Today is the two-hundred and thirty-third birthday of the United States Navy. Much has changed since the 13th of October in 1775 and much has remained the same. The Continental Congress authorized the outfitting of two naval vessels to search our shores and protect us from British warships supplying their troops. In the two centuries … Read more
Friday night as I sat waiting for dinner at Kabob Kafe in nearby Ellicottville, New York with my wife and daughter my Blackberry buzzed. I picked it up and looked and I had been “poked” on Facebook by my nephew, Tom Watkins. Tom was letting me know that he just “drilled out” of the U.S. … Read more
I was happy to see in tonight’s Olean Times Herald that Eric Massa is pulling 5 percentage points ahead of the incumbent, Congressman Randy Kuhl of Hammondsport. I am a signer of Eric Massa’s Veterans Pledge. Just yesterday a gentleman called me to see if I’d be willing to have my name published in the … Read more
One of the readers of this blog maintains that one cannot be pro-choice and a good Catholic or even a good Franciscan and that Francis would be appalled. Francis lived in a time much like our own when the church sanctioned murder in the name of Christ. It was called the Crusades. Francis went to … Read more
Loving their own noise. Tonight’s presidential debate seemed like a lot of noise to me. I listened to perhaps thirty-five minutes and then I turned it off. Debates usually lack substance and this one seemed more devoid than others. It was like Senator Obama was debating a five year old. Same rhetoric of the last … Read more
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” –Mahatma Gandhi Barack Obama’s quest for the presidency reminds me of this quote. Conventional wisdom had anybody Obama being in the spot he’s in versus John McCain. All the pundits wanted Hillary. Hillary wanted Hillary. But, it was the … Read more
This quote came in SoJo Mail today. I like it and it’s what animates my life. I cannot be still when I hear the forces of injustice railing against us. The us in U.S. is what I’m speaking of. A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; … Read more
The stock market plunged 800 points today. News yesterday that the 700 billion dollar bailout may do nothing to improve the economy unless the value of real estate begins to rise. Iraq is teetering. Afghanistan is going backward and all Senator McCain can talk about is smears. The Republican smear machine is in high gear … Read more
Vistas like this is why I continue to be fascinated by powered flight. Just 25 nautical miles north of my home field at Olean Airport is the Genesee River gorge that makes up New York State’s Letchworth Park. Today after I got the plane started I taxied to Runway 4 and began my takeoff roll. … Read more
Joe and Betty Carrier flanked by their children and grandchildren on the occasion of their 55th wedding anniversary. We enjoyed a lovely dinner at Sprague’s Maple Farms in nearby Portville. It was a lovely October afternoon. The only one missing was our son Devin who was off playing in a benefit golf tournament. I’ve been … Read more
