Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[tikay]

One of those rare "I remember where I was & what I was doing when it happened" events. At the time, I thought JFK was the greatest. Now, not so sure, the family have a bit of history, but a lot of tragedy, too.

[tikay]

There were more iconic photos from the Vietnam conflict than anything else I can recall. At the time, to me, it was simple - good guys v bad guys. I wonder how history will eventually view all that?

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

[tikay]

I think I have read more books about this dreadful character than anyone else.

If you ever doubt that Governments can be corrupt, get the book called, I think, "The Nixon Tapes". It is about 900 pages long, but it is transcripts of all the tapes from Nixon's office.

For the younger amongst us, the story of Watergate, & the fact that every single word spoken by Nixon in the Oval Office was covertly recorded - by Nixon of all people - which eventually became the main prosecution evidence against him in the astonishing Watergate scandal, is one of the greatest stories of our lifetime.

Click to see full-size image.

[TightEnd]

All fantastic stuff

I know it's a waste of time even suggesting it, but sign up to Lovefilm or netflix and take a look at JFK, Frost/Nixon, Platoon, Letters from Iwo Jima, Flags of Our Fathers etc

All excellent films of the events the pictures show


More realistically, I recommend



James Bradley is the son of one of the flag-raisers, and the book is excellent detailing the politics behind the flag raising as well as the battle itself

[tikay]

Incredible.

Click to see full-size image.

[tikay]

A single picture tells of 3,000 deaths. What must it feel like to be forced to jump to certain death?

Click to see full-size image.

[tikay]

All fantastic stuff

I know it's a waste of time even suggesting it, but sign up to Lovefilm or netflix and take a look at JFK, Frost/Nixon, Platoon, Letters from Iwo Jima, Flags of Our Fathers etc

All excellent films of the events the pictures show


More realistically, I recommend



James Bradley is the son of one of the flag-raisers, and the book is excellent detailing the politics behind the flag raising as well as the battle itself

Thank you, Rich.

I would watch any film about Nixon & his life, assuming it was done well.

I have actually seen the film about the Nixon/Frost Interviews, whilst on a 747 to Vegas, & I thought it was just awful, Sheen, as Frost, in particular. But then I had sen them in real time, so I was bound to see it differently to those who were not around at the time.

I read the book & watch what was, I think, a TV Series in the 80's, "All The President's Men", & that was superb, both the book and the TV Series. I would pay good money - very good money - to be able to re-watch that TV Series. I had it on VHS, but VHS seems to be out of fashion now.

Netflix has caught my eye, the guy in charge of larging it up in the UK was interviewed recently - it seems very good value (if you enjot film watching), first month free then a fiver a month for "on demand" films, if I understood it correctly. I'd happily pay that just to catch some of the non-fiction stuff, or gangster movies, for which I confess a weakness.

[tikay]

As a PS, acknowledgement to Vanity Fair, from where I copied all those photos.

http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2008/11/25best_slideshow200811#slide=26

[Rod Paradise]

Berlin was blockaded by the Soviets in 1948, & the famous "Berlin Airlift" ("The Berlin Air Bridge") took place. Can you imagine a blockade of berlin in this day & age?

I believe, in a roundabout way, that it was due to this airlift that Sir Freddie Laker first started to make money out of aviation. Later, he pioneered low cost Atlantic air travel, with "SkyTrain", (what a great name!) & it was very successful. Within 2 years, though, he was busto. Quite a story to Sir Freddie & Laker Airways, actually, & I may bore you with it one day.

Click to see full-size image.

My mum was flown into Berlin as part of that airlift, as a kid, because my Grandpa (an aircraft engineer with BOAC) had just been stationed there, they flew his oppo's wife, my Gran & my Mum out to be with their husband  - apparently they were the only females flown into Berlin at the time.

I really regret his dying before I was old enough to have a beer and a natter with him - a right character with a varied life was Sid.

[Acidmouse]

More WW!1/WW2 photos please so i can use them always on the look out for quality pics.

[david3103]

Nixon was a mean poker player in his army days apparently

two snips from http://www.pokerplayer.co.uk/news/features/298/richard_nixon.html

The hustler

Besides, lessons learned at the table surely served him better than a dinner with Lindbergh ever would. Years later, when it came to foreign policy – and its attendant negotiations – President Nixon operated with all the cunning of a card hustler


and later in the piece

"...Nixon used a chunk of his poker winnings to finance his route into politics"

[hector62]

I can't  find any mention of a TV mini series called "All the presidents men" but there was a famous film by that name.

Could the TV series be called "Watergate" ?

[tikay]

Berlin was blockaded by the Soviets in 1948, & the famous "Berlin Airlift" ("The Berlin Air Bridge") took place. Can you imagine a blockade of berlin in this day & age?

I believe, in a roundabout way, that it was due to this airlift that Sir Freddie Laker first started to make money out of aviation. Later, he pioneered low cost Atlantic air travel, with "SkyTrain", (what a great name!) & it was very successful. Within 2 years, though, he was busto. Quite a story to Sir Freddie & Laker Airways, actually, & I may bore you with it one day.

Click to see full-size image.

My mum was flown into Berlin as part of that airlift, as a kid, because my Grandpa (an aircraft engineer with BOAC) had just been stationed there, they flew his oppo's wife, my Gran & my Mum out to be with their husband  - apparently they were the only females flown into Berlin at the time.

I really regret his dying before I was old enough to have a beer and a natter with him - a right character with a varied life was Sid.

They flew her IN?

How extraordinary!

[tikay]

[david3103]

Not in our lifetme obviously (me being mid-sixties or summat and you being 10 yrs older than I) but what's your take on the Estuary Airport?

It links your interests in planes with your love of wildlife - more planes good; less birds bad...

Boris is very for it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16606212