Articles written by Patrick Boniface

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About me - Patrick Boniface

I am Patrick Boniface. I live and work in Kent in the United Kingdom as a freelance broadcaster and journalist. My expertise areas are naval history, aviation, military, transport and communications and of course broadcast media.

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Entertainment > Music (Other) Which is better, vinyl records or CDs?: 2 of 42
How does your CD feel in your hands? Does it feel the same way as a vinyl record? Does it give you that tactile sensation of something solid and forgive me sounding cliched but 'groovy'. It is perhaps an age thing, when kids today are born into a disposal, soul less environment where everything is 'now' they have no concept o... More..
Local Guides > San Diego Best attractions in San Diego, California: 3 of 31
My first introduction to San Diego's mass transportation system was the wailing, metallic, electronic sounding klaxon of the crossing bars on the Junction of Broadway and the Pacific Highway. Once the train has passed the klaxon faded away like a whimpering puppy and the barriers rose jerkily to allow traffic to cross the tra... More..
Food & Drink > Cocktails An introduction to vodka: 2 of 15
Quality vodka will, according to Russian folklore, leave you breathless and probably a little wobbly of foot as well. Vodka has, however, always suffered from a reputation of 'fireworks without flavor', something that distillers are working hard to discredit. The effects of vodka are all too apparant, but ninety percent of d... More..
Entertainment > Hollywood & Movie Industry Movie sequels and remakes: Is Hollywood out of ideas?: 4 of 29
You can imagine the scene. Top Hollywood producer sits behind a large oak desk that used to be heaving with unread movie scripts from talented screenwriters. Today the desk is devoid of anything but a bright anglepose lamp that has an intense 1000 watt bulb in it. The lamp is switched on and burns into the retina's of a pair ... More..
Entertainment > Movie Reviews Movie reviews: Star Trek: The Wrath Of Khan: 1 of 7
When in the second season of the television show Space Seed of Star Trek, Ricardo Montalban appeared as Khan, a genetically enhanced meglomaniac from the 20th century, there could not have possibly been any thought he would return twenty years years later in a movie reprising the role. That he did, probably saved the Star Tre... More..
Entertainment > Entertainment (Other) Which genre is the most useful: Radio or television?: 5 of 32
A television goggle box in the corner of the living room can only hope to keep your attention because you have little or no attention for anything else. Its flickering screen captures and sucks the intellect out of individuals like a science fiction alien and saps your interest in life. Radio, on the other hand is something t... More..
Computers & Technology > Phone Technologies & Issues Should cell phone use be banned while driving?: 45 of 271
Have you ever had to cut someone out of an overturned car? Have you ever had to make the decision to cut off someone's leg because it is pinned by a shard of broken metal? Have you ever heard the screams of the injured following a car crash when someone had used his cell phone whilst driving. No? Well I envy you. I remember a... More..
Travel > Vacations Best vacation destinations: 16 of 85
Having just been unceremoniously dumped by my girlfriend of seven years I felt a desire to escape and re-energise myself. A quick trip to the local travel agent highlighted the first problem; my newly reacquired single male status.I hadn't thought being single would pose any problems at all I actually felt quite liberated bei... More..
Food & Drink > Dining Etiquette Should cell phones be banned in restaurants?: 26 of 115
There I was sitting in a glorious restaurant that served top drawer food with the girl of my dreams in front of me. I had plucked up the courage to ask her out on a date having sat on the fence pondering for far too long really and then it happened. The shril ring tone of Justin Timberlake chirped to life in her handbag and ... More..
Local Guides > San Francisco Travel destinations: San Francisco, California: 3 of 12
It's corny and obvious I know, but my lasting memory of San Francisco is the sun beating down on a hot October day looking out across the Bay from fisherman's wharf at Alcatraz and hearing Otis Reading in my head. I was content and happy. The end of my vacation had been much better than the start, flying in from Gatwick on a ... More..