Grant gets his war off to an auspicious start today in 1861

He is generally know among Ricardians as “The Weasel”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC9fGIDGqDM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Somerset,_1st_Earl_of_Worcester

Thank you Wittmann.

Today in 117AD Hadrian, the adopted son of  Trajan, became the new Roman Emperor. Trajan had ruled for nearly twenty years and had enlarged the Empire greatly. Hadrian in his twenty one year rule would be just as good for Rome. He left behind four great building works, which remain today.
The first was to rebuild Agrippa’s Pantheon, adding the 141ft diameter Dome. It has massive bronze doors and now a church, has buried two of Italy’s kings and the artist Raphael amongst others.
On the river Tiber is the Castel San Angelo, another stone dome building, this one built as his own tomb. It has been used as a fortress by more than one Pope when Rome has been threatened. It housed Pope Clement VII when the forces of the (Spanish)Holy Roman Empire sacked the city in 1527. It is well worth a visit if you ever go to Rome. A coffee from the battlements’ cafe’ is a good end to a walk around the military museum it is now.
The third monument is the beautiful Villa at Tivoli.
Lastly is the wall he had constructed in the North of England to keep out those pesky Picts(Scots). It was 15ft high and stretched 73 miles from coast tocoast and there was a fort every five miles.
Hadrian had been unwell for some time and despite seeking death and requesting it of his adopted son Pius, who refused to aid him, he died  aged 62 in his villa at Baie on the Bay of Naples.

Very interesting. Thanks again Wittmann.

Ha Ha!    I had not heard that      I do remember Edward Porter Alexander was stationed their before the war and had some social interaction with british officers

I wonder what sports they played    sounds like it was probably a drinking game:)

The novelization of the third movie was much better than the actual movie itself. All three of the prequels should have been scrapped or redone….That being said here my quirks…

The SSD Executor crashing into the Death Star…cmon there had to be a back up bridge or cic…

The whole “What I told you was true, from a certain point of view” line

Millions of dollars (credits) worth of military equipment destroyed by vines, logs, teddy bears, and harpoons and tow cables.

The change of Darth Vader’s line in the updated version of ESB- “alert my star destroyer to prepare for my arrival, provide fan fare and a fresh pot of coffeee…” ok made the last part up…

The silly Jabba dance scene…lame…

Last point two star wars recoomendations- Robot Chicken’s poke at Star Wars and Star Wars Episode Three The Lost Hope…

Hayden Christianson dubbed over the original ghost of Anakin in updated ROTJ.

Remove all Star Wars Novels starting with Vector Prime all the way to the most recent ones.

One last: Jen made the point that to almost win is the same as losing. Not true. For example, if I punch someone in the face repeatedly, and ALMOST knock him out, did I somehow lose the fight? Meade’s forces were defeated on the first day… Meade was punched repeatedly on the 2nd, but stayed on his feet… Lee thought he could land the knock-out blow with Pickett, and failed.

That is basically Gettysberg, in one paragraph.

Edit:

Just to extend the metaphore further, Gettysberg was like a three-round fight:

Round 1: Lee cautiously approaches Meade. Lee lands several devastating blows. Meade staggers. Lee continues pummelling Meade, but Meade is saved by the bell. Meade retreats to his corner and regroups.
Lee wins the round.

Round 2: Meade assumes a defensive stance. Lee pummels Meade the entire round, opening up several cuts. Meade reels, staggers, drops to the ground twice, but Lee misses several knockout blows. Meade counters and bloodies Lee.
Lee narrowly wins the round on points.

Round 3: Meade keeps his defensive stance, knows Lee will go for the knockout blow to the center. Lee begins the round with a weak attack that Meade easily counters. Lee and Meade circle each other warily. Lee, unaware he is ahead on points, throws one last desperate haymaker. Meade guards his center. Lee breaks his hand on Meade’s forearm. Meade, barely conscious, has a chance to finish the fight, but is too battered, bruised and bloodied to do anything but wait for the bell.

Lee is unable to continue the fight. Meade wins a TKO.

Edited cause I like boxing.

The most realistic board game that I have played has been Diplomacy