Carmichael's Position

Red Bull Air Races in San Diego!

While in San Diego this past weekend we had the opportunity to watch some of the Red Bull Air Races... actually they were taking place right outside our hotel room on Coronado! 

Words cannot do it justice, so here's a bit of a photo montage to capture the moments!  If only I had the sound of those props!  Wow!   Enjoy...

    

 

 

Cool Planes and Cool Dudes!

As most of you who read Carmichael's Position know I also serve as the Editor (and writer mostly) of the Tailhook Daily Briefing... cool work if you can get it!

This weekend I wrote a brief article about the 'Saints' of US Navy Adversary Squadron VFC-13 paying a visit to Grand Junction.  While there they also stopped in to visit with a young man Jordan Jones, age 14 fighting testicular cancer.  The Colorado Chapter of Tailhook (of which I am a proud member) has taken Jordan and his family somewhat under our wing, and want to make sure Jordan knows he has tremendous support from a number of folks.

Back to the Saints...  Squadron Commanding Officer, Cdr. Rob "Thumper" Modderman stopped by GJT bringing 9 others of his Squadron, and many saw fit to swing by Jordan's house to wish him all the best and to encourage him in his continued fight!  Who better than those who train Naval Aviators "How to Fight and WIN!" 

Jordan was too ill to greet the aviators as they landed at Grand Junction, but he was feeling much better the next day and his father took him out to the airfield to bid farewell and watch the departures of his new found friends, The Saints of VFC-13!

The men of VFC-13 and the Men and Women of the Colorado Tailhook Ready Room, led by Hans and Kathy Schmoldt deserve our highest gratitude for their dedication to others.  Efforts like these are what help to make all of us Tailhookers proud!

It turns out that the article I wrote has taken on a bit of life as a place where well wishers for Jordan's recovery can leave an encouraging comment.  If you feel so inclined, even though you may not know Jordan, please swing by the Tailhook Daily Briefing and add your wishes... it certainly couldn't hurt, and I bet it would definitely help! [LINK]

   

All the pictures on this post are courtesy of Kathy Schmoldt... and I thank her for sharing!

"Give Ken a Big Wet One for Me for His Birthday"

This was the Instant Message I received on my iPhone from a friend of mine who could not join me and a couple of other friends in Seattle to help celebrate my good friend Ken Schoeni's 40th birthday! 

I was not sitting close to Ken at the time, but Tim was... so he obliged!

Mmmmmm... Lucky Ken! Or... then again... maybe not...

Despite the wickedly moist tongue slobbering he just received, Ken, Stu, Tim and I enjoyed a great weekend of fun, stupidity, and juvenile behavior usually reserved for those a third our age! 

Ken recently took a position at Boeing as an Supply Chain Analyst, moving from Colorado to Seattle and there was no way in Hell I was going to let Ken spend his 40th B-day by himself.  Ken knew I was coming out to visit him, I had told him of my plans about 3 weeks ago.  What Ken did not know is that a couple of his other good friends were going to make the hour shortened weekend trip too!  Tim (Ken's "a-bit-too-amorous" friend in the above photo) flew in from Pennsylvania just for this (12 combined hours in the air for 37 hours of fun with friends in Seattle!)  Now that's a buddy! 

Stu, the other unannounced attendee for the weekend's festivities, lives here in Colorado and flew out with me.  Where we surprised Ken at his front stoop following a none-too-subtle knock on his apartment door!  Best to condition Ken's Neighbors early to their expected sleepless weekend!

Ken was floored when he learned of the addition of two of his best fiends.

We had a ball!  Hazing commenced almost immediately... as is the norm when we join forces.  Not for the weak constitution.  Weaknesses WILL be EXPLOITED!  Builds character!

We spent our weekend playing tourist, enjoying an occasional adult beverage or two, catching up on old times.  On Saturday night we took Ken to Daniel's Broiler to enjoy a wonderfully prepared hunk of Cow!  Wow! was that good!  The meat was perfectly prepared and expertly served!  My highest recommendation if you are visiting Seattle and have some money to spend on a quality meal!

After dinner we strolled around the docks to walk off our meal... we all overate, but it was too good not to!  On our jaunt we came across a specific vessel that many of you will be familiar with if you have ever watched the Discovery Channel's acclaimed "Deadliest Catch" program.  There moored before us among the Multi-Million Dollar yachts was the "Time Bandit".  Pretty cool!  One of the crew members saw us for the fans we are and asked if we would like to have or picture taken.  Sure, especially because it would most likely be the only one with all four of us in frame (turned out, it is... L-R Ken Schoeni, Tim Husbands, YHS, and Stu Sweet.)

 

As I mentioned, it was a fast but fulfilling weekend.  We crammed about as much as we could while still trying to relax and unwind in those 38 or so hours! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEN!  40 ain't so bad... especially if you're 41 or 42 like most of the rest of us!

Here's some of my customary photos from the trip, mostly of Pike Market... more can be found here [link].

       

Um... There's another kind?

Left -vs- Right... Brained

Hat Tip to my friend Cari--

Here's a test:  Look at the Image below.  Which direction is the woman turning? Clockwise or Counter-Clockwise?  (And yes she can appear to spin in either direction depending on your perspective).

  

If clockwise, then you use more of the right side of the brain and vice versa.

Some of us can actually get her to reverse course at will. I can do that.  I also seem to be able to see Stereograms those "3D Hidden Images" in the abstract posters pretty rapidly too. (There is a Shark in the Image below.)

Falling under the Astrological Sign of Twins I am oft accused having the Gemini trait of two personalities.  Actually I like to think of it as being flexible!  In reality I am one who explores both sides of my brain in fairly equal proportion.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with what the two sides of your brain control respectively here's a brief synopsis:

LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS

• uses logic
• detail oriented
• facts rule
• words and language
• present and past
• math and science
• can comprehend
• knowing
• acknowledges order/pattern perception
• knows object name
• reality based
• forms strategies
• practical
• safe

RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS

• uses feeling
• "big picture" oriented
• imagination rules
• symbols and images
• present and future
• philosophy & religion
• can "get it" (i.e. meaning)
• believes
• appreciates
• spatial perception
• knows object function
• fantasy based
• presents possibilities
• impetuous
• risk taking

In this political season, I find it sort of ironic that those stereotypical traits associated with Liberal (Left) -vs- Conservative (Right) are contained in the juxtaposed sides of our minds.

So, You're Telling Me They Call You "Mariah?"

Cool commercial...  Hat tip to my fiend Tommy for calling attention to it via his Blog "Driving Fast, Taking Chances."  Yeah, I figured out the metaphor about 10 seconds into it, creative though.

Especially relevant considering who I work for now... yes I can help your company explore alternative energy options... Ping me at jcarmichael@nuenergen.com and visit us at www.NuEnergen.com .

The Mariah reference, for those of you born in the MTV generation, is in regard to a song from the musical "Paint Your Wagon."  One of the only Musicals a Heterosexual male can publicly claim to enjoy!  Hell, It starred Clint Eastwood and Lee Marvin for God's Sake!  (Who both sang in the Movie!!!! No Seriously!!! They Did!!)

4.72 Miles Per Second!

Well that ought to put it in perspective! 

And if that doesn't work for you... try 24,933 FEET! per "One Mississippi!"

That is how fast the non-functioning NRO Satellite ("US 193") was traveling this evening when the USS Lake Erie (CG-70) firing a modified SM-3 "Standard" missile scored a HIT on it!

Oh, did I mention that was from over 133 vertical miles away?!!! 

Bravo Zulu Crew of the USS Lake Erie! 

The DOD press release follows:

---

DoD Succeeds In Intercepting Non-Functioning Satellite

A network of land-, air-, sea- and spaced-based sensors confirms that the U.S. military intercepted a non-functioning National Reconnaissance Office satellite which was in its final orbits before entering the earth's atmosphere.

At approximately 10:26 p.m. EST today, a U.S. Navy AEGIS warship,  the USS Lake Erie (CG-70), fired a single modified tactical Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) hitting the satellite approximately 247 kilometers (133 nautical miles) over the Pacific Ocean as it traveled in space at more than 17,000 mph. USS Decatur (DDG-73) and USS Russell (DDG-59) were also part of the task force.

US NAVY Photos:

The objective was to rupture the fuel tank to dissipate the approximately 1,000 pounds (453 kg) of hydrazine, a hazardous fuel which could pose a danger to people on earth, before it entered into earth's atmosphere.   Confirmation that the fuel tank has been fragmented should be available within 24 hours.

Due to the relatively low altitude of the satellite at the time of the engagement, debris will begin to re-enter the earth’s atmosphere immediately. Nearly all of the debris will burn up on reentry within 24-48 hours and the remaining debris should re-enter within 40 days.  

Now that is Skeet Shooting!  PULL!

Photos That Convey a Feeling

I play racquetball twice a week, at Green Mountain Rec. Center here in Denver.  The reason I play there and not closer to my house is that it is almost but not-quite-equidistant between me and my playing partner.  I usually play immediately after work which often is right around sunset.

Anyway, along my route (the ridge of Green Mountain) I am entertained by a magnificent vista of the entire Denver crescent  laid out before me, from Boulder to the north all the way to Pikes Peak to the south and all of the Denver Metro in-between, an impressive view to say the least. 

However even with that distraction as my eastern view, I keep finding my eyes drawn to the simple contrast of a lone Cattle Chute in a meadow to my west.

For me, there has always been something about the simple wood structure at sunset that conveyed "The West."  And I've always wanted to take a crack at capturing that feeling in a photo.  I had the opportunity the other day to make just such an  effort.  Here are the results, and I'm curious to know if you think I managed to capture more than just a "Cattle Chute."

Full sized versions of these images can be found on my SmugMug page here. 

Photos from my latest trip to San Diego

As most of you know, I pretty much consider San Diego my 'Home Town" for as much as a Navy Brat with 37 different addresses to his credit can claim one...

This last trip was to attend a Tailhook reception and then give the Managing Director of Tailhook a Briefing on the first year's performance of The "Tailhook Daily Briefing."  The Association's blog of which I am the editor.

I needed the break, and I got one.  It was a great trip.  The weather was perfect...Severe Clear in the mid 60's!  Hertz once again provided me with a Mustang, this time without the 11 inches of snow to navigate through!  And my "Travelocity" discounted hotel room was not to be believed for below $200.00 price I paid!  Here's the view out my room window!

I took the opportunity to recapture some of my 500 photos (that got lost thanks to a somewhat unsuccessful hard drive recovery... performed by a somewhat accomplished nincompoop!)... as well as take a few other new ones.  The latest collection is posted here if you would like to check out the full batch, but as I like to do here's some to tease you a bit.

Some planes... of course!  with a little Photoshop fun at Lindbergh Field.

The Beach at Coronado, to make all my snow covered friends in Colorado a bit envious.

Some of the downtown touristy stuff... Star of India and the recreation of the famous end of World War II  photo in a 30 foot statue down by the Midway.

 

And finally a panoramic of San Diego, looking a full 360 degrees from the end of the pier in the photo above.

  Like I said... A perfect couple of days in San Diego... Well, almost... If Ginger had been with me, it would have been perfect!

Again, more photos here: http://jcas.smugmug.com/gallery/4305021_nCL3k#252358952

But I Do My Best Work In There!

I've be told before, that I do my best work sittn' on the porcelain throne!  I'm pretty sure those who offered that opinion did not mean it as a complement.  But in reality I think many would be surprised how many "Innovative Ideas" were arrived at as a result of a few minutes of semi-uninterrupted "Private Time".

So I had to laugh today upon hearing about a Plaque Brad Feld, the Primary VC at my former company NewsGator, paid to have installed at a Bathroom in one of the University of Colorado's new buildings.

Brad contributed $25,000 to have the honor of a restroom in the University of Colorado Alliance for Technology, Learning and Society, (ATLAS) building named after him.  The Plaque reads:

"The best ideas often come at inconvenient times. Don't ever close your mind to them."

I like that... Brad continues to do things that, usually when we are drinking with our buddies, many of us simply talk about doing .  Action! 

Investor buys naming rights to University of Colorado restroom

BOULDER, Colo.—Venture capitalist Brad Feld hopes that using the men's room named in his honor will be an inspirational experience.

... Feld, managing director at Foundry Group and Mobius Venture Capital, both based in Boulder, said he wanted a plaque "to inspire people as they walk in to do their business."

Some of his best ideas have come while he's on the toilet or in the shower, he said. "It's a good time to reflect. It's a quiet moment."

That last sentence is debatable in certain circumstances, but otherwise...

I tell you... All the more reason to find a idea or invention that you can take to market to become EXTREMELY WEALTHY!!!  So you can do these types of things.  I'm just not sure which breeds which? Does money breed eccentricity or the other way around?

Time for me to think this through a bit... pass the prunes!

Taking Donations!

I'm making it official, to anyone who would like to contribute, I will be glad to accept your donations to the "Let's Send John Into Space" fund!  The "Let's Make Sure He Stays There" fund is different!  We have about a year and a half to raise the funds! 

All I need is $200,000 +/- not sure what £100,000 currently converts to... I'm only about $200,000 short right now.

Hell, I promise to even write about my trip! It's sure to thrill my dozens of readers!   If you're really nice I might even publish pictures!!!

Here's the story from "This is London"

"The Virgin Galactic spacecraft, which was being unveiled in New York today, is already under construction. Test flights are expected to begin in June, with commercial flights starting 12 months later."

...Once the mother ship reaches 50,000 feet, which was the cruising altitude of Concorde, the spaceship is released and its rocket is fired, accelerating the craft up to 2,500mph, and taking it to 110km, officially making its passengers astronauts.

If you would like to find an address to contribute to or if the fine folks at Virgin Galactic would like to offer up a trip for a "Regular Joe" or "Regular John" in this case(coffee and Raisin Bran will help with being defined as 'Regular') just leave your interest in contributing in the comments section.  I'll reply in private.  Or maybe in public... we'll see!

Blue Angels Coming Back To Colorado This Year!

I know it is only January, but I definitely have reason to look forward to September now!

The Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron will be once again performing at Grand Junction's Walker Field.  I know what I'll be doing the weekend of September 27-28!  I'll probably be part of the Colorado Tailhook Association contingent expected to be there in force.  And certainly partaking in the already planned 7th annual Cattle Barons BBQ at Hans and Kathy's!

Looks like some good old regular stops have also returned to the flight schedule for this season; MCAS Miramar for one, the aforementioned Grand Junction (which if you haven't been there is a great venue to watch the Blues!) and for many, probably one of the biggest surprises is the return of the Blue Angels to San Francisco (Oct. 11-12), where every year the opposition to the annual performance gains a louder and louder voice.  However, by most factual accounting that voice is of an extremely vocal Anti-Military borderline Anti-American minority.  Damn Commies!

Anyway, as always the Blue Angles demonstrate some of the highest quality flying one will ever have the opportunity to experience.  I say "experience" because you feel as much as see the flight demo!  Six F/A-18C's in "Full Blower" flying 18 inches (THAT'S RIGHT NOT A TYPO 18 INCHES) apart is awe inspiring and heart pounding!

So if you have never been, I cannot recommend enough to find a show nearest you and bring the friends and family!  I do recommend that your kids be a minimum of 8 or 9 for their attention span.  Also, is is commonly HOT! out on the apron with little to no shade, so bring sunscreen, dress cool and wear a hat (wide brims recommended)!

 

Here's the show schedule:

MARCH

08          NAF El Centro, California
15 - 16   Sacramento, California
29 - 30   NAS Meridian, Mississippi

APRIL

05 - 06   NAS Kingsville, Texas
12 - 13   Smyrna, Tennessee
19 - 20   Peoria, Illinois
26 - 27   Vidalia, Georgia

MAY

10 - 11   Barksdale AFB, Bossier City, Louisiana
16 - 18   Andrews AFB, Maryland
21          USNA, Annapolis, Maryland
23          USNA Fly-By, Annapolis, Maryland
24-25     Jones Beach, New York

JUNE

07 - 08   MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina
14 - 15   Quebec City
21 - 22   Davenport, Iowa
28 - 29   Huntsville, Alabama

JULY

05 - 06   Traverse City, Michigan
12          Pensacola Beach, Florida
19 - 20   Duluth, Minnesota
26 - 27   Twin Falls, Idaho

AUGUST

02 - 03   Seattle, Washington
08 - 10   Fairchild AFB, Spokane, Washington
16 - 17   Chicago, Illinois
30          Cleveland, Ohio

SEPTEMBER

01          Cleveland, Ohio
06 - 07   NAS Brunswick, Maine
13 - 14   Eau Claire, Wisconsin
20 - 21   NAS Oceana, Virginia
27 - 28   Grand Junction, Colorado

OCTOBER

04 - 05   MCAS Miramar, San Diego, California
11 - 12   San Francisco, California
18 - 19   Little Rock, AFB, Arkansas
25 - 26   NAS Jacksonville, Florida

NOVEMBER

01 - 02   Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas
08 - 09   Kennedy Space Center, Florida
15          NAS Pensacola, Florida

Schedule is subject to change without notice and is
weather permitting, for everyone's safety.

 

The Future of Screen Interaction Technology

Computer,TV, HDDVD, what ever your poison, this is the next technological step in the process.

http://www.perceptivepixel.com/

Video:

We are already seeing advanced touch screen technology in Apple iPhones and iPods and Microsoft's Surface.  But expect the explosion over the next coupla!  Find your investments where you can!

JungleGrub is Now in Costco!

Now there is something to cheer about!

Many of you know I have been assisting Steve and Teresa Brandt, the founders of Organic Nutrition mostly in the form of some gentle business cheerleading and encouragement as well as building the JungleGrub News Blog for them. 

Well through Steve's dedication and perseverance JungleGrub Snack Bars are now available a select COSTCO stores in Southern California (sorry to the rest of my national readership... although I'm sure Steve and "T" won't mind if you go to your local COSTCO manager and request they too begin to stock JungleGrub... just say'n).

 

For those of you who do not know...

JungleGrub Snack Bars are the brain child of Steve and Teresa Brandt, two exceptionally brilliant and determined people!  And these bars are AWESOME!

           

What's so special about JungleGrub? 

Well, for starters... these bars were from the ground up created with kids in mind! That's why they are certified USDA organic.

That means nothing has been genetically altered or fed growth hormones and of course grown without the use of pesticides.  Bottom line - its straight forward food. When you see the USDA logo it should put you at ease that you won’t find things like High Fructose Corn Syrup in the ingredients.

And unlike other nutritional snack bars these do not taste like the bottom of your Gym Shoe with the texture of a Roofing Shingle!  No!  JungleGrub is sweet, fruity, appetizing and best of all easy to eat!  When you bite into a JungleGrub you can actually sink your teeth into one... you don't have to take out insurance on your teeth as you try to visegrip your way through them!

The other cool thing about JungleGrub is that each bar is currently only 100 calories!  That equates to just 15 minutes bowling, 30 minutes playing Frisbee, 18 minutes golfing or playing 13 hands of cards.  More importantly these bars help you accomplish these types of activities rather than require these types of activities!

For example, here's the nutritional label for Berry Bamboozle (my favorite)

More details can be found here: Link

So if you happen to live in So Cal and want to try some of these outstanding bars for yourself, or get some for your kids... BTW... They are great Lunchbox stuffers and Gym Bag stuffers for those of you pursuing your New Year's Resolutions!... Just head on down to your closest Costco on the date listed below and visit the JungleGrub Endcap!  You could even meet Steve and "T"!

PLEASE COME AND INVITE YOUR FRIENDS TO BUY PRODUCT AND SUPPORT THE EVENTS!

• Week 1 January 3rd – 6^th
• Location: San Juan Capistrano
• Address: 33961 Doheny Park Rd,
• San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
• http://www.priceviewer.com/costco_locations/429-California.html
• Week 2 January 10th – 13th
• Location: Tustin 2 (there are 2 stores in Tustin)
• Address: 2700 Park Ave,
• Tustin, CA 92782
• [no link available for this new store]
• Week 3 January 17th-20th
• Location: Laguna Market Place
• Address: 27220 Heather Ridge Rd.,
• Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
• http://www.priceviewer.com/costco_locations/690-California.html
• Week 4 January 24th-27th
• Location: Irvine
• Address: 115 Technology Dr,
• Irvine, CA 92618
• http://www.priceviewer.com/costco_locations/454-California.html

For those of you not in SoCal, JungleGub is also available on Amazon.com [LINK].

BEER... The Cause and Cure to All My Problems!... Or Maybe More Cure Now!!!!

Hat Tip to Tommy on this one... from BBC News awhile ago but bears repeating.

Guinness good for you - official

The old advertising slogan "Guinness is Good for You" may be true after all, according to researchers...

...A pint of the black stuff a day may work as well as an aspirin to prevent heart clots that raise the risk of heart attacks.

Drinking lager does not yield the same benefits, experts from University of Wisconsin told a conference in the US.

...The Wisconsin team tested the health-giving properties of stout against lager by giving it to dogs who had narrowed arteries similar to those in heart disease.

They found that those given the Guinness had reduced clotting activity in their blood, but not those given lager.

I know a few dogs that would have loved to sign up for that test! 

...They believe that "antioxidant compounds" in the Guinness, similar to those found in certain fruits and vegetables, are responsible for the health benefits because they slow down the deposit of harmful cholesterol on the artery walls.

So... Even less reason to have any guilt about drinking a Pint of "Motor Oil" at your friendly neighborhood pub!  And I know a few others who will... Stu?... Lex?... Tommy?

I'm Thinking What?... Maybe 100 miles per Rosie?

From the Daily Mail...

Eco-boat powered by human fat attempts round the world speed record...

The fastest eco boat on the planet will attempt to break the round the world speed record using fuel made from human fat...

...Earthrace is fuelled on 100 per cent biodiesel and has a net zero carbon footprint.

...Pete Bethune, the New Zealand skipper of Earthrace, said the attempt to circumnavigate the globe would begin from Valencia in Spain on March 1 next year

...Demonstrating further commitment to the cause, Bethune underwent liposuction and donated enough to produce 100ml of biofuel, while two other, larger volunteers also had the procedure, making a total of 10 litres of human fat.

This in turn produced seven litres of biofuel, which could help the boat travel about 15km.

Earthrace is fuelled on 100 per cent [sic, or brit] biodiesel and has a net zero carbon footprint.

Now this is a very cool way to go "Green!"  And I'm all for using the byproduct of McDonald's + xBox to provide the fuel.  Now if only we could create a "Mr. Fusion" type of converter to extract the fat from the appropriate subjects.

I'm thinking between Rosie and Michael Moore, we could easily eliminate our dependence on Foreign Oil.  At least for a year or two. That is until we liposuck'd 'em down to Calista Flockhart size! (Had to end on a good note... save the retinas and all that...)

I've Gotta Git Me One of These!

A genuine Hillary Nut Cracker!

 

That's gotta be right up there with the Ted Kennedy combination "Life Vest- Martini Shaker", and the "Dan Quale Speak and Spelle!"

Y'all are welcomed to add it to your "John Carmichael Christmas List" here's the link http://hillarynutcracker.com/completelynuts.html .

Recognized for CUTTING DOWN the US FLAG?!!!

Damn Right!

Somewhere I missed this story when it happened back in October... Of course I could have been doing something else at the time... like "getting married."

But here's the poop for those others of you who missed the story.   Evidently an establishment in the Reno NV area was flying a Mexican flag OVER the US flag!  Supposedly the shop owner was flying the flags in this manner as a form of solidarity in the wake of raids on 11 area McDonald's restaurant leading to the arrest of more than 50 undocumented workers.

The flag flying garnered the attention of the local media and a news crew was dispatched to "get to the bottom" of things (and probably provide an excellent soapbox for the shop owner's protest).  Well what the News Crew captured that day was certainly unexpected... but in YHS view heart warming!  Here's the video: [link]

That's Army Veteran Jim Brossard taking ACTION!  That flag and what it represents deserves respect!  And men like Brossard recognize this, they've fought for our honor and still do!  There is NOTHING wrong with being an AMERICAN!  We do not have to apologize and constant Kowtow to every slap in the face we receive.  Yes the store owner has every right to mount a protest, but flying the American Flag in the United States in this fashion is Illegal!... for a reason! 

"If I hadn't done that, then I'm afraid it wouldn't have gotten done," he said. "I was ready and fully willing to accept any consequences, legally or any other, that might have come in my direction."

And I'm with Jim in that I think if you are willing to treat Old Glory without respect, you've lost your privilege to have her!

And it looks like the members of the USS Intrepid Association feel the same way... Because in a small ceremony Jim Brossard was presented with another US Flag, one that has flown proudly over the USS Intrepid.

GERALDA MILLER
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
Posted: 11/21/2007

Veterans who served on the U.S.S. Intrepid aircraft carrier presented Jim Brossard with a certificate and flag for cutting down a U.S. flag that was flying beneath a Mexican flag at a Reno bar.

"To fly the American flag underneath the Mexican flag, it just defies everything," said Wayne Erven, West Coast representative of the U.S.S. Intrepid Association Inc. "Our flag goes on top. That's the honor we give our flag."

Erven of Pleasanton, Calif., gave Brossard the appreciation Tuesday at the James D. Hoff Peace Officer Memorial in Idlewild Park.  (Photo Caption:  Wayne Erven, center, prepares to give a flag that flew over the U.S.S. Intrepid in New York earlier this year to Jim Brossard, left. Looking on at right is Daryl Saldausky of Reno. Erven and Saldausky are members of the U.S.S. Intrepid Association Inc. Photo Credit: David B. Parker/RGJ)

"To go and pull that down, you've got more guts than brains maybe," Erven told Brossard.

And I find it also disturbing that...

Bob Fulkerson, state director for the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, said Brossard does not deserve to be rewarded for stealing property.

Uh... Try the word "Rescuing" or "Protecting the Honor of..." there Bob!

"I think what they're doing is rewarding criminal behavior, and they're rewarding violent behavior," Fulkerson said. "To me, that goes against our Constitution. That goes against the values of our country."

Uh... Yeah.... Well I guess I should consider the source...

Bravo Zulu Mr. Brossard!

Uuuuh Raaah!

Watch... You'll know!

 

Video link for those using aggregators to read Carmichael's Position . [Link]

HT: Giorgio

Yep... I Remember '94

"24" if it were filmed in '94! [Video Link]

That's nothing... Try reading Red Storm Rising now...  and to think, DVD was still 2 years away!

Ok, But How's a Sierra Hotel Fighter Pilot Supposed to Pick Up Babes with That Thing?

 

I mean really, outside of the Flight Suit, the hottest thing going for your properly decked out "Fighter Jock" is his (and it's hot on "her" too) helmet!  Remember "Mav"?  Well hell, Topgun would have had a whole different look to it with this thing....

 

Or the Blues "Cool Dude" dome cover...

 

probably more like something... well like this...

Oh sure... the technology is probably stellar (I mean being able to see through the floor is pretty damn cool...)!  But damn it... we're talking fighter pilot's egos here!  One must realize how fragile these guys can be.  Now the "Attack Guys" they probably have no problem at all with these helmets, after all Attack Guys had charm and character to fall back on.

But with Today's F/A community where the communities have blurred, and the Gemini (duality of man) nature of things it will be a tough fashion trend to cope with... I guess the rearview mirrors on the canopy rails will be focused outside the cockpit from here on out.