APAD: the eyes of heaven and the spies of hell

本帖於 2024-12-26 09:54:34 時間, 由普通用戶 最西邊的島上 編輯


The birds are the eyes of heaven, and the flies are the spies of hell.” — Suzy Kassem

I found this funny quote this morning and felt it's very true except that spies are normally much quieter than flies 嘻嘻.

I love watching spy/detective movies and TV shows. After watching TV show "A spy among friends" and having found out it's a true story based on a book by Ben Macintyre, I started to read his books and felt the stories so fascinating that I kept on reading.

Note Ben Macintyre is a bestselling author of nonfiction history books that focused on international espionage. His books are known for being well-researched but written in a popular style.

That is how I learned the historic facts about:

- "Cambridge Five", a ring of spies in the UK that passed information to the Soviet Union during the Second World War and the Cold War;  
- Oleg Gordievsky, a double agent for MI6 who helped avert a nuclear confrontation and bring about the end of the Cold War, thus changed the course of history;
- The untold background of Agnes Smedley (==史沫特萊)
- ... ...

For your reference, I have captured most of his book covers in the pic below. Have fun reading if you are also interested.

But, “friends don’t spy; true friendship is about privacy, too.” – Stephen King

Have a good boxing day and don't let anyone spy on your box 鬼臉!

 

 

所有跟帖: 

Thanks. Will try BM again sometime. -7grizzly- 給 7grizzly 發送悄悄話 7grizzly 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 10:48:51

U won't regret ;-) true stories r always betterThan fiction! -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 11:39:06

Well. I have to seriously doubt that, given what I've read. -7grizzly- 給 7grizzly 發送悄悄話 7grizzly 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 12:09:20

which true story, e.g., could beat Journey to the West? -7grizzly- 給 7grizzly 發送悄悄話 7grizzly 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 12:14:48

hahaha, I like齊天大聖 but he's 2 naughty & no spy;-) -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 12:26:01

You think西遊記 is a true story? :-) unbeatable! -暖冬cool夏- 給 暖冬cool夏 發送悄悄話 暖冬cool夏 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 12:28:22

I think 7G is having a fun day :-))) -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 12:35:34

Did I? Thought I meant no true story beat JTTW, a fiction. -7grizzly- 給 7grizzly 發送悄悄話 7grizzly 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 12:39:42

I know ;-) I like the beginning: 齊天大聖偷吃蟠桃喝禦酒 as I read it -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 12:53:49

very young & that's the part I understood then: 蟠桃 yummy ;-) -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 12:55:16

See? Inside everyone there's a DaSheng. -7grizzly- 給 7grizzly 發送悄悄話 7grizzly 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 13:09:10

Thanks for sharing. I like watching spy movies -天邊一片白雲- 給 天邊一片白雲 發送悄悄話 天邊一片白雲 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 12:05:08

shake hands! shake hands! ;-) -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 12:08:04

Tks 4 sharing. Not familiar with the books or authors. -暖冬cool夏- 給 暖冬cool夏 發送悄悄話 暖冬cool夏 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 12:26:35

But friends come and go:) -暖冬cool夏- 給 暖冬cool夏 發送悄悄話 暖冬cool夏 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 12:27:18

normallyYes. but see aPost from投壇below about True friendship -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (112 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 12:33:54

謝謝西島!確實很感人,不知道他們的交情,但有這樣的朋友三生有幸! -暖冬cool夏- 給 暖冬cool夏 發送悄悄話 暖冬cool夏 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 13:26:17

非常感人。覺得世界很大人很多,但能夠從“萍水相逢後成為至誠好友”很少很不易,需要雙向的認同和真誠! -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 13:34:47

sorry暖冬. will try to find some U might like next time ;-) -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 12:28:36

Flies are far more useful than just annoying humans. I've a -移花接木- 給 移花接木 發送悄悄話 移花接木 的博客首頁 (74 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 13:05:42

hahaha, Fly "Zhu/Yang" might sound a bit funny;-) -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 13:15:00

had a mid school mate name Shan飛, FlyShan sounds better ;-)) -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 13:18:06

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