Category Archives: South of the Border

Dinosaur extinction

Posted on March 9, 2010 | Comments Off on Dinosaur extinction

Delighted to see a new confirmation of the postulated dinosaur-killing effect of the meteor (or comet) that splashed into Chicxulub on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula millions of years ago. University of Texas geophysicists, who have helped map the ocean floors, did quite a bit of work on the remains of the crater—all hidden today by water and rock but still discernible with radar.

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Posted in Science/Engineering, South of the Border, Space, Texana

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The Alamo falls

Posted on March 6, 2010 | Comments Off on The Alamo falls

“On this day in 1836, the chapel of San Antonio de Valero Mission,
under siege for thirteen days by the Mexican army under General Antonio
Lopez de Santa Anna, was subjected to an early morning assault. After
a fierce battle, lasting for perhaps some 90 minutes, the defenses
of the Alamo were overrun and all the defenders were killed. The slogan
“Remember the Alamo!” subsequently became a rallying cry for the Texas
Revolution, and the Alamo became a shrine to fallen Texas heroes.”

With contemporary similarities, albeit still disputed.

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Posted in South of the Border, Texana

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The Californicators

Posted on March 4, 2010 | Comments Off on The Californicators

They are a weird bunch, the California drones as VDH calls them. The ones who moved here back in the 90s to escape the hoards of Mexican illegals can be discerned by a proclivity to honk after the light changes when you don’t move ahead fast enough to suit them.

The stay-at-homes, VDH contends, apparently long ago dissociated their minds and attitudes from the sweat and effort that makes societies work. And, now, as their bloated fun-in-the-sun welfare state goes bankrupt, what else can their over-privileged children do but riot?

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Posted in Scribbles, South of the Border

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Drum queen

Posted on February 15, 2010 | Comments Off on Drum queen

Brazil CarnivalRio’s samba version is the place to be, of all the carnival festivals at this time of year. Bruna Bruno and other drum queens are a good reason why.

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Posted in Scribbles, South of the Border

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Israel in Haiti

Posted on January 18, 2010 | Comments Off on Israel in Haiti

The Euro medical ninnies fled, while one American doctor stayed to help. Meanwhile, Israel Defense Forces medics and rescue teams were working 24/7. They even delivered a baby whose grateful mother named him Israel.

Via Simply Jews.

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Posted in Israel, South of the Border

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The Last Time

Posted on January 17, 2010 | Comments Off on The Last Time

Speaking of DC-3s (see below), it seems the largest gathering of them (about 53 are expected) will be flying into Oshkosh, WI, this summer to celebrate the silver bird’s 75th anniversary. All the recent snow up there should have melted by then.

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Posted in Mr. Boy, South of the Border, Texana, Viet Nam

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Gooney Bird

Posted on January 16, 2010 | Comments Off on Gooney Bird

airshows

Was thrilled to read that some folks are packing a DC-3 with relief supplies to ferry to Haiti. The venerable (75-year-old) transport (first one was named the “Flagship Texas”) was my favorite plastic model when I was a kid. I even have a new kit of one in the closet awaiting Mr. B.’s interest in such things. Well. Hoping. I last flew in one years ago in the Bahamas. It was painted pink. Flamingo Airlines, as I recall.

In Viet Nam 18,000-rpm mini-guns were mounted in their open cargo doors to support MACV advisory outfits like mine, a role now filled by the C-130. This outfit (making the semi-aerobatic, one-wheel landing above) teaches single-engine pilots to fly them. No, the DC-3 was never called the Gooney Bird. That was the Army Air Force’s C-47. But DC-3/C-47 is a distinction without (much of) a difference.

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Posted in Mr. Boy, Science/Engineering, South of the Border, Texana, The War, Viet Nam

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