Good morning,
I told y'all that I would not issue a lesson today but an event occurred that has forced me to do some explaining. First, most if not all, of the journalist cannot contain themselves as reporting what they assume as being fact. What happened was this: An air traffic controller saw a target on his radar that was unknown but it had a transponder that told the controller the altitude of the aircraft. The controller asked a airliner that was behind and above this private aircraft to fly close enough to the aircraft to get the aircraft ID number that is painted on the side. The pilot complied and reported the number to the controller. The FAA jumped straight up into the air and suspended the controller as causing a near collision. The reporter said that the minimum separation between aircraft is 3 miles laterally and 1,000 feet vertically. That is not true. For instance: It is possible for a private aircraft to depart Greenville, SC turn off his radio and fly to Mobile, Alabama and not be under anyone's control and not talk to anyone. The only stipulation is that he must stay in relatively clear skies and avoid PCA's (positive control airspace) which is in use near high density areas like Atlanta. If you choose to fly through a PCA you must be in contact with an air traffic control facility. The minimum separation between aircraft flying under visual conditions and another aircraft is a coat of paint. There is no designated minimum separation for these flights, the pilot has assumed that responsibility by choosing to fly under visual conditions. For those aircraft flying under the auspices of air traffic control the separation between those aircraft being controlled is indeed 3 miles laterally and 1,000 feet vertically. All commercial aircraft must fly in “controlled” airspace. Those demi-gods that are spouting the “news” are telling us something that they know nothing about as being fact...typical. That is why we need to be very skeptical about anything we see and hear on the so-called “news”.
This date in history March 31
1776 On this date Continental Congressman John Adams’ wife Abigail writes him a letter saying in part “I long to hear that you and the others have declared an independency. By the way, in the new code of laws I suppose it will be necessary for you to make, I desire you to remember the ladies and be more favorable and generous to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands. Remember, all men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws which we do not have any voice or representation,” Let us recap at this point. John Adams and the Continental Congress are gathered together in Philadelphia on the cusp of creating a new nation the likes of which the world has never seen. They are doing this knowing that the mightiest army and navy on the planet will bring all their forces to the fore to prevent this from happening. Then one our greatest leaders is reminded to remember gender parity under the threat of a “rebellion”. Abigail Adams was a brilliant person and was as devoted to John as John was to her but to threaten a “rebellion” at this point was nothing short of bullshit. This country was facing the most important decision in world history and Abigail is worried about gender parity!!!! Abigail, this ain’t the time to start nagging about that, for crying out loud!!! It is at least shortsightedness if not a total lack of vision. On second thought, maybe Abigail had extraordinary vision because it took just short of 150 years for the United States Congress to enact the 19th Amendment allowing women to vote. Abigail Adams and Barbara Bush are the only two women to be wives and mothers to two American presidents.
1492 On this date, at the direction of the Catholic Church in Spain, all Jews are ordered to become Christians or leave the country. Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face, a great majority of the Jews did indeed leave rather than give up their heritage. They took with them huge amounts of money, skills and business connections with many of the countries in the Mediterranean, Europe and Scandinavia. But some of the Jews stayed and held secret Jewish ceremonies while claiming to be Christians. It didn’t help any; the Jews claiming to be Christians were treated like shit anyway. Then the Catholic Church in Spain stepped on its tongue once again and declared that all Moors (Moslems) in Spain must become Christians or leave the country also. One would think that the loss of such a money making and tax paying segment would bankrupt a country. But it didn’t. Spain remained one of the major players in Europe and the world for over 300 years afterward. They took a small dip in power when the Spanish navy was crushed by the English navy in the mid-1500’s. They took another hit when they joined with France and Napoleon Bonaparte and again were crushed by the British navy in the late 1700’s. But Spain reaped an enormous fortune from the “new world” by their conquistadors enslaving the natives in Central and South America and bringing literally tons of gold, silver and precious gems back home.
1999 On this date a 22 year old woman is found running down a dirt road in New Mexico naked except for a padlocked metal collar around her neck. She tells a fascinating tale about being kidnapped three days ago by a man named David Ray and a woman named Cynthia Hendy and being taken to a mobile home and raped and tortured. The police find out that David Ray is an employee of the Elephant Butte State Park located near the mobile home. The woman escaped from Ray and Hendy when Ray left for work and the woman stabbed Hendy in the back of the neck with an ice pick. After an investigation the police believe that this woman is not the only victim of Ray and Hendy. There was and unsolved case of a woman disappearing from an Elephant Butte bar a few years earlier and after the news came out about this event, several woman came forward and said that they had been victims of Ray and Hendy but to ashamed to report it. Needless to say, the attendance at Elephant Butte State Park went to hell.
Born today:
1844 Scottish writer Andrew Lang. He said of one of his competitors “He uses statistics as a drunken man uses a lamppost, for support not illumination.”
1914 Mexican writer Octavio Paz. He said “Deserve your dream,” That is heavy, y'all.
1915 TV personality Henry Morgan. He said “A careful driver is one that blows his horn as he runs a red light.” I have seen this happen.
1925 US writer Leo Buscaglia. He said “I do not have wisdom. I can only teach you what ignorance is.”
1948 US politico Al Gore. He said “A leopard cannot change its stripes.” Al is a piece of work. Pretty dumb for someone that invented the internet.
Died today:
1631 English writer John Donne. He said “Wicked is almost the same as discreet.” I prefer discreetly wicked.
1898 English born writer Eleanor Marx. She said “By the time your life had ended, you have learned enough to live it well.” She is right, dammit.
1931 US Football legend Knute Rockne. He said “Prayers work best when you have the biggest players.”
1998 US representative Bella Abzug. She said “The establishment is made up of little men, very frightened.”
Speaking of little men, I saw a short news blurb about someone interviewing Dennis Koslowski the ex-president of the giant company Tyco. This jackass stripped millions of dollars from his company to provide his personal aggrandizement. He had homes on Central Park with $50,000 shower curtains, etc. On his wife’s birthday he flew his entourage consisting of 65 people to Sardinia on a chartered jumbo jet for her birthday party, all charged to the company. He was tried and convicted of a variety of illegal acts and was in the slammer mopping floors for $1.00/day. It gives me the warm fuzzies.
Thanks for listening I can hardly wait until tomorrow
