On Tuesday I took a drive to Hanscom AFB. I needed some stuff for Field Training, namely some BDU Brown shirts that I couldn't find anywhere (Brown crew necks do not exist in the civilian world), a belt and a few other details.
As I entered the BX, I passed a captain who greeted me, and I passed back a "good afternoon" to him. And I realized that I wanted to salute him, even though I didn't. I guess this little incident just put a unique perspective on my advancement towards a commission. I want to be saluting superior officers and showing them my support for their willingness to put themselves on the line for everyday people. I want to be in that group with them, doing what I can to aid them, perhaps even being them, to keep this nation strong.
In other news, while on the way down I found out that most of the drivers around here are terrible. One example, I stop at a red light. Light turns green. I hit the gas and before the car overcomes its inertia, the guy behind me honks. Take a physics class pal! Not only do I have a reaction time, I also have 3-4 tons of inertia to push! It might take 3 whole seconds to get me to move!
And Nashua is the only place where we seem to stop at green lights. I don't understand it.
There was one woman in a Spider outside of Milford on that day (I went to an Army/Navy surplus first) and at a red light, I was in the left lane, she was in the right. She gave me a haughty look and slammed on the gas and probably did ninety. And I motored on at the speed limit. I was surprised to not see her pulled over a mile away.
Grr
It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye. . . . then its hilarious!
J Kuhl Signing Off
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Don't Taze Me Bro!
Don't Taze Me Bro
After viewing this video, which was quickly spread across the internet, I just wonder, what did this kid do wrong exactly? He asked some harsh questions maybe, but so what? Its his right to ask questions. If he wasn't suppose to speak at that time, there was no reason to arrest him and taze him. Freedom of speech is a fundamental right in this country. He was not inciting a riot or disturbing the peace, he was simply asking Senator Kerry some questions. It is our right to ask questions.
Some of the things that occur in this country upset me. We have rights. The authorities might not like them, but too bad. A nation that supposedly protects liberty, should look at some of the things that go on within its own borders and look to its police.
And what is Senator Kerry doing? Don't tell me that he can't put a stop to this arrest. Rather, he just drones on and on in the background, answering the guy's question, but not doing anything to stop the arrest, thus facilitating the censorship of the student. I wonder if Senator Kerry actually wanted the student to hear the answer to the question.
The student in question did not need to be tazered, he needed to be let go. There was no point to this arrest.
In other news, I read an article in Newsweek in which General Petraeus is changing strategies in Iraq. He is throwing out the guns-blazing strategy that, while it toppled Baghdad in 3 weeks, failed hard in the over all war and replacing it with a better strategy. Rather than relying on all out force to gain control of Iraq, he is instead working with the Iraqis, Sunni and Shiite alike. The idea was that, instead of killing people, we work with them. We get on their good side
And it is common sense. Terrorism cannot be fought with fire. It is an idea and bullets cannot kill ideas. If instead we can get the Iraqis to work with us, perhaps we can get them to work with each other and if not like each other, then at least live with each other.
"Go young Fred" -Lord Mayor of Pepperland, Yellow Submarine (1968)
J Kuhl Signing Off
After viewing this video, which was quickly spread across the internet, I just wonder, what did this kid do wrong exactly? He asked some harsh questions maybe, but so what? Its his right to ask questions. If he wasn't suppose to speak at that time, there was no reason to arrest him and taze him. Freedom of speech is a fundamental right in this country. He was not inciting a riot or disturbing the peace, he was simply asking Senator Kerry some questions. It is our right to ask questions.
Some of the things that occur in this country upset me. We have rights. The authorities might not like them, but too bad. A nation that supposedly protects liberty, should look at some of the things that go on within its own borders and look to its police.
And what is Senator Kerry doing? Don't tell me that he can't put a stop to this arrest. Rather, he just drones on and on in the background, answering the guy's question, but not doing anything to stop the arrest, thus facilitating the censorship of the student. I wonder if Senator Kerry actually wanted the student to hear the answer to the question.
The student in question did not need to be tazered, he needed to be let go. There was no point to this arrest.
In other news, I read an article in Newsweek in which General Petraeus is changing strategies in Iraq. He is throwing out the guns-blazing strategy that, while it toppled Baghdad in 3 weeks, failed hard in the over all war and replacing it with a better strategy. Rather than relying on all out force to gain control of Iraq, he is instead working with the Iraqis, Sunni and Shiite alike. The idea was that, instead of killing people, we work with them. We get on their good side
And it is common sense. Terrorism cannot be fought with fire. It is an idea and bullets cannot kill ideas. If instead we can get the Iraqis to work with us, perhaps we can get them to work with each other and if not like each other, then at least live with each other.
"Go young Fred" -Lord Mayor of Pepperland, Yellow Submarine (1968)
J Kuhl Signing Off
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Cpl Upham
The movie Saving Private Ryan ends with Captain Miller's squadron finding Pvt Ryan in a bombed out French Village on the Merderet River. Ryan refuses to go home. Miller and his squad decide to remain and hope to defend the bridge with the ~20 men with Ryan.
The men with Miller are
Pvt Mellish, a jew.
Pvt Reiben, a brookliner
Pvt Jackson, a sniper
Cpl Upham, a translator
Sgt Horvath, the Captain's NCO.
At the very end of the movie, the bridge comes under attack from a large group of German infantry. Pvt Mellish and one soldier are manning a machine gun on one flank, and Pvt Jackson and another soldier are in a bell tower with another .30 cal machine gun. Cpl Upham is given the job of "johnny on the spot" -as Mellish puts it- with the ammo.
At one point, Mellish and his partner run out of ammo. Mellish's M1 Garand jams. He cries out for ammo. Upham grabs some and starts heading towards him. Meanwhile, Mellish hears footsteps outside the room he's in. His partner fires at the wall. There is a thump, and a pool of blood. Then more small arms fire. Mellish's partner is hit in the throat, and falls over gasping for breath, dying. A German soldier comes in. Mellish and the soldier start fighting each other hand to hand.
Meanwhile, Upham is on the stairs approaching Mellish and can hear all the commotion, but he's cowering, crying.
The soldier overpowers Mellish and stabs him, killing him. He then comes down the stairs, looks at Upham (who has his hands up and is sobbing) with contempt, passes him and rejoins the fighting in the streets. Upham collapses in grief.
This scene has always angered me. I get upset with Upham, not barging in, killing the German and saving Mellish's life. He cowers like a wimp on the stairs. I tell myself, that I'd've at least killed the German.
But then would I have? How can I know what a battle is like? How can I know that I would not be overcome by fear and grief had I been in the same situation? I can't help but feel angry at Upham, but I can't blame him either. War is hell, and no one would know how they'll really act when thrown in such a situation. How am I to know if I would overcome my own natural fear of death and fight?
I will not ever know until I face that moment.
In other news I don't like any of the candidates so far, so I'm gonna vote Stephen Colbert for President.
"I stand by this man [George W. Bush] because he stands for things. Not only for things, he stands on things. Things like aircraft carriers, and rubble, and recently flooded city squares. And that sends a strong message that no matter what happens to America she will always rebound with the most powerfully staged photo-ops in the world." -Stephen Colbert
The men with Miller are
Pvt Mellish, a jew.
Pvt Reiben, a brookliner
Pvt Jackson, a sniper
Cpl Upham, a translator
Sgt Horvath, the Captain's NCO.
At the very end of the movie, the bridge comes under attack from a large group of German infantry. Pvt Mellish and one soldier are manning a machine gun on one flank, and Pvt Jackson and another soldier are in a bell tower with another .30 cal machine gun. Cpl Upham is given the job of "johnny on the spot" -as Mellish puts it- with the ammo.
At one point, Mellish and his partner run out of ammo. Mellish's M1 Garand jams. He cries out for ammo. Upham grabs some and starts heading towards him. Meanwhile, Mellish hears footsteps outside the room he's in. His partner fires at the wall. There is a thump, and a pool of blood. Then more small arms fire. Mellish's partner is hit in the throat, and falls over gasping for breath, dying. A German soldier comes in. Mellish and the soldier start fighting each other hand to hand.
Meanwhile, Upham is on the stairs approaching Mellish and can hear all the commotion, but he's cowering, crying.
The soldier overpowers Mellish and stabs him, killing him. He then comes down the stairs, looks at Upham (who has his hands up and is sobbing) with contempt, passes him and rejoins the fighting in the streets. Upham collapses in grief.
This scene has always angered me. I get upset with Upham, not barging in, killing the German and saving Mellish's life. He cowers like a wimp on the stairs. I tell myself, that I'd've at least killed the German.
But then would I have? How can I know what a battle is like? How can I know that I would not be overcome by fear and grief had I been in the same situation? I can't help but feel angry at Upham, but I can't blame him either. War is hell, and no one would know how they'll really act when thrown in such a situation. How am I to know if I would overcome my own natural fear of death and fight?
I will not ever know until I face that moment.
In other news I don't like any of the candidates so far, so I'm gonna vote Stephen Colbert for President.
"I stand by this man [George W. Bush] because he stands for things. Not only for things, he stands on things. Things like aircraft carriers, and rubble, and recently flooded city squares. And that sends a strong message that no matter what happens to America she will always rebound with the most powerfully staged photo-ops in the world." -Stephen Colbert
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Road Traffic Control
"565 Papa Echo, come to a full stop at the intersection"
"Full stop at intersection, 5 Papa Echo"
"You are cleared to make a right turn on to Pine Hill"
"Cleared to turn, 5 Papa Echo"
I'd love it if we had this.
But instead, I sit at that intersection for 5 minutes with on coming traffic. And the moron behind me starts honking.
J Kuhl Signing Off
"Full stop at intersection, 5 Papa Echo"
"You are cleared to make a right turn on to Pine Hill"
"Cleared to turn, 5 Papa Echo"
I'd love it if we had this.
But instead, I sit at that intersection for 5 minutes with on coming traffic. And the moron behind me starts honking.
J Kuhl Signing Off
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Perks of the Subconscious
So I was at the ROTC PFD (Physical Fitness Diagnostic) on Thursday at UML. When that was over, I hopped into my car, put the keys in the ignition and started the engine. I then put my left hand on the wheel while my right hand started searching down by the air conditioning for the throttle control. If you were to compare the C172 cockpit to a car, you would see that the throttle is where a car's controls for heat and a/c are.
Then I realized I was in a car, not an airplane.
Its interesting how you can get so much into a routine that you do it at inappropriate times.
Habits become instinctual after a while. If you repeat something often enough, then you can do it without thinking about it and it happens when you are in a set of conditions that seem to make sense for that habit, even if it isn't right.
Its probably a good thing I didn't confuse the brake/gas pedals for rudders.
In other news, the weather this week was bad.
Friday's weather was:
KASH 191604Z 00000KT 3/4SM BR OVC002 16/16 A2984 RMK AO2
KMHT 191604Z 00000KT 3SM BR OVC003 17/16 A2983 RMK AO2
KMHT 191357Z 191412 00000KT 1/2SM FG OVC001
FM2100 16007KT 2SM BR OVC004
TEMPO 0004 2SM -SHRA BR OVC002
FM0400 15010KT 3SM SHRA BR OVC002
TEMPO 0408 1SM +SHRA OVC003
FM0900 2204KT 4SM BR OVC007
This was the weather at Nashua (KASH) and Manchester (KMHT). The first two reports are hourly METAR weather reports for 1916Z, 1400 (2 o'clock) EST. The one for KASH states "Winds calm, visibility at 3/4 statute mile, mist, overcast at 200, temperature 16, dew point 16, air pressure 2983 in mg." The one at Manchester states "winds calm, visibility 3 statute miles, mist, overcast at 300 feet, temperature 17, dew point 16 (temperatures are in Celsius), air pressure at 2983 in mg."
The next block is a TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast), the forecasted weather at an airport. Nashua does not have a TAF. This one reads, "calm winds, visibility half a mile, fog, overcast at 100 feet" The next line, "From 2100 (1700, 5 o'clock EST)" is not valid yet because when I was interested in this weather, it was only 12:15. But it did tell me that things weren't gonna get better.
What does this all mean? It means it is too foggy to fly and the clouds are too low. The air pressure was low, signaling bad weather.
So no flying on Friday the 19th of October.
"No pilot in command of a civil aircraft may allow any object to be dropped from that aircraft in flight that creates a hazard to persons or property. However, this section does not prohibit the dropping of any object if reasonable precautions are taken to avoid injury or damage to persons or property" -FAR 91.15
J Kuhl Signing Off
Then I realized I was in a car, not an airplane.
Its interesting how you can get so much into a routine that you do it at inappropriate times.
Habits become instinctual after a while. If you repeat something often enough, then you can do it without thinking about it and it happens when you are in a set of conditions that seem to make sense for that habit, even if it isn't right.
Its probably a good thing I didn't confuse the brake/gas pedals for rudders.
In other news, the weather this week was bad.
Friday's weather was:
KASH 191604Z 00000KT 3/4SM BR OVC002 16/16 A2984 RMK AO2
KMHT 191604Z 00000KT 3SM BR OVC003 17/16 A2983 RMK AO2
KMHT 191357Z 191412 00000KT 1/2SM FG OVC001
FM2100 16007KT 2SM BR OVC004
TEMPO 0004 2SM -SHRA BR OVC002
FM0400 15010KT 3SM SHRA BR OVC002
TEMPO 0408 1SM +SHRA OVC003
FM0900 2204KT 4SM BR OVC007
This was the weather at Nashua (KASH) and Manchester (KMHT). The first two reports are hourly METAR weather reports for 1916Z, 1400 (2 o'clock) EST. The one for KASH states "Winds calm, visibility at 3/4 statute mile, mist, overcast at 200, temperature 16, dew point 16, air pressure 2983 in mg." The one at Manchester states "winds calm, visibility 3 statute miles, mist, overcast at 300 feet, temperature 17, dew point 16 (temperatures are in Celsius), air pressure at 2983 in mg."
The next block is a TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast), the forecasted weather at an airport. Nashua does not have a TAF. This one reads, "calm winds, visibility half a mile, fog, overcast at 100 feet" The next line, "From 2100 (1700, 5 o'clock EST)" is not valid yet because when I was interested in this weather, it was only 12:15. But it did tell me that things weren't gonna get better.
What does this all mean? It means it is too foggy to fly and the clouds are too low. The air pressure was low, signaling bad weather.
So no flying on Friday the 19th of October.
"No pilot in command of a civil aircraft may allow any object to be dropped from that aircraft in flight that creates a hazard to persons or property. However, this section does not prohibit the dropping of any object if reasonable precautions are taken to avoid injury or damage to persons or property" -FAR 91.15
J Kuhl Signing Off
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
The Mailman
So today, I was sending out a credit card payment and I passed the mailman.
I'm sorry, I meant mail carrier.
I forgot I live in communist China and everything I say must not be "offensive" to anyone.
Wait, if this is China, why does everyone speak English and talk like hicks?
This is the United States of America. Freedom of speech. I have every right to say what I want the way I want, so long as it doesn't contain a threat.
Saying "mailman" is not threatening anyone or infringing on their rights.
Secondly, when I say "mailman," I am not saying it because I have this "hatred" against women and want to see them chained to a kitchen. I am saying "mailman" because I grew up with it meaning "the person who delivers the mail." I don't care if the mailman is a hot young blond woman, I will call her a mailman if I feel like it. It has nothing to do with her gender, its just what her job is titled; Mailman. I have nothing against saying "mail carrier." I'm just not used to such a term and I refuse to change my habits over a little detail that might be offensive to some cranky feminist moron.
Is Burger King ever going to change to Burger Leader?
Steve Colbert had it right on last nights show. The great thing about the United States of America is our right to say anything, even if it is indeed offensive.
Does the term "mailman" offend you? Too bad. First of all, it is a gender NEUTRAL term. Gee, "human" has the word MAN at the end! Should we go around calling ourselves homo sapiens? But then the ignorant homophobes will get upset over the word "homo." Secondly, we have the right to say it.
It is time that the extremist activist groups stopped using censorship to bandaid their problems and actually come up with a real solution. Arguing over how offensive termonology is will not fix your cause, it just covers it up. Rather, find out why your minority group (or what ever) is mistreated and work to fix the problem.
I dunno, campaign for equal wages for women or something.
But don't tell me to not say "mailman."
In other news, minorities again. I agree, every race, sex, ethnicity, etc of humankind should have equal rights and no race should have special rights.
And some of the minorities seem to want special rights.
I can understand how many of them feel repressed by the white majority, but it isn't fair to us for you to take more.
If I get sued for saying "Ni***r," then you should be sued for calling me "Cracker."
I've heard stories where minorities get picked for jobs because they are minorities, not because they are qualified. Now I have nothing against taking a qualified hispanic. But an unqualified hispanic does not deserve a job over a qualified white person. A qualified hispanic against a qualified white person, well that may be an issue. But between the two, it is quality that I would seek, not skintone or ethnicity.
Yes, there are morons who will go for the white person over a minority because they are prejudice but you can't lump every white guy as the bad guy and give the minorities special rights.
They should have equal rights. No more, no less. Ethnicity, sex, religion, race, etc, should not even enter the equation when considering rights.
"I may not agree with what you say, but I will fight to the death to defend your right to say it" -Unknown
J Kuhl Signing Off
I'm sorry, I meant mail carrier.
I forgot I live in communist China and everything I say must not be "offensive" to anyone.
Wait, if this is China, why does everyone speak English and talk like hicks?
This is the United States of America. Freedom of speech. I have every right to say what I want the way I want, so long as it doesn't contain a threat.
Saying "mailman" is not threatening anyone or infringing on their rights.
Secondly, when I say "mailman," I am not saying it because I have this "hatred" against women and want to see them chained to a kitchen. I am saying "mailman" because I grew up with it meaning "the person who delivers the mail." I don't care if the mailman is a hot young blond woman, I will call her a mailman if I feel like it. It has nothing to do with her gender, its just what her job is titled; Mailman. I have nothing against saying "mail carrier." I'm just not used to such a term and I refuse to change my habits over a little detail that might be offensive to some cranky feminist moron.
Is Burger King ever going to change to Burger Leader?
Steve Colbert had it right on last nights show. The great thing about the United States of America is our right to say anything, even if it is indeed offensive.Does the term "mailman" offend you? Too bad. First of all, it is a gender NEUTRAL term. Gee, "human" has the word MAN at the end! Should we go around calling ourselves homo sapiens? But then the ignorant homophobes will get upset over the word "homo." Secondly, we have the right to say it.
It is time that the extremist activist groups stopped using censorship to bandaid their problems and actually come up with a real solution. Arguing over how offensive termonology is will not fix your cause, it just covers it up. Rather, find out why your minority group (or what ever) is mistreated and work to fix the problem.
I dunno, campaign for equal wages for women or something.
But don't tell me to not say "mailman."
In other news, minorities again. I agree, every race, sex, ethnicity, etc of humankind should have equal rights and no race should have special rights.
And some of the minorities seem to want special rights.
I can understand how many of them feel repressed by the white majority, but it isn't fair to us for you to take more.
If I get sued for saying "Ni***r," then you should be sued for calling me "Cracker."
I've heard stories where minorities get picked for jobs because they are minorities, not because they are qualified. Now I have nothing against taking a qualified hispanic. But an unqualified hispanic does not deserve a job over a qualified white person. A qualified hispanic against a qualified white person, well that may be an issue. But between the two, it is quality that I would seek, not skintone or ethnicity.
Yes, there are morons who will go for the white person over a minority because they are prejudice but you can't lump every white guy as the bad guy and give the minorities special rights.
They should have equal rights. No more, no less. Ethnicity, sex, religion, race, etc, should not even enter the equation when considering rights.
"I may not agree with what you say, but I will fight to the death to defend your right to say it" -Unknown
J Kuhl Signing Off
Friday, October 05, 2007
I Hate Driving
I hate it. Give me wings and a runway at every location, or just a helicopter, and I'll just fly places. Driving sucks.
First of all, there is no certainty. Everyone does their own thing and there is no protection from Air Traffic Control. You just have to assume that everyone is competant and knows what they are doing. Recently, I was doing a lane change (I HATE LANE CHANGES!!!!). I checked my mirrors and looked over my shoulder. And I nearly collided with a car I did not see. This incident wasn't really anyone's fault that I can tell, but there is a lack of certainty when ever I make a lane change. What if somehow I can't see the car? In a traffic pattern in the air, the ATC would ensure that I am not too close to another aircraft. On the ground, I do not have this protection.
Also, on the ground, since cars come close to each other, especially on interstates (I hate interstates too) , you have to worry about the other guy's competence. At least in the air, you know, the guy had to take several intensive lessons, an intensive examination and an intensive checkride. I live north of Massachusetts. Massachusetts. The state with the worst drivers in America. You've got morons who cut you off, tailgate, speed too fast, drive too slow and really should have their liscense revoked.
Give me my flying car already so I can just get over these guys.
"And what do you do with a radical? Shoot it? No, its not a hippy from the sixties . . ." Prof. Rock in Calculus
J Kuhl Signing Off
First of all, there is no certainty. Everyone does their own thing and there is no protection from Air Traffic Control. You just have to assume that everyone is competant and knows what they are doing. Recently, I was doing a lane change (I HATE LANE CHANGES!!!!). I checked my mirrors and looked over my shoulder. And I nearly collided with a car I did not see. This incident wasn't really anyone's fault that I can tell, but there is a lack of certainty when ever I make a lane change. What if somehow I can't see the car? In a traffic pattern in the air, the ATC would ensure that I am not too close to another aircraft. On the ground, I do not have this protection.
Also, on the ground, since cars come close to each other, especially on interstates (I hate interstates too) , you have to worry about the other guy's competence. At least in the air, you know, the guy had to take several intensive lessons, an intensive examination and an intensive checkride. I live north of Massachusetts. Massachusetts. The state with the worst drivers in America. You've got morons who cut you off, tailgate, speed too fast, drive too slow and really should have their liscense revoked.
Give me my flying car already so I can just get over these guys.
"And what do you do with a radical? Shoot it? No, its not a hippy from the sixties . . ." Prof. Rock in Calculus
J Kuhl Signing Off
Monday, September 10, 2007
Tomorrow is Tuesday, September 11, 2007
And 6 years ago tomorrow, it was Tuesday, September 11, 2001
I still remember that day. It started out normal and hopeful, as most sunny days began. I was in 8th grade at the time. Came to school, went to class.
Around 9 o'clock, Mr. Fournier, math teacher/principle at the time came into the room. He told us something happened that we should see. We came in, the TV was on, the Pentagon had been struck by an airplane. That was the first thing I saw, the Pentagon. Then the reporter switched to New York. The World Trade Centers were standing, but one of them was burning.
And it got worse. The second was bombed live on TV. People were jumping out of windows to their deaths. Then the buildings collapsed, killing everyone trapped inside.
And here I was, 500 miles away, watching in horror.
I could not and still cannot comprehend the evil some people inflict on others.
And tomorrow brings the 6th aniversary of that attack.
On a Tuesday.
I'd like to give a on line salute to those who were there during the attacks, a salute to the victims and the heroes. A salute to the firemen and police officers, a salute to the ordinary people who worked in those buildings or were trapped on those airplanes and did their damnedest to save everyone they could, even at the expense of their own lives.
To the heroes and victims of 9-11, I salute you.
J Kuhl Signing Off
I still remember that day. It started out normal and hopeful, as most sunny days began. I was in 8th grade at the time. Came to school, went to class.
Around 9 o'clock, Mr. Fournier, math teacher/principle at the time came into the room. He told us something happened that we should see. We came in, the TV was on, the Pentagon had been struck by an airplane. That was the first thing I saw, the Pentagon. Then the reporter switched to New York. The World Trade Centers were standing, but one of them was burning.
And it got worse. The second was bombed live on TV. People were jumping out of windows to their deaths. Then the buildings collapsed, killing everyone trapped inside.
And here I was, 500 miles away, watching in horror.
I could not and still cannot comprehend the evil some people inflict on others.
And tomorrow brings the 6th aniversary of that attack.
On a Tuesday.
I'd like to give a on line salute to those who were there during the attacks, a salute to the victims and the heroes. A salute to the firemen and police officers, a salute to the ordinary people who worked in those buildings or were trapped on those airplanes and did their damnedest to save everyone they could, even at the expense of their own lives.
To the heroes and victims of 9-11, I salute you.
J Kuhl Signing Off
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Clear Prop
Brakes held. Seats and harnesses secure. Circuit breakers are in. Fuel Shut-off is pulled out. Fuel selector valve is on both. Fuel quantity is good. Lights/radios/equipment are off.
Throttle to 1/4 inch, mixture to idle cut off. Master switch on. Rotating beacon on. Engine is cool; auxilary pump is on. Mixture in. Positive fuel flow confirmed. Mixture out. Auxilary pump off. Window open: "Clear Prop!" Ignition to Start. Wait for the kick. Mixture to rich. Throttle to 1000 rpm. Oil temperature and pressure is good. Check the ignition, the starter should be disengaged and the key on "both." Electronics on.
Call ATIS and confirm the weather report. Switch to ground frequency. Ask for permission to taxi to the active. Taxi at a speed equivalent to a brisk walk.
Find a clear spot on the run up. Check that there are no aircraft in the prop wash. Hold the brakes. Increase throttle to 1800 rpms. Switch to the left magneto. Be sure the dip in RPMs is no greater than 150. Switch to the right magneto. Be sure the dip in RPMs is no greater than 150. Switch back to Both. Check the annunciator panel and the engine instruments.
Reduce power to 1000. Adjust the heading indicator to the magnetic compass. Adjust the altimeter setting to the barometric indication the ATIS reported if you haven't already done so (I usually do this when I get the ATIS report.) Check the ailerons, elevator, and rudder for free and correct movement to control inputs.
Hold the brakes. Check if the magnetos are on both. Trim the airplane for take off. Brief the passengers: "If the engine fails on the runway before rotation, I will get off the runway as soon as possible. If the engine fails after rotation and there is sufficient runway remaining, I will settle the airplane down on the runway and get off as soon as posssible. If the engine fails after rotation and there is not enough runway remaining, I will come down straight and avoid as many obstacles as I can. If the engine fails after rotation, above 1000 AGL, I will do a 180 turn into the wind and try to land on the run way." Check the fuel quantity, the fuel shut off valve and the fuel selector valve (both). Turn on the lights, taxi and strobe. Taxi to the active runway.
Contact tower. When they give permission, taxi out to the runway, align with the centerline. Check the fuel selector, the trim and the mixture. Go full power. Confirm that the airspeed indicator is working. When the aircraft reaches Vr(rotation speed) pull back gently. Trim the aircraft for Vy and have a good flight.
On the way back, call tower before entering the airspace (7-10 miles out). Follow their pattern entry instructions. When you arrive either abeam the runway numbers or a good distance out on base or final, reduce power, bring the airplane down to flap speed and retract the first notch of flaps. As the airplane slows down, retract and reduce more flaps and power. When you get to final about 1 mile out, all 30 degrees should be down. Maintain best glide speed. (65 knots in a C-172) Maintain glideslope using, if they are available, the lights at the end of the runway (VASI, PAPI, etc). Maintain centerline. Maintain wind corrections. When the aircraft is over the grass, power to idle. Once the airplane is over the runway, watch the far end of the runway and use your peripheral vision to determine your altitude. Once about 5 feet above the ground, pull the nose up gently. Touch down on the mains. Bring the nose wheel down and roll off the nearest taxi way.
"So you'll put down your rock and I'll put down my sword and we'll kill each other like civilized human beings?" -The Man in Black
J Kuhl Signing Off
Throttle to 1/4 inch, mixture to idle cut off. Master switch on. Rotating beacon on. Engine is cool; auxilary pump is on. Mixture in. Positive fuel flow confirmed. Mixture out. Auxilary pump off. Window open: "Clear Prop!" Ignition to Start. Wait for the kick. Mixture to rich. Throttle to 1000 rpm. Oil temperature and pressure is good. Check the ignition, the starter should be disengaged and the key on "both." Electronics on.
Call ATIS and confirm the weather report. Switch to ground frequency. Ask for permission to taxi to the active. Taxi at a speed equivalent to a brisk walk.
Find a clear spot on the run up. Check that there are no aircraft in the prop wash. Hold the brakes. Increase throttle to 1800 rpms. Switch to the left magneto. Be sure the dip in RPMs is no greater than 150. Switch to the right magneto. Be sure the dip in RPMs is no greater than 150. Switch back to Both. Check the annunciator panel and the engine instruments.
Reduce power to 1000. Adjust the heading indicator to the magnetic compass. Adjust the altimeter setting to the barometric indication the ATIS reported if you haven't already done so (I usually do this when I get the ATIS report.) Check the ailerons, elevator, and rudder for free and correct movement to control inputs.
Hold the brakes. Check if the magnetos are on both. Trim the airplane for take off. Brief the passengers: "If the engine fails on the runway before rotation, I will get off the runway as soon as possible. If the engine fails after rotation and there is sufficient runway remaining, I will settle the airplane down on the runway and get off as soon as posssible. If the engine fails after rotation and there is not enough runway remaining, I will come down straight and avoid as many obstacles as I can. If the engine fails after rotation, above 1000 AGL, I will do a 180 turn into the wind and try to land on the run way." Check the fuel quantity, the fuel shut off valve and the fuel selector valve (both). Turn on the lights, taxi and strobe. Taxi to the active runway.
Contact tower. When they give permission, taxi out to the runway, align with the centerline. Check the fuel selector, the trim and the mixture. Go full power. Confirm that the airspeed indicator is working. When the aircraft reaches Vr(rotation speed) pull back gently. Trim the aircraft for Vy and have a good flight.
On the way back, call tower before entering the airspace (7-10 miles out). Follow their pattern entry instructions. When you arrive either abeam the runway numbers or a good distance out on base or final, reduce power, bring the airplane down to flap speed and retract the first notch of flaps. As the airplane slows down, retract and reduce more flaps and power. When you get to final about 1 mile out, all 30 degrees should be down. Maintain best glide speed. (65 knots in a C-172) Maintain glideslope using, if they are available, the lights at the end of the runway (VASI, PAPI, etc). Maintain centerline. Maintain wind corrections. When the aircraft is over the grass, power to idle. Once the airplane is over the runway, watch the far end of the runway and use your peripheral vision to determine your altitude. Once about 5 feet above the ground, pull the nose up gently. Touch down on the mains. Bring the nose wheel down and roll off the nearest taxi way.
"So you'll put down your rock and I'll put down my sword and we'll kill each other like civilized human beings?" -The Man in Black
J Kuhl Signing Off
Friday, August 03, 2007
The FAA Is Not a Joke
A year ago, William Wier was the pilot of a Cessna 172 that crashed into Baker Mountain in Maine. He and his 3 passengers all died.
According to the report, the pilot was low to the ground, with ten degrees of wing flaps and at full power.
What the hell was this man thinking? Was he asking
to stall at a low altitude?
There are minimum safe altitudes, mountainous terrain and obstructions marked on the sectional charts and in the FAR/AIM (the FAA's rulebook) for a reason. You never ever ever fly lower than safety permits, especially in mountainous terrain, especially in a configuration that may lead to a stall.
Rules in Aviation exist to keep pilots safe. General aviation piloting is a very safe hobby or profession, however, if you break rules, you are asking for trouble and it will get you killed some day.
My professor at Daniel Webster always said "If you cheat in this class, you will die." Although it was funny when he said it, it was true. If you do not pay attention to the rules in aviation, YOU WILL DIE and possible kill someone else at the same time. Flying is fun, but it is also serious, which is why the FAA regulates pilots and aircraft so heavily.
Please, if you want to fly, go for it, but follow the rules.
"if you cheat in this class, you will die" - Professor Price
J Kuhl Signing Off
According to the report, the pilot was low to the ground, with ten degrees of wing flaps and at full power.
What the hell was this man thinking? Was he asking
to stall at a low altitude?
There are minimum safe altitudes, mountainous terrain and obstructions marked on the sectional charts and in the FAR/AIM (the FAA's rulebook) for a reason. You never ever ever fly lower than safety permits, especially in mountainous terrain, especially in a configuration that may lead to a stall.
Rules in Aviation exist to keep pilots safe. General aviation piloting is a very safe hobby or profession, however, if you break rules, you are asking for trouble and it will get you killed some day.
My professor at Daniel Webster always said "If you cheat in this class, you will die." Although it was funny when he said it, it was true. If you do not pay attention to the rules in aviation, YOU WILL DIE and possible kill someone else at the same time. Flying is fun, but it is also serious, which is why the FAA regulates pilots and aircraft so heavily.
Please, if you want to fly, go for it, but follow the rules.
"if you cheat in this class, you will die" - Professor Price
J Kuhl Signing Off
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Science and Religion
There is a fear in this day of technology that scientific knowledge will be the end of religion.
Those who believe this do not understand religion.
Science is an assortment of facts and theories about the universe based on empirical evidence.
Religion is a code of conduct built with superstition and legend.
Science can never disprove God and religion just as much as religion can not ignore science. Science can, and this is what scares people, disprove superstition. Did God create the world in 7 days? Empirical evidence states otherwise. However, this does not prove that God did not create the world. This does not prove that there is no God, it only proves that it did not occur literally as described. The importance in religious superstition is the message behind the story, not the story itself. Much like the parables of Jesus, religious superstition is to educate. Look at the story of the three men who were thrown in the fiery oven. It is a story of faith, a story used to teach those that God will save those who are faithful and moral. Now, scientifically, a man cannot be set on fire and be unharmed as these three are. Did the story happen? Not according to science. Is it important that the story happened? No, it is not. The message still comes across to the reader.
Whether or not the stories in the Bible are fiction or not, the important part is the message, which science has nothing to do with and will never touch.
In other news, I am an admitted agnostic.
I can neither accept nor reject the concept of God. I see no reason to believe in Him, and yet science fails to disprove His existence. I could take the easy way out and continue to be a Catholic as I was raised, however, it is against my nature to believe in something which has no hard supporting evidence.
The danger in science and religion is that science does not prove God, not as much as it disproves God.
There is no evidence for me to justify belief in God, nor is there evidence for me to justify the rejection of God. The danger is that most people, when seeing no reason to accept God, would immediately reject. But I suppose 12 years of catholic education won't allow this to happen to me.
Another point I can't get over is the Bible itself. Lets look at the testaments. The OT is filled with God's wrath and the NT is filled with God's love. Why the change in attitude with the big man? If God is all forgiving as Jesus says, then why was he merciless with Sodom and Gomorrah? If one is to love his enemies, than why does God himself judge his enemies and condemn them?
Also, what about Heaven? Is the only point in being moral rewards and avoidance of punishment? That is no reason to be moral. Morality, based on wanting rewards is not moral at all because without the reward, one goes back to basic greediness and selfishness. Rather than their being a heaven, man should be taught to be moral because it is right, not because there are rewards.
So, the lack of evidence, the contraction between the NT and the OT, and the concept of heaven lead me to the path of agnosticism.
Which is not atheism.
Have you ever wondered why in a dream you can touch a falling sky? Or fly to the heavens that watch over you, telling me it's all voodoo. -Godsmack
J Kuhl Signing Off
Those who believe this do not understand religion.
Science is an assortment of facts and theories about the universe based on empirical evidence.
Religion is a code of conduct built with superstition and legend.
Science can never disprove God and religion just as much as religion can not ignore science. Science can, and this is what scares people, disprove superstition. Did God create the world in 7 days? Empirical evidence states otherwise. However, this does not prove that God did not create the world. This does not prove that there is no God, it only proves that it did not occur literally as described. The importance in religious superstition is the message behind the story, not the story itself. Much like the parables of Jesus, religious superstition is to educate. Look at the story of the three men who were thrown in the fiery oven. It is a story of faith, a story used to teach those that God will save those who are faithful and moral. Now, scientifically, a man cannot be set on fire and be unharmed as these three are. Did the story happen? Not according to science. Is it important that the story happened? No, it is not. The message still comes across to the reader.
Whether or not the stories in the Bible are fiction or not, the important part is the message, which science has nothing to do with and will never touch.
In other news, I am an admitted agnostic.
I can neither accept nor reject the concept of God. I see no reason to believe in Him, and yet science fails to disprove His existence. I could take the easy way out and continue to be a Catholic as I was raised, however, it is against my nature to believe in something which has no hard supporting evidence.
The danger in science and religion is that science does not prove God, not as much as it disproves God.
There is no evidence for me to justify belief in God, nor is there evidence for me to justify the rejection of God. The danger is that most people, when seeing no reason to accept God, would immediately reject. But I suppose 12 years of catholic education won't allow this to happen to me.
Another point I can't get over is the Bible itself. Lets look at the testaments. The OT is filled with God's wrath and the NT is filled with God's love. Why the change in attitude with the big man? If God is all forgiving as Jesus says, then why was he merciless with Sodom and Gomorrah? If one is to love his enemies, than why does God himself judge his enemies and condemn them?
Also, what about Heaven? Is the only point in being moral rewards and avoidance of punishment? That is no reason to be moral. Morality, based on wanting rewards is not moral at all because without the reward, one goes back to basic greediness and selfishness. Rather than their being a heaven, man should be taught to be moral because it is right, not because there are rewards.
So, the lack of evidence, the contraction between the NT and the OT, and the concept of heaven lead me to the path of agnosticism.
Which is not atheism.
Have you ever wondered why in a dream you can touch a falling sky? Or fly to the heavens that watch over you, telling me it's all voodoo. -Godsmack
J Kuhl Signing Off
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Vader being a jerk
I want to embed this but Youtube is being an idiot.
Vader Being a Jerk
Funniest movie on youtube.
J Kuhl Signing Off
Vader Being a Jerk
Funniest movie on youtube.
J Kuhl Signing Off
Saturday, June 30, 2007
The World from 3000
Flying an airplane is tedious.
30 minutes before i fly, I'm at the Aviation center. I have to do the same thing each time before I take off.
Get the weather from the METAR/TAF/AIRMET/SIGMET reporting station. Call the weather briefer for more information. Then I have to sit down and calculate take-off and landing distances and weight and balance information. After which I have to do the pre-flight.
Then the pre-flight, another 5 minutes of procedure. Master on. All lights on and pitot heat on. Check and make sure all the lights are on. Check the pitot tube and make sure it gets hot. Turn lights and heat off. Check the fuel quantity. Turn on the Avionics, make sure the cooling fan comes on. Turn off the avionics. Turn the fuel selector valve to left. Make sure the annunciator panel (works like a car's annunciator panel) works. Then push the fuel shut off all the way in and push the alternate static valve all the way in. Next, extend the flaps, turn off the master.
Now I walked around the aircraft. Check the baggage door, the tail and the left wing. Sump the fuel drains. Check the fuel quantity by looking in the tank. Sump the drains under the nose. Check the alternator belt. Check the prop. Check the static pressure port and the pitot tube, check the right wing.
Every single time. But the fun begins after this point.
The master switch goes on. The engine starts to hum. The beacon is on and flashing. Throttle and mixture controls are set. The key is put into the ignition. Fuel pump is turned on, mixture to full until the fuel flow valve moves to indicate that there is fuel in the engine. Mixture to idle. Fuel pump off. Turn the key to start. The prop turns, a bit shaky at first but then it kicks and starts really going. Mixture to full.
And finally once the engine is started, the run up (another 5 minutes of tedious procedure) is finished and we take off, we are finally in the air.
And then it becomes amazing. Even after learning all the physics behind flight, it still seems like magic. There is nothing between me and the ground besides 3000 feet of air. Nothing. I am an average person doing what the famous scientists of old never figured out how to do. Here I am, 3000 feet over Fitchburg, looking at boston and the rising sun. Its glory.
And with all the checklists and the hour of preparation it takes, its worth it. Sitting in a machine, 3000 feet off the ground, supported by magic.
J Kuhl Signing Off
30 minutes before i fly, I'm at the Aviation center. I have to do the same thing each time before I take off.
Get the weather from the METAR/TAF/AIRMET/SIGMET reporting station. Call the weather briefer for more information. Then I have to sit down and calculate take-off and landing distances and weight and balance information. After which I have to do the pre-flight.
Then the pre-flight, another 5 minutes of procedure. Master on. All lights on and pitot heat on. Check and make sure all the lights are on. Check the pitot tube and make sure it gets hot. Turn lights and heat off. Check the fuel quantity. Turn on the Avionics, make sure the cooling fan comes on. Turn off the avionics. Turn the fuel selector valve to left. Make sure the annunciator panel (works like a car's annunciator panel) works. Then push the fuel shut off all the way in and push the alternate static valve all the way in. Next, extend the flaps, turn off the master.
Now I walked around the aircraft. Check the baggage door, the tail and the left wing. Sump the fuel drains. Check the fuel quantity by looking in the tank. Sump the drains under the nose. Check the alternator belt. Check the prop. Check the static pressure port and the pitot tube, check the right wing.
Every single time. But the fun begins after this point.
The master switch goes on. The engine starts to hum. The beacon is on and flashing. Throttle and mixture controls are set. The key is put into the ignition. Fuel pump is turned on, mixture to full until the fuel flow valve moves to indicate that there is fuel in the engine. Mixture to idle. Fuel pump off. Turn the key to start. The prop turns, a bit shaky at first but then it kicks and starts really going. Mixture to full.
And finally once the engine is started, the run up (another 5 minutes of tedious procedure) is finished and we take off, we are finally in the air.
And then it becomes amazing. Even after learning all the physics behind flight, it still seems like magic. There is nothing between me and the ground besides 3000 feet of air. Nothing. I am an average person doing what the famous scientists of old never figured out how to do. Here I am, 3000 feet over Fitchburg, looking at boston and the rising sun. Its glory.
And with all the checklists and the hour of preparation it takes, its worth it. Sitting in a machine, 3000 feet off the ground, supported by magic.
J Kuhl Signing Off
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
If You Can't Take Them to a Bar
Can they be considered friends?
This question arises with games such as World of Warcraft where one may spend a few hours a day in a group or a guild with other people across the globe. Being an officer in one guild, I have "met" some of the people whom I play with. From the way they talk and what they say, I can get an idea of who they are, what their personality is and what they are like.
But the problem is the veil of the computer screen. I still don't know them in real life, I don't know what they look like, and I have no way to tell if they are lying. There is definitely something missing from an on-line "friendship." Although we play together and talk about stuff, even though we have Teamspeak (a voice chat program), there is a lack of the human effect. There is another person on the otherside, but you only know what he choses to reveal to you. You cannot see who he is.
So I'm gonna have to say, if you can't take them to a bar, then no, they cannot be friends.
"Mongo only pawn in game of life" -Blazing Saddles
J Kuhl Signing Off
This question arises with games such as World of Warcraft where one may spend a few hours a day in a group or a guild with other people across the globe. Being an officer in one guild, I have "met" some of the people whom I play with. From the way they talk and what they say, I can get an idea of who they are, what their personality is and what they are like.
But the problem is the veil of the computer screen. I still don't know them in real life, I don't know what they look like, and I have no way to tell if they are lying. There is definitely something missing from an on-line "friendship." Although we play together and talk about stuff, even though we have Teamspeak (a voice chat program), there is a lack of the human effect. There is another person on the otherside, but you only know what he choses to reveal to you. You cannot see who he is.
So I'm gonna have to say, if you can't take them to a bar, then no, they cannot be friends.
"Mongo only pawn in game of life" -Blazing Saddles
J Kuhl Signing Off
Sunday, April 22, 2007
World Peace
You know what would be awesome?
If the muslims and the jews learned to be best friends.
How do we do this? Beats me. I can't figure it out.
"Neitchze is Dead." - God
J Kuhl Signing Off
If the muslims and the jews learned to be best friends.
How do we do this? Beats me. I can't figure it out.
"Neitchze is Dead." - God
J Kuhl Signing Off
Sunday, April 01, 2007
IE7 Needs to Be Shot
Internet Explorer is the worst browser I have ever used. I'm a full time Mozilla user and I'm extremely happy with it. Mozilla is awesome. Explorer always has alert boxes. I hate that. I turn on IE7 and get a pop up "Do You Want The Phishing Filter On?" I can't do anything until I decide. I pressed "No" last time. Why the heck can't it remember that I selected "No" and I don't want that feature on? It gives me a security warning when I try to search on Google. It asks me whether I want to send "Abraham Lincoln" to Google, because the words Abraham Lincoln can somehow threaten my security. IE7 always has an alert box that pop ups asking me if I want some feature turned on or it claims that there is some non-existant security threat with some harmless thing and it gets annoying. Doing anything in IE7 is painful. Also, when I try to copy and paste something from one part of IE7 to another, I get yet another security alert.
And word is a Piece of crap too. It doesn't have the margin control that Correl has. It has a complicated tab feature, and the default margins are 1.25." 1.25"? Seriously, no one uses 1.25" margines. APA doesn't. MLA doesn't. Common letter formats don't. The military Tongue and Quill doesn't. 1" margins or else Microsoft! The smart tag system is annoying, the squiggles underneath misspelled words are annoying and are on by default. I don't need to see spelling errors as I type, thats why I spellcheck at the end. Correl allows me to turn off this feature permenantly. And god help me if I try to unlink a URL in a paper. Grammer Check is a piece of crap too. 50% of the time it gives me an error in a sentence that is actually gramatically correct, but the program is too stupid to realize that the word is a friggin synonym.
Microsoft's operating system is good, but its two most popular products leave quite a bit to be desired.
J Kuhl Signing Off
And word is a Piece of crap too. It doesn't have the margin control that Correl has. It has a complicated tab feature, and the default margins are 1.25." 1.25"? Seriously, no one uses 1.25" margines. APA doesn't. MLA doesn't. Common letter formats don't. The military Tongue and Quill doesn't. 1" margins or else Microsoft! The smart tag system is annoying, the squiggles underneath misspelled words are annoying and are on by default. I don't need to see spelling errors as I type, thats why I spellcheck at the end. Correl allows me to turn off this feature permenantly. And god help me if I try to unlink a URL in a paper. Grammer Check is a piece of crap too. 50% of the time it gives me an error in a sentence that is actually gramatically correct, but the program is too stupid to realize that the word is a friggin synonym.
Microsoft's operating system is good, but its two most popular products leave quite a bit to be desired.
J Kuhl Signing Off
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Every Nation Needs its Cowboy
Although he was actually born in Connecticut, “Texan” President Bush has earned his cowboy hat and spurs. During the last six years of his presidency he has overwritten unwanted freedoms for much needed security. He has brought tax cuts to those who know how to spend money and full employment for the United States of America. The President has spread American values to the Middle Eastern nations and brought hope to the world. George “Dubya” Bush is America’s finest and smartest President. He is the man to be the king of the free world.
The liberals have always been on the President’s case for his Patriot Act, demanding its repeal and claiming that the act is unconstitutional and immoral. They claim the Patriot Act is a clear affront to our right to privacy and free speech. Their priorities are twisted. Security is our number one issue now. What good is freedom of speech if it costs you the freedom of walking down the street without being blown up? Americans do not need free speech. Any American should be arrested on the spot for talking against the Bush Administration as they are an obvious threat to security. Only terrorists who kill innocent babies and old women would speak out against the government. By imprisoning and torturing any dissenting citizen, the Bush Administration has successfully kept America secure from wild and dangerous men. Since the inception of the Patriot act, there has not been another terrorist attack on our soil.
George Bush’s policy on wiretapping has been deemed “an invasion of privacy” by the liberals. Would they rather have an invasion of Arabs that want to kill them? The CIA has every right to listen to American phone conversations for the protection of the American people who have nothing to hide. If they do have something to hide, they must be doing something illegal. When you cross the border and the police ask if they can search your car, are you really going to say no? Of course not! That is the first indication that you have marijuana stuffed inside the doorframe. The same is true for wiretapping. If you object, you deserve to be locked up, without trial, in Guantanamo Bay, because it is apparent you have some illegal skeletons in your closet, such as that dirty bomb you obviously plan to detonate in New York. Model American citizens know that the Bush Administration wants to know everything about its people for the nation’s protection. George Bush cares about his people. He wants to see them living in peace and security on the home front. The loss of privacy is far outweighed by the gain in security, which George Bush is further fighting for in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are vital to the defense of the United States of America. Without these wars, another terrorist attack, possibly much worse than 9-11, may have occurred several times. Due to our President’s determination to keep America secure, we have kept the terrorists at bay for four years. The unpatriotic liberals argue that the war in Iraq is a complete mess with no way out. They argue that Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction (WMD) did not exist and that there was no link between Saddam and Osama. They argue that all the Bush Administration has done is ruin these two countries. These are completely false statements. Under Bush’s leadership, we have brought the Iraqis and Afghanis freedom that even American citizens do not enjoy (such as freedom of speech and freedom to privacy.) Iraqis and Afghanis are happy living with the constant threat of being killed by a suicide bomber because they no longer have to worry about being tortured by Saddam’s cronies. Their women can now become doctors, their teens can now listen to Godsmack and their cities all now have an open Starbucks or a McDonalds to serve them coffee and refuge from the insurgency. The presence of the insurgency itself is a clear indication of Saddam’s dealings with Osama. Where else would they have come from? China? I don’t think so. Osama and Saddam shared a common enemy. Even though they hated each other, they would have supported each other. Saddam would have willingly sold Osama a WMD if that meant getting the Americans to stop breathing down his neck. And Osama would have used that WMD to kill as many Americans as possible. George Bush’s invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq was a giant step toward a secure United States of America and towards peace in the Middle East. Although the streets of Baghdad and Kabul remain violent today, we are winning the war. American values, such as obesity and Burger King, are now being accepted into mainstream Muslim society and even bolstering the American economy.
War is good for the economy. George Bush has solved the unemployment problems in the United States by starting a war. Now there are plenty of positions available in the United States military. Positions open up every day, especially in Iraq. As American soldiers are killed, another one can join up and take his place. If the soldier lives, he’ll get paid. The money he earns goes into the economy and raises the American standard of living. There is no need for unemployment when there is continuous job availability in the Army and the Marines. It’s not just any job either. Although it may be hazardous, you are fighting for your country’s security. That makes it all worth getting your arm blown off by an improvised explosive device. Anyone would be proud to have a job like that. Not only is Bush creating jobs in the military, he is also helping sustain the entertainment industry. After all, who would Jay Leno and David Letterman be making fun of at ten o’clock at night? Because of George Bush, these two comedians still have jobs. Hollywood makes money because of Bush’s decision to invade Iraq and declare an all out war on terrorism. According to an article in New Political Science, authors Carl Bogg and Tom Pollard explain,
“The al Qaeda attacks of 9/11 heightened public fascination with terrorism, fueled by mounting fear and paranoia, and this was destined to inspire a new cycle of films in which on-screen terrorism dramatizes elements of real-life threats that now include possible weapons of mass destruction.” (Bogg and Pollard)
By creating an anti-terrorist hysteria that Hollywood can exploit, Hollywood is creating millions of dollars on anti-terror films. All this money leads to a better economy.
George Bush’s wars are improving America’s declining economy. Many liberals would complain that this war is driving the U.S. deficit into a hole, trillions of dollars deep. The security the war brings us makes it all worth it. Once it becomes apparent to Americans that the war is keeping the threat at bay, they will come out of their homes and spend money and eventually, about a century or two, our deficit will be paid off. George Bush’s tax cuts will also help this deficit shrink. All the cuts go to the rich. Who better to have the money? The rich know how to use the money, they also are the most able to spend the money and inject the money into the economy. The more the rich buy, the more taxes they pay and ever so slowly, the deficit shrinks to become the surplus Clinton created for us. Although our grandkids will be having grandkids by the time that happens, it will eventually happen.
George Bush is the greatest American president of the 21st Century. In the last six years, he has created more jobs in the market. He has brought freedom to the Iraqis and security to the Americans. Most importantly, he has protected our nation from evildoers that are jealous of our own rights and freedoms. The liberals who call Bush a catastrophe do not see the security that the President has brought to us. By starting a war, George Bush has brought us peace. War is Peace. George Orwell said that.
Works Cited
Bogg, Pollard Tom. “Hollywood and the Spectacle of Terrorism.” New Political Science. Sept. 2006: 28.3. Online. EBSCOhost. Oct. 29, 2006.
"I love you like a fat kid loves cake!!!"
-50 Cent
J Kuhl Signing Off
The liberals have always been on the President’s case for his Patriot Act, demanding its repeal and claiming that the act is unconstitutional and immoral. They claim the Patriot Act is a clear affront to our right to privacy and free speech. Their priorities are twisted. Security is our number one issue now. What good is freedom of speech if it costs you the freedom of walking down the street without being blown up? Americans do not need free speech. Any American should be arrested on the spot for talking against the Bush Administration as they are an obvious threat to security. Only terrorists who kill innocent babies and old women would speak out against the government. By imprisoning and torturing any dissenting citizen, the Bush Administration has successfully kept America secure from wild and dangerous men. Since the inception of the Patriot act, there has not been another terrorist attack on our soil.
George Bush’s policy on wiretapping has been deemed “an invasion of privacy” by the liberals. Would they rather have an invasion of Arabs that want to kill them? The CIA has every right to listen to American phone conversations for the protection of the American people who have nothing to hide. If they do have something to hide, they must be doing something illegal. When you cross the border and the police ask if they can search your car, are you really going to say no? Of course not! That is the first indication that you have marijuana stuffed inside the doorframe. The same is true for wiretapping. If you object, you deserve to be locked up, without trial, in Guantanamo Bay, because it is apparent you have some illegal skeletons in your closet, such as that dirty bomb you obviously plan to detonate in New York. Model American citizens know that the Bush Administration wants to know everything about its people for the nation’s protection. George Bush cares about his people. He wants to see them living in peace and security on the home front. The loss of privacy is far outweighed by the gain in security, which George Bush is further fighting for in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are vital to the defense of the United States of America. Without these wars, another terrorist attack, possibly much worse than 9-11, may have occurred several times. Due to our President’s determination to keep America secure, we have kept the terrorists at bay for four years. The unpatriotic liberals argue that the war in Iraq is a complete mess with no way out. They argue that Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction (WMD) did not exist and that there was no link between Saddam and Osama. They argue that all the Bush Administration has done is ruin these two countries. These are completely false statements. Under Bush’s leadership, we have brought the Iraqis and Afghanis freedom that even American citizens do not enjoy (such as freedom of speech and freedom to privacy.) Iraqis and Afghanis are happy living with the constant threat of being killed by a suicide bomber because they no longer have to worry about being tortured by Saddam’s cronies. Their women can now become doctors, their teens can now listen to Godsmack and their cities all now have an open Starbucks or a McDonalds to serve them coffee and refuge from the insurgency. The presence of the insurgency itself is a clear indication of Saddam’s dealings with Osama. Where else would they have come from? China? I don’t think so. Osama and Saddam shared a common enemy. Even though they hated each other, they would have supported each other. Saddam would have willingly sold Osama a WMD if that meant getting the Americans to stop breathing down his neck. And Osama would have used that WMD to kill as many Americans as possible. George Bush’s invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq was a giant step toward a secure United States of America and towards peace in the Middle East. Although the streets of Baghdad and Kabul remain violent today, we are winning the war. American values, such as obesity and Burger King, are now being accepted into mainstream Muslim society and even bolstering the American economy.
War is good for the economy. George Bush has solved the unemployment problems in the United States by starting a war. Now there are plenty of positions available in the United States military. Positions open up every day, especially in Iraq. As American soldiers are killed, another one can join up and take his place. If the soldier lives, he’ll get paid. The money he earns goes into the economy and raises the American standard of living. There is no need for unemployment when there is continuous job availability in the Army and the Marines. It’s not just any job either. Although it may be hazardous, you are fighting for your country’s security. That makes it all worth getting your arm blown off by an improvised explosive device. Anyone would be proud to have a job like that. Not only is Bush creating jobs in the military, he is also helping sustain the entertainment industry. After all, who would Jay Leno and David Letterman be making fun of at ten o’clock at night? Because of George Bush, these two comedians still have jobs. Hollywood makes money because of Bush’s decision to invade Iraq and declare an all out war on terrorism. According to an article in New Political Science, authors Carl Bogg and Tom Pollard explain,
“The al Qaeda attacks of 9/11 heightened public fascination with terrorism, fueled by mounting fear and paranoia, and this was destined to inspire a new cycle of films in which on-screen terrorism dramatizes elements of real-life threats that now include possible weapons of mass destruction.” (Bogg and Pollard)
By creating an anti-terrorist hysteria that Hollywood can exploit, Hollywood is creating millions of dollars on anti-terror films. All this money leads to a better economy.
George Bush’s wars are improving America’s declining economy. Many liberals would complain that this war is driving the U.S. deficit into a hole, trillions of dollars deep. The security the war brings us makes it all worth it. Once it becomes apparent to Americans that the war is keeping the threat at bay, they will come out of their homes and spend money and eventually, about a century or two, our deficit will be paid off. George Bush’s tax cuts will also help this deficit shrink. All the cuts go to the rich. Who better to have the money? The rich know how to use the money, they also are the most able to spend the money and inject the money into the economy. The more the rich buy, the more taxes they pay and ever so slowly, the deficit shrinks to become the surplus Clinton created for us. Although our grandkids will be having grandkids by the time that happens, it will eventually happen.
George Bush is the greatest American president of the 21st Century. In the last six years, he has created more jobs in the market. He has brought freedom to the Iraqis and security to the Americans. Most importantly, he has protected our nation from evildoers that are jealous of our own rights and freedoms. The liberals who call Bush a catastrophe do not see the security that the President has brought to us. By starting a war, George Bush has brought us peace. War is Peace. George Orwell said that.
Works Cited
Bogg, Pollard Tom. “Hollywood and the Spectacle of Terrorism.” New Political Science. Sept. 2006: 28.3. Online. EBSCOhost. Oct. 29, 2006.
"I love you like a fat kid loves cake!!!"
-50 Cent
J Kuhl Signing Off
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Air Traffic Control
Recently overheard on Fargo (N.D.) Approach Control frequency:
"Cessna One Alpha Bravo, you have unidentified traffic at 2 o'clock, three miles, altitude unknown, over the railroad tracks. Very slow moving primary target, might be a helicopter."
(Long pause.)
"Might be a train."
Gotta love the ATC guys. There they all are, all warm in their tower as us pilots shiver in our cockpits, sitting at the end of Runway 14, waiting for takeoff clearance. I'm sitting there at the hold-short line, holding short, while big bad ATC sips their coffee and then finally decides to clear us.
I use to be afraid of the ATC. It was the old fear that if I said something wrong in the mike, they'd shoot a missile out of the tower and kill me or something. Now its so much easier. Just say what you need to say and if you screw up, oh well. Its not as scary anymore. They're just regular guys in a tower, drinking coffee, and holding me short of the runway.
"You've flown 23.7 hours and 53 landings in the past 90 days." -Skyscheduler
J Kuhl Signing Off
"Cessna One Alpha Bravo, you have unidentified traffic at 2 o'clock, three miles, altitude unknown, over the railroad tracks. Very slow moving primary target, might be a helicopter."
(Long pause.)
"Might be a train."
Gotta love the ATC guys. There they all are, all warm in their tower as us pilots shiver in our cockpits, sitting at the end of Runway 14, waiting for takeoff clearance. I'm sitting there at the hold-short line, holding short, while big bad ATC sips their coffee and then finally decides to clear us.
I use to be afraid of the ATC. It was the old fear that if I said something wrong in the mike, they'd shoot a missile out of the tower and kill me or something. Now its so much easier. Just say what you need to say and if you screw up, oh well. Its not as scary anymore. They're just regular guys in a tower, drinking coffee, and holding me short of the runway.
"You've flown 23.7 hours and 53 landings in the past 90 days." -Skyscheduler
J Kuhl Signing Off
Monday, October 23, 2006
Coffee!!!
Come on Cindy, respond already! I wanna get my coffee and study for my midterm already! Gosh!
I remember back in Mississippi this April at breakfast. I'm sitting at the table, drinking my crappy cup of black coffee and across the way, Bridget and Heather are talking about coffee and how its so great with cream and sugar and raspberries and coconut and chocolet and pineapple and marinara sauce and all sorts of stuff that won't even make it taste like coffee anymore. And I'm sitting there thinking, what the heck is wrong with you two? There is only one way to drink coffee. Pure. Pitch. Black. Don't put anything in your coffee. It ruins it.
It all started during a pancake breakfast in March. I had gotten about one hour of sleep the night before. I had to serve pancakes, but I was practically falling asleep, face first into the maple syrup. So I drank my first cup of coffee. As soon as that stuff hit my insides, I was awake. I was jittery. Man, I was annoying. Drinking coffee on an empty stomach was the weirdest, shakeist, energetic feeling ever.
And ever since then, I was addicted to coffee. They say its bad for you, but screw that. It gets me going in the morning. It gives me an extra buzz to stay awake through economics class. Coffee is a good thing. If it weren't for coffee, I'd be a mean little SOB sometimes.
So now, here I am chatting with an internet technician to figure out my laptop problem and she and I can't seem to wrap up our internet conversation so I can go out and buy myself a cup of joe so I can stay awake as I review my notes for tommorrow's midterm. I'm turning into a mean little SOB right now . . .
So give me that rich, nutty Starbucks coffee. No, I said black. Not cream, not sugar, not marinara. Black and strong, like a kick to the gut. And hot. Cold coffee tastes like crap. Hot, strong, black coffee. The way god intended.
I mean, do coffee beans grow with cream? I thought not.
In other news, never call for tech support anymore. Everyone on the other end is friggin Indian. I don't have a problem with Indians, but I have no idea what they are saying. I think I got a new harddrive out of them, but don't blame me when a Learjet is delivered to your door because I might have accidently bought one.
"Nashua Tower, Webster 81 is holding short runway 3-2 for left departure" -Me yesturday.
J Kuhl Signing Off
I remember back in Mississippi this April at breakfast. I'm sitting at the table, drinking my crappy cup of black coffee and across the way, Bridget and Heather are talking about coffee and how its so great with cream and sugar and raspberries and coconut and chocolet and pineapple and marinara sauce and all sorts of stuff that won't even make it taste like coffee anymore. And I'm sitting there thinking, what the heck is wrong with you two? There is only one way to drink coffee. Pure. Pitch. Black. Don't put anything in your coffee. It ruins it.
It all started during a pancake breakfast in March. I had gotten about one hour of sleep the night before. I had to serve pancakes, but I was practically falling asleep, face first into the maple syrup. So I drank my first cup of coffee. As soon as that stuff hit my insides, I was awake. I was jittery. Man, I was annoying. Drinking coffee on an empty stomach was the weirdest, shakeist, energetic feeling ever.
And ever since then, I was addicted to coffee. They say its bad for you, but screw that. It gets me going in the morning. It gives me an extra buzz to stay awake through economics class. Coffee is a good thing. If it weren't for coffee, I'd be a mean little SOB sometimes.
So now, here I am chatting with an internet technician to figure out my laptop problem and she and I can't seem to wrap up our internet conversation so I can go out and buy myself a cup of joe so I can stay awake as I review my notes for tommorrow's midterm. I'm turning into a mean little SOB right now . . .
So give me that rich, nutty Starbucks coffee. No, I said black. Not cream, not sugar, not marinara. Black and strong, like a kick to the gut. And hot. Cold coffee tastes like crap. Hot, strong, black coffee. The way god intended.
I mean, do coffee beans grow with cream? I thought not.
In other news, never call for tech support anymore. Everyone on the other end is friggin Indian. I don't have a problem with Indians, but I have no idea what they are saying. I think I got a new harddrive out of them, but don't blame me when a Learjet is delivered to your door because I might have accidently bought one.
"Nashua Tower, Webster 81 is holding short runway 3-2 for left departure" -Me yesturday.
J Kuhl Signing Off
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Chicago Under Attack from . . . . Light Aircraft???
As everyone no doubt knows, just last week a small general aviation airplane crashed into the side of a building in New York City, killing a few people and scaring the nation for a few hours as we expectedly overreacted to a tragic accident that the media decided to sensationalize because they are dirty little scumbags that get profit from the pain and fear of the general public.
And I am so sick of Couric hitting the news. I mean, who cares? So some woman from one show becomes ABC anchor (Or was it CBS?). Whoopity doo!
Anyways, the Mayor of Chicago now wants to make Chicago a no-fly zone, because "a singe or two engine plane can kill as many people as they want to." Yeah, okay, GA aircraft are a really threat to your city. Forget about the homeless bums and the criminals running loose, lets worry about small airplanes. Think about it Mayor Daley, how many GA aircraft have crashed into buildings? Not very many. I've only heard of one. Glad he has his priorities straight.
Enough is Enough by Phil Boyer.
What would a no-fly zone do? Nothing. If a terrorist wanted to repeat 9-11 in Chicago, do you really think he's going to worry about airspace rules?
I also suggest that Daley open up a FAR/AIM and read it cover to cover. His city is safe. We pilots follow the rules.
In other news, the radio stations in New Hampshire are complete crap. They have about ten songs. Ten. Every hour, its the same few songs, the same sickening "Chains Hang Low" crap that I can't stand hearing once, much less multiple times in one hour. Has our culture sunk that low, that we (as in everyone but me) can only stand ten songs? How about some variety. Some of the songs I wouldn't mind if they weren't ruined by radio DJ's that think that if they don't play the same dumb song every five minutes they'd lose listeners. Well, they lost me.
When I got my windows media player going, I like to start with Linkin' Park's Numb and then let it randomly go from there. Some Coldplay followed by the Beatles. Then the Peanuts theme song. Then Lovely Bunch of Coconuts. Then some Third Eye Blind followed by Sugar Ray, Ride of the Valkeries and Dave Matthews. Then more Beatles (but not the same song as before) and so on. It goes on for hours before it hits the same songs again and its awesome. Radio stations should do that. They should play so many songs that they can only play the same song once a day. If they want ratings, they play the songs no one else likes at 3 in the morning. Or they can do repeats then, when I'm asleep.
Radios need more music and need to repeat less. Also, health insurance should be free.
"Hans, Hans, Hans! We've been frew this a dozen times. I don't have any weapons of mass destwuction, OK Hans?" Kim Jong Il, Team America
J Kuhl Signing Off
And I am so sick of Couric hitting the news. I mean, who cares? So some woman from one show becomes ABC anchor (Or was it CBS?). Whoopity doo!
Anyways, the Mayor of Chicago now wants to make Chicago a no-fly zone, because "a singe or two engine plane can kill as many people as they want to." Yeah, okay, GA aircraft are a really threat to your city. Forget about the homeless bums and the criminals running loose, lets worry about small airplanes. Think about it Mayor Daley, how many GA aircraft have crashed into buildings? Not very many. I've only heard of one. Glad he has his priorities straight.
Enough is Enough by Phil Boyer.
What would a no-fly zone do? Nothing. If a terrorist wanted to repeat 9-11 in Chicago, do you really think he's going to worry about airspace rules?
I also suggest that Daley open up a FAR/AIM and read it cover to cover. His city is safe. We pilots follow the rules.
In other news, the radio stations in New Hampshire are complete crap. They have about ten songs. Ten. Every hour, its the same few songs, the same sickening "Chains Hang Low" crap that I can't stand hearing once, much less multiple times in one hour. Has our culture sunk that low, that we (as in everyone but me) can only stand ten songs? How about some variety. Some of the songs I wouldn't mind if they weren't ruined by radio DJ's that think that if they don't play the same dumb song every five minutes they'd lose listeners. Well, they lost me.
When I got my windows media player going, I like to start with Linkin' Park's Numb and then let it randomly go from there. Some Coldplay followed by the Beatles. Then the Peanuts theme song. Then Lovely Bunch of Coconuts. Then some Third Eye Blind followed by Sugar Ray, Ride of the Valkeries and Dave Matthews. Then more Beatles (but not the same song as before) and so on. It goes on for hours before it hits the same songs again and its awesome. Radio stations should do that. They should play so many songs that they can only play the same song once a day. If they want ratings, they play the songs no one else likes at 3 in the morning. Or they can do repeats then, when I'm asleep.
Radios need more music and need to repeat less. Also, health insurance should be free.
"Hans, Hans, Hans! We've been frew this a dozen times. I don't have any weapons of mass destwuction, OK Hans?" Kim Jong Il, Team America
J Kuhl Signing Off
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