Hey Ernie, I was at the grand opening gala for the newest addition of the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola Wednesday and thought you might like to see a few pictures of the new hangar. While I was there I had the extreme honor of meeting Captain Thomas J. Hudner USN (ret.), Medal of Honor recipient. This will stand as one of the greatest honors of my life and as you can probably imagine, there was no shortage of people wanting to meet this gentelman. I'll even bet that he upstaged Eugene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon, who was also there in attendance. Warren
Well, I went to the theatres and saw Unstoppable this weekend. It wasn't bad -- I mean you're not going to get any Oscar awards for making a movie about a runaway train -- but it certainly kept me entertained for two hours. As an amateur-novice-beginner-n00b railfan I was able to pick out a few inaccuracies -- ain't nobody running on top of a train doing 70mph, I don't care who the fuck you are -- I'm sure you actual railroad employees were almost throwing up into your popcorn and mumbling, "but that just can't happen." if I had to protest anything, I guess it would be the obligatory derailed-train-erupting-into-a-fireball for no good reason, the guy-almost-falls-under-the-thundering-wheels-of-the-train scene that is a staple for any railroad related movie -- and my personal favorite -- a 420,000 lb locomotive getting up on two wheels. But I did leave the theatre wondering this: in the initial attempt to slow the runaway train down by having the two locomotives get in front of it and gradually slow down, why didn't they just have someone jump over from the back of the rear SD-20 to the front of the lead runaway? It seems that would have been much easier and safer, than trying from the side while standing in the back of a pickup truck. But I suppose that would have made for a fifteen minute movie so like I said, it was two hours that I wasn't picking my nose or feeding to my gut-flopping fetish. It was also nice to see some scenery from up north, too, because we don't get many mountain ranges down here.
On Oct. 25, 2007, Spc. Giunta’s platoon was conducting a movement to contact to interdict enemy forces on the Gatigal Spur, in order to provide over watch for 2nd and 3rd platoon’s exfil back to Combat Outpost Vimot, and the Korengal Outpost. While conducting their exfil from the platoon’s blocking position, Spc. Giunta’s platoon was ambushed by 10 to 15 enemy personnel who utilized an “L” shaped, near ambush that was within 10 meters of the platoon’s main body. The enemy fired 10 Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) and three PKMs (machine guns) from the apex of the ambush and additional AK-47s from throughout the ambush line.
Getting ready to head to the airport? Better run through that final checklist. Turned off the coffee pot? Check. Pack an extra pair of underwear? Check. Make sure the garage door is locked? Check. Itinerary? Check. Flight information? Check. Photo identification? Check. Removed all of the prohibited items in your carry-on? Check. Now it's time to get ready for your TSA pat down. Pop a viagra. Wait, what? Yeah, I'm serious. The next time you're headed to the airport, pop a goddamn viagra. Then when you opt out of the full body scan and are forced to andure a full groin pat down like a common fucking criminal, really give that TSA agent something big to grab on to. How big? About as big as the Chrysler building, hopefully. Bonus points if he has to wash his hands afterwards. Christ, I can't wait for the lawsuits to start.
So far we've 37 ticket requests, but have only been able to book 15, with the rest as pending. Why the long face? First and foremost, lack of funds amigo. Hint, hint. This year's oddball ticket?
Here's a little bit of trivia to launch you into the weekend: if EHOWA were a country, it would be larger than the Federated States of Micronesia.
Many, many moons ago, when dating sites were first in their infancy, I remember reading a list of suggested questions to pose to someone on a first date. They were generally thought provoking and I think were a primitive form of the super-double-dog-we'll-match you shit that eharmony has going now. One of those questions has always stuck in my head: Can you understand the other side of the abortion debate? I thought that was a deep and insightful question, not that I would actually spring that on some chick during our first date, lest she think I'm a fucking lunatic. But still, great question. Sure, I could understand how a person of faith could believe that life begins at conception. I don't agree with it and I don't share the same view, but can certainly empathize with those who believe it. And while I know the original author never intended to, that one question left a lasting impression as over the course of the next several years my knees steadily progressed from being ninja-quit to snapping and popping when I stood up.
Every once in awhile when I'm bored, I'll cruise around the local Craigslist and search for trannies really expensive cars that I can't afford. In a recent search for "V-12" I came across the regulars... a $125,000 Aston Martin Vanquish S, then a little further down I found a $219,000 Ferrari 599 GTB F1. But the one that caught my eye was this $28,000 Mercedes Benz S600, which the guy reports he bought new for $145,600. Think about it; that's a $117,700 drop in value, over 6 years. That's just shy of losing $20,000 per year ($19,600 to be exact) -- and that's assuming he gets his full asking price. If you negotiate down a little from his $28,000 starting point, his investment gets even worse than it's current cost, which is $2.10 PER MILE. And that's not factoring in other scary numbers, such as insurance and fuel. Ouch. But I suppose if you're going to lead the cops on some crazy car chase, money isn't your first priority.
Q. How many terrorists will it take to destroy America?
A. None, TSA can do it all by themselves.
America has much for which to be thankful. The unequaled freedom enjoyed by our citizens has provided a harvest of plenty to this nation throughout its history. In keeping with America’s heritage, one day each year is set aside for giving thanks to god for all of His blessings.
Well, Thanksgiving is over and I seem to have escaped with my life. No thanks to Wednesday Addams or Eli Roth, mind you.
Just the other day I was thinking that we're going to be looking at some sad celebrity deaths soon. First on my mind -- and I'm sorry Clint -- is good ol Mr. Eastwood. Because let's be honest, he's not a spring chicken anymore, and I cringe at the thought of what an Eastwoodless world will be like. But as my mind wandered from aging celebrity to aging celebrity -- Michael Douglas, Sean Connery, Jack Nicholson -- I'll admit my mind never quite made it to Leslie Nielsen. I dunno why I didn't think of him. Maybe I somehow thought of him as invincible because of all those time he's made me laugh so hard I'd wake up the next morning feeling like I had done a thousand situps the day before. But everyone knows him as either Dr. Rumack from Airplane! or police Lt. Frank Drebin from the Naked Gun series. But most people don't know his roots, where believe it or not, he was typecast as a serious actor and lots of people doubted he's be able to pull off the deadpan slapstick comedy he was later known for. Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, Nielsen enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force an aerial gunner during the latter part of World War II, and worked as a disc jockey before receiving a scholarship to Neighborhood Playhouse. Beginning with a television role in 1948, he quickly expanded to over 50 television appearances two years later. Nielsen appeared in his first films in 1956 and began collecting roles in dramas, westerns, and romance films. Nielsen's lead roles in the films Forbidden Planet (1956) and The Poseidon Adventure (1972) received positive reviews as a serious actor. Probably the one time he really creeped me out was a quick segment in the first Creepshow!
I know I'm pickier than most when it comes to realism -- or at least my perception of realism -- in zombie movies. So overall, I have to say I'm pretty pleased with The Walking Dead in these first five episodes. True, there's been a few things I would question, such as the blood smeared trick-the-zombies ruse, and last week's a-little-too-well-coordinated zombie attack. But again, in general, I think they're doing right by zombie fans everywhere. Maybe not as good as Band of Brothers, but close. And if I had to pick one of the characters to go through the apocalypze with it would have to be a tossup between Glenn (the scavenger) and Daryl Dixon (the crossbow wielding redneck). Rick, the main character, has this moral code he has to live by and that's going to get costly. He takes too many risks because he always feels he has to do the right thing. Fuck that, I know there is safety in numbers but when it's go time for the zombies and I have to choochoo? Rest assured I will choochoo. His deputy Shane would be a better choice, presuming you're not married to a hot brunette wife that Shane likes to bang -- then all bets are off. And how about this week's episode when Shane had the shotgun trained on Rick, eh? In the comic, Rick's son kills Shane with a shot to the neck, so we'll see if they stay true to form on that. At first I thought Andrea, the blonde haired older sister to the chick who got munched last week, was going to be a liability because she's too soft. Then she blew her zombie sister's brains out, point blank, while staring her in the eyes. Okay, so I guess this bitch is hardcore. She was also the ICE agent from The Shield. T-Dog? Not bad but you're a little clumsy. Dale? Nice RV man, and I wouldn't mind you covering me from the roof with your rifle, but you're too old to move effectively in case we had to abandon our vehicles. Oh, and that's another thing? Wide open roads? I don't fucking think so. So afterwatching all of the characters very closely, my pick for a zombie BFF would either Glenn for his scavenging skills or Daryl for his silent crossbow. Oh, and this week... the scientist's brain samples that were destroyed in the fire? My prediction is they're going to back and try to find the recently turned Jim, to try and harvest his brain in hopes of alowing the CDC guy to continue hs research into a cure. And a hat tip to Jacqui for sticking to her guns and calling him out on his bite wound.