Virgil61

Much as I dislike Bushie, the national debt is actually quit manageable. Our debt load per capita (which is more important than the gross number used to scare people) is lower than the debt load of Japan, Italy or a dozen other countries. It's actually at similar levels to the UK and Germany's debt load. So worry about something else.

Call me old school, there's something touchingly poignant about one man giving his word or an oath and all that. The only swearing in ceremony for citizenship I attended was of a soldier who'd come to the US. He invited the whole unit to it, and of course we were all given the day off to attend. His family, who attended, had left Vietnam on a boat with 60 others and nothing but the clothes on their back, ended up in a refugee camp for a year then to the US where they began a new life. It was one of the more moving ceremony's I've ever witnessed, call me an old softee. It came into being as a result of the reaction against godless commies in the late '50s. Courts have been divided, with some circuit courts ruling it's against the consitution but the most important court (the Supreme Court) ruling it's acceptable as long as children are given an option out of reciting it. There's a healthy bit of political coloring to the debate.

Hands down the best answer on the thread, especially the Next Generation folks. Then Pol Pot's regime.

Suburban Auto Group is an auto dealership located about 20 miles east of Portland, Oregon, but they came up with a series of world-class commercials when they invented the Trunk Monkey! Video 1 Video 2 Video 3 Video 4 Video 5

Happy b-day and a toast to your health P, from another young'un!

За Ваше здоровье!

Thank you P. A whole generation of young men slaughtered. A starkly vivid poem that strips the romanticism of war away by one of those soldiers who never returned; Dulce et Decorum Est --by Wilfred Owen, LT MC; Killed in action one week before the end of the war. Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge, Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs And towards our distant rest began to trudge. Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind; Drank with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots Of tired, outstripped Five-Nines that dropped behind. Gas! Gas! Quick, boys!--An ecstasy of fumbling, Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time; But someone still was yelling out and stumbling And flound'ring like a man in fire and lime ... Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light, As under a green sea, I saw him drowning. In all my dreams, before my helpless sight, He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning. If in some smothering dreams you too could pace Behind the wagon that we flung him in, And watch the white eyes writhing in his face, His hanging face, like a devil's sick with sin; If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues-- My friend, you would not tell with such high zest To children ardent for some desperate glory, The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori.

I didn't watch it just yet for time constraints at the moment... but I'd suggest that any video showing Rummy "resigning" could have a positive impact on recruitment. That deserves a big . Edited to add:

Here's the new US Army recruiting video based on the "Army Strong" advertising campaign. Ok, I admit I kind of like it. . Comments?

Bourbon is legally defined as containing 51% corn and encorporating a number of strictly outlined processes including using newly charred oak barrels (which gives it a strong taste) and aging. It does not have to be distilled in Kentucky but only those from that state can be called Kentucky Straight Bourbon. Instead of 'sour mash' I think you mean Tennessee Whiskey perhaps? There are only two, Jack Daniels and George Dickel. They begin the same as bourbons I think bu then utilize a filtration process near the end that bourbons forgoe involving liquid 'filtering' through maple charcoal. Legally JD and GD can call themselves bourbons but refuse to do so. That is good stuff! Not difficult to get in the US either.

No--a New Yorker by birth. Undoubtedly from Cato, N.Y. I predict he will be buried (many, many decades from now) in Utica.

Indeed, perhaps people will actually start to work together. You don't know just how accurate you are. I have friends who work for the State Dept and another government agency all guys I served with. The concensus is that DoD under Rummy has been a closed shop unwilling to work with other government agencies. Rummy's had it out for the Army from the get-go, completely ignoring requests for new weapons systems and marginalizing senior generals who disagree with him. Good riddance!

The VA and DoD have put out press releases asking vets to do that. If I remember correctly they ask that you wear them the whole month of November. I don't have all my medals but I do have all the ribbons. I agree it would be a bit awkward, especially if you didn't see other vets doing it. Nice idea nonetheless. I have a set of minature airborne wings and a mini bronze star ribbon that I'll wear one at a time on with my suit jackets.

Doves do taste good but Homeboy needs a smack-down for the "I'd shoot you" portion. Me, I'm going to celebrate tonight now that Rummy's finally stepping down.

Thanks P, some might criticize the vids as overly sentimental but the heck with 'em. Those boys (and girl) deserve a few minutes of our time.

For those who don't know, Remembrance Day is the American version of Veterans Day. LINK TO VIDEO LINK TO 2ND VIDEO entitled Lest We Forget. LINK TO 3RD VIDEO entitled Rest in Peace. Very moving tributes. I'll admit seeing pictures of some of the soldiers who were killed in action with their children choked me up. RIP guys.

Yes, I was thinking of Scotch re: amt of water. Though my father teethed me on Southern Comfort, I'm not much of a bourbon fan. To me, it's just the base for mint juleps (a seasonal treat for when the Kentucky Derby comes around), though I'd be happy to discover its merits. Are you a Southerner by birth? Bourbon is pretty much all I know and I'm no expert, there seems to be a whole wave of 'small batch' and 'single barrel' bourbons out in the last ten years. It's a bit of a take off from the micro-brewery beer boom of the '80s/90s.

I have to confess the same. I still haven't ventured into Scotch territory yet, probably later this week, but I did pick up a boubon (stick to what you know) for $25. Sat down with my brother and watched the election returns. MPC I'll use a capful or less of bottled water depending on the bourbon. I take it it's the same for Scotch then? Bulleit Bourbon (mmmm good)

Because that's how some bourbons are traditionally made to be drunk--with a splash of water that is.

BZZZZZZZT! Jack Daniels is not whiskey, despite what the label says. It's sour mash...a 'lower grade' bourbon whiskey...and, IMO, utter crap. Jack Daniels is to bourbon whiskey as Jose Cuervo is to tequila...undrinkable. While I'm mentioning bourbon, I do wish to include Knob Creek and Maker's Mark as two outstanding American bourbon cousins to the whiskey family. Well MM and Knob Creek are a cut above, but I enjoy JD black label. Who says I'm not.... Booker's, Knob Creek, Evan Williams Single Barrel, Blanton's, etc... all quite delicious! My son--who seems like he was in diapers yesterday--is really into the small batch or single barrels. Me, I cut 'em all with a little water.

All recommendations I would have made as well. Especially the Highland Park... :pimp: Call it stereotyping but you struck me as a small-batch bourbon type of guy!

For Veteran' day I'm having a gathering of old friends and acquaintances in my home town who served in the military for a drink or two. Generally my view of a good whiskey is Maker's Mark and I'm happy enough with JD black label (I'll have both on hand). I'd like to get a special Scotch or Irish whisky/whiskey (a Protestant or Catholic whiskey as they'd say in parts of the NE) but I'm not the expert I'd like to be. I thought I'd settle on Glenlivet 12 year but I'm open to suggestions.

Remember Hannibal had been in Italy for several years focusing on the ground campaign there instead of naval superiority. He wasn't an overall command of the Carthaginian war effort. By the time of the landing at Utica by Scipio Carthaginian naval forces were probably on the defensive having suffered a series of defeats and may simple not have had the numbers of men and material to successfully challenge the Romans anyway. And what PP said.

One question PP, has he ever posted here? Quite a resource his page.

I think 'cartoonish' was the best description so far, although I was only able to catch the Nero episode in it's entirety. Quite an over the top acting job and entertaining to boot. A bit impressed that in the Caeser episode the soldiers seem to be wearing the Montefortino helmets.