IN THE MOOD - GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA

One of my most favorite songs. ........... Jack

A Salute to Veterans’ Concert - 1Nov. 6, 2011

We would like to invite you to the Veteran's Day concert at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis. The Indianapolis Municipal Band
Dr. Daniel P. Bolin, Music Director
Mr. Leroy Lane, Associate Director
Presents
A Salute to Veterans’ Concert
Sunday, November 6, 2011 – 3:00 pm
The Indiana State Museum
650 W. Washington St. Indianapolis, IN 46204
Guest Conductor
Col. Michael J. Colburn, Director
“The President’s Own” United States Marine Band Washington, DC

Amanda Lewallen
Events Committee
USO of Indiana

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner(pictured) makes its
inaugural commercial flight, from Tokyo toHong Kong.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a long-range, mid-size wide-body, twin-engine jet airliner developed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It seats 210 to 290 passengers, depending on the variant. Boeing states that it is the company's most fuel-efficient airliner and the world's first major airliner to use composite materials for most of its construction. The 787 consumes 20% less fuel than the similarly-sized Boeing 767. Some of its distinguishing features include a four-panel windshield, noise-reducing chevrons on its engine nacelles, and a smoother nose contour.

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Taking Chance

Not very often do I see a movie that has no cuss words or sex. I have watched this movie three time and in time will watch it again I'm sure. It is a very sad movie and carries a true story. You can rent it or buy it from Amizon.com The story line hit home with me as I did a video for Cpl. John C. Bishop USMC when his body was returned home to Versailles. Watch the movie, you will like it...... Jack

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Based on the true experiences of Lt. Colonel Michael Strobl, who wrote eloquently of them in a widely circulated 2004 article, Taking Chance is a profoundly emotional look at the military rituals taken to honor its war dead, as represented by a fallen Marine killed in Iraq, Lance Corporal Chance Phelps. Working as a strategic analyst at Marine Corps Base Quantico in VA, Lt. Col. Strobl (Kevin Bacon) learns that Phelps had once lived in his hometown, and volunteers to escort the body to its final resting place in Wyoming. As Strobl journeys across America, he discovers the great diligence and dignity in how the military, and all those involved with preparing and transporting the body, handle their duties. Equally important, he encounters hundreds of people affected by Chances death, a vast majority of whom never knew him. This collective grieving eventually causes Lt. Col. Strobl, a veteran of Desert Storm now assigned to office duty, to probe his own guilt about not re-deploying to Iraq for the current conflict. Arriving in Wyoming, Lt. Col. Strobl completes his catharsis when he encounters Chances gracious family and friends, and discovers an extraordinary outpouring of community support.

Freddy Cannon

After posting the below video I watched Freddie singing Palisade Park. This song was a favorite of mine, but my girlfriend hated it. This was because everytime we were riding around in my '57 Chev I would turn the volume up very very loud when it came on. At any rate this song sure brought back good memories for an 'ol geezer like me......... Jack

Frederick Anthony Picariello Jr. (born December 4, 1939), known as Freddy Cannon, is an American rock and roll singer, whose biggest international hits included "Tallahassee Lassie", "Way Down Yonder In New Orleans", and "Palisades Park".
See his hits on YouTube

Palisades Amusement Park was an amusement park located in Bergen County, New Jersey, across the Hudson River from New York City. It was situated atop the New Jersey Palisades lying partly in Cliffside Park and partly in Fort Lee. The park operated from 1898 until 1971, remaining one of the most visited amusement parks in the country near the end of its existence. Essentially, it became a victim of its own success and inadequate facilities to deal with the generations of families and children who flocked to its gates. After the park closed, a high-rise luxury apartment complex was built on its site.

Runaround Sue #1 in Oct. 1961

See full size on YouTube

Dion and the Belmonts were a leading American vocal group of the late 1950s. The group formed when Dion DiMucci joined The Belmonts - Carlo Mastrangelo, Freddie Milano, and Angelo D'Aleo - in late 1957. After an unsuccessful first single, the group were signed to Laurie Records. Their breakthrough came when «I Wonder Why» made # 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and the group appeared for the first time on the Dick Clark TV show. They followed it with the ballads «No One Knows» (#19) and «Don't Pity Me» (#40). This success won Dion and the Belmonts their first major tour in late 1958, with The Coasters, Buddy Holly and Bobby Darin, and this was followed up by the «Winter Dance Party» tour with Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper. On 2 February 1959, after playing at the Surf Ballroom, Dion decided that he could not afford the $36 cost of a flight to the next venue. The plane crashed, and Holly and the other stars were killed. However, the tour continued, with Jimmy Clanton and Bobby Vee being added to the bill. In March 1959, Dion and the Belmonts' next single, «A Teenager in Love», was released, making #5 in the Billboard Hot 100 and #28 in the UK Singles Chart, and this was followed by an album, Presenting Dion and the Belmonts. Their biggest hit, «Where or When», was released in November 1959, and reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, in early 1960, Dion checked in to hospital for heroin addiction, a problem he had had since his mid-teens.

Princess Summer Fall Winter Spring

Click to see the original post and her photo.

I was reading a page in your blog from Tuesday, July 14, 2009, on the ref’d. Howdy Doody character. Noticed that someone told you that the “puppet” replaced the live actress, Judy Tyler, after her death in an auto accident. Actually, the original character was a “puppet” and Tyler replaced the puppet in 1951 or 52, in a “mystical” smoke filled episode of the show where the Princess was changed to a live person. Tyler left the show in 1953 or 55(depending on the source you read) to pursue an acting career, and was in a Rogers & Hammerstein musical, Pipe Dream, then got a role in Jailhouse Rock, opposite Elvis. She was killed in a car accident shortly after finishing that in 1957. She was replaced as the Princess when she left the show in 1953 or 55 by actress, Gina Genardi, who was replaced by Linda Marsh, or vice versa(depending on the source) until the end of the show in 1960.

http://www.doodyville.com/trivia.cfm & all the sites about Tyler & Howdy Dowdy). Why am I writing this? I don’t know. I guess for the same reason you do your blog, and was “googling” for info on Howdy Doody & other old TV shows when I saw yours.

Good luck,

Ford

I Love Lucy - Happy Birthday 10/15/1951

I Love Lucy is an American television sitcom starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley. The black-and-white series originally ran from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, on the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS). When the original series ended, the show continued for three more seasons with 13 one-hour specials, running from 1957 to 1960, known first as The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show and later in reruns as The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.

I Love Lucy was the most watched show in the United States in four of its six seasons, and was the first to end its run at the top of the Nielsen ratings (an accomplishment later matched by The Andy Griffith Show and Seinfeld). I Love Lucy is still syndicated in dozens of languages across the world.

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WB9OTX using JT65HF Ham Radio

See larger video on YouTube

Happy Birthday US Navy - 13 October 1775

Read the history of the USA Navy

"We have an H.R. on this flight."

I received this email today from a close friend. I have received it before several times, but I always take a minute or two to read it again. I don't know if it is a true story or not, it makes no difference. The message it gives is all that matters. Before you read it go get a Kleenex, you will need it........ Jack

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He writes:

My lead flight attendant came to me and said,

"We have an H.R. on this flight." (H.R. stands for human remains.)

"Are they military?" I asked.

'Yes', she said.

'Is there an escort?' I asked.

'Yes, I already assigned him a seat'.

'Would you please tell him to come to the

flight deck. You can board him early," I said..

A short while later, a young army sergeant entered the flight deck. He was the image of the perfectly dressed soldier.

He introduced himself and I asked him about his soldier.

The escorts of these fallen soldiers talk about them as if they are still alive and still with us.

'My soldier is on his way back to Virginia ,' he said.

He proceeded to answer my questions, but

offered no words.

I asked him if there was anything I could do for him and he said no.

I told him that he had the toughest job in the

military and that I appreciated the work that

he does for the families of our fallen soldiers.

The first officer and I got up out of our seats to shake his hand. He left the flight deck to find his seat.

We completed our preflight checks, pushed back and performed an uneventful departure.

About 30 minutes into our flight I received a call from the lead flight attendant in the cabin.

'I just found out the family of the soldier we are carrying, is on board', she said. She then proceeded to tell me that the father, mother,

wife and 2-year old daughter were

escorting their son, husband, and father home.

The family was upset because they were unable to see the container that the soldier was in before we left.

We were on our way to a major hub at which the family was going to wait four hours for the connecting flight home to Virginia .

The father of the soldier told the flight attendant that knowing his son was below him in the cargo compartment and being unable to see him was too much for him and the family to bear.

He had asked the flight attendant if there was anything that could be done to allow them to see him upon our arrival.

The family wanted to be outside by the cargo door to watch the soldier being taken off the airplane..

I could hear the desperation in the flight attendants voice when she asked me if there was anything I could do..

'I'm on it', I said. I told her that I would get back to her. Airborne communication with my company normally occurs in the form of e-mail like messages.

I decided to bypass this system and contact my flight dispatcher directly on a secondary radio.

There is a radio operator in the operations control center who connects you to the telephone of the dispatcher.

I was in direct contact with the dispatcher..

I explained the situation I had on board with the family and what it was the family wanted.

He said he understood and that he would get back to me.

Two hours went by and I had not heard from the dispatcher.

We were going to get busy soon and I needed to know what to tell the family.

I sent a text message asking for an update. I saved the return message from the dispatcher and the following is the text:

'Captain, sorry it has taken so long to get back to you.

There is policy on this now and I had to check on a few things.

Upon your arrival a dedicated escort team will meet the aircraft.

The team will escort the family to the ramp and plane side.

A van will be used to load the remains with a

secondary van for the family. The family will be taken to their departure area and escorted into the terminal where the remains can be seen on the ramp.

It is a private area for the family only.

When the connecting aircraft arrives, the family will be escorted onto the ramp and plane side to watch the remains being loaded for the final leg home.

Captain, most of us here in flight control are

veterans. Please pass our condolences on to the family.

Thanks.'

I sent a message back telling flight control thanks for a good job. I printed out the message and gave it to the lead flight attendant to pass on to the father.

The lead flight attendant was very thankful and told me, 'You have no idea how much this will mean to them.'

Things started getting busy for the descent, approach and landing. After landing, we cleared the runway and taxied to the ramp area.

The ramp is huge with 15 gates on either side of the alleyway.

It is always a busy area with aircraft maneuvering every which way to enter and exit.

When we entered the ramp and checked in with the ramp controller, we were told that all traffic was being held for us.

'There is a team in place to meet the aircraft', we were told. It looked like it was all coming together, then I realized that once we turned the seat belt sign off, ev eryone would stand up at once and delay the family from getting off the airplane.

As we approached our gate, I asked the copilot to tell the ramp controller we were going to stop short of the gate to make an announcement to the passengers. He did that and the ramp controller said, 'Take your time.'

I stopped the aircraft and set the parking brake.

I pushed the public address button and said, 'Ladies and gentleman, this is your Captain speaking I have stopped short of our gate to make a special announcement.

We have a passenger on board who deserves our honor and respect.

His Name is Private XXXXXX, a soldier who recently lost his life.

Private XXXXXX is under your feet in the cargo hold. Escorting him today is Army Sergeant XXXXXXX. Also, on board are his father, mother, wife, and daughter.

Your entire flight crew is asking for all passengers to remain in their seats to allow the family to exit the aircraft first. Thank you.'

We continued the turn to the gate, came to a Stop and started our shutdown procedures.

A couple of minutes later I opened the cockpit door. I found the two forward flight attendants crying, something you just do not see.

I was told that after we came to a stop, every passenger on the aircraft stayed in their seats, waiting for the family to exit the aircraft.

When the family got up and gathered their things, a passenger slowly started to clap his hands. Moments later more passengers joined in and soon the entire aircra ft was clapping.

Words of 'God Bless You', I'm sorry, thank you, be proud, and other kind words were uttered to the family as they made their way down the aisle and out of the airplane.

They were escorted down to the ramp to finally be with their loved one.

Many of the passengers disembarking thanked me for the announcement I had made.

They were just words, I told them, I could say

them over and over again, but nothing I say will bring back that brave soldier.

I respectfully ask that all of you ref lect on this event and the sacrifices that millions of our men and women have made to ensure our freedom and safety in these United States of AMERICA .

Foot note:

As a Viet Nam Veteran I can only think of all the

veterans including the ones that rode below the deck on their way home and how they were treated.

When I read things like this I am proud that our country has not turned their backs on our soldiers returning from the various war zones today and give them the respect they so deserve.

I know every one who has served their country who reads this will have tears in their eyes, including me.

Author Unknown

The things I do

http://ripleycounty.net/rcs/

Happy 15th Birthday Fox News

http://www.foxnews.com/

Just to be fair & balanced on this Blog, look at the other side of the coin.

http://www.cnn.com/

French Lick

A video I had forgotten, made several years ago

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

100 speeches

100 speeches

Everyone will not like this page, But I am a history buff. So this is for the few like me.

My favorite speach: Why can't we elect a president like this one.

And my 2nd one: General Douglas MacArthur

See/Hear all of the 100

First Frost

October second brought the first frost of this Fall. A Ham Radio friend and I left for a radio swap fest at 6am to Bedford Indiana, there was fog in the valleys and near the creeks and streams on our way. I have been attending this swap fest for about 30 years and it has always been very well attended. Last year the crowd was lower, but this year I was amazed, the attendance was about one forth compared to last year. I made the comment to my friend,"there isan't enough people here to start a good fight". Some blame it on eBay, others say it is the economy. I think it is all of the above but the new and young just don't do Ham Fests. The new Hams do not communicate like the ol' timmers did. Seems they don't make friends and do not talk or attend anything like the old guys did. "Things Change" I guess. I will have to mow the yard one more time it looks like. In past years the last grass cutting was the end of September or the week before Pumpkin Show. With Fall arriving the leaves will be changing into beautiful colors. I'll be breaking out the camera and posting a few pictures on the Web soon. It is to warm into the seventies later in the week, this will let me do the things to preparer for the on-coming cold and snow. I don't mind the Winter too much, it is just the fact you must endure living in Indiana. I don't think I would want to live anywhere else. ........ Jack