Minot

I've written extensively about the things I enjoyed and things (I mean people) I disliked while in uniform. On the whole, the positives vastly outweigh the negatives and I wouldn't trade my Air Force experience for anything.

Reflecting upon why I feel this way, I recognize that my enjoyment stemmed from a combination of three factors (in descending order according to the amount of control I personally controlled):

- Personal attitude
- Meaningful experiences/responsibilities
- The chance to see the US and the world

I didn't want Dayton as my first duty station, and put a telephone through a hotel wall in Atlantic City when I found out that's where I was going in 2001. Over the course of the subsequent 3 years, I mellowed a little and at the end of my time at Wright-Patt, I realized that I really loved my time in Ohio and was actually sad to go. That was an invaluable life lesson in that I realized that if I was pessimistic at first and still ended up loving Dayton, imagine how much fun I would have had if I brought a better attitude to the table.

That said, some locations are so far away that they can tax even the most balanced outlook. And when you're talking about the Air Force, the prime example of tough assignments is Minot:

Out of the cold
‘Getting it right’ drives Minot’s quest to reclaim reputation on nuclear security
By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Mar 31, 2009 6:17:48 EDT
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. — Even under the best conditions, there’s probably not a tougher assignment in the Air Force — outside of Iraq or Afghanistan — than coming to what one commander calls this “prairie outpost.”

The snow doesn’t start melting until May, the town of Minot is closer to Canada — 55 miles away — than it is to Montana, Minnesota or South Dakota, the states that border North Dakota, and frankly, there’s not much to do for entertainment. (link)

I've been to Iraq and it was tough. I was also there for only a finite period of time. At the same time, I've been to Minot (to visit), and I have to admit that it's a tough post for a number of reasons.

Along the lines of 'attitude is everything,' I have one friend that lives in ND and has been stationed in the state and loves it, because this individual always jumps into life head first and in doing so, they met their spouse in ND and together they have set up a life on the prairie. I like to think that's the approach I'd take (although I admit it wouldn't be easy).

That said, if you know the Air Force is only a way station and are a missileer with a sporadic work schedule, life's tough. Humans are creatures of habit and not being able to count on weekends and three-day weekends takes a psychological toll. After a year, this would be tough, After four years, I imagine this would grow unconscionable.

Beyond the quirks of serving on the base, the separation you must feel living their (when you're far from home) borders on unbearable. I couldn't imagine being that far from a major airport (and ready access to the outside world), a mall and yes, Red Lobster. All kidding aside, missing the comforts of home flat out stinks--and while it's ok to expand your horizons when you're overseas, this stinks especially when you're stateside.

Recently, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Adm. Mike Mullen, visited Minot. One Defense official told me that Adm. Mullen was visiting the base not only because of the challenges the base recently faced in the field of nuclear surety, but the Admiral also wanted to visit the base in the dead of winter to get a feel for how tough it really is. Good for him for sending that message, he's leading from the front and it appears that the Air Force is starting to take heed of the difficulties of life and service on the prairie.

I really like the suggestions of awarding some sort of deployment credit or monetarily incentivizing taking a tour at the base. Even the most modest recognition would, in my opinion, go a long way towards easing the burdens of living far away and provide some gravity to the question, Why not Minot.

Could the Mizzou Tigers Win March Madness???

On Sunday night, I was thrilled that I picked 14 of the teams advancing to the Sweet 16. Upon further review however, I recognize that I still came up short. I missed about 8 picks in the first two rounds, which as it turns out is only ok. I couldn't imagine picking every game last weekend (Cleveland State???) much less throughout the tournament, especially considering the long odds behind maintaining the perfect bracket:

Want to make sure you get 100% on your office betting pool? You’ve just got to fill out 18,446,744,073,709,551,616 brackets. Yes, that’s 18.5 quintillion. Even if every person on earth filled out a different bracket, the odds are still remarkably small that any one bracket would be perfect. (link)

Quintillion. Wow.

I keep my brackets via CBS Sportsline on Facebook, so it's easy to see who beat me and the fact of the matter is that a good many folks did. As of the start of the second round, I rank #4,570 out of more than 100,000 participants. Impressively, at the top of the standings, only one person in the entire pool was perfect in their pursuit of bracket nirvana.

That's right, only one person: Hank Sherman. That's it, that's the list! Hank's the lone bracketologist who nailed his picks perfectly (48/48) through the first weekend of The NCAA tourney.

If you don't believe me, here's the proof: (link)



I'll graciously admit defeat, especially to someone that picked 48 winners. Thankfully, Facebook's first weekend champion took the time to answer some of Morganobrien.com's questions about how he pitched the perfect game through the topsy-turvy first weekend of the tourney.

1- Where are you from/how old are you/what do you do/where do you go to school?

I grew up in Richmond, Missouri a small town about 45 minutes east of Kansas City. Now I'm now a 21 yr old student at MU in Columbia.

2- How would you characterize your college basketball prowess (expert, casual follower, etc)?

I would rank it somewhere between obsessed and casual following, more towards casual. My interest grows when the Missouri Tigers play well.

3- Did you really think Mizzou had a shot at the beginning or was that tongue in cheek? If you really like them, what in particular made you think that they had it in them to make the run?

I've watched Mizzou dismantle teams all year. We've had a few embarrassing losses but our basketball team, I believe, can play with the best teams in the nation. Their defensive capabilities have amazed me all year.

4- How did your picks hold up last year?

Last year I think I had around 30 to 35 correct picks out of 64.

5- What have you learned over the course of the past four days that you'll use in future tournaments?

The momentum of a team coming into the tournament was a pretty good indicator of me in how they would perform the first round.

6- Do you have any other talents?

Yeah, I play a small handful of instruments and occasionally write music.

7- Have any of your friends or family had insights into your picking prowess over the past four days--has anyone said anything worth mentioning?

My brother is basically the co-author of my bracket. We watched the selection show together. I just gave him my gut reaction to each match-up and he gave his. Surprisingly, most of our predictions were the same, although he thought I was stupid for choosing Mizzou to win it out.

8- Is Mizzou your favorite team? Who else do you follow?

I've been a Mizzou fan ever since I was a little kid. I also try to keep up on the kU jayhawks because their our main rival. I used to watch the SMS, now Missouri State, bears when I was growing up.

9- Did you play basketball at any level?

I played in the area kids league. I stopped in middle school for band. It took as much practice to play the trombone as it did to play basketball.

10- Did any games have you nervous--eg, the Mizzou game today?

The Miz/Marq game the other day had me going crazy.
I'll probably be sweating each game from now on because the 16 teams left in the tournament are essentially on the same level skill-wise.
-----

It will be interesting following the rest of Hank's run--even he thinks it will be difficult to hold on the lead through "One Shining Moment". We'll have to see if the longshot Missouri Tigers win the NCAA title--with a little of the Sherman magic, they certainly seem like a much more reasonable pick now than a week ago, don't they?

Here's to March Madness, and congrats to Hank (although I hope that he's wrong and the Tarheels prevail).

I want this engraved on my headstone

It was written

I just wish Hansbrough said this after losing to FSU in the ACC tourney.

From deadspin via Miami Herald.

And the POTUS Picks...

Earlier this week, President Obama made his picks for the NCAA tournament with ESPN's Andy Katz.

The Commander-in-Chief selected Louisville, Memphis, Pitt and Carolina to round out the Final Four, with Carolina edging Louisville for the national title. Here's a link to The First Bracket.

The guy signs my paychecks, so I appreciate him already. This is icing on the cake.


Ballin'

Unfortunately, not every team could crack the President's Final Four. One notable omission was Duke, a fact not missed by Coach Krzyzewski (a morganobrien.com fave--I'll always appreciate fellow captains over school ties).

Coach K had an interesting take (and not totally unexpected by those who know his politics):

“Somebody said we’re not in President Obama’s Final Four,’’ coach Mike Krzyzewski said in a lighthearted moment Wednesday as Duke prepared to face Binghamton in an East Regional first-round game in Greensboro, N.C. “As much as I respect what he’s doing, really the economy is something he should focus on more than the brackets.’’ (link)

Sounds like Reggie Love, former Duke two-sport standout and the president's body man, needs to better advocate for his alma mater.

Carolina Ballers and Scholars

Ah yes, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, home to the scholar athlete. As if I needed another reason to brag, my beloved alma mater exhibits excellence on the court and in the classroom:

Tournament teams improve APR scores
Associated Press
North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Louisville and Connecticut share a No. 1 seeding in the NCAA tournament. Their graduation rates have less in common.

The numbers ranged from 86 percent at North Carolina to 33 percent at UConn, according to a report released Monday by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida.

Louisville was at 42 percent and Pitt at 69 percent.

The study also found that fewer tournament teams have failing Academic Progress Rates than last year. Twenty-one of the 65 tournament teams have APR scores under 925, the cutoff below which the NCAA can penalize schools. Last year, 35 teams had APR scores below 925. (link)

Oh, and did I mention the Southern Belles?

March Air Force Madness

I'm excited to fill out my brackets on my Facebook via CBS sports killer app. The tourney is probably the best sporting event going, and maintaining brackets only enhances the experience.

With that in mind, this story is simply too good/typical not to share:

JAG warns against March Madness office pools
Staff report
Posted : Sunday Mar 15, 2009 8:26:54 EDT
Airman, step away from the March Madness tournament pool bracket.

Air Combat Command is warning airmen that they will be breaking military regulations if they start filling out NCAA basketball tournament office pool brackets — even if they are off duty.

Capt. Jeremy Cameron, a judge advocate at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, cited Defense Department rules in his warning to airmen: “According to the Joint Ethics Regulation, DoD employees shall neither participate in gambling activities while on base nor while on duty; this includes both military and civilian personnel.”

Breaking that rule could lead to other crimes.

Officers need to remember that gambling with a subordinate may constitute a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice rules on conduct unbecoming an officer, Cameron warned.

“It is not worth risking your career,” the captain wrote.

And even if you’re willing to endanger your career, gambling doesn’t pay.

“For example, some Air National Guard members ran a fantasy football league on their government computers,” Cameron wrote. “Each member paid $10 to play, and the winner was obligated to buy pizza for the rest of the members. The winner actually spent more buying the pizzas than he even won.” (link)

Gambling on government time should obviously be a no-no, but I hate the scare tactics that the big blue brother likes to shove down airmen's throats. "Risking your career?" Come on now--fussing over a $10/head pool. Shouldn't the Air Force legal arm focus every bit of energy on stemming sexual assault and halting drunk driving? This reminds me of a little story I had a chance to cover a couple years back:

Kirtland Airman hits jackpot
by Capt. Morgan O’Brien
377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

8/23/2005 - KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFPN) -- A master sergeant here got a whole lot more than milk during a recent trip to the supermarket.

In fact, Master Sgt. John San Cartier, a special operations loadmaster instructor with the 58th Training Squadron, “got” a lottery ticket that ended up winning the $93.4 million jackpot.

Good thing he gambled--all you need is a dollar and a dream, right?

In reading this warning, I'm also hoping that this anti-gambling ban is not retroactive, otherwise a lot of people should be in trouble if that's case.

Air Force 60th Anniversary planning begins
4/16/2007 - KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, New Mexico -- On Sept. 14, three New Mexico bases will come together for an all-day celebration of the Air Force's 60th Anniversary.

The celebration, titled "Heritage to Horizons" and hosted by Kirtland AFB, will be held at the Sandia Resort and Casino (emphasis mine), in the foothills of Albuquerque's Sandia Mountains. (link)

A celebration filled with airmen in uniform held at the local casino. Yet another great moment in service hypocracy. I bet no military personnel placed a wager that night...

While we're at it, March is women's history month. Maybe the base planning committed can hold a celebration of females at TD's Showclub???

Something About Becky

My sister's best friend, Becky Rougan, moved away from the Island when she was in eighth grade only to be seen or heard from by the O'Brien fam once or twice since. In the ensuing years, it's become a game among the Mags and I to figure out what's happened to the Beckster and what she looks like today.

As seen in the photo below, being a cute blonde Becky definitely had the potential to turn into a hottie in the decade since we last had contact:


My sister, left (stop checking her out), the elusive Becky, right

Adding to the mystique--for all intent and purposes, Becky doesn't exist. No Facebook, no phone number, no email, no nothing.

But thanks to advances in technology and my computer wizardry (I'm really pleased with myself over pulling this off), I was able to take the photo and use FBI technology to age Becky.

I present to you Becky 2009: (link)

Hopefully this helps in our elusive search. If you see her out there dear readers, tell her that the O'Briens are thinking of her. And if you're reading this Becky, Maggie says hi.

Ed. Note: In rereading this post, I can see it going one of two ways, either really creepy/stalkerish or funny. I have my fingers crossed that it's the latter and not the former.

Remembering Lindsey

Last weekend, an important anniversary came and went, and I was remiss in not mentioning it in this space. Three years ago, my pal Lindsey Patterson passed away totally unexpectedly. In the military, where way too many young, healthy folks are called to their maker before their time, this was a total stomach punch in that she succumbed to a fast-acting freak illness. I only had the opportunity to know Lindsey for a short time while we were junior officers stationed together at Kirtland, but I still feel her impact in my life on a daily basis.

Besides being a lovely, kind and incredibly fit person, Lindsey never hesitated to tell me that she appreciated my sense of humor (which, I’ll admit, sometimes ventures into the odd if not absurd). After she went to a Def Leppard concert in Albuquerque, I always used to ask her, “What has nine arms and sucks?” At Lindsey’s memorial service, we closed with Pour Some Sugar on Me. I still kind of wince when I remember that, but I like to think that she was looking down and laughing when the song rocked the base chapel.


Lindsey Patterson, 11-08-78 to 03-08-06

At a time in my life when things were tough at work, Lindsey’s appreciation resonated then and continues to resonate. When I get people to laugh nowadays, I can’t help but think of her and hope that my joking around somehow, in some small way, pays tribute to her life. I miss my friend.

Jon and Kate Update

Rare is the day I come home to find Mrs. Morganobrien.com not tuned into TLC viewing the hideously unwatchable Jon and Kate Plus 8. I haven't caught more than 30 seconds of the show in one sitting (and I'd admit it; for instance, I'll watch The Real Housewives of NYC/OC--not Atlanta--when it's on), but Jon and Kate and their child abuse by reality show disgust me while inexplicably providing a constant source of enjoyment for my wife.

Adding to my consternation, the show fills my TiVo, because it's seemingly on non-stop. My old lady also recently read their book, Multiple Bles8ings (not a typo--that's a totally out-of-place 8 replacing an 's' there), which appeals to my inner copy editor.

Because hate is such a strong word, I only hate one human being (There are 3 folks I would place in the despise category, all of whom I met in NM. Thanks, Kirtland). With that in mind, I won't say that I hate Jon and Kate Gosselin and their brood but I'll cop to maintaining a strong sense of schadenfreude towards them.

And that's why I'm so happy to report the following:

'Jon & Kate Plus 8' heading for divorce?
(link)
By Hanh Nguyen March 05, 01:50 PM
Jon and Kate Gosselin of TLC's docudrama Jon & Kate Plus 8, about their family life with two sets of multiples, may have trouble in paradise.

The couple appears to have serious marriage problems now that Jon has started spending increasing amounts of time away from home and partying with college girls, claims InTouchWeekly.com.

It turns out that Jon apparently met some Juniata College (PA) co-eds at a bar called Mimi's on Valentine's Day, returned to a house party with them and then got all touchy-feely as the night progressed. He also reportedly played Beer Pong. Sounds like a great Valentine's Day. I went to Red Lobster.

And what good is an Internet rumor without a photo that may or may (probably) not indicate impropriety?


Jon Plus 2

For their part, the Gosselins deny these stories as baseless rumors.

"It is certainly hurtful for people to spread rumors and lies about us. It certainly makes me reluctant to live my life like the average person would. This has made it very clear that the simplest innocent gesture -— such as taking a picture with a fan, can be taken out of context. As you can see on the show, I am not perfect, but I am a part of a loving family and couple."

Who knows if this is true (farbeit for me to question the veracity of a Star magazine story). Regardless, I'm glad to see that karma is alive and well--exploit your children, put yourselves in the public eye and fill up my DVR and you get what you deserve.

Morgan O'Brien's WiGO 03.10.09

Another reason to hate man's worst enemy:
This morning, I awoke to the eerily disturbing sounds of raccoons copulating in the tree over our garage. This is how it sounded: SHHHHHHHHHHHRRRRRRRRRRR EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKEKKEEKKEEEE GRRRGGLGLGLLGLLG EEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKE



Nature's Alarm Clock

Annoying as that was, after reading the following article, I can't complain. In fact, of the countless reasons to hate raccoons, I think Alexander Kirilov will forever have the best (or worst).

Toothy raccoon bit off manhood
By LEON WATSON

A FEISTY raccoon has bitten off a pervert’s PENIS as he was trying to rape the animal. Alexander Kirilov, 44, was on a drunken weekend with pals when he leapt on the terrified – but toothy – fur ball.

“When I saw the raccoon I thought I’d have some fun,” he told stunned casualty surgeons in Moscow.

Now Russian plastic surgeons are trying to restore his mangled manhood.

“He’s been told they can get things working again but they can’t sew back on what the raccoon bit off," said a pal.

“That’s gone forever so there isn’t going to be much for them to work with." (link)

As an aside, I was looking for a picture to go with this and Googled "raccoon sex". Click this link (here). You learn something new every day.

Another sad, military-related drunk driving death

Groton Sailor Held In Fatal I-395 Crash
Judge orders $300,000 bond; state laws on alcohol liability at Mohegan murky
By Michael Naughton , Jennifer Grogan

As David Musser waited for his son's arraignment in Norwich Superior Court Monday morning, he ducked in and out of the courtroom, paced the lobby and spoke with attorneys and family members, all the while clutching a red book titled “Christian Prayer.”

His son, Daniel Musser, a Navy machinist's mate from Missouri now living in Groton, was arraigned on charges that he drove drunk on the wrong side of Interstate 395 without his lights on early Saturday and collided head on with a livery van carrying Connecticut College students, killing one of them.

Musser, who turned 24 years old Sunday, was ordered held on $300,000 bond by Judge Robert E. Young, who also ordered Musser to undergo a psychiatric evaluation and be placed on a suicide watch.

Sad

I'm pained to read stories like this. You're sad for the victims but also sad for a 24-year-old that threw his life away for a night of drinking. I'm also bothered that the casinos are now taking heat for this from local politicians, regarding their 24-hour alcohol sales.

I hate that our culture has an insatiable appetite for finding people and institutions to cast blame. I think that if pressed Machinist's Mate Musser (if he learned anything during his time in uniform) would be the first to admit that he's the only one held accountable for his actions.

Some more sad news

Arrest in slaying of US diplomat's wife
By FRANK ELTMAN
Associated Press
2009-03-10 04:30 AM

The wife of a former ambassador to Haiti and humanitarian coordinator in Bosnia and Herzegovina was fatally stabbed by an intruder while visiting a friend in an exclusive Long Island neighborhood, police said Monday.

A 22-year-old man known to police from a prior burglary arrest in the area was arrested on murder charges.

Robert Schiavo was ordered held without bail after pleading not guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Nancy McKinley. His court-appointed attorney did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment.

McKinley, 61, is the wife of Brunson McKinley, a longtime State Department official who served as a U.S. ambassador to Haiti and was the U.S. humanitarian coordinator in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1995-1998. He is currently co-chairman of the Geneva-based Association for International Mobility.

Homicide detectives said Nancy McKinley was on a weekend visit with a friend in Bellport, about 65 miles (100 kilometers) east of New York City, when Schiavo allegedly broke into the home at about 1 a.m. Sunday and then stabbed McKinley numerous times, police said. (AP)

Figures how everyone is so worried about us moving overseas and the truth is that a diplomat's spouse can't even feel safe in Bellport. What a world.

As always,
With my Greatest Respect
xOxO
Morgan

Will Lyons, Academic All Star

Got some great news today regarding the academic and athletic prowess of my cousin, Worcester Polytechnic Institute basketball star Will Lyons:

Babson Park, MA --- Three WPI men's basketball student-athletes have been named to the 2008-09 NEWMAC Men's Basketball All-Academic team.

The Engineers had the most student-athletes selected for the All-Academic team. Ben Etten (Hollis, NH), Will Lyons (Wilbraham, MA) and Jeffrey Robinson (Granby, CT) were selected to the team. It was the first All-Academic selection for each player.

Honorees must have met the following criteria: earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5/4.0 scale or 4.35/5.0 scale after the 2007 fall semester, achieved second year academic status at her institution, and been a member of the varsity team for the entire season. (link)

Well that's settled. I can't shoot and rebound like Will, a 6'4" senior forward, and now I realize that I don't match his classroom stats either.


The Swingman

It bears mentioning that this comes as a bittersweet reward for Will, as he earned this accomplishment on one leg. His hoops career met an untimely end after suffering a ligament tear in his knee earlier in the season.

Geeze, after having one cousin on Who Wants to be a Millionaire last week, and now this, I'm starting to develop a complex. I can't imagine what's next for the Prochilo clan. Maybe I'll try out for Jeopardy or something. Oh, wait, we already have someone in the family that's done that.

WPI enters the NCAA DIII tournament with a first-round matchup against Husson (Bangor, Maine) on Friday at 6 pm at WPI's Harrington Auditorium. An interesting sidenote, the second game of the doubleheader pits UMass Dartmouth against Baruch, setting up a possible second round matchup of WPI and my father's alma mater...