Your Day (apart from gardening) - what took place?

Big picture. Our missiles are kaput because of a cyber attack. Conventional kit is on its way to us. Big picture would be, our own cyber offensive shuts down or at least messes with the enemy's radar/other warning systems for just long enough to sneak an actual aircraft through. Perhaps throw in a few drones or even manned fighter aircraft to attack a different target to serve as a distraction.

When I was at uni, I had to do a speech on a topic of my choice as part of my course to get points for communication and presentation skills. I figured a controversial topic would be most memorable and therefore get new most marks. So I chose nuclear warfare. I did a lot if research, including reading declassified world war 2 records. It didn't take too long to figure that a common strategy of allied, especially British forces, was to launch huge attacks on multiple seemingly disparate targets at exactly the same time (on many missions, down to the minute) so that the enemy couldn't figure out where to concentrate their forces. Meanwhile, timed to happen a couple of hours later, often two smaller groups of allied forces would simultaneously attack two much higher value targets, relying on the fact that all attention was focused elsewhere.

Of course the only ever real nuclear assaults didn't follow that strategy, but taking it all together, the modern day equivalent might be to try to shut down warning systems, simultaneously send tornadoes and ships to one or two areas, and send in a couple of vulcan equivalents to shut the whole problem down.

 

....anything.

It amuses me when I see youtube clips of martial arts practitioners claiming a particular technique will always work against a particular attack. Our instructors in our club are a tad more realistic. They point out that everything we practice, everything we train for, does nothing beyond slightly increase our range of options, if we don't get knocked out or stabbed or beaten with a bat.

Same on the national/international scale. There is nothing that could ever guarantee successful defence, but by combining as many different options as possible, rather than placing all eggs in one basket, you at least increase your chances of success. The RAF know this. I remember a senior RAF spokesperson on telly explaining why the tornado is a better aircraft than some foreign counterparts even though it is not the fastest or most agile etc. He said it was great because you could change its role on a mission by mission basis. It could be a bomber, a fighter, a reconnaissance plane, or any combination of, depending on how it was kitted on the day. Same bloke also made no secret of his disappointment that the powers that be had decided against a considered notion of buying some Migs and refitting them with British engines but that's another story. By the same token, I once red that the aircraft used by the red arrows is the most manoeuvrable fighter planes ever built, but was rejected as an actual combat aircraft because it is only good at one thing. Apparently put it in a dog fight and it would kick butt as long as the fight was short and local. But it can't carry anything too heavy, or fly particularly far, so it was 'relegated' to the role of trainer/display plane.

 

That's why I put the word relegated in quotes.

I know nothing of such matters beyond bits and pieces I pick up from news or documentaries or stuff I read from time to time. I know that I've seen the red arrows perform several times and they never fail to impress. In fact impress is not the right word. Something far beyond impressed. I know that in order for the red arrows team to impress me as much as they do, they need several things. An amazing aircraft, some incredible skill, and a huge amount of support.

 

Things you don't see every day.

Driving home from work this afternoon along the A14, there was a bloke standing on a bridge over the carriageway - playing a set of bagpipes!

 

When I was driving to work yesterday (early doors) some funny birds of some kind ran out in front of my car - one first, then another more tentatively. I thought that was cute and had made my day, but, a few feet ahead again, there was the most stunning male pheasant in the field running parallel to the road. He stood so proud (and colourful!) and gave me a look as if to say: How dare you interrupt my tranquillity: be gone!

I am so blessed to have a journey where nature abounds and each journey brings new delights

 

I was off work, and my car was in the garage getting an oil change. About an hour they said, we'll phone you they said. So I wandered aimlessly around town for two and a half hours, got myself a coffee, wandered some more, got bored, so walked to the garage to see if they were nearly done. There was my car, outside the garage but not where I'd left it, so it had clearly been moved, which probably meant it was done. It was. They just didn't phone me.

 

Is this the one?

 

Blizzard happening now. Inside all day. Just stuff around the house. We have a generator so all is good .

 

Watching "Tugboat Annie Sails Again" right now and this morning enjoyed "Bend it Like Beckham". Cute.

Shovelled my way to the greenhouses and the bird feeder. Should say shovelled white stuff...

 

Just been down to the dentist in the village for a filling.Not only did he do another two X-rays to go with the one he did the other week but was quiet brutal and I was shaking from head to foot. He even asked me if I wanted a numbing injection to which I replied yes as I told him I wasn't that brave to have work done without it And so now the right side of my face is swollen and so is part of my tongue so I won't be drinking fluids for a couple of hours

Oh and he now wants me back in six months time instead of the year so I expect it is because I have had work done unless it is a money making exercise as I normally only have to go every twelve months.Forgot to say that little exercise also cost £53

And then the is tomorrow....