Sunday, November 20, 2005

Joe Satch Rules

Had to go out and buy an iPod shuffle so I could listen to Joe Satriani while I impersonate a body builder. Got his 2000 cd Engines of Creation. Good tunes. Satriani hasn't let his fans down over the years and his older stuff is still good.
I guess I will put off reading about comms circuits tonite as I can always study better while getting paid. I just got another couple of books even though I passed both comms exams already. One is about RADAR principles which involves a fair amount of Trig and first semester Calculus. The other is about electrical. Yes, the FAA is going to pay me to learn to be an Electrician. Woo-hoo, gonna be a handyman. Okay, the second one also has some good info on HVAC. No, Mikey, I am still NOT a knuckledragger. But if they want me to learn what a caveman does, I will understand and comply:).
I'm a book nerd so I just can't pass up more technical books. As long as they don't expect me to spend all of my day working with Windows, I won't bitch. Pleeeeeze don't make me a Windows bitch.
Hmmmm. What else. Oh, I have a christian friend I often eat lunch with. Ex-Air Farce, go figure. I'm not talking about a typical christian. I mean a bible-beating extreme literal-interpretive christian. However, he is open-minded enough to discuss his beliefs versus scientific reason. You can't argue with him much though. For example, his mind is set on the age of the earth at about 15,000 years and dinosaurs never existed. Yes, he believes that God just "planted" dinosaur bones in the ground for a good laugh. Evidently, his god is a comedian. Oh, and Adam and Eve were okay to populate the earth by inbreeding with their children. Incest became against the law later on. Interesting person to study, as he seems to represent the majority of the views of the extreme religious right. Even if you aren't a humanist or atheist, you would find our conversations interesting. If the extremists could just not impose their views on us, -sigh- what a wonderful world it would be.
I write J.R. about my adventures although his recent adventures top mine. I'm going to try to get him on with the FAA if he so desires. I figure it is a good time to bring him up to date on Coast Guard history. At least, I am sending him some on our greatest hero, SM1 Douglas Munro.
Well, that's all for this week folks. Here is a great alternative to Victoria's Secret for your wives' and girlfriends' xmas gifts: hehe.
Oh, and if you are much for politics, here's a great site for the moderate side of the house.
Go, Congressman Murtha!
Have a good week! Heather is coming down Tue, so I gotta pick up the house.

Saturday, November 12, 2005

Sir, always learning, Sir.

I have been in OKC for 4 weeks now. It's been boring at times and educational at other times. I have declined to go to the bars and even out for a long time. I did get over to Tinker AFB this veteran's day weekend and picked up a few things including a good tax-free bottle of the Wild Turkey. I declined the Military Special (5 bucks a gallon), but will make sure to pick up a couple gallons before heading back east to remember those honorable vets.
I eat and drink with mostly older guys who have been in the FAA for years. One guy, Gary, was in Air Traffic Control before Congress contracted his job out to Lockheed Martin thus screwing with his retirement. Gary is a born and raised Minn-ee-so-tan with the accent to match it. At 47 years old, this ex-marine can lift out in the gym with the best of the young guys. I try to keep up with him, although my back injury restrains me from lifting what this guy can. Gary has several ruptured vertebrae and still keeps going. I teach Gary Algebra and electronics theory in exchange for some good New Mexican chow(he's from Minnesota but lives in Albuquerqe). Martin, a hispanic/native american guy is here for his second school learning Unix, courtesy of the FAA. He has a home built from adobe, a wife and kids. Martin is also a former ATC controller.
They seem from different worlds. In the Coast Guard, you meet mostly people from the coasts. Its a refreshing note to see how others in different parts of this country live and think.
Well, I'm out. Gotta get up and read more tomorrow about radio comms.

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Get some.

Calling all technicians, mechanics, and computer gurus: the FAA has not met their quota for ATSS/ET's. If you haven't applied yet, and you have military experience or some other training, you need to. Click here. The PASS union is demanding more technicians, as the replacement rate is only meeting those who are retiring. Even if active duty, consider applying. Your time in service is transferable. You will not get this opportunity much longer. Mikey-tell all airedales that are planning on separating in the next two years. You WILL NOT get better benefits and pay raises in any civilian job as a technician. Imagine getting paid very well for going to school and getting the experience usually only obtained in the military. Pass it on.