YES, I AM STILL HERE peeking out my window on Main Street and I’m sure that someone somewhere has a video of an astronaut kicking himself/herself for getting aboard the Starliner spacecraft in the first place. The Starliner is currently going around and around and around the Earth.
The spaceraft was made by Boeing which has had more than a few issues recently with airplanes made by the company.
Their airplanes have had to make many emergency landings or were grounded for days because of safety concerns. Mucho bad publicity, but the astronauts got dressed up and went aboard the rocket ship anyway.
This is what I wrote earlier in June:
“NO RUSH TO GET IN LINE. With all of the trouble Boeing has had lately with their aircraft, would you want to be on the crew of their newest ‘Starliner’ spacecraft?
Thanks, but no thanks.”
The Starliner is Boeing’s first attempt at building a spacecraft. Unfortunately it has been unable to return to earth owing to various problems — leaks, glitches and other stuff that tend to be dangerous in outer space. Nobody seems to be as nervous as I am about the astronauts’ safe return to Earth. Well, I’ll bet they’re just a tad worried.
If they stay in orbit much longer they’ll run out of the complimentary Diet Cokes and salted peanuts courteously provided by Boeing.
Several years ago I swore off air travel. I congratulate myself on that choice
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IS ANYONE ELSE dreading Thursday evening’s Presidential debate? It will be at 8 p.m. and you can see it on CNN or keep up with it on National Public Radio.
I have heard that De Queen’s Loren Hinton will be present at the CNN studio to make on-air wisecracks about the candidates. Among other responsibilities, Loren runs the radio station out at our college, and he lets me join him in the studio for wisecracks early on Wednesday mornings.
When it comes to wisecracks I cannot keep up with Loren. Cannot hold a candle to his greatness.
When he and I are ‘on the air’ it’s like we are imitating the two elderly candidates for President: Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.
However, neither Loren nor I have a verified criminal record, unlike one of the real candidates.
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OUR TOWN. Just like it did last year, the Nashville Scrapper Hall of Fame and Hall of Honor induction event really impressed me with the long-range review of athletic greats and with Nashville-connected persons who have made great contributions or brought great pride to our village.
Thanks to the school for organizing the event to induct honorees into both the Hall of Fame and the Hall of Honor.
From my table I got to see legendary athletes whom I’ve only heard of but never got to see play; got to see persons who competed in sports or influenced our community during my own era; and finally, got to see persons who left their modern-day mark in a variety of sports. Male and female.
‘Occasions’ is a great venue for events like the induction banquet and ceremony.
While I was watching the program unfold, I remembered one time during some long ago event at our city park. A county judge from a nearby county asked me in admiration: “How does Nashville manage to pull off events like this?”
Well, all of these signature events exist because someone had an idea and was willing to work ceaselessly to make it reality. And they usually enjoyed lots of support.
My opinion is that those kind of individuals are vanishing.
Therefore, they are even more valuable and important to the rest of us.
I was honored to speak in the Hall of Honor video about Louis ‘Swampy’ Graves, my father. And, my goodness, he was in the company of other wonderful inductees — Dr. Davy Allen, Supt. Danny Howard, Neva Byrd and Amy Holcomb Ball Johnston. I am privileged to have known all. Of that bunch, only Swampy ever gave me a paddling.
My congratulations and appreciation to the 15 inductees in the Hall of Fame for their memorable athletic accomplishments in football, track & field, tennis, coaching and golf.
All of the inductees of both celebrated groups for years 2023 and 2024 are true hometown legends, and are very worthy of their recognition.
Dr. Tom DeBlack did a great job as emcee.
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THINGS I LEARNED from opening email: “Now that Covid has everyone washing their hands correctly … next week: Turn Signals.”
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WORD GAMES. The Indigestion twins: Eat & Run. I also hate to …..
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HE SAID: “Leadership is solving problems. The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help or concluded you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership.” Colin Powell, general of the US Army and statesman
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SHE SAID: “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul — and sings the tunes without the words — and never stops at all.” Emily Dickinson, poet
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SWEET DREAMS, Baby
