The Explorers' Club, № CMXIX

Operation AXIOM: Between the Wars—The Irish Civil War, Part V
6 December 1922: The Irish Free State—In accordance with the Anglo-Irish Treaty, Southern Ireland was proclaimed the Irish Free State, a dominion of the British Empire; Northern Ireland remained in the United Kingdom; an Oath of Allegience to the British sovereign—as King in, not of, Ireland—was unpalatable to the anti-Treaty Sinn Féin, who refused to be seated in the new bicameral Oireachtas.

Bonus! Song o'the Day: The Irish Free State
Flogging Molly, "Black Friday Rule" from Swagger (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary:

"The buildings they shake, but my heart it beats still,
O mother of Jesus, I feel pretty ill!
I want to go home where my feet both feel safe,
But there ain't no jobs in the old Free State!…"

Lest we forget.

Operation ÖSTERREICH: Advent Edition

Weekly Wednesday Weigh-in
Last weigh-in: 348.8 lbs
This weigh-in: 350.4 lbs.
Difference: +1.6 lbs.

It's not the turkey & the trimmings, the bounty of Thanksgiving; no, my chief vice is Goldfish crackers. I stuff my piehole with Goldfish while watching college football, all the college football.

Bonus! Lied von ÖSTERREICH
"Weird Al" Yankovic, "My Bologna" from "Weird Al" Yankovic (Mike Papa Walrus)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day

Less Than Jake, "Automatic" from Losing Streak (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary:

"I think I think I know it all…"

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day

Antje Duvoket, "Merry-Go-Round" from Little Peppermints (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: I woke up before the dawn with "Merry-Go-Round" running through my head. What is going on? It is turn-of-the-millennium singer-songwriter week at the R.B.D.S.O.T.D.?

"Merry-Go-Round" was gifted to me long ago by The Watergirl, a long lost friend & blogger of the old school.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day

Guster, "Two Points for Honesty" from Lost and Gone Forever (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary:

"Will I get better or stay the same?
I find I always move too slowly,
Can't lift a finger, can't change my mind,
I never knew till someone told me that—

"If that's all you will be, you'll be a waste of time,
You've dreamed a thousand dreams, none seem to stick in your mind,
Two points for honesty,
It must make you sad to know that nobody cares at all…"

The Explorers' Club, № CMXVIII

Operation AXIOM: Destination Moon—The 60th Anniversary of Saturn-Apollo 3
16 November 1962: Saturn-Apollo 3 (Saturn I S.A.-3) lifted off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station; the S-I first stage was fully fueled for the first time & the outboard H-1 engines burned until propellant depletion, rather than a timed cutoff; the inert S-IV second & S-V third stages were again filled with water ballast & intentionally detonated, the second & final Project Highwater test.

Commentary: The sixtieth anniversary of the Saturn-Apollo 3 test flight, 16 November 1962, clashed with the fortieth anniversary of the S.T.S.-5 manned Space Shuttle mission (11-16 November 1982). In all such conflicts, precedence will always be given to the manned spaceflight over the unmanned.

Semper exploro.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the I Sunday o' Advent

The First Sunday of Advent
London Brass, "Veni, Veni, Emmanuel" from Christmas with London Brass (Saint Mike Papa Whiskey)

Bonus! Song o' the Day: Go Blue!

(№ 3) Michigan 45-23 Ohio State (№ 2)
B1G East Champions (12-0, 9-0)
The University of Michigan Marching Band, "The Victors (Trio)" from Forever Valiant (Mike Papa Wolverine)

Commentary: The valiant Wolverines of Team 143 set four goals for themselves; two of those four goals have now been achieved, with the other two still within reach.

1) Defeat Michigan Ag: ACHIEVED
2) Defeat Ohio State: ACHIEVED
3) Win B1G Championship: Saturday, 3 December v. Purdue
4) Win National Championship (eligible, currently № 3 in the College Football Playoff poll)

Go Blue!

Saints + Scripture

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

Saints of the Day
'Tis the Optional Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Commentary: Wayback Machine '21 & Wayback Machine '19.

'Tis the Saturday of the Thirty-fourth (& Last) Week in Ordinary Time (Tempus per annum, "time through the year"): Wikipedia-link.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: Go Blue!

Team 143, Game 12: Michigan @ Ohio State
The University of Michigan Marching Band, "The Victors" from Forever Valiant (Mike Papa Wolverine)

Commentary: A buddy & fellow Wolverine texted me this morning, in the conext of The Game:

My anxiety is through the roof

Another buddy & fellow Wolverine shared his anxiety in person on Wednesday. There was no anxiety for me last year, almost no nervous tension, because I was convinced the valiant Wolverines would not prevail against the hated Buckeyes. How wrong I was! How happy I was to be so wrong! Before last year, the valiant Wolverines under Coach Harbaugh had always managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory against the hated Buckeyes. That most auspicious day, 27 November 2021, changed everything.

O wonder!
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world
That has such people in't!

—Wm. Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act V, Scene 1

Before last Saturday's struggle against feisty Fighting Illini, I was supremely confident. That confidence has proven to be ephemeral. The disappointment & despair of the last decade & a half has left scars. Nothing is certain. Anthing could happen: the valiant Wolverines might win, or we might lose. I'm going to be an emotional basketcase from the kickoff to the final whistle.

Go Blue!

Saints + Scripture

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin & Martyr (circa 287-306, A.K.A. of the Wheel), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperors Maxentius & Galerius, a victim of the Great Persecution; one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis the Friday of the Thirty-fourth (& Last) Week in Ordinary Time (Tempus per annum, "time through the year"): Wikipedia-link.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, "A Pretty Sad Excuse" from Pin Points and Gin Joints (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary: "A Pretty Sad Excuse" speaks to a dread deep within your humble narrator, a formerly controlling dread that the Lord in His grace is freeing me, dragging me kicking & screaming. Most of us want so dearly not to be saved, to continue clingly desperately to the errors that have deceived us & the monsters that are destroying us. Christ came, suffered, died, & rose to save us, above all else, from ourselves.

"Half the time I'm petrified and I'm terrified the rest,
If I'm not being selfish than I'm probably depressed…"

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' Thanksgiving Day

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, "A Reason to Toast" from Medium Rare (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary: "A Reason to Toast" is a Thanksgiving tradition here at The Secret Base, because year after year I simply cannot find a song to better sum up the gratitude with which my heart is overflowing. Thank you for being here, dear readers, regardless of if you've been with us since '02, or '12, or you just wandered in for the first time today.

"You might be wondering just why I called this meeting,
Can't let another moment pass,
Before we move on, please, let's rearrange the seating,
After that its time to raise a glass.

"I'll raise my glass up high to all the friendly faces,
Here and wherever they may be,
I don't know why I never thought till now to say this,
But you mean the world to me.

"A reason to toast!
A reason to cheer!
A reason to celebrate
It's nice being here!…"

Saints + Scripture

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

The Popish Plot
"Bonus Episode: Football (Happy Thanksgiving)"

'Tis the Memorial of Saint Andrew Dũng-Lạc, Priest, & Companions, Martyrs (died 1745-1862; A.K.A. the Martyrs of Vietnam, of Tonkin, of Annam, of Indochina), martyred in the reigns of the Lê, Tây Sơn, & Nguyễn dynasties of Vietnam.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis the Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth (& Last) Week in Ordinary Time (Tempus per annum, "time through the year"): Wikipedia-link.

The Explorers' Club, № CMXVII

Operation AXIOM: Destination Moon—The 50th Anniversary of the N1-7L Debacle
23 November 1972: N1-7L lifted off from from the Kazakh S.S.R.'s Baikonur Cosmodrome, carrying a Soyuz 7K-LOK spacecraft & dummy LK lander; the hydraulic shock from throttling down the six central engines prior to staging ruptured fuel lines, resulting in a fire, an engine explosion, & the disintegration & crash of the rocket; the launch escape system carried the Soyuz safely away.

Commentary: This was the fourth launch attempt of an N1 rocket & the fourth failure of an N1 rocket. These doomed test flights of the N1 coincided closely with the operational Moonshots of the Saturn V launch vehicle: the N1-3L test flight failed ten days before the successful launch of Apollo 9, the third operational flight of the Apollo Command & Service Module (in that case, the Gumdrop); N1-5L failed thirteen days before the successful launch of Apollo 11, the first Moon landing; N1-6L failed one month before the successful launch of Apollo 15, the fourth Moon landing; & today's N1-7L failed fourteen days before the successful launch of Apollo 17, the sixth & final Moon landing.

A fifth test flight was scheduled for August 1974, but was cancelled when the whole Soviet Moon program was shuttered in May 1974.

Bonus! Destination Moon Song o' the Day: N1-7L
Blues Traveler, "Crash & Burn" from Four (Space Cadet Mike Papa Whiskey)

Semper exploro.

Bonus! Song o' the Day

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, "Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah" from Pin Points and Gin Joints (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary: The Mighty Mighty Bosstones are my favorite band, & Pin Points and Gin Joints might be my favorite album of theirs. That's not definite, but it's a definite possibility.

Saints + Scripture

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Clement I, Pope & Martyr (died circa 101, of Rome) fourth (IV) Bishop of Rome (circa 88-101), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Trajan, author of the First & Second Letters of Clement, one of the Apostolic Fathers.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Columban, Abbot circa 540-615), founding abbot of the Abbey of Luxeuil (circa 585) & the Abbey of Bobbio (circa 590).

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro, Priest & Martyr, S.J. (1891-1927), martyred in the reign of the Mexican strongman Plutarco Elías Calles, one of the Saints of the Cristero War (A.K.A. the Martyrs of the Mexican Revolution).

'Tis the Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth (& Last) Week in Ordinary Time (Tempus per annum, "time through the year"): Wikipedia-link.

Saint Quote o' the Day

"¡Viva Cristo Rey!"
—Blessed Miguel Pro, S.J. (1891-1927, feast: 23 November)

Operation ÖSTERREICH: Pre-Thanksgiving Edition

Weekly Wednesday Weigh-in
Last weigh-in: 332.4 lbs (Wednesday, 31 August)
This weigh-in: 348.8 lbs.
Difference: +16.4 lbs.

Losing weight is difficult, but not mysterious. I know what has worked before, time & time again. All it requires is the discipline of persistance, endurance. What's done is done; now is the time to begin again. Fortitudine vincimus, "By endurance we conquer."

Bonus! Lied von ÖSTERREICH
Susan Egan, "The Turkey and the Stuffing" from Winter Tracks (Mike Papa Whale)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, "You Left Right?" from Pin Points and Gin Joints (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary: "You Left Right?" was the R.B.D.S.O.T.D. just five days hence, on Friday, 18 November, but I woke up this morning with its infectious rhythm once again running through my mind; so, here we are.

Saints + Scripture

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

Saints of the Day
'Tis the Memorial of Saint Cecilia, Virgin & Martyr (died circa 176-235), martyred either in the reign of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius or in the reign of the Roman emperor Alexander Severus.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis the Tuesday of the Thirty-fourth (& Last) Week in Ordinary Time (Tempus per annum, "time through the year"): Wikipedia-link.

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Arise, soldiers of Christ, throw away the works of darkness & put on the armor of light."
—Saint Cecilia (died circa 176-235, feast: 22 November)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day

They Might Be Giants, "The Shadow Government" from The Else (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary:

"Where's the shadow government when you need it?
Where's the shadow government?
It's a bad, bad world,
It's a bad, bad world…"

Saints + Scripture

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

The Popish Plot
"Bonus Episode: For Clicks & Views* (*Maybe Science Too)"

Saints of the Day
'Tis the Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (circa 12 B.C.).

Commentary: Wayback Machine '21 & Wayback Machine '19.

'Tis the Monday of the Thirty-fourth (& Last) in Ordinary Time (Tempus per annum, "time through the year"): Wikipedia-link.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day

Bombskare, "Bondtrack" from A Fistful of Dynamite (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Saints + Scripture: Solemnity of Christ the King

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

'Tis the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.

Commentary: Wayback Machine '21 & Wayback Machine '19. | Wayback Machine, 20 November.

The R.B.D. Song o' the Lord's Day: Christ the King

The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Rend Collective, "Build Your Kingdom Here" from Homemade Worship by Handmade People (Saint Mike Papa Whiskey)

Saints + Scripture

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

Saints of the Day
'Tis the Optional Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Commentary: Wayback Machine '21, Wayback Machine '20, & Wayback Machine '19.

'Tis the Saturday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time (Tempus per annum, "time through the year"): Wikipedia-link.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: Go Blue!

Team 143, Game 11: Michigan v. Illinois
The University of Michigan Marching Band, "Victors Valiant" from Forever Valiant (Mike Papa Wolverine)

Commentary: Go Blue!

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, "You Left Right?" from Pin Points and Gin Joints (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary: The title ought to be, "You Left, Right?"

"Never felt as fractured as I feel
In all the days I've been alive,
I don't see myself collecting me too soon,
I sift and sort and come up short
So far past my last resort, yeah!

"Yeah, you left, right?
Yeah you left right?
Are you regretful? Are you?
Are you remorseful? Are you?
Are you successful? Or are you
Just trying to make it through?
Did your whole world just shatter?
Are you happy or sadder?
Does it really matter?
Did I matter to you?…"

Bonus! Song o' the Day

The Many Versions of "Wonderwall"
Paul Anka, "Wonderwall" from Rock Swings (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: This is a great album.

Saints + Scripture

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

The Popish Plot
"Bonus Episode: Two Guys Named Tony with a Time Machine"

Saints of the Day
'Tis the Optional Memorial of the Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter & Paul, Apostles (circa 323).

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, Virgin, R.S.C.J. (1769-1852, "Woman-Who-Prays-Always" & the "Lady of Mercy").

'Tis the Friday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time (Tempus per annum, "time through the year"): Wikipedia-link.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day

The O.C. Supertones, "The Grace Flood" from Supertones Strike Back (Saint Mike Papa Whiskey)

Bonus! Song o' the Day

The Many Versions of "Wonderwall"
Skameleon, "Wonderwall" from Ska Makes Everything Better (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: It's true: ska makes everything better; not necessarily good, but better!

As suspected, posting "Wonderwall" as an R.B.D.S.O.T.D. yesterday eliminated it as an earworm, but the "many" versions of "Wonderwall" turns out to be three, including Oasis; so, I might as well carry on through this brief series.

Saints + Scripture

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

Saints of the Day
'Tis the festival of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious, T.O.S.F. (circa 1207-1231, A.K.A. of Thuringia).

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Descendant of Ss. Olga of Kiev [11 July] & Vladimir of Kiev [15 July]; niece of St. Hedwig of Silesia [16 October]; mother of Bl. Gertrude of Aldenberg [13 August]; aunt of Ss. Margaret of Hungary [18 January] & Kinga of Poland [24 July], & Bl. Yolanda of Poland [11 June]; & great-aunt of St. Elizabeth of Portugal [4 July].

'Tis the Thursday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time (Tempus per annum, "time through the year"): Wikipedia-link.

The Explorers' Club, № CMXVI

Operation AXIOM: The Space Age—The 40th Anniversary of S.T.S.-5, Part II
12-16 November 1982: Brand, Overmyer, Allen, & Lenoir deployed two commercial communications satellites, which were boosted into geosynchronous orbits by Payload Assist Module-D kick motors, & conducted three student-designed experiments; a spacewalk by Allen & Lenoir was cancelled due to problems with both spacesuits; after 81 orbits, the Columbia landed at California's Edwards A.F.B.

Bonus! Space Age Song o' the Day: S.T.S.-5
Smash Mouth, "Satellite" from Astro Lounge (Space Cadet Mike Papa Whiskey)

Semper exploro.

Bonus! Song o' the Day

The Many Versions of "Wonderwall"
Oasis, "Wonderwall" from (What's the Story) Morning Glory (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: It irks me that there is no question mark at the end of (What's the Story) Morning Glory. The title is clearly interrogative; so, why is there no question mark?

I'm not a particular fan of Oasis, but for the last day or so I've had "Wonderwall" as an earworm.

Saints + Scripture

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

The Popish Plot
"Saint Gertrude the Great"

Saints of the Day
'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Margaret of Scotland (circa 1045-1093, "the Pearl of Scotland;" A.K.A. of Wessex), Queen of Scots.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Gertrude, Virgin, O.S.B. (1256-1302, of Helfta; A.K.A. the Great).

'Tis the Wednesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time (Tempus per annum, "time through the year"): Wikipedia-link.