The Brew Crew Halloween-tacular Special!!!

1st Inning.

Scary Movies I want to see...again.  My Top 5 Scary Movies Countdown Part 5...The Legend of Boggy Creek.

I was a mere child visiting my grandparents in Arkansas when I first saw 'The Legend of Boggy Creek'.  My Uncle Doug (Four years older than me and who still lived with my grandparents had a copy of the movie on VHS and we sat down to watch it one night.  Now up to that point I had heard of Bigfoot.  Heck, I remember him fighting Steve Austin on 'The Six Million Dollar Man' then becoming his friend.  So, why would this movie be scary???  Well, first my Papa Brewer like to tell us kids tales when we went to sleep and he had one particular tale that paid homage to a Bigfoot-like creature.  The tale involved an old woman that lived alone back in the woods and one night the creature pays her a not-so-welcome visit (the end of the tale is when he would jump at us and give us a good scare).  Add to that story the fact that my grandparents lived in the Ozark Mountains of North Central Arkansas out in the country with no city close by and the nearest neighbor a good ways down the road.  They lived at the base of a large hill/mountain with woods and pasture land all around.  No outdoor street lights to guide you in the dark around the yard (if you were lucky the moon was shining bright to provide you some light but if there was no moon it could get so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face).  So, there you have my setting as a child sitting down to watch this movie. 

 

The plot per Wikipedia, "The film, which claims to be a true story, sets out to detail the existence of the 'Fouke Monster,' a Bigfoot-like creature that has reportedly been seen by residents of a small Arkansas community since the 1950s. It is described as being completely covered in reddish-brown hair, leaving three-toed tracks in bean fields, and having a foul odor.  Several locals from the small town of Fouke, Arkansas, recall their stories, often appearing as themselves, claiming that the creature has killed several large hogs as well as other animals. In one scene, a kitten is shown as having been 'scared to death' by the creature. The narrator informs the audience that while people have shot at the creature in the past, it has always managed to escape. In another scene, hunters attempt to pursue the creature with dogs, but the dogs refuse to give chase. A police constable states that while driving home one night, the creature suddenly ran across the road in front of him.  In a later sequence, culled from the actual newspaper accounts inspiring the film, the creature is shown menacing a family in a remote country house. After being fired upon, the creature attacks, sending one family member to the hospital."

This movie has that low-budget documentary look to it and you can view the entire film here on YouTube.  But as a kid in elementary school that hears 'true story' you tend to believe much of what you see, as the reenactments seem like real footage.  One of the last scenes where a guy gets attacked while in the bathroom hit close to home for me because my grandparents bathroom was tiny like the one in the film with a window just like the one in the film and my imagination had me afraid to use it for fear of a Sasquatch reaching through to get me!  To add to my fears as a child I recall my Granny Brewer telling us kids about a night before I was born where a couple of my older cousins who were between toddler and newborn age at the time were spending the night in that house along with my Aunt and my Papa and Uncle were not at home.  Sometime during the night they heard a sound outside the window in the room where my cousins were sleeping (by the window).  They were a bit alarmed but eventually went to sleep.  The next morning they went outside and found fresh footprints in the dirt outside the window...    

If you are a Bigfoot believer then I recommend checking out this movie just so you can say you saw it as it is a classic.  There were several sequels and re-boots but nothing that compares to the original as most had nothing to do with continuity to it.  I myself plan to one day go on a Sasquatch hunt (it's on my bucket list).  Trivia-The film was a tremendous success at drive-ins. It grossed $22 million, making it the 7th highest grossing movie of 1972.  Trailer is below.  Enjoy!
 

2nd Inning.

American History Lesson...Halloween in America.  Since the holiday is upon us this week I figured a history lesson on Halloween would be appropriate, especially in America.  Now the general history of Halloween per History.com says, "Straddling the line between fall and winter, plenty and paucity, life and death, Halloween is a time of celebration and superstition. It is thought to have originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints and martyrs; the holiday, All Saints’ Day, incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows’ Eve and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a secular, community-based event characterized by child-friendly activities such as trick-or-treating. In a number of countries around the world, as the days grow shorter and the nights get colder, people continue to usher in the winter season with gatherings, costumes and sweet treats." 

 

But what about the history of the holiday in America???   There is a good article by Chad Hosrtman that details the history.  "As immigrants to America began to arrive from Europe, they brought along many of their beliefs and customs and one of these was Halloween. During the colonial days, the celebration was limited due to the rigid Protestant ways of the early settlers.  However, the southern colonies and Maryland held the customs of various ethnic groups from Europe including the beliefs held by the Native American Indians. All of these beliefs began to join and create a new American version of Halloween.  The first American Halloween celebrations seen were parties that were held to celebrate the harvest. During these get togethers, neighbors would share stores of their departed loved ones or others they knew, would tell the future of those that wished to know, along with singing and dancing. The trend for Halloween in the beginning days of its creation were mainly centered on ghost telling and mischief.  During the middle of the 19th century, autumn celebrations were commonplace; however, Halloween was not celebrated throughout America." 

Towards the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century, and as many more immigrants arrived with their own traditions, the celebrations became more of a community gathering event that involved fun activities rather than scary creatures and scary stories.  After WWII, the holiday turned in a direction aimed more at the children and toward 'trick-r-treating'.  People could avoid vandalism and tricks, which had grown during previous decades, by providing candy or 'treats'.  After a brief scare in the 1980s with supposed razor blades in candy which lead to people taking their kids' candy to hospitals to have them x-rayed, the holiday has turned into a billion dollar industry.  From the candy makers to the costume makers, Halloween has become the second most profitable holiday behind Christmas. 

You now have communities and entrepreneurs  that put on 'Haunted Houses' every year.  Churches and schools have 'trunk-r-treat' parties in order to provide safe places for the children to celebrate and collect candy.  But not to be forgotten is the tv/movie industry which churns out yearly dedications to the holiday with annual tv specials and movie marathons and franchise movies which unveil the latest sequel in time for October 31st.  The video below profiles the history and a few facts on Halloween.  Stay safe and enjoy all the candy!


 

3rd Inning.

Not a pic of me but this is the
same Spidey costume I had

Costumes...Who remembers those costumes children like me would come to love and wear back in the late 1970s and early 1980s?  You know the ones that had masks made of plastic with the eyes cut out and slit for a mouth and a rubber band to keep it strapped to your head?  Oh, and the cheap plastic (slight upgrade from trash bag material) design of our favorite superhero/tv star/movie character for the body suit?  Compared with today's children costumes they would be considered trash and you would most likely end up in a meltdown if you tried to get your child to wear one.  After some digging around on the Internet I discovered they were called Ben Cooper costumes. These costumes were mass produced from the 1950s to the early 1990s and focused on pop culture icons.  They are apparently a collectible being hawked on the auction sites.  I recall having at least three over the early years of my youth and they were Spiderman, Superman, and Yoda.  You can view some of the varieties of those costumes here and here. 

 

Another costume from my childhood that a few of my cousins had the unfortunate luck in wearing were the Kooky Spooks inflatable head costumes.  These costumes came out in the late 1970s and came with a large inflatable head, face paint, and a nice poncho with reflective tape.  I recall a few Halloweens being lined up next to my cousins in front of my grandpa's fireplace for pictures.  Dork or no dork?  You be the judge.  To check out a variety of these costumes click here. 

For some general vintage costume pics and a few laughs check out the vintage Halloween pics over at PlaidStallions.

4th Inning.

Cool Videos...A couple of videos that are Halloween related.

Ever wonder what the fox says at Halloween???



A recent classic prank thanks to Jimmy Kimmel.



5th Inning.

Horror Art...I am a fan of comic book art and therefore movie art, especially sci-fi/horror movie art.  Over at JoBlo.com they compiled some great pieces here that they found around the Internet.  Check it out and be sure to click on the links to the individual artists' websites. Enjoy!

6th Inning.

Scary Vacation Destinations...I like to travel and I imagine that most people do but where I differ from most is that I like to go to spooky places.  Several years ago, prior to having children, I made a couple of trips with my wife to the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs (and saw nothing).  This past May I missed a trip to Long Beach, CA with my wife and a tour of the haunted Queen Mary.  But I have a spooky-travel-bucket-list and a book of haunted & paranormal places in the United States so you can count on me (and hopefully my wife) scratching a few of those places off of my list.  Three places I would like to go are listed below.

 

Myrtles Plantation, St. Francesville, Louisiana.  A haunted house in the South.  What more do you need???  Per EveyManTravel.com,"This home, built in 1796 by General David Bradford, now operates as a bed and breakfast, offering guests a chance to experience a paranormal encounter for themselves. The most frequent reports of mysterious activity include handprints left on mirrors, pianos found playing by themselves and disembodied footsteps, all thought to be that of a previous owner who was shot to death on the front porch."   Check out the official website here if you want to book a room.

 

Entrance to the ranch.  Photos of the actual house are rare.

Skinwalker Ranch, Ballard, Utah.  A ranch that is a hotspot for paranormal and UFO activities, yes please!  Per Wikipedia, "The ranch, located in west Uintah County bordering the Ute Indian Reservation, was popularly dubbed the "UFO ranch" due to its ostensible 50-year history of odd events said to have taken place there...such as...sightings of UFOs, bigfoot-like creatures, crop circles, glowing orbs and poltergeist activity reported by its former owners.  George Knapp and  Colm Kelleher researched the area and saw or investigated evidence of close to 100 incidents that include vanishing and mutilated cattle, sightings of unidentified flying objects or orbs, large animals with piercing yellow eyes that they say were not injured when struck by bullets, and invisible objects emitting destructive magnetic fields."  For more information on the ranch check out this website. 

 

 

Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, California.

A house haunted by spirits of those that had died at the hands of a Winchester rifle and by Mrs. Winchester herself...A house that began construction in 1884 and continued around the clock for the last 38 years of Sarah Winchester's life.  There are roughly 160 rooms, including 40 bedrooms, 2 ballrooms (one completed and one unfinished) as well as 47 fireplaces, over 10,000 panes of glass, 17 chimneys (with evidence of two others), two basements and three elevators.  With weird oddities like stairways to the ceiling, doors that open to walls, and non-functioning chimneys, this mansion was built to keep the spirits confused.  To book your travel to this historic location check out their website here.         

7th Inning.

Firearms Corner...To keep with the Halloween/monster theme I figured it would be best to showcase the Mossberg 500 Chainsaw Shotgun-Zombie Edition (ZMB).   The shotgun was unveiled at the annual gun industry SHOT Show in 2011 and was part of the industry craze over zombies.  As part of the Mossberg 500 family of shotguns it is a perfect fit for home defense against any intruders whether they be a masked home invader or an army of undead.  Per American Rifleman.com, "the Chainsaw is a pistol-grip pump-action shotgun with no stock. The wrap-around chainsaw-style handgrip was added to the forend to make it easier to control. The gun is meant to be fired from the hip, and the top handle allows the operator to cycle the action while simultaneously maintaining leverage above the gun to help tame muzzle flip."   The videos below profile the shotgun in action.  Enjoy!

 

 

8th Inning.

Random Facts about me at Halloween...I do enjoy dressing up now that I have kids...My goal is to go through the kids' candy and take out my 'Candy Tax'...If I don't scare at least one kid I feel it has been a disappointing evening...It is not appropriate to dress like Michael Myers and hide behind the laundry room door waiting for your wife to walk in...I'm partial to Kit-Kats and Bottle Caps...As a kid I would hit all the apartments in my building then we would go to my grandparent's and hit 133rd Circle and then my Great Aunt and Uncle's on Craig Avenue...

When buying candy to give out I always feel we don't buy enough then even with the biggest crowds we always seem to have too much leftover...My favorite costume as a child was probably Spider-Man...A large hairy motorized spider decoration makes a great all-year scare prank when placed around the house and office.

9th Inning.

Baseball Video...Halloween baseball.  The baseball players at San Diego State University held their annual Halloween game this year and had some great costumes!  Play ball!

It is evil...It is real...It is awakening...

1st Inning.

Highlights of the Brew Crew...This past week, specifically Thursday and Friday, was 'Fall Break' at my daughters' school.  The wife and I decided to take a mini-cation and drive up to Omaha, Nebraska and visit the Henry Doorly Omaha Zoo.  Each of my two oldest daughters were allowed to bring one friend so I was outnumbered 6-to-1.  Flying up Interstate 29, we made it to the Comfort Inn at the Zoo with enough time for the kids to go swimming in the indoor pool. 

The next day we all got up and had a great breakfast of waffles, biscuits & gravy, scrambled eggs, and orange juice before driving the two minutes across and down the street to the zoo.  I'll be honest, I've never gone to any zoo this late in the year and didn't know what to expect as far as what animals we would be able to see but my wife had done her research and the Omaha Zoo has plenty of indoor exhibits to make the trip worthwhile. 

 

With coats on and our little red wagon full of sandwiches, drinks, and our little Lucy, we made our way to the Lied Jungle where we saw plenty of monkeys, turtles, exotic birds, and a few bats.  Next we headed over to the Scott Aquarium to view some beautiful sea creatures (the jellyfish exhibits were very cool).  While at the aquarium we came across a spot where they were cleaning a small aquatic exhibit and the girls all had a fun time pretending to squeeze the diver's butt.  After the aquarium, the weather had warmed up a bit so we decided to knock out some outdoor exhibits and checked out the gazelles, cheetah, giraffes, and antelope before sitting down to have lunch next to the sea lion pool.  With lunch in our bellies, we headed through the Expedition Madagascar building and were able to view the lemurs. 

 

 

 

 

 

Next on our list was the gorilla house.  There were many gorillas to view throughout the Hubbard Gorilla Valley.  The ones outdoor seemed to be in a napping mood while laying in the sun but eventually came to attention for all the passers-by.  Some of the girls were a bit afraid of watching the gorillas from the viewing bubbles with a fear the gorillas would punch through to get them.  After the gorillas, we headed over to the Durham's Bear Canyon to check out a variety of bears from around the world.  The girls named the sun bear 'Wrinkle Face' because of the wrinkles on his huge face.  Right next to the bears was the cat complex where we saw five baby lion cubs and a very pretty Siberian tiger that lost a front leg as a cub.    

After a quick tour through the orangutan house we finished off the day in the Desert Dome & Kingdoms of the Night.  That dome is really cool and showcases quite a few desert species before you head underground for a showcase of nocturnal animals.  Upon returning to the hotel, the girls enjoyed a couple of hours in the pool before everyone was in bed and asleep by 9pm.  A great day and a great time with several little girls who enjoyed visiting the zoo!  If you live in the Midwest and have never been I highly recommend taking a trip to go visit this zoo.      

2nd Inning.

Cool Videos...

Evolution of Superman...A little animated short film that showcases the evolution of Superman over his 75 years.  Yes, he is 75. 

Fan-made Raiders of the Lost Ark...A trailer of sorts about a fella writing a book about two guys that decided to film an adaptation of Raiders of the Lost Ark, scene for scene, when they were kids back in the 1980s.  After seeing this I really need to catch a screening of their film as it looks great!

3rd Inning.

Scary Movies I want to see...again.  My Top 5 Scary Movies Countdown Part 4...Prince of Darkness.

I saw 'Prince of Darkness' during another sleepover I hosted where we went to the video rental store to rent several scary movies for a fright night (a bunch of boys renting scary movies was the thing to do back then).  The plot is as follows:  A mysterious cylinder containing a green swirling liquid is found by a priest in a locked basement of a rundown church.  The priest contacts a quantum physics professor and arranges for the professor and some of his students to come and examine the cylinder.  It is revealed that Satan is contained in the cylinder and wants out so he can bring his father, the Anti-God, into our world.  Terror ensues as homeless people surround the church and barricade the priest, professor, and students in as evil begins to escape the cylinder. 

 

This movie is another John Carpenter entry into my Top 5 list (which includes some pretty cool music and can be found on my horror soundtrack playing from my front porch on Halloween night).  Donald Pleasance (from Carpenter's Halloween movies) makes an appearance as the priest trying to stop the evil from escaping.  Some folks from an earlier generation consider Vincent Price as a horror movie icon but I would like to think of Donald Pleasance as one for my generation.  Well, 'Prince of Darkness' involves God and Satan so if you are an atheist this movie is probably not that scary.  But for those of us raised in a Christian household, the thought of the Devil making an appearance on Earth can be a bit terrifying, especially for child of elementary school age.  The mix of science and religion is a cool concept with this movie and it all ties in together nicely.  You have Satan, zombies, and creepy crawlies to give you frights throughout this movie.  Oh, and Alice Cooper plays one of the homeless people zombies.  Great role for him!

Once again, this is another one that I have not seen in a very long while (being a parent sometimes has drawbacks).  Trivia-This is the second film in what John Carpenter calls his Apocalypse Trilogy. The others are The Thing and In the Mouth of Madness.  Trailer is below.  Enjoy!

4th Inning.

American History Lesson...Beirut Terror Attack.  October 23, 1983 a terrorist linked to Iran drove a truck packed with explosives equivalent to 18,000 pounds of dynamite into the U.S. Marine headquarters at the Beirut Airport in Lebanon.  The terrorist attack killed 241 military personnel that included 220 Marines, 18 sailors, and 3 soldiers.  The American forces had been drawn into the area as part of a multi-national force dealing with the civil war that erupted in Lebanon in 1975.  Due to political reasons, the Marine security forces were not allowed to carry live rounds in the chamber of their rifles.  This incident occurred after several previous tragedies that involved U.S. personnel.  Per History.com, "...the first U.S. Marine to die during the mission was killed while defusing a bomb. Other Marines fell prey to snipers. On April 18, 1983, a suicide bomber driving a van devastated the U.S. embassy in Beirut, killing 63 people, including 17 Americans." These tragedies lead many to call into question President Reagan's policy in Lebanon.  Although Reagan vowed to keep a Marine presence in Lebanon, the main force was withdrawn in February 1984.      

5th Inning.

Random Thoughts while visiting the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha...Going to a zoo in late October isn't so bad due to the small crowds...Sometimes you wonder if they have Barry White playing in some of the enclosures when you come upon a couple of animals getting it on...Am I the only that gets 'weirded' out while viewing the snake aquariums in the reptile houses and find one where you don't see a snake in the box so you started looking around to see if it escaped???...A male giraffe has very large package...I could sit next to one of the gorillas and watch him watching me all day long...Sometimes when looking at the various breeds of antelope I can't help but get hungry...I wonder sometimes if the indoor exhibits, that are for nocturnal animals where they have all the lights turned down really low, actually have any animals in them at all and are the zookeepers watching us from a camera and laughing???...You can not fool a 2 year old who has been walking around the gift shop clutching a stuffed gorilla by sending her outside with her sisters as a distraction while you 'pay' for it and then come out empty handed...Every time I see a lemur I want to break out in song and dance with "I like to move it, move it..."

6th Inning.

Firearms Corner...With the fall hunting season upon us, I thought an article on hunting would be good to discuss this week.  For most of us in the U.S.A. if we are ever faced with a unique specimen of deer or elk or even squirrel, particularly an albino version of one of those species, we would look in amazement for a bit before pulling the trigger.  I have been to a few hunting expo shows where taxidermists have booths to showcase their work which has included a few albino mounts and while I have yet to get anything mounted for display in my home I know having an albino one would be even more impressive and a great conversation piece.  Well, shooting and taking one of these magnificent beasts may not be such a big issue but in certain parts of North America you could run into problems if the albino animal is sacred to a Native American tribe.  The majority of hunters are ethical people who only hunt what they plan to eat and if it is a trophy animal then that is just a bonus.  This proved true for a couple of hunters that went on a moose hunt up in Canada and ended up taking an albino moose that just happened to be a sacred animal for the local native tribe.  Guns.com describes the incident and does a great job of telling how the hunters, after realizing the significance of the animal, made amends with the local tribe.  Next time you encounter someone who is quick to blast hunters and hunting, make sure they realize that we are the primary monetary source that supports all conservation efforts throughout North America and the majority of us are ethical hunters.   

7th Inning.

Articles of the Week...

• Yeti Bear, Yogi's Cousin..."The elusive and legendary Abominable Snowman — also known as a Yeti by some — might have an explanation that has nothing to do with man, ape or a combo of the two. A British scientist thinks it’s a bear."   An interesting theory and better than the one where he was banished from the Monsters, Inc. world...  
• Ohhh, SNAP!..."States like Florida have hired “food stamp recruiters,” who have a quota of signing up 150 new recipients each month. Rhode Island hosts “SNAP-themed bingo games,” and the USDA tells its field offices to throw parties to get more people on their rolls."  Throwing more money at an issue does not solve the problem.  There are too many government examples of this. 
• Ice Cold Beer Here..."Boulevard Brewing, a popular Kansas City company that’s grown to be one of America’s largest craft brewers since its founding in 1989, is being sold to a Belgian brewer, Duvel Moortgat."  A great brew and honestly I think this will allow them to continue making one no matter the owner.
  
  Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/10/17/4558825/kansas-citys-boulevard-brewing.html#storylink=cpy
• Obamacare the Monster..."Every time some Statist nincompoop extols the virtues of Obamacare; every time they insist that the 'Affordable Care Act' has done nothing but 'help' low and middle income families; every time they babble incoherently about how Obamacare isn’t 'perfect' but it’s still 'better' than what we had before — show them this."  A great post from The Matt Walsh Blog looking at and soliciting examples of the problems Obamacare is causing for too many folks. 
  
• College Refund..."A Pennsylvania woman set out with a video camera to learn what college students in her state know about the Holocaust — and discovered an incredible lack of knowledge not only of the genocide of the Jews, but of basic facts about U.S. history and World War II."  Education, people, especially history has to be a cornerstone of what we teach our children every step of the way while they are in school.  We are so doomed to repeat the tragedies of our past due to our present ignorance.
• Pay Your Dues..."Members of Congress must pay secret fees known as 'party dues' to the Democratic and Republican parties to secure and maintain top committee chairmanships and assignments, newly uncovered internal documents reveal."  If this doesn't get your underoos in a wad and make you ready to storm the capitol...
  
• Politics=$$$..."CBS's 60 Minutes confronted Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (D-CA) about $150,000 she loaned to her campaign in 1998 at an astounding 18% interest rate, likening the profit margin to organized crime."  If you still think they are in D.C. representing you rather than learning how even further exploit their positions in an effort to make $$$ then keep your head in the sand. 
• Gmail, Government email... "Rep. Darrell Issa, Chair of the House Oversight Committee, recently informed the IRS that the committee's investigation has revealed that senior IRS officials were using their private emails to transmit confidential tax information."  If I was to violate privacy laws in this manner at my job, well, I would be fired.  Plain and simple.
• Need a Bigger Boat..."A giant fish that washed ashore in California (no doubt drawn to the smell of delicious people) is causing swimmers to swear never going in the ocean again."  Like I need another reason not to go in the ocean...
  

8th Inning.

FFL Factoid...Continuing with the 'Top 10 Frequently Asked Firearms Questions and Answers' per the ATF..

9. May I lawfully make a firearm for my own personal use, provided it is not being made for resale?

Firearms may be lawfully made by persons who do not hold a manufacturer’s license under the GCA provided they are not for sale or distribution and the maker is not prohibited from receiving or possessing firearms. However, a person is prohibited from assembling a non-sporting semiautomatic rifle or shotgun from 10 or more imported parts, as set forth in regulations in 27 C.F.R. 478.39. In addition, the making of an NFA firearm requires a tax payment and advance approval by ATF. An application to make a machinegun will not be approved unless documentation is submitted showing that the firearm is being made for the official use of a Federal, State, or local government agency (18 U.S.C. § 922(o),(r); 26 U.S.C. § 5822; 27 C.F.R. §§ 478.39, 479.62, and 479.105).

9th Inning.

Baseball video...No matter how good you are, you're going to lose one-third of your games.  No matter how bad you are you're going to win one-third of your games.  It's the other third that makes the difference.  ~Tommy Lasorda

What an excellent day for an exorcism...

1st Inning.

American History Lesson...U.S. Navy Birthday.  On October 13, 1775 the Continental Congress established a Continental Navy that would, of course, become the U.S. Navy after the American Revolution.  Once the war for independence broke out the Congress realized the British Navy would be an issue.  Per History.com, "Esek Hopkins was appointed the first commander-in-chief of the Continental Navy. His first fleet consisted of seven ships: two 24-gun frigates, the Alfred and the Columbus; two 14-gun brigs, the Andrea Doria and the Cabot; and three schooners, the Hornet, the Wasp, and the Fly."  After the war, Congress sold the ships that survived.  Upon ratification of the Constitution in 1789, Congress was given authority for providing and maintaining a navy.  Congress then ordered the construction of six frigates in 1794 while the War Department administered naval affairs until Congress established the Department of the Navy on April 30, 1798.

There have been many famous people including actors, musicians, and politicians that served in the U.S. Navy.  A list of them can be found here. 

"A good Navy is not a provocation to war. It is the surest guaranty of peace."
 President Theodore Roosevelt, 2 December 1902, second annual message to Congress.

2nd Inning.

Articles of the Week...

• But who will build the roads?..."Every libertarian has heard the question:  If not for coercive taxation, how would society ever maintain infrastructure and provide services?  In other words, 'Who would build the roads?' ."  A quick look at alternatives to funding societal infrastructure other than through an overbearing government. 
• The 47% take 100%..."In some Walmart stores, customers emptied shelves like it was Black Friday, while in others, no one could buy anything -- all thanks to a weekend of glitches with the nation's welfare system."  If this is not a commercial for government fraud/waste then I don't know what is... 
• Skynet and the T-800s..."Eventually, drones may have the technical ability to make even lethal decisions autonomously: to respond to a programmed set of inputs, select a target and fire their weapons without a human reviewing or checking the result. Yet the idea of the U.S. military deploying a lethal autonomous robot, or LAR, is sparking controversy."  Where the hell is John Connor when you need him?
  
• Fight for your Rights..."When media consultant Brian Aitken moved from Colorado to New Jersey to be closer to his son in 2009, police found legally-purchased, locked, and unloaded handguns in the trunk of his car. Aitken was arrested, imprisoned, and denied the ability to see his son."  A very horrifying incident and what can happen when you move to an anti-gun state.
• Do as I say, Not as I do..."Washington Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier seems to think that gun-control laws don’t apply to the liberal elite. The police chief helped Sen. Dianne Feinstein acquire 'assault weapons,' which are illegal to possess in the District, for a news conference early this year to promote a ban on these firearms, then tried to cover up the police involvement."  I despise smug politicians who feel the laws they have passed or wish to pass don't or would not apply to them.  Just need a tall tree and a short rope...
  
• Shutdown Theater..."If the public starts noticing that life goes on as usual without all 3.4 million federal workers, we might get dangerous ideas, like doing without so much government. Politicians don't want that."  Even though Obamacare was mentioned throughout, in all this shutdown mess not one major issue involving the size of government was truly addressed.  Kick the can one more time... 
• Calling all Bigfoots..."A couple weeks ago in a small city in northern Pennsylvania, there was a 'Bigfoot calling contest.' John Stonesman didn’t participate, but he does think the calls could have brought the elusive, legendary creature out of hiding."  I really don't have enough cryptozoological articles  in my blog.  Expect more going forward...
  
• Spare the War Memorials..."While gridlock is the game in Washington, pilfering and degradation apparently are the pastime of some unpatriotic thugs at war memorials across the country. For me, that is about as low as a nation and its people can go."  There is something sacred about war memorials and you just don't dishonor them in any way.
• Sucker Punching Uncle Sam..."Ironically, the federal government is a victim in all this. As an institution, our government relies on the citizens’ perception that it operates fairly and transparency in upholding the laws of the land. When that credibility is eroded – as it assuredly has been in recent months – so too is the willingness of citizens to respect and obey the laws of the land."  When that trust has finally been eroded there are two options--tyranny or revolution...

3rd Inning.

Scary Movies I want to see...again.  My Top 5 Scary Movies Countdown Part 3...The Exorcist. 

I believe the first time I saw 'The Exorcist' was during a sleepover I hosted where we went to the video rental store to rent several scary movies for a fright night.  The plot summary per Wikipedia, "The Exorcist is a 1973 American horror film directed by William Friedkin, adapted by William Peter Blatty from his 1971 novel of the same name. The book, inspired by the 1949 exorcism case of Roland Doe, deals with the demonic possession of a 12-year-old girl and her mother's desperate attempts to win back her child through an exorcism conducted by two priests." 

 

Linda Blair, 14 years old at the time, portrays Regan, the possessed girl.  I'll be honest, with the graphic nature of the film and the role that Blair plays and her dialogue and actions, I would NOT allow my daughter to play that role.  But that's just me.  Now my previous two submissions for this countdown revolved around colorful serial killers that wore iconic pieces of clothing/masks that can be seen in every costume shop every year.  Where this film departs from those is that it involves the Devil and God.  Depending on your religious beliefs that is some real $h!t to deal with if you are a Christian and adds to the scary factor.  The film had sequels that were not as scary and even a couple of prequels recently that were okay, but nothing compares to the original. 

This is another one that I have not seen in a very long while and with little ones of my own roaming around this house I will have to book a late night after everyone has gone to sleep to watch it with the wife.  Trivia--Director William Friedkin eventually asked technical advisor Thomas Bermingham to exorcise the set. He refused, saying an exorcism might increase anxiety. Rev. Bermingham wound up visiting the set and gave a blessing and talk to reassure the cast and crew.  Trailer is below.  Enjoy!

4th Inning.

Baseball stadium bucket list...Wrigley Field.  In May 2006, I travelled with my wife on another one of her business trip conferences to Chicago.  Once again, tickets were purchased for those attending the conference that wanted to take in a ballgame at Wrigley Field.  When I found this out my immediate response was 'Hell Yeah!'.  We were staying at the Sheraton downtown by the Navy Pier, so, after a quick cab ride we were there.  The outside of Wrigley, aptly named Wrigleyville,  has a similar vibe to Fenway.  With plenty of vendors and bars surrounding the stadium selling fan gear or food you are good to go to enjoy a great time at one of baseball's classic stadiums.  Once you are in and see the ivy growing on the outfield brick walls you are taken back to those days as a kid watching Cubs games on WGN on your cable television.  Being the second oldest major league baseball stadium (behind Fenway), just like Fenway, it is like walking into a museum. 

View of ivy from our seats.

Brief history on the ballpark per Wikipedia,

"In late 1915 the Federal League (a minor baseball league)  folded. The resourceful Charels A. Weeghman formed a syndicate including the chewing gum manufacturer William Wrigley Jr. to buy the Chicago Cubs from Charles P. Taft for about $500,000.  Weeghman immediately moved the Cubs from the dilapidated West Side Grounds to his two-year-old park. In 1918 Wrigley acquired the controlling interest in the club.  In November 1926, he renamed the park "Wrigley Field."  In 1927 an upper deck was added, and in 1937, Bill Veeck, the son of the club president, planted ivy vines against the outfield walls.  Although Wrigley Field has been the home of the Cubs since 1916, it has yet to see the Cubs win a World Series, even though it has hosted several (1929, 1932, 1935, 1938, and 1945, the last time the Cubs appeared in a World Series), the last World Series win by the Cubs (1908) happened while the Cubs called West Side Park home."

Well, that day in May we sat down to watch the Cubs play the Nationals of Washington.  Tickets for Cubs games at Wrigley are a hot ticket item and can be very hard to get and expensive.  But that has not deterred building owners that surround the ballpark.  As you can see from the picture on the left, there are bleacher seats atop many of the buildings outside the stadium just beyond the outfield walls that give a pretty good view into this old ballpark.  I don't recall which team won that day but I can truthfully say that by getting the chance to scratch this one off of my bucket list I was able to put a 'W' down on my scorecard. 

A few bullet points of interest:

• Wrigley Field added lights in 1988.
• The Wrigley Field bleachers and scoreboard were constructed in 1937 when the outfield area was renovated to provide improved and expanded seating ... the original scoreboard remains intact.
• Seating Capacity is 41,160.

5th Inning.

Sports...Kansas City Chiefs.  With baseball season over for me it is time for football.  Over the past several years my real interest has been in Fantasy Football only because the Kansas City Chiefs have been horrible.  Last season they were the worst team in the NFL.  It's hard to stay awake on Sundays when your hometown team is playing that awful.  Well, things have changed this year!  With new head coach, Andy Reid, along with new quarterback, Alex Smith, and a revitalized Defense the Chiefs have definitely earned the 'Most Improved' team this season.  As I write this, their record sits at 6-0 with only one other team undefeated and that is division rival, the Denver Broncos (6-0) lead by the immortal Peyton Manning.  Over the past 20 years we have had a few very good teams with their strength on defense under Marty Schottenheimer and offense under Dick Vermeil.  After six games, the defense has sure performed above and beyond but it will take the remainder of the season to see where the pendulum swings overall.  To add to the fun, Coach Reid had the chance to return to play against his old team, the Philadelphia Eagles, in week 3 of the season.  Red Tribe Cinema put together a great video to showcase that game and the Chiefs' win.  Video is below. Enjoy!    

6th Inning.

Firearms Corner...Gun Show observations.  So, as I've mentioned in previous posts, I have a Federal Firearms License and I buy/sell firearms and other firearms related products to include ammunition, magazines, optics, and other accessories.  As I type this inning, I have completed a day working a table at a gun show in St. Joseph, Missouri (The St. Joseph Big Buck and Gun Show).  This marks the ninth gun show since I obtained my license where I have rented a table to sell merchandise and after all these shows I have made a few observations and I will list them below...

 

 

 

Sometimes those jerky vendors have some very stinky products and that odor will fill up the largest arena/exhibition center.

Did you know you can make rings out of deer/elk antlers??? Like wedding rings or engagement rings or 'buddy' rings for your deer camp mates.

Knives and knife handles can be made from all sorts of materials such as railroad spikes and antlers.

You can find a zombie target poster being sold by at least a minimum of two vendor tables.

You will always see something new...like I did today when one of the booths was a wild animal booth and they had a kangaroo in a cage playing with a monkey.

 Duck call vendors can be annoying...very annoying...especially when you hear 'quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, quack' all day long.

 

 

7th Inning.

Politics...Pork Barrel Spending.  With the recent Federal Government shutdown there has been increased talk about government waste so I thought I would list a few items every couple of weeks. When examining these items we need to ask a few questions such as 'Can we afford this at this time?' and 'Could this money have been better spent or not spent at all?' and 'Is this a national priority or is this something benefiting a special interest?' and 'Does this fit the role of the federal government, as outlined in the U.S. Constitution?'.

1. Professional Sports Tax Loophole--the NFL, NHL, and PGA are classified as 'non-profit' organizations that annually avoid at least $91 million in Federal taxes due to that status which also trickles down to local and state governments.
2. Dead, duplicate, and disqualified food stamp recipients result in about $1.4 million worth of food stamp payments a MONTH.
3. The U.S. Agency for International Development in 2009 began a $27 million project to train Moroccans to make better pottery to sell in Morocco and overseas.  Moraccans...not Americans.

(Information obtained from Senator Tom Coburn's 'Waste Book 2012')

I have to take these slow or I will blow a gasket.  Expect more in future weeks.


8th Inning.

FFL Factoid...Continuing with the 'Top 10 Frequently Asked Firearms Questions and Answers' per the ATF..

8. I have been convicted of a felony. How do I reinstate my rights to possess a firearm?  

Persons who have been convicted of a "crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year," as defined by 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(20), are prohibited from receiving or possessing firearms under Federal law, 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). Felons whose convictions have been set-aside or expunged, or for which the person has been pardoned or has had civil rights restored are not considered convicted under section 922(g)(1), unless that person was expressly prohibited by the law of the jurisdiction in which the proceedings were held from possessing firearms. Persons convicted of a State offense should contact the State Attorney General’s Office in the State in which they reside and the State of the conviction for information concerning State and local firearms restrictions, and any alternatives that may be available, such as a gubernatorial pardon or civil rights restoration.

If your conviction is for a Federal offense, you would regain the ability to lawfully receive, possess, or transport firearms if you receive a Presidential pardon. You can find additional information about such pardons by contacting the Office of the Pardon Attorney online at www.usdoj.gov/pardon/.

The GCA includes a provision that gives ATF authority to grant relief from Federal firearms disabilities. 18 U.S.C. § 925(c). However, since 1992, ATF’s annual Congressional appropriation has prohibited ATF from expending any funds to investigate or act upon applications for relief from Federal firearms disabilities submitted by individuals. As long as this provision is included in ATF appropriations, ATF cannot act upon such applications for relief.

9th Inning.

Baseball Video...Roy strikes out the Whammer. "Every hitter likes fastballs, just like everybody likes ice cream.  But you don't like it when someone's stuffing it into you by the gallon.  That's what it feels like when Nolan Ryan's thrown balls by you."  ~Reggie Jackson

Whatever you do, don't fall asleep!

1st Inning.

Highlights of the Brew Crew...The fall season is upon us which brings college football and hunting.  First up this week is hunting.  As I have mentioned in previous posts, I enjoy going to my hunting camp to hunt turkey and deer.  Last year I bought a compound bow in preparation for this year's archery season in Missouri.  We have 100 acres on our leased property and it is all hills and forest.  On the land we have set up 8 treestands and two ground blinds with a couple of more treestands to set up if we need to this year.  I'm  not sure exactly why we haven't done this until this year (especially after 6 years of hunting this land), but we decided to set up a few trail/game cameras around the property.  We have salt blocks near all of our treestands in an attempt to get the deer coming through near those stands.  Well, I finally made it up to the property in late September and began the annual 'clear the trails' camp maintenance weekend and when done with that chore of removing trees from our atv trails we set the cameras up.  After about two weeks I made it back to our hunting land to do a little hunting (no sign of deer or turkey while sitting in the stands) but upon checking our cameras we do have deer on the property.  So, knowing that I am encouraged that we should have a decent deer harvest this year.  The picture above shows a little spiked buck standing over a salt block.  The picture below and to the left was taken from one of our other cameras.  I can't find an 'alien/monster' season in the Missouri 2013 Hunting Regulations booklet...   

On the evening of September 28th, I drove my wife and one of my daughters and her friend to Columbia, Missouri to watch my alma mater, Arkansas State University play on the road against the Mizzou Tigers.  We arrived on campus and took awhile to find a good parking spot in a parking garage a couple of blocks from the stadium then made our way to a tailgate tent a few of my old fraternity brothers had set up earlier that day.  By the time we made it to them they were in the process of taking it down but we still got to chat for a bit and exchange handshakes and hugs while enjoying a few adult beverages.  As I lead my family crew to the stadium so we could pick up our tickets at the will-call window we were greeted by a few of the Mizzou fans that thanked us for coming to the game.  Well, those thanks ran out when we made it to the stadium.  As I fumbled around in a backpack I was wearing while my wife looked around for the proper will-call window a couple of drunk college-aged MU fans threw a beer bottle at my daughter and her friend then chanted M-I-Z.  My first instinct was to get my ladies away from those idiots and as I did that two female MU fans came up to us and asked if we were okay and immediately apologized for the behavior.  These two young ladies escorted us to the will-call window and waited with us for 20 or so minutes then walked with us to our gate.  We told them they didn't have to wait with us and that we appreciated their kind gesture but they insisted.  Our tickets were in the ASU section so it was a delight to sit among fellow Red Wolves fans.  ASU made it a good game through 3 quarters then suffered a meltdown in the 4th.  My daughter and her friend made friends with the ASU marching band that was seated about 2-3 rows behind us.  Hearing the fight song played throughout the game when we scored brought back many good memories of my days on campus.  The video below gives a great example of the atmosphere we experienced that night.           

2nd Inning.

Cool Videos/Funny Videos...

This is a hilarious video of a dad being Batman!



Imagine if all the really cool action/fantasy/sci-fi movie trailers combined...well, you would get this!




3rd Inning.

Random Facts about me...If I were an animal I would be a wolf, a lone wolf...One of the foods I most dislike is sauerkraut...My favorite clothing in the fall is overalls...I plan to retire in Arkansas and sit on my porch with my wife on a porch swing...I am a night person...My favorite candy is big, chewy Sweettarts...Red Carnations are my favorite flower...If I could be a superhero it would be Wolverine complete with adamantium skeleton...Halloween is my favorite day of the year...

4th Inning.

What I'm watching...Sleepy Hollow.  A new television show premiered on FOX this fall and it is called "Sleepy Hollow".  They are four weeks into the 13 episode season and I have found this show very entertaining as it becomes a DVR favorite.  The premise of this show, and where it departs from the old Disney short-film we are all used to seeing, per Wikipedia is, "In 1781, Ichabod Crane "dies" in the midst of the Revolutionary War while on a mission for General George Washington. He rises from his "grave" in modern day Sleepy Hollow after the Headless Horseman, (revealed to be Death, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse), is summoned back from his watery grave by an unknown party. The resurrection of the one causes the resurrection of the other due to the intertwining of their fates as a result of their blood mixing shortly after Crane decapitated the Headless Horseman on the field of battle.  Lt. Abbie Mills begins investigating the Headless Horseman after he beheads Sheriff August Corbin, Mills' mentor and partner. Mills' investigation reveals the presence of two occult groups, one for good, the other evil, in Sleepy Hollow both of which are concerned with the Four Horsemen and the associated apocalypse. The killing spree the Horseman embarks on causes Crane and Mills to team up.  As Crane's worldview is from 18th century Colonial America, some friction can be expected between him and Abbie, and also between him and the people he must now work with."  I would consider this show a cross between X-Files/The Patriot/The Omen/National Treasure.  It was renewed for a 2nd season on October 3rd so it looks like it may stick around for a little while.  I highly recommend it.  The show's trailer is below.  Enjoy!      

5th Inning.

Firearms corner...Internet Movie Firearms Database.  Have you ever been sitting around watching a movie or television program and wondered what type of firearm the hero or villain was using? Or have you been sitting around with your buddies watching an old John Wayne movie and got into a debate over which lever action or revolver he or one of his fellow actors was shooting?  Well, the folks over at the Internet Movie Firearms Database have created a website that allows you to search by Movie, Television, Actors, Anime, Video Games, Manufacturers, or simply by Guns to learn that extra bit of trivia or to win that gentleman's bet.  For instance did you know that Inspector Clouseau in the 1963 film, 'The Pink Panther', was using a gold-plated Beretta Model 70 chambered in .32ACP?  Or that the Kel-Tec KSG shotgun was used in the film 'A Good Day to Die Hard'?  Or that Clint Eastwood's character, Josey Wales, carries two Colt Walker 1847 black powder revolvers in the movie, 'The Outlaw Josey Wales'?  Or that the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard revolver is seen being carried by all of the original 'Charlie's Angels'?  Or that the Colt M4A1 is the primary weapon carried by the characters in the video game 'Blacksite:Area 51'?  As you can see a person can go on and on with searching this online database.  So, next time you get into that argument over who was shooting what get online and head over to the Internet Movie Firearms Database to settle your disagreement. 

6th Inning.

Scary Movies I want to see...again.  My Top 5 Scary Movies Countdown Part 2...A Nightmare on Elm Street.  I was in elementary school the first time I saw 'A Nightmare on Elm Street'.  It was on cable tv at that time and I'm not sure who allowed me to watch it but I do recall watching it alone.  The plot summary per Wikipedia, "Set in the fictional Midwestern town of Springwood, Ohio, the plot revolves around several teenagers who are stalked and killed in their dreams by Freddy Krueger The teenagers are unaware of the cause of this strange phenomenon, but their parents hold a dark secret from long ago."

 

Robert Englund plays the character, Freddy Krueger, and would go on to play him in several sequels as well as numerous tv appearances.  As iconic as Michael Myers mask was so was Freddy's sweater, and clawed hand.  I remember at some point in high school buying the mask and glove for Halloween.  It came in handy when scaring younger siblings.  After watching this movie it was hard to go to sleep for too many years.  This movie has also been re-booted in recent years in an attempt to restart the franchise.  An overlooked star of this movie, is a young Johnny Depp, who plays the boyfriend of the leading lady, Heather Langenkamp.      

 

I have not seen this one in forever and hopefully will catch in on tv this month.  Trivia--The words "Elm Street" are not spoken at all during the movie.  Trailer is below.  Enjoy!

7th Inning.

American History Lesson...Mount Rushmore.  On October 4th, 1927 work began on what would become Mount Rushmore.  In the Black Hills of South Dakota, John Gutzon Borglum began sculpting the faces of Presidents Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson and Teddy Roosevelt.  Per MountRushmoreInfo.com, "Washington was selected for Mount Rushmore because he was the father of our country and represents our struggle for independence, our constitution and our liberty. Jefferson was to be honored on Mt. Rushmore as the author of the Declaration of Independence, representative government and for the expansion of our country through the Louisiana Purchase. Teddy Roosevelt, the third bust on Mount Rushmore was selected because he saw through the completion of the Panama Canal linking the oceans and opening the connecting waters of the East and the West. Lincoln was chosen for preserving the Union through one of America's darkest hours and for the ideals of freedom and equality for all."  Washington was completed in 1934 followed by Jefferson in 1936, Lincoln in 1937 and Teddy Roosevelt in 1939. The federal government funded most of this project which cost $1 million.  Some interesting facts per Mount RushmoreInfo.com:

• Sculptor Gutzon Borglum began drilling into the 5,725-foot mountain in 1927, at the age of 60.
• The carvings on Mount Rushmore are scaled to men who would stand 465 feet tall.
•  Each head on Mt. Rushmore is as tall as a six-story building.
•  Each president's face is as tall as the entire Great Sphinx of Egypt, measuring 60 feet from the chin to the top of the head.   

8th Inning.

FFL Factoid...Continuing with the 'Top 10 Frequently Asked Firearms Questions and Answers' per the ATF..

7. May I lawfully ship a firearm directly to an out-of-State licensee, or must I have a licensee in my State ship it to him? May the licensee return the firearm to me, even if the shipment is across State lines?
Any person may ship firearms directly to a licensee in any State, with no requirement for another licensee to ship the firearm. However, handguns are not mailable through the United States Postal Service and must be shipped via common or contract carrier.(18 U.S.C. §§ 1715). Firearms shipped to FFLs for repair or any other lawful purpose may be returned to the person from whom received without transferring the firearm through an FFL in the recipient’s State of residence. FFLs may also return a replacement firearm of the same kind and type to the person from whom received. 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(2)(A).

9th Inning.

Baseball video..."You're killing me, Smalls!"