Disclaimer

If you do not know me (I mean, really know me) then there is something you need to understand before you read this blog: I value the truth above everything else... except a good laugh. A good laugh will almost always beat the truth as far as I’m concerned. Everything you read on this blog will be true, somewhat true, or something I made up in an effort to get a laugh. Sometimes I will go on a rant that I don’t really mean (or only kind of mean). Sometimes I will mean what I write only to completely change my mind a year, month, or day later. Such is life. By reading this blog you agree not to get offended by anything I write (or, at the very least, you agree not to tell me or anyone else that you are offended). It is worth noting that my employer does not endorse my blog (or even read it, to tell you the truth). The Wife also does not endorse my blog (though she will read it from time to time). I am not paid to write this... it’s just my way of giving back to the community. I have, and will, touch on a wide range of subjects and will give my opinion on these subjects. Again, most of what I say is for laughs but every now and then I will say what I really think and feel (see my views on Westboro Baptist Cult). How will you know when I’m serious and when I’m trying to get a laugh? You’ll know. And if you don’t know, well... maybe this isn’t the best thing for you to be reading. So, sit back, read and enjoy. Leave comments if you want and don’t be afraid to publicly follow me.



Friday, May 25, 2012

Almost to the Top 200…

Know Your Medal of Honor Recipients:

Seaman Herbert Louis Foss (US Navy) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on May 11, 1898, on board the USS Marblehead. His citation reads:

On board the U.S.S. Marblehead during the operation of cutting the cable leading from Cienfuegos, Cuba, 11 May 1898. Facing the heavy fire of the enemy, Foss set an example of extraordinary bravery and coolness throughout this action.

Captain Joseph Jacob Foss (US Marine Corps) received his Medal of Honor for his actions from October 9 to November 19, 1942 and January 15-23, 1943, over Guadalcanal. His citation reads:

For outstanding heroism and courage above and beyond the call of duty as executive officer of Marine Fighting Squadron 121, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, at Guadalcanal. Engaging in almost daily combat with the enemy from 9 October to 19 November 1942, Capt. Foss personally shot down 23 Japanese planes and damaged others so severely that their destruction was extremely probable. In addition, during this period, he successfully led a large number of escort missions, skillfully covering reconnaissance, bombing, and photographic planes as well as surface craft. On 15 January 1943, he added 3 more enemy planes to his already brilliant successes for a record of aerial combat achievement unsurpassed in this war. Boldly searching out an approaching enemy force on 25 January, Capt. Foss led his 8 F-4F Marine planes and 4 Army P-38's into action and, undaunted by tremendously superior numbers, intercepted and struck with such force that 4 Japanese fighters were shot down and the bombers were turned back without releasing a single bomb. His remarkable flying skill, inspiring leadership, and indomitable fighting spirit were distinctive factors in the defense of strategic American positions on Guadalcanal.

Sergeant Gary Evans Foster (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on October 8, 1918, near Montbrehain, France. His citation reads:

When his company was held up by violent machinegun fire from a sunken road, Sgt. Foster with an officer went forward to attack the hostile machinegun nests. The officer was wounded, but Sgt. Foster continued on alone in the face of the heavy fire and by effective use of handgrenades and his pistol killed several of the enemy and captured 18.


The I’m just sayin… Top 2,613 Movies of All-Time Countdown

250 At War with the Army
Hal Walker
Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis
1950

249 Bad Santa
Terry Zwigoff
Billy Bob Thornton, Bernie Mac, Lauren Graham
2003

248 Barbershop
Tim Story
Ice Cube, Cedric the Entertainer
2002

247 Dr. Dolittle
Betty Thomas
Eddie Murphy, Ossie Davis, Richard Schiff
1998

246 Planet of the Apes
Franklin J. Schaffner
Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall, Maurice Evans, Kim Hunter
1968

245 Scream
Wes Craven
David Arquette, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Rose McGowan, Skeet Ulrich, Matthew Lillard, Jamie Kennedy, Drew Barrymore
1996

244 The Sheepman
George Marshall
Glenn Ford, Shirley MacLaine
1958

243 Batman Returns
Tim Burton
Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer
1992

242 A Streetcar Named Desire
Elia Kazan
Vivien Leigh, Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, Kim Hunter
1951
Stanley Kowalski: "Hey, STELLA!"

241 Thunderball
Terence Young
Sean Connery
1965
James Bond: "Bond, James Bond"

240 The Magnificent Seven
John Sturges
Yul Brynner, Eli Wallach, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Robert Vaughn, James Coburn, Brad Dexter, Horst Buchholz
1960

239 Stand by Me
Rob Reiner
Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell, Kiefer Sutherland
1986

238 Analyze This
Harold Ramis
Robert De Niro, Billy Crystal, Lisa Kudrow
1999

237 Ghost Dad
Sidney Poitier
Bill Cosby
1990

236 Poltergeist
Tobe Hooper
Craig T. Nelson, Beatrice Straight, Dominique Dunne
1982

235 Pretty Woman
Garry Marshall
Julia Roberts, Richard Gere, Hector Elizondo, Jason Alexander, Laura San Giacomo, Ralph Bellamy
1990

234 Roots
Marvin J. Chomsky, John Erman, Gilbert Moses
LeVar Burton, Louis Gossett, Jr., John Amos, Ben Vereen, Cicely Tyson, Georg Stanford Brown, Richard Roundtree, O. J. Simpson
1977

233 The Wedding Singer
Frank Coraci
Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, Christine Taylor, Steve Buscemi, Alexis Arquette
1998
Robbie: "Hey, psycho - we're not gonna discuss this, OK, it's over. Please get out of my Van Halen t-shirt before you jinx the band and they break up".

232 Kung Fu Panda
Mark Osborne, John Wayne Stevenson
Jack Black, Jackie Chan, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Lucy Liu, Seth Rogen
2008

231 Footloose
Herbert Ross
Kevin Bacon, John Lithgow, Lori Singer, Dianne Wiest, Chris Penn, Sarah Jessica Parker
1984

230 Dances with Wolves
Kevin Costner
Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, Graham Greene
1990

229 Failure to Launch
Tom Dey
Matthew McConaughey, Sarah Jessica Parker, Terry Bradshaw, Kathy Bates
2006

228 A Christmas Story
Bob Clark
Peter Billingsley, Darren McGavin, Melinda Dillon
1983
Ralphie as Adult: [narrating, after BB gun shot bounces off target and hits his face] "Oh my god, I shot my eye out!"

Ralphie: "Oooh fuuudge!"
Ralphie as Adult: [narrating] "Only I didn't say 'Fudge.' I said THE word, the big one, the queen-mother of dirty words, the 'F-dash-dash-dash' word!"
Mr. Parker: [stunned] "*What* did you say?"
Ralphie: "Uh, um..."
Mr. Parker: "That's... what I thought you said. Get in the car. Go on!"
Ralphie as Adult: [narrating] "It was all over - I was dead. What would it be? The guillotine? Hanging? The chair? The rack? The Chinese water torture? Hmmph. Mere child's play compared to what surely awaited me".

227 BASEketball
David Zucker
Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Yasmine Bleeth, Jenny McCarthy, Robert Vaughn, Ernest Borgnine, Bob Costas, Al Michaels
1998

226 Erin Brockovich
Steven Soderbergh
Julia Roberts, Albert Finney, Aaron Eckhart
2000

225 Holiday Inn
Mark Sandrich
Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire
1942

224 Raging Bull
Martin Scorsese
Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Cathy Moriarty
1980
Jake La Motta: "I got these small hands. I got a little girl's hands".

223 The Hunt for Red October
John McTiernan
Sean Connery, Alec Baldwin, Scott Glenn, Sam Neill, James Earl Jones, Courtney B. Vance, Tim Curry
1990

222 The Shawshank Redemption
Frank Darabont
Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, James Whitmore, Clancy Brown, William Sadler, Gil Bellows, Bob Gunton
1994

221 The Program
David S. Ward
James Caan, Halle Berry, Craig Sheffer, Omar Epps, Kristy Swanson
1993
Darnell Jefferson: "Darnell Jefferson, tailback".
Ray Griffen: "Ray Griffen, *starting* tailback".
Darnell Jefferson: "I know, that's why they recruited me".

Joe Kane: "Let's put the women and children to bed and go lookin' for dinner!"

Coach Winters: "Alright, this is Mississippi State's offensive set. Second and two on our own 24, what defensive set might we call?"
Alvin Mack: "Eagle Zipper Hero, unless the setback shifts into the I".
Coach Winters: "Good".
[clicks to next slide]
Coach Winters: "Third and seven?"
Alvin Mack: "Oakie Thunder Lion".
Coach Winters: "What's your assignment?"
Alvin Mack: "Kill the quarterback".
Coach Winters: [clicks to next slide]
Alvin Mack: "Hit the tight end so hard his girlfriend dies".
Coach Winters: [clicks to next slide]
Alvin Mack: "Kill everybody".

220 Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
George Lucas
Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd
1999
Senator Palpatine: "There is no civility, only politics".

Yoda: "Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering. I sense much fear in you".

Obi-Wan: "I have a bad feeling about this".

Mace Windu: "May the force be with you".

219 Guys and Dolls
Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra, Jean Simmons
1955

218 Back to the Future Part II
Robert Zemeckis
Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson
1989
[Flying above Biff in 1955]
Marty McFly: "There he is, Doc! Let's land on him, we'll cripple his car".
Doc: "Marty, he's in a '46 Ford, we're in a DeLorean. He'd rip through us like we were tin foil".

Doc: "The justice system works swiftly in the future now that they've abolished all lawyers".

217 Sweet Charity
Bob Fosse
Shirley MacLaine, Chita Rivera, Ricardo Montalbán, John McMartin, Paula Kelly, Sammy Davis, Jr.
1969

216 Four Christmases
Seth Gordon
Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon
2008
Howard: "Boys, I don't want to speak ill of your mother on Christmas, but she's nothing but a common street whore".

Darryl: "Look, Brad. I'm not trying to be your father, you already got one of those. I'm just hoping for a chance to be your friend".
Brad: "You were my friend, Darryl. You were my best friend. We grew up together, we rode bikes together, we used to smell each others hands. But now you're sleeping with my mom and it's a little bit weird for me. Can you appreciate that?"
Darryl: "I never had a sexual thought about your mom until I was 30".
Brad: "Can you leave it alone? You can't be my friend anymore. You can't be sleeping with my mom and still be my friend, ok?"

Brad: "My childhood was like the Shawshank Redemption, except I didn't have some old, warm, black man to share my story with!"

215 Father of the Bride
Vincente Minnelli
Elizabeth Taylor, Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett
1950

214 Mississippi Burning
Alan Parker
Gene Hackman, Willem Dafoe, Frances McDormand
1988

213 The Muppet Movie
James Frawley
James Coburn, Mel Brooks, Orson Welles
1979

212 Around the World in Eighty Days
Michael Anderson, John Farrow
David Niven, Cantinflas, Shirley MacLaine, Robert Newton
1956

211 Reservoir Dogs
Quentin Tarantino
Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Steve Buscemi, Chris Penn, Michael Madsen
1992
Nice Guy Eddie: "We got places all over the place".

210 School of Rock
Richard Linklater
Jack Black, Joan Cusack, Mike White, Sarah Silverman
2003
Dewey Finn: "In the words of AC/DC: We roll tonight... to the guitar bite... and for those about to rock... I salute you".

Tomika: "Why don't you go on a diet?"
Dewey Finn: "Because I like to eat! Is that such a crime?"

Dewey Finn: "8:15 to 10, rock history. 10 to 11, rock appreciation in theory. And then band practice till the end of the day".

Dewey Finn: "Give up, just quit, because in this life, you can't win. Yeah, you can try, but in the end you're just gonna lose, big time, because the world is run by the Man. The Man, oh, you don't know the Man. He's everywhere. In the White House... down the hall... Ms. Mullins, she's the Man. And the Man ruined the ozone, he's burning down the Amazon, and he kidnapped Shamu and put her in a chlorine tank! And there used to be a way to stick it to the Man. It was called rock 'n roll, but guess what, oh no, the Man ruined that, too, with a little thing called MTV! So don't waste your time trying to make anything cool or pure or awesome 'cause the Man is just gonna call you a fat washed up loser and crush your soul. So do yourselves a favor and just GIVE UP!"

209 Rush Hour 2
Brett Ratner
Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker
2001
James Carter: "Who died, Lee?"
Lee: "You!"
James Carter: "Detective Yu?"
Lee: "Not Yu, you!"
James Carter: "Who?
Lee: "You!"
James Carter: "Who?"
Lee: "Do you understand the words that are a-coming out of my mouth?"
James Carter: "Don't nobody understand the words that are comin' out of your mouth".

James Carter: "Lee, let me introduce you to Carter's new theory of criminal investigation: follow the rich white man".
Lee: "Follow the rich white man?"
James Carter: "Behind every big crime there's a rich white man waiting for his cut".

James Carter: "Just tell me how the Triads gonna kill us".
Lee: "They will torture us for three days".
James Carter: "Okay, I can handle that".
Lee: "Then they will cut off our eggrolls".
James Carter: "Cut off our eggrolls? Oh hell no! We gotta get out of here! Don't give up!"

James Carter: [In a casino] "My people did not go through 362 years of slavery just so you could send us back to the cotton fields with $500 chips!"

James Carter: [In a casino] "I have a dream! That white people, and black people... and even Chinese people, can gamble together without getting different chips!"
Audience: [Applause, Cheering]
James Carter: [Sees that Lee no longer needs a distraction] "Whoa, whoa, whoa... in the spirit of brotherhood... let's just play craps man".

James Carter: "How come you ain't got no black people performing in this casino? We ain't good enough for you?"
Pit Boss: "We got Lionel Ritchie!"
James Carter: "Lionel Ritchie ain't been black since the commodores!"

208 Tin Cup
Ron Shelton
Kevin Costner, Rene Russo, Don Johnson, Cheech Marin, Linda Hart
1996
Romeo Posar: "Look, boss, I only got one rule. And that's never bet money that you don't have on a dog race with an ex-girlfriend who happens to be a stripper".

Dewey: "Winner, winner! Chicken Dinner!"

207 Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Michael Bay
Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, John Turturro, Matthew Marsden
2009

206 Crazy, Stupid, Love.
Glenn Ficarra and John Requa
Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, John Carroll Lynch, Marisa Tomei and Kevin Bacon, Analeigh Tipton, Liza Lapira, Joey King, Mekia Cox
2011
Jacob: "I'm going to help you rediscover your manhood. Do you have any idea where you could have lost it?"

Jacob: "The war between the sexes is over. We won the second women started doing pole dancing for exercise".

Bernie Riley: "Claire said I can't be friends with you anymore".
Cal: "What?"
Bernie Riley: "She said we had to choose between you and Emily. I chose you. But she said no".

205 U.S. Marshals
Stuart Baird
Tommy Lee Jones, Wesley Snipes, Robert Downey, Jr., Joe Pantoliano, Irene Jacob
1998
John Royce: "I thought we didn't take our work personally".
Sam Gerard: "We don't. I do".

204 Bad Boys
Michael Bay
Martin Lawrence, Will Smith, Tea Leoni
1995

203 Invictus
Clint Eastwood
Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon
2009

202 Spartacus
Stanley Kubrick
Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Tony Curtis, Peter Ustinov, Charles Laughton, John Gavin, Woody Strode
1960
Antoninus: "I'm Spartacus!"
[everyone around Antoninus and Spartacus takes up the shout]

201 The Usual Suspects
Bryan Singer
Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Benicio del Toro, Kevin Pollak, Kevin Spacey, Chazz Palminteri, Suzy Amis, Giancarlo Esposito, Pete Postlethwaite
1995


The I’m just sayin… Know Your South Carolina Athlete

While he is originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, Phil Hartig’s time at The Citadel earned him the honor of being our South Carolina Athlete you should know. Phil was a first baseman at The Citadel from 1998 – 2001, when he helped lead the Bulldogs to 3 Southern Conference Tournament titles and two regular season titles. By the time he was done at The Citadel, Phil was the most prolific hitter in Citadel baseball history as he had established 14 offensive records. He earned first team All-Southern Conference honors all four years and was the 1998 SoCon Freshman of the Year, 2001 SoCon Player of the Year as well as being an All-American selection in 1998, 2000 and 2001. Hartig finished his career ranked fourth in the NCAA for career total bases and seventh in career hits. Some of his school records at the time of his graduation (I admit I haven’t looked to see if these records still stand… there’s only so much research I can do) include: games played (239), runs (230), hits in a season (99) and career (360), doubles (76), home runs in a season (17) and career (64… second best, at least at that time, was Anthony Jenkins with 32), RBI in a season (86) and career (290), slugging percentage (.673) and fielding percentage (.989). He also had a career batting average of .367.

Phil attended The Citadel on a four year full academic scholarship. He graduated with a 3.18 GPA… not too shabby if you ask me. After graduation, he was drafted in the 24th round by the Florida Marlins. I think Phil played in the minors a couple of seasons before deciding he would put that education to use. I believe he is involved in the Summerville Miracle League (I know he was… I believe he still is… again, my research only goes so far). Here is a nice little article about him and his family and what he’s up to these days.  He was inducted into The Citadel Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. If I’m not mistaken, I don’t think he is in the Charleston Baseball Hall of Fame yet… which really kind of cheapens the Charleston Baseball HOF. Maybe not as much as not having Chal Port in there the first few years cheapened it… but still. I’m not sure what the hold-up is, but I hope he gets in sooner rather than later. Of course, I am prepared to take full credit when he does get in. Congrats to Phil for being our South Carolina Athlete You Should Know.

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