ValkingBlog: August 2004

ValkingBlog

Because there is more to life than just work...

Monday, August 30, 2004

And Then There Were Two...

Well, looks like a new VW's going to be added to the stable.
Moni and I went and looked at a '79 VW Bus Friday and decided that for a reasonable adoption fee we'd take it on. The fee was $250 and it looks like a "going to do" deal. It's not in bad shape, just a little rust here and there and a cancer spot on the right rear. I think it'll do. That and it makes a nice gift for out 3rd anniversary. Here's a shot of it in the rough, with Moni giving it a walk around.



Nice shade of burnt orange, a simple Bay (for bay window bus) that has great potential given Moni's desire to paint it (she's got skills and has already mentioned ideas). Ought to make an awesome beach machine. I see a nice retro hippie-mobile in the offing. We'll see. Daily driver, diamond in the rough. Ought to be fun, seeing as we're definitely NOT hippies. Flowers, Grateful Dead stickers, Power to the People...Perhaps we could use it to infiltrate liberal strongholds or get the best parking at Earth Day events (always wondered what is up with the REAL "make love, not war", do they mean what they say?) Yup, this has potential.
-Robert


Looks like it's smiling, no?



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Autos: Ugly Cars

Autos: "1974 Volkswagon Thing
Offered in the United States for just two years--1973 and 1974-- the Thing was based on the World War II-era Kubelwagen used by the Wehrmacht and featured removable doors, fold-down windshield, and soft and hard tops. It had a 'hose-out' all-metal interior and was said to be able to float, provided rust had not impaired the seaworthiness of the bodyshell. Though it shared its engine and transaxle with the Beetle and other air-cooled VWs of the era and did not come with four-wheel drive, the Thing was very tenacious off-road and in the snow; it could go almost anywhere. Though considered a classic today, it was a hard sell when new. "


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Yeah baby! And it rocks. Ugly as heck, and yes it floats, just before it sinks like a rock...(grin)
-Robert

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Sunday, August 29, 2004

Sunday Kiting

Well, I had a chance to get out today and use the new harness for the first time. It worked great. For less than $30 invested I have a much more comfortable harness and couldn't be happier.
Some folks use their flying harness but I'd prefer not to, to me, that harness (with higher hook-ins) is meant for flying, not dragging around on the ground kiting. Oh, did I forget to mention I had a nice short drag around today? Well more on that in a second. Buying a spare flying harness to kite could have run upwards of $200 perhaps $100 used. I guess that's why some fliers look for alternate harnesses. Heck some learn to kite with no harness at all. I guess that has it's place, like setting up to fly, but I really appreciate the harness to let me get the full treatment the wing offers and not just arm yanking when the wind's stronger.

So I got a little quality drag time today, just enought to have been fun. Was kiting the wing and it was a little gusty, perhaps 2-3 mph winds gusting to 6 from time to time. So in a little gust I just dropped onto my back and kept the wing overhead intil the wind dropped again and the wing came down in a nice smooth "wall" pattern horseshoe. A few seconds later a nice gust again and from the sitting position I pulled it up again. Sliding 15 feet forward as it did I thought, "Good thing I'm wearing black shorts", and flew the wing for say fifteen seconds and dropped it back down. Two or three cycles like this and I'd had enough. The last cycle I used the pull to rise back to a standing position and when the wing came down again, I bunched it up and walked back to the THING for a break (Volkswagen THING, my dream car, see previous posts). This time I remembered to bring ice water and a nice rest ensued.
Ten or fifteen minutes later I was at it again. Just one try though, laid out the wing hooked in and pulled her up with a nice gust. No, not a nice gust, this was a 10 mph gust and it caught me by suprise. I went 30 feet with the wing and got perhaps a foot or two of air under my feet. Brought the wing vertical (rather than horizontal which would be normal) and lost more ground until a nice telephone pole in my path stopped my advance by letting the wing fold 1/3 of the way across it. I flew the wing off and dropped it down doing so, nice folded pile, so I decided that was one nice "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" for the day and that was plenty. Mushroomed the wing as I coiled lines and walked with everything billowing back to the car. That was fun too. Piled the wing into the Stuff sack and called it a day. (Note to self: Inspect wing tommorrow weather permitting for pole flying damage) But the harness worked great. I'm worn out, but happy. Expect no adverse effect from pole flying...
-Robert


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eBay item 3695866624 (Ends Aug-30-04 15:57:43 PDT) - BEFORE YOU PURCHASE A HANG GLIDER HERE!!!

eBay item 3695866624 (Ends Aug-30-04 15:57:43 PDT) - BEFORE YOU PURCHASE A HANG GLIDER HERE!!!: "

WELL...HERE AGAIN SOMEBODY('VINTAGE DELTA WING')IS ADVERTISING A ROGALLO FOR SALE, AND NOT LETTING YOU KNOW IT IS THE MOST INHERENTLY DANGEROUS GLIDER DESIGN EVER MADE NOR THAT YOU SHOULD EVEN SEEK AN INSTRUCTOR TO LEARN. I HIGHLY DOUBT HIS 'WIFE REALLY SOARS' . WHY DON'T YOU 'REALLY' BE HONEST. "

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I really do appreciate when someone's looking out for the newbies.
Nice to know there are good people out there who'll call bullshit on some of the crap a seller might try to move on eBay saying it's great vintage gear or was good enough for the time...
This is a really great example of some old fashioned whistle blowing.
-Robert

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Saturday, August 28, 2004

McDonnell Douglas New Owner Questioniare

This was allegedly posted very briefly on the McDonnell Douglas Website by
an employee there, who obviously has a sense of humour.
The company, of course, does not have a sense of humour, and made the web
department take it down immediately (for once, the 'IMPORTANT' note at the
end is worth a read too...).

Registration

Thank you for purchasing a McDonnell Douglas military aircraft. In order to
protect your new investment, please take a few moments to fill out the warranty
registration card below. Answering the survey questions is not required, but
the information will help us to develop new products that best meet your needs
and desires.
1.
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>[_] Mrs.
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>[_] Gen.
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First Name:...................................................
Initial:........
Last Name...................................................
Password: .............................. (max. 8 char)
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> [_] F-14 Tomcat
> [_] F-15 Eagle
> [_] F-16 Falcon
> [_] F-117A Stealth
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3. Date of purchase (Year/Month/Day): 19....... /......./......
4. Serial Number:...............................................
5. Please indicate where this product was purchased:
> [_] Received as gift / aid package
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6. Please indicate how you became aware of the McDonnell Douglas product
you have just purchased:
> [_] Heard loud noise, looked up
> [_] Store display
> [_] Espionage
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> [_] Was attacked by one

7. Please indicate the three (3) factors that most influenced your decision
to purchase this McDonnell Douglas product:
> [_] Style / appearance
> [_] Speed / manoeuvrability
> [_] Price / value
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> [_] Recommended by salesperson
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8. Please indicate the location(s) where this product will be used:
>[_] North America
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in the near future:
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(indicate all that apply:)
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11. How did you pay for your McDonnell Douglas product?
> [_] Deficit spending
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12. Your occupation:
> [_] Homemaker
> [_] Sales / marketing
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13. To help us better understand our customers, please indicate the
interests and activities in which you and your spouse enjoy participating
on a regular basis:
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> [_] Fashion clothing
> [_] Border disputes
> [_] Mutually Assured Destruction
Thank you for taking the time to fill out this questionnaire. Your answers
will be used in market studies that will help McDonnell Douglas serve you
better in the future - as well as allowing you to receive mailings and
special offers from other companies governments, extremist groups, and
mysterious consortia. As a bonus for responding to this survey, you will be
registered to win a brand new F-117A in our Desert Thunder Sweepstakes!
Comments or suggestions about our fighter planes?
Please write to:
McDONNELL DOUGLAS CORPORATION Marketing Department Military,
Aerospace Division
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If you have received this e-mail in error, please add some nutmeg and egg
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Thursday, August 26, 2004

Bloomberg.com: U.S.

Bloomberg.com: U.S.: "Federal Election Commission Chairman Defends Swift Boat Ads
Aug. 24 (Bloomberg) -- Federal Election Commission Chairman Bradley Smith defended the right of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, an independent political group, to run commercials against Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry, who complained to the commission about the ads. "

Suprise, suprise, suprise. Guess that Kerry can't have his cake & eat it too. "Make them stop", seems like the new mantra...
-Robert

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Wednesday, August 25, 2004

Improve your launches, practice kiting...

Well the new harness is in. I've been using an adapted waist belt, but I found a nice new full body harness on eBay( http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4317931880&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT ) and it arrived a few days ago. Now after this past weekend going to St. Augustine and flying Crescent Beach, I know I need practice. Reason: I adjusted my wing's trimmers to a slower setting. I have been flying since last year at the fastest trim setting and, to some, this is a bad thing. Well flying all those faster set flights has trained me to use the brakes a bit more than the average bear on launch and with the trimmers set slower it took some getting used to (I was braking too much and putting the wing right back down). Not knowing it at the time, this cost me a few blown attempts to launch. One gets very winded blowing launches.
Good news is that a fellow I know from the yahoo groups was there, never met him before that day, and he immediately saw what the problem was and made a suggestion. Use less brakes...
So I did and the launch went well. In fact, with the trimmers set slower, the wing's flight characteristics were so much better than I flew previously, it's like I have a new wing. And I love it. But now I have to work on my ingrained tendency to use more brakes. So, kiting. Kiting is a lot of fun. It's just like the name says, you go fly the wing like a kite. Of course it's a giant kite, nobody's likely to have a kite like this wherever you go to do it. This is a BIG kite at 33 square meters. Sometimes bigger IS better. Almost always gets a positive response though.
Especially if you end up getting a little air in a gust or something. I've had this happen, one minute kiting, a second later a gust and you're 5 feet in the air.
Happily this is usually only for a second or two, and you usually wear a nice bike helmet, (I use a snowboarding one) and the effect doesn't most times land you on your ass. It can be scary though...(grin) Here's an old pic of me kiting.



I know, it's not very flattering, but hey, you get the idea.
So now I need to do more of it, a lot more. Good thing is with the new industrial harness it won't hurt as much, those straps (actually just rope) on the improvised rig could really dig in. And that can put a crimp in your style... Owchie!
-Robert

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Monday, August 23, 2004

Well they corrected the picture below...

Don't know how long the wrong picture was up, but even the right one seems to say a lot. Ted wasn't looking good even then.
Go figure.
-R.D.

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Sunday, August 22, 2004

News

News: "

** FILE ** John Kerry walks with Sen. Ted Kennedy in this file photo, date unknown, in Washington. A recent attack on the war record of Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., in a commercial by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, has heated the presidential politics surrounding the military records of both Kerry and President Bush. (AP Photo/Kerry-Edwards 2004)"

Funny, the picture's of Kerry sitting on the back of a patrol boat talking with a fellow in similar uniform. I didn't know that Ted Kennedy was in vietnam also...
-Robert D.

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Wednesday, August 18, 2004

VFW recalls Kerry's anti-war past - The Washington Times: Nation/Politics - August 18, 2004

VFW recalls Kerry's anti-war past - The Washington Times: Nation/Politics - August 18, 2004: "The Veteran of Foreign Wars made it clear yesterday that it is none too pleased with Sen. John Kerry's 1970s role in the defunct Vietnam Veterans Against the War, which, at the time, called the VFW a 'a paramilitary, pro-war organization' out of touch with young veterans. "


And John Kerry was going to be addressing them now?
I guess he hopes they're all senile and isn't banking on the vietnam vet contiengent, well, suprise!!!
-RD

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Saturday, August 14, 2004

The Thing, The Volkswagen Type 181.



This is a little test. Blogging a bit I've decided I need to share photos. And what better place to start than my dream car? It's a 1973 VW THING. His name is Pepe' . I've had him in the stable almost 2 years now. He's pretty damn versatile and was a SUV when SUV's weren't cool. Of course, who says they're cool now? Especially when driven by snobs who only want them to look good on pavement and wouldn't think of hopping a median even if their lives depended on it. It might scrape the ground effects kit, lord knows. I don't worry about scraping with Pepe'.
He's got 11 inches ground clearance, stock. I've added a front skid plate to compliment his armored lower rear (transaxle and engine plates) and upgraded his jerry can holder. I also lucked across and installed components to hand crank him. He also sports new canvas and vinyl front to back.
He's one ugly little car but he's lovable. He's in nice shape and he's fun. He's a four door with room for passenger legs, can you say in your memories of old beetles that they had leg room in the back seat? He's spirited and lets you think outside the box, spirited if you think a stock dual port 1600 flat four is what power is defined as...lol. So you think a little out of the box, just a little slower than the average bear.

Nice sunny day? Take the top down.
Too hot? Leave to top up and remove the doors instead. You wouldn't believe how much air will blow thru a 31 year old fun machine at just thirty miles an hour. Still not happy, go ahead and take down the top, heck remove it totally. Fold down the windshield, now you're talking desert fox... And the looks, people shake their heads, smile, wave, even sometimes laugh, but isn't that the point, having a fun car? Smiling while you drive? It is to me.
Drive On.
-Robert D.


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Telegraph | Opinion | Nuanced? Kerry's story just doesn't add up

Telegraph | Opinion | Nuanced? Kerry's story just doesn't add up

It's Certainly not "Holiday in Cambodia" by the DEAD KENNEDYS, but it is great reading. perhaps now the lies will start tangling staffers feet as the shuffle and shimmy to keep the stories or histories straight...
-R

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Friday, August 13, 2004

Power Line: A purple heart for Jessica

Power Line: A purple heart for Jessica

This is a must read. What purple hearts really are for.
-R

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Wednesday, August 11, 2004

Why truth matters - The Washington Times: Commentary - August 11, 2004

Why truth matters - The Washington Times: Commentary - August 11, 2004

According to the much touted Moore movie, The president sat for seven minutes not knowing what to do in Florida. But by Kerry's own admission, he was frozen and indecisive for thirty-four...
Go figure.
-Robert

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olympics

olympics

Seeing as the Olympics are coming up...
My contribution to the non-event.
-Robert

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Tuesday, August 10, 2004

13abc.com: Ohio Power Paragliding Fly-in

13abc.com: Ohio Power Paragliding Fly-in

A year after Wally's death, the flying goes on.
And the sport/hobby continues to grow...
-Robert

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Wednesday, August 04, 2004

USATODAY.com - Teenage girls arrested for stabbing deaths of grandparents

USATODAY.com - Teenage girls arrested for stabbing deaths of grandparents

I knew I wasn't the only one enjoying Tybee Monday and Tuesday, but this is ridiculous...
-Robert

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Yahoo! News Search results for Huey helicopter

Yahoo! News Search results for Huey helicopter

So Kerry's Bus passes a Huey in a Vietnam Memorial.
And? Take a look, it's pathetic seeing the rush to get a photo op.
-Robert

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Tuesday, August 03, 2004

The Truth about the Atkins diet Fatkins

The Truth about the Atkins diet Fatkins

Every damn thing is now no carb, when did all the companies decide to start this no carb marketing hype race? What a crock of sh*t.
-Robert

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OpinionJournal - The Western Front "Lt. Kerry Runs for President"

OpinionJournal - The Western Front

Did anyone not see the pictures of Kerry's salute and the tagline "Reporting for Duty"... I just hope everyone remembered the thrown medals/ribbons (they're completely interchangeable, remember?) and the fact that he accused Vietnam vets of being war criminals and admitted to committing "war atrocities" himself...

-Robert

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Monday, August 02, 2004

PEACE

PEACE

Give peace a chance.
Really, everyone needs to think about trying this.
At least watch it before you make judgements.
-Robert

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ive seen things, ive seen thim with my eyes!

ive seen things, ive seen thim with my eyes!

WTF? I don't know why, but I love this one.
-Robert

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Sunday, August 01, 2004

Well, it's been a week...

And I'm finding this Blog thing to be fun and informative.
I'm reading blogs all over the place and have realized it's a nice way to get into some peoples minds. My best friend for example. I can now read alot of the things he's sharing with the e-world and get to hear his thoughts on alot of things and see viacariously his perspective on any topic he cares to share. I figure he can do the same with mine. For all I know he's the only person that even knows it's out there...lol. Kinda nice as we're too out of touch with each other for one reason or another and I know both of us wish we weren't. But that's fixable I'm sure.

So my weekend was a wash, well sort of. No flying, just bowling. But bowling I did pretty well.
Last night one league, tonight another. Last night was the best, I bowled the highest game I have ever to date, a 186, and we took 4 of four games. It's a fair sized league but only 2 person teams. My wife Moni is my teammate. She wasn't bowling up to her standard and I for another first carried her for the night. We were up against a much better team, higher averages, but the handicaps stacked the deck against them. They had to bowl awesome games and didn't. Long story short they were below their averages, we were above and thus with lower actual scores we beat the dogshit out of them. They were nice about it and all though. At first they were a little condecending, but when we took the first game, and then the second they got real positive, kinda like "We're going to lose to these two, we better make nice so we don't look like major assholes and they really rub our faces in it..." And the thing was they really were very good bowlers and nice people too, they just came into it expecting to whip our asses. Normally with my bowling, that would have been short work, but I'm getting better. We went into the evening #6 of 22 teams. I figure we went up winning all 4 but you never know, other teams might have done as well also. We're aiming for the top 50% of the league, so we just have to hold position or not lose too much. Top half of the league goes to Columbia S.C. at the end of the league for playoffs and real money can be had even for lousy placement there. Same league last season, 17th place brought home $500 but I don't know 17th out of what... probably like 100-150...lol.

Monday looms but there's a silver lining. The Bruce is on Tybee and I'm going to try and hook up and hook in Monday and/or Tuesday evenings for some flying. The Bruce is Bruce Erion (http://www.positivelyatlantaga.com/mediarare/mediarare027.html), a rotorhead with LifeFlight in Atlanta that's one hell of a pilot and sometimes does Spider-Man impersonations. He's also the guy that got me into this a year ago by buzzing me as I flew stunt kites on a nice windy Tybee summer day. I hunted him down on day two and he pointed me in the right direction after putting on a demo flight for my amusement. It was awe inspiring and I was sold immediately. The rest is, shall we say, history. His kung-fu will always be better than mine, for he is the master. If I ever get to 33% of what he is in PPG I'll be very happy indeed.
Hero worship to end here for now. Okay, one last comment: I've seen this guy do some amazing shit, perhaps survive some amazing shit would be a better term, and get up to do it again. He's a man's man and I hope when I'm in my fifties I can do half what he does now. Perhaps if I started lifting weights and eating better... well we know that won't happen, maybe I can aim for 25%...

Well if I'm working tommorrow I better see about turning in. Goodness knows I'll need at least my usual 4.5 hrs sleep. More soon.
-Robert



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DONT CLICK THE BUTTON!

DONT CLICK THE BUTTON!

If you think your computer's sound system has good bass, try this one... If you don't have sound, don't bother...lol.
-Robert

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