The Butterfly Effect: A British AAR

[El Pip]

And so we broach another page. I had hoped this would be a new update, but alas the Druids have ruined things. Well certainly I am blaming them for the problems on Stonehenge Tunnel.

I think I'm an old enough hand to know how things work around here! Vote early, vote often.

Florida Rules.

I vote for armoured fighting vehicles.

You are learning the importance of precision when voting. This is good.

How long has it been since we had word from the Navy? Methinks too long...

Recalling your most recent update, it occurs to me that our esteemable authAAR has often posted in other threads about the rather... haphazard state of the Red Navy in this time period. It would be remiss were Butterfly not to contain the authoritative version of this commentary.

There was a naval update on the schedule, I think I will be bringing it forward.

It's my birthday and no update? Shame on you, sir!

Please take it up with the Druids. They absolutely deserve having an annoyed Kurtie to deal with.

I like to imagine Pip has all of our birthdays in a dossier at home along with a massive chart on the wall showing posting frequency.

Way to make him put to be even stranger and diabolical...

He isn't Wraith, for chrissakes.

I have sub-contracted that work out to Wraith. He is better at it, probably because he abuses his access to government surveillance systems and databases, I'm careful to never ask so that officially I'm not an accomplice.

And, in my case, a photo of mine along the tag "Kurty is mad, but not dangerous; take it easy".

Also a note saying "Impressively persistent"

So, he has to provide a raft of clip notes for all regulars, as well as info on the water storage situation now...

Pip is, without a doubt, very aware of what happened with Allenby and his WW1 wonderful AAR, and he keeps a file about each of us in case anything bad might happen to him.

Pure self-preservation.

Should I die the notes, photos and various other pieces of evidence will be passed to the police and contracts with various mercenary guilds will triggered. But that's just a standard precaution surely?

So as ever the Rolls Royce of AARs provides the details that lesser works can only dream of. Insightful work, Pippy.

I am glad such detail is appreciated. I also note you steered clear of the American Cyanamid point, probably for the best.

This bit reminded me more of pre WW1 than WW2, the idea of a Britain and Germany agreeing on so much but unable, ultimately, to reconcile their differences. I fear that the FO is right to worry: the appearance of anything more that occasional cooperation will make a lot of nations jittery.

There is a certain parallel there you are right and there is a logic to an Anglo-German understanding, they are in many ways complimentary. Not just the land power + sea power issue, but commercially and industrially. Germany needs a lot of imports and needs a market for high end goods, Britain has the Empire that can supply those imports, customers for German exports, the traders/merchants/insurers who can make that all happen and the financiers who can make enough on the invisible exports to more than cover the resulting trade deficit.

You're right; so much of the establishment was hung up on the 'workshop of the world' fantasy of heavy industry that they ignored the truths of postwar Britain. I'd argue that many in the left and (to a point) the right didn't realise this until the mid 80s, a truly terrifying thought...

I agree, but I think/hope it was just a desparate denial of reality rather than any nostalgic fantasisying. If you admit the realities of what the British economy is good at and what the rest of the world is doing, then things do no look good the traditional heavy industrial regions and you need to come up with a plan. I have no idea what that plan would look like and it's apparent no-one else does either (not just in the UK, no-one is managing former industrial regions well). So I can see the attraction in pretending that the industry would come roaring back if just one more policy change was made.

 

[nuclearslurpee]

There was a naval update on the schedule, I think I will be bringing it forward.

Let it never be said that El Pip does not listen to the will of the constituency. This is of course no surprise, as he has never once run for MP and thus must be an alright sort of chap, in a comparative sense if none other.

 

[El Pip]

Let it never be said that El Pip does not listen to the will of the constituency.

I am munificent like that.

This is of course no surprise, as he has never once run for MP and thus must be an alright sort of chap, in a comparative sense if none other.

This is the secret to achieving great career success, ensure you are only ever compared to a bad peer group so you automatically look better.

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

But where are the funnies and chuckles? HOI needs funnies and chuckles.

Apparently.

 

[El Pip]

But where are the funnies and chuckles? HOI needs funnies and chuckles.

Apparently.

I mean I was half tempted to do Lambert vs Levita, the seminal case that resulted in a government inquiry into the terms and conditions for BBC staff. Those conditions ended up being the same model as for all employees of parastatal companies and influencing the entire post-war setup for how the government managed staff at nationalised industries. I know what you are thinking, that all sounds really boring, and it is.

But what if I were to say it was all prompted by a Talking Mongoose from the Fifth Dimension called Gef?

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

But what if I were to say it was all prompted by a Talking Mongoose from the Fifth Dimension called Gef?

Unless it is a literal Talking Mongoose from the Fifth Dimension called Gef, it's not funnies and chuckles enough for Paradox...

 

[El Pip]

Unless it is a literal Talking Mongoose from the Fifth Dimension called Gef, it's not funnies and chuckles enough for Paradox...

Gef definitely said he was from the Fifth Dimension. But then he was Talking Mongoose living in a farm on the Isle of Mann, can you really believe a word he said?

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

Gef definitely said he was from the Fifth Dimension. But then he was Talking Mongoose living in a farm on the Isle of Mann, can you really believe a word he said?

Not much chance of a good reference from there, no...never can tell with that sort though.

 

[DensleyBlair]

I read the last update a while ago, but not in sufficient detail to comment anything particularly insightful other than: What a fantastic view down the penstocks running from the Ben Nevis tunnel towards the power station and aluminium smelter in Fort William. Since it has now been over two weeks and I have yet to find the inspiration to make a witty or otherwise insightful remark, I will simply say: What a fantastic view down the penstocks running from the Ben Nevis tunnel towards the power station and aluminium smelter in Fort William, and leave it at that.

 

[Cromwell]

I read the last update a while ago, but not in sufficient detail to comment anything particularly insightful other than: What a fantastic view down the penstocks running from the Ben Nevis tunnel towards the power station and aluminium smelter in Fort William. Since it has now been over two weeks and I have yet to find the inspiration to make a witty or otherwise insightful remark, I will simply say: What a fantastic view down the penstocks running from the Ben Nevis tunnel towards the power station and aluminium smelter in Fort William, and leave it at that.

A fine sentiment, I quite agree!

 

[El Pip]

Not much chance of a good reference from there, no...never can tell with that sort though.

Gef got himself into law reports, most newspapers and Hansard. Surely that is enough references to get a ridiculous comedy focus? I mean the Hansard reference is just gold;

During this last winter His Majesty's Government have accomplished a far more difficult intellectual feat than believing in a talking mongoose; they have believed not only in totalitarian volunteers, but that Signor Mussolini intends to keep his word.

I read the last update a while ago, but not in sufficient detail to comment anything particularly insightful other than: What a fantastic view down the penstocks running from the Ben Nevis tunnel towards the power station and aluminium smelter in Fort William. Since it has now been over two weeks and I have yet to find the inspiration to make a witty or otherwise insightful remark, I will simply say: What a fantastic view down the penstocks running from the Ben Nevis tunnel towards the power station and aluminium smelter in Fort William, and leave it at that.

That is perhaps all that needed saying.

A fine sentiment, I quite agree!

Indeed.

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

Gef got himself into law reports, most newspapers and Hansard. Surely that is enough references to get a ridiculous comedy focus? I mean the Hansard reference is just gold;

I beove we have found the british sister series to L'or L'or. Whatever the heck was going on there and all that business.

 

[El Pip]

Due to certain impudent upstarts attempting to impinge on my turf I have decide I must respond and escalate the level of esoteric detail. I had not wished to do this, but I feel my hand has been forced. To that end the next chapter will feature a discussion on the taxonomic difference between morphology and phylogenetics, as it applies to the naming schema of inter-war aero-engines.

 

[nuclearslurpee]

Due to certain impudent upstarts attempting to impinge on my turf I have decide I must respond and escalate the level of esoteric detail. I had not wished to do this, but I feel my hand has been forced. To that end the next chapter will feature a discussion on the taxonomic difference between morphology and phylogenetics, as it applies to the naming schema of inter-war aero-engines.

Which impudent upstarts are impinging on such hallowed ground, and where may we find them that we may picket their offices and protest with vigorous chanting and drunken singing?

 

[DensleyBlair]

Which impudent upstarts are impinging on such hallowed ground, and where may we find them that we may picket their offices and protest with vigorous chanting and drunken singing?

Unless there has been a funny mood overtaking the boards recently that I’m not aware of, I have a suspicion that Pip may be referring to my as-yet-unpublished forays into the heady world of socialist rice cultivation and its implications for Cold War diplomacy. In which case, picketing and singing may be directed towards the link in my signature.

 

[nuclearslurpee]

Unless there has been a funny mood overtaking the boards recently that I’m not aware of, I have a suspicion that Pip may be referring to my as-yet-unpublished forays into the heady world of socialist rice cultivation and its implications for Cold War diplomacy. In which case, picketing and singing may be directed towards the link in my signature.

I note that you politely decline the chanting, while arguably the least important facet of a protest it is still quite important and I insist on selling you the complete package before we strike a deal.

 

[DensleyBlair]

I note that you politely decline the chanting, while arguably the least important facet of a protest it is still quite important and I insist on selling you the complete package before we strike a deal.

If you insist, I shall not object to receipt of the complete package.

 

[Kurt_Steiner]

No update. Shame on your, sir.

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

Which impudent upstarts are impinging on such hallowed ground, and where may we find them that we may picket their offices and protest with vigorous chanting and drunken singing?

I'm pretty sure it isn't me...this time. Probably one of the godless socialists then.

 

[Akela]

To that end the next chapter will feature a discussion on the taxonomic difference between morphology and phylogenetics, as it applies to the naming schema of inter-war aero-engines.

My first thought was 'OK, now you're exaggerating - I don't think that actually works'. Then I double-checked the definitions and once again El Pip's genius stands untarnished. Let this post stand as penance for my lack of faith.

Also, next post is the top of the page chaps. Let none save Pip tread this hallowed ground, lest we all be condemned to twenty more posts with no update.