Podcasts about Chinook

Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks to outdoor reporter, writer and Hunting and Conservation Editor for Outdoor Life, Andrew McKean. Andrew wrote a wonderful article for the 2025 March/April edition of Montana Outdoors Magazine. The title of the article is Double Bacon Cheeseburger with Fins. This fascinating article covers the history and the effect of the introduction of the Cisco into Fort Peck Reservoir over 40 years ago and the effects this amazing forge fish continues to have on the sport fish that live in the Reservoir. Of course, most avid Fort Peck Anglers are aware of the Cisco, but they may not be aware of how the Cisco continues to grow the population of world class sport fish in the reservoir and how they are changing the behavior of the larger of the Walleye, Pike, Lake Trout, of course the Chinook or King Salmon and maybe even the larger Catfish. Now, many of you reading this may be asking what do you mean? Well when you listen to this Podcast you will hear Andrew talk about why more and more anglers are catching for example large Walleye and Pike suspended in deep water, often when they are fishing for the King Salmon! In fact, during the podcast Andrew even gives a stunning prediction that one of these days soon there will a new record Pike caught deep that will exceed...wait until you hear that weight! He also talks about other positive things about this amazing forge fish that you will for sure find VERY interesting. Yeah, you will learn that the story of the Cisco is a rare success story for a nonnative forge fish. So, mash that play button and listen to this fascinating podcast about the Double Bacon Cheeseburger with Fins.Links:For more information about the Cisco click here.To learn about all the articles you can find in the March/April edition of Montana Outdoors Magazine click here.Click here to read the article Double Bacon Cheeseburger with Fins.Questions for Andrew McKean? Click here to email him.Your host Downrigger Dale would love to hear what you thought of this Podcast and what your ideas are for future ones! Click here to email Rigger.Remember to tune in to The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, live every Saturday from 6:00AM to 8:00AM MT. The show airs on 30 radio stations across the State of Montana. You can get a list of our affiliated radio stations on our website. You can also listen to recordings of past shows, get fishing and and hunting information and much more at that website or on our Facebook page. You can also watch our radio show there as well.

Liz McConaghy's story is one of resilience, courage, and transformation. Originally from Northern Ireland, she joined the RAF on her 19th birthday, becoming the longest-serving female crewman on the Chinook Fleet. She was the youngest aircrew deployed to Iraq at just 21 and the only woman in her role for four years. Over a 17-year career, she completed multiple combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, witnessing war from the skies.But after leaving the military in 2019, Liz faced her toughest battle yet—PTSD, trauma, and a fight for her own life. Her powerful memoir, Chinook Crew Chick, became an Amazon bestseller, offering an unfiltered look at the highs and lows of her service and recovery. Now an award-winning speaker and mental health ambassador, Liz is proving that PTSD doesn't have to define you—it can be a chapter that fuels growth.Join us as we dive into her extraordinary journey, from flying combat missions to rebuilding her life and inspiring thousands. This is a conversation about war, healing, and the unbreakable human spirit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Episode 155 of The Scale Model Podcast Sponsored by CultTVMan and Sean's Custom Model ToolsHostsStuartTerryGeoffThanks to our latest Patreon and Buy Me a Coffee Supporters:Check out our What We Like page for lists of what we like.***************************************LATEST NEWSGood morning Stuart, Terry, and Geoff! Continuing to thoroughly enjoy each episode. Hope to see some of you at IPMS Nats in August.If you would be so kind as to add SilverCon to your contest announcement rotation, I would appreciate that.On May 17th we'll be hosting SilverCon 2025, with a theme of “The Vietnam War”. The flyer is attached with the details, but here they are as text. Thanks for helping us get the word out to all within range of Sacramento (We're in Northern CA, in the Central Valley between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe)!Details:Saturday, May 17th.Town & Country Lutheran Church4049 Marconi Ave.Sacramento, CATo qualify for the theme award, your entry needs to be something from the time period of 1955-1975 (not just military items, could be cars, real space, etc.).We will have vendors and a raffle!Doors open at 9 AM, with registration closing at noon. Judging starts at noon, and we hope to have the awards finished by 3:30.It will be standard IPMS 1-2-3 format. We will put the 2nd & 3rd place awards on the tables, and announce the first place & best of winners only (along with ALL the juniors 1/2/3).Check our Facebook page for updates.Thanks!Drew SavagePresident, IPMS SilverWings*****Hello Stuart, could you please plug our 12th annual model contest and swap meet being held on Saturday May 17, 2025 in Eagle River, Wisconsin. The location is about 3 hours north of Madison where the IPMS-USA Nationals were held last year. I've enclosed a copy of our flyer for more details.I truly enjoy your show and find your information very helpful in my modeling projects. I model a little bit of everything from cars, planes, armor, to si-fi. I also enjoy reading and just finished “100 Missions North” by Col. Ken Bell who flew a F-105 during Vietnam. The book was a easy read and provided a look into the lives of “Thud” drivers during that difficult time. Check it out.Take care.James W. Unger 42734IPMS-USA Chapter ContactNorthwoods Scale Model Phanatics***************************************MAILBAGWe want to hear from you! Let us know if you have any comments or suggestions scalemodelpodcast@gmail.com.***************************************LATEST HOBBY ANNOUNCEMENTSFAMO 18t & the large-scale gunship Chinook from Trumpeter in AprilA new Challenger & an Archer in April from HobbybossPreview: ICM's five releases for March just releasedJagdpanther G2 (Sd.Kfz. 173) 1/35 from Das WerksVickers - Clyno Mark IV motorcycle from Copper State ModelsAirfix BAC/SEPECAT Jaguar GR.1/GR.1A NEW TOOLING 1/481/16 Sherman M4A1(76)W rolls in from I love kit...What's new at Scalemates.com***************************************SPONSOR AD #1Cult TV Man***************************************Topic - Post HeritageConRecording 1 - HeritageCon observations at mid dayRecording 2 - Anthony Talks to Jannelle from Kit MasxRecording 3 - Talking with the Insanity podcast***************************************SPONSOR AD #2Seans Custom Model Tools***************************************WHAT'S ON THE BENCHStuart - Got the Whirlwind done except for the landing gear doors. I put them in a safe space…. The 1/48 Sherman is at the decal stage. Not much beyond that as I'm going to be busy with my wife coming home from hospital. :-)Geoff - picked up the IBG 1/72 Gotha Go242A-1 from Frank Donati at Heritagecon and started building it for a review article for IPMS Canada. Nice kit, and really enjoying it! Also picked up a couple of Wingnut and Copper State Models kits of 1/32 WW1 planes at the show.[foogallery id="3961"]Terry - Mostly doing some organization in the bench area, building trays etc. Also slowly working on the 1/72 Valkyrie Battroid and I suppose I need to figure out how to make some better antennae for my Phalanx, probably with some guitar string.[foogallery id="3967"]***************************************WHAT WE ARE READINGStuart - Almost done Traces by Stephen Baxter, started Your Hidden Genius by Betsy Wills and Alex Ellison.Geoff - still plowing through the Time-Life Library of WW2.Terry - Still reading Baxter's Moonseed and Volume 1 of The Apothocary Diaries novel.***************************************THINGS WE'VE SEENVernon Clark doing a great job on a Space 1999 Eagle.***************************************THE LAST WORDFor more modelling podcast goodness, check out other modelling podcasts at modelpodcasts.comPlease leave us a positive review if you enjoy what we're doing!Check us out: FaceBook, YouTube, and our very own website. Inbox reviews are available at http://blackfire.ca/We also have merchandise now. Check it out on Redbubble 

Can You Segway?Book 3 in 18 parts, By FinalStand. Listen to the ► Podcast at Explicit Novels.So exactly who was going to be sympathetic to their plight, who we cared about?Beyond my fevered dream of making a difference there was a pinch of reality. See, the Cabindans and the people of Zaire were both ethnic Bakongo and the Bakongo of Zaire had also once had their own, independent (until 1914) kingdom which was now part of Angola. The Bakongo were major factions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) -(formerly for a short time known as the nation of Zaire, from here on out to be referred to as the DRC and in the running for the most fucked up place on the planet Earth, more on that later)- and Congo (the nation) yet a minority in Angola. Having an independent nation united along ethnic and linguistic lines made sense and could expect support from their confederates across international boundaries.The Liberation Air ForceThe Earth & Sky operated under one constant dilemma ~ when would Temujin make his return? Since they didn't know and it was their job to be prepared for the eventuality if it happened tomorrow, or a century down the line, they 'stockpiled', and 'stockpiled' and 'stockpiled'.That was why they maintained large horse herds and preserved the ancient arts of Asian bowyers, armoring and weapons-craft. That was why they created secret armories, and sulfur and saltpeter sites when musketry and cannons became the new ways of warfare. They secured sources of phosphates and petroleum when they became the new thing, and so on.All of this boiled over to me being shown yet again I worked with clever, creative and under-handed people. The Khanate came up with a plan for a 'Union' Air Force {Union? More on that later} within 24 hours, and it barely touched any of their existing resources. How did they accomplish this miracle? They had stockpiled and maintained earlier generation aircraft because they didn't know when Temujin would make his re-appearance.They'd also trained pilots and ground crews for those aircraft. As you might imagine, those people grew old just as their equipment did. In time, they went into the Earth & Sky's Inactive Reserves ~ the rank & file over the age of 45. You never were 'too old' to serve in some capacity though most combat-support related work ended at 67.When Temujin made his return and the E&S transformed into the Khanate, those people went to work bringing their lovingly cared for, aging equipment up to combat-alert readiness. If the frontline units were decimated, they would have to serve, despite the grim odds of their survival. It was the terrible acceptance the Chinese would simply possess so much more war-making material than they did.Well, the Khanate kicked the PRC's ass in a titanic ass-whooping no one (else) had seen coming, or would soon forget. Factory production and replacement of worn machines was in stride to have the Khanate's Air Force ready for the next round of warfare when the Cease-fire ended and the Reunification War resumed.Always a lower priority, the Khanate military leadership was considering deactivating dozens of these reserve unit when suddenly the (Mongolian) Ikh khaany khairt akh dáé (me) had this hare-brained scheme about helping rebels in Africa, West Africa, along the Gulf of Guinea coast/Atlantic Ocean, far, far away, and it couldn't look like the Khanate was directly involved.They barely knew where Angola was. They had to look up Cabinda to figure out precisely where that was. They brought in some of their 'reservist' air staff to this briefing and one of them, a woman (roughly a third of the E&S 'fighting'/non-frontline forces were female), knew what was going on. Why?She had studied the combat records and performance of the types of aircraft she'd have to utilize... back in the 1980's and 90's and Angola had been a war zone rife with Soviet (aka Khanate) material back then. Since she was both on the ball, bright and knew the score, the War Council put her in overall command. She knew what was expected of her and off she went, new staff in hand. She was 64 years old, yet as ready and willing to serve as any 20 year old believer in the Cause.Subtlety, scarcity and audacity were the watchwords of the day. The Khanate couldn't afford any of their front-line aircraft for this 'expedition'. They really couldn't afford any of their second-rate stuff either. Fortunately, they had some updated third-rate war-fighting gear still capable of putting up an impressive show in combat ~ providing they weren't going up against a top tier opponents.For the 'volunteers' of the Union Air Force, this could very likely to be a one-way trip. They all needed crash courses (not a word any air force loves, I know) in Portuguese though hastily provided iPhones with 'apps' to act as translators were deemed to be an adequate stop-gap measure. Besides, they were advised to avoid getting captured at all cost. The E&S couldn't afford the exposure. Given the opportunity ~ this assignment really was going above and beyond ~ not one of these forty-six to sixty-seven year olds backed out.No, they rolled out fifty of their antiquated aircraft, designs dating back to the 1950's through the mid-70's, and prepared them for the over 10,000 km journey to where they were 'needed most'. 118 pilots would go (72 active plus 46 replacements) along with 400 ground crew and an equally aged air defense battalion (so their air bases didn't get blown up). Security would be provided by 'outsiders' ~ allies already on the ground and whatever rebels could be scrounged up. After the initial insertion, the Indian Air Force would fly in supplies at night into the Cabinda City and Soyo Airports.The composition,14 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 jet fighters ~ though she entered service in 1959, these planes' electronics were late 20th century and she was a renowned dogfighter. 12 were the Mig-21-97 modernized variant and the other two were Mig-21 UM two-seater trainer variants which could double as reconnaissance fighters if needed.14 Sukhoi Su-22 jet fighter-bombers ~ the original design, called the Su-17, came out in 1970, the first 12 were variants with the 22M4 upgrade were an early-80's package. The other 2 were Su-22U two-seat trainers which, like their Mig-21 comrades, doubled as reconnaissance fighters. The Su-22M4's would be doing the majority of the ground attack missions for the Cabindans, though they could defend themselves in aerial combat if necessary.6 Sukhoi Su-24M2 supersonic attack aircraft ~ the first model rolled off the production lines in the Soviet Union back in 1974. By far the heaviest planes in the Cabindan Air Force, the Su-24M2's would act as their 'bomber force' as well as anti-ship deterrence.8 Mil Mi-24 VM combat helicopters ~ introduced in 1972 was still a lethal combat machine today. Unlike the NATO helicopter force, the Mi-24's did double duty as both attack helicopter and assault transports at the same time.4 Mil Mi-8 utility helicopters, first produced in 1967. Three would act as troop/cargo transports (Mi-8 TP) while the fourth was configured as a mobile hospital (the MI-17 1VA).4 Antonov An-26 turboprop aircraft, two to be used as tactical transports to bring in supplies by day and two specializing in electronic intelligence aka listening to what the enemy was up to. Though it entered production in 1969, many still remained flying today.2 Antonov An-71M AEW&C twin-jet engine aircraft. These were an old, abandoned Soviet design the Earth & Sky had continued working on primarily because the current (1970's) Russian Airborne Early Warning and Control bird had been both huge and rather ineffective ~ it couldn't easily identify low-flying planes in the ground clutter so it was mainly only good at sea. Since the E&S planned to mostly fight over the land,They kept working on the An-71 which was basically 1977's popular An-72 with some pertinent design modifications (placing the engines below the wings instead of above them as on the -72 being a big one). To solve their radar problem, they stole some from the Swedish tech firm Ericsson, which hadn't been foreseen to be a problem before now.See, the Russians in the post-Soviet era created a decent AEW&C craft the E&S gladly stole and copied the shit out of for their front line units and it was working quite nicely ~ the Beriev A-50, and wow, were the boys in the Kremlin pissed off about that these days. Whoops, or was that woot?Now, the Khanate was shipping two An-71's down to Cabinda and somewhere along the line someone just might get a 'feel' for the style of radar and jamming the Cabindans were using aka the Swedish stuff in those An-71's. The Erieye radar system could pick out individual planes at 280 miles. The over-all system could track 60 targets and plot out 10 intercepts simultaneously. NATO, they were not, but in sub-Saharan Africa, there were none better.Anyway, so why was any of this important?Why the old folks with their ancient machines? As revealed, since the Earth & Sky had no idea when Temüjin would return, they were constantly squirreling away equipment. World War 2 gave them unequaled access to Soviet military technology and training.Afterwards, under Josef Stalin's direction, thousands of Russian and German engineers and scientists were exiled to Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan who were then snatched up (reportedly died in the gulags/trying to escape) and the E&S began building mirror factories modeled on the 'then current' Soviet production lines.So, by the early 1950's, the E&S was building, flying and maintaining Soviet-style Antonov, Beriev, Ilyushin, Myasishchev, Mikoyan-Gurevich, Sukhoi, Tupolev and Yakovlev airplanes. First in small numbers because their pool of pilots and specialists was so small.The E&S remedied this by creating both their own 'private' flight academies and technical schools. They protected their activities with the judicious use of bribes (they were remarkably successful with their economic endeavors on both side of the Iron Curtain) and murders (including the use of the Ghost Tigers).By 1960, the proto-Khanate had an air force. Through the next two decades they refined and altered their doctrine ~ moving away from the Soviet doctrine to a more pure combined-arms approach (the Soviets divided their air power into four separate arms ~ ADD (Long Range Aviation), FA (Front Aviation), MTA (Military Transport Aviation) and the V-PVO (Soviet Air Defenses ~ which controlled air interceptors).).It wasn't until the collapse of the Soviet Union and the independence of the various former SSR's that the E&S program really began to hit its stride. Still, while Russia faltered, China's PLAAF (Peoples' Liberation Army Air Force) began to take off. Since the Chinese could produce so much more, the E&S felt it had to keep those older planes and crews up to combat readiness. The younger field crews and pilots flew the newer models as they rolled off the secret production lines.Then the Unification War appeared suddenly, the E&S-turned Khanate Air Force skunked their PLAAF rivals due to two factors, a surprise attack on a strategic level and the fatal poisoning of their pilots and ground crews before they even got into the fight. For those Chinese craft not destroyed on the ground, the effects of Anthrax eroded their fighting edge. Comparable technology gave the Khanate their critical victory and Air Supremacy over the most important battlefields.What did this meant for those out-of-date air crews and pilots who had been training to a razor's edge for a month now? Their assignment had been to face down the Russians if they invaded. They would take their planes up into the fight even though this most likely would mean their deaths, but they had to try.When Operation Fun House put Russia in a position where she wasn't likely to jump on the Khanate, this mission's importance faded. The Russian Air Force was far more stretched than the Khanate's between her agitations in the Baltic and her commitments in the Manchurian, Ukrainian, Chechen and Georgian theaters.With more new planes rolling off the production lines, these reservist units began dropping down the fuel priority list, which meant lowering their flight times thus readiness. Only my hare-brained scheme had short-circuited their timely retirement. Had I realized I was getting people's grandparents killed, I would have probably made the same call anyway. We needed them.The KanateThe Khanate's #1 air superiority dogfighter was the Mig-35F. The #2 was the Mig-29. No one was openly discussing the Khanate's super-stealthy "Su-50", if that was what it was, because its existence 'might' suggest the Khanate also stole technology from the Indian defense industry, along with their laundry list of thefts from South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, the PRC, Russia and half of NATO.Her top multi-role fighters were the Su-47, Su-35S and Su-30SM. The Su-30 'Flanker-C/MK2/MKI were their 2nd team with plenty of 3rd team Su-27M's still flying combat missions as well.Strike fighters? There weren't enough Su-34's to go around yet, so the Su-25MS remained the Khanate's dedicated Close Air Assault model.Medium transport aircraft? The An-32RE and An-38. They had small, large and gargantuan transports as well.Bombers? The rather ancient jet-powered Tu-160M2's and Tu-22M2's as well as the even older yet still worthwhile turboprops ~ from 1956's ~ the Tu-95M S16.Helicopters? While they still flew updated variants of the Mil Mi-8/17 as military transports, the more optimized Kamov Ka-52 and Mil Mi-28 had replaced them in the assault role.Bizarrely, the Khanate had overrun several Chinese production lines of the aircraft frames and components ~ enough to complete fairly modern PLAAF (Peoples Liberation Army Air Force) FC-1 and J-10 (both are small multi-role fighter remarkably similar to the US F-16 with the FC-1 being the more advanced model, using shared Chinese-Pakistani technology and was designed for export,).They did have nearly two dozen to send, but they didn't have the pilots and ground crews trained to work with them, plus the FC-1 cost roughly $32 million which wasn't fundage any legitimate Cabindan rebels could get their hands on, much less $768 million (and that would just be for the planes, not the weeks' worth of fuel, parts and munitions necessary for what was forthcoming).Meanwhile, except for the An-26, which you could get for under $700,000 and the An-71, which were only rendered valuable via 'black market tech', none of the turboprop and jet aircraft the Khanate was sending were what any sane military would normally want. The helicopters were expensive ~ the 'new' models Mi-24's cost $32 million while the Mi-17's set you back $17 million. The one's heading to Cabinda didn't look 'new'.The Opposition:In contrast, the Angolan Air Force appeared far larger and more modern. Appearances can be deceptive, and they were. Sure, the models of Russian and Soviet-made aircraft they had in their inventory had the higher numbers ~ the Su-25, -27 and -30 ~ plus they had Mig-21bis's, Mig-23's and Su-22's, but things like training and up-keep didn't appear to be priorities for the Angolans.When you took into account the rampant corruption infecting all levels of Angolan government, the conscript nature of their military, the weakness of their technical educational system, the complexity of any modern combat aircraft and the reality that poor sods forced into being Air Force ground crewmen hardly made the most inspired technicians, or most diligent care-takers of their 'valuable' stockpiles (which their officers all too often sold on the black market anyway), things didn't just look bleak for the Angolan Air Force, they were a tsunami of cumulative factors heading them for an epic disaster.It wasn't only their enemies who derided their Air Force's lack of readiness. Their allies constantly scolded them about it too. Instead of trying to fix their current inventory, the Angolans kept shopping around for new stuff. Since 'new'-new aircraft was beyond what they wanted to spend (aka put too much of a dent in the money they were siphoning off to their private off-shore accounts), they bought 'used' gear from former Soviet states ~ Belarus, Russia and Ukraine ~ who sold them stuff they had left abandoned in revetments (open to the elements to slowly rot) on the cheap.To add to the insanity, the Angolans failed to keep up their maintenance agreements so their newly fixed high-tech machines often either couldn't fly, or flew without critical systems, like radar, avionics and even radios. Maybe that wasn't for the worst because after spending millions on these occasionally-mobile paperweights, the Angolans bought the least technologically advanced missile, gun and rocket systems they could get to put on these flying misfortunes.On the spread sheets, Angola had 18 Su-30K's, 18 Su-27, 12 Su-25's, 14 Su-22's, 22 Mig-23's, 23 Mig-21bis's and 6 Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano (a turboprop aircraft tailor-made for counter-insurgency operations), 105 helicopters with some combative ability and 21 planes with some airlift capacity. That equated to 81 either air superiority, or multi-role jet fighters versus the 12 Union Air Force (actually the Bakongo Uni o de Cabinda e Zaire, For as Armadas de Liberta  o, For a Area ~ Liberation Armed Forces, Air Force (BUCZ-FAL-FA) Mig-21-97's.It would seem lopsided except for the thousands of hours of flight experience the 'Unionists' enjoyed over their Angolan rivals. You also needed to take into account the long training and fanatic dedication of their ground crews to their pilots and their craft. Then you needed to take into account every Unionist aircraft, while an older airframe design, had updated (usually to the year 2000) technology lovingly cared for, as if the survival of their People demanded it.A second and even more critical factor was the element of surprise. At least the PRC and the PLAAF had contingencies for attacks from their neighbors in the forefront of their strategic planning. The Angolans? The only country with ANY air force in the vicinity was the Republic of South Africa (RSA) and they had ceased being a threat with the end of Apartheid and the rise of majority Black rule in that country nearly two decades earlier.In the pre-dawn hours of 'Union Independence Day', the FAL-FA was going to smash every Angolan Air base and air defense facility within 375 miles of Cabinda (the city). Every three hours after that, they would be hitting another target within their designated 'Exclusion Zone'. Yes, this 'Exclusion Zone' included a 'tiny' bit of DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) territory. The DRC didn't have an air force to challenge them though, so,Inside this 'Exclusion Zone', anything moving by sea, river, road, rail, or air without Unionist governmental approval was subject to attack, which would require neutral parties to acknowledge some semblance of a free and independent B U C Z. Worse for Angola, this 'Zone' included Angola's capital and its largest port, Luanda, plus four more of their ten largest urban centers. This could be an economic, military and humanitarian catastrophe if mishandled.The Angolan Army did not have significant anti-aircraft assets. Why would they? Remember, no one around them had much of an air force to worry about. The FAL-FA in turn could hit military convoys with TV-guided munitions 'beyond line of sight', rendering what they did have useless. It got worse for the Army after dark. The FAL-FA could and would fly at night whereas the average Angolan formation had Zip-Zero-Nadda night fighting capacity.Then geography added its own mountain of woes. As far as Cabinda was concerned, there was no direct land line to their border from Angola. Their coastal road only went as far as the port of Soyo where the Congo River hit the South Atlantic Ocean. Across that massive gap was the DRC where the road was not picked back up. Far up the coast was the DRC town of Muanda (with an airport) and though they did have a road which went north, it did not continue to the Cabindan border.Nope. To get at Cabinda from the south meant a long, torturous travel through northeastern Angola, into the heart of the DRC then entailed hooking west to some point 'close' to the Cabindan frontier before finally hoofing it overland through partially cleared farmland and jungle. Mind you, the DRC didn't have a native air force capable of protecting the Angolans in their territory so,In fact the only 'road' to Cabinda came from the Republic of Congo (Congo) to the north and even that was a twisted route along some really bad, swampy terrain. This had been the pathway of conquest the Angolans took 39 years earlier. The difference being the tiny bands of pro-independence Cabindan guerillas back then couldn't hold a candle to the Amazons fighting to free Cabinda this time around in numbers, zeal, training and up-to-date equipment.Next option ~ to come by sea. They would face a few, stiff problems, such as the FAL-FA having ship-killer missiles, the Angolan Navy not being able to defend them and the Unionists having no compunction to not strike Pointe-Noire in the 'not so neutral' Republic of the Congo if they somehow began unloading Angolan troops. It seemed the Republic of the Congo didn't have much of an Air Force either.Before you think the FAL-FA was biting off more than they could chew, Cabinda, the province, was shaped somewhat like the US State of Delaware, was half the size of Connecticut (Cabinda was 2,810 sq. mi. to Conn.'s 5,543 sq. mi.) and only the western 20% was relatively open countryside where the Angolan Army's only advantage ~ they possessed armed fighting vehicles while the 'Unionists' did not (at this stage of planning) ~ could hopefully come into play.Centered at their capital, Cabinda (City), jets could reach any point along their border within eight minutes. Helicopters could make it in fifteen. To be safe, some of the FAL-FA would base at the town of Belize which was in the northern upcountry and much tougher to get at with the added advantage the Angolans wouldn't be expecting the FAL-FA to be using the abandoned airfield there, at least initially.Where they afraid attacking Angolan troops in the DRC would invite war with the DRC? Sure, but letting the Angolans reach the border unscathed was worse. Besides, the DRC was in such a mess it needed 23,000 UN Peacekeepers within her borders just to keep the country from falling apart. Barring outside, read European, intervention, did "Democratically-elected since 2001" President (for Life) Joseph Kabila want the FAL-FA to start dropping bombs on his capital, Kinshasa, which was well within reach of all their aircraft?Congo (the country), to the north, wasn't being propped up by the UN, or anything else except ill intentions. In reality, it hardly had much of a military at all. Its officer corps was chosen for political reliability, not merit, or capability. Their technology was old Cold War stuff with little effort to update anything and, if you suspected corruption might be a problem across all spectrums of life, you would 'probably' be right about that too.If you suspected the current President had been in charge for a while, you would be correct again (1979-1992 then 2001- and the 'whoops' was when he accidently let his country experiment with democracy which led to two civil wars). If you suspected he was a life-long Communist (along with the Presidents of the DRC and Angola), you'd be right about that as well. Somehow their shared Marxist-Leninist-Communist ideology hadn't quite translated over to alleviating the grinding poverty in any of those countries despite their vast mineral wealth,At this point in the region's history, little Cabinda had everything to gain by striving for independence and the vast majority of 'warriors' who could possibly be sent against her had terribly little to gain fighting and dying trying to stop them from achieving her goal. After all, their lives weren't going to get any better and with the Amazons ability ~ nay willingness ~ to commit battlefield atrocities, those leaders were going to find it hard going to keep sending their men off to die.And then, it got even worse.See, what I had pointed out was there were two oil refineries in Angola, and neither was in Cabinda. Cabinda would need a refinery to start making good on their oil wealth ~ aka economically bribe off the Western economies already shaken over the Khanate's first round of aggressions.But wait! There was an oil refinery just across the Congo River from Cabinda ~ which meant it was attached to mainland Angola. That had to be a passel of impossible news, right?Nope. As I said earlier, it seemed the people of northern Angola were the same racial group as the Cabindans AND majority Catholic while the ruling clique wasn't part of their ethnic confederacy plus the farther south and east into Angola you went, the less Catholic it became.But it got better. This province was historically its own little independent kingdom (called the Kingdom of Kongo) to boot! It had been abolished by Portugal back in 1914.The 'good' news didn't end there. Now, it wasn't as if the leadership of Angola was spreading the wealth around to the People much anyway, but these northerners had been particularly left out of this Marxist version of 'Trickle Down' economics.How bad was this? This northwestern province ~ called Zaire ~ didn't have any railroads, or paved roads, linking it to the rest of the freaking country. The 'coastal road' entered the province, but about a third of the way up ran into this river, which they'd failed to bridge (you had to use a single track bridge farther to the northeast, if you can believe it). It wasn't even a big river. It was still an obstacle though.How did the Angolan government and military planned to get around? Why by air and sea, of course. Well, actually by air. Angola didn't have much of a merchant marine, or Navy, to make sealift a serious consideration. Within hours of the 'Union Declaration of Independence' anything flying anywhere north of the Luanda, the capital of Angola, would essentially be asking to be blown out of the sky.Along the border between Zaire province and the rest of Angola were precisely two chokepoints. By 'chokepoints', I meant places where a squad (10 trained, modernly-equipped troopers) could either see everything for miles & miles over pretty much empty space along a river valley and the only bridge separating Zaire province from the south, or overlook a ravine which the only road had to pass through because of otherwise bad-ass, broken terrain.Two.Zaire Province had roughly the same population as Cabinda ~ 600,000. Unlike Cabinda, which consisted of Cabinda City plus a few tiny towns and rugged jungles, Zaire had two cities ~ Soyo, with her seventy thousand souls plus the refinery at the mouth of the Congo River, and M'banza-Kongo, the historical capital of the Kingdom of Kongo, spiritual center of the Bakongo People (who included the Cabindans) and set up in the highlands strategically very reminiscent of Điện Biàn Phủ.Of Zaire's provincial towns, the only other strategic one was N'Zeto with her crappy Atlantic port facility and 2,230 meter grass airport. The town was the northern terminus of the National Road 100 ~ the Coastal Road. It terminated because of the Mebridege River. There wasn't a bridge at N'Zeto though there was a small one several miles upstream. N'Zeto was also where the road from provinces east of Zaire ended up, so you had to have N'Zeto ~ and that tiny bridge ~ to move troops overland anywhere else in Zaire Province.So you would think it would be easy for the Angolan Army to defend then, except of how the Amazons planned to operate. They would infiltrate the area first then 'rise up in rebellion'. Their problem was the scope of the operation had magnified in risk of exposure, duration and forces necessary for success.The serious issue before Saint Marie and the Host in Africa were the first two. They could actually move Amazons from Brazil and North America to bolster their numbers for the upcoming offensive. Even in the short-short term, equipment wouldn't be a serious problem. What the Amazons dreaded was being left in a protracted slugfest with the Angolan Army which the Condottieri could jump in on. The Amazons exceedingly preferred to strike first then vanish.There was reason to believe a tiny number could have stayed behind in Cabinda to help the locals prepare their military until they could defend themselves. They would need more than a hundred Amazons if Cabinda wanted to incorporate Zaire. The answer was to call back their newfound buddy, the Great Khan. While he didn't have much else he could spare (the Khanate was ramping up for their invasion of the Middle East after all, the Kurds needed the help), he had other allies he could call on.India couldn't help initially since they were supposed to supply the 'Peace-keepers' once a cease-fire had been arranged. That left Temujin with his solid ally, Vietnam, and his far shakier allies, the Republic of China and Japan.First off ~ Japan could not help, which meant they couldn't supply troops who might very well end up dead, or far worse, captured.. What they did have was a surplus of older equipment the ROC troops were familiar with, so while the ROC was gearing up for their own invasion of mainland China in February, they were willing to help the Chinese kill Angolans, off the books, of course.The ROC was sending fifteen hundred troops the Khanate's way to help in this West African adventure with the understanding they'd be coming home by year's end. With Vietnam adding over eight hundred of her own Special Forces, the Amazons had the tiny 'allied' army they could leave shielding Cabinda/Zaire once the first round of blood-letting was over.To be 'fair', the Republic of China and Vietnam asked for 'volunteers'. It wasn't like either country was going to declare war on Angola directly. Nearly a thousand members of Vietnam's elite 126th Regiment of the 5th Brigade (Đặc cáng bộ) took early retirement then misplaced their equipment as they went to update their visas and inoculations before heading out for the DRC (some would be slipping over the DRC/Cabindan border).On Taiwan, it was the men and women of the 602nd Air Cavalry Brigade, 871st Special Operations Group and 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion who felt the sudden desire to 'seek enlightenment elsewhere, preferably on another continent'.They too were off to the Democratic Republic of Congo, man that country was a mess and their border security wasn't worth writing home about, that's for damn sure, via multiple Southeast Asian nations. Besides, they were being issued fraudulently visas which showed them to be from the People's Republic of China, not the ROC/Taiwan. If they were captured, they were to pretend to "be working for a Communist Revolution inside Angola and thus to be setting all of Africa on fire!" aka be Mainland Chinese.There, in the DRC, these Chinese stumbled across, some Japanese. These folks hadn't retired. No. They were on an extended assignment for the UN's mission in, the DRC. OH! And look! They'd brought tons of surplus, outdated Japanese Self Defense Forces' equipment with them, and there just so happened to be some Taiwanese who had experience in using such equipment (both used US-style gear).And here was Colonel Yoshihiro Isami of the Chūō Sokuō Shūdan (Japan's Central Readiness Force) wondering why he and his hastily assembled team had just unloaded,18 Fuji/Bell AH-1S Cobra Attack helicopters,6 Kawasaki OH-6D Loach Scout helicopters,12 Fuji-Bell 204-B-2 Hiyodori Utility helicopters,6 Kawasaki/Boeing CH-47JA Chinook Transport helicopters and4 Mitsubishi M U-2L-1 Photo Reconnaissance Aircraft.Yep! 46 more aircraft for the FAL-FA!Oh, and if this wasn't 'bad enough', the Chinese hadn't come alone. They'd brought some old aircraft from their homes to aid in the upcoming struggle. Once more, these things were relics of the Cold War yet both capable fighting machines and, given the sorry state of the opposition, definitely quite deadly. A dozen F-5E Tiger 2000 configured primarily for air superiority plus two RF-5E Tigergazer for reconnaissance, pilots plus ground crews, of course.Thus, on the eve of battle, the FAL-FA had become a true threat. Sure, all of its planes (and half of its pilots) were pretty old, but they were combat-tested and in numbers and experience no other Sub-Saharan African nation could match.The Liberation Ground Forces:But wait, there was still the niggling little problem of what all those fellas were going to fight with once they were on the ground. Assault/Battle rifles, carbines, rifles, pistols, PDW, SMGs as bullets, grenades and RPG's were all terrifyingly easy to obtain. The coast of West Africa was hardly the Port of London as far as customs security went. They were going to need some bigger toys and their host nations were going to need all their native hardware for their upcoming battles at home.And it wasn't like you could advertise for used IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicles), APCs (armored personnel carriers) and tanks on e-Bay, Amazon.com, or Twitter. If something modern US, or NATO, was captured rolling around the beautiful Angolan countryside, shooting up hostile Angolans, all kinds of head would roll in all kinds of countries, unless the country,A) had an Executive Branch and Judiciary who wouldn't ask (or be answering) too many uncomfortable questions,B) wasn't all that vulnerable to international pressure,C) really needed the money and,D) didn't give a fuck their toys would soon be seen on BBC/CNN/Al Jazeera blowing the ever-living crap out of a ton of Africans aka doing what they were advertised to do and doing it very well in the hands of capable professionals.And politics was kind enough to hand the freedom-loving people of Cabinda & Zaire a winner, and it wasn't even from strangers, or at least people all that strange to their part of the Globe. If you would have no idea who to look for, you wouldn't be alone.That was the magic of the choice. See, the last three decades had seen the entire Globe take a colossal dump on them as a Nation and a People. They were highly unpopular for all sorts of things, such as Crimes Against Humanity and 'no', we were not talking about the Khanate.We would be talking about Република Србија / Republika Srbija aka Serbia aka the former Yugoslavia who had watched all their satellite minions (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo and Macedonia) slip away. Despite being reduced to a tiny fraction of their former selves thus fighting two incredibly brutal and bloody World Wars for nothing, Serbia insisted on maintaining a robust armaments industry.Mind you, they didn't make the very best stuff on the planet. That didn't stop them from trying though. Of equal importance was their geographic location and the above mentioned desire for some hard currency without asking too many questions. The geography was simple, you could move even heavy gear unnoticed from central Serbia to the Montenegrin port of Bar by rail and load them up on freighters and off to the Congo you went.The Serbians produced an APC called the BVP M-80A's which weren't blowing anyone's minds away when they started rolling off the production lines back in 1982, plus some over-eager types on the Serbian Army's payroll sweetened the deal by offering 'the rebels' some BVP M-80 KC's and a KB as well.Then they slathered on the sugary-sweet Maple syrup by upgrading a few of the M-80A's to BVP M-98A's. Why would they be so generous? The KC's and KB were the Command & Control variants, so that made sense (C = company & B = battalion commander). The -98A had never been tested in the field before and they were kind of curious how the new turrets (which was the major difference) would behave. 'Our' procurement agents didn't quibble. We needed the gear.Besides, these Slavic entrepreneurs gave them an inside track on some 'disarmed/mothballed' Czech (introduced in 1963) armored mobile ambulances and Polish BWP-1 (first rolled out in 1966) APC's which were either in, or could be quickly configured into, the support variants those ground-fighters would need. The 'disarmed' part was 'fixable', thanks to both the Serbians and Finland. The 'missing' basic weaponry was something the Serbians could replace with virtually identical equipment.It just kept getting better. Unknown to me at the time, the Finnish firm, Patria Hágglunds, had sold twenty-two of their 'most excellent' AMOS turrets ~ they are a twin 120 mm mortar system ~ then the deal fell through. Whoops! Should have guarded that warehouse better. Those bitches were on a cargo plane bound for Albania inside of six hours.The ammunition for them was rather unique. Thankfully, it was uniquely sold by the Swiss, who had no trouble selling it to Serbia, thank you very much! Twenty-two BWP-1's became mobile artillery for the Unionist freedom fighters, though I understood the ship ride with the Serbian and Chinese technicians was loads of fun as they struggled to figured out how to attach those state-of-the-art death-dealing turrets to those ancient contraptions.To compensate, the Serbians added (aka as long as our money was good) two Nora B-52 155 mm 52-calibre mobile artillery pieces and one battery of Orkan CER MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) for long-range artillery, two batteries of their Oganj 2000 ER MRLS for medium range carnage and six batteries of their M-94 MRLS for 'close support' as well. More field-testing new gear for the "freedom fighters" We also managed to 'purchase' ten M-84AS Main Battle tanks plus an M-84A1 armor recovery vehicle. It should have been twelve tanks, but two had 'loading issues'.Not to be deterred, our busy little procurement-beavers discovered four tanks no one was using, in neighboring Croatia. Why wasn't anyone immediately keen on their placement? They were two sets of prototypes, Croatia's improvements on the M-84; the M-95 Degman which was a 'failed redesign' and the M-84D, which was a vast up-grade for the M-84 line which had been sidelined by the 2008 Global economic collapse, after which the project stagnated.It seemed they were all in working order because late one night 'my people' exited a Croatian Army base with them, never to be seen again, until two weeks later when an intrepid news crew caught the distinctive form of the M-95 sending some sweet 125 mm loving the Angolan Army's way. Whoops yet again! At least they hit what they were aiming at and destroyed what they hit, right?By then, millions of other people would be going 'what the fuck?' right along with them as Cabinda's camouflage- and mask-wearing rebel army was laying the smack-down on the Angolans. That was okay; over a million 'free Cabindan Unionists' were in the same boat. Over a thousand Asians with their mostly-female militant translators were right there to prop up their 'Unionist Allies', but then they were the ones with the tanks, armored vehicles, planes and guns, so they were less worried than most.To pilot these tanks, APC, IFV and man this artillery, they had to go back to the Khanate. Sure enough, they had some old tankers used to crewing the T-72 from which the M-84's and -95 Degman were derived. They'd also need drivers for those BVP M-80A's and Polish BWP-1's and OT-64 SKOT's... who were, again, derived from old Soviet tech (just much better). The Serbian artillery was similar enough to Soviet stuff, but with enough new tech to make it 'more fun' for the reservists to 'figure out' how to use.More volunteers for the Liberation Armed Forces! More Apple sales, great apps and voice modulation software so that the vehicle commanders would be heard communicating in Portuguese if someone was eavesdropping. As a final offering the Turkish Navy spontaneously developed some plans to test their long range capabilities by going to, the South Atlantic.On the final leg they would have six frigates and two submarines, enough to give any navy in the region, which wasn't Brazil, something to think about. This was a show of force, not an actual threat though. If anyone called their bluff, the Khanate-Turkish forces would have to pull back. These were not assets my Brother, the Great Khan, could afford to gamble and lose.If someone didn't call that bluff, he was also sending two smaller, older corvettes and three even smaller, but newer, fast attack boats, a "gift" to the Unionists ASAP. The frigates would then race home, they had 'other' issues to deal with while the submarines would hang around for a bit. The naval gift was necessitated by the reality the Unionists would have to press their claim to their off-shore riches and that required a naval force Angola couldn't hope to counter.As things were developing, it was reckoned since a build-up of such momentous land and air power couldn't be disguised, it had to happen in a matter of days ~ four was decided to be the minimum amount of time. More than that and the government of the Democratic Republic might start asking far too many questions our hefty bribes and dubious paperwork couldn't cover. Less than that would leave the task forces launching operations with too little a chance of success.Our biggest advantage was audacity. The buildup would happen 100 km up the Congo River from Soyo, the primary target of the Southern Invasion, in the DRC's second largest port city, Boma. Though across the river was Angolan territory, there was nothing there. The city of roughly 160,000 would provide adequate cover for the initial stage of the invasion.There they grouped their vehicles & Khanate drivers with Amazon and Vietnamese combat teams. The Japanese were doing the same for their 'Chinese' counterparts for their helicopter-borne forces. Getting all their equipment in working order in the short time left was critical as was creating some level of unit dynamic. Things were chaotic. No one was happy. They were all going in anyway.What had gone wrong?While most children her age were texting their schoolmates, or tackling their homework, Aya Ruger ~ the alias of Nasusara Assiyaiá hamai ~ was getting briefings of her global, secret empire worth hundreds of billions and those of her equally nefarious compatriots. She received a very abbreviated version of what the Regents received, delivered by a member of Shawnee Arinniti's staff.When Aya hopped off her chair unexpectedly, everyone tensed. Her bodyguards' hands went to their sidearms and Lorraine (her sister by blood), also in the room on this occasion, stood and prepared to tackle her 'former' sibling to the ground if the situation escalated into an assassination attempt. No such attack was generated, so the security ratcheted down and the attendant returned her focus to her Queen. Aya paced four steps, turned and retraced her way then repeated the action three more times."How many people live in the combined areas?" she asked."The combined areas? Of Cabinda and Zaire?""Yes.""I," the woman referenced her material, "roughly 1.1 million.""What is the yearly value of the offshore oil and natural gas production?""Forty-nine billion, eighty hundred and sixty-seven million by our best estimates at this time,""How many live in Soyo City proper?""Roughly 70,000.""We take Soyo," she spoke in a small yet deliberate voice. "We take and hold Soyo as an independent city-state within the Cabindan-Zaire Union. From the maps it appears Soyo is a series of islands. It has a port and airport. It has an open border to an ocean with weaker neighbors all around.""What of the, Zairians?""Bakongo. As a people they are called the Bakongo," Aya looked up at the briefer. "We relocate those who need to work in Soyo into a new city, built at our expense, beyond the southernmost water barrier. The rest we pay to relocate elsewhere in Zaire, or Cabinda."By the looks of those around her, Aya realized she needed to further explain her decisions."This is more than some concrete home base for our People," she began patiently. "In the same way it gives our enemies a clearly delineated target to attack us, it is a statement to our allies we won't cut and run if things go truly bad.""In the same way it will provide us with diplomatic recognition beyond what tenuous handouts we are getting from Cáel Wakko Ishara's efforts through JIKIT. Also, it is a reminder we are not like the other Secret Societies in one fundamental way, we are not a business concern, or a religion. We are a People and people deserve some sort of homeland. We have gone for so long without.""But Soyo?" the aide protested. "We have no ties to it, and it backs up to, nothing.""Northern Turkey and southern Slovakia mean nothing to us now as well," Aya debated. "No place on Earth is any more precious than another. As for backing up to nothing, no. You are incorrect. It backs into a promise from our allies in the Earth & Sky that if we need support, they know where to park their planes and ships."Aya was surrounded with unhappy, disbelieving looks."The Great Khan is my mamētu meáeda," she reminded them, "and I have every reason to believe he completely grasps the concept's benefits and obligations."The looks confirmed 'but he's a man' to the tiny Queen."Aya, are you sure about this?" Lorraine was the first to break decorum."Absolutely. Do you know what he sent me when he was informed of my, ascension to the Queendom?""No," Lorraine admitted."We must go horse-riding sometime soon, Daughter of Cáel, Queen of the Amazons."More uncertain and unconvinced looks."He didn't congratulate me, or send any gifts. He could have and you would think he would have, but he didn't. He knew the hearts of me & my Atta and we weren't in the celebratory mood. No. The Great Khan sent one sentence which offered solace and quiet, atop a horse on a windswept bit of steppe."Nothing.Sigh. "I know this sounds Cáel-ish," Aya admitted, "but I strongly believe this is what we should do. We are giving the Cabindans and Bakongo in Zaire independence and the promise of a much better life than what they now face. We will be putting thousands of our sisters' lives on the line to accomplish this feat and well over two hundred million dollars.""What about governance of the city ~ Soyo?" the aide forged ahead."Amazon law," Aya didn't hesitate. "We will make allowances for the security forces of visiting dignitaries and specific allied personnel, but otherwise it will be one massive Amazon urban freehold.""I cannot imagine the Golden Mare, or the Regents, will be pleased," the attendant bowed her head."It is a matter of interconnectivity," Aya walked up and touched the woman's cheek with the back of her small hand. "We could liberate then abandon Cabinda with the hope a small band could help them keep their independence. Except we need the refinery at Soyo so the people of Cabinda can truly support that liberty.""So, we must keep Soyo and to keep Soyo, we must keep Zaire province. There is no other lesser border which makes strategic sense ~ a river, highlands, a massive river, an ocean ~ those are sustainable frontiers. You can't simply keep Soyo and not expect the enemy to strike and destroy that refinery, thus we must take Zaire province.""But the Bakongo of Zaire cannot defend themselves and will not be able to do so for at least a year, if not longer. That means we must do so, and for doing so, they will give us Soyo and we will be honest stewards of their oil wealth. We cannot expect any other power to defend this new Union and if we don't have a land stake we will be portrayed as mercenaries and expelled by hostile international forces.""So, for this project to have any chance of success, we must stay, fight and have an acknowledged presence, and if you can think of an alternative, please let me know," she exhaled."What if the Cabindans and Bakongo resist?""It is 'us', or the Angolans and they know how horrible the Angolans can be. Didn't you say the average person their lives on just $2 a day?""Yes.""We can do better than that," Aya insisted."How?" the aide persisted. "I mean, 'how in a way which will be quickly evident and meaningful?'""Oh," Aya's tiny brow furrowed. Her nose twitched as she rummaged through the vast storehouse of her brain."Get me in touch with William A. Miller, Director of the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service. He should be able to help me navigate the pathways toward getting aid and advisors into those two provinces ASAP.""I'll let Katrina know," the attendant made the notation on her pad."No. Contact him directly," Aya intervened. "We established a, rapport when we met. I think he might responded positively to a chance to mentor me in foreign relations.""Really?" Lorraine's brows arched."Yes," Aya chirped."Are you sure, Nasusara?" the attendant stared. She used 'Nasusara' whenever she thought Aya had a 'horrible' idea instead of a merely a 'bad' one."Yes. He owes me. Last time we met I didn't shoot him.""Didn't?" the woman twitched."Yes. I drew down on him with my captured Chinese QSW-06. I didn't want to kill him, but I felt I was about to have to kill Deputy National Security Advisor Blinken and he was the only other person in the room both armed and capable of stopping me.""Why is he still alive?""Cáel Ishara saw through my distraction and then took my gun from me, asked for it actually," she shyly confessed."Would you have shot him?" the aide inquired."What do you think?" Aya smiled.And Then:So, given t

Fourth-grade students at Hathaway Elementary in Washougal were captivated by Sam Robinson's dynamic presentation on Chinook heritage, songs, and traditional stories. Learn how local youth are connecting with Indigenous history and why one donated book helps bring the past to life. Read the full story at https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/youth/chinook-history-captivates-hathaway-fourth-graders/ #localnews #ClarkCountyWa #ChinookHistory #WashougalSchools #IndigenousHeritage #SamRobinson #YouthEducation #CulturalLearning

Join us on New England Outdoor Life as we dive into Lake Ontario's world-class fishery with Captain Andy Bliss of Chasing Tail Adventures. From trophy Chinook salmon to steelhead and brown trout, Captain Andy shares his expertise on year-round fishing opportunities, seasonal fishing tactics, and how Oswego, NY, has become a hotspot for anglers. Whether you're planning your next Great Lakes fishing trip or looking for expert salmon fishing tips, this episode has everything you need to know!Book a trip with Capt. Andy HereGet out on the water with Capt. Matt HereSome places Capt. Andy Recommends:Pautzke Bait Co Inc.Gibbs FishingFat Nancy's Tackle ShopA-TOM-MIK Trolling FliesStealthcraft BoatsKingpin ReelsGreat Lakes Steelhead Co

What is it like to deploy as the Task Force Commander for a violent mission in Mali? What difficulties does working with the UN bring? What is it like to be the Commander of 1 Canadian Air Division, or 1 CAD, and have 5 different official jobs? What modernization projects and new aircraft is the RCAF getting? Major-General Chris McKenna has over 2600 flying hours and is currently the Commander of 1 CAD. In this episode we'll talk about his time in Mali, his time as the Commander of 1 Wing and his current position as Commander 1 CAD. We'll also begin our talk about the amazing new modernization projects and aircraft that are coming online in the near future (or are already here)! Tune in today!

Here's the updated Buffalo Beer Buzz with BuffaloBeerLeague.com included:Buffalo Beer Buzz – This Week's Highlights

What is it like to deploy to Kandahar City, Afghanistan with JTF2 as a young officer in the RCAF? What about to return flying the CH-147D Chinook? Major-General Chris McKenna has over 2600 flying hours and is currently the Commander of 1 Canadian Air Division, or 1 CAD. In this episode we'll talk about his early flight training, his deployments to Afghanistan, as well as his time as the Commanding Officer of 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron flying the CH-147F Chinook. Tune in today!

#734 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/734   Presented by: FishHound Expeditions Did you know that large-scale trawling is wiping out Alaska's wild salmon, halibut, and other key species? In this episode, we talk with Adam Cuthriell of Fishhound Expeditions about the bycatch crisis—where thousands of fish are caught and discarded every year. Adam breaks down how trawlers operate, the impact on fisheries, and what we can do to fight back. From signing petitions to making smarter seafood choices, we all have a role to play. Tune in to learn how you can help protect Alaska's fish and fishing communities. Episode Chapters with Adam Cuthriell on The Bycatch Crisis The Fight Against Bycatch: What You Need to Know Alaska's fish populations are under serious threat, and commercial trawlers are a big part of the problem. Adam Cuthriell breaks down the devastating impact of trawling, where massive ships drag enormous nets, destroying everything in their path. The biggest target? Pollock—the fish found in fast food sandwiches and fish sticks. But the real cost is the destruction of salmon, halibut, and other species, which is hitting indigenous Alaskan communities the hardest. How You Can Help: Sign the petition at SalmonState.org/bycatch. Contact your local congressperson. Testify through North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC). The Devastating Impact of Bycatch in Alaska Adam shares shocking numbers—tens of thousands of Chinook and chum salmon, millions of pounds of halibut, and even orcas are being caught, killed, and tossed overboard. Meanwhile, indigenous communities and small businesses that rely on these fish are suffering. What's at Stake? Indigenous Communities – Many rely on salmon for food, but fishing bans leave them with nothing. Small Businesses – Fishing lodges and guide services are shutting down due to dwindling fish populations. Alaska's Economy – 93% of revenue from trawling doesn't even stay in the state. Sustainable Seafood Choices: How You Can Help Alaska's Fisheries Trawling is devastating Alaska's fish populations, but there are better ways to harvest seafood. Adam shares how other sustainable methods could help—but big corporations aren't making the switch. Why? Because trawling is the cheapest way to fill freezers with fish sticks and imitation crab. How You Can Take Action: Skip the Fish Sticks – Many frozen fish products come from unsustainable trawling. Avoid Imitation Crab – Most fake crab in sushi is made from trawled Pollock. Choose Wild-Caught Seafood – Look for labels that confirm responsible sourcing. Fighting for Alaska's King Salmon – Why Action is Needed Now Adam shares his firsthand experience witnessing the decline of Alaska's once-thriving Chinook salmon population. What was once an abundant and essential part of life—both for Alaskan culture and the economy—is now disappearing at an alarming rate. Key Takeaways: Spring Chinook are disappearing. Once plentiful from late May to early July, these fish are now nearly absent from the rivers where they used to spawn. A personal loss: Adam recalls catching kings in ankle-deep water after guiding trips. Now, his daughter may never get to experience the thrill of landing a wild Alaska king. Alaska's salmon can recover, but only if we act now. Let's make sure future generations can still witness these incredible fish running up the rivers where they belong. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/734  

What is it like to survive a mid-air collision with the Snowbirds? What does it feel like to join an Aurora crew on operations in the Mediterranean Sea for Op Sharp Guard? What does it take to make the jump from publisher to having an aviation podcast network?  Today, we sit down with renowned air-to-air photographer and publisher Mike Reyno to discuss his many adventures and experiences in air-to-air photography and beyond.

In our last interview with the outgoing head coach, we recap the time his team got to spend in Missoula at the state tournament. He took the time to praise his girls for the way they competed not only there, but for the entire season. We also ask what is next as he is going to be retiring in May.

THIS EPISODE BROUGHT TO YOU BY: You'll notice that there's no sponsor in this episode.  We'd love it if you'd consider supporting on Patreon.   PATREON - patreon.com/nodumbquestions  NDQ EMAIL LIST - https://www.nodumbquestions.fm/email-list    STUFF IN THIS EPISODE: Apache in Action MH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters for Special Operations Future Vertical Lift Helicopter Osprey Helicopter Chinook Helicopter S-97 Raider Helicopter No Dumb Questions Episode 181 - Matt and Destin go to a Pro Wrestling Match The Hurt Locker Grocery Store Scene Newsweek - The End of Self-Checkouts? Ryan George - If Checkers Behaved Like Self-Checkouts CONNECT WITH NO DUMB QUESTIONS: Support No Dumb Questions on Patreon if that sounds good to you Discuss this episode here NDQ Subreddit Our podcast YouTube channel Our website is nodumbquestions.fm No Dumb Questions Twitter Matt's Twitter Destin's Twitter SUBSCRIBE LINKS: Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Android OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS ARE ALSO FUN: Matt's YouTube Channel (The Ten Minute Bible Hour) Destin's YouTube Channel (Smarter Every Day)

Show #296 The Milwaukee Minute (or 5) Wisconsin Bike Week - https://wisconsinbikefed.org/events/ - June 1st to 8th Jake got his Bullit back! This Is It! closes after nearly 57 years - https://www.fox6now.com/video/1605670  Glasses found! Christopher Walken - Severance -  “We had to cancel our trip to Milwaukee” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHarqcHCns4 Talkin' Schmack Fat-bike Birkie Coverage Sven and Seeley Dave - Fat-bike.com - https://fat-bike.com/2025/03/fat-bike-birkie-2025-race-coverage/ Locat coverage - https://www.wisbusiness.com/2025/american-birkebeiner-ski-foundation-fat-bike-birkie-thrills-riders-and-spectators-with-an-unforgettable-race-day/ Substack - https://substack.com/@fatbikedotcom  Swrve Shutdown continues - 4-Way Stretch Grey Wash CORDURA® Jeans - 40% Off - https://swrve.us/ JP's sand revelation Leave us a comment! Let us know what we are doing matters to you. Daylight Saving Time Panorama Cycles Chic Chocs 3 Fatbike Show Beer - Sierra Nevada - Rad Little Thing IPA - West Coast Hazy - With DBJ on the dash Rad Little Thing is the ultimate ride for IPA fans from coast to coast. Combining classic West Coast hop flavors of pine and citrus with smooth East Coast haze — it's a radical twist on IPAs. Only available until MAy 2025 STYLE - WEST COAST HAZY IPA ABV - 7% IBU - 50 MALTS - Two-row Pale HOPS - Bravo, Chinook, Citra, Crystal, Magnum YEAST - Ale   Stuff for sale on Facebook Marketplace Call-in to 717-727-2453 and leave us a message about how cycling is making your life better! WMSE Super Belated Holiday Party at Lakefront Brewery Shit Worth Doing April 18th - The Green Mile - Milwaukee, WI April 19th - Milwaukee Messenger Invitational (MMI) June 19th to 29th - Tour of America's Dairyland - Southeast Wisconsin - https://www.tourofamericasdairyland.com/ August 22, 23, 24 - 2025 - MADE! - Portland, Oregon, Zidell Yards - https://made.bike   September 15th - Chequamegon MTB Festival - Cable, WI - https://www.cheqmtb.com/ Bikes! Large Schlick Cycles APe for aggressive fatbiking - Purple. Possibly the last APe! Definitely the last Teesdale-built APe! Large Schlick Cycles 29+ Custom Build - Black Medium Schlick Cycles 29+ Custom Build - Orange Large Schlick Cycles Tatanka, Orange. Schlick Fatbikes A bunch of Schlick Growler (Zen Bicycle Fabrications AR 45) frames for custom builds. 29+ Schlick Cycles frames for custom builds Contact info@everydaycycles.com Call-in to 717-727-2453 and leave us a message about how cycling is making your life better! =============================Equipment we use during the production of Full Spectrum Cycling:============================= Cameras Mevo Core - https://amzn.to/3VpGzmJ - (Amazon) Mevo Start - https://amzn.to/3ZG2B7y - (Amazon) Panasonic 25mm 1.7 lens - https://amzn.to/3OH8Ph0 - (Amazon) Olympus 12mm-42mm lens - https://amzn.to/4iiEyCO - (Amazon) Audio Rode Podcaster Pro II - https://amzn.to/3xKbRfI  (Amazon) Microphones Earthworks Ethos Microphone - https://amzn.to/4eR6kEC  (Amazon) MXL BCD-1 Dynamic Microphone - https://amzn.to/3Yigjx9  (Amazon) Rode Wireless Go II - https://amzn.to/3Su114D  (Amazon) Audio Technica BPHS1 Headset Mics - https://amzn.to/4cXebi2  (Amazon) Blue Compass Boom Arm - https://amzn.to/4cClJr1  (Amazon) Accessories Ulanzi Crab Tripod - https://amzn.to/3WIxWVk  (Amazon) Neewer Camera Desk Mount with Overhead Camera Mounting Arm and 1/4" Ball Head, 17" - 41" Adjustable Tabletop Light Stand with C Clamp - https://amzn.to/3Wuo5Bc  (Amazon) =============================Disclosure: Some of the links on this page may be affiliate links. Clicking these and making a purchase will directly support Full Spectrum Cycling. Thanks!=============================

This week's episode is a special one, as Matt reviews Requiem for Halloween, a Red IPA brewed by his very own home brewery, Big Monster Brewing. Originally crafted for his homebrew club's Christmas exchange, this beer combines his love of Halloween with bold, seasonal flavors. But does it live up to his own standards? Matt dives into the inspiration behind Big Monster Brewing, sharing how kaiju movies became a staple of his brew days and why he continues to push Halloween into Christmas beer traditions. He also gets brutally honest about his recipe—acknowledging his long-standing struggle with Chinook hops and how their resinous, piney character clashes with his palate. Despite that, the beer was a hit among his homebrew club peers! In this episode: A BJCP-style evaluation where Requiem for Halloween scores 36 out of 50, making it the lowest-rated beer on the show so far—though Matt's own bias against Chinook may play a role! The story behind the beer's creation, including his efforts to brew with only the ingredients he had on hand. A hilarious twist on the usual one-star review segment—since no real reviews exist, Matt asked ChatGPT to generate scathing fake reviews, roasting his own beer in the most dramatic way possible. This episode also comes with some big news about the future of Matt Likes Beer, as Matt explains how an unexpected job change may shake up the show's schedule. Listen now on Neozaz.com, BigMonsterBrewing.com, or your favorite podcast platform. Whether you love homebrewing, Halloween, or just a good beer story, this one's worth a listen!

With Divisionals in the rearview mirror, coach Seymour gives us a small scouting report of the upcoming opponent, Florence-Carlton. We also says why his team is seasoned enough to make a run at the State B tournament in Missoula this week.

Tune in to this episode for an exciting announcement about the podcast! Following that, we will sit down with renowned air-to-air photographer and publisher Mike Reyno. What is it like to work extensively with the RCAF conducting air-to-air photography with every Squadron in the RCAF? What does it take to get the perfect shot - and what gets you noticed by a publisher? We will talk about this and much more on today's episode of The Pilot Project Podcast.

#724 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/724  Presented by: Drifthook Fly Fishing Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors  Streamer fishing for trout is all about movement, and few people understand it better than Tommy Lynch. In this episode, Tommy breaks down his four-step framework for fishing streamers, explains the difference between suicide fish and would-be predators, and shares why most anglers aren't getting the full potential out of their sink tips. If you're looking to up your game on big browns in small creeks, this episode is packed with tips you won't want to miss. Episode Chapters with Tommy Lynch on Streamer Fishing for Trout How to Fish Streamers Like a Jerkbait for Big Browns Streamer fishing isn't just about casting and stripping. It's about making your fly move like a wounded baitfish—something trout can't resist. Tommy explains that the best way to do this is by mimicking the action of a jerkbait, specifically the black and gold No. 13 Rapala, which has been deadly on brown trout for years. Four Key Techniques for Streamer Action: Down Swat - A true jerkbait-style movement where you “swat” the fly through the water to make it dart and dig before swimming out. Straight Strip - A steady retrieve with small breaks in rhythm, mimicking an injured baitfish. Proper Placement – You want the fly close enough for the trout to see and react but not so close that it spooks them. Reading the Fish – Watch for slight movements—if a trout shifts left or right, it's game on. The Two Types of Trout: Suicide Fish vs. Would-be Predators When streamer fishing, Tommy breaks down trout into two categories: suicide fish and would-be predators. Understanding these can help you dial in your approach. Suicide Fish These trout sit tight against structure, waiting to ambush anything that moves. They don't need much convincing—just proof of life. A quick down swat and pause can be enough to trigger a strike. Key to this is using slack to let your sink tip actually sink. Just casting and waiting won't cut it. You need to shake out line or reach toward the fly to help it drop. Would-Be Predators These fish aren't actively hunting but can be triggered into striking. They often hang in slower water, watching for an easy meal. A straight strip in the middle of the retrieve keeps their interest, but the real trick is slowing down near the end. That pause can be enough to flip a passive trout into attack mode. Whether you're targeting an aggressive fish or coaxing a hesitant one, understanding their behavior is key. And remember—just because you bought a sink tip doesn't mean it's sinking. Use it right, or you're just dragging it through the water. Essential Streamers for Trout Fishing When it comes to streamers, Tommy keeps a variety on hand. From classic muddler minnows to modern swim flies, each has a purpose. Go-To Patterns Muddler Minnow – A timeless fly, perfect for imitating minnows, especially during fry season. Sex Dungeon – A bigger, articulated fly that moves aggressively in the water. Blane's Game Changer – A segmented fly with a lifelike swimming action, great in slow water. Great Lakes Deceiver – A swim fly with a broad, gliding motion, ideal for provoking strikes. Matching the hatch is key. Some days, trout want small minnows on a five-weight. Other days, they'll chase down a big meal. Adjusting your presentation—whether it's a slow jerk or a fast retrieve—can make all the difference. Small Stream Brown Trout: Stealth and Strategy Fishing small creeks for brown trout is a whole different game. Tight water, overhanging trees, and spooky fish make for a serious challenge. But the reward? Lots of fish and zero crowds. Key Tactics for Small Creeks Stealth is everything – Move slowly and blend in. Stand still, and trout may swim right up to you. Cast upstream – This keeps your fly in the trout's line of sight while reducing drag. Short leaders work – A 6- to 7-foot leader helps control the fly without excess slack. Walk far, fish hard – Many of these waters require hiking in. The more effort, the fewer people you'll see. Michigan's small streams are packed with wild brown trout, and many are rarely fished. If you're willing to put in the miles, you'll find fish that are aggressive, unpressured, and ready to eat. Finding Big Browns in Tiny Creeks Small creeks may be tight, but they hold more fish than you'd think—including some big browns. The trick is knowing where to look. What to Look For Heavy structure – Undercut banks, log jams, and tag alder thickets create safe zones for trout. Hidden water – Spots that seem impossible to fish often hold the best fish. Naive trout – Less pressure means more aggressive fish willing to hit a well-placed fly. Fishing these small creeks is an adventure. You'll crawl through brush, jump logs, and make tight casts. But the reward? Wild trout in untouched water. And sometimes, a true giant where you least expect it. Winter Streamer Fishing: When to Go and What to Expect Streamer fishing in winter isn't always easy, but it's worth it. The fish are bigger, more aggressive, and fewer people are on the water. Tommy follows weather windows, layering up to chase those cold-water eats. Key Seasonal Patterns Fall (October–November) – Browns are aggressive but defensive. They hit flies to chase off intruders, not necessarily to eat. Post-Spawn (December–January) – Big fish get hungry. They need calories after spawning, so the strikes are all about feeding. Late Winter (February–March) – Fewer bites, but larger fish. Some exhausted browns even take swung flies, which is rare. When streamer fishing slows down, steelhead take center stage. By late November, Tommy swaps the strip flies for two-handed swing flies. If you're tough enough to fish in freezing temps, you might just hook into a monster. The Salmon Invasion: How It's Changing Michigan's Trout Fishing Salmon runs bring big fish and big crowds. But the rise in anglers chasing Chinook has made traditional trout fishing tougher. Once, anglers could target big browns feeding on salmon eggs. Now, with more people pushing upriver, those spots are packed early in the season. The solution? Hike farther, fish hidden creeks, and find spots that others overlook. The browns are still there—you just have to work harder to reach them. Show Notes:  https://wetflyswing.com/724  

The Chinook salmon of the Yukon River are on the brink of extinction. This cultural keystone species has  the longest salmon migration in the world, up to 3,200 kilometres. But warming waters caused by climate change, along with other stresses, have decimated their numbers, forcing a seven-year fishing ban. For Indigenous communities in the region, this is not only an environmental tragedy but also a loss for their culture. In her documentary Ghosts in Their Nets, Laura Lynch takes us to Whitehorse, Yukon, where she meets First Nations leaders and advocates who are leading the charge to protect the species and demanding that the irreplaceable Chinook salmon be better taken care of. The doc was produced by Laura Lynch and  Rachel Sanders, with help from Molly Segal, Mathias Wolfsohn, Catherine Rolfsen and Joan Webber with the CBC Audio Documentary Unit / The doc originally aired on What on Earth. Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit

I haven't yet said this, but my intention with this and the previous three recordings was a hopscotch survey of Pacific Coast soundscapes. To recollect now, these have been Yoakam Point on the Oregon Coast, Copalis Ghost Forest on the Washington Coast, Keahou on the Big Island of Hawaii and now Preston Island in Crescent City, on the Northern California Coast.This reflection on Preston Island leads me to ponder sites along the lower Columbia River at length, for reasons which will soon reveal themselves.Preston Island is weird. For starters, it's not what anyone would call an island. You can walk right out onto its strange rocky surface from the mainland. The view from the island is breathtaking though, and I thought it made a better album cover than the island itself: The island is relatively flat, but also boulder-strewn and cracked. When I visited, it was foggy, and I felt like I was on the surface of another planet. Something about it seemed unnatural:It all clicked when I found this historical photo:Preston Island was carted off. It was mined down to a nub. Let's get our bearings. Here's an 1880's Crescent City map, and a modern satellite photo. (I guess cardinal north pointing up wasn't yet the rule.)On the map you'll see Preston Island clearly drawn as a landmass, and Hall's Bluff, appearing much less prominently than it does today. I outlined the locations on the satellite image. Here, all the rock contained in those geographical features was mined and dumped in the ocean to create the jetty you see on the upper right of the satellite image. They really moved mountains.This is what Preston Island used to look like, and here it is today, courtesy of Google Street View:Our soundwalk takes us from West 5th Street in Crescent City, over to the beach and up over what's now called Half Butte, to about where this old photo of Hall's Bluff (aka Lover's Rock) was taken in 1876. Look at the tiny figures on top for a sense of scale:The massive Lover's Rock headland, was also carted off to build the jetty. It's harder to match the original photo vantage point with Street View, but it's also just completely gone. But let's get back to Preston Island, that weird scab-land of a place. Let's take a closer look at it, because it gives our soundwalk such unique character about 17 minutes in. At a glance, it seems lifeless. A green hue, coming from chalky veins in the rock, adds to the otherworldliness of the landscape.Tide pools form on the perimeter, among the cracks and fissures in the rock substrate. It's here that I place my recording hat down and the soundscape is instantly transformed. The skitter of crabs and the capillary clicking sounds of tiny shellfish erupt to fill the high frequencies, while the surf sound is attenuated by the topography of the rocks.It's another world. A 2021 article in the Bandon Western World states, “Preston Island has a long history in Crescent City. Originally Preston Peak, the area was a sacred site for the Tolowa Nation.” It is not well known, but the Tolowa were the subject of the most persistent and possibly worst massacres of Native Americans in the USA, starting in 1853, in the Crescent City area. Now, I couldn't corroborate the name “Preston Peak”, but I have to admit I was not surprised to hear that a sacred place to Native Americans was destroyed. There have been others.Pillar RockConsider Pillar Rock (briefly “Pilot Rock”) in the Columbia River. Once a monolith upwards of 75 feet tall, it was dynamited and flattened at the 25 foot level to install a navigation light:The Chinookan name for the monolith was Talapus. A cannery built nearby in 1877 used a likeness similar to Talapus for its canned salmon label, Pillar Rock brand. The rock was dynamited by 1922 when, according to the shipping news, a red navigation light was established. Like Talapus, the spring Chinook fishery in the Columbia was a diminished remnant of what it once was when Pillar Rock Cannery suspended operations in 1947.In a surprising epilogue Pillar Rock is still an actively used trade mark today, in 2025. The company now fishes the waters of Alaska for wild Sockeye to fill the modern day tins.It's remarkable how Euro-Americans changed the landscape and practically wiped out the fishery, but the brand is the thing that perseveres. What does it say about us that this is the way things are?Let's consider the intriguing story of Mount Coffin, up the Columbia River about 40 river miles.Mount CoffinThe geological feature that was first described to the historical record by Lieutenant William R. Broughton in 1792, and given the name “Mount Coffin”, was a Chinookan canoe burial ground. It would have appeared much the same a half century later, when Charles Wilkes visited in 1841, but quite different than the 1900 image above. Imagine, if you will, thousands of dugout cedar canoes perched in the trees on the prominent outcrop, about five feet above ground, in varying states of decay, all with bows pointed more or less toward the ocean. Within these canoes lay the interned bodies of Chinookans of the Skilloot tribe, wrapped in cedar blankets with their belongings placed beside them. That scene came to a swift end in 1841.The U.S. Exploring Expedition, led by Charles Wilkes, camped on Mount Coffin in 1841. When the men accidentally let a campfire spread, it destroyed an estimated 3,000 burial canoes. The Chinookan Indians were distressed to discover that their burial site had been destroyed by the negligence of whites and, according to visiting artist Paul Kane, “would no doubt have sought revenge had they felt themselves strong enough to do so.” (Stealing from The Dead, Oregon Historical Quarterly)Many Upper Chinookan villages were by 1841 entirely depopulated following devastating waves of malaria in the early 1830's, so Paul Kane's observation rings true.Within a century this lowland was completely transformed. The largest lumber mill in the world was built upriver from Mount Coffin.Mount Coffin was completely dynamited and quarried, beginning in 1929. The site is a now home to a chemical plant. Flat as a pancake.Finally let's consider the monolith in the heart of the Columbia Gorge that few realize barely escaped dynamite. So we are told…Beacon RockTo the natives it was Che-che-op-tin. When Lewis & Clark mapped the area in 1805 it was referred to as “Beaten Rock” and on return a year later “Beacon Rock”. Later, the 1841 Wilkes Exploring Expedition labelled it “Castle Rock”, which stuck for the better part of a century. Since 1916, it's been Beacon Rock.Just west of Beacon Rock was a large village Captain Lewis in 1806 called Wah-clel-lah (a Watlala winter village):This village appears to be the winter station of the Wah-clel-lahs and Clahclellars…14 houses remain entire but are at this time but thinly inhabited, nine others appear to have been lately removed, and the traces of ten or twelve others of ancient date were to be seen in the rear of their present village. There was also another village at the very foot of beacon rock. Traces of it remained visible to the trained eye into the 1950's.“BIG BLAST WILL WRECK IT”“Castle Rock to Go” and “Whole Rock is Doomed” read the subheadings in a March 16th, 1906 article in The Oregonian. The article outlined how the owners, a coterie of eight businessmen including Dan Kerns, acting as the Columbia Construction Company, had already cut three 20 to 30 ft. tunnels under the southern aspect of the monolith in preparations to dynamite “the shoulder” of the rock and quarry the stone for building material, eventually removing it entirely. A Wikipedia entry states (without citation), “The United States Army Corps of Engineers planned to destroy the rock to supply material for the jetty at the mouth of the Columbia.” This appears to be incorrect. The Army Corps didn't have that plan. The Columbia Construction Company purported to have a plan to mine an initial two million tons for building material (possibly to include jetty material—there were no contracts) in 1906. Columbia jetty work began 20 years prior to that. The Columbia Construction Company was taken to court, and a jury sided with Portland & Seattle Railway, who argued the tunnels were part of an elaborate ruse to “claim damages from $100,000 to $500,000” from lost mining activity due to the rail line going through their intended quarry site. According to the plaintiffs, it was just a scheme to get the railway to pay dearly for the right of way. The jurors dashed that plan, stipulating a $5000 settlement. Was it an elaborate ruse? Or was the jury predisposed not to trust city businessmen? What was clear, according to The Oregonian, was that, “clergymen, leading citizens, women, teachers, and all classes in Portland and throughout the state were horrified as the proposed destruction of such a majestic landmark.” “I should judge Castle Rock contains 10 million tons of first class building stone,” Kerns said in 1906. Interestingly, that wouldn't have been enough for the massive Columbia jetty system, which ultimately required 13 million tons of rock, when competed in 1939, after half century of construction. Henry J. Biddle took ownership of Beacon Rock from the Columbia Construction Company in 1915, under the condition it would be preserved, and set about realizing his dream to build a trail to the summit.Henry J. Biddle purchased the rock in 1915 for $1 and during the next three years constructed a trail with 51 switchbacks, handrails and bridges. The three-quarter mile trail to the top, completed in April 1918, leads to views in all directions. (Wikipedia)Thanks for listening and reading. I'm thankful for your attention. Preston Island Soundwalk is available on all streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple, Tidal, Amazon, YouTube…) on Friday, February 21st.Thanks for reading Soundwalk! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chadcrouch.substack.com/subscribe

The 2025 Columbia River spring Chinook season dates and regulations are set. Anglers can fish select stretches of the river starting in March, with a projected catch of 5,200 Chinook below Bonneville Dam. Read the full story at https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/sports/2025-columbia-river-spring-chinook-seasons-announced/ #ColumbiaRiver #SpringChinook #FishingSeason #ChinookSalmon #WDFW #ODFW #FishingRules #BonnevilleDam #SportFishing #WashingtonState #LocalNews #ClarkCountyWa

Send us a textMy guest is Miki Nguyen in this powerful and gripping episode. Miki is telling us  the incredible true story of his family and his father, Bar Van Win, a Chinook pilot in the South Vietnamese Air Force. As Saigon fell to the communist forces on the final days of the Vietnam War in 1975, Bar Van made the daring decision to rescue his family in the middle of this chaos.  This was made into a documentary in 2015 called "Last Days in Vietnam", and it was nominated for an Oscar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRyiVgHw3fEMiki, who was just 6.5 years old at the time, shares his firsthand account of that harrowing day - from the deep, thunderous sound of the Chinook helicopter landing in front of his grandmother's home, to the frantic dash to escape the city. This is a story of unimaginable bravery, sacrifice, and the power of family in the face of unthinkable adversity. Miki also discusses how this formative experience shaped the rest of his life, and his mission to honour his father's legacy through a new memoir, "The Last Flight Out." As we approach the 50-year remembrance of the Fall of Saigon in 2025, Miki is excited to announce his father's memoir, "The Last Flight Out."This is a must-listen episode that will leave you inspired by the resilience of the human spirit.Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/l0uSdDjBjPkFind out more about Miki Nguyen and his family: https://nguyenvanba.comDon't forget to "Like and Subscribe" to my podcast, so we can reach more people to help.Visit www.mindandmood.co.uk, email info@mindandmood.co.uk or call us on (+44) 1277 424 911 to find out more.#FallOfSaigon #HeroicRescue #FamilyResilience #Chinook #Bravery #SacrificedForFamily #RefugeeStory #InspirationalStory #Podcast #cbt #EMDR #coaching #resilience #empowerment #confidencebuildingSupport the show

Save your Spot for the Togiak Spey Trip:  https://wetflyswing.com/alaska Enter the Giveaway here:  https://wetflyswing.com/giveaway In this episode, Dave goes solo to share the top 14 tips from past Spey episodes for Chinook Salmon.  You will discover how to hook up with more salmon on the swing this year!

What is it like to be an RCAF aircrew service couple? Paul is a CH-149 Cormorant pilot and McKayla is a retired ACSO who flew on the CP-140M Aurora. Hear all about their experience as a service couple from dating at RMC to the trials of being unmarried and long-distance, to finally the ups and downs of being a married service couple in two busy trades. Join us today on The Pilot Project Podcast to hear all about their story!

#720 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/720 Presented By:  Togiak River Lodge We're heading to Alaska to chase King Salmon in one of the last great strongholds for Chinook. Today, we're joined by Floyd Carter, a passionate guide at Togiak River Lodge and beyond, who's sharing expert tips on swinging for Chinook on a spey. He'll take us back to his first season at Togiak, the unique spey camp they set up, and the lessons learned along the way. Here's what we'll cover today:  The only two lines and flies you need for Togiak How to get your cast out even with zero room for a D-loop Why you don't have to be a mega hucker to land big Kings Quick Reminder... We just launched a giveaway for a trip to Togiak River Lodge! Enter now at wetflyswing.com/giveaway for a chance to win. We'll announce the winner next week! About Floyd Carter Floyd grew up fishing in Colorado but got hooked on swinging flies after a trip to Seattle. A chance encounter with Dave Mccoy of Emerald Water Anglers led to his first spey casting experience—in leaky waders! That moment sparked a three-year plan to move to the Pacific Northwest and chase anadromous fish. He trained with Tom Mahan, learning the ins and outs of spey casting while exploring the Oregon and California coasts. After leaving Oklahoma, he saved up, went all-in on guiding, and took a chance on a new life.  His first big break came when he helped build a remote spey camp on the Togiak River with a “wacky bush carpenter.” That led to his first guiding gig for King Salmon on the Togiak, where he also met Zack and Jordan Larsen.  Check out our episode with Zack and Jordan of Togiak River Lodge.   Show Notes:  https://wetflyswing.com/720

For review:1. Israel to Hamas - Ceasefire Continues if 3 Hostages Released Saturday.2. IDF conducts airstrikes in Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah weapon stores, launchers, and facilities.3. Iran to unveil and new indigenous, cruise missile in March- with a reported range of 2000 kilometers.  Quote from IRGC Rear Admiral Tangsiri: “We now have missiles that can be launched from the depths of the Iranian territory, eliminating the need for coastal launches.”4. Speaking at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Brussels, the US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth says no NATO Membership for Ukraine. Secretary Hegseth: "the war between Ukraine and Russia must end", that Kyiv joining NATO is unrealistic and that the US will no longer prioritize European and Ukrainian security.5.  President Trump Speaks with Russian President - Directs Negotiations to End War.6. US President Donald Trump wants to have nuclear arms talks with Russia and China. President Trump: “There's no reason for us to be building brand new nuclear weapons, we already have so many,” Trump said. “You could destroy the world 50 times over, 100 times over. And here we are building new nuclear weapons, and they're building nuclear weapons.” The US President continues: “One of the first meetings I want to have is with President Xi of China, President Putin of Russia. And I want to say, ‘Let's cut our military budget in half.' And we can do that. And I think we'll be able to.”7. Japan to procure Boeing CH-47 Block II Chinooks. Beside the US, Japan will join Germany and the UK as operators of the latest Chinook variant.8. Two Naval Aviators in good condition after their EA-18G Growler crashes during an attempted landing at the NAS North Island (San Diego, CA). 

Host Richie Tevlin with Erin Wallace, a Philly beer legend and the current VP of the international Non-Profit Pink Boots Society. Erin has been a fixture in the craft beer scene for over two decades, previously owning Devil's Den, Old Eagle Tavern, and Barren Hill Tavern & Brewery. She was a founding member of the Philadelphia chapter of Pink Boots Society and will soon serve as its National Pink Boots President. Now the Assistant GM & Events Coordinator at Other Half Brewing, Erin continues to champion craft beer and community.   Pink Boots Society:  https://www.pinkbootssociety.org/ @PinkBootsSociety   Other Half Philly:  https://otherhalfbrewing.com/location/philadelphia/ @OtherHalfPhilly _______________________________________ THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: Wasak Water Treatment: https://www.wasakwater.com/⁠ _______________________________________ EPISODE NOTES: Mentioned Breweries Yards Brewing Co - Philadelphia, PA Yuengling Brewery - Pottsville, PA Guinness Brewing - Ireland Dogfish Head Brewery - Milton, DE Stoudts Brewing - Reinholds, PA - Closed in 2020 New Wave Brewery - El Dorado Hills, CA Flying Fish Brewing - Somerdale, NJ Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery - Farmville, NC Barren Hill Tavern & Brewery - Lafayette Hill, PA - Closed in 2016 Stone Brewing - San Diego, CA Free Will Brewing - Perkasie, PA Cantillon Brewery - Belgium - Est. 1900 Sly Fox Brewing - Pottstown, PA Allagash Brewing - Portland, ME Tannery Run Brew Works - Ambler, PA Triple Bottom Brewing - Philadelphia, PA Victory Brewing Co. - Downingtown, PA Mentioned People Brian O'Reilly - Epi 34 - Owner of Mainstay Independent Tom Kehoe - Founder of Yards Brewing Carol Stoudt - Founder of Stoudts Brewing Scott Morrison - Philadelphia Brewery Expert Teri Fahrendorf - Founder of Pink Boots Society Luara Ulrich - Brewer at Stone Brewing Colleen Rakowski - Former Free Will Brewer & Customer Lead at Cantillon Suzie Woods - Sales at Allagash Brewing Carly Chelder - Co-Founder of Tannery Run Brew Works Eddie Stoudt - Stoudts Brewing Tom Peters - Owner of Monk's Cafe Fergus "Fergie" Carey - Owner of Fergie's Pub Tara Nurin - Beer Writer Alva Mather - Alcohol Lawyer Adam Krocket - Upper Reach Meadery Tess Hart - Co-Owner of Triple Bottom Brewing John Stemler - Former Brewmaster at Free Will Brewing Meredith Rebar - Epi 7 - Owner of Home Brewed Events Rafael D'Armas - Epi 25 - Brewer at KCBC & Board Member of The MJF Mentioned Businesses Cherry Street Tavern - Philly Bar Old Eagle Tavern - Philly Bar Monk's Cafe - Nationally Recognized Philly Beer Bar Devil's Den - Philly Bar - Closed in 2022 The Pope - Philly Bar General Lafayette Inn & Brewery - Closed in 2014 FCM Hospitality - Philadelphia Restaurant Group Khyber Pass Pub - Philly Beer Bar Pink Boots Society - Women in Craft Beverage Craft Beer Professionals - Craft Beer Industry Resource Craft Brewers Conference - Craft Beer Industry Resource Philly Beer Week - Epi 14 - Yearly Beer Celebration American Keg Company - Local Keg Company Penn Herbs - Local Ingredients Company The MJF - Non-Profit for Craft Beer Diversity Pro Brewer - Beer Industry Multi-Use Resource Yakima Chief - National Hop Producer Country Malt Group - National Malt Producer American Cider Association - National Cider Industry Resource Upper Reach Meadery - PA Meadery Eastern State Penitentiary - Historic Philadelphia Prison _______________________________________ What We Drank? Superfun! Session IPA | 4.2% | Galaxy, Simcoe & El Dorado Other Half Brewing ---------------------------------- HDHC Solo Exhibition Triple NEIPA | 10.2% | Citra Other Half Brewing ---------------------------------- Green Flowers West Coast IPA | 6.8% | Simcoe, Chinook, Nelson Sauvin & Columbus Cryo Other Half Brewing ---------------------------------- Forever Ever Session IPA | 4.7% | Mosaic, Cashmere & Citra Other Half Brewing ---------------------------------- _______________________________________ STAY CONNECTED: Instagram: ⁠⁠@brewedat⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠@thebrewedatpodcast⁠⁠ Tik Tok: ⁠⁠@brewedat ⁠⁠/ ⁠⁠@thebrewedatpodcast⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠@brewedat⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠@thebrewedatpodcast⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠BrewedAt Website: ⁠⁠www.brewedat.com

Testing the EBF Scale@newtrailbrewing @tiredhandsbrewing @sloopbrewingco @wallenpaupackbrewingco @thinmanbrewery @garageproject @thebrewworks @jacksabbycraftlagers  #beer #CraftBeer #PABeer Co hosts : Good ol Boy Dave, Good ol Boy Carl, Good ol Boy Mike, Good ol Boy Kendall, and Good ol Gal Julieanna SUDS  Episode –  A delightful selection of beers from the Northeast! With a mix of styles and flavors, our hosts will share their thoughts, laughs, and some unexpected stories along the way. From the sweet notes of barley wine to the hop-forward punches of IPAs, we'll rate each beer with our signature suds ratings while navigating through hilarious anecdotes, including a bear-related insurance scam and a few memorable costume mishaps. Will our hosts agree on their favorites? Tune in to find out! We taste and rate the following beer from 1-5: 8:01      Ohiopyle- hazy IPA brewed with pilsner malt and dry hopped with Azacca, Amarillo, and Citra hops.  6.5% ABV  New Trail Brewing Company Williamsport, PA  SUDS-3 14:47    Trendler Doppelbock- 7.5% ABV  Tired Hands Brewing Company Ardmore PA  SUDS-4 26:46    Sloop John T double IPA- brewed with Columbus, citra, and lotus hops.  8.4% ABV Tröegs Independent Brewing Hershey, PA in collaboration with Sloop Brewing Co. Hopewell Junction, NY SUDS-2 32:03    6th Anniversary Ale- English Barleywine.  10% ABV Wallenpaupack Brewing Company, Hawley, PA SUDS-5 36:46    Trial By Wombat- Hazy IPA brewed with Australian Galaxy hops.  7% ABV  Thin Man Brewery Buffalo, NY  SUDS-3 40:04    Willamette Valley Double IPA- brewed with a blend of Strata, Audacia, and Luminosa hops from Alluvial Hop Farm.  8% ABV  Trillium Brewing Company Canton, MA in collab with Garage Project Wellington City, Wellington New Zealand.  SUDS-3 45:07    Hop Explosion- West Coast-style IPA brewed with Citra and Chinook hops.  7% ABV  Fegley's Brew Works Allentown, PA  SUDS-2 48:26    Bella Lago Italian lager.  4.7% ABV  Jack's Abbey Craft Lagers Framingham, MA  SUDS-3 info@sipssudsandsmokes.com X- @sipssudssmokes IG/FB - @sipssudsandsmokes Sips, Suds, & Smokes® is produced by One Tan Hand Productions using the power of beer, whiskey, and golf.  Available on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, Spotify, Pandora, iHeart, and nearly anywhere you can find a podcast.Check out Good ol Boy Dave on 60 Second Reviewshttps://www.instagram.com/goodoleboydave/ Enjoying that cool new Outro Music, it's from Woods & Whitehead – Back Roads Download your copy here:https://amzn.to/2XblorcThe easiest way to find this award winning podcast on your phone is ask Alexa, Siri or Google, “Play Podcast , Sips, Suds, & Smokes” Credits:TITLE: Maxwell Swing /  FlapperjackPERFORMED BY: Texas GypsiesCOMPOSED BY: Steven R Curry (BMI)PUBLISHED BY: Alliance AudioSparx (BMI)COURTESY OF: AudioSparxTITLE: Back RoadsPERFORMED BY: Woods & WhiteheadCOMPOSED BY: Terry WhiteheadPUBLISHED BY: Terry WhiteheadCOURTESY OF: Terry WhiteheadPost production services : Pro Podcast SolutionsAdvertising sales: Contact us directlyContent hosting services:  Earshot, Radio4All, PodBeanProducer: Good ol Gal Julieanna & Good ol Boy Dave

#716 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/716  Presented by: FishHound Expeditions In this episode, we're joined by Tim Bristol, the Executive Director of SalmonState, to discuss the urgent challenges and exciting successes in protecting Alaska's iconic salmon populations. With nearly three decades of experience in conservation, Tim offers valuable insights into the complexities of salmon recovery, from commercial fisheries to the influence of Indigenous communities. We dive into the surprising story behind Alaska's sockeye returns, the role of climate change, and how local efforts are making a difference. If you're passionate about salmon and sustainable conservation, this episode is for you! Tune in to learn what you can do to help ensure a future for these incredible fish. Episode Chapters with Tim Bristol on SalmonState 3:49 - Tim, who has been involved in conservation for 30 years, shares his journey into working with SalmonState, an organization dedicated to preserving Alaska's status as "the salmon state." 6:11 - We discuss the significance of salmon in Alaska as an indicator of ecosystem health. Tim highlights the vastness of the region, spanning from Ketchikan to the North Slope, and the importance of the Tongass National Forest, the largest national forest in the U.S., as a key salmon habitat. 12:37 - Tim discusses the current state of Chinook salmon in Alaska. He contrasts their decline with the resurgence of sockeye salmon, noting that while sockeye populations have flourished, Chinook salmon are facing severe challenges. These include restrictions on fishing in areas like the Kenai River and the Yukon River, where harvests have been completely banned for years. Factors contributing to this decline include food scarcity due to shifting ocean conditions and predation by marine mammals, such as killer whales, which are consuming millions of Chinooks annually. 21:55 - Tim outlines several key projects and initiatives his team is focusing on for the upcoming year. These include engaging with the Trump administration to push Canada to address issues around transboundary rivers, advocating for responsible forest management that prioritizes salmon, and pushing for legislative protections to preserve water quality and safeguard salmon habitats. Additionally, reducing bycatch from industrial trawlers remains a major priority. 27:38 - Tim one emerging issue which is hatchery fish production, with concerns that hatchery fish may compete with wild salmon for resources, particularly food. There's also the question of where these hatchery fish go after being released, as some may stray into wild systems, potentially disrupting those ecosystems. 29:25 - He highlights various ways listeners can get involved, such as following their organization's updates on social media and signing up for the weekly news roundup. Tim emphasizes the importance of supporting sustainable fishing by purchasing wild Alaska sockeye salmon. He also encourages visiting Alaska to support local economies and to be mindful of where to spend money. 31:57 - Tim discusses several ongoing issues related to salmon conservation. One key topic is the West Susitna River, the fourth largest salmon producer in Alaska, which is threatened by a proposed industrial access road. This road would be used to access a gold mine, with public funds supporting the project. The region is known for its massive smelt (hooligan) run, which is important to the local ecosystem. The road construction has sparked controversy, with concerns from sport fishing guides, local residents, and conservation groups like the Wild Salmon Center, who worry about the impact on the area's pristine fishing environment. Tim also explains the role of the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA), a state agency that funds large projects, which is involved in financing this road. 36:17 - I mention Tim's work on their website, an article entitled "My Turn". This piece was written in reaction to accusations that their organization is comprised of outsiders aiming to disrupt Alaska's development. Tim explains that half of their 13-member team, including himself, have deep roots in Alaska, with some being Alaska Native. They have backgrounds in commercial and sport fishing, illustrating their connection to the state. 37:22 - Tim mentions that their organization hosts weekly updates and a series called "Salmon Stories," profiling individuals with strong ties to salmon. These profiles include sport fishing guides, commercial fishermen, and Alaska Native elders. Although they've considered starting a podcast, they currently focus on video interviews and transcriptions shared through their "Salmon Stories." 39:59 - Tim highlights the robust conservation community in Alaska, particularly focusing on groups involved with salmon conservation and the intersection with fishing. Key organizations mentioned include the Susitna River Coalition and the Wild Salmon Center, which has a strong presence in Alaska under the leadership of Emily Anderson. 41:07 - Despite concerns about fish populations, Tim believes that wild-caught sockeye and coho are good choices for consumers, though he advises vigilance in ensuring that fish is responsibly sourced. 47:01 - Tim highlights how Alaska Native communities have long, uninterrupted histories in the region and emphasizes the importance of working with them. Over the past few decades, Tim notes, tribal governments have reemerged as key players in conservation, especially in protecting and restoring salmon habitats. They are now at the center of conservation discussions, and Tim believes that their involvement has significantly improved conservation efforts. Indigenous communities also offer a different perspective on timeframes, focusing on long-term sustainability, which is crucial for successful conservation. 52:43 - We talk about the unique aspects of Juneau, Alaska. Tim describes it as a self-contained town with a population of 30,000, accessible only by plane or ferry. Despite its size, it has various amenities, including a hospital, symphony, ice rink, and ski area.  Show Notes:  https://wetflyswing.com/716  

In this episode of Welcome to Cloudlandia, Dan and I explore how organizations can balance productivity with employee well-being through structured breaks and strategic planning. Dan shares insights from Strategic Coach's approach of giving employees six weeks off after three months of work, using Calgary's changing weather as a metaphor for workplace adaptability.  Looking at the British Royal Navy's history, we discuss how its organizational structure relates to modern planning methods. Dean explains his 80/20 framework for yearly planning—using 80% for structured goals while keeping 20% open for unexpected opportunities, which helps teams stay focused while remaining flexible. The conversation turns to a long-term perspective through 25-year frameworks, examining how past achievements shape future goals. Dean shares a story about the Y2K panic to illustrate how technological changes influence our planning and adaptability. We conclude with practical applications of these concepts, from cross-training team members to implementing daily time management strategies. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS We discuss the adaptability of humans to different climates, using Calgary's Chinook weather patterns as an example, and emphasize the importance of taking breaks to prevent burnout, citing Strategic Coach's policy of providing six weeks off after three months. Dean and I explore the planning strategies inspired by the golden age of the British Royal Navy, advocating for a structured year with 80% planning and 20% spontaneity to embrace life's unpredictability. Dan reflects on using 25-year frameworks to evaluate past achievements and future aspirations, noting that he has accomplished more between ages 70 to 80 than from birth to 70. We delve into the importance of discernment and invention, highlighting these skills as crucial for problem-solving and expressing creativity in today's world. Dean talks about sports salaries, noting how they reflect economic trends, and discusses the financial structure of sports franchises, particularly in relation to player salaries and revenue. We touch on government efficiency and cost-cutting measures, discussing figures like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, and the impact of Argentina's President Milley. The conversation shifts to global trends and AI's role in the future workforce, noting the significance of recognizing patterns and making informed predictions about future technological advancements. Dean and I emphasize the importance of weekly and daily time management strategies, suggesting that structured planning can enhance both personal and professional effectiveness. Dan shares his year-end practices, including reflecting on past years and planning for the new year, while also noting his personal preference for staying home during the holidays to relax and recharge. We humorously recount historical events like the Y2K panic and discuss how technological shifts have historically reshaped industries and societal norms. Links: WelcomeToCloudlandia.com StrategicCoach.com DeanJackson.com ListingAgentLifestyle.com TRANSCRIPT (AI transcript provided as supporting material and may contain errors) Dean: Mr Sullivan. Dan: Mr Jackson, I thought I'd just give you a minute or two to get settled in the throne. Dean: Oh, you see, there you go. I'm all settled, All settled and ready. Good, it's a little bit chilly here, but not you know, not yeah it's a little bit chilly here too. Dan: Yeah, it's a little bit chilly here too. It just shows you there's different kinds of little bits. Dean: Different levels. Choose your chilly. Yeah, that's so funny, are you? Dan: in Toronto. It just brings up a thought that there are people who live in climates where 40 degrees below zero is not such a bad day. Dean: Yeah. Dan: And there are people who live in temperatures where it's 120, and that's not a too uncomfortable day. Dean: Right. Dan: So that's 160 degrees variation. If nothing else, it proves that humans are quite adaptable. I think you're right. I think you're absolutely right. Dean: That's what that shows. I use that example a lot when talking about climate change. We're very adaptable. Dan: Oh yeah, yeah, there is a place in. I looked this up because in Western Canada I think in the Denver area too, they have a thing called a Chinook, and I've actually experienced it. I used to go to Calgary a lot for coach workshops and I'd always, if it was like February, I'd always have to pack two complete sets of clothes, because one day it was 20 degrees Fahrenheit in the morning and it was 75 degrees Fahrenheit in the evening, the morning, and it was 75 degrees Fahrenheit in the evening, and then it stayed. And then it stayed that way for about two days and then it went back to, back to 20. And uh, this happens about, I would say, in Calgary, you know Alberta. Uh, this would happen maybe three or four times during the winter mm-hmm yeah, so so so there? Dean: well, there you go, so are you. Are you done with workshops therefore? Dan: yeah, yeah of strategic coach does the whole office closed down from the 20th and 20th of well yeah 20th was our party, so that was friday night. So we have a big in toronto. We have a big christmas party. You know, we have 80 or 90 of our team members and they bring their other, whatever their other is and not all of them, but a lot of them do and now we're closed down until the 6th, uh, 6th of january. That's great. Yeah, you know what? Dean: a lot of people that's 17 days, that's that's 17 days yeah that's a very interesting thing. Dan: So you know, it's like um so completely shut down as there's nobody in the office nobody, you know there's people who check packages like, okay, yeah, and they live right around the corner from the office, so they just go in and you know they check and, um, you know, and if, um, but no phone calls are being taken, it's like uh company free days. Dean: Is that what it is? Dan: yeah, there. Dean: There's no phone calls being answered, no emails being attended to, anything like that. It's all just shut down. Dan: I'm going to take a guess and say yes. Dean: Right. That's great and that's kind of you know what. One of the things that I've often said about you and the organization is that you are actually like products of your environment. You actually do what you see. Dan: We're the product of our preaching. Dean: That's exactly right Organizationally and individually. Right Organizationally and individually. And when I tell people that new hires at Strategic Coach get six weeks of three days After three months. Dan: After three months. Yeah, yeah, yeah, they don't get any free days for the first three months, but you know, and they pass the test, you know they pass the test. Then in the first year year, they get six weeks, six weeks, yeah, and it's interesting, right? Dean: Nobody gets more. Right, everybody gets six weeks. Dan: Shannon Waller, who's been with us for 33 years. She gets her six weeks and everybody else gets their six weeks, and our logic for this is that we don't consider this compensation OK right, we do it for two reasons so that people don't burn out. You know they don't get, you know they they're not working, working, working, in that they start being ineffective, so they take a break. So they take a break and we give a one month grace period in January If you haven't taken your previous six weeks for the year before. You can take them during January, but you can't carry over. So there's no building up of three days over the years. Right, yeah, if you have, if you don't take them, you lose them. And but the other thing about it that really works one, they don't burn out. But number two, you can't take your free days in your particular role in the company, unless someone is trained to fill in with you so it actually it actually pushes cross training, you know. So in some roles it's three deep, you know they, yeah, there's three people who can do the role, and so you know you know, we've been at it for 35 years and it works yeah, oh, that's awesome dan I was curious about your you know. Dean: Do you have any kind of year end practices or anything that you do for you know, preparing for the new year, reflecting on the old year, do you do anything like that? Dan: I'd probably go through a bottle ofish whiskey a little bit quicker during that period that's the best I'm. I'm not saying that that's required, but sometimes exactly, just observation. Yeah, uh-huh you know, knowing you, like you know you right, yeah, yeah, not that it's noticeable you know I try to not make it noticeable. Uh, the other thing, the other thing about it is that we don't go away for the holidays. We we just stay put, because babs and I do a lot of traveling, especially now with our medical our medical journeys, uh and uh. I just like chilling, I just like to chill. I know, you know I I'm really into, um, uh, historical novels. Right now dealing with the british navy, the royal navy around 1800. So the golden age of sailing ships is just before steam power was, you know, was applied to ships. These are warships and and also before you know, they went over to metal. The boats started being steel rather than wood. And it's just the glory period. I mean, they were at the height of skill. I mean just the extraordinary teamwork it took to. You know just sailing, but then you know battles, war battles and everything Just extraordinary. This is cannons right, yeah. These were cannons, yeah, extraordinary, this is cannons, right? Yeah, these are cannons, yeah, and the big ones had 120 cannons on them, the big ships, right before the switchover, they just had this incredible firepower. And the Brits were best, the British were the best for pretty well 100, 150 years, and then it ended. It ended during the 1800s. Midway through the 1800s you started getting metal steam-powered ships and then it entirely changed. Yes, yeah, but back to your question Now. You know I do a lot of planning all the time. You know I do daily planning, weekly planning, quarterly planning. I call it projecting. I'm projecting more than planning. The schedule is pretty well set for me. I would say on the 1st of January, my next 365 days are 80% structured already. Dean: Yes. Dan: Yeah, and then you leave room for things that come up. You know, one of the things I really enjoy and I'm sure you do, dean is where I get invitations to do podcasts and we tell people you got to give us at least 30 days when you make a request before we can fill it in. But I've had about, I think during 2024, I think I had about 10. These weren't our scheduled podcasts with somebody these? Were. These were invitations, and yeah. I really enjoy that. Dean: Yeah, I do too, and that's kind of a I think you're. This is the first year, dan, that I've gone into the year, going into 2025, here with a 80% of my year locked, like you said. Like I know when my Breakthrough Blueprint events are, I know when my Zoom workshops are, I know when my member calls are, all of those things that kind of scaffolding is already in place right now. And that's the first. You know that's the first year that I've done that level of planning ahead all the way through. You know, going to London and Amsterdam in June and Australia in November and get it the whole thing, having it all already on the books, is a nice that's a nice thing, and now I'm I'm really getting into. I find this going into 2025 is kind of a special thing, because this is like a, you know, a 25 year. You know, I kind of like look at that as the beginning of a 25 year cycle. You know, I think there's something reflective about the turn of a century and 25 year, you know the quarters of a century kind of thing, because we talk about that 25-year time frame, do you? You're right now, though you are five years into a 25-year framework, right, in terms of your 75 to 100, was your 25? Yeah, my guess, my yeah, I didn't. Dan: I didn't do it on that basis I know I did it uh, uh. Um, I have done it that way before, but now it's I'm just uh 80 to 100, because 100 is an interesting number. Dean: Yes. Dan: And plus I have that tool called the best decade ever. Dean: Yeah. Dan: And so I'm really focused just on this. 80 to 90, 80 years old, and when I measured from 70 to 80, so this was about two years before it was two months before I got to my 80th birthday. I created this tool. And I just reflected back how much I'd gotten done. Dean: 70 to 80. Dan: And it occurred to me that it was greater than what I'd gotten done 70 to 80. Dean: Yeah, and it occurred to me that it was greater than what I had done from birth to 80. Dan: Birth to 70. Dean: Birth to 70. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Dan: So I had accomplished more in the last 10 years and I used two criteria creativity and productivity like coming up with making up more stuff. And then the other thing just getting lots of stuff done, and so I've got that going for 80 to 90. And it's very motivating. I find that a very motivating structure. I don't say I think about it every day, but I certainly think about it every week. Dean: That's what I was very curious about. I was thinking this morning about the because this period of time here, this two weeks here, last two weeks of the year, I'm really getting clear on, you know, the next 25 years. I like these frameworks. I think it's valuable to look back over the last 25 years and to look forward to the next 25 years. And you and I've had that conversation like literally we're talking about everything. That is, everything that's you know current and the most important things right now have weren't even really in the cards in 2000. You know, as we were coming into you, know, we all thought in 1999, there was a good chance that the world was going to blow up, right y2k. Dan: Everybody was uh some of us did. Dean: I love that but you know, it just goes to show. Dan: Yeah, I thought it was uh right yeah, there was this momentary industry called being a y2k consultant you know computer consultant and I thought it was a neat marketing trick. The only problem is you can only pull it off once every thousand years. Dean: Oh yeah. Dan: Yeah, but there was vast amount. I mean all the big consulting, you know, mckinsey and all those people. They were just raking in the money you know they were out there, All those people they were just raking in the money. Dean: You know they were out there. You know, I think probably the previous five years. Dan: It was probably a five year industry you know they probably started in 1995, and they said oh, you don't realize this, but somebody didn't give enough room to make the change. You know every computer system in the world is um, we forgot to program this in. They're all going to cease to. They're going to cease to operate on. Yeah and then. But all you had to do is watch new year's from australia and you knew that wasn't true, do? Dean: you know what? Uh, yeah, jesse, uh, jesse dejardin, who I believe you met one time, used to work with me, but he was the head of social for Australia, for Tourism Australia. Yeah, and when the world I don't know if you remember in 2012, the world was supposed to end, that was, uh, yeah, a big thing and uh so, that was that, wasn't that? Dan: uh, it was based on a stone tablet. Dean: That they found somewhere. South America, south America, yes, it was yes, peruvian it was uh, that's right, I think it was? Dan: I think it was the inca inca account yeah, yeah mayan or inca calendar. Dean: That's what it was, the mayan calendar. Dan: That's what it was ended in 2012. Yeah, and so jesse had the foresight it actually ended for them quite a bit earlier oh man, it's so funny. Yeah, you don't get much news from the mayan, no, no you say like when they created that mayan calendar. Dean: They had to end it sometime. Would you say something like that listen, that's enough, let's stop here, we don't even keep going forever. Dan: You know what I think the problem was? I think they ran out of stone I think you're probably right. Dean: They're like this is enough already. Dan: They got right to the edge of the stone and they said well, you know, jeez, let's go get another. Do you know how much work it is to get one of these stones? That? Oh yeah, chisel on yeah yeah. Dean: so jesse had the uh, jesse had the foresight that at midnight on Australia they're the first, yeah, to put the thing up. So once they made it past, they made a post that said all it said was we're okay. Dan: We're okay. Dean: You know, it was just so brilliant. You know we're okay. Dan: You know the the stuff that humans will make up to scare themselves oh man, I think that that's really along those lines. I just did a perplexity search this morning yeah and uh. For those who don't know what perplexity is, it's an a really a very congenial ai program and I put in um uh uh 10, um crucial periods of us history that were more politically polarized and violent than 2024. Dean: Okay. Dan: And you know, three seconds later I got the answer and there were 10. And very, very clearly, just from their little descriptions of what they were, they were clearly much more politically polarized and violent than they are right now. Yeah, the real period was, I mean the most. I mean Civil War was by far. Dean: Of course. Dan: Civil War, and. But the 1890s were just incredible. You had, you had a president. Garfield was assassinated in the 90s and then, right at 1991, mckinley was. So you had two presidents. There were judges assassinated, there were law officials, other politicians who were assassinated. There were riots where 200 people would die, you know, and everything like that. And you know, and you know, so nothing, I mean this guy, you know, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare gets shot on the street and everybody says, oh, you know, this is just the end. We're tipping over as a society. And I said nah nah, it's been worse tipping over as a society and I said nah, nah, there's been worse. Dean: Yeah, I think about uh. Dan: I mean you know you remember back uh in the 70s, I remember you know I mean in the 60s and 70s assassination attempts and playing yeah, well, they're hijacking. Yeah, there were three. You had the two Kennedys and Martin Luther King were assassinated within five years of each other. I remember the 60s as being much more tumultuous and violent. Yeah it seems like. Dean: I remember, as I was first coming aware of these things, and I remember, as I was first coming aware of these things, that you know remember when. And then Ronald Reagan, that was the last one, until Trump, that was the last actual attempt right, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Dan: You know one thing you got to say about Trump. Dean: Tell me. Dan: Lucky, he's very lucky. Dean: Yes, but in a good sense lucky, no, no, I mean that I think luck is very important. Dan: Luck is very important, you know but, he's lucky, and his opponents, you know. I mean he had Hillary and you know, that was good luck, and Joe turned out to be good luck. You know, Joe Biden turned out to be good luck. And then Kamala was. I mean, you couldn't order up one like that from Amazon and have it delivered to you? Oh man, yeah, I mean, yeah, that you know. And, uh, you know, I mean, you know, the news media were so, uh, bought in. You know that it was like, oh, this is going to be really close. This is, oh, you know, this is going to be razor thin. We may not know for days what the election is. And when Miami-Dade went to Trump, I said it's over. Miami-dade's been Democratic since, you know, since the 70s. You know, Miami-Dade. Dean: And. Dan: I said if Miami-Dade this is like the first thing in this is, like you know, when they start eight o'clock I think it was seven o'clock or eight o'clock. Dean: I'm not sure Eastern. Dan: And they said Miami-Dade has just gone to Trump and I said that's over, I went to bed at nine o'clock. I went to bed at nine o'clock oh man. That's so funny. Yeah, but that's the news media. You know they got, so bought into one side of the political spectrum that they, you know, they were, you know, and I think what Elon is introducing is a medium that's 50-50. You know, like they, they've done surveys of x. You know who, yes, seems to be. You know, it's like 50-50. It's 50 um republican, 50 democratic or 50 liberal, 50 conservative, whatever you know. Uh, you want to do about it, but I think he's pioneering a new news medium oh for sure. Dean: I mean. Well, we've seen, you know, if you look at over the last 25 years, that you know we've gone from nobody having a voice to everybody, everybody having a voice. And I mean it's absolutely true, right Like that's the, that's the biggest. I think that's the. I guess what Peter Diamandis would call democratization, right Of everything. As it became digitized, it's like there's nothing stopping, there's no cost, there's no cost. Dan: There's no cost. There's no cost and there's nothing stopping anybody from having a radio station or having a television station or, you know, magazine, like a newsletter, or any of that thing we've got. In all the ways, it's completely possible for every human to meet every other human. Here's a, here's a question. Uh, I have and uh, I I don't know how you would actually prove it. So it's uh just a question for pondering do you think that the um people were just as crazy before they had a voice as they are after having the voice, or is it having the voice that makes them crazy? Dean: I think it's having access to so many convincing dissenting or, uh, you know voices like I'm talking about the person who's the broadcaster you know they weren't a broadcaster 25 years because there wasn't a medium for doing. Definitely, uh, I think there's definitely a piling on, yeah, of it that I think that you know. If you think about your only access to crazy opinions and I say crazy with air quotes it is was somebody you know in, uh, in your local environment. It's like you remember even in toronto, remember, they had speakers corner. Uh, yeah, sydney tv had speakers corner where you could go and down on uh down on uh cane street queen street down on queen and john queen and John Queen and John Street. I lived about three plus. Dan: Yeah, you never paid any attention to them. I mean you, I just made sure I was on the other side of the street walking, so they wouldn't, try to engage me you know and uh and uh, yeah, so I. So having the capability uh has its own bad consequence, for for some people, yeah, I think so, because the um, you know, I mean you and I couldn't be crazy like this, like we're doing right now. Dean: We couldn't have been crazy like this 25 years ago, but we would have had to just do it together at table 10,. Just yeah, just talk, that's all it is we just let everybody else now hear it? Come listen in. Dan: I don't think we're crazy. I think we're the height of sanity. I think we're the height of sanity. Dean: I do too, Absolutely. Yeah, it's so, but I do. I definitely think that that's that's one of the things is that it's very it's much more difficult to discern. Discernment is a is a big. You need discernment in this, in this period more than ever probably do you have that in your working genius? Dan: do you have that in your working genius? Dean: yeah, that's my number one thing discernment. I think we're the same, yeah invention and discernment which which is first. Dan: Mine is invention and discernment. Dean: Okay, so mine is discernment and invention. And it's an interesting. Chad Jenkins has been asking this. He's been kind of exploring with people what he calls their perpetual question, like what's the constant question? That is kind of like the driving question of what you do. Dan: Do you know yours? Dean: I do. I think, in looking at it, mine is what should we do? Dan: I know, what mine is, what's yours? I wonder how far I can go. Dean: I wonder how far I can go. I like that. Dan: I've had that since I was 11 years old. Dean: Yeah, yeah, that's really. It's very interesting, right like I look at it. That, uh, you know, there were years ago, um, there was a guy, bob beal, who wrote a book called uh, stop setting goals if you'd rather solve problems or something. And so I think I'm, I am a problem solver. Simplifier, you know, as I learn all the layers about what I am, is that I'm able to I just think about, as my MO is to look at a situation and see, well, what do we need to do? Right, like, what's the outcome that we really want? Right, like, what's the what, what's the outcome that we really want, and then go into inventing the simplest, most direct path to effectively get that outcome and that's the driver of, of all of the uh things you know. so I'm always. I think the layer of I think it's a subtlety, but the layer of discernment before inventing, for me is that I limit the inventing to the as a simplifier, you know, and I think you as a, you know I'm an obstacle bypasser, a crusher, uh-huh, uh, no, I I just say, uh, what's the way around this? Dan: so I don't have to deal with it. Dean: Yeah, yes and uh, yeah and uh I can't tell you that you that that progression of is there any way I could get this without doing anything, followed by what's the least that I could do to get this. And then, ok, is there, and who's the person? Dan: who's the person that can do it? Now I tell you, I've already thought about that 10 times this morning. Dean: It's a constant. Dan: It's right there. It's right there. It's a companion. And I sit there and you know, for example, you get caught in a situation where you have to. You know you have to wait, you know like you have to wait and I asked myself is there any way I can solve this without doing nothing? And I said yes, you have to just be patient for 10 minutes. Ok, I'm patient for 10 minutes. You know, oh, right, yeah, yeah you know, yeah, I experienced that a lot at Pearson Airport. Oh, yeah, right, yeah, yeah. Dean: Right, yeah, yeah, for sure, there's a lot of travel shenanigans, but I think, when you really look at, I think just it's fascinating what shifting your, shifting your view by an hour can do in travel. Oh, yeah, yeah. Like, if your target is to arrive three hours, yeah, you start the process one hour earlier than you would normally. There's so much, so much room for margin, so much. Dan: Uh, it's so much more relaxing, you know yeah, it takes us anywhere from uh 40 minutes to an hour to get to Pearson from the beach. Dean: Yeah. Dan: And so we leave three hours before the flight time three hours. And we're there and actually the US going to the US. They have a nice on one side. They've got some really really great um seating arrangements, tables and everything and uh, I really like it. I like getting there and, yes, you know, we starbucks is there, I get a coffee and yeah, you know I sit there and I'll just, uh, you know, I'll read my novel or whatever, or you know I have my laptop so I can work on it. But my killer question in those situations is it's 1924, how long does this trip take me? That's the best right. Dean: Yeah, or if that's not good enough 1824. Right, exactly. Dan: Right, exactly yeah. Dean: I just think. I mean, it's such a, would you say, dan, like your orientation, are you spending the majority of your time? Where do you, where do you live mentally, like? How much time do you spend reflecting on or, you know, thinking about the past, thinking about the future and thinking about right now? Dan: well, I think about the past, uh, quite a bit from the standpoint of creating the tools, because I don't know if you've noticed the progression like over the year, almost every tool has you say well, what have you done up until now? you know, and then your top three things that you've done up until now. And then, looking ahead, you you always brainstorm. That's a Dean Jackson add-on that I've added to. All the tools is brainstorming. And then you pick the top three for the past up until the present. And then you brainstorm what could I do over the next 12 months? And then you pick the top three. But the past is only interesting to me in terms is there a value back there that I can apply right now to, uh, building a better future? Dean: you know, I don't. Dan: I don't think I have an ounce of nostalgia or sentimentality about the past you know, or yearning, you know you don't want. No, I get you know, especially especially now you know it's uh. The boomers are now in their 70s. And I have to tell you, Dean, there's nothing more depressing than a nostalgic baby boomer. Dean: Yeah, back in our day, You're right. Dan: Yeah, that's back in the day, back in your day, you were unconscious. Yeah right, yeah, right, yeah, and I really I noticed it happening because the first boomers started to be 65. So 46, 46 and 65 was the 2011. They started to, you know, they crossed the 65 year mark and I started noticing, starting yeah, oh boy, you know, I'm really spending a lot of time with the people I graduated from high school with and I said, oh yeah, that's interesting, why haven't you seen them for 40 years? Right, yeah, yeah, I went to a 25-year graduation reunion, yeah, so I graduated in 62, so that was 87. And I went back and we had clients here and I told people you know, I'm going back for a high school reunion. I got back and there was an event, a party, and they said, well, how was that? And I said nobody came. None of them came. And he says you had a reunion and nobody came. I said no, they sent a bunch of old people in their place. You know they were talking about retirement. I only got another 20 years to retirement. I said, gee, wow, wow, wow I can't believe that. I mean, if you haven't seen someone for 50 years, there was a reason. Dean: Yeah, absolutely. I just look at these. You know I graduated in 85. So 40 years this year that just seems impossible, dan, like I just I remember you know so clearly. I have such clarity of memory of every year of that you know the last 40 years, that you know the last 40 years, but you know it's. It's a very. What I've had to consciously do is kind of narrow my attention span to the this. What I'm working on is getting to more in the actionable present kind of thing. You know more in the actionable present kind of thing, you know, because I tend to, I mean looking forward. You know if you, it's funny we can see so clearly back 25 years, even 40 years. We've got such great recollection of it. But what we're not really that great at is projecting forward, of looking forward as to what's the next 25 years going to look like. Dan: Well, you couldn't have done it back then either? Dean: then either, and that's what I wondered. So you, I remember, uh, you know, 25 years ago we had we've talked about the um, you know the investment decisions of starbucks and berkshire hathaway and procter and gamble. Those were the three that I chose. But if on reflection now, looking back at them, I could have, because they were there. I could have chosen Apple and Google and Amazon. They would have been the, they would have been eclipsed, those three. Dan: Yeah, but you did all right. Dean: Yeah, absolutely no. No, here's the thing. Dan: The big thing isn't what you invested in, it's what you stayed invested in. Yes, it's moving around. That kills your investment. We have whole life insurance, which is insurance with cash value. It's been 30 years now and the average has been 7% per year for 30 years now and the average has been 7% per year for 30 years. Yeah, I mean, that's interest. I mean interest. So it's not a capital gain, it's just interest. Dean: I was just going to say, and you can access the money. Dan: It's like a bank. It's like your own personal bank. We have an agreement with one of the Canadian banks here that we can borrow up to 95% against the cash value, and the investment keeps on going you just took out a loan. It doesn't affect the investment. What's his name? Dean: Morgan H morgan household. Dan: He talks about that. Yeah, he said it's the movement that uh kills you. Yes, he says, just find something you know you know, government bonds are good over 25 years. I mean people say yeah but I could have gone 100. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But you have to think about it. This way, you don't have to think about it. Right yeah that was the Toronto real estate. Toronto real estate, you know, geez yeah. Dean: Yeah, you're right, do you? Dan: know what the average price of a single detached is in GTA right now? I don't know. It's over a million dollars. Yeah, it's about 1.2, 1.4. That's a single detached, I'm not talking about a big place? No, no exactly. Dean: Just a three-bedroom, two-bed single-family home Too bad single family home. I remember when I was starting out in Georgetown the average price of that million dollar bungalow now is like a staple was a bungalow that was built in the 50s and 60s three bedroom, 1,200 square foot. Three bedroom brick bungalow uh, was on a 50-foot lot. Was uh a hundred and sixty five thousand dollars, yeah, and it was so funny, because now it's two uh, probably, uh, georgetown. Georgetown is a very desirable place, yes, and so, uh, when you look at the, I remember carol mcleod, who was in my office. She'd been in real estate for you know, 20, 20 years when, uh, when I joined the office and she remembers thinking when, the price of a prince charles bungalow there was a street called prince charles in, uh, georges, it was kind of like the staple of the uh, the like the consumer price index, bread basket kind of thing when a, uh, when a prince charles bungalow went for $100,000, she thought that was the end of the world. That that's like. This is unsustainable $100,000 for a house. Who's got that kind of money? How are people gonna be able to sustain this? I just think, man, that's so crazy, but you think about it. Do you remember when Dave Winfield got a million-dollar contract for baseball? Dan: Oh yeah. Dean: What an amazing thing. That was the million-dollar man. It's crazy. Now you know. Dan: Yeah, you know, it's really interesting If you take the salaries, let's say the Yankees right now the. Yankees, ok, and you know they're there. You know they have some huge, huge, huge contracts, you know, I think I'm trying to think of the biggest one. Dean: Well, aaron Judge, you know, is like three, three hundred and twenty million judge, you know is like three, 320 million, you know, and uh, but the guy in LA just you know, 700 million yeah, 760, 760 and Soto Soto with the mats. Dan: He just I think his is around 702 and uh and everything and people say this is just unsustainable. If you add up all the salaries of, you know, the yankees, their entire team, you know um, uh and, and average it out against what the market value of the yankees is. Yeah, you know, like this total salary. Dean: The average is exactly the same as it was 70 years ago and that's the thing people don't understand, that these salaries are based on collective bargaining and the basketball, for instance, half of the money goes to the players. So half of all the revenue from tickets and TV and media and merchandise, all of that stuff, half of the money that the organization makes, has to go to the players. And so on a basketball team they have maybe 12 players who are getting all of that money. Dan: You know, so that see the basketball players get I think it's 15, I think they have 15 now. 15, now 15 players. Dean: Yeah, yeah, yeah so you look at that and it's like, uh wow, now collectively they have to be within their, their salary cap or whatever is, yeah, 50, 50 percent of their revenue. But I mean it's kind of, uh, it's market value, right, it's all relative, yep yep, yep, yeah, and all the owners are billionaires. Dan: You know, they're. They mostly use it for a tax write-off, I mean that's yeah, yeah, yeah I have to tell you talk about tax write-off. About three blocks from us here in the beaches in Toronto, there's an Indian restaurant that's been there for about two years and every night we come by it on the way back from the office and I've never seen any customers. I've never once if I pass that restaurant and this is during business hours. I've never seen, I've never once if I pass that restaurant and this is during business hours yeah I've never. I've never seen it and I said I got a feeling there's some money laundering that's crazy. Dean: It's like I I look at the um, I'm trying right now, and this this next couple of weeks. One of the things I'm really gonna uh reflect on is kind of looking forward. I think about I did this with our realtors. I created an RIP for 2024. So RIP meaning reflection on what actually happened in the last year for you how many transactions, how much revenue, how much whatever came in. And then inflection, looking at what is it right now, where are you at and what trajectory is that on right? If you're looking, what are the things that you could make a change on? And then projecting projection into 2025. And I realized you know part. One of the things I said to the people is you can't same your way to different, that's, you can't save your way to different. I mean that's really if you're thinking that something different is going to happen. Something different has to take place. Dan: You can't crazy your way to normal either. Dean: Exactly. Dan: Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah, it's really. It's really. Yeah. I think you know that Morgan House book. We gave it out. We gave it out. I have to check on that. I put in a request for that. I don't know if it went out, you know, but he's just I. I told joe he should have him as a speaker at the national the annual event yeah, yeah, I think it'd be good. I mean because joe's really, really, really got to hustle now, because he uh really established a new standard for who he has. But yeah, I was just looking at an article this morning because it reminded me of who Joe had. He had Robert Kennedy and Jordan. Peterson and Tucker Carlson, tucker Carlson, yeah. Dean: And it was great. Dan: It was great. And then I was thinking about the role that elon musk is playing in the us government. There's no precedent for this in us history, that you have a person like that, who's just brought in with somebody else, vivek ramaswamy and uh, they're just given a department of government. Dean: A department of government oh, did I miss a vivek uh appointment. Was he appointed to something? Dan: no, he's, he's appointed with uh, with um with uh, elon, oh, I see, okay, yeah. Yeah, it's called the department of government efficiency right okay, uh, which may be a contradiction in terms, but anyway, but they're hiring people, but the people they hire don't get any salary. You have to volunteer, you have to volunteer to work. So you got to have, you got to be well funded to work there. You know you got to. I mean you got to be living off your own savings, your own investments, while you're there. You know you got to. I mean, you got to be living off your own savings your own investments while you're there. But I was thinking because we've been observers now for 13, actually just a year of President Milley in Argentina and he's cut government costs by 30% in one year. Dean: Wow, yeah there's interesting stuff. Dan: He eliminated or really cut 12 departments. Nine of the departments he just got rid of you know the one, you know they have departments like tuck you in safely at night, sort of that had about that, had about 5000 employees, you know, and you know, and send letters to your mom let her know you know that sort of department, but they were just creating employment, employment, employment where people didn't really have to work, and he got rid of seventy five thousand federal employees in a country of forty Forty six million. Forty six million, he got rid of seventy five thousand. Well, in the US, if they did equal proportions, we're about 350, so 46, that's about seven, seven, eight times. That would get rid of 550,000. I think it's doable, yeah. Dean: I mean that's fascinating and we don't get access to that right. You sought that out and you only came into contact with that because you're a frequent traveler to Argentina. Yeah, Argentina, and it feels better, yeah, and it feels better. Dan: We were noticing because we hadn't been there since March and we were there right at the end of November. We were there right at the end of Thanksgiving. We were actually American Thanksgiving. We were that week, we were down there and the place just feels better. You can just feel it there, there, and the place just feels better. You can just feel it. There is uh, you know, and uh, you know, and there's a real mood shift, you know, when people just feel that all this money is being, you know, confiscated and paid to people who aren't working. You know that yeah it doesn't feel good. Doesn't feel good, then there's Canada, then there's Canada. Dean: Right. Dan: Yes. Dean: It's great entertainment, I'll tell you. Well, you know it's funny. I don't know whether I mentioned last time, the guy from El Salvador, what he's done in since being elected. You're a young guy, I think he was elected at 35 or 37. And he's completely turned around the crime rate in El Salvador by being 100%. Dan: You just have a 50,000 convict prison. Well, that's exactly right, yeah, yeah. And that's the thing. Dean: It's like lock him up. That's the thing. Dan: He's like led, and they guard themselves. It's a self-guarding prison. Dean: Is that right? I didn't know that. No, no, I'm just kidding, I'm just playing on your theme. Dan: Right right, right'm just kidding, I'm just playing on your thing. Dean: Right, right, right, yeah, yeah. Well, that would be the combination, right, self-guarding. That would be the most efficient way to have the situation. Dan: Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah. Dean: But it is amazing what can happen when you have a focus on one particular thing. Dan: Well, you know what it is. I think partially and Peter Zion talks about this that, generally speaking, the way the world has been organized, during the 20th century the US really didn't pay much attention to South America, latin America at all, and never has you know the. United States never has, because they've been east and west, you know it's either Europe or it's Asia. But now that the US has decided that they're going to be very discerning about who gets to trade with them they're very discerning about who gets the benefit of US protection and everything else All of a sudden, the South Americans are getting their houses in order which they haven't been. It's been a century of mostly really bad government in Latin America. Now they're all getting things in order so that when the US looks south, they're front of the line. The only thing that the US really paid any attention to was Cuba Cuba's like a piece of meat. Dean: You can't yeah. Dan: The only thing that the US really paid any attention to was Cuba. Yes, right, cuba's like a piece of meat you can't get out of your teeth. For the United. States and your tongue is going crazy, trying to get that piece of meat out of you. It's just been sort of an annoying place, it's just been sort of an annoying place. Dean: Yeah, this is, I think when you look at you know Peter Zions stuff too. If you think about definitely the trend over the next 25 years is definitely more. Dan: I think it's trend lines are really almost eerily accurate. The one thing he doesn't understand, though, is US politics. I found that he doesn't have a clue about US politics. He's a Democrat. He told me he was a Democrat. I spent it. He came and spent a day at Genius, yes, and he said that he was a Democrat. He's an environmentalist, and you know, and you know, and. But he says but I can also do math, you know, he says I can do math so you can see what, which direction the numbers are going in. But he, I mean right up until a week before the election, he says Kamala is going to take it, Kamala is going to take it. You know and everything like that. So he didn't. He didn't have any real sense of the shifts that were going on voter shifts that were going on. I mean Trump went in and almost every county. There's 3,000 counties in the United States and he didn't go backwards in any of the counties, he went up in every county. Dean: Oh, wow, that's interesting so you didn't lose anything. Dan: That's really widespread. I mean, there isn't 3,001. There's just 3,000. Yeah, and he went up. It was just as it was. Like you know, it was like the tide came in. I think I've never seen in my lifetime, I've never really seen a shift of that proportion. And I wonder, you know, you look at over the new political establishment. Well, this isn't my thought George Friedman, who was Peter Zion's, because the political establishment in the United States, in other words, where the proportion of the votes are, is going to be working class. It won't be highly educated you know, professional people. For one thing, ai is really feeding. You know, if you have somebody's making $30,000 a year and somebody else is making $100,000 a year, which job would you like to eliminate to economize? Dean: Right, yeah, yeah, you look at the. That's one thing I think we, like I, look at when I am thinking about the next 25 years. I think about what are the like there's no way to predict. There was no way in 1999 to predict YouTube and Facebook and the things that are TikTok, you know, or AI, all of that impact right. But I think there. But, like I said, there was evidence that if you were, if you believe, guessing and betting, as you would say, you could see that the path that Amazon was on made sense and the path that Apple was on and the path that Google was on, all are ai for certain. Like that dna, all the like the things that are that we're learning about stem cells and genetics, and all of that kind of stuff. And Bitcoin, I guess, right, digital currency, crypto, you know everything. Just removing friction. Dan: Yeah, I think the whole blockchain makes sense. Yeah, yeah, you know. I mean I think the thing in the US dollar makes sense. Yeah, $1.44 yesterday. It's up 10 cents in the last eight weeks. Wow, yeah, I think when you were there in September it was $1.34, probably $1.34. Dean: Now it's $1.44. Oh, that's great yeah, yeah. Dan: And yeah, so yeah, I mean the ones that I mean. People say, well, bitcoin, you know Bitcoin is going to become the reserve currency. I said there's 21 million of them. It can't become the reserve currency. Dean: Right right. Dan: There is no currency that can replace the dollar. Dean: You know, it's just. Dan: And still have a livable planet. Dean: Mm-hmm, anyway, we've covered territory. Dan: We've covered territory today. Dean: We have Holy cow. It's already 1203. Dan: That's amazing. We covered a lot of territory. Dean: We really did. Dan: But the one thing that is predictable is the structure that you can put onto your schedule. That is predictable. Dean: You know, I have one. Dan: I have a thing I hadn't talked to you about this, but this is something I do is that when I start tomorrow, I look at next week, ok, and I just look at and and I just get a sense and then I'll put together some changes. I'd like Becca Miller she's my high beams into the future and she does all my scheduling and so I'll notice that some things can be rearranged, which if I got to next week I couldn't rearrange them. But I can rearrange them on Monday of this week for next week. Dean: But I I couldn't do it on. Dan: Monday of next for that week. So more and more this this year. Um, every uh Monday I'm going to look at the week uh, not this week, but the week ahead and make changes. I think, I bet there's uh, you know, like a five to 10% greater efficiency. That happens just by having that one habit. Dean: Yeah, dan, I'm really getting down to, I'm looking at and I do that same thing. But looking at this next, the 100 hours is really from. You know, hours is really from Monday morning at eight o'clock till Friday at noon is a hundred hours and that to me, is when everything that's the actionable period, and then really on a daily basis, getting it to this, the next 100 minutes is really that's where the real stuff takes place. So anyway, I always love the conversations. Dan: Yep, back to you next week. Yes, sir, have a great day. I'll talk to you soon. Dean: Bye, okay, bye.

What is it like to be in charge of the one of Canada's largest pilot training bases? What does the future hold for pilot training in Canada, and what are we doing now to ensure our pilots are the best of the best? Colonel Dan Coutts is the current Wing Commander of 15 Wing Moose Jaw. In part 2 of our chat with him, we will discuss current and future plans for pilot flight training in Moose Jaw, we'll talk about why he continues to pursue flight even at the rank of Colonel, and we'll go into some questions from you, our listeners. Tune in today!

In this episode I had the pleasure to chat with Liz about her personal experience with mental health. Liz was the longest serving female crewman on the Royal Air Force Chinook Fleet spanning a 17 year career flying on the aircraft. But after her medical discharge in 2019 she struggled with the impact of PTSD and other life events. Thankfully one night when she was at her lowest point she made a phone call that saved her life. You can find out more about Liz, her work sharing her story to help others and order a copy of her book here: https://www.chinookcrewchick.co.uk/

Welcome to the twenty-ninth episode of the Zoology Ramblings Podcast! This week, Robi and Emma begin with some very exciting news - the global release of their feature length documentary "Rewilding a Nation" on WaterBear! (link to watch below). Robi provides an update on the decision to reclassify orca into different species and gives an ode to the recently extinct slender-billed curlew and Emma gives an overview of Scottish wildcat news. Robi and Emma then talk about the recent illegal lynx releases to Scotland and end with global conservation stories in California. Emma talks about the impact of the wildfires on wildlife, while Robi shares some good news for Chinook salmon. Robi Watkinson is a Conservation Biologist and wildlife filmmaker specialising in the spatial and movement ecology of large carnivores, camera trapping survey methods, rewilding, metapopulation dynamics and conservation planning. He has an MSc in Conservation Biology from the FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, and the Institute of Communities and Wildlife in Africa, University of Cape Town. He is based between Cape Town and London, and has strong interests in equitable and inclusive conservation, palaeontology and wildlife taxonomy and evolution! Emma Hodson is a Zoologist and wildlife content creator, currently working in the community and engagement team at Avon Wildlife Trust. Emma's role as a Wildlife Champions Coordinator involves supporting and upskilling people to take action for nature in their local communities. Emma has experience in remote wildlife fieldwork, and has been part of Arctic fox, macaw and cetacean research teams in Iceland, Peru and Wales respectively. She has also been involved in animal care and rehabilitation work in Costa Rica and South Africa. Emma is particularly passionate about the interface between community engagement and wildlife monitoring, and enjoys running workshops and giving talks on topics including camera trapping, beaver ecology and rewilding.  You can watch "Rewilding A Nation" for free on WaterBear by following this link: https://www.waterbear.com/watch/rewilding-a-nation You can follow more of our weird and wonderful wildlife adventures on instagram: @zoologyramblingspodcast & @robi_watkinson_wildlife & @emma_hodson_wildlife

This week I'm joined by Scott Baker-McGarva. We talk about growing up in BC, guiding on the Bow River, repping and the ever changing landscape of fly fishing products, the difficulties of teaching, mooching reels and chinook, his preferred rigs, dealing with aging eyes and so much more.

What is it like to fly the CH-146 Griffon for 427 Squadron as it transitioned from a normal Tac Hel Squadron to being part of CANSOFCOM? What about flying in Bosnia, or being Special Operations Support in Afghanistan? How do you take 400 Reserve Tactical Helicopter Squadron and help prepare them for high readiness status? Colonel Dan Coutts is the current Wing Commander of 15 Wing Moose Jaw. In part 1 of our chat with him, we will discuss his early flying days, some of his deployments, as well as some of his leadership opportunities that prepared him leading up to his time as 15 Wing Commander.

@Wickedweedbrewing #WickedWeed #CraftBeer  #Podcast #BeerLovers

Pernicious Wicked Weeds Are Among Us @Wickedweedbrewing #WickedWeed #CraftBeer #IPA #Podcast #BeerLovers

"Up in Oregon, sixty miles from that old dam site, adult Chinook salmon were swimming in the Klamath River. It happened in ten days, when our scientists were saying it might take ten years." The largest dam removals in history just took place on California's Klamath River. In the latest episode of Rewilding the World Ben Goldsmith talks with Chuck Bonham, Director of California Fish and Wildlife, about this iconic moment, and about the recovery of salmon, beavers, wolves and other wildlife in the Golden State.This podcast was recorded before the wildfires happened in California. Our thoughts are with all the victims of these tragic events.Ben Goldsmith is a British financier and rewilding enthusiast. Join him as he speaks to people from all over the world who champion nature and are helping to restore habitats and wildlife to some of the most nature depleted parts of our planet.This podcast is produced by The Podcast Coach. Text Rewilding the World here. Let us know what you think of the podcast and if there are any rewilding projects you would love Ben to feature in future episodes. The Conservation Collective support locally-led environmental Foundations around the world. Together we'll protect and restore the wild places we know and love.

Show Notes:  https://wetflyswing.com/702  Presented by: Stonefly Nets, Waters West Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors  In this episode, Brian Niska and Jeff Liskay talks about our upcoming Skeena Spey School and what makes the Skeena River a prime location for steelhead fishing. Expect to learn the art of spotting fish upstream, techniques to keep your fly in the "bucket" longer, and discover the best rods and lines suitable for both the West Coast and Great Lakes regions. This episode is packed with essential tips for anyone looking to enhance their steelhead fishing experience, including the top four criteria for finding fish on any steelhead water. Whether you're planning a trip to the majestic Skeena River or simply looking to improve your angling skills, this episode promises to equip you with the knowledge and inspiration you need. Episode Chapters with Brian Niska and Jeff Liskay on the Skeena Spey School 2:46 - Jeff expresses excitement about visiting the Skeena Spey Lodge, emphasizing the value of learning from experienced steelhead guides and the camaraderie among participants. Brian, the owner of the lodge, describes its unique appeal, highlighting the opportunity to catch pristine steelhead in shallow waters. 5:39 - Jeff shares that the biggest steelhead he has seen in the Skeena is close to 30 pounds. Brian explains that while the fishing season runs from mid-July to the end of October, late August to early September is particularly favorable because as water temperatures drop, fish begin to settle in the runs, increasing catch rates. 12:00 - We discuss the differences and similarities between fishing in the Great Lakes and the Skeena River, particularly for steelhead. Jeff emphasizes the importance of understanding how to fish the fly properly, noting that techniques learned in the Great Lakes can be valuable when applied to the Skeena. 14:29 - Jeff asks Brian about his approach to guiding anglers on the lower Skeena River. Brian explains that he doesn't typically have anglers fish one after the other in a step-and-cast manner. Instead, he assigns each angler their own section of the river, focusing on specific features such as diagonal bars or clusters of rocks, which can indicate where fish might choose to linger. 21:44 - We discuss the fluctuations in steelhead fish populations on the West Coast and the Great Lakes. Brian notes that natural variability in fish numbers has always existed, but modern technology and communication amplify awareness of these changes. 26:50 - Brian describes the Skeena, highlighting that within 15 minutes in any direction, one can experience solitude, yet the area is easily accessible due to its modern airport and proximity to town amenities. The lodge is conveniently located near the airport, equipped with Wi-Fi, and benefits from fresh supplies due to its closeness to town. 27:57 - Brian outlines the itinerary for those who are planning to fish the Skeena. He also emphasizes the importance of using a 12 to 13-foot rod with a Skagit or Scandi head, rather than larger rods, to fish effectively. He advises guests to maintain a mindset of optimism and confidence, believing that any suspicious movement in the water could be a fish. 30:59 - I share a memorable experience where I caught a bright coho, initially mistaking it for a steelhead. Brian explains that the catch varies year to year, with some years having more steelhead than coho, and vice versa. He notes that coho are aggressive fish that often hit harder than steelhead, describing them as tough fighters resembling Chinook salmon in build. 33:09 - Jeff provides valuable tips for fishing the Skeena River, emphasizing the importance of using one's eyes as the best tool. His first tip is to let the fly dangle in a foot of water for potential success. His second tip involves working through a run and paying attention to the movement of the fly. 34:57 - We talk about strategies for effectively fishing in challenging water conditions, particularly when dealing with obstructions like rocks. Jeff explains his approach by imagining himself as the fly to better understand fish behavior. He notes that fish often lay in front of or beside rocks, contrary to the common belief that they stay behind them. Jeff describes his technique of slowly moving his weight down to allow the fly materials to undulate and then positioning the rod toward the middle of the river to slow down the swing and keep the fly in place longer. 36:29 - Brian, although experienced, admits he hasn't fished every tributary but shares his insights on different sections of the river, emphasizing the importance of adapting fishing techniques based on the environment. He highlights the contrast between moving fish and those that linger in specific areas, particularly in the Bulkley and Morice rivers. 42:00 - We discuss the nuances of steelhead fishing, emphasizing the use of spoons and fly presentations. Brian advises focusing on changing presentation methods rather than the fly itself, and underscores the importance of patience when a fish strikes, recommending anglers allow the fish to take the fly without interference. 45:02 - We get into the click and pawl vs disc drag reel. Jeff advises against doing nothing, referencing the classic advice from George Cook, and mentions that while click and pawl reels are good for beginners, they can lead to challenges as the fight progresses. He also shares experiences of anglers struggling with these reels during intense fish fights. Brian adds that while some guides prefer click and pawl reels for personal use, they often provide clients with disc drag reels for better control. He personally favors disc drag reels, particularly the Islander TR3, for their strong drag and capacity, especially when dealing with exceptional fish. 48:45 - Jeff provides some insights into the importance of proper reel backing, especially when fishing for steelhead. He emphasizes checking for loops in the backing to prevent accidents and ensuring it's wound tightly. He also prefers using 40-50 pound gel spun backing, as it holds up well during long fights with fish, especially in challenging conditions like across boulders. 50:16 - Jeff provides valuable tips on the fishing gear used in the Great Lakes and how it transitions when fishing in the Skeena region. As a general strategy, Jeff advises having both a light and a heavy rod setup in both regions. This allows for flexibility, accommodating shallow and deep water conditions. 53:38 - Brian elaborates on the rods and lines he uses. He also describes various setups he might have in a boat. He highlights the flexibility of using a boat on the Skeena River, allowing for multiple gear setups, compared to the limitations when hiking along the bank. 1:00:10 - I raise the common challenge of locating fish in unfamiliar waters. Jeff suggests observing the river from an upstream perspective, as it reveals subtle features like flat spots and resting areas that are less obvious when looking downstream. This approach helps anglers identify potential fishing spots, whether on a small river or a larger one like the Skeena. Brian expands on Jeff's idea by emphasizing the importance of location and understanding the river's dynamics. He outlines four key criteria for finding fish: Structure: Look for features like salmon reds, woodydebris, or large rocks. Speed and Depth: Ideal fishing spots often have water around two and a half to three feet deep. Location on the River: Areas near rapids, tributaries, or bends can be promising. Lane of Travel: Anglers should focus on areas where fish are naturally traveling. 1:05:08 - Brian discusses how he manages expectations for guests at his lodge, stressing the challenges of steelhead fishing. He also emphasizes that fishing is more than just catching fish; it's about the knowledge and confidence gained. 1:08:49 - Jeff shares his enthusiasm for the Great Lakes Dude podcast, highlighting the wealth of information and knowledge he gains from engaging with experts like biologists and fishing guides. 1:12:19 - Brian talks about their collaboration with The Conservation Angler (TCA), led by John McMillan. John is both a scientist and a passionate steelhead angler, which uniquely positions him to contribute to conservation efforts. 1:15:06 - We give a shoutout to The Deep Wade podcast, hosted by John McMillan and Nick Chambers. Brian mentions on of his favorite episodes of the said podcast where they interviewed Bill Herzog, aka the Metal God, and one of the best steelhead anglers. 1:15:38 - For those who want to get a chance to win a spot in our Skeena Spey School fly fishing trip and gear giveaway, head on to wetflyswing.com/giveaway. Show Notes:  https://wetflyswing.com/702 

Orca mourns second calf since 2018 in a devastating report that J35 was seen floating her dead calf on January 1st, 2025. In this episode of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast, host Andrew Lewin discusses the tragic story of J35, a Southern Resident Orca, who lost her second calf, J61, shortly after its birth. The episode highlights several critical factors contributing to the high mortality rate of orca calves in this endangered population, which currently numbers only 73 individuals. Reasons for Calf Mortality: Food Scarcity: The primary prey of the Southern Resident Orcas, Chinook salmon, is in decline. The orcas rely exclusively on this species for sustenance, and with only a 20% survival rate for calves, the lack of adequate food supply is a significant concern. The orcas need a sufficient quantity of Chinook salmon to support their growth and health, especially during the early stages of life. Chemical Contamination: Orcas are among the most contaminated marine mammals due to bioaccumulation of toxins such as PCBs and DDT. These chemicals can impair reproductive and immune functions, potentially affecting the health of calves from birth. The presence of these toxins in the environment may contribute to the inability of calves to survive past their first year. Environmental Disturbances: Factors such as vessel noise and pollution disrupt the orcas' habitat, further complicating their survival. Increased shipping traffic and climate change exacerbate these issues, leading to a more challenging environment for the orcas. Reproductive Challenges: The Southern Resident Orcas are a long-lived species that take time to reach sexual maturity. With a low calf survival rate, the population struggles to maintain its numbers, especially as older individuals begin to pass away. The episode emphasizes the urgent need for conservation efforts, including habitat restoration and pollution control, to improve the chances of survival for orca calves and the overall health of the Southern Resident Orca population. Center For Whale Research: https://www.whaleresearch.com/ Follow a career in conservation: https://www.conservation-careers.com/online-training/ Use the code SUFB to get 33% off courses and the careers program.   Do you want to join my Ocean Community? Sign Up for Updates on the process: www.speakupforblue.com/oceanapp   Sign up for our Newsletter: http://www.speakupforblue.com/newsletter   Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3NmYvsI Connect with Speak Up For Blue: Website: https://bit.ly/3fOF3Wf Instagram: https://bit.ly/3rIaJSG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@speakupforblue Twitter: https://bit.ly/3rHZxpc YouTube: www.speakupforblue.com/youtube  

Show Notes:  https://wetflyswing.com/693  Presented by: Togiak River Lodge Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/togiak  Chris Childs shares his insights on fishing for king salmon at the Togiak River. Discover the thrill of targeting Chinook, steelhead, and Atlantic salmon. Chris offers tips on swinging flies and adapting techniques to changing tides. Learn about Alaska's top king salmon rivers and gain valuable advice for your fishing adventures. Whether you're a seasoned angler or a beginner, this episode is packed with inspiration and insider knowledge from the Alaskan wilderness. Tune in now! Episode Chapters with Chris Childs on Fishing for King Salmon in Alaska 2:13 - Chris shares that he began using a two-handed rod about 15 years ago and has been guiding in Alaska for seven years. He initially got involved through a job opportunity in Southwest Alaska, attracted by the variety of fish species that could be targeted with a two-handed rod. Currently, Chris guides in Alaska from mid-June to the end of July and spends the rest of the year working on the Deschutes and John Day River back home. 5:38 - Unlike the crowded Deschutes River, the John Day has limited access, although more spots are becoming available for bank anglers. Chris describes the logistics involved in fishing the river, including four or five-day overnight trips, which limit pressure due to the commitment required. For more information on fishing the John Day, Chris suggests contacting the Deschutes Angler or local ODFW biologist for advice on timing and access points. 9:25 - We dive into fishing for Chinook salmon on the Togiak River, focusing on a program that uses two-handed spey rods. Chris provides details on the timing, structure, and operations of the fishing program. 11:52 - We discuss fishing strategies for the Togiak and Kanektok rivers, highlighting the importance of timing with tides to catch fish, particularly king salmon, in southwest Alaska. Chris explains that fishing success is closely tied to the tides, as they determine when fish move through the bay. Anglers aim to be in the right spot as fish enter, often targeting areas where fish can rest before continuing upstream. These spots, resembling steelhead fishing locations, include soft inside waters and back channels where slower water meets the main river. 14:18 - Chris talks about the logistics and fishing schedule for a fishing trip in Togiak. Travelers typically arrive in Anchorage the night before their trip begins to prepare and adjust for any jet lag, especially international clients. The first full day of fishing starts early, spanning four days. On changeover days, departing anglers leave as new ones arrive, with a seamless transition facilitated by powerboats and planes. Chris explains how tides influence fishing strategies, dictating where fishing starts based on water flow, with adjustments made throughout the day as tides change. 18:10 - We ask Chris about the gear setup. He explains that they provide a gear rundown for clients ahead of time, allowing them to prepare or purchase necessary equipment. The clientele includes both seasoned travelers familiar with various types of fishing and newcomers to two-handed rod techniques. For Chinook fishing, Chris recommends a 14' 9wt rod for better castability, especially in larger pools. The standard setup includes a floating Skagit head with a 10 or 12-foot sink tip, and anglers are encouraged to bring two setups if possible. Chris also mentions using Airflo lines, particularly the F.I.S.T (Floating. Intermediate. Sink Three) and Skagit Scout. 21:08 - We discuss the differences between fishing for steelhead and chinook using a two-handed rod. Chris notes that while there are similarities in technique, the primary differences lie in the type of water and casting angles. For chinook, he recommends casting at a broader angle to present the fly broadside and maintain tension, which is crucial for kings as they tend to strike early in the swing. 24:08 - Chris explains that when king salmon grab the fly, the angler should feel a strong, unmistakable pull due to the tight line presentation. He emphasizes the importance of letting the fish dictate the next move after the grab, which typically involves holding on tight and allowing the fish to lead the initial part of the fight. Unlike steelhead, which may give a subtle bite, king salmon are more aggressive and will often grab the fly multiple times. 28:01 - Chris talks about the differences in fishing habitats between the Togiak and Kanektok rivers. He says that while the Togiak does have large sweeping gravel bars similar to the Kanektok, it also features cut banks and deeper troughs where anglers fish differently. Unlike the gradual drop-offs of the Kanektok, the Togiak offers varied water types, including pools ideal for casting from cut banks, reminiscent of Atlantic salmon fishing. 31:33 - Chris highlights that there are only a handful of notable rivers in Alaska for Chinook fishing. Other significant rivers in the area include the Naknek River, with a healthy salmon return, and the remote Sandy and Hoodoo rivers on the peninsulas, known for their exceptional fishing and beautiful landscapes. Chris also notes the Goodnews River as another excellent spot, although he hasn't personally fished there. 33:11 - Chris emphasizes the importance of not fishing too deep, as this could result in missing opportunities if fish are not visible. He explains that warmer water temperatures allow for lighter setups since fish tend to be suspended in the middle water column rather than at the bottom. 35:37 - We ask for his fly recommendations for Chinook fishing. Chris explains that the key to successfully catching Chinook is getting the fly in front of the fish at the right speed and depth. He typically uses flies around four inches long with bright colors like chartreuse, blue, white, and pink, which are effective. These flies often feature materials like marabou and angel hair for flash, and are equipped with medium or large dumbbell eyes. While larger flies and heavy sink tips were initially popular, Chris notes that smaller, moderately weighted flies can also be effective and more enjoyable to cast throughout the day. 37:10 - Chris provides advice for new anglers preparing to cast with large rods in extensive river systems like the Togiak. He emphasizes the importance of staying relaxed, as both physical and mental demands are high. Chris suggests thinking of fishing as targeting a "river within a river," focusing only on the water where casting and fly presentation are feasible. 40:06 - Chris emphasizes the significant difference in power and challenge between fish as they increase in size, particularly beyond the 20-pound mark. He highlights the importance of strategic boat positioning to be able to chase fish that make powerful runs out of the pool. 42:38 - Chris explains that king salmon are powerful fish and during their initial run after being hooked, there's little that can be done to stop them. He advises maintaining tension on the line with a relatively tight drag, but not too tight as to cause issues like a bird's nest if the fish changes direction suddenly. Chris prefers starting with a looser drag and adjusting as needed, emphasizing the importance of allowing the fish to run while keeping control. 45:23 - We talk about the drag settings for fishing steelhead compared to king salmon. Chris mentions that while some people use click and pawl reels for king salmon, he advises against it due to the risk of the reels failing. He recommends using disc drag reels. 47:04 - Chris advises against the assumption that heavy setups are necessary for these king salmon. Instead, he suggests using principles similar to those for trout and steelhead fishing. The region offers forgiving wading conditions with small substrates, making it comfortable for anglers. Essential gear includes reliable rain apparel due to the proximity to the Bering Sea, where weather systems frequently change. 48:57 - Chris talks about the Epic Waters program, which is primarily focused on Chinook fishing, led by Steve Morrow. Steve operates in Togiak, Alaska, and is passionate about fishing for Kings.  While Steve mainly pursues steelhead in British Columbia, his enthusiasm for Chinook leads him to explore opportunities across the Western hemisphere. 50:18 - We ask about his bucket list of fishing destinations. He aims to explore rivers in Norway, Sweden, and Iceland. He also expresses interest in fishing in South America to experience their chinook and steelhead. 53:36 - We ask Chris for advice on improving spey casting skills, especially for fishing Atlantic Salmon, Steelhead, or Chinook. Chris recommends visiting a local fly shop for a casting lesson. He emphasizes the value of having experienced individuals assess and guide one's casting technique. 54:42 - Chris shares his diverse music taste, mentioning his Spotify playlist which includes punk rock bands like Dead Kennedys and Misfits, as well as jazz artist John Coltrane and country singer Colter Wall. He also mentions listening to podcasts, including ours, and enjoys content from The MeatEater podcast due to his interest in hunting. 56:02 - Chris discusses his hunting experiences and practices. He hunts various game throughout the year in central Oregon, including upland birds like pheasants, turkeys, and big game depending on the opportunities available through Oregon's lottery system. Show Notes:  https://wetflyswing.com/693 

The Warrior Point Trail is a 7 mile out-and-back stroll on a dirt lane along the bank of the Columbia River among cottonwood forests, grassy meadows, and several lakes. The lakes are never really in clear view, but in the winter you are aware of them, being the preferred locales of sometimes raucous Tundra Swans. I started off walking along the water, joining the proper trail the better part of a mile north. The light, fine rain sounded like tiny pin pricks on my hat and coat. The wake of a passing barge was still settling, even as it passed out of sight. I saw a cloud of Canadian Geese coalesce in the sky downriver and disappear as soon as they had come. The river was wide and serene. A crow winged by with a fish in its mouth. I zoomed in on the destination downriver, Warrior Rock Lighthouse. The smallest lighthouse in Oregon. Why is it called Warrior Rock, you might ask? Well, like so many things around here the words were chosen from the perspective of the explorer and put on a map, and it stuck. The tale of the encounter that inspired that name, most likely with the Cathlapotle band of Chinooks, goes like this:On October 28, 1792, a British exploration party paddling up the Columbia in the ship's launch and cutter boats encountered twenty-three canoes with about two hundred Chinookans aboard, most of them wearing armored vests and holding weapons. Lt. William Broughton, captain of the HMS Chatham, the tender vessel for George Vancouver's HMS Discovery, led the British force. Seeing his men clearly outnumbered, Broughton ordered the launch's swivel gun loaded and primed for discharge. He loaded his own musket and fired a ball in the water to forewarn and frighten the Chinook. While the only violence during the encounter came from the British mariners, the place-name Broughton affixed to the place—Point Warrior—represents his characterization of the Native canoe men. (oregonencyclopedia.org)The denouement was described by the ship's clerk, “[seeing] that our intentions were as peacable, as their own, they took off all their War Garments, and every man seem'd eager to dispose of his Bows and Arrows for old Buttons, Beads, etc.”The rock formation the lighthouse was built on is the reason Sauvie Island exists. During the last ice age, several cataclysmic flash flood events scoured out the Columbia Basin, originating from ice dam breaches in the area of modern day Missoula, MT. Looking up on the hillsides of that Montana college town one can still make out the terraced waterline pattern of a vast glacial lake. When all that water coursed through this section of river, it uncovered the Warrior Rock formation in the basin. The resistant grey limestone formation acted like a dam, holding back sediment deposits along its southwest axis. Thus, Sauvie Island is only about 10,000 years young, give or take a couple thousand years. Along the way I stopped to watch a family of Pileated Woodpeckers. Bald Eagles abound here.I completed this instrumental score fairly recently, so the discerning listener may note the sound palette bearing a resemblance to the recently launched Listening Spot series: instrument voices that function like string arrangements but were created from pedal steel guitar, dobro, and mellotron are used for the first time here. It strikes me that these are like sedimentary layers of sound deposited against the backbone of (mostly) Pianet electric piano.I tend to be quite slow on my walks, especially when there are so many interesting things to see and hear. As a result I came away with several hours of source audio. I decided to cut that down to just shy of an hour, and subsequently split that in two because I kept falling asleep when listening to the mixes at night. On the whole it's quite reflective. A good end-of-year listen, I think. So I'm keeping the entirety of Part 1 unrestricted, for all who may want to listen to it on this platform, or via their podcast app. Part two will be released next week. Warrior Rock Soundwalk Part 1 is available on all streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple, Tidal, Amazon, YouTube…) tomorrow, Friday, December 13th. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chadcrouch.substack.com/subscribe

A Summer of Whales and Salmon tells the surprising story of the sudden change in the waters off the coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia. Orca and Humpback whales came back by the dozens and they stayed for months. They spent the summer gorging on salmon - Chinook, Chum and Pink, in particular. Tour operators, fishers, First Nations and researchers like Alex Morton saw it as a sign - a sign that the closure of 42 fish farms has given the salmon fishery a chance to recover. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alan C. Mack is a retired U.S. Army Master Aviator and veteran of over 35 years of service. He spent 17 years with the elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, known as the "Night Stalkers," flying MH-47 Chinook helicopters on missions such as the hunt for Osama bin Laden and the rescue of Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell during Operation Red Wings. Mack's career included roles as a Flight Lead, Instructor, and Commander at West Point, amassing over 6,700 flight hours and earning accolades like the Distinguished Flying Cross and Legion of Merit. In his book, Razor 03: A Night Stalker's Wars, Mack shares gripping accounts of his combat experiences and personal challenges, including the toll of frequent deployments on his family. Now serving as a Deputy Commissioner of Emergency Services in New York, he continues to inspire audiences with stories of resilience and leadership. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: https://shopify.com/srs https://helixsleep.com/srs https://betterhelp.com/srs https://hillsdale.edu/srs https://ShawnLikesGold.com | 855-936-GOLD #goldcopartner Alan C. Mack Links: Website - https://alancmack.com Book - https://alancmack.com/razor-03-a-night-stalkers-wars X - https://x.com/alancmack2015 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alancmack2015 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AlanCMackAuthor LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-c-mack Please leave us a review on Apple & Spotify Podcasts. Vigilance Elite/Shawn Ryan Links: Website | Patreon | TikTok | Instagram | Download Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Show Notes:  https://wetflyswing.com/689  Presented by: On DeMark Lodge, TroutRoutes, Jackson Hole Fly Company, Togiak River Lodge Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors   In this episode, we journey to fly fishing southwest Washington with expert guide Jackson Golik. Known for its impressive steelhead and salmon populations, this region offers anglers a unique experience that rivals the more renowned rivers along the West Coast. Jackson takes us on an exploration of the famous steelhead rivers such as the Kalama, Cowlitz, and Lewis. Discover the charm of these waters and learn how to optimize your fishing trips by timing them precisely and avoiding the bustling crowds. Jackson also shares his insider tips for surface and subsurface steelhead techniques, alongside strategies for hooking coho salmon—often thought of as exclusive to Alaska. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of the southwest Washington fly fishing scene and get ready to plan your next adventure in this often-overlooked fishing paradise. Episode Chapters with Jackson Golik on Fly Fishing Southwest Washington 4:46 - Jackson shares how he got into fly fishing. He was born into the fly fishing world, as his father guided on the Bow River in Calgary. He became familiar with the industry early on and worked as a shop assistant at the Greased Line, a renowned fly shop in Vancouver, Washington. The Greased Line, which operated for about 42 years, is noted as one of the oldest fly shops in the Pacific Northwest, having started in the late 1970s. 7:01 - He tells about that time when he was introduced to Simon Gawesworth, a significant figure in the fly fishing world. This connection led to an opportunity for Jackson to work as Simon's assistant for about six months at RIO, where he handled fly line box modifications and managed their social media. 12:10 - We discuss fishing in Southwest Washington, focusing on popular rivers like the Cowlitz, Lewis, and Kalama. Jackson highlights the prolific hatchery fishery in the Kalama, but notes that rivers with more wild genetics offer opportunities for larger fish. We also touch on salmon fishing, particularly for silvers, coho, and spring chinook. 15:25 - Jackson describes coho fishing as similar to bass fishing, using heavy sink tips and flies, with the fishing done from a boat near structures like wood. The season for coho starts in early September and typically lasts through October into early November, although it's dependent on rainfall. For chinook, the peak season is around Labor Day weekend, with the best fish being bright and high-quality. Jackson notes some rivers have late runs of Chinook, like the Lewis and Sandy rivers, which receive a small run of bright fish around late November to early December. 21:16 - We explore the state of steelhead fishing in Southwest Washington compared to the Olympic Peninsula. Jackson notes that while the OP rivers have experienced closures, the Southwest Washington rivers have remained consistently open, though they receive less publicity. 26:40 - We ask him about winter steelhead fishing in November and December. Jackson recommends focusing on rivers with consistent hatchery plants for better chances, specifically mentioning the Washougal River, known for its strong Skamania stock fish and challenging whitewater conditions. 30:11 - In fishing the Washougal River during winter, Jackson mentions using heavy sink tips and typical winter flies such as leeches, with T-14 being a common choice for getting closer to the fish. Jackson notes that while the Washougal River also has good runs of summer fish, the approach varies, with summer steelhead sometimes eating dry flies. 31:50 - We briefly talk about the impact of the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption on the Toutle River system. Jackson shares that he wrote a paper in college about the logging that happens in the Toutle system, highlighting the management strategy of continually raising the dam to contain sediment. 34:08 - We talk about the Cowlitz River, known for its heavy planting of hatchery steelhead, which makes it a prime location for fishing, especially if you're looking to take home fish to eat. 36:23 - Jackson owns a 1979 fiberglass Avro boat and a smaller Aire puma boat, which is about 11.5 feet long. He appreciates the fiberglass boat for its quietness and durability, noting that it can be easily repaired and modified with fiberglass and epoxy. 38:21 - We dig into steelhead fishing on the Kalama River during peak season, from mid-February to late April. He shares strategies for dealing with crowded conditions, such as knowing familiar faces and sections of the river preferred by frequent fishermen. Timing is crucial; sometimes it's better to fish later in the day when conditions improve. 43:30 - Jackson mentions that the Kalama, Cowlitz, and Lewis rivers are accessible, with numerous put-ins and take-outs available, making them great fisheries. He highlights the Kalama River, which stretches about 60 to 70 miles and originates from an aquifer, offering a long drainage. 45:19 - We discuss steelhead fishing in the region around Battle Ground, which is near the East Fork of the Lewis River, known for its historical record of large fish, specifically a 38-pound steelhead caught in the 1980s. Although the gene pool for such large fish has diminished, there are still opportunities to catch steelhead in the 20-pound range. 47:40 - Jackson highlights the Cowlitz as the best for swinging flies due to its consistent fish population, akin to salmon fishing, where fish arrive reliably mid-February each year. However, it faces heavy fishing pressure, both from conventional and fly fishers, with a significant number of boats and guides present, given the river's substantial hatchery support. 49:09 - Jackson mentions that the Lewis River has a program that supports natural spawning of wild steelhead, which has improved the run size over the past decade, attracting more anglers. Despite the predominance of wild fish, the presence of a few brood stock fish allows for some to be kept. The river is becoming busier with more anglers due to these improvements. The Kalama River, on the other hand, is known for drift boat and raft fishing, making it more competitive due to its smaller size. Anglers there often have to strategically time their fishing to avoid overcrowding and maximize their chances of catching fish. Jackson notes that the fishing dynamics in Southwest Washington are varied, with different runs and genetic variations of fish occurring throughout the year. 51:17 - Jackson recommends several local clubs and shops as valuable sources of information. He mentions the Salmon Creek Fly Fishers and the Clark Skamania clubs, highlighting their extensive knowledge due to longstanding members. Additionally, he suggests the Portland Fly Shop as a prime resource, noting that most staff have guided in the area and have considerable expertise. 52:38 - He shares his recent fishing experience on the Kanektok River, describing it as epic for Chinook fishing. We also talk about other notable locations for Chinook runs in Alaska, emphasizing the thrill of swinging flies for kings. 55:54 - Jackson expresses interest in a trip to Sudan for fishing Giant Trevally and Triggerfish, although plans changed due to the war, opting instead for an opportunity in Alaska. 58:24 - We ask Jackson for tips for a successful steelhead fishing. He emphasizes the importance of consistency in casting, advising beginners to focus on achieving a consistent casting distance and angle to increase their chances of success. He suggests that 40 feet of running line is typically sufficient. Consistency in fishing technique, rather than the number of fish caught, determines a good fishing day. He also recommends using longer leaders and heavier flies to ensure the fly sinks quickly. 1:05:14 - We quickly ask about his music preference. Jackson uses Spotify to listen to indie rock, describing it as having a synth tone and a slower tempo. Show Notes:  https://wetflyswing.com/689 

In this episode of the Afterburn Podcast, John "Rain" Waters sits down with Jon "Muttley" Behuniak, a seasoned Army aviator. They dive into the intense realities of helicopter operations, sharing experiences from a recent mission in Asheville that demanded quick thinking and precision. They explore the roles within the Army National Guard, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and adaptability in high-stakes situations. The conversation also covers the differences between helicopters like the Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook, as well as the emotional weight of medevac missions and the pressures of checkrides.

Show Notes:  https://wetflyswing.com/674  Presented By: Togiak River Lodge Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/togiak  George Krumm, editor of Fish Alaska Magazine and all-around fishy dude, is going to share his experience on Alaska grand slam catching all five salmon species in the same day on a recent trip to the Togiak River. You're going to find out which technique he used to make it happen; where some of the other great trips are around Alaska and things you should be thinking about; and what he thinks is the best thing to help turn around the Chinook decline for the Pacific rim. Plus you're gonna found out how you can plan your Alaska trip easily with a resource at Fish Alaska Magazine. Episode Chapters with George Krumm on Alaska Grand Slam 3:06 - George began his journey into fly fishing when he was about seven years old. His dad gave him a small vice and showed him how to tie flies. The very first fly he tied was a gray hackle peacock. George became truly passionate about fly fishing when he started catching fish with the flies he had tied himself. 5:08 - He shares a bit about how he began his career at Fish Alaska. Melissa Norris and his brother, Marcus, founded both Fish Alaska and Hunt Alaska magazines. For Fish Alaska, George primarily writes about fly fishing. Additionally, they have a "Fly of the Month" column, which is sponsored by Mossy's Fly Shop. 8:12 - George first connected with the Larsen brothers, who own the Togiak River Lodge, during his visit in 2022. His goal was to explore Chinook fishing and write a story about it. Unfortunately, the trip wasn't very successful due to poor water and weather conditions. Despite this, George believes that the Togiak River is a standout location for Chinook fly fishing, as it still boasts strong runs of fish in various sizes. 11:48 - George visited the lodge in mid-August this year, aiming to catch coho salmon on a fly. He successfully caught all five species of Pacific salmon—Chinook, coho, sockeye, chum, and pink salmon—in a single day on a fly rod. His cousin Tom achieved this feat twice in one week. 13:39 - He describes their success, noting that on an average day, he and Tom caught over 75 salmon of various species. Although their main goal was silvers, they caught multiple types of salmon, with the King salmon being the most challenging to catch at that time of year. Interestingly, they managed to achieve a "grand slam" of catching various salmon species by accident. 15:40 - We discuss sockeye salmon, which are less talked about in freshwater fishing. George mentions significant runs in areas like Naknek and Kenai. Sockeye are valued for their red meat and while they usually feed on plankton in the ocean, they can become territorial and bite more when in large groups. For Chum salmon George mentions that they are strong fighters, often leading to broken rods, though they might not look impressive. Pink salmon are smaller and change color quickly, causing them to be underrated, but fresh pinks are tasty, similar to trout. 20:31 - George enjoys the methodical aspect of spey casting, especially for winter steelhead, where catching even one fish is rewarding. He contrasts this with the excitement of fishing in the Togiak River, where large fish are caught more frequently. 26:47 - George highlights the Togiak River Lodge's multiple packages for anglers. He also notes an important change in their policy: during the first few weeks of the fishing season, the lodge will limit the number of anglers from 24 to 14. This adjustment is aimed at providing a better experience for those specifically interested in fishing for King salmon. 27:34 - We dig into the evolving perspectives on fishing practices in Alaska, emphasizing a shift away from the traditional "whack them and stack them" mentality towards more sustainable approaches. George highlights the importance of targeting abundant fish species such as sockeye, pink, and coho salmon, while questioning the necessity of taking large quantities of fish home. Our conversation highlights the need for anglers to adapt to changing times and prioritize sustainable practices. While Alaska has been perceived as having unlimited fish supplies, current trends suggest a need for caution and conservation. 33:36 -We discuss the current state of fly fishing and the associated challenges in different regions, including Alaska and the Skeena system. Fishing restrictions, such as closures on Chinook fishing, are not only happening in Alaska but in other areas as well. 38:50 - George recounts spending extensive time fishing on the Kenai River and now frequently visits the Naknek River for its excellent rainbow trout fishing opportunities. He also highlights the overlooked potential of stillwater fishing around Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula. He notes that many lakes in Alaska are stocked with fish and, unlike in the lower 48 states, they are not heavily fished. This means that these lakes often contain multiple age classes of fish, some reaching up to 30 inches long. 43:53 - The Fish Alaska website provides a free trip planning service. This service allows users to input information, after which they receive details and recommendations about where to go. George explains that the service typically recommends lodges or outfitters in the area of the user's intended destination. Additionally, when users submit their information, it is shared with these recommended operations, who may also contact the users to offer further assistance. 44:40 - George addresses the challenges facing the Chinook salmon fishery, particularly the commercial troll fishery in Southeast Alaska. A significant issue is that the fish caught are often not native to Alaska, and the average size of Chinook salmon along the west coast is decreasing. This size reduction is attributed to the fish being more vulnerable to overfishing in the ocean before they can return to spawn. He suggests that Chinook salmon management should be coordinated along the entire west coast, acknowledging their migratory and feeding patterns rather than being limited by political boundaries. 49:08 - George also expresses concern about the potential decline of Coho salmon in South Central Alaska, noting low returns in areas like Anchorage and Homer. He speculates that if Coho face decline, it might not be due to trawl fisheries but rather the impact of pink salmon hatchery operations. 53:43 - George clarifies the difference between trawl and troll fishing, emphasizing the impact of the former on marine environments and fish populations. 56:44 - He describes the experience of visiting the Togiak River Lodge, detailing the journey and accommodations. He also highlights the excellent food they have in the lodge. Show Notes:  https://wetflyswing.com/674   

This month, Daniel leads the guys into uncharted waters for the podcast…that's right, it's our first-ever episode about fish! The Great Lakes salmon fishery is one of the greatest angling spectacles in the US. Large predatory salmon, native to the Pacific Northwest, are stocked in the Great Lakes region to maintain a world class fishery and control invasive baitfish. The undisputed monarch among these stocked species? The appropriately named King Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). While they are fished for year-round, the action heats up when mature King Salmon run (well, they swim, but that's what it's called) up the creeks and rivers where they were born or stocked each fall. The salmon run attracts anglers from all over the country, fostering a multi-million dollar industry and countless memories. But what is with all the excitement? Why are Pacific salmon even put here? Dare we even ask, should they be here? In this episode, the guys venture to a popular salmon fishing spot near Lake Ontario and reel in the story of one of the most consequential actions in fisheries management history. This episode was record at the Burt Dam Fishermen's Park in Olcott, NY on October 8, 2024.Episode Notes Daniel mentioned the scientific name and meaning for the Coho Salmon: Oncorhynchus kisutch. But he failed to mention that the Chinook or King Salmon's scientific name, which is Oncorhynchus tshawytscha. Oncorhynchus as mentioned in the episode from Greek origin, loosely means “hooked snout,” referring to the “kype” these salmon develop. Tshawytscha is derived from a Russian name for the King Salmon, like how kisutch is derived from a Russian name for the Coho Salmon.Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) are also known as King salmon. Chinook and King are used interchangeably in the episode, as Daniel can't seem to settle on a common name he likes. As mentioned in the episode, “King” comes from the fact that this salmon species is the largest salmon species in the world. Steve asked Daniel what “Chinook” means, and he did not know. After further research, it is found that the word Chinook is derived from the Chinookan people. This includes several groups of indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest, where the Chinook Salmon is native. And what about Coho Salmon? “Cohos” is a word in one of the dialects of the native peoples of the Pacific Northwest with an unknown meaning, possibly the name for the fish itself. Depths of the Great LakesThe books the guys mentioned were Dan Egan's The Death and Life of the Great Lakes and Margaret Wooster's Living Waters: Reading the Rivers of the Lower Great Lakes.Visit thefieldguidespodcast.com for full episode notes, links, and works cited.

Welcome to our brand new MeatEater Radio Live! podcast. Join Steve Rinella and the rest of the crew as they go LIVE from MeatEater HQ every Thursday at 11 am MT! They'll have segments, call-in guests, and real-time interaction with the audience. You can watch the stream on the MeatEater Podcast Network YouTube channel, or catch the audio version of the show on Fridays. Today's episode is hosted by Brent Reaves, Brody Henderson, and Seth Morris. Guests: The New Montana state record holder for Chinook, Jim Fauth, and retired game warden Chris Powell.  Connect with The MeatEater Podcast Network MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YoutubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Living the Dream, Facing the Nightmare: An Interview with Alan C. Mack This week's Team Never Quit guest is a decorated war hero and an extraordinary pilot whose military career spanned nearly 36 years, including 17 years in Army Special Operations. Alan C. Mack, a retired Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CW5), shares his incredible journey from a young man with a passion for flying to a highly respected leader in some of the most elite units of the U.S. military. Alan's expertise and leadership saw him involved in numerous high-stakes operations, many still classified. One of the most notable missions he discusses is the Battle of Takur Ghar, also known as the Battle of Roberts Ridge, during Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan. Alan's bravery and skill under fire, including crash-landing a helicopter and attempting multiple rescue missions under heavy enemy fire, highlight his exceptional courage. Alan's distinguished service has earned him numerous awards, including the Legion of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, three Bronze Stars, ten Air Medals (one with a Valor device), and many more. His impressive flight record includes over 6,700 flight hours, with more than 3,200 hours under Night Vision Goggles. After retiring from the military, Alan continued to serve his community. He now works as the Deputy Commissioner of Emergency Services for Orange County, New York, a role that he appreciates for its peaceful nature compared to his military experiences. Alan's story is one of resilience, dedication, and the pursuit of one's dreams. Despite the adversities and challenges faced in combat, his journey is a testament to the human spirit's ability to overcome and find meaning in serving others. His life is an inspiration, showing that with determination and courage, it's possible to live out your dreams while also facing and conquering the nightmares. This episode will leave you both inspired and reflective. In This Episode You Will Hear: • The biggest cause of an air refueling incident is the grohe – it's a big hose – you are actually only 19' from rotors to tanker. (26:26) • [During air refueling] You're doing 110-120mph over the water. (27:00) • I've done air refueling as low as 100' off the coast of Iraq. (27:08) • I get a missile fired at me so now I drop down between buildings. I'm down on the rooftops and you know what's in front of me? Kites. Hundreds and hundreds of kites. (34:10) • The older [Chinook helicopter] Delta models just had handheld maps. (43:34) • [During Operation Red Wings] I sat down with the A10's and the AC130's with my map and the imagery and said “I need you to either suppress or creative a diversion that's so big no one could help but look. (50:15) • Crew Chiefs sometimes see things that aren't there (and I hate to say it that way) but sometimes they'll see lights of a car and think they're seeing signal light signals. (53:28) • Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. (55:00) • My youngest son was a Night Stalker Flight Engineer, and my oldest son is a Navy F18 wizzo (back seater) He's a Goose. (58:05) • I did 17 years with the Night Stalkers, plus about 10 years of deployment. (59:03) • Every aircraft munition has a probable kill ratio. A surface to air missile has a “PK” of 75%, meaning that if they fired at you, you have a 75% chance of killing you. The ground has a 100% PK. (64:23) • I've got about 3,500, maybe 4,000 hours of night vision time, which is a lot. (67:51) • Anaconda was a conventional operation, such as Red Wings. There's no soft component to it. (68:57) • We had 4 or 5 people on the aircraft tail, and we are diving at about 150, [one of our men that fell out but is tethered] while they're shooting at us and his toes are tickling the trees. The crew chief is returning fire with an M60 machine gun. He looks over and pulls our guy up, and I learned we had lost Neil [another guy] and decided we've gotta go back. So I turned inbound and climbed back up and the controls stopped moving. Imagine you pulled the keys out of your car. That's what it's like with no hydraulics. So I'm like “Guys… we're done,” as in “We're going to die.” (79:03) • In the spirit of never quit, there's a saying: ”Never quit flying the aircraft.” (83:22) • Everything I do in life, I associate with movies I've seen. (88:12) Socials: - IG:  alancmack2015         - https://alancmack.com/        - https://www.facebook.com/ BUY HIS BOOK HERE->  Razor 03: A Night Stalker's Wars https://www.amazon.com/Razor-03-Night-Stalkers-Wars/dp/1399018698    - IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13 -  https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquit Sponsors:    - Navyfederal.org          - Tonal.com [TNQ]   - qualialife.com/TNQ [TNQ]   - greenlight.com/TNQ   - PDSDebt.com/TNQ   - drinkAG1.com/TNQ    - GoodRX.com/TNQ    - ghostbed.com/TNQ [TNQ]    - Shadyrays.com [TNQ]   - Hims.com/TNQ    - Shopify.com/TNQ   - PXG.com/TNQ   - Aura.com/TNQ   - Moink.com/TNQ    - Policygenius.com   - TAKELEAN.com [TNQ]   - usejoymode.com [TNQ]   - Shhtape.com [TNQ]   - mackweldon.com/utm_source=streaming&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=podcastlaunch&utm_content=TNQutm_term=TNQ