#june j. jettison

[the-writer-nerd-ro]

Everyone set aside their differences to celebrate my birthday!

This was a very fun, very laborous drawing. I bought myself some painterly sharpie markers that were an absolute delight to draw and do touch-ups with

There may be another post this week for Halloween 🎃

[ledenews]

Letter to Editor: 'I Wish the Best for the (Wheeling University) Students'

Editor: Thank you for forwarding the Open Letter to the administration of Wheeling College. I would join in those sentiments. Fifty-five years ago, I left the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D. C., to attend the small, Jesuit, co-educational, liberal arts college on the Banks of The Ohio River.  I think the best statement about my attending Wheeling was from my mother, when she was asked by her church-lady friends, ‘what is it like to have Billy with the Jesuits in West Virginia?’ Her response was this: “I am not sure what is worse. He has learned how to think, speak, and drink.” Without the Jesuits and a full liberal arts curriculum, I am not sure what is going on out there now. Amongst my small group of alumni friends, I am unaware of anyone who believes or financially supports the current mission. In fact, I am not sure I am aware of the current mission for the institution is without an alumni publication. I believe they are operating without an alumni director.  I know that the last edition of the alumni directory is dated 2008. That illustrates a lack of ‘connectivity’ with what should be your loyal support base. Without any hesitation, I agree that technical knowledge and proficiency of performance of the allied medical arts is important. In addition, those entrusted with our care also need to have the ability to discern the circumstances and to clearly express, in both the oral and written word. the care and procedures needed for our recovery. But most of all, those individuals must be educated, not just trained, to have a sincere and genuine empathy for the human condition. It is the Jesuit liberal arts education that instills this quality within the mind, heart, and soul of the individual.  It is so much more than just allied medical training. I fear that the emphasis on athletic endeavors (I hear there is talk of the institution of a women’s wrestling team) has become a priority over the educational mission of the institution. Support for a quality university athletic program goes without question. However, such a dedication of resources should not be at the total loss of a Jesuit liberal arts education. With the declaration of a ‘fiscal exigency’ in March 2019 and the jettison of the Jesuits shortly thereafter, it seems that financial mismanagement and a breach of fiduciary duty occurred. From this vantage point, there is a lack of transparency as to any effort to return to the foundational principles of what was the youngest Jesuit college in the United States. I understand that Wheeling was the only Jesuit college to be founded as a co-educational institution. That uniqueness is worthy of preservation. Maybe God wants the current president to be there. However, this alum does not. Weekly updates about the condition of the elevators, slip and slide kickball, the arrival of a pool table and a vending machine to the campus and athletic scores in weekly e-mail epistles from the President of the University is beneath the dignity of the Office.  Leave those topics to your facilities director and sports information director. I would rather hear of meaningful efforts to return the Jesuits to the campus. The good news should be about the acquisitions to the university’s library collection, the benevolence of corporations, philanthropic organizations, and alumni to further the foundational mission of the college, the restoration of a comprehensive and quality liberal arts curriculum and of those students who have matriculated to graduate and/or professional schools to educate our children, care for our elderly parents and to minister to those of us who are sinners. A very powerful illustration of this objective was noticed in June 2023 when Father James O’Brien, S. J., a veteran of 50 years at Wheeling, was inducted into the City’s Hall of Fame.  At his introduction and at the conclusion of his remarks, he was the only inductee that I observed to receive a standing ovation. The comment from the Master of Ceremonies for the event says it best: ‘This is why we need the Jesuits back at Wheeling.’ I am disheartened with the loss of the Jesuit presence, tradition, and values from Wheeling.  I still have a sense of that ‘Wheeling Feeling.’ Alma mater refers to the college or university one attended.  It also refers to our nourishing mother.  This is no longer the case for Wheeling College. What is there now is just a shadow of its once-statured position of pride and educational excellence of the individual for a lifetime of service to others. I wish the best for the students.  Every now and then I may send a small donation to a coach for their team.  I do know that the entire educational experience would be so much better with the Jesuits back on campus.  Having been named and baptized for one of the founders of the Order, I shall be forever thankful for the blessings of the Jesuit education that I received at Wheeling College.  It is so sad that others will not have the same blessing. William Francis Xavier Becker William (Billy) Francis Xavier Becker Wheeling (When It Was A Jesuit) College, 1972 https://ledenews.com/an-open-letter-to-wheeling-universitys-administration/ https://ledenews.com/wheeling-university-placed-on-probation/ Read the full article

[skyfire85]

-Curtiss-Wright XP-55 Ascender in July 1943. | Photo: SDASM Archives

FLIGHTLINE: 177 - CURTISS-WRIGHT XP-55 ASCENDER

The XP-55 was experimental fighter/interceptor designed just prior to the US' entry into WWII, but the engine was underpowered and the plane canceled.

Submitted in response to the USAAC's R-40C request, Curtiss-Wrights' CW-24 design was unlike almost anything else in the air at the time, featuring a canard, swept wings, a buried engine driving a pusher prop, and two vertical tails 7/8ths the way across the wings. Like the XP-54, the CW-24 was designed around the P&W X-1800. Curtiss-Wright received a contract for engineering data and a powered wind tunnel model in June 1940, but the USAAC was unimpressed by the results. As a result, Curtiss built a full-scale model designated the CW-24B to refine the concept. The CW-24B was of welded steel tube and fabric construction, with a wooden wing. The plane was powered by a Menasco inline 6-cylinder engine.

-The CW-24B in NACA's Langley 30 x 60 wind tunnel. | Photo: LMAL Archives.

Curtiss-Wright made changes to the design based on the wind tunnel tests, and in June 1942 the USAAF awarded the company a contract for three prototypes, designated XP-55 and given the name Ascender. Delays in and the eventual cancellation of the X-1800 engine led to the substitution of Allison's V-1710 (F16), which developed a modest 1,000hp. Planned armament of the Ascender was to be two .50cal machine guns and two 20mm cannon, but during the mockup phase the cannon were replaced by two more machine guns. The F16 model engine was also replaced with the more powerful -95, which produced 1,275hp.

-Orthograph of the XP-55. | Illustration: Richard Ferriere

The XP-55 was a small aircraft, just 29' long and with a wingspan of 40'. The plane weighed just over six thousand pounds empty, and max TO weight was 7,900lbs. In addition to the unconventional configuration, the Ascender also featured a novel propeller jettison device, developed by W Jerome Peterson, and engineer at Curtiss-Wright. The device, actuated by a lever in the cockpit, was intended to keep the pilot from being injured by the prop in case of a bail-out.

-The original patent filing by William Peterson for the prop jettison. | Illustration: W. J. Peterson

FLIGHT TEST PROGRAM

The first of the three Ascender prototypes, s/n 42-78845, was completed on 13 July 1943, and made its maiden flight 6 days later at Scott Army Airfield, located near Curtiss-wrights plant in St Louis. Initial testing showed that the takeoff run was far longer than anticipated, which technicians corrected by increasing the size of the canard as well as interconnecting the aileron up-trim with the flaps, so that the trip tab would operated when the flaps were lowered.

-The first Ascender in flight. | Photo: Ray Wagner Collection/SDASM Archives

On 15 November 1943 test pilot Harvey Gray was conducting tests of the XP-55's stall performance when the plane went inverted and fell into an flat spin. Gray was unable to break out of the dive, and the Ascender fell 16,000 feet before he bailed out. 845 impacted the ground and was destroyed.

-The crushed remains of the first XP-55 prototype after the 15 November accident. | Photo: USAAF

The second Ascender (s/n 42-78846) was largely similar to the first, but had the modifications made to 845 done at the factory. The trim tabs on the ailerons were changed from balance-type to spring-type. Maiden flight of 846 was on 9 January 1944, and the test program was restricted to avoid stalling the aircraft. Between 16 September and 2 October 1944 the plane was modified to the same specs as the third and then began official USAAF flight trials. Pilots, unconvinced by the plane's unconventional design, derisively called the plane the "Ass-ender".

-The second XP-55 in flight. | Photo: USAAF

The third XP-55 (s/n 42-78847) was the most advanced of the three prototypes, incorporating the same changes as the second, as well as a four-foot extension to the wingtips and changes to the limits of the canard travel, both of which were implemented to correct the stall characteristics of the Ascender. The 3rd was also armed with four machine guns. The maiden flight of 847 was on 25 April 1944. Tests of the second and third XP-55 found that the plane was inferior to fighters of the day, and the USAAF canceled further development of the plane in 1944.

-XP-55 number 3 on the apron. The most developed of the Ascenders, the plane was still found to be slower than contemporary aircraft. | Photo: Ray Wagner Collection/SDASM Archives

On 27 May 1945 the third XP-55 was participating in the Seventh War Bond Air Show at Wright Field in Ohio. The aircraft, piloted by William Glasgow, was flying in formation with a P-38 and P-51, when the pilot attempted a slow roll. Glasgow ran out of altitude however, and crashed, with flaming debris striking several cars on a nearby highway. Glasgow was killed, along with four civilians. The second prototype, meanwhile, was transferred to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, and is on long term loan to the Kalamazoo Air Zoo.

-The second XP-55 on display at the Air Zoo. | Photo: Michael Barera

[news4usonline]

Justin Turner's bat come alive against Padres 

LOS ANGELES (News4usonline) - When you heard the crack of Justin Turner’s bat in the bottom of the second inning in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ first game of a three-game series against the San Diego Padres, you knew it was gone. Turner seemed to know it as well as he took off around the bases with jettison speed until the Dodger Stadium crowd erupted in cheers. Turner accounted for three runs against the Padres during a home game for the Dodgers. Those three runs were all the runs the Dodgers needed to hand the Padres a 3-1 defeat at Dodger Stadium on June 30.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Mitch White tried to make a play in front of third baseman Justin Turner against the San Diego Padres on June 30, 2022. The Dodgers defeated the Padres, 3-1. Photo by Dennis J. Freeman/znews4usonline The three runs that Turner drove in for the Dodgers came from two home runs he connected for during the game. After going yard in the bottom of the second inning to tie the game at 1-1, Turner came back for more helping at the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning with a two-run blast that sent the Dodger Stadium crowd into delirium. It’s a good thing that Turner came through with his big bat because the Dodgers didn’t really have too much else going for them offensively. Those two home runs that Turner hit accounted for two of the five hits Los Angeles was able to muster on the evening. On his home run in the second inning, Turner tagged San Diego pitcher Joe Musgrove with a 383-foot over-the-wall shot.

Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner connects on this pitch thrown by San Diego Padres pitcher Joe Musgrove for a solo home run in the team's 3-1 win at Dodger Stadium on June 30, 2022. Turner would also hit a two-run home run that decided the outcome of the game. Photo by Dennis J. Freeman/News4usonline Turner wound up going 3-for-3 and scoring two runs, a pretty good night for a lot of hitters. Turner then got to Musgrove again in the seventh with a 404-foot blast. Despite registering 10 strikeouts, Musgrove was sent to the showers after Turner completed his multi-home run game. Considering what Turner has battled through this season, his performance against the Padres, a team right on the heels of the Dodgers in Major League Baseball's West Division, just might be a good sign for the home team. On the season, Turner is hitting .227 with six home runs and 41 RBIs. Perhaps going deep twice on one of the better pitchers this season might be able to jumpstart Turner into playing at an All-Star level, something that he’s done a couple of times. The win by the Dodgers was a good start to a home stand that will play out until MLB’s All-Star Weekend. After their three-game series against the Padres, the Dodgers play the Colorado Rockies for three games before ending the homestand with a four-game series against the Chicago Cubs.  Up until Turner’s two-run parting shot, the Dodgers and Padres had been locked in a 1-1 tie. San Diego managed to get seven hits in the game but the Padres also left 15 runners on base. It’s a good thing that Turner’s bat exploded the way it did because the Dodgers just were not able to do anything on the offensive end. And all total, San Diego pitchers struck out a dozen Dodgers batters. Before facing the Dodgers, Musgrove (8-2) had only lost one time this season. He now has two defeats on the year, thanks to a red-haired third baseman who pulled out his magic stick at the right time for the Dodgers.   Read the full article

[pharmaphorumuk]

FDA pens stinging report on Emergent COVID vaccine plant

Emergent BioSolutions’ difficult month has been made worse by an FDA report into its facility in Baltimore, which has been blamed for the wastage of millions of doses of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine. 

The US regulator says it completed an inspection of the Bayview plant run by the contract manufacturing organisation (CMO) which uncovered a string of violations including that the building was “not maintained in a clean and sanitary condition”.

The inspectors found peeling paint and damaged floors and walls that would prevent adequate cleaning, and waste materials that weren’t properly decontaminated before being shipped to other areas of the facility.

Some employees were observed throwing unsealed bags of medical waste into a service elevator leading to the plant’s warehouse, for example, and there were also failings in the plant’s size and design, worker training and handling of raw materials.

The FDA’s closeout letter refers specifically to the cross-contamination incident that led to 15 million doses of the J&J shot being jettisoned when ingredients destined for AstraZeneca’s AZD1222 shot were accidentally mixed into vials of the J&J product.

As a result, J&J said it had assumed “full responsibility” for making the COVID-19 vaccine material at the plant, while AZ pulled out of using the facility altogether. At the time, Emergent suggested that one batch of the vaccine failed quality controls, and no contamination took place.

The report notes that the cross-contamination was not investigated properly, which raises concerns that other batches may have also been affected.

Production at the facility has been halted while the company works with the FDA to try to resolve the deficiencies, and all stocks of the J&J vaccine already produced – said to be around 62 million doses – will have to be re-tested for quality before they can be distributed.

The plant reportedly also had to destroy millions of doses of AZ’s vaccine between October 2020 and January 2021 due to suspected contamination.

As the plant hadn’t been approved to supply the J&J vaccine none of the shots have been used in the US vaccination programme, which has been placed on hold while the US investigates a link between the shot and blood clotting side effects. AZ’s vaccine meanwhile has yet to be approved in the US.

The EU regulator said this week that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh a very small risk of clots, clearing the way for the rollout of the one-shot vaccine to resume. An FDA decision is expected tomorrow.

Award of federal contract probed

The problems at the Emergent plant have also prompted an investigation by Democrat members of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform into the award of a federal contract to make the vaccines.

The CMO’s chief executive – Robert Kramer – has been asked to testify before the group’s coronavirus subcommittee.

Reps Carolyn Maloney and James Clyburn say they are investigating “reports that Emergent received multi-million-dollar contracts to manufacture coronavirus vaccines despite a long, documented history of inadequately trained staff and quality control issues”.

As Chair of @OversightDems, I’m committed to investigating suspicious federal contracts for covid-19 supplies, including vaccines, that went to well-connected but woefully unprepared companies like Emergent BioSolutions.

WE NEED ANSWERS. https://t.co/QH3i60jlWu

— Carolyn B. Maloney (@RepMaloney) April 21, 2021

They note that the company received $628 million in June 2020 to establish the main US facility for making the J&J and AZ vaccines, and in particular are interested in the role played by Dr Robert Kadlec, who served as Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response under President Trump and previously worked as a consultant for Emergent.

They say Kadlec “appears to have pushed for this award despite indications that Emergent did not have the ability to reliably fulfil the contract”.

The post FDA pens stinging report on Emergent COVID vaccine plant appeared first on .

from https://pharmaphorum.com/news/fda-pens-stinging-report-on-emergent-covid-vaccine-plant/

[reeseoqz]

000

~ Mother watched it die every year. For at a time when the leaves twirl as dance, or those in sphere with that purple static reflectors: she may run herself along of what it was but gone away, and it was only distance till common then; say as Jupiter. 

All developed from the dot but change anyway and thru the seems; with glimpse of when the frozen lake, to now the sighted first birds among the echo of on the walls to out, and the fires less as we embrace invited horizon as the dreams return. Yet, I could not convey what spark did change in ~____until there were some friends of mine: the hallucination of bears…

Forward to revive: to think of without, gl111x00Fearoming\oeoe: would the spirits say we are settled always guided and flourish as? Even when about: it would reveal time*** Mother has turquoise while home wondered on until along the nature’s night of grace and wonder.

  If the morning cried, there I would be. My stance glowing and learn myth or two, but what of the dearest natural changes? Losing groups of the noble to vastness at those times, or withered poison left gifted or snuck about***

  Now the light thru the cloud’s noticed at noon and all til moon; maybe to the waterfall, o: life presented and fond in mind. The magenta some other lapse of sky, now shimmer rotation ! ! ! ! around the land. 

The wise healers to all, and the flourished to be of what became of me so different and quiet—they, the sighted almost time or in the morning fire, became all of what I ever,...memories, and in my heart: creaoievus

When the warmth congruent, I wanted to ask her about it—my own little change of change leading me up the hill and adjacent to the 1;^ across and thru to mother’s circle space in the distance, and the derived glee will renew her and our days divine.

———-

When the “”((( gathered us all: there was my brother—an enthusiast of season, stay till noble, then groups travel beyond what all is to what 0. He knew there was change and up speed*** he chooses, and all of his purpose and freedom would keep our people hopeful even when it is home to return from what they call an-overflow: ‘city’, to see for themselves a sim;,,,with grateful for (;)*** or #revived.

The bears looked frightful despite awaken. How could I ease a circle?*** The woods was where it prayed and blossomed—longed for (;) and when a journal with a branded eagle was gifted to my brother. He kissed mother goodbye and disappeared beyond the hills***.

Myself where the birds sing, moving with the light.*** I wanted to remember where they hinted about, and why the bears were easing fear thru my body and mind. The cycles but myself never was aware of anything besides circles, on so on. I could have felt then, but dizzy…

<><><><><><>><><>><>>><<<<><>///////////]]]]]\\\\\\\\\\\

h!z4oh whisper echo—vines, moody swirling whistle become. So the bears….

Hum e\ri\\ridge, still oh my, rush ‘em away you bloody shadows. j@!e02, such as that—people rebelled and rumored tumor or simply losing related, that is where. Neighbor when duration amplify^#=Jupiter then the bloom. Eh, say as so, for honest, earwax heavy that is cube. EDITronate *nothing but it was, but how if the A#3lllhm maybe to home now, ek soul drum crickets. @m<-Waving pink haired bear. 

———^[[[[[[[[[[[[[?`````————————————-

Engage dino7 but fireflies or busy \ glitter 4&&;_ 

Erased along with berry atmosphere too…/[___~ 

<<>> until it, ugh&deer and rabbits…distanced worry.

Within; rewind =</freely see what is around it, the very thing blurry. L00kme me see the spiral cloak of morphing bloom ugh, ^2 grass near church up west hill miles on, abandon ^^^way; frenzy so re- and why have the tribes fled? ;\#;’

———————-

Color spectrum, mortal us a fools. Embrace oh the ladder,* * * would it snow?—never mind any guess,. Haunted hehq, said tweedled0=; water#&7\+ real7y own map replied, Thru and of the woods, step so lounge window to circle , re,0t;z shun   Fe-@x+j^q2e.

: 00000_&eagh^F>L>E>M>…………

up a tree/Flood@waterfall rotator7^ \^ appointment light spotted. 

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

cry any cry til day purple moon] 3@;\\

```                     &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^creek^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^33^3370333abandon for sister 33333737373777777700000<`0~_______00000static atmosphere, c—- soon to loom…..00000 ;;; the messages of mother.

Storm, echos and shadows. From a stranger at camp, name unknown, found on a chair in my tent, opium, spoke of but missed and matched, as the*** and when nature soul knew it would not be very long, 0h%/\convinced scissor that June when the change saw I saw for one or [^.

———

When I got to the open circle, up to the treehouse; old notebooks; drawings. Hallway but to where?… sincere, hm0 \ and]]\0; if to lightning near the stone manifest, awhile see—where it always is but view static to ground and around; stunned twirling ribbons of pink light.***************

ZzzzzzzzzzzzzzZ

Grey clothed men, demon cursing***, oh loud friction bells, and ill_ z doc stumble thru blur, of to onward see as we, fire and madness; who would? Human lasers, my family, our home… 

Thru and thru to smoke and ash. 1//e@L<. Once without mirror then hehyugh, jettison slaughter,,,,The stranger boy being thrown to the ground.

Clmderophinzym—ti;hsorthm0 or but really ladybugs, the butterflies, my friends.\\ maze mist and demon skeletons, 7llll3\=

_SPOTLi#h+uh Tachx9\; chief***. Jasmine rhuteahalL7. Huhph4fkg;&^ fire screams but not at all like this moment oh, elders bowed, tremble and gave away freedom; and yet the spirits***; what of this grief Jupiter? 

Wire supply storage, prisoners; away the doc. Oh we gone along. z3e7e7=lightning scan woods, journey vomit exhausted in the wasteland— mourning, who again…cannot.

———————

7 ill fair fainting oh— spirits you see…but suddenly: awG, the spoken of regarding xhxhxxhhxxhxhxh, but never believed,.

“Hello.’***

toxic in storm this night, hmm So so so, darkening sky. Birdhouse pirate cannot navy, women say to shelter; this different poison blinded////. MJ0#stair if they, where is home? Dear heavens…, 

There are soldiers near path with torches. 

H1; and swords, violence and yet I was near it, just yesterday; a fold of common.

Who was wizardry, oh pinch surreal?! Chaos. e.s.t.. Where are we going?! Eye_corruption over home and yelling for retrace,. It they search; I saw the ribbon drop 0 in heart. Some stayed and knitted sharpen; circle but far and forever these. So my mother’s journals and 3/4c/keys to on move till flying lanterns. Fabric ash, awG sharp teeth %/\,;+3k’’——______——-_______————-_________————____ …tired in the void. Oh, some chemical ++ asleep***

Story harps and Heather00 proclaimed ghosts and awG’s cavalry. Tormenting, yet my papers and letters from my sister, point wheel-mech, and tobacco when.*** All till***, traveler boy with ‘swim on. ^^^ ^’awG gloom: are we to be hidden away? Silk uahhz. 

Crowds; portion appear sits beside me. It is not the poison, the more and more stranded, but future thru the hills and without song, and only us captured; frightened.

000

“Devils and humans do similar…”, boy Fhyejg. 

I awoke to an orange circle around the moon. He was tired, whittling, and seemingly over a spell. My eyes, this coma,…artificial, blinking lights,…ocean,…aliens. The awGs, people to skeletons with darkness and fire—they were yelling, dragging dead or alive bodies away from the water. 

We were sitting outside of a tent and my body ached, and there were scars on all over him. Fhyejg was speaking an eerie mantra and shivering then he laid up to the voided sky. Oh, mother��the comets. 

“Mechanics,…technology.” 

“Why do the shadows have red eyes?”

…………..

The camp moved away from the sea and into the metal land—clouds covered, vomit…

If a human in sight for put as not x but ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~, awG frenzy brainwash, electricity in ears—lacking, impaired and the junkyard was indeed also once lived. 

In the distance, giant towers—the awG’s halted and the people, around twenty-five of us, were horrified, starving, poisoned, and confused. Of hidden in darkly cloak and cold—mother, mother these demons,…their rain is fusion-anger and lies. 

There were whisper sounds outside of my tent: hundreds of green spiders pausing and curious oh, follow thru gaps of structure, alone and the soldiers out of sight. Lanterns on the trees, large towers in the distant east—dim and cold; soft and eerie violins farther in path with trees closing over sky view. Nervous stomach, seizure fidget—fear and stumble with the spiders panning out now: a shut door with an imprinted animal,…….

“I would rather die!”, yelling and a thrown chair inside. I see Fhyejg huffing out the door without a glance, again muttering. Eight men were around the table in a bland grey room: name Z0 pointed to closest seating while I froze and my body shook while the eyes were fixated with the exception of a neon ostrich seated at the far end flipping thru papers, then hinting to Z0 to begin speaking. 

-

“We are here to help you, Ms. A4.”, he walked over to a table where a chest was opened. Z0 took out a vile of something pink, a mirror, and a butterfly that flew and then rested in the middle of the table. He brought the vile to me and it steamed with toxin mist around my body, ill ;_`=//\\\\…the man at the end snapped his fingers and I saw a flash.

“You have been poisoned on several occasions by your own.”

“Tell us where it is and the whereabouts of your mother by looking into this mirror.” The mirror was made of water. Oh, I saw home. Circle of jumble fierce words of sorcery….meadow, joy—thru the glowing and exuberant community: nobody but me while the image fades to the forest, where it was always meant to be, yet I was to reveal and convey what only is to be a myth protected by my sleeping mother. The warmth in body Y_33[[[[__________i

Uhm, “F-fuzz______

——————

)000

  HM3907hek,

Dente titan craze, t;8feeseawhe? 

0uhL me friendz, fold awG treacherous poison, alright. 

pi3ehnze 

PF; she’s the days as zapping type “ ()” )0ov540001

iuvcoohr oh flicker 000 building golden towers……..

Ch3uh!e0; witchy wall oh dear L(((

Submarine cigar and blame oh what a zap FFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

Lewis thru Luke 444_—— metal moth. Dim ah today tomorrow eager collapse, crying at McVm4;&

fin

\rees eoqz 

[gigsoupmusic]

Mighty Brother Launches into Summer with New Music Video "Summer Road"

New Orleans band, Mighty Brother, has released their music video “Summer Road” - the second installment of their upcoming double album (The Rabbit. The Owl.), releasing on June 29th. https://youtu.be/b7OqPOSTK0k "Summer Road" presents itself as the perfect addition to any road trip playlist - upbeat, summer-feeling, and laid back all at once. The music video showcases the band on tour, as it takes viewers on the road alongside them with an inside look at their tour across the United States last year. In the midst of the current pandemic, this glimpse into a musician's life brings a sense of nostalgia and longing for things to return to normal.... or at least the music industry. As the band drives across the country the video captures the ‘simple fortunes’ of the open road, juxtaposing the camaraderie and friendships forged with the demands of touring. The music itself captures the band's genre-bending sound of contemporary Folk Americana mixed with upbeat funk elements and instrumentation.  Overall, “Summer Road” beautifully encapsulates those innumerable hours of reflection one might find gazing out the window on any long drive, the mind caught somewhere between going and finding, and leaving and lost.

Based in New Orleans, Mighty Brother has hit the musical stratosphere with a genre-bending repertoire of upbeat originals comprised of an americana-indie-rock essence and 90’s alternative flavor. The 5-piece band carves a unique space in today’s modern soundscapes with a distinct mashup of styles that has been described as a “blend of Avett-Americana and Radiohead-esque art rock” (Offbeat Magazine). Straddling the lines between folk and funk, rock and alternative, Mighty Brother’s soaring harmonies and striking melodies knit an eclectic sound, guiding the listener through unconventional grooves and adventurous lyricism. Mighty Brother started as a songwriting duo in 2015, comprised of Nick Huster and Ari Carter. Eventually growing to a five-piece indie rock outfit to include band members Jonah Devine Tarver (Saxophone), Quinn Sternberg (Bass), and Nicholas Solnick (Drums), Mighty Brother was quick to carve out two musical successes with Jettison. Reprise. (2015) and The Vibe EP (2017). The band, who describes their sound as groovy and flavorful, has been influenced and inspired by the likes of Grizzly Bear, Radiohead, Bon Iver, The Decemberists, Avett Brothers, Alt-J and several other musical acts. This menagerie of influences led to Mighty Brother’s indie-rock sound that also pays tribute to folk, singer-songwriter, funk, and alternative soundscapes. Having toured the globe on tours spanning from the United States to New Zealand, Mighty Brother performs as if they were actively conversing with the crowd, drawing listeners in for an engaging experience. This energy is translated into their music, proven through the new tracks of their most mature album yet - The Rabbit. The Owl.. Read the full article

[roundthatcorner]

Something that could explain how they can BOTH act like both the dumpee and the dumped (or 'balker' and 'balkee') is that each was ‘working’ from a different ‘scenario’:

A) fresh and new – John’s choice – bring the ‘lovers’ bit to the forefront – his relationship with Paul and their creative partnership is what makes him happy, and his marriage, living at Weybridge, etc, make him unhappy – so why not jettison those things, and have all Paul all the time? B) more or less the status quo – Paul’s chosen course – whether he actually ends up marrying Jane or not, he wants to have a woman/women. If in younger years Paul was willing to put all his eggs in the John basket, maybe he is not so much into that anymore – maybe bc he’s more cautious than John, maybe because he recognizes that John is not an altogether stable person and doesn’t want to be or can't be his sole 'person’, because he has broader responsibilities (to the band, to Apple, to fans, his family, Cyn and Julian, contracts, etc), because he’s gotten older and eventually wants a family, maybe even because he is on some level 'straighter’ than John (I don’t tend to be swayed much by this, but it’s possible), etc.

Basically, Paul wants a little of this and a little of this and a little of that, too, but John wants all or nothing.

If at some point late 67/early 68 they come to a mutual-ish conclusion (what to Paul seems to be mutual, maybe, and that John seems to accept initially -- until meditation/brooding time) to stop whatever relationship they have from going any further (ie keep it as it is, an intermittent sexual relationship that has romantic undertones in addition to being BFF, creative partners, etc) that would leave Paul in an essentially happy place (Jane/John in a somewhat circumscribed way/Beatles/London-ey stuff) and John in an essentially unhappy place (Cyn/much less Paul than he wants/Beatles but Paul is increasingly dominant/the sticks = Weybridge). And if this is ‘okay’ with Paul, then John gets to thinking that maybe Paul doesn't care about his happiness and that Paul maybe never wanted him that much anyway. Maybe if Paul is okay with pulling back from the sexual/romantic aspect of their relationship, that makes John think that Paul never really wanted it that much to begin with – maybe it was just some manipulative ploy on Paul’s part and John isn’t all that attractive to Paul anyway (which is a humiliating, dark headspace to be in).

So from Paul’s perspective he got dumped bc John destroys scenario B; from John’s perspective he got rejected (even if there was no actual 'moment’ of rejection, but just maybe Paul dragging his heels, or Paul getting engaged or Paul somehow making it clear that he likes the status quo and is not likely to change it), because Paul will not give him scenario A.

Part of why Paul was maybe initially 'cool’ with Yoko (or at least seemingly tried to be) is because Paul maybe thought at first that Yoko could be reconciled into scenario B. This is maybe what he 'means’ when he later says it took him a year to realize that John was 'in love’ with Yoko – that theirs would be an all-consuming relationship. Whereas he had initially thought it would be like Cyn 2.0 – less boring, so John will be happier, but good bc Paul likes John to have a woman (it’s in line with his scenario) and Paul even maybe likes having a sense of teamwork with John's woman (like he seemingly had with Cyn -- they are both on team 'taking care of John', after all).

Maybe part of what John was doing with Yoko (bringing her into the studio, making a recording of them having sex and playing it to the other Beatles, having loud sex in Paul’s house, giving Paul’s parts to Yoko to sing, etc) was trying to GOAD Paul into giving him offer A ('IF somebody loved me like she does’, then what, John?), or at least punish him for not having given it. But if Paul was STILL only willing to offer option B, then John doesn’t want it, because he’s gotten offer, uh, C from Yoko (a female Paul who will stroke his hair when he’s sick, etc).

(Or maybe Paul doesn't know what to offer -- he maybe can't 'read' John on heroin, so he's just flailing by this point because he doesn’t even know all this is a test, let alone how to win it, and he can’t hardly get near enough to John, with Yoko constantly there, to write a song with him, let alone talk about their feelings. When Paul DOES try to talk to John about it in the only place he sees him anymore, the studio, he basically gets rebuffed (see the 'oh, John, have you noticed all these desperate love songs I’ve been writing for you? Common theme, right?’ convos in January of '69 – John’s 'it’s like we’re lovers’ type responses work to shut Paul up on two levels: if they ever were lovers, they aren’t now, so direct facial slap there, and John's warning him that this is not a conversation for the cameras to pick up (so Paul goes back to joking, to undercut the seriousness of his initial approach))

One of the hardest things for me to understand about the break-up is that John seems to be pushing and pushing Paul (for whatever reason -- to take 'back' the band, to punish Paul for 'rejecting' him, to work out some latent resentment towards him), but at the point that Paul is visibly freaking the fuck out, begging John to come back to him, John never 'pulls back' -- he never seems to re-calibrate his approach in response to Paul's clear entreaties. Part of this, I think, is that Paul never collapses in quite the right way -- he's still trying to organize things (which has always been his role, and one he has always used to help John -- the whole 'Get Back' project is designed & redesigned to appeal to John's interests and skills), he's writing some of his best work, and, most importantly, out of left field (it's a baseball metaphor day, god help me) comes Linda and her family offering a real alternative position of strength for Paul, which John could NOT POSSIBLY have foreseen.

The other part of this is maybe that John is thinking that Paul is only offering scenario B still. I'm not sure, but I think that IF Paul was ever thinking of scenario A as actually plausible, it was sometime in '67, and then maybe around January '69 (until Klein is just a bridge too far, and he starts thinking he has to withdraw or lose everything) and around the time he writes 'Dear Friend'. So is John continuing to 'punish' Paul just John saying 'too late’ to Paul's entreaties? Or 'not enough'? Maybe from John's perspective, he already gave Paul time enough to decide (there's a point in one of the MM letters where John says something like 'two years -- that's how long it usually takes you, right?' that makes me go hmmm), and he's not convinced that Paul is actually offering something better than Yoko. Also by this point John's had months of unadulterated Yoko, and Yoko seems to have from sometime after the June '68 diary tape (ie sometime after she realizes Paul does not have to be a woman to be a very great threat) come to the conclusion, as she's said, that Paul and John's relationship was unhealthy, adolescent, stunted, etc -- basically bad for John. Mostly because she just thinks that Paul is a threat to her primacy and has to justify her actions against him; possibly because she thinks that Paul manipulates John, possibly sexually, and that Paul is somehow the root of John's 'closet fag'-ness; possibly bc she has a less-than-latent homophobia which compels her to vaunt a sort of Victorian era complementary male/female hetero relationship as the ultimate, and all other homosocial or homosexual relationships as high school-esque (their view on this has always seemed super regressive from a feminist perspective, so); possibly bc from her perspective, gleaned from John’s perspective, John must’ve loved Paul more, since he wanted more, causing the 'nobody ever hurt me like Paul hurt me' stuff; etc. So Yoko was surely communicating her views on this to John, which was causing his kernel of negativity towards Paul to sort of 'snowball' -- whatever he had gone into the relationship with Yoko thinking about Paul, she certainly never helped him have a healthier, more positive view. His motivations for getting with Yoko (and sidelining Paul) initially aside, due to Yoko's psychological whatevers, from the moment he let her in, it became almost a fait accompli that he would have to shove Paul entirely aside (though interestingly Yoko never saw it as a fait accompli -- as late as 1980 she doesn't even think she can reliably 'risk' letting Paul and John talk on the phone).

[gravitascivics]

UPDATING CIVIC LITERACY

This posting and ones to follow are a restatement of what has been addressed previously in this blog. Some of the sentences to come have been provided before but the concern is that other information has been discovered and an update seems appropriate.  The blog has not changed the overall message, civics education is seriously deficient, but some of the evidence needs updating.

         As with what has been reported before, this writer uses the same questions.  He asks: to what level of knowledge do Americans – beginning with secondary students – command in terms of their government and politics?  How and to what degree do they engage in politics, demonstrate political skills, civility, and law-abiding behavior?  These questions are treated in a meaningful but summary way. This account will begin with the first question, regarding political knowledge or how the relevant literature today identify this knowledge, civic literacy.

Civic Literacy

         Those who are concerned with the quality of civics education have an advantage. Most academic fields, when the same evaluative questions are asked, must rely on mostly testing results.  While testing can also shed information about civics, those parties need only look around and judge the quality of citizenship he/she sees among fellow citizens.  So, this account will cite testing results, but also observations by various scholars who study this aspect of human behavior.

         One can cite an array of studies, for example, concerning political knowledge[1] – and the other above listed concerns – but, with a limited number, this account will report what the state of the citizenry is.  It is not so good.  More recent research extends what previous research has discovered but is a bit more nuanced.  Below is a sampling of this more recent research.

Mary Hylton defines this term, civic literacy, as follows:  “a basic understanding of the structure and functioning of government as well as the political process through which decisions are shaped.” [2]  She also includes how people know and understand the underlying values reflected in the US Constitution, including liberty, freedom, and justice.[3]  

The Pew Research Center has reported recent survey information on the state of knowledge and the information reflects how the 2018 midterm elections seem to have affected civic literacy.[4]  The electorate seemed to be informed about relevant current political issues – e.g., the role the Electoral College plays in determining who becomes president – but demonstrated significantly less knowledge over currently unfocused facts concerning the structure of government.

Here is a sampling of what they report:

The public does less well on other questions about the structure of American government.  Overall, 56% know that the number of terms a president can serve is determined by the 22nd Amendment; 54% can correctly identify the vice president as the person who casts the tie-breaking vote in deadlocked Senate.

         Fewer than half (41%) are aware that 60 votes are needed to end a filibuster in the U. S. Senate, the lowest level of public knowledge on any of the seven questions included in the survey.

Republicans and Democrats perform about equally well on the civic and political knowledge questions included in the survey.  For example, nearly identical shares of Republicans and Republican leaners (87%) and Democrats and Democratic leaners (86%) know that the First Amendment guarantees the right to free speech. There [are] no significant divides between Republicans and Democrats on most questions and 4 percentage points is the most that separates the two groups on any single item (80% of Republicans can correctly identify the Electoral College, compared with 76% of Democrats).[5]

 Perhaps these numbers reflect the virulence that certain political questions seem to have in current popular consciousness. The election of Trump to the presidency, one could argue, has upped public concerns – as illustrated by the vast demonstrations the nation has witnessed since the 2016 election.  

A look at the recent past might provide a better view of political knowledge although one can detect by this 2018 Pew report that whatever knowledge is shared by the American public seems to be targeted on what seems most relevant to the Trump era politics and not an overall knowledge of the American government.

Reportage, as recently as 2016, this writer believes portrays a more accurate view of American civic literacy.  That is, the level of civic literacy is so low that it had been widely reported in the press.  For example, a Boston Globe article cites an Annenberg Public Policy Center study which reports:

·        only 36% of American adults could name the three branches of the central government;

·        almost 75% didn’t know it takes two-thirds in each house of Congress to override a presidential veto;

·        only 38% could correctly identify which political party controls either house of Congress; and

·        25% believe that Congress can override a 5-4 Supreme Court decision.[6]  

These are considered reflecting basic governmental information; the type news reports assume readers or listeners know.

What of young Americans; does the next upcoming generation give one hope for a better-informed electorate?  The results of a 2010 exam, given by the National Center for Educational Statistics group, report only 24% of high school seniors scoring at a proficient or advanced level (64% scored at or above basic level).[7]  This finding, with a bit of improvement, was mostly mirrored in the testing of college students.[8]  The ISI study summary states:

Unfortunately, the results of ISI's past civic literacy research does not inspire confidence that our institutions of higher learning are living up to their educative and civic responsibilities, responsibilities that almost all American colleges recognize as critical to their overall public missions.[9]

One issue often not included in reporting these deficiencies is the fact the currently the study of civics itself has been jettisoned from the nation’s curriculum.  At this time, American schools have dropped or otherwise not included civics in their offerings.  American history is still generally offered, but civics as a separate course is offered only in one of three schools nationally.[10]

Civic literacy, as a concept, relates to what the questions above refer to as political knowledge and political skills. According to a site, Urban Agenda, civic literacy means:  “… the knowledge of how to actively participate and initiate change in your community and the greater society. It is the foundation by which a democratic society functions … a means to create avenues for peaceful change.”[11]  If one states it that way, it sounds important – and it is.

         Knowledge and skills are two important aspects of citizenship, but before they become utilized, one needs to be motivated to use them.  One such motivator is social empathy – more closely looked at in a future posting. Yes, acquiring and using political knowledge and skills can be motivated by other concerns, some might be very self-centered.  But in terms of improving civic literacy, one needs to first care about the societal conditions around him or her.

[1] “Executive Summary of the Results of the Latest Administration of Assessment Test on Civic Knowledge.” National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). 2006, http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/itmrls AND  James G. Gimpel, J. Celeste Lay, and Jason E. Schuknecht, Cultivating Democracy: Civic Environments and Political Socialization in America (Washington, DC:  Brookings Institution Press, 2003) AND “Report on Survey Conducted by NASS on Americans’ Knowledge of Political System,” National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS), 1999, http://www.nass.org/  (since originally accessed, the report has been taken down) AND “Executive Summary of the Results of the Latest Administration of Assessment Test on Civic Knowledge,” NAEP AND Andrea Neal, “Disengaged: We Have Failed at Civic Education,” Indianapolis Star, November 2, 2017, accessed November 6, 2017, https://www.indystar.com/story/opinion/2017/11/02/andrea-neal-weve-failed-civic-education/826756001/ AND Pew Research, “How Increasing Ideological Uniformity and Partisan Antipathy Affect Politics, Compromise and Everyday Life,” Center Political Polarization in the American Public, June 12, 2014, accessed on February 21, 2017,  http://www.people-press.org/2014/06/12/political-polarization-in-the-american-public/.

[2] Mary E. Hylton, “Civic Engagement and Civic Literacy among Social Work Students: Where Do We Stand?,” Journal of Policy Practice, vol. 14, 3-4, 2015, 292-307, (doi:10.1080/15588742.2015.1004396), 296.

[3] Mary E. Hylton, “Civic engagement and civic literacy among social work students: Where do we stand?”

[4] “Political Engagement, Knowledge and the Midterms,” Pew Research Center, April 26, 2018, accessed April 8, 2019, https://www.people-press.org/2018/04/26/10-political-engagement-knowledge-and-the-midterms/ .

[5] Ibid.

[6] “Americans’ Knowledge of the Branches of Government Is Declining,” Annenberg Public Policy Center, September 13, 2016, accessed May 14, 2018, https://www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/americans-knowledge-of-the-branches-of-government-is-declining/ .

[7] National Center for Education Statistics, The Nation’s Report Card:  Civics 2010 (Washington, DC: Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, 2011), (NCES 2011-466), accessed May 14, 2018, http://nces. ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pdf/main2010/2011466.pdf .

[8] Association of American Colleges and Universities, A Crucible Moment: College Learning and Democracy’s Future (2012), accessed May 14, 2018, https://www.aacu.org/crucible AND Intercollegiate Studies Institute, Enlightened Citizenship: How Civic Knowledge Trumps a College Degree in Promoting Active Civic Engagement, 2011, accessed May 15, 2018, https://www.americancivicliteracy.org/2011/summary_summary.html [a summary account], AND Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, “Americans Know Surprisingly Little about Their Government, Survey Finds,” 2014, accessed May 15, 2018, https://www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/americans-know-surprisingly-little-about-their-government-survey-finds/.

[9] Intercollegiate Studies Institute, Enlightened Citizenship: How Civic Knowledge Trumps a College Degree in Promoting Active Civic Engagement, November 1, 2011, accessed April 9, 2019, https://www.heartland.org/publications-resources/publications/enlightened-citizenship-how-civic-knowledge-trumps-a-college-degree-in-promoting-active-civic-engagement .

[10] Campbell Streator and Maria Yuan, “Young Americans Are Politically Engaged.  They Need to Be Civically Educated.”  Real Clear Policy, February 27, 2019, accessed April 8, 2019, https://www.realclearpolicy.com/articles/2019/02/27/young_americans_are_politically_engaged_they_need_to_be_civically_educated_111079.html .

[11] Urban Agenda, accessed May 7, 2018, http://www.urbanagenda.wayne.edu/whatiscl.htm .

[the-writer-nerd-ro]

Happy Saturday Julius Round-Up!

She's fineeee She's just feeling a little... transparent

Finally, like I said I would last week I have reposted my little June, but with some of my favorite tags from other Julius Round-Ups. Thank you @thestrangecarrotcake and @rollingaroundin-bread for always making my day, I might not have kept making art of my little guys every week if I hadn't had your support

[ledenews]

Letter to Editor: 'I Wish the Best for the (Wheeling University) Students'

Editor: Thank you for forwarding the Open Letter to the administration of Wheeling College. I would join in those sentiments. Fifty-five years ago, I left the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D. C., to attend the small, Jesuit, co-educational, liberal arts college on the Banks of The Ohio River.  I think the best statement about my attending Wheeling was from my mother, when she was asked by her church-lady friends, ‘what is it like to have Billy with the Jesuits in West Virginia?’ Her response was this: “I am not sure what is worse. He has learned how to think, speak, and drink.” Without the Jesuits and a full liberal arts curriculum, I am not sure what is going on out there now. Amongst my small group of alumni friends, I am unaware of anyone who believes or financially supports the current mission. In fact, I am not sure I am aware of the current mission for the institution is without an alumni publication. I believe they are operating without an alumni director.  I know that the last edition of the alumni directory is dated 2008. That illustrates a lack of ‘connectivity’ with what should be your loyal support base. Without any hesitation, I agree that technical knowledge and proficiency of performance of the allied medical arts is important. In addition, those entrusted with our care also need to have the ability to discern the circumstances and to clearly express, in both the oral and written word. the care and procedures needed for our recovery. But most of all, those individuals must be educated, not just trained, to have a sincere and genuine empathy for the human condition. It is the Jesuit liberal arts education that instills this quality within the mind, heart, and soul of the individual.  It is so much more than just allied medical training. I fear that the emphasis on athletic endeavors (I hear there is talk of the institution of a women’s wrestling team) has become a priority over the educational mission of the institution. Support for a quality university athletic program goes without question. However, such a dedication of resources should not be at the total loss of a Jesuit liberal arts education. With the declaration of a ‘fiscal exigency’ in March 2019 and the jettison of the Jesuits shortly thereafter, it seems that financial mismanagement and a breach of fiduciary duty occurred. From this vantage point, there is a lack of transparency as to any effort to return to the foundational principles of what was the youngest Jesuit college in the United States. I understand that Wheeling was the only Jesuit college to be founded as a co-educational institution. That uniqueness is worthy of preservation. Maybe God wants the current president to be there. However, this alum does not. Weekly updates about the condition of the elevators, slip and slide kickball, the arrival of a pool table and a vending machine to the campus and athletic scores in weekly e-mail epistles from the President of the University is beneath the dignity of the Office.  Leave those topics to your facilities director and sports information director. I would rather hear of meaningful efforts to return the Jesuits to the campus. The good news should be about the acquisitions to the university’s library collection, the benevolence of corporations, philanthropic organizations, and alumni to further the foundational mission of the college, the restoration of a comprehensive and quality liberal arts curriculum and of those students who have matriculated to graduate and/or professional schools to educate our children, care for our elderly parents and to minister to those of us who are sinners. A very powerful illustration of this objective was noticed in June 2023 when Father James O’Brien, S. J., a veteran of 50 years at Wheeling, was inducted into the City’s Hall of Fame.  At his introduction and at the conclusion of his remarks, he was the only inductee that I observed to receive a standing ovation. The comment from the Master of Ceremonies for the event says it best: ‘This is why we need the Jesuits back at Wheeling.’ I am disheartened with the loss of the Jesuit presence, tradition, and values from Wheeling.  I still have a sense of that ‘Wheeling Feeling.’ Alma mater refers to the college or university one attended.  It also refers to our nourishing mother.  This is no longer the case for Wheeling College. What is there now is just a shadow of its once-statured position of pride and educational excellence of the individual for a lifetime of service to others. I wish the best for the students.  Every now and then I may send a small donation to a coach for their team.  I do know that the entire educational experience would be so much better with the Jesuits back on campus.  Having been named and baptized for one of the founders of the Order, I shall be forever thankful for the blessings of the Jesuit education that I received at Wheeling College.  It is so sad that others will not have the same blessing. Be well and here is to your continued success, William Francis Xavier Becker William (Billy) Francis Xavier Becker Wheeling (When It Was A Jesuit) College, 1972 https://ledenews.com/an-open-letter-to-wheeling-universitys-administration/ https://ledenews.com/wheeling-university-placed-on-probation/ Read the full article

[satincamera0-blog]

'Sicario: Day of the Soldado': Review

Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin return to the violence of the Mexican border in this sequel to the 2015 critical hit

Like its violent antiheroes, Sicario: Day Of The Soldado (also known as Sicario 2: Soldado) is ruthlessly efficient but also morally conflicted. This sequel to the 2015 war-on-drugs drama which premiered at Cannes is often gripping, and yet the filmmakers? cavalier attitude to this story about American operatives dispensing brutal justice along the border casts a pall over the proceedings.

No matter how commanding Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin might be, Soldado is a less inspired or thoughtful redo of its predecessor, jettisoning nuance for amped-up nihilism. Opening June 29 in the UK and US, Soldado has a decent shot of matching (or surpassing) Sicario?s $85 million worldwide haul. With Del Toro and Brolin reprising their roles, the sequel has sufficient star power, and a cachet after the Denis Villeneuve-directed original.

Emily Blunt?s idealistic FBI agent is nowhere to be seen in Soldado, which shifts the focus to Matt Graver (Brolin), a no-nonsense CIA operative who recruits the mysterious enforcer Alejandro Gillick (Del Toro) to join him on a top-secret mission. Aiming to start a war between the notorious Mexican cartels, they kidnap Isabela (Isabela Moner), the young daughter of one of the kingpins. Once their plan goes awry, Matt and Alejandro run afoul of the American government, putting their lives and Isabela?s in danger.

Soldado isn?t just missing Blunt?s presence: this sequel doesn?t boast either thanostv (Villeneuve), cinematographer (Roger Deakins) or composer (the late J�hann Johannsson) as the 2015 original. Italian director Stefano Sollima works with D.P. Dariusz Wolski and musician Hildur Gu?nad�ttir (a prot�g� of Johannsson?s) to create a stirring facsimile of Sicario?s ominous soundscapes and visual design, once again plunging us into a world of shadows and paranoia.

Screenwriter Taylor Sheridan, who wrote the first film, is back, however, continuing his exploration of moral rot, which was also at the centre of his script for Hell Or High Water and his directorial debut Wind River. Soldado boasts some of the same fascinating detail as Sicario, giving the viewer a sense of the desperation and lawlessness on the US/Mexico border. Although Sheridan crafts a few tense action sequences, they?re not as thrillingly staged as in the first film. And unlike Sicario?s harrowing descent into ethical quandaries ? which questioned America?s might-makes-right attitude toward winning its drug war ? Soldado seems largely unconcerned with its characters? roughshod tactics to get the job done.

As a result, the sequel rarely seems critical of Matt and Alejandro?s cowboy bravado, essentially adopting the stance that their amorality is justified because of the bureaucratic ineptitude of the US government and the repugnance of the cartels. Even if watch sicario: day of the soldado 2018 ?s handwringing over the limits of American intervention could occasionally be heavy-handed, Soldado?s relatively uncomplicated embrace of vigilante law-enforcement tactics feels like a diminishment of the first film?s principled inquisitiveness. In Soldado, the bloody violence has no sting or resonance ? it is well executed, but in a mechanical, superficially rousing manner.

Del Toro and Brolin add some moral shading. Alejandro will unexpectedly form a bond with Isabela ? Moner brings a surprising steeliness to the role ? and Del Toro shows flashes of the humanity that has been stripped away due to personal tragedy. As for Brolin, he exudes cocky machismo, although his role as a rugged antihero is far too one-note to really captivate.

[itsworn]

Birth of a Total Performance Icon: 427-Powered 1963 1/2 Ford Galaxie Lightweight

In 1961 Ford adopted “Total Performance” as its corporate mantra. Two years later, in 1963, Ford powered the rear-engine revolution at Indy, competed on NASCAR high-banked ovals, and continued its drag racing activities. To remain competitive in NHRA’s expanding Super Stock classes, Ford built 200 Galaxies that were put on a diet, shedding approximately 425 pounds. In the process these Galaxie Lightweights became a Blue Oval icon.

Ford had ambitious racing plans for 1963, centered on the introduction of a more aerodynamic semi-fastback roofline with a more slanted backlight (rear window) for its two-door hardtops. In February 1963, in a move intended to make the Galaxie even more competitive, Ford’s car merchandising manager, V.P. Motto, announced that the Dearborn automaker would introduce a “special lightweight performance vehicle.” It would be a limited-production model based on the production Galaxie with the new roofline, to be offered to drag racers nationwide. The Ford Galaxie 500 Lightweight would give Ford a competitive entry for the 1963 racing season.

Retired Ford engineer and longtime Galaxie Lightweight and Thunderbolt owner-historian Dennis Kolodziej says, “All 200 of the production 1963 cars were built at Ford’s Norfolk Assembly Plant from April to June 1963. They were not built as a single batch of cars sequentially. Two additional pilot-build cars were assembled at Wayne Assembly Plant in Michigan on January 21 to 23, 1963, shipped to the Arizona Proving Grounds on January 28, and then ultimately delivered to Les Ritchey-Bob Ford Inc. and Tasca Ford. Plaza Industries in Toronto, Ontario, supplied the fiberglass components for 1962 and 1963.

“Five converted 1962 Lightweights using their respective 1962 Lightweight Galaxie chassis as ‘donors’ were assembled. Three of the five had their 1962 Lightweight bodies removed from their chassis at the Ford Experimental Garage in Dearborn, and in place a preproduction 1963 fastback body and front end manufactured at Wayne Assembly Plant on January 23, 1963, was installed, along with the 427 8V drivetrain and related components. These three units were returned to Dick Brannan (Corinthian White), Ed Martin Ford (Rangoon Red), with the first Stark-Hickey Ford unit retained as an engineering development drag car. It was also campaigned by Bob Ford Inc. (Raven Black) with Ford Special Test Drivers Len Richter and Bill Humphrey.

“Similarly, two painted and trimmed preproduction bodies and front ends (Viking Blue) were manufactured at the Los Angeles Assembly Plant and shipped to Bill Stroppe and Associates in Long Beach, California. These were utilized to convert the 1962 Lightweight Galaxies of Les Ritchey and Gas Ronda into 1963s. Ronda repainted his unit Heritage Burgundy. Interestingly, all five of these converted units had beige, trim code No. 24, interiors.”

Some reports over the years have stated that the first 50 cars were built by Dearborn Steel Tubing (DST). This is incorrect. This may be a result of the fact that DST built 10 1962 Galaxie Lightweights. DST would gain more notoriety in 1964 when it built the Thunderbolts using the smaller, lighter Fairlane to do battle with GM and Chrysler’s intermediates.

Kolodziej shared some information on several more Galaxie Lightweights that competed in the 1964 Tour de France race. “Tour de France cars, four Lightweight Galaxie units with a June delivery date, were shipped from Holman Moody to Europe. According to internal records, the first Tour de France car was ultimately assigned to Ford of Mexico, then given to Dan Gurney. The second Tour de France car was assigned to Alan Mann and served as a Girling [disc] brake test car, the third Tour de France car was given to John Wilmett, and the fourth unit went to Sir Gawaine Baille and ultimately was destroyed in use on February 3, 1965. These four have the highest Consecutive Unit Number (CUN) in my Lightweight Galaxie Registry and are likely the last 3N66R lightweight vehicles built.”

Charting the Changes

How did the lightweight Galaxies differ from their more mainstream production-car versions? This car’s owner, John Karelius, charts the changes.

First came the motivation. Ford’s legendary 427ci V-8 was equipped with an aluminum low-riser manifold sporting two Holley four-barrel carbs and a 324-degree mechanical tappet camshaft, and was factory rated at 425 hp. Because of the immense torque (480 lb-ft) produced by this high-performance evolution of Ford’s FE big-block, an RC Industries aluminum safety bellhousing was installed in front of a BorgWarner T10 (with aluminum case and extension housing) close-ratio four-speed manual transmission. The 4.11 final drive ratio spun a set 8.20-15 Firestone Dragster cheater slicks, while 6.70-15 Firestone Polyester bias-ply tires rolled up front. To bring things to a halt, each car was equipped with Police Interceptor low-fade 11×3-inch brakes.

All of the production Galaxie Lightweights were Corinthian White with a red interior. Because the Blue Oval found itself at a disadvantage compared to GM and Mopar insofar as weight was concerned, Ford put the Galaxie on a diet, shedding almost 425 pounds compared to a fully equipped Galaxie 500 XL hardtop. This was accomplished by using fiberglass for the hood, front fenders, decklid, and inner fender liners. Further weight was shaved through the use of aluminum front and rear bumpers, aluminum bumper brackets, and a lightweight frame. To date, much misinformation has been published on the lightweight frame, which was clarified further by Kolodziej, who says, “The frame assembly is comparable in function and appearance to C3AA-5005-AA, a production frame assembly, except frame side rails are to be at minimum material tolerance.”

Other exterior modifications included the deletion of the hood springs and the trunk’s counterbalancing spring. The trunk mat, spare tire, and jack were jettisoned. Kolodziej notes that in 1963, the battery remained under the hood. But it would not have been unusual for those campaigning the cars in period to move it to the trunk, where it was factory-installed on the 1964 Galaxie Lightweights.

Because entertainment and comfort were not a priority for trips of only 1,320 feet, an AM radio was not installed. One horn, the clock (standard on the Galaxie 500), heater, defroster, and door panel armrests were deleted. The front bench seat usually found in a Galaxie 500 was replaced with a pair of lightweight bucket seats from Bostrom. Carpets were replaced with thin polyethylene flooring. No sound deadener or seam sealer was installed on any of the 200 cars built.

The price for all this high-powered, lightweight goodness was $1,414.15 ($11,500 in today’s dollars) on top of the base price of $2,783 ($22,150 today) for an unoptioned Galaxie 500 two-door hardtop. And you got a credit of $75.10 from Ford to delete the heater components.

How Fast?

Just how fast was a 1963 Galaxie Lightweight? In 1963, two magazines put the Galaxie Lightweights under the stopwatch. Hot Rod’s Ray Brock noted that the car belonging to Les Ritchey (John’s uncle), an early car that lacked the fiberglass doors and inner liners and so weighed in at 3,510 pounds, reeled off a 12.29 run at a speed of 117.30 mph. Its sister car, driven by Gas Ronda, with fiberglass doors and inner liners and weighing 3,425 pounds, ran the quarter in 12.07 at 118 mph, illustrating what shaving just 85 pounds could yield.

Popular Hot Rodding took Les Ritchey’s Winternationals car to Pomona and logged a 12.49-second run at 116.27 mph. To put this in perspective, remember this was 1963. Even after the visit to Weight Watchers the Galaxie Lightweight, nominally in street trim, still weighed 3,480 pounds.

To say that owner John Karelius bleeds Blue Oval Blue would be an understatement. “I have Ford and drag racing in my DNA,” he says. “I was there in 1963 when my uncle, Les Ritchey, took the S/S Class at the NHRA Nationals in Indianapolis in his 1963 1/2 Galaxie 427 Lightweight, named Cynthia.”

John says he will “always remember, after a long flat tow, Les’s first run. Once he left the line, the entire crowd stood up and applauded at the sight of the Big Ford.”

Over the years, John has owned several high-performance Fords, including a K-code 1965 Mustang 2+2 Hi-Po fastback, a 1967 Shelby G.T. 500, and a 1969 Mustang fastback. He also owned a 1963 1/2 Galaxie 427 Lightweight that had been campaigned by a local Alhambra Ford dealer. But he sold it in 1966.

“I always regretted the sale of my Lightweight five decades ago,” recalls John. “I heard of a family in Arizona interested in selling one of these rare factory race cars from a collection of 10 fabulous old drag cars. I could not get out there quick enough, first to verify authenticity, purchase, and then return the car to California for some restoration work.”

After acquiring his prize, the restoration started on what was an exceptionally original and complete car. For the restoration John turned to Jerry Kugel and his team at Kugel Komponents in La Habra, California. John wants to call out Chris Smith for his dedication to this project.

First the engine, transmission, and rearend were removed to be rebuilt. The chassis was refurbished with all suspension components rebuilt to a factory-new standard, while at the same time the brake system was replaced. Underneath, the frame was detailed and painted.

While out of the car, the original top-oiler 427 R-code V-8 was blueprinted to factory specs by L&R Automotive in Santa Fe Springs, while the factory-original Holley 550-cfm carburetors were blueprinted by C&J Engineering, also in Santa Fe Springs. The robust Ford 9-inch rearend was rebuilt by Currie Enterprises in Corona, California.

John noted that the exterior paint, which had been done 27 years earlier, was in excellent shape and needed just color sanding and buffing to get it in the condition seen here. The interior is almost completely original with only the flooring replaced.

Since the restoration, John has shown the car at a number of events in Southern California. At the San Marino Motor Classic the car took top prize in the non-GM muscle car class (“Concours d’Cubes,” Sept. ’16). The car has made the 180-mile roundtrip to the El Paseo Cruise Night in Palm Desert and also goes to his local Cars and Coffee in Aliso Viejo.

John noted that the Galaxie Lightweight shares garage space with an original 427 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt and a 22-year-old Contemporary Cobra 427 SC Roadster powered by an original 427 SOHC Cammer engine.

We would be remiss if we didn’t mention one more component in John’s life, his wife Martha. When we came up short a driver for the car-to-car photos, Martha stepped up and handled the camera car duties like a pro. We’d say that John is blessed in many ways.

At a Glance

1963 1/2 Galaxie 500 Lightweight Owned by: John Karelius, Dove Canyon, CA Restored by: Jerry Kugel, Kugel Komponents, La Habra, CA

Engine: 427ci/425hp V-8 Transmission: BorgWarner T10 close-ratio 4-speed manual Rearend: Ford 9-inch with semifloating axles and 4.11 gears Interior: Red vinyl Bostrom bucket seat Wheels: 15×5.5 factory steel Tires: 6.70-15 Firestone Polyester bias-ply front, 8.20-15 Firestone Dragster cheater slicks rear

John Karelius tells us his Galaxie Lightweight was originally drag raced on the East Coast and then sat in storage in Arizona for the better part of three decades. He bought it out of a collection of “old, fabulous drag cars” that came up for sale when their owner passed away.

John’s Galaxie is largely original, though the mechanicals have been rebuilt, including a blueprint job for the engine. The cast iron header-like exhaust manifolds were factory issue.

The 1963 model year was the first for the 427-inch version of Ford’s FE motor. Two were available in 1963 Fords: one with a single four-barrel carb rated at 410 hp, and this one, the top-dog 8V motor with twin Holleys under the oval air cleaner.

As part of its diet to reach Lightweight status, the Galaxie saw its front bench seat replaced with two Bostrom buckets. Note, too, that the armrests were removed, as were the carpet, heater, and radio. Every ounce counts on the dragstrip.

A spare tire and jack weren’t needed on the strip, so they were deleted to save weight, as was the counterbalance spring for the trunklid. (John had to hold the lid up so we could get this shot.) Note that the sheetmetal decklid was replaced by a fiberglass version.

The factory installed the battery underhood, but most racers moved it to the trunk to improve weight transfer.

The Lightweight Galaxies were made with fiberglass front fenders and hood, and fitted with aluminum bumpers and bumper brackets. The car had been repainted nearly 30 years ago but needed just color sanding and buffing to return to its original luster.

The redline on the big Sun tach is no joke. The 427 was designed to spin at high rpm, and the 425hp peak came in at six grand.

The post Birth of a Total Performance Icon: 427-Powered 1963 1/2 Ford Galaxie Lightweight appeared first on Hot Rod Network.

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Wow I can't believe the Julius Round-up fell on the same day as Make a Terrible Comic Day 2024! And it's pride month? Incredible!!!

I don't think this is what she was anticipating when my college roommate got me this book of comic book templates

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What is she doing down there

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It's August which means it's time for just June

Idk why I went with an orange and green color scheme with these two (I did them back to back, I did not have to do the exact same color scheme)

Really wanted to play with empty space on the last one

Might add a caption in the background and post it again next week