Icarus Flew High, Too

 

May 17, 2024

 

 

I was recently reading 61 Hours, a Jack Reacher book written in 2010. The arch-villain feels like he’s reached the pinnacle of success, because he bought a used Boeing. He has Arrived. “Boy, have times changed,” I thought.

 

Since then, I’ve read a couple of other books—recent ones— that mention Boeings as an indication of fine living.

 

Now, though, when I see news stories about planes in difficulty, I immediately think, “Boeing.” And, sadly, I’ve been right.

 

They got complacent, they flew too high, and now they’re coming down. But, unlike Icarus, they’re taking other people down with them—literally.

 

I hope that they can pull themselves up; but in the meantime, I hope nobody else goes down with them.

 

Ingenuity, Thy Name Is Woman

 

May 17, 2024

 

A woman who needed housing solved the problem in a unique way: She took up residence in a large store sign.

 

The sign is on the store rooftop. It’s about 5 feet high, and is accessible by a door. The woman added flooring and set up a desk, a printer, and a coffee machine. She used the store’s electricity via an extension cord.

 

People working on the roof noticed the extension cord, and discovered the living quarters. The woman was escorted out without incident.

 

It would be a tough thing to put on her resume, but I hope she gets a good job that uses her ingenuity, her problem-solving skills, and her can-do attitude. If I were an employer, I would be trying to find her.

 

 

Side note: On another subject, I would like to commend the store staff, who helped get her belongings off the roof so that she could arrange to have them picked up. They demonstrated kindness and compassion, and I’m really impressed with them.