Kevin Sites provides some insight in his latest dispatch about the tunnel system built by the Vietnamese:
They are a marvel of engineering, weaving underground for several stories and linking together living, dining and meeting areas, as well as weapons factories and subterranean hospitals, complete with operating rooms.
But perhaps their most significant function was to allow the VC to coordinate their operations in the south, both by utilizing surprise attacks then disappearing underground, while also inserting agents and saboteurs into the south.
Because of their strategic value, the entrances to the tunnels were well-protected both by camouflage and booby traps.
Yes, the strategic value was a factor but perhaps not as much as the low cost of reducing inhabitant vulnerability with simple countermeasures, which also probably diminished threats as well (few would want to enter an unfamiliar tunnel of traps). Not sure why Kevin ends with these quotes, other than to warn anyone considering a visit to the tunnels to expect a harsh and realistic rather than romantic story:
“We expected it to be about the ingenious ways used to escape detection,” says Nicky Ashby, 26, from London. “But instead, it’s more about techniques of torture with all the booby traps.”
“It seems to me like it’s celebrating the violence rather than the idea of their perseverance,” says another, who doesn’t want to be identified.
Nice story about an archaeology buff who is building a castle from scratch in 13th century style. Along with period building material and methods, they are also considering how to defend from period attackers:
Our guide blended humor with the history lesson and had us play the role of invaders to explain how even the smallest architectural details helped protect castles.
Some examples: A staircase turns clockwise, forcing invaders to transfer their spears to the left hand and giving the defense an advantage. An extra-tall step requires them to take off their chain-link armor to scale it. Anyone who actually makes it up the stairs alive would have to bend over to pass through a low doorway — giving the castle’s hatchet-armed defenders a prime crack at their necks.
Sounds like fun, but the real question is what will they do to defend against other period threats like The Black Death. Will these history buffs bathe regularly and keep their lodging clean or find scapegoats to torture and burn?
This prose was just forwarded to me and I had to share…
An old Arab lives close to New York City.
He would love to plant potatoes in his garden, but he is old and weak. His son is in college in Paris, so the old man sends him an e- mail.
“Beloved son, I am very sad, because I can’t plant potatoes in my garden. I am sure if you were here you would help me dig up the garden.”
The following day at 3:45 pm, the old man receives an e-mail response from his son.
“Beloved father, please don’t touch the garden. It’s there that I have hidden ‘the THING’. Love, Ahmed”.
At 4:02 pm, the US Army, the Marines, the Rangers, the Police, officers from the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI and the CIA, visit the house of the old man, take the whole garden apart, search every inch, but can’t find anything.
Disappointed they leave.
A day later, the old man receives another e-mail from his son:
“Beloved Father, I hope the garden is dug up by now and you can plant your potatoes. That’s all I could do for you from here.
Love Ahmed.”
Would be even better if someone could string it into a metered rhyme.
“I ordered a diesel combat motorcycle and all I got was this lousy t-shirt…
HDT’s production apparently has been delayed due to the popularity of diesel motorcycles as military vehicles in Afghanistan and perhaps Iraq. Their latest newsletter mentions this, along with the use of biodiesel and tests to increase mpg. I was doing some reading and reasearch the other day and am sure that it is really a Kawasaki hiding in the HDT Bulldog. Anyway, while some might see their delay as negative, I like the idea that more testing will be done in extreme conditions before they are released for public consumption:
The text of the June 2006 Newsletter:
As most of you already know, HDT has had to delay production of the commercial D650 Bulldog due to recently increased orders for our military models.
During the last 6 months, in anticipation of our commercial model release, we have greatly increased production capacity with the completion of our engine and motorcycle assembly lines. Unfortunately, for our commercial customers, the expansion is now needed to fill our ongoing military requirements.
We maintain plans to produce our commercial diesel motorcycle, the D650 Bulldog, and are increasing our production capabilities as fast as we can.
I want to personally extend my thanks to all you who have shown interest in our diesel motorcycles. We will continue to publish updates of our commercial motorcycle release through our newsletter.
Fred Hayes
President
HDTUSA
Some good news: In the last few months, we’ve been able to improve performance and overall operability. We’ve been able to improve power throughout the rpm range and further reduce vibration at cruising speeds. Fuel mileage has also been improved. (See Economy Run in Upcoming Events).
Biodiesel: We’ve had a number of requests to do more testing using various blends of biodiesel, including B5, B20, and B99/B100. We’ll keep you up-to-date on the test results.
Motorcycle Assembly Line: We’ve started using our new motorcycle assembly line. It will allow us to improve efficiency, increase production rates and retain high quality.
Engine Assembly Line: We are just finishing our new diesel engine assembly line. It is a big step from modifying existing motorcycles to producing our own motorcycle engines. HDT is using innovative production techniques, such as these specially designed engine stands to try and keep costs down and quality high.
R&D Center. We finally moved into our new R&D Center where we’re continuing to find more power, smoother operation, better fuel economy and lower emissions. Currently we’re testing various blends of biodiesel. Very interesting stuff!!! More on
biodiesel later.
Dynos. We just took delivery of our 3rd Dynomite motorcycle dyno from Land & Sea. (www.land-and-sea.com) This makes our third dyno from Land & Sea. We have the original engine dyno, our eddy current R&D dyno, and the latest unit that will be used for final production testing.
News like this and more, all on DieselBike.net. They even have links to numerous diesel motorcycles of the past.
a blog about the poetry of information security, since 1995
