RE: Two Airlines Apply For Cockpit Guns .

Wys.

I was against the idea of weapons in the cockpit, indeed against weapons on an aircraft full stop. However, your excellent explanation of the fail safe systems which could be employed in the cockpit have gone a long way toward changing my mind. The only reservation I have is about the involvement of one of the pilots in any plot and as you say, there is little anyone can do about that.

regards.

kev35

RE: War or no war?

No! I don’t agree with the forthcoming war with Iraq. The simple reason is that I don’t perceive Saddam Hussein to be a credible threat to the west. Firstly, there is absolutely no proof yet that he has weapons of mass destruction. So let the weapons inspectors do their job. If they find conclusive proof then we may have to think again. America is said to ‘know’ he has weapons of mass destruction. OK. Show us the evidence. If you know the location of such weapons, neutralise them. America says that the forthcoming war will free the Iraqi people from their oppressive dictator. Can we really believe their motives are so altruistic? Help was promised after Desert Storm which failed to materialise.

The alleged link between Iraq and al-Qaeda is yet to be proven. In fact, Americas staunchest ally, Tony Blair, admitted on tv the other day that there is no evidence to support a direct or indirect link between Iraq and al-Qaeda.

Both the UK and America have servicemen and women prepared to give their lives in the service of their countries. It is doing them a grave disservice to expect them to give their lives on a whim.

Regards,

kev35

RE: War Cemetaries

Munnst.

Great subject for a topic and one which is close to my heart.

As for Military cemeteries, Cannock Chase is the one I frequent most as I live in the West Midlands. The Commonwealth War Cemetery there holds predominantly Great War graves but there are some from the last war too. There are many New Zealanders buried there who died of the flu while stationed at Brocton on the Chase. Just down the road is the Deutsche Soldatenfriedhof which is the last resting place for German WWII dead. There are many aircrew interred here as after the war the German Government were offered the opportunity of a site int which the majority, if not all, their war dead could be buried together. This site was chosen as apparently it is very reminiscent of forests in Germany. Also on the Chase is the Katyn Memorial dedicated to those who were killed in Katyn Wood. All three sites are worth a visit. The Chase is a great place for walking anyway and is very peaceful, something which is reflected in the Cemeteries.

The American Cemetery at Madingley can only be described as overwhelming. The rows of crosses on manicured lawns are particularly powerful. The Memorial wall is extensive and reminds one of Sasson’s ‘intolerably nameless names.’ It is too much to take in. The Chapel is magnificent with huge tiled panels and ceiling depicting the war.

The Runnymede Memorial to the missing of the RAF is another site well worth a visit. A beautiful building in a beautiful setting but again the sheer volume of names tends to overwhelm you. You want to individualise them but of necessity you invariably pick out a few.

Don’t forget your local churchyards, Cemeteries and Memorials. I live in Walsall and my local Church has a memorial to the Great War. The census of 1911 showed Walsall to have a population of 111,000 or so an over two and a half thousand were hilled in the Great War. The Church, in a relatively small parish has a memorial to over two hundred men and women who were killed in that conflict. I’m currently researching them now. Also, our local Cemetery contains over 160 burials of servicemen and women from both wars.

Memorials are all around us, it’s just sad that so many people don’t see their significance anymore.

Regards,

kev35

RE: Colonic irrigation!!!

Wys.

Personally, I wouldn’t fancy it. When I worked as a nurse I had to administer what were known as Herculean washouts for those about to undergo major bowel surgery to ensure the bowel was ‘clean’ prior to surgery. Our bowel is said to contain bacteria which are essential to our well being, you’ve seen the adverts, ‘I top up mine every morning.’ Surely these are removed by irrigation? Perhaps that’s the whole idea, you then have to pay to replace these essential bacteria? I suppose I’m old school and am a firm believer that the bowel is for pushing things out and only for putting things in under exceptional circumstances.

As for the eradication of smells, where’s the fun in that?:+

Regards,

kev35

RE: Cost of portrait photography

Wys.

That does seem very, very steep. My Goddaughter is a part time model and the most she has ever paidfor a good selection of quality photos was £80.

Just a thought. If you know anyone half-way decent with a camera, get them to take a lot of pictures of you and your brother in different settings, indoors and out. It’s likely that you’ll get at least one that’s good enough. A photo-shop can then mount a print on canvas or turn it into an oil painting etc. etc. And I think it would cost a lot less than £400.

Regards,

kev35

RE: Another meet up ? See some ‘planes and have a chat / pie / pint etc

How about Hendon and the Science Museum? Or Hendon and the Runnymede Memorial? Maybe we should leave the IWM till later in the year and see if Ashley can arrange something out of the ordinary for us?

But I’ll go along with whatever.

Regards,

kev35

RE: So I guess it’s just a matter of ‘when’ the US is going to war

Scooter.

Just noticed this in one of your posts.

“As for your relatives plight. I’d sure wouldn’t want to wish that on anyone and I am sure it was quite a hardship!”

Glad to hear it. So, why are you so damned adamant about inflicting exactly that kind of hardship on the people of Afghanistan or Iraq?

“That said many of my fathers and grand fathers generation fought and died in both World Wars. My Father fought in the Pacific and my Grand Father in France. My father has told me many stories of his friends that did not make it back from the war.”

That is something you and I should be eternally grateful for and in the case of your family, something of which you can be justifiably proud.

“Really it doesn’t matter what I say? Its a double standard either way you look at it.”

Reread the above statement in context. It doen’t matter what you or I say to each other as I think neither of us is likely, or willing, to change our point of view.

“Then one day am I going to talk to some young Iraqi that is bitter at America because we waited to long! Why didn’t we help?”

But you obviously don’t mind explaining to a Rwandan or Somali why you didn’t help?

“Next you will be telling me that WWII was Americas fault and not the Nazis……”

🙂

regards,

kev35