I watched the old 1977 classic, " Rolling Thunder " last night. Why can't they make films like this anymore? Raw and more layers than an onion...... no wonder Quentin Tarantino, a notable fan, has cited it as one of his favourite films, highlighting its influence on his work.
Without giving too much away, the story follows Major Charles Rane (William Devane), a Vietnam War veteran who returns home to San Antonio, Texas, after being held captive in a POW camp for seven years. Upon his return, Rane is celebrated as a hero and awarded a silver dollar for each day he was imprisoned. However, he struggles to reconnect with his wife and son, who have moved on in his absence.
Rane's attempts to adjust to civilian life are shattered when a gang of thugs, led by a ruthless criminal named Texan (James Best), invade his home. They brutally attack him and his family, seeking the silver dollars he received. Rane's wife and son are murdered, and Rane is left for dead, with his right hand mangled in a garbage disposal.
Surviving the ordeal, Rane is consumed by a desire for revenge. He teams up with his war buddy, Johnny Vohden (Tommy Lee Jones), who is also struggling with his own post-war demons. Together, they embark on a relentless and violent quest to track down and eliminate the perpetrators.
Or did they?
Read more: Rolling Thunder - a Story of Vengeance or Revenge or Retribution..................
I grew up in a small rural community in the hills of New Zealand. My early life was shrouded in mist and the ever-present wind that pummeled our hilltop community and we loved every wet windy second. So much so that even today, all these decades later, my definition of a perfect day is a misty drizzly soggy one where I can snuggle down and take life off the hook and feel perfectly justified in being a sloth.
As kids, we roamed the paddocks, built campfires and fought incredible wars.
Just above our home was a dairy farm and it boasted what was the very best staging post for monumental battles. We called it Pine Cone Hill. It was aptly named because there was a stand of pine trees that gave generous ammunition for two armies to lob at each other. The added bonus was that it was the site of an old maori Pa or village in layman's terms. What not many people know is that the Maori people of New Zealand had perfected the art of trench warfare long before the French military engineer Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban came up with his clever idea back in the 17th Century. ( as we discussed yesterday. )
Read more: Trench Warfare - a Tale of Pinecones and Pantry Raids
Trench warfare, often associated with the grim and grueling battles of World War I, finds its roots far earlier in history. believe it or not.
The Māori, the indigenous people of New Zealand, were on to the idea long before Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban of France.
The Māori's sophisticated use of trench warfare in their conflicts during the 19th century started long before then.
They arrived in New Zealand from Polynesia around the 13th century, and developed a distinct and advanced culture. By the time European explorers arrived in the late 18th century, the Māori had established a strong warrior tradition. They were adept at building military fortifications called a Pa.
These were not merely simple fortresses but complex defensive structures meticulously designed to withstand sieges and assaults. Pa were often built on elevated ground, making them naturally defensible. However, it was the intricate trench systems within these fortifications that truly distinguished Māori military engineering.
Read more: Māori and the Inception of Trench Warfare: something not many know about
How many of us are old enough to remember that series from America called " Lost in Space. " ?
In 1985 humans were emitting only 19.6 billion tons of CO2 each year, and now we emit 37 billion tons. In the meantime, AIMS [The Australian Institute of Marine Science ] have been dragging divers thousands of kilometers over the reefs to inspect the coral cover. These are the most detailed underwater surveys on the largest reef system in the world, and they show that far from being bleached to hell, the corals are more abundant than we have ever seen them.
As Peter Ridd points out, when the reef was doing badly, AIMS was happy to combine the data on the whole reef so we could lament its demise. But lately, AIMS splits it into separate sections, and if Peter Ridd didn’t check the numbers, who would know it was a record across the full 2,300 kilometer length of the reef? And that may be exactly the point. As Ridd reminds us, in 2012, the AIMS team predicted the coral cover in the central and southern regions would decline to 5 – 10 percent cover by 2022. Instead, the whole reef is thriving at 30 percent.
What a pickle the Democrats have created. And they have no one to blame but themselves.
The problem they have right now is if they take Joe off the ballot, Kamala will not step aside. She wants to be President of the United States. POTUS. They can’t run her against 45 ( Trump ) because her internal polling is extremely low. They have no path forward with her at the top of the ticket. So what do they do? Kill old Joe off and say he had a medical episode?
Talk about from the frying pan into the fire. Hunter and Jill are hardly going to see the big guy leave quietly...... after all, they have too much skin in the game.
So what can they do about this? How do they solve a problem like " Maria " as the old song goes.
When Tucker Carlson was here on his speaking tour, he talked about our love of our creatures and how surprised he was at this national pastime of loving our wildlife.
His final speech on his amazing speaking tour was without a doubt the best I have heard in years. If this man is not part of the Trump government, then something is wrong.
So here is my takeout and a few random thoughts as I listened to one of the best speeches heard in Australia for decades. The video is at the bottom of the article and I urge you to watch it. You will be glad you did. This man is an American National treasure.
At last a real connection between America and Australia.
We need each other, more than ever.
Tucker first spoke of our love of animals and then went on to other topics. But the theme was the same: Australians need to start loving Australia again and our government needs to quit with the guilt and get out of the way.
While our political leaders are making merry with their power, the enemy is, like Hannibal and his elephants heading for Rome across the Alps, marching ever closer. We, like the people of ancient Babylon, sit by and watch helplessly as our leaders gloat and make merry.
Unfortunately, we are ignoring the elephant that is already in the room, - the Fabians.
The Fabian Society derives its name from the Roman general Quintus FabiusRoman general Quintus Fabius, known for his strategy of delaying his attacks on the invading Carthaginians until the right moment. The name Fabian Society was explained in the first Fabian pamphlet which carried the note:
“For the right moment you must wait, as Fabius did most patiently, when warring against Hannibal, though many censured his delays; but when the time comes you must strike hard, as Fabius did, or your waiting will be in vain, and fruitless.”
The latest world leader to join the ranks of Fabian leaders has just been elected.
Read more: Beware the Wolf in Sheep's Clothing - The Fabian Society'
Independence Day, also known as the Fourth of July, is one of the most significant holidays in the United States.
It is a day filled with patriotic fervor, fireworks, parades, and barbecues, as Americans come together to commemorate the nation's independence. But what is the history behind this iconic celebration? I believe it is more. Much more than that.
The story of Independence Day begins on July 4, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress, comprised of delegates from the thirteen American colonies, adopted the Declaration of Independence.
This historic document, drafted primarily by Thomas Jefferson, proclaimed the colonies' separation from British rule and established the United States of America as a sovereign nation.
When the first settlers arrived on the Mayflower in 1620 at Plymouth, they had hopes and dreams to found a Nation free of Religious persecution and constraints of the then King of England, King James.
Read more: 4th of July - a Day that Means More than Fireworks, Fun and Festivities
How many people around the world have been warning about the danger we are in? All around the world, we have been called conspiracy theorists and accused of peddling misinformation and disinformation. Yet we are being proven correct mere months after.
As America is about to celebrate its Independence Day, one can't help but think back to the man who warned of danger. Thank goodness, back then, people listened.
Paul Revere, a silversmith from Boston, is one of the most celebrated figures of the American Revolutionary War. Born on January 1, 1735, Revere's life and actions have become an emblem of the spirit of American independence. His legendary midnight ride on April 18, 1775, to warn the colonial militia of the approaching British forces has etched his name into American history.
However, Revere's contributions to the American Revolution extend far beyond this single act of heroism.
On June 6, 1944, the world witnessed an extraordinary event that changed the course of…
194 hits
Canberra's finest fall from grace... and altitude They came, they posed, they plummeted. In what…
366 hits
Anarchy often gets a bad rap. Images of burning buildings, rampant lawlessness, and a general…
293 hits
Part 2 of the Cane Series I’ll admit, before diving into this series, I hadn’t…
333 hits
Counting the Uncountable: What the Census No Longer Wants to Know – And Why That…
289 hits
There is no climate crisis Chris Bowen. There is a crisis in stupidity and lack…
356 hits
They say Australia rode in on the sheep’s back. But if you’d been standing in…
363 hits
Before the Cloud, before memory sticks and streaming services, we passed stories the old-fashioned way.…
391 hits
Long before the Cloud swallowed everything, our old mate Flysa was out there with a…
402 hits
“A Long Time Ago...” Still Echoes Now On May 25, 1977, a strange little film…
355 hits
Parishioners of St. Linguine’s Basilica (well, it felt Italian enough) were left choking on incense…
407 hits
While we're distracted, they are cleaning us up. Time to stop playing defence and bat…
327 hits
Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday of May, is a time for Americans to…
336 hits
In early 1982, two troubled nations collided on a cluster of windswept islands in the…
400 hits
By Roderick Whiskers McNibble, Ratty News’ Premier Scurrier-at-Large Listen up, Shed Shakers! Your old…
353 hits
Tucked away in the remote heart of the Indian Ocean lies a tiny archipelago that…
136 hits
Today we’ve got a curious tale to share... part sport, part history, and part heart.…
375 hits
From the Eureka Stockade to today’s silent struggle, Australians are waking up - not to…
459 hits
Today would have been my late sister-in-law’s birthday. This is my tribute to a woman I…
374 hits
They say wisdom often arrives wearing old boots, sipping strong coffee, and wielding a spanner.…
366 hits
I wonder how many people realise that Australia’s concept of a minimum wage began with…
387 hits
If you grew up in Australia, chances are you’ve heard the name Henry Lawson. Maybe…
355 hits
As the sun sets on tired so called Conservative parties like the Liberals and Nationals,…
398 hits
On the moonlit night of May 16, 1943, a squadron of young RAF pilots flew…
369 hits
Not all wartime heroes wore uniforms. In the heart of WWII, in 1942, my great uncle,…
432 hits
In a top-secret cross-galactic reassignment leaked by sources wearing sunglasses indoors, Agents J and K…
393 hits
How a fearless squadron of female pilots turned plywood planes into weapons of war -…
361 hits
In a rare confluence, Canada, Britain, and Australia held elections within a week of one…
140 hits
This Mother’s Day, I’m thinking of one woman in particular. She’s 92 now. We call…
376 hits
Mother’s Day, as we know it in Australia, traces its roots to the heartbreak and…
388 hits
By Roderick "Whiskers" McNibble, Hangar Correspondent at Large In a tin shed somewhere beyond the…
443 hits