My understanding is that butlers were originally the servants in charge of the wine cellar. So why is it that we now think of butlers as general attendants?

If this isn't the correct subreddit, I appologize. My grandpa had a lot of stories of his wartime career, but he wasn't very forward when it came to sharing them. He passed not long ago and I'd like to learn more. About all we know is that he worked with OSS, he was in north Africa, he was in the 2nd wave at D-day (beaches were secured but he saw the red water), and that he was trapped behind enemy lines for an indeterminate amount of time. I'd like to find reports, and hopefully learn something of what he did with OSS. But where would I even start? Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

I understand that during the time of isolation exceptions were made for, as far as I can tell, exclusively Dutch foreigners to enter Japan and even conduct trade. It seems that over time the Dutch became sort of representative of Europe ("Dutch studies" meaning the study of Europe).

What I am reading is that initially the Dutch were seen as less eager to spread Christianity than say the Portugese and Spanish - but then how did they maintain that position over centuries?

I understand why the Soviets would want to keep the bomber, but what was the reasons for interning the crew? How was this covered in the news both in the U.S and the Soviet Union? Were the crew considered POW's by the Soviets, and how was there treatment? How much diplomacy was involved behind the scenes? Any other information on this particular crew would be appreciated.

David Milch, the creator of the American television show Deadwood, set in South Dakota during the 1870's, has admitted that the swearing on the show is anachronistic, as period-accurate swearing would contain blasphemy against god. However, nowadays "God-Damn It", while not tame, is not the worst swearword in the English language. When and how did this shift in attitudes occur? It seems rather strange that such a shift could occur in a society as conservative as that in the United States.

In many languages (Including Italian, which I speak fluently) comparing God to a dog or swine can draw gasps of horror if uttered in a public place. Why is there no longer an english-language equivalent?

Why is the 'Bible belt' so deeply religious when the northern states are less so?

If I've understood it correctly (I really don't know the bible at all) Jesus never spoke for an organised form of religion with churches etc. So how did the early christians especially the more "read" christians feel about the formation of the Vatican and the papacy?

Considering Israel wasn't a state till 1948.

Besides the HRE of course.

Was there even a slight chance that the Enola Gay could have been shot down by the Japanese? And would the bomb in that case have exploded if the plane crashed?

I was wondering if in a worst case scenario, the Japanese could have even salvaged the bomb from a shot-down Enola Gay?

Was there any concern in the US government / military regarding such a risk?

Despite the direct conflict between the English and the Dutch in the colonial era, nowadays the UK and the Netherlands have very close ties in a number of respects (I imagine aided significantly due to geography and the increasing ease of travel between the countries) even to the point of the Dutch Royal Marines forming part of an overall British unit in joint operations. When did this partnership come about?

I believe it was governed as a single unit by the British, and I believe the islands all gained independence roughly around the same time.

The dialects, peoples, customs, and cultures are very similar, certainly not any more different than the differences across the United States, for example. There are natural benefits that derive from federation that are easy to appreciate, and there are natural weaknesses from being tiny and isolated that are easy to appreciate. Newfoundland and Canada, for example, did not win independence at the same time but saw that union was beneficial.

So why isn't there a single country called BWI? Indonesia and the Philippines are many scattered islands, and they are united. So the fact of being scattered islands can't be the simple reason.

Some in fact are still united in tiny groupings: Trinidad and Tobago, or Antigua and Barbuda, etc.

So, i was playing CK2 and noticed that my home region was part of the Kindom of Strathclyde at one point.

I can't find much more then the Wikipedia article, so i was wondering if anyone could tell me more?

Who influenced who? How did the influence them? And how did that influence come to tangible fruition in the late 18th century colonies turned United States?