Stolen Screams & Shattered Olympic Dreams

🎨 Art Heist Alert! On August 22, 2004, two masked men stormed Oslo’s Munch Museum and pulled off a daring daylight robbery, snatching Edvard Munch’s iconic "The Scream" and "Madonna." With no alarms, dropped paintings, and a chaotic escape, this heist was more Keystone Cops than criminal masterminds. It took two years, a police sting, and the promise of 2 million M&M’s to recover these priceless works. Art history has never been this thrilling!

🚣‍♀️ Olympic Oops! Remember “Lay Down Sally”? Australia’s women’s eight rowing team saw their medal hopes dashed when Sally Robbins hit a wall and dropped her oar just 400 meters from the finish line. The media frenzy that followed was brutal, labeling her a “quitter” and “un-Australian.” But with today’s focus on mental health, would we view her actions differently now? It’s a story of exhaustion, redemption, and how the times have changed.

🎶 Summer Jams! Flashback to the chart-toppers of ’04: Natasha Bedingfield was serving up lyrical magic with “These Words,” Ciara’s “Goodies” was the crunk anthem of the summer, and Cosima had us all singing “When the War Is Over.” These hits defined a summer of unforgettable tunes and unforgettable memories.

👹 Movie Madness! While Hellboy was smashing box offices in Australia, Exorcist: The Beginning had audiences in the US laughing more than screaming. Meanwhile, Jet Li’s Hero became the first Chinese-language film to hit #1 in America—finally giving martial arts the recognition it deserves.

Hang with us on socials to chat more noughties nostalgia - Facebook (@tminus20) or Instagram (tminus20podcast). You can also contact us there if you want to be a part of the show.

Chapters

• 0:00 intro
• 0:26 show opener
• 10:10 news
• 30:12 sport
• 52:05 music
• 1:05:40 movies and tv
• 1:17:04 books we didn't read
• 1:23:52 hatches, matches and dispatches
• 1:35:10 show closer

Transcript

Transcript is generated automatically.

The year is 2004. Your polyphonic ringtone habit is sending you broke. George W Bush is sworn in for a second term, and in spite of everything going on, the most controversial thing is a wardrobe malfunction at the Super Bowl. T -, 20 rewind 20 years with Joe and Mel. 

Week. 

22 August 2004. 

The rest is history. 

You know what? I'm very forgetful. Hello. 

There. Stop trying to make fetch happen. You're fired. 

What are we waiting for? 

This is harder than I thought it would be. 

My fellow Americans. Let's roll. 

If you're the kind of person that is. Like if only I knew what I know now back then, then this is the podcast for you. If you're the kind of person who thinks Nickelback were hard done by in hindsight but cannot fathom for the life of you why creed are undergoing a reunion right now. Is the podcast for you. It's called t -, 20, where we rewind to this week in history 20 years ago with your host, Joe and Mel. Hello, Mel. 

Hello I do feel bad for. Go back now. Yeah, I've. I've come round. I don't necessarily like their music, but I do. 

Yeah, me too. Me too. They're very. 

I do feel they. 

Were hard done by well. They're very rich. So I think they'll be OK. So we're gonna, we're gonna throw a whole bunch of garbage into the flux capacitor of our TARDIS. There you go. I just broke so many rules for nerds. There is gonna freak. 

They probably don't care. 

Is this true? 

Out and see what sort of garbage that we spew forth this week in history 20 years ago. 

Photographed by a passerby, 3 thieves rushing away from the. Museum and loading the stolen masterpieces into their getaway. 

Car, yes. 

I love a good heist and there is a doozy of a heist. This week there was a cracker. 

I remember this one. 

I love you. 

No, I love you too. That was a some great song that I like. That's one of those songs where I'm like, that was 20 years ago. 

Love that song. 

That was blowing up the charts this week 20 years ago. We're talking 22 to 28 August 2004. They should throw that in there, yes. 

Ohh yeah thanks sorry got a bit ahead of myself. Was trying to add like the intro and got confused. That's like this just if we wanna break. 

That's alright, that's fine. 

The 4th wall. 

It's the time. It's the time. 

Break the 4th wall a little bit. A lad I I took me 4 attempts before I got this one right. Just in case you wanted a little glimpse behind the scenes. Speaking of music, this song was not 20 years old, but the incident related to this song certainly was. 

Stops. It's always confusing. 

And rescue me. Don't you think you won't? 

Ohh, the Big Athens scandal for Australia. 

Lay down, Sally. 

And wasn't it? 

The shame. 

An Australian how could she? Where's your commitment? 

Ohh, the shame. It was umm Australian. How dare she all these? Fat ******** sitting on couches, sitting on couches, tucking into popcorn and corn chips and snacks, and, you know, soft drinks, criticising a leaf, elite athletes. 

No commitments. Yes, yes. And asking where the commitment is. 

He's nearly went for take 5, then elite athletes. Gosh. 

There is too much commitment, I I reckon in 2024 there is way too much commitment commitment, yes. 

So you ohh well everyone was questioning. Sally Robbins's lack of commitment, which we'll talk about shortly. But you're saying that there's too much commitment these days. 

Yes, yes. 

There's way too much commitment these days in the form of subscriptions. I freaking hate subscriptions. 

What do you mean? Ohh why? Well, what you know why they? They're convenient. They're easy. 

Like I get. No, because they recur and you forget that they recur. Yeah. And you're given this very small window for to go in there and stop the recurring. And if you don't hit that window, then you get charged or you forget you. 

Auto renewal. 

What? 

OK. 

Forget that the recurrence is happening and then all your money disappears. 

What's happened and how much did it cost? 

Well, I it's not that well, I didn't actually forget. I knew and I had a a Jew buy. I had to take action, buy a date not before a date, not before a date, by a date. 

Hmm. 

Buy a date not on a date, not before a date. A. OK. 

Right. And so it didn't actually forget I went in to take the action by said dates. 

Right. 

But I'm also overcommitted with my passwords and my password resets and I can't get into the portal to to reset the passwords to cancel the subscription that's reoccurring the on the date. 

So. I've gotta ask you again, what have you done and how much has it cost? Us. 

$300.00 a few $100, it's an annual subscription. 

Ohh Jesus. It's annual subscription. Well, I I have to say. Ohh my God. The the annual subscriptions are much easier to forget. Like they are much easier to get. They're all in spite of the. 

It's so great savings. It's so it's so much more economical than the monthly version. Yes. How am? Fact now what I'm doing in 12 months time. 

Well, they do email you. They do they, they they do ethically have to let you know. 

Yes, but they usually email you a few months out. Yeah. So by the time it swings around, you've forgotten. But I didn't forget. I just. I just waited until the last possible day, and now I can't reset my password. 

Yeah, well. And then you. 

And because I'm trying to do it on a day that obviously no customer service is available, because of course it's a weekend. 

Yeah. 

I can't reset my password so I can't cancel, so I think we're gonna be. 

Charged. That's great. That's a good, you know, this week, actually, I've got an annual subscription coming up as well because I watched the American football and that's that's a pretty that's an expensive one as well. 

I think that's more than it. Yes, I think that's even more expensive than mine. 

That, well, yours is a couple of 100. This is a few. 100. 

So there's a couple in a few. 

And they keep reminding me, and I know what's gonna happen. I'm gonna get to the day and I'll be stuck with it. But it's fine. I'm happy to be stuck with it because I really enjoy watching the sport and consuming that product. But it is not cheap and it's it's. It doesn't matter how well I think you plan your finances, you never are fully prepared. 

Hmm. Hmm. 

It's like so the I got rid of all of my Netflix and Stan and all of my streaming subscriptions a long time. No, not really. I just guess what I do is no, no, no, that's that's not what I what I do now. What I do now is I'll if I need to see something on a particular streaming service. 

Yes, but you're slowly reintroducing them. Yes, you are. I've I've. I get the receipts. We have a shared email for those receipts. 

I've seen them. 

Like and I can't see it anywhere else and I figure out well, I'll just suck it up and do. For it, I'll purchase it for a month, but I'll purchase it and then I'll go in and cancel the subscription straight after I purchase it so that it won't renew again. Yeah, yeah. 

Ohh, because you still get it. You get. 

It for that period. 

The time span that you've paid for? Yeah. OK, that's smart. That's probably what I should have done 12 months ago. 

There you go, kids. It's a subscription hack, courtesy of your Uncle Joe. You know? Like, don't, don't, don't. Don't be fooled. I'm actually really hip to it. 

I just think too, though we go ohh. This is so convenient and when it's $10 a month, what's that? You know, that's a cup of coffee. It's nothing but. 

It adds up. 

It adds up to the point where. I think across all the different TV subscriptions, you're paying more than what you paid for premium Foxtel back in the early 2000s and that wasn't. 

Cheap. No, and it was rubbish. Exactly. And then you, you get this thing where you're like you're on pay week and it all comes out the the day or two days before payday. And then you overdraw your bank account. 

All the same day, yeah. 

They're fine for doing that as well. 

And then you have no money come payday actually and. Then pay off all the fines. 

Massive first world problems in massive First world. 

It is. It's. I just feel, though, if you've got a recurring subscription, it should actually email you. 

Problems. 

And say, would you like to continue this subscription? Yes or? Rather than, you're the one that has to take action to say no. You should have to take action to say yes. 

Well, that's, but that's counterintuitive for the business. The business is going to make more money. 

I know, but I'm thinking about myself. I don't I. Don't care about them. 

Convenience of auto renewal, you know. 

Gets me every time. 

Gets me every time as well. You know what? Need you know what I need to auto renew my liver. We should just change like the name of the in this week's episode of getting old socks. 

Ranty pants should be told. 

Ranty pants for auto subscriptions. I mean, we have we've become the old old man, old woman yells at cloud. 

Wowser ring, wowser ring. We're wowsers. Yes, I know. 

Really. 

Well, it it is annoying. It's really annoying and. I don't like. It and I want it to stop. I want it to stop. I have too many subscriptions, all for pretty much the same. 

Life in general is annoying, yeah. 

Thing cause I I just don't have a password and I just can't stop it and I don't know. How to stop it? So I just keep paying. This is my life round and. 

As as as as. 

Round. 

This goes on and on and on. There's gonna be a talk break somewhere around here in this podcast. You're gonna be like, you know what's annoying breathing. 

Anyways, it is when you breathe really loudly at night and I'm trying to sleep when you got a little whistle that is annoying. 

So that's. 

I know, I know. Or or where my CPAP mask leaks. 

Ohh God, it's like yeah, it's like when you puncture your bike tyres. 

Yes. 

Ohh my God, he's got a leak. He's sprung a leak. Here we go. 

I'm gonna leak. Yeah. Why don't you come over here and plug it? Let's let's do the hatches. Matches and dispatches. Clue. We've got a birthday for a celebrity that was having a birthday this time 20 years ago. But it's also having a birthday now, cause it's still alive. It's a it's not really a hatch. It's just a birthday. 

Hmm. 

And they said this. 

You don't want to upset anybody by saying learn to speak *** **** English. So as an immigrant, I'm telling you learn to speak *** **** English. 

Wow. Wow. We'll find out who that is at the end of the. 

Hmm. 

Show wow. Stunning. 

Ohh. What you yeah, yeah. 

Who's talking? I thought you wanted me to talk. You looked at me with a look of the talk. 

Yeah. No, you OK, you. 

And then you. 

Glitched. No, it's alright. I I do that often. I think that's that's in episode 3 of getting old sucks. Glitching and how to avoid it? Yeah. Yeah. No, I don't even know if it's episode three. I've lost count. I'm too. 

I don't think you have the answer to that. Old the 22nd of August 2004, as we alluded to at the start, we have a heist. We love a heist. 

Ohh, so good love heist. 

And what a heist. What a heist. This one was not one, but two iconic paintings, the Scream and Madonna are stolen from a museum in Oslo, Norway. 

Yeah. 

I love. Art heists because art heists in particular, are are extremely ambitious and foolhardy, and just and quite incredible. Because not only do you have to navigate the enclosure as to which the priceless artwork is housed, which is usually through several layers of security, got all the makings of a fantastic movie every time somebody. 

Yes, yes. 

All of these. That you can't. Then take that priceless one of a kind piece of art to cash converters. Exactly. 

See what do you. Do with it after you flog it. I know. It just screams high jinks, doesn't it? It's like when you steal a glass from the. 

Nice. 

Bar the glass. 

And I just think kind of people that do these kind of things are perhaps wired a little bit differently to the average human being and perhaps maybe even. Are operating on a higher plane because they're just like, you know, everything is so boring and stuff and it's like you gotta get your kicks somewhere and it's like, you know, I could sit at home on the weekend and drink a carton of beer and watch the football. Or I could engage in other recreational activities that are probably not so good for my health. Ohh I could. 

Yeah. 

There's still some art. 

Plan to steal a priceless piece of art just to say. That I did, and this is what happened. 

Yes, now. For those who don't know much about art, which I must admit, it's pretty much me. So I had to. Go and look this up. I needed to. 

Everybody knows about this piece of art, though, yes. 

Well, the scream you can you just say it, and that comes into your mind. You know what the picture is? It was painted painted by Edvard Munch. Munch, Munch, munch. In 1893, it's one of the. 

I I think it's like Monk Monk. Yeah. Yeah. Think of Macaulay Culkin Allah home alone with the aftershave. 

Mice. Yes, yes, most iconic images in art history depicts a figure with an. 

Yeah. I really cheapened it then, didn't I? 

Agonised expression standing on a bridge against a turbulent sky, swirling colours. The open mouth scream, have come to symbolise modern existential angst and despair. I feel seen. 

Here's something that I didn't know. Yes, yes. 

Existential angst and despair. 

I know I feel seen as well all the time. Every time I walk across the bridge, it happens cause I'm scared of heights. Even like little heights. But what I what I didn't know was because this is an iconic painting. 

Subscriptions. Yes. 

I did not know that there were four versions of the of the screen. Yes, they did four of the. 

Just 4. 

Yeah. 

There's two paintings well. Edvard Monk did. Did two paintings, one pastel and one lithograph of the screen. Umm. And the stolen one in this instance, was one of the paintings. 

Well, he it's not. They just he and VOD. 

Hmm. 

Yes, and it was actually stolen. I don't know if it's the same painting or one of the other versions, but it well. 

Hmm. 

It had been stolen previously, the yes. 

Yeah, like in the 90s, I think around like was it 94? 

Might have been a copycat theft. 

Somebody pinched the stream and it disappeared for almost a decade, yeah. 

Yes. And then, yeah, well, they got it back and. 

They go again. It's. 

Then I got it back and. Then somebody flagged it again. 

Part of the series, called the Freeze of Life, which explored themes of love, fear, death. And melancholia. Melancholia. Mm-hmm. Also part of the series was the Madonna painting, which was also stalled on 22 August. That one is a somewhat controversial painting depicting 1/2 nude woman. 

Same time stole it at the same. Time yes, yes. It's got ***** in it, doesn't it? Does have *****. Yeah. 

Does have the moves interpreted as a representation of both sensuality and spirituality? 

So if you stole that one, you probably like. You could put the scream out in maybe the living area. But Madonna it will possibly back at the toilet door or pending on what sort of message you want to send. You know, above the bed. You know, little bit of nudity above the bed in the form of a painting is it's it's it says that like I'm kind of ****** and adventurous. But I'm also a little bit classy. 

Are you put the **** one in the bathroom or bedroom bedroom. That's. Yeah, that's always nice, isn't. Yeah. Yes, eyebrow. 

You know? And then yeah, yeah. I mean, see. And if you put the scream above the bed, that's terrifying. That's that says that you're a total sicko that's into some pretty weird. 

That painting was I I think it caused a bit of controversy too, because I think it was supposed to be also a representation of the Virgin Mary. There was elements of that in there as well. So both of them are considered masterpieces of expressionism, a movement that. 

The Madonna. Hence the title, yeah. Yes. Yeah. Yes. 

Thought to depict emotional experience. And particularly these two paintings, they had a really profound influence on modern art and they contributed to the development of expressionism and impacted a lot of art and artists right across the 20th century and beyond. 

Ohh yeah, you you always when you go to the gallery like cause we've got some fantastic cultural institutions in our town which I love. Right? When you go to the gallery, there's always some really eclectic kind of guy who's probably wearing a pork pie hat and a vest with some cloth patches and some badges. And that that's probably in a variety of different colours, maybe a bit patchwork got a few. Which is on a generally wearing AT shirt of munchers the screen as well. 

You seen paper? Wear T shirts. 

Ohh yes, yes, all the time at the gallery. Yes, absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. It's a little bit hipster. It's a little bit. Well, I'm. I'm glad. I'm glad you haven't seen that cause. Way to support me on this little anecdote that I'm trying to share with everyone. Excellent. We're really riffing off each other. Well, in this episode, it's great. OK, well. 

Oh. I haven't seen that. I bet you could get a tote bag. No, I want to say it. I'm. I'm intrigued. But I'm sure you get a tote bag of it in the in the museum shop. They'd be and A and a magnet. 

Absolutely. Keep they'll probably if. You're not wearing it in a T shirt. They're carrying it in a tote. Babe. Mark my words. We will go to the gallery next weekend, and I guarantee you you will see somebody wearing AT shirt of the screen. 

Tight bag. OK. 

Yes, Mr Wang. 

OK. I look forward to it. 

And then it's like, well, I guess that's OK because there's probably rules. It's like, you know, the rule about not going to see like to wear the T shirt of the band that you're going to see. So as. 

Uh, you can. Concert. 

You have. 

To go when the arts been stolen. 

Long. Well, so long. Well, so long as the screen isn't in the museum or the gallery that you're going to. It's OK. Like, I wouldn't wear. 

It's been stolen. Then you can wear your T shirt. 

A T shirt of blue poles to the National Gallery of Australia where he lives because well to any other gallery apart from the National Gallery of Australia. Exactly, I'd be able to take that there. 

Would you wear a T shirt of blue? 

Poles. 

That's the one in Oslo. You'd probably wear it. And then someone come and go. Wow, that's. 

They'll be like, Oh yeah, Pauls Jackson Pollock, fantastic artist. Would you like to come and have a look at the scream? Ohh. Holly kid. It's been. Ellen. 

Well, that is what would have happened if you wore your blue poles at 11:20 AM on the 22nd of August 2. 1004 because. We have two masked men entering the museum armed with a Magnum pistol. They forced visitors and staff to the ground and then proceeded to pull the artwork. 

MHM. 

Off the wall. This is the scream. They start with the scream. 

Is that is that a a? 357 Magnum 2 not a 44, just just in case. Yeah, just for any of the gun nuts that are listening. 

Ohh just to be clear, just to be clear. 

To the show. 

Few, few. Yeah, witnesses said that no alarms went off when the paintings were stolen. When they ripped the scream off the wall, nothing happened. Because I think they were only attached to the wall by wire wire with a little bit of string tied to the wire holding it on. 

The reason that alarms me anyway, carry on. Honey if. Then. The wall. You had a sense of humour. You know how when you go to the art gallery, if you if you move within a meeting of the. Painting it kind of sets off. 

A sensory though yes, ours does. Yes. And it's yes you. 

How funny if, like with the screen, if he came too close to the. Wouldn't that be cool? 

That would be amazing. I don't think the scream scream would sound like that. 

That'd. So cool. 

Hi. 

No, I think you'd be more like a whaling. 

Well, it's, I'm sorry. Well, all art is open to interpretation and it's however that's that's how my version of the screen sounds. OK, well, you have your own version in your own head. 

Banshee or something? I don't like your interpretation of what this this screen would sound like. I don't like your version, right? Right. Yes, it's nothing. Right. Good. So they ripped it off the wall. I think they might have even used. 

That. 

Wire cutters. And witnesses described the thieves as clumsy, even dropping the painting on the way out. So they grabbed the scream, and they hoof it out the museum, and then they run past the Madonna and. 

Yes. 

They're like, oh. 

Ohh take that. 

Too. Let's just grab that while. We're at it. *****. 

That would look really good above the bed or on the back of the toilet. 

Need a set? Need a set of cans? Yeah. 

Door. 

Yeah. Perfect. Perfect. We got the whole. 

Hmm. Really tie the room together. 

House sorted now. Escaped in a car driven by a third accomplice. Mm-hmm. And the entire heists took only a few minutes. They were very efficient for clumsy, for clumsy thieves. 

And once again. They're either, well, are they clumsy? Are they operating on a higher plane, like they can't be thinking to themselves. We're gonna go and steal this artwork and make a fortune. Cuz you can't. Well, like what? Where how? 

I think ohh maybe on the black market, I think sometimes they do sell them to collectors, but because the collector obviously can't display and everyone knows it's stolen, they sell it for much less than what it's actually worth. And the collector puts it in their cupboard or something. Maybe brings it out when no one's coming over, you know? And then visitors come and they quickly hide it. 

I suppose. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Right, of course. Do you wanna see the scream? You gotta promise not to squeal. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 

Not to tell any of this. It would sound more like a squeal than what you did, absolutely. 

I know. Yeah, yeah, I can't. 

It people were worried too. Because later that day they found the. Frames from the paintings and glass and we thought ohh no. 

Yeah, well, you can't. You're not gonna be able to fit him in the getaway car. 

Damaged them. Do you think they would have rolled them up and put? 

You know well. 

Them in post tubes or. 

That's what I reckon. Yeah, they would have busted them out of the frames and then probably rolled them up. Yeah, which is, you know, high risk manoeuvre, especially with oil, like canvas, probably not like there are thieves. They're not, you know, curators. 

Would they have folded them and freezed them? Rolled them up. OK, but they have had gloves on. There's. The at the time. So back in 2004, both of those paintings together were valued at around $100 million that in that's 2004 money. I think it's, I think we're nudging billions now scream obviously being the more valuable. 

Yeah, that's significant. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. 

***** and just check. 

So you could put it in for a deposit for a house. In googong. 

Yes, yes, just a small. 

Hmm. House. Yeah. Yeah. Not a big one. Like 3 Betty. In bathroom. 

Single car garage. 

M. 

I I think they chose that particular museum because, well, there wasn't a lot of security. Yes, the paintings were just held up by wire and they didn't have. They didn't have the alarms. They didn't have any sort of casing around the artwork. No secure glass, no systems. 

Yeah, well, morsel them then really, you know. 

And I think that they'd they'd gone there back and forth sort of casing out the joy. Yeah, for militarising themselves with the layouts they knew which way to run out and where the getaway car would be, where the security guards were. 

Facing the joint. Yes, of course they would have, yeah. I think in general it's pretty chill around at our calorie as well. Like you don't, you know as a security guard in an art gallery. Like you are. Well, yeah, I think you'd be prepared for. 

Wouldn't expect that. 

It, but you might, yes, but in the event of an art heist, you know there'd have to be some kind of training, some kind of induction to to. But I think that, you know, if you'd been there for a while, you'd probably get a bit complacent, you know. But if you're seeing some guys walking around. 

They'd be standard operating procedures, for sure. They'd be some salt. Yes, this is what you do. Yes, yes, yes. Hmm yeah. 

You know, maybe looking at the back at like, trying to look behind the painting, you know, coming up alongside the painting instead of standing in front of it, looking at it like that. 

Hmm. 

Those would be the sort of telltale signs you'd be looking for, like, why is he looking at the side of? 

Yes, yes. 

The frame as opposed to. 

And the same people coming in once. Yeah. Yeah. 

Yeah, he's been here five times in the last four days. Like, what's going on? Exactly, you know? Hmm. 

Why? Why? Why does he care? Yeah. So it left. 

Led to an extensive investigation, as you'd expect, but. 

Well, of course. How did this happen? How did an error of this magnitude occur? Yes. 

The whereabouts of the paintings remained unknown for two years, even though they arrested a suspect in April 2005, they still couldn't find the painting. So then in June. 2005 a couple of. Later, the government posted an award of 2 million Norwegian. What's what are their dollars called? 

Crohns. Crohn's I think yeah. Or cronies or something? Yeah. 

Crone. That's unfortunate. Probably cronies. 2 million leading to the recovery of the scream and this is where it gets good. This is where I. Would have given them back M. And M's. Was in the chocolate. 

The. Candy covered chocolates. 

Announced that they would give 2 million M&M's in exchange for the safe return of the stream. 

Wow, what a deal. Ohh well you. 

I would have typed in that. 

Know no questions, no questions. If you just answer this message and come forward by this time and this date, no question. Means we'll give you $2,000,000 and two million M&M's. 

M and. M. 2 million M&M's, or if they're the mini. Ones or full size peanuts. 

I'd be like only only if they're the brown ones. 

Peanut, eminence. 

Well, peanut M&M's yeah, it's. Well, they are great. All M&M's are great, but peanut in particular wonderful, but. 

Thanks. 

Despite the incentive of the M&M's? No. One came forward. 

Well, of course. Of course not. This have been terrified. Terrified. Here's the news report of it. 

Stupid, stupid move. Photographed by a passerby. 3 thieves rushing away from the museum and loading the stolen masterpieces into their getaway car. The Scream, the most famous of the two paintings, is one of four versions of the scene painted in 1893 by the Norwegian artist Edward Munk. 

I saw a bunch of people running and screwing and I saw a woman. Get down on her hands and knees and like she's going to pray. 

There was a man coming forward with the black. Guard over his mouth and nose. 

Managing a revolver, pointing it at all different directions. 

The witness said one of the thieves put a gun right behind a museum guard's head as they searched for the paintings. 

He then saw the scream and ran towards that and grabbed that off the wall and then he started rushing out the front and we started rushing out the back. 

The getaway car was later found abandoned. The paintings had been ripped from their frame. 

Things. So Fast forward to 2006 and we'll probably talk about this if we're still doing this podcast then, but we I no guarantees, right. OK. 

Are we still going to be subscribed? I don't know. 

I'm not sure, I'm not sure, but after a big investigation they actually recovered both the scream and the Madonna in a sting operation. They performed a sting which is the opposite of a heist, yes. 

1st. 

Uh, they found them. Well, they they arrested several people that were convicted in connection with the theft, including the people that were linked to organised crime in Norway. You know, the thing with the news grab that we played back earlier in the piece seems to be a lot of Americans in Oslo just quite as well. I didn't think of that. 

Hmm. 

Hmm. 

Yes, I. Hear any? Yes, yes. 

Yeah. Yeah, they were suggesting that the heist was not an impulsive act, it was orchestrated. And that the criminals were quite experienced, although based on the clumsiness of it, you know, I don't necessarily believe that, but they never revealed what the actual motive was for taking it. And I feel like they this is where I think these people are probably they're not doing it to get rich. Maybe they're doing it to get famous or for a bit of notoriety, or maybe they're just doing it for kicks. 

Or maybe they're drunk, like the guy that stole the the salt container thing. I love that guy. He's my hero. 

Return. Yeah, well. 

Thank you very. 

Well, there were. There was, there were. Suspicions that the thieves might want to ransom the paintings back to the authorities of the museum, but nothing was done. There was no like there was no ransom note. There was no call to the police to say hey, we've got the screaming, the Madonna. And unless you give us you. 

Hmm. 

Know. 

2 million M&M. 

Brown M&M's you're not getting it back. That's right. Yeah. So they they they thought that maybe they were going to sell it on the black market like you'd suggested before. 

'S. Any of that. 

But that's a really difficult thing to do because it's it's such a famous painting or series of paintings. 

But there was also a conspiracy theory as well. Others thought that perhaps it was stolen, or both the paintings were stolen to distract police from another investigation that was underway at the same time. 

Now. 

Yes, well, this is this is where the links to organised crime probably come into it. So it's like, OK, so. 

To a murdered Norwegian police officer. Yeah, yeah. 

And I'm alleging I'm I'm, I'm spitballing. I'm just rolling ideas around, none, none of which could probably be proven, but maybe it's like that murder happens and the organised crime scene. You could go. We need to get some heat. It's in the press. We need to remove that heat. The best thing that we could do is run into the art, the art galleries. 

Yes, it's a must. 

Really got really hit security. We know this. You know, we go there all the time. These really famous paintings, you just go and take it. Go and take it off down the road and you get away car. Exactly. Exactly. And we. And so that actually is quite a plausible theory, I think. 

Create a diversion. Makes sense? 

Hmm. 

Yes. So they charged all the people in 2005, they don't actually get the paintings back until 2006 due to them infiltrating the criminal network and from all the tip offs that they got from the police and what and so this is where the organised crime thing comes into it as well because there's all these rivalries and betrayals. Amongst the criminals, loose lips, sink ships, people start talking you you can never. You can never ever keep a secret. For unless you keep it absolutely to yourself, I think as soon as another person knows that secret, it's almost inevitable that that secret is going to get out somewhere. Just it could be a vulnerable moment and intimate moment with someone like like you and I, right, like husband and wife. 

Hmm. 

If somebody tells me to say. For it. I'm sorry, but Mel's gonna know it too. It's just gonna happen. It's just. I'm sorry. It's gonna happen. She's gonna know the secret as well. So just beware. Careful. Careful about how you describe those sort of things anyway. So the information got leaked as a result. 

It's home. 

Yeah, individuals were arrested. 

Yes and yes. A couple of guys. Yeah, Peter Ferugson and Bjorn Owen. 

Yeah. Bjorn horn. Yeah, he sure was. Uh, huh? 

Your own Helen. Sketchy. Upon recovery, this is what we were worried about. Both paintings did have a little bit of damage due to their time in the thieves possession. I think they thought that they'd been moved to multiple locations throughout those couple of years, just to just to keep them well hidden. And yeah, probably the poster tubes weren't so sturdy, so there was some. 

Yeah. Yeah. 

Damage. They were restored, though, and returned to the museum, where they are now proudly displayed under. Much stricter security, which is good to hear, come. 

Well, thank goodness for that good. And look, honestly, I mean, if you look at what happens in art museums these days, where you get these protesters that come in like, like, and they'll just like, splash paint over priceless artworks and things. 

In the end. 

Ohh yeah, that's right. Yeah. 

Like that there's. It's so shocking when you see that happen like they did the Mona Lisa. Thankfully, the Mona Lisa was behind glass and stuff like I think they've really upped security in art galleries these days because there's all these these vegan hipsters with axes to grind that we're gonna go and throw red paint and. 

Yeah, yeah. 

**** on everything. 

Also the 22nd of August 2004, this is possibly one of the most talked about incidents in Australian Olympic history. The Women's 8 rowing final at Athens. 

And rescue it now. Don't you think you want someone to talk? 2. We'll need to leave so soon. I've been trying all night long just to talk to you. 

This is one of the most infuriating and controversial events to come out at the Athens Olympics way back in 2004. 

Yes, the like we said, the Women's 8 rowing finals. So this is where they're going for medals, Australia was. In it, Sally was in the third seat she'd previously competed in the Sydney 2000 Olympics and had quite a reputation as a strong rower, so they make it to the finals. They're going. 

Yep. Yes. There's 8. There's eight people in the kayak, right? There's eight. It's the eight. Well, that's what I'm calling. It's probably not a car. It's a rowboat. 

Yes. Is it a kayak? Is that what it's called, some sort of boat? No. I don't know, cannot. 

It's a robot, not a kayak, cause a kayak is the ones where that. Yes, it's not a kayak. I'm sorry. It's a vessel. There's eight people in the vessel. 

Ship. 

So there in the finals, they're going for a medal. They approached the last 400 metres of the race. Sally suddenly stopped rowing. She slumps backwards. Yeah, she drops her oar, letting it drag in the water. 

That's. 

Right lays down in the boat. 

Yes. 

Leans on top of the lap of teammate Julia Wilson, who is in the number four position in the vessel. And just stops stops contributing to the. Crew's efforts. 

Can't go on. Can't go any further. I've had enough. Yeah. 

Hmm hmm. 

Yes. And the boat some say they were in metal contention, I don't know. They were. I think they were in fifth position at this point with 400 metres to go. Yeah, but because she stops, you need all eight people to be going. And when one stops, the boat loses momentum as a result of her. 

Right. Exactly. Yep. 

Actions the ores also dragging in the water. 

Yeah. 

Which is probably a pain in the. And slowing things down. And so they went from 5th to last place, which was 6th and finished about 10 seconds after the fifth placed team. 

That's right, yes. Well, it's it's it's like horsepower in the car. Like if you lose a cylinder, you know, in your in your V6 or your V8, you're not. Operating on all sealant, then you. 

And you're dragging. Your all along the road that's gonna slow you. 

Exactly. Gonna go a little bit slower. That's right. So that's a that's a very challenging thing to overcome and all the armchair experts watching the Olympics. 

Down as well, yes. 

Ohh. 

That's on Australia. You hang on. Let me just put my beer down for a second. I was resting it on my belly there for a SEC while I was watching the things. And that's that's one of the most unaustralian things I've ever seen. She's a villain. That person is maligned. From now on, you are maligned in my books. I can't believe you've denied us that. 

After she. 

What a villain. What a villain. The villain of Athens. You've ruined. You've ruined Athens. You've ruined the Olympics. You've ruined rowing. 

A precious metal couldn't even get a bronze. 

You've ruined Australia. This is unaustralian an. 

Exactly an Australian my can I just say though, I think to to lay down in the middle of something overly physical that you are exerting yourself on and say I'm ********. I'm ********. That's pretty Australian. 

That happens to me all the time. It happens to me at the gym. I'm like I've had enough. I'm just. 

I'm just gonna stop. I'm bugging. I'm bugging and this is this. 

Gonna have a little. Six. I pretend that I'm doing something, but I'm just actually having a little rest, a micro sleep. 

Is what I mean with the. The armchair experts, 90% of the people watching that, would not. 

They they were. Probably napping when it happened and then someone else woke them up. 

Would have. 

Would have no idea. They'd have no idea. 

When? Hey, look. At this unaustralian thing like ohh sorry I was, I was laying down having sleep 740 winks. 

No idea. 

The miss that. 

Exactly. No idea what it's like to to take yourself to the threshold of absolute pain, and in in, you know, in and exert yourself to the point where you think you can't go on and then push through that threshold and carry on like a lot of athletes know how to do. The people watching would have no freaking idea about that. 

Better watch the replay so I can be outraged. 

Hmm. 

No idea whatsoever. 

Not just a villain, just a villain. 

So she's ********. And you know, I'm like, I can relate. I I how many times do you school cross country I've got. Stitch go. Go on. Can't go on. 

Yeah. 

I got a stitch at the ACT cross country. I made it all the way to the ACT cross country and I was so excited and I got a stitch and I. 

Really. 

Had to stop and. Walk back couldn't go on. Stitch happens to. 

Yeah. See exactly. 

The best of us. So it was it immediately noticeable what was happening. Hmm. Why is she lying down? She's lying down on Australian and the teammates were visibly upset. 

She could have been injured. Something could have gone horribly wrong. 

She explained later that she'd blacked out and physically couldn't continue. She said that her body simply shut down due to exhaust. Which prevented her from finishing the race. 

Have you ever been out on a boat? I've been out fishing on a boat, right? I've been out on a boat and it's like we're fishing and it's sunny and there's no shade because you're out on the ocean and we're drinking beer the entire time, right? Yeah. Yeah, exactly. And I blacked out. 

I hate boats. And the sun reflects off the water in your eyes, and then you get a migraine, yeah. 

So. From exhaustion or from beer, doesn't matter. The fact is I was in a boat and I blacked out and I had a very good reason for liking it, so I can relate. I can understand. I can understand. You know, The funny thing is, is what did she say again? 

Can relate can. You 2. Are on Australian unaustralian you're also a villain. 

You or did you? 

Well, she said that she she said she. Blacked out, but I think the actual quote was suddenly fatigue sets in and I just can't move. It's a feeling of paralysis when you. Hit the wall. I've rode my guts out in the first 1500 metres and didn't have anything left and that's all I could have done for today. 

And then she so that was on the day. And then there was a press conference afterwards, like a couple of days afterwards, cause people were talking about it for days. 

And close. 

And she was like. 

What happened out there on Sunday has happened to me before and. It as a group we are came together and embraced that, as with any other issue and we have dealt with it as a. Group. 

And that's that's ********, because the rest of her teammates were, and in a couple of weeks time, they do the whole Olympic homecoming parade. And I think one of them got a bit emotional and actually physically slap. To at that, yeah, she got belted by one of her teammates. So the teammates are livid. They're seething that after the race ended, like, cause she got back in position at the end of the race. So she she laid down during the race. They crossed the finish line and she gets back up at the end of the race and. 

Ohh, that's right. Yes yes. 

Yes. Yeah. Yeah. 

Rose back to the dock. Yes, before she's left with the team doctor. So she didn't have. Have, according to the team doctor, no medical issues whatsoever. 

Ohh look if I was the teammate, I'd the teammates. I'd be too. Like that's completely understandable that they were so angry. 

Well, The thing is is she's. It's not the first time she's done it, Mel. This is the problem. So she'd done it at the 2002 World Championship, so she just stopped rowing and she stopped them from winning gold in the quad skull. So there's four people in the vessel at that stage as opposed to 8. And she laid down in that one. 

Yes, yes. A four person vessel with its shorter. 

Yes, she laid down in that one. And look after the race after the race at Athens. Julia Wilson, who I think was the team captain, she was interviewed. And she you can just hear how. Stop. She is. 

There was nothing wrong with the boat. There was nothing wrong with the seven other athletes around me and so we had nine in the boat. There was 8 operating. 

Now look as a team. 

And what was it the apes? What's the 9? Ohh, is the nine person the? One the one. That sits at. The front someone steering. 

There's somebody up the back or front or something. Going. Stroke. Stroke, stroke. Is that the coxswain? I don't even know. I don't even know what they called. Or is it? Or is this a cockless one? I'm not sure. 

Ohh, that person. OK ***** I think it's. 

The *****. 

OK, I don't know they obviously. Well, they. Yeah, they obviously had. 

Well, you got nine. You got 9 chicks in a boat, so I'm gonna say it was coxless but but. But see you that that point in time as a team captain, I think that Julia Wilson lets the team down a little bit there because she she let her emotions get the better of her. 

A job? Some job. 

Hmm. 

Yeah, yeah, yeah. 

As a captain, you can't do that. I totally understand why she would have. She was spewing, but what she is effectively done in that very moment is OK, so. 

Yes. Hmm. 

That was very shortly after, so they they get a, they get off the dock, she goes up front. So you know how they all front the media once they've finished the the thing. So that's like pretty much immediately after the event. 

Hmm. 

Hmm. 

Hmm. 

She is still livid. She fronts the media and she does that, which is just shortly after we've seen what's happened and effectively throws her teammate to the Wolves. 

And that if that also then gives the media permission to go hard, which is exactly what they did. 

And this is how you end up with. And and away we go. So she's. 

Yeah. And that that's the thing. I understand why they would have been annoyed, why they would have been disappointed, why they would have been angry with her. But deal with that within your circle. And then have this united front when you're speaking to the media. 

Hmm. 

But the problem is is she took a big can of petrol and threw it on the embers of what turned into a roaring fire that the media. 

Well. 

Was across the front of every newspaper. It was all over the news. She was framed as a quitter. She was a disgrace to the nation. Yeah, obviously the whole lay down Sally headline. The girl who gave up was another headline. 

Yeah. 

Mine it's eight, mate. Pull your. 

Yeah. Weight. Classy. Yeah, that. Yeah. 

Yes, yes, I like the rhyming there. I think the Daily Telegraph labelled her actions at the time as unforgivable and committing the greatest crime there is in honest sport. She quit and then obviously the the an Australian phrase got thrown around as well. 

Yeah, and I. 

Australian. Yeah. Could you do? 

I you know, you know, watching the Olympics recently, you know, it's an Australian break dancing. And I don't want to pile on to that poor woman who had to do the break dancing on behalf of Australia. But if you're watching break dancing at the Olympics like there's some that you should be laying down for, that that is unaustralian. There's nothing wrong with just trying. 

They should have you know who they should have got. David shadel. David Shadle was in my year three class. Yeah. And at lunchtime every day and year three. I don't know where David got the piece of cardboard, but he'd grab a piece of cardboard and where we'd line up to go into the building, he'd move everyone out of the way and he'd put down his piece of cardboard and he'd practise his craft every day, every day. 

Exactly. 

View 3. 

Yeah. 

Yep. 

Little lunch. Big lunch. David Shadle was out there. Break dancing. 

Well, David said or. Not in this country, mate. Go and move somewhere. Else, love it or leave it. 

No, they they should have had David. They should have had David. Did you see the umpire? That beatboxed as well? He was like testing the microphone. And then he starts beat. I think he was actually a beatboxer pretending to be an umpire. But that was good. Beatboxing and break dancing. 

Well, I think I look, I've, I've. Well, as an armchair expert I I find it, I'm Australian. And look honestly for as far as Sally Robin. Goes I I stand by blacking out on a sunny day in the boat, out in the middle of the water. 

While doing sports. Sport is boring as well. 

Seems pretty bloody Australian to me exactly. Even even the Prime Minister got involved. Ohh, did he? John Howard said the incident. I mean that and this is that's just that's gonna hurt you so much after all of that stuff that's happened in the media. Then the Prime Minister comes up and. 

Makes. Fall asleep all the time. Yeah. 

Is the incident was regrettable and the people felt a sense of disappointment now. 

Though he said he understood the sense of disappointment that people felt he understood, so not mad, just disappointed. I think that implies he was also disappointed. 

That's. 

Ohh, he understood the sense of disappointment. He understood it. He didn't say he was disappointed. And and I look, I think that's pretty rich coming from a bloke that can't even bowl the cricket ball. Which is that is unaustralian. 

So he does have the Australia tracksuit, but does that count doesn't count for anything windbreaker? 

It it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. No, no. So do the armchair experts, mate. But we're all sitting on the couch in our Australian tracksuits. Size Double XL, resting our cans of beer on our beer guts while we're watching it. 

I'm a star. 

With a couple of peanuts falling into the pocket, shoving them into our gobs, and we can't fit them all in. 

Far more on Australia not to be able to. Send a full toss or a Yorker down a pitch, but anyway. Hmm. 

The controversy was even adapted into a musical called Lay Down Sally, an awesome new musical Robin hearts around the. 

Ah. 

But what it actually was was a satirical look at Australia's obsession with sport and the harsh media spotlight faced by some of our top athletes. So I think they were on to something here because there wasn't a lot of people at the time. There were a few, but there wasn't a lot of people standing. 

Yeah. 

Up for her. Or thinking or even the conversation around. Is she OK? 

Yeah, look, I think I. 

And what impact, what impacts first? Really. If you're a quitter or you're lazy or you don't wanna put in the work, you're not gonna be in the Olympics in. The first. It's like the amount of effort and dedication training all of that to even get there in the 1st place. You're clearly committed and dedicated. 

Mm-hmm. Yeah, absolutely. And this is we talked about this last week with the OR was it the week before with the Sarah Ryan? 

Hmm. 

In the relay, how she got dropped out of the team and we had that connection to her. I honestly think that post Sydney, 2000, Australia just became a bit full of its own. 

We're a bunch of. 

Yeah, we really were. We were, yeah, absolutely. We became a little bit too cocky because Samaranch was like, you know, this is the best Olympics ever, best games ever. And we put a phenomenal amount of pressure. 

Really weren't. We're Olympic. 

Hi. 

Games. Yeah, yeah. 

On our athletes to win gold and I think that the the. The culture became across the board with a lot of sports. Unless they were sort of less well known, became a little bit toxic, dare I say now? Yeah. And I I think that that pressure also affected the egos of the athletes. I don't think the athletes. 

Hmm. 

Lot of pressure. 

And be exonerated from this as well. Like there has to be some responsibility. There and it's I think it's even down to the way that Julia Wilson handled herself as the captain of the team. And I'm not saying. I'm not saying that she's, you know, I don't know her and I'm not sure that she is an arrogant person or anything, but that reaction in the heat of the moment, I think, is indicative of probably what the culture may have been like. 

Yeah. 

Amongst the Australian team, not so much within that particular sport, but across the I don't know if I can say that, but I'll. I'll say it like maybe across the. Good. We're, we've just done. We've just had our big successful Sydney Olympics. Four years later, we're gonna roll into Athens. Yeah, yeah. 

What do you think? We're gonna go. Smash it over there. Do you think would have happened if this had occurred at this Olympics 2024 Olympics? What do you think the reaction would have been if the exact same thing had happened? 

I I think I think it would have. Well, it's interesting because you know I just made a joke about the break dancing and and that that poor woman was her name Ray gun. 

Now rather than then. 

Who was doing the break dance? He got absolutely smashed on the social media, but it was probably a pretty even split, so some people were like, this is the worst, stupidest thing I've ever seen. And they trolled her. And some people like this just gave me so much joy, you know. So I think that there's a line down the middle and it depends. 

Hmm. 

And what sort of stuff the algorithms are going to push you as to what sort of. 

So whether you're an ******* or whether you're a nice person depends on which version you get. 

Right, so so. So so you probably get the lay down Sally stuff if you're a bit of * **** ** real life and the algorithm deems you a bit of * ****, but you might get some sort of positive. Like, let's rally around this person and support them. Who knows? 

Living. 

Yeah. 

Who knows? It's so weird. 

I think I don't think the headlines would have been anything like they were if this was to happen to them. No way. And I don't think. 

Yeah, I I I do agree. I think that we would have probably rallied around her. 

And I think the team would have, I I I don't think they necessarily would have stuck together, but I I think it would have been a. No comment. 

Yeah. 

As far as the team goes to, I think they're probably a little bit more savvy with that kind of stuff as. Well, now, and when you look at. 

Agreed. But but if that incident hadn't occurred back then, I don't know that they would have been like if things were allowed to continue the way they had and that hadn't have happened. I don't know. I mean. 

Hmm. 

You know, they learned a very valuable lesson. 

But it's still it's. 

All of them. 

Interesting because it's still something that's really talked about as well. There's, I don't know if it's the current rowing team, but there was an interview with a female rower recently and she was saying everywhere, like they'll they'll go to the airport to to go to nationals or whatever. And people are like, oh, what are you doing? It's like rowing and they're like ohh, lay down, Sally. Like it's still this thing that's. That's talked about and kind of has this big cloud over women's rowing because that's what that's what people know women's rowing. 

So. So if it's still spoken about like that today, would things be? 

Any different I don't know, but I was looking online and the Courier mail did a did like. What are those? Where are they now? Pieces and Billy stole our concept, to be honest. 

Ohh yeah. Did they? 

Of the sender cease and desist, but they they shared well. They didn't really share their article. 20 years ago cause probably wouldn't be appropriate, but they spoke about Sally Robbins and where is she now and and what had happened. The first comments under the Facebook Post was from Jake and Jake, Jake says. 

Ohh, it's from a dude. Ohh no. Ohh. 

It was the most pathetic display of unsportsmanlike behaviour anyone had ever seen in their entire life. Extremely unaustralian, and I feel terrible for those other girls that pushed on despite being exhausted and having to carry her carcass around with them too. So maybe we haven't changed. 

At all. What's what's Jake's profile look like again? Like, you know? Is he sitting up there on the couch in his Aussie tracksuit with a beer on? 

His guts? I don't know. I didn't. I didn't delve into to. 

Yeah. 

Jake's. Life. But then you look at something like Simone Biles for example, and I guess. What a what an amazing story this year for. Her. But even I remember the gymnast who withdrew from Tokyo. 

Who's Simone biles? Right. 

Remember, and when she did that, there was a lot of, there was a lot of criticism around that as well. Yeah. And the a lot of people were saying how she'd let the team down, but a lot of other people were supporting her and she withdrew. 

Now. 

Because I think she had a few sort of physical problems with the Twisties or something. She called it where she wasn't. She wasn't landing things properly, which is dangerous when you're a gymnast and you're doing this sort of stuff. 

Hmm. 

Yeah, it is. 

She does. You could kill yourself. You. 

There you break your neck. Exactly. 

You there is a real risk, but she also said that I think when she officially withdrew, she cited mental health issues. And she said that she was inspired by a fellow female Olympian, Naomi Osaka, who'd withdrawn from the. 

Ohh yeah yeah. 

French Open and and Wimbledon earlier in the year for similar reasons, so she felt comfortable. 

Yep. 

Saying that, that was, that was the reason and it really brought that into the conversation. But I mean, at the time, people were also disappointed in her. But a lot of people also supported her, saying good on you. And I think. Seeing her again compete this year and and the commentary around it was so great that she made that. 

Yeah. 

And knew what she had to do and to now see her come back and achieve what she's achieved is just an absolutely beautiful. And that was a really beautiful story from the Olympics this year. So I don't know, maybe we are getting a. 

Yeah. 

Little bit better. 

I think we we're getting better at maybe acknowledging the mental load we've we've maybe got a little bit of empathy. 

The pressure, the stress, the, the physical and the mental impact of being an elite athlete. 

I think we've got a bit more empathy because we're exposed to a bit more of the back story and they love a good storyline these. 

Yeah, yeah. 

Days. But you know. Like it's so I mean, where is she now? 

So she I think she tried. I think she tried out for a subsequent Olympics but didn't make it into the team. And I think she then moved into cycling. She tried cycling but it. 

Right. Ah yes, I did hear that. 

Didn't go. Yeah, it didn't go too well for her, and she ended up moving to, I think it was Brisbane and she's married. I think she's had a child and she's opened a yoga studio. So she's doing yoga, meditation. So if you go, she's got an official Instagram account with lots of really motivational stuff and. 

Oh. A younger instructor. 

Quotes and things and I think there was a very timely quote. I think it was a few days out from the Olympics starting this year. That said, I am at peace with my past and excited for my future. But she did put a really lovely post up on her socials around being proud to be an Olympian and wishing our next Olympians at Paris the very best and that we're all behind you. We know how much hard work you've put in. 

Oh God. Yeah. 

And she said that she's forever grateful to the support that she had received during her time. So I think she's onward and upwards. She's moved on and. 

Support. 

Well. 

Yeah, she's doing alright. Yeah, I think so. 

Good for her, because I do. I do worry about what athletes are gonna do because their careers are so short, really. Like when you look at your life and yes, and they and they at a very young age, they operate on a much higher plane. They've got all this pressure on them. They operate on a different sort of level to. And I fear that the only thing left for them once their careers. 

Oh yeah. 

Dry up is to maybe go to an art gallery and steal. A bunch of paintings. Yeah. So it's either a career in colour commentary or art theft. I think it's the only way to go. Let's do absolutely. Let's do music. 

05 valid options. Let's let's start with the Australian number one. This week, 20 years ago at Kosmar, when the war is over. So is it an Australian to drop out of idol because of nodules? Was that an Australian? 

Well, no. She physically couldn't sing, but I I take your point. Hmm. I I think it's an Australian to cover cold chisel in a mediocre fashion. I think it's just unaustralian to cover cold chisel. 

Yeah. Well, look, you can do it. 

Can't cover chisels? 

At karaoke, that's alright, that's paying for much. 

Well, yeah. That's not covering. It that's not. That's not releasing it and trying to profit from it. You know you can't beat the original of that like, I mean anyone that's trying to sing a song that was originally sung by like Jimmy Barr. 

Yes, that's true. 

It's just never been the same. 

Or Ian Moss is just? Yeah, it's it's not going to happen. 

I'll do it unless it's karaoke, sing star. 

OK. Yes. And then and. We'll fill your boots exactly. 

Amazing. We have a new number one over in the UK. Love this one. 

I love you. I love you. I love. 

You, I love you. 

I love it. 

I did. I did really enjoy this song and it's it's a bit outside of my sphere of musical taste, but I did enjoy this song, this Natasha Bedingfield's these words, and I think it was just a very it was a really eclectic. But it was also a nice positive song, but with a little bit of self deprecation in there and she just kind of laid her soul bare in that particular. 

Fun. 

Yeah. 

Song. 

And it was also on the singing. 

Star and it was on the sinstar. I think that's why too. It was hard to sing. 

And I think it was the I think it was was and it was one, it was on the disc. You know how when you turn the disc on and it starts up and it starts up with one of the songs that you can choose. That was the intro song and Ashley Simpson was one for another sing star. So it it always pops into my mind as a singing. 

Hmm. 

Ohh yeah it. Was the the intro with the intro for the original Singstar. Yes, yes. 

So, and I think we've told this story before. But remember, we were living in an apartment and I think it was when that lotsy guy lived below us and his girlfriend, he'd gone out for the night and his girlfriend had gotten sing star obviously for his PlayStation, but bought probably didn't tell him and she was trying to learn it. Remember she sang it over and over again all night. 

Ah yeah. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yes. I I do. I do. Yes, yes. And then Lotsy came home and that the walls were very thin, as were the floors and. 

These words, yeah. 

They weren't singing later on at night, but by goodness they were making a lot of noise. Yeah, exactly. She was Daniel Bedingfield's sister. Yes, from the and Daniel Bedingfield was the gotta get through this? Yes. 

That's right, yes, lots of energy. Let's. 

I gotta get through this. 

Yes, and they're New Zealanders, they're both Kiwis, but she's number one in the UK. They did. I think she moved to the UK. 

Are they? 

Day and didn't remember he had a. 

Hmm. 

Car accident or something? Are they twins or brother and sister? I think brother and sister. 

Did he? Not in. Look, I I think you're reaching the that's very poorly researched, there's. 

But anyway, if originally. Originally from New Zealand. Great. There was a car accident. 

You've left it at that like people have thought you knew everything and then you questioned whether or not they were twins and it just blew it all. 

They both had they. They, but I don't think they're twins. I. Think they're brother and sister? 

You just lie down. 

Oh shoot, I need a nap. That's what's wrong. That's my problem I need. 

Don't have. A nap. Really, everyone all. 

A nap. Of us lacking. 

Our parents, anyone over the age of 45. 

Now. 

Needs. A nap? Yeah. Although they do say that that napping can actually contribute to damage to your short term memory and stuff. Or like, you know, yeah, don't nap you in the day, stay awake at all costs. 

Map. Oh, it's not good, is it? Yeah, yeah, it's not meant to be good. I'm so tired. So that was from her debut album Unwritten It was. So. In the UK, this was her second single released, but in North America it was the first single released for her, and they did two music videos. I only know the one on Singstar, which is the UK one where she's trying to write the song and the words aren't. 

Right. 

Hmm. 

Smart move. It's getting frustrated. Yes, you've got writers block. 

Coming to her, she's. Just getting chippy, the American version, I watched it today. It features a boom box and she wakes up in bed with a. Boom box. And then starts walking around with this. It's a big boot. It's not a little boom box. It's a big where you couldn't put it on your shoulder. 

It's a big night out, isn't it? 

Couldn't put it on your shoulder when your beatboxing or break dancing. It's like massive. And then she's on the bus with it and singing with. 

Hmm. 

It and then. She's at the beach and she's singing with it, and then it comes to life and starts dancing next to her. It's the most ridiculous boom box I've ever seen. It's a stupid video. 

Really. Yeah. So, I mean there's, you know, you gotta be careful. You gotta be careful as to how much you consume the night before because you don't wanna wake up next to a massive boom box. You know exactly. It's a problem what's happening in the USA. We got a top five over there, right? 

You certainly don't. 

Slow, slow, slow. 

2. 

You could call me. 

Don't dancing. Just pull up my pants. Hit. Do the rock away. Lean, lean, lean. Back. Come on. 

What happened today? I was at the gym. Yeah, and I was listening to. My old school rap. I hate that it's called old school, old school rap and hip hop. I don't know old school music, but it's music that I was listening to. 

Get over it. It's old school. That's OK. It gives you credit, gives you credit. 

What feels like a year ago? Anyway, remember we told the story about Fat Joe getting beat up by? Was it Roy? 

No, no, he didn't get beat up by him. Roy Jones was gonna beat him up because he. 

I nearly did Roy Jones. 

Name dropped him and it yeah. 

In the song that song came on because I was, I was sitting, I was having a nap. Actually, let's be honest, I was meant to be. 

At the gym. 

Doing the hip thrusters and. 

Yeah. 

They just hurt, so I was. Having a little nap, I was having a sex. 

Me the first time you'd fallen asleep during hip. 

I was. I was having a I. Was having a sit. Yeah. And then Jeffrey comes on. Jeffrey Aikens, Ja Rule. I was like, I don't know this Jerusalem. What is this? And I went to skip it and then Fat Joe comes on and I heard the line about having to lean back. Lean back. I was like, ohh, that's the song we were talking about. What a coincidence. This is a nice. 

Yes. Roy Jones. 

Nap. 

Excellent. 

And that's my story. It's good. 

Excellent. She's sitting there just daydreaming in the gym. 

Just listening to, yes, Jeffrey Aikens and Fat Joe. 

Good, good. So top five, number one, just getting you back on. 

No. Track here. Lean back. Yes, Terra. Squad, who sang sunshine. Yes, I don't know. Was that the one with someone called Leah? 

Yeah, no, little flip. 

All little flip, little flip, little flip featuring laugh because you thought it was all layer, but it was just it. Hey Leia. New entry unit. #3 goodies by Sierra or SS. I hear Sierra. Yeah. 

Yeah. Some dudes or chick I don't know. Sunshine. Little flip. Yep. Yeah, Ciara. Do you? That's very Australian of you. What's your name? Is it Sierra? She be like? No, actually, it's Ciara. I'm just gonna call you Sierra. 

See. Yeah. Yeah, Sarah. 

Slow motion. Yeah, in at #4 and Kevin little with a Y turn me on #5. So new entry goodies by Ciara. 

Huh. 

Yes. I'm sorry that there's only one. 

Goody, goody. Yum, Yum. 

You need help. You know. 

Goody, goody, goody. 

That was Sierra Ciara's cover of the good, solid lead single from her debut album. 

Was not. No, not at all. 

Of the same name. 

Yes, that was this one. Yeah, that's uh, that's not the goodies that I know. Do you know the lyrics for this? OK, so my goodies, my goodies, my goodies, not my goodies, which is instantly confusing at the start of the song. I got a sick reputation for handling Broads. All I need must a few seconds or. I think this might be a wrapper part, but then you go. To the chorus. Hmm. And it's, uh, basically, if you're looking for the goodies, keep on looking cause they stay in the jar. Ohe ohe ohe, ohe. Yeah. Ah. 

Hmm. 

Yes, because she's saying I'm not. You're not gonna get it. It's it's. It's actually a song about abstinence. 

Yeah. Ohh, she goes on. Yeah. She's like, I'm not putting out. She's like, even just because she it is she's being very wholesome. Just because you drive for Benz. I'm not going home. 

And rejecting advances. 

With you, you won't get no ****** or the cookies. I'm no rookie. If you ain't sexy independent, I ain't with it. So you already know I'm not being too dramatic. That's the way. I've gotta have it. That's just gotta have it. You may talk sleek trying to hit, but I'm not dumb. I'm not being too dramatic. It's just how I gotta have it. I bet you want the goodies. But you thought about it. 

It's a role model. 

Yes. 

Got you all hot and bothered Matt, cause they talk about it. If you're looking for the goodies, keep on looking cause they stay in the jar. 

Hands off the boom box. Yes indeed, I think that is a very good, that's very good role modelling. And I I think I just need to ask Julian how we say her name. 

Yeah. Ohh Ciara. 

I think I'm I'm sure I. 

Ciara. 

Another rapper called her Sierra. 

No, because she's married to Russell Wilson from well, he used to be OK. 

Originally this is the name of Irish origin and an island, or the name from Ireland is said as Kira. Now in English, this word is often pronounced as. 

Irish. I love these background music. 

SS how do you say it, snow? 

Sierra, Ciara. 

Hmm Sierra. 

I don't put a tiara on my head when I'm being a Princess. I put a tiara on my head. You and then. 

Sierra, thank you juliano's on my team. 

I'm Sir. It's Prince Ciara. 

That song was actually produced by me. John and it was a big success. It peaked at #1 on the US billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks, becoming the longest running #1 debut single from a female artist on the charts since 1977. 

What? OK. 

Wow. 

I don't remember that particular song goodies, the one that I think she's best known for, particularly here in Australia and also in my old school workout mix is this one. The one two step featuring Missy Elliott. 

What you said? Everybody. 

That sounds quite similar, doesn't it? 

Let me do the one trick pony that sounds exactly the same. 

The music the the sound behind, it's called. I think it's crunk. It's that southern sound where you've got a little bit of electronic music like Little John is like King, captain crunk. She was called the Princess of Crunk. She won't think. 

As that, yeah, yeah. What? OK. Yeah. 

She's also in a song with Luna? Yep. She became engaged to rapper future future. Remember we spoken about we spoken about future before. 

Ludacris. Yes. That's his name. Future. 

I just think. 

Excuse me. 

That how do you ever even live up to that name? That's just. 

I don't know, but if they got separated, they should go back to the future. If they repair the relationship, that's kind of cool. 

Well, she didn't. They had a baby, but they didn't. They didn't get back together. Umm, she ended their engagement in 2014. And then I think in 2015. Yeah, that. 

Ohh dear. That's what she hooked up with Russell Russell. Watson. Yeah, Super Bowl winning quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks. I think he's kind of in quarterback limbo at the moment. His quarterback for the Denver Broncos didn't have a very good season last year, but still still look, he's got his good football money. She's done pretty well for herself. Yeah, they're still together. 

That's three kids, so that that album was massive. It had lots of songs that did really well on it. 

They're living the dream. They're still together. Russell Wilson and Ciara. 

She sang with. Luda and Missy Elliott. So Sierra. 

No more, no more boom boxes, but box offices. Alright. 

Yes, horror. This week, number one at the. 

The horror, yeah. 

U.S. box. Office, have you seen this one? 

I have but it and look I it I have to say even though I have seen it it I guess it's forgettable. But I love horror films even if they're bad. And and. But if you do make a horror film and it's bad, you need to be making a genuine attempt to make it good. So. 

Does it mean to be? Do you mean like cheesy bad like? 

Just it's just bad in general. It's. If it's awful, it's still wonderful. I I really relish the opportunity to hate watch bad movies. But if you are deliberately trying to make a bad film, Al, Ah, Sharknado. It's not authentic. It's disingenuous and I can't get on board. I want. I want to be. I want someone to be trying really hard to make an awesome movie. It's a little bit like watching the break dancing at the Olympics. 

Don't know. 

Legitimately bad not trying to be bad. Now, now. 

OK. No, I'm just saying it's just that's what it's like. OK? Cause break, like break dancing on its own is fine. But like in the Olympics, it's bad. And then it become. Almost all right, but the everyone's trying really hard, so it's kind of entertaining regardless. And that's where you get differing opinions. This one I love films about demonic possession. They're my favourite buddy as as. 

That's your favourite. That's your favourite wheelhouse. 

Yes, as someone who's into demonology, they're my favourite buddy comedies. So exorcist the beginning is the number one at the US box office this week. 

Yeah, might cry. Pandemic God is not here today. 

By the sign of this Holy Cross by our Lord Jesus Christ. Sneaky demons. 

Just a few. 

Joseph. 

Run. 

It sounds like a a bad session in the bathroom, doesn't it? In God's name demon I cast you out. 

Do you remember in 90s music? So when you're in high school in the 90s and yeah in class at school and you'd usually pick an instrument and like the rich kids already had an instrument cause they played an instrument at home and they were. 

Yeah, yeah, music classes. 

Yeah. 

Taught and they were really good. Yeah, but everybody's like you had like beginner beginner piano where you get on the keyboards and everyone will play the Exorcist theme that happened at your school. 

Really. 

Like chopsticks and the exorcist. Really. Yeah. Exorcist wasn't one of the things that every wasn't a go to on the piano in music. Ohh. OK, maybe it. 

I didn't. No, I didn't even know that. No, I didn't. 

Was just my school. 

I didn't pay much attention. School. Hmm. 

Chopsticks in the Exorcist may be Canon in D. 

Yeah, maybe. Maybe cannon. Indeed. Let me tell you, this movie tanked. It didn't do very well. 

Is it? It says beginning. So is this the back story? Is this like what happened pre the little girl, one with the pea soups and? 

Yeah, it's. Yeah, yeah, the original exorcist, which is one of the greatest and most enjoyable horror film. I love it so much. It's so. Very good. 

I just I I don't know how you. Can say enjoyable next to exercise enjoyable? 

Ah, I've loved it. I was just. It's just a roller coaster ride of fun and thrills and chills, and it's just it's outstanding. The Exorcist is a master class in horror. It's so good. This not so much. But it was an origin story. So they've got Father Merrin, who was played by Stellan Skarsgard. 

Ohh my gosh. Fun. Fun, enjoyable, fun. 

Thus. 

The old the elder Skarsgard. 

Also, Brother, Father, father, father of the hot one in True Blood. 

Yeah, I believe so, father of the scarce guards. Yeah. Who was in June recently? Papa. Scarce guard? Yeah. He's haunted by his experiences in World War 2 when he was when the Nazi troops forced. 

Papa Skarsgard, lovely. 

To you, you take part in all their atrocities, right? And in the aftermath, he's like he's renounced his faith and he's working as an archaeologist. And he goes to Kenya, where there's this 5th century Byzantine church that has all these ancient relics. And the thing with it is is, like, you know, the statues instead of having their Spears of the the angels with their Spears and stuff held sky where they're pointing. 

Hmm. 

Towards the ground and they're like. 

Why are they pointing towards the ground? 

That's concerning. 

Towards hell and he he encounters this chick by the name. 

Ah, Harry Michaels. 

Sarah, who's like a doctor and a concentration camp survivor, and then all of these things happen and prezeau the demon, you know, etcetera. Anyway, they hated it. Everybody hated it. The critics gave 11%. The audience gave it 27%, and I found it quite enjoyable because it was terrible. But it was OK. Anyway, they were. They were saying quote unquote. Unlike the first film, in which audience members fainted and threw up the showdown between good and evil, prompted more laughter amongst the audience than terror. And I would have to say I agree. With that, yeah. Now the number one film in Australia and again this is behind the times behind the times, but we're still in the demon type. It was Hellboy, but we talked about Hellboy months ago, almost like last year was released in the US so and. 

Year last. Last year, I think we're. 

A bit slow. 

That's one of my favourite movies ever. Anyway, there was another big movie that came out on the 27th of August. 

A soldier with no name warrior with supernatural skill. And No Fear. On a mission of revenge against the army. That massacred his people. Now to make the wrong things right, he must take on the empires. Most ruthless assassins and reach the enemy he has sworn to defeat. 

That was the film hero. It was a martial arts action film starring Jet Li in opened in the US and became the first Chinese language film to go to number one at the US box office. 

Hmm. 

Hmm. 

It's refers to the. There's a. Bit of a historical context, the warring. States period. In ancient China, when China was divided into 7 states. 22127 to 221 BC the Queen State was about to unify the other six States and assassins from the. 

Hmm. 

I think I think Q is pronounced chur, so it'd be tin. Ohh, maybe. 

Ah. Just like Sierra. 

Ohh King, I'm not sure the. 

Qin state was about to unify the other six States and assassins from the six states were sent to assassinate the king of the Qin, and one of the most famous incidents was. 

The king of. Ching. 

Was Jean Keys attempted assassination of the king of the QN? Yes. So in the movie you've got Jet Li. He's an unnamed fighter and he's defeated three of the King's most dangerous enemies. And he's had all of these battles with the assassins. Broken sword, flying snow. 

Great. Ching. 

Yeah. 

Now the the the cinematography in this film is the thing crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon extraordinary. Very good. 

Moon. Stunning. 

Hmm. 

The storyline is a bit kinda Nah, but but the cinematography is great. So this one. Sorry you were. Were you still going with? 

You know. 

It or no, no, that's fine. I'm just having. A nap? Yeah. Having a little rest after all those pronunciations bit too much for me. 

Ohh sorry it it it came out in China in in 2002. 

I and I think we spoke about it back in T -, a couple of years ago because, yeah, it was really big over there and my brother cause my brother is mad, Keen for, but he's also into martial arts. I think he's done like about 100 different martial arts and he does all of. 

Yes. Jet Li, yeah. 

That. Stuff and stick fighting and all the. 

Yeah. 

Whatever. But I remember back in the early 2000s, I went to Melbourne and there was a store in Melbourne that he was obsessed with. It was like a martial arts supply store. I think it was called Tans. And you had to catch all these trams and then walk a mile to find it. And he was. He sent me to Tans to get a copy. 

Hmm. 

Of hero. 

Hmm. 

And went all the way to Tans. Hand in hand. The hero and he wanted it for his birthday, but then I remember when we got to 2004 happy days because it's actually released. But you couldn't get it. You couldn't get it in Australia you couldn't get in America because they they only had it in in China at that stage and they hadn't released it. Yeah. And then and I think we've spoken about this before as well, that it was Quentin Tarantino. 

It had come out the western release. That's right. Well cause it. 

That convinced them to release it in in the US. 

Was it said Miramax. Miramax bought it? Sir Harvey Weinstein, Tarantino's mates with Weinstein. He's a big martial arts film fan and he he persuaded him to release. 

Hmm. 

It's interesting though, and I do remember this at the time, so the run time of the Western cut of hero is about 90 minutes, right? But I think the Chinese run time. Is slightly longer, so I think that they yeah, the director's cut of it is like 107. Maybe a bit longer. It's like it's a bit over an hour and a half. Well, it's well over an hour and a half. It's nearly two hours, but the the theatrical version in the Western version was about 90 minutes or 95 minutes, so they cut a bunch out of it. Yeah, for. And I don't know why, but I was like, I would rather probably watch the Chinese version with the subtitles. 

Yeah. 

Let's try to let out of. 

And the the Western version that's been, you know, dumbed down, it's really interesting the way. When you sort of crossover between Chinese audiences and and and Western audiences as to how much they do chop up feels like you know the that the Jason Statham movie, The Meg, about the big shark, like you could tell that that was just made for Chinese audiences because they, they they it there's not like it's about a big shark that eats people. They take all the gore. Out of it and stuff. And they're just like, hey, Jason Statham versus big shot. You can almost see the censorship playing out in front of your very eyes while you're watching. 

Umm. 

Anyway, it was it was very highly praised when it came out, lots of people loved the movie because of the cinematography and stuff, but. 

Well, it was. 

One of the most expensive projects and highest grossing motion pictures in China at the time. 

Hmm. And it was the first time I think. Well, I mean, unless you count crouching tiger, hidden dragon as well. But it was like Chinese cinema. It it, it was going the other way. We weren't trying to shove Western cinema down China's throat like we're actually consuming some Chinese but, but Jet Li. 

Yeah, yeah. 

Also had at that stage had a lot of mainstream success. He'd done the one and he'd done. Romeo must die, and he was in Lethal weapon three or four or something like that anyway. Much like lethal weapon, I'm too old for this. So next. 

Yes. Yeah. 

Yeah. 

Hmm. Wonderful books. We didn't read. What do you got for me here, Mel? 

You're always so enthusiastic. 

Oh God, I'm dropping things. The whole studio's falling to pieces this evening. 

You're always so enthusiastic when the the book bit pops up and surprised. I do like it. I feel I'm gonna disappoint. Because it's non fiction and non fiction, non fiction is, I don't know. The comments are never as exciting in non fiction because it's usually based on something real and people. 

Ohh no. Yeah. You don't. Yeah. Yes, of course. Because there's. 

Are a bit more. Polite. You don't get low as you. 

Real people involved. 

Don't get lowest ones. Start. Hanging out? No. Nonfiction. But we've had to go across to the non fiction because the bloody what? What did the code with the with the da Vinci? Yeah. Ohh. 

Not at all. 

Ohh the da. Code it's it's back. On the charts again. 

Say it's. When's it gonna end? When's it gonna end? I've just had enough. Alright. It's called American soldier by Tommy Franks, who I think is the American soldier being referred to in the title with Malcolm McConnell. I think Malcolm might have just. 

It's going anywhere, right? OK. So. Hit me with what this non fiction thing is. Uh. Helped well in that case I think we need some military music and. What? What better than a track from our copyright free catalogue that was composed by a guy by the name of Scott Buckley from Brisbane? 

We've had some of's works before, haven't. 

Scott's pretty good. Yeah, this this one's called Legionnaire. 

We yes, sure, yes. 

I like that it's very military. OK, you ready to America? He was a hero to his troops. He was a soldier. Now. Here, his story. Each new era in American history has given rise to a military leader who defines the nations proudest traditions of leadership and honour of vision and commitment and courage in the face of any challenge. From Washington and US Grant to Dwight, D Eisenhower and Norman Schwartzkopf, these men have captured the nation's imagination and entered the small Parthenon of. That's that's all I've got. The synopsis has. 

Yeah, the. 

Gone. What happened? 

Cut. Off it, I don't know. It just ended there. It just ended. In logs. 

Oh, OK. 

On the website they someone nodded off. 

Is it Parthenon or pantheon? Pantheon. Ohh God. 

I think. Someone had a little sleep and didn't finish the. Synopsis. 

Another bit of a moron. OK, well, I mean, non fiction, military history. There's a very specific audience and see and and and. And I feel like I'm in that audience. But I I chose to smoke meat instead. Yes, yes, that's right. Yeah. Yeah. Anyway, what were the reviews? 

Yes. 

Ohh yes, could you go either way? Yes, yes, that's true. 

To these alright. 

All right, we'll start with C. And I will start with uppercase C DOT lowercase, J dot uppercase WCJ W4. 

Right. Stars four stars. 

Good at first, but for me after it gets to 911, I was in the military so I know what happened after that. 

Well, don't we all? Yeah. 

C dot J dot W was there so I didn't have to read. 

OK. Thanks, Sager, David, Maureen. Maureen gave it three stars. The book had a lot of stuff on guns that I was not interested in. I mean, heaven forbid. Maureen, you buy a book about military history in this talk of guns in there. 

After that point of the book, thank you. 

Hmm. 

Kristen, three stars. Does this shock any of you that I read it? I just really happened to like biographies. 

Yeah. Well, I don't know, Kristen. Three stuff, I. 

She put it. 

Don't know you that well. 

Out to the Goodreads community, she was expecting some interaction from the other reviewers. 

I don't know her that well. Hate friends. Does this show? No, we're too busy reading books. We don't have friends. 

Can you believe Maureen? Read that book? My goodness. 

No, that was Christine. Maureen was, I mean, Maureen read it. But she wasn't into the gun. 

Ohh Kristen, Can you believe Kristen? Read that book. 

Yeah, yeah. That's right. Sound sound like a bunch of home and away characters, Maureen and 50. 

Three got my three got. 

My three stars reviewed confused. Yes. 

Mandy Scott gave it two stars. Shouldn't have quit your day job. What? 

This is Mandy's actually written her. Review as a. 

Book. 

Ohh but I thought it was. 

So Mandy's review is called shouldn't have quit your day job, written by Mandy Chessler. So this is obviously before she got married. Because she's now Mandy Scott. 

Ohh. 

OK, OK. So she's given it two out of five, no doubt about it. General Tommy Franks is a good soldier. Well, thank goodness for that, you know, however, his autobiography is slow paced and may lack objectivity. I don't feel like you need to be objective when you're writing an autobiography, because it's from your. 

Hmm. 

Own perspective, right? That's really weird. One thing for sure, this guy knows how to quit while he's ahead, but I reckon you should acquit Mandy. The book highlights his early successes in Operation Iraq Freedom, but then Franks retires and heads home before America becomes bogged down in its current quagmire, a decision that was good for the book and his career stats, but probably bad for our country. I feel like you're putting a little bit too much. On the author. As far as responsibility goes for the debacle that is a war in Iraq. 

I I like. 

I really like that Mandy's review was written like a book, so Mandy's review was called, shouldn't have quit your day job written by Mandy on September the 6th, 2006 book rating. Two out of five, even though she's already given it 2. 

Unless she gave it a title, yeah. Dates and titles are very important and I. I I actually. 

It does. 

Think that we should reinstate that style as well. I think that if you're about to embark on committing. Pen or whatever to paper or typing anything out, you should give it a title, put your name and the date next to the title exactly, yeah. 

Yes, date stamp dates. Yes, grey. Ambo one. Star. Wow. You commanded two major theatre war invasions, and this was the best. You could do. A2 bit memoir that could have been. Written by a high schooler. 

Weak. Oh, he's he's. 

A soldier. He's not an author. Had an easy grab. 

Crane, though, bit rude. 

Though I think it's grambo well, Graham Grambo and he's in, he's in the military stuff and he's kind of tried to. 

Oh, it's Rambo. I think it's grambo grambo. Ohh like Rambo Graham and Rambo. Rambo. Rambo. Ohh, I thought was grambo grambo got it. Got it. Graham is Rambo. 

Merge. Tried to merge his name with Rambo. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Now that's a that's a war movie. I wanna see grambo. Some old bloke shooting a bunch of people, Alex, one star even with a writing partner, he comes across like the love child between a country music video and a commentary segment on Fox News. Wow. 

He's. 

It's it's hard, yeah. 

But you know what? I've got a visual. I've got a visual. Whether it's whether whether Alex, one stars accurate or not, she's really. She's really painted a picture with those words or he. I know exactly. I know exactly what is meant by the love child between the country music video and Fox News right there. 

Yeah. 

Well, I figure that everyone who watches Fox News probably does listen to country music as well. Alright, let's wrap these goodies up. Let's put them in the jar. It's the hatches, matches and dispatches segments. A celebrity this week we hinted at the beginning of the show that said this. 

You don't want to upset anybody by saying learn to speak *** **** English. So as an immigrant, I'm telling you learn to speak ******* English. 

He's fiercely opinionated, this individual and and much like a lot of people don't agree with him, and every time he opens his mouth he tends to court controversy. He should just keep his tongue in it. Really. I'm talking about Gene Simmons from Kiss. Who's now? Retired Kisser, obviously known more, but Gene Simmons is having a birthday. I think he's like pushing 75 somewhere about. Then let me double check that. 

Well, they start well. The band started in the 70s, didn't it? And then so they only. 

Yes, they did. I think they were called Wicked Leicester when they first started. Hmm. And then they went to kiss. 

Retired last year. Wicked Leicester. You should list them as bad as grambo, grambo, grambo. 

Yes. Ohh, I think we get leicesters. OK, yeah, 75 this year 75. Yeah. Ohh gene. Yeah. 

35. He was in. 

Getting a bit long in the tongue. 

He has turned the brand into a global empire, though he's quite the quite the businessman and the logo and the licencing and action figures. And there was a coffin too, wasn't there a? 

Ohh yes, master class in branding. Kiss coffin. Yeah. Diane Dimebag from Pantera was buried in a kiss coffin, as was his brother. Yeah. 

Kiss coffin. 

No way. There's been he's done restaurants or sort of restaurants. Did he do? 

Ohh, who knows? He's done a magazine, Gene Simmons Tongue magazine. I've got a couple of issues out. 

And he's done some comics. Or was that the comic? 

In the shed. Kiss comics it well. So Gene, when he was a youngster. Was really into comic books and and kiss is kind of the culmination of his passion for comic books and then music and the desire to, obviously, yeah, pants. A lot of women as well. 

Hmm. 

Ohh, so that's where all the. Makeup and stuff came from. Hmm, right. And then obviously the reality show, the Gene Simmons family Jewels, I think that was 2006. So almost 20 years ago and that ran for six years. Yeah, with these wife, Shannon. Ohh, no partner at that stage. Shannon Tweed and their kids. But that was a big thing throughout the show is like, why weren't? Why aren't they? 

I didn't mind. Show actually yes. Yes. I think they did get married and I think that was, yeah. 

Married. Why won't you marry me? What's going on? You're still being a pants man. 

Yeah. Well, I mean, he's he's notorious for. You know, being a pants man. And he laid claim to get it laid, claim to to having sex with over 1000 women in his lifetime, which is just. Yeah. Wow. Like you're gonna need, like, so much kenniston and God knows penicillin and whatever else. Ohh my God. Like just. 

Bit of death hole witch Hazel. 

Just dip the guy in peroxide. Seriously. 

It was on the A&E network and it was actually one of the most popular. Shows during its run. 

Yeah, it was huge. It was. It's this is. Off the back of Osbournes as well. 

It was the A&E I keep thinking, accident and emergency. What's A&E network? 

No, it's not that. I don't. I don't know. A&E stands for Arts and entertainment. 

Ohh OK yeah. 

That makes sense. So it was on the arts and entertainment channel. He's also been like he said it bit bit of a pants and has been criticised for his remarks and boasting about his conquest. 

Yeah, yeah. 

MHM. 

Yes. 

And he's sometimes being viewed as objectifying and demeaning women. There's been a lot of backlash from feminist groups over the years. 

He has, he has, and I think you know me too. Didn't really do a lot. For poor old Jean. But I think the most long suffering person in this is probably Shannon Tweed. Hmm. Who is stood by him for all of this? You know, in spite of all the rumours and the reputation, I mean, they've got kids together. They. Well, they were never officially married like they have. Two children together, which you saw in the in the. Jewel show, and I think that she has put up with quite a bit of jeans it, if I'm being honest. So you remember Joe, was it Joyce, from the view, she had her own talk show. This is I've. I've seen this come up on social media a couple of times. It's super awkward. So she's. 

See. 

Interviewing Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed and she alludes to how how many women Jean has slept with, and Shannon just isn't having any. 

Of it. How's your back, Jane? 

My my back has got much, much smackle not so much. 

That's very nice of you. 

To joke about it. 

It's a joke. Where are you going? What are you? 

So far, so rude, so rude for. 

You to joke. 

About it, I was. I was. I was just joking. Because she's a comedian. 

You know you. 

Think it's really funny? OK, thank you. 

Thanks for the question. 

I'm sorry you believe it on me? Don't put this on me. This is all yours. 

Well, you, you. You did the entire setup. Please come back here you. 

Joke about it. Well, I'm trying to. Make you feel a little. 

More comfortable. 

So it's possible that she's done with you, Jane. How do you? Feel about it. 

Please come back. 

Shannon, you want to come? Back. She doesn't. She's she's she's mad. She's mad. Don't blame me for this. So I thought it was you were kidding. I see that. You are not. So it's not. She's mad because you made a. 

Joke about it, I was trying to lighten the. 

Mood. And she was not having that. 

Yeah, it's this live TV. It's so awkward. It's. 

Oh. 

Yeah. Ohh. It's not. Even a pre record, this is what's going tech. 

So it is so awkward and like I think the most awkward thing is he's always, like, fronted as this big man that, you know, has all these conquests and stuff and he has his missus, has just put him in his place. 

Ah. 

So hard and he look, he kind of gets what he deserves. 

Fair enough. And how's Joyce then going? Ohh, maybe she's done with you. How do you feel about that? She just gone in for the kill. 

Well, why not? Why not? You gotta do something. It's live TV. 

Kick him while he's down. Good. One Joyce Joyce did said it well. What was Joyce alluding to with the back? Come on, Joyce did start. 

I just. I think yeah, of. It, of course, of course, but he's always been known as that, so it's kind. And I think that she's just, I mean, she's been with him through thick and thin, and she's been in the back and, you know, did you know that he dated Cher for a while? Did he? Sure. And Jean were an item. 

I can't imagine Cher putting up. With his hits. 

Well, she didn't. No, I don't. I think Jeannie is foolish. Like, really like. I think he's a bit full of it. 

Yeah. Sorry, do you think he's nice behind the scenes? 

I don't know. I don't know. He's. I mean, I think he's a man out of. Time he's he's definitely a man out of time and and that that probably it is definitely an act and he's trying to obviously keep the the man, the myth, the legend alive but the world has moved on and and that became really prominent in about 2017 when he was criticising the me too movement. 

Yeah. 

Bit of an act to. 

That's right, yeah. 

And and look, I think that since then it's probably even come back around again, so that it's like, well, me too obviously was a bit overblown and maybe some of his common. Pence, even though they probably weren't articulated very well, may have been on point, but I'm not gonna sort of say yes or no. I'm always at the risk of being caught in the what he described me to as was a witch hunt. And he said he said he was concerned that men were being unfairly. 

Yes. 

Targeted his comments where he was criticised so much for. 

That. 

Particularly from people who thought that he was being dismissive of of because, like people are speaking the truth. And you're saying that it's a witch hunt and it's terrible. And I mean, he's had lots of. I mean, he he likes money. He's very into money. Everyone knows that he's he's he paintings things a lot as well. 

He sues people a lot, doesn't he? Well. I love that he tried to trademark the devil horns. Yes. So the gesture that you make at a metal concert, how could you even trademark that that that's been happening like, that's not something that's unique to kids. Look. 

So that he could profit from it? Exactly. Yeah, he was. He'll. He'll try. He'll try. 

So does that mean that every time you go to a concert and you do the devil horns, you gotta give him some money? 

Maybe. Any excuse to turn I think any excuse to turn a buck. I mean like he has, he has a very controversial public persona and he people either love him or hate him. I will say from a kiss fans point of view, he's pretty good to their fans and and I experienced this first hand when we. 

That's amazing. That's amazing. 

Hmm. 

We interviewed him years ago on the radio and I was like, look, I'm not. I'm not a huge kiss fan, you know, I was like everyone else when when I was a kid growing up and I saw kiss. On the TV and I was like what? Here's that, you know, and they were. They blew me away. I was like, there was nothing like that on the planet. They were incredible. But when when we had the opportunity to interview him, there was another bloke that I knew in town who was a huge fan of kisses in the Kiss Army and the fan club and all of that sort of stuff. And I was just like, alright, I've got Gene. 

Yeah. 

On one end of the phone I'm going to ring this other bloke. Up and I was like, hey, Johnny, say g'day to Gene Simmons from kiss. And he's like, oh, OK. Hello, Gene Simmons. And then it was like, hello, Johnny. And he was like. Ohh my God. And he and and I let him interview Gene because he knew more than me and he was a big fan and it was a it was a really wonderful thing and he was. 

Yeah. 

Yeah. Wow. 

And like he took Jane to task, and he grilled him about. 

I was gonna say so. How was Jane to? 

Things. 

Him, yeah. 

Once he realised he was talking to a fan as opposed to the media. 

Yeah. 

His demeanour actually changed and he was extremely gracious and very generous with his time with him. And he listened and he like you know, I don't think in spite of his ego and all of those things, I don't think he's ever lost sight of the fact that those are the people that kind of put him where he is in in some weird way. 

It shifts, yeah. Interesting, yeah. 

But he's and and and he has been. Very big on using his wealth to give back to those who need he's he, he's he supports the US military and the veterans quite a lot. He does heaps of stuff for make a wish. He goes in in the demon costume and business, the hospitals and Stuff, Child Fund International. Hurricane Katrina who was very active in raising funds for that benefit concerts, blood drives all of that sort of stuff. And in true Gene Simmons form in two. The 20. He won two Guinness World Records. I love this for the highest flame projection in a music concert, which is just so fantastic and also the most flame projections launched simultaneously in a music concert that both happened at the Kiss 2020 Goodbye concert now. There is another band called Rammstein who will probably break that record eventually, but at the moment Gene Simmons holds it and it's his birthday, 75 years old. I I don't know that he's necessarily enjoying retirement. It's, you know, hopefully still happily married to Shannon Tweed after all of the crap that he's put. Her through as. 

True. 

Well, because I tell you what at 75 years old, mate, you got no game whatsoever, and that's pretty much it. That's the of the show. Yeah. Happy birthday, Gene Simmons. So what have we got? 

Happy birthday mates. 

Next week. 

I think there's some Music Awards. I think there's some Music Awards. 

While some Music Awards, we need a good award ceremony. 

And I think. I think we're finishing up in Athens as well. We're getting close to the closing ceremony. 

It's like it's two weeks of Olympics, but it kind of runs across 3. It's what I'm and I'm like, yeah. 

It's weird, isn't it? It's weird timeline, and we're at time of recording. I think we're about to head into the closing ceremony and all these people around me at work just going. I just don't know what I'm gonna do. I'm just gonna be so. 

What do you mean? 

So I'm I'm so. Upset that they're finishing, they're like, I don't know what I'm gonna watch or what I'm gonna do with my life. And like, this has just given me life over the last few weeks. And all these people are, like, really devo about it. And I'm just. 

That's OK. It's it's. 

Like I hate sports, so I don't care. 

It's been really interesting cause we we get up at 5:00 AM to walk the dog in the dead of winter. It's hideous. It's freezing cold. There's no one around. 

Hmm. 

There's even less people on the streets when the Olympics are on and I don't wanna sound like a creeper, but I walk past houses and the lights are on. The lights are. On in the houses. 

Because they're normally not. Yeah, because people are up watching me. 

Yeah. And people are people are up at 5:00 AM watching the Olympics. I'm like, have you not heard of video on demand or replays? Yeah. Anyway, it's actually. 

Stupid. Shooted just read it on the Internet the next day when you're. Awake. 

Yeah, it's like it's like this podcast. It's like this podcast. People will be listening people. People will be listening to this, and we're very grateful at whatever time because it's not life, you know, so it's humid as, as you will. But. 

Have a nap. Lie down, have a nap. Yes. 

If you don't know what she. 

Let's consider it. That's considerate and we're a subscription that recurs, but there's no cough. That's considerate. 

Exactly like listen, what more could you ask for? What more could we ask for than to have you gracious with your presence? We're so grateful for it. We love you so much for listening to our little podcast that's been going on for quite some time now. And you know, I well, I'm talking. 

Yes. 

Yes, thank you. We are. Yes, it hasn't tied. 

Yes. 

Are you with that? 

OK. Yeah, that's alright as long as you let me have a nap every now and then. If I have a little lie down, that'd be good. 

Promise I won't make any. Well, I promise I won't make any jokes about conquests or my schmekel so that you'll walk off set. Mind you, I would have had to have some to brag about, which I don't. Anyway, the one thing that I will say is you can come and find us on the socials and probably take me to task on 90% of the things I've said today. Facebook, Instagram. I'm not going to say tick Tock. They haven't done ****** all on there, but you can search for t -, 20 podcast and you can have a chat to us. You can continue the conversation, you can interact, I guarantee. You we'll reply. Yes, yes, cause. 

We'll probably get one message every six months, so we've got plenty of time. 

That's right. Keep smiling and bye for now. 

Thank you. 

Thanks for taking the time to rewind. Join us next time for another week. That was 20 years ago. In the mean time, come and reminisce on the socials search for T -, 20 podcast on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.