Aircraft Down
A KC-135 air refueling tanker went down in Iraq, killing all aboard. Six crewmembers died. Details are sketchy. A second KC-135 was "involved" (not clear how involved) and landed safely. They insist it wasn't shot down (by either side), but it's sad to lose people in the line of duty under any circumstances. We honor fallen servicemen for a reason. (As an aside, having worked those planes for 10 years, I have an affinity for the aircraft and the people who fly them.)
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The Oscars were awarded. The end.
No ICE, ICE, Baby
A small town in Georgia has decided to be a big deal by protesting ICE, and another is considering similar actions. They've opted to cut off water and sewer to the detention center planned there, ostensibly because it's too much water and sewer, but actually it appears it's because they oppose ICE being there. Is this a NIMBY situation? "We don't mind you doing that ... just not in my backyard." Or is it actually a question of sewage and water? I think the answer is easy. Let whoever wants to come in come. Put ICE out of business. See how fast the nation thrives or collapses with the security risks, the strain on public resources, the impact on American workers, the changes in government brought on by changes in culture ... and on and on. Easy.
What Could Go Wrong?
Someone flew a drone over New York correctional facility and dropped drugs, a cell phone, knives, and more into the yard. Ain't technology grand? Like AI, technology is neither good nor bad. The heart of Man, however ... (Gen 6:5; Gen 8:21; Jer 17:9; Mark 7:21-23)
Dedicated to a Cause
The FDA has approved higher-dose Wegovy injections to increase weight loss for people who ... what ... won't diet and eat right? Literally to have their cake and eat it to? Humans can be very shallow, risking nausea, vomiting, pancreatitis, and gallbladder problems so they can eat what they want and look good ... in their own minds. Sure, doctors are admirably concerned about chronic metabolic disease, but the users are likely less so. Certainly not the ones I've talked to.
Your Best Source for Fake News
A Lebanon-born man in Michigan rammed his vehicle into a Jewish synagogue in Michigan (actual story). So far, the government and the media are at a loss to discover a motive for the Muslim man with ties to Hezbollah. Quite the mystery. North Korea held elections, where Kim Jong-un took 99.93% of the votes (actual story). The Bee notes his winning strategy of being able to shoot anyone in the face if they don't vote for him. (I can think of current politicians in America who would love that strategy.) In other news, Democrats fear that the rising cost of gasoline could affect Molotov cocktail production. "The higher gas prices go, the more our violent constituents will feel it in their wallets." This war is a problem for everyone.
Must be true; I read it on the internet.
Apparently one KC-135 climbed into the other one or one descended into the other one. The safe one had a chunk of his vertical stabilizer broken off.
ReplyDeleteI had four "familiarization" flights on KC-135s while working as an Air Traffic Controller in the Chicago area. We had a squadron of KC-135s and another of C-130s at O'Hare.
I'll never forget the "test flight" I took while a trainee pilot and a trainee boom operator practiced refueling with a trainee pilot of C-5. I'm thinking, "That thing could suck us into one engine, and they're playing around with a boom loaded with fuel?" (And I still had to fix the radar.)
DeleteAHA!! Exciting! I got to lay with the boom operator on each mission. I watched refueling of a B-52, four A-7Ds, and another KC-135 (another KC-135 and the one I was on took turns refueling a third one). On the other trip we were going to refuel four F-4 but aborts by three of them with mechanical issues led to only one arriving to meet us--and his refueling port refused to open!!!! We tried several times before he abandoned the mission. I have some great shots from each fight.
ReplyDeleteThe other "fam" trip I got was a flight in an A-37B out of Peoria; I got to fly for about 30 minutes and I got to do some loops and rolls around FL230!
Aircraft Down
ReplyDeleteA tragedy that we can be praying for their families about.
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Oh right, the self congratulations awards happened again.
No ICE, ICE Baby
Apparently denying things that they would argue are "rights" to people they disagree with is acceptable. I wonder how they'd feel if the Right started cutting off Planned Parenthood from such crucial items. Is it time to simply start playing by their rules?
What Could Go Wrong?
The fact that the FAA is the entity that doesn't allow for stopping these types of activities is ludicrous. The military still isn't even allowed to deal with drones over military installations.