This Blog Title For Sale

The Republican Definition of Democracy is not Inclusive

2011-09-03T12:11:00.001-05:00

The 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?

Do You Have the Courage to Watch This?

2011-07-05T19:38:00.001-05:00

If you think you are unshakable in your beliefs, then I dare you to watch this. Let me know how it turns out.

George N. Parks 1953-2010

2010-09-17T10:16:00.001-05:00

You 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.

George passed last night at the far too young age of 57. The entire music community will miss him.

As Only Carl Can

2010-07-17T20:42:00.001-05:00

It's 9 minutes very well spent. You just can't beat the logic.

Terry Pratchett on Religion - 'I'd Rather Be a Rising Ape Than a Fallen Angel'

2009-12-20T21:03:00.001-06:00

Carl Sagan - 'A Glorious Dawn' ft Stephen Hawking (Cosmos Remixed)

2009-09-25T11:36:00.001-05:00

There's not much to say except this is a fantastic video for all Carl Sagan fans.

Like Tears In Rain

2009-09-03T21:19:00.001-05:00

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.

Radio Free Radio's - Digital Flotsam Blog » Blog Archive » Digital Flotsam #74 – Like Tears In Rain

AirVenture 2009

2009-08-09T19:24:00.001-05:00

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.

And Like That, A Once Proud Airline is Gone

2009-08-02T12:22:00.000-05:00

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.
.:: Aero-News Network: The Aviation and Aerospace World's Daily/Real-Time News and Information Service ::.
Technorati Tags: midwest airlines, republic airways, travel, aviation

This is Quite Depressing

2009-08-02T10:59:00.001-05:00

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...
GE's silencing of Olbermann and MSNBC's sleazy use of Richard Wolffe - Glenn Greenwald - Salon.com

Need Any More Convincing that Scientology is a Cult?

2009-06-21T11:48:00.001-05:00

Moew like an extortion operation working at the fringes of the law. Unbelievable evil.
Scientology: The Truth Rundown, Part 1 of 3 in a special report on the Church of Scientology - St. Petersburg Times

The Quintessential Takedown of Homeopathy

2009-06-17T20:33:00.001-05:00

Skepticblog » Homeopathy Awareness Week

Children Are Dying Over Ignorance

2009-04-26T18:59:00.001-05:00

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.

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.

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.

And children are dying.

Dr. Phil Plait is a scientist, father, and president of the James Randi Education Foundation. 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.

The Australian antivax movement takes its toll | Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine

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.

Technorati Tags: science, antiscience, debunking, antivax

Open-mindedness

2009-04-05T19:35:00.001-05:00

This video should be watched by every child in every school....oh hell, this should be watched by EVERYONE.

Another Smackdown As Only the Bad Astonomer Can Do

2009-02-28T12:44:00.001-06:00

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.

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.

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.

John McCain still really hates science | Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine

science, antiscience, bablog, plait, astronomy

Instruction Manual for Life

2009-02-15T21:02:00.001-06:00

Eight minutes, well spent.

This Senator Won't Be Ridiculing Corporate Aviation Departments Anytime Soon

2009-02-15T11:19:00.001-06:00

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.

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.

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.

.:: Aero-News Network: The Aviation and Aerospace World's Daily/Real-Time News and Information Service ::.

aviation, congress, grandstanding, corporate jets

My First Big Disappointment with Obama

2009-02-09T21:13:00.001-06:00

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.

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.

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.

My First Big Disappointment with Obama | Center for Inquiry

politics, religion, faith based

Words, Episode 1: Bit

2009-01-31T14:09:00.001-06:00

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.

A Tragic Accident

2009-01-06T20:35:00.001-06:00

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.

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.

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.

Thank you P.W. for the moment of clarity.

Radio Free Radio's - Digital Flotsam Blog

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.

Then, suddenly, it dawned on me. I think I know what happened, and I think it was a horrible accident.

oscar grant, news, tragedy, analysis, fenton

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T19:41:00.001-06:00

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.

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.

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?

Best wishes to all for a prosperous 2009.

Welcome to The International Year of Astronomy! | Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine

astronomy, iya, plait, science, cool stuff

Becoming a Pilot In a Most Unusual Way

2008-12-19T14:13:00.002-06:00

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. AOPA brings us the story of a group of our finest professionals taking an opportunity to fulfill a dream.

AOPA Online: GA brings a lift to troops in Iraq

aviation, flying, cool stuff, our troops

Phil Plait's Top Ten Astronomy Pictures 2008

2008-12-17T20:54:00.001-06:00

Dr. Phil Plait takes time out from his positively insane schedule to bring us his annual selection of top astronomy pictures for the year.

Top Ten Astronomy Pictures of 2008 | Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine

science, astronomy, bad astronomer, plait, cool stuff

Wisconsin Country Christmas

2008-12-17T20:25:00.003-06:00

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.

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".

Happy Holidays everyone!

Technorati Tags: wisconsin, christmas, holiday, farm

Lambert Field Passenger Terminal

2008-12-06T17:13:00.001-06:00

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.

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.

Sunset Over Eel Pond

2008-11-23T20:16:00.001-06:00

Woods Hole in November probably doesn't look much different than in April, when this picture was taken.

No Moving Parts

2008-11-16T19:23:00.002-06:00

It just works. Granted, it only works part of the day, and the sun can't be obstructed. But the sundial is the ultimate in set it and forget it.

Woods Hole, Massachusetts.

Eulogy for Phoenix

2008-11-11T19:51:00.001-06:00

Phil Plait notes the probable passing of a very successful Mars lander.

This time, Phoenix won’t arise from the ashes | Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine

science, mars, bablog

Might As Well Be Talking About Creationists, Too

2008-11-06T22:25:00.001-06:00

In his most recent post, Dr. Phil calls out an emailer for simply regurgitating something that person may have read in another email. We see it all the time, people who will cherry pick a fact, or just pass along rubbish they picked up from somewhere else. Indeed, if you substitute "global warming" with "evolution" or "9-11 truth", you'll have a quick grasp of the intellectual arguments of the day.

Greenhouse hot air | Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine

And they’ve been studying it a long, long time. It’s a very difficult field of research, fraught with hidden variables, difficult measurements, and political landmines. But chances are they know more about this than you and I do. There’s a reason they’re called experts, folks.

So the next time you want to send me some snarky email to embarrass me about some piece of info you just found on the intertoobs, please do yourself a favor: stop, think for just a moment, and ask yourself: "Is this really likely to have been missed by thousands of really smart highly educated people who have been studying this field for a combined length of time equaling many man-millennia?" The embarrassment you save just might be your own.

antiscience, science, debunking, bablog, plait

Freaky Show

2008-11-01T09:54:00.001-05:00

Halloween on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, New Orleans. One of the most sensory laden, visceral experiences I've ever had. Bourbon Street is dirty, smelly, dilapidated. That is, until thousands show up for a huge outdoor party. I saw costumes of every possible description, worn by freaks, geeks, straights and queers. And the women? Unbelievable! It was all there in one decadent, pulsating moving street party. They say Mardi Gras is ten times this. I can't imagine it. Oh, and this picture was taken early. It only got better.

Along the Trail

2008-10-29T21:25:00.001-05:00

The scene of a single car accident on US Hwy 90 between Paradis and Des Allemands, Louisiana. It's hard to tell, but the main compartment seems to be intact, and as long as the occupants were wearing seat belts, we can hope they were not injured badly.

Fear, Hatred and Bigotry

2008-10-28T19:44:00.003-05:00

This is the house at 1026 N. 4th St., Watertown, Wisconsin. A simple, single story house with overgrown bushes and weathered exterior. A 90s vintage Pontiac with a broken plastic fender sits in the gravel driveway.

You really have to wonder. What exactly was that this unfortunate person read or heard that lead to this conclusion? And what was it about this person's education and upbringing and values that processed that information to arrive at this statement?

It's boggles the mind of a rational thinking individual. But clearly not the irrational. Just what exactly does this person think will happen if in fact, Senator Obama is the anti-christ?

What kind of world do these deluded people think they're living in?

Technorati tags: travel, obama, fear, hate, antireligion, sign

Bermuda Morning

2008-10-28T16:07:00.001-05:00

From the Coco Reef Resort, Paget, Bermuda.

Port of Call

2008-10-22T20:07:00.001-05:00

A cruise ship from the Norwegian Cruise Lines at port in downtown Hamilton, Bermuda. I wish this picture could convey just how large this ship was, and I hear this isn't even in the largest class of modern cruise ship, because it wouldn't fit in the harbor otherwise.

Colin Powell Endorses Senator Obama

2008-10-19T10:15:00.003-05:00

I've resisted political oriented posts for the last couple of weeks, but I think this video stands out as a beacon of how to conduct a rational discourse. I have admired General Powell for many years; he was III Corps Commanding General during the time I was with the 1st Infantry Division in Kansas, and followed his career as he went to theater command in Germany and then to the Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the first Gulf War. His bona fides are without question.

What makes this video outstanding is that General Powell, in seven minutes and without notes, provides a clear and succinct critique of both campaigns and the strengths and weaknesses of both candidates. He then summarizes it all as he announces he will vote for Senator Obama.

It was all very good, but the best part comes at about 4:45 in. For all the bluster and the right's attempts to impose its own definition of "patriotism", General Powell reminds us all of what a true patriot really is. Thank you, General Powell.

politics, mccain, obama, powell

The View From Here

2008-10-15T06:12:00.002-05:00

Just outside the patio door of my room in Bermuda.

bermuda, travel

Rain Shafts

2008-10-12T20:43:00.003-05:00

Those who have been following "This Blog Title For Sale" for the last 3-plus years know that I have been to some really neat place and some not-so-neat places. Last week I had the special opportunity to visit our first international client. In Bermuda. It was a great trip, but with an inauspicious start. This rain shower had just moved off the island as we made our final approach into the airport.

bermuda, travel

McCain Asked, PolitiFact Answers

2008-10-11T19:56:00.002-05:00

Another case of what happens when someone takes the time and effort to put the facts straight. Yes, it requires some effort from the reader to actually, well....read.

PolitiFact | A radical Ayers allegation

In short, this was a mainstream foundation funded by a mainstream, Republican business leader and led by an overwhelmingly mainstream, civic-minded group of individuals. Ayers' involvement in its inception and on an advisory committee do not make it radical – nor does the funding of programs involving the United Nations and African-American studies.

This attack is false, but it's more than that – it's malicious. It unfairly tars not just Obama, but all the other prominent, well-respected Chicagoans who also volunteered their time to the foundation. They came from all walks of life and all political backgrounds, and there's ample evidence their mission was nothing more than improving ailing public schools in Chicago. Yet in the heat of a political campaign they have been accused of financing radicalism. That's Pants on Fire wrong.

politics, facts, misinformation, mccain, obama, ayers

Warning! Dr. Phil Geekgasms

2008-10-07T15:30:00.002-05:00

But how can you blame him? This is really really neat stuff!

Watermelon planet | Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine

Technorati tags:

science, space, mercury, messenger, plait, bablog

Morning Trails

2008-10-01T21:20:00.001-05:00

Out on the farm near Hustisford, Wisconsin.

Connecting Information

2008-09-28T20:22:00.001-05:00

Can you guess which monitor the Milwaukee flight is displayed on?

For Those Who Think Everything with the First Amendment is Hunky Dory

2008-09-27T11:49:00.002-05:00

I present to you the fine people of New Brunswick, North Carolina. Were it just an isolated case, we could all pass it off as simple folly. But then there's Texas, and Louisiana, and Florida, to name three. Just gets me all warm and fuzzy.

Daily Kos: Creationists Lay the Dover Trap On Unwary North Carolinians

Technorati tags: science, first amendment, evolution, creationism

Alien Ship?

2008-09-23T22:05:00.001-05:00

Or airport ceiling?

Don't Listen To Me, Do Your Own Research

2008-09-21T10:17:00.003-05:00

Over the past couple of weeks, I published some posts that disclosed my position in the presidential contest. Naturally I wouldn't think that anything I say would have an effect on how someone else would think. But I've also been in contact with people who would believe what they see in a political ad, or even what they get in a chain email. So as a service to those who wish to cut through the clutter of misinformation, I offer some resources.

From the Annenberg Public Policy Center, we have FactCheck.org, and from the St. Petersburg Times comes PolitiFact.com. Both of these sites take the campaign commercials and stump speeches and analyze them to separate the truth from the spin. Anytime you see a new campaign commercial, go to one of these sites BEFORE you send that email to your friends on the latest candidate gotcha.

Finally, to put to rest those urban legends surrounding the candidates, there's the politics section of the Urban Legends Reference Pages at snopes.com. I hope you find all that useful.

politics, palin, mccain, obama, biden, truth

Harvest Time

2008-09-18T22:13:00.001-05:00

Near Watertown, Wisconsin.

So When Did This Become A Political Blog?

2008-09-14T17:24:00.005-05:00

This was the question posted by an anonymous commenter. And it signals to me that this person has been a regular visitor. If so, it would be nice to know who you are so that I can thank you for being a loyal reader, and perhaps we can generate some dialog.

That question is actually a pretty complicated one, so much so that I'm dedicating a whole post to it. First, the short answer is that, as the sole contributor and owner of this blog, I feel free to include whatever content as I see fit. And if you go back into my archives, you'll find any number of opinions, from soccer, to aviation and yes, on politics.

I once considered myself a moderate Republican. I think I even registered that way when I became eligible to vote at 18 in the state of New Jersey. Back then the Republican party was closer to the center while the Democrats were much farther to the left. At least that's the way it seemed to me. After the ineffectual Carter presidency, it seemed sensible to vote for Ronald Reagan, and the first vote I cast for President was for him in his reelection year of 1984. I also voted for George H.W. Bush in 1988. But by then the neo-conservative and evangelical christian forces had sunk their hooks deep into the Republican party. Then the party took majority of control of Congress led by Newt Gingrich. Any remnant of bipartisan cooperation was obliterated. When the party took a position on an issue, they claimed sovereignty of the issue. If you didn't agree with their position, then you were cast as a leftist liberal; no middle ground was given. Republicans even declared that they no longer worked for all of their consituents, they only worked for the constituents who voted for them. For myself, it was time to get off the bus.

But that isn't even the reason why I have decided to vote for Senator Obama. For me, this election boils down to an issue that is larger than any other issue being debated in this campaign, by far. It's an issue that affects our way of life and how we are allowed to pursue our freedom as envisioned by our Founding Fathers. I am referring to nothing less than our system of government and the document that created it. It's the document that I gave nine years of my life in service of its armed forces to protect. I am talking about the United States Constitution.

For those unfamiliar with the Constitution (and sadly, far too many Americans are), it lays out a system of government designed such that no one branch of the government can usurp the other branch thereby keeping a system of checks and balances. Now in case you haven't been paying attention for the last seven years, there have been numerous threats to the rule of law in this country. As excerpted from Power Play: The Bush Presidency and the Constitution by James P. Pfiffner, the Bush administration "abrogated the rule of law by taking actions not authorized by law and sometimes directly against the law." To wit:

--He created military commissions entirely within the executive branch and in doing so ignored U.S. laws that provided authority and procedures for establishing military commissions;

--He used the term "enemy combatant" to exempt the government from granting persons so labeled legal and constitutional rights;

--He denied the writ of habeas corpus to U.S. citizens as well as other detainees suspected of terrorism;

--He suspended the Geneva Conventions, which, because they were agreed to in a treaty, are the "supreme Law of the Land," according to Article VI of the Constitution;

--He authorized the interrogation of detainees using techniques that most of the world considers torture, and which violate the Geneva Conventions and U.S. law;

--He ordered the National Security Agency to monitor the communications of Americans without a warrant as required by FISA; and

--He asserted the sweeping right to ignore more than 1,000 provisions of public law because he deemed them to be in conflict with his authority as president.

The branch of our government chartered to uphold the rule of law in this country is, of course, the judiciary. Right now, the Supreme Court has four justices that are considered conservative, four that are liberal, and one who is considered a swing vote. (It is almost ironic that John Paul Stevens, an appointee of President Ford in 1975, is seen as a liberal mainstay.) From my readings and observances, it is generally agreed that a court split down the middle with a swing vote is a desirable situation. This is where things begin to get complicated. One of the neo-con right's tactics in their desire to create a theocracy in this country has been to attack the judicial system as inherently liberal (that's their cover, where else have we seen that before?) and then strive to place judges in the system that will rule to support their narrow views of basic human values. Senator McCain plans to do exactly that.

Before the end of the next president's term, no less than six justices will be over the age of 70. This includes the entire liberal wing, with Justice Stevens crossing north of age 90. What this means is that the next President will have the responsibility of appointing as few as two and as many as four or more justices to the Supreme Court. The next President will be responsible for the ideological makeup of the Supreme Court possibly for the next generation.

Forget the issues the candidates are talking about. Forget the economy. Forget the war. Forget the best shade of pig lipstick. There is no issue more important to me than the preservation of our Constitution and the First Amendment. Rights that guarantee that citizens can worship in whatever manner they choose, or not at all. Rights that keep public education free from undue influence and bias. It protects the reproductive rights of our women. It guarantees that citizens can't be held without charge. To me, the thought of a McCain Court scares the piss out of me. That is why I am voting for Barack Obama.

So there you have it. I hate politics. It's slimy, dirty, messy, practiced for the most part by liars and hypocrites. In some ways, I hope that by laying out my "manifesto", I don't have to talk about it again. So maybe this was cathartic in a way. I'm not going to tell you how to vote, but I urge you to go out with an open mind, do your research, learn the facts, and vote. Thank you.

I'll get pictures up eventually.

politics

She Said WHAT???

2008-09-11T20:13:00.001-05:00

Had enough yet? Need more convincing?

Palin leaves open option of war with Russia - Yahoo! News

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin left open the option Thursday of waging war with Russia if it were to invade neighboring Georgia and the former Soviet republic were a NATO ally. "We will not repeat a Cold War," Palin said in her first television interview since becoming Republican John McCain's vice presidential running mate two weeks ago.

politics, palin

The Only Palin I Will Vote For

2008-09-08T21:02:00.003-05:00

Why not? Seems they'll let anybody be on a ticket.

Michael Palin for President

politics, palin, satire, humore

President Palin

2008-09-03T21:57:00.001-05:00

Say those words to yourself. Then read the linked article. Then read this. Folks, this woman scares the living crap out of me. Seriously, I never had such a visceral reaction in my whole life.

So, after reading up, and as you enter the ballot booth November 4, say to yourself "President Palin" and then cast your vote.

Crosscut Seattle - About Sarah Palin: an e-mail from Wasilla

There has to be literally millions of Americans who are more knowledgeable and experienced than she.

politics, palin, mccain, alaska, vice president

Facade

2008-09-01T21:49:00.001-05:00

A building facade in the Lacledes Landing section of St. Louis, Missouri.

Shadows of a Type

2008-08-26T22:26:00.001-05:00

Over more than 15 decades, the building had witnessed many seasons. For a large amount of that time, it had company. And now it continues the journey alone once again.

Annapolis, Maryland.

Why Has This Become What It Is?

2008-08-24T22:31:00.001-05:00

I could personally not care less about who a president is married to or that he or she is married at all. What the hell does spousal choice have to do with qualifications for office? Is the electorate that stupid?

Potential first ladies important to voters - USATODAY.com

"You cannot separate the overall impression of a candidate from their spouse any more than you could separate a candidate from his regional accent or his age or the color of his skin, the membership of his political party," says Carl Sferrazza Anthony, who has written several books about first ladies.

politics

Will The Truthers Finally Give Up?

2008-08-21T19:59:00.003-05:00

Of course they won't. But that won't let the facts stop them from insisting that the government is behind everything. Years after their twin towers theories had been debunked, they hung their hats on the theory that the gubmint blew up 7 World Trade Center intentionally. And the thing that they never could give a plausible explanation to was, why? And yet, they grind along, with a story that's more interesting than the facts support. It's time to move on.

Government scientists rebut conspiracy theories, say fire brought down trade center building -- Newsday.com

Technorati tags: politics, conspiracy, trade center, truth

Illumination Old School

2008-08-17T21:15:00.001-05:00

A headlamp from an antique Ford Model T as seen on display in Hartford, Wisconsin.

Look! A Panda!

2008-08-12T22:03:00.001-05:00

On a recent trip to San Diego, I had the opportunity to visit the wonderful San Diego Zoo. This is one of the zoos that the Chinese government has allowed to keep pandas, so this is not a common sight.

Igniting a Passion?

2008-08-03T21:05:00.001-05:00

After my father's death, my mom, brother and I moved to northern New Jersey, right under the final approach path to Teterboro Airport. Day after day, countless airplanes flew down the street, and I just had to stop and look up at every one of them. One day, the Goodyear Blimp passed overhead, and it was so low I could swear I could reach up and touch it!

Here, two youngsters observe the departure of 55 Piper Comanches leaving Watertown Municipal Aiport for Oshkosh and the EAA AirVenture. Could these be future aviators?

Incident at Watertown Municipal

2008-07-26T17:09:00.005-05:00

At about 3:45 pm this afternoon, a Cirrus airplane, reported to have 2 aboard, attempted a landing on runway 29 at Watertown Municipal Airport. The airplane appeared to abort the landing and lost control as it tried to climb out, veering to the left and crashing into a row of hangers. It is not known the extent of injuries at this time to those on board or any on the ground. It is very fortunate that the plane crashed there as it just missed crashing into 15 to 20 parked aircraft on the ramp that were assembled in preparation to travel to Oshkosh tomorrow. More information as I get it.

UPDATE: So far it has been reported that 2 people were aboard and both suffered non-fatal injuries although their exact condition is not known. This was a terrifying incident; Watertown was hosting a Piper Comanche gathering, and 3 dozen planes were parked on the ramp just behind my vantage point. Additionally there were several dozen people gathered in the main hanger for a barbeque. It could have been a disaster.

UPDATE 2: The occupants of the plane were a man and his wife. The injuries have been reported as non-life threatening. The plane was a Cirrus SR-22, which is equipped with seatbelt airbags. Those airbags may very well have saved two lives today. Very good news indeed.

FINAL UPDATE: A hero emerged from the incident yesterday. Curtis Loontjer, an employee of Wisconsin Aviation (the Fixed Based Operator), acted quickly and without regard for his own safety when he went into the crash and rescued the airplane's occupants. If not for his efforts, there would be no happy ending. A picture as published in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel can be found here. As you can see, nothing remains but the engine and firewall. My favorite rental plane, a Cessna 152, is in the background. Also of note, the Cirrus is equipped with a ballistic recovery parachute powered by a rocket booster. During the incident, the booster cooked off and fired, causing some very scary moments. Something will need to be done to reduce the risk of cookoff in these boosters in the future.

Technorati tags: aircraft, accident, watertown, wisconsin

Every Young Aviator's Dream

2008-07-25T21:25:00.002-05:00

I have seen the Navy Blue Angels just once in my life thus far, back in 1982 at Lakehurst NAS, New Jersey. Back then they flew the old A-4F Skyhawk, not one of the more memorable jet fighters, but awesome all the same.

Brian Terwilliger is a film maker who has taken his passion for aviation and put it on film in his critically acclaimed "One Six Right". Earlier this year, he was offered a ride in one of the Angels' F/A-18 Hornets and he takes us along for the ride.

I'm off for vacation for a week, and I will be attending EAA Airventure Oshkosh for the very first time. It's yet another thing I've wanted to do my whole life. I hope to have plenty of material when I get back. Meanwhile, enjoy the film.

Flying Full Circle | A Dream Come True Ride with the Blue Angels

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

2008-07-24T21:06:00.001-05:00

I had been looking forward for a long time for the opportunity to visit this fine ballpark. Oriole Park was groundbreaking as the first of the "retro-modern" line of baseball stadia built in the last 15 years. It's success launched a series of similar stadia with distinctive features and built in downtown areas that highlighted that city's classic buildings.

I found Oriole Park to be everything it's advertised to be. Other than some slight weathering of the seats, the park still shines like new.

By the way, can you name the players who wore those numbers for the Orioles?

Moon Day

2008-07-20T10:48:00.002-05:00

Thirty-nine years ago today, mankind changed forever. Phil Plait, the Bad Astronomer, shares his thoughts.

Myself, I was a young lad of five. I distinctly remember where I was that day. It was at my aunt and uncle's cabin near a lake somewhere in New Jersey. The reception was a little shaky, but I was awestruck when the caption on the television said "Live From the Moon".

Tranquility Base | Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine

We were no longer bound to one planet, one place, troglodytes adhering to the surface of Earth. We became a space-dwelling species.

Technorati tags: space, moon, nasa, cool stuff, plait

Dive

2008-07-20T09:43:00.001-05:00

Thankfully, not one of the hotels that I stay in on the road.

Dothan, Alabama.

Grand Rapids

2008-07-18T20:27:00.001-05:00

The central concourse of Gerald R. Ford International Airport, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Smaller airports always more pleasurable than the large ones. Must have something to do with far fewer passengers per square foot.

Mr. Steenland, You Want Me To Do What?

2008-07-10T22:31:00.005-05:00

Doug Steenland is the CEO of Northwest Airlines. I received an email recently from NWA, asking for my help. I laughed so hard that I peed my pants. Here is my response:

Dear Mr. Steenland,

I am writing in response to an email you sent to me on behalf of your fellow airlines, asking me, one of your customers, to assist in your quest to have Congress act on your behalf to combat what you claim to be rampant speculation in the oil markets and help keep your costs down. You played to my feelings by suggesting that if nothing is done to curb energy prices, dire consequences are in store and that we must all band together in this time of need.

Are you fracking kidding me? YOU want ME to weigh in on YOUR behalf?

Ok, Mr. Steenland, let's make a deal. Before I do anything for you, you must agree to do some things for me. After all, I AM one of your customers.

You will remove hidden fees from your business model. If oil is high, just price your airfares to reflect that. Don't try to use services as a profit center. Fifteen dollars for the first bag, $250 dollars for rebooking. Some service. How do I know that you're not going to start charging me for the ability to change my seat assignment? You already charge extra for certain select seats. You know what this practice reminds me of? Yes, your attempt to have Congress make money for you by rigging the budget for the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Airspace System, even if it threatened to drive the General Aviation industry to extinction. You wanted to set up a controlling board, away from congressional oversight, that would impose fees at will on the general aviation industry for the use of airspace. Good thing we caught you on that, because it's clear this is where you would have headed with it.

Next, you will fly your schedule on schedule. Quit trying to put more than one plane on the same spot on the runway at the same time and hoping the weather cooperates. Maybe then you'll get your planes to their destination more than the current on-time rate of around 75%. You might save some fuel and make your CUSTOMERS a little happier.

Oh, I almost forgot. How about getting my luggage to my destination when I arrive? In the last year, I've taken roughly 100 trips, and my bag did not make the plane 3 times. That is completely unacceptable. So get my bag there, and you'll save some money on couriers and even save some gas in the process. Fancy that.

Mr. Steenland, you and your cohort have miles and miles to go before you convince me that this latest ploy was little more than a cynical attempt to play upon our emotions for your gain. You have shown no inclination over the last decade to do anything for your customer except demonstrate that you could not care less about us. I have my own interests to look after with the high cost of oil, but I'll be DAMNED if I'm going to go to Congress to help you out.

I hope this letter finds you in good health.

Sincerely,

Richard Fraser
Technorati tags: airlines, northwest, oil, speculation

Minnesota Thunder

2008-07-07T22:08:00.002-05:00

Huge amounts of energy are tied up in a thunderstorm. If there were only a way to harness it, a kind of energy harvester that moved with these storms to catch the lightning, the ice from hail, even a generator driven by the downpour. It can happen.

Willmar, Minnesota.

Old Glory

2008-07-04T17:13:00.001-05:00

From the staff of "This Blog Title For Sale", we hope you enjoy the celebration of this, the 232d anniversary of the birth of our nation.

Happy Tunguska Day!

2008-06-30T07:00:00.001-05:00

Today is the 100th anniversary of an event that is still controversial to this day, the Tunguska Event. While believed to have been caused by a meteor, the lack of a crater and rock fragments has led to as many conspiracy and supernatural theories as any other event or phenomenon. Read more about it at the Bad Astronomy Blog.Technorati Tags: science, tunguska, astronomy, bablog

Bad Astronomy Blog » 100 years ago today: KABLAM!!!!!

Our Mark Twain Has Moved On

2008-06-23T20:21:00.003-05:00

George Carlin died today. I wasn't going to blog about it, seeing as just about everybody else probably has by now. But PZ Myers posted this video from him on his blog, and I just couldn't let his passing go without giving my thoughts. George Carlin was that rare individual, just like Mark Twain, whom despite what you thought about his politics, could say things that were very controversial yet get you to laugh about it. Then, after you're done laughing, you realize that you can't argue with the logic. He was an equal to the greatest philosophers in history, yet his medium was comedy. And that's what we'll miss about George Carlin. He made you THINK.

Here's a clip of George on a topic near and dear to many. Of course you can make a case for hypocrisy, seeing as he played Rufus, a god-ish character, in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. Whoa. Oh yeah, NSFW. But you knew that.

Technorati tags: carlin, comedy, satire

It Must Have Been Ice

2008-06-19T20:34:00.001-05:00

The Phoenix Mars lander has found what it was sent to Mars to find. Ice.

Phoenix Mars Mission -

Technorati Tags: mars, phoenix, lander, ice, science, jpl

Water Everywhere

2008-06-15T21:28:00.003-05:00

We are having an epic spring this year, as this flooded wayside near Ixonia, Wisconsin shows. For more pictures of flooding in Jefferson County, click here.

Technorati tags: flood, wisconsin, jefferson county, water

Prarie Sentinel

2008-06-12T21:54:00.001-05:00

Cosmos, Minnesota 56228

Car in Lot

2008-06-08T17:42:00.001-05:00

Dothan, Alabama.

Mammatus on a Hot Spring Evening

2008-06-03T21:44:00.002-05:00

Thunderstorms were menacing the area for a couple of hours, but it wasn't until after dinner and I was driving around town when the sun hit the right spot. All of a sudden I'm scurrying to find a place to park with an unobstructed view. And there it is. More about mammatus clouds here.

Dothan, Alabama.

So Now What Will the Airlines Say?

2008-05-31T16:07:00.002-05:00

A new report from the Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress, has issued a study investigating the issue of commercial airline delays.

The vast majority of air-traffic delays in 2007 occurred before airplanes took off for flight. Almost 60 percent of delays occurred at the gate, while 20 percent of flight delays occurred while taxiing out to the runway. Only about 15 percent of the JEC estimated total delay occurred during airborne minutes.

The airline executives continue to snivel about how the airspace systems needs overhaul, but it's a smokescreen to make their case to take over the national airspace system at the expense of the general aviation industry. This report is another example of proof that all the airlines have to do to find the reason for their unprofitability is to look in the mirror.
.: Joint Economic Committee :: Reports :.
Technorati Tags: aviation, airlines

Very Late Winter Scene

2008-05-29T22:01:00.001-05:00

I've been way behind, as you can see, on getting my photos posted. This photo really wasn't taken that long ago, just March. But alas, the rest of the set will probably have to wait until the time is right again. I guess I just said that I'd be keeping the blog going for at least that much longer.

Aspen, Colorado.

Most Amazing Picture Ever Taken

2008-05-26T14:38:00.001-05:00

You are the HiRISE camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. You are in orbit around Mars. You receive orders to point in a specific direction, and take a picture. What shows up is the Phoenix lander UNDER PARACHUTE as it descends toward the surface and its successful landing. Show me a picture of a commercial jetliner shot by a spy satellite, except with both objects 150 MILLION miles away! And BOTH objects are moving faster than a speeding bullet!! Are there enough exclamation points to portray how amazing this is!!!

Tip o' the chute to Dr. Phil.

OMG!! Parachute!!!! Photo!!!!! - The Planetary Society Blog | The Planetary Society

Today's Weird Story

2008-05-25T09:24:00.001-05:00

Comes to us from Vancouver, Canada.

He added that there are beaches that collect mostly rights and others that collect mostly lefts because the winds or currents sort out left and right foot wear.

Fourth severed foot found on B.C. coast - Seattle- msnbc.com

From the Bad Astronomer

2008-05-21T22:38:00.001-05:00

It takes a great bit of luck to catch a supernova just when it explodes. That happened recently, and Dr. Phil writes about it. It's really freaking cool.

The hemoglobin in your blood, the bones in your body, and the
wedding ring on your finger — all of these can trace their lineage back
to a star that exploded like SN2008D. Every heavy element in the
Universe was created in such an event, in the heart and fury of a
supernova.
We owe our very existence to stars that explode.

Bad Astronomy Blog » Birth cry of a supernova

View From Blue Mound

2008-05-18T20:56:00.001-05:00

This is the view from the top of Blue Mound, in the state park of the same name west of Madison, Wisconsin. Elevation 1,716 feet, seventh highest in the state.

What a great weekend. Even with the rain showers Friday night, and some heavy showers Saturday night, I would call the weather perfect.

Got Legs?

2008-05-11T17:24:00.001-05:00

Display window of a hosiery shop on Cannery Row, Monterey, California.

The Start of Another Season

2008-05-06T22:53:00.005-05:00

This weekend, the new action movie "Speed Racer" opens across several thousand screens. In state of the art movie (and IMAX) theaters across the country, viewers will enjoy the film in living room comfort, with the latest thundering surround sound THX technology beating them into their stadium seats.

Not in Litchfield, Minnesota. Here, around dusk, cars will be heading up the grass lined drive at the Starlight Drive-In to pay $6 for adults and $3 for children for the privilege of parking on a grass lawn (bring your own bug spray). The sound will only be as good as your car stereo, and don't forget to load up on the redhots and popcorn from the refreshment stand (outside food and drink is NOT allowed).

Reminds me of my youth, taking Henny to the drive in and maybe catching half of the first feature before the windows fogged up. Good times.

Technorati tags: minnesota, drive in, sign, sign, marquee

San Jose Airport Holiday Inn, Room 124

2008-05-02T21:16:00.002-05:00

Some things cause me to involuntarily reach for the camera, no matter how mundane. I hope you see what I saw in the bathroom of my hotel room that night.

And Now For Something Completely Different

2008-04-28T22:42:00.001-05:00

Driving south out of Boston after arriving at Logan International Airport on Interstate 93, the traffic began to slow. Rounding a corner, smoke was rising from near the highway. There was a fire! The camera was in the passenger seat, so I quickly turned it on and captured this image of a fully involved Ford Taurus station wagon. And you were there!

Megastar 2.1

2008-04-26T22:03:00.005-05:00

This week, I had the pleasure of taking the family to see Blue Man Group perform their "How To Be A Megastar 2.1 Tour" show at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin. We've been fans of Blue Man Group for some time, and having missed their show in Milwaukee last year, jumped at the chance to see them in Madison this time around. We even decided to splurge the extra money to get floor seats, and we weren't disappointed.

We were familiar with their work from seeing their prior concert shows on television, and we own their CD "The Complex". We were lucky enough to score floor seats in row 7 even though I ordered the tickets the day after they went on sale.

The show was a rework of "The Complex" tour, with an instructional video providing a loose structure to the show. A monotone, unseen announcer directs the Blue Men on their way as well as engaging the audience. The Blue Men themselves use intense eye contact to draw the audience into the show. During one sketch, one Blue Man chucks marshmallows out into the crowd. He turned toward our section and I actually stood up and pointed to my mouth! He tossed a marshmallow at me and I tried to catch it in my mouth only to have it glance off my cheek!

Most of the music in the show was from their CD "The Complex" with some additional music (notably a cover of The Who's "Baba O'Riley") and it was expertly played by a backup band consisting of 3 percussionists, 2 guitarists, a bassist, keyboardist and vocalist. The show lasted just over 90 minutes and there were no noticeable breaks. It was nonstop from beginning to end. There were only about 6,000 in attendance, which was a little bit of a downer, and the vibe was different than your big time arena act. But this was a different experience than just a pure rock show. This was performance art, comedy, music, and a bit of theater. We had a blast. It was well worth the money. I do hope that BMG will put together another album of original work ("The Complex" was released in 2003) and create another concert show.

Technorati tags: blue man group, music, concert

What Bugs Me

2008-04-26T11:32:00.001-05:00

Is that smart people are being treated as abnormal. Why bother getting educated (to the tune of thousands of $$) and specializing in a field of study only to have some ideologue dismiss your whole academic career by a mere wave of the hand?

… it seems “rather elitist” that people with academic degrees in health think they know better than parents what type of sex education is appropriate. “I don’t think it’s something we should abandon,” he said of abstinence-only funding.

Those the words of Rep. John Duncan (R-TN). Folks, if you live in Tennessee and he's your congresscritter, you owe it to yourself and your family to vote this clown out of office. He is doing you a great disservice. More at the Bablog.

Bad Astronomy Blog » Being reality-based is elite?

Next Time Somebody Offers You a Ride In a Small Plane

2008-04-20T21:26:00.001-05:00

Readers of "This Blog Title For Sale" are probably aware that I am a certificated private pilot. From time to time people will ask me just how safe is flying small planes, and naturally the answer is, quite safe. Now I can say that it's safer than ever to fly in a small plane, with fatalities reaching a 40-year low in 2007. Why is that? We in the pilot community know that aviation is one of the most intensely scrutinized industries anywhere. When an accident happens, chances are you'll read about it or see it on television. We, as a community, go to great lengths to make this activity as safe as possible.

NTSB Chairman Mark Rosenker commented that pilots cannot afford to become complacent. “We must continue to take the lessons learned from our investigations and use them to create even safer skies for all aircraft operators and their passengers,” he said.

We strive to do exactly that. No operator of a public conveyance is required to complete as much training and assessment as are pilots. When traveling on commercial airliners, the folks in front will have passed at least 5 and likely several more flight examinations to get where they are. Compare that with your bus driver, truck driver or, for that matter, every other driver on the road. And you have our word that we are trying to make 2008 even safer. Read more by clicking on the link below.

AOPA Online: NTSB notes big drop in GA fatalities

Technorati Tags: flying, aviation, pilot, aopa, safety

Intelligence?

2008-04-16T22:45:00.001-05:00

I have been following for some time now the build up to the release of a purported "documentary" about how a recently contrived alternative "theory" of the rise of life on earth should somehow be given equal treatment in schools. The problem with "Intelligent Design" is that it suggests that many constructs of biology are so complicated that they could only have been placed by a "creator". Additionally, these ID proponents want this taught in science classes as an alternative to the Theory of Evolution as originally described by Charles Darwin. It's a problem because since ID claims a supernatural origin to life on earth, it can't be proven by scientific means. It is therefore not science.

But that hasn't stopped certain ID proponents from doing all they can, including misleading, lying and deceiving to put their little theory in front of as many gullible people as they can. They made their little movie under false pretenses, then carefully controlled (or tried to, with hilarious complications) who was able to view the pre-release version of the movie. Now, the producers are releasing the movie theatrically, but only in areas in which they know they will find favorable audiences.

Now I'm not going to tell you to not see the movie, since I haven't seen it myself (nor do I plan to). You will also notice that I avoided giving you the title of the movie. But I have included a link below to a website with more information about the movie, and exactly what the producers did to bring this abortion to the screen. Warning: If you liked Ben Stein for his eyedrop commercials, you're going to be very disappointed.

Expelled Exposed

Technorati Tags: science, antiscience, expelled, creationism

Kickin' Cajun

2008-04-16T21:05:00.001-05:00

Broussard's Cajun Cuisine, Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Best cajun north of Louisiana. Shrimp etouffee and fried alligator. Outstanding!

Adjusting

2008-04-15T06:39:00.002-05:00

I guess I forgot that I do three quarters of my flying on Northwest, with Delta and Midwest picking up the rest. So, with the long awaited merger announced, I need to prepare for the inevitable.

On the other hand, I suppose I can get used to seeing more of this lady VERY quickly.

Technorati tags: delta, travel, deltalina

The New Delta Airlines

2008-04-14T19:48:00.002-05:00

This just in to my email inbox:

As a valued Northwest Airlines customer and WorldPerks(R)
member, I wanted you to be among the first to hear that we have
announced a merger with Delta Air Lines. Subject to regulatory
review, our two airlines are joining forces to create America's
premier global airline which, upon closing of the merger, will
be called Delta Air Lines.

By combining Northwest and Delta, we are building a stronger,
more resilient airline that will be a leader in providing
customer service and value. Our combined airline will offer
unprecedented access to the world, enabling you to fly to more
destinations, have more flight choices and more ways than ever
to earn and redeem your WorldPerks miles.

You can be assured that your WorldPerks miles and Elite program
status will be unaffected by this merger. In addition, you can
continue to earn miles through use of partners like WorldPerks
Visa(R). And once the new Delta Air Lines emerges you can look
forward to being a part of the world's largest frequent flyer
program with expanded benefits.

The combined Delta Air Lines will serve more U.S. communities
and connect to more worldwide destinations than any global
airline. Our hubs - both Delta's and Northwest's - will be
retained and enhanced. We will be the only U.S. airline to offer
direct service from the United States to all of the world's
major business centers in Asia, Latin America, Europe, Africa
and around North America.

Both airlines bring tremendous strengths to this new
partnership. Our complementary service networks form an
end-to-end system that is truly greater than the sum of its
parts. This is a merger by addition, not subtraction, which
means all of our hubs - both Northwest's and Delta's - will be
retained. In addition, building on both airlines' proud,
decades-long history of serving small communities, we plan to
enhance global connections to small towns and cities across the
U.S.

All of these positive benefits of our combination mean that we
can:

1. Offer a true global network where our customers will be able
to fly to more destinations, have more schedule options and more
opportunities to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles in what
will become the world's best and most comprehensive frequent
flyer program.

2. Continue to serve our current roster of destinations and to
maintain our hubs in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis,
Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York, Salt Lake City, Amsterdam and
Tokyo.

3. Improve our customers' travel experience, through new
products and services including enhanced self-service tools,
better bag-tracking technology, more onboard services, including
more meal options, new seats and refurbished cabins.

While we work to secure approval of our merger, which may take
up to 6 to 8 months, it will be business-as-usual at both
airlines. We will continue to operate as independent airlines
and the people of Northwest will remain focused on providing you
with the very best in safe, reliable and convenient air travel.
At the same time, both airlines will be planning for a seamless
integration of our two airlines, one that delivers to you the
enhanced benefits that will earn - and retain - your preference.

As we work through this process, we will keep you informed at
every step along the way. Thank you for your business and we
look forward to serving you on your next Northwest flight.

Sincerely,

Bob Soukup
Managing Director, WorldPerks

So there you have it. Stay tuned.

Technorati Tags: delta, northwest, airline, merger

There's Hope Yet For Reality Television

2008-04-12T23:10:00.001-05:00

If, that is, one of the myriad television networks out there greenlights this pilot. But wouldn't it be nice that, in a world of ghost shows and UFO hunters, we finally get REAL investigation? I sure hope so.

Self Portrait

2008-04-08T21:39:00.001-05:00

You may need to move farther away from the screen to make out my image.

Security Line

2008-04-06T20:07:00.001-05:00

I reckon I should consider myself lucky that these line ropes aren't brimming with humanity this day. But it does get one to wondering, why should it ever get this bad? (That's a rhetorical question, folks.)

John Wayne-Santa Ana Airport, California.

Skylight

2008-04-02T07:50:00.001-05:00

Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport, Minnesota.

Scandal?!?

2008-03-30T18:32:00.001-05:00

Gotta love the Onion.

Tip o' the peel to Dr. Phil.

"They Tried To Teach My Baby Science" | The Onion - America's Finest News Source

Technorati Tags: humor, irony, onion

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Casino

2008-03-27T20:54:00.001-05:00

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is an oceanfront amusement park in Santa Cruz, California. Founded in 1907 and operated by the family-owned Santa Cruz Seaside Company, it is California's oldest surviving amusement park and one of two seaside parks on the West Coast of the United States (the other being the Santa Monica Pier).

Santa Cruz Harbor

2008-03-23T11:22:00.001-05:00

Sailboats wait for their day. Heh, sailboats. Get a motor.

Santa Cruz, California.

An Iconic Writer Enters A New Dimension

2008-03-18T21:56:00.001-05:00

From Dr. Phil at the BAblog, I learn of the death of Arthur C. Clarke, after a long illness at the age of 90. One of the last of a generation of writers (which included Ray Bradbury(still with us), Isaac Asimov, Frank Herbert and others) who not only defined the genre of modern science fiction, but stoked the imaginations of generations of young people around the world to look outside of the confines of our home planet as well as questioning traditional belief.

Bad Astronomy Blog » Arthur C. Clarke, 1917 - 2008

Technorati Tags: science, fiction, clarke, bablog

Estep Used Cars and Portable Buildings

2008-03-17T20:23:00.003-05:00

If it's Amish built, you know it's quality.

Pikeville, Kentucky.

Fresh Coat

2008-03-14T20:09:00.002-05:00

Back in June of last year, I blogged about a weathered (one reader called it "rustic") sign that greets all travelers to the Tri State Region. Now I'm not sure if that picture embarrassed the local leaders, but in any case, they took action to make the sign better. That's right, there's nothing that a coat of paint can't fix. Now THAT'S state of the art.

Stepptown Feed Store

2008-03-12T08:58:00.003-05:00

Stepptown, West Virginia.

I received a comment (thank you!) on the previous post about how grim this region is. The thing was, there were no shortage of scenes like that. It was hard to take pictures because there was a new scene around every corner. It's hard to select a scene to shoot when they all are stark. It's tough here. Really, really tough.