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Praetorium Honoris

Friday, March 22, 2019

MMDLVI Diebus, vel VII Annis


For those of ye who dinnae ken Latin and for those who don't grok Scotticisms, it's been 2,556 days, or 7 years, since the Chant du Départ opened for business. Along the way Tuna joined up (little does he know that his contract states "for the duration"), then juvat (he insists that it starts with a little "j" and not a capital "J" for various and sundry reasons) signed on (his contract states "for the duration plus five years"), then Your Humble Scribe's very own daughter LUSH volunteered to "maybe, someday, if I feel like it" write the occasional post (hasn't happened yet for those of you keeping score at home), and lastly (though certainement not leastly) some guy named Andrew joined up whom I quickly began referring to as "Beans" (said moniker having stuck with everyone except PLQ, for reasons known best only to PLQ) and his contract is so open ended that I think the word "infinity" may be in there. Somewhere.

Now Tuna's postings are rather sporadic. But it's okay, he's in for the long haul, he posts when he can, and it's always worth waiting for. As for juvat, he owns Monday. He's like my old VW Beetle, starts up every time, don't have to worry. But as of late his browser is messing with his fonts. Changing the size, all sorts of "interesting" stuff. (I think his browser knows he's retired now so has "time" to mess with that sort of thing. Uh, no, he doesn't. He probably works harder now than when he was actually drawing a paycheck!)

LUSH may, or may not, post some day. She claims she will, then Big Time will deploy, both daughters will have things they have to go to, then...

If it happens, it happens, I ain't holding my breath, but I do get the odd story from her now and again. So she does provide blog fodder from time to time.

Now Beans, (sigh, "Andrew" to you Paul) is on and off again. He's like the George R.R. Martin of blogging. He'll post this huge, magnificent rant, and then *poof* he's gone for a month or two. But the man can always be counted on to leave wicked awesome comments. Kind of a "hair club for men" sort of thing, he's not just a blogger, he's a commenter too.

So yeah, seven years and it's been awesome. The reason I started doing this ain't so awesome (death of Lex) but it's been a good outcome. I mean it's tough thinking of how it began but I've made a lot of new friends along the way, some of you I've even met in person. (Tuna, juvat, LUSH, obviously, and one of these days I will get to Florida. I mean Beans can't live in isolation forever. And yes, juvat, I plan on getting down to Texas, someday...)

I will be picking up the Who They Are series tomorrow (think WWI), but I couldn't let a blogoversary go by without saying something.

And if you hear that those F-117s that have been spotted belong to me, don't believe it. (Heh, like I could afford a stealth jet. No, really you guys, those aren't mine, er, ours. No, Tuna, you can't have a raise... Stop looking at me like that juvat and Beans, I don't actually pay Tuna. Well, he does get free meals when he visits Little Rhody. Not that he does that a lot, and he doesn't eat all that much...)

See you mañana.

P.S. And all the language lessons are free!

P.P.S. I left out the squirrel this year, the Cap'n wanted him back...




82 comments:

  1. I followed the 117 link in the final paragraph and my expectation of a leopard like paint job went unfulfilled.

    Rainy and windy here in Philly, and that's good news because it isn't snow.

    I'm thinking that the commenter's contract is pretty much along the same lines as the blogger's contract, especially the pay scale.

    Keep up the good work, and to all of the bloggers, thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm a tease. (Why didn't the staff think of that?) Did you notice the markings on the -117 above?

      Thanks John.

      Delete
    2. I hadn't noticed the aircraft markings, double well done!
      I'm going to have to turn in my photo analysis merit badge.

      Delete
    3. The Leopard Tank is also oddly spotless. :)

      Delete
    4. I thought the camo on the Leopard was quite effective, for winter camo that is.

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    5. Well, the Germans did have a late WW2 camo scheme for their panzers called "Ambush Pattern," which did have spots.

      I'll find a picture, maybe I need to do another tank post. ;)

      Delete
    6. I was referring to, of course, no photo visible of a Leopard. What, was it in the video?

      Thus, like the old joke, what's this " . "? A polar bear in a snowstorm with his eyes closed.

      And so, can you see the Leopard in winter camo here " "?

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    7. Ah Beans, you overestimate my ability to "get it." I'm usually the last person in the room to understand anything remotely clever. Bit of a plodder I am.

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    8. Beans, I too was confounded in the subtlety of Sarge's wisdom. However on close, very close perusal of the website, I found a new site added to the blog roll under the Stuff I haven't placed yet, but like to read (for the love of Pete, make that an acronym, please, took me 4 tries to get that typed, SIHPYBLTR, pronounced Shippy-Builter). That site is SNAFU and features a picture of a leopard tank on its masthead.

      Delete
    9. Technically I believe it's a Swedish mod to the Leopard 2. But it's pretty cool.

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    10. If you wanted to drive a tank to a Grateful Dead concert, maybe. Bleh.

      So friggin ugly it didn't register as a Leopard. So, I guess, job well done?

      Delete
    11. Well, it looks better in fighting kit.

      Delete
  2. I really enjoy the read with a cuppa before breakfast. You guys are my go to for a smile and laugh, sometimes a pull on ye olde heartstrings. But I feel at home here, and happy to read what's written. Probably the only blog I read ALL the comments on posts....

    I was pulling into Roswell, NM... coming north from a gig in El Paso. Right over my head, comes a 117, and 2 chase planes... in a vee, heading in on final. That thing was one of the loudest jets I'd ever heard. Screechy almost. Of course I rolled down the window to listen...

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    Replies
    1. Sometimes the comments are better than the actual posts!

      I've never seen (nor heard) an F-117 in flight. Seen 'em on the ground though, weird looking birds.

      Thanks STxAR!

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    2. My classmate in F-15 RTU (there were only 2 of us in the class), told me it was an unusually difficult aircraft to fly. I don't remember exactly why, but he did say, of the Eagle, that it was nice to just let the jet fly itself from time to time.

      Delete
    3. Looking at all the weird angles on the -117, is it even aerodynamic?

      Delete
    4. OldAFSargeMarch 22, 2019 at 1:00 PM
      Looking at all the weird angles on the -117, is it even aerodynamic?

      I was just reading about that one in the Ben Rich book about the Skunk Works. Stealth. The angles are all about being stealthy. From page 88: "Boy, it sure is an angular son of a bitch, isn't it?" Whitley muttered, seeing that top secret diamond shape for the first time.
      and further down the page, Rich writes, "We were determined to make the F-117A the most responsive and pilot-friendly airplane in the inventory. My feeling was that any airplane that looked so alien had better be easy to handle."
      Apparently, they did "real good" work during Desert Storm....

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    5. It is so angular it needed/needs a serious amount of computer just to fly. So, being a Skunk Works plane, they got it right, eventually. Else it is a tad bit unstable...

      Delete
  3. Still the first place......uh.....actually... systems update is first.... too many times update/installation is happening when I open up the laptop. Well this IS the first site checked, Happy Anniversary Bloggers! Tanks for your hard work and diligence! Now off to get the tackle box cleared away and new line on reels, opener is in fifty days.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yeah, my work computer went to update city first thing this morning, had to reboot twice. Sigh...

      Thanks Nylon12!

      Delete
  4. Thank you for continuing to write, entertain and educate. I land here daily, some days earlier than others, depending on what is going on in my work life. Gotta keep the electric turned on so I can continue to enjoy reading your blog and everyone's comments. There are several other blogs I read on a fairly regular basis, and you have not only the best blog writers, but also the best commenters!!

    So, congrats on another year of educating, and entertaining us. Looking forward to next year, after you are retired and busier with writing the Panzer stories. Am saving pennies so I can contribute to your "beer/coffee fund". When the time comes. ;)

    Besides, it is nice to "talk" with someone who also appreciates New England, especially Vermont and Rhode Island...sometimes I am just homesick for a down East accent.

    So thank you for the hard work, and laughs, as well as now I know waaay more than I ever thought I would about tanks!!

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  5. Hey Old AFSarge;

    Happy Blogoversary to a good guy and a regular stop on my morning read. and to check that you didn't post something that I was thinking about, LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks MrG!

      Stop thinking so loud, I can hear you. ;)

      Delete
  6. GRRM? Okay... Well... I guess... (Sigh)

    Maybe because I'm still bummed that my secret gorilla forensic accounting expert found you funneling all the monies into a secret 'sugar' fund for LUSH's progeny...

    As to combonkulator issues, did a defrag, did a disc clean, over again, AVG tuneup, did everything on AVG tuneup, did another disc clean, turn off/turnon, repeat the whole process one more time, and suddenly whatever was sucking my resources down and making my fan run up and loading the disc clean with 200+MB of garbage has disappeared. I am thinking Microserf tossed a small update in that they quickly fixed or rescinded, as they are wont to do.

    Oh well, computers...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I switched that account from the Cayman Islands to Switzerland. Gorillas can't handle snow.

      Glad to hear that your magic number and picture box is all better now. (I'm sure Microsoft did something, they always do. Then say, "What error? I didn't see any error.")

      Delete
  7. High praise, Sarge, high praise indeed! Once I was an Eagle Pilot, now I'm a VW. No place to go but down from that lofty spot!

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    Replies
    1. Well, I was trying to express your reliability.

      So to resubmit: You're reliable like a Beetle but speedy and cool like an Eagle. (And that almost rhymes!)

      Delete
    2. I know, just kidding. Congratulations on 7 years and 2843 outstanding posts. Not an easy way to total the comments, but, I would estimate brazilians!

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    3. Brazilians? Wow, a close shave from a trapazeillions...

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    4. Juvat - I knew that...

      I think.

      And thanks, you're a big part of our success. (Yes, you too Tuna and Beans. Hhmm, now I'm hungry.)

      Delete
    5. As to the number of comments received over the years, I would estimate somewhere between a metric butt ton and a shite load.

      Or approximately 2.75 Brazilians.

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    6. You're really waxing on about your comments, aren't you???

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    7. Um, um, what's the catch? (See my earlier remark about being the last to "get it.")

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    8. Re: Waxing. https://www.elle.com/beauty/health-fitness/a25585882/brazilian-wax-guide/

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    9. Hahaha!

      Man, I need to get out more!

      Delete
    10. Oh man, I just had flashbacks... If my dad would've eaten beans and tuna, all the live stock for miles wouldn't have made it to another day. (Dugway anyone?) He was gas powered..... I've been to Pasadena, TX and most of the chemical coast, and they don't have nuthin' on my dad.....

      "Watch them words! WATCH THEM WORDS! (watch them grammar!)" SWAYR is the hint...

      Delete
  8. Ah, Sam Adams Brewery, how could you, seriously, a Ruth Bader Ginsberg beer?

    Seriously? A beer celebrating one of the most tyrannical Supreme CJs we've ever had, from a beer label named after one of our loudest-mouthed anti-tyrannical patriots?

    I'd almost take up drinking beer just to not buy from you ever!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've had quite a few Sam Adams beers in my day. Liked most of them. Won't buy the RBG beer, though. Probably will still buy Sam Adams. Unless they start making a habit of politicizing beer.

      Delete
    2. Beans, seriously? (I won't touch it either, probably aimed at the local progs, probably has enough preservatives to keep the drinker alive forever...)

      Delete
    3. Money from the Hag's Head beer is going to the ACLU. So... well... politicizing is what they did.

      Don't even get me started on those cop-killer loving bungholes at Ben&Jerrys...

      Delete
  9. Raise? I'd have to show up for work first. What's it been- three times I've visited? I remember a fish place, the pub, and a waterfront restaurant. Good food every time. I need to get out there more often though! Visiting you is pay enough. It's my turn to pay next time anyway.

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    1. Well, we will be in California late next month. But further north up, at The WSO's, but you're always welcome here. You don't eat much.

      ;)

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    2. Ooh, Fresno is tempting, but I'll have to pass. ;)

      Delete
  10. 98K visits to go til 2 Million. I think that's pretty close to a brazilian.

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    Replies
    1. We're oh so close. I figure sometime this summer.

      I've been close to a Brazilian before...

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    2. So that's (including this one) three more...

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    3. How very "Zen" of you, brother Beans!

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    4. After perusing the fine Brazilian fillies at PaulDammit's website, wax off is the way to go.. Hey, he talks about marine (as in boat) stuff a lot and is a good website agrigater.

      http://bigironbegfish.blogspot.com/

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    5. PaulDammit is on the sidebar...

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    6. Only 98K to go? I'm sure the russian spambots are good for half of that!

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    7. Easily. They've yet to make an appearance this month. Russian holiday maybe?

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    8. Celebrating the end of the Mueller Inquisition...

      Lots and lots of Russians celebrating with all that Uranium 1 money...

      Delete
  11. Happy Anniversary. Keep up the good work. Maybe I'll live long enough to see a LUSH post.

    Thanks for the post.
    Paul L. Quandt

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Paul!

      As to your last, we should all live so long!

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    2. I reiterate a past suggestion. Get The Missus Herself to tell LUSH herself to comment next time she and the spawn show up at your house (of course, volunteering you to wrangle the herd...)

      Delete
  12. Replies
    1. Well, do some gun and brew related posts. That ought to catch you up to the dreaded McThag, since he's busy firing off emails to all of Florida's major elected officials and it takes a lot of time to type using Lego figures....

      Delete
  13. Thanks to you, Sarge, and all your staff who have posted. It has been an enjoyable and informative seven years.

    Not a substitute for The One who inspired you, but a worthy endeavor all its own. Keep up the good work.
    John Blackshoe

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope to keep his memory forever green. When your brother falls, you pick up the banner and press on.

      Glad you're here, John Blackshoe.

      Delete

Just be polite... that's all I ask. (For Buck)
Can't be nice, go somewhere else...

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