James Bond Visits CIA Headquarters In Langley, Virginia

I, spy … Daniel Craig was reportedly told that real-life espionage is a lot more ‘cloak’ and a lot less ‘dagger’ than presented on screen. Photograph: CIA 

The Guardian: Daniel Craig visits CIA in run-up to shooting new James Bond film

US intelligence agency entertains 007 star as it attempts to engage with public and increase understanding of how it operates

Daniel Craig has visited CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, as part of the CIA’s attempt to engage with the public and increase understanding of how intelligence work operates in the real world.

Craig is currently preparing to shoot the 25th James Bond film, his fifth and apparently final time in the role, and the CIA hosted his visit on 26 June as an adjunct to its recent Reel vs. Real seminar.

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WNU Editor: He looks good in the above photo.

More News On Daniel Craig Visiting CIA HQ At Langley

The CIA Schooled Daniel Craig In How To Be A Real Life James Bond -- Esquire
James Bond 25 star Daniel Craig meets CIA leaders to learn what it takes to be a REAL spy -- Express
James Bond Star Daniel Craig Visits the CIA to Learn the Art of Spying -- Maxim

James Bond Would Not Make "The Cut' To Work In Today's MI6 (Because He Lacks Feelings)

An MI6 recruitment advert SIS

Aamna Mohdin, Quartz: James Bond lacks the “emotional intelligence” to get a job as a real-life spy

Britain’s Secret Intelligent Service, the spy agency better known as MI6, has launched its latest recruitment campaign looking for people with “emotional intelligence” just as the new James Bond film, Spectre, is released. But it turns out its most famous son wouldn’t make the cut.

A MI6 source tells Buzzfeed: “They want people with a real passion for human interaction, understanding others, and dealing with the sometimes complex nature of human relationships.” Loners like Bond would “probably not be successful in joining SIS, if he were to apply.”

British agents have always insisted that the world of 007 is pure fantasy. Anna, an MI6 agent, told the BBC: “If James Bond actually worked in MI6 today, he’d spend a large amount of time behind a desk doing paperwork and making sure everything was properly cleared and authorized.”

More News On James Bond Would Not Be Hired In Today's MI6

MI6 Has Launched A Recruitment Drive For “Emotionally Intelligent” Spies -- Buzz Feed
James Bond couldn't get a job at MI6, agency says -- Aol.com
MI6 ‘says it would probably not hire James Bond’ -- Independent
James Bond 'wouldn't be given a job at MI6' -- The Telegraph
Spies like us: which movie secret agents fit MI6's new recruitment drive profile? -- The Guardian
MI6 recruits spies on Mumsnet: Do mothers make the best secret agents? -- CNN

May The Real 'James Bond' Stand Up

Photo: Sidney Reilly

The Real James Bond -- Wide Angel Desk

Sidney Reilly's name may not be that fearsome, but his nickname is a whole different kettle of poison darts: the Ace of Spies. He is considered to be the first super-spy and the most likely real-life inspiration for Ian Fleming's James Bond. His life is shrouded in mystery, myth and maybes, but that's exactly what you want from a spy, isn't it?
Born in Odessa, Russia, in 1873 or 1874, as either Georgi, Solomon, Shlomo or Sigmund Rosenblum, he made his way to Britain by either faking his own death and single-handedly saving a British intelligence expedition in Brazil or robbing and murdering two Italian anarchists in Paris for their revolutionary funds. Either way, Rosenblum ended up wealthy and in London, where, because of his linguistic abilities, he found himself recruited as an informant on émigrés for Scotland Yard's Special Branch.

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My Comment: The first English movie that I ever saw was Dr. No. My favorite Bond films are "From Russia With Love" (of course), "Goldfinger", and the three Daniel Craig movies. Enjoy the bottom YouTube video (Top 23 James Bond Moments)

And then there are the Bond Girls

Bond Villain's On Display At Washington D.C.'s International Spy Museum

 

 Spy Museum Features Villains. Bond Villains -- CNN 

Debonair and dashing, super-spy James Bond has battled evil for half a century on the silver screen.

From Sean Connery to Daniel Craig, audiences have cheered on the six actors who've played Bond in the world's longest running multi-million dollar movie franchise, and this Sunday's Oscar ceremony will pay tribute to fifty years of Bond.

But it's the Bond villains who are taking center stage at Washington D.C.'s International Spy Museum, in an homage to Bond author Ian Fleming's bad guys.

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My Comment: Dr. No is my top Bond villain.

Spy Author John Le Carré No Fan Of James Bond

Famed spy novel writer John Le Carré is apparently no fan of super 'spy,' 007 James Bond. MGM

Spy Author John Le Carré No Fan Of James Bond: I 'Dislike' Ian Fleming's 'Neo-Fascistic' 007 -- New York Daily News

It's still spy author vs. spy.

Famed espionage writer John Le Carré remains no fan of James Bond, the martini-loving super spy created by Ian Fleming.

"I dislike Bond. I'm not sure that Bond is a spy," the "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" author said in 1966, during a BBC interview that will be re-broadcast next week.

Today, the 78-year-old Le Carré told the Radio Times that while he may have been harsh 40 years ago, he's still not sure Bond is much of a spy.

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My Comment: Sorry Mr. Le Carre, but I love the character of James Bond .... warts and all. I am also a fan of Rubicon .... so there.

James Bond's Aston Martin Is Up For Sale

007's iconic Aston Martin DB5 featured in two James Bond films Photo: BNPS

James Bond's Aston Martin Featured In Goldfinger To Sell For £4m -- The Telegraph

The Aston Martin car that featured in the James Bond film Goldfinger is expected to sell for £4million at auction.

It is the first time that the DB5 sports car Sean Connery drove in the hit movie has ever come on the open market.

The silver motor comes complete with the full complement of 'Q Branch' gadgets including machine guns, bullet-proof shield, revolving number plates, smoke screen and oil slick.

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My Comment: Sighhhh ..... on days like this I wish I was a rich man. Hmmmm .... maybe a few million of my readers will click on my sponsors for this blog today?

Bond-Villain Lairs Revealed

From Wired News:

As essential as the curvaceous leading ladies and not-so-subtle sexual innuendo, every James Bond villain has an impressive lair. Some are exotic, others chic. All are impressive locations for unsavory types to plot and scheme.

With the release of Quantum of Solace on Friday, we take a look behind the scenes at the most recent Bond-villain hideouts when they're not housing the criminally insane. Let us know what your favorite Bond lair is in the comments.

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If James Bond Was Real, These Would Be His Missions

The List: Five Real Missions For 007
-- Foreign Policy Blog

James Bond is out for revenge in the new film, Quantum of Solace, opening in the United States on Nov. 14. But here in the real world, the intelligence community is badly in need of a superspy to solve some of its biggest conundrums. Here are five missions we’d love Agent 007 to tackle.

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James Bond Gadgets

Photos: Top 15 James Bond Gadgets
-- Computer Weekly

There is a definite bond between secret agents and gadgets. From the Geiger counter in Dr No, James Bond has been bedecked with hardware that has ranged from the plausible to the fantastical. The current Bond (Daniel Craig, starring in The Quantum of Solace) is a relative technophobe, which is a pity because the Bond devices have always stirred the imagination. Here are our top fifteen gadgets that are either real or have perhaps inspired technological innovation.

What do you think? E-mail us your favourite Bond gadget or even let us know if we've missed any. Send your comments to computerweekly.com with 'Bond gadgets' in the headline.

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