The PR Blog
- Details
- Written by: Op-Ed Monty
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..................
- Details
- Written by: Op-Ed Shaydee Lane
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
- Details
- Written by: Op-Ed Shaydee Lane
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
- Details
- Written by: Op-Ed Monty
How many of us are old enough to remember that series from America called " Lost in Space. " ?
- Details
- Written by: Op-Ed Guest Post
Sixty percent of all human CO2 emissions have been emitted since 1985, but today, the corals are healthier than ever
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.
- Details
- Written by: Op-Ed Shaydee Lane
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.
- Details
- Written by: Op-Ed Shaydee Lane
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.
- Details
- Written by: Op-Ed Monty
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'
- Details
- Written by: The PR Blog
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
- Details
- Written by: The PR Blog
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.
- Details
- Written by: Op-Ed Monty
- View all
- Blog
- Hmmm....
-
There's Gold in Them…
What Happened to McFookit Peak? By Roderick “Whiskers” McNibbleDusty Gulch Gazette It was midnight when…
83 hits
-
Home Children - A…
Between the mid-19th and early 20th centuries, more than a hundred thousand British children were…
176 hits
-
The Friends in Times…
The Battle of Britain ended on 15th September, 1940 but the Blitz continued long after that. Following…
169 hits
-
When Words Become Knives
Words. We use them every day without giving them much thought. We write them in…
208 hits
-
When Leadership Gives Courage…
As our countries struggle under the weight of wokeism, ideological conformity and the relentless erosion…
213 hits
-
What the Mailbox Knew…
The Lost Art of Letter Writing In an age of glowing screens and fleeting texts,…
193 hits
-
Rebels In Need of…
As young folk, didn't some of us feel like rebels without a cause? I am…
235 hits
-
There’s Meat on the…
There’s Meat on the Bone A Ratty News Investigation By Roderick “Whiskers” McNibbleChief Investigative Correspondent,…
207 hits
-
The baton we carry,…
The baton we carry, and the history we must pass on For twenty-five years, I…
138 hits
-
The Great Dog-Fence Summit
DUSTY GULCH GAZETTE Special Political Correspondent EditionFiled from the wrong side of a perfectly ordinary…
259 hits
-
The Timeless Strategy of…
I’m a teacher who’s spent years studying history and who cares about using words honestly.…
242 hits
-
All Available Boats
When I was a child, I loved a story about little tugboat called Little Toot.…
303 hits
-
You Either Get It…
You Either Get It or You Don’t People have lost their sense of humor. Not…
258 hits
-
The Hole in the…
The Alfred Graving Dock - a monument to Victorian engineering and Australian shipbuilding Most readers…
264 hits
-
Twelve Angry People
Twelve Angry People What 12 Angry Men can teach us about the hardest job in…
173 hits
-
The Strange Case of…
THE GREAT MULBERRY VACCINATION SCANDAL A Ratty News investigation by Roderick “Whiskers” McNibble I knew…
284 hits
-
Does Australia Pass the…
Is Australia Becoming a Pub With No Affordable Beer? Oh, sure, the beer is still…
354 hits
-
The Road to War
The War Did Not Begin on 1 September 1939 The details of Adolf Hitler’s rise…
303 hits
-
The Weimer Republic Mk…
In the shadow of a shattered empire, the Weimar Republic rose in 1919, promising democracy,…
310 hits
-
A Moment in Time...
There are memories that refuse to grow old. The 29th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death…
318 hits
-
From Eureka to Extinction…
The result of the recent bi election in Secret Harbour in WA sends a powerful…
332 hits
-
A Dispatch From the…
A Dispatch from the Pointy End Foreword By Roderick (Whiskers ) McNibble, Senior Investigative Rodent…
310 hits
-
The Dunny Dilemma -…
PLUMBING! The Mayor Has Finally Met a Pipe He Can't Fix A Special Medical -…
338 hits
-
Milne Bay - Australia's…
“Some of us may forget that, of all the Allies, it was the Australians who…
381 hits
-
The Grave Where Nothing…
Where Do the Children Play? I have no opinion to offer publicly on the Lindsay…
317 hits
-
The 1951 Waterfront Lockout…
In early 1951, New Zealand’s waterfronts weren’t just bustling ports - they had become battlegrounds.…
302 hits
-
The Difference Between Understanding…
What badly behaved cats might teach us about excuses, responsibility and the people we sometimes…
342 hits
-
"It's a Mini!" -…
Few cars trigger as much nostalgia as the iconic Mini. Born in post-war Britain, the…
339 hits
-
Look Where You Are…
What falling over at seventy taught me about scars, consequences and the dangers of rushing…
325 hits
-
How we Saved the…
And Why Trevor the Wallaby Is No Longer Allowed Near the Taj Mahal An exclusive…
368 hits
-
The Birth of the…
In the 1880’s shearers wielded a lot of influence on our country. Despite us not…
360 hits