As more behind-the-scenes details emerge about Yoon and his confidants' secret efforts to push for a martial law declaration, it has been revealed that several key figures involved in the planning are connected to practices rooted in fortunetelling, superstition, and mysticism — shocking many people...
… In mid-December, during a police search of the fortunetelling business operated by Noh in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, they also discovered a handwritten notebook containing about 60 pages of materials related to the failed martial law plans. The notebook included phrases such as "National Assembly blockade" and listed names of many individuals — politicians, journalists, religious leaders, labor union members and even judges.
Despite Noh already running his own divination business, he frequently traveled some 170 kilometers to visit another shaman to seek guidance about his own fate and whether "the plan" he was preparing with others would succeed…
All done! Thanks very much to all the PB community once again for indulging me. Especially TSE, Mike and Robert. And a big thank you to everyone who had a go at solving the clues today. Especially Blanche!
I will seriously consider compiling an easier crossword for next year. Thanks for all the feedback.
That’s all folks!
Don't do an easier crossword. Just issue a second set of clues with the same answers later in the day so the stupider ones (me ) can do it.
Shyu: DOD developed, deployed classified counter-hypersonic capabilities https://insidedefense.com/daily-news/shyu-dod-developed-deployed-classified-counter-hypersonic-capabilities The U.S. military rapidly developed and deployed still-classified means to defeat hypersonic missiles, the fruit of a focused effort the Pentagon's top technology official spearheaded to find ways to defeat a new class of ultra-fast maneuvering weapons deemed a "huge success." Heydi Shyu, under secretary of defense for research and engineering, cited this previously unreported development as a chief achievement during her tenure..
The SM-6 family of missiles seems to have been a consistently successful program.
The poster child for incremental development.
Steadily evolved from the 1960s onwards.
Edit: I blame Steely Dan
Between Steely Dan and The Beaker People - I find a lot of blame to go round.
£1 to charity of choice for working out the connection between Steely Dan and SM-6
Thanks to stjohn for the crossword. Albeit as someone who doesn't do cryptic crossword to any great degree, my vote to persevere with setting the crossword at the same level next year. It only takes a few of us being flued up and Wednesday being a slightly odd day for Christmas Day to turn the typical done and dusted by mid afternoon into a bit of a late one.
Only adapt if the later finishes and narrower participation become the norm.
The Christmas crossword deserves its place as a PB institution.
Thanks to stjohn for the crossword. Albeit as someone who doesn't do cryptic crossword to any great degree, my vote to persevere with setting the crossword at the same level next year. It only takes a few of us being flued up and Wednesday being a slightly odd day for Christmas Day to turn the typical done and dusted by mid afternoon into a bit of a late one.
Only adapt if the later finishes and narrower participation become the norm.
The Christmas crossword deserves its place as a PB institution.
It's a nice quiet day on PB. Nutters back tomorrow...
Are you there Stodge? Hill behind Lossie in betting. What do you make of it?
I’m actually in New Zealand where it’s 2.15 on a damp afternoon in Hawkes Bay and I’m enjoying the action from Ellerslie, Otaki and Wingatui. SNAZZYTAVI, probably the best Kiwi horse running currently, goes in the Group 1 Zabeel Classic later this afternoon.
As for Kempton, barely given it a thought. I wouldn’t go near the Christmas Hurdle - you don’t know how CONSTITUTION HILL will be such a long break. Being a cynic, I’d probably do a straight forecast - LOSSIEMOUTH to beat BURDETT ROAD.
In the King George, BANBRIDGE is one of the best jumpers I’ve seen for a while. IF IL EST FRANCAIS is back to last year’s level, he’ll be hard to beat so my play would be BANBRIDGE each way.
As more behind-the-scenes details emerge about Yoon and his confidants' secret efforts to push for a martial law declaration, it has been revealed that several key figures involved in the planning are connected to practices rooted in fortunetelling, superstition, and mysticism — shocking many people...
… In mid-December, during a police search of the fortunetelling business operated by Noh in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, they also discovered a handwritten notebook containing about 60 pages of materials related to the failed martial law plans. The notebook included phrases such as "National Assembly blockade" and listed names of many individuals — politicians, journalists, religious leaders, labor union members and even judges.
Despite Noh already running his own divination business, he frequently traveled some 170 kilometers to visit another shaman to seek guidance about his own fate and whether "the plan" he was preparing with others would succeed…
Shades of Nixon getting weird...
Shamanism is actually a significant(ish) part of S Korean culture. I had thought that leading politicians taking it seriously was just a Kdrama meme. Evidently not.
Thanks to stjohn for the crossword. Albeit as someone who doesn't do cryptic crossword to any great degree, my vote to persevere with setting the crossword at the same level next year. It only takes a few of us being flued up and Wednesday being a slightly odd day for Christmas Day to turn the typical done and dusted by mid afternoon into a bit of a late one.
Only adapt if the later finishes and narrower participation become the norm.
The Christmas crossword deserves its place as a PB institution.
It's a nice quiet day on PB. Nutters back tomorrow...
Vengeance Most Fowl was the only TV I watched all day and the first non-news BBC content I've seen for a very long time. It was rather good.
Rave reviews for Vengeance Most Fowl and Gavin & Stacey. Mixed but generally favourable reviews for the King's Speech and Doctor Who. I watched no Christmas telly (yet) so this is just my review of reviews.
Vengeance Most Fowl was the only TV I watched all day and the first non-news BBC content I've seen for a very long time. It was rather good.
Rave reviews for Vengeance Most Fowl and Gavin & Stacey. Mixed but generally favourable reviews for the King's Speech and Doctor Who. I watched no Christmas telly (yet) so this is just my review of reviews.
G&S was Ok, if a bit predictable, and a nice feelgood ending to a series that became an unexpected success.
Probably the last mainstream sitcom of a long British televisual tradition
All done! Thanks very much to all the PB community once again for indulging me. Especially TSE, Mike and Robert. And a big thank you to everyone who had a go at solving the clues today. Especially Blanche!
I will seriously consider compiling an easier crossword for next year. Thanks for all the feedback.
That’s all folks!
Many thanks,StJohn. Although I didn't compete actively I enjoyed following the efforts of others.
Please don't make it easier. It's the appropriate place and time for a challenge.
Have a happy and successful 2025, and here's to the Villans in the top four.
Comments
keep the money
Only adapt if the later finishes and narrower participation become the norm.
The Christmas crossword deserves its place as a PB institution.
As for Kempton, barely given it a thought. I wouldn’t go near the Christmas Hurdle - you don’t know how CONSTITUTION HILL will be such a long break. Being a cynic, I’d probably do a straight forecast - LOSSIEMOUTH to beat BURDETT ROAD.
In the King George, BANBRIDGE is one of the best jumpers I’ve seen for a while. IF IL EST FRANCAIS is back to last year’s level, he’ll be hard to beat so my play would be BANBRIDGE each way.
The 658 megawatt (MW) Estlink 2 power interconnector remained offline following the outage that began at midday local time on Christmas Day."
https://news.sky.com/story/undersea-power-cable-suffers-outage-as-baltic-sea-countries-on-edge-over-series-of-disruptions-13279811
I had thought that leading politicians taking it seriously was just a Kdrama meme. Evidently not.
Vengeance Most Fowl was the only TV I watched all day and the first non-news BBC content I've seen for a very long time. It was rather good.
NEW THREAD
Probably the last mainstream sitcom of a long British televisual tradition
Please don't make it easier. It's the appropriate place and time for a challenge.
Have a happy and successful 2025, and here's to the Villans in the top four.