A Wing or a Weight?

Some good words for today's environment.

Long, but stick with it:

My Last Cabbie

As I completed my trade show on Thursday, I hailed a cab for the ride back to the airport.  I got picked up by an older gentleman, and we began making small talk.  He inquired where I was from, and upon hearing my reply, asked if that was anywhere near Leech Lake.

Needless to say we hit it off.

We talked about his fishing trips to Leech, then his time flying in the Navy, where he lost a lot of friends, but also met JFK and Jackie, as well as John McCain, and the stories were discussed in detail.  We then talked about life after the war, raising kids, and owning a line of restaurants.  We then talked about the loss of his wife five years ago, and the loss of his son just last December 24.

His son was a pit boss, a non-smoker, who acquired double lung cancer.  Dead at 49.  His wife left him upon him losing his job because he was too ill to work.

As we approached the airport, he stated, "I figure I can pay off my son's bills in about three years.  At that point, I am done workin'."

I tipped him 150%, to which he seemed genuinely touched, and sent me off with a "God bless you, sir!"

Did I get played?  I asked myself that walking through the airport.  He sure sounded ex-military, and our discussion on helicopters and ships seemed legit.  How he felt about McCain is exactly like my cousin, so that seemed real as well.  Finally, we started out with him asking about Leech Lake, for cryin' out loud.

I feel crappy harboring the thought that I got played, and resigned myself that I was either in the company of a hero, of one of the world's best story tellers.  

Regardless of which it was, the tip was justified.

On the Loss of Neil Peart

Rock and roll lost its greatest drummer.  You can have your Bonham and Moon - nobody was better than Peart, period.  

Neil's playing was far from rote - sly notes and drops were added, making the drum kit not just a beat-keeper, but a true band instrument.  Here's a great example featuring Rush's biggest hit.  Beyond the above, also note what he's doing with his feet:

Beyond his drumming, Peart was the lyricist for the band, and two generations of marginalized youth owe him for the belonging he provided them through his words.  He was an incredible poet in the true definition of the word. 

There are a lot of reasons why getting old sucks.  It seems like beloved people are dying on me on a nearly weekly basis.  That certainly applies in this instance.  

Given the nature of music, we'll not have another talent like this for a long time, if perhaps ever again.  I feel fortunate that I was able to see his craft live, and that his songs were a soundtrack for a good chunk of my life.

Dwyane Wade Budweiser Commercial

I'm no fan of the NBA.  

Thanks to this commercial, I am a fan of this guy:

Inky Johnson and Overcoming

I had not heard this story, but it is a remarkable one.

For those that feel limited, here's some motivation for us:

Dear Kyle

Grab the Kleenex...

Son Tries to Buy Dead Father's Patrol Car

Here's your feel-good story for today:

Left Cries Crocodile Tears in McCain's Death

This weekend the United States lost a true hero.  John McCain conducted himself with honor and dignity, damn near his entire life, while those around him crawled through the sewer.  His actions in the Hanoi Hilton alone are renown, and his political service as truly been that - service.  He has been deservedly honored by those on the left and the right for his honorable service and for his legacy.

Except the left doesn't mean it.

In the campaign against Obama, McCain might as well have been Satan.  He was called out of touch and old at best, and warmonger, Nazi, and insane at worst.  He was hated, and everything about him was disparaged and dragged through the mud.

Remember stuff like this, from his Atlantic Monthly photo shoot?

THAT is just one small example what the left truly felt about John McCain, and what we were treated to during the election on a daily basis.  Not hero.  Not man of dignity.  Not a finder of common ground.  Nope, he was Satan.

He was treated just like every Republican presidential candidate from Bush on has been treated.  Nazi.  Warmonger.  Evil.

Save your tears, lefties.  You hated this man in a cruel and unfair way, and your unfair hatred ultimately paved a path for a rise of a guy like Trump.

Own it.

Bryce Carlson Rows Across the Atlantic

Here's the background:



What happened?  Not only did he row the 2,000 miles unaided across the Atlantic, he beat the previous record by two weeks.  Two weeks!

It took him 38 and a quarter days, but he did it.  It's not surprising that he also does ultramarathons, as the mental toughness required for such a feat is something normal people can't begin to fathom.

Fatigue.  Fear.  Loneliness.  Pain.  And oh, about a dozen capsizes.  

The human heart, body, and spirit are truly remarkable.

Sgt. John Chapman, Medal of Honor

A couple of things on this:

• Has a MOH recipient ever been filmed during his heroics?  I think not.
• The charge into the bunker was one of the bravest things I've ever seen filmed.
• Sgt. Chapman continuous fighting, despite injuries and being vastly outgunned and outnumbered, were astonishing.

Think about whatever petty gripe you have going for you today.  Now watch this:

Hero Gets to Hear Bagpipes Before He Dies

I wish there was a story like this I could share every day:

Walker, MN American Legion Not Messing Around

Last week, while on vacation in Walker I happened to pass by the local American Legion.  It's not uncommon for Legions to have some equipment outside of their establishment - cannons are common, and even tanks are employed at times.

Not in Walker.  Nope, they've upped the game, settling not for a battlefield difference-maker, but for a war difference maker:



Yep, that's the Enola Gay.  The Ender.  

The veterans in Walker know how to go big.  

Food City Commercial

This is pretty awesome:

Hats Off Mounds View Pitcher

In a recent High School baseball game, Mounds View was facing Totino-Grace for a berth to go to the State Tournament.  With two out in the last inning, the pitcher was facing his childhood friend and got two strikes on him.  He was one pitch away from going to State.

Here's what happens next:


This has gone viral, as it should.  We need more of this kind of behavior.

Statistics from the Viet Nam Memorial Wall

My cousin sent along these incredible statistics that come from the Viet Nam Memorial Wall in Washington, DC:

There are 58,267 names now listed on that polished black wall, including those added in 2010.

The names are arranged in the order in which they were taken from us by date and within each date the names are alphabetized. It is hard to believe it is 36 years since the last casualties.

Beginning at the apex on panel 1E and going out to the end of the East wall, appearing to recede into the earth (numbered 70E – May 25, 1968), then resuming at the end of the West wall, as the wall emerges from the earth (numbered 70W – continuing May 25, 1968) and ending with a date in 1975. Thus the war’s beginning and end meet. The war is complete, coming full circle, yet broken by the earth that bounds the angle’s open side and contained within the earth itself.

The first known casualty was Richard B. Fitzgibbon, of North Weymouth , Mass. Listed by the U.S. Department of Defense as having been killed on June 8, 1956. His name is listed on the Wall with that of his son, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Richard B. Fitzgibbon III, who was killed on Sept. 7, 1965.

There are three sets of fathers and sons on the Wall.39,996 on the Wall were just 22 or younger.The largest age group, 8,283 were just 19 years old 33,103 were 18 years old.12 soldiers on the Wall were 17 years old.5 soldiers on the Wall were 16 years old.One soldier, PFC Dan Bullock was 15 years old.

997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam .1,448 soldiers were killed on their last day in Vietnam .31 sets of brothers are on the Wall.Thirty one sets of parents lost two of their sons.54 soldiers on attended Thomas Edison High School in Philadelphia. I wonder why so many from one school.8 Women are on the Wall. Nursing the wounded.244 soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War; 153 of them are on the Wall.

Beallsville, Ohio with a population of 475 lost 6 of her sons.West Virginia had the highest casualty rate per capita in the nation. There are 711 West Virginians on the Wall.The Marines of Morenci – They led some of the scrappiest high school football and basketball teams that the little Arizona copper town of Morenci (pop. 5,058) had ever known and cheered. They enjoyed roaring beer busts. In quieter moments, they rode horses along the Coronado Trail, stalked deer in the Apache National Forest . And in the patriotic camaraderie typical of Morenci’s mining families, the nine graduates of Morenci High enlisted as a group in the Marine Corps. Their service began on Independence Day, 1966. Only 3 returned home.

The Buddies of Midvale – LeRoy Tafoya, Jimmy Martinez, Tom Gonzales were all boyhood friends and lived on three consecutive streets in Midvale, Utah on Fifth, Sixth and Seventh avenues. They lived only a few yards apart. They played ball at the adjacent sandlot ball field. And they all went to Vietnam. In a span of 16 dark days in late 1967, all three would be killed. LeRoy was killed on Wednesday, Nov. 22, the fourth anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s assassination. Jimmy died less than 24 hours later on Thanksgiving Day. Tom was shot dead assaulting the enemy on Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

The most casualty deaths for a single day was on January 31, 1968 ~ 245 deaths.The most casualty deaths for a single month was May 1968 – 2,415 casualties were incurred.

For most Americans who read this they will only see the numbers that the Vietnam War created. To those of us who survived the war, and to the families of those who did not, we see the faces, we feel the pain that these numbers created. We are, until we too pass away, haunted with these numbers, because they were our friends, fathers, husbands, wife’s, sons and daughters. There are no noble wars, just noble warriors.

Here's a shot I took of the Wall in 2004.  Knowing some of the data, and the heroes, behind that momument make it all the more meaningful.

Happy Memorial Day - especially to those that paid the ultimate price in the war in Viet Nam.

Green Bay Marathoner Sets Record

I didn't think I'd be writing much about the place that we used to live, but out of Green Bay comes this amazing story of endurance:



And like a true Sconnie, he slams a beer at the end.  However, earn that PBR he certainly did.

SW1380 Audio

Southwest flight 1380 had an engine explode and a passenger killed by debris.  Despite this, the plane laned without further catastrophy.  Part of the reason was the professionalism of the team working on the situation.

Here's the audio of what that sounded like:



What remarkable composure by all involved.

Singing Mayo Surgeons

Two Mayo Clinic surgeons are going viral for their cover of Mike Yung's Alright.  Their role as doctors led to the music choice, and their "operation" of it is virtuoso.

Enjoy:

Minnesota Wrestler Restores Your Faith in Youth

When you're just about ready to give up on the current generation, along comes something like this:



Anyone surprised that this kid is from Minnesota?

Changing of Guard at US Bank Stadium

As is done in some other stadiums, US Bank stadium has a seat dedicated to our POW/MIA soliders.  During games, these seats are guarded by a Marine (who else?).

Here's a changing of that guard during a recent game:



Yes, this team can break our hearts on the field, but sometimes, based on their actions, they can warm those same hearts based on what they do off it.

Skol.