Tag Archive | contemplations

Thank You For Your Service

Veteran’s Day Is Today

History of Veterans Day
From The Department Of Veterans Affairs

World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” – officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”

In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…” Continue reading

NFL 2012 – Week 9 and 10

Spring and The Prince Share Their Picks

Can you believe the season is already more than half over? Time sure flies by when you’re having football fun!

Our results for Week 9 weren’t too bad. The Prince finished the week at 50% and I’m at 71% for the week. At least I tied with Evil. We split the win between two of our favorites, Washington and Carolina. Daddy’s team beat my skins; but it wasn’t a shut out at least. And Atlanta beat the Cowboys, that’s always a good thing!

So here’s how we did last week: Continue reading

NFL Week 10

Sir Evil’s Results for Week 9 and Picks For Week 10

Back in black again. More to the point, breaking ever so slightly even again. And I got 10 games last week, not bad.

It would appear that Texans like their Buffalo well done. And Cowboys can be eaten by Falcons.

My take: Continue reading

NFL Week 9

Sir Evil’s Analysis

Ah, that’s more like it. Normalcy. Last week I got 6 games and gambling has gone to the dogs. Carolina is still managing to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in the last two minutes of the game.

I think Carolina is made of anti-manning because they do the exact opposite of what the Manning boys do in the last two minutes. We’re probably all very lucky that they didn’t make too much contact when the Giants were in town. Had they canceled each other out, the explosion would have been enormous.

My take: Continue reading

2012 NFL Week 8 Results & 9 Picks

Spring and The Prince Share Their Picks

Week 8 Results:

Well it wasn’t a terrible week, but by last years standards it wasn’t great either. At least I ended the week at 50%. And so did The Prince. But let’s start with how in the world did the Vikings get beat by the Buccaneers. At home no less?! I kind of hoped Tennessee would allow their home field advantage carry them through a 2nd week win, but that evidently was simply wishful thinking. The highlight of the week in our house was watching Dallas get beat! Yeah Giants!!! Can’t wait to see that happen again this week in Atlanta. Man those Falcons are good this year. I wish the Saints would wake up and play like the Falcons. They’re a much better team than their scores and attitude are showing. Proof that there’s more mental dexterity than brawn in football I think.

Anyway, here’s our results from last week: Continue reading

From The Edge Of Hurricane Sandy

Touched By Sandy In Central Virginia

Even in the midst of disaster and challenge our little Prince looked at the storm raging outside with the innocence that only a child could have.

He opened the bedroom window and felt the full force of a misty wind gust blowing through the screen.

He came to me and said:
Momma, I opened the window and got kissed by the hurricane.


Hurricane Sandy wasn’t the most powerful hurricane to hit the east coast, but it was an unusually large one in area. NASA posted this picture on Sunday October 28th, 2012 to show just how big it was.

Here in central Virginia it wasn’t the catastrophic storm the news had been making it out to be. We were lucky compared to the coastal areas and especially New jersey. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who suffered damage and loss due to the storm.

© Springwolfs Hanko

 

© 2012 Evilwordsmith.com. All Rights Reserved. Springwolf D.D., Ph.D.

The History of Samhain and the Evolution of Halloween

Photograph by Mukul Soman
National Geographic
on Springwolf Reflections

The Celtic New Year

It’s the start of the Celtic New Year and honors the year that has passed. It is the time when the veil of forgetfulness is lifted between the physical world and the spiritual world. Where the dead are honored and communication with spirit can take place more than any other time of the year.

An article by the Library of Congress states:
Pagans divided the year by four major holidays. According to their calendar, the year began on a day corresponding to November 1st on our present calendar. The date marked the beginning of winter. Since they were pastoral people, it was a time when cattle and sheep had to be moved to closer pastures and all livestock had to be secured for the winter months. Crops were harvested and stored. The date marked both an ending and a beginning in an eternal cycle.

With the coming of Christianity in the 800s AD, the early Church in England tried to Christianize the old Celtic festivals. Pope Boniface IV designated the 1st of November as “All Saints Day,” honoring saints and martyrs. He also decreed October 31 as “All Hallows Eve”, that eventually became Hallow’een.

Scholars today widely accept that the Pope was attempting to replace the earlier Celtic pagan festival with a church-sanctioned holiday. As this Christian holiday spread, the name evolved as well. Also called All-hallows Eve or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints’ Day).

Visit Springwolf Reflections and learn more about the History of Samhain, a widely celebrated Holiday. Whither you follow the traditions of Samhain or the non-secular celebrations of Halloween; we hope you have a fun and safe night!

© Springwolfs Hanko

 

© 2012 Evilwordsmith.com. All Rights Reserved. Springwolf D.D., Ph.D.

NFL Week 8

greenbayEvil’s Take on the NFL This Week

If the bug is back, I ain’t fixin’ it. I got 12 of 13 games last week. Too bad the gambling went south, thanks to the horrifying beat downs, the lines were blown away this week.

My take:

Continue reading

2012 Week 7 Results – Week 8 Picks

Spring and The Prince Check The Scores

Well last week wasn’t as bad as the week in the Twilight Zone. I improved my average thankfully. A quick review, I’m ecstatic that my Titans won over Buffalo. I didn’t pick them, but I don’t mind loosing that pick! I’m glad that New Orleans look like they woke up and decided “Hey we’re in the regular season now”. And they must have called Green Bay and told them to hurry up and catch the plane to St. Louis. I honestly didn’t think they’d show up. But I’m glad they did, even though we lost that pick too.

All in all, it looks like a lot of teams that should have been winning this year have decided it’s time to wake up and get to work. Maybe the week in the Twilight Zone scared enough of them that they stopped thinking they’re too good to show up against “lesser” teams and decided they actually have to play against these hungry guys and do what they’re paid to do.

So here’s the results from last week. Even though he was picking from gut feeling last week, the kid didn’t do so bad for someone who doesn’t watch football. Continue reading

NFL Week 7

Football In The Twilight Zone
1988 NFL Divisional Playoff Game

Evil Makes his Picks

Well there was a bug in the software, doubt that was why I was making great picks though. Either way I think I fixed it, what with making 6 games and gambling dropping right back to break even.

Usually Twilight Zone week is week 4. Guess Rod Serling was busy that week. Twilight Zone football occurred this year in week 6.

My take on Week 7:

Continue reading