Recognizing the 35th Anniversary of the USS BOSTON Commissioning

Wow!  Yesterday was the 35th anniversary of the commissioning of the USS BOSTON (SSN-703) which was just about the minimum expected design life of the hull.  Here is a tip-of-the-hat to everyone who served aboard her, before, during and following commissioning.  Will there ever be another vessel named BOSTON?  One can never tell.

Has it been almost TWO YEARS since I posted on this BLOG???
Well, shame on me!  Well, as you can see, a lot has happened to the BOSTON sail, it has been painted, numbered and looks all nice and sparkling!

Thirty One years ago...

Hard to believe that it was 31 years ago, APRIL 19th, 1980 that the USS BOSTON (SSN-703) was launched. Those of us who were there, it was an unforgettable moment! Now, she belongs to history, except for the sail and rudder.

Okay, I know this seems a bit corny, but when I was a wee lad in the early 1960's, one of my favorite TV shows was a program that were very much a precursor to Star Trek, it was called Fireball XL5, this started me on my Science Fiction kick...

via The Insider

So busy this time of year!

I just wanted to take the time and let everyone know that I have launched a new blog: Buffalo Pottery Faces, which, for the lack of a better name will have to do for now. I first started with pottery while I was aboard the USS BOSTON during its pre-commissioned days. Interesting then, what started out as a curiosity, grew into an interest, and soon the mugs I was making proved to be in demand by all who saw my work then.

Now, after 26 years of inactivity with pottery, I am re-establishing my technique. Curious, I think, that it corresponds with the remains of the sail being on display from that same USS BOSTON here at the Naval Park in Buffalo. I'm sure that I'm trying to make connections where none exist, but this is after all the USS BOSTON blog...

Updating can be so tedious and time consuming!

I know, life can be soooo STRESSFUL at times! That's why we each need to learn to settle down, and find our "center" with a bit of meditation and deep quiet thoughts. Unlike my disturbed friend here (shown above) he was quickly off-center and because of that, he is stressed-out to this day! One must find inner peace, but first you must make that self-discovery! It seems like ages ago sometimes, but after about a 25 year break, I once again found myself in the position, due in part to the economy, of picking-up some clay and working once again on a wheel. Probably something I have should have NEVER stopped doing. I believe that working with clay can be very meditative and relaxing. As you center the clay on the wheel, you seek center or "balance" within yourself. It is a therapy and lesson in life! Then as you coax and guide the clay on the wheel, you find yourself giving it form and shape until (after some practice this becomes easier) the clay matures much like a growing child.

May your children not be as stressed-out at this fellow!

Subs%2C+frigate+on+list+of+ships+being+retired

Subs%2C+frigate+on+list+of+ships+being+retired

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Yet some more boats retired, at least these had a proper useful life.

Feeling the Pain....

I know...because I keep reminding myself. It has been almost 26 years since I got out of the Navy and left the USS BOSTON behind me; I never would have thought that something that I spent my youth helping to give birth to (launching, commissioning, etc...) would occupy so much of my time long after I left the service.

I must have spent nine hours today, screwing allen-hex fasteners into the top of the sail of that submarine, which is at the Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park at the foot of Pearl Street today. Despite applying sunscreen and wearing a hat, I'm sun-burned, my hands have 1st degree burns and some blisters, and I am exhausted!

My wife commented that she was tired from working in with the kids and that I "spent the day doing what i liked", I tried to remind her that spending a hot day, aboard a sail of a submarine that doesn't even exist anymore is not what i "like" doing, it is however an obligation, and I for one do not take obligations lightly.

...sigh! Perhaps, Shakespeare-in-the-Park tonight!

"...That's what she said!"

Imagine this: Twenty years ago, you are with a bunch of friends and decide to create a memorable line that IS JUST YOUR OWN! You repeat it only among a select group of friends, each time the laughs grow bigger, then one day you hear someone repeat it and you find that it's become a national sensation!!



That's what I experienced when I heard someone repeat this line who I did not tell it too! I was shocked not by the content, but that a phrase that I thought I coined had become so popular! I suppose, it is with a mixed sense of pride, indignation and embarrassment that I sheepishly admit to this creation that fortunately, WAS captured on video. Do I expect any royalties from it? ...somehow I don't think so! But I'll let you know if the checks start rolling in! I guess the only "royalities' I'll get is the satisfaction that it has taken on a life of its own.

Phoenix Lander Reports:Water Discovered on Mars!!!

Okay, based upon my past blogs, how could I not report on this?

NASA Phoenix probe confirms water on Mars


LOS ANGELES (AFP) — NASA scientists said Thursday the Phoenix lander exploring Mars had confirmed water on the planet after analysis of a soil sample from the Red planet's surface.

The discovery was made after the lander's robotic arm delivered a sample this week to an instrument onboard the lander that identifies vapors through heating samples.

"We have water," said William Boynton of the University of Arizona, lead scientist for the lander's "oven" Thermal and Evolved-Gas Analyzer, or TEGA.

"We've seen evidence for this water ice before in observations by the Mars Odyssey orbiter and in disappearing chunks observed by Phoenix last month, but this is the first time Martian water has been touched and tasted."

Earlier, NASA officials said the Phoenix's mission had been extended until the end of September, describing its progress so far as "very successful."

Michael Meyer, chief scientist of NASA's Mars Exploration Program, told reporters that the lander's minimum objectives had been achieved and that "full mission success" was expected.

"It's been very successful and Mars had proven itself to be very interesting, mechanically the spacecraft is operating great, and there's plenty of power margin to carry us beyond the waning summer," Meyer said.

"With that, what I'd like to do is announce that we're going to extend the mission to go till the end of the fiscal year (September 30)."

The lander started digging trenches into Martian soil after touching down near the planet's north pole on May 25, revealing a white substance that scientists confirmed was ice in June.

University of Arizona scientist Peter Smith, Phoenix's principal investigator, said ice scooped up by Phoenix's robotic digging arm was being analyzed to see if conditions on Mars could have supported life.

"We're looking to understand the history of the ice, by trying to figure out if this ice has ever melted, and through melting has created a liquid environment that modifies soil," Smith said.

"We're just getting the data back. Through this we also hope to resolve questions, is this a habitable zone on Mars, meaning that we have periodic liquid water, materials that are the basic ingredients for lifeforms."

Smith said chemical analysis which indicated soil was alkaline had baffled scientists. "This is a mystery ... this is a typically acidic environment, perhaps this had to do with a nearby crater," he said.

Although important nutrients including sodium, potassium and magnesium had been discovered, no organic materials had been found so far, Smith said.

Blogging the BLOB, er, ...The Blog, ...eh, whatever!

The Incredible BLOG!!!
...er, BLOB
After all this time, how can I NOT BLOG-the-BLOB!!!

I guess they both are taking over the world!



Here's one from the 1988 remake...

USS BOSTON (SSN-703) on YouTube.com!!

Many thanks to Don Ward for putting this together and uploading it to YouTube.com.

In fact, even I am in this....first picture on the starboard side during launch! Hehehehe!

Only the Chinese Could get away with this!

Leave it to the Chinese to remove the summit of Mount Everest and take it around the world as a touring exhibit!


See: The Tour of Mount Everest story here. You know, if some American tried that, the Chinese government would be up-in-arms about it!!

Feel Like Your Growing Old?

Sung by the Composer: Tom Lehrer
Does this resemble anyone we know?..

Know someone with a Domineering Spouse?

In this RARE bit of British Music Hall footage Gus Elen sings a song he made famous about 1891: "It's a Great Big Shame!" About a husband who has to given up the free lifestyle he enjoyed before marriage and the frustration experienced by his friends when they want him to go out for just a few beers.


Now you probably wondering, what does this have to do with the Navy and submarines?

...Well, I'll tell you, quite a bit! But I better save it for a later post because my wife just walked in!

Powerful! Earthy! It's Carmina Burana - O fortuna! by Carl Orff

The lyric translation would be considered vulgar and rude, very lusty even today!
...so I presented it here in Latin for your amusement and confusement!

Saying Goodbye to 2007

Here we are, at the end of another year, ready to welcome in 2008!
I can't believe the first decade of the new century is nearly over!
I have posted below, what I consider one of the most beautiful renditions I have ever heard of the song composed by Flowtow for his opera "Martha" and written by that famous Irish poet Thomas Moore that so beautifully captures the aesthetic movement of the Victorian age. About the death and loss of love and friendship, or the changing of times, and the coming of something new! This performance sort of left tingles running up and down my spine and the hairs on the back of my neck on end!





`Tis the last rose of summer
Left blooming alone;
All her lovely companions
Are faded and gone;
No flower of her kindred,
No rosebud is nigh,
To reflect back her blushes,
To give sigh for sigh.

I`ll not leave thee, thou lone one!
To pine on the stem;
Since the lovely are sleeping,
Go, sleep thou with them.
Thus kindly I scatter
Thy leaves o`er the bed,
Where thy mates of the garden
Lie scentless and dead.

So soon may I follow,
When friendships decay,
And from Love`s shining circle
The gems drop away.
When true hearts lie withered
And fond ones are flown,
Oh! who would inhabit
This bleak world alone?

....goodbye to 2007