So I'm out the front of Giant Nusa again. In this video, I'm gonna share with you a big mistake that I recently made with the Giant TCR, including what upgrades that I've made to this road bike post purchase. I purchased this bike about four or five months ago now and also post crash. See, unfortunately, I recently got in an incident with a motor vehicle, but before we get into the details of this video, I just wanna provide a big shout out to my channel patrons. I'll put your names up on the screen here and to be honest, I don't give you guys enough love on this channel, but I do really appreciate your support over there. While I provide additional content on my Patreon, including first access to certain videos, exclusive interview content and channel updates, you see, I recently asked my channel patrons, what value or additional value would you like to see from your $7 USD monthly subscription? And I wanted to share a couple of comments with you here which represents the overall feedback I got that suggests that people are ultimately supporting the channel over there because they get value out of the content I put up on YouTube. Nothing more, nothing less. So what I've done given this feedback is I've actually created another tier. Currently, there's only one tier. I've created a lower level tier. So if you're interested in exploring that, I'll provide a link below. So let's get into this video and I wanted to break it into two major parts. Number one, let's talk about the safety upgrades. After getting hit by a car roughly two months ago, how have I made myself safer on the road? And number two, the bike upgrades.  So a couple of months ago, I got hit by a car while riding. Now that is the first time in my 10 year road cycling history that I've been hit by a car. And I was lucky that I wasn't seriously injured. I walked away from that incident. There was a few scratches on the bike, a few scratches on my leg. But what really happened there, it was a big wake up call for me. It made me realize there is a lot of opportunity for me to be more exposed, ultimately safer on the road. So there are three big things that I have done that I wanted to share with you here. Number one, I have replaced my helmet. Now I hit my head very slightly. There was no crack inside my helmet. You might have seen a previous video I did on this topic, which I'll link to below. But it didn't matter. I replaced the helmet straight away because any helmet that's had impact has been compromised. In this instance, I've gone with a helmet. I have found myself wearing for the past six years because I believe it looks good and it fits my head well that being the Specialized S-Works Prevail. This Specialized helmet now also comes with some very cool technology called ANGIE, which is essentially a built in live GPS tracker. So close friends and or family can follow the ride. But more importantly and uniquely, it has inbuilt crash technology. So if a certain frequency of crash vibration is reached, the ANGIE helmet technology sends a signal to your iPhone where you have it paired with the ANGIE technology via a Specialized app. And your GPS signals will be sent where relevant, including your loved ones, in case of an emergency. That is bloody good technology if you ask me. Number two, I've made myself more visible on the road. Just give me a sec. So I'm wearing this orange kit from Wynn Republic. Not only is the Wynn gear very stylish and comfortable, I am really impressed and I'm not just saying that. This orange color, to me, is definitely the most eye-catching for motorists. I think of all the road workers wearing orange gear and they wear orange gear for a reason. It really exposes you and creates a greater presence around you on the road. And I've certainly noticed that. I always looking at motorists when they're coming out onto tea intersections or pulling out of driveways just to assess if they've seen me. And I feel like there is greater awareness surrounding me from those motorists and also motorists that are passing me. I feel like I'm getting, I don't know whether this is just in my head, but I feel like motorists are passing me with greater care because I'm better exposed on the road just by wearing, essentially, as you can see, the bibs are black, the jersey is orange. So what I've done is I've actually contacted the owners of Win Again and they've provided a 10% discount code again on their gear. You can buy any gear, but it'd be great to see some more people wearing some orange kit on our roads. Just know that that 10% discount code, not only do you get a discount, but a little bit of that is an affiliate code which comes back to supporting the channel. So the third thing that I wanted to mention here, and this was a big oversight. There was an overwhelming amount of feedback after that crash video about the fact that I wasn't running lights during the day. Which is completely bizarre when I think about it, because I actually created some content specifically on this topic two years ago now regarding the exposure lights pulse pattern technology which is designed to not only run during the daylight, but it's irregular flashing pattern is specifically designed to catch the attention of motorists. So I'm now using this at the front. Sorry, that might be blinding you and blind myself now. See how the pulse is irregular? So it's designed specifically to catch, as I said, the attention of motorists. I've got this at the front. I've also got one at the back. My kids were playing with it the other day and before this video, I spent about an hour looking for it. Couldn't find it, I don't know where they put it. So I've got this average cat eye one at the moment, but this same pattern is replicated at the back and I'll have some stern words to one of my kids when they get home. And if you want more details actually on the exposure lights, this isn't sponsored, I just really like their technology. I did create a full review back in the old school bike chaser days which I'll put a link to below. So they are the three major safety upgrades that I've made to the Giant TCR. If you've got any additional ones you think I might have missed out on, I'd be keen to get your thoughts below. I don't think you get much brighter though with this orange kit and a yellow bike. So let's now talk specifically about the Giant TCR itself. And there are four things, not three. There are four things that I wanna talk you through here. Number one is the big mistake that I made. And I made a big mistake actually. This is where it all went wrong with the handlebar system. So this is the first time I've actually ever purchased a road bike where I've wanted to immediately replace the handlebar system. The reason being this Giant Contact SL, these are alloy handlebars. It's got a very, very thin part of the handlebars system here. And that is where I rest my hands. Now you shouldn't have much weight at the front of your handlebar anyway but you are resting your hands there. There is gonna be a little bit of weight. And for whatever reason, I just wasn't comfortable with these handlebars. So I decided to replace them and this is where it all went wrong. So at the start of this video, we're in Giant Noosa. Let's go back to those scenes now. So I can share with you the big mistake that I made. CSC, how are you mate? Good mate. Now do you reckon we've finally fixed the issue on this thing? I can wait pretty close to getting it resolved. How many times have you seen me in here over the last two or three months? I know I have to be quite close friends I think by now. So it's been good times. But I think we've finally got it resolved for you. Nice. This is what we've got on there now but where is the big mistake that I made? The big piece of equipment. Yeah. This guy. Yeah. So I bought this online. I did try and buy through you guys, didn't I? But the handlebar you got in got sold at the other store. We did, we moved it on. And I got impatient and I bought online which I've made a big mistake. So the big mistake that I didn't pick up on is this bend here.  Interesting handlebar design. Pretty sort of going for that aero sprint handlebar effect. Yeah. So, but biggest thing when you've got your hoods mounted there, when you're actually holding the bar it's actually pretty interesting sort of feel. It's uncomfortable. And also it just felt like it changed the whole dynamic of the bike particularly when you had the drops. Like it dampened the stiffness and it was bizarre. Firstly, not for me. Worst handlebar I've ever bought. Nothing against 3T. They make good stuff. But I didn't like this. No, this is a bit of an interesting shame. So the big mistake here is purchasing something that I've never purchased before that's critical to my enjoyment in road cycling. A critical touch point being comfort. Online for the first time. I'm not telling people not to buy things online. That would be silly talk. But I am a big believer in finding a good quality local bike shop that you can build a relationship with. And then when mistakes happen like this you can easily swap. Now it doesn't have to be the handlebars. It could be the seat. Could be a set of wheels. Or it could be the bike itself. And what actually happened with this online retailer is this handlebar actually came as highly recommended. So that's why I probably could have engaged in the design and read the description in a little bit more detail. But I was like, yeah, they look good. That'll do. And I've made a mistake. But the beauty of having a relationship with Giant in this instance, and I should have started with this because they had issues getting in on the handlebars that weren't Giant, I actually said, okay, what handlebar would you recommend? And they recommended these Richie handlebars. They're actually carbon, these ones. And I really, really enjoy them. So the second major upgrade on the Giant TCR was the crank because I wanted to have power on the Giant TCR. So we've got my quark power meter now on the Giant TCR and I just love training with power and actually feel naked without it on my bike. Heart rate works okay, but it really limits your ability to test your base fitness and also work effectively at high intensity. Now, if you want to go deeper on that type of training talk, I've actually got a free online video training which I'll link to below. The third major upgrade was the wheels. Now the Giant SLR1 wheels were okay and I couldn't give you a comprehensive opinion because I only rode them a couple of times, but it turned out when I purchased this bike, the wind picked up in our area and my wife for her triathlon racing preferred those over the MVs and while I can't give you a comprehensive opinion on the Giant SLR1 wheels, I can tell you the MVs are a hell of a lot better. So I use these for racing and also a set of Fulcrum 5s with some Schwalb marathon tires for training. And the fourth upgrade, and this was a cheeky fifth actually. This is the handlebar tape here. I'm not too sure if I like it. Let me know what you think below, but the fourth major one that I wanted to talk to you about was the seat. I used the Specialized Toupe, I think it's called Toupe. And I found this seat probably four or five years ago and I was comfortable on it and I didn't get any pins and needles in my hand or in my feet like I have had with other seats in previous years gone by. So when you find a seat that works, you stick with it so we removed the Giant contact seat and I replaced it with that. So I definitely still have or I'm still tied to Specialized despite the fact that I'm riding a Giant TCR now. I've got the helmet and I've also got the saddle. And look, I've just reinforced myself that purchasing important items is best done, in my opinion, through a good quality local bike shop. So now the Giant is set and I can get more comfortable with it. I can feel at home a full review will finally be coming on this bike early 2020. I'll catch you all in the next video.


Is Maxwell House the best coffee in the whole world? Well, your father says so. And your father knows best. Yes, it's Father Knows Best, transcribed in Hollywood, starring Robert Young his father. A half hour visit with your neighbors, the Anderson's, brought to you by Maxwell House, the coffee that's bought and enjoyed by more people than any other brand of coffee at any price. Maxwell House, always good to the last drop. Remember Sally and our ally, don't you? Remember how it begins? Of all the days that's in the week, I dearly love but one day. And that's the day that comes betwixt a Saturday and Monday. Yes, Sunday is a wonderful day. A day for worship and rest and relaxation. Or a day to catch up on all those little jobs that have to be done around the house. That's the way it is with the Anderson's at any rate. In the White Frame House on Maple Street, almost anything is liable to happen on Sunday. And generally does. Like this? Well, that was the best dinner I've had in years. Thank you, dear. Yes, sir, a wonderful dinner. Mom sure knows how to dish up the groceries, doesn't she, Dad? She certainly does. Best little cook on this side of the street. My, such flattery. Well, don't forget, it's a short street. Now I'm crushed, but literally crushed. Why doesn't somebody say something I can understand? Nobody's supposed to understand at Pigeon Puss. That makes it fun. Oh, grown up, sure play dopey games, don't they? That'll be enough out of you, Kathleen. But golly, if nobody's supposed to understand. Drink your milk. But, Daddy. Stop arguing and drink your milk. I already drank it. Oh, well, behave yourself. Yes, Daddy. May I have another cup of coffee, please? I think it can be arranged. There you are, dear. Thank you. You know, this is the kind of a day that puts life into a man. May I have the cream and sugar, please? Here you are, Father. Thank you, Betty. Yes, sir, brisk and cold and clear.  Doesn't it, Bud? Oh, sure, you bet. The crisp autumn air, that's what does it. Sturs up a man's blood. Makes him want to get out and do things. You said that before. I did? Well, what of it, if I want to say things two or three times? Margaret, what are you doing? Just a second, dear. I'm almost finished. With what? There. Now, what were you saying, Jim? I said, what were you doing? I was making a list. That's all. What kind of a list? Oh, just an ordinary list for a man who wants to get out and do things. That's fine. Well, let's see now.  Remember, dear? We were going to do that last Sunday. By George, you're right. I was, wasn't I? Then there's that faucet in the kitchen. It needs a new washer. Haven't I fixed that yet? No, dear, you haven't. You haven't fixed the catch on the back door either. Never mind. Tell her to drink her milk. You mind your own business. Then there's the hose connection on the washing machine and the light socket and the laundry. Pardon me. May I be excused? I just thought of something. Go ahead, dear. Excuse me. Why is it you always remember something the minute anybody mentions work? Father? Well, as long as I'm not needed around here. Jim, I haven't finished the list. That's fine, honey. You go ahead and finish it. And in the meantime, I'll go into the den and take a nap. But Jim, these things have got to be done. I know. Just put them all down on the list. And I'll take care of them later. Of all the lazy? I am not lazy. I'm conserving my strength, that's all. Call me in about an hour, will you? All right, Samson. Man gets one day a week to take it easy in what happens. Washers and storm windows get tired just thinking about it. Shouldn't work on Sunday anyway. Just spread out and oh, that feels good. Oh, boy, I don't know why I eat so much. One of these days, I'm going to have to cut down. I don't know. The second I decide, bud, bud, well, tell him to stop it. Thank you. All I have to do is stretch out, and that's a single foot. Bud, bud! Help me, I'll go up there and fix him like he's never been fixed before. Any time he thinks, Kathy, what are you doing? Did you say something, Daddy? I said, what are you doing? I'm playing jacks. With a baseball? That's the other one. Give it to me. What? Give me the baseball. Yes, Daddy. Now go into the kitchen and help your mother. But, Kathy? Yes, Daddy. And tell everybody I don't want to hear another sound around here for the next hour. Everybody else gets to take a nap. Why shouldn't I? Do you think it was such a big thing? It isn't going to snow for weeks. Why all the rush about storm windows? That's more like it. Oh, no. I'll get it. Bud, bud! What's the use? He might as well try to sleep in the middle of a bowling alley. Bud, stop making so much noise. Did you call me, Dad? Yes. Will you please stop making so much noise? OK, Dad. You bet. Good grief. If it isn't one thing, it's two things. Hello? Betty? Betty? Betty, give me that phone. But, Father, I was talking to you. Give me the phone. Jumping creepers. Hello, Janie? I have a message for you from Betty. Goodbye. Oh, she's been right in the middle for years.  Jumping creepers. You'd think I was a child. I'm beginning to wonder if it's worth it. Or if anything's worth it. I wouldn't care if I did it every day. But the first time I... No, not that. Margaret. Margaret! I got up in the dining room, and I forgot all about your nap. I'll do it later. You're sure it won't put you out. Oh, no. I've got lots of other things to do. Well, that's fine. I'll see you later. Have a nice nap. Thank you. This is getting ridiculous. There hasn't been this much noise in Springfield since the brewery exploded. But any time I... That's the last straw. That's Bud! Bud! This time he's going up a little too far. I'll show him that when I say I'm going to take a nap, I'm going to take a nap. Oh, hiya, Dad. Have a nice nap. Hi. Bud, is this the only time you can find a practice? I wasn't practicing. I see. The trombone was playing all by itself. Oh, no. I was playing it. But you weren't practicing. No, sir. Bud, stick out your tongue. There isn't anything wrong with me, Dad. I was making up a song. What for? Oh, gosh. If William Saroyan can get $20,000 for a come on to my house... $20,000? Sure. And that's only the beginning. For a come on to my house? That's right. Stick out your tongue. You did, Dad. Tom Lewis told me. Bud, do you realize how much money $20,000 is? Before or after taxes. Anytime. Well, I'd have to sell almost a million dollars worth of insurance to make $20,000. Maybe you're in the wrong business. I'm beginning to think so. $20,000. And that's nothing. Even if it was 10-pay life, I'd have to sell... $20,000. Did you ever hear of Stanley Sales? No. He made over $200,000 on Sidesaddle Sadie. But... He did, Dad. I never even heard of it. Nobody did. But it was on the other side of, yes, we have no bananas. And he made $200,000? He sure did. Tom Lewis told me. Wait a minute. Who is Tom Lewis? He's a new fellow on town, and I met him when he was watching football practice.  He isn't a boy, Dad. He's almost 22, and he just got out of college, and he knows all about the music business. And he told you $200,000? He even said he'd help me if I'd write a song. So I told him I would, and he's coming over here at four o'clock and... But you're not going to play that song for him, are you? Well, I don't seem to do so good with the music. I can think of wonderful words, but... Do you suppose the music of a song is very important? Well, of course it's important. If you don't have a catchy tune, nobody will ever hear the words. Well, look, Dad. Just a minute, bud. Margaret! Margaret! To clean the dining room rug. I know, but...  I'm not going to take a nap, but we still need a little quiet. Bud and I are going to write a song. I wonder why it is that only Maxwell House Coffee has that good to the last drop flavor. There's a mighty good reason, ma'am. The fact is, our Maxwell House is three times richer in flavor coffees than hundreds of other brands, 10 to 12 times richer than some. Experts, you see, classify all the coffees grown in this world into just two groups. Filler coffees, which add lots of bulk but little flavor, and the much rarer flavor coffees, which add real zest and richness to a blend. Now, Maxwell House buys more flavor coffees than anyone else in the whole world. And Maxwell House is three times richer in these fine flavor coffees than hundreds of other brands, 10 to 12 times richer than some. And it is these superb flavor coffees, plus the one and only Maxwell House technique of blending and roasting, which explains why Maxwell House alone has that wonderful good to the last drop flavor. My family has always loved Maxwell House best. Then they're in good company, ma'am, for more people buy and enjoy Maxwell House coffee than any other brand at any price. Well, no wonder. It's three times richer. Three times richer in choice flavor coffees. Right, you are. That's why Maxwell House is the one coffee that's always good to the last drop. It's four o'clock in Springfield, and for the Anderson's, the zero hour is close at hand. Tom Lewis, the young man who knows all about the music business, will arrive at any moment. And then, well, Cole Porter, look out. The Great American Song is finished, and a meteoric career for two new songwriters is about to be launched, like this. Father, do we have to go through it again?  Why? What did she ever do to me? I think it's beautiful, Daddy. Well, I don't know about that, but it certainly stacks up with some of the things I've heard lately. We'd better get ready, Dad. Mom says she'll be right in. Good. Now, remember, Betty, it's the same tempo all the way through, but when we get down here... Excuse me, Dad, but wouldn't it be a good idea if Kathy went outside and watched for Mr. Lewis? All right, Kathy, go ahead. Betty, when we get down here... How can I sing if I'm outside? You can sing it later. Go ahead, noodle nose. Gee whiz. When we get down here... Why does she have to go outside just because Bud meets some dizzy character? He isn't a dizzy character. He's a very nice guy. I'll bet. Well, he is. Kathy, will you please do as you're told? Go outside and warn us if you see Mr. Lewis. But I don't know what he looks like. He's got a yellow convertible. He has?  Father, I've got to go upstairs and change my dress. There's nothing wrong with the one you've got on. Look, when you get down here... But it's awful, Father. I look horrible. You look fine. When you get down here... Kathy, will you please go outside and watch? But you said...  Kathy... Go ahead, kitten. Gee whiz, just because I'm the littlest one will show you. Look, Betty, when you get down here... Did I hear someone at the front door, Jim? No, it's okay, Mom. Kathy went out. Betty... Isn't it wonderful, Mother? Mr. Lewis has a yellow convertible.  Very nice. Sit down, honey. We'll be ready in two seconds. Betty, when you get down here...  I want a... Uh... Yes. Well, are we ready? All set, Dad. Good. Now, remember, Margaret, we want an honest opinion. All right, dear. Okay. Here we go. One, two... That sounded pretty good, didn't it, Dad? We're still a little rough on the finish. What do you think, Margaret? It didn't sound any rougher than the rest of it. Well, I suppose I'm too much of a perfectionist. Oh, brother. What was that? I said, what did you think of it, Mother? Well, I... Be honest now. I... I think it's very nice, but... But what? Well, it seems a little familiar. Honey... It does, Jim. I get the feeling that I've heard it before. Well, naturally, we've been practicing it for an hour. You should have heard it in the beginning. That isn't what I mean. There's something by Stephen Foster. Margaret, there are only eight notes in the scale. Naturally, we're going to use the same note somebody else did. There aren't any others. Betty, play the beginning of Beautiful Dreamer. Okay. That's enough. Now, play ours. Now, you see, it's nothing like it. And besides, you haven't even heard Bud's lyrics. I'm sorry, Jim, but... Well, maybe I'm wrong. Well, that's the trouble with people. It's so easy to say you don't like something or it sounds like something else. Jim, I didn't say... Did they tell George Gershwin his song sounded like something else? Did they discourage Jerome Kern? They did not. But, Jim... How about Irving Berlin? I'm always chasing rainbows, was lifted right out of Chopin's fantasy impromptu. And he gets paid. Jim, I didn't say... And how about Yes, We Have No Bananas? That sounds like a dozen songs. Yeah, and how about Side Saddle Sadie? Who? That was on the other side. But what? $200,000 because it was on the other side of Yes, We Have No Bananas. And you want to discover it. I don't, dear. I merely said... I suppose you want me to spend the rest of my life in the insurance business. You've always liked the insurance business. I can work 48 hours a day for 90 years and I won't make that kind of money. I know, dear, but... But then I knock this song out in less than an hour. Well, we can write a dozen like it in one day and then take the rest of the year off. Jim... One day a year. That's the kind of a job I've been looking for It's a good thing I thought of it, huh, Dad?  He's here! My hair, it's a mess! It looks fine, but don't stand there holding your trombone. Why not? Now he's getting out! Put it down on the piano, make it look casual. How can you make a trombone look casual? Put it down. Jim, doesn't he know you're going to play your song? Of course, but we don't want to hit him over the head with it. We're going to lead up to it gradually. If you'd only told me about the convertible! We'll steer the conversation around to a general discussion of music and then very casually... He's here!  Okay. And be casual. Okay. Jim... Just a second, honey. Betty, you sit over here. My lipstick. I'll bet I haven't got a drop on. Oh, that's it. Now, I'll sort of be standing over here. Why don't you hold a polo mallet? That'd make a nice effect. Margaret, please. Hi, Mr. Lewis. Hello, bud. I'm Kathy. Hello, Kathy.  I can sing, too. Father... Would you like to hear? Don't stand out there in the hall, bud. Bring Mr. Lewis in. Okay. Father, she's going to ruin everything. No, she won't. Well, Mr. Lewis, come right in. This is a very great pleasure. Thank you, sir. This is Tom Lewis, Dad. Bud's told us all about you. Well... And this is my mother. How do you do? Well, hello, Mrs. Anderson. Bud didn't tell me he had such an attractive family. We understand you're quite new in Springfield, Mr. Lewis. Yes, I've only been here a few days. Well, it might seem a little strange at first, but you'll get used to it. Springfield's a pretty fine little town, isn't it, honey? We like it. I certainly like what I've seen of it. Cut it out, will you, Betty? Bud, we'll stop pulling my toe. Father... Oh, I'm sorry. Mr. Lewis, this is our older daughter, Betty. How do you do? I'm doing much better now. Oh, Kathy. Holy cow, Dad. Mr. Lewis, I... Well... Isn't that what he's here for? Kathleen, be quiet. But isn't he?  Gee whiz. Mr. Lewis, I... I don't know what to say. I don't either. You see... But as long as Kathy's dumped our cards on the table, so to speak, we might as well do it. Mr. Anderson, I'd like to tell you... Why don't you sit right there with Mrs. Anderson, and we'll go to work. But... Are we gonna do it now? Yes, we're gonna do it now. Oh, good. It won't last very long, Mr. Lewis. But they don't under... Holy catfish. We'll be ready to go in just about two seconds. I'm ready to go now. Stand over here, Kathy. Yes, Daddy. We figured that in view of the modern trend, we ought to point the lyrics... Jim. Hmm? Oh, yeah. Are we all set? You bet, Dad. All right. One. Two. I'm sorry. The reed must have come loose or something. Give it a few little... There, that's better. Now, from the beginning, are you ready? Let's go. A one, a two. Oh, stay away from mine. Why should I? And vine, write yourself a letter. But, baby, you're no better. Every June, there's a great big moon, and I'm the one who knows it. So why should I? That was fine. It really was. It was? What? Well, it's still a little rough, but... What do you think? Well, how much do you think we can sell it for? That isn't the right approach, if Mr. Lewis... Mr. Anderson, I'm going to put my cards on the table, too. You're... What do you mean? Well, look, I'm a stranger in Springfield, and I figured if I could make a few contacts... Father! Just a minute, Betty.  Well, I was talking to Bud, and he seemed to be interested in music, and he was such a nice kid, and... Well, the whole thing was a gimmick. A gimmick? That's right. I wanted to meet a family and maybe get some leads, but... Gosh, you've been so nice about the whole thing. I feel like a heel. And I didn't know he was really going to write a song. Wait a minute. You mean you don't know anything about the music business? Gosh, no! I sell insurance! You count on the flavor of rich downright good coffee to help brighten your day. It will pay you to remember one important fact. Maxwell House is three times richer in flavor coffees than hundreds of other brands.  And Maxwell House is three times richer in these fine flavor coffees than hundreds of other brands. What's more, these superb flavor coffees are carefully blended and roasted with traditional skills that belong to Maxwell House alone. So it's no wonder only Maxwell House has that good to the last drop flavor. For rich, truly satisfying coffee, then, coffee you enjoy cup after cup, take home a pound of our Maxwell House. It's the one coffee that's always good to the last drop. A dozen breakfast times have gone by in the White Frame House on Maple Street, and the Anderson's are gathered in the breakfast nook for participation in their favorite meal. But as out getting the mail, Jim is still in the insurance business, and the ill-fated musical interlude is almost a thing of the past. Almost, we said, but not entirely. Like this. Dad, I got an answer. Dad! Just a minute, bud. You don't have to shout. But they wrote to me. Who did? What's he talking about? See, I got a letter. Bud, will you please calm down? What's so wonderful about a letter? I suppose you get letters from music publishers, huh? Music bud, did you send that horrible thing? It's horrible, huh? Well, they happen to be interested in it. No. Daddy! Let me see that letter. Jim, they couldn't be. Could they? I don't know. Dear Mr. Anderson, we have received the song you so kindly sent us. It's down near the bottom, Dad. Oh. Unfortunately, we find the lyrics too radical and daring. Jim, they're joking. Honey, let me finish, please. We are, however, definitely interested in the music. Hurry! I don't believe it. We will keep your score on file. And in the event that we decide to use it, we'll send the check directly to Stephen Foster. More coffee, dear? Thank you very much, yeah. Hey, good looking. What's cooking? Coconut cream pie. See? Gosh, it looks beautiful. Something new? Yes, sir. It's the new jello coconut cream pudding and pie filling. Pied to me? No, sir. With jello coconut cream pudding and pie filling, it takes about five minutes. How about the coconut? Lots of snowy, shredded coconut right in the mix, and nothing to add but milk. Well, it sounds like jello coconut cream pudding and pie filling for red-letter desserts. Ladies and gentlemen, in this time of world crisis and stress, religious institutions play a more important role than ever in our American way of life. So attend and support your church or synagogue. Take someone to church this week. You'll both be richer for it. Join us again next week when we'll be back with Father Knows Best, starring Robert Young as Jim Anderson with Roy Bargy on the Maxwell House Orchestra. In our cast were Ted Donaldson as Bud, Gene Vanderpile, Rhoda Williams, Norma Jean-Nelson, Robert Cole, and yours truly, Bill Foreman. So until next Thursday, good night and good luck from the makers of Maxwell House, America's favorite brand of coffee, always good to the last drop. Father Knows Best was transcribed in Hollywood and written by Ed James. Today is the silver anniversary of NBC.


Hi, so a few weeks ago. I went and saw the Batman v Superman movie Dawn of Justice And I loved it. I thought it was a fantastic movie. I mean I had a good time I'm not gonna say that it was the best movie of all time You know it was no citizen Kane, but it was fun. I had a good time But a lot of people beat this movie up. I mean they just really really beat it up I frankly didn't get it because I enjoyed it Some people thought it was too long and I'm of the opinion that if I put my money into it You know, I want it to be as long as possible I'm one of those guys who wants to go to a baseball game and have it be four and a half hours long So I get my money's worth Anyway, it prompted me to look at some of other movies that I own That I liked that other critics other people whatever didn't really like and so I just thought I would just share that Just because I just thought I'd share it So I'm starting with this movie here, which you might have seen in my thumbnail Which was the Hulk and this was the first one with Eric Banna an interesting thing about this movie The reason I'm starting with this is this is the only movie that the critics liked and the audience hated it This one has a 73 percent rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes But only 29% from the audience. I I don't know why they didn't like it frankly I thought it was fantastic, but you know, I'm like that. So here's some other movies You've got legends of the Guardians and this was about the owls and I thought this was a fantastic movie But it barely broke 50% So a lot of people might have thought it was a bit too ephemeral for them or whatever it was, you know It kind of had that You know kind of okay. I'm not even sure what animal that is, but I liked it a lot Then another one hoodwinked. Are you kidding this movie people didn't like the critics didn't like I thought it was one of the funniest things I'd ever seen and I watch it often I just think it's so clever how it ended up, you know Taking a different look at the tale of red riding hood and I like the music. I thought it was funny Then we got the whiz now, come on Michael Jackson and Diana Ross Michael Jackson and Diana Ross That's you know what it all discussion stops right there Michael Jackson and Diana Ross Yeah, I said it Stars born are you kidding you didn't like this movie, you know People used to hate our Barbra Streisand all the time and that's what I think this one was Chris Christophson was good in it. She was good in it. The album killed. I mean, I remember Evergreen was the song that everybody was singing I had to play this song in college my freshman year for like four or five women who wanted to sing it as their song for What an audition it was we were all taking voice and You know, they all wanted to sing this song every single one of them got crucified for it because None of them could really pull it off. I was smart I picked a song that I knew the teacher didn't know for my voice thing. So I got my a But come on. That's a good. That's good stuff Okay, I'm ready to get beaten up on this one green lantern. Yes. I'm the guy who liked it I liked it in the theater. I liked it once I bought it and brought it home I've watched it multiple times. I'm not sure what people didn't like about this. Okay. I do know what some people didn't like The ending was a little weak. I will give you that the ending was weak, but I thought the rest of the movie was fine I didn't even know who this guy Ryan Reynolds was and I thought well, you know what he's like He's a likable guy and Blake Lively. She was hot. I like the movie. I'm sorry, you know what I enjoyed it Now we're gonna fight about this one Armageddon Armageddon People I knew okay guys I knew a lot of guys men Who had daughters and I had no kids who almost cried or did cry and owned up to it at the way this movie ended?   Are you kidding this Bruce Willis?  I said whoa It almost made me cry, but it didn't but I enjoyed this movie I thought it was a lot of fun. Some people said it wasn't plausible. You know What movies are plausible come on age of Ultron is plausible I thought it was a lot of fun Look here. This was not high drama This was not a movie that was gonna win any Academy Awards, but you know what it was funniest sin I'm sorry. I laughed from the beginning to the end come on We got a cigarette smoking monkey And I don't even like monkeys Mike Tyson is singing in the thing This guy ends up with a Mike Tyson tattoo on his face Oh my goodness The other guy who's not in the shot. Oh, yeah, there is down here You know guy get shot and this guy who's supposed to be a doctor starts crying. It can't handle it. Are you kidding? I thought this was funny and Ken Jeong was even funnier than he usually is that's a funny guy I laughed a lot. I laughed every time I watched that movie. I robot come on people What didn't you like about I robot? I thought it was cool. I thought this was one of the coolest movies Will Smith ever made Maybe you didn't like the book. You know, maybe you didn't like. Oh my goodness I can't remember who wrote the book my friend Scott would be really upset with me right now But come on. I thought it was great now Maybe you didn't like cuz it was Will Smith playing a white roll I don't want to go there, but I've heard that people say that about him in other movies You know, you all just need to get over yourselves. I enjoy this movie a lot I watch it all the time. Of course, it brought us shy on the booth and actually, you know I always thought he would be good, but you know, he is what it is Okay Part of me understands what you might not like about this movie, but overall I like it Pearl Harbor. I Like this movie. I will tell you this I Probably like the movie because I think it was one of the most stylish Movies when it came to like the scene where you know, the Japanese of bombing Pearl Harbor and One of those things you may not know about me is I have seen almost no movies about war my dad was in two wars and I remember when I was 10 years old watching the news on Friday nights Because on Friday nights is when they used to give the death and injury tolls for Vietnam And we didn't know back then that they were lying to us about the totals The numbers were way lower than they turn out to be in reality And it was just one of those kind of things that we used to do So I have rarely watched any movies that had anything to do with war But I saw the commercial for this and I said, oh that just looks so stylish and I like this movie now The love story part.  Kate Beckinsale was hot and You know the relationship between Ben Affleck and what's this guy Josh Harnett, you know I Will give you the love story part saying okay, that was a bit much but everything else about this movie I thoroughly enjoyed And now here's the last one And the reason I'm laughing is Because it's the Silver Surfer movie from Fantastic Four, which I must have liked a lot I don't know why I have two copies of this movie. I have no clue I think that maybe I thought that this one was going to be the first movie or this one here And it wasn't I don't know I don't know but I have two copies of this I thought it was fun. The only gripe I ever had with the original movies by the way I thought they were both fun was Having Jessica Alba as a blonde. I think that was probably miscast I mean, you know, I love her in movies. I've loved her when she was on Dark Angel But her as a blonde No, if you had to have a blonde you needed someone else, but her as the actress in this movie I really enjoy it. So there you go So that's just kind of a sampling. There's probably other movies I have that critics didn't like but you know my main point here is that like I said I'm not looking at any of these movies as Academy Award winners I don't think that you know, they were necessarily the best acted across the board, but they were fun I had fun. I enjoyed them. I enjoyed them so much I put my money into them and then I put my money into them again to convert them to digital So that I could watch them on my nook and on my computer although I'm not watching any movies on my computer But every once in a while when I'm traveling I might watch a movie late at night on the laptop So, you know what I put my money into it. It shows you I loved it now There's a whole lot of other movies I have that were rated a lot higher that people seem to like, you know, including Star Wars Force Awakens. Yep, I got this But there's something about these other movies that I just kind of liked, you know I have Rocky Horror Picture Show which got beaten up when it first came out and is now a cult favorite People love this movie and even back then I the very first time I saw it didn't like it But after that I just had a lot of fun You know, there's just those movies that we just like because we like them And we don't care what anyone else has to say But I thought I would share this and now I'm gonna ask you what movies do you like that?  I don't care what anyone else thinks about this movie. I like it Y'all let me know. I hope you've enjoyed this. What's it? That's supposed to be the like subscribe share. That's it like subscribe share I don't think I've done that much with most of these videos, but I'm saying that for this one and you know Come on. Come on. Come on Peabody. It's Peabody. I know anyway, y'all take care. Have a great night


Hey Virgos welcome back welcome back to another installment of the drama in your life Hope you're all doing well. Hope you've been enjoying the readings lately All right, we're gonna get right into this right into this reading. It's gonna be for July 2022 this is for Virgos Virgo only for the sun and rising your Venus and Please keep in mind some of the messages may or may not resonate So don't force it. Just take what fits leave the rest and please do subscribe if you enjoy the readings All right, there go. We're gonna do a Celtic cross. Take a look and see what the Celtic cross energies playing out here. Okay, two of cups and Presently is the Sun. Oh Okay, so did you meet somebody? Okay, recently the recent past perhaps Friendship romance Blossipping Blossipping I'm making up words here. What do you want the Sun Leo energy the challenge is To get something out in the open here To get some communications started.  Let me just take a look. I'm just curious cuz all right. Hold on. I'm just curious Okay, wow this King of Ones just keeps showing up in your readings. I don't understand. Oh My gosh Leo Sagittarius Aries. Okay So you you met somebody some of you may could be friends or or what have you Or you will be meeting somebody and then the present will be in July a connection with a fire sign, okay? now Okay, I see how this is going This person is it doesn't have to be fire. Okay, but this person They want to talk to you they want to communicate with you a little bit more but they are There's something Kind of They know they should they know they should they know they should be reaching out or seeing something to you Three cups on the bottom of the deck. This is something to do with dating So let's see if right now you're listening to this reading. This is for July You could be meeting somebody if you haven't already where maybe there's a date or a get-together Sitting having dinner could be a Leo for some of you sitting Having some food some drinks celebrating asking each other questions getting to know each other This magician energy here, okay? Putting everything out on the table and then somebody shuts something down in the interim, okay? It is small little space of time. There's no communication and Virgo it could be you I feel like you Maybe you meet someone and then there's like this small space of time where with the nine of wands you're kind of like Suspicious, I feel like there's a suspicious energy about this person not really sure if you should continue to talk to them or maybe something gets said and It's you don't like what's said or you're not sure about this person. Okay, this doesn't feel like I don't know it might it might play out from yesterday's reading but What I feel it's going on here is Somebody's just kind of putting a stop or a delay if there's an obstacle to communicating They should like somebody should be talking to another person but something's going on what is going on here Huh, okay, there might be somebody else in the picture or somebody might be pregnant or somebody may be found out That another person was talking to somebody Okay, there's some kind of stop or some kind of delay and this is Taurus or Libran energy Somebody found out that's what I that's what I feel somebody found out that So it feels like a third-party kind of thing. It got it got exposed with the Sun Okay, and there's kind of like or it gets exposed and something doesn't move forward Let's crown in this reading. Yeah, our driving the reading is the three of swords. Okay third party. That's what I was saying there's somebody and It may just be of like friendship It's it, you know the two cups can just represent friendship It could be like a spark or two people who meet and they're like, okay We're having a meeting of the minds who understand each other There's some kind of connection gets me, but somebody else is in the picture and finds out about this Okay, let's say crowning the reading. Oh now we have a queen of swords. Okay, and Somebody's thinking about Saying something nasty to another person Hmm communicating giving some truth being honest and and calling somebody out on their shit Wow, okay Hmm Virgo, I feel like you meet somebody or you connect with someone and there's a good connection But there's a third party in the picture and that third party finds out and stops the person that you meet from communicating Okay, intervenes and then I feel for some of you this this other person is going to be reaching out to you and Saying something how do you know each other or how did you meet or what is going on or do you know that he or she has kids? with me or This is drama. This is so much drama right here. Oh my gosh So much drama.  I don't know Let me take a look Okay, hmm Sagittarius energy for somebody who's Sagittarius someone connected to a fed a Sagittarius asking Asking you how do you know this person Did you mean it did you mean it a bar was or somebody's a bartender was there? Connections somewhere having drinks somewhere. Oh Boy, I'm feeling like some heavy stalking near future. Okay. You have the star and The five of swords Yeah, Virgo somebody's coming in here to like their jealousy Jealousy and that five swords and that's tough energy. That's like bullying. There's a bully coming in You're shining bright like a diamond here. Okay, you're looking good.  Are you talking to my my partner or something like that? There's a fight. There's a cat fight freaking out. There's a cat fight Let me see. Let's look at you. What's the energy of you? Okay? You have the ace of pentacles Hmm Virgo, I feel like you're gonna have an opportunity to walk away from this situation when it happens Do it get out super fast. I don't know who this person is They may not be significant to you in any way.  If you've been in this situation before but lesson learned I'll take my ball and I'm going home. I don't want nothing to do with this Okay, the victory is yours if you get out of it super quick. Let's take a look at this This fire sign energy or air sign or whomever it is This person that shows up that you that you connect with Okay Two swords and nine of cups. Okay, they were hiding this person. Are they this is person? Okay, well now we have the king of swords. Okay So this person external to you whoever you might connect with they are So I feel like they're not happy with the person that they're with okay and I feel like like as far as their motions go It feels like this person is you know, they're in a position of like Blocking they're just trying to get their wishes and needs met here. Yeah, I don't like this person's energy and for some They might have just been trying to you know lay down on the pillow there with you But there's another person involved and you know what I just both of that both of those messages I'm not a fan of that. I'm not a fan of both of those messages there. Okay for July So this could be a Gemini Libra or Aquarius as well This person. Yeah, they were stepping out This person was trying to you know get their needs met get a little R&R piece really relaxation with Not just you but maybe somebody else now This is somebody if this listen don't force things don't wake up in the middle of the night or Go into your your call your person or text them or roll over on the other side of the bed Say I just listen to House of Vegas reading and House of Vegas said you're cheating. Who's the other woman? Please don't do that.  Like we're not doing that here. Okay, this might not be for you But if you know, there's a third-party situation This is resonating with you or you suspect something is going on Then you just you have to investigate and dig a little bit deeper without looking like you're digging Okay, to get to the heart of the matter It helps it. Yep. So you're sitting here like hmm. How do I handle this situation? What do I do? What do I do with the situation? So that's what I see you doing You're hoping you're gonna be able to like manage your maneuver This is a card of like really contemplate you need to contemplate before you do anything here Listen, if you're if you're in the intention of trying to get some answers or figure out what's going on with this person Take hold your breath first before you start jumping in Okay Just sit on your just bite your tongue for a minute and think it through thoroughly for others, you know If if you're like, no, I already know about this I'm taking you know Somebody's handed me the fare for the bus and I'm hopping right on that bus or I'm hopping on that plane And I'm getting out Dutch just whatever or you're handing them a ticket and saying get the f out Okay, that's what you need to do. Let me see what the outcome is okay page of pentacles and Ten of wands here, okay so Yeah, some of you like I Feel like you're gonna send a message to this person like you're bringing me a whole hell a lot of drama The ten of wands energy like this is a heavy burden.  Oh my goodness. Hold on you guys. I Just put my deck somewhere. I don't know where We're having a day. We are having a day. I have to like rearrange my entire setup you guys because Stuff's really not working out for me here. I need a little feng shui change. Okay. Let me see what these messages are. Sorry Hold on I'm trying to sort myself out here. Okay, let's see. What other messages are there here for Virgo? I'm gonna do an extended reading To see what this person is gonna do And now for some of you, you might just meet this person or you might be commending or I commending but Connecting with them made this could be somebody you met in the past that you've been engaging with and somebody else comes forward and Starts up some drama. Virgo, I just don't see you wanting to take any part in any kind of drama Alright, there's a love call here. Someone expresses love message of love thinking of you and letting you know Okay, so even if you just tell this person you don't want to communicate with them or just to go away Or just quit bothering you they're gonna keep calling you like crazy. Oh We've got love.  I respect myself I have dignity. I know who I am Okay, but this person is like I Don't know. I don't I don't feel like they really I mean they're stepping out on their partner for a reason Maybe because it's a queen of swords or a king of swords that they were involved with they might have been a mismatch But there's generally no emotion attached with that sword energy Even if it's somebody coming through with Libra and energy Yeah, Libra is the Venus planet, but they can be very cutting very cutting and they just pretty much they're like a they're like a No offense to anybody who's a Libra here. He's listening. I have some Libra in my chart But Libras are like they're the ones with the pushpin that pops the balloon the love balloon They they just they either they pop the love balloon by way of their nasty mouth or They pop the love balloon by way of infidelity Libras. I hate to say it unless they get themselves together Not all of them. Okay. I'm not saying every single Libra is a cheater But a lot of them kind of tend to go that way and it's just that plant that Venus stuff going on You know, they just seek partnership Okay separation Sadness somebody's gonna be listen Virgo.  I mean they're not gonna let you go Which you know that could be creepy and and that could be flattering at the same time But it could also be like seriously Like what do you know? What are you doing? Why are you?  You'll watch your shows. You'll enjoy the drama stuff like that, but when it comes to Having that in your life. I mean You're not a hundred percent down you you don't mind watching other people's drama But when it starts in infecting your life feel like no, okay? So there's a very strong magnetic attraction here with this person Between two people trust has to be built Okay There's a lack of trust here that gets you know finances and career Virgo I just feel like you're like, you know, I'm trying to keep everything going strong. Some of you might have Gosh help this person with money or something and then you find out there's another there's a third party involved Doesn't have to be a lover. It could just be another person I just feel like this person this third party is like possessive and jealous and codependent and like addicted to Whoever it is that you connect with there's like a This could be the case of like the excellent let go. This is the case of the jealous sex This is the case of someone who has every right to be upset because their person is stepping out on them I feel like for you You're kind of It feels like you're getting caught up in something But you're not trying to get caught up in and your best You know your best advice here is to when the opportunity comes to you know Send this person on their way or get yourself moving out of it. Do it as fast as you can Okay. Yeah, this person I feel like I look for you everywhere. I feel like this person is going to keep seeking you out They're gonna try to Yeah, see they're trying to have this connection here Understanding the connection you have I hid who I hid things from you.  I feel like very passionate about you Again finances we already talked about that Yeah, they're gonna admit to it being their fault. They should there's a message here if I should have told you about him Or her I should have said something to you, but I I didn't and I didn't think yeah, I wish I could take back my words Hmm Okay, warning don't miss the red flags here Virgo. All right Yeah, I wish I could take back my words so this person Told that's how your that's how their person found out about you. They told them or Or they their person asked them and they admit it to it now that just drew you in without protecting you Okay. Yep. This there for some of this is someone who's married to this. It's a it's a marriage. Oh I want to feel that way again. I had behind material things. Okay. Yeah, I don't know you're you're This person feels like they met they met you meeting you Was like the person they're meant to be with Whole lot of drama a whole lot of drama. Oh My gosh, I hope that you can forgive me one day a whole lot of drama Virgo It's the case really of two people meeting When either both of them were attached already or one of them was already attached and it was like an unexpected thing And I feel like whoever this person is wasn't really trying to get out of their relationship or their marriage I feel like they were just trying to outsource so they could feel better or get something in return Because they weren't getting it at home or with somebody else and then boom a spark gets created and this feels like an unexpected Falling in love kind of thing here and if it feels like for them, right? And for you, maybe maybe caught feelings or you will catch feelings with this person But as soon as as soon as spirit comes down and says here Here's here's some money get on the bus get out of town for a while as soon as that happens Virgo Are you feel that energy? Even if it's not actually money to catch bus or whatever put guests in the car and get going Whatever as soon as you feel that energy just pull out Pull out like an 18 year old having sex for the first time pull out fast All right, I'm gonna do a couple of charms And then I'm gonna do some actually we're gonna pull Some signs and numbers All right, we have Sagittarius again 1967 1970 we have September 12th, we have Libra and and no, that's Virgo. We have December 10th, somebody's born 1987 Okay, we have Aquarius somebody is 36 Somebody's 47 Okay, hmm 421. I'm hearing the numbers 421 and Okay, 1976 somebody was born in the year of the dragon there. Okay, so there's a year of the dragon here there's also year of the snake and Yeah, we have the numbers 310 Okay, we have 9-11 All right and You have a Christmas candle. Hmm Somebody's name is Holly Or lives on this Holly Street lives in Hollywood or near there Okay, now we have a turtle again We see another turtle sea turtle or a turtle somebody's connected to a turtle and then we also have a tree Wow big oak tree. Oh I just heard bonsai tree a bonsai Maybe somebody does them or just bought one. You're looking at one Okay, and I just got the the date they gave me February 9th And you also have a dove Okay, doves doves and Christmas 12. Okay. That's what they just said 12 days from now 12 days from now So not this weekend, but next weekend That's what I feel. Let me see Next now the week of July 11th The sum of this energy is playing out. I feel like the week of July 11th. Oh my goodness Let me just get some Chinese signs See what else because we said you have the year of the snake and the year of the dragon Okay, so we also have the year of the rat Year of the goat. Oh, you're the horse. Hello, horsey Well, there's the year of the rabbit There's the dragon right there If you're a dragon or your person is a dragon Well dragon twice two people might be dragons See, okay, then we have an ox And one more and a goat again, okay double goat energy double dragon energy All right, there's your snake Okay, big old snake.  Are they just gonna keep playing these games? And you know because usually, you know, if they're coming in with that King of Swords energy Well, they're coming in with truth Alright, so we'll take it from there and see how that goes. All right, Virgo. Thanks for hanging out Don't forget to show up on oh wait, you know what you guys I said yesterday July 3rd was a Friday I still got my June calendar up July 3rd July 1st this Friday Join me for the live stream live chat that you can get a little tarot reading for me It's gonna be free. I'm assuming there's gonna be a lot of people in there. So I'll try to get everybody's questions So if you want to make a super chat donation, you can and then I'll see your Your highlighted and that will help definitely that will help. All right you guys so It was short but sweet, but I will see you guys tomorrow. All right


Manny did not put together a great postseason resume with the things he said the way he acted the way he played Does that impact the people that will pursue him and the money that he will get? I think it does some people disagree, but I think it does I mean common sense tells you that if I'm gonna put 200 plus million dollars into a player and maybe even 300 million dollars Into a player. I want to know that he's gonna represent me in my franchise with the utmost class and The utmost respect and do things right on and off the field I can't say that about Manny Machado, and this isn't this isn't an opinion. This is just it's on It's on paper. It's it's on film He is doing things on the field that are hurting his market because even if one team says, you know I don't want to deal with that He's not good enough for me to deal with the stuff that comes with him that you know by definition That affects his market and I still think somebody's gonna pay him But it may not be the team he wants to go to and may not be the total dollars that he wants and I think there's a lot of franchises out there that are looking for a A face of the franchise a you know a guy to to be on the front cover of their of their media guide And I'm not sure if Manny's that guy I will tell you this mark and I feel strongly about this. All right, so the Yankee sign Jacoby Ellsbury do a big contract they had no idea his body would break down. They'd be unable to stay on the field You know caveat emptor But if in fact anybody signs Manny Machado and he acts the exact same way He has acted that he has opened the window for you to see then that's too bad. You deserved it I mean it's all out there for anybody who wants to pay that money He's shown you what he is he did not put on an act as he was becoming a free agent So there's nobody that has any kick coming if you give this guy $400 million and he acts the way he's acted I I agree Michael. It's buyer beware.  This guy's worth a huge contract There's a lot of boxes that are gonna be unchecked with Manny Machado That that's a problem for me if there's a guy who prove pre free agency and the biggest spotlight in baseball in the playoffs in World Series is not hustling he it's in the world series Michael He hits a ball off the wall and gets a single because he's he's pimping the ball Who does that? I mean this is that's ridiculous. Okay, if it happens in May, okay, big deal You know you get a you know a slap on the wrist don't do that again This isn't the world series that kind of stuff can't happen and you're right It's buyer beware for anyone that signs Manny Machado


Welcome to pigments the power of imagination season something episode whatever I think it's four and seven respectively but it's gonna be a great show I know this already because my guests, well, you'll hear about a minute second. I'm here. We're here to entertain inspire got a story titled. Imagine the ghost of give, because the ghost of key was a supposedly Ukrainian fighter pilot, why neither the mid 29 or the suit 27 in heroic fashion turned out to be a myth. But we have the first Western pilot ever to qualify in the suit 27 flaker. More than that in a second I just want to thank all of our viewers because last episode of figments the power of imagination. was the most watched ever by a long margin. In fact, we actually beat the movie top gun maverick two to one. Unbelievable. We had 2000 viewers. They only made $1 billion. Okay, we made zero dollars but it was a lot of fun and it's a good movie. So we're going to build on that. Now. We've done that by talking about flying the suit 27 and putting it into context with the Russian invasion of Ukraine because our guests have a unique opportunity to gain insight to Russia, Russian culture in the Russian military. They will hope with we share with that. I got an email from a friend of mine who saw that episode and said, he said, and this is for you bull reos. He said, you need more pretty faces on your, your shows. Well, that's not us we're not just, we're not pretty faces, but we do other things me and my guest, Major General Atari Dallas Thompson recently wrote an article I commend to you. The US must counter collective nuclear blackmail available and real clear defense more on that later. But we're serious guys and with that, let me welcome Dallas Thompson Major General retired US Air Force. Hey Dallas law. Hey sir, how are you. Good. Glad to see you've gone with the law. Sure. When in Hawaii virtually do what the Hawaiians do I suppose. Yeah, how's the weather in Texas is that human. We talked to sometime last week when you just come in from a couple hours of your hard work I thought I might lose you, frankly. Well, it's Hawaii. So we're fine. Boy you've had an exciting life flying the Air Force flying with the Navy and flying the Russians here it's a picture of you in action during your society.  It looks like you're just on the edge of your seat but in a different way than normal. Right. That was the party the first night that after they picked us up at the airport when we got to Shikovsky. And it was, I described it as an international invitational vodka swallowing contest. My only. My only defense is that it was about two o'clock in the morning I walked out of the dining room under my own power until I got to that bank of chairs. They carried Sergey out so I consider that a moral victory victory. In this endeavor that we're going to talk about you were trying to provide capability to the United States Air Force United States Navy for this similar air combat training and I'd like to take a minute to explain that to people in our last episode. We talked about the difference between top gun the Navy weapons school and the Air Force fighter weapons school. Whether the Air Force version being more an inclusion of academics, etc, etc. Top gun focused on fighting against different airplanes, then why is that important, because they're different airplanes, not just in terms of capability but merely visually. If you're not looking at one airplane that's or two or three or four, that's friendly, looking differently from the bad guys, it's very hard to simulate the combat environment. Another thing was a lesson learned from air combat in Vietnam that the first time you see a mid bad, you know the bad guys. There's a bit of buck feet, a bit of shock to the system and seeing that and the reaction isn't helpful for survival. Both services pursued dissimilar air combat training they used a variety of airplanes, like the F5 like the A4 son from Israel, Kaphirs, I've got a story book for years. But it's always been a challenge and it's a challenge that continues today they just stood up the first F35 aggressor squadron. But Dallas, you had a chance to provide some real dissimilar air combat training with frontline airplanes that were leased from from the Russian government. Right. How did this happen. How did this start. Well, remember in the piece dividend, one of the one of the first things that went with the budget cuts was the aggressor squads. Yep. After the wall went down, Russian test pilots began attending society of experimental test pilot conventions in the United States. This program came together because of the guy the skipper that hired me into VX for years before was that right the Navy exchange was at this set P convection, and he met a, what was going to be a Russian cosmonaut on their, their are equivalent of the space shuttle. I named Sergei Tresvetsky. And they put together this straw man for a aggressor program wherein a company would we would lease dry lease make 29s or rescue 27s. I eventually as a chief pilot would be chartered with getting reserve and guard pilots to fly them in the program, and then we would sell this program, not just to the Air Force and the Navy but worldwide. And so it all began all would take on a whole new meeting. Right. Oh, man. When you first heard this concept, we'll talk about how you got involved when you did. What, what did you say in faith in language we can tolerate. Well, you see, I, it can't be in language that we can say, but I can, I can paraphrase the, the original ask was would I be willing to put together the operational framework and build a briefing that described it. And then basically on my, on my own dime, just would I and then the thing was if this goes forward, then the full time employment would be you being one of the aggressor pilots, you and, and that was kind of important because you've just been furloughed from the airlines who were noticed the Air Force reserve. Right. I just found out I was going to be furloughed so I had about four or five months to find a job because food's important. It's a play role that played a role in this Russian interest in this contract you were dealing with Russian engineers and pilots and maintainers that because the end of the Cold War were looking for work. They were out of work, and they had, they were all basically it was like the Wild West. These entire, you know, the premier flight, the equivalent of Edwards Air Force based right in the center was left to its own devices to go figure out how to make money. So that they were. Yeah, they were still on the government payroll but there's no pay in the role. There's no pay and they found work, Roger. So they were left to go out and become entrepreneurial themselves, which is what this program was an example. Wow. It's hard to imagine that the shock to the system for somebody who's been on the, you know, part of the Soviet Soviet structure. Everything's guaranteed, and they're kind of at the top of the Soviet structure in terms of status and probably relatively money. And now there will fly for food. Absolutely were and that just, that just tightened the shock as far as our perception of dealing with them they, you know, here we are we used to be, you know, a year ago, we were at the top of the pyramid and now we're out, you know, begging for, for work out from the west so we had to be a real example of necessity is the mother mother invention. So I was in an event today where we honored somebody who serves one of the charities I work with the arm service YMCA quiet. And I talked about the transition to why and one of the things I've learned here is be nice, because you never know how you're going to intersect. And this story of potentially making this deal is the matter of friendship, which has formed in your circles with the Navy when you were a Navy exchange pilot or exchange Air Force exchange pilot with the Navy. And folks if you can hear the blinds rattling in the background sorry it's a little windy and wind, and also credibility. And I want to hit that because, because frankly I think society's lost sight of that.  You have credibility with the Navy. Navy credibility with you. These were very credible aviators on the Russian side. And without that, nobody would have been interested. I agree. And, as I said, the guy that reached out to me on this program was skipper ospears and the same guy that asked me to go and so he and I were known to each other. So I think there was a level of comfort. And on his part that they could trust me to not only come in and put something together but get the right group of guys around us to man the thing once it went down. Yeah, and pull it off. So, you have this concept and now it's up to you and a guy named Broadway for Rosie one of your colleagues from BX for I think it was. Yes, and you're going to go to Russia. Get checked out in the suit 27, and then you're going to fly to Singapore for an air show and demonstrate to everybody what a cool idea this is. What is that right. That was the plan part of it came came to fruition. And we'll get to that in a second. The flying to Singapore from the outskirts of Moscow. First of all, intrigues me folks go, go to Google maps and look at the countries that are between here and there, not to mention the mountains like the Himalayas. It's what an idea what an adventure this had to be this had to be just even thinking about this had to have a twilight zone element to it. Oh, I told you I think I mentioned before you know we're, we're flying and we're on final. It's on a Delta airplane out of New York on final into Moscow. And it was just all surreal. I, and I made the comment that I felt like Captain Kirk on his first visit to the Klingon homeworld it just didn't seem. It didn't seem real it's didn't seem right but very quickly. And just a matter of days things settle down and, and there were some, you know, one off things that we would, we would have happened to us and so forth it would remind us that it's not the same. But it, it began to swat begin to swing more towards normal. And we became relatively comfortable quickly. For those who didn't live it. It's hard to explain how seismic the shift was, because you were an F15 pilot in your first assignment at Bitburg Air Base Germany, the job of the 36th fighter wing right. Right. Bitburg was to shoot down Soviet airplanes defending your when we as we all knew they would the Soviets invaded the Warsaw Pact. And that was your focus is a young F4 pilot, I was a nuke strike pilot, my job was to go drop a nuclear weapon on a classified target on the other side of the line. That was our life. And you, perhaps until Russian invaded Ukraine, it was, it's been unimaginable for 25 or three years. We made that shift from the imaginal imaginable to the unimaginable in a few months. Wow. So that was the concept, you're, you're going to do that you're all set to do that but what I think our viewers really want to hear about is what it was like to fly the suit 27 banker, before we talked about that. Let me plug the, perhaps more serious episode we're going to do at some point time to be announced but please watch for it. So, Jeff Fidel, the President CO and one of the founders of think tech life is going to interview Dallas and I and talk about this thing we think is very collective nuclear blackmail. Imagine, just imagine so please keep an eye open for that I'll be back with pigments in two weeks. Another interesting episode, my government ordered me to bomb Hawaii. Okay, Dallas. Let's talk about flying the mighty flanker and you had to go through a lot to get there in a demanding environment. One of the pictures you provided me is this no escape. That looks cold brother. It was cold. It looks very cold. It looks cold and it's got. It's so iconic all the Russian previously Soviet aircraft strewn kind of strewn about on the flight line. One of the dichotomies that I mentioned to you before is you look at that snow scape. And then when we went out to do our first walk around of the airplane out on the ramp. It was immaculate. The wheel wells, you know, everything was, it was pristine cockpit was pristine. It's a, I mean, it's a big airplane, it's bigger than the Tomcat, but it, it is a sleek, it's a pretty let's let's talk a little more about that because that's kind of shocking in a second before we do that. I think all this involved a lot of preparation briefing academics, and this picture and socialization you talked about the international consumption competition whatever you call it. So you did that, you met a guy, this guy. Sergey, and I'm going to try to pronounce his name again, Sergey help me out. This is Tres Vietzky Tres Vietzky. In an article I saw you wrote about this experience. You made a comment that intrigued me you said you soon became best friends but he didn't speak any or very good friends. Very little he didn't speak any English and that resonated because I've been through that with a couple guys in Vietnam, including one of their aces one of their six kill aces where we don't share a common language but he has warriors, aviators. Doesn't matter. Tell me just a bit about the friendship with Sergey. Well, again, as I told you he was the business partner. He was not our instructor pilot, another guy named right watch instructor pilot. But because of that, we met with Sergey almost every day and as it turned out, as we got into this. And it was apparent that all of these challenges that we were having with our training that no dash one or natops manual no no books, no books, we're having a book free training environment in and and everything Sergey was really in his translator the lady Galena Sakarova that was in this picture. And it was really in forward to try to make this work now this was not. I mean, it's in their own self interest to have this. But they, and when we realized how much they were actually pushing as far as they could on their side to get some things done. And that that gained trust on our part that you do you still stay in touch with Sergey. No we lost touch, we lost touch a few, a few years ago, many years after this they came and visited us, he and Galena came and visited us when we had a place down in Marvel Falls and we stay close for a while but we lost touch. So I had a moment with senior Vietnamese official and I was director of the CSS or speaking in he didn't speak English is deputy was a great guy. But I said to the principal through his translator. You know, 40 years ago today as it happened was the heaviest bombing of Vietnam by the US and here we are making peace and cooperating and the translator translated and then his deputy who spoke speaks perfect English with John. John said, I know because 40 years ago I was sitting on a 57 millimeter anti aircraft, so shooting it American or 57 millimeter aircraft say shooting American airplanes and so well that's interesting because I've been shot at by 57 millimeter in a aircraft not from the Vietnamese but I bet we have a whole different view of that dealio. And there's a humanity matters more than previous. And typically whatever you think you know the old warriors there's a value to old warriors meeting. You go through all this as you said it was a book free environment, you know, most of the training programs that I've been involved with involved manuals and diagrams the airplane. Alice did you have that. We did not. Now I've got one sitting I've got one now. Do you know after we were done they handed me a the flight manual and said here you go. Now that you're done. Now that we're done but no we didn't so it was. But we made it work. And, yeah, literally broadly and I would sit and diagram, whatever the session was what hydraulics electrical system whatever we diagram we show it to the tech and say is we. Wow. I hope you can draw because I can't. So, on the left on the screen folks is the, then we're working that problem, but on the right is a guy with a camera, because the flip side of the entrepreneurial entrepreneurial spirit of necessity and the friendship from Sergey and going etc. Is the suspicion you were under. So you were filmed constantly. That guy met us that guy met us at customs. And he was pretty much everywhere we went. The tick tock generation Mike think that was cool that would be cool for me for about, I know 3040 seconds. Yeah, it got old. Wow. And you were under suspicion, not Sergey but others thought that you were. The CIA operatives sent there to basically spy from in the cockpit. This, this came out at when we're getting ready. I'm getting ready to make my first flight the first flight so I was going to go. Kovachar and I had already briefed the hop, everything we're ready to go on putting on my G suit and get my harness and now and so forth. And one of the aeronautical engineers that worked for Sergey, a guy named the silly awkward may have walked into life support there and had had his head down and wouldn't look and I knew something was going on and then he said, Hey, you guys have got to realize that to all of these flights, you need to fly in the backseat. Instead of the front seat instead of the great upon as agreed upon. And that's when I looked up at the ceiling and and he said that's, that's, that's it. And I started taking off my G suit and hanging up my gear and I looked over at Sergey and I said that cancels the contract that cancels everything. We're going back to the, they had a billeted in a GB generals resort spa. We're going back to the spa and work on our getting our way home. Sergey went and talked to the, the, the head of the research Institute at Gromov. And basically work to deal that if we agreed to fly the first flight in the backseat, Kovacir would then go to this guy the director was a guy named Constantine, the, the silching cut. And Kovacir would go and give him a thumbs up as to whether we really were pilots. We weren't spies. We, I wish we had more time we'll do more time on this later probably Sunday. But Kovacir is Anatoly Kovacir, your instructor pilot as it turns out he and Sergey are the principles in two of the most watched ejection sequences. Yes, in the world. I'm a MIG 29 that as a right engine stall all stag at the Paris air show and Anatoly from his airplane being cut in half by another MIG 29 at British air show. Did that cause you any concern. No, I said both in in high profile ejection. I've got our attention but I would Broadway and I both said we, we paid a lot of attention to our ejection seat training. Roger when we finally, when we finally got it. Okay, so there's so much to talk about here but eventually you fly to backseat one front seat ride. One, one backseat, one backseat, three, three front seat, three front seat. Okay, sorry, three front seat. That's right. So, tell me about flying the Su 27 flanker from how the cockpit just talked to another player I'm with with you in the old club part and I think Dallas you flew the plank or tell me about it. You know, I wouldn't just say tell me about it there'd be another word beautiful airplane. Good things bad things big bubble canopy visibility was bad in all quarters the head box of the ejection seat was about this big. They wanted you to sit the ejection seat so low, or it was a CG type thing so you can meet it 00 requirements. But when you put it there, the stick grip was so far above your lap you couldn't rest your elbow on your knee to fly. So I did that once and then I raised the seat all the way up and said I'm not going to check it. I'm going to do this so there were there were bad things. Roll rate as I as you mentioned something the roll rate was like a Tomcat with the winds all the way forward is it was not good. The thing was absolutely phenomenal the most impressive over any aircraft I've ever flown. The term is peace of s but let's just call it power. Yeah, power brute brute power and and control in the in the pitch axis. It was a bull moose. It just, you could power through like I told one day went out and I just set the got to 450 knots set the power went to blower. I did three loops. Wow, holy moly. Okay. And but each one was completed in less than 2500 feet vertical. And at the end of the third one all I did was momentarily unload and I was back up to four to four 25 knots. So let me ask you this, because we both flew different versions the Viper the up 16 and early and late engines and in the 15 eagle. Could you be pretty free with your throttle moving wherever the heck you want it without the sounds and parts that are going to come out of the back of the engine. No, it was like it was like an eagle with a digital electronic deep, the deep. Very much unlike the Tomcat and the TF 30, where I, right, once I put the throttles anywhere I didn't, I didn't move. Interesting. Is it your favorite airplane effort. No. I know, I knew that. Yeah, this. And again when I got back and we started going around and briefing, you know, going to different squadrons and we went to the UK. We went to Sweden we went to Saudi Arabia. We went to Belgium and Netherlands and so forth and whenever we would be talking to a group of fighter pilots that was the question that they would ask, you know, and I, and I would go and say hey that it's a beautiful airplane I enjoyed playing it. Things that are not optimum. I love flying the f 16. Loved all that love flying taking the hornet to the ship. But my first fighter was the was the eagle. And it's always got a soft spot in my heart. Okay, you're in a stemming way. But I'll say what the eagle wasn't my first fighter and I flew both the F4 F15 F16 F16 and combat. It's a great airplane but the eagle is unique and that's part of why it has 104 to zero kill ratio and it's just a beautiful airplane. It's easy to land looks like it would be. Oh, absolutely you know the first in on that flight when I was flying from the backseat all and it totally did start the engines and lower the can and he gave me the airplane. So other than that. And then he demoed the first Cobra and he demoed the first tail slide. I didn't touch the stick the entire time so first landing I'm coming in and it's a straight and it's like a man's LS. And it's it was easier. It was easier than the eagle from the backseat about like a T. Eagles pretty easy so yeah, that's saying something, but it's backseat sits quite a bit higher. Yeah, I can picture that. I have more time and that's a good way to be in an episode where you're not going to have a stretch this out. But so you spent two months over there with the Russian airspace industry and the military connection and the probably the KGB as well. Oh, in a very turbulent point of transition. So anything you observe that you that you think about now as you look at the invasion of Ukraine and the tragic outcome of that. I spoke to it when I wrote that article years ago about there's an institutional aversion within Russian training and within the way they construct their airplanes to allow a pilot to take an airplane to the absolute limits and trusting the pilot. There was things in the flight control system where it would take control of the airplane from the pilot. The way that. And this is this is not meant to be a trajectory, but they're very linear. They're very, you could say plotting. I watched when I watched that. That caravan north of Kiev sit there for a week or 10 days and not move. And there's no initiative to go and do anything and there's there. I had some ideas. Yeah, I mean I had some ideas on how to do it too but I that that is their mindset. There's nobody in that caravan. That's going to go. I've got it. We're going to figure this out. We're going to go this way. We don't take that. The next step and then we'll sadly have to wrap up to me that explains why they devolved to an extremely brute force approach to just throwing iron on target. They're just going to keep pounding shopping malls today. It's just, they're just going to keep pounding until they achieve their objective switch. There's much more commentary in that. But it's that state of affairs somewhat predictable, I would say. Well Dallas. Thanks man. I will see you with the J on on an episode of military in Hawaii. Sometimes we'll find out if it's Wednesday or not. I always finish with, with asking what the guests next figment is we asked Dallas that last week and we've got a shared pigment and it is to open people's eyes to this concept of nuclear blackmail and how the United States has to rethink its strategy and operations and equipment for deterring and defending against nuclear blackmail from anybody who might seek to do it. On a lighter note, I then end with what would fig do. I've got another movie for you folks. It's jet pilot starting John Wayne and Janet Lee from 1957 was actually filmed I think from 1949 to 1954 it was a Howard Hughes movie his favorite movie it said it's a Cold War drama and romance. I'm going to see if I can get my screen to the movie poster of it. Let me read you the, the poster jet flame action jet hot thrills, exploding with all the power of the jet age with all the passion of a daring love story. It's actually a very entertaining movie, and we'll give you some interesting insight into the events of the day. So, don't forget, you can find our QR codes, or you can find our episode list on web, the web here as you see, please do that I use that, not just find other episodes but to make sure I'm not wearing the same shirt to shows in a row. I want to finish by thanking think tech Hawaii and great nonprofit corporation over 20 years of enabling Cipus internals like me and down. So thanks for watching Aloha. Mahalo.