Whatzit?

[rogruth]

Thanks, Wayne.
Is it any particular type of fly?

[chuck]

Yes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoverfly

I believe the specimen is a member of the sub family Eristalinae

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eristalinae

A "drone fly"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eristalis

https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/drone_flies.shtml

[rogruth]

Every thing you need/want to know about Hoverflies. Thanksm Chuck.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Every thing you need/want to know about Hoverflies.

Does it address how to get rid of them? Flyswatter?

[chuck]

Does it address how to get rid of them? Flyswatter?

Actually a fan works well. Why would you want to? They are actually beneficial. Here is a site with a list of four ways to "get rid of them". Number one is the fan. Numbers two is a list of repellants and three is a trap/kill. Number four is a way to get them to work for you (potential win/win).

https://thepracticalplanter.com/how-to-get-rid-of-hoverflies/

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Does it address how to get rid of them? Flyswatter?

Actually a fan works well. Why would you want to?

Seems I'm acquiring an increase in allergic reactions to insect bites and stings.

[chuck]

Seems I'm acquiring an increase in allergic reactions to insect bites and stings.

They don't do either. They have adopted an almost perfect mimicry of a honey bee to evade predators as they lack any kind of effective defense (unless they also taste bad).

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Seems I'm acquiring an increase in allergic reactions to insect bites and stings.

They don't do either. They have adopted an almost perfect mimicry of a honey bee to evade predators as they lack any kind of effective defense (unless they also taste bad).

I'll still stay on the cautious and preventive side. Hand me the flyswatter

[webenda]

Whatzit?

[rogruth]

GMC dealer display?

[chuck]

GM "Tower of Power" from the 1964 NYC Worlds Fair

https://gmphotostore.com/gmc-tower-of-power-1964-fair-poster/

[webenda]

GMC dealer display?

Yes, you got another one, Roger.

[webenda]

GM "Tower of Power" from the 1964 NYC Worlds Fair

Exactly the answer I was looking for, Chuck, the GM "Tower of Power" outside the GM Pavilion. Were you there at the fair? I was not.

I was in the Army at the time, assigned to the Combat Development Experimentation Command (CDEC). Approximately 23,000 U.S. troops were in Vietnam, and roughly 400 had been killed. I was assigned to go to Vietnam but somebody crossed my name off the list.

CDEC was tested the new TOW missile. We invited the California National Guard to bring a few tanks up to Fort Hunter Liggett (where I was stationed) for an experiment. The experiment was for us to fire TOW missiles at their tanks as they drove by. If they got hit, they were to stop, a cease fire would be called, they would get out and mark on a chart where the impact mark was on their tank, then get back in the tank.

During lunch I asked the tank crews what is was like to be in the tank when a missile without a warhead hit their tank. First answer, "What? I can't hear you." Second answer, "Like being inside an 84,000 lb bell when it was ringing!"

It is interesting how the world turns. After finishing my time in the army I got a job at Hughes Missile Systems. Part of my job was maintaining the equipment that built and tested the Hughes TOW missiles. (Production of TOW in Tucson, AZ started in 1970.)

[Rufus T. Firefly]

So did they bring a crane to the fair to stack them?

[webenda]

So did they bring a crane to the fair to stack them?

Yes.