MOVIE CRITIQUE: "ALABAMA MOON"

Greetings and Salutations to All my Kith and Kin and All the Ships in Outer Space: I just now watched the movie, "ALABAMA MOON", made in 2009, at the NET FLIX web site. This is a great movie for families with children, for it's clean and has a good story, with both tears and laughter. There are no scenes of nudity, profanity, obscenity, or sex. The only thing wrong with the movie is that it has a couple of scenes where people who should know better walk away and leave their campfires still burning. So, that would be a really good teaching moment for Mama and Daddy, who should both ALWAYS watch movies together WITH their children, and never let children watch contemporary Hollywood motion picture productions by themselves. Another teaching moment will be when the sworn constable, who should know better, improperly handles confiscated firearms in an unsafe manner. Also, if you think about it, a boy who's surviving in the wilderness, and who has experience with firearms, is NOT very likely to throw away a perfectly good firearm which he may need for his own survival! The movie doesn't explain where the boys got the unseen knife that would have been necessary for gutting and skinning the small game they successfully trapped. Maybe they found it on the bus? I'm giving this movie my highest recommendation. I really, REALLY enjoyed watching it! So, send out for some pizza, pop some corn, gather 'round your young'uns, snuggle up on the big comfy couch, dim the lights, and "ROLL 'EM!" Pass the popcorn, please. Thank you. 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."

MISSISSIPPI RIVERBOAT

Be sure to watch the nine (09) videos of this automated playlist, and also, the slide show, in "FULL SCREEN" mode.



On Saturday 30 July 2011, a group from the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, Mississippi went to New Orleans, Louisiana and cruised the Mississippi River aboard the "CREOLE QUEEN" riverboat, with a brief stop at the Chalmette Battlefield.



The first five (05) photographs in this slide show were taken by me.

All the rest were taken by Bobby Donn Thomas, the guy who lives in the room directly across the hall from me.

"JOHNNY OPTIMISM", BY STILTON JARLSBERG, M.D.

For a larger, easier to read version,
please click on the comic strip.

One of my favorite comic strips is "JOHNNY OPTIMISM", by Stilton Jarlsberg, M.D., which appears each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

In this latest creation, we see a new character introduced.

NO "SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHT" ! ! !

************************************** ************************************** Greetings and Salutations to All my Kith and Kin and All the Ships in Outer Space: I just now returned from our mess hall, where I breakfasted on the terrace. Now, just THINK about that statement! I "breakfasted on the terrace." Doesn't that come across as sounding soooo Hollywood and ritzy? Heh! Heh! Heh! As I sat there relishing my ham and cheese omelet, with pan fried potatoes covered with creamed beef, I observed four (04) United States Air Force C-17 "Globemaster III" jet cargo aircraft, in formation, climbing into the sky, heading towards the Southeast over the Gulf of Mexico. What was particularly noteworthy about it was that the formation of military aircraft was coming from the civilian airport here in Gulfport, Mississippi, and not from the nearby Keesler Air Force Base. Maybe it was an invasion force of United States Army paratroopers being dropped into the very heart of Mexico? Gosh, gee whillikers, I sure hope so! We'll pillage and loot their country and stop their invasion of the United States of America. Uh oh! Those planes were headed Southeast, which is away from Mexico. So, who are we fixing to attack? Today being Friday, the official United States Navy signal flags for, "T.G.I.F.", are being displayed on one arm of the ship's mast flagpole in front of the Armed Forces Retirement Home. The other arm of the ship's mast flagpole displays the P.O.W./M.I.A. flag, while the main mast has our national colors at half-mast, in recognition of the passing of General John M. Shalishkavili, United States Army (Retired), and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. At a meeting yesterday afternoon, a fellow member of the National Rifle Association, while commenting on something, mentioned his "Second Amendment rights". Folks, we do NOT have, and never have had, any so-called  "Second Amendment right"!!! Our individual rights as citizens are unalienable rights, which we inherited from our Almighty God the moment we were born into this mortality. Our divinely inspired Constitution of the United States of America, and therefore, also Amendment II, exists ONLY to restrain our government from infringing on the unwritten individual rights of citizens. Currently, residents of the Armed Forces Retirement Home are not permitted to have any sort of weapon in their possession, including firearms, pepper spray, stun guns, and folding knives. Yes, every single one of these residents is a military retiree or disabled veteran, with no felony convictions, and many of them, after their military service, became peace officers. A fellow resident of the Armed Forces Retirement Home privately asked me what he should do about his pistol, which he has for personal protection. My advice to him was to never mention the weapon, never display the weapon, and to NEVER trust a fellow resident here at the Armed Forces Retirement Home, because some of those residents will betray their fellow resident. I also pointed out to him that the laws of Mississippi regard his personal vehicle as being the same as his personal residence, and therefore, whenever he departs the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home, he can legally carry firearms in his personal vehicle, loaded or unloaded, openly or concealed. It's odd, but Mississippi does NOT allow anyone to openly wear a holstered pistol or revolver. Judges in Mississippi have deemed a holstered firearm as a "partially concealed" weapon! Can you BELIEVE that nonsense? Law abiding Mississippi citizens are required to obtain a concealed weapons license and carry their firearm concealed from public view. After residing here for one (01) year, a resident of Mississippi may apply for their concealed weapons license, and those who are over the age of sixty-five (65) years old pay a reduced fee. Of course, when a law abiding citizen applies for, and/or obtains a concealed weapons license, that creates a potential problem, for the police and/or military forces then know where to go if they ever decide to attempt to disarm the populace, such as was illegally done in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Thank you. John Robert Mallernee Official Bard of Clan Henderson Armed Forces Retirement Home Gulfport, Mississippi  39507 NOTE: "My unpopular and controversial personal opinions do not represent my Scottish clan." ************************************** **************************************

THE FAMILY - - - A PROCLAMATION

Greetings and Salutations to All my Kith and Kin and All the Ships in Outer Space: Have you ever asked yourself these questions, "Who am I?" "Where did I come from?" "Why am I here?" "Where am I going?" How much do you know about the "Mormon" church? Would you like to know more? Then, just ask your "Mormon" friend, relative, or neighbor! ****************** In response to a question I just received regarding homosexuality, I'm posting this OFFICIAL pronouncement, which was formally issued by The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints (i.e., the "Mormon" church) on Saturday 23 September 1995: _________________________ _________________________ THE FAMILY A PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD THE FIRST PRESIDENCY AND COUNCIL OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS WE, THE FIRST PRESIDENCY and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children. ALL HUMAN BEINGS — male and female — are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose. IN THE PREMORTAL REALM, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally. THE FIRST COMMANDMENT that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife. WE DECLARE the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God's eternal plan. HUSBAND AND WIFE have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives — mothers and fathers — will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations. _________________________ _________________________ Jesus Christ counsels us to, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Matthew 7:7) In other words, you won't obtain worthwhile blessings of eternal joy unless you make an honest effort to learn for yourself if these things are true or false. As for myself, I am a convert in The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints, having joined in Portland, Oregon when I was twenty-one years old. Thus, based on my own personal experience, I urge everyone to read, study, and compare what is written in the HOLY BIBLE and the BOOK OF MORMON. Experiment by applying the teachings in your daily life. Finally, kneel down in prayer and ask God if these things are true. Our Father in Heaven will answer your prayer. Thank you. 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."

"LOVEFIELD"

I just now learned of this excellent ultra-short independent film production from Brock Townsend at the FREE NORTH CAROLINA web site, who says he was alerted to it by his cousin.

The video was created and posted at the YOU TUBE web site by Mathieu Ratthe, of MATT RATT PRODUCTIONS, on Friday 25 April 2008.

STAN BRONSON AND THE TENDER APPLES

******************************* ******************************* Greetings and Salutations to All my Kith and Kin and All the Ships in Outer Space: Many long years ago, when I was a soldier in the United States Army, stationed in the Republic of Korea, I learned of another American G.I., who was also a fellow member of The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints. His name was Stan Bronson, from Blanding, Utah. During his off duty time, he used his highly developed natural talent in music to teach a group of children in the Song Jook Won Orphanage to sing, and organized them into a chorus, "The Tender Apples", making records and giving public performances. On the night of their public performance at the Service Club in Yong San Army Garrison, I was on duty, and therefore, unable to attend. However, I was able to purchase his album, "STAN BRONSON AND THE TENDER APPLES". It was while listening to that album that I learned to play and sing two of the songs, "THERE'S A STAR SPANGLED BANNER WAVING SOMEWHERE" (which I have not yet recorded), and the "UTE INDIAN LULLABY", which I did record and post on the Internet. For the best effect, please be sure and watch, in "FULL SCREEN" mode, my homemade amateur video recording of ME (!) performing, "UTE INDIAN LULLABY". Anyway, I think you'll enjoy what is offered by Stan Bronson at his web site. Thank you. John Robert Mallernee Official Bard of Clan Henderson Armed Forces Retirement Home Gulfport, Mississippi  39507 NOTE: "My unpopular and controversial personal opinions do not represent my Scottish clan." ******************************* *******************************

THE END HAS COME _ _ _ !

Greetings and Salutations to All my Kith and Kin and All the Ships in Outer Space: My time on Earth is up. The end has come. The room is growing darker and darker and darker - - - ? Oh, wait, that's just the clouds of another rainstorm outside! Phwew!!! Thank you.   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."

WARNING: BOGUS E-MAIL FROM MY ACCOUNT ! ! !

Greetings and Salutations to All my Kith and Kin and All the Ships in Outer Space: It is with deep embarrassment that I've just learned that my e-mail account has apparently been hacked, and is being used to distribute bogus communications which contain highly suspicious Internet links. I apologize for this. Please do not click on any links that are sent without an explanation, and ignore any messages that are rife with obvious mispellings and poor grammar. As you know from my previous e-mails, when I compose a legitimate message, I'm rather wordy, and it's like I've written a book, and I'm also very meticulous about my spelling and grammar. So, when you get an actual e-mail from ME, you'll always know it. Also, e-mails from me will always include my signature block, so if that signature block is missing, then you know the e-mail is NOT from me. Again, please be cautious with your e-mails, especially now that we know that somebody is illegally accessing my identity. I do not open forwarded e-mails, and I do not click on attachments. If you wish to stay current with what I'm doing, then please check here at my personal web site or my video channel. You have my most profound apologies for this unwarranted intrusion and inconvenience. At the same time, I'm very grateful to all those of you who have sent me messages alerting me to this problem. Thank you. 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."

BOWLING ALLEY DISASTER ! ! !

Greetings and Salutations to All my Kith and Kin and All the Ships in Outer Space: I just now returned from our bowling alley located on the main floor of our Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, Mississippi, where it's currently cloudy, with occasional showers. What a disaster! It was the very first time I've been bowling since I came here last October. Our bowling alley is automatic, so no attendent is on duty or necessary, allowing us to bowl whenever we want to, at any hour of the day or night. All facilities here at the Home are like that, requiring only the electronic card key that opens the door to our rooms to be used to also open any of the other doors, such as the bowling alley, the library, the firearms and munitions locker, and the clinic's narcotics cabinet. When I used to live at the Old Soldiers' Home in Washington, D.C., I bought myself a brand new pair of bowling shoes, plus a bowling thumb protector, which I wore only once when using their bowling alley. Anyway, this morning, I felt reasonably fit, so I figured I'd try out the bowling alley here. After all, I need to get some use out of those brand new bowling shoes and that bowling thumb protector! Well, I began bowling, and - - - Boy, did it strain the muscles in my back! I wasn't expecting all that sudden pain! Fortunately, there was a sort of fence or bannister right next to my lane, so I could grab it. At one point, my feet did slip out from under me, but the fall didn't do any damage. What really bothered me was I kept fouling, over and over and over again. I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong. My total score for the one game was - - - EIGHTEEN!!! Can you believe it? As I was leaving, a gal and a boy came in, who were apparently visiting someone here. Since they required assistance, I monkeyed with the electronic gizmos to figure out how to start their game. None of the available bowling shoes fit them, so they had to play in street shoes. Once they got started, I returned to my room. Maybe I'll try bowling again, but not by myself. I still don't know what I was doing to continually foul, and I'm a little leery of hurting my back even more than it already is. It's rather discouraging to suddenly realize I can no longer do the manly stuff I used to do, such as backpacking, hiking, camping, mountain climbing, tae kwon do, combat assaults, et cetera. What will I do when our civil war begins (which it's about to do)? When the fighting starts, I want to do my part to help restore our lost republic, but - - - ? Hey, I just now thought of something - - - , I enjoy watching all those freight trains pass by here, and since boxcar doors have seals placed on them when they're shut, could we refer to them as - - - , "trained seals"? Here's something else I just remembered - - - , Today is Friday! Do you know what THAT means? Our ship's mast flagpole out in front of the Home is displaying the United States Navy signal flags indicating, "T.G.I.F."!!! I really get a kick out seeing that! Thank you. 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."

PARADES AND CELEBRATIONS

Greetings and Salutations to All my Kith and Kin and All the Ships in Outer Space: This weekend is Pioneer Day, a major holiday for members of The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints, for it celebrates the anniversary of when the Mormon pioneers first arrived in the valley of the Great Salt Lake. In previous years, I could use my computer to watch a live television broadcast of the big parade in Salt Lake City. But, all of those Utah television stations stopped streaming that broadcast over the Internet, so now, so far as I'm aware, we can no longer watch the parade (unless you're actually IN Utah). As I think of this, I'm reminded of the times when I marched in the parade, or rode on the float. When I lived in Saint Anthony, Idaho, each year, I was invited to participate in the local Pioneer Day parade. One year, they had me dress up as a combat soldier and walk behind the float with other members of my ward, all of us holding to the "iron rod". Another time, I rode on the float, playing my guitar and singing cowboy songs. In another Pioneer Day parade, I walked along in the middle of the street, and singing, as I strummed my guitar, advertising an event at the "ROXY" Theatre, where I lived in the apartment above the lobby, acted in community theatre plays, and performed at various community events, including gatherings of the Cowboy Poets of Idaho. The "ROXY" Theatre Saint Anthony, Idaho Cowboy Poets of Idaho One time, I was visiting a mountain man rendezvous in Idaho, and one of the fellows invited me to participate in their bonfire that night, where there'd be music and tall tales. So, even though I wasn't a mountain man, I marched to the bonfire along with the rest of them. Nifty, huh? By the way, if you've never been to a mountain man rendezvous, you've just absolutely GOT to go to one!!! Did you know that the American Indians on the reservations today, having forgotten much of their heritage, turn to the mountain men for instruction in the old ways? When I lived in Salt Lake City, Utah and when I lived in Saint Anthony, Idaho, I always put my medals on my Sunday-go-to-meetin' suit, and marched in the Veterans Day parade, after which we'd all go to the VFW for free bowls of hot chili. I did that every single year, religiously, without fail. One year, on Veterans Day, I rode on a float in Provo, Utah, playing my guitar and singing, or at least, that was what was planned. Because of all the noise, no one could hear me singing, and it was too cold for the guitar to stay in tune. I don't remember if I ever participated in a Saint Patrick's Day parade, although Mama taught me to always observe and celebrate that holiday, and I've always done so, wearing green (even on duty in my police uniform!), singing Irish songs, watching Irish movies, eating corned beef, and drinking O'Doul's alcohol-free beer. But, when I lived at the Soldiers' Home in Washington, D.C., after learning of my Highlander ancestry, I always marched with my clan in the annual Scottish Christmas Walk, which is probably the largest gathering of Scots and Irish, along with other Celtic heritage groups. You should SEE that parade! Clan Henderson Scottish Christmas Walk Boy, is it impressively HUMONGOUS!!! Not only do the clans march, but Scots and Irish love showing off their pets, so there's plenty of puppy dogs in that parade, plus historic reenactors from all over, and for the grand finale, Santa Claus rides in on a fire truck! Later that night, my clan would have its ceilidh, which I always went to, and participated in. In addition, I'd attend local Celtic festivals and Highland clan gatherings, where I'd march in the grand entrance, wearing my kilt, and carrying my sword. Potomac Celtic Festival One of the most memorable parades I ever participated in was the anniversary of the Viet Nam Memorial in Washington, D.C. On that day, I marched down Constitution Avenue with Viet Nam veterans of the First Signal Brigade and the Phu Lam Signal Battalion, and wore my KILT, with all of my medals properly arranged on my Argyll jacket. Howard Hickman and John Robert Mallernee Just think of it - - - marching down CONSTITUTION AVENUE!!! First Signal Brigade Veterans Man, that is HISTORY! And that reminds me of ANOTHER parade of Viet Nam veterans that I took part in! I don't remember the year, but several of us veterans in Salt Lake City went to Los Angeles, California for a huge reunion of Viet Nam veterans, and there, I marched with the veterans of the 101st Airborne Division, the unit I served in after I left the Phu Lam Signal Battalion in Saigon. Another unit I served in was the 178th Maintenance Company at Dong Ha, but I've never seen anyone from that unit in a parade or at a veteran's event. Being new here to the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, I don't know anything about any parades in this area. Last year, I went to the annual Highlands and Islands Scottish Games and Celtic Music Festival at the Harrison County Fairgrounds here in Gulfport, Mississippi. But, alas, I was in very bad shape, and never could make it to either the ceilidh or the parade of veterans. I love the ceilidhs as much as I love the parades. Ah, but who doesn't love going to a ceilidh? "Ceilidh" is a Gaelic word, pronounced as "Kay-Lee", and its literal translation is "social". It's the same in Ireland as it is in Scotland, but the Irish spell it slightly differently. It's where we all get together for food, music, stories, games, and dancing. Now, I get tired so easily and I have a lot of pain, which varies in intensity, occasionally making walking difficult. If there's a Veterans Day parade, or a Saint Patrick's Day parade, I wonder if I'm physically able to march in it? I have difficulty just walking around here, but that's largely due to sciatica, which used to not bother me, and hopefully, maybe it'll disappear again. But, so far, it seems to be hanging on - - - this time. Well, since I rarely leave my room, I don't know very much of what goes on around here. I'm quite certain I could never wear my suit coat with all my medals on it, because in this area, it's just too hot. As a practical alternative, when I attended a military funeral, I wore my medals on my khaki shirt, something I learned from watching a John Wayne movie, which took place on a tropical island. Well, maybe I'll get better. Anyway, those are some of my fond memories of auld lang syne. Thank you. 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." This video playlist is a collection of songs I used to perform at the "ROXY" Theatre in Saint Anthony, Idaho, the first ten (10) of which I composed.