lifeasdaddy

lifeasdaddy - I love old photos

I hinted here that I wanted a book of old railway photographs for a pesent last Christmas.  Gabrielle kindly gave me Kinsey Photographer: The locomotive Portraits.  It's fine photographs depict not only old-time loco engines, but the people who drove them and worked in the sawmilling towns of yore.  It's fascinating to see the clothes and grooming of the people, and even the expressions on their faces.  Proud.  Happy.  Time-worn.  Exhausted.

Kottke has pointed readers to Shorpy - The 100-year old photo blog.

Here's their blurb:

Shorpy.com is a photo blog about what life a hundred years ago was like: How people looked and what they did for a living, back when not having a job usually meant not eating. We’re starting with a collection of photographs taken in the early 1900s by Lewis Wickes Hine as part of a decade-long field survey for the National Child Labor Committee, which lobbied Congress to end the practice. One of his subjects, a young coal miner named Shorpy Higginbotham, is the site’s namesake.

Fascinating photos.  Many heartbreakers too.

lifeasdaddy - The blog post attracting lots of recent readers: Jared Landaker

I quoted a moving piece here about the final journey of 1st Lt. Jared Landaker.

This blog doesn't get many readers, but that blog post has been steadily attracting more and more.  In the past 24-hours, 21 viewers have arrived here to see that specific blog post.

It's gaining traction.

Civil War Recruiting Posters

Here's a fine set of US Civil War Recruiting Posters on Flikr.

Until I saw these, I didn't even know that recruits were usually paid a sign-on bonus, or bounty as they called it.

[tip from kottke   (again)   ]

Finally. Something useful on YouTube: How to open a beer bottle with a piece of paper

Here's a nice little video of a bloke opening a bottle of beer using a piece of paper.

[ tip from kottke ]

Your help is needed

I like collaborative internet projects.

Here's one with which you may be able to help.

[Added:  follow-up is here.  ]

lifeasdaddy - Books I've recently read

Here's some of the books I've been reading with a few remarks.

Barry Jones is currently Senior National President of the Australian Labor Party, and his autobiography was recently published.

He has led a remarkable life dovoted to many good causes.  Here he shows lacerating self-awareness in examining his public career and why he did not achieve more for our great nation.

He is popularly known as a brainbox here in Australia and goes so far as to describe exactly how his amazing relational way of thinking enables him to connect otherwise disparate pieces of information into something lucid and fluent.

Politically he also examines the workings of the Australian Labor party over the past 55 years, it's highlights and lowlights.  He also reviews the meanness and lack of humanity displayed by the coalition government which has ruled Australia these past 11 years under Prime Minister John Howard.

Allen and Unwin.  ISBN 9781741143874  (I note from the Allen and Unwin website that this book is currently reprinting)

A fun book about 24 Australians' obsessions with their unusual cars.  You don't have to be a car nut to enjoy this, but you do need to have a sympathy or fascination for what gets people obsessed about any hobby.

Strangely, the authors of the text are not credited, although photographs by Mark Roper are.

A Penguin book.  ISBN-13:978 0 14 30048 99

Heat by Bill Buford is an account of his time learning to be a professional cook. 

Starting aged in his late-40s.  Previously a professional writer of some note, he brings his writerly powers of observation and reasearch to bear on his adventures through several kitchens and associated workplaces. 

He captures the bestial and visceral nature of kitchen work. 

At great depth he also looks at the history and origins of crucial elements in Italian cooking, although I found those parts of the book much less interesting than his kitchen tales.

ISBN 978-0-224-08065-1

[Heat has been widely reviewed elsewhere]

Here's number 16 in the series by Lawrence Block featuring his detective character Matthew Scudder.  In All The Flowers Are Dying   Scudder is a sober alcholic, a fact that always plays a part i the background of these stories, he's also an ex-cop who does favours for friends.  Those favours include investigations, but because he doesn't hold a P.I. licence, he doesn't use the investigator designation.  Here he's older - and settling into late middle age.  Sorting out problems for friends, a murder here and there, and attending those meetings.

Plenty of black moments from Block.

ISBN-13: 978-0060198312

  Man Walks Into A Bar.  I've had this book for a few months and dip into it frequently just for amusement.  The jokes are divided into alphabetical categories. 

It's the book I read when I can't decide what book to read.

Curiously, the details page at the front of the book states:

"Stephen Arnott and Mike Haskins have asserted their moral right to be identified as the authors of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988."  However, surely, many of the jokes were authored by others, and certainly I can recall hearing many of them told prior to the copyright date of 2004..   Moral right?? I don't think so.

ISBN-13: 978-0091897659

Although not a huge fan of cricket, I found this book, the lastest of Max Walker's books, very entertaining.  Full of anecdotes, it also gives some of his recent family history.  He's  also a long time supporter of Blind Cricket, and there's a chapter devoted to that derivitive of the great game.

Caps, Hats & Helmets is published by Tangle Press, so I think Mr. Walker has got a publishing arm too.

The blurb on the back cover notes that he's authored 13 books, with total sales of more than 1 million copies.  As such that surely makes him one of Australia's highest selling authors.

ISBN 0975791109.

The Black Echo (1992) is the first of Connelly's series starring Hieronymous 'Harry' Bosch.  It's a pretty good detective story, set in Los Angeles, and Bosch is with the LAPD.  Here he partners with an FBI detective to try to solve a murder case which has roots reaching back to the Vietnam War.

Apart from an unrealistic plot device of a safety deposit facility encased in glass, it's good stuff.  I've read a few in the series, and they get better.

ISBN-13: 978-0446612739

Get Caught Reading! - Association of American Publishers promo

The AAP has got a promotion to encourage reading.  It has a large set of celebrity posters depicting an intriguing array of US notables.  My favourite poster is the Don King.  He's reading The Mind of Frederick Douglass. 

   This is my favourite, not so much because I like Don King, but because, well, it's Don King!

1st Lt. Jared Landaker's final flight.

Leon Greer forwarded a clipping to me about the final flight of Marine 1st Lt. Jared Landaker.

It is a piece written by Stuart Witt.

Final Flight By Stuart Witt

Feb. 17, 2007, 0350 curbside at 24th and M, Washington DC. 16 degrees with a light breeze. Going home after my second week of freezing temps. Fly my aircraft, ride a horse, climb a mountain and get back to living. I'm tired of the cold.

0425 paying the taxi fare at Dulles in front of the United Airlines counter, still cold.

0450 engaging the self-serve ticker machine and it delivers my ticket, baggage tag and boarding pass. Hmmm, that Marine is all dressed up early…? Oh, maybe,,, Hmmm, "Good morning captain, you're looking sharp."

Pass security and to my gate for a quick decaf coffee and five hours sleep. A quick check of the flight status monitor and UA Flight 211 is on time. I'm up front, how bad can it be? Hmmm, that same Marine, he must be heading to Pendleton to see his lady at LAX for the long weekend all dressed up like that….? Or maybe not?

"Attention in the boarding area, we will begin boarding in 10 minutes, we have some additional duties to attend to this morning but we will have you out of here on time."

That captain now has five others with him. BINGO. I get it, he is not visiting his lady, he's an official escort. How I remember doing that once, CACO duty. I still remember the names of the victim and family, The Bruno family in Mojave …, all of them, wow, that was 24 years ago. I wonder if we will ever know who and why?

On board, 0600: "Good morning folks this is the captain. This morning we have been attending to some additional duties and I apologize for being 10 minutes late for pushback but believe me we will be early to LAX. This morning it is my sad pleasure to announce that 1st Lt. Jared Landaker, USMC, will be flying with us to his Big Bear home in Southern California.

''Jared lost his life over the skies of Iraq earlier this month and today we have the honor of returning him home along with his mother, father, brother and uncles.

''Please join me in making the journey comfortable for the Landaker family and their uniformed escort. Now sit back and enjoy our ride, we are not expecting any turbulence until we reach the Rocky Mountains and at that time we will do what we can to ensure a smooth ride. For those interested you can listen in to our progress on button 9."

Up button 9: "Good morning UA 211 you are cleared to taxi, takeoff and cleared to LAX as filed." From the time we started rolling we never stopped. 1st Lt. Landaker began receiving his due.

Four hours and 35 minutes later, over Big Bear Mountain, the AB320 makes a left roll and steep bank and then one to the right, Nice touch captain

"Five minutes out from landing, the captain: "Ladies and gents, after landing I'm leaving the fasten seatbelt sign on and I ask everyone in advance to yield to the Landaker family. Please remain seated until all members have departed the aircraft. Thank you for your patience, we are 20 minutes early."

On roll out, I notice red lights, emergency vehicles everywhere. We are being escorted directly to our gate, no waiting anywhere, not even a pause. Out the left window, a dozen Marines in full dress blues. Highway Patrol, police, fire crews all in full dress with lights on. A true class act by everyone, down to a person, from coast to coast. Way to go United Airlines for doing the little things RIGHT, because they are the big things; Air Traffic Control for getting the message, to all law enforcement for your display of brotherhood.

When the family departed the aircraft everyone sat silent, then I heard a lady say, "God Bless You and your Family, Thank You." Then another, then another, then a somber round of applause. The captain read a prepared note from Mrs. Landaker to the effect, "Thank you all for your patience and heartfelt concern for us and our son. We sincerely appreciate the sentiment. It is nice to have Jared home."

After departing the aircraft, I found myself, along with 30 others from our flight, looking for a window. Not a dry eye in the craft. All of us were bawling like babies. It was one of the most emotional moments of my life. We all stood silent and watched as Jared was taken by his honor guard to an awaiting hearse. Then the motorcade slowly made its way off the ramp.

I have finally seen the silent majority. It is deep within us all. Black, Brown, White, Yellow, Red, Purple, we are all children, parents, brothers, sisters, etc … we are an American family.

What you don't know is that on the flight I was tapped on the shoulder by Mrs. Landaker who introduced herself to me after I awoke. Her words were, "I understand you have sons in the service. Please tell them we appreciate their service. We are so proud of our kids who chose to serve at this time. We were so proud of Jared and today we find ourselves in a fog of disbelief. Jared was three days from returning home."

Early in our taxi out from the gate at Dulles, the gent next to me (a Fairfax City Council Member and acquaintance of the Thuot family) and I were talking to the flight attendant and mentioned that we had sons serving on active duty, "What do you say? How tragic, they must be devastated." He said many of the passengers had told him the same thing so somewhere in the flight he shared his tidbits with Mrs. Landaker. Our flight attendant had been struggling with what to say, to find the right words, so he told the Landaker family of passengers who were parents of service members who connected with their grief as parents. After I gathered myself, I stepped back to their row, two behind me and introduced myself to Mr. Landaker (a Veteran of South East Asia as a Tanker) and Jared's uncle and brother. What a somber moment. Their Marine captain escort was a first rate class act. He had been Jared's tactics instructor and volunteered for this assignment, as he said, "Sir, it is the least I could do, he was my friend and a great stick. He absolutely loved to fly, It's an honor to be here on his last flight."

1115: On my connecting flight, my mind raced. How lucky I was to have had an opportunity to fly my father to Spain and ride the carrier USS John F. Kennedy home in 1981. The same year Jared was born. How lucky I was to have my father on the crows landing when I made my final cat shot in an F-14. Jared's father never had that chance. Jared was at war, 10,000 miles away.

When Mr. Landaker and I were talking he shared with me, "When Jared was born he had no soft spot on his head and doctors feared he would be developmentally challenged. He became a physics major with honors, a high school and college athlete, and graduated with distinction from naval aviation flight school. He was short in stature, but a Marine all the way." Visit his life story on line at www.bigbeargrizzly.net . Bring tissue.

February 7, 2007, Anbar Province, Iraq. 1st Lt Jared Landaker, United States Marine Corps, Hero, from Big Bear Calif., gave his life in service to his country. Fatally wounded when his CH-46 helicopter was shot down by enemy fire, Jared and his crew all perished. His life was the ultimate sacrifice of a grateful military family and nation.

His death occurred at the same time as Anna Nicole Smith, a drug using person with a 7th grade education of no pedigree who dominated our news for two weeks while Jared became a number on CNN. And most unfortunately, Jared's death underscores a fact that we are a military at war, not a nation at war. Until we become a nation committed to winning the fight, and elect leaders with the spine to ask Americans to sacrifice in order to win, we shall remain committed to being a nation with a military at war, and nothing more. (And possibly no funding if congress has their way!)

1st Lt. Landaker, a man I came to know in the skies over America on 17 February 2007, from me to you, aviator to aviator, I am unbelievably humbled. It was my high honor to share your last flight. God bless you.

Semper Fi.

Here is 1st Lt. Jared Landaker's obituary from the Big Bear Grizzly newspaper.

Gov. Schwarzenegger Issues Statement on Death of Big Bear City Marine

From la.indymedia.org:

Jared Landaker was piloting a CH-46 helicopter and had picked up a wounded Marine in Karbala, Iraq, and was taking him to a hospital when a support helicopter crew saw fire in the back. The helicopter spun around twice and crashed on its left side. Everyone inside burned to death, the pilot's mother said.

The Big Bear Grizzly newspaper has got a good follow-up story about his life Jared Landaker - A man of principles.

Added:   MySpace tribute site for Jared Landaker.

Added:  The Washington Post's Faces Of The Fallen project entry for Jared Landaker.

Art Tatums's jazz piano techniques explained by Dick Hyman

  Dick Hyman is a fine piano player.  He turns 80 years old today - and it's amazing to consider his   heavy performing schedule.

I've long treasured my copy of his recording at the Maybeck Recital Hall of the Music of 1937.

Although I listen to Art Tatum rarely now, he was once my favourite jazz pianist.  One of the features of Tatum's playing was his huge technique and ability to play rapidly and clearly.  He had the ability to give voice to many then-original harmonic ideas.  It's often been said that people hearing his recordings for the first time often thought there were two piants playing.

Now I've found on YouTube that Dick Hyman has given lessons explaining and demonstrating Tatum's techniques and musical ideas.  I wish I'd found that 20 years ago.

Here's a link on YouTube for Hyman's introduction to his Tatum lesson series.  Other lessons are found beyond that link.

And here's where you can buy the CD-ROM of Hyman's Tatum Lessons.

My other favourite jazz pianists?  In no particular order:

- Teddy Wilson

- Oscar Peterson

- Erroll Garner

Steve McQueen: Imperial War Museum official war artist for the war in Iraq

My interest in war artists has been indicated here and here. 

War artists are not just a quaint relic of a bygone age.  The Imperial War Museum appointed Steve McQueen in 2003 to record the War in Iraq.

He struggled to complete the commission for some time.  Now he has done it.  A set of postage stamps, each one depicting a Briton who has been killed in the war.

It's having it's first showing at the Manchester International Festival.

From the Financial Times interview about it:

It is clear that this piece of work has become something of a crusade for him. I wonder if he has any sympathy for the MOD and the Royal Mail, whose shrinking away from such a project in the middle of a less-than-popular war is surely understandable? “No, no. Not at all. If you are willing enough to send people to fight and die, you should at least have the decency to honour them.

“What exactly is the problem? It is not an anti-war project. It is honouring the people who have died. I have no sympathy for their position at all. If they are ashamed, let them say it in public.” By now, words are tumbling out of McQueen, almost quicker than he can process them. “If [the Royal Mail] can react quickly enough to commemorate the Ashes series, then an 18-year-old who catches a bullet in his head can be honoured in the same way. I mean, come on. Catching a ball? Leather on willow?” His contempt is palpable.

They died for Queen and country.

[tip from Knobel ]

Added:

Story in The Independent Online edition.