day sixty-nine (13. 410)

Despite and exchange of fire between Iranian assets and US warship—and more attacks on Emirati territory—rattling world markets as hope evaporates for a quick resolution and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Trump insists that the ceasefire is holding, “Yeah, it is. They trifled with us today. We blew them away. They trifled. I call that a trifle.” The Revolutionary Guard set up a new government agency with the charter to administer toll and vet vessels transiting through the vital waterway, fifteen hundred ships remain stranded in the gulf. Iran further reports of drone interception near the city of Bandar Abbas and the strait island of Qeshm. Lebanon and Israel have scheduled a new round of peace negotiations, whilst Tehran has yet to commit to or comment on further talks. US secretary of state Marco Rubio meets with the Pope at the Vatican to discuss a “durable” deal to iron out differences between the American president and pontiff.

synchronoptica

one year ago: Germany observes the eightieth anniversary of Victory in Europe day (with synchronopticæ), habemus papam plus assorted links worth the revisit 

thirteen years ago: the AKK Conflict between Hessen and Rheinland-Pfalz plus the Schlachthof of Wiesbaden

fourteen years ago: austerity imposed in Greece plus colony collapse

fifteen years ago: wagging the dog plus houseplants in bloom

one nation underground (13. 409)

Beginning their studio recording session on this day in 1967 for their debut record, recently signed to ESP-Disk of New York City, the psychedelic folk garage band—the group’s name from the Book of Matthew passage “Give not that which is holy unto dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine,” meaning do not cede things of value to those who will not understand or appreciate them, the concept album of tracks on the themes of protest, elan and mysticism was quickly mired in controversy, leading to many stations banning it from airplay. A troop of boy scouts correctly deduced that in the song “(Oh dear) Miss Morse,” the chorus was coded with the expletive f-u-c-k, prompting the scout master to phone in a complaint. Despite not receiving any royalties from the label after selling two hundred thousand copies, Pearls Before Swine remained with ESP for their next album the following year, Balaklava, inspired by Charge of the Light Brigade with strong anti-war themes against involvment in Vietnam. With eclectic instrumentation, sampling from classical recordings, literary references ranging from Herodotus to Tolkien and album art featuring Bosch and Bruegel, the band kept producing new music and garnered quite a cult following.

baby, if you’ve ever wondered—wondered what became of me, i’m living on the air in cincinnati—cincinnati, wkrp (13. 408)

With programming already similar to the classic rock roster of the original sitcom, we learn from veteran disc-jockey Miss Cellania that an Ohio-based radio network recently acquired the call letters of a small station with limited range in North Carolina auctioning off its broadcast identifier to raise funds (sad to learn that they were in financial straits, like the fictional station, but at least it wasn’t a struggling NPR affiliate). Airing only for four seasons on CBS from 1978 to 1982 (in the timeslot following M*A*S*H—the transmission tower featured in the opening credits actually belonged to local NBC channel, WLWT), it achieved unexpected success in syndication, the show featured Gary Sandy and Lori Anderson with an ensemble cast of hosts and personalities, Gordon Jump, Howard Hesseman, Richard Sanders, Tim Reid, Jan Smithers, running a small AM station that catered to contemporary radio Top 40 hits. I recall the reruns and when it was added to the Nick-at-Nite line up—but due to licensing difficulties, the latter iteration was without the songs, which could be the best parts, edited around the music, replacing them with public domain stock-tracks or dubbing in extra dialogue and no one wants to encourage a chatty DJ.  I swear I thought turkeys could fly!

day sixty-eight (13. 407)

As the assault continues in Lebanon—with a small moment of unexpected joy for local priests when the Pope jumped in on their Zoom call to lift their spirits with tidings of peace coming soon for the border region—Israel claimed no foreknowledge of the Trump administration’s predictions of imminent settlement and were poised to resume air raids in the Iranian theatre. Apparently Trump reversed action on Project Freedom over objections from Riyadh and denying US forces use of Saudi bases and airspace to carry out escort operations. Still blocking Iranian ports, Trump claims Tehran is desperate to make a peace deal, threatening another ultimatum to agree to his terms within forty-eight hours or strikes will resume. Global demand for oil is falling at the fastest rate outside of the COVID pandemic when the price briefly turned negative, through derivatives products like gasoline and fertiliser continue to climb. Damage sustained by US assets and infrastructure in the gulf region has been underreported, with major repairs needed at American military installations.

synchronoptica

one year ago: anticipatory austerity (with synchronopticæ), the giallo genre plus assorted links to revisit

fourteen years ago: diplomatic dysfunction plus France’s new president

why send a unit when you already had a ghost? (13. 406)

Our gratitude to MetaFilter for directing us towards this captivating long-form cloak-and-dagger interview with the unlikely political saboteur, Rodney Wilkinson, Olympic fencer and veteran of the apartheid regime’s secret war with Angola who successfully planted four bombs in South Africa’s under construction Koeberg nuclear power station in December of 1982, pulled the pins on the detonators and bicycled away, covert until 1995—initially the RAF was blamed. The damage, costing an estimated half-a-billion rand (when the currency was at parity with the US dollar) set the programme back eighteen-months before the reactor—still the continent’s only one—could be repaired and brought online, and the attack was organised by uMkhonto we Sizwe, the paramilitary wing of the African National Congress (ANC) in exile—founded by the then imprisoned Nelson Mandela after the massacre of ninety-one demonstrators protesting racial segregation in Sharpeville Township. Intelligence for the sabotage came from anti-apartheid activist Renfrew Leslie Christie (*1949 - †2025) who went on to further thwart South Africa’s nuclear ambitions, undermining its clandestine project to develop an atomic arsenal—best known for his defiant quote, referencing his family members whom had died fighting against the Third Reich: “I learned from them very early that what one does with Nazis is kill them.”

day sixty-seven (13. 405)

After announcing a pause on US plans to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz, the Revolutionary Guard announces that it could reopen the vital waterway to tanker traffic if the US were to end its blockade. Although sticking points won’t be resolved in a single round of talks, Pakistani go-betweens suggest that indirect negotiations have continued and that a peace deal may be close. In response to US sanctions on members of the International Criminal Court, Spanish prime minister Sánchez has requested the European Commission to impose its blocking statue (trade bazooka) to pressure America to stop intimidating the justices by enabling Europe to ignore the US embargo. The penalty was imposed on the court in response to its 2024 issuing of warrants for the Israeli prime minister and former defence minister for actions in Palestine. The UN is demanding the release of activists detained after their aid flotilla was intercepted off the coast of Gaza. The destruction of Hezbollah infrastructure continues in southern Lebanon.

synchronoptica

one year ago: planned tariffs for foreign cinema (with synchronopticæ) plus The Little Screw

thirteen years ago: a Bulli AT-AT plus feline toxoplasm

sixteen years ago: sovereign default plus in pursuit of a mad bomber

seventeen years ago: pollen in the air 

the house of mouse (13. 404)

Via Messy Nessy Chic, we are directed towards this illustrated strategic plan and sales pitch (click to embiggen) that Walt Disney presented to investors in 1957 showing revenue streams and how the company would work just as the empire was forming, Disneyland opening just two years prior, financed in part by syndicated anthology series, the Mickey Mouse Club—the variety show for children also a talent pool for the studio’s live-action stars, and a mini-series on frontiersman Davy Crockett with a tie-in ballad becoming a best-selling record. The entire juggernaut of merchandising (coonskin caps included) was complete and unprecedented, becoming firmly ensconced in American and later worldwide culture.

day sixty-six (13. 403)

Despite the apparent desire for a show of force and to embarrass Tehran by demonstrating that they do not have a chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz (the blockade of the blockade continuing nonetheless as the naval siege remains in place on Iranian ports), Trump has announced a pause of “Project Freedom,”
the US plan (only begun on Monday as a favour to the world) to escort stranded commercial ships out of the waterway and into the Persian gulf—pausing the sealift for a short time to allow negotiations and finalise a settlement to end the frozen conflict. For the second day in a row, petroleum assets in the United Arab Emirates came under drone and missile fire, though Iran denies responsibility for the attacks.

synchronoptica

one year ago:  a controversial visit to a war memorial in Bitburg (with synchronopticæ) plus a music appreciation society