Kit Carson & The Kit Carson Scouts Viet Nam:

I'm currently just started reading VIETNAM by Max Hastings that is being applauded as the best explanation book about that war .. I'm only in the early pages but I have again here seen mention of the KIT CARSON SCOUTS.

Recognizing that I knew nothing about these important 'bit- players' in the VIETNAM jungle warfare of the 1960s - I had to try to follow-up their story some ..

CHIEU HOI Leaflet. -It Means "open arms" 
- Urging Fighters To DEFECT to The Americans.

These guys are/were former enemy V.C. fighters - who when captured or surrendering - chose to change sides by carrying a Chieu Hoi propaganda leaflet offering them good treatment.

 http://cap2-7-2.com/war-stories/the-man-in-the-middle/

It seems there were around 7,000 of these Kit Carson Scouts who proved very effective fighters with the US Marines & Army. - they were so named by General Nickerson c.o. of The 1st Marine Division. (These "Hoi Chahns" were alternatively called "TIGER SCOUTS" in the 9th Division) .. after the original "mountain man" Christopher Carson 1809-1868  who served as a guide on various early expeditions and as an 'Indian Agent'.   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kit_Carson

When US forces pulled-out of South Vietnam (April 29 1975) there are believed to have been around 4,000 Kit Carsons then serving with US Forces who were abandoned there to their own devices ..

   http://www.americasfuture.net/1996/mar96/3-17-96c.html

It is thought that at least 2,000 of them were soon executed but likely many fled their homeland as "boat people" into other lands - while some may have gone underground and survived while not being identified.

I think that even more recently there have been 'Translators' serving with western forces in Afghanistan who have remained behind when these Forces have pulled-out in a "difficult" situation among their earlier opposing forces.

Warfare is a dreadful, dirty game .. but both of these stories are well worth discovering before we forget, - both histories could be thought of as lessons in how to pick your friends.

Marty K.

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/vietnam/rvn-af-kit-carson.htm

Freedom Of The 'PRESS':

I guess it has to be expected that "the media" will largely follow each other in reporting their stories.

- After all-is-said-and-done - the media is mostly owned by a couple of multi-millionaires who want to convince ordinary folk that they, the millionaires, are naturally right in everything they say & do and that is what we peasants have to support - so that these nobles & their hangers-on can maintain their wealth, influence and privilege for ever.

I WAS going to list what this man owns & controls .. but it's too long. - just check-out this page that does list it:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2015/06/11/what-rupert-murdoch-owns/71089066/

I can't be too detailed as I stopped buying 'a Paper' many years ago here - when 'THE STAR' closed leaving 'THE PRESS' as the only daily reading choice in central Canterbury.

They even at some stage changed the printing ink used from petroleum based to watery soy ink - that seemed to make it's recycling as a flame starter for cold weather less usable .. Lose-Lose.

Thinkers among us have to regard "the news" as largely predetermined propaganda that has been discussed by government and the media-moguls long before the reported events occur.

Media gains "ACCESS" .. Government gains "SUPPORT".

You may not like that thought - but events are as predictable almost as certainties .. it's only a matter of time before another natural disaster happens, another media-personality is found to be corrupt, or another dreadful murder occurs - and the government politicians - their marketers - and the media Lords have got their themes agreed well in advance ..

Our emotions are being directed from above as surely as puppets on a string.

Doubters can check-out the Wikipedia PROPAGANDA page here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda

Are they being lead by the nose?   Is that actually a question?

Marty K.

PSYCHOPATHS I Have Known ..Trump Corp .. Armed Teachers.:

If CORPORATIONS ARE PEOPLE (legal persons) .. THEY HAVE TO BE PSYCHOPATHS .. existing to take profit from us .. seeming above civic responsibility, ethics or conscience.

Merriam-Webster Definition of psychopath: a mentally unstable person
especially : a person having an egocentric and antisocial personality marked by a lack of remorse for one's actions, an absence of empathy for others, and often criminal tendencies

.. The Washington Post claims that President Trump has averaged 23 lies every day in the last seven months and has a total score exceeding 10,000 LIES since taking office.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6972207/Trump-lied-10-000-times-president-according-Washington-Post.html

BUT .. there ARE also real people-psychopaths on the streets. - They are not everywhere for sure .. but they are around. - Just check-out knife/gun crime in UK/US cities.

Charles Manson.

We had a case here recently where Tiki Tavern customers took-on shotgun armed robbers at closing time - detaining one for the police .. and were then criticized by the police for daring to prevent the robbery!

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12223459

These lawless psychotics make a point of arming themselves to use against their prey .. And the law abiding victims are BY LAW forbidden in Britain and New Zealand to carry any defensive tools. These "laws" really need to be legally challenged through the highest courts by thinking folk - but that would be an expensive business.

Here's an extreme example criminal nutcase - from America of course .. Link:

https://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/man-commits-10-felonies-9-hours-231718822.html

How can anyone unarmed defend themselves against these freaks?

The good news is that FLORIDA has just passed a law expanding "School Guardian Law" that will permit more properly trained teachers to be defensively armed in schools.

- Can anyone calmly explain the 'logic' elsewhere that forbids intelligent educated guardians of our children from the lawful right to defend them from crazed killers?

Marty K.

Bigfoot Wallace - A Texas Hero:

'BIGFOOT' William Alexander Anderson Wallace was a Virginian born, larger-than-life 'personality' who famously progressed to TEXAS aged around 20 in 1836-1837 to avenge the deaths of two family members dispatched to a better world by Mexican bullets.

 - Strange to report but that Wallace himself says in Chapter XXXVI (36) of his book - that it was his sweetheart Jenny Foster who had cruelly sent him packing off to Texas - spurned.

 - "True Love Ways" .. to quote that other Texan, Buddy Holly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjFRHIhSvwc

Reputed to have been 6'2" tall with size 12 feet (the same as moi ..) - he was supposedly named "Bigfoot" in Mexico by smaller guards after a famed marauding indigent injun named Big Foot.

http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasPersonalities/BigFootWallace/BigFootWallace.htm

Wallace enjoyed various frontier adventures with military expeditions, two years of captivity in Mexico, - was a TEXAS RANGER, - successfully carried mail between San Antonio & El Paso - surviving various bloody skirmishes in defiance of health & safety regulation .. and more famously he once ate 27 eggs before enjoying a full breakfast. - He was indeed a survivor.

His 'as-told-to' story costs only $1.14 from Kindle 
and is a most entertaining read - (is that indigestion?)

Bigfoot Wallace is one of Texas's legendary frontier figures .. fact being so often stranger than fiction he was reputedly a descendant of BRAVEHEART WALLACE - the 13th century Scots hero .. who died without any known issue .. & was also himself childless.

He arrived in Texas well equipped with two derringers and a fine rifle from Kentucky - upgrading to percussion six-guns as they became available.

He will forever be remembered by the SOUTH TEXAS Frio County township of Connally's Store - that has renamed itself  'BIGFOOT' in memory of his colorful & larger-than-life story.

Wherein said village the worthy citizens have located a close replica of Wallace's cottage as a genuine  museum, displaying authentic period replicas from frontier times - open for viewing one morning every month..  - Of such stuff are legends made ..

One Riot .. One Ranger.   
  God Bless America   .. and President Trump of course.

A Nuclear Solution To Global Warming - BOOM:

Today's Starter Question for ten points:

 Do you seriously think that any ambitious corporation would budget to spend

1.2 TRILLION DOLLARS on upgrading it's nuclear arsenal unless

a/- It was run by profligate millionaire-morons.
or
b/- They intend to profit by using them when the time is right.
or
c/- Both a/- plus b/-.

____________________________

So - are you ready?

- we currently have a Swedish schoolgirl Greta Thunberg inspiring voters to act in protest against 'Democratic Government's' corrupt inaction over oil & coal generated climate change .. and there is a small chance that this might be somewhat effective.

I wonder might Greta also lead the young to rise up against the greedy plutocracies that are considering a more rapid & immediate end for much of the worlds surplus humanity?

___________________________

Do you think that some "leader" has calculated that 'global warming'  might be successfully countered by a nice multi-purpose strategic  'nuclear winter'  ?

 Surely not ..😏

Bloody Hell - New Zealand's Not Even ON This Map ..

I've been thinking about this threat since around 1961 .

Cynical? - Who moi? .. Je pense pas.

Vincent van Gogh's 7mm Lefaucheux Revolver:

The 7 mm pin-fire revolver that killed Vincent Van Gogh was recovered in 1965 from the French field where he was shot in July 1890. The accepted tale is that he suicided .. but there is also a theory that he may have been accidentally shot when two young teenage boys were playing in that field .. no-one will now ever know.

A Lefaucheux 7 mm Pin Fire Revolver.

The Van Gogh relic condition revolver is offered for sale about now (June 19) by auction at Druout Auction House:
- It had lain in that French field for 75 years. The painter had survived for some 30 hours as the bullet deflected through his chest after hitting a rib - and contentedly smoked his pipe before leaving the world.

The Lefaucheux pin fire cartridge system was the first self contained cartridge system developed - patented in France in 1854 and around 12,000 of these revolvers were exported to either sides of the Mason-Dixon Line during the American Civil War.

The Lefaucheux design is said to have been the fourth most widely used sidearm in that dreadful conflict. Made in both France & Belgium in a range of calibers .. 7mm, 10mm, 12mm, & 15mm, - the roughly .44" 12mm was the most widely used in America.

This early cartridge type was fully usable and even re-loadable but it's power potential was restricted by not being fully gas-tight where the ignition pin emerged from the cartridge casing.

Cylinder Shell Ejector Pin Is Badly Bent.

Vincent Van Gogh 1853-90 was variously diagnosed as suffering from Acute Mania with Generalized Delirium, an episodic condition of Bipolar Disorder, Intermittent Porphyria, Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, Depression, malnutrition, insomnia, alcoholism, smokers cough, and was treated at different times for Syphilis and for Gonorrhea .. a razor-severed-right-ear and .. immediately prior to his death .. for a self inflicted bullet wound to his chest.

This painter-nutter is known for producing more than 43 self-portraits .. also for being a somewhat Self Obsessive and - intermittently a 'god-botherer'.

Self Portrait With Bandaged Ear And Pipe - 

He Liked To Paint Himself  (at least 43 Times).

Vincent is understood to have only sold only ONE painting during his confused life - giving most away .. but he'd no doubt be impressed (or depressed) that today many are valued at hundreds of millions each .. and that there is a Don McLean No.1 Hit song "Starry-Starry Night"  ('Vincent') written about him.

STARRY NIGHT - Painted 1889 In The Asylum: Worth $300 MILLION?

- It's a strange old world eh .. consider how modern medication might have effected both his behavior, talent .. and longevity.
Marty K.

11 SURRENDERED/BANNED WEAPONS Stolen From NZ Police:

New Zealand Police have launched an urgent manhunt to attempt recover the ELEVEN surrendered firearms removed from Palmerston North Police Headquarters.

UPDATE: Police have announced that Harris has been arrested in "the early hours of Saturday morning - but no firearms have been recovered.

Acting Commander Inspector Sarah Stewart today reports that the weapons were stolen at 07.40 THURSDAY morning by a person identified as Alan James Harris who left the premises by car.

The Central District Acting Police Commander says that this burglary is being treated very seriously.

Is this yet further evidence that NZ Police are not FIT & PROPER to be responsible for the custody and licensing of New Zealand firearms?

Commissioner Mike Bush has directed an investigation be conducted into how this offender was able to gain access to the Police station, as well as an immediate audit on security around firearms at all stations nationwide.

Marty K.