Happy Downton Abbey Day

Now go upstairs and take off your hat.

Girls and Guns Open Thread

Girls and Guns: British Estate Style

Stay warm out there.

Kate Middleton Open Thread

Good morning, campers. I'll be out of pocket most of the day, so I'm leaving the Duchess of Cambridge in charge while I'm gone.

Kate Middleton with what is probably a Holland and Holland 20 gauge side by side.

She'll be taking names.

Scotland Saying Goodbye to the UK?

Apparently, Scotland might be voting to leave the United Kingdom soon. As far-fetched as that may sound to us Americans, the prospect has London worried to the extent that London has apparently offered some concessions of "extensive new powers" to Scotland if they stay.

I don't know if Scotland should leave or stay. I haven't really done any research other than to watch Braveheart. Apparently, the Scots and English don't really get along, so I guess that has something to do with it.

However, this talk of London offering Scotland new powers kind of reminded me of this line, from when the English King talks about bribing the Scottish nobles to betray Wallace:

I gave Mornay double his lands in Scotland and matching estates in England. Lochlan turned for...much less.

Anyone really have a strong opinion on Scotland staying or going? I can't really say that I do. Have the decided who will claim James Bond? This seems to be an important issue.

Princess Diana's Shotgun

Happy Friday.

Did you know Princess Diana had a shotgun?

It was a wedding present. It's a Westley Richards, which is a bespoke shotgun and rifle maker. Notice the engraved date? That's her wedding date. Pretty good gift if you ask me.

Confessions of an Englishman: I hate American soccer fans

From the WSJ: Why I hate American soccer fans.

Over the years, I've been angered, saddened and ashamed by these things. But through it all, my love for soccer remained undimmed.

But lately, I've discovered there's a new scourge on my beloved game that I simply cannot tolerate: Americans.

He doesn't really need to worry, though. As soon as the World Cup is over, 99% of all the Americans watching soccer will go back to not watching it. 

How the Gin and Tonic Shaped History

A brief history of the gin and tonic.

How To Turn $2.16 Million into $0.84 Million

Phil Mickelson can show you how to do this really easily.

Step 1: Live in California.
Step 2: Play golf in Scotland.
Step 3: Win British Open
Step 4: Pay lots of taxes.

I owe how much in taxes?

Seriously, that's a boatload of taxes, and he ends up with $842,700 before paying his caddy! A couple of million bucks ain't what it used to be.

Friday News Roundup 6-14-13

Happy Friday.

1. Howard's Rock has been vandalized. This is obviously an extremely juvenile act, and I hope whoever did this is caught and punished. It's fine to give opposing fans a good-natured taunt, but actually destroying property is stupid and cowardly. I put it in the same category as keying someone's car. It's not the act of a man.
2. Mick Jagger is a Margaret Thatcher Fan. Not terribly surprising, given that it's widely known that he moved the Stones income out of Britain long ago to avoid the high taxes. He also works pretty damn hard. It's news only because most big celebrities are super-leftists.
3. US Will Join Syrian War. I'm not sure about you, but arming the rebels who are linked with Al-Queda doesn't sound like a genius idea. The "No-Fly" zone is serious deal, and despite what anyone says, that's war. I'm not sure why we're doing this, as I don't see where our national interest is involved. Two groups who hate us are killing each other. I'm not really sure I even see a problem.
4. South Carolina Moms Still Demanding Action on Guns. One of the interesting lines is that the piece claims there is a "gender gap" in gun regulation. Do women support stricter gun control than men? If so, why?

That's pretty much all I have. Enjoy your Father's Day weekend. This post brought to you by Father's Day, circa 1946.

This Day In History (Victoria Cross Award)

The Victoria Cross is Britain's version of the Medal of Honor. The Victoria Cross is the highest award that Britain can award to a member of the military for "valor in the face of the enemy". It ranks higher than all other decorations or medals, and is traditionally presented by the monarch.

On this day in WWII (March 26, 1943) action took place that led to the the Victoria Cross being awarded to a native of New Zealand, 2nd Lieutenant Ngarimu.

Lt. Ngarimu was a Marori, which is the name for the indigenous people of New Zealand. Basically, this would be analogous to a Native American Indian winning the Medal of Honor. Lt. Ngarimu's citiation for the Victoria Cross is as follows:

During the action at the Tebaga Gap on 26 March 1943, 2nd Lieutenant Ngarimu commanded a platoon in an attack upon the vital hill feature, Point 209. He was given the task of attacking and capturing an under-feature forward of Point 209 itself and held in considerable strength by the enemy. He led his men with great determination straight up the face of the hill, undeterred by the intense mortar and machine-gun fire, which caused considerable casualties.

Displaying courage and leadership of the highest order, he was himself first on the hill crest, personally annihilating at least two enemy machine-gun posts. In the face of such a determined attack the remainder of the enemy fled, but further advance was impossible as the reverse slope was swept by machine-gun fire from Point 209 itself.

Under cover of a most intense mortar barrage the enemy counter-attacked, and 2nd Lieutenant Ngarimu ordered his men to stand to and engage the enemy man on man. This they did with such good effect that the attackers were virtually mown down, 2nd Lieutenant Ngarimu personally killing several. He was twice wounded, once by rifle fire in the shoulder and later by shrapnel in the leg, and though urged by both his company and battalion commanders to go out, he refused to do so, saying that he would stay a little while with his men. He stayed until he met his death the following morning.

Darkness found this officer and his depleted platoon lying on the rock face of the forward slope of the hill feature, with the enemy in a similar position on the reverse slope about twenty yards distant. Throughout the night the enemy repeatedly launched fierce attacks in an attempt to dislodge 2nd Lieutenant Ngarimu and his men, but each counter-attack was beaten off by 2nd Lieutenant Ngarimu’s inspired leadership. During one of these counter-attacks the enemy, using hand grenades, succeeded in piercing a certain part of the line. Without hesitation this officer rushed to the threatened area, and those of the enemy he did not kill he drove back with stones and with his tommy-gun.

During another determined counter-attack by the enemy, part of his line broke. Yelling orders and encouragement, he rallied his men and led them in a fierce onslaught back into their old positions. All through the night, between attacks, he and his men were heavily harassed by machine-gun and mortar fire, but 2nd Lieutenant Ngarimu watched his line very carefully, cheering his men on and inspiring them by his personal conduct.

Morning found him still in possession of the hill feature but only he and two unwounded other ranks remained. Reinforcements were sent up to him. In the morning the enemy again counter-attacked and it was during this attack that 2nd Lieutenant Ngarimu was killed. He was killed on his feet defiantly facing the enemy with his tommy-gun at his hip. As he fell he came to rest almost on top of those of the enemy who had fallen, the number of whom survived testified to his outstanding courage and fortitude.

2nd Lieutenant Ngarimu

Wow. The acts of heroism and valor in WWII are simply to numerous to count.

British Men Want Miniskirts Banned

Back in the day, Great Britain used to be the world's greatest superpower. The men who lived there were tough, went off to fight for Queen and Country, the Glory of the Empire, and they were tough. This is the country of Winston Churchill, Capt. Cook, Admiral Neslon, Richard the Lionhearted, T.E. Lawrence, and so on...

Great Britain used to be the home to manly men.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. We're witnessing the collapse of Western civilization.

UK Woman Hates Baby Boys

Some crazy UK mother-to-be has a long column about how baby boys are horrible, but she doesn't want you to "condemn" her:

Please don’t condemn me. I know very little about boys, coming from a family of all girls, but what I have seen I really haven’t liked. Boys are gross; they attack their siblings with sticks, are obsessed with toilets, casually murder local wildlife and turn into disgusting teenage boys and then boring, selfish men.

Too late. I'm condemning her. Who would write this about the actual child they are expecting? Any parent who rants about the characteristics of their unborn child is a horrible person. End of analysis. And what kind of guy is she married to?

As for her "critique" of boys, it's all the grossness, attacking things with stick, toilets, killing kind of related to your parenting?

Also here's a crazy idea: If you really hate boys that much, maybe you shouldn't try to raise one. Find a couple that can't have children and do an adoption. Some people shouldn't procreate.

Sunday Reading: WWII Posters and the Brooklyn Bridge

If you've seen my Twitter icon, it references this WWII propaganda poster that the British used. I decided to go with it while reading Churchill's epic memoirs of WWII. Seriously, it's a lot of reading, but it's good (if you like that sort of thing).

I've put my own little spin on it, but here's an interesting read on some of the other related posters and how the same ethos is applicable today.

On a related note, I've started an old book (new to me). It's David McCullough's "The Great Bridge". It's the story of the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, which I thought was somewhat topical, given recent events. I'm still not through with Churchill's memoirs, but I'll double-fist it for awhile.

National Deviled Egg Day

Happy Friday, y'all.

Did you know it is National Deviled Egg Day? Yep, there's actually a day for the best way to eat eggs.

In other news, this is the last weekend before Armageddon the Presidential Election. Enjoy this weekend with your friends from the other side of the aisle. Next weekend is reserved for gloating. I'll be using this bye-week to go break some clay discs into small pieces. I haven't done a sporting clays review in awhile, so I'll try to get some good pictures and do a review of somewhere I haven't done yet.

This weekend is brought to you by a young Queen Elizabeth.

HRH Princess Elizabeth in the Auxiliary Territorial Service, April 1945

The Olympic Opening Ceremonies

I thought they were pretty "meh". Kenneth Branagh's Shakespeare opening was kind of cool, but it went off the rails into a weird acid trip involving a giant Voldemort, a skit about texting, and then it ended with an old Paul McCartney who was actually a sad, old version of himself.

Speaking of sad, old people: I wasn't the only person who was unimpressed with the opening ceremonies. HRH Queen Elizabeth looked downright grumpy all night. I would have thought that she would have enjoyed being the host to the world, just like her father was in 1948. Coming after her big jubilee, I would have expected her to have been happy to let London shine. However, this was her face the entire night:

Just try to relax and enjoy your evening, ma'am. It's a party.