31 December 2006

3.7-Inch (90mm) Anti-Aircraft Gun


During the Second World War, Germany was not unique in possessing a 88mm class Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA). Many other nations had anti-aircraft artillery in the same class. The Americans had the 90mm M1A1, the Russians, a 85mm, the Italians, a 90mm and the British, a 3.7-Inch. It was the extent that the Germans adapted and put their Flak 18, 36 and 37 into an anti-tank role that earned the German '88' its notoriety.

The British 3.7-inch AAA was considered to be an extremely advanced weapon for its time but was particularly complicated.

Studies were conducted as early as 1928 with a committee recommending a 3.7-inch gun and specifications were issued in 1933. The first Vickers design was put into production in 1938 and was used in the defence of Britain.

Imperial War Museum, Duxford: July 2006 Posted by Picasa

30 December 2006

8.8cm Flak 18, Flak 36, Flak 37 Anti-Aircraft Gun


The infamous German '88' was developed by Krupp of Essen in 1933 and first saw action in the Spanish Civil War. Over 10, 704 of all three models were put in service.



Imperial War Museum, London: July 2006 Posted by Picasa
And you used to be so nice

More exchanges on Dunemud. Pretty amusing stuff. Two players suicided while the discourse continued...

Djdara replies: fuck u

Your hearer echoes:

Celtic (11) just suicided !

-{ The poison-producing fungus will generate more toxin soon }-

-{ More poison has been excreted by the fungus. }-

[chat] Gorgos : Oh noes.

{Fremen}: You sense Tinkar is now part of the Tau.

Your hearer echoes:

Tinkar (15) just suicided !

-{ The poison-producing fungus will generate more toxin soon }-

-{ More poison has been excreted by the fungus. }-

Mystique sends a ball of flames in the sky spelling : *t*a*k*e* *c*a*r*e*

[chat] Djdara waves happily.

[chat] Gorgos : They are dropping like flies.

-{ The poison-producing fungus will generate more toxin soon }-

Trystan sends a ball of flames in the sky spelling : *I*M* *D*O*N*E*

[chat] Potatoe : now suicide sparkplug too

-{ More poison has been excreted by the fungus. }-

[chat] Trystan : go fuck yourself

[chat] Djdara gasps in astonishment.

[chat] Potatoe : sounds painful

[chat] Djdara waves happily.

[chat] Ginger : woo go tristan go tristan

[chat] Marlboro : Djdara replies: fuck u

HP:100% CP:100% >> -{ The poison-producing fungus will generate more toxin soon}-

[chat] Grinch : thats not very nice, he knows you aren't gay

[chat] Grinch : he shouldn't sexually harass you like that!

-{ More poison has been excreted by the fungus. }-

[chat] Potatoe : you must have said something mean marl

[chat] Marlboro laughs.

HP:100% CP:100% >>

[chat] Potatoe : and you used to be so nice

[chat] Marlboro eeps.

[chat] Marlboro cries.

29 December 2006

The Salsa Syndrome

I was having a conversation with a friend on MSN Messenger when she mentioned the 'Salsa Syndrome'. Now that she mentioned it, it is so obvious. Like Ballroom Dancing.

In her words:

"it's so obvious people do salsa to hook up

it's like the "decent" version of going clubbing"



Medici says:
i just cringe at the word salsa

Medici says:
cos i know this other guy who broke up with gf

Medici says:
and then weeks later

Medici says:
he mentions he's now going for salsa

Medici says:
urghs

Medici says:
so typical

Medici says:
so obvious

Medici says:
The Salsa Syndrome

 
I don't know about line-dancing though.
Dinner at Wild Rocket

Lam, Amelia and I braved the rain and ascended to the Wild Rocket at Mt Emily last night. Dinner was a strange Sino-Italian-cum-Local fusion. Needless to say, Lam and I will not be returning there.

The website described it as 'simple unfussy modern comfort food'. It's anything but that.



Skyspy: Dune's Resident Idiot

Another converstation on DuneMUD:

[20:32] Djdara : he is crazy lol a good crazy

[20:32] Ares curses.

[20:32] Marlboro : Djdara, Skyspy is the guy who insults Genesis after he sent a cheque to him donating money to Dune.

[20:32] Ares : hehe

[20:32] Djdara : different in ireland

[20:32] Djdara : why did he do that to genesis

[20:33] Tuukka : skyspy is the guy who keeps saying i'm dating boys and have pink hair without no reason

[20:33] Djdara : lol

[20:33] Gorgos : Naughty.

[20:34] Gorgos : Do you still have coloured hair, btw?

[20:35] Tuukka : well nothing special

[20:35] Gorgos : Oh shit..

[20:35] Gorgos : I always forget how horrible brady tastes. Christ..

[20:36] Gorgos ewws in disgust.

[20:36] Djdara : skyspy skyspy

[20:36] Marlboro : Djdara, the story was like this. Skyspy sent a cheque to Genesis donating some money to Dune. However, Genesis runs a big corporation. He doesn't know if five bucks from some Irish guy arrived. His accounts department would probably know. So, Skyspy got rather agitated and started saying shit about people pocketing the money and all. Genesis couldn't believe what Skyspy was saying... So, he dested Skyspy. It's quite funny. Too bad, I didn't capture the convo.

[20:36] Jackson fucking lafs.

[20:36] Jackson hugs Marlboro.

[20:36] Marlboro eeps and dances with Jackson.

[20:36] Marlboro : Michael!

[20:36] Djdara : i remember he got banished but how did he get back?

[20:36] Jackson giggles merrily.

[20:37] Clutch : he whined

[20:37] Clutch : and whined

[20:37] Djdara : and hacked didnt he?

[20:37] Clutch : no

[20:37] Clutch : the only thing he ever tried to hack was himself

[20:37] Clutch : and he thought I was doing it

[20:37] Djdara : i heard he did

[20:38] Djdara : mayb not dough

[20:38] Marlboro : Skyspy isn't capable of hacking anything, Djdara. He couldn't even code.

[20:38] Djdara : trust me he can

[20:39] Clutch : oh he has a bit of coding ability

[20:39] Marlboro : That's a new one. Skyspy the Hacker.

[20:39] Djdara : he has been playing this game for like 13 or 14 years

[20:39] Clutch : but he didn't know anything about even network basics. his hacks were most stupid script kiddie stuff

[20:39] Clutch : stuff that would cause windows to BSOD

[20:40] Grinch : i wish i saw that convo marlboro!

[20:41] Djdara : oh yes master hacker skyspy

[20:41] Marlboro laughs and nods at Grinch.

[20:45] Marlboro : Djdara, get Skyspy back in the game!

[20:45] Marlboro : Persuade him to drop WOW and come back!

[20:45] Ares : so you can pick on him, marl?

[20:46] Marlboro eeps.

[20:46] Clutch : duh

[20:46] Clutch : we love to pick on him

[20:46] Marlboro : We need his master hacking ability.

[20:46] Ares bonks Ginger, Amorphia, Jackson, Djdara, Rovack, Clutch, Marlboro, Genesis, Skruideli, Kalden, Kayden, Tuukka, Grinch, Potatoe, Stalion, Gorgos, Psy, Symposes, Natas and Serg with a rubber mallet.

[20:46] Grinch : no, so we can pick on him. marlboro will be hitting on him.

[20:46] Djdara : na cant he is at work in america

[20:46] Ares gives Grinch a high five.

[20:46] Marlboro laughs.

[20:46] Grinch bows.

[20:47] Marlboro : He's been here so long. He's like a fixture of Dune. An NPC, a Harry... you know. Dune feels weird without Skyspy or Llama.

 

28 December 2006

A week of seeing friends

This is a week of meeting friends. I met June for dinner at a cafe in Wheelock Place last Friday. I met with Alex for drinks at the Borders Bistro two days ago and Jerry at Vivocity last night. Tonight, I will be meeting Lam and Amelia at Plaza Singapura.

27 December 2006

The Weather

Another conversation on DuneMUD:

[22:16] Chibiace: its 19 here because its raining
[22:16] Telosf: it's -2.8 C here.
[22:16] Gorgos: When you're talking about cold weather, the degrees do not matter. Wind matters.
[22:17] Chibiace: southwest 29km
[22:17] Chibiace: thats why its raining
[22:17] Jor: not always... that's like saying it's not hot because it's not humid...
[22:17] Telosf fucking lafs.
[22:17] Chibiace: 68% humidity
[22:17] Telosf loves that emote
[22:17] Telosf: 69% here
[22:18] Telosf: tomorrow its supposed to be -4
[22:18] Chibiace: we're getting all this wind and stuff from antartica, like those iceburgs
[22:18] Gorgos: I've worked in -45 degree celsius weather, in the middle of snow-covered forests in the deepest Finland, and it was not at all unpleasant or difficult. Because there was almost no wind.
[22:18] Jor: well, you will know it's REALLY cold when the penguins start campin on your doorstep... ;)
[22:19] Telosf: well, finland is cold.
[22:19] Marlboro grins evilly at Jor.
[22:19] Marlboro: Snowing!
[22:19] Telosf: Colorado isn't too bad.
[22:19] Jor: don't get me wrong... I love the cold... It's heat that I can't stand...
[22:19] Gorgos: Cold is not a problem when there is no wind.
[22:19] Marlboro: It's thunderstorms here. 4 days of heavy downpours. Torrential downpours and flooding. Mudslides, etc.
[22:19] Gorgos: Cold is always better than heat.
[22:19] Jor: I still have a problem with it... Cold weather shrinks my balls... :D
[22:19] Telosf: agrees... cuz in cold you can always put on another jacket.
[22:19] Chibiace: i hate summer, cant wait until winter
[22:19] Telosf: plus, when you die in the cold, you just fall asleep
[22:20] Gorgos: Well, not exactly.
[22:20] Jor: lol... there's a pleasant thought...
[22:20] Telosf: in the heat, your balls expand until they're 200kg
[22:20] Jor: lol
[22:20] Gorgos: Frostbites will appear before you die. Those can feel like your skin is on fire.
[22:20] Gorgos: So dying in the cold is not all that pleasant.
[22:21] Telosf: not if you're frozen by liquid nitrogen, or get hypothermia in the ocean
[22:21] Jor: that's why cold is so much better, cause the frostbite will warm u up... :D
[22:21] Gorgos: How many people do you know that happened to die by the way of liquid nitrogen-exposure?
[22:22] Chibiace laughs.
[22:22] Telosf: not enough, apparently.
[22:22] Jor: well... I know one that was ALMOST killed by it... The Terminator
[22:23] Telosf: though I did see a wart ge
[22:23] Jor: can u get rid of clingy old gurlfriends that way?
[22:23] Telosf: I bet that'd be a nice, quick way to got rmoved by way of liquid nitrogen
[22:23] Telosf: that was pretty cool
[22:23] Jor: can u get rid of clingy old gurlfriends that way?
[22:23] Telosf: I bet that'd be a nice, quick way to go
[22:23] Telosf: yeah, just make sure you shatter them afterwards
[22:23]
[22:24] Telosf: nah.
[22:23] Telosf: that was pretty cool
[22:24] Telosf: why?
[22:24] Marlboro: Well, someone killed five hookers there.
[22:24] Marlboro: Well, someone killed five hookers there.
[22:25] Marlboro shudders uncontrollably.
[22:25] Telosf: I don't do hookers.
[22:25] Telosf: Only politicians.
[22:26] Chibiace coughs noisily.
[22:26] Telosf is not an assassin. You know nothing.
[22:26] Chibiace: wasnt i
[22:26] Gorgos: "Courtesans"
[22:27] Gorgos: You shouldn't speak ill of the dead. Hooker is not a very nice word to use of a person. 5 courtesans, not 5 hookers.
[22:27] Jor: where is ipswich... or should I say which one?
[22:27] Marlboro nods solemnly.
[22:27] Telosf: yeah, they'll come back to haunt you with their crabs
[22:27] Jor: hehe
[22:27] Marlboro: Ipswich is a city in England where they have a second-rate football team.
[22:27] Jor: nothing like an itchy rash from the afterlife...
[22:28] Marlboro: Zombie Courtesans and social escorts!
[22:29] Telosf turns into Jesus
[22:29] Telosf: Take this, all of you, and EAT IT!
[22:31] Marlboro: Do we get a foot wash?
[22:31] Telosf: If you ask moses.
[22:32] Chibiace: IP switch.
[22:32] Chibiace: they clearly have a huge networking base
[22:32] Telosf: heh
[22:32] Telosf: the facility is large

26 December 2006

6-pdr Anti-Tank Gun and Infantry Tank Mark III Valentine


The 6-pounder (57mm) anti-tank gun was a replacement for the 2pdr anti-tank gun. However, the great losses of the 2pdr had led to continued production, delaying the 6pdr till late 1941. The 6pdr was capable of penetrating 74mm of armour (30 degrees) at 1000 yards and was inadequate against the frontal armour of heavier German armour.

The Valentine infantry tank was originally armed with a 2pdr which was then up-gunned to a 6pdr and later a 75mm gun. The Valentine played an important role in the Desert War. By 1944, over 8000 Valentines had been built.

Imperial War Museum, Duxford: July 2006 Posted by Picasa

25 December 2006

4x4 1/4 ton Utility Truck (Jeep) and M40 Gun Motor Carriage


The name Jeep referred to the American 1/4 ton, 4x4 light utility vehicles regardless of make or type. These versatile types were built by Willys, Bantam and Ford. A contract for an improved type designated GP was awarded to Willys Overland and 639,245 were built by Willys and Ford during the Second World War.

Few of the the M40 Gun Motor Carriage saw action at the end of the Second World War when several examples bombarded Cologne. These self-propelled artillery mounted a 155mm gun with a 8-men crew succeeded the earlier M12 GMC.

Imperial War Museum, Duxford: July 2006 Posted by Picasa
Icy waters

I went swimming this morning. 

The water was icy.

Given the previous few days of continuous rainfall, that wasn't surprising.

24 December 2006

Harry Who?

A lot of my friends have bought into the Harry Potter phenomena. Gene, Desmond, Ben, June, Grey (yes, even him?!? What happened?), Siu Hean have bought into it and have read most of the books and watched the movies. Some of them aren't normally readers while others are practical and pragmatic people. It's amazing.

Meanwhile, other friends thought differently. Anne told me in an earlier conversation on MSN Messenger that she didn't care for Harry Potter and that J.K. Rowling's primary motivation for writing was for money. She contrasted it to Tolkien and also stated that the 'Lord of the Rings' was a metaphor for the Great War.

She, like AK, can't care less about the release of J.K. Rowling's seventh book, 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows'.

Neither can I. I have no interest. This kind of fiction is not in my area of interest.

I do, however, wonder if Rowling will even be remembered, say, in a decade's time.



Medium Tank M4A1 Sherman



The first pilot model of the M4 appeared in February 1941 and by the autumn of 1941, the M4 was in full production, first seeing action at the Battle of Alamein in October 1942. The M4 became the most widest used of Allied tanks and like the T-34, was a war winner.

Imperial War Museum, Duxford: July 2006 Posted by Picasa
Gateway

 Posted by Picasa
Shaw Tower


 Posted by Picasa

23 December 2006

Floats along Orchard Road


Two images of floats along Orchard Road yesterday. I took these with my mobile.

 Posted by Picasa
Sd Kfz 142/1 7.5cm Sturmgeschutz



The first StuG entered service in 1940 and equipped several Sturmartillerie Batteries. These early StuG with a short-barrelled 75mm saw action in France.


By 1942, the first Ausf F version, mounted a long-barrelled high velocity L43 7.5cm gun went into service. This was followed by a L48 gun. The armour was greatly increased with an additional 30mm over the 50mm superstructure.


The StuG was a highly effective anti-tank platform and the type took a heavy toll of Allied armour.

Imperial War Museum, Duxford: July 2006 Posted by Picasa
Silver and Gold

A conversation thread on DuneMUD:

[23:09] Gold : my best playerkill owns
[23:12] Slounge : who the hell is gold?>
[23:12] Slounge : and how is he pk?
[23:12] Potatoe points at Gold.
[23:13] Lemur : magic?
[23:13] Potatoe : super badass newbie
[23:13] Lemur : golden showers?
[23:13] Slounge : lol
[23:13] Gold : i'm silvers wife
[23:13] Potatoe : that's a great song
[23:14] Potatoe : silver doesn't have a wife
[23:14] Gold : he has me!
[23:14] Lemur : he may have a husband tho
[23:14] Potatoe : he has an animitronic auto wrench for those needs
[23:15] Kyouri : aren't female tleilax erm.. used for other things? ;)
[23:16] Potatoe : peth labs
[23:17] Potatoe : I mean meth labs
[23:17] Gold : i'm silvers sex slave
[23:18] Potatoe : silver doesn't have sex.... he reproduces by getting a new
extended warranty
The Da Vinci Code and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Good morning Kuoby!

AK says:
hi SC

AK says:
the weather's turned nice today

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
John 3:26.

AK says:
the rest of the week and next will be low 20s

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Sounds really nice.

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
chilly but not cold.

AK says:
huh?

AK says:
why that bible passage

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
It says that at 3:26 pm, John was having his afternoon nap.

AK says:
you're telling me you want to nap?

AK says:
you're telling me you're John the Prophet?

AK says:
you're telling me you're a rabbi?

AK says:
HAH?

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
WOO HOO!

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
You would have to ask John.

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
But you can't.

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Because you're stuck in Hell.

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
While John is residing in Heaven.

AK says:
your sickness still afflicting you

AK says:
if you touch the corner of John's cloak, maybe you'll be healed.

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Heh.

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
You're beginning to get more creative. The brain transplant of a second brain cell obviously helped you.

AK says:
elder scrolls is Firingsquad's 2006 game of the year

AK says:
http://www.firingsquad.com/features/top_5_games_2006/page3.asp

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
And there are a few expansions for Oblivion now!

AK says:
do you like the harry potter series?

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
I haven't read it.

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
I know there is a new book.

AK says:
i could barely read the first one

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Where she kills off Harry Potter or something.

AK says:
harry potter and the deathly hollows

AK says:
no. 7

AK says:
according to news

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
You can barely read the first one?

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Why is that?

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Bad prose?

AK says:
it was bad writing

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Ahh....

AK says:
truly.

AK says:
bad

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
I am not surprised.

AK says:
i don't understand the hype

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Ack.

AK says:
same for da vinci's code

AK says:
truly bad bad prose

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Agreed.

AK says:
the story line sucks

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
That is truly bad writing.

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
The storyline made no sense.

AK says:
they can't hold a candle to the likes of LOTR, Narnia, Earthsea etc.

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
It's a bunch of provocative tabloid level crap strung together.

AK says:
even the first Belgraid series was far better

AK says:
it's just CRAP

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Hahahahahahah.

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Agreed.

AK says:
or that thomas covenant thingy

AK says:
i read some books

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
It's rubbish. The Da Vinci Code. Digital Fortress. Horrid.

AK says:
or stephan donaldson that was

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Yes. I remember that. Lord Foul's Bane, etc.

AK says:
i think i read da vinci code in 2 hours flat.

AK says:
it was that simple to read. the plot was given away half way through

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Hahaha. Plain, unadorned and poor prose.

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Yes, one can guess most of the puzzles very easily.

AK says:
HEY

AK says:
you wouldn't believe what i found

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Yes?

AK says:
i found the centenary celebration for conan by robert e. howard

AK says:
all the stories in one compilation

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Everything?

AK says:
everything

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Can that be possible?

AK says:
seems to be all day

AK says:
all there, rather.

AK says:
well robert e. howard wrote many many other fine characters too

AK says:
King Kull

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Hmm.. The Kull ones?

AK says:
Solomon Kane

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
The Celtic ones too?

AK says:
no kull ones, just conan.

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Ahh.

AK says:
just conan.

AK says:
he had a few good ones about the crusades too.

AK says:
i read one long ago.

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Did you see the new Hyborian Age books?

AK says:
written by other writers?

AK says:
barely readable frankly.

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Yes, Howard was capable of good historical fiction and westerns.

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Yes, new writers, ex-TSR writers, are writing these new Hyborian Age novels.

AK says:
other writers seem to lack the pizzazz

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
It's not featuring Conan.

AK says:
i see

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
They feature Stygian wizards, Cimmerian barbarians, etc.

AK says:
just it feature a short ugly stationery peddlar?

AK says:
oh

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Short?

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Surely, you didn't turn into a stationery peddlar?

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
you did?

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Oh dear.

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
In the Hyborian Age as well?

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Kuoby?

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Are you sobbing in the corner again?
Singapore Open Gaming XI



Ken has announced the next venue, time and date for the next Singapore Open Gaming event.

Date: 13th January 2007
Time: 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Venue: Blk 3, Queen's Rd #01-139 (Just off Farrer Road, one level below Westlake Restaurant)
Cost: $2.00

As usual, everyone is welcomed. Bring your own games too. I have been missing this event through mainly the lack of sleep and tiredness. Heh. I should really try to make it.

21 December 2006

Chinese Infantry

The soldier in this drawing is based on what appears to be a communist mural with the soldiers being embraced by the peasants. The soldiers in that mural were tall and heroic in proportions while the peasants were jolly with rosy cheeks. Of course, I didn't conform to the heroic proportions and faces. I'm just messing about with this drawing and the previous one, working on my familiarisation with Chinese arms and armour.

5.5 cm x 11.5cm. Pigment Ink. 0.1, 0.2, 0.3. Rotring and Pilot pens. Posted by Picasa
Chinese General, Ming Dynasty


5cm x 15cm. Pigment Ink sketch. Rotring, Faber-Castell pens. 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5.

This sketch was based on a statue outside a palace. I have seen those kung fu shows and I am unconvinced. Hence, I based it on something historical. Posted by Picasa
Centrepoint



A rainy night near Christmas... Posted by Picasa
7.5cm Panzerabwehrkanone 40 (7.5cm Park 40)


The 7.5cm Pak 40 was built in anticipation of the inevitable and gradual increase in tank armour with the first guns being issued in November 1941. This Rheinmetall-Borsig gun soon became the standard German anti-tank gun and was able to penetrate 116mm of armour at 1000m (0 degrees).

Imperial War Museum, Duxford: July 2006 Posted by Picasa
Pope

From a humourous piece on Football 365:

Best Insult:

When USA player Eddie Pope was red-carded in the World Cup game between Team America and Italy, it was the only time in history that a whole nation of Roman Catholics have shouted "F**k off, Pope."
Old Fool


4.5cm x 11cm. Ballpoint pen sketch. Kilometrico 0.5 ballpoint.

This was a pencil doodle before I decided to work on it. The ballpoint allows some rather fine work which can be very distinct from work done with pigment ink technical pens. The techniques used with a ballpoint are, of course, a world away. Fundamentals of drawing, however, remain the same.

Getting consistent ink flow from a cheap ballpoint is part of the challenge.

Lastly, the scanner can't seem to capture the detailed lines of this drawing. Bah.

20 December 2006

Knoll


The aim in this sketch is to achieve a lightness of feel which is quite at odds with the oppressiveness of the previous sketch.

21cm x 15cm Pigment Ink sketch. Faber-Castell, Rotring. 0.2, 0.3. Posted by Picasa
The Running Stream in the Forest


I essentially finished the majority of this sketch a few weeks back leaving the grass and pebbles. Over the next few weeks, I filled it up during bus trips, MRT journeys and so forth. I finished decided to just finish it tonight.

21cm x 15cm. Pigment ink. Faber-Castell, Rotring, Pilot, Copic markers. 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5. Posted by Picasa
An AK (Silver) Moment...

AK:
SC! i made 3 comments on your blogsite today! you're honoured. and i wasn't even rude. 
Baby Bird


Wild baby pigeons. I spotted them about half a year ago. I doubt if they survived. I heard that a hornbill got them.

Posted by Picasa
8.8cm Flugabwehrkanone (18, 36, 37)


The infamous 8.8cm anti-aircraft gun, which was also used as in an anti-tank role, was introduced into service in 1933 as the 8.8cm Flak 18. Subsequently, from experience gained, the weapon was simplified for manufacture and operation as the Flak 36.

With a typical anti-tank projectile, the penetration was claimed to be 105mm at 1000m. This was far in excess of the armour carried on any Allied tank in the early part of the war.

Imperial War Museum, Duxford: July 2006 Posted by Picasa
Knight III


Pencil doodle. 8cm x 16.5cm. Colleen HB (No.2) pencil.

Future Infantry

I was conversing with Andreas over email over the costs of infantry when he observed the inevitable trend of the increasing complexity of infantry and its protection:

"...will probably continue to be the case until the soldiers look like the marines in the Warhammer universe (protected by super-thick personal armor) or the human fighters are replaced by fighting robots."

There are many such programmes and they are not limited to Singapore.

There is:

the US Land Warrior programme:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Warrior

or the British FIST programme:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIST

or the French Felin programme:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%A9lin

or Australian Land 125 programme:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_125

and the German programme. The name escapes me at present.

The US Interim Styker Brigade has a so-called digital sophisticated communication system and more that is being tested in Iraq at present. Details can be found in various places online and offline.
More statistics on the Leopard 2A4

The Leopard 2A4 does carry a APU.

In another note, my friend also stated the following:

Chobham, 120mm rounds--that's all cool.

But here are much more important numbers:

--Fuel efficiency: 0.46 liters per km
--Fuel capacity: 1200 liters
--Theoretical maximum range without refueling: 552 km
--Distance from Singapore to KL: 325 km
--Combat load: 42 x 120mm rounds
Leopard 2A4 MBTs for Singapore

A friend is sceptical of the value of main battle tanks (MBTs) in a tropcial environment. He stated:

"What mission exactly does the military have in mind for MBTs? These MBTs are going to do squat. Tanks are inherently offensive weapons, yet JB and the rest of the peninsular isn't tank country. If the mission is indeed offense, think clogged streets; long, slow-moving tank columns; a long and vulnerable logistical tail. If the mission is defense, then what'll happen is the MBTs surrender their mobility and become pillboxes (hulldown around reinforced concrete blocks). Or they are used as mobile, armored QRFs, but then, Singapore isn't exactly MBT country either, assuming very plausibly there will be aerial and arty interdiction. End result: a very expensive and sophisticated piece of hardware reduced to a glorified AT gun with MGs in static positions."

He makes some valid points here.

It will be the doctrine and employment of the Leopard 2A4s which will count.
Fighting Techniques of a Japanese Infantryman 1941-1945: Training, Techniques and Weapons



This fascinating volume on the Imperial Japanese Army relates to the organisation, training, tactics, weapons and most importantly, its mindset and indoctrination. Like many other books on the Japanese military, it has been observed that the Japanese society then was heavily indoctrinated and militarised. Dissidents were eliminated much earlier, as were dissenting points of views.

One particularly interesting aspect is that of the myth of jungle-trained Japanese troops. It is noted that the Japanese troops trained under severely conditions in all kinds of climate and terrain. The distances in their force-marches were incredible as were their ability to withstand hardship. Hence, when it came to jungle fighting, the Japanese were formidable.

The doctrine also discouraged frontal attacks though Japanese commanders were so aggressive that they often organised the hasty, frontal attack. Night attacks, double envelopment, etc.

This is quite a good read. The volume is well-illustrated too.

19 December 2006

Gorgos, Telosf and Marlboro

Conversations on DuneMUD...

Some people on Dune are knowledgable and is able to distinguish between LaVeyan Satanism and Luciferianism. Following a short conversation on LaVeyan Satanism.

[21:48] Telosf: but while you're getting it, you must listen to the picard song on repeat
[21:49] Marlboro: Picard!
[21:49] Gorgos: Yes, Picard!
[21:49] Gorgos: ma-ma-ma-ma-make it so!
[21:49] Telosf thinks picard was a Satanist
[21:50] Gorgos: No, the character of Picard is very compassionate and overtly forgiving.
[21:50] Marlboro agrees with Telosf.
[21:50] Marlboro: LaVey didn't have any hair either.
[21:50] Telosf: depends... he always got his way though
[21:50] Gorgos: He has a superiour intellect and a great deal ofinfuence, yet does not use them to attain more power.
[21:51] Telosf: lol
[21:51] Telosf: picard was a cool character
[21:52] Gorgos: Picard also supports the goverment that exists in the Star Trek canon.
[21:52] Telosf: yeah, but their government was a lot different
[21:52] Gorgos: That is herd conformity, and that is one of the satanic sins.
[21:52] Gorgos: Their goverment is very left-winged, with general equality.
[21:52] Gorgos: The exact opposite of what satanism is about.
[21:53] Telosf: you have to consider the context though
[21:53] Telosf: they have replicators
[21:53] Gorgos: Still, a satanist wouldn't support the general equality of people. That is foolish and counterproductive.Supporting the weak strains the strong. This is wrong.
[21:53] Telosf: and picard held onto certain aspects of hisidentity
[21:54] Telosf: but in a society where nobody is really weak?
[21:54] Telosf: they still have heirarchy... consider federation command
[21:55] Gorgos: We are not shown the poor peons but surely they must exist.
[21:55] Marlboro nods at Gorgos.
[21:55] Telosf: yeah, they're called ensigns
[21:55] Telosf: that's why they always die
[21:55] Marlboro: You do know your satanism and individualism very well.
[21:55] Marlboro: And also the general politics of the Star Trek world. I'm impressed.
{Fremen}: Telosf : and their ultimate goal was the creation of a master race.
{Fremen}: Gorgos : All people, always, will seek out their superiors and wish to
be commanded and controlled. Being controlled is safe. We all want to be taken care of. Human Nature.-
{ More poison has been excreted by the fungus. }-
{Fremen}: Telosf : but that's a whole other ballpark to get into.
{Fremen}: Telosf : I don't want to be controlled
{Fremen}: Telosf : I want to be happy.
{Fremen}: Telosf : but not that general definition
[21:56] Telosf: you can always abstract
[21:56] Gorgos: I've just been watching episodes of TNG :D
[21:56] Telosf laughs
[21:56] Marlboro: Who would give up their individualism for a state-controlled world?
[21:56] Telosf: Germany
[21:56] Gorgos: Touché
[21:57] Telosf: and their ultimate goal was the creation of a master race.
[21:57] Gorgos: All people, always, will seek out their superiors and wish to be commanded and controlled. Being controlled is safe. We all want to be taken care of. Human Nature.
[21:57] Telosf: but that's a whole other ballpark to get into.
[21:57] Telosf: I don't want to be controlled
[21:57] Telosf: I want to be happy.
[21:58] Telosf: but not that general definition
[21:58] Gorgos: Instinctively humans want others to tell them whatto do.
[21:58] Telosf: *most* humans
[21:58] Marlboro points to the Orgasmatron.
[21:58] Marlboro nudges Telosf.
[21:58] Gorgos: Most humans, yes.
[21:58] Marlboro: The herd mentality is prevalent.
[21:59] Marlboro: When told up front, they would, of course, deny.
[21:59] Marlboro: But the reality is otherwise.
[21:59] Telosf: depends on who you're asking.
[21:59] Telosf: most americans, yes... though most americans (atleast in my experience here) are sheep
[21:59] Marlboro nods.
[22:00] Marlboro: That is my experience too when I was living over there.
[22:00] Telosf: But I'm not too sure about the rest of the world.
[22:00] Marlboro: The culture of the mainstream is overwhelming.
[22:00] Gorgos: Americans think themselves individuals, sitting intheir living rooms, consuming mass media 8,5 hours every day.Pathetic.
[22:00] Marlboro: the sense of popular culture, mass culture has an oppressing effect. One can literally feel it.
[22:01] Telosf: that's one the the advantages.... it's clearly marked
[22:01] Marlboro: I don't know. I lived in the UK for three years too. I think there is a lot more diversity there.
[22:01] Marlboro: And also a lot of doublethink unfortunately.
[22:01] Telosf: could be... or the illusion of it
[22:02] Marlboro: a new breed of left-wing thinking. Post-Colonial Studies, Cultural Studies, etc. Not unlike Chomsky in the USA.
[22:02] Telosf: Bah
[22:02] Marlboro: K-drama will save the world!
[22:03] Marlboro: You will all consume your kimchi-laced GM food!
[22:03] Marlboro: food!
[22:03] Marlboro: You know it's good for you! You will have different spices and sauces to express your individuality!
[22:03] Telosf: and watch your reality television, because those people are liviing the life you should
[22:03] Marlboro: Salt, pepper or kimchi for your spam!
[22:03] Marlboro cheers Telosf enthusiastically.
[22:03] Gorgos: Reality television. God... what a concept.
[22:04] Marlboro laughs.
[22:04] Telosf: yeah, it's all over the place.
[22:04] Gorgos: Spend all day dealing with fools and idiots onlyto go home, open the television and watch fools and idiots play stupid, pointless games. That is reality television.
[22:05] Marlboro: The Running Man!
[22:05] Marlboro goes 'Bah!'.
[22:05] Gorgos: Stupidity. That, if I remember correctly, is the primary sin in LaVeyan Satanism. A fitting word to describeAmerican mass media.
[22:06] Telosf: indeed
[22:06] Marlboro: For that matter, the mass media everywhere.
[22:07] Marlboro: The lesser markets aspire to be like the American mass media, the optimisation of 50 years of TV culture.
[22:07] Gorgos: Mostly true.
[22:07] Marlboro: Even the BBC has descended...
[22:08] Marlboro: into a special hell of its own.
[22:08] Gorgos: Curiously enough, one aspect of Finnish mass media is quite intelligent: the newscasting of our NationalBroadcasting Company. It is rather smart stuff, presented without opinions. I like it.
[22:08] Gorgos: The rest of our television is shite.
[22:08] Telosf: I just keep it on for company.
[22:08] Marlboro: British papers. Culture, etc. It's institutionalised. Different papers for different people on different bits of the political spectrum. The Guardian, The Independent, the Daily Telegraph, the Sun, etc
[22:09] Marlboro nods at Gorgos.
[22:09] Telosf: and all regulated
[22:09] Marlboro: Gorgos, you gotta get Nightbreeze back!
[22:09] Marlboro sighs.
[22:09] Gorgos nods.
[22:09] Gorgos: I get most of my news through reddit.com
[22:10] Telosf: dammit my cat is annoying
[22:10] Marlboro: There is a Finn term for individualism and self-reliance. Sisi* or something?
[22:10] Gorgos: I know the term you mean.
[22:11] Gorgos: It does not refer to individualism, but to strenght, determination, resiliance, perseverance.
[22:11] Marlboro: Is it something in Finnish culture?
[22:11] Marlboro nods at Gorgos.
[22:11] Gorgos: perceverance
[22:11] Gorgos: The word is "sisu"
[22:11] Gorgos: The closets english translation would be "guts"
[22:11] Marlboro: Ahh... I came across the term about 18-20 years ago.
[22:11] Marlboro smiles happily.
[22:11] Gorgos: But it is much more than that.
[22:11] Marlboro: I know it does not translate literally.
[22:13] Gorgos: We have a saying : "Sisu will take a man through the grey rock."
[22:13] Gorgos: Grey rock meaning the base-stone that is under the dirt.
[22:13] Telosf: bedrock
[22:13] Marlboro hmms.
[22:13] Gorgos: Aye, bedrock.
[22:14] Telosf: I like that philosophy.
[22:15] Telosf: it insinuates that nothing is impenetrable
[22:15] Gorgos: Sisu is one of the two things we call "the measures of a man"
[22:15] Gorgos: We believe that any man can be evaluated by two things: his honesty and his sisu.
[22:15] Telosf: so essentially, honesty and willpower
[22:16] Gorgos: When judging the character of a man, these are what matter.
[22:16] Gorgos: Yes.
[22:16] Marlboro: At least, it's not a subserviant, fatalistic one.
[22:16] Telosf: I would agree with that.
[22:16] Marlboro: Over here, people thinks that the government owes them a living. We get a lot of whiners here.
[22:16] Telosf: I'm so sick of hearing about bullshit morals and a concept of integrity
[22:17] Gorgos: I blame Christianity for that.
[22:17] Marlboro laughs.
[22:17] Telosf: I would agree.
[22:17] Gorgos: Christianity brought along this idea that everyhuman being is "holy" and "sacred". What bullshit.
[22:17] Telosf: nothing is sacred
[22:17] Gorgos: If you let everyone believe they, by simply being born human, are somehow valuabe and worthy, you ruin them.
[22:18] Gorgos: Many things are sacred. Human beings are not among them.
[22:18] Telosf: yep, the proof is in the person. not in theirbeing.
[22:18] Marlboro: Agreed. Nothing is sacred. And nothing should be sacred.
[22:18] Telosf: I think each person is entitled to their own sacred things.
[22:18] Marlboro: The Judeo-Christian-Islamic trinity... bah.
[22:19] Telosf: I've just so happened to lose all of mine, so I know what a harmful concept that can be.
[22:19] Gorgos: To me, honesty is sacred. Individuality is sacred.My home is sacred.
[22:19] Marlboro: I was just about to say something about Honesty.
[22:19] Telosf nods.
[22:20] Marlboro: I do equate honesty and with integrity.
[22:20] Gorgos: Respecting other people by not bothering them.That is a sacred principle.
[22:20] Telosf: yeah, bothering people is a big no-no
[22:20] Marlboro: I think it is paramount. Something about self-worth. Not some crap about higher entities
[22:20] Telosf: the only higher entity you will ever meet is yourself.
[22:21] Marlboro: Or some fairyland.
[22:21] Telosf: most people are in fairyland
[22:21] Gorgos: Other people can also be sacred if they are worthy. Assuming every human being is sacred is foolish. It demeans the idea of respecting people. If you respect everyone, you respect no one.
[22:21] Marlboro: Ever read Daniel C. Dennett?
[22:21] Telosf: indeed
[22:22] Telosf: nope
[22:22] Gorgos: To me, my girlfriend is sacred. She is special among people, and thus I respect her.
[22:22] Marlboro: Freedom evolves. Daniel C. Dennett.
[22:22] Marlboro nods at Gorgos.

Edited for typos and grammar.

*Sisu
Volkswagen Type 166 Schwimmwagen



Imperial War Museum, Duxford: July 2006 Posted by Picasa
Ngee Ann City


Ngee Ann City was built on the site of a Teochew cemetary, land belonging to the the Ngee Ann Kongsi clan and the Ngee Ann Building which used to house Mont 'Dor, a well-known cafe and the most luxurious and upscale apartment block in Singapore in the early seventies. Posted by Picasa