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Astronauts?

Something happened today that me disturbed. I didn't notice this "thing" that has been occurring over the past two months, but had I, I'd have spoken out sooner. Today, Blue Origin sent another group of tourists into space for a short time. The headliner was William Shatner, a cultural icon. I'm happy for him and the rest of the group for being able to have the experience. This isn't the thing that's bothering me. On their descent back to earth, the mission control commander dubbed them America's newest astronauts, designating them an incremental astronaut number somewhere in the 500's. Astronauts? If what they did, which was to sit in a seat, qualifies them as astronauts, then everyone flying as passengers on an airliner should be anointed "pilots". Correct me if I'm wrong, but astronauts spend decades learning and practicing science, engineering, or aeronautics before applying to and being accepted into one of the most rigorous prog...
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Why Couldn't N7022G Establish on the Localizer?

Why did Dr. Das have trouble establishing on the localizer for 28R? He followed his vector to the localizer but started to veer right of the signal when he neared the field. The localizer signal would have been  Some panels are equiped with a "reverse" switch between the radio navigator and the VOR or HSI instrument. The reverse switch transforms the signal from the VHF navigation receiver so that indicator needles appear as they would in a forward approach and the pilot wouldn't have to translate (or reverse interpret) the needle. So, if equiped with a reverse switch and the switch was inadvertently in the reverse position, veering right on the localizer would look like the correct action for the pilot to make. He also may have been thinking more about circling around to runway 23 and that's why he veered right early. Though he was reminded plenty of times of what he approach was. The controller reported Dr. Das was veering right of the track. The pilot acknowledge i...
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The Importance of Television

I have no intention of pontificating on the impact of television on humankind. Before TV, people went to movie theaters to get motion pictures from around the world. Before that, they attended plays and other theatrical productions. Before that, they played with sticks and rocks (known today as golf). Enough on that. Last Sunday, after Dawn and I were fortunate enough to watch Donald Trump speak at CPAC, Life, Liberty, and Levin, and Steve Hilton, our living room TV died. It wasn't necessarily unexpected as it was exhibiting turmoil prior to its final Swan Song. But, still, dissappointing. The TV was purchased six years ago at Costco. Neither Dawn nor I were happy with a TV that only lasted six years. If it made it to ten years, then that would be acceptable. Nonetheless, it's time for another television and defining the television's mission given what's now know. In particular, with regards to mission, the living room TV must not have a screen glare. The windows on the...
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