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Putin’s Army of the Dead

Putin’s Army of the Dead

They go in for some weird shit in the name of defence, those Russians. Whether it’s confounding the Luftwaffe by using WWI biplanes so slow that the fearsome Messerschmidt Me-109s couldn’t slow down to engage them without stalling, or simply retreating over an iced-over lake and watching and

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Why Is a Neanderthal like a Dollar?

Why Is a Neanderthal like a Dollar?

Etymology is a fascinating subject. The threads connecting words are often fascinating and startling. Who would have thought, for instance, that chauvinism, meaning fanatical patriotism or prejudiced belief in the superiority of one’s own kind, is a twin (etymologically speaking) of Calvinism? But, rather than casting aspersions on Swiss

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The BFD  Comment of the Week

The BFD Comment of the Week

As part of our drive to keep our comment section the best in New Zealand we showcase each week an example of a top-notch comment that adds value to The BFD. Today’s comment was written by idbkiwi. Thank you idbkiwi for taking the time to craft such an interesting

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T-Rex Was Slower – and Way Scarier – Than We Thought

T-Rex Was Slower – and Way Scarier – Than We Thought

Movies, from King Kong to Jurassic Park, have conditioned us to think of Tyrannosaurus rex as a solitary behemoth, stomping and screaming through the steaming jungles of primordial nightmare. A modern analogy might be the tiger – which is why Larry Niven based his nightmarish aliens, the Kzin, on tigers. But

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Did We Really Come Out of Africa?

Did We Really Come Out of Africa?

One of the greatest fallacies of modern times is the conceit of “settled science”. Anyone who has followed scientific trends with a clear eye for any length of time should be well aware that science is ever anything but settled. In 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Jules Verne repeats

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The BFD Food Column: Hamin/Cholent

The BFD Food Column: Hamin/Cholent

Hamin/Cholent is one of my favourite dishes for winter and as winter is kicking in down there it should be a good one for your cookbook. This dish is a really long cooking stew (12 plus hours) full of goodness, flavours and aromas, perfect any time of year but

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ANZAC Day: For Skippy

ANZAC Day: For Skippy

By Cameron Slater ( *republished) I made this video some time ago for Skippy, my father-in-law. Some of the photos in the video were taken by him at Nui Dat. He was an Aussie serving with the NZ Army…he trained at Puckapunyal, Canungra and Singleton…many of the places mentioned

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ANZAC Day: True Unsung Heroes

ANZAC Day: True Unsung Heroes

Wyn Fountain served as a Welfare Officer in the Middle East and Europe and was away for over four years. Later he ran a very successful business in New Zealand and, with wife Shirley, grew a great family. At 90 years old (in this clip) he brought history alive.

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ANZAC Day: Gallipoli

ANZAC Day: Gallipoli

In 2015 Dad and I were at the dawn ceremony at ANZAC Cove and then the service at Chunuk Bair. I carried the medals of my great-grandfather Harry Crozier with me. It was 100 years since ANZAC troops set foot on the Gallipoli peninsula in that ill-fated campaign. Going to

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