Cap'n Bob & the Damsel

February 2008

Pigskin Withdrawals

Now that the football season is over, I have the usual withdrawal syndrome. This is the first weekend in a long time without the usual football fix.

I’m not too crazy about NHL, NBA or March Madness, so those aren’t an outlet. Baseball doesn’t interest either of us very much until September or October, and by then the gridirons are active again. So what do I do in the meantime?

Well, for one thing, I got a Reyn Spooner official 2008 Pro Bowl NFC Hawaiian Shirt. It’s just like the coaches and teams wore in Hawaii last weekend. That helps.

probowl-shirt.jpg

And, just in case that isn’t enough, we have the following excellent list of football-themed DVDs queued up in the DVD player to watch on the new big-screen HDTV. That should help more. Sort of like football methadone.

  • Friday Night Lights – Billy Bob Thornton
  • Game Plan – Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson
  • Gridiron Gang – Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson
  • Invincible – Mark Wahlberg
  • The Longest Yard – both old and new – Adam Sandler and Burt Reynolds
  • Radio – Cuba Gooding Jr.
  • Remember the Titans – Denzel Washington
  • The Replacements – Orlando Jones, Gene Hackman, Keanu Reeves
  • Rudy – Sean Astin

Photo Credit: Damsel

15 Feb 2008 by Entertainment Sports

Rocket Scientists – NOT

You remember the answer that Miss Teen South Carolina gave when she was asked why one-fifth of Americans can’t find the United States on a map. I couldn’t find a transcript of her incoherent ramblings but this is a synopsis of the event:

miss-teen-sc.jpg“I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because some people out there in our nation don’t have maps,” she ventured.

During her meandering response, she also tossed in out-of-the-blue references to “the Iraq” and “Asian countries” and their need for the support of the American educational system in identifying the United States on the map.

Upton is described as a varsity athlete and student leader at Lexington High School, where she graduated in June with a 3.5 GPA.

Despite the on-camera gaffe, Upton finished as third runner-up.

And then there was this screed from Senator John F’n. Kerry in response to media questions about a recent tornado disaster:

john_kerry.jpg[I] don’t want to sort of leap into the larger meaning of, you know, inappropriately, but on the other hand, the weather service has told us we are going to have more and more intense storms,” Kerry said. “And insurance companies are beginning to look at this issue and understand this is related to the intensity of storms that is related to the warming of the earth. And so it goes to global warming and larger issues that we’re not paying attention to. The fact is the hurricanes are more intensive, the storms are more intensive and the rainfall is more intense at certain places at certain times and the weather patterns have changed.

Maybe it’s just me, but that made less sense than Miss Teen SC’s response.

Miss TSC had the disadvantage of being in a high-stress situation, and did the best she could do given her state of mind.

Kerry, on the other hand, fights his way through to be in front of the media, and is certainly used to bloviating. I can’t cut him any slack for that, and he sounded like an idiot while trying to politicize the tornado disaster.

Despite his lack of articulation, however, Kerry finished second in his last big contest. Go figure.

14 Feb 2008 by Culture Humor Whacko Politics

Happy St. Valentine’s Day

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Here’s why hearts, flowers and candy are associated with St. Valentine’s Day:

heart-candy.jpgDuring the medieval era of chivalry, the names of English maidens and bachelors were put into boxes and drawn out in pairs. Each couple exchanged gifts and the girl became the man’s sweetheart for a year. He wore her name on his sleeve and was bound by duty to attend and protect her (the accepted origin of the phrase, “to wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve”). This old custom of drawing names was considered a good omen for love and often foretold a wedding. In 1537, King Henry VIII declared, by Royal Charter, that all England would celebrate February 14 as “Saint Valentine’s Day” and with the passage of time, February 14 became the traditional date for exchanging love messages and simple gifts (such as flowers or candy), with Saint Valentine becoming the accepted Patron Saint of Lovers.

Did you know that St. Valentine was not only the patron saint of lovers, but also of epilepsy, fainting and the plague?

godivaSt. Valentine was a Priest, martyred in 269 at Rome and was buried on the Flaminian Way. He is the Patron Saint of affianced couples, bee keepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, plague, travelers, young people. He is represented in pictures with birds and roses.

Enjoy the candy – Click on the pictures for larger size.

13 Feb 2008 by Culture Photography Religion

The Belly of an Airship

I took this close-up of the Goodyear Airship ‘Spirit of America‘ during a pass almost directly over the house this past weekend.

You can see the twin 210 horsepower engine nacelles configured as pushers. Behind the props are a pair of scoops which collect some of the propwash to direct airflow to ballonets which assist airship trim and control. The gondola is about 22¾ feet long and can hold a pilot and six passengers.

Coincidentally, the light display had the word ‘ON’ displayed which looks like it’s saying ‘NO’ from this angle.

Spirit of America

12 Feb 2008 by Aviation Photography

Broken Amaryllis

broken stemWhen the flower stem started upwards from the bulb on this Amaryllis, it didn’t rise straight up like I’m used to seeing with these. Wanting to prop it upright, I put an orchid stick in the pot and got some bag ties to hold the stem to the stick. As soon as I stood it up, though, the stem snapped – almost in two! See the inset for the damaged stem.

Despite the damage and supported by only a thin part of the stem, these beautiful flowers emerged with a couple more on the way. Amazing.

broken amaryllis

11 Feb 2008 by Home & Garden Photography

Getting Your Money’s Worth

shortly after the shotguns came outFor the last couple of weeks, we have used these huge silhouette targets at the range. First, we use the target when we shoot our hand guns. When there are too many holes in it to see what we’re hitting, we haul it back in and stick on an adhesive target (we get the ‘Shoot ‘n’ See’ targets that turn neon green at the point of impact). The adhesive target rejuvenates the silhouette enough for at least the next box or two of rounds.

Image right – Damsel gets ready to unload on the target.

hanging in thereFinally, it’s time for the shotguns. These targets usually don’t last too long after the shot starts flying, and are frequently shot off of the target tee. This hardy fellow, however, hung in for all fifty rounds (25 twelve and 25 twenty gauge shells). He wasn’t much of his former self, but he saw to it we got our money’s worth. Now don’t get me wrong – we can afford targets and often will put one up for a few rounds to check sighting and individual accuracy. Today, however, we were having a lot of fun seeing how long this one would last.

Image left – remnants of the target as we prepared to leave for the day. Click either picture for a closer look.

10 Feb 2008 by Firearms Sports

The Daffodils Are Coming

The first of my daffodils are starting to come out. I took this photo of this very pretty yellow one with the sun lighting it up from behind. We just stayed home today and worked in the garden and yard. It was overdue since a couple of wet weekends and a gun show kept us from the chores.

Back-lit Daffodil

09 Feb 2008 by Home & Garden Photography

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