Flying for Fun
THE ALTERNATIVE to Aging is Unacceptable! Likely, you've heard this sentiment before; consider the alternative and see if you don't agree. Unfortunately, the aging process is both unstoppable and inevitable. That reality only adds to the importance and urgency of activities such as I am about to relate, and on a broader scale, the Celebration of Eagles that will be held at AMA headquarters July 6-7, 1996. Have you ever considered how untimely eulogies are? Much preferred is an expression of respect and admiration delivered to the person while they are still able to appreciate it! As someone once said: "Honor the living, respect the dead."
Flying for Fun
IMAGE: This column will reach you just before Election Day 1996. Need I mention how disproportionately important the candidates' media images have become? Issues are now almost secondary to how the office-seeker looks and sounds on camera and in the newspapers. I mention this as a lead-in to something that involves the model aircraft sport/hobby and the image we frequently present to the public. All too frequently, our image is that of a bunch of senile older men flying toy airplanes! This image is not going to get us "elected" by the voting public!
Flying for Fun
Editorial Comment: One of the cardinal rules of journalism involves the difference between news and commentary. As an example: "Miss Melanie hosted a sixth birthday party last Sunday," is news; adding "and a good time was had by all" is no longer news but an editorial comment, since it expresses a personal opinion. And a good time really was had by all! AMA hosted Celebration of Eagles at the national flying site in Muncie the first weekend of July 1996, and everyone had a fun-filled weekend. I was there and saw nothing but ear-to-ear smiles, heard nearly continuous laughter, and everyone I talked to raved about the really good time they were having!
Flying for Fun
OXYMORONS: Webster defines an oxymoron as "A combination of contradictory or incongruous words." Some classic examples are: "military intelligence," "sanitary landfill," "new antiques," and my pet, "converted rice." Modeling also seems to have created its share of these contradictory phrases. The amusing aspect of this phenomenon is our tendency to verbalize and write them without much consideration. I often catch myself saying and writing phrases that are rather embarrassing when I stop and think about them. As an example, "glow and ignition engines" doesn't hold up well to analytical process. Don't glow plugs ignite the fuel/air mixture too? In reality we mean "glow and spark," don't we?
Flying for Fun
My wife subscribes to her weekly hometown newspaper. As is unfortunately typical of these village papers, the editor is responsible for everything from selling ads to delivering the finished product for mailing. Obviously there are no funds for hiring a photographer, so the harried editor must not only cover the events, then write articles about them, and she must also take the needed pictures, with no time should retakes be required. I recently saw a front page photo taken in a Legion hall of two ladies involved in some sort of award presentation. Unfortunately, one lady was positioned relative to the photographer in such a way that the brass eagle on top of the flag behind her appeared to be jutting out of the top of her head.
