"Mr. Holland's Opus" is one of my favorite movies.
Haven't seen it? Add it to your list!
Like "American Graffiti", (also starring Richard Dreyfuss), I can't imagine anyone not being entertained by it.
Dreyfuss plays a musician having trouble making ends meet, so he takes what he thinks will be a temporary job as a High School music teacher, just to pay the bills until another "gig" presents itself. You can probably guess how the story unfolds.
While life goes on and this music teacher touches the lives of hundreds of his students, Mr. Holland is writing a symphony. I won't spoil the movie for you, but it ends with an orchestra playing the symphony Mr. Holland has written.
Until recently I thought the "symphony" we saw in the movie was pretty much the whole enchilada. Poking around YouTube, I find the work, actually composed by Michael Kamen, is a much longer piece... 8 minutes plus.
So here, to commemorate the 6th anniversary of the World Trade Center attack and America's response, I share with you-
"An American Symphony", by Michael Kamen, with images by Rebecca Duncan:
11 September 2007
10 September 2007
The "Fight For Victory Tour"
I'll be busy catching up on my mandatory "10 hours of uninterrupted rest" tomorrow, so I won't be able to attend-
Shame too, 'cause I'm sure I'd love attending and bein' surrounded by folks that are not "self-centered."
But if you are within reasonable driving distance of the Windy City, please give consideration to making your voice heard with other like-minded souls.
You can check out the location and time by clicking and reading ThirdWaveDave's post on the subject.
And if ya go, come back and comment about it, please!
Shame too, 'cause I'm sure I'd love attending and bein' surrounded by folks that are not "self-centered."
But if you are within reasonable driving distance of the Windy City, please give consideration to making your voice heard with other like-minded souls.
You can check out the location and time by clicking and reading ThirdWaveDave's post on the subject.
And if ya go, come back and comment about it, please!
09 September 2007
CBS News
Yeah, I mean you... the Network that formerly employed that slimeball Dan Rather!
Still up to your old tricks, aren't you?
I was on my way into Bigtown to fly with my student, and at Noon I took a chance and tuned in your news broadcast on the radio.
Two things puzzled me:
1. You referred to the (new?) Osama/Usama Bin Laden video and said he looked younger and healthier.
Uhh... are you looking at the same video I'm seeing?
The one with the sunken eyes and the apparently fake "Just For Men" beard?
This is a still of the video I saw:
...And I'm sorry CBS, but to me it looks as if some dude with VERY, VERY long arms has one up OBL's anal orifice to control the movement of his mouth so he looks as if he's still alive.
Just sayin', ya know!
2. The other refreshing thing I heard was that "Conservative Nebraska Republican" Senator Chuck Hagel won't be seeking re-election.
Hello... CBS?
What planet have you been living on for the past few months?
Repeat after me....
R.I.N.O.!
You may not know what those letters stand for, so your assignment, should you choose to accept, is to go look 'em up on the search engine of your choice, and when you find the answer, leave a comment and let me know you can identify a real conservative when you see one.
(By the way, the Democrat most likely to succeed Chuck Hagel is more conservative than he is!
Good Luck Harry Reid!)
Thanks CBS.
It's good to know that in this ever-changing world, there are still some things I can depend on!
That's real comforting.
Still up to your old tricks, aren't you?
I was on my way into Bigtown to fly with my student, and at Noon I took a chance and tuned in your news broadcast on the radio.
Two things puzzled me:
1. You referred to the (new?) Osama/Usama Bin Laden video and said he looked younger and healthier.
Uhh... are you looking at the same video I'm seeing?
The one with the sunken eyes and the apparently fake "Just For Men" beard?
This is a still of the video I saw:
...And I'm sorry CBS, but to me it looks as if some dude with VERY, VERY long arms has one up OBL's anal orifice to control the movement of his mouth so he looks as if he's still alive.
Just sayin', ya know!
2. The other refreshing thing I heard was that "Conservative Nebraska Republican" Senator Chuck Hagel won't be seeking re-election.
Hello... CBS?
What planet have you been living on for the past few months?
Repeat after me....
R.I.N.O.!
You may not know what those letters stand for, so your assignment, should you choose to accept, is to go look 'em up on the search engine of your choice, and when you find the answer, leave a comment and let me know you can identify a real conservative when you see one.
(By the way, the Democrat most likely to succeed Chuck Hagel is more conservative than he is!
Good Luck Harry Reid!)
Thanks CBS.
It's good to know that in this ever-changing world, there are still some things I can depend on!
That's real comforting.
07 September 2007
$15 An Hour!
My Paternal Grandmother died of ALS... Lou Gehrig's disease.
She was an odd case, because she wasn't diagnosed until she was well into her 80's.
She had been extraordinarily active for an old gal, so it was exceedingly hard to watch her slowly lose control of her body...
become unable to form words...
eventually being unable to swallow.
Glenn Reynolds at Instapundit says if you view the 4 minute video, $1 will be donated to the fight against ALS. By my calculations that means you can earn the equivalent of almost 15 smackers an hour by just clicking this link and viewing the video.
So c'mon... click the link!
And Bloggers... post it too!
Update:
Friend John called after reading to extend his condolences at the loss of my Grandmother. I should have made it more clear... Grandma died almost 30 years ago. I'm sorry for the confusion. Thanks anyway John!
She was an odd case, because she wasn't diagnosed until she was well into her 80's.
She had been extraordinarily active for an old gal, so it was exceedingly hard to watch her slowly lose control of her body...
become unable to form words...
eventually being unable to swallow.
Glenn Reynolds at Instapundit says if you view the 4 minute video, $1 will be donated to the fight against ALS. By my calculations that means you can earn the equivalent of almost 15 smackers an hour by just clicking this link and viewing the video.
So c'mon... click the link!
And Bloggers... post it too!
Update:
Friend John called after reading to extend his condolences at the loss of my Grandmother. I should have made it more clear... Grandma died almost 30 years ago. I'm sorry for the confusion. Thanks anyway John!
What's In A Name?
I can remember a story from some time back-
Sales of General Motor's Chevy II Nova in Mexico were falling short of expectations.
Someone finally figured out "No va" in Spanish means "don't go". When the car was renamed, sales picked up. Great story huh? It's really a shame the story is false.
Now come the Koreans with what turns out to be a pretty fine car, considering the price.
Do you suppose they gave any thought to what a Viet Nam veteran might think of the company name?
04 September 2007
Dear Jacoby,
Well Bub, for a 24 year old you sure know how to stir the pot!
I was at the races on standby in case there was a bad accident there.
Ken Schrader had just walked by.
Nice man. I got to shake his hand and tell him I "enjoyed his work".
The Modified class was on the track warming up for their first heat when a guy on an ATV drove up...
"Your dispatch is tryin' to contact you!"
Apparently we were in a dead spot for our beepers. I pulled out my cell phone and called our Base. Over the roar of the cars I hear-
"There's a bad MVA just South of Little Town. One known fatality there so far. All occupants were ejected from the vehicle. There are three survivors. Two other helicopters are also enroute. Your flight is a GO."
In three minutes we are airborne.
The flight to Little Town will take 9 minutes.
You picked a great night to have an accident, Jacoby.
A gorgeous evening... the sun was just setting. Mid-70 temperatures with a light breeze out of the Southeast, and there wasn't a cloud within 250 miles. The weather was beautiful, so something else had to make my job difficult:
I pulled the trigger to key my microphone-
"Base, this is ******."
No sidetone, no response.
Again...
"Base, this is ******".
No response.
This is more than annoying.
Lives are at stake here, I have a VERY short ETA, but that's meaningless if I don't know exactly where I'm going. And I need to know where the other flying Mixmasters are so we don't collide.
I switched to our alternate frequency-
"Base, this is ******, over."
Nada.
"Base, this is ******"
Still nothing. ARRGHH!
We have a back-up radio in the rear that we use mostly for calling the hospitals.
I tell my Nurse what frequency to dial in, and she says, "You're up"-
"Base, this is ******"
Zippo!
I recite the alternate frequency to my Nurse and she dials that number in-
"Base, this is ******!"
"****** this is Base, go ahead."
Finally!
"We're about five minutes from Little Town. Can you tell us where we're goin' and update us on our patient?"
"******, they now want you to meet the ambulance at the helipad at Little Town hospital.
Your patient is a 24 year old male, ejected victim of a vehicle rollover. That's all the information I have."
And that's you, Jacoby.
I take a chance on my main radio working on another frequency, this time to call the hospital-
"Little Town hospital, this is ******, over."
"******, this is Little Town, go ahead."
Thank God! It DOES work on some frequencies!
"Little Town, we have a 3 minute ETA to your helipad."
"******, Be aware there's another helicopter inbound for landing."
Head on a swivel, scanning the horizon for lights or movement...
It's getting dark. Seeing no other aircraft, I land.
I help my Nurse and Paramedic disembark, then look up to see another helicopter circling the pad.
I strap the BK117 to my back and bring both throttles back to operating RPM. Over the helicopter Unicom frequency I attempt contact with the other machine....
No response!
Oh well! I gotta get out of his way. I take off, then circle the helipad and watch as his crew gets out with a patient and rushes into the ER.
That's your brother on their stretcher, Jacoby.
He was ejected from the car so forcefully his jaw has been torn off. The crew cannot find his windpipe in the mass of torn tissue, and cannot establish an airway so he can breathe. They're hoping he lives long enough to make it to the ER where they will have better light and conditions to get his airway started.
But time runs out.
Your brother dies.
I land in a grassy lot adjacent to the helipad, shut the helicopter down and enter the ER. My crew is giving you a good look-over, preparing you for the 35 minute ride to Big Town.
It's certain you have a broken pelvis, and since you remember no details of the accident you probably have a head injury. You are scraped, lacerated, and bruised from head to toe. You are gonna be mighty sore when you wake up tomorrow.
We later find out you and your brother were in the car with your cousins, and one of your cousins was probably driving. We suspect he was driving because of tell-tale indicators- both his thumbs were broken, an indication he had his hands on the steering wheel when the car left the road, hit the tree, and began to roll.
Your cousin the driver is D.R.T... (Dead Right There, on the scene.)
Your other cousin's heart stopped at the scene, and they performed CPR on him in the helicopter until they got to where a physician could check him out and pronounce him truly and officially dead.
You'll want to know... your brother died from lack of oxygen in a room less than 20 feet from where we loaded you onto our stretcher to fly you to Big Town.
When I chatted with the Paramedic that attempted to save your brother he said,
"The car was a mess. We couldn't tell what kind of car it was, except that it was White. But the passenger compartment was relatively intact".
Jacoby, this is SO painful!
You (and yours) inflicted a lot of stress on a lot of folks.
And now we are all saddened because we know not only will you suffer physically, but there will be terrible mental scars too...
Your brother and two cousins are dead...
All of 'em young, vibrant guys.
And it's terrible to think they likely all would have survived this chaos if they had just buckled up.
Today on the local news, I hear that your home is my Little Town, so we probably have friends in common. I'll easily be able to check on your progress.
In the future, our paths may even cross while we are shopping for groceries.
It's my hope that in your case wisdom comes with age.
At 24, by the Grace of God, your physical wounds will heal quickly and fully.
The mental scars may take longer.
I'll be thinking of you.
Sincerely,
Your EMS Helicopter Pilot,
Greybeard
I was at the races on standby in case there was a bad accident there.
Ken Schrader had just walked by.
Nice man. I got to shake his hand and tell him I "enjoyed his work".
The Modified class was on the track warming up for their first heat when a guy on an ATV drove up...
"Your dispatch is tryin' to contact you!"
Apparently we were in a dead spot for our beepers. I pulled out my cell phone and called our Base. Over the roar of the cars I hear-
"There's a bad MVA just South of Little Town. One known fatality there so far. All occupants were ejected from the vehicle. There are three survivors. Two other helicopters are also enroute. Your flight is a GO."
In three minutes we are airborne.
The flight to Little Town will take 9 minutes.
You picked a great night to have an accident, Jacoby.
A gorgeous evening... the sun was just setting. Mid-70 temperatures with a light breeze out of the Southeast, and there wasn't a cloud within 250 miles. The weather was beautiful, so something else had to make my job difficult:
I pulled the trigger to key my microphone-
"Base, this is ******."
No sidetone, no response.
Again...
"Base, this is ******".
No response.
This is more than annoying.
Lives are at stake here, I have a VERY short ETA, but that's meaningless if I don't know exactly where I'm going. And I need to know where the other flying Mixmasters are so we don't collide.
I switched to our alternate frequency-
"Base, this is ******, over."
Nada.
"Base, this is ******"
Still nothing. ARRGHH!
We have a back-up radio in the rear that we use mostly for calling the hospitals.
I tell my Nurse what frequency to dial in, and she says, "You're up"-
"Base, this is ******"
Zippo!
I recite the alternate frequency to my Nurse and she dials that number in-
"Base, this is ******!"
"****** this is Base, go ahead."
Finally!
"We're about five minutes from Little Town. Can you tell us where we're goin' and update us on our patient?"
"******, they now want you to meet the ambulance at the helipad at Little Town hospital.
Your patient is a 24 year old male, ejected victim of a vehicle rollover. That's all the information I have."
And that's you, Jacoby.
I take a chance on my main radio working on another frequency, this time to call the hospital-
"Little Town hospital, this is ******, over."
"******, this is Little Town, go ahead."
Thank God! It DOES work on some frequencies!
"Little Town, we have a 3 minute ETA to your helipad."
"******, Be aware there's another helicopter inbound for landing."
Head on a swivel, scanning the horizon for lights or movement...
It's getting dark. Seeing no other aircraft, I land.
I help my Nurse and Paramedic disembark, then look up to see another helicopter circling the pad.
I strap the BK117 to my back and bring both throttles back to operating RPM. Over the helicopter Unicom frequency I attempt contact with the other machine....
No response!
Oh well! I gotta get out of his way. I take off, then circle the helipad and watch as his crew gets out with a patient and rushes into the ER.
That's your brother on their stretcher, Jacoby.
He was ejected from the car so forcefully his jaw has been torn off. The crew cannot find his windpipe in the mass of torn tissue, and cannot establish an airway so he can breathe. They're hoping he lives long enough to make it to the ER where they will have better light and conditions to get his airway started.
But time runs out.
Your brother dies.
I land in a grassy lot adjacent to the helipad, shut the helicopter down and enter the ER. My crew is giving you a good look-over, preparing you for the 35 minute ride to Big Town.
It's certain you have a broken pelvis, and since you remember no details of the accident you probably have a head injury. You are scraped, lacerated, and bruised from head to toe. You are gonna be mighty sore when you wake up tomorrow.
We later find out you and your brother were in the car with your cousins, and one of your cousins was probably driving. We suspect he was driving because of tell-tale indicators- both his thumbs were broken, an indication he had his hands on the steering wheel when the car left the road, hit the tree, and began to roll.
Your cousin the driver is D.R.T... (Dead Right There, on the scene.)
Your other cousin's heart stopped at the scene, and they performed CPR on him in the helicopter until they got to where a physician could check him out and pronounce him truly and officially dead.
You'll want to know... your brother died from lack of oxygen in a room less than 20 feet from where we loaded you onto our stretcher to fly you to Big Town.
When I chatted with the Paramedic that attempted to save your brother he said,
"The car was a mess. We couldn't tell what kind of car it was, except that it was White. But the passenger compartment was relatively intact".
Jacoby, this is SO painful!
You (and yours) inflicted a lot of stress on a lot of folks.
And now we are all saddened because we know not only will you suffer physically, but there will be terrible mental scars too...
Your brother and two cousins are dead...
All of 'em young, vibrant guys.
And it's terrible to think they likely all would have survived this chaos if they had just buckled up.
Today on the local news, I hear that your home is my Little Town, so we probably have friends in common. I'll easily be able to check on your progress.
In the future, our paths may even cross while we are shopping for groceries.
It's my hope that in your case wisdom comes with age.
At 24, by the Grace of God, your physical wounds will heal quickly and fully.
The mental scars may take longer.
I'll be thinking of you.
Sincerely,
Your EMS Helicopter Pilot,
Greybeard
31 August 2007
Hi-ho, Come To The Fair!
Once again, it's State Fair time, and that means I get to participate in the annual Ping-Pong ball drop. This year I was lucky enough to have John on the ground assisting, and he took a few photos to share with ya:
The lovely Melissa came along for the second year to be the official "ball disperser". You can see that the balls are different colors, with different symbols on them. Prizes are awarded to balls as to colors and symbols.
It takes extraordinary skill to properly drop the balls out of that box! Thanks Melissa, great job!
Kids line up on both sides of the field and wait for the signal to "GO!" after we fly by and drop the ping-pong balls.
Ya gotta come in at the correct altitude and heading, taking the wind into consideration, in order to get an even distribution of balls so the kids aren't mugging one another to collect them.
(Click to enlarge and you can actually see the balls.)
It was a little warm, but otherwise a great day for the event.
Last year the field was muddy, and kids ended up with wet feet while skampering around to pick up the booty.
This year the field was perfect!
Pretty shot, huh?
Man, I love helicopters!
Still, I wonder what I'll do for a living when I grow up?
Mission completed, I landed and dropped Melissa off, then picked up Gene, the photographer for our local newspaper to take some pictures of the Fairgrounds.
Here we are landing, so I can shut down and rub elbows with the adoring crowd of folks 12 years old and younger and answer their questions...
What a great job!
The lovely Melissa came along for the second year to be the official "ball disperser". You can see that the balls are different colors, with different symbols on them. Prizes are awarded to balls as to colors and symbols.It takes extraordinary skill to properly drop the balls out of that box! Thanks Melissa, great job!
Kids line up on both sides of the field and wait for the signal to "GO!" after we fly by and drop the ping-pong balls.
Ya gotta come in at the correct altitude and heading, taking the wind into consideration, in order to get an even distribution of balls so the kids aren't mugging one another to collect them.(Click to enlarge and you can actually see the balls.)
It was a little warm, but otherwise a great day for the event.Last year the field was muddy, and kids ended up with wet feet while skampering around to pick up the booty.
This year the field was perfect!
Pretty shot, huh?Man, I love helicopters!
Still, I wonder what I'll do for a living when I grow up?
Mission completed, I landed and dropped Melissa off, then picked up Gene, the photographer for our local newspaper to take some pictures of the Fairgrounds.Here we are landing, so I can shut down and rub elbows with the adoring crowd of folks 12 years old and younger and answer their questions...
What a great job!
28 August 2007
'Cause I Like It, That's Why!
I'm a music lover.
I like Folk, Country, Pop, RockaBilly, Classical, and I'll even listen to some Metal or Hip-Hop offerings if they have a memorable melody.
Different strokes for different folks, right?
My favorite music tends toward Pop/Rock with sweeping orchestral arrangements, like "Jesus Christ Superstar",
the Rock Opera "Tommy" by "The Who",
and offerings by British Rockers"The Moody Blues".
In 1976 I walked into a buddy's apartment and heard this record being played at "Warp Factor 9" on his stereo. I liked it a lot, and purchased it on my next trip to the music store.
It's also one of the albums I bought on CD when it became available in that format, and I had to pay a premium price for it, 'cause the only place it was available was a seller in Great Britain.
This is a live performance of the anchor tune from the album...
appropriately titled "Music"!
I like it a lot.
I hope you enjoy it too:
I like Folk, Country, Pop, RockaBilly, Classical, and I'll even listen to some Metal or Hip-Hop offerings if they have a memorable melody.
Different strokes for different folks, right?
My favorite music tends toward Pop/Rock with sweeping orchestral arrangements, like "Jesus Christ Superstar",
the Rock Opera "Tommy" by "The Who",
and offerings by British Rockers"The Moody Blues".
In 1976 I walked into a buddy's apartment and heard this record being played at "Warp Factor 9" on his stereo. I liked it a lot, and purchased it on my next trip to the music store.
It's also one of the albums I bought on CD when it became available in that format, and I had to pay a premium price for it, 'cause the only place it was available was a seller in Great Britain.
This is a live performance of the anchor tune from the album...
appropriately titled "Music"!
I like it a lot.
I hope you enjoy it too:
26 August 2007
Isn't Life Wonderful!?
Remember K's video of her baby trying to kick a rib outta the way?
Wanta see the culprit?
Great news, K and Jason... congratulations!
Wanta see the culprit?
Great news, K and Jason... congratulations!
24 August 2007
Opening The Pores!
I do this sort of thing to myself all the time-I needed to make a deposit to my checking account.
It's Friday. I check my watch: 1:30 P.M.
Any deposit I make after 2 P.M. will not be credited until Monday morning. "The check is in the mail", and by that I mean the check I have written that requires covering.
The bank is exactly 3 miles away. It's a perfect time to use the bicycle, rather than burn hydrocarbons, right?
I fill out the deposit slip, grab the deposit, put on my helmet and sunglasses, and push the bike out the door. A quick check of the watch: 1:45 P.M.
Three miles in 15 minutes= 12 miles per hour. Piece of cake!
I've been shirking my bike riding, walking 2.2 miles daily with Sara Jean instead.
It takes all of 3 minutes to realize muscles used walking aren't in play here...
I turn southbound into a 10 knot wind and quickly wish I had just inserted a key into the car ignition.
It's hot. Let me restate that... IT'S HOT!
At the halfway point I'm in trouble. I have 5 minutes to get in the door and make the deposit, but progress is slow. Wind in my face, tar bubbling up from the road grabbing my tires, and those same tires are a little low on air...
If I was lookin' for exercise, this would fill the bill!
Gasping for breath, I step up the pace.
At the bank I dismount, push the kickstand down, and force rubbery legs to walk to the teller's window. My heart is sayin' "Hey! What's goin' on here?"
The teller takes my deposit and asks "How are ya?" (The time-stamp on the deposit is 1:59!)
"Dyin'! Too hot to ride the bike!"
"I'll say! You realize it's 103 degrees, don't ya?"
No, I hadn't.
When I check, I find the relative humidity is 85%.
Sixty years old.
Temperature of 103.
Humidity 85%.
Let's see now...
60+103+85= Stupidity
Check my figures and see if I'm in error!
23 August 2007
Exasperating
Here's some "new logic".
Someone sneaks onto your property, it's your fault!
How the heck did we get here?
Does this make sense to you? If so, explain it to me, please!
Tip 'o the hat to Drudgereport.com
Someone sneaks onto your property, it's your fault!
How the heck did we get here?
Does this make sense to you? If so, explain it to me, please!
Tip 'o the hat to Drudgereport.com
22 August 2007
Dr. Dan, You Da Man!
I've been pokin' around the 'net tryin' to find an answer to Lucy's body odor problem. My search led me to a Vet's interesting site, although I still haven't found my answer.
I referred earlier to the fact that one site claimed Shih Tzu's were a coupling of the Llhasa Apso and Pekingese, and I joked that we should work towards legitimizing the "Schnoodle"...
the Poodle-Schnauzer mix.
Dr. Dan has come up with some mixes that would make interesting future AKC breeds.
Some of them made me laugh out loud!:
Collie + Lhasa Apso
Collapso, a dog that folds up for easy transport
Spitz + Chow Chow
Spitz-Chow, a dog that throws up a lot
Pointer + Setter
Poinsetter, a traditional Christmas pet
Malamute + Pointer
Moot Point, owned by....oh, well, it doesn't matter anyway
Great Pyrenees + Dachshund
Pyradachs, a puzzling breed
Pekingnese + Lhasa Apso
Peekasso, an abstract dog
Irish Water Spaniel + English Springer Spaniel
Irish Springer, a dog fresh and clean as a whistle
Labrador Retriever + Curly Coated Retriever
Lab Coat Retriever, the choice of research scientists
Newfoundland + Basset Hound
Newfound Asset Hound, a dog for financial advisors
Terrier + Bulldog
Terribull, a dog that makes awful mistakes
Bloodhound + Labrador
Blabador, a dog that barks incessantly
Collie + Malamute
Commute, a dog that travels to work
Deerhound + Terrier
Derriere, a dog that's true to the end
Bull Terrier + Shitzu
Bull..... Oh, never mind
I referred earlier to the fact that one site claimed Shih Tzu's were a coupling of the Llhasa Apso and Pekingese, and I joked that we should work towards legitimizing the "Schnoodle"...
the Poodle-Schnauzer mix.
Dr. Dan has come up with some mixes that would make interesting future AKC breeds.
Some of them made me laugh out loud!:
Collie + Lhasa Apso
Collapso, a dog that folds up for easy transport
Spitz + Chow Chow
Spitz-Chow, a dog that throws up a lot
Pointer + Setter
Poinsetter, a traditional Christmas pet
Malamute + Pointer
Moot Point, owned by....oh, well, it doesn't matter anyway
Great Pyrenees + Dachshund
Pyradachs, a puzzling breed
Pekingnese + Lhasa Apso
Peekasso, an abstract dog
Irish Water Spaniel + English Springer Spaniel
Irish Springer, a dog fresh and clean as a whistle
Labrador Retriever + Curly Coated Retriever
Lab Coat Retriever, the choice of research scientists
Newfoundland + Basset Hound
Newfound Asset Hound, a dog for financial advisors
Terrier + Bulldog
Terribull, a dog that makes awful mistakes
Bloodhound + Labrador
Blabador, a dog that barks incessantly
Collie + Malamute
Commute, a dog that travels to work
Deerhound + Terrier
Derriere, a dog that's true to the end
Bull Terrier + Shitzu
Bull..... Oh, never mind
21 August 2007
Stop Light Cameras
It's time to revolt. I have never had a personal experience with these things, but I don't like 'em, just on the principle of the thing. Do they really send out citations to owners of the cars whose plates are photographed? How do they know who is actually driving the car? What if it's my identical twin? Didn't know I had an identical twin? (Shut up Mom, I'm beginning a revolt here.)I've done a little checking at Howstuffworks.com, but they don't answer my question there-
When I go out with my pellet gun, will anyone be watching me when I shoot the lens out on this thing? Do they just take pictures of cars going through interstections, or will I need to be dressed in a Burkha?
Dogs, (Human and Canine), In The News
Several months back, I had taken Mother back to her apartment in Pensacola and was headed Eastbound back to Destin on Highway 98, the "Scenic Gulf Highway."
It's a nice drive, with now and then beautiful glimpses of the Gulf as you drive through Gulf Breeze, Navarre, and Ft. Walton Beach.
Highway 98 is a nice road... two lanes in either direction with nice left turn lanes at intersections, and a wide grassy median between the lanes.
Early afternoon, and traffic is moderate. I scan several cars ahead and notice one I can't immediately identify. That's not out of the ordinary in these parts... It's not unusual to see the odd exotic auto on this road. I speed up to overtake and have a look, only to find it's not exotic at all, it's a Chrysler 300C, but customized with special dark blue paint, special wheels, and tires.
Across the trunk lid, written tastefully in a color barely distinguishable from the base color of the car, is the phrase "SeriousBluePits.com"
Blue Pits?
Meant nothin' to me.
At the next stoplight I pull alongside and glance at the occupants. Behind the wheel is a beautiful woman... fitting perfectly in this beautiful car. In the passenger seat, slumped "gangsta" style so he's not easily seen, is a guy.
Neither looks my way.
First thing I do when I get home is boot up the laptop, and find this site, which I shrugged off until recent news of Michael Vick emerged.
I'm an animal lover.
With most dogs you pretty much know what you're gonna get up front... unlike people, they telegraph their feelings to you. And unless they are mistreated or bred for aggression, most dogs will return unconditional love for a few moments of your time... a little attention.
Cockfighting, Dog fighting, and cruelty to animals of all sorts is on the front page most days.
Folks that mistreat animals are more likely to abuse people.
What a sick society we live in. This problem has been brewing for YEARS.
How did we get here, and what do we have to do fix the problem?
It's a nice drive, with now and then beautiful glimpses of the Gulf as you drive through Gulf Breeze, Navarre, and Ft. Walton Beach.
Highway 98 is a nice road... two lanes in either direction with nice left turn lanes at intersections, and a wide grassy median between the lanes.
Early afternoon, and traffic is moderate. I scan several cars ahead and notice one I can't immediately identify. That's not out of the ordinary in these parts... It's not unusual to see the odd exotic auto on this road. I speed up to overtake and have a look, only to find it's not exotic at all, it's a Chrysler 300C, but customized with special dark blue paint, special wheels, and tires.
Across the trunk lid, written tastefully in a color barely distinguishable from the base color of the car, is the phrase "SeriousBluePits.com"
Blue Pits?
Meant nothin' to me.
At the next stoplight I pull alongside and glance at the occupants. Behind the wheel is a beautiful woman... fitting perfectly in this beautiful car. In the passenger seat, slumped "gangsta" style so he's not easily seen, is a guy.
Neither looks my way.
First thing I do when I get home is boot up the laptop, and find this site, which I shrugged off until recent news of Michael Vick emerged.
I'm an animal lover.
With most dogs you pretty much know what you're gonna get up front... unlike people, they telegraph their feelings to you. And unless they are mistreated or bred for aggression, most dogs will return unconditional love for a few moments of your time... a little attention.
Cockfighting, Dog fighting, and cruelty to animals of all sorts is on the front page most days.
Folks that mistreat animals are more likely to abuse people.
What a sick society we live in. This problem has been brewing for YEARS.
How did we get here, and what do we have to do fix the problem?
20 August 2007
More Doggy Bloggy-
That's Desi doin' a little showin' off during our last visit to Mesa.
He loves the hot weather there... will actually crawl between the vertical blinds and the sliding door to lie in the direct sunlight, when temps outside are close to 120 degrees!
But this post is a request for information, and not about Desi-
We need your input about a little mystery were are experiencing with Lucy:
Friends own a Shih Tzu, and have complained about an odor their dog has when she returns to the house after taking care of her business outside.
The unpleasant smell disappears quickly, but is always there when she comes back inside, even when she has only been outside for a very short period of time. Our"Luce-Goose", a Schnoodle... Schnauzer-Poodle mix, has the same problem.
She can smell like flowers after we bathe her, then take her outside to go potty and she'll come in the house with a foul odor, which goes away in less than 5 minutes. I've done minor searching online and have so far found nothing which explains the phenomenon. Any ideas on what causes it, and is there an easy way to avoid it?
One thing I did pick up in my research, from a site which may or may not be dependable-
They claim the Shih Tzu breed is the result of a cross between the Llhasa Apso and Pekingese. So Lucy can hope... all we have to do is continue to breed Schnauzers with miniature Poodles, and she also can be a "Blue-blood"!
(Think becoming a thoroughbred would change her personality?)
He loves the hot weather there... will actually crawl between the vertical blinds and the sliding door to lie in the direct sunlight, when temps outside are close to 120 degrees!
But this post is a request for information, and not about Desi-
We need your input about a little mystery were are experiencing with Lucy:
Friends own a Shih Tzu, and have complained about an odor their dog has when she returns to the house after taking care of her business outside.
The unpleasant smell disappears quickly, but is always there when she comes back inside, even when she has only been outside for a very short period of time. Our"Luce-Goose", a Schnoodle... Schnauzer-Poodle mix, has the same problem.
She can smell like flowers after we bathe her, then take her outside to go potty and she'll come in the house with a foul odor, which goes away in less than 5 minutes. I've done minor searching online and have so far found nothing which explains the phenomenon. Any ideas on what causes it, and is there an easy way to avoid it?
One thing I did pick up in my research, from a site which may or may not be dependable-
They claim the Shih Tzu breed is the result of a cross between the Llhasa Apso and Pekingese. So Lucy can hope... all we have to do is continue to breed Schnauzers with miniature Poodles, and she also can be a "Blue-blood"!
(Think becoming a thoroughbred would change her personality?)
18 August 2007
17 August 2007
The Decision
NASA will bring the Shuttle home with a hole in its belly.Imagine the weight of that decision!
Am I wrong in thinking that NASA's existence depends on that decision bein' the right one?
Come home safely, brave souls!
16 August 2007
I Love YouTube!
Don't you?
After viewing, click on some of the "Related" videos at the bottom for some real eye-openers!
After viewing, click on some of the "Related" videos at the bottom for some real eye-openers!
15 August 2007
14 August 2007
The Wrong Message
He was four years my senior, but had put much more stress on his bodily machinery...
A lifelong smoker and drinker, he definitely was a "work hard- play hard" kinda guy.
When I started flying EMS helicopters, Don was one of five other pilots already on board with our company. He had been a helicopter flight instructor for years. He was a civilian instructor at Mineral Wells, Texas in 1968 when I started Primary Instruction at the ARMY flight school there. We used to kid that Orville Wright had taught Don to hover.
He was, and is, what most would call a "Character"... just a fun guy to be around.
Most EMS Pilots work some sort of odd schedule-
Ours is a 12 hour shift for four days, then four full days off.
Don bought a farm three hour's drive from our EMS work, and during his four day break would go there and till, plant, fertilize, and harvest. When the sun went down and the work was done, it was PARTY TIME!
I was on duty, and it was a shock when the call came in: "One of your pilots is here. Come get him."
It was Don.
Partying at a local club, he had experienced severe chest pain. Don didn't think it was too serious. His wife threw a fit and insisted he immediately go to the Emergency Room for a checkup. His hometown hospital didn't have the equipment to run thorough tests, so we flew to bring him back to Bigtown for evaluation.
When the dust had settled, they found Don had not had a heart attack. But the extensive testing showed that he had previously had a silent cardiac "event" which had slightly damaged his heart. Released from the hospital, Don returned to work.
Three months passed, and time came for Don's flight physical.
Filling out the questionnaire on the medical form, Pilots are asked if they have had any medical problems or treatment since their last flight physical.
Don answered honestly, and thereby opened "Pandora's box."
It took about a week for the FAA medical folks at Oklahoma City to review his records and hoist the red flag. Don was grounded.
A lifelong smoker and drinker, he definitely was a "work hard- play hard" kinda guy.
When I started flying EMS helicopters, Don was one of five other pilots already on board with our company. He had been a helicopter flight instructor for years. He was a civilian instructor at Mineral Wells, Texas in 1968 when I started Primary Instruction at the ARMY flight school there. We used to kid that Orville Wright had taught Don to hover.
He was, and is, what most would call a "Character"... just a fun guy to be around.
Most EMS Pilots work some sort of odd schedule-
Ours is a 12 hour shift for four days, then four full days off.
Don bought a farm three hour's drive from our EMS work, and during his four day break would go there and till, plant, fertilize, and harvest. When the sun went down and the work was done, it was PARTY TIME!
I was on duty, and it was a shock when the call came in: "One of your pilots is here. Come get him."
It was Don.
Partying at a local club, he had experienced severe chest pain. Don didn't think it was too serious. His wife threw a fit and insisted he immediately go to the Emergency Room for a checkup. His hometown hospital didn't have the equipment to run thorough tests, so we flew to bring him back to Bigtown for evaluation.
When the dust had settled, they found Don had not had a heart attack. But the extensive testing showed that he had previously had a silent cardiac "event" which had slightly damaged his heart. Released from the hospital, Don returned to work.
Three months passed, and time came for Don's flight physical.
Filling out the questionnaire on the medical form, Pilots are asked if they have had any medical problems or treatment since their last flight physical.
Don answered honestly, and thereby opened "Pandora's box."
It took about a week for the FAA medical folks at Oklahoma City to review his records and hoist the red flag. Don was grounded.
At age 55, he could have pursued getting his medical reinstated, but that would have taken a couple years and possibly a considerable outlay of money. While fighting to return to flight status, Don would still have had to find a temporary job. He decided it was more trouble than it was worth, and reluctantly quit flying EMS to pursue farming full time.
The other pilots, all of us, watched Don's case unfold and hoped for the best.
In the end, I'm afraid the lesson we learned from his experience is ironic:
In the end, I'm afraid the lesson we learned from his experience is ironic:
If you experience symptoms of a heart attack or other medical problems-
Be stoic.
Say nuttin' to nobody!
Be stoic.
Say nuttin' to nobody!
11 August 2007
The Final Song of EVERY U.S.O. Show!
O.P.D., OldMan, Slick, and others-
This one's for you, my brothers!
This one's for you, my brothers!
09 August 2007
"Grumpy Old Brit"
An intelligent, insightful, curmudgeon with a wry sense of humor...
And I can tell ya from firsthand experience, he has a funny accent!
I've added the Grumpy Old Brit to my blogroll.
Stop by, check him out, and irritate him!
08 August 2007
"First Responders Day!"
Desiree posts a letter from Steven Jones, Director of the "First Response Coalition", about the movement to establish a "First Responders Day" to honor the folks that will show up and maybe save your life when you are absolutely having your worst day.
The pay for these jobs, in most areas, stinks.
Most of these folks do this work because they are "dedicated idiots".
God Bless 'em for their dedication! They deserve our attention and our gratitude.
Click the link here and sign the petition, please. (It takes about two minutes!)
ADDED, 12:38 PM:
The post I published some time ago about these heroes is here.
07 August 2007
Lies-
Well, it's not that we're always bein' lied to, so much as we're not always bein' told the whole truth:
Saddam and Al Qaeda.
Control information- control your world.
And until we had access to the internet and Bloggers started checking "facts" being put out by major media sources, those sources were able to spin us as they pleased.
Thank God for the internet!
If you used to leave inane, time-wasting, anonymous comments here at "Pitchpull", you've noticed I no longer allow them. Not surprisingly, stupid, uneducated comments have ceased. I'm more than happy to entertain disagreeing commenters... just don't be ignorant. Know your subject before you press the Qwertys!
And before you do that, do a little studying, please:
Check out how major media treated Sgt. Jimmy Massey,
Jesse Macbeth, and now "Scott Thomas" Beauchamp.
A couple quick questions for true thinkers-
How long before even the most die-hard left leaner begins to question the poison he is being fed?
Good news about the mood in Iraq is finally beginning to creep into, of all things, the New York Times!
How have our protectors in Iraq and Afghanistan continued to function, considering the onslaught of lies being reported by our major media?
Mary Mapes and Dan Rather,
Eason Jordan...
Have we, at LAST, turned a corner?
Will "facts", reported by our major media, once again be true?
This I pray.
Saddam and Al Qaeda.
Control information- control your world.
And until we had access to the internet and Bloggers started checking "facts" being put out by major media sources, those sources were able to spin us as they pleased.
Thank God for the internet!
If you used to leave inane, time-wasting, anonymous comments here at "Pitchpull", you've noticed I no longer allow them. Not surprisingly, stupid, uneducated comments have ceased. I'm more than happy to entertain disagreeing commenters... just don't be ignorant. Know your subject before you press the Qwertys!
And before you do that, do a little studying, please:
Check out how major media treated Sgt. Jimmy Massey,
Jesse Macbeth, and now "Scott Thomas" Beauchamp.
A couple quick questions for true thinkers-
How long before even the most die-hard left leaner begins to question the poison he is being fed?
Good news about the mood in Iraq is finally beginning to creep into, of all things, the New York Times!
How have our protectors in Iraq and Afghanistan continued to function, considering the onslaught of lies being reported by our major media?
Mary Mapes and Dan Rather,
Eason Jordan...
Have we, at LAST, turned a corner?
Will "facts", reported by our major media, once again be true?
This I pray.
For Daphne-
Who has had some difficult times lately...
This is the original, from 1972. Hope it lifts your spirits, my friend!
This is the original, from 1972. Hope it lifts your spirits, my friend!
06 August 2007
The Chestnut Cafe
I was in the neighborhood and had to take the pic-
I've heard rumors that Don Imus will go out of his way to stop by for a slice of pie at the Chestnut Cafe!
02 August 2007
Catch Me If You Can
"Catch Me If You Can" is the movie and book written about the life of Frank Abagnale, who for years went through life pretending to be something he was not.
Some time ago I wrote how often I'm approached by folks trying to inflate their feelings of self-worth by claiming to be Viet Nam Veterans, then get uncomfortable when questioned about details of their VN experiences. It still happens often enough to surprise me.
I hadn't heard about the incident Frank Martin illuminates, but reading his words reminds me I have much to learn about expressing myself.
... A good piece of writing and worth your time.
Some time ago I wrote how often I'm approached by folks trying to inflate their feelings of self-worth by claiming to be Viet Nam Veterans, then get uncomfortable when questioned about details of their VN experiences. It still happens often enough to surprise me.
I hadn't heard about the incident Frank Martin illuminates, but reading his words reminds me I have much to learn about expressing myself.
... A good piece of writing and worth your time.
01 August 2007
Should We Poke a Fork in 'Im?
I've been predicting a Clinton/Obama Democrat ticket for months.Hillary has called him naive...
After his speech today re: Pakistan, I'd have to agree with her, and I wonder if he has negated any chance he had at the VP nomination until he matures some more.
Do you see any way he recovers from this?
Nicks
I thought she was cute.
Not a beauty by any stretch, but still attractive.
She was intelligent, easy to talk to, had a great sense of humor and a quick smile...
I was instantly comfortable with her.
When I asked her name she responded "I'm Happy", accompanied by that smile.
A smile like that certainly made it easy to remember someone called "Happy"!
"So Happy, is that your real name?"
"No, my real name is Gladys"...
this comment was accompanied by a strange flicker of her eyes, causing me to dig further-
"How did you come by the nickname?"
... A different smile now... I've embarrassed her a little... and she's even more attractive.
"Well, YOU KNOW GUYS!
Guy friends didn't like the name Gladys. The crude ones started calling me 'Glad Ass'.
That quickly transitioned to 'Happy Tail', which was then just shortened to 'Happy'."
My roommate at the time latched on to her and they became a couple...
I was glad he did. She was good at making all those around her "Happy"!
Not a beauty by any stretch, but still attractive.
She was intelligent, easy to talk to, had a great sense of humor and a quick smile...
I was instantly comfortable with her.
When I asked her name she responded "I'm Happy", accompanied by that smile.
A smile like that certainly made it easy to remember someone called "Happy"!
"So Happy, is that your real name?"
"No, my real name is Gladys"...
this comment was accompanied by a strange flicker of her eyes, causing me to dig further-
"How did you come by the nickname?"
... A different smile now... I've embarrassed her a little... and she's even more attractive.
"Well, YOU KNOW GUYS!
Guy friends didn't like the name Gladys. The crude ones started calling me 'Glad Ass'.
That quickly transitioned to 'Happy Tail', which was then just shortened to 'Happy'."
My roommate at the time latched on to her and they became a couple...
I was glad he did. She was good at making all those around her "Happy"!
26 July 2007
Fear of Flying?
There are eleven BK117's similar to the one pictured in my company's fleet. It's not out of the ordinary for three or four of us to be flying at any given time.Last night, on my way into Bigtown with a non-helmet using motorcycle accident victim, our #3, #4, #7, #9, and #11 aircraft were all airborne, talking on our company radio. The #4 aircraft had just called to report his takeoff, and our dispatcher gave this report about a patient similar to the one I had on board:
"Your patient is a 23 year old male, victim of a motorcycle accident. Your patient was not wearing a helmet. He has a head injury, a broken femur, multiple abrasions and lacerations. I also need to tell you that at this time his parents are reluctant to release him to fly."
Then, five minutes later-
"****#4, return to base, your flight is canceled. Patient will travel by ground."
Amazing!
Here's a guy brave and intelligent enough to ride a motorcycle without a helmet, yet his parents are afraid for him to fly in a helicopter!
Whassup with that?
25 July 2007
Lindsay Lohan
No, I'm not gonna go into details about the case.I'm totally burned out on Britney, Paris, Lindsay, etc..
But ya know what struck me like a lightning bolt?
Looking at this picture I thought, "That photo is the most attractive picture I've seen of her in a long, LONG time!" (How sad... It's her mug shot!)
A young, talented, beautiful woman,
I hope she can get her life in order before she runs out of options.
24 July 2007
Gaia, Upside-Down
It seems we truly are in the world of "Bizarro Jerry"...
I can only shake my head and hope to awaken from what seems to be a frustrating nightmare-
Does the real world work this way?:
A woman charges a man with rape.
The Judge in the case prohibits certain words from being used in the trial.
Wanta take a shot at which words are forbidden?
A man allegedly rapes a 7 year old child. Although he normally carries on adequately in an English speaking environment, he is set free on what seems to be a pretty flimsy technicality.
(If you were the parents of this child being denied justice, what would you do?)
If I were them, I am fearful what I might do if he is released without a trial.
Appeals have been lodged in both cases.
Someone wake me!
I can only shake my head and hope to awaken from what seems to be a frustrating nightmare-
Does the real world work this way?:
A woman charges a man with rape.
The Judge in the case prohibits certain words from being used in the trial.
Wanta take a shot at which words are forbidden?
A man allegedly rapes a 7 year old child. Although he normally carries on adequately in an English speaking environment, he is set free on what seems to be a pretty flimsy technicality.
(If you were the parents of this child being denied justice, what would you do?)
If I were them, I am fearful what I might do if he is released without a trial.
Appeals have been lodged in both cases.
Someone wake me!
23 July 2007
Fortress - Liberator Pics
Some time back, in this post, I blogged about riding
in the B24 "The Dragon and His Tail", and some asked "Where are the pictures?" I finally found 'em.
That's the B17, "Nine-0-Nine" starting #4, above, taken from beneath the wing of the B24.
The flight deck of the B17...
And the B24, taken in flight.
The B24, while it was in "The Dragon and His Tail" livery.
Looking at the vertical stabilizer from the open gunner's portside window at the waist.I still want to fulfill my dream to one day get a ride in a B17!
16 July 2007
Open Your Eyes
From a comment to a Post below:
"Is this BS told to naive reporter?"
Fair question, right?
But let me tell ya what scares me, folks. There are too many intelligent people asking questions like that one. To fully understand my fear... go now and watch this video.
WATCH IT TO IT'S COMPLETION.
Then, and only then, those of you that are able to watch the complete video can come back here and discuss whether Islamic extremists are capable of baking an 11 year old child in an oven.
Please... head outta the sand everyone.
"Is this BS told to naive reporter?"
Fair question, right?
But let me tell ya what scares me, folks. There are too many intelligent people asking questions like that one. To fully understand my fear... go now and watch this video.
WATCH IT TO IT'S COMPLETION.
Then, and only then, those of you that are able to watch the complete video can come back here and discuss whether Islamic extremists are capable of baking an 11 year old child in an oven.
Please... head outta the sand everyone.
14 July 2007
Updated Profile
I've updated my profile and wanted to share it with ya:
Curious by nature, I enjoy learning how things work. Now in my 40th year flying helicopters, I've been a gunship pilot, tour pilot, traffic pilot for a radio station, and flight instructor. I've used helicopters to keep frost off peach trees, pollinate corn, dry racetracks, herd geese, and, as a Deputy Sheriff, chase criminals. I now make my bread and butter flying a helicopter ambulance. A Viet Nam Veteran, I now proudly add "U.S. Army, Retired" to my signature block. I'm fiscally Conservative, growing tired of pointing out the failures of Socialism. I like machines......cars, motorcycles, things that fly. Selfish with my time- I enjoy being around others, but I like being in control of when and where that happens. My idea of heaven on earth: Sara Jean alongside, a good book, an ice cold beer, white sand, and a warm breeze blowing in from the sea.
Lots of memories there. More to come!
Curious by nature, I enjoy learning how things work. Now in my 40th year flying helicopters, I've been a gunship pilot, tour pilot, traffic pilot for a radio station, and flight instructor. I've used helicopters to keep frost off peach trees, pollinate corn, dry racetracks, herd geese, and, as a Deputy Sheriff, chase criminals. I now make my bread and butter flying a helicopter ambulance. A Viet Nam Veteran, I now proudly add "U.S. Army, Retired" to my signature block. I'm fiscally Conservative, growing tired of pointing out the failures of Socialism. I like machines......cars, motorcycles, things that fly. Selfish with my time- I enjoy being around others, but I like being in control of when and where that happens. My idea of heaven on earth: Sara Jean alongside, a good book, an ice cold beer, white sand, and a warm breeze blowing in from the sea.
Lots of memories there. More to come!
12 July 2007
Rationalize? With What?
"The official reported that on a couple of occasions in Baqubah, al Qaeda invited to lunch families they wanted to convert to their way of thinking.
In each instance, the family had a boy, he said, who was about 11 years old.
As LT David Wallach interpreted the man’s words, I saw Wallach go blank and silent. He stopped interpreting for a moment. I asked Wallach, “What did he say?” Wallach said that at these luncheons, the families were sat down to eat. And then their boy was brought in with his mouth stuffed. The boy had been baked. Al Qaeda served the boy to his family."
Yeah, let's try to "understand" these folks while they get stronger, please.
That report from Michael Yon, who is NOT filing his reports from the Baghdad Hilton!
Hat tip to OpFor
In each instance, the family had a boy, he said, who was about 11 years old.
As LT David Wallach interpreted the man’s words, I saw Wallach go blank and silent. He stopped interpreting for a moment. I asked Wallach, “What did he say?” Wallach said that at these luncheons, the families were sat down to eat. And then their boy was brought in with his mouth stuffed. The boy had been baked. Al Qaeda served the boy to his family."
Yeah, let's try to "understand" these folks while they get stronger, please.
That report from Michael Yon, who is NOT filing his reports from the Baghdad Hilton!
Hat tip to OpFor
Why They Get It Wrong, Reprise
They ASSUME...
and you know how the word "assume" breaks down, don't you?
It's amazing how people who report the news don't serve us well.
John Springer, who wrote the following, is just plain (plane?) ignorant:
"Leaking jet fuel and blinding smoke prevented an off-duty firefighter — credited with pulling some victims from the wreckage of a fiery small plane crash — from going after more victims, including a young girl and infant boy who were among the five who died."
No question, this guy walked into chaos.
The article is about the crash of a Cessna 310, which burns AvGas, not JetA. AvGas is MUCH more volatile than JetA, and if John had done a little investigating he'd have known that, and could have reported that fact.
So there was a real danger of explosion, yet Firefighter John Cooper risked his life to save others... unquestionably the guy is a hero.
If you want to read an article that starts off with such a big error, it's here.
I've written before about ignorant news reporters.
You must question the clarity and breadth of everything you read and hear.
Some things don't change.
and you know how the word "assume" breaks down, don't you?
It's amazing how people who report the news don't serve us well.
John Springer, who wrote the following, is just plain (plane?) ignorant:
"Leaking jet fuel and blinding smoke prevented an off-duty firefighter — credited with pulling some victims from the wreckage of a fiery small plane crash — from going after more victims, including a young girl and infant boy who were among the five who died."
No question, this guy walked into chaos.
The article is about the crash of a Cessna 310, which burns AvGas, not JetA. AvGas is MUCH more volatile than JetA, and if John had done a little investigating he'd have known that, and could have reported that fact.
So there was a real danger of explosion, yet Firefighter John Cooper risked his life to save others... unquestionably the guy is a hero.
If you want to read an article that starts off with such a big error, it's here.
I've written before about ignorant news reporters.
You must question the clarity and breadth of everything you read and hear.
Some things don't change.
11 July 2007
Jet Lagged
Out with the old, in with the new(er)...We're home safely.
Our return trip was an exact retracing of our flight to Phoenix-
first, the flight to Denver, followed by a two-hour layover, then the flight to Bigtown. No recalcitrant toilets this time. No ATC delays. I'm favorably impressed with Frontier Airlines and their A318's.
I'm also impressed with Phoenix International. I know that WHEN you show up for a flight can make all the difference in your experience... our flights have both departed in early afternoon.... but we've had two flights through PHX now, and getting through security there has taken us less than 15 minutes on both occasions. (Other hubs, please take a look at PHX!)
And Phoenix?
We've now been to Phoenix in February, when the weather was great...
April, when the weather was PERFECT...
and July...
July! E-Z Bake Oven.
It's such a neat town... Love the airport. Until this trip, love the weather. There is much to do in the area, and the roads to get where you need to go are all good. The cost of living is low.
But during daylight hours in July you are trapped indoors. Now that we're focusing on Phoenix, I'm interested in seeing how long these oppressive temperatures last. I'm told the "Monsoon" is on the way to make things right. I'll stay tuned.
About the above picture...
The '92 Cadillac with no Air Conditioning is gone, replaced by the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac you see above. The pleasant expression you see on Big Bubba's face is there because the A/C on the truck is efficient enough it can be turned to a reduced power setting after a few minutes, even when the O.A.T. is 120 F! He's been sweating in the "no-air" Caddy for a couple months, so his new toy is a nice change for several reasons.
It's good to be home.
Predicted temperature tonight: 58 degrees Fahrenheit!
We'll need light jackets on our walk.
09 July 2007
Second Verse, Same As The First!
The weather, that is.
Well, that's not quite true. Big Bubba has commented that it sure gets old waking to sunny skies every day. He's actually prayed for a few clouds and maybe some rain. His birthday (the reason for our trip West), was July 6th. After he had opened the gifts we brought, Sara Jean was on the way to the dumpster with the used wrapping paper and packaging. She took one step outside the apartment door and called back for us to "come quick!"
In honor of Big Bubba's birthday, it was pouring down rain. It rained for 15 minutes, the sun came out, and all indications it had rained were gone in another quarter hour. Other than that blip it has been sunny and 110+ every day we've been here.
We did venture to the pool yesterday at Noontime, just to see if we could stand being out with the thermometer registering 112. I was worried the pool would be like a hot bath, but the water was refreshing. There was a decent breeze, making it tolerable to be out of the pool so long as you were in the shade. We stayed 90 minutes, and I got enough "color" that I'm a little worried about going to the pool again today unless I go buy some powerful sunscreen.
If you're tired of hearing about the heat, skip this paragraph.
Back in the summer of 2000, Mommanurse,
Ole Prairie Dog, Mommanurse's better half and yours truly played golf on a course in a Southeastern State that is named after one of Greybeard and Mommanurse's great Uncles. The temperature and relative humidity were both above 90. At the tee for the 16th hole, desert acclimated and obviously uncomfortable O.P.D. said "I've got to sit the remaining holes out."
The remaining three of us, accustomed to the air's high water vapor content, played on without him. That weather was dangerous for anyone pushing themselves beyond their body's limitations. The weather here, at 100+ with humidity less than 10%, is dangerous for ALL human beings. We've noticed sore muscles. Sara Jean has had a couple Charlie Horses. When we are properly hydrated, the soreness and cramps disappear.
Talk around the table with local acquaintances after dinner last night momentarily turned again to the subject of Scorpions. Like snakes and spiders, I'm fascinated with them. When he was 12 years old, our hostess' husband caught them for a bounty provided by University of Arizona research folks. He says there are five or six types of scorpions in the area, some as large as four inches in length. I have never seen a scorpion anywhere other than in a zoo. Scorpions "glow" when illuminated with black light... I'd love to go out late one night and watch as they hunt for prey. I'm gonna try to talk someone in to doing that with me sometime in the future.
We'll spend one more night here, then board the flying silver tube for Bigtown tomorrow afternoon. Plans are to eat "in" this evening and enjoy one another's company. Eating "in" also means getting out and consuming the contents of all the doggy-bag cartons we have accrued while eating "out" all this week. I hope that food is nearly as good as when it was "first-run".
I'll have to admit to having a minor case of cabin fever, bein' trapped in the air conditioning for our entire visit. ("Cabin fever may be too strong a term. I just wish we could have gotten outside more.)
Rain is predicted for our arrival home.
It'll be a welcome sight.
Well, that's not quite true. Big Bubba has commented that it sure gets old waking to sunny skies every day. He's actually prayed for a few clouds and maybe some rain. His birthday (the reason for our trip West), was July 6th. After he had opened the gifts we brought, Sara Jean was on the way to the dumpster with the used wrapping paper and packaging. She took one step outside the apartment door and called back for us to "come quick!"
In honor of Big Bubba's birthday, it was pouring down rain. It rained for 15 minutes, the sun came out, and all indications it had rained were gone in another quarter hour. Other than that blip it has been sunny and 110+ every day we've been here.
We did venture to the pool yesterday at Noontime, just to see if we could stand being out with the thermometer registering 112. I was worried the pool would be like a hot bath, but the water was refreshing. There was a decent breeze, making it tolerable to be out of the pool so long as you were in the shade. We stayed 90 minutes, and I got enough "color" that I'm a little worried about going to the pool again today unless I go buy some powerful sunscreen.
If you're tired of hearing about the heat, skip this paragraph.
Back in the summer of 2000, Mommanurse,
Ole Prairie Dog, Mommanurse's better half and yours truly played golf on a course in a Southeastern State that is named after one of Greybeard and Mommanurse's great Uncles. The temperature and relative humidity were both above 90. At the tee for the 16th hole, desert acclimated and obviously uncomfortable O.P.D. said "I've got to sit the remaining holes out."
The remaining three of us, accustomed to the air's high water vapor content, played on without him. That weather was dangerous for anyone pushing themselves beyond their body's limitations. The weather here, at 100+ with humidity less than 10%, is dangerous for ALL human beings. We've noticed sore muscles. Sara Jean has had a couple Charlie Horses. When we are properly hydrated, the soreness and cramps disappear.
Talk around the table with local acquaintances after dinner last night momentarily turned again to the subject of Scorpions. Like snakes and spiders, I'm fascinated with them. When he was 12 years old, our hostess' husband caught them for a bounty provided by University of Arizona research folks. He says there are five or six types of scorpions in the area, some as large as four inches in length. I have never seen a scorpion anywhere other than in a zoo. Scorpions "glow" when illuminated with black light... I'd love to go out late one night and watch as they hunt for prey. I'm gonna try to talk someone in to doing that with me sometime in the future.
We'll spend one more night here, then board the flying silver tube for Bigtown tomorrow afternoon. Plans are to eat "in" this evening and enjoy one another's company. Eating "in" also means getting out and consuming the contents of all the doggy-bag cartons we have accrued while eating "out" all this week. I hope that food is nearly as good as when it was "first-run".
I'll have to admit to having a minor case of cabin fever, bein' trapped in the air conditioning for our entire visit. ("Cabin fever may be too strong a term. I just wish we could have gotten outside more.)
Rain is predicted for our arrival home.
It'll be a welcome sight.
08 July 2007
Como Se Dice "Cookie"?
Well, the people of Mexico may be sayin' no, but the Mexicans in Mesa, Arizona are saying YES!, resoundingly.The stores here are packed with brown-skinned workers AND customers.
We were purchasing supplies for Big Bubba's 24th birthday party. There were no cookies in the bakery case. Sara Jean approached a worker there and asked, "Do you have any cookies?"
The worker turned and continued with her task at hand. Thinking she hadn't been heard, Sara Jean walked closer and spoke in a louder voice. "Do you have any cookies?"
The worker looked at her, then turned to a co-worker and said something in Spanish. The co-worker walked over and asked,
"Can I help you?"
I can only infer that Wal Mart is now hiring non-English speaking workers.
07 July 2007
It's a Small World!
I walked into the hallway with my keys out to open the apartment door. At the other end of the hallway the access door there also opened and the doorway was filled with a man the size of Paul Bunyan. He looked at my Army flight suit and said, "So you're a pilot?"
I told him I was just coming home from flying with my Huey unit. He said, "I'm a pilot too. When you get out of that monkey suit come knock on the door and I'll mix up some White Russians!"
So I did.
He'd been flying airplanes for years. His family owned a business in Birmingham, Alabama, and he was in Bigtown for a year or so to set up a subsidiary operation there. He regularly flew a Piper Aerostar between Birmingham and Bigtown. We became fast friends. When he had completed his job in Bigtown he moved back to Birmingham.
A year or so later I answered the phone and heard his booming voice on the other end-
"HEY, you ever fly an Enstrom?"
I hadn't. But I told him there wasn't anything special about the Enstrom to keep me from gettin' comfortable with it pretty quickly.
"Well, we just bought one, and we can get you a factory checkout. Come on down here and teach me to fly the sumbitch."
So I did.
He kept the helicopter a year or so, then sold it.
Four years pass.
The phone rings. The guy at the other end says, "I own a helicopter and I'm learning to fly it. I'm unhappy with my instructor and you came highly recommended. Do you have any time in an Enstrom?"
"Yeah, I've got about 50 hours in a 280C."
"Great! That's what I own."
I make an appointment to meet him and check out the aircraft. When I turn into his drive I see the helicopter. It looks VERY familiar!
Yep. Same machine. (That's it, shown above.)
Paul Bunyan sold it to a firm in Ft. Lauderdale. They owned it for a couple years, then sold it to an oil exploration company in Houston, Texas, who also kept it two years before selling it to my new student.
It's instructive, and if you're involved in aviation you need to remember-
We are a small family... the helicopter side of things even more so.
You're likely to frequently run into people and machines you've met before.
Try not to make enemies along the way!
06 July 2007
Bein' A Passenger
All of us "news junkies" saw the story-A JetBlue airliner full of folks were held hostage on the tarmac for hours and hours...
denied food and beverages, the lavatories got filled to the point the passengers were complaining about the smell. I'm afraid of what I might have done under those circumstances... those folks were being held against their will, in some very uncomfortable conditions. The term "illegal arrest" comes to mind. There's no question that I would have been in touch with an attorney immediately upon getting off the airplane.
Frontier Airlines offered the best rates to Phoenix this trip. I hadn't flown Frontier in years. Back "in the day", Frontier was known for serving the best meals in the industry. I was interested to see how they compare with the other lines we have used lately.
If you fly Frontier, I hope you want to go to Denver.
All Frontier flights go to Denver. Want to Fly from Indianapolis to Memphis? You'll fly from Indy to Denver, then from Denver to Memphis. The only direct city-to-city flights are to tourist cities in Mexico.
We were loaded onto an Airbus 318... I'm surprised because it's July 4th... the airplane is full.
I prefer flying Boeing products, but the Airbus is a fairly comfortable airplane to fly in. We didn't push away from the gate at our designated time. Over the P.A. system we are informed that there is a problem with the toilets and they hope to resolve the problem quickly. We have a two hour layover in Denver before we leave for Phoenix, so this is no problem for us... we decide to sit back and enjoy the show. A diverse group of workers make their way back and forth down the aisle. Various P.A. announcements attempt to keep us informed... apparently there is an indicator that is showing a problem. They find the indicator is giving false information, then start work on replacing the indicator.
Forty-five minutes later we're on our way. I'm glad for our two-hour layover, but feel sorry for those that may miss their connections because of this delay.
The flight takes less than two hours. No food, but the attendants are attentive and insure we are happy with our beverages. I drink Tomato juice, then ask for coffee... no problem.
Denver is hot. The long walk up the Jetway is a little uncomfortable until we begin to feel the flow of cold air coming down from the terminal. The gate for our connecting flight is an easy three minute walk from our arrival gate.
The Denver to Phoenix flight boards uneventfully. We are departing at 5 P.M. Denver time, and there are many empty seats on this airplane.
We push away and taxi out on time, but before reaching the runway we hear the P.A. system once again:
"ATC has put us on a hold. There is a pile-up of arrivals at Phoenix, and we will be waiting 30 minutes or so for takeoff clearance."
Why?
I can understand the traffic jam and delaying the takeoff, but I ask the question:
"Why didn't they find out what the traffic situation was before loading us all onto this aircraft?"
We'd all have been much more comfortable in the terminal- Restrooms and food catering right there. Couldn't someone have checked the traffic situation before forcing all the cattle into the corral?
No, I guess not. It's too logical.
United Airlines
Over at Daily Aviator, Dennis has an AOPA link showing why you
should not fly United Airlines if you care about General Aviation.
should not fly United Airlines if you care about General Aviation.
05 July 2007
I Don't Think We're In Kansas Anymore...
It's 0945 local time as I start typing this post. Big Bubba has a time/temp bug on his computer that indicates it has just reached 100 degrees outside. It was 114 when we landed last evening at 1830 hours. Sara Jean is a sun worshipper and asked about going to the pool... my reply was to ask, "how long do you think you could sit in the sun when it's already 100 degrees outside?" If Big Bubba had an egg in his fridge, I'd go out on the sidewalk and see if I could successfully do one sunny-side-up for ya!Now, help me with a mystery, please-
With the two hour time-change, our bodies were gently saying "hey, it's midnight!" when we finally hit the sack at 10 PM local last night. I was hoping for something like 12 hours of blissful, uninterrupted sleep. Desi the Dachshund was overjoyed that Mom and Pop were in for a visit, so he spent the night with us making sure Sara Jean and I didn't get too close to one another. Coupled with the natural "bein' in a different bed, different pillow, different noises" situation insured that sleep would be fitful at best. So when 8 O'Clock rolled around and we all began to have our eyes half-open, why was it deemed that the 60 year old, nearly retired old fart should be the one to take the dog out for his morning constitutional? Why can't the much younger, much better looking female half of the partnership get her beautiful hindside outta bed, leash up the dog, and parade down the street smelling every tree and light post until we get our "business" done, while the crusty old aviator smiles, turns over, and catches another 20 winks or so?
No, that ain't the way it works.
And the excuse of course- "I don't want anyone seein' me lookin' like this!"
Odd... this assumes I want anyone seein' me with "pillow hair" and what feel like little gold nuggets trapped in the corners of my eyes! I leashed Desi up, and we staggered down the stairs and down the sidewalk, sniffin' every bush, trash can, and car tire along the way... (not me, the dog!)
I don't know what catches your eye, but one of the things I have always keyed on is license plates. There's something about seeing a license plate from someplace far away that stirs something in me. After Desi had his business taken care of, we walked the circle that the parking lot makes here at Big Bubba's apartment complex, and I noticed the plate shown above. I can't make out the name of the State/Province, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised at the Country since I'm now in a State that shares a border with Mexico. Still, I don't see a tag like that often, and it made me wonder... the owner of the truck is someone that is willing to announce to the world that he is from Mexico... wonder what kind of business he is conducting here in Mesa?
It'd be interesting to hear.
Back to the heat...
I had an MSN Instant Message chat with Ole Prairie Dog this morning, and we discussed the heat here, comparing it to what we dealt with in Viet Nam and what the kids in Iraq are exposed to. In Viet Nam, most of us had no air conditioning, so we went to bed in 90 degree temps with the humidity also 'way up on the scale. I can remember frequently waking up with my sheets soaked from my perspiration... solid sleep there also came at a premium.
But the heat here is more like the heat our troops are suffering with in Iraq, and those that are having to Patrol are out in it while wearing helmet, protective body armor, and where there is a suspected threat, gas mask, gloves, etc..
Just walking the dog this morning was uncomfortable. I know there is a certain amount of acclimatization the body can do to its' environment, and I'm glad our guys in Iraq probably have access to air conditioning and plenty of water... but bein' here in Mesa is a reminder... a real slap in the face... keep 'em in your prayers, folks!
More from Mesa later.
A couple quickie updates at 1 PM:
110 degrees... When we got home from the airport, Big Bubba's Caddy made sounds like the coolant was boiling away, but there was no sign of steam. The car idles at about 2000 RPM when it is at operating temperature, and there is no way to get it to idle slower. The trim around the trunk lock fell off last week. The car has 180,000 miles on it... nearly half of that put on by a young male driver.
Since Big Bubba is trading cars today I didn't want to drive this poor lame Caddy any more than is absolutely necessary. So at Noon Sara Jean and I walked 15 minutes over to our favorite Mexican Restaurant here... "Chevy's". Fifteen minutes is about all I'd like to spend in this kind of heat... by the time we got to the restaurant our hearts were pounding and our feet were sending an S.O.S.. We ate a great meal, then forced a lot of water on ourselves in order to make the return trip to the apartment.
As a military officer, since 1967, I have had access to an insurance/financial services company called USAA. That company now has extended services to dependents, and Big Bubba has his renters and car insurance with them. When he started considering the purchase of a car I suggested he call USAA and check on the rate on a car loan. He did, and found their rates to be highly competitive. This morning there was a knock at the door. Opening the door I found a man from DHL Express on the other side with a special delivery envelope from USAA. I signed for the delivery and opened the envelope to find a blank check inside which can be filled out for any amount up to $48,000 toward the purchase of any automobile! That, folks, amazes me!
One more observation about the heat-
The birds aren't flying. We walked beneath several trees along our way to eat, and noticed Pigeons, Doves, and some kind of Blackbird were perfectly willing to stay roosted in the trees, even though we were passing at what would normally be "spook" distance for them. Smart!
Again, there may be more coming later.
03 July 2007
July, 2007
That's a picture of two-year-old Big Bubba at the dedication of the Indy Heliport. How things have changed! Big Bubba has grown and prospered. The heliport, one of the FAA's pet projects at the time, is now more helistop than heliport. But that's another story for a later time.
Tomorrow, Sara Jean and I will once again endure the aggravation of taking off our shoes for the TSA, and will board the flying Greyhound bus for Phoenix, this time to celebrate Big Bubba's 24th birthday. We poked around for the best rate and found that by flying on the 4th itself, we could save almost $100. So we depart tomorrow at 1400 hours, and taking the time change into consideration, we'll be arriving in plenty of time to bask in the (116F. predicted) sunshine. When the sun disappears in the West, there will be a fireworks display just down the street from BB's apartment, and we are hopeful the temps will have moderated enough for us to sit on his balcony with an adult beverage and "ooh and ahh" at the colors, shapes, and BOOMS.
Everyone involved in aviation knows that Murphy's Law reigns supreme, so it'll come as no surprise to you that the air-conditioner on Big Bubba's 1992 Cadillac ceased to work just about two months ago when the temps in Mesa first popped their heads above 100 degrees F. BB's drive to work is only 15 minutes or so, so he has been "toughing it out", sweating and saving like crazy for wheels he has been dreaming of for a couple years. He wanted to pay cash for the truck, but the heat finally got to him. He found the exact vehicle he wanted at a dealership just a few minutes away from his home, and on his own, just made a deal to trade the Cadillac for it. The Cadillac is titled in my name and I spent a few frantic moments looking for the title this afternoon... the cabinet those records were in was one we gave him when he moved, so all our titles were temporarily misplaced. But I found 'em, and now all but the Caddy title are in the fire-proof safe in my new office- Big Bubba's old bedroom!
So we're gonna be brave and risk traveling on our nation's birthday, on a day when fanatics would love find a way to blow us out of the sky. We're gonna thumb our noses at 'em and act like not bein' able to bring 4 ounces of hand lotion aboard the airplane is a normal thing!
I'll update you on the flight when we are safely in Mesa.
Happy Birthday U.S.A.! Have a safe and happy 4th of July everyone!
02 July 2007
Pre- July 4th Trivia:
Who said the following?1. Your President is lying to you.
2. This war is illegal.
3. You cannot win the war.
The answer depends on the timeframe!
July 1942- Tokyo Rose...
July 2007- The Democratic Congress!
Tip o' the hat once again to Blackfive.
Living in a Little Town...
On the left is that big old Oak tree I referred to in an earlier post. Behind it- Casa Greybeard.
It's a small place, more than adequate for our needs now that we've converted Big Bubba's old bedroom to a TV/Computer room. On 2 1/2 acres, what you can't see in this picture is the full-of-fish 5 acre pond that abuts the property in the back.
I was thinking the other day about how we ended up in this home. Have you ever considered the chain of events that lead you to live where you live, or work where you work?
My parents bought a home in a small community South of Indianapolis, Indiana, and lived there for more than 30 years. When I was drafted in 1966, I could not remember living anywhere else. I went to school there, delivered newspapers for five years there, worked at a Service Station and two different Restaurants there. That community was a second family to me... kids couldn't get into too much mischief, 'cause if ya did some neighbor would be on the phone tattlin' on ya in a millisecond!
I've lived in lots of areas in this country... visited in many, many more.
I still have strong feelings and very fond memories of growing up in Central Indiana.
One of the reasons we live where we now live is because this area reminds me in many, many ways of the community where I grew up. Something that happened last week reinforced that feeling...
We still walk often, Sara Jean and I, for fitness and to help control our weight. One day last week we were finishing our 2.2 mile walk, and we waved at "Ed" as he worked in his garden.
Ed is elderly... just lost his lifetime bride a year or so ago. He stays busy in the Spring through Fall by planting and working a beautiful vegetable garden.
Ed waved back, then shouted and indicated we should stop. He got into his John Deere "Gator" and came our way...
The bed of the Gator was full of fresh produce...
"You guys like broccoli?"
"How 'bout cabbage? There's lots of cabbage... help yourself."
Fresh, straight outta the garden, and the price was RIGHT!
Hard to beat, huh?
Small town life can be wonderful.
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