The Off Topic Topic

[PDH]

RIP, dude lived an interesting life
http://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/joe-medicine-crow-dies-in-billings-on-sunday-morning/article_c0654e7c-740a-5b5d-9e60-46909ca1bf5d.html

That guy was great.

[jimmy olsen]

RIP, dude lived an interesting life
http://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/joe-medicine-crow-dies-in-billings-on-sunday-morning/article_c0654e7c-740a-5b5d-9e60-46909ca1bf5d.html

That guy was great.

Yeah, guy had some awesome stories to tell

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/apr/04/native-american-war-chief-joseph-medicine-crow-dies-aged-102

His Crow name was "High Bird," and he recalled listening as a child to stories about the Battle of Little Bighorn from those who were there, including his grandmother's brother, White Man Runs Him, a scout for lieutenant colonel George Armstrong Custer.

His grandfather, Yellowtail, raised Medicine Crow to be a warrior. The training began when Medicine Crow was just six or seven, with a punishing physical regimen that included running barefoot in the snow to toughen the boy's feet and spirit.

Medicine Crow in 1939 became the first of his tribe to receive a master's degree, in anthropology. He served for decades as a Crow historian, cataloging his people's nomadic history by collecting firsthand accounts of pre-reservation life from fellow tribal members.

"I always told people, when you meet Joe Medicine Crow, you're shaking hands with the 19th century," said Herman Viola, curator emeritus at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American Indians.

During the second world war, Medicine Crow earned the title of war chief after performing a series of daring deeds, including stealing horses from an enemy encampment and hand-to-hand combat with a German soldier whose life Medicine Crow ultimately spared.

"Warfare was our highest art, but Plains Indian warfare was not about killing. It was about intelligence, leadership, and honor," Medicine Crow wrote in his 2006 book "Counting Coup."

Soon after returning from the European front, Medicine Crow was designated tribal historian by the Crow Tribal Council. With his prodigious memory, Medicine Crow could accurately recall decades later the names, dates and exploits from the oral history he was exposed to as a child, Viola said. Those included tales told by four of the six Crow scouts who were at Custer's side at Little Bighorn and who Medicine Crow knew personally.

[Brazen]

WWII civilian and military casualties in infographics. An animation full of Languish appeal.

http://www.upworthy.com/these-staggering-graphics-put-the-wwii-death-toll-in-perspective?c=ufb3

[Josquius]

WWII civilian and military casualties in infographics. An animation full of Languish appeal.

http://www.upworthy.com/these-staggering-graphics-put-the-wwii-death-toll-in-perspective?c=ufb3

America lost only 1/4 in the pacific? I didn't realise that, interesting. I'd always assumed it was more given how much of an emphasis they put on that front.

[The Brain]

WWII civilian and military casualties in infographics. An animation full of Languish appeal.

http://www.upworthy.com/these-staggering-graphics-put-the-wwii-death-toll-in-perspective?c=ufb3

America lost only 1/4 in the pacific? I didn't realise that, interesting. I'd always assumed it was more given how much of an emphasis they put on that front.

"Germany first"?

[Valmy]

America lost only 1/4 in the pacific? I didn't realise that, interesting. I'd always assumed it was more given how much of an emphasis they put on that front.

Actually we put most of our resources towards Europe. Defeat Germany first then transfer all the resources over and beat Japan was the strategy. But, as it turned out, we were able to mostly do both at the same time.

[Josquius]

I mean modern Americans looking back at history, not the US at the time.
It's always quite the break in views on the war that in the UK the pacific was a barely registering sideshow whilst for the Americans it gets just as much attention as Europe.

[Malthus]

America lost only 1/4 in the pacific? I didn't realise that, interesting. I'd always assumed it was more given how much of an emphasis they put on that front.

Actually we put most of our resources towards Europe. Defeat Germany first then transfer all the resources over and beat Japan was the strategy. But, as it turned out, we were able to mostly do both at the same time.

The casualty ratios do kinda demonstrate the utter stupidity of the Japanese war plans, don't they. 

Particularly as US direct involvement in the war against Germany wasn't a given: Germany declared war on the US following Japan's attack, not the other way around ... it was quite possible that the Japanese could have ended up facing nearly all of US forces against them, while the US kept up their 'cold war' policy versus Germany. 

[KRonn]

Yep, Medicine Crow Joe, the guy had an interesting life. Last war chief of the Crow tribe, getting that title in WW2.

[Valmy]

Particularly as US direct involvement in the war against Germany wasn't a given: Germany declared war on the US following Japan's attack, not the other way around ... it was quite possible that the Japanese could have ended up facing nearly all of US forces against them, while the US kept up their 'cold war' policy versus Germany. 

FDR was obsessed with Germany. That was not going to happen. But damn did Germany make his job easier for him. It would have been a much closer vote to declare war on Germany and Italy.

[Malthus]

Particularly as US direct involvement in the war against Germany wasn't a given: Germany declared war on the US following Japan's attack, not the other way around ... it was quite possible that the Japanese could have ended up facing nearly all of US forces against them, while the US kept up their 'cold war' policy versus Germany. 

FDR was obsessed with Germany. That was not going to happen. But damn did Germany make his job easier for him. It would have been a much closer vote to declare war on Germany and Italy.

Perhaps, but this was not something the Japanese could reliably count on as part of their strategy - 'if we sneak attack the US, the US will commit most of their forces to fighting Germany anyway'.

Of course, in hindsight the US did this -- and *still* beat the Japanese. As it turned out, what the US was willing to devote to the Japanese was enough.

Of course, the assets required to beat them - fleet and amphibious - were at least in part somewhat different, though I believe even the US suffered a shortage of landing craft because of the split.

[Zanza]

A piece about German prisons and Americans being surprised by them:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/60-minutes-overtime-yoga-in-prison-germany-5-star-slammer/

[Malthus]

Would you eat a sandwich described as being made of "ocean meat"?

What about one made of "land meat"?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/arbys-ocean-meat-mmm_us_56faac0ce4b0143a9b495256

[Legbiter]

Would you eat a sandwich described as being made of "ocean meat"?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/arbys-ocean-meat-mmm_us_56faac0ce4b0143a9b495256

Arby's meeting:
"So it's fish?"
"Legally? No"

[Legbiter]

The ad is quite lively at least.