Author Archives: secondbysecond

In the news: World War II seaplane found in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence

Posted on August 1, 2012 by secondbysecond

This week, the Canadian newspaper The Province (30 July 2012)  reported on the ongoing US salvage operations to remove remains and artifacts from an American World War II PBY Catalina flying boat that had crashed and sunk in the Gulf of … Continue reading →

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Vignette: The art of Jean-Pierre Gibrat—The Reprieve

Posted on July 29, 2012 by secondbysecond

La bande dessinée—loosely translated as ‘comic strip’—is a veritable institution throughout French-speaking Europe. Everyone in France (and many in North America) are familiar with the illustrated tales of Asterix the Gaul. Belgian examples include Tintin, the boy detective, and the cowboy, … Continue reading →

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Vignette: Listen very carefully, I shall say this only once.

Posted on July 25, 2012 by secondbysecond

Who said that tragedy is later re-enacted as farce? Maybe Hegel said it. Or was it Marx? Either way, the TV comedy ’Allo ’Allo! fits this idea to a teacup, and is the kind of classic farce that only the … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 22–28 July 1940: Special Operations Executive

Posted on July 24, 2012 by secondbysecond

The Special Operations Executive (SOE) officially came into being this week in the war, 22 July 1940. Its purpose: to harass the enemy from behind the lines. Churchill supported ‘butcher and bolt’ raids and was an advocate of elitist special … Continue reading →

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In the news: Silver galore!

Posted on July 22, 2012 by secondbysecond

Last week, according to the British newspaper The Telegraph, hundreds of bars of silver were retrieved from the cargo ship SS Gairsoppa, which was sunk by a German U-boat in 1941. The ship went down off the coast of Ireland and … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 15–21 July: An end to the war?

Posted on July 18, 2012 by secondbysecond

The war could have ended this week. It would have been a different end, with Hitler and Churchill, if not exactly shaking hands, at least agreeing to quit fighting and go their separate ways. Britain would keep its Empire, Germany … Continue reading →

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Book review: Fifty Shades of Grey, plus two more

Posted on July 15, 2012 by secondbysecond

Anastasia Steele is bright, witty, and beautiful—in the eyes of her boyfriend Christian Grey, who’s no dog himself as far as looks go. To boot, he’s not badly off. Think Daddy Warbucks and scale up by a few powers of … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 8–14 July 1940: Vive l’Angleterre! Vive la France!

Posted on July 14, 2012 by secondbysecond

14 July, Bastille Day—in happier times a day of national celebration—was observed as a day of mourning throughout France, this week in the war, 1940. In London, General de Gaulle laid a wreath at the Cenotaph and inspected soldiers of … Continue reading →

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Guest blog by Mark Stuart Ellison: Remembering a World War II Radio Man on Independence Day

Posted on July 7, 2012 by secondbysecond

Barbecues, fireworks, and beach parties are fine ways of celebrating July 4, but we should also remember the people who have put themselves in harm’s way to make possible the freedoms that Americans enjoy. My favorite way of commemorating America’s … Continue reading →

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In the news: Queen Elizabeth unveils Bomber Command memorial, 28 June 2012

Posted on July 6, 2012 by secondbysecond

A few days ago, and 67 years after the most devastating war in history, the Queen unveiled a new monument on the edge of Green Park in central London. The larger-than-life sculpture features the WWII airmen of Britain’s Bomber Command. … Continue reading →

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