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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What CAN be done.

Lately, there has been so much talk about economic doom that people have whipped themselves into a frenzy of negativity. Politics aside, instead of so much chatter about what can not be done, may I humbly suggest we start talking about what CAN be done. Of course, let’s start with ourselves. (This is because I’m a firm believer that when you point your finger, three more are pointing back. If you don’t believe me, point your finger at something and then take a look at your hand. Get it?) I think we have forgotten how far and how quickly we have traveled along the economic timeline. For instance, I was doing some research in the United States National Archives, and came across this photo:

womenrailwkAccording to the National Archives, these women are working on this steam locomotive somewhere in Montana, circa 1919. Now, certainly Montana and the year 1919 were not the easiest of places and times. Forget socio-economic conditions, just imagine working against the natural environment and those beasts affectionately known as steam locomotives. Some of the tools used to repair and maintain this equipment were larger than the arms and legs on these women and they were made of steel. Thus, it must have taken two or three women to perform these jobs. And yet, they got the job done, and made the Nation a better place for their children in doing so. Today’s locomotive shops sport hydraulic lifts, computer diagnostic tools, and climate control, not to mention an array of safety measures designed specifically to protect life and limb. The women above had to persevere without such niceties.

Therefore, before we all start bellyaching about how bad we have it, we might better take a look at the people who did jobs exponentially more difficult physically (and perhaps mentally) then we do today. Perhaps CAN and NOT were never placed close together in their sentences the way they are in today’s vernacular. Perhaps these people had the strength and determination to do better for themselves rather than the weakness to cry for government help. Perhaps they preferred the honor and satisfaction of being self-sufficient over the pathetic dependency of being a ward of the state.

So, if all day we speak of nothing but what can NOT be done, well, NOTHING will be done. But if we pause, take a deep breath, and THINK about what CAN be done, well, we might discover just how vast the possibilities are. Initially the future may be uncomfortable, which is simply an expression of the details to which we forgot to attend. Then, as progress is achieved, this minor annoyances will fall away as the pride of achievement rewards those who are willing to do what it takes.

Published in: on March 29, 2009 at 12:58 pm  Comments (1)  
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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.

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.