Nathan Cooper

3,238 reputation

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bio	website	stackoverflow.com/users/…
	location	London
	age	22
visits	member for	6 months
	seen	12 mins ago
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I have a maths degree and now work in software (specifically intelligent document analysis) using javascript. I used to work embedded systems in C and WPF projects in C#. I've written quite a lot in Matlab and R in a Mathematical context and have dabbled with Java and Android development. Consequently I joined for the stack overflow site, but I've found history a lot of fun. I've also recently spent time with out of date GSM Standards.

	3,238 reputation	bio	website	stackoverflow.com/users/…	visits	member for	6 months
117 badges		location	London		seen	12 mins ago

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21m	comment	Why did the United Kingdom industrialize first? I don't normally expect people to watch a video, but someone's already told us to read a book, so what the hell. Do check out crash course world history, here is their Industrial Revolution Video, at about 4.30 they discuss this question.
2d	answered	Is there a common name for periods between Medieval and 19th century?
May 24	comment	Are submarine launched ballistic missiles still inaccurate? @Yannis Rizos. Imagine the Mars Climate Orbiter incident, but with nuclear weapons.
May 23	comment	Are submarine launched ballistic missiles still inaccurate? +1 Interesting. The agenda of the video seems to be promoting the necessity of second strike counterforce capability. Apparently this was a debate at the time. Based on the dubious idea that a similar counterforce retaliation against the USSR would end the nuclear exchange rather than escalate it. Related MIT document, it also notes Polaris was inaccurate for use against hardened structures.
May 20	comment	What other pairs of wars have had a ~25 year interval? Marshal Foch on Versailles: "This is not a peace. It is an armistice for twenty years". The point here is that the end of WW1 didn't resolve the reasons for conflict. However, this question seems like it's just concerned with time proximity of wars, rather than that type of relationship.
May 20	comment	Why did the Arabs start the 1973 War during Ramadan, and did it affect their performance? @ASandiyudha IslamiCity seems to state that in multiple traditions Mohammed told his men not to fast. This isn't good evidence to whether it was true (or whether it is a "correct" interpretation of the Koran), but it does suggest at lot of muslims think that it's okay to break fast during wartime.
May 19	comment	Is there a commonly-accepted book or a site that explains the history-of-everything? Luke's right, I'm afraid.
May 19	comment	Is there a commonly-accepted book or a site that explains the history-of-everything? @MMD The thing is there are a lot of themes that pervade history, any in particular?
May 19	comment	Is there a commonly-accepted book or a site that explains the history-of-everything? I'd recommend "1066 and All That" if you want to start with England. If you want a more universal outlook, I'd recommend the Barenaked Ladies song. Just to clarify, do you want a book that explores common themes and issues affecting many civilisations (like Jared Diamond's) or an absolutely gigantic history book? Anyway, you have lots of questions. Why not separate them out, do a bit of research on them individually using wikipedia maybe, and ask them on stack exchange. :D
May 13	reviewed	Approve suggested edit on uniform tag wiki
May 12	comment	What is this strange uniform? The KOSB were a lowland regiment and therefore wore trousers rather than kilts (excepting pipers). Otherwise +1
May 10	reviewed	Approve suggested edit on How many firearms were owned by civilian population between 1836 and 1912 in USA?
May 10	comment	When were swords last used in European warfare? You may be interested in Jack Churchill British soldier who fought in the Second World War armed with a longbow and a Scottish broadsword. His motto: "any officer who goes into action without his sword is improperly armed."
May 9	comment	Why did Emperor Nero kill his mother and others? I see it's been edited. But the only worthwhile answerable content is: "Why did Nero kill his own mother?", which is unfortunately below the standard of effort expected for questions. With improvement this could be reopened, there is a good question idea here, but for now I'm going to add the final close vote.
May 9	answered	What was involved in “grounding arms?”
May 8	comment	Why does Islam seem so much more like Judaism than it does like Christianity? @MarkCWallace I have no sympathy with your friends who are bothered by Islam evolving out of Christianity (I think you're assuming that's a value statement... it could be phrased better). However, the assumption does not sensibly follow from their chronological order. Doubtless we will find Islam was inspired by the Arab paganism, Judaism and Christianity that was around a the time, probably in that descending order.
May 7	comment	What was involved in “grounding arms?” @TomAu I'll attend to it asap. I might even make it coherent.
May 7	comment	What was involved in “grounding arms?” Some sources suggest Pierre Cambronne surrendered to the British at Waterloo by saying "Merde" or even ""The Guard dies and does not surrender!", wheras other units surrendered more conventionally. So it's probably an operational decision, how you balance dramatic flair and clarity in surrendering.
May 7	comment	What was involved in “grounding arms?” Hague (II) convention: "To kill or wound an enemy who, having laid down arms, or having no longer means of defence, has surrendered at discretion". So laying down weapons is always necessary (but maybe not sufficient) to unconditional surrender, does that help?
May 7	comment	What was involved in “grounding arms?” Still not sure I'm with you. I disagree with your assertions about "grounding arms" and the rest of your question turns out to be about surrendering rather than "grounding arms" per se. However, generally you'll find that "grounding weapons" is accompanied by hand raising or the white flag, both being less ambigous signals of surrender which can be performed from behind cover.