JUST TAKING A BREAK, AND CATCHING UP ON READING

It looks like I may be doing some travel very soon, but I've got a pile of books I must finish reading before I go. I'm reading Shaw's great book on ACM and BFM, Fighter Combat. I read this book every couple of years or so. I experiment with some of Shaw's moves in the bitter box (simulator). I've noticed some of his tips in turning fights are helpful.

Mainly what I have been reading are books on directing documentaries, camera work and on using Final Cut Pro. Last night, I actually did my first green screen sequel and it's very funny. I green screened a buddha with his hand held up, and me flying the F-16 in the background. The Buddha says, "Oh no, you can't fly that jet! Peace, love and harmony!" and I say back, "Aw hell with that. Let's have some fun! Hold on to your belly, Buddha!"

It's very basic as it goes on from there, but it's a new editing skill I'm learning, and might as well goof off with it. A green screen is where you film something in the foreground, and them in the background, you have a blue or green back drop. In you editing program, you then replace that green back ground with another image of whatever you want as a new background.

I've bought some helmet cams too, and hope to figure these out and use them while I fly. I'm fooling around with a lot of velcro and superglue right now. The real need for these cams is the fact that soon I am doing a documentary on a motorcycle club in Europe. I love filming from machines! I think that is really fun to do. I'm looking forward to that.

After working so hard on Defcon 2012, I need a break. Sometimes it's a little rocky these days. I have had a big falling out with some liberal chicks that are food nazis, and I dubbed the conflict the Del Mar Beer Wars, just because they bugged me every time I saw them about my love of beer!

And yes, I love beer. The good kind. Handcrafted and imports, and yes a good cold Bud as long as the company is good.

Just as I type this, I just felt a strong aftershock to the big quake we had a couple of weeks ago. I feel a lot of them. They are centered near a volcano in Mexico, just across the border. It's interesting. My travel plans are on hold due to that volcanic eruption in Iceland too. Crazy times.

HERE IS A VIDEO OF THE BIG 7.2 QUAKE I FELT

Here is a video I did, in a funky way, but it works for me as a way of making a record of what happened on Easter Sunday. During the heavy wave like motion, I was calm. I wouldn't know any other way. I was busy trying to get a i Touch seismograph to work.

They say this quake had not relieved the stresses on the San Andreas, and might had increased those stresses. That's the latest on that one.

FELT A BIG EARTHQUAKE TODAY

This afternoon, I was napping, when I was woken up by a rattling house. It was pretty strong, and the whole house moved. I heard the structure making it's noises, and a rumbling sound. There were some things slapping too. I was not scared at all and merely was frustrated that I could not get my i Phone seismograph application on in time.

The shaker lasted about 40 seconds, and it eased off at one point, and then picked up again. I have been studying that region, where the quake happened, for years. There have been a lot of earth quake swarms in that area for years, and over the past few days, there had been many moderate quakes, one being 4.1. And then this 7.2 hit this afternoon.

The region where this 7.2 quake hit is in a rifting zone, and spreading zone, where the North American and Pacific plates are pulling apart. This kind of area is known for it's volcanism. There is a quiet cinder cone close to where this quake occured, and there is enough hot magma under it to heat up a lot of water. Right near this cinder cone is one of the world's bigger thermal energy power plants.

This concerns me, for this is not an isolated quake. It is a part of a complex system that includes a nearby magma chamber, other near by magma chambers, and several faults. All of which are a part of the the rifting zone. This is at the south end of the San Andreas system, which ends at Bombay Beach, at the Salton Sea. The Mid Ocean Range ends at the Salton Sea.

Well, anyways, I can go on about the science of all this. All we have to keep in mind, is that California sits on some complex ground, and the people here need to be prepared for earthquakes.

I expect more to come, and wonder just how much the local magma chambers are agitated. If they are, we run the risk for volcanism.

But I'm calm about it. Not one bit of fear. It's just the world doing what it does.

Let me add that I gathered more info on the damage in Mexicali and other cities via social networking, which was almost immediate. The news was two or three hours behind with the images. These two on Twitter. I got within an hour.

Here's a link and some pics.

http://quake.usgs.gov/recenteqs/

Global Anomalies Linked to Large Hadron Collider

The other day, I watched a live webcast of the start and power-up of this world's biggest machine. I then watched as they moved the two particle beams closer to together and then meeting. Once they met, world breaking levels of energy was reached. It is said that this machine has the ability to crate black hole conditions, but scientists claim the the stability of these lacks, and they dissipate in nano-seconds. But still, strange lights have been seem before on CERN operating days, so who know what in the hell is going on. I personally welcome science, and it's discoveries. But I want the scoop on this one.

I jut hope it's all for the best.

Global Anomalies Linked to Large Hadron Collider

The past few days have gotten me worried about the state of things in our great nation of ours, the US. There is a lot of tension and strong words, and the fringes on both sides are over the top. Such crazy words and a lot of hate.

First of all, I consider myself a conservative for I am for a strong military, and for free enterprise. I am pro meat, pro middle class lifestyle, pro wealthy, pro designer clothes and pro guns. The biggest thing that sticks me in the conservative camp is my love of small business ownership, and the right to get rich. This idea is dear to me, and I love being my own boss. I'm an individualist, and that is a part of wanting to preserve small business in America. I'm anti-socialist for this reason.

But why should hate come into the picture? That's taking it too far. We are all Americans, and this is a democracy. This is how we work, having both sides voting and having a voice. Even if I disagree with the present day White House, and their supporters, I don't think it's right to toss around some hate.

Hard right conservatives will do much better if they dropped the prejudice and be more welcoming. More people will join their ranks. If more joined, then we just might have a chance of preventing the slow creep of socialism. But right now, a lot voters are being scared off.

Right now, I feel very alone in all this. Standing alone and confused, probably in the line of cross fire, for I'm not going to hate. I also belong to some categories of human being that do not fit the tighter boundries defining conservative - according to the haters.

That being said, I have gotten more rudeness from liberal anti-war people. Mainstream conservatives tend to be a polite group for the most part.

Our country seems to really be in a thunderstorm - and riding such a storm, scaring a few passengers.

I just ask that we vote, and keep in peaceful if we can.

HAD THE PREMIERE FOR DEFCON 2012, AND STUDYING ALOT

About a month ago, we had the premiere of the movie Defcon 2012, and that went well. We had delivered the movie to the theater only one day before the screening - after doing some last minute tweaks on it's sound levels. That was nerve wracking! Jeeeeeze ....

Ok, I'm used to leading teams, and getting the overall job done. But I'm used to pilots, the USAF, and leading this movie team has been a challenge. Getting my film crew to get along, to complete tasks as instructed - well, it's like herding cats! I think I keep saying this too.

I had one fellow join us, save the day and the movie's first screening, and then he insulted my co-producer to the point I almost lost that essential team member.

All this makes me miss flying! Most pilots are pretty mature and will do their job. Understatement.

Well the parties that week were great. We had our premiere one week before the Oscars, so I hit some Hollywood parties. I met a lot of cool people, and hit it off with a couple of rock stars. I always get along with music people anyhow. Rockers are totally down to earth too. The one's I met were from the old school hard rock genre, which I really prefer.

Now we're transferring the movie into DigiBeta, and our distributor is sending it off to Cannes. I'm going too, and then after following my movie at various venues, going off to do a documentary.

I just ordered a helmet cam, and will get some more. I'm filming some flying as well as doing a documentary on some bikers and their custom bike shop. That'll be fun! I'm aiming at some great angles at speed, of bike, boot and road.

Also, staying current as much as possible with the bitter box, you know, the simulator. I have been doing very good with it, but last night had a few more lost BFM fights than normal. Probably my mind is on my movies too much. That's why I'm staying on the ground. I've got 'movie head' happening right now.

Women have been flying military aircraft for decades, and they did so during WWII. In this country, the USA, they really haven't been given their due credit and recognition. It's about time that they do get that credit! They need to be honored, and young people, especially girls, should learn about them.

There has been such a steady resistance when it comes to women fliers. But they do just as well, and very often better than male pilots.

Here is an article that hits home for me on two fronts, because I am both a pilot and a filmmaker. I produce and sometimes direct. Check this article out, how it takes so long for women of excellence to get credit for what they do.

http://marilyns.nexcess.net/2010/03/first-woman-wins-oscar-for-bes.html