Skydiving Record remains intact

Unfortunately Michel Fournier suffered a technical mishap and will not be able to make the attempt. This means that the record of 102,800 feet set August 16, 1960 currently held by Joseph Kittinger remains intact.

This reminds me of a movie I saw once as a kid. It was a story of designing ejection seats and culminated in a parachute jump from a balloon. I thought they might be related. Searching via Google using the terms "movie USAF Kittinger" did not find it but, "movie USAF rocket sled parachute jump" yielded the movie On The Threshold of Space (1956) from Turner Classic Movies. Here is the TCM page. Here it is on the IMDB. I knew I had seen this story before. I hope they play it again soon.

Latest Listen

Blue Ocean Strategy via Audible. I like it so much I am going to buy the book and the PDF

Obama's Gaffes

Read this great article by Michelle Malkin. It just goes to illustrate why we need to adopt Obama's new theme song.

Obama's New Theme Song

Obama in Portland, OR 18 May 2008 regarding Iran.

"They don't pose a serious threat to us"

Senator O, Billings, MT 19 May 2008.

"I've made it clear for years that the threat from Iran is grave"

I now propose the following theme song for the Senator.

Sam Cooke, Wonderful World

Don't know much about history
Don't know much biology
Don't know much about a science book
Don't know much about the French I took

But I do know that I love you
And I know that if you love me too
What a wonderful world this would be

Don't know much about geography
Don't know much trigonometry
Don't know much about algebra
Don't know what a slide rule is for...

Thanks to Powerline and Hot Air and the source for Lyrics

Updated with Video

Sam Cooke - Wonderful World

Debate

This was taken at the Louisiana State Debate Tournament. Pictured is Thomas, 10th grade. I was judging the tournament.

Yo Mickey - Heads Up (or out)

If McCain didn't vote for Pres Bush in 2000 - he still wouldn't have voted for Kerry. I think that the 2000 election is referred to as Bush v Gore. You remember - I think that there was a recount and maybe a trip to the Supreme Court?

Updated: McCain refutes the story that he didn't vote for Pres Bush in this interview with Bill O'Reilly. This in no way abrogates my chastisement of Mickey above

In Honor of our Heritage

The last T-37 at Columbus AFB has retired. In the interest of full disclosure, I attended pilot training at Columbus AFB from July of 1988 until July 1989. Additionally, I was a T-37 instructor pilot at Vance AFB from September 1995 until May 1999. The Tweet was a workhorse, the equivalent of a MG midget (Compared to the Porche that is the T38 Talon) and a joy to fly, I will miss it.

UPDATE: Here. When they talk about turbine lag, think of this. Get in your car, mash the gas, count "1-potato, 2-potato, 3-potato..." at 7 the engine begins to whine, and as late as 15 you actually begin to feel movement.