Mad Mikey's Blog

December 31, 2007

New Year's Eve 2007

Tonight, many people around the world will usher in the new year. My family and I will be included in these festivities.

What is the MM family doing? To be honest, I don't know.

We were planning on going to a friend's house and mostly doing karaoke until midnight; my best karaoke feat is to sing songs I know in an Elmer Fudd-style voice. As luck would have it, our hosts have both picked up some sort of nasty bug and it was deemed 'safer' if I weren't exposed to them.

So....the family and I will most likely be staying home (which is something we always do if we're not at a friend's house) and watching movies.

It is my sincerest wishes that everyone has a good time doing whatever you do on New Year's Eve and that the coming year brings the things that eluded you in the last year.

Just curious: I gave up trying to fulfill them years ago, but is anyone going to announce any 'New Year's Resolutions'? If so, what are they and how confident do you feel that you'll keep to them?

Happy New Year!!

P.S. - For the love of God, PLEASE don't be a complete asshole and drive while you're hammered.

I mean seriously......would you want to be lumped into the group of numbskulls caught each year that I make fun of?

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December 27, 2007

Hidy-Ho

Nothing much happening these days - the daughter is home for 'Christmas Break' from school...trying to find the right day to severally sleep in past noon to properly recover from Christmas....cleaning the house. Like I said - not much 'happening'.

I did, however, have lunch today with some friends. We met at the Island's Resturant down in Mission Valley - included were Da Goddess, Citizen Smash(*_*), and Gracie from Protest Warrior; it was like a planning meeting for San Diego Protest Warrior. Also in attendance were my daughter (Mini Mikey) and DG's Little Dude. Good food, lots of laughs, and sincere statements made about not waiting for another six months to do this again.

Quite possibly this weekend, my kid & I might try to go explore the USS Midway Museum while we've got the time. Of course, this will be the first time the kid gets to see an aircraft carrier up-close....I've got more than enough time in close proximity to a carrier - this will be a 'pleasure' to visit the Midway since I know I'll be disembarking a few hours later.

Long-range plans for the month: getting my 'work table' set up again to continue working on my models.

*_* - Citizen Smash is currently in the Blogger Protection Program and while we know he's still alive & kicking, he is constantly on the move every second of the day and probably has more Frequent Flyer Miles than the entire human race collectively.

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December 20, 2007

Feats of Engineering

Real Flying Carpets? Maybe, Says Harvard Professor
It may not be big enough to carry Ali Baba or any of his 40 thieves, but a Harvard professor thinks he's figured out how to make a flying carpet.

Professor Lakshminarayanan Mahadevan, an engineer who also holds positions in applied mathematics and biology, writes in Physical Review Letters that it would be possible to make a rippling sheet that could generate enough horizontal resistance to stay airborne.

The catch: The sheet couldn't be more than 4 inches long or a tenth of a millimeter thick. It would have to vibrate about 10 times per second, pushing itself through the air in a manner reminiscent of a manta ray moving through water.

In scientific terms: "As waves propagate along a flexible foil, they generate a fluid flow that leads to a pressure that lifts the foil, roughly balancing its weight," Mahadevan writes.

And that weight, as you can imagine, would be mighty small indeed. The forces needed to make a heavier carpet fly — heavy enough to carry an Arab street urchin — would be so enormous that "computations and scaling laws suggest it will remain in the magical, mystical and virtual realm," says Mahadevan.

....remain in the magical, mystical, and virtual realm.

December 13, 2007

Stupid Hobby?

I've been embracing a new/forgotten hobby for the last few months: building model airplanes. To be specific, building plastic model kits like this, maybe this, and quite possibly this; while I've procured several kits, I've only completed one - an F-14 Tomcat kit for my daughter (she did most of the work), but most of my focus has been on World War II aircraft of the Luftwaffe.

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Wow, model airplanes. I remember those....seems like ages though.

I was never able to progress past the level 1 (snap together) ones...

|| Posted by jaws, December 15, 2007 10:16 AM ||

Why does it not surprise me that you would feeel it appropriate to stick swastika decals on your model airplanes?

And if you have to ask why one would think it is inappropirate, then you are more ignorant than I thought (which i didn't think was possible).

|| Posted by nunya, December 16, 2007 06:13 PM ||

Why does it not surprise me that you would [feel] it appropriate to stick swastika decals on your model airplanes?

And if you have to ask why one would think it is inappropriate, then you are more ignorant than I thought (which i didn't think was possible).

Heh.

The implication here is that I'm a Nazi? Or maybe a Nazi sympathizer?

Nunya, you are so fucking stupid that you give stupid people a bad reputation. You've once again defied probability & statistical tendencies by completely blowing Godwin's Law; you've shortened the amount of time required for a failed argument to resort to invoking Hitler or Nazism.

To make this easier to 'splain to you, here's the caviat that I put into the post:

(Please...before anyone has a hissy about putting swastikas on model kits, I include them because they were part of the total 'historical package' that embodies building accurate models).

I even put it in parentheses to denote it was something of interest to the SIDENOTE.

After re-reading this before I posted it, I realized that you've GOT to be bi-polar or something close to it; sometimes, you're civil, reasonable, and can see the other side of an argument. And then there are times like this that I honestly think you work hard to come up with some sort of 'objection' to anything that I or anyone else might post about; it's like the saying goes: You'd bitch if they hung you with a new rope.

Get off your high horse and....oh, I don't know - re-read the post again to see the intent of the entire post and that of the SIDENOTE.

|| Posted by Mad Mikey, December 16, 2007 10:49 PM ||

Mikey, how much simpler can what I said be made for your little brain to understand? Where in my post above did I ever mention or even hint at you being a nazi? I simply said you cannot see or understand why someone would be offended by your models with swastikas on them. No matter how "accurate" the models are, I garauntee that any Jew walking into your house will wonder why you have model airplanes with swastikas on them and even if you explain "well, i wanted them to be accurate" you fail to realize that no matter how you try to explain it, it will still make them uncomfortable. Can you understand why someone would be offended by the sight of that symbol?
It is the same damn argument with the confederate flag. It isn't the flag itself. Or the swastika itself that people take offense to, but it is what is symbolized. It is a physical representation of such much hate. So I don't give a flippin' fuck about your building an "accurate model" as I am your apathy for why putting this symbol on something you plan on displaying would be offensive. And the fact that you ARE apathetic to this encites a little of emotion in me. Anyone who can justify displaying such a disgusting symbol especially in the case of "historical model accuracy" is just as digusting as the symbol itself. Even if YOU don't feel that is is wrong to display that symbol, perhaps you should take into consideration your own child. Or don't you want to end the cycle of hate? If not, than you need to re-evaluate your own mental being and perhaps allow someone else to raise your kid.

|| Posted by nunya, December 17, 2007 11:16 AM ||

Can you understand why someone would be offended by the sight of that symbol?

Sure. But burying your head in the sand at the sight of it won't make it go away. If you're watching a movie about the war in Europe and the swastika is displayed multiple times, would you instantly boycott the movie? Did you boycott Schindler's List when it came out? I doubt you did.

Even if YOU don't feel that is is wrong to display that symbol, perhaps you should take into consideration your own child.

Oh, no. I never let her see my Nazi shrine in the basement.....you fuck nugget.

My kid is still smart enough to realize the difference between marching in a white-power parade and putting a freakin decal on a plastic model.

Your pathetic argument is so lame that it says that my wife, who's of German descent, should hide her face in shame for the rest of her life.

Oh, and what about the Hinomaru markings on plastic models of Japanese Zeros? You know....the 'meatball'? Those are still used on modern Japanese aircraft, so by your logic we should never, ever look upon one without remembering the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, the Bataan Death March, or the numerous beheadings of American pilots at the hands of Japanese prison guards.

Right? Hmmm?

This is a stupid comment thread, then again....so are you.

I thought I'd post about something 'silly' and non-political and you've got to come through like Bendover Barney and make much ado about nothing.

Get bent you fuck-nozzle.

|| Posted by Mad Mikey, December 17, 2007 09:25 PM ||

|| Posted by wholesale jewelry, October 20, 2009 08:09 PM ||

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December 07, 2007

A Date Which Will Live in Infamy

"...a date which will live in infamy..."

It's December 7^th today and American citizens around the nation will be marking the 66^th anniversary of the surprise attack on the U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet in Honolulu, Hawaii. In the almost two years preceeding this attack, many Americans worried that the war in Europe would, like a huge magnet, draw them into another horrible conflict in Europe as The Great War had thirty years earlier. Instead, an enemy that wasn't realized until it was too late pulled the United States into war did so through another avenue.

Obviously, I wasn't alive then to witness it, but I can some what understand the almost instant numbness that overcame me on the morning of September 11, 2001. As I watched 9/11 unfold on live television, I think that many who witnessed the Japanese planes swooping down into Pearl Harbor might have had the same thoughts running through their heads: What!? How could this be happening!?!

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Even during the attack, there were some soldiers, sailors, and Marines who though this might be the most realistic air raid drill they'd ever seen....that it was so realistic looking that it was scaring the pants off a lot of people.

It became all-too-real when the message Air raid Pearl Harbor. This is not a drill was sent to U.S. armed forces commands around the world.

One site that has just a ton of reference material is the U.S. Navy Historical Center's website.

As with those soldiers, sailors, and Marines that watched the smoke rising from the ships in the harbor and felt the heat from the fires all around them, I've got to believe that there were many Americans who listened to President Roosevelt addressing a joint session of Congress the following day who were also 'dumb-struck' that all that had happened in the last 36 hours was really happening.

Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, Members of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives:

Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 -- a date which will live in infamy -- the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. And while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.

Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island.

And this morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.

I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph -- so help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.

President Roosevelt asked that the Congress declare a state of war between the United States and the Empire of Japan; with only one person from the House of Representatives voting no, war was declared. Two days later, Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy declared war on the United States in accordance with the Axis treaty that was agreed upon between Germany, Japan, and Italy. Despite the efforts of the U.S. to remain out of the war happening in Europe, the American people not only faced a war in the Pacific with Japan, they also got the added bonus of being pulled into war in Europe.

I don't know who initially said this, but: "America did not start this war, but by God we're going to finish it!!"

All done with "A Date Which Will Live in Infamy"?

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December 03, 2007

You've Got to be Joking

Whenever my wife and I are watching television, I'll sometimes point to the TV if there's an aircraft on the screen and remind her that I can fly one of those; it's an inside joke from when I worked on flight simulators - when nothing was broke and I had time on my hands, I'd 'play around' with the simulator....I got pretty good at landing an S-3A Viking on a carrier flight deck.

And of course, she knows that I'm joking around.

However, here is an asshat that went a little too far.

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About Me

Who is Mikey?

Mikey playing with digital camera
Mikey is a forty-something U.S. Navy veteran that is currently taking a break from being a full-time student at UC San Diego studying electrical engineering.

He's also a husband, a father, a former Independent/Democrat and is currently dealing with dialysis and getting on the national kidney transplant list.

The words written here are his opinions and his observations on the stupid things in life. If you do not like them or do not agree with them: tough squishies. In America, you're entitled to Freedom of Speech not Freedom to Not Be Offended.

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December 31, 2007

New Year's Eve 2007

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December 27, 2007

Hidy-Ho

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December 20, 2007

Feats of Engineering

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December 13, 2007

Stupid Hobby?

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December 07, 2007

A Date Which Will Live in Infamy

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December 03, 2007

You've Got to be Joking

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