Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[Mohican]

Faggot ftw

My grandad used to eat faggot every Sunday afternoon.

I hate Faggots.

One of THE most disgusting foods on the planet

I too think the word 'hero' is used lightly and inappropriately. It's ok for a sports star to be a hero but only in reference to their talent being admired by others. My sports hero was/still is a welsh rugby player by the name of Scott Gibbs. Gibbs was one of the names I suggested (unsucessfully) to my wife for a boys name.

My other hero is my Grandad(Taidie as he was known to us). He served in Burma during WWII as a Chindit. He never complained about being there and often during an Uncle Albertesque 'during the war' moment would tell us an amusing anecdote about his time there and in the Army. It was a running joke in the family as to how long it would be before a story came out. After he passed I decided to honour him and the first tattoo i got was of a Burma Star, the medal he was awarded for his time in burma. He fits the description of hero in both senses(along with millions more veterans) and only saw it as the right thing to do.

Click to see full-size image.

I miss my Taidies war stories.

[AlunB]

I too think the word 'hero' is used lightly and inappropriately. It's ok for a sports star to be a hero but only in reference to their talent being admired by others. My sports hero was/still is a welsh rugby player by the name of Scott Gibbs. Gibbs was one of the names I suggested (unsucessfully) to my wife for a boys name.

Now Scotty Gibbs is a hero, if only for that try in 1999!

You can't tell people they are using it inappropriately if they don't mean what you mean by the word. Language is dynamic and if they are using a word that gives the correct meaning for their audience then they are using it entirely appropriately. Language is just a communication tool at the end of the day.

But yes anyone who thinks a war hero and a gambling hero are the same needs their head examining.

[tikay]

I too think the word 'hero' is used lightly and inappropriately. It's ok for a sports star to be a hero but only in reference to their talent being admired by others. My sports hero was/still is a welsh rugby player by the name of Scott Gibbs. Gibbs was one of the names I suggested (unsucessfully) to my wife for a boys name.

Now Scotty Gibbs is a hero, if only for that try in 1999!

You can't tell people they are using it inappropriately if they don't mean what you mean by the word. Language is dynamic and if they are using a word that gives the correct meaning for their audience then they are using it entirely appropriately. Language is just a communication tool at the end of the day.

But yes anyone who thinks a war hero and a gambling hero are the same needs their head examining.

You only said that because Scott Gibbs was Welsh.....

Types of "hero"? Well I think we have agreement now, but in my personal view, the meaning of the word has never changed, but we have devalued it, just as social-media has devalued "friend". There is nothing wrong with the current usage, but it must be a cheaper, or devalued, version of the original.  Which, really, is what your final sentence suggests.

[tikay]

Faggot ftw

My grandad used to eat faggot every Sunday afternoon.

I hate Faggots.

One of THE most disgusting foods on the planet

I too think the word 'hero' is used lightly and inappropriately. It's ok for a sports star to be a hero but only in reference to their talent being admired by others. My sports hero was/still is a welsh rugby player by the name of Scott Gibbs. Gibbs was one of the names I suggested (unsucessfully) to my wife for a boys name.

My other hero is my Grandad(Taidie as he was known to us). He served in Burma during WWII as a Chindit. He never complained about being there and often during an Uncle Albertesque 'during the war' moment would tell us an amusing anecdote about his time there and in the Army. It was a running joke in the family as to how long it would be before a story came out. After he passed I decided to honour him and the first tattoo i got was of a Burma Star, the medal he was awarded for his time in burma. He fits the description of hero in both senses(along with millions more veterans) and only saw it as the right thing to do.

Click to see full-size image.

I miss my Taidies war stories.

That is a fantastic Post, Carl, thank you.

[Tal]

I remember someone in an RSQ a while back when facing the question name a comic book hero gave the answer Rupert the Bear.

This drew all sorts of responses, primarily a debate over the word "hero".

Interesting how these debates start, eh?

[pokerfan]

The part that caught my eye was this;
'The mistreatment at Fort VIII came to a halt when an inspection delegation from Geneva, Switzerland arrived.[2] A brave soldier named Charlie Cavendish told the inspectors of the horrors the prisoners had experienced at the camp even though the Germans had tried to cover this up prior to the inspection.[2] Fort VIII was being shut down and the prisoners would be transferred. Cavendish knew beforehand that he would die at the hands of the SS for his actions but did so anyways in an effort to save his comrades and fellow prisoners.[2] Cavendish was missing at roll call the next day and was never seen or heard from again but forever remembered for his kind heart.'

That is one of the bravest acts I've ever heard of.
I can't imagine myself ever having the courage to do that.

Extraordinary, because he knew he was sentencing himself to death by doing so.

In fact, most of the stuff on that link was just as amazing.

I'm so glad Carl Posted it up, but at the same time, it's a bit of a reality check.

I've seem hundreds of holocaust photo's, but two in particular stand out where bravery is concerned.

One was taken in the marshalling yard at Auschwitz during a selection (A selection is where they decide who will go to the labour camp to be worked and starved to death and who would go directly to the gas chambers.) It shows a prisoner in a torn and filthy striped shirt, wearing only one shoe. The prisoner is addressing an immaculately dressed German officer. What courage it must have taken to speak to a man who was almost certain to kill you for your trouble.

The other shows a emaciated Gypsy man facing a firing squad. He is holding his shirt open and offering his bare chest in a final act of defiance.

Balls of steel.

[AlunB]

I too think the word 'hero' is used lightly and inappropriately. It's ok for a sports star to be a hero but only in reference to their talent being admired by others. My sports hero was/still is a welsh rugby player by the name of Scott Gibbs. Gibbs was one of the names I suggested (unsucessfully) to my wife for a boys name.

Now Scotty Gibbs is a hero, if only for that try in 1999!

You can't tell people they are using it inappropriately if they don't mean what you mean by the word. Language is dynamic and if they are using a word that gives the correct meaning for their audience then they are using it entirely appropriately. Language is just a communication tool at the end of the day.

But yes anyone who thinks a war hero and a gambling hero are the same needs their head examining.

You only said that because Scott Gibbs was Welsh.....

Types of "hero"? Well I think we have agreement now, but in my personal view, the meaning of the word has never changed, but we have devalued it, just as social-media has devalued "friend". There is nothing wrong with the current usage, but it must be a cheaper, or devalued, version of the original.  Which, really, is what your final sentence suggests.

I think we're in terrible danger here of agreeing with each other after having listened to the other's views and modified our original position slightly. This is not what the internet is for!

[KarmaDope]

I have yet to see the Airbus Beluga (2nd photo) though. Once I get my new camera though......

Click to see full-size image.

Next time you are up near Chester, take some time to visit Hawarden. Nice little village, and has a private airport on the outskirts at the absolutely massive Airbus factory.

Which is where the Beluga is based in the UK

Just to whet your appetite even more - Joobs'll spring for dinner!

[tikay]

I don't know the first thing about Military traditions, but this filled me with pride & happiness this morning, though I'm struggling to explain why.

Congratulations to Guardsman Jatinderpal Singh Bhullar, who belongs to the Scots Guards Regiment.

How proud must he be, too?

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

[Acidmouse]

All this WW1/2 talk is getting me excited, if you like stories about this then hold your horses for 2014 when its the 100th Anniversary of WW1. There will be alot of coverage, documentaries, news about real life heartache from the trenches. I am heading to the trenches in Northern France to do something for Imperial War museum after Xmas as one of 20 bloggers to produce a website of all the WW1 major battle scenes.. Ohh Hell yeah Somme here i come.

[simonnatur]

+1

Guardsman Jatinderpal Singh Bhullar

Great pictures and sentiment, the name alone is something to be proud of

[dllewellyn]

+1

Guardsman Jatinderpal Singh Bhullar

Great pictures and sentiment, the name alone is something to be proud of

I don't pass much comment on Blonde but Read Lots of posts but things like this give me a good feeling about the country i live in.

Dai

[Geo the Sarge]

I don't know the first thing about Military traditions, but this filled me with pride & happiness this morning, though I'm struggling to explain why.

Congratulations to Guardsman Jatinderpal Singh Bhullar, who belongs to the Scots Guards Regiment.

How proud must he be, too?

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

And not surprisingly the net is full of trolls giving it the "why should tradition be changed to accommodate someones religion etc etc."

Really chuffed for the lad and bet he is proud as punch. I actually view it as a recognition to all the Sikhs that have served and especially those who have lost their life, in service with the British Army.

I posted this previously in my troops thread and believe it stops many young men like Jatinderpal Singh Bhullar having a similar chance:

There was actually a move at one time for the British Army to set up a Sikh regiment which was shelved, it seems, after pressure from the PC brigade. It appears that the community leaders had thought it a good idea, after all there were many Sikh regiments that fought and died with our own during both world wars.
Some interesting reading here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1555507/Sikh-regiment-dumped-over-racism-fears.html

Had to remove the first link as it appears the site no longer exists

Geo

[Tal]

Posh? POSH?

This, people of the jury, is what Celebrity Poker Superstar, TV Personality and friend of the stars Tony "Tikay" Kendall accused me of being on national television just now.

He's met me. I use short vowels and everything.

And he has a butler, I doth recall.

Yow'm confusing' me wiv CambridgeAlex, sir.

[kinboshi]

Get the family lawyer on the case...