Virtual Front Porch


Just keep it clean please....

Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee

Posts: 8937

Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2012 12:45 pm

Location: Canada's left Coast

Post Mon May 27, 2019 10:18 pm

Re: Virtual Front Porch

My wife found the backgammon board but not the pieces. Coming soon, I hope.
I would rather have tools I do not need than to need tools I do not have
Thinking risks being controversial and possibly being offensive

Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee

Posts: 8937

Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2012 12:45 pm

Location: Canada's left Coast

Post Wed May 29, 2019 8:02 pm

Re: Virtual Front Porch

Today, I discovered that my new Samsung smart phone is always listening to me. Just to bug another person, I said, "show me your puxxy." Almost instantly a female voice asked if there was anything else she could do for me. The pictures were great and just like I remembered from years ago. The chilling thought came over me, "What will I do with all of this?" I edited my request for a recipe for rhubarb pie.
I went to the settings and changed the listening option. Come to think of it, Wouldn't it be nice if my wife listened, but, then maybe I am OK with the status quo.
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Thinking risks being controversial and possibly being offensive
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Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee

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Joined: Fri Oct 25, 2013 10:45 am

Location: Central Florida

Post Thu May 30, 2019 2:32 pm

Re: Virtual Front Porch

Below is copied from an email I received and I feel honored to present it here. I understand that many participants on this forum are not residents of the USA, but I feel that this info will help let non-residents understand the commitment made to this great nation. As a veteran of the US Air Force, I wish that I had the physical requirements to have applied for this great honor. (I was too short.)

ARLINGTON CEMETERY

Jeopardy Question:

On Jeopardy the other night,
the final question was
"How many steps does the guard take
during his walk across
the tomb of the Unknowns?"
All three contestants missed it!

This is really an awesome sight to watch
if you've never had the chance.
Fascinating.
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier


1.
How many steps does the guard take
during his walk across the tomb
of the Unknowns and why?



21 steps:
It alludes to the twenty-one gun salute
which is the highest honor given
any military or foreign dignitary.



2.
How long does he hesitate after his about face
to begin his return walk and why?



21 seconds
for the same reason as answer number 1.


3.
Why are his gloves wet?


His gloves are moistened
to prevent his losing his grip on the rifle.



4.
Does he carry his rifle on the same shoulder
all the time and , if not, why not?


He carries the rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb.
After his march across the path,
he executes an about face and moves the rifle
to the outside shoulder.


5.
How often are the guards changed?


Guards are changed every thirty minutes,
twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.



6.
What are the physical traits
of the guard limited to?

For a person to apply for guard duty at the tomb,
he must be between 5' 10' and 6' 2' tall and
his waist size cannot exceed 30.

They must commit 2 years of life to guard the tomb,
live in a barracks under the tomb,
and cannot drink any alcohol on or off duty
for the rest of their lives.
They cannot swear in public
for the rest of their lives
and cannot disgrace the uniform or the tomb in any way.

After two years, the guard is given a wreath pin
that is worn on his lapel
signifying he served as guard of the tomb.
There are only 400 presently worn.
The guards must obey these rules
for the rest of their lives
or give up the wreath pin.

The shoes are specially made with very thick soles
to keep the heat and cold from their feet.
There are metal heel plates
that extend to the top of the shoe
in order to make the loud click as they come to a halt.

There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on the uniform.
Guards dress for duty in front of a full-length mirror.

The first six months of duty
a guard cannot talk to anyone nor watch TV.
All off duty time is spent
studying the 175 notable people laid to rest
in Arlington National Cemetery.
A guard must memorize who they are
and where they are interred.

Among the notables are:
President Taft,
Joe Lewis {the boxer}
Medal of Honor winner Audie L. Murphy, the most
decorated soldier of WWII and of Hollywood fame.
Every guard spends five hours a day
getting his uniforms ready for guard duty.

ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD
AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.

In 2003 as Hurricane Isabelle was
approaching Washington, DC,
our US Senate/House took 2 days off
with anticipation of the storm.
On the ABC evening news,
it was reported that because of the dangers from the hurricane,
the military members assigned the duty
of guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
were given permission to suspend the assignment.

They respectfully declined the offer, "No way, Sir!"
Soaked to the skin,
marching in the pelting rain of a tropical storm,
they said that guarding the Tomb
was not just an assignment,
it was the highest honor that can be afforded
to a service person.
The tomb has been patrolled continuously,
24/7, since 1930.


God Bless and keep them.


God Bless America
L110 owner since 1974, finally rebuilt 2014.

Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee

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Location: Northern New Mexico

Post Fri May 31, 2019 8:28 am

Re: Virtual Front Porch

A friend of mine was one of the soldiers back in the 1970's who was assigned to guard the tomb. He was a tight lipped sort I never got much detail out of him about his duty. Nice post, it fills in some blanks for me.
56 S120 4x4,
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Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee

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Joined: Fri Oct 25, 2013 10:45 am

Location: Central Florida

Post Fri May 31, 2019 12:41 pm

Re: Virtual Front Porch

Back in ‘75, I was at my first job after getting out of the Air Force. A new hire came along and he had just been discharged from the Marines and his last duty station was in DC, not at the tomb, but other ceremonial duties that take place all over the area. There is a large number of military assigned to DC just for such ceremonies. Anyway, he fit the mold they needed, broad shoulders, small waist, over 6ft. tall, intelligent (Industrial Engineer), etc. While he wouldn’t elaborate on his duties, he expressed a great amount of gratitude for being selected and having served in that manner. (Beats ducking bullets in ‘Nam.) That type of service requires a great deal of attention to uniform details and personal behavior. The idea was to be the best of the best.
L110 owner since 1974, finally rebuilt 2014.

Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee

Posts: 866

Joined: Wed Sep 05, 2018 1:50 pm

Location: Northern New Mexico

Post Fri May 31, 2019 2:08 pm

Re: Virtual Front Porch

I find that interesting too! My friend Gene fit that description both physically and intellect wise. His life long dream up until that point was to homestead in Alaska which he did until things went sour and he ended up penniless up there with no way to get home so he joined the Army. He figured it was a done deal that he was going to Nam and was thrilled when he ended up being part of the Old Guard instead. Goes to show that you never know sometimes where life will lead you!
56 S120 4x4,

Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee

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Joined: Fri Dec 28, 2012 4:44 pm

Post Sun Jun 02, 2019 4:14 pm

Re: Virtual Front Porch

I live in England.....And reading that, it gave me goosebumps. Luke

Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee

Posts: 8937

Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2012 12:45 pm

Location: Canada's left Coast

Post Sun Jun 02, 2019 7:32 pm

Re: Virtual Front Porch

When I was a young kid, my mother used to serve SPAM now and then. We grew up knowing this was poor peoples food. Social welfare used to hand it out to those who had fallen on hard times.
So I am watching one of my You Tube subscriptions and I saw this. https://youtu.be/rSp3qgrLMDc
I did not rush our to buy some Spam, but I am a little curious. My question is, has anyone else eaten this mystery meat?
https://www.spam.com/
I would rather have tools I do not need than to need tools I do not have
Thinking risks being controversial and possibly being offensive

Rusty Driver
Rusty Driver

Posts: 182

Joined: Tue Apr 04, 2017 8:00 am

Post Sun Jun 02, 2019 8:42 pm

Re: Virtual Front Porch

I grew up eating SPAM every once in a while. I still like it and think of it as a treat, I like it fried like bacon with eggs and taters for breakfast. I guess I never considered it poor peoples fare. I live in Minnesota where it is made and it's in all the grocery stores. I think it was developed for the military as it keeps without refrigeration. It is said they use "everything but the squeal" from the hog.

I was surprised when I learned of it's popularity in Hawaii. There are many more flavors and variations of it now than when I was young. Now I'm hungry!

Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee

Posts: 8937

Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2012 12:45 pm

Location: Canada's left Coast

Post Sun Jun 02, 2019 9:07 pm

Re: Virtual Front Porch

Here is a great website "loaded" with SPAM details. https://www.spam.com/about
I would rather have tools I do not need than to need tools I do not have
Thinking risks being controversial and possibly being offensive
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