Big Blue Huddle

Not sure how I never found the time to add mine after all these years.

Mods - may I ask your help and add me as a March baby, please? March 29 to be exact.

Thank you!

Quote from: MightyGiants on June 03, 2022, 05:17:10 PM
done

Thank you, Rich! Since we're identifying cities, can I trouble you again to add Surprise as my new home city, please?

Thanks again!

Quote from: LennG on May 31, 2022, 01:01:12 PM
Myself, I would have to say my all-time favorite sandwich is something you can only get at a Jewish Deli--Hot Pastrami on fresh rye bread with some great deli mustard. My own take on this is I add a nice scoop of sauerkraut on top of the pastrami. My mouth waters for this. AND there is a huge difference between the pastrami one gets at a Jewish deli compared to any other deli or supermarket.  Don't know why but there is.

Hi Lenn - one of my all-time favorites as well. Add a nice dill pickle to it and you have perfection.

I also like a good hot Reuben as well. I like my cold sandwiches as well. Paneri is a good go-to spot, so is Jersey Mike's, but get me into an old Italian deli where they have fresh Capicola ham and I'm happy as a camper.

My Polish heritage engrained in me a love for the sandwich from the old country - Zapiekanki. In a nutshell, it's an open-faced toasted sandwich that you can put just about anything you'd like. Try good old-fashioned kielbasa, sauerkraut, mustard or, if you're feeling for something lighter, try a cheese of your choice, green onion, cooked bacon bits, Polish mushroom and a seasoning/condiment of your choosing. Use a baguette for the bread or even French bread cut in half. Toast lightly and it makes for either a yummy snack, light lunch on the go or whatever your fancy is. I've actually integrated them as a staple of a diet I was on, about 20 years ago, and successfully dropped 65 pounds back in the day ... without the kielbasa and bacon, of course!

I also enjoy Panini, or pressed sandwiches, in the same manner as zapiekanki, with grilled chicken breast, fresh veggies and a small dab of olive oil and Italian herbs and spices. Great stuff!

Stopping now as I am getting hungry ...

Peace!

Hi Lenn.

I agree with you that the History Channel's "Theodore Roosevelt" was very well produced and I learned quite a few details about Roosevelt that further reinforce my vision of him as a "rock star" of the day.

All of the History Channel's documentaries on the presidents have been outstanding watches and we will get to see Franklin D. Roosevelt on their next mini-series. Again, looking very much forward to it.

Peace!

Hey Rich.

May I ask your help to update me from New Mexico to Arizona (Surprise), please?

Thank you very much!

Getting primed for this weekend's History Channel documentary "Theodore Roosevelt" starting May 30. Preview here:

https://play.history.com/shows/theodore-roosevelt/videos/preview-theodore-roosevelt

History Channel's documentaries on the presidents (e.g. Washington, Grant, Lincoln) have been both masterful and insightful to the presidential era as well as the human being in office. Can't wait!

Peace!

Quote from: Jolly Blue Giant on April 16, 2022, 03:31:20 PM


Either way, if there were astronauts aboard, they'd all die of the subsequent g-force...LOL (maybe that isn't funny - my bad)

From and engineering perspective, I wonder how well the electro-mechanical parts could hold up

I do. Unfortunately, due to protection of proprietary information, it is something I am not at liberty to discuss in terms of products we design, build/procure, integrate and test. However, one of my colleagues describes how we build reliability into our products in order to meet our customers' most demanding needs (see below). In terms of electronics, which is a focus area of mine, part of it is using durable components but the secrets are often in the actual design and, in particular, the requirements which define all form, fit and functional characteristics of the product, leveraging the Systems Engineering Industry Best Practices to ensure both complete and quality requirements which translate into products we deliver that meet customers' needs. One other area I'll point you to is the rigorous testing that is performed on the product which verifies we have met the customers' and products' requirements as well as drive defects out of the product (i.e. build in reliability).

Here is the article I was referring to as it pertains to Systems Engineering and a rigorous Automated Test Procedure which contains a multi-faceted Environmental Stress Screening battery of individual tests which wring out the weak areas in the product build. After multiple iterations of doing this, in the early phases of the Product Life Cycle (e.g. Engineering-Manufacturing Development, or EMD), the product maturity, to include its manufacturing processes and overall risk mitigated sufficiently to begin the low-rate initial production (LRIP) and lock down the design.

https://militaryembedded.com/radar-ew/thermal-management/the-stress-screening-ess-reliability

Speaking in generalities, any Circuit Card Assembly (CCA) or Electronics Component Assembly (ECA) must both pass through this rigorous degree of testing AND its impact to the overall life of the product must be minimized.

I hope this helps.

Peace!

Wow - great topic and outstanding diversity of input from everyone ... especially the sex which I completely agree with!

My 53-year-old body does well on seven hours of sleep and I think one factor, that I'm sure many here assumed but didn't quite spell it out, is that CONSISTENCY is really one of biggest factors in predicting quality of sleep. By that, I mean you go to bed at (or around) the same time every night and get up at (or around) the same time every morning. For some of us, that may not be possible due to work or other personal commitments. For others who can, however, it should be a goal to try to achieve (within +/- say 30 minutes of your target sleep time and wake time, respectively).

Personally, I try to hit the hay between 8:30 - 9:00 PM every day to wake up about 4:00 AM to start my day at the office by 5:30 - 6:00 AM (earlier if I have to be at a supplier and need to fight the hustle and bustle of PHX metro traffic). I've used many of the ideas already mentioned here to facilitate sleep such as Melatonin ... but also have a prescription if I am having a hard time falling asleep, keep the bedroom dark and as cold as possible (NOTE: as long as I promise to give my wife all my body heat so she doesn't complain she's cold). I generally take a warm shower to relax stiff muscles and my wife and I exchange massaging sore spots on each other. But, recently, since she had back surgery last winter, and is still very much hurting from L5-S1 being fused and caged, I decided to go all out on a Sleep Number bed with all the bells and whistles (e.g. FlexBase, DualTemp layer, etc.) and I have to say that has been the ultimate game changer in our sleeping experience. Critics will poo-poo it saying it's an overpriced air bed but, if you or your partner have back issues, and both of us do, and can't find the perfect sleeping position, the Sleep Number has completely addressed that for both of us. Both of us have considerable honkers and can snore the other
right out of the bed some nights (NOTE: don't ask who's winning that game). The bed has the partner "snore" button which elevates your partner's side, ever so slightly, but enough to where they actually do stop snoring. I'll just say the Sleep Number isn't for everyone but, if you're getting older, the bones are beginning to creak more now than ever before, and finding quality sleep is becoming an issue, it might be worth a try. Expensive? Yes, definitely but our thought is if it helps us, and the quality is there, I don't mind the price tag. So far, it has been everything for us we hoped it would be and that has made the greatest difference in the quality of our sleep.

If you have any questions about the Sleep Number, please feel welcome to PM me anytime and I'll be happy to share more.

Peace!

Good thread!

A couple of my favorites have been identified so far. Here are two underdogs, both by the legendary composer, Maurice Jarre, that are both powerful and touch the core of my soul:

The first, is "Jesus of Nazareth" (1977):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Btjcoo3Wlg

The second, is "Shogun" (1980):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56FK7m8V38g

I rate these as two of the greatest television miniseries I have ever watched in my lifetime. There certainly are others I have thoroughly enjoyed (e.g. The Blue and The Gray, Backstairs at the White House, Marco Polo) but with less impressive musical scores.

Peace!

Quote from: LennG on February 28, 2022, 08:45:58 PM

We just finished watching the latest mini-series on the History Channel about Abraham Lincoln  (https://www.history.com/shows/abraham-lincoln).
It was 3 parts and each part of 2 1/2 hours long. If you DVR it, as I did, that 2 1/2 hours gets taken down to 2 hours. for each chapter.

I am a HUGE fan and devotee of the Civil War, and try to gobble up anything shown about it. I am far from an expert but I am a bit knowledgeable about certain aspects of the war, about Lincoln etc. If there is something new about the Civil War shown anywhere, I'll be first online to view it. I don't read much anymore and there are some fascinating books I should read, but, well, I just don't. I have had the honor to visit and tour quite a few battlefields of the Civil War, from Manassas to Gettysburg, Antietam, Shiloh, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania to name a few.

Anyway, I looked, with great anticipation, to this mini-series. My darling wife, who knows nothing of the Civil War even though she toured with me all those battlefields, does enjoy a series about history also watched.

So, overall, it was good but not as good as I had hoped it would be. Maybe I expected more as this series veered off on tangents sometimes spending a lot of time talking and showing Frederick Douglas. It did hit several key points in Lincoln's life but also, as someone who does know something about the Civil War, had some glaring mistakes, but, hey, it's TV.

Maybe what took some of the enjoyment of this away was the gentleman who portrayed Lincoln (Graham Sibley). I don't know, maybe I was spoiled by Daniel Day-Lewis when he portrayed Lincoln as he WAS Lincoln. This gentleman really never even looked anything like Lincoln and maybe my biggest grip was his voice. Lincoln was a big man and since we have no idea what his voice was, I always imagined it to be a husky, deep sort of voice. Mr. Sibley's voice was sort of high pitched and I never, for even an instant, thought he was Lincoln. Every time he talked I sort of cringed, but he did a very good job as far as acting is concerned.

Overall, I would recommend it especially if you like or what to learn things about the Civil War.

Hi Lenn.

I'm with you all the way other History Channel's Lincoln documentary. It was very moving, very powerful and the acting was superb.

History has done an outstanding job with its presidential documentaries. Washington and Grant were phenomenal productions and I am very excited that Teddy Roosevelt will be their next documentary in May.

History is my favorite channel, hands down. More than anything, I am beyond obsessed with The Curse of Oak Island. This series is a childhood dream come true for me. I first learned about Oak Island through the old Leonard Nimoy series, In Search Of. I was so mesmerized at the idea of the treasure at the bottom of the pit. So glad the Lagina brothers and History gave us that show, drama and all.

Peace!

Quote from: jimv on March 01, 2022, 10:40:44 AM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to ALL!!!!

Special Birthday Wishes to my good friends Lenny, Woody & Bill (Webster 29)!!

Many happy returns to the Pisces and, especially, the Aries (which I am courtesy of being born on the 29th ... go Rams!!!)!

Peace!

Quote from: T200 on November 15, 2007, 07:00:28 AM
This game lets me know that the Pats can be beat in the SB with the right type of ball-control offense and stout defense.  Buffalo had very similar weapons as the Pats do ...

...   With some tweaks, we could do the same thing to NE in Week 17.  No doubt in my mind.

How prophetic were these words! Not only about Week #17 in season 2007, but the eventual Super Bowl that year!

Peace!

Quote from: Slugs Narrows on December 20, 2021, 08:22:24 PM
I had the Moderna shot.  Can

Quote from: NapoleonBlownapart on May 12, 2021, 02:36:34 PM
Thanks.  did I win the prize 14 years later j/k

and

Stram was smart huh?  that's why that play became outlawed I believe. the goalposts were still on the goal line

btw - Chris Allen and I exchanged messages/emails between circa 1998 and his all too untimely passing in 2006.  I miss you Chris! I could ask you about Mckinnley Boston or Mickey Zofko and you would fire back with the most amazing info!  Chris Allen, the dean of NFL Historians


And now? Thanks GO! you rock and you have picked up very nicely for Chris.

Hi Napolean.

I share with you, and others here, the feeling of loss over our friend, Christopher Allen, as this year marks the 15th anniversary of his passing (hard to believe).

Like you, Chris Allen and I were pretty close in communications outside the message boards. We enjoyed talking Giants history as well as life in upstate New York (NOTE: after growing up in North Jersey, I spent my high school and college years in Central New York ... about an hour away from Chris A).

He will be missed but it is very clear his memory lives on by virtue of this board and those of us who remember him and his passion for Giants history.

Peace!

Just seeing this now. This era was the formulative years of my Giants Fandom and loyalty so the trivia question is pretty easy.

The Giants, of the late 70s, were desperately looking for decent offensive lineman. They looked to the Steelers who had a plethora of them and, in 1977, secured the infamous Gordon Gravelle, a left tackle, for a high draft pick (2nd round?). The following year, the Giants were in dire need for a center. Again, they looked to the Steelers and managed a trade for their backup to the legendary Mike Webster, i.e. Jim Clack, while the Giants gave the Steelers tackle John Hicks and receiver Ernie Pough ("pew!"). Both Gravelle and Clack were on the field for the Immaculate Reception and The Fumble.

First bonus is a slam dunk since we're talking about John "Frenchy" Fuqua who remains in the center of controversy over whether he touched the ball on that fateful play. The NFL Films series "A Football Life" dedicated a show to The Immaculate Reception and centered it on Frenchy, his flamboyant outfits as well as his speaking engagements which talk about the play ... "Did I touch it? Or, did I not?"

Looking back into my 1968-69 Giants highlight films, I believe you are looking for Henry Davis, whom the Giants traded to the Steelers, and suffered that neck injury in 1973. I don't know whom, or what picks, the Giants received for Davis.

Great questions! Keep 'em coming!

Peace!