The Wolf

My first post-training assignment in the Air Force was to an aircraft maintenance squadron...

Pilots lives depended on the competence of the mechanics. Mechanics relied on a sense of humor to keep their heads on straight.

"Squawks" are problem listings that pilots generally leave for maintenance crews to fix before the next flight. Here are some squawks submitted by US Air Force pilots and the replies from the maintenance crews.


(P) = Problem (S) = Solution


(P) Left inside main tire almost needs replacement

(S) Almost replaced left inside main tire


(P) Test flight OK, except autoland very rough

(S) Autoland not installed on this aircraft


(P) #2 Propeller seeping prop fluid

(S) #2 Propeller seepage normal - #1 #3 and #4 propellers lack normal seepage


(P) Something loose in cockpit

(S) Something loose in cockpit tightened


(P) Evidence of leak on right main landing gear

(S) Evidence removed


(P) DME volume unbelievably loud

(S) Volume set to more believable level


(P) Dead bugs on windshield

(S) Live bugs on order


(P) Autopilot in altitude hold mode produces a 200 fpm descent

(S) Cannot reproduce problem on ground


(P) IFF inoperative

(S) IFF always inoperative in OFF mode (IFF-Identification Friend or Foe)


(P) Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick

(S) That's what they're there for


(P) Number three engine missing

(S) Number three engine found on right wing after brief search


(P) Aircraft handles funny

(S) Aircraft warned to straighten up, "fly right" and be serious


(P) Target Radar hums

(S) Reprogrammed Target Radar with lyrics

Catholic University needs to listen to Pope Francis

Geek stuff, may be considered humorous by certain DU members

Free radicals have revolutionized chemistry.

(Fe)male: Male with iron added, for greater strength, ductility, and magnetisim.

Organic chemistry is the chemistry of carbon compounds. Biochemistry is the study of carbon compounds that crawl.

Remember, if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate!


It is disconcerting to reflect on the number of students we have flunked in chemistry for not knowing what we later found to be untrue.



THE CHEMIST'S RECIPIE FOR CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

The following recipie for chocolate chip cookies recently appeared in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN, Jun 19, 1995, p. 100). It was attributed to Jeannene Ackerman of Witco Corp.

Ingredients:

1. 532.35 cm3 gluten

2. 4.9 cm3 NaHCO3

3. 4.9 cm3 refined halite

4. 236.6 cm3 partially hydrogenated tallow triglyceride

5. 177.45 cm3 crystalline C12H22O11

6. 177.45 cm3 unrefined C12H22O11

7. 4.9 cm3 methyl ether of protocatechuic aldehyde

8. Two calcium carbonate-encapsulated avain albumen-coated protien

9. 473.2 cm3 theobroma cacao

10. 236.6 cm3 de-encapsulated legume meats (sieve size #10)

To a 2-L jacketed round reactor vessel (reactor #1) with an overall heat-transfer coefficient of about 100 Btu/F-ft2-hr add one, two, and three with constant agitation.

In a second 2-L reactor vessel with a radial flow impeller operating at 100 rpm add four, five, six, and seven until the mixture is homogeneous.

To reactor #2 add eight followed by three equal portions of the homogeneous mixture in reactor #1. Additionally, add nine and ten slowly with constant agitation. Care must be taken at this point in the reaction to control any temperature rise that may be the result of an exothermic reaction.

Using a screw extrude attached to a #4 nodulizer place the mixture piece-meal on a 316SS sheet (300 x 600 mm). Heat in a 460K oven for a period of time that is in agreement with Frank & Johnston's first order rate expression (see JACOS, 21, 55), or until golden brown.

Once the reaction is complete, place the sheet on a 25 deg. C heat-transfer table allowing the product to come to equilibrium.

....................................................................................

Q: What's the most important thing to learn in chemistry?
A: Never lick the spoon

John Lennon's dog.

My Mac-loving sister sent me this goofy toon.

The US can't afford high-speed rail. Or can we?

The Boneyard

Wisconsin: Mary Burke put on the spot

Last night Mary Burke spent an hour gripping and grinning with about 40 Fond du Lac area Democrats. I was able to ask two questions during the group session and one when I spoke to her one-on-one.


Paraphrasing ...

I tossed her a softball first: would she take the Medicaid money and get a Wisconson ACA exchange in place that actually helped our citizens gain access to healthcare. She is basically the opposite of Walker on this issue, and did not equivocate. She'd take the money, expand Medicaid eligibility. Grade: Pass, with honors.

Then a tougher one ... will she protect us from the mining interests that want to weaken our environmental protections and poison our water? I noted that it's been reported that she would support the mine with conditions. She equivocated, then again, so I asked "to be blunt, can you see any scenario where this mine is a good thing?" Answer: "No." Grade: Pass.

Mary also got an excellent question about support of voucher schools and gave a fair, if not great, answer: No expansion of voucher schools, more dough and other support for our public schools. No mention of accountability for voucher schools. Grade: Pass.

Mary was asked about support for collective bargaining, and responded in the positive. I couldn't hear if that question was phrased to specifically include bargaining for public employees, or rollback of Act 10, but have questions out to clarify.

Mary was also asked about jobs, and responded that it was a critical issue but she didn't yet have a plan, and would be formulating one over the next 10 months. No mention of infrastructure or any other job-stimulating investments. I'd like to hear a jobs plan before the primary, eh? Grade: Incomplete.

When I had a chance to speak to her privately, I asked if she would support legalization of marijuana for recreational use. She said "the State isn't ready for that". I pointed out that polling suggested otherwise but what I was asking was if she would support it. Answer: "No." Grade: Fail.

Finally, one other point. The knock on Mary's competition, Kathleen Vinehout, has been that she lacks the charisma/polish/dynamic personality needed to run a successful campaign. If that's true of Kathleen, it's true of Mary twice over. She appeared uncomfortable taking questions even from this very friendly group, and speaks in a quiet, hesitant manner. Notice I didn't same "calm and reasoned", but quiet and hesitant. She simply does not appear confident and could easily get waxed by Walker's cocksuredness in a debate.

Bottom line impression: Mary would be an upgrade over Wanker, but that's a very low bar. She does not appear to be the progressive leader that our state needs. Not even modestly so. When you negotiate with extremists, you don't start in the middle, and that's where she seems to be, if not leaning right.

Still, she came off better than I expected based on reports I've read.

She does have an endorsement from Planned Parenthood, and that is a good thing.

Would I vote for her against Walker? Yes, but would prefer that to be in the Republican primary, not as the Democratic candidate.

On a related topic, Ed Schults had John Nichols on his radio show and John believes Walker's backers will spend as much as $10,000,000 attacking Mary on just one issue: her sending Wisconsin jobs to China when she was CEO of Trek Bicycle. Audio here ...

Democratic Party of Washington County forum 12/3: Social Security: Past, Present and Future

Social Security: Past, Present and Future

Tuesday, December 3, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.

At the Washington County Democratic Party Office
132 North Main Street, West Bend

For more information, contact the office at 262-338-0990

THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

With Guest Speaker Leon Burzynski, President Emeritus of the Wis. Alliance for Retired Americans

This presentation will include information on:

Historical improvements to Social Security
Recent efforts to cut Social Security benefits
Legislation introduced to improve Social Security
Common myths about Social Security