RE: Good books??

GZYL,

I’ve read all three of those as well. I think ‘we were soldiers…’ is an excellent read, it is a superb example of the literature to come out of the Vietnam war. Vietnam is a special interest area of mine. There are many brilliant books both factual and fictional on Vietnam so here are a few suggestions.
Factual- Low level hell by Hugh Mills about helicopter ops, Fox Two about an F4 ace (think it’s Cunningham) and the Battle of Long Tan by McAulay which is about the Australians.
Fictional- anything by James Webb, Going after Cacciato by Tim O’Brien, the 13th valley by Mark del Vecchio. Of the Webb books, Fields of Fire is, IMHO a classic.

If you’re looking for WWII there were a lot of paperback biographies published in the 50’s and 60’s and these are often available now for less than a pound.

For the pure joy of flight try Biplane, Stranger to the Ground and Nothing by Chance by Richard Bach. His fantasies are also well worth reading such as Illusions (the confessions of a reluctant messiah), Jonathan Livingstone Seagull and There’s no such place as far away.

Hope this gives you a start but I can think of plenty more.

Regards,

kev35

RE: Sociological question

Squasher,

What a question!

“Do the Brits hate / dislike / distrust the Germans ? I get this feeling every time there is a football match or any such comparism between Britain and Germany. Even when BMW sold off Rover there was a big hue and cry – whereas if BMW was an American company there would not have been any similar uproar. Does such a feeling exist amongst the English and if so why ?”

I think it rather depends on your age and upbringing as to whether or not the Germans are hated, disliked or mistrusted. Hate is a very strong word but doubtless there are Brits who absolutely hate anyone or anything German. As a people we are probably Europes greatest xenophobes. You mention a football match. Germany were for many years England’s greatest footballing rivals in Europe so it’s pretty obvious that the rivalry would spread. I think your point about the BMW takeover of Rover is wrong. The problem was not so much that BMW are German, it was more that BMW wanted to close and destroy Rover. I think if an American company had tried to do the same the outcry would have been just as great. In the Midlands, it would not only have been job losses at Rover but many thousands more in the industries which grew up all around Birmingham providing services to the car manufacturing industry.

“A german guy to whom I asked the same said that the Brits are a bit peeved because although they won both the wars, Germany has come out as an Economically stronger nation, whereas Britain lost its Empire and pre-war standing in the world.”

A short answer would be unprintable. Yes, Britain won both wars and lost many lives in the process, wars which Britain did not start. There are still many veterans alive from WWII and understandably many will still be bitter. My Father lost a number of his schoolfriends during the war and my Grandfather helped drag the bodies of the dead from a nearby factory after it was bombed by the Germans. My Father was a 14 year old boy acting as a messenger with the Civil Defence Organisation. On the night the Germans chose to destroy Coventry, my Father was called in to help and from a hill south of Birmingham watched Coventry burn before helping ferry casualties to hospitals in the area. He, and thousands like him saw sights one can hardly imagine. His best friend burned to death in a tank at El Alamein. Forgivenees is not easy for those of that generation.

I realise that the vast Majority of Germans were just ordinary men doing the same things as the British, but the dictator that they fought under is unworthy of anything but our contempt. You may indeed have a point about the possibility of a ‘financial envy’ of Germany and their recovery since WWII.

But, especially for a certain generation, if you want to talk about hatred for a people, then please, look no further than the Japanese.

For Myself, I have met a few Germans and hold no malice, no hatred and no distrust towards them. Empire, or the loss of it does not come into it. We can hardly keep our own house in order without worrying about anyone else’s.

Regards,

kev35

RE: 2006 WC is already ours

PII,

I think you’ve misunderstood me. I think Brazil are worthy champions and they certainly deserved to win the final. My point is that being champions this time round is no guarantee that things will be the same next time round, as I said, ask the French.

As for you being American, you have my heartfelt sympathies. As for your lack of knowledge and interest in soccer it’s probably comparable to my lack of knowledge of baseball. American Football used to be shown in the UK and I used to watch it. But really it’s just rugby with shoulder pads, armour plating and interminable stoppages. Is it only American inspired sports where it can take three hours to play a game which only lasts one hour?

Regards,

kev35 (BTW, in case you think I’m serious I’m only winding you up!)

RE: 2006 WC is already ours

PII,

I don’t think so. The World cup itself is a matter of getting enough points in the first round to get through to the second, this means they don’t have to win all three games. A win and two draws is often good enough. It’s then a matter of winning the next four games and hey presto you are the world champions.

To qualify for the competition is a different matter altogether. It takes the best part of two years and Brazil will probably be a very different team by then. And the fact that you are the champions now might well count for nothing in 4 years time – just ask the French!

Regards,

kev35

RE: 2006 WC is already ours

Primer55,

It may have escaped your notice but Brazil will have to qualify for 2006, and you know how much they struggled to qualify for this one.

Regards,

kev35

RE: Swiss Pic

Thunderchief,

I think in this case you are definitely right, less is definitely more. The colours suit the aircraft. They are smart, professional and above all, instantly identifiable. What’s the problem with looking like an ambulance aircraft? Surely that would inspire confidence.

Regards,

kev35

RE: What about the older ones?

Yes, why not some of the older beauties?

1. DH Comet, beauty and romance.
2. Vickers Viscount. Many happy memories of them flying over my house into BHX.
3. Douglas DC-8 amazing in the old CP colours.
4. Handley Page Herald.
5. DC3, DC6- Air Atlantique keeping the memory alive.
6. VC 10, simply the most beautiful airliner ever built.

Can you picture posters find us any examples of the above please? It would be very much appreciated.

Regards,

kev35

RE: bye bye Spain

First of all, I am disappointed in Spain’s ejection from the World Cup. Video evidence clearly shows that if the first goal shouldn’t have stood (I think it was a goal), the second one was most definitely a poor decision. I think it is harsh to claim that the referees are cheating and that the games are fixed. The refereeing standard has in a number of games been very poor and definitely needs addressing before the next major international tournament. Surely there is a case for video replays of decisions which are marginal or where the officials are unsighted.

Having said that, the results cannot be changed and I would now love to see South Korea or Turkey go all the way and really upset the dominance of the so-called major footballing nations.

Regards,

kev35