Paul MacCready

(Photos are of Blaine Rawdon working on MacCready projects)

I read today that Paul MacCready Jr., known as the "father of human-powered flight," for designing the first aircraft to make a sustained, controlled flight powered solely by a human, has died. He was 81. I had the opportunity to hear Paul at the San Mateo Unitarian Church several years ago, and after the service he demonstrated several very small airplanes, one of which was literally made of matchsticks and cellophane. It was powered by a rubber band and fluttered like a bat around the church auditorium. Everyone wondered why this marvelous machine wasn't available at the local hobby shop, but Paul said it was too delicate for production. As I recall his comments were inspirational from the standpoint of celebrating the power of human innovation, but paradoxically quite pessimistic about the outlook for mankind and our world. When I was looking for photos of the Gossamer Condor and the Gossamer Albatross, I came across these photos of Blaine Rawdon working on the Gossamer Penguin and the Solar Challenger, two of MacCready's projects. Both photos are from 1980. While in St. Louis this summer I heard from Dad that Blaine had undergone very painful surgery for cancer of the jaw. I hope he is doing well. More wonderful pictures of MacCready projects are Here. More on Blaine's Gossamer work Here

Back to School

Sarah and Mac contemplate the arrival of the first day of school. This year will be different. We will be organized and stress free!

Sarah's schedule includes;

AP English III, AP Art/Drawing, Chemistry, French II, World History, Algebra II and the tennis team is starting its season. (Tennis schedule Here . See HMB High Here)

Fun!

The Cougars are on the Prowl..

Abalone Rockefellar?

Click to enlarge this photo

Bounty of the sea! Sarah and I had the great good fortune to camp with friends at the mouth of the Albion river near Mendicino this past weekend. Much paddling, diving, fishing and eating.Here fresh caught abalone and sea urchin are viewed with interest & some skepticism as to edibility. All doubts were put to rest later that night at a great sea food feast.

View trip album HERE

Participants included:

Tony, Kay, Paul, Rob, Ralph, Debbie, Daphne, Rorke, Erin, Magnus, Piper, Kit, Marty, Cindy, Sarah P. Sarah K, Mike, Bob, Holly, Heather, Patrick, Adam and many others. What a crew!

Catch It if You Can

The study of high energy physics is a never

ending endeavour at our house.
Pictured here: a recent test of the falling-china-

gravitational-acceleration
one-handed-catch theory.

Blow Up Blow out

.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Is this an example

of spooky pre-halloween

synchronistic connections?

Or just random coincidence

You decide.

In June I took photos of an open water swim session for people new to the experience. Some were anxious, needing encouragment by the coaches to enter the water. It was not until several days later that I examined the photos closely and noticed that one swimmer had been encouraged rather strongly by the application of a surf board to her bottom. Accident? I don't think so, but we will never know for sure. My discovery of the crime 'hidden' in the unmagnified photo made me think of the film 'Blow Up.' In it a photographer sees evidence of a murder in enlargements of photos he has taken. As in my photo only the crime is clearly seen, not the criminal's identity. ( Who was wielding the surfboard?) I saw the film at the Shady Oak Theatre, I think in 1966 or 67.. Black and white and strange! Not your average fare. It made an impression. A few days before the open water swim episode I had also seen "Blow Out' on cable- a take off on the 'Blow Up idea.' In it John Travolta's character discovers evidence of a murder in a sound recording he has made. The surf board crime caught on film set me to thinking of these earlier movies.

Now here is the spooky part. Ready?... OK. The very next day after noticing the photos and thinking back on the movies, who dies but Michaelangelo Antonioni director of 'Blow Up'. What do you think? Time to found a religion?

Afghan Fund Raiser

Another picture from the front from our boy Badass in Afghanistan

As we know, war funding is under more and more pressure in congress.

Twelve billion/month isn't quite cutting it. So our troops have been reduced to fundraising on their own. Ad revenue is certainly one option, and Bob's unit believes in advertising only products that they can personally endorse. Note the viking helmet and authentic Ibex horns. Goes well with the Gatling gun don't you think? What Exactly does PJCA on a Spade stand for? Devils Canyon is a Belmont CA based Brew created by local talent with Kings Mountain connections. Support Our Troops- drink one today! Check it out HERE

Word has it that shortly after this picture was taken, Badass led his unit on a secret training exercise designed to practice nighttime Humvee diesel repair while stuck in a riverbed. How did that go, Bob? Military secrecy prohibits me from further disclosing expedition details except to say that a few Devils Canyon brews would have been a big help had they been available (Which I'm sure they were not.)

What makes glow plugs glow?

See you soon, Bob.

Addendum: Thanks to GoBevGo for pointing out the crewman repairing the rear rotor on the helicopter in the the background. Click pic to enlarge and see.)

Locals Only!

A Classic Pose: Sarah and Mac with the Haumersen Surf Team. Long Beach Island, New Jersey at the foot of 34th St.
Check out the photo album HERE

Paddling out to the Line Up

SURF NEW JERSEY!!