New personal aircraft

The A5 can land on just about any airstrip no matter how small.

Stop Whining

Phil Gramm accused us all of being a bunch of whiners. After all when you're living in Capitol Hill style life is great! Well I'm sick and tired of listening to John McCain whining about Obama. Lately he seems obsessed with what Obama is doing. Obama this, Obama that. Will you shut up about Obama and focus on your own campaign?

Casualties

Listing of coalition soldiers killed in Iraq.

Listing of coalition soldiers killed in Afghanistan.

UK company working on hydrogen refueling station which fits in your garage so you don't have to go to a gas station. Therefore no infrastructure is needed.

ANWR

I think all the hype about drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as the answer to our oil crisis is outrageous. Oh sure, I think we can safely drill there without wrecking the environment or harming wildlife and I agree that we probably should. But from what I read the oil wouldn't hit the market for at least ten years after legislation is passed to allow it - if there are no lawsuits to interfere with the process. And if you read the material produced by the Department of Energy this oil will make a difference of between fifty cents to a dollar a barrel of oil which translates to something like six to eight cents per gallon at the pump. It's estimated that with the addition of this oil on the market our dependence on foreign oil will be reduced by about three percent. Here is a report (pdf) issued from the Energy Information Administration which is a branch of the Department of Energy. And another here.

Seems to me all this effort is mis-directed and we should be focused on bringing back the value of the dollar.

I want one!

"The LED Shower Light is a brilliant idea. It installs to a standard shower pipe in mere minutes. When you turn the shower on, the water powers a turbine and the LED Shower Light...well, lights up! Blue let's you know the water is chilly. When the water warms up to 89° F (32° C), the light changes to red."


Although it does make me wonder how long the inner workings will hold up

Salt Water replaces Oil?

Zapped with radio waves, the heat generated is impressive

Spring screech owls

The owlets are getting restless this time of year. They should be getting out into the real world any night now. Dad (the master of camouflage) is always close by during daylight hours.

A classic

Jimmy Carter's visit to Israel

Former president Carter shunned by Israel's security

Tandem Bike

This must have been thought up by a psychotherapist for marriage counseling? Teamwork exercise? I think most couples would last about 20 seconds.

Old Fart Quiz part 2

If you've been around long enough to remember these, then you're definitely an old fart.

1. In the 1940s, where were automobile headlight dimmer switches located?
a. On the floor shift knob.
b. On the floor board, to the left of the clutch.
c. Next to the horn.

2. The bottle top of a Royal Crown Cola bottle had holes in it. For what was it used?
a. Capture lightning bugs.
b. To sprinkle clothes before ironing.
c. Large salt shaker.

3. Why was having milk delivered a problem in northern winters?
a. Cows got cold and wouldn't produce milk.
b. Ice on highways forced delivery by dog sled.
c. Milkmen left deliveries outside of front doors and milk would freeze, expanding and pushing up the cardboard bottle top.

4. What was the popular chewing gum named for a game of chance?
a. Blackjack
b. Gin
c. Craps

5. What method did women use to look as if they were wearing stockings when none were available due to rationing during WW II.
a. Suntan
b. Leg painting
c. Wearing slacks

6. What postwar car turned automotive design on its ear when you couldn't tell whether it was coming or going?
a. Studebaker
b. Nash Metro
c. Tucker

7. Which was a popular candy when you were a kid?
a. Strips of dried peanut butter.
b. Chocolate licorice bars.
c. Wax coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar water inside.

8. How was Butch wax used?
a. To stiffen a flat-top haircut so it stood up.
b. To make floors shiny and prevent scuffing.
c. On the wheels of roller skates to prevent rust.

9. Before inline skates, how did you keep your roller skates attached to your shoes?
a. With clamps, tightened by a skate key.
b. Woven straps that crossed the foot.
c. Long pieces of twine.

10. As a kid, what was considered the best way to reach a decision?
a. Consider all the facts.
b. Ask Mom.
c. Eeny-meeny-miney-mo.

11. What was the most dreaded disease in the 1940s and 1950s?
a. Smallpox
b. AIDS
c. Polio

12. "I'll be down to get you in a ________, Honey"
a. SUV
b. Taxi
c. Streetcar

13. What was the name of Caroline Kennedy's pony?
a. Old Blue
b. Paint
c. Macaroni

14. What was a Duck-and-Cover Drill?
a. Part of the game of hide and seek.
b. What you did when your Mom called you in to do chores.
c. Hiding under your desk, and covering your head with your arms in an A-bomb drill.

15. What was the name of the Indian Princess on the Howdy Doody show?
a. Princess Summerfallwinterspring
b. Princess Sacajawea
c. Princess Moonshadow

16. What did all the really savvy students do when mimeographed tests were handed out in school?
a. Immediately sniffed the purple ink, as this was believed to get you high.
b. Made paper airplanes to see who could sail theirs out the window.
c. Wrote another pupil's name on the top, to avoid their failure.

17. Why did your Mom shop in stores that gave Green Stamps with purchases?
a. To keep you out of mischief by licking the backs, which tasted like bubble gum.
b. They could be put in special books and redeemed for various household items.
c. They were given to the kids to be used as stick-on tattoos.

18. Praise the Lord, & pass the _________?
a. Meatballs
b. Dames
c. Ammunition

19. What was the name of the singing group that made the song "Ca bdriver" a hit?
a. The Ink Spots
b. The Supremes
c. The Esquires

20. Who left his heart in San Francisco ?
a. Tony Bennett
b. Xavier Cugat
c. George Gershwin

D.B. Cooper won't quite disappear

Some kids in south west Washington have found what the FBI thinks might actually be the parachute used by D.B. Cooper. Perhaps ol' Dan was lucky after all.

Health Front

New research shows that fighting with your spouse is a healthy exercise - literally.

CBS and Hillary differ on Bosnia trip

No surprise there, just another politician doing what they do

Unseen hazards of flying

US man finds stowaway snake in his luggage after plane flight. Before realizing the unknown passenger was hidden in his suitcase he is bitten upon opening the bag.

US loses it's 4000th soldier in Iraq

Last night a roadside explosion took the lives of 4 US soldiers bringing the death count to the 4000 mark. The cost of this war has been incredible and there is still no solution in sight. Will Iraq ever stand alone as a democracy? The price in human life and in dollars is staggering. I remember the promises made early on that first of all the Iraqis will come forward and take control of their country, and secondly the US will be able to use Iraqi oil to pay for the war effort. Well of course neither has happened and the hole we've dug is so deep we've dragged the ladder in with us. And as the dollar continues to sink and the next recession looms larger, the price of health care and gasoline are killing us, the stock market is holding it's breath, Washington continues to tell us not to worry - things are great. Well yeah, if you happen to be one of them it is!

Ok so I got carried away there. The tragedy here is of course the loss of human life as well as all the injuries suffered by our troops in a country where I'm not even sure the people honestly want to live in a democratic state or even understand what that would mean for them.

Life can change in an instant!

I've fished the waters along the Texas coast for nearly 50 years and have always been very aware of the dangers of the stingray - at least the danger of stepping on one and having it whip it's stinger into your lower leg. Many fishermen and swimmers alike suffer from this every year. Now a woman has been killed by a stingray, but not in the way you'd think. I've never heard of the type of accident which recently occurred in Florida. This type of thing is akin to having a piano fall on your head while walking down the street.
And it seems there was another incident, also in Florida when a man was stung in the chest by a jumping stingray while riding in a boat. I guess it goes to show how fast life can change just when you least expect it!

Winter of '07/08

NOAA has issued it's report on temperatures for this winter. Interesting.

Man's best friend at times is a Dolphin

It seems that as these folks were about to give up on rescuing a couple of beached whales when they got a helping flipper from one of the local Dolphins as seen in this news story from cnn (video).

French to sue Continental Airlines?

It seems the French are considering bringing charges against Continental Airlines because one of their planes took off ahead of the Concorde flight which caught fire and then crashed. They are claiming that a piece of metal fell off the Continental plane and was left lying on the runway causing the Concorde's tire to blow out throwing debris into the fuel tank.
Well just who's responsibility it is to provide a clear runway? And if the Continental jet did drop something on the runway, what are they supposed to do - go back and pick it up?
This was a terrible accident, and an accident it was.

19 year old army medic to be awarded the Silver Star

Spc. Monica Brown of Texas will receive the Silver Star later this month for her actions in Afghanistan, after risking her life to treat and save fellow soldiers while under fire following an IED explosion. Story here.

News

On this day in 1945 US Marines raised the American Flag on Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima.

If you're a fan of Friday Night Lights, filmed in Austin, Texas then you might be surprised to learn that the show might be on the chopping block.

1.2 billion down the drain as B2 bomber crashes. Thankfully both pilots safely eject.

Give us a break, I mean how much money do you need? Gas prices to go even higher this spring, and usually take big jump come June.

Legally blind golfer makes hole in one. After playing for 60 years this is his first.

A woman in Los Angeles gets $9 million dollar award against her health insurer because the company dropped her coverage while she was in the middle of cancer treatments.

Clip from David Letterman show

Remote controlled beer launcher refrigerator. Never leave the couch during a game.

News

Everyone knows about the Obama/Clinton debate which took place here in Austin last night, but the real news here is the annual National Barbeque Association conference that's getting everyone's attention. Yeah well, this is Texas. With BBQ experts showing up from around the country, downtown Austin ought to be smokin'.

Meanwhile local Texas Senator Kirk Watson representing parts of Travis County and an avid Obama supporter had a little problem trying to remember one of Obama's legislative accomplishments during an interview with Chris Matthews which you can watch on this You Tube Video.

And of course the US Navy has proven to the Chinese that the United States also has the capability to launch a missile at a satellite and destroy it.

Today's Oil

So what's up with oil, other than the price? Somebody in the middle east stub their toe or something? Apparently nobody cares because there are few stories in the news these days. I guess we're more concerned about somebody's latest fiasco in Hollywood than our checkbooks.

BBC article on the subject

Great site for historical weather patterns

This is really interesting. This website provides info on past trends of climate change (among other things) and helps put it all in perspective.

Link here

Looking at their chart we can see dramatic changes throughout history. No question we have an affect on our weather, but can we influence the pattern enough to change the current warming cycle? Well if the only result we see from these efforts is better health for all of us isn't that enough?

Congress moves to make Do Not Call List permanent

You know I really enjoy eating dinner without the dang phone ringing just when I sit down. Yesterday the Senate gave final approval to make it permanent. No longer will we have to sign up every five years. Having already passed the house, H.R. 3541 will likely be enacted into law soon.

Sony Declared Winner - Blue-Ray is King

It looks to be a done deal. Toshiba is giving up on the HD DVD and Blue-Ray takes center stage.

Story here

Lunar Eclipse

Wednesday evening the US will experience a total lunar eclipse. The best show should be around 10:00 PM EST to 11:00 PM EST

Link here

Blue-Ray or HD DVD

As we've finally started upgrading to High Definition television our next obvious step is to change out our DVD players so we're watching movies in the much improved High Definition format. As nothing seems easy these days there is of course a choice in HD players.

Remember back in the '8Os when VCRs first came out? There was a big tug of war between Betamax and VHS formats in the VCR machines. No machine played both so the early buyers put their money on the system they thought would win out. I knew several folks who went with Betamax only to have to buy VHS units a few years later when it became the standard.

Same thing today. HD DVD has hit the ground running, but Blue-Ray HD is suddenly getting everyone's attention and it may very well take the lead. And in comparison it seems Blue-Ray has some nice advantages.

Click here for latest BBC article

An Old Farts Moment

An elderly couple were having dinner at another couple's house and after their meal, the wives left the table to go to the kitchen.

The two elderly gents were talking, and one says: "Last night we went out to a fabulous new restaurant. I'd highly recommend it."

The other man says: "So which restaurant is it?"

The first man thinks long and hard with a furrowed brow, finally saying: "Ah, what is the name of that red flower you give to someone you love?"

His friend replies: "A carnation?" "No, no. The other one," the man says.

His friend suggests "The poppy?"

"No,no, no, no." growls the man. "You know - the one that is red and has thorns."

His friend says: "Could it be a rose?"

"Yes! Thank you!" the first man says. He then turns toward the kitchen and yells: "Rose, what's the name of that restaurant we went to last night?"

Never Leave Home Without It

Locks right in to your receiver hitch!

Where ever you go you'll be prepared. Whether at the beach, down at the local park, or just out for a Sunday drive you'll never have to search one out again! Also a must have for your next tailgating party.

Boiling Point

Live Oak Wilt

I reside (part time) in a hill country subdivision in which it's not unusual to see pockets of live oak wilt. It's a deadly disease which will kill 99% of trees infected. This disease spreads three ways - either through the root system, insects moving from one wound to another (not very common), and by humans using cutting implements moving from infected trees to healthy trees.
When cutting/pruning trees it's commonly know in these areas that it's really important to treat all cuts (over 1/2" diameter) with tree paint as well as treating your cutting tools (chain saw blades, pruners, etc.) with Lysol as you move from yard to yard. OK that's the standard rule and very easy to do as you go along. Right?
So here's the deal. The disease spreads through the root system at appx. 80 ft. per year which we can plan for and treat our trees (expensive) ahead of it. Insects we don't worry too much about because it's kinda rare to see that problem. But we know it's coming. Maybe a few years down the road. But then along comes the local county trimming crew which is completly aware of the problem and of the very easy precautions you take so as not to spread the disease and of course they start trimming at the infected trees thus contaminating their equipment, and then over a period of about an hour spread the fungus all the way down the street. Asking them if they are properly treating trees and equipment you only get a "huh?" from the foreman on the job.
So suddenly we are all facing the very expensive treatment process or the other option, the very expensive cost of removing the dead trees. And it comes NOW instead of a couple years down the line when you've kinda planned for it.

Somehow I feel better now... (not)

Follow-up to the ETrade Baby

Men in Coats

Pretty Funny Stuff

Last Iwo Jima flag raiser dies

The radio operator on site during the original flag raising on Mount Suribachi has passed away.

The Link Here

Super Bowl Ads

Super Bowl Ads

Super Bowl Ads

Online Gaming

Here's an interesting film promoting this WWII era Combat Flight Simulation.
Shown here are some examples of online dogfighting in the virtual world and the IP address of a server where participants meet to fly. Very realistic and extremely challenging. Game puts you right in the cockpit with total control of the aircraft.

Here's the Link

Old Farts Quiz

You could be an old fart. Can you answer all these?

1. After the Lone Ranger saved the day and rode off into the sunset, the grateful citizens would ask, “Who was that masked man?” Invariably, someone would answer, I don't know, but he left this behind. What did he leave behind? ____________

2. When the Beatles first came to the U.S. in early 1964, we all watched them on The __________________ Show.

3. "Get your kicks, ___________________."

4. "The story you are about to see if true. The names have been changed ________."

5. "In the jungle, the mighty jungle, ________________."

6. After the Twist, The Mashed Potato, and the Watusi, we "danced" under a stick that was lowered as low as we could go in a dance called the "_____________."

7. "N_E_S_T_L_E_S", Nestle's makes the very best _______________."

8. Satchmo was America's "Ambassador of Goodwill." Our parents shared this great jazz trumpet player with us. His name was _________________.

9. What takes a licking and keeps on ticking? _______________

10. Red Skelton's hobo character was named __________________ and Red always ended his television show by saying, "Good Night, and "_______________".

11. Some Americans who protested the Vietnam War did so by burning their _______.

12. The cute little car with the engine in the back and the trunk in the front was called the VW. What other names did it go by? ____________ & _______________.

13. In 1971, singer Don MacLean sang a song about, "the day the music died." This was a tribute to ___________________.

14. We can remember the first satellite placed into orbit. The Russians did it. It was called ___________________.

Bigfoot Sighting

NASA

(click on picture to enlarge)

BIGFOOT seen on MARS!

Photo was taken by NASA rover Spirit having been sent to mars to explore the Gusev crater for signs of water. If there was once water on the planet, scientists theorize mars might have supported life forms. Wonder why Elvis never thought of this!

Update on UFO's in Stephenville

It seems the Air Force has offered an explanation (finally) for the UFO sightings up in Stephenville.

Original Old Farts Post

Now the air force is claiming they were conducting flight training in the area that night. Ah well, the wheels do turn - eventually. At least the local economy got a boost with all the tourists flooding in even if short lived.

Link to the new explanation

The Redhead

This redhead goes in to see her doctor complaining of experiencing pain all over her body. The doctor says this is nonsense as he's never seen these symptoms, but agrees to examine her. So he tells her to show him where it hurts and she then touches her chin. "Ouch" she says.
Then touches her shoulder and "ouch"
Then touches her breast and "ouch"
Then touches her hip and "ouch"
Then touches her knee and "ouch"
At this point the doctor says "OK that's enough, I see what the problem is" Then he adds "By the way you're not really a redhead are you?"
She replies "Well no I'm actually a blond, but how could you possibly know that?"
The doctor tells her "Well it's pretty obvious, your finger is broken."

The Obituary

An old fart has passed away, but not before he and his wife had some time to reflect on his life. He was extremely proud of all that he had accomplished over the years and took comfort in knowing that his wife would be very well taken of after he is gone. After all he had retired from two different careers plus they had done well with their investments.
So after his passing she contacted the local newspaper to have an obituary printed. The clerk told her that the standard cost would be 50 cents per word. There was a long pause and he could hear a scratching sound of pencil on paper in the background. Then she comes back on the line and says "OK this is what I want it to say:
John Smith has died."
The clerk responds "Well...... OK, that will be four dollars."
"Four dollars!" she shouts "I thought you said 50 cents per word."
The clerk "Well yes that's correct, but there's a 4 dollar minimum charge."
He hears more scratching in the background and then she says "OK then print this:
John Smith has died. Deer Rifle for sale."

Eye Chart

This has been making the round for some time, but is still funny.


The link:

Blast from the Past

UFO Sightings in Stephenville, Texas ?

What the hey? Pretty stable folks living up in Stephenville. At least I've always thought so as I've been there many times . Well apparently something happened on January 8. Could it have something to do with all the methane gas produced from the dairy farms?

Anyway here's the link to the news story:

Stephenville UFO

You might be an Old Fart

if you suck in your gut and your pants fall down

if you have more hair in your ears than on your head

if you give up all your bad habits, but don't feel any better

if you've been recently diagnosed with AAADD (age activated attention deficit disorder)

if you hear the coffee pot, but then realize it was you making that noise

if your doctor stops telling you that you're a hypochondriac

if you can trust your friends with your secrets because you know they won't remember them

if your doctor gives you the punch card giving you a free visit for every nine paid ones


Got any more? Leave them in comments, thx.

The card players

Three ladies are sitting around one evening playing cards when one comments "You know I'm afraid I might be losing my memory. I'm having a terrible time with people's names".

Another adds "Yes me too! And the other day I got lost when I was driving to church!"

"Well thank goodness I'm not" replies the third. "My memory is a clear as a bell, knock on wood" at which point she raps several times on the table. Then immediately with a startled look says "I wonder who could be at the door?"

Join the Club

You know you're an Old Fart when you finally get your head together and your body starts falling apart

Fish Story

For me, at least these days, fishing is a state of mind. If out with friends it's all about the camaraderie with the actual fishing being second nature and just the reason to get together. If out by myself I get lost in my thoughts. Sure I'll have a line out, but usually won't be paying much attention to it.
For kids tho, fishing is fishing, and they usually give their full attention to it. As it was for this little girl fishing off her grandparents dock over the holidays. Using her new Barbie rod and reel and at first getting the cast down to her satisfaction, then settling down to business, managed to hook a monster of a fish. With dad's help and a 20 minute (plus) fight they finally landed it. It's easily as big as she is! After taking a few pics, they released it again.
So now I'm thinking maybe the best way to go fishing is to be sure a couple of kids go along.

Vegetable Orchestra

Next time you hear "Mom I don't have anything to do" tell 'em to go play with their vegetables! Although not a new video it's still a great one.

Where Are We

Group of folks are headed to Rockport to spend the winter and are passing through the town of Refugio when they get into a "discussion" about the correct pronunciation. So they pull into a burger joint for lunch. After placing their order one of them asks the waitress where they are. She leans in close and in a loud voice says "Brrrrrrrrr Grrrrrrrrr Kiiinnnng".

Well, this is as Clear as Mud - On making Change

Old Farts

Three old farts, having just arrived on the island, are taking a stroll on the beach.
The first one comments "windy, eh?
Fellow next to him says "believe it's Thursday.
Next guy pipes up "damn straight I'm thirsty, let's go find us a beer!

Miss Connie

The Central Texas Wing of the Commemorative Air Force located in San Marcos, Texas is home to the Miss Connie which is probably the only P39 currently being flown in air shows anywhere.

Link to Centex Wing
_

2008

HAPPY NEW YEAR

LET'S MAKE 2008 A GREAT ONE!