In November last year I reported that the BBC was making a one-hour documentary using still and moving images of the World War I battlefields. Only a preview was available at the time: but an e-mail from reader Erik C. informed me today that the program is now on YouTube. I simply had to post… Continue reading World War I from the air
Tag: In Memoriam
A family needs your help
Courtesy of an e-mail from Brigid, I learned of the tragedy of Patrick Leister. Pat was the dude that walked around with a s*** eating grin glued to his face ALL.THE.TIME. No lie….ALL.THE.TIME. He was a walking party but when it was time to get down to business, he was all business. He worked in… Continue reading A family needs your help
Japan, two weeks after the earthquake
More and more information is coming to light about the devastation left by the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan two weeks ago. The Atlantic’s photo blog, In Focus, has a series of very moving photographs of the ruins left behind, and the recovery efforts. Here are three examples, reduced in size to fit this… Continue reading Japan, two weeks after the earthquake
In further memoriam for Charles Kaman
Yesterday I paid tribute to the late pioneer in aviation, music and other fields, Charles H. Kaman. Amongst other things, I mentioned that he founded the Ovation Guitar Company in the 1960’s, to apply what he’d learned in the field of aviation to musical instruments (which it did very successfully). In another obituary of Mr.… Continue reading In further memoriam for Charles Kaman
In memoriam: Charles H. Kaman
The founder of Kaman Aircraft and Ovation Guitar Company, Charles H. Kaman, died yesterday at the age of 91. He was a seminal figure in the helicopter industry, and ‘cross-pollinated’ the knowledge and experience he acquired there into the manufacture of world-class musical instruments. Kaman’s corporate obituary for its founder informs us: Mr. Kaman was… Continue reading In memoriam: Charles H. Kaman
In memoriam: Paul the psychic octopus
Last year I wrote about Paul the octopus (the links are to 3 separate articles), who ‘predicted’ many of the winning teams during the World Cup competition in South Africa. Sadly, he died in October last year. It seems that the German zoo that owned him wants to go on cashing in on his reputation.… Continue reading In memoriam: Paul the psychic octopus
In Memoriam: Susannah York
The British actress Susannah York has died of cancer at the age of 72. The Daily Mail reports: York, who was best known for her role opposite Jane Fonda in the 1969 film They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?, passed away yesterday following a long battle with cancer. Following her death, the actress’ son Orlando Wells… Continue reading In Memoriam: Susannah York
In memoriam: Major Richard Winters
Major Richard ‘Dick’ Winters died last week. At his request, his death was not announced until after his private funeral service. Major Winters during World War II, and in 2004 He was the storied commanding officer of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, US Army, on and following D-Day in… Continue reading In memoriam: Major Richard Winters
In memoriam: General Vang Pao
Major-General Vang Pao (1929-2011) was a leader of the Hmong people of Laos. He died on Thursday in California after a brief illness at the age of 81. He had the tragic misfortune to know little other than war for much of his life. As Yahoo! News reports: During World War II, while still a… Continue reading In memoriam: General Vang Pao
RIP, Blake Edwards
The famed movie director, producer and screenwriter, Blake Edwards, died yesterday at the age of 88. He was renowned as a master of slapstick comedy, and was responsible for some of the funniest and most entertaining movies of the past half-century. I grew up with them, and still watch them with great enjoyment. The Pink… Continue reading RIP, Blake Edwards