Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Thar She Blows!





A few years ago we went to Blowing Rock, North Carolina, and above is the blowing rock itself.  I  stood  at it and sure 'nuff it blows.  Or it seems to blow by the wind coming upward from its front.   Standing at Blowing Rock and studying the scenery in front of me I think I have it figured out:  The rock is on top of a horseshoe shape ridge.  The winds pour in and, runs into the ridge-wall and cannot go anyplace but up.  The wind is sort of funneled to that point, which the rock is waiting up on top of the ridge and that's that.

 

It reminds me of when I was stationed at Lakehurst, New Jersey, at a huge hangar that I think was originally built for giant helium zeppelins.    At  one end of the hangar when the giant doors were opened facing a big flat runway, and you open the little regular size door at the opposite end the incoming wind could actually knock you down making its way outside.   We sometimes had a little fun with that, and would jump up in the air and let the wind push up three or four feet in the air.  It was something like "air surfing".

 

Blowing Rock also reminded me of nearby Allatoona Damn.  One time my friend Sam and I went to the top of the damn.  Then, Sam was a Georgia Tech student studying aerodynamics.    From what he had learned at tech he believed he could throw a folded paper airplane off the top of the damn and the up shaft of the wind coming up  front of the damn from the Etowah Valley would lift the paper plane up, up, and away. 

 

We carried paper to fold airplanes.  It worked!   One of the planes went high up in the sky, then it would fall until the upward wind caught it and it back up to high heights.  It kept on doing it.   We got tired of watching it and left.

 

It may still be in the same cycle, up, then down, until the wind sends it back up.  It might be doing this for eternity.  Just like in the movie GROUNDHOG DAY.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Pictures of the 2009 Bell Reunion in Marietta

I posted my pictures of the 2009 Bell Gang Reunion to Flickr.  If  you are
interested click on below:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chicken-fat/sets/72157632856478059/



NOTE!  After you cllick on the above the Flickr website instructs you to click on something else.  Do it to see the pictures.

Monday, February 25, 2013

MONTFORD - continued, the video


This was taken the night of the Monford Black Marines Bootcamp talk on last Friday's post:








Sunday, February 24, 2013

SUNDAY FUNNIES!! Frontline Combat Tin Can!

click on images to enlarge them to be able to read them and for them to make sense.


The comicbook art was by Harvey Kurtzman and Jack Davis did the art for the story TIN CAN!  Kurtzman, being editor of the comicbook probably wrote the story, which he was known for writing all the stories in the two war titles and MAD comicbook.  Kurtzman did not glorifiy war that G.I. JOE and others did.  As in this story, he showed the good and innocent don't always win.

Speaking of Harvey Kurtzman there is an upcoming exhibit at the Museum of American Illustration on his works of his babies he created, such as the EC War Comics, MAD, TRUMP, HUMBUG, HELP, ANNIE FANNY, and others in New York on March the 8th, 2913 (next month)  For more information on him and his creations, click below:


                                                      
                                  http://boingboing.net/2013/02/22/the-art-of-harvey-kurtzman-at.html













Saturday, February 23, 2013

Larry Miller



This has been posted many times. Everyday when I had a new post this one slides down more out of view. When it slides off the page it is time to repost. Hi!


Have you ever faced a life-threatening illness for which there is no treatment or cure?
Have you ever become overwhelmed by the costs of your illness?
Have you ever had to rely on your family and friends to make a life-saving difference on your behalf?

Larry faced these conditions all at once. Larry was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis, Emphysema, and Pulmonary Hypertension. There are no treatments for these diseases and there was no hope for him without a lung transplant.

Larry was evaluated and approved for a bi-lateral lung transplant at Emory University Hospital in April.


On May 14th Larry received the call from Emory saying they had lungs for him. His transplant was performed on the 15th with excellent results. Due to the generosity of the donor’s family, he received a very healthy set of young lungs (to use the surgeon’s words). Larry is recovering exceedingly well and was released to go home on the 31st of May. He is gaining strength each day by following his drug regimen very carefully and by following a vigorous program of Pulmonary Rehabilitation.


His recovery is great news, but with it comes enormous annual costs for post-transplant treatments and medications. I have known Larry and been his friend since the 5th grade (1953) so I offered to head up his fundraising committee. We are working to help Larry raise money to cover some of these costs. Fortunately, Larry qualified for a matched account in the Georgia Transplant Foundation’s (GTF) Fundraising Program, GTF will match every dollar we raise up to a maximum of $10,000, and then they will hold the money and administer the distribution for Larry’s medication expenses.

We need Your Support to reach the $10,000 Goal! Please consider making a donation to help us raise the funds Larry will need to buy post-transplant medications which will support the maintenance of his transplant.
How to Donate:
Checks/money orders should be made payable to Georgia Transplant Foundation with Larry’s name in the memo section of your check. Please mail checks/money orders to Georgia Transplant Foundation, Attention: Transplant Fundraising Program, 500 Sugar Mill Road, Suite 107-A, Atlanta GA 30350. An envelope is enclosed for your convenience. Thank you for supporting this life-saving campaign.


The Georgia Transplant Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides financial, educational, and emotional assistance to Georgia’s transplant community, is assisting us in our fundraising efforts. If you have questions or want further verification, please see the Georgia Transplant Foundation website at www.gatransplant.org or email TFP@gatransplant.org.

If you have already made a donation, please accept our thanks.

Sincerely,
Paul Roper
Committee Chairman

 

Friday, February 22, 2013

Pride At Montford Point





Last night we went to the  Marietta Museum of History to hear a discussion of the first black Marines who got their start at the boot camp at Montford  Point, North Carolina.  They are getting up in age now, and I think they have a story to share.  Being black, was, well, frowned upon.  Why I do not know.  .  Tch tch.


Then, to add insult to injury, the Marines up until 1942, was a whiteman's club.  When the black men first entered the corps, their white peers sneered and threatened them, plus the local towns people in North Carolina hated them as well..  But they wanted to serve their country as an American citizen, even though they were not allowed the freedoms white people enjoyed.    I think that was noble. 

Two very good speakers with  great wit and wisdom gave outstanding lectures on what it was like for them back  then.  They each wore the Medal of Honor.

Amy, Christa, and Jan were excellent hostesses, as usual.

The peach cobbler furnished by Al's Barbecue on Powder Springs Street was good too.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Why I Don't Forward Forwarding Things




I received this the other day.  It was forwarded to me, of course.  Normally, I delete forwarding email without even looking at it because chances are it might very possibly have a virus with it.  So, I don't want it and I don't want my friends to get the virus either. 

This forwarding says what I have been trying to say:



 Any time you see an email that says "forward this on to 10 (or more) of your friends", "Sign this petition", or "you'll get bad luck"  or "you'll get good luck" or " you'll see something funny on your screen after you send it" or whatever --- it almost always has an email tracker program attached that tracks the cookies and emails of those folks you forward to.  The host sender is getting a copy each time it gets forwarded and then is able to get lists of 'active' email addresses to use in SPAM emails or sell to other spammers.  Even when you get emails that demand you send the email or if you're not ashamed of God/Jesus - that is email tracking, and they are playing on our conscience.  These people don't care how they get your email addresses - just as long as they get them.

 

If you forward email like this  you and your friends will be getting of lot of junk email and very possibly a virus attached.   This process is helping the Spammers get rich!  Lets not make it easy for them. 

 

Do you and your friends and favor and don't forward  emails of this type that plays on your good heart of sharing.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

REGGIE ANDREWS, BASEBALL HALL OF FAME



Click on the above to enlarge.

Reggie Andrews was a star baseball player of the Georgia Bulldogs, 1953-55.  He played the summer of 1955 in the Pittsburgh farm system before joining the Air Force.   Above is  Reggie's SEC Baseball Legends card, front and back.  He was inducted into the Macon, GA Sports Hall of Fame in April 2006.

When Anna first joined the AFPRO/LOCKHEED Contracts office in Marietta, Reggie was Chief of Contracts.  The few times I have met him, his eyes seemed to glitter with warmth and sincerity, a kind, witty smile on his face.
The above card said he has been an ordained minister for the past 16 years.  I bet his warm smile does him well in that field.  Yesterday Reggie joined a group of AFPRO retirees for lunch.  Anna said it was good to see him again! 

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Baptist Women With Big Balls


True Story:  There is a group of elderly widowed women that attend a certain Marietta Baptist church every Sunday morning.  They are mostly unable to drive because of their ages, which range from the late 80s into the 90s.  There is an additional lady, a younger lady, probably in her 50s that cater to their needs.  The younger lady drives them to church every Sunday.

 

Evidently they attend the early preaching service.  Usually, before the service is over they all get up and leave at the same time.  They always sit on the back row, as to not disrupt the service, but I think that it is probably disrupted some anyway, because some of the women use walkers.  A walker has it own sound as it is snapped opened and walked with.

 

Then, after they leave the church they go to McDonald's for breakfast.   I heard recently their chauffer, the younger lady,  brought homemade biscuits for their breakfast and asked the person behind the counter to warm them up and the person did. 

Who said Baptist women had no balls? 

I just had to share that, I thought it was a hoot.

Take My Wife, Please!



On this date, February 19, 1934, Bob Hope married Delores in Pennsyvania, who became his lifelong companion. 

Monday, February 18, 2013

Sunday, February 17, 2013

SUNDAY FUNNIES!! Paul Revere



Again, Harvey Kurtzman, editor of MAD comicbook takes a classic poem, free because of the Public Domain law, and hacks it up.  Art by Jack Davis.  click on each image to be able to read the text and also it will make more sense.

Saturday, February 16, 2013

The Movie THE LIFE OF PI







Yep, Pi, as in π.


We went to a walk-in movie to see THE LIFE OF PI.   We both read the book and knew the story line and saw the clips advertising it so we felt it would be great on a big screen.  It was.

 
They gave us 3-D glasses.  Wow!  That meant we would see it in 3-D!  We might have been thrilled over getting to see it in 3-D if we were in a rage having to pay such a jacked- up price because it was in 3-D.  But, on the bright side the 3-D glasses were a quality than the kind you used to get with cardboard frames.  These were horn-rim 3-D glasses.   And they enhance the enchanting photography, which was spell bounding. 

 

While we  were waiting a sign came on the screen to ask us to please recycle the glasses and put them in the box for that as we left the theater.  Like hell!  We paid for them.

 

The movie story line went along with the book, which we were pleased about, however, so much deep mind-thoughts were in the book all of Pi's inner thoughts between him and bright stars over him at night could not possibly be conveyed to the screen. 


If you want to read what I said about the book:

http://ethunter1.blogspot.com/search?q=story+of+Pi

Friday, February 15, 2013

Larry Miller




This has been posted many times. Everyday when I had a new post this one slides down more out of view. When it slides off the page it is time to repost. Hi!


Have you ever faced a life-threatening illness for which there is no treatment or cure?
Have you ever become overwhelmed by the costs of your illness?
Have you ever had to rely on your family and friends to make a life-saving difference on your behalf?

Larry faced these conditions all at once. Larry was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis, Emphysema, and Pulmonary Hypertension. There are no treatments for these diseases and there was no hope for him without a lung transplant.

Larry was evaluated and approved for a bi-lateral lung transplant at Emory University Hospital in April.


On May 14th Larry received the call from Emory saying they had lungs for him. His transplant was performed on the 15th with excellent results. Due to the generosity of the donor’s family, he received a very healthy set of young lungs (to use the surgeon’s words). Larry is recovering exceedingly well and was released to go home on the 31st of May. He is gaining strength each day by following his drug regimen very carefully and by following a vigorous program of Pulmonary Rehabilitation.


His recovery is great news, but with it comes enormous annual costs for post-transplant treatments and medications. I have known Larry and been his friend since the 5th grade (1953) so I offered to head up his fundraising committee. We are working to help Larry raise money to cover some of these costs. Fortunately, Larry qualified for a matched account in the Georgia Transplant Foundation’s (GTF) Fundraising Program, GTF will match every dollar we raise up to a maximum of $10,000, and then they will hold the money and administer the distribution for Larry’s medication expenses.

We need Your Support to reach the $10,000 Goal! Please consider making a donation to help us raise the funds Larry will need to buy post-transplant medications which will support the maintenance of his transplant.
How to Donate:
Checks/money orders should be made payable to Georgia Transplant Foundation with Larry’s name in the memo section of your check. Please mail checks/money orders to Georgia Transplant Foundation, Attention: Transplant Fundraising Program, 500 Sugar Mill Road, Suite 107-A, Atlanta GA 30350. An envelope is enclosed for your convenience. Thank you for supporting this life-saving campaign.

The Georgia Transplant Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides financial, educational, and emotional assistance to Georgia’s transplant community, is assisting us in our fundraising efforts. If you have questions or want further verification, please see the Georgia Transplant Foundation website at www.gatransplant.org or email TFP@gatransplant.org.

If you have already made a donation, please accept our thanks.

Sincerely,
Paul Roper
Committee Chairman

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

My Flickr Rides Again!








Remember the pictures I put on Flickr a few months ago.  Then, I think there were near 2000 pictures.   Since then I have been slowly adding and sorting the pictures to the right topic.  There are now near 3000 pictures, all taken by me, except  the ones I am in, or course.


I  have been adding to the pictures daily but had to take about 10 days off when my computer locked up and crashed the week before.  Now, I think I am back on schedule, or as some may say, "back in my rut".


If you have any interest in Marietta, or the surrounding area, or my genealogical names in graveyards, or my kinfolks,  you might want to look at my Flickr pictures.  They are sorted into sets.  Each set represents a certain subject or maybe a happening.


Here is the link:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/chicken-fat/




I don't claim they are good eye-pleasing photographs, but I do think they are sortable..

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

UGA Postcard




Here is a postcard of the famous Arches metal artwork at UGA in Athens, Georgia.  It is hard to see from the camera angle but it is almost on the sidewalk that separates the Town of Athens and the University of Georgia campus.

It is dated 1857 and the motto on it is "Justice, Widsdom, and Moderation". 

Justice for all during slavery in 1857?

Monday, February 11, 2013

FOOD FIGHT!!






In the news I read that the seniors at Ola High School in McDonough, Georgia, had a food fight, I suppose in the lunch room.   That is where we had ours.

I only saw two food fights through my years in school.  The first one was in second grade at Waterman Street School.  I don't remember  what led up to the food fight but I do remember the finale':  Mickey Wilbur pounced on me with a little tap of honey and rubbed it in my hair - We were not having fun doing it, it was serious business.  Our teacher Mrs. Kinnebeck was horrified.  So was I. 

The honey was hard to wash out of my hair.  Whatever I did to deserve that, I bet I didn't do that again.

Our next food fight was in the Marietta High School lunchroom.  It was started by Jimmy Pat Presley, of course, and ended as quickly as it started.  We only threw rolls and beans at each other.  The lunch line wrapped around two walls in the room, the friends in line closest to us jumped out of line, first making sure their places would be saved, picked up some strayed rolls and started throwing  too.  As social functions society articles tops off the last sentence: "A good time was had by all."

But, guess what?  We were not arrested.  It was all in fun and was forgotten  before the day was out, by everyone but apparently me.  Nine of the students  of the Ola High School in McDonough were arrested and were thrown in jail.

I wonder what they were charged with?  Inciting a riot?  assault with a not so deadly weapon?   Acts of terrorism?

Whatever it was, what if the judge decided to make an example of them and throws the book at them?  Can you imagine locked up, when asked by their fellow jail mates what they were in for and they tell them for throwing food  and all the murderers, rapists, and the rest crack up giggling?

I watched enough Law and Order shows on TV to know the detectives will always come and visit when a similar crime is done .    A detective might visit a previous food-fight offender that  has settled down, retired, and enjoying his grandchildren and asked him where was he at lunch time on a certain day the previous week at a high school miles away.