The Flight Deck for September 2002, Issue 112
From the Bridge:
Welcome to the hopefully cooler month of September. I apologize for
the lateness of the newsletter, but our Chief of Communications (LT
Amanda Dailey) and I were on recon at Dragon*Con in Atlanta over
Labor Day weekend. It was an...interesting time, and we have over
200 pieces of photographic evidence. Prime blackmail material, I'd
say. And whatever you do, do not ask about the sheep or the spoo.
There has also been a major change of plans for the September meeting.
Due to the museum doing some paint work on our plane, there will be no
plane wash this month. Instead, the meeting will be held at FADM Paul
and ADM Sandy Sundstrom's starting at 2:00 pm. (all hail the mighty
volunteers!). Everyone please bring munchies, drinks, & raffle items.
Also, the USS Adventure is heading to the IMAX Theater at White River
Park to see the Space Station 3D show this Saturday, September 14th
at 5pm and they've invited everyone along. Tickets are $7.50 for
adults and $5 for children (12 & under).
Hope to see everyone at the meeting!
FCAPT Cathy Dailey (no, no typo, they promoted me)
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Upcoming Events:
September 14th--Adventure IMAX Away Mission--Space Station 3D
September 21st--Halsey September meeting
at FADM Paul & ADM Sandy Sundstrom's
October 19--Halsey October meeting & bonfire at CMDR Mark Milhous'
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Beamdown Coordinates:
FADM Paul & ADM Sandy Sundstrom
237 N. 18th Ave, Beech Grove
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Directions:
1. Take I-65 to Keystone Ave Exit (#107).
2. Turn right if coming from the south
left if coming from the north
3. Turn right at light onto Troy Ave.
4. Turn left in between Walgreens' and Chinese takeout place.
5. Continue straight through stop sign (stop first!)
6. 237 on right side of street.
Hope to see you there!
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Birthdays & Anniversaries
September 6th--Honorary CAPT Anne Lockhart
September 7th--MDSHM Michael Bischoff
September 10th--RADM Darren Merritt
September 27th--COMM Valerie Rose
September 28th--Honorary CAPT Herb Jefferson, Jr.
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From the "Does the In-Flight Meal Include Sushi?" Desk:
Japan launches space rocket
Japan has launched its third new-generation space rocket as it
continues efforts to forge a commercial satellite launch business.
The 57-metre (190-feet) H-2A rocket, carrying two satellites - a data
relay satellite and an unmanned space experiment recovery system.
It blasted off from the Tanegashima spaceport, about 1,000 kilometres
(625 miles) south-west of Tokyo at 1720 local time (0820 GMT).
Within 30 minutes of blast off both of the satellites
were successfully deployed, officials said.
Japan's last H-2A launch, in February, failed
to put a test satellite into orbit.
High ambitions
"Today's launch, if successful, marks a major step towards
commercialisation of Japan's satellite launch business," said an
official from Japan's National Space Development Agency (Nasda).
But Japan is yet to find a customer for the programme, which has been
criticised for its high cost and a series of launch failures.
The commercial satellite launch market is
dominated by the United States and Europe.
Nasda was set up in 1969 and launched Japan's first,
totally self-developed rocket, the H-2, in 1994.
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From the "Tips Not Given Out by the AAA" Desk:
(anyone who remembers the away missions to Chicago can appreciate...)
Chicago Driving
First you must learn to pronounce the city name. It is Chi-ca-go, or
Cha-ca-ga depending on if you live North or South of Roosevelt Rd.
Next, if your road map is more than a few weeks old, throw it out
and buy a new one. If in Naperville and your map is one day old, then
it is already obsolete.
Forget the traffic rules you learned elsewhere. Chicago
has its own version of traffic rules... "Hold on and pray."
There is no such thing as a dangerous high-speed
chase in Chicago. We all drive like that.
All directions start with, "I94"... which has no beginning and no end.
The morning rush hour is from 6 to 10. The evening rush hour is
from 3 to 7. Friday's rush hour starts Thursday morning.
If you actually stop at a yellow light, you will be rear ended,
cussed out and possibly shot. When you are the first one on the starting
line, count to five when the light turns green before going to avoid
crashing with all the drivers running the red light in cross-traffic.
Construction on Northwest Tollway is a way of life and a permanent
form of entertainment. We had sooooo much fun with that we have added
Elgin O'Hare and the I355 to the mix.
All unexplained sights are explained by the phrase, "Oh, we're in Cicero!"
If someone actually has their turn signal on,
it is probably a factory defect.
Car horns are actually "Road Rage" indicators.
All old ladies with blue hair in Mercedes have the right of way. Period.
First Ave, LaGrange Rd, NW Highway, all mysteriously change
names as you cross intersections (these are only a FEW examples).
If asking directions in Cicero you must have knowledge of Spanish.
If in Bridgeport, Mandarin Chinese will be your best bet. If you stop
to ask directions on the West or South side you better be armed.
A trip across town (east to west) will take a minimum of four hours,
although many north/south freeways have unposted minimum speeds of 75.
The minimum acceptable speed on the Dan Ryan is 85.
Anything less is considered downright sissy.
The wrought iron on windows near Englewood and Austin is not ornamental.
The Congress expressway is our daily version of NASCAR.
The Dan Ryan is called "The Death Trap" for
two reasons: "death" and "trap."
If it's 100 degrees, It's taste of Chicago. If it's 10 degrees and
sleeting/snowing, It's opening day at Sox Park. If it's rained 6 inches
in the last hour, the Western open Golf Classic is in the second round.
If you go to the Wrigley Field pay the $25.00 to park "Cubs Lot".
Parking elsewhere could cost up to $2500 for damages, towing fees,
parking tickets, etc. If some guy with a flag tries to get you to
park in his 'yard', run over him.
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end transmission
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