ED: Thanks Terry for this one.

A man walks out to the street and catches a taxi just going by. He gets into the taxi, and the cabbie says, “Perfect timing.  You’re just like Frank.”

Passenger: “Who?”

Cabbie: “Frank Feldman. He’s a guy who did everything right all the time. Like my coming along when you needed a cab, things happened like that to Frank Feldman every single time.”

Passenger: “There are always a few clouds over everybody.”

Cabbie: “Not Frank Feldman He was a terrific athlete. He could have won the Grand-Slam at tennis. He could golf with the pros.
He sang like an opera baritone and danced like a Broadway star, and you should have heard him play the piano. He was an amazing guy.”

Passenger: “Sounds like he was really something special.”

Cabbie: “There’s more. He had a memory like a computer. He remembered everybody’s birthday. He knew all about wine, which foods to order and which fork to eat them with. He could fix anything.
Not like me. I change a fuse, and the whole street blacks out. But Frank Feldman could do everything right.”

Passenger: “Wow, what a guy!”

Cabbie: “He always knew the quickest way to go in traffic and avoid traffic jams. Not like me, I always seem to get stuck in them.
But Frank, he never made a mistake, and he really knew how to treat a woman and make her feel good. He would never answer her back even if she was in the wrong; and his clothing was always immaculate, shoes highly polished too. He was the perfect man! He never made a mistake.

No one could ever measure up to Frank Feldman.”

Passenger: “How did you meet him?”

Cabbie: “I never actually met Frank. He died and I married his wife.

The passage of the foreign aid package through the US House of Representatives marks not only a significant legislative achievement but also a pivotal moment in advancing the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal. Within this comprehensive funding package lies the crucial ‘Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental,’ a testament to the United States’ commitment to bolstering regional security.

With the approval of this package, the lower house has allocated an impressive $US3.3 billion, matching Australia’s investment, to support the expansion of submarine construction within the United States. This infusion of capital serves to propel the AUKUS alliance forward, providing tangible resources to enhance naval capabilities and strategic partnerships.

Congressman Joe Courtney, a prominent voice in the Democratic Party, aptly highlights the transformative impact of this funding, stating, “It will turbocharge AUKUS with real capital and match the Australian government’s commitment to invest $3 billion into the US industrial base.” This alignment of financial resources underscores the shared dedication of both nations to fostering innovation and bolstering defence infrastructure.

Moreover, the significance of this allocation extends beyond immediate gains, as Congressman Courtney elucidates, “The supplemental, along with continued procurement of two Virginia subs per year, will ensure that our Navy has sufficient inventory to sell three subs to Australia in the early 2030s, as the agreement calls for.” This forward-looking approach ensures the readiness of both the US Navy and its Australian counterparts, laying the groundwork for future cooperation and strategic initiatives.

In essence, the passage of the foreign aid package signifies not only a tangible commitment to bolstering regional security but also a concrete step towards realizing the objectives outlined in the AUKUS agreement. By investing in submarine construction and strengthening defence capabilities, the United States reaffirms its role as a key partner in promoting stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

ED: Set aside one hour twenty minutes to watch this movie.

This film exposes the climate alarm as an invented scare without any basis in science. It shows that mainstream studies and official data do not support the claim that we are witnessing an increase in extreme weather events – hurricanes, droughts, heatwaves, wildfires and all the rest. It emphatically counters the claim that current temperatures and levels of atmospheric CO2 are unusually and worryingly high. On the contrary, compared to the last half billion years of earth’s history, both current temperatures and CO2 levels are extremely and unusually low. We are currently in an ice age. It also shows that there is no evidence that changing levels of CO2 (it has changed many times) has ever ‘driven’ climate change in the past. Why then, are we told, again and again, that ‘catastrophic man-made climate-change’ is an irrefutable fact? Why are we told that there is no evidence that contradicts it?

Why are we told that anyone who questions ‘climate chaos’ is a ‘flat-earther’ and a ‘science-denier’? The film explores the nature of the consensus behind climate change. It describes the origins of the climate funding bandwagon, and the rise of the trillion-dollar climate industry. It describes the hundreds of thousands of jobs that depend on the climate crisis.

It explains the enormous pressure on scientists and others not to question the climate alarm: the withdrawal of funds, rejection by science journals, social ostracism. But the climate alarm is much more than a funding and jobs bandwagon. The film explores the politics of climate. From the beginning, the climate scare was political. The culprit was free-market industrial capitalism. The solution was higher taxes and more regulation. From the start, the climate alarm appealed to, and has been adopted and promoted by, those groups who favour bigger government. This is the unspoken political divide behind the climate alarm. The climate scare appeals especially to all those in the sprawling publicly-funded establishment. This includes the largely publicly-funded Western intelligentsia, for whom climate has become a moral cause. In these circles, to criticise or question the climate alarm has become is a breach of social etiquette. The film includes interviews with a number of very prominent scientists, including Professor Steven Koonin (author of ‘Unsettled’, a former provost and vice-president of Caltech), Professor Dick Lindzen (formerly professor of meteorology at Harvard and MIT), Professor Will Happer (professor of physics at Princeton), Dr John Clauser (winner of the Nobel prize in Physics in 2022), Professor Nir Shaviv (Racah Institute of Physics), professor Ross McKitrick (University of Guelph), Willie Soon and several others. The film was written and directed by the British filmmaker Martin Durkin and is the sequel of his excellent 2007 documentary The Great Global Warming Swindle. Tom Nelson, a podcaster who has been deeply examining climate debate issues for the better part of two decades, was the producer of the film. #ClimateTheMovie will be available for free at many online locations starting on March 21 2024. Subtitles for numerous languages are currently being created by the Clintel Foundation. Follow @ClimateTheMovie and @ClintelOrg for updates.

Our leaders should be constantly mindful of their great responsibility to carry the baton for those who went before

Some folks still miss the point of Anzac Day

IN five days most Australians will pause to honour the men and women who offered themselves “to defend Australia’s national interests”.

They will honour particularly those who, however just the cause, gave their future for ours.

Not all of course, for there will be some who seize any opportunity no matter how the majority see the occasion to push their obscure agendas, oblivious those who should be the day’s focus bequeathed them the freedom and opportunity to do so.

Perhaps they might choose to secure themselves to railway lines forgetting on Anzac Day trains, unlike communities, do not pause to reflect.

CLICK LINK to continue reading

Australian Defence History, Policy and Veterans Issues: Some folks still miss the point of Anzac Day (targetsdown.blogspot.com)

A project in the form of a book containing stories from nurses and patients at the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital from the Vietnam era has commenced.
Any stories would be gratefully received from patients, family and nurses.

If you can help, please contact Newton.

Newton Reynolds

[email protected]

Hi Ray,

I’ve found some further information on the Vietnamese recovery of NVA remains following the Battle of Balmoral IN Mat 1968 – ie additional to the material I sent on 13 April.

I posted the short section below – as a comment to the comment item by “William Thomas Laidlaw” on Balmoral more recently.

“I’ve now found some recent advice on the Australian military assisting the Vietnamese with the recovery of NVA remains from the May 1968 Battle of Balmoral – and have posted it to the FRONTLINE website (of Ray Payne).

The Australian Army person in the on-site photograph of the “search” is not a “WO2” – but WO2 Duncan Reid, the Defence Admin Assistant at the Australian Embassy in Hanoi. The successful search has been undertaken based on information provided by vets and family of 3RAR members. Specifically Luke Johnston (son of David Johnston, 3RAR vet) and John Bryant (3RAR vet).

Our Defence Section in Hanoi was involved in facilitating contact between Luke Johnston and John Bryant and the Vietnamese Ministry of Defence. The search and recovery is now reportedly ‘wrapping up’, and a memorial service is to be conducted either next Tuesday 23 April or Friday 26 April.”

Regards, Ernie

Australia’s Defence Minister, Richard Marles, acknowledges the heightened military buildup in the Indo-Pacific, emphasizing the risk of miscalculation in the region. The Labor government pledges to boost defence spending by $50 billion over a decade, with immediate investments in missiles, targeting systems, and autonomous weaponry. This increase aims to elevate defence spending to $100 billion annually by 2034, reaching 2.4 percent of GDP by 2033/34.

Marles presents the National Defence Strategy, advocating for a focused force in the region, reflecting the 2020 Defence Strategic Update. He stresses the urgency of maintaining regional stability and safeguarding national interests, with a 10-year window to strengthen Australia’s defence capabilities.

The strategy addresses growing tensions in the Taiwan Strait and South and East China Seas, citing China’s unprecedented military advancements. Marles calls for an additional 4,400 personnel and introduces continuation bonuses to retain skilled individuals. Exploring recruitment avenues, he mentions the potential inclusion of New Zealand migrants.

Redirecting funds towards operational bases in northern Australia, the government plans to cancel navy support vessels to reallocate resources. Anticipated total spending of $330 billion through 2033/34 includes investments in undersea warfare, space, and cyber capabilities. Marles highlights this as the largest defence spending increase since the Korean War, underscoring Australia’s commitment to regional security and prosperity.

Photo Japan’s converted Izumo-class helicopter carrier, JS Kaga, now upgraded to be an aircraft carrier. Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

Japan proudly reveals the initial modifications to one of its helicopter-carrying destroyers, converting it into a light aircraft carrier capable of deploying F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters.

The successful conversion of JS Kaga sets the stage for its counterpart, JS Izumo, to undergo a similar transformation, enhancing Japan’s naval capabilities significantly.

Announced by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF), the completion of the first phase of modifications on the Kaga showcases a newly designed flight deck tailored for F-35 jet operations.

With the first phase of special modifications completed as scheduled on March 29th, the JMSDF commits to systematically upgrading the Izumo-class destroyer to accommodate the operational requirements of the F-35B.

Upon the successful integration of F-35 capabilities on both vessels, Japan will reclaim a strategic maritime capability not witnessed since World War II, aligning with its plans to procure over 147 F-35s by October 2023.

This ambitious naval overhaul initiated by Japan in October 2021, including the establishment of its inaugural amphibious military unit and the introduction of modern frigates, underscores a significant shift in its defense posture.

Resembling US Navy big-deck amphibious assault ships, the upgraded Japanese warships echo the concept of “lightning carriers,” a term previously explored by the US military in relation to F-35 deployments.

While Japan boasts a rich history with aircraft carriers, these ongoing enhancements signify a pivotal milestone in its contemporary maritime strategy.

Furthermore, this project not only bolsters US-Japanese relations but also addresses regional security concerns, particularly amid China’s assertive military posturing.

The potential for collaboration between Japan and its allies, as demonstrated through initiatives like the AUKUS security agreement, highlights a shared commitment to regional stability.

However, China’s apprehensions regarding Japan’s expanding military capabilities underscore the delicate geopolitical dynamics in the Asia-Pacific region.

As tensions persist, it is imperative for Japan to navigate its security policies prudently, mindful of its historical legacy and regional sensitivities, while striving for peaceful coexistence in the international arena.