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Should we let Europe build Air Force One?
Mar08
2008
Written by Randy Corman
2008
Written by Randy Corman
One of my informed readers just sent me this story about the United States considering purchasing an Air Force One replacement from Airbus.
Sitting next to me, my daughter exclaimed “Why don’t we just turn ourselves back over to the British? Let’s just tell them they won, and that we are incapable of taking care of ourselves. They can start governing us again.”
“Why don’t we just turn ourselves back over to the British?”
Renton Firefighters Climb the Columbia Tower for Charity
Mar08
2008
Written by Randy Corman
2008
Written by Randy Corman
Our own Chief David Daniels (below center) was one of Renton’s seven climbers who joined firefighters from across our state in climbing the 76 story Columbia Tower.
Chief Daniels explained to me that the firefighters had to complete the climb in their fire gear, including their breathing mask and apparatus, which makes a strenuous climb much more challenging. As we talked, I could not help but think about the heroic firefighters who charged up the World Trade Center stairs only to have the towers collapse underneath them as they reached the top.
Chief Daniels is in amazing physical shape, and I’m sure could compete with any younger firefighter in his department. But he explained that the challenge is that after ascending all those stairs in fire gear, it takes the firefighters time to catch their breath before they can do a bunch of physical work at the top. As a leader in the Association of Washington Fire Chiefs, Chief Daniels shared some good ideas that fire professionals are working on to make it more effective to handle fires in tall buildings. For example, keeping fire fighting equipment in closets high up in the building could save lots of work manually hauling the stuff when the elevators are out.
As for me, I just feel safe knowing we have a great emergency team keeping us safe night and day, and working to keep us safer in the future. It’s a bonus knowing that the chief himself could carry me out of a burning building if he had to.
Renton Firefighters Climb the Columbia Tower for Charity
RENTON: Fire Chief/Emergency Services Administrator, I. David Daniels
of the Renton Fire & Emergency Services Department led a group of seven
Renton Firefighters up the Columbia Tower during the annual Scott
Firefighter Stair Climb for Leukemia on March 2, 2008. Over 1,300
firefighters from as far away as New Zealand completed the stair climb
with times ranging from 11 minutes 37 seconds to one hour and 37
minutes, with 97 female firefighters among the finishers. All seven
Renton firefighters completed the climb with one chief officer placing
third in the 50 and over age group.
Renton placed 22 out of 156 teams in the team category. Battalion Chief
Stan Engler, Firefighter Josh Brown and Firefighter Dan Alexander
represented the department in the team category.
The Scott Firefighter Stair Climb was started in 1992 as an effort to
raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. A handful of
firefighters demonstrated a high rise stair climb in full bunker gear
and air packs. This event has grown to be the single largest
firefighting competition in the world.
The Columbia Tower in Seattle is the second tallest building west of
the Mississippi River. Firefighters climb 69 floors to the observation
deck. It is 788 vertical feet and 1,311 steps to the top.
Last year, over 200 departments from around the world participated in
the stair climb. Collectively they raised $365,000.
The goal of Renton’s Fire & Emergency Services team is to raise
$25,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Donations may be made by
visiting the website at
http://www.active.com/donate/17thscottstairclimb/Rentonfire or at
www.iaff864.org/. For more information on the Scott Firefighter
Stairclimb, please visit www.FirefighterStairclimb.org
Seattle PI: Boeing backers blame McCain for losing deal
Mar08
2008
Written by Randy Corman
2008
Written by Randy Corman
John McCain received $12,000 in campaign contributions from Airbus officials!
By ERIC ROSENBERG
P-I WASHINGTON BUREAU
WASHINGTON — Supporters of The Boeing Co. blame Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, for the company’s failure to win the lucrative $35 billion contract to build new Air Force aerial refueling tankers.
One could see this would blow up on John McCain the day the contract was awarded. He will have to do some intense explaining if he wants to have a chance in Washington, Kansas, or California. (He already had Alabama won even before he helped them land their Airbus deal).
Six tons of trash picked up in Benson Hill so far; speeders ticketed for 25-over marked speed
Mar07
2008
Written by Randy Corman
2008
Written by Randy Corman
City services have been extended to Renton’s newest residents of Benson hill this week. City road crews report that they have already picked up 6 tons of trash along road ways, and police officers note they are starting to deal with local enforcement problems.
In one highly visible move, officers have been issuing many, many warnings, and a few citations, to speeders on Benson Highway who need to SLOW DOWN when they get inside of Renton City limits. the police chief reports that the first day on the job, police stopped dozens of speeders on this road to let them know that speed enforcement was going to be taken seriously. In kindness however, they only issued citations to the four worst offenders of the day, all of whom were speeding more than 25 miles per hour over the posted speed. And three of the four cited speeders did not live in the new boundaries of Renton.
Considering we had a speed-related fatality in December in this area, 25 MPH over the limit is just plain reckless.
In coming weeks, lesser violations will switch from warnings to citations…so please slow down. Remember, the police are trying to keep us all safe.
Boeing’s tanker bid damaged when Air Force changed criteria, Dicks says
Mar06
2008
Written by Randy Corman
2008
Written by Randy Corman
WASHINGTON — During a contentious hearing Wednesday over the Air Force tanker deal awarded to Airbus parent EADS and Northrop Grumman, Rep. Norm Dicks said the Pentagon changed contract specifications to favor that team’s bid over Boeing’s so they wouldn’t drop out of the contest.
Click here for the story
How to stop someone from gossiping
Mar06
2008
Written by Randy Corman
2008
Written by Randy Corman
Mildred, the church gossip, and self-appointed monitor of the church’s morals, kept sticking her nose in to other people’s business. Several members did not approve of her extra curricular activities, but feared her enough to maintain their silence.
She made a mistake, however, when she accused Frank, a new member, of being an alcoholic after she saw his old pickup parked in front of the town’s only bar one afternoon. She emphatically told Frank (and several others) that everyone seeing it there would know what he was doing.
Frank, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment and just turned and walked away. He didn’t explain, defend, or deny… he said nothing.
Later that evening, Frank quietly parked his pickup in front of Mildred’s house…walked home…and left it there all night.
When are we going to fix the Highlands?! Residents are anxious!
Mar05
2008
Written by Randy Corman
2008
Written by Randy Corman
Many highlands residents are getting restless waiting for serious improvement to come to the highland neighborhoods.
And some commenters on my blog have been asking what aspects of the neighborhood are eligable for improvement.
Some of you were able to attend a Highlands Task Force Open House last week, which raised additional interest
I plan to compose a blog posting in the nxt couple of days to answer some of these questions.
Meanwhile, my council colleague Terri Briere continues to energetically push the Highlands Task Force along in their work of jump-starting rejuvination. As part of her work, Terri will be communicating with the residents with increasing frequency as we move toward the summertime.
So, look for my blog in a few days. Meanwhile, here is an email I just recieved:
_______________________________
Hi Randy … I am a highlands resident.
I read your journal occassionally and find it very interesting. I voted for the current Mayor because of it. Very astute!
I am just sending this email because I want to know if you are still at the city council. A quick reply would confirm that I have your city email correct.
I want to copy you on an email I will be sending to one of the city’s employees who has exposed a serious deficit in the city codes and/or code enforcement. I can’t tell whether she is just complacent or there is really nothing that can be done. If the latter then we will need to correct the problem.
Many Highland residents are frustated with the lack of help that our community receives. I am but one. The Highlands Task Force meeting was very interesting and I am curious what mountains it might be able to move if any.
Psychological insight into Pierce county woman soldier who killed military collegues
Mar05
2008
Written by Randy Corman
2008
Written by Randy Corman
(A bit graphic…don’t read if Hitchcock-type murder and acid bath cover-up stuff is too scary for you, or if profanity offends you too much )
This is a sad, wierd story about events which happened Saturday, fueled by jealousy and psychological issues near Fort Lewis. A woman soldier killed two fellow soldiers, a man and wife, and tried to destroy their bodies in the bathtub with acid afterwards. Then, she kidnapped their baby, (which she fortunatley did not harm).
It’s an incredibly tragic story. They are so young, barely more than kids really. They all have myspace profiles, which give some insight into their relationships.
And here is the article with the links to their Myspace sites.
Their story provides a cautionary local tale about jealousy and mental illness.
Lesson 1: if anyone finds themself becomming uncontrollably angry (or sad, or jealous)…they should go to their closest emergency room and ask for help.
Lesson 2: if you ever discover that a friend, or roommate, or colleague displays the symptoms of psychopathy discussed in the first link above, get away from them! Psychopaths come in all shapes and sizes, and can be remarkably likable and charming before they shoot you and try to disolve your body in acid.
Frustration regarding the transit situation in our region
Mar04
2008
Written by Randy Corman
2008
Written by Randy Corman
There’s some frustration out there about the current state of transit in our region.
Here is one of the more passionate letters we’ve received at city hall recently:
________________________________________________
Subject: Eastside Passenger Rail – GET IT RIGHT!
Date: Mon, 03 Mar 2008 11:21:06 -0800
Listen (PLEASE!),
I’m getting sick and tired of politicians being clueless about mass transit
in the Seattle area and Washington state in general. You people haven’t gotten
the hint for DECADES now! Tell me – are you BOUGHT AND PAID FOR AGENTS OF THE
AUTO INDUSTRY OR WHAT?
Get this through your heads…
IT WOULD BE INSANE TO TURN THE EASTSIDE RAILROAD INFRASTRUCTURE INTO A BIKE
TRAIL!!! READ MORE »
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi; congress must question the Airbus Tanker decision
Mar03
2008
Written by Randy Corman
2008
Written by Randy Corman
This is good news. I’m glad that congress will examine this. This is a much better subject for congress than baseball players use of steroids.
If congress decides the tanker choice is the right thing for our counrty, then okay. I could live with that. But I am hopeful that our local aerospace workers may still win all or part of this work.
__________________________________________
Press Releases
For Immediate Release
03/03/2008
Pelosi: Congress Must Examine Air Force Aerial Tanker Contract to Northrop Grumman and Airbus
Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today on the Air Force’s decision to award a multi-billion dollar aerial tanker contract to Northop Grumman and the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company, the parent company of Airbus:
“The Air Force’s decision to award the contract for a much-needed modernization of the nation’s aerial tanker fleet to Northrop Grumman and Airbus raises serious questions that Congress must examine thoroughly:
* What are the national security implications of using an aircraft supplied by a foreign firm for this essential mission?
* Were the risks associated with choosing a conceptual design over a proven capability properly assessed?
* Was sufficient consideration given to the impact of the contract award on jobs in America and on our technological base?
“Given the ramifications of this decision for the United States, the Air Force must explain to Congress how it meets the long-term needs of our military and the American people.”
John McCain displays some open-mindedness. Even HE is not sure about tanker deal.
Mar03
2008
Written by Randy Corman
2008
Written by Randy Corman
McCain Still Considering Tanker Deal
By MATTHEW DALY – 1 hour ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. John McCain said Monday that he hasn’t made up his mind on a $35 billion Air Force contract awarded to the parent company of French plane maker Airbus.
One of McCain’s letters supporting Airbus
Mar03
2008
Written by Randy Corman
2008
Written by Randy Corman
In this letter, John McCain lobbies to remove the questionable European subsidies from consideration (they were a major strike against fairness of the Airbus offer), and he dismisses the importance of ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) rules, because these issues could interfere with Airbus bidding in the 100 billion dollar tanker contract. He also dismisses the Barry Amendment, which is in place to prevent the Department of Defense from procuring certain materials, like titanium, from foreign sources when domestic sources are available.
The London Financial Times: The good old US of A can’t seem to win a trick at the moment
Mar02
2008
Written by Randy Corman
2008
Written by Randy Corman
Here’s more of the world view. This was just the lift our European competition needed…provided at US taxpayer expense.
_________________________________________________
EADS you win
Published: March 3 2008 02:00 | Last updated: March 3 2008 02:00
The good old US of A can’t seem to win a trick at the moment. Its economy is cracking and the dollar is being trumped. Now its own air force has awarded a €35bn contract to build aerial refuelling tankers, not to Boeing, as widely expected, but to a team lead by EADS, the European aerospace and defence group. That EADS’s partner is LA-based Northrop Grumman seems to be no consolation to US politicians fuming over jobs.
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