Jason Vellow
My personal blog about my random life!
Submarine Escape Trainer
Apr 11th
Recently I returned from Rimouski, Quebec, at the Institut Maritime du Quebec. That’s french for IMQ. This is a civilian school that houses the Canadian Submarine Escape Trainer, AKA CSET. The school is normally for civilian commercial divers and such, however this week they were there to instruct us on how to escape a submarine that has been disabled.
Anyone who has ever dove know that there are inherent risks to rapidly ascending to the surface from depth, your lungs can explode like a balloon, you may suffer an Arterial Gas Embolism (AGE), or possibly even a runny nose. At any rate, it’s as much fun as it sounds! Once you are trained in the big orange bubble suit, they lock you in a one man lock out chamber one man escape tower underwater. Once there you are required to rapidly flood and pressurize the coffin sized compartment on your own, and make your way to the surface. Claustrophobics need not apply. Good Times.
I hope you enjoy the video!
Cheers.
Submarines – My Latest Challenge in Life
Mar 20th
Recently I started a course in the Military called the BSQ (Basic Submariner Qualification). This course encompasses basics on the battery systems, High Pressure and Low Pressure Air systems, Hydraulics, AC and DC power systems, combat systems, firefighting, small firearms and emergency procedures. It’s belt fed infomrmation to say the least, and all of this has nothing to do with the fact that I am a Sonar Operator / Ships Diver. Regardless of your trade you must be a Submariner first. Basically a crash course on everything to do with a Victoria Class Submarine. All this just to be able to begin your qualification package to earn your Submariner Dolphins.
The Victoria class as diesel electric hunter killer submarines. Designated SSK’s. (SSK-876 is the hull number for the HMCS Victoria for instance) These submarines are the four Upholder class submarines that Canada bought off of Britain a few years back. They’ve recieved a lot of flak in the press due to mostly misunderstanding and politics. I found a good article here from a column called The Agenda which gives a pretty good overview of what exactly happened with the purchase and what we bought. Big points of note are, we got 4 proven submarines that were built for extreme conditions of the cold war, at a fraction of what building indiginous boats would have cost. Austrailia has had infinite problems with the locally built Collins class at 1 Billion dollars each and we got 4 for less than that. Including traininers and everything set up here in Canada. It’s true they have been in a long work period undergoing midlife refits and Canadianization, but that is to be expected. I’m personally glad they are taking the time to do this right. Once it is all done these vessels will be taking on a huge operational burden as our surface fleet begins thier own mid-life refits. Which means lots of sea time and operational taskings if you are a Submariner.
These boats are extemely capable and are still among the quietest submarines to roam the oceans which makes them useful in many mission scenarios. Such as coastal defence, counter drug operations, covert surviellance wherever we may need it, special ops insertions, as well being very combat effective. Forget about what you see in the movies about nuclear boats being quieter. There are things that have to remain running on a nuke boat due to the reactor, where as a sub running on a battery is effectively a black hole in the ocean. Not saying there aren’t advantages too nukes, they just have thier own attrbutes that most people misunderstand, especially hollywood. That said, Down Periscope is a great movie regardless. 
Enjoy the video tour of the HMCS Windsor and some random pictures of our submarines below. The images and video are from the Canadian Forces Combat Camera unit. They also have a cool YouTube page.
http://www.jasonvellow.com/videos/canada_hmcs_windsor.flv
SouthPloy 2010 HMCS Vancouver
Nov 14th
This summer I was deployed with HMCS Vancouver for a variety of operations below the equator to South America. This was my first deployment in years as I just recently rejoined the Canadian Navy. Lucky me the first 3 weeks were work ups, which means constant war games, explosions, fighting fires, flood, and whatever mayhem they could think to throw at us. Nothing like hitting the ground running eh?
Diver Deployments from a Sea King Helicopter in the South Pacific
Above is a compilation of some of the jumps from the Sea King helicopter that we got to do as part of the aircrew readiness training. These jumps happened all throughout the deployment.
Manzanillo, Mexico
My time in Manzanillo was my first time ever in Mexico. It was a cool place to visit and had a blast at an all inclusive hotel for a few days. They were not prepared for 700 sailors from 3 ships to descend on them all at once. They actually ran out of alcohol and had to buy fresh stuff from the liquor store daily just to keep up. That’s what we get for showing up in the off season.
After three straight weeks of “Bong Bongs”, and emergency problems and battle scenarios the ship’s companies all let off some steam. (To say nothing of the steaming wreck that was our insides by the time we left.) :S
San Francisco, California
For my first foreign port in years we stopped in San Francisco, home of Rice-A-Roni and the 49ers. Not being much of a rice guy I opted to go with some shipmates to the 49ers game. But first I hit the boardwalk with a couple friends to check out the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and the Bubba Gump Shrimp restaurant! I alos got to go and do a workout at the San Francisco 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu school. Good times!
Guayaquil, Ecuador
Ecuador, the country right next to Colombia and site of an attempted coup days after we left. Thankfully we only got to see some of the good things that were there. I got to go an help shop for supplies for a women’s shelter/daycare place, and also saw my first soccer match live! The energy there was intense! We had our own section there and the locals seemed to love the mass of goofy gringos cheering for the home team! For the record if you watch this vid, the answer is yes, there were many Cervezas involved in the backflips at the end of the video and poor Doug Flynn couldn’t remember what country he was in!
Antigua, Guatemala
Guatemala, site of what we had hoped would be the site of some much needed R&R after a couple of weeks at sea. Unfortunately only a lucky few van loads got to make the 90 minute drive in to town. Complete with an armed guard to make sure we didn’t get hijacked on the way in to town. The ship got recalled literally an hour after I had left and it took hours to arrange for the transport to come back and get us. Despite the short time a few of us managed to get in a couple of memories.
All in all it was a pretty fun trip and good first deployment back! If anyone is interested in more pics from the trip just go to my facebook profile @ www.facebook.com/jasonvellow
Cheers and Beers,
Jay
Golden Games!
Mar 5th
Let the Games begin!
First things first, I have to say overall I think this was one of the best Olympics I have ever witnessed, despite initial glitches, a tragic accident, and colossal morons. A brief stint of moronic protesters, fighting for fake causes vandalizing and victimizing citizens of Vancouver, was thought to be a harbinger of things to come. Yet they thwarted their own goals by their colossal stupidity, and tactics as even those who might have listened to them we’re turned off. A large number of the original Olympic opponents changed their stance upon seeing the intense national pride and unity that was swelling all over the country, even before the gold medals started flowing in. The atmosphere was overwhelmingly positive in the streets, as Granville and Robson literally turned into Red Rivers of crazy Canucks!
AP Photo/Chris O'Meara
The IOC themselves even had a hand in attempting to sour the games by attempting to stifle national pride and sporting spirit. For example the Aussies fighting Kangaroo flag and the Canadian Women’s hockey team celebration. Kudos to Mayor Gregor Robertson backing the Aussies, and Hayley Wickenheiser for telling the IOC to, “Get real,” in defense of her teammates. Personally I think that’s a gross understatement. Even the American media was sympathetic to the ladies with the Wall Street Journal printing, “What better way to celebrate an Olympic gold medal than to have a beer eh?” I think the IOC may really need a boot to the root. Regardless of the rampant ridiculousness of the IOC people continued to unite in the real Olympic spirit!
All over Canada, from Yonge street in Toronto to Granville in downtown Vancouver you couldn’t help but be overtaken by the waves patriotism washing over everyone. The most indifferent of visitors couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by the energy of the city.
Then the medals finally starting pouring in, as if it was a direct result the never say die, “Fucken Eh” atmosphere of the city. Not the results originally envisioned, as our American friends to the south set a new record for total medals at a winter games with 37 overall. Yet something even better happened. We set a Canadian Olympic best and with 26 medals and set the Winter Olympic record with 14 Gold medals, more than any nation in history! I’d say our fanatical patriotism certainly turned the tide of the games as naysayers and skeptics alike were deafening in their silence!
Golden Games
Lest we forget the most important medals of all, the Hockey Golds! The Womens’ Hockey Team coming off of two losses at the world Championships to the Americans, stormed through the Olympic tournament to take both the gold and redemption! The Mens’ Hockey Team a solid favourite and one of the best teams to ever be assembled on paper gave us ups and downs worthy of a dramatic movie. Losing a game to the US while outshooting them 2-1, then dropping the dominating Russians with unbelievable ease to nearly losing it all by getting cocky with the never say die Slovaks! All leading to a Gold medal game with the Americans, who had already shown the world we were not unbeatable juggernaut we should have been!
By the 3rd period we thought we would grind out a gold medal. Unfortunately for us Zach Parise gave 30 million Canadians a cardiac arrest with a tying goal with 24 seconds to go to send it to overtime, as Team Canada once again played to ‘not lose’ instead of to win! Our overtime elation came in the form of Jarome Iginla and Sidney Crosby gutting out back and forth passing struggle that finally resulted in the Golden Goal filling an entire country with simultaneous relief and euphoria!
Although my heart could have taken a little less drama to get it, that tournament capped off by Sidney Crosby’s fateful goal was the perfect end to a fairytale Olympics. Beginning with tragedy and negativity, and ending with records shattered and a country united as the world watched. I’d say that qualifies these Olympics as an incontrovertible success!
I’d like to extend a heartfelt F.U. to the IOC for forgetting what the games are all about, (National Pride, and World Unity in the Spirit of competition, and not commercialization, litigation, and profit margins you fu$%in’ clownshoes!), and to the ridiculous protesters who quickly fell into the shadows.
Yay Canada!
Congratulations to the world for coming together in one of the best games in history. Congratulations to the Yanks for setting an impressive new medal record. Most importantly congratulations to our own Canadian athletes for giving us the games of a lifetime, lessons in strength and perseverance and our own Olympic record! Vancouver 2010 was truly a Golden Games to be proud of!
Check out this vid if you wanna relive some of the Golden Moments!
Up and Comers – Adam Croasdell
Mar 5th
Adam Croasdell, a well known actor in the UK seen on the East Enders recently made his way across the pond to LA and recently did a guest spot on the hit show Supernatural. My boy Keith Dallas the guy behind The Up and Comers, was doing a guest spot on the same episode and used that opportunity to sit down with this rising star, know to many as the next Bond!
http://www.jasonvellow.com/videos/Adam-Croasdell.flvCheck out The Up and Comers for more star interviews!
New Up and Comers interview with Ryan Robbins!
Dec 18th
For those who don’t know Ryan Robbins is a ridiculously busy actor with roles ranging from Battlestar Galactica on TV to big screen roles most recently alongside some of MMA’s biggest stars including ‘Sugar’ Rashad Evans and Keith ‘The Dean of Mean’ Jardine! Keith Dallas the man behind the Up and comers recently gave me the footage of his interview and this guy is a certifiable MMA nut! Editing this was a pleasure although it was tough trying to keep this under 10 minutes because the guy can yak about MMA more than I do… I did make it down to 11, if we were doing horseshoes and hand grenades close counts right?
If you like movies, MMA, and the inside scoop on your favourite productions check out this interview with one of the business’ busiest actors. There is this and tons more at The Up and Comers!
Ryan Robbins
Joe Rogan Stand Up
Nov 25th
Joe Rogan is Hands down one of my favourite comedians. The first time I heard his routine I nearly wet myself. (Driving a long stretch listening to his CD’s is not recommended) Most people know of him as either the excitable UFC announcer, or that guy from Fear Factor. What most people don’t know is he is a stand-up comic who tours constantly and is guaranteed to make you chuckle with his brand of cave man humour mixed with stone cold reality. you will be amused and if you don’t believe me smell my feet.
Not one to just say something without backing it up below are a couple of Joe Rogan’s bits, one on his Fear Factor days, and one on the truth behind girls and their ex-boyfriends. If you like what you hear I highly recommend picking up one or all his his CD’s!
If you are just a fan he has a great Blog and Message board full of miscreants and the socially inept, making it quite entertaining.
Cheers and Beers
Buy Joe Rogan Shiny Happy Jihad
Joe Rogan Fear Factor Rountine
Joe Rogan on Ex-Boyfriends
Lewis Black and Dane Cook Stand Up on Religion
Nov 16th
Lewis Black another extremely funny comedian who I highly recommend listening to has a way of putting things in to perspective. This is a clip of his routine on Religion.
If you liked Lewis Black as much as I do make sure to get his CD’s, hours of gut busting observations which in most cases are only funny because they are true! Rules of Enragement
Dane Cook shows us a little comedy on the other side of the religious debate, and why you should always cover your mouth while sneezing!
Dane Cooks CD Harmful if Swallowed.
Remembrance Day Thoughts
Nov 10th
With all that’s going on in the world economically, global warming, tsunami’s, the unemployment rate, and the like. It’s incredibly easy to become absorbed by what’s going on in our own hectic lives. Remembrance Day (Veteran’s Day for our Yankee friends) is about taking a small amount of time out to reflect on the sacrifices of our nations’ military both past and present. Here in Canada as miserable as some people think things are at the moment we are among the luckiest 30 million people on a planet of over 6 billion. We have freedoms and opportunities unique to Canada and it is important that we remember why.
Men and Women from all over the Country since the birth of our Nation have worn uniforms with pride and honour in the name of Canada and have served with distinction during every threat both at home and abroad. Some have been lucky enough to return from service and live normal lives, others made the ultimate sacrifice for the Nation they believe is worth fighting for. It is for these souls for whom we take a moment each year to remember.
Everyone knows the Poem “In Flanders Fields” below, however many do not know of the preceding two, ‘God and the Soldier‘, and ‘It is the Soldier‘. These are two of my favourites and are worth taking the time to read and reflect on.
(Spelling and Grammar mistakes in this article can be directed to any Legion, Veterans Affairs office or Veteran or serving member, where it will be promptly ignored, though a handshake, smile and your gratitude will always be accepted.)
Lest We Forget.
God and the Soldier
God and the soldier we adore, In time of danger, not before!
The danger passed, and all things righted, God is forgotten and the soldier slighted.
- Rudyard Kipling
It Is The Soldier
It is the Soldier, not the minister
Who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Soldier, not the poet
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer
Who has given us freedom to protest.
It is the Soldier, not the lawyer
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the Soldier, not the politician
Who has given us the right to vote.
It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.
©Copyright 1970, 2005 by Charles M. Province
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved,
and now we lieIn Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
— Lt.-Col. John McCrae (1872 – 1918)
Swine Flu Comedy by George Carlin
Nov 5th
Anyone who knows me, knows I am a huge fan of stand up comedy, among my all time favorites is the legendary George Carlin (RIP). One of my favorite routines is his bit on germs. It’s appropriate today especially because of this swine flu panic that’s ripping through the world. Thing is, it’s a FLU! 10 times the amount of people are killed by the regular flu, yet no one bats an eyelash! Meh, whatever, if you are interested some germ based comedy, then push play and let the master of emphasizing the obvious do his thing!
George Carlin proves that no matter what ails you laughter is the best medicine!
