Better eyesight = tough times for the navy

I love reading about the unexpected, quirky little side effects that seemingly innocuous decisions lead to. I remember reading about 10 years ago that now that women are allowed in the Navy, fresh water usage was doubling, causing problems on boats at sea. The initial supposition was that the new women recruits were using more water. Turns out it was the fellows who were content to be stinky before. They were all washing up to be more presentable to the ladies!

Looks like the Navy has another predicament. The NY Times published an article today about how laser eye surgery is messing up the navy's ability to fulfill quotas for some very important job categories.
Many top-notch candidates who couldn't pass eye tests were resigned to boat jobs instead of the more desirable fighter positions. Now those with less than 20-20 vision can have surgery to qualify to fly. Which makes for a shortage of candidates for less desirable careers on boats and submarines.

The Naval Academy missed it's 120 quota for sub school by 22 candidates. Furthermore "Last year, 310 midshipmen competed for 272 flight training slots. Of those, 104 had undergone laser eye surgery." Without the surgery, there would be 206 vying for the 272 slots, and the other 104 would have looked elsewhere in the Navy and Marine Corps.

I had RK surgery in 2000. I love it. I can wake up in the middle of the night and see what time it is. I can skinny dip without squinting. The procedure the Navy for pilots uses is a little different. The doctor sliced a flap on my cornea and folded it down to perform the surgery. Navy brass are concerned that the flap will pop open in high-G flights, so they grind the cornea down, which leads to a longer healing period. Ack!

Olmos Park Pharmacy -

Holy monstrous pancake Batman- Betty bought the Olmos Park Pharmacy! Or something like that... I just read in the on-line MYSA.com posting of tomorrow's Brian Chasnoff Express News article that Betty is now leasing the restaurant side of the establishment, now to be referred to as Olmos Soda Fountain. A tenant for the pharmacy side hasn't been identified, yet.

You might recollect that OPP was listed on ebay last year. Dodd, the seller and pharmacist, commented back then that he was ready to go fishing a bit. He bought the pharmacy 16 years ago. At the time, Betty had been behind the counter for 20 years already.

I'm really excited for Betty. (Her birthday is November 4th. Mark your calendar)

I know where I'm having breakfast tomorrow.

Hot Love and Buttercup

Lately, I have been listening to an addictive CD called Hot Love put out by San Antonio's Buttercup. Buttercup is the brawn behind Grackle Mundy at the Wiggle Room. Their music is goofy, jangly and makes me happy. And it rattles around my brain all day. Like I said, it's addictive.

I didn't know that NPR has a "Song of the Day", but today's song is Hot Love! They even have Hot Love track on-line for you to listen to. It will make your day.