Author Archives: Chinny McGringo

About Chinny McGringo

Professor Chinny McGringo wants to help you achieve your dreams, no matter how ridiculous they may be. Professor McGringo is a life coach who knows what living on a shoe string means, even though he doesn't wear shoes all that often. He knows how to use history, philosophy, psychology, and plain old common sense to help YOU to be the best YOU that you can be.

5 great prison movies that will captivate you

We’ve recently added a new project to our roster, it’s a prison movie.  Now, prison movies might be okay when shown to a captive audience, but I think fans of the genre should really get out more.  However, among all … Continue reading

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Is the Middle Class disappearing? Who is middle class anyway?

The Huffington Post and Forbes Magazine agree on something.  The Middle Class is Shrinking. Kenneth Rapoza for Forbes puts it short in the title to his article from 9th of November, 2012: “America’s Middle Class Shrinks Further. Now, Blacks And … Continue reading

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Easter on the front in 1812

I wasn’t there, so I’ll leave you the words of someone who was.  It was curiously headed in the British newspapers as “Cadiz papers, Isla, March 27 1812“, although most records tell us that Easter in that year occurred two … Continue reading

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“Saint Patrick’s Day and not an Irishman drunk”

So, we hear that in Ireland they don’t celebrate St. Patrick’s day like they do in the USA.  Some try to claim that Protestants don’t celebrate it at all. Well, after Saint George, Saint David and Saint Andrew, Saint Patrick … Continue reading

Posted in history, libya | Tagged | 2 Comments

Chavez was loved by his people, why?

Whatever you say about Chavez, one thing is certain. He won elections. He was popular. He is genuinely mourned. In other words, his people loved him. That may not be true for all his people.  Some voted against him, and, … Continue reading

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How to reject an offer without burning bridges

I have many stories in history of an ambassador who offended a naval officer by giving an off color remark, or a bureaucrat who made a hero so angry it ended in a duel.  Those each deserve their own article, … Continue reading

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Topsy Turvy (1999) Review

I purposely avoided Moliere, Shakespeare in Love, and almost every other movie about a playwright.  I do this because I respect writers like Shakespeare, and I find their period fascinating.  I likewise avoid most movies about Thomas Jefferson.  I prefer … Continue reading

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Are Students dumber than they were 90 years ago? I sure hope not.

We’ve all heard that today’s students don’t know history, and can’t find anything on a map.   Is it reassuring or not to know that their ancestors weren’t much brighter? American students back in the time of Gandhi and Mussolini … Continue reading

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The art of picking the right title

Attention gmail users and social media addicts! This is no writing lesson, it’s a complaint.  It won’t help you write an award winning best-seller.  No professional writer learns his craft on the Internet. What I will do, is help you … Continue reading

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Lesson from history: only a madman would write for a living

It started as a story on the Hokusai Manga, for the 1812 timeline, and it turned to the study of an inconvenient truth. Okay, some writers are billionaires. I’m ready for your list of best selling authors and other freaks. … Continue reading

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