The interview panel is ready...
Friday, January 20, 2006
Sortapundit
This weekend, we have another pair of great interviews scheduled. Today, we have Sortapundit...
The interview panel is ready...
The interview panel is ready...
Picnic 01-20-2006
Items I found while perusing my blogroll.
- Wizbang has info on the Justice Dept. looks at the NSA spying
- Confederate Yankee has read Justice's 42-page brief
- WuzzaDem shows the PSP squirrels behind the scenes
- Sportslady is happy in the Sunshine State
- aTypical Joe says surgery was a breeze and there's no pain ... yet
- Spacemonkey (IMAO) says someone is due an apology
- Pereiraville hosts the Carnival of Comedy [via IMAO]
- Cassandra (Villainous Company) is back ... with a vengance
- Gunn Nutt looks at the mind of a liberal
- The Real Ugly American (at his new digs) is looking for the Jack Bauer of the Blogosphere
- Pirate's Cove wonders about French nukes
- Vince Aut Morire looks at French nukes
- Atlas Shrugs tells the Washington Post blog "Welcome to my world"
- More interviews information is available here.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Changing Planes
Recently, in an e-mail exchange with Harvey, I made a crack about having to change planes in Atlanta and Chicago. Originally, my not-so-funny funny was going to say I had to change planes in Atlanta ... twice. But I realized that, as ridiculous as that was, it wasn't really all that funny. So, I scrapped it, and went with the more realistic Hartsfield and O'Haire changing planes in the sentence I wrote to him.
But it got me to thinking about air travel. And the best ... and worst ... air travel experience I ever had.
It was 1990 and I was stationed at Ft. Belvoir (VA). It was also nearly Christmas, and the opportunity to head home for a few days was something I was going to take advantage of.
So, I bought me a ticket on American Airlines.
At Ft. Belvoir, since it's so close to Washington, the Metro buses run through the post. So, I packed my bags and hopped a Metro bus to Huntington Station. From there, I took the train to Washington (now Reagan) National.
Since I hadn't traveled much by air at the time, it was still a little bit of an experience getting through the airport. Remember, this was 15 years ago when air travel was so much simpler.
Anyway, I arrived not-quite-late for the flight, and was one of the last to board. I remember at the ticket counter a family having discussions with the airline personnel, but didn't think much of it. I was going to see the children for Christmas!
I got seated ... on the back row of the airplane ... and was ready for my trip.
After a bit, I heard announcements being made, but I didn't care. I was excited about heading home.
A few minutes later, another announcement. Again, I didn't pay attention. Just realized they were announcing something.
We continued to sit on the ground, and it was past time for the plane to take off. Then another announcement. The weather had been threatening, and I decided to listen, just in case it was something I needed to hear.
What I heard was a plea for someone to give up a seat so a family could travel together. They apparently had been offering incentives for people to give up their seat. So I paid attention.
They were offering an upgraded (first class) ticket on the next scheduled flight to Savannah, plus a $600 travel credit.
So, I could do a good deed, lose only about four hours, and get a credit for future travel. Sounded good, so I stood up and got the flight attendants' attention.
Since I was taking the next flight, and it was only a few hours later, the luggage stayed on the plane and I'd catch up with it at Savannah.
So, they escorted me off, and I saw the family needing the seat at the counter. It was the same family that had been talking with the airline personnel when I boarded.
They gave me my ticket ... first class ... and wrote me up a credit. And I went and ate.
When I came back to wait for the next flight, the weather had gotten worse. And my flight (not the one I had given up, the make-up flight I had a first class ticket for) was delayed.
And delayed.
And delayed.
And finally cancelled.
Now, American Airlines was kind enough to set me up with another flight. On another airline. Turns out that they were shutting down almost all flights out of National. But since the other airline had flights out of Dulles, I agreed. So I got to looking for a way to Dulles.
Taxis were expensive. In fact, a limo was cheaper. So I hired a limo to take me, a soldier with no luggage, from National Airport to Dulles Airport.
When I got to Dulles, I got to the ticket counter and explained the situation. They had me hooked up, but told me the weather was bad. Of course, I had already figured that out.
Anyhow, they started canceling flights. And they finally cancelled mine. They said they'd put me up in a close-by hotel (the Hilton) and get me on an early flight the next morning.
The next morning wasn't exactly when the flight left. It was late morning before it took off. But it did. Only the thing was, it wasn't a direct flight to Savannah, as orginally scheduled. This one stopped in Raleigh/Durham. Which was okay.
I got off at Raleigh/Durham to change planes. I waited around, reading newspapers and solving puzzles in a book I bought in Washington. Finally, the plane for the leg to Savannah arrived.
I watched everyone get off the flight.
Everyone.
No, really. Everyone.
Including the flight crew.
They got off the jet and left.
They went home.
Sick, officially, but it was the "blue flu" ... a work slowdown because of a labor dispute. And guess what flight they chose to get "sick" for? Yep. My flight.
So, there's the airline personnel trying to figure out what they can say to all the passengers that were now stranded.
Closing in on midnight, they came up with the idea to get a bus to take folks to Savannah. I was one of those that agreed to take the airlines bus.
I was awake most of the six-hour or so bus ride. And so were many of the other travellers.
I don't remember much about the trip, other than thinking how crazy the whole thing was.
Turns out the driver had never been to Savannah. He knew it was on I-95, but didn't know much more than that. He looked through his papers for instructions on how to get to the airport in Savannah, but was having to ... you know ... drive the bus.
He found out I was from southeast Georgia and knew where the Savannah airport was. Well, I had an idea. I had never approached it from the north.
He thought I was a smart-ass when I told him when he got to Georgia, he could look for the big green exit sign that said "Airport." Maybe I was, but you know what? There's a big green sign that says "Airport" and if you follow the sign, you end up at the airport. So, it wasn't hard to do. Or tell. And, he might have thought I was a smart-ass, but he found out how easy it was to find the airport in Savannah.
Anyway, we got off the plane and I had to find my luggage. Only it was all locked up.
Savannah's not a big airport. And some of the airlines stations close at night. And don't open early on Sunday morning.
But, there it was, 5:00 AM on a Sunday in the Savannah airport, with one security guard who was waiting for the end of his shift, and a bunch of people not from around there. Except for me. Well, not from Savannah. But from a little over an hour away.
Anyway, no one from the airline was there to meet us. But they stations weren't locked.
So, I found the telephone and started calling people. I let my family know we had arrived, and I helped the Yankees that were visiting folks in Savannah get ahold of their hosts.
I finally got my luggage after airline personnel showed up and got me off their phone. And I got in the car with family and went to spend Christmas.
And in my pocket was a $600 credit for the next time I decided I wanted the fun experience of air travel.
But it got me to thinking about air travel. And the best ... and worst ... air travel experience I ever had.
It was 1990 and I was stationed at Ft. Belvoir (VA). It was also nearly Christmas, and the opportunity to head home for a few days was something I was going to take advantage of.
So, I bought me a ticket on American Airlines.
At Ft. Belvoir, since it's so close to Washington, the Metro buses run through the post. So, I packed my bags and hopped a Metro bus to Huntington Station. From there, I took the train to Washington (now Reagan) National.
Since I hadn't traveled much by air at the time, it was still a little bit of an experience getting through the airport. Remember, this was 15 years ago when air travel was so much simpler.
Anyway, I arrived not-quite-late for the flight, and was one of the last to board. I remember at the ticket counter a family having discussions with the airline personnel, but didn't think much of it. I was going to see the children for Christmas!
I got seated ... on the back row of the airplane ... and was ready for my trip.
After a bit, I heard announcements being made, but I didn't care. I was excited about heading home.
A few minutes later, another announcement. Again, I didn't pay attention. Just realized they were announcing something.
We continued to sit on the ground, and it was past time for the plane to take off. Then another announcement. The weather had been threatening, and I decided to listen, just in case it was something I needed to hear.
What I heard was a plea for someone to give up a seat so a family could travel together. They apparently had been offering incentives for people to give up their seat. So I paid attention.
They were offering an upgraded (first class) ticket on the next scheduled flight to Savannah, plus a $600 travel credit.
So, I could do a good deed, lose only about four hours, and get a credit for future travel. Sounded good, so I stood up and got the flight attendants' attention.
Since I was taking the next flight, and it was only a few hours later, the luggage stayed on the plane and I'd catch up with it at Savannah.
So, they escorted me off, and I saw the family needing the seat at the counter. It was the same family that had been talking with the airline personnel when I boarded.
They gave me my ticket ... first class ... and wrote me up a credit. And I went and ate.
When I came back to wait for the next flight, the weather had gotten worse. And my flight (not the one I had given up, the make-up flight I had a first class ticket for) was delayed.
And delayed.
And delayed.
And finally cancelled.
Now, American Airlines was kind enough to set me up with another flight. On another airline. Turns out that they were shutting down almost all flights out of National. But since the other airline had flights out of Dulles, I agreed. So I got to looking for a way to Dulles.
Taxis were expensive. In fact, a limo was cheaper. So I hired a limo to take me, a soldier with no luggage, from National Airport to Dulles Airport.
When I got to Dulles, I got to the ticket counter and explained the situation. They had me hooked up, but told me the weather was bad. Of course, I had already figured that out.
Anyhow, they started canceling flights. And they finally cancelled mine. They said they'd put me up in a close-by hotel (the Hilton) and get me on an early flight the next morning.
The next morning wasn't exactly when the flight left. It was late morning before it took off. But it did. Only the thing was, it wasn't a direct flight to Savannah, as orginally scheduled. This one stopped in Raleigh/Durham. Which was okay.
I got off at Raleigh/Durham to change planes. I waited around, reading newspapers and solving puzzles in a book I bought in Washington. Finally, the plane for the leg to Savannah arrived.
I watched everyone get off the flight.
Everyone.
No, really. Everyone.
Including the flight crew.
They got off the jet and left.
They went home.
Sick, officially, but it was the "blue flu" ... a work slowdown because of a labor dispute. And guess what flight they chose to get "sick" for? Yep. My flight.
So, there's the airline personnel trying to figure out what they can say to all the passengers that were now stranded.
Closing in on midnight, they came up with the idea to get a bus to take folks to Savannah. I was one of those that agreed to take the airlines bus.
I was awake most of the six-hour or so bus ride. And so were many of the other travellers.
I don't remember much about the trip, other than thinking how crazy the whole thing was.
Turns out the driver had never been to Savannah. He knew it was on I-95, but didn't know much more than that. He looked through his papers for instructions on how to get to the airport in Savannah, but was having to ... you know ... drive the bus.
He found out I was from southeast Georgia and knew where the Savannah airport was. Well, I had an idea. I had never approached it from the north.
He thought I was a smart-ass when I told him when he got to Georgia, he could look for the big green exit sign that said "Airport." Maybe I was, but you know what? There's a big green sign that says "Airport" and if you follow the sign, you end up at the airport. So, it wasn't hard to do. Or tell. And, he might have thought I was a smart-ass, but he found out how easy it was to find the airport in Savannah.
Anyway, we got off the plane and I had to find my luggage. Only it was all locked up.
Savannah's not a big airport. And some of the airlines stations close at night. And don't open early on Sunday morning.
But, there it was, 5:00 AM on a Sunday in the Savannah airport, with one security guard who was waiting for the end of his shift, and a bunch of people not from around there. Except for me. Well, not from Savannah. But from a little over an hour away.
Anyway, no one from the airline was there to meet us. But they stations weren't locked.
So, I found the telephone and started calling people. I let my family know we had arrived, and I helped the Yankees that were visiting folks in Savannah get ahold of their hosts.
I finally got my luggage after airline personnel showed up and got me off their phone. And I got in the car with family and went to spend Christmas.
And in my pocket was a $600 credit for the next time I decided I wanted the fun experience of air travel.
Headline News 01-19-2006
From ABC News:
Iceland the First Country to Try Abandoning Gasoline
Moose to run on grass and grain
From ABC News:
Study: Men Enjoy Seeing Bad People Suffer
List includes terrorists, pedophiles, ex-wives
From ABC News:
Thousands of German Doctors Protest Pay
Bush blamed
From ABC News:
Experts to Search Bangladesh for Sandpiper
DVD overdue at Blockbuster for months
From ABC News:
Nickelodeon, Kellogg Targets of Lawsuit
Asks removal of GAK Flakes from store shelves
From ABC News:
1970s Teen Idol Leif Garrett Charged
1978 "Feel The Need" album called "crime against humanity"
From ABC News:
Ex-Chief Takes Katrina Blame
Len Dawson admits mistake
From ABC News:
Feds Seek Google Records in Porn Probe
Internet usage grounds to a halt
From ABC News:
Bill Clinton on AIDS, Iran, Secret Spying and His Wife's Career
Former president: "Been tested, should've bombed them, did it, glad it gets her out of the house"
From ABC News:
Woman in Wendy's Chili Finger Case Has Regrets
Ayala: "I should have used a toe"
Iceland the First Country to Try Abandoning Gasoline
Moose to run on grass and grain
From ABC News:
Study: Men Enjoy Seeing Bad People Suffer
List includes terrorists, pedophiles, ex-wives
From ABC News:
Thousands of German Doctors Protest Pay
Bush blamed
From ABC News:
Experts to Search Bangladesh for Sandpiper
DVD overdue at Blockbuster for months
From ABC News:
Nickelodeon, Kellogg Targets of Lawsuit
Asks removal of GAK Flakes from store shelves
From ABC News:
1970s Teen Idol Leif Garrett Charged
1978 "Feel The Need" album called "crime against humanity"
From ABC News:
Ex-Chief Takes Katrina Blame
Len Dawson admits mistake
From ABC News:
Feds Seek Google Records in Porn Probe
Internet usage grounds to a halt
From ABC News:
Bill Clinton on AIDS, Iran, Secret Spying and His Wife's Career
Former president: "Been tested, should've bombed them, did it, glad it gets her out of the house"
From ABC News:
Woman in Wendy's Chili Finger Case Has Regrets
Ayala: "I should have used a toe"
Picnic 01-19-2006
Items I found while perusing my blogroll.
- aTypical Joe is on the two-week disabled list
- Agent Bedhead (nee Sadie) asks for friends to come to her rescue
- Don Surber finds that California's assisted suicide law works
- The Nose On Your Face blames Bush
- Anechoic Room follows Kirk, Disney, PETA, more
- Neddy's Palaver looks at when to go organic ... and when not
- Kerfuffles has a parable
- Jack Grant (Random Fate) walks the thin line
- Right Minded says you might be a liberal if... [via Elephant in my Coffee]
- Mean Ol' Meany is top MSN search for Two Dogs Beer
- RightWingDuck wonders if Simon Cowell is losing it
- Hooah Wife looks at the recent DCS winner
- The Blog of Columbus, GA experiments passing around two-dollar bills
- Vince Aut Morire doubts CAIR's motives
- Atlas Shrugs says Bolton should keep up the pressure
- More interviews information is available here.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Telescope
When I was a around ten years old, one of the favorite things I had was a telescope. It was loads of fun.
You see, around that time was when the moon landing occurred. I was a big fan of the space program. Although I don't remember the Mercury program, I remember watching the Gemini launches (or holds). And I remember Project Apollo.
And having a telescope was something that allowed me to see space up close. Sort of.
It was a 200 power telescope, although I never used that power. At 200x it inverted the image. And I never could get used to seeing things upside down. And having to go left to see right. At least, that's how it seemed to me. So, I always used 100x lenses.
I'm not, and never was, an expert in telescopes or optics or anything. But I enjoyed my telescope.
I would sometimes point it at the pecan trees in the field near the house. I could see the leaves so clearly. And, since that was shortly after I first needed glasses, I wasn't used to seeing things clearly. So that was a treat for me.
Sometimes, I'd take the telescope out to the road and point it towards town. Standing beside the road, it was a straight shot of a little over a mile to the city limits of a town of 9,091. I couldn't tell much about it. I could tell the cars reached the fork in the road when most cars went to the right and downtown and most trucks went to the left for thru traffic.
But what I really liked was using the telescope at night. I'd point the telescope towards the moon. And I'd see the craters and the "oceans" and that was cool. Tycho crater was quite a sight with its rays spreading out over the lower section of the moon.
I really enjoyed my telescope, for as long a time as anything I had as a child. And I have wanted one since then.
Until last year. Actually, Christmas 2004. Yes, nearly 13 months ago.
The Wife gave me a telescope for Christmas that year. And it's something that has really meant a lot to me.
But here's the thing. I haven't used it. For a couple of reasons, actually.
One is that I'm actually afraid I wouldn't enjoy it. It was really great when I was around ten years old. But I'm pushing fifty now. And I'm scared it wouldn't be the same.
Another reason is that, well, as a ten year old, I seemed to have more time. Heck, I hardly ever did homework. Oh, I had homework. I just hardly ever did it. So, I had time.
And while I did wear glasses, being near-sighted, I was able to see things up close. I never really needed glasses for reading. Books. I needed glasses to see the chalkboard in school. But not to read a book. Or to use a telescope.
Today, I can't do anything without my glasses. Well, I can't do lots of things without my glasses, let's put it that way. But I can't read without them. I don't know how I'd do with a telescope.
But, just because I haven't used the new telescope doesn't mean I don't like the telescope. I do. I really do.
The Wife doesn't think I do though. And that's unfair to her.
I need to get off my butt and take a chance at actually using the telescope. There's a full moon. Well, we're about five days past the full moon. But still, there's a lot of moon to see.
And I want to grab that enjoyment of those days again. And maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to share them with the grandchildren.
Now there's a reason to do it, if there ever was one.
You see, around that time was when the moon landing occurred. I was a big fan of the space program. Although I don't remember the Mercury program, I remember watching the Gemini launches (or holds). And I remember Project Apollo.
And having a telescope was something that allowed me to see space up close. Sort of.
It was a 200 power telescope, although I never used that power. At 200x it inverted the image. And I never could get used to seeing things upside down. And having to go left to see right. At least, that's how it seemed to me. So, I always used 100x lenses.
I'm not, and never was, an expert in telescopes or optics or anything. But I enjoyed my telescope.
I would sometimes point it at the pecan trees in the field near the house. I could see the leaves so clearly. And, since that was shortly after I first needed glasses, I wasn't used to seeing things clearly. So that was a treat for me.
Sometimes, I'd take the telescope out to the road and point it towards town. Standing beside the road, it was a straight shot of a little over a mile to the city limits of a town of 9,091. I couldn't tell much about it. I could tell the cars reached the fork in the road when most cars went to the right and downtown and most trucks went to the left for thru traffic.
But what I really liked was using the telescope at night. I'd point the telescope towards the moon. And I'd see the craters and the "oceans" and that was cool. Tycho crater was quite a sight with its rays spreading out over the lower section of the moon.
I really enjoyed my telescope, for as long a time as anything I had as a child. And I have wanted one since then.
Until last year. Actually, Christmas 2004. Yes, nearly 13 months ago.
The Wife gave me a telescope for Christmas that year. And it's something that has really meant a lot to me.
But here's the thing. I haven't used it. For a couple of reasons, actually.
One is that I'm actually afraid I wouldn't enjoy it. It was really great when I was around ten years old. But I'm pushing fifty now. And I'm scared it wouldn't be the same.
Another reason is that, well, as a ten year old, I seemed to have more time. Heck, I hardly ever did homework. Oh, I had homework. I just hardly ever did it. So, I had time.
And while I did wear glasses, being near-sighted, I was able to see things up close. I never really needed glasses for reading. Books. I needed glasses to see the chalkboard in school. But not to read a book. Or to use a telescope.
Today, I can't do anything without my glasses. Well, I can't do lots of things without my glasses, let's put it that way. But I can't read without them. I don't know how I'd do with a telescope.
But, just because I haven't used the new telescope doesn't mean I don't like the telescope. I do. I really do.
The Wife doesn't think I do though. And that's unfair to her.
I need to get off my butt and take a chance at actually using the telescope. There's a full moon. Well, we're about five days past the full moon. But still, there's a lot of moon to see.
And I want to grab that enjoyment of those days again. And maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to share them with the grandchildren.
Now there's a reason to do it, if there ever was one.
Headline News 01-18-2006
From ABC News:
High Court Skirts Abortion Issue
Ginsberg, O'Connor past finally catches up with them
From ABC News:
Face Transplant Patient Smokes Again
Brain transplant failed
From ABC News:
Clarkson Won't Let 'Idol' Use Her Songs
Spokesman: "What did 'American Idol' ever do for her?"
From ABC News:
Woman Poses Naked on Car at Auto Show
Charged with public farfegnugen
From ABC News:
Hamster, Snake Best Friends at Tokyo Zoo
Richard Gere jealous
From Houston Chronicle:
Disputed Study: Rape Rare in Prisons
But worth the wait
From Chicago Sun-Times:
Name change should stop the snickers
Milky Way to continue
From Reuters:
TV in the bedroom halves your sex life - study
Bush blamed
From ABC News:
9 Years for Wendy's Finger Fraud
One for each remaining finger
From ABC News:
Spreading the Gospel Through Pro Wrestling
Austin 3:16 cited as most popular verse
High Court Skirts Abortion Issue
Ginsberg, O'Connor past finally catches up with them
From ABC News:
Face Transplant Patient Smokes Again
Brain transplant failed
From ABC News:
Clarkson Won't Let 'Idol' Use Her Songs
Spokesman: "What did 'American Idol' ever do for her?"
From ABC News:
Woman Poses Naked on Car at Auto Show
Charged with public farfegnugen
From ABC News:
Hamster, Snake Best Friends at Tokyo Zoo
Richard Gere jealous
From Houston Chronicle:
Disputed Study: Rape Rare in Prisons
But worth the wait
From Chicago Sun-Times:
Name change should stop the snickers
Milky Way to continue
From Reuters:
TV in the bedroom halves your sex life - study
Bush blamed
From ABC News:
9 Years for Wendy's Finger Fraud
One for each remaining finger
From ABC News:
Spreading the Gospel Through Pro Wrestling
Austin 3:16 cited as most popular verse
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)