I want to talk about promotions... specifically military promotions.
Let me explain.
One of my High School classmates is now a Major General in the United States Army. He was in many of my classes... smart, but gave no sign at that time of being brilliant. His brilliance was in athletics- Football, Basketball, Baseball, Track. He was good at everything he did athletically, and an All-Stater in Football... he played Linebacker behind me at the left Defensive Guard position.
He was also one of the "good guys". He always seemed to have a smile on his face and a group of classmates around him. I can't think of anyone that disliked him.
My opinion is that it's true in any vocation-
He's the sort that will rise to the top. In NO WAY do I mean this negatively... if you can make those around you comfortable, they're more likely to listen to what you are saying. If you are also good at what you do, you'll be successful. I guess my point is that good salespeople succeed where others fall short, and successful folks are good salespeople.
My experience in the Army was that education and punching the right tickets would get you promotions, up to a certain point. I knew exactly what education, both civilian and military, was expected of me to be promoted to certain ranks. There came a point in my Army Reserve life where I had to make a decision about what was most important... my civilian livelihood, or my military promotion. There simply weren't enough hours in the day to finish the military schooling I needed, by correspondence, to be promoted to the next rank. Thankfully, at that point I was qualified to retire.
So please, those of you with time in the military, your comments-
At what rank do you become more politician than military leader, (if at all) ? Again, this is also true in civilian life, but anyone who has read and enjoyed "Once An Eagle", (a GREAT book that I recommend to all my friends), knows what I'm talking about... the difference between the "Tommy Franks" and "Wesley Clarks" in our military.
I knew early on that I wasn't enough politician to reach high rank in the ARMY. In my experience, those promoted to Bird Colonel were as much politician as they were military officer. Promotion to Star Rank meant that officer was a great politician. I am in awe and proud of my classmate and not at all surprised by his success. I guess I'm most surprised I didn't recognize his "all around greatness" earlier!
12 March 2008
07 March 2008
Almost A YouTube Addict!
I LOVE YouTube!
I have to limit the amount of time I spend pokin' around the various video sites lest I find myself wondering where the last four hours disappeared. What a powerful medium... from a political viewpoint, getting more and more powerful as both parties realize the possible impact there.
Two examples follow-
Although well done, I couldn't help but visualize German arms raised in the "Heil Hitler" salute as I listened to the background chant in this one:
So I was not surprised... actually comforted, to find that others were equally disturbed:
We've not yet seen the full power of YouTube and other internet video sites, folks. I'm simultaneously thrilled and frightened, trying to see the future there.
HA! UPDATE:
"If you care about your kids' future, not cheating on your wife and the mother of your children seems to be of far more importance than, say, who you vote for in the primaries."
That article, worth reading, is here.
I have to limit the amount of time I spend pokin' around the various video sites lest I find myself wondering where the last four hours disappeared. What a powerful medium... from a political viewpoint, getting more and more powerful as both parties realize the possible impact there.
Two examples follow-
Although well done, I couldn't help but visualize German arms raised in the "Heil Hitler" salute as I listened to the background chant in this one:
So I was not surprised... actually comforted, to find that others were equally disturbed:
We've not yet seen the full power of YouTube and other internet video sites, folks. I'm simultaneously thrilled and frightened, trying to see the future there.
HA! UPDATE:
"If you care about your kids' future, not cheating on your wife and the mother of your children seems to be of far more importance than, say, who you vote for in the primaries."
That article, worth reading, is here.
02 March 2008
" A Story of Heroes, War, and Tragedy."
I've written many times of my love for the Huey.
I envy Elay, who's still flyin' the wonderful, forgiving old machine. From comments and correspondence, I know several of you share my feelings.
UPFRONT WARNING:
This video is another of those that runs 9+ minutes.
If you have an interest in the Huey, the Viet Nam conflict, or a good human interest story, I think you'll find it worth your time.
SECOND WARNING:
Have a hanky or tissue at hand.
Enjoy!
I envy Elay, who's still flyin' the wonderful, forgiving old machine. From comments and correspondence, I know several of you share my feelings.
UPFRONT WARNING:
This video is another of those that runs 9+ minutes.
If you have an interest in the Huey, the Viet Nam conflict, or a good human interest story, I think you'll find it worth your time.
SECOND WARNING:
Have a hanky or tissue at hand.
Enjoy!
29 February 2008
Experience! Hope! Change!
The sad part is, looking toward Election '08 I find myself in almost exactly the same position I was in four years ago... not wanting to vote for GWB, but having NO OTHER CHOICE!
On the other hand, it truly is gonna be entertaining watching this story unfold!
By my way of thinking, Democrats have a mighty short time-frame to get things under control. There are rumblings that Hillary might end up with the nomination, even if she isn't chosen in the primaries. Think of the long term effect of such an action! Is that truly possible? Remember, we're talking about the Clintons!
Of course the probability is that "Mr. Hope and Change" will be running against "Mr. Ticking Time-Bomb"... I squirm, thinking of how interesting this will be!
Texas and Ohio loom heavily over the horizon. We know too much about Hillary... not enough about H&C. Hasn't he been masterful, NOT answering questions?!
I already know enough about him to know I can't vote for him. You probably do too, but help me here by reminding me if I've missed anything...
This guy "Barry Obama/Soetoro" has now popped up with more ties to Muslim Madrassas than previously thought. There is some conjecture about his faith from the time he was 10 until he was 27 or so. Religion was a factor for Romney... will it also be a factor for Obama/Soetoro?
Both Democrat candidates are promising to repair U.S. relationships with allies, while both threaten to break treaties with our closest neighbors (NAFTA).
Yeah, showing what little regard we have for our friends... that'll facilitate repair!
Obama has not been pressed to answer questions about Tony Rezko because of the love affair the media has had for him, and his opponent is every bit as dirty as he. That will change in an instant when the General Campaign gets underway.
I'm hopeful one of two things happens:
1. McCain names a true conservative as his running mate, and convinces me he'll lean heavily on him/her as an advisor.
Or-
2. As we approach the General election it's obvious we have another Nixon/McGovern blowout on our hands and I can smile while I fulfill my threat and write in "NONE OF THE ABOVE" as my candidate!
Excuse me, I'm gonna go pop some popcorn.
On the other hand, it truly is gonna be entertaining watching this story unfold!
By my way of thinking, Democrats have a mighty short time-frame to get things under control. There are rumblings that Hillary might end up with the nomination, even if she isn't chosen in the primaries. Think of the long term effect of such an action! Is that truly possible? Remember, we're talking about the Clintons!
Of course the probability is that "Mr. Hope and Change" will be running against "Mr. Ticking Time-Bomb"... I squirm, thinking of how interesting this will be!
Texas and Ohio loom heavily over the horizon. We know too much about Hillary... not enough about H&C. Hasn't he been masterful, NOT answering questions?!
I already know enough about him to know I can't vote for him. You probably do too, but help me here by reminding me if I've missed anything...
This guy "Barry Obama/Soetoro" has now popped up with more ties to Muslim Madrassas than previously thought. There is some conjecture about his faith from the time he was 10 until he was 27 or so. Religion was a factor for Romney... will it also be a factor for Obama/Soetoro?
Both Democrat candidates are promising to repair U.S. relationships with allies, while both threaten to break treaties with our closest neighbors (NAFTA).
Yeah, showing what little regard we have for our friends... that'll facilitate repair!
Obama has not been pressed to answer questions about Tony Rezko because of the love affair the media has had for him, and his opponent is every bit as dirty as he. That will change in an instant when the General Campaign gets underway.
I'm hopeful one of two things happens:
1. McCain names a true conservative as his running mate, and convinces me he'll lean heavily on him/her as an advisor.
Or-
2. As we approach the General election it's obvious we have another Nixon/McGovern blowout on our hands and I can smile while I fulfill my threat and write in "NONE OF THE ABOVE" as my candidate!
Excuse me, I'm gonna go pop some popcorn.
28 February 2008
27 February 2008
Small (Internet) World!
The response to ThirdWaveDave's post, was touching,
and as is so frequently the case, prodded me to write about something similar that happened to me...
The internet has made our world small in many ways.
Shortly after my return from Viet Nam I attended a party back at home and found many of my High School classmates there. After our host made the announcement that I was home after a year of "fling-winging" my way around the unfriendly skies, one of my friends said, "We had two schoolmates that went to Viet Nam as helicopter pilots, and only one of them is alive." It was there that I learned an acquaintance two years older had also gone to flight school, and had been shot down and killed.
~Fast forward to a couple years ago.
At a Blog established for High School classmates, "Jerry" once again came up.
I poked around the "Viet Nam Helicopter Pilot's Association" website and found the following about Jerry, then posted the information at that Blog:
ADAMS JERRY DEAN
Name: 1LT Jerry Dean Adams
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 02/18/1968 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 23.1
Date of Birth: 01/05/1945
Home City: Franklin, IN
Service: AR branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: C/3/17 CAV
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 67-8
Service: AR branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 39E-079
Short Summary: Believe Adams helicopter was down for maintenance so he flew along as observer on this mission.
Aircraft: OH-6A tail number 66-07836
Service number: O5233465
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 61204
Primary cause: Hostile Fire
Compliment cause: small arms fire
Started Tour: 10/03/1967
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
Length of service: 02
Location: Tay Ninh Province III Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Methodist (Evangelical United Brethren)
The following information secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.Category of casualty as defined by the Army: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: officer
This record was last updated on 01/04/2002
From the above we learn that Jerry had been in Viet Nam five months. His normal aircraft was grounded for maintenance, so he volunteered to act as an observer on an OH-6......(the type helicopter used on the TV show "Magnum P.I.").
Then there's this.......information about the helicopter:
Helicopter OH-6A 66-07836
Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 66-07836
The Army purchased this helicopter 11/67
Total flight hours at this point: 00000018
Date: 02/18/1968
Incident number: 68021828.KIA
Unit: A/3/17 CAV
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED
This was a Recon mission for Unarmed Recon
While Enroute this helicopter was in Bank Right at 0075 feet and 060 knots.
South Vietnam
Helicopter took 4 hits from:
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (7.62MM)
The helicopter was hit in the Cockpit
Systems damaged were: PERSONNEL
Casualties = 01 KIA . .
The helicopter Continued Flight.
The aircraft was diverted prior to accomplishing any mission objectives.
TAY NINH recovered the helicopter.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database.
Also: LNOF, 80167, CASRP, FM232 (Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. Casualty Report. )
Crew Members:P 1LT ADAMS JERRY DEAN KIA
This record was last updated on 05/25/1998
A couple things of interest here.
Notice: Total flight hours at this point: 00000018
The aircraft was brand new!
My unit's main mission was also recon, and we used this same machine.
In my year in South Viet Nam I never saw an OH-6 get more than 300 hours on it before it was shot down. Obviously, this was a dangerous job.
They were flying at 75 feet, going 60 knots.
At the beginning of their recon, the aircraft was hit by four bullets, probably an AK-47, (.30 calibre) and Jerry was hit.
The aircraft continued to fly........probably to the nearest fire base where the pilot tried to get medical help for Jerry, (that is conjecture on my part.)
The aircraft was recovered at Tay Ninh, Viet Nam, (probably sling loaded below a Huey), repaired, and sent out to fly again.
Cold, impersonal facts.
Hard to read when you can put a smiling face to the name that generated the data.
That Jerry volunteered to fly along as an observer on this mission says a great deal about his courage. This was, in my thinking, the most dangerous flying job in Viet Nam.
He wasn't required to do it... he volunteered.
THANK GOD FOR PEOPLE LIKE JERRY!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shortly after I posted that information I received the following via email:
Hello,
I wanted to thank you so much for what you wrote about Jerry.
My name is Kelley ***** ****** and Jerry is my father.
I surf from time to time just typing in his name to see what comes up and that's how I found your post.
I was adopted by my mom's parent's, lived in Greenwood and married a CG grad. My 4 year old son looks a lot like Jerry......at least that's what my family thinks. Let's just hope he doesn't get the teeth! He definitely has the dimples.
I wish I could have known Jerry. I was only two and a half when he was killed. I've always wanted to know if the men he was flying with that day made it back from Nam. I hope so.
Another classmate had several letters she had received from Jerry while he was in Viet Nam that she had saved all these years, and she agreed to give them to Kelley so Kelley could get a better feel for the sort of man her father was. I was floored to even be a factor in that hook-up!
So indeed we live in a small world... gettin' smaller every day!
and as is so frequently the case, prodded me to write about something similar that happened to me...
The internet has made our world small in many ways.
Shortly after my return from Viet Nam I attended a party back at home and found many of my High School classmates there. After our host made the announcement that I was home after a year of "fling-winging" my way around the unfriendly skies, one of my friends said, "We had two schoolmates that went to Viet Nam as helicopter pilots, and only one of them is alive." It was there that I learned an acquaintance two years older had also gone to flight school, and had been shot down and killed.
~Fast forward to a couple years ago.
At a Blog established for High School classmates, "Jerry" once again came up.
I poked around the "Viet Nam Helicopter Pilot's Association" website and found the following about Jerry, then posted the information at that Blog:
ADAMS JERRY DEAN
Name: 1LT Jerry Dean Adams
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 02/18/1968 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 23.1
Date of Birth: 01/05/1945
Home City: Franklin, IN
Service: AR branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: C/3/17 CAV
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 67-8
Service: AR branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 39E-079
Short Summary: Believe Adams helicopter was down for maintenance so he flew along as observer on this mission.
Aircraft: OH-6A tail number 66-07836
Service number: O5233465
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 61204
Primary cause: Hostile Fire
Compliment cause: small arms fire
Started Tour: 10/03/1967
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
Length of service: 02
Location: Tay Ninh Province III Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Methodist (Evangelical United Brethren)
The following information secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.Category of casualty as defined by the Army: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: officer
This record was last updated on 01/04/2002
From the above we learn that Jerry had been in Viet Nam five months. His normal aircraft was grounded for maintenance, so he volunteered to act as an observer on an OH-6......(the type helicopter used on the TV show "Magnum P.I.").
Then there's this.......information about the helicopter:
Helicopter OH-6A 66-07836
Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 66-07836
The Army purchased this helicopter 11/67
Total flight hours at this point: 00000018
Date: 02/18/1968
Incident number: 68021828.KIA
Unit: A/3/17 CAV
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED
This was a Recon mission for Unarmed Recon
While Enroute this helicopter was in Bank Right at 0075 feet and 060 knots.
South Vietnam
Helicopter took 4 hits from:
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (7.62MM)
The helicopter was hit in the Cockpit
Systems damaged were: PERSONNEL
Casualties = 01 KIA . .
The helicopter Continued Flight.
The aircraft was diverted prior to accomplishing any mission objectives.
TAY NINH recovered the helicopter.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database.
Also: LNOF, 80167, CASRP, FM232 (Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. Casualty Report. )
Crew Members:P 1LT ADAMS JERRY DEAN KIA
This record was last updated on 05/25/1998
A couple things of interest here.
Notice: Total flight hours at this point: 00000018
The aircraft was brand new!
My unit's main mission was also recon, and we used this same machine.
In my year in South Viet Nam I never saw an OH-6 get more than 300 hours on it before it was shot down. Obviously, this was a dangerous job.
They were flying at 75 feet, going 60 knots.
At the beginning of their recon, the aircraft was hit by four bullets, probably an AK-47, (.30 calibre) and Jerry was hit.
The aircraft continued to fly........probably to the nearest fire base where the pilot tried to get medical help for Jerry, (that is conjecture on my part.)
The aircraft was recovered at Tay Ninh, Viet Nam, (probably sling loaded below a Huey), repaired, and sent out to fly again.
Cold, impersonal facts.
Hard to read when you can put a smiling face to the name that generated the data.
That Jerry volunteered to fly along as an observer on this mission says a great deal about his courage. This was, in my thinking, the most dangerous flying job in Viet Nam.
He wasn't required to do it... he volunteered.
THANK GOD FOR PEOPLE LIKE JERRY!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shortly after I posted that information I received the following via email:
Hello,
I wanted to thank you so much for what you wrote about Jerry.
My name is Kelley ***** ****** and Jerry is my father.
I surf from time to time just typing in his name to see what comes up and that's how I found your post.
I was adopted by my mom's parent's, lived in Greenwood and married a CG grad. My 4 year old son looks a lot like Jerry......at least that's what my family thinks. Let's just hope he doesn't get the teeth! He definitely has the dimples.
I wish I could have known Jerry. I was only two and a half when he was killed. I've always wanted to know if the men he was flying with that day made it back from Nam. I hope so.
Another classmate had several letters she had received from Jerry while he was in Viet Nam that she had saved all these years, and she agreed to give them to Kelley so Kelley could get a better feel for the sort of man her father was. I was floored to even be a factor in that hook-up!
So indeed we live in a small world... gettin' smaller every day!
22 February 2008
Hope, Change, and Hoping For Change...
I like him, this Obama guy.
He seems the sort of guy I'd like to snort cocaine with, IF I ever did that sort of thing.
Others, including JFK's daughter Caroline, have compared him to JFK. I don't see that at all... cannot imagine Obama initiating a Bay of Pigs invasion, or ramping up troop deployments to protect an ally like South Viet Nam. But that's another post altogether, and I'm sure the JFK comparisons will quickly cease as soon as the General Election campaign gets underway.
There is a JFK comparison that REALLY does scare me though, and I'm sure you may have thought of it too. So please, please, please... no more of lapses like this, ever! (And unbelievably, in Dallas!)
He seems the sort of guy I'd like to snort cocaine with, IF I ever did that sort of thing.
Others, including JFK's daughter Caroline, have compared him to JFK. I don't see that at all... cannot imagine Obama initiating a Bay of Pigs invasion, or ramping up troop deployments to protect an ally like South Viet Nam. But that's another post altogether, and I'm sure the JFK comparisons will quickly cease as soon as the General Election campaign gets underway.
There is a JFK comparison that REALLY does scare me though, and I'm sure you may have thought of it too. So please, please, please... no more of lapses like this, ever! (And unbelievably, in Dallas!)
20 February 2008
WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!
Of course it's all Bush's fault!
He's in charge of the bureaucrats responsible for this incompetence, isn't he?
I'm certainly not gonna vote for him next time!
He's in charge of the bureaucrats responsible for this incompetence, isn't he?
I'm certainly not gonna vote for him next time!
15 February 2008
Faster Than A Speeding Bullet!
"One day, high above Arizona , we were monitoring the radio traffic of all the mortal airplanes below us. First, a Cessna pilot asked the air traffic controllers to check his ground speed. 'Ninety knots,' ATC replied. A twin Bonanza soon made the same request. 'One-twenty on the ground,' was the reply. To our surprise, a Navy F-18 came over the radio with a ground speed check. I knew exactly what he was doing. Of course, he had a ground speed indicator in his cockpit, but he wanted to let all the bug-smashers in the valley know what real speed was. 'Dusty 52, we show you at 620 on the ground,' ATC responded. The situation was too ripe. I heard the click of Walter's mike button in the rear seat. In his most innocent voice, Walter startled the controller by asking for a ground speed check from 81,000 feet, clearly above controlled airspace. In a cool, professional voice, the controller replied, 'Aspen 20, I show you at 1,982 knots on the ground.' We did not hear another transmission on that frequency all the way to the coast. "
When Gary Powers' U-2 was shot down in 1960, my old man opened my mind to "outside the box" thinking. To the general public, the U-2 was a revelation... we had been flying over the Soviet Union with impunity for years! My mind reeled when Dad asked, "I wonder what else we've got brewing?" We learned the answer to that question a few years later... the SR-71 "Blackbird".
I love SR-71 stories. I once sat next to a guy in a classroom setting for a couple weeks that had been a back-seater in the airplane. His stories of suiting up like an Astronaut, wearing thick flight gloves to protect against the heat of the canopy fascinated me. A few of his insights surprised me... The airplane made much use of titanium because of the heat it would be exposed to at such high airspeeds. He said that titanium had to be procured through surreptitious channels because it was mined in the U.S.S.R.!
Fuel lines were routed around the cockpit to act as heat absorbers to help keep the pilot and RSO cool.
At missions end, the pilot and RSO were frequently winched from the airplane because the fuselage was too hot to be touched.
Stuff of legend, to be sure.
Knowing I'd enjoy it, a friend brought this account to my attention. It's a little long and will take a while to read, but I must admit I got a little misty at the end of the telling, so I enthusiastically recommend it to those of you that are also fly-crazy.
Let me know what you think.
911- Placing Blame
If you were disabled and unable to get out of bed on your own, would you smoke in bed? This woman did, and you can click the video and hear how the 911 call was handled. There's general outrage being directed at the 911 operators, and I'd agree some of that is deserved.
But who do you think is responsible for her death?
But who do you think is responsible for her death?
14 February 2008
Berkeley After Action Report
ThirdWaveDave and Move America Foward take on the Berkeley crowd, and you know how that turned out, don't you?
Dave's report here surprised me with revelations about how the rules for one side didn't apply to the other.
Go take a look.
Dave's report here surprised me with revelations about how the rules for one side didn't apply to the other.
Go take a look.
The Check's In The Mail...
"High tomorrow, 52."
Wonderful!
That was the forecast as I shut the TV off last night.
Two nights ago we had a spell of freezing rain, followed by snow showers that accumulated three inches of the fluffy stuff on top of that icy foundation, followed by two hours of freezing drizzle/fog. The result is beautiful, but the freezing drizzle and fog formed a pavement-like crust on top of the snow... it'll support my weight without breaking. It's very slippery... like oiled glass, and would be far more work than I want to expend to shovel it away.
A 52 degree temperature means I won't have to risk having a massive heart event trying to get rid of it... Mom Nature will take care of my problem!
Now it's a new day. The sun is by itself in the sky... there are no clouds. Per my normal routine, I turn on the radio to listen to my local news-talkers and catch up on the latest gossip/News/Weather/Sports in my little town.
"High today of 42."
What?!! Did I hear that right? 42 degrees ain't gonna get the melting done!
Yep. The next report repeats the offensive statement.
How much are these people paid to be so often wrong?
Do they make a pretty good living?
I'm in the wrong vocation.
13 February 2008
A Clarification-
Just so there's no confusion,
This is an image of "Mohammed":
...This is an image of a "Mohammed Thong":
Class dismissed.
This is an image of "Mohammed":
...This is an image of a "Mohammed Thong":
Class dismissed.
The Beehive
This election process has been a real eye-opener.
We REALLY aren't in Kansas anymore, Toto!
As a matter of fact, each day, the country looks less and less like the country I grew up in. The Democrat candidates are both calling for change... and I'm fearful the changes they indicate they will make will take us "two steps back".
It's true isn't it?... We really don't learn from History. I'm shocked to find we don't learn from some of the most basic courses we all took in college...
Psych 101 and Soc. 101...
By that I mean, reward positive behaviors and negatively reinforce behaviors you want to diminish.
I'm fascinated watching the infighting going on within the Democrat party. I think some had questions during Bill Clinton's denial of human and Civil rights to those women he assaulted and allegedly raped, followed by the acceptance of that violence by Liberal organizations like the National Organization of Women...
Continuing with Billary's idea of how stupid it was for Barack Obama to have "fairy tale" dreams of being President when he was in Kindgergarten...
To Governor Rendell's revelation that White Democrats in Pennsylvania probably won't vote for a Black candidate!
Wow.
It makes me wonder...
Have we finally reached the "Dr. Phil" point in our society?
That point where people take a close look at their lives and ask, "How's that workin' for me?"
To those with years and years of devotion to the Democrat party, voting straight ticket because "Democrats are our friends", looking at the present disaster in Congress I ask...
How's that workin' for ya?
We really are at a point where we have to take a look at what we want from life, what's best not only for us personally , but for the country as a whole.
The Liberals are hoping to gain control.
These are the folks that have passed new laws concerning where and when you can smoke.
Laws about gun ownership.
Laws about where the Marines can and cannot recruit troops...
Marines that will then be forced to defend the lives of those deranged flakes that would, if they could, do away with the Corps altogether.
Lunacy.
Do we want a "Beehive" society?
"To each as to his needs. From each as to his abilities?"
A Liberal loved one once wrote to discuss the country's use/overuse of oil. Now I won't attempt to defend our use of oil, or the situation we presently find ourselves in because of our need for the substance. It sucks.
But this Liberal loved one reminded me that he regularly rides his bicycle to work in order to conserve. And I think that's great... I wish I could follow his lead. But it's 36 miles to my workplace, and although I might physically pull that off in three hours or so, I'd be in no condition to fly a 12 hour shift, then ride the bike home again. Add to this scenario the certainty of 96 degree August heat or January's 15 degrees with 3 inches of snow on the ground, and you can see that even a gas saving motor-scooter is impossible.
In my response to my Liberal loved one I asked, "How serious are you about energy conservation? How big is your home? Since your kids have moved away have you down-sized in order to conserve energy?"
I wasn't surprised when he ignored my question...
It WAS, after all, probably "An Inconvenient Truth."
But it's hard isn't it, trying to be confident about the best route to take? Getting back to the "To each/from each" quote...
Obviously we cannot live like bees... each of us doing only what is necessary to further life for the collective society. We're individuals. We chafe at the idea of others telling us what to do...
at some point, if the control becomes too burdensome, some of us may respond violently.
But there are things I think we could learn from the bees, like collective defense.
Approach the hive and whack it with a stick. What happens?
When do the bees retreat?
Bees have been found encased in Amber, millions of years old, virtually unchanged from the animal we know today. Their longevity indicates they are doing many things right.
Should we emulate them to the degree we can?...
Work together toward a mutually beneficial life, including the defense of our colony as a whole?
I think so.
Now, I think a good starting place would be to go back and review Sociology and Psychology 101.
12 February 2008
Stayin' Up-To-The-Minute
Fearless "Eyewitness Reporter" ThirdWaveDave helps defend our Marines in the land of the "Code Pinkos" via Andrea's blog.
Fist are being thrown. Drop by frequently to stay informed!
10 February 2008
06 February 2008
Tet of 1968
"In truth, the war in Vietnam was lost on the propaganda front, in great measure due to the press's pervasive misreporting of the clear U.S. victory at Tet as a defeat. Forty years is long past time to set the historical record straight."
Our news media deceived us then...
They're deceiving us today.
The whole article, worth reading, is here.
Our news media deceived us then...
They're deceiving us today.
The whole article, worth reading, is here.
Let's Get Started!
Are you as fed up as I am with the lack of choices in our political process?
It's time to quit complaining and start making the "changes" all these candidates are talking about.
Click the link here and let's get this show on the road!
It's time to quit complaining and start making the "changes" all these candidates are talking about.
Click the link here and let's get this show on the road!
04 February 2008
If It Sounds Too Good To Be True_
Commercials on TV Nationwide,
Seminars in towns all over the country that had thousands of folks signing up for big loans for training,
and news of a bent helicopter or two every week...
Now it looks as if the chickens have come home to roost.
Seminars in towns all over the country that had thousands of folks signing up for big loans for training,
and news of a bent helicopter or two every week...
Now it looks as if the chickens have come home to roost.
TWD- Happy Birthday!!
BlogFriend ThirdWaveDave has had a few health issues over the last year.
He has endured them with grace and a positive attitude. We talked over the telephone a couple days ago and he reports he feels better than he has since 1958!
Today is Dave's birthday.
I'd be pleased if you'd click the link and tell Dave you're glad he's a year older, and tell him Greybeard sent ya!
From someone older than dirt...
Happy Birthday Dave!
03 February 2008
This Could Be Explosive...
You probably know, John McCain scares the puddin' outta me. We've all heard stories of his short-tempered, foul-mouthed, near out-of-control tantrums. Like Hillary rifling ashtrays at her philandering husband, is this the sort of behavior we want in charge of "the football"?
Still, six years as a P.O.W. commands our respect and should make us all consider what we would have done under the same circumstances...
Could I have handled that stress?
I'm glad I'll probably never know the answer to that question.
But now there are rumbles in the distance about that story. I'm at once repulsed and fascinated by the possibility that new information may be emerging about McCain's six years in the "Hanoi Hilton".
Take a close look at Andrea's post and the comments that follow. Similar to the just-prior-to-election revelation of GWB's drunk driving arrest, this makes me feel VERY uncomfortable...
Sleazy politics?
Maybe.
But there is a great deal of "smoke" out there, and we need to be sure there'll be no fire appearing in the future.
If you have time, why not check out the BlogTalkRadio links at Andrea's blog, tune in, and participate in the chat during the show? As voters, it's our responsibility to be as informed on this subject as we can possibly be!
I hope to join ya in the chatroom tomorrow night at 9 P.M. Eastern time.
01 February 2008
"NONE OF THE ABOVE!"
In the movie "Network", Howard Beale, played by Peter Finch, captures the attention of the masses by losing his cool on a live Network news broadcast, telling his viewers to go to the window and shout "I'm Mad As Hell, and I'm Not Going To Take It Anymore!"
His viewers are obviously of the same mind.
Soon the "I'm mad as HELL" shouts are being heard from all corners of the country.
Now, I must say I can identify with that rage.
I'm literally watching my country being destroyed, piece, by piece, by piece.
I keep hoping some "straight talking" leader will emerge... someone who can communicate well enough to illustrate how the path we are taking differs little from the disastrous course other countries have taken... someone who can show us there is no "free lunch"... that the path we must take will be hard, but will, in the end, be worth the pain of traveling.
I had high hopes this year. I thought, "surely it is plain to everyone we are on a course to failure".
I was wrong. My "Knight in Shining Armor" has not appeared over the horizon to take charge of the chaos and save us all. Instead, from ALL candidates, we get suggestions that Government programs are the solution to our ills.
Ask yourself this folks...
In what way does any Government program you can point to truly work efficiently? (And I'm not talking about the back alley, Rezko to Obama type Government program!)
So here we are again, facing the disgusting choice of having to vote for a scoundrel, or a tyrant.
I've been voting since 1968. In all the time I've been voting, only twice have I voted FOR someone, (and one of those votes was wasted, to show my disgust).
Shortly after casting that wasted vote, we had the "revolution" of 1994.
I think it may be time for another Revolution.
I think Weblogs are the vehicle to drive that revolution.
Are you as disgusted as I am with the lousy choices we face in this election?
If so, what are we gonna do about it... once again hold our nose and vote?
I have a better idea...
I suggest a 'Write-In" campaign...
Write in "NONE OF THE ABOVE" as your choice for President in 2008.
Done in huge numbers, it is the only way I know to show how broken our present system is, and how sick many of us are of voting for the lesser of two bad candidates.
And Bloggers... PLEASE steal my idea.
The only way this will have the necessary impact is if lots of folks are going to their windows shouting,
NONE OF THE ABOVE!
UPDATE, 1608 Hours...
Take a quick look at what THIRDWAVEDAVE has to say about the subject and check out the video there. I had the quote wrong... it's "I'm mad as Hell, and I'm not gonna take THIS anymore!"
Also, Andrea tells a story I fervently hope proves to be false.
His viewers are obviously of the same mind.
Soon the "I'm mad as HELL" shouts are being heard from all corners of the country.
Now, I must say I can identify with that rage.
I'm literally watching my country being destroyed, piece, by piece, by piece.
I keep hoping some "straight talking" leader will emerge... someone who can communicate well enough to illustrate how the path we are taking differs little from the disastrous course other countries have taken... someone who can show us there is no "free lunch"... that the path we must take will be hard, but will, in the end, be worth the pain of traveling.
I had high hopes this year. I thought, "surely it is plain to everyone we are on a course to failure".
I was wrong. My "Knight in Shining Armor" has not appeared over the horizon to take charge of the chaos and save us all. Instead, from ALL candidates, we get suggestions that Government programs are the solution to our ills.
Ask yourself this folks...
In what way does any Government program you can point to truly work efficiently? (And I'm not talking about the back alley, Rezko to Obama type Government program!)
So here we are again, facing the disgusting choice of having to vote for a scoundrel, or a tyrant.
I've been voting since 1968. In all the time I've been voting, only twice have I voted FOR someone, (and one of those votes was wasted, to show my disgust).
Shortly after casting that wasted vote, we had the "revolution" of 1994.
I think it may be time for another Revolution.
I think Weblogs are the vehicle to drive that revolution.
Are you as disgusted as I am with the lousy choices we face in this election?
If so, what are we gonna do about it... once again hold our nose and vote?
I have a better idea...
I suggest a 'Write-In" campaign...
Write in "NONE OF THE ABOVE" as your choice for President in 2008.
Done in huge numbers, it is the only way I know to show how broken our present system is, and how sick many of us are of voting for the lesser of two bad candidates.
And Bloggers... PLEASE steal my idea.
The only way this will have the necessary impact is if lots of folks are going to their windows shouting,
NONE OF THE ABOVE!
UPDATE, 1608 Hours...
Take a quick look at what THIRDWAVEDAVE has to say about the subject and check out the video there. I had the quote wrong... it's "I'm mad as Hell, and I'm not gonna take THIS anymore!"
Also, Andrea tells a story I fervently hope proves to be false.
29 January 2008
Death By Acetominophen
Winds- 170 degrees variable 210 degrees at 20 knots gusting to 30, peak gusts to 35.
There are rainshowers in the area.
Time to earn my salary.
"Your patient is a 57 year old man, victim of a drug overdose. He has ingested an entire bottle of Tylenol PM."
Acetominophen is a wonderful drug unless you take too much of it. In overdose, I'm told it does irreparable damage to the liver, causing a slow, difficult death.
My paramedic is slightly airsick from two previous flights in these conditions.
In an attempt to spare him further discomfort I climb to 3000' above ground level hoping to smooth some of the bumps, even though the flight takes only 13 minutes.
Elevator UP! Elevator Down!
Strong, gusty winds are dangerous with the BK117...
The main rotor is very flexible, and during startup and shutdown in gusty, variable winds can flex downward and strike
the large vertical fins near the rear of the aircraft, rendering it non-flyable. Before we land at the transferring hospital I tell my crew, "I won't risk shutting down here or at the receiving hospital. I'll go get fuel while you tend to the patient and will be waiting on the pad for you when you return."
This crew has been around long enough to know the routine.
I land at the transferring hospital and grab the portable O2 bottle, then help my crew offload the stretcher. There is a security guard prohibiting access to the helipad, so I close the clamshell doors, climb back into my seat, and listen to Dennis Miller on the ADF receiver, emanating from WOAI in San Antonio. I'm distracted, thinking about the patient we're gonna move.
Twenty-four minutes later my crew emerges with him.
He's tubed and unconcious, a very young looking 57 year old. We find out he is a County employee... has a job where he knows full well what an Acetominophen overdose will do to him.
Why?
Why would someone sentence themselves to slow, deliberate death this way?
Patient and crew safely aboard, I button them up and do a walk around to make sure cowlings, doors, and fuel cap are still secure. Again, the takeoff into the wind is an elevator ride up to a smooth altitude. From the transferring hospital I can see the "Bigtown" skyline, but with these winds the 32 mile flight will take 22 minutes... you could almost make it as quickly in a ground ambulance! We're literally flyin' sideways... my heading is 30 degrees left of our course across the ground.
My approach to the rooftop pad at the receiving hospital is into the wind, VERY steep and VERY slow. Elevator towers and surrounding buildings can make these approaches treacherous. I'm surprised and pleased that this approach goes without a hitch. But as I land from a hover I notice the reflection of the pad lights shimmering... the pad is wet with rain.
"Be careful on the pad guys... it looks pretty wet".
Throttles back to ground idle, collective and cyclic secured, I dismount and grab the portable O2 tank on the way back to the clamshell doors. As I start to open them I look down to see a spot of blood at my feet, then another spot, and another, and another on the way to the elevator. Another helicopter has been on this pad before us but since the rain fell, with a bad trauma patient.
Together we hot-offload our patient, and when my crew is safely on their way to the ICU, I pop over to our base to refuel... once again listening to Dennis Miller, thinking how nice it would be to be on the Riverwalk in San Antonio, listening to him there, sharing a few beers with friends and loved ones.
Safely home the questions come-
Why did this gentleman, so close to my own age, find life unbearable?
Why, instead of taking a walk in the woods with a .357 magnum, did he choose this liver-killer as the means of ending his life?
Did he want someone else to suffer?
I'll never know.
There are rainshowers in the area.
Time to earn my salary.
"Your patient is a 57 year old man, victim of a drug overdose. He has ingested an entire bottle of Tylenol PM."
Acetominophen is a wonderful drug unless you take too much of it. In overdose, I'm told it does irreparable damage to the liver, causing a slow, difficult death.
My paramedic is slightly airsick from two previous flights in these conditions.
In an attempt to spare him further discomfort I climb to 3000' above ground level hoping to smooth some of the bumps, even though the flight takes only 13 minutes.
Elevator UP! Elevator Down!
Strong, gusty winds are dangerous with the BK117...
The main rotor is very flexible, and during startup and shutdown in gusty, variable winds can flex downward and strike
the large vertical fins near the rear of the aircraft, rendering it non-flyable. Before we land at the transferring hospital I tell my crew, "I won't risk shutting down here or at the receiving hospital. I'll go get fuel while you tend to the patient and will be waiting on the pad for you when you return."
This crew has been around long enough to know the routine.
I land at the transferring hospital and grab the portable O2 bottle, then help my crew offload the stretcher. There is a security guard prohibiting access to the helipad, so I close the clamshell doors, climb back into my seat, and listen to Dennis Miller on the ADF receiver, emanating from WOAI in San Antonio. I'm distracted, thinking about the patient we're gonna move.
Twenty-four minutes later my crew emerges with him.
He's tubed and unconcious, a very young looking 57 year old. We find out he is a County employee... has a job where he knows full well what an Acetominophen overdose will do to him.
Why?
Why would someone sentence themselves to slow, deliberate death this way?
Patient and crew safely aboard, I button them up and do a walk around to make sure cowlings, doors, and fuel cap are still secure. Again, the takeoff into the wind is an elevator ride up to a smooth altitude. From the transferring hospital I can see the "Bigtown" skyline, but with these winds the 32 mile flight will take 22 minutes... you could almost make it as quickly in a ground ambulance! We're literally flyin' sideways... my heading is 30 degrees left of our course across the ground.
My approach to the rooftop pad at the receiving hospital is into the wind, VERY steep and VERY slow. Elevator towers and surrounding buildings can make these approaches treacherous. I'm surprised and pleased that this approach goes without a hitch. But as I land from a hover I notice the reflection of the pad lights shimmering... the pad is wet with rain.
"Be careful on the pad guys... it looks pretty wet".
Throttles back to ground idle, collective and cyclic secured, I dismount and grab the portable O2 tank on the way back to the clamshell doors. As I start to open them I look down to see a spot of blood at my feet, then another spot, and another, and another on the way to the elevator. Another helicopter has been on this pad before us but since the rain fell, with a bad trauma patient.
Together we hot-offload our patient, and when my crew is safely on their way to the ICU, I pop over to our base to refuel... once again listening to Dennis Miller, thinking how nice it would be to be on the Riverwalk in San Antonio, listening to him there, sharing a few beers with friends and loved ones.
Safely home the questions come-
Why did this gentleman, so close to my own age, find life unbearable?
Why, instead of taking a walk in the woods with a .357 magnum, did he choose this liver-killer as the means of ending his life?
Did he want someone else to suffer?
I'll never know.
28 January 2008
Traffic Cameras III- Burn Baby Burn!
I promise, after this, no more posts on this subject,
(at least until another REALLY interesting way to destroy the things comes along!)
Light 'em up!
It gives me hope that people the world over haven't forgotten how to revolt against government stupidity.
From the comments there:
"Cameras watching cameras watching cameras..."
Vodkapundit brought the article to my attention.
(at least until another REALLY interesting way to destroy the things comes along!)
Light 'em up!
It gives me hope that people the world over haven't forgotten how to revolt against government stupidity.
From the comments there:
"Cameras watching cameras watching cameras..."
Vodkapundit brought the article to my attention.
23 January 2008
Too Much Freedom?
Some years ago I bought and read this book.
If you can find a copy, I heartily recommend it.
Those of us defending this country had heard rumors of Soviet flying machines... the MI-24 Hind helicopter and the MIG-25 fighter, and what we were hearing frightened us. We knew these machines were fast. We knew little about their weaknesses. I devoured "MIG Pilot" in one sitting.
The strengths and weaknesses of the MIG-25 are covered satisfactorily in the book, but much more fascinating is what we learned about the inefficiencies of the entire Soviet system. When first introduced to one of our Supermarkets, Belenko thinks he's being mislead. Similarly, he's incredulous when he's taken aboard one of our aircraft carriers and shown how our sailors are fed, and how healthy our fighting forces are.
But the thing about the book that most surprised me was something Soviet defectors apparently went through frequently...
Panic at being given "too much freedom".
The Soviet system chose your school. It groomed you for a job. That job determined what sort of housing you could expect to occupy, and the geographical area where you would live. All those decisions were made for you by the Soviet government.
Lieutenant Belenko found himself thrust into a life where he had to begin to think about what he would do with the rest of his life... his occupation, where he would live, what he would eat...
And making all those decisions frightened him. He seriously considered going back to the Soviet Union to face what certainly would have been severe punishment for putting the MIG-25 into the hands of Westerners.
But he didn't, and I'm hopeful he'll write a book bringing us up to date on how he eventually made the transition from Soviet pilot to American citizen.
His story set me to thinking about how similar our country has become in so many ways to the Soviet system, and how we continue in that direction. Many of our citizens have virtually placed their entire lives in the hands of government-
Food.
Housing.
Health Care.
Employment? Many stay at home and have children, knowing money will flow their direction.
These are the same sort of folk that failed to move out of hurricane Katrina's path...
The "Government" didn't provide transportation for them.
Slavery was abolished almost 150 years ago in this country, yet it still exists...
Except now I'm the slave.
For years I've worked hard to produce the finest product I possibly can. More and more, a large chunk of what I produce is taken from me against my will and given to others that could work, but produce nothing while enjoying the fruits of my (and your) labor.
I'd like my fellow citizens to be educated about the joys of being able to make their own choices to improve their lives.
I don't like being a slave.
I want to be free!
If you can find a copy, I heartily recommend it.
Those of us defending this country had heard rumors of Soviet flying machines... the MI-24 Hind helicopter and the MIG-25 fighter, and what we were hearing frightened us. We knew these machines were fast. We knew little about their weaknesses. I devoured "MIG Pilot" in one sitting.
The strengths and weaknesses of the MIG-25 are covered satisfactorily in the book, but much more fascinating is what we learned about the inefficiencies of the entire Soviet system. When first introduced to one of our Supermarkets, Belenko thinks he's being mislead. Similarly, he's incredulous when he's taken aboard one of our aircraft carriers and shown how our sailors are fed, and how healthy our fighting forces are.
But the thing about the book that most surprised me was something Soviet defectors apparently went through frequently...
Panic at being given "too much freedom".
The Soviet system chose your school. It groomed you for a job. That job determined what sort of housing you could expect to occupy, and the geographical area where you would live. All those decisions were made for you by the Soviet government.
Lieutenant Belenko found himself thrust into a life where he had to begin to think about what he would do with the rest of his life... his occupation, where he would live, what he would eat...
And making all those decisions frightened him. He seriously considered going back to the Soviet Union to face what certainly would have been severe punishment for putting the MIG-25 into the hands of Westerners.
But he didn't, and I'm hopeful he'll write a book bringing us up to date on how he eventually made the transition from Soviet pilot to American citizen.
His story set me to thinking about how similar our country has become in so many ways to the Soviet system, and how we continue in that direction. Many of our citizens have virtually placed their entire lives in the hands of government-
Food.
Housing.
Health Care.
Employment? Many stay at home and have children, knowing money will flow their direction.
These are the same sort of folk that failed to move out of hurricane Katrina's path...
The "Government" didn't provide transportation for them.
Slavery was abolished almost 150 years ago in this country, yet it still exists...
Except now I'm the slave.
For years I've worked hard to produce the finest product I possibly can. More and more, a large chunk of what I produce is taken from me against my will and given to others that could work, but produce nothing while enjoying the fruits of my (and your) labor.
I'd like my fellow citizens to be educated about the joys of being able to make their own choices to improve their lives.
I don't like being a slave.
I want to be free!
15 January 2008
14 January 2008
What I Cannot Teach You...
I knew he'd be trouble the first time I saw him.
His "walk" said it all... he was God's gift to aviation.
The certificate in his pocket said "Single Engine Land, Private Pilot Privileges".
He was the proud owner of a Long EZ...
A "Hot" homebuilt aircraft that he HAD NOT built himself. During our initial meeting he made sure I knew how fast his airplane was, and what a great "stick" he was. Old pilots and bold pilots... this one was at the extreme end of the "bold" scale. In a perfect world I'd refuse to take him as a student. But it's just not that easy... I've got bills to pay. So we get in the R22 and start the process of learning to hover, and I know I'm gonna have difficulty with him, even trying to rein him in all along the way.
It turned out he WAS a good stick. He learned quickly. Soon we were at the point where he and I both knew he was ready to go solo.
He said, "Lemme show you something", flew to a residential area and asked, "What do ya think about landing right there?", pointing out a very confined area in a small yard behind a house which was surrounded for several blocks by similar houses. Trees, fences, wires, clotheslines... all complicated the approach, landing, and takeoff scenarios.
I say, "I wouldn't land there."
"Why?!"... He's surprised.
"Because too many things can go wrong, and the neighbors are gonna be upset if you land there, not to mention our friends at the FAA."
I thought that was the last of it. It wasn't.
It's an indication of the sort of personality I was dealing with...
Three days later he told me, "I landed in that lot I showed you behind my Mother-in-law's house, and it was no trouble at all!"
I was shocked... actually I think the word ASTOUNDED better fits my reaction.
I let him know I was not a happy camper and said, "If you want to continue flying this aircraft, you'll pay closer attention to what I'm tellin' ya."
He got the message... I'm sure he continued to do stupid stuff with the helicopter, but he learned not to tell me about it!
But now you've been introduced to the sort of personality that would have been better suited being a Fighter Pilot than a civilian helicopter jockey...
The sort of personality that ends up eventually making the News-
I've discussed before why I think helicopters are safer than airplanes. One of the big reasons I feel that way is because when you find yourself flying along in questionable weather, you can land near "Farmer John's house" and make new friends over a cup of coffee while the weather changes. It's mighty hard to do that when you need 1,500 feet of level, reasonably hard, unobstructed real estate on which to land your flying machine. The thing to remember is, once you're on the ground, stay there until it's safe to fly:
News report.
Nighttime. Clouds at 300 feet. Less than 2 miles visibility. Judgment and flying skills impaired by drugs? When the bent metal has come to rest, everyone can see the links in the chain leading to disaster:
NTSB Accident Report.
A stupid, usless waste of life.
I'm sure that pilot also thought he was God's gift to aviation. It's really unfortunate that he was able to fool two others into getting back into that helicopter with him that night..
His "walk" said it all... he was God's gift to aviation.
The certificate in his pocket said "Single Engine Land, Private Pilot Privileges".
He was the proud owner of a Long EZ...
A "Hot" homebuilt aircraft that he HAD NOT built himself. During our initial meeting he made sure I knew how fast his airplane was, and what a great "stick" he was. Old pilots and bold pilots... this one was at the extreme end of the "bold" scale. In a perfect world I'd refuse to take him as a student. But it's just not that easy... I've got bills to pay. So we get in the R22 and start the process of learning to hover, and I know I'm gonna have difficulty with him, even trying to rein him in all along the way.
It turned out he WAS a good stick. He learned quickly. Soon we were at the point where he and I both knew he was ready to go solo.
He said, "Lemme show you something", flew to a residential area and asked, "What do ya think about landing right there?", pointing out a very confined area in a small yard behind a house which was surrounded for several blocks by similar houses. Trees, fences, wires, clotheslines... all complicated the approach, landing, and takeoff scenarios.
I say, "I wouldn't land there."
"Why?!"... He's surprised.
"Because too many things can go wrong, and the neighbors are gonna be upset if you land there, not to mention our friends at the FAA."
I thought that was the last of it. It wasn't.
It's an indication of the sort of personality I was dealing with...
Three days later he told me, "I landed in that lot I showed you behind my Mother-in-law's house, and it was no trouble at all!"
I was shocked... actually I think the word ASTOUNDED better fits my reaction.
I let him know I was not a happy camper and said, "If you want to continue flying this aircraft, you'll pay closer attention to what I'm tellin' ya."
He got the message... I'm sure he continued to do stupid stuff with the helicopter, but he learned not to tell me about it!
But now you've been introduced to the sort of personality that would have been better suited being a Fighter Pilot than a civilian helicopter jockey...
The sort of personality that ends up eventually making the News-
I've discussed before why I think helicopters are safer than airplanes. One of the big reasons I feel that way is because when you find yourself flying along in questionable weather, you can land near "Farmer John's house" and make new friends over a cup of coffee while the weather changes. It's mighty hard to do that when you need 1,500 feet of level, reasonably hard, unobstructed real estate on which to land your flying machine. The thing to remember is, once you're on the ground, stay there until it's safe to fly:
News report.
Nighttime. Clouds at 300 feet. Less than 2 miles visibility. Judgment and flying skills impaired by drugs? When the bent metal has come to rest, everyone can see the links in the chain leading to disaster:
NTSB Accident Report.
A stupid, usless waste of life.
I'm sure that pilot also thought he was God's gift to aviation. It's really unfortunate that he was able to fool two others into getting back into that helicopter with him that night..
10 January 2008
Robin Williams, Class Act!
You're a civilian with little exposure to military tradition. Something happens that takes you completely by surprise.
Watch true intelligence at work in this man.
(The video made this grown man cry and laugh at the same time!)
Thank you Blackfive.
Watch true intelligence at work in this man.
(The video made this grown man cry and laugh at the same time!)
Thank you Blackfive.
09 January 2008
Hillary Cries, II
Little Sister is an expert at pointing out when her brother is an insensitive moron. She helps keep me from getting 'way out there on the "Dirty Rotten Men" scale.
To my post Hillary Cries she commented:
"As much as I DON'T like Hillary, I have to respond here.
All of you who think she can't do the job just because she cried, are nothing but a bunch of men."
So there, you... you... you... MEN! (Spit that word out like bile!)
Now I actually thought I was bein' compassionate, sayin' I felt sorry for Ms. Rodham.
And my real question was, if Hill is already so tired that she's exhausted and melancholy, what sort of behavior should we be looking for come late-October?
But men, don't be ashamed. I'm not gonna let her accusation go without a little defense here either...
Here's one columnists' take on Hillary's tears.
And here's another.
Both columnists are pictured.
Anything jump out at ya about those pics?!
It's not just men, and it's not just Conservatives noticing Hill's mini-breakdown.
I referred earlier to the fact that I've become cynical.
My real question about Hill's "incident" is, were the tears contrived or real? If they were real I can understand them, although once again I think it's mighty early in this marathon to be so worn out a question like the one posed can bring on the "crackly voice".
If they were contrived, well, that's pretty much what I would expect from the Bill/Hill campaign.
And back to the issue of MEN!... (ptui!)
I've also seen grown men cry at times when I felt it was perfectly appropriate...
But in the example shown, it was NOT about what was happening to HIM!
To my post Hillary Cries she commented:
"As much as I DON'T like Hillary, I have to respond here.
All of you who think she can't do the job just because she cried, are nothing but a bunch of men."
So there, you... you... you... MEN! (Spit that word out like bile!)
Now I actually thought I was bein' compassionate, sayin' I felt sorry for Ms. Rodham.
And my real question was, if Hill is already so tired that she's exhausted and melancholy, what sort of behavior should we be looking for come late-October?
But men, don't be ashamed. I'm not gonna let her accusation go without a little defense here either...
Here's one columnists' take on Hillary's tears.
And here's another.
Both columnists are pictured.
Anything jump out at ya about those pics?!
It's not just men, and it's not just Conservatives noticing Hill's mini-breakdown.
I referred earlier to the fact that I've become cynical.
My real question about Hill's "incident" is, were the tears contrived or real? If they were real I can understand them, although once again I think it's mighty early in this marathon to be so worn out a question like the one posed can bring on the "crackly voice".
If they were contrived, well, that's pretty much what I would expect from the Bill/Hill campaign.
And back to the issue of MEN!... (ptui!)
I've also seen grown men cry at times when I felt it was perfectly appropriate...
But in the example shown, it was NOT about what was happening to HIM!
07 January 2008
Hillary Cries
(Or maybe ALMOST cries.)
Have you seen the video in it's entirety?
I had only seen the first few seconds of the following:
How's this make you feel?
I think Hillary Rodham is a Socialist and I certainly DO NOT want her to be Commander in Chief, BUT...
I understand exactly what's goin' on here and I feel sorry for her.
Have you ever been so tired you couldn't sleep when you tried?
You lay down in a perfectly good bed with several hours to really, really sleep...
knowing you MUST sleep in order to perform the way you need to,
and you nod off, then wake up... nod off, then wake up, never getting the restful sleep you need so badly. How long are her work days? How many days in a row has she worked without a day to kick back and do absolutely nothin'? I'm bettin' it's been months.
I think it all changed about the time I wrote this post, and she realized she just might not have the election ladled to her with a Silver Spoon. Worry about how to deal with someone who might steal a huge block of votes you thought you could take for granted would certainly add to your sleep problems.
Campaigning for President has to be brutal. Like our more strenuous military schools, it's a good indicator for how someone would perform during crisis time.
I feel sorry for her, but politics ain't pinball.
What if she's faced with a "Missiles of October" situation?
There'll be no time for tears then.
Have you seen the video in it's entirety?
I had only seen the first few seconds of the following:
How's this make you feel?
I think Hillary Rodham is a Socialist and I certainly DO NOT want her to be Commander in Chief, BUT...
I understand exactly what's goin' on here and I feel sorry for her.
Have you ever been so tired you couldn't sleep when you tried?
You lay down in a perfectly good bed with several hours to really, really sleep...
knowing you MUST sleep in order to perform the way you need to,
and you nod off, then wake up... nod off, then wake up, never getting the restful sleep you need so badly. How long are her work days? How many days in a row has she worked without a day to kick back and do absolutely nothin'? I'm bettin' it's been months.
I think it all changed about the time I wrote this post, and she realized she just might not have the election ladled to her with a Silver Spoon. Worry about how to deal with someone who might steal a huge block of votes you thought you could take for granted would certainly add to your sleep problems.
Campaigning for President has to be brutal. Like our more strenuous military schools, it's a good indicator for how someone would perform during crisis time.
I feel sorry for her, but politics ain't pinball.
What if she's faced with a "Missiles of October" situation?
There'll be no time for tears then.
Ugly, But That Boy Can Cook!
I don't know if it's because I'm gettin' old, or if I've been at the job too long.
I've become cynical, and it's a shame.
Keeping a medical log is one of the things I wish I had done when I started this job 21 years ago... it'd be interesting now to go back and review the different injuries I've carried to get help.
And that way I could also have kept track of the percentage of people we transport who are responsible, even partially, for their problems.
My gut tells me it's a big percentage:
Drunk driving,
Drug usage and overdoses,
Food Addicts,
Smokers,
and combinations of the above.
The geographical area we cover with our Helicopter Ambulance is experiencing a "Crystal Meth"epidemic. I was not at all surprised to read Nurse William's post on the subject. Check the comment I left there telling him many of us are dealing with the same problem.
The night after leaving that comment we received a request to pick up a 27 year old male at an outlying hospital and take him to the Burn Center. Thirty percent of his body burned, he claimed he was injured trying to put out a fire consuming his pickup.
My immediate thought? "Okay, we'll see!"
Cynical me...
I must admit I was surprised when we got there...
He's pretty normal lookin'. Good meat on his bones, and he has almost all his teeth.
His color is good.
He claims to be a woodworker. He says his truck had over $1,000 of different hardwoods aboard when it caught fire, and he is worried how he will recover from the loss.
We safely transport him to get the help he needs. While my crew finishes their paperwork I'm watching the Doc and Nurses doin' their jobs at this extraordinary facility.
(Wanta talk about heroes? THE FOLKS THAT DO THIS JOB ARE HEROES! It's some of the smelliest, ugliest work in the world, and they have to hurt babies and children in order to heal them.)
The Doc comes out with a quizzical smile, shaking her head. When I say "What?" she says,
"We drew a blood sample on him. Afterward he advised me he's taking Lorcet and says he was told it will make him test positive for Meth."
Me... cynical?
Yeah, but for good reason.
I've become cynical, and it's a shame.
Keeping a medical log is one of the things I wish I had done when I started this job 21 years ago... it'd be interesting now to go back and review the different injuries I've carried to get help.
And that way I could also have kept track of the percentage of people we transport who are responsible, even partially, for their problems.
My gut tells me it's a big percentage:
Drunk driving,
Drug usage and overdoses,
Food Addicts,
Smokers,
and combinations of the above.
The geographical area we cover with our Helicopter Ambulance is experiencing a "Crystal Meth"epidemic. I was not at all surprised to read Nurse William's post on the subject. Check the comment I left there telling him many of us are dealing with the same problem.
The night after leaving that comment we received a request to pick up a 27 year old male at an outlying hospital and take him to the Burn Center. Thirty percent of his body burned, he claimed he was injured trying to put out a fire consuming his pickup.
My immediate thought? "Okay, we'll see!"
Cynical me...
I must admit I was surprised when we got there...
He's pretty normal lookin'. Good meat on his bones, and he has almost all his teeth.
His color is good.
He claims to be a woodworker. He says his truck had over $1,000 of different hardwoods aboard when it caught fire, and he is worried how he will recover from the loss.
We safely transport him to get the help he needs. While my crew finishes their paperwork I'm watching the Doc and Nurses doin' their jobs at this extraordinary facility.
(Wanta talk about heroes? THE FOLKS THAT DO THIS JOB ARE HEROES! It's some of the smelliest, ugliest work in the world, and they have to hurt babies and children in order to heal them.)
The Doc comes out with a quizzical smile, shaking her head. When I say "What?" she says,
"We drew a blood sample on him. Afterward he advised me he's taking Lorcet and says he was told it will make him test positive for Meth."
Me... cynical?
Yeah, but for good reason.
05 January 2008
Another Way To Bend A Helicopter
It's always easy to second guess, but I think this video shows a phenomenon that every basic helicopter student is taught to avoid:
My guess?
I'd bet "settling with power", or more correctly, Vortex Ring State, where the air being pushed downward by the rotor system recirculates around the rotor and becomes accelerated enough that the rotor can no longer push itself upwards using that recirculated air.
Recognized quickly, the disaster is avoidable.
My guess?
I'd bet "settling with power", or more correctly, Vortex Ring State, where the air being pushed downward by the rotor system recirculates around the rotor and becomes accelerated enough that the rotor can no longer push itself upwards using that recirculated air.
Recognized quickly, the disaster is avoidable.
04 January 2008
First, Do No Harm
In my "Perspective" post below I mentioned how easy it is to become frazzled under the "combat" conditions we frequently find ourselves in at scenes.
At scenes we are trying to save lives, so it's best to go slowly and not do something to harm the patient.
At scenes we are trying to save lives, so it's best to go slowly and not do something to harm the patient.
03 January 2008
Do You Read Michael Totten ?
You should.
He's one of the few reporters in Iraq givin' us the straight poop-
"Another young boy came up and gave me a high-five. They often do this to the Marines. Whatever the adults in Fallujah might think of Americans, the kids really do seem to like us.
Eight year olds do not have politics."
Right Michael. But eight year olds reach gun-carrying age pretty quickly, and today's "high-fives" make the future of Iraq look brighter.
It's worth your time to go read Michael's column here.
Correction-
This post was originally titled "Do You Read Michael Yon?"
Two embedded reporters are risking their lives to report the truth in Iraq...
Michaels Yon, and Totten. I got 'em confused.
Punish me.
He's one of the few reporters in Iraq givin' us the straight poop-
"Another young boy came up and gave me a high-five. They often do this to the Marines. Whatever the adults in Fallujah might think of Americans, the kids really do seem to like us.
Eight year olds do not have politics."
Right Michael. But eight year olds reach gun-carrying age pretty quickly, and today's "high-fives" make the future of Iraq look brighter.
It's worth your time to go read Michael's column here.
Correction-
This post was originally titled "Do You Read Michael Yon?"
Two embedded reporters are risking their lives to report the truth in Iraq...
Michaels Yon, and Totten. I got 'em confused.
Punish me.
02 January 2008
Will I Get To Vote My Choice?
Like most, I'm an "issue" voter.My issues in this election are, in this order:
1. Immigration reform... and a resounding NO! to anything that even remotely smells like amnesty.
(We should adopt Mexico's Immigration Policy!)
2. Tax reform. I like what I hear about the "Fair Tax".
3. Second Amendment Rights. (This is really not number 3,
but 2-1/2.)
If you agree that these issues are at the top of your list, the ONLY candidate out there that is making satisfying noises is pictured above. Will he still be a candidate by the time my Primary rolls around?
I hope so.
P.S.
"First Spouse" is also an issue. I shudder to think about having to look at one of the prospective candidate's spouse for 4 years!
01 January 2008
Perspective
It took a while to figure out what was going on... frustrating!
We use the helicopter to save seconds, and here I was wasting minutes trying to find a scene right beneath me!
The call came in- "Your flight is a go for a male victim, trapped beneath the blade of a bulldozer."
... Another of those stupid things we sometimes do when we're in a hurry-
He owned/operated/maintained the machine, and when a crack in the blade needed welding, he was the guy to do it. He lifted the blade the normal way, hydraulically, and since the job would only take a couple minutes, he didn't support it to keep it from falling. You know the rest of the story already don't you? While he was repairing the crack one of the hydraulic hoses burst and the blade fell across his midsection. I don't know what the blade weighed... someone help me... It was a D7 Caterpillar. (Dave, are you out there?)
I know the blade weighed half a ton, maybe a full 2000 pounds. It effectively cut him in half. He was feeling some pain, but was conversing with others. The question was, what would happen when the blade was lifted off his body?
The flight to the scene took all of 8 minutes. I was in contact and coordinating our landing with the scene commander, a municipal policeman.
To him I said, "Okay, let me know when you see or hear me and guide me in."
From him I hear, "Okay, you're over us right now!"
We are flying parallel to an Interstate Highway, but when I looked down, all I could see was the view you see in the above photograph.
I bank hard to the right and say, "Okay, I don't see ya. Let me know when I'm over you again." A few seconds later, at a higher pitch this time: "You're over us right now!"
...And again I'm lookin' at the same scenario... nothin' but trees.
-"Are the lights on your squad car flashing?"
-"Affirmative!"
I take a deep breath and key the radio again- "I don't see ya partner. Where exactly are you?" His answer shows how thought processes sometimes get confused under combat conditions-
"I'm parked right beneath this big Oak Tree!"
Summertime.
Full foliage.
No way I could have seen him through all the leaves.
He was looking through his own eyes only... not trying to imagine what I was seeing.
Most all ambulance districts have GPS units now and they are real lifesavers. Because of them, we don't often go through this agony. But if you ever experience an emergency and are trying to get help quickly, try your best to put yourself in the responder's shoes and give directions accordingly. If possible, know which direction is North/South/East/West.
And I know you're probably wondering...
No, he didn't make it.
31 December 2007
Jay R. Grodner, Attorney at Law
This one takes the cake.
I know Chicago is "Blue", but I also know most folks there are good people... not idiots.
I'm not sure about Jay R. Grodner, Attorney at Law.
Blackfive has the story.
I'd like to use Mr. Grodner's services, and tried to call his business number in downtown Chicago, and in Deerfield, IL.
Surprisingly, both phones have been disconnected!
How's a professional supposed to make any money with no working telephone?!
Need the services of an anti-military Attorney?
Mr. Grodner wants to hear from you too.
You can go to whitepages.com and type in
Jay R. Grodner, Chicago, IL to see what pops up!
I know Chicago is "Blue", but I also know most folks there are good people... not idiots.
I'm not sure about Jay R. Grodner, Attorney at Law.
Blackfive has the story.
I'd like to use Mr. Grodner's services, and tried to call his business number in downtown Chicago, and in Deerfield, IL.
Surprisingly, both phones have been disconnected!
How's a professional supposed to make any money with no working telephone?!
Need the services of an anti-military Attorney?
Mr. Grodner wants to hear from you too.
You can go to whitepages.com and type in
Jay R. Grodner, Chicago, IL to see what pops up!
30 December 2007
29 December 2007
Cobra Accident
I routinely read both the NTSB and FAA accident briefs to see if there's anything I can learn there to help maintain my body temperature at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
This report caught my interest because it appeared to involve the "Cobra", an aircraft I flew in Viet Nam.
I was surprised for several reasons...
Cobra?
Mistaken identity!
Fatalities or injuries in the accident?
Not possible!
My question for ya-
Should unmanned aircraft accidents be listed in the same forum as manned aircraft?
This report caught my interest because it appeared to involve the "Cobra", an aircraft I flew in Viet Nam.
I was surprised for several reasons...
Cobra?
Mistaken identity!
Fatalities or injuries in the accident?
Not possible!
My question for ya-
Should unmanned aircraft accidents be listed in the same forum as manned aircraft?
27 December 2007
Terrorist Permutations
Well, the asssassination of Benazir Bhutto is not exactly the way I imagined chaos in Pakistan might unfold more than two years ago, but it's still scary as Hell.
Just keep repeating-
"We are not at war. We are not at war!"
Just keep repeating-
"We are not at war. We are not at war!"
24 December 2007
FLY SOUTHWEST AIRLINES!!
(Tip o' the hat to Powerline.)
I had not heard this story, and that alone bodes well for Southwest Airlines in my book...
They aren't trying to "make hay" with it.
I think it is one of the best feel good stories of the year.
Thank you Southwest Airlines...
Next time Sara Jean and I fly, you'll have our business!
Merry Christmas everyone, and again... please be safe.
I had not heard this story, and that alone bodes well for Southwest Airlines in my book...
They aren't trying to "make hay" with it.
I think it is one of the best feel good stories of the year.
Thank you Southwest Airlines...
Next time Sara Jean and I fly, you'll have our business!
Merry Christmas everyone, and again... please be safe.
22 December 2007
Merry Christmas. Try To Stay Alive.
"You're on standby for an MVA at ******.
I have no further information for you at this time."
A few moments later the phone rings again...
"Your flight is a go, but they now want you to meet them at the hospital there."
That means our ETA is too long for their conditions and they want help with their patient sooner than we can arrive.
We take off on the 19 minute flight. From dispatch-
"I still have no information on your patient."
This ground crew obviously has their hands full.
We arrive at the hospital and my crew makes their way to the ER.
As routine, I shut the engines down, secure the aircraft, and make my way to the ER to assist in whatever way I can. The door to the trauma room is closed. Outside the door in a wheelchair sits a late-20ish woman with two women in scrubs providing moral support. The woman is obviously emotionally distraught.
The trauma room door opens and I hear what sounds like the heart monitor they hooked up to Sara Jean when Big Bubba was about to be born. It is really loud, but since I don't hear a discernible heartbeat I question what I'm hearing.
I recognize the Doctor coming out the door and nod to him. He makes his way to the woman in the wheelchair and says, "We're still doing CPR on him, and I'll continue to do whatever I can to help him."
Family arrives...
It's the woman in the wheelchair's Mom and Dad. Dad is carrying a pumpkin-seed carrier containing a few-months old baby. The woman takes the baby from the pumpkin seed and holds it to her chest, sobbing.
My crew comes out of the room, looks at me and shakes their head. We won't be transporting.
He was 27 years old, helmetless, riding his ATV on the highway. Crossing the centerline and hitting a pickup truck head-on under these conditions is not conducive to good health.
Less than a week before Christmas, he has left behind a widow and a baby that will have absolutely no recollection of him... a tragedy at anytime... a particular tragedy when his death will be associated with a time that should bring joy and happiness.
My "Pitchpull" reading friends...
Please use good sense:
-Seatbelts.
-Helmets on two/four wheelers.
-Stay out from behind the wheel after alcohol consumption.
I'm working three of the next five days. I don't want you horizontal in the back of my BK117!
Be safe everyone.
I have no further information for you at this time."
A few moments later the phone rings again...
"Your flight is a go, but they now want you to meet them at the hospital there."
That means our ETA is too long for their conditions and they want help with their patient sooner than we can arrive.
We take off on the 19 minute flight. From dispatch-
"I still have no information on your patient."
This ground crew obviously has their hands full.
We arrive at the hospital and my crew makes their way to the ER.
As routine, I shut the engines down, secure the aircraft, and make my way to the ER to assist in whatever way I can. The door to the trauma room is closed. Outside the door in a wheelchair sits a late-20ish woman with two women in scrubs providing moral support. The woman is obviously emotionally distraught.
The trauma room door opens and I hear what sounds like the heart monitor they hooked up to Sara Jean when Big Bubba was about to be born. It is really loud, but since I don't hear a discernible heartbeat I question what I'm hearing.
I recognize the Doctor coming out the door and nod to him. He makes his way to the woman in the wheelchair and says, "We're still doing CPR on him, and I'll continue to do whatever I can to help him."
Family arrives...
It's the woman in the wheelchair's Mom and Dad. Dad is carrying a pumpkin-seed carrier containing a few-months old baby. The woman takes the baby from the pumpkin seed and holds it to her chest, sobbing.
My crew comes out of the room, looks at me and shakes their head. We won't be transporting.
He was 27 years old, helmetless, riding his ATV on the highway. Crossing the centerline and hitting a pickup truck head-on under these conditions is not conducive to good health.
Less than a week before Christmas, he has left behind a widow and a baby that will have absolutely no recollection of him... a tragedy at anytime... a particular tragedy when his death will be associated with a time that should bring joy and happiness.
My "Pitchpull" reading friends...
Please use good sense:
-Seatbelts.
-Helmets on two/four wheelers.
-Stay out from behind the wheel after alcohol consumption.
I'm working three of the next five days. I don't want you horizontal in the back of my BK117!
Be safe everyone.
18 December 2007
Sigh... Just Watch
I try to have a positive outlook, you know that. But sometimes it's mighty hard.
Good friend Terry is in Law Enforcement and sent this:
Binary Explosive, New Terrorist Threat,scary Stuff! - Free videos are just a click away
Good friend Terry is in Law Enforcement and sent this:
Binary Explosive, New Terrorist Threat,scary Stuff! - Free videos are just a click away
17 December 2007
Your First Amendment Rights
Time and again we've been told our Constitutional Rights would be denied during the Bush Administration.
Unfortunately, that prediction has turned out to be correct...
How important are your Constitutional rights? Would you be willing to die protecting them? Would you die protecting mine?
The word "HATE" has been used on more than one occasion in comments to this blog. Once the word was used to describe feelings for President Bush. I can't understand that, but those that are feeling that emotion are being affected by it and they have to live with it.
My problem is that these "haters" demand the right to express themselves, while denying the rights of others to point out when they are wrong. Now it has taken a pretty serious step, to almost, (not quite), death threats.
Our higher learning establishments are fortresses of Liberal thinking.
Conservative thought is not welcome. Don't believe it?
Read this article, then tell me you wouldn't feel threatened by Liberals around you.
If "Freedom of Speech" is truly important to you, please take 10 minutes to watch this movie trailer:
I spent 22 years in the ARMY defending the attitude generally attributed to Voltaire-
"I don't agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
Apparently that attitude only runs within Conservative circles.
MORE-
That George Bush.... what a tyrant!
UPDATE: 18Dec-
A commenter points out, the Princeton emails are fakes!
The professors shown in the movie telling others to STFU are not.
Care to comment on the subject, David Horowitz?
Unfortunately, that prediction has turned out to be correct...
How important are your Constitutional rights? Would you be willing to die protecting them? Would you die protecting mine?
The word "HATE" has been used on more than one occasion in comments to this blog. Once the word was used to describe feelings for President Bush. I can't understand that, but those that are feeling that emotion are being affected by it and they have to live with it.
My problem is that these "haters" demand the right to express themselves, while denying the rights of others to point out when they are wrong. Now it has taken a pretty serious step, to almost, (not quite), death threats.
Our higher learning establishments are fortresses of Liberal thinking.
Conservative thought is not welcome. Don't believe it?
Read this article, then tell me you wouldn't feel threatened by Liberals around you.
If "Freedom of Speech" is truly important to you, please take 10 minutes to watch this movie trailer:
I spent 22 years in the ARMY defending the attitude generally attributed to Voltaire-
"I don't agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
Apparently that attitude only runs within Conservative circles.
MORE-
That George Bush.... what a tyrant!
UPDATE: 18Dec-
A commenter points out, the Princeton emails are fakes!
The professors shown in the movie telling others to STFU are not.
Care to comment on the subject, David Horowitz?
14 December 2007
13 December 2007
Traffic Cameras
Remember this post?
Someone else had the same idea, only this guy was a man of action!
Tipped once again by Instapundit.
Someone else had the same idea, only this guy was a man of action!
Tipped once again by Instapundit.
I Am Bud Light??
I found this while visiting John's Blog.
Like John, I disagree with the premise, 'cause I don't drink "Light Beer" of any color, strength, or title. It's real beer with added distilled water... if you want light beer, buy a 2 liter bottle of Club Soda and add your own water to real beer!
As to the description of my "beer character"...
I can't be objective, so you'll have to ask a drinking buddy. ( A few stop by "Pitchpull" now and then!)
| You Are Bud Light |
 You're not fussy when it comes to beer. If someone hands it to you, you'll drink it. In fact, you don't understand beer snobbery at all. It all tastes the same once you're drunk! You're an enthusiastic drinker, and you can often be found at your neighborhood bar. You're pretty good at holding your liquor too - you've had lots of experience. |
12 December 2007
The Name Game
My Mother's maiden name is Schreiber.
She gets angry when I tell folks that name means "horse thief" in German...
maybe because I'm lying.
I've always been fascinated with names... Schreiber's a simple one. It's an easy process to see "scriber" in the name and guess it's origins.
Other names that end in "er" are obvious... "Barber", "Carpenter", "Fisher".
Others were more difficult and took a little research:
Fletcher,
Chandler,
Frobisher?
Last night I came home to find Sara Jean watching the wonderful "How Green Was My Valley" on TCM. My ears perked as I heard "Collier". The context in which it was used gave me a clue.
Got an interesting or unusual name?
You may find it at the bottom of the page here.
(The -ters surprised me... Baxter, Brewster, Webster.)
I have a couple friends named "Fleener".
That one appears to be a mystery.
She gets angry when I tell folks that name means "horse thief" in German...
maybe because I'm lying.
I've always been fascinated with names... Schreiber's a simple one. It's an easy process to see "scriber" in the name and guess it's origins.
Other names that end in "er" are obvious... "Barber", "Carpenter", "Fisher".
Others were more difficult and took a little research:
Fletcher,
Chandler,
Frobisher?
Last night I came home to find Sara Jean watching the wonderful "How Green Was My Valley" on TCM. My ears perked as I heard "Collier". The context in which it was used gave me a clue.
Got an interesting or unusual name?
You may find it at the bottom of the page here.
(The -ters surprised me... Baxter, Brewster, Webster.)
I have a couple friends named "Fleener".
That one appears to be a mystery.
10 December 2007
Alaska Helicopter EMS Accident- Update
It's a BK117.
They have found the body of the Nurse, and pieces of the aircraft.
It doesn't look good.
They have found the body of the Nurse, and pieces of the aircraft.
It doesn't look good.
Relationships- The Care and Feeding Of,
I wanta talk about two-way streets... or what OUGHT to be two-way streets.
I admit it freely... I'm a "Rube" at heart!
Go back in the archives of this blog and read some of the stories of my childhood and you'll learn I was perfectly happy staying close to my Central Indiana home. When I was drafted in 1966 I had been out of the State only three or four times. Away from home, all I could think of was getting back... back into my comfort zone.
Of course Uncle Sam changed all that with the draft. He took me away from family, friends, and neighbors. To the degree I could I tried to maintain my close relationships. And the way I did that, mostly, was via letter-writing.
It's a lost art now,mostly because of email but part of the blame lies with cell phones too.
I mourn the loss.
I used to LOVE receiving letters! You could open a letter and sprint through it's contents looking for any surprising or important news, then go back again, (and again, and again) and re-read the words... savoring them, looking for subtleties.
And of course, letters that came from someone REALLY special generally included even more... a scent... and wonderful reminder of times past and times to come. (Mail Call in my early ARMY training was done the way we've all seen it portrayed in movies... A group of GI's gathered around the Company clerk calling out the names and passing the mail to the recipients... AFTER sniffing the letter if it appeared to be from a wife/girlfriend. If the clerk oohed and aahed about the letter, we all smiled and shared in the warm feeling, knowing someone had taken the time to put pen to paper, then scent the letter and get it on the way to their special correspondent.)
I loved letters from home. I knew that if I wrote, the recipient was more likely to write back and answer questions or respond to my comments. So I wrote LOTS of letters!
I wrote to family.
I wrote to girlfriends.
I wrote to buddies.
Girlfriends ALWAYS wrote back. Family would frequently write back. Buddies... not so much. Mostly, guys would wait a period of time, then they'd call.
To me that was cheating. I expended time and effort to gather pen/paper/envelope/stamp and send my thoughts in a material way. Their communcation came in such a way that when the phone was returned to the receiver, all I had left was the memory......No goin' back to review the correspondence. Nothing to save and re-read later, maybe YEARS later and be reminded of what was going on at that time in my life.
I resented it a lot!
I don't know why, but most guys are terrible about communicating! I've been given lots of excuses to explain this fact:
"I can't spell.
My writing looks like 'chicken-scratches'.
I can't express myself well.
I don't have time, (and the corollary... never think about it when I have the time.")
What a bunch of crap!
But I finally learned the rules of the game and gave up trying to change people.
If I wrote you a nice long letter and you returned my communication via telephone, our communicating was over until you called again to inquire about me. No more letters... I won't waste my time.
(An extension of this rule applied to trips home during leave too... if I drove 700+ miles to come home, surely you could drive ten minutes to shake my hand personally, right?)
So now, in another compartment in my life, I'm bein' reminded that relationships are not always 50/50...
I know that and accept it. I've had relationships where I put out 70% versus 30, but when I needed that 30% friend to be there... they were there in Spades! That certainly makes the 70% expenditure worthwhile.
But what if the relationship is 90/10? What if it's 95/5? At what point do you say to yourself, "I'm bein' used here, and I'm not gettin' back the interest I oughta be gettin' on this investment?"
And that's not a rhetorical question, folks.
I really would like your input on the care and feeding of relationships!
Thanks in advance for your response!
09 December 2007
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