To Kyle

Today is Monday, 4 August 1964.

Sorry, that was a flashback: it's 2008.

On this date in 1964, the "Gulf of Tonkin Incident". Two destroyers of the U.S. Navy on spy mission had violated the waters of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam ("North Vietnam"), and, it was alleged at the time, that the former were fired upon by the latter, which would be totally legal, considering the violation of sovereign waters.

Used by President Lyndon B. Johnson, one of the most honourable presidents save, e.g., the horrors of Viet Nam, to justify massive bombing of the DRVN and troop escalations.

Now do that Hesse thing, and triangulate that fact with the following tunes and the times.

(One of these days, I'll figure out how to use my Webcam, and sing the following in my, if not award-winning, sometimes admired extraordinary rendition, as it was sung originally in the Weimar Era.)

Here's Pearl Bailey and Dinah Shore, with Brecht/Weill's "Mack the Knife":



The vintage Bobby Darin version is blocked, but here's one late:



Wait one: Big Daddy found a work-around, this must be ca. 1959:



Now, chill and follow the preceding with a perfectly logical conclusion:



Today's column is dedicated to Kyle, as she embarks upon a new adventure.