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Friday night, anyone in the mood for top ten movies for a desert island? I expect my list will not match yours.

1. Casablanca - Perfect movie. Bogart. Bergman. Raines, Greenstreet, Lorre, Henreid, Veidt, counter that with a better cast. And the inimitable Dooley Wilson. You played it for her, you can play it for me. The Germans wore Grey, you wore blue. We'll always have Paris. Round up the usual suspects!

2. North by Northwest - Cary Grant. Eva Marie Saint. Trains, crop dusters. Hitchcock. The UN building. James Mason. Did I mention Hitchcock?

3. Ice Station Zebra - Howard Hughes' favorite move. Cold war. Submarine. Sound track. Rock Hudson (not Gregory Peck) as Captain Kirk. Patrick McGoohan, greatest spy in cinema. The electric boat division is gonna get a very nasty letter. The Russians put our camera made by our German scientists and your film made by your German scientists into their satellite made by their German scientists, and, up she went.

4. The Godfather (I & II) Those that say II was the best sequel don't know that it was one movie delivered in two parts. Would be best movie ever made if not for Casablanca. Brando, the best there ever was.

5. 2001, A Space Odyssey - Genius collaboration, Kubrick and Clarke, with a little help from Joseph Campbell. Allegorical in the extreme, watch it as many times as you like and you will always find something new.

6. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Tarantino's love letter to the place where he was formed. Epic. Woefully underrated. Margot Robbie brings Sharon Tate back to life, which alone is superlative beyond measure. This movie made me respect DiCaprio and Pitt as actors.

7. You Only Live Twice - Personal favorite Bond move. Epic, but must be seen and felt in it's time. Nancy Sinatra, best theme song. Only allegorical Bond movie. Pay attention to the submarine scenes.

8. Forbidden Planet - Defined the science fiction genre and inspired everything that came after, so much that it is still paid homage in current classics. Walter Pidgeon. Robbie the Robot. The Krell.

9. Saving Private Ryan - Spielberg's defining movie, where he brought all of his considerable skills to bear. The best movie of its decade, an absolute travesty that it was not best picture, because of guess who? Harvey Weinstein.

10. Diamonds are Forever - Doesn't really belong, because a third of it is just crap. But I'm still taking it for the island, because the first half is the most fun Bond ever, the ending isn't awful., and Jill St. John is just, wow. Lana Wood ain't bad as Plenty O'Toole. Named for your farther, perhaps? I didn't know there was a pool down there. But what were they thinking with Jimmy Dean as Howard Hughes?

So many to leave on the boat. Would like for find room for Peter Sellers, Robert Redford, Johnny Depp, other Kubrick and Hitchcock movies, the young Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon, so many others.

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Butterflies and Intelligent Design

Miracle Monarch Chrysalis: Transformation from Caterpillar to Butterfly Has a Sad But Happy Ending!

00:12:55
The manatee footage

Here it is. I never realized the move by pushing themselves with theier front flippers.

00:02:05
Today's Iteration of "So You've Been Publicly Shamed"

French Open SCANDAL: Internet Mob Tries Destroys Rafael Jodar for Ballgirl "Push" That DIDN'T Happen

00:10:55
February 17, 2024
Appearance on Richard Syrette

I did a quick hit on Richard Syrette yesterday. Gotta keep Canadians apprised of the U.S. madness.

Appearance on Richard Syrette
The Barnes Brief, Podcast Format: Monday, July 17, 2023

Closing Argument: Birthright citizenship is deeply American, and wholly Constitutional.

The Barnes Brief, Podcast Format: Monday, July 17, 2023
Declaration of Independence

Audio podcast style.

Declaration of Independence
24/7 Live Chat

This was a request from a community member - a 24/7 Live Chat.

To run parallel to all streams and chats. If it goes down. will set up another.

Booya!

I don't mind the Trump egoism. If he had done the things we elected him to do I'd be the first calling for his 50 foot golden statues and face on Mount Rushmore and our 250th centered around him.

But he turned into a total Beta and moron, flipped on everything, and still thinks he's the GOAT.

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The Barnes Brief, Weekend of May 29, 2026

BRIEF

I. THE INTRODUCTION
 
A. Art of the Day 
  • The Battle of Bunker Hill, by early American artist John Trumbull, a battle the British managed to lose while winning. By holding off the British as long as they did, the Americans seized the narrative and strategic victory. Legend grew of a young farmer turned Colonel of the Minute Men, promising to hold the Hill or periosh trying for at least one more night, with the famous phrase echoed: “Don’t Fire Boys Till You See the Whites of Their Eyes”, or at least legend would have it. I admit my fondness for the legend with its Sun Tsu style proverbial wisdom, but also for a more direct reason: Colonel Prescott was a great, great granddaddy of mine. 
 
B. Wisdom of the Day
  • “Don’t Fire Till You See the Whites of Their Eyes.” Colonel Prescott, according to legend. 
 
C. Appearances
 
D. Daily Picks
 
E. Guest Speaker Resume Larry Johnson
 
II. THE EVIDENCE: CURATED FROM THE BARNES LIBRARY
 
A. Cultural
 
B. Historical
 
C. Economical
 
D. Political
 
E. Legal
 
F. World
 
G. Board Post of Note
 
 
III. HOMEWORK: Sunday Cases TBD
 
  1. SCOTUS: Racial jury picks. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-7351_jiel.pdf
  2. SCOTUS: Arbitration & Interstate Commerce. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-935_k53m.pdf
  3. Waiting on SCOTUS. https://katiecouric.com/news/politics-and-policy/controversial-supreme-court-cases-predictions-2026/
  4. DOJ on Vaccine Mandate Religious Discrimination https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24-1015/409182/20260518162120878_Does%20CVSG_final.pdf
  5. Corporations right to vote? https://courts.delaware.gov/opinions/download.aspx?id=395960
  6. Return of racial districts. https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-congress-alabama-voting-rights-trump-b67125657b36e9b915ea9bc5d587d08c
  7. IRS Fund halted. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/floyd-v-doj-order.pdf
  8. Recusal rights. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/california-blanket-challenges-opinion.pdf
  9. Election order upheld. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/nichols-rejects-DNC-pi-in-election-overhaul-eo-case.pdf
  10. 2A challenge in Virginia. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/wilson-v-katz-show-cause.pdf
  11. No exculpatory no to libel. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/abadi-elfman-appeal-opinion.pdf
  12. Bondi blames Blanche. https://x.com/ShadowofEzra/status/2060397382022390220?s=20
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The Barnes Brief: Thursday, May 28, 2026

I. THE INTRODUCTION

A. Art of the Day 

  • Another historic portrait of George Washington, evoking a time and place, as he prays in the snow by his horse in Valley Forge where fellow revolutionaries nearly starved or froze to death. More than a few fellow Barnes joined him there, including several direct ancestors. Amidst the difficulties of weather and war, Washington took the time to pray, a reminder of our own limitations and capabilities of courage to survive against the longest of odds. 
 
B. Wisdom of the Day
  • "The nation which indulges toward another an habitual hatred or an habitual fondness is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest.” George Washington. 
 
C. Appearances
 
D. Daily Picks
 
E. Guest Speaker Resume
 
II. THE EVIDENCE: BARNES LIBRARY
 
A. Cultural
  • New Star Wars film review
 
B. Historical
 
C. Economical
  • Signs point to recession
 
D. Political
 
E. Legal
 
F. Geopolitical
 
G. Local Board Post of Note
 
*Bonus: Sensitivity reading. https://archive.is/ACnNx
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The Barnes Brief: Wednesday, May 27, 2026
I. INTRODUCTION
 
A. Art of the Day 
  • A painting gifted down the generations to my mother shared Stuart’s famous portrait of George Washington, whose eyes I could swear moved with me across the room as a kid. One must behave when George Washington is watching you and, just as much, fell inspired to act when he watches over you. 
 
B. Wisdom of the Day
  •  "I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.” George Washington. 
 
C. Appearances
D. Daily Picks
 
E. Guest Speaker Resume
 
II. THE EVIDENCE
 
A. Cultural
  • New Star Wars film review
 
B. Historical
 
C. Economics
  • AI Limits
 
D. Politics
 
E. Law
 
F. World
 
G. Board Post of Note
 
*Bonus: Oracle in danger. 

 

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