national legislatures. Members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee may suggest other candidates at the meeting where the nominations are recorded, i.e., committee members in reality have an extended deadline.

Some Norwegian MPs have apparently nominated Mr. Edward Joseph Snowden for the Nobel Peace Price for 2014.

While it is absolutely beyond any reasonable doubt that Mr. Snowden deserves this prize more than some of the past laureates, I cannot see how his actions are covered by the terms in the late Alfred Nobel's last will and testament.

It has been argued in the defense of the Norwegian Nobel Committee that one needs only keep to the spirit of the will. However, that spirit has been stretched a wee bit far. Fredrik Hefermehl, a Norwegian critic of said committee, has said that one could allow interpretations beyond the strict wording of the will. An example of that, in yours truly's judgment, would be the reduction of nuclear arms. That is not strictly speaking the reduction of standing armies, but it is reasonably within the spirit of the will.

Edward Snowden has done a great service to humanity, but the Nobel Peace Prize is not meant for him.

Rudolf of Austria-Hungary

Five quarters of a century ago today, Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary passed brutally from this world at Mayerling.

Mencken Passing at 58

Two years short of six decades ago today, H.L. Mencken passed away.

A quote from Notes on Democracy:

The heritage of freedom belongs to a small minority of men, descended, whether legitimately or by adultery, from the old lords of the soil or from the patricians of the free towns. It is my contention that such a heritage is necessary in order that the concept of liberty, with all its disturbing and unnatural implications, may be so much as grasped - that such ideas cannot be implanted in the mind of man at will, but must be bred in as all other basic ideas are bred in.

Holberg at 260

A baker's dozen score years ago today, Norwegian writer Ludvig Holberg passed away.

He was the author of – amongst many other works – The Political Tinker, which made fun of know-nothing people wanting influence in politics. Can we imagine what he would have thought of universal suffrage? Or of lots of other features of the wonderful modern mass democracy that we all are supposed to be praising?

The Rage against Monarchy

Over at RadixJournal.com, formerly Alternative Right, yours truly has a recent article on a quite recent attack on monarchy as an idea. It is yours truly debut article at the site.

Kaiser Wilhelm II at 155

155 years ago today, then future Kaiser Wilhelm II was born.

Royal World noted last year a German Prince speaking out for restoration.

Some Monarchist and Reactionary Thought

Something to reflect on:

My Blank Ballot

A hundred days ago today, a so-called right-wing Cabinet was appointed by the King of Norway after an election victory for the so-called right.

Over at Liberaleren, yours truly has an article today on that occasion (in Norwegian).

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

375 years ago today (Jan 14 in the Julian Calendar), the first American colonial constitution, the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, was adopted.

A Prince of Norway

A dozen and three years short of two centuries ago today, Prince Oscar Frederik of Sweden and Norway was born to Crown Prince Oscar and Crown Princess Josephine.

Louis XVI Slain

221 years ago today, King Louis XVI of France was brutally killed at Place de Louis XV.

Tea at Trianon quotes from the King's will and defense.

Faber 2014

General Lee at 207

207 years ago today, Robert Edward Lee was born.

Versailles Begins

In this centenary year of the outbreak of the Great War, 95 years ago today, the Versailles Peace Conference opened, four dozen years on the day after the proclamation of the German Empire in the halls of Versailles, in France.

Montesquieu 325

325 years ago today, Charles-Louis de Secondat, baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu was born.

What Monarchy and Democracy Look Like

This video is a bit categorical and cherry-picking, but the examples are good:

The Treaty of Kiel

Two centuries ago today, the Treaty of Kiel, in which the King of Denmark and Norway cedes the Kingdom of Norway, far outlying island possessions excluded, to the King of Sweden, was signed.

This marks the first major event of the Norwegian event chain of the year of 1814, ending with the November Constitution, finalizing the Swedish-Norwegian union. Thus this is the first major event to be marked in this bicentennial year.

Rebel Ratification of Treaty

23 decades ago today, the Treaty of Paris was ratified by the Congress of the Confederation.

"Big Four" Got Together

Half a decade short of a century ago today, the big leaders of the Entente met in Paris.

Archduke Karl at 53

Today is the birthday of the Archduke Karl, head of the House of Habsburg. 53 years ago today he was born to Archduke Otto and Archduchess Regina.

Happy Birthday, Your Imperial and Royal Highness!

Celente 2014

Gerald Celente is interviewed by RT America on the times ahead:

Fourteen Points at 96

96 years ago today, the bête noire of this weblog issued his “Fourteen Points.”

Electoral College 225

Nine quarters of a century ago today, the landed gentry of those United States voted for electors to the Electoral College.

A few on the Electoral College:

• Will Hively: Math Against Tyranny, Discover magazine
• Rachel Alexander: Don't get rid of the Electoral College, Enter Stage Right
• Steve Farrell: The Electoral College: A check on Socialism, Enter Stage Right
• Ryan McMaken: With Democracy, There is No Right Answer, LewRockwell.com
• Ron Paul: The Electoral College vs. Mob Rule, LewRockwell.com
• Ron Paul: Hands Off the Electoral College, LewRockwell.com

Sixty Years with St. Edward's Crown

Over at Enter Stage Right, I have an article in connection with the past coronation anniversary year.

Rogers & Schiff 2014

Jim Rogers and Peter Schiff give their takes on the new year:

Alexander Fraser Tytler

Two centuries and a year ago today, Alexander Fraser Tytler passed from this world.

"Just How Stupid Are We?"

Mark Malaro interviews Associate Professor Rick Shenkman of George Mason University and History News Network on his book Just How Stupid Are We?:

Dr. Shenkman was also interviewed on CNN:

Also interviewed by Jon Stewart:

Bill Maher has a related comment:

Poll Results: What Is the Best Group of Contemporary European Monarchies?

The results for the poll, with the question “What is the best group of contemporary European monarchies?,” ending at midnight between 2013 and 2014, are as follows:

Total votes: 38.

• The Liechtenstein and Monaco monarchies: 17 (44%)
• The United Kingdom monarchy: 12 (31%)
• The Benelux monarchies: 4 (10%)
• The Spanish monarchy: 4 (10%)
• The Scandinavian monarchies: 1 (2%)

A new poll will be up soon.

A Nobel Exhibition

This past Monday I went to the Nobel Peace Center – in connection with it's year end free admission period (starts a couple of days after Nobel Day). One of the temporary exhibitions there was What the World Eats.

One timely and appropriate question to ask is what exactly this exhibition has to do with holding peace congresses and reducing standing armies.

One notable aspect with the exhibitions, though, was that it portrayed two ethnically Norwegian families. Those two were the only ones presented with two family names – not even hyphenated. One should not be surprise if the father and mother are not married. There was at least one other families where the mother carried another surname than the family name, probably her maiden name, but at least there was one family name.

A friend once said that a family is a man and a woman who are married and have children. One could question whether an entity that does not have a single family name is a family.

Prosit 2014

As we enter a new year, the bicentennial year of the Norwegian Constitution, and the tragic centennial year of the commencement of the Great War, I wish all readers and occasional bypassers a Happy New Year.

Enjoy from Kaiserstadt Wien: