This weekend comcast has free Disney movies as a promotion so I watched the classic Mary Poppins one of the favorites of my youth.
Watching the movie not as a kid but as a middle aged science fiction geek I couldn’t help but notice all sorts of interesting things such as dimensionally transcendental bags, travel into other dimensions and various other violations of the laws of physics.
He whole manor just screams Time Lord at me, apparently I’m not the firstperson to notice this.
This confirms one important thing. I’ve GOT to find work quickly, I’ve got way too much time on my hands.
…and Kurt Schlichter gives it the credit that it is due:
Understand that Zulu is a true story. In January 1879, a column of about 1500 poorly-deployed British troops was overrun at Isandhlwana by the 20,000-man Zulu army of King Catshweyo. After that slaughter – the Zulus did not bother with niceties like taking prisoners – the Zulus turned their attention to the nearby mission station at Rourke’s Drift, defended by about 100 Welsh infantrymen and their English officers. The desperate battle against overwhelming odds that followed became a legend.
Zulu is one of those films that just clicks. The story, of course, is compelling, but at the center are the characters. Stanley Baker, who also directed, plays Lieutenant Chard, the engineer who happened to be at Rourke’s Drift building a bridge when the Zulus arrived and who took charge of the defense. Baker’s subtle portrayal counterpoints the character’s tactical skill in planning the battle with his evident fear of failing his men.
He brings up an interesting point, one of the reasons why I have a soft spot for the men of the Edwardian and Victorian ages:
Caine, a Korean War veteran, is fantastic – a nobleman at first more concerned with hunting and horsemanship than leading his men, but who also demonstrates bravery and aplomb under fire. And there’s a larger truth there about such men even today – for example, Prince Harry is a London party boy yet he pulled every one of his many strings to get himself sent into combat in Afghanistan.
It didn’t hurt that actual Zulus played the Zulus either.
Here is my choice for a clip form the movie:
It is very much worth your time and even more so is to look up some of the actual men who fought. My favorite is Color Sgt. Frank Bourne who also was the last survivor of the battle, dying on VE day May 8th 1945. A transcript of his account of the battle from 1936 is here.
Where are men like that today in the British Isles? They still fight for England and still use cold steel in the 21st century:
Prepared by the U.S. Urban Warfare Analysis Center:
Executive Summary:
In May 2004, approximately 20 British troops in Basra were ambushed and forced out of their vehicles by about 100 Shiite militia fighters. When ammunition ran low, the British troops fixed bayonets and charged the enemy. About 20 militiamen were killed in the assault without any British deaths.
The bayonet charge appea More..red to succeed for three main reasons. First, the attack was the first of its kind in that region and captured the element of surprise. Second, enemy fighters probably believed jihadist propaganda stating that coalition troops were cowards unwilling to fight in close combat, further enhancing the element of surprise. Third, the strict discipline of the British troops overwhelmed the ability of the militia fighters to organize a cohesive counteraction.
The effects of this tactical action in Basra are not immediately applicable elsewhere, but an important dominant theme emerges regarding the need to avoid predictable patterns of behavior within restrictive rules of engagement. Commanders should keep adversaries off balance with creative feints and occasional shows of force lest they surrender the initiative to the enemy.
What? You never heard of it? Mark Steyn wasn’t surprised you didn’t:
Here’s a story no American news organization thought worth covering last week, so you’ll just have to take it from me. In the southern Iraqi town of Amara, 20 men from Scotland’s Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders came under attack from 100 or so of Muqtada al-Sadr’s ”insurgents.” So they fixed bayonets and charged.
It was the first British bayonet charge since the Falklands War 20 years ago. And at the end of it some 35 of the enemy were dead in return for three minor wounds on the Argylls’ side.
The army report above analyzes why a bayonet charge by troops out of Ammo can work against men with 21st century weapons but Steyn puts it plainly:
When a chap’s charging at you with a bayonet, he’s telling you he’s personally willing to run you through with cold steel.
As the title suggests it will discourage millions of young boys from trying to own a tropical island:
In the first paragraph, this story has already destroyed the fantasies of millions of 14-year-old geeks around the world. “You mean, even if I become so rich that I’ve got my own private tropical island, I don’t get to have sex with any 22-year-old woman I desire?” Disturbing.
The business about demanding that the chick “get naked”? That’s never worked for me. I’ve been married for 20 years, and if I demanded that my wife “get naked,” she’d laugh in my face.
No wonder the short form of today’s reading (Ephesins 5:21-33) left out verses 22-24. (I will post on that later today)
The third section is however the most important and should be read by every teenage boy alive today:
For the benefit of any young people (or 52-year-old show-business superstars) forced to sort out the new rules for themselves in this disturbing environment, allow me to offer a few suggestions by way of etiquette:
* In general, be careful about situations where you are alone with a person of the opposite sex….
…* Guys, a selfish attitude about sex is self-defeating…
* OK, the girl’s accepted your invitation. You might be in luck. But you’ve got to play it cool. She shows up, and you greet her with courtesy and hospitality. (“Would you like a delicious cold beverage? I’ve got some wine coolers here in the fridge . . .”)
* Don’t move too fast. Unless she’s totally making the moves on you, chill out and read her signals. If she just wants to talk, just talk. No pressure, see? This girl’s got friends, and you don’t want her telling her friends that you’re such a desperate loser that you started making the moves on her and she turned you down. The key to developing a reputation as irresistible is to avoid provoking resistance.
* If you’re going to make a move, make a move. Forget that slowly-work-your-way-up-to-it approach. Assuming you’re reading the signals correctly, a green light means “go.” Chicks dig the bold proposition. Take her in your arms and tell her you’ve been burning with desire for her ever since the first time you saw her. Gently kiss her neck and whisper your passionate intention to ravish every inch of her glorious naked body.
* Be willing to take no for an answer and to apologize for any unintended offense. Hey, even an ace pilot sometimes accidentally locks onto the wrong target, OK? This girl came over to your dorm room to study for the art history exam and when she started talking suggestively about Michelangelo’s David, you took it the wrong way. It happens.
Chicks sometimes aren’t so clear about the signals they send. My senior year in college, on the afternoon of a big concert on the quad, a girlfriend of my girlfriend came over to my dorm room. Lucy kissed me, got completely naked and still ended up saying, “no,” an answer I was obliged to accept.
I never forgave Lucy for that — which is why I feel no compunction about naming her — but I had to accept itemphasis mine.
And the resolution that comes at 7:00 of this clip although the whole thing is worth your time.
The laws might be different but if you live by the classic rules of Jimmy Stewart in 1940’s by the pool and R.S. McCain from the 1970’s in Room 215 Patterson Hall then everyone will be better off, especially you.
Update 3: If the article doesn’t discourage conservative geeks from shooting for a private tropical island, photo confirmation that Mary Katherine Ham has a significant other is sure to do it.
I was watching Pale Rider with my son and noted that one of the characters was carrying a single shot rifle that looked like a Kentucky Rifle. He asked what a Kentucky Rifle was and I explained a bit. He then asked what one went for and we ended up looking online and finding all kinds of awesome classic weapons for sale.
One site in particular Michael Simems has an incredible collection of weapons of all shapes and sizes. My son and I was drooling all over them when I spotted thisitem.
The write up says:
This is an original Civil War Regimental Battle-Flag on its original staff with tassles. I purchased a fantastic Illinois Majors Frock Coat and Vest over a year ago from the same area that this flag came from. The set was ID’d to an Illinois Colonel who was killed leading a charge at Kennesaw Mountain.
He is currently offering it below his cost, not a surprise since times are kinda tough but looking at it, I found myself bothered. I’m sure Mr. Simens has a great love and respect for history, his site radiates respect but it still feels wrong.
Looking at that flag all I could see in my mind is hundreds of fellows marching fighting and dying behind those colors. The colors are the soul of a regiment. It seems to be that even with the regiment long gone it just feels wrong for them to be bought and sold.
I’ve never served although my father and many of his and my mother’s family did, so perhaps I’m not in a position to object I’d be interested in the opinion of those who did serve.
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