Leonard Cohen is dead

The Canadian poet and snger Leonard Norman Cohen passed away in November 7, 2016. I discovered him in my teens and his songs have been in my life until his death.

Sit tibi terra levis

Bob Coggins has passed away

From a post in the Napoleon's Battles Yahoo forum

"This is just a brief note to make all the members aware that Robert Coggins, the co-creator, with Craig Taylor, of Napoleon’s Battles passed away this afternoon. He had been ill for several years and this past Wednesday he suffered a stroke as he was preparing to go to Historicon. The stroke precipitated a fall sometime on Thursday evening or early Friday morning and he was admitted to the hospital on Friday afternoon. He passed away at Union Memorial Hospital today, Monday July 21, 2014, in the late afternoon. He is survived by his brother, Richard. The funeral arrangements are not complete at this time. His brother will be making all the arrangements."

Living at the two opposite shores of the Atlantic ocean, I do not personally met Bob Coggins. However, I had with him some rich discussions about some points of the Napoleon's Battles rule-set. With his death, both creators of Napoleon's Battles rule-set are now passed away

It is a sad day and also a great loss to the world of wargaming. He will be missed.
Requiescat in Pace

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11-M: Ten years....

March 11th 2004... 11-M... ten years after the terrorist train bombing at Madrid...
We don't forget...

If I were more pretty

and a bit smarter

If I were special,

Off a magazine cover

I would have the strength

to cross the train

and ask you who you are.

You sit in the front

and you don’t even imagine

that only for you

my best skirt am I wearing.

and as I see you yawn

that crystal panel

my eyes well up.

Suddenly, you see me

I watch you and you sigh,

As I close my eyes,

you turn back silently,

I hardly breathe,

I feel so small

and I begin to tremble.

And thus days go by,

from Monday to Friday,

as the flying swallows

of the poem of Becquer,

from station to station

we sit there, you and I

and so passes the silence.

Suddenly, you see me

I watch you and you sigh,

As I close my eyes,

you turn back silently,

I hardly breathe,

I feel so small

and I begin to tremble.

And then sudden, it happens,

and my lips wake up

pronouncing your name

in a stuttering voice,

You’re probably thinking

“Such a foolish girl!”

and I want to die.

But then the time stops,

You approach to me,
you whisper…

“I do not know you,

But I already miss you.

You know, every morning

I skip the direct route

and board this train”

And now, we are arriving

and my life is changing.

Such a special day

this eleventh of March.

You take my hand,

we enter a tunnel

that turns off the light.

With the help of my hands,

I find your face

I kiss you on the lips

I become very brave

you say that you love me,

and I grant you

the last beat of my heart...

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Nelson Mandela has died

South Africa's first black president and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela has died at the age of 95.
Nelson Mandela led South Africa's transition from white-minority rule in the 1990s, after 27 years in prison for his political activities.
He will remain as a symbol of the power of peace and reconciliation.
Goobye Madiba!

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Don Featherstone passes

I have received very sad news from several internet wargaming groups.

“I am sorry to be the bearer of sad news but I have just heard that Don Featherstone passed away. I saw him a few weeks ago for one of his military dining club dinners and he was in good spirits but very frail. Unfortunately he had a fall and was discovered collapsed by a neighbour. He was taken into Southampton hospital and had been there a while but his general conditioned deteriorated. I have no other details only that he died yesterday. As I said I am so sorry to have to give you this news but thought you'd like to know.”
The quote is from Bill Gray, the chairman of the NapoleonicFireandFury group.


Donald Featherstone was one of the pioneers of the historical miniature wargaming. I discovered him and his books in the 80's when I went seriously into the hobby. I own some of his works: War Game Campaigns, Advanced War Games and Solo-Wargaming (the last only as a set of old and fading photocopies).
The signature below, corresponds to my copy of War Games Campaigns

Requiescat In Pace!

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Craig Taylor passed away

From a post in the Napoleon's Battles Yahoo Group

"Bob Coggins asked me to let everyone know that Craig Taylor passed away this week. Cause of death was undetermined at this time, but will be available later, I'm sure. Bob's computer is down at the moment so he will not be able to respond to any questions on line. We will let everyone know more details as they become available. Craig was a prolific and successful miniatures and board game historical rules writer and co-author of Napoleon's Battles. I've known him since his Avalon Hill days when I was one of the staff playtesters on Avalon Hill's version of the Austrailian Napoleonic game "Empires in Arms," which Craig sheparded through the redesign effort and publication. His integrety and willingness to go the extra mile in game development was well known. He was an amazing game designer and developer with a long list of titles to his credit. The hobby has lost a true professional, a true friend. He will be missed."

The above is the Craig's signature in my Napoleon's Battles (3rd. Ed) copy.

Requiescat In Pace!

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9/11 Ten years later

We don't forget!

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Labordeta is dead

Today it is a sad day for my generation.
José Antonio Labordeta, musician, singer, politician, writer and professor, has died today September 19, 2010 in Zaragoza (Spain) after a long illness.
A man of his time, always in the fight for the human rights, he will be always remembered in the Spanish-speaking countries, because of his compromise with the freedom.

Watch a video of one of his most famous songs: Somos (We are) . It was written for Aragon, his land, but it is an universal song, for all men and women that love the Freedom.

Translated lyrics

We are
like those old trees
beaten by the wind
that lashes from the sea.

We have
lost companions
landscapes and hopes
in our hard fighting.

We go
to take new roots
by fields and paths,
to be able to walk

times
that are covered with the hands
the faces and the lips
of the Brotherhood.

We are
like the humble adobe
that covers against the time
the shade of the home.

We have
lost our history
songs and ways
in our hard fighting.

We go
to take new roots
by fields and paths,
to be able to walk

yearned

times and a future
of hands with hands
hoisting the Equality.

We are
just as our earth,
smooth like the clay
and hard like
the rocky terrain.

We have
crossed the time
leaving in the dried land
our total fight.

We go
to do with the future
a song to the Hope
to be able to find

times that
were covered with the hands,
the faces and the lips
that are dreaming the Freedom.

We are
like those old trees!

Requiescat in pace

Terry Wise is dead

Another of the Old Guard wargamers has passed away. Terry Wise, along Don Featherstone and Charles Grant, was one of my first inspirational readings with his book 'Introduction to battlegaming'. After, in the 80's as the owner of Athena Books, he provided me with many rare and old wargaming books, unavailable in Spain.
Rest in peace.

See the news at TMP site

Paddy Griffith is dead

Paddy Griffith, wargamer, military historian, founding member of Wargame Developments and author of many books on military subjects (See the Wikipedia) died the 24th June 2010.

Requiescat In Pacem

A tribute to Dionisio Alvarez Cueto

A group of Spanish miniaturists has launched a tribute to the work of the late Dionisio Alvarez Cueto, the famous Spanish military painter deceased in january 2009. (See Death of Dionisio Alvarez Cueto).

The idea is to make a miniature based on any of his numerous military drawings. All the miniatures will be exhibit during a meeting at El Escorial (Madrid, Spain) in 2010.

To participate in the event or just to admire the work of his marvelous illustrator, visit the tribute page Homenaje en Miniatura or go to his personal page Dionisio Alvarez

Anyway, enjoy a sample of one of his drawings

Death of Dionisio Alvarez Cueto

I am sad to announce that Dionisio Álvarez Cueto died (january 6) in Madrid (Spain). He was 44 years old. Dionisio was an artist who specialized in the Peninsular War and Spanish uniforms in particular.
Along with Miguel Angel Martin Mas (collaborator of the ALKAID magazine) he founded the Editorial "Las cuatro plumas" (The four feathers) publishing "Madrid 1808. The 2nd of May for everybody". His military illustrations gave life to more than a dozen of books and numerous articles in national and foreign specialized magazines.
He will be missed
See some samples of his peculiar and unmistakable style.