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| spudfan Member Since: 10 Sep 2007 Location: Co Donegal Posts: 4722  
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Reading lately.
"They who dream by day are cognisant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." Edgar Allan Poe in "Eleonora". "All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, to make it possible". T.E. Lawrence "Seven Pillars of Wisdom". Both express similar sentiments though Poe put it more succinctly. Also methinks that Lawrence had read Poe. 1982 88" 2.25 diesel 1992 110 200tdi csw -Zikali 2008 110 2.4 tdci csw-Zulu 2011 110 2.4 tdci csw-Masai |
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17th Jun 2020 9:47pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17475  
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"Resurrection" by Daniel Madsen.
An extraordinary account of that part of the "Day of Infamy" which history never discusses, the damage control operations and subsequent 2.5 year salvage effort of the US Pacific fleet sunk at Pearl Harbour on the 7th December 1941, which saw all but one battleship raised and able to contribute in some way to the war effort. An incredible tale of bravery and ingenuity at a time when the outcome of the Pacific war was far from certain, carried out by a relatively small number of men largely untrained in salvage operations. Well worth reading if you're into that sort of thing. If you are into that sort of thing, another fascinating book is "The Man Who Bought A Navy" by Gerald Bowman. This is the story of Ernest Cox, who bought from the RN the entire Imperial German Navy that had been scuttled at Scapa Flow, and proceeded to salvage most of it. He is, and is likely to remain, the only person to pilot an inverted battle cruiser under the Forth bridge, but his achievements were incredible especially since they were carried out at a time when diving equipment was primitive and established salvage techniques unheard of. He pretty well invented most of the techniques used to this day. Both books are a little specialised, but if you have ever been faced with a daunting task that you must carry out, spare a though for the people who did these tasks. |
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18th Jun 2020 8:11am |
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| rockster57 Member Since: 15 Nov 2014 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 937 
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Very interested in your Bowman recommendation BW. I have very fond memories of a trip to Orkney. That was in my pre-Defender days. I’m intending a return visit next year.
In the meantime I’m reading this....  Click image to enlarge I’m finding it fascinating. It’s a diversion from my usual military history indulgences. However, I already have these lined up after I’ve finished Sapiens..... Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge |
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18th Jun 2020 8:36am |
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