The "self-destruct" button is a pretty common trope in scifi, military, and spy media and is just taken as a normal precaution. Have there actually ever been (or I guess are there) places where self destruct buttons are routinely used? Do we have any historical examples of "self destruction"? When did this idea first develop? Are there pre-industrial cases?

As the title says, I am looking for primary sources that argue about who should get to vote.

Mill in the 1800s I know was arguing for why women should be able to vote in a robust way. I assume that he has detractors that argue in the same way. Even if there aren't as many academics like mill taking on the he question, I would imagine we could see opinion peices and the like.

It seems almost as good as riveted mail for most purposes, and way easier to make.

There are a lot of pictures of people with stacks of worthless money but why not just print notes with higher numbers?

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Recently came across an interesting fact that Argentina was one of the wealthiest countries in the world (in terms of GDP per Capita) in the early 20th century. What caused their decline? I would also be interested in reading any good books on the matter if anyone has suggestions.

George H. W. Bush's very recent death has sparked new interest in his administration and legacy, so I was wondering what sorts of resources they are out there about his administration: his foreign policy, domestic accomplishments and failings, campaign and debate rhetoric, etc. What sorts of biographies and histories of his administration are the most cited and respected when referring to Bush and his legacy?

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I was reading Wikipedia's entry on the death of Charles II, and the autopsy report states that "did not contain a single drop of blood; his heart was the size of a peppercorn; his lungs corroded; his intestines rotten and gangrenous; he had a single testicle, black as coal, and his head was full of water."

Some of these are believable (the single black testicle), some I suppose were slightly colorful descriptions (the rotten innards) and some are, as far as I know, anatomically impossible (the heart). So what was going on in Baroque-era autopsies? Were they doubted by other physicians with greater anatomical knowledge?

As a related question, who would do these autopsies, to whom would they be reported, and for what reason were they made?

They were in front of the europeans they could have easily taken notes from them ?

We all know the image of stone arrow heads and tomahawks, but were there any native American tribes who used metal before European arrival, and if not, why?

I remember that there are depiction of horses in various candi. But were they used as cavalry force? or just for domestic purpose? I just can’t imagine thousand of horses marching through the jungles of Java. Thanks in advance.

I understand that the predominant view of pirates at their height during the age of sail was strongly negative, but some of the mystique of the modern media pirate comes from his freedom from society's rules and willingness to "stick it to the Man", for lack of a better phrase. Do we have any historical accounts praising pirate activity, if not from official statements then from media of the time? I'm imagining the reaction, for example, when pirates (rather than Privateers) raided an enemy convoy or treasure fleet during wartime.

I'm imagining myself as a merchant travelling through the dessert, how often would I see other caravans coming towards or going past me?

Previously I pictured it as small groups travelling miles of sand without much other human interaction, except near more metropolitan areas. I'm curious as to whether that's the truth or not.