Weekend open thread
Sparks said that he wants a weekend open thread already. And now Sparks is all like;
Category: Administrative
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HEY JONN!!! You found an old photo of me! I didn’t know it was still floating around! 😀
I gave it to him. You’re welcome! Hahaha!
Happy weekend everyone!
Valkyrie…you’re still one of “My Girls”! 😀
“We are the people our parents warned us about” – Jimmy Buffett
It sorta looks like Bernath with long hair.
Taking a big fat John Giduck – the turd with a face!
That which is seen can never be unseen.
Please pass the eye bleach.
Toasty Coastie…thanks my dear. Some of us can pull off that look, others not so much. 😀
Geezo pete! No warning? Oh, that’s just mean!!!
Eeeeewwww!
I have just had a horrendous thought!
Could this really be that Non-Lawler, Non CPO from Oregon?
Who knows? Obviously, the fellow is intoxicated.
By the way, the tattoo…is from 1-20-09…the day I got my hair permed and my new, strawberry man thong. I was happy that day! Good times, good times. But I can’t really play a wind instrument. I was just dancing along and pretending with the hippies that are out of frame!
Sparks~
You truly do pull it off well. Its just i am young and virginal and have never seen such a display of….um….joy.
A whole new meaning and visual of the “Happy Dance”. 🙂
Toasty Coastie…In truth, I have short hair, clean shaven, not overweight, haven’t been barefoot on pavement since I was a kid pulling up and rolling “tar balls”, no tattoos and don’t and never have looked that old. 😀 If anyone ever catches me looking like that or wearing something like that, I fully expect a throat punch and then a good beat down…please, please, beat it out of me! 😀 😀
I have imagine you as such Sparks:D
Dude!! Jonn swore he’d never use that pix of me. This is his response to my post. He took that pix well before ’09. DC actually. I was hanging out with the hippie chicks at the time. Wasn’t a tattoo, BTW. Just temporary.
You have my permission to use it though.
I have an Announcement.
My Son Made 3rd Class. Congratulations to him and all the other Sailors who got promoted today.
Well Done.
Congratulations Enigma.
Best wishes to him and my thanks to you and him for your service.
E4U Congratulations on your son’s promotion. Thank him for serving and pass on a hearty “well done sailor”! Go ahead now and thump your chest!
He lurks around here from time to time.
I will pass it on.
Give him my congratulations, E4U.
That is so great for your son and you. Apple didn’t fall far, did it? Such a wonderful family.
(winding up to tack on crow…)
Ah, hell, even I’m not that cruel.
Tack that crow on properly!
BZ!
I got hit by a BM2 so hard that I felt it in my legs.
I was a push button third. He was in charge of the barracks. We all had to see him to check out. He loved graduation day.
The Path of the Warrior
Have tissues ready.
To all here..
Thank you.
Toasty Coastie…thank you very much for that video. Thank you.
Still something wrong with my tear ducts.
One of the guys in my Vet Group sent this to me…..can’t watch it.
I just watched the video with me son. As tears rolled down our faces he said to me, “don’t be sad dad, they did their job well”.
Impeach Bush or aliens will land in my wig… from last decade:
http://www.protestwarrior.com/gallery.php?group=lefties&pic=29
Looking forward to viewing the Comet LINEAR meteor shower tonight, hoping for clear skies and chilly enough up here at Lake Audubon to keep the mosquitoes down.
Hey Ex-Ph2
When you gonna visit me here in Lough Tay (sometimes called Guinness Lake, as it’s part of the Guinness estate) in Co. Wicklow to take some pictures hmm?:shock:
Next time I hit the road for Catania, I’ll drop by.
I was talking to my doctor about that today and thought of you. I hope you get some cool pictures of it. If it doesn’t fizzle out.
Terribly sad, but true about the profession a lot of us chose.
Damn. My allergies are bad. Some reason that tears are flowing.
In all seriousness now, I want to take a moment and thank each and every one of you brothers and sisters on this blog who have served or supported someone who has served our country. Memorial Day means something different to each of us perhaps. For me, it is not quite a happy occasion. It is my time of quiet remembrance and reflection upon friends, relatives and even strangers, who died in service to our country. It is thoughts and memories from old photos of men I knew and or served with. I truly and deeply regret, I can’t remember all their names anymore. (My age and memory problems.) The photos bring back snapshot flashes of that time and those men. Along with those snapshots come some of the feelings and emotions from then. Yes, some feelings are unpleasant and heartbreaking. All though, pleasant or not, I would not trade for anything in the world. I mean that with all my heart. Memories of men I still believe were beyond, “great and brave” in the service they gave. Some were wounded, some died. All I knew, served faithfully and honorably. They say our wives’ are our better halves and the best part of us. I think that is true in marriage. However, the best parts of me, in my marriage and elsewhere in life, were created, formed and honed by the training of outstanding men and my service beside greater men than I will ever be. They are still my ideal of what I would aspire to be, if that were possible. What I gained from them and took away from serving beside them, became the qualities which are the best I have to offer. I thank God I was allowed to serve my country. I honor all those who have fallen, with feelings I have no words to express. “Thank You”, just seems so inadequate and so very small. What is the thank you for a life given? Perhaps it is the sincere remembering of those given lives. Remembering all of what they gave and what they and we,… Read more »
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Sparkle, you and everyone who has ever served or who will serve in the future are true Heroes! No matter what service or what MOS (see I’m learning the terms) peacetime or at war. It’s thanks to the men and women who serve this country with pride and honor and their families that makes this country what it is today. Thank you!
No, smart ass jokes or anything else from me. You guys know what a fan girl I am for you guys and this weekend I can say it without looking like a dork. (OK, maybe a little dorky but it’s still true!)
Sparkleberry,
You are a hero and I am honoured that I get to read your posts and hang out with you on TAH.
I feel that way about everyone here.
In this time of solemn remembrance, lets also try to find joy in that we have had the honour to know some of the men and women that have died for us and our Country.
Their lives deserve to be celebrated as well as mourned.
I believe they would want us to do that.
Toasty Coastie You are absolutely right. Though it is bittersweet, there is joy amongst the sadness and celebration with the mourning. Thank you.
Hey, that’s one of the songs I sing!
Only, I call it, “UKRAINIAN FOLK SONG”.
Nice job, John.
Thank you.
Very pretty John.
Thank you for sharing.
Damn…now Bernasty has my picture.
The pix I meant was Jonn’s opening pix, not the ones of real hero’s. I’m but a heavy drop,
And a suck up to MMFIC Jonn for keeping TAH here for us supposed Vet losers to have a forum to vent in a harmless way. Shooters and Remf’S are all welcome here. No posers though,
A couple of nights ago, around 0400 Hours, I watched a South bound freight train hauling what appeared to in shape to resemble military Armored Personnel Carrier tracked vehicles, two (02) per flat car, interspersed with flatcars containing what might have been stacks of tires (or something?), with EVERYTHING completely concealed under white plastic wrapping.
This particular event appeared to be highly unusual, because from time to time, we see military equipment being hauled on flatcars in both directions, but never concealed.
So, what was it that I was seeing, and what was its significance?
This rail line runs nonstop between New Orleans, Louisiana and Mobile, Alabama.
Camp Shelby, Mississippi is a deployment center currently in use for shipment to and from the combat zones.
In case of disaster, Camp Shelby is also where residents of the Armed Forces Retirement Home are to be evacuated.
Glad to see you John. You haven’t been around much and a few were starting to get concerned. Great song also.
Thank you.
But, I think this will have to be my final comment, because the pain is getting to be a bit too much.
John, take care and get some rest. I hope your pain eases. You are in my prayers.
Final tonight or…? You know if you ever need to talk, I’m just a hollar away. You have my YouTube info.
Yes, it’s just “tonight”!
I ain’t suicidal.
But, thank you, anyway.
Just checking, but the offer stands any time. Hope you feel better.
My favorite war movies:
“EMPIRE OF THE SUN”
“TO END ALL WARS”
The Viet Nam war movies which most closely depict my own personal experience:
“FORREST GUMP”
“CASUALTIES OF WAR”
“GARDENS OF STONE”
(because it shows the controversy here in America)
To the ones I email: just wanted to let you know that I’m not ignoring you, but I’ve been unable to reply to my email for about 3 days now. But no worries Yahoo says “we’ve got this covered.” So I guess it’s not only me having the trouble. When I hit “reply” it goes to a loading screen that just sits blank with a wheel turning then a message from Yahoo saying they’re working on it. I guess maybe because I use my phone but won’t download the app for it. I just refuse to have apps like mail or Facebook that if I lost my phone anyone would then have access to my private life. Sorry but it’s always ssomething!
Get a computer!
My brother has had my Mom’s laptop for 2 WEEKS! He was fixing all the “repairs” others had done to it and a virus she had on it. He has hide it from me but Mommie told him last night to let me use it, and then I fell asleep. So I’ll get it when he wakes up around 1pm. I love being the baby of the family and the only girl. I still get to tattle on my brothers! Haha!
HOLY SHIT! There is a wild boar in the blackberry bushes in my yard! Just wattled up! Eek!
I was driving home from McDonalds this morning in the quiet dawn hours. We have lots of large irrigation canals running through the neighborhoods which provide lawn water. There was a momma duck with 8 or 9 ducklings crossing the road. She was moving them from one canal around the siphon under the street to the next section. She hopped up on the curb and turned to watch as each of them in turn tried but could not jump as high as the curb. She came back, jumped down and one at a time as they would jump she shoved her beak under their little butts and heaved them up onto the curb. A mother’s care and love. I am a sometimes sentimental guy and this kind of gave me pause as I stopped the car to watch. She gave my car a short, careful look see and then kept on with the care of her young. I guess you had to be there.
This just came out today:
http://www.armytimes.com/article/20140523/NEWS04/305230076/Army-selects-new-camo-pattern
For some reason that looks oddly familiar. Like I have seen it before…
To me it looks like a laminated map of NTC that got ran over by a M113 APC in the mud at Wildflecken.
The wife and kids don’t understand. The neighbors inquire about the cookout. I’ll just lay low and pretend it’s just another three day weekend.
Well, tomorrow is D-Day for me… I’m gonna talk to my Dad about Reserves. Wish me luck, right?
Good luck FW.
I hope your dad is as proud of you as all of us are here 🙂
Good luck, and thank you! Let us know how it turns out.
Farflung Wanderer Good luck. I don’t think you’ll need it. You’ve shown your dad you are a responsible, heads up guy in making decisions. You may be surprised by ole dad.
I was at the Houston VA Cemetery the other day, I went to a PGR mission on Thursday and I am going to another one on Monday.
Through all of this, I was in tears when I went to the cemetery as I looked at all the graves of men and women that had gone before me and had died much too young.
I am completely humbled by the people I served with and the people that come up to me to say thank you for serving. It was an honor to serve, no doubt about that.
I am also humbled by the people that read and write on these pages. You guys are some of the true heroes I served in the company of.
Thank you to all of you.
Today I stopped at Betsy Ross Flag Girl world headquarters and bought 4 dozen small American Flags that were not made in China. Tonight my 12 year old son and I drove up to our small farm in NE Texas and we talked along the way about the history and meaning of Memorial Day. This weekend, just the two of us will work on the fence, admire our cattle, work on some barn repairs, help our 81 year old (Veteran) neighbor with his fences and/or cattle, smoke a brisket, eat some homemade ice cream, and maybe even put our booger hooks on the bang switch a time or two. At the appropriate time, we will go down the road about a half mile to an old almost forgotten country cemetery. Solemn respects will be paid, and American made American Flags will be placed. I am hopeful that my son will remember this Memorial Day for the rest of his life and I hope that it will be the beginning of a journey that will lead him to understand the full measure of the debt of gratitude we owe to those who gave their full measure. He’s a pretty smart kid. Expectations are high.
You are an awesome Dad and a good person!
GDcontractor You’re a good Dad. Good for you teaching your son the right things about his country.
Just up the road from where I live there’s a old cemetery. In fact it’s the oldest one in the state. There is a number of vets buried there. Dating back to the civil war.
I’m going to walk there tomorrow and have a talk with the boys, and thank them for there service.
To celebrate Memorial Day
SOS Recipe:
Ingredients:
·1 pound lean ground beef
·¼ cup all purpose flour
·1 cube beef bouillon
·¾ tsp. salt
·1 pinch ground black pepper
·2 ¼ cups milk
·¼ tsp. Worcestershire sauce
·Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
·Biscuits or toast
Prepare:
1.Brown beef in a large skillet over medium high heat. Drain.
2.Stir in flour, bouillon, salt and pepper.
3.Sauté all together for about 5 minutes or until flour is absorbed.
4.Gradually stir in milk and Worcestershire sauce.
5.Bring all to a simmer, stirring constantly. Cook until thickened, about 5 to 10 minutes.
6.Serve hot over biscuits or toast and with scrambled eggs and with plenty of STRONG coffee
7.Top with shredded cheddar cheese (optional) and have hot sauce available
This base recipe, like most military recipes, is rather bland in order to appeal to the masses. Recommend the addition of 1/2 tsp each onion and garlic powder to the flour. I also increase the Worcestershire sauce to 1 tsp.
For a fully authentic experience prepare at 3 a.m. and serve on metal plates, outside, in the dark along with a boiling hot cup of strong black coffee served in a metal cup. Enjoy while balancing the plate on your knees And while sitting on a stump, metal helmet or directly on the damp ground. Good times.
Thanks O4E…looks like a keeper. Have clipped and saved. For the times that I’m lazy, I find the Stouffers version to be quite passable…in fact, I just finished one. Avail almost everywhere.
My version,
Get out of bed,
Convince someone to go to Bojangles to get sausage and gravy biscuits.
The boy and I just had banana sandwiches, his with peanut butter and honey mine with mayonnaise.
Valkyrie You sweet, lovely, beautiful woman you! I was raised on banana sandwiches with mayonnaise. People out here think I am crazy and turn their nose up when I mention my favorite sandwich. It’s best when the mayo and bananas are cold. Good on a hot day.
Sounds oddly similar to something popular in the 50’s – bananas sliced lengthwise, spread with mayo then sprinkled with a bunch of peanuts. One of those strange things served as salad or something. I still like it, but have graduated to using pecans instead of peanuts.
I read somewhere that Elvis Presley’s favorite was a peanut butter and banana sandwich, you’re eating what the King liked!
Proud…Peanut Butter and banana is my second favorite sandwich for one that’s sweet. The King had it right.
OR if you’re lucky, you get to eat it while it sits on the warm hood of a Humvee that just pulled in ir the fender of a “Water Buffalo” parked near the Mess Tent. It’s been said they’re no longer called MKT’s (Mess Kitchen Trailer) they’re Field Unit Kitchens!
Best SOS I ever ate was at the USCG STA Chetco River, Brookings OR. The only thing the cook would say about it was “Butter and Garlic”. He made it for Saturday breakfast every week. We were only a 20 man station but he always made a huge batch. Served it over fried diced potatoes. Every Law man in Curry county would show up for his SOS. Local cops, Staters, County sheriff and his deputies, Game wardens and local cops. During boating season all of the local CG Aux folks would show up as well. His name was Gail something or other and I never saw him again when I went back east. Good eats.
Here’s a little something (very long read) that Cracked (dot) com put together for this weekend. It’s a really great article. If you have some time look through it.
http://www.cracked.com/article_21307_the-94-most-badass-soldiers-who-ever-lived_p2.html
Did anyone see any meteors? It was nothing but cloud cover last night where I am. Hoping for a good view tonight.
One was saw here. It looked more like a transformer exploding and it was so bright it lite up our yard, and was blue green and yellow. I’m currently looking for a spaceship holding a small child. I’ll let you know what happens.
Well if it IS an alien spaceship, I’m sure the likes of Bernath, Blobfish, Psul, Phildo and their ilk will be volunteering to be abducted in hopes of getting an anal probe!!
Want to use the open thread to brag on just retired son-in-law, LTC Ken G______. He began his Army career in the enlisted ranks, got an edumication and was commissioned and served for 30 years. Received the Legion of Merit upon retirement after about 1 1/2 in his last job. That impressed me but I was even more impressed to learn (in addition to the Bronze from Afgan) he ha six Meritorious Service Medals and a couple of ARCOM’s. Sierra-Hotel Ken.
Congratulations, Colonel Ken!
Club Manager…Congratulations on the retirement of your son-in-law! Thank him for his service from me. Go ahead now and thumb your chest. You got it coming father-in-law!
yeah, but is he allowed to drive your sports car? I think not. LOL
I don’t know if he can drive four on the floor (1978 MGB) or not. His wife (my daughter) can though. Actually, any of the grand daughters can have it but none of their dad’s can keep it running since they are maintenance intensive. For Sale, $4,500.
One of my faves, in the most demented rendition I’ve ever heard – enjoy!
Okay, so I talked to my dad. Basically, he was proud that I was willing to serve, but he said that now was definitely not a good time to serve. Begrudgingly, I have to agree with him. Under Hagel and Obama, only bad things can come of this.
He said that after college (and perhaps after Law School), I could discuss it with him about going in as an officer, but joining the military now would be a huge mistake.
I want to say thank you to all the guys cheering me on, but for now I’m just another civilian. Maybe that’ll change, maybe it won’t. Time will tell.
Having served 26 years so far. There is no particularly “good” or “bad” time to serve.
As a new guy who is or isn’t the POTUS doesn’t really matter to you. Congress more than anyone determines the quality of your life.
And if something “bad” things come of this guess what? Nothing saying you can’t get a letter telling you “Congratulations the President of the United States directs that you report for service….”
Remember why you are in college and law school…and maybe might someday possibly serve…your peers are holding down the fort
The Guard is a great way to serve and go to school at the same time
Far flung: It is my opinion that if you work out the big decision that you face with your Dad as a team, you significantly improve your odds for a good outcome. The fact that you would seek his advice, and then agree to it, speaks volumes about your maturity and character. The military will be lucky to have you I think, when that day comes. In the meantime, do good things. I’m sure a lot of folks here and elsewhere will continue to cheer you on.
P.S.- if you ever want to know what not to do, I am available.
FW, you could bargain down. Something like this”Dad I have decided to join the Marines.I was thinking about trying the Marine ROTC and doing a hitch possibly making a careen of the Marines. FW , you get the idea. Joe
Can anyone recommend a good antivirus/adware/malware program? I’m sick and tired of how Norton slows my computer down!
Damn, I I forgot to include spyware!
I use Kapersky..it has everything and doesn’t seem to slow me down.
I have Sophos, got it installed at Staples. $90 for one year, $150 for 2 years.
I’m happy with it, but be warned about Norton: if it is NOT uninstalled properly, it will lock you out of your computer.
Staples has the proper procedures to prevent this. Take your computer to Staples and have them do it the right way.
spybot search and destroy for those pesky malware and spybots
Sitting here munching on a slab of smoked salmon that the local fish monger smokes out back, contemplating whether bananas with mayo and pecans would be a good after salmon respite. Hmmm. Maybe bananas slathered with peanut butter instead.
Just wanted to remind everybody here on TAH that in less than two weeks (6 June) Forrest Gump will turn 70 years old and has yet to see a nickel of the money for his “Million Dollar Wound”.
The government must have kept that money.
Forrest was born June 6th 1944?!? Seems like some other significant event took place that same day.
It is Fleet Week in NYC. At 1900 I will be doing something really cool. And NO … It has nothing to do with the Village People … When done, I will report in before I drive back upstate.
Must be Saturday! 911 has been called, neighbors ex-wife came over around 4 threatened to shoot the neighbors aunt in the face along with her own kids! God! I love living in the country! Ugh!
When something like that happens in my parts. somebody usually ends up shot. There are more guns out here than in the entire city of Chicago.That, and the cops are an hour away. My wife came up from the basement and found a guy in our kitchen going through her purse. He bolted out the back door when she presented her .357 muzzle first. The first cop arrived 20 min later. He came from town.(neighboring county) it took our deputy nearly an hour. We got our first German Sheppard shortly thereafter.
Attended Admiral’s reception onboard USS OAK HILL. Outstanding program that was deep in naval tradition. Many in the who is who of NYC, however mostly military.
I ended up at a tall cocktail table with three hard core USMC SgtMaj types … All been there and done that. One SgtMaj I must call out. He was funny, fit and humble, yet he sported an impressive rack. I shared libations and great conversation, traded business cards and swapped challenge coins with SgtMaj of 2d Marine Division.
Two Words:
Friggin’ Stud!
I was walking through the pasture today and I saw a huge, fresh and steaming pile of cow manure.
Upon closer inspection I do believe it bore an uncanny resemblance to Commander Phil Monkress at All Points-logistics.
Just an observation.
Not possible. Bullshit helps things grow and flourish.
I second that bullshit is useful, Phildo AIN’T!!
I am currently looking for a “Giduck” to “scoop” it up.
Am currenty watching “The Dirty Dozen” on TCM. The movie plot is fair, the usual commando special operations with a bunch of convicts routine; but watching the acting of Lee Marvin in this movie is a real treat. Marvin just oozed cynical authenticity in his role as team commander MAJ Reisman, perhaps the finest role and performance of his long storied acting career. The authenticity brought to this role by Marvin is of course because of his real experience as a combat Marine during WWII, where he was seriously wounded during the invasion of Saipan in 1944. There is nothing like being wounded in real combat to prepare an actor to act out movie combat…
Same here, watching Dirty Dozen. Charles Bronson was also a WWII vet, B-29 Crewmember/Aerial Gunner. Received a Purple Heart.
TCM on full record all weekend!
What with war/military movies on TCM and AMC this weekend, I am curious as to what war/military movies everyone here enjoys:
My top 10 (in no particular order-except for number one which is my favorite movie in any category-and brief comments about why I like each film)
1. Stalag 17 (It’s a mix of genres-comedy, war, mystery and William Holden is at his best as SGT JJ Sefton)
Glory (All-star cast Civil War movie which shows many aspects of soldiering including frustrations and triumphs)
Mister Roberts (Excellent study of duty, command and service)
Das Boot (claustrophobic and compelling, it actually makes you root for the krauts)
Battleground (Underrated Bulge movie, many of the stars were combat veterans)
The Blue Max (How much does individual motivation matter? What does a commander do with a troublesome, but effective soldier?)
A Soldier’s Story (A murder mystery with racial overtones with a World War II backdrop)
12 O’Clock High (Fascinating study of command and the tolls of trying to do one’s duty)
Full Metal Jacket (Kubrick was fascinated and repelled by war, but he knew how to tell a story and draw compelling characters)
Paths of Glory (Kubrick was fascinated and repelled by war, but he knew how to tell a story and draw compelling characters-plus I like to hate the French Generals)
Yeah, there was a horrible movie on yesterday (The Helmet.) The Longest Day didn’t make your list? It’s on mine. So is The Dawn Patrol, The Fighting 69th, The Fighting Sullivans, To Hell and Back, and Gunga Din.
I love “Gunga Din” (the Cary Grant version) and I dithered on “The Longest Day”, but I had to cut it down to 10. I also dithered on “The Caine Mutiny”.
In Harms Way.
The Longest Day.
Platoon.
Tora Tora Tora.
Leathernecks.
Sgt York.
Bridge Over River Quai (?).
Lawrence of Arabia.
“PATTON” starring George C. Scott!
I like all of those except “Platoon”-can’t stand Oliver Stone and that ruins his films for me.
Specifically it was the blatant dishonesty of “JFK” that ruined Oliver Stone for me.
War movies?
Troy – oh, shut up!
300 – the Spartans against Xerxes the God-king
The Man Who Never Was – post-WWII spy movie about the plans to invade Sicily
Operation Crossbow – good cast, the search to find and bomb Hitler’s V-2 missile factories
Victory At Sea – originally a TV series, made into a documentary movie about the Navy in the Pacific during WWII
Hope and Glory – London during the Blitz, a buzzbomb hits the school, the kids are sent home to bombed-out neighborhoods, someone has a baby, life went on
Memphis Belle – the Alllied bombing raids over Europe; it’s a formula movie – they even put in the dog on the runway – but the music is good and WWII aerial footage was included.
Gallipoli – Aussie film re: WWI
The Pianist – a survivor of the Nazi invasion of Poland
The Great Escape – good cast, including Steve McQueen jumping a barbed wire fence on a motorcycle
In Harm’s Way – John Wayne, Patricia Neal, war in the Pacific
300 is great, but I actually prefer “300 Spartans”, the 1962 version of the story. “The Great Escape” and “In Harms Way” were also good ones that just missed my list.
Ooops! I left one off my list:
Wackiest Ship in the Army – Jack Lemmon on a special operations run to supply an Aussie spotter in the Pacific.
Ha-I like “I Was a Male War Bride” and “Operation Petticoat” for wackiness (and Cary Grant awesomeness).
How ’bout “Down Periscope starring Kelsey Grammer?
Too wacky. 😀
Humor is pretty much dead on, tho.
Theresa … In Harms Way … Is my favorite movie of all time.
Nimitz visits him on hospital ship and says, “it was a decisive victory … We are going to stick a peg leg on you and get you back in the fight”.
As long as we’re on John Wayne Navy movies-I’ll throw in a vote for “They Were Expendable”, which I think is a superior PT Boat movie to PT-109.
Plus, I like John Ford-who retired from the USNR as a Rear Admiral.
How ’bout “PATTON” and “The Big Red One”?
“Where Eagles Dare”.
Another good one!
Both excellent (hmm-I may have to expand my top 10, to a top 25)!
Do not forget “No Time for Sergeants”.
Here are my all time top films you may want to add to the Top 25: The Devil’s Brigade, The Story of G.I. Joe (about Ernie Pyle), The Sand Pebbles, From Here to Eternity, and Merrill’s Marauders. And almost any film that has Huey helicopters in it till the flying sequences are over.
I’ve actually been to Ft. Harrison, Montana where the opening scenes of “The Devil’s Brigade” were shot and some of those huts that were used in the movie are still there-one of which is the post museum. “Merrill’s Marauders” is pretty good and I’ve never seen ” The Story of G.I. Joe”, but I’m curious about it, because I am an admirer of Ernie Pyle.
Ernie Pyle was born two counties west of the county in Indiana where I was born and raised. In the movie he is played by Burgess Meredith.
My War Movies or parts of them I like are.
The Pacific Mini-series
Band of Brothers
Saving Private Ryan
Platoon
Full Metal Jacket
Sands of Iwo Jima
Cold Mountain.
I like Cold Mountain the movie, but I couldn’t get into the book. I live in WNC and the story incorporates aspects of real history from this area during the Civil War.
Both versions were well done.
I enjoyed them both. I really enjoyed the music.
There was a DVD out about just the music that was really good.
I got into a long argument online with someone who claimed that the song played during the battle of the crater was native American, when it was a church hymn from rural England.
The Lost Battalion didn’t get mentioned? It’s one of my favorites. And Gardens of Stone is up there, too. James Earl Jones as a sergeant major is epic.
“James Earl Jones as a sergeant major is epic.”
YUM! YUM! YUM! Said the big hungry bear.
With Rick Schroeder as the CO? I like that one too.
There are a few more:
BAT One – Gene Hackman was quite good in this, even if you don’t like the movie itself.
Midway – the battle for Midway Island in the Pacific
Tora! Tora! Tora! – Japanese fighter pilots in Zeros v. American fighter pilots in P-51s
“The War Lover” with Steve McQueen, based on John Hersey’s novel. Kind of a thin plot, but the flying sequences were awesome. They resurrected three B-17s, restored them to something resembling wartime, and flew them. Martin Caidin’s “Everything But The Flak” told the story, http://www.amazon.com/Everything-but-flak-Martin-Caidin/dp/B0007F5AY4 , the restoration story and how they flew the aircraft over to Europe for filming is an epic in itself.
Here’s the back story on the film:
http://www.pbase.com/easystreet/notes_on_the_filming
I saw it years ago on AMC and I usually like Steve McQueen, but I don’t remember anything about it other than him.
Here’s something that I either forgot or never knew. I’m leaning toward the never knew explanation. When a naval vessel is “lost” at sea and carries her crew with her, the ship/boat are not said to be lost at all but are on Eternal Patrol.
I have never heard of that for ships.
Subs are a bit different. When a sub was over due to check in it was carried on reports as still on patrol.
That is true.
Oh. The fact is that that I saw that “Eternal Patrol” reference in a Maryland paper in which a former admiral (McKinney)–a submarine guy–was indeed talking about subs.
Dammit. I can’t believe I omitted the original of All Quiet on the Western Front from my list.
Was Cody Lundin going out on his own, away from Teti?
He has a video here. http://msnvideo.msn.com/?videoid=96aa660a-e559-4229-8e5c-e09648ce40e6&channelindex=1&from=en-us_msnhp
Wouldn’t you?
I wouldn’t trust Teti to change my tire! Much less lead me out into the wilderness.
Speaking of a nice feel good story…
I guess that the Muslim version of “The Voice.” You don’t get knocked off the show, you get knocked off ON the show.
Dumb asses! 😀 I love it when bad things happen to them the right way. We even saved ammo on that one! I still think it is Allah getting back at them for two things, one, shrilling out that shitty, ear piercing, non-melodic crap they pass off as a song and two, for using up all the Mr. Microphones left in the world! I can’t find one to save my life. 😀
Awww, staticline, you didn’t post a spew alert!
Watch “Muslim Idol”–The season finale! One gets a contract and the others get blown up.
Still a holiday weekend, right?
So the weather was not conducive to watching the meteor shower, which didn’t amount to much anyway, from what little I did see.
Also, I waited up all night to get the old moon rising over Lake Sakakawea in the east, with Venus following, and of course, the clouds rolled in this morning and obscured everything. But they said that might happen. Maybe next time.
Thunderstorm to the northwest of me. That means the listaria and gray-headed coneflower will be popping before too long.
Here is the URL where you can view my own personal tribute in observance of Memorial Day, which will be Friday 30 May 2014 – – – ;
http://writesong.blogspot.com/2013/05/traditional-memorial-day.html
Will this work?
For anyone taking a break from piling on Master Bateman (I know, it’s fun, right?) –
I just watched a video of some dude playing Slayer on the ukelele and thought I’d share it. Very talented guy!
Just read this from The Blaze. Your president and white house in action in Afghanistan. Doing it the only way they know how. Dumb asses screwed up and revealed the ID of the top CIA man in Kabul! Way to go guys! That whole security, secret identity, CIA thing will just outsmart some folks!
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/05/26/white-house-makes-big-mistake-surrounding-identity-of-cia-chief-in-afghanistan/
Further…”The Obama administration has asked media outlets to withhold the name to help ensure the agent’s safety as well as the well-being of his family.”
Ass cover big time and I’m sure ALL the media outlets will pull their stories now. You know, to protect the guy and his family and cover for the White House. Why wasn’t he quietly on the next flight out or even with Obama on AF1 heading home for his safety?
That list was also released to foreign correspondents. Now bodaprez has to decide if the agent should be replaced for his own safety.
Yes, folks, you saw it for yourselves: bodaprez’s crew managed to ‘valerie plame’ themselves with no help from outsiders.
Borrowed this from a friend, only wish I could have said it this well. Maybe many of you have already received this in an email.
The definition of the word Conundrum is: something that is puzzling or confusing.
Here are six Conundrums of socialism in the United States of America:
1. America is capitalist and greedy – yet half of the population is subsidized.
2. Half of the population is subsidized – yet they think they are victims.
3. They think they are victims – yet their representatives run the government.
4. Their representatives run the government – yet the poor keep getting poorer.
5. The poor keep getting poorer – yet they have things that people in other countries only dream about.
6. They have things that people in other countries only dream about – yet they want America to be more like those other countries.
Think about it! And that, my friends, pretty much sums up the USA in the 21st Century.
Makes you wonder who is doing the math.
These three, short sentences tell you a lot about the direction of our current government and cultural environment:
1. We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works.
And here’s another one worth considering…
2. Seems we constantly hear about how Social Security is going to run out of money. How come we never hear about welfare or food stamps
running out of money? What’s interesting is the first group “worked for” their money, but the second didn’t. Think about it…..
and Last but not least,
3. Why are we cutting benefits for our veterans, no pay raises for our military and cutting our army to a level lower than before WWII, but we are not stopping the payments or benefits to illegal aliens.
Am I the only one missing something?
You’re just pointing out the obvious, Sparks.
Mission accomplished. Had the cemetery to ourselves. 48 flags went, only 3 returned. We said our thanks to men who laid there having fought in The Civil War, WW1, WW2, Korea, and Vietnam. USAF, Army, Marines,and Navy (as well as 1 WW2 Merchant Marine Sailor) were all well represented. Heroes all of them. Thank you Sirs.
Did anyone mention (I get choked up even writing it), the “Best Years of our Lives”
1946 … Real veterans, real stories …
Everyone knows the huge struggles you guys face after coming home from war and getting out of the service all together. But it was also the small problems that aren’t as well known. I’ve been reading stories about you Heroes all weekend. I liked this article from Cracked about the little things most people don’t think about.
http://www.cracked.com/article_21225_5-things-they-dont-tell-you-when-you-leave-army.html
Yer a fellow crackedhead, Valkyrie?