You’ve probably heard the saying, “Military intelligence is an oxymoron.” I don’t know who first said it, but my guess is that it wasn’t a civilian expressing the opinion that being clever, bright, brilliant and quick-witted is mutually exclusive with … Continue reading →
We continue with the six-part series to showcase some of the finest paintings depicting significant events in the WWII air war: Bound for Tokyo, Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle launches his B-25 Mitchell from the heaving deck of the carrier USS … Continue reading →
There’s a saying in aviation that the only time you have too much fuel is when you’re on fire. Fortunately, I’ve never had to deal with an inflight fire, but there have been times when the fuel gauges received the … Continue reading →
On December 17, 1903, the Wright Brothers changed the subsequent history of the world in a way analogous to the earlier impact of the wheel and the sail. Transportation would never be the same again. I believe that human beings … Continue reading →
We all receive forwarded stuff from the Internet. Most of us probably trash the majority of it, but sometimes we feel the need to pass it on. What follows is a perfect case in point for me. It’s the personal … Continue reading →
Some people believe that truly great art, regardless of the medium, finds its origins in some degree of mental illness. The theory (as I understand it) is that expanding the horizons of human existence through creativity has to break through … Continue reading →
We continue the six-part series to showcase some of the finest paintings depicting key events in the WWII air war: J.G. Boon von Ochssee, a Dutchman serving aboard the HMS Speaker, ditches his Grumman Hellcat JW867 into the Indian Ocean. … Continue reading →
This post will address the topic of word origins, and I’ll offer two examples that are of special interest to me. In the early days of the British Navy, sailors were often “recruited” by “press gangs” who prowled the dark … Continue reading →
A friend sent me the link at the end of this post. It takes you to an absolutely fascinating movie, made with a camera mounted on the front of a cable car 105 years ago (1906). It is without question … Continue reading →
We’ve all had experiences in which our world seems to shrink around us. You’re a few thousand miles from home on vacation and suddenly encounter face-to face someone you haven’t seen in thirty years. Pure coincidence, right? Or maybe you … Continue reading →
