Why! Why, What?

Why does the word “Why” carry such strength in the area of research in the Scientific Community? Today I am only asking a question of “Why”. I have no intensions making any one person, group of persons, or Organization, singled out.

In 1999, the critically acclaimed movie “The Sixth Sense”, held high earnings at the box office when released. I witnessed no world wide reaction of boycott or protests, to the extent of headline news of this fictional film. Likewise, 1988 brought the movie “The Seventh Sign” and the General Public viewed this film as “fiction”.

2003, I had a recommendation from a friend to read a new novel, “Sure to bring many communities into a rage”, he told me. It was at this time that I first read the works of Novelist Dan Brown and found myself enjoying his style and technique. He carried me forward in a “fictional” story of Drama, Suspense, and Intrigue. The book, “The Da Vinci Code” held true to the foresight of my friend by making a world wide debate of its contents. Three years after publishing, the book spawned a movie, due to be released next month; a law suit of “Copyright Infringement” (Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh vs. Random House Publishing); and many rebuttals from the religious communities. As previously mentioned, I have read and enjoyed this fictional story; however, what comes to my mind is the beginning of the book when it distinguishes fact from fiction. Now, with the movie set for release next month, I am forced to ask the question of “Why a boycott”.

I can imagine money as a primary motive for much of this controversy, i.e. the money earned by numerous authors in rebuttal; but what fears are the religious leaders sensing, for them to call for a boycott? What is it about this story, to place so many people on the defense? If the story is fiction, why have they not attacked, to this degree, the stories of the past?

“Psychological projection (or projection bias) can be defined as unconsciously assuming that others have the same or similar thoughts, beliefs, values, or positions on any given subject as oneself. According to the theories of Sigmund Freud, it is a psychological defense mechanism whereby one "projects" one's own undesirable thoughts, motivations, desires, feelings—basically parts of oneself—onto someone else (usually another person, but psychological projection onto animals and inanimate objects also occurs). The principle of projection is well-established in psychology.” - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_projection

As so many communities are bringing this issue to light, through their defensive behavior, when, if left alone, do they not realize the story would have become just another book, or movie? I am certain those, who are making money off of each release, are thankful for the publicity.

Just a thought

Reach

The Spin Doctor

Hello All,
I truly appreciate the input that I have received from my request. These can help me with future posts.

As a child of a United State Navy “Doc”, our family has traveled the world, learning and participating in many diverse cultures. Always stationed at an Air Station, my Dad imparted much opportune information to my Mother and me. Continually around Naval Aviators, I grew up with a frequent desire of flight. The only applicable problems to a young child, who is planning their future life, would be the “Nay-Sayers”, to which I had listened. I have worn corrective lenses since an early age and as everybody could tell you- well at least they decided to tell me, “One must have 20-20 vision to fly airplanes.”

Many years later, I am sitting in the pack of other surfers on my surf board, waiting for the line up to swing my way in Hawaii. My friend John and I had just received one week off due to an aircraft malfunction, and the maintenance team would not be able to address it until the parts arrive. With the day off, John and I rented a convertible car and some surf boards with the hopes of another surfing safari beginning just outside of Honolulu. John was talking to some locals while we were waiting for the next set of waves. My mind was drifting in and out of the conversation with the following thoughts, “This is paradise, and how did I come to this moment”. Because I am in the Air force and the plane broke- no too fundamental. “What was the corner stone of my joining the Air Force and to fly?” Now there are the questions!

Mid 1980’s and I was working graveyard shift for a major Japanese Corporation in their Laboratory. I lived in a condominium over-looking Naval Air Station Mira Mar, home to the “Top Gun” school of aviation. On a clear day, we could look from our balcony and see the Coronado Island’s, Mexico. My roommates were my girlfriend and my cousin, both of which were out of work and I mainly paid the bills as we struggled- so they thought.
This particular night, falling on a weekend, my cousin asked if he and I could take a walk around the neighborhood, before dinner that my girlfriend was preparing. I agreed and away we went out into the darkness. We spoke of many things, of which, one was how he was sleeping with my girlfriend while I was working. He apologized and I was extremely angry. Then he asked me to hit him for his indiscretion. I wanted to and he wanted me to do it, but I could not give him everything that he wanted.
So, what do you do when your relative and girlfriend cheat on you?

Join the Air Force, learn to fly and escape the confines of this ground we call the Planet Earth.

Back in Hawaii and as I sat there, viewing the beauty that is Hawaii, I now began to think about “spin class”. No, not the Physical Training, but Emotional Training, and I realized that I love this thing that I call “My Life”. Had I continued to listen to the “Nay-Sayers”, I would have never entered the field of my dreams. To my readers, never listen to the “Nay-Sayers” as they will do everything in their power to restrain you from your dreams and desires.
Additionally, had those two people in my life chosen to do the stand up thing by approaching me with integrity, my life would have turned out differently. This is the “Spin Doctor” effect. We live, view, perceive, and learn from our experiences. Why take a horrible event, hold it in for “simmering”, and not move on? Why not view/perceive the positive “Spin” and appreciate that which hurts us for the growth it will lead?
As for the players:
They are married, and I have not spoken to them since. As I move around the world, I have heard of his jealousy of my journeys. Moreover, I am jealous not having somebody at home with anticipation of seeing me again. All this being said,

I attest the old saying to be accurate, “The grass IS always greener, on the other side of the fence.” But, that depends on who's side of the fence you are standing.

Reach

Assignment

Hello All,

As everybody is aware, I am attempting several things at one time with this site.
I wish to:
1) Improve my writing skills through your critiques,
2) Document this dramatic period of metamorphous I currently know as my life,
3) Prove to myself that I do have a life through illustrating these peaks,
4) Depict those items I truly miss,
5) Point up my goals,
6) And other items too numerous to list.

In my attempt to make my posts humorous, controversial, or informative, I feel that my writing abilities are not capturing my readers’ full attention or provoking thought. It is for this reason I am going to make the following request.

Please respond in the comments section with your suggestion of a topic that I shall cover in my writing. I will take the most popular subject to study, analyze and write about. Should you see a suggestion, you feel worthy of this adventure, please list. The suggestion period will end on Thursday, 20 April 2006 and I will post on Monday, 24 April 2006. You may select any subject in your imagination and I will agree to write on this subject.
Next, I ask for your critiques. As I appreciate each of you for your writing abilities, I am approaching this from a student’s point of view.
I appreciate your support on this project.

Thank you,

Reach

An Answer

Hello All,

I do hope that each of you enjoyed this last weekend. Easter, I hope is a time of reflection and celebration for you and your families.

Well I have recently received the answer of a previous post. Jesse Jackson, Civil-Rights Leader, Presidential Candidate and witnessed by me to have an ulterior motive in the topic of racism, publicly jump on board the Barry Bonds issue.
Jackson, failing to speak up during the Congressional, House Government Reform Committee hearings of Steroid usage in baseball, decided that Mr. Barry Bonds will be his platform to enter this year old debate.
With such names as Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro and other stars testifying on the connection of Major League Baseball and Illegal Performance-Enhancing drugs. Sosa, from the Dominican Republic, and Palmeiro of Cuba, have been labeled steroid users even though their testimonial denial of using this drug. Palmeiro has since tested positive for steroid usage. Jose Conseco, Cuban born, and Mark McGwire both pleaded the Fifth Amendment during their testimonies.
Illegal steroid use is destroying such names as Sosa, Palmeiro, Conseco and McGwire; thereby, all but eliminating their possibilities of entering the Baseball Hall of Fame. How many more careers will this drug devastate? As we speak of such greats, where has Mr. Jackson been during these times? In addition, why does he, or his advisors, feel this is the time to come forward and speak? Is it due to Mr. Bonds’ treatment in San Diego? I would think not, only due to the history of contention in this sport. The occurrence of items thrown at players as they take the field has happened many times in the past, especially when the game is involving two rival cities.
What does this state about our society values? Each previously mentioned sports player individually earns more than many other occupational heroes. Take a Paramedic, who only earns a very fractional amount and utilizes such over the counter pills to remain awake and alert on his/her shift. These professionals, like doctors who perform multiple hour long surgeries, require an alertness to perform their duties in saving our lives. These professionals just do not do this. The ramifications are too tremendous when you think of the loss of life. Has there been discussion of increasing these professionals’ earnings? I have not seen this, have you?
Additionally, what about the pilots who transport these teams to their next competition? What would happen if these professionals utilized “Performance-Enhancing” medication to better their operation or awareness? Or, heaven forbid, should one of these pilots “drop- the- ball” during the landing of the next city for the World Series, will their pay increase due to better performance? Will it increase due to their success in performance?
Why is it OK, as mentioned by some sports fans, for major league sports stars to utilize these remedies and maintain their career records? I think if these sports stars and role models for our youth are to keep their career records, then they should earn less money. Or, if they are to maintain their salaries, then they should be held to a higher level of integrity than other well earning professions, such as the surgeon or pilot.

I have been watching my reader’s visit to this site. While I am not an accomplished author, I do appreciate your visits and thoughts.
Thank you

Reach

Heard of the "Hill Factor"?

I forgot something- with the previous post

It is for Hill's sake, as I presented a title, topic, content (with which most can relate), and the all important visual (photo).

Did I forget to curse?

Yes!


CURSE YOU DR. FRANKENSTEIN!


(in the voice of Gene Wilder) "Thaats, FFFFrrrrrank-in-sh-teen!"

"Young Dr. Frankenstein", anybody?


Ciao

Reach

Howard, I'll give that a 4.0 on form.

Hello all,

What do you say,
when your day,
started out well?
What is OK,
as you play,
and the good times just fell?



To tell you the truth, I was happy to begin a new day. To bad it did not evolve into the day I was expecting.

My leg hurts when I walk or sit. Ever wonder what it feels like to lose the use of one leg.....










As you say to yourself, "Self- this is going to hurt"! Then, you remind yourself of this with each and every step.


Reach

Seinfeld=much about nothing

Conspiracy! It is a conspiracy, I tell ya.

Gasoline, an aged old subject comes to the foreground again. At this point, California gas prices are hovering around $3.00 per gallon. I can remember when we were told the prices were only going to climb for a short period, then fall in a few months. NOT!
Here is my point, simply put- the petroleum industry wants us to believe it stems from crude oil prices. OK, if that were true, why has the price of engine oil not increased? They keep the price low due to supply and demand. No, because the corporations would lose money, if they already have not, with synthetic engine oils.

I bring this up, only because the weather is going to be better for off-roading and the Jeep does not have good gas mileage.

Is the word “Blog” an acronym? Is the word "Acronym", an acronym? Why is the word “Abbreviation”, so long? Is it time for Jesse Jackson to come back into the media forefront in some headline news? Does he have a schedule? Why didn’t Terry, TV show Survivor, use his Immunity Idle, as he promised? Does gravity suck, or would that read, does greater mass suck? Does mass attract? If Jenifer Lopez walked in front of Angelina Jolie, or reverse, would that be an eclipse? Is this about enough?

Reach

What is missed!

Hello all,
Here is a simple post and I attempted to keep it shorter than my usual.

Well, I did it (insert sarcasm)!
My son’s cousin (on his mother’s side), celebrated her birthday at a skating rink over the weekend. At the attending parents’ request, I laced up for the first time in over ten years. The Parents desire: free skating instruction for the young party guests. I did not attempt to relive my old joys by doing any Axels, (Toe) Loops, Lutz’, or Sal chows. I only skated forward and backward as I taught the children how to skate- and my body was not prepared. This five hour experience has left my leg completely unusable, as I have not been able to move the joint. While my body is down, my heart is overwhelmed with joy as I watched some of the kids skate, unassisted, for the first time. It was worth it.

As these times enter my life, and I know they will continue, I think about those “worst-case-scenarios”. I have been thinking of my Air Force Buddy’s best friend, "C". He once told me a story, which I shall always remember. Some of you may even have knowledge of his stories, as he is very good. Anyway, he will continue to brighten my outlook with stories like this one. Therefore, "CLD", here is what I have been thinking about and I know it is not word for word and much shorter, as you are the one with the gift.
The setting: a lonely phone booth, outside of a bus station in the mid-west, and a single cowboy calling home to his wife to inform her of his arrival. He told her he is finished with the circuit and he is a couple hours away and coming home. She expressed her joy and told him that his timing was perfect, as the ranch really requires a lot of work. He also said that he would be traveling with a friend. She was happy, as they could use the extra help for all of the work. Well, his friend will probably not be able to assist them. You see, this friend had been hurt, pretty badly. She told him, they had no use for somebody who could not pull their own weight. They would have another mouth to feed, and they needed somebody to help with the work. She said; just leave that friend where you found him, on the road.

He said OK and hung up the phone.

He adjusted his hat, picked up his crutches and boarded the bus going the opposite direction.

Sometimes, we can say what is on our mind and forget to think about what is on the other person’s mind, or how they will perceive what we are trying to say. It is at those times, we might receive the exact opposite of our desires.

No matter how bad it can get; I am thankful for all that, I have not lost.

“Chris”, you are missed.

Reach

Hello all,

What a happy day, as I am the big winner over on Denny Shane's site. Following his lead, here is my Tarrot Card, I do not know about such things; however, the online web site states this about me. Who knew?

You Are The Emperor

You are an authority figure, and other people look to you for what to do.You are strong and powerful. Crossing you is not a good idea.You have worked hard to get to your position, and you're not about to give it up to anyone.Though you have a warrior heart, you are gentle to those who treat you well. Your fortune: In the near future, you need to be willing and able to defend those you love.This may be the time for you to step up and be the authority figure to those around you.It is time for you to be independent, to become your own person.You may need to look at your relationship with your father, or your relationships as a father.

What Tarot Card Are You?

I guess it is fun. We shall see if there is a response to this one. Give it a try.

Reach

The Mental Rodeo Clown

It was a beautiful summer day and we had celebrated the prior night down town Honolulu. The crew and I were on a lay over at Hickam AFB. Hawaii. The base lodging was full and the staff decided this crew was to spend their evening at the Outrigger West, down town. Back then, Moose’s was still in operation and proving to be quite profitable- busy. Yes, the year was sometime in the late 1990’s and tourism was doing well for this tropic port.

We met our bus, to take us to the airplane, out in front of the hotel; with each member checked out and fed. This was to be a nice and quiet flight east bound; at least that is what we thought. The sky was clear and the winds calm, well calm for Hawaii, as we were to be flying back to the main land. As we arrive to the aircraft, the steady stream of mechanics was busy doing their pre-departure duties in full force. With a hearty, “Thumbs up” the Crew Chief acknowledged our presence and remarked, “She’s a good plane, today”.

I powered up the radio and made the initial call, “Aloha Honolulu Ground, Reach 41, Hickam Ramp, radio check and altimeter setting, please”. The voice returns on the radio, “Aloha Reach 41, altimeter two niner- niner two, Honolulu Ground has you loud and clear, how me”? Cool, the radios are working well and instinctively I responded, “Loud and Clear, Reach 41, Mahalo”. The Crew Chief was correct, and I knew it, as there were never any doubts. These people are outstanding in their performance, and history has never proven this wrong. The remainder of the pre-flight went normal and without any problems. We were ready to go, early in fact. The Aircraft Commander (AC) announces to the crew, “We’re early, so smoke ’em if you got ‘em”! And those smokers on the crew, as well as some of the Crew Chiefs exited the plane and headed out front to the regulatory 50 foot mark on the ramp.

A short while later, “Well, what do you say”, said the AC, “Shall we call them back up here”? “Yes, if we start now, we might be able to get off twenty minutes early”, I responded, as my requirements are just finishing up. “You got the numbers”, I asked, and he reaffirmed the take off data was accurately input into the flight director and everything was in agreement.

After engine start, we began our journey out onto the long, approximately five mile taxiway out to the Coral Reef runway. What a view, I am certain the designers of the Airport intentionally wanted all to see the magnificent Island, "they would soon be departing”. Almost as if to say, “See what you are leaving behind”. As we entered the Runway, we get the all too common, but very important, speech; on the interphone, “Should there be an emergency on the ground- clearly state the nature of the emergency and we will make the decision to take it into the air and treat it as an airborne emergency, or, we will stop on the runway and take care of it on the ground”. “Though this is a long runway, please keep in mind for brake temperatures”, as part of the pre-take off brief.

The Take Off roll was normal and not one indication of what was to come our way. Climbing through 10,000 feet and all was a typical day. All at once, my situational awareness decreased and my entire focus shifted to the forward left side of the aircraft.

In the briefest of moments (the speed of your mind under the adrenaline rush), a motion picture played out in mind. I am a Rodeo Clown, during the Bull riding contest and I am in the “Clown’s Barrel” with a raging bull heading my way. As he drops his head to impact the barrel, which I am occupying, I can hear the crash and my body is waiting for centrifugal force to “kick in”. In that very moment, my mind arrives back to my seat on the flight deck, and with the realization of what is going on, I had wished I were back in the barrel. I came back to hear the loud “BANG”, echoing through the flight deck. This “movie” played out, at the first instance of the sound. Wow, that was fast!

“What the hell”, comes over the intercom! As we look toward the sound, everybody noticed the Pilot’s side window cracking. 5hit, sound and visual reference can truly wake a person up- even though they were already awake and focused. Immediately, I checked the cabin pressurization, and thus far, it was holding. OK, we have not experienced a “Rapid- Decompression”, but it could be following. I look back toward the window and now the Pilot’s forward window is letting go and beginning to replicate the side window. “We have fuselage structural damage”, I state over the intercom, “and the pressurization is holding”! I never would have guessed, as the skin supports the pressurization.

Normal procedures call for a level off, assess the damage, then descend or continue the climb accordingly. This aircraft, rated as one of the fastest climb rates in the inventory, was now leveling around 17,500 feet. “What do you think”, is asked over the intercom, to which I responded, “Let’s stay in Hawaii”. At the very second, the internal pressurization drops off and I announced what I was seeing. “Well, looks like you are going to get your wish”, comes back at me.

We turn the aircraft and assume the emergency approach, as we communicate our situation with the tower. “Reach 41, Number one to land, Cleared to land, Honolulu Tower”, said the controller. “Do you require emergency equipment on the field”, the voice inquisitively returns. “We’ll tell ya on the ground, Reach 41”, I followed on the radio. The landing went well and we incurred no other problems.

After shutting down the aircraft engines, and upon further inspection, we discovered the crack. I witnessed a separation in the structural skin of the aircraft, under the Pilot’s side window, measuring eleven inches in length and ¼ of an inch wide.

We enjoyed the next five days in Hawaii, back at the same hotel.

How am I doing at story telling? Did you enjoy this? Was it too long? Leave me a comment; and yes, this is a true story. If you liked this, I have more: to include the time our airplane was scudded, on the ground in the Middle East.

Reach