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Tuesday, November 30, 2010

TOXIC SEAFOOD WARNING



Here at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, Mississippi, our mess hall serves us seafood or fish every day.

I doubt anyone has ever questioned the origin of the fish or seafood.

AIRPORT SECURITY?

Read this Department of Homeland Security document, Future Attribute Screening Technology (F.A.S.T.), and see for yourself what we've become.





Folks, I'm old enough to remember back when we citizens of the United States of America were still a free people.

It's a sad thing to see the degeneration and dissolution of generations of patriot's dreams.

Even sadder, it appears that our contemporary young folks are so thoroughly indoctrinated by mass media and the public school system that they are completely oblivious to what's happening to them, and unaware of what's been lost, forfeited, or perverted.

"DESPOTISM MADE EASY" BY BRAD LENA

Saturday, November 27, 2010

MOVIE CRITIQUE: "A MURDER OF CROWS"

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I just finished watching a movie, A MURDER OF CROWS, starring Cuba Gooding, Junior, Eric Stoltz, and Tom Berenger.

 

It was on a DVD mailed to me from the NET FLIX web site.

It's a really good movie, the kind of edge of your seat action and suspense I always love to watch.

However, I do object to scenes of White women copulating with Black guys.

I'm from the "old school", and no matter how much Hollywood tries forcing that "politically correct" propaganda down our throats, I refuse to find that acceptable.

Actually, when you get right down to it, none of the scenes of sex, nudity, and profanity were necessary for telling the story in this movie.

Are you old enough to remember when Hollywood made great action and suspense movies WITHOUT any sex, nudity, or profanity?

Those are movies made prior to Nineteen Sixty.

Anyway, my real purpose for creating this post was to relay a joke told during the movie.

One day, when Adam was particularly frustrated with Eve, he asked God, "Why did you make Eve so beautiful?"

God replied, "So you would love her."

Adam then inquired, "Why did you make her so stupid?"

God answered, "So she would love you!"

That reminded me of when I was a soldier in the United States Army stationed at Fort Hood, Texas many years ago.

Bonnie and I had just gotten married, and later on, after meeting Bonnie, my fellow soldiers all agreed that I was smart for marrying her, and she was dumb for marrying me!

I thought that was hilarious, but it made Bonnie mad.

No, I won't recommend this movie, A MURDER OF CROWS, for family viewing. 

In fact, despite the constant action, suspense, and thrills throughout the script, I won't recommend this movie to anyone, due to objectionable and totally unnecessary scenes of miscegenation, sex, nudity, and profanity.

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Friday, November 26, 2010

A COUPLE OF JOKES

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I just got a telephone call from my biological brother, who lives in Sapulpa, Oklahoma.

He and I were adopted as babies, and raised by different families, with different identities, in different locations, never knowing of each other's existence until we were grown men.

On the telephone, he told me a couple of jokes, which I'll now relay to you!

FIRST:

Some old paper currency was sent back to Washington, D.C. to be destroyed.

As they were travelling down the conveyor belt to the furnace, a one dollar bill struck up a conversation with a twenty dollar bill.

Said the one dollar bill, "I'll bet you've seen a lot of interesting things in your life, huh?"

Replied the twenty dollar bill, "Yes, I've been to casinos in Las Vegas four times, on Carribean cruises three times, and to more hotels, saloons, and parties than I can remember."

Asked the twenty dollar bill, "How about you? Have you seen any interesting places?"

The one dollar bill replied, "Oh, I've been in a Methodist church, a Baptist church, and a Presbyterian church."

The twenty dollar bill asked, "What's a church?"

NEXT:

A little old lady came to church one Sunday, and was met at the door by a friendly usher.

"Where would you like to sit, Ma'am?", inquired the usher.

"I want to sit in the front row pew, right in the middle." replied the lady.

The usher said, "Oh no, Ma'am, you don't want to sit there.  Our preacher is very boring, and he'll make you fall asleep during his sermon."

"Young man," the lady responded, "do you know who I am?"

"No, Ma'am." spoke the usher.

She replied, "I'm the mother of that preacher."

To which the usher asked, "Do you know who I am?"

"No," the lady answered.

"Good!", said the usher.

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MOVIES FOR SCOTS (AND THOSE WHO WISH THEY WERE)

The following is an article I have submitted for publication in the next issue of AN CANACH, the quarterly newsletter of Clan Henderson.

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MOVIES FOR SCOTS
(AND THOSE WHO WISH THEY WERE)

By: John Robert Mallernee, Clan Bard

To save money, I've cancelled my cable television and begun watching movies and television shows exclusively on the Internet.

Many web sites offer free viewing of these shows, although commercial advertisements are usually included.

One of the better known of these is the HULU web site.

Their URL is:
http://www.hulu.com/

Other web sites offer commercial free full length movies, but you have to purchase a subscription to their service.

Probably the best known of these movie web sites is NET FLIX, which I subscribe to, and I thoroughly love it!

Their web site URL is:
http://www.netflix.com/

Many of their movies are available only on DVD, which they mail directly to you, along with a return envelope.

However, many other NET FLIX movies can be viewed at their web site.

Thus, you get the best of both worlds, and it's a whole lot cheaper and a whole lot less frustrating than fooling around with cable television!

Unfortunately, nowadays all businesses are forced by our government to be "politically correct", so some movies such as, SONG OF THE SOUTH, will be listed, but not available.

But, SONG OF THE SOUTH, can still be seen, commercial free and at no charge, at a privately owned web site, but the picture quality is poor.

The URL for that web site is:
http://bobbystales.com/

Ironically though, in spite of "political correctness", the NET FLIX web site DOES include the 1915 silent movie, THE BIRTH OF A NATION.

But, this article is being written for Scottish folks about Scottish movies.

So, let's get down to business, shall we?

TO END ALL WARS is one of the best war movies I've ever seen.

It's about a Scottish regiment captured by the Japanese during the Second World War, and forced into slave labor on the Burma railroad.

Does that sound familiar, kind of like THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI?

Well, THIS movie has a special treat for all you loyal Scots.

As they're rolling the credits at the end of the movie, you see the actual Scottish survivors marching on parade!

Nifty, huh?

ALL MINE TO GIVE is a tear jerker Christmas movie about a pioneering Scottish couple who immigrate to America and raise a family on the frontier.

Unfortunately, you can no longer find this movie anywhere.

If you do stumble across it, do whatever you have to to grab it and preserve it for posterity.

THE HASTY HEART, starring Ronald Reagan, is a movie about wounded soldiers in the South Pacific at the end of the Second World War waiting to be returned home.

I ain't going to tell you anything else about it.

TUNES OF GLORY is a genuine Scottish movie about a Scottish military regiment at their home base in Scotland following the Second World War, and it has lots of bagpiping.

Also, for us finicky purists, by closely observing how Scottish military officers don their uniforms, we can learn how we should properly wear our own Highland regalia.

KIDNAPPED, a ficticious novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, is actually based on true historical events.

Yes, although we never hear about it, even for many years after England outlawed the practice, Scottish orphans still were kidnapped off of the streets and sold into slavery on the Carolina plantations, where many slaveowners were Black.

One of these incidents is recorded in my own family's history, THE TRUEBLOOD FAMILY IN AMERICA 1682 - 1963, which unfortunately, is no longer available in print.

BRAVEHEART is a movie I need say nothing about, since it is the undoubtedly the best known of all movies about Scotland.

The only problem with the Hollywood production is, while it's a great show, hardly any of it is true.

I guess the producers, one of whom is a direct descendent of William Wallace, must have thought the truth wouldn't be as interesting as a whole bunch of exaggerations fueled by creative license.

ROB ROY is another contemporary Scottish movie that I probably don't need to comment on, since we've all enjoyed watching it.

The theme song on the movie's soundtrack is sung in Gaelic by Karen Matheson, the lead singer for the Scottish band, Capercaillie.

MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS is a movie I may have seen, but I can't remember.

It debuted in 1971, when I was in Viet Nam, so I just can't remember anything about it, except I think my mother liked it.

MY LIFE SO FAR is a true story of a boy growing up in Scotland prior to the Second World War.

I ain't going to tell you anything about it, except that it is a true biography of a real person, who currently(?) is an executive with the British Broadcasting Corporation.

SEACHD, THE INACCESSIBLE PINNACLE is a (the first?) Gaelic language feature movie about a boy in Scotland seeking to discover his heritage from his grandfather, and to attempt a solo conquest of a very dangerous mountain.

I think this movie, which is not available on DVD, can only be seen at theatres in Scotland.

There, you have a list of Scottish movies that I know about.

Do you know of some other Scottish movies?

I'm sure there must be a bunch of them.

Thirty

Thursday, November 25, 2010

WAR!!!

Greetings and Salutations to All my Kith and Kin and All the Ships in Outer Space:

Sometime around mid day or in the early afternoon hours of Thursday 25 November 2010, the American people attacked and obliterated Turkey and Grease, along with all of the dressing, leaving folks stark naked.

Also, a farmer's goat was observed strapped to the hood of a luxury automobile, i.e., there was butter on the Rolls.

To further complicate matters, Americans somehow managed to totally annihilate the mathematical formula for determining the circumferance of a circle, by erasing pie.

It is to be hoped that Turkey and Grease can be restored by Christmas Day, although that may yet lead to another unprovoked attack by Americans.

Similarly, whenever a mathematician is discovered to be computing the circumferance of a circle, ravenous Americans will inevitably pounce with their knives and spatulas.

Oh, okay, so my amateur attempts at creative humor are corn!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, Y'ALL!!!

John Robert Mallernee
Offical Bard of Clan Henderson
Armed Forces Retirement Home
Gulfport, Mississippi 39507

NOTE: "My unpopular and controversial personal opinions do not represent my Scottish clan."


For a larger view, please click on the picture.

Monday, November 22, 2010

"GREEN LEAVES OF SUMMER"

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For the best effect, please be sure and enjoy watching my homemade amateur video recording of ME (!) strumming my guitar and singing, "THE GREEN LEAVES OF SUMMER".



"THE GREEN LEAVES OF SUMMER"

Lyrics by: PAUL FRANCIS WEBSTER
Music by: DIMITRI TIOMKIN

A time to be reapin',
A time to be sowin'.
The green leaves of Summer
Are callin' me home.
'Twas so good to be young then
In a season of plenty,
When the catfish were jumpin'
As high as the sky.

A time just for plantin',
A time just for ploughin'.
A time to be courtin'
A girl of your own.
'Twas so good to be young then,
To be close to the earth,
And to stand by your wife
At the moment of birth.

A time to be reapin',
A time to be sowin'.
The green leaves of Summer
Are callin' me home.
'Twas so good to be young then,
With the sweet smell of apples
And the owl in the pine tree
A-winkin' his eye.

A time just for plantin',
A time just for ploughin'.
A time just for livin',
A place for to die.
'Twas so good to be young then,
To be close to the earth,
Now, the green leaves of Summer
Are callin' me home.

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Saturday, November 20, 2010

"PUFF, THE MAGIC DRAGON"

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Lyrics By: LEONARD LIPTON
Music by: PETER YARROW

VERSE # 01:
Puff, the magic dragon,
Lived by the sea
And frolicked in
The autumn mist
In a land called
Honah Lee.
Little Jackie Paper
Loved that rascal, Puff,
And brought him strings
And sealing wax
And other fancy stuff.

CHORUS:
Puff, the magic dragon,
Lived by the sea
And frolicked in
The autumn mist
In a land called
Honah Lee.
Puff, the magic dragon,
Lived by the sea
And frolicked in
The autumn mist
In a land called
Honah Lee.

VERSE # 02:
Together, they would travel
On a boat with billowed sail.
Jackie kept a lookout perched
On Puff's gigantic tail.
Noble kings and princes
Would bow whene'er they came.
Pirate ships would lower their flags
When Puff roared out his name.

VERSE # 03:
A dragon lives forever,
But not so little boys.
Painted wings and giant rings
Make way for other toys.
One gray night it happened.
Jackie Paper came no more,
And Puff, that mighty dragon,
Ceased his fearless roar.

VERSE # 04:
His head was bent in sorrow.
Green scales fell like rain,
Puff no longer went to play
Along the cherry lane.
Without his life-long friend,
Puff could not be brave.
So Puff, that mighty dragon,
Sadly slipped into his cave.

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CALIFORNIA ORANGE JUICE HEADED TO FLORIDA?

Be sure to watch this video in "FULL SCREEN" mode.



Two (02) CSX Railroad locomotives pull refrigerated orange juice cars with a container stack freight train Eastbound on the old Louisville and Nashville Railroad track in Gulfport, Mississippi at approximately 0950 Hours on Saturday 20 November 2010.

Recorded from the balcony of my quarters on the third floor of the Armed Forces Retirement Home, using a Kodak Easy Share Z710 digital camera, with 7.1 megapixels resolution.

"SPEAKING OF SCOTLAND"

The following is the article I submitted for publication in the next issue of "AN CANACH", the quarterly newsletter of Clan Henderson.

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SPEAKING OF SCOTLAND

By: John Robert Mallernee, Clan Bard

Dateline: Gulfport, Mississippi

This article was suggested as a response to questions about the languages of Scotland.

Scotland actually has three spoken languages, Gaelic, Scottish, and Profanity.

Gaelic is spoken by people residing in the Highlands and islands, who are only a small minority of Scotland's population.

It is with considerable difficulty that the language is currently being revived.

A high school teacher told me that the students in her Gaelic class refused to speak anything but English, because they thought speaking Gaelic wasn't "cool".

That problem may be due to the loss of native Scots, who leave Scotland in search of employment, while simultaneously, land in Scotland is purchased by wealthy retired Englishmen, who then impose English culture on their Scottish environment.

There is some hope of Gaelic revival though, as evidenced by a contemporary feature motion picture production, "SEACHD: THE INACCESSIBLE PINNACLE", which is a Gaelic movie.

You can find information about this movie on the Internet at this web site:

http://www.seachd.com/

Also, there are "Mods", which are Gaelic speaking festivals that are held in Scotland, the United States, and Canada.

Many of us enjoy listening to songs being sung in the Gaelic language, and there's an abundance of material to choose from.

My personal favorite is Karen Matheson, the lead singer for the Scottish band, Capercaillie.

There's plenty of videos with her singing at the YOU TUBE web site.

Scottish, also called Lallans, is the language spoken by the majority of Scotland, and it is the official language of the Scottish Court.

It is the language of Scotland's revered bard, Robert Burns.

At the web site of Robert Burns, you'll find English translations of Scottish words.

That web site is at:

http://www.robertburns.org/

Have you ever been to a Kirkin' o' the Tartan?

"Kirk" is the Scottish word for "Church".

A "Kirkin' o' the Tartan" is a church service where the clans are blessed.

It's a ritual that actually originated in the United States, begun by Peter Marshall, Chaplain to the United States Senate.

Before I begin responding to questions regarding specific Gaelic or Scottish terms, I want to recommend another web site, The Blood Is Strong, a truly enlightening forum for discussing all things Scottish, which you'll find at:

http://www.thebloodisstrong.com/

Now, I'll try and address the specific words I've been asked about.

AN CANACH: Pronounced, "Ahn Khan-nock", it literally means, "The Cotton", and our clan's newsletter has this name because of the cottonseed grass, which grows wild in the area around our ancestral homelands in Glencoe, Scotland.

Originally, clans were NOT distinguished by the tartan, but by the plant they wore attached to their cap.

Thus, the manly men of Clan Henderson, which in the Highlands would have been called, Clann Mac Eanruig, wore a small sprig of cottonseed grass on their bonnet.

SGIAN DUBH: Pronounced, "Skeen Doo", it means, "Black Knife", because it normally is carried concealed, and it is a weapon of last resort.

But, when visiting a fellow clansman, courtesy required that swords, dirks, targes, and firearms be left outside.

Still, when sleeping at night, every man needed to be armed with SOMETHING, because the doors didn't have locks.

Thus, the small concealed knife, being a weapon of last resort, was then placed in the top of one's hose or boot, thus being in plain view for all to see.

FORDELL (or FORDEL): It means something?

I always thought it was somebody's name.

No, I don't have an answer for this one.

But, if you look it up on the Internet, you'll find Fordell Castle has an interesting history, including visits by Mary, Queen of Scots.

CEILIDH: Pronounced, "Kay-Lee", it means, "Social", and it's generally a hearty party, with music, dancing, joking, food, drink, fist fights, and broken windows.

(No, I'm joking, of course!)

But, seriously (can anyone REALLY be serious about a ceilidh?), it's a great opportunity for everybody to show off their amateur talents, and just plain have fun!

CEUD MILE FAILTE: Pronounced, "Kooud-Meal-lah-Fahl-cha", it means, "One Hundred Thousand Welcomes!" in the Gaelic language, and it's the same in both Scotland and Ireland.

FAILTE: Pronounced, "Fahl-cha", it means, "Welcome!", or "Greeting!"

SLAINTE: Pronounced, "Slawn-jah", it means, "Health", and is universally a favorite Gaelic toast in both Scotland and Ireland.

It is also used to bid farewell.

KILT: A Gaelic word meaning, "to tuck", which is derived from the Old Norse word, "Kjalta", due to Norse settlers who wore a similar garment, but without the tartan pattern.

BREACAN AN FHEILIDH: Pronounced, "Brick-ahn-Ahn-Fail-Ee", it means, "Belted Plaid".

FEILEADH MOR: Pronounced, "Fail-Ee-Moor", it means "Great Plaid".

FEILEADH BEAG: Pronounced, "Fill-Ah-Beck", it is the "small kilt", also known as a "walking kilt", which most of us wear today.

GHILLIE: Pronounced, "Gill-lee", it means "Lad" or "Servant".

The original ghillies were attendants for the chief of the clan, and later, the word referred to game wardens in hunting or fishing preserves.

Yes, "Ghillies" are a lace up Oxford style shoe, with holes to allow drainage when wading across streams.

Today, a Ghillie suit is a large leafy style camouflage cover worn by military sniper teams.

DERBHFINE: Pronounced, "Dur-vinn"(?), it is a special meeting of clan chieftains and leaders gathered to select a clan commander or a clan chief.

A search of the Internet reveals that the Lord Lyon has outlined specific guidelines for such meetings.

Many Gaelic words are now part of the English language, and you may be speaking Gaelic without even realizing it.

For instance, how often do you greet someone with, "Hello"?

That is from the Gaelic greeting, "Hallo".

Do you ever "glom" onto something?

That's the Gaelic word for "take" or "steal".

I found a whole list of Gaelic words being used in contemporary English language in an old issue of "READER'S DIGEST" magazine, but unfortunately, when I recently moved from Washington, D.C. to Gulfport, Mississippi, I lost that list.

So, now you have my expert opinion, even though I've never been to Scotland, and grew up with no knowledge of Scottish heritage.

But, if I don't know the answer to something, I'm happy to make up a lie or two!!!

Thirty.







NO COMBAT CASUALTIES TODAY ! ! !


Hooray!!!

I subscribe to the daily RSS news feed from the Department of Defense, and today's listing for Friday 19 November 2010 does NOT include any combat casualties!

It seems as though every day, I see more and more reports from the Pentagon of our military personnel having been killed in action.

Thus, it's a relief to finally see a report without any combat casualties, even if it's for just one day.

Friday, November 19, 2010

THREE (03) CSX FREIGHT TRAINS ! ! !

When watching this video playlist, be sure and select the "FULL SCREEN" mode.



These are videos of three (03) mixed manifest freight trains being pulled by CSX Railroad locomotives on the old Louisville and Nashville Railroad track in Gulfport, Mississippi, the first one, Eastbound at 1400 Hours, the second, Westbound at 1430 Hours, and the third, Westbound at 1445 Hours on Friday 19 November 2010.

I recorded these from the balcony of my quarters on the third floor of the Armed Forces Retirement Home, using my Kodak Easy Share Z710 digital camera, with 7.1 megapixels resolution.

A SURPRISE GIFT ! ! !

This morning, I woke up to find a surprise gift outside the entrance to my quarters here at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, Mississippi!

Here is a slide show consisting of seven (07) photographs of that surprise gift:



Thank you!!!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

EASTBOUND CSX FREIGHT

Be sure and watch this video in "FULL SCREEN" mode.



This is a container stack freight train being pulled by two (02) CSX locomotives, which is heading East on the old Louisville and Nashville Railroad track, possibly travelling from New Orleans, Louisiana to Mobile, Alabama.

I recorded this from the balcony of my third floor apartment at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, Mississippi on the morning of Wednesday 17 November 2010, using a Kodak Easy Share Z710 digital camera with a resolution of 7.1 megapixels.

STAFF SERGEANT SALVATORE AUGUSTINE GIUNTA, UNITED STATES ARMY

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For a larger view, please click on the poster.


For the best effect, please be sure and watch this official White House video of the presentation ceremony in "FULL SCREEN" mode.



At the official web site of Staff Sergeant Salvatore Augustine Giunta, you can read the official citation and his personal biography.

For the best effect, please be sure and watch this official United States Army video in "FULL SCREEN" mode.




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Tuesday, November 16, 2010

MOVIE CRITIQUE: "APRIL MORNING"

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Greetings and Salutations to All my Kith and Kin and All the Ships in Outer Space:

I just finished watching one of my favorite movies, "APRIL MORNING", starring Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Urich, on the NETFLIX web site.


I wish everybody could see this movie, which depicts the events of 19 April 1775 on the village green at Lexington, Massachusetts, when "the shot heard 'round the World" was fired, thus, formally beginning the War for Independence.



It will make them think.

By rights, the Nineteenth of April should be solemnly observed, yet joyously celebrated, as a national holiday.

Notice how prayerful and piously religious, yet unashamedly practical, the characters in this movie are.

Our contemporary American society sure has changed, hasn't it?

After all, we need to be realistic and face what is coming.

Here, in our "Promised Land" of the United States of America, it is now inevitable that there WILL be a violent armed revolt against the federal government.

Already, too much has been lost, usurped, or acquiesently surrendered by the oppressed citizenry.

American citizens will be forced to kill American soldiers.

American citizens will be forced to kill police officers.

American citizens will be forced to kill their neighbors, associates, fellow employees, fellow church members, and even their own kinfolk.

So, please, watch this movie, and think about it.

Our ancestors did not want to have to kill their fellow Englishmen.

But, that's what happened.

If they hadn't done it, the Declaration of Independence could never have been written, and the United States of America would never exist.

And now, due to the despotic tyranny so obviously prevalent in Washington, D.C., contemporary American citizens are compelled to take up arms in a new rebellion to restore our lost republic, enforce our inalienable rights, and preserve our divinely inspired Constitution of the United States of America.

Some other truly excellent movies portraying the American Revolutionary War are "1776", "THE PATRIOT", and "JOHNNY TREMAIN".

If I were able to do so, I'd embed all four (04) of those movies on this web site, so everybody could watch them at their leisure.

Parents, please watch these movies with your children, so you can answer their questions, and explain things to them.

I'm giving "APRIL MORNING" my highest recommendation, as it is a pure and wholesome movie, suitable for the entire family, with no foul language, nudity, or sex.

Just as I did, you too, can view the movie, "APRIL MORNING", at the NETFLIX web site.

Sooooooo - - - ,

Round up your young'uns and/or your pets, pop some corn, send out for some pizza, grill some hot dogs, pour some frosty mugs of ice cold root beer, snuggle up on the big comfy couch, dim the lights, and - - - ,

"ROLL 'EM ! ! !"

Pass the popcorn, please.

Thank you.

1800 Beach Drive, Unit 311 

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