You can be driving through what appears to be the middle of nowhere when you see it. With no explanation as to its presence in that place, you will find a massive […]
Why Do Thousands of Mysterious Arrows Cover the USA?
Historic Aviation Achievement Accomplished Without Pants
In the COVID era, when so many people worked from home, some embarrassing situations led to widespread warnings. Among the most notable was the caution that when you are in a Zoom […]
Switzerland’s Air Force — Now Able to Defend the Skies, Even During Lunch Hour
The high drama of the hijacking of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 702 ended without bloodshed. After the plane landed in Geneva, Swiss authorities took the hijacker into custody, and all 202 passengers and […]
Learn About the Aviation Legend Who Became the First Person to Die in a Plane Crash
One of the most promising names in the new field of aviation was Thomas E. Selfridge. The fearless young man seemed to have a natural affinity for the amazing machines that could […]
Surviving a 75-Story Free Fall in an Elevator
Is there anyone who hasn’t gotten into an elevator and wondered what would happen if the elevator cable snapped, sending the elevator plummeting to the ground? If that thought has crossed your […]
NASA Measures Space Sickness With the Garn Scale
One of the biggest honors a person can receive is to become the namesake of a unit of measurement. Daniel Fahrenheit, Andres Celsius, and Charles Richter are just a few individuals whose […]
Drink Pepsi and Win a Jet — Or Maybe Not
In 1995, Pepsi launched the Pepsi Points promotion. The public was encouraged to drink as much Pepsi as possible with the promise of earning points with every purchase. These points could then […]
Shoes, Buildings, Sand, and Cheese — the Outlandish Spending Sprees of Imelda Marcos
Imelda Marcos (born 1929) was the First Lady of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. She made a name for herself as one of the biggest spendthrifts of all time, taking the […]
How Much Do You Know About Santa Claus?
One of the most recognized people in the world is that jolly, old elf, Santa Claus. Everything about him — his beard, hat, coat, belly, and even his distinctive laugh — immediately […]
I Feel the Need… for the Top Fun Facts About Top Gun
News of the long-hoped-for sequel to the 1986 movie Top Gun was loudly cheered by its fans. Originally scheduled for a June 2020, release date, because of COVID-19, it was pushed back […]
How a Bad Musical (Plus a Whole Bunch of Really Bad Ideas) Bankrupted the World’s Wealthiest Country
Whenever the elements of government corruption, shady characters, monumental stupidity, mind-numbing monetary mismanagement, and poop all come together, it’s a safe bet that it is a story that will make it into […]
Mixing Alcohol, Pilots, and Shotguns… What Could Go Wrong?
Originally posted on Blue Side Up:
Yesterday’s post reminded me that there is no end of stupid. For many reasons. I am one of those who read various NTSB reports: Accident summaries of…
What Could Go Wrong When a Pilot Bets He Can Land While Blindfolded?
There are certain professions where it is acceptable or even commendable for its members to take risks. Rarer are those careers where it is wise to gamble while on the job. When […]
Sound Asleep With Eyes Wide Open
As many as 20% of people sleep with their eyes open. The condition is officially known as nocturnal lagophthalmos. It gets its name from λαγωός, the Greek word for “hare.” This stems […]
This is the King, and I’ll Be Your Pilot Today
Whenever you fly, you expect your pilot will have the highest qualifications. You take it for granted that he or she has the appropriate pilot’s license and training for that aircraft and […]
