It's Jean-Luc Picard - Being Dead Hard!

Yes, It Did Happen Occasionally
In the episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" that some wags dubbed "Enterprise Mine"*, and which I can't be bothered to look up on Google or Wiki, JLP took it upon himself to single-handedly prevent some Whoosits from carrying out Whatsit by pirating off with the starship.  Not only that, the Enterprise was being scoured by lethal radiation in order to kill off Space Weevils.  Or something.

JLP and his improvised crossbow

     So JLP had to defeat the space pirates and avoid being fried from the inside out like a marshmallow in the microwave.  I don't think it's any great spoiler to say that he managed both.
     Then there's also "First Contact", which is undeniably the best of the STTNG films and one of my favourite Star Trek films bar none.  Catch the normally pacific and conciliatory Picard blasting a couple of Borg into dog food - 

This man means business!

     That's a 1928 Cutts Compensator Thompson M1 with a fifty-round drum magazine, FYI, and that's not the expression of a man you want to get on the wrong side of.

Okay, I think the motley can begin.  I'm still using up stuff I wrote up yesterday, without getting to Saturday's scrivel yet.  Given the amount of things to post I could - only could, I shan't move onto will! - post three entries today.

The Pub Quiz
This occurred on Thursday, for your information.  I  know, I know, I am rather slow but I do have a life outside BOOJUM! thanks very much.  Anyway, there are four points.
     1)  Answer = "Anny Ondra".  The quizmaster asked who this Czech-born actress who had been the wife of Max Schmelling** was.  NOBODY got the answer.

Anny & Max

     This is the poster child for OBSCURE.
     2)  Answer = "Go".  The question was about a word meaning to move or a board game.  Conrad, and you already knew this, didn't you? has the game and has played it a few times.

Go now

     For a simple grid and basic rules, it is a very complicated game.  Damon Knight, the sci-fi author, postulated a 3D version, which would be mind-bogglingly complex.  "makes 3D chess look like a game for simpletons," said the 22nd Century "Games Review.
     3) Answer =  Crimson.  The colour of the Victoria Cross ribbon.  I got it wrong <hangs head in shame>
     4) Answer = Chalons.  Question was which battle ended the succcessful campaigns of Atilla the Hun in 451 AD, his opponents being the Romans and Visogoths.
     I got the answer for this one, which I preened over for a bit.  Not for long, we still lost.

W.o.E?
This is the official abbreviation at the blog for "What on Earth?" which I think you'll agree is a whole lot Safer For Work than some of the other acronymic expostulations***.

Shades of "The Goodies"

     This particular vehicle graced the atrium at the Electric Goldfish Bowl on Friday, and I never found out what it was for.  We didn't receive any e-mail notifications about it, so you may get together in the corner and come up with an explanation yourselves.

"The Australian Victories In France 1918" By General John Monash
I love this volume on two levels.  Firstly, it is written by an educated man in the language of 95 years ago, and Monash doesn't salt his work with quotations in French, Latin or Greek, which some authors with pretensions do, and which the insufferably pretentious don't bother to translate.  Er - I confess also to reading passages aloud in a hokey Received English Shakespearean accent, which - if you are unfortunate - I might even record and post here^.
     The second reason is that he makes clear the complex and detailed planning, knowledge, liaison, forecasting and preparation that goes with commanding a force of 5 divisions - the Australian Corps.  Reading this is splendid corrective to the woeful "Lions led by donkeys" approach to the First Unpleasantness. As examples I shall provide details that Monash mentions in regards planning and execution.
     First of all, the 17th Armoured Car Battalion.  This was a force of Austin armoured cars - ART! stop chewing coal and get working!

The beast in question.  Go to the head of the traffic jam!

     During the Battle of Amiens, twelve of these 5-ton monsters got well behind the Germans lines, after being towed over broken ground by tanks.  Twelve armoured cars amounts to thirty six men with twenty four machine guns, who caused utter havoc amongst the rearward German formations, headquarters and supply columns.  Their commanding officer came from the cavalry, who - then and after - were criticised for being too fond of "harooshing".  In this instance the Arme Blanche seems to have harooshed with particularly deadly effect.

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                                                             Ha!  Conrad broke the internet!

     Then we have the Australian artillery.  Monash makes the point that the German artillery didn't have to be blown to bits entirely for it to be rendered ineffective - having their gunners hiding from a shrapnel barrage or blinded by combined gas and smoke was just as effective and a lot easier to manage.  The perfidious Ozzies also took verrrrry close notice of where German artillery moved to before the battle, and continued to pound the old positions, so as not to give away the fact that they knew where the guns really were.  Come the day of battle itself, the newly repositioned German guns were treated to a horribly unexpected bombardment.

About to make Herman rueful

     Then there is mention made of maps and mapping.  This is a vital, if rarely mentioned, factor in battles.  The Australian cartography, lithography and topography experts helped to create and run off tens of thousands of maps for the use of the infantry.  Knowing how to get there, after all, is important if you have to set off from here.
     Monash also describes the importance of aerial photography.  Whilst Biggles was throwing his "bus" around the sky in desperate combat with the bally Hun, the recconnaisance aircraft were taking countless photographs of the German lines, which were then distributed all the way down the chain of command.

Our dashing young aviator

     I do apologise for inflicting another condensed degree thesis, but we're nearly done^^!

     Supply tanks - 

As it says on the tin -

these were either obsolete Mks of tanks stripped of guns (as above), or Birch Gun Carriers dedicated to supplies.  Either way Monash states that he reckoned each tank was worth 200 men in terms of the ability to haul supplies.  Not only that, when empty for the return journey they would carry the wounded back.

Like these, except 60 years earlier.

Well gosh - 1200 words and nowhere near all done. I wonder - should I do a third post tonight ...


* After "Enemy Mine" the sci-fi fillum
** No sniggering at the back!
*** "Swearing" - translation courtesy Mister Hand
^ That'll teach you!
^^ For today.