Read more: Youth Crime? Youth Suicide? Youth Depression? Redhead has a Solution
The Brigade of Gurkhas is the paramount infantry regiment of the British Army and the ambition of every young Gurkha boy is to be accepted into the British Army.
Some years ago the British Army was down sized and three battalions of Gurkhas were made redundant. There was a proposal presented to the Australian government to enlist these battalions into the Australian Army and establish a base at Rosedale in Victoria. It was rejected even though, at the time, there was a shortfall in local recruitment.
The Singapore Police Force has a unit composed entirely of Gurkhas. " Nowhere in the world have I ever been in a country where I feel as safe as I do in Singapore."
No wonder. They are fierce and mighty.
Yesterday's article spoke of the Gurkhas responding to the Haka during recent military exercises between soldiers from New Zealand Army's 2nd/1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment and their British Army counterparts from Royal Gurkha Rifles. RGR replied in turn with their traditional Kukri Dance. We spoke of the Maori Batallion. Today we look at the gurkhas.
Read more: The Gurkhas - Fierce Warriors and the Knives They Wield
While on exercise recently, soldiers from New Zealand Army's 2nd/1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, performed a haka to their British Army counterparts from Royal Gurkha Rifles. RGR replied in turn with their traditional Kukri Dance.
Now, I think pretty much everyone around the world has seen the New Zealand All Blacks perform their famous haka before the start of a Rugby Union Match.
I have never seen a team respond with an equal show of ferocity. Until now.
As Steve Irwin might have said " Crikey! " If the Gurkhas ever decided to start playing footy, the Kiwis might finally have a game on their hands.
Anyway, it got me thinking about the Maori Batallion.
Read more: It Would be One hell of a Footy Match! The Maori Battalion vs the Gurkhas? Part One
It all started because the son of one of the most famous Australians of the modern era, Steve irwin, decided to have a tantrum because someone took the mickey out of him over a cartoon skit.
Yes, that's right. The son of the Crocodile Hunter, little Mr " I am a Celebrity, get me out of here " Robert Irwin, might be able to face the horror of the jungle and a few nasty Aussie creepy crawlies, but he couldn't cope with being lampooned by a cartoon.
Steve Irwin was harpooned by a stingray and lost his life: his son is upset over a funny cartoon and has threatened legal action.
Somehow, I wonder if Steve would be impressed by his young son's hissy fit. " Dad, they're being mean to me. " Only they weren't. There was nothing in the cartoon that ridiculed him. Nothing. Zilch. If anything, poor Bluey the dog copped the worst of it after falling down a pothole and having to wait to go to the vet.
Read more: Like Father, Like Son? As it's turned out, Not Bloody Likely.
The old saying that a photo speaks a thousand words is as true today as it has always been. I have been wondering of late whether it is time to stop hiring consultants and to hire some good old fashioned cartoonists or photographers to get a feel for a nation's health. These days, we get more honesty from a meme than we do from a memo.
After all, one need only read newspaper articles anywhere in the world and the grammatical errors, poor spelling and factual distortion make me wonder if the writer is on work experience or is a graduate of a university majoring in wokeism and idiocy.
We are being bombarded with falsehoods and trickery. AI is on the march. Photoshop and Computer Generated Imagery ( CGI ) are making us question what we see. Is it real? Is it an illusion?
So today I want to talk with you about the power of the lens. In times of crisis, such as natural disasters, political upheaval, or social movements, photographs become vital records that document reality. Images were taken that captured the reality, not the artificially created illusion that seems to mock us at every turn.
Read more: The Power of a Real Photograph - Illusions and Reality
Decades ago, women fought for equal rights and the ability to stand on their own two feet in defiance of old traditions.
What I find so sad is that women's rights activists now seem hell bent on crippling women. Men in women's prisons, safe places and toilets. Men forcing women to hide behind veils and robes to stifle them.
Not a word from these female activists. Not one word.
Years, decades and centuries ago, it could be excused. But not today. In this so called enlightened and free and open society, women are free! Free to be slowed down, ridiculed and humiliated by men masquerading as women. What a tragedy.
It is not the men who are allowing or encouraging this horror. No, it is women. White, middle class women and celebrities. And it makes me shrink in shame at what women have done and allowed to be done in the name of so called women's rights.
Read more: Women are our own worst enemies - We Need to Stand on Our Own Two Feet
Yesterday, I read something online and it struck me as significant.
We are in a cultural war. We are in a war of the minds. It was about Artificial Intelligence.
I find AI incredibly helpful for research. I recently watched the old film " All the President's Men " and saw the two young journalists pouring over telephone books and electoral rolls and old newspaper articles... the voyage of discovery was long and arduous before computers.
Then it became easy to " google it. " We are now in an era of AI. Instant information, articles seemingly written in a nano second. How lazy we could become. How quickly our brains would simply have a nana nap and let the robot do the hard yards or hard yakka. AI is a tool. Like the computer I am using now.
Nothing can replace the power of critical thinking or the joy in writing something and knowing that it reflects who I am and what I believe.
I am a great friend of the wise men ; " Who" What? " Where? When" and Why? "
My feeling on AI, has taught me a great deal. It is merely a tool. Like a book, an encyclopedia of old or a google search. Nothing can replace critical thinking.
So it was with great interest that I read this today. it was written by a University lecturer who is concerned about her relationship with AI and that of her students.
The Queensland Government recently placed a ban on pumping and dumping carbon dioxide into the rocks of the Great Artesian Basin.
This was an event rarely seen – politicians have stumbled onto a sensible energy policy. Burying CO2 would achieve nothing useful – just more futile green waste.
But their ban on Carbon Capture and Underground Storage (CCUS) should be extended to all areas of Queensland, not just this one basin.
Even the blinkered Greens and the TikTok generation should recognise that today’s low levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are too close to the red line of death, where all plant life will die (followed by animal life).
The Troubles, a term used to describe a period of conflict in Northern Ireland, spanned from the late 1960s to 1998. This conflict was characterised by violent confrontations between different communities and a struggle for political and national identity. It is one of the most tumultuous and complex episodes in modern European history.
Until perhaps today..... as Migrants flood Ireland, I wonder if the British will pale into insignificance in comparison?
It led me to research and try and put together an essay to discover the deep rooted nationalistic love the Irish people have for their country.
After all, Ireland has a long history of being betrayed and let down by migration. Forced, when they were faced with the loss of their homes and trekked to places like America, Australia, Canada and elsewhere.
While it is fair to remind ourselves of the African American slaves who lamented " No one knows the troubles I've seen " it is also fair to say that the Irish have seen their fair of troubles.
Read more: The Troubles... Well, it sounds like Trouble... Again....
In 2011, British Illusionist Derren Brown conducted an experiment that I have never forgotten.
In Remote Control, audience members for a game show are asked to wear anonymous masks and dictate the ongoing fate of an unsuspecting, secretly filmed member of the public.
The show takes a look at the horror that emerges when people are allowed to make anonymous decisions as part of a crowd.
It caused a degree of shock and horror at the time and was designed to show us how being anonymous in a crowd can, in his words, “turn perfectly nice people into internet bullies, or rioters, or hooligans”.
Read more: The Mask that Hides the Face of the Mob Mentality
What the hell do I have to do to wake up from this nightmare? Gay Pride MONTH? Seriously? 1/12th of a year dedicated to people who want to boldly go where no man should ever go? Sorry, Star Trek, but Captain Kirk would never have navigated to the Gay Galaxy.
Sometimes, you just have to say no. Enough. I am all out of sympathy, all out of hugs and all out of embraces for men who do not want to be a blokie bloke.
A bloke is Aussie speak for a man. To be a blokie bloke means a man who is a real man. And I for one have a great deal of respect and admiration for men who still proudly proclaim their blokeiness. You know the kind of thing: being hardworking, masculine and protective. And he sure as hell doesn't wear a tutu or drive an e-scooter to save the planet.
Gay Pride Month is, in my very not humble opinion, a month too long.In fact, I would abolish all bloody recognition days.
But if we are stuck with them, is there any way that I can get a month for Bloke Month? You know, the idea of a whole month where men can – with their mates – drink beer, cuss, scratch their balls and ogle big-breasted women and fart in bed? 'OK, I am not a male. But I get the vibe. I was married to one and I know what a blokie bloke is. Yet, in spite of these things, they still manage to go to work, pay the bills and generally make life better for all those they know.
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