B-29 Ride

Fifi is the only B-29 still flying. She was found and returned to airworthy condition by the Confederate Air Force in 1971 - then underwent two other restorations that were finished in 1974 and 2010.

Today she tours the country for static display and selling rides to lucky guys like me.

The engines are modified Curtiss-Wright R-3350s similar to those used on Skyraiders, Sea Fury's and AC-119 gunships.

Four radial engines rated for 2400 rpm at 44 inches mp provide 8000 horsepower for takeoff. Full power then brake release takeoffs are quite a ride.

My friends with dozens of takeoffs in a DC-3 know how much fun a radial engine launch is. This would be the best one I have ever been on. The engine run up after takeoff clearance was four pit bulls on a leash looking at a steak.

Brakes released and - sitting sideways - I was shoved very hard into the left side of my seat belt. I only had a few cat shots during my time in the Navy and this compares. We were airborne in no time.

The Superfortress cruised over Lake Pleasant - north of Phoenix and we were able to wander around the back of the plane - checking out gunner and spotter positions within the aircraft. It was all over way too soon.

I had seen the B-29 flying into Phoenix overhead last Monday during a round of golf. I remarked to the guys I played with. Do you know what that is? Some did. A remarkable piece of history - built to win a war and now maintained by very good people. If you have the opportunity to ride or just see it up close, don't wait.

Fifi and the other B-29s were the most ambitious and expensive weapon system of World War 2 - costing more than the atom bomb. It is sobering to think how much money went into those two projects and the amount of destruction they caused.

I spent the few minutes on final approach last Thursday thinking about the engineers that started the B-29 project on blueprints, the workers (mostly women) who put the plane together and then the crews that flew them thousands of miles from home - the billions of thoughts and prayers these people had and what must have been a common theme - a wish for peace and a return to normalcy for a country they loved. Nearly all those people are gone now. I am forever grateful for their efforts.

Between Absurdity and Atrocity

This may offend you:

How will we know when there is no more racism in this country? That will be the day that a white female college student is asked out by a black man and she says no.

Not the funniest joke around but in a Mencken sort of way it bites right into the heart of a couple of big topics of public discussion these days: Race relations and free speech.

The joke may make you feel uncomfortable. That's ok. It is not the responsibility of every other human to behave in a way that makes you comfortable at all times. Sorry.

It could also make you a little mad at me for telling it. Maybe even think that I am racist. That's ok. I am not. And further, it's another 'not my responsibility' to convince you that this is so.

There's a lot of people floating around Voltaire's quote these days: "I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

How lofty and considerate and really, in our hyper-connected world of social media - a bunch of hogwash.

There are millions in this country, decent people though they are, who will not defend my right to say anything I want. To the death or even to the point of a mild headache. Forget the whole, fire in a crowded movie theater example. I'm talking about opinions like same-sex marriage, abortion rights, affirmative action and the overall impact of more women entering the work force in the last 50 years.

I watch the television, read Facebook and see "Je Suis Charlie" always thinking that this is the most gutless nonsense around. The terrorist group that sponsored the attack on Charlie Hebdo doesn't care if you mob together in "unity" or post those three words on Twitter or Facebook. Let me repeat. They do not care. They have won this battle.

Why have they won? Because hardly anyone is reprinting or rebroadcasting the images that led to carnage. A German newspaper tried it and immediately became a victim of arson. These are victories for the lower life forms out there who are certain that it is prudent to kill and scare and change.

Consider a few other things happening in our own country that indicate near collaboration with those lower life forms:

Famous athletes being allowed to wear provocative t-shirts on the job advocating a particular political stance regarding law enforcement. Charles Barkley tried to express an opinion supporting the other side of the issue. He was called hateful and stupid for it. I'm sure he regrets even opening his mouth.

A college student at Marquette was told by a teacher that any discussion advocating traditional marriage only was off limits in her classroom. He was told that his position advocated hateful speech, would make other students uncomfortable and would not be tolerated.

What's common to these debates? A simple expression that frames one side as hate-filled and unworthy of even being allowed to talk. So much for defending to the death your right to express an opinion.

Want to hear another joke about gay marriage? I will not tell one. Because it could be reported to my employer and I could lose my excellent day job for supposedly advocating a hateful position through social media.

That may not be same as shooting me in the head with an AK-47. But it is close enough to shut me up.

I'm certain that there are a lot of fake Charlie's out there. And they are just as willing to shut up another human being to promote their own ideals as a terrorist is. Thankfully most will not pick up a weapon.

Voltaire was not a fan of the Catholic Church. He also said this:

"Those who make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."

Make you uncomfortable? Good. Let's talk about it.