Genuinely, thanks for this. Sitting have a slice at the local pizza joint cause I needed a break from, y'know, everything. Opened my phone and here was this lovely little bit of nothing. Just a nice story about having a good time, learning some new shit. Nothing of great significance. It was PERFECT.
Ohhhhh that is so COOL!!! I'd've felt like I was in Indiana Jones 😂 I'm glad you got to have such a fun experience!
(Also not to get on my chronically online horse but re the strong sense of justice - it's technically related to austism, but there is such a HUGE comorbidity between autism and ADHD (AuDHD) of up to 70% in some studies, that a lot of folks who are ADHD and don't realise they're also autistic apply it to ADHD. There has recently been a bit of a pushback on this language as it has been used by so called 'aspie supremacists' to position autistic/AuDHD people as better than allistic (non-autistic) people. A more accurate term would be 'rigid thinking' in which it can difficult for us to break patterns of thinking, and what we consider to be our sense of justice is one of the most ingrained patterns of thinking in us. Sorry, just something I'm passionate about! Who'da thought an AuDHDer might get bogged down in the small things 😂)
Honestly, if I took a shit on a blimp, I’d be telling everyone I knew, and making “Took a shit on a blimp” merch. There’s probably fewer people with that claim that have walked on the moon. (Allegedly). Own it, David, I’ll buy the hat!
The thing that made it interesting is that passengers and pilot are all in the same space. And it didn't look like there was a lot of ventilation in there. So - that was quite off-putting. I did not want to distract the pilot with any untoward odours.
Airships are a recurring hyper-fixation/special interest for me, so I speed read this newsletter with breathless excitement. Such a cool and unusual experience!! I am delighted that you did something fun and so very on brand lol. Thanks for sharing!
Technically, the current Goodyear airships can be further classified as Zeppelins. Which makes them cooler somehow?
Everything is doom and gloom everywhere else and I’m drowning in anxiety and fear. But then I opened Substack to this lovely story of “Just Blimp”. Thank you, I needed it badly.
I always dreamt of learning to fly (a boring old plane that is) as my Dad is a pilot.
Many childhood holidays included climbing into a little 4-6 seater plane at the local grass airstrip in Normanby (Hawera in Taranaki Aotearoa)... well not THAT MANY as he buggered off to Oz when I was about 6, flying back & forth between the country & ditching a few rental cars along the way.
Anyway I never did learn as it was too expensive & then when I possibly could afford to I'd lost my nerve (ie was a Nana).
But my cousin, nephew & cousin's son are pilots & I've always loved being in one... lol so by default maybe?
Glad you had a great time & really interesting reading about all things Blimpy!
OMG, David! This made my freaking day! I've been fighting with connecting my domain name and my website for hours upon hours today, and I feel like that Mad Panda meme incarnate! So I fucking loved this as a random break from my own madness and the madness of the world around us! Thank you for that! Now, back to the assholes indeed!
I can barely get on a plane nevermind a blimp. But your face! You look so happy! I'm happy you got to blimp out for a bit. Plus I love how aviators do in fact wear Aviators.
GOD I HAVE LOVED READING ALL YOUR JOYFUL RESPONSES TO THE BLIMP! JUST BLIMP!
Genuinely, thanks for this. Sitting have a slice at the local pizza joint cause I needed a break from, y'know, everything. Opened my phone and here was this lovely little bit of nothing. Just a nice story about having a good time, learning some new shit. Nothing of great significance. It was PERFECT.
New mantra for when things get tough: just blimp.
Just blimp.
This needs to be on Webworm merch. Nike swoosh replaced by a solid blimp shape. "Just blimp." instead of "Just do it."
Blimp'ed as...
Ohhhhh that is so COOL!!! I'd've felt like I was in Indiana Jones 😂 I'm glad you got to have such a fun experience!
(Also not to get on my chronically online horse but re the strong sense of justice - it's technically related to austism, but there is such a HUGE comorbidity between autism and ADHD (AuDHD) of up to 70% in some studies, that a lot of folks who are ADHD and don't realise they're also autistic apply it to ADHD. There has recently been a bit of a pushback on this language as it has been used by so called 'aspie supremacists' to position autistic/AuDHD people as better than allistic (non-autistic) people. A more accurate term would be 'rigid thinking' in which it can difficult for us to break patterns of thinking, and what we consider to be our sense of justice is one of the most ingrained patterns of thinking in us. Sorry, just something I'm passionate about! Who'da thought an AuDHDer might get bogged down in the small things 😂)
I was too excited about airships and forgot that I wanted to mention this issue. Bogged down in the details or head in the clouds!
Agreed, this has been my experience too with Autistic/ ADHD crossover. A strong since of justice is definitely an Autistic trait for many ASD people.
Honestly, if I took a shit on a blimp, I’d be telling everyone I knew, and making “Took a shit on a blimp” merch. There’s probably fewer people with that claim that have walked on the moon. (Allegedly). Own it, David, I’ll buy the hat!
The thing that made it interesting is that passengers and pilot are all in the same space. And it didn't look like there was a lot of ventilation in there. So - that was quite off-putting. I did not want to distract the pilot with any untoward odours.
Doc is pretty good-looking; do we think he's ever had sex on the blimp...?
His nickname is "sky daddy". So I would say - yes, probably.
I totally thought Doc can GET IT, but did not think about the mile high (1000 feet high?) factor
Even moreso if it's on the one that everyone thinks is shaped like a butt: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_Air_Vehicles_Airlander_10#/media/File:Airlander_-_Mission_Module_Fitting.jpg
I, for one, miss the wacky inflatable arm flailing tube men of the sky.
This was so wholesome and the world is such a nightmare that it made me tear up. I think we all needed this. Just Blimp.
We all need blimp! This feedback makes me very happy. Thanks for sharing my joy.
🎵 Hey there, Blimpy Boy, flying through the sky so fancy-free 🎵
As someone deathly afraid of heights, thank you for sharing in this so I can vicariously experience riding in a blimp from the saftey of the ground.
Next step: sky diving!
I could *never* skydive. Hate heights, but weirdly the blimp felt *mostly* okay. Just such a gentle ride. And all felt very closed in.
I immediately began to sing that tune!
There was an episode of Ducktales where they had the Uncrashable Hindentanic and I still think about that every time I see the Goodyear Blimp in LA.
Sweet ride though!!
*runs off to YouTube to rewatch '87 credit sequence*
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HTxFfH2TX4
YESSS!
Best theme song in my opinion! "It's a duck blur!"
Fenton Crackshell, Gyro Gearloose and Launchpad McQuack were among my favourites
Oh wow! Thanks for the nostalgia burst!
Airships are a recurring hyper-fixation/special interest for me, so I speed read this newsletter with breathless excitement. Such a cool and unusual experience!! I am delighted that you did something fun and so very on brand lol. Thanks for sharing!
Technically, the current Goodyear airships can be further classified as Zeppelins. Which makes them cooler somehow?
...idk if this comment is more ADHD or autistic
It seems apt I watched the Led Zep doc recently (although it's such a boring watered down version of their story).
David this made me smile from ear to ear today. What a lovely little time for you. I wish we could all just blimp.
Everything is doom and gloom everywhere else and I’m drowning in anxiety and fear. But then I opened Substack to this lovely story of “Just Blimp”. Thank you, I needed it badly.
Just blimp. It's all we need to do.
Omg how fkn cool is that David!!?
I always dreamt of learning to fly (a boring old plane that is) as my Dad is a pilot.
Many childhood holidays included climbing into a little 4-6 seater plane at the local grass airstrip in Normanby (Hawera in Taranaki Aotearoa)... well not THAT MANY as he buggered off to Oz when I was about 6, flying back & forth between the country & ditching a few rental cars along the way.
Anyway I never did learn as it was too expensive & then when I possibly could afford to I'd lost my nerve (ie was a Nana).
But my cousin, nephew & cousin's son are pilots & I've always loved being in one... lol so by default maybe?
Glad you had a great time & really interesting reading about all things Blimpy!
Wow! What an amazing experience!! And a great distraction from all the shyte in the air for all of us! Thanks so much, David.
OMG, David! This made my freaking day! I've been fighting with connecting my domain name and my website for hours upon hours today, and I feel like that Mad Panda meme incarnate! So I fucking loved this as a random break from my own madness and the madness of the world around us! Thank you for that! Now, back to the assholes indeed!
I can barely get on a plane nevermind a blimp. But your face! You look so happy! I'm happy you got to blimp out for a bit. Plus I love how aviators do in fact wear Aviators.
It's like they've walked out of Top Gun. Made me grin.
Only a particular type of aviator actually wear aviators….Skydaddy seems to fit the aviator aptly