Bidder splashes out $28 million to secure a seat next to Jeff Bezos and his brother on Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket on its first manned flight on the anniversary of the moon la... moreBidder splashes out $28 million to secure a seat next to Jeff Bezos and his brother on Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket on its first manned flight on the anniversary of the moon landing.
“Meh, I’m an important person and very busy! I don’t have the time to sit here twiddling my thumbs for some slow*** little choo-choo train to come puffing along a... more“Meh, I’m an important person and very busy! I don’t have the time to sit here twiddling my thumbs for some slow*** little choo-choo train to come puffing along at 10 miles an hour and hold me up all day long; I’m going through! Oh, wait . . . !”
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I was stationed in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii and getting ready to move out of the barracks into an apartment out in town because I was going to be getting married soon. Pri... more
I was stationed in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii and getting ready to move out of the barracks into an apartment out in town because I was going to be getting married soon. Prior to that, I didn’t really need a car, but being married, I would. As is normal for most military bases, used car lots were in abundance surrounding Kaneohe Bay Marine Corps Air Station. I had shopped around and made my decision. One lot had a sign in the windshield of a 10-year-old model announcing $1700 with $500 down payment and 12 or 24 months of payments depending on credit history. It was the exact kind of car I wanted, but I am really cheap, so I took the plunge of making a “best offer”. I went to the place at about 11 in the morning on a Friday, one salesman (probably the lot’s owner and also probably the lot’s sole employee) was there. He met the description of the typical sleazy used car salesman, complete with his bad haircut and his Herb Tarlock cheesy sport coat. He sized me up ju... less
Before I got married, I lived in the barracks on the Marine base where I was stationed, in what was known as the Bachelor Enlisted Quarters (BEQ). Early one Monday mo... more
Before I got married, I lived in the barracks on the Marine base where I was stationed, in what was known as the Bachelor Enlisted Quarters (BEQ). Early one Monday morning, I was driving to the base from out in town, and I heard a vehicle accident report on the radio. When they announced the location, it was not only very far from where I would be driving, it was in the opposite direction that I was traveling, and it was also on a road that wasn’t parallel to my route nor perpendicular to it in front of me, so I knew it wouldn’t interfere with my commute, not even collaterally. I put it out of my mind. Several hours later, I couldn’t get my girlfriend on the phone. This was long before cell phones and the internet, so my only option was to leave voice messages on her answering machine. She never responded all night long. The next morning, I tried again, calling at about the time she’d be getting ready for work. No response. A couple of times that Tuesday morning,... less
