First studied these in a class called applied reason. Should be mandatory reading before every political debate.
The 10 Commandments of Logic
1. Thou shall not attack the person's character, but the argument. (Ad hominem)
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Some rules of arguing
First studied these in a class called applied reason. Should be mandatory reading before every political debate.
The 10 Commandments of Logic
1. Thou shall not attack the person's character, but the argument. (Ad hominem)
Monday, November 18, 2013
Travel notes from the Baltic states...
Tags: Links, travel, europe
Notes on travel to the Baltics.
I find the best maps and guides are often free. In this part of the world,
the In Your Pocket guidebooks exemplified this.
http://www.inyourpocket.com/
They are miniature guidebooks centered on the major cities like Riga and
Tallinn.
Notes on travel to the Baltics.
I find the best maps and guides are often free. In this part of the world,
the In Your Pocket guidebooks exemplified this.
http://www.inyourpocket.com/
They are miniature guidebooks centered on the major cities like Riga and
Tallinn.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
PTSD
Tags: history, war, Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, news, links
Yeah. And we're going to have vets from Iraq and Afghanistan coming out of
the woodwork with PTSD for the rest of our lives.
~~~
Stress hits some vets late in life
Life changes have Vietnam veterans in their 60s seeking treatment for
nightmares, flashbacks
By Colleen Mastony, Chicago Tribune reporter
November 11, 2013
Nearly four decades have passed since the end of the Vietnam War. Bill
Simon, a 65-year-old combat veteran, thought he had had long ago escaped the
nightmares and flashbacks that haunted him after his return home.
"For many years, I never had any issues," he said. He had all the trappings
of a successful life: a loving wife, three children and a house in Arlington
Heights. But about 10 years ago, the nightmares returned. Night after night,
they became more vivid and more bizarre.
"Regardless of whatever I start dreaming about, the dream always mutates
into some Vietnam incident," said Simon, a research specialist at a
petrochemical company. "They've gotten progressively worse. Right now, I
barely sleep."
Simon doesn't know what triggered the return of his nightmares. But experts
say his experience is not uncommon. As Vietnam veterans age, many discover
they have more time to contemplate their lives. The time for reflection - as
well as retirement, reunions with war buddies and the deaths of loved ones -
can stir memories from a long-ago war.
~~~
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-late-onset-ptsd-2-20131111,0
,2912353.story
Yeah. And we're going to have vets from Iraq and Afghanistan coming out of
the woodwork with PTSD for the rest of our lives.
~~~
Stress hits some vets late in life
Life changes have Vietnam veterans in their 60s seeking treatment for
nightmares, flashbacks
By Colleen Mastony, Chicago Tribune reporter
November 11, 2013
Nearly four decades have passed since the end of the Vietnam War. Bill
Simon, a 65-year-old combat veteran, thought he had had long ago escaped the
nightmares and flashbacks that haunted him after his return home.
"For many years, I never had any issues," he said. He had all the trappings
of a successful life: a loving wife, three children and a house in Arlington
Heights. But about 10 years ago, the nightmares returned. Night after night,
they became more vivid and more bizarre.
"Regardless of whatever I start dreaming about, the dream always mutates
into some Vietnam incident," said Simon, a research specialist at a
petrochemical company. "They've gotten progressively worse. Right now, I
barely sleep."
Simon doesn't know what triggered the return of his nightmares. But experts
say his experience is not uncommon. As Vietnam veterans age, many discover
they have more time to contemplate their lives. The time for reflection - as
well as retirement, reunions with war buddies and the deaths of loved ones -
can stir memories from a long-ago war.
~~~
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-late-onset-ptsd-2-20131111,0
,2912353.story
Saturday, November 9, 2013
American Way of War
A short excerpt from Colin Gray's essay, The American Way of War. From Rethinking the Principles of War, Chapter One, 2005. Published by the Naval Institute Press.
Full doc linked below.
~~~
The American Way of War: Critique and Implications, by Colin S. Gray
In the history of American strategy, the direction taken by the American
conception of war made most American strategists, through most of the
time span of American history, strategists of annihilation. At the
beginning, when American military resources were still slight, America
made a promising beginning in the nurture of strategists of attrition; but
the wealth of the country and its adoption of unlimited aims in war cut
that development short, until the strategy of annihilation became
characteristically the American way in war.1
What is the Question?
As excerpted above, Russell F. Weigley’s now-classic study, with its bold,
assertive title The American Way of War, comprises an invaluable extended
statement about American strategic and military culture. But, much has
happened since Weigley wrote the words quoted above in the dying phase of
America’s protracted and ultimately futile adventure in Vietnam. All too
plainly, the characteristically American way failed to deliver strategic and
political success in Southeast Asia. Was that undeniable fact a result of
endemic and enduring weakness in the American way of war; did it just
reflect the country’s way of war, its national style in warfare, at a particular
time; or did the American way attempt mission impossible in Vietnam? How
dynamic is the American way of war? Does it evolve to such a degree that it
is far from fixed by allegedly deep-rooted cultural influences? To press
skepticism further, is it even sensible to talk of the American way of war?
That it is a familiar concept and that Professor Weigley wrote a well-regarded
book about it certainly confer some legitimacy to the idea. Nonetheless,
many an unsound idea has survived because of the familiarity granted by
repetition, because of the blessings of ill-applied scholarship, and sometimes
because of official adoption.
~~~
The 12 characteristics:
1. Apolitical
2. Astrategic
3. Ahistorical
4. Problem-solving, optimistic
5. Culturally ignorant
6. Technologically dependent
7. Firepower focused
8. Large-scale
9. Profoundly regular
10. Impatient
11. Logistically excellent
12. Sensitive to casualties
~~~
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ohsbaslcklumvxu/2010-Colin%20Gray_American%20Way%20of%20War-writings--.pdf
Full doc linked below.
~~~
The American Way of War: Critique and Implications, by Colin S. Gray
In the history of American strategy, the direction taken by the American
conception of war made most American strategists, through most of the
time span of American history, strategists of annihilation. At the
beginning, when American military resources were still slight, America
made a promising beginning in the nurture of strategists of attrition; but
the wealth of the country and its adoption of unlimited aims in war cut
that development short, until the strategy of annihilation became
characteristically the American way in war.1
What is the Question?
As excerpted above, Russell F. Weigley’s now-classic study, with its bold,
assertive title The American Way of War, comprises an invaluable extended
statement about American strategic and military culture. But, much has
happened since Weigley wrote the words quoted above in the dying phase of
America’s protracted and ultimately futile adventure in Vietnam. All too
plainly, the characteristically American way failed to deliver strategic and
political success in Southeast Asia. Was that undeniable fact a result of
endemic and enduring weakness in the American way of war; did it just
reflect the country’s way of war, its national style in warfare, at a particular
time; or did the American way attempt mission impossible in Vietnam? How
dynamic is the American way of war? Does it evolve to such a degree that it
is far from fixed by allegedly deep-rooted cultural influences? To press
skepticism further, is it even sensible to talk of the American way of war?
That it is a familiar concept and that Professor Weigley wrote a well-regarded
book about it certainly confer some legitimacy to the idea. Nonetheless,
many an unsound idea has survived because of the familiarity granted by
repetition, because of the blessings of ill-applied scholarship, and sometimes
because of official adoption.
~~~
The 12 characteristics:
1. Apolitical
2. Astrategic
3. Ahistorical
4. Problem-solving, optimistic
5. Culturally ignorant
6. Technologically dependent
7. Firepower focused
8. Large-scale
9. Profoundly regular
10. Impatient
11. Logistically excellent
12. Sensitive to casualties
~~~
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ohsbaslcklumvxu/2010-Colin%20Gray_American%20Way%20of%20War-writings--.pdf
Monday, September 23, 2013
Friday, August 23, 2013
Card catalogs
So, in the old days, we used to have card catalogs to find books. These
were large sets of many small drawers, usually built to hold cards about 3X5
in size. Each book in a library would have at least one card, so that you
could go to the card catalog and search it to find whether or not the book
you were looking for was in the collection. Then you had to actually go
into the stacks to find where it would be shelved. If it wasn't checked
out, or elsewhere in the library, you would find it.
Fiction books would often have a card with the author's name, as well as a
card with the title of the book, and sometimes one for the subject.
(Subject classification is tricky, because it may require multiple cards in different places.) So for one fiction book, you could have three cards, and thus
three sets of drawers. Such a card catalog was a physical database with
three searchable fields.
Nonfiction books would also have usually at least an author, title and
subject, meaning you would have a total of six separate sets of cards for a
given library.
Separate from the card catalog, you would find, inside one of the covers of
the book, two cards. One was loose, and stayed with the book while in the
library, the other was attached permanently. The loose card was often kept
in a paper envelope attached to the book.
To check out a book, the librarian would take out the loose card, stamp it
with the date, and write your name on it. They would then also stamp the
date on the card attached to the book, so you would know what day it was
due. The loose card would go into a file at the desk (usually a long narrow
drawer similar to a card catalog drawer) so the library could track which
books were checked out, and to who. One interesting side effect of the
loose card in the book was that it tracked all the previous people who had
checked out a given book.
If you you've seen the movie Ghostbusters, you may remember the scene
involving the card catalog unfortunately getting dumped on the floor.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_catalog
Friday, August 16, 2013
Samsung Galaxy S3 sudden death syndrome
Seems to be a problem with a particular chip that can be corrected with
firmware if detected in time. If not, you need to send it somewhere for a
new motherboard.
I used their online chat for an initial diagnoses (see below), then called
their 800 number.
Of note: For Samsung, each country processes repairs for phones made in that
country only (ridiculous). To tell what country your phone was made in, you
need the IMEI number from under the battery, and then use an imei lookup
service. Samsung actually doesn't have a way to look up the imei number
themselves (more ridiculous). (See sndeep.info link below)
Still working on a solution, my phone wasn't made in US so they prob won't
be able to repair it in the US.
Links:
http://www.naldotech.com/how-to-fix-sdssudden-death-syndrome-on-the-samsung-
galaxy-s3/
http://www.oneclickroot.com/how-to/how-to-fix-sudden-death-problem-on-galaxy
-s3/
http://www.samsung.com/us/support/
http://sndeep.info/en
Notes from chat:
~~~
https://sales.liveperson.net/hc/49151746/?cmd=file&file=chatStart&site=49151
746&sessionkey=H4272375474051191089-4302992903802216977K11536192&postChatURL
=
Chat InformationPlease wait for a Samsung Agent to respond.
Chat InformationYou are now chatting with 'Martin'. There will be a brief
survey at the end of our chat to share feedback on my performance today.
Chat InformationYour Issue ID for this chat is LTK111790586554X
Martin: Hi, thank you for contacting Samsung Technical Support. How may I
help you today?
Visitor: Hi
Visitor: I have a GT-I9300
Martin: Hello.
Visitor: And it died on me yesterday
Martin: I understand your concern.
Martin: Unfortunately we are trained only on US models.
Martin: However, we can perform some basic troubleshooting steps to isolate
the issue.
Visitor: okay
Visitor: okay
Martin: Sure.
Martin: Can you please be more specific about the issue?
Visitor: I set my phone down, when I picked it up, the screen was black, the
message light was on and it wouldn't respond to any inputs.
Visitor: Tried all the different buttons, tried the hard reset, tried
plugging it in to charge, no response at all
Martin: Do you see any message on the display?
Visitor: nope
Martin: Does the phone charge or turn on?
Visitor: no
Martin: Okay. May I know where you have purchased the device?
Visitor: amazon.com
Martin: I apologize; at present we at the Live Chat are not handling the
product you have, as it requires special training and expertise. We do have
dedicated support for this product. You can reach them by calling at:
1-800-Samsung (1-800-726-7864) any day between 9 am to 9 pm, EST. I once
again apologize for the inconvenience.
Visitor: Thanks!
Martin: It was a pleasure assisting you. Thank you for contacting Samsung
Technical Support. If you have a minute, please click on the blue "X close"
button to receive a transcript of your chat and fill out a brief survey to
help us serve you better. Have a wonderful day!
Chat InformationChat session has been terminated by the Samsung Agent.
~~~
Thursday, July 18, 2013
The before time...
is already gone or won't exist for children born now.
I pity kids that that will never hear and smell what it's like to walk into
a library full of books.
Tags: pictures, internet, history, digital history
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Belkin Ethernet Adaptor software
Drivers / software for the Belkin USB ethernet adaptor (model F4U061) are linked below.
Trying out Dropbox.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ekednf3jsyc7eia/FrPgQdqVDQ
~~~
other links:
http://www.pcworld.com/product/pg/1026248154/detail
http://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1124030-belkin-usb-to-ethernet-adapter-f4u047-drivers/
Trying out Dropbox.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ekednf3jsyc7eia/FrPgQdqVDQ
~~~
other links:
http://www.pcworld.com/product/pg/1026248154/detail
http://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1124030-belkin-usb-to-ethernet-adapter-f4u047-drivers/
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
More ender
Tags: links, movies
Well, I totally disagree with this lady at buzzfeed, but we'll see.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/ellievhall/12-things-the-enders-game-trailer-got-rig
ht
http://www.if-sentinel.com/
Well, I totally disagree with this lady at buzzfeed, but we'll see.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/ellievhall/12-things-the-enders-game-trailer-got-rig
ht
http://www.if-sentinel.com/
Thursday, May 23, 2013
variety
A variety of things from the fb today...
~~~
https://www.facebook.com/FreeYourMindandThink?hc_location=timeline
~~~
There is buried here a wild elephant who in defence of his herd charged and
derailed a train on the 17th day of Sept 1894.
http://telukansonchildhood.blogspot.com/2009/04/blog-post_18.html
~~~
Zach Sobiech, at the age of 14, found out he had a rare form of terminal
cancer. So he became a rock star, and millions of people got to see his
music before he passed away on May 20, 2013. This is his beautiful story.
http://www.upworthy.com/this-kid-just-died-what-he-left-behind-is-wondtacula
r-rip?c=fym
~~~
(Edit 7 Jul 13) Adding a link to a blog here that has captioned pictures with the text:
http://quotespictures.com/
their rates...
Tags: links
Their rates:
~~~
http://www.whatsapp.com/android/
~~~
Please download the latest version of WhatsApp Messenger and enjoy our
service free for 1 year! During, or after free trial period you can purchase
service for $0.99 USD/year.
Their rates:
~~~
http://www.whatsapp.com/android/
~~~
Please download the latest version of WhatsApp Messenger and enjoy our
service free for 1 year! During, or after free trial period you can purchase
service for $0.99 USD/year.
Why no ads?
Tags: writing, movies, advertisement
Good piece of writing.
~~~
http://blog.whatsapp.com/index.php/2012/06/why-we-dont-sell-ads/
~~~
Why we don't sell ads
Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can
buy shit we don't need.
- Tyler Durden, Fight Club
Brian and I spent a combined 20 years at Yahoo!, working hard to keep the
site working. And yes, working hard to sell ads, because that's what Yahoo!
did. It gathered data and it served pages and it sold ads.
We watched Yahoo! get eclipsed in size and reach by Google. a more efficient
and more profitable ad seller. They knew what you were searching for, so
they could gather your data more efficiently and sell better ads.
These days companies know literally everything about you, your friends, your
interests, and they use it all to sell ads.
When we sat down to start our own thing together three years ago we wanted
to make something that wasn't just another ad clearinghouse. We wanted to
spend our time building a service people wanted to use because it worked and
saved them money and made their lives better in a small way. We knew that we
could charge people directly if we could do all those things. We knew we
could do what most people aim to do every day: avoid ads.
No one wakes up excited to see more advertising, no one goes to sleep
thinking about the ads they'll see tomorrow. We know people go to sleep
excited about who they chatted with that day (and disappointed about who
they didn't). We want WhatsApp to be the product that keeps you awake. and
that you reach for in the morning. No one jumps up from a nap and runs to
see an advertisement.
Advertising isn't just the disruption of aesthetics, the insults to your
intelligence and the interruption of your train of thought. At every company
that sells ads, a significant portion of their engineering team spends their
day tuning data mining, writing better code to collect all your personal
data, upgrading the servers that hold all the data and making sure it's all
being logged and collated and sliced and packaged and shipped out. And at
the end of the day the result of it all is a slightly different advertising
banner in your browser or on your mobile screen.
Remember, when advertising is involved you the user are the product.
At WhatsApp, our engineers spend all their time fixing bugs, adding new
features and ironing out all the little intricacies in our task of bringing
rich, affordable, reliable messaging to every phone in the world. That's our
product and that's our passion. Your data isn't even in the picture. We are
simply not interested in any of it.
When people ask us why we charge for WhatsApp, we say "Have you considered
the alternative?"
Good piece of writing.
~~~
http://blog.whatsapp.com/index.php/2012/06/why-we-dont-sell-ads/
~~~
Why we don't sell ads
Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can
buy shit we don't need.
- Tyler Durden, Fight Club
Brian and I spent a combined 20 years at Yahoo!, working hard to keep the
site working. And yes, working hard to sell ads, because that's what Yahoo!
did. It gathered data and it served pages and it sold ads.
We watched Yahoo! get eclipsed in size and reach by Google. a more efficient
and more profitable ad seller. They knew what you were searching for, so
they could gather your data more efficiently and sell better ads.
These days companies know literally everything about you, your friends, your
interests, and they use it all to sell ads.
When we sat down to start our own thing together three years ago we wanted
to make something that wasn't just another ad clearinghouse. We wanted to
spend our time building a service people wanted to use because it worked and
saved them money and made their lives better in a small way. We knew that we
could charge people directly if we could do all those things. We knew we
could do what most people aim to do every day: avoid ads.
No one wakes up excited to see more advertising, no one goes to sleep
thinking about the ads they'll see tomorrow. We know people go to sleep
excited about who they chatted with that day (and disappointed about who
they didn't). We want WhatsApp to be the product that keeps you awake. and
that you reach for in the morning. No one jumps up from a nap and runs to
see an advertisement.
Advertising isn't just the disruption of aesthetics, the insults to your
intelligence and the interruption of your train of thought. At every company
that sells ads, a significant portion of their engineering team spends their
day tuning data mining, writing better code to collect all your personal
data, upgrading the servers that hold all the data and making sure it's all
being logged and collated and sliced and packaged and shipped out. And at
the end of the day the result of it all is a slightly different advertising
banner in your browser or on your mobile screen.
Remember, when advertising is involved you the user are the product.
At WhatsApp, our engineers spend all their time fixing bugs, adding new
features and ironing out all the little intricacies in our task of bringing
rich, affordable, reliable messaging to every phone in the world. That's our
product and that's our passion. Your data isn't even in the picture. We are
simply not interested in any of it.
When people ask us why we charge for WhatsApp, we say "Have you considered
the alternative?"
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Ender's Game
Just saw the trailer for Ender's game. It already doesn't look
good...mismatches between basic parts of the book and the sets. But eh, we'll see.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP0cUBi4hwE
http://www.amazon.com/Enders-Game-Orson-Scott-Card/dp/0765342294
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ender%27s_Game
Thursday, April 18, 2013
News coverage
After being forced to watch coverage of Boston on the cable networks at the
gym and chow hall the last three days, I've learned what they are good at:
Telling us what they DON'T know. Guess what guys, I can be badly informed
without watching you all day, I don't need you for that. Don't list the same
three damn facts and then start guessing, I could do that. Tell us what you
know, shut up, and provide any relevant updates at the top of the hour.
And sadly, this poor reporting is now invading print sources. Link and
entire article are below, the passage in question:
"It was unclear whether the questioning had any connection with Monday's
bombings at the Boston Marathon. The Boston Globe reported that the two
passengers were later booked on a different flight."
No, it isn't unclear. Either you have something to report, with facts,
quotes, or at least an expert testimonial, or you have nothing to say. How
this should have read: "No link has been established between this incident
and the one at the Boston Marathon."
~~~
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-2-men-removed-from-uni
ted-flight-from-boston-to-chicago-20130416,0,2819138.story
2 men removed from United flight from Boston to Chicago
By Bridget Doyle
Tribune reporter
6:46 PM CDT, April 16, 2013
Advertisement
Two men were removed from a United Airlines flight from Boston to Chicago on
Tuesday morning for what passengers said was "suspicious activity."
The men, aboard early morning United Flight 636, were questioned by
authorities and returned to the plane, only to be removed again after at
least one passenger complained, passengers said after they arrived at O'Hare
International Airport.
It was unclear whether the questioning had any connection with Monday's
bombings at the Boston Marathon. The Boston Globe reported that the two
passengers were later booked on a different flight.
Spokesmen for the airport, the Massachusetts State Police and the airline
declined comment.
Boston Marathon finisher Matt Pomeroy, 34, and his wife Elizabeth, 33, said
all seemed calm until a federal agent and a Massachusetts police officer
walked onto the plane and removed two male passengers.
"The two men were taken off the plane for about 15 minutes," said Matt
Pomeroy, of Johnson Creek, Wis. "They were then allowed back on but started
to act suspicious."
Passenger Rich Siok, 31, of Elk Grove Village, said he didn't initially
notice the two men - one of whom was in his row. To him, they looked like
"average citizens."
However, Siok, who also finished the marathon Monday, said he and others
began to notice the men's behavior after they were allowed back on the
plane. The men, who were rows apart, began talking in a foreign language and
using head and hand gestures to communicate, he said.
"It was very nerve-wracking being on the flight," Siok said. "Everyone was
already nervous that they were getting back on because we didn't know what
was going on."
Elizabeth Pomeroy said the two men seemed "jittery and jumpy" and were
"acting suspicious."
"They were talking to each other across the rows - that doesn't normally
happen," Matt Pomeroy said.
Siok said passengers around him began stirring while watching the two men
communicate. As the plane approached the runway, Siok said he pressed the
flight attendant call button.
"I told the flight crew, 'I don't feel comfortable with this.' And they felt
the same exact way," Siok said.
At the gate, multiple FBI agents and police officers boarded the plane and
escorted the two men off, Matt Pomeroy said. The passengers deplaned for
another check.
Pomeroy said he and others felt safer after the additional security sweep of
the plane.
"I'm glad he hit the call button - absolutely," Matt Pomeroy said. "There
wasn't much communication, but I think everyone understood what was going
on."
Siok said the atmosphere on the plane after the men were removed was
"relieved."
"Many of the marathon runners on the plane didn't have places to be today,"
Siok said. "You know, it's better safe than sorry."
Jeremy Gorner and Jennifer Delgado contributed.
bdoyle@tribune.com
Copyright C 2013 Chicago Tribune Company, LLC
gym and chow hall the last three days, I've learned what they are good at:
Telling us what they DON'T know. Guess what guys, I can be badly informed
without watching you all day, I don't need you for that. Don't list the same
three damn facts and then start guessing, I could do that. Tell us what you
know, shut up, and provide any relevant updates at the top of the hour.
And sadly, this poor reporting is now invading print sources. Link and
entire article are below, the passage in question:
"It was unclear whether the questioning had any connection with Monday's
bombings at the Boston Marathon. The Boston Globe reported that the two
passengers were later booked on a different flight."
No, it isn't unclear. Either you have something to report, with facts,
quotes, or at least an expert testimonial, or you have nothing to say. How
this should have read: "No link has been established between this incident
and the one at the Boston Marathon."
~~~
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-2-men-removed-from-uni
ted-flight-from-boston-to-chicago-20130416,0,2819138.story
2 men removed from United flight from Boston to Chicago
By Bridget Doyle
Tribune reporter
6:46 PM CDT, April 16, 2013
Advertisement
Two men were removed from a United Airlines flight from Boston to Chicago on
Tuesday morning for what passengers said was "suspicious activity."
The men, aboard early morning United Flight 636, were questioned by
authorities and returned to the plane, only to be removed again after at
least one passenger complained, passengers said after they arrived at O'Hare
International Airport.
It was unclear whether the questioning had any connection with Monday's
bombings at the Boston Marathon. The Boston Globe reported that the two
passengers were later booked on a different flight.
Spokesmen for the airport, the Massachusetts State Police and the airline
declined comment.
Boston Marathon finisher Matt Pomeroy, 34, and his wife Elizabeth, 33, said
all seemed calm until a federal agent and a Massachusetts police officer
walked onto the plane and removed two male passengers.
"The two men were taken off the plane for about 15 minutes," said Matt
Pomeroy, of Johnson Creek, Wis. "They were then allowed back on but started
to act suspicious."
Passenger Rich Siok, 31, of Elk Grove Village, said he didn't initially
notice the two men - one of whom was in his row. To him, they looked like
"average citizens."
However, Siok, who also finished the marathon Monday, said he and others
began to notice the men's behavior after they were allowed back on the
plane. The men, who were rows apart, began talking in a foreign language and
using head and hand gestures to communicate, he said.
"It was very nerve-wracking being on the flight," Siok said. "Everyone was
already nervous that they were getting back on because we didn't know what
was going on."
Elizabeth Pomeroy said the two men seemed "jittery and jumpy" and were
"acting suspicious."
"They were talking to each other across the rows - that doesn't normally
happen," Matt Pomeroy said.
Siok said passengers around him began stirring while watching the two men
communicate. As the plane approached the runway, Siok said he pressed the
flight attendant call button.
"I told the flight crew, 'I don't feel comfortable with this.' And they felt
the same exact way," Siok said.
At the gate, multiple FBI agents and police officers boarded the plane and
escorted the two men off, Matt Pomeroy said. The passengers deplaned for
another check.
Pomeroy said he and others felt safer after the additional security sweep of
the plane.
"I'm glad he hit the call button - absolutely," Matt Pomeroy said. "There
wasn't much communication, but I think everyone understood what was going
on."
Siok said the atmosphere on the plane after the men were removed was
"relieved."
"Many of the marathon runners on the plane didn't have places to be today,"
Siok said. "You know, it's better safe than sorry."
Jeremy Gorner and Jennifer Delgado contributed.
bdoyle@tribune.com
Copyright C 2013 Chicago Tribune Company, LLC
Friday, April 5, 2013
Historic homecoming for Dyess Mobility Airmen
http://www.dyess.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123343074
~~~
Historic homecoming for Dyess Mobility Airmen by Airman 1st Class Charles V.
Rivezzo 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
4/4/2013 - DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- For the first time in nearly a
decade, the entire 317th Airlift Group fleet is back at their home station,
as the final Airmen and aircraft returned here recently.
The 317th AG is one of the most heavily-tasked units in the Air Force and
one of the several remaining active-duty C-130 units. The group's mission is
to train, mobilize, and employ its aircraft worldwide, providing all phases
of combat delivery, including air-land, airdrop and aeromedical evacuation.
Since Dec. 20, 2003, the 317th AG and its C-130 fleet continuously deployed
in support of overseas combat operations, living up to their motto of
providing "dominant air power and combat support to combatant and joint
force commanders ... anytime, anywhere!"
During the constant deployments, the group was able to accomplish a complete
fleet transition from the C-130 H to J-model while leading countless airdrop
innovations, all while maintaining proficiencies to ensure success
downrange.
"Answering the Nation's call comes with a lot of work and our Airmen have
put in blood, sweat and tears, not only during the constant state of
deployments, but here at home station as well," said Col. Walter H. Ward,
317th AG commander. "To be continuously deployed for nearly a decade is an
extraordinary feat on its own, but to be able to accomplish a complete fleet
transition, as well as our innovations in airdrop capabilities, truly
reflects just how dedicated and professional our Airmen are."
The 317th AG continues to transition to the C-130J Super Hercules - the most
technologically advanced version of the C-130. With only two more aircraft
set to be delivered later this year, Dyess will have the distinction of
being home to the largest C-130J fleet in the world.
The final tally for the group rests at 3,378 continuous days deployed, with
more than 57,000 sorties and 95,000 hours flown during the past decade.
"This is a great day for us," said Ward. "Seeing these American flags waving
and smiles on these families' faces is a sight that never gets old. It feels
great to have everybody home for the first time in a very long time."
The group's homecoming follows President Obama's State of Union address, in
which he announced that "over the next year, another 34,000 American troops
will come home from Afghanistan ... and by the end of next year, our war in
Afghanistan will be over."
To date, the number of U.S. troops has already declined from a high of about
100,000 in 2010 to 66,000 now.
"When people tell you they're a 317th Airlift Group Airman, you notice them
stand a little straighter, their chest bows out," Ward said. "When you look
back at the end of the day we can say we did something that really mattered,
whether it was inserting ground forces to secure territory or delivering
hope to places seemingly out of reach. We can look back and know we held the
pen in our hands that helped write the pages of history."
While this historic homecoming allows the 317th AG to recover from its
decade long ops-tempo, the downtime will only last until September, when the
39th Airlift Squadron again deploys in support of overseas operations.
"It takes great teams to do great deeds," the colonel said. "As proud as I
am of 317th Airlift Group Airmen, we wouldn't be celebrating 3,378
consecutive days of successful deployment without the steadfast support of
our families, a faithful mission partner in the 7th Bomb Wing, and a city
that embraces us as their own and proudly supports us like no other."
~~~
Pictures:
Sixteen 317th Airlift Group C-130J Super Hercules prepare to take off for a
training exercise July 2, 2012, at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. The
simulated mission was an airdrop above two different drop zones. Once the
final aircraft was airborne, the 317th AG made history, flying the largest
C-130J formation ever. The first C-130J was delivered April 16, 2010, by Air
Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz. Dyess has since received 20 more
and is scheduled to get a total of 28 Js, making it the largest C-130J unit
in the world. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Peter Thompson/
Released)
Senior Airman Dan Simonsen, Senior Master Sgt. Steve Martin and Senior
Airman Marcus Wright, loadmasters with the 772nd Expeditionary Airlift
Squadron, perform a Low Cost, Low Altitude airdrop from the back of a C-130J
in southwest Afghanistan Nov. 15. They are deployed from Dyess Air Force
Base, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Tristan Hinderliter)
Joint Precision Airdrop System (JPADS) bundles land close to the intended
target during a training exercise Tuesday, April 24, at the Antelope Drop
Zone at Fort Hood. JPADS is an airdrop system that uses Global Positioning
Satellite, steerable parachutes and an onboard computer to steer loads to a
designated point of impact on a drop zone. (Photo by Daniel Cernero, III
Corps and Fort Hood Public Affairs)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Korey King, 40th Airlift Squadron, prepares
to release a wind sonde from a C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 317th
Airlift Group prior to an airdrop training mission Aug. 14, 2012, at Dyess
Air Force Base, Texas. This wind sonde device is part of Joint Precision
Airdrop System (JPADS), and is released at high altitudes over a drop zone
to measure the wind prior to an actual cargo drop. JPADS is a cargo
parachute system that incorporates an onboard global positioning system able
to guide the cargo with pinpoint accuracy to a designated drop zone. JPADS
also allows cargo to be dropped from higher attitudes, allowing aircraft to
safely avoid enemy ground fire. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Richard
P. Ebensberger/ Released)
Friday, March 29, 2013
Suspended coffee
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=509795165750112&set=a.19633217042974
8.53300.100001588986560&type=1&ref=nf
The following writing taken from Facebook, it isn't mine.
~~~
We enter a little coffeehouse with a friend of mine and give our order.
While we're approaching our table two people come in and they go to the
counter:
'Five coffees, please. Two of them for us and three suspended' They pay for
their order, take the two and leave.
I ask my friend: "What are those 'suspended' coffees?"
My friend: "Wait for it and you will see."
Some more people enter. Two girls ask for one coffee each, pay and go. The
next order was for seven coffees and it was made by three lawyers - three
for them and four 'suspended'. While I still wonder what's the deal with
those 'suspended' coffees I enjoy the sunny weather and the beautiful view
towards the square in front of the cafe. Suddenly a man dressed in shabby
clothes who looks like a beggar comes in through the door and kindly asks
'Do you have a suspended coffee ?'
It's simple - people pay in advance for a coffee meant for someone who can
not afford a warm beverage. The tradition with the suspended coffees started
in Naples, but it has spread all over the world and in some places you can
order not only a suspended coffee, but also a sandwich or a whole meal.
Wouldn't it be wonderful to have such cafe's or even grocery stores in every
town where the less fortunate will find hope and support ? If you own a
business why don't you offer it to your clients. I am sure many of them will
like it.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Poster: Power
The key to harnessing it is to find a stable platform to keep it flowing
around you.
The downside is you'll probably end up alone.
~~~
Picture is of a small bird perched by itself on a mossy rock with water / a
waterfall falling all around it.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
What most schools don't teach
Tag: links, video, education
Video by code.org.
~~~
Yes.
This is more of a promotional video than a how-to guide, but I agree with
all of it. Imagine if we let people drive without teaching them what the
roadsigns meant, or having a library in a school without teaching the
students how to look things up. And yet, this is exactly what we do with
computers - incredibly powerful, no training. And computers are way more
important than cars.
(Also, background, I am admittedly a sunday hacker at programming right now,
but do practice on a very regular basis in writing wikipedia code, which is
an excellent place to start if you've never done it before.)
~~~
9 min version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU1xS07N-FA
5 min version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiIfCTPveos
Video by code.org.
~~~
Yes.
This is more of a promotional video than a how-to guide, but I agree with
all of it. Imagine if we let people drive without teaching them what the
roadsigns meant, or having a library in a school without teaching the
students how to look things up. And yet, this is exactly what we do with
computers - incredibly powerful, no training. And computers are way more
important than cars.
(Also, background, I am admittedly a sunday hacker at programming right now,
but do practice on a very regular basis in writing wikipedia code, which is
an excellent place to start if you've never done it before.)
~~~
9 min version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU1xS07N-FA
5 min version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiIfCTPveos
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
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