A message in a bottle on the roof of a Goslar, Germany, cathedral was found by the grandson of the writer. An authentic lesson from history: “On March 26, 1930, four roofers in this small west German town inscribed a message to the future. “Difficult times of war lie behind us,” they wrote. After describing...
"On every airline flight, a crew member talks to passengers in the exit rows to see whether they can, as Federal Aviation Administration regulations specify, “pass expeditiously through the emergency exit” if needed. Given how passengers have grown in inverse proportion to the spaciousness of airliner seats, anything like “expeditious” evacuation of an entire airliner seems doubtful."
[Edited two days later to fix some typos and unclear, stream-of-consciousness-type unclear phrases.] During the recent effort to rename the Russell Senate Office Building, it would have been nice to remember that both Richard Russell, the building’s current namesake, and John McCain, the proposed replacement namesake, (while useful tools to poke the likes of President...
On 1-Jun-1945, six weeks after the death of Franklin Roosevelt, new U.S. President Harry Truman convened a meeting to update the status on and debate the use of the soon-to-be-born atomic bomb. But first, at the Pentagon, a group consisting of James Byrnes (soon to be Secretary of State), generals George C. Marshall and Leslie...
Remembering Bill Schock on his 100th birthday … and the 52nd anniversary of Braniff 250 in Falls City. Also … feeling old from … time flying and stuff. Since the AM2431 crash in Durango a few days ago appears to be from weather-related causes, never forgetting the lessons of BN250, as well as CO426, OZ809,...
"There is a discrete left-opportunist trend that seeks to throw all developments in Cuba post-1959 into the dustbin and forget about it. This does as little for us as the right-opportunist line; both fail to grasp the full reality of revisionist corrosion and capitalist restoration in Cuba, although one cloaks itself in stultified theory."
Is there anything better than a warm summer night playing in – er, rather sitting near the lawn sprinkler under a street light while watching the 21:00 evening arrivals at KBNA? Well, maybe if I was still 10 …
Back in 2014, I included a chapter in my book detailing Bill Schock's war experiences as they related to his reporting on the crash of Braniff International flight 250 in 1966.
«This is Bill’s final column» out of countless ones he wrote over 71 years for the Falls City Journal. With this column, he said farewell; the Journal has been sold and moved to a much smaller space in downtown Falls City which it had occupied until 1950. It’s all extremely symbolic of the state of...
This is kind of like how I feel about my (possibly four) upcoming surgeries: I don’t want to do this, but I have to, and I hate it. Received a kind e-mail yesterday telling me of the death of Bill Schock of Falls City, NE, on Thursday evening, six weeks short of his 100th birthday....
Because so much has been messed up and unstuck during the first half of this god-awful year, I just discovered the other day that Dean Allen, the creator of Textpattern, which powers this site, and of TextDrive, which used to host this site until Joyent destroyed it, and of «Textism» and Textile and Cardigan Industries...
Did you ever have one of “those” years? For me, 1993 was my, as the Queen said, “annus horribilus.” But 2018 is… Posted by Steve Pollock on Tuesday, May 15, 2018
That feeling you get when you hang your first curtains in the first house you ever owned? Priceless. Posted by Steve Pollock on Monday, April 30, 2018
Portrait: His Imperial Majesty The Roux throws the Royal Snit Fit, leading His Court in vocal protests against All This Infernal Packing. Again, sorry for poor video quality. You takes ‘em as you gets ‘em.) Posted by Steve Pollock on Thursday, April 26, 2018
Mr. Goose is on his way to a nail trim and latest shots. He’s always up for a ride. Meanwhile, hiding from the camera… Posted by Steve Pollock on Monday, April 23, 2018
The moment when you close on your house and your new neighbor welcomes you with a giant batch of chocolate chip… Posted by Steve Pollock on Monday, April 23, 2018
It’s official!!! Frank opens the door for the first time on the first house he/we have ever owned! “Oh frabjous day!… Posted by Steve Pollock on Monday, April 23, 2018
In all this pouring (and pouring and pouring) rain, how difficult is it to find a naked man running around after he assaulted a Nashville Waffle House at 3 a.m. with an AR-15 and killed four people? And this after he was arrested last July by the Secret Service for being in a restricted area...
Closing on the new house at 11 a.m. tomorrow! VERY happy. His Majesty is preparing final addresses for the Cats of Saddlebrooke/Hermitage, then he and the Royal Court will be off at the end of the week to invade and conquer the new land of Jonesboro/Nashville. Wish him luck; there is a very giant, very...
Rep. Larson Slams GOP for Labeling Medicare and Social Security 'Entitlements' Congressman John Larson (D-Conn.) scolded Republicans in a fiery speech on Thursday, criticizing their use of the word "entitlements." "Newsflash! It's the insurance that the American people have paid for." Posted by IJR Blue on Friday, April 13, 2018
On the road again … Moving packing has begun! Heading back to Donelson (yay!) to a smaller house (yay!) with no… Posted by Steve Pollock on Thursday, April 12, 2018
With the recent freeze/heat weather cycle, the Saddlebrooke Deer Herd are a little pressed for food, it appears. The… Posted by Steve Pollock on Wednesday, April 11, 2018
Goose loves when the sun goes down, because it makes great reflections off the phone, which is his MOST. FAVORITIST. Thing. IN. THE. WORLD!!!!! to chase. Tails are for pikers. He gets very excited, which in turn Wholly Displeases His Imperial Majesty The Roux, who is then bothered and obliged to Issue Verbal Correction to...
Bosco came home today. He now takes his place next to Bayley, Feargal and Fred. Thanks again to Lap of Love’s Dr. Regan… Posted by Steve Pollock on Wednesday, April 4, 2018
“You do know I can jump over there and grab that cheddar at any moment, don’t you? But I am a Very Good Boy and I won’t. I could if I wanted to, though. Just sayin’. Jerk.” Posted by Steve Pollock on Monday, April 2, 2018
She was not very willing (a little freaked out, I think—she knew things were not right), but I did get one last photo of… Posted by Steve Pollock on Thursday, March 22, 2018
Here is a series of pics of Bosco (and Sascha) from the moment we first saw them in October 2015 as Belly Rubs… Posted by Steve Pollock on Thursday, March 22, 2018
Here is a series of pics of Bosco (and Sascha) from the moment we first saw them in October 2015 as Belly Rubs… Posted by Steve Pollock on Thursday, March 22, 2018
Some pics of a happy/sleepy Bosco. Always such a happy boy, until that last night. Farewell, Boscketty. Lordy do we miss ya. Posted by Steve Pollock on Thursday, March 22, 2018
Our beloved Bosco is calling time and can now see the Rainbow Bridge and the finish line of a life well lived and well… Posted by Steve Pollock on Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Say hello to Jeepy #8, the newest Hound Mobile, Beagle/Basset Transport Device, Royal Carriage for Carriage of the Tranquilized His Imperial Majesty The Roux to the Veterinarian Facility, etc., etc., etc. This one is the newly redesigned 2018 Compass. It’s like driving a sports car-lotsa fun. It follows our 92 Cherokee, 98 Cherokee, 01 Wrangler,...
What happens when Unca Frankie goes to the store without first serving dinner to the Royal Family. (Kinda funny/sad at the end is Bosco, who is now pretty much just lying around, but who still feels well enough to join in the howling. I think he’s turned another corner and we don’t have long. Lotsa...
Bosco snoozing up next to his sister before his nail trim. Things have taken a turn and not towards the good. More pain pills on way. We’re waiting for his decision and being strong for him. Posted by Steve Pollock on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 [And thanks everyone, your support and love for Boscketty and us...
“It burns! It burns!” Happy birthday to the better half! (Those candles were throwing off sparks which you can barely… Posted by Steve Pollock on Tuesday, February 27, 2018
The Royal Photographer churl just got told off (and HOW!!) big time, so I snapped a quick one and ran. His Majesty likes… Posted by Steve Pollock on Monday, February 26, 2018
It’s in the 60s, the tree is blooming big time, and the crew down the street is mowing a yard. And sadly, two are dead… Posted by Steve Pollock on Monday, February 26, 2018
Fergus Beagle avoids the camera studiously, so I snuck up on him and caught him mid-yawn. Incredibly, he turns 11 next… Posted by Steve Pollock on Monday, February 26, 2018
Bosco likes to sleep facing the wall, sun not required. (He’s hanging tough; while the osteosarcoma has spread from… Posted by Steve Pollock on Monday, February 26, 2018
The ever-elegant Queen Sascha likes the sun as well. Posted by Steve Pollock on Monday, February 26, 2018
Some sun!!!! Goose and his Elefunk take advantage of rare sight in Music City: Light. He’s forgotten what it is, but he likes it! (Yes, I’m projecting.) Posted by Steve Pollock on Monday, February 26, 2018
His Imperial Majesty registers Royal Displeasure over an infiltration into the Kingdom by an insolent guerilla fighter from the K.A.T. organization, which only His Majesty’s keen eyesight can detect. (It’s white with some brown and three houses away and goes by the moniker “Simon.”) Simon conducts hit-and-run raids at least twice daily, and His Royal...
"I'll take care of this, thank you very much!" Posted by Steve Pollock on Friday, February 23, 2018
Bosco, on the way for a consult and nail trim. Blue Oasis of Mt. Juliet is a wonderful place. (Sorry for two previous… Posted by Steve Pollock on Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Bosco is cuddled up against his sister. He’s breakkn’ our hearts. He’s hanging in there tough, but is now having a hard… Posted by Steve Pollock on Tuesday, February 20, 2018
This is our reality … (another in a series): We are human shields. Posted by Steve Pollock on Tuesday, February 20, 2018
This is our reality … (another in a series): Posted by Steve Pollock on Tuesday, February 20, 2018
[Yeah, it's long and snarky. Yes, again. Read and think or move along.] A teacher's perspective: This is our reality,… Posted by Steve Pollock on Friday, February 16, 2018
It's the Mirror, so not exactly the greatest source, but the stats they cite are valid. We have now lost four men who… Posted by Steve Pollock on Tuesday, February 6, 2018
Just some pics of David Garms I happened to find easily while waiting for sleep to arrive after this truly horrible… Posted by Steve Pollock on Thursday, February 1, 2018