tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140706472024-03-14T05:40:31.549-05:00This Blog Title For Salerichmanwiscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918911902112325972noreply@blogger.comBlogger727125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14070647.post-3153270711376626422011-09-03T12:11:00.001-05:002011-09-03T12:17:10.328-05:00The Republican Definition of Democracy is not InclusiveThe Republican Party knows that it will not get any votes from the left and even many independents. Thus it is their strategy to win elections by keeping as many of those voters on the sidelines as they can. They do this in two ways: first, by framing the "other guy" as not being worthy of the vote or portraying them in a way that causes voters in that base to give up. Since most liberals would not vote for a Republican under any circumstance, keeping a liberal vote on the sideline is still a vote for them. The other way, of course, is preventing voters from even being eligible to vote. Their main tool are these ludicrous voter ID laws that are passed on the wholly unfounded premise that voter fraud exists, and also their efforts to stymie voter registration. How can you support a party that wants to make our country less of a democracy?richmanwiscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918911902112325972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14070647.post-20190805334250613622011-07-05T19:38:00.001-05:002011-07-05T19:39:44.015-05:00Do You Have the Courage to Watch This?If you think you are unshakable in your beliefs, then I dare you to watch this. Let me know how it turns out.richmanwiscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918911902112325972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14070647.post-21980261185413380682010-09-17T10:16:00.001-05:002010-09-17T10:17:53.350-05:00George N. Parks 1953-2010You cannot overstate the impact that George N. Parks had on tens of thousands of young musicians during his 35 year career. His brilliance as a performer was eclipsed by his passion for education, becoming the director of the University of Massachusetts Marching Band at age 26 and leading that band to the Sudler Trophy. But he never stopped there. His clinics and academies touched thousands. He worked with high schools all over the country. I had but a one week exposure to George at his drum major academy in 1981. It was there that I saw the Garfield Cadets and put my name on their mailing list, leading to two seasons of amazing experiences. It was my drum corps experience that enabled my membership into the Penn State Blue Band. So, indirectly, I have George to credit for opening up musical experiences I had only dreamed of.<br /><br />George passed last night at the far too young age of 57. The entire music community will miss him.richmanwiscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918911902112325972noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14070647.post-80053444351675633102010-07-17T20:42:00.001-05:002010-07-17T20:43:59.041-05:00As Only Carl CanIt's 9 minutes very well spent. You just can't beat the logic.<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pxlPVSAnWOo&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pxlPVSAnWOo&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>richmanwiscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918911902112325972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14070647.post-80354649140134963712009-12-20T21:03:00.001-06:002009-12-20T21:03:57.186-06:00Terry Pratchett on Religion - 'I'd Rather Be a Rising Ape Than a Fallen Angel'<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/8qqnTmBTwOo' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/8qqnTmBTwOo'/></object></p></div>richmanwiscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918911902112325972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14070647.post-33496021845341427682009-09-25T11:36:00.001-05:002009-09-25T11:36:58.418-05:00Carl Sagan - 'A Glorious Dawn' ft Stephen Hawking (Cosmos Remixed)<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/zSgiXGELjbc' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/zSgiXGELjbc'/></object></p><p>There's not much to say except this is a fantastic video for all Carl Sagan fans.</p></div>richmanwiscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918911902112325972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14070647.post-81896230036685987622009-09-03T21:19:00.001-05:002009-09-03T21:19:42.990-05:00Like Tears In Rain<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>P W Fenton is a talented story teller and musical historian whose Digital Flotsam podcast has been my favorite for over 4 years. An offhand comment one day resulted in a most remarkable collaboration, and a tribute to my greatest influence - my father.<br/><br/><a href='http://dfblog.digitalflotsam.org/?p=283'>Radio Free Radio's - Digital Flotsam Blog » Blog Archive » Digital Flotsam #74 – Like Tears In Rain</a><br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=dda4a7c0-d38e-8989-a550-ef18eddd2b11' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>richmanwiscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918911902112325972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14070647.post-55874319839948994672009-08-09T19:24:00.001-05:002009-08-09T19:24:42.510-05:00AirVenture 2009<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/nKU0uQki5Dc' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/nKU0uQki5Dc'/></object></p><p>This is the best independent video of AirVenture 2009 I've seen so far. And since the airshow was canceled on the day I was there, this will have to suffice.</p></div>richmanwiscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918911902112325972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14070647.post-21578293816183927572009-08-02T12:22:00.000-05:002009-08-02T12:23:04.945-05:00And Like That, A Once Proud Airline is Gone<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>What started as a corporate flying department for a paper products manufacturer, then grew into a first-class, high service business airline, is now but a ghost of its former self. What Republic Airways Holdings completed this week was the culmination of a 5+ year self destruction process by a once proud airline into nothing more than a brand name. Forget all the talk of opportunity, this was a very sad day for the industry, and for Milwaukee.<br /><a href='http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?ContentblockID=1489297b-b988-47c1-8c39-b30804b2439a'>.:: Aero-News Network: The Aviation and Aerospace World's Daily/Real-Time News and Information Service ::.</a><br />Technorati Tags: <a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/midwest airlines' class='performancingtags'>midwest airlines</a>, <a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/republic airways' class='performancingtags'>republic airways</a>, <a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/travel' class='performancingtags'>travel</a>, <a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/aviation' class='performancingtags'>aviation</a><br /><br /><br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=a393b5c1-f791-8be4-8a2e-51c6e468e0bf' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>richmanwiscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918911902112325972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14070647.post-85714277870239782622009-08-02T10:59:00.001-05:002009-08-02T10:59:16.572-05:00This is Quite Depressing<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Whether you came down for or against Keith Olbermann, at least there was some semblance of journalism in his reportage. Well, turns out not so much. It really is impossible anymore to take anything from a news outlet as completely transparent. The revolution in journalism continues...<br /><a href='http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/08/01/ge/'>GE's silencing of Olbermann and MSNBC's sleazy use of Richard Wolffe - Glenn Greenwald - Salon.com</a><br /><br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=3f039350-f48c-8f33-a5e2-593b7c9c6330' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>richmanwiscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918911902112325972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14070647.post-38830015629454172702009-06-21T11:48:00.001-05:002009-06-21T11:48:41.209-05:00Need Any More Convincing that Scientology is a Cult?<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><font face='sans-serif'>Moew like an extortion operation working at the fringes of the law. Unbelievable evil.<br/></font><a href='http://www.tampabay.com/news/article1012148.ece'>Scientology: The Truth Rundown, Part 1 of 3 in a special report on the Church of Scientology - St. Petersburg Times</a><br/><blockquote/><br/><br/></div>richmanwiscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918911902112325972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14070647.post-52623593949480294132009-06-17T20:33:00.001-05:002009-06-17T20:33:24.654-05:00The Quintessential Takedown of Homeopathy<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><a href='http://skepticblog.org/2009/06/15/homeopathy-awareness-week/'>Skepticblog » Homeopathy Awareness Week</a></div>richmanwiscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918911902112325972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14070647.post-2988861172955623962009-04-26T18:59:00.001-05:002009-04-26T18:59:34.500-05:00Children Are Dying Over Ignorance<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Back when I was a young man, a study by epidemiologists suggested that persons living near power transmission lines experienced an elevated risk of developing cancer and several other conditions. There was an outcry, and thorough scientific studies commenced. The studies were of the highest standard: double blind with controls. As the results were published and peer review confirmed those results, the concerns over the safety of power transmission lines abated as it was determined that there was no increased risk of disease from living in proximity to them.<br/><br/>But oh how the times have changed. The short attention span news cycle and the failure to educate our citizens in the basics of critical thinking have resulted in segments of the population that will believe whatever they see on the television or on the internet. And somehow the marginally educated celebrity has replaced the career scientist/specialist as the source of "reliable" information. And because the information available on the internet can be accessed indefinitely, long debunked stories are allowed to persist forever.<br/><br/>This is the case with the anti-vaccination movement. A "study" was published about 10 years ago by a doctor that suggested a failure to ensure the safety of certain vaccines, suggesting that they cause serious neurological disorders such as autism. Never mind that the study itself, and the doctor behind the study were long ago debunked as frauds, a certain celebrity decided that this (lacking any other explanation) was the cause of her child's autism. She uses her celebrity to pose as an activist for the cause of autism, but she is really nothing more than an opportunist trying to profit from the hysteria she is creating. It really is disgusting.<br/><br/><a href='http://www.jennymccarthybodycount.com/Jenny_McCarthy_Body_Count/Home.html'>And children are dying</a>.<br/><br/>Dr. Phil Plait is a scientist, father, and president of the <a href='http://www.randi.org'>James Randi Education Foundation</a>. He has been vocal in his blog on this very topic. Today he posted a link to one of the most heartbreaking stories of a tragedy that could have been prevented. Please check out the link below.<br/><br/><a href='http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/04/26/the-australian-antivax-movement-takes-its-toll/'>The Australian antivax movement takes its toll | Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine</a><br/><blockquote>The antivaxxers claim to be concerned about children… but their total lack of critical thinking, their denial of the research, and their wholesale belief in conspiracy theories and antiscience rhetoric is making children sick. And some of these children are dying.</blockquote><br/>Technorati Tags: <a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/science' class='performancingtags'>science</a>, <a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/antiscience' class='performancingtags'>antiscience</a>, <a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/debunking' class='performancingtags'>debunking</a>, <a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/antivax' class='performancingtags'>antivax</a><br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=b61f82a7-4704-8e14-a404-9832dac4cc48' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>richmanwiscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918911902112325972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14070647.post-38562227150759704182009-04-05T19:35:00.001-05:002009-04-05T19:35:20.983-05:00Open-mindedness<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/T69TOuqaqXI' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/T69TOuqaqXI'/></object></p><p>This video should be watched by every child in every school....oh hell, this should be watched by EVERYONE.</p></div>richmanwiscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918911902112325972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14070647.post-73660299039049710342009-02-28T12:44:00.001-06:002009-02-28T12:44:09.050-06:00Another Smackdown As Only the Bad Astonomer Can Do<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Yes, this blog has fallen into some disrepair. Twitter and Facebook have been competing hard for my attention, and I'm not the only one in that situation.<br/><br/>But one man still with plenty to say is our good friend Phil Plait, who takes Senator McCain to task for, well...just read below the fold.<br/><br/><blockquote>So, Senator McCain, let me make this clear: you, amateur exorcist and creationist Bobby Jindal, and the rest of your backwards-facing antiscience reality-denying brethren may huff and puff and say ridiculous things — and I’m sure you’ll continue to do so — but a lot of people see right through it, and a majority of the American voting population rejected it last November.</blockquote><br/><a href='http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/27/john-mccain-still-really-hates-science/'>John McCain still really hates science | Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine</a><br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=cb41ad08-51e7-4db3-bbbf-60c89f23f3bc' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div><br /><br /><p class='technorati-tags'><a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/science'>science</a>, <a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/antiscience'>antiscience</a>, <a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/bablog'>bablog</a>, <a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/plait'>plait</a>, <a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/astronomy'>astronomy</a></p></div>richmanwiscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918911902112325972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14070647.post-23535904968781257592009-02-15T21:02:00.001-06:002009-02-15T21:02:16.295-06:00Instruction Manual for Life<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/kAIpRRZvnJg' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/kAIpRRZvnJg'/></object></p><p>Eight minutes, well spent.</p></div>richmanwiscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918911902112325972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14070647.post-66274546987414465222009-02-15T11:19:00.001-06:002009-02-15T11:19:53.909-06:00This Senator Won't Be Ridiculing Corporate Aviation Departments Anytime Soon<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>The mother of Senator Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, passed away recently. The senator, already deeply involved in activities in Congress, now had to plan a trip back to Ohio to memorialize his mother. But no convenient commercial flights were available, and he had to get back to the Senate to cast a crucial vote for the economic stimulus plan. So what is a government executive going to do? He turns to the largest corporate aviation department in the entire world: the U.S. government. He was able to attend his mother's wake and make it back to Washington in time to cast the winning vote.<br/><br/>Certainly our condolences are with Senator Brown. But let's put this in some context. Congresscritters have been piling on the drama on executives from corporate america over a perceived extravagance, without any thought given to the damage it has been doing to an industry in just as precarious waters as the financial and automotive industries. Every time we hear grandstanding for sound bites, jobs are being lost. By the thousands. <br/><br/>Corporations across the country have aviation departments to get business done in many more places and with much greater efficiencies than from what they can get through scheduled airlines. It's the secret the airlines don't want you to know. It's a part of a $50 billion a year industry employing hundreds of thousands of people across the country. To ridicule it now as mere extravagance comes at a steep price. I have an intelligent readership. Do your research, read beyond the headlines and write your lawmaker. Don't let puffery on the hill bring down an entire industry. <br/><br/><a href='http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?ContentBlockID=2114de12-68af-4245-9714-770ef08d1dfe&'>.:: Aero-News Network: The Aviation and Aerospace World's Daily/Real-Time News and Information Service ::.</a><br /><br /><p class='technorati-tags'><a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/aviation'>aviation</a>, <a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/congress'>congress</a>, <a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/grandstanding'>grandstanding</a>, <a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/corporate%20jets'>corporate jets</a></p></div>richmanwiscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918911902112325972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14070647.post-79300848088029880912009-02-09T21:13:00.001-06:002009-02-09T21:13:23.555-06:00My First Big Disappointment with Obama<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Before there was TARP, President Bush's Faith Based Initiative's program was one of the biggest money grabs going. Any group that could claim to be a positive force in society could get bags of cash with almost no accountability or oversight. It was a program that waved at the First Amendment and promoted a wide array of discredited ideas from politically motivated religious groups.<br/><br/>I thought for sure that one of the first things our new President would eliminate (with extreme prejudice) was the odious Faith Based Initiative program. Instead, President Obama signed an executive order which actually expanded (!) the program and placed a young Pentecostal minister in charge of it. D.J. Grothe of the Center for Inquiry writes a lengthy and well stated indictment of the program in the article linked below. I do not agree with him 100% on all points, but he states his case very forcefully and eloquently.<br/><blockquote>As it now stands, Obama’s expanded faith based initiative offers only more likelihood of division and church-state entanglements, civil rights violations and government funding of evangelism. It is a threat to a woman’s right to choose, and supports the anti-gay and anti-woman conservative “pro-marriage” agenda. And it is naive about the impact of interfaith dialogue abroad.</blockquote><br/><br/><a href='http://centerforinquiry.net/blog/my_first_big_disappointment_with_obama'>My First Big Disappointment with Obama | Center for Inquiry</a><br /><br /><p class='technorati-tags'><a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/politics'>politics</a>, <a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/religion'>religion</a>, <a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/faith%20based'>faith based</a></p></div>richmanwiscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918911902112325972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14070647.post-2954357682787793682009-01-31T14:09:00.001-06:002009-01-31T14:09:19.234-06:00Words, Episode 1: Bit<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/LRCw-Hfnpxo' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/LRCw-Hfnpxo'/></object></p><p>Brian Keith Dalton, Mr. Deity himself, returns to youtube with a new show, "Words". Check it out and get back to me on the giggle factor.</p></div>richmanwiscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918911902112325972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14070647.post-27762805829108244612009-01-06T20:35:00.001-06:002009-01-06T20:35:04.839-06:00A Tragic Accident<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>I don't normally blog on items in the news, but a recent highly publicized incident involving a police shooting has been raging across the internet. <br/><br/>I don't want to get into any of the details here except to pass a link along to a blog post by a gentleman whose work I have been following for more than 3 years, P.W. Fenton. His approach to this case merits discussion as an example that you can't just judge an incident by what you see in a photograph or in a video. There very often is much more to it than meets the eye.<br/><br/>Certainly the judicial system will have to determine culpability and certainly recompense will be due to the victim's family. That much is not in dispute. But what we, as a rational society, sometimes need is to take a step back to allow the emotion of the event to not cloud judgment. Only then can we properly learn the lessons that need to be learned and then move forward.<br/><br/>Thank you P.W. for the moment of clarity.<br/><br/><a href='http://dfblog.digitalflotsam.org/'>Radio Free Radio's - Digital Flotsam Blog</a><br/><blockquote>So I watched the video of this Oakland Transit cop shooting a suspect in a misdemeanor case who was being held face down on the floor. And instantly thought “Murder… there’s no possible explanation for that other than cold blooded murder”. I’m never so quick to condemn a police officer, but this seemed so clear and deliberate. I put a link on Twitter… and I called it a murder (which I now regret). But then I watched a couple of more times. And I read about a dozen newspaper accounts (none of which offered the officer’s explanation, and at the time I’m writing this, it appears he, or his department, hasn’t offered an explanation publicly). I was ready to hang this cop.<br/><br/>Then, suddenly, it dawned on me. I think I know what happened, and I think it was a horrible accident.</blockquote><br /><br /><p class='technorati-tags'><a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/oscar%20grant'>oscar grant</a>, <a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/news'>news</a>, <a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/tragedy'>tragedy</a>, <a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/analysis'>analysis</a>, <a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/fenton'>fenton</a></p></div>richmanwiscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918911902112325972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14070647.post-36740433480050730822009-01-01T19:41:00.001-06:002009-01-01T19:41:29.157-06:00Happy New Year!<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>It is widely regarded that we are in a Golden Age of Astronomy. Research institutions around the world have banded together and launched the International Year of Astronomy, which begins today. <br /><br />Dr. Phil Plait writes about the beginning the IYA and gives links to several resources by which you can join in on the fun, and with the typical Bad Astronomer zest for science.<br /><br />BTW, did you notice how Jupiter, Venus and the Moon have been dancing in the skies together in recent months? Well, guess what? That's astronomy folks! Ain't it great?<br /><br />Best wishes to all for a prosperous 2009.<br /><br /><a href='http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/01/01/welcome-to-the-international-year-of-astronomy/'>Welcome to The International Year of Astronomy! | Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine</a><br /><br /><p class='technorati-tags'><a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/astronomy'>astronomy</a>, <a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/iya'>iya</a>, <a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/plait'>plait</a>, <a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/science'>science</a>, <a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/cool%20stuff'>cool stuff</a></p></div>richmanwiscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918911902112325972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14070647.post-52830939521957022622008-12-19T14:13:00.002-06:002008-12-19T14:18:53.368-06:00Becoming a Pilot In a Most Unusual Way<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Our soldiers and sailors deployed to Iraq endure harsh conditions in the performance of their mission. Trying to beat the monotony of down time and perhaps even to take their minds off their difficult jobs is a challenge. <a href="http://www.aopa.org/" target="_blank">AOPA</a> brings us the story of a group of our finest professionals taking an opportunity to fulfill a dream.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.aopa.org/training/articles/2008/081217troops.html?WT.mc_id=081219epilot&WT.mc_sect=gan">AOPA Online: GA brings a lift to troops in Iraq</a><br /><br /><p class="technorati-tags"><a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/aviation">aviation</a>, <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/flying">flying</a>, <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/cool%20stuff">cool stuff</a>, <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/our%20troops">our troops</a></p></div>richmanwiscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918911902112325972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14070647.post-73348035122990979522008-12-17T20:54:00.001-06:002008-12-17T20:54:32.668-06:00Phil Plait's Top Ten Astronomy Pictures 2008<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Dr. Phil Plait takes time out from his positively insane schedule to bring us his annual selection of top astronomy pictures for the year. <br/><br/><a href='http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/17/top-ten-astronomy-pictures-of-2008/'>Top Ten Astronomy Pictures of 2008 | Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine</a><br /><br /><p class='technorati-tags'><a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/science'>science</a>, <a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/astronomy'>astronomy</a>, <a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/bad%20astronomer'>bad astronomer</a>, <a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/plait'>plait</a>, <a rel='tag' href='http://technorati.com/tag/cool%20stuff'>cool stuff</a></p></div>richmanwiscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918911902112325972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14070647.post-68624742716837901502008-12-17T20:25:00.003-06:002008-12-18T19:00:15.389-06:00Wisconsin Country Christmas<style type="text/css">.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: center; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; }</style><div class="flickr-frame"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/richmanwisco/3117353860/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3250/3117353860_e916bb31ba.jpg" class="flickr-photo" alt="" /></a><br /></div> <p class="flickr-yourcomment"> I've been driving the same route to and from work for more than 6 years. And, even after all this time, new things pop into view that make for wonderful moments.<br /><br />To those folks who have been following me these three years, from Memphis to Melbourne (Australia), and Salem to Slovakia, I give gracious thanks. I've been in a bit of blogging decline in recent months, as other things have been drawing my focus away. I hope to get that focus back going into next year, so stayed tuned for more great content from "This Blog Title For Sale".<br /><br />Happy Holidays everyone!</p><br />Technorati Tags: <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/wisconsin" class="performancingtags">wisconsin</a>, <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/christmas" class="performancingtags">christmas</a>, <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/holiday" class="performancingtags">holiday</a>, <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/farm" class="performancingtags">farm</a>richmanwiscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918911902112325972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14070647.post-52387357466237526972008-12-06T17:13:00.001-06:002008-12-06T17:13:32.002-06:00Lambert Field Passenger Terminal<style type="text/css">.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: center; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; }</style><div class="flickr-frame"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/richmanwisco/3087789840/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3271/3087789840_336e8e416b.jpg" class="flickr-photo" alt="" /></a><br /></div> <p class="flickr-yourcomment"> I consider an airport's architecture to be timeless if it evokes the era when it was built. The main passenger terminal at Lambert - St. Louis International Airport was designed by Minoru Yamasaki and completed in 1956. That was at the dawn of the jet age, and this airport, with its soaring arched ceiling reminds you of the days when DC-3s and DC-4s, Lockheed Constellations and the early jets all mingled together on the tarmac, and travel by plane was a special event.<br /><br />This is, sadly, the only redeeming feature of the airport. The expansion of the airport in the '80s were utilitarian in design, making it perhaps the most unappealing airport I've ever been to.</p>richmanwiscohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918911902112325972noreply@blogger.com0