Plane Crashes, Intelligence, Dad, and Jack Williamson - Comments
Posted by
Frank, Arizona on December 22, 2008:
My condolences on the loss of your dad, a year ago. I can tell you miss him. What a great seque from the plane crash in Denver to the book to your dad. I was in awe how you tied them all together. I reread it several times just to marvel at how it flowed. Probably the best I've read on This is True.
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Thanks for your kind comments, Frank. -rc
Posted by
Bill, Potomac, MD on December 23, 2008:
I don't know if I missed the date of your father's birth last year in the HU - or if you didn't mention it (unlikely) - or if I commented on it at the time.
My father, who died in 1979, was also born on December 22nd. Yesterday would have been his 97th birthday. I know you miss your dad - I still miss mine even after more than 29 years, and my mom after more than 14.
Posted by
John in Lexington, SC on December 27, 2008:
I still mark the birthdays of my family members who have gone on before. I can understand all too well how you feel.
Posted by
Don in Nawlins on December 27, 2008:
I was greatly amused by your dad's serendipitous Air Force testing. As a "quiz kid" myself, I can tell you that the key to success is FOCUS on your ambitions (which I never had and likely never will). I was about to be "drafted" in 1972 (had the physical and all) after thoroughly shirking my college studies (this after an ACT of 99.9?). After taking the Naval Air Reserve enlistment test, I was asked "What do you want to do? You're qualified for anything we have..." - I passed up the Navy OCS offers after becoming an Air Traffic Controller. I never applied any of this, but did get another Federal job from which I retire in February. I will always wonder : if I could have focused a bit more on just ONE thing, any ONE thing, could I have gone to the top??? There might still be time now, but one can't get "wasted" time back.
Plane Crashes, Intelligence, Dad, and Jack Williamson - Comments
Posted by Frank, Arizona on December 22, 2008:
My condolences on the loss of your dad, a year ago. I can tell you miss him. What a great seque from the plane crash in Denver to the book to your dad. I was in awe how you tied them all together. I reread it several times just to marvel at how it flowed. Probably the best I've read on This is True.
---
Thanks for your kind comments, Frank. -rc
Posted by Bill, Potomac, MD on December 23, 2008:
I don't know if I missed the date of your father's birth last year in the HU - or if you didn't mention it (unlikely) - or if I commented on it at the time.
My father, who died in 1979, was also born on December 22nd. Yesterday would have been his 97th birthday. I know you miss your dad - I still miss mine even after more than 29 years, and my mom after more than 14.
Posted by John in Lexington, SC on December 27, 2008:
I still mark the birthdays of my family members who have gone on before. I can understand all too well how you feel.
Posted by Don in Nawlins on December 27, 2008:
I was greatly amused by your dad's serendipitous Air Force testing. As a "quiz kid" myself, I can tell you that the key to success is FOCUS on your ambitions (which I never had and likely never will). I was about to be "drafted" in 1972 (had the physical and all) after thoroughly shirking my college studies (this after an ACT of 99.9?). After taking the Naval Air Reserve enlistment test, I was asked "What do you want to do? You're qualified for anything we have..." - I passed up the Navy OCS offers after becoming an Air Traffic Controller. I never applied any of this, but did get another Federal job from which I retire in February. I will always wonder : if I could have focused a bit more on just ONE thing, any ONE thing, could I have gone to the top??? There might still be time now, but one can't get "wasted" time back.
Posted by Andy in Cambridge on December 29, 2008:
For an airline pilot's critique of Malcom Gladwell's ideas see http://www.salon.com/tech/col/smith/2008/12/05/askthepilot301/
Read the article that everyone's commenting on, or post a comment about it.