Languish.org

General Category => Off the Record => Topic started by: Razgovory on August 06, 2021, 08:49:56 PM

Title: Meditations on Turning 40
Post by: Razgovory on August 06, 2021, 08:49:56 PM
Ugh.  Today I'm 40.  I still haven't gotten over turning 30, and now this.  I don't think I get enough credit for acting like an adult.  Today I was at the grocery store buying milk and pointedly not running up and down the aisles with my arms outstretched making air plane noises like a 37 year old. I can't help but think but that my restraint was underappreciated.

Also, nobody is impressed when you know stuff.  In high school I really impressed the Latin teacher by knowing that Latin word "Formica" meant ant (ant venom is called formic acid.  I used to be good at science).  In college I impressed a professor by noting the similarities between the Oration of Pericles and the Gettysburg address.  Today, nobody gives a shit.  Hell, half the time people won't even believe me.  "No, Hitler didn't take over Europe by destroying statues.  He had armies with tanks and guns to do that."

Blarg.
Title: Re: Meditations on Turning 40
Post by: Grey Fox on August 06, 2021, 09:32:56 PM
Happy birthday.

I'll try that thing with my arms next time I find myself at the grocery store. I am 37 afterall.
Title: Re: Meditations on Turning 40
Post by: HisMajestyBOB on August 06, 2021, 10:06:59 PM
 :cheers:
Cheers Raz!  :)
Title: Re: Meditations on Turning 40
Post by: Rex Francorum on August 06, 2021, 10:43:21 PM
Well, I had no problem having 40. Just a number. I will be 50 in 3 weeks and it still just a number.
Title: Re: Meditations on Turning 40
Post by: Syt on August 06, 2021, 11:05:55 PM
Happy birthday Raz. :)
Title: Re: Meditations on Turning 40
Post by: PDH on August 07, 2021, 12:24:10 AM
Raz, you are good people.  Not in the yee-haw! way, but more in the "nod and slight smile hiding a laugh" way.  You are appreciated.
Title: Re: Meditations on Turning 40
Post by: PDH on August 07, 2021, 12:25:43 AM
And fly around the supermarket like that, try to get thee others to follow you in a finger-four formation.  Make people laugh, make them think.
Title: Re: Meditations on Turning 40
Post by: chipwich on August 07, 2021, 03:34:15 AM
Trivia in general has less stock since Wikipedia got traction.
Title: Re: Meditations on Turning 40
Post by: The Brain on August 07, 2021, 04:06:47 AM
:cheers:
Title: Re: Meditations on Turning 40
Post by: Eddie Teach on August 07, 2021, 06:31:41 AM
You're pretty lucky if you haven't also noticed physical changes.
Title: Re: Meditations on Turning 40
Post by: The Brain on August 07, 2021, 06:34:10 AM
Hair where there was no hair before. :(
Title: Re: Meditations on Turning 40
Post by: grumbler on August 07, 2021, 06:37:46 AM
Quote from: PDH on August 07, 2021, 12:25:43 AM
And fly around the supermarket like that, try to get thee others to follow you in a finger-four formation.  Make people laugh, make them think.

:yes: Use the Thatch Weave and really get them to think deeply about Pacific War air tactics.
Title: Re: Meditations on Turning 40
Post by: mongers on August 07, 2021, 07:13:35 AM
Quote from: PDH on August 07, 2021, 12:24:10 AM
Raz, you are good people.  Not in the yee-haw! way, but more in the "nod and slight smile hiding a laugh" way.  You are appreciated.

This, indeed.

Happy Birthday Raz. :cheers:
Title: Re: Meditations on Turning 40
Post by: Razgovory on August 07, 2021, 09:08:07 AM
Thanks guys!
Title: Re: Meditations on Turning 40
Post by: Maladict on August 07, 2021, 10:49:39 AM
Happy birthday Raz!

Turning 40 was, well, I don't really remember actually.
Title: Re: Meditations on Turning 40
Post by: Josquius on August 07, 2021, 03:01:10 PM
Happy birthday.

Yes. Aging is scary. I too haven't come to terms with 30, doors being closed, etc...
Title: Re: Meditations on Turning 40
Post by: DGuller on August 07, 2021, 04:57:50 PM
I was reminded of this thread this morning when I sneezed and threw my back out.  :(
Title: Re: Meditations on Turning 40
Post by: KRonn on August 08, 2021, 08:15:04 PM
Happy Birthday Raz! At 40 you're still young, a lot younger than me.  :)
Title: Re: Meditations on Turning 40
Post by: KRonn on August 08, 2021, 08:20:39 PM
Quote from: grumbler on August 07, 2021, 06:37:46 AM
Quote from: PDH on August 07, 2021, 12:25:43 AM
And fly around the supermarket like that, try to get thee others to follow you in a finger-four formation.  Make people laugh, make them think.

:yes: Use the Thatch Weave and really get them to think deeply about Pacific War air tactics.

Cool visuals on that. I can see shoppers moving in the weave to keep other shoppers each other's six. :D

I think in WW2, early on especially for the US facing the Japanese, pilots learned that WW1 style dogfighting needed to be re-thought. They learned other tactics like Thatch Weave, or diving on opponents and speeding away, rather than always trying to dogfight in a turning battle against a better enemy aircraft. Such as also Chenault and the Flying Tigers with the P-40s.
Title: Re: Meditations on Turning 40
Post by: grumbler on August 08, 2021, 10:46:59 PM
Quote from: KRonn on August 08, 2021, 08:20:39 PM
Cool visuals on that. I can see shoppers moving in the weave to keep other shoppers each other's six. :D

I think in WW2, early on especially for the US facing the Japanese, pilots learned that WW1 style dogfighting needed to be re-thought. They learned other tactics like Thatch Weave, or diving on opponents and speeding away, rather than always trying to dogfight in a turning battle against a better enemy aircraft. Such as also Chenault and the Flying Tigers with the P-40s.

Not just the US pilots, and not just early in the war.  Battle of Britain aces flying Spitfires over Australia had a losing record against Zeros.  The Spitfire was designed for turning battles, but the Zero was designed even better for turning battles.  Flight them vertically or in teams using the Thatch Weave, and you could exploit the Zeros' weaknesses.

In fact, the Japanese pilots at Midway were in the same befuddled position as the British pilots in Malaya.  They hadn't a clue as to how to handle the Thatch Weave, and Thatch and two wingmen held off 20 Zeros, shooting down four with no losses.  Reenacting that in a supermarket would be tight!
Title: Re: Meditations on Turning 40
Post by: OttoVonBismarck on August 08, 2021, 11:42:52 PM
40 isn't young but it's not really old Raz, speaking from someone who passed that milestone awhile back. You've got a lot of life left, don't waste any of it.
Title: Re: Meditations on Turning 40
Post by: KRonn on August 09, 2021, 08:24:39 PM
Quote from: grumbler on August 08, 2021, 10:46:59 PM
Quote from: KRonn on August 08, 2021, 08:20:39 PM
Cool visuals on that. I can see shoppers moving in the weave to keep other shoppers each other's six. :D

I think in WW2, early on especially for the US facing the Japanese, pilots learned that WW1 style dogfighting needed to be re-thought. They learned other tactics like Thatch Weave, or diving on opponents and speeding away, rather than always trying to dogfight in a turning battle against a better enemy aircraft. Such as also Chenault and the Flying Tigers with the P-40s.

Not just the US pilots, and not just early in the war.  Battle of Britain aces flying Spitfires over Australia had a losing record against Zeros.  The Spitfire was designed for turning battles, but the Zero was designed even better for turning battles.  Flight them vertically or in teams using the Thatch Weave, and you could exploit the Zeros' weaknesses.

In fact, the Japanese pilots at Midway were in the same befuddled position as the British pilots in Malaya.  They hadn't a clue as to how to handle the Thatch Weave, and Thatch and two wingmen held off 20 Zeros, shooting down four with no losses.  Reenacting that in a supermarket would be tight!

Lol, all that machine gun fire would spoil a lot of groceries! But good info about the dogfighting tactics of both sides, especially the Thatch Weave.
Title: Re: Meditations on Turning 40
Post by: Jacob on August 10, 2021, 01:17:27 PM
Happy birthday Raz - you're appreciated :cheers: :hug: