Things that look like alternate history, but aren't

[Wongo93]

Originally Posted by Orville_third

German high-speed train run by the German railway company runs through the Chunnel...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11560404

Dang, beat me to that one!

But if it'd had DR (Deutsche Reichsbahn Gesellschaft) on the front instead of DB (Deutsche Bundesbahn)...

However, very AH, the loudly anti-fascist German Democratic Republic (DDR) kept the old Hitler-era title DR for its ramshackle railways.

[DrakonFin]

Marutei Tsurunen (ツルネン マルテイ or 弦念 丸呈, Tsurunen Marutei,
born 30 April 1940 in Lieksa, Finland) is the first foreign-born
Japanese of European origin serving as a member of the Diet of
Japan. He is a member of the Democratic Party of Japan, where he
serves as Director General of the International Department. He is
currently serving in the House of Councillors [the Upper House of the
Diet].

[Petike]

Originally Posted by DrakonFin

Marutei Tsurunen (ツルネン マルテイ or 弦念 丸呈, Tsurunen Marutei,
born 30 April 1940 in Lieksa, Finland) is the first foreign-born
Japanese of European origin serving as a member of the Diet of
Japan. He is a member of the Democratic Party of Japan, where he
serves as Director General of the International Department. He is
currently serving in the House of Councillors [the Upper House of the
Diet].

A Finnish guy, even !


I see that and present the very Peruanese Alberto Ken'ya Fujimori :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberto_Fujimori

[Incognito]

Originally Posted by oshron

aah, yes, thee deadly catoblepas is one of africa's most feared predators

Wildebeests are feared, but they’re not predators. And you certainly don’t see young wildebeest calfs chasing lions every day .

Originally Posted by Chris S

The Soviet had a SAM base in Los Angeles....

Care to elaborate?

Originally Posted by Gruekiller

Not very well.

I would disagree. Imagine those skyscrapers made of glass, replace the airships with airplanes and what you end up with is not too dissimilar to modern New York, don’t you think?

Originally Posted by DrakonFin

<snip>

Originally Posted by Petike

<snip>

Pfft.

I present to you Alejandro Cao de Benós de Les y Pérez, who beets both of the above in AH & ASB points in the “Government Officials of Unusual Ethnicity” category.

Who is he? Why, he is a Spanish aristocrat who fulfilled his life-long dream by become the first foreigner to work in the North Korean government!

Here is an article about him:



Translation: It was in Madrid in 1990. An exhibition organized by the World Tourism Organization on North Korea, which coincided with historic union and Marcelino Camacho, changed his life. He was then 16 years and dared to approach the North Korean ambassador to chat. Two decades after the North Koreans are those who stop on the road to the Catalan of 35 years to greet him.

His meteoric career in Pyongyang began with an early communist militancy: "At age 13 he was already interested in politics. The curiosity and my natural attraction to Asia led me to a country which had no documentation, to a nation that was banned even in many Communist circles of Spain in the 90's, the era of 'perestroika' and 'mea culpa ', where most of the red flag swearing to migrate en masse to bourgeois politics and well regarded, "says Cao de Benos from Bangkok (Thailand), which maintains an office.

After years of travel and contacts with North Korean authorities, Alexander became the first foreigner to work for the government of Kim Jong Il. A lawyer Tarragona in Pyongyang. Disconcerting, but "it seemed even stranger to the Korean people understand and accept a Spanish as a brother and ideological comrade. Something that has no predecessors in the history of the country and in fact no provision in its law. "

With a Spanish through, every law made an exception. This former Army military and descendant of the nobility was appointed ambassador to North Korea's west. Being of Les barons, counts of Rosalmonte Argelejo and Marquises, he bequeathed "firmly believe that a country must preserve its culture." In this regard, he adds: "I believe in values such as honor, loyalty and discipline."

Stripped of titles, when Alexander arrives in Pyongyang from Beijing, the only airport with regular flights to North Korea becomes Cho Sun Il, Korea is a meaning. "My name I put my great friend (part of article seen in the above .JPG ends here) Cho Il Min, representative of the National Democratic Front Anti-imperialist, who represents the South Koreans who escaped to live in the north." The Cao de Benos life, who lives in Catalonia six months a year, it changes completely during his stay in China: "In Catalonia, I relate some socially compared to Korea. In Korea I look more like a Korean. I am known as 'Changunim Chons' (Soldier General). Many people know me from the press and television, when I'm in the restaurant come to me and give me some mothers leave their babies for a photo with me. "

In Pyongyang Alejandro is climbing positions: "I am like an ambassador of the country but internationally. I am in charge of diplomatic, cultural, business, media spokesperson face ... I act as a bridge or gateway between the Republic and abroad. "

The Catalan is also known to have fun. "When I'm in Pyongyang just work on 22.30 and if I have more meetings we go to the pub-karaoke for a drink and sing together. Other times I go to the health center (sauna, swimming pool, bar) or if I have a free weekend and summer going to Wonsan, on the beach. Winter is very cold, but if it has not snowed yet I like to spend a day in the Buddhist temple in the hills, "says Cao de Benos, which his tenor voice and his love for the supreme leader has become a popular singer on Korean television, perhaps because Korea has no foreign influence and "nobody knows who Michael Jackson or Madonna."

Despite this international isolation suffered by the hermit kingdom, Spain has attracted interest from the North Koreans: "There are 2,000 people who speak Spanish and much interest in learning language. Passions football and Barca and Madrid are well known, "said Catalan. As diplomatic relations, Cao de Benos believes that between Spain and Korea are duties to be done: "There is a long way to go. Cultures and ways of thinking are very different and Spain has withdrawn to develop relationships so as not to anger the United States, but as the saying goes Korean: "Way begun is half way there". " Perhaps to smooth some of that road and bridge cultures has happened to Kim Jong Il gifted with a mosaic of Medusa, a copy of the Archaeological Museum of Tarragona, a hunting knife with stag horn or playing a defense gun the Canary Islands.

Cao de Benos said that "all the gifts he liked and ordered them in the International Friendship Museum located in Hyangsan." If it's friendship, Cao de Benos has advantages: Chairman of the Korean Friendship Association, a position from which controls the small tourist expeditions to the country. Although it is better than sex tourism lovers refrain: "The Korean woman is not fixed in physical beauty or material wealth, but at the ideological level of the individual. Before marrying a Korean must be accepted as Korean and demonstrate the effort by the country and the community. " He really has been accepted: "In my regular work reported to our minister and I often find with President Kim Yong Nam."

Cao de Benos defines Kim Jong Il, son of the late Kim Il Sung, whose birth is still celebrated as the Day of the Sun, as a man "of military markedly but very humble, who does not like the protocol or flattery. He enjoys reading, classical music, Italian opera and horse riding. "

Like its leader, Alexander is hardened criticism and blame. "These criticisms are usually born of ignorance or from the position of an executive sitting in his chair with his shoes on the table. Korean citizens are not starving. There were serious supply problems from 1995 to 2000. I was there, but fortunately that we call Arduous March period is over. The rest is propaganda. "

Since the parallel most militarized in the world, Cao de Benos is also a proponent of the nuclearization of the region: "What good is building schools and hospitals if the next day going to bomb and nobody will stop him? We know that the nuclear weapon is the deterrent effect that has prevented the U.S. may launch another invasion like Iraq. Guns protect the peace, the only shield against an imperialist power. "

Included in the blacklist that George Bush dubbed the "axis of evil, North Korea raised its expectations was Obama. "It started like Bush, with a confrontational stance with very little knowledge of Korean reality. This has begun to change from a surprise visit from Bill Clinton. If Obama is allowed to be advised by people like him, the situation will change radically, "Cao de Benos considered. Another change of scenery will be in Korea itself, Kim Jong Il with an increasingly older. The Spanish did not make the idea of the deadly nature of their leader: "When Kim Jong Il can not continue in office, there is no replacement. The leader is born and proclaimed by the people, can not be manufactured or be named. We have a president and vice president of Supreme People's Assembly, elected every four years and will continue to lead the nation. " No matter that this position will undermine support for Pyongyang.

Spanish has big plans for Korea: "Korea has developed a strong military and political model. The next step is to become an economic powerhouse. There will be a big change from 2012. Many large projects are completed, the economy will develop rapidly and this validates the communist project that will turn Korea into a model for other countries. "

In his dual nationality, Alejandro Cao de Benos also has a remedy for Spain: Kim Jong Il put one in your life. Or in other words: "It is unthinkable that in Spain there is a politician so beloved by the people, because corruption, social differentiation and the huge step between the powerful and the people make policy in a theatrical act. And on the streets will be hearing that no matter who rules, which are all equal. " He is not. Alejandro Cao de Benos always be a different kind.

[Thande]

Wow, that Spaniard beats Tony Benn for most ironic aristocrat award.

[Chris S]

Originally Posted by Incognito

Care to elaborate?

Los Angeles...Cuba (eastern Cuba)

[hsthompson]

Originally Posted by Thande

Wow, that Spaniard beats Tony Benn for most ironic aristocrat award.

Compared to Tsar Simeon II, Former Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria, he's an amateur.

[Ephraim Ben Raphael]

Originally Posted by hsthompson

Compared to Tsar Simeon II, Former Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria, he's an amateur.

I agree completely, on my list of pretenders to thrones he's right behind Leka I the King of Albanbia who drove off assasins with an RGP launcher.

[Polish Eagle]

What's this? A B-17 launching a V-1?!



Even more...



And another?



American V-1s? No, a Republic Aviation duplicate known as the JB-2.

[Thande]

Originally Posted by hsthompson

Compared to Tsar Simeon II, Former Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria, he's an amateur.

Simeon II is certainly awesome, but his party was centre-right liberal; I'm talking about aristocrats who have crazily far-left views.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Originally Posted by Thande

Simeon II is certainly awesome, but his party was centre-right liberal; I'm talking about aristocrats who have crazily far-left views.

Well, we had Luisa Alvarez de Toledo, Duchess of Medina-Sidonia, leader of the 2nd greatest nobiliary house in Spain and descendant of that Medina-Sidonia, who joined the spanish socialist party and was jailed by Franco in the 60's for subversive activities. To top that off she married her secretary shortly before her death in 2008. Her female secretary.

Not as insane as going Juche -even if the PSOE in the 50's was pretty hardcore left, but it is difficult to top being a Kim fan.

[DrakonFin]

Originally Posted by Incognito

Pfft.

I present to you Alejandro Cao de Benós de Les y Pérez, who beets both of the above in AH & ASB points in the “Government Officials of Unusual Ethnicity” category.

Who is he? Why, he is a Spanish aristocrat who fulfilled his life-long dream by become the first foreigner to work in the North Korean government!

<snip>

I concede the ASB points, though what you have to remember here is that Tsurunen is a Upper House member, just recently on a shortlist to become a government minister from the leading party in said body. And this in a demographically huge, affluent industrial country. This is a guy from the remote countryside in North-Eastern Finland, who at the age of four barely escaped being killed by Soviet "partisans" who brutally attacked his native village.

However cool a figure Alejandro Cao de Benós de Les y Pérez is, I have some doubts as to how much actual power the guy has in the North Korean government structure. At least from the article one might get the idea that his position is mostly ceremonial, and most of his clout is dependant on his rarity as an "item" that the regime can show off to foreigners. And even if he could have any real impact on the politics of the DPRK, the country still remains very small, isolated and piss-poor.

[Elidor]

But is supporting the DPRK, necessarily "left wing" ? I mean the Catalan aristocrat mentions the lack of globalization and ethnic pride in his praise for North Korea. And also, Juche is no longer a communist movement per se.

[Georgepatton]

Originally Posted by Polish Eagle

What's this? A B-17 launching a V-1?!



Even more...



And another?



American V-1s? No, a Republic Aviation duplicate known as the JB-2.

V-! being fired from a US submarine.

[Orville_third]

Legalized abortion, forced school busing, women’s lib, sex education in the schools, freeing of the criminal, overtaxation, doubled spending, socialized medicine, economic strangulation, land-use control — this is a conservative?

The aforementioned quote came from a book attacking...Ronald Reagan.
http://www.pitch.com/content/printVersion/1126733/

[Orville_third]

A book of Pumpkin Carols for Halloween...
http://www.retroist.com/2009/10/19/p...umpkin-carols/

[Petike]

Remember all those fairly unbelievable stories about lost colonies and the like ?

Well, here's a ridiculous (yet fully real) example to end all ridiculous examples :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonia_Tovar

The very German city of Colonia Tovar located deep in Venezuelan territory. The locals prospered and went as if nothing happened, even though their whole city founding effort was dismissed as failed and all of them dead... for over 90 years, until friggin 1953 !

[Polish Eagle]

Originally Posted by Petike

Remember all those fairly unbelievable stories about lost colonies and the like ?

Well, here's a ridiculous (yet fully real) example to end all ridiculous examples :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonia_Tovar

The very German city of Colonia Tovar located deep in Venezuelan territory. The locals prospered and went as if nothing happened, even though their whole city founding effort was dismissed as failed and all of them dead... for over 90 years, until friggin 1953 !

So...Bismarck and the Kaiser just ignored it?

On another note, it will be in the pre-1900 forum in minutes.

[Ephraim Ben Raphael]

Originally Posted by Petike

Remember all those fairly unbelievable stories about lost colonies and the like ?

Well, here's a ridiculous (yet fully real) example to end all ridiculous examples :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonia_Tovar

The very German city of Colonia Tovar located deep in Venezuelan territory. The locals prospered and went as if nothing happened, even though their whole city founding effort was dismissed as failed and all of them dead... for over 90 years, until friggin 1953 !

That's...awesome.

[Elidor]

Originally Posted by Petike

Remember all those fairly unbelievable stories about lost colonies and the like ?

Well, here's a ridiculous (yet fully real) example to end all ridiculous examples :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonia_Tovar

The very German city of Colonia Tovar located deep in Venezuelan territory. The locals prospered and went as if nothing happened, even though their whole city founding effort was dismissed as failed and all of them dead... for over 90 years, until friggin 1953 !

1953? Would have been the pefect hideout for Third Reich escapees.

Reminds me of Nueva Germania. Apparently, Friedrich Nietzsche's infamous Nazi sister was behind that one.