Task Force Blackjack Forums

Steinbeck in Vietnam

McCabe — Sun, 20 May 2012 14:34:32 GMT

The last piece of published writing from one of America's greatest writers was a series of letters he sent back from the front lines of war at the age of 64.

John Steinbeck's reports shocked readers and family so much that they've never been reprinted � until now.

Steinbeck won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962 for a life's work writing about those who had been roughed up by history � most notably his Depression-era novels, Of Mice And Men and The Grapes of Wrath. Four years later, Steinbeck left for Vietnam to cover the war firsthand.

His dispatches appeared in Newsday in 1966 and 1967 and are now collected in a volume called Steinbeck in Vietnam: Dispatches from the War.

University of Toledo professor Thomas E. Barden curated the collection. He tells Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon that Steinbeck's public support for the Vietnam War was too much for fans to accept � a reaction so overwhelming that the letters were kept out of public view for years.

"People worried about his reputation, saying maybe we should just never speak of these again. A lot of people on the left felt that it was a deep betrayal," Barden says. "That attitude sort of went on for a long time � including within his family. I think his widow really didn't want them out."

At first, Steinbeck had been dubious about working for Newsday, which was owned by his friend Harry Guggenheim, Barden says.

"But then the war in Vietnam heated up, and one of Steinbeck's sons was in it, and his other son was going to it, and then suddenly he wanted to be there," Barden says. "So he made this arrangement with Guggenheim that he would go on behalf of Newsday."

Steinbeck had another high-profile friend � President Lyndon B. Johnson � who also wanted him to report on what was happening in Vietnam, but Steinbeck was adamant that he wasn't going there on Johnson's behalf; he was his own man and not involved with the government. His reports, however, did seem to support the war.

"If you read the dispatches, it's as if he truly believes it as much as Lyndon Johnson did � Domino Theory, the winnability," Barden says. Even Steinbeck's own son confronted him � in Vietnam � to argue that the war was wrong � "that all the troops were stoned, that the body count wasn't accurate, that it was a mess and we ought to get out. So they went at it right there from when they met in the hotel in Saigon."

But Steinbeck did have doubts about American involvement � he just didn't publicize them.

"In private letters, which he was writing at the same time, he was sort of indicating, this is kind of a mess," Barden says.

All these years later, Barden doesn't share worries of tarnishing Steinbeck's reputation by reprinting the Newsday letters.

"He's going to be around forever. High school students still love him. And I see a sense of completeness. I just want ... everything this man wrote should be on the shelf. And now it is."

Steinbeck in Vietnam

Article: Combine Operations on 50% Sale

Attridge — Sun, 20 May 2012 05:27:06 GMT

You can view the page at http://tf-blackjack.com/content.php?...ons-on-50-Sale

Bohemia

Graison — Fri, 18 May 2012 08:50:35 GMT

I could of looked into this on my own im sure, But i wanted to know what you guys think about the company, I tried to share the link of the Combined ops sale and they deleted that like a fly on scat. It has kind of made me question their credibility. Perhaps i don't understand the world of business in anyway, but it seems to me that if i owned a company id want my game to get as much exposure as possible, even if i was making no profit off from the game, With the increase in popularity you would think that would boost sales for their next game ect. My point is not to debate profit ect, but just to i guess get a basic understanding of where they are coming from.

My arma has stopped working recently and this is kind of off putting to me, especially considering i have made a couple videos trying to help them out it feels like they are another EA in the making.

Article: Arma2 Number 1 Seller on STEAM !

Attridge — Thu, 17 May 2012 16:00:36 GMT

You can view the page at http://tf-blackjack.com/content.php?...ler-on-STEAM-!

History Channel - United States Special Forces: LRRP

Cornelius — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:56:47 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00Ne4p25_lQ

Bsod

Attridge — Thu, 10 May 2012 05:25:56 GMT

Sorry for dropping out tonight guys.

I have been getting BSOD very randomly all week.

I think I have found it to be a memory module gone bad. I used MEMTEST plus to test my memory.

MEMTEST86 is an older version that is well known but it didn`t work with my USB keyboard. Seems the team split and memtest+ is a lot newer.

Anyway if you you have similar issues its HERE and free. Burn it to a CD/DVD and boot from it. Runs for ages and reports errors in red. If you have any at all, start removing parts until you work out which it is.

So Gizmo what did you add to the domi mission?

Gizmo — Wed, 09 May 2012 09:45:49 GMT

That is a good question! Since we had a HUGE turn out on my mission (I think we beat 7cav's server in players), i thought i would make a 'change log'.

What I added:
- Added extra base defence
- Fortified the base
- Added an Artillery station
- Changed out the little birds for a Mi-17 with 192 rockets :) and a wildcat
- Made it so that you can start the map up w/o the need of changing the parameters
- Made it somewhat noob friendly
- Added an awesome TFB loading screen
- Added TFB charlie rules, a logo, and a recruiting board next to the entrance of the ammo boxes.
- Added Teamspeak IP on map below base (Added warnings too. ;) )
- Added "Must be on Teamspeak to fly" next to the pilot slot
- Added more goodies to win from the AO's and sidemissions.
- Added some starting CAS... If your lucky.
- Added some wrecks
- Put a M2 on the MHQ
- CH-47 can now hold an ammo box!
- CH-47 can now lift a lot of stuff. (Might not be realistic but its what the people want!)
- Added different slots for diversity (KSK, SFOD-D, ACR, BAF)
- Added a BAF, PMC, Arma 2, and Arma 2 oa ammo boxes
- Made it some what Troll proof.
- Added Motorcycles for transport around base.
- Added 6 humvee's (4 M2's and 2 MK19's)
- Added a info stands advertising TFB and updates on the map.
- Made the base look like a base
- You don't have to wait 4 minutes to load or unload the ammobox anymore! (30 seconds)
- Added some modules like weather, colors, etc...
- Removed the M1A1 from the sidemission win list due to problems.
- Changed the make time for sidemission. Was 30 minutes is now 5.
-Found a script dealing with AO vehicles, Made it so that empty vics from ao won't despawn! MAY CAUSE SERVER LAG (Will keep an eye on it)!
- Changed how many enemy offroads it takes to clear the ao to avoid hour long searches (1)
- Scaled some pics down
- Updated some pics
- Made PMC's and UN Blufor. (yay!)
- Mooooooooooooooooooooooo
- Can now lift the engineer truck (Supply truck)

If you haven't seen the map yet, here's some screen shots!

What I want to add:
- Add a USMC Group (Can't add. Group is unable to carry backpacks.)
- Update a problem with the rearming script

Fixes:
- Fixed some problems with engineers not being able to fully repair vics.
- Made it so that only pilots can fly Helicopters (Used a different script)
- Some problems with the A-10 won't let you use flares

Helpful Tips to remember:
- I put a probaility of presence on the CAS and support. I'll list them off:
10% chance of getting A-10
25% chance of getting AH-1Z
50% chande of getting a Bradley
(Keep in mind, if the vics on this list get destroyed you will lose it forever.)

- It now takes only 1 satchel to take out the radio tower. (Its hard enough to get there!)
-Make sure to check rasman airfield, you might get lucky and find some goodies.

I am now happy with the map, everyone is happy, I am now moving on to another map. If I forgot to add anything or need me to fix something just give me a yell!

Letter to British Prime Minister David Cameron .

Gervoll1966 — Wed, 09 May 2012 06:35:58 GMT

This is brilliant !!!

Letter to Mr. Cameron - Genius!!

Dear Mr. Cameron,

Please find below our suggestion for fixing the UK 's economy.

Instead of giving billions of pounds to banks that will squander the money on lavish parties and unearned bonuses, use the following plan.

You can call it the Patriotic Retirement Plan:

There are about 10 million people over 50 in the work force.

Pay them �1 million each severance for early retirement with the following stipulations:

1) They MUST retire.
Ten million job openings - unemployment fixed

2) They MUST buy a new British car.
Ten million cars ordered - Car Industry fixed

3) They MUST either buy a house or pay off their mortgage -
Housing Crisis fixed

4) They MUST send their kids to school/college/university -
Crime rate fixed

5) They MUST buy �100 WORTH of alcohol/tobacco a week .....
And there's your money back in duty/tax etc

It can't get any easier than that!

P.S. If more money is needed, have all members of parliament pay back their falsely claimed expenses and second home allowances

If you think this would work, please forward to everyone you know.

Also......
Let's put the pensioners in jail and the criminals in a nursing home..

This way the pensioners would have access to showers, hobbies and walks.

They'd receive unlimited free prescriptions, dental and medical treatment, wheel chairs etc and they'd receive money instead of paying it out.

They would have constant video monitoring, so they could be helped instantly, if they fell, or needed assistance.

Bedding would be washed twice a week, and all clothing would be ironed and returned to them.

A guard would check on them every 20 minutes and bring their meals and snacks to their cell.

They would have family visits in a suite built for that purpose.

They would have access to a library, weight room, spiritual counselling, pool and education.

Simple clothing, shoes, slippers, PJ's and legal aid would be free, on request.

Private, secure rooms for all, with an exercise outdoor yard, with gardens.

Each senior could have a PC a TV radio and daily phone calls.

There would be a board of directors to hear complaints, and the guards would have a code of conduct that would be strictly adhered to.

The criminals would get cold food, be left all alone and unsupervised. Lights off at 8pm, and showers once a week. Live in a tiny room and pay �600.00 per week and have no hope of ever getting out.

Think about this (more points of contention):

COWS
Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that during the mad cow epidemic our government could track a single cow, born in Appleby almost three years ago, right to the stall where she slept in the county of Cumbria?

And, they even tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 125,000 illegal immigrants wandering around our country. Maybe we should give each of them a cow.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Also;
Think about this ... If you don't want to forward this for fear of offending someone -- YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM! It is time for us grumpy old folk of Britain to speak up!

Do you enjoy prank calls?

Graison — Wed, 09 May 2012 05:53:29 GMT

http://www.phonelosers.org/ Tuesday nights 2100 PST (California) they have a live show where they do prank calls and such, sometimes its stupid, sometimes they go too far, but most of the time i'm laughing my ass off.

like right now im halfway through their show and its a riot, they are trying to convince some elderly couple that their computer they brought in to the geek squad, has a virus that has spread to the phone system and lighting in the best buy, and now they are trying to get them to put their other phone in the freezer so that it will "put the virus in stasis" (the virus is some guy in skype using a voice changer to sound like a prepubescent robot), its continuing as i type so they are doing it right lol you can hear their freezer and everything, these poor people, but at the same time its so funny.

Warner Robins Air Force Base 2012 Air Show GA

Cornelius — Mon, 07 May 2012 21:19:40 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYDlWDZhUow

[=TFB=] Videos/Clips

Graison — Mon, 07 May 2012 04:59:44 GMT

Post your TFB videos/clips here.

Cause you can't, You won't, and you Don't stop!

MacRae — Fri, 04 May 2012 23:22:38 GMT

R.I.P Adam Yauch A.K.A MCA

PanterA

Graison — Tue, 01 May 2012 20:59:02 GMT

I don't know how many metal fans we have here in TFB, However 2 songs have recently emerged that were never released until around 4/20/12. Twisted is a song made by Dimebag Darrell himself without the whole band.

Pre-purchase "DCS: P-51D Mustang

Cornelius — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:28:12 GMT

http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.co...r=shop&lang=en

The DCS: P-51D Mustang offers both highly-detailed simulation and easy-to-play "game" mode options for both hardcore and casual gamers. When in simulation mode, this is the most authentic simulation of the P-51D Mustang that has ever been done for the PC. Enjoy both the thrill of flying this warbird and operating its various weapons against a variety of ground and airborne targets.

T.V shows.

MacRae — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 06:23:41 GMT

Hey guys,

So sad to say after watching some series for so long I've ran out of things to watch.

I need some suggestions.

Here's a list of what I usually watch

King of the Hill
Home movies
Simpsons
Family guy (Some)
Sealab 2021
Sons of Anarchy
Oblongs
Futurama
Squidbillies
ATHF
Venture Brothers
God, The Devil, And Bob

Weird list I know but there's not really much that grabs my attention.