Coast Guard rescues PG surfer

On Saturday, around 6:30 pm, the U.S. Coast Guard received a call about an inexperienced surfer who could not get back to shore on his own. The 31-year-old was rescued by a 47-foot motor life boat in the waters of Pacific Grove.

Did you know that I get to work with some people in the uniformed forces? Last week, at work, we had an informational meeting about the Coast Guard. How applicable! We learned a little bit about the history of the Coast Guard and what they are up to now. They have had various titles in the past hundred-ish years, including Lifesaving Service, Lighthouse Service, and Revenue Cutter Service. They have been a part of the Dept. of Homeland Security since 2003. Why not the Dept. of Defense? Simple: they have law enforcement capabilities!

Members of the Coast Guard go through a boot camp (just like the Army, Marines, Navy, etc) and they have a similar Officer training camp. They have a budget of 9.7 billion, compare that to the 225 billion Army budget. WHOA, smaller! The Coast Guard has a bunch of different units, including a Canine Unit and Dive Unit. Located globally, the CG deals with pirates, shady fisherman, drug smugglers, and "inexperienced divers!" Each day the CG saves 14 lives and assits 98 people in distress.

After the meeting there was a raffle to tour the local Coast Guard hub. Sadly, I didn't win.

- Heads-up thanks go to The Californian for this article about the rescue.

Baby I'm such a wreck!

On February 12, 1935, the U.S. Navy airship USS Macon was damaged in a storm and sunk to the bottom of Monterey Bay. Airship ≠ Blimp? The USS Macon was used to launch Sparrowhawk biplanes. Macon's sister? Ever heard of Hindenburg? (Hint: blimp-like thing that caught fire and was completely engulfed in flames in 37 seconds).

Over 1,500 feet below the bay's surface, one will find an airship hangar with four biplanes, five engines, parts of an aluminum stove, dining table, and bench. Seventy five years after the Macon sunk, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that the wreck site was added to the National Register of Historic Places. 83 of the 85 crewmen were rescued by Navy ships back in '35.

It's like our own, less tragic, Titanic.