Real-Life Weirdness

[L.J.Steele]

An then, there's the series of Japanese gum ads

Yes, it's 6 min long, but watch to the end
https://twitter.com/MothershipSG/sta...06293499215872

[L.J.Steele]

And the world's rarest pasta

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/o...=pocket-newtab

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by L.J.Steele

An then, there's the series of Japanese gum ads

Yes, it's 6 min long, but watch to the end
https://twitter.com/MothershipSG/sta...06293499215872

Is it the one I'm thinking of?.... Yep, it is. :)
I miss those story commercials that used to be far more common here.

[cptbutton]

A man from Virginia turned himself in at the FBI headquarters this morning, claiming that he was guilty of killing more than 30 people, including the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln.

71-year-old Leroy Timothy Anderson, claims he worked for 35 years as a “time-traveling assassin” for a secret governmental agency and says he has killed people at various times, going from 1678 to 2239.

Timestop or Stopwatch?

[Anaraxes]

Originally Posted by cptbutton

Timestop or Stopwatch?

Just "Killing Time"?

[Flyndaran]

Ooh, imagine a highly trained time traveling agent that breaks the secret due to undiagnosed dementia.

[Terebrant]

I saw an article about a bridge theft.

If it really was for the metal, why take only the centerpart? Were they making room for something to pass? Who would commission or accept to do that?

[Dr. Beckenstein]

Politics and economics, always worth a look.

Esp. when they are related to 20 tons of gold.

In 2016, Venezuela borrowed $ 750 millions from the Deutsche Bank. As a pledge, they used 20 tons of gold, resting in a vault in London. Venezuela did not pay back the loan, so the Gold now belongs to the gnomes of Frankfurt.

So far, so good.

But since 2016, the gold price went up, so the 20 tons of gold are today worth about $ 860 millions. The difference belongs, of course, to the government of Venezuela.
But which one? The one of the ruling president Maduro, or the self-claimed "interims"-president Guaidó?
Giving it to Maduro will make many people unhappy, among them the US Government. Giving it to Guaidó will make other people unhappy, among them the Government of Russia.

Until a decision is made, the gold collects dust in the London vault, and the bankers in London and Frankfurt put on their best poker-faces.

So, what do we get?

Excellent plot hooks.

A "real-world" campaign could range from classic, grim-and-gritty espionage, when US and Russian Agents try to secure the money for their favourite party ("Great! It's like the 80's are back!") to an Oceans-11 styled caper, when a merry band of gentlemen-burglars try to double-cross CIA and FSB and grab all the shiny gold.

It could be easily adapted to other settings. In a science fiction setting, it could be a colony planet that borrowed money from a mega corporation. In fantasy, it could be noble that took a loan from a guild (or maybe a god?), and the pledge could be a village whose serfs suddenly have new masters.

Other ideas?

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-...-deutsche-bank

[Johnny1A.2]

Originally Posted by Dr. Beckenstein

Politics and economics, always worth a look.

Esp. when they are related to 20 tons of gold.

In 2016, Venezuela borrowed $ 750 millions from the Deutsche Bank. As a pledge, they used 20 tons of gold, resting in a vault in London. Venezuela did not pay back the loan, so the Gold now belongs to the gnomes of Frankfurt.

So far, so good.

But since 2016, the gold price went up, so the 20 tons of gold are today worth about $ 860 millions. The difference belongs, of course, to the government of Venezuela.
But which one? The one of the ruling president Maduro, or the self-claimed "interims"-president Guaidó?
Giving it to Maduro will make many people unhappy, among them the US Government. Giving it to Guaidó will make other people unhappy, among them the Government of Russia.

Until a decision is made, the gold collects dust in the London vault, and the bankers in London and Frankfurt put on their best poker-faces.

So, what do we get?

Excellent plot hooks.

A "real-world" campaign could range from classic, grim-and-gritty espionage, when US and Russian Agents try to secure the money for their favourite party ("Great! It's like the 80's are back!") to an Oceans-11 styled caper, when a merry band of gentlemen-burglars try to double-cross CIA and FSB and grab all the shiny gold.

Hmm...double-crossing the FSB at that level of money might transform an Oceans 11 scenario into a 'run for your life and find a deep place to hide' scenario...which could be a good gaming hook for some not-too-bright (or very technically clever but otherwise clueless) crooks.

[ak_aramis]

Originally Posted by Terebrant

I saw an article about a bridge theft.

If it really was for the metal, why take only the centerpart? Were they making room for something to pass? Who would commission or accept to do that?

the centerpart was known to have fallen. The thieves didn't need to climb to get to it.