At dawn we slept...in the cab on the way back from Olongapo

[zuluhour]

no radar, no radar, no O'Reilly.

[Cap Mandrake]

*************FOB Mai Tai, Suva*************


FAM: ...right...the new turn point for Fiji-bound convoys will be POINT...eh..<consults code book> OVER. Also known as BEND OVER <snickering in back of room>...OK WHO SAID THAT?

[zuluhour]

I respectfully disagree, Ben Dover has been losing consistently for years. I'm not sure
he's getting the recognition he deserves.

[zuluhour]

Say Cap, how long does a typical turn take for what I assume is a 1-3/4 against 1-5/8 tag team?

Is this still a 2 v 2?

[Cap Mandrake]

If we get 3 turns a week we are absolutely at light speed.

Terrible thing in Paris. Most beautiful city I have ever seen.

[Cap Mandrake]

JJ are coming back.*






*Note clever use of Anglicized plural verb conjugation (even though it is only 1 "JJ" so it should be the singular verb conjugation but who are we to say because they made the thing up)

[Cap Mandrake]

Editrix note: The editorial board wish to commend the writing staff for not stooping to any sexual innuendo, scatological "jokes" or racist generalizations for 5 days. We thank you for raising the level of discourse.

[Cap Mandrake]

Editrix note: The Board has just been informed there have been no additions for 5 days. For this reason, our commendation is being withdrawn.

[Cap Mandrake]

I had to take SG back in for another shoulder surgery (fortunately not her throwing arm or I might have to get a real job).

There was a Spanish speaking woman in pre-op going to have back surgery and possible fusion and the anesthesiologist is trying to take his history with no translator in gringo-Asian Spanish.

It doesn't seem possible but "gringo-Asian" is actually much worse than straight gringo Spanish.


Gringo-Asian anesthesiologist: DOH-lor? <Jalisco woman nods> SEEEN-co or ten? <this is what you call Spanglish where you mix words in the same sentence. True bilinguals do this all the time but I am pretty sure this guy just didn't know the word for "ten". His Spanish skills exhausted he resorts to sign language and pointing and extreme head nods as if increased gesture amplitude will overcome the barrier>

At this point something truly extraordinary happens. A translator appears. It's the woman's adult daughter. The bad news..she has Down syndrome.

Jalisco-womans daughter: Thank you for taking care of my mother. Very nice. <she is super sweet and genuinely grateful as is usually the case with Down syndrome patients>

Gringo-Asian anesthesiologist: <turns to daughter> Can you ask your mother if she has any questions? <FACE PALM> [:o]


Later, the surgeon shows up and tries his Gringo-Arab Spanish. This version is apparently delivered at high volume and low speed to
compensate for the imagined hearing problem or cognitive difficulty.

Gringo-Arab surgeon: DO YOU KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO DO FOR YOU?

[zuluhour]

That must mean I'm playing at.......

[Disco Duck]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

I had to take SG back in for another shoulder surgery (fortunately not her throwing arm or I might have to get a real job).

There was a Spanish speaking woman in pre-op going to have back surgery and possible fusion and the anesthesiologist is trying to take his history with no translator in gringo-Asian Spanish.

It doesn't seem possible but "gringo-Asian" is actually much worse than straight gringo Spanish.


Gringo-Asian anesthesiologist: DOH-lor? <Jalisco woman nods> SEEEN-co or ten? <this is what you call Spanglish where you mix words in the same sentence. True bilinguals do this all the time but I am pretty sure this guy just didn't know the word for "ten". His Spanish skills exhausted he resorts to sign language and pointing and extreme head nods as if increased gesture amplitude will overcome the barrier>

At this point something truly extraordinary happens. A translator appears. It's the woman's adult daughter. The bad news..she has Down syndrome.

Jalisco-womans daughter: Thank you for taking care of my mother. Very nice. <she is super sweet and genuinely grateful as is usually the case with Down syndrome patients>

Gringo-Asian anesthesiologist: <turns to daughter> Can you ask your mother if she has any questions? <FACE PALM> [:o]


Later, the surgeon shows up and tries his Gringo-Arab Spanish. This version is apparently delivered at high volume and low speed to
compensate for the imagined hearing problem or cognitive difficulty.

Gringo-Arab surgeon: DO YOU KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO DO FOR YOU?

I am confused. All the hospitals that I have been to recently have the equivalent of an 800 numbers to access various translators.

[desicat]

ORIGINAL: Disco Duck

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

I had to take SG back in for another shoulder surgery (fortunately not her throwing arm or I might have to get a real job).

There was a Spanish speaking woman in pre-op going to have back surgery and possible fusion and the anesthesiologist is trying to take his history with no translator in gringo-Asian Spanish.

It doesn't seem possible but "gringo-Asian" is actually much worse than straight gringo Spanish.


Gringo-Asian anesthesiologist: DOH-lor? <Jalisco woman nods> SEEEN-co or ten? <this is what you call Spanglish where you mix words in the same sentence. True bilinguals do this all the time but I am pretty sure this guy just didn't know the word for "ten". His Spanish skills exhausted he resorts to sign language and pointing and extreme head nods as if increased gesture amplitude will overcome the barrier>

At this point something truly extraordinary happens. A translator appears. It's the woman's adult daughter. The bad news..she has Down syndrome.

Jalisco-womans daughter: Thank you for taking care of my mother. Very nice. <she is super sweet and genuinely grateful as is usually the case with Down syndrome patients>

Gringo-Asian anesthesiologist: <turns to daughter> Can you ask your mother if she has any questions? <FACE PALM> [:o]


Later, the surgeon shows up and tries his Gringo-Arab Spanish. This version is apparently delivered at high volume and low speed to
compensate for the imagined hearing problem or cognitive difficulty.

Gringo-Arab surgeon: DO YOU KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO DO FOR YOU?

I am confused. All the hospitals that I have been to recently have the equivalent of an 800 numbers to access various translators.

One step closer the the West Coast going full "Blade Runner", now all we need are maniacal cyborgs - oh, and rain.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Disco Duck

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

I had to take SG back in for another shoulder surgery (fortunately not her throwing arm or I might have to get a real job).

There was a Spanish speaking woman in pre-op going to have back surgery and possible fusion and the anesthesiologist is trying to take his history with no translator in gringo-Asian Spanish.

It doesn't seem possible but "gringo-Asian" is actually much worse than straight gringo Spanish.


Gringo-Asian anesthesiologist: DOH-lor? <Jalisco woman nods> SEEEN-co or ten? <this is what you call Spanglish where you mix words in the same sentence. True bilinguals do this all the time but I am pretty sure this guy just didn't know the word for "ten". His Spanish skills exhausted he resorts to sign language and pointing and extreme head nods as if increased gesture amplitude will overcome the barrier>

At this point something truly extraordinary happens. A translator appears. It's the woman's adult daughter. The bad news..she has Down syndrome.

Jalisco-womans daughter: Thank you for taking care of my mother. Very nice. <she is super sweet and genuinely grateful as is usually the case with Down syndrome patients>

Gringo-Asian anesthesiologist: <turns to daughter> Can you ask your mother if she has any questions? <FACE PALM> [:o]


Later, the surgeon shows up and tries his Gringo-Arab Spanish. This version is apparently delivered at high volume and low speed to
compensate for the imagined hearing problem or cognitive difficulty.

Gringo-Arab surgeon: DO YOU KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO DO FOR YOU?

I am confused. All the hospitals that I have been to recently have the equivalent of an 800 numbers to access various translators.

Even worse. We are talking Spanish. Not exactly a niche language. You just have to call for a live translator.

[Cap Mandrake]

***************March 5, 1942(e)**************


N&IC: The surface forces advancing on N&IC appear to be Armed Merchant Cruiser. Not sure if they were at Koumac to pick up troops or eat ammo or some kind of expendable security force.
Leander has been sent in to bombard the AF

Night Time Surface Combat, near Koumac at 113,156, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
AMC Akagi Maru, Shell hits 8, heavy fires
AMC Awata Maru, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CL Leander
DD Stuart
DD Brooks

Evidently, they have no troops aboard.

2 more using up our burets. We do NOT Miss Saigon (Maru)

Night Time Surface Combat, near Koumac at 113,156, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
AMC Bankok Maru
AMC Saigon Maru, Shell hits 7

Allied Ships
CL Leander
DD Stuart
DD Brooks

[Cap Mandrake]

Nightime raid so the Japs can't sleep

Night Air attack on Koumac , at 113,156

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
LB-30 Liberator x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

Runway hits 1

Inbound minelayers. Our guys are out of bullets.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Koumac at 113,155, Range 25,000 Yards. Damn

Japanese Ships
CM Tsugaru
CM Okinoshima

Allied Ships
CL Leander
DD Stuart
DD Brooks

[Cap Mandrake]

Akagi torpedoed!

[Cap Mandrake]

Submarine attack near Belep Islands at 113,154

Japanese Ships
AMC Akagi Maru, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS S-39

Same thing happened in WWII(a or b). I didn't get very excited this time. I'm getting jaded.

[Cap Mandrake]

B-17's over La Foa. One gets shot down. [:(]

Morning Air attack on La Foa , at 114,159

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 3
B-17E Fortress x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 3

[Disco Duck]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

ORIGINAL: Disco Duck

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

I had to take SG back in for another shoulder surgery (fortunately not her throwing arm or I might have to get a real job).

There was a Spanish speaking woman in pre-op going to have back surgery and possible fusion and the anesthesiologist is trying to take his history with no translator in gringo-Asian Spanish.

It doesn't seem possible but "gringo-Asian" is actually much worse than straight gringo Spanish.


Gringo-Asian anesthesiologist: DOH-lor? <Jalisco woman nods> SEEEN-co or ten? <this is what you call Spanglish where you mix words in the same sentence. True bilinguals do this all the time but I am pretty sure this guy just didn't know the word for "ten". His Spanish skills exhausted he resorts to sign language and pointing and extreme head nods as if increased gesture amplitude will overcome the barrier>

At this point something truly extraordinary happens. A translator appears. It's the woman's adult daughter. The bad news..she has Down syndrome.

Jalisco-womans daughter: Thank you for taking care of my mother. Very nice. <she is super sweet and genuinely grateful as is usually the case with Down syndrome patients>

Gringo-Asian anesthesiologist: <turns to daughter> Can you ask your mother if she has any questions? <FACE PALM> [:o]


Later, the surgeon shows up and tries his Gringo-Arab Spanish. This version is apparently delivered at high volume and low speed to
compensate for the imagined hearing problem or cognitive difficulty.

Gringo-Arab surgeon: DO YOU KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO DO FOR YOU?

I am confused. All the hospitals that I have been to recently have the equivalent of an 800 numbers to access various translators.

Even worse. We are talking Spanish. Not exactly a niche language. You just have to call for a live translator.

Well there is Spanish Spanish, Mexican Spanish and Tex Mex Spanish. Quite a bit of difference actually. And now I will stop before I get on a major political rant.[:@]

[Cap Mandrake]

JJ sweeps over Noumea...and kicks out ass

Afternoon Air attack on Noumea , at 115,160

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 23,070 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 54
P-40E Warhawk x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 7 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

In retrospect, we should have attacked over Koumac. Of course, that is with the retrospectooscope. This is at least 41 Zeroes assigned to sweep duty.

Afternoon Air attack on Noumea , at 115,160

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 18 NM, estimated altitude 23,070 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 19
P-40E Warhawk x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 3 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Make that 49

Afternoon Air attack on Noumea , at 115,160

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 67 NM, estimated altitude 24,070 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 6
P-40E Warhawk x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed