TBT…

Posted on by June 30, 2021

Back in the day, we had to maintain qualifications to not only fly as crew on the P-3s, but the entire crew wanted to be ‘Alpha’ status crew… This was my crew hat from 1976-77 deployment to Misawa, JA.

You can just barely see the ‘A’ designation on the left side of the hat.

It was used to designate a crew in which every crew member was NATOPS-designated in his position, and the crew as a unit had passed every graded crew coordination/tactics exercise (qual) — there were about 20 (+/-) of them, as I recall. It was a difficult standard, especially when money was scarce, and people transferred in and out. We managed it for two years, at least for the ‘critical crewmembers’, which were the seven primary crew positions. I was also a Blue Card NATOPS evaluator for the squadron during that time, so I was flying my ass off… sigh

Good times! 🙂

A follow-up…

Posted on by June 29, 2021

This is to yesterday’s post about search and rescue. As a number of folks noted in the comments, 4 days without water is pretty much the end of the road as far as one’s kidneys continuing to function… I believe they are hoping the daily rains are somehow getting to any survivors still trapped. Sadly, I believe the next 24-48 hours it will go from search to recovery.

Divemedic is MUCH more current than I am, and has also written a very thoughtful post from the medic perspective. It is HERE.  The title is FEMA isn’t magic.

HERE is a link to the Fox onsite updates from Florida.

Things you don’t rush…

Posted on by June 28, 2021

Everyone has heard about the building collapse in Surfside, FL. And most people have heard that the search/rescue is ‘going too slow’!

The problem is, IMHO, people have seen other rescue attempts in other parts of the world where the people go in and move pieces/parts by themselves, bulldozers, front end loaders, etc. are brought in immediately and they tear into the collapsed structure…

What is never shown or talked about is how many voids or further collapses those actions precipitate… nor how many additional lives are lost.

Many years ago I went through rescue training and was certified in the State of Florida, so I’m sure what I was taught is outmoded today, but a lot of it stuck with me all these years.

The first response is almost always going to be the fire department, who will immediately set up an incident command and call the utility companies to shut off electrical, water, and any other ‘services’ to the building.

The first things will be getting hose lines in place, trying to determine the ‘scope’ of the collapse, the potential for additional collapse, hazardous materials, and six different surveys of the collapse (all four sides, top, and if possible from underneath).

SAFETY of the searchers will always be the priority for the Incident Commander (IC) throughout the entire evolution.

An initial search will be started as soon as the IC determines it is safe to at least make a cursory search of available areas. There will be an immediate call for search and rescue expertise, shoring material, additional support, heavy rescue, and available heavy equipment that can be used to move things. The shoring material will be used to try to stabilize the collapse, and will also be used for any tunnels/shafts that may be dug/bored/etc. Monitoring will be done for any shifting of the collapse/debris field the entire time searchers are active.

The first searches will be external for anyone visible, then for voids where people might be. There are various types of voids, even in collapses that are caused by walls, support beams, various structures within the building and heavy equipment/etc. These are also extremely dangerous, for obvious reasons. But they will be the first searched, before any boring/tunneling/etc. due to the potential for them to collapse further due to tunneling/etc.

Another thing that will be done is ‘quiet time’, this is when all radios are shut off, all extraneous noise is minimized to the maximum extent possible, and people on all sides listen for people calling, moaning, etc. The rescuers will try to triangulate those noises so that they know where to try to enter the collapse. If available, they will also use electronics and borescope type cameras to do the same thing, and when the dogs arrive, make use of dogs to attempt to locate victims. This will be done on a regular basis, especially early in the search phase.

Considerations will include work time (usually not more than 12 hours a shift, possibly less depending on the weather/conditions), health hazards (breathable air is nice, which is why anyone going into a void/tunnel/shaft will be wearing a SCBA),  roping searchers up, and safety people, in case of a further collapse.

The weight of debris is another issue for tunneling/shoring… wood debris averages 35 pounds per cubic foot, steel debris almost 500 pounds per cubic foot, and the weight of concrete or masonry rubble was 10 pounds per square foot for every inch of thickness. Structural engineers (who should be onsite by that time) should assist in determining the load plan for shoring.

A debris removal plan will be devised and coordinated with planned interior searches, and will normally start from the top down. This stage usually requires heavy equipment and expert riggers to rig the debris to be lifted. This is also why most searches work from the top down.

All of the above take time. And more time… As we’re seeing, it’s NOT a quick process, but the IC also doesn’t want to kill the searchers either. It is a slow process, and will seem to observers like the searchers aren’t doing anything, but trust me, they are working their asses off as safely as they can, and they are STILL taking chances.

So say a prayer for those missing, the families that have lost loved ones, and those who are doing the searching. They all need it.

And patience… lots of patience…

A little humor…

Posted on by June 27, 2021

Or poking fun at folks that CAN take a joke…

From the Hillbilly Book of Manners
1.
Never take a beer to a job interview.
2.
Always identify people in your yard before shooting at ’em.
3.
YES, it’s considered poor taste to take a cooler to church.
4.
If you have to vacuum the bed, it is time to change the sheets.
5.
Even if you’re certain that you are included in the will, it is still considered tacky to drive a U-Haul to the funeral home.
Dining Out
1.
If drinking directly from the bottle, always hold it with your fingers covering the label.
2.
Avoid throwing bones and food scraps on the floor as the restaurant may not have dogs.
ENTERTAINING IN YOUR HOME
1.
A centerpiece for the table should never be anything prepared by a taxidermist.
2.
Do not allow the dog to eat at the table no matter how good his manners are.
PERSONAL HYGIENE
1.
While ears need to be cleaned regularly, this is a job that should be done in private using one’s OWN truck keys
2.
Proper use of toiletries can forestall bathing for several days. However, if you live alone, deodorant is a waste of good money.
3.
Dirt and grease under the fingernails is a social no-no, as they tend to detract from a woman’s jewelry and alter the taste of finger foods.
DATING (OUTSIDE THE FAMILY)
1.
Always offer to bait your date’s hook, especially on the first date.
2.
Be aggressive. Let her know you’re interested: ‘I’ve been wanting to go out with you since I read that stuff on the bathroom wall two years ago.’
3.
Establish with her parents what time she is expected back. Some will say 10:00 PM; others might say ‘Monday.’ If the latter is the answer, it is the man’s responsibility to get her to school on time.
4.
Always have a positive comment about your date’s appearance, such as, ‘Ya’ll sure don’t sweat much for a fat gal.’
WEDDINGS
1.
Livestock, usually, is a poor choice for a wedding gift.
2.
Kissing the bride for more than 5 seconds may get you shot.
3.
For the groom, at least, rent a tux. A leisure suit with a cummerbund and a clean bowling shirt can create too sporty an appearance.
4.
Though uncomfortable, say ‘yes’ to socks and shoes for this special occasion.
5.
It is not appropriate to tell the groom how good his wife is in the sack.
DRIVING ETIQUETTE
1.
Dim your headlights for approaching vehicles, even if the gun is loaded, and the deer is in sight.
2.
When approaching a four-way stop, the vehicle with the largest tires always has the right of way.
3.
Never tow another car using panty hose and duct tape.
4.
When sending your wife/girlfriend down the road with a gas can, it is impolite to ask her to bring back beer.
5.
Never relieve yourself from a moving vehicle, especially when driving.
6.
Do not lay rubber while traveling in a funeral procession.
TWO REASONS WHY IT IS HARD TO SOLVE A HILLBILLY MURDER:
1.
All the DNA is the same.
2.
There are never any dental records

 

Although I have been reliably informed some of the Air Force terms are out of date, One goes with what one has… 🙂

And yes, the ‘infighting’ between services never ends, and never will…LOL

Around the net…

Posted on by June 25, 2021

Gleaned from various places…

FBI feared Pennsylvania would seize fabled gold

This story has more twists and turns than most mystery novels… Full article, HERE.

Next, we move to Virginia and the goings on around the statues…

A time capsule was placed under the Robert E. Lee statue in 1887. Gov. Northam says he will remove it. Gov. Ralph Northam plans to remove a time capsule placed under the Robert E. Lee statue on Monument Avenue in 1887 and replace it with a new one, he announced Tuesday, as the state begins to form its plans for the future of the much-contested monument. 

The supposed contents, according to reports from the day-

What’s in the time capsule?

A time capsule was placed in the pedestal of the Robert E. Lee monument in 1887 when it was built. According to newspaper archives, a rare picture of President Abraham Lincoln lying in his coffin was put in the time capsule. Here are some of other items donated for the time capsule, which Gov. Ralph Northam plans to remove:

• a battle flag and a square and compass made from a tree over Stonewall Jackson’s grave from J.W. Talley;

• a history of Monumental Church donated by George Fisher;

• a collection of Confederate buttons from Cyrus Bossieux;

• a copy of Carlton McCarthy’s “Detailed Minutiae of Soldier Life in the Army of Northern Virginia” given by J.W. Randolph & English publishers;

• a guide to Richmond with a map of the city and a map of Virginia;

• three bullets, a piece of shell and a Minie ball lodged in a piece of wood from a Fredericksburg battle field, given by Frank Brown;

• a bible from Thomas J. Starke;

• statistics of the city of Richmond from J.B. Halyburton;

• a $100,000 Confederate bond from John F. Mayer;

• an English penny from 1812 from W.T. Moseley; and

• an Oct 26, 1887, edition of the The Richmond Dispatch.

Full article, HERE.

And now to Texas…

The Veep FINALLY went to the border… in El Paso, 600 miles from the Rio Grande Valley, where the real ‘center’ of the border issues are. No visit to the Donna facility, everything carefully planned with photo ops, etc. Interestingly, not a single State of Texas official was there. Sen. Durbin (D- IL) and Rep. Veronica Escobar (D- El Paso) were the only two political figures there. Henry Cuellar (D-28th district) which includes the Rio Grande Valley, was NOT in attendance. And she said they ‘inherited’ the border crisis… Really??? And El Paso is the new Ellis Island? Sigh…

Full article, HERE from USA Today and HERE from the AP.

On to Georgia…

The Biden Administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ), led by Attorney General Merrick Garland, is planning to sue Georgia over the newly-signed voting reform law. The lawsuit is being spearheaded by DOJ Civil Rights Division head Kristen Clarke, Associate AG Vanita Gupta, and Deputy Assistant AG Pamela Karlan. 

Soooo, after HR-1 failed, now they are apparently going state by state and suing over the ‘new’ voter laws, saying they are racist. Full article, HERE.

It’s an virtual con…

Posted on by June 25, 2021

LibertyCon is virtual this year, not by choice. But it does give y’all a chance to ‘see the sausage made’, so to speak.

HERE’s the link- go down the page and you’ll find the links and instructions on how to view the panels.  Peter, Dot, Sarah Hoyt, and myself have a panel tonight at 2100 EDT on writing cross genres, and I’m doing a reading at 1300 on Sunday.

Thank you!!!

Posted on by June 24, 2021

Just wanted to say thank you to those who have given me honest reviews on my books and stories.

Reviews are the bedrock of our ‘advertising’ if you will. Without reviews, people tend to ignore us, not buy our stuff, or not be willing to take a chance on us.

Having said that, Showdown on the River is stuck at less than 50 reviews, which is the first ‘bump’ if you will where Amazon actually starts putting it out on the also read categories… 100 reviews are the breakpoint where you start getting listed with other authors on search pages, or did… Amazon seems to be…as usual changing things on the fly, so I’m not sure where it is now.

Anyway, if you liked Showdown, or didn’t, I’d appreciate an honest review. They are our lifeblood as authors…

Thank you again!!!

Interesting…

Posted on by June 23, 2021

Watched Xiden’s presser on ‘epidemic’ gun violence that ‘started during the Covid lockdown’…

His out of the gate… background checks, assault weapons ban, ‘community’ policing all worked, don’t today because the ‘funding’ got cut.

Role of gun dealers in ‘illegal’ sales. 90% of guns found at crime scenes sold by 5% of dealers. So, zero tolerance for illegal sales.

Second amendment ‘limited’ the types of guns a person could own. (interesting statement).

And there was this little gem- “Those who say the blood of Patriots, you know, and all the stuff about how we’re gonna have to move against the government. If you think you need to have weapons to take on the government, you need F-15s and maybe some nuclear weapons.” Really??? Shades of Swalwell…

blather, blather, blather- guns coming from ‘other’ jurisdictions is why gun violence is spiking in Chiraq, Bawl’more, Philly, NYC. (yeah, right)… How about the cities NOT enforcing the laws in their own cities!

All folded into the ‘American Jobs Program’… repealing the liability protection against gun manufacturers. Close the ‘stalking loophole’ with bad boyfriends.

Pushed Chipman for director of ATF.

Smart gun technology should be pushed to the top of the list.

Not one word about gangs, proactive policing, illegal drug trade (and ancillary guns), going into the cities, and actually ENFORCING the existing laws, much less arresting, trying, and sending to prison the criminals.

Also, never said a word about defunding push across many blue cities, the no bail/bail reform situations, releasing criminals back to the streets in as little as four hours, and not prosecuting gun crimes… Zip, nada, crickets…

Well, I didn’t expect this…

Posted on by June 22, 2021

It appears there is also a ‘significant’ issue with lube oil…

Donegal, PA.  It’s where they store salt, plows, and vehicles for maintenance of the PA Turnpike.
Last week they got a delivery of P.O.L. for their trucks.  Delivery man said “Make it last.  Don’t know when we’ll have more.”
Seems an “ingredient” of the lubricating oil is in short supply and when it becomes available again “it’s gonna cost an arm and a leg.”
As it turns out, apparently the ‘issues’ is additives…
Initially, COVID-19 shut down non-essential manufacturing and travel, greatly reducing finished lubricants demand and, consequently, additive demand. This was softened by lubricants marketers continuing to blend finished product and fill their warehouses in the event that their plants were also shut down. helped ease some of the impacts of shutdowns and restrictions faced by additive manufacturers, but it also threw off their forecasting.
Full article, HERE, from Kline. Also a pretty damning article on JIT, HERE, from the Union of the European Lubricants Industry.
Just In Time (JIT) shipping works well when everything is flowing smoothly. When it’s not… well, there are ‘few’ issues… When you stack 50+ ships off LA harbor, or things like the Evergiven shuts down the Suez Canal, or plants closing due to the WuFlu…
That kinda puts paid to JIT. The simple fact is, be lessening their on hand inventory, companies make money by not having to rent warehouse space, storage, etc. Walmart is famous for using JIT for its stores, famously have computer systems that automatically place orders with regional warehouses on a daily basis, based on sales in the stores. That is why you see so many Walmart trucks on the road. And their regional warehouses are HUGE!
But their stores only have enough storage for basically product on hand plus something like 10% of consumable product. Everything else comes from the warehouses.
As long as the warehouses have it…
Like building products, ammunition, and now gasoline, apparently lube oil is also going to be an issue going forward. Better hope your vehicles/tractors/mowers, etc. don’t have problems for a while.
Sigh…

US Open…

Posted on by June 20, 2021

I know most people consider golf as boring as watching grass grow and I understand.

But… Having said that, I’ve played at it since high school and always enjoyed, most of the time enjoyed it… Okay, okay, I played flog more than golf, but still…

Thanks to being the Navy, I did get the chance to play a lot of interesting courses over the years, and was able to work the Players Championship in Jacksonville a couple of years. I’ve also worked a few other tournaments too.

One of the courses I was lucky enough to play was Torry Pines at ‘Navy’ rates a few times over the years, so I’ve actually walked that course just like the pros. It’s a public course, so it gets a good bit of play and when the wind is blowing, it is TRULY a challenge!

I’ll be the first to admit they out hit me with EVERY club in their bags. On a ‘good’ day, I’m barely over 210 yards with the driver, and 100 yards with a wedge. They’re hitting over 320 with drivers, and 150-170 with their wedges.

What really amazes me is their shotmaking ability and accuracy. And their putting… So yes, I’ll admit I watch golf… If for no other reason than to see actual head to head competition, where there aren’t any excuses for how well or badly they shoot. Golf is definitely NOT a team sport, and I know some people say they aren’t athletes, but I’d challenge you to go out and walk 4-5 miles a day, up and down hills, and swinging a club 60-100 times a day, week after week in all kinds of weather.

I believe the quality of the golfers today is a direct result of Tiger Woods and his ascendancy in the golf world. He popularized the sport world-wide that was basically a ‘rich old man’s sport’, and started kids all over the world playing golf. We’re seeing the results of that now on the leaderboards with all the different countries represented. At one point, there was a South African, a Spaniard, an American, and an Irishman in the top four slots. Rahm from Spain won it with two huge puts on the last two holes.

One other point- Lots of folks don’t realize that most of the course workers are volunteers, unpaid other than maybe a round or two of free golf at the location. This allows the tournaments to donate a lot of money, $204 million in 2019 and $3.9 billion over all the years. Philanthropic contributions, including those from professional tournaments, are a huge part of the industry, with the majority of funds going to causes outside of the sport like hospitals, youth development groups, food banks, and programs in local communities the PGA Tour visits.

I don’t believe any of the other ‘sports’ match that…

YMMV…