This week's bargain--Urbie Green and Umpteen Trombones

Doing jumping jacks in aerobics class can cause heart rate problems for me (born with an extra circuit that causes A-fib), but so can finding a great bargain. But a bargain with trombones! Be still my heart!

Thursday at the Discovery Shop (resale shop for American Cancer Society) I found a CD titled, "Umpteen Trombones" featuring Urbie Green and 20 other trombonists (Kai Winding, Eddie Bert, Wayne Andre, Will Bradley, Bill Elton, Phil Giardina, Mervin Gold, Mickey Gravine, J.J. Johnson, Barry Maur, Lou McGarity, John Messner Jr., Buddy Morrow, Jack Rains, Sonny Russo, Charles Small, Chauncy Welsch, Jimmy Cleveland, Harry Di Vito). I knew nothing about it, but for one dollar, it would have to be very bad or a pirated copy not to be the deal of the month, or year. I bought it and 3 others for a total of $4.00, Regis Philbin (2004), Charlotte Church (1998), and Jack Widner at the Clarmont (local pianist, n.d.). I popped it into my CD player in the van on the way home--and WOW! I thought I'd cry, it was so beautiful. My right hand was trying to do that little slide vibrato movement while I drove, and that's just not safe!

So I needed to find out something about it and turned to Google. Here's the most helpful item I found about Umpteen Trombones after looking through what seemed like dozens of newsletters about jazz and listservs about trombones and prices ranging from $4 to $200:

Rich Woolworth on The Trombone Forum in 2005 wrote: " "Umpteen Trombones," released on CD in 1987, is "Twenty-One Trombones" (Volume 1), originally released in 1967. Several years after Volume 2 was released (1968) Project 3 re-released both as a two-record set. To my knowledge Volume 2 was never released on CD.

Volume 1 is mostly ballads and showcases Urbie's gorgeous tone and tasty style. Volume 2 is nowhere near as good as Volume 1. Volume 2 leans more heavily on pop tunes of the day with a boogaloo beat and novelties ("The Green Bee" is of course a rock version of "Flight of the Bumble-Bee" and was considered for the the theme song to the 1968 TV show "The Green Hornet". It seemed like a perfect match but Al Hirt's version was selected). Volume 2 does have some nice Ellington tunes, and "Timbe" by Tommy Newsome is a study in bell-tones."

At All About Jazz I found a brief bio about Urbie Green and his son Jesse Green:

"[Urban] Urbie Green was born [Aug. 8, 1926] and raised in Mobile, Alabama, and by the time he was sixteen was working professionally with Tommy Reynolds band. There followed music and years with Jan Savitt, Frankie Carle, Gene Krupa, and finally, Woody Herman. In October 1950, Urbie became part of Woody Herman's Thundering Herd, and in 1954 won the Down Beat International Critics Award for NEW STAR.

Urbie became one of the most sought-after trombonists for recording and club work in New York City. He is a multiple winner of the Most Valuable Player Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, and perhaps the most recorded musician of all time. He has recorded with Gene Krupa, Woody Herman, Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Leonard Bernstein, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Tony Bennett, Peggy Lee, Pearl Bailey, Ella Fitzgerald, Mile Davis, Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins, Dizzy Gillespie, Barbara Steisand, Perry Como, Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones, J.J.Johnson, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Burt Bacharach, Buck Clayton and Herbie Mann, to name a few. . . Urbie Green actually settled in the Poconos and raised a family with his wife Kathy Preston, herself a big-band singer. Pianist Jesse Green is their talented son, and he still calls Delaware Water Gap home. . .Jesse Green dips his toes into the New York scene occasionally, but he spends most of his time teaching piano and trombone out of the home he shares with his wife and three daughters.

So I'm happy.

The Charlotte Church CD turned out to be a Christmas album, but that's OK. The Regis CD wouldn't play in the car, but worked in the office. The Widner CD has some serious issues--a little faint background squeek, and some burps, but I gave it a good rub on my sweater, and it improved a lot. (David Meyers notes that Widner is in the Columbus Senior Hall of Fame, 2003).

Soapy, the Germ Fighter

So, it looks a little corny for today's audiences, but it gets the message across about washing your hands. Good information, fun piece.

From Internet Archive. It's got great old movies and documentaries and commercials.

Perspective on the Sebelius Flu

"In 2005, the flu killed 63,001 people in the United States, according to the CDC. But that year the President of the United States did not use a primetime news conference to admonish the American people that they must wash their hands, and the Vice President did not say he would not want his family to have to ride on a plane or a subway because someone might sneeze near them.

An average of 36,171 people died each year of flu in the United States from 1993 to 2003, according to a recent CDC study.

Despite the recent fervor surrounding swine flu, conventional flu viruses have killed far more people than other, more publicized, strains in recent years. Avian flu, for example, has killed 257 people worldwide since 2003, according to the World Health Organization. It has killed no people at all in the United States."

Finish reading the article here.

On March 15-20 about 170 of us from the Columbus area returned from the Middle East. About 20 of us got sick on the way home. Some got sick after arriving home--some 2 or 3 days later with fever, aches and chills. It took about 4 weeks for my GI track to return to normal, although I didn't go to the hospital. Still I was lying on the floor of the airport for several hours, and someone had to get me to the front of the line at customs. I'm just thankful it wasn't during this scare. I'd still be at LaGuardia!

The illiberal left

It's never more apparent than in a discussion about Sarah Palin--one of the few women politicians I can recall who didn't get to office on her father's death, or her husband's coattails (or wealth). Liberals hate her for being successful without them, and for not aborting her baby whose disability was known before birth (93% of babies with Down's are aborted). This is terribly threatening to feminists. But they can get riled up at a photo of a bear sofa.



The comments confirm it. They'll wear leather jackets, or sandals, though. . .

Two areas of concern where I support Obama

Better rail service between cities and reducing the prison sentences for possession of crack. Those are totally unrelated issues, but both needed some high profile attention. We love to travel by train, but unfortunately AMTRAK is exhibit one of the way our the government runs a business. In 2003 we took the train to California and back to my father-in-law's 90th birthday. We stopped to visit the Grand Canyon on the way, and Glacier National Park on the way back. It's a relaxing, friendly way to travel. Another time we parked the car in Toledo and rode the train to downtown Chicago for about $6.00 (it was a special)--cheaper than we could pay to park.


Prisons are schools for crime, and they are universities for young black men sentenced for crack possession when young white men would get much less time for powdered, if they got time at all. It's probably one of the most racist laws still on the books, and if it takes a black president to get it removed (black legislators pushed for it, as I recall, because of related crime in black neighborhoods, not realizing the unintended consequences), so be it.

Saving a culture through its books

99% of the people who visit the National Yiddish Book Center can't read the books, and neither could Aaron Lansky when at age 23 he set out to save thousands and thousands of priceless Yiddish books, books that had survived immigration across many countries and destruction by Hitler and Stalin. The older, Yiddish speakers were dying, and their treasures were being thrown out. Yiddish books were a portable homeland, and after Jews had a homeland, many people forgot them. His first visit to an elderly man involved sitting down with him to hear the story of each book. Stop at the home page and click on the brief film about the National Yiddish Book Center. (I was unable to embed the video.) I had tears in my eyes and marveled at the story of this young man who saved a culture that spanned hundreds of years and many cultures.

And now, through Internet Archive, you can visit too. The National Yiddish Book Center, founded in 1980, "is proud to offer online access to the full texts of nearly 11,000 out-of-print Yiddish titles. You can browse, read, download or print any or all of these books, free of charge. These titles were scanned under the auspices of our Steven Spielberg Digital Yiddish Library, and have been made available online through the Internet Archive."

The index isn't difficult to use, the tags are self explanatory, and even if you don't read Yiddish, you can enjoy the pictures, like the 1926 vegetarian cook book I looked through.

I started my professional career (as a graduate assistant) unpacking and dusting off hundreds of PL 480 books in the bowels of the library at the University of Illinois. I can start sneezing from the memory of mold of the boxes and boxes of books brought to the vet library from the barn after grandpa died and no one knew what to do with his books. So I have a tender spot for this story. Many years ago I'd read about Lansky's efforts--probably before he had a building, and long before digitization made it possible for me to see his efforts. A truly amazing rescue work.

Government waste

Obama certainly isn't the first president to burn tax dollars at an alarming rate, although he's gone far beyond anyone's wildest dreams last fall. Even so, I wouldn't have given approval for GWB to establish the National Counterterrorism Center for Kids, and if Obama eventually gets around to taking it down, he'll have my full support. Kids should be out riding bikes, or fishing, or climbing trees, not surfing the internet looking for information on terrorism. (You can tell the age level by the cartoon figures.)

The NCTC was created to defeat and deter international terrorism. We were created in order to bring together all the abilities of the United States Government to help in this cause.

The people who work for the NCTC and our partner agencies have a vested interest in keeping the country and the world safe from terrorists and terrorist acts. Thinking of their families, friends, and country is more than motivation enough in this fight against terrorism.

Does Geithner know this?

Here's what it says on the Treasury Taxes web site--this could be serious for Timmy and other Obama appointees if they were serious

"Collecting taxes in a fair and consistent manner is a core mission of the Treasury Department. Treasury's priorities in tax administration are enforcing the nation's tax laws fairly and efficiently while balancing taxpayer service and education to promote voluntary compliance and reduce taxpayer burden."

But while I was there I signed up for a newsletter on taxes. Should be fun. Now that Obama has killed Chrysler, I probably won't be needing this. I love my Dodge van. I doubt that I've ever seen a 2009.

Country Reports on Terrorism 2008, April 2009

This recently released report for 2008 is just fascinating--not only for what it reports on terrorism (don't know how that word slipped past the current censors), but for all the "soft" influence such as media--TV, radio, internet, books--and education we've been supporting, particularly in Muslim countries. Country Reports on Terrorism 2008 is submitted in compliance with Title 22 of the United States Code, Section 2656f (the "Act"), which requires the Department of State to provide Congress a full and complete annual report on terrorism for those countries and groups meeting the criteria of the Act.

For instance, I don't know if Sesame Street (It's not easy being green) has ever been proven to have any long term affect on the education of American children (it's over 40 years old so we should be able to see something if it has had an influence), but it is a huge hit in Bangladesh.

USAID also supports the extremely successfully television program, Sisimpur (Sesame Street), which is the most widely viewed children‘s television show in Bangladesh. It is estimated to reach 7.5 million young children weekly, nearly half of all three to six year olds. The television episodes aim to improve skills such as literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking, as well as hygiene practices such as hand washing and dental hygiene. The TV program also portrays positive socio-emotional and cultural knowledge, values, and skills; appreciation of diversity; illustrates the capacity of children with disabilities; depicts successful women across professions; and demonstrates self-respect and respect for others. Combined, the two programs have helped to combat traditionally low achievement and high dropout rates in the lower primary grades.

Also there's a detailed list of terrorist organizations with brief, pithy descriptions, acronyms and A.K.A. names beginning about page 282:

Abu Nidal Organization (ANO)
Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)
Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade
Al-Shabaab Ansar
al-Islam Armed Islamic Group
Asbat al-Ansar
Aum Shinrikyo
Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA)
Communist Party of Philippines/New People's Army
Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA)
Gama'a al-Islamiyya
HAMAS
Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami/Bangladesh (HUJI-B)
Harakat ul-Mujahideen
Hizballah Islamic Jihad Union (IJU)
Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan
Jaish-e-Mohammed
Jemaah Islamiya (JI)
Al-Jihad Kahane Chai (Kach)
Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)
Lashkar e-Tayyiba (LT)
Lashkar i Jhangvi (LJ)
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
Libyan Islamic Fighting Group
Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group
Mujahadin-e Khalq
Organization National Liberation Army (ELN)
Palestine Liberation Front – Abu Abbas Faction
Palestinian Islamic Jihad – Shaqaqi Faction
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command
Al-Qa’ida
"Description: Al-Qa‘ida (AQ) was established by Usama bin Ladin in 1988 with Arabs who fought in Afghanistan against the Soviet Union. The group helped finance, recruit, transport, and train Sunni Islamic extremists for the Afghan resistance. AQ‘s near-term goal is uniting Muslims to fight the United States and its allies, overthrowing regimes it deems "non-Islamic," and expelling Westerners and non-Muslims from Muslim countries. Its ultimate goal is the establishment of a pan-Islamic caliphate throughout the world. AQ leaders issued a statement in February 1998 under the banner of "The World Islamic Front for Jihad against the Jews and Crusaders" saying it was the duty of all Muslims to kill U.S. citizens, civilian and military, and their allies everywhere. AQ merged with al-Jihad (Egyptian Islamic Jihad) in June 2001, renaming itself Qa‘idat al-Jihad."
Al-Qa’ida in Iraq (Tanzim Qa‘idat al-Jihad fi Bilad al-Rafidayn)
Al-Qa’ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)
Real IRA Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
Revolutionary Nuclei
Revolutionary Organization 17 November
Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front
Shining Path
United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia

Read the full report--about 330 pages with a statistical annex by Gary LaFree, University of Maryland, dated March 2009.

Help Wanted

Looking for a gay (or bi- or ambivalent or transgendered), disabled, Hispanic-Asian biracial female who was a teen-age mother on welfare (or the daughter of one), but has overcome all those challenges and finished high school, and possibly college. An abortion or two is a given, of course. If you know anyone, Obama needs a fail-safe nominee to please the most donors to his campaign for a Supreme Court appointment. Oh yes, tax problems would be a plus.

Brand Loyalty

Yes, we are a consumer society--authors published mega-hits writing about how we shouldn't buy so much because it was rotting our souls--all the while, hawking their books on Oprah or Dr. Phil. When unemployment was 4.5 in Ohio, newspapers were still writing sob stories about "this economy" and why we should elect a Democrat. Now it's 9.7 and they are just starting to see how they contributed to the problem. But that's history. We've got the man. So what will you give up now that we're in a recession and you can't whip out the credit card, or you're looking forward not to the next career step up, not the next promotion, but just hoping for the next payday.

Would you be willing to change. . . in no particular order

Laundry detergent? Yes, and I have, but occasionally purchase my favorite because I love the fragrance.

From dryer to clothes line? I'd love to have a clothes line, but our city doesn't allow it. It's also good exercise. I use one at Lakeside in the summer. Added advantage of bleaching the hubbie's underwear.

Dishwasher detergent? Yes, and I have, however, I discovered I was using too much.

Beauty school hair cut rather than your regular hair dresser or barber? Absolutely not.

Veterinarian? I've heard people say they'd give up their family doctor before they'd give up their vet. I love our internist, and wouldn't change. The vet's nice, but . . . yeah, I'd change, or use her less frequently.

No hair color? Hmmm. That's still on the table. My mother looked awful with gray hair, very smart with white hair. I have her coloring (very pale). I may have to wait a few more years for white. Although it would save money. It might depend on Obama and how long he can extend this poor economy.

Thrift shop, or remainderer rather than a "sale" at a major retailer. Sure, do it all the time. Those items are often newer than what's in my closet since I retired in 2000. Other bargains too. Yesterday I got a fabulous trombone CD for $1.00.

Library instead of book store? Normally, I'm a heavy library user, or was for many years. I've been using OSU more than UAPL because it's so handy in its temporary location on Ackerman (soon to close). I think I did purchase more books in 2008 than any other year, however. If UAPL manages to fool the public and get this $25 million levy passed, I may just have to boycott it.

Dollar movie or first run? We see so few movies, that they are almost always at the dollar theater by the time I notice them. Two tickets plus a small bag of pop corn equals the price of one first run ticket.

Sit down or carry out? I'm not much for carry out except for the occasional pizza. A meal out with friends is entertainment plus a meal.

Supermarket frozen pizza prepared at home or pizza shop fresh and hot at home? Definitely not the frozen. Like eating cardboard--no savings there if your tastebuds rebel.

Invite friends for dinner at home or eat out? Either, but serving friends dinner is cheaper than eating out, even at McDonald's and the plus is, you'll probably clean the house.

Coffee at home or designer coffee at the shop? For me, it has to be "out." I read the newspapers, write in my blog notebook, talk to friends and neighbors, and listen to music--that's a lot for $1.69. Also, I don't make very good coffee.

Public pool (or tennis) membership for the family or private club? It's been since the early 80s that we had a family membership at the pool, but if you live in a nice town with a good recreation program for which you're being taxed, why would you not do this (ours was within walking/biking distance)? Snob appeal?

Change banks to avoid high fees? We haven't done that--yet. We've been at Huntington since 1967. I think they are all high, but we don't use a lot of services that could get us into trouble. Same with credit cards. We've never had a fee or interest charge.

Change churches to avoid stewardship sermons? Our church has "the talk" so seldom, that wouldn't be the issue if change were in our future.

Use cheaper or free exercise facilities and drop the club membership? Yes, exercising at UALC Lytham is about $1.33 per session which probably doesn't even cover the utilities. We get weights, resistance, stretching and cardiovascular. Walking outside is free, of course, the last I checked.

Buy house brand frozen vegetables rather than name brand? Yes, but only certain vegetables would I buy frozen--except for corn and peas, most of them taste like mush. Fresh is better.

Tithe regularly from the top or pitch in occasionally from the bottom as the plate goes by? For us, the tithe (10% of gross) has been the way to go--no problems since we started that about 35 years ago. Then pitch in for the extras like special campaigns, other good causes, diseases, disaster relief, etc. But this works out differently for other families.

Day 100, and counting

"Today (yesterday April 29) marks the 100th day of Barack Obama’s presidency; a presidency that is every bit as comfortable as Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s was in blending the power of big government, big business, and big labor into one national industrial policy. And just as under FDR’s National Industrial Recovery Act, the result of the Obama agenda will be fewer small businesses, less jobs, and a longer recession. UCLA economists Harold Cole and Lee Ohanian have found that the NIRA accounted for 60% of the weak recovery and prolonged the depression by seven full years. President Obama’s senior advisor David Axelrod has called the 100-day benchmark a Hallmark Holiday. Does Hallmark sell a condolence card for the death of free enterprise?" Free enterprise's 100th Day Death March

Treated and sent home

Yesterday those of us in the Ohio State community received a "personal" e-mail from Provost Alluto and Lewellen, the HR guy:

The Ohio State University Medical Center provided treatment to a patient who was diagnosed with probable swine influenza A (H1N1) virus, which is pending confirmation at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The patient is an employee of the Medical Center who contracted the virus outside the workplace. The patient responded well to treatment and is being discharged this evening.

OSU Medical Center staff followed all recommended precautions to prevent the spread of the illness to others. Individuals who had contact with the patient prior to admission are being notified. The Medical Center is providing prophylactic/ preventive medication to those individuals, in accordance with standard CDC recommendations.

The Medical Center’s normal patient visitation schedule remains unchanged. The hospital continues to urge all visitors and staff to follow infection control steps including covering your mouth and nose if you have a cough or sneeze, and not visit patients if you are ill. Frequent use of waterless hand sanitizers is also recommended.

OSU Medical Center is working in collaboration with the CDC, Ohio Department of Health, and Columbus Public Health and following all appropriate guidelines.

So apparently, it's business as usual when you have good health care. But what a boon for Sebelius and Obama!

Thursday Thirteen
13 economic stories in today's headlines

Glancing through today's stories in the WSJ, we seeing that Obama's WAR (War against Recovery) continues with nary an objection from Congress or the Media. The other War, the one in Iraq, Bush's War, is also on the uptick, but that one is buried in the back pages because Obama's policies, promises, and apologies have emboldened the terrorists insurgents in Iraq, as well as Afghanistan and Pakistan, creating more civilian deaths and making the Middle East and America less safe.

1) Time Warner prepares to shed AOL
2) Chrysler nears bankruptcy
3) ArcelarMittal posts loss
4) As profit cools, Starbucks plans price campaign
5) Cessna to suspend new jet
6) Renault USA revenue slid 31%
7) Bayer AG earnings plummet 44%
8) German tire maker Continental AG reports loss
9) SAP AG's profit declines 16%
10) Flextronics Int'nl fell 28%
11) Google top exec departs
12) Time Warner cable posts 30% drop
13) FBI looks into losses at Freddie [this investigation began under Bush but will go no where because it will lead to Democrats in Congress]

Renaming the swine flu

President Obama formally picked Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as his nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services with nary a squawk. She is another tax cheat, now almost obligatory for an Obama cabinet member, and daughter of Ohio's former Governor Gilligan. She is a tax and spend Democrat getting Kansas deeply in debt during the good years, and most recently solved a financial crisis in her state by cutting education funding. The nomination went through easily because of the made-up hysteria by the press and the government (Emmanuel: "never waste a crisis") about the pandemic called "the swine flu." Sibelius as Secretary of Health and Human Services will oversee a massive department with wide-ranging responsibilities, the key to the President’s vision for health care--to nationalize it--or spread limited, low level care, as it were. The 61 year old Sebelius was raised a Catholic in Cincinnati, however, she will have no problem rescinding whatever few rights and protections are left for the unborn American children. Being a Catholic means nothing on this issue (Kennedy, Kerry, Pelosi, et al)--party comes before Pope and Church when you've got a new messiah to follow. President Obama owes the radical, pro-abortion feminists because he squashed their dream of a woman president, just like he owes the unions and ACORN handing them the auto and mortgage/foreclosure bailouts.

Therefore, I propose renaming the swine flu the "Sebelius Flu." For too long, American women have languished in the background with very little named for them--diseases, laws (even Roe v. Wade didn't use a real name), mountains, buildings, etc. With four syllables, eight if you count influenza, the newly named disease will help fill up the time on the 24 hour cable news, broadcast news, and presidential news conferences. Although an awkward space filler on a teleprompter, Sebelius Influenza can be learned by even the least fluent of speakers.

They know who really supports them

HT Beth

Blogger "Just a Regular guy" noted:

"The new commander in chief, Barack Hussein Obama, made a trip to the Marine Corp base at Camp Lejeune North Carolina to talk to the troops about his vision for Iraq and the future of our military under his vision as president. As the Marine Corp band belted out ‘Hail to the Chief” Obama was announced and he soon emerged from behind a blue curtain.

The silence was deafening.

In fact the troops made more noise as they sat down than when Obama strolled out to the podium. . ."

The audacity of truth--The Obama Files

is the title of Sister Toldjah's collection of columns on Barack Obama. This one on the newest virus of amnesia affecting Democrats in Congress. . .

"In the fall of 2002, while I was chairman of the House intelligence committee, senior members of Congress were briefed on the CIA’s “High Value Terrorist Program,” including the development of “enhanced interrogation techniques” and what those techniques were. This was not a one-time briefing but an ongoing subject with lots of back and forth between those members and the briefers.

Today, I am slack-jawed to read that members claim to have not understood that the techniques on which they were briefed were to actually be employed; or that specific techniques such as “waterboarding” were never mentioned. It must be hard for most Americans of common sense to imagine how a member of Congress can forget being told about the interrogations of Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed. In that case, though, perhaps it is not amnesia but political expedience." Porter Goss

Unfortunately, the media are unable to lift their heads with Obama's foot on their necks (not that they want to), but gradually the truth might seep out. They probably haven't been able to "correct" and modify every digitized report from those years--that's the value of paper, you know.

Happy Birthday Israel

This item is from Atlas Shrugs.

"It's Israel Independence Day. I went to a zimreah (a night of Jewish songs) and I have to tell you, watching these Jewish children singing the "greatest hits" of this ancient genre in Hebrew, clapping and dancing, the parents kvelling, against the majestic architectural beauty of an old shul, I couldn't help but think -- despite the thousands of years of persecution and prosecution, the blood libels, the hate, the abject cruelty, the jealousy, the violence, the unremitting hunger for our annihilation, the constant boot in one costume (SS) or another (Hamas), I looked at the joyful throng of ebullient parents, children, bubbies and zaydees and I thought, I'd rather be on the receiving of all that evil than be on the other side.

Baruch Hashem. Happy Birthday Israel!"

Maggie's Notebook has a blog entry on the birthday, plus the anniversary of the founding of Tel Aviv in 1909.

Behind the scenes of the pirate rescue

This came through e-mail today, so I looked it up--not a whole lot more satisfactory, but if you want to join the conversation, at least Atlas Shrugs has a lot of people commenting. She says it came from Free Republic.

The flight of the FBI's passenger jet took a little less than 14 hours at 500-some knots to get to Djibouti. BOXER'S helos picked them up and transported them out to the ship. The Navy SEALs were already there, staged, and ready to act by the time POTUS's FBI arrived on board later that evening. Notably, the first request by the OSC (On Scene Commander) that early Friday morning to take them out and save Captain Phillips was denied, to wit: "No, wait until 'my' FBI people get there."

Behind the scenes of the pirate rescue

Off to buy a mop and kitty litter

Lately, I've become careless--I've been stopping at the grocery store after exercise class. Appearing in public in the retiree's uniform--sweat pants and athletic shoes is something I swore (in 2000) I wouldn't do. Lately, I've been telling myself a lie--"No one will notice." But yesterday I listened to Miss Smarty Pants on BlogTalkRadio, and she cautioned against this. And she's absolutely correct--you can wear white shoes after Labor Day, but Oh Dear, if you're my age, please do not appear in public looking like you've just been to exercise class (unless you're getting your exercise outdoors). No matter how good your legs were when you were 25, those days are gone--usually around your knees.

So I came home, showered, shampooed, and now I'm heading to Meijer's where I'll probably buy more than I intended, but I won't frighten small children and dogs.