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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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15 minutes ago
Scandal in Canada

If you haven’t heard about this story, it will shock you.

The CBC (state-funded media) with APTN (a nonprofit aboriginals people television network) co-produced an alleged satirical prank comedy series called Northland Tales.

They duped two prominent conservatives Francis Widdowson (who has been a critic of certain indigenous policy narratives) and Lindsay Shepherd (free speech advocate, and former conservative party of BC staffer) into participating in what they thought was going to be a bona fide documentary.

Listen to this.

What the CBC has done is borderline criminal - if not outright criminal.

00:01:39
33 minutes ago
Rich Baris on Yesterday

Here's the segment in case you missed it

00:38:55
CIA mask during Fox interview?

If you haven’t seen this, it’s because you’re not on social media.

Robert Harward (not sure of his credentials, but he seems to be ex military) did an interview on Fox News, and the Internet is on fire because it looks like he’s wearing a CIA silicone mask.

I compared this interview to prior interviews. His face definitely looks smoother, but if you look closely at the area under the neck, you can see the shadow moving at the exact same time and pattern as his mouth. I’m inclined to think it’s a smoothing filter, and the reflection off the Teleprompter.

Although I can absolutely understand why people vigorously believe it’s a silicone mask.

My only question would be why do it… They could find 50 other people to spew off these same talking points. And it’s not like the producers on Fox News didn’t set the interview up beforehand, and somehow missed a 2 inch gaping hole in a silicone face mask. 😂

00:00:41
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
Board Discussion: What You Like Best

Let me know in the replies what you like best from this community and the content provided; what you would like more of, less of, or new content you would enjoy. Thanks!

5 hours ago

Regrettably, today is my final day as a member of this board. First, I would like to say what it has meant to me to have been a part of it. I have learned so many wonderful things. But one of the most life changing things has been to have learned the importance of how important it is to clearly define my personal viewpoints, how to articulate those points through honest debate, to understand the value in listening to others viewpoints and in all that, to have learned humility and grace. As Christians, these are values God wants us to have.

I will fondly remember all those who were so supportive during the time we went through Hurricane Helene. So many offered prayers and encouragement to those of us who were terrified after what we went through.

We've shared many experiences together and many I will carry with me as I look to what God has for me next in my journey.

I'm leaving because the tone and objectives of this board have changed. I have greatly admired @RobertBarnes all these years and have learned a lot ...

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There is more than one way to "term limit" them....

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The Barnes Brief: Friday, May 22, 2026
Art of the Day 
  • The Charles Bridge of Prague. Fond of bridges, I remember it well, having come down from Kafka Lane higher in the city, and a man on a bycicle literally barking into the wind, and thinking somehow that made sense on Kafka Lane. The ancient history, the brooding statues, the iconic stone arch, the hopeful singers peopling it’s passage, all made it my favorite part of Prague, and a place to revisit for hopeful thought in my memory’s vault. 
Wisdom of the Day
  • “It’s the bill of rights, not the bill of requests. Rights are not up for negotiations.” Thomas Massie. 
Appearances
 
Cultural
 
Historical
Economics
Politics
Law
World
Board Post of Note
*Bonus
 
Homework: Sunday Cases TBD
 
  1. Elon Musk AI Verdict. https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/elon-musk-loses-lawsuit-against-openai-2026-05-18/
  2. Speech civil rights after Kirk murder. https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-facebook-arrest-tennessee-bushart-b8c5808d77f47a2d93497d12cf0daf84
  3. DOJ Attorney indicted. https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl/pr/former-doj-attorney-indicted-concealment-theft-government-records
  4. SCOTUS: Foreign Immunity https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-983_c07d.pdf
  5. SCOTUS: Trump delayed. https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/05/court-puts-off-deciding-whether-to-consider-5-million-verdict-against-trump-yet-again/
  6. SCOTUS: Death row. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-872_ec8f.pdf
  7. Paxton sues Facebook. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/texas-v-whatsapp-complaint.pdf
  8. DOJ Loses voter records suit. https://www.democracydocket.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/114-2026-05-21-Order.pdf & https://www.democracydocket.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/89-2026-05-21-Opinion-and-order.pdf
  9. Flouride in water. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ninth-circuit-fluoride.pdf
  10. Castro indictment discussed. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7947972/the-grayzones-max-blumenthal-reacts-to-the-department-of-justices-indictment-of-former-cuban-presi
  11. Trump gives himself immunity. https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-irs-tax-audits-7ba4781b9b9bef99873151df6bfc33ab
  12. Woman fights for free speech. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7947305/woman-files-lawsuit-after-arrest-for-facebook-post-concerning-trinidad-water-supply-issues-https-y
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The Barnes Brief: Thursday, May 21, 2026

Art of the Day 

  • The cowboy hat on a country fence in the country. Americana defined. Independence. Freedom. Conviction. The best traits of America captured in the yeoman farmer of Jeffersonian lore. The echoes of a country song about love and loss, heartbreak and hope, a whisper of the future amidst the distress of the day. The sun ain’t set yet. 
Wisdom of the Day
  • “A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.” President Eisenhower. 
Appearances
Cultural/Historical
 
Economics
Politics
  • Quid Pro Quo: the Modus Operandi of Trump’s 2nd term. 
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/20/us/politics/donation-big-tobacco-vaping.html
 
Law
 
World
 
Board Post of Note
 
*Bonus
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Homework: Sunday Show
  1. Judge blocks Alberta independence. https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/05/liberal-judge-quashes-petition-forcing-vote-independence-oil/
  2. SCOTUS: pending. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pending_United_States_Supreme_Court_cases
  3. SCOTUS: Corporate immunity. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1238_1b7d.pdf
  4. SCOTUS: Arbitration. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25-83_3e04.pdf
  5. SCOTUS: Mifepristone. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25a1207_21p3.pdf
  6. 2A: Constitutionality of federal gun crimes. https://www.ca1.uscourts.gov/sites/ca1/files/opnfiles/25-1024P-01A.pdf
  7. The Fed: unaccountable. https://ww3.ca2.uscourts.gov/decisions/OPN/25-1144_opn.pdf
  8. Internet spying: Privacy as injury. https://www2.ca3.uscourts.gov/opinarch/233235p.pdf
  9. Green power speech rules. https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinions/251012.P.pdf
  10. Framed man wins verdict. https://www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/26a0148p-06.pdf
  11. DEI may lose, even in Twin Cities. https://courthousenews.com/minneapolis-public-schools-struggles-in-trump-suit-over-dei-policy/
  12. Car shutoff. https://cei.org/news_releases/house-vote-today-could-help-end-vehicle-kill-switch-mandate/

*Bonus: California: agency power. https://www4.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/S284378.PDF

**Bonus: OKeefe Wins https://www.pacermonitor.com/case/61866801/Fseisi_v_OKeefe_Media_Group_et_al

***Bonus: EU: must allow welfare for migrants. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/kh-inps-cjeu-judgment.pd

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