July 31, 2007

OSH pics

I've posted the last of my Oshkosh pics on flickr.

Posted by jackhodgson at 07:44 PM

My AirVenture 2007 etchings

Here's a complete list of the stuff I created while at OSH

Around the Field columns:

Other AirVenture Today articles:

Uncontrolled Airspace Podcasts:

Posted by jackhodgson at 06:40 PM

The Oshkosh Yodeller


Posted by jackhodgson at 06:24 PM

July 28, 2007

More from AirVenture Oshkosh

I did an article about using technology in the campground.

Things have come a long way since Geoff and his orange power cords. EAAers are innovators, and the rapid advances in communications and information technology of the past few years have been embraced by many of the Oshkosh faithful. Residents in the EAA campgrounds are using all sorts of devices and connections to enhance their enjoyment of the fly-in, and stay in touch with the outside world.

And here are my columns from recent days.

Thu -- Recollections of Rockford . . . and an airplane from 1943

Fri -- Around KidVenture

Posted by jackhodgson at 10:29 AM

July 26, 2007

Around the Field #2, 3 and 4

Hi, I'm still here. I'm doing a lot of writing. Just not here in the blog.

Here are links to my latest Around the Field columns.

Monday: A Cardinal driver ... a formation flier ... and joint custody of the Apache ...

Tue: Fathers and sons sharing their first visits to AirVenture … and accidental friends.

Wed: Two guys from Nashville . . . and an e-mail from Kansas

Posted by jackhodgson at 08:09 AM

July 23, 2007

Orville Wright quote

"The exhilaration of flying is too keen, the pleasure too great, for it to be neglected as a sport."

-- Orville Wright

Posted by jackhodgson at 12:06 PM

July 22, 2007

Around The Field #1 -- AirVenture Oshkosh 2007

Here's my first column of the week.

Here we are again. AirVenture 2007. It’s still early, but a steady stream of planes are arriving in the North 40 camping area.

Wandering around the North 40, we see planes taxiing to their spots in the grass. Pilots exiting the cockpit to be greeted by the EAA volunteers. Camping gear being unloaded and assembled. And people standing beside their planes, squinting in the sun, looking around and surely thinking, "I’m in Oshkosh."

Read More...

Posted by jackhodgson at 02:41 PM

July 18, 2007

Uncontrolled Airspace Podcast #38 Teaser

This audio teaser for the latest episode of my podcast is created with a new website I've been working on. It's called Voxci and it lets you create an audio introduction to any webpage on the internet.

Voxci is still in the very early stage of development. Alpha/Prototype. The basic features are there, but we have lots of ideas for making it look really cool, and add fun features.

You can also visit the Voxci site to surf all the audios created by others. And, like YouTube, if you find one you like you can grab a link to send to a friend, or put the Voxci player widget on your blog or webpage.

Posted by jackhodgson at 09:19 PM

Harry Must Live

I haven't seen, nor heard the content of, the last Harry Potter novel, which is about to be published. But before the whole world hears what happens, I want to go on the record on the subject of whether Harry will die in this final installment of the series.

I believe that Harry must live. I think it would be exceedingly cruel to all the kids who have come to love this character. And I think it could damage the new-found love of reading which the series has created.

On the business front, I think it would be foolish to kill Harry, especially at this stage of the business plan. There are still many movies to be made, possibly more related books, and endless branded merchandise. The Harry Potter Industry is set to keep chugging for years to come.

Unless the customers lose the magic.

And killing the beloved Harry would be just the way to cause the fans to turn their backs on the Harry world. It would be foolish to kill Harry.

There is of course a middle ground, where Harry doesn't really die, but ascends to some higher plane. Sort of a Obi Wan Kenobi thing. But that's nearly as risky as having him die. Tricky to do right.

The best thing is to have his finish off Voldemort, get the girl, and have the others come to a happy ending.

And setup for the ultimate sequel series.

Posted by jackhodgson at 07:58 PM

July 16, 2007

Homing Instinct

Things are really starting to speed up in my world. On Friday I travel to Oshkosh for the annual EAA flyin. I've got plenty to finish up before then.

I planning on blogging AirVenture like I have in past years. This year I've added the podcast to the mix. Uncontrolled Airspace will be doing two episodes while we're out there. In addition to being posted on the net, both will be aired live on EAA Radio, similar to what we did last spring at Sun 'n Fun. Plus, I believe that EAA Radio also streams their signal on the internet, to anyone, anywhere could listen to the live feed of us recording the 'cast.

Posted by jackhodgson at 08:05 AM

July 15, 2007

What terrorism is really about.

This article at Wired.com talks about a pretty interesting theory about what terrorism is really about.

None of this is meant to either excuse or justify terrorism. In fact, it does the exact opposite, by demonstrating why terrorism doesn't work as a tool of persuasion and policy change. But we’re more effective at fighting terrorism if we understand that it is a means to an end and not an end in itself; it requires us to understand the true motivations of the terrorists and not just their particular tactics. And the more our own cognitive biases cloud that understanding, the more we mischaracterize the threat and make bad security trade-offs.
Posted by jackhodgson at 05:55 PM

July 14, 2007

No Longer the Louis Vuitton Cup

Luxury goods retailer Louis Vuitton has announced that it will not be the title sponsor for the challenger regatta at the next America's Cup.

The winner of the recent AC regatta, Swiss team Alinghi, has tentatively announced 2009 as the date for the next edition.

Posted by jackhodgson at 07:29 AM

July 12, 2007

NH State Parks Struggling

And it's so unnecessary. If only they were better managed. Eagle Tribune story.

Posted by jackhodgson at 08:22 AM

July 09, 2007

That's what loopholes are for

The President has directed two white house staffers to not comply with Congressional subpoenas. He claims that this act ensures that staffers can speak freely. The President's lawyer, Fred Fielding said,

“The assertion of executive privilege here is intended to protect a fundamental interest of the presidency: the necessity that a president receive candid advice from his advisors and that those advisors be able to communicate freely and openly with the president,” Mr. Fielding wrote...

The thing is, this makes no sense.

It's true that if Congress could force staffers to testify, that might inhibit their willingness to give frank advice. But if the President has to agree to their testimony, then they have no reason to hold back in advising him.

Posted by jackhodgson at 06:06 PM

July 08, 2007

Half Time Show

My niece B is in the color guard of her high school band. They should do this kind of thing.


Posted by jackhodgson at 05:56 PM

July 07, 2007

iPhone, the Musical

This David Pogue musical tribute to Apple's iPhone starts out a little slow, but it really takes off about half-way through.

Posted by jackhodgson at 12:09 PM