George H.W. Bush, a patrician New Englander whose presidency soared with the coalition victory over Iraq in Kuwait, but then plummeted in the throes of a weak economy that led voters to turn him out of office after a single term, has died. He was 94.
The World War II hero, who also presided during the collapse of the Soviet Union and the final months of the Cold War, died late tonight, said family spokesman Jim McGrath. His wife of more than 70 years, Barbara Bush, died in April 2018.
From the Edwards AFB Twitter feed
Edwards AFB History Office photograph | click to enlarge
OTD November 30, 2005 at Edwards AFB: The Air Force Flight Test Museum acquired the McDonnell Douglas YF-15A, S/N 71=0287, the eight prototype built.
It was primarily used for high angle of attack testing early in the program and was later used to test the new F100-PW-220 engines for the F-15C. The -220 engine introduced single-crystal turbines airfoils, an advanced multi-zone augmenter, and increased airflow fan and a digital electronic engine control system.
Later in its career, the aircraft has been assigned to NASA’s Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards where it was used for digital electronic flight and engine control research under the Highly Integrated Digital Electronic Control program. The aircraft was also used to test and evaluate a computerized self-repairing flight control system for the USAF that detected damaged or failed flight control surfaces.
Who is the right person to watch out for your interests after you’re gone: A family member, a member of your financial team, a bank, a professional trustee?
From the Everyday Health website
Dehydration occurs when the body has insufficient water to function properly. While mild dehydration may be just uncomfortable, more severe dehydration can lead to blood clots, seizures, and other potentially fatal complications.
Clearly, severe dehydration must be treated promptly, but even mild dehydration can have adverse effects on mood and energy. It’s important to catch any degree of dehydration early, but the signs of dehydration aren’t always obvious ones like thirst and fatigue.
Hawaii Air National Guard photograph | click to enlarge
This undated photographs shows Wayne “Walkman” Wakeman (Pilot) and David Nishioka (Weapon Systems Officer) in front of aircraft 505. When asked for comments about the photograph, Wildman provided the following:
Can’t remember the year or what the occasion. Must have been some kind of photo op because we both don’t have our G-suits on and I don’t even have my harness like Dave does. I must also be a captain since my wings only have the star without the wreath. Dave’s is the same.
Aircarft 505 was named “Moli” the Hawaiian name for the Laysan Albatrosses. They are large sea birds with 6-foot wingspans that range over the North Pacific. They are strong fliers and can spend their entire lives in the air over the ocean — feeding and sleeping without ever landing on solid earth. They do however, need to return to the land to nest and raise their young. Read more
The naming of the F-4 aircraft was done by Col Kurt Johnson. Read more from a previous Retiree News post.
From the Kiplinger website
Mention the word “annuity” to an investor, and you’re likely to receive mixed reactions. The concept is often misunderstood, leaving the everyday investor who is planning for retirement concerned that their money will end up tied up and inaccessible — and subject to market losses. But this isn’t an accurate characterization.
The following is a summary of the basics. The range of annuity products is broad, running the gamut from very simple to deeply complex. Like all the investment options we have, they have their pros and cons — or as I like to say, every rose has its thorns. Here are the basics:
Taking care of an aging parent over a period of time can be physically and mentally exhausting. But help and resources are available.
To help you determine and prioritize the kinds of help you need, a good first step is to make a list of everything you do as a caregiver, big and small. Note the amount of time each one takes every day, week or month. Identify the times when you need help the most and which tasks others might be able to do for you.
Then list the types of care needed, such as simple companionship or doing active chores, like food shopping. Once you determine this, here are some tips and places you can reach out to for help.
Hawaii Air National Guard photograph | click to enlarge
This photograph shows a F-47 Thunderbolt with Territory of Hawaii markings. The 199th Fighter Squadron flew the F-47N Thunderbolt, from the organization’s inception in 1947 to 1954. Originally known as the P-47 (P for Pursuit), the aircraft were redesignated F-47 shortly after the end of World War II.
Discovery Channel – Great Planes – Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt was a World War II era fighter aircraft produced by the United States between 1941–1945. Its primary armament was eight .50-caliber machine guns and in the fighter-bomber ground-attack role it could carry five-inch rockets or a bomb load of 2,500 pounds (1,103 kg). When fully loaded the P-47 weighed up to eight tons making it one of the heaviest fighters of the war. The P-47 was designed around the powerful Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp engine which was also used by two U.S. Navy fighters, the Grumman F6F Hellcat and the Vought F4U Corsair. The Thunderbolt was effective as a short-to-medium range escort fighter in high-altitude air-to-air combat and ground attack in both the World War II European and Pacific theaters.
The P-47 was one of the main United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) fighters of World War II, and served with Allied air forces including France, Britain, and Russia. Mexican and Brazilian squadrons fighting alongside the U.S. were equipped with the P-47.
The armored cockpit was relatively roomy and comfortable, offering good visibility. A modern-day U.S. ground-attack aircraft, the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, takes its name from the P-47. (Discovery Channel)
From the Everyday Health website
A typical routine blood test is the complete blood count, also called CBC, to count your red and white blood cells as well as measure your hemoglobin levels and other blood components. This test can uncover anemia, infection, and even cancer of the blood.
Another common blood test is the basic metabolic panel to check your heart, kidney, and liver function by looking at your blood glucose, calcium, and electrolyte levels. To check for heart disease risk, you may have a lipoprotein panel that measures levels of fats in your blood, like good cholesterol (HDL), bad cholesterol (LDL), and triglycerides.
A full understanding of your blood test results can help you make good decisions about your diet and lifestyle. Here are 10 things your doctor may not tell you about your results from blood tests like these unless you know to ask.
The National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) is the Guard’s primary advocate in Washington, educating Congress on the roles, capabilities and requirements of the nation’s first military force. The association’s advocacy actions have worked over the years to increase Guard equipment and resources and benefits to Guardmembers.
As part of it’s outreach and education effort, NGAUS publishes a magazine called National Guard. It is a monthly update of all things Guard.
In most issues, they publish facts about the Army and Air National Guard in a “Did You Know?” section.
Among their recent posts:
* The Air National Guard has conducted at least one combat sortied every day since 1991. – Source: National Guard Bureau
* The Army National Guard possesses 42 percent of the Army’s aviation structure, including rotary-wing, fixed-wing and unmanned aircraft and enablers for aviation ground support – Source: Department of Defense
* Nearly 14,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen comprise 66 percent of DoD’s chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear response capability. – Source: National Guard Bureau
Hawaii Air National Guard photograph | click to enlarge
In the F-102 Delta Dagger era, members of the 154th Consolidated Maintenance Squadron phased inspections of all aircraft. Inspections were completed when an aircraft reached certain flying hour milestones. This parallels your car’s long term maintenance plan based on mileage.
This photograph shows a twin seat TF-102 on jacks with its wings removed. Structural integrity and many subsystems were inspected during this type of inspection. On a car, it would be like your 100,000 mile check.
A long time ago…
From the Kaiser Health News website
When Liz Tidyman’s elderly parents moved across the country to be closer to their children and grandchildren years ago, they carried their medical records with them in a couple of brown cardboard folders tied with string.
Two days after their arrival, Tidyman’s father fell, which hadn’t happened before, and went to a hospital for an evaluation.
In the waiting room, Tidyman opened the folder. “Very soon I saw that there were pages and pages of notes that referred to a different person with the same name — a person whose medical conditions were much more complicated and numerous than my father’s,” she said.
Having removed in childhood is supposed to end chronic earaches and breathing problems. But what if it also increases risk of respiratory infections?
“We found that long-term risks of diseases — in particular respiratory, allergic and infectious diseases — were substantially increased after surgery up to 30 years of age,” said Sean Byars, lead researcher of a new study.
Those respiratory diseases include asthma and pneumonia, the study authors said.
In the past, the Governor, commander of the Hawaii National Guard, made visits to both the Army and Air National Guard units during their annual training periods. With the start of overseas training and real world deployments, these visits have become less frequent.
This photograph was taken during the Hawaii Army National Guard’s 1998 annual training. Then-LTC Stanley Keolanui Jr. (second from right), Commander of the 1st Battalion, 487th Field Artillery, briefs then-Governor Benjamin Cayetano (third from the left), and then-Lieutenant Governor Mazie Hirono at Pohakuloa Training Area. MG Edward Richardson to Governor Cayetano’s left.
Special thanks to Bob Inouye for submitting this photograph and comments to Retiree News.
