In memory of a famous Admiral who fell at his greatest victory 119 years ago today: Heart of Oak

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Vote Thrawn - the Chiss Alternative

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The Chiss race from the fictional Star Wars universe don't really do elections: their society is run by a family-based oligarchy.   But if the Chiss did do elections, Grand Admiral Thrawn's bid to lead the galaxy far, far away might have included a manifesto something like the one below. This post is a parody, not an election communication and no attempt to influence any real election on the planet Earth is intended. Fed up with a choice of galactic leaders between psychopathic Imperial mass murderers and utterly ineffective soggy-liberal New Republic wimps? Had enough of politicians who promise you a safe and secure society and then get your entire planet blown up - or even blow it up themselves? Sick to death with incompetent senators who wouldn't know a security threat if it was aiming a turbolaser at them from six feet away? There is an alternative - the Chiss alternative - vote for Admiral Thrawn! My name is Mitth'raw'nuruodo - former Senior Captain in the
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Worldcon Glasgow 2024 and the 2024 Hugo Awards

The world science fiction convention 2024, Worldcon, has just taken place in Glasgow. The events included the Hugo awards for the world's best science fiction. Interestingly this was one of the first times there was a Hugo award for the best SF/Fantasy game (won by Baldur's Gate III.) I think this represents something important in the way SF is likely to develop in the future. The Star Wars universe canon seems to be moving to recognise characters and events from some of the games set in the galaxy far, far away, with Dave Filoni bringing characters from games like Jedi Survivor into canon projects like "Tales of the Empire" and events from those games such as Operation Cinder into the backstory of characters in The Mandalorian season II. Last year's Worldcon took place in China, and unfortunately that appears to have had consequences for the freedom of speech and expression on which science fiction absolutely depends, with one or two authors being prevented from
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The Ready Room

The use of the term "Ready room" as a place where the Admiral or Commander of a ship can conduct briefings or business while next to the bridge appears to originate with "Star Trek, the Next Generation" although the term has been used at sea on US Navy aircraft carriers, to describe a room where briefings for Aircrew are held.  On a major Royal Navy vessel the captain's office will be referred to as the "Captain's day cabin" which will often be located as part of a suite of living and working quarters at the stern of the ship. The captain of an RN warship of any size will usually also have a "Captain's Sea Cabin" located very near to the Bridge so he can be called there quickly to take charge in the event of any emergency. On a starship the size of an Imperial Star Destroyer such as Grand Admiral Thrawn's flagship, the ISS Chimaera, space is not at a premium, even less than on a Galaxy class Federation starship such as the Enterpr
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