If the federal government was running the Sahara desert
it would be out of sand in 4 years !
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Where is Jimmy Hoffa
July 30, 1975
American labor union leader Jimmy Hoffa mysteriously disappeared after last being seen outside a restaurant near Detroit.
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Saturday, July 28, 2012
B-17 first flight.July 28, 1935
The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber aircraft, which dropped more bombs than any other U.S. aircraft in World War II, made its first flight.July 28, 1935
The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is a four-engine heavy bomber aircraft developed in the 1930s for the then United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). Competing against Douglas and Martin for a contract to build 200 bombers, the Boeing entry outperformed both competitors and more than met the Air Corps' expectations. Although Boeing lost the contract because the prototype crashed, the Air Corps was so impressed with Boeing's design that they ordered 13 more B-17s for further evaluation. From its introduction in 1938, the B-17 Flying Fortress evolved through numerous design advances.
I flew on a B-17 --see the video I took on YouTube
Friday, July 27, 2012
Veterans Statistics off the Vietnam Memorial Wall
Interesting Veterans Statistics off the Vietnam Memorial Wall There are 58,267 names now listed on that polished black wall, including those added in 2010. The names are arranged in the order in which they were taken from us by date and within each date the names are alphabetized. It is hard to believe it is 36 years since the last casualties. The first known casualty was Richard B. Fitzgibbon, of North Weymouth , Mass. Listed by the U.S. Department of Defense as having been killed on June 8, 1956. His name is listed on the Wall with that of his son, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Richard B. Fitzgibbon III, who was killed on Sept. 7, 1965.
There are three sets of fathers and sons on the Wall. 39,996 on the Wall were just 22 or younger.
8,283 were just 19 years old. The largest age group, 33,103 were 18 years old.
12 soldiers on the Wall were 17 years old.
5 soldiers on the Wall were 16 years old.
One soldier, PFC Dan Bullock was 15 years old.
997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam ..
1,448 soldiers were killed on their last day in Vietnam ..
31 sets of brothers are on the Wall.
31 sets of parents lost 2 of their sons. 54 soldiers attended Thomas Edison High School in Philadelphia . I wonder why so many from one school. 8 Women are on the Wall. Nursing the wounded. 244 soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War; 153 of them are on the Wall. Beallsville , Ohio with a population of 475 lost 6 of her sons. West Virginia had the highest casualty rate per capita in the nation. There are 711 West Virginians on the Wall. The Marines of Morenci - They led some of the scrappiest high school football and basketball teams that the little Arizona copper town of Morenci (pop. 5,058) had ever known and cheered. They enjoyed roaring beer busts. In quieter moments, they rode horses along the Coronado Trail, stalked deer in the Apache National Forest . And in the patriotic camaraderie typical of Morenci's mining families, the nine graduates of Morenci High enlisted as a group in the Marine Corps. Their service began on Independence Day, 1966. Only 3 returned home. The buddies of Midvale - LeRoy Tafoya, Jimmy Martinez, Tom Gonzales were all boyhood friends and lived on three consecutive streets in Midvale, Utah on Fifth, Sixth and Seventh avenues. They lived only a few yards apart. They played ball at the adjacent sandlot ball field. And they all went to Vietnam . In a span of 16 dark days in late 1967, all three would be killed. LeRoy was killed on Wednesday, Nov. 22, the fourth anniversary of John F. Kennedy's assassination. Jimmy died less than 24 hours later on Thanksgiving Day. Tom was shot dead assaulting the enemy on Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. The most casualty deaths for a single day was on January 31, 1968 ~ 245 deaths. The most casualty deaths for a single month was May 1968 - 2,415 casualties were incurred. For most Americans who read this they will only see the numbers that the Vietnam War created. To those of us who survived the war, and to the families of those who did not, we see the faces, we feel the pain that these numbers created. We are, until we too pass away, haunted with these numbers, because they were our friends, fathers, husbands, wives, sons and daughters. There are no noble wars, just noble warriors.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
5 photos stitched together
It has been said that I have too much time on my hands, Well I suppose it is true. I stitched 5 photos together that were taken at the Wall. It is not perfect but at the very least you can see the mammoth size it took to display the 58,000 plus names. Click the photo to enlarge.
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| From American Veterans Traveling Tribute |
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
The sergeant’s message:
“We the people have created memorials for all wars. “We’ve erected statues and hung plaques. It helps remind us of the cost of war. When we all come together there’s nothing broken in this nation that we the people cannot repair.”
Sergeant Sammy Davis (Medal of Honor)
Sunday, July 22, 2012
American Veterans Traveling Tribute
It was all over at 3 pm (Sunday July 22). The tribute was a great success bringing understanding to our community. In the past, Vietnam veterans upon returning to their homes were blamed and dishonored. I was even told not to wear my uniform when returning home by a friend. I was flying stand by and this required class "A" attire of my uniform. While waiting to board my flight at Oakland, Ca. I was approached by several hippy looking people that ask "How many babies did you kill today" One even spit on my shoe. I can't tell you how bad I felt, this memory has stayed with me for many years. Desert Storm veterans returned to parades and cheers. I must tell you I felt inferior, although I did my job, followed orders from the higher ranking and officers. Saturday July 22 at South Ripley School I along with all Veterans of all wars were cheered and honored as one. Yes, Vietnam veterans were included along in the group with WWII, Korean, Desert Storm and all other wars. I can't tell you how proud I felt. I seen other veterans along with myself with tearing eyes. Things change, It only took 50 years. I do hope you were able to attend the tribute or visit the Wall where 58,000 plus names were displayed of soldiers that gave their lives in the Vietnam war. As a side note, I purchased a cap at the Wall that had printing of "Vietnam Veteran" on the front and back. I feel I now can wear the hat proudly.
Thank You Ripley County,
Sgt. E-5 Jack Demaree
Dillinger shot July 22, 1934
1934 – Bank robber John Dillinger (pictured), whose exploits were sensationalized across the United States, was shot dead by police in an ambush outside the Biograph Theater in Chicago. John Herbert Dillinger, Jr. (June 22, 1903 – July 22, 1934) was an American bank robber of German descent in the Depression-era United States. He was charged with, but never convicted of, the murder of an East Chicago, Indiana, police officer during a shoot-out. This was his only alleged homicide, and was likely not his action. His gang robbed two dozen banks and four police stations. Dillinger escaped from jail twice. In 1933–34, seen in retrospect as the heyday of the Depression-era outlaw, Dillinger was the most notorious of all, standing out even among more violent criminals such as Baby Face Nelson, Pretty Boy Floyd, and Bonnie and Clyde. (Decades later, the first major book about '30s gangsters was titled "The Dillinger Days.") Media reports in his time were spiced with exaggerated accounts of Dillinger's bravado and daring and his colorful personality. The government demanded federal action, and J. Edgar Hoover developed a more sophisticated Federal Bureau of Investigation as a weapon against organized crime and used Dillinger and his gang as his campaign platform to launch the FBI.
Dillinger was ask, "Why do you rob banks"? He replyed, "Because that's where the money is".
Friday, July 20, 2012
First Moon Landing, July 20, 1969
Apollo 11 was the spaceflight which landed the first humans, Americans Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, on the Moon on July 20, 1969, at 20:18 UTC. Armstrong became the first to step onto the lunar surface 6 hours later on July 21 at 02:56 UTC. A third member of the mission, Michael Collins, remained alone in lunar orbit until they returned from the surface about 15 hours later. All 3 returned to Earth safely after travelling in space for 8 days.
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Wednesday, July 18, 2012
American Veterans Traveling Tribute
I took the first of 4 days worth of photos. I will post many more on the 19th 20th & 21st. This is a big deal I found out today, much bigger than I imagined. If you can try to see it at the Career Center just West of Versailles. Find out the schedule of events HERE or HERE.
See the photos I have taken of the event.
West Nile Virus in Ripley County
" West Nile Virus h as been confirmed in Ripley County".
The Ripley County Health Department says two batches of Culex mosquitoes tested for the disease came back positive on Tuesday. West Nile virus is transmitted to a human by a mosquito that has first bitten an infected bird.
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Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Potsdam Conference July 17, 1945
The Potsdam Conference was held at Cecilienhof, the home of Crown Prince Wilhelm Hohenzollern, in Potsdam, occupied Germany, from July 17 to August 2, 1945. Participants were the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The three nations were represented by Communist Party General Secretary Joseph Stalin, Prime Ministers Winston Churchill and later, Clement Attlee, and President Harry S. Truman.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Ernest Borgnine, Dies at 95
American actor Ernest Borgnine, when he was made an honorary chief petty officer of the United States Navy in October 2004. After being discharged from the navy after World War II and having no direction in his life, Borgnine began his acting career on the advice of his mother, who thought his personality was well-suited for the stage. This began a six-decade period mostly as a character actor on stage, film, and television. His most famous roles were as the lead inMarty, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, the title role in McHale's Navy, and as a voice actor in the cartoon series SpongeBob SquarePants.
Today is 7 - 11, is it lucky ?
Today is 7/11 and Friday is the 13th. Will 7/11 cancel out Friday the 13th ?
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Vietnam Wall coming to Versailles 7/18 - 22
American Veterans Traveling Tribute
Versailles
Wednesday, July 18
3:30 p.m.-Staging time at Batesville Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3183
5 p.m.-Escort departs from VFW parking lot
6:30 p.m.-Arrival at the Southeastern Career Center; welcome program
Thursday, July 19
noon -Opening ceremony
7 p.m.- Evening ceremony honoring World War II and Korean War veterans
Friday, July 20
8 a.m.-Morning ceremony
7 p.m.-Evening ceremony honoring Afghanistan and Iraqi veterans and their Gold Star Mothers, Sept. 11 victims and Ripley County firefighters and police
Saturday, July 21
8 a.m.-Morning ceremony
1 p.m.-Keynote speaker Sammy L. Davis (South Ripley High School gym)
7 p.m.- Evening ceremony
Sunday, July 22
8 a.m.-Morning ceremony
1 p.m.-Ride of Honor
3 p.m.-Closing ceremony
The opening, morning, 7 p.m. and closing ceremonies will be held at the Southeastern Career Center. From July 19 at noon through Sunday, July 22, at 3 p.m., visitors can view the wall 24 hours a day. Computer assistance to locate names on the wall will be provided by the Boy Scouts, and materials will be available for rubbings of the engraved names.
"off center fed dipole"
Today I was testing an "off center fed dipole" antenna, some call it a Windom. What ever you call it it is a good compromise multa-band antenna. You will need a little room to string it up as it is 133 foot overall. I hung it from a tower at 30 foot and to a tree on the other end. The antenna had an swr of less than 2 to 1 on all bands 75 through 10 except 15 meters. I worked France on 75 meters running 20 watts. 40 meters was the best swr reading at 1.3 The antenna worked better for DX on 75 than my full size loop. It did not work as well on 40 as my full size 1/4 wave vertical, but this was expected. If you don't have the room for lots of antennas or just want to get on the air to work all the bands at a reasonable investment this antenna may be for you........... I like it, Jack WB9OTX
Friday, July 06, 2012
To my Ham Radio friends
I have a full size 1/4 wave vertical that is a great DX antenna. I also have a full size 1 wave length loop antenna for 75 meters. It is very good for local and out to about 300 miles. I wanted an antenna that was a little better for distance on 75 meters so I made a sloper 1/4 that was 65.5 foot long and connected it to the feed point of the 40 meter vertical. The feed is ground level and the other end is 30 foot high connected to the tri-band tower. I have fed 2 antennas with the same piece of coax in the past and it always worked ok. The 40 meter swr changed from 1.2:1 to 1.5:1 and that is fine. The 75 come out 1.1:1 at 3.650 Mhz. I want it at 3.576 so I will lengthen it a foot or so to bring the swr down some at 3.576. I used it last night on both 40 and 75 and the 40 worked the same as always. I managed to contact several DX stations outside the US. The 75 did not get a very good test as not to many stations were using the band. I did switch back and fourth between the loop and the sloper and found little difference on stations out about 300 miles. 75 is a winter band so I'm hoping for a better DX antenna than the loop has been. Time will tell.
P.S. boy was it hot working on the antennas, the temp was 100 degrees !
Thursday, July 05, 2012
Wednesday, July 04, 2012
American made flag
Did you know most of the American flags are made in China. Next time you shop look at the tag to see where it was made. Here is a company that is located in our good old USA. Buy a flag from them when your ol' glory gets tattered or torn.
By the way you can dispose of your old fag honorably by taking it to the nearest American Legion Post.
Brush up on your flag etiquette HERE.
Andy Griffith dead at 86
The statue is based on characters from the television show "The Andy Griffith Show," which featured Andy Griffith playing Sheriff Andy Taylor in the fictional town of Mayberry, which was based on Mount Airy, Griffith's hometown.
Tuesday, July 03, 2012
Black or white ?
Do you ever think about things like is a Zebra black with white strips, or is it white with black strips ?
Monday, July 02, 2012
Maria Molina Weather Girl
The best thing about the weather is Maria Molina on Fox News. I just love it when she stands in front of Indiana, but this blocks Illinois too.
July 2 1937 Lost – Amelia Earhart
Aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart (pictured) and navigator Fred Noonan disappeared over the Pacific Ocean during an attempt to make a circumnavigational flight.
Disappearance of Amelia Earhart is one of the most intriguing mysteries. She was an ambitious woman pilot and a symbol of independent woman. Amelia held many records in flying but her final challenge was circumnavigation of the globe in her specially equipped twin engine plane named Electra. Howland Island which is a tiny island in the middle of the South Pacific was her final stop. But Amelia never reached this island. It was on July 2, 1937 that Amelia and her fellow navigator Fred Noonan went missing as they were flying over the Pacific. This was in the last leg of their aerial circumnavigation of the world. The mysterious disappearance of Amelia Earhart along with her fame led to various theories.
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Sunday, July 01, 2012
July 1 2012
New smoking ban takes effect in Indiana
Today July 1 is the day the Indiana government puts its thumb onto businesses and clubs costing them much money that they do not have to make the change. I do not smoke, so it makes no hardship on me. We the people did not need this law. If you do not like a business that allowed smoking you could just not go there. Do we need the government to punish the business ? The USA is becoming more like Russia every day it seems.Japanese Zero
Military training film on the characteristics, capabilities, weaknesses, and recognition of the World War II Japanese fighter aircraft, Mitsubishi A6M Rei Shiki Kanjo Sento Ki, known as the Zero.