RA1

Everyone on this thread needs a good, long sexual encounter (including me)(especially including me). Best regards, RA!

We all wear many different hats. Best regards, RA1

The sunglasses make it so. Best regards. RA1

I think Hoke Colburn will likely be your driver. Best regards, RA1

Everyone deserves a second chance, even celebrities. They have a difficult row to hoe and they usually have little guidance for same from "real' people. Sorry for them. Money corrupts and a lot of money corrupts a lot. Best regards, RA1

Amusing or frightening, take your choice. But should it not be a soliloquy? Best regards, RA1

Daunting is my watchword. Best regards, RA1

You are far from a Stone Age kid but we could have had fun back then. I always wanted to BBQ a Mastodon. FO = First Officer, now commonly called SIC or Second in Command, previously known as co-pilot. Years ago, it was, "don't touch anything unless I tell you to" which slowly became CRM or Cockpit Resource Management, which is usually defined as using all the resources available and don't leave anyone out. Best regards, RA1

RE: The autopilot comparison. One night a friend of mine who is now a retired FEDEX DC-10 captain, was flying a coupled autoland approach. This involves 3 certified autopilots + special monitoring by the crew. The FO looks for the runway and the captain watches the AP and the FO. My friend reported to me the next day that one by one the autopilots dropped off line. The aircraft landed itself and used autobrakes to slow. It was only when the captain disengaged the autobrakes and started his taxi that anyone realized all autopilots had failed. Eventually, driverless cars likely will be safer than one driven by human drivers but not because driverless cars are so good but because human drivers are so bad. Best regards, RA1

FDR was already providing armed escort for the supply convoys sending war material to the UK under the Lend-Lease program. This before Pearl Harbor. FDR was just daring the Germans to attack American ships and the Germans were doing their very best to oblige. Regardless of how well Hitler got along with Italy and Japan, he either felt he should join Japan in declaring war or used it as a handy excuse to do so. Provocation by both the US and Germany was going to continue and escalate until war was declared. Germany already had a heavy water research plant going and seemingly definitely were on the right track to develop the atomic bomb. Allied destruction of the heavy water plant slowed the development down to the point of them not being able to complete it during the war. Hitler ran hot and cold on several "radical" or new ideas. Some he pursued actively for extended periods and others he dropped after running into some problem or other. Best regards, RA1

Aren't these called taxis? Best regards, RA1

You listed 3 reasons why the German attack on Russia was a mistake and there were more. FDR was keenly looking for ANY excuse to enter the war. After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor it was simply a matter of time before the world knew who went first, Germany or the USA, in declaring war upon the other. The USA definitely would not have waited. Of course there were factors that affected each and every side to the various conflicts but certain ones seem to have an inordinate effect on the ultimate result. Best regards, RA1

Driverless cars in a way sound scary, somewhat like a drone. Both can operate independently but both need a "minder". OTOH, going 75 MPH 2 feet away from who knows who, meaning mental state, physical state, high or low, is not exactly a wonderful feeling. Pilots have to face re-current training, re-current medical exams and various amounts of initial training in order to fly. Drivers have something almost a rite of passage with a minimum of training, no medical exam and no re-current training or evaluations. In other words a fee paid to the state that allows one to drive. Scary. I have to say I am not in favor of drones in their current state of development (meaning regulations) but I am in favor of developing driverless cars. One caveat, how shall we survive when the whole USA is covered in concrete or asphalt to accommodate vehicles and there is no land left for crops, parks, living space, etc.? Best regards, RA1

I have not yet looked at the documentary but thanks for posting it. There are a lot of what ifs about WWII and especially Germany's part. What if they had developed the atomic bomb? What if Hitler were not the megalomaniac that he was and listened to his generals or didn't attack Russia or on and on? Best regards, RA1

Actually, it was a 1946 Mercury, one of the first two to arrive after the war. One had a heater and the other did not. Obviously, my father got the one without the heater. My family had no comparison to the Beverly Hillbillies. We were neither rich nor hillbillies. I don't remember why we went to CA. Our family only took 3 vacations during my childhood. However, all were epic journeys. One to CA and two to Yellowstone Park. Otherwise my family worked all year round until I was at least 25. Now, as a pilot, I have traveled the world over and do little other than travel. As mentioned before, I have little interest in BEING anywhere and the adventure is the travel itself. Best regards, RA1

wayout- Doesn't it get uncomfortable sticking your head into a bowl of Coke? Before the advent of car defrosters one could pour Coke on the outer windscreen and that would tend to keep it from fogging up. Yes, my parents owned at least one car that did not have a heater. When I was a child we drove to California in the winter. We had blankets and bricks which we heated at stops for heat. Interesting memory for me. Best regards, RA1

You are a poet. Are your feet Longfellows? Best regards, RA1

First it boils off the water and leaves the syrup from which the product was first made; then it caramelizes the sugar in the syrup; then it carbonizes the sugar. Any sugar drink should do much the same. Davey Wavey says Coke makes a splendid toilet cleaner and that is why you should not drink it (unless you have a potty mouth?) Best regards, RA1

Do the words, "role model" and "celebrity" belong in the same sentence? Most celebrities don't want to be role models and most are not, at least in whatever passes for their private lives which also is almost non-existent for celebrities. However, I certainly agree the Boob could help himself by trying a little harder. Best regards, RA1

As an over fed Westerner or Southerner, I can attest that foregoing food is very beneficial. However, I have not found the perfect balance for food ingestion. I normally avoid breakfast and also avoid lunch which leaves me as having one meal a day later. The problem is I like a cocktail or two before a meal. That adds calories. Otherwise, I would lose weight. But, I do not. Therefore I have to assume there are other solutions out there. Best regards, RA1

Lake or ocean, yes. Pool, no. Now we could go into Seinfeld and ask the "George" question: Did you pee in the shower? I refuse to talk about any other possibilities. Best regards, RA1

This "story" posited so many theories that very likely many of them might be true or at least one or two. It would take the latest Cray to even try to parse among them. However, still interesting. Best regards, RA1

Either there is or there isn't . I still have fuel and food resulting from the original Y2K. I am not complaining. We might need it yet. Best regards, RA1

Thank you notes seem to be falling out of favor among younger women also. I gave a nice wedding gift to a young female cousin who got married last March. No reply or acknowledgement of any kind so far. I know people are busy, etc. but so am I. I had time to choose and send it + attend the wedding. In light of today's disregard of what we used to think was common courtesy, I would be thrilled with a simple email. No snail mail required. I invariably send a thank you email to a "visitor" before his plane even takes off for his home. Best regards, RA1

I was prepared to be unfavorably impressed by any argument in favor of changing the number of Supremes but I have to admit this argument has some good points. As mentioned, FDR tried packing the court and for the wrong reasons. I do agree that even the most able jurists do naturally get older and less able to handle the case load. One problem not mentioned and therefore no solution offered is that the Supremes, like the Congress, rely too much on staff to do all of the grunt work and much of any other. Put me down as at least willing to explore this idea. Best regards, RA1