White Peacock, Aruba

In fifteen years rambling about Aruba, I thought I saw most everything there was to see. However, yesterday I happened upon a white peacock. Here’s a photo to prove it:

whitepeafowlMaybe they are more common than I know. Nonetheless, this is the first one I’ve ever seen in my life. I saw the colored ones many times in the same area as this one but never a white one. I was driving up through Jamanota on my way to San Fuego, which is just about the center of the island. There is a small farm-like area there, where all sorts of animals can be found. Sure enough, by the side of the road was the creature pictured above. Amazing.

You just have to take the fork in the road when you come to it. You might happen upon something fascinating.

Bon dia from Aruba.

Published in: on April 3, 2009 at 11:01 am  Comments (1)  
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Rising to the Challenge

In keeping with the theme of WHAT CAN BE DONE, take a look at this photo:

elecboatwrkThe man in the foreground is working on a submarine at the Electric Boat Works in Connecticut during World War II. Here are some statistics that should perk you up: During the Second World War, American workers built 5,777 merchant ships, 1,556 naval vessels, and 299,293 aircraft. This was accomplished without computers, without cellphones, and by people who for the most part had not finished high school.

Thus, it’s time to rise to the challenge, get to work, and quit complaining if we’re ever to live up to the accomplishments of previous generations.

Published in: on March 30, 2009 at 10:48 am  Leave a Comment  
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America’s Oldest Brewery

America’s Oldest Brewery is that of D.G. Yuengling and Sons of Pottsville, Pennsylvania. So what does this have to do with The Bent Page? Well, as readers know, I’m more of a whiskey drinker. However, in the course of story research for Bonk’s Bar, I spoke with dozens of people about their preferences among the multitude of beer brands available. Many of them commented that they liked Yuengling. Furthermore, Yuengling reaches out to its local community with a number of programs that keep a civil society together. They deserve a lot of credit for that.

I grew up one county away from Yuengling’s brewery and remember Yuengling Beer as a “local” brand. Over the years, Yuengling has expanded their reach to much of the Eastern Seaboard and continues to grow throughout the near south and so on. They’ve purchased a brewery in Florida, built another one in Pennsylvania and seemed poised to continue their expansion with quality products the beer-drinking community enjoys.

yuenglinglogoeagle

Furthermore, I have another book that I toy with from time to time, called Big Iron. It’s based on a short story I wrote called Big Iron Holiday. I mentioned it before, but here’s a recap: two friends reunite after the First World War. One is a wreck forman on the Pennsylvania Railroad, the other a car salesman turned pilot. The story follows their lives up to D-Day in World War II. Anyway, during the first half of the Twentieth Century there were many more “local” brands of everything from beer to potato chips to bread. This was before the biggest conglomerates took hold. So, Yuengling Beer would naturally be among the beverages consumed by these characters as much of the story happens in Schuylkill and Carbon Counties as well as in Philadelphia. Thus, that’s why Yuengling shows up here on The Bent Page. (Not to mention that American Eagle with his talons on the beer keg is flat out “cool.”)

My hat is off to any business than can not only survive but prosper for nearly 200 years. There aren’t many that can claim that title. Do you know of any? Post a comment if you do.

Published in: on March 27, 2009 at 12:23 pm  Comments (1)  
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Venerable Airplanes

In this day of the jet liner, we’ve all but forgotten the airplanes that paved the way for modern travel. Among them, perhaps none is more venerated that the Douglas DC-3. Here in Aruba, there is one parked across the highway from the Queen Beatrix airport. It’s slowly falling to pieces under the Caribbean sun, which is a sad ending of such a proud machine. Here’s a current photo:

auadcaToo bad this one will never take to the air again. I checked on some facts about the DC-3 and discovered that it was the first airplane to enable the airlines to make a profit on passenger service only. American Airlines used it on the New York to Chicago route in 1936, and the air travel business was off to the races. More than 10,500 DC-3’s were built, and according to my research, about 1000 of them are still flying. Not bad when you consider they were built between 1935 and 1947. Here are a few other tidbits: It had a cruising speed of just over 200mph, carried up to 28 passengers, had two engines developing 1,200hp each, could travel about 2,000 miles with maximum fuel, and way back when you could buy one for about $138,000.

Flying must have been a great adventure back in the days of the DC-3. You couldn’t fly above the weather. There wasn’t much in the way of electronic navigation. You had to climb up and down the stairs just to board the plane. Still, it sounds like fun. Just a few things to think about when you’re sitting aboard a modern airliner, cruising along in pressurized, air conditioned comfort at about 500mph, high above the clouds, guided by satellite navigation.

Bon dia from Aruba.

Published in: on March 18, 2009 at 1:05 pm  Leave a Comment  
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