#Robert Carlin

[nerds-yearbook]

In 1805, Napoleon was accidentally picked up by Time Travelers Bill and Ted and dropped off in 1988. While the time travelers were picking up other historical figures Billy the Kid, Socrates, Sigmund Freud, Beethoven, Joan of Arc, Genghis Kahn, and Abraham Lincoln, Napoleon spent his time bowling, eating ice cream and going to a water park in San Dimas, CA (Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Flm)

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Victor Hugo. Haruki Murakami. Zadie Smith. Emma Goldman. Margaret Atwood. Wang Wei. Milan Kundera. Madeleine Thien. Henry David Thoreau. George Carlin. Alexandre Dumas. Robert Frank.

[elidee-art]

So, I learned that to my wife's discord friends, I'm "the husband that likes pirates"

So I will occasionally be sent stuff like this and you know what, hell yeah

This is the first proper art I've done in months and I think that's beautiful

[politicaldilfs]

Kansas Governor DILFs

Bill Graves, Frank Carlson, Jeff Colyer, Frank L. Hagaman, Robert Docking, George Docking, Andrew Frank Schoeppel, Edward F. Arn, John W. Carlin, John McCuish, Fred Hall, John Anderson Jr., Mark Parkinson, Alf Landon, Mike Hayden, Sam Brownback, Payne Ratner, William H. Avery

[theahole]

a wide variety

New stuff in my used book etsy!

First edition! Also, look at this:

You can find these here: https://talesresold.etsy.com Please read item description before ordering!

[nevada-b-1780]

Timeless re-rewatch - s1e02 (because I have no willpower)

Th Assassination of Abraham Lincoln: so a lot of the US eras/events that Timeless visited, I didn't know much about, being a Brit. However, I did know a fair bit about Abraham Lincoln's end which helped in this ep.

As someone with a keen interest in historical fashion and an occasional costume maker, I love that we get to see Jiya helping Lucy into her 1860s undergarments 👍

Paperweights - you think Connor? 😆

I do love the Timeless intro with the date travelled to each ep featured. Simple but effective.

I like the plotline with Rufus (or Denzel Washington 😁) and the soldiers of colour.

First sighting of Karl, yay! Followed by the the world's worst Irish accent and the world's worst game of Operation 😆

Lucy goes tovthe train station and gets a date for the evening, but there's still more chemistry in the following scene with Flynn, even when they are yelling at each other 😁

Love that dress on Lucy, really want to make a cosplay of that one day 😍

I was unaware of the plot to kill Grant and Seward alongside Lincoln, so that was interesting to learn on first viewing.

The show is certainly not afraid of making Flynn the definitive bad guy at this point, making him kill Abraham Lincoln sermed a bold move! I love that Lucy managed to foil his attempts to change the timeline by killing , even though she's about half his size! The looks on both of their faces when he bursts in though 😱

"I wish I could have saved your father" "There was nothing you could have done" Guilt trip!

The paperweights seem to be working well 😁

I love the looks at the revised histories that they do in most eps and how members of the timeteam sometimes appear in them.

Double bombshell for Lucy at the end 😱😱 She deals with having a sudden fiance she's never met before way better than I would have done!

Starting to get bad vibes about Carol Preston there too 😒

[duranduratulsa]

[tracyorama]

[darkmaga-returns]

Kash Patel, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for FBI director, has released a list of 60 “deep state” adversaries he plans to target immediately when he begins his role next year.

The list, which includes President Joe Biden and network analysts, is detailed in his 2022 book Government Gangsters.

In the book’s appendix, titled “Members of the Executive Branch Deep State,” Patel lists those names alphabetically but acknowledges that the list is not exhaustive.

Patel said other “corrupt actors” could include Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Senator-elect Adam Schiff (D-CA), ex-congressman Paul Ryan, author of the Trump-Russia Steele Dossier Christopher Steele.

Patel also reassures the public he will be going after “the entire fake news mafia press corp.”

Here’s the list:

Michael Atkinson – Former inspector general of the intelligence community Lloyd Austin – Secretary of Defense under President Joe Biden Brian Auten – Supervisory intelligence analyst, FBI James Baker – Former general counsel for the FBI and Twitter executive Bill Barr – Former attorney general under Trump John Bolton – Former national security adviser under Trump Stephen Boyd – Former chief of legislative affairs, FBI Joe Biden – President of the United States John Brennan – Former CIA director under President Obama John Carlin – Former DOJ national security division head under Trump Eric Ciaramella – Former National Security Council staffer Pat Cipollone – Former White House counsel under Trump James Clapper – Former director of national intelligence under Obama Hillary Clinton – Former Secretary of State and presidential candidate James Comey – Former FBI director Elizabeth Dibble – Former deputy chief of mission, U.S. Embassy, London Mark Esper – Former Secretary of Defense under Trump Alyssa Farah – Former strategic communications director under Trump Evelyn Farkas – Former Pentagon official under Obama Sarah Isgur Flores – Former DOJ communications head under Trump Merrick Garland – Attorney General under Biden Stephanie Grisham – Former White House press secretary under Trump Kamala Harris – Vice President and former presidential candidate Gina Haspel – Former CIA director under Trump Fiona Hill – Former National Security Council staffer Curtis Heide – FBI agent Eric Holder – Former attorney general under Obama Robert Hur – Special counsel for Biden document investigation Cassidy Hutchinson – Former assistant to Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows Nina Jankowicz – Former head of Biden’s Disinformation Governance Board Lois Lerner – Former IRS official under Obama Loretta Lynch – Former attorney general under Obama Charles Kupperman – Former deputy national security adviser under Trump Gen. Kenneth McKenzie (Ret.) – Former CENTCOM commander Andrew McCabe – Former FBI deputy director Ryan McCarthy – Former Secretary of the Army under Trump Mary McCord – Former DOJ national security division head Denis McDonough – Former Obama chief of staff, current VA secretary Gen. Mark Milley (Ret.) – Former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Lisa Monaco – Deputy attorney general under Biden Robert Mueller – Former FBI director and Russiagate special counsel Bruce Ohr – Former DOJ official under Obama and Trump Nellie Ohr – Former CIA employee Lisa Page – Former FBI counsel Pat Philbin – Former deputy White House counsel under Trump John Podesta – Former Obama adviser, current Biden climate adviser Samantha Power – Former U.N. ambassador under Obama, current USAID administrator Bill Priestap – Former FBI counterintelligence chief Susan Rice – Former Obama national security adviser Rod Rosenstein – Former deputy attorney general under Trump Peter Strzok – Former FBI counterintelligence agent Jake Sullivan – National Security Adviser under Biden Michael Sussman – Former DNC lawyer Miles Taylor – Former DHS official under Trump Timothy Thibault – Former FBI agent Andrew Weissman – Mueller’s Russiagate deputy Alexander Vindman – Former National Security Council official Christopher Wray – Current FBI director under Trump and Biden Sally Yates – Former deputy attorney general under Obama Adam Schiff – Senator-elect and former House Intelligence Committee chairman

Earlier this month, Patel announced the “massive declassification” of troves of information ranging from the Jeffrey Epstein files to the “P Diddy” list.

Patel told Conservative podcast host Benny Johnson that releasing documents that implicate the Department of Justice and FBI for their illegal surveillance of over 250,000 Americans.

[seoul-bros]

What lies ahead

Magnate posted photos of Jimin's basic training graduation on Instagram in which Jimin received the Division Commander Commendation. He and Jungkook worked hard and made a positive impression on their trainers and fellow trainees in the last five weeks.

"Hello, I'm ZM-illennial (メグナット) Did everyone bring an umbrella? Like it's going to rain soon It's cloudy, so for those who have been waiting for news of rain, we hope you have a moist day with our condolences to those who are worried.

If it's long, it's long, and if it's short, it's short. It's over, thanks to your support and constant interest and love, 1 year and 5 months is a long time, but it can also be a short time. ARMY was a great help Thank you from the bottom of my heart"

It's an inflection point in their military life and now the hard slog of soldier's duties begins. They will reportedly be assigned to one of the units of the artillery brigade.

It makes me nervous knowing that they and their fellow graduates are serving in the military at such a dangerous moment. It was chilling to read this news posted on the BBC website yesterday.

In a report published last week for 38 North, a US-based organisation with a focus on North Korea, former State Department official Robert Carlin and nuclear scientist Siegfried S Hecker said they saw the situation on the Korean Peninsula as "more dangerous than it has ever been" since the start of the Korean War in 1950.

"That may sound overly dramatic, but we believe that, like his grandfather in 1950, Kim Jong Un has made a strategic decision to go to war," it said.

"We do not know when or how Kim plans to pull the trigger, but the danger is already far beyond the routine warnings in Washington, Seoul and Tokyo about Pyongyang's 'provocations'."

No one will benefit from a fresh outbreak of war on the Korean peninsula and BTS members are now on the front line of any aggression. Although it is difficult to see at the moment, I hope there is a way back from the brinkmanship that currently characterizes North-South relations.

Post Date: 18/01/2024

[nerds-yearbook]

In 1810, Beethoven was taken to the future along with historical figures Napoleon, Billy the Kid, Socrates, Sigmund Freud, Joan of Arc, Genghis Kahn, and Abraham Lincoln by time travelers Bill and Ted. In 1988 they spent the day in San Dimas, CA (Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Flm)

[jadeseadragon]

“Never underestimate the power of human stupidity.”

~ Robert A. Heinlein

"Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups."

~ George Carlin

[randomlyrandoms]

Celebrity Deaths 2023 (Continue)

JULY

Vincenzo D'Amico - July 1 (Soccer Player)

Meg Johnson - July 1 (Soap Opera Actress)

Jo Lindner - July 1 (Bodybuilder / Instagram Star)

Robert Lieberman - July 1 (Director)

Frank Field - July 1 (Meteorologist)

Jeno Jando - July 4 (Pianist)

George Tickner - July 5 (Rock Singer)

CoCo Lee - July 5 (Pop Singer)

Stephen M. Silverman - July 6 (Editor)

Jeffrey Carlson - July 6 (Stage Actor)

Peter Nero - July 6 (Pianist)

Joseph Chebet - July 7 (Runner)

Nikki McCray - July 7 (Basketball Player)

Ozkan Ugur - July 8 (Pop Singer)

Manny Coto - July 9 (Screenwriter)

Andrea Evans - July 9 (Movie Actress)

Mikala Jones - July 9 (Surfer)

Luis Suarez Miramontes - July 9 (Soccer Player)

Tommy Moller Nielsen - July 10 (Soccer Player)

C.R. Roberts - July 11 (Football Player)

Milan Kundera - July 11 (Novelist)

Nick Koster - July 12 (Rugby Player)

Ryucheru - July 12 (Model)

Andre Watts - July 12 (Pianist)

Heide Simonis - July 12 (Politician)

Danielle Ballard - July 13 (Basketball Player)

Josephine Chaplin - July 13 (Movie Actress)

Carlin Glynn - July 13 (TV Actress)

Edward Hume - July 13 (Screenwriter)

Gustavo Badell - July 13 (Bodybuilder)

Nick Benedict - July 14 (Movie Actor)

Haley Odlozil - July 14 (Activist)

Annabelle Ham - July 15 (YouTube Star)

Cody Ince - July 15 (Football Player)

Justyn Vicky - July 15 (Fitness Influencer)

Elise Finch - July 16 (Reporter)

Jane Birkin - July 16 (Movie Actress)

Harry Frankfurt - July 16 (Philosopher)

Luigi Bettazzi - July 16 (Religious Leader)

Linda Haynes - July 17 (Movie Actress)

Miller Farr - July 18 (Football Player)

Oommen Chandy - July 18 (Politician)

Shintaro Yokota - July 18 (Baseball Player)

Dedric Willoughby - July 19 (Basketball Player)

Olivia Knighton - July 19 (Family Member) *Brad Knighton's Daughter*

Bill Geddie - July 20 (TV Producer)

Tony Bennett - July 21 (Pop Singer)

Ron Sexton - July 21 (Comedian)

Zhanna Samsonova - July 21 (Vegan Influencer)

Vince Hill - July 22 (Pop Singer)

Pamela Blair - July 23 (Movie Actress)

Hugh Carter Jr. - July 23 (Businessman)

Inga Swenson - July 23 (TV Actress)

Trevor Francis - July 24 (Soccer Player)

Tony John Priscott - July 24 (Soccer Player)

George Alagiah - July 24 (TV Show Host)

Leny Andrade - July 24 (Jazz Singer)

Bo Goldman - July 25 (Screenwriter)

Jani Allan - July 25 (Journalist)

Sinead O'Connor - July 26 (Rock Singer)

Randy Meisner - July 26 (Rock Singer)

Alan Hugh Schoen - July 26 (Physicist)

Martin Walser - July 28 (Novelist)

Marc Gilpin - July 29 (Movie Actor)

**Paul Reubens - July 30 (TV Actor)

Betty Ann Bruno - July 30 (Journalist)

Angus Cloud - July 31 (TV Actor)

Jess Search - July 31 (Filmmaking)

Joseph Gardiner - July 31 (Rugby Player)

Carol Duvall - July 31 (TV Show Host)

Surat Huseynov - July 31 (Politician)

AUGUST

David Le Batard - Aug. 1 (Multimedia Artist)

Sheila Oliver - Aug. 1 (Politician)

Clifton Oliver - Aug. 2 (Stage Actor)

JM Canlas - Aug. 3 (TV Actor)

Carl Davis - Aug. 3 (Composer)

Mark Margolis - Aug. 3 (TV Actor)

John Gosling - Aug. 4 (Keyboard Player)

Joan Kors - Aug. 5 (Family Member) *Michael Kor's Mother*

Gillies Gilbert - Aug. 5 (Hockey Player)

Bryan Randall - Aug. 5 (Photographer)

Jim Price - Aug. 7 (Baseball Catcher)

Casper - Aug. 7 (DJ)

William Friedkin - Aug. 7 (Director)

Aracy Balabanina - Aug. 7 (Soap Opera Actress)

Sixto Rodriguez - Aug. 8 (Folk Singer)

Johnny Hardwick - Aug. 8 (Voice Actor)

Shelley Smith - Aug. 8 (TV Actress)

Sean Dawkins - Aug. 9 (Football Player)

Robbie Robertson - Aug. 9 (Rock Singer)

Hugh Segal - Aug. 9 (Author)

George Kolasa - Aug. 9 (Luxury Fashion Executive)

Brice Marden - Aug. 9 (Painter)

Doreen Mantle - Aug. 9 (TV Actress)

Caleb White - Aug. 10 (Basketball Player)

Carl DeSantis - Aug. 10 (Entrepreneur)

Paige Gaal - Aug. 10 (TikTok Star)

Adonis Beck - Aug. 10 (TikTok Star)

Adrian Estrada - Aug. 10 (YouTube Star)

Shoji Tabuchi - Aug. 11 (Violinist)

Tom Jones - Aug. 11 (Pop Signer)

Darren Kent - Aug. 11 (TV Actor)

Kathryn Hoedt - Aug. 12 (Producer)

Robert Rorke - Aug. 12 (Editor)

Helen Smart - Aug. 12 (Swimmer)

Alex Collins - Aug. 13 (Football Player)

Magoo - Aug. 13 (Rapper)

Randy Minniear - Aug. 13 (Football Player)

Clarence Avant - Aug. 13 (Business Executive)

Zyquan Mitchell - Aug. 13 (TikTok Star)

Rodion Amirov - Aug. 14 (Hockey Player)

Bobby Baun - Aug. 14 (Hockey Player)

Lea Garcia - Aug. 15 (Movie Actress)

Jerry Moss - Aug. 16 (Trumpet Player)

Renata Scotto - Aug. 16 (Opera Singer)

Michael Parkinson - Aug. 16 (Radio Host)

Clancy Brown - Aug. 16 (Movie Actor)

Haruki Noguchi - Aug. 16 (Road Racer)

Kris Nova - Aug. 16 (Writer)

Rick Jeanneret - Aug. 17 (Radio Host)

Brady Larson - Aug. 17 (Race Car Driver)

Rose Gregorio - Aug. 17 (TV Actress)

Nathaniel Horn - Aug. 18 (Family Member) *Robin Kelly's Husband*

Ray Hilderbrand - Aug. 18 (Pop Singer)

Ashlea Albertson - Aug. 18 (Race Car Driver)

Nancy Frangione - Aug. 18 (Soap Opera Actress)

James L. Buckley - Aug. 18 (Politician)

Sarah Lawson - Aug. 18 (Movie Actress)

Ron Cephas Jones - Aug. 19 (TV Actor)

John Warnock - Aug. 19 (Entrepreneur)

Maxie Baughan - Aug. 19 (Football Player)

Jori Jones - Aug. 20 (Hockey Player)

David Jacobs - Aug. 20 (Screenwriter)

Reggie Chaney - Aug. 21 (Basketball Player)

Elizabeth Hoffman -Aug. 21 (TV Actress)

Joe Muchlinski aka VonViddy - Aug. 21 (TikTok Star)

Alejandra Villafane - Aug. 21 (Pageant Contestant)

Rene Weller - Aug. 22 (Boxer)

Nathen Louis Jackson - Aug. 22 (Producer)

Toto Cutugno - Aug. 22 (Pop Singer)

Terry Funk - Aug. 23 (Wrestler)

Steve Sidwell - Aug. 23 (Football Coach)

Hersha Parady - Aug. 23 (TV Actress)

Bob Feldman - Aug. 23 (Songwriter)

Katera Couch - Aug. 23 (Instagram Star)

Yevgeny Prigozhin - Aug. 23 (Criminal)

Bray Wyatt - Aug. 24 (Wrestler)

Arleen Sorkin - Aug. 24 (TV Actress)

Bernie Marsden - Aug. 24 (Guitarist)

*Bob Barker - Aug. 26 (Game Show Host)

John Kezdy - Aug. 26 (Punk Singer)

Faye Fantarrow - Aug. 26 (Songwriter)

MC Marcinho - Aug. 26 (Funk Singer)

Joe The Plumber - Aug. 27 (Activist)

Pat Corrales - Aug. 27 (Coach)

Jonathan Sheppard - Aug. 27 (Trainer)

Ray Jacobs aka August 08 - Aug. 28 (Songwriter)

Len Chandler - Aug. 28 (Folk Singer)

Tina Howe - Aug. 28 (Playwright)

Mike Enriquez - Aug. 29 (TV Show Host)

Jamie Crick - Aug. 29 (Radio Broadcaster)

Don Browne - Aug. 29 (Media Executive)

Jamie Christopher - Aug. 29 (Assistant Director)

Robert Klane - Aug. 29 (Screenwriter)

Jack Sonni - Aug. 30 (Guitarist)

Mohamed Al-Fayed - Aug. 30 (Entrepreneur)

TYBZI - Aug. 30 (YouTube Star)

Steve Crump - Aug. 31 (Journalist)

Gayle Hunnicutt - Aug. 31 (TV Actress)

Sarah Young - Aug. 31 (Author)

Silvina Luna - Aug. 31 (Model)

SEPTEMBER

Jimmy Buffett - Sept. 1 (Country Singer)

Bill Richardson - Sept. 1 (Politician)

Dr. Maz Gomez - Sept. 2 (Journalist)

Marcia De Rousse - Sept. 2 (Movie Actress)

Shannon Wilcox - Sept. 2 (Movie Actress)

Lefty SM - Sept. 2 (Rapper)

Ruschell Boone - Sept. 3 (Reporter)

Gary Wright - Sept. 4 (Rock Singer)

**Steve Harwell - Sept. 4 (Rock Singer)

Eddie Meador - Sept. 4 (Football Player)

Edith Grossman - Sept. 4 (Translator)

Violeta Mitul - Sept. 4 (Soccer Player)

Charles Mallet - Sept. 4 (TikTok Star)

Bruce Guthro - Sept. 5 (Songwriter)

Joe Fagin - Sept. 5 (Singer / Songwriter)

Maria Teresa Campos - Sept. 5 (Journalist)

Adnan Al-Kaissie - Sept. 6 (Wrestler)

Jim Tom Hedrick - Sept. 6 (Reality Star)

Richard Davis - Sept. 6 (Bassist)

Whitey Von Nieda - Sept. 6 (Basketball Player)

Larry Chance - Sept. 6 (Musician)

Ellie The Pug - Sept. 6 (Dog)

Raymond Ackerman - Sept. 6 (Business Executive)

Giles Broadbent - Sept. 7 (Violinist)

Geechy Guy - Sept. 7 (Comedian)

Jake Bloom - Sept. 7 (Lawyer)

Akira Nishimura - Sept. 7 (Composer)

Lisa Lyon - Sept. 8 (Bodybuilder)

Mike Yarwood - Sept. 8 (Impressionist)

Brett Sawyer - Sept. 8 (Wrestler)

Felicia Taylor - Sept. 8 (Journalist)

Mangosuthu Buthelezi - Sept. 9 (Politician)

Charlie Robison - Sept. 10 (Country Singer)

Nico Ladenis - Sept. 10 (Chef)

Robert S. Bennett - Sept. 10 (Attorney)

Nichole Coats - Sept. 10 (Model)

Ian Wilmut - Sept. 10 (Physicist)

Brendan Croker - Sept. 10 (Guitarist)

Howard Safir - Sept. 11 (NYC Police Commissioner)

Neil Currey - Sept. 11 (Bodybuilder)

Mike Williams - Sept. 12 (Football Player)

Jean Boht - Sept. 12 (TV Actress)

Brandon Hunter - Sept. 12 (Basketball Player)

MohBad - Sept. 12 (Rapper)

Zeus The Great Dane - Sept. 12 (Dog)

Maleesa Mooney - Sept. 12 (Model)

Maddy Anholt - Sept. 13 (Comedian)

Roger Whittaker - Sept. 13 (Pop Singer)

Lauch Faircloth - Sept. 14 (Politician)

Michael McGrath - Sept. 14 (Stage Actor)

Pat Nebo - Sept. 14 (Production Designer)

Tiago Eugenio - Sept. 14 (YouTube Star)

Dr. Harry Mallios - Sept. 14 (Football Player)

Michael Leva - Sept. 14 (Fashion Designer)

Tracy Cole - Sept. 15 (Family Member) *Nat King Cole's Great-Nephew*

Billy Miller - Sept. 15 (Soap Opera Actor)

Paul Woseen - Sept. 15 (Bassist)

Fernando Botero - Sept. 15 (Painter)

Horace Ove - Sept. 16 (Filmmaker)

Francois Dionot - Sept. 16 (Chef)

Irish Grinstead - Sept. 16 (R&B Singer)

Gita Mahta - Sept. 16 (Author)

Echo Brown - Sept. 16 (Author)

Victor Fuchs - Sept. 16 (Health Economist)

Sherry Pollex - Sept. 17 (NASCAR Figure)

Taylor Erin Maw - Sept. 17 (Missionary)

Adriana Thyssen - Sept. 17 (Blogger)

Nicky Newman - Sept. 17 (Instagram Star)

Brereton Jones - Sept. 18 (Politician)

Trisha Stratford - Sept. 18 (Doctor)

Filippo Mometto - Sept. 18 (Motorcycle Racer)

Henry Boucha - Sept. 18 (Hockey Player)

Buddy Teevens - Sept. 19 (Coach)

Kent Stax - Sept. 20 (Drummer)

Phil Sellers - Sept. 20 (Basketball Player)

Maddy Cusack - Sept. 20 (Soccer Player)

Katherine Anderson - Sept. 20 (Soul Singer)

Maw Maw Smith - Sept. 20 (Family Member) *Brittney Smith's Grandmother*

Walewska Oliveira - Sept. 21 (Volleyball Player)

Robert W. Smith - Sept. 21 (Composer)

Giorgio Napolitano - Sept. 22 (World Leader)

Robb Gaffney - Sept. 22 (Freeskiing Pioneer)

Nic Kerdiles - Sept. 23 (Hockey Player)

Terry Kirkman - Sept. 23 (Songwriter)

Nashawn Breedlove - Sept. 24 (Movie Actor)

Barry Olivier - Sept. 24 (Guitarist)

Reiky De Valk - Sept. 24 (TV Actor)

David McCallum - Sept. 25 (TV Actor)

Matteo Messina Denaro - Sept. 25 (Criminal)

Zoleka Mandela - Sept. 25 (Activist)

Burkey Belser - Sept. 25 (Graphic Designer)

Brooks Robinson - Sept. 26 (Baseball Player)

Maurice Leitch - Sept. 26 (Novelist)

**Michael Gambon - Sept. 27 (Movie Actor) *Wands Up For Albus Dumbledore*

Aziz Pahad - Sept. 27 (Politician)

Adouli - Sept. 27 (Rapper)

Viliami Moala - Sept. 28 (Football Player)

Dianne Feinstein - Sept. 29 (Politician)

Nick Wilkinson - Sept. 29 (Casting Director)

John Gordon - Sept. 30 (Artist)

Russell Batiste Jr. - Sept. 30 (Drummer)

OCTOBER

Jim Caple - Oct. 1 (Writer)

Russ Francis - Oct. 1 (Football Player)

Tim Wakefield - Oct. 1 (Baseball Player)

Ron Haffkine - Oct. 1 (Producer)

Eve Bunting - Oct. 1 (Young Adult Author)

Francis Lee - Oct. 2 (Soccer Player)

Jeff Alessi - Oct. 2 (Supercross Racer)

Lorenzo Delle - Oct. 2 (TikTok Star)

Joe Christopher - Oct. 3 (Baseball Player)

Jacqueline Dark - Oct. 3 (Opera Singer)

Thomas Gambino - Oct. 3 (Mobster)

Bob Wagner - Oct. 4 (Football Coach)

Shawn Trpcic - Oct. 4 (Costume Designer)

Wayne Comer - Oct. 4 (Baseball Player)

Lady Cathy Ferguson - Oct. 5 (Family Member) *Sir Alex Ferguson's Wife*

Dick Butkus - Oct. 5 (Football Player)

Asad Chowdhury - Oct. 5 (Poet)

Keith Jefferson - Oct. 6 (Movie Actor)

Jim Poole - Oct. 6 (Baseball Player)

Michael Chiarello - Oct. 6 (Chef)

President Davo - Oct. 6 (Rapper)

Terence Davies - Oct. 7 (Director)

Alan Eisenberg - Oct. 7 (Executive Director)

Ted Schwinden - Oct. 7 (Politician)

Burt Young - Oct. 8 (Movie Actor)

Buck Trent - Oct. 9 (Country Singer)

David Benedictus - Oct. 9 (Writer / Theatre Director)

Kevin Phillips - Oct. 9 (Writer)

Chuck Feeney - Oct. 9 (Businessman / Philanthropist)

Gail O'Neill - Oct. 10 (Model)

Mark Goddard - Oct. 10 (TV Actor)

Ken Lally - Oct. 10 (Movie Actor)

Shirley Jo Finney - Oct. 10 (Theater Director)

Terry Dischinger - Oct. 10 (Basketball Player)

Brendan Malone - Oct. 10 (Basketball Coach)

Cal Wilson - Oct. 11 (Comedian)

Phyllis Coates - Oct. 11 (Movie Actress)

Rudolph Isley - Oct. 11 (Singer / Songwriter)

Tof Henry - Oct. 11 (Skier)

Walt Garrison - Oct. 11 (Football Player)

Ronnie Caldwell - Oct. 12 (Football Player)

Lara Parker - Oct. 12 (TV Actress)

Louise Gluck - Oct. 13 (Poet)

Garry Mapanzure - Oct. 13 (World Music Singer)

Arturas Rudy - Oct. 14 (Rugby Player)

Piper Laurie - Oct. 14 (TV Actress)

Stephen Emery - Oct. 14 (Producer)

Dariush Mahrjui - Oct. 14 (Director)

**Suzanne Somers - Oct. 15 (TV Actress)

Joanna Merlin - Oct. 15 (Stage Actress)

Toon Greebe - Oct. 16 (Professional Darts Player)

Steven Weisberg - Oct. 16 (Film Editor)

Martti Ahtisaari - Oct. 16 (Politician)

Carla Bley - Oct. 17 (Composer)

Edward Bleier - Oct. 17 (TV Executive)

Tabby Brown - Oct. 17 (Model)

Dwight Twilley - Oct. 18 (Rock Singer)

Mark Howard James aka The 45 King - Oct. 19 (DJ)

Anfisa Reztsova - Oct. 19 (Olympic)

Atsushi Sakurai - Oct. 19 (Rock Singer)

Haydu Gwynne - Oct. 20 (Stage Actress)

Pete Ladd - Oct. 20 (Baseball Player)

Elaine Devry - Oct. 20 (Movie Actress)

Leslie Dayman - Oct. 20 (Movie Actor)

Bobby Charlton - Oct. 21 (Soccer Player)

Dusty Street - Oct. 21 (Pioneering DJ)

Paul Costict - Oct. 21 (Rapper)

Rob Gardner (Oct. 21 (Baseball Player)

Joan Evans - Oct. 21 (Movie Actress)

Billy Hayden - Oct. 21 (Politician)

Dave Courtney - Oct. 22 (Non-Fiction Auther)

Tasha Butts - Oct. 22 (Basketball Player)

Vincent Asaro - Oct. 22 (Criminal)

Bishan Singh Bedi - Oct. 23 (Cricketer)

Domenico Spano - Oct. 23 (Custom Tailor / Style Setter)

Bill Kenwright - Oct. 23 (Film Producer)

Arnold Diaz - Oct. 24 (Journalist)

Steve Riley - Oct. 24 (Drummer)

Richard Roundtree - Oct. 24 (Movie Actor)

Ricardo Iorio - Oct. 24 (Metal Singer)

Bertie Bowman - Oct. 25 (Author)

Lyn McLain - Oct. 25 (Orchestra Leader)

Robert Irwin - Oct. 25 (Conceptual Artist)

*Richard Moll - Oct. 26 (TV Actor)

David Mitchell - Oct. 26 (Comedian)

Mark Shelmerdine - Oct. 26 (Producer)

Anne Heywood - Oct. 27 (Movie Actress)

**Matthew Perry - Oct. 28 (TV Actor)

Adam Johnson - Oct. 28 (Hockey Player)

Joey Paras - Oct. 29 (Filmmaker)

Charlie Aitken - Oct. 29 (Soccer Player)

Tony Rohr - Oct. 29 (Movie Actor)

Aaron Spears - Oct. 30 (Drummer)

Frank Howard - Oct. 30 (Baseball Player)

Ken Mattingly - Oct. 31 (Astronaut)

Tyler Christopher - Oct. 31 (Soap Opera Actor)

NOVEMBER

Bobby Knight - Nov. 1 (Basketball Coach)

Ady Barkan - Nov. 1 (Lawyer)

Peter White - Nov. 1 (Movie Actor)

Peter Tarnoff - Nov. 1 (Politician)

Debbe Pemberton - Nov. 1 (Family Member) *Zoe LaVerne's Mother*

Walter Davis - Nov. 2 (Basketball Player)

Dick Drago - Nov. 2 (Baseball Player)

Henri Lopes - Nov. 2 (Politician)

David Berglas - Nov. 3 (Magician)

Oleg Protopopov - Nov. 3 (Figure Skating)

Elizangela Do Amaral Vergueiro - Nov. 3 (TV Actress)

Marina Cicogna - Nov. 4 (Film Producer)

Rob Thomson - Nov. 4 (Wrestler)

Gary Winnick - Nov. 4 (Businessman)

Karen Davis - Nov. 4 (Advocate)

Pat E. Johnson - Nov. 5 (Martial Artist)

Evan Ellingson - Nov. 5 (TV Actor)

Cody Dorman - Nov. 5 (Namesake Of Breeders)

Ross McDonnell - Nov. 5 (Cinematographer)

Chris Tapp - Nov. 5 (TV Personality)

Logan Steinwede - Nov. 5 (Instagram Star)

Frank Dorman - Nov. 7 (Astronaut)

Luana Andrade - Nov. 7 (Reality TV / Model / Influencer)

Jenny Appleford - Nov. 7 (YouTube Star)

Dale Reid - Nov. 8 (Golfer)

Matt Ulrich - Nov. 8 (Football Player)

Nahee - Nov. 8 (Pop Singer)

Doug Ibold - Nov. 8 (Film Editor)

Patrycja Widera - Nov. 8 (Instagram Star)

Brandi Mallory - Nov. 9 (Reality Star)

John Bailey - Nov. 10 (Cinematographer)

Mike Fanelli - Nov. 10 (Runner)

Johnny Ruffo - Nov. 10 (Pop Singer)

Spiros Focas - Nov. 10 (Movie Actor)

Lorraine Day - Nov. 10 (Non-Fiction Author)

Kyle LeDuc - Nov. 11 (Motorsports Racing Driver)

Conny Van Dyke - Nov. 11 (Motown Singer)

DJ Hayden - Nov. 11 (Football Player)

Anna Scher - Nov. 12 (Drama Teacher)

Kevin Turen - Nov. 12 (Producer)

M. Russell Ballard - Nov. 12 (Religious Leader)

Maryanne Trump - Nov. 13 (Family Member) *Donald Trump's Sister*

Devon Wylie - Nov. 13 (Football Player)

Michael Bishop - Nov. 13 (Novelist)

Peter Seidler - Nov. 14 (Businessman)

Lord Cotter - Nov. 14 (Politician)

Thelda Williams - Nov. 14 (Mayor Of Phoenix)

Bosley Faze Rug - Nov. 14 (Dog)

Oladips - Nov. 14 (Rapper)

Terry Taylor - Nov. 14 (AP Sports Editor)

Shari Smiley - Nov. 14 (CAA Agent & Manager)

Betty Rollin - Nov. 14 (Journalist)

Subrata Roy - Nov. 14 (Entrepreneur)

Alexio - Nov. 14 (Rapper)

Chigova - Nov. 15 (Soccer Player)

Dex Carvey - Nov. 15 (Family Member) *Dana Carvey's Son*

Ken Squier - Nov. 15 (Sportscaster)

Daisaku Ikeda - Nov. 15 (Religious Leader)

George Brown - Nov. 16 (Drummer)

A.S. Byatt - Nov. 16 (Author)

Rita Hollingsworth - Nov. 16 (Entertainment Publicist)

Johnny Green - Nov. 16 (Basketball Player)

Abe Stoklasa - Nov. 17 (Songwriter)

Suzanne Shepherd - Nov. 17 (TV Actress)

Mark Eisen - Nov. 17 (Fashion Designer)

David Del Tredici - Nov. 18 (Composer)

James Davern - Nov. 18 (Director)

Joss Ackland - Nov. 19 (Movie Actor)

Peter Spellos - Nov. 19 (Voice Actor)

Carlton Pearson - Nov. 19 (Minister)

Sara Tavares - Nov. 19 (Composer)

Roslynn Cobarrubias - Nov. 19 (Entrepreneur)

Herbert Gold - Nov. 19 (Novelist)

Vincentius Sensi Potokota - Nov. 19 (Religious Leader)

Rosalynn Carter - Nov. 19 (First Lady)

Mars Williams - Nov. 20 (Saxophonist)

Willie Hernandez - Nov. 20 (Baseball Player)

Annabel Giles - Nov. 20 (Model)

Reed Ryan - Nov. 21 (Football Player)

Chad Allan - Nov. 21 (Musician)

James Philip - Nov. 21 (Politician)

Raul Cande - Nov. 21 (Rapper)

Phil Quartararo - Nov. 22 (Music Industry Executive)

Tom Larson - Nov. 22 (Sportscaster)

Jean Knight - Nov. 22 (R&B Singer)

Eddie Merrins - Nov. 22 (Golfer)

Steve Pool - Nov. 22 (TV Show Host)

Harald Hasselbach - Nov. 23 (Football Player)

Andreas Ullmann - Nov. 23 (Wrestler)

Ron Hodges - Nov. 24 (Baseball Player)

Elliot Silverstein - Nov. 24 (Director)

Marc Thorpe - Nov. 24 (Visual Effects Artist)

Marty Krofft - Nov. 25 (TV Producer)

Sumitomo Mitsui - Nov. 25 (CEO)

Larry Fink - Nov. 25 (Photographer)

Terry Venables - Nov. 25 (Soccer Player)

Pablo Guzman - Nov. 26 (Reporter)

Kevin 'Geordie' Walker - Nov. 26 (Guitarist)

Tim Dorsey - Nov. 26 (Novelist)

Norris McDonald - Nov. 26 (Journalist)

Luigi Caiola - Nov. 26 (Broadway Producer)

William Anastasi - Nov. 27 (Painter)

Frances Sternhagen - Nov. 27 (Stage Actress)

John Nichols - Nov. 27 (Novelist)

Charlie Munger - Nov. 28 (Entrepreneur)

Jack Axelrod - Nov. 28 (TV Actor)

Queenzy Cheng - Nov. 28 (Pop Singer)

Dean Sullivan - Nov. 29 (Soap Opera Actor)

Henry Kissinger - Nov. 29 (Politician)

Scott Kempner - Nov. 29 (Guitarist)

Charles Gilchrist Adams - Nov. 29 (Pastor)

Bronka Sundstrom - Nov. 29 (Mountaineer)

Elliott Erwitt - Nov. 29 (Photographer)

Victoria Maria Aragues Gadea - Nov. 29 (Dancer)

Shane MacGowan - Nov. 30 (Pop Singer)

Alistair Darling - Nov. 30 (Politician)

John Byrne - Nov. 30 (Playwright)

Edwin Yoder - Nov. 30 (Journalist)

Buddy Duress - Nov. ?? (Movie Actor)

DECEMBER

Sandra Day O'Connor - Dec. 1 (Supreme Court Justice)

Charles Officer - Dec. 1 (Director)

Daniel Langlois - Dec. 1 (Entrepreneur)

Jada Brown - Dec. 1 (Football Coach)

Brigit Forstyth - Dec. 1 (TV Actress)

Kiki Fatmala - Dec. 1 (TV Actress)

Wolfgang Hollegha - Dec. 2 (Painter)

Travis Snyder - Dec. 3 (Founder Of The Color Run)

Myles Goodwyn - Dec. 3 (Guitarist)

Glenys Kinnock - Dec. 3 (Politician)

Andrea Fay Friedman - Dec. 3 (TV Actress)

Jim Easton - Dec. 4 (Archery)

Enriqueta Margarita Lavat Bayona - Dec. 4 (TV Actress)

Denny Laine - Dec. 5 (Rock Singer)

Prince Constantin Ferdinand Maria - Dec. 5 (Prince)

Robert Pardo - Dec. 5 (Us Air Force)

Mark Pearson Butterbrodt - Dec. 5 (Doctor)

Norman Lear - Dec. 5 (TV Producer)

Lional Dahmer - Dec. 5 (Family Member) *Jeffrey Dahmer's Father*

Vic Davalillo - Dec. 6 (Baseball Player)

Vincent Le Goascoz - Dec. 6 (Teacher)

Marisa Pavan - Dec. 6 (Movie Actress)

Ellen Holly - Dec. 6 (Movie Actress)

Jack Hogan - Dec. 6 (Movie Actor)

Benjamin Zephaniah - Dec. 7 (Poet)

Doris Yaffe - Dec. 7 (Social Activist)

Keisha Whitaker - Dec. 7 (Film Producer)

Thomas F. Kilroy - Dec. 7 (Novelist)

Stan Rogow - Dec. 7 (TV Producer)

Joe Solomon - Dec. 8 (Cricketer)

Itziar Castro - Dec. 8 (TV Actress)

Ryan O'Neal - Dec. 8 (TV Actor)

Dave Robb - Dec. 8 (Hollywood Reporter)

Paul Webb - Dec. 8 (Basketball Coach)

Tony Tarantino - Dec. 8 (Movie Actor)

Frank Wycheck - Dec. 9 (Football Player)

Greg Scholl - Dec. 9 (Videographer / Producer)

Anna Cardwell - Dec. 9 (Reality Star)

Mike Perricone - Dec. 9 (Hockey Reporter / Science Writer)

Gao Yaojie - Dec. 10 (Activist)

Shirley Anne Field - Dec. 10 (Movie Actress)

Julian Carroll - Dec. 10 (Governor)

Jack Hanson - Dec. 10 (Weatherman / Cartoonist)

Michael Blakemore - Dec. 10 (Director)

Jeffrey Foskett - Dec. 11 (Songwriter)

Ian Gibson - Dec. 11 (Non-Fiction Author)

Andre Braugher - Dec. 11 (TV Actor)

Camden Toy - Dec. 11 (TV Actor)

Ken Kelsch - Dec. 11 (Cinematographer)

Shuji Abe - Dec. 11 (Producer)

Essra Mohawk - Dec. 11 (Singer-Songwriter)

Fusa Tatsumi - Dec. 12 (Supercentenarian) *She Was 116 Year Old*

Zahara - Dec. 12 (Pop Singer)

Craig Watkins - Dec. 12 (Lawyer)

Shirley Barber - Dec. 12 (Author)

Ricardo Drue - Dec. 12 (R&B Singer)

Clarence Sexton - Dec. 12 (Pastor)

Bill Burgess - Dec. 13 (Football Player)

Dick Nunis - Dec. 13 (Disneyland Executive)

Kenny DeForest - Dec. 13 (Comedian)

Maxine Rizik Tanous - Dec. 13 (Retailer)

J.G.A. Pocock - Dec. 13 (Historian)

Wolfgang Gluck - Dec. 13 (Film Producer)

George McGinnis - Dec. 14 (Basketball Player)

Ken MacKenzie - Dec. 14 (Baseball Player)

Cari Beauchamp - Dec. 14 (Author / Historian)

Nadine McKown - Dec. 14 (Historian)

Rudolf Hruby - Dec. 14 (Hockey Player)

Selma Archerd - Dec. 14 (Movie Actress)

Ara Martirosyan - Dec. 14 (World Music Singer)

Steve Halliwell - Dec. 15 (Soap Opera Actor)

Eddie Driscoll - Dec. 15 (TV Actor)

Colin Burgess - Dec. 15 (Drummer)

Richard Hunt - Dec. 16 (Sculptor)

Lorenzo Riva - Dec. 16 (Fashion Designer)

Jim Ladd - Dec. 16 (DJ / Radio Producer)

Kenpachiro Satsuma - Dec. 16 (Movie Actor)

Otar Losseliani - Dec. 17 (Director)

Eric Montross - Dec. 17 (Basketball Player)

James McCaffrey - Dec. 17 (Movie Actor)

Joseph Anthony "Amp" Fiddler - Dec. 17 (Keyboardist)

Norma Barzman - Dec. 17 (Movie Actress / Screenwriter)

Giovanni Anselmo - Dec. 18 (Artist)

Ed Budde - Dec. 19 (Football Player)

Don Schumacher - Dec. 20 (Motorsports)

Torben Ulrich - Dec. 20 (Tennis Player)

Terry Jill Saperstein - Dec. 20 (Talent Manager)

Carl Barzilauskas - Dec. 20 (Football Player)

Fola Francis - Dec. 20 (Designer)

Ian Pepperell - Dec. 22 (TV Actor)

Laura Lynch - Dec. 22 (Musician)

Bobbie Jean Carter - Dec. 23 (Family Member) *Nick & Aaron Carter's Sister*

Mike Nussbaum - Dec. 23 (Movie Actor / Director)

Dejumo Lewis - Dec. 23 (Movie Actor)

Lisandro Meza - Dec. 23 (Colombian Singer)

Richard Romanus - Dec. 23 (Movie Actor)

Lynn Loring - Dec. 23 (Movie Actress / Producer)

Neel Nanda - Dec. 24 (Comedian)

Cheri Barry - Dec. 24 (Mayor)

Kamar De Los Reyes - Dec. 24 (TV Actor)

Troy Dargan - Dec. 24 (Rugby Player)

Casey Kramer - Dec. 24 (Family Member) *Stanley Kramer's Daughter*

Willie Ruff - Dec. 24 (Jazz Musician)

Carl Welser - Dec. 24 (Columuist / Firefighter)

David Leland - Dec. 24 (Director)

Vasilis Karras - Dec. 24 (Folk Singer)

Alice Parker - Dec. 24 (Composer)

Richard Franklin - Dec. 25 (TV Actor)

Bill Granger - Dec. 25 (Chef)

Fred Mackerodt - Dec. 25 (Writer)

Tom Priestley - Dec. 25 (Sound Designer)

Alain Laurier - Dec. 25 (Soccer Coach)

Louis James - Dec. 26 (Football Player)

Tom Smothers - Dec. 26 (Pop Singer)

Jim Bixby - Dec. 26 (Counselor)

Bobby Rivers - Dec. 26 (TV Actor)

Russell Hamler - Dec. 26 (War Hero)

Herb Kohl - Dec. 27 (Politician)

Lee Sun-Kyun - Dec. 27 (Movie Actor)

PC Siqueira - Dec. 27 (YouTube Star)

Ken Bowman - Dec. 27 (Football Player)

Pedro Suarez-Vertiz - Dec. 28 (Rock Singer)

Herman Raucher - Dec. 28 (Screenwriter)

Donald Wildmon - Dec. 28 (Author)

Quinn Donoghue - Dec. 28 (Hollywood Publicist)

Bill McColl - Dec. 28 (Football Player)

Vijayakanth - Dec. 28 (Movie Actor)

Maurice Hines - Dec. 29 (Stage Actor)

Roger Ernest Maughmer - Dec. 29 (Mayor)

Les McCann - Dec. 29 (Pianist)

Eddie Cockrell - Dec. 29 (Film Programmer)

Hermann Baumann - Dec. 29 (Composer)

John Pilger - Dec. 30 (Journalist)

Douglas JJ. Peters - Dec. 30 (Senator)

Tom Wilkinson - Dec. 30 (Movie Actor)

Martha Diamond - Dec. 30 (Painter)

Cindy Morgan - Dec. 30 (Movie Actress)

Daniel Miller - Dec. 30 (Executive)

Shecky Greene - Dec. 31 (TV Actor / Comedian)

Cale Yarborough - Dec. 31 (Race Car Driver)

Klee Benally - Dec. 31 (Navajo Activist / Musician)

Benjamin Kiplagat - Dec. 31 (Runner)

Ana Ofelia Murguia - Dec. 31 (Movie Actress)

[deadpresidents]

Could you recommend books on North Korea?

Sure, here are a few about North Korea and the Kim Dynasty that I have read and would definitely suggest:

•The Two Koreas: A Contemporary History by Don Oberdorfer and Robert Carlin (BOOK | KINDLE) This book is a history of the entire Korean Peninsula since World War II, and it's excellent.

•Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO)

•The Impossible State: North Korea, Past and Future by Victor Cha (BOOK | KINDLE)

•See You Again In Pyongyang: A Journey Into Kim Jong Un's North Korea by Travis Jeppesen (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO)

•Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader: North Korea and the Kim Dynasty by Bradley K. Martin (BOOK | KINDLE) In my opinion, this is probably the best book about North Korea that I've read, but it was published in 2006 when Kim Jong Il was still alive and in charge, so it could use an updated edition.

•The Hermit King: The Dangerous Game of Kim Jong Un by Chung Min Lee (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO)

•The Great Successor: The Divinely Perfect Destiny of Brilliant Comrade Kim Jong Un by Anna Fifield (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO) This is the best book written so far about North Korea's current leader, Kim Jong Un. Also, the dust jacket design is top-notch.

•Act of War: Lyndon Johnson, North Korea, and the Capture of the Spy Ship Pueblo by Jack Cheevers (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO) The thrilling and vastly overlooked story of the USS Pueblo, a U.S. Navy ship that was attacked and captured by North Korea in 1968 while it was spying...I mean, "conducting research"...off the coast of North Korea. The North Koreans held over 80 American sailors as POWs and tortured many of them for nearly a year until the United States finally admitted violating North Korean territorial waters and apologized in return for their release. The United States immediately retracted the admission of wrongdoing and apology as soon as the POWs were released by North Korea. The USS Pueblo is still in North Korea's possession and moored as a museum ship and propaganda tool in Pyongyang.

Here are two really good books on the Korean War that are also worth checking out:

•The Coldest Winter: America and the Korean War by David Halberstam (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO) The last book written by the legendary David Halberstam.

•On Desperate Ground: The Epic Story of Chosin Reservoir -- the Greatest Battle of the Korean War by Hampton Sides (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO) Every book that Hampton Sides has ever written is impossible to put down, so this could be about anything and probably still be incredible. The fact that On Desperate Ground is about one of the most grueling battles in American military history just takes things to another level.

[mariacallous]

This past January, Robert Carlin and Siegfried Hecker, both experienced Korea-watchers, caught many by surprise when they wrote that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is preparing for war. That may be an exaggeration, but the concern is not misplaced. I have worked on the Korea nuclear problem in and out of government over the past three decades, and the Korean Peninsula seems more dangerous and volatile than at any time since 1950.

Since 2019, there have been three interrelated strategic shifts around the North Korean nuclear problem that have invalidated the core assumptions guiding United States and South Korean diplomacy since 1992. First, following the failed 2019 summit in Hanoi between Kim and former U.S. President Donald Trump, Kim revealed a five-year plan in 2021 for a major nuclear and missile buildup, including solid-fuel ICBMs, miniaturized warheads, tactical nuclear weapons, and hypersonic missiles. North Korea’s investment in its nuclear-industrial complex, along with Kim’s emphatic statements that it will not give up its nukes (which is embodied in its constitution and preemptive nuclear doctrine) underscore the strategic shift in posture.

These new capabilities and stated intentions have changed the strategic balance in Northeast Asia, posed new credibility questions about the United States’ extended deterrence, and fueled South Korea’s desire to obtain its own nuclear weapons.

Then there’s Pyongyang’s geopolitical repositioning. It began with Kim discarding the long-term North Korean goal of normalizing ties to the United States, aimed at balancing major powers. This underpinned the logic of three decades of nuclear diplomacy.

At the same time, Pyongyang bolstered ties with China, which had become tense after Beijing backed tough United Nations economic sanctions after North Korea’s nuclear tests in 2016 and 2017. Kim visited Beijing in January 2019, and Chinese President Xi Jinping followed with an exchange visit to Pyongyang that June. China, along with Russia, has since blocked U.S. efforts to impose new sanctions for North Korea’s ICBM tests.

The geopolitical shift intensified as Russia formed its new security partnership with North Korea after the Ukraine invasion, trading economic and military aid for ammunition and missiles. This move made China uncomfortable, as conveyed in private discussions with Chinese officials and thinktank experts. They fear Russian President Vladimir Putin is displacing Beijing’s leverage and creating a situation much like the 1950s and ’60s, when Kim’s grandfather, Kim Il Sung, played the two communist powers against each other.

The third shift is no less profound: In January, Kim abandoned a 70-year-old policy of reunification of what both North and South Korea defined as one familial nation divided by history, and declared South Korea as a “principal enemy.” He called for a change to North Korea’s constitution—erasing a commitment to reunification—dismantled agencies that handled North-South reconciliation, and tore down a reunification monument in Pyongyang that his father built.

Recent events reinforce these changes. For Kim, U.S. election cycles are often fun messaging opportunities. In September, Pyongyang launched a barrage of short-range ballistic missile tests, Kim vowed to make his nuclear force ready for combat with the United States, and then, for good measure, he published a rare photo of himself strolling through a top-secret uranium enrichment plant and pledged to build more nuclear weapons. But this is just a sneak preview of what we can expect.

Why does all this matter? For now, at least, Kim has taken both denuclearization and North-South reunification off the table—regardless of the fact that those remain the policy goals of the United States and South Korea, respectively.

The Korea problem is now embedded in zero-sum, great-power competition. The trend is toward two opposing blocs in Northeast Asia: There’s China, Russia, and North Korea, and then there’s the United States, South Korea, and Japan. The shared concerns about nuclear proliferation that enabled China and Russia to cooperate in the Six Party Talks (involving the United States, China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, and North Korea) are no more. Kim is now emboldened as never before by his evolving nuclear and missile arsenal, support from Putin, and, at worst, indifference from China.

But don’t take my word for it. A 2023 report from the National Intelligence Council on North Korea outlined the new risk environment. Its judgment:

North Korea most likely will continue to use its nuclear weapons status to support coercive diplomacy, and almost certainly will consider increasingly risky coercive actions as the quality and quantity of its nuclear and ballistic missile arsenal grows.

While the report assessed that Kim will not use nuclear weapons unless he “believes the regime is in peril,” it hinted at the specter of miscalculation by stating, “He may be willing to take greater conventional military risks, believing that nuclear weapons will deter an unacceptably strong US or South Korean response.”

While the report said “an offensive strategy that seeks to seize territory and achieve political dominance over the Peninsula” by force is “less likely than the strategy of coercion,” it makes an important caveat that I suspect the council might revise in hindsight:

An offensive strategy would become more likely if Kim believed he could overmatch South Korea’s military while deterring US intervention and maintaining China’s support, or if he concluded that a domestic or international crisis presented a last chance to accomplish revisionist goals.

What scenarios might result from such a strategy? One flashpoint that could escalate is the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the maritime border between North and South Korea. The NLL was delineated by the U.N. Command around the time of the armistice in 1953, but it is disputed by North Korea and is the source of long-standing grievances and episodic military clashes. In 2010, Pyongyang fired on Yeonpyeong, one of the five islands that the NLL defines as South Korean. The attack killed two Republic of Korea (ROK) Marines and also sunk a South Korean ship. North Korea also fired artillery shells near the island earlier this year.

In the same January speech where Kim called for the constitution to be changed and declared South Korea as his “principal enemy,” he also alluded to revising NLL border claims at a future Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) meeting: “As the southern border of our country has been clearly drawn, the illegal ‘northern limit line’ and any other boundary can never be tolerated, and if the ROK violates even 0.001 mm of our territorial land, air and waters, it will be considered a war provocation.” Kim has scheduled an SPA meeting for Oct. 7.

The risks arising from these realities on the Korean Peninsula and the geopolitical predicament in Northeast Asia suggest some dangerous, but plausible scenarios. First, there is the nuclear shadow scenario foreshadowed in the National Intelligence Council report and by South Korean analysts:

After denouncing a US-ROK military exercise, Pyongyang begins what appear live fire drills near two of the islands, then fires a barrage of artillery shells at them followed by troops landing on Yeonpyeong island. US efforts to restrain South Korea fail, and Seoul sends air and naval forces to the area, firing on North Korean ships and lands Marines on the island. As fighting ensues, Pyongyang fires a tactical nuclear weapon on a nearby uninhabited island.

Would the United States or South Korea respond militarily and risk escalation? Would China veto a U.N. Security Council resolution in the face of the first nuclear use since Hiroshima—or work with the United States to contain the situation? At a time when both the United States and South Korea lack reliable diplomatic or military channels of communication with Pyongyang, it could easily spin out of control.

A still more alarming scenario is a two-front war in Asia involving simultaneous Korean and Taiwan crises. In an in-depth 2023 report based on wargaming, interviews with officials, and workshops, Markus Garlauskas, former national intelligence officer for North Korea, detailed how deterrence could fail, and the logic and dynamics that could, for example, lead Kim to attack South Korea if China invaded Taiwan and the United States intervened militarily, diverting focus and resources. Or, conversely, the possibility of coordinated simultaneous offensives, where both China and North Korea launch attacks on Taiwan and South Korea.

Three nuclear weapon states in conflict (and one might speculate how Putin would act) may sound fantastical or, as some fear, sleepwalking toward Armageddon. While such worst-case scenarios are unlikely to occur anytime soon, North Korea’s geopolitical repositioning has raised the possibility of a dramatic move by Pyongyang in the next six to 18 months.

Both the United States and China lack a sense of urgency around the Korean Peninsula. Beijing, as Chinese officials tell me, sees Pyongyang’s actions as the fault of U.S. sanctions—not their problem. With conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East raging, and zero-sum competition with China high on the agenda, North Korea is and will likely continue to be on the back burner. But Kim Jong Un may have something to say about that.

[theahole]

books, books, and CD!

I finally put up some new listings in my etsy used book store!

Burroughs has been going super fast, but i don't have high hopes for this one..

You can buy these here: https://talesresold.etsy.com Please read the description before buying!