Good evening, all.  Just wanting to let everybody know that yours truly is probably going to remain fairly silent this week.  The reason behind that is because I'm studying my tail off for my Air Force promotion test.  The actual test will take place on Monday morning, but I'm spending this week with my nose buried in the books preparing for it.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with how the WAPS (Weighted Airman Promotion System) works, you can read about it thanks to Wikipedia.  Basically, next Monday morning I'll be taking the PFE and SKT tests. . .and then I get to wait until June to find out whether or not I actually scored well enough to get promoted to E-6.  That aspect of it sucks, but hopefully it will end up being worth the wait.  I only missed getting promoted last year by a little more than 5 points, so hopefully this year I can make up that gap.  The extra responsibility and career advancement would be nice.

After my test is done, things should be picking up around here.  Not only will my promotion stuff be out of the way, but I'm also done with Honor Guard until mid-June, so I shouldn't have any outside distractions and should be able to devote much more time and effort to the site here.  I apologize to anyone that feels that I've been derelict in my duty here thus far, but as you can see, I've had a lot going on.

That's all for this evening, folks. . .continue enjoying your Tuesday, ladies and gentlemen!

Yes, Viking fans, I'm sure you noticed that there was really no activity here yesterday, and there pretty much won't be any today, either.  Between Mrs. Gonzo having to work today and totally immersing myself in the Christmas present that she was kind enough to give me (Fallout 3 for the XBox 360), I've decided to take a day or two off from football and wondering whether or not Tom Coughlin is going to play this guy or that guy or some other guy this Sunday at the Metrodome.

So, I hope that all of you out there are enjoying your holiday season, and that we'll be back here to have everything you'll need to know about this weekend's make-or-break regular season finale between the Giants and the Vikings.

Merry Christmas, everybody!

This isn't really related to tomorrow's game, but it's just too good to pass up, particularly for me.  Those of you who have been around this site since the beginning know the affinity I had for tight end Jermaine Wiggins when he wore the purple and gold.  The rationale behind this was that, as a fat guy, I like to see my fellow fat guys succeed.  Granted, I'm significantly less fat now than I was then, but I'll always be a fat guy at heart.

But now, the folks at Fox Sports are reporting that Wiggins will be entering an arena that I'm pretty sure none of us saw him getting into back when he played for the Vikings.  Yes, in early 2009, Jermaine Wiggins will officially enter himself into the world of mixed martial arts (MMA).

Tommy Rojas recently worked with Wiggins for a week in California through his Primetime Fighters group. As with other NFL players who have MMA aspirations, Rojas admits he was initially skeptical about Wiggins' fighting prospects as a 6-foot-2, 250-pound heavyweight. But Rojas says Wiggins' agility sets him apart from other prospects.

"He is such an amazing athlete," Rojas said. "Because of his understanding of movement and body control, he is at the same point of most people with over a year of training. His only weakness is lack of ring time."

Man, I'll tell you. . .I'm not sure where it's going to be or when it's going to be. . .but if it's available on Pay-Per-View somewhere, I will order it.  It would be great to see one of my more recent favorite Vikings get Wiggy with it one more time.

Game Thread goes up in about 12 hours, folks.  Hope to see a bunch of you here tomorrow!

I've updated the Valour-IT thermometer over on the right side there.  I think it looks a bit nicer than the original version.

To this point the Navy is pretty much destroying everybody in terms of fund raising.  They've raised almost as much as the other four services combined.  The Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard have combined to raise $17,078 to this point, while the Navy alone has managed to raise $15,719.

Again, all of the money raised by Valour-IT all ends up going to the same place. . .but by God, I don't want the Navy stomping a mudhole in my beloved Air Force or anything like that.

Also, from looking at the Valour-IT home page, it appears that they have ways that you can adopt an individual soldier.  I've sent them an e-mail to inquire more into that, but that's something that I know I'd definitely be interested in.  How's about everybody else?

That's all. . .just wanted to get a quick update on what's going on in here.  Continue enjoying your Friday, folks!

Yes, with today being Veteran's Day, it marks the kickoff of the fundraising season for my favorite charity.  You can see the little thermometer over on the right-hand side there.  This, from the Project Valour-IT webpage, tells you what it's all about.

Project Valour-IT, in memory of SFC William V. Ziegenfuss, helps provide voice-controlled/adaptive laptop computers and other technology to support Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand wounds and other severe injuries.  Technology supplied includes:

• Voice-controlled Laptops - Operated by speaking into a microphone or using other adaptive technologies, they allow the wounded to maintain connections with the rest of the world during recovery.
• Wii Video Game Systems - Whole-body game systems increase motivation and speed recovery when used under the guidance of physical therapists in therapy sessions.
• Personal GPS - Handheld GPS devices build self-confidence and independence by compensating for short-term memory loss and organizational challenges related to TBI and severe PTSD.

The experience of Major Chuck Ziegenfuss, a partner in the project who suffered serious hand wounds while serving in Iraq, illustrates how important these laptops and other technologies can be to a wounded service member's recovery.

Every cent raised for Project Valour-IT goes directly to the purchase and shipment of laptops and other technology for severely wounded service members. As of November 2008, Valour-IT has distributed over 2700 laptops to severely wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines across the country, and is now expanding its mission to include other technology that supports physical and psychological recovery.

Valour-IT accepts donations in any amount to support our mission, but also offers a sponsorship option for laptops.  An individual or organization may sponsor a wounded soldier by completely funding the cost of a laptop and continuing to provide that soldier with personal support and encouragement throughout recovery. This has proved to be an excellent project for churches, groups of coworkers or friends, and members of community organizations such Boy Scouts.

Originally Valour-IT provided the voice-controlled software that accompanies the laptops, but now works closely with the Department of Defense Computer/electronic Accommodations Program (CAP): CAP supplies the adaptive software and Valour-IT provides the laptop.  In addition, DoD caseworkers serve as Valour-IT’s "eyes and ears" at several medical centers, identifying patients in need of laptops and other technological support for their recovery.  Wounded military personnel can also directly request a laptop through the sign-up form or through the Valour-IT/Soldiers' Angels representatives at the following medical centers:

* Balboa Naval Hospital

* Brooke Army Medical Center

* Madigan Regional Medical Center

* National Naval Medical Center (Bethesda Naval Hospital)

* Naval Hospital, Camp Pendleton

* Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital (29 Palms)

* Walter Reed Army Medical Center

 

Thanks to the efforts of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Valour-IT is also able to reach patients in VA hospitals who would benefit from a Valour-IT laptop or other technology to support their recovery and independence.

This really is a great cause, ladies and gentlemen.  I've met some of the folks that have received this equipment before, and words can't even begin to express how grateful they are for it.  It really gives them back their independence, and after what they've been through, that's absolutely huge.

So, if you feel compelled to donate. . .and I'm not going to try to force you to or anything like that. . .feel free to click on the little button over there.  Each service has their own button, but that's all for the purposes of a little friendly, inter-service competition.  In the end, all of the money ends up in exactly the same fund.  But, since I'm biased on this front. . .go team Air Force!!

Thank you for your time and your donations, should you choose to make one.

Football stuff later today. Until then, remember what today is all about.

The transcript of George Patton's famous "Blood and Guts" speech comes after the jump.  If you've ever read anything about Patton, or ever seen the movie Patton, you know what kind of language is involved.

Continue reading this post »

Hope that all the little mini-Vikings out there get themselves lots of goodies this evening, yet don't eat enough of it tonight to keep their parents up until the wee hours of the morning.

Oh, and it gives me an excuse to put up this picture that I grabbed from the Star-Tribune.

Well, when you can't manage more than two hits in the biggest game of the season, you can't expect too much.  The Twins had a pretty good season overall, considering that they were picked by many experts in the pre-season to finish no better than 4th in the AL Central.

And, fortunately for the Twins, they're not coached by Brad Childress, so they actually have a chance at anything that resembles success in their short-term future as well.

Watching this one has pretty much worn me out, so this will be the extent of the updates for tonight.  Tomorrow we'll take a look at the fantasy league and start looking ahead to the Saints.  Have a good night, everybody!