Miss FUBAR Reflects

Subject: MissFUBAR Has Moved!
Time: 7:19:20 PM EDT
Author:  friedman3109

Finally,  a much better blogspot.  Nothing's there yet,  but give me time, and thanks for looking!

http://missfubar.blogspot.com/

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Subject: VETERANS' DAY PARADE NOVEMBER 11, 2006
Time: 6:58:30 PM EDT
Author:  friedman3109

ON JULY 4TH, 1970, PATRICK CALLAHAN, THEN A LANCE CORPORAL IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS WAS PREPARING TO BOARD A COMMERCIAL AIR LINER (FREEDOM BIRD) TO RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES VIA OKINAWA AFTER HIS TOUR OF DUTY WITH THE 13TH & 11TH MARINE REGIMENTS IN THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM.  AS HE WALKED UP THE STAIRWAY TO THE PLANE HE TURNED TO TAKE ONE LAST LOOK AT THE COUNTRY THAT HAD CHANGED HIS LIFE SO MUCH IN JUST ONE YEAR.  AS HE TURNED TOWARD THE REAR OF THE PLANE HE NOTICED SOMETHING BEING LOADED IN THE CARGO AREA OF THE PLANE BESIDES SEABAGS AND PERSONAL GEAR.  THEY WERE STEEL GREY COFFINS.  HIS FIRST THOUGHTS WERE OF HIS FAMILY AND HOW LUCKY HE WAS TO HAVE SOMEONE COMING TO THE AIRPORT TO WELCOME HIM HOME.  

THE FLIGHT BACK TO OKINAWA TOOK FOUR HOURS.  DURING THOSE HOURS HE COULD NOT STOP THINKING ABOUT THOSE COFFINS AND THE FAMILIES THAT WOULD RECEIVE THEM.  THOSE IMAGES HAVE STAYED WITH HIM FOR MORE THAN THIRTY YEARS.  

PATRICK MADE HIMSELF A PROMISE THAT DAY ON THAT PLANE IN VIETNAM.  HE WOULD NEVER FORGET THE SACRIFICE OF THE MEN WHO GAVE THEIR ALL SO YOU AND I COULD CONTINUE TO LIVE IN A FREE AND GREAT COUNTRY, THE U.S.A.  HE WOULD ALWAYS BE THERE TO PERPETUATE THEIR MEMORY -- ESPECIALLY ON MEMORIAL DAY AND VETERANS' DAY.


ON NOVEMBER 11, 2006,  THESE HEROES WILL BE HONORED AND REMEMBERED WITH A MILITARY BATTLEFIELD FUNERAL CEREMONY, MANY YEARS OVERDUE!!

IF YOU ARE A VIETNAM WAR VETERAN (COMBAT OR NON-COMBAT) OR A VIETNAM WAR ERA VETERAN - NO AFFIFIATION WITH ANY MILITARY ORGAINZATION IS REQUIRED - YOU ARE INVITED TO COME FORWARD AFTER THE PARADE WHEN YOU HEAR LOUIS ARMSTRONG'S "WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD" (THEME SONG FROM "GOOD MORNING VIETNAM') AND STAND IN RANKS BEHIND YOUR SERVICE FLAG IF YOU WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS CEREMONY.  YOU OWE THIS TO YOUR BUDDIES.

PATRICK CALLAHAN, PRESIDENT
VVA CHAPTER 969
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA
"SEMPER FI"

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Subject: The Buck Really Does Stop Here
Time: 7:49:45 PM EDT
Author:  friedman3109

According to The Andersonville Study (www.civiceconomics.com/AndersonvilleStudy.pdf):

FOR EVERY $100 A CONSUMER SPENDS:

LOCAL BUSINESSES GIVE BACK $68 TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY

CHAIN STORES ONLY GIVE BACK $43

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Subject: Viet Nam Veterans Chapter 969
Time: 6:48:42 PM EDT
Author:  friedman3109

Mr. Pat Callahan announces that the newest Viet Nam Veterans chapter in the United States, Chapter 969, has just been started in Virginia Beach.  Details to follow.

Pat Callahan is an inveterate fighter for Viet Nam veterans' causes.  A veteran of that awful war himself, he doesn't talk much to me about the horrors that he witnessed during that time, but there is a bit of a story that he told me long ago that reminds me of the enormity of the  casualties that occurred during the Viet Nam war, and that would be the initial greeting to all new inductees:

"Two out of every three American soldiers that go to Viet Nam will be killed in combat.  Take a look at the guy on your right and take a look at the guy on your left.  Now say goodbye, because both of them will be dead before the end of this war."**






**Please, Mr. Callahan, let me know if I have not paraphrased to your satisfaction.

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Subject: He Really Should Know Better Than That...
Time: 5:53:21 PM EDT
Author:  friedman3109

Yes, I know -- everybody knows how I feel about Wal-Mart.  Still, even I was amazed to read an AP/Bllomberg News piece on August 19 which I will quote in full in case anybody missed it:

"Andrew Young, who this year became a public ambassador for Wal-Mart Stores Inc., has resigned that post after making derogatory comments about Jewish, Korean and Arab shop owners.

"Young, named chairman of Working Families for Wal-Mart in February, was asked in an interview with a weekly Los Angeles newspaper about whether he was concerned that Wal-Mart causes smaller stores to close.

"'Well, I think they should; they ran the 'mom and pop' stores out of my neighborhood,' Young was quoted as saying.  "But you see, those are the people who have been overcharging us, selling us stale bread and bad meat and wilted vegetables.  And they sold out and moved to Florida.  I think they've ripped off our communities enough.  First it was Jews, then it was Koreans, and now it's Arabs.'

"He later apologized.  Still, Wal-Mart was 'outraged,' spokeswoman Mona Williams said.  It hired the former mayor of Atlanta as ambassador to help ward off criticism of the company."

Later, Mona Williams was overheard asking the question, "Does anybody know if Mel's available....?"





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Subject: DOES A BEXAR SH*T IN THE WOODS?
Time: 4:27:45 PM EDT
Author:  friedman3109

The USS Bexar.  I realize that I don't know everything (I'd be impossible to live with if I did), and as it turns out, I had never heard of the USS BEXAR (http://www.ussbexar-apa237.org/page/page/933246.htm) until a WWII vet came into my store this week wearing a hat bearing the name.  The ship joined the Ghost Fleet late in 1945 and later played an essential part in Operation Crossroads (hey, read the website!) and was actually stationed here in Norfolk for a time.  Her history is extensive and significant.

"Beck-sar?"  I asked.  "No, the "x" is silent," the gentleman replied.  According to him, the ship was named for a man whose surname was "Bear."  Unable to read or write, Mr. Bear would simply scribble an "x" over his typed name when required to sign important paperwork.  Thus, the name "Bear" was mistakenly read as "Bexar" and the new moniker stuck.  "Good thing the man's name wasn't Mr. Sey," I remarked.  
"What?"
"I said, 'How interesting.'"
"Oh."

Intrigued, and wishing to see a photo of the illustrious hero Mr. Bear, I  found the ship's website.  As much fun as the above explanation is, the truth is that the name dates back to the 1700s and a Spanish nobleman, the Duke de Bejar.   At some point the Duke found himself in Texas and the silent "j" was replaced by confused Englishmen by a silent "x' -- Really, does the letter matter when it's silent anyway?? -- and Bexar County was born.  It is near San Antonio.

Please take a moment to visit the website and read the history of the USS BEXAR and see the really great photos that have been compiled to reflect the ship's history.

Kudos and thanks to Robert Weiss for the information on the site.

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Subject: Our Latest Archeological Dig
Time: 11:29:27 PM EDT
Author:  friedman3109

*****MORE PHOTOS COMING SOON!!!*****

As some M&G insiders already know, we have been ordered by the city of Norfolk to demolish one of our outbuildings.  Work is progressing slowly and the results are sometimes sad, sometimes astonishing, but almost always interesting.  Among the things that have been uncovered:

Ancient metal hospital beds (interesting)

WWII web gear still in cases that probably shouldn't have been exposed to the elements all these years. (sad)

An entire case of WWII leather flight pants.  With the exception of one pair, the rest of the case had decomposed even worse than Beethoven in his grave.  (ditto)

Kittens.  

A case of very old glass medical bottles, some of which have a very scary shape, and some of which contain some kind of clear liquid.  Is it morphine?  Butane?  Who knows -- the bottles would have to be smashed to find out what's inside.  (interesting)

The skeleton of a cat with the skeleton of a rat in its mouth.  (icky)

A LOT of rusty jeep hitches and giant truck wrenches.  (ditto)


This is a very difficult job for Larry and his crew, both mentally and physically.  It would help if you would stop in and buy something.  Really.





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Subject: My Heartfelt Thanks ....
Time: 10:20:45 PM EDT
Author:  friedman3109

...For Your Condolences.  As some of our regular customers know, my estranged husband, Michael, passed away unexpectedly on July 6, 2006.

Thank you so much for your thoughts and kind words.

Michael was a fun guy.  A funny guy. And yes, he worked at M&G, too; however, his compulsive neatness caused him to break out in hives daily while trying to cope with the disorder that is M&G.  Luckily, Michael was very gifted and went back to his original career after his brief stint as a salesman.  Michael was an award-winning executive chef who worked in vineyards in Italy, Germany and California (Beringer).  The kitchens that endured his wild and crazy madness included the Las Vegas Hilton, The Ritz-Carlton, The Chamberlain and The Cavalier Golf & Yacht Club in Virginia Beach.

Michael was an Eagle Scout and if you've ever been to the Casemate Museum at Fort Monroe (soon to become the Casement Condos!), you've seen some of the things he and his fellow scouts recovered from the moat there for their big Eagle Scout project.

Those of us who loved him already miss him and his strange and frightening sense of humor.  We miss his huge heart, his strength and his love of animals, and his kindness, even to strangers.  It wasn't unusual to hear him laughing and saying that once again he had tried to offer a job to someone standing on the side of the road holding a sign that said "Will work for food," or "Need money, wife sick, " only to be turned down with an answer like, "Look man, I just want some cash; I don't really wanna work."

Another of Michael's loves that he left behind is Libby, his chow-mix dog, his chow-hound.  She is the dog on the right.  Poor Libby doesn't understand where he's gone, and though she misses him, she keeps her tail up and hopes that very soon a new owner will come along to give her a new home.

Michael was very proud of his father, a member of one of the very first paratrooper/airborne units during WWII.  He served in three wars.  Picture #5 shows him in his jump gear.


Thank you again for thinking of me during this trying time, and also thanks to my very patient eBay customers, but NOT the guy who demanded a copy of Michael's death certificate because he didn't receive his purchase in a timely fashion.  Nope, no thanks to him.





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Subject: Yeah, But Are You REALLY Sorry??
Time: 11:42:37 PM EDT
Author:  friedman3109

Fromthe book, MY BAD, by Paul Slansky and Arleen Sorkin:

UNCONVINCING APOLOGIES

"The comment was not meant to be a regional slur.  To the extent that it was misinterpreted to be one, I apologize."
 --Asst US Attorney Kenneth Taylor, apologizing for referring to potential jurors in the eastern Kentucky mountains as "illiterate cave dwellers." (Oct. 17, 2003)

"Trudeau takes full responsibility, acknowledging the use of fictional material from an outside source instead of simply making it up as he usually does.  The creator deeply apologizes for unsettling anyone who was under the impression that the president is, in fact, quite intelligent."
 --The DOONESBURY website, "apologizing" for creator Garry Trudeau's having been fooled by, and incorporating into his comic strip, an Internet hoax claiming that a research study conducted by a nonexistent institute found George W. Bush to have the lowest IQ of any White House occupant in the past half-century. (Sept. 5, 2001)

"For one of our tobacco companies to commission this study was not just a terrible mistake, it was wrong... [It] exhibited terrible judgment as well as a complete and unacceptable disregard of basic human values..."
 --Philip Morris, apologizing for a report prepared by arthur D Little International on the economy of the Czech Republic that found "indirect positive effects" of cigarette smoking - the huge sums of money (for health care, pensions, and housing) the government saves thanks to the early deaths of smokers. (July 26, 2001)

"Obviously, it's a mistake.  It's not something that we would have done intentionally.  While we do proofread these things very carefully, with the volume on that particular page, that was something that was missed."
 --A spokeswoman for Caldor department stores, apologizing for a toys-and-games advertising supplement distributed in newspapers that featured an image of two smiling boys sitting around a Scrabble board on which was spelled the word "RAPE."

"We apologize for the joke referencing Miss Columbia ...There was no intent to offend her or the people of Columbia."
 -- David Letterman and CBS executives apologizing for the host's saying about the Miss Universe pageant, "You know what has really gotten impressive?  The talent competition.  For example, Miss Colombia, she swalllowed 50 balloons full of heroin." (May 15, 2001)

"It has come to the editor's attention that the Herald-Leader neglected to cover the civil-rights movement.  We regret the omission."
 --The Lexington, KY, Herald-Leader apologizing for the 40-year-old policies of the then-separate papers the Herald and the Leader to relegate coverage of sit-ins, marches, and the like to brief mentions in a column called "Colored Notes." (July 4, 2004)


 


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Subject: It Looks Like This War's Finally Over!
Time: 11:17:07 PM EDT
Author:  friedman3109

From THE WEEK news magazine, June 9, 2006:

The federal government agreed to end an excise tax on long-distance calls that was created to fund the Spanish-American War.  The 3 percent levy will end on July 31, and Washington will refund about $13 billion for taxes paid over the last three years.

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