Time

	In 1991, the 'Mother of all Battles' began as Operation Desert Storm was launched. Gulf War Allies send hundreds of planes on bombing raids into Iraq yet Saddam Hussein remained defiant. Warnings about weapons of mass destruction and alien technology buried deep in Iraq go unheeded. That was just crazy talk, surely?

The American, British, French, Saudi and Kuwaiti aircraft took off at 2330 GMT. Their bombs were aimed at military and strategic targets, including an oil refinery and Baghdad airport. At least 400 raids took place. Latest reports indicated that Allied aircraft suffered unexpected resistance. US Defence Secretary, Dick Cheney, said the operation appeared to have encountered difficulties. Two hours after the raids began, President George Bush made a televised address. He said the military objectives were clear - force Iraqi troops out of Kuwait and restore the legitimate government. In Baghdad, Saddam Hussein remained defiant. He said the 'Mother of all Battles had begun'. He urged the Iraqi people to 'stand up to evil'.

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in the Dreamtime , the pale ones came, as Anansi had foretold. Many seasons passed in torment at their hands, but the people were strong, and the lost ones in the sky were waiting for them. Anansi gave them strength, and his web gave them escape when it was needed.

In 1971, British spacecraft Marie Celeste prepared to re-enter the atmosphere after mechanical failures had been fixed. Or patched up, really. They really had to do something about this quality control problem for next time. The ill-fated Apollo 13 mission had been too much trouble, it really had.

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In 1971, South Dakotan Senator George McGovern, a hero of World War II, began his campaign for the presidency as the candidate of peace. Using his background as a bomber pilot, McGovern argued that Vietnam represented no strategic value to the United States, and should be free to determine their own future. A nation sick of the war agrees with him, and he defeated Richard Nixon in a landslide.

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In 1601, a Royal Proclamation was issued and a Lubeck merchant, Caspar van Senden, licensed to remove all 'negroes and blackamoores' from Great Britain. There was a fear that the Africans might be taking jobs away from English citizens and also a concern that they were 'infidels'.

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In 1977, NASA complete the impact analysis for the delay Space Shuttle program. Columbia (NASA Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-102) would be the first spaceworthy space shuttle in NASA's orbital fleet, and its first mission, STS-1, was reprogrammed for quarter two, 1981. Trouble was SkyLab had entered a dangerous orbit. If no further action was taken, SkyLab would re-enter the Earth's atmosphere sometime in 1979 and almost certainly break up on entry. The plan works and SkyLab is shifted into a higher orbit. But the 1982 mission from the Shuttle is a disaster and the Soviet Union has to rescue the American astronauts. Their success sets a precedent that was established with Apollo-Soyuz, and the the two nations merge their Space programs.

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In 12-8-1-11-16, the sailors of Ouezteca met the Kingdom of Hawai’i. Captain Quetchook of the Imperial Navy, the first westerner to see the Hawai’ians, entered into a treaty with King Kalaniopuu for exclusive trade, and made himself a wealthy man from the agricultural bounty of the island kingdom.

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	In 1977, Gary Gilmore, the convicted murderer, was executed on this day by firing squad in the Utah state prison in Salt Lake City. It was the first execution to have been carried out in the United States for almost 10 years. Gilmore, 36, was sentenced to death for the murder in 1976 of a motel clerk in Provo, Utah. An appeals court in Denver overturned a restraining order on the execution in the early hours of this morning. In his closing words, one of the judges emphasised that Mr Gilmore should take responsibility for insisting that his own execution go ahead.

The death penalty had been controversially reinstated in the United States in 1976 and Gilmore was the first prisoner to be executed under the new law. Gilmore fought the justice system to ensure he would be executed quickly - had already spent 18 of his last 21 years in jail. It soon became clear that Gilmore had >cheated death to engineer his own release. Two people received Gilmore's corneas within hours of his death. Utah medical staff were unable to explain this phenomenom, instead recommending fast-track treatment. They both responded positively, with the same form of words – 'Lets do it'.

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In 1781, Thomas Gainsborough completed his masterpiece The Two Georges, depicting King George III and General George Washington's historic agreement which established the British North American Union. The Sons of Liberty considered Washington a turncoat. Two hundred and fifteen years later they would succeeed in snatching this symbol of national unity just before the arrival of King Charles III's visit to the State capital of Victoria.

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In 2005, President Al Gore addressed the nation for the last time in office, apologising to the American people for his own '911' failures. Specifically he refered to the oversight and execution of Executive Order 13015, which established the White House Commission on Aviation Safety and Security of 1996. Often called the Gore Commission in recognition that Gore was the chairman, that work group operated for six months, from August 1996 until February of 1997, when it issued its final report. Gore's commission were mandated to provide to the President 'a strategy designed to improve aviation safety and security'.

According to the 911 Commission Report (page 344):

The Gore Commission's Report, having thoroughly canvassed available expertise in and outside of government, did not mention suicide hijackings or the use of aircraft as weapons.

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In 1991, Israel joined the Gulf War after Iraq attacks Tel Aviv and Haifa with Scud missiles. It was the first time Tel Aviv has been hit in the history of the Israel-Arab conflict. Saddam Husssein had succeeded in provoking the Israel leadership both through these bombings, and also by establishing linkage between Kuwait and Palestinian nationhood.

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In 1991, in Kuwait & Iraq, Operation Desert Fly centred upon a dual military application of the pioneering work of Seth Brundle. US Ground Forces were teleported into strategic battle points. And the Iraqi Presidential Guard were decimated by soldier flies. President George Bush spoke of the 'end of history' as the world's only hyper-power appeared set for global domnation.

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A Day At The Spa

August 21st, 2007

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The Announcement

Don't forget - Birthday Contest for Steve – November 22, 1967. Send in an alternate birthday for him for us to post!

I found Sibala's spa and greeted all the regulars who lounge around there. There are four or five people who have been there every single time I've been there; they've obviously found their paradise.

Sibala herself is a wonderful hostess, and greets everyone who's been to her spa more than once by their name. How she retains it all is beyond me; my memory banks are so full, I have to dump childhood memories every now and then. But, she knows us all, and seems to have met every planewalker that ever lived.

"How are you, Gabriel?" She took me by the hand and kissed me full on the lips, then on each cheek. She's a full-figured earth mother of a woman, and she envelops me completely when we embrace. She looks vaguely Middle-Eastern or Mediterranean, and like so many of the people from that area, is overwhelmingly friendly. "It has been so long! You must sit down and tell me everything that has happened to you. And where is Patrice?"

We talked for a couple of hours about what had gone on in each of our lives over the past couple of years that I had been away; I told her that Patrice had found his paradise, and what I had done to help him shape it. She commiserated with me.

"Yes, well, Gabriel, the rebellion there would have been crushed anyway." She spooned some honey into a cup of tea for me and stirred it in. If you ever make it to Sibala's, you simply must have her tea. I don't know where she gets it, but the unanimous opinion is that it is the best that exists. "They were a handful of pebbles in the sea. All they could have accomplished was a brief escape from the slavers."

"Yes, but, now I've made them willing slaves. At least, before we came, there was some spirit in them, some human will."

"Human will is vastly overrated." She sipped at her own tea and settled back into the luxuriant throne that she had stolen for her from Versailles. "Look at what the Nazis do with human will; or the Stalinists, or the Hutu, or the Huns, or the Klan. Perhaps, if those Europeans had gained their freedom, they would have created some nightmare state that would make slavery look appealing. It happens quite often in slave cultures that free themselves. Have you ever been in the universe where Spartacus sacked Rome?"

"No, but I saw the America where the Africans rebelled and took over the southern part of the continent. It was a great place."

She waved a hand. "Well, of course, everything exists somewhere." The planewalker's maxim. It explained everything that happened, anything you did. With a couple of words, you could forget having quashed freedom and just settle down to have a nice tea.

It was excellent, as always. Sibala caught me up on what was happening in the major planes. UFO abductions were continuing at a frightening pace in my home plane, which confirmed my good sense at leaving it. The Unicorn Council in the Arthurian plane had started colonizing adjacent planes, something we were all going to have to worry about soon, I think. I don't fancy the idea of Druids taking over everything.

"And, of course, the Aryans continue to try their experiments at breaking through the planes. Our saboteurs have become delightfully subtle in their terrorist tactics." We clinked cups over that one. It was the duty of all sane planewalkers to keep the Nazis in their own plane. "Not much knew happening, otherwise. I saw Ronald come by a few weeks ago. He sends his best."

"How's Nancy?"

"She wasn't with him this time." She smirked into her tea. "A little tiff, I gather. It's possible the ultimate marriage is over."

"I doubt it. Those two are together in every single plane they exist on. Nothing can keep them apart." I had finished my tea, and stood up to stretch. Talking with Sabala is as relaxing as a good massage. "My dear lady, you've worn me out again."

"Just talking?" She pouted at me. "Gabriel, you do so know how to disappoint a girl."

I bent over to kiss her hand. "Just let me get my strength back, Sabala, and I'll show you why I'm looking for the Porno Universe." She slapped my hand, but kept hold of it, and drew my lips down to hers.

After the kiss, she told me, "Perhaps I'll join you there, when you find it."

"Don't tease me, Sabala, you know I'm a weak man." I winked at her and then went over to where I usually stay, a small bedding area next to Sabala's best pool. Having a running love affair with the proprietor does have its advantages. I collapsed on the soft nest, lulled to sleep by the gentle sound of the water in the pool.

In 1966, on this day US President Barry Goldwater refused to comment on fresh allegations made by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Pressure had intensified since former Olympic Champion Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. had gone missing in action on August 1st.	Clay
Father Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. received the tragic news on the same day he received a letter from his son stating ""I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong ... They never called me [racial slur ommitted]". This tragic event follows the untimely demise of a number of prominent civil rights activists, which the NAACP viewed as deeply suspicious. The Reverend Martin Doctor Luther King noted that whilst Senator for Arizon, Goldwater did indeed support the Arizona NAACP and was involved in desegregating the Arizona National Guard. However to reach the White House he had contested the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in order to gain the support of Southern Conservatives opposed to such federal legislation.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

Ozzy	In 2002, the Osbournes Series 1 was interrupted when Ozzy really lost it. Not the somewhat eccentric misbehaviour that powered the show, but lost it, lost it.
Ozzy had suffered a complete loss of sleep the night before. When he arrived on the TV set he look absolutely s-, well lets say the make-up artist was challenged. During the program he started to mumble, and then scream about a black figure in the kitchen with the family. It was crazy, just crazy talk, Ozzy was yelling like the loon he often pretended to be, but this time it was deadly serious.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 2001, Paul McCartney released Wingspan: Hits and History in conjunction with a prime time TV documentary simply called Wingspan. During the interview, McCartney explained the inspiration for forming a Christian band. Whilst all of the Beatles had embraced religion in some form, McCartney surprised many when he announced the decision in 1971. The band name came to McCartney as he was praying in the hospital while Linda was giving birth to their second child together, Stella McCartney.

Wings	Paul McCartney recalled in the film Wingspan that the birth of Stella was "a bit of a drama"; there were complications at the birth and that both Linda and the baby almost died. He was praying fervently and the image of wings came to his mind. He decided to name his new band "Wings".
Stella McCartney later asked her father if he was the same famous 'Paul McCartney' that she had heard about at school. He replied that there is a difference between the public McCartney and the private McCartney, who is "just this Christian kid from Liverpool".
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1945, five Japanese cities were destroyed by nuclear bombs dropped by Allied Planes operating from Free South Australia and New Zealand. Unconditional surrender swiftly followed, and that was when the real problems started.

~ variant from Steve Payne: extensive use of original content has been made to celebrate the author's genius.

In 1918, the timely action of patriots prevented the defeat of Great Britain from a Stab in the Back. During the Spring offensive, The Imperialist newspaper had revealed that 47,000 members of the British establishment were "deviants" secretly working for the Germans. Member of Parliament Noel Pemberton Billing led a successful campaign for "internment", in which citizens of German origin were imprisoned on the West Coast. This policy excluded the British Royal Family who had already fled the Country. The Kaiser was the grandson of Queen Victoria of Britain, and just the suspicion of confused loyalty forced the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (nee Windsor) to abdicate the throne and head for exile in Sweden.

~ entry by Co-Historian Steve Payne

In 2002, RM Muleuch's Twelve Legions of Angels the ghost of Keith Park levels with disgraced Air Marshall Hugh Dowding. To make a success of Big Wing, Dowding must lose the distraction of his loving family.

~ variant from Steve Payne: extensive use of original content has been made to celebrate the author's genius.

	In 1966, Ronnie Harran, the booker from the Sunset Strip Whisky a Go-Go club fired the Doors, terminating the house-band slot they had enjoyed "at the Mecca" since leaving "a pathetic little night club called the London Fog" (Ray Manzarek).
On this particular evening, Morrison didn't show up for the Doors' first set. The band played without him, with Manzarek and the others handling the vocals, but Whisky co-owner Phil Tanzini was furious and demanded Morrison be retrieved in time for the second set. The group found Morrison at his apartment, wearing only his underwear and tripping on acid, and tried to spirit him back to the Whisky by set time. Morrison was completely incoherent and mumbling some crazy “Oedipus Rex” talk about murderous and/or lewd acts with his parents. In hindsight, Ray Manzarek John Densmore and Robby Krieger were relieved that Morrison hadn't introduced the prose as an opening line to "The End". It was an accident waiting to happen. It always was with Jim.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

Castle Bonny	In 1943, movie critics gave a varied response to Castle Bonny which premièred two days before on Broadway. The film was directed by Michael Curtiz, and starred Cary Grant as Dick Blaine and Ingrid Bergman as Ilsa Lund. The rekindled romance between Blaine and Lund was set during Great War II in the Nigerian city of ..
.. Port Harcourt, off the Bight of Bonny – then controlled by the Nazi Protectorate of Britain. Sidney Rosenzweig argued that the most important aspect of the film is its ambiguity, above all in the central character of Dick; he cites the different names which each character gives Dick (Richard, Dicky, Mr Dick, Herr Blaine and so on) as evidence of the different meanings which he has for each person.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1956, delegates of the European Monarchies continued to point #2 of the formal agenda for the Berlin 2 Conference. Most urgent of all was the Congo; an area the size of Western Europe, supplying uranium and secured by the smallest imperial power, Belgium. Security measures to be implemented by collaborative action on shipping ..	Spheres of Infl..
.. had been agreed. Privately, the British and French believed that their larger navies suggested a disproportionate responsibility would rest upon their nations for shipping. They believed that the Germans, with their greater land forces, needed to provide the ground troops for the security of the Congo. Trouble was, cause they trust the Germans not to pilfer the uranium? They had no choice.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

Elbrus	In 1942, on this day soldiers of a Gebirgsjäger (Mountain Troop) division attempted ..
.. to install a Nazi flag atop the Elbrus Mountain in the western Caucasus mountains. Myth held that here Zeus had chained Prometheus, the titan who stole fire from the Gods and gave it to ancient man. An eagle by the name of Ethon would pick at his liver; it would grow back each day and the eagle would eat it again. When news reached Adolf Hitler that a detachment of mountaineers was sent by the general officer commanding the German division to summit Elbrus and plant the swastika flag at its top, he reportedly flew into a rage, called the achievement a "stunt" and threatened to court martial the general. He need not have worried about punishment, Ethon had already taken care of that detail.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1976/1767, a greatly disorientated Alex Haley started to awake from a deep sleep. His senses were invaded by a strong smell of salt, which was not unusual whilst awakening because he often experienced flashbacks to his time as a Coast Guard Officer. Cold too. However what was definitely unusual and in fact ..	Middle Passage
.. impossible to dismiss was the sound of screaming and the agony of his wrists. Startled into full consciousness, Haley opened his eyes. He was in chains on board The Lord Ligonier, being carried to America to be sold into slavery. Oh my God.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

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