Category Archives: Cold War
Random Thoughts (6)
If you read the comments below this article, you get a taste of what’s wrong with Peru. I have never encountered a country that is so bad at dealing with criticism. After my article on Bolivia and the sea, many people … Continue reading
Film Review: “The Man from UNCLE”
In a summer full of yet more stupid vampire, dragon, animation, monster and trying-to-be-funny movies, you have to be thankful for any spy movie that makes waiting for the next James Bond film a bit easier. Even if it’s not a … Continue reading
Visit Romania! (1964)
Ok, the film is a little bit older, but honestly, Romania isn’t all that much different today.
Book Review: “Young Philby” by Robert Littell
I don’t know why I go for historical fiction or alternative history again and again, when I should know by now that I’ll be annoyed or disappointed. In Young Philby, Robert Littell tries to flesh out the early life of … Continue reading
Film Review: “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”
There are spy stories which have become better by being turned into movies (Ian Fleming’s James Bond being the prime example) and there are those whose writers never should have given permission for their stories to be put on the screen. Tom Rob Smith’s Child … Continue reading
Easily confused (52) Hungarian fences
Hungarian fence in 1989: Helping economic migrants who want to buy better cars and bananas – good. Hungarian fence in 2015: Helping genuine refugees from war-ravaged countries who risk their lives to survive – bad. And just because it rhymes: Hungarian dance
Easily Confused (51) Economic Systems
Communist centrally planned economy: Capitalist free market economy: The main difference seems to be that nowadays, young people do the queuing themselves instead of sending their mothers. That’s progress. (Auf Deutsch.)
The Revolutions of 1989
1989, those were the times! With each broadcast of the evening news, the world changed so quickly that most people already lost track back then. Now, 25 years later, only a vague recollection of falling walls, fired shots and popping champagne … Continue reading
Easily Confused (45) MAD
Mutually Assured Destruction: Mutually Assured Distraction:
“The Cold War Swap” by Ross Thomas
There is probably no better time than now to read a novel about two NSA employees who have absconded to the Soviet Union and about the US government’s attempts to get them back. Yes, I wrote Soviet Union instead of Russia, … Continue reading
The Happy Hermit 