Hyman G. Rickover (1900-1986)


Hyman George Rickover (1900-1986)

Hyman George Rickover (January 27, 1900 – July 8, 1986) was a four-star admiral of the United States Navy who directed the original development of naval nuclear propulsion and controlled its operations for three decades as director of Naval Reactors. In addition, he oversaw the development of the Shippingport Atomic Power Station, the world's first commercial pressurized water reactor used for generating electricity.

Rickover is known as the "Father of the Nuclear Navy", which as of July 2007 had produced 200 nuclear-powered submarines, and 23 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and cruisers, though many of these U.S. vessels are now decommissioned and others under construction.

With his unique personality, political connections, responsibilities, and depth of knowledge regarding naval nuclear propulsion, Rickover became the longest-serving naval officer in U.S. history with 63 years active duty.

Rickover's substantial legacy of technical achievements includes the United States Navy's continuing record of zero reactor accidents, as defined by the uncontrolled release of fission products subsequent to reactor core damage.


Quotes

The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyman_G._Rickover

H. L. Mencken (1880-1956)


H. L. Mencken (1880-1956)

Henry Louis "H. L." Mencken (September 12, 1880 – January 29, 1956) was an American journalist, essayist, magazine editor, satirist, critic of American life and culture, and scholar of American English.[1] Known as the "Sage of Baltimore", he is regarded as one of the most influential American writers and prose stylists of the first half of the twentieth century. Many of his books remain in print.

Mencken is known for writing The American Language, a multi-volume study of how the English language is spoken in the United States, and for his satirical reporting on the Scopes trial, which he dubbed the "Monkey Trial". He commented widely on the social scene, literature, music, prominent politicians, pseudo-experts, the temperance movement, and uplifters. A keen cheerleader of scientific progress, he was very skeptical of economic theories and particularly critical of anti-intellectualism, bigotry, populism, fundamentalist christianity, creationism, organized religion, the existence of God, and osteopathic/chiropractic medicine.

In addition to his literary accomplishments, Mencken was known for his controversial ideas. A frank admirer of German philosopher Nietzsche, he was not a proponent of representative democracy, which he believed was a system in which inferior men dominated their superiors.[2] During and after World War I, he was sympathetic to the Germans, and was very distrustful of British propaganda.[3] However, he also referred to Adolf Hitler and his followers as "ignorant thugs". Mencken, through his wide criticism of actions taken by government, has had a strong impact on the American libertarian movement.[4]


Quotes·Quotations by H. L. Mencken

Women

¶ Bachelors know more about women than married men; if they didn’t, they’d be married, too.


Notes

[1]^ Obituary Variety, February 1, 1956
[2]^ Mencken, Henry (1926). Notes on Democracy. New York: Alfred Knopf
[3]^ Hobson (1994), p. 435
[4]^ Burns, Jennifer (2009). Goddess of the Market: Ayn Rand and the American Right. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 48. ISBN 978-0-19-532487-7.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._L._Mencken

H. Jackson Brown, Jr.


H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

H. Jackson Brown, Jr. is an American author best known for his inspirational book, Life's Little Instruction Book, which was a New York Times bestseller (1991–1994). Its sequel Life's Little Instruction Book: Volume 2 also made it to the same best seller list in 1993.


Quotes


Quotes·Quotation

Advice

¶ Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all they have.

¶ If someone offers you a breath mint, accept it.

¶ Let the refining and improving of your own life keep you so busy that you have little time to criticize others.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._Jackson_Brown,_Jr.