We are humming along here.
The Austrian Painter is 45,000 words.
We are doing some good things with Whatever Happened to Jake and Patricia Bloom, which is approaching 70,000 words and nearing completion.
We'll be tackling ANZACs one last time when we get back from the beach.
William Stroock (as in Stroock's Books)
Friday, June 30, 2017
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
25 Year On: A Self Assessment
As it happened 25 years ago today we graduated from high school.
No it doesn't feel like yesterday. It feels like forever, a different world for us, thankfully.
We loved science fiction and techno thriller novels. We liked watching baseball. We played tabletop war games. We wrote a little, even completing a novel our senior year. We think we still have it someplace. We were happy to get out of high school.
Let's take a look at how we've done then.
We went off to Wesley College where we learned how to drink in the glorious Nu Chi Phi Chapter of Alpha Chi Rho. We very foolishly left Wesley, a school that was at least marginally good for us, for a non-disclosed Washington D.C. University. Georgetown? Galludet? Howard? Who can say?
We interned at the White House and the Senate.
Things began to unravel here. We view the mid to late 90's as a very vapid and useless time in our lives.
In 1998 we got married to a local girl we met at Wesley. Today we have three kids and nice house in Jersey, a state we once swore we would never reside.
After dropping out of school in 1997 we bounced around between jobs and never really got our feet under us. We were a lifeguard and pool manager, worked at CNN, and worked in direct mail. In between there were some long bouts of unemployment. We view these as the worst times of our life.
In 2001 we and Mrs. Stroock left Virginia and moved to New Jersey. We went back to school, earning a degree online in World Military History. A professor suggested we submit one of our papers to a military history magazine and away we went. We now have nearly 100 magazine articles in print.
In 2003, one of the best years of our lives, we began writing what would become a Line through the Desert. Nine novels later we have been writing ever since. We have also designed three war games.
During this time we've been a high school substitute teacher. We were the trouble shooter, the one they brought in to keep an eye on the knuckleheads. We were a middle school teacher at an orthodox Jewish Yeshiva. If you ever wondered why the bad guys in to Survive the Earth are Orthodox Jews, that's why. We were a history professor and we were great at it. Just look at the reviews.
In 1992 we called ourselves 'Tom' but switched to 'Will.' We weighed 205 and now weigh 260. We still have most of our hair. We still have our temper. Mrs. Stroock says we are too tough on ourselves. We became a gym rat. We got into Jogging. We gave up video games, more or less, and learned guitar. We have a stent in our heart and gout. We went from Democrat to Republican.
We are middle aged and loving it.
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
Tuesday Tally
This is a list of old-time movies where they throw in a musical number for the hell of it. It was a different time and a different era and frankly, a different world. People liked a quick musical number in their films. Hell, people used to go see musicals, a genre that has died though most curiously revived with La-La Land. Anyway, here's some amusing numbers in straight movies from a bygone day.
Let's start with Sammy David Jr in the original Oceans 11:
Frankly the George Clooney remake is much better and something of a classic in its own right. But Sammy Davis has something, for sure, and we enjoy films like this for their aesthetic value.
Here's Montgomery Clift in From Here to Eternity:
A surprise, Yellow Stain Blues, from The Caine Mutiny:
It would not have taken much for the producers to throw a musical number in Mr. Roberts, would it?
How about some other movies? Think of the possibilities. I've got those Alderaan Blues, Death Star Eleven. Frankly, we're surprised George Lucas didn't do more of that sort of thing. Speaking of musical numbers:
Alderaan Blues? I wouldn't be surprised if someone had to talk Lucas out of it.
Monday, June 26, 2017
The Austrian Painter
Now in 1964 our little Austrian painter is simply an old man and artist of some renown living quietly in Berlin. What of his compatriots in real life?
Frankly, we don't know. But we did have one idea.
When thinking of who is chancellor in 1964 we didn't want to pick some no name that no American is going to know. Who was chancellor? I don't know.
But you know whose the German chancellor in the Austrian Painter's 1964? We had a good idea. We also think the idea is predictable but we don't care.
Say hello to Chancellor Speer.
In our 1964 Speer became Hitler's confidant and harbored ambitions. He even thought the Allies would tap him to run post-war Germany.
Ahhhhh...but how does he rise to power in the universe of the Austrian Painter? Same way really. He is hired during the Great Depression to oversee some German construction projects. The Kaiser likes him, recommends him to the chancellor, he runs for the reichstaag, rises through the ranks and eventually....
Why not?
We have a few questions. To which party would he belong in 1964 and would he be interested in redesigning Berlin?
We shall see,
Frankly, we don't know. But we did have one idea.
When thinking of who is chancellor in 1964 we didn't want to pick some no name that no American is going to know. Who was chancellor? I don't know.
But you know whose the German chancellor in the Austrian Painter's 1964? We had a good idea. We also think the idea is predictable but we don't care.
Say hello to Chancellor Speer.
In our 1964 Speer became Hitler's confidant and harbored ambitions. He even thought the Allies would tap him to run post-war Germany.
Ahhhhh...but how does he rise to power in the universe of the Austrian Painter? Same way really. He is hired during the Great Depression to oversee some German construction projects. The Kaiser likes him, recommends him to the chancellor, he runs for the reichstaag, rises through the ranks and eventually....
Why not?
We have a few questions. To which party would he belong in 1964 and would he be interested in redesigning Berlin?
We shall see,
Sunday, June 25, 2017
Will's Good Idea for the Week of 6-25-17
The Israeli-Iraq War
Let's say rather than invade Kuwait in 1990 Saddam starts a fight with Israel in an effort to set himself up as the slayer of the Zionist Entity and hero of the Arab World.
This would put Saddam's million man, battle hardened, well armed military, which included something like 700 combat aircraft, against the Israelis. The IDF is of course better armed and trained but smaller with something like 400 combat aircraft. In 1982, while the Iraqis were fighting the Iranians the Israels did battle with the Syrians, drove the Syrian army out of the Bekka Valley and shot down 86 Syrian aircraft.
Now interestingly Iraq did have the ability to project and sustain power outside its borders. For example during the '73 War they sent a division to the Golan.
We feel bad for Jordan. This is where the fight will happen, and King Hussein has no choice but to join Saddam.
We might take this up after Tiger's Tail.
Let's say rather than invade Kuwait in 1990 Saddam starts a fight with Israel in an effort to set himself up as the slayer of the Zionist Entity and hero of the Arab World.
This would put Saddam's million man, battle hardened, well armed military, which included something like 700 combat aircraft, against the Israelis. The IDF is of course better armed and trained but smaller with something like 400 combat aircraft. In 1982, while the Iraqis were fighting the Iranians the Israels did battle with the Syrians, drove the Syrian army out of the Bekka Valley and shot down 86 Syrian aircraft.
Now interestingly Iraq did have the ability to project and sustain power outside its borders. For example during the '73 War they sent a division to the Golan.
We feel bad for Jordan. This is where the fight will happen, and King Hussein has no choice but to join Saddam.
We might take this up after Tiger's Tail.
Saturday, June 24, 2017
Tiger's Tail: Operation Pike
On the 12th day of the war the Americans launched Operation Pike.
Tired elements of the North Korean Army woke to a furious artillery barrage all along their line and looked on in awe as formations of ancient American B-52s carpet bombed reserve units further back.
Unbeknownst to North Korean commanders, during the night the 3rd Marine Division relieved the exhausted paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division and struck out from Inchon against the North Korean flank. By noon the Marines had breached North Korean lines. With one brigade deployed east against Seoul another pushed north for the DMZ.
Now the second phase of Operation Pike began. To the south of Seoul the 25th Infantry Division joined the fight. Advancing on a two brigade front they pierced North Korean lines, already shattered by the sustained air and artillery barrage and drove north toward Seoul. The 25th Infantry Division did not enter the city but pushed east, linking up with 82nd on the Inchon line and establishing land communications for the 3rd Marine Division.
At midnight third phase of Operation Pike began. The US Navy launched sustained air attacks on the North Korean city of Nampo, on the coast 25 miles southwest of Pyongyang. North Korean high command drew the obvious conclusion and hastily dispatched reinforcements to the area in anticipation of another marine landing. But none came at Nanpo.
Instead at dawn the Americans began the largest combined airborne and amphibious landing since D-Day.
Pyongyang lies 25 miles from the coast. Along the main road leading west is the town of Taedong and further west, Waedong. Between the two one brigade of the 101st Air Assault landed. With a base established one battalion set off in each direction and took control of Taedong and Waedong by noon. At the same time another brigade landed to the west and north of Moranbong, a 500 foor wooded hill that offers a commanding view of Pyongyang. The third brigade landed north of Taedong and Moranbong, forming the tip of a defensive triangle.
North Korean high command were wondering if the airborne landing was just part of some elaborate raid when word arrived of a fresh amphibious assault, this time due west of Pyongyang. The 1st Marine Division was coming ashore....
Tired elements of the North Korean Army woke to a furious artillery barrage all along their line and looked on in awe as formations of ancient American B-52s carpet bombed reserve units further back.
Unbeknownst to North Korean commanders, during the night the 3rd Marine Division relieved the exhausted paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division and struck out from Inchon against the North Korean flank. By noon the Marines had breached North Korean lines. With one brigade deployed east against Seoul another pushed north for the DMZ.
Now the second phase of Operation Pike began. To the south of Seoul the 25th Infantry Division joined the fight. Advancing on a two brigade front they pierced North Korean lines, already shattered by the sustained air and artillery barrage and drove north toward Seoul. The 25th Infantry Division did not enter the city but pushed east, linking up with 82nd on the Inchon line and establishing land communications for the 3rd Marine Division.
At midnight third phase of Operation Pike began. The US Navy launched sustained air attacks on the North Korean city of Nampo, on the coast 25 miles southwest of Pyongyang. North Korean high command drew the obvious conclusion and hastily dispatched reinforcements to the area in anticipation of another marine landing. But none came at Nanpo.
Instead at dawn the Americans began the largest combined airborne and amphibious landing since D-Day.
Pyongyang lies 25 miles from the coast. Along the main road leading west is the town of Taedong and further west, Waedong. Between the two one brigade of the 101st Air Assault landed. With a base established one battalion set off in each direction and took control of Taedong and Waedong by noon. At the same time another brigade landed to the west and north of Moranbong, a 500 foor wooded hill that offers a commanding view of Pyongyang. The third brigade landed north of Taedong and Moranbong, forming the tip of a defensive triangle.
North Korean high command were wondering if the airborne landing was just part of some elaborate raid when word arrived of a fresh amphibious assault, this time due west of Pyongyang. The 1st Marine Division was coming ashore....
Friday, June 23, 2017
Bryan Adams Week: Robin Hood (1991)
Arguably Bryan Adam's most recognizable song is Every Thing I do (I do it for You) from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
Yeah, yeah, We know Kevin Costner couldn't hold even his pseudo English accent, but we loved this movie.
Basically, the Robin Hood tale is re-imagined with Robin returning from the Crusades with a Muslim man played by Morgan Freeman in tow. Robin finds his father's lands have been taken by the Sheriff of Nottingham who rules in the absence of the King, in this case Richard the Lionheart. Alan Richman brilliantly and hilariously plays the Sheriff as a Satan worshiping miscreant beholden to a witch. Throw in a half brother for Robin, played by then heart-throb Christian Slate, and a rebellion and you have a fun, fun movie. You even get a cameo appearance from Sean Connery who was in an awful 70's era version of Robin Hood.
During the struggle against the sheriff, Robin wages a guerrilla war. We see all the tropes. A training montage, a selfless Robin, daughters of the rich being enthralled with Robin, a corrupted church, a titanic battle which takes the characters to their lowest point, a celebration in the woods, Morgan Freeman dolling out sage wisdom, etc etc.
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves was one of those films that we saw on cable over and over again, so did everyone else in Generation X. One boring afternoon when we were 18 we were wondering what to do for a couple of hours when to our relief we saw Robin Hood starting on Cinemax. Personally it takes us back to a simpler time for us, when we were contended with an afternoon movie and a novel at bedtime. We miss that. We also haven't seen Robin Hood Prince of Thieves in at least a decade.
Time to fix that.
Yeah, yeah, We know Kevin Costner couldn't hold even his pseudo English accent, but we loved this movie.
Basically, the Robin Hood tale is re-imagined with Robin returning from the Crusades with a Muslim man played by Morgan Freeman in tow. Robin finds his father's lands have been taken by the Sheriff of Nottingham who rules in the absence of the King, in this case Richard the Lionheart. Alan Richman brilliantly and hilariously plays the Sheriff as a Satan worshiping miscreant beholden to a witch. Throw in a half brother for Robin, played by then heart-throb Christian Slate, and a rebellion and you have a fun, fun movie. You even get a cameo appearance from Sean Connery who was in an awful 70's era version of Robin Hood.
During the struggle against the sheriff, Robin wages a guerrilla war. We see all the tropes. A training montage, a selfless Robin, daughters of the rich being enthralled with Robin, a corrupted church, a titanic battle which takes the characters to their lowest point, a celebration in the woods, Morgan Freeman dolling out sage wisdom, etc etc.
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves was one of those films that we saw on cable over and over again, so did everyone else in Generation X. One boring afternoon when we were 18 we were wondering what to do for a couple of hours when to our relief we saw Robin Hood starting on Cinemax. Personally it takes us back to a simpler time for us, when we were contended with an afternoon movie and a novel at bedtime. We miss that. We also haven't seen Robin Hood Prince of Thieves in at least a decade.
Time to fix that.
Friday Updates
The Austrian Painter is 40,000 words.
ANZACs has been resting and we will give it another read beginning Monday.
Not much else going.
ANZACs has been resting and we will give it another read beginning Monday.
Not much else going.
Thursday, June 22, 2017
Bryan Adams Week: What Went Wrong
Ok, ok...we admit that headline is too strong. Still Bryan Adams had two wonderful albums, Cuts Like a Knife and Reckless. He followed this up with the risk Taking Into the Fire and his risk was well rewarded. Victim of of Love and The Heat of the Night are strong, interesting, risky songs. The later has a great chorus.
What was he supposed do, Reckless II?
In 1991 Bryan Adams released Waking up the Neighbors. We wish to be clear, there is nothing wrong with songs, per se. But they do not rise to the level of his previous work. In fact the tracks on this album, while competent the songs seem musically lazy. What we are trying to say, is that while Bryan Adams is writing decent enough music, it just isn't as interesting or intense as what he was doing the previous decade.
My god do we hate Everything I do (I do it for you). By the Lords of Kobol we hate the bridge linking the guitar solo to the final chorus, this is how love struck 8th graders think.
[You're in a position to know-ed].
Robin Hood is good though...
What was he supposed do, Reckless II?
In 1991 Bryan Adams released Waking up the Neighbors. We wish to be clear, there is nothing wrong with songs, per se. But they do not rise to the level of his previous work. In fact the tracks on this album, while competent the songs seem musically lazy. What we are trying to say, is that while Bryan Adams is writing decent enough music, it just isn't as interesting or intense as what he was doing the previous decade.
My god do we hate Everything I do (I do it for you). By the Lords of Kobol we hate the bridge linking the guitar solo to the final chorus, this is how love struck 8th graders think.
[You're in a position to know-ed].
Robin Hood is good though...
Re-review The Force Awakens
So we re-watched Star Wars the Force Awakens yesterday.
After seeing Rogue One, which we've previously noted we think is the second best Star Wars movie, we had forgotten all about the Force Awakens. Also we saw Red Letter Media's Half in the Bag review of the Force Awakens. Mike, Jay and Rich liked it so we wanted to give it another go.
Overall we'd give the Force Awakens a B. Half in the Bag called a 'soft reboot' and this seems about right.
A few thoughts:
-We have lots of character in The Force Awakens and the things they do are consistent and make sense.
-It's pretty obvious Rey is Luke Skywalker's daughter. They drop hints all over the place, yo.
-At first we wondered about the whole presentation of Kylo Ren, he seemed like an emotionally disturbed Millennial. But after seeing the Force Awakens again we like him more and more.
-Kylo Ren is irredeemable, right?
-Something bugged us about Han Solo in the Force Awakens and we finally figured it out. Go back and watch it again. Harrison Ford isn't playing Han Solo. He's playing Indiana Jones.
-We lie Rey, Finn and Po a lot.
-We loved the ending scene.
The Force Awakens also represents a clean break with prequels. Ok, there is one reference to the Sith, but that's it.
Thank god.
After seeing Rogue One, which we've previously noted we think is the second best Star Wars movie, we had forgotten all about the Force Awakens. Also we saw Red Letter Media's Half in the Bag review of the Force Awakens. Mike, Jay and Rich liked it so we wanted to give it another go.
Overall we'd give the Force Awakens a B. Half in the Bag called a 'soft reboot' and this seems about right.
A few thoughts:
-We have lots of character in The Force Awakens and the things they do are consistent and make sense.
-It's pretty obvious Rey is Luke Skywalker's daughter. They drop hints all over the place, yo.
-At first we wondered about the whole presentation of Kylo Ren, he seemed like an emotionally disturbed Millennial. But after seeing the Force Awakens again we like him more and more.
-Kylo Ren is irredeemable, right?
-Something bugged us about Han Solo in the Force Awakens and we finally figured it out. Go back and watch it again. Harrison Ford isn't playing Han Solo. He's playing Indiana Jones.
-We lie Rey, Finn and Po a lot.
-We loved the ending scene.
The Force Awakens also represents a clean break with prequels. Ok, there is one reference to the Sith, but that's it.
Thank god.
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
W9
Via my friend Bill Katz we see GWB has a 59% approval rating.
We voted for the man twice without regret.
During the dark days, his second term mostly, we never let his dumpster level approval rating get us down. He only had one place to go and with the passage of time his achievements would seem self-evident.
Nine years on, here's what we can say about W:
-He handled 9/11 (talking us through and liberating Afghanistan).
-He handled the financial crisis (all of TARP was payed back).
-He won the war in Iraq.
-A strong five year economy with 7.5 million jobs.
There's a lot of small things we like to, the nuclear deal with India, help for Aids in Africa, etc, etc.
Not bad, overall.
As we always knew.
We voted for the man twice without regret.
During the dark days, his second term mostly, we never let his dumpster level approval rating get us down. He only had one place to go and with the passage of time his achievements would seem self-evident.
Nine years on, here's what we can say about W:
-He handled 9/11 (talking us through and liberating Afghanistan).
-He handled the financial crisis (all of TARP was payed back).
-He won the war in Iraq.
-A strong five year economy with 7.5 million jobs.
There's a lot of small things we like to, the nuclear deal with India, help for Aids in Africa, etc, etc.
Not bad, overall.
As we always knew.
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Tuesday Tally: Will's Bryan Adams Sing Along
As part of our Bryan Adams Week commemorations we have put together our dream concert set list.
The set list is divided into four parts, and though we've already stated we don't really care for him after the Into the Fire album, we'll sample some of his newer stuff.
I
Notes: We'll get things off to a rip-roaring start
-Oh Canada (I kill me)
-Go Down Rocking (this is from his new album)
-Can't Stop this Thing we Started
-18 Till I Die (another new song, from his previous album)
-Somebody (a nice catchy, peppy song to round out part I)
II
Notes: Let's hit 'em with the hits. This is going to to be the boppiest one.
-It's Only Love
-This Time
-Heaven
-Summer of 69
-Cuts Like a Knife(wrap up the section with the best)
III
Notes; This will be our slightly more artsy section. We want this to have a night time feel
-Run to You
-Feels like the First Time
-Have you Loved a Woman
-Every thing I do (makes me want to puke, but you have to give the audience what they want)
-Kids Wanna Rock (wrap it up strong)
Encore
Notes: We'll stick with his acoustic set
-All for One
-Straight from the Heart
The set list is divided into four parts, and though we've already stated we don't really care for him after the Into the Fire album, we'll sample some of his newer stuff.
I
Notes: We'll get things off to a rip-roaring start
-Oh Canada (I kill me)
-Go Down Rocking (this is from his new album)
-Can't Stop this Thing we Started
-18 Till I Die (another new song, from his previous album)
-Somebody (a nice catchy, peppy song to round out part I)
II
Notes: Let's hit 'em with the hits. This is going to to be the boppiest one.
-It's Only Love
-This Time
-Heaven
-Summer of 69
-Cuts Like a Knife(wrap up the section with the best)
III
Notes; This will be our slightly more artsy section. We want this to have a night time feel
-Run to You
-Feels like the First Time
-Have you Loved a Woman
-Every thing I do (makes me want to puke, but you have to give the audience what they want)
-Kids Wanna Rock (wrap it up strong)
Encore
Notes: We'll stick with his acoustic set
-All for One
-Straight from the Heart
Monday, June 19, 2017
(Not) Millennial
I love this commercial.
Basically we have a young man out to lunch with his girlfriend and her mom. He's a power-nerd with his nose buried in his phone. Its tempting to dismiss him as just another wimp Millennial. Go back and watch the commercial again.
Here is an organized young man who knows what he wants. In this case he has decided he is very interested in this young lady and she may even be 'the one'. He is taking her and her mother out to lunch and has the bill 'taken care of '.
The girl beams, mother is impressed.
After paying he asks what should they do next.
'Shoe shopping,' mother replies.
He's got this taken care of too.
'I was hoping you were going to say shoe shopping.'
Well done, young man. Well done, indeed.
Basically we have a young man out to lunch with his girlfriend and her mom. He's a power-nerd with his nose buried in his phone. Its tempting to dismiss him as just another wimp Millennial. Go back and watch the commercial again.
Here is an organized young man who knows what he wants. In this case he has decided he is very interested in this young lady and she may even be 'the one'. He is taking her and her mother out to lunch and has the bill 'taken care of '.
The girl beams, mother is impressed.
After paying he asks what should they do next.
'Shoe shopping,' mother replies.
He's got this taken care of too.
'I was hoping you were going to say shoe shopping.'
Well done, young man. Well done, indeed.
(Not) Metal Monday, Kicking Off Bryan Adams Week
Well, last Friday Mrs. Stroock and I saw Bryan Adams, still going strong as he nears 60.
This is the typical Generation-X rocker and his songs will never be far from the memories of anyone who came of age in the 80's.
This is the 5th time we've seen Bryan Adams in the last 12 years. We saw him in 2005, touring with Def Leppard and he positively blew the Limeys away.
For me his two best albums are Cuts Like a Knife and Reckless (of course). These are both quintessential rock albums and both were platinum sellers. The accompanying videos aren't overwrought and generally hold up OK. Example:
Into the Fire (1987) is not bad and for us that really ends the Bryan Adams era. Of course he had huge albums in the 1990's but we never liked those, though we respect the man for challenging himself with songs like, 'Have you ever really loved a woman), a Spanish Flamenco style song.
We loath the Robin Hood song, but always loved the movie. There will be more on that later in the week.
On Friday the band looked dapper in jeans, white shirt and black blazer. On stage the guys looked like they were having fun. About half the songs played were post Reckless. Actually we thought the song order was strange, but we suppose Mr. Adams knows what he's doing. His encore was an acoustic solo of three songs, which we liked. This included All For One, and Straight From the Heart.
A note on the future. We've been to metal concerts that were peppered with young people and even kids. But here the crowd was looking old. At 43 and 40, Mrs. Stroock and I were among the youngest in attendance. Like rock and roll, the age of Bryan Adams has passed. Enjoy both now.
This is the typical Generation-X rocker and his songs will never be far from the memories of anyone who came of age in the 80's.
This is the 5th time we've seen Bryan Adams in the last 12 years. We saw him in 2005, touring with Def Leppard and he positively blew the Limeys away.
For me his two best albums are Cuts Like a Knife and Reckless (of course). These are both quintessential rock albums and both were platinum sellers. The accompanying videos aren't overwrought and generally hold up OK. Example:
Into the Fire (1987) is not bad and for us that really ends the Bryan Adams era. Of course he had huge albums in the 1990's but we never liked those, though we respect the man for challenging himself with songs like, 'Have you ever really loved a woman), a Spanish Flamenco style song.
We loath the Robin Hood song, but always loved the movie. There will be more on that later in the week.
On Friday the band looked dapper in jeans, white shirt and black blazer. On stage the guys looked like they were having fun. About half the songs played were post Reckless. Actually we thought the song order was strange, but we suppose Mr. Adams knows what he's doing. His encore was an acoustic solo of three songs, which we liked. This included All For One, and Straight From the Heart.
A note on the future. We've been to metal concerts that were peppered with young people and even kids. But here the crowd was looking old. At 43 and 40, Mrs. Stroock and I were among the youngest in attendance. Like rock and roll, the age of Bryan Adams has passed. Enjoy both now.
Saturday, June 17, 2017
Tiger's Tail: Looking North
North Korean soldiers looked on in wonder at the dizzying array of shaving creams, tooth pastes, shower soap and shampoo in South Korean homes....But it was the abundance of toilet paper that led to the collapse of North Korean moral. Soldiers wondered at full rolls of toiler paper hanging in the bathroom's of even the poorest houses of Seoul, with entire six packs waiting in linen closets. More remarkably the toilet paper was not course, but impossibly soft, like the pillows that lay on every bed in the city.
The South Koreans may have been the victims of capitalist oppressors but they enjoyed creature comforts unheard of in the north. This was the stark reality confronted by North Korean troops already tired and warn out after a week of war.
Indeed few supplies were reaching them at the front. By then American, South Korean and increasingly Japanese air power hammered the Red Triangle. Not a bridge was left standing, not an intersection was left un-cratered.
But this was only part of the aerial campaign. On the 7th day of the war a flight of B-2 bombers struck and utterly obliterated Kim ill Sung University in Pyongyang. This was a major nuclear research facility. The B-2s left a half dozen smoldering piles of ruble where nuclear research faculties once were. Tellingly the Americans struck the university during the middle of the day, ensuring that hundreds of scientific personal were killed. An hour later a second flight of B-2's repeated the feat at Hamyhung University of Chemical research. The United States Air Force struck Uranium Enrichment sites at Yongjo-ri, near the Chinese border, and Chonma-San, both near the Chinese border.
While these strikes garnered world attention they distracted from the American's real purpose. As the air war over North Korea continued unabated the US Navy unloaded the 25th Infantry Division at the port facilities of Hasan, about 40 miles south of Seoul. At the same time the 1st Marine Division embarked from Okinawa. The marines sailed to points north, where they would rendezvous with elements of the 101st Air Assault Division north of the border....
The South Koreans may have been the victims of capitalist oppressors but they enjoyed creature comforts unheard of in the north. This was the stark reality confronted by North Korean troops already tired and warn out after a week of war.
Indeed few supplies were reaching them at the front. By then American, South Korean and increasingly Japanese air power hammered the Red Triangle. Not a bridge was left standing, not an intersection was left un-cratered.
But this was only part of the aerial campaign. On the 7th day of the war a flight of B-2 bombers struck and utterly obliterated Kim ill Sung University in Pyongyang. This was a major nuclear research facility. The B-2s left a half dozen smoldering piles of ruble where nuclear research faculties once were. Tellingly the Americans struck the university during the middle of the day, ensuring that hundreds of scientific personal were killed. An hour later a second flight of B-2's repeated the feat at Hamyhung University of Chemical research. The United States Air Force struck Uranium Enrichment sites at Yongjo-ri, near the Chinese border, and Chonma-San, both near the Chinese border.
While these strikes garnered world attention they distracted from the American's real purpose. As the air war over North Korea continued unabated the US Navy unloaded the 25th Infantry Division at the port facilities of Hasan, about 40 miles south of Seoul. At the same time the 1st Marine Division embarked from Okinawa. The marines sailed to points north, where they would rendezvous with elements of the 101st Air Assault Division north of the border....
Tiger's Tail: Aggregate for 6-17-17
Unknown Unknowns
Before the war began certain parameters were understood by American and South Korean planners. Geography necessitated that the North Korean offensive concentrate in the western part of South Korea on both banks of the Han River, on the Han River plain.
Both sides also understood that the contest at its most basic would be North Korean mass against American time. That is, could North Korean mass win the battle before American reinforcements arrived?
So no one was surprised when two of North Korea's four first echelon armies rolled across the border and onto the Han River plain.
This put a dozen North Korean divisions against the American 2nd Infantry Division and South Korean forces. These were of course hammered by American and South or Korean air assets which attained air superiority the moment the war began.
These were the last known-knowns of the war.
Kim was expected to concentrate his massive arsenal of artillery on Seoul, Instead. these fell upon the 1st Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division, which was unprepared for the onslaught and pinned. The brigade, under siege within the first six hours of the war, hunkered down and waited for the 2nd and 3rd Brigades (deployed from Ft. Lewis in the lead up to the crisis), to move up.
No one expected what happened next. Advancing north both brigades were subjected to bombardment by nuclear armed artillery units. It is now known that at least have of the nuclear shells failed to detonate. No matter. Both brigade's were shattered and the 1st, isolated and cut off, fearing nuclear bombardment itself, disintegrated.
A path to Seoul was now open...
Before the war began certain parameters were understood by American and South Korean planners. Geography necessitated that the North Korean offensive concentrate in the western part of South Korea on both banks of the Han River, on the Han River plain.
Both sides also understood that the contest at its most basic would be North Korean mass against American time. That is, could North Korean mass win the battle before American reinforcements arrived?
So no one was surprised when two of North Korea's four first echelon armies rolled across the border and onto the Han River plain.
This put a dozen North Korean divisions against the American 2nd Infantry Division and South Korean forces. These were of course hammered by American and South or Korean air assets which attained air superiority the moment the war began.
These were the last known-knowns of the war.
Kim was expected to concentrate his massive arsenal of artillery on Seoul, Instead. these fell upon the 1st Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division, which was unprepared for the onslaught and pinned. The brigade, under siege within the first six hours of the war, hunkered down and waited for the 2nd and 3rd Brigades (deployed from Ft. Lewis in the lead up to the crisis), to move up.
No one expected what happened next. Advancing north both brigades were subjected to bombardment by nuclear armed artillery units. It is now known that at least have of the nuclear shells failed to detonate. No matter. Both brigade's were shattered and the 1st, isolated and cut off, fearing nuclear bombardment itself, disintegrated.
A path to Seoul was now open...
The Nihilist
The North Korean's nuclear strike paralyzed the Trump Administration, dividing it into two factions those that wanted to immediately flood the country with reinforcements and those that wanted to halt those reinforcements and simply retaliate in kind.
For twenty four crucial hours the president simply did not know what to do.
As Kim's armies advanced on Seoul, North Korean troops showed a barbarity and nihilism not faced by the Americans since the Second World War.
Against orders most young soldiers carried their smart phones into battle. Retreating American forces were not able in most cases to recover the bodies of their dead. Cunning North Korean political officers recovered as many phones as they could find. What happened next caused an uproar at home. The North Koreans took over social media accounts of many American dead. Here they posted photos of the dead owners of those accounts. In hundreds of cases they contacted via phone or text the bereaved families and mocked or taunted them.
By the third day of the war the North Koreans had several hundred American prisoners. They subjected several dozen female prisoners to brutal gang rape, often broadcast on FB Live. North Korean political officers singled out several black soldiers and forced them to read statements condemning 'White America'. The same was done with a few Hispanic prisoners. The North Koreans executed several captured white officers and posted the videos on prominent black social media sites.
Kim could not have been happier with the overall results. American media covered thees atrocities exclusivity, ignoring entirely the course of the war, the heroics stands by surviving individual units of the 2nd Infantry Division and the fanatical defense of the Han River Plain by the South Korean Army.
As the North Korean Army reached the outskirts of Seoul the Trump Administration came to a decision...
For twenty four crucial hours the president simply did not know what to do.
As Kim's armies advanced on Seoul, North Korean troops showed a barbarity and nihilism not faced by the Americans since the Second World War.
Against orders most young soldiers carried their smart phones into battle. Retreating American forces were not able in most cases to recover the bodies of their dead. Cunning North Korean political officers recovered as many phones as they could find. What happened next caused an uproar at home. The North Koreans took over social media accounts of many American dead. Here they posted photos of the dead owners of those accounts. In hundreds of cases they contacted via phone or text the bereaved families and mocked or taunted them.
By the third day of the war the North Koreans had several hundred American prisoners. They subjected several dozen female prisoners to brutal gang rape, often broadcast on FB Live. North Korean political officers singled out several black soldiers and forced them to read statements condemning 'White America'. The same was done with a few Hispanic prisoners. The North Koreans executed several captured white officers and posted the videos on prominent black social media sites.
Kim could not have been happier with the overall results. American media covered thees atrocities exclusivity, ignoring entirely the course of the war, the heroics stands by surviving individual units of the 2nd Infantry Division and the fanatical defense of the Han River Plain by the South Korean Army.
As the North Korean Army reached the outskirts of Seoul the Trump Administration came to a decision...
The Red Triangle Looms
As the U.S. Second Infantry Division was fighting its way into the pantheon of American military history the South Korean VI Corps grimly held in the Uijongbu Corridor to the east, while the South Korean I Corps did the same in the Munson Corridor to the west.
The the west he brunt of the first day's effort fell to the ROK 1st Infantry division which by nightfall was fought out by successive waves of North Korean armor. Though exhausted the division fell back in good order and passed the defense of the Munson Corridor to the ROK 25th Infantry Division. Fearing another nuclear strike commanders here deployed their battalions in open formation. Thought partially protected from a nuclear blast, the dispersed formation was less able to absorb the blows form the North Koreans. Several North Korean formations, some battalion sized slipped through the 25th Infantry Division's lines and engaged the ROK 9th Infantry Division. With rear area formations now under attack, South Korean commanders believed the communists had achieved a mass breakthrough and ordered the I Corps to retreat to the South Bank of the Han River. This left the ROK 25th Division in lurch and began a saga of fighting retreat rivaling that of the U.S. X Corps at Chosin during the last war.
In the Uijongbu Corridor the VI Corps of three infantry divisions was steadily pushed south by concerted North Korean pressure. It seemed that despite the massive losses inflicted by American and South Korean air power, the communists just kept coming. By the end of the second day the ROK 6th Infantry division was pushed off to the east, while the 3rd and 8th Infantry Divisions struggled to keep their formations coherent as they pulled back south through the corridor. Both divisions regrouped along the ridge just north of Seoul and running west to Uijongbu, which was now occupied by the Capitol Infantry, or Tiger Division. The 17th Infantry Division came up form Seoul and occupied a hill to the Southwest of Uijongbu, thus protecting the capitol but leaving open Uijongbu's left flank.
By dawn of the third day the battle map showed a giant, red inverse triangle bracketed by the Han River in the west, with its point bearing down on Seoul. While the government there evacuated to Daejon 75 miles to the south, the President remained in Seoul where he was in constant contact with the Trump administration.
Even as American B-1 and B-2 Bombers hammered North Korean logistics, and wave after wave of Tomahawk missile swarmed over the DMZ the South Korean President demanded, 'Where are your troops! Where are your troops!'
'Those decisions are being made,' President Trump replied.
'We are dying,' replied the South Korean President. 'Must I ask the Japanese for help?'
'What is it you would like me to do?' President Trump asked.
'Mr. President, my Minister of Defense has prepared a list of twenty five targets he believes suitable for nuclear attack...'
Fire from the Sly
'I do not need Nuclear Weapons!' exclaimed Commander, US Forces, Korea. 'I need time.'
'You don't have it,' Defense Secretary Mattis replied.
As South Korean forces gathered in Seoul, Uijongbu and on the Han River, the Trump Administration made he still controversial decision to fly into Korea units of the 82nd Airborne Division. As the battle of Uijonhbu was beginning, one brigade of the division was airlifted to Inchon International Airport with no heavy equipment. Units of the brigade debarked and proceeded across the causeway to shore A second brigade was just a few hours behind.
For three days American, South Korean, and Japanese air power mercilessly hammered North Korean logistics. Everywhere throughout the peninsula one heard the sound of aircraft. After the first day of the war these were almost universally friendly and in their quest to gain air superiority, Allied air forces scored an impressive 133-7 kill record.
Command and control targets throughout the north were hammered by sustained Tomahawk strikes. One spectacular strike leveled party headquarters and the presidential palace in Pyongyang. But the main effort fell upon North Korean logistics running to the south.
By the end of the 3rd day of the war these strikes had taken their toll on the North Koreans. It is now known that North Korean armor and mechanized units were short of fuel and ammunition. Supply trucks that entered the Red Triangle had a 50/50 chance of making it to the front. During the 4th day of the war, North Korean troops , never particularly well fed, were actually going hungry.
Indeed it was North Korea's sustained food shortages that great hampered their sabotage efforts...
Triumphantly the North Koreans entered Seoul.
Official Washington watched in horror as North Korean troops goose stepped through the city while others made a great show of storming important government offices. In addition to his own propaganda crews, Kim ordered that Western Media be allowed in the city to broadcast his triumph to the world. Dramatically North Korean troops hauled down the South Korean flag from the presidential residence and replaced it with their own.
In Washington some speculated that the president was so humiliated he would have to resign.
As the useful idiots at the BBC and CNN did Kim's bidding, the fight continued. To the south of Seoul North Korean troops established a perimeter against light South Korean resistance. While troops consolidated their hold on Seoul two divisions moved through the city in preparation for a move on Suwan 15 miles to the south. North Korean high command, at Kim's insistence, believed South Korean morale was weak and simply needed a nudge to collapse.
In the west, North Korean forces battered the embattled 82nd Airborne Division holding on at Inchon.
It was at this point that Kim made a speech from Seoul demanding the South Korean President negotiate a settlement and calling for the UN to impose a ceasefire in place. This of course would leave Kim in control of Seoul. The Russians offered to mediate.
While the diplomatic game began American forces readied. In the Pacific the US Navy had finally assembled enough transports to move the five brigades of the 25th Division from its bases in Alaska and Hawaii. At the same time the 1st Marine Division joined the 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa.
Back in Seoul, thousands of North Korean troops wondered the streets, shops and homes of the South Korean capital and stood in awe, not at the wealth and affluence, but the availability of food and common household items. Toilet paper and tea were particularly popular with the North Korean troops used to a Spartan lifestyle.
Many wondered about the regime they were fighting for...
The the west he brunt of the first day's effort fell to the ROK 1st Infantry division which by nightfall was fought out by successive waves of North Korean armor. Though exhausted the division fell back in good order and passed the defense of the Munson Corridor to the ROK 25th Infantry Division. Fearing another nuclear strike commanders here deployed their battalions in open formation. Thought partially protected from a nuclear blast, the dispersed formation was less able to absorb the blows form the North Koreans. Several North Korean formations, some battalion sized slipped through the 25th Infantry Division's lines and engaged the ROK 9th Infantry Division. With rear area formations now under attack, South Korean commanders believed the communists had achieved a mass breakthrough and ordered the I Corps to retreat to the South Bank of the Han River. This left the ROK 25th Division in lurch and began a saga of fighting retreat rivaling that of the U.S. X Corps at Chosin during the last war.
In the Uijongbu Corridor the VI Corps of three infantry divisions was steadily pushed south by concerted North Korean pressure. It seemed that despite the massive losses inflicted by American and South Korean air power, the communists just kept coming. By the end of the second day the ROK 6th Infantry division was pushed off to the east, while the 3rd and 8th Infantry Divisions struggled to keep their formations coherent as they pulled back south through the corridor. Both divisions regrouped along the ridge just north of Seoul and running west to Uijongbu, which was now occupied by the Capitol Infantry, or Tiger Division. The 17th Infantry Division came up form Seoul and occupied a hill to the Southwest of Uijongbu, thus protecting the capitol but leaving open Uijongbu's left flank.
By dawn of the third day the battle map showed a giant, red inverse triangle bracketed by the Han River in the west, with its point bearing down on Seoul. While the government there evacuated to Daejon 75 miles to the south, the President remained in Seoul where he was in constant contact with the Trump administration.
Even as American B-1 and B-2 Bombers hammered North Korean logistics, and wave after wave of Tomahawk missile swarmed over the DMZ the South Korean President demanded, 'Where are your troops! Where are your troops!'
'Those decisions are being made,' President Trump replied.
'We are dying,' replied the South Korean President. 'Must I ask the Japanese for help?'
'What is it you would like me to do?' President Trump asked.
'Mr. President, my Minister of Defense has prepared a list of twenty five targets he believes suitable for nuclear attack...'
Fire from the Sly
'I do not need Nuclear Weapons!' exclaimed Commander, US Forces, Korea. 'I need time.'
'You don't have it,' Defense Secretary Mattis replied.
As South Korean forces gathered in Seoul, Uijongbu and on the Han River, the Trump Administration made he still controversial decision to fly into Korea units of the 82nd Airborne Division. As the battle of Uijonhbu was beginning, one brigade of the division was airlifted to Inchon International Airport with no heavy equipment. Units of the brigade debarked and proceeded across the causeway to shore A second brigade was just a few hours behind.
For three days American, South Korean, and Japanese air power mercilessly hammered North Korean logistics. Everywhere throughout the peninsula one heard the sound of aircraft. After the first day of the war these were almost universally friendly and in their quest to gain air superiority, Allied air forces scored an impressive 133-7 kill record.
Command and control targets throughout the north were hammered by sustained Tomahawk strikes. One spectacular strike leveled party headquarters and the presidential palace in Pyongyang. But the main effort fell upon North Korean logistics running to the south.
By the end of the 3rd day of the war these strikes had taken their toll on the North Koreans. It is now known that North Korean armor and mechanized units were short of fuel and ammunition. Supply trucks that entered the Red Triangle had a 50/50 chance of making it to the front. During the 4th day of the war, North Korean troops , never particularly well fed, were actually going hungry.
Indeed it was North Korea's sustained food shortages that great hampered their sabotage efforts...
Triumphantly the North Koreans entered Seoul.
Official Washington watched in horror as North Korean troops goose stepped through the city while others made a great show of storming important government offices. In addition to his own propaganda crews, Kim ordered that Western Media be allowed in the city to broadcast his triumph to the world. Dramatically North Korean troops hauled down the South Korean flag from the presidential residence and replaced it with their own.
In Washington some speculated that the president was so humiliated he would have to resign.
As the useful idiots at the BBC and CNN did Kim's bidding, the fight continued. To the south of Seoul North Korean troops established a perimeter against light South Korean resistance. While troops consolidated their hold on Seoul two divisions moved through the city in preparation for a move on Suwan 15 miles to the south. North Korean high command, at Kim's insistence, believed South Korean morale was weak and simply needed a nudge to collapse.
In the west, North Korean forces battered the embattled 82nd Airborne Division holding on at Inchon.
It was at this point that Kim made a speech from Seoul demanding the South Korean President negotiate a settlement and calling for the UN to impose a ceasefire in place. This of course would leave Kim in control of Seoul. The Russians offered to mediate.
While the diplomatic game began American forces readied. In the Pacific the US Navy had finally assembled enough transports to move the five brigades of the 25th Division from its bases in Alaska and Hawaii. At the same time the 1st Marine Division joined the 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa.
Back in Seoul, thousands of North Korean troops wondered the streets, shops and homes of the South Korean capital and stood in awe, not at the wealth and affluence, but the availability of food and common household items. Toilet paper and tea were particularly popular with the North Korean troops used to a Spartan lifestyle.
Many wondered about the regime they were fighting for...
Friday, June 16, 2017
Friday Updates
Ok, we think we've fixed the ANZAC problems and its time for the MS to sit for a while.
The Austrian Painter is now 35,000 words. We're hoping to be at 50,000 by 1 July. We'll see.
We should be able to get back to work on Whatever Happened to Jake and Patricia Bloom.
Nothing on Pershing.
The Austrian Painter is now 35,000 words. We're hoping to be at 50,000 by 1 July. We'll see.
We should be able to get back to work on Whatever Happened to Jake and Patricia Bloom.
Nothing on Pershing.
Thursday, June 15, 2017
Characterize This
So we guess one of the flaws in our writing has been assumption.
[that's a hell of an awkward sentence-ed]
Yeah, well, we wanted to finish with the subject...
We'll explain this assumption thing.
When we write a character who is an older pilot who flew F-4s in 'Nam, we have usually assumed that the reader will fill in all character. Oh, we provide a few hints, he's divorced, he used to chase skirts, etc. But mostly we're expecting the reader to conjure a picture in hisser [hisser? -ed] mind's eye....Ok, older pilot, grizzled, probably never smiles, disgruntled and cynical, got it.
After all, we're not women, are we?
[given your use of 'hisser' whatever that is, some of us are-ed]
We once read a fantasy novel written by a gal and she spent what must have been 500 words describing the morning dew. I mean, Jesus H. Christ.
Or to site another example, do we really need a hundred words describing the aglets on a shoelace?
[You read that somewhere else, and the only reason you know about aglets is because of Phineas and Pherb.]
So we've always stripped down our writing.
In Will Stroock land [the women's clothing is aprons and lingerie] 'The quick, brown fox jumped over the lazy dog' becomes 'the fox jumped over the dog].
We've never been prone to description and prefer brevity.
Just ask our old man. When we got home from school he'd ask, 'How was school?'
We'd respond, 'Fine.'
He'd ask, 'What did you do?'
We'd say, 'Nothing.'
He'd press his luck, 'You have any homework?'
We'd shout, 'I'm sick and tired of all these questions!' and stomp upstairs to listen to some Van Halen or something.
[Now why drag your poor father into this?-ed]
I dunno.
[Jerk-ed]
Yeah....
So we're working on more character development, which is why ANZACs is delayed.
[that's a hell of an awkward sentence-ed]
Yeah, well, we wanted to finish with the subject...
We'll explain this assumption thing.
When we write a character who is an older pilot who flew F-4s in 'Nam, we have usually assumed that the reader will fill in all character. Oh, we provide a few hints, he's divorced, he used to chase skirts, etc. But mostly we're expecting the reader to conjure a picture in hisser [hisser? -ed] mind's eye....Ok, older pilot, grizzled, probably never smiles, disgruntled and cynical, got it.
After all, we're not women, are we?
[given your use of 'hisser' whatever that is, some of us are-ed]
We once read a fantasy novel written by a gal and she spent what must have been 500 words describing the morning dew. I mean, Jesus H. Christ.
Or to site another example, do we really need a hundred words describing the aglets on a shoelace?
[You read that somewhere else, and the only reason you know about aglets is because of Phineas and Pherb.]
So we've always stripped down our writing.
In Will Stroock land [the women's clothing is aprons and lingerie] 'The quick, brown fox jumped over the lazy dog' becomes 'the fox jumped over the dog].
We've never been prone to description and prefer brevity.
Just ask our old man. When we got home from school he'd ask, 'How was school?'
We'd respond, 'Fine.'
He'd ask, 'What did you do?'
We'd say, 'Nothing.'
He'd press his luck, 'You have any homework?'
We'd shout, 'I'm sick and tired of all these questions!' and stomp upstairs to listen to some Van Halen or something.
[Now why drag your poor father into this?-ed]
I dunno.
[Jerk-ed]
Yeah....
So we're working on more character development, which is why ANZACs is delayed.
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
Tuesday Tally
Things about the Star Wars Prequels (fuck you, George Lucas) that don't Suck
Like all right thinking humans I know and understand that George Lucas' prequels are an affront to the very concept of film and the very idea of their being.
[When you saw The Phantom Menace the day it came out, you were enchanted-ed]
Yeah, yeah, and I cried when I saw Titanic, cried like a 13 year old girl who just got her first period in gym class....
[You admit that?-ed]
Mmmmmm Kate Winslet's breasts....*
Anyway, here are some of the things about the Phantom Menace that make it not the worst thing ever:
John William's Score: Duel of the Fates (the big light saber duel score) is well done, as is the Droid Army Overture. And I like the end parade music. [You just came out of the closet -ed]
Quai Gon Gin: We liked this stoic character and we enjoyed Liam Neason's portrayal. He had a very together-zen feel and it worked for a Jedi.
The Light Sabre Duels: The heavy choreographing got old as the series slogged on, but the final three-way battle was well done. At the time we had never seen anything like it.
The Droid-Gungen Battle: Another one-fer. We'd never seen anything quite like that battle.
Look, don't get us wrong. We're not saying that this 'film' such as it is, is anything but a disorganized, incoherent mess that makes no sense. But of the three prequels, The Phantom Menace is the least worst; the most not unwatchable.
The above are the reasons why.
*If you want to see more of Kate Winslet's breasts watch Little Children
Like all right thinking humans I know and understand that George Lucas' prequels are an affront to the very concept of film and the very idea of their being.
[When you saw The Phantom Menace the day it came out, you were enchanted-ed]
Yeah, yeah, and I cried when I saw Titanic, cried like a 13 year old girl who just got her first period in gym class....
[You admit that?-ed]
Mmmmmm Kate Winslet's breasts....*
Anyway, here are some of the things about the Phantom Menace that make it not the worst thing ever:
John William's Score: Duel of the Fates (the big light saber duel score) is well done, as is the Droid Army Overture. And I like the end parade music. [You just came out of the closet -ed]
Quai Gon Gin: We liked this stoic character and we enjoyed Liam Neason's portrayal. He had a very together-zen feel and it worked for a Jedi.
The Light Sabre Duels: The heavy choreographing got old as the series slogged on, but the final three-way battle was well done. At the time we had never seen anything like it.
The Droid-Gungen Battle: Another one-fer. We'd never seen anything quite like that battle.
Look, don't get us wrong. We're not saying that this 'film' such as it is, is anything but a disorganized, incoherent mess that makes no sense. But of the three prequels, The Phantom Menace is the least worst; the most not unwatchable.
The above are the reasons why.
*If you want to see more of Kate Winslet's breasts watch Little Children
They're Out There
Via the Daily Mail a pointy head insists life is out there and quite possibly close by:
We also agree that no technologically advanced civilization is anywhere near earth. We'd be getting their electronic signals, right?
This was always one of the huge flaws with Star Trek. According to Gene Roddenberry inhabited star systems are all around us, but we have no contact with them until we get warp. Of course they already have warp but never bother stopping by. That's like the Europeans never setting out west across the Atlantic.
So keep looking guys.
We agree. Given the conditions on Europa or Titan we'd be shocked if there wasn't life down there. Heck in To Survive the Earth the Jai invaders are eating an eel they farm from Europa and the Indian Space navy won't use nukes there for fear of causing environmental damage.
Alien life could be discovered within the next two decades – but, these lifeforms will be far from intelligent beings, one expert claims.
According to astronomer Chris Impey, scientists are likely on the verge of detecting microbes on a planet beyond our own, with nearby candidates such as Jupiter’s moon Europa thought to contain some of the conditions to support life.
We also agree that no technologically advanced civilization is anywhere near earth. We'd be getting their electronic signals, right?
This was always one of the huge flaws with Star Trek. According to Gene Roddenberry inhabited star systems are all around us, but we have no contact with them until we get warp. Of course they already have warp but never bother stopping by. That's like the Europeans never setting out west across the Atlantic.
So keep looking guys.
Monday, June 12, 2017
Metal Monday
Last week we chose to forgo an Iron Maiden concert because we didn't like the set list. Instead we went to our daughter's intermediate school orientation, which was hell. Talking punctuated by power point punctuated by more talking wrapped up with more power point. We should really do a post about that.
Anyway, here's our fantasy Iron Maiden set list.
-Let's get things started with a nice kick and some of the fun songs:
Aces High (they opened their 2008 show with this and it was awesome)
Wasted Years
Revelations (Bruce likes to lead the crowd along on this one)
The Trooper
Paschendale
-Paschendale marks the end of the first act so to speak.
Run to the Hills (of course)
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
Infinite Dreams
These Colors Don't Run (let's wrap this act up with something really inspirational)
-The third act
Fear of the Dark (I watched them play this on a summer night just after a thunder storm. Breathtaking)
Heaven Can Wait
Dance of Death
Encore:
Hallowed be Thy Name
Anyway, here's our fantasy Iron Maiden set list.
-Let's get things started with a nice kick and some of the fun songs:
Aces High (they opened their 2008 show with this and it was awesome)
Wasted Years
Revelations (Bruce likes to lead the crowd along on this one)
The Trooper
Paschendale
-Paschendale marks the end of the first act so to speak.
Run to the Hills (of course)
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
Infinite Dreams
These Colors Don't Run (let's wrap this act up with something really inspirational)
-The third act
Fear of the Dark (I watched them play this on a summer night just after a thunder storm. Breathtaking)
Heaven Can Wait
Dance of Death
Encore:
Hallowed be Thy Name
Sunday, June 11, 2017
ANZACing
World War 1990: ANZACs has been driving us batty.
We see three main issues.
First the MS was just a mess of George Lucas proportions; where talking Revenge of the Sith here. Nothing seemed to go together, the pacing seemed to make no sense. We are satisfied that this issue is fixed.
Second we're just not sure the stakes are high enough in ANZACs. Simply put, the Aussies are not driving on Hanoi, or even Haiphong. They basically mount a big putative expedition.
Third, as noted before we can't quite make up our mind about just how far down the chain of command the historical figures should go. Someone commanded the New Zealander's Scorpion tank squadron in 1990, but we've made up a character in ANZACs.
There's also the matter of Aussie/Kiwi terms but this is not a huge problem. Note to self: the Aussies did not call the Vietnamese 'Charlie'.
There's another issue here. We're pretty big in Australia. Or we should say, Australia is per capita a market for us up there with the US and UK. We have a lot of readers in Australia and we'd like to turn in a good book about them, for them.
So we press on, and if that means ANZACs gets delayed, then it gets delayed.
Figure Autumn.
We see three main issues.
First the MS was just a mess of George Lucas proportions; where talking Revenge of the Sith here. Nothing seemed to go together, the pacing seemed to make no sense. We are satisfied that this issue is fixed.
Second we're just not sure the stakes are high enough in ANZACs. Simply put, the Aussies are not driving on Hanoi, or even Haiphong. They basically mount a big putative expedition.
Third, as noted before we can't quite make up our mind about just how far down the chain of command the historical figures should go. Someone commanded the New Zealander's Scorpion tank squadron in 1990, but we've made up a character in ANZACs.
There's also the matter of Aussie/Kiwi terms but this is not a huge problem. Note to self: the Aussies did not call the Vietnamese 'Charlie'.
There's another issue here. We're pretty big in Australia. Or we should say, Australia is per capita a market for us up there with the US and UK. We have a lot of readers in Australia and we'd like to turn in a good book about them, for them.
So we press on, and if that means ANZACs gets delayed, then it gets delayed.
Figure Autumn.
Saturday, June 10, 2017
Tiger's Tail: Unintended
Triumphantly the North Koreans entered Seoul.
Official Washington watched in horror as North Korean troops goose stepped through the city while others made a great show of storming important government offices. In addition to his own propaganda crews, Kim ordered that Western Media be allowed in the city to broadcast his triumph to the world. Dramatically North Korean troops hauled down the South Korean flag from the presidential residence and replaced it with their own.
In Washington some speculated that the president was so humiliated he would have to resign.
As the useful idiots at the BBC and CNN did Kim's bidding, the fight continued. To the south of Seoul North Korean troops established a perimeter against light South Korean resistance. While troops consolidated their hold on Seoul two divisions moved through the city in preparation for a move on Suwan 15 miles to the south. North Korean high command, at Kim's insistence, believed South Korean morale was weak and simply needed a nudge to collapse.
In the west, North Korean forces battered the embattled 82nd Airborne Division holding on at Inchon.
It was at this point that Kim made a speech from Seoul demanding the South Korean President negotiate a settlement and calling for the UN to impose a ceasefire in place. This of course would leave Kim in control of Seoul. The Russians offered to mediate.
While the diplomatic game began American forces readied. In the Pacific the US Navy had finally assembled enough transports to move the five brigades of the 25th Division from its bases in Alaska and Hawaii. At the same time the 1st Marine Division joined the 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa.
Back in Seoul, thousands of North Korean troops wondered the streets, shops and homes of the South Korean capital and stood in awe, not at the wealth and affluence, but the availability of food and common household items. Toilet paper and tea were particularly popular with the North Korean troops used to a Spartan lifestyle.
Many wondered about the regime they were fighting for...
Official Washington watched in horror as North Korean troops goose stepped through the city while others made a great show of storming important government offices. In addition to his own propaganda crews, Kim ordered that Western Media be allowed in the city to broadcast his triumph to the world. Dramatically North Korean troops hauled down the South Korean flag from the presidential residence and replaced it with their own.
In Washington some speculated that the president was so humiliated he would have to resign.
As the useful idiots at the BBC and CNN did Kim's bidding, the fight continued. To the south of Seoul North Korean troops established a perimeter against light South Korean resistance. While troops consolidated their hold on Seoul two divisions moved through the city in preparation for a move on Suwan 15 miles to the south. North Korean high command, at Kim's insistence, believed South Korean morale was weak and simply needed a nudge to collapse.
In the west, North Korean forces battered the embattled 82nd Airborne Division holding on at Inchon.
It was at this point that Kim made a speech from Seoul demanding the South Korean President negotiate a settlement and calling for the UN to impose a ceasefire in place. This of course would leave Kim in control of Seoul. The Russians offered to mediate.
While the diplomatic game began American forces readied. In the Pacific the US Navy had finally assembled enough transports to move the five brigades of the 25th Division from its bases in Alaska and Hawaii. At the same time the 1st Marine Division joined the 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa.
Back in Seoul, thousands of North Korean troops wondered the streets, shops and homes of the South Korean capital and stood in awe, not at the wealth and affluence, but the availability of food and common household items. Toilet paper and tea were particularly popular with the North Korean troops used to a Spartan lifestyle.
Many wondered about the regime they were fighting for...
Friday Updates
On Saturday...slacker.
As mentioned before ANZACs is coming along. Or we should say, the fixing of ANZACs is coming along. We should also say that the narrative is straightened out and makes sense. But we're just not there yet. We still need to standardize our terms and work out just what is Aussie, etc. Another issue, just how far down the chain of command do we use historical figures? We have no idea who commanded the Australian 3rd Brigade. Does the reader? Do we need to figure our who led the 1st Armoured Regiment and if so does he still get relieved? What's fairer, the GOC gets fictionalized and relived, or we use the real one and he gets relieved. You tell me.
The Austrian Painter is 30,000 words. We expect a good week next week and will talk a little about where things have headed.
Nothing on Pershing in Command.
As mentioned before ANZACs is coming along. Or we should say, the fixing of ANZACs is coming along. We should also say that the narrative is straightened out and makes sense. But we're just not there yet. We still need to standardize our terms and work out just what is Aussie, etc. Another issue, just how far down the chain of command do we use historical figures? We have no idea who commanded the Australian 3rd Brigade. Does the reader? Do we need to figure our who led the 1st Armoured Regiment and if so does he still get relieved? What's fairer, the GOC gets fictionalized and relived, or we use the real one and he gets relieved. You tell me.
The Austrian Painter is 30,000 words. We expect a good week next week and will talk a little about where things have headed.
Nothing on Pershing in Command.
Friday, June 9, 2017
Sod off you Tory Tossers
So we see the nice, respectable establishment politician Theresa May blow it in an election against a 1970's era socialist who loves the PLO, the IRA, the PLFP, the FLMN, etc etc...any left wing terrorist group with a lot of letters.
This election reminds me a bit of the 1998 mid-year elections here in America, where the GOP expected big gains but blew it and actually lost a few House and Senate seats. Why? Because the big issue was Bill Clinton's impeachment. The Dems were super-motivated to come out and vote, and it never occurred to anyone in the GOP-e to plan for this.
This election has been similarly disastrous. Maybe its more of a setback, I dunno.
Of course in the aftermath of the '98 fiasco House Speaker Newt Gingrich (jerk) resigned. Doesn't look like May will do the same. In fact as we write this she is at the Palace.
The '98 elections changed little, actually. The GOP went ahead and impeached Bill anyway, fat lot of good that did. We doubt this election disaster will change anything either.
Brexit on.
This election reminds me a bit of the 1998 mid-year elections here in America, where the GOP expected big gains but blew it and actually lost a few House and Senate seats. Why? Because the big issue was Bill Clinton's impeachment. The Dems were super-motivated to come out and vote, and it never occurred to anyone in the GOP-e to plan for this.
This election has been similarly disastrous. Maybe its more of a setback, I dunno.
Of course in the aftermath of the '98 fiasco House Speaker Newt Gingrich (jerk) resigned. Doesn't look like May will do the same. In fact as we write this she is at the Palace.
The '98 elections changed little, actually. The GOP went ahead and impeached Bill anyway, fat lot of good that did. We doubt this election disaster will change anything either.
Brexit on.
Israel Rocks
So 35 years ago today the Israelis launched Operation Mole Cricket, their grand aerial assault on Syrian SAM positions in the Bekaa. This is part of their invasion of Lebanon and easily its most successful aspect.
Since the Yom Kippur War, when the Israelis suffered massive air losses due to Egyptian SAMs, the Israelis developed anti-SAM tactics and invested heavily in electronic warfare.
The Israelis used dozens of EW aircraft to confuse the Syrians and struck. On the first day of fighting they destroyed 14 SAMs and took out a further eleven after the Syrians brought in reinforcements. Results in the air were just as impressive. In two days of dog-fighting the Israels shot down more than 80 Syrian aircraft while losing none of their own. The Syrians never knew what hit them, only that the Israeli used EW to conceal their own operations and misdirect the Syrians.
If you like air and ground combat in the Bekaa Valley, you'll love Israel Strikes.
Since the Yom Kippur War, when the Israelis suffered massive air losses due to Egyptian SAMs, the Israelis developed anti-SAM tactics and invested heavily in electronic warfare.
The Israelis used dozens of EW aircraft to confuse the Syrians and struck. On the first day of fighting they destroyed 14 SAMs and took out a further eleven after the Syrians brought in reinforcements. Results in the air were just as impressive. In two days of dog-fighting the Israels shot down more than 80 Syrian aircraft while losing none of their own. The Syrians never knew what hit them, only that the Israeli used EW to conceal their own operations and misdirect the Syrians.
If you like air and ground combat in the Bekaa Valley, you'll love Israel Strikes.
May Day! May Day! Or May ends in June
Ok the headline is obvious. So-sue-me.
The Tories really blew it. You can't annihilate a 70's era socialist and terrorist ass kisser like Corbin?
Looks like all those young people who didn't bother to vote last June came out and voted this time around.
My FB friend Adam Yoshida makes some good points about Tory vote percentages being very high and showing a lot of strength up in Scotland. This seems good in the long term but in the short there is no glossing over this screw up.
Looks like the Tories will form a government with the Democratic Unionists.
Theresa May should resign in favor of someone less incompetent.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson?
The Tories really blew it. You can't annihilate a 70's era socialist and terrorist ass kisser like Corbin?
Looks like all those young people who didn't bother to vote last June came out and voted this time around.
My FB friend Adam Yoshida makes some good points about Tory vote percentages being very high and showing a lot of strength up in Scotland. This seems good in the long term but in the short there is no glossing over this screw up.
Looks like the Tories will form a government with the Democratic Unionists.
Theresa May should resign in favor of someone less incompetent.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson?
Thursday, June 8, 2017
Early ANZACs Update
OK, after another read through we feel like we've fixed the problems with World War 1990: ANZACs.
Frankly there was a time when we felt that maybe the entire project should be killed.
Phew.
We still need some tweeks.
At this point we're targeting July 1 for our submission date.
Frankly there was a time when we felt that maybe the entire project should be killed.
Phew.
We still need some tweeks.
At this point we're targeting July 1 for our submission date.
Brexit Elexit
Well, the Brits are voting today.
The Tories began with a massive 20 point lead which all but evaporated by last week. In the last few days they've come back though and the consensus is that Prime Minister May will emerge with a larger majority. Just how much larger is anyone's guess.
My own sense is that the Tories will win on the high end of the scale. Even if they are unpopular you have to have something to beat them and Labour has nothing. Labour is going the same way as the left in this country. They are led by Jeremy Corbin a leftist loon utterly without humor who palled around with Palestinian terrorists, Irish terrorists, Islamist terrorists...you get the idea.
Enjoy your victory, Prime Minister May.
Of course if the Cannucks can elect Prime Minister Selfie one supposes the Brits can elect Prime Minister Red.
We'll see.
The Tories began with a massive 20 point lead which all but evaporated by last week. In the last few days they've come back though and the consensus is that Prime Minister May will emerge with a larger majority. Just how much larger is anyone's guess.
My own sense is that the Tories will win on the high end of the scale. Even if they are unpopular you have to have something to beat them and Labour has nothing. Labour is going the same way as the left in this country. They are led by Jeremy Corbin a leftist loon utterly without humor who palled around with Palestinian terrorists, Irish terrorists, Islamist terrorists...you get the idea.
Enjoy your victory, Prime Minister May.
Of course if the Cannucks can elect Prime Minister Selfie one supposes the Brits can elect Prime Minister Red.
We'll see.
Monday, June 5, 2017
Monday Metal Rejection Edition
So I was all set to see Iron Maiden play at the Prudential Center on Wednesday. Then I got a look at the set-list:
Album Songs
Album Songs
The Book of Souls 6
The Number of the Beast 2
Brave New World 1
Fear of the Dark 1
Iron Maiden 1
Killers 1
Piece of Mind 1
Powerslave 1
Somewhere in Time 1
Sorry guys, I couldn't care less about the new Book of Souls album. Only one song off Powerslave? Only one off Somewhere in Time. Not for me, fellas, maybe next time.
The Number of the Beast 2
Brave New World 1
Fear of the Dark 1
Iron Maiden 1
Killers 1
Piece of Mind 1
Powerslave 1
Somewhere in Time 1
Sorry guys, I couldn't care less about the new Book of Souls album. Only one song off Powerslave? Only one off Somewhere in Time. Not for me, fellas, maybe next time.
Six Days of Victory.
Today marks the 50th anniversary of the 6 Day War. Those interested in this Israeli war and others may enjoy my own Israel at War.
Basically, the Arabs talked themselves into the conflict. After Syria got a bloody nose in an air battle over Damascus, Assad ratcheted up his anti-Israel rhetoric. In Egypt, Nasser resented the good press Assad was getting in the Arab world so he one upped Assad and threatened to reoccupy the demilitarized Sinai and so on and so forth....
Surrounded by enemies Israel Pearl Harbored the Arab world and launched a daring night time sneak attack which destroyed most of the Egyptian and Syrian air forces on the ground. Nasser hit the panic button and ordered the Egyptian Army to withdrawal. The Egyptians retreated in disarray and were set upon by the advancing Israelis.
Assad and Nasser tricked Jordan's Hussein into joining the war, resulting in Jordan's defeat as well and the current on-going, never to end Palestinian situation. Hussein discussed the whole sorry episode in a book.
As noted before, we find the '73 War far more interesting. That said the Six Day War established Israel as a fact on the ground. The nation now had strategic space and the Arabs once and for all had to give up their dream of destroying the Jewish State. Egypt only got the Sinai back after signing a peace treaty. To this day the two governments cooperate closely on security matters.
Before all that, however, the Arab world responded to Israel's crushing victory with its infamous Khartoum statement and three no's, 'No Peace, no recognition, no negotiation.' There followed the War of Attrition, precursor to the Yon Kippur War.
Basically, the Arabs talked themselves into the conflict. After Syria got a bloody nose in an air battle over Damascus, Assad ratcheted up his anti-Israel rhetoric. In Egypt, Nasser resented the good press Assad was getting in the Arab world so he one upped Assad and threatened to reoccupy the demilitarized Sinai and so on and so forth....
Surrounded by enemies Israel Pearl Harbored the Arab world and launched a daring night time sneak attack which destroyed most of the Egyptian and Syrian air forces on the ground. Nasser hit the panic button and ordered the Egyptian Army to withdrawal. The Egyptians retreated in disarray and were set upon by the advancing Israelis.
Assad and Nasser tricked Jordan's Hussein into joining the war, resulting in Jordan's defeat as well and the current on-going, never to end Palestinian situation. Hussein discussed the whole sorry episode in a book.
As noted before, we find the '73 War far more interesting. That said the Six Day War established Israel as a fact on the ground. The nation now had strategic space and the Arabs once and for all had to give up their dream of destroying the Jewish State. Egypt only got the Sinai back after signing a peace treaty. To this day the two governments cooperate closely on security matters.
Before all that, however, the Arab world responded to Israel's crushing victory with its infamous Khartoum statement and three no's, 'No Peace, no recognition, no negotiation.' There followed the War of Attrition, precursor to the Yon Kippur War.
Saturday, June 3, 2017
Tiger's Tail: The Battle of Uijongbu
For decades American and South Korean authorities feared North Korean infiltration and sabotage efforts. Indeed when the war began dozens of North Korean operatives were in the the country. These committed terrorist attacks against civilian targets, and in a few cases hacked into South Korean government computer systems. That said, most of the saboteur units that came south once the war began were easily spotted and eliminated by South Korean police. Owing to three generations of communist rule, the saboteurs stood out from the South Korean population. They were simply to thin and otherwise unhealthy looking. Overall North Korean sabotage efforts were far less effective than anticipated by both sides.
The North Koreans launched a sustained assault on South Korean forces making a stand in and around Uijongbu. One division attacked from the north against the South Korean Tiger Division. Another came in from the west. This took them across the front of the South Korean 17th Division occupying high ground southwest of Uijongbu. and north of Seoul. The 17th delivered devastating fire into the North Korean division, compelling it to withdraw before it could even make contact with the Tiger Division in Uijongbu.
Realizing that the South Korean 17th Division held the key to Uijongbu that evening the North Koreans committed the last of their reserves and launched a two division attack on the high ground. The battle lasted into the night. The South Korean 17th Division fought on throughout, but North Korean mass eventually overwhelmed them. What was left of the South Korean 17th Division fell back to the southwest. Despite being outflanked the South Korean Tiger Division fought on in Uijongbu, its commander refusing to withdraw. It took the North Koreans the majority of the 5th day of the war to clear Uijongbu, an action which bought crucial time for South Korean and American forces assembling to the south.
North Korean forces very publicly occupied the high ground north of Seoul postings dozens of North Korean flags and flooding the air waves with threats to bombard the capitol. On the morning of the 6th day the South Korean president, in conjunction with the Trump Administration, made the decision to abandon Seoul without a fight...
The North Koreans launched a sustained assault on South Korean forces making a stand in and around Uijongbu. One division attacked from the north against the South Korean Tiger Division. Another came in from the west. This took them across the front of the South Korean 17th Division occupying high ground southwest of Uijongbu. and north of Seoul. The 17th delivered devastating fire into the North Korean division, compelling it to withdraw before it could even make contact with the Tiger Division in Uijongbu.
Realizing that the South Korean 17th Division held the key to Uijongbu that evening the North Koreans committed the last of their reserves and launched a two division attack on the high ground. The battle lasted into the night. The South Korean 17th Division fought on throughout, but North Korean mass eventually overwhelmed them. What was left of the South Korean 17th Division fell back to the southwest. Despite being outflanked the South Korean Tiger Division fought on in Uijongbu, its commander refusing to withdraw. It took the North Koreans the majority of the 5th day of the war to clear Uijongbu, an action which bought crucial time for South Korean and American forces assembling to the south.
North Korean forces very publicly occupied the high ground north of Seoul postings dozens of North Korean flags and flooding the air waves with threats to bombard the capitol. On the morning of the 6th day the South Korean president, in conjunction with the Trump Administration, made the decision to abandon Seoul without a fight...
Tiger's Tail: Aggregate
To kick off our new Saturday feature here's a refresher for the Tiger's Tail Series:
Unknown Unknowns
Before the war began certain parameters were understood by American and South Korean planners. Geography necessitated that the North Korean offensive concentrate in the western part of South Korea on both banks of the Han River, on the Han River plain.
Both sides also understood that the contest at its most basic would be North Korean mass against American time. That is, could North Korean mass win the battle before American reinforcements arrived?
So no one was surprised when two of North Korea's four first echelon armies rolled across the border and onto the Han River plain.
This put a dozen North Korean divisions against the American 2nd Infantry Division and South Korean forces. These were of course hammered by American and South or Korean air assets which attained air superiority the moment the war began.
These were the last known-knowns of the war.
Kim was expected to concentrate his massive arsenal of artillery on Seoul, Instead. these fell upon the 1st Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division, which was unprepared for the onslaught and pinned. The brigade, under siege within the first six hours of the war, hunkered down and waited for the 2nd and 3rd Brigades (deployed from Ft. Lewis in the lead up to the crisis), to move up.
No one expected what happened next. Advancing north both brigades were subjected to bombardment by nuclear armed artillery units. It is now known that at least have of the nuclear shells failed to detonate. No matter. Both brigade's were shattered and the 1st, isolated and cut off, fearing nuclear bombardment itself, disintegrated.
A path to Seoul was now open...
Unknown Unknowns
Before the war began certain parameters were understood by American and South Korean planners. Geography necessitated that the North Korean offensive concentrate in the western part of South Korea on both banks of the Han River, on the Han River plain.
Both sides also understood that the contest at its most basic would be North Korean mass against American time. That is, could North Korean mass win the battle before American reinforcements arrived?
So no one was surprised when two of North Korea's four first echelon armies rolled across the border and onto the Han River plain.
This put a dozen North Korean divisions against the American 2nd Infantry Division and South Korean forces. These were of course hammered by American and South or Korean air assets which attained air superiority the moment the war began.
These were the last known-knowns of the war.
Kim was expected to concentrate his massive arsenal of artillery on Seoul, Instead. these fell upon the 1st Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division, which was unprepared for the onslaught and pinned. The brigade, under siege within the first six hours of the war, hunkered down and waited for the 2nd and 3rd Brigades (deployed from Ft. Lewis in the lead up to the crisis), to move up.
No one expected what happened next. Advancing north both brigades were subjected to bombardment by nuclear armed artillery units. It is now known that at least have of the nuclear shells failed to detonate. No matter. Both brigade's were shattered and the 1st, isolated and cut off, fearing nuclear bombardment itself, disintegrated.
A path to Seoul was now open...
The Nihilist
The North Korean's nuclear strike paralyzed the Trump Administration, dividing it into two factions those that wanted to immediately flood the country with reinforcements and those that wanted to halt those reinforcements and simply retaliate in kind.
For twenty four crucial hours the president simply did not know what to do.
As Kim's armies advanced on Seoul, North Korean troops showed a barbarity and nihilism not faced by the Americans since the Second World War.
Against orders most young soldiers carried their smart phones into battle. Retreating American forces were not able in most cases to recover the bodies of their dead. Cunning North Korean political officers recovered as many phones as they could find. What happened next caused an uproar at home. The North Koreans took over social media accounts of many American dead. Here they posted photos of the dead owners of those accounts. In hundreds of cases they contacted via phone or text the bereaved families and mocked or taunted them.
By the third day of the war the North Koreans had several hundred American prisoners. They subjected several dozen female prisoners to brutal gang rape, often broadcast on FB Live. North Korean political officers singled out several black soldiers and forced them to read statements condemning 'White America'. The same was done with a few Hispanic prisoners. The North Koreans executed several captured white officers and posted the videos on prominent black social media sites.
Kim could not have been happier with the overall results. American media covered thees atrocities exclusivity, ignoring entirely the course of the war, the heroics stands by surviving individual units of the 2nd Infantry Division and the fanatical defense of the Han River Plain by the South Korean Army.
As the North Korean Army reached the outskirts of Seoul the Trump Administration came to a decision...
For twenty four crucial hours the president simply did not know what to do.
As Kim's armies advanced on Seoul, North Korean troops showed a barbarity and nihilism not faced by the Americans since the Second World War.
Against orders most young soldiers carried their smart phones into battle. Retreating American forces were not able in most cases to recover the bodies of their dead. Cunning North Korean political officers recovered as many phones as they could find. What happened next caused an uproar at home. The North Koreans took over social media accounts of many American dead. Here they posted photos of the dead owners of those accounts. In hundreds of cases they contacted via phone or text the bereaved families and mocked or taunted them.
By the third day of the war the North Koreans had several hundred American prisoners. They subjected several dozen female prisoners to brutal gang rape, often broadcast on FB Live. North Korean political officers singled out several black soldiers and forced them to read statements condemning 'White America'. The same was done with a few Hispanic prisoners. The North Koreans executed several captured white officers and posted the videos on prominent black social media sites.
Kim could not have been happier with the overall results. American media covered thees atrocities exclusivity, ignoring entirely the course of the war, the heroics stands by surviving individual units of the 2nd Infantry Division and the fanatical defense of the Han River Plain by the South Korean Army.
As the North Korean Army reached the outskirts of Seoul the Trump Administration came to a decision...
The Red Triangle Looms
As the U.S. Second Infantry Division was fighting its way into the pantheon of American military history the South Korean VI Corps grimly held in the Uijongbu Corridor to the east, while the South Korean I Corps did the same in the Munson Corridor to the west.
The the west he brunt of the first day's effort fell to the ROK 1st Infantry division which by nightfall was fought out by successive waves of North Korean armor. Though exhausted the division fell back in good order and passed the defense of the Munson Corridor to the ROK 25th Infantry Division. Fearing another nuclear strike commanders here deployed their battalions in open formation. Thought partially protected from a nuclear blast, the dispersed formation was less able to absorb the blows form the North Koreans. Several North Korean formations, some battalion sized slipped through the 25th Infantry Division's lines and engaged the ROK 9th Infantry Division. With rear area formations now under attack, South Korean commanders believed the communists had achieved a mass breakthrough and ordered the I Corps to retreat to the South Bank of the Han River. This left the ROK 25th Division in lurch and began a saga of fighting retreat rivaling that of the U.S. X Corps at Chosin during the last war.
In the Uijongbu Corridor the VI Corps of three infantry divisions was steadily pushed south by concerted North Korean pressure. It seemed that despite the massive losses inflicted by American and South Korean air power, the communists just kept coming. By the end of the second day the ROK 6th Infantry division was pushed off to the east, while the 3rd and 8th Infantry Divisions struggled to keep their formations coherent as they pulled back south through the corridor. Both divisions regrouped along the ridge just north of Seoul and running west to Uijongbu, which was now occupied by the Capitol Infantry, or Tiger Division. The 17th Infantry Division came up form Seoul and occupied a hill to the Southwest of Uijongbu, thus protecting the capitol but leaving open Uijongbu's left flank.
By dawn of the third day the battle map showed a giant, red inverse triangle bracketed by the Han River in the west, with its point bearing down on Seoul. While the government there evacuated to Daejon 75 miles to the south, the President remained in Seoul where he was in constant contact with the Trump administration.
Even as American B-1 and B-2 Bombers hammered North Korean logistics, and wave after wave of Tomahawk missile swarmed over the DMZ the South Korean President demanded, 'Where are your troops! Where are your troops!'
'Those decisions are being made,' President Trump replied.
'We are dying,' replied the South Korean President. 'Must I ask the Japanese for help?'
'What is it you would like me to do?' President Trump asked.
'Mr. President, my Minister of Defense has prepared a list of twenty five targets he believes suitable for nuclear attack...'
Fire from the Sly
'I do not need Nuclear Weapons!' exclaimed Commander, US Forces, Korea. 'I need time.'
'You don't have it,' Defense Secretary Mattis replied.
As South Korean forces gathered in Seoul, Uijongbu and on the Han River, the Trump Administration made he still controversial decision to fly into Korea units of the 82nd Airborne Division. As the battle of Uijonhbu was beginning, one brigade of the division was airlifted to Inchon International Airport with no heavy equipment. Units of the brigade debarked and proceeded across the causeway to shore A second brigade was just a few hours behind.
For three days American, South Korean, and Japanese air power mercilessly hammered North Korean logistics. Everywhere throughout the peninsula one heard the sound of aircraft. After the first day of the war these were almost universally friendly and in their quest to gain air superiority, Allied air forces scored an impressive 133-7 kill record.
Command and control targets throughout the north were hammered by sustained Tomahawk strikes. One spectacular strike leveled party headquarters and the presidential palace in Pyongyang. But the main effort fell upon North Korean logistics running to the south.
By the end of the 3rd day of the war these strikes had taken their toll on the North Koreans. It is now known that North Korean armor and mechanized units were short of fuel and ammunition. Supply trucks that entered the Red Triangle had a 50/50 chance of making it to the front. During the 4th day of the war, North Korean troops , never particularly well fed, were actually going hungry.
Indeed it was North Korea's sustained food shortages that great hampered their sabotage efforts...
The the west he brunt of the first day's effort fell to the ROK 1st Infantry division which by nightfall was fought out by successive waves of North Korean armor. Though exhausted the division fell back in good order and passed the defense of the Munson Corridor to the ROK 25th Infantry Division. Fearing another nuclear strike commanders here deployed their battalions in open formation. Thought partially protected from a nuclear blast, the dispersed formation was less able to absorb the blows form the North Koreans. Several North Korean formations, some battalion sized slipped through the 25th Infantry Division's lines and engaged the ROK 9th Infantry Division. With rear area formations now under attack, South Korean commanders believed the communists had achieved a mass breakthrough and ordered the I Corps to retreat to the South Bank of the Han River. This left the ROK 25th Division in lurch and began a saga of fighting retreat rivaling that of the U.S. X Corps at Chosin during the last war.
In the Uijongbu Corridor the VI Corps of three infantry divisions was steadily pushed south by concerted North Korean pressure. It seemed that despite the massive losses inflicted by American and South Korean air power, the communists just kept coming. By the end of the second day the ROK 6th Infantry division was pushed off to the east, while the 3rd and 8th Infantry Divisions struggled to keep their formations coherent as they pulled back south through the corridor. Both divisions regrouped along the ridge just north of Seoul and running west to Uijongbu, which was now occupied by the Capitol Infantry, or Tiger Division. The 17th Infantry Division came up form Seoul and occupied a hill to the Southwest of Uijongbu, thus protecting the capitol but leaving open Uijongbu's left flank.
By dawn of the third day the battle map showed a giant, red inverse triangle bracketed by the Han River in the west, with its point bearing down on Seoul. While the government there evacuated to Daejon 75 miles to the south, the President remained in Seoul where he was in constant contact with the Trump administration.
Even as American B-1 and B-2 Bombers hammered North Korean logistics, and wave after wave of Tomahawk missile swarmed over the DMZ the South Korean President demanded, 'Where are your troops! Where are your troops!'
'Those decisions are being made,' President Trump replied.
'We are dying,' replied the South Korean President. 'Must I ask the Japanese for help?'
'What is it you would like me to do?' President Trump asked.
'Mr. President, my Minister of Defense has prepared a list of twenty five targets he believes suitable for nuclear attack...'
Fire from the Sly
'I do not need Nuclear Weapons!' exclaimed Commander, US Forces, Korea. 'I need time.'
'You don't have it,' Defense Secretary Mattis replied.
As South Korean forces gathered in Seoul, Uijongbu and on the Han River, the Trump Administration made he still controversial decision to fly into Korea units of the 82nd Airborne Division. As the battle of Uijonhbu was beginning, one brigade of the division was airlifted to Inchon International Airport with no heavy equipment. Units of the brigade debarked and proceeded across the causeway to shore A second brigade was just a few hours behind.
For three days American, South Korean, and Japanese air power mercilessly hammered North Korean logistics. Everywhere throughout the peninsula one heard the sound of aircraft. After the first day of the war these were almost universally friendly and in their quest to gain air superiority, Allied air forces scored an impressive 133-7 kill record.
Command and control targets throughout the north were hammered by sustained Tomahawk strikes. One spectacular strike leveled party headquarters and the presidential palace in Pyongyang. But the main effort fell upon North Korean logistics running to the south.
By the end of the 3rd day of the war these strikes had taken their toll on the North Koreans. It is now known that North Korean armor and mechanized units were short of fuel and ammunition. Supply trucks that entered the Red Triangle had a 50/50 chance of making it to the front. During the 4th day of the war, North Korean troops , never particularly well fed, were actually going hungry.
Indeed it was North Korea's sustained food shortages that great hampered their sabotage efforts...
Friday, June 2, 2017
Friday Updates
The revamping of of ANZACs has really thrown everything out of whack but we can report that the second draft is done.
The Austrian Painter is at 25,000 words and coming along well.
As mentioned before Tiger's Tail will be a regular Saturday feature.
The Austrian Painter is at 25,000 words and coming along well.
As mentioned before Tiger's Tail will be a regular Saturday feature.
Thursday, June 1, 2017
World War 1990: ANZACs
Well, we went the full George Lucas on that one.
We've spent the last week re-editing ANZACs and intend to wrap it up today [You plan, do you? god laughs at you -ed]
Yeah, yeah....
Anyhoo, after that we'll re-sit ANZACs for a week or so and take another whack at it. This will include making sure we've fixed the problems [those were legion -ed].
I know, ed, and thanks for noticing.
We'll also have to fact check things, and Aussie it up a bit.
[What about the Kiwis?-ed]
Fuck them...no actually they're looking pretty good here. If all goes well...[why would all go well? -ed] we'll start the actual physical proof in July.
We've spent the last week re-editing ANZACs and intend to wrap it up today [You plan, do you? god laughs at you -ed]
Yeah, yeah....
Anyhoo, after that we'll re-sit ANZACs for a week or so and take another whack at it. This will include making sure we've fixed the problems [those were legion -ed].
I know, ed, and thanks for noticing.
We'll also have to fact check things, and Aussie it up a bit.
[What about the Kiwis?-ed]
Fuck them...no actually they're looking pretty good here. If all goes well...[why would all go well? -ed] we'll start the actual physical proof in July.
The Full Machete (Wesley College Style)
Man, sometimes I think I got out of the college prof gig at the right time:
Hard to watch, really.
One little nudge and these people will start wielding machetes in the Rwanda style.
This takes me back to my halcyon days at Wesley College in the mid 90's.
My friends and I, Paul, Ben, Lorna, Chris, Kenya, Jen and a few others were student activists. We had good reason.
When we arrived in 1992 anyone could see that Wesley needed work. Actually it was just coming off some labor unrest, a bunch of profs got fired, there were protests and law suits and some such. The admin wasn't putting a lot back into the campus and it showed. The campus was dead. we joined a frat out of sheer ennui.
Anyway, throughout the fall and spring of my freshman year the head of the Poli-sci department kept talking to us kids about taking action to make the campus better. Ahhh, Tony....he's the subject of another post.
Eventually Tony got through to us. A bunch of us got elected to the Student Government. We (I) wrote furious editorials. We had our own underground newspaper. We don't have said editorials and newspapers now and imagine they'd be difficult to read. We generally made a nuisance of ourselves. To be honest we're not really sure what we actually accomplished.
We even arranged a meeting with the president and the college admin. It actually went well. It was nothing like the travesty above. Everyone sat down, we actually wore coats and ties.
We suppose times have changed.
Kids today....
One little nudge and these people will start wielding machetes in the Rwanda style.
This takes me back to my halcyon days at Wesley College in the mid 90's.
My friends and I, Paul, Ben, Lorna, Chris, Kenya, Jen and a few others were student activists. We had good reason.
When we arrived in 1992 anyone could see that Wesley needed work. Actually it was just coming off some labor unrest, a bunch of profs got fired, there were protests and law suits and some such. The admin wasn't putting a lot back into the campus and it showed. The campus was dead. we joined a frat out of sheer ennui.
Anyway, throughout the fall and spring of my freshman year the head of the Poli-sci department kept talking to us kids about taking action to make the campus better. Ahhh, Tony....he's the subject of another post.
Eventually Tony got through to us. A bunch of us got elected to the Student Government. We (I) wrote furious editorials. We had our own underground newspaper. We don't have said editorials and newspapers now and imagine they'd be difficult to read. We generally made a nuisance of ourselves. To be honest we're not really sure what we actually accomplished.
We even arranged a meeting with the president and the college admin. It actually went well. It was nothing like the travesty above. Everyone sat down, we actually wore coats and ties.
We suppose times have changed.
Kids today....
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