B is for Battleground

You thought I would go for something easy on this Blogging from A to Z Challenge like Boba Fett. I could probably do the entire A to Z challenge using Star Wars, but that would be too easy.

For the letter B, I chose Marx Toys "Battleground" Playset. I never had this as a kid, but gave it to a friend for his 9th birthday. I wanted one for myself, but it would be until 30+ years later that I would purchase one for myself. Now the Marx Battleground set came in several versions, with several different box designs, but this is the one I got for my friend and it was the one I wanted.

What I instantly liked about this playset was the accessories. Fallen trees, pontoon bridges, concertina/barbed wire, demolished buildings and bunkers. The vehicles were cool too. There were more for the Allied side than the German.

So without further ado - The Marx BATTLEGROUND!

A is for Aliens - Challenge Accepted

I am a big fan of Brian Adams' Cool and Collected Blog. Upon checking it out today, I found out a challenge has been issued - it's called the Blogging from A to Z Challenge in which bloggers have to post once a day during the month of April. Each day is a different letter of the alphabet. Today, April 1st is A, tomorrow is B, and so on. Though we get Sundays off to equal the 26 letters in a 30 day month.

Having discovered this late in the day, I am going to have to cheat about on Day 1.

A is for Aliens.

Specifically, Aliens from 1986, the sequel to the horror classic Alien.

One of my favorite scenes is when the remaining Marines are tracking the aliens on the motion tracker and they are getting closer. Based on the readings, the aliens should be in the room. But they're not.

Soon, the team figures out where the aliens are, and the shock is imminent.

Hudson: [Knowing that the Aliens are close, Hicks and Vasquez are welding the door shut] Movement. Signal's clean. Range, 20 meters.
Ripley: They've found a way in, something we've missed.
Hicks: We didn't miss anything.
Hudson: 17 meters.
Ripley: [Checking the tracker] Something under the floor, not in the plans, I don't know.
Hudson: 15 meters.
Newt: Ripley.
Hicks: Definitely inside the barricades.
Newt: Let's go.
Hudson: 12 meters.
Ripley: That's right outside the door. Hicks, Vasquez get back.
Hudson: Man, this is a big fuckin' signal.
Hicks: How are we doing Vasquez, talk to me?
Vasquez: Almost there.
[They welded the door shut, and stepped back away from the door]
Vasquez: They're right on us.
Hicks: [Waiting for the Aliens] Remember, short controlled bursts.
Hudson: 9 meters. 7. 6.
Ripley: That can't be; that's inside the room.
Hudson: It's reading right man, look!
Hicks: Then you're not reading *it* right.
Hudson: 5 meters, man. 4. What the hell?

Some more great quotes from the movie (and there are plenty): Aliens quotes

Game over!


What would you pick for A?