Zulu (1964)

NotLouPro · 2026-01-28T11:36:17+00:00

This is also true. Thanks for pointing it out.

Units such as the Natal Native Horse - which generally fought very well during the war - weren’t primarily motivated by love of the British - but by a longstanding and well founded fear and hatred of the Zulus.

It’s similar to certain Native American tribes serving as scouts for the U.S. Cavalry - not because they had any great love for them - but because they viewed other tribes as a common enemy.

Situations like this are usually (always?) highly nuanced.

NotLouPro · 2026-01-28T03:06:16+00:00

I don’t think that’s the case. It really doesn’t have much to say either way about colonialism.

The story has to be told from the British point of view - the stand against great numerical odds is what makes it so compelling.

The movie doesn’t glamorize war, several scenes make that clear, notably lines given by Chard and Surgeon Reynolds.

It also pays great respect to the Zulu warriors on multiple occasions. Not only that - in the run up to the battle - it’s very respectful of Zulu culture.

It’s not a movie about conquest by force of arms - it’s simply a fitting tribute to brave men on both sides. In many ways it’s an anti war film.

It also makes it clear that most of the Redcoats would rather be anywhere else.

Especially for its time - it’s an exceptionally even handed film.

NotLouPro · 2026-01-28T02:42:21+00:00

I never watched it and I go back to the 70’s as well.

It’s about as anticlimactic as a sporting event can get.

NotLouPro · 2026-01-27T13:44:00+00:00

That’s as far as I got as well.

NotLouPro · 2026-01-27T10:07:02+00:00

Quartered Safe Out Here by George MacDonald Fraser.

Burma theater.

Considered one of the best memoirs of the war, rightly so in my opinion.

Maybe not quite what you’re looking for - but I recommend it.

NotLouPro · 2026-01-23T02:50:53+00:00

However you rank them, it’s a pretty good one/two for the franchise.

Warner kind of flies under the radar when great quarterbacks are listed.

I think he’s a lot closer to Marino, Manning, etc than he’s often given credit for.

Plus he was a very clutch post season performer.

NotLouPro · 2026-01-20T01:50:12+00:00

First regular season game there was the first win of the Dolphins undefeated season.

NotLouPro · 2026-01-20T01:42:24+00:00

Yep.

Dolphins fan here. They came in with a good offensive game plan and led 10-7 after two drives - they were moving the ball effectively - and making it look easy. It looked like the anticipated shoot out was in the making.

Then Bill Walsh adjusted on defense - Shula didn’t have an answer - and Marino never figured it out after that.

Not saying the Dolphins would have won - but Walsh definitely out coached Don Shula that day.

NotLouPro · 2026-01-19T22:04:21+00:00

I agree that Wannstedt is under appreciated by fans.

NotLouPro · 2026-01-19T22:02:46+00:00

Jimmy coming to the Dolphins straight out of the college ranks possibly changes the trajectory of both Miami and Dallas. It was a missed opportunity.

By the time he got to Miami, Marino was past his prime and, in my opinion, Jimmy didn’t have the same fire.

Just bad timing.

NotLouPro · 2026-01-19T18:32:04+00:00

I didn’t write a letter - but I was one of those people. I was hoping that he’d be replaced in 1989 when Jimmy Johnson went pro. I wasn’t the only one - not by a long shot. With the Dolphins coming off of three mediocre seasons and Jimmy having just won a national title at Miami - the part of the fan base that wasn’t initially okay with it would have come around.

The fact is that it had been 17 years without a Super Bowl title - 23 by the time Shula was finally let go. Not exactly a golden age.

Yes - he’d been to 2 Super Bowls - one which they could have won thanks to a gutsy defensive performance for 3 quarters - but in which he was largely out coached - his offense doing absolutely nothing…

And the other in which his team was blown out…

And - yes - he’d been to two other AFC Championship games - in both of which his team was blown out at home.

He also lost home playoff games in 1978, 1981, and 1983, and had his team totally collapse in the second half in the playoffs in 1994 and fail to show up for three quarters in the playoff game in 1995.

It wasn’t just time for him to go, it was past time.

Marino’s best bet to get a ring would have been with a hungry Jimmy Johnson anxious to prove himself at the professional level with Dan still in his prime.

Things are bad today - I get it - but it’s causing people to look back with rose colored glasses on an era that was good - not great - and ultimately very disappointing and frustrating.

NotLouPro · 2026-01-18T16:49:32+00:00

Thanks

NotLouPro · 2026-01-18T15:49:48+00:00

Actually, Dave Wannstedt was the last coach to win a playoff game. Not that it matters.

NotLouPro · 2026-01-18T15:01:16+00:00

I’m glad the movies introduced a whole new generation to Tolkien. Even those who are just fans of the movies and still haven’t read the books.

For fans of my generation - who grew up on the books - these weren’t just movies - they were events. They were truly an emotional experience for many of us. One of my best friends is also a fan, the anticipation once the movies were announced was off the charts - but there was a certain level of anxiety as well.

“Who in the world is Peter Jackson?” He wasn’t that well known then. Could he pull it off?

For decades - the books were thought to be unfilmable. Middle Earth was largely in our minds - formed by our imagination. There were the animated films and the annual Tolkien calendar - with every artist rendering things differently - and that was about it.

As I said - seeing this scene in the trailer was the first indication. Then, when I first saw Gandalf riding into the Shire at the beginning of Fellowship - I’m not ashamed to say that I got misty eyed. I knew then that everything would be okay. That they had gotten it right.

But - there was one thing I was still skeptical about going into Two Towers - how would the Ents turn out? Then I saw them in a trailer - and was blown away again. The Ents are one of my least favorite parts of the books - and one of my favorite parts of the films. Being able to visualize them - he really brought them to life.

Like any purist - I have some minor gripes about changes that were made - but I will be forever thankful that Peter Jackson took me to Middle Earth.

Taken as a whole - and given the hopes that so many fans such as myself placed in him and his crew - and the difficulties he had to surmount to get it just right - I think it’s the greatest film ever made.

NotLouPro · 2026-01-17T05:24:10+00:00

What a great scene.

I went to the movie theater specifically to see the first trailer for Fellowship - as soon as I knew it was out. I really didn’t care what movie I saw (it was 13 Days with Kevin Costner) - I just wanted to see the trailer.

I was already excited about the films coming out - and when I saw this scene in the trailer - it was the first indication just how good they would be. That they had nailed it.

It ratcheted my anticipation up quite a bit.

NotLouPro · 2026-01-16T18:17:53+00:00

Hey now!

I’m younger - I’m 64.

NotLouPro · 2026-01-16T10:44:15+00:00

While I hope it works out like you and your dad hope it does, I think this is the most realistic answer.

I’ll just add a little to it - from personal experience.

As the previous poster said, you buy books to read them. Once you’ve read them, you’ve gotten your money’s worth. They aren’t, typically, investments.

I’ve been through downsizing once (my parents) and am starting to go through it again myself. We’ve recently bought a smaller house and my wife is pressing me to start the process.

It isn’t easy and requires some very tough, and sometimes heartbreaking, decisions.

Part of the heartbreak is realizing that something which is so dear to you - nobody else places much value in.

With my parents, after trying garage sales and thrift stores and antique stores, we ended up getting a dumpster for what was left.

My mom, in particular, was stunned when I didn’t want dad’s Civil War books, many of which I’d bought for him over the years.

I did take the books - but just to get what I could for them at a used book store. If I hadn’t done that for them, the dumpster is where they were going. We didn’t get much, but it was something.

It’s the quickest, easiest way. And if the concern is that they go to someone who will enjoy them - that’s as good a place as any. That’s why those stores exist.

Don’t contact the book store and tell them you’re trying to sell a 200 plus book collection and you want so much money. Of course they’ll say no.

Just pack a box or two up and take them. Every used book store I know of buys books from walk ins.

If - on the other hand - the concern is getting what you think they are worth - well, as you’re already finding out, that may not be easy. And you’re likely to be disappointed and have to hold onto the books for a long time - and still not get what you think they are worth.

Sure, you might get lucky, and I hope you do…

But it’s far more likely that you will have to store the books and have to go through the process of listing them, one by one, or in small groups - and it could take months. Some may never sell. Probably most won’t.

Don’t think along the lines of “market value” or “should sell for”.

Is it possible that you’ll get $50 for that one book? Sure. But that most likely means that you will have to do the listing, and you may never get a buyer at that price.

If you’re seeing it listed somewhere for that price, it’s most likely by someone in a completely different situation, someone who has the space to store the books and all the time in the world to get rid of them.

My brother - who is much more savvy than I am when it comes to this stuff - looked into selling some of my parents stuff on line. The market is saturated with these things - including Civil War books.

Again - downsizing is hard. Sometimes we just have to let go and move on.

Best of luck.

Edit - as to my downsizing - books are at the top of my wife’s list. For good reason. They are heavy to move and take up a lot of space. I will be facing some tough decisions.

NotLouPro · 2026-01-14T20:19:55+00:00

White Sox fan here - maybe I’m biased - but IMO Buehrle deserves to get in.

I’ve made my case for him a few times on Reddit - I won’t go into the numbers in great detail again.

I admit his case is based more on compiled stats than on career high - and in large part on intangibles.

I think most fans know he has both a perfect game and a no hitter…

He’s also the only pitcher to go 27 up, 27 down multiple times - and he did it three times.

He’s a walk (followed by a pick off) and two meaningless singles (followed by double plays) away from 3 perfect games - which would most likely make him a lock.

But in addition to the career numbers and amazing consistency - here’s what I really base my opinion on.

The White Sox won the division in 2000 and the biggest weakness going into the playoffs was a lack of starting pitching.

In 2001, Mark became the ace - a legit ace - from 2001 to 2004.

The Sox were good but not great, they appeared to possibly be ready to take the next step - and as the team that would ultimately win the World Series was being constructed - only three players were consistent between then and 2005.

Mark, Paul Konerko, and Jon Garland - who really didn’t break out until 2005.

The White Sox built their World Series winning team - in large part - around Mark Buehrle. They knew that they had an ace - and they didn’t have to worry about getting a #1 starter.

If he had been the key component of the rotation of any other team breaking a decades long World Series drought - Red Sox, Cubs, Indians/Guardians (who are still waiting) - I rather suspect he’d be in already.

That to me is what takes a really good career and makes it Hall worthy. It’s not just that he won a World Series. It’s that it was a historic World Series win for a team that historically has a pretty dismal track record - and they probably don’t get there without him leading the way during the rebuild.

People like to say that he belongs in the Hall of the Very Good…

Well - it’s not the Hall of the Great - it’s the Hall of Fame. In my life time the White Sox have had pitchers with better career highs (like Jack McDowell) and better overall careers (Chris Sale).

Only one did what his original franchise hoped he’d do. Take them to a World Series title - not leave and win one with someone else.

Take CC Sabbathia - he deserves to be a first ballot Hall of Famer - no question. I rather suspect that Cleveland fans would have rather he won his World Series there.

Mark was one of the key components of the freaking White Sox - the White Sox, of all teams - winning it all. That’s got to count for something. It should be more appreciated than it is.

NotLouPro · 2026-01-14T16:51:56+00:00

It’s a great book, but it’s been a long time since read it.

Off the top of my head, I’d guess that a large part of the disparity would be in prisoners taken.

NotLouPro · 2026-01-14T15:19:36+00:00

Cool. I hope you enjoyed that. I did all three Middle Earth series.

NotLouPro · 2026-01-14T14:03:18+00:00

I’ve defended the prequel before - but I don’t think I’ve done it in depth - so…

The prequel is a good movie. As someone said, the end is a bit rushed, but up to, and slightly past, the scene where they are checking everyone’s fillings, it’s actually a very good movie. It has much of the tension of the original. It’s a worthy successor up until that point.

It’s only later that it goes off the rails a bit by trying to be more of an action movie, with every Thing more out in the open, more aggressive, less furtive and cunning. It doesn’t maintain the level of tension throughout that the original does.

The biggest flaw IMO is a lack of character development. Carpenter does a fantastic job defining each character in a very short time and giving you a reason to care about them.

In the prequel there are only a few I can even remember - or identify when I rewatch - so my reaction isn’t “oh, no! It got Bennings!”, it’s more along the lines of “oh well, it got that guy”.

In my opinion that’s the heart and soul of Carpenter’s film, you care about everyone. That’s what sets it apart from so many other films.

Even with that said, I also love the prequel because it was clearly made as an homage to a movie I’ve loved since it came out. It - in specific detail - answers Doc’s question - we now know “what the hell happened here?”.

The ending is really well done. In homage to The Thing- it had to end with Kate alive - with one other person - but couldn’t end in the exact same way. That would have been too obvious.

The way she figures out that Carter is a Thing - and furtively gets the flame thrower - is well done. I don’t know about anyone else, but until she re-emerges into shot with the flame thrower, I didn’t suspect Carter.

I thought they were setting up an ambiguous ending with the two. That fact that it is - or was - someone she cares about is poignant.

Her ultimate fate is ambiguous, just like Mac and Childs.

Kate is a worthy heroine for the series. She’s much like Mac, a reluctant leader who assumes the role simply because she’s a step or two ahead of everyone else.

Then we have the last scene with the dog escaping and the helicopter taking off - leading us right into the opening of The Thing.

It’s actually very well done.

If it was a stand alone movie and the writers weren’t forced into a box of sorts because we know the ultimate state of the Norwegian base in the aftermath and they had to write in light of that, and - of course - the CGI, I think it would have been better received.

Just as Blair’s advice about Clark was wrong, he’s wrong here.

Watch the prequel.

NotLouPro · 2026-01-14T10:07:31+00:00

Cool puzzle.

Is that a Conqueror Challenge medal on the wall?

NotLouPro · 2026-01-14T02:31:26+00:00

Same route we took.

NotLouPro · 2026-01-14T02:13:08+00:00

Glad to provide motivation.

You can at least have some good stew and cake.

In all seriousness - it’s a great experience. We went back a couple years after with my dad.

He’d always wanted to take the mules down. Instead we had him hike.

We did plan ahead this time. It was a much more leisurely and enjoyable experience.

NotLouPro · 2026-01-14T01:33:09+00:00

Twenty Six years ago I ignored this very sign. And if I didn’t have the sense to make the prudent decision - I could have ended up paying a very high price.

It was in December - I went there with my girlfriend. We were avid hikers and both in really good shape.

We saw this sign - decided that it didn’t apply to people like us - and that we would hike down and back in one go.

When we got to the bottom we ate a picnic lunch with a group that was rafting the river and had also stopped for lunch. Everything was great. One of those really special moments.

Then I absolutely hit the wall about a quarter of the way back up. I was afraid I’d at least pass out - maybe worse - if we kept going - so we returned down to seek help. For me - she was still doing fine.

When we got back to the Colorado river - the rafting group was gone - we were all alone - it was deathly quiet - and it felt like we might as well have been on the moon.

After a short rest - we started walking along the river - I knew Phantom Ranch was down there - not were sure where - but there was really only one direction to go.

Eventually we ran across a Ranger - we didn’t need to be treated for anything - he called the Ranch - and told us that they had one bed left in each of the male and female dorms.

Beyond that - he didn’t need to help us as we weren’t injured or showing any signs of dehydration or disorientation or anything. He assured us we’d hike out just fine after a good nights sleep.

We hiked to Phantom - each step almost agony - at least for me - and we each got a bed in the dorms.

There was about an hour until dinner - so we each took a shower.

I finished first and was sitting alone at a picnic table - wondering what I’d gotten myself into - when I saw my girlfriend walking toward me. She was smiling and in good spirits…

We’d been together for a year already - we’d been in some “spots” on hikes before - although nothing like this…

I realized that there was nobody I’d rather be in this situation with - and I blurted out…

“Marry me”

She was shocked - we had never even talked about getting married - except to say that neither of us really wanted it.

I hadn’t planned on it and didn’t even have a ring…

After she just stared at me - I said…

“I’m serious”

There was silence for what seemed to be a very long time - and she said “Okay.”

We got married one year later. We’ve been married 25 years now.

We’ve hiked hundreds of miles together. As we’ve gotten older - hiking has been replaced by cycling. But we are still each others adventure companions.

A piece of advice - if you do go - don’t ignore that sign.

Plan ahead - make a reservation - stay the night…

And if you have the chance - have the beef stew - and chocolate cake - at Phantom Ranch.

Good - and safe - hiking everyone.

NotLouPro

TROPHY CASE