Abraham Lincoln

(1861-1865)

• Honest Abe
• The Great Emancipator
• The Floatboatman
• The Rail Splitter
• The Sage of Springfield
• The Abolition Emperor or King Linkum the First
• The Uncommon Friend of the Common Man
• The Original Gorilla and The Orangutan in the White House
• The Sectional President

Presidential Trivia:

• First President to have a beard while in office.
• Lincoln, Nebraska was named for him.
• At 6′4″, Lincoln was the tallest president.
• Lincoln was the only president to hold a patent (for a device that for lifting boats over shoals).
• Lincoln was shot on Good Friday.
• A week before his assassination he had a dream that he was in the White House at a funeral and when he inquired who had died was told the president, he looked in the casket and saw his own face.
• There was a plot to steal his body so a secret society was set up to guard his remains.
• His mother dies after her cow ate wild mushrooms and she drank her milk.
• He was the first president to be photographed at his inauguration. John Wilkes Booth can be seen standing near him in the photo.
• Lincoln was the first president to be born outside the original 13 colonies.
• Lincoln and his wife held seances in the White House and had great interest in psychic phenomena.
• Lincoln’s son, Robert Todd Lincoln arrived just on the scene of three presidential assassinations. He was coming to meet his parents at the theater just after the play and arrived after his father was shot; he went to a Washington train station to meet President Garfield and arrived just after he was shot and travelled to Buffalo, NY to meet President McKinley but got their just after the fatal shot had been fired.

I’ve recently completed one of the most difficult competitions of my life.  More physically challenging than running a marathon; more aggressive and violent than the Superbowl. That’s right… you guessed it -

 a Mustache Competition.

It began the first day of May.  The rules are simple:

1.   $10 to get in.

2.  No beards, Goatees, Van Dykes, Fu Manchus, etc.  You must remain clean shaven, other than in the designated StacheZone.

3.   $5 to get out.

And it was easy at first.  I simply didn’t shave the space between my mouth and nose that morning.  People started to notice, but not too much.  By the end of the week, I kind of had a ninth grade vibe going.

Week two, I was showing.  Big time.  Really looked bad too.  And I realized that my normal, friendly appearance had changed to a pervy creepiness.  The stache wasn’t certified “Full” yet, but it was very close.

Week three is when I gave birth.  Yep, a full-blown, certified mustache.  Gross.  I tried to embrace the funniness of having a stache, but it was a burden.  I started feeling a kinship to cops, and Tom Selleck.  Even Ned Flanders seemed to be a bit more of a brother-rino.

Finally, week four.  The end of the road.  The contest judging occurred Friday at 10:00 AM.  And I didn’t win.  But, I can’t wait to shave.  Enjoy the video.

Did you love the season finale of Lost? Did it give you enough to chew on until next year? Did it answer enough of your questions? Or bring up any more?

PLOT OVERVIEW:

Jeremy Bentham is the one in the coffin? That utilitarian philosopher’s been dead 150+ years. Whatevs. (And, yes, he’s the guy who had his body preserved in a glass-topped coffin that’s been on display since he died. He was smart. And slightly creepy. But he’s fully clothed and sitting upright so, maybe not that creepy. And he is the tie breaking vote (always in favor) at the college).

A little rumble in the jungle (with Kate and Sayid and Richard Alpert) to free Ben from his would-be-captors-from-the-freighter. Since Kate and Sayid offered their help, they are free to leave the island. Easy-peasy.

Walt and his grandmother visit Hurley in the nuthouse. Walt says he was visited by Jeremy Bentham and wonders why the rest of the Oceanic 6 are lying about their time on the island. I’m wondering why Walt travelled across the country only to tell him this. Uh?

Ben and Locke are trying to move the island from the Orchid Station. But Keamy will not die and shows up to exact his revenge on Ben. Ben succeeds in killing him which should detonate all the C4 on the Freighter, killing all on board. So?

Kate, Hurley, Jack and Sawyer get on the helicopter headed to the Freighter. When the helicopter looses fuel Sawyer bails. (But, not too worry, he will later emerge from the water ala Ursula Andress).

Sayid goes to visit Hurley in the nuthouse to tell him of Bentham’s “apparent” suicide and to take him somewhere safe. Hurley finishes his chess game with Mr. Eko and follows Sayid to safety.

The Oceanic 6 get on the helly before the explosion (along with Lapidus and Desmond). Christian Shephard appeared to Micheal right before the explosion to let him know “You can go now.” The island was finally finished with him and it was Jack’s dad to let him know! CoolBeans.

Sun meets Widmore in London and wants to discuss their “common interests” (she alludes to others who left the island - I’m listening…).

According to Ben, whoever moves the island never returns.

In the future, Kate has nightmares - of Claire warning her not to “bring him back”.

After the island moves, the helicopter runs out of gas in the middle of the ocean but their emergency liferaft is discovered by…Penny! Heartsring tugged. Done and done.

Ben visits with Jack in the funeral home and informs Jack that all the others (Oceanic 6?) have to return to make things right.

And Jeremy Bentham is…John Locke.

QUESTIONS:

Was Widmore the one who moved the island before? Didn’t he say that he could never set foot on it again?

What did Sawyer tell Kate before he jumped? Y’all still going with giving Clemintine and Cassidy some money?

Where did the island go? Who can find it?

Why was it Christian Shepard who appeared to Micheal to tell him his duties were over? Micheal wouldn’t recongnize him. Is Shephard doing all of the island/Jacob’s bidding? Does this solidify his being there before?

How did Miles know about Charlotte being on the island before? What was that cryptic little clue all about?

What happened to Faraday and those other non-descript Losties on the raft? Were they taken up in the perimeter of the island move? Or lost at sea?

How did John Locke (’s body) get to the US? And at what point on the time space continuum? And how did he die? Apparently suicide - but we’ve watched so many others try and fail at that one - I’m lookng at you Micheal and Jack! But Sayid implies…Muuuurder. By whom? Abbadon?

If Locke’s really dead, who took his place? He does owe a certain Mr. Abbadon one!

What common interests do Sun and WIdmore have? Is it just that Sun blames Jack for loosing Jin and still harbors anger? Is she going to work with Widmore against them. Widmore obviously knows that Desmond got off the island (as his daughter’s with him).

Where did Sayid take Hurley to be safe? And who exactly is hunting them?

If all them have to go back does that include Ben? Cause he said he can’t ever go back. And is there a way that Jinsurvived if the island “wasn’t done with him yet?” Will the 6ers need to find him?

How did Locke get off the island to find Kate and Jack a month prior to his death? How did he find Walt if he was living under another identity? Wait…It is the real John Locke and not some bunnies existing in different places, right? He is really dead, right? Right?

Was Charlotte born on the island? How did she escape/leave? Was she a Dharma girl? Wouldn’t Ben know more about her?

Why would Miles want to stay on the island?

So Claire doesn’t want Kate to take Aaron back to the island? Kate seems like she will be stubborn and hard to convince on that one. Am I the only one who thinks Claire is no longer “good”? I think the  island wanted a new body for Jacob and Aaron is the one.

Wait! Is there really a Jacob? Remember the magic box analogy Ben gave Locke? Whatever you want or believe will happen, will? Is Locke’s faith so great that he just “believed” he could hear Jacob?

I’m still a little bummed that we didn’t get into more of the “concrete science” (ha.) of how the island works or the Black Rock or the four toed statue, etc this season but, at least there’s places to go next year!

James Buchanan

(1857-1861)

• The Bachelor President - Only President Never to Marry
• Ten Cent A Day Jimmy - Thought that was a decent, living wage
• The Sage of Wheatland - His home in Lancaster County , PA
• Old Buck
• Old Public Functionary
• Old Fogey
• The Cannon - Play on his last name

Buchanan was nominated by the Democratic Party in part because he had been in England during the Kansas-Nebraska Act debates and therefore remained untainted by either side on the issue. Although he did not want to run, he accepted the nomination.

In his inaugural address he promised not to run again and referred to the territorial situations as “happily, a matter of but little practical importance” since the Supreme Court was about to render its decision. Two days later the Chief Justice delivered the Dred Scott decision claiming Congress had no Constitutional power to exclude slavery in the territories.

There was a financial panic (The Panic of 1857), the Utah war (Buchanan sent troops into Utah to oust Brigham Young who was thought to be revolting), and the nation fell apart (7 states had seceded before the end of Buchanan’s term). All in all, not really a highlight in America’s history.

 BUCHANAN TRIVIA! (otherwise known as BUCHAMANIA!):

• Said to have the neatest handwriting of all the presidents.
• England’s Prince of Wales came and brought so many guests with him that Buchanan was forced to sleep in the halls.
• Buchanan was engaged in 1819, Anne Coleman called off the engagement went home to stay with family and died a week later (perhaps by suicide). Buchanan never spoke of it for the remainder of his life. And vowed never to marry. He was buried with her letters. Although he still flirted.
• During his time in the House, he lived with Rufus King (Vice President under Franklin Pierce). People referred to King as “Miss Nancy” or “Aunt Fancy” and others would refer to them as “Buchanan and his wife”. So there were rumors and some like to claim Buchanan as the first gay president.
• First president to send a transatlantic telegram.
• Buchanan was far sighted in one eye and near sighted in the other. One eye sat higher in the socket than the other. He would tilt his head and close one eye when speaking to people.
• Buchanan had the opportunity to buy Cuba for $90,000,000 but Congress wouldn’t let him because they feared he would steal the money and run off.
• He sent a note to newly-elected Lincoln that said, “My dear sir, If you are as happy on entering the White House as I am on leaving, you are a happy man indeed.

PART 1:

Pentultimate episode of the season. We open on the Oceanic Six being rescued. Jack’s still the leader. Telling them how to deal with the media that awaits.

FLASHCURRENT: The chopper is overheard to be landing over the Orchid, which none of the Losties know is another Dharma station. Jack is trying to be a hero (a-gain) even though he just had surgery.

Turns out Dan Faraday knows what the Orchid station is all about and tells Charlotte, “We have to get off this island tight now!” 

FUTURE: Oceanic has a press conference with The 6; offering a lot of crazy manufactured details. The press is pretty harsh with them. (’You guys look pretty healthy for being on an island’) It should be a fluff piece! Sayid and Nadia are re-united.

One group if off to the freighter with Jin and Sun and Aaron and some random people. So we know the fate of them is not certain.

FLASHFORWARD: Sun shows up at her father’s company, pregnant and gaining control of her life and her father’s company. She got her money and bought controlling interest in dad’s biz. And she blames dad for Jin’s death.

Hurley, Locke, and Ben are off to the Orchid. But they realize that Widmore’s guys (Freighties) are already there.

Jack presides over a wake for his father. And Claire’s mom attends. And tells Jack that Claire was his sister.

Sayid and Kate have gone after Jack (for a rescue) but meet up with Richard Alpert and a host of other armed people who capture them.

Ben gives some instructions to Locke about getting into the Orchid station while Ben’s going to surrender for a diversion.

THOUGHTS & QUESTIONS:

Who put the crapload of explosives on board the freighter?

Why did they feel the need to create such an elaborate backstory about the Losties? Why is Jack so happy to go along with this plan?

Why does Kate need to claim Claire’s baby as her own?

What was with Michael’s claim about landing on an island filled with people?

When do they 6 get together? And how are they (and just them) going to get away. That boat brought Jin and a few other random people who don’t make it. So, is the freighter gonna explode or is there gonna be a war waged on the freighter once the mercenary types return? Will they return?

Thinking: Sun and baby get off the boat and the helicopter goes down with Sayid, Jack, Hurley and Kate; then they could re-unite. And maybe the pilot could be one of the faked 8 (one of the two that “make it off the plane but die later”).

So Ben “has a plan” but we know that plan cannot be surrender (he hasn’t even told Locke what to do once he gets to the Orchid station) so how is Ben gonna get out of Keamy’s control? 

You can assume that Ben signaled to the Others to help him; but if he did, why did Richard Alpert and the Others show up at Sayid’s locale and not report directly to the Orchid. Is there gonna be a hostage negotiation? Because no one cares about the Losties. That’s out.

What kind of horrible things can/will go wrong with an attempt to move the island? (Thank god for Hurley bringing one ounce of logic into the equation - ‘Won’t the bad guys move right along with the island?’).

When Sun names her father as one of the two responsible for her husband’s death - who was the other?

When Keamy left with that weird thing tied to his arm - is that connected to the ridiculous amount of explosives? Would he want to take the freighter out with him, or on his command?

So Sun is poised to take control of her father’s company, but in the back of my mind I still think her father is somehow connected behind the scenes, does she know, will she find out, what’s she gonna do?

I am so pumped to see where The Others are taking Sayid and Kate! I want to get to know them a little bit better.

PS - Is it possible to love Sun more than after this eppy?

I’ve heard some people say, “Who even cares about them anymore?”

But when you learn - SPOILER ALERT -  that no one dies. And that, more importantly, Mr Big’s real name is John Preston, I think you’ve learned enough.

 We can fully support that as the most awesome, most deserving name for some epic, vaunted and dreamy character in a  sitcom.

Oh wait. His full name is John James Preston.

We could also endorse a ‘Jimmy Preston’.

That sounds like a good name to us too.

This project Rogers snare drum is done, and honestly, it’s been done for a while.  This was not my most challenging project, to be quite honest.  If you didn’t read the original post, you can check it out here.  I left off with taking it apart, doing some basic crud-removing cleaning and making a short shopping list of bits and pieces needed. 

Since then, I did two full rounds of chrome polishing.  Plenty of elbow grease went in to this one because dang near everything on this drum is chrome.  And it was worth it.  The pictures tell the story, but it really did polish up nicely.  There is a bit of pitting on the throw-off and the snare guards, but nothing to tragic.  After polishing, I re-installed the lugs, throw-off and butt-plate.

I purchased new heads, which I installed at this time.  A REMO Powerstroke3 coated with dot on top and a REMO Ambassador clear snare on the bottom.  This is my favorite combo of heads for a snare drum.  They sound good, tune up easy, and do not ring too much.  This drum is interesting because the snare side doesn’t have snare beds.  Because of the snare frame (or bridge), apparently snare beds are not needed.  It did make tuning the bottom head very easy.

I also ordered PureSound snare wires that are specifically made for Rogers Dyna-Sonic snares.  These installed easily in to the frame with a couple of screws, but it was a bit tricky to set the height so that the strainer would sit flat in the frame.  Once I had the snare wires installed, I tightened the snare tension control and strummed the snares stopping when they are just starting to make a nice musical jangle sound.  The loaded bridge was then installed on to the drum using the cords supplied with the snare wires.  Because the snare wires are tensioned within the frame, there really is no need to pull the snares against the drum with much force.  I adjusted it up until I was getting a good snare sound, but it was still very light tension compared to my other snare drums.

Overall, I’m really happy with this drum.  It looks great and sounds great too.  The amount of adjustment on the Dyna-Sonic could scare some folks away, but once you understand the principal behind it, it’s not too tough to get it dialed-in.  FYI, this drum is pretty dang loud.  It’s got a few dBs on my wood Ludwig snare of the same size.  I guess that is the crome-over-brass shell doing it’s magic.

Well, this project is complete.  Check.  Next up, Project Slingerland Drum Kit!  Stay classy Tuss.

Here’s a quick quiz so see if you’d pass 8th grade science.

I would in no way like to share my grade with you.

Apropos of nothing, I would like to take a minute to say that my middle school was a classical arts magnet school and we did have all sorts of dance, music, theater, band, orchestra, jazz bands, etc. 

My school might not have spent their entire budget on the science department. My class was in a basement. My teacher quit in the first quarter, replaced by a substitute for 2 months, ending with a new permanent teacher for the last quarter. And I think there was another pregnant lady in there somewhere.

None of this reflects in my awesome score on this test. I’m just sayin’…

Seriously, I did fine on the test. I just don’t happen to want to talk about it. Just feeling a little shy. I did really well, though - Honest.

Shut it!

Move along.

Take the test yourself. You can tell me how you did. I won’t tell anyone else. Honest. Swearsies!

WE LEARNED:

Horace seems a little creepy, even for a guy who’s been dead 12 years.

So, the Ageless Wonder (Richard Alpert) was around at John Locke’s birth, huh?

Alpert visits John when John’s 6 or7 years old a asks him to think about these things (baseball mitt, old Book of Laws, vial of sand, a compass, a comic book, and a knife) and figure out which of those belong to him already. John chooses the sand, the compass and the knife. Alpert tells him that the knife really doesn’t belong to him, he packs up all his toys and leaves.

We saw the birth of the Man of Science/Man of Faith struggle within Locke.

Sayid’s on the case to rescue some Losties.

Matthew Abbadon was Locke’s physical therapist/orderly and also, the one to inspire John’s Australian walkabout.

Abbadon says that when Locke sees him again (after his outback trip) John will “owe him one.”

So Christian Shephard is a mouthpiece for Jacob?

QUESTIONS & THOUGHTS:

Okay, the doctor’s body washed ashore but in the scenes we watched tonight, Sayid leaves before the doctor’s throat is slit and he’s in a motorboat (rather than the less fast method of travel - waiting fur the current to drag your dead body ashore). So why hadn’t Sayid arrived last episode??

When will Locke run into Abbadon again? And what will Abbadon ask him to do? At this point we gotta believe that as a man of faith, John will do anything this man asks him (in the name of destiny - that fickle bitch).

and

Coincidentally, it seems that both Ben’s mom and Locke’s mothers were both named Emily. Both Locke and Ben were premies. And both mothers were removed from their sons’ lives near birth.

The captain of the ship ostensibly works (worked) for Widmore. Who is Keamy working for and what is his agenda?

So Keamy’s Plan B has a Dharma logo on it. Hunh.

We speculated Claire might have died when Keamy exploded her house a few weeks ago. And we could understand Miles seeing her (before she went off into the woods with Daddy) but would Sawyer have been able to? Would that be the first time Sawyer could see a dead person?

I don’t think Claire’s dead. But, something is definitely different about her. What happened?

Do you think Alpert was on the Black Rock? Does he just not age because he flits about through time?

How the heck do you move an island? My bet is that it’s gonna be the Orchid Station and some sort of wormhole type deal. We’re moving the island to Tunisia. Or the arctic. Pack your parkas, people!

Are we ever gonna see or find out anything more about ‘the real’ Jacob?

When Emily’s mom (Locke’s grandma) first sees Richard Alpert she seems to recognize him. Maybe she saw him before years ago but hasn’t aged?

Are the writers bringing in the idea of reincarnation now? The test that Alpert gave Locke is surprisingly similar to how they find the succeeding dalai lama. (Showing him personal items from the previous dalai lama and random items and having the toddler choose which one was his).

Is Locke going to have been on the Black Rock or…Jacob himself?

We have heard rumors of people who smoke marijuana. We’ve heard tales of engineer types in college who built two-story bongs, gravity and ice bongs, and even inflatable smoking devices. But this story takes the cake…

Two men and a juvenile are charged with traipsing about a graveyard, digging up a body, decapitating it and then using the rotting head as a “bong”.

Deeee-lightful.

The Takeaway: It’s only a misdemeanor!

So, I don’t know what year this would have been?

Maybe, 19-Oh-Racist?

The message seems clear. You want to get rid of rats, mice, bedbugs, flies or roaches? Buy a box of chinamen for 15 cents! They will eat you out of your problem. Ugh.

We are making fun of the diets of coolie-hat wearing asians, right? Good work agency du jour! 

But for in-depth analysis, let’s consult the expert…

Some say he invented the infomercial, but he has repeatedly denied it, although never under oath.  Others say he abhors tomato juice, but loves a Bloody Mary.  No matter, he is the Doctor, and he is preferred by your provider.

This ad uses the symbol for cents - try finding that on a modern keyboard!  But anyway, if you read it the way it seems to be written you get, “ROUGH ON RATS IT CLEARS OUT RATS MICE BED BUGS FLIES ROACHES 15 (cents) PER BOX.  That is not first-rate copy.  It’s not even up to, pentultimate copy. It is crap.

I might be able to buy that it kills rats, mice, bed bugs (whatever those are) and flies, but nothing kills roaches (Doc Ad’s lived everywhere, including the South).  At least, nothing kills roaches for long.  Oh, and what is the product name?  Is it ROUGH ON RATS?

So, that’s all the comments on the goofy ad copy, now let’s just think about the visual concept here.

First, you have a dead rat flat on his back.  Got it. This stuff kills vermin. 

 But then, there’s added what appears to be a walking Chinese man with two dead rats, one of which is heading in to his mouth.  And he looks a bit overweight, so I from what I can discern, the implication is that he has been eating a bunch of rats, and maybe dipping them in Ranch, or possibly Blue Cheese. 

Is the story that this product kills vermin as well as a Chinese person because they like to dine on rats? 

Wow. 

And I thought the world was screwed up these days, but apparently we were all just a bunch of racist, stereo-typing, biggoted asses back then.

Doc Ad took an oath to do everything in his power to save any ailing ad, but this ad is too far gone.  I suggest pulling the plug, and call it a day.  See you the next time I make my rounds.  Doc Ad has left the building. Off to sup on anything other than vermin. And top it off with a nice dry martini.

I didn’t really realize it before.

But this guy…

Might just be the father of this guy:

Franklin Pierce

(1853-1857)

• Handsome Frank- He found this embarrassing
• The Hero of A Well-Fought Bottle - Refers to his lack of military command and his known drinking habits.
• The Fainting General- Reference by his opponents to an incident when an artillery blast blew his saddle horn into his abdomen, causing him to loose consciousness for a few moments.
• Young Hickory Of Granite Hills- Comparing his military deeds with Andrew Jackson, and Granite Hills refered to his New Hampshire background

Alright Folks, we’re at a tough time in our nation’s history. We’re leading up to #16 and the Civil War. What’re you gonna do, Handsome Frank?

Pierce was a Democrat and a “doughface” (a northerner who supported the South). He was another dark horse candidate (like Fillmore). A great example of winning by a landslide (he won 50% vs 44% of the popular vote but got 254 vs 43 of the electoral college vote - Do you understand how out of whack that shiz can be? And I’m pretty sure this was before the all elusive “super-delegates” (This does not include North Carolina’s Brad Miller who is super in so many other ways, political opinions aside).

Anywhoo…Back to Pierce. - Elected in a relative time of tranquility, the Compromise of 1850 had calmed a lot of people. But in his personal life, Pierce was unsettled; two months before his election, Pierce and his family were trapped in a train when it rolled over. He and his wife watched their 11 year old son was crushed by a traincar. They had already lost 2 sons to typhus and his wife believed that Bennie’s death was ‘divine punishment’ for her husband’s acceptance of this most high office.

The most controversial thing that Pierce did in office was the Kansas-Nebraska Act which repealed the Missouri Compromise and re-opened the question of slavery in the West.

• Pierce is the only President to say “I promise” rather than, “I swear” during his Inauguration
• Democratic slogan of 1847 was “We polked you in ‘44, We’ll Pierce you in ‘52.”
• Pierce defeated his commanding officer from the Mexican War, Winfield Scott when he was elected president.
• In his second year in college, Pierce had the lowest grades of anyone in school but he changes his ways and graduated third in his class.
• Among his classmates at Bowdoin were Nathaniel Hawthorne and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
• First Presient born in the 19th century.
• Pierce was arrested while in office for running over an old woman with his horse, but the charges were later dropped due to insufficient evidence.
• Pierce dies of cirrhosis of the liver from years of drinking. (Is he the only president to die of that?)

So, to sum up - We had a hot guy who liked to party in office in the 1850s? And don’t forget our favorite MASH surgeon was named for him, so he can’t be all bad.

If you’re in Austin, and out and about tonight, come out to The Carousel Lounge and check out my band.  Oops, I mean my bands.  Yep, playing in two bands and they are both playing tonight.

The Famous Characters are basically pretty poppy.  I play guitar in this band.  Check out the MySpace page HERE.

The Sheeps are pretty twangy and poppy, but a definite countrified note in there.  I’m on the drums in this band.  Check out the MySpace page HERE.

Also, this will be the first time that I’ve played in two bands playing two different instruments in one night.  Should be fun.

This week’s post is on a watch that is not only one of my favorites, but also one that I own.  And this watch is very different than most watches I have owned (or dreamed of owning);  for instance the brand is Italian, the movement is not an automatic, it’s not a chronograph, it’s not a pilot’s watch, and it doesn’t even have a second hand.  But let’s not keep you waiting…

Panerai Luminor Base 

Panerai has an interesting history, although I’m not exactly sure how much of it is factual and how much is marketing embellishment.  Without delving too deep into the hyperbole, the company was founded in 1860 by Giovanni Panerai and quickly established itself as a builder of precision instruments to the Royal Italian Navy.  Depth gauges, torpedo sites, and compasses where specialties of Panerai, as were rugged, oversized dive watches with exceptional luminescent faces. They were made for the frogmen of the Marina Millitaire.  The watches were not sold to the public, and they were made in very limited numbers - only 300 pieces were produced between 1938 and 1993. 

In 1993, Panerai ceased production of watches for the Navy and began selling to the public on a limited basis.  The company was purchased by Richemont in 1997.  Brands within the Richemnont group include Cartier, Piaget, IWC, Montblanc and Vacheron Constantin. So Parerai found itself in good company, and supported by a organization that had the capital and the right connections.  The rest is history.

For me, discovering Panerai in 2000 really opened my eyes to large watches.  At the time, I had a selection of vintage watches from Rolex, Heuer and Omega as well as a recent model Omega Speedmaster Automatic.  Everything changed for me.  I sold off all of my watches.  What I really wanted was a Panerai Luminor Base in titanium.

The Base Luminor may sound like the bottom-of-the-line model, and in terms of price, it is.  But it’s my favorite, for several reasons:

1.   It’s large.  The 44mm case definitely has a presence on your wrist.  And the dial is large too, with a bezel that’s not too thick and not too thin.

2.    Its clean design. - Probably the cleanest I have ever seen.  The case is brushed titanium and dial is a dark brown.  Markings include a “3”, “6”, “9”, and “12” plus eight hash marks, the words “Panerai” and “Luminor”, and that’s it.  No bells, no whistles.

3.   It’s rugged as hell. - This thing is a tank.  It is machined from solid titanium, which makes it a bit lighter than stainless. But this case is solid.  And I really like that the case back and the buckle are solid titanium as well – no skimping here.  The lugs are nicely integrated, and the crown protector with its unique lever is not only bullet-proof, it’s very functional in the way that it compresses the o-ring to seal the crown against water and other intrusive contaminants.  Even the crystal is over-engineered; it’s domed shape is 3mm thick at the center, and it’s coated on both sides.

The hand-wound movement was something I was not excited about, but this model was not available with an automatic movement.  My thinking was that I would forget to wind it. It will stop if it’s not wound in 40 hours.  I was surprised that I actually didn’t forget to wind it, and I also didn’t mind winding it either.  It just becomes part of putting the watch on.  You strap it on, open the crown lever, wind it until it stops, and then re-close the lever.  In a way, it’s an interaction that I enjoy.  I’m forced to pause for just a few seconds and do my part to keep my watch running along. 

It basically comes down to this: This watch just plain looks great.  It’s not only big; it’s very well proportioned and sits comfortably on my wrist.  The titanium matches up very well with the brown face and brown alligator leather strap.  I get more comments on this watch than any other watch I have owned.  Watch nerds comment on it, of course, but non-enthusiasts also ask about it.  Mine is a bit beat-up as I’ve been wearing it for seven years, and it needs to be serviced, so I will likely have it buffed-out and even get a spankin’ new OEM strap.

Lastly, if you want to buy, I suggest you go back in time and get yours when I got mine.  Back in 2000,I picked mine up brand new complete with the amazing pear wood box, extra rubber strap, and the tool for changing the strap for less than $1,800.  I think you would need to plunk down at least $4,500 or more now for the same model.  And they tend to be scarce, so even finding the exact model you want can be a challenge.  Pre-owned models in good condition are not much cheaper than new ones. 

Well, you’ve got to pay to play I guess, but that’s a lot of scratch for a watch that doesn’t even have a second hand.

Sooo… Whadjya think about the future of Kack (or Jate - or whatever the kids are calling their favorite Lostie coupling these days)?

I admit, my favorite part was Sawyer calling Miles, “Donger” for all the Sixteen Candles fans out there.

So Flashing into the future, Kate and Jack reconcile (like rabbits) and Jack is a stable, well-adjusted practicing doctor and participant in life. But…

Hurley still visits with (GhostOfDead) Charlie, who has a message for Jack, “not to raise him.” We should be getting more insight into the cur-sed nature of Aaron soon.

You know what drives a person over the edge, into pill popping territory? Being engaged to Kate. Boo-Yah!

Jack read ALice in Wonderland to Aaron, and the camera paused on it on the bookshelf a time or too. We get it. This is a transitional period. They’re setting up the resolve. I like it.

It also sets up a nice Christian Shepard as the White Rabbit that Jack chases hither and yon.

And Claire has left Aaron to follow Daddy into the woods. And at some point Jack finds out that his daddy and Claire’s daddy are one and the same.

SO:

• Sawyer’s alive and still on the island but why did he “choose to stay?”
• Christian Shephard is everywhere. Popping up to disturb Jack at work a couple of times and steal away into the night with daughter Claire. But why would she leave Aaron behind?
• Did the island make Jack sick, give hin appendicitis?
• Who’s the visitor Charlie prophesied that will come to Jack and Kate soon?
• What is Kate doing for Sawyer that she doesn’t want to admit to Jack? Is it really to give money to Clementine? Why not tell Jack about that?
• Any correlation between smoke alarm going off and Dr. Christian Shephard appearing? Is he gonna turn out to have something to do with the Smoke Monster?
• Why didn’t the smoke monster do more damage to Keamy and his people. It didn’t kill anybody?
• Will Sawyer “see” Christian and remember him from Australia? Also knows that’s Jack’s dad too (could he be the one to tell Claire they’re related?)
• So, if we concede that Kate is doing a favor for Sawyer (which I’m not ready to do yet) that involves Clemintine - Kate will recongnize Cassidy - That seems so detrimental to Kate’s current life!
• Cassisdy - Don’t forget - Neal Cassidy is the real name of Dean Moriarty (layer, people!).
• Do you think Claire dies (in the house bombings of last week) and that’s why Miles took an interest in her? But that would mean Sawyer saw (Dead)Claire.

Yes. We love WikiHow. - What can’t the internet teach you, you guys?  You can learn how to make that cake in the shape of a hamburger or an anatomically correct brain. Or how to act like Kelly Bundy from “Married with Children”

But today we offer the best of the best: How to Make a mini-Crossbow.

Even better, you can probably do it right now. At your desk. With stuff in your drawers.

Wait - Hold the phone…Were you thinking of actually doing work today? Well, you know what motivates other people to do your work for you?

Mini-Crossbow.

Awww. A favorite of ours. Fertile ground in a bygone era. I love the smell of racism in the morning.

We acknowledge Indigenous Americans as having a rich full history. We acknowledge that they have their own culture and heritage, customs and traditions. But mostly we just remember that they used to scalp people. Everyone remembers that.

So, we’ll use our shared knowledge to sell…hairbrushes!  But of course.

Where our knowledge is a little thin is in the world of advertising, and that’s why we call in THE expert…

Some people believe that his chest hair is insured for over a million dollars; others say that he has summitted all of the world’s major peaks wearing only a Brooks Brothers suit.  Who knows if any of this is true? One thing we know for sure is that his name is Doctor Advertising, and he hasn’t lost one yet.

Another oldie from the world of advertising… “Dr. Scott’s Electric Hair Brush” sounds more like a psychedelic band from the 1960’s than it does a legitimate grooming aid! 

I’m guessing there was no agency on this one.  I think old George A. Scott sat his ass down in Room 1 at 844 Broadway and came up with this one all on his own.  But he did take a lesson from the classic book of advertising techniques…the old “our product will NOT…” approach.  This approach is designed to say nothing.  Nothing, that is, except for one thing that the product is not or can not do.  So you can put in somthing absurd, amazing, funny, or shocking and it all works fine.  The goal is to draw folks in. 

Dr. Scott - ten bucks he’s not a genuine doctor (unlike Doc Ad who is Board-Certified and totally legit) probably cut the indigenous American image from a book and then thought, “how can I make this an ad for my Electric Hair Brush?”  One thing we know about Indians is they love to scalp folks.  And what is a scalp but hair?  …With the skin and tissue still attached -Gross!  No wonder the look in that warriors eyes appears to be worry.  (Or maybe he just can’t believe how racist Dr. Scott really is). 

The product claim here is that the Electric Hair Brush will stop dandruff, baldness, and ‘falling hair’ (more a symptom of baldness, I think)  and it will cure a headache and neuralgia.  In those days, you really didn’t have to substantiate any claims, so I’m surprised they stopped where they did.  I would have had it reviving the dead and turning lead in to gold. Electrice Hairbrush is sorcer’s stone!

Dr. Scott, this “.” is a period, and this “,” is a comma.  Maybe give them a try once in a while.  And all caps… stop yelling at me!  Final thought, what the hell is that “Valuable Books Free.  Agents Wanted.” message hung on the bottom of the ad?  Kind of comes out from nowhere. Dr. Scott are working overtime as a literary agent? Sheesh.

Well folks, it’s been fun playin’ Cowboys and Indians with you, but I’ve got an appointment with a cocktail on golf course.  Stay classy, Life Tussle.  Doc Ad out.

Here’s a little tip: If you leave the television on, do not be surprised if while you’re bringing in groceries you hear this:

“So I left and then went outside and politely took his windshield out.”

(Someone named “Judge Alex”) incredulously asks, “You are saying you “politely” bashed in his windshield with a baseball bat?”

“Yes sir. That is what I did.”

Surprisingly enough, I did not wait around to find out exactly how one completes that task politely.  But I saw the young lady who claimed to do just that, and if anyone can do it - it’s the kind of gal who decides to wear a tube top to court.

Court that is nationally televised.

Millard Fillmore

July 1850- March 1853

• The Accidental President
• Wool-Carder-President
• The American Louis Philippe

Filmore gained the presidency after Taylor’s untimely death, and he then got rid of Taylor’s entire cabinet. Wiped ‘em out in favor of people that would be agreeable to a compromise (of 1850). Filmore was all in favor of preserving the union in the great rift that was the slavery debate.

His insistence on federal enforcement on the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 alienated the North and helped to bring about the dissolution of the Whig party.

• Filmore was the first president to have a step-mother
• Filmore refused an honorary doctorate from Oxford, claiming no man should have a degree he “could not read.”
• Filmore’s wife was the first to have a “running water” bathtub in the White House.
• Established the first permanent library in the White House.
• Last president born in the 18th Century.
• Didn’t have an inaugural address.

STORY SYNOPSIS:

CampLocke: Playing Risk - Australia is the key to whole game. (Referencing Claire? Plane departure?)

Locke gets a phone call - Code 14-J: Ben’s non-plussed. They’re Heeeeere!

Ben wants Locke to survive, “It’s very imporatant that you survive what’s about to happen here John.”  Ben needs John to talk to Jacob. And they both need Hurley to find Jacob’s cabin.

People in the bushes (The “they” of the phone code) rain some sniper fire down on the LockeCamp.

FLASHFORWARD: Ben in Tunisia. This time he’s ‘on the road’ as Dean Moriarty (See: Jeack Kerouac). Ben is rapt by some footage of Sayid on tv. Ben meets Sayid after a funeral. Sayid punches Ben, wondering how he followed him to Tekrit (Iran). Ben claims he’s there to find the man who murdered Sayid’s wife. Ben’s claiming Widmore is behind Nadia’s death.

PRESENT: The people shooting at Ben’s fortress (Freigties) claim to have Ben’s daughter and want to negotiate; working for Charles Widmore. They present Alex, she begs DaddyBen for safety. Ben tries to negotiate. And…Alex is killed. — Ben is S-T-U-N’-D stunned! He claims ‘they changed the rules.’

FLASHBACK: Sayid volunteers for Ben’s killing army. Wow! Not expecting that.

PRESENT: Ben comes back from SecretHideaway-behind-SecretHideaway (Layers, people, LAYERS!) Ben instructs everyone (Locke, Sawyer, Sayid, Claire/Aaron) to run for the tree line. Black Smoke Monster is a’coming. And it’s taking out everybody Ben wants it to.

BACK ON THE BEACH: Miles uses Morse code to contact the Freighter. Unfortunately middle school science teacher Bernard is there to interpret and he tell the Losties that Miles is lying to them. Jack asks if they were ever going to take them off the island. Miles say, “No.”

Back at CrazyCamp (Locke): Ben released SmokeMonster. Locke is pissed that Ben lied about not knowing about the smoke monster. Sawyer’s fed up and decides to head back to the beach. Locke doesn’t want to let Hurley to go as they need Hurley to find Jacob’s cabin. Hurley agrees.

Ben sneaks into Widmore’s hotel room, questioning him about the murder of his “daughter,” Alex. Ben informs Widmore he’s going to kill his daughter Penelope (Desmond’s love). Widmore claims, “That island’s mine. Always was. And soon it will be again.” - “But you’ll ever find it.” - “Then I suppose the hunt is on for both of us.”

Sounds like a Holmesian - “The game is afoot” kind of throwdown of the gauntlet!

THOUGHTS & QUESTIONS:

So the Freighties seemed to lie to their own, telling Daniel that the Doctor was fine, and on board the ship, this means they clearly don’t trust those 3 scientists at all, right? Daniel’s only lying to keep peace on the beach, and not to keep some other secondary or tertiary agenda hidden?

Ben can command/control the Smoke Monster? That puts some previous things in a different light. I should really go back and check into that. Did Ben deliberatly kill Mr. Eko?

Ben seemed to dodge Locke’s questions of the SmokeMonster - putting them off until we see Jacob. How does Jacob figure into all of this?

Could Ben have manipulated Nadia’s death in order to get Sayid to “volunteer” for Ben’s own one man Army? Ben sure seemed to smile when he turned away from Sayid after that conversation.

So, the island was Widmore’s? Was Widmore in control of the island at some point? Does that mean he was a part of Dharma? Were Widmore and Ben ever co-conspirators, or allies, or friends?

How/Why did Widmore leave/loose control of the island? Wouldn’t he know it’s hard to find?

Widmore’s taken to the bottle, huh? …Due to nightmares? What kind of nightmares does this guy have? What has he seen? Leads us to believe he’s been on the island, right?

Why doesn’t Ben just kill Widmore in his bedroom? He says he can’t - is it because “the island’s not done with him yet” ala Jack and Micheal?

Tunisia (where Ben first lands) is where Charlotte found the polar bear skeleton, right? And Ben is wearing cold weather gear. Is there some sort of wormhole from the island to that spot, through a cold weather portal?

Is the moment Hurley conceedes to go with Locke and Ben the ‘moment he regrets going with Locke’ that he refers to in the gym with Jack (rather than the initial split weeks ago that we witnessed)?

In the end did “The Shape of Things to Come” plot out a grand race between Ben and Desmond to get to Penny? To be honest. I’d like to see that. I’m not much on the Jack/Kate/Sawyer love triangle. But I do dig a little Des and Penny.

This site gives you some examples of the engravings they’ve done inside people’s wedding bands. Some very tender, heartfelt and romantic. Others - probably special in their own way. And some almost seem passive aggressive (but in the way that’s cute at first but 6 years later, more of the aggressive starts to shine through)

• You wore me down - Not even an attempt at sweetness or romance, just a, “Fine, you win.”
• Tricky little love machine - Maybe a step too far.  You could have just put “You are a tough one to satisfy in the sack, but we worked at it and finally got the job done.”  But that would’ve had to have been a pretty large ring.
• Better Than Ice Cream - But that inscription? Worse than a trip to the dentist.
• You’re an amazing sales rep - Just bad, even if it’s a lame joke about selling her on you; worse if you really were ‘Sales Rep of the Month.’
• Happy Now? Good. - See “You wore me down.”
• Remember, I’m a Wyoming Redneck - Hide your sheep.
• Amateurs hope, professionals work. - This guy must work at the company that makes those horrible inspirational posters that go in offices, and should be shot.
• Race you to the shower - Slightly better than “Get me a beer. I’ll time you.”

• Put me back on! - Worried about losing the ring, or begging one to put it back on before he/she comes home from a night of being “single”?
• Thanks for waiting. Dork! - “Dork” seems rude. But if it turns out to be the guys name then, well, life can be cruel, Mrs. Dork.
• My noose - Did this person add this to their own ring?
• wuv woo wots, sweetie - Way way way way way way gay. No matter whose ring it’s on.
• Better than Bacon - Kevin Bacon?
• I love you like a fat kid loves cake- (Diabetically?) Ok, this is sweet, I guess.  A simple “I love you” is good too.
• Resistance is Futile - So is this attempt at humor.
• Bonham to Denver, maybe forever - Really? Keyword: ”maybe.”  This one has two years. Tops.
• Rump shaker- Ok, I like it. Timeless. Classic. - Bonus: There’s no way your grandkids will have any clue what this refers to.
• I do I do I do love green eggs and ham- Just too weird. And odd. And too Seussia