APAD: the eyes of heaven and the spies of hell

本帖于 2024-12-26 09:54:34 时间, 由普通用户 最西边的岛上 编辑


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 (==史沫特莱)
- ... ...

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 鬼脸!

 

 

所有跟帖: 

Thanks. Will try BM again sometime. -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 10:48:51

U won't regret ;-) true stories r always betterThan fiction! -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 11:39:06

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

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

hahaha, I like齐天大圣 but he's 2 naughty & no spy;-) -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 12:26:01

You think西游记 is a true story? :-) unbeatable! -暖冬cool夏- 给 暖冬cool夏 发送悄悄话 暖冬cool夏 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 12:28:22

I think 7G is having a fun day :-))) -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 12:35:34

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

I know ;-) I like the beginning: 齐天大圣偷吃蟠桃喝御酒 as I read it -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 12:53:49

very young & that's the part I understood then: 蟠桃 yummy ;-) -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 12:55:16

See? Inside everyone there's a DaSheng. -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 13:09:10

Thanks for sharing. I like watching spy movies -天边一片白云- 给 天边一片白云 发送悄悄话 天边一片白云 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 12:05:08

shake hands! shake hands! ;-) -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 12:08:04

Tks 4 sharing. Not familiar with the books or authors. -暖冬cool夏- 给 暖冬cool夏 发送悄悄话 暖冬cool夏 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 12:26:35

But friends come and go:) -暖冬cool夏- 给 暖冬cool夏 发送悄悄话 暖冬cool夏 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 12:27:18

normallyYes. but see aPost from投坛below about True friendship -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (112 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 12:33:54

谢谢西岛!确实很感人,不知道他们的交情,但有这样的朋友三生有幸! -暖冬cool夏- 给 暖冬cool夏 发送悄悄话 暖冬cool夏 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 13:26:17

非常感人。觉得世界很大人很多,但能够从“萍水相逢后成为至诚好友”很少很不易,需要双向的认同和真诚! -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 13:34:47

sorry暖冬. will try to find some U might like next time ;-) -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (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- 给 移花接木 发送悄悄话 移花接木 的博客首页 (74 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 13:05:42

hahaha, Fly "Zhu/Yang" might sound a bit funny;-) -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 13:15:00

had a mid school mate name Shan飞, FlyShan sounds better ;-)) -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/26/2024 postreply 13:18:06

请您先登陆,再发跟帖!