G’Day Mate!

Entertainment 3 Minutes

On this date in 1986, the movie Crocodile Dundee premiered in Australia.  This article from Moviefone.com details some interesting things about Crocodile Dundee that you might not have known.

From moviefone.com:

15 Things You Never Knew About ‘Crocodile Dundee’

For better or worse, when many Americans think of Australia, they think of Paul Hogan and “Crocodile Dundee.” After all, the Australian travel pitchman cleverly designed the movie as part travelogue, part send-up of popular stereotypes. The comedy’s plot — about a fabled Australian outdoorsman and a New York newswoman who survive the challenges of each other’s jungles — and Hogan’s winning performance made “Crocodile Dundee” the most successful imported film in U.S. box office history. Still, as many times as you’ve watched Hogan cheerfully flash that giant Bowie knife, there’s plenty you may not know about “Crocodile Dundee.” Here’s the behind-the-scenes story, and it’s no croc(k).


1. Hogan came late to show business. He was a 32-year-old rigger and painter on the Sydney Harbor Bridge when his mates dared him to try out for an Australian TV talent show. He won and was soon writing and starring in his own sketch comedy show.

2. After a decade of small-screen success, Hogan and his behind-the-camera team decided to make a movie, something none of them had ever done before.

3. The real-life Crocodile Dundee was an Aussie named Rod Ansell, a hunter who, in 1977, famously survived seven weeks in the wild while stranded in a remote corner of Northern Australia. When he came to Sydney to talk about his adventure, he appeared on a TV interview barefoot and stayed in a luxury hotel, where he slept on the floor and was mystified by the bidet.

4. Hogan and his co-screenwriters clearly drew much of Mick Dundee’s character and exploits from Ansell. The character was also a canny brand extension of the character Hogan had played in Australian tourism commercials, the ones that had made him moderately famous on this side of the Pacific for his offer to “slip an extra shrimp on the barbie for you.”


5.Linda Kozlowski, the lone Yank during the Australian portion of the shoot, was a Juilliard classmate of Val Kilmer’s who’d appeared on Broadway with Dustin Hoffman in “Death of a Salesman.” Nonetheless, the 26-year-old was largely unknown on either side of the ocean before she landed the role of reporter Sue Charlton.

6. The wilderness section of the movie was shot in Kakadu, a national park roughly the size of Germany. The only crocodile Hogan and Kozlowski ever tangled with was the mechanical croc built for the film (above). Nonetheless, the animatronic prop was realistic-looking enough that someone reported the crew to the authorities as suspected poachers.

7. Hogan got a lot of comic mileage out of the bidets in the Plaza Hotel during the Manhattan section of the film. In real life, however, there are no bidets at the Plaza.

8. There were two versions of “Crocodile Dundee”: an Australian version, and an international version. In the latter, the incomprehensible Australian slang dialogue was snipped out, resulting in a cut 10 minutes shorter.


9. In America, distributor Paramount advertised the film as “‘Crocodile’ Dundee,” with extra quotation marks to make clear that it was a movie about a man nicknamed “Crocodile,” not a movie about a crocodile named Dundee.

10. The film cost about $10 million to make. Not only did it become the biggest domestic hit in Australian history, but it was a smash all over the world. In the U.S., it earned $175 million, making it the second-highest grossing film of 1986, behind only “Top Gun.”

11. Hogan, Ken Shadie, and John Cornell were nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. They lost to Woody Allen (for “Hannah and Her Sisters”), but Hogan did win a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy Motion Picture.

12. “Crocodile Dundee” made Kakadu into a popular tourist attraction. The film’s success prompted developers to build a hotel there shaped like a crocodile.

13. Hogan and Kozlowski fell in love for real on the set. She continued to play love interest Sue in sequels “Crocodile Dundee II” (1988) and “Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles” (2001). Unfortunately for the couple, Hogan was already married, to Noelene Edwards, whom he first wed in 1958, the year Kozlowski was born. They had five children together, divorced in 1981, and remarried in 1982. Their second split was considered one of the ugliest celebrity divorces in Australian history. Shortly after their second divorce became official in 1990, the 50-year-old Hogan married the 32-year-old Kozlowski. They had a child of their own, son Chance. They divorced in 2014.

14. At one time in the early 1990s, Paramount was considering a crossover sequel with one of its other big 1980s franchises: “Crocodile Dundee Meets Beverly Hills Cop.” Fortunately, Eddie Murphy nixed the idea.

15. Now 76, Hogan is the subject of a forthcoming small-screen bio, an Australian mini-series starring Josh Lawson (known to American audiences from “Anchorman 2”) as Hogan. The mini-series will be called “Hoges,” which is the nickname Hogan is known by Down Under.

SOURCE: MOVIEFONE.COM

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Published by pat frederick

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112 thoughts on “G’Day Mate!”

  1. Morning All!
    windows did an update on my computer this morning and of course screwed everything up! what a joke.
    but the sun seems to be rising and i can see some clouds but not a lot so far, so maybe it will be ok.
    gotta get a haircut this morning and check to see if the Jeep is inspected but that all shouldn’t take long.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Good morning! I loved that movie and just re-watched it recently. Interesting to see the “behind the scenes” info. I did not know that the 2 of them were married.

      The rain started overnight and it’s still raining off-and-on with temp at 48. Wheezer wasn’t on the chair but showed up within a few minutes of my opening the blinds. His coat wasn’t wet so he must have somewhere he is hiding nearby where he can stay dry.

      Liked by 2 people

        1. The SE portion of the state is supposed to get hit the hardest with the rain/storms and we need the rain anyway. Did you know you still have a comment in “pending?” Apparently a change to one of your opens…..

          Liked by 2 people

  4. the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Seems Ashley Biden forgot to report $500,000 her “charity” rec’d in 2023.

    FTA

    Ashley Biden’s charity has a $500,000 discrepancy in its books, a watchdog alleged in a complaint filed with the IRS on Monday.

    During the height of her father’s presidency in 2023, Ashley Biden launched a walk-in trauma recovery center in Philadelphia equipped with infrared saunas to help women overcome mental health challenges. Known as the Women’s Wellness Spa(ce), the former first daughter’s charity supposedly got off the ground with at least $500,000 in seed funding in 2023. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Archewell Foundation and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation each reported in their tax forms granting $250,000 to Ashley Biden’s charitable venture in 2023, figures that should have been reflected in the Women’s Wellness Spa(ce)’s Form 990 tax filing.

    But the Women’s Wellness Spa(ce) told a much different story to the IRS, reporting in its 2023 tax filing that it received just $170,296 from all sources that year, and that it didn’t receive any contributions from a single source greater than $5,000, seemingly contradicting the financial reporting of its two largest benefactors. Ashley Biden signed the document as the charity’s president under penalty of perjury.

    To Paul Kamenar, an attorney with the National Legal and Policy Center watchdog group, the documents show that Ashley Biden’s charity clearly violated IRS rules by failing to disclose $500,000 in contributions it received in 2023. Kamenar filed a complaint on behalf of the watchdog group on Monday demanding the IRS audit the Women’s Wellness Spa(ce) to discover if it failed to report any other grants in 2023 and possibly impose sanctions upon the former first daughter for violating the agency’s financial disclosure rules.

    “Ashley Biden’s failure to disclose to the IRS receiving $500,000 in grants in 2023 raises the question of what other contributions is she hiding,” Kamenar told the Washington Free Beacon.

    https://freebeacon.com/democrats/ashley-bidens-charity-failed-to-disclose-500000-in-donations-to-irs-complaint-alleges/

    Liked by 1 person

  5. this judge should not get to resign! he knows the laws! he can’t claim ignorance. how much did he get to harbor this illegal? shield him essentially. he’s saying he’s “retiring”…does he get benefits? he needs JAIL time!

    FTA

    Cano, previously a judge at the Doña Ana County Magistrate Court in Las Cruces, submitted his resignation letter on March 3, according to Fox News Digital, though the court spokesman noted it reached the Supreme Court and 3rd Judicial District Court only on March 31.

    In his resignation letter, Cano indicated his final workday was March 21, writing, “All the best to everyone of you. I wish all of you a happy retirement once you are ready yourself.”

    https://thelibertydaily.com/new-mexico-judge-who-housed-gun-toting-tren/

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’ve never had one of those here but I’ve been watching for any Orioles. I’ve got the cage ready to go, just need to add the jelly and hang it up. Maybe once all this rain ends……

      Liked by 1 person

      1. thank you so much for giving the idea to put out the jelly feeder and the seed feeder!!
        you got great ideas!
        we’ve been enjoying the different birds and going thru the bird book we got from his mom when his father passed to identify them. his father loved to watch the birds!

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Oh, cool! As always, just glad to help! They do bring a lot of joy just watching them and their interactions – a nice distraction from the daily grind and birds are amazing critters. Now if only those ideas would bring in some $$$! LOL

          Liked by 2 people

          1. LOL
            it’s more than that. it’s a chain reaction. once my daughter and granddaugther saw all the birds here, they’ve decided to hang feeders there.
            and without the feeder here, I never would have had the opportunity to play chipmunk hockey with my granddaughter and create so many fun memories!!

            Liked by 1 person

  8. EXCERPT: “President Donald Trump signed a total of seven executive orders on Wednesday that target education, including one that targets college accreditors, companies that evaluate a school’s educational quality and financial health. 

    The orders come as the president’s administration cracks down on federal funding for certain prestigious universities, including the Ivy League’s Harvard and Columbia. 

    Here is a summary of some of the new executive orders:….”

    https://justthenews.com/government/white-house/trump-signs-flurry-seven-executive-orders-targeting-education

    Liked by 1 person

    1. it’s like the medical profession. i had a lot respect for them before ocare. it was no longer about patients–it was billable services.
      college is no longer about education–it’s about grants/funding.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Well, I’ve taken what the medical profession says with a grain of salt for a very long time – since at least 1980 in the run-up to HB’s birth, hence our attempt to have her at home. She was born underweight (due to my smoking and poor diet), but they claimed at her 6 week check-up there must be something wrong since her head was apparently growing too fast. They wanted to do an invasive surgery to put in a stint, thinking she had fluid on the brain. Once again, I did my own research, and discovered that the head is where growth shows up first. I put my foot down and said no – sure enough, at her 9 week check-up, all was normal. Yeah, no – I’ve never trusted them completely.

        Liked by 1 person

  9. Just The News: “Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard on Wednesday announced that she has made two criminal referrals to the Justice Department (DOJ) related to the leaking of classified information to the press.

    The referrals come after the Washington Post reported over the weekend, citing unnamed sources, that the U.S.’ National Intelligence Council has cast doubt on the idea that the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua is working with its country’s government.

    Gabbard did not state what leaks the two referrals were related to, but said a third referral was on its way. The referrals include the Washington Post leak.

    “Politicization of our intelligence and leaking classified information puts our nation’s security at risk and must end,” Gabbard posted on X. “Those who leak classified information will be found and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. 

    “Today, I referred two intelligence community LEAKS to the Department of Justice for criminal referral, with a third criminal referral on its way, which includes the recent illegal leak to the Washington Post,” she continued. “These deep-state criminals leaked classified information for partisan political purposes to undermine [the President of the United States’] agenda.”

    Gabbard added that she “looks forward” to working with the Justice Department and FBI on investigating, terminating, and prosecuting the leakers.

    The revelation comes after the Pentagon fired several staffers last week over its own leaks of classified information.” 

    Liked by 2 people

  10. “Jordan Moves to Dissolve Muslim Brotherhood, Enforce Nationwide Ban”

    Jordan’s Interior Ministry has announced a sweeping set of measures against the Muslim Brotherhood, formally declaring the group dissolved and illegal. The announcement came during a press conference on Wednesday, where the Interior Minister, Mazen Faraya, outlined the government’s decisive steps aimed at safeguarding national security and public stability.

    The minister confirmed that membership in or affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood is now prohibited by law, and that all of the group’s offices across the Kingdom have been permanently closed. A judicial order was issued to facilitate the closure of headquarters and branches, with security forces deployed to enforce the decision and confiscate the organization’s assets.

    The Interior Minister described the Muslim Brotherhood’s continued activities as a threat to citizens, a barrier to national development, and a destabilizing force. He revealed that members of the dissolved group had planned to target sensitive sites, stored weapons and explosives in residential neighborhoods, and operated covertly to undermine public security.

    “The presence of hidden agendas and divisive rhetoric from within the group is incompatible with Jordanian unity,” the minister stated, adding that “we cannot allow division among members of a single society.” – Arab News

    AND

    “Saudi Crown Prince, Jordan’s King Hold Meeting in Jeddah”

    Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Jordan’s King Abdullah II on Wednesday during an official visit to Saudi Arabia.

    King Abdullah arrived in Jeddah, accompanied by Crown Prince Hussein, and was received by the deputy governor of Makkah, Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

    King Abdullah expressed pride in the historical relations between Riyadh and Amman during his meeting with the crown prince, the Petra news agency reported. He acknowledged the significant role of Saudi Arabia in supporting Arab and Islamic causes.

    The two leaders discussed recent developments in the region, particularly the situation in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, Petra added.
    – Arab News

    Our Take: The same day that King Abdullah of Jordan meets with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, the government of Jordan bans MI6 – er, I mean the Muslim Brotherhood – from their country.

    This is a great sign of things to come. The scourge that is the CIA/MI6 is being kicked out of the Middle East and Africa. And President Trump is visiting Riyadh in less than three weeks?– GhostofBasedPatrickHenry

    Liked by 1 person

      2. Actually, I should have said “some” parts of Islam…..there are so many different fricking iterations of Islam, it is impossible to keep them all straight. But the MB is the most prominent group in the quest to conquer the west.

        Liked by 1 person

  11. “Climate Extremist Strikes Again, This Time Apparently Vandalizing Trump Tower”

    Trump Tower in New York City had to be closed to visitors on Wednesday after a man who is believed to be a member of a climate extremist group vandalized part of the lobby.

    Shortly after noon, a young man walked into the public lobby of the building, strode over to the seal of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States, and proceeded to tag it with the letters “USA” in green spray paint, video from Freedom News TV showed.

    The young man then knelt down beneath his apparent act of vandalism, eyes closed, soaking in the attention from the crowd gathered around with their cell phones in hand. He then pulled out a small banner with the message “Game Over” emblazoned on it and held it up for all to see.

    Security agents quickly descended upon the individual, placing him in handcuffs and ordering him to leave. As they escorted him out of the building, the man robotically cried out, “This is your country. This is your country. This is our country…This is our planet,” he continued. “You cannot ruin it without comment. They are ruining the planet for profit.” – The Blaze

    https://www.theblaze.com/news/climate-extremist-strikes-again-this-time-apparently-vandalizing-trump-tower

    AND

    “Scientists Say They Can Calculate the Cost of Oil Giants’ Role in Global Warming”

    Oil and gas companies are facing hundreds of lawsuits around the world testing whether they can be held responsible for their role in causing climate change. Now, two scientists say they’ve built a tool that can calculate how much damage each company’s planet-warming pollution has caused — and how much money they could be forced to pay if they’re successfully sued.

    Collectively, greenhouse emissions from 111 fossil fuel companies caused the world $28 trillion in damage from extreme heat from 1991 to 2020, according to a paper published Wednesday in Nature.

    Industry officials have contested this sort of reasoning, and Trump administration officials, along with some congressional Republicans, are working to shield oil and gas companies from legal liability for climate-related damages. The new analysis could fuel an emerging legal fight.
    – The Washington Post

    Our Take: If you believe that “science” can figure out the earth’s temperature for the last 485 million years, you are beyond help. (Screenshot below from a study put out last fall.) — Chris Paul

    Liked by 1 person

      1. IKR? Baffle ’em with bull shit so-called science!!! I doubt there was any charge against the idiot – this is NYC, after all! They don’t even charge people for attacking people on the fricking subway!!!

        Liked by 1 person

  13. https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114388111141848447

    “Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is boasting on the front page of The Wall Street Journal that, “Ukraine will not legally recognize the occupation of Crimea. There’s nothing to talk about here.” This statement is very harmful to the Peace Negotiations with Russia in that Crimea was lost years ago under the auspices of President Barack Hussein Obama, and is not even a point of discussion. Nobody is asking Zelenskyy to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory but, if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired? The area also houses, for many years before “the Obama handover,” major Russian submarine bases. It’s inflammatory statements like Zelenskyy’s that makes it so difficult to settle this War. He has nothing to boast about! The situation for Ukraine is dire — He can have Peace or, he can fight for another three years before losing the whole Country. I have nothing to do with Russia, but have much to do with wanting to save, on average, five thousand Russian and Ukrainian soldiers a week, who are dying for no reason whatsoever. The statement made by Zelenskyy today will do nothing but prolong the “killing field,” and nobody wants that! We are very close to a Deal, but the man with “no cards to play” should now, finally, GET IT DONE. I look forward to being able to help Ukraine, and Russia, get out of this Complete and Total MESS, that would have never started if I were President!”

    Like

  14. Just The News: “White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday announced that President Donald Trump will celebrate the first 100 days of his second term with a rally in Michigan next week. The visit will mark Trump’s first time back in the battleground state since he wrapped his presidential campaign last November. The president concluded the campaign with a rally in Grand Rapids.

    Leavitt said the new rally will take place in Macomb County, which the president won in November with 55% of the vote. Trump swept all seven battleground states last year. 

    “President Trump is excited to return to the great state of Michigan next Tuesday, where he will rally in Macomb County to celebrate the FIRST 100 DAYS,” the press secretary posted on X. 

    The announcement comes after Trump said he was working with Michigan leaders, including Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, to keep Macomb County’s Selfridge Air National Guard Base “open, strong, thriving”

    “I think we’re going to be successful, governor. I think we’ll be very successful there,” Trump said in the Oval Office earlier this month. “We’ve gotten some good feedback from [Defense Secretary] Pete Hegseth and the Department of Defense … It’s a great piece of property. It’s a great location, and it’s a great state. So I think we’re going to come back with a very good answer.”

    The president will reach the 100-day threshold on April 30.”

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Just The News: “Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said Wednesday he is working with the Chinese government to get back several planes the company has sent to the Asian country, as the U.S. and China engage in a tariff war.

    The revelation comes as the U.S. looks to ease the trade war with China, where the U.S. has imposed 145% tariffs. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he will “substantially” lower the tariffs but will not zero it out.

    Ortberg told CNBC in an interview that three planes were sent to China, and two of them have already been returned. The third is in the process of being sent back to the United States.

    “[China has], in fact, stopped taking delivery of aircraft due to the tariff environment,” Ortberg said. “We have roughly 50 airplanes in our plan this year going into China, so we’re going to be pretty pragmatic with what we do here for those airplanes that haven’t been built yet.”

    The CEO said the company could direct the planes to other potential buyers because there are “plenty” of people wanting to purchase Boeing planes, and said he would reach a decision on other sales soon.

    “I’m not going to let this derail the recovery of our … company,” Ortberg said. Ortberg also said that there have been some downsides to the tariffs, but expressed confidence that the company would survive the current environment. 

    “The bigger issue is making sure that our supply chain stays healthy and we continue to see the supply chain making the deliveries and the tariff environment doesn’t slow things down in the supply chain,” Ortberg said, adding that Boeing is also working to help its suppliers survive the tariffs.”

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Hmmmm….this article @ RedState makes it sound like it was SS who arrested the TT tagger and “….took him away.”

    “….Except the game was over very quickly for the climate activist, as what looked like security or Secret Service descended upon him immediately. An agent immediately began to hook him up. 

    An elderly man then tried to intervene saying, “Don’t touch him.” Are you kidding? You don’t get to vandalize the building and not get arrested. He acts like this guy should get a pass. The old man then immediately started questioning the guy that looked like Secret Service, asking for his name and if he was “police” or had a “badge.” The Secret Service guy looked at him like he was nuts. They took the activist away as he shouted, “This is our country…They cannot ruin it without comment.” 

    https://redstate.com/nick-arama/2025/04/23/climate-activist-finds-out-its-not-a-smart-idea-to-spray-paint-presidential-placard-at-trump-tower-n2188216

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Daily Caller News Foundation

    ENTIRE ARTICLE: “During an Oval Office visit with veterans Wednesday evening, President Donald Trump laughed at a “picture” depicting former President Joe Biden with a slogan next to it after pointing it out on one veteran’s prosthetic leg.

    In October 2021, an anti-Biden slogan was popularized online after an NBC reporter mistakenly claimed a crowd at the Talladega Superspeedway was chanting for race winner Brandon Brown, saying “Let’s Go Brandon,” when the crowd had actually been chanting “fuck Joe Biden.” During the Oval Office gathering to sign a slew of executive orders and meet with veterans, one of the veterans’ wives, Sarah, was asked to speak.

    “Alex here earlier was saying in the last few years when he’s gone to get a wheelchair, the VA has asked him, this gentleman, they’ve asked him to prove that he still has his injuries as though maybe his limbs would grow back. And they unfortunately did not,” Sarah said.

    “We’ve seen that many times. So we’re excited for you bringing back the VA accountability MISSION Act community care that were the hallmark of your first term,” Sarah added. “We’re so excited, sir, to be here. We’re honored to be here. Thank you for all you do for our nation’s heroes.”

    While Trump thanked the group, he was seen looking at one of the veteran’s prosthetic legs, prompting him to ask what the picture on it was. “Thank you. Who’s that picture on there?” Trump asked. “That is Joe Biden, and it says, ‘Let’s go, Brandon,’” the veteran responded.

    https://rumble.com/v6shjv5-anti-biden-slogan-on-veterans-prosthetic-attracts-trumps-attention-during-o.html

    Trump and members of the group laughed. “I told him he wasn’t allowed to ask you to sign it,” Sarah teased.

    “That’s very good. Well, thank you all very much. Would you like to say anything, fellas? There’s a big chance you have a lot of good people watching that believe in you. They happen to be the media, but they believe very much in you like I do,” Trump said.

    One of the veterans thanked Trump for the support that his administration has shown throughout his two terms in office. Trump went on to gift each veteran in attendance with a medal, thanking them for their service.

    In December 2024, a group of 24 veterans accused then-Department of Veteran Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough of allegedly conducting a “concerted and strategic effort” to stall their access to timely medical care.”

    Liked by 1 person

  19. Like

  21. “Sewer gators are just some of the thousands of animals making Gainesville’s storm water sewer systems their home according to a newly published study. Alan Ivory, a Ph.D. student at the University of Florida, led the research published in the journal Urban Naturalist. The study reveals alligators and dozens of other species live in the sewers.

    The researchers placed 39 cameras in the system throughout Gainesville including in manholes, grates, and outside open pipes. The study documented 3,789 animals from February to July 2024. Some of the animals include more than 1,800 raccoons, nearly 700 bats, and 50 alligators. The cameras also captured video of rats, opossums, and snakes.”

    Liked by 1 person

  22. “It’s almost as if they were afraid to say it out loud – a new rule introduced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to ensure voters have seen all the films in a category before they cast their ballots has provoked disquiet online, with many expressing surprise it wasn’t already a requirement.

    A raft of measures were announced by the Oscars governing body on Monday, including the stipulation that “Academy members must now watch all nominated films in each category to be eligible to vote in the final round for the Oscars.”

    “Absolutely insane this wasn’t already a thing,” wrote one person on X, a sentiment echoed by many others, who questioned the validity of previous Academy decisions and theorised about the reasons key titles had been celebrated – or snubbed.

    I have another suggestion for them. Make it a rule if you say one fuckin’ peep about politics during the event you get banned for life. Sounds good to me. Personally, the last movie I saw in a theater was in 1999. True story.”

    Liked by 1 person

  23. NF: Given my complete lack of interaction with people IRL, I’d go nuts w/o the internet but at least I don’t take it with me when I do go out!

    “Blocking mobile phone internet for two weeks may boost mood, mental health, and attention”

    USRTK, Pamela Ferdinand | April 24, 2025

    EXCERPT: “A new study finds it could ease anxiety and depression and reverse years of attention decline, with lasting results

    Participants said they spent more time offline, pursued hobbies, went outside, and socialized in person. (Photo credit: Dániel Tamáskovics)

    Blocking the internet on your smartphone for just two weeks can lead to better mood and mental health—and may significantly improve your attention span, even making you feel as if you’re 10 years younger, new research suggests. Those effects continue even after internet access is restored.

    The study, published earlier this year [February 2025] in PNAS Nexus, is the first to measure how cutting off mobile phone internet use affects the brain and mood. While the methods differ from clinical psychology studies, a group of U.S. and Canadian researchers from diverse fields says its results are remarkable.

    “These results provide causal evidence that blocking mobile internet can improve important psychological outcomes, and suggest that maintaining the status quo of constant connection to the internet may be detrimental to time use, cognitive functioning, and well-being,” the researchers say.

    “Despite the many benefits mobile internet offers, reducing the constant connection to the digital world can have large positive effects,” they add.

    Key findings of the study include:

    • Better mental health: The reduction in depressive symptoms was larger than what’s typically seen with antidepressants and similar to the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy. The researchers asked about symptoms such as “feeling down, depressed, or hopeless,” and “having little pleasure or interest in doing things.”
    • Improved attention: Blocking mobile internet use reversed the equivalent of 10 years of typical age-related attention decline, the researchers say. They measured this by giving people a widely-used task in which they had to pay attention to changing images on a screen and react to only certain kinds of images and not others. Sustained attention typically starts to decline a little bit each year after age 40, the researchers say. That means our attention on challenging tasks at age 50 is, on average, worse than it was at age 40.
    • Lasting effects: Mental health and well-being continued to improve even after internet access was restored.

    “These results show that using smartphones less can improve how we feel and how easily we can focus our attention,” says lead author Dr. Noah Castelo of the University of Alberta in Canada. “Setting time limits on how long you can use certain apps might help people who feel like their attention is increasingly fragmented.”Unplugging from smartphone internet brings benefits  

    The research comes at a time when nearly 90% of American adults own a smartphone, with the average user spending about 4.6 hours daily on their devices, one survey shows. 

    While other devices like laptops and tablets can also distract, smartphones are especially disruptive due to their constant presence, the researchers say. About 95% of people used their phones during their last social event, far more than with any other digital device…..”

    https://usrtk.org/healthwire/blocking-mobile-phone-internet-may-boost-mood-mental-health-attention/

    Liked by 1 person

  24. Police in NJ have arrested the 19 year old who set wooden pallets on fire, then left before the fire was out – it is apparently what started that huge NJ fire.

    Liked by 1 person

  25. H/T M

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Why not? He will talk to ANYONE if it suits his purposes and he does it masterfully. Watch and see! It’s just talking and even if they, themselves, don’t change their perspective, a good number of their viewers WILL change their opinions.

        Liked by 1 person

          1. It will be even worse for them if they try any shenanigans since I can guarantee you, he WILL have a recording of the entire thing! LOL – damned if you do, damned if you don’t!

            Liked by 1 person

  26. NF: And taxpayer $$$’s to defend the stupid case!!!

    “The 2025 Chevrolet Corvair is a modern reimagining of the classic car, featuring a sleek retro design with a powerful electric powertrain, offering a blend of vintage aesthetics and cutting-edge technology, while maintaining the iconic rear-engine layout and delivering a thrilling driving experience with a focus on sustainability’ (GM’s words, not mine).

    I hate to have to admit it, but I’d almost buy one of them when my F-150 shits the bed. I wonder if they’ll still be around in another 12-15 years. Ole’ Blue’s only got 194,000 miles on it.”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. hubby were just discussing this at length…lol

      we both like the styling, but it would never make it across the stream. that faring (sp?) would rip off in a heartbeat. on the plus side? the mechanic who was going to do the body work on my Jeep is back in commission. we made an appointment for June. (shoulder injury)

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Oh, that’s good news! Did they get the alignment done? Wasn’t that what you were having done? Yeah, a car like this wouldn’t last long on our country roads! Sitting waaaay too close to the ground, as far as I’m concerned! LOL – a little too flashy and futuristic for me and I absolutely hate the dashboard and all the fancy electronics! Yuck! FAR too distracting & complicated!

        Liked by 1 person

        1. I have a fender rusting from the inside out so, he’ll replace that and fix the little crinkle in the back panel from when i was working (so circa 2008) when i hit hubby’s grand cherokee on the icy driveway.

          Liked by 1 person

  28. they have no tolerance and are not compatible with our culture.
    FTA

    New York Man Says He ‘Has a Right as a Muslim to Punish Jews,’ Slashes Barber with Scissors

    By: Robert Spencer |

    It all started when Ahmed al Jabali decided to go to a barber to get his beard trimmed and walked into the Yonkers, N.Y., barber shop of Slava Shushakova. Shushakova went to work, but not long after he started, al Jabali became enraged, jumped up, and began attacking Shushakova with his own barber’s scissors.

    NY Post:

    Ahmed al Jabali, 34, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault as a hate crime last week in the Aug. 29 assault on Yonkers barber Slava Shushakova over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, prosecutors said Monday.

    Shushakova told The Post after the attack that Jabali was having his beard trimmed at his Yonkers Avenue shop when he flew into a rage, telling the barber that “he has a right as a Muslim to punish Jews.”

    Jabali, a Muslim originally from Yemen, was arrested and charged with attempted murder.

    On Thursday, he pleaded guilty to the lesser assault charge, with the judge promising him a six-year sentence. The charge carries a sentence of up to 15 years under state law.

    Hate has no home in Westchester County,” county District Attorney Susan Cacace said in a statement released Monday. “The rise in antisemitic hate over the last several years is disturbing and completely unacceptable.

    “Today and every day, my office stands with the Jewish community of Westchester and will seek justice for victims of antisemitic violence,” the statement said.

    Police said Shushakova needed 30 stitches to close the bloody gashes to his right hand and wrist that he suffered in the attack, which temporarily knocked him out of work.

    “Thank God he didn’t touch my face because he tried to hit me different ways,” he said in the earlier interview. “This is how I stopped him, with my hands.”

    https://gellerreport.com/2025/04/new-york-muslim-says-he-has-a-right-as-a-muslim-to-punish-jews-stabs-barber-with-scissors.html/

    Liked by 1 person

  29. Well, my new remote was delivered – good grief! It is soooo tiny – only 2.5 inches long! It did come with a metal clip to put on the back so I can clip it to my visor. Resetting the entire system is far more complicated than I’d hoped so I put in a call to Jake to get him to do it. It would probably take him no more than 10 minutes whereas I might get it figured out after an hour…but by then, I’d probably be so frustrated I’d throw it, break it, and have to buy another! LOL

    Liked by 1 person

  30. Daily Caller News Foundation

    ENTIRE ARTICLE: “George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley said Thursday that President Donald Trump has the discretion” to fight against the court who may dispute the terrorism charges against a Tren de Agua (TdA) gang member.

    Federal prosecutors initiated terrorism charges Thursday against Jose Enrique Martinez Flores, an alleged high-ranking TdA leader, marking the first time the Trump administration has indicted a gang member with terrorism charges. Turley said that Trump has the power to define “what constitutes terrorism,” which will help the administration fight against the courts who may dispute that the gang member committed acts of terror.

    “Some courts may say ‘look, this looks like drug dealing to me, the things that you are citing. But the president is allowed a fair amount of discretion in defining what constitutes terrorism,” Turley said.

    WATCH: https://rumble.com/v6simph-turley-discusses-terrorism-charge-against-tda-member.html

    Turley said some courts may state that the gang members should be charged with drug dealing, but the president is allowed to extend the definition of terrorism to remove these individuals from the U.S. “Some courts may say ‘look, this looks like drug dealing to me, the things that you are citing. But the president is allowed a fair amount of discretion in defining what constitutes terrorism,” Turley said.

    Trump designated Tren de Agua and MS-13 as terrorist organizations in a Jan. 20 executive order. Following the removal of MS-13 member Kilmar Abrego Garcia from the U.S., the Trump administration argued that his “withholding order” from 2019 was invalid due to the terrorism designation.

    “President Trump has declared TdA, also MS-13, to be terrorist organizations which gives him the enhanced ability legally on a number of different fronts, including the ability to remove people out of the country without some of the usual delays,” Turley continued. “That was the case with [Kilmar Abrego] Garcia, one of the arguments of the administration was Garcia is only in this country after losing a hearing and then an appeal because the appellate court held what’s called a withholding order which meant that he wouldn’t be removed even though he was removable.”

    “What the administration has said is once we declared MS-13 to be a terrorist organization, he was no longer eligible for that type of order. And that’s an example of how switching over to a terrorist designation can change the dynamic in these cases,” he continued.

    The Department of Justice (DOJ) is charging Flores with providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, and international drug distribution including cocaine intended to be distributed in the United States. He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a fine of $10 million.

    “TdA is not a street gang – it is a highly structured terrorist organization that put down roots in our country during the prior administration,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said. “Today’s charges represent an inflection point in how this Department of Justice will prosecute and ultimately dismantle this evil organization, which has destroyed American families and poisoned our communities.”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. i think someone needs to light a fire under Roberts’ ass and get him to stop these freaking judges. they do not have the power to curtail the administration in all the ways they are attempting.

      i was reading a comment this morning that made sense to me. Simply that the President HAS to expose the judiciary before the major arrests are made, because if the current judges remain where they are the perps will walk or will be given lenient sentences and the like.

      Liked by 1 person

  31. Hmmm….I seem to recall this was posted….somewhere….anyway, it’s cute so….:

    Liked by 1 person

  37. kalbokalbs(@kalbokalbs)

    Online

    Wolf

    April 24, 2025 13:50

    A little more ruckus to bring out truth.

    BREAKING: Attorney Ty Clevenger Exposes FBI’s Role in Hiding Seth Rich Records and Perpetuating the Russia Hoax — Sends Scathing Letter to Pam Bondi, Kash Patel, and Trump Officialshttps://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/04/breaking-attorney-ty-clevenger-exposes-fbis-role-hiding/

    Liked by 1 person

  38. Just The News: “President Donald Trump is planning to sign as early as Thursday an executive order to crack down on foreign straw donors in elections, instructing federal agencies to take action on concerns raised by Congress and chronicled by Just the News about the progressive online fundraising platform ActBlue, according to multiple officials.

    The order will put the Justice Department as the lead in deciding whether any criminal charges or lawsuits should be filed against ActBlue, which has admitted it did not follow common anti-fraud protections for much of the 2024 election even as it processed hundreds of millions of dollars for Democrat-affiliated campaigns and causes. The order will also empower agencies to devise further protection to avoid foreign interference or cheating in future elections. 

    The House Administration, Judiciary and Oversight committees launched probes last year into the company, uncovering evidence the platform changed its donation policies twice during the 2024 election cycle to make its standards “more lenient” and processed donations from foreign sources, Just the News reported earlier this month.

    According to internal company documents reviewed by the committees, during the 2024 campaign cycle, ActBlue issued new standards encouraging staff to “look for reasons to accept contributions.” Before the policy change, the platform already failed to require CVV numbers for credit card transactions, increasing fraud risks.

    An internal assessment by the company determined the policy change led to “between 14 and 28 additional fraudulent contributions each month.” Between September 2022 and November 2024, ActBlue recorded up to 1,900 fraudulent transactions in total, but the report authors claim the suspicious donations are far more “widespread.”

    The documents also show the platform began monitoring potential fraudulent donations from several foreign sources, including hundreds of donations from Brazil, Colombia, India, Iraq, the Philippines and Saudi Arabia, and other countries. 

    These fraudulent donations raised concerns among Members of Congress investigating ActBlue that the platform may have violated the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, which states persons who “knowingly accept a contribution made by one person in the name of another person’ may face criminal liability.” Donations from foreign nationals for American campaigns are also illegal under federal law. 

    The three House committees leading the investigation recently escalated their probe into the platform, demanding that four former officials appear for transcribed interviews. The committees sent letters last week to former general counsel Darrin Hurwitz, former Assistant Director of Research Natalie Niemeyer, former Chief Revenue Officer Peter Slutsky, and former Vice President of Customer Service Alyssa Twomey, who have each resigned from their role since February amid reported allegations of “internal retaliation” and chaos at the company.”

    Liked by 1 person

  41. Reticulated Ball, China, 19th Century

    Intricately carved ivory artifact with multiple layers and detailed patterns, showcasing historical craftsmanship.

    17th Century Silver Skull Watch, Louvre Museum

    Intricately designed skull artifact with a hidden clock, showcasing historical craftsmanship.

    The Sword Of Goujian Was Discovered Untarnished And Retains Sharp Edges After ~2500 Years

    Ancient artifact sword displayed in a museum exhibit on a dark background.

    The Engagement Ring Napoleon Gave To Josephine

    A vintage ring with gem settings in an open red velvet box, placed on a historical book page of artifacts.

    A 19th-Century “Cluster Of Rats” Carving From Japan

    Historic artifact carved from ivory, depicting a cluster of mice intricately sculpted together.

    Liked by 1 person

  42. Tipu’s Tiger, Life-Sized Wooden Mechanical Organ From 1793

    Intricately carved historic artifact depicting a tiger attacking a soldier figure, showcasing unique craftsmanship.

    19th-Century Map Of A Woman’s Heart

    Historical artifact map illustrating the "Open Country of Woman's Heart" with symbolic regions and features.

    Agreement That Ended World War II, Showing That Canada Signed In The Wrong Place

    "Historic artifact document featuring the Instrument of Surrender with signatures from a significant historical event."

    Snapshot Of The Models For ‘American Gothic’

    A couple stands next to "American Gothic," an iconic artifact capturing U.S. history in art form.

    Liked by 1 person

  44. Grandala Birds. While females are brown with white streaks all over the head, males are almost eye-searing blue.

    Grandala Birds. While Females Are Brown With White Streaks All Over The Head, Males Are Almost Eye-Searing Blue

    Rare Python

    Snow on a cabbage field

    This tree has 1 branch of an apple tree and the rest is a normal tree.

    This Tree In My Neighborhood Has 1 Branch Of An Apple Tree And The Rest Is A Normal Tree

    Liked by 1 person

    1. i did an open about Grandalas –way back in 2023.

      when we bought our apple trees, we were told by the nursery that the apple was grafted onto a pear tree–which was deemed hardier for this region.

      Liked by 1 person

  46. “Farmers, did your tractors just go crazy?

    NO straight lines in the field…

    Many modern farmers use GPS-guided tractors to plant and tend their crops. Last weekend, some of them veered off course. The same thing happened on hundreds of farms last May during a severe geomagnetic storm. There was no geomagnetic storm on April 20, 2025, so what could it be?”

    Liked by 1 person

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