I Fly Like Paper

I've talked about wanting to learn how to fly an airplane, but there's actually one type of plane I can already glide across the sky-- the kind with wings made of paper. While folding a paper plane takes some skill, sending a well-made one soaring across a room requires little or no training. The flights may not always be long nor the landings always pretty, but watching the thin paper momentarily suspended in air always seems just a bit magical.

cr photography

Mad Cat Press

diffractionFIBER

bespoke uprising

theMix

"Fly Over" Oil on Canvas by Joe Concra- Donzella Ltd via 1stdibs

Taking Flight

A number of years ago, E spotted a chrome model airplane he liked and wanted for our home, but we didn't leave the store with it that day. The next time we returned, I saw the disappointment on E's face as he realized the airplane was gone. He searched for one online to no avail and before long the plane went unmentioned.

Nate Berkus

Months later and a few weeks before Christmas, in a moment of good fortune, I happened upon the silver airplane E had desired; that time, I made sure it left the store in my hands.

Nate Berkus

I am terrible with surprises, and although I desperately wanted to give it to E the moment I got home, I did manage to hold off until Christmas; E's excitement and disbelief when he realized what he was holding made it worth keeping the secret those few weeks.

Castleberry Antiques

While one airplane in a home may be enough, I can't help but covet some of these representations, models, and items made from parts of airplanes.

Installations Antiques

voila! via 1st Dibs

The airplane windows above have been converted into lights, as has the nose of an airplane, as seen in the pendant below left.

L: Ma(i)sonry via 1st Dibs. R: Nicholas Brawer via 1st Dibs.

Now Boarding

I am completely taken with these vintage airplane boarding passes and luggage tags found at Great Scott Vintage. I love the colors, the fonts, and that they appear to be interesting and unique reminders of the companies they represented, indications of a different era in passenger flight and a stark contrast to the often bland bar-coded or print-at-home boarding passes of today.

Here, here, and here.

'For those interested in bombs'

I couldn't embed this BBC video but here's a link to the Newsnight clip. Reporter Mark Urban visits the The IEDD Felix Centre at DM Kineton, Warwickshire. The clip is called 'Learning to be a bomb disposal operator'.

Fly Me to the Moon

My blogging break has been longer than I intended, although it's gone so quickly! I can't say that things have slowed down for me, nor does it feel like I actually did much "catching up," but I've missed being here and am excited to be back.

I've mentioned before my desire to learn how to fly, so it might not be too surprising that I am excited to see the movie Amelia once it hits theaters this weekend. With flight on my mind, I will be taking a look at planes over the coming days, and because it's Wednesday, I'm starting with these gorgeous wedding-related airfield photos.

Jen & Brett- Hazelnut Photography

Jessica Johnston Photography

Christie- Hazelnut Photography

Christie- Hazelnut Photography

Christie- Hazelnut Photography

Novelty

So I finally got officially and formally promoted yesterday. Finally.

And it took about 24 hours to get over the novelty of getting saluted. Although some *coughmanycough* people at RMC seem to have forgotten that you have to salute all commissionned officers, and not just Captains/Lt(N) (Squadron Commanders), I still have to work in an environment where I outrank about 95% of people I run into, which means I still get saluted a lot. Now I know why Squadron Commanders disappear for about half an hour after parades: too hard to get around without having to constantly keep your arm raised to return salutes.

Now if they could only fix my pay...

Queen is our head of state, Prime Minister reminds G-G

From the National Post.

Stephen Harper has sent a clear message to Michaelle Jean, the Governor-General, that she should not call herself head of state.

"Queen Elizabeth II is Queen of Canada and Head of State," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement issued to Canwest News Service yesterday. "The Governor-General represents the Crown in Canada."

The extraordinary reminder from the country's head of government to its top viceregal representative follows an uproar over Ms. Jean's use of the phrase "head of state" when referring to herself during a speech in Paris on Monday.

Twice during the Governor-General's address at an executive meeting of UNESCO she called herself Canada's head of state. Her speech focused on promoting cultural diversity to help achieve international harmony:

"I, a francophone from the Americas, born in Haiti, who carries in her the history of the slave trade and the emancipation of blacks, at once Quebecoise and Canadian, and today before you, Canada's head of state, proudly represents the promises and possibilities of that ideal of society."

Later in the speech, discussing the importance of education, Ms. Jean described meeting "remarkable young people" in the many places "that I have travelled as head of state."

But the "head of state" position -- as surprised constitutional experts and perturbed officials with the Monarchist League of Canada quickly Pointed Out To Canwest News Service --is held exclusively by the Queen.

The PMO statement struck one expert -- constitutional expert and University of Saskatchewan emeritus professor David Smith -- as history-making.

"I can't recall that ever happening before," said Prof. Smith, now at the University of Regina and co-editor of the forthcoming Oxford Handbook of Canadian Politics.

He said it was a welcome move by the PMO because "there seems to be a misunderstanding on the part of Rideau Hall as to the constitutional position of the Governor-General under our system."

Monarchist League chairman Robert Finch also applauded Mr. Harper for promptly and directly addressing the issue. " It is refreshing to see the Prime Minister of Canada, the Governor-General's principal advisor, make such a clear statement," Mr. Finch said.

Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize

...wait, what? Seriously?

I guess they're now giving the Nobel for attempted chemistry, too.

Not saying Obama's not a good guy; he just has done absolutely nothing worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize so far.

Would he have gotten there at some point? Maybe. Probably.

Is he there now? No way.

As if he needed a bigger ego...

Pirates hit Navy ship 'in error'

From the BBC

A group of Somali pirates has been captured after attacking a French navy ship by mistake, apparently thinking it was a harmless cargo vessel.

French military spokesman Admiral Christophe Prazuck said the pirates attacked in skiffs late at night some 500km (310 miles) off the Somali coast.

But the command and supply ship, the Somme, repelled the attack and chased the pirates, capturing five of them.

Dozens of international warships fight piracy in Somalia's lawless waters.

Admiral Prazuck told French TV station La Chaine Info the pirates seemed to be surprised that the navy ship fought back.The country has had no effective central government since 1991, leading to a complete breakdown of law and order, and pirates operate off the coast almost with impunity.

"Once they realised they were facing a ship that was responding and was heading towards them, they stopped shooting and attempted to flee," he said.

About two dozen ships from European Union nations, including Britain, France, Germany and Italy, patrol the waters off Somalia - an area of about two million square miles."The Somme gave chase and intercepted one of the pirates' boats. All the weapons had apparently been tossed into the sea and the suspected pirates are now being held on board the Somme."

Although the international naval forces have stepped up patrols in the Gulf of Aden this year, relatively few of the pirates detained have faced trial because of the legal complexities involved.

Sounds like it should be on Mr. Kennedy's blog, The Stupid Shall Be Punished...

Also makes me wish I was on patrol out there. It sure sounds like fun!

The real importance of Junior Officers

True story.

"Do you have a pen?
-Uh, let me check... no.
-An officer without a pen?!
-Well, uh... you don't have one, either.
-That's why we have junior officers as staff!"