Posts Tagged ‘William’

Our Captain Sullenberger is Getting Dissed from France – Was Sully’s French Plane the Real Hero?

Monday, November 16th, 2009

I don’t know, it seems like writer William Langewiesche, currently residing in France, wants to have it both ways with his new book, Fly by Wire: The Geese, the Glide, the Miracle on the Hudson. He wants to rip on Sully, thusly:

“His performance was a work of extraordinary concentration, which the public misread as coolness under fire. Some soldiers will recognize the distinction.”

“Like it or not, [French pilot Bernard Ziegler] reached out across the years and cradled them all the way to the water.”

But then when Langewiesche gets a little blowback, he folds up like a deck chair, talking about how he’s surprised by Sully’s reaction, and how he’s neither pro- nor anti- fly-by-wire, and how he thinks cockpit automation is merely ”a part of the story,” anyway, of Flight 1549. Well, duh, it’s a part of the story. 

But that’s Langewiesche’s “Truth About the Miracle on the Hudson” – that’s it, that’s all there is?

Haven’t read Fly by Wire myself. Probably would rather read it more than Sully’s less-techy book (mostly about the his Search for What Really Matters), which I haven’t read either. Oh well.

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Obviously, there are pros and cons to Die by Wire. If William Langewiesche is now going around saying that, as he is, then there’s not much of a dispute anymore, we’ll take solace in the certainly that the bruised egos of French Airbus execs (who want Sully to thank Gaia for Airbus every chance he gets) will heal over time.

I don’t know, pretty cheesy (fromagey?) Monsieur William Langewiesche.

Pretty cheesy.

Brandi Chastain Graces de Avila Elementary: National PTA + Jamba Juice = ?

Monday, November 9th, 2009

Well, it was on this morning at William de Avila Elementary School on Haight Street, where the Chinese language immersion students got to drink fruit smoothies from Bananaman and also got to meet soccer heroine Brandi Chastain. It all had to do with the National Parent Teachers Association’s Healthy Lifestyles Month. All the deets below.

The Jamba Juice Bananaman must be channeling the ghost of Jeff Spicoli. Anyway, the kids loved him. Click to expand:

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And here she is, straight out of San Jose, Brandi Chastain herself:

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Parents, including knuckle-knocking DCCC member Tom Hsieh, Jr. (Mayor Gavin Newsom’s friend, camera left), were encouraged by Brandi Chastain to get up and start jumping around, to the delight of the students:

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Well, that was the medium, here’s the message, after the jump.

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Hit and Run Hula from Nā Lei Hulu I Ka Wēkiu a Huge Hit in San Francisco

Sunday, August 16th, 2009

See? The dancers of Nā Lei Hulu I Ka Wēkiu made a big stir in San Francisco yesterday with Hit & Run Hula. Read all about their peregrinations via Leanne’s report at SFist.com.

In front of the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. Click to expand:

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And then poof, they’re gone almost before you know it. But they came back to pose for a group shot:

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All and all, quite a successful execution of Hit and Run Hula.

Hit & Run Hula
Saturday, August 15
Will you be there when dozens of hula dancers ambush a San Francisco hot spot and break into dance?
Visit the Hit & Run Hula Event Page for more information!

This ONSITE performance is generously supported by: Grants for the Arts, Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation, San Francisco Foundation and the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation.

  • 10:00am – Ferry Building (south end)
  • 10:45am – Pier 39
  • 11:30am – Union Square Plaza. Follow us around for more performances in the area.
    Podcast: Download the Hawaiian chant translation and play it while you watch the performance. Get mp3
  • 2:15pm – Dolores Park
  • 2:45pm – Castro (Market & 17th Street)
  • 3:30pm – Academy of Sciences
  • 4:30pm – Ocean Beach. Join us for a picnic!
  • And here are some future performances:

    Saturday, September 19
    Nā Mamo No’eau Presents:
    Wehiwa  – Choice
    Time: 8pm
    Price: $35
    Location: Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center, San Ramon, CA
    Info: San Ramon Performing Arts

    Sunday, September 27
    Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
    (Rescheduled Performance)
    Time: 1-2:30pm
    Price: Free!
    Location: Yerba Buena Gardens,
    San Francisco, CA
    Info: Yerba Buena Gardens Festival

    Saturday, October 17 – 8pm
    Sunday, October 18 – 2pm
    Director/Kumu Hula Patrick Makuakāne & Nā Lei Hulu I Ka Wēkiu present:
    Hawaiian Music Legend – Jerry Santos

    Price: $35/$40 Reserved
    Tickets on sale Wed, 7/22
    Location: Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, San Francisco, CA
    Info: CityBoxOffice.com / Tickets.com

    SFPD to Question Questionable Deborah Perez, Purported “Daughter” of Zodiac Killer

    Wednesday, June 10th, 2009

    Of course it doesn’t matter if not-ready-for-primetime Deborah Perez is “crazy” or not – if she has all this evidence proving the identity of the Zodiac Killer then it will be useful for her to turn it over to the San Francisco Police Department. So here’s the news, the SFPD is amenable to spending a little time hearing her story. Is that surprising? Not really, but read on to see the latest Press Release.

    Artist’s conception of Lil Debby Perez at the scene of the Berryessa slaying:

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    If I may so bold, enjoy my comments as well:

    Daughter of the Zodiac Killer to Be Questioned by the SFPD

    How about “purported daughter”?

    Investigative Reporter/Journalist Larry Garrison Comes Forward to Support the Evidence that Guy Hendrickson is the Zodiac Killer

    “Support the Evidence.” What?

    For the first time in twenty-five years, the San Francisco Police Department will call in a key potential witness for questioning to identify the Zodiac Killer officially.

    All right.

    Deborah Perez has been called in by Lt. Michael Staskos (badge No. 724) of the SFPD Homicide Unit.

    All right.

    Date to appear is June 17, 2009.

    All right.

    She will be questioned about her father, Guy Ward Hendrickson.

    All right.

    The nation’s top forensic experts have endorsed her handwriting, psychological, and DNA evidence showing participation in the Zodiac Killings.

    Oh no they didn’t!

    Her evidence was recently turned over to Lt. Staskos SFPD.

    All right.

    Deborah Perez was seven years old at the time she became his innocent sidekick.

    Oh no she wasn’t!

    Deborah became aware of her father’s involvement in the Zodiac murders years later after viewing a segment of “America’s Most Wanted” composite that resembled her father.

    But what if Guy Ward Hendrickson isn’t the Zodiac?

    On April 29th, she came forward with a press conference at the San Francisco Chronicle.

    Really? At the Chronicle? Ha ha ha ha ha! How about on the sidewalk near the Chronicle?

    The glasses which she handed over to Lt. Michael Staskos on May 5th, currently held in evidence by SFPD, will be part of the DNA proof needed.

    How do you know that?

    Deborah Perez feels she “…owes it to the families of the victims to put this case to rest.”

    All right.

    Though others have come forward, no one has been able to substantiate a claim as Deborah has achieved with eye witness testimony, forensic and DNA evidence.

    DNA evidence? Really? Deborah is so unique and special, a bunch of old white guys should make a movie about her, or something.

    She is also the only witness ever endorsed by members of famed attorney Melvin M. Belli, who the Zodiac contacted.

    “Members of famed attorney Melvin M. Belli” Really? “Endorsed.” What? Wasn’t Melvin Belli kind of a hack? I know an attorney – he used to work for/with Melvin Belli back in the 1990’s, had to sue to get paid the salary he was owed. Does this experience qualify him to divine the Zodiac?

    The Belli group has requested the Zodiac Killer/Melvin Belli Files which SFPD has in possession for 40 years.

    The “Belli Group”? Is that a law firm?

    Larry Garrison, President of SilverCreek Entertainment, and Investigative Reporter/Journalist, has just come on board to support Deborah Perez.

    Well, Katie bar the door! Mr. Garrison? Really?

    After his own investigations, Garrison verified the evidence including handwriting analysis reports of Perez with professionals.

    No he didn’t!

    Garrison has been shown that “Deborah, in fact, wrote those Zodiac letters and her DNA will be on at least one of the envelopes.”

    Nice passive voice there!

    Attorneys from the Belli office have also confirmed that Deborah was in fact the child who accompanied her father, Guy Ward Hendrickson, to Mr. Melvin Belli’s office.

    Attorneys? Former attorneys? Disbarred attorneys? Well, gee, if an attorney believes something, it MUST be true!

    Larry Garrison states, “The proof will be in the forensic evidence and DNA once Deborah has her chance to have it analyzed.”

    Oh, poor Little Debby! Was she too busy signing movie deals to actually turn over her “evidence” in 2007?

    And On it Goes.

    To Be Continued…

    Zodiac Update – Proof that Deborah Perez was at Scene of Berryessa Slaying

    Thursday, April 30th, 2009

    What do you do when somebody comes to you with their version of the Zodiac Killer story. You say, “You’ve got the looks, I’ve got the brains, let’s make lots of money,” or something similar, of course! But isn’t that a little patronizing, though? To say, yes, I believe everything you have to say about your father, yes, I validate your beliefs, and hey, maybe let’s get a movie deal working?    

    In the words of the late Dr. Marvin Monroe, “This is not the way to get healthy!”

    Guy Ward Hendrickson with daughter Deborah Perez (known as “Little Debbie” at the time) at Lake Berryessa. Can you see her having snacks at the picnic table?

    Do you think the above is valid evidence? Is it time to call Hollywood with this key to the puzzle?

    Hey, how about a documentary about the making of the documentary? That would be far more interesting, non?

    Circuslike “Zodiac Killer” News Conference Reveals No Real Evidence

    Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

    [UPDATE: Here's the gritty nitty from Deborah herself. Uh oh, turns out the eyeglasses don't match, see below. Also, did she change her story from last year? Today's presser must rank as the biggest fail whale on the West Coast since 1970. Or was it just some performance art? Hard to say.]

    This afternoon’s “completely unorganized and totally shadynews conference on the Streets of San Francisco turned out to be a bit of a fiasco. “Deborah Perez” claims to have been on the scene when her father, Guy Ward Hendrickson, committed some of the Zodiac killings. And her dad didn’t kill just a handful of people, he killed “at least 37.”

    The problem is that Guy Ward Hendrickson died in 1983, but not before he conveniently passed along a deathbed confession. Oddly, daughter Deborah, a “mother and a professional,” said she didn’t realize her dad was the Zodiac until watching America’s Most Wanted in 2007.  

    Was Guy Ward Hendrickson in the military, maybe based in the East Bay close to the scene of killing? Maybe, but nobody knows for sure. Was Guy Ward Hendrickson a peace officer? Maybe, but nobody knows for sure.

    This was the headline from this morning’s ‘Xam. They’ve come back to Earth this afternoon.

    William Clifton Degarmo is acting as Deborah’s attorney. He says he hasn’t made a cent so far, but he could cash in later on. Interestingly, Mr Degarmo settled a matter with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating something akin to insider trading back in the 1990’s. 

    Interestingly, the San Francisco Chronicle identifies Kevin McLean as one of Deborah’s attorneys, but wasn’t he just disbarred by the State Bar of California earlier this month? (I didn’t read the whole article from SFGate / The Chronicle, but it seemed to do a much better job presenting la théorie du jour than those at the press conference.)

    The crew today continues work on their documentary. They’d like help from the FBI and other police agencies. This news conference was a way to get more attention for the new theory. Apparently, some guy not too far from Sacramento, Denis Kaufman, is alleging things having to do with handwriting analysis and that causes consternation to the people organizing the news conference today. All this adds up to… ?

    Attention Zodiac theorists! Don’t worry about what other people are doing. If you have physical evidence, turn it over to the authoritahs. It’s not really necessary to make a documentary, however therapeutic it may be, right? (Lot’s of luck to anyone from Edward Lozzi & Associates public relations trying to gather a crowd in the 415 anytime soon. You’ll need it.)

    Was Guy Hendrickson the Zodiac? Maybe yes and maybe no. That was true yesterday and that’s still true today.

    Now about those glasses. Here are the ones Deborah claims to be from taxi driver Paul Stine…

    …and here are the ones from poor Paul Stine in 1969, shortly before he was killed. Maybe he had another pair? Maybe Deborah also has the original Killian documents as well? (Wouldn’t Dan Rather be pleased to hear that!)

    All this fuss today to promote a movie?