Stupid Luck and Happenstance, Thread III

Best way I can describe it is as a garbage fire turned up to 11.
The term turning it up to 11 is from This is Spinal Tap where the Band's Guitarist, Nigel Tufnel bragged about how their Marshall Amplifiers had dials that went up to 11, so their amps were one louder than everyone else's. This was making fun of a strange dispute between a few different bands at around that time over who was loudest.

Those of us who play Fender Amps watched with amusement because the dials on Fenders have always gone up to 12.
 
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The term turning it up to 11 is from This is Spinal Tap where the Band's Guitarist, Nigel Tufnel bragged about how their Marshall Amplifiers had dials that went up to 11, so their amps were one louder than everyone else's. This was making fun of a strange dispute between a few different bands at around that time over who was loudest.

Those of us who play Fender Amps watched with amusement because the dials on Fenders have always gone up to 20.
Umm I've been playing guitar since 1979, and from what I've seen on my Fenders, they always go up to 10 (most, like my Tonemaster Deluxe Reverb), or 12 (Tweed Fenders). :)

Now the Marshall JCM 900 - they used to go up to 20. I remember an ad for them, that included Mr. Tufnel (aka Christopher Guest), where Marshall stated that they were louder than 11!

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Umm I've been playing guitar since 1979, and from what I've seen on my Fenders, they always go up to 10 (most, like my Tonemaster Deluxe Reverb), or 12 (Tweed Fenders). :)

Now the Marshall JCM 900 - they used to go up to 20. I remember an ad for them, that included Mr. Tugfnel (aka Christopher Guest), where Marshall stated that they were louder than 11!

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I meant to say 12, still, the joke is the same. The numbers are actually meaningless.
 
As we can see “Mad King” Michael is at it again with his Jousting Tournament.
What is that? All those people who came from around the world to participate in the event are from the largest corporations also and are opening offices, design centers, and manufacturing plants.
What more because of the “Mad King” there is a growing interest in films and television shows being set in Midieval times and dealing things like Knights and Ladies and Chilvary.
It is a good thing that Bohemia has a strong preservation law that allows for location filming without too much set dressing being needed.
 
At least no-one will accuse Kiki of lying about being pregnant this time.
As for the jousting tournament, one of my cousins competes in HEMA.
 
Will Ian Kilminster be making a cameo please?
Careful what you ask for.
Bill Clinton is totally unrecognizable ITTL, a tragic fire in Queens saved the NY skyline and the American public a great deal of trouble, and do I need to mention the final years of Stumpy Hitler?
 
Careful what you ask for.
Bill Clinton is totally unrecognizable ITTL, a tragic fire in Queens saved the NY skyline and the American public a great deal of trouble, and do I need to mention the final years of Stumpy Hitler?
Here's a thought, what if he inherited his father's passion and talent for football, (soccer)? He'd be be coming up to 40, around the top age for players back then, maybe making his first move into being a team manager?
 
Here's a thought, what if he inherited his father's passion and talent for football, (soccer)? He'd be be coming up to 40, around the top age for players back then, maybe making his first move into being a team manager?
Actually, I think i remember that a while ago Zella reviewed an album by a band that Lemmy was in: Hawkwind. And OTL Lemmy was in Hawkwind between 1971 and 1975
 
Part 136, Chapter 2330
Chapter Two Thousand Three Hundred Thirty



1st October 1974

Wahlstatt, Silesia

When Niko was called into the Headmaster’s office he racked his brain for some infraction that he might have unknowingly committed. Or worse, be asked about whatever idiotic thing that Bas might have done despite being totally consumed by sports over the last couple months. Instead, Gruber told Niko that he had been assigned to spend the rest of the Academic Year on the Staff of Oberst von Kropp of the 3rd “Zieten” Hussar Regiment. The other detail that he learned was that the 3rd Hussars were preparing to deploy to Argentina on a League of Nations backed mission, what was dubbed Peace Keeping. These assignments were given to students as rewards, though Niko found it to be a somewhat dubious reward.

“This is an excellent opportunity for you Nikolaus” Oberstleutnant Gruber said, “In many ways I envy you for it, a real adventure.”

Niko was instantly reminded of his father’s warning about how it was called adventure once you were looking back at it through the lens of nostalgia. At the moment, it was just misery, hardship, and that death was always just around the corner. His father knew a lot about the subject having flown dozens of combat missions off of an Aircraft Carrier during the Mexican War and had been in Orbit a couple different times with the Space Program.

“What did my father have to say?” Niko asked.

“Unfortunately, the Admiral was unavailable because his Carrier Group is at sea” Gruber said, “Your grandfather told me to tell you to learn everything you can from von Kropp and that he wishes he were young enough to come with you.”

Of course, Niko’s grandfather was all for him doing this. No matter what else he had done with his life, Manfred the Elder was always a Cavalry Officer at heart. For him going to a place like Argentina to play that role would be like going to Heaven.

“As I said, this is an excellent opportunity” Gruber said, as he handed Niko a list of things he was supposed to get from the School’s supplies and a train ticket for Oberhavel where the Regiment’s Depot was located. “I told von Kropp that you are a good student and will serve him well as his aide having already been a leader among the Cadets, I trust that you will not disappoint me in that regard.”

Easier said than done, Niko thought to himself.

It was a reminder of what Bas had told him dozens of times. Cadet ranks were meaningless outside the school. Out there he would rise or fall on his own merits. If it were the later, no one would step in to stop it, though they might stop to gawk at him when he splattered on impact.



Munich, Bavaria

The Specialist they were seeing today had been highly recommended, though it only took him a matter of seconds to get on Kiki’s bad side. Ben understood that for this to work, she would need to trust whoever they saw and how he seemed to discount her opinions was a massive red flag.

“Well,” The Obstetrician said with a smile as he looked through folder with the lab results. “They double checked everything like you requested and I’m pleased to tell you that you definitely expecting.”

Ben was happy that neither he nor Kiki were in harm’s way this time. When she had unknowingly been pregnant with Nina things had taken a turn for the absurd for both of them. This time both of them were in Bavaria which had its own complications. Notably who the father-in-law of Kiki’s sister was. King Albrecht was like a force of nature here and that colored every consideration. Ben was concerned that word would get out too soon, having Kiki’s sister-in-law Alberta being the one to help her figure it out was almost as bad as them telling the sleazy tabloids themselves. Ben had known for a long time that the trouble with Birdie was that she just didn’t know when to keep her mouth shut. Her with this sort of information insured that it wouldn’t remain a secret for long. When it leaked, Ben figured that Albrecht would milk the situation for all it was worth like he did with everything else. Kiki had the idea of going on to the Hohenzollern Province. It was hers as a result of her father appointing her to be the guardian of the family’s ancestorial castle and the Principality that surrounded it. That also wasn’t a great choice for a lot of reasons.

“We will need to schedule prenatal care in the weeks ahead” The Obstetrician said, “I understand that you tend to travel quite a bit, arrangements can be made for that, but I would recommend against it, also you are over thirty which further complicates matters.”

That was probably the wrong thing for the Obstetrician to have said. Ben could tell from the expression on Kiki’s face that she was fighting the urge to rip the man’s arm and beat him with it. The last few months had been a rollercoaster with them trying to get pregnant without success, then having her change her mind, only to have this happen.

“During my last pregnancy I traveled nearly the length the South America” Kiki said with words that were dripping with ice water. “Without complications.”

“You were extremely lucky” The Obstetrician replied, “And I was warned that you can be difficult when I talked to your colleagues in Berlin.”

Again, that was the wrong thing to have said. Ben wondered if the Obstetrician knew that about Kiki ahead of time and this was a ham-handed way of encouraging them to go elsewhere. He also knew that whenever Kiki got back to Berlin, whoever had spoken out of turn would not be happy.

“I think that is enough from both of you” Ben said, “Let’s get through this today and then we can make other arrangements.”

Both Kiki and the Obstetrician gave Ben a dirty look. Were they trying to antagonize each other? And if so, why?
 
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Albrecht of Bavaria is going to be a thorn in the side of Kiki as things progress, Albrecht is going to find a "suitable" house for Kiki and Ben that clashes with Kiki's preference for a more simpler lifestyle but the problem for Kiki is that she needs more help this time around then she realizes.
Nora with her extensive network of colleagues should be able to find a doctor that better suits Kiki but most likely Kiki is still going to clash with any doctor who tries to steer Kiki in to taking better care of herself.
Vicky is going to be glad that Kiki is going to be closer to her and she and her "friend" Anna are going to be frequent visitors, hopefully Vicky can give Kiki some needed perspective.

Kurfurst von Richthofen is pleased as anything that Niko got chosen for such a "prestigious" position but as we seen earlier with his older cousin Manny, Niko's family name is just going to make others treat him as someone who needs to be taught some "humility" and to earn his place in the world instead of relying on his family name.
Bas on the other hand, if he gets the same opportunity as Niko may take to whatever situation he is in like a duck to water because like his father Tilo, Bas after some earlier hard knocks understand how things really work outside of the academy but Bas is still learning and will keep taking some well deserved knocks along the way.
 
Is the 3rd Hussars an Armoured Regiment or a Reconnaissance one?
Reconnaissance mostly and most definitely not armored. They are an extension of the 1st Guard Uhlans and 2nd Life Hussars, who are a mostly ceremonial units and Horse Cavalry. While their preferred choice of transit is a bit archaic, it makes them perfect for operations in places like the Patagonian Frontier.

In wartime, they are part of the Panzer Corps, so there is an Armored Component.
 
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