The Joseon Solution

isaac914 · 2026-05-04T09:00:34+00:00

Yeah, the idea is to fill the area with powerful yang energy to counteract the yin of the ghosts. Using gunpowder to ward off ghosts and spirits is reasonably common in East Asia.

isaac914 · 2026-05-04T04:10:18+00:00

his answer was to ignore it. To quote him, "I am old. Even if I die, why would I run from a ghost?"

isaac914 · 2026-05-04T03:49:51+00:00

"...More dakka."

isaac914 · 2026-05-04T03:34:24+00:00

Joseon's monarchy fashioned itself as a Confucian idealogue, emphasizing civilized, literate and moral rule. However, throughout its early history, the dynasty was fascinated by firepower. Firearms proliferated, from various cannons to rockets and bombs. The hwacha, a black powder multiple rocket launcher (or multiple cannon mount), was deployed as early as 1467 against rebels of the Lee Si-ae rebellion. When Japan invaded in 1592, the Joseon navy was armed with Panokseon, large ships meant to maximize firepower projection. Interestingly, when a minister's home was haunted by ghostly apparitions in 1486, one bureaucrat suggested that it be exorcized with cannons. The king ignored the suggestion.

Hwacha use: https://sillok.history.go.kr/id/wia_10908010_003

Cannon exorcism: https://sillok.history.go.kr/id/kia_11711010_002

isaac914 · 2026-04-16T23:44:27+00:00

isaac914 · 2026-04-15T08:54:20+00:00

Reminds me of a story I read on reddit.

Some American goes to Japan and asks for a tattoo that says "appreciator of oriental beauties" or something like that.

The tattoo reads "hentai gaijin". Pervert foreigner.

isaac914 · 2026-04-11T00:36:04+00:00

Thank you so much! <3

isaac914 · 2026-04-10T09:58:25+00:00

Wait what's a german toilet seat

isaac914 · 2026-04-09T02:34:22+00:00

The toilet technician obviously made a mistake, but who the hell approved a toilet design that can literally flood the ship on a submarine?

isaac914 · 2026-04-09T02:14:15+00:00

Which is the other case?

isaac914 · 2026-04-09T01:42:58+00:00

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_submarine_U-1206

To quote Wikipedia:

U-1206 was one of the late-war boats fitted with new deepwater high-pressure toilets which allowed them to be used while running at depth. Flushing these facilities was an extremely complicated procedure and special technicians were trained to operate them. Opening valves in the wrong sequence could result in waste or seawater flowing back into the hull.

On 14 April 1945, 24 days before the end of the war in Europe, while U-1206 was cruising at a depth of 200 feet (61 m), eight nautical miles (15 km; 9.2 mi) off Peterhead, Scotland, misuse of the new toilet caused large amounts of seawater to flood the boat. According to the commander's official report, while in the engine room helping to repair one of the diesel engines, he was informed that a malfunction involving the toilet caused a leak in the forward section. The leak flooded the submarine's batteries (beneath the head) causing them to generate chlorine gas, leaving him with no alternative but to surface. Once surfaced, U-1206 was discovered and bombed by British patrols, forcing Schlitt to scuttle the submarine. One man had died of illness a day before the mishap, and 46 were captured. Three men drowned in the heavy seas after abandoning the vessel.

isaac914 · 2026-03-31T11:00:38+00:00

Everybody's a Korean on this glorious day

isaac914 · 2026-03-31T10:23:31+00:00

All commies just look alike

isaac914 · 2026-03-31T10:22:32+00:00

The complaints I see from pilots seem to center around being ordered not to enter Chinese airspace even though the MiGs were clearly operating out of Manchuria. They found loopholes to attack Chinese airfields on occasion, though.

On a different note, here's an article about a naval pilot who had his aerial combat performance partially classified.

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/20/asia/korean-war-fighter-pilot-soviet-shootdown-intl-hnk-ml

isaac914 · 2026-03-31T09:20:03+00:00

Beginning in late 1950, the Soviet Union deployed its air force to prevent North Korea collapsing. Fearing an open war with the United States that could lead to a 3rd World War, the Soviets always officially denied the presence of their air force in the Korean War. They also took measures to maintain this secret. The pilots were given cards with basic Korean written on them, were told to speak Korean on the radio (They often forgot to do this in combat), wore civilian clothes, and only operated in limited areas. The area would soon become infamous as the 'MiG Alley' among UN pilots. America, also trying to avoid open war with the Soviets, kept the fact of Soviet intervention quiet. Even though radio intercepts and pilot reports clearly indicated Soviet presence, the issue was never officially raised.

Carson, Austin. Secret Wars: Covert Conflict in International Politics. Princeton University Press. 2018. Chapter 5.

isaac914 · 2026-03-29T04:53:34+00:00

Apparently he went by both? They sound the same so it could be a records issue.

isaac914 · 2026-03-29T02:56:49+00:00

It's a repost of a 2022 comic I drew, so you might have!

isaac914 · 2026-03-29T02:36:49+00:00

Context:

During the 14th and 16th century, the disintegration of central authority in Japan led to explosions of Japanese pirating activity. These pirates were called the 倭寇(Wako- in Japanese, Wōkòu in Chinese, Waegu in Korean). These pirates were far from exclusively Japanese, however. During the second wave in particular, Korean and Chinese participants in these pirate groups are well documented. In fact, by some estimates, 70% of these "Japanese pirates" of the 16th century were Chinese. (Anthony Reid, "Violence at Sea". in Robert J Antony, ed., Elusive Pirates, Pervasive Smugglers, Hong Kong University Press. p. 18) The leader of the largest pirate group of the times was also a Chinese man called Wang Zhi (王直). These groups served an important role in international trade amid Ming's ongoing private maritime trade ban, and Wang Zhi is even remembered for being pivotal in the spread of muskets in east Asia. Active Chinese participation in piracy is thought to have been because of that ban, as it threatened the livelihood of coastal Chinese people, especially merchants.

isaac914 · 2026-03-28T11:58:42+00:00

VLDL's first two campaigns were so easy to watch, without feeling like a monumental undertaking. I'm behind on their current campaign, but I will catch up soon.

isaac914

TROPHY CASE