Dancing with Fire's definitions

Augusto Pinochet

Dictator who ruled Chile with an iron fist from 1973 to 1990. Pinochet headed the military junta that controlled the country after a coup that deposed the democratically elected president Salvador Allende. During his reign, Pinochet ordered the violent suppression of all political opposition to his government. A commission determined that his military and government were responsible for human rights violations, including more than 2,000 deaths and untold numbers of disappearances.

All opposition parties were banned, the press was censored and dissidents up and down the country were abducted and executed without trial. The notorious Caravan of Death, an Army death squad flew the length of the country by helicopter in October 1973, extinguishing 97 influential opposition figures. Even dissidents that had fled the country were not out of Pinochet’s reach. Operation Condor, tracked the numerous Chileans that had fled into exile. No-one was safe from Pinochet’s paranoid anti-communist drive. General Prats, Augusto Pinochet’s predecessor in the role of Commander in Chief, was killed in Buenos Aires in 1974.

Pinochet is pronounced Pino – Chay. The t is silent.

by Dancing with Fire June 19, 2011

Faded Holy Soldier

A pretty funny video blogger on Youtube.

Faded Holy Soldier is awesome.

by Dancing with Fire December 10, 2012

FSB

Internal security service in Russia, successor to the KGB's Second Chief Directorate (internal counterintelligence).

The KGB was disbanded into the SVR and the FSB in 1991.

by Dancing with Fire September 3, 2012

In a Jiffy

Something that is done very quicky and without delay.

I'll fix ya up in a jiffy.
I'll be there in a jiffy.

by Dancing with Fire December 28, 2010

Sumo Wrestling

Sumo wrestling is not only the oldest of Japan’s various martial arts, it also evolved into the most distinct and ritualistic, to this day still heavily centered around the Shinto religion. When the sport was first introduced 1500 years ago it was performed mostly to ensure good harvests. Sumo’s popularity quickly spread, becoming a more public and widespread event. Matches were usually brutal, the loser often expected to forfeit his life. By the 7th century Sumo had fallen under the protection of the warring Shogunite regime and was largely banned as a public spectacle. Only the samurai, or warrior class, were allowed to practice it as part of their military training. Once peace was finally restored Sumo once again fell under the patronage of the Japanese royal courts and was dubbed the Imperial sport. By the 15th century Sumo wrestling had adopted a set of strict rules and the most talented champions were offered patronage by powerful feudal lords. In the early 1700’s “banzuke” or ranking lists, were established, a system which is still strictly adhered to today. The objective of the “sumotori," or competitors, many of whom weigh between 250 and 500 pounds, is to either knock his opponent from a specially-sized ring or manoeuvre him so that any part of his body touches the ground. This is done by using one or a series of 70 accepted Sumo moves, some of which are pushing, slapping, hoisting, tripping, pinning or throwing.

Six 15 day tournaments are held each year in Japan in the cities of Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka. Sumo matches are fought in a “dohyo," a raised and sanctified platform constructed with clay and sand and onto which a 14 foot 10 inch circle is marked out using half buried straw bales. Suspended above the ring is a wooden structure that resembles the roof of Shinto shrine. Each Sumo tournament begins with much pageantry and ceremony. The wrestlers, the referees, and the various attendants and helpers wear colorful attire, the design of which remains steeped in ancient traditions and meanings dating back to Japan’s Edo period. The grand champions, all wearing intricately embroidered silk aprons some of which are worth in excess of 500,000 yen, enter the ring first and begin their own elaborate rituals called “doyho-iri." There is no weight class in Sumo wrestling so very often the “rikishi," or competitors, find themselves squaring off against a much heftier opponent.

by Dancing with Fire January 26, 2011

Guerrilla Warfare

When a small irregular force takes on a large regular force through the use of hit and run tactics, the element of surprise, sabotage, destroying the enemies line of communications, etc.

For guerrilla warfare to work, the insurgent army must have the full support of the inhabitants in the area in which the guerrilla forces are trying to liberate. The enemy is also the source of the guerrilla army’s ammunition. Guerrilla is Spanish for "little war" and it originated with the actions of small bands of Spanish soldiers who fought against Napoleon’s French army in the Peninsular War (1807-1814).

by Dancing with Fire July 8, 2011

Triads

A term used to describe many Chinese criminal organizations. They are the most well-known organized crime group in China, Hong Kong, and Macao. They originated in the anti-Manchu resistance in China. The term "triad" comes from the three dots which form part of the Chinese character for the Ming Emperor Hung Wu. The Triads began as "Men of Hung." They were both part of the political resistance of the Han Chinese to the Manchu dynasty, as well as outlaws who "Ta fu — chih p'in" (Hit the Rich and help the poor).

Both the Chinese Triads and the Italian Mafia and Camorra have existed at least since the early 1800s. The Triads spread all over the world and control much of the illegal and informal economy in overseas Chinese communities.

by Dancing with Fire October 31, 2011