Folks in my home State can no longer smile for their driver's license picture, because it foils "face recognition" technology.
I have a suggestion for my male friends back in Indiana...
Grow a full beard and long, bushy moustache.... long enough to cover your lips.
Smile surreptitiously.
Shave the whole works off when you get home from the DMV.
Who do these damn people think they work for?
11 December 2008
08 December 2008
3 A.M., Sixteen Degrees, Wind Chill -4F.
The phone rings anytime after midnight- you can be pretty sure it's not a personal call.
"Weather check for Limetown, please."
"We can do that."
"Then your scene flight is a go. It's an MVA with extrication still in progress. We'll have more information to relay when you're airborne."
I was napping. I don jacket, stocking cap, and gloves and step outside toward the helicopter. My breath is taken away...
The temperature has dropped and the wind has picked up... 16 degrees F. with 12 knots of wind from the Northwest.
I start both engines, take off, and quickly turn on the bleed-air heater.
"Your coordinates are ********************.
Your patient is a 23 year old male victim of a two-car head-on collision. They are still extricating him. You are the second aircraft to respond to this scene. (Our competitor) has an aircraft on the ground at the scene now. Your point of contact is Unit 7201 on Fire-Mutual Aid."
I punch in the coordinates and announce "Our ETA is 12 minutes."
"Roger that".
I change the frequency on my secondary radio to Fire-Mutual Aid and contact Unit 7201. He gives us LZ information and an update on our now extricated patient. Our patient is the unrestrained driver of one of the cars and somehow found himself trapped halfway outside the car when the machinery came to a stop and the dust settled.
In addition to having two broken legs, he's bruised and contused all over.
With 50 miles visibility, we see the flashing lights at the scene, 20 miles distant . The air-to-air frequency crackles...
"****** 4 this is ######### 8, over." It's our competitor.
I can see his anti-collision light as he lifts from the scene. He fills in details about the LZ and tells us his destination. I appreciate his professionalism.
We circle and recon the accident scene. There are wires to the East and South of our landing area and the wind is strongly out of the Northwest, so I'll have to cross over the wires to land. We're landing in a newly harvested soybean field, but we've had enough rain lately that dust and debris shouldn't be much of a problem. The ground guys have 4 red strobes marking the LZ for us. West of the scene we see 4 flashlights, well dispersed, searching for something. South of the scene we see 3 more searchers, also well dispersed.
"Base, *******4 is landing scene".
"Roger ******4."
After turning on my fixed landing lights and adjusting my two moveable searchlights I say to my crew:
"As usual gang, this will be steep and slow. Shout if you see anything."
Safely on the ground my crew unloads the stretcher and heads to the ambulance. I log my landing time and exact coordinates, then dismount to keep innocents from walking into the tail rotor. The scene commander approaches and shakes my hand. I ask about the searchers....
"One of the victims thinks one of the passengers walked off, dazed and confused."
To myself I wonder if we'll be coming back here later for a hypothermia patient.
From a knoll behind our BK117 I can see the scene-
Two small cars collided head-on, and both cars have extensive left-front damage. The roof of one car has been cut at the "A" pillars and folded back over the trunk and the driver's door is bent open...
Our victim's car?
Ten minutes pass and my crew approaches with the assistance of two ground personnel... a guy at each corner of the stretcher trying to smooth the way across the rutted soybean field. I stand guard to insure no one strays too far toward the rear of the aircraft. Patient loaded, I direct our helpers away from the aircraft, then close the clamshell doors as my crew boards the aircraft. I do a final walk around to insure all doors are secure and nothing is hanging outside the aircraft, board, plug in, buckle up, and bring the engines to operating RPM. Searchlights/landing lights back on, I sweep the moveable searchlight left to right in several sweeps as we takeoff and climb out. I turn the heater on full-blast to help warm our patient. The flight to and landing at the Trauma Center are routine.
Now, please consider-
How do you dress when driving on these Winter days?
I'm not sure what time this accident happened, but the scene was in a very rural area, so from the time of the accident let's assume it took EMS personnel 20 minutes to arrive. After their arrival it took another 20 minutes to free our patient who was trapped by the mangled driver's door.
In shirtsleeves, he was exposed to 16 degree temperatures and 12 knot winds for at least 40 minutes. Had he and other people involved in this accident not been near homes that heard and quickly reported the collision, those times would have been much longer.
The force of any collision could break (all?) windows and will certainly send loose articles in the car flying. So if you are trapped you'd better be wearing warm clothing...
If you're immobilized you won't be able to search for and put them on, post-collision.
When driving, do you dress to prepare to be exposed to such conditions?
You (we) should!
"Weather check for Limetown, please."
"We can do that."
"Then your scene flight is a go. It's an MVA with extrication still in progress. We'll have more information to relay when you're airborne."
I was napping. I don jacket, stocking cap, and gloves and step outside toward the helicopter. My breath is taken away...
The temperature has dropped and the wind has picked up... 16 degrees F. with 12 knots of wind from the Northwest.
I start both engines, take off, and quickly turn on the bleed-air heater.
"Your coordinates are ********************.
Your patient is a 23 year old male victim of a two-car head-on collision. They are still extricating him. You are the second aircraft to respond to this scene. (Our competitor) has an aircraft on the ground at the scene now. Your point of contact is Unit 7201 on Fire-Mutual Aid."
I punch in the coordinates and announce "Our ETA is 12 minutes."
"Roger that".
I change the frequency on my secondary radio to Fire-Mutual Aid and contact Unit 7201. He gives us LZ information and an update on our now extricated patient. Our patient is the unrestrained driver of one of the cars and somehow found himself trapped halfway outside the car when the machinery came to a stop and the dust settled.
In addition to having two broken legs, he's bruised and contused all over.
With 50 miles visibility, we see the flashing lights at the scene, 20 miles distant . The air-to-air frequency crackles...
"****** 4 this is ######### 8, over." It's our competitor.
I can see his anti-collision light as he lifts from the scene. He fills in details about the LZ and tells us his destination. I appreciate his professionalism.
We circle and recon the accident scene. There are wires to the East and South of our landing area and the wind is strongly out of the Northwest, so I'll have to cross over the wires to land. We're landing in a newly harvested soybean field, but we've had enough rain lately that dust and debris shouldn't be much of a problem. The ground guys have 4 red strobes marking the LZ for us. West of the scene we see 4 flashlights, well dispersed, searching for something. South of the scene we see 3 more searchers, also well dispersed.
"Base, *******4 is landing scene".
"Roger ******4."
After turning on my fixed landing lights and adjusting my two moveable searchlights I say to my crew:
"As usual gang, this will be steep and slow. Shout if you see anything."
Safely on the ground my crew unloads the stretcher and heads to the ambulance. I log my landing time and exact coordinates, then dismount to keep innocents from walking into the tail rotor. The scene commander approaches and shakes my hand. I ask about the searchers....
"One of the victims thinks one of the passengers walked off, dazed and confused."
To myself I wonder if we'll be coming back here later for a hypothermia patient.
From a knoll behind our BK117 I can see the scene-
Two small cars collided head-on, and both cars have extensive left-front damage. The roof of one car has been cut at the "A" pillars and folded back over the trunk and the driver's door is bent open...
Our victim's car?
Ten minutes pass and my crew approaches with the assistance of two ground personnel... a guy at each corner of the stretcher trying to smooth the way across the rutted soybean field. I stand guard to insure no one strays too far toward the rear of the aircraft. Patient loaded, I direct our helpers away from the aircraft, then close the clamshell doors as my crew boards the aircraft. I do a final walk around to insure all doors are secure and nothing is hanging outside the aircraft, board, plug in, buckle up, and bring the engines to operating RPM. Searchlights/landing lights back on, I sweep the moveable searchlight left to right in several sweeps as we takeoff and climb out. I turn the heater on full-blast to help warm our patient. The flight to and landing at the Trauma Center are routine.
Now, please consider-
How do you dress when driving on these Winter days?
I'm not sure what time this accident happened, but the scene was in a very rural area, so from the time of the accident let's assume it took EMS personnel 20 minutes to arrive. After their arrival it took another 20 minutes to free our patient who was trapped by the mangled driver's door.
In shirtsleeves, he was exposed to 16 degree temperatures and 12 knot winds for at least 40 minutes. Had he and other people involved in this accident not been near homes that heard and quickly reported the collision, those times would have been much longer.
The force of any collision could break (all?) windows and will certainly send loose articles in the car flying. So if you are trapped you'd better be wearing warm clothing...
If you're immobilized you won't be able to search for and put them on, post-collision.
When driving, do you dress to prepare to be exposed to such conditions?
You (we) should!
04 December 2008
Distaff Handgun Self-Defense
Had enough talk about handguns?
No?
Jinksto adds his two cents and his comments are directed at you ladies.
Good stuff.
No?
Jinksto adds his two cents and his comments are directed at you ladies.
Good stuff.
03 December 2008
02 December 2008
Concealed Carry
If you have not already done so, read the post below this one.
Then, if you are interested in such things, read this.
Then, if you are interested in such things, read this.
01 December 2008
Packin' Heat
"You were WHAT?!!"
I had never talked about it, so my son was surprised.
He was making a movie... a requirement toward his college degree. One of the characters in his movie was a cop doing a drug investigation, and my son had bought a cheesy looking plated pot-metal badge for the cop to flash in his movie.
"I was a Deputy Sheriff and I have a real badge and case you can use instead of that ugly thing."
"Man Dad! What else don't I know about you?"
Lots son.
Lots and lots.
I dug out my old badge case and he put it to good use in his film...
He got an "A" on that project, too!
My primary duty in what was, at the time, the fastest growing County in the Midwest, was to fly the helicopter to support the ground cops. Watching them doing their jobs convinced me I never wanted to actually do "Police work".
Cops have my ETERNAL GRATITUDE...
Even Barney Fife is at risk every day he puts on the uniform.
Wearing a regular holster in a helicopter is problematic. Those of you that have been reading "Pitchpull" since 2005 may remember I carried a .38 Special in a regular holster in Viet Nam and used it as genital body armor in order to keep it out of the way of the flight controls.
As a Deputy I carried a piece almost exactly like this one, and at the suggestion of another Deputy, carried it in a shoulder holster.
ON OR OFF DUTY, I carried one of these concealed in an ankle holster. During my three years as a Deputy I never had to pull either weapon from its holster, but it was always comforting knowing at least I had the .380 with me, "just in case".
(Along with some other nice, [bigger] hardware, I still have both guns.)
The latest Muslim savagery in Mumbai has badly shaken and angered me. I think, as a country, we are in BIG trouble because much of our population is still acting like the ostrich with its head buried... some of us refuse to admit we are at war with fundamentalist Muslims. It's my fear the fact we are at war will be obvious to all, and soon. Let me explain:
Watching my sitemeter, I've noticed an odd thing...
I'm now into my fourth year blogging, and in that time I've published 830 posts. One of those posts continues to draw a great deal of attention... This one.
Read the comments there, and realize I reject those that are profane or indecipherable. In light of the horrors we've just seen in Mumbai, I'm now wishing I could legally strap on that shoulder and ankle holster.
Police in Mumbai couldn't respond instantly to citizen's needs, and that's true of most communities...
The "joke" I often hear is "Minutes away when seconds count." Some of the Mumbai Police refused to do their jobs and defend the citizenry. What effect might an armed and trained populace have had on those events?
I fear for my family and I'm tired of being afraid. I'm also tired of feeling naked.
I refuse to be a helpless victim. It's time to get comfortable making tight groups in silhouettes again.
I had never talked about it, so my son was surprised.
He was making a movie... a requirement toward his college degree. One of the characters in his movie was a cop doing a drug investigation, and my son had bought a cheesy looking plated pot-metal badge for the cop to flash in his movie.
"I was a Deputy Sheriff and I have a real badge and case you can use instead of that ugly thing."
"Man Dad! What else don't I know about you?"
Lots son.
Lots and lots.
I dug out my old badge case and he put it to good use in his film...
He got an "A" on that project, too!
My primary duty in what was, at the time, the fastest growing County in the Midwest, was to fly the helicopter to support the ground cops. Watching them doing their jobs convinced me I never wanted to actually do "Police work".
Cops have my ETERNAL GRATITUDE...
Even Barney Fife is at risk every day he puts on the uniform.
Wearing a regular holster in a helicopter is problematic. Those of you that have been reading "Pitchpull" since 2005 may remember I carried a .38 Special in a regular holster in Viet Nam and used it as genital body armor in order to keep it out of the way of the flight controls.
As a Deputy I carried a piece almost exactly like this one, and at the suggestion of another Deputy, carried it in a shoulder holster.
ON OR OFF DUTY, I carried one of these concealed in an ankle holster. During my three years as a Deputy I never had to pull either weapon from its holster, but it was always comforting knowing at least I had the .380 with me, "just in case".
(Along with some other nice, [bigger] hardware, I still have both guns.)
The latest Muslim savagery in Mumbai has badly shaken and angered me. I think, as a country, we are in BIG trouble because much of our population is still acting like the ostrich with its head buried... some of us refuse to admit we are at war with fundamentalist Muslims. It's my fear the fact we are at war will be obvious to all, and soon. Let me explain:
Watching my sitemeter, I've noticed an odd thing...
I'm now into my fourth year blogging, and in that time I've published 830 posts. One of those posts continues to draw a great deal of attention... This one.
Read the comments there, and realize I reject those that are profane or indecipherable. In light of the horrors we've just seen in Mumbai, I'm now wishing I could legally strap on that shoulder and ankle holster.
Police in Mumbai couldn't respond instantly to citizen's needs, and that's true of most communities...
The "joke" I often hear is "Minutes away when seconds count." Some of the Mumbai Police refused to do their jobs and defend the citizenry. What effect might an armed and trained populace have had on those events?
I fear for my family and I'm tired of being afraid. I'm also tired of feeling naked.
I refuse to be a helpless victim. It's time to get comfortable making tight groups in silhouettes again.
28 November 2008
27 November 2008
The Wisdom of "The One"
He (The One), said he would be foolish, at such a “critical time in our history”, to pick people who “had no experience in Washington whatsoever”.
Help me here-
Is Barack Hussein Obama, former Junior Senator from Illinois, saying those that voted someone with virtually "no experience in Washington whatsoever" into the office of President of the United States,
are FOOLS?
Sounds like it to me.
Help me here-
Is Barack Hussein Obama, former Junior Senator from Illinois, saying those that voted someone with virtually "no experience in Washington whatsoever" into the office of President of the United States,
are FOOLS?
Sounds like it to me.
Giving Thanks
My belly is distended. Disgusting. I no longer try to kid myself this time of year... I just resign myself to the idea I'll have to suffer some later in order to atone.
For that, I give thanks.
If I hear a strange noise outside my window I can pick up the telephone, hardline or cell, and in a few minutes there'll be someone checking to see if I'm in danger. There's risk involved in that, and there are folks willing to take on that risk.
For that, I give thanks.
Power, water, phone service all work perfectly. If ever they should quit, someone will immediately begin the process of restoring those services. Sometimes there is risk involved there too. Most generally there is discomfort, either weather or just being pulled away unexpectedly from friends and loved ones. But they come, nevertheless.
For that, I give thanks.
If all this eating causes my heart to stop, someone will risk their lives to hurry and load my fat carcass onto a stretcher and race me toward the help I need, again, involving some degree of risk. But someone is willing to take that risk.
For that, I give thanks.
Right now there are brave people halfway around the world being shot at, exposed to explosive devices of all sorts, also physically removed from family and friends. I'm amazed at the number of heroes willing to take on that risk, in spite of so many of our fellow citizens giving aid and comfort to our enemies.
For that, I am overwhelmed.
Heavenly Father, I don't say it often enough-
Thank you for making me one of the richest people on earth.
For that, I give thanks.
If I hear a strange noise outside my window I can pick up the telephone, hardline or cell, and in a few minutes there'll be someone checking to see if I'm in danger. There's risk involved in that, and there are folks willing to take on that risk.
For that, I give thanks.
Power, water, phone service all work perfectly. If ever they should quit, someone will immediately begin the process of restoring those services. Sometimes there is risk involved there too. Most generally there is discomfort, either weather or just being pulled away unexpectedly from friends and loved ones. But they come, nevertheless.
For that, I give thanks.
If all this eating causes my heart to stop, someone will risk their lives to hurry and load my fat carcass onto a stretcher and race me toward the help I need, again, involving some degree of risk. But someone is willing to take that risk.
For that, I give thanks.
Right now there are brave people halfway around the world being shot at, exposed to explosive devices of all sorts, also physically removed from family and friends. I'm amazed at the number of heroes willing to take on that risk, in spite of so many of our fellow citizens giving aid and comfort to our enemies.
For that, I am overwhelmed.
Heavenly Father, I don't say it often enough-
Thank you for making me one of the richest people on earth.
Soiled
My company in Viet Nam was undergoing a transition. Our new
AH1-G's were arriving, and with each new "Snake" we had to give up one of our UH1-C "Charley Models".
We were down to two "Charleys", so now and then I was tasked to fly as Co-Pilot carrying our Infantry squad in our UH1-H "Slick".
I had gone to Operations to check the tasking board the night before and found I would be "on standby" as Co-Pilot on the slick. This meant my chances of actually flying were pretty slim, so I felt comfortable partying and drinking with friends until the wee hours of the morning.
I dragged myself out of bed at first light, still feeling the residual effects of far too many adult beverages, pre-flighted the aircraft, and rushed back to bed to sleep... hopefully beyond the coming headache.
Ha!
"Sir! Sir! They need you to scramble RIGHT NOW!"
It's the CQ runner from Operations.
Bleery eyed, I check my watch. It's 0930. I still need another three hours shuteye or so...
This can't be happening.
"Skeeter's been shot down!"
Skeeter was the call sign of our little OH-6 Scout.
Damn!
Outta bed and into my flight suit... I grab and strap on my .38 revolver and my "chicken plate" body armor, then jog 300 feet to the flight line. Tom, the Aircraft Commander, cranks the Huey as soon as he sees me headed his way.
We fly to the scene of the crash and circle. The little bird is on it's side burning. It's pilot and gunner/observer have been rescued, the crew chief didn't get out in time. We see lots of bad guys flitting below from one covered area to another, and our gunships are hosing those areas down with mini-gun and rockets.
I'm beginning to be uncomfortable.
Pretty quickly I realize I've made a big mistake...
In my rush to get airborne I should have taken a few seconds to hit the latrine. I need to pee, and I'm beginning to feel some gastro-intestinal pain due to having too much fun the night before. Landing is impossible... we can see bad guys running all around beneath us.
The pressure got worse.
And worse.
AND WORSE.
Finally I can stand the pain no longer. I fill the seat of my flight suit with warm, mushy stench. I'm not in pain any longer, but I'm now squishing around in my own waste and the foul smell makes everyone on the aircraft almost as uncomfortable as me.
Back home, I undressed in the shower and scrubbed myself down.
Lesson indelibly learned...
From that day forward I limited my alcohol intake before flying, even if I was just on standby. And I never got into another helicopter without first making a "pit-stop".
AH1-G's were arriving, and with each new "Snake" we had to give up one of our UH1-C "Charley Models".
We were down to two "Charleys", so now and then I was tasked to fly as Co-Pilot carrying our Infantry squad in our UH1-H "Slick".
I had gone to Operations to check the tasking board the night before and found I would be "on standby" as Co-Pilot on the slick. This meant my chances of actually flying were pretty slim, so I felt comfortable partying and drinking with friends until the wee hours of the morning.
I dragged myself out of bed at first light, still feeling the residual effects of far too many adult beverages, pre-flighted the aircraft, and rushed back to bed to sleep... hopefully beyond the coming headache.
Ha!
"Sir! Sir! They need you to scramble RIGHT NOW!"
It's the CQ runner from Operations.
Bleery eyed, I check my watch. It's 0930. I still need another three hours shuteye or so...
This can't be happening.
"Skeeter's been shot down!"
Skeeter was the call sign of our little OH-6 Scout.
Damn!
Outta bed and into my flight suit... I grab and strap on my .38 revolver and my "chicken plate" body armor, then jog 300 feet to the flight line. Tom, the Aircraft Commander, cranks the Huey as soon as he sees me headed his way.
We fly to the scene of the crash and circle. The little bird is on it's side burning. It's pilot and gunner/observer have been rescued, the crew chief didn't get out in time. We see lots of bad guys flitting below from one covered area to another, and our gunships are hosing those areas down with mini-gun and rockets.
I'm beginning to be uncomfortable.
Pretty quickly I realize I've made a big mistake...
In my rush to get airborne I should have taken a few seconds to hit the latrine. I need to pee, and I'm beginning to feel some gastro-intestinal pain due to having too much fun the night before. Landing is impossible... we can see bad guys running all around beneath us.
The pressure got worse.
And worse.
AND WORSE.
Finally I can stand the pain no longer. I fill the seat of my flight suit with warm, mushy stench. I'm not in pain any longer, but I'm now squishing around in my own waste and the foul smell makes everyone on the aircraft almost as uncomfortable as me.
Back home, I undressed in the shower and scrubbed myself down.
Lesson indelibly learned...
From that day forward I limited my alcohol intake before flying, even if I was just on standby. And I never got into another helicopter without first making a "pit-stop".
25 November 2008
Democrat Insanity
For the life of me I cannot figure it out.
Democrats are gonna pass this "card check" law, effectively allowing unions to legally use "Mafia" tactics.
Put yourself in the shoes of an employer faced with the higher costs that will inevitably result. If you are already being squeezed competitively because of high operating costs, what good choices do you have here?
-Fire or lay off employees.
-Reduce size, quality, or functionality of your product.
-Automate if possible, providing the long-term outlook indicates you can recover the costs.
-Move your operation offshore.
-Follow Detroit's lead and go bankrupt.
Sure democrats, that'll work!
Am I missing something?
Is this the "Hope and Change" Obama supporters voted for?
This is the path we're following, so all we have to do is watch the outcome there.
God help us, because we don't seem to have the intelligence to help ourselves.
Democrats are gonna pass this "card check" law, effectively allowing unions to legally use "Mafia" tactics.
Put yourself in the shoes of an employer faced with the higher costs that will inevitably result. If you are already being squeezed competitively because of high operating costs, what good choices do you have here?
-Fire or lay off employees.
-Reduce size, quality, or functionality of your product.
-Automate if possible, providing the long-term outlook indicates you can recover the costs.
-Move your operation offshore.
-Follow Detroit's lead and go bankrupt.
Sure democrats, that'll work!
Am I missing something?
Is this the "Hope and Change" Obama supporters voted for?
This is the path we're following, so all we have to do is watch the outcome there.
God help us, because we don't seem to have the intelligence to help ourselves.
Why I Love Being In Aviation-
Another case where the thought of fire gives me nightmares...
All in ONE HANGAR:
(Click it to BIG it.)
Maybe the last Me-109 ever built.
Another angle of the above aircraft.
Me-109 tail feathers.
1963 Corvette Split-Window Coupe
DeTomaso Pantera, with Triumph (TR-6?) peeking just behind.
All belong to friend, Dr. Leo.
He intends to bring the Me-109 back to airworthy condition, and is no fool...
he know$ exactly what that will entail.
Still, he just bought a Folke-Wulf Fw 190, also in need of restoration, rather than allow it to slip away. Rebuilding the 109 will take precedence.
Big Boys, Big Toys.
But he's preserving history and I'm glad he and others are willing to do that for the rest of us.
Thank you Dr. Leo!
All in ONE HANGAR:
(Click it to BIG it.)
Maybe the last Me-109 ever built.
Another angle of the above aircraft.
Me-109 tail feathers.
1963 Corvette Split-Window Coupe
DeTomaso Pantera, with Triumph (TR-6?) peeking just behind.
All belong to friend, Dr. Leo.
He intends to bring the Me-109 back to airworthy condition, and is no fool...
he know$ exactly what that will entail.
Still, he just bought a Folke-Wulf Fw 190, also in need of restoration, rather than allow it to slip away. Rebuilding the 109 will take precedence.
Big Boys, Big Toys.
But he's preserving history and I'm glad he and others are willing to do that for the rest of us.
Thank you Dr. Leo!
24 November 2008
A Gal Who "Gets It".
Bush/Obama
I abhor driving in traffic, but Sara Jean has family in Chicago so we used to spend the better part of a day to go there to visit. Shortly after 9-11 we made the trek to stay with one of her loved ones. That was a huge mistake.
Chicago is deep blue... a strong union town.
We were assaulted with BDS from the time we walked in the door. I'm actually quite patient when I have to be, so I absorbed the nearly constant barrage for three days. No amount of reasoning would convince our host that the problems GWB faced were inherited from the Clinton administration...
According to him, ALL the ills the country faced were Bush's fault... less than a year from assuming the office.
I found my limit... it's about three days.
There's a silver lining to every black cloud... I don't feel compelled to drive to Chicago any longer.
So now I have a yardstick to use, provided by my Chicago loved ones...
If all the country's ills are not resolved by October of 2009, that will be because "The One" has failed us, right?
RIIIIIIIGHT!
I'll make you a wager now-
Obama's "fixes" for the country will probably make most problems worse. Solutions that do work will take longer than A.D.D. suffering constituents will like.
But it will all be Bush's fault...
For four years.
Who wants to take my money?
Chicago is deep blue... a strong union town.
We were assaulted with BDS from the time we walked in the door. I'm actually quite patient when I have to be, so I absorbed the nearly constant barrage for three days. No amount of reasoning would convince our host that the problems GWB faced were inherited from the Clinton administration...
According to him, ALL the ills the country faced were Bush's fault... less than a year from assuming the office.
I found my limit... it's about three days.
There's a silver lining to every black cloud... I don't feel compelled to drive to Chicago any longer.
So now I have a yardstick to use, provided by my Chicago loved ones...
If all the country's ills are not resolved by October of 2009, that will be because "The One" has failed us, right?
RIIIIIIIGHT!
I'll make you a wager now-
Obama's "fixes" for the country will probably make most problems worse. Solutions that do work will take longer than A.D.D. suffering constituents will like.
But it will all be Bush's fault...
For four years.
Who wants to take my money?
22 November 2008
Le Cafe
Coffee is good for you.
Coffee is bad for you.
What's the latest "Scientific" ruling this week?
I've written before what a huge coffee drinker my Old Man was...
He probably drank more than a half-gallon per day, yet slept like a baby.
I like coffee, but when I drink more than four or five cups you'd think I have palsy.
Sara Jean is an addictive personality. When I first met her she didn't drink coffee, but Dad changed that in one weekend. All he had to do was show her how to add cream and sugar, and she was nearly keeping pace with his consumption. And though Dad is now gone, his tradition of coffee drinking continues in his beloved Daughter-in-law. Our "Mr. Coffee" perks an "Army pot" at 6 A.M., and if I don't roll my lazy hindquarters out of bed by 8, I'll have to brew a new pot... she'll smile like the Cheshire Cat and shrug her shoulders, and be second in line for a cup when the next pot finishes.
I don't know how folks like Dad and Sara Jean do it. Obviously, others have the same thoughts:
Coffee is bad for you.
What's the latest "Scientific" ruling this week?
I've written before what a huge coffee drinker my Old Man was...
He probably drank more than a half-gallon per day, yet slept like a baby.
I like coffee, but when I drink more than four or five cups you'd think I have palsy.
Sara Jean is an addictive personality. When I first met her she didn't drink coffee, but Dad changed that in one weekend. All he had to do was show her how to add cream and sugar, and she was nearly keeping pace with his consumption. And though Dad is now gone, his tradition of coffee drinking continues in his beloved Daughter-in-law. Our "Mr. Coffee" perks an "Army pot" at 6 A.M., and if I don't roll my lazy hindquarters out of bed by 8, I'll have to brew a new pot... she'll smile like the Cheshire Cat and shrug her shoulders, and be second in line for a cup when the next pot finishes.
I don't know how folks like Dad and Sara Jean do it. Obviously, others have the same thoughts:
21 November 2008
20 November 2008
19 November 2008
Gadgets
First, a story:
One of the fondest memories of my life started off badly. I need to give you a little background so you'll better understand...
He barely made it into High School, but my Dad was one of the smartest people on earth.
Give him something that didn't work and he generally could figure out why it wouldn't function.
Most frequently, if it was fixable he could fix it.
But if you looked in the dictionary under MACHO, you'd see a picture of my Dad. There was nothing he hated worse than being embarrassed. He'd do ANYTHING to avoid being thrust into a situation where he might be embarrassed.
Dad flew airplanes, and was fascinated by helicopters. When the guy that was supposed to come home from California with me in an R22 canceled out, Dad jumped at my offer to fill the seat.
I was delighted with the idea of spending three days flying cross-country with my Old Man.
I borrowed a Garmin 296 GPS from a friend for the trip. To my Dad I said, "Getting out of the L.A. basin, unfamiliar with the area, with all that controlled airspace and all the student pilot traffic is always stressful. I need your help to stay out of trouble."
So I put the unit in "simulation mode" and handed it to him-
"You can't hurt it Dad. Play around with it until you're comfortable. Let me know if you have any questions." And I walked away figuring he'd be busy for an hour or so.
Fifteen minutes later I check on him and find the unit turned off, sitting next to him on the end table. I disguise the fact that I'm furious as I ask, "So, you know how that thing works now?"
"I'm afraid I'm gonna break it."
I know him well enough to know it's hopeless. I'm stuck with flying, navigating, communicating, and avoiding other traffic safely out of L.A. with a live bag of potatoes in the co-pilot seat.
And with the necessary planning I did fine. I had Dad hold the 296 where I could refer to it, and he watched as I pushed buttons to get the information I needed. He watched as the moving map on the unit unfolded. He shook his head in amazement as he'd look at the airplane on the 296 fly over a railroad track, then look below the helicopter to see we were EXACTLY over a railroad track.
When we got home he asked, "How much do these things cost?"
Then he went and bought a Garmin Streetpilot III.
It wasn't cheap. At the time, I think he paid $1,300 for the thing. For three years he enjoyed showing it off to all his friends and family. A few days before he died, he gave it to me, and five years later it still works great.
But time marches on, and I've been exposed to newer GPS units. You've probably seen them or seen them advertised...
These machines talk to you.
They prompt you to enter an address and then guide you to your destination.
Push the "home" button, and they will guide you home when you are hopelessly lost in a scary neighborhood.
Two weeks ago, Sara Jean bought this unit for me.
For a little over $200 we got the GPS and a bean-bag mount that sits securely on the dash to keep the unit in place. I'll be able to program it and be confident Sara Jean won't drive into that dangerous neighborhood. Many of you probably have a GPS already. Those of you that don't, for whatever reason, need to look into buying one. And cost shouldn't be an issue...
We've seen some good ones selling for as little as $100 on EBay. Big Bubba bought one and is more than satisfied with it.
More gadgets-
Pilots, have you ever used these?
Yeah, I know... Yikes! A thousand dollars?
We have two of them in the R22, and I think they're worth the cost. It's difficult to describe the amount of noise they cancel out. If you've never used them, find someone that has a set and have them demonstrate them to you. You'll be amazed.
In certain frequency ranges I'm nearly deaf. I believe a pilot starting her/his career today using an active-noise-canceling headset may not suffer my fate at career's end.
Here too, perfectly good substitutes are available for a lot less than $1,000.
There are several models of noise canceling headphones intended for use in non-aviation environments that are reasonably priced. I'll assume they're as effective as the aviation headsets at reducing noise levels, and I'd recommend buying one if your work exposes you to a lot of noise.
Sometimes gadgets seem like toys...
Until you start using them and get accustomed to 'em.
Then, (remember your first microwave oven?), you wonder "How did I ever get along without that?"
One of the fondest memories of my life started off badly. I need to give you a little background so you'll better understand...
He barely made it into High School, but my Dad was one of the smartest people on earth.
Give him something that didn't work and he generally could figure out why it wouldn't function.
Most frequently, if it was fixable he could fix it.
But if you looked in the dictionary under MACHO, you'd see a picture of my Dad. There was nothing he hated worse than being embarrassed. He'd do ANYTHING to avoid being thrust into a situation where he might be embarrassed.
Dad flew airplanes, and was fascinated by helicopters. When the guy that was supposed to come home from California with me in an R22 canceled out, Dad jumped at my offer to fill the seat.
I was delighted with the idea of spending three days flying cross-country with my Old Man.
I borrowed a Garmin 296 GPS from a friend for the trip. To my Dad I said, "Getting out of the L.A. basin, unfamiliar with the area, with all that controlled airspace and all the student pilot traffic is always stressful. I need your help to stay out of trouble."
So I put the unit in "simulation mode" and handed it to him-
"You can't hurt it Dad. Play around with it until you're comfortable. Let me know if you have any questions." And I walked away figuring he'd be busy for an hour or so.
Fifteen minutes later I check on him and find the unit turned off, sitting next to him on the end table. I disguise the fact that I'm furious as I ask, "So, you know how that thing works now?"
"I'm afraid I'm gonna break it."
I know him well enough to know it's hopeless. I'm stuck with flying, navigating, communicating, and avoiding other traffic safely out of L.A. with a live bag of potatoes in the co-pilot seat.
And with the necessary planning I did fine. I had Dad hold the 296 where I could refer to it, and he watched as I pushed buttons to get the information I needed. He watched as the moving map on the unit unfolded. He shook his head in amazement as he'd look at the airplane on the 296 fly over a railroad track, then look below the helicopter to see we were EXACTLY over a railroad track.
When we got home he asked, "How much do these things cost?"
Then he went and bought a Garmin Streetpilot III.
It wasn't cheap. At the time, I think he paid $1,300 for the thing. For three years he enjoyed showing it off to all his friends and family. A few days before he died, he gave it to me, and five years later it still works great.
But time marches on, and I've been exposed to newer GPS units. You've probably seen them or seen them advertised...
These machines talk to you.
They prompt you to enter an address and then guide you to your destination.
Push the "home" button, and they will guide you home when you are hopelessly lost in a scary neighborhood.
Two weeks ago, Sara Jean bought this unit for me.
For a little over $200 we got the GPS and a bean-bag mount that sits securely on the dash to keep the unit in place. I'll be able to program it and be confident Sara Jean won't drive into that dangerous neighborhood. Many of you probably have a GPS already. Those of you that don't, for whatever reason, need to look into buying one. And cost shouldn't be an issue...
We've seen some good ones selling for as little as $100 on EBay. Big Bubba bought one and is more than satisfied with it.
More gadgets-
Pilots, have you ever used these?
Yeah, I know... Yikes! A thousand dollars?
We have two of them in the R22, and I think they're worth the cost. It's difficult to describe the amount of noise they cancel out. If you've never used them, find someone that has a set and have them demonstrate them to you. You'll be amazed.
In certain frequency ranges I'm nearly deaf. I believe a pilot starting her/his career today using an active-noise-canceling headset may not suffer my fate at career's end.
Here too, perfectly good substitutes are available for a lot less than $1,000.
There are several models of noise canceling headphones intended for use in non-aviation environments that are reasonably priced. I'll assume they're as effective as the aviation headsets at reducing noise levels, and I'd recommend buying one if your work exposes you to a lot of noise.
Sometimes gadgets seem like toys...
Until you start using them and get accustomed to 'em.
Then, (remember your first microwave oven?), you wonder "How did I ever get along without that?"
18 November 2008
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