Chesley Sullenberger, of Hudson River plane landing fame, touts new book on the Daily Show

Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the pilot who landed US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River, was the guest of last night’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Stewart, with the energy akin to an adolescent Golden Labrador, gave Sullenberger– one of the more reserved and modest people on the planet, a venue to talk about his new book and rehash details about that day and its aftermath.

Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters is not only about that day back in January. It’s about all the moments that led up to the point when Sullenberger decided to go for the river landing. For Sullenberger and First Officer Jeff Skiles, that decision changed how they view their purpose in life.

As Sullenberger says, the plane landing was much needed good news for people. Last January, when the river event happened, the economy was in shambles. Job loss and foreclosures were taking up much of the news and producing a sense of hopelessness. The plane landing gave a boost towards hopeful thinking.

As a result of that day, and the response afterwards, both Sullenberger and Skiles have looked for ways to continue to make positive contributions–in essence to keep hope alive.

Along with highlighting Sullenberger’s book and rehashing the details of that remarkable airplane landing, the interview with Sullenberger was seasoned with Stewart’s brand of wacky fun. Pick a situation and Stewart can find the absurd.

For example, the spot on the Hudson where the plane landed is close to where The Daily Show is filmed. Also being filmed that day at a close by location was an episode of Law and Order. When folks at The Daily Show saw the commotion caused by the plane, they thought it had to do with Law and Order and were impressed with how much effort was being put into making the episode look realistic.

Stewart also wondered if when Sullengberger landed the plane he thought about how Jon Stewart was just a block away.

Stewart also joked about passengers who might have complained that the plane hadn’t landed closer to the section of New York where they lived–as in why didn’t Sullenberger land it in a more convenient location for them to get home more easily.

During Stewart’s banter, Sullenberger mostly smiled, made a few comments, and seemed generally unsure about how to josh along with Jon. A kidder he is not. Not being a kidding type did come in handy back in January.

Stewart and Sullenberger also talked about how the plane’s manual used to be published with tab markers for the various sections which made it easier to use. As a cost cutting measure, the manuals aren’t published with the tab markers anymore.

That meant that Skiles had to rapidly leaf through the book looking for the pages that had the details about making a water landing. Sullenberger’s years of training kicked in to help him land the plane, but checking the manual was a double check.

As the interview’s last point, before Stewart gave Highest Duty one more plug, both Sullengerger and Stewart agreed that those tabs need to be put back on the manuals.

To watch last night’s full episode, click here.

Booger Mountain and Booger Hollow: What’s with the boogers?

While looking for funny names of towns, I came across Booger Mountain and Booger Hollow. Intrigued I dug further to find out where these names came from and more about these places in the United States.

Booger Mountain is a place in North Carolina known for its Christmas trees. As a marketing campaign, the area uses the motto, “Always Pick a Booger.”

Don Burleson, who pens the blog, “Don Burleson Blog: Because you have the right to my opinion,” presented that detail, plus information about Booger Holler and Booger Swamp wine. He also included a picture of Queen Elizabeth going fishing, if you know what I mean.

Further sleuthing turned up Booger Woods in the Charlie Daniel’s song “The Legend of Wooley Swamp.” In the lyrics, Booger Woods is said to be in this swamp.

There is more booger lore, such as Booger Hollow, Arkansas and the origin of the name “booger.”

There are a few places called Booger Hollow. A hollow (holler) is a narrow valley between hills and mountains. One Booger Hollow is in Arkansas. Here you can find the Booger Hollow Trading Post and the Booger Burger.

From reading the details on a Web page on the Booger Hollow Trading Post, I’ve learned that the word booger is not connected to nose boogers, but to spirits or ghosts. It’s a short form for “boogie man” as in “If you don’t behave, the boogie man will get you.” Like the boogie man that’s under your bed.

Various regions of North Carolina, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Kentucky use the term. These were settled by Scotch-Irish who came from a part of the world where shadows, mountains and fog added to a sense of the mysterious belief that places could be haunted. Still, this did not keep The Daily Show with Jon Stewart from doing this hilarious segment on Booger Mountain. The date is April 1, 1999. I expect the story was jazzed up a bit. Still, what a hoot.

The Booger Mountain Tree Farm is listed as winning awards in the 1980s but isn’t on the page of current wholesale growers. However, in this recent thread on City-Data.com has info about where the farms are. Plus, Steve Rhode’s photo was posted this past December.