OPERATION ABJECT ENCOMIUM

This carries on from yesterday's reflections. I've been thinking lately about the nature of blogging, not mine specifically, but blogging in general. Is it always just going to be a bunch of internet types sitting around snorking on about politics and cats?

Tim Blair, being something of an expert in printed word, once told me that when it comes to blogging, any idiot can thump on a keyboard and churn out a sentence. Anything ranging from the startlingly good to the stunningly stupid. The key to good blogging, he said, is to try to keep it entertaining, informative and, most of all, keep it tight. His opinion, of course, but sound advice; naturally I took no notice whatsoever.

He also said that my style, "conversational", he called it, was difficult to pull off because it relies on getting everything spot-on correct. Getting it RIGHT. Not just the facts, mind you, most every blog has facts, but the style, the syntax, the rhythm, all the words sitting in exactly the right spots. Punctuation, too. And things like italics. Highlighting the wrong word can take A post from brilliant to COMPletely stupid. See what I MEAN?

It's here Chase Me Ladies is the king. It really is the best blog going around. No, really, when it comes to "getting it right", Harry gets it right. Entertaining, informative, conversational, tight and bloody funny. Commas and semi-colons in the right place, too. He knocks all those criteria firmly into a cocked hat.

That said, Australians are uncomfortable with compliments. We're not Americans, you understand. All hugs, closure and "Way to go, man! You the best!" So enough of the sucking up. Polite clap, good show, Harry; you can do better, though.

Anyhoo, codenames.

The other day, Harry was on about codenames. The American do great code names. There's Operation Desert Storm, of course. Grenada was Operation Urgent Fury and Panama, Operation Just Cause. Whatever you think of these engagements, it's hard to ignore the fact that the Yanks at least got the name right. The names have IT. You could release a CD of milk curdling, call it Operation Desert Storm, and it would sell. A reality TV show called Cheesecake: Just Cause would rate.

The Germans, on the other hand, well, their names lacked a certain, shall we say, resonance.

They had some good ones, mind you. Their Christmas offensive in Italy in 1944 was called Winter Thunder (Wintergewitter). Kursk in 1943 was Citadel (Zitadelle). Yugoslavia in 1941 was Punishment (Strafe).

Others, though. Well, the withdrawl from Norway was probably inspired by frostbite; Operation Blackcock (Birkhahn). And their 1945 offensive into Hungary was called Spring Awakening (Fruhlingserwachen). Spring Awakening? They may as well have poonced into Budapest distributing tulips. You'd think with their penchant for precision they'd call it Operation Synchromesh Gearbox, or something like that. Or was that too obvious?

Anyhoo, here is the full list.

On second thoughts; Operation Poundcake? Malaria? Bridge Throw? Maybe they were just taking the piss. Or "Gehen zur Toilette" as the roughnecks like to chortle on the Hamburg docks.

Comments

[James Russell]

Tim's right: any idiot can indeed set up a blog. This is also the biggest problem with blogging, that any idiot can set up a blog and therefore many do.

As for operational codenames, whatever one makes of the Iraq business, there's something kind of flat and literal about "Operation Iraqi Freedom". Desert Storm was somewhat more evocative.

[Adam 1.0]

I cringe at the thought of getting blogging "right" and "wrong". No matter what shit you churn out there's going to be somebody who'll be interested. Even the "OMG! WTF! STD!" kids have each other for company. I like to think that this is the reason I've managed to go on so long and end up with something slightly resembling an 'audience'

There are plenty of blogs that hold absolutely no interest to me but that I can recognise are well written and thought out. Then there's completely shambolic and all over the shop ones that I love.

[Scott Wickstein]

My boss called me 'pedantic' today, and he's right; and I'll prove it again. "Wintergewitter" was the German attempt to relieve their trapped army at Stalingrad at Christmas in 1942.

I think you are right tbough- Australians dont do compliments. I was going to give you a bollocking for that stuff you wrote yesterday. Just to even up the balance.

I mean, you do write okay, but I'd never tell you to your face.

[Yorkshire Soul]

I disagreee, Winter thunder is a great name for an offensive, and probably soon to be used as a PS2 war game name, it would have been slightly better if it had not followed on from 'Autumn Thunder' though.

The worst one has to be 'Harvest Festival', that has all the wrong connotations.

[Tony.T]

Wicky, I think you'll find there was also a Wintergewitter in Italy in 1944 when the Germans counter-attacked at The Arno River.

Stalingrad's planned relief was called Wintergewitter, but was referred to as Winter Storm.

Wintergewitter can be translated as Winter Thunder Storm.

Bit confusing all round, if you ask me.

[Tony.T]

By the way, Mike. I said Winter Thunder was a GOOD name; not bad.

And James, I think you're spot on about "Iraqi Freedom".

Adam, I know it's pointless saying which way is right or wrong, but the getting it right as I used it refers to a specific type of blog; the "conversational" one. Not the OMG crowd or, in fact, any other style in particular.

Then again. This is my blog; I am right.

[Adam 1.0]

What about Operation Cockshafer? How could you take that seriously? I am, however, loving Operation Ball Lightning.

[Tony.T]

Or Piglet.

Or Climber Plant.

Pity they never worked in my favourite animal word; Otter.

[Nabakov]

There's a nice scholarly piece on the subject of operation names here.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/1995/sieminsk.htm

and some operation random tomfoolery here
http://www.ftrain.com/cgi-bin/l_operation.cgi?num_ops=10

[Tony.T]

Excellent stuff, Nab.

Operation Platinum Teacher

That's me, alright.

There's even a/an ...

Operation Frontier Otter

[DJ]

"This is my blog; I am right."

Unless you are not. A solid possibility.

[Brett Pee]

Tom, Dick & Harry ? From the Great Escape ?

[Darlene]

Not convinced there's a right or wrong way to blog.

There's always room for improvement (as my ramblings indicate), but it would be pretty dull if all blogs were the same.

[Scott Wickstein]

Oh, I must admit I never did pay much attention to the Italian campaign.

American code-names do suck.

It is kind of like the opening gambits that chess players use. I'd love to play the 'Fried Liver Attack' more often, myself.

In fact that would be a brilliant name for a military offensive as well.

[Pierre]

This is an excellent weblog, you've nothing to be ashamed of.

'Overlord' was a good name. It might be a mistake to have operation names that sound like an attempt to justify the operation - 'Operation: We Really Had no Choice, Honest'.

[Simon]

That list has Germans, Japs, what about the Italian ops ? -
Operation Turncoat,Operation Flounder, Code Name Scaredy Cat, Project Easy Beat(the Abyssynian Campaign). I could go on and on.

[Harry Hutton]

Oh, shucks, Tone.

It’s true that many blogs are idiotic, but then so are a lot of telephone calls. It is not the medium that is at fault.

By the way, I hear that the Iraqis are getting fed up with all these “desert” codenames. What happened to the fertile crescent?

[Tony.T]

I don't think they count here, Brett.

Many would also be less dull if they were better, though, Darlene.

Bit of a King's Indian man, myself, Wicky. Or if I'm feeling wild, Ruy Lopez.

Thanks, Pierre. How about Operation Sorry? It would play well down the ages. It would work if you won OR you lost.

Harsh, Simon, but fair. Operation Only In Reverse, perhaps?

Too true, Harry. I'm scared of telephones, you know. Bastard things.

Operation Fertile Cresent sounds fine to me. Is that where Iran is?

[pat]

If the Bomber gets up I reckon we could send out some envoys for "Operation Grovelling Appeasement" for all Mein Howards' nastiness.

When we get miffed with things we can initiate a UN joint venture in "Operation Feeble Chastisement": a multi-prongued letter and street theatre campaign signifying our slight annoyance.

[James Russell]

What about Operation Cockshafer?

I thought that was the name of Darp Hau's anti-Nazi campaign...

[Tony.T]

I've got the supplies in and am about to embark on Operation Friday Night Footy.

[Brett Pee]

Thank God its back. Seen us v Fremantle and a large crowd in the Wizard. Huge crowd. Huge Expectations. Huge Disappointment.

Farmers a drop dead drongo.

[Big Ramifications]

Tim Blair's blog has gone to shit. I've gone from daily lurker to once a month if yer lucky. He only seems to talk about 3 things ad infinitum, there's too much hate, he's never wrong, and his comments section is the BIGGEST circle jerk in the RWDB blogoshpere.

If anyone so much as only 99% agrees with Tim Blair, there's hundreds of his kowtowing minions ready to jump on your ass in the comments section, all vying to see who can blow the most smoke up his ass. If anyone sticks up for themselves and makes too good a case and refuses to back down, then expect to have your IP blocked.

Which brings me to his "administrator" Andrea Harris. Don't get me started on that psycho moll.

(ps: Great blog, TT. No hate. Lotsa puns. Lotsa wit. Lotsa variation (what will it be today? WWII naval history? cricket? Victorian politics? navel gazing? music? films? law and order...?)

[Brett Pee]

A heck of a lot of grovelling going on there Tony- is the above a close relation of yours ? Victorian politics is TOO bland, i'm sure you agree to be a regular blogging subject. If you lived over here it would dominate your site.

[Tony.T]

I agree he's (Andrea?) is far too quick to ban, Big.

There is hate, though. I hate the Eagles. Hate. Hate. Hate.

Grovelling is allowed, Brett.

Go 'mons!

[Brett Pee]

I kinda sense that you have an almost inbred hostility and a rather irrational hatred of the sunshine state Tony. Explain.

[Tony.T]

Allow me to explain it mathematically, Brett.

(I'm a Victorian) + (I used to live in WA)

= Footy Nightmare

Try putting up with the WA media if you're not a parochial 'Groper.

[Tony.T]

Chris Mainwairing did Lotto, dammit!!