J-M's History Corner

The current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has taken the world by storm, and the response – particularly the lockdowns worldwide and the resulting economic damage – has been unprecedented.  However, there are concerns about the official death toll (currently 516,210); many believe China is intentionally underreporting its COVID-19 deaths (and there are those who argue that many COVID-19 deaths in the West could slip below the radar), while many also argue that in the West – or at least the US – the numbers have been inflated.  Here is a very interesting news report on the subject: As US coronavirus death toll mounts, so does the belief by some that it is exaggerated By Robert Gearty | Fox News There’s a reason why some people believe government officials are exaggerating the number of COVID-19 fatalities. One problem is the hodgepodge way states tally those numbers, Fox News has found. Some states count presumed coronavirus deaths along...

Blockbusters Reviewed This week is America’s Independence Day, the 243rd anniversary of when the United States’ declared their independence from Great Britain.  Welcome to the 11th edition of My Fortnightly Movie/TV Thoughts .  Last fortnight I reviewed Noah (2014).  In honour of the US’ 4th of July, this fortnight I’m reviewing: Independence Day (1996), rated PG for medium level violence, low level coarse language Independence Day: Resurgence (2016), rated M for science fiction themes and violence Those are the Australian ratings; in the United States, they’re rated: Independence Day – PG-13 for sci-fi destruction and violence Resurgence – PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action and destruction, and for some language As usual, I’ll include the trailers and clips at the end of the review.  And as usual, the disclaimer is given. WARNING: POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD.  PROCEED AT OWN RISK. Independence Day Roland Emmerich’s first Hollywood disas...