Amphicar BUYER Posted December 19, 2003 Share Posted December 19, 2003 For a channel that is called "History Channel", they sure make no attempt to research the facts. There was a show on recently called "Failed Inventions". They have most of the facts wrong! They could not even get the inventor's name (Hans Trippel) correct. Then they show a closeup of the hand throttle and say "The propellors are engaged by a dash mounted switch" BZZZT! Wrong! The props are operated by a floor mounted shifter. The say there was a sub-floor to protect wiring and keep leaks at bay... BZZZT! Wrong! The bilge is just that, the bilge like any other boat. A 4" deep section for water and the linkages to reside under the floor. There is no wiring in there. Besides all this, the Amphicar was not a failure. The only thing that killed it was the emission and safety laws newly enacted in 1968. They made the car too costly to manufacture. Ask any Amphicar owner (or passenger) if his car is a failure! Geez, it sure makes me confident in the "facts" presented in the other shows they air. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6219_Rules Posted December 19, 2003 Share Posted December 19, 2003 John, I would go online and tell them this in direct terms. That is the worst mis-information posing as fact. The History Channel is fun but the programs it shows are more often than not either wrong or so seriously flawed in an attempt to engage the public that they might as well be completely wrong. Side note : My father is a modern historian (19th Century Russia ). He has watch some of these shows and just shakes his head. Watch it but do so with a great deal of scepticism. I use it to pique my interest in a subject, then I do my own research. Please never take what they present as fact. Just my .02 cents worth... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DeSoto Frank Posted December 19, 2003 Share Posted December 19, 2003 There were other mis-statements in the same program...One which caught my attention was their statement that "Edsel Ford was killed during World War Two."While it is true that Edsel Ford died in 1943 ( during WWII), the History Channel's statement would lead one to believe that Edsel's death was directly attributable to the War itself, ie: a combat fatality, or other sort of sudden and unexpected demise.From what I remember about Ford history from various books I've read over the years, I believe Edsel Ford died from a hemorrage- either from an ulcer or perhaps a brain anneurism...and if anyone (or anything) "killed" him, it was most likely Old Henry and his constant battle to run Ford Motor Company HIS way...Yes, it sort of takes away credibilty of that program...I wonder what other gross errors were caught by our DF'ers... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 19, 2003 Share Posted December 19, 2003 The History Channel is entertainment and nothing more. Great to watch when nothing else of interest is on the boob tube. I won't waste my time elaborating on the hundreds of bits of misinformation and incorrect pictures in the HC programing. Suffice it to say that in many scenes of the teens and early '20s where automobiles are present, the cars are late '20s and early '30s models. In certain WW II aviation footage they show the German pilot Werner Molders climbing out of his ME 109 in an event supposedly occurring in 1943. Oberst Molders died in a plane crash on 22 November 1941. I think they must utilize Getty Images Co, or some other company whose business is providing pictures to the media and others, for their pictures. They get "sort of" what they need and make do with that. Historic accuracy is not very big in their book. When you see how inaccurate they are regarding a subject you know a lot about, doesn't it make you feel they must be just as inaccurate on other subjects on which you lack expertise. They aren't just picking on you. I like Mail Call. R. Lee Ermey seems to know what he is talking about, and besides, there is something appealing about a hardassed drill sergeant in these wimpy PC times. hvs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Crabby Posted December 19, 2003 Share Posted December 19, 2003 Most everything one views on TV is simply entertainment and nothing more.Their chief assumtion is that we viewers are a bunch of synapse deprived neanderthals incapable of determining anything but the taste of beer.the so called "antiques road show" is another greatly exaggerated farrago with prices quoted by their "experts" {several of whom have had their names tarnished due to sharp practice and deception} which are far and above anything capable of being realized at a true auction!!I buy and sell antiques daily and have yet to realize any of the elevated prices quoted on this program, whether it be Galle' glass, Federal furniture or Louis Quinze gilt-bronze garnitures!and this with Sotheby's, Christies, Doyle's,Skinner's etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
48LCCOUPE Posted December 19, 2003 Share Posted December 19, 2003 Howard, you just like Ermey cause he talks in a Y E L L The History channel is trying to put on probably 14 hours of entertainment per day then repeat some. They buy off the shelve from those that have the tins to occupy the time and sell to the advertisers.T.V. evening news is the same way get it get it out and hope it's fairly accurate. As Walter Cronkite is reported to have said " If we had any courage we would sign off by telling people for more information consult your newspapers".As was said earlier, if the HC has a subject that peeks your interest, then dig into it. I grew up thinking the Wright Brothers flight took place at KittyHawk and believed that was true until last week! Always something. Just kidding about Ermey Howard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 19, 2003 Share Posted December 19, 2003 Dave ~ I think you are onto something with the Ermey yell. It does get your attention and I like that. In print you can't yell, so confrontation, sarcasm and sometimes general nastiness is sometimes necessary to get people's attention. I have not posted to sell the position I take or to be loved, as much as to try to make people <span style="font-weight: bold">THINK</span> . I think Dave@Moon uses the same concept. Sometimes it actually works. hvs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SalG (Sal Grenci) Posted December 20, 2003 Share Posted December 20, 2003 Old Crabby, Don't hold back, let us know your feelings. Make mine a double.Sure, they make a few mistakes that we notice. What about the larger media and their errors? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 20, 2003 Share Posted December 20, 2003 Right, Sal, the only people who are never wrong are environmentalists. hvs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketraider Posted December 20, 2003 Share Posted December 20, 2003 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have not posted to sell the position I take or to be loved, as much as to try to make people <span style="font-weight: bold">THINK</span> . I think Dave@Moon uses the same concept. Sometimes it actually works. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />hvs <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> </div></div>And you both do a damn fine job of it <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />. Provocateurs are a dying breed in these times of political correctness. Without them, conversation is boring. Think the Algonquin Round Table of the 20s- wit, wisdom, sarcasm and concepts. The basic elements of truly fine conversation! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave@Moon Posted December 20, 2003 Share Posted December 20, 2003 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I like Mail Call. R. Lee Ermey seems to know what he is talking about, and besides, there is something appealing about a hardassed drill sergeant in these wimpy PC times. </div></div> I watch almost everything else on the History Channel if there's nothing better on, which is most of the time. Ermey gives me a headache. PBS still blows cable out of the water whenever they really try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R W Burgess Posted December 20, 2003 Share Posted December 20, 2003 Dave, I'm going to make fun of you this time! I can picture you or a facsimile of you in Fort Ord, California getting off the "bus" with your long hair and that dazed look on your face when "Drill Sergeant Ermey" got in your mess, because you cut your eyes at him <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Don't fret. That was me too, scared sh..less! Then at dinnertime, we get to eat at the mess hall for the first time, with this little PFC stomping down the middle of the table raising H..L with us newby's. I suddenly lose my appetite and want to leave, little PFC is having nothing of that, "You don't like my food, POOR BOY?" Gezz! 1967, and I'll never forget that day. I hate Ermey too! <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />Wayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 20, 2003 Share Posted December 20, 2003 Figures, Dave. Somehow I cannot picture someone of your stripe in the Corps anyway. hvs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ex98thdrill Posted December 20, 2003 Share Posted December 20, 2003 Wayne,I had two guys that met me at the cattle truck in my day. One of them was 6'2" and about 225 lbs (SSG Slaughter) and the other one was 6'6" and weighed in about 260 (SSG Hadley). SSG Hadley had a profile for not having to roll up his shirt sleeves because of the size of his arms. I remember he looked at me and in a deep rasply voice he said "son if you don't leave here smart, you're gonna leave here strong" ....no I didn't deficate, but I swore I was going to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 20, 2003 Share Posted December 20, 2003 Pat ~ Those who have never been through basic can never relate to those who have. ~ hvs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave@Moon Posted December 21, 2003 Share Posted December 21, 2003 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Figures, Dave. Somehow I cannot picture someone of your stripe in the Corps anyway. hvs </div></div>Nope, me neither. Even at that age I knew that I didn't respond well to that style of leadership. Thank goodness that many do, though.Speaking of abuse, this evening right before Ermey's show the History Channel ran an <span style="font-style: italic">Extreme History with</span> (noted historian) <span style="font-style: italic">Roger Daltry</span> on NASCAR and moonshine runners. Did you see the 1940 Ford laden with about a ton of mason jars doing a power 180 on dirt? The guy driving Roger nearly rolled the car on camera (left rear wheel was about 8" off the ground)! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ex98thdrill Posted December 21, 2003 Share Posted December 21, 2003 Yep you're 100% right Howard. It's the best discipline you'll ever get, but it is definately not met for someone who is "thin in the skin" Like me, you are far from being thin skinned. As for a few others, wellllll???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6219_Rules Posted December 21, 2003 Share Posted December 21, 2003 Not having served (4F) I often wondered how life might have been different had I been able to do so. Was ending the selective service a good idea? The discipline and experience in civic mindedness may have helped many to grow up to be better citizens, though I have not seen any real psychological or sociological studies on this matter. But I wonder if having to serve in your country's military did not make for better adults. I am just thankful for those who have chosen to serve and done so with honor. Their service should never be forgotten.Funny old world...seems like those that have served, men I know personally, have too often a common bitter experience in the last 20 years. Is that just crabbing or what? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 21, 2003 Share Posted December 21, 2003 Randall ~ Your mention of 4F reminded me of an old WW II joke of Bob Hope's.There is a new draft classification, 7L. Those in that classification stay home during wartime and pile protective sandbags around the statue of Benedict Arnold.The quote may not be perfectly accurate after 60 years, but the idea is there.hvs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted December 21, 2003 Share Posted December 21, 2003 On April 27, 1777 Benidect Arnold became a local hero as he commanded the barricade across Main Street in Ridgefield, Connecticut, (the only land battle fought in Connecticut during the Revolutionary War). This was quickly set up by local patriots to slow the return of a 2,200 man British raiding party that had distroied supplies in Danbury. The nearby Stebbins house was part of the barricade, and was bullet and cannon ball marked until it was torn down in the late 1800's, a door from the house is in the local Historical Collection. This is car related, a great grandson of the Stebbins was Henry Austin Clark Jr.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 21, 2003 Share Posted December 21, 2003 But I think old Ben is better remembered for his treachery at West Point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted December 21, 2003 Share Posted December 21, 2003 Without a doubt, my previous post was just a bit of the unknown "The rest of the Story" as Paul Harvey would say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ex98thdrill Posted December 21, 2003 Share Posted December 21, 2003 YES HE IS!!! At West Point Benedict Arnold is lower then whale s_*t and that can be pretty low. I wouldn't say that the military makes people better adults, but I do say that when they take away your rights, and every little thing in life now becomes a priveledge, it helps keep things in a better perspective. I think once a person has seen what life is like in another country where those people have to live without a constutution, and rights, and laws and regulations, you tend to appreciate what you've got rather than place blame on a democrat or a republican. ....But I don't know anyone who'd EVER blame all of the world's problems on one political party Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
48LCCOUPE Posted December 21, 2003 Share Posted December 21, 2003 what really made things bad was that Ben was one of our greatest heros before he tried to include West Point in a garage sale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ex98thdrill Posted December 22, 2003 Share Posted December 22, 2003 true Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imported_Bob Hill Posted December 22, 2003 Share Posted December 22, 2003 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">From what I remember about Ford history from various books I've read over the years, I believe Edsel Ford died from a hemorrage- either from an ulcer or perhaps a brain anneurism...and if anyone (or anything) "killed" him, it was most likely Old Henry and his constant battle to run Ford Motor Company HIS way... </div></div>Actually Edsel died of stomach cancer. Some have said that old Henry and his "medical advice" to Edsel probably didn't help any and most doctors at Ford Hospital were ascare to touch Edsel due to teh old man's temper. I do agree thought that the old man's constant demeanor towards his son (and the fact that Henry treated Harry Bennett more like his son than Edsel himself) didn't help Edsel's stress level any. Edsel was a very talented designer and if he hadn't pushed the old man to build the Model A and later a V-8 car in the early 30's (Henry still thought everyone wanted a T Model and thus Chevrolet took over the sales lead and it was 1957 before Ford beat Chevrolet in sales again) I am not sure Ford Motor Company would have survived through the 30's. Of course Henry II had to rescue Ford after WWII - again due to old Henry and Harry's destruction.BOB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 22, 2003 Share Posted December 22, 2003 Pat ~ A couple of days ago you mentioned the names SSG Slaughter and SSG Hadley.Is there <span style="font-weight: bold">ANYONE</span> who served in the military who doesn't remember the name of their lead basic training instructor, regardless of rank or branch of service?I submit mine herewith. Sgt. Schlink. "Sweat and stink with Sgt. Schlink," was our motto. That was in the Summer of '54. Some memories <span style="font-weight: bold">NEVER</span> fade. Schlink was a really hard assed SOB, and that was on a good day, but we left his training better for the experience.hvs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
48LCCOUPE Posted December 22, 2003 Share Posted December 22, 2003 1st Class Petty Officer Cooper with His sidekick 1st Class Petty officer Angel and He was definetly no Angel. Also FCPO Sorenson. Mine was Cooper good guy, Angel not so good (our sister company) and Sorenson bad enough to lose two stripes due to His actions against a junior company of ours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter J.Heizmann Posted December 22, 2003 Share Posted December 22, 2003 SSG. Willie Hix...Fort Benning, Ga 1967.Tough, like most of them, but, only an act to be an SOB. Very nice guy whenever he did not have many guys present. He actually wrote to me at Bien Hoa, Vietnam in about May of '69, to see how I was doing. (Of course I wrote back telling him what a great time I was having. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> How could anything be negative about it.) <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ex98thdrill Posted December 23, 2003 Share Posted December 23, 2003 Back when I was a Drill Sergeant myself, the trainees at the end of the cycle would come forward with their end of cycle yearbooks and ask us to say something. I always use to write "I MAY NOT BE IN YOUR HEART, BUT I'LL ALWAYS BE ON YOUR MIND - SSG THORPE" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 23, 2003 Share Posted December 23, 2003 Pat ~ Drill Sgts. may rarely be liked during basic, but they saved a lot of our asses. With the passage of time, they are respected. Schlink was one hell of a teacher in the school of hard knocks. Thanks Pat. Because of men like you, old pharts like me are here to talk about it.MERRY CHRISTMAShvs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ex98thdrill Posted December 26, 2003 Share Posted December 26, 2003 Thanks Howard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hal Davis (MODEL A HAL) Posted December 29, 2003 Share Posted December 29, 2003 SSG Goodman, F-7-7, Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, 1982.There were times when you hated your drill sergeant's guts, but you would kick anybody's @$$ from another company if they were to bad mouth him. Kinda one of those "He may be an S.O.B., but he's OUR S.O.B." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ex98thdrill Posted December 31, 2003 Share Posted December 31, 2003 E-2-2 Fort Lost in the woods, Misery - 1985 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest c.johnson Posted December 31, 2003 Share Posted December 31, 2003 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I wouldn't say that the military makes people better adults, but I do say that when they take away your rights, and every little thing in life now becomes a priveledge, it helps keep things in a better perspective. </div></div>I remember "Guarding" the Motor Pool in Basic, and sneaking a Cherry Coke from a machine at 0200. I was sure some Drill was going to come around the corner to take my head off & hand it back to me!! But it was worth it. I began to appreciate things a lot more, including (strangly enough)being in the Army. Ft Jackson, SC 1985 SSG Carr "Crazy Car" & SFC Potter "Papa Bear"cj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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