Melvyn Bragg Interviews Gore Vidal - Southbank Show - 2008

It's a wonderful conversation although for me, there are two exceptional moments in this 2008 Southbank production. Baron Bragg says he saw the US President was in Africa on TV that morning but Gore Vidal interrupts his story.

'How can they tell?'

Lord Melvyn Bragg tries not to laugh louder and it's worth paying attention.

I'll come back to the second moment a little later.

As a little Torquemada?

— LAsky (@LAsky66) September 6, 2023

Took ages to find out the word I couldn't understand. I find listening very difficult in any language and generally respond to body language more than words. That's why podcasts are the best way of learning for me. Nothing to distract my eyes. In any case Gore Vidal is referring to Torquemada. A name I've never heard before.

What's striking is the comparison with Bobby Kennedy and saying it on camera. This is why Gore Vidal was a Greek among Romans. He said what he thought even if it took its toll, as he did with the Salzburgers who own the New York Times, now even worse and inarguably a propaganda rag. GV was an insider and knew the Kennedys so it's an exceptional piece of intel as we're now presented with RFK Jr who has done an excellent job on the Covid scamdemic only to declare his unfailing support for Zionism despite Ben Gurion's role as the highest authority (he reported to the next level up) for initiating JFK's and by extension RFK's assassination. To understand all that do a search on JFK + PERMINDEX then look at the correspondence between JFK and Ben Gurion on Dimona. JFK was adamant that Israel would have no nukes and that decision cost him his life.

Don't get me wrong. JFK upset everyone you could imagine (CIA, DoD and the FED etc) but the one thing nobody discusses is that he was bloodline and he chose to make the speech that went too far at the Waldorf Astoria which is Astor bloodline. They had to take him. He was doing everything he could to expose them. 

Another gem that I picked up from Gore is that his blind Senator grandfather was 33 Degree Mason and that it's common in bloodline families for one child to be clued up and another to have no idea. They are 5th Dan black belts in secrecy and most people haven't a clue.

I'm going to use this space to share a little more of what this video confirmed for me but only those who bother to check back on this post will know. I have no intention of embarrassing anyone, but the above video confirms my hypothesis and that's a confirmation that is mostly for my indulgence. I hope the future looks upon In Our Time as a very classy effort at asking difficult questions to answer about their lies. 

The credit goes to the man in the arena.

Olympic Eve (Beijing 2008)

Pretty good atmosphere on Tiananmen this evening. Absolutely no planned celebrations but a lot of people congressing on T Square. Joyful and jubilant. Not a smidge of nationalism and lots of nice people over the moon that they have a chance to celebrate. I'd guess that nothing like this has been seen on T Square in its history. Looking forward to tomorrow. These people deserve it.

 

888

Ed's gone and made the unofficial Olympic T Shirt which brings to life the international flavour of the event in a positive way that will definitely not be seen in China. I know because I've scoured the entire Olympic merchandise/official sponsor merchandise/advertising and I have one complaint; it's all about China and nothing to do with the international multi cultural dimensions of the event (as I hinted at in this post over here and continued the discussion in the comments over here). Anyway, Ed has single handedly cracked the problem with this brilliant design that has all the names of the competing countries. Neat 'n sweet eh?

 

There are only 888 of them which as you may know represents the 8th day of the 8th month of the 8th year - which is when the Olympics start next month. 8 is also considered a lucky number in Chinese culture. These are a hip buy and you can buy one over here.

Wall Street Journal

Chicks with Nunchucks Via Shanghaiist

The Bird's Nest

One of the great experiences of Beijing is the sheer velocity of construction which has had me pondering for quite some time on the implications of whole neighbourhoods flattened overnight with new superstructures going up faster than I've ever seen in my life. I've already talked about the CCTV building by Rem Koolhaas which we will never see its like again (and he knows it) but the other supermodel on the catwalk is the Birds Nest, or the Olympic Stadium. It's awesome. Period.

Here it is from some photography I took the other day. Notice the traditional peasant (migrant worker) in the foreground. I chose this pic out of the 30 or so I took because like the washing below it represents something about modern China that Noam Chomsky talks about a lot in this podcast here; the human development index for China is still quite low, around 70th if I'm not mistaken. 

There's a lot of people still running around on loose chained tricycles shifting bricks from one place to another. 

Wait till all those have offspring that want to go to college, drive a car and double China's GDP with the 'Chinese Dream' (One World One Dream).........Yeah, we need to rewire our economies and the answer might be most candid in Asian economies today. 

Not tomorrow.

I live only a stones throw from the Forbidden City and a short walk from Tiananman Square. Beijing is often a sooty and polluted overcast metropolis. It's also, in its own way the most tidy I've ever come across for its size. I've never seen a broken glass, a crisp packet or an empty packet of cigarettes on the road and that's because there is no litter. But still there are quaint signs of a rapidly disappearing life, and though I live amongst the political elite (and those who did them favours) The washing is still out on the road drying in the occasional spell of glorious sunshine. For when Beijing shines. It really does shine beautifully.

 

Sorry about the lack of links and layout at the moment as I'm using the new version of blogger and playing with new features.

Voir la vie en rose

The Chinese people have always seen (through the eyes of the State media) the Americans as the traditional global bully, and so it came as some surprise to discover that the recent protests in France were made by 'friends' of China. The average Chinese person felt hurt and personally betrayed and so they have taken their protest to boycotting Carrefour and it seems French people in general. As there is no pluralism of opinion, it's difficult for the Chinese to understand that a protest is just that. A difference of opinion by a bunch of people in another country. From where they are sitting (with the help of State media) it looks like the whole of France just mugged a wheel chair bound amputee Chinese national, representing her country in the Olympics torch run. Picture from Shanghaiist

China Protest

On Tuesday, I was tipped off that an SMS was being passed around encouraging people to place a heart on their messenger and boycott Carrefour in protest at the Olympic flame's experience in France. Sure enough my messenger now looks something like this.

There's no need to have an extended commentary on this except to say that nobody questions the Chinese people's love of their country. There's a lot to love, and I'm particularly fond of the people of Beijing. However all countries/governments get it wrong at some point and the real journey in life begins when we begin to love and trust ourselves.

I think this young Chinese man who blogs in English has an international and mature perspective that corresponds more closely with the Olympic Slogan of One World One Dream. I blogged about it over here and questioned the sincerity and logic. Nothing would please me more than if the Chinese people proved me wrong on this.

Beijing Olympics 2008 ?

Its not often I plug on this blog but this is Jerry Tian. Jerry has been marvelously patient while I was stuck in Serviced Apartment Hell. He is polite, efficient and professional. I only really discovered the extent of his professionalism when I pushed it to the limit. Beijing is hopelessly addicted to keycards and even though I'm notorious for forgetting mission critical stuff (where's my goddam pen?...It's behind your ear Charles) I came home one night a few weeks back and realised my key card was in my apartment. The concierge service weren't really trying to help as I have a private lease deal going on and so I had no choice but to call Jerry at 4 in the morning.

Well not only did he take care of everything (as he has done for all my needs) but when I called him the next day to apologise for waking him up so deep into the night his response said everything you need to know. "Call me anytime Charles - Its my job"

So if you know anyone who is moving to Beijing or wants Olympic apartments sorted out. Visit Jerry at his website here for more details or contact him via email ftbeijing@gmail.com

Jerry speaks good English, does business in a professional manner, and if he doesn't have what you want, he knows someone who does.