Idle Interstatial Musings

• You know it's hot when the air from the hand-dryer at the rest area is cooler than the outside air.
• The hybrids like the Prius are supposed to be super fuel efficient - thus their popularity when gas was $4/gallon. How fuel efficient are the lil' buggers when their tiny engines are trying to maintain 80-85 MPH?
• Miss driving in Germany where the left lane is lawfully kept clear... And to the recently licensed adolescent ladies (0ne of whom was dangling her freshly painted toesies outside the window) sure showed me by driving slowly in the left lane. When you finally cleared to the right, and then defiantly moved back to the left and tailgated me, I knew who was boss. Especially judging by the look on your faces when you got super close and I tapped my brakes.
• The state has nice beautification projects along the interstate. However, it loses a lil' something when there are signs announcing them coming up. Smacks of "Look at what WE did!" Beauty stands on its own... it doesn't need signs telling you to look at it.
• There's a certain... joy and freedom that comes from interstate driving. The only way to improve it would be to add wings to the car. Glad folks are working on that!

Watch This Space...

Coming soon... the blog relaunch/restart...

Something We've Lost...

There’s quite a movement going on through the country these days.  You’ve probably heard of the Tea Parties.  More generally speaking, people gather and bemoan how the country has “lost its way” or “her soul”.

And perhaps we have.



I know something we’ve lost, and it may seem oh so trivial… but, I, for one, think it’s fundamental.

With digital, cable, and satellite TV, it’s become more and more rare for a television station to actually sign-off (to go off the air).  I was lucky enough to grow up during that time, and I can remember staying up to see TV stations go off the air.  I was drawn to it…  the music, the scenery, and yes, even the plane.  Such an inspiring way to end the day.

And, it helped form a cornerstone of citizenship in this country.  No, watching a tv channel go off the air isn’t the secret to American Patriotism, but it was a piece of the foundation.  TV stations used various videos for their signoffs, but generally it featured the Star Spangled Banner or other patriotic recitations.  (For more blast from a bygone era, some videos even mention prayer!)

Here are some of my more favorite ones:




This is one from a local station I grew up on:
 
This one taught the evolution of our flag… and our country:




Even Armed Forces TV used to sign off… Here’s a particularly nice one:
    (Since it was shown in Japan, they also featured the Japanese National Anthem.)


(This one is just some airplane porn… not patriotic at all… but, it’s from the 1960′s, and kinda cool.) 



We’re not the only country that did this.  Even the Russians had something similar.  I’ve always been a fan of their National Anthem, and look at how this video similarly inspires pride in their nation.




Alas, stations don’t go off the air anymore.  Each channel is proud that it’s 24/7, always there for you.  Even if they’re only showing the latest infomercial gizmo, there they are.  We never stop anymore… never rest… and are no longer reminded of who we are and our history – even when it’s just the TV turning off.
Something we’ve lost…

He's Not Quite Dead!

There's an article out on the AP about the RI State Police (made famous in Me, Myself, & Irene) catching a man with a blood-alcohol content of .491!

Yes, a .491.

State police say they arrested a man early Tuesday whose blood alcohol level was 0.491 percent — the highest ever recorded in Rhode Island for someone who wasn't dead.

Gotta love that line... he's tops in the "not dead" category.

The legal limit in Rhode Island is 0.08. A level of 0.30 is classified as stupor, 0.4 is comatose and 0.5 is considered fatal, according to the health department.

Just thinking... do we give him an award for not managing to die? Of course, the bigger miracle is that somehow, he didn't kill anyone... himself of otherwise. Seems police noticed his intoxication after he:

Kobierowski, 34, of North Providence, was arrested after he drove into a highway message board on Interstate 95 in Providence, O'Donnell said.

Considering there are only 42 miles of I-95 in Rhode Island... again, I'm just amazed that the guy 1) could drive, b) didn't hurt anyone, and 3) well... just amazed.

Now, back to your regular blogging.

A Touching Short Film

I saw this on Neal Boortz's website. It's quite touching, and simple...

So, please, enjoy...

Long Overdue Reenlistment Pictures

Awhile back, I mentioned my reenlistment.


I have been neglectful in posting the pictures from the ceremony. I'm sorry. So, trying to catch up on my mile-long "To Do" list...

Here are some of those pics. More to come... eventually. Really.






































The Flag. No ceremony would be complete without it. In the background is the statue of Thomas Jefferson.










COL Braley administering the Oath to me.















My certificates. Not commonly known... in order to reenlist, you must actually be discharged. Therefore, I have a binder with both my first Honorable Discharge and my renewed enlistment oath.















A very special Honor. My Senator, the Honorable Jim DeMint, invited us to his office after the reenlistment. We spent a good 20 minutes with him. I continue to be impressed by him. I wish we had more Senators like him.

(And who knows... maybe, just maybe, one day I can follow in his footsteps.)

Blast From a Past

While flipping through TV, saw this ad on TV (note: mentioning it on the blog does NOT constitute an endorsement nor recommendation).

Was shocked.

How often do we recognize people on TV? People that we've worked with? Not too often, I'd say.

Anywho, "Hi" to Sam... been awhile... but you look fab-you-lous...

Air Travel

To go South, one must go North...
To go East, one must go West...

Good thing I love to fly!

A Moment of Note... from Afghanistan

This post has a bit of "Jointness" to it. I received an email from my close friend, a Marine, who received it from his friend, in the Air Force. It details a U-2 unit honoring the loss of a Soldier (Army) in Afghanistan.

I'll copy the e-mail here:

Sent: Monday, July 14, 2008 1:36 PM
Subject: Moment of note in the AOR


Had to share one of the most poignant moments of my 19-year career.
Today one of our young A1C U-2 crew chiefs learned his brother, an Army E-4,
was "killed in action" in Afghanistan yesterday. The AMU rallied, rapidly
did some beautiful chalk nose art on a jet flying an OEF combat mission
today and put his brother's unit logo on the tail. He launched it before
heading home to his family tonight. Folks from across maintenance and ops
came out to pay their respect and launch the mission. A1C Z******** is a
strong man and I'm proud to serve with him.

Great Quote from A Friend

"Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for."

Joseph Addison

We Lost a Buddy

Last night, I received word that my cousin, Charles A. "Buddy" Lockwood, had died.

He died... living life the way he enjoyed it... he was riding his motorcycle when a lorry pulled out in front of him... and in that instant, Buddy was gone.

For me, Buddy has always been... well, an enigma. He's the closest to me in age of all of my cousins on my Dad's side of the family. And for a long time, I felt he was setting a bar for me that I could never hope to achieve -- that is, until I realized the bar was his, and his alone... I had my own bar.

Buddy (or "Charlie" as he apparently picked up as a nickname later in life) lived an amazing life filled with high achievement. He had a doctorate in Anatomical Sciences from the University of Witwatersrand (that's in South Africa!). He taught at the University College London. He'd been on archaelogical digs throughout Africa.

He's published, and has books for sale on Amazon.com! While I Googled him, I even saw where he'd been quoted on Foxnews.

And, amazingly enough to the family at the time, he was even a United States Marine! (I still remember his graduation.)

My main memory though is from childhood. Usually around Thanksgiving, the entire clan would gather. Being by far the youngest (most of my cousins out-age me by decades, not years), I would hole up in Buddy's room. I remember it being filled with books, from science fiction to a seemingly endless Garfield collection. And endless games of Choplifter...

Buddy was an affable, low-key guy... But with a powerful mind that was always working...

He's going to be missed... His mind, his gentle laugh... his good nature.

(If you'd like to read his "In Memoriam" and all the wonderful comments, please go to this page on Anthropology.net.)

Other tributes here, here, here, the University's announcement, and here. Photos from the charleslockwood.shutterfly.com">memorial service in Arizona (use password "ethiopia"). Here is an article from the Islington Gazette.

** Update ** - Not unsurprisingly in this modern world, the family has started a blog to provide a communications focus. Please, stop by and lend a word or two of support if you would like.

Warriors in Pink

Here's the latest addition to the growing Army of people fighting Breast Cancer.

Ford, partnering with Army Wives, has launched Warriors in Pink, fighting Breast Cancer.

They have a store for neat goodies, with 100% of net proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen foundation.

So, right off to bat, we know we're with a good group.

One nice part of the website is the Virtual Quilt. This is a quilt that is comprised of patches designed by all of US out here, those who are fighting Breast Cancer, or in honor of those who've fought - some who've survived, and others who've gone before us.

I am loudly in support of ANYTHING that helps get this disease the brutal attention that it needs.

1 out of every EIGHT women in our lives will be.... WILL BE... diagnosed with Breast Cancer.

1 out of 8.

Do you know 8 women? I do. And I don't think I'm off the hook since our circle has already contributed a "1".

And just remember... someone else is counting you as one of their eight.

1 out of 8.

How can we NOT be fighting this harder??

Please, go to this Warriors in Pink website and lend some support. Even if you're already supporting every other Cancer website out there.

And by the way, I do encourage you to stop by one of my favorites: Avon Walk for Breast Cancer

Cruel and Unusual

I've had a lot of thoughts in my head of late (here, here, and here), spurred by the recent passing of Punk Rock Mommy.

And as I was chatting with my dear friend, I drew a connection.

I first was thinking back to one of my favorite Star Trek quotes, "How we face Death is at least as important as how we face Life."

And that's true, because for many, Death comes unexpectedly. Unplanned. Unanticipated.

Yet, there are those who know that Death is coming.

They've been told they are going to die. Not exactly when, but... It WILL happen.

Then, they get told that Death is soon approaching. Probably within a month, but no other details.

And finally, you know... Today is your last day.

It's Death Row.

Except, these people are not criminals. They've committed no horrific atrocity.


So, I ask... If we as a society complain about the cruel and unusual nature of executions on Death Row... Executions of our society's most heinous members..

Why are we not more vocal and active in our complaints against the executions of our more innocent members? The children who die from cancer.. The mothers... Wives... Fathers... Sons... Husbands... Daughters... And those indistinguishable people who are mere faces in the crowd that no one even notices is missing...

Priorities.

Army Strong - Look Up to Yourself

I haven't seen this on TV, but apparently it's out there...

This commercial talks about how American Soldiers will be looked up to... my observation is more to the point... be a Soldier and look up to yourself.



Hooah!

A Glimpse from WW2

Thought I'd share a video from WW2. It's been colorized, and is just what it is. Not going to add any commentary.

(Do take note of the script at the end, though.)

Deja Vu

It's with sadness, and understanding, that I convey that Andrea Collins Smith passed away this morning.

Her battle has ended. Her family's... continues. And for all the rest of us, the quest to stop this hideous disease.

My sympathies, and condolences, to her family. And to Andrea (great initials, by the way), you've been freed. No more suffering, the pain is over.

Over on her blog (which will continue), there are two notable posts. First, Andrea wrote a farewell post. It's eerily familiar, especially when I look at the picture. Reminds me of another picture... Also, her husband wrote his announcement post.

Sigh.

Happy Fourth of July!

Ready for some fireworks??? We are! We're camped out at Mt. Trashmore in Virginia Beach, amongst probably a good 10-20,000 fellow fireworks loving Americans.

One highlight already was when the band asked everyone on The Hill to light up and wave their cell phones while yelling, "Thank You Troops!" repeatedly.

It's a great night, and it's another great day to be an American!

For all of our country's faults, we're still the best place to be on the planet.

(And to all my comrades in the desert of Iraq, Missing y'all... Stay safe!)

Is Amount Ok?

Has anyone else noticed how it's now commonplace to ask if the total on your bill is "Ok"?

No?

Next time you're at the grocery stores (big offender), and you swipe your credit card, look at the screen. It'll show the amount and then a variation of the question, "Is amount ok?"

And clerks do it, too.

Yes, we usually don't hear them, usually because if they're actually speaking to us in the first place, then their questions are often insincere ("And are we having a good day today?"). So, now they say, "Your total is $15.76, is that ok?"

Is that ok? Are we now bartering? Is the clerk at Wallyworld now authorized to haggle over the bill?? "Gee, $15.76 isn't bad, but how about $14.34?"

Is it ok? Well, if I try to LEAVE without paying, what's going to happen, hmmm?

I just love the question... Is the amount ok... Duh... Of course it is if I want the stuff...

(End rant)

Change of Plans

Ahhh, the Army.

Today *was* going to be a big paperwork day. I was off Monday and Tuesday, and of course, we're off Thursday and Friday.

So, today was going to be my day to catch up on much needed paperwork.

REALLY need to finish this paperwork. Plus, do some moving tasks.

Nope. Chage of plans. Emergency mission to a place farther north.

So much for the plans for the day.

Ahhh, the Army. :)

An Eagle Swims

I am a huge fan of Eagles.

No, not the band (though, some of the music IS great).

The bird. A majestic creature, and one that often demonstrates the very qualities that we mere humas often strive for.

For example, persistence. Never quitting. Finishing the job.