Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Sex ban on the Airbus A380

Well, they just want to take all of the fun out of flying!

It seems Singapore Airlines offers a double bedded suite on their new A380 that includes a locking door and free champagne. Heck, I spend big bucks for the tickets, fill her with champagne, get her into bed and then...nothing? I wonder how long THAT ban will last!

Flying That Rates a 10 on the Sphincter Scale!

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Monday, October 29, 2007

Friday, October 26, 2007

Freaking AWESOME (RV-12?) Video From Fleet Week




Just as the aircraft comes into frame it looks like a seagull gets tumbled.

Monday, October 22, 2007

Update:

A lot of people have e-mailed me to find out my condition. I apologize for the delay in responding to e-mails.

I have been going through a battery of tests and physical therapy.

The week before last, I had a Lumbar Puncture (a "spinal tap") that was done in outpatient surgery. The pain from that was pretty intense and the long drive out to my house after I was discharged was rough, to say the least. The following day was physical therapy and the following day was an MRI. the next day was more physical therapy.

The numerous pain medications make me very woozy and drunk. There is minimal pain relief, but at least I do get some sleep. I have been advised to try some marijuana for the nerve pain (I understand that it is being prescribed for other patients with MS). I am just leery of getting high when in so much pain. It's been...gheez...since 1978 since I've smoked pot and I really don't want to start experimenting now. If anyone has first-hand knowledge of the effects of smoking pot and the nerve pain of MS, please let me know.

The good news (bad news actually) is that I no longer have Lyme Disease. The spinal tap came back negative. The downside of that is that it takes away my last hope that I could be cured simply with medication. The prospect of Multiple Sclerosis is frightening. The speed at which this has taken control of my body is mind-boggling.

To all my friends who have witnessed me battling against this process: I have to let you down. It is time for me to knuckle under and get my "gimpo card" for my car. Those parking places up front are becoming too tempting and walking has become almost impossible for any distance at all. I have actively avoided that "gimpo card" for over 3 years, but I can't do it any more. Sorry to disappoint those who were rooting for me.

I will try to answer e-mails and offline messages as soon as possible. My days are sleep/wake/take drugs/sleep/wake/take drugs for the most part. The highlight of my day is driving to physical therapy (cannot take drugs and drive) where Mike and Maria do their best to torture my body into new (old) positions. By the time I arrive home, I'm in tears and almost screaming from the pain. Please be patient with responses.

Well, it's time for Vicodin 1000 mg and Gambapentin 300 mg to end my day.

Thank-you to everyone for your prayers and concerns.

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Steve Fossett Update

It looks like the search may be over and that any new searches may be a "recovery operation". The NTSB has now listed the flight as "Injuries : 1 Fatal".

The only hope may be a possible radar track. Given that a month has passed and the fact that he carried little in the way of emergency supplies, there would be no chance of surviving for 30 days and any find would be to recover remains.

No ELT signal has ever been received from the aircraft or the watch Steve Fossett was wearing.

My opinion of what happened:

The Citabria that Steve Fossett was flying, was subject to an A.D. for the wing spar. The winds were very heavy that day and the wind gusts would have been especially bad over the mountains. (I speak from experience.) Mr. Fossett was flying an unfamiliar plane, that he had borrowed, and probably overstressed the aircraft.

I am posting a new poll to get an idea of how many pilots carry emergency supplies when they fly. When I drive through the desert, I always carry a basic kit for water production. This basic kit weighs about 3 ounces, total and should be the de facto part of any survival kit. I know that I can "live off the fat of the land" for some time, but water is essential to sustain life.