Good Reading Around The Webs

Mosiac:  Ecstasy and Amnesia in the Gaza Strip 

The article gives quite a good explanation as to the Arab mindset and how we got to the present conflict.  It's not just that, as Abba Eban said,  "The Arabs never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity", it's more and more clear that they don't want the opportunity in the first place. Unfortunately, they keep getting bailed out of their continuing string of bad choices, leading to the conflict continuing ad infinitum.

Daniel Greenfield: How Hamas Became an Environmentalist and Gun Control Cause.  If you're not regularly reading Daniel Greenfield, you should be. 

In this article he explores how the strange leftist bedfellows came to be through intersectionality.  The weird case of LGBTers standing up for Hamas - the same Hamas that  gives LGBTers flying lessons off rooftops as standard practice.  Also the case of environmentalists for Hamas, (one would think Hamas' rockets harm the environment and lead to global warming and all that). That gun controllers are demonstrating for Hamas is also rather impressive - Hamas' attack shows the horrible outcome of gun control where defenseless people get massacred by armed monsters, but gun controllers never really act from logic anyways.

Hot Air: Hamas Keeps Violating Ceasefire Agreement. 

Totally unexpectedly, of course.

CDR. Salamander:American Naval Forces (with a Japanese assist) Capture Pirates

If you're not regularly reading CDR. Salamander, you really should as you're missing out on some masterful analysis of world naval affairs. 

Here we have Yemeni pirates hijacking ships that have connections to Israel, and the US Navy once again taking on anti-piracy operations in the region.  We also have the Houthis launching ballistic missiles at a US Destroyer - no forcible response from the Biden administration to this attack so far, which seems to be par for the course.

Many People Just Don't Want The Facts To Get In The Way Of The Narrative And it Shows

Some people have allowed Trump to live in their heads rent-free and engage in coup fantasies and it shows.

In my post The January 6 Show Trial Resorts to Hearsay I pointed out issues with the veracity of the testimony made by Ms. Hutchinson and some indicators that it was less than true, especially as those who were actually there, unlike Ms. Hutchinson. have stated the salacious details did not happen and that they offered that they would testify to the contrary.

RobertaX from The Adventures of Roberta X then came by and left a comment that Federal hearsay rules aren't simple. Well, to people who don't understand hearsay that is true enough. Starting out they appear very complex but once you understand the logic behind the rules they do make sense and can be worked with.  Just to be clear, I deal with hearsay in court all the time so I'm rather well acquainted and have a good working knowledge of such in both Federal and State Court. 

 I then noticed she had made a post on her blog on the same subject Wading The Rubicon: Yesterday's Hearing claimed Trump had "crossed the Rubicon" and attempted a coup, based on Hutchinson’s testimony.

Rather histrionic and contrary to the actual occurrence, which was bad enough.  No need to go over the top and over-exaggerate.  The riot, such as it was, was an unacceptable act and properly condemnable and indeed I have and continue to condemn it loudly and clearly, just in case anyone is wondering.

I then pointed out in a comment on her blog regarding the issues with the reliability of Hutchinson’s statements given, they were allegedly relaying information she had been given second or even third-hand and that those she alleged made the statements have said it didn’t happen and even offered to testify.

RobertaX as you can go see in the comments on her blog in the post then replied saying that

“As for "the originator of the tale was not called to testify under oath," he has, in fact, refused to testify under oath, one of the many Trump Administration staffers to so refuse (or to take the Fifth when they do testify). and that Trump attempted a coup."

She also claimed I failed to discuss the talking point that Trump allegedly wanted to go to the Capitol that day.   Go read her comment for yourselves.

No, I indeed did not address ever possible talking point and did not address that tidbit, mea culpa if such is required for not addressing every possible claim in the testimony. But, I’ll note her post doesn’t even mention that tidbit either so no need for my comment to discuss it, neh?

I then replied back to the effect that (no I did not save the comment after posting it there as I expected there would be no need to preserve it, so this is not verbatim and is paraphrasing and summarizing what was written hours earlier):

1. I’m rather familiar with hearsay and the reason it is not allowed in court is its unreliability, such as the case with Ms. Hutchinson’s testimony before the committee. Note in my original comment to her I stated it was disliked.

Disliked as in verily hearsay statements are typically inadmissible unless the statement is not hearsay or there is an exception from the rule to allow its admissibility. But I simply said “disliked”, as I doubted she wanted a dissertation in her blog comments on hearsay, it’s definition, and exceptions. (For the record, lest anyone think otherwise, I do know the committee is not a trial, had there been a trial there might have been cross-examination of the witness, disclosure of evidence, exclusion of un-reliable statements etc, and this is a managed TV show trial production, but hey, you do you).

2. I stated in my comment directly replying to her point that she claims the witnesses are refusing to testify.  I stated that The January Sixth Committee has the subpoena power and can easily compel the original witnesses to the alleged events who allegedly relayed them so they eventually reached Ms. Hutchinson to testify. They have chosen not to do so, nor apparently take up the offers of testimony by those who were actually there and state it did not happen - which speaks volumes.  Namely it  reveals that the Committee prefers unreliable salacious politically-charged accusations that get headlines over an attempt to determine the truth of what occurred that day.

3. It is highly unlikely that Trump could have reached the steering wheel from where he was seated. Since Hutchinson claimed it was in the Beast. He was instead in a Suburban limo which is not the Beast, that testimony is all questionable. What else did she get wrong hearing of it second- and third-hand?

4. There’s a reason testimony like this is disfavored it allows unreliable fabulations and confabulations to be accepted as factual when actual first hand accounts of the same event that contradict the approved narrative are available.

5. There was no “coup”. Indeed her claim of it being a coup demeans the very meaning of the word coup and demeans all the actual coups in history. Verily, if this was a coup as she puts it, it would have to be considered one of the most inept, unorganized, unarmed, unplanned, uncontrolled, and ineffective, coups attempt in the history of the known world. To call this stupid riot a coup is to overstate what occurred by far.   I noted Hutchinson's testimony is a very thin reed to rely upon to claim a coup attempt occurred.

Unfortunately, she chose not to publish the comment, claiming it’s a Trumpy talking point and not addressing the points she raised or others raised in the comments. That, my friends, is false. The comment she chose to block directly responded to her comment and the points she raised.

But that’s fine, that’s her blog, and her choice to not have a conversation nor address the points I made in response to her points. She can have the last word on her blog and mischaracterize what I said in the responsive comment that she has decided not to post as she deems fit.

But, I will note she came over here to my blog first and decided to engage here and discuss my post, which led me to her blog to discuss her over-the-top post, then to reply to her comment replying to mine,  expecting the same courtesy of civil discussion as is extended here. 
 
This is fine, I tolerate multiple views of opinion and do not delete comments simply because they disagree with my view or opinion. I solely delete comments that are spam or defamatory or otherwise in my discretion reach a point of very high unacceptability that you'd know it when you see them. Disagreeing with me does not constitute such. I even allow comments that point out I may have made an error or overlooked something, which I oft have been known to do. This tends to improve dialog and prevents an echo chamber effect and improves my blog as a result.  Dissenting opinions that bring the facts with them in a civil manner are welcome.

RobertaX is certainly always welcome to come and post her opinion in comments on my blog as she may wish to do so, as is anyone else with views that may be contrary to mine.

A Great Blogger Fly In

A great day today flying to meet a great bunch of people.

 I flew from Pontiac to KFPK, Charlotte airport, with Mr. B of In The Middle of The Right blog flying in as well.

I had Tosh as a passenger, his first time in a small plane.

Winds were pretty light at 6 knots out of 300 which wasn't bad. The cloud layer was low and MVFR earlier in the day and bu the time we left at 11 am it was scattered at around 3,500-4,000 feet.  It was spaced apart in solid lines of clouds followed by completely blue lines of clear sky like waves and you could climb above the cloud wave,  and then drop down behind it through a ton of clear sky and surf up again staying out of the clouds the whole time.  We did that for a bit and then stayed low so Tosh could sight see.  I could see the ground the whole time so it wasn't VFR on top, it was still VFR but with lines of clouds every now and then.

Besides there were some great fall colors to see.

At Charlotte, the clouds were lower at around 3,000 and the wind kept shifting.  Still about 6 knots, but one moment it favored Runway 21, the next Runway 3.   I decided to land on Runway 3 and the wind stayed there long enough to make it a nice easy landing.

Awaiting us on the tarmac was Scott of Providentia, Scott's dad the Sargent, and Joe of Eaton Rapids Joe.

Mr. B landed ion short order right behind us.

Then we headed off to lunch all together and talked for a few hours, catching up, and on the important matters of the day.  

An excellent time with a really great bunch of conversationalists.  A very smart and experienced bunch and the time just flew by.

Mr. B. generously picked up the tab, so we all chipped in the equivalent of our meals as tips for the waitress, hopefully making her day, as the restaurant was pretty quiet.  I'm getting the next one.

Then we headed back to the airport and preflighted and did our run-ups and got ready to head out.  The Clouds were still pretty low.

As I left the parking area, the AWOS report the wind was favoring Runway 21 as did the wind sock, so I started to taxi to 21.  Of course then wind shifted in completely the opposite direction, so I had to taxi back to Runway 3.  Not a big deal, but a good decision that didn't take too much time to carry out.

So with low clouds were flew back at around 2,500 feet.  There was a bit of light chop and bouncing around, but Tosh took it with aplomb and enjoyed himself flying, and at 118 knots we made good time back.

Pontiac tower first set me up for Runway 27L but then knowing I park on the north side, had me cross the departure corridor and then enter the right downwind for 27R. I did a normal downwind leg.

Then, we had to do a quick tight base due to traffic, so I came in a bit higher and faster speed than usual as it wasn't the usual downwind to start the descent so there was a bit of float and I landed a bit longer than usual,  but it was a sweet, soft touchdown.  I do like to keep my passengers happy with my landings.

Then taxi back to the hangar and put the plane away.

A great time was had with some absolutely great people.

1.8 and two excellent landings and another happy first time small airplane passenger.

Last Night's Meeting With Good Friends

Some people you can not see in person for years, just online, but meet up with them and the conversation flows and its like you've never been apart. Some people are like that.

I had a good meetup with Keads and Nancy yesterday when they visited Michigan to tour the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village.

They had a great time visiting one of this Country's finest museums, and I was able to meet up with them afterwards for dinner at the Dearborn Inn.

Keads even brought be a gift which is otherwise unobtainable in Michigan:

Yuengling is not distributed in Michigan, so getting any of it is always a treat.

Thankfully, I had planned ahead knowing he was coming, and on my last trip to Canada had gone to duty free to buy a case of his favorite libation (in bottles, not cans mind you), which is similarly very hard to find this side of the border.

I had a darn good dinner with both of them, the fine southern gentleman and southern lady that they are.

Flying - Meeting Mr. B

One of the great things about joining this flying club is I can get out and meet people and do things.

Mr. B of In The Middle Of The Right and I got our pilot's licenses a rather short time apart form each other.

Now we could actually meet up.

We dedcided to meet at KOEB, Coldwater Airport as its just about mid-way between us.

On Saturday the weather looked perfect for a Sunday flight.

Waking up Sunday it got interesting.

Very low clouds, creating LIFR, IFR and MVFR along the route of flight from Pontiac to KOEB.

The terminal area forecasts along route all predicted it would rise to VFR by my time of flight, and in calling for a Weather Brief, they concurred but suggested I depart a little later instead of the 10 am departure that I had planned.

I agreed with that and headed to the airport and got there at 10 to get ready. Between getting the aircraft from the hangar, getting it fueled up and having a thorough preflight, I got the Archer ready to leave and did my taxi to the run-up area.

I finally left at 11:00 am, after waiting for a long time to get clearance to take off. Lots of pattern activity and people coming in right then.

I was delayed so long that Tower even called to say "Cherokeee holding short of 25R, I haven't forgotten about you".

He was all sorts of busy so I didn't bother him with a request for flight following.

I then headed out to the southwest, and the clouds were low. I got up to 2,500 feet to stay 500 feet below the clouds and was stuck there for many miles until it lifted to 3,500.

It then got lower again about 30 nautical miles from Coldwater. I head a Bonanza announce itself at Coldwater.

When I was about 15 miles out I heard Mr. B's callsign on the radio that he was entering the downwind for Runway 25 at Coldwater.

At 10 nm, I called out my position and he knew it was me.

While I was setup for a straight-in approach for runway 25, A cardinal was entering the downwind for 25 from the west, so I decided not to do a straight-in approach as that would be impolite, and instead announced I was going to head south to offset, make sure I was out of his way, and do a teardrop entry at midfield into the downwind for Runway 25.

Mr. B landed uneventfully, then the Cardinal and then I came in and similarly did a good landing.

Photos by Mr. B.

I met up with Mr. B and we headed into the Prop Blast Cafe for lunch.

Low wing and high wing parked nicely beside each other (Mr. B's pic:).

On the way to the cafe, we passed by Coldwater's airport firetruck.

It may not look like much from the outside, but it had great food and nice service.

It also had a rather humorous sign in the washroom:

Mr. B. kindly insisted on buying lunch as he had invited me to KOEB. I owe him one.

$100 burgers were the order of the day. Mushroom Swiss and very tasty.

We had a good time chatting and I then got a text from Tash that the weather around Pontiac was starting to look bad including thunderclouds which was all sorts of no bueno.

I checked the Metar for Pontiac and while still VFR, it was reporting towering cumulus in the vicinity.

So we decided to head out at that point. I figured I'd make Howell my alternate airport if the weather was bad around Pontiac.

I then got the Archer pre-flighted, taxi'd to Runway 22 and did a run-up and then took off and headed back to the north east (Mr. B's pic of the start of my taxi out):

I called up Kalamazoo and got flight following to Pontiac. I was then almost immediately passed off to Lansing who had me change course for a bit to avoid some parachutists jumping, and to avoid another aircraft that was out there in my way and not talking to anyone. Flight following is good to have.

I remained below the clouds, staying at 2,900 feet and Lansing passed me through to Detroit Approach, who had me descend and maintain 2,800 feet. As I was flying picked up Pontiac's ATIS broadcast so I had it ready for when Detroit asked it I had it. Just low clouds, and a very little light chop in spots, but nothing serious along the way.

I then saw Pontiac through the haze at about 12 miles and flight following was cancelled and I then contacted Pontiac tower who had me make a right base for runway 9R. They then amended it to a straight in for Runway 9L. I must say it was yet again another excellent landing.

I then got off the runway at Kilo and ground sent me right to the hangar where I parked the aircraft, cleaned all the dead bugs off the leading edges and called it an excellent cross-country flight. That was an excellent time meeting with another great blogger.

2.4 and 2 landings.

Latest Addition To The Blogroll

Fresh off the blogspot press, The Counter Jockey Chronicles, a new blog by a good gun aficionado and fellow NRA Annual Meeting Attendee that I've met in person. A very nice guy indeed.

He just started his blog today, and I expect we'll be reading some excellent and interesting tales, opinions, and stories in no time.

Do check him out.

Flying - First Cross Country As A Private Pilot

Today's weather was just beautiful flying weather - winds calm to light, few clouds at 4,500 otherwise clear until way up there, no TFRs, no significant weather of any kind.

So I had arranged to meet with Eaton Rapids Joe of the eponymous Eaton Rapids Joe Blog and Scott of Providentia Blog at KFPK airport in Charlotte.

As KFPK is 62 nautical miles away from Pontiac it counts as cross-country flight and a mission to meet friends and find my first $100 hamburger (the cost of the flight gets it to $100 fast). I did indeed do a paper chart and navigation log and got a weather briefing before heading off. While I did use both the Garmin GPS 430 and Foreflight on my iPad in the plane, I still checked the map and nav chart for checkpoints as well.

I had booked an Archer for the flight, and had put in time for meeting, but apparently the Archer had a mechanical issue so they put me in a Piper Warrior, N2885B. First time in a Warrior but its basically a slightly smaller and lower-powered Archer with pretty much the same setup so it was an easy transition, even as it has a little less oomph on takeoff that was kinda noticeable, but no matter.

The light 4-knot crosswind favored the 9 side of the field, so I did a long taxi, did the run up and held short of the runway.

Then before taking off from Runway 9L I had to wait for a hovering helicopter to get off the runway. He did a very stylish sideways maneuver and then lifted off once the tower asked him to git, and then it was my turn.

Then I did a nice takeoff and I was instructed to do a downwind departure. I did so and then Tower wanted me to stick to my heading of 270 as there was a Citation Jet incoming for the parallel runway and staying out of his flight path was in everyone's best interest.

After he passed, I adjusted my course and headed to KFPK.

I overflew Livingston County Airport, site of some of my prior flights, and I listened to the traffic in the pattern as I flew serenely over it at 4,500 feet.

Then I made it to KPFK, and there was another aircraft in the pattern.

I then did two nice low passes and go-arounds over the runway. The Runway at 3510 x 75 ft was thinner than I was used to and slightly smaller, so it took a bit to get the setup right as I was coming in too high and fast on final on both occasions, probably due to turning too early on base, and because I had two bloggers watching my landings.

Rather than being dumb and forcing it in, I did go-rounds and then followed the other plane, a Diamond DA-20 as he did a B-52 type pattern around the airport. This gave me plenty of room to setup a perfect approach and the landing was smooth as can be. I then pulled up to the airport building and had two bloggers waving to me. I parked and let them into the building using the entry code and signed into the visitor register.

Then we headed to town and at Charlotte Brewing Co., I was hungry enough to eat a Moose, and one was indeed there.

Instead of Moose, I had my first fabled $100 hamburger.

A darn good burger and it hit the spot.

Over the meal, I had some excellent conversation with Scott:

And with Eaton Rapids Joe, Mid-Michigan's Man of Mystery:

Great discussion was had, delicious burgers were eaten, and it was a perfect time indeed. Darn good folks, the two of them.

Then we went back to the airport and I showed them the plane and did the pre-flight and run up, and headed back to Pontiac. I flew back at 5,500 feet and there was a bit of haze and a few thin clouds on the way, but it was a nice easy flight.

At 12 miles from Pontiac I called the tower and they had me do a 5 mile straight in final as I was already lined up on Runway 9L.

Basically for a straight in approach you decrease altitude until you're at pattern height at 2 nm away, and then imagine the pattern is now a straight line and you do each procedure where you'd do it in the pattern. This works well when you really know the landmarks and I had this approach just perfect.

I did a fantastic smooth landing even as the wind kicked up a bit of a crosswind, because of course, no bloggers nor probably anyone else were watching. I then taxied back to DCT and parked the plane.

1.9 Hours, 2 landings and first $100 hamburger eaten and mission accomplished. That flight just felt great, and using the plane as it was intended -- to go places and meet people -- which was the whole point of getting the license in the first place, was really excellent indeed. Thanks for the great meet-up gents.

Kentucky Weekend

Kentucky is horse country.

Leah is big into horses.

This worked out rather fortuitously this last weekend was Breyerfest - a horse fair and model horse extravaganza.

It turns out Breyer model horses are a very big deal, with quite a following and they put on quite an event.

So we decided to take her to Breyerfest held at the Kentucky Horse park in Lexington.

We stayed at an AirBnB that was an actual horse farm and she was thrilled and many horses happily accepted carrots fed to them by hand.

However the trip down could have been smother.

First was construction in Toledo, next was an over hour delay due to an accident on I-75 further south in Ohio.

Next was construction right in Cincinnati right before the border with Kentucky.

Finally we saw this:

But only after we had lost over another hour in standstill traffic there. That made it a seven and a half hour trip which sucked mightily.

But we made it there and met up with Tom of Daddybear's Den and his family for dinner on Friday night at a nice BBQ restaurant they had recommended, and had a very nice time catching up and chatting. Great people.

After that we headed back to the horse farm, unpacked and made the beds and that was Friday.

Got Some Serious Wood

Last evening after work I headed to Holt Michigan for a karate seminar.

Before it began I had a chance to briefly meet up with Joe Mama of Eaton Rapids Joe. The good sir brought me quite a present indeed:

Yes, that's a whole lot of wood for smoking: Hickory, Apple, Pecan and Mulberry, enough to fill the trunk and rear seating area to the brim. Each box was full and smelled great.

That's a closeup of some Mulberry - I've never used it as a smoking wood before so it should be interesting to try it out. It should be a fantastic smoking summer. After the karate seminar was over, I got in the car and it smelled great - the apple wood especially has a very nice fresh scent.

Then I went home through high winds, lightening and a thunderstorm that had visibility on the highway down at times to a few feet, which sucked.

Thanks again to Eaton Rapids Joe for a fine gift of some wood. He joked that he had found a city slicker that he could offload some wood on, and he indeed found an appreciative one.

Fine Bloggers I've Newly Met At NRAAM

At NRAAM I had the chance to meet up with some bloggers that I had previously not had the pleasure of meeting.

These are all great people, with some great blogs which have been duly added to my blogroll and are well worth your perusal:

Tom of DaddyBear's Den - If you haven't read his Tales of the Minivandians, you really, really need to do so, now.

I'll have a full review up once I'm done, but I'm too darn busy laughing at the tales and enjoying the fine writing style of the book.

LawDog of The Lawdog Files. Another fine gentleman who gave of his time to make the Shooter First Aid Seminar a success.

Peter and his charming wife of Bayou Renaissance Man

JB of JB on the rocks. Yet another fine gentleman who gave of his time to make the Shooter First Aid Seminar a success.

John of No Lawyers - Only Guns and Money

It was an honor and a true pleasure meeting all of you, and I hope to do so again at the 2016 NRAAM if not before.

Sebastian of Shall Not Be Questioned. How I had failed to put him in my blogroll previously is quite an oversight.