Camping near libby mt
EXSPLORE
2017.01.08 09:54 exsplore EXSPLORE
2023.06.09 00:37 JaimieMantzel 48 [M4F] Caribbean Island - Anarchist, Artist, Athlete, inventor looking for...
Here are my basic stats. 6'1'' tall, 200lbs, Green eyes, Brown hair (but not on top of my head), white, huge feet. I'm one of those people who marches to his own beat. I've lived a lot of life, and have some stories. Like.... that time I faced a grizzly bear in Alaska wearing only a hat and a shotgun. ...or that time I sat in a room full of suits in Mainland China while they discussed how to market my invention. ...or that time I stepped off the track which technically means I'd be disqualified, but no one noticed, and I broke the record. ...or that time I decided to move to Central America and live on a beautiful little island where I can do pretty much anything I want.
What about you? Do you have some stories? Do you need to create some? I'm nowhere near finished, so come plant an avocado tree with me. Lets jump off a boat and spear some fish. ...or I'll spear the fish, and you can cook 'em. Let's have some babies, and give them the most amazing childhood that will make all the other kids jealous.
Do you like camping? ....the outdoors? ...beautiful starry nights where you can see more stars than you can count?
Say hi, and maybe.... possibly.... perhaps.... we'll hit it off, and this will be the beginning of an adventure that leaves you knowing that you didn't waste your one chance to live.
Jaimie PS. The neighbors are far enough that you can go outside naked. You know.... if you want. ;-)
submitted by JaimieMantzel to r4r [link] [comments]
What about you? Do you have some stories? Do you need to create some? I'm nowhere near finished, so come plant an avocado tree with me. Lets jump off a boat and spear some fish. ...or I'll spear the fish, and you can cook 'em. Let's have some babies, and give them the most amazing childhood that will make all the other kids jealous.
Do you like camping? ....the outdoors? ...beautiful starry nights where you can see more stars than you can count?
Say hi, and maybe.... possibly.... perhaps.... we'll hit it off, and this will be the beginning of an adventure that leaves you knowing that you didn't waste your one chance to live.
Jaimie PS. The neighbors are far enough that you can go outside naked. You know.... if you want. ;-)
2023.06.09 00:36 Pyroski Pyroski
The War Of 1839, Part II
The War Of 1839, Part III
The War of 1839: The Downing Street Conference
The War of 1839, Part IV
The War of 1839, Part V
Liberation of Vermont
Following the armistice, Richard Downes Jackson dedicated his time to planning and coordinating with General William Rowan for the deployment of British-Canadian troops along the Vermont-Canadian border. When the armistice officially concluded on April 25, 1843, Rowan led his forces into Newport, a city that had been among the last to be captured during John Wool's invasion of Vermont. Over a span of two days, the British forces successfully seized control of the city, compelling the American troops to retreat.
Despite Sylvester Churchill, the commanding general of the New England army, being aware of the British allies' plans, the swift defeat of the U.S. forces caught Churchill by surprise. He had expected stronger resistance in their attempt to liberate Vermont. The occupation of Vermont by the U.S. had persisted for almost a year, and both newspapers and officials criticized Churchill and Webster for their limited achievements in freeing the state. However, their efforts were hindered by the sedition acts, which silenced the criticism. This situation compelled Webster to reassess his tactics.
During the Battle of Boston, with crucial support from the British, Webster, somewhat under the influence, instructed Churchill to adopt a more offensive strategy. This involved utilizing the majority of the Yankee forces to liberate the coasts, challenging Winfield Scott's "Anaconda Plan" blockade, which had contributed to the Panic of 1843. Webster aimed to free up the coasts in order to bring an end to the War of 1839 conflict and alleviate some of the recession's effects. Furthermore, Webster ordered Churchill to carry out a smaller-scale offensive in Vermont, prompted by the widespread news of the British victory in Newport.
Churchill assigned Major General Allen Hitchcock the responsibility of liberating his home state of Vermont due to the general's persistence. Accompanied by 6,000 men, Hitchcock embarked on a journey across New Hampshire, into Canada, and finally into Vermont.
On May 2nd, 1843, General Rowan and Hitchcock led a march towards St. Albans, following a route along the Lake Champlain region from Canada. St. Albans, which had served as the last stronghold of the Vermont militia, succumbed to the American forces in July 1842. The initial battle of St. Albans lasted three days, during which the U.S. troops gradually gained ground, conquering fortifications and capturing the entire city. Faced with a hopeless situation, General Churchill eventually surrendered. In the subsequent treaty, the United States assumed control of strategic cities while permitting the residents to resume their normal lives.
In the second battle, a situation reminiscent of the first battle unfolded, but with reversed sides. The combined British and Yankee forces aimed to breach the defenses established around the settlement in response to intelligence regarding troops stationed at the Vermont-Canadian border in the forthcoming liberation of Newport. Equipped with superior weaponry supplied by the British Empire and boasting a larger army, the allied forces managed to breach the defenses within a few hours and swiftly capture the settlement.
In May 1843, the U.S. successfully captured Burlington, disrupting the supply and manufacturing capabilities of their own troops due to the repurposed factories in the area. As the allied forces liberated neighboring areas and towns, their attention shifted to St. Johnsbury, a settlement in Vermont. By March 1842, the U.S. army had already conquered all remaining towns and settlements in Northern and Central Vermont, culminating in the one-sided Battle of St. Johnsbury, which marked the defeat of one of the final strongholds.
However, nearly a year later, the neighboring regions surrounding St. Johnsbury were liberated from American control. Recognizing the strategic importance of St. Johnsbury as a transportation route across Vermont and its role in supplying troops within the occupied state, Churchill ordered troops to launch an invasion of St. Johnsbury. The town's industry had been supporting the American troops with necessary supplies, further strengthening their hold.
The objective of Churchill's invasion was to regain control of St. Johnsbury and cut off the American forces' access to crucial transportation routes and supplies. By capturing the town, Churchill aimed to weaken the American hold on Vermont and disrupt their supply capabilities.
On May 28, 1843, Rowan and Hitchcock initiated a frontal assault on St. Johnsbury, employing a direct and head-on approach to besiege the city. The battle unfolded throughout the morning and into the evening, characterized by intense street-to-street combat between the opposing armies. As the allied forces gradually gained the upper hand and pushed the American troops deeper into the southern part of the city, the latter eventually chose to retreat. Seizing the opportunity, the British and Yankee forces swiftly occupied the vacated positions, solidifying their control over St. Johnsbury.
With the objective of depriving Montpelier of American aid, the next target in their campaign was Middlebury. Positioned strategically to the left of Montpelier, Middlebury was connected to the Otter Creek and Lake Champlain, which played a vital role in transportation for Americans in the region. Hitchook anticipated that by cutting off the Americans from important settlements along the Lake Champlain riverway, he and the British forces could have an easier time in kicking out the American presence in that area of water.
On June 5, 1843, after weeks of meticulous preparation and consolidating their presence in Vermont, the allied forces initiated a fierce assault on Middlebury. The battle for Middlebury was marked by intense fighting and strategic maneuvers. The allied forces, comprising British troops and their local allies, were determined to seize control of the town and cut off American supply lines in the region.
The engagement raged on for two days, with both sides displaying great valor and tenacity. The allied forces utilized their superior numbers and expert knowledge of the terrain to their advantage, launching coordinated attacks on American positions. Meanwhile, the American forces, although outnumbered, displayed remarkable resilience and fought fiercely to defend their strategic stronghold.
After intense and prolonged fighting, the allied forces emerged victorious on June 7, 1843, recapturing Middlebury from the U.S. forces. The combined efforts of the British troops and their local allies enabled them to seize control of the town and achieve their objective of severing the American supply lines. This victory dealt a significant blow to the American presence in the region and further weakened their position in the ongoing conflict. The recapture of Middlebury bolstered the allied forces' morale and served as a turning point in their campaign against the American presence in Vermont
Battle of Lake Champlain
Meanwhile, with the liberation of the coastal areas by the allied British and Yankee forces, including the capture of every major city along the Lake Champlain coast, Richard Downes Jackson, on June 12 issued orders for British ships to navigate south from the Richelieu River in an attempt to reclaim control of the body of water that had previously been under complete U.S. control. In the initial confrontation, the British took the initiative and opened fire on the American ships patrolling the region. Amid the ensuing chaos, the British ships, though smaller in size due to the necessity of navigating through the narrow river, used their larger numbers to swiftly capitalize on the confusion and gain a stronger position.
However, in a swift response to the British advancement, Isaac Mayo, the highest-ranking naval officer at Lake Champlain, issued orders for his men to prepare for combat, sparking a fierce battle characterized by relentless exchanges of heavy gunfire between British and American ships. The intensity of the engagement persisted throughout the day, with the American forces showing determination to hold their ground and not surrender any part of the lake. Despite their resolute stance, the arrival of additional British ships and the mounting toll of the back-and-forth cannon fire eventually led American ships to retreat southward.
British ships pursued the retreating Americans, as a full-scale battle erupted at Lake Champlain, however, despite the smaller ships, the British ships would come victorious as American ships were forced to retreat into Lake George, and instead of following through with a second perusal, the British instead decided to a dominating presence in the region, by having ships blockade America's entrance, as well as sending ships to patrol the lake.
The Battle of Lake Champlain was a fierce engagement, with both British and American ships locked in a desperate struggle amidst the tumultuous waters. The reverberating booms of cannons and the crackling gunfire echoed across the expansive lake, creating an atmosphere of chaos and danger. Despite the American ships' larger size, their maneuverability paled in comparison to the nimble British vessels. The British sailors deftly utilized their smaller ships to their advantage, darting in and out of the American formations with remarkable precision and skill.
As the battle raged on, the British gradually gained the upper hand. Their coordinated attacks and deadly accurate cannon fire began to take a toll on the American fleet. The American sailors, valiantly fighting to maintain their positions, found themselves overwhelmed by the relentless onslaught. Faced with the daunting reality of defeat, the American ships were compelled to retreat hastily, their hopes of victory fading.
Seizing the opportunity to solidify their triumph, the British ships pursued the retreating Americans. Instead of engaging in a second direct confrontation, the British commanders made a calculated decision. They recognized the strategic significance of establishing a dominant presence in the region. Swiftly altering their course, the British ships strategically positioned themselves to block the entrance to Lake Champlain, effectively cutting off the Americans from easy access to the lake's vast expanse.
In addition to the blockade, the British dispatched other vessels to patrol the waters of Lake Champlain. This comprehensive approach ensured their control over the lake, further limiting American movements and impeding any potential counteroffensive.
Liberation of Vermont (Continuation)
Major General Winfield Scott of the U.S. Army received reports about the substantial progress made by opposing forces in their bid to liberate Vermont. Having previously reduced the American presence in Vermont during the buildup to the Battle of Boston, Scott took decisive action. In response to the U.S. losses in the state and the conclusion of the Battle of Boston, he organized the transportation of troops into Vermont. During mid-June, Scott oversaw the strategic deployment of these troops to the regions bordering the recently liberated areas.
On June 19, Brigadier General Joseph Lane led an assault on St. Johnsbury with the objective of recapturing it. Over the course of a two-day battle, both British and American forces engaged in intense combat. Despite a determined effort, Lane's forces faced heavy artillery fire while attempting to enter the city. Unfortunately, for the U.S., the allied forces successfully defended against the assault, ultimately forcing Lane's troops to retreat.
Several days of preparation culminated in a coordinated attack on Montpelier by the Allied forces on June 23, 1843. Troops from St. Johnsbury, led by Hitchcock, joined British forces under Rowan in a two-pronged invasion, approaching Montpelier from different directions. The conflict commenced with a morning assault, initiated by the British troops who fired artillery at the fortifications surrounding the camp. American troops within the camp swiftly retaliated with gunfire. Yankee troops followed suit, and the battle raged on throughout the evening and into the next day.
Amidst intense combat, the allied forces eventually breached the defenses, successfully entering Montpelier. U.S. troops attempted to regroup and impede their progress. However, fierce hand-to-hand combat ensued in the streets, ultimately resulting in the advance of the British and Yankee forces. On June 26, the American troops ultimately surrendered, bringing an end to the battle.
The Battle of Rutland marked a significant turning point, representing the final major victory for the allied forces. On July 1st, they strategically deployed troops and artillery, utilizing the road network to swiftly approach the surrounding areas. Employing a barrage of artillery fire, the allies swiftly breached the city's defenses, initiating intense confrontations with the U.S. forces. Throughout the day, defensive tactics were employed by the U.S. troops in a valiant effort to repel the invaders. The resulting combat escalated into a fierce and prolonged hand-to-hand struggle that persisted until evening. Realizing the increasingly unfavorable circumstances, U.S. forces eventually made the decision to retreat from Rutland, acknowledging the impracticality of further resistance.
However, upon receiving news of the fall of Montpelier, Rutland, and the American failures to recapture St. Johnsbury, Major General Winfield Scott recognized the need for additional reinforcements in Vermont. The "Leviathan Plan" campaign had reached a stalemate, with neither side making significant progress. In response, Scott deployed extra units to the region. Despite these reinforcements, General Rowan, leading the combined British and Yankee forces, remained determined to advance their liberation efforts. Thus, they pressed forward with the Battle of Rutland, targeting the town of Woodstock.
To their surprise, the allied forces found themselves ill-prepared for the invasion as the U.S. troops stationed in Woodstock outnumbered them. The American forces had anticipated the attack and were ready to repel the invasion. As the allied forces made their attempt to strike, it was the U.S. troops who opened fire first. The ensuing confrontation lasted throughout the day and into the evening, with the allied forces unable to breach the defenses of Woodstock. This battle marked the first victory for the U.S. Army in Vermont since the British liberation, dealing a blow to the progress of the combined British and Yankee forces.
Leviathan Plan
submitted by Pyroski to u/Pyroski [link] [comments]
The War Of 1839, Part III
The War of 1839: The Downing Street Conference
The War of 1839, Part IV
The War of 1839, Part V
Liberation of Vermont
Following the armistice, Richard Downes Jackson dedicated his time to planning and coordinating with General William Rowan for the deployment of British-Canadian troops along the Vermont-Canadian border. When the armistice officially concluded on April 25, 1843, Rowan led his forces into Newport, a city that had been among the last to be captured during John Wool's invasion of Vermont. Over a span of two days, the British forces successfully seized control of the city, compelling the American troops to retreat.
Despite Sylvester Churchill, the commanding general of the New England army, being aware of the British allies' plans, the swift defeat of the U.S. forces caught Churchill by surprise. He had expected stronger resistance in their attempt to liberate Vermont. The occupation of Vermont by the U.S. had persisted for almost a year, and both newspapers and officials criticized Churchill and Webster for their limited achievements in freeing the state. However, their efforts were hindered by the sedition acts, which silenced the criticism. This situation compelled Webster to reassess his tactics.
During the Battle of Boston, with crucial support from the British, Webster, somewhat under the influence, instructed Churchill to adopt a more offensive strategy. This involved utilizing the majority of the Yankee forces to liberate the coasts, challenging Winfield Scott's "Anaconda Plan" blockade, which had contributed to the Panic of 1843. Webster aimed to free up the coasts in order to bring an end to the War of 1839 conflict and alleviate some of the recession's effects. Furthermore, Webster ordered Churchill to carry out a smaller-scale offensive in Vermont, prompted by the widespread news of the British victory in Newport.
Churchill assigned Major General Allen Hitchcock the responsibility of liberating his home state of Vermont due to the general's persistence. Accompanied by 6,000 men, Hitchcock embarked on a journey across New Hampshire, into Canada, and finally into Vermont.
On May 2nd, 1843, General Rowan and Hitchcock led a march towards St. Albans, following a route along the Lake Champlain region from Canada. St. Albans, which had served as the last stronghold of the Vermont militia, succumbed to the American forces in July 1842. The initial battle of St. Albans lasted three days, during which the U.S. troops gradually gained ground, conquering fortifications and capturing the entire city. Faced with a hopeless situation, General Churchill eventually surrendered. In the subsequent treaty, the United States assumed control of strategic cities while permitting the residents to resume their normal lives.
In the second battle, a situation reminiscent of the first battle unfolded, but with reversed sides. The combined British and Yankee forces aimed to breach the defenses established around the settlement in response to intelligence regarding troops stationed at the Vermont-Canadian border in the forthcoming liberation of Newport. Equipped with superior weaponry supplied by the British Empire and boasting a larger army, the allied forces managed to breach the defenses within a few hours and swiftly capture the settlement.
In May 1843, the U.S. successfully captured Burlington, disrupting the supply and manufacturing capabilities of their own troops due to the repurposed factories in the area. As the allied forces liberated neighboring areas and towns, their attention shifted to St. Johnsbury, a settlement in Vermont. By March 1842, the U.S. army had already conquered all remaining towns and settlements in Northern and Central Vermont, culminating in the one-sided Battle of St. Johnsbury, which marked the defeat of one of the final strongholds.
However, nearly a year later, the neighboring regions surrounding St. Johnsbury were liberated from American control. Recognizing the strategic importance of St. Johnsbury as a transportation route across Vermont and its role in supplying troops within the occupied state, Churchill ordered troops to launch an invasion of St. Johnsbury. The town's industry had been supporting the American troops with necessary supplies, further strengthening their hold.
The objective of Churchill's invasion was to regain control of St. Johnsbury and cut off the American forces' access to crucial transportation routes and supplies. By capturing the town, Churchill aimed to weaken the American hold on Vermont and disrupt their supply capabilities.
On May 28, 1843, Rowan and Hitchcock initiated a frontal assault on St. Johnsbury, employing a direct and head-on approach to besiege the city. The battle unfolded throughout the morning and into the evening, characterized by intense street-to-street combat between the opposing armies. As the allied forces gradually gained the upper hand and pushed the American troops deeper into the southern part of the city, the latter eventually chose to retreat. Seizing the opportunity, the British and Yankee forces swiftly occupied the vacated positions, solidifying their control over St. Johnsbury.
With the objective of depriving Montpelier of American aid, the next target in their campaign was Middlebury. Positioned strategically to the left of Montpelier, Middlebury was connected to the Otter Creek and Lake Champlain, which played a vital role in transportation for Americans in the region. Hitchook anticipated that by cutting off the Americans from important settlements along the Lake Champlain riverway, he and the British forces could have an easier time in kicking out the American presence in that area of water.
On June 5, 1843, after weeks of meticulous preparation and consolidating their presence in Vermont, the allied forces initiated a fierce assault on Middlebury. The battle for Middlebury was marked by intense fighting and strategic maneuvers. The allied forces, comprising British troops and their local allies, were determined to seize control of the town and cut off American supply lines in the region.
The engagement raged on for two days, with both sides displaying great valor and tenacity. The allied forces utilized their superior numbers and expert knowledge of the terrain to their advantage, launching coordinated attacks on American positions. Meanwhile, the American forces, although outnumbered, displayed remarkable resilience and fought fiercely to defend their strategic stronghold.
After intense and prolonged fighting, the allied forces emerged victorious on June 7, 1843, recapturing Middlebury from the U.S. forces. The combined efforts of the British troops and their local allies enabled them to seize control of the town and achieve their objective of severing the American supply lines. This victory dealt a significant blow to the American presence in the region and further weakened their position in the ongoing conflict. The recapture of Middlebury bolstered the allied forces' morale and served as a turning point in their campaign against the American presence in Vermont
Battle of Lake Champlain
Meanwhile, with the liberation of the coastal areas by the allied British and Yankee forces, including the capture of every major city along the Lake Champlain coast, Richard Downes Jackson, on June 12 issued orders for British ships to navigate south from the Richelieu River in an attempt to reclaim control of the body of water that had previously been under complete U.S. control. In the initial confrontation, the British took the initiative and opened fire on the American ships patrolling the region. Amid the ensuing chaos, the British ships, though smaller in size due to the necessity of navigating through the narrow river, used their larger numbers to swiftly capitalize on the confusion and gain a stronger position.
However, in a swift response to the British advancement, Isaac Mayo, the highest-ranking naval officer at Lake Champlain, issued orders for his men to prepare for combat, sparking a fierce battle characterized by relentless exchanges of heavy gunfire between British and American ships. The intensity of the engagement persisted throughout the day, with the American forces showing determination to hold their ground and not surrender any part of the lake. Despite their resolute stance, the arrival of additional British ships and the mounting toll of the back-and-forth cannon fire eventually led American ships to retreat southward.
British ships pursued the retreating Americans, as a full-scale battle erupted at Lake Champlain, however, despite the smaller ships, the British ships would come victorious as American ships were forced to retreat into Lake George, and instead of following through with a second perusal, the British instead decided to a dominating presence in the region, by having ships blockade America's entrance, as well as sending ships to patrol the lake.
The Battle of Lake Champlain was a fierce engagement, with both British and American ships locked in a desperate struggle amidst the tumultuous waters. The reverberating booms of cannons and the crackling gunfire echoed across the expansive lake, creating an atmosphere of chaos and danger. Despite the American ships' larger size, their maneuverability paled in comparison to the nimble British vessels. The British sailors deftly utilized their smaller ships to their advantage, darting in and out of the American formations with remarkable precision and skill.
As the battle raged on, the British gradually gained the upper hand. Their coordinated attacks and deadly accurate cannon fire began to take a toll on the American fleet. The American sailors, valiantly fighting to maintain their positions, found themselves overwhelmed by the relentless onslaught. Faced with the daunting reality of defeat, the American ships were compelled to retreat hastily, their hopes of victory fading.
Seizing the opportunity to solidify their triumph, the British ships pursued the retreating Americans. Instead of engaging in a second direct confrontation, the British commanders made a calculated decision. They recognized the strategic significance of establishing a dominant presence in the region. Swiftly altering their course, the British ships strategically positioned themselves to block the entrance to Lake Champlain, effectively cutting off the Americans from easy access to the lake's vast expanse.
In addition to the blockade, the British dispatched other vessels to patrol the waters of Lake Champlain. This comprehensive approach ensured their control over the lake, further limiting American movements and impeding any potential counteroffensive.
Liberation of Vermont (Continuation)
Major General Winfield Scott of the U.S. Army received reports about the substantial progress made by opposing forces in their bid to liberate Vermont. Having previously reduced the American presence in Vermont during the buildup to the Battle of Boston, Scott took decisive action. In response to the U.S. losses in the state and the conclusion of the Battle of Boston, he organized the transportation of troops into Vermont. During mid-June, Scott oversaw the strategic deployment of these troops to the regions bordering the recently liberated areas.
On June 19, Brigadier General Joseph Lane led an assault on St. Johnsbury with the objective of recapturing it. Over the course of a two-day battle, both British and American forces engaged in intense combat. Despite a determined effort, Lane's forces faced heavy artillery fire while attempting to enter the city. Unfortunately, for the U.S., the allied forces successfully defended against the assault, ultimately forcing Lane's troops to retreat.
Several days of preparation culminated in a coordinated attack on Montpelier by the Allied forces on June 23, 1843. Troops from St. Johnsbury, led by Hitchcock, joined British forces under Rowan in a two-pronged invasion, approaching Montpelier from different directions. The conflict commenced with a morning assault, initiated by the British troops who fired artillery at the fortifications surrounding the camp. American troops within the camp swiftly retaliated with gunfire. Yankee troops followed suit, and the battle raged on throughout the evening and into the next day.
Amidst intense combat, the allied forces eventually breached the defenses, successfully entering Montpelier. U.S. troops attempted to regroup and impede their progress. However, fierce hand-to-hand combat ensued in the streets, ultimately resulting in the advance of the British and Yankee forces. On June 26, the American troops ultimately surrendered, bringing an end to the battle.
The Battle of Rutland marked a significant turning point, representing the final major victory for the allied forces. On July 1st, they strategically deployed troops and artillery, utilizing the road network to swiftly approach the surrounding areas. Employing a barrage of artillery fire, the allies swiftly breached the city's defenses, initiating intense confrontations with the U.S. forces. Throughout the day, defensive tactics were employed by the U.S. troops in a valiant effort to repel the invaders. The resulting combat escalated into a fierce and prolonged hand-to-hand struggle that persisted until evening. Realizing the increasingly unfavorable circumstances, U.S. forces eventually made the decision to retreat from Rutland, acknowledging the impracticality of further resistance.
However, upon receiving news of the fall of Montpelier, Rutland, and the American failures to recapture St. Johnsbury, Major General Winfield Scott recognized the need for additional reinforcements in Vermont. The "Leviathan Plan" campaign had reached a stalemate, with neither side making significant progress. In response, Scott deployed extra units to the region. Despite these reinforcements, General Rowan, leading the combined British and Yankee forces, remained determined to advance their liberation efforts. Thus, they pressed forward with the Battle of Rutland, targeting the town of Woodstock.
To their surprise, the allied forces found themselves ill-prepared for the invasion as the U.S. troops stationed in Woodstock outnumbered them. The American forces had anticipated the attack and were ready to repel the invasion. As the allied forces made their attempt to strike, it was the U.S. troops who opened fire first. The ensuing confrontation lasted throughout the day and into the evening, with the allied forces unable to breach the defenses of Woodstock. This battle marked the first victory for the U.S. Army in Vermont since the British liberation, dealing a blow to the progress of the combined British and Yankee forces.
Leviathan Plan
2023.06.09 00:35 Grouty13 Dryad Aspect
 | Saw this on Spectral Sump near the Mire entrance and Thetford camp? 2 might still be there if you hurry. submitted by Grouty13 to albiononline [link] [comments] |
2023.06.09 00:17 beenoc [Combat Robotics] Riptide: How one Battlebots team managed to just be the worst in every way
This drama is mainly about the events of Season 7/World Championship 7 (WC7), the season of Battlebots that aired in 2023. Big spoilers for the season inbound, including the overall winner, along with spoilers of the outcomes and winners of previous seasons.
I will try my hardest to be unbiased which is hard because I am extremely biased and any attempt to be unbiased could only come across as enlightened centrism. I will simply try to keep the bias to a manageable level.
If you watched Battlebots back in the late 90s when it was on Comedy Central, you might remember robots that were basically big wedges pushing each other around a square and maybe occasionally taking a bit of armor off. That's not how it is anymore. Bots are destructive, powerful, and great spectacles to watch fight. Seriously, you should watch Battlebots. It's on Discovery+ andHBO Max. If you don't want to spend the money, Norwalk National Havoc Robotics League (NHRL) has competitions every few months that are livestreamed for free on Youtube in the smaller weight classes.
In case it's not clear from the write-up, Battlebots is filmed usually in the fall, and the season airs spring the next year. So all of the events in this write-up occurred over a 2-week period in OctobeNovember 2022, but only were public drama as the episodes aired January-May 2023. Much like any reality/game show, all the builders, production, etc. knew the outcome of the season before anything aired, there's just millions of dollars of NDAs.
The classic example is in the 2021 season, when the iconic Witch Doctor's weapon disk kept breaking due to poor quality steel. They were scrambling to find material and resources to machine a new disk, when a ton of teams came together to save their season.
Team Sporkinok (yes, that's a trans Battlebot) lent them their pickup truck, to go pick up steel from a nearby supplier who was found by the captain of Team Blacksmith.
They needed to recreate the failure to figure out was wrong, so Team Shatter (the biggest, strongest hammer-bot in the competition) took their robot to the test box to try and break a disk.
They took the steel to the nearby build space of Team Chomp, who stayed up all night on their waterjet to cut new disks (the new disks worked well, by the way.)
After the season, they still didn't know for sure what the cause was, so they worked with Team Hypershock to create a dummy test robot, modeled after the very durable robot (and future 2022 champs) Tantrum, they could test the old disks on. They then sent the broken disks to a materials science lab run by a friend of the captain of Team Tantrum to perform materials analysis.
Many of these teams had fought Witch Doctor in the past, others would fight them in the future. But that doesn't matter - in robot combat, everyone is friends outside the box.
Right?
One of these 'new-to-heavyweight' rookies last year was Riptide, captained by Ethan Kurtz (the guy with the "you know I had to do it to em" pose.) Ethan had found a good amount of success previously with the beetleweight Rival, and Riptide was basically Rival writ 80 times bigger. Riptide had a pretty good first season, winning 2 out of their 3 qualifying fights and making it to the quarterfinals before losing to the extremely good SawBlaze.
No real controversy, aside from a false start and early hit on HUGE in their first fight - written off as "I'm fighting a heavyweight on Battlebots for the first time" nerves, no hard feelings from anyone, not even HUGE. They also gave fan-favorite (formerly) indestructible brick Duck! such a bad thrashing that Duck! permanently retired after that fight (Duck! was having a bad year anyway, that fight was just the icing on the cake.)
Their success led to them co-winning Rookie of the Year alongside Glitch, who won an amazing 7 fights in a row, a feat only done before by 3-time championship winner and undisputed GOAT Bite Force (Glitch had to bow out of the tournament because their bot had taken irreparable damage despite the victories, but it's possible they could have extended it even further.) Riptide became well known for Ethan screaming "LET'S GO!" (or sometimes, "LET'S F------ GO"!", giving the censors a bit of a workout and annoying production) after big wins.
So coming into season 8, their sophomore year, hopes are high for Riptide and people want to see this breakout star do well, right? After all, there's no big controversy in their funding or anything, is there?
Stan Kurtz was once upon a time the president of Generation Rescue. Yes, that Generation Rescue, the Jenny McCarthy 'vaccines-cause-autism' one. He was instrumental in getting the 'movement' off the ground in the first place - I even seem to recall seeing a link to a talk he did where he said he was backstage for McCarthy's interview with Larry King, but I'm not about to sift through hours of his horrid talks and speeches to find it.
Stan Kurtz sold lollipops that he claimed cured autism, autism that he and his organization claimed was caused by vaccines. In fact, he claimed they even cured his son Ethan's autism! Remember this when you read about Ethan's behavior - it's not an excuse, but "autistic but prevented from going to any kind of therapy or anything because it would make his dad look like a liar" is certainly an explanation.
Let me divest into opinion for a sec. Stan Kurtz is evil. There is a direct line between the actions of Stan Kurtz promoting vaccine denalism and snake oil cures, and dead children. Fuck Stan Kurtz. Every other problem with Team Riptide could be overlooked if they did not have this dude as their primary sponsor (which necessarily would require replacing Ethan as captain, because you can't separate him from his dad financially.) Okay, back to the writeup.
But put a pin in "Riptide's captain and his dad are antivaxxers" - it's a surprise tool that will help us later.
Team Glitch asked Riptide to hit them again try to flip them back over, maybe knock some life back into the bot. Not an uncommon thing, but sometimes it backfires. Riptide did, launched Glitch across the box, and now Glitch was super-dead. Instant, extremely decisive knockout for Riptide. No drama yet.
Of note is MaD CatTer's driver, Calvin Iba (guy beneath Martin's pointing hand.) Calvin Iba is one of the few builders better known for his smaller robot - his robot Lynx is the winningest beetleweight of all time, with an incredible 11 tournament wins, 8 undefeated, and an overall record of 86-11 as of December 2022 (and several events since then, but I can't find overall fight records of those events.) Now, Lynx is a very similar design to Rival (and therefore Riptide) - Lynx predates Rival by a few months, but the design is relatively generic and common at lower weight classes so it's not exactly plagarism.
This is relevant because Battlebots production tried to stir up drama, painting Calvin as angry that Ethan copied his bot and scaled it up to 250lb before Calvin could himself. For what it's worth Calvin did play into it a bit (he brought Lynx to the fight), but by all regards there aren't really any serious hard feelings about that. "Beater bars" (the weapon style of Riptide/Lynx/Rival) predate all three bots. Worth noting that Rival lost to Lynx in a brutal slugfest in the semifinals match of NHRL a few years ago, so maybe Ethan had a bit of a revenge arc more than anything.
On to the fight. MaD CatTer is a pretty serious bot - not most people's favorite to win it all, but a 'serious contender for semifinals' kind of bot - so nobody knew how this would go. It was back and forth for... about 10 seconds, then Riptide got one good hit and did not let up. MaD CatTer got taken apart like they never had before, left a smoking mess, stuck sideways against the arena wall, knocked out within a minute. Riptide then drove around a bit and punted pieces of MaD CatTer around the box, which got them a warning from the ref for being unsafe and for doing unnecessary damage to perfectly salvageable components of MaD CatTer. The team apologized later for that, saying they wouldn't do it again. Remember that.
Okay, two rapid knockouts against serious bots. Riptide is definitely not suffering from the sophomore curse. But in the post-fight interview, we did get a little taste of Ethan being a bit of a jerk - basically dismissed Calvin/Lynx as worse Riptide, and put his hand over Martin's mouth (without Martin's permission) as a way of saying "shut up wrestler man!" Could have been funny, but it came across as somewhat mean-spirited and Martin clearly was not cool with it (and Martin Mason is not a sore loser - he spends almost every post-fight interview gushing about how good the other robot is, even if MaD CatTer loses.) Production asked Calvin what he thought, and he said (while holding Lynx) "well, I designed this robot to be unbeatable, it's a great robot to base it off of. Good job." Good comeback.
So going in, everyone expects Riptide to win. Here's a bot that made MaD CatTer look like a middleweight, versus a team with, at the time, a 6-18 career record. Riptide can't be complacent because even Shrederator can do some damage if you let it (by some metrics, Shrederator may have the most powerful weapon in the competition), but it's their fight to lose. Ethan Kurtz explains his strategy in an interview before the fight - get some big hits that flip Shrederator over. Once they're upside-down, they can't self-right and they'll be counted out. Makes sense, a solid, quick, safe, easy way to win. Well, watch the fight here if you can.
If you can't, I will summarize: It starts off with Shrederator dodging Riptide and spinning up, until eventually Riptide gets a solid hit that breaks a piece of Shrederator's shell off and destabilizes them. One more big hit from Riptide and Shrederator lands upside-down - it's over. Well, no. Riptide then goes in and hits them again before they can be counted out. And again. And again. And again. At this point Shrederator is basically completely dead, but it's still able to spin. Shrederator's team calls over to Riptide "yo, stop it we're dead already." Riptide hits Shrederator again. Riptide's weapon operator tells Ethan to hit him again. And so he does. And one more time, as sparks fly out of Shrederator's pulverized electronics. Riptide leaves Shrederator dead on the floor, as they go and, you guessed it, punt shrapnel around the box. At this point the referee has to physically take the controller from Ethan (while the rest of team Riptide tries to stop the ref.)
Of course this is a KO for Riptide, but in doing so they did around $10,000 worth of extra, unnecessary damage to Shrederator, and almost the entire bot had to be thrown out and rebuilt from spares. Riptide was not apologetic (and in fact later Ethan would gloat to the camera over how Team Shrederator hadn't even tried to rebuild their bot.) No members of Team Riptide helped Shrederator rebuild either, though one did offer. (It wasn't Ethan, Stan, or the weapon operator Sid.)
To say this was controversial to the community would be lying. Controversy requires some argument or debate. There was none - everyone thought Riptide went way too far. Riptide later tried to say "we interpreted their spinning as intent to keep fighting, and we couldn't hear them asking us to stop." Which was seen by most of the community as a load of crap, since Ethan had said to the camera that he didn't need to do those late hits just before the fight, and teams are bantering with each other in fights all the time. Riptide was formally warned by the ref again for this fight.
At this point, the editors I guess realized that controversy sells. In almost every remaining episode of the season, even ones where Riptide didn't fight, they had some clip of Riptide, or Ethan, or something else to rub in "these guys are really mean and have a good bot, wHaT iF tHeY wIn???" Very much a 'whenver Riptide's not on screen, all the other robots should be asking "Where's Riptide?"' situation. It got old very fast (read: instantly.)
This fight was probably the least controversial Riptide fight of the season - you can watch it here. Riptide went in and did not let up, unrelenting, leading to the Brazilian bot suffering their first ever KO in under a minute. Riptide was actually pretty chill in the post-fight interview, very respectful towards Black Dragon - I guess that ref warning stuck. For now. With that, Riptide advanced to 4-0 in the qualifiers, and ended up securing themselves the #2 overall seed (behind the undefeated Brazilian monster Minotaur, a favorite to win it all every season and the season 3 runner-up.)
Now, for more info, the bots have rules that govern what you can do. There's a lot, but 2 are relevant - strict 250 lb weight limit, and the tip speed of a spinning weapon cannot exceed 250 mph. Bots are weighed before each fight to confirm the weight limit, and all bots with spinners have to do tip speed tests in the test box. After the weigh-in, you cannot modify or work on your bot in any way without the approval of production and safety. Not for anything. Maybe a sticker if you want.
So when a Shatter team member found Riptide working on their bot in the tunnel leading from the pits just before the fight, questions were had, and team Shatter demanded Riptide be reweighed and tip speed retested (there were rumors in the pits that they were spinning faster than 250mph.) The team later explained they were attaching a plastic hammer to the robot to mimic Shatter (teams doing funny decorative mods to their bot to mimic the other bot is a longstanding tradition.) All evidence seemed to point to that being the case, so nobody thinks they were lying about it, but it still warranted a reweigh. My opinion - that's fine, but tell production. If people think you're going to do something illegal, and you do something legal but in a way that looks illegal, don't be surprised when people think you're doing something illegal.
I will note that the show made a big deal out of how when Riptide was weighed before they were 'caught,' they weighed in at 250 lb, and the re-weighing said they were 248. There was some concern from Shatter about that, not helped by Stan Kurtz being kind of smug back to them. In response to one Shatter member asking "Why is it 248 now and 250 before?", Stan responded "You're right, there's something wrong. We made it lighter." Now, the thing with this is that there are multiple scales, they're not extremely precise, and if anyone has ever worked with industrial scales before you know how easily they come out of calibration. Some builders have said that whether or not the AC was on could add a pound of weight from the airflow. The "250lb" scale was not the same as the "248lb" scale as well. Generally, nobody really thinks there is something up with the weight, but working on the bot post-weigh-in absolutely warrants a reweigh, no matter who it is.
Riptide complained a lot about it, to the point where the word "whiney" comes to mind. You messed up, teams are meant to tell production before they add decorative stuff and you didn't, so you need to be reweighed. You've already pissed people off in the past so don't be surprised when they give you a bit more scrutiny. Take your lumps, apologize, act like adults, and maybe people will give you the benefit of the doubt next time. Instead, there was a lot of "oh boo is me, we're being discriminated against" - a direct quote from Ethan is "their paranoia is affecting our performance, I think it's really uncool that they did this." Granted, if the scale drifted the other way and they had to lose 2lb of armor to satisfy the arbitrary scale drift, I would get it more, but as it is they just look, well, whiney.
At this time, unbeknownst to anyone until they revealed it on a livestream, Team Whyachi (the team behind the powerful flipper Hydra, engine of (self-)destruction Fusion, and Comedy Central-era legend Son of Whyachi, who had the pit next to Riptide, was asked by production to put a spy camera up to make sure everything was above board. Allegedly they also began doing analysis of the audio and video of the actual fights, to make sure teams (read: one team) weren't cheating and spinning faster than the "maximum speed" they did in the test box.
However, aside from the (explainable, acceptable) scale drift, Riptide was not found to be cheating with tip speed or anything else. Shatter accepted this without complaint - they just wanted to be sure. So, that's out of the way. Ethan basically said "they are paranoid and are trying to ruin us so we will crush them" - fair enough, I suppose. Here's the fight (note: this video includes the entire 'weigh-in' drama before the fight if you want to watch it instead of just reading about it.) For what it's worth, Shatter lasted longer than anyone yet against Riptide - almost 2 minutes - but it went the way everyone expected. The most unexpected thing was in the post-fight, where Ethan basically said "Adam is a paranoid loser" (alongside, allegedly, some more personal insults that got cut), then went in for a "sporting" handshake. Unsurprisingly, Adam refused it.
Now, Adam is basically the "union rep" for the builders - he's the guy chosen (by the builders) to represent them when Battlebots is thinking about changing the rules. He is a very widely respected guy and is by all accounts very sporting and nice. So when you've pissed him off enough that he refuses the handshake (only the second refused handshake in modern Battlebots history, as far as I am aware), you know you fucked up. But either way, Riptide is on to the round of 16.
When I say Hypershock is a fan favorite, I mean they are the fan favorite - between their iconic style, aggressive driving, and captain Will Bales's humor and charisma, it's probably not wrong to say Hypershock is the most popular bot and team around. People love Hypershock, and people don't love Riptide, so this fight had a lot of "save us, O-Will Bales Kenobi, you're our only hope" energy with the community. Leading up to this, Will said in an interview that Riptide was good, but every team can't be good forever, and that someday Ethan will experience, in Will's words, a "humbling event."
But Hypershock wasn't the odds-on favorite here - Will Bales's flashy driving tends to lead to errors, and against something as nasty as Riptide, any error is death. The full fight isn't uploaded, but here's a clip of the post-fight highlight reel. Will started out doing a 'box rush' (charging straight at the other bot as soon as the fight starts), only to attempt to dodge to the side. Unfortunately, this led to him powersliding directly into Riptide's weapon, losing a wheel, and getting flipped over.
Now, the thing with vertical spinners in Battlebots is they spin 'up' - this means that the outer side goes up and the inner side goes down, so you can brace your own bot against the floor and send the other one flying. Now Hypershock is upside down, effectively spinning 'down,' so the energy from hits pushes the other bot down and themselves up. Riptide is spinning 'up' as normal. Both of these are extremely powerful weapons. Both want to send Hypershock into the air. So what happens when they collide? The energy of both weapons goes into sending Hypershock flying up over 25 feet and slamming into the ceiling of the Battlebox. Remember that that thing weighs 250 pounds. To quote Will in the post-fight interview, "nobody has ever been hit like that before." Much to the chagrin of Hydra captain Jake Ewert, who had the goal of being the first-ever bot to send another bot into the ceiling (and came within inches in their fight against Deathroll), Riptide made Battlebots history here.
The rest of the fight goes as expected at this point and Hypershock is KO'd, with Riptide moving into the quarterfinals. Sorry Will, you aren't the humbling event this time.
Luke has said that he was too focused on Copperhead to pay attention to the controversy, so he became aware of it when, leading up to this fight, builders kept coming up to him and whispering in his hear "dude, you have to beat Riptide. You have to beat them. You might be our last hope." He's just a first-year captain/driver, with the oldest bot in the competition (Copperhead has had the same two frames for its entire 4-year career - this is the longest any frame has competed in the history of modern Battlebots without replacement), who's had to have back-to-back fights against rookie of the year Ripperoni, 2018 Most Destructive winner ROTATOЯ, and End Game. No pressure.
Now, people have tried ways to beat Riptide. You can't just tank their hits with a durable bot (Black Dragon.) You can't outdrive them with fancy footwork (Hypershock.) But something nobody has beenman insane enough to try is to go weapon-to-weapon on purpose to break Riptide's weapon. Copperhead just went weapon-to-weapon with End Game and broke theirs. Copperhead is durable enough to take those huge hits Riptide deals out. So their strategy is to just go berserk until something breaks. But there's one major plot twist left.
Remember how I said the Kurtzes are anti-vaxxers? Well, the pandemic is still going on. In order to get into the pits, you either had to be double-vaxxed or test negative every day. Well, there's no confirmation that Ethan was or was not vaxxed (but let's be real), but guess what? In the greatest Chekhov's gun in Battlebots history, he tested positive for COVID the day of the Copperhead fight. Riptide is out their driver for their biggest fight ever.
Other builders have confirmed that this was not the first or only time that team members had to miss days due to testing positive, but previous times either 1) did not involve the drivers, or 2) were in the qualifying rounds where fights could be postponed to following days. But neither was the case this time. Now, this is really a shitty situation for Riptide, and I do feel some degree of pity for them - what a thing to happen. But at the same time, lmao.
Riptide has to spend most of the day deciding who would drive the robot in the fight. The first person they ask? Jack Barker, driver of End Game and 2021 world champion. Jack agreed - can you blame him? Riptide is a hell of a bot, probably super fun to drive, and who knows, maybe he could win another Giant Nut. This got as far as Jack driving Riptide around the test box, before Luke found out and was like "hang on, no. He's not on your team. It's not fair that you can just go to the best driver in the pits and ask them to drive for you." Production agreed and hastily made a new rule where the driver has to be a member of the team. This all was not in the episode, and was only revealed by Luke Quintal after the season aired.
Team Riptide then deliberated between the several members of the team who might stand a chance. They eventually decide on team member Felix Jing, who's an award-winning Vex Robotics driver but has never driven a heavyweight before. Felix seemed to be a nice enough guy, and pretty humble. However, in the deliberations over who would drive, they lose time and are unable to replace their damaged weapon from the Hypershock fight.
So the fight. Riptide box rushes Copperhead, and the first weapon-to-weapon sends Copperhead flying. Luke's bot is still going, though, and goes in for another clash. This goes on for a few hits, until a massive hit sends Copperhead flying up and Riptide flying back - but when they come to, Copperhead's weapon is spinning... and Riptide's weapon is cracked down the middle, exactly what Copperhead was aiming for.
Copperhead does not let up and keeps hitting, eventually ripping about a quarter of Riptide's weapon off completely. However, the damage from the last 4 years of fighting added up. Those big hits from Riptide were the final straw - one of Copperhead's two wheels just falls off. Copperhead can still move, just about, on just one wheel, but suddenly this fight got a lot closer. They keep hitting Riptide, but it goes to the judges after the full 3 minutes.
It's a split decision. Battlebots is scored on an 11-point system - 5 points for damage, and 3 each for aggression and control.
All three judges gave Copperhead three damage points to Riptide's two and Riptide two control points to Copperhead's one.
The first judge scored aggression 2-1 for Copperhead. 6-5 Copperhead.
The second judge scored aggression 2-1 for Riptide. 6-5 Riptide.
The third judge scored aggression 2-1 for the winner...
Copperhead!
They did it, they saved the goddamn universe. We will not have to live in a world where the ur-anti-vaxxer and his dickhead kid win Battlebots. Everyone is fucking ecstatic. I cheered. The audience cheered. God probably cheered. And boy, did the pits cheer - some builders have said this was the biggest celebration in the pits they had ever seen. Tim Rackley of Monsoon (big lad with the flag) apparently was picking Luke up and carrying him around the pits cheering. Riptide is out.
It's a pity Ethan wasn't there to experience his 'humbling event' in person, but it happened. He was there on a video call on a tablet - apparently, production did ask him how he felt and he went on a 5-minute rant about how the team was being forced to face jealousy and adversity because they had to get reweighed. The entire rant was cut from the episode that aired. I've seen conflicting reports if he said "if I was there we would have won," but it would be in character if he did.
Team Riptide used their appeal (each team gets one) to ask the judges to re-review the fight - they did (absolutely fair - you have nothing to lose, anyone should appeal in this situation), and as though to rub it in even more, the sole judge who ruled for Riptide changed his mind about Riptide's aggression, giving Copperhead a unanimous JD. The saga of Riptide in WC7 ends here.
Literally zero people were unhappy with this - both Jamison and HUGE captain Jonathan Schultz are some of the nicest, most genuine, humble builders in the sport, and going into the finals it was very much a "no matter who wins we all win" kind of thing. Both bots are also "non-meta" - "meta" being the general form of bot that Hypershock, Riptide, Witch Doctor, Copperhead, etc. are, a compact vertical spinner - seasons 3-6 saw meta bots win both first place and runner-up, so people were excited to see a finals match with something new on both sides.
This was very recent, so no news if Riptide will be invited back next year. I would be shocked if they weren't, though - controversy sells, and regardless of how bad the team is, the robot is a killing machine that makes for incredible spectacles. There is allegedly a "sportsmanship rule" being added next year - it's a pity that something that has gone unspoken for decades has to codified in rules because of the actions of one team, but hopefully it will help. Between unethical sponsors, destroying fan favorite bots, being rude both inside and outside the box, cheating allegations, and a stunning lack of humility, Riptide really checked all the boxes in the 'bad guys' field this year.
I could say "the viewing community is willing to give Riptide one more chance to apologize and redeem themselves" but that would be a lie. For the most part, the subreddit, main Discord, etc. are all sick and tired of ever seeing the team again, and would love nothing more than for some cool, nice builder to hijack the bot so we can have cool robots and cool people. I don't know how the builders feel - I imagine that they're probably not quite as vehemently opposed to the team on average, but there's probably no love lost.
I enjoyed writing this up quite a lot, because it really was a classic "villain defeats the main good guys, but then the underdog comes out of nowhere and saves the day" story. Also Battlebots rules. Feel free to ask me anything about the show, or any bots, or if you want to see some cool bots that I didn't include. And seriously, watch Battlebots, it's so good. Check out /battlebots - it's the off-season, so the shitposts are about to get real good. I'm running out of characters so the collection of miscellaneous facts I originally had stuck on the end of this writeup is going to be in the comments.
submitted by beenoc to HobbyDrama [link] [comments]
I will try my hardest to be unbiased which is hard because I am extremely biased and any attempt to be unbiased could only come across as enlightened centrism. I will simply try to keep the bias to a manageable level.
Battlebots
In case you don't know, Battlebots (well, combat robotics, but Battlebots is the most well-known and publicized event by an order of magnitude) is a... sport? Game? Hobby? Lifestyle? Where the goal is to throw two robots of a comparable weight against each other, with the goal to destroy each other. Battlebots itself is in the heavyweight category, with a 250 lb weight limit per robot. Other popular weight classes (relatively popular - heavyweight is the only televised one) are antweight (1 lb), beetleweight (3 lb), hobbyweight (12 lb), and lightweight (30 lb.) Battlebots itself airs on Discovery, generally with a main season and a spinoff season each year.If you watched Battlebots back in the late 90s when it was on Comedy Central, you might remember robots that were basically big wedges pushing each other around a square and maybe occasionally taking a bit of armor off. That's not how it is anymore. Bots are destructive, powerful, and great spectacles to watch fight. Seriously, you should watch Battlebots. It's on Discovery+ and
In case it's not clear from the write-up, Battlebots is filmed usually in the fall, and the season airs spring the next year. So all of the events in this write-up occurred over a 2-week period in OctobeNovember 2022, but only were public drama as the episodes aired January-May 2023. Much like any reality/game show, all the builders, production, etc. knew the outcome of the season before anything aired, there's just millions of dollars of NDAs.
The Culture
Something interesting about Battlebots that might surprise those unfamiliar with it is the culture. While teams work as hard as they can to reduce the other robot to splintered scrap in the box, back in the pits everyone is super awesome and nice and kind and helpful - a frequent occurrence is going to the pit of the bot you just took apart and seeing if there is any way you can help with the rebuild.The classic example is in the 2021 season, when the iconic Witch Doctor's weapon disk kept breaking due to poor quality steel. They were scrambling to find material and resources to machine a new disk, when a ton of teams came together to save their season.
Team Sporkinok (yes, that's a trans Battlebot) lent them their pickup truck, to go pick up steel from a nearby supplier who was found by the captain of Team Blacksmith.
They needed to recreate the failure to figure out was wrong, so Team Shatter (the biggest, strongest hammer-bot in the competition) took their robot to the test box to try and break a disk.
They took the steel to the nearby build space of Team Chomp, who stayed up all night on their waterjet to cut new disks (the new disks worked well, by the way.)
After the season, they still didn't know for sure what the cause was, so they worked with Team Hypershock to create a dummy test robot, modeled after the very durable robot (and future 2022 champs) Tantrum, they could test the old disks on. They then sent the broken disks to a materials science lab run by a friend of the captain of Team Tantrum to perform materials analysis.
Many of these teams had fought Witch Doctor in the past, others would fight them in the future. But that doesn't matter - in robot combat, everyone is friends outside the box.
Right?
Riptide
Every year there are of course rookie bots competing for the first time. Sometimes from veteran teams and builders, such as last year's Blip (from the creators of Tantrum), or this year's RIPperoni, from former members of the teams behind Uppercut and P1, but just as often from new builders, at least new to heavyweight (almost nobody starts out with with the robots that can cost as much as a new car.)One of these 'new-to-heavyweight' rookies last year was Riptide, captained by Ethan Kurtz (the guy with the "you know I had to do it to em" pose.) Ethan had found a good amount of success previously with the beetleweight Rival, and Riptide was basically Rival writ 80 times bigger. Riptide had a pretty good first season, winning 2 out of their 3 qualifying fights and making it to the quarterfinals before losing to the extremely good SawBlaze.
No real controversy, aside from a false start and early hit on HUGE in their first fight - written off as "I'm fighting a heavyweight on Battlebots for the first time" nerves, no hard feelings from anyone, not even HUGE. They also gave fan-favorite (formerly) indestructible brick Duck! such a bad thrashing that Duck! permanently retired after that fight (Duck! was having a bad year anyway, that fight was just the icing on the cake.)
Their success led to them co-winning Rookie of the Year alongside Glitch, who won an amazing 7 fights in a row, a feat only done before by 3-time championship winner and undisputed GOAT Bite Force (Glitch had to bow out of the tournament because their bot had taken irreparable damage despite the victories, but it's possible they could have extended it even further.) Riptide became well known for Ethan screaming "LET'S GO!" (or sometimes, "LET'S F------ GO"!", giving the censors a bit of a workout and annoying production) after big wins.
So coming into season 8, their sophomore year, hopes are high for Riptide and people want to see this breakout star do well, right? After all, there's no big controversy in their funding or anything, is there?
Stan Kurtz
Stan is the bald dude next to Ethan in the team picture. He's Ethan's dad, and also one of the main sponsors for the team through his company BeCourageous. Where did Stan Kurtz get his money to sponsor a big team? Well, he once had a company named RevitaPOP. RevitaPOP made vitamin B12 lollipops. If you know anything about 'alternative medicine,' this is where you say "oh no."Stan Kurtz was once upon a time the president of Generation Rescue. Yes, that Generation Rescue, the Jenny McCarthy 'vaccines-cause-autism' one. He was instrumental in getting the 'movement' off the ground in the first place - I even seem to recall seeing a link to a talk he did where he said he was backstage for McCarthy's interview with Larry King, but I'm not about to sift through hours of his horrid talks and speeches to find it.
Stan Kurtz sold lollipops that he claimed cured autism, autism that he and his organization claimed was caused by vaccines. In fact, he claimed they even cured his son Ethan's autism! Remember this when you read about Ethan's behavior - it's not an excuse, but "autistic but prevented from going to any kind of therapy or anything because it would make his dad look like a liar" is certainly an explanation.
Let me divest into opinion for a sec. Stan Kurtz is evil. There is a direct line between the actions of Stan Kurtz promoting vaccine denalism and snake oil cures, and dead children. Fuck Stan Kurtz. Every other problem with Team Riptide could be overlooked if they did not have this dude as their primary sponsor (which necessarily would require replacing Ethan as captain, because you can't separate him from his dad financially.) Okay, back to the writeup.
But put a pin in "Riptide's captain and his dad are antivaxxers" - it's a surprise tool that will help us later.
Riptide in WC7
Fight 1: Glitch
Aside from that, people didn't have that much of an opinion on Riptide going in to WC7 (and even that wasn't too widely known until partway through the season.) Generally, there was a feeling of "let's see if they can keep it up" - often a lot of very promising rookie bots have weak second seasons. They started the season fighting Glitch, to see who was truly better. One hit, weapon-on-weapon, and Glitch fucking died. Upside down, weapon not spinning, no way to self-right.Team Glitch asked Riptide to hit them again try to flip them back over, maybe knock some life back into the bot. Not an uncommon thing, but sometimes it backfires. Riptide did, launched Glitch across the box, and now Glitch was super-dead. Instant, extremely decisive knockout for Riptide. No drama yet.
Fight 2: MaD CatTer
Now on to the second fight. This one was against MaD CatTer, consisting of community college professor Martin Mason (goatee in the middle) and his students. Martin Mason is known for his intentionally cheesebally and over-the-top Macho Man imitation/homage, with lots of pointing at the camera and saying "Oh yeah!" Also by all regards the nicest man on planet Earth and one of the most beloved figures in combat robotics.Of note is MaD CatTer's driver, Calvin Iba (guy beneath Martin's pointing hand.) Calvin Iba is one of the few builders better known for his smaller robot - his robot Lynx is the winningest beetleweight of all time, with an incredible 11 tournament wins, 8 undefeated, and an overall record of 86-11 as of December 2022 (and several events since then, but I can't find overall fight records of those events.) Now, Lynx is a very similar design to Rival (and therefore Riptide) - Lynx predates Rival by a few months, but the design is relatively generic and common at lower weight classes so it's not exactly plagarism.
This is relevant because Battlebots production tried to stir up drama, painting Calvin as angry that Ethan copied his bot and scaled it up to 250lb before Calvin could himself. For what it's worth Calvin did play into it a bit (he brought Lynx to the fight), but by all regards there aren't really any serious hard feelings about that. "Beater bars" (the weapon style of Riptide/Lynx/Rival) predate all three bots. Worth noting that Rival lost to Lynx in a brutal slugfest in the semifinals match of NHRL a few years ago, so maybe Ethan had a bit of a revenge arc more than anything.
On to the fight. MaD CatTer is a pretty serious bot - not most people's favorite to win it all, but a 'serious contender for semifinals' kind of bot - so nobody knew how this would go. It was back and forth for... about 10 seconds, then Riptide got one good hit and did not let up. MaD CatTer got taken apart like they never had before, left a smoking mess, stuck sideways against the arena wall, knocked out within a minute. Riptide then drove around a bit and punted pieces of MaD CatTer around the box, which got them a warning from the ref for being unsafe and for doing unnecessary damage to perfectly salvageable components of MaD CatTer. The team apologized later for that, saying they wouldn't do it again. Remember that.
Okay, two rapid knockouts against serious bots. Riptide is definitely not suffering from the sophomore curse. But in the post-fight interview, we did get a little taste of Ethan being a bit of a jerk - basically dismissed Calvin/Lynx as worse Riptide, and put his hand over Martin's mouth (without Martin's permission) as a way of saying "shut up wrestler man!" Could have been funny, but it came across as somewhat mean-spirited and Martin clearly was not cool with it (and Martin Mason is not a sore loser - he spends almost every post-fight interview gushing about how good the other robot is, even if MaD CatTer loses.) Production asked Calvin what he thought, and he said (while holding Lynx) "well, I designed this robot to be unbeatable, it's a great robot to base it off of. Good job." Good comeback.
Fight 3: Captain Shrederator
Captain Shrederator is a longtime veteran, being one of the few robots (alongside Witch Doctor, Hypershock, and Lock-Jaw) who has competed in all 7 seasons of the reboot. And they've competed for even longer - under various names and throughout various small tweaks, Captain Shrederator is basically the same robot as Phrizbee, from original Battlebots Season 3.0 in 2001. They're not exactly good by any modern standard, to be honest, but they're fun and an institution of the show. Worth noting that leading up to this fight, Nick Nave (son of Shrederator captain Brian Nave and a member of the team) had been hinting at possible controversy around this fight for a few weeks beforehand on the subreddit, so people were ready for some shit.So going in, everyone expects Riptide to win. Here's a bot that made MaD CatTer look like a middleweight, versus a team with, at the time, a 6-18 career record. Riptide can't be complacent because even Shrederator can do some damage if you let it (by some metrics, Shrederator may have the most powerful weapon in the competition), but it's their fight to lose. Ethan Kurtz explains his strategy in an interview before the fight - get some big hits that flip Shrederator over. Once they're upside-down, they can't self-right and they'll be counted out. Makes sense, a solid, quick, safe, easy way to win. Well, watch the fight here if you can.
If you can't, I will summarize: It starts off with Shrederator dodging Riptide and spinning up, until eventually Riptide gets a solid hit that breaks a piece of Shrederator's shell off and destabilizes them. One more big hit from Riptide and Shrederator lands upside-down - it's over. Well, no. Riptide then goes in and hits them again before they can be counted out. And again. And again. And again. At this point Shrederator is basically completely dead, but it's still able to spin. Shrederator's team calls over to Riptide "yo, stop it we're dead already." Riptide hits Shrederator again. Riptide's weapon operator tells Ethan to hit him again. And so he does. And one more time, as sparks fly out of Shrederator's pulverized electronics. Riptide leaves Shrederator dead on the floor, as they go and, you guessed it, punt shrapnel around the box. At this point the referee has to physically take the controller from Ethan (while the rest of team Riptide tries to stop the ref.)
Of course this is a KO for Riptide, but in doing so they did around $10,000 worth of extra, unnecessary damage to Shrederator, and almost the entire bot had to be thrown out and rebuilt from spares. Riptide was not apologetic (and in fact later Ethan would gloat to the camera over how Team Shrederator hadn't even tried to rebuild their bot.) No members of Team Riptide helped Shrederator rebuild either, though one did offer. (It wasn't Ethan, Stan, or the weapon operator Sid.)
To say this was controversial to the community would be lying. Controversy requires some argument or debate. There was none - everyone thought Riptide went way too far. Riptide later tried to say "we interpreted their spinning as intent to keep fighting, and we couldn't hear them asking us to stop." Which was seen by most of the community as a load of crap, since Ethan had said to the camera that he didn't need to do those late hits just before the fight, and teams are bantering with each other in fights all the time. Riptide was formally warned by the ref again for this fight.
At this point, the editors I guess realized that controversy sells. In almost every remaining episode of the season, even ones where Riptide didn't fight, they had some clip of Riptide, or Ethan, or something else to rub in "these guys are really mean and have a good bot, wHaT iF tHeY wIn???" Very much a 'whenver Riptide's not on screen, all the other robots should be asking "Where's Riptide?"' situation. It got old very fast (read: instantly.)
Fight 4: Black Dragon
You want to talk about beloved teams, you have to mention Black Dragon. This Brazilian team is known for two things - their plush duck, which they won in a claw machine the first time they came to the US for a competition and have kept as a good luck charm ever since, and their durability - they had gone a near-record 24 matches without ever getting knocked out, winning all of those fights or losing by judge's decision. Leading up to this fight, Battlebots kept having segments showing how Black Dragon had almost surpassed Bite Force for the "most fights without a KO" streak (Bite Force was never KO'd in its entire 4-season career, going 26-1 with 1 lost JD.) Of course, then they had to fight Riptide.This fight was probably the least controversial Riptide fight of the season - you can watch it here. Riptide went in and did not let up, unrelenting, leading to the Brazilian bot suffering their first ever KO in under a minute. Riptide was actually pretty chill in the post-fight interview, very respectful towards Black Dragon - I guess that ref warning stuck. For now. With that, Riptide advanced to 4-0 in the qualifiers, and ended up securing themselves the #2 overall seed (behind the undefeated Brazilian monster Minotaur, a favorite to win it all every season and the season 3 runner-up.)
Round of 32: Shatter
For those who don't know, Battlebots has a series of qualifying fights (this year, 4 fights per bot) to determine, out of the contenders (50 this year), which 32 get to compete in the tournament for the Giant Nut, and where they will be seeded. As the #2 seed, Riptide got to fight the #31 seed - hammer-bot Shatter, who you saw earlier helping Witch Doctor. Now, let me not mince words - Shatter was fucked. To paraphrase a comment I saw, "If Shatter drives like a god, gets the most perfect hammer shots ever, and in general is the best a hammer has ever looked in the history of hammers... they will still lose." There was no way Shatter could ever, ever win, barring some kind of catastrophic self-induced failure from Riptide. But damn it, Shatter captain Adam Wrigley was sure as hell going to try.Now, for more info, the bots have rules that govern what you can do. There's a lot, but 2 are relevant - strict 250 lb weight limit, and the tip speed of a spinning weapon cannot exceed 250 mph. Bots are weighed before each fight to confirm the weight limit, and all bots with spinners have to do tip speed tests in the test box. After the weigh-in, you cannot modify or work on your bot in any way without the approval of production and safety. Not for anything. Maybe a sticker if you want.
So when a Shatter team member found Riptide working on their bot in the tunnel leading from the pits just before the fight, questions were had, and team Shatter demanded Riptide be reweighed and tip speed retested (there were rumors in the pits that they were spinning faster than 250mph.) The team later explained they were attaching a plastic hammer to the robot to mimic Shatter (teams doing funny decorative mods to their bot to mimic the other bot is a longstanding tradition.) All evidence seemed to point to that being the case, so nobody thinks they were lying about it, but it still warranted a reweigh. My opinion - that's fine, but tell production. If people think you're going to do something illegal, and you do something legal but in a way that looks illegal, don't be surprised when people think you're doing something illegal.
I will note that the show made a big deal out of how when Riptide was weighed before they were 'caught,' they weighed in at 250 lb, and the re-weighing said they were 248. There was some concern from Shatter about that, not helped by Stan Kurtz being kind of smug back to them. In response to one Shatter member asking "Why is it 248 now and 250 before?", Stan responded "You're right, there's something wrong. We made it lighter." Now, the thing with this is that there are multiple scales, they're not extremely precise, and if anyone has ever worked with industrial scales before you know how easily they come out of calibration. Some builders have said that whether or not the AC was on could add a pound of weight from the airflow. The "250lb" scale was not the same as the "248lb" scale as well. Generally, nobody really thinks there is something up with the weight, but working on the bot post-weigh-in absolutely warrants a reweigh, no matter who it is.
Riptide complained a lot about it, to the point where the word "whiney" comes to mind. You messed up, teams are meant to tell production before they add decorative stuff and you didn't, so you need to be reweighed. You've already pissed people off in the past so don't be surprised when they give you a bit more scrutiny. Take your lumps, apologize, act like adults, and maybe people will give you the benefit of the doubt next time. Instead, there was a lot of "oh boo is me, we're being discriminated against" - a direct quote from Ethan is "their paranoia is affecting our performance, I think it's really uncool that they did this." Granted, if the scale drifted the other way and they had to lose 2lb of armor to satisfy the arbitrary scale drift, I would get it more, but as it is they just look, well, whiney.
At this time, unbeknownst to anyone until they revealed it on a livestream, Team Whyachi (the team behind the powerful flipper Hydra, engine of (self-)destruction Fusion, and Comedy Central-era legend Son of Whyachi, who had the pit next to Riptide, was asked by production to put a spy camera up to make sure everything was above board. Allegedly they also began doing analysis of the audio and video of the actual fights, to make sure teams (read: one team) weren't cheating and spinning faster than the "maximum speed" they did in the test box.
However, aside from the (explainable, acceptable) scale drift, Riptide was not found to be cheating with tip speed or anything else. Shatter accepted this without complaint - they just wanted to be sure. So, that's out of the way. Ethan basically said "they are paranoid and are trying to ruin us so we will crush them" - fair enough, I suppose. Here's the fight (note: this video includes the entire 'weigh-in' drama before the fight if you want to watch it instead of just reading about it.) For what it's worth, Shatter lasted longer than anyone yet against Riptide - almost 2 minutes - but it went the way everyone expected. The most unexpected thing was in the post-fight, where Ethan basically said "Adam is a paranoid loser" (alongside, allegedly, some more personal insults that got cut), then went in for a "sporting" handshake. Unsurprisingly, Adam refused it.
Now, Adam is basically the "union rep" for the builders - he's the guy chosen (by the builders) to represent them when Battlebots is thinking about changing the rules. He is a very widely respected guy and is by all accounts very sporting and nice. So when you've pissed him off enough that he refuses the handshake (only the second refused handshake in modern Battlebots history, as far as I am aware), you know you fucked up. But either way, Riptide is on to the round of 16.
Round of 16: Hypershock
You saw Hypershock earlier. They're quite good - definitely a contender, though generally not going to be anyone's main pick to win it all. This year, they were the #18 seed after a rough set of qualifiers, fighting 2021 champs End Game, 2021 runner-up Whiplash, perennial contender SawBlaze, and the confusingly fast Claw Viper (seriously watch this, look how fast that boy is.) But after a solid win over #15 seed Lucky, they were on to the round of 16.When I say Hypershock is a fan favorite, I mean they are the fan favorite - between their iconic style, aggressive driving, and captain Will Bales's humor and charisma, it's probably not wrong to say Hypershock is the most popular bot and team around. People love Hypershock, and people don't love Riptide, so this fight had a lot of "save us, O-Will Bales Kenobi, you're our only hope" energy with the community. Leading up to this, Will said in an interview that Riptide was good, but every team can't be good forever, and that someday Ethan will experience, in Will's words, a "humbling event."
But Hypershock wasn't the odds-on favorite here - Will Bales's flashy driving tends to lead to errors, and against something as nasty as Riptide, any error is death. The full fight isn't uploaded, but here's a clip of the post-fight highlight reel. Will started out doing a 'box rush' (charging straight at the other bot as soon as the fight starts), only to attempt to dodge to the side. Unfortunately, this led to him powersliding directly into Riptide's weapon, losing a wheel, and getting flipped over.
Now, the thing with vertical spinners in Battlebots is they spin 'up' - this means that the outer side goes up and the inner side goes down, so you can brace your own bot against the floor and send the other one flying. Now Hypershock is upside down, effectively spinning 'down,' so the energy from hits pushes the other bot down and themselves up. Riptide is spinning 'up' as normal. Both of these are extremely powerful weapons. Both want to send Hypershock into the air. So what happens when they collide? The energy of both weapons goes into sending Hypershock flying up over 25 feet and slamming into the ceiling of the Battlebox. Remember that that thing weighs 250 pounds. To quote Will in the post-fight interview, "nobody has ever been hit like that before." Much to the chagrin of Hydra captain Jake Ewert, who had the goal of being the first-ever bot to send another bot into the ceiling (and came within inches in their fight against Deathroll), Riptide made Battlebots history here.
The rest of the fight goes as expected at this point and Hypershock is KO'd, with Riptide moving into the quarterfinals. Sorry Will, you aren't the humbling event this time.
Quarterfinals: Copperhead
It's the final episode of the season - the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals are all in one episode. People are spooked because Riptide is a incredible, powerful bot built and driven by shitty people, and nobody wants them to win but they might. But to go any further, they have to beat Copperhead.. This snake-themed bot is probably best known for getting a new captain almost every year, and this year it's Luke Quintal in charge for his first time. They just came off of an insanely dominant upset over 2021 champs End Game.Luke has said that he was too focused on Copperhead to pay attention to the controversy, so he became aware of it when, leading up to this fight, builders kept coming up to him and whispering in his hear "dude, you have to beat Riptide. You have to beat them. You might be our last hope." He's just a first-year captain/driver, with the oldest bot in the competition (Copperhead has had the same two frames for its entire 4-year career - this is the longest any frame has competed in the history of modern Battlebots without replacement), who's had to have back-to-back fights against rookie of the year Ripperoni, 2018 Most Destructive winner ROTATOЯ, and End Game. No pressure.
Now, people have tried ways to beat Riptide. You can't just tank their hits with a durable bot (Black Dragon.) You can't outdrive them with fancy footwork (Hypershock.) But something nobody has been
Remember how I said the Kurtzes are anti-vaxxers? Well, the pandemic is still going on. In order to get into the pits, you either had to be double-vaxxed or test negative every day. Well, there's no confirmation that Ethan was or was not vaxxed (but let's be real), but guess what? In the greatest Chekhov's gun in Battlebots history, he tested positive for COVID the day of the Copperhead fight. Riptide is out their driver for their biggest fight ever.
Other builders have confirmed that this was not the first or only time that team members had to miss days due to testing positive, but previous times either 1) did not involve the drivers, or 2) were in the qualifying rounds where fights could be postponed to following days. But neither was the case this time. Now, this is really a shitty situation for Riptide, and I do feel some degree of pity for them - what a thing to happen. But at the same time, lmao.
Riptide has to spend most of the day deciding who would drive the robot in the fight. The first person they ask? Jack Barker, driver of End Game and 2021 world champion. Jack agreed - can you blame him? Riptide is a hell of a bot, probably super fun to drive, and who knows, maybe he could win another Giant Nut. This got as far as Jack driving Riptide around the test box, before Luke found out and was like "hang on, no. He's not on your team. It's not fair that you can just go to the best driver in the pits and ask them to drive for you." Production agreed and hastily made a new rule where the driver has to be a member of the team. This all was not in the episode, and was only revealed by Luke Quintal after the season aired.
Team Riptide then deliberated between the several members of the team who might stand a chance. They eventually decide on team member Felix Jing, who's an award-winning Vex Robotics driver but has never driven a heavyweight before. Felix seemed to be a nice enough guy, and pretty humble. However, in the deliberations over who would drive, they lose time and are unable to replace their damaged weapon from the Hypershock fight.
So the fight. Riptide box rushes Copperhead, and the first weapon-to-weapon sends Copperhead flying. Luke's bot is still going, though, and goes in for another clash. This goes on for a few hits, until a massive hit sends Copperhead flying up and Riptide flying back - but when they come to, Copperhead's weapon is spinning... and Riptide's weapon is cracked down the middle, exactly what Copperhead was aiming for.
Copperhead does not let up and keeps hitting, eventually ripping about a quarter of Riptide's weapon off completely. However, the damage from the last 4 years of fighting added up. Those big hits from Riptide were the final straw - one of Copperhead's two wheels just falls off. Copperhead can still move, just about, on just one wheel, but suddenly this fight got a lot closer. They keep hitting Riptide, but it goes to the judges after the full 3 minutes.
It's a split decision. Battlebots is scored on an 11-point system - 5 points for damage, and 3 each for aggression and control.
All three judges gave Copperhead three damage points to Riptide's two and Riptide two control points to Copperhead's one.
The first judge scored aggression 2-1 for Copperhead. 6-5 Copperhead.
The second judge scored aggression 2-1 for Riptide. 6-5 Riptide.
The third judge scored aggression 2-1 for the winner...
Copperhead!
They did it, they saved the goddamn universe. We will not have to live in a world where the ur-anti-vaxxer and his dickhead kid win Battlebots. Everyone is fucking ecstatic. I cheered. The audience cheered. God probably cheered. And boy, did the pits cheer - some builders have said this was the biggest celebration in the pits they had ever seen. Tim Rackley of Monsoon (big lad with the flag) apparently was picking Luke up and carrying him around the pits cheering. Riptide is out.
It's a pity Ethan wasn't there to experience his 'humbling event' in person, but it happened. He was there on a video call on a tablet - apparently, production did ask him how he felt and he went on a 5-minute rant about how the team was being forced to face jealousy and adversity because they had to get reweighed. The entire rant was cut from the episode that aired. I've seen conflicting reports if he said "if I was there we would have won," but it would be in character if he did.
Team Riptide used their appeal (each team gets one) to ask the judges to re-review the fight - they did (absolutely fair - you have nothing to lose, anyone should appeal in this situation), and as though to rub it in even more, the sole judge who ruled for Riptide changed his mind about Riptide's aggression, giving Copperhead a unanimous JD. The saga of Riptide in WC7 ends here.
Aftermath
There was zero drama of any kind for the rest of the season (all 3 fights of it.) All the fights were great, clean fights between respected and respectful teams and robots. Copperhead ended up losing to HUGE in the semi-finals - no surprise or shame there, HUGE is designed to be invincible to bots like Copperhead. HUGE ended up facing the mighty SawBlaze in the finals, and in probably the best finals match in combat robotics history, SawBlaze managed to win a unanimous JD, giving SawBlaze captain Jamison Go the Giant Nut.Literally zero people were unhappy with this - both Jamison and HUGE captain Jonathan Schultz are some of the nicest, most genuine, humble builders in the sport, and going into the finals it was very much a "no matter who wins we all win" kind of thing. Both bots are also "non-meta" - "meta" being the general form of bot that Hypershock, Riptide, Witch Doctor, Copperhead, etc. are, a compact vertical spinner - seasons 3-6 saw meta bots win both first place and runner-up, so people were excited to see a finals match with something new on both sides.
This was very recent, so no news if Riptide will be invited back next year. I would be shocked if they weren't, though - controversy sells, and regardless of how bad the team is, the robot is a killing machine that makes for incredible spectacles. There is allegedly a "sportsmanship rule" being added next year - it's a pity that something that has gone unspoken for decades has to codified in rules because of the actions of one team, but hopefully it will help. Between unethical sponsors, destroying fan favorite bots, being rude both inside and outside the box, cheating allegations, and a stunning lack of humility, Riptide really checked all the boxes in the 'bad guys' field this year.
I could say "the viewing community is willing to give Riptide one more chance to apologize and redeem themselves" but that would be a lie. For the most part, the subreddit, main Discord, etc. are all sick and tired of ever seeing the team again, and would love nothing more than for some cool, nice builder to hijack the bot so we can have cool robots and cool people. I don't know how the builders feel - I imagine that they're probably not quite as vehemently opposed to the team on average, but there's probably no love lost.
I enjoyed writing this up quite a lot, because it really was a classic "villain defeats the main good guys, but then the underdog comes out of nowhere and saves the day" story. Also Battlebots rules. Feel free to ask me anything about the show, or any bots, or if you want to see some cool bots that I didn't include. And seriously, watch Battlebots, it's so good. Check out /battlebots - it's the off-season, so the shitposts are about to get real good. I'm running out of characters so the collection of miscellaneous facts I originally had stuck on the end of this writeup is going to be in the comments.
2023.06.09 00:07 Few-Tadpole-6812 Oh be Joyful - driving conditions
My friends and I are road tripping to CO for some camping in July.I’m looking at the Oh Be Joyful Campground near crested butte.
I’m not an experienced mountain driver and I’ll be riding in a 2WD SUV. I read that the road going up is steep and rough and times. Do y’all think we can make it there and back? If not, some other easily accessible campsite locations would be appreciated!
submitted by Few-Tadpole-6812 to coloradocamping [link] [comments]
I’m not an experienced mountain driver and I’ll be riding in a 2WD SUV. I read that the road going up is steep and rough and times. Do y’all think we can make it there and back? If not, some other easily accessible campsite locations would be appreciated!
2023.06.08 23:51 pauliewalnuts38 The most unnecessary movie sequel?
My vote is for Jarhead (2005) decent movie, good acting, good direction, solid atmosphere. First of, it was a self contained story, and the sequels have nothing to do with the original characters. Just a weird money grab that no one was asking for and I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything mentioned other than the first film. What are your thoughts on films that really didn’t need sequels? Low hanging fruit is the Fast and the Furious franchise. Honorable mention goes to Teen Wolf Too.
Jarhead
Anthony "Swoff" Swofford, a Camus-reading kid from Sacramento, enlists in the Marines in the late 1980s. He malingers during boot camp, but makes it through as a sniper, paired with the usually-reliable Troy. The Gulf War breaks out, and his unit goes to Saudi Arabia for Desert Shield. After 175 days of boredom, adrenaline, heat, worry about his girlfriend finding someone else, losing it and nearly killing a mate, demotion, latrine cleaning, faulty gas masks, and desert football, Desert Storm begins. In less than five days, it's over, but not before Swoff sees burned bodies, flaming oil derricks, an oil-drenched horse, and maybe a chance at killing. Where does all the testosterone go?
submitted by pauliewalnuts38 to u/pauliewalnuts38 [link] [comments]
Jarhead
Anthony "Swoff" Swofford, a Camus-reading kid from Sacramento, enlists in the Marines in the late 1980s. He malingers during boot camp, but makes it through as a sniper, paired with the usually-reliable Troy. The Gulf War breaks out, and his unit goes to Saudi Arabia for Desert Shield. After 175 days of boredom, adrenaline, heat, worry about his girlfriend finding someone else, losing it and nearly killing a mate, demotion, latrine cleaning, faulty gas masks, and desert football, Desert Storm begins. In less than five days, it's over, but not before Swoff sees burned bodies, flaming oil derricks, an oil-drenched horse, and maybe a chance at killing. Where does all the testosterone go?
2023.06.08 23:42 InsightfulPedestrian Food logistics and how to keep it cold
Me and my friends will be at camping inferno this year. And we want to prepare some food near the tent - cook some eggs, sausages, bacon, etc.
Is it reasonable to buy some groceries including meat (frozen) at Mol with some ice packs and bring it all the way to the camping? (We don’t have a car, so will have to take the shuttle, and we get to Mol by train) We do have a cooler box and we’ll eat it within 24 hours, so I believe it will stay cold and shouldn’t go bad.
Is that a good plan? I’m concerned if it’s not too much of a hassle. Anyone else that is planning to cook some food, and doesn’t have a car can share how they’re planning to do it? Or if someone can confirm that you could purchase ice at the camp shop?
submitted by InsightfulPedestrian to Graspop [link] [comments]
Is it reasonable to buy some groceries including meat (frozen) at Mol with some ice packs and bring it all the way to the camping? (We don’t have a car, so will have to take the shuttle, and we get to Mol by train) We do have a cooler box and we’ll eat it within 24 hours, so I believe it will stay cold and shouldn’t go bad.
Is that a good plan? I’m concerned if it’s not too much of a hassle. Anyone else that is planning to cook some food, and doesn’t have a car can share how they’re planning to do it? Or if someone can confirm that you could purchase ice at the camp shop?
2023.06.08 23:41 ColaMelon_ Anyone know of any campsites near a river/lake? Also here's a picture from a camping trip I had last weekend in Bkerke
Hello, I am looking for somewhere to go camp with my family preferably somewhere near a rivelake. We often go camping with groups but we just got a big ass tent and are hoping to go alone on a family trip. Anywhere in Lebanon is fine doesn't have to be near Beirut. Thankk you!!
submitted by ColaMelon_ to lebanon [link] [comments]
2023.06.08 23:32 Uncommonality Having a hard time finding things to do.
The writing in this game is amazing, and the views are gorgeous - the combat feels great.
But one thing I'm noticing is that the game seems very stingy with actually offering me things to do.
submitted by Uncommonality to reddeadredemption [link] [comments]
But one thing I'm noticing is that the game seems very stingy with actually offering me things to do.
- Strangers appear when you get near, but they're mostly scavenger hunts that feel extremely intimidating on a world as large as this.
- Story missions are highlighted, but I explicitly don't want to rush them and miss the whole game.
- Hunting legendary animals is great, but there doesn't seem to be a way to locate them apart from stumbling upon their spots at random.
- Hunting in general is fun, but also frustrating. I literally cannot get a perfect pelt for the life of me, even when I sneak up to an animal, use my lasso and then knife-kill it, the pelt is always either poor or good. There's also not much point to it, because you can carry so little meat and every animal gives so much. Not to mention that it isn't worth anything so you can't even hunt to fund the camp, at least not when compared to robbing people on the road. A single platinum pocketwatch is worth more than like 6 deer carcasses carried to Pearson.
- Fishing is nice, I guess, but like Arthur says, it's very boring. Very accurate to real life fishing in that respect, though, I'll give it that.
- Bounties are fun, but there seem to be like 2 per city and not much else to do there apart from visit shops which all carry mostly identical items to every other town.
- There's home robbery tips, but I tried to find one and the directions were so frustratingly rare I gave up after searching for like half an hour.
- Poker is fun but I could just play that irl with my actual friends, so I don't really see the point personally. The pots are always really low so it's not even any good for making money.
2023.06.08 23:23 Affectionate-Ad2081 The Case for Tim Duncan as the GOAT
I know what you're thinking: no way; there's no chance Tim Duncan is the GOAT. He's not even the best player of his generation you might say. You're thinking there's no way Tim Duncan belongs in the same category as MJ or LeBron. If you believe this, there are three things that you'll probably bring up as I make this argument.
Duncan's notable accolades from his NBA career are as follows:
Don't forget about his college accomplishments though, because remember: Duncan came out of Wake Forest after four years despite people like Jerry West who said he could have been the number one overall pick had he left after his sophomore year.
Duncan's accolades form his collegiate years:
Here's where Duncan ranks all-time on some of the major statistical categories across his NBA career:
Such is the case with Tim Duncan, whose success and greatness transcends a box score. You can't judge Tim Duncan with numbers alone. The fact of the matter is, that if you ran a team and if you could pick from any NBA player that ever played the game, and your goal is to win, you would pick Tim Duncan.
Offensively, Duncan was dominant for his first ten years in the NBA. From '98 to '08, he averaged 21.6/11.8/3.1 while playing on one of the slowest teams in the league. In that span, the Spurs never ranked in the top half of the league for PACE. Adjusting his stats for PACE and looking at his stats per 100 possessions (31.2/17.1/4.5 with 3.5 BLK at 50.8 FG%), you're looking at a big man who was every bit as productive as any other offensive player in the league at the time.
You already know about his skillset. He was, after all, The Big Fundamental. He could pass out of double teams, face up and break down the defense with surprising agility, consistently knock down shots from the elbows, and torch any big man in the league with his array of moves in the post and suddenly imposing physicality. He could masterfully run a PnR with any guard with working limbs. And, of course, he had his signature bank shot, one of the most consistent and reliable shots of all time along with Kareem's Sky Hook and Dirk's fadeaway. Those skills never deteriorated throughout his career, except perhaps his last year.
This is where I want to attack the 2nd idea that his second act was unexceptional. His scoring numbers dipped in last 8 years, where he never averaged over 20 PPG. But, as the Spurs offense became more collaborative and free-flowing, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili shouldered more of that scoring burden as Duncan aged. Duncan's shot attempts fell, though he remained efficient. His skills hadn't waned; the Spurs just didn't need him to score 28 points every night. He retained his role as alpha dog during this stretch and contributed in other facets of the game. He could pick his spots, put his teammates in position to succeed, and save himself undue punishment and wear until is was needed. That's why in 2013, at the age of 36, he became the oldest player ever named to First Team All-NBA.
Duncan was never a prolific scorer, even in his prime. His game was never predicated on gawdy point totals like Malone or Dirk. With a different offense, he took fewer shots, and with fewer shots, he scored fewer points. In his last eight years, he remained a tremendous rebounder, was the go-to guy in crunch time, and the best defender, maybe ever. And this is what hurt his stats: the lack of flashy numbers for defense outside of blocks and steals. It's so hard to measure how much a drive was cut off because of his presence or a shot that was altered because of his contention. There are some metrics that attempt to measure this, like DRTG, Defensive Win Shares, and Defensive +/- , and while it is an inexact science, these measures do a fairly good job at assessing a player's impact on defense. Duncan's ranking in those metrics is unmatched:
FiveThirtyEight published this article in 2016, where analyst Neil Paine calculated career WAR values that took into consideration defense and offense, and Tim Duncan led the WAR rankings, by a mile:
Enough with the numbers. I want to talk about Duncan when it mattered the most: the playoffs. You can look at any numbers, read any article, or talk to any fan who paid attention to the game at the time, and you'll come to the same conclusion: Tim Duncan was a killer in the playoffs. All of his most memorable performances came in the postseason, and more often than not, came in crucial games when his team needed him most. From his near quadruple double in 2003 to close out the Nets and earn his 2nd championship to his 25 point first half against the Heat in Game 6 of the 2013 Finals ten years later, there was never a moment too big for Duncan. Here are his playoff numbers, significantly higher in almost every category than he his in the regular season:
In the mid-to-late 2000s, Duncan's Spurs remained a fixture in the playoffs against competition like Dirk's Mavs, Nash's Suns, and Kobe's Lakers. He repaid them with two more titles in '05 and '07. He also gave us one of the clutch shots of his career in Game 1 against the Suns in 2008 with this 3 point game-tying three pointer in OT.
Like I said earlier, in Game 6 of the 2013 Finals, at age 36, playing against Wade, Bosh, and apex LeBron on the road, Duncan put up 25 points in the first half. It would have gone down as an all-time series clinching performance had it not been for Ray Allen's iconic game-tying 3-pointer. Looking for revenge in the 2014 Finals, Duncan set the tone in Game 1 with the classic 21/10 game, while shooting 9/10 from the field. As his final playoff hurrah in 2015, trying to defend the title at the ripe age of 38 in Game 7 of a first round series against the Clippers, Duncan reached all the way back and put up 27/11, sinking crucial free throws to tie it, before Chris Paul hit a clutch, game-winning shot near the buzzer.
The same Tim Duncan giving the business to a 22-year-old Kevin Garnett, was the same Tim Duncan taking a 26-year-old DeAndre Jordan to school. Duncan was ready to win championships from the day he entered the league to the day he left. And I think that is why his peak is used against him as an argument for GOAT status. The fact that his championship window lasted his entire 19-year NBA career and that his teams were always somewhere between 50 and 60 wins meant that it's hard for any one of his seasons to stand out from the rest. And for some unfathomable reason, being consistently great is less of an accomplishment than being great for short stints.
Like I said, his 2003 season was his best, after leading his team to 60 wins and his 2nd consecutive MVP, Duncan eviscerated everything in his path as he tore through the playoffs. He upended the Suns, ended the Lakers 3-year reign as champions, and outdueled Dirk before absolutely torching the Nets in the finals. By the time he was holding the trophy, it was clear beyond a shadow of a doubt that Duncan was the league's best, most complete player.
Now, I'd be lying if I said that Duncan's peak was higher than Shaq's. But I also wouldn't feel comfortable saying that the difference between the two is great enough for me to lose sleep over. To me, the truth is that Shaq was so much more of a spectacle. To watch peak Shaq was an experience unlike anything else. To see someone of his size and stature move so powerfully and fluidly is still something of a miracle. To see Duncan at the peak of his powers was a lot like seeing him seven or eight years later. He was just a little faster, a bit stronger, and a touch quicker in his prime. But do aesthetics denote superiority? I'd say, no. And though Shaq in his prime was certainly a more dominant offensive player, there was never a time where he could match Duncan's abilities as a defender, leader, or teammate. The two are the antithesis of each other. Shaq loves fame; Duncan loathes it. Shaq would sometimes show up to training camp out of shape, often battle with his co-stars and finished his career having played for six different teams. Duncan took great care of his body, cemented himself as the cornerstone of his franchise, and is one of the most celebrated teammates in NBA history. Shaq left a little on the table. You can never say the same thing about Duncan. Shaq cared a little too much about what everyone thought of him, while Duncan couldn't have cared less.
Let's tackle the third criticism: that he always had Pop. To me, Pop is the greatest coach of all time, but he would be the first one to tell you that he wouldn't be here without Tim Duncan.
For one, Duncan can play any style of basketball, in any era. You want to go slow school, old-pace, dump it off to the big man down low, let him bang and be solid on defense? Titles. Remove the hand-checking and illegal defenses, increase scoring and start moving toward the perimeter? Titles. The league goes small ball, the pace explodes and shooting and ball movement is more important than anything? The largest margin of victory in NBA finals history.
Secondly, he can play with any team. Honestly, has any superstar done more with less? Jordan had Pippen his entire run and Rodman for the last half. Bird had McHale and Parish. Wilt had West and Hal Grier. Russell had Cousy, Jones, and Havlicek. Magic had Kareem and vice-versa. Kobe had Shaq and vice-versa. And LeBron has had Wade, Kyrie, and AD. Duncan's best teammates? Old David Robinson, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili, who combined for 5 Third Team All NBA appearances and 4 Second Team appearances during their time with Duncan. Parker and Ginobili are long shots for the HOF, and even though Robinson's in the HOF, he wasn't playing at a HOF level alongside Duncan.
Third, and most importantly, Duncan forged the culture of the Spurs. Pop was essential in acquiring players and reinforcing the culture that Tim wanted, but Duncan was truly the most vital component. The NBA is a star-driven league and finding a great player who hasn't gotten a coach fired is like finding a good Star Wars movie: they're few and far between. Not only did Duncan not get Pop fired, he let Pop coach him harder than any superstar ever. If Tim had ever thought to himself, "you know what I don't feel like getting my chops roasted in front of the whole team today because I didn't box out well in practice" he could have gone right to RC Buford, and Pop would have been gone - end of story. But Tim understood what Pop was about, and trusted him enough to be mentored in an unprecedented way. He set the example for his teammates, that no one is immune to criticism and that it's expected of everyone to leave their egos at the door.
In 2017, the Spurs SB Nation blog, Pounding the Rock, spoke to Sam Walker, author of "The Captain Class," a book which examines winning culture in team sports, from field hockey to rugby. In an exchange, Walker said this:
"[T]he book's main conclusion is that the only one factor that must be present in order to maintain greatness over a long period of time is the presence of a particular kind of selfless, relentless, independent-minded, publicity-averse, emotionally composed captain with strong communication skills. And that's Tim Duncan. Duncan was a pure example of the species."
I love Pop, but I have to believe that Duncan was the catalyst that powered Pop to be what he is now. This isn't Belichick-Brady where you wonder who made who. Pop is the greatest coach of all time, because of Tim Duncan. If you want to take credit away from Duncan by saying he played for the best teams, you might be right, but only because he made them the best team. He gave up touches, let other guys hold the torch, put everyone around him in the best position to succeed, and he enjoyed it when they did.
When I said earlier that the thing that hurt Duncan's stats more than anything was a lack of defensive numbers, I lied. The thing that hurt Duncan's stats more than anything was the fact that he never gave a shit about stats or awards. Ever. He wanted his teams to succeed and he wanted to win. That's it. Just read about how his teammates talk about him:
"The best PF ever! Thanks for the memories old man. A great player and teammate."
- Lamarcus Aldridge
"Sometimes all you NEED to say is THANK YOU....To the BEST EXAMPLE of a Leader, Brother, Friend."
- Bruce Brown
"Even tho I knew it was coming, I'm still moved by the news. What a HUGE honor to have played with [Duncan] for 14 seasons!
- Manu Ginobili
I don't think there is a more beloved teammate than Tim Duncan. In the words of NBA commissioner Adam Silver, "...his understated selflessness made him the ultimate teammate." Duncan was always the big brother. Correcting his teammates when they made mistakes and throwing his arms around their shoulders when things didn't go their way. He led in the most effective way possible, not with tweeting, bombastic words, or showy halftime speeches, but by example.
Of all the end-of-career farewell wishes, the one from his former teammate, Brent "Bones" Barry stuck out to me the most. He quoted Mark Twain, saying "'To be good is noble, but to show others how to be good is nobler and no trouble'; for your brilliance TD, I am grateful. For your skills as a player I am in awe. And for your friendship I am honored."
Milwaukee Bucks coach and former Spurs Assistant, Mike Budenholzer said to ESPN's Kevin Arnovitz in 2016: "The magnitude of that, the number of people in this league who have enjoyed opportunity or found fortunate spots in the league, you can trace it back to this one guy -- to the way Timmy played ball and the way he conducted himself. The 'culture' is Timmy."
The NBA is a league of superstars and dynasties - from Russell to Jordan, from Wilt to LeBron. We'll remember its history through its champions, and in the history of North American sports, no team has been as good for as long as the Spurs. San Antonio's success is completely unprecedented in the world of basketball. Aside from his lockout shortened sophomore season, Duncan won 50 or more games and qualified for the playoffs in every season of his NBA career. He finished his career with a win percentage of 71%, the highest of anyone, in any sport, ever. The Spurs run of success started in 1997, the year they drafted Duncan. Since then, he was the cornerstone, the engine of the franchise that has perpetually defined what winning culture looks like - in and outside of basketball.
And so I say again, if you could pick any NBA player from any era of basketball and your goal was to win, you would pick Tim Duncan. His abilities as a basketball player are what made him a superstar. But his consistency, willingness to be coached, love and support of his teammates, and humility are the things that make him transcendent.
I'll let Pop have the last word. This is what he said to the press after Duncan announced his retirement:
"Everybody always talks about who they'd like to eat dinner with, if you had one night and you could go to dinner or lunch with someone. Some people say Mother Teresa, Jesus, the Dalai Lama...I could honestly tell you, my dinner would be with Timmy. He is the most real, consistent, true person I've ever met in my life."
submitted by Affectionate-Ad2081 to nba [link] [comments]
- The Second Act: If you're the kind of person who rates players through spreadsheets, his career in the 2010s is statistically underwhelming.
- The Peak: You might say that Duncan never had a real peak where he was the most dominant player in the league on a daily basis, like Shaq.
- Greg Popovich: Duncan has always had Pop, arguably the greatest coach of all time in his corner.
Duncan's notable accolades from his NBA career are as follows:
- 5 Championships
- 15 All-Defensive Teams (8x First Team, 7x Second Team)
- 15 All Star selections
- 2 Regular Season MVP's
- 3 Finals MVP's
Don't forget about his college accomplishments though, because remember: Duncan came out of Wake Forest after four years despite people like Jerry West who said he could have been the number one overall pick had he left after his sophomore year.
Duncan's accolades form his collegiate years:
- 3x NABC Defensive Player of the Year
- 2x ACC Player of the Year
- 2x consensus All-American
- 1997 Naismith Player of the Year
- Most rebounds in NCAA history.
Here's where Duncan ranks all-time on some of the major statistical categories across his NBA career:
- Points: 16th
- Rebounds: 6th
- Blocks: 5th
- Steals: 158th
- Assists: 100th
Such is the case with Tim Duncan, whose success and greatness transcends a box score. You can't judge Tim Duncan with numbers alone. The fact of the matter is, that if you ran a team and if you could pick from any NBA player that ever played the game, and your goal is to win, you would pick Tim Duncan.
Offensively, Duncan was dominant for his first ten years in the NBA. From '98 to '08, he averaged 21.6/11.8/3.1 while playing on one of the slowest teams in the league. In that span, the Spurs never ranked in the top half of the league for PACE. Adjusting his stats for PACE and looking at his stats per 100 possessions (31.2/17.1/4.5 with 3.5 BLK at 50.8 FG%), you're looking at a big man who was every bit as productive as any other offensive player in the league at the time.
You already know about his skillset. He was, after all, The Big Fundamental. He could pass out of double teams, face up and break down the defense with surprising agility, consistently knock down shots from the elbows, and torch any big man in the league with his array of moves in the post and suddenly imposing physicality. He could masterfully run a PnR with any guard with working limbs. And, of course, he had his signature bank shot, one of the most consistent and reliable shots of all time along with Kareem's Sky Hook and Dirk's fadeaway. Those skills never deteriorated throughout his career, except perhaps his last year.
This is where I want to attack the 2nd idea that his second act was unexceptional. His scoring numbers dipped in last 8 years, where he never averaged over 20 PPG. But, as the Spurs offense became more collaborative and free-flowing, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili shouldered more of that scoring burden as Duncan aged. Duncan's shot attempts fell, though he remained efficient. His skills hadn't waned; the Spurs just didn't need him to score 28 points every night. He retained his role as alpha dog during this stretch and contributed in other facets of the game. He could pick his spots, put his teammates in position to succeed, and save himself undue punishment and wear until is was needed. That's why in 2013, at the age of 36, he became the oldest player ever named to First Team All-NBA.
Duncan was never a prolific scorer, even in his prime. His game was never predicated on gawdy point totals like Malone or Dirk. With a different offense, he took fewer shots, and with fewer shots, he scored fewer points. In his last eight years, he remained a tremendous rebounder, was the go-to guy in crunch time, and the best defender, maybe ever. And this is what hurt his stats: the lack of flashy numbers for defense outside of blocks and steals. It's so hard to measure how much a drive was cut off because of his presence or a shot that was altered because of his contention. There are some metrics that attempt to measure this, like DRTG, Defensive Win Shares, and Defensive +/- , and while it is an inexact science, these measures do a fairly good job at assessing a player's impact on defense. Duncan's ranking in those metrics is unmatched:
- 95.6 DRT (3rd all time)
- 106.3 Defensive Win Shares (2nd all time)
- Defensive +/- (5th all time)
These metrics along with his All-Defensive selections serve as a testament to how Duncan thrived when the opponent had the ball. Legendary basketball writer, Jack McCalllum wrote this for SI in 2016 after Duncan retired:
FiveThirtyEight published this article in 2016, where analyst Neil Paine calculated career WAR values that took into consideration defense and offense, and Tim Duncan led the WAR rankings, by a mile:
- Tim Duncan: 109.2
- KG: 96.2
- Karl Malone: 95.4
- David Robinson: 89.3
- Hakeem: 85.9
- LeBron: 82.8
- Kareem: 78
- Larry Bird: 74.2
- Shaq: 73
- Pippen: 72.7
Enough with the numbers. I want to talk about Duncan when it mattered the most: the playoffs. You can look at any numbers, read any article, or talk to any fan who paid attention to the game at the time, and you'll come to the same conclusion: Tim Duncan was a killer in the playoffs. All of his most memorable performances came in the postseason, and more often than not, came in crucial games when his team needed him most. From his near quadruple double in 2003 to close out the Nets and earn his 2nd championship to his 25 point first half against the Heat in Game 6 of the 2013 Finals ten years later, there was never a moment too big for Duncan. Here are his playoff numbers, significantly higher in almost every category than he his in the regular season:
- Points: 6th
- Rebounds: 3rd
- Blocks: 1st
- Steals: 46th
- Assists: 33rd
In the mid-to-late 2000s, Duncan's Spurs remained a fixture in the playoffs against competition like Dirk's Mavs, Nash's Suns, and Kobe's Lakers. He repaid them with two more titles in '05 and '07. He also gave us one of the clutch shots of his career in Game 1 against the Suns in 2008 with this 3 point game-tying three pointer in OT.
Like I said earlier, in Game 6 of the 2013 Finals, at age 36, playing against Wade, Bosh, and apex LeBron on the road, Duncan put up 25 points in the first half. It would have gone down as an all-time series clinching performance had it not been for Ray Allen's iconic game-tying 3-pointer. Looking for revenge in the 2014 Finals, Duncan set the tone in Game 1 with the classic 21/10 game, while shooting 9/10 from the field. As his final playoff hurrah in 2015, trying to defend the title at the ripe age of 38 in Game 7 of a first round series against the Clippers, Duncan reached all the way back and put up 27/11, sinking crucial free throws to tie it, before Chris Paul hit a clutch, game-winning shot near the buzzer.
The same Tim Duncan giving the business to a 22-year-old Kevin Garnett, was the same Tim Duncan taking a 26-year-old DeAndre Jordan to school. Duncan was ready to win championships from the day he entered the league to the day he left. And I think that is why his peak is used against him as an argument for GOAT status. The fact that his championship window lasted his entire 19-year NBA career and that his teams were always somewhere between 50 and 60 wins meant that it's hard for any one of his seasons to stand out from the rest. And for some unfathomable reason, being consistently great is less of an accomplishment than being great for short stints.
Like I said, his 2003 season was his best, after leading his team to 60 wins and his 2nd consecutive MVP, Duncan eviscerated everything in his path as he tore through the playoffs. He upended the Suns, ended the Lakers 3-year reign as champions, and outdueled Dirk before absolutely torching the Nets in the finals. By the time he was holding the trophy, it was clear beyond a shadow of a doubt that Duncan was the league's best, most complete player.
Now, I'd be lying if I said that Duncan's peak was higher than Shaq's. But I also wouldn't feel comfortable saying that the difference between the two is great enough for me to lose sleep over. To me, the truth is that Shaq was so much more of a spectacle. To watch peak Shaq was an experience unlike anything else. To see someone of his size and stature move so powerfully and fluidly is still something of a miracle. To see Duncan at the peak of his powers was a lot like seeing him seven or eight years later. He was just a little faster, a bit stronger, and a touch quicker in his prime. But do aesthetics denote superiority? I'd say, no. And though Shaq in his prime was certainly a more dominant offensive player, there was never a time where he could match Duncan's abilities as a defender, leader, or teammate. The two are the antithesis of each other. Shaq loves fame; Duncan loathes it. Shaq would sometimes show up to training camp out of shape, often battle with his co-stars and finished his career having played for six different teams. Duncan took great care of his body, cemented himself as the cornerstone of his franchise, and is one of the most celebrated teammates in NBA history. Shaq left a little on the table. You can never say the same thing about Duncan. Shaq cared a little too much about what everyone thought of him, while Duncan couldn't have cared less.
Let's tackle the third criticism: that he always had Pop. To me, Pop is the greatest coach of all time, but he would be the first one to tell you that he wouldn't be here without Tim Duncan.
For one, Duncan can play any style of basketball, in any era. You want to go slow school, old-pace, dump it off to the big man down low, let him bang and be solid on defense? Titles. Remove the hand-checking and illegal defenses, increase scoring and start moving toward the perimeter? Titles. The league goes small ball, the pace explodes and shooting and ball movement is more important than anything? The largest margin of victory in NBA finals history.
Secondly, he can play with any team. Honestly, has any superstar done more with less? Jordan had Pippen his entire run and Rodman for the last half. Bird had McHale and Parish. Wilt had West and Hal Grier. Russell had Cousy, Jones, and Havlicek. Magic had Kareem and vice-versa. Kobe had Shaq and vice-versa. And LeBron has had Wade, Kyrie, and AD. Duncan's best teammates? Old David Robinson, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili, who combined for 5 Third Team All NBA appearances and 4 Second Team appearances during their time with Duncan. Parker and Ginobili are long shots for the HOF, and even though Robinson's in the HOF, he wasn't playing at a HOF level alongside Duncan.
Third, and most importantly, Duncan forged the culture of the Spurs. Pop was essential in acquiring players and reinforcing the culture that Tim wanted, but Duncan was truly the most vital component. The NBA is a star-driven league and finding a great player who hasn't gotten a coach fired is like finding a good Star Wars movie: they're few and far between. Not only did Duncan not get Pop fired, he let Pop coach him harder than any superstar ever. If Tim had ever thought to himself, "you know what I don't feel like getting my chops roasted in front of the whole team today because I didn't box out well in practice" he could have gone right to RC Buford, and Pop would have been gone - end of story. But Tim understood what Pop was about, and trusted him enough to be mentored in an unprecedented way. He set the example for his teammates, that no one is immune to criticism and that it's expected of everyone to leave their egos at the door.
In 2017, the Spurs SB Nation blog, Pounding the Rock, spoke to Sam Walker, author of "The Captain Class," a book which examines winning culture in team sports, from field hockey to rugby. In an exchange, Walker said this:
"[T]he book's main conclusion is that the only one factor that must be present in order to maintain greatness over a long period of time is the presence of a particular kind of selfless, relentless, independent-minded, publicity-averse, emotionally composed captain with strong communication skills. And that's Tim Duncan. Duncan was a pure example of the species."
I love Pop, but I have to believe that Duncan was the catalyst that powered Pop to be what he is now. This isn't Belichick-Brady where you wonder who made who. Pop is the greatest coach of all time, because of Tim Duncan. If you want to take credit away from Duncan by saying he played for the best teams, you might be right, but only because he made them the best team. He gave up touches, let other guys hold the torch, put everyone around him in the best position to succeed, and he enjoyed it when they did.
When I said earlier that the thing that hurt Duncan's stats more than anything was a lack of defensive numbers, I lied. The thing that hurt Duncan's stats more than anything was the fact that he never gave a shit about stats or awards. Ever. He wanted his teams to succeed and he wanted to win. That's it. Just read about how his teammates talk about him:
"The best PF ever! Thanks for the memories old man. A great player and teammate."
- Lamarcus Aldridge
"Sometimes all you NEED to say is THANK YOU....To the BEST EXAMPLE of a Leader, Brother, Friend."
- Bruce Brown
"Even tho I knew it was coming, I'm still moved by the news. What a HUGE honor to have played with [Duncan] for 14 seasons!
- Manu Ginobili
I don't think there is a more beloved teammate than Tim Duncan. In the words of NBA commissioner Adam Silver, "...his understated selflessness made him the ultimate teammate." Duncan was always the big brother. Correcting his teammates when they made mistakes and throwing his arms around their shoulders when things didn't go their way. He led in the most effective way possible, not with tweeting, bombastic words, or showy halftime speeches, but by example.
Of all the end-of-career farewell wishes, the one from his former teammate, Brent "Bones" Barry stuck out to me the most. He quoted Mark Twain, saying "'To be good is noble, but to show others how to be good is nobler and no trouble'; for your brilliance TD, I am grateful. For your skills as a player I am in awe. And for your friendship I am honored."
Milwaukee Bucks coach and former Spurs Assistant, Mike Budenholzer said to ESPN's Kevin Arnovitz in 2016: "The magnitude of that, the number of people in this league who have enjoyed opportunity or found fortunate spots in the league, you can trace it back to this one guy -- to the way Timmy played ball and the way he conducted himself. The 'culture' is Timmy."
The NBA is a league of superstars and dynasties - from Russell to Jordan, from Wilt to LeBron. We'll remember its history through its champions, and in the history of North American sports, no team has been as good for as long as the Spurs. San Antonio's success is completely unprecedented in the world of basketball. Aside from his lockout shortened sophomore season, Duncan won 50 or more games and qualified for the playoffs in every season of his NBA career. He finished his career with a win percentage of 71%, the highest of anyone, in any sport, ever. The Spurs run of success started in 1997, the year they drafted Duncan. Since then, he was the cornerstone, the engine of the franchise that has perpetually defined what winning culture looks like - in and outside of basketball.
And so I say again, if you could pick any NBA player from any era of basketball and your goal was to win, you would pick Tim Duncan. His abilities as a basketball player are what made him a superstar. But his consistency, willingness to be coached, love and support of his teammates, and humility are the things that make him transcendent.
I'll let Pop have the last word. This is what he said to the press after Duncan announced his retirement:
"Everybody always talks about who they'd like to eat dinner with, if you had one night and you could go to dinner or lunch with someone. Some people say Mother Teresa, Jesus, the Dalai Lama...I could honestly tell you, my dinner would be with Timmy. He is the most real, consistent, true person I've ever met in my life."
2023.06.08 23:21 Saint_Lucif3r I don't know what to do once again
I found all this gear last night and it was everything I've been needing to fully outfit my travel gear. I cleaned up camp tonight because I was on park grounds. The only place I feel safe to sleep is in the woods but in Flagstaff their aren't many places to go near the city. Everything is designated trails for hiking and biking. I can't sleep in town because demons come out at night. I'm hanging out at the library until I figure out my life. I'm not a college student and I don't have a job so most of my time is spent in idle boredom. Mentally I'm kinda lost but I have all the supplies I need to survive. I spend most of my days panhandling but never get much. I wish I had a place to call my home but I don't have family anymore. So I'm just out here all alone traveling. I could start selling Paracord bracelets to tourist. I wish I was rich and had a van to travel in.
submitted by Saint_Lucif3r to homeless [link] [comments]
2023.06.08 23:09 Naurgul EU ministers seal 'historic' deal to share responsibility for looking after migrants and refugees
 | Deal comes after years of stalemate and ahead of 2024 vote • Critics warn about overcrowded camps on EU edges • Italian, Dutch premiers, EU executive plan Tunisia trip submitted by Naurgul to europes [link] [comments] 12 hours of negotiations got Italy and Greece to sign up to a deal that has eluded the bloc for nearly a decade. Under the deal that eventually came together and is to be finalised ahead of a 2024 EU election, each country would be responsible for a set number of people, but would not necessarily have to take them in. Countries unwilling to receive irregular migrants and refugees arriving ad hoc to the EU would be able to help their hosting peers through cash - around 20,000 euros per person - equipment or personnel. The agreement would introduce a new expedited border procedure for those deemed unlikely to win asylum to prevent them from lingering inside the bloc for years. |
2023.06.08 23:06 marchonharrisburg disrupt the corrupt remaining tour dates !
 | submitted by marchonharrisburg to EndPACorruption [link] [comments] |
2023.06.08 23:01 Top-Difficulty-2811 Do you flash other drivers to warn them of an upcoming speed camera?
There are a couple of places near me where mobile police camera vans and neighbourhood speed watch teams tend to camp out to try to spot speeders in 30 limit zones surrounded by countryside/60mph areas. When I get near these places I often have people flash their lights at me, presumably to warn me to reduce my speed. I am normally quite careful not to speed, especially in 30 zones.
Is it better to flash people to warn them, or to let them face the consequences if they get caught speeding? What's the etiquette here, if any?
submitted by Top-Difficulty-2811 to drivingUK [link] [comments]
Is it better to flash people to warn them, or to let them face the consequences if they get caught speeding? What's the etiquette here, if any?
2023.06.08 22:35 10after10 [WTS] Custom Gavko Nurse, Microtech Ultratech, Microtech SOCOM Elite
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Timestamp
1. Gavko Nurse
Photos (Please click and expand each photo to see condition of knife.)
Circa 2021, fully custom Gavko Nurse in flawless, indistinguishable from new condition. Blade steel is unmarked, but made of AEB-L. In fact the entire knife is sterile except for the Gavko logo on pocket clip. Blade is perfectly centered. Zero blade play in any direction. No lock stick. No nicks, chips or rolls on perfect original edge. Bead blasted Ti scales are absolutely perfect. No imperfections at all. Speed holes on show scale to make knife just a little bit lighter. Milled pocket clip has very elegant shape that starts narrower at the screws and widens towards the end. It's also in perfect condition. Here's a detail that you will not typically find on production knives, every screw on the knife has the exact same blasted finish as the rest of the handles giving it a very monochromatic aesthetic. And while I'm pointing out hand made custom details, I want to also be sure to point out that the spine of the blade and the every edge of the frame has the Gavko signature "file work", not exactly sure what to call it. Action is nice and smooth as you would expect from a Gavko custom. Smooth to Spydie flick open or slow roll using the large elongated opening. Smooth to close as well. Not drop shut but not Chris Reeve hydraulic either. Somewhere in between. Comes with original Gavko "Otterbox" case. No COA as it did not come with one new. I don't believe Mike Gavko does COA's. DM for more pics.
$650 (If price is not crossed out, it's available. No trades, sorry.)
PROMPT PAYMENT please after claiming a knife/item, otherwise please do NOT claim.
2. Microtech Ultratech, 123-1 T
Photos (Please click and expand each photo to see condition of knife.)
Manufactured 9/2022. Microtech Ultratech Tactical Standard with black M390 tanto blade, blacked out hardware and blacked out "attitude adjuster" (aka glass breaker). Unlike just about every other MT, I actually found this exact configuration for sale at several authorized dealers for $325 + tax/shipping. Near mint overall condition. Blade is like new. No nicks, chips or rolls on on unsharpened original MT factory edge. Black aluminum handles are nearly indistinguishable from new. There are a couple snail trails on the white talon logo which is just about impossible to avoid. Pocket clip is missing one spot of black finish on the "lip". Again, just about unavoidable as it's a high point. The "wear" on this knife is consistent with carrying it a handful of times. All proprietary screws are like new, never touched by a tool after leaving MT. Great action. Blade fires out smooth, fast and HARD. Nice and easy to retract. Comes with original MT box, pamphlets and baggie. Save $80+ over buying a new knife. It's like a new car, let someone else take the hit on depreciation after taking it out for a week. ;) Please excuse some of the dust specks on a couple of the close up pics. It's next to impossible to avoid for black knives.
$245 SOLD
3. Microtech SOCOM Elite Auto
Photos (Please click and expand each photo to see condition of knife.)
Always sold out and never in stock. Manufactured 9/2018. Has been used, carried and sharpened. Honest working knife that has never abused. Satin finish M390 tanto blade is perfectly dead centered. Extremely sharp. Sharper than original factory edge. No nicks, chips or rolls on edge. Blade has some scratches on either side. Nothing that significant and certainly nothing that affects functionality. Aluminum handles show some wear, the most most significant being being a couple of dings on the forward edge near the firing button. Other than that, everything else is very minor. Pocket clip has some scratches, again nothing major or "really ugly". SUPERIOR ACTION. Blade deploys smooth, hard and fast. Comes as knife only. No box/papers.
$285 (If price is not crossed out, it's available. No trades, sorry.)
PROMPT PAYMENT PLEASE after claiming a knife/item, otherwise please do NOT claim.
submitted by 10after10 to Knife_Swap [link] [comments]
>>> IMPORTANT <<<
- Please ask ALL questions before committing to buy.
- Item will be sold to first person to Yolo/claim UNCONDITIONALLY by comment, chat or PM.
- If your name is not on payment account or you want me to ship to address different than on payment account, please CONTACT ME FIRST.
- International Buyers are Welcome, please ask about Terms & Conditions.
- ZELLE PREFERRED. PayPal Friends and Family as LAST OPTION.
- I'll ship the next business day after receipt of payment. In the unlikely event that it doesn't, I'll notify you ASAP.
Timestamp
1. Gavko Nurse
Photos (Please click and expand each photo to see condition of knife.)
Circa 2021, fully custom Gavko Nurse in flawless, indistinguishable from new condition. Blade steel is unmarked, but made of AEB-L. In fact the entire knife is sterile except for the Gavko logo on pocket clip. Blade is perfectly centered. Zero blade play in any direction. No lock stick. No nicks, chips or rolls on perfect original edge. Bead blasted Ti scales are absolutely perfect. No imperfections at all. Speed holes on show scale to make knife just a little bit lighter. Milled pocket clip has very elegant shape that starts narrower at the screws and widens towards the end. It's also in perfect condition. Here's a detail that you will not typically find on production knives, every screw on the knife has the exact same blasted finish as the rest of the handles giving it a very monochromatic aesthetic. And while I'm pointing out hand made custom details, I want to also be sure to point out that the spine of the blade and the every edge of the frame has the Gavko signature "file work", not exactly sure what to call it. Action is nice and smooth as you would expect from a Gavko custom. Smooth to Spydie flick open or slow roll using the large elongated opening. Smooth to close as well. Not drop shut but not Chris Reeve hydraulic either. Somewhere in between. Comes with original Gavko "Otterbox" case. No COA as it did not come with one new. I don't believe Mike Gavko does COA's. DM for more pics.
- Overall Length: 6.75"
- Blade Length: 2.8"
- Weight: 3.7 oz
$650 (If price is not crossed out, it's available. No trades, sorry.)
PROMPT PAYMENT please after claiming a knife/item, otherwise please do NOT claim.
2. Microtech Ultratech, 123-1 T
Photos (Please click and expand each photo to see condition of knife.)
Manufactured 9/2022. Microtech Ultratech Tactical Standard with black M390 tanto blade, blacked out hardware and blacked out "attitude adjuster" (aka glass breaker). Unlike just about every other MT, I actually found this exact configuration for sale at several authorized dealers for $325 + tax/shipping. Near mint overall condition. Blade is like new. No nicks, chips or rolls on on unsharpened original MT factory edge. Black aluminum handles are nearly indistinguishable from new. There are a couple snail trails on the white talon logo which is just about impossible to avoid. Pocket clip is missing one spot of black finish on the "lip". Again, just about unavoidable as it's a high point. The "wear" on this knife is consistent with carrying it a handful of times. All proprietary screws are like new, never touched by a tool after leaving MT. Great action. Blade fires out smooth, fast and HARD. Nice and easy to retract. Comes with original MT box, pamphlets and baggie. Save $80+ over buying a new knife. It's like a new car, let someone else take the hit on depreciation after taking it out for a week. ;) Please excuse some of the dust specks on a couple of the close up pics. It's next to impossible to avoid for black knives.
- Overall Length: 8.5"
- Blade Length: 3.4"
- Weight: 3.6 oz
3. Microtech SOCOM Elite Auto
Photos (Please click and expand each photo to see condition of knife.)
Always sold out and never in stock. Manufactured 9/2018. Has been used, carried and sharpened. Honest working knife that has never abused. Satin finish M390 tanto blade is perfectly dead centered. Extremely sharp. Sharper than original factory edge. No nicks, chips or rolls on edge. Blade has some scratches on either side. Nothing that significant and certainly nothing that affects functionality. Aluminum handles show some wear, the most most significant being being a couple of dings on the forward edge near the firing button. Other than that, everything else is very minor. Pocket clip has some scratches, again nothing major or "really ugly". SUPERIOR ACTION. Blade deploys smooth, hard and fast. Comes as knife only. No box/papers.
- Overall Length: 9"
- Blade Length: 4"
- Weight: 4.6 oz
$285 (If price is not crossed out, it's available. No trades, sorry.)
PROMPT PAYMENT PLEASE after claiming a knife/item, otherwise please do NOT claim.
2023.06.08 22:30 ItsZack7391 Ａｍｅｎ ｂｒｅａｋｎｉｇｈｔ ポひゕ
finally thx for help u/kouzerumatsu to make PCM so how it work? first u need audacity and put any sound your favorite, second tools >> sample data export then select measurement scale dB to linear and then apply, note that i use python code converted sample data export to bytebeat was created him too
there is link A HUGE CODE: Bytebeat Floatbeat which better? so bytebeat have noise background i select floatbeat is better
submitted by ItsZack7391 to bytebeat [link] [comments]
there is link A HUGE CODE: Bytebeat Floatbeat which better? so bytebeat have noise background i select floatbeat is better
2023.06.08 22:26 spinfordays [For Sale] Atheist, Black Pumas, Calling All Captains, Counting Crows, Muse, Our Lady Peace, Pink Floyd, Soundgarden, Big Country, Billy Idol, Boomtown Rats, Foreigner, Jethro Tull, Mick Jagger, Moody Blues, SRV, Tony Banks, and some Classical LPs: Bach, Beethoven, Haydn, Sibelius, Liszt and more!
Shipping should work out to around 6$ for most USA locations, flat rate to Canada (around 8$)
Condition is Record/ Jacket, EX=excellent (a touch under near mint, maybe a few light creases/hairlines, plays flawlessly) Happy to answer any inquiries or send pictures, just send me a message.
New & Sealed
Atheist – Unquestionable Presence (2019 France, Limited Edition /350 Red Transparent Vinyl, Season Of Mist SOM 278LP) Comes with regular outer sleeve with Hype Sticker, never played: 80$
Black Pumas – Black Pumas (2021 USA, Limited Edition Clear with Red Smoke) Sealed: 30$
Calling All Captains – Slowly Getting Better (2021, Limited Edition /400, Clea Green Translucent Split, New Damage Records NDRV075) Sealed: 25$
Counting Crows – Butter Miracle Suite One (2021, 12” EP, BMG 538670411) Sealed: 12$
Muse – Black Holes And Revelations (Europe Reissue, Warner Records 0825646350919) Sealed: 28$
Our Lady Peace – Happiness... Is Not A Fish That You Can Catch (2020 Limited Edition Smoke Vinyl, Columbia 88985445601) Sealed: 35$
Pink Floyd – Atom Heart Mother (2016 USA, 180g Remastered, Pink Floyd Records PFRLP5) Sealed: 30$
Soundgarden – Badmotorfinger (2016 USA, A&M Records B0025674-01) Sealed: 30$
Rock
10cc – Look Hear? (1980, Mercury SRM-1-3838) NM/EX: 6$
Balance – Balance (1981, Portrait FR 37357) VG+/VG+: 5$
Big Country – Steeltown (1984, Vertigo VOG 1 3343) EX/VG+: 5$
Billy Idol – Whiplash Smile (1986, Chrysalis CHX 41514) VG+/EX: 10$
The Boomtown Rats – In The Long Grass (1984, Vertigo VOG 1 3346) VG+/VG+: 7$
Brutal Knights – Living By Yourself (2008, 12” 45 RPM, Gatefold, Deranged Records DY115) NM/NM: 5$
Chris de Burgh – Spanish Train And Other Stories (1975, A&M SP-4568) VG/VG: 5$
Foreigner – Reaction To Action (1984, 12” Atlantic 78 68800) VG+/EX: 5$
Ian Anderson – Walk Into Light (1983, Chrysalis CHS 41443) VG+/G+: 5$
Jethro Tull – Living In The Past (1972, Harcover 2x LP, Chrysalis 2CH 1035) VG+/VG+: 10$
Kayak – Phantom Of The Night (1978, GRT 9098-7039) EX/VG+: 8$
Lighthouse – Thoughts Of Movin' On (1971, Gatefold, GRT 9230-1010) VG+/VG+: 5$
Mick Jagger – Primitive Cool (1987, Columbia OC 40919) NM/NM: 5$
The Moody Blues – Seventh Sojourn (Gatefold, Threshold THS 7) VG+/VG+: 5$
The Moody Blues – Long Distance Voyager (1981, Gatefold, Threshold TRL-1-2901) EX/EX: 5$
Network – Network (1977, Epic PE 34979) EX/VG: 5$
The Doobie Brothers – What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits (1974, Warner Bros. Records W 2750) VG/G+: 5$
Stevie Ray Vaughan And Double Trouble – Couldn't Stand The Weather (1984, Epic FE 39304) VG+/VG: 25$
Tony Banks – A Curious Feeling (1979, Polydor CA-1-2207) VG+/VG+: 8$
Trillion – Trillion (1978, Epic PE 35460) EX/VG : 5$
Classical (Take 35% off this list if you buy more than one)
Bach ; I Musici– Concert In A Minor / Concerto In D Minor / Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 (1963, Mono, Philips PHM 500-008) VG+/NM: 2$
Bach, Brahms. Sibelius – Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F / Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G / Hungarian Dances / Finlandia (Music Treasures Of The World MT 19) NM/Generic: 5$
Beethoven – From The Private Collection Of Don Gabor, The Musical Life Of Ludwig Van Beethoven (Remington Musirama RE-33-1361) VG+/VG: 5$
Beethoven, The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Vladimir Horowitz – Beethoven’s Greatest Hits Volume 1 (1971, RCA Red Seal LSC-5010) EX/EX: 4$
Beethoven - Wilhelm Kempff – Sonaten - Pathétique · Mondschein - Moonlight · Appassionata (Germany, Deutsche Grammophon 139 300) EX/EX: 5$
Christoph Eschenbach / Béla Bartók – Werke Von Béla Bartók (Germany import, Telefunken SMT 1265) VG+/VG+: 5$
Haydn, Max Goberman, Vienna State Opera Orchestra – The Symphonies Of Haydn Vol. 4: Symphony No. 9 In C, Symphony No. 10 In D, Symphony No. 11 In E-Flat (1967 USA, Odyssey 32-16-0081) VG+/VG+: 2$
Herbert von Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic – Rossini - Smetana - Ravel – Sibelius (1978, Deutsche Grammophon 2545 049) VG/G+: 8$
J. Sibelius - Eesti NSV Riiklik Sümfooniaorkester, Peeter Lilje – Symphony No. 1 (1987 USSR, Мелодия С10 24897 006) EX/G+: 15$
Jean-Christian Michel, Quatuor Avec Orgue – Requiem (France Issue, Riviera 521 029) EX/EX : 8$
Johann Strauss, Jr. - Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Øivin Fjeldstad – Waltzes (RCA Camden CAS 623) VG/VG+: 2$
Johann Strauss, Jr. - Ferenc Fricsay, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra – Emperor Waltz (Deutsche Grammophon Resonance 2535 134) VG+/VG+: 2$
Karajan – Karajan In Rehearsal = Karajan En Répétition (1968 German Issue, Deutsche Grammophon 643 201) EX/EX: 5$
Liszt, Jean Costa – Oeuvres Pour Orgue (France, Musidisc 30 RC 702) VG+/P : 20$
The Manhattan Pops Orchestra – The Pride & Passion – Italy (1965 USA, Time Records S/2185) VG+/VG+: 2$
Marilyn Horne, Henry Lewis – Arias From French Operas (1968, London Records Of Canada Ltd. OS 26064) VG+/VG+: 4$
Mussorgsky, Chicago Symphony – Pictures At An Exhibition = Bilder Einer Ausstellung (1981 German Issue, Deutsche Grammophon 2531 354) NM/VG+: 5$
Peter Frankl – Recital Schumann (1981 Reissue, Accord 30 RC 875) VG/VG: 2$
Ravel - Charles Dutoit / Orchestre Symphonique De Montréal – Bolero - La Valse - Rapsodie Espagnole - Alborada Del Gracioso (1982, London Records LDR 71059) NM/EX : 2$
The Red Army Ensemble, Colonel Boris Alexandrov – The Red Army Ensemble (Vox Productions STPL 515.070) VG+/VG+: 2$
Rimsky-Korsakov – Scheherazade (USA, Music Treasures Of The World MT 18) VG+/Generic: 2$
Tchaikovsky, Kenneth Alwyn, The London Symphony Orchestra – 1812 Overture · Capriccio Italien · Marche Slave (1959 UK for Sales in USA, London Records CS 6038) VG+/EX: 8$
Tchaikovsky, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Michael Gielen – 1812 Overture “Serenade for Strings” (1976 USA, Everest SDBR 3394) VG+/VG+: 8$
Tchaikovsky - D. Oistrakh, USSR State Symphony Orchestra, K. Kondrashin – Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In D Major, Op. 35 (USSR, Mono, Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga НД 03820(а)) VG+/Generic: 25$
Sir William Walton / Dame Edith Sitwell / Vera Zorina / Jacques Ibert / The Philadelphia Orchestra / Eugene Ormandy – Façade / Divertissement (1963, Columbia Masterworks ML 5849) NM/VG+: 4$
submitted by spinfordays to VinylCollectors [link] [comments]
Condition is Record/ Jacket, EX=excellent (a touch under near mint, maybe a few light creases/hairlines, plays flawlessly) Happy to answer any inquiries or send pictures, just send me a message.
New & Sealed
Atheist – Unquestionable Presence (2019 France, Limited Edition /350 Red Transparent Vinyl, Season Of Mist SOM 278LP) Comes with regular outer sleeve with Hype Sticker, never played: 80$
Black Pumas – Black Pumas (2021 USA, Limited Edition Clear with Red Smoke) Sealed: 30$
Calling All Captains – Slowly Getting Better (2021, Limited Edition /400, Clea Green Translucent Split, New Damage Records NDRV075) Sealed: 25$
Counting Crows – Butter Miracle Suite One (2021, 12” EP, BMG 538670411) Sealed: 12$
Muse – Black Holes And Revelations (Europe Reissue, Warner Records 0825646350919) Sealed: 28$
Our Lady Peace – Happiness... Is Not A Fish That You Can Catch (2020 Limited Edition Smoke Vinyl, Columbia 88985445601) Sealed: 35$
Pink Floyd – Atom Heart Mother (2016 USA, 180g Remastered, Pink Floyd Records PFRLP5) Sealed: 30$
Soundgarden – Badmotorfinger (2016 USA, A&M Records B0025674-01) Sealed: 30$
Rock
10cc – Look Hear? (1980, Mercury SRM-1-3838) NM/EX: 6$
Balance – Balance (1981, Portrait FR 37357) VG+/VG+: 5$
Big Country – Steeltown (1984, Vertigo VOG 1 3343) EX/VG+: 5$
Billy Idol – Whiplash Smile (1986, Chrysalis CHX 41514) VG+/EX: 10$
The Boomtown Rats – In The Long Grass (1984, Vertigo VOG 1 3346) VG+/VG+: 7$
Brutal Knights – Living By Yourself (2008, 12” 45 RPM, Gatefold, Deranged Records DY115) NM/NM: 5$
Chris de Burgh – Spanish Train And Other Stories (1975, A&M SP-4568) VG/VG: 5$
Foreigner – Reaction To Action (1984, 12” Atlantic 78 68800) VG+/EX: 5$
Ian Anderson – Walk Into Light (1983, Chrysalis CHS 41443) VG+/G+: 5$
Jethro Tull – Living In The Past (1972, Harcover 2x LP, Chrysalis 2CH 1035) VG+/VG+: 10$
Kayak – Phantom Of The Night (1978, GRT 9098-7039) EX/VG+: 8$
Lighthouse – Thoughts Of Movin' On (1971, Gatefold, GRT 9230-1010) VG+/VG+: 5$
Mick Jagger – Primitive Cool (1987, Columbia OC 40919) NM/NM: 5$
The Moody Blues – Seventh Sojourn (Gatefold, Threshold THS 7) VG+/VG+: 5$
The Moody Blues – Long Distance Voyager (1981, Gatefold, Threshold TRL-1-2901) EX/EX: 5$
Network – Network (1977, Epic PE 34979) EX/VG: 5$
The Doobie Brothers – What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits (1974, Warner Bros. Records W 2750) VG/G+: 5$
Stevie Ray Vaughan And Double Trouble – Couldn't Stand The Weather (1984, Epic FE 39304) VG+/VG: 25$
Tony Banks – A Curious Feeling (1979, Polydor CA-1-2207) VG+/VG+: 8$
Trillion – Trillion (1978, Epic PE 35460) EX/VG : 5$
Classical (Take 35% off this list if you buy more than one)
Bach ; I Musici– Concert In A Minor / Concerto In D Minor / Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 (1963, Mono, Philips PHM 500-008) VG+/NM: 2$
Bach, Brahms. Sibelius – Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F / Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G / Hungarian Dances / Finlandia (Music Treasures Of The World MT 19) NM/Generic: 5$
Beethoven – From The Private Collection Of Don Gabor, The Musical Life Of Ludwig Van Beethoven (Remington Musirama RE-33-1361) VG+/VG: 5$
Beethoven, The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Vladimir Horowitz – Beethoven’s Greatest Hits Volume 1 (1971, RCA Red Seal LSC-5010) EX/EX: 4$
Beethoven - Wilhelm Kempff – Sonaten - Pathétique · Mondschein - Moonlight · Appassionata (Germany, Deutsche Grammophon 139 300) EX/EX: 5$
Christoph Eschenbach / Béla Bartók – Werke Von Béla Bartók (Germany import, Telefunken SMT 1265) VG+/VG+: 5$
Haydn, Max Goberman, Vienna State Opera Orchestra – The Symphonies Of Haydn Vol. 4: Symphony No. 9 In C, Symphony No. 10 In D, Symphony No. 11 In E-Flat (1967 USA, Odyssey 32-16-0081) VG+/VG+: 2$
Herbert von Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic – Rossini - Smetana - Ravel – Sibelius (1978, Deutsche Grammophon 2545 049) VG/G+: 8$
J. Sibelius - Eesti NSV Riiklik Sümfooniaorkester, Peeter Lilje – Symphony No. 1 (1987 USSR, Мелодия С10 24897 006) EX/G+: 15$
Jean-Christian Michel, Quatuor Avec Orgue – Requiem (France Issue, Riviera 521 029) EX/EX : 8$
Johann Strauss, Jr. - Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Øivin Fjeldstad – Waltzes (RCA Camden CAS 623) VG/VG+: 2$
Johann Strauss, Jr. - Ferenc Fricsay, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra – Emperor Waltz (Deutsche Grammophon Resonance 2535 134) VG+/VG+: 2$
Karajan – Karajan In Rehearsal = Karajan En Répétition (1968 German Issue, Deutsche Grammophon 643 201) EX/EX: 5$
Liszt, Jean Costa – Oeuvres Pour Orgue (France, Musidisc 30 RC 702) VG+/P : 20$
The Manhattan Pops Orchestra – The Pride & Passion – Italy (1965 USA, Time Records S/2185) VG+/VG+: 2$
Marilyn Horne, Henry Lewis – Arias From French Operas (1968, London Records Of Canada Ltd. OS 26064) VG+/VG+: 4$
Mussorgsky, Chicago Symphony – Pictures At An Exhibition = Bilder Einer Ausstellung (1981 German Issue, Deutsche Grammophon 2531 354) NM/VG+: 5$
Peter Frankl – Recital Schumann (1981 Reissue, Accord 30 RC 875) VG/VG: 2$
Ravel - Charles Dutoit / Orchestre Symphonique De Montréal – Bolero - La Valse - Rapsodie Espagnole - Alborada Del Gracioso (1982, London Records LDR 71059) NM/EX : 2$
The Red Army Ensemble, Colonel Boris Alexandrov – The Red Army Ensemble (Vox Productions STPL 515.070) VG+/VG+: 2$
Rimsky-Korsakov – Scheherazade (USA, Music Treasures Of The World MT 18) VG+/Generic: 2$
Tchaikovsky, Kenneth Alwyn, The London Symphony Orchestra – 1812 Overture · Capriccio Italien · Marche Slave (1959 UK for Sales in USA, London Records CS 6038) VG+/EX: 8$
Tchaikovsky, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Michael Gielen – 1812 Overture “Serenade for Strings” (1976 USA, Everest SDBR 3394) VG+/VG+: 8$
Tchaikovsky - D. Oistrakh, USSR State Symphony Orchestra, K. Kondrashin – Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In D Major, Op. 35 (USSR, Mono, Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga НД 03820(а)) VG+/Generic: 25$
Sir William Walton / Dame Edith Sitwell / Vera Zorina / Jacques Ibert / The Philadelphia Orchestra / Eugene Ormandy – Façade / Divertissement (1963, Columbia Masterworks ML 5849) NM/VG+: 4$
2023.06.08 22:24 Qilincreations LEGIT QUESTION: trans people who reject the trans community but also seek out trans spaces?
In the past few months I've been seeing a lot of posts about hating being trans or being a part of the trans community or not wanting to be around other trans people in the dating scene. Either FtM not wanting to be around MtF or vice verse or not wanted to be around other FtM/MtF people (respectively). Whether this is from internalized transphobia or not I'm not sure and each case has been kind of different.
My question is why are they still seeking out trans spaces if they don't seem to really like other trans people? When I don't like a group of people I just stop being in their spaces. I've seen people say that they're dysphoria is triggered by other people talking about their transition but they're still in spaces where people are talking about their transition. This seems unhealthy to me and I would just personally stop being in that kind of environment to stop from causing myself distress.
Some of these posts or topics I've seen have almost been either rage baiting or borderline rightwing dog whistling. Is this just how people are externalizing their dysphoria? I admit I live in a very liberal area so I'm not exposed to a lot of the anti-trans propaganda that goes on around the rest of the country so I don't internalize that kind of messaging nearly as much.
Has anyone else noticed this? What's your experience with rejection within the trans community?
submitted by Qilincreations to ftm [link] [comments]
My question is why are they still seeking out trans spaces if they don't seem to really like other trans people? When I don't like a group of people I just stop being in their spaces. I've seen people say that they're dysphoria is triggered by other people talking about their transition but they're still in spaces where people are talking about their transition. This seems unhealthy to me and I would just personally stop being in that kind of environment to stop from causing myself distress.
Some of these posts or topics I've seen have almost been either rage baiting or borderline rightwing dog whistling. Is this just how people are externalizing their dysphoria? I admit I live in a very liberal area so I'm not exposed to a lot of the anti-trans propaganda that goes on around the rest of the country so I don't internalize that kind of messaging nearly as much.
Has anyone else noticed this? What's your experience with rejection within the trans community?
2023.06.08 22:24 Pyroski deedw
The War Of 1839, Part II
The War Of 1839, Part III
The War of 1839: The Downing Street Conference
The War of 1839, Part IV
The War of 1839, Part V
Liberation of Vermont
Following the armistice, Richard Downes Jackson dedicated his time to planning and coordinating with General William Rowan for the deployment of British-Canadian troops along the Vermont-Canadian border. When the armistice officially concluded on April 25, 1843, Rowan led his forces into Newport, a city that had been among the last to be captured during John Wool's invasion of Vermont. Over a span of two days, the British forces successfully seized control of the city, compelling the American troops to retreat.
Despite Sylvester Churchill, the commanding general of the New England army, being aware of the British allies' plans, the swift defeat of the U.S. forces caught Churchill by surprise. He had expected stronger resistance in their attempt to liberate Vermont. The occupation of Vermont by the U.S. had persisted for almost a year, and both newspapers and officials criticized Churchill and Webster for their limited achievements in freeing the state. However, their efforts were hindered by the sedition acts, which silenced the criticism. This situation compelled Webster to reassess his tactics.
During the Battle of Boston, with crucial support from the British, Webster, somewhat under the influence, instructed Churchill to adopt a more offensive strategy. This involved utilizing the majority of the Yankee forces to liberate the coasts, challenging Winfield Scott's "Anaconda Plan" blockade, which had contributed to the Panic of 1843. Webster aimed to free up the coasts in order to bring an end to the War of 1839 conflict and alleviate some of the recession's effects. Furthermore, Webster ordered Churchill to carry out a smaller-scale offensive in Vermont, prompted by the widespread news of the British victory in Newport.
Churchill assigned Major General Allen Hitchcock the responsibility of liberating his home state of Vermont due to the general's persistence. Accompanied by 6,000 men, Hitchcock embarked on a journey across New Hampshire, into Canada, and finally into Vermont.
On May 2nd, 1843, General Rowan and Hitchcock led a march towards St. Albans, following a route along the Lake Champlain region from Canada. St. Albans, which had served as the last stronghold of the Vermont militia, succumbed to the American forces in July 1842. The initial battle of St. Albans lasted three days, during which the U.S. troops gradually gained ground, conquering fortifications and capturing the entire city. Faced with a hopeless situation, General Churchill eventually surrendered. In the subsequent treaty, the United States assumed control of strategic cities while permitting the residents to resume their normal lives.
In the second battle, a situation reminiscent of the first battle unfolded, but with reversed sides. The combined British and Yankee forces aimed to breach the defenses established around the settlement in response to intelligence regarding troops stationed at the Vermont-Canadian border in the forthcoming liberation of Newport. Equipped with superior weaponry supplied by the British Empire and boasting a larger army, the allied forces managed to breach the defenses within a few hours and swiftly capture the settlement.
In May 1843, the U.S. successfully captured Burlington, disrupting the supply and manufacturing capabilities of their own troops due to the repurposed factories in the area. As the allied forces liberated neighboring areas and towns, their attention shifted to St. Johnsbury, a settlement in Vermont. By March 1842, the U.S. army had already conquered all remaining towns and settlements in Northern and Central Vermont, culminating in the one-sided Battle of St. Johnsbury, which marked the defeat of one of the final strongholds.
However, nearly a year later, the neighboring regions surrounding St. Johnsbury were liberated from American control. Recognizing the strategic importance of St. Johnsbury as a transportation route across Vermont and its role in supplying troops within the occupied state, Churchill ordered troops to launch an invasion of St. Johnsbury. The town's industry had been supporting the American troops with necessary supplies, further strengthening their hold.
The objective of Churchill's invasion was to regain control of St. Johnsbury and cut off the American forces' access to crucial transportation routes and supplies. By capturing the town, Churchill aimed to weaken the American hold on Vermont and disrupt their supply capabilities.
On May 28, 1843, Rowan and Hitchcock initiated a frontal assault on St. Johnsbury, employing a direct and head-on approach to besiege the city. The battle unfolded throughout the morning and into the evening, characterized by intense street-to-street combat between the opposing armies. As the allied forces gradually gained the upper hand and pushed the American troops deeper into the southern part of the city, the latter eventually chose to retreat. Seizing the opportunity, the British and Yankee forces swiftly occupied the vacated positions, solidifying their control over St. Johnsbury.
With the objective of depriving Montpelier of American aid, the next target in their campaign was Middlebury. Positioned strategically to the left of Montpelier, Middlebury was connected to the Otter Creek and Lake Champlain, which played a vital role in transportation for Americans in the region. Hitchook anticipated that by cutting off the Americans from important settlements along the Lake Champlain riverway, he and the British forces could have an easier time in kicking out the American presence in that area of water.
On June 5, 1843, after weeks of meticulous preparation and consolidating their presence in Vermont, the allied forces initiated a fierce assault on Middlebury. The battle for Middlebury was marked by intense fighting and strategic maneuvers. The allied forces, comprising British troops and their local allies, were determined to seize control of the town and cut off American supply lines in the region.
The engagement raged on for two days, with both sides displaying great valor and tenacity. The allied forces utilized their superior numbers and expert knowledge of the terrain to their advantage, launching coordinated attacks on American positions. Meanwhile, the American forces, although outnumbered, displayed remarkable resilience and fought fiercely to defend their strategic stronghold.
After intense and prolonged fighting, the allied forces emerged victorious on June 7, 1843, recapturing Middlebury from the U.S. forces. The combined efforts of the British troops and their local allies enabled them to seize control of the town and achieve their objective of severing the American supply lines. This victory dealt a significant blow to the American presence in the region and further weakened their position in the ongoing conflict. The recapture of Middlebury bolstered the allied forces' morale and served as a turning point in their campaign against the American presence in Vermont
Battle of Lake Champlain
Meanwhile, with the liberation of the coastal areas by the allied British and Yankee forces, including the capture of every major city along the Lake Champlain coast, Richard Downes Jackson, on June 12 issued orders for British ships to navigate south from the Richelieu River in an attempt to reclaim control of the body of water that had previously been under complete U.S. control. In the initial confrontation, the British took the initiative and opened fire on the American ships patrolling the region. Amid the ensuing chaos, the British ships, though smaller in size due to the necessity of navigating through the narrow river, used their larger numbers to swiftly capitalize on the confusion and gain a stronger position.
However, in a swift response to the British advancement, Isaac Mayo, the highest-ranking naval officer at Lake Champlain, issued orders for his men to prepare for combat, sparking a fierce battle characterized by relentless exchanges of heavy gunfire between British and American ships. The intensity of the engagement persisted throughout the day, with the American forces showing determination to hold their ground and not surrender any part of the lake. Despite their resolute stance, the arrival of additional British ships and the mounting toll of the back-and-forth cannon fire eventually led American ships to retreat southward.
British ships pursued the retreating Americans, as a full-scale battle erupted at Lake Champlain, however, despite the smaller ships, the British ships would come victorious as American ships were forced to retreat into Lake George, and instead of following through with a second perusal, the British instead decided to a dominating presence in the region, by having ships blockade America's entrance, as well as sending ships to patrol the lake.
The Battle of Lake Champlain was a fierce engagement, with both British and American ships locked in a desperate struggle amidst the tumultuous waters. The reverberating booms of cannons and the crackling gunfire echoed across the expansive lake, creating an atmosphere of chaos and danger. Despite the American ships' larger size, their maneuverability paled in comparison to the nimble British vessels. The British sailors deftly utilized their smaller ships to their advantage, darting in and out of the American formations with remarkable precision and skill.
As the battle raged on, the British gradually gained the upper hand. Their coordinated attacks and deadly accurate cannon fire began to take a toll on the American fleet. The American sailors, valiantly fighting to maintain their positions, found themselves overwhelmed by the relentless onslaught. Faced with the daunting reality of defeat, the American ships were compelled to retreat hastily, their hopes of victory fading.
Seizing the opportunity to solidify their triumph, the British ships pursued the retreating Americans. Instead of engaging in a second direct confrontation, the British commanders made a calculated decision. They recognized the strategic significance of establishing a dominant presence in the region. Swiftly altering their course, the British ships strategically positioned themselves to block the entrance to Lake Champlain, effectively cutting off the Americans from easy access to the lake's vast expanse.
In addition to the blockade, the British dispatched other vessels to patrol the waters of Lake Champlain. This comprehensive approach ensured their control over the lake, further limiting American movements and impeding any potential counteroffensive.
Liberation of Vermont (Continuation)
Major General Winfield Scott of the U.S. Army received reports about the substantial progress made by opposing forces in their bid to liberate Vermont. Having previously reduced the American presence in Vermont during the buildup to the Battle of Boston, Scott took decisive action. In response to the U.S. losses in the state and the conclusion of the Battle of Boston, he organized the transportation of troops into Vermont. During mid-June, Scott oversaw the strategic deployment of these troops to the regions bordering the recently liberated areas.
On June 19, Brigadier General Joseph Lane led an assault on St. Johnsbury with the objective of recapturing it. Over the course of a two-day battle, both British and American forces engaged in intense combat. Despite a determined effort, Lane's forces faced heavy artillery fire while attempting to enter the city. Unfortunately, for the U.S., the allied forces successfully defended against the assault, ultimately forcing Lane's troops to retreat.
Several days of preparation culminated in a coordinated attack on Montpelier by the Allied forces on June 23, 1843. Troops from St. Johnsbury, led by Hitchcock, joined British forces under Rowan in a two-pronged invasion, approaching Montpelier from different directions. The conflict commenced with a morning assault, initiated by the British troops who fired artillery at the fortifications surrounding the camp. American troops within the camp swiftly retaliated with gunfire. Yankee troops followed suit, and the battle raged on throughout the evening and into the next day.
Amidst intense combat, the allied forces eventually breached the defenses, successfully entering Montpelier. U.S. troops attempted to regroup and impede their progress. However, fierce hand-to-hand combat ensued in the streets, ultimately resulting in the advance of the British and Yankee forces. On June 26, the American troops ultimately surrendered, bringing an end to the battle.
The Battle of Rutland marked a significant turning point, representing the final major victory for the allied forces. On July 1st, they strategically deployed troops and artillery, utilizing the road network to swiftly approach the surrounding areas. Employing a barrage of artillery fire, the allies swiftly breached the city's defenses, initiating intense confrontations with the U.S. forces. Throughout the day, defensive tactics were employed by the U.S. troops in a valiant effort to repel the invaders. The resulting combat escalated into a fierce and prolonged hand-to-hand struggle that persisted until evening. Realizing the increasingly unfavorable circumstances, U.S. forces eventually made the decision to retreat from Rutland, acknowledging the impracticality of further resistance.
submitted by Pyroski to u/Pyroski [link] [comments]
The War Of 1839, Part III
The War of 1839: The Downing Street Conference
The War of 1839, Part IV
The War of 1839, Part V
Liberation of Vermont
Following the armistice, Richard Downes Jackson dedicated his time to planning and coordinating with General William Rowan for the deployment of British-Canadian troops along the Vermont-Canadian border. When the armistice officially concluded on April 25, 1843, Rowan led his forces into Newport, a city that had been among the last to be captured during John Wool's invasion of Vermont. Over a span of two days, the British forces successfully seized control of the city, compelling the American troops to retreat.
Despite Sylvester Churchill, the commanding general of the New England army, being aware of the British allies' plans, the swift defeat of the U.S. forces caught Churchill by surprise. He had expected stronger resistance in their attempt to liberate Vermont. The occupation of Vermont by the U.S. had persisted for almost a year, and both newspapers and officials criticized Churchill and Webster for their limited achievements in freeing the state. However, their efforts were hindered by the sedition acts, which silenced the criticism. This situation compelled Webster to reassess his tactics.
During the Battle of Boston, with crucial support from the British, Webster, somewhat under the influence, instructed Churchill to adopt a more offensive strategy. This involved utilizing the majority of the Yankee forces to liberate the coasts, challenging Winfield Scott's "Anaconda Plan" blockade, which had contributed to the Panic of 1843. Webster aimed to free up the coasts in order to bring an end to the War of 1839 conflict and alleviate some of the recession's effects. Furthermore, Webster ordered Churchill to carry out a smaller-scale offensive in Vermont, prompted by the widespread news of the British victory in Newport.
Churchill assigned Major General Allen Hitchcock the responsibility of liberating his home state of Vermont due to the general's persistence. Accompanied by 6,000 men, Hitchcock embarked on a journey across New Hampshire, into Canada, and finally into Vermont.
On May 2nd, 1843, General Rowan and Hitchcock led a march towards St. Albans, following a route along the Lake Champlain region from Canada. St. Albans, which had served as the last stronghold of the Vermont militia, succumbed to the American forces in July 1842. The initial battle of St. Albans lasted three days, during which the U.S. troops gradually gained ground, conquering fortifications and capturing the entire city. Faced with a hopeless situation, General Churchill eventually surrendered. In the subsequent treaty, the United States assumed control of strategic cities while permitting the residents to resume their normal lives.
In the second battle, a situation reminiscent of the first battle unfolded, but with reversed sides. The combined British and Yankee forces aimed to breach the defenses established around the settlement in response to intelligence regarding troops stationed at the Vermont-Canadian border in the forthcoming liberation of Newport. Equipped with superior weaponry supplied by the British Empire and boasting a larger army, the allied forces managed to breach the defenses within a few hours and swiftly capture the settlement.
In May 1843, the U.S. successfully captured Burlington, disrupting the supply and manufacturing capabilities of their own troops due to the repurposed factories in the area. As the allied forces liberated neighboring areas and towns, their attention shifted to St. Johnsbury, a settlement in Vermont. By March 1842, the U.S. army had already conquered all remaining towns and settlements in Northern and Central Vermont, culminating in the one-sided Battle of St. Johnsbury, which marked the defeat of one of the final strongholds.
However, nearly a year later, the neighboring regions surrounding St. Johnsbury were liberated from American control. Recognizing the strategic importance of St. Johnsbury as a transportation route across Vermont and its role in supplying troops within the occupied state, Churchill ordered troops to launch an invasion of St. Johnsbury. The town's industry had been supporting the American troops with necessary supplies, further strengthening their hold.
The objective of Churchill's invasion was to regain control of St. Johnsbury and cut off the American forces' access to crucial transportation routes and supplies. By capturing the town, Churchill aimed to weaken the American hold on Vermont and disrupt their supply capabilities.
On May 28, 1843, Rowan and Hitchcock initiated a frontal assault on St. Johnsbury, employing a direct and head-on approach to besiege the city. The battle unfolded throughout the morning and into the evening, characterized by intense street-to-street combat between the opposing armies. As the allied forces gradually gained the upper hand and pushed the American troops deeper into the southern part of the city, the latter eventually chose to retreat. Seizing the opportunity, the British and Yankee forces swiftly occupied the vacated positions, solidifying their control over St. Johnsbury.
With the objective of depriving Montpelier of American aid, the next target in their campaign was Middlebury. Positioned strategically to the left of Montpelier, Middlebury was connected to the Otter Creek and Lake Champlain, which played a vital role in transportation for Americans in the region. Hitchook anticipated that by cutting off the Americans from important settlements along the Lake Champlain riverway, he and the British forces could have an easier time in kicking out the American presence in that area of water.
On June 5, 1843, after weeks of meticulous preparation and consolidating their presence in Vermont, the allied forces initiated a fierce assault on Middlebury. The battle for Middlebury was marked by intense fighting and strategic maneuvers. The allied forces, comprising British troops and their local allies, were determined to seize control of the town and cut off American supply lines in the region.
The engagement raged on for two days, with both sides displaying great valor and tenacity. The allied forces utilized their superior numbers and expert knowledge of the terrain to their advantage, launching coordinated attacks on American positions. Meanwhile, the American forces, although outnumbered, displayed remarkable resilience and fought fiercely to defend their strategic stronghold.
After intense and prolonged fighting, the allied forces emerged victorious on June 7, 1843, recapturing Middlebury from the U.S. forces. The combined efforts of the British troops and their local allies enabled them to seize control of the town and achieve their objective of severing the American supply lines. This victory dealt a significant blow to the American presence in the region and further weakened their position in the ongoing conflict. The recapture of Middlebury bolstered the allied forces' morale and served as a turning point in their campaign against the American presence in Vermont
Battle of Lake Champlain
Meanwhile, with the liberation of the coastal areas by the allied British and Yankee forces, including the capture of every major city along the Lake Champlain coast, Richard Downes Jackson, on June 12 issued orders for British ships to navigate south from the Richelieu River in an attempt to reclaim control of the body of water that had previously been under complete U.S. control. In the initial confrontation, the British took the initiative and opened fire on the American ships patrolling the region. Amid the ensuing chaos, the British ships, though smaller in size due to the necessity of navigating through the narrow river, used their larger numbers to swiftly capitalize on the confusion and gain a stronger position.
However, in a swift response to the British advancement, Isaac Mayo, the highest-ranking naval officer at Lake Champlain, issued orders for his men to prepare for combat, sparking a fierce battle characterized by relentless exchanges of heavy gunfire between British and American ships. The intensity of the engagement persisted throughout the day, with the American forces showing determination to hold their ground and not surrender any part of the lake. Despite their resolute stance, the arrival of additional British ships and the mounting toll of the back-and-forth cannon fire eventually led American ships to retreat southward.
British ships pursued the retreating Americans, as a full-scale battle erupted at Lake Champlain, however, despite the smaller ships, the British ships would come victorious as American ships were forced to retreat into Lake George, and instead of following through with a second perusal, the British instead decided to a dominating presence in the region, by having ships blockade America's entrance, as well as sending ships to patrol the lake.
The Battle of Lake Champlain was a fierce engagement, with both British and American ships locked in a desperate struggle amidst the tumultuous waters. The reverberating booms of cannons and the crackling gunfire echoed across the expansive lake, creating an atmosphere of chaos and danger. Despite the American ships' larger size, their maneuverability paled in comparison to the nimble British vessels. The British sailors deftly utilized their smaller ships to their advantage, darting in and out of the American formations with remarkable precision and skill.
As the battle raged on, the British gradually gained the upper hand. Their coordinated attacks and deadly accurate cannon fire began to take a toll on the American fleet. The American sailors, valiantly fighting to maintain their positions, found themselves overwhelmed by the relentless onslaught. Faced with the daunting reality of defeat, the American ships were compelled to retreat hastily, their hopes of victory fading.
Seizing the opportunity to solidify their triumph, the British ships pursued the retreating Americans. Instead of engaging in a second direct confrontation, the British commanders made a calculated decision. They recognized the strategic significance of establishing a dominant presence in the region. Swiftly altering their course, the British ships strategically positioned themselves to block the entrance to Lake Champlain, effectively cutting off the Americans from easy access to the lake's vast expanse.
In addition to the blockade, the British dispatched other vessels to patrol the waters of Lake Champlain. This comprehensive approach ensured their control over the lake, further limiting American movements and impeding any potential counteroffensive.
Liberation of Vermont (Continuation)
Major General Winfield Scott of the U.S. Army received reports about the substantial progress made by opposing forces in their bid to liberate Vermont. Having previously reduced the American presence in Vermont during the buildup to the Battle of Boston, Scott took decisive action. In response to the U.S. losses in the state and the conclusion of the Battle of Boston, he organized the transportation of troops into Vermont. During mid-June, Scott oversaw the strategic deployment of these troops to the regions bordering the recently liberated areas.
On June 19, Brigadier General Joseph Lane led an assault on St. Johnsbury with the objective of recapturing it. Over the course of a two-day battle, both British and American forces engaged in intense combat. Despite a determined effort, Lane's forces faced heavy artillery fire while attempting to enter the city. Unfortunately, for the U.S., the allied forces successfully defended against the assault, ultimately forcing Lane's troops to retreat.
Several days of preparation culminated in a coordinated attack on Montpelier by the Allied forces on June 23, 1843. Troops from St. Johnsbury, led by Hitchcock, joined British forces under Rowan in a two-pronged invasion, approaching Montpelier from different directions. The conflict commenced with a morning assault, initiated by the British troops who fired artillery at the fortifications surrounding the camp. American troops within the camp swiftly retaliated with gunfire. Yankee troops followed suit, and the battle raged on throughout the evening and into the next day.
Amidst intense combat, the allied forces eventually breached the defenses, successfully entering Montpelier. U.S. troops attempted to regroup and impede their progress. However, fierce hand-to-hand combat ensued in the streets, ultimately resulting in the advance of the British and Yankee forces. On June 26, the American troops ultimately surrendered, bringing an end to the battle.
The Battle of Rutland marked a significant turning point, representing the final major victory for the allied forces. On July 1st, they strategically deployed troops and artillery, utilizing the road network to swiftly approach the surrounding areas. Employing a barrage of artillery fire, the allies swiftly breached the city's defenses, initiating intense confrontations with the U.S. forces. Throughout the day, defensive tactics were employed by the U.S. troops in a valiant effort to repel the invaders. The resulting combat escalated into a fierce and prolonged hand-to-hand struggle that persisted until evening. Realizing the increasingly unfavorable circumstances, U.S. forces eventually made the decision to retreat from Rutland, acknowledging the impracticality of further resistance.
2023.06.08 21:46 chtsoi WTS Protech Newport & MT Ultratech
Ts/Vids:https://imgur.com/a/FP1iIah
WTS Protech Newport, shotshow exclusive in S35VN with beautiful CF inlays. This thing fires hard and is in immaculate condition. Can't find much wear. There's a little scratch? on the non-show side, but chances are it was part of the stonewashed finished. There is no box. I think this one retailed near 280
SV 195 tv 230
WTS MT Ultratech red aluminum. Pristine condition, no wear of note. Fires hard and a 6/10 in terms of fire strength. Comes with box and docs.
SV250 215 194 WITHDRAWN
Paypal FF. Willing to trade the newport but the ultratech gotta go
submitted by chtsoi to Knife_Swap [link] [comments]
WTS Protech Newport, shotshow exclusive in S35VN with beautiful CF inlays. This thing fires hard and is in immaculate condition. Can't find much wear. There's a little scratch? on the non-show side, but chances are it was part of the stonewashed finished. There is no box. I think this one retailed near 280
SV 195 tv 230
WTS MT Ultratech red aluminum. Pristine condition, no wear of note. Fires hard and a 6/10 in terms of fire strength. Comes with box and docs.
SV
Paypal FF. Willing to trade the newport but the ultratech gotta go
2023.06.08 21:45 Commercial_Bicycle92 I had it easy.
TW: emotional abuse, physical abuse, bullying, self harm, suicidal ideation and divorce.
I (15M) suck!!!
I didn't have it bad who cares about a broken family.
That's normal i'm just the outlier.
Again my mother pushing me down the stairs and telling me how she hates me abd that I ruined her life was normal. Because I didn't shower so she just forcefully removed my t-shirt and washed me under my arms. While filming it as evidence, that she isn't at fault fir court that i'm at fault. She scratched me screamed at me everything. She told me about how she wanted to send me to a military camp, how she had it worse which is true and other stuff.
She also ordered my stepdad when I once didn't shower 14 days push me down the stairs. I fell a bit and they screamed at me and my mother and stepfather told me how they had it worse and should self harm not me. That they should want to kll themselves not me. I then got angry and wanted to self-harm and took a lighter near me put it on my skin Infront of my stepdad. He said you look crazy and said that he can do it for me. Basically brn my skin for me.
After 3 hours of crying fighting and screaming I went to shower. I fought with my stepdad that day because I refused to shower. I only tried to push him away and didn't punch him. He pushed me down the stairs and I feel a few stairs not all. He also put me in the chokehold once to get control during the fight.
After the fight the therapist after I told them the story while crying it was another therapist told me. If it happens again I should call a number nothing else filed no report or nothing else because it needs to happen again my fault because everything is my fault.
My psychologist told me it isn't severe enough, that it needs to happen again until he can report it.
Everyone said the same as the Psychologist and also that I should talk with them and tell them that they are wrong also my psychologist told me that. He said that he wants to change them so I can live with them.
I always had it easy!!!
Again the divorce was easy. I was just 5 and even probably before that saw them arguing don't remember it. They screamed at eachother threw objects around the house pushed eachother and I don't remember and probably slapped eachother Infront if me. Destroyed my favourite toys including my only coping mechanism my IPad Infront of me in a rage.
After that I was sent to a special mental hospital school which a social worker slapped me for my picky eating and let me sit there for 1-2 hours daily and screm at me. I was 7 at the time.
After that I was sent to a mental hospital which hurt me I missed my parents and cried daily and had nightmares almost daily. I could go home for one night a week but it was never enough.
After that I was sent to a boarding school. Where I was bullied by people older than me. I don't remember everything in a recent flashback I licked a teenagers foot I was put in the same group with teenagers. I also was thrown around on a park metal turning plate which I feel on my head and body and was hurt. The social workers isolated me in my room for hours fkr house arrest sdn detention. They also let dogs chase after me because I was afraid of them and they wanted to make me get used to them some chased me don't remember clearly. I mostly got detention and house arrest because of my picky eating habits and not doing chores or waking up to late.
I was there for 2 years in the boarding school other stuff they did is search your phone for stuff and saying that you should delete pictures or other stuff, which caused then to see many ndes of children there. Another kid showing me a picture of a condom in his hands or someone else's hands filled with sprms as the reason for why he was kicked out I was 9 at the time I got along a bit better with the people still afraid after the year or more of bullying.
Again I had it easy. Tell me how easy I had it!!!
I deserve it!!!!
I need to d*e!!!!!
submitted by Commercial_Bicycle92 to CPTSD [link] [comments]
I (15M) suck!!!
I didn't have it bad who cares about a broken family.
That's normal i'm just the outlier.
Again my mother pushing me down the stairs and telling me how she hates me abd that I ruined her life was normal. Because I didn't shower so she just forcefully removed my t-shirt and washed me under my arms. While filming it as evidence, that she isn't at fault fir court that i'm at fault. She scratched me screamed at me everything. She told me about how she wanted to send me to a military camp, how she had it worse which is true and other stuff.
She also ordered my stepdad when I once didn't shower 14 days push me down the stairs. I fell a bit and they screamed at me and my mother and stepfather told me how they had it worse and should self harm not me. That they should want to kll themselves not me. I then got angry and wanted to self-harm and took a lighter near me put it on my skin Infront of my stepdad. He said you look crazy and said that he can do it for me. Basically brn my skin for me.
After 3 hours of crying fighting and screaming I went to shower. I fought with my stepdad that day because I refused to shower. I only tried to push him away and didn't punch him. He pushed me down the stairs and I feel a few stairs not all. He also put me in the chokehold once to get control during the fight.
After the fight the therapist after I told them the story while crying it was another therapist told me. If it happens again I should call a number nothing else filed no report or nothing else because it needs to happen again my fault because everything is my fault.
My psychologist told me it isn't severe enough, that it needs to happen again until he can report it.
Everyone said the same as the Psychologist and also that I should talk with them and tell them that they are wrong also my psychologist told me that. He said that he wants to change them so I can live with them.
I always had it easy!!!
Again the divorce was easy. I was just 5 and even probably before that saw them arguing don't remember it. They screamed at eachother threw objects around the house pushed eachother and I don't remember and probably slapped eachother Infront if me. Destroyed my favourite toys including my only coping mechanism my IPad Infront of me in a rage.
After that I was sent to a special mental hospital school which a social worker slapped me for my picky eating and let me sit there for 1-2 hours daily and screm at me. I was 7 at the time.
After that I was sent to a mental hospital which hurt me I missed my parents and cried daily and had nightmares almost daily. I could go home for one night a week but it was never enough.
After that I was sent to a boarding school. Where I was bullied by people older than me. I don't remember everything in a recent flashback I licked a teenagers foot I was put in the same group with teenagers. I also was thrown around on a park metal turning plate which I feel on my head and body and was hurt. The social workers isolated me in my room for hours fkr house arrest sdn detention. They also let dogs chase after me because I was afraid of them and they wanted to make me get used to them some chased me don't remember clearly. I mostly got detention and house arrest because of my picky eating habits and not doing chores or waking up to late.
I was there for 2 years in the boarding school other stuff they did is search your phone for stuff and saying that you should delete pictures or other stuff, which caused then to see many ndes of children there. Another kid showing me a picture of a condom in his hands or someone else's hands filled with sprms as the reason for why he was kicked out I was 9 at the time I got along a bit better with the people still afraid after the year or more of bullying.
Again I had it easy. Tell me how easy I had it!!!
I deserve it!!!!
I need to d*e!!!!!
2023.06.08 21:10 Glum-Algae-8984 Understanding China.
Hello.
Throw away account for obvious reasons. Ive written articles here before in the very early days on other throw aways but lurk once in a while. This is kind of a low effort post but i feel like i need to at least get the discussion started.
Anyway this is a critique of this sub. It is meant to be taken constructively and I am not bashing. Many of the people here are enthusiasts who understand the importance of geography on the fate of a nation, a people and an individual (hopefully). But in recent times the quality of discussion has been lacking. I suspect this is because people rely solely on mob thinking and their opinions to inform their decision with minimal logic. Many lack a clear understanding of history, technology, the current state of affairs in the country, and ideological frameworks and geopolitical theories. This is fine. These people aren't in charge of policy. But their opinions can sway the thinking of others on this sub and can cloud discussions.
Don't believe me? Read this article: https://scottlocklin.wordpress.com/2017/09/02/ai-and-the-human-informational-centipede/
The same applies to conversations here.
I see this most clearly in discussion of china both in media and this sub. Too many peoples "reality models" or their framework for viewing the world is out of touch with reality. This is to be expected. The reality model/ framework of a day labourer is very different than that of a celebrity. In the same way geopolitical enthusiasts on this sub simply dont understand the fundamentals of indias position with other countries. The media doesnt help either.
To act in a productive manner, an entity must first evaluate what its working with. You need data. This sub is heavily lacking good data on China for example. Here are sources I believe are valuable in starting to develop an information bank on china for the average Indian. This is not an exhaustive list. But it will inform your thinking. What you conclude from this information will be up to you. But the better you information, the better your decisions, and what is an entity if not the net sum of its decisions?
TL;DR : Learn to read from more than one line reddit comments and media pieces to inform your opinion if you actually want to be constructive and lead the country to a better place.
Sources on china to look at. THis is china specific because they are our priority but is usually applicable for other issues:
This is a good place to start. If you made it this far, good! Youve either been psy-oped by high level propaganda or are racing to the comments to give an opinion. If however you see something of value in what i am saying, good luck to you!
submitted by Glum-Algae-8984 to GeopoliticsIndia [link] [comments]
Throw away account for obvious reasons. Ive written articles here before in the very early days on other throw aways but lurk once in a while. This is kind of a low effort post but i feel like i need to at least get the discussion started.
Anyway this is a critique of this sub. It is meant to be taken constructively and I am not bashing. Many of the people here are enthusiasts who understand the importance of geography on the fate of a nation, a people and an individual (hopefully). But in recent times the quality of discussion has been lacking. I suspect this is because people rely solely on mob thinking and their opinions to inform their decision with minimal logic. Many lack a clear understanding of history, technology, the current state of affairs in the country, and ideological frameworks and geopolitical theories. This is fine. These people aren't in charge of policy. But their opinions can sway the thinking of others on this sub and can cloud discussions.
Don't believe me? Read this article: https://scottlocklin.wordpress.com/2017/09/02/ai-and-the-human-informational-centipede/
The same applies to conversations here.
I see this most clearly in discussion of china both in media and this sub. Too many peoples "reality models" or their framework for viewing the world is out of touch with reality. This is to be expected. The reality model/ framework of a day labourer is very different than that of a celebrity. In the same way geopolitical enthusiasts on this sub simply dont understand the fundamentals of indias position with other countries. The media doesnt help either.
To act in a productive manner, an entity must first evaluate what its working with. You need data. This sub is heavily lacking good data on China for example. Here are sources I believe are valuable in starting to develop an information bank on china for the average Indian. This is not an exhaustive list. But it will inform your thinking. What you conclude from this information will be up to you. But the better you information, the better your decisions, and what is an entity if not the net sum of its decisions?
TL;DR : Learn to read from more than one line reddit comments and media pieces to inform your opinion if you actually want to be constructive and lead the country to a better place.
Sources on china to look at. THis is china specific because they are our priority but is usually applicable for other issues:
- Make an account with the large chinese social media sites. How many of you have actually tried jumping the fire wall? Do you know the chinese equivalent of reddit? Google? Youtube? Have you tried searching posts on india on these sites to see what comes up for chinese audiences? Well you should try atleast. Also if you are worried about your data, our goverment sold it out to the western companies a long time ago, so dont worry about it lol. whatever you are trying to protect is already gone. Also a lot of these apps are available on the playstore like wechat. Unless the indian government banned those too lul.
- Serpentza is a good youtube channel. He makes highly critical videos of china, but as far as i can tell has a good head on his shoulders and is pretty grounded in reality and doesnt get lost in the rhetoric from either side. He isnt in the "CHINA BAD!!! REEEE!!!" camp of hawks, and neither is he in the "WESTERN PROPAGANDA, CHINA IS HEAVEN!!!!!" china bhakt camp either. He lived in china for 13 years. He is south african and is highly critical of his own country. In many ways he has similarities to dis-illusioned indians but in his case it might be justified. He may not be nice to hear but he is consistent in his beliefs from the videos i have seen. Or i might be getting psy-oped by high level propaganda. Who knows, maybe you can tell me after watching a few videos. An example of his work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHxh_sQHH0E. My point is, look for videos that are as close to the ground reality of the other side as possible.
- Learn to look for the bad. It is always nice to hear good things about your country. But talk is cheap. Look for the reports of india actually messing up because those are the places that we need to fix. We have poor relations with virtually all of our neighbours. Why? India has abysmal health issues with a large population that is either hungry or malnourished. This has terrible implications for creating high quality indian citizens who not only love but are capable of pushing india forward. Why? If you do this well you will start to think independent of political party posturing and start seeing what actually matters and which parties will actually make a difference and rise above all the media mudslinging. Start by looking at nutrition and the indian diet and its effects on the growth of individuals, toilet and sanitation programs, energy infrastructure. These are the things that really matter. Sure you might get depressed, but if you aren't ready to hear the bad parts of your country then you are a coward, im afraid because then you will never be able to work to fix this. Also the west always pushes india good or bad narratives knowing that the vast percentage of the population are dumb enough to eat it up and give massive concessions to the enemy. Dont be like these people.
- Read a god dam history book. Seriously. History is the biggest bank of data you can have on the actions of states and how they survived. Which empires lasted long? Which fell. Why did they fall? Are their influences still around today? Are those influences good or bad? Human biology has been relatively constant for the last 300,000 years. This means the people who lived in the past were no different intellectually than us. Dont make the mistake of thinking we are different because we arent quite there (yet). How did they make sense of their state? If you cant read a history book, then listen to a few low level history podcasts. Dan carlin on youtube has great series on ancient empires.
- Read a god dam geopolitical science book. Francis Fukuyama is famous in US geopolitical circles of the highest level. He also has written books. Maybe its a good idea to read them? The autobiographies of great leaders are important sources into their inner workings too. Giga Chad Deng Xiaoping, Giga Chad Lee Kuan Yew, Giga Chad Otto Bismarck. These are a few people who changed in a single generation the fate of their nations (sometimes single handedly). For the akhand bharat types (the ones that arent stupid) i would recommend starting with Otto.
- Stay away from the media. Anything worth reading is hidden in congretional reports that no one in the media reads or obscure blog posts. If you read my link on the human info centipede you know what i am saying. If someone took the time to write a book on it you can trust that it is worth reading. Usually.
- Respect your adversary. It is important to not believe ones own propaganda. It is easy to get lost in it. You are no better. In fact i would suggest looking for propaganda from your side. It usually is a good skill to seperate the truth from the lies. Can you name some of this propaganda?
- Accept that we have no allies. India will always be on its own. Atleast for the near future. We are at the center of the "Old World" We will always be a battle ground. Any peace we make here, will be of our own work. No one wants a strong india. Not the US or China. China because we will be a competitor in their neighborhood security (doesnt matter if we wont be its what they think). US because they made the play book on this. Support france to beat the british and gain independence. Support the Russians to beat the Germans. Support the Chinese to beat the Russians. CAn you guess who is next in this pattern? We have friends of convenience. Until and unless we sign into a military alliance on paper, we have no allies. And even then who is to say that our military allies will actually help us? Just look at armenia, CSTO and Russia.
- Learn what india's geopolitical objectives are. If you wish to evaluate whether a developement is good or bad, you must have a metric of progress that you are aiming toward. It is not simply "counter china".
- Competence is the backbone of a society. Beware the rise of the incompetent. Learn from the mistkes and failures of other states. See what works, shed what doesnt. An example: https://www.thepsmiths.com/p/review-south-africas-brave-new-world
- Overtime you will become disillusioned. You will become frustrated. And if you do some of the things I have said you may grow to dislike a lot of things about india. I have simply given you the knowledge to fathom the monsters that hound this country. The courage and good character to face them and not run away will have to come from you.
This is a good place to start. If you made it this far, good! Youve either been psy-oped by high level propaganda or are racing to the comments to give an opinion. If however you see something of value in what i am saying, good luck to you!