Ralph's YouTube Surpasses Half a Million Views!

Seven years ago I created a YouTube site in which I intended to post videos of interest to me.  Many of them reflect my military service and devotion to my country.  I expected it to be a small, humble site that would occasionally be viewed by friends and family.  I posted 42 videos during this time, from personal interest and humor to politics and more.  To my great surprise my videos spread far beyond my initial intended audience, with VIEWINGS IN 132 COUNTRIES SPANNING THE ENTIRE GLOBE.  Recently my site reached HALF A MILLION VIEWS, surpassing my wildest expectations!

I would like to extend my thanks to all who viewed and supported my YouTube site and invite my readers to check it out.  I believe you will find my videos both entertaining and stimulating.

I have included, below, for your entertainment, my three top viewed videos.  In addition, you can click on the following link to view the entire site:  Ralph's YouTube

Holiday Wishes for My Readers

As we approach the end of 2013, I want to take a moment to wish my readers a Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and a Healthy and Prosperous New Year.  May you be surrounded by loved ones, family and friends to share the joy of the season.

Again this year I have included, for your entertainment, one of my favorite holiday videos, Beware of the Doghouse.  Take a few moments to enjoy it, and have a great holiday season!

Words of Wisdom for Your Children

Although Bill Gates really didn't say this (It was really the work of Charles J. Sykes, author of the 1996 book, Dumbing Down Our Kids: Why American Children Feel Good About Themselves But Can't Read, Write or Add), it is right on the mark! Check it out and forward it to your children and grandchildren.  If they follow this advice they will be head and shoulders above their peers as they start out in life.

[My thanks to Art Storey for forwarding this]

30 Second Brain Test: Right or Left Brained?

Psychologists say that the side of your brain that is dominant determines many of your personality traits.  Simply put, left brain dominant people are rational, logical and detail oriented, while right brain dominant people are creative, intuitive and chaotic.

Check out this short, entertaining test and see which side of your brain dominates you.  Click on the brain or the link below to start.

The 30 Second Brain Test

My First Wedding Anniversary

Today is the first anniversary of my wedding to the girl of my dreams.  It took me 60 years to do it, and it was the first (and only) wedding for both of us.  But Loretta was worth the wait!

I included two videos below.  The first contains a slide and music show of the wedding and reception.  The second shows Loretta and me singing "All I Ask of You" from Phantom of the Opera to each other as a second set of vows.  Check them out and relive our special day with us!

College Students Create Incredible Coke Machine

Recently, Coca-Cola asked engineering students at Purdue University to come up with the most outrageous way to share a coke.  The enthusiasm and initiative of these self-proclaimed "nerds" will lift your spirits.  Our college kids are still the best and brightest!  Check out this short, fun video.

[My thanks to Don Klein for forwarding this video]

Holiday Thoughts Worth Pondering

Some time ago, actor, writer, lawyer and commentator Ben Stein published some thoughts about the holiday season. I submit them for your consideration.*

Herewith at this happy time of year, a few confessions from my beating heart:

I have no freaking clue who Nick and Jessica are. I see them on the cover of People and Us constantly when I am buying my dog biscuits and kitty litter. I often ask the checkers at the grocery stores. They never know who Nick and Jessica are either. Who are they? Will it change my life if I know who they are and why they have broken up? Why are they so important? I don't know who Lindsay Lohan is, either, and I do not care at all about Tom Cruise's wife.

Am I going to be called before a Senate committee and asked if I am a subversive? Maybe, but I just have no clue who Nick and Jessica are. Is this what it means to be no longer young. It's not so bad.

Next confession: I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees. It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him?

I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to.

Wishing you a joyous holiday season and a healthy and prosperous New Year!

*Note:  I was informed by some of my readers that the version of Ben Stein's article that I originally posted had been modified and added to.  As my readers were correct, I replaced the original article with the actual article from Ben Stein's website.  I believe his thoughts are still worth pondering this holiday season.
--Ralph

[My thanks to Jennie Montoya for forwarding this]

Gas Station Fire Dangers

Every year gas station fires occur when drivers refuel their cars.  These dangerous fires result in property damage, injury and death.

The video, below, has been out for some time, now, but is very important.  STATIC ELECTRICITY IS A SERIOUS FIRE DANGER for drivers fueling their cars at self service gas pumps and is the cause of most gas station refueling fires.  ALWAYS touch something metal before refueling to ground yourself (setting up the gas pump will do this).  NEVER get back in your car until you have completed fueling, have replaced the fuel nozzle and closed up your gas tank cover.

Watch carefully as the young lady in this video returns to her car after initiating fueling and takes her feet off the ground.  By doing so, her body built up static electricity that was present inside her car.  Because she, then, did not touch any metal object prior to putting her hand on the fuel nozzle, the static electricity in her body discharged on the nozzle, igniting the volatile gas fumes that are always present during refueling.

Cell phone use during refueling is also a fire risk, as radio waves emitted from your phone can also ignite the dangerous gas fumes.  Although some states do not require warnings about cell phone usage during fueling, you should NEVER use your cell phone while fueling.

Gasoline is a very volatile liquid.  Because we all grow up around it and see it every day, we often don't realize how very dangerous it is.  Always handle gasoline with great care and respect!

 [My thanks to Jennie Montoya whose e-mail inspired this article]

Our Alaska Cruise Honeymoon

On July 13th, Loretta and I departed Denver for our 11 day honeymoon. We spent a day and a half in Seattle where Loretta lived for several years. We toured the area during the day, then had dinner with some of her old friends. The next morning, we took a bus to Vancouver, where we boarded our Holland-America cruise ship, the Statendam. We departed that evening for a 7 day cruise along the coastline of British Columbia and Alaska with stops at Ketchican, Juneau and Skagway. We, then, sailed through Glacier Bay where we were treated to up close and personal views of two giant glaciers. We disembarked on Saturday, July 21st, in Seward, Alaska, where we boarded a train on the Alaska Railroad for a scenic 4 1/2 hour ride to Anchorage. We spent a day and a half in Anchorage. On the second day we drove to Wasilla, Alaska, where we toured the Iditarod headquarters. We returned to Denver on Monday morning, July 23rd, with unforgettable memories of our great honeymoon.

We took some great pictures and videos that I posted on my Picasa website.  Check them out.  I suggest selecting "Slide Show" and "Full Screen" for best viewing of the fantastic scenery.

Our Alaska Cruise Honeymoon

My Wedding

On May 25th I married the girl of my dreams. We were married at beautiful Three Trees Chapel overlooking the foothills by both a rabbi and a minister in a combined ceremony Loretta and I created for our special day. Loretta and I hand picked all the music, the bridesmaids' and bride's processionals, unity candle lighting and recessional. After we exchanged rings, we sang "All I Ask of You" from Phantom of the Opera to each other as an additional set of vows. I think it's safe to say there wasn't a dry eye in the house.  We exited the chapel to "This Will Be" by Natalie Cole.

The reception was also unique to us, as we had it at Q's Pub & Grille, a special place to both Loretta and me.

We were blessed to have so many of our family and friends from all around the world attend our special day. And we couldn't have asked for better weather. The sun was shining, the sky was a beautiful Colorado deep blue and temperatures were in the 70's.

Check out the video.

A Tribute to Mom

This month has triple meaning for me this year.  As we all know, next Sunday is Mother's Day; the day we all celebrate the miracle of mothers.  In addition, May 25th is my mother's birthday.  She has been gone for some years, now, and I still miss her love, caring, devotion and friendship.  Lastly, as my mother cannot be here for our special day, to honor her, Loretta and I chose Friday, May 25th to have our wedding.

This year, my tribute to all mothers for Mother's Day is a video I created to honor the life of my wonderful mother.  I hope you enjoy it.

Snowmobile Adventure

Do you think you'd get a kick out of riding a snowmobile?  Check out the wild ride these two guys experienced.



[My thanks to Rick Douglas for forwarding this video]

The Making of an Airliner

Did you ever wonder how a big airliner is manufactured?  Check out this entertaining video of the manufacture of FLORIDA ONE, a new Boeing 737 for Southwest Airlines.

[My thanks to "Jersey" John Jezsik for forwarding this video]

Hangfire Mishap

Whether for hunting, sport or self defense, thousands of Americans own and operate firearms.  It is a right guaranteed to us by the Second Amendment of the Constitution.  But every year people are injured and killed as a result of firearms mishaps.

Ammunition malfunctions (misfires and hangfires) are rare these days. But they do happen.  Check out the video, below.  This guy is very lucky. Always count to ten with your weapon pointed downrange if it doesn't fire.

[My thanks to Tom Nick for forwarding this video]

Anti-Obama Song Gets Coach Fired

A middle school football coach and the parent of one of his students wrote a lively country western song satirizing the President and posted it on YouTube.  Afterward he was fired.  I have included, below, the story which appeared in the Fox New Radio Blog and the YouTube video of the song.  Check them out.

COACH FIRED OVER ANTI-OBAMA SONG?

by Todd Starns

A Tennessee middle school football coach said he got fired after he wrote a song that criticized President Obama.

Bryan Glover, an assistant coach at Grassland Middle School near Nashville, co-wrote the country music song, “When You’re Holding a Hammer, Everything Looks Like a Nail.”

It was co-written by a parent who has a child on the team. Glover, 26, said he emailed a copy of the song to friends, family members and player’s parents through his personal email account.

And that’s when all the trouble started for the self-described independent conservative.

“The coach called me and said parents were upset – that I was being politically incorrect and the song had racial overtones,” Glover told FOX News Radio. “An hour and a half later I was told I was being terminated.”

“I was informed that I was being let go because of the song,” he said, denying claims there were any racial overtones in the song.

Williamson County School Superintendent Mike Looney disputed Glover’s account and said his dismissal had nothing to do with the song.

“Absolutely not,” he told FOX News Radio. “That’s a false claim.”

Looney said he was not allowed to go into specifics but acknowledged he spoke with the school’s principal and was satisfied with their handling of the matter.

“They presented me with logical, legally defensible reasons for doing so,” Looney said. “As far as I’m concerned they’ve handled the matter appropriately.”

Glover said he’s angry over what happened and believes he lost his job because his song was critical of President Obama. And he’s not the only one.

“It was a disgrace and we have to stand up for the guy,” said Michael Katsaitis, who has a son on the football team. He said he met with the principal of the school after Glover’s firing and is convinced his dismissal was a result of the song.”

“The first thing she told me was that Bryan’s song was derogatory to our president,” he said. “He shouldn’t have fired over that song.”

Glover said he is seeking legal counsel and may consider a lawsuit against the school.

“First and foremost I’m a conservative,” he said. “I do support what the tea party movement is all about but I’m more Republican than Democrat. I’m an independent conservative who thinks the government tries to have their hand in way too many things.”

“I’m pretty heated,” he said. “I’m just a blue-collar guy, trying to make a living, trying to chase a dream.”

Check out this clever country western song below.

[My thanks to Jennie Montoya for forwarding this]

Moose In a Sprinkler

I don't know where this took place.  In it, a baby moose wanders into a lawn sprinkler. Shortly, its sibling and mother join in the fun.  Do you remember running through a sprinkler when you were a child?

[My thanks to Jennie Montoya for forwarding this video]

USAFA Class of 2015 Acceptance Parade

On Wednesday, August 3rd, after completing the demanding rigors of basic training, a proud Class of 2015 at the United States Air Force Academy was accepted into the Cadet Wing. To commemorate this occasion all 4,000 cadets participated in a parade at Stillman Field in which the new cadets marched to and joined their new squadrons. I was privileged to be one of 10 members of the class of '75 to present the top 10 basic training graduates with an award. Then, the entire class of 2015 took their "Honor Oath of Allegiance", marched to and joined their new squadrons as full-fledged Air Force Cadets!

I have included, below, some pictures of this event, followed by a video of Larry Fariss delivering the Acceptance speech to the basics on behalf of their "Legacy Class", the class of '75.

The Basics March On for Their Acceptance Parade

Basics March By as Members of their "Legacy Class" of '75 Look On

View of the Assembled Cadet Wing with Color Guard in the Center

Class of '75 Presents Awards to the Top 10 Basic Training Graduates

Basics Take Their "Honor Oath of Allegiance"

New Cadets March in "V" Formation to Join the Cadet Wing

The New Cadet Wing Passes in Review

Larry Farris, '75, Delivers Acceptance Speech to the Class of 2015

[My thanks to Loretta Montoya for the photos and "The Webguy" for the video]

USAFA Class of 2015 Swearing In Ceremony

On June 23rd, the Class of 2015 entered the Air Force Academy for basic training.  One of the first items on the agenda was a parade during which the new cadets were administered the Oath of Allegiance.  Although the video, below, omitted the actual administering of the oath, it shows most of rest the event.

[My thanks to Maverick3825 of YouTube for posting this video]

Return to Jack's Valley

Several weeks ago I was invited to participate in Honor lessons with the basics of the Class of 2015 at the Air Force Academy. The intent was to show these future cadets and officers that Academy grads feel the Cadet Honor Code is important enough for us to take the time to discuss it with them.

Yesterday, I taught my first lesson. Twenty of us (Air Force Academy grads of many different graduating classes) met at the B-52 static display and were bussed to Jack's Valley, the cadet field encampment area. This is where the basics spend the second half of their basic training, and it was the first time I'd been back to Jack's Valley since I was a basic in 1969. It was unbelievably nostalgic. Jack’s Valley, for me, was a good experience. I lived in a tent with my element of 10 fellow basics, qualified expert in the M-16 and the Air Force sidearm of the time (Smith & Wesson .38 cal Combat Masterpiece), learned survival techniques and land navigation, conquered the Bayonet Assault Course, the Group Reactions Course and more.

The lesson was very simple. I met with six basics in a relaxed, informal setting, sat down and discussed honor and integrity with them for an hour. I stressed the importance of honor and integrity at the Academy, in the Air Force and in their personal lives, and answered many questions. The last 20 minutes I answered questions on any subjects and told stories of my experiences in the Air Force and life. I believe it was a good lesson for the basics, and it was very rewarding for me. I’m looking forward to doing it again next Tuesday and Thursday.

I have included, below, some pics I took in Jack's Valley yesterday. (Click to view full size)

The Basics' Tents

Basics Marching to Training

More Marching

Inside the Compound

An Element of Basics Marching

Another Look at the Compound

I'm Alive Airshow

This exhilarating video is a repost from my blog in 2009 and is most definitely worth another look. It not only has great flying scenes, but is synchronized to Celine Dion singing "I'm Alive". You will be treated to a breath taking experience definitely worth a few minutes of your time.

Take a break, turn up your speaker volume and enjoy it!



[Once again, my thanks to Phil Upman for forwarding this video]