Brian's blog

I just watched an en enjoyable movie, Green Zone, set in Iraq in 2003. I recommend it. »→

another college math quiz item:

I’m in a condo on a narrow beach of the bay that’s north of Tyndall Air Force Base.  It’s about half a mile from the north end of the northernmost runways.  Often F-4s, F-15s, F-16s, F-22s, and/or A-10s fly off the runways northward or southward for training sorties or to travel to- or from other bases.  Many days aircrews will practice touch-and-gos repeatedly, and they bank over the condo, the beach, or the bay beyond my back porch.  »→

Today I began a six-week college class – a survey of Western civilization from prehistory to the year 1715.  It’s fast-paced to fit all that history into six weeks.  I am sure that I’ll enjoy this and will learn plenty.  I hope to earn an A and 3 credits.

Flag Day

June 14 is the ‘birthday’ of the United States Army …

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Here are several things that you can easily do to keep your car, truck or van running safely and conserve money in the long run.

Tires:  key to your vehicle’s performance and safety

Acceleration, braking and turning all depend on reliable rubber meeting the road.

Once a month, perhaps after you’ve washed your vehicle, look at the tires and check their air pressures.  You may be glad you did. Inspect the tread for damage –chunking from rough roads, uneven wear across the tire from left to right, cupping, or balding.  You may even find a screw, nail or other object embedded in the tread! The sidewalls hold up your tires and hence suspend your vehicle.  Many of us have bumped curbs with our tires, so look at the sidewalls — inner and outer — for signs of weakness – rippling, bulges, abrasions or small tears. »→

I’m overdosing on televised races today.  I watched on TV four of six hours of Grand-Am racing at Watkins Glen.  The steamroller Scott Pruett won. Now I’m watching the pre-race show for the IndyCar race at Texas Motor Speedway. Drivers mention high cornering forces, the g that they feel when turning left, that inhibits their breathing (they breathe on straightaways).  I remember that in 2001 Champ Car decided against racing due to dizzing effect of exteme lateral g.  Yesterday Briscoe Inferno qualified fastest for this race.  I’ll bet he hopes to win and redeem himself/restore Penske’s confidence in him.  Alongside Briscoe on the front row of cars in the Indy 500 winner, Dario Franchitti. The Penske Racing juggernaut has three strong racers who can win this oval race (Castroneves has won thrice here).  And Ganassi Racing’s Franchitti and Dixon (who’s won here) are more than capable of winning.  Should be interesting!

I’m watching the Kansas IndyCar race on ABC in high definition.

In the pre-race show, Marty Reid tells us that Silvestro de Simona is one of the women who’ll race. Her name is Simona de Silvestro, Marty. »→

I’ve moved to a beachfront condo overlooking East Bay. I can see sunrise and moonrise over East Bay, go fishing, paddle a kayak, go swimming, beach-walking… Oak Shore Drive – Parker, Florida (click for map)