Randy Cassingham's Blog

Posted by Margaret, Portland, OR on February 1, 2008:

Wow, flowing lava is now on my list of things to see before I die. BTW, if you haven't seen the Northern lights, add those to your list -- you won't be sorry!

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Heh! I've already said that the aurora is on my list right here in this blog! We're going to Alaska this fall, which is an iffy time to see the aurora, but I'll have my fingers crossed. -rc

Posted by Yadira, Valladolid, Spain on February 2, 2008:

I'm sorry, but in my opinion Lindbergh was more that just an isolationist. Maybe he wasn't completely pro-Hitler, but he thought that whites were a superior race. I admire his bravery and the work he did to promote flying, but can't say I admire him as a person.

For the wikipedia article you recommend.:
"Much of his position was because he considered Russia to be a "semi-Asiatic" rather than European country compared to Germany, and because he found Communism to be an ideology that would destroy the West's "racial strength" and eventually replace everyone of European descent with "a pressing sea of Yellow, Black, and Brown". The latter belief was more important and consistent than the former, since he saw Russia as a natural barrier to the rising East Asian powers.[25][21] He believed that race was directly correlated to national success and non-whites were generally mentally inferior."

Posted by Karin, SW Florida on February 2, 2008:

You don't have to go all the way to Alaska to see the northern lights. I went on a 10 day canoe trip in the International Boundary Waters. We left out of Ely, MN. If I remember correctly, it was in August that we went on this trip. We were able to see the Aurora Borealis on several of the nights. I had never heard of the Aurora Borealis before the trip but it was so cool to see. You didn't want to stop staring at the sky. It was so calm and eerie at the same time. A must see.

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Yep: that's why so many of us have it on our "bucket list" -- things we must do before kicking the bucket. -rc

Posted by Jonathan, NYC on February 2, 2008:

For a recent book on Lindbergh that bends over backwards to be fair to him, yet makes it clear how much he (and his wife) admired the Nazis and disliked Jews (Charles alone), read Friedman's The Immortalists. It is an interesting story, and it ends right where you were, at his grave in Hana.

Posted by Linda Finkral-Lambertville NJ on February 2, 2008:

Have any of you been to see the reproduction of the Trial in the same court house where the original trial took place about his son's kidnapping? The trial and court house are in Flemington, NJ. The house he lived in when it happened is in Hopewell Township, NJ. Fascinating.

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The trial Linda refers to is of Bruno Hauptmann, the man accused of kidnaping and killing Lindbergh's son. He was found guilty and executed. -rc

Posted by Dave, Salem NH on February 2, 2008:

Growing up in southern New Hampshire, I often observed the Aurora Borealis. However, today there is so much light pollution that it is hard to make out any but the brightest stars from my home in Salem. I still can observe the phenomenon from my place in Maine, that will become my retirement home in a few years. I hope that the light pollution will not overtake that area and block it from my vision before I die.

Posted by Andrew, Sabattus Maine on February 2, 2008:

Of course as any real Lindburg afficianado would know, any tour of important Lindburg sites would be incomplete without a visit to the museum based around the wooden CRATE used to transport The Spirit of St/ Louis back from England, because Coleridge would not let him fly home. It has spent time as a hunting camp, and is now a museum dedicated to The Spirit of St. Louis, including a small flying replica of the plane (not quite) and is located in Cannan Maine, you can go to; http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/MECANcrate.html
I take it we can expect a visit from Randy here in Maine sometime soon?

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I've seen the plane, so I think I'll pass on the crate.... -rc

Posted by Jay Charlotte,NC on February 2, 2008:

Growing up outside Buffalo, NY in the fifties, I can remember seeing the Northern lights on some winter nights. I don't imagine that's possible anymore with all the light pollution. I can also remember seeing either Sputnik or Telstar (or both, it's been a while) in orbit.

Posted by Rick, Arnolds Park, Iowa on February 2, 2008:

Referring to the fornigate part of this blog, I live in Iowa (you know, the first state that the presidential wannabees attack). In the weeks preceeding our vote, I averaged about 8 calls a day from different campaigns. When one poll taker asked me if there was anything they could do to convince me to vote for Hilary I said yes, let me be her intern. Click the phone went dead. That was my last call from the Clinton campaign.

Posted by Steve, Santa Monica, CA on February 2, 2008:

The next time you visit the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, look around for a smallish Plexiglas-enclosed exhibit containing a spare engine nose-cone from the Spirit of St. Louis. Walk behind it to see the good luck wishes from Lindbergh's support team of mechanics, etc., inscribed on the inside, including a relatively large and prominent hand-drawn swastika.