Nathan Cooper

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bio	website	stackoverflow.com/users/…
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	age	22
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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 I've also recently spent time with out of date GSM Standards.

	3,088 reputation	bio	website	stackoverflow.com/users/…	visits	member for	5 months
117 badges		location	London		seen	17 mins ago

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8h	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.
8h	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.
20h	comment	Is there a commonly-accepted book or a site that explains the history-of-everything? Luke's right, I'm afraid.
23h	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?
1d	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 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	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 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.
May 7	comment	What was involved in “grounding arms?” Is there something I'm missing? Dropping ones weapons seems to be a fairly universal act of capitulation. It's the first thing the police request of an armed suspect, for instance, and most surrenders result shortly in weapon confiscation anyway. To answer what level the decision is made, the wikipedia page on surrender should help (the answer is pretty much at any level). I would have though the reason soldiers surrender would have been obvious. Does surrender work like a fair catch? Only if you're lucky.
May 5	comment	Why was Johannes Blaskowitz indicted at the Nuremberg High Command Trial Hmmm. It turns out Hugo Sperrle and Otto Schniewind were acquitted. I had suspected that they were always going to indict everyone, but thank you for providing the text of the indictment.
May 5	comment	Why was Johannes Blaskowitz indicted at the Nuremberg High Command Trial German wikipedia goes into a little more detail than the English version. Including that he sentenced SS soldiers to death for their crimes against the polish population.
May 5	comment	Why was Johannes Blaskowitz indicted at the Nuremberg High Command Trial Maybe what I've described as too expansive a definition is actually included in what a war crime is. I'm not a lawyer and I've tried to steer clear of legal related points. Nevertheless, it seems likely he was accused of specific things a layman like myself can understand.
May 5	comment	What were Rommel's views on the Nazi crimes? I've asked a more focused question with a much smaller scope. If it's answered it should prove useful to this one.
Apr 28	comment	Machine gun specs in WW1 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vickers_machine_gun Look in specifications.
Apr 28	comment	Holistic representation of historical events I don't think you understand how history is done. hps.cam.ac.uk/research/hohed.html This link explains to students how to write an essay, this in particulars: "Or you may find that historians present conflicting interpretatons of the same event. In the latter case, you may decide to assess the validity of such views or come up with a better interpretation of your own." The "Holistic" method is common, and analysis of conflicting historical viewpoints (and of the historians themselves) as an essay structure is something I'd come across by A-level History.