Today's Boer People.

The Boers of South Africa remain colonists because they would not adapt and change with the world. I know this sounds rich coming from a Brit who's nation once went around trying to conquer it. However, the world constantly changes and we might not always like it, but if we allow ourselves to become too over specialized as the Boers have done; how can people adapt to new situations. Nothing lasts forever and the idea of carving out a huge chunk of land, in this day and age, for white farmers in South Africa is  totally unrealistic.

The man above (Eugene Terra Blanche) was a very proud and racist man, trying to drag his past world along into today. He had a following of Boer people who, even today, will not wake up to the terrible reality about them - much of it created by themselves. No matter how much the Boer people carry on ranting about injustice; no one will sympathise with them because of leaders like this and what he preached until he was viciously killed.

South Africa is a country that could have it all, but it is riddled with separate peoples, all trying to rob one another, and the white Boer is among them. They just can't see it. If Boer people can't change and persist in wanting a separate land; they risk being driven from South Africa. They can't adapt, they don't want to and they think it is beneath them. Wether the Boer is right or wrong; he does not have the ability to get what he wants now. It is the cold, stark truth.   

The Red Baron's Demise.



Red Baron's last duel

No one knows for sure who killed Manfred von Richthofen otherwise known as 'The Red Baron.'

The Royal Air Force credited a Canadian pilot called Brown with shooting down the infamous Red Baron, but Manfred von Richthofen died from a fatal chest wound caused by a single bullet. The projectile penetrated his right armpit and exited his left breast.

Therefore, it is unlikely to have come from Brown’s guns. Richthofen would not have been able to pursue another pilot called May for as long as he did. Brown and May were both Canadian friends in the same squadron and May was being chased by the deadly German fighter ace in a dogfight.

Canadian pilot May had dropped low and flew over his own lines with the Red Baron determinedly giving chase. Brown, trying to aid his fellow comrade dived deeply after the Red Baron and fired a burst before having to pull up to avoid smashing into the earth. If Brown had struck Richthofen at this moment; The Red Baron would not have been able to pursue May for as long as he did because the ace’s fatal wound was such, that his life would been over very quickly. There would have been no time for the German Ace to land the plane and then die as he did. It means the fatal wound occurred after the Canadian pilot Brown broke off his pursuit. 

Brown never spoke much about what happened that day, claiming "There is no point in me commenting, as the evidence is already out there".

It is now generally agreed the bullet that hit Richthofen was fired by someone on the ground. The wound through his body indicated that it had been caused by a bullet moving in an upward motion, from the right side, and more importantly, that it was probably received a minute or two after Brown's attack.

Many sources have credited Sergeant Popkin – an Australian anti-aircraft machine gunner as the most likely person to have killed the Red Baron. He fired his Vickers machine gun at Richthofen's aircraft on two occasions: first as the Red Baron was heading straight to his position, and then at long range from the right. Given the nature of Richthofen's wounds, Popkin was in a position to fire the fatal shot, when the pilot passed him for a second time, on the right.

Others believe another Australian soldier called Gunner “Snowy” Evans might have shot him with a Lewis machine gun.

There are also other claims as well, but in general it is strongly believed the Red Baron met his demise by ground fire among the Australian soldiers on the ground. Manfred von Richthofen managed to steer his plane into a field and land it. When Australian soldiers got to him; some said he was still alive for a final moment and muttered “Kaput” before dying.

The plane was intact but was quickly stripped by souvenir hunters because of the pilot’s celebrity of being the Ace of aces. He had gained recorded 80 kills during his air duels.

Manfred von Richthofen
(The Red Baron)

Sources:

Australian War Memorial

CNN

Boer War interment camps

I had to put this YouTube video on here because I have been arguing with some people who were going on about the Boer War. I know what happened in the interment camps was a terrible tragedy, but it was a war and these were not extermination camps. Also around 15,000 British soldiers camped around the interment camps died of the same pestilence too.

This does not excuse what happened to the Boer women and children and I defend neither side, both of whom, were fighting over land they stole from Africans. The problem of logistics for the British was not thought out before removing these people, who were aiding the conflict against their Empire. Also the Boer fighters were disrupting supply lines.

This man on Lloyd's rant does make some very valued points. I had to put this on the blog because a lot of what he says is viable. Comparing the British internment camps to concentration camps of Germany is very extreme. It was an almighty mess up that cost around 36,000 lives. 15,000 of them, British soldiers.

They were not death camps, but the people who needed to get the logistics of housing and feeding vast numbers of people were very incompetent to what the task required and the problems they would face.

It is also, perhaps, unfair to be so wise after the event. Wars are brutal, terrifying and very messy. All sorts of people get caught up in the crossfire and, if Brit and Boer are honest; it was not their land to fight over in the first place.

Sometimes, I can't help feeling that the Boers have an audacity crying wolf when a bigger dominant power came along and did exactly what they once did. Live by sword and die by it. What happened to the Boer women and children in the interment camps was dreadful. Also, for the British soldiers who died of the same illness. Or, perhaps, some might think they don't they count?  

Moyra Melons Cleopatra ear rings

Moyra Melons' poor husband came home from work, feeling a little nervous because he knew that she wanted to go to a fancy dress party. As you might well imagine, his mind was racing at the thought of what preparations she had made for the forth coming event.

Can you imagine the poor man's mind when he walked through the door to be confronted by his fabulous wife saying; "What do you think of these ear rings?"

He, of course, staggered slightly and gulped. For a moment, he struggled to find the words and frantically searched for the ear rings.

"Err... They look great Moyra. Are you going as Lady Godiva?"

"Don't be silly," she replied. "Lady Godiva had no clothes. She just turned up with long hair, complaining that she had nothing to wear. You know me, I'm not one to show off... I'm Cleopatra."

"Oh, so I'm going to be the noble Mark Antony - strong willed, lantern jawed hero of Rome," He imagined.

Moyra giggled. "I was thinking more Julius Ceaser - middle aged, balding, and full of holes... But enough of this nonsense," she uttered coquettishly. "Surely you've noticed my humble attempts at accesorising; I'd like your opinion please, do you think they look too tacky?"

He nervously dropped his gaze, hardly daring to look. Once again the old hot flush swept over him. 

"Oh... They're magnificent, my dear... I'm fighting the urge to run my fingers over them," he muttered breathlessly.

Moyra raised a questioning brow. "Certainly not. I've just rubbed them down with a warm flannel."

"Oh, of course my dear. It was never my intention to sully their exquisite beauty."

Suspecting he may have over stepped the mark, he ventured upon a new course. "I couldn't help noticing that they are a beautfully matched pair, my dear."

Moyra Melons teased him with a smile. "You don't think they're too large do you?"

"Err... Certainly not," he mumbled. "They are so beautifully round."

Moyra was puzzled. "Well of course they're round, silly. The lady in the shop informed me that they are the most perfectly crafted bracelets that she has ever had in stock and..." She noticed his expression had changed. "Are you alright?"

"I'm perfectly fine Moyra," he chocked, gathering his wits. "I believe you were talking about your... err , bracelets?"

"Yes," she smiled triumphantly. "And she said they would match my ear rings perfectly.

"They certainly do that my dear," he said deflated. "Please excuse me I must go to the bedroom."

"Oh... before you go;" she said cunningly. "What do you think of my nipple caps?"

He stood motionless and open mouthed.

Moyra grinned. "I have a smaller pair in the bedroom. It might take some time, but would you help me put them on?".... :)

The Eagle - Official Trailer [HD]

In 1954, historical children's writer, Rosemary Sutcliff, wrote a story based on the legend of the Roman 9th Legion. In 1977 it was adapted as a BBC television series. This year in 2011, the novel is resurrected under the film title: Eagle. Above is the trailer clip. I put this here because I was writing a blog previously about the Antonine wall in Scotland. In this story, a young Roman soldier with the aid of a British slave, must venture into the Caledonia wilderness in search of his father's lost legion's Eagle standard and bring it home to restore the lost honour of the legendary 9th legion. 

Antonine Wall (North most Roman Frontier Post)



Between Antonine and Hadrians
wall where Picts fought attempted
Roman occupation

Before the time of the, Irish based, Scotti (Scottish) invasion and the, Germanic based, Anglo-Saxon (English) invasion into Britain; there were different Celtic tribes all over the island. Just under 2,000 years ago, many of these tribes fell under the rule of the Roman Empire. Especially in the South of the island, which is today's Wales and England. 

Menai Massacre of Druids

There were tales of resistance from the Ordovices of the North Wales area and the Menai massacre of Druid priests on the Isle of Anglessy. The uprising of Queen Boadicea and her Iceni from today's Norfolk and Suffolk area of England and the Catuvellauni and Trino-vantes of Essex and Cambridgeshire. There were, of course, loads of other feudal Celtic Kingdoms that tried to resist too, but all, eventually succumb to Roman rule.

However in the Caledonia areas of the north, (Today's Scotland) the Picts nations were still able to resist the occupation of Rome. Not too much is known of these evasive tribesmen, but most remained at large during the entire 400 year occupation of Rome.

Under the Roman Emperor Hadrian a vast wall was built roughly along the borders of today's Scotland and England. Construction of Hadrian's wall began in the year 122 AD. This vast wall marked the boundary of Roman rule and the wilderness where the Picts lived.

Forts along Antonine Wall

However in the year 142 AD, another Emperor called Antonius Pius wanted to go deeper into the Caledonia wilderness and try and tame the areas of the lower Highlands and further north, the Lowland areas in the middle of today's Scotland. This would leave just the Upper Highlands free of Roman rule. At the narrowest point of Scotland's west sea coast and east sea coast, there are inner water ways, where the land is only around 40 miles in width. This is between today's areas of Old Kirkpatrick in the west and the Firth of Forth in the east. 

Way Antonine Wall was constructed

At this point, Emperor Antonius ordered a new wall to be built, which consisted of Stone and turf fortifications. This took between 10 and 12 years to build, but the Romans found it hard to police the surrounding areas on their own side of the wall. The Pict tribesman were able to hide in the vast untamed wilderness of their country and inflict defeats upon supply caravans travelling between Hadrian's wall and the new northern fortifications leading to the Antonine wall. The logistics of maintaining these garrisons proved too expensive and for little gain.

Therefore, the Antonine wall was abandoned around 170 AD and the mighty Roman Empire retreated back to Hadrian's wall after an attempted occupation of Southern Caledonia (Today's Scotland) that lasted just 20 years.

In 208 AD, under the Roman Emperor Septimus Severus, the Antonine wall was re-occupied by Roman troops in an attempt to quell the Picts a second time in the Southern Caledonia areas. The wall was renamed, the Severan Wall, but again; Rome could not police the surrounding areas and the Picts were able to continue with hit and run tactics.

Picts attacking Romans

Among many of the legends that surround this time, there is one about a Roman Legion that was meant to have perished to a man. It is only legend but it makes for a good story. Historians today, try to find out what happened to the 9th Legion of Rome. It was stationed in Britain and then disappeared from records, though the names of some of its commanders crop up in other areas of Europe after the rumored disappearance of the 9th Legion. Some historians think that an entire legion vanished in the Caledonia wilderness during the time of either Antonius or Septimus.

Foundations of a fortification on the Antonine wall

After the second failure, to tame the Caledonia wilderness, Rome never tried to venture further into the land of the Picts. Today, the Antonine wall looks less significant then Hadrian's wall but it is still recognisable with its earth works and fortification foundations.

Read links below for more on Roman Britain:
http://thelastdaysofthunderchild.blogspot.com/2011/05/cartimandua-treacherous-queen-of.html
http://thelastdaysofthunderchild.blogspot.com/2011/04/boadicea-boudicca-british-warrior-queen.html



    

Moyra Melons ear rings make her top heavy.

Moyra Melons extremely worn out husband came home to this image one fine day. His wonderful Moyra was out in the garden practising her dancing for the karaoke night out she and her husband had been planning. He was, of course, a little surprised to see Moyra in the garden strutting her stuff to some modern dance themes and trying to sing at the same time. Fortunately they live in the country and the neighbours are far off. 

Unfortunately for Moyra Melons, her singing voice was a little out of tune and this concerned her. She was getting flustered and worried about the dance routine too. She wanted to wear her big round silver ear rings but they were a little on the heavy side when she started dancing about. They tended to jingle and bounce about.

"It's because they are dangling ear rings, " she retorted. "They keep bouncing about and people are bound to notice."

"What your ear rings?" Her poor bewildered husband asked.

Exasperated, she looked to the heavens and sighed. "Well what else could I mean?"

"Well, I think the audience is not going to be too concerned with your large dangling silver ear rings Moyra. They will be more interested in other things..."

"Like what?" she frowned and was genuinely confused. 

Her husband played for time and cleared his throat and stuttered, while looking for a suitable answer.

"Well..." he began. "...your dancing and singing will hold their attention."

"Do you really think so?"

"Of course," he replied. "Come inside and put your huge silver ear rings on, then come back out and practise some more." 

Moyra Melons decided her husband was right, so she complied and went inside. He followed, coming over with his usual hot flush. 

Moyra Melons took an awful long time putting on those ear rings and when she did finally come out to practise her karaoke/dancing routine for the big night out; she had a wind swept look of gratification, and her poor husband looked more worn out then usual, which is certainly saying something about the man for he tends to get worn out a lot. Though some how, I don't think he minds too much, do you?