(1615) Evening all as the final scenes are played out.
19. Moo corner
18. Further on what happened today
Chas3 no Easter address but Ramadamadingdong yes. Plus:
17. Zero Hedge
Trump Fires Pam Bondi As Attorney General
Update (1315ET): That didn’t take long – Bondi is out, according to Fox Newsand WSJ.
Bondi met with Trump in the Oval Office Wednesday night ahead of his speech to the nation on the war in Iran, where she reportedly was informed of her ouster, according to two sources familiar with the meeting.
16. Why Michelangelo did not paint The Last Supper
(1530) As we move into the heavy end of the day. (1549)
Steve and the Strait of Hormuz
When the bombing stops all eyes will be on this strip of water..
Imagine sailing a massive cargo ship and suddenly being surrounded by heavily armed speedboats and drones with zero time to react. Iran has turned Larak Island into a heavily fortified choke point enforcer. Absolute dominance over global shipping lanes. pic.twitter.com/bEgIYnzKPl
Larak Island is a small, rugged Iranian island in the Persian Gulf, located just off the coast of Qeshm. While it is known for its pristine beaches and natural beauty, its true importance lies in its strategic military role and its position as a “choke point” for global trade.
Larak’s significance is defined by its geography and its heavy militarization by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC): Strategic Choke Point: Larak sits at the narrowest part of the Strait of Hormuz, just 24 miles (39 km) from Omani territory. Because nearly 20% of global oil production passes through this strait, Larak serves as a primary monitoring and “enforcement” hub for all passing vessels.
The “Tehran Toll Booth”: As of March 2026, the IRGC has established a “safe corridor” for approved shipping that routes vessels through Iranian waters near Larak. Reports indicate some vessels pay nearly $2 million for safe passage, with IRGC forces on Larak conducting inspections and visual verifications of cargo.
Military Stronghold: The island is a fortified outpost equipped with: Anti-Ship Missiles: Fast-attack boats and mobile missile launchers can target ships within minutes.
Electronic Warfare: It houses Russian-made Tirada-2s systems designed to jam satellite communications (SATCOM) and disrupt naval navigation.
Air Defense: The island features layered air defense networks to protect these strategic assets. Energy Infrastructure: Historically, Larak has served as a major oil export and transfer point. During the Iran–Iraq War, it was a frequent target of Iraqi bombings due to its floating oil terminals.
Despite its military status, Larak is a “hidden jewel” for travelers seeking peace and nature: Bioluminescent Planktons: The island is famous for its “magical blue light” at night, caused by bioluminescent plankton hitting the shores.
Coral Reefs: Its waters host 37 species of scleractinian corals, making it a prime spot for diving and snorkeling.
Portuguese Castle: Built in the 16th century, this historic stone fort remains one of the largest colonial relics in the Persian Gulf
Iranian threats facing US Navy vessels near the strait of Hormuz –
At first glance, Larak appears to be a barren desert island with little to no military infrastructure. A closer look reveals that Iran has been deploying multiple military assets to Larak. A Russian-made and… pic.twitter.com/b2VQIvruCo
There are two Perry Masons I like more than the others … the church funds embezzling one, plus this below which is about betrayal … fitting for this day today … plus there’s a Nero Wolfe about the FBI which I’ll run on Saturday.
(0853) Morning all. Brighter out there so far. Been repositioning things in the gym, which involved lifting weights from one place to another. Much better now, I can get to the IT centre better now. The second sleep went to 0748 earlier, so it was always going to a messy start to the day.
It was appropriate that those supposed “leaders of the free world” made their speeches yesterday, as according to the Holy Week programme, it was later on the Wednesday to the start of the Last Supper that Judas did his thing for thirty pieces of silver. Keeping it all consistent here, aren’t they? (1025)
Israel Halts All Arms Purchases From France, Citing Anti-Semitism
Democrat Congresswoman Posts an Absolutely Unhinged Tweet After Learning Trump is Attending Today’s Supreme Court Hearing on Ending Birthright Citizenship (JH: See OoL)
Japanese Soccer Fans Clean up Wembley Stadium After National Team Humbles England With Victory in Friendly Game
Russian Army Confirms Complete Capture Of Lugansk Region
Leaping Into The Lion’s Den: The Deadly Risks Of A US Ground Invasion Of Iran
One in Eight UK Children Reported as Disabled by Parents. It’s a National Calamity
The more manufacturing is digitised, the more it is at risk of cyber attacks; 80% of UK manufacturers have had cyber attacks in one year
Asia is the primary destination for oil and gas transported through the Strait of Hormuz
Much more.
3. This Artemis thing
Well, for a start, I don’t like the naming basis for Apollo, Artemis, all the other ancient deity guff … there are people driving it from the fallen angels, not the good angels. And it’s just more of the Babylonian, Ziggurat of Ur, Tower of Babel bollox where Man tries to outdo God and Woman tries to outdo and bring down Man … Cleopatra, Jezebel, Semiramis, Nefertiti, Lilit, the sacred Feminin, modern feminazis etc. etc. etc.
Yep, all satanic.
2. DAD at 1340
a) It is as if this should have been published yesterday (1st, April). All 24 Players at a football match each receive a red card. On the pitch, the match between Avenir de Guilliers and Indépendante Mauronnaise B ended in a 2-2 draw in the 16th round…. (JH: Luv it.)
b) Marine Le Pen expressed support for mayors from her Rassemblement National (RN) party who have removed European Union flags in recent days from their town halls, calling it a legitimate expression of national sovereignty and democratic choice.
c) World politics is rarely the realm of morality. As Christendom marks Holy Week, Syria’s new ruler and former Al Qaeda capo Ahmed al-Sharaa arrived in Germany, where the performatively ‘Christian Democratic’ government of Chancellor Merz gave him a hero’s welcome.
d) (Take me back to Marseilles. 🤣 See my below 1340:7 … needed a pretext.)
In Britain, in the middle of the night before the Last Supper at the other end of the day, are the issues of age verification (or digital ID) rollout, Starmer’s speech to “the nation” and that of other toothless “leaders”, plus the appalling state of the NHS.
Across the pond are the Artemis rocket thing, approaching Easter, plus a most critical piece of condtitutional law before SCOTUS today, hours from now. Some screenshots sum up the state of play:
Just looking at the last item above here … Alito is staunch conservative, Thomas is too, Gorsuch and Kavanaugh are the newbies and are “often” but not always conservative, meaning for the western nation first.
The problem is the leftist Barrett, while Epstein compromised Roberts will vote with the Demonrats. The significance of the application to SCOTUS, causing Trump to actually be in the gallery yesterday, is that it snuffs out foreign freeloaders, just as with the Windrushers and boat people here.
The argument of the EO is those capitalised words above … if the proposal is approved, 5/4 … and it’s down to Barrett now today, then flying in from Kenya or British Guiana in our case (Gina Miller) is not sufficient for citizenship … the person must embrace the law of the land, uncompromised.
Meaning, a Chinese woman can’t rock in, or a Moose Limb, have a child and then go back to Chinese or Moose Limb jurisdiction, whilst eligible to US benefits.
It’s down to Barrett … which way the raving leftist, appointed by Trump … votes. What we know is she hates Trump with full TDS. Will that win out … or the good of the nation?
In Latin the motto of the Royal Navy is “Si vis pacem, para bellum”: If you wish for peace, prepare for war. The Senior Service has been with us for the better part 500 years. Now this:
Royal Navy Not War-Ready Until 2030, First Sea Lord Admits Amid US Criticism
“This is the fourth and last of Fritz Lang’s American espionage films and it is certainly a strange one. Written by Albert Maltz and Ring Lardner Jr. who were later blacklisted for their Communist sympathies, the film’s anti-atomic sentiments have been expunged by the studio. As expected from Expressionist Lang the film looks wonderful but despite some thrilling moments it is on the whole uneven.
Inspired by the exploits of OSS operative Michael Burke this has Gary Cooper as a mild-mannered nuclear physicist who is attempting to smuggle a fellow physicist out of occupied Italy. He is aided in this by Italian partisans, one of whom is played by Lilli Palmer. Naturally, a romance blossoms…….
The character of Professor Jesper is surely one of the dullest heroes in film history which makes the casting of Gary Cooper a masterstroke. He carries it off wonderfully with his customary ease and we are with him all the way. He is especially sympathetic in his scenes with the marvellous Helene Thimig and Vladimir Sokolov and utilises the old charm with the double agent of Warner’s contract player Marjorie Hoshell who is straight out of a film noir.
His scenes with the Gina of Lilli Palmer just about work. There is certainly an emotional chemistry between them but alas not a physical one. As for Miss Palmer this is her first Hollywood film and proved to be a baptism by fire. Not only is her role as a traumatised bordering on paranoid resistance fighter extremely demanding, she was given a hard time by the director.
Lang was known to be a bully and like all bullies picked on those least able to fight back. At one stage the entire crew walked out in protest at his treatment of her. When filming ended he told her; “I’ll look after you in the cutting room.” To his credit he did and she comes out very well. Needless to say Herr Lang was respectful towards Mr. Cooper!
The scene that lingers longest and the one directed by the sadistic Lang with true relish is the fight between Cooper and the Italian fascist agent of Marc Lawrence. Their gruesome and vicious struggle is played out to the sound of an Italian street singer while the child’s toy ball bouncing down the stairs to the feet of the corpse is very effective and evidently a nod to his masterpiece ‘M’.
Lang never concealed his loathing of meddling Hollywood producers and here once again his original ending in which the Germans appear to have the atomic bomb, has been cut. The horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were of course all too recent and it is one of Life’s supreme ironies that ex-Nazi scientists were assisting America in its nuclear programme.
Despite its weaknesses this is still extremely watchable thanks to its charismatic cast, Lang’s mastery of light and shade and of course the sine qua non of a Warner’s film, Max Steiner’s score.”
(1141) Elevenses … morning all … 19 mins of April Fools’ Morn left to go. (1201)
15. More Met mendacity
14. The upper comment is a downunder pollie
… the lower is a human.
13. Moo corner
12. Govt dept euphemising
11. IYE corner
a. “ U.S. District Judge Richard Leon in Washington granted a preservationist group’s request for a preliminary injunction that temporarily halts President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project. (Url under the last post on Monday.)
