“For the average person, all problems date to World War II; for the more informed, to World War I; for the genuine historian, to the French Revolution.”
― Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn, Leftism Revisited: from de Sade and Marx to Hitler and Pol Pot
The 14th of July is celebrated every year in France. This national holiday commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789, a pivotal event at the beginning of the French Revolution.
I sense that the weather conditions are right for a second coming of the storm that brought down the French Monarchy. All around the world, the people have had enough. And if it unfurls, after yesterday's attack on former President Trump, it will make the French Revolution look like a trial run. The People are singing and their voices are getting louder each day.
Read more: The People are Singing... Voices of Angry Men
Today marks a dark day in American and global politics: a day when a political figure was shot at a rally for " Making America Great Again. "
How tragic and wicked our world has become. We have seen it all before. When Dark Shadows try to change things. Because from the dark shadows comes Great Light.
Assassinations and attempts on the lives of world leaders have long been part of the tumultuous fabric of global politics. These acts of violence have altered the courses of nations, shifted power dynamics, and left indelible marks on history. Today's attempted assassination of Donald Trump is something that is not a novel event. When a political enemy is seen to be more of a threat to the incumbent, the solution has often been to just eliminate the threat.
Read more: The Dark Shadows - Trump Triumphs Again... From the Shadows Comes Great Light
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
When I tell people I’m a beek, inevitably the first thing they say is, “Yes,…
61 hits
When we look back at history, we often speak of "the old wise men" who…
246 hits
When dreams turn to infrastructure, who controls the future above us? In 1957, a lonely…
313 hits
Without a genuine love for our forbears, how can we truly love - or even…
345 hits
They didn’t storm the gates. They waited. While revolutionaries burned flags and shouted in the…
516 hits
RATTY NEWS EXCLUSIVE Operation Downstream: The Rise of the Feathernet Underground By Roderick (Whiskers) McNibble,…
100 hits
By Roderick (Whiskers) McNibble, Chief Correspondent, Fence-Sitter, and Eyewitness to History When the world teetered…
512 hits
Once we debated. Now, " they" accuse. And who are they? Talk about diversity.…
597 hits
Solar generators won’t run on moon-beams – they fade out as the sun goes down…
609 hits
In the 19th century, steam trains roared into history, their unstoppable might revolutionising travel and…
592 hits
There are stories we tell because they’re funny. And there are stories we remember because…
557 hits
As told by Roderick (Whiskers) McNibble, Chief Correspondent, Fence Sitter & Marmalade Analyst Before the…
502 hits
A few weeks ago, someone broke into my quiet little corner of the internet and…
474 hits
By Ernest ‘Ember’ McTail, Special Correspondent. Serious News Division of Ratty News The world watches. There…
457 hits
It began, as such stories often do, in silence and snow. Kananaskis, Alberta - a…
445 hits
As Australia faces economic collapse, and leaders like Donald Trump and Javier Milei take bold…
362 hits
In an age of civil unrest, burning cities, and bitter political division, the words “Give…
377 hits
Today, I am featuring an article written by our dear blogger Malcolm back in 2021.…
321 hits
June is Gay Pride Month. Flags fly, parades roll out, corporations update their logos, and…
394 hits
Written: 24 February 2025 This is a true story, about PP’s cancer journey. PP will…
330 hits
By Roderick (Whiskers) McNibble, Chief Correspondent, Ratty News Dusk in Alice Springs. I, Roderick…
396 hits
The LA riots and Derren Brown's Remote Control (an episode from Trick or Treat where…
514 hits
An exclusive editorial investigation by Roderick (Whiskers) McNibble, Chief Correspondent, Ratty News Dusty Gulch - To…
423 hits
On June 6, 1944, the world witnessed an extraordinary event that changed the course of…
455 hits
Canberra's finest fall from grace... and altitude They came, they posed, they plummeted. In what…
504 hits
Anarchy often gets a bad rap. Images of burning buildings, rampant lawlessness, and a general…
419 hits
Part 2 of the Cane Series I’ll admit, before diving into this series, I hadn’t…
441 hits
Counting the Uncountable: What the Census No Longer Wants to Know – And Why That…
418 hits
There is no climate crisis Chris Bowen. There is a crisis in stupidity and lack…
462 hits
We have 291990 guests and no members online
We have 291990 guests and no members online
RATTY NEWS EXCLUSIVE Operation Downstream: The Rise of the Feathernet Underground By Roderick (Whiskers) McNibble,…
100 hits
In a rare confluence, Canada, Britain, and Australia held elections within a week of one…
225 hits
Tucked away in the remote heart of the Indian Ocean lies a tiny archipelago that…
254 hits
Factional ferrets, backstabbing bandicoots, and the great Teal tango - how the Libs turned on…
327 hits
Written: 24 February 2025 This is a true story, about PP’s cancer journey. PP will…
330 hits
Magic happens everywhere and goodness, wonder and delight can be found alive and well throughout…
380 hits
How many people around the world have been warning about the danger we are in? …
404 hits
The latest State of the Climate Report is out to scare everyone with plucked esoteric records based…
899 hits
I am a Christian Brothers College (CBC) old boy and attended a few of the…
1007 hits
Malcolm Roberts just gave a speech in Parliament. It is well worth recording here and…
1162 hits
Thursday February 08
In the 1880’s shearers wielded a lot of influence on our country. Despite us not…
1723 hits
Wednesday March 01
At the beginning of March, 2023, I join Monty in celebrating Irish month. There are…
3336 hits
Thursday December 29
One of the most famous and best known characters in Australian folk lore, Ned Kelly…
3893 hits
Saturday January 14
General Sir John Monash is one of the truly great Australians. He was an Australian…
3440 hits
Friday July 14
Nearly 30 years has flowed under the bridge since I last owned a dog. That…
2748 hits
Monday March 04
These are episides from Against the Wind , a 1978 Australian television miniseries. It is a historical drama…
1994 hits
I think it’s safe to say that adventures of the more daring kind are often…
11350 hits
Speckled about the steep slopes are clumps of small, fieldstone cottages. Their crumbling mortar and aging stones are victim…
1836 hits
Nearly 30 years has flowed under the bridge since I last owned a dog. That…
2748 hits
