Another Wicked Shocka!

Dude! You're 100% from Massachusetts!

Dude! Me and Sully and Fitzie and Sean are gonna hit Landsdowne tonight after the game, hang out at the Beerworks. I'll pick you up at the Coop at 6.

How Massachusetts are you?
Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

I found this by way of Googiebaba. I've never taken such an easy quiz! LOL I need this to soothe my fragile ego. I was dealt quite a blow this past weekend. Jen & I have fallen in love with 20th Century Battlefields on the Military Channel. SB had heard about it and asked if I had seen it. So naturally, I had to go see it! It is excellent! Peter Snow and his son Dan Snow are the hosts. It's very informative and interesting and always good for a laugh when you hit the point in the episode where Dan dresses up. But the best, best part is the map case. Peter explains some point about a battle and then he open the map case and there are the battlefields brought to life with "award-winning "sand table" CGI effects".

So, now you are wondering........what's the downside, Maggie?

Ah, yes, the downside. The crushing blow to the Princess' ego.

After we watch all seven shows (1918 - the Western Front, 1942 - Midway, 1942 - Stalingrad, 1951 - Korea, 1968 - Vietnam, 1982 - Falklands (which I knew next to nothing about), 1991 - 1st Gulf War) that have aired so far.......there are........quizzes.

Vietnam.......8 out of 10. Pretty bad considering all that I have read on Vietnam. SB was taking an elective on this subject (which he aced, duh! He was there...cheater!) so lately I have been reading even more about it including Bernard Fall's "Street Without Joy". 80%, crap!

War in the Pacific.......9 out of 10. I feel a little better. All those afternoons watching John Wayne in "In Harm's Way" and "Operation Pacific" and "They Were Expendable" were not wasted. Nevermind countless afternoons sitting with my Dad having a constant stream of color commentary during "Victory at Sea".

Korea........hold your nose.......don't tell my Dad........2 out of 10. WTF! How? How could this be? Well, the only explanation I can come up with is that John Wayne never made a movie about Korea.

So when finish the other 270 books in my house that I have to read.......I will find something about Korea. I promise.

Good God!

Do no Irishmen live in Grand Rapids? No Scotsmen either?
I am watching the ceremony for President Ford at the Ford Presidential Library. As the casket is moved from the hearse to the building a person is attempting to play Amazing Grace on the bagpipes. It is GOD AWFUL. He should stop! He keeps trying and he should stop! Right now. He is butchering it.

When Are All The WTKK Vacations Over?

I am sooooo aggravated with WTKK lately. Jay Severin is out (3 pm to 7 pm time slot), so Michael Graham is filling in. That means there is some nitwit filling in for Michael's normal 7 pm to 10 pm time slot. The replacement is currently interviewing the former governor of Virginia, Douglas Wilder. Whatever, I don't care. It's the previous segment that has me ripping mad. The replacement, Jimmy Myers, was just trying to lead a discussion on whether or not children know more than adults regarding how futile Saddam's execution was. What an idiotic topic. It brought out all the moonbats. "Oh yes! We should never have done that!" "Children tell you the truth!" "Children see things so clearly!" "We just created a martyr so one or two families could feel better." "We should have jailed him for 12 years. Maybe then he would have *thought* about what he did. It's about reconciliation." Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!!!!!! What utter rubbish! First off, *we*, the United States did not execute Saddam, the sovereign government of Iraq did. Secondly, since when are children the voice we turn to? Are they going to balance the budget next? It was just a stupid, non-productive conversation.
The reconciliation caller sent me around the bend! It's not about reconciliation, it's about justice. It's not fucking *time-out*. You don't put people in jail so they will *think* about their crimes. You put people in jail to punish them for their crimes.

When are the stupid vacations over? If the management of WTKK is listening - Hey! Michael Graham fans tune in to listen to something stimulating and worhty of our attention. If I wanted to listen to moonbats who talk nonsense and bash everything going on in Iraq while offering no serious, viable alternative.....I'll tune to into NPR.
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UPDATE
Jen emailed me the new WTKK schedule (with commentary, she is a big Bill O'Reilly fan and is upset they are moving him from the 1-3 pm slot)
10-noon – M Graham (good thing but he lost an hour)
Noon – 3pm – Egan & Braude (good thing but probably could have done 2 hrs not 3)
3-7 – Severin (bad thing)
7-9 – Bill
I guess Jimmy will be on permanently but it’s so late who’s listening?

The important part is that unlike my two commenters, Tugboat Phil and Purple Avenger, WTKK got on the stick and solved my problem. Tugboat Phil and Purple Avenger missed the point of the post. The point was *I* was distressed. It was about me. The whole blog is about me. It is always about me.

While We're At It........

.......can any of you military people tell me where Major John Hall is. Jen & I watched "The Revolution!" on the History Channel. One of the commentators was Major John Hall, West Point. We would be interested in reading stuff he's written (almost every commentator had written a book) or hearing him speak. I've Googled him and come up dry. We've been luckier with other people we found interesting. I found a blog one commentator keeps and we're working a lecture from another into some other plans in August.

Come On!

Leave a comment! Send me an email! I'm dying of curiosity.

coastalnow.net ? (Network)
IP Address 216.166.216.# (Mebtel Communications)
ISP Mebtel Communications
Location
Continent: North America
Country:United States
State: Georgia
City: Hinesville
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Dec 31 2006 8:13:15 pm
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Visit Length 10 minutes 34 seconds
Page Views 5
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Jan 1 2007 1:46:28 pm
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Visit Length 45 minutes 5 seconds
Page Views 21
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Visit Length 8 minutes 7 seconds
Page Views 16
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Jan 2 2007 5:47:15 am
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Visit Length 26 minutes 55 seconds
Page Views 13
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All that time and you have nothing to say? Come on! You're killing me.
Of course, you're not the only one, this guy is a regular visitor too and I'd love to know what he's thinking.
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pentagon.mil ?(Military)
IP Address 141.116.64.# (Army Information Systems Command-Pentagon)
ISP Army Information Systems Command-Pentagon
Location
Continent: North America
Country: United States
State: Virginia
City: Falls Church
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An Old One....but I laughed

After Saddam got his neck snapped, he was met at the Pearly Gates by George Washington, who slapped him across the face and yelled, "How dare you try to destroy the nation I helped conceive!"
Patrick Henry approached, punched him in the nose and shouted, "You wanted to end our liberties but you failed."
James Madison followed, kicked him in the groin and said, "This is why I allowed our government to provide for the common defense!"
Thomas Jefferson was next, beat Saddam with a long cane and snarled, "It was evil men like you who inspired me to write the Declaration of Independence."
The beatings and thrashings continued as George Mason, James Monroe and 66 other early Americans unleashed their anger on the terrorist leader.
As Saddam lay bleeding and in pain, an Angel appeared. Hussein wept and said, "This is not what you promised me."
The Angel replied, "I told you there would be 72 Virginians waiting for you in Heaven. What did you think I said?"

Of course, there's always the raisin theory.

And this brings to mind IowaHawk's great post about Al-Zarqawi (warning, graphic content).

Why does I write this post? Because I am not a nice person. I have enjoyed Saddam's fall and capture and execution.
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This is a tough call, because I could get in trouble with SB for writing about St. JFK. Although, my fav, Bobby is in it too, so how much shit can he give me?
Anthony left this in the Comments
Yasser Arafat dies and through some mistake ends up wandering through heaven. As he wanders along he bumps into a group of guys. He quickly realizes that they are former President John F. Kennedy, his brother Bobby, and Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. They are all visibly intoxicated. Arafat yells at them full of indignation saying, "Get out of my way you infidel pigs! I am here to bow before the face of Allah and receive my 72 virgins!" The guys all look at each other rather sheepishly and finally JFK says, "Sorry, we didn't know those were yours."
Over at Anthony's other blog we're having a discussion about Roman Catholicism and capital punishment........here it's off color jokes. Oh well, everyone knows that's my favorite color...off.

New Year's Day

For some New Year's Day is a time of hangovers. That doesn't happen to me. For some it's about football, that will be Frankie. But for me, it's about reflection and resolutions. I'm not saying I'm deep and anyone who knows me is aware that the resolutions are fleeting, but that's what today is about anyway.

In this vein, I'd like to point out a few things I've read this morning. One is Nora Ephron's funny piece on New Year's Resolution over at HuffPo (yes, I know, but you know how I feel about reading the other side, I'll be listening to NPR at some point today too). She captures my feelings and experience with NY resolutions very well. Although I do get some stuff done. There are things I have accomplished in life after all. It's just NY resolutions make me feel like a failure. I commented over there that I do better in the spring and maybe for me it is the New England winter (not that it's been much of a winter yet).

Another is a moving piece in the NYT by Dana Canady about a journal her late fiance kept for their newborn son Jordan.
Dear son, Charles wrote on the last page of the journal, “I hope this book is somewhat helpful to you. Please forgive me for the poor handwriting and grammar. I tried to finish this book before I was deployed to Iraq. It has to be something special to you. I’ve been writing it in the states, Kuwait and Iraq.
First Sgt. Charles Monroe King was stationed in Iraq and was killed in action October 14, 2006. Sgt. King's journal is decorated with drawings, one shows himself with angel's wings.

I think they are very appropriate.

Senator Dewine read a tribute to Sgt. King on the floor of the Senate. Mr. President, Charles King, could have lived comfortably as a professional artist. But, his strong sense of duty led him to enlist in the Army. “My brother was very much into service and serving others, and I that was the driving force [for joining the military],” Gail said.
Sgt. King's life will be one of the things I will reflect on today.

Another will be the life of Trooper Paul Barry. We lost Paul over six months ago. If you want to read more, it's here, here and here. It is still possible and very appropriate to make a donation to the fund for his children. This is a story and video about the 1st Annual Trooper Paul F. Barry Memorial Motorcycle Run.

Happy New Year

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne!
For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne. We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet, For auld lang syne.
And surely ye'll be your pint stowp!
And surely I'll be mine!
And we'll tak a cup o'kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
For auld,
For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne. We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet, For auld lang syne.
We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou'd the gowans fine;
But we've wander'd mony a weary fit,
Sin' auld lang syne.
For auld,
For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne. We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet, For auld lang syne.
We twa hae paidl'd in the burn,
Frae morning sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar'd Sin' auld lang syne.
For auld,
For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne. We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet, For auld lang syne.
And there's a hand, my trusty fere!
And gie's a hand o' thine!
And we'll tak a right gude-willie waught,
For auld lang syne.
For auld,
For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne. We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet, For auld lang syne.
Robert Burns 1759-1796

John Adams - the Miniseries

HBO is going to make a miniseries out of David McCullough's fabulous book "John Adams". I just read about it over at "Boston 1775". Jen and I were watching the History Channel presentation on Horatio Gates. It's part of their "Washington's Generals" series. One of the commentators was John Maass. John blogs over at "A Student of History". I found "Boston 1775" by way of John's blogroll.
Here is the entry that caught my eye.

Hollywood websites are reporting that the HBO miniseries adaptation of David McCullough's John Adams biography will star Oscar nominee Paul Giamatti.

That's good casting. Giamatti could easily be made to look like Adams, and he's got the eager little popping explosivity that comes through the lawyer's diaries. Back in college, I had the pleasure of seeing Giamatti in several undergraduate plays; I particularly remember a production of Ionesco's Rhinoceros. He was great.

The Soundtrack for Saddam's Execution

First off they should play "Courtesy of the Red White and Blue"

Then.......Havah Nagilah!

Havah nagilah
הבה נגילה
Let's rejoice
Havah nagilah
הבה נגילה
Let's rejoice
Havah nagilah venismechah
הבה נגילה ונשמחה
Rejoice and be happy

(repeat stanza once)

Havah neranenah
הבה נרננה
Let's sing
Havah neranenah
הבה נרננה
Let's sing
Havah neranenah venismechah
הבה נרננה ונשמחה
Sing and be happy

(repeat stanza once)

Uru, uru achim!
!עורו, עורו אחים
Awake, awake, brothers!
Uru achim b'lev sameach
עורו אחים בלב שמח
With a happy heart

(repeat line three times)

Uru achim, uru achim!
!עורו אחים, עורו אחים
Awake, brothers, awake, brothers!
B'lev sameach
בלב שמח
With a happy heartהבה נגילה
Let's rejoice
Havah nagilah
הבה נגילה
Let's rejoice
Havah nagilah venismechah
הבה נגילה ונשמחה
Rejoice and be happy

(repeat stanza once)

Havah neranenah
הבה נרננה
Let's sing
Havah neranenah
הבה נרננה
Let's sing
Havah neranenah venismechah
הבה נרננה ונשמחה
Sing and be happy

(repeat stanza once)

Uru, uru achim!
!עורו, עורו אחים
Awake, awake, brothers!
Uru achim b'lev sameach
עורו אחים בלב שמח
With a happy heart

(repeat line three times)

Uru achim, uru achim!
!עורו אחים, עורו אחים
Awake, brothers, awake, brothers!
B'lev sameach
בלב שמח
With a happy heart

The Running of the Muslims!

"Ibrahim was among nearly 3 million Muslims from around the world who massed in tent cities on the outskirts of Mecca on Thursday for the start of the annual hajj. For many, it is a once in a lifetime chance to cleanse their sins in one of the most important rites of Islam."

So........shall we start a pool? How many will be killed in the stampede this year? Last year over 360 were killed.

I'll take 375.
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Jennifer wants 385 "Muslims in muslin" dead with 50 disabled.
(Context/background - Sunday my mother was doing the Globe crossword puzzle - they buy both Sunday papers, although I regularly protest giving the Morrisey-Avenue-bowtie-bum-kissers any money - and the clue is about cotton fabric and my mother says "muslim". Jennifer protests, how can cotton be religious? My mother says "no the fabric". They go back and forth, finally my mother spells it M-u-s-l-i-n. They are telling me the story and Jennifer is saying she has never heard of muslin. I say I have. She yells "spermologist!" Which is a different running joke about collectors of useless facts or trivia. So, now for us it's "Muslims in muslin!")
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Anthony is taking 412

Congratulations Jessica and Mark!

My cousin, Jessica, has announced that she will be married March 15, 2008 at the Ritz Carlton Las Vegas. I am already looking forward to it! There is a spa that Jen & Grace & I will visit.

Someone Finally Steps Up In Somalia and........

"The United Nations is unhappy about the Ethiopian incursion..."

Do I give a fat rat's ass........let me think.......

Countdown to Armageddon

Countdown to Armageddon was a special Jen and I watched on the History channel. I don't know when it was on, we DVR everything now. We watch almost nothing live (that will change when Jack is back on 1/14/07). So Jen and I got more laughs out of this show. It had scientist explaining the seven things that would most likely destroy the earth or civilization. We had an idea what they would be talking about so we kept trying to guess number one. I said global warming, she wondered if Al Gore would show up. Jen got the "V"! Jen said no wonder some people get depressed and kill themselves over this stuff. Out of the 7 disaster listed, 6 destroy not only civilization, but the planet becomes inhabitable. They had first responders on from some town in the Midwest (you know me, if it's west of Worcester, it's hazy) explaining what they'd be facing if the supervolcano under Yellowstone (Jellystone as Jennifer said) Park went. Well after they explained it.....who wants to survive?
So I vote for an avian pandemic. I think it would actually be good for the planet. I know that's cold....but I am mean. For those who survive there would be a lot less overcrowding and pollution. With most of the other disasters there's nuclear winter or the ocean has the pH of battery acid.
They had ordinary people explaining what they would do if they found the world was going to end (if scientists could give you the timeline of an asteroid or the progress of the sulfuric ash in the air hitting covering your city). We laughed with some answers, agreed with others. But we pretty much agreed that world governments would never let scientist tell because there would be chaos. So, my conclusion, whatever it is you would have done, do it anyway. You never know. That's what the nuns always taught us. Live each day like you might meet Christ that night.
Although when the bird flu comes, I'm going to be hard pressed to decide where to wait it out. I want to be with my family and take care of them. On the other hand, I wouldn't mind being with the Princess' Grand Vizier. He is completely prepared to survive. If only I could get m family to go there with me. I'm not any closer to deciding than the last time I had this discussion. Maybe I'll have to flip a coin.

Gerald Ford, 38th President

Gerald Ford has passed away at age 93.

From ABC News:

LOS ANGELES Dec 27, 2006 (AP)— Gerald R. Ford, who picked up the pieces of Richard Nixon's scandal-shattered White House as the 38th and only unelected president in America's history, has died, his wife, Betty, said Tuesday. He was 93.
"My family joins me in sharing the difficult news that Gerald Ford, our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather has passed away at 93 years of age," Mrs. Ford said in a brief statement issued from her husband's office in Rancho Mirage. "His life was filled with love of God, his family and his country."
For his naval service, Gerald Ford earned the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with nine engagement stars for operations in the Gilbert Islands, Bismark Archipelego, Marshal Islands, Asiatic and Pacific carrier raids, Hollandia, Marianas, Western Carolines, Western New Guinea, and the Leyte Operation. He also received the Philippine Liberation with two bronze stars for Leyte and Mindoro, as well as the American Campaign and World War II Victory Medals.

Swiping Stuff To Decorate My Place

This was hanging on the wall over at The Castle. John credits Sanger with it. My comment?
"If I had a nickel for everytime someone said this to me..........."

From the Record American in the Winter of 1964

"WHO CARES? - Heavy snow was predicted but it didn't seem to faze many persons. At left, pretty Frances De Les Dernier of Rockland is all set for a weekend of skiing on the new accumulation. Above, shoppers continued to pour into Boston despite the storm. One woman carries her off-spring under an arm as she crosses Washington st., at Summer st. (Story, Other Photo, Pg.2.)"

Record American Photos by Bob Howard and John Murphy

The Last Time I Was On The *Nice* List

Thanks to my not-so-patient sister Jennifer for scanning and bringing back this faded and creased photo back to life.

I Did My Part

Did you?

Christmas Meme

Sniper One over at 7.62mm Justice has tagged me with a Christmas meme.

Here are the rules:

Ok, this is how it works: The player (me) must list 3 things that I would love to get for Christmas. Then I must list 3 things that I definitely do not want to get for Christmas. Then I tag 5 friends and list their names. The one I tag needs to write on their blogs about their Christmas wishes then tag 5 more people. They must also clarify all the rules. When you tag someone you need to leave a comment that says “you’’ve been Christmas tagged!” in their comments and tell them to read your blog. Ok everybody.

3 Things I Want:

A Weekend in the Spa at Foxwoods with all the bells and whistles

Buckets of Hershey-ets - to eat poolside at Foxwoods

A book - not just any book - Major General Lynch's favorite book - hand delivered.

Keep in mind that I have no expectation of getting this if for no other reason that when Santa unravels that "naughty list" and it goes rolling across the room......right at the top.....the very first name.....in bold script........is BostonMaggie!

3 Things I Don't Want

Any thing religious - Unless it comes directly from my priest, everything else is cheesy

Chocolate that isn't top drawer - I am a chocolate snob

Clothes - I haven't been on Atkins lately, anything that fits, I don't want and anything I want doesn't fit, argghhh!

Tagging 5 people - well this isn't very nice right before Christmas, but fortunately I never have been nice!

AfSis

FbL

Sgt. B

Beth (SWWBO)

AWTM