Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Future of the Osprey

Posted in Uncategorized by

The V-22 Osprey aircraft has had its problems. It has had a number of tragic accidents. Some of this is due to its large payload ability. It can carry more than any helicopter and, because of this, it can result in the deaths of many in just a short time.

About a week ago, another one went down an we lost more good men. Logically and properly they were grounded, at least long enough to find out what happened.

It would certainly be a bad thing to have to remove the vehicle from service permanently. It would leave a huge hole in our defense. It can go faster, further and with a bigger payload than all the vehicles it was designed to replace. That is to say, it has the potential to radically change the concept of vertical envelopments.

The range alone has real potential of changing things when you consider how far it can travel inland from a carrier. However, it can also get there so much faster. Then, of course, it can carry a whole lot more support equipment as well.

I hate to say it, but the Ospry might have to be abandoned. That is doubly bad. I can easily see an alternate mission in rescue and disaster relief, especially where roads and airports are not usable. Large amounts of supplies can be carrird in quickly. The injured can be flown out. In this case it is especially suitable because of traffic and rough roads.

It tells me that if they do drop the Ospry, they need to look into replacing it with somethin else. Moreover, keeping the fleet at the ready might not be a bad idea. The storms might be somewhat predictable but the only thing we really know for sure about earth quakes is that they will continue.

They just might be able to save far more lives wit the V22 than the deaths that they caused. On the other hand, if thay are needed at war, they just might come in handy. Moving all the guns and ammo in a timely manner just might save the loss of a major battle. Maybe a war.

.

The Faster I Get, The Slower I Go

Posted in Uncategorized by

My First PC had an 80286 at 16 mhz with 1 MB of memory. Yet I was able to got more done in less time than my 2 Ghz, 4 GB system that I now have. The only real advantage with the newer system is that it can do a lot really slow.

For, I guess the last year MS has been telling me of all the advantages I would have with the newer outlook. I don’t know if it is any better or not. Once I realized how slow it is, it took me an hour and a half to go back to the previous one.

The problem is that they will not leave me alone. It was, I guess 2 years or so ago that I bought a copy of the latest and greatest MS Office. After fidling with it for 30 minutes, I told them they can keep it. The older version runs circles around the newer one. I don’t need that, though they continue to try to talk me into it.

Reminds me of the old commercial, “Try it. You’ll like it.” I’ll change the last part, “Thought my computer was going to die.”

It is a verification that all computer operating systems will expand to the size, speed and power of the system for which it is made for. You want your system to continue at or above it’s current levels, you must keep the programmers from finding out how big and fast your system is. You must convince them that it is completely slower and has less memory.

Else, you will be ever stuck in the race between the speed of the systems and the hunger of the OS.

Attention to Detail

Posted in Uncategorized by

I have known a few. As a big picture person, I have a tendency to overlook details. It both helps and hurts in my writing. It helps me develop good plots and then I leave out words or even phrases.

Look at Mickey Spillane. He wrote his first book in nineteen hours. Then he sent it, as is, to a publisher. How many folks can do that sort of thing on a typewriter?

When I was in the Marines, I met a few men who very, very rarely made mistakes. It’s not that they corrected them. They didn’t make them in the first place.

I think, if I were put in a position of great responsibility, I would like to surround myself with folks like that. They just might make me look very good.

Daily writing prompt
What is something others do that sparks your admiration?
View all responses

I Think Old Joe Is Confused

Posted in Uncategorized by

I guess that’s not new. However, in one breath he says the border is under control, then two minutes later his FBI says we have multiple threats.

So what is it, Joe? Are we safe or are we threatened? If the terror threats are so bad, don’t you think maybe you went wrong somewhere along the way? Don’t you think you should spend more time chasing down the threats instead of chasing down the grandma strolling a short distance in front of the Capitol building.

I suspect it is about power. I think they don’t want to lose their ability to listen in our private conversations.

OH! I GET IT! I just figured it out. The threat is the old grandma. She’s the one they want to toss in prison… in isolation.

That Night Owl, Me

Posted in Uncategorized by

The vast majority of my life, I worked nights. Now that I am retired, I have a very difficult waking with the sun. Actually, so does my wife.

My wife and I had to go to the doctor’s today to get some blood drawn. What a double whammy. Do not like waking early. Do not like being poked with needles.

At any rate, after being poked and prodded for a while, we are returning home and soon we will be checking our eye lids for holes. I am sure we will both have sawed our share of logs.

Well. Not quite yet. I must make a phone call, that is, if I can remain awake.

THE RACE IS ON

Posted in Uncategorized by

Memphis, with a little over 600 thousand and falling has had 352 murders this year. I understand the city is in a race with NY, NY 8.5 million folks. From what I understand, the race is closer than some in Memphis would like to admit.

On the other hand, those in NY, NY, have something of which to brag. Those in NY, NY may suggest that Mephians might want to move to NY, NY where the per-capita murder rate is so much lower. And just think, they have such good football teams too.

Cover-ups?

Posted in Abuse of Power, Crime, Lawyers and Representation, Politcal Opinion, Truth, unbelievable, Uncategorized by

If there is one thing experience has taught me about cover-ups, especially government cover-ups, if it looks like a cover-up, then someone probably is trying to hide something.

It seems far more so in the case of the assassination of JFK. They performed a very lengthy investigation; then, they said about as little as possible. Finally they said the rest would be kept under wraps for fifty years.

As those of us who saw it all unfold patiently waited, one event after the next casts more and more shadows. If I remember right, a DA conducted an investigation from his office and lost 2 maybe 3 witnesses in a very untimely manner. Conveniently, they kept dying.

Others have tried to investigate while apparently obstacles were tossed into the way, from somewhere on high. And then, after the 50 years, guess what. They don’t release but a small portion of the remaining info.

Regardless of anything else, regardless of anything that happened or didn’t happen, I am convinced that something is being hid. For what reason, I haven’t a clue. Whatever it is must be awfully embarrassing to someone. Otherwise, why would so many go to such lengths to hide it.

Just thought of one thing more and it is important enough for me to add a little more. This year, as they have been reminding us, makes it 60 years. Still some of the info remains hidden from the public.

  1. Why must it remain hidden?
  2. How do we know that it is truly in safekeeping and not “misplaced,” for forever and a day.

When I Sing

Posted in Uncategorized by

I sing when I’m in a crowd and no one can hear me. I sing when I’m alone in my car and the windows are up. The thing is, when I sing, I make sure no one will hear me. I always make sure I will make no one will suffer.

Before recording equipment was common, I used to think I had a wonderful powerful voice. Well, I do have a powerful voice. However, I was so disappointed the first time I heard what my voice sounds like.

I was disappointed even with my speaking voice. But when I heard my attempts at singing I realized no one should ever have to hear that. It would be torture.

I really don’t understand. To myself, without the use of recording, to me, I sound so good.

I’m told that it is, at least partially because much of what I hear is the sound that travels through my bones. It makes me wonder. Is there a way of making a microphone that will pickup the sound from my bones, so it will sound the way I hear it.

As far as I know, there is no such thing. So when I sing, I make sure I am alone, in my car, closed up well in my house or the like. I sing when I make sure I am in a large group, where no one will notice me. Even so, I am careful to keep my volume below those around me.

It really is aggravating because I really do love to sing, or I should say try to sing. I must admit, I grossly disobey the 10th Commandment when I see some of these people. Leroy Anderson is proficient on a dozen or so instruments and his specialty was the trumpet, my favorite. Not only that, but he wrote wonderful music; from Sleigh Ride, to Trumpeter’s Holiday and Blue Tango. I have tried to play instruments and it was a horrible disaster. I can’t help but think the Anderson got 1 or 2 shares of mine of talent that was inteded for me.

Why is that so many of these singers and musicians are blessed with those wonderful voices and I was just passed over. I don’t even care about the money aspect. I would just love to be able to make sounds that would not encourage people to put their fingers in their ears.

Then, when I hear those with really great voices waste them in singing trash, it hurts right to my toes. You see, I can’t sing. I can’t even play a kazoo. However, one thing the Lord did give me was the ability to tell the difference between good music and trash.

I have hundreds of recordings of really good music. I have been blessed with hearing uncountable other wonderful songs that I wish I had recordings of.

As to when I hear the trash, as to when it comes to some of that horrid repetitive noises, I would just as soon wear a good set noise canceling headphones.

The thing is, I don’t make others listen to the noise I make. I wish others would have the consideration to do the same.