The legendary action star passed away earlier this week aged 76.

Weathers was perhaps best known for portraying Apollo Creed in the first four Rocky movies.

His ‘Living in America’ entrance in Rocky IV is simply amazing!

He also played Dillon in Predator.

Who could forget that classic ‘handshake’ with Schwarzenegger?

One of his final roles was as Greef Karga in The Mandalorian.

1948 – 2024

How much do you know about this unusual piece of Australian history?

On the 21st of April 1970, Leonard Casley, a wheat farmer from Western Australia ceded his farm and property from the Commonwealth and declared independence.

Adopting the title of ‘Prince Leonard’, Casley took on the government in a number of legal battles over the years and featured on the principality’s banknotes (above), as well as on coins and medals.

Prince Leonard passed away in February 2019 and his royal title was passed on to his son Graeme.

In 2020 the Hutt River Province officially closed its borders and the property was then sold.

There are plenty of Hutt River banknotes available to purchase on eBay. The complete set of five notes should cost between $15 to $20.

For more information follow the link here – Principality of Hutt River – Wikipedia

This video has gone completely viral and has been watched by millions of people around the world.

This would have to be one of the strangest incidents I have ever seen – incredibly amusing yet disturbing in the sense that people think they can visit foreign countries and impose their will on the locals.

Enter Brendan Kavanagh, aka Dr K – who not only stood his ground to the Chinese mob but also to the woke police who sounded like they were siding with the tourists.

It now appears that the CCP and their agents are trying desperately to have the embarrassing video removed from YouTube.

As a result the copyright owner has requested that as many people as possible upload his clip to their own channels in case the footage is taken down.

I have done exactly that and the link is below.

It is a long video at around forty minutes, but well worth watching.

Courtesy of Brendan Kavanagh on YouTube – @DrKBoogieWoogie

Link to his YouTube channel here – https://www.youtube.com/@DrKBoogieWoogie

Out of nowhere came this incredible news!

I played through this classic three or four times when it was first released over twenty years ago.

I remember the game as being weird yet very entertaining, and some of the scenes in Mos Espa defy any logical explanation, such as the monster in one of the backyards. (Yes, I’m serious!)

Apparently it has been remastered for PS5, but perhaps they meant ‘sharpened up a little’.

The game can be purchased at the Playstation Store for under $8 (Australian).

I bought a couple of these today in the city.

But I should point out that the rarest of all US banknotes is not necessarily a collector’s item.

This is a strange situation with this particular denomination, one that we don’t experience with any of our notes in Australia.

For whatever reason, the US $2 bill is not used in general circulation even though it is legal tender.

There’s an interesting article about this topic that explains things a lot clearer, and I have attached the link here – United States two-dollar bill – Wikipedia

The Parramatta Light Rail Project commenced work in early 2021.

The tracks were completed over two years ago and the stations have been built, yet there is not a single tram in sight.

The above photo was taken in April 2021 showing the tracks being laid.

Jump to October 2021 and you can see in this photo that the tracks are indeed complete, although the surrounding road work is yet to be done.

This photo was taken in August 2023, almost two years later. The tram lines and new road lanes were completed some months ago, yet things are moving at a snail’s pace.

Note that the station in the photo named Benaud Oval is fenced off.

And now here we are today, in late January 2024, and the same station remains cordoned off.

In fact, all stations remain surrounded by work fences as a desolate train line runs through them and along most of Church Street. This after the tracks were completed two years ago.

Is this another government stuff up? Did they forget to order the trams?

The below photos were taken today (22nd January, 2024) between Parramatta City Centre and the Benaud Oval station at North Parramatta.

Study the images and judge for yourself.

Despite being concerned over the wokeness of future Star Wars projects, one bright moment in 2023 was the introduction of Baylan Skoll in the ‘Ahsoka’ series.

The last time I bought a Star Wars action figure was back in 1999, so for me to go out and buy this now is an indication of how much I enjoyed this character. The figurine is a good likeness as well and there is a lot of attention to detail in the attire.

So I guess I’m still a Star Wars fan…for now.

But I am worried about Star Wars moving forward, especially with the hiring of an activist to direct the next film. I have a pretty good idea where this is going to end up, hence why I cancelled Disney Plus.

So, regarding Star Wars, my advice would be to stick with anything created by Dave Filoni or Jon Favreau. Avoid everything else like the plague.

Just over a year ago I cancelled Paramount Plus and switched over to Disney, mainly because of the many upcoming new Star Wars series scheduled for 2023.

Too woke, too much gender-bias, and gratuitous diversity/inclusive casting; to the point where ridiculous plot holes and inconsistencies became all too common in their storytelling – and all because they had to keep inserting this garbage into their shows.

Now I don’t care what they have planned for Star Wars in 2024, so it’s back to Paramount Plus!

Five exciting flavours to choose from!

These bars are a little on the expensive side at AU$4 for only 60 grams.

It’s more of a gimmick than anything else, but I did try the ‘Original Chocolate’ and it was pretty good.

Great packaging. A good variety of flavours. But priced too high.

These treats were purchased in Tasmania circa 2009.

For fifteen years they have sat in mint condition at the back of my freezer, as they are somewhat of a collector’s item.

Apparently a rebranding of the ‘Mars’ name is quite rare, and it was done so on this occasion to promote the entry of a Tasmanian team into the AFL.

In an attempt to be selected ahead of Greater Western Sydney as the 18th team in 2010, those behind the Tasmanian bid sought out a number of sponsors to prove their financial viability. ‘Mars’ had agreed to be their major backer, and shortly after launched this rather unique campaign.

Although Tasmania did not gain entry to the AFL back then, it has since been confirmed that a team from The Apple Isle will join the competition as the 19th club in 2028.