Got involved around the time of Gov Gray Out Davis recall. Never heard of Free Republic before that.

Grew up in CT, and have lived all over the US (CT, WA, NM, CA) and in Spain (for a short time). Screen name refers to my favorite soccer team, Real Betis (from Sevilla, Spain). Former archaeologist turned computer programmer.

Also a huge fan of ice hockey. Originally followed the Hartford Whalers (my home team) but they got moved to a hockey hotbed (North Carolina). Brass Bonanza forever! Then I lived in the San Jose area, and got used to following the local team. Go Sharks! Play in a beginners league and pretty much stink up the rink (3 goals in like 23 games. And I'm a forward), but it sure is a lot of fun.

I kinda wish I could change my screen name, but oh well. Maybe to something like "SwampYankeeInCA". I don't know why but hearing Swamp Yankee always make me laugh, I guess because that is essentially the people I grew up around. Actually I always say "Yankee Swamper" which makes me crack up even more.

Swamp Yankee Definition

And another Swamp Yankee Definition

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Apparently I am related to a rather famous Irish pirate (female) on my paternal grandmother's side of the family. But I guess probably all O'Malley's say that, so who knows.

Grace O'Malley--Pirate Queen of Connacht

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Cool Archaeology/Anthropology links:
Indo-European diagram
Immigrants From The Other Side
Curse of the Red-hairded mummy
Silbo Gomero whistle language of Canary Islands

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One of my favorite Simpsons episodes is when one of the Quimbys orders Chowder from a restaurant:

Freddy: Hey! What the [heck] is this?

Waiter: [French accent] It's a bowl of chowder, sir. ["shaudere"]

Freddy: Wait a minute, come here. What did you call it? Say it loud enough so everyone can hear. Come on, say it...

Waiter: Ahem. Chowder. ["shaudere"]

Freddy: [raucous laughter] Shau-dere? Shau-dere? It's "chowder". ["chowdah"] Say it right!

Waiter: [pause] Chowder. ["shaudear"]

Freddy: [laugher] Come back here! I'm not through demeaning you.

Later at his trial

Lawyer: Your Honor, even though I've proven my client's innocence, I'd still like to call Freddy Quimby to the stand. So that we can all bask in his gentle decency.

[Freddy stands up, grins winningly at audience, takes stand]

Mr. Quimby, did you assault Mr. LaCoste?

Freddy: Of course not. I love each and every thing on God's green earth.

Lawyer: Therefore, you would _never_ lose your temper over something as trivial as the pronunciation of "chowder".

Freddy: That's "chowdah"! Chowdah! I'll kill you! I'll kill all of you, especially those of you in the jury!
[man on jury mutters, "He's clearly guilty"]

Lawyer: Wow, that didn't go well. The defense rests.

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Took a BBC 'What Type of Thinker are you" test thanks to this FR thread. Not sure about these results:
Kinaesthetic thinker:
* Think in movements.
* Like to use their bodies in skilful and expressive ways
* Have an aptitude for working with your hands

Leonardo spent much of his life studying the human body to find our how it moved
Other Kinaesthetic Thinkers include Houdini, Rudolph Nureyev, David Beckham
Careers which suit Kinaesthetic Thinkers include Sportsperson, Craftsperson, Surgeon, Actor, Dancer, Coach, Physiotherapist

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I always seem to be interested in the 'society' parts of FR. Fav movies, songs, cheerleaders, whatever. I guess that is my Anthro background.

Movies to try and find in the future: "Bitter Sugar" (Azucar Amarga) or "Before Night Falls." from FR thread

Musical tastes (actual concerts attended) range from Debbie Gibson, Duran Duran, and Men At Work---Twisted Sister, Iron Maiden, The Cult, and Metallica---Gloria Estefan and Paco de Lucia

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Scarmable

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