Thoughts From The Metal Cavern

Welcome back to a new episode of "Helen & Bill Do Retro Cinema", the episodes of this podcast where Helen and Bill take on the roles vacated by David and Margaret and bring you the reviews that matter... on movies from the past that no doubt you have all seen before. Today's episode features the five films that were nominated for Best Picture at the 77th Academy Awards in 2005, all released in 2004. So why not tune in to hear what these two cinefiles think about: MILLION DOLLAR BABY SIDEWAYS FINDING NEVERLAND RAY THE AVIATOR That's the agenda on today's episode of "Helen & Bill Do Retro Cinema", on the podcast where agreeing on anything is a full time commitment, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

For your consideration, here is episode eleven of "It's a Ponderous Life", the place where I offer you the weekly rantings of a middle aged man trying to come to grips with life, where the wife and kids all have their own lives that don't require me, and I get fist shakingly annoyed at the world as I see it. In Australia and New Zealand, ANZAC Day has rolled around again, and with it the annual discussion and remembrance of the same day back in 1915 when the first troops were dropped onto the shores of Gallipoli, and the start of a battle that has become a part of folklore for both of these countries. In the years since, the day has become one where we remember the sacrifice a generation of young men made in the name of King and Country, with traditions of the dawn service, the march, and the two-up. But in more recent times, have those traditions held up, or have they been overtaken by the need to make sporting events the major focus of the day in a masquerade of celebrating that sacrifice. And perhaps more to the point, is the day as relevant to the younger generations now, some 110 years after the outbreak of what was known as The Great War. On today’s discussion, I am going to ramble on about my memories growing up of ANZAC Day, and how the way I have looked at the day has changed over the intervening years. So please join me in my quest to get a few things off my chest, in another episodic enlightenment of “It's a Ponderous Life”, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

For your consideration, here is episode ten of "It's a Ponderous Life", the place where I offer you the weekly rantings of a middle aged man trying to come to grips with life, where the wife and kids all have their own lives that don't require me, and I get fist shakingly annoyed at the world as I see it. As this podcast has moved away from being the sports-heavy discussion that it started out to be and has become more a reflection on things I’ve seen and done and thought about in my life, I have had several episodes which talk about movies and the spectacle of watching them. And today's episode is no different. Like most of you, I was able to enjoy movies from a young age, and especially so in going to the cinema and enjoying that experience. So, on today’s episode I’m going to talk about my first forays to the cinema, what I saw, who I went with, and what are my memories of those films along with the cinemas I watched them in. And perhaps those of you who are of my vintage will pick up on some similarities to what you watched, and those of you who are younger may wonder just what was so attractive at that time. So please join me in my quest to get a few things off my chest, in another episodic enlightenment of “It's a Ponderous Life”, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

For your consideration, here is episode nine of "It's a Ponderous Life", the place where I offer you the weekly rantings of a middle aged man trying to come to grips with life, where the wife and kids all have their own lives that don't require me, and I get fist shakingly annoyed at the world as I see it. We’ve just moved through the Easter period, a time when Christians all around the world celebrate the resurrection of God’s son and signifies the most important event of their faith. It was a time of miracles and of God demonstrating his power and omnipotence through his son, and a belief he will one day return to expunge the wicked and reward the faithful. As someone who believes in a different set of circumstances, what it got me to thinking about once again is how certain events through your life can combine to create the life you are now living, and how even the slightest of tweaks to certain moments in my own timeline would have changed everything that brought about where I am right now. On today’s ponderous thoughts, I’m going to expand on a few of those moments in time that have set me on the course I have been on over the course of my 54 and some years, to show just how much things could change if just one small event had not occurred when and how it did, along with discussing where my thoughts differ on divine intervention and fate. So, join me in my quest to get a few things off my chest, in another episodic enlightenment of “It's a Ponderous Life”, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

For your consideration, here is episode eight of "It's a Ponderous Life", the place where I offer you the weekly rantings of a middle aged man trying to come to grips with life, where the wife and kids all have their own lives that don't require me, and I get fist shakingly annoyed at the world as I see it. Easter is upon us again, and as we have reached the period where more people are excited about their four day weekend than anything else that surrounds the concept, let’s have a conversation about just where we stand with this whole... tradition... in the year 2024. Just what is it about Easter that makes this time of year special to every single person in a completely different way? Whether it is about celebrating the sacrifice of one man’s life for the lives of all, and then his supposed resurrection, or whether it is celebrating the arrival of the bunny loaded up with chocolate eggs and other various animals for kids to feast on without any qualms of their parents (for one day of the year) or whether it is just the masses who are availed of a four day weekend without working – of course now suitably ignoring all of those who still have to work over this period, in many cases without the penalty rates they were once afforded for doing so. Whatever it is, everyone has a different take on it. So what does it all actually boil down to, and is there any way all of it can still be correlated together in this more modern of times? That will be the topic of today’s episode. So, join me in my quest to get a few things off my chest, in another episodic enlightenment of “It's a Ponderous Life”, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

For your consideration, here is episode seven of "It's a Ponderous Life", the place where I offer you the weekly rantings of a middle aged man trying to come to grips with life, where the wife and kids all have their own lives that don't require me, and I get fist shakingly annoyed at the world as I see it. Over the years, it seems to have become increasingly easy for movie makers looking to make a quick buck to do one of two things, rather than seek out original ideas in order to make a decent and hopefully profitable movie. One of course is to make the sequel, a movie that continues on in the same vein as another already successful movie, and continue that story on with the same characters, hoping to lure back the same people to spend their money without really knowing if it will be any good or not. The second is to just remake an old movie, take the basic storyline and characters within that movie, and remake it with different actors and sometimes a slightly different storyline, in the hope that the same people who enjoyed the original film will turn up again to see it again, but a different version of it. On today’s episode, we’ll take a look at some upcoming versions of these types of films, and discuss the pros and cons to what may eventuate from them. So, join me in my quest to get a few things off my chest, in another episodic enlightenment of “It's a Ponderous Life”, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

For your consideration, here is episode six of "It's a Ponderous Life", the place where I offer you the weekly rantings of a middle aged man trying to come to grips with life, where the wife and kids all have their own lives that don't require me, and I get fist shakingly annoyed at the world as I see it. How many of you remember “We Are the World”? Better yet, how many of you KNOW “We Are the World”? In this day and age it’s a reasonable question. On top of that, how many remember “Do They Know It’s Christmas”? Better yet, does ANYONE know about “Stars”? 1985 was a big year for charity songs for the purpose of raising funds for poverty in Africa, all of which culminated in the Live Aid concert that became the biggest music event of all time. A new documentary has landed on Netflix that goes behind the scenes of “We Are the World”, but there are others out there on the other songs as well, and this week I binge watched them all, and then put together my thoughts on both the songs and the docos for your listening pleasure. So, join me in my quest to get a few things off my chest, in another episodic enlightenment of “It's a Ponderous Life”, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

Welcome back to a new episode of "Helen & Bill Do Retro Cinema", the episodes of this podcast where Helen and Bill take on the roles vacated by David and Margaret and bring you the reviews that matter... on movies from the past that no doubt you have all seen before. Today's episode features the five films that were nominated for Best Picture at the 76th Academy Awards in 2004, all released in 2003. So why not tune in to hear what these two cinefiles think about: SEABISCUIT LOST IN TRANSLATION MYSTIC RIVER MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING That's the agenda on today's episode of "Helen & Bill Do Retro Cinema", on the podcast where agreeing on anything is a full time commitment, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

For your consideration, here is episode five of "It's a Ponderous Life", the place where I offer you the weekly rantings of a middle aged man trying to come to grips with life, where the wife and kids all have their own lives that don't require me, and I get fist shakingly annoyed at the world as I see it. Taylor Swift fever has hit Australia, and for the past week it has been impossible to get past it. From watching the first ever Superbowl where the actual teams playing were the sideshow to the main event, to spending another few hours frivolously trying to procure tickets to her upcoming Sydney concerts, my week seems to have inextricably intertwined with the Swiftmeister. So today, I’ll talk about the SwiftBowl and the craziness that surrounded it, the ludicrous nature of trying to get tickets, what my daughter will be doing instead of being in the stadium, and the episode of my new favourite Taylor Swift podcast that I listened to in order to glean some reason to all of this madness. So, join me in my quest to get a few things off my chest, in another episodic enlightenment of “It's a Ponderous Life”, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

Welcome back to a new episode of "Helen & Bill Do Retro Cinema", the episodes of this podcast where Helen and Bill take on the roles vacated by David and Margaret and bring you the reviews that matter... on movies from the past that no doubt you have all seen before. Today's episode features the five films that were nominated for Best Picture at the 75th Academy Awards in 2003, all released in 2002. So why not tune in to hear what these two cinefiles think about: THE HOURS CHICAGO THE PIANIST GANGS OF NEW YORK THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS That's the agenda on today's episode of "Helen & Bill Do Retro Cinema", on the podcast where agreeing on anything is a full time commitment, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

For your consideration, here is episode four of "It's a Ponderous Life", the place where I offer you the daily rantings of a middle aged man trying to come to grips with life where the wife and kids all have their own lives that don't require me, and I get fist shakingly annoyed at the world as I see it. Today I converse on how, having been subjected to six straight weeks of non stop ads telling me all about the returning shows on the commercial networks while watching the cricket, the tennis, and whatever equates to that on Channel 10, I must relate on the start of the three big reality shows that have started this week, along with the three big quiz shows that have also begun their annual trek on the television. In general, my lowly regarded opinion on their existence is what you can listen to here. So join me in my quest to get a few things off my chest, in another episodic enlightenment of It's a Ponderous Life, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

For your consideration, here is episode three of "It's a Ponderous Life", the place where I offer you the daily rantings of a middle aged man trying to come to grips with life where the wife and kids all have their own lives that don't require me, and I get fist shakingly annoyed at the world as I see it. Today I reveal just how I use music in my life to retain my sanity in different situations, and discuss just how much music is involved in my day-to-day life. The way that certain songs can send me back in time to places that I never visit in my memories except for when a certain song triggers that said memory. So join me in my quest to get a few things off my chest, in another episodic enlightenment of It's a Ponderous Life, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

Welcome back to a new episode of "Helen & Bill Do Retro Cinema", the episodes of this podcast where Helen and Bill take on the roles vacated by David and Margaret and bring you the reviews that matter... on movies from the past that no doubt you have all seen before. Today's episode features the five films that were nominated for Best Picture at the 74th Academy Awards in 2002, all released in 2001. So why not tune in to hear what these two cinefiles think about: GOSFORD PARK MOULIN ROUGE A BEAUTIFUL MIND IN THE BEDROOM THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING That's the agenda on today's episode of "Helen & Bill Do Retro Cinema", on the podcast where agreeing on anything is a full time commitment, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

It's the return of Josh and Bill, and they indeed do talk a lot of crap, and today it has been recorded for a podcast episode. Why not stop by as these two buffoons of news offer you the following important discussion points: 1. Tetris has been defeated! And no one really knew that was a thing! But we discuss the worldwide implications. 2. Dogs eating homework? How about dogs so smart they avoid having to go on a plane by eating a passport! 3. Steamboat Willie starring a cartoon mouse that we are not allowed to name, is public domain, and we talk about cartoon horror movies that come as a result. 4. David Warner lost his baggy green caps. Or did he?! We contemplate the outcome. 5. Jerome Luai has signed with the Wests Tigers. One of us didn't know this. We ponder the likely outcomes. 6. The Melbourne Nude Cycling event has been cancelled after this year! Possible reasons for this outcome are collated. That's the agenda on 2024's newest podcast sensation, Josh and Bill Talk Crap, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

It has been a lengthy spell of eating and drinking over the Xmas and New Year period, but Helen and Bill are back for the next episode in their series of Retro Cinema, where they take on the roles vacated by David and Margaret and bring you the reviews that matter... on movies from the past that no doubt you have all seen before. Today's episode features the five films that were nominated for Best Picture at the 2001 Academy Awards, all released in 2000. So why not tune in to hear what these two cinefiles think about: ERIN BROCKOVICH TRAFFIC GLADIATOR CHOCOLAT CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

On today's episode of The Casual Mankadder, we attack and discuss three current points of contention in the world of Australian cricket. Firstly, we preview the start of the Test series and discuss the chances of both Pakistan and Australia in the First Test in Perth and the series overall, and whether Pakistan's less than full strength squad is a match for Australia's bully boys on home turf. Secondly, we discuss the recent bust up of Mitch Johnson's comments on the David Warner retirement junket, and whether or not he was justified in his comments on Warner's form or his legacy in again bringing up the shadow of Newlands in 2018. Finally, we once again go over the debate of the upcoming opening at the top of the order for the Australian Test team, and debate heatedly the foolish notion of offering that place to a middle order white ball slogger instead of a hardened red ball four day specialist opener. That's the agenda on today's episode of The Casual Mankadder, on the podcast that will continues to roll its eyes at the selection process, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

After a lengthy delay for a reworking of the format (and for Helen to stop watching Gilmore Girls and The Crown), Helen and Bill are back for the next episode in their series of Retro Cinema, where they take on the roles vacated by David and Margaret and bring you the reviews that matter... on movies from the past that no doubt you have all seen before. Today's episode features the five films that were nominated for Best Picture at the 2000 Academy Awards, all released in 1999. So why noy tune in to hear what these two cinefiles think about: THE INSIDER THE CIDER HOUSE RULES AMERICAN BEAUTY THE SIXTH SENSE THE GREEN MILE --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

On todays episode of The Casual Mankadder, we preview the upcoming 13th edition of Australia’s Big Bash League. Despite the dwindling ability to attract the top flight short form cricketers from around the world, the BBL still showcases the best talent that Australian domestic cricket has to offer as they look to force their way into the national setup. Today we’ll take a look at each team's squad, and assess just where they stand in the pecking order for this season's competition. I will then offer my thoughts on where they will all finish from 8th to 1st, giving everyone something to laugh at as the season progresses. That’s the agenda for today’s episode of The Casual Mankadder, on the podcast that knows it is only a few short weeks until Boxing Day, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

For your consideration, here is episode two of "It's a Ponderous Life", the place where I offer you the daily rantings of a middle aged man trying to come to grips with life where the wife and kids all have their own lives that don't require me, and I get fist shakingly annoyed at the world as I see it. Today's discussion points include my recent catch-up of TV viewing, including the second season of "Loki", the first of the Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials, and the reality show based on the TV hit "Squid Game". I also start a version of "On the Couch with Bill" as I delve a little into my current home life and the travails that follow. And I've been asked once again by my daughter to buy her concert tickets, this time to Coldplay, which you can follow in real time. So join me in my quest to get a few things off my chest, in another episodic enlightenment of It's a Ponderous Life, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

On today's scintillating episode of The Casual Mankadder, we discuss the current Australia Test summer and the fact that the red ball game should already be well underway with me watching in the Metal Cavern with beer and chilli chips, and instead it won't be until mid-December that we see that first day of the First Test. The cons pile up and we look at them all. Following that we take a dive into the whole new world of disputed catches, and how the current plethora of batters standing their ground and expecting the catch to be referred to the Third Umpire may only get worse. We discuss the possible outcomes. All of that makes up today's episode of The Casual Mankadder, on the podcast that just wants the first day of the First Test to hurry up and get here, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message