New era for military alliances

In a world fraught with danger one never can play it too safe. Militant groups around the world are increasingly able to gain access to a growing number of weapons. One must remember that weapons themselves are morally neutral. A weapon is nether good nor bad ... it simply is. So while something like an anti-aircraft missile can be a good thing if someone is flying your direction with a load of bombs and bad attitude ... it can also be a bad thing if let loose against a completely innocent target.

That brings us to the end of some rather amazing talks which have just concluded in a mutually beneficial alliance between the US Military (most notably DARPA ... Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) and a Non-Aligned individual of interest. This person ... operating under the code name "Nick" ... first approached the US Military after the growing Islamic terrorist threat began to move from annoying to downright dangerous. Increasingly these terrorists were able to acquire cheap, shoulder fired, surface to air missiles from arms merchants. Since the majority of "Nick's" business depends upon reliable air transportation he needed some help from someone. Who better than the US Military?

As talks began it was soon evident, to the people originally involved in the talks, that there was a possibility for a technology exchange. Thus they wisely elected to bring DARPA into the picture. DARPA is always working on leading edge projects of a highly classified nature. Eventually the fruits of their labor make it to the general public though. However, due to the highly classified nature of their work, this can often take a decade or two. For example ... the SR-71 flew for nearly 20 years before news that it even existed was made public. By then it had served it's purpose and the disclosure of the knowledge that had been flying all that time was of no consequence.

As a result of these highly classified negotiations "Nick's" primary and backup air frames are to be outfitted with the very latest phased array radar systems. These systems are capable of scanning an area of nearly 300 nautical miles around his craft. Further a high energy carbon dioxide laser system with a rotating aiming turret is being fitted to the bottom. The radar system can track and target up to 50 active incoming threats and provide near instantaneous firing solutions for the laser defense system. Traveling at the speed of light ... the laser can target and destroy any incoming threat well beyond visible range and before it can affect any type or evasion or countermeasures. Also ... since the phased array radar is flat ... it doesn't interfere with the unique design and paint scheme of "Nick's" flight vehicles. (This was of vital importance)

In exchange for the missile defense system "Nick" has agreed to share with DARPA some of his highly advanced flight system technology. The autopilot guidance system alone is well worth the US investment in the exchange. This system works like a cross between a highly advanced global data base and a "mapquest" routing program. It is able to store and process literally billions of individual points and instantly generate the shortest route between all points in a completely logical way. These points are typically optimized so that their routing occurs at night when routine air traffic is lightest. This dovetails nicely into the current US Military doctrine of "owning the night" which has been well documented in the last two gulf wars. The point optimization factor means that our aircraft always fly the most direct route which conserves fuel and minimizes wasted pilot time.

The other prize garnered by this exchange may take a good long while to make it's way into any aircraft. (At least it will take the general public a long time to learn about it if it does!) It seems that "Nick", beside being one of the worlds leading philanthropists, likes to tinker in the realm of quantum physics ... particularly in the area of quantum space and time dilation. His research has lead him to the practical application of movement through a system that opens portals in quantum space and permits travel in a mode of switchable time dilation. This breakthrough permits "Nick" and his craft to seemingly violate Einstein's law that nothing can travel faster than light. "That," he said, "only applies in this dimension. My system permits me to slip back and forth between dimensions effortlessly. Thus I can cover a great deal of distance it what seems to be an impossibly short amount of time." DARPA officials admitted that even with the schematics and notations it might be years before they completely understood the technology.

Thus it seems that Saint Nick will be able to safely make his rounds for the foreseeable future and the US might some day be able to travel deep into space using "Star Trek" technology. Seems like a win - win situation to me.

The problem with dreams

Before we travel down that pathway an update on the critters. You might recall our first cat, Sara, had a bout with anemia last summer. She used up the majority of her allotment of lives back then. I'm guessing that she's got roughly 3 left out of the 9 she started with. To see her now you'd never suspect that the vet's still have no clue what caused the anemia.... or indeed that she was ever afflicted. She's gained back all the weight she'd lost and is as fluffy and playful (for her) as ever. She still doesn't play well with others of her kind though. As a younger cat she was part of a three cat group. Being the smaller of the three she was not as likely to get as much food as the other two. Even though she no longer has that competition she still is highly territorial and will attack any other cat she sees. For that reason she remains separate from our other two.

Ahhhhh.... the OTHER two! Rampage Kitty has morphed into Paige now that she's a bit older. In her younger days she stayed on a constant rip. Really tough at times to keep up with her. I think she proved the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. If you knew where she was you were not certain of her speed. If you could measure her speed you had no real idea exactly where she was. (observation affected the information about the cat) Anyway she's a much more mellow creature now so the slight change in her name to reflect that.

Her new "steaming buddy" is a little tailless sweetie we call Amber. Roughly 3 months ago Becky and I would, now and then, catch a glimpse of a small colorful cat. She was VERY shy, very thin and had no tail. Over time we were able to get closer to her until she would let us pet her while she ate. (we'd offer food in an old truck hubcap out on the patio) One day when Becky was coming in the back door the kitty ran in ahead of her. It had a quick look around the laundry room then zoomed back outside. About a week later we had a good rain and I thought I heard a kitty crying out back. I opened the back door to have a look and a wet kitty zoomed into the laundry room. Becky dried her off with a towel and we offered her some food. She quickly learned that dry, warm, well fed and safe were all nice things if you're a kitty.

Amber is permitted to come and go as she pleases but, as the weather turns colder, she's more inclined to cut her adventurers outside shorter. Mostly she's not yet used to the concept of a litter box. She'll use it IF she absolutely has to.... however she prefers to hang on until she can hit the great outdoors. While inside she and Paige still spend the majority of their time engaged in what cats do best.... napping. Sometimes close together but, for the most part, they each have their favorite nap places.

When not napping it's an almost non-stop game of tag. Paige will come zooming down the hall with Amber dead on her ass. Eventually Amber closes the gap and will tag Paige with a paw. As soon as she does it's hit the kitty brakes... do a 180 and haul butt... with Paige right on her ass. When they tire of that game it's hide and seek. Then it's snack time, nap time then back to tag. This goes on all day long. The cute part is that, while Paige at first objected to Amber being allowed in "her" house, she is just plain lost when Amber goes outside. She'll walk the entire house... looks in all the hiding places... then finally comes to us looking around a meowing. Amber comes back inside... it's nose sniffing... fur sniffing.... snack time then time for a game of tag.

Oh... while Paige seems to have been born "cable ready" Amber isn't quite so sure about things technical. Paige loves to "help" with keyboarding and printing operations. She sits on top of or in front of the printer monitoring the paper feed and movement of the print head. Often she'll help extract the paper when the printing is complete. Amber isn't really comfortable around computers. She makes up for that by being a good supervisor of automotive repairs though.

After my return from Fort Davis the A/C in my truck stopped working. Investigation revealed a 3/4 inch crack in the liquid line at the bottom of the condenser leading to the accumulator. That's nearly a $1400 repair at a dealer.... which we couldn't afford. The part (condenser) was $176 and refrigerant was another $25. Add $9 more for new o-rings and I'm ready to save $1200 on repairs. Most of the time Amber sat up on top of the engine "supervising" the repairs. Sometimes she'd be right on the front bumper getting a closer look. Once she was off the side of the drive when I dropped an o-ring. About the time I dropped that she dashed under the front of the truck. I'm thinking... "Great! She thinks this is a game and I'll never get that o-ring from her." Well..... when I got on my knees to look under the truck.... there was Amber..... right by the o-ring..... with a snake in her mouth! (The snake did not survive the encounter) Had she not dashed under there... good chance I'd have reached for the o-ring and got bitten. (Snakes are rather rare around here) Amber will also jump up in my chair for attention. She's fallen asleep on or close to my lap a couple of times now. Since none of the others are "lap cats" this is greatly appreciated.

Dreams are wonderful things! No one is really sure what they are exactly... or why we even have them. Certainly they are not even uniquely human as anyone with a pet knows. How many times have you watched your dog or cat sleeping? Usually they are calm and quiet.... but at times their little paws twitch and seem to be running somewhere while they make little sounds and their noses move and whiskers twitch as if on a scent.

If a human simply dreams.... perhaps of being something or doing something... and does little more.... then all that process is.... is a dream sequence. However... if one has a dream and then puts forth some sort of plan or process for achievement.... that becomes a goal with a plan for getting there. The problem is that even with commitment and a solid plan in place you are never completely in command. Once dreams and reality mix control is relinquished to others whom may not share your enthusiasm or vision. Such is the case with my dream of working at the McDonald Observatory.

I think I was probably the most overqualified candidate ever to apply for that position. Basically they wanted someone to perform routine maintenance on the sites vehicles. After the primary duties were executed simply be available and willing to pitch in and assist elsewhere as required. There was also a desire that you qualify for the site fire department.

Well if you got this far you can tell that I can work on vehicles. Changing a condenser on my truck in my driveway? Well beyond anything they desired down there. (Oh... that took fewer than 3 hours and it cools just fine thank you!) On site.... mostly oil and filter changes. Change, rotate and balance tires.... keep the little 4-wheel drive utility carts going... really minor stuff like that. So no sweat with the mechanical aspect.

Fire department? Ever been in the Navy? Point blank if you're in the Navy and serve on a ship you will be trained in fire fighting. As a matter of fact you'll complete initial training and qualification while still in boot camp on real live fires! While in Germany our unit had a fire truck which had not been operational for several years. My engineering section made that a project. Roughly 3 months later we had the only operational fire truck in the Battalion. (This is a good thing if your unit is a missile unit and you have tons and tons of solid fuel booster motors on launchers and in storage cans)

Beyond those rather basic functions was maintenance on the telescope domes and assisting, if asked, when it came time to remove and refinish the primary mirrors. The really technical stuff would be done by folks experienced at that task... we'd simply provide additional muscle when needed to move things around. Since astronomy is something I really dig anyway... doing *anything* around a big telescope is nothing but a bonus for me!

So... let's see here. Work on site vehicles.... CHECK. Do that fire department thing... CHECK. Help out with telescopes and do dome maintenance.... CHECK. So far.... not a problem but they wanted more. How many run of the mill mechanics do you know who also just happen to have a commercial drivers license with a Hazmat endorsement? Well.... they use liquid nitrogen to cool the spectroscopes on the telescopes. Since that is *really* cold... about 380 below zero... it's considered a hazard and cannot be transported on public roads unless you have the proper license and endorsements. As luck would have it... I DO have a CDL and Hazmat endorsement! Qualified for the position? In freaking spades. Did I get it? Nope.

I suspect being 59 had something to do with that too. Even though I'm from that generation who refuses to grow old.... it's still a number and an issue to some folks. I also spent quite a few years being in charge of things and I am not afraid to take charge in the absence of leadership. Sometimes this is perceived as threatening by people who don't know me all that well. People who are in charge... are in charge. Come on... I'm retired military... I know all about that chain of command stuff. One doesn't challenge leadership.... but on the other hand one doesn't sit around and do nothing if leadership is absent either. Frankly... I find it very hard to believe that there is someone else out there that was a qualified as I was for that position. Dreams often collide with ego's and comfort zones in the real world.

Have I retired my dream of working down there? Nope! I know whoever they hired doesn't have near the knowledge, experience and qualifications I do so it's just a matter of time before all that comes to the surface. The position will be advertised open again and I'll apply again. I'll be out a little time and they'll be out the continuity and quality of service until then.

Meanwhile there is still work to be done on our house and some pretty wonderful kitties to spoil rotten. While we don't seem to be very good lately at making any progress on the first part of that..... we're both darn good at kitty spoiling!