Thursday - March 17, 2005

SecWar’s Absence

As the more astute of you may have noticed, the BMEWS Secretary Of War was noticeably absent yesterday. I had to make a business trip to St. Louis on short notice. This meant getting up at 3:30am, shower, shave and drive to Birmingham airport (an hour away) through a major thunderstorm and catch the red-eye at 6:55am. Connecting flight in Memphis (where it was freezing-ass cold) and on to St. Louis (where the weather was absolutely beautiful yesterday).

Five hours of meetings and presentations and then back to the airport.

Flight out at 4:30pm connecting in Memphis (where it was still freezing-ass cold), two hour layover and finally back to Birmingham at 8:30pm (where the thunderstorms still continued). I finally made it home around 10:00pm last night .... where I had sixteen voicemails and 184 e-mails waiting for me. After a seventeen hour day on my feet, I just said “f**k it” and crashed hard. I’m gettin’ too old for this s**t.

Tips for travellers:

■ As of Monday, March 14, disposable lighters, matches or any kind of flammable substance are no longer allowed on any flights. I predict the airport gift shops will do a booming business in Bic lighters.

■ The airlines are currently cutting prices deeply. I got an upgrade to First-Class for only $35 extra (Northwest).

■ Ain’t it funny how nowadays, in all major airports, the only place you can smoke inside the terminal is in the concourse bars where they make you buy a drink if you want to sit and smoke? .... i.e., forcing you to partake of another drug if you wish to partake of your drug of choice.

■ Notice to airline pilots: coming in “hot” on a dark, rain-slick runway in the middle of the night during a thunderstorm does not improve my “pucker factor”. Seat #01-C will need to be replaced.

It seems you folks had a pretty exciting day yesterday, what with the promo from Michelle Malkin and all. I hope you all enjoyed your Pancake Celebration Day.

Today however, is a much more important day and I’m trying to get my weary bones to wake up and get moving. I’ll have more later today. Stay tuned. In the meantime, I pass along to you the following proclamation notice that I received from the Republican National Committee. It’s real. President Bush signed it yesterday. So get out yer green beer and remember: sometime today all you lovely ladies have to kiss an Irishmen .... it’ll bring you good luck for the next year. Aye! Would I be a lyin’ to ya, now? Trust me!

Irish-American Heritage Month, 2005

A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

The story of the Irish in America is an important part of the history of our country. This month, we pay tribute to Americans of Irish descent who have shaped our Nation and influenced American life.

Long before the great wave of Irish immigration in the 1840s, people of Irish ancestry were defining and defending our Nation. Charles Thomson, an Irishman by birth, served as Secretary of the Continental Congress and helped design the Great Seal of the United States. Irish-born Commodore John Barry fought for our country’s independence and later helped found the United States Navy.

Irish Americans have been leaders in our public life, and they have retained a proud reverence for their heritage. In June 1963, President John F. Kennedy spoke to the Parliament in Dublin and told the story of the Irish Brigade, a regiment that fought valiantly for the Union and suffered terrible losses during the Civil War. Two decades after President Kennedy’s visit, President Ronald Reagan returned to his great grandfather’s hometown in County Tipperary, Ireland, and greeted the crowd in their own Irish language.

The industry, talent, and imagination of Irish Americans have enriched our commerce and our culture. Their strong record of public service has fortified our democracy. Their strong ties to family, faith, and community have strengthened our Nation’s character. The Irish are a significant reason why Americans will always be proud to call ourselves a Nation of immigrants.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2005 as Irish American Heritage Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month by celebrating the contributions of Irish Americans to our Nation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty ninth.

GEORGE W. BUSH

Posted by The Skipper     on 03/17/2005 at 08:54 AM   
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Not that very many people ever read this far down, but this blog was the creation of Allan Kelly and his friend Vilmar. Vilmar moved on to his own blog some time ago, and Allan ran this place alone until his sudden and unexpected death partway through 2006. We all miss him. A lot. Even though he is gone this site will always still be more than a little bit his. We who are left to carry on the BMEWS tradition owe him a great debt of gratitude, and we hope to be able to pay that back by following his last advice to us all:

1. Keep a firm grasp of Right and Wrong
2. Stay involved with government on every level and don't let those bastards get away with a thing
3. Use every legal means to defend yourself in the event of real internal trouble, and, most importantly:
4. Keep talking to each other, whether here or elsewhere

It's been a long strange trip without you Skipper, but thanks for pointing us in the right direction and giving us a swift kick in the behind to get us going. Keep lookin' down on us, will ya? Thanks.

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