Raging

The Violent yet peaceful death of Marvin Lee Aday Part VI ~ Sgt. Davis, of the Dallas Police Department prepared the most stringent security precautions in Dallas' history, so that the demonstrations like those marking the Adlai Stevenson visit in October would not happen again. But Winston Lawson of the Secret Service, who was in charge of the planning, told the Dallas Police not to assign its usual squad of experienced homicide detectives to follow immediately behind the President's car. This police protection was routine for both visiting presidents and for motorcades of other visiting dignitaries. Police Chief Jesse Curry later testified that had his men been in place, the Incident might have been prevented, because they carried submachine guns and rifles to take out any attackers, or at least they might have been able to stop Oswald before he left the building. In the long years that followed, Orvis Wesley Aday had pondered much on this decision. Spoke to hundreds of people in the bars of Dallas. Often late at night when such conversations flow more freely. With tongues loosened by alcohol. Got drunk, blind drunk. His son Marvin and his mother Wilma Artie (Hukel) would drive around to all the bars in Dallas, looking for him to take him home. Hated himself. Hated them.

In 2010, climatic changes around the globe forced CIRCLE (the Center of International Research for the Continuance of Life on Earth), to redefine Category 6 of the Saffir-Simpson Scale. Much like the Richter scale for earthquakes, this potential measure give officials and the public an idea of what to expect from an approaching hurricane. The scale is named after Herbert Saffir, a consulting engineer in Coral Gables, Fla., and Robert Simpson, who was director of the National Hurricane Center from 1967 through 1973. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a scale classifying most Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of "tropical depressions" and "tropical storms", and thereby become hurricanes.

Satellite Photo of Raga Storm

The categories into which the scale divides hurricanes are distinguished by the intensities of their respective sustained winds. The classifications are intended primarily for use in measuring the potential damage and flooding a hurricane will cause upon landfall. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is used only to describe hurricanes forming in the Atlantic Ocean and northern Pacific Ocean east of the International Date Line. Other areas label their tropical cyclones as "cyclones" and "typhoons", and use their own classification scales. Proposals for a Category 6 tropical cyclone were not redefined until 2010. Previously, experts such as Robert Simpson, advised that there was no reason for a Category 6 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale because it is designed to measure the potential damage of the speed of the hurricane above 250 km/h (156 mph). Historian A.A. Attanasio recorded the early work of the self-sufficient scientific community on the southern Peruvian coast known as CIRCLE which operated from 2009 until its causal collapse in 2113. CIRCLE was established to find ways to compensate for the massive morphological changes that began as the earth swung into "Line". The Line was defined as a hypertube; the timelike geodesies which connect the spacefree internal domain of a naked Kerr-singularity (a rotating black hole that is "open" to our universe). CIRCLE mantics first identified the ray of metafrequency energy jetstreaming from the massive black hole at the galactic hub as the Line; earth migrated into the flux of the Line fully in 2113, though the transmuting effects of this atypical energy had been altering the planet for over a century. The collapse of CIRCLE marked the end of the "Kro" culture. Instead the human societies that followed termed a Category 6 hurrician as a "Raga Storm". The use of a term instead of a category is of course indicative of the failure attempt to prescribe solutions to radically altered global environment. It was an acceptance of a new reality.

In 1976, executives of the ABC TV network channel agreed to cancel the planned broadcast of Roots, a television miniseries based on Haley's work Roots: The Saga of an American Family which was due to run in less than eight weeks. To desensitise the issue, the executives had consulted with professor Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. of Harvard University. Dr. Gates acknowledged the doubts about Haley's claims with regard to “Roots”, saying, "Most of us feel it's highly unlikely that Alex actually found the village whence his ancestors sprang. Roots is a work of the imagination rather than strict historical scholarship.”

Molotov and Rib..	In 1945, on this day at the Nuremberg Palace of Justice began the Trial of the Major War Criminals Before the International Military Tribunal. The leadership of the Soviet-German non-aggression pact was prosecuted by Allied military justices. Although officially labelled a "non-aggression treaty", the pact included a secret protocol, in which the independent countries of Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania were divided into spheres of interest of the parties. The secret protocol explicitly assumed "territorial and political rearrangements" in the areas of these countries.
Subsequently all the mentioned countries were invaded, occupied or forced to cede part of their territory by either the Soviet Union, Germany, or both. All of the signatories of the pact were sentenced to death and hung within twelve months. Both Soviet foreign minister Vyacheslav Molotov and the German foreign minister Joachim von Ribbentrop dismissed the verdict as victor's justice.

In 2003, on this day the compendium “A Collection of Political Counterfactuals” was published. Simon Burns' masterful sequel "What if Clinton was watching a football game?" was a keynote contribution, considering the scenario of October 29, 1994: Francisco Martin Duran fired at least 29 shots with a semi-automatic rifle at the White House from Pennsylvania Avenue, outside the south lawn, thinking that Clinton was among the men in dark suits standing there. In Burns plot Clinton was in the White House Residence watching a football game; no one was hurt and Duran was sentenced to 40 years in prison.	Clinton

Snakeyes	In 1963, in the early evening, the strange being known as Snake eyes stood outside a Dallas rooming house owned by Ruth Paine. He knocked on the door, and spoke briefly with a former US Marine who had lodged there for a fortnight only. The following day, the man was to ask a co-worker for a ride to Irving, saying he had to pick up some curtain rods. His teachers would have been astounded to see the calm acquiescence of a character who had been withdrawn and temperamental since early childhood. Those teachers had described a "personality pattern disturbance with schizoid features and passive-aggressive tendencies" and recommended continued psychiatric intervention. You could say that continued psychiatric intervention had been applied; Snake eyes was utilising an advanced form of mind control known to only a dozen people in the United States; eleven of them were in Dallas.

In 1947, the bond between the British Empire and Imperial Germany strengthens when Princess Elizabeth married Louis Ferdinand Hohenzollern, Prince of Prussia at Westminster Abbey in London.

Elizabeth

El Dorado

July 25th, 2007

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The Announcement

Alt-Historian picking back up: We're picking back up on this story today. We'll give you a finish on the story from yesterday as soon as it's finished.

When she told Monica that she was going out for a drink with the reporter, she could see the girl's face practically imploding from holding in the smirk. “I'll be ok,” Monica said to her. “In fact, why don't I spend the night here at Grandpa's. You take all the time you want.”
“It's not going to be like that. It's just a drink.” She looked over at him on the other side of the yard, and he waved. “He probably just wants to get me drunk so I'll start talking about the project.”
“Uh-huh. Men are always gettin' women drunk so that they'll talk more.”
“Shut up.” She looked down at the plain dress she was wearing. “Do I look ok?”
“You could do with some brighter lipstick. Here, I got some in my purse.” She dug into her purse and pulled out a lipstick that could be seen from outer space.
“No, thank you. I'll manage with what I have on.”
“This drives all the boys wild,” Monica said, tauntingly.
“Yeah, when I want to drive 14-year-old boys wild, I'll come see you.” Andrea saw that the reporter and the cameraman were doing some kind of interview with her father. Mr. Ross was looking proudly at his daughter and speaking just softly enough to where she couldn't hear him. “What is he getting daddy to say?”
“Cousin Marvin's the one you don't want him to talk to. He knows all your secrets.”
She looked at Monica suspiciously. “What did Marv tell you?”
“I'm takin' it to the grave.” She snorted a little bit and muttered, “Bloomers.”
Andrea was incensed. “That was once, and we were just having a little fun.”
Monica spread out her hands and backed away. “Hey, I don't need to hear you justify your little kinks, mom.”
“I am going to kill that man.” Andrea looked around the yard, but Marvin was hidden from sight behind other Ross relatives, so he was spared. During her scan of the yard, she saw that her father was done talking to Lance, so she decided to see what he had said. “Monica, don't go too far. I may want to leave pretty soon.”
“We just got here,” Monica whined, but then saw her mother looking at the reporter. “Oh. I understand.”
Andrea ignored her and walked quickly over to her father. “Daddy, what did you say to him?”
“I was just talkin' about how many scholarships you won when you were a girl, and how you always wanted to be an astronomer, cuz I taught you about the constellations when you were tiny.” He put his arm around her and pointed to the sky. “I told him the story about the people in the sky and how you wanted to meet 'em.”
Andrea liked sideways at him. “That story usually takes half an hour.”
“He rushed me.”

In 1941, in British North Africa Loose Cannon Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence was set once again in full action at the centre of memorable events. Churchill called him the man of the moment. Lawrence had not considered himself a man since his capture at Deraa in November 1917. Afterwards he had suffered such terrible nightmares that he had ripped five pages from his war diary in shame. That had not worked either, and then he had turned to John Bruce to suppress the darkness within him, to expidate the disasterous loss of integrity he had suffered that terrible night.

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

Bob Dylan	How does it feel To be on your own With no direction home Like a complete unknown Like a rolling stone? ~ Lyrics to “Like a Rolling Stone” Click to Play Sample
Troubled Genius

"Like a Rolling Stone" was released as a 45 rpm single on July 20, 1965. Dylan gave the song its live debut at the Newport Folk Festival appearance five days later. It was a disaster with Dylan prematurely exiting the stage in tears. Dylan had been booed by fans when he played alongside an electric blues/rock and roll band while headlining the festival. The full lyrics are available at Lyrics Freak

~ quotation by Co-Historian Steve Payne from Counter-history – You're the Judge!

"I sit and wait, does an angel contemplate my fate? And do they know, the places where we go When we're grey and old? 'cos I have been told -
Robbie Williams	That salvation lets their wings unfold So when I'm lying in my bed Thoughts running through my head And I feel the love is dead I'm loving angels instead" ~ Lyrics to “Angels” - Click to Play Sample
Troubled Genius

Following some troubled years, describing his joy at the birth of his daughter with wife Nicol Kidman. The full lyrics are available at MP3 Lyrics

~ quotation by Co-Historian Steve Payne from Counter-history – You're the Judge!

In 1940, Judge Ib Scotlung was given his first assignment by the International Court, to find a peaceful resolution to a border dispute between warring nations in this America of Skrelleland. Tawantiinsuuju was the nation the Inca Empire became without the Spanish strangling it in infancy in 1532. The Spanish themselves were rules by Arabs and Berbers, who had established Dar Al-Harb in the territory Park still thought of as Brazil.

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

In 2009, the TV networks presented episode sixteen of So What If?. Tom Gatch, Jr. interviewed King Julian who talked about forebear George Washington's decision to accept the American crown, and the reasons why his descendants still rule.

~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

Keys to Rebecca	In 1980, Ken Follett published the counter-historical novel ”The Keys to Rebecca”. As Rommel's Afrika Corps advanced to Cairo the secrets that would unlock the doors to Cairo are provided by an agent code-named Sphinx. A group of officers, headed by Gamal Abdul Nassar, and Anwar el-Sadat, secretly side with the Germans, ..
.. ridding Egypt of Britain's presence. In a tribute to Philip K Dick's 1964 counter-factual novel Man in the High Castle, Follett presented a book within a book, 'The Sphinx Lies Heavy'. Set in Britain in 1956, the once-proud nation has been humiliated by President Nasser who has seized the Suez Canal. All because some ten years earlier Britain defended Egypt from the Nazis, and chose not to punish a group of officers, headed by Gamal Abdul Nassar, and Anwar el-Sadat who secretly side with the Germans. Like Dick before him, the essence of Follett's masterpiece is the duality of his frightening visions.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1536, through divination of Muisca rituals brought to Sebastian de Belalcazar in Quito, the Spanish conquistador found the Golden King known as El Rey Dorado. In the deserted city, a supernatural assault by the Muisca demon caused Belalcazar to lose his mind. Subsequent explorers were unable to find El Dorado and the location ..	Sebastián de Be..
.. of the legendary city remains a mystery to this very day.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

King James I	In 1603, James VI of Scotland was crowned first king of Grand Bretagne. This contiguous territory links the French Province Bretagne (also known as Brittany) and the land referred to by Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae (circa 1136) as Britannia major ("Greater Britain"). The term Greater was inserted for clarity ..
.. simply to enable Monmouth to distinguish it from Britannia minor ("Lesser Britain" or Brittany). In no way did the term imply pre-eminence over the French Province.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1934, Nationalist Socialists led by Adolf Schicklegruber assassinated Austrian Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss in a violent coup d'etat. With strong support over the border in Bavaria, the Nazis had some prospect of success in Central Europe during the years of crisis. Whilst Schicklegruber was able to regain some lost pride ..	Engelbert Dollf..
.. since the fall of the Habsburgs, he was powerless to the resist Anschluss (annexation) by Fuehrer und Reichskanzler Kurt von Schleicher of Germany and became a footnote in the history of the Volk.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

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May 3rd-5th

The state of TIAH

Today In Alternate History

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Alternate Historian's Note: It was an eventful trip, but we're finally back, and ready to post again! Today, we'll have posts for May 3rd, 4th and 5th, and will be back to regular posting tomorrow. Thanks for your patience!

May 3rd, 2007

in 1891, the prosecution in General Anthony Franklin's court-martial rests its case after presenting the rather damning evidence present in the reports from the battlefield and the days leading up to it. Franklin's own diary entries about, “Getting that pompous jackanape, Simpson, and making all these rebels pay,” becomes fodder for the prosecutor. In defense, Captain David Danforth reads sections of Franklin's diary recounting his days as a young man during the Civil War, and his zeal in seeking to preserve the United States from, in his words, “traitors who would destroy everything good that we stand for.” Danforth rests his case, and the judges dismiss all present while they deliberate over night.

in 1999, as bombs begin falling on his capitol in Bern, Emperor Pierre of the Central European Empire begins to show the slightest traces of doubt that his master plan is working. The other Illuminati elite, trapped in Switzerland because of the war being brought to them by King Arthur's forces, begin plotting to overthrow Pierre and make a deal with Arthur.

In 2069, after years of Alzheimer degeneration and senility, Gerald Fitzgerald Beltane had cheated death by illegal rejuvenation instigated by his son Jeremy. Bio reads - born 1976, educated to MA degree, and secretary to the Australia First party in 2005. Retired, aged seventy in 2046 on ground of ill health; 2069 undergoes a remarkable transformation into a young man.

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

In 2000, Patricia Vasquez travelled along the Way to fulfill her secret mission to prevent the Death. Only one change in Earth's past which would render the nations sane was achievable by a single christian scientist.

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

Joseph McCarthy	In 1947, Senators Millard Tydings and Joseph McCarthy shared a late night drink together. They briefly reviewed the circumstances of the Tydings Committee. You could say without fear of contradiction that history had taken a rather unexpected turn on D-Day, 1 May 1944. In military language of course D-Day was a term to denote ..
.. the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. The Battle of Normandy was planned for that day, commencing the Western Allied effort to liberate mainland Europe from Nazi occupation during World War II. However, 1 May 1994 was more like Disaster Day and the choice of May Day was both tragically and prophetically appropriate...
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1989, it was evident to but a discerning few that the Western European Monarchies were living on borrowed time. Sure there had been some key moments in the past half millennia where the divine right of kings had, shall we say, wobbled? The storming of the Bastille, the troubles in the Colonies etc. The British Royal households ..	Charles Stuart
.. believed that now the modern world was fundamentally sane. The disease of republicanism had been flushed out of the body politic for good. How wrong they were. And they were just about to find out..
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

Man in the High..	In 1964, Philip K Dick published the counter-factual novel Man in the High Castle. Set in Japan in 1962, the once-proud nation has been reduced to a vassal of the United States with a powerless Emperor. All because some twenty years earlier Japan lost the Pacific war. The essence of Dick's masterpiece is the book within ..
.. the book, 'The Grasshopper Lies Heavy', a work of fiction written by a man called Hawthorn Abendsen. It describes a world where the Japanese won the Pacific war - as a result, it has been banned by the Americans. Given his unpopularity with the world's two great powers, Abendsen is said to live in a heavily fortified home and has become known as "The Man in the High Castle". Critics panned the concept but loved the story. After all, it was predicated on the US Fleet leaving San Diego for Hawaii when Americans overwhelmingly disapproved of war in the Pacific. Today we know that Mr Roosevelt meant it when he said at Boston on October 30 1940: "I have said this before, but I shall say it again and again and again: Your boys are not going to be sent into any foreign wars."
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1946, the International Military Tribunal for the Far East began in Tokyo against 28 American military and government officials accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The accused were led by General of the Army Douglas “Brass Hat” MacArthur who had been seized unexpectedly in the hurried retreat from the Philippines. ..	MacArthur
.. He said he had not expected to come to Japan under these circumstances.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

May 4th, 2007

in 1891, the judges at General Anthony Franklin's court-martial return a verdict of guilty against him, strip him of his rank, and sentence him to life in prison. Franklin is stunned, and weeps openly in the court, while his attorney, Captain David Danforth, vows to appeal directly to the president himself. Unfortunately for the former general, President Harrison is quite pleased with the verdict, and instructs his secretary to ignore Captain Danforth's requests for an appointment. Meanwhile, Governor Silas Trent of Missouri, touring the state to shore up his support after Franklin's Massacre, is set upon by a drunken mob in Jasper County, and killed for his support of the federal troops.

in 1999, Emperor Pierre of the Central European Empire, hearing the bombs fall on his fair capitol, puts in a desperate call to his agent in King Arthur's court, instructing the spy to, “do whatever is necessary, but stop this bombing!” Prime Minister Merl Myrddin, hearing the successful news from the front, decides to celebrate with a drink at his favorite London pub, where he unfortunately lets his guard down. A drug is slipped into his beer, and he disappears into the night. At the same time, labor leaders across western Europe are casting down the CEE's puppet governments and proclaiming themselves leaders of the nations; this has the unfortunate side effect of reducing their support for Sir Lance du Lac's drive to Switzerland. The great knight is forced to slow down his advance and deal with the demands from his allies about respecting their sovereign territory.

In 2069, the Canberra Conference was forced to finally confront overpopulation problems in Australia. A decision was reached to initiate genocide by releasing a finely mutating bacteria manufactured at a secret government institute. Premier Jeremy Beltane cannot accept the decision to use the cull weapon, and has illegally rejuvenated his senile father Gerald, desperately needing his advice and guidance.

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

In 0, a single christian scientist Patricia Vasquez fulfilled her secret mission to prevent the Death by making the only change in Earth's past which would render the nations sane. Vasquez convinced Governor of Palestine Pontius Pilatus to take a principalled stand on his own convictions. Pilatus exercised political leadership, he refused the demands of religious leaders and the mob by setting Rabbi Joshua Ben Joseph free. Vasquez established the common sense precedent, decisions made under pressure were rational, logical but not sane.

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

Joseph McCarthy	In 1947, Senators Millard Tydings and Joseph McCarthy had shared a late night drink together which could by now be safely called an early morning drunk stopover. The slurred topic under consideration continued to be the circumstances of the Tydings Committee. Operation Overlord was master-minded by General Dwight David Eisenhower, ..
.. Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, effectively in overall charge of the Allied forces in Western Europe. General Sir Bernard Montgomery was commander of the 21st Army Group, to which all of the invasion ground forces belonged, and he was also in charge of developing the invasion plan. The initial attack was for five divisions by sea and three by air. That was where theory ended, and the startling truth began.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1989, the British Royal household awoke to somewhat of an unpleasant shock. It appeared that not all of the young people celebrating May Day had gone home peacefully. And some had brought a Goddess of Democracy statue into Hyde Park! Even since the birth of European democracy in Russia with the 1905 Duma, the Western democracies ..	Freedom
.. had pursued a containment policy. They believe in the domino theory, a 20th Century foreign policy that speculated if one land in a region came under the influence of Democracy, then more would follow. But now containment was over, the disease had finally arrived in Great Britain.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

Udham Singh	In 1976, Jack Higgins published the pseudo-factual novel the ”Lion has Landed”. Set in 1940 Udham Singh prepared to assassinate the former Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab, a revenge attack for his authorisation of the events of April 13, 1919 in Jallianwala Bagh. Known as the Amritsar Massacre, imperial troops opened ..
.. fire on an unarmed gathering of men, women and children in an act of unprovoked barbarism, killing 1800 people. In the novel Singh enters Admiralty House to put his plan into action, killing Winston Churchill not realising he has murdered his double George Fowler. Critics ridiculed the far-fetched concept of Churchill gaining Downing Street, let alone surviving a car collision that killed him in New York in 1931. Such a scenario would have required him to be sober after mid morning.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1948, the publication of Norman Mailer's controversial novel 'The Naked and the Dead' was banned by President John Nance Garner . Set in the South Pacific and dealing primarily with a single reconnaissance platoon of riflemen, the novel contains several combat scenes, but focuses on the psychological portraits of the men ..	Naked and Dead
.. in the squad. The tension of the novel derives mostly from the conflict between officers and men, including the lieutenant of the squad and the men under him as well as his superiors. The novel questions the impact of high-ranking officers and their decisions on the outcomes of military campaigns. Garner's justification was that the nation had been traumatised by the horrors of the invasion of Japan. Mailer's novel would distress the 200,000+ US soldiers suffering post-combat disorders.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

May 5th, 2007

in 1891, Lt. Governor Arnold Morgan of Missouri receives the news that he is about to be promoted; he takes the oath of office and then orders a day of mourning across the state for the late governor, Silas Trent. He also reduces Missouri's cooperation in the siege of Kansas, which causes Colonel Theodore Monteith, who has been charged by the Secretary of War with ensuring the success of this endeavor, to send Major Mark Wainwright back to Missouri to convince the new governor to back the military more fully.

in 1999, King Arthur II of Great Britain orders Scotland Yard to find Prime Minister Merl Myrddin, “and spare no expense.” The worried monarch sees victory, so tantalizingly close just days ago, start to slip from his grasp. His queen, the lady Gwen Rivers Pendrake, tells him, “Do not concern yourself, my liege. You have capable men in charge of all your affairs. Sir Lance will prosecute the war, and Scotland Yard will find your prime minister. Let us relax and let them do their jobs.” Arthur wearily agrees, sending word to Sir Lance that he will be in Wales if he is needed.

In 2069, Premier Jeremy Beltane took a fateful decision, briefing the Southern Area Services Commander on the imminent release of the cull weapon. They agree, and choose to destroy the Institute in which the finely mutating bacteria has been manufactured. The Premier's senile father, Gerald Fitzgerald Beltane had been illegally rejuvenated by his son, desperately needing his support. However Gerald is old school and strongly agrees with the use of the cull weapon. Fooling computers with a genetic impersonation of his son, he authorised the launch codes, releasing the bacteria. Genocide sweeps the continent of Australia.

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

In 1945, low flying American and British bombers released thousands of white doves over the City of Tokyo. After several days of behind-the-scenes negotiations the Gozenkaigi (Japanese leadership) decided, in principle, to accept generous proposals for conditional surrender. John Nance Garner had only recently entered the White House following the sudden demise of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The new President was the son of a former Confederate cavalry trooper, famously described by the British journalist Alistair Cooke as the last public man linking America of the Civil War and America of the Nuclear Age. Garner had the gift of perspective resulting from a genuine insight into long-term history. Japan was ready to surrender, and there was absolutely no need to be a damn-fool and usher in apocalyptic weapons to bring the war to a speedy conclusion; best to set up a beacon of liberty to whom the post-war nations would rally.

~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

Joseph McCarthy	In 1947, Senator Joseph Raymond McCarthy of Wisconsin was suffering from a rather extreme hangover having drunk more or less continuously for the past three days. The truth of his investigations however were as sobering as an icy shower. On the morning of 1 May 1944 at H-2 Hour, all eight divisions of Operation Overlord had ..
.. quite simply disappeared. Ridiculous of course, to imagine eight divisions just disappearing, but that was precisely what happened. Continuous radio transmissions had been sent by Eisenhower for many hours afterwards in an increasingly desperate attempt to locate the missing forces. The final message received was elliptic to day the very least – it sounded like 'Caves of Ice'. As he poured himself a black coffee, McCarthy started to feel more upbeat. Both Eisenhower and Montgomery were in DC and amongst the first witnesses to be interviewed – or shall we say, interrogated? - by the Tydings Committee. Fun was sure to be had. After all, why else would he be wasting his time in politics?
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1989, by now the Goddess of Democracy had been in Hyde Park for twenty-four hours. The Security Forces were in an agony of indecision. Democracy had faltered in Great Britain almost exactly 310 years ago when King Charles II had disbanded Parliament. Both James I and Charles I had done likewise but Charles II had finished ..	Charles II
.. Parliament and therefore democracy for all time, or so it was thought. On the one hand, the forced removal of the Goddess could be seen as heavy handed. On the other, it was as insulting as a spit in the face.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

Battle of the W..	In 1864, on this day began the Battle of the Wilderness in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. The Army of the Potomac under the command of Major General George G. Meade, was pulverised by the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. General Robert E. Lee started his final push to the east.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1940, on this day in London, a Norwegian government-in-exile was formed. A better choice of location could have been made. By September, British rule only existed in Canada, with the British Government in Exile, headed by Lord Halifax unexpected guests of the Governor General at his residence in Rideau Hall, Ottawa.	Halifax
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

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Connections

"I had the Bell Telephone Company find him for me. They are wonderful that way. I have this disease late at night, sometimes, involving alcohol.

Kurt Vonnegut	I get drunk .. and then, speaking gravely and elegantly into the telephone, I ask the telephone operators to connect me with this friend or that one, from whom I have not heard in years." ~ Kurt Vonnegut Kurt Vonnegut was a fourth-generation German-American living in easy circumstances on Cape Cod (and smoking too much), who, as an American Infantry Scout hors de combat, as a prisoner of war witnessed the fire-bombing of Dresden. In 1967, Vonnegut needed help with his memories for Slaughterhouse-Five, and decided to contact the crazy Colonel. For the sake of balance in his anti-war diatribe, if nothing else. And just taking up an open offer, after all.
Peacenik

In 1978, it was just about impossible to enter any bar in Toronto without having to endure it at least twice during the course of the evening. Oh yes, we're talking about Plastic Betrand's's crazy French song Ça plane pour moi. Even in Old Toronto, our last anglophone bastion in New France.

Ça plane pour moi	Worse, knowing it was a French rip-off version of the British queer punk anthem Jet Boy, Jet Girl. Talk about adding insult to injury, yet that was our history in this part of the world.
Play

Some of us still hoped for our own nation, New Britain. It wasn't as if there was a shortage of real estate of course. And the language barrier was absurd in one nation. It was like two dogs having a fight under a blanket. The secession vote was only twelve months away. There was still hope for us Brits. Was it possible that the majority of citizens in Ontario would vote to leave New France? Possible - yes? Likely - not a chance.

The Ambassador	In 1962, US President John F Kennedy angrily replaced the red telephone on its cradle on the Resolute Desk. Secretary Nikita Khrushchev had categorically denied Soviet participation in the deployment of nuclear missiles on Cuba. Bobby's back channel communication to Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin had the same, puzzling result. His intercom buzzed and Evelyn Lincoln said in a small voice “Mr President, the Ambassador says he would like to see you”. “And I him” replies Kennedy, starting to stand up, ready for an argument with Dobrynin, until the door opens, and the Ambassador walked in to the Oval Office.

In 1962, during the Turkish Missiles Crisis Strategic Rocket Forces Marshal Mitrofan Nedelin warned Secretary Nikita Khrushchev that some of the US ships in the Gulf of İzmir were probably carrying missiles. In fact on a recent honeymoon to Armenia he had been told by Turkish KGB Agents that the US was planning to deploy missiles in Turkey. Direct military invasion was studied in depth, and an operational plan for pre-invasion bombardment was presented by Red Air Force CINC Colonel-General Braiko. Russian overflights of Turkey airspace and minor harassment at Izmir Naval Base were also the subject of repeated diplomatic notes from Turkey. Privately, Khrushchev believed Kennedy would withdraw the weapons, after all, he had demonstrated weakness over the Bay of Pigs, Berlin and at the Vienna Conference. He had backed down on all three occasions.	Kennedy

Bush	In 1962, CIA Agent George HW started to plan the greatest conspiracy of the twentieth century – to arrange a CIA hit on the President, concealed as a KGB plot. It required an elaborate deception. The murdered US marine Lee Harvey Oswald was being impersonated by Soviet double Alek. The genius of Bush was to recruit a further six doubles who would shuttle between Mexico City, New Orleans, Fort Worth and Dallas to plant crucial evidence of a KGB plot the kill the President. The real plot to kill the President was the CIA's, and it was a punishment hit for failing to authorise air strikes on Cuba, thus abandoning their agents to Cuban Forces at the Bay of Pigs.

In 2007, using advanced techniques demonstrated on International Visit Today In Alternate History Day Rat hacks into the networks of global news agencies. RSS news feeders are intercepted, instead of publishing regular content, alternative history stories are published from TIAH.	Robbie Taylor

Blink

William Butler Yeats	Turning and turning in the widening gyre, the falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart, the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world. Now I know that twenty centuries of stony sleep were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle, And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, slouches towards Bethlehem to be born? ~ The Second Coming by WB Yeats (1916) In 1999, it was almost time. President Boris Yeltsin announced his resignation from the Kremlin on the last day of the century. Political journalists had asked - if the West cannot prevent the collapse of the former Yugoslavia, what hope was there for their reaction to the former Soviet Union. That question was about to be answered.
Poet

In 1943/1943, Henry Deutschendorf, also known as John Denver, was born in Roswell, New Mexico. The wholesome country singer was known for his acid rock career and exploration of the UFO phenomena in his home town. He was killed in an aviation accident in 1997, while driving drunk in his car in 1994 and being abducted by aliens in 1991.

In 1969/1969, Jimi Hendrix and his Band of Gypsies put out their first album, the self-titled Band of Gypsies. Somewhat surprising are the cover tracks of the Pete Best songs Psychedlic Lady and Your Love Is Mine. Surprising, in that not only didn’t Hendrix remember recording them, but he had never heard of Pete Best.

In 1917, the British poet T.S. Eliot published “the Hollow Men” which concluded “This is the way the world ends, not with a bang, but a whimper”. Eight-three years later these words were realised to be strangely prescient during the technological meltdown caused by the Y2k bug.

Millennium Bug

In 1999, the world's computers take their last blink as the worst fears of programmer Linus Torvald are realised.

In 1775, Governor Sir Guy Carleton sued for peace as British defenders of the city of Quebec in Canada laid down their weapons to patriot forces under generals Benedict Arnold and Richard Montgomery. A blizzard had made the city indefensible, and privately, the British had lost interest in staying in Canada due to the country's inclement weather.	Benedict Arnold

Agents	In 2005, agents of the government of (censored) burst into the household. They find a PC133-style computer with the Newsreader Yabadabadoo! open on the YouTube! RSS feed. But no Rat. The revolutionary blogger is still one step ahead of them, and they will have to continue their hunt into the new year.

In 1986, Norman Spinard wrote “He came close to defeat. It might not have been”. Edited by Gregory Benford and Martin H. Greenberg, Hitler Defeated presented eleven stories of the German Defeat in World War II, “a treat for all science fiction enthusiasts and powerful, thought-provoking reading for everyone, these stories explore a whole series of futures made possible by the tempting but not all implausible premise of the defeat of the Thousand-Year Reich”.

Hitler

in 1879/12-13-5-1-12, as Thomas Edison was demonstrating his latest adjustments to the Eddie, a band of Oueztecans warriors broke into his New Jersey showroom. Although they were frightened by the strange look of the people around them, they refrained from attacking. Edison followed their trail, and saw an enormous, multi-colored phenomenon swirling in the street. Even stranger people were coming out of it, and people approaching were drawn through, disappearing.

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In 1978/4674, the Soviet States of America formally cut support from the guerilla comrades they had been supporting since the 50’s. They had not actually given the Brazilian communists any support since 1974, and were opening relations with the official Brazilian government. Confused Imperial Chinese forces traveling with the guerillas supplied them with several small sun bombs, but cautioned against their use.

William Robinson, Jr.	In 1969, on this day William “Smokey” Robinson, Jr. terminated his relationship with the Tamla record label after ten years at the top. Smokey had been one of the primary figures associated with the record label, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy. As both a member of Tamla group The Miracles and a solo artist, Robinson recorded nineteen Top 40 hits for Tamla between 1960 and 1969, and also served as the company's Vice President from 1961 to 1969.
Songwriter

After marrying Claudette Rogers, Robinson started a family, and named both of his children after the record label: his son was named Berry after the company's founder, and his daughter Tamla after the imprint for which Robinson and The Miracles recorded. The Miracles remained a premier Tamla act through most of the 1960s. Albums were released as "Smokey Robinson & the Miracles" after 1965. By 1969, the group's fortunes began to falter, and Robinson decided to quit The Miracles so that he could remain at home with his family. The group stopped recording and Robinson left the group. Robinson now focused his skills as a songwriter, with other bands releasing tracks that the Miracles still had in the pipeline including “Baby Baby Don't Cry". The Tears of a Clown was released by the UK band “The Beat” as a single, it became a number one hit in both the United States and the United Kingdom during 1979. Suddenly, Smokey Robinson was hot again.

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In 1999, the world braces for the end of all computerized activity as society has failed to address the issues brought forward by programmer Linus Torvald and others. As the clock strikes twelve, computers short out all over th