POTD: The Big Five - Elephant

"Gentle giants walk,
Through Chobe’s golden sunlight,
Majestic in stride."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 10 25 Wildlife of Southern Africa

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Chobe National Park in Botswana. It's a photo of a herd of African Elephants, one of the game animals in the so-called "Big Five". "The term was coined by big-game hunters to refer to the five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot."

We encountered this family group as they crossed the trail that our 10-passenger, open 4WD safari vehicle was driving down, affording us an up-close view of these magnificent animals.

POTD: The Big Five - Cape Buffalo

"Herd of thirty strong,
Footprints mark the dusty trail,
Brawny buffalo."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 10 25 Wildlife of Southern Africa

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Zambezi National Park in Zimbabwe. It's a photo of a Cape Buffalo, one of the game animals in the so-called "Big Five". "The term was coined by big-game hunters to refer to the five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot." Our guide warned us that what makes the Cape Buffalo particularly dangerous is that it's apt to charge without any warning signs.

We encountered a herd of 30 or so Cape Buffalo when they crossed the trail that our 10-passenger, open 4WD safari vehicle was driving down, affording us an up-close view of this magnificent animal.

POTD: Stretch Goal

"Graceful, towering,
Necks reach for the highest leaves,
Silent, they wander."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 10 25 Wildlife of Southern Africa

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Zambezi National Park in Zimbabwe. It shows a giraffe in its natural setting. Seeing one of these magnificent animals in the wild walking slowly through the bush snapping off branches to feed on is an unforgettable sight.

A bonus closeup is after the jump.

POTD: Vulture Culture

"Victoria Falls.
Bones picked clean by hungry beaks.
From leftovers, life."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 10 25 Wildlife of Southern Africa

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge in Zimbabwe. The lodge feeds the vultures from leftover meat scraps and bones from the hotel's restaurant. "As well as providing the opportunity for visitors to spot white headed vultures, hooded vultures, lappet faced vultures and white backed vultures, this supplementary feeding program aids the survival of these remarkable, but endangered birds."

The Union (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Union (2024): A regular Joe construction worker is recruited by an old girlfriend into a high-stakes espionage mission. An action/thriller/comedy that doesn't succeed in any of those genres. A talented cast, mostly wasted. C+

Netflix

Freud's Last Session (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

Freud's Last Session (2024): Soon before his death, Freud has a fictitious meeting with C.S. Lewis. Naturally, they debate the existence of God. The arguments are simplistic and unconvincing, which they would have known. Freud's daughter is the most interesting character but is undeveloped. C+

Netflix

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024): In a future desert wasteland, people fight for essentials: food, bullets and guzzolene. The action consists of highway battles on Rube Goldberg war rigs. Only good thing in the movie is Anya Taylor-Joy's eyes, but she's given no dialog. D+

Max

Random Thoughts: Westerners Who Set Foot in Russia

2024-08-01: "Any Westerners who set foot in Russia should always understand that they could be the next bargaining chips for some future deal." - The Atlantic
Why we won't be booking any tour of Russia any time soon.
theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/...

2024-08-02: On even days, Trumpers are scaring up votes by warning, "She's BLACK!!!" On odd days, they claim, "She's really not Black at all." I remember when campaigns would strive for consisent messaging.

2024-08-02: Headline: "Kamala Harris ‘honored’ after earning enough votes to become Democratic nominee."
Kudos to her...for saying 'honored' instead of 'humbled.'

POTD: Hector Pieterson

"Sister’s tear-streaked face,
Brother carried through the smoke,
Youth's voice silenced here."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 10 23 South Africa - Part 2

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Soweto, a township of the City of Johannesburg, South Africa. Soweto "experienced civil unrest during the Apartheid regime. There were serious riots in 1976, sparked by a ruling that Afrikaans be used in African schools there; the riots were violently suppressed, with 176 striking students killed and more than 1,000 injured."

When we toured the Apartheid Museum in Soweto, we met Antoinette Peterson, a guide working at the museum. Her story is after the jump.

POTD: Soweto

"In Soweto's streets,
Memories of pain remain,
But joy still finds light."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 10 23 South Africa - Part 2

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Soweto, a township of the City of Johannesburg, South Africa. "Soweto was created in the 1930s when the White government started separating Blacks from Whites, creating black 'townships.' " The legacy of those tragic times of apartheid is still visible today. The photo above shows maybe the worst of the living conditions in Soweto. There are other neighborhoods that are better off. Nelson Mandela was from Soweto. A bonus photo, showing his small but comfortable house, is after the jump.