Now What?

Your rest area on the information super highway…

Profile Shot

This guy was nice enough to pose for a portrait. Looks like his antlers may have been at a crime scene.

One of the transformers...

A Pandora Sphinx caterpillar. The moth that results from this caterpillar, is not much better looking...

Always Have A Plan "B"

I really enjoy reading history, even fairly recent history, when I can get some sort of a perspective on what it must have been like to be part of it and, along with that, some understanding of what was really at stake during a particular time or event. Success has a way of making us forget that there are always two sides to the coin. Had the first landing on the moon not been a success, it would have been a devastating failure.  A prudent and realistic person, will, usually, be prepared for both.

Though this little piece of history was revealed some 20 years ago, I had not heard about it until today. 

When Apollo 11 landed on the moon, some 50 1/2 years ago, of course there were no guarantees of success. Even after a successful landing, there was still the possibility that the LEM would not be able to leave the moon’s atmosphere again. If for some reason Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin could not leave, there was no hope for any sort of rescue mission. Being isolated (the ultimate social distancing) on the moon would be a death sentence for both of them.

Several weeks prior to the mission, Apollo 8 astronaut, and one of my future CEOs, Frank Borman, convinced William Safire, Richard Nixon’s then speechwriter, to write a speech that President Nixon could give, should the worst happen. 

This is that speech…

“Fate has ordained that the men who went to the moon to explore in peace will stay on the moon to rest in peace.

These brave men, Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin, know that there is no hope for their recovery. But they also know that there is hope for mankind in their sacrifice. 

These two men are laying down their lives in mankind's most noble goal: the search for truth and understanding. 

They will be mourned by their families and friends; they will be mourned by their nation; they will be mourned by the people of the world; they will be mourned by a Mother Earth that dared send two of her sons into the unknown.

In their exploration, they stirred the people of the world to feel as one; in their sacrifice, they bind more tightly the brotherhood of man. 

In ancient days, men looked at stars and saw their heroe in the constellations. In modern times, we do much the same, but our heroes are epic men of flesh and blood. 

Others will follow, and surely find their way home. Man's search will not be denied. But these men were the first, and they will remain the foremost in our hearts. 

For every human being who looks up at the moon in the nights to come will know that there is some corner of another world that is forever mankind.“

You can read a copy of the typewritten speech at the National Archives.

https://www.archives.gov/files/presidential-libraries/events/centennials/nixon/images/exhibit/rn100-6-1-2.pdf


One cold deer..

Today was a day when everyone was hunkering down to conserve heat.

Pileated Woodpecker

Always tough getting a good shot when they land right above you. A female Pileated Woodpecker making her way under the tree bark.

The Bowman Aviation Festival - 2019

Every year Louisville's Bowman Field (KLOU) hosts an aviation festival with lots of vintage airplanes, cars, and characters. Each year it gets better, and this year was no exception. What follows is a simple slideshow of some of the sights and sounds of this year's event. I wish I could have gotten closer for the video of the B-17. Given the recent tragedy involving '909', the Collings Foundation's B-17, it's becoming that much more important to document and share the history of the Greatest Generation.

Here we have two "senior" attendees getting into the spirit of the day, dancing to a popular WWII song being sung by the wonderful Ladies for Liberty.


Footage of the B-17, Ye Olde Pub, taking off. This is the stand-alone footage that was used in the slideshow above.


One of several Rosie the Riveter banners that was hung from one of the hangars.


Another Rosie banner with Old Glory as a backdrop.




A youngster taking a stab at hand-propping a Yak.











This, obviously, should be my Bonanza.




For some reason, the Hula dancer on the glare shield caught my eye (see second photo).







Welcome to Louisville, Mr. Douglas


Probably as close as we're likely to get to a wing walker at the Bowman Aviation Festival.










General George S. Patton was in the house again this year, pearl handles and all.




2019 Madison, IN Airshow (KIMS)

I attended the 2019 airshow at Madison Municipal Airport (KIMS) on September 28, 2019. I don't think I've ever been to Madison, Indiana before, but it was an enjoyable drive and day. It's nice to see regular people doing their thing. Hollywood and Washington, D.C. could fall off the map and we would still be in good shape because of small communities like this one.

Last, but not least.. This guy had only a 1-horsepower engine...

Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum...

 I seem to be on the right track...

I'm sure it's just a few more "feet" ahead...

But first, a little story about Nis, Elina and Loumari...

Here we see Nis contemplating his own reflection.

Here's mom, Loumari, a little pregnant with a brother for Nis and Elina.

Here's Elina with some of her cherished things.

A closeup of Elina.

Elina contemplating an early lunch

So where is the dad giant, Isak Heartstone? Well, believe it or not, it turns out that he was killed by the city of Breckinridge, Colorado so they didn't live happily ever after...


Butterflies At Tom Sawyer Park

Two of the butterflies I saw this past weekend in Tom Sawyer Park

This first one, which is one of the varieties of Black Swallowtail, had huge wings. They were larger than any of the other Black Swallowtails I had previously seen. 


This Monarch butterfly was nice enough to stay in a dark area where the light could still shine through its wings. 


Bird on a cattail

At Lake Nevin, in Bernheim Forest, lots of birds like to alight on the cattails.

Orange Accents

A milkweed bug checks out his new living arrangements.