J-M's History Corner

Welcome to the 32nd edition of My Fortnightly Movie/TV Thoughts !  Last fortnight, I reviewed The Ten Commandments (1956).  This fortnight, I'm reviewing: Risen (2016), rated M for mature themes, violence and some disturbing images That of course is the Australian rating; in the United States, it's rated PG-13 for Biblical violence including some disturbing images. As usual, I'll give the trailer and a clip at the end. And as usual, I offer the following disclaimer, JUST to be safe: WARNING: POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD.  PROCEED AT OWN RISK. Risen The story of the greatest Man in history - namely, Yehoshua (or Yeshua) ha'Mashiach, aka Jesus the Christ - has been adapted numerous times for stage and screen.  Several of these focus specifically on His birth, or His resurrection.  His Story has been told from many different viewpoints.  And yet surprisingly, Kevin Reynolds manages to tell the story - accurately - from a fresh perspective, and provide ...

You might remember my post The Werewolves of Ireland , in which I discussed the Emerald Isle’s history of lycanthropy (werewolves), which was particularly disturbing as they were my direct ancestors. Well, here’s another mediaeval werewolf tale – this one of the warrior Sigmund and his son Sinfjötli , who dabbled in something they shouldn’t, becoming wolves for a short period of time.  This is actually a fairly common occurrence in werewolf folklore and old eyewitness accounts – that a magic (i.e. demonic) pelt/belt could transform someone into a beast simply by being worn. This tale tells of two men, Sigmund and Sinfjotli. One day these two are wandering through a great wood when they come upon a house. Inside they find two sleeping men who are under a spell – for nine days they are wolves , and on the tenth day they can take off the enchanted wolf skins and live as men again. The mischievous Sigmund and Sinfjotli, eager for a good adventure, steal the wolf-skin...

If you haven’t already guessed, the Tasmanian Tiger – or the Thylacine , as it is properly called – is an Australian animal, mainly from the island state of Tasmania. Or at least, it was; it’s been considered extinct since 1936, when the last known Tiger died in captivity.  (Note that despite its common name – inspired by its stripes – it was actually a marsupial, and more canine than feline.) But while the official position is that the Thylacine that died in 1936 was the last one, there have been many reported sightings since then – up to the present day – and that includes video footage. It’s been more than 80 years since the Tasmanian tiger, or thylacine, is believed to have gone extinct, but an enduring belief remains that the large carnivore still roams the state. Now, a newly released government document has revealed sightings have been reported as recently as two months ago. Tasmania’s Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environmen...

A companion video to my post Good Friday , in which I explain why we’re celebrating Yehoshua/Jesus’ crucifixion on the wrong day of the week. https://youtu.be/Qba9-BlraBI (Note that I still get a little nervous in front of the camera, which resulted in my mind going blank a couple times.)

Yesterday was Easter Sunday.  It is celebrated as the anniversary of Yeshua ha'Mashiach/Jesus the Christ's resurrection.  There are a lot of claims about Easter's allegedly pagan origins - pretty much all false.  I previously did a post Easter promoting these claims.  I am doing this post to correct my previous claims.  (Yes, this is similar to the situation with my posts Christmas and Revisiting Christmas .) CLAIM: That Easter is the date of an ancient pagan solstice festival. REALITY:   There IS a single reference in the historical record to a pagan festival in April for a deity named Eostre .  One.  Single.  Reference.  It is by an English historian named Bede, who recounted a pagan ENGLISH/GERMAN tradition - somewhere in the 7th or 8th century AD. On the other hand, we have records of a separate celebration of Yeshua's resurrection in March/April IN THE MIDDLE EAST by the mid-2nd century AD - and that record (a homily, attribu...

J-M's History Corner Today is Good Friday – in Australia, at least; it’s still the day before in some parts of the world.  Today, many Christians celebrate and remember Yehoshua ha’Mashiach/Jesus the Christ’s death by crucifixion on a Friday, and His resurrection 3 days later on a Sunday. BUT – it’s all a myth.  No, Yeshua’s crucifixion and resurrection is absolutely NOT a myth in any way, shape or form – nor is it “non-literal”, as some absurdly claim.  However, the tale of “Good Friday” is a myth.  Allow me to elaborate. The Bible is clear that Jesus was raised on a Sunday.  More specifically, Saturday night.  And since in Biblical times days were counted from sunset to sunset, what we call Saturday night was in fact Sunday – or to use the Biblical phrase, “first day of the week”.  (There was no “Sunday sunrise resurrection”; it was during the night.)  And it… View original post 660 more words

Shaheshal from https://shaheshal.wordpress.com/ has nominated me for the Real Neat Blog Award. https://shaheshal.wordpress.com/2020/03/31/the-real-neat-blog-award/ Thanks, Shaheshal!  Be sure to check out his/her blog; you won’t regret it!  (Seriously!) OK, so the rules are: Display the blog award logo in your blog. Thank the blogger who nominated you. Do not forget to link to their blogging website. Answer all the questions they have given you. Nominate 7 to 10 bloggers of your choice. Ask them 7 questions. Shaheshal’s questions for me are: What weird food combinations do you really enjoy? What food have you never eaten but would really like to try? Do you think that aliens exist? What movie can you watch over and over without ever getting tired of? What’s something that will always be in fashion, no matter how much time passes? What’s the most expensive thing you’ve broken? What game have you spent the most hours playing? What weird food combin...

Blockbusters Reviewed Welcome to the 31st edition of My Fortnightly Movie/TV Thoughts!  Last fortnight, I reviewed Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) .  This fortnight, I’m reviewing: The Ten Commandments (1956), rated PG for low level coarse language That of course is the Australian rating; in the United States, it’s more sensibly rated G (I know, I promised myself I wouldn’t comment on the appropriateness or inappropriateness of ratings; but the Australian rating is ridiculous – there is NO coarse language WHATSOEVER!  The best excuse for PG that could be made is mild themes). As usual, I’ll give the trailer at the end, followed by a clip. And as usual, I offer the following disclaimer, JUST to be safe: WARNING: POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD.  PROCEED AT OWN RISK. The Ten Commandments Among Biblical cinema – and for that matter, classical cinema in… View original pos...

https://youtu.be/ONVY8S2pLF8 If I look tired in the video (I’m not sure whether or not I do), it’s because I literally had almost no sleep the night before I made it. Basically, my computer’s microphone is finally working – and I’ve solved my camera troubles – so I’ll be able to do audio or video articles like I’ve long wanted.

G'day everyone!  Today I present my Restored English Translation (RET) of the 5th chapter of the Besorot Matityahu , commonly known in English as the Gospel of Matthew .  As usual, it contains the Hebrew names , with a glossary at the end.  This translation is primarily based on the original Hebrew , and so will sometimes differ from conventional translations (although rarely on something doctrinally significant). This chapter contains one of the strongest statements on the fact that the Torah - the Sabbath, Feasts (Passover etc) - still apply to us today.  See verses 17-19, and Does the Torah Still Apply? . CHAPTER 5 1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up into a mountain. And when He was set, His disciples came to Him. 2 And He opened His mouth, and taught them, saying, 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. 4 Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the Land. 6 Bless...

This is strictly for Raiders of the Lost Ark fans.  If you haven’t seen the movie, you won’t get it. Read the rest at https://jmshistorycorner.blogspot.com/2018/08/a-bit-of-humour.html

Today (for me, in Australia) is the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. On my calendar, the feast started on the evening of the 30th in America. J-M's History Corner Yesterday (in Australia) was Pesach – The Feast of Passover .  Today is Matsot, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which takes place from the 15th to the 21st of the month Aviv.  You can see my feastly calendar at Feast Calendar .  You can see my explanation of the calendar at Yom Teruah – The Feast of Trumpets . Matsot and Pesach are often confused with each other, and some view them as one, celebrating Passover on the 15th of Aviv.  However, Scripture is very clear that they’re separate feasts.  Passover is the 14th.  Here are the Biblical instructions (for both feasts): 14  And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. 15  Seven...