OutdoorType

Mixing Bowl sunrise, originally uploaded by BWKP.

Sent from, you know, that thing that I use to talk to people with?

Last year I started a bunch of books, but I don’t think I finished a single one. This year I’m up to two so far. Well, one “real” book and a graphic novel (more on that in another post perhaps).

“Skunk Works” was a nice fast read about the legendary Lockheed group that built some of the most advanced airplanes ever including the U-2, SR-71, and the F-177 stealth “fighter.” Sure, it doesn’t go into super, in-depth detail, but it definitely gives you a feel for the time and let’s you know that the Skunk Works accomplishments were pretty damn amazing. I’m a little rusty in writing more than 140 characters at a time so I’ll let Publisher’s Weekly help out some:

From Publishers Weekly

Lockheed’s Advanced Development Project has set standards for the aerospace industry for half a century. Under its presiding genius, Clarence “Kelly” Johnson, the Skunk Works produced America’s first jet fighter, the world’s most successful spy plane (U-2), the first three-times-the-speed-of-sound surveillance aircraft and the F-117A stealth fighter. Rich was Johnson’s right-hand man and succeeded him as director in 1975, retiring in 1990. In an entertaining style, the authors describe Johnson’s tyrannical managerial style, his thorny but productive relationship with the Air Force and the stealth-technology breakthrough that revolutionized military aviation. Writing with freelancer Jonas, Rich also recounts Skunk Works’ failures, including experiments with liquid hydrogen as a propellant and spy-drone flights over China’s remote nuclear test facilities. He has much to say about the Defense Department bureaucracy and warns, “Everyone in the defense industry knows that bureaucratic regulations, controls, and paperwork are at critical mass… and… in danger of destroying the entire system.” This is a significant book for those interested in aerospace research and development.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The surprising part for me came at the end when Rich gives a pretty accurate assessment of what the future might hold in terms of both military airpower (ie. unmanned drones) and threats from “small hostile countries.” About the only thing he missed (and you can’t really blame him), is the rise of the internet and its mass-adoption by the general public, our nation’s military, and our enemies (who turned out to include non-state actors too). If you like airplanes, cold war history, or work in or around the government, I’d definitely recommend picking up a copy of this book.

Breakfast. Coffee., originally uploaded by BWKP.

Smith & Clarkson’s Deli… Where the delicious happens.

Shopping List, originally uploaded by BWKP.

My exciting Saturday night. Other things on my evening to do list
include: buy a 2010 desk calendar, fill the car with gas, and get a
car wash.

Slushy Snow Sleet?, originally uploaded by BWKP.

Um, this was not in the forecast for today.

BWKP, originally uploaded by BWKP.

The "W" is for Waffles.

Thank you Mini Cooper!, originally uploaded by Brian Knight Photography.

The last non-double parking parking spot.

I , originally uploaded by Brian Knight Photography.

Especially from scratch…

There’s an App for that, originally uploaded by Brian Knight Photography.

Party hats, half off at Giant!

Last Commute of the Year, originally uploaded by Brian Knight Photography.

It’s the end of the decade (whatever we’re calling it) and I thought I’d write down a short record of the past ten years (as best I can remember – amazing how easy it is to forget little details, like who exactly it was you were hanging out with on even big holidays like New Year’s Eve).

1999 – 2000
Party time in Ashburn, VA! Woohoo!! Hung out with friends Keith and Stryker. Watched people drink. Learned that fleece is in fact flammable (especially if you’re holding the roman candle the wrong way)

2000 – 2001
Picked up my friend Carie from DCA. She was just back from visiting the USS Truman in Italy. Carie fell asleep on the couch. I surfed on the internet. At midnight I woke her up to watch the ball drop then she went back to sleep on the couch.

2001 – 2002
Spent the weekend at Deep Creek Lake, MD. Got to listen to the girl I had a crush on have (loud, very loud) sex in the next room. Good times.

2002 – 2003
Party time at Crystal City Sports Pub with Jim and Kimberly

2003 – 2004
Party time at Jim & Kimberly’s house in “Woodbridge.” Watched American Pie II and Dick Clark’s last stroke-free Rockin’ New Years Eve show

2004 – 2005
Spent the night home alone in Reston.

2005 – 2006
Sat around on the couch in my living room watching a movie and eating pizza with two friends. About 5 minutes before midnight I got a text message from another friend. That was pretty much been the extent of my revelry, oh and earlier I washed my sheets and cleaned the house.

2006 – 2007
Arden and I flew back from Hilton Head, drove home, changed clothes, and went to a party at American Celebration on Parade with Tamsin and Justin and Kristin (see http://shenandoahcaverns.com/). Partying amongst giant former parade floats was sort of weird.

2007 – 2008
As best I can tell, I spent this one home alone.

2008 – 2009
It was very, very cold. We got bundled up and drove into Fairfax for the Pacer’s NYE run. Christine and friends ran while I photographed. Later we went over to Phi’s Low-Expectations New Year’s Eve Celebration

2009 – 2010
Dinner & a movie w/Christine FTW!