As those of you know who read this blog, occasionally I am a bit of a history geek when it comes to these United States. Well, tomorrow is no exception as far as huge days go in our history. Two hundred and thirty-three years ago some people got together after dealing with the crap they’d been getting from King George of England and decided it was time to tell him to piss off.
In Philadelphia, this group of people had one of their brethren start drafting a letter telling the king in the politest of terms, “thank you for your help and hospitality so far your highness, but you are a raging prat and quite frankly a bit of a wanker. So bite us if you please.” Now of course this seriously pissed off King George and he drafted a bit of a response.
“…we have thought fit, by and with the advice of our Privy Council, to issue our Royal
Proclamation, hereby declaring, that not only all our Officers, civil and military, are obliged to exert their utmost endeavours to suppress such rebellion, and to bring the traitors to justice ,but that all our subjects of this Realm, and the dominions thereunto belonging, are bound by law to be aiding and assisting in the suppression of such rebellion, and to disclose and make known all traitorous conspiracies and attempts against us, our crown and dignity; and we do accordingly strictly charge and command all our Officers, as well civil as military, and all others our obedient and loyal subjects, to use their utmost endeavours to withstand and suppress such rebellion, and to disclose and make known all treasons and traitorous conspiracies which they shall know to be against us, our crown and dignity…”
Never in the course of history has war been declared by both parties so dignified and proper. The colonists, fed up with having to deal with the King taxing them to death and not allowing them representation got fed up and fought back. Britain, responded in kind and off we went.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Strong words which, to this day, help our current leaders build upon the foundation of the greatest country in the world today. How very cool is that? It never ceases to amaze me how brilliant the founders of this country really were. They drafted a document such as the Declaration, and created a government and Constitution that could changed and adopted for generations to come, so long as the changes were agreed to by the people it governed.
I think these reasons are why America has become the envy of the world. Thanks for reading, I hope you weren’t bored and God Bless the United States of America. Oh, and Happy Birthday to our country, 233 years old and still rocking!!! Gotta love that.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Michael Jackson vs JFK - seriously????
Okay so we’ve all heard by now the semi-tragic news of Michael Jackson’s passing. Granted, it is a sad day for his children, family and whatever friends he may have had. In addition to Mr. Jackson, Farrah Fawcett and Ed McMahon have passed away this week as well. Again, all sad.
However, let’s try to keep things in some perspective here. Some people have commented that the news was similar in nature to receiving news that President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated. ARE YOU PEOPLE OUT OF YOUR MINDS?!?!?!?
John F. Kennedy was one of the most beloved, popular leaders of the 20th century and his accomplishments helped shape future generations of Americans and the world at large. Let’s take a look at some of what the president accomplished:
First, we need to keep in mind that he barely served as President for one half of one term.
Arguably, his biggest accomplishment could be his initiative to put man on the moon before the end of the 1960’s. We went from not being able to break the speed of sound to setting foot on the moon in less than nine years. Our space program has yielded incalculable returns in the form of knowledge and technology.
He initiated the The Peace Corp. Michael Jackson had donated over $300 million to various charities.
President Kennedy entered into a Nuclear Test Ban Treaty with Britain and the USSR.
He created the Alliance for Progress aid program for struggling Latin American nations.
President Kennedy got the Soviet Union to dismantle and remove nuclear missile bases from Cuba without going to war.
And while people tried to block his wishes for civil rights legislation being passed, he used his office and presidential executive orders to support the movement, and that leadership was considered instrumental in building the movement that led to the legislation being passed under President Jyndon B. Johnson.
In Michael Jackson’s defense, he had the best selling album of all time. Now make no mistake, when Thriller came out I loved most of the songs as well. However it’s just an album. Just a song or two or four. Hell, the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Aeromsmith and Elvis all wrote songs that moved people.
There are a couple other things to help keep this in perspective. JFK had ties to the mob through his father. Michael Jackson had been accused of molesting children on more than one occasion. Granted he paid off one accuser and was acquitted in court for another but those are very serious charges and if I remember correctly OJ was acquitted too.
All in all, John Kennedy was one of the most influential people of modern times. Michael Jackson wrote songs. Good ones to be sure, but songs none the less. Let’s all grieve for Michael Jackson’s children and family but to compare him to John F. Kennedy is unfair and in my opinion not a comparison at all on any level.
However, let’s try to keep things in some perspective here. Some people have commented that the news was similar in nature to receiving news that President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated. ARE YOU PEOPLE OUT OF YOUR MINDS?!?!?!?
John F. Kennedy was one of the most beloved, popular leaders of the 20th century and his accomplishments helped shape future generations of Americans and the world at large. Let’s take a look at some of what the president accomplished:
First, we need to keep in mind that he barely served as President for one half of one term.
Arguably, his biggest accomplishment could be his initiative to put man on the moon before the end of the 1960’s. We went from not being able to break the speed of sound to setting foot on the moon in less than nine years. Our space program has yielded incalculable returns in the form of knowledge and technology.
He initiated the The Peace Corp. Michael Jackson had donated over $300 million to various charities.
President Kennedy entered into a Nuclear Test Ban Treaty with Britain and the USSR.
He created the Alliance for Progress aid program for struggling Latin American nations.
President Kennedy got the Soviet Union to dismantle and remove nuclear missile bases from Cuba without going to war.
And while people tried to block his wishes for civil rights legislation being passed, he used his office and presidential executive orders to support the movement, and that leadership was considered instrumental in building the movement that led to the legislation being passed under President Jyndon B. Johnson.
In Michael Jackson’s defense, he had the best selling album of all time. Now make no mistake, when Thriller came out I loved most of the songs as well. However it’s just an album. Just a song or two or four. Hell, the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Aeromsmith and Elvis all wrote songs that moved people.
There are a couple other things to help keep this in perspective. JFK had ties to the mob through his father. Michael Jackson had been accused of molesting children on more than one occasion. Granted he paid off one accuser and was acquitted in court for another but those are very serious charges and if I remember correctly OJ was acquitted too.
All in all, John Kennedy was one of the most influential people of modern times. Michael Jackson wrote songs. Good ones to be sure, but songs none the less. Let’s all grieve for Michael Jackson’s children and family but to compare him to John F. Kennedy is unfair and in my opinion not a comparison at all on any level.
Friday, June 19, 2009
If dance was any easier.....
My daughter has her annual dance recital this weekend. She has been dancing for about six years at Debbie Felton’s Academy of Dance (D*FAD) in Livonia MI. Being the involved parent I am, I try very hard to get involved as much as a man can with her dancing interests.
I have sponsored classes, attended car washes, helped with fund raisers, etc. I even participate in the yearly Daddy / Daughter dance. This is NOT what you think. There are no tuxedos (well there was one year), no corsages, no fox trots or waltzes. The dance starts in February with the initial meeting and the fathers learn the steps as best they can and the daughters watch, seemingly in horror. We attend class about every other week until June and then we transform into the comic relief in front of our friends and families who get to laugh hysterically at what we were supposed to have learned while the girls perform flawlessly for the captivated audience.
My daughter also dances competitively in the Troupe. Having watched the girls for the last few years I have noticed that they seriously bust their collective asses each year. Sure football players and hockey players stretch and flex and get bumps, bruises, broken fingers etc. But honestly they never get any of those injuries and smile while doing so. The dancers jump, leap, turn, make pyramids, stand in shoes on their tip toes (which has to hurt like hell) on stage during a competition and have to smile all the time. “The show must go on.” If they jump and get hurt they don’t stop, they keep going. They are strong mentally as well as physically. And then after they’ve performed, they get judged subjectively on various categories and are awarded ribbons/trophies (typically platinum, high gold, gold or high silver). It’s sort of like if football players suddenly were judged after a play by someone on how well that person felt they performed. Imagine the Detroit Lions scores: bronze, iron, tin, doily.
Just as football players and hockey players have awesome moves, so do dancers. I have often loved watching people like Denis Savard (Chicago Black Hawks) perform his spin-o-rama on two defenseless defensemen and score a goal. Or watch ex-Lions running back Barry Sanders juke players so bad they had the PA announcer notify them when their jockstraps were found. Dancers have some similarly cool moves. Some of my daughters friends can stand on their left foot with their right leg extended above their head pointing to the sky and SPIN!!! HOLY SHIT THAT IS AMAZING. Seriously. They will perform a routine in the middle of which they will spin five or six times completely around and manage to face forward, not fall on their butts and still smile. I’d quite honestly just throw up.
The girls are great and they have great teachers at D*FAD. They all enjoy it and even after leaving the girls always come back. Like college football players attending games at their alma maters, the D*FAD dancers of years gone by show up to see their friends, teachers, etc. perform again and again. Some people might find it silly to write about something like dance but in reality it very much reminds me of attending a sporting event. The girls are athletic as hell, very good at what they do and they’re all beautiful on top of everything else.
Tomorrow is the recital and I am looking forward to it as usual. This year the dads are dressed as robots, which isn’t quite as embarrassing as when we wore grass skirts or tap danced in our pajamas. Once again we’ll provide the comic relief while the girls provide the serious entertainment. So, I encourage you to attend a recital or competition. They are interesting to say the least. And who knows, maybe you’ll see someone lose an arm, smile at the audience and keep right on dancing. There’s a saying that goes, “If dancing was any easier, it’d be called football.” After watching both I think there may be something to it.
Hope you enjoyed.
I have sponsored classes, attended car washes, helped with fund raisers, etc. I even participate in the yearly Daddy / Daughter dance. This is NOT what you think. There are no tuxedos (well there was one year), no corsages, no fox trots or waltzes. The dance starts in February with the initial meeting and the fathers learn the steps as best they can and the daughters watch, seemingly in horror. We attend class about every other week until June and then we transform into the comic relief in front of our friends and families who get to laugh hysterically at what we were supposed to have learned while the girls perform flawlessly for the captivated audience.
My daughter also dances competitively in the Troupe. Having watched the girls for the last few years I have noticed that they seriously bust their collective asses each year. Sure football players and hockey players stretch and flex and get bumps, bruises, broken fingers etc. But honestly they never get any of those injuries and smile while doing so. The dancers jump, leap, turn, make pyramids, stand in shoes on their tip toes (which has to hurt like hell) on stage during a competition and have to smile all the time. “The show must go on.” If they jump and get hurt they don’t stop, they keep going. They are strong mentally as well as physically. And then after they’ve performed, they get judged subjectively on various categories and are awarded ribbons/trophies (typically platinum, high gold, gold or high silver). It’s sort of like if football players suddenly were judged after a play by someone on how well that person felt they performed. Imagine the Detroit Lions scores: bronze, iron, tin, doily.
Just as football players and hockey players have awesome moves, so do dancers. I have often loved watching people like Denis Savard (Chicago Black Hawks) perform his spin-o-rama on two defenseless defensemen and score a goal. Or watch ex-Lions running back Barry Sanders juke players so bad they had the PA announcer notify them when their jockstraps were found. Dancers have some similarly cool moves. Some of my daughters friends can stand on their left foot with their right leg extended above their head pointing to the sky and SPIN!!! HOLY SHIT THAT IS AMAZING. Seriously. They will perform a routine in the middle of which they will spin five or six times completely around and manage to face forward, not fall on their butts and still smile. I’d quite honestly just throw up.
The girls are great and they have great teachers at D*FAD. They all enjoy it and even after leaving the girls always come back. Like college football players attending games at their alma maters, the D*FAD dancers of years gone by show up to see their friends, teachers, etc. perform again and again. Some people might find it silly to write about something like dance but in reality it very much reminds me of attending a sporting event. The girls are athletic as hell, very good at what they do and they’re all beautiful on top of everything else.
Tomorrow is the recital and I am looking forward to it as usual. This year the dads are dressed as robots, which isn’t quite as embarrassing as when we wore grass skirts or tap danced in our pajamas. Once again we’ll provide the comic relief while the girls provide the serious entertainment. So, I encourage you to attend a recital or competition. They are interesting to say the least. And who knows, maybe you’ll see someone lose an arm, smile at the audience and keep right on dancing. There’s a saying that goes, “If dancing was any easier, it’d be called football.” After watching both I think there may be something to it.
Hope you enjoyed.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
She's a Grand Old Flag
With June 14 being Flag day and Independence Day right around the corner, I thought I’d blog a bit about the American Flag. The flag, you ask? That seems a bit odd. Well, since I love history especially that of our great nation, I think it’s quite appropriate. Too many people do not pay enough, let alone any, attention to our history. Our flag has its own history, including the stars, colors, stripes, etc. Hopefully, you won’t feel I’m too insane and please enjoy.
In January 1776, the Continental Army was laying siege to Boston which had been captured by the British army during the Revolutionary War. George Washington, General of the Army placed above his headquarters the Grand Union Flag.
The flag displaying 13 alternating stripes, one for each of the original 13 colonies as well as the crosses of St. Andrew (White on a blue background) and St. George (Red on white).
The “Betsy Ross” Flag came around in May of 1776 when the seamstress claimed to have sewn the first flag.
The stars all point up toward heaven.
On June 14, 1777, in order to establish an official flag for the new nation, the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act: “Resolved, That the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation.”
In April of 1818 a congressional act established that the flags have 13 stripes and one star for each new state. The star is to be added on the flag on the 4th of July following the admission of the new state.
The colors in the flag have meaning as well.
RED is for hardiness and valor
The flag should be lighted at all times, either by sunlight or by an appropriate light source.
The flag should be flown in fair weather, unless the flag is designed for inclement weather use.
The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.
The flag should not be used for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top.
The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard.
The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations.
The flag should never have any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind placed on it, or attached to it.
The flag should never be used for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously.
The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary.
When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner.
These are the most common rules and regulations for the flag. I hope you enjoyed or at least weren’t too bored with today’s history lesson. Thanks again for reading. Tell your friends.
In January 1776, the Continental Army was laying siege to Boston which had been captured by the British army during the Revolutionary War. George Washington, General of the Army placed above his headquarters the Grand Union Flag.
The flag displaying 13 alternating stripes, one for each of the original 13 colonies as well as the crosses of St. Andrew (White on a blue background) and St. George (Red on white).
The “Betsy Ross” Flag came around in May of 1776 when the seamstress claimed to have sewn the first flag.
The stars all point up toward heaven.
On June 14, 1777, in order to establish an official flag for the new nation, the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act: “Resolved, That the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation.”
In April of 1818 a congressional act established that the flags have 13 stripes and one star for each new state. The star is to be added on the flag on the 4th of July following the admission of the new state.
The colors in the flag have meaning as well.
RED is for hardiness and valor
WHITE is for purity and innocence
BLUE is for vigilance, perseverance and justice
Below, the flag we know today, 50 stars and 13 stripes. There are rules for displaying the flag, lighting it, destroying it etc.
Below, the flag we know today, 50 stars and 13 stripes. There are rules for displaying the flag, lighting it, destroying it etc.
The flag should be lighted at all times, either by sunlight or by an appropriate light source.
The flag should be flown in fair weather, unless the flag is designed for inclement weather use.
The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.
The flag should not be used for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top.
The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard.
The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations.
The flag should never have any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind placed on it, or attached to it.
The flag should never be used for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously.
The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary.
When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner.
These are the most common rules and regulations for the flag. I hope you enjoyed or at least weren’t too bored with today’s history lesson. Thanks again for reading. Tell your friends.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
NBC Screws Red Wing fans
Ya know. NBC, formerly the National Broadcasting Company, newly renamed the Nationally Broadcasting Crosby, has blacked out “Joe Vision” for tonight’s game six in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Joe Vision has been around for roughly 15 years, since the Wings entered the 1995 Stanley Cup Finals against the New Jersey Devils. What it is, is a venue for people who can’t afford, or get tickets to Joe Louis Arena to watch the big game at Joe Louis Arena when the wings are out of town. The team displays all the bells and whistles, including Al the Octopus, the horn when Detroit scores a goal, etc.
The problem is this: NBC holds the exclusive rights to broadcast the game nationally and is not allowing the Wings to put on Joe Vision. According to an article on today’s Detroit News Online by Terry Foster, “NHL spokesman Frank Brown said the league is sympathetic to Wings fans but must support its broadcast partner. “We need to be sensitive to the business end of things and that business is ratings driven,” Brown said.
NBC spokesperson Brian Walker did not respond to requests for comment.
This is ridiculous!!! Who the hell does NBC think they are? Really?
First of all, the TV Channel Versus, which coincidentally carries the NBC feed allowed Pittsburgh’s Mellon arena to broadcast their HOME games from right outside the arena, also known as “The Igloo”. Yet another way for NBC to keep their lips firmly attached to NHL All-star spokesperson Sidney Crosby’s ass.
The last time I checked the only thing Sidney Crosby was actually won was a Conference Championship and his highness, the prince, has so far, had his ass handed to him for the second consecutive year. Hell this year he has a whopping ONE WHOLE GOAL. OOOOOOOHHHHHH. Nice playoffs champ.
So how do the great people of Hockeytown fight back and actually hurt NBC’s ratings? That’s right we can actually hurt NBC’s glorious ratings. Watch the game on the Canadian Broadcasting Company, CBC. I know Bob Cole’s not there this year but they still have Don Cherry and although they’re still Canadian player and Crosby slanted in their views, it would hopefully send a clear message to NBC.
Anyway, that’s my rant, I hope you enjoyed. And I hope Prince Sidney gets shutout by Detroit again tonight and he has to stand on his home ice for the second year in a row and watch as Lidstrom, Zetterberg, Datsyuk, and Osgood skate around the Igloo hoisting Lord Stanley’s coveted Prize.
I usually am a Montreal Canadiens fan first and Wings second but, thanks to NBC I say, GO WINGS!!!!
Joe Vision has been around for roughly 15 years, since the Wings entered the 1995 Stanley Cup Finals against the New Jersey Devils. What it is, is a venue for people who can’t afford, or get tickets to Joe Louis Arena to watch the big game at Joe Louis Arena when the wings are out of town. The team displays all the bells and whistles, including Al the Octopus, the horn when Detroit scores a goal, etc.
The problem is this: NBC holds the exclusive rights to broadcast the game nationally and is not allowing the Wings to put on Joe Vision. According to an article on today’s Detroit News Online by Terry Foster, “NHL spokesman Frank Brown said the league is sympathetic to Wings fans but must support its broadcast partner. “We need to be sensitive to the business end of things and that business is ratings driven,” Brown said.
NBC spokesperson Brian Walker did not respond to requests for comment.
This is ridiculous!!! Who the hell does NBC think they are? Really?
First of all, the TV Channel Versus, which coincidentally carries the NBC feed allowed Pittsburgh’s Mellon arena to broadcast their HOME games from right outside the arena, also known as “The Igloo”. Yet another way for NBC to keep their lips firmly attached to NHL All-star spokesperson Sidney Crosby’s ass.
The last time I checked the only thing Sidney Crosby was actually won was a Conference Championship and his highness, the prince, has so far, had his ass handed to him for the second consecutive year. Hell this year he has a whopping ONE WHOLE GOAL. OOOOOOOHHHHHH. Nice playoffs champ.
So how do the great people of Hockeytown fight back and actually hurt NBC’s ratings? That’s right we can actually hurt NBC’s glorious ratings. Watch the game on the Canadian Broadcasting Company, CBC. I know Bob Cole’s not there this year but they still have Don Cherry and although they’re still Canadian player and Crosby slanted in their views, it would hopefully send a clear message to NBC.
Anyway, that’s my rant, I hope you enjoyed. And I hope Prince Sidney gets shutout by Detroit again tonight and he has to stand on his home ice for the second year in a row and watch as Lidstrom, Zetterberg, Datsyuk, and Osgood skate around the Igloo hoisting Lord Stanley’s coveted Prize.
I usually am a Montreal Canadiens fan first and Wings second but, thanks to NBC I say, GO WINGS!!!!
Friday, June 5, 2009
Day of Days
Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere march with you.
In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.
Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely. But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of I940-4I. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men.
The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory! I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!
Good Luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.
- Dwight David Eisenhower, Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Force
Powerful words written to the Allied forces on June 5, 1944. Sixty-five years have since passed and to me the impact of the event still holds special meaning. The event, of course, being the D-Day invasion of Normandy in France and the beginning of the end of World War II.
On D-Day, the Allies landed around 156,000 troops in Normandy. The American forces landed numbered 73,000: 23,250 on Utah Beach, 34,250 on Omaha Beach, and 15,500 airborne troops. In the British and Canadian sector, 83,115 troops were landed (61,715 of them British): 24,970 on Gold Beach, 21,400 on Juno Beach, 28,845 on Sword Beach, and 7900 airborne troops.
11,590 aircraft were available to support the landings. On D-Day, Allied aircraft flew 14,674 sorties, and 127 were lost.
In the airborne landings on both flanks of the beaches, 2395 aircraft and 867 gliders of the RAF and USAAF were used on D-Day.
I know Memorial Day just passed but I think it significant enough to mention that perhaps an extra moment of silence be observed for the troops that died trying to end Nazi tyranny and return freedom to Europe before the fall of the Iron Curtain.
I feel the quote Winston Chruchill, Prime Minister of England during the war, said during the height of the Battle of Britain holds true for the D-day invasion and the result in the war. “Never in the field of conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”
Most Americans see the invasion as purely American when in fact there were several countries participating. The three main nations were England who attacked beaches code named Gold and Sword beach. The United States who attacked Utah and Omaha beaches. And Canada who attacked Juno Beach. There were also troops fighting for the free French, Poland, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Greece, and the Netherlands.
In addition to the above, the Royal Australian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force, and Royal Norwegian Navy provided support for the landings.
On a side note, the 65th anniversary of the invasion is scheduled for this tomorrow and the French planned the event. The French of course get picked on mercilessly by the Americans (For good reason – Freedom fries, toast, etc.) for one thing or another and this time is no exception. Who the hell do the French think they are. If you ever had a desire to rule France, just ask, they’ll surrender. In the planning of the Anniversary, which our President is attending, the French did not invite the Queen of England. Who as it happens was actually alive and volunteered during the conflict. According to the British newspaper, The Mail, “… last night French officials crushed any remaining hopes, admitting they had never had any plans to invite members of the British Royal Family.
How’s that for a thank you for saving our crepe suzette eating asses? Brilliant. Look I understand the French and English haven’t been on the greatest of terms over history but seriously? Can’t they come together on this? The queen is bound by protocol to not invite herself, which would also be insane, so this is truly a tragedy. Too bad President Obama couldn’t refuse to attend, pending her invitation. Oh well, the important thing I guess is to remember what was done there and the impact it has had on the world since.
I was not allowed to serve in the military, thank you asthma, which has been one of my biggest disappointments in life. I can not imagine serving a greater cause, with the exception of serving God, than serving one’s country. Because I couldn’t serve I hold those who do, and did, including but not limited to, my cousin Chris (Marines), cousin-in-law Vince (Navy), Grandfather (Army), Uncle (Army) and several more I won’t remember in the highest esteem. To them and to the great people of the United States Armed Services, I say, “Thank you. Your deeds and service will not be forgotten.”
In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.
Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely. But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of I940-4I. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men.
The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory! I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!
Good Luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.
- Dwight David Eisenhower, Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Force
Powerful words written to the Allied forces on June 5, 1944. Sixty-five years have since passed and to me the impact of the event still holds special meaning. The event, of course, being the D-Day invasion of Normandy in France and the beginning of the end of World War II.
On D-Day, the Allies landed around 156,000 troops in Normandy. The American forces landed numbered 73,000: 23,250 on Utah Beach, 34,250 on Omaha Beach, and 15,500 airborne troops. In the British and Canadian sector, 83,115 troops were landed (61,715 of them British): 24,970 on Gold Beach, 21,400 on Juno Beach, 28,845 on Sword Beach, and 7900 airborne troops.
11,590 aircraft were available to support the landings. On D-Day, Allied aircraft flew 14,674 sorties, and 127 were lost.
In the airborne landings on both flanks of the beaches, 2395 aircraft and 867 gliders of the RAF and USAAF were used on D-Day.
I know Memorial Day just passed but I think it significant enough to mention that perhaps an extra moment of silence be observed for the troops that died trying to end Nazi tyranny and return freedom to Europe before the fall of the Iron Curtain.
I feel the quote Winston Chruchill, Prime Minister of England during the war, said during the height of the Battle of Britain holds true for the D-day invasion and the result in the war. “Never in the field of conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”
Most Americans see the invasion as purely American when in fact there were several countries participating. The three main nations were England who attacked beaches code named Gold and Sword beach. The United States who attacked Utah and Omaha beaches. And Canada who attacked Juno Beach. There were also troops fighting for the free French, Poland, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Greece, and the Netherlands.
In addition to the above, the Royal Australian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force, and Royal Norwegian Navy provided support for the landings.
On a side note, the 65th anniversary of the invasion is scheduled for this tomorrow and the French planned the event. The French of course get picked on mercilessly by the Americans (For good reason – Freedom fries, toast, etc.) for one thing or another and this time is no exception. Who the hell do the French think they are. If you ever had a desire to rule France, just ask, they’ll surrender. In the planning of the Anniversary, which our President is attending, the French did not invite the Queen of England. Who as it happens was actually alive and volunteered during the conflict. According to the British newspaper, The Mail, “… last night French officials crushed any remaining hopes, admitting they had never had any plans to invite members of the British Royal Family.
How’s that for a thank you for saving our crepe suzette eating asses? Brilliant. Look I understand the French and English haven’t been on the greatest of terms over history but seriously? Can’t they come together on this? The queen is bound by protocol to not invite herself, which would also be insane, so this is truly a tragedy. Too bad President Obama couldn’t refuse to attend, pending her invitation. Oh well, the important thing I guess is to remember what was done there and the impact it has had on the world since.
I was not allowed to serve in the military, thank you asthma, which has been one of my biggest disappointments in life. I can not imagine serving a greater cause, with the exception of serving God, than serving one’s country. Because I couldn’t serve I hold those who do, and did, including but not limited to, my cousin Chris (Marines), cousin-in-law Vince (Navy), Grandfather (Army), Uncle (Army) and several more I won’t remember in the highest esteem. To them and to the great people of the United States Armed Services, I say, “Thank you. Your deeds and service will not be forgotten.”
Saturday, March 21, 2009
CCHA Championship should be great
Well, it comes down to this. Michigan versus Notre Dame for the CCHA Championship and the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The big difference of course is...the game doesn't matter a whole lot. Both teams are in the tournament and most likely number one seeds. The question is who goes where?
In my own perosnal opinion, I feel if Michigan wins they'll head to Grand Rapids and the Mid-west regional. If Notre Dame wins, they go to Grand Rapids and Michigan in all likelihood will head to Minneapolis.
This is a great rivalry, not only if football but also hockey. These two teams will go at it tooth and nail and put on one doozy of a show. Michigan recently went into South Bend and split with the Irish on their home ice.
I like Michigan's chances in this game. Personally they owe the Irish for ruining their shot at a tenth national championship in Denver last year.
Should be an outstanding game either way.
Prediction: Michigan - 3 Notre Dame - 2
In my own perosnal opinion, I feel if Michigan wins they'll head to Grand Rapids and the Mid-west regional. If Notre Dame wins, they go to Grand Rapids and Michigan in all likelihood will head to Minneapolis.
This is a great rivalry, not only if football but also hockey. These two teams will go at it tooth and nail and put on one doozy of a show. Michigan recently went into South Bend and split with the Irish on their home ice.
I like Michigan's chances in this game. Personally they owe the Irish for ruining their shot at a tenth national championship in Denver last year.
Should be an outstanding game either way.
Prediction: Michigan - 3 Notre Dame - 2
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Final Five Begins Tonight for WCHA
Spring time is one of the most exciting times of the year in the sporting world and this year is no exception. One day before the official start of the spring season, the WCHA gets the college hockey conference play-offs second round started with their annual Final Five tournament in St. Paul and the Xcel Energy Center.
The Play-in game features a fierce rivalry within the conference (as if they’re not all fierce), 17th ranked Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs face-off against their cross-state brethren the 13th Minnesota Golden Gophers. As with any great rivalry, the interesting story about the teams is what makes this game special. The Gophers had two players, Ryan Stoa and Jordan Schroeder finish 1-2 in league scoring, while UMD goaltender Alex Stalock finished No. 1 in goaltending. This of course begs the question, “Who’s gonna win, offense or defense?” Given the amount of senior depth on UMD’s team, combined with better goaltending, look for them to play hard against the youth-laden Gophers and win a high-scoring affair.
Prediction: UMD – 5 Minnesota – 4
The winner of the play-in game gets the dubious honor of having to play sixth ranked University of North Dakota on Friday night. The Fighting Sioux have played well lately, dispensing of the Michigan Tech Huskies in a weekend sweep. UMD may pose the more difficult game for the Sioux since they tied UND earlier in the season. North Dakota beat up on the Gophers back in a January series 6-1, 6-3. UND will bring a powerful offense against anyone they play but must rely on Brad Eidsness – a freshman goaltender (24-9-4, 2.44 GAA; .909 Save percentage) to carry them to victory.
Prediction: North Dakota – 3 UMD – 1
The other game of the Final Five pits the fourth ranked Denver Pioneers against the 16th ranked Badgers of Wisconsin. Denver finished second in the conference a mere five points ahead of Wisconsin. Both teams bring very balanced scoring attacks into the Final Five Tournament. The Pioneers boast ten players scoring over 20 points this season compared to Wisconsin’s nine players. The key to this game as is so often the case in college hockey, will be in goal. Denver’s Marc Cheverie (22-10-5) carries a 2.33 goals against average along with a save percentage around 92 percent, while Wisconsin counters with senior goalie Shane Connelly (18-13-4) who is stopping 91 percent of his shots leading to a 2.54 GAA. On paper this game appears to be a toss-up but as usual the game isn’t played on paper. Denver is the stronger team here and should be able to show it in this tournament.
Prediction: DU – 4 Wisconsin – 1
The championship game will be good as always and the winner receives the WCHA automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. I think North Dakota boasts the best team in the conference combining all aspects of the game. So I like them to win the tournament in an upset of the Denver Pioneers.
Prediction : North Dakota – 3 Denver – 2
The Play-in game features a fierce rivalry within the conference (as if they’re not all fierce), 17th ranked Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs face-off against their cross-state brethren the 13th Minnesota Golden Gophers. As with any great rivalry, the interesting story about the teams is what makes this game special. The Gophers had two players, Ryan Stoa and Jordan Schroeder finish 1-2 in league scoring, while UMD goaltender Alex Stalock finished No. 1 in goaltending. This of course begs the question, “Who’s gonna win, offense or defense?” Given the amount of senior depth on UMD’s team, combined with better goaltending, look for them to play hard against the youth-laden Gophers and win a high-scoring affair.
Prediction: UMD – 5 Minnesota – 4
The winner of the play-in game gets the dubious honor of having to play sixth ranked University of North Dakota on Friday night. The Fighting Sioux have played well lately, dispensing of the Michigan Tech Huskies in a weekend sweep. UMD may pose the more difficult game for the Sioux since they tied UND earlier in the season. North Dakota beat up on the Gophers back in a January series 6-1, 6-3. UND will bring a powerful offense against anyone they play but must rely on Brad Eidsness – a freshman goaltender (24-9-4, 2.44 GAA; .909 Save percentage) to carry them to victory.
Prediction: North Dakota – 3 UMD – 1
The other game of the Final Five pits the fourth ranked Denver Pioneers against the 16th ranked Badgers of Wisconsin. Denver finished second in the conference a mere five points ahead of Wisconsin. Both teams bring very balanced scoring attacks into the Final Five Tournament. The Pioneers boast ten players scoring over 20 points this season compared to Wisconsin’s nine players. The key to this game as is so often the case in college hockey, will be in goal. Denver’s Marc Cheverie (22-10-5) carries a 2.33 goals against average along with a save percentage around 92 percent, while Wisconsin counters with senior goalie Shane Connelly (18-13-4) who is stopping 91 percent of his shots leading to a 2.54 GAA. On paper this game appears to be a toss-up but as usual the game isn’t played on paper. Denver is the stronger team here and should be able to show it in this tournament.
Prediction: DU – 4 Wisconsin – 1
The championship game will be good as always and the winner receives the WCHA automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. I think North Dakota boasts the best team in the conference combining all aspects of the game. So I like them to win the tournament in an upset of the Denver Pioneers.
Prediction : North Dakota – 3 Denver – 2
Monday, March 16, 2009
The Road to the Joe is in the final stretch
As the CCHA playoffs head into the semi-finals this weekend some questions as to which teams will make the NCAA tournament and which teams are on the proverbial bubble have been answered and others have been created.
Top-seeded Notre Dame (ranked #2 in the USA Today Poll) and Second seed Michigan face interesting tests as they continue on their head-on collision for the Mason Cup (CCHA Playoff Championship Trophy).
Notre Dame Fighting Irish ~vs~ Northern Michigan University Wildcats
The first semi-final game on Friday showcases Notre Dame and perennial pest Northern Michigan.
How They Got Here:
The Wildcats dispensed with Miami (OH) in three games this past weekend and have routinely played spoiler to one team or another during the CCHA Play-offs in past years. The Irish are having one of their best seasons ever and that includes last season when they played college hockey juggernaut Boston College for the NCAA title in Denver.
The Irish swept NMU during the regular season series and I’d look for this trend to continue in the semis. Notre Dame has all the chips stacked in their favor against an under gunned team in Northern. Led by seniors Eric Condra and Christian Hanson the Irish have a very well balanced offense with nine players scoring over 20 points this season. To add insult to injury Notre Dame’s defense is led by their senior goaltender, Jordan Pearce who not only boasts a mere 1.62 GAA and .934 save percentage but led the Irish to last year’s championship game. The Wildcats try to counter with youth. Northern only has four seniors on their roster and are led by two sophomore forwards in Mark Olver (16 – 19 – 35pts.) and Gregor Hanson (13 – 21 – 34pts.).
Notre Dame will want to put the cats away by the end of the first period. If Northern hangs around too long and keeps the game close, their chances of pulling off the upset increase with all the pressure being on Notre Dame to play for the CCHA’s automatic bid to the big tournament.
Mike’s prediction: N.D. – 4 NMU – 1
Michigan Wolverines ~vs~ Alaska (Fairbanks) Nanooks
The second semi-final game on Friday features the University of Michigan Wolverines making their 20th straight semi appearance against the upstart and upset minded Nanooks of Alaska (Fairbanks).
How They Got Here:
Alaska knocked off the Ohio State University Buckeyes in the best-of-three series last weekend. The Nanooks posted two shut-out victories over the Bucks to all but burst Ohio State’s chances to be an at-large team in the NCAA tournament. Alaska also split with the Wolverines earlier in the season which they will assuredly use as a catalyst to taking out the Wolverines on Friday.
Michigan looks to continue the trend it set last weekend bringing one of the nation’s strongest offensive teams against Alaska. Michigan has two sophomores with more than 40 pts., Aaron Palushaj and Louie Caporusso. In addition the best news the Wolverines have is the return of senior captain, Mark Mitera who had been sidelined most of the season with a knee injury. But being young doesn’t really hurt U of M because most of the team advanced to the Frozen Four in Denver a year ago, before losing to Notre Dame in the national semi-final.
The question to who wins this game begins in goal for both teams. Alaska senior goalie Chad Johnson boasts a 1.66 GAA and .939 save percentage and will have to stand on his head to carry his team to victory. Michigan on the other hand will rely on sophomore Bryan Hogan (1.89, .917) to carry the Blue to another Frozen Four appearance. Look for Michigan’s strong offense to blister Alaska’s net minder with shot after shot, and in the end, be just too strong for the Nanooks to handle.
Prediction: Mich. – 5 Alaska – 3
Look for more confernce reviews later this week.
Top-seeded Notre Dame (ranked #2 in the USA Today Poll) and Second seed Michigan face interesting tests as they continue on their head-on collision for the Mason Cup (CCHA Playoff Championship Trophy).
Notre Dame Fighting Irish ~vs~ Northern Michigan University Wildcats
The first semi-final game on Friday showcases Notre Dame and perennial pest Northern Michigan.
How They Got Here:
The Wildcats dispensed with Miami (OH) in three games this past weekend and have routinely played spoiler to one team or another during the CCHA Play-offs in past years. The Irish are having one of their best seasons ever and that includes last season when they played college hockey juggernaut Boston College for the NCAA title in Denver.
The Irish swept NMU during the regular season series and I’d look for this trend to continue in the semis. Notre Dame has all the chips stacked in their favor against an under gunned team in Northern. Led by seniors Eric Condra and Christian Hanson the Irish have a very well balanced offense with nine players scoring over 20 points this season. To add insult to injury Notre Dame’s defense is led by their senior goaltender, Jordan Pearce who not only boasts a mere 1.62 GAA and .934 save percentage but led the Irish to last year’s championship game. The Wildcats try to counter with youth. Northern only has four seniors on their roster and are led by two sophomore forwards in Mark Olver (16 – 19 – 35pts.) and Gregor Hanson (13 – 21 – 34pts.).
Notre Dame will want to put the cats away by the end of the first period. If Northern hangs around too long and keeps the game close, their chances of pulling off the upset increase with all the pressure being on Notre Dame to play for the CCHA’s automatic bid to the big tournament.
Mike’s prediction: N.D. – 4 NMU – 1
Michigan Wolverines ~vs~ Alaska (Fairbanks) Nanooks
The second semi-final game on Friday features the University of Michigan Wolverines making their 20th straight semi appearance against the upstart and upset minded Nanooks of Alaska (Fairbanks).
How They Got Here:
Alaska knocked off the Ohio State University Buckeyes in the best-of-three series last weekend. The Nanooks posted two shut-out victories over the Bucks to all but burst Ohio State’s chances to be an at-large team in the NCAA tournament. Alaska also split with the Wolverines earlier in the season which they will assuredly use as a catalyst to taking out the Wolverines on Friday.
Michigan looks to continue the trend it set last weekend bringing one of the nation’s strongest offensive teams against Alaska. Michigan has two sophomores with more than 40 pts., Aaron Palushaj and Louie Caporusso. In addition the best news the Wolverines have is the return of senior captain, Mark Mitera who had been sidelined most of the season with a knee injury. But being young doesn’t really hurt U of M because most of the team advanced to the Frozen Four in Denver a year ago, before losing to Notre Dame in the national semi-final.
The question to who wins this game begins in goal for both teams. Alaska senior goalie Chad Johnson boasts a 1.66 GAA and .939 save percentage and will have to stand on his head to carry his team to victory. Michigan on the other hand will rely on sophomore Bryan Hogan (1.89, .917) to carry the Blue to another Frozen Four appearance. Look for Michigan’s strong offense to blister Alaska’s net minder with shot after shot, and in the end, be just too strong for the Nanooks to handle.
Prediction: Mich. – 5 Alaska – 3
Look for more confernce reviews later this week.
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