Making sense of 2017 (Hint: alcohol is a must)
Making sense of 2017 (Hint: alcohol is a must)
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Just watched the final episode of the Vietnam War series on SBS.
Excellent documentary, but so depressing.
The way the American people were lied to was an eye opener.
I dug out my photo album of my visit to the war museum in Ho Chi Minh City. I had taken a photo of a quote they have on display in that sad place – by Curtis Lemay, Commander of the Strategic Air Command, US Air Force Chief of Staff , ”my solution to the problem would be to tell them (the N Vietnamese) that they’ve got to draw in their horns….., or we’re going to bomb them back into the Stone Age”.
They sure as hell had a good go at it.
Curtis was such a touchy feely guy, ay?
Holy cow, Triv. A shocker. Read up a bit on his record. Aggressive bastard.
I was in SA at the time of the war and we were not involved – so the series was a real eye opener. Wish I had seen it before I visited Vietnam. It would have meant a lot more. One can understand the tensions that still exist
Lovely country, especially up north in Hanoi.
What a tragedy and waste of human lives. Easy to shed tears for the soldiers who died, American and Vietnamese. To quote John Kerry in his address to the senate as a returned vet “who were given the chance to die for the biggest nothing in history”
Sheesh.
Yvonne, I don’t believe you have been to Hanoi if you think it is lovely.
Each to their own, Dismayed.
I loved it – fascinating city. Not sure I would enjoy what you might, but you never know. If you’d like to list what you consider lovely places to visit I’d be interested
“There are no innocent civilians. It is their government and you are fighting a people, you are not trying to fight an armed force anymore. So it doesn’t bother me so much to be killing the so-called innocent bystanders.”
coulda bin bomber harris talkin’…
Read up a bit? Do you think I was serious???
No, why Triv? I was interested in what made this guy tick after finding that quote of his from that photo I took in Vietnam. Smoke has another of his pearlers above.
I just can’t believe it. Pure evil.
Ah, past tense of ‘read’. I thought you were telling me to!
It would make sense if our language allowed us to write “red up on it”. I’m sure Simply Red would agree.
Good series. There is more to the story though, still a lot of bad feeling between North and South that only time will heal. Different people imo, with different attitudes. The country is not completely unified because of it. Gryzly might have better insight than me, I only worked there.
Just superb Boadicea what a shocking mess it was to all sides, shame on the Politicians who kept it going for their own ends.
The couple of the many that got to me, HB :
The chopper pilot whose role was to be the decoy and engage fire while troops were offloaded. Flying around, as he puts it, “with bits of lead whizzing past my head” (I think he won the Purple Heart medal which he threw away in the protest back home). Returning from a mission he had a mike stuck in his face and was asked ‘what’s it like out there “. The look on his face said it all. He coukwd not believe he was being asked that.
The other was seeing perfectly good Vietnamese helicopters flown onto US aircraft carriers in the desperate attempt to escape, being tipped overboard because “there was no room”. Monstrous.
That is, of course, in addition to the rest of the hideous war.
The manner in which the South Vietnamese were betrayed by the USA is breathtaking. One cannot help but compare it to their action in Iraq really?
I don’t think chucking a few helicopters over the side is all that significant in the bigger picture of the Vietnam conflict.
Unless you are from “The Royal Society for the Protection of Helicopters.”
No perhaps not JB. But somehow after watching the whole series and the incredible awfulness of it all, that just hit me. Not sure why – as you say, trivial really. They desperately needed those choppers though to keep shuttling people out – and the Yanks just chucked them overboard. For me it was the last bloody straw I suppose.
DUTTS:-They have rearranged his seat boundaries so as he can hold it. Sad Cafe!
SMITH…they all said “He’s out”. Reminded me of Bradman years ago. The paper placards in England
on the streets used to read HE’s OUT! Everybody knew who they were talking about. Smith is great but the way Tubbs, Slater and Co go on and on about him in the same breath as The Don is nauseating. For sure he does not appreciate the comparisons. All comparisons fail-times were different/training was different/equipment was different/money was different/pitches were different and the Don mainly only plated here and in UK. Hardly ever in India, Pakistan, Windies, S. Africa etc.
Who is ‘they’ Bassy? We’re not in the Joh era.
Agree re the Bradman comparison – ‘The New Bradman’ has never been helpful to the player in question. Not that I think Smith would even consider it. let’s see if he ever gets out in the nineties though. Bradman only did once, which was when he died.
If we have global warming how come we have a record freeze in north America? Please explain.
If you were there a name change to Quiltedpantsdown might be in order.
Can you mummy or daddy read?
http://www.noaa.gov/media-release/unprecedented-arctic-warmth-in-2016-triggers-massive-decline-in-sea-ice-snow
Snott here Jean Baptiste have a look at this for global warming in the USA you tool.
•Boston: -11C
•Burlington, Vermont: -18C and a wind chill of -34C
•Hartford, Connecticut: -12C and a wind chill of -28C
•Mount Washington: -38C and a wind chill of -69C
•Philadelphia and New York: -13C
And it will still be the hottest year on record. Sixteenth in a row.
Eventually we hope the two negatively charged neurons that exist in your skull will collide and you will “get it.”
The polar vortex is part of the symptoms/proofs of global warning. Because the jet stream is slowing down these masses of polar air are moving south, like a great big hernia. Hernia, now these a good term of abuse for deniers…
Just got back from a game of petanque down by the beach
Geez, now there’s a good game. Great fun amongst friendly folk.
Flinging these heavy metal balls around with gay abandon. Dropping them like bombs from a dizzy height on a good position that someone is anxiously guarding – sending balls flying in all directions. Outcome never guaranteed. Everyone laughs and regroups.
Bloody fantastic. No empathy required. Plain good old-fashioned. fun. How refreshing.
Well done Boadicea, to be honest I have never heard of that game, we may not play it here in QLD? Cheers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%A9tanque
Practically the national sport in France HB!! It’s good fun and anyone can play. Literally hit and miss. People of all ages.
In France, in the village squares every evening the old boys gather and have a game – it’s a ritual really. No women around – probably at home cooking!
But I did stumble upon a tournament in a village one day when I was there in Sept.. It was like being at Wimbledon! Petanque games everywhere and plenty of women playing. They take it all very seriously – and the women were very glamorous – as is the norm for French women!
I’m going back to that village this year for a month and am putting in some practice here hoping to join in with the locals!!
They have clubs down here. Very pleasant play areas adjacent to the beach. I’m sure there would be games where you are? Have a look on utube.!
Very popular in the south of France, especially in the afternoon around the aperitif hour.
I’m in MtK!!
They play it in Malaysia too Boa. Fairly good at it by all accounts.
I particularly liked the big fat old boys who retrieved their balls was on a length of string with a magnet tied to the end. I suspect the only way they could see their balls was if they stood on a mirror.
Not a seriously cardio intense sport, cardiac arrests notwithstanding.
Yeah, lazy old things. They’ve those magnets here too. But Geez, as you say, not a very energetic sport – bending down to pick up the boules is the only exercise involved! The rest is purely social. Nothing wrong with that! Happy to pick up my balls.
Yeah Boadicea, I pick mine up too. Terrific fun exercise. Heavy though, I’m knackered after a hundred reps.
Stop bragging (or lagging?) JB!! 😁
Ah yes JB, “he had big balls, huge balls, twice as heavy as lead. With a dexterous twist of his muscular wrist he could swing ’em right over his head”.
Those well worn lyrics must have been written for you, no doubt sung by your good self in the (melting ice) shower.
Knackered after a hundred reps JB?
Lucky you’re not deknackered after playing with them that much.
There”s some dirty minded little scamps around here.
Nude Petanque seems to be very popular to. Gives new meaning to the term playing with your Boules…
Um, naked down by the beach in brisk Tassie weather – one might have trouble locating one’s balls
Similar to the Italian bocce.
I thought they were the same, Mack. The Italian club at Newmarket used to have a game going, but not been there for years. Their grilled baby octopus was to do die for, as I s’posed they did. Don’t tell the classy Bella!
Re baby octopus Milton, do you have a cut-off point?
A while back whilst in Vanuatu I was seated at a table beside two clearly soul-less, fat, slobbering males who each consumed a plate of still living juvenile octopus. Horrible stuff.
I thought this was beyond cruel & told the waiter to forget my order before I walked.
Gross Bella and before my cut off point.
It is a game that would go well at Parliament House Bo, especially the arguements that follow about who has actually won.
For sure Lou. The beauty of it is that anyone can win!!!
Geez they bring out the tape measure too. Settles any discussion quick smart…. It’s a hoot
It appears the Victoria government may at last have a solution to the mounting negative pressure caused by the various terrifying activities being constantly perpetrated by African crime gangs in that state.
Word has it the government intends to adopt the current popular hard-hitting phrase “stay safe” and broadcast it far and wide to its constituents.
Stay tuned.
Why didn’t WE think of that?!? [facepalm]
“See something, say nothing?”
Who’s Thommo?
farting in church is poor form
Now, now…
Oh, all you sporting types . . .
it’s the communal showers that get them in the caper, bow
Too much info, Milts!
Jack,
Some hilarious happenings in the White House following the release of excerpts from Michael Wolff’s book. Donald Trump has to be the most thin-skinned, narcissistic and clueless POTUS, ever.
Jack – that shirt Thommo’s wearing. Did he lose a bet?
There was a bit of talk about the shirt. I didn’t say a word lest he pick up the red sphere and start hurling it about.
Aw, you both look lovely! 😉
Maybe next year Keating will quaff a French bubbly or brandy?
Good to see Khawaja getting some runs; I was about to pull the rug out from under him. Smith on his way to being the tops.
Tracy – looks like they got the tipping stuff sorted but they seem to have got our tips about face. Give em a call will ya?