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Post by Rubislaw32 on Jun 13, 2016 17:28:21 GMT -8
''I am become death,the destroyer of worlds''
As quoted a physics professor from Berkeley University,based on an old Sanskrit writing,in reference to perfecting the atomic bomb.
The professor was called Robert Oppenheimer,a man of many talents,including poetry and languages.He had been entrusted with leading a team of American,British and Canadian scientists,to develop an ultimate weapon of war - one that politicians hoped might bring World War Two to an end.
Germany had surrendered to The Allies,but The Empire of Japan remained defiant.And as the first few months of 1945 unfolded,history now teaches us that overtures of cessation of conflict from Japan were being waved aside,since these overtures were conditional.''Unconditional surrender'' were the only acceptable terms.
Oppenheimer,once realizing that US President Truman was intransigent,and feared the worse,made application to Truman to desist from using ''The Bomb''.It has been reported that their meeting did not go well.In fact,Truman removed his breast pocket handkerchief,and threw it at Oppenheimer,remarking : ''And that's to wipe away your crocodile tears - you knew perfectly well what you were doing at Los Alamos !''.
Tensions were high,and with a heavy heart,a decision was made that culminated in the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki being instantly destroyed.Japan's surrender became a mere formality.
The professor from Berkeley had uttered the most haunting words of the 20th Century - in ''delivering'' the most chilling reality that the world has ever witnessed.
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Post by Rubislaw32 on Jul 1, 2016 0:41:53 GMT -8
Is death ''relative'',and can the injustices for causing it to happen,be compared ?
To-day is the 100th anniversary of the Battle of The Somme - the bloodiest single conflict in the history of mankind.
After three months of fighting,500,000 young male casualties could be accounted for,with a further 70,000 missing,presumed dead.
60,000 men lost their lives on the first day,alone,in those ''Killing fields'' in Northern France.
The Great War [WWI] appears to serve up statistics,unimaginable in to-day's world.
British Prime Minister David Lloyd George,perhaps left the most sobering of testaments,when he said : ''If this war continues much longer,we will become a bankrupt nation,full of unmated women.''.
To-day,we will remember the sacrifices of those young men.
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Post by WelshChappie on Aug 17, 2016 1:33:03 GMT -8
''I am become death,the destroyer of worlds'' As quoted a physics professor from Berkeley University,based on an old Sanskrit writing,in reference to perfecting the atomic bomb. The professor was called Robert Oppenheimer,a man of many talents,including poetry and languages.He had been entrusted with leading a team of American,British and Canadian scientists,to develop an ultimate weapon of war - one that politicians hoped might bring World War Two to an end. Germany had surrendered to The Allies,but The Empire of Japan remained defiant.And as the first few months of 1945 unfolded,history now teaches us that overtures of cessation of conflict from Japan were being waved aside,since these overtures were conditional.''Unconditional surrender'' were the only acceptable terms. Oppenheimer,once realizing that US President Truman was intransigent,and feared the worse,made application to Truman to desist from using ''The Bomb''.It has been reported that their meeting did not go well.In fact,Truman removed his breast pocket handkerchief,and threw it at Oppenheimer,remarking : ''And that's to wipe away your crocodile tears - you knew perfectly well what you were doing at Los Alamos !''. Tensions were high,and with a heavy heart,a decision was made that culminated in the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki being instantly destroyed.Japan's surrender became a mere formality. The professor from Berkeley had uttered the most haunting words of the 20th Century - in ''delivering'' the most chilling reality that the world has ever witnessed. Yes well, Japan has nobody to blame but itself. The Jap's wouldn't behave and let America win so US threw a temper tantrum. Stamping it's feet it told Japan " GO AWAY, WE ARE NOT PLAYING ANYMORE! We have a game changer for Nations who have the audacity to stand up to US, it's called a nuclear weapon. We shall drop this 'GAME OVER' weapon directly onto your Civilian Population & declare this not to be a War Crime because We have said so. But yes, I am familiar with the comment's of the person who invented the Atom Bomb and if memory serves Me, He stated that they had assured Him, they being the US Government/Military that this type of Weapon would never be used in an offensive manner to attack another Country or Enemy. They led Him to believe that this Bomb was a necessity and would only ever be considered for use in Defense of the United State's Homeland. Well, clearly, Japan wasn't imminently about to launch an assault on the Mainland of The United States via 50 State Air Strike Offence. The Bomb was dropped at Hiroshima let Japan know who's in charge! America have decided that they'll Police The World with their Military it seems. First we shall kick Afghanistan's front door off it's hinges and barge in declaring ownership of it before turning attention to Iraq, where We shall arrive with a search warrant on suspicion of Iraq being in possession of, with intent to distribute, Nuclear Weapon's. Of Course George w. Bush, the Most intellectually gifted President of the United State's that there has ever been, told us He already knew "He's got em! We know He's got em." referring to Weapons of Mass Destruction. He of course knew without doubt Sadam did not have nuclear capability because if He and The Military even suspected He may have, they certainly wouldn't have invaded the Country. It's not gone unnoticed by other Potential Enemy Countries of the United States either. I don't remember which Country and it's leader it was now, but basically America demanded to know why this Country had developed nuclear capabilities and for what purpose! The reply was absolutely brilliant and shut America down without argument when the Countries Leader declared: "For the security and safety of our Country from possible threat or attack from The United States of America. We know and understand from the evidence at hand that, America will not and has not ever attacked or invaded a Country that has nuclear capability." 1-0 to the away team!
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Post by WelshChappie on Aug 17, 2016 2:25:29 GMT -8
But yes, on a serious note, I try to remember as often as I can those Men & Women who gave their lives for Me and You in WWII to defeat an enemy that, should that enemy have prevailed, the World as We know it today would not exist. We would not be here free to use the World Wide Web to communicate if those people had not given their lives to defeat Hitler and The Nazi's and I personally think it's absolutely essential that We never forget their sacrificing their own lives willingly, to ensure I can live in a The Free World I do today.
"Those who forget History will be doomed to repeat it" a wise man once said, and that is absolutely true!
And even so, to this day, most people fully believe that the Allies took action and bombed Auschwitz to stop the Mass Gassing's. The reality and truth of it is, The US & UK were made aware of the Nazi's Death Camp's as early as 1942. Churchill had the Head of a leading Jewish Organization write and tell Him the actual deportation numbers to not only Auschwitz, but to Treblinka & Sobibor too declaring 500,000 Jews deported to Treblinka, how can such a small 'concentration camp' hold such a massive number of people if all were alive and well?
Then from 43 through 45 there were repeated pleas to Allied Forces to target these places in an Air Assault. Every time Churchill's War Strategist's rejected any such plans stating that the Air Resources are limited and all of the Allies Resources in terms of Air Power are to go after Germany's Bomb Making and Weaponary Making Factories to cut off and stop the German ability to defend and/or attack by taking out their ability to build and use Bombs and other weapons of war.
In an extreme fete of Irony, one of Germany's main Bomb making facilities was 2 to 3 miles outside of and adjacent to Auschwitz and this facility was one of the Allies target's to destroy in the next Air Attack. Being 1945, there was no heat seeking rocket to launch, No Laser Guided precision for Air Strike's and it's pilots. In 1945 the technology they used in air assaults was simply fly over your target, and when you think your over it just right, hit 'release' and the bomb will fall from the B52's belly. This is why in those days the RAF would have team A, Team B, Team C and so on and each team would consist of at least 5 planes because you would never hit a target with a single B52 so the idea was the more bombs you have to drop at a target, the more chance you have of at least one bomb hitting the target or part of it.
And hence, The Allies were overflying the German Bomb Facility and had been given this as a target for bombing and a team of bombers overflew it, all released their bombs and every single one proceeded to miss the target but two of the dozen or so bombs veered off and one directly impacted and destroyed one of the many Gas Chambers at Auschwitz, while the other hit the railway line leading to it. Pure accident and not intended. This nevertheless is celebrated today and taught in most schools as the Great Moral Example of WWII. Truth is, The Nazi's used forced slave labor and repaired the railway line within 24 hours, and the destroying of one Gas Chamber had little to no effect on the massacre of Jews, which continued on until the Germans themselves abandoned and leveled The Death Camps when it became clear Germany were going to lose the war and the Soviet Army were advancing without meeting much resistance. Then the Nazi's themselves burned and bombed the Death Camps to the ground themselves, attempting to erase all traces of their evil act's of attempted genocide commited against the Jewish People for the crime of Simply being Jewish.
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Post by Rubislaw32 on Sept 5, 2016 11:30:33 GMT -8
Some interesting points made there,WelshChappie.
So true about those forgetting History,will be doomed to repeat it.
I read an article recently,about the need for a U.S.President to have ''pure'' Historians as permanent members of his/her staff,and that advice should be sought constantly,just as with legal and military personnel.
The whole nuclear debate will always be a ''moral minefield'' [?].But,the rudiments are that ''rogue'' nations emerge,because they elect not to sign up to agreements,such as ''The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty''.It perhaps,does make sense that everyone is on the same Hymn sheet,with respect to agreed definitions of ''Deterrent'',and arsenal size required,etc.
To state the obvious,one can't ''uninvent'' the nuclear bomb.All that we are left with,therefore,is to debate the unilateral/multilateral argument [?].
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Post by Rubislaw32 on Oct 12, 2016 13:23:38 GMT -8
''A man's got to know his limitations.''
So,Detective Harry Callahan,also known as ''Dirty Harry'',would regularly mutter under his breath,in the films based on the pursuit of The Zodiac Killer,by The San Francisco Police.
Inspector Callahan,played by actor Clint Eastwood,was originally hunting down psychopathic serial killer ''Scorpio'',who would regularly post letters of extortion,to the SFPD.
Other more memorable lines emerged from the ''Dirty Harry'' films,in particular ''Make my day.'' - but ''A man's got to know his limitations'' remains one of the most profound quotations,in the history of film.
Callahan was expressing an understanding of what was possible,given the constraints placed on him,and in the world that he found himself.
Isaac Newton adjudged ''intelligence'' as the extent to which we understand the parameters of our ''known world''.Unless we recognize that which we do not understand,then we will never be in a position to tackle our ''ignorance''.
Harry Callahan,therefore,was expressing,if you will,a profound sense of ''intellectual humility''.Although sometimes,as we observed,his adept skills with a Magnum 45,resolved any doubts,he might have,quite swiftly [!].
Callahan's adversary,Scorpio,knew nothing about humility,being,as he was,a psychopath.
''Zodiac'' was the same.For him,the real thrill was ''Schadenfraude'' - the pleasure derived from other's misfortunes.Be it the victims assigned a cruel death,or Law Enforcement unable to apprehend him,and,often looking like fools,for their efforts.
Zodiac remains unaware of his ''limitations'' - and hopefully,this will be his downfall.
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Post by Rubislaw32 on Nov 3, 2016 23:03:38 GMT -8
Two great fine painters of the Twentieth Century,Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali.
Picasso,who opened the eyes of the world to ''Cubism'',a form of surrealism influenced by his admiration for African Art.This,he was able to do,by first ''serving his apprenticeship'' as a successful ''Still Life'' painter.His life was mostly consumed by his work,and the ''wonders'' of women.
It took a particularly strong one to save him,while a resident of Paris,in the 1930's.When it became likely that the German Nazi regime was about to overrun the famous French capital,American heiress Peggy Guggenheim took care of his personal art collection,putting him on a plane Stateside.Had it not been for the foresight of Miss Guggenheim,Picasso would,undoubtedly,have become a penniless puppet of the Nazis - or even shot for his Communist sympathies.
Fellow Spaniard and surrealist painter appears to have had an easier rise to world recognition.Seen as a bit of an eccentric,with the content of his work something akin to ''him'',he was nevertheless hopeless with money,and didn't enjoy the trappings of success,until marrying his strong and sensible wife,Gala.Their marriage was described as ''complex'',and lived apart,albeit a few hundred yards away from each other [!].Dali once said : ''The only difference between me and a madman is,that I am not mad.
A purported conversation,once took place between Picasso and Dali.Picasso was bemoaning his inability to be accepted by Parisians.
Picasso : ''Of course,I am a Spaniard,and therefore an outsider.''
Dali : ''So am I.''
Picasso : ''And I'm 'just' an artist.''
Dali : ''Me too.''
Picasso : ''Also,I'm a Communist.''
Dali : ''Well,neither am I !''
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Post by Rubislaw32 on Nov 25, 2016 2:48:12 GMT -8
The jaw-dropping quote :
When British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain,landed at an airfield,outside London,England,he emerged from his plane,waving a white piece of paper.
With understandable pride,he announced that this flimsy piece of paper,flapping in the wind,represented ''Peace for our time''.
On it,was an agreement,signed by certain Mr.Hitler.
One could not possibly have imagined,that shortly afterwards,''Peace for our time'' would actually translate to ''World War 2''.
The recent bitter struggle between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump,to attain the honor of becoming the next President of the USA,produced a few memorable jaw-dropping quotes.
Not least Mrs.Clinton's reference to the followers of Mr.Trump,as ''A Basket of Deplorables''.Whether the ''Deplorables'' represented undesirable ''Reprehensibles'',or the ''Basket''stood of ''Basket cases'',the quote certainly contributed to Mrs.Clinton's defeat.
First prize,though,went to Mr.Trump,for his ''myriad of meanings'' quote ''I just love the uneducated !''.And with it,the spoils of victory.
Perhaps ''Top Honor'' for jaw-dropping quote,in recent history,must surely go to President Franklin Roosevelt.When,on December 7th 1941,Mr.Roosevelt heard news that Air Forces of the Japanese Empire,had just sunk a large portion of his Navy,innocently docked in Hawaii,Roosevelt,with self-contained rage,uttered :
''Just who do these people think they are ?''.
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Post by Rubislaw32 on Dec 5, 2016 4:03:20 GMT -8
There is an ancient Chinese saying that,when loosely translated into English,states the following :
''If I hear,I might believe.And if I see,I might believe that I know.But,only when I 'do' - do I understand.''
In order to understand Zodiac,it is not enough to read or see what others have done before.You have to 'do',for yourself.
Those few that have made their mark,in the case of The Zodiac Killer,all displayed passion and commitment.Their contribution rewarded them with an understanding - and us with a legacy to follow.
No compromise.
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Post by Rubislaw32 on Dec 14, 2016 12:42:12 GMT -8
Observing Donald Trump,as a candidate for US President,on his campaign trail,one senses that what genuinely moved him,more than any experience,was meeting ex-servicemen,and Vietnam War Veterans,in particular.
Many of these ''Old Warriors'' were born circa 1940,which makes them ''mid seventies'',now.
Given that various forms of Dementia,is fast becoming a ''populous'' cause of death,one can perhaps,see the ''unforeseen nightmare'' unfolding [?].
Dementia is brain degeneration,with the short term memory disappearing first - until all that is left,is long term memory.
So,for some of these ''Old Boys'',the remainder of their lives is spent reliving the horrors of war - and for their loved ones,having to share their experiences,on a day to day basis.
The War Vets deserve the best care,that their country can offer.
And gratitude,for the sacrifices they made.
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Post by Rubislaw32 on Dec 24, 2016 22:32:01 GMT -8
The Conductor and eccentric Sir Thomas Beecham,who musically directed orchestras and entertained,all over the world.
Beecham once proclaimed that an orchestra should adhere to two golden rules : ''Start together and finish together - the audience don't give a damn what goes on,in between.''
Beecham once gave advice to a Lady cellist : ''Madam,what you have between your legs,can give pleasure to many - stop scratching at it ! ''.
His eccentricities were legend - once taking a walk in Regent's Park,on a warm day,he hailed a taxi,and proceeded to place his overcoat in the cab,ordering the driver to : ''Follow me'' - and proceeded to just walk on.
Not that good at recognizing faces,he once found himself engaged in conversation with a woman,who clearly knew him.After some time,he thought he ought to ask her a question to,perhaps,disentangle this conundrum : ''And your husband - what is he up to,these days ?''.The woman replied : '' Oh ! - he's still the King.''.
Conducting a new piece of music,once,called for a horse to be brought on stage,during the performance.The horse,behaving impeccably for a long period,suddenly decided to defecate,in front of the audience.Sir Thomas remarked of the horse : ''Not just a good actor,then - but also a keen musical critic.''.
Sir Thomas Beecham died in 1961,and is buried beside composer Frederick Delius,a composer whose music Beecham championed,for many years.
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Post by Rubislaw32 on Feb 13, 2017 14:45:32 GMT -8
The first apologist for The Boston Tea Party ?
American Comedic filmmaker,Mel Brooks,was greeted with a standing ovation,in London,yesterday,as he accepted the British Film Industry's Fellowship award,for contributions to the Art of Cinema.
The 90 year old Director and writer,expressed his gratitude,pointing out that he almost didn't make the journey,from New York,on account of leaving his passport,behind.It had not occurred to him that ''England'' was a foreign country,as he only ever saw it as ''One vast Brooklyn,where they speak better.''.
In personally thanking the heir to the throne,The Duke of Cambridge,Mr.Brooks apologized,on behalf of his fellow countrymen,for The American Revolution,explaining by way of mitigation that ''We were young,then.''.
Thank you Mel Brooks - for your gift to everyone.
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Post by Rubislaw32 on Mar 9, 2017 13:12:18 GMT -8
A ''celestial'' brief encounter.
A young couple,out dining at a restaurant in Dublin,Ireland,spotted their hero,''Bono'',with a companion,at a table across the room.
When the lead singer of the band U2,went to the rest room,the couple could not resist approaching his companion,asking if it would be alright to request a photo shot of them with Bono.The man agreed,and took their camera.
When Bono returned,the man beckoned the couple over again.The picture was taken,a few pleasantries exchanged,and a menu autographed to mark the occasion.
On finishing their meal,the couple requested their bill.The restaurant manager came over to the happy couple,and explained that Bono's dining companion had paid for their meal.
Could it get any better ?
When the couple checked the autographed menu,Bono's companion had written :
''Great to meet you folks - Bruce Springsteen.''
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Post by Rubislaw32 on Mar 19, 2017 1:22:46 GMT -8
The tribes of Britain,and beyond....
It has often been observed that the only two ''races'' of people that understand irony,are the English and the Texan.
This,contentiously,may come down to a shared and defined sense of fatalism.
The Alamo and Charge of the Light Brigade,are cases in point when,under extended antagonism and duress,a small band of brothers woke up one day and decided that ''to-day'' was a good enough day,and a good enough reason,to end it all.
The difference between an Englishman and a Texan is,that an Englishman doesn't understand the need for a pregnant pause.And a Texan doesn't understand the need for self deprecation.
Mistake a Welshman for being an Englishman,and he will forgive you.But,call him a Briton,and he will take umbrage.For he is a Welshman.
Call a Scotsman a Briton,and he will find that acceptable.But,if you ever mistake him for an Englishman,he will never speak to you again.
It has been noted that,in history,some of the greatest ''Englishmen'',have actually been Irishmen.The Duke of Wellington,Oscar Wilde and Ernest Shackleton,are celebrated ''cases'',in point.
In recent times,some refer to the legendary actor and eccentric,Peter O'Toole,as a great Irish ''Englishman''.
Mr.O'Toole,though,never forgot his roots.Near to his death,O'Toole left explicit instructions that he wished to follow in the Irish tradition,of attending his wake,in an open casket.That way,he could be a part of the ensuing ''merriment''.
Friends noted that,on arrival at his wake,O'Toole's beloved cat emerged out of nowhere,and proceeded to make itself comfortable on O'Toole's chest.
Then fell fast asleep.
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Post by Rubislaw32 on Sept 14, 2017 7:00:23 GMT -8
The eccentricity of numbers : -----------------------------
In a recent worldwide survey,it was found that the number ''7'',is the most popular number.For ''luck'',one assumes [?].
The least popular number,between zero and infinity is.....''111''.....goodness knows why [?].
The most employed numbers,are the following :
i] The number ''i'',also known as the imaginary number,it holds equivalence to the square root of negative ''one''.
ii] The number ''0'',which is the empty set,more commonly known as zero.
iii] The number ''1'',representing ''unity'',more commonly known as one.
iv] The number ''2'',representing ''duality'',more commonly known as two.
v] The number ''e'',representing the exponential function,holding a value of approximately 2.718..
vi] The number ''pi'',holding a value of approximately 3.141..
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A strange paradox :
''zero'' divided by ''one'',equals ''zero''.And,logically,it is the case then,that ''one'' multiplied by ''zero'',equals ''zero''.
''one'' divided by ''zero'',equals ''infinity''.Therefore,it should be the case that ''zero'' multiplied by ''infinity'',equals ''one''.
But,it doesn't ! ''zero'' multiplied by ''infinity'',actually equals ''zero''.
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What was Zodiac's favourite number ?
Well,we are not sure.But we assume it was,whatever his ''body count'' was,at the time [?].The quantity of ''slaves in paradice''.
At one time he claimed ''37''...so,perhaps ''37'' became his lucky number.
However,a further letter,unconfirmed,had Zodiac claiming ''plus or minus 100 ''.
So,perhaps he was undecided...just like the troubled individual,that he appeared to be [?].
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