A while back, Tom Hanks appeared in a movie called "The Terminal". It certainly wasn't anything Oscar-worthy, but it killed a couple of hours in a theater. There's an old saying that art imitates life, but now life imitates art. Hiroshi Nohara is a Japanese citizen who had a layover connection in Mexico City back in early September. It has now lasted almost three months, and he has no plans to leave. For reasons no one seems to be able to explain, the Japanese man has been in Terminal 1 of Benito Juarez International Airport since Sept. 2, surviving off donations from fast-food restaurants and passengers, while sleeping in a chair. At first, he frightened fellow air-travelers, and airport authorities asked the Japanese Embassy to investigate why the foul-smelling man refused to leave. Now, he's become somewhat of a celebrity, capturing Mexico's collective imagination with near- daily TV reports on his life at the food court. Tourists stop to pose with him for photos or get an autograph. A native of Tokyo, he flew into Mexico with a tourist visa and a return ticket home, but inexplicably never left the airport. In a recent interview, he said he had no motive and doesn't know how much longer he'll remain.
"I don't understand why I'm here," he said through an interpreter. "I don't have a reason." The embassy can't force him to leave if he's mentally competent (apparently he is), and since Nohara's visa is valid, all Mexican officials can do it wait for it to expire in early March. During his stay, Nohara's wiry goatee has grown into a scraggly mess. His red-tinted hair is speckled with dust and dandruff, and his jacket and fleece blanket are dingy with overuse. He hasn't had a shower in months. Various stalls in the food court give Nohara free snacks and drinks, and strangers often buy him pastries or hamburgers; of the two, he clearly prefers hamburgers.
Is it just me, or wouldn't this whole scene put a damper on the ambiance of the food court? Then again, how much ambiance is there in a food court in Mexico City to begin with? Hopefully in March Mr. N will make his way back home. It would be nice to know exactly which day he's going to fly, as I'm sure nobody is going to want to be on that same plane. Pheeew!!
Phoenix-based Residential Cruise Line is the latest to try the super-luxury cruises, aimed at a condominium/time-share concept. There will be an invitation-only sales event in Dubai on Dec. 15th, and if you're one of the lucky bidders you can get the top-of-the-line suite. Pricetag? A mere $18 million dollars. In this economy. I might send out those top executives for drug testing at this point, but then again maybe rich folk have more money than sense. Anyway, the ship's $18 million Portofino penthouse (there are TWO of them, too!), comes with 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms and measures more than 4,300 square feet. Yeah, I know whenever I cruise I like to bring the aunts, uncles, a few dozen Gypsies and a small Midwest town.
The other day, I blogged about a not-too-smart rap "artist", who got himself convicted by rapping the true details about his crimes. Well, if that was "A" this is "B"....
When 24-year-old Andrew Vactor of Urbana, Ohio, was convicted of violating the city's noise ordinance, Judge Susan J. Fornof-Lippencott offered to reduce the normal fine of $150 to just $35, if he agreed to listen to 20 hours of classical music. Wanting to save money, Mr. Vactor agreed to the unusual punishment. The sentence was to include Beethoven, Chopin, Bach, and Debussy. Chief Probation Officer Glenda Runkle says the department keeps three CDs on hand, and he was getting a "greatest hits" assortment of the classics. Judge Fornof-Lippencott often assigns creative sentencing options." She selects episodes of Dr. Phil & The Oprah Winfrey Show that she considers relevant to other misdemeanor offenses, supplying copies to the probation department for forced viewing. The idea is to inspire people not to come back for the same violation, and at the same time broaden their horizons. Vactor, a student at Urbana University, listened to a full 15 minutes of the classics before calling the judge, to say he'd changed his mind. He agreed to just pay the full $150 fine! He claims it had nothing to do with the musical style, only that he was late for basketball practice. So much for "YO"hann Sebastion Bach.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Chinese Food For Thought
Yellowstone. Yosemite. Grand Canyon. Glacier Bay. Mammoth Cave. Hawaii Volcanoes. Those are just a few of the designated National Parks of the United States. They are as diverse in style as they are in location, from the US Virgin Islands to Alaska to American Samoa there are more than 60 recognized landmark areas, which make up our National Parks system. In fact, these great destinations represent a connect-the-dots of vacations for many travelers. Why go halfway around the world for sightseeing, until you've seen what's in your own back yard? Many people check these parks off a list as they go, hoping to see them all in their lifetime. To make that easier, some tour operators even combine National Parks and sightseeing trips in the region in a travel goulash called "Canyonlands". It's a great way of seeing a lot of American wonder, in the shortest period of time. What got me thinking about this today is a story on USAToday.com about China, mentioning that China just announced last month its first officially named "National Park". It's an area near the Russian border that at one time was stripped clear of vast forests, fueling the Communist Revolution in the 60's. Now it's back, and the Chinese government is aiming to preserve the area for future generations, as well as creating a National Parks system like the one we enjoy here. Think about that. We're many years ahead of the curve, compared to other major countries and civilizations, in trying to save natural beauty for future generations. So when was the last time you visited a National Park? Hmmm? Don't need a passport, you just walk right in and start taking pictures. Did you know if you do an Alaska cruise and a couple of extra days extension, you could actually experience 3, 4 even 5 National Parks? On your next gambling junket to Las Vegas, if you don't feel like sitting at gaming tables every day, did you know you can do day-trips to Death Valley? Zion? Grand Canyon? Great Basin? It's true.
Thinking of going to San Francisco for a few days, and maybe hitting the wine region as well? Sounds great, but don't forget you're less than 6 hours away from Sequoia, Redwoods, and only 4-5 hours from Yosemite! Do a combo vacation. There are so many fantastic parks in the US, yet sometimes people get blinded thinking the only two things they can do on vacation is go to the Caribbean or Disney. Not that those are a bad thing, certainly! But talk to your family and see if you might like a taste of adventure mixed in with your next getaway. You'll have a new appreciation for the USA, without ever leaving "home".
There's a new TOP TEN list out, this time from Oxford University, whose researchers compiled the 10 least-favorite expressions people use in conversation. The researchers created the list by monitoring the use of phrases in databases, books, papers, magazines, broadcast networks, the internet, and just plain talkin' to folks. It's oxymoronic language, over-used meaningless filler words, or things that just stick in yer craw and give you the willies when people say them. I would have thought George W Bush's butchering of the word Nuclear (Newk-u-lar) would have clearly made the grade, but NO - there are others! People hate hearing phrases like "isn't it ironic" when irony is not even in the example, or folks using new-age words like synergy or even worse, synergistic. Ready for the list? Break out your checklist, to see if you're guilty of any of these guilty pleasures in human mis-speak:
10) It's not rocket science
9) 24/7
8) Shouldn't of (instead of shouldn't have)
7) It was a nightmare
6) Absolutely!
6a) You Betcha! (thanks, Sarah Palin)
5) With all due respect
4) At this moment in time (or and time)
3) I personally (unnecessary)
2) Fairly unique (it's unique or it's not)
And the #1 most hated, at the end of the day?
1) At the end of the day
Son of a gun....I made the list at least once or twice. Did you?
Thinking of going to San Francisco for a few days, and maybe hitting the wine region as well? Sounds great, but don't forget you're less than 6 hours away from Sequoia, Redwoods, and only 4-5 hours from Yosemite! Do a combo vacation. There are so many fantastic parks in the US, yet sometimes people get blinded thinking the only two things they can do on vacation is go to the Caribbean or Disney. Not that those are a bad thing, certainly! But talk to your family and see if you might like a taste of adventure mixed in with your next getaway. You'll have a new appreciation for the USA, without ever leaving "home".
There's a new TOP TEN list out, this time from Oxford University, whose researchers compiled the 10 least-favorite expressions people use in conversation. The researchers created the list by monitoring the use of phrases in databases, books, papers, magazines, broadcast networks, the internet, and just plain talkin' to folks. It's oxymoronic language, over-used meaningless filler words, or things that just stick in yer craw and give you the willies when people say them. I would have thought George W Bush's butchering of the word Nuclear (Newk-u-lar) would have clearly made the grade, but NO - there are others! People hate hearing phrases like "isn't it ironic" when irony is not even in the example, or folks using new-age words like synergy or even worse, synergistic. Ready for the list? Break out your checklist, to see if you're guilty of any of these guilty pleasures in human mis-speak:
10) It's not rocket science
9) 24/7
8) Shouldn't of (instead of shouldn't have)
7) It was a nightmare
6) Absolutely!
6a) You Betcha! (thanks, Sarah Palin)
5) With all due respect
4) At this moment in time (or and time)
3) I personally (unnecessary)
2) Fairly unique (it's unique or it's not)
And the #1 most hated, at the end of the day?
1) At the end of the day
Son of a gun....I made the list at least once or twice. Did you?
Apology to Dolly P
Earlier this week I mentioned Dollywood and Ms. Parton in my blog, regarding the interactive portions of the new Titanic museum in Pigeon Forge. The newspaper source I referenced made a connection between the 2 that proved to be inaccurate, so my apologies to her. Dollywood and Ms. Parton are not involved in any way. No apologies are forthcoming, though, regarding my disdain for the interactive portions of that museum. At least when I'm wrong, I'll admit it.
Cap'n Bob
Cap'n Bob
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Project Runway...FABulous!
No, I'm not talking about Heidi Klum, or any of the skinny, over-chic'ed girls from the Bravo Network. We're talking real runways here. Chicago O'Hare. Seattle-Tacoma. Washington Dulles. Each of these 3 hyperactive airports have new additions to be proud of, one extra runway apiece, which is the largest 1-day capacity increase in the US in more than a decade. Even though airlines have scaled back the number of flights in some areas, these cities still were having major delay issues and long waits on the tarmac. This won't be an immediate complete fix, but it's gotta help with backlog. Estimates are they will allow an additional 20 flights per hour, which should curb delays and taxiway backups at least to a degree. The fact that all three of these airports act as connection points for international flights (such as people heading to Europe or Asia), means anything that eases connection times and puts people's minds at rest is welcome.
Puerto Rico has long been known as one of the most affordable vacation destinations in the Caribbean. But new airfare competition and promotions are making it an even better deal this winter. Plus, U.S. travelers to Puerto Rico don't need passports, unlike all other Caribbean destinations (except the U.S. Virgin Islands). Not having to spend an extra hour or more to pass through Customs means you'll be on the beach that much faster! The new air-wars started when American announced it would cut routes to the island. Almost immediately, JetBlue, AirTran, Continental, Delta and USAirways jumped in, adding more service from various cities. American then got back in the game (after kicking a few backsides for a bad decision), and announced it would continue its service after all. What first looked to be a loss in service has turned into a boom, and travelers benefit from the increased competition, especially when hotels are running sales or promotions. San Juan in particular is incredibly rich in history, featuring such sights as El Morro Castle which guarded the harbor for hundreds of years, and there's the little-known but very interesting Casa Blanca. Casa Blanca is only a couple of blocks from El Morro, but most tourists never see it because you have to walk instead of taxi. It was the original Governor's mansion on the island, back when Ponce De Leon was its 1st Governor. He then famously headed off to Florida searching for the Fountain Of Youth, but met an untimely death at the hands of the Seminole Indians. The people of Puerto Rico decided to maintain Casa Blanca as a shrine to Ponce De Leon, and all the original trappings are still there. San Juan has numerous casinos, the Bacardi Rum factory (daily tours available), and if you want an eco-friendly day rent a car or hire a driver and head to the El Yunque rainforest, which is less than 2 hours away. Add in duty-free shopping, great golf and nice beaches, and you've got a fantastic Caribbean vacation spot! If you'd like to visit Puerto Rico, contact us for special rates and deals.
A New York pastor says one of his congregants donated a winning lottery ticket worth $3 million to his church. Pastor Bertrand Crabbe of the True North Community Church in Port Jefferson NY says the donor, who asked to remain anonymous, donated the “Ba Da Bling” scratch-off ticket immediately after he won. A state Lottery official says the independent Christian church will get a little over $100,000 a year through 2028. The amount could be higher if withheld taxes are refunded because of the church’s nonprofit status. Crabb says the 650-member church will give the first year’s proceeds to other charities. Kind of renews your faith in humanity, doesn't it? The old saying "God works in mysterious ways" has never been more true, working through a program called Ba Da Bling.
The Colorado Springs chapter of the Salvation Army has taken new steps towards having a successful Holiday season. They will still have their iconic Red Kettle and bell-ringers, stationed outside grocery stores, malls, pretty much wherever you go. But instead of asking people to drop in spare change, these Salvation Soldiers will now be able to process credit cards and debit cards on-site. Each of the new-and-improved kettles is equipped with a machine for processing plastic, and people seem to like the idea. One was quoted as saying "I always want to pitch something in the pot, but often I'm not carrying cash." I'll give 'em a thumbs up for being enterprising.
Yo! Yo! Yo! A rapper in Dublin, Georgia was so proud about shooting a man twice, he wrote a song about it, according to AP reports from the local police. The smart-mouthed thug went so far as to describe the shooting in details that only the perpetrator would know, and even calling the victim by his real name. Maybe that would make him a not-so-smart-mouthed rapper, eh? In what amounted to an audio confession, a judge sentenced 25-year-old Rico Todriquez Wright Monday to spend the next 20 years in prison, for 2 counts of aggravated assault. His victim, Chad Blue, had actually heard the song and mentioned the hip-hop confession to police. Mr. Blue told police he had known Wright before the September 2006 shooting, and that the men weren't friendly. (This story might be stranger if he had said they were buddies). At trial, he testified that Rico's companions egged him on, as he chased and shot him twice. It was only later he recognized the voice on a CD, the rapper saying "Chad Blue knows how I shoot."
Yo! Yo! Bozo! Why don't you hip-hop up on the upper bunk, and chill for a couple of decades while you get some religion about right, wrong, and stupidity, Dog.
Puerto Rico has long been known as one of the most affordable vacation destinations in the Caribbean. But new airfare competition and promotions are making it an even better deal this winter. Plus, U.S. travelers to Puerto Rico don't need passports, unlike all other Caribbean destinations (except the U.S. Virgin Islands). Not having to spend an extra hour or more to pass through Customs means you'll be on the beach that much faster! The new air-wars started when American announced it would cut routes to the island. Almost immediately, JetBlue, AirTran, Continental, Delta and USAirways jumped in, adding more service from various cities. American then got back in the game (after kicking a few backsides for a bad decision), and announced it would continue its service after all. What first looked to be a loss in service has turned into a boom, and travelers benefit from the increased competition, especially when hotels are running sales or promotions. San Juan in particular is incredibly rich in history, featuring such sights as El Morro Castle which guarded the harbor for hundreds of years, and there's the little-known but very interesting Casa Blanca. Casa Blanca is only a couple of blocks from El Morro, but most tourists never see it because you have to walk instead of taxi. It was the original Governor's mansion on the island, back when Ponce De Leon was its 1st Governor. He then famously headed off to Florida searching for the Fountain Of Youth, but met an untimely death at the hands of the Seminole Indians. The people of Puerto Rico decided to maintain Casa Blanca as a shrine to Ponce De Leon, and all the original trappings are still there. San Juan has numerous casinos, the Bacardi Rum factory (daily tours available), and if you want an eco-friendly day rent a car or hire a driver and head to the El Yunque rainforest, which is less than 2 hours away. Add in duty-free shopping, great golf and nice beaches, and you've got a fantastic Caribbean vacation spot! If you'd like to visit Puerto Rico, contact us for special rates and deals.
A New York pastor says one of his congregants donated a winning lottery ticket worth $3 million to his church. Pastor Bertrand Crabbe of the True North Community Church in Port Jefferson NY says the donor, who asked to remain anonymous, donated the “Ba Da Bling” scratch-off ticket immediately after he won. A state Lottery official says the independent Christian church will get a little over $100,000 a year through 2028. The amount could be higher if withheld taxes are refunded because of the church’s nonprofit status. Crabb says the 650-member church will give the first year’s proceeds to other charities. Kind of renews your faith in humanity, doesn't it? The old saying "God works in mysterious ways" has never been more true, working through a program called Ba Da Bling.
The Colorado Springs chapter of the Salvation Army has taken new steps towards having a successful Holiday season. They will still have their iconic Red Kettle and bell-ringers, stationed outside grocery stores, malls, pretty much wherever you go. But instead of asking people to drop in spare change, these Salvation Soldiers will now be able to process credit cards and debit cards on-site. Each of the new-and-improved kettles is equipped with a machine for processing plastic, and people seem to like the idea. One was quoted as saying "I always want to pitch something in the pot, but often I'm not carrying cash." I'll give 'em a thumbs up for being enterprising.
Yo! Yo! Yo! A rapper in Dublin, Georgia was so proud about shooting a man twice, he wrote a song about it, according to AP reports from the local police. The smart-mouthed thug went so far as to describe the shooting in details that only the perpetrator would know, and even calling the victim by his real name. Maybe that would make him a not-so-smart-mouthed rapper, eh? In what amounted to an audio confession, a judge sentenced 25-year-old Rico Todriquez Wright Monday to spend the next 20 years in prison, for 2 counts of aggravated assault. His victim, Chad Blue, had actually heard the song and mentioned the hip-hop confession to police. Mr. Blue told police he had known Wright before the September 2006 shooting, and that the men weren't friendly. (This story might be stranger if he had said they were buddies). At trial, he testified that Rico's companions egged him on, as he chased and shot him twice. It was only later he recognized the voice on a CD, the rapper saying "Chad Blue knows how I shoot."
Yo! Yo! Bozo! Why don't you hip-hop up on the upper bunk, and chill for a couple of decades while you get some religion about right, wrong, and stupidity, Dog.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Epic Film = Epic Tourism?
Coming soon to a theater near you, "Australia". Award-winning director Baz Luhrmann is in charge of this WWII-era romantic drama, which is highlighted by stunning scenery and an appreciation for the continent down under. Oh yeah, there's also Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, who earlier this week was named "Sexiest Man Alive 2008". I never have figured out why they throw in that 3rd word...alive is pretty much assumed. "Sexiest man dead" wouldn't pose much attraction now, would it? Anyway, back to the film. Luhrmann has tried to capture the Outback in all its glory and wonderment, from spectacular colors and scenery to stark emptiness, with a soaring soundtrack that plays as a travelogue for Australia. The aboriginal culture is addressed as well, and Tourism Australia has budgeted $26 million dollars to promote the film world-wide. Australia the movie opens internationally on Nov. 26th, just prior to America's Thanksgiving Day, and is sure to be a blockbuster for the Holidays. Don't forget to order the $32 bucket of corn when you hit the theater ($49.95 if you want that yummy hot-butter sludge topping).
One reason I brought this up in the blog is that numerous Australian tour operators are setting up trips, for travelers to re-trace the steps of the film and experience the highlights first-hand. This should be a resounding success, and Mann Travels will have access to those tours if you're interested in such an adventure. While you're there, you may want to consider adding on other parts of Australia and New Zealand as well, if you have the time. I always tell clients if you know you're only going to make it to a certain area of the world once in your life, plan on doing everything that works logistically and financially. Because airfare from the US is very long and tends to be a bit high (it IS halfway around the globe after all), the vast majority of travelers only make the crossing one time. We'll be happy to help with suggestions and planning this dream trip for you.
More on Celebrity's new "Celebrity Solstice", a world-class vessel that just began its career at sea. The reviews? She's a stunner! Here is a capsule summary from a travel writer recently on board the ship:
Solstice's dazzling features range from a half-acre Lawn Club with real grass on the top deck to a wine-tasting cellar down below. But it's not just the unusual features that define this ship; architecturally, it's amazing. The public room areas are large with full-size furniture, large corridors, and an overall light and airy ambiance. Take one small example--the public bathrooms have giant glass sinks that create no splashing even when turned on full force. Unique to Solstice, there has never been an area like the Lawn Club on a cruise ship, and it features the Italian favorite game, bocce ball. It's like horseshoes, but you lob wooden balls. A member of the social staff tells people how to play, and everyone was having fun with it. An even bigger attraction is the "Hot Glass Show," in partnership with the Corning Museum of Glass. There are demonstrations in the art of glassblowing three times a day and one at night. It's called the 2300 Show, referring to the heat of the oven.
Dining room "Blu" is a beautiful white room with a white rose sculptured wall. Celebrity has given it cachet by giving priority to people in suites and Aqua-class for the two set dining times, making it the first mainstream American cruise ship with a class system for dining. Overall, the 10 dining venues run the gamut from Asian fare at Silk Harvest to the alternative French restaurant, Murano, Tuscan Grill (an Italian steakhouse) to the alternative casual Bistro on Five, with sandwiches, salads, and crepes ($5 for as much as you want), open from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.
The buffet is a wide variety of food stations, in a large open public area that will easily handle the few thousand people onboard. The room has higher ceilings than the usual buffet area, lending a real feeling of openness. Indeed, spaciousness on this ship is evident throughout. In the showroom, they could have crammed a lot more people in, but instead designed one that holds 1,150 people. Seats are comfortable, aisles are spacious, and the lower deck is beautifully tiered.
There are two production shows: a Broadway-theme and another which bears similarities to the former Cirque du Soleil at Sea (people flying around over the audience, etc.). Both 45-minute productions clearly pleased the audience, as did the ship itself. Solstice is a winner.
The Mankato Minnesota Free Press reports a local juvenile has been detained on forgery charges, after trying to cash a check for $30 million dollars. The check was made out to the unnamed boy, written by his mother. Authorities have ruled out the possibility of his mother's involvement, though. It turns out she had written him a birthday check for $30, and the boy added the additional zeros on his own. A spokesman for Northern Star Bank said the forgery appeared fairly obvious, as the young lad wrote the additional zeros in a different colored ink...
One reason I brought this up in the blog is that numerous Australian tour operators are setting up trips, for travelers to re-trace the steps of the film and experience the highlights first-hand. This should be a resounding success, and Mann Travels will have access to those tours if you're interested in such an adventure. While you're there, you may want to consider adding on other parts of Australia and New Zealand as well, if you have the time. I always tell clients if you know you're only going to make it to a certain area of the world once in your life, plan on doing everything that works logistically and financially. Because airfare from the US is very long and tends to be a bit high (it IS halfway around the globe after all), the vast majority of travelers only make the crossing one time. We'll be happy to help with suggestions and planning this dream trip for you.
More on Celebrity's new "Celebrity Solstice", a world-class vessel that just began its career at sea. The reviews? She's a stunner! Here is a capsule summary from a travel writer recently on board the ship:
Solstice's dazzling features range from a half-acre Lawn Club with real grass on the top deck to a wine-tasting cellar down below. But it's not just the unusual features that define this ship; architecturally, it's amazing. The public room areas are large with full-size furniture, large corridors, and an overall light and airy ambiance. Take one small example--the public bathrooms have giant glass sinks that create no splashing even when turned on full force. Unique to Solstice, there has never been an area like the Lawn Club on a cruise ship, and it features the Italian favorite game, bocce ball. It's like horseshoes, but you lob wooden balls. A member of the social staff tells people how to play, and everyone was having fun with it. An even bigger attraction is the "Hot Glass Show," in partnership with the Corning Museum of Glass. There are demonstrations in the art of glassblowing three times a day and one at night. It's called the 2300 Show, referring to the heat of the oven.
Dining room "Blu" is a beautiful white room with a white rose sculptured wall. Celebrity has given it cachet by giving priority to people in suites and Aqua-class for the two set dining times, making it the first mainstream American cruise ship with a class system for dining. Overall, the 10 dining venues run the gamut from Asian fare at Silk Harvest to the alternative French restaurant, Murano, Tuscan Grill (an Italian steakhouse) to the alternative casual Bistro on Five, with sandwiches, salads, and crepes ($5 for as much as you want), open from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.
The buffet is a wide variety of food stations, in a large open public area that will easily handle the few thousand people onboard. The room has higher ceilings than the usual buffet area, lending a real feeling of openness. Indeed, spaciousness on this ship is evident throughout. In the showroom, they could have crammed a lot more people in, but instead designed one that holds 1,150 people. Seats are comfortable, aisles are spacious, and the lower deck is beautifully tiered.
There are two production shows: a Broadway-theme and another which bears similarities to the former Cirque du Soleil at Sea (people flying around over the audience, etc.). Both 45-minute productions clearly pleased the audience, as did the ship itself. Solstice is a winner.
The Mankato Minnesota Free Press reports a local juvenile has been detained on forgery charges, after trying to cash a check for $30 million dollars. The check was made out to the unnamed boy, written by his mother. Authorities have ruled out the possibility of his mother's involvement, though. It turns out she had written him a birthday check for $30, and the boy added the additional zeros on his own. A spokesman for Northern Star Bank said the forgery appeared fairly obvious, as the young lad wrote the additional zeros in a different colored ink...
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Titanic Misjudgement
If you had to describe the "Dollywood" theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee (home of everything Parton), the word classy never really comes to mind. Over-the-top, certainly. Cornball, absolutely. Family-friendly, I guess so. That is, until their latest attraction went from blueprint stage to actual groundbreaking. The keel was laid this week for what's being billed as Titanic Pigeon Forge, a massive attraction (or detraction) of some 30,000 sq. feet, designed in the shape of the ill-fated liner. At a cost of $25million, the new "ship" will be christened in the spring of 2010, and it will contain a museum with artifacts raised (stolen) from the watery grave where Titanic still sits, on the North Atlantic floor. They will attempt to re-create the ship's famous winding Grand Staircase, a 1st-class Suite, a 3rd-class cabin and even the Marconi wireless room, where the original crew tried in vain to summon assistance. Mom, Dad and the kiddies will get to touch an iceberg, feel what 28 degree water is like (by dipping a pinky in, not shivering in horror while hundreds of people around them were dying), and they can climb into a lifeboat and send an SOS message. 'Scuse me while I throw up, but does this macabre, crass, profiteering idea sound like a day of fun for the family? I think it's insidious. If you want to cash in on people's death and tragedy, do your little museum. But to re-build a replica of the ship like it's some kind of Epcot thrill ride? Shame on you Dollywood Management, and shame on Dolly herself for not stepping forward and admitting this is all about the money. What's next, a 9/11 museum with interactive experiences? Yeah, that would last about 5 minutes before you'd be screamed into submission. And don't go saying it's like visiting Pearl Harbor or some such garbage, either. Pearl Harbor is an actual shrine in and of itself, but if some dollar-monger decided to build a fake Pearl Harbor at Dollywood to make a buck, I'd be on this same pulpit!
YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK. The Attleboro, Massachusetts Sun Chronicle ran a story recently about Eileen Wilbur, a 74-year old blind woman, who received a threat from the City that they were going to put a lien on her house, if she failed to pay her water bill which was over a year past due. City Collector Debora Marcoccio said that her office had actually sent out over 2,000 similar notices, in an effort to re-coup lost revenues. Mrs. Wilbur, the offender, did not know about the discrepancy until her daughter happened to stop over and read the notification. She was given until Dec. 10th to pay the past-due debt, or face an additional penalty of $48 as well as the lien on her home of 50 years. Tax Collector Marcoccio defended her department's position on principle, saying "My question is, why wasn't it paid when the original bill went out in 2007?" I'm sure there is some merit to the question, although there is virtually NO merit to the situation. As it turns out, Eileen Wilbur owes the City of Attleboro .01 cent. That's right, her bill was for a penny. Ms. Marcoccio spent .42cents of taxpayer money, not counting any manpower time spent (wasted), asking the offender to pay .42cents as well, to collect a penny. Mrs. Wilbur's daughter, Rose Brederson, called the entire incident laughable and ridiculous, and said she'll drop the penny off at the City Collector's office when she's downtown next week. I can just hear Collector Marcoccio's thoughts in reply to that: "You'd BETTER, that's all I have to say...."
Or what, Madam?! A quick P.S. to the daughter, Ms. Brederson....get a receipt....
The Colombia SC State newspaper has also reported a situation involving a public servant, who is doing her best to be her worst. Police in Cobb County, Ga. recently accused County Commissioner Annette Kesting of asking a local high voodoo priestess, GeorgeAnn Mills, to perform a death ritual on her longtime political rival, Woody Thompson. Ms. Kesting didn't want it to be too gruesome or exotic, asking only for something simple like cancer or a car accident. Mills acknowledged taking money from Kesting, to attend to some "family" issues for her by sacrificing three hens and a rooster, but said she would never be involved in anything criminal. Heaven forbid! Or if not Heaven, maybe it's that other place.
Congratulations to British citizen Sarah Burge, age 49, who has just made it into the Guinness Book Of World Records, according to the London Daily Mail on Oct. 29th. The lovely Sarah B. broke the standing record for most cosmetic surgery procedures, having now spent what amounts to around $850,000 US dollars on more than 100 nips, tucks, squeezes, slices, dices, juliennes, peels, layers, removals, additions, insertions and extractions. Joan Rivers could not be reached for comment. Sarah said "It's all good, really. The only downside, besides the financial part, is that people often mistake me for Michael Jackson or a car that's been dropped from a 10-story building. Otherwise, it's pretty much life as usual...."
YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK. The Attleboro, Massachusetts Sun Chronicle ran a story recently about Eileen Wilbur, a 74-year old blind woman, who received a threat from the City that they were going to put a lien on her house, if she failed to pay her water bill which was over a year past due. City Collector Debora Marcoccio said that her office had actually sent out over 2,000 similar notices, in an effort to re-coup lost revenues. Mrs. Wilbur, the offender, did not know about the discrepancy until her daughter happened to stop over and read the notification. She was given until Dec. 10th to pay the past-due debt, or face an additional penalty of $48 as well as the lien on her home of 50 years. Tax Collector Marcoccio defended her department's position on principle, saying "My question is, why wasn't it paid when the original bill went out in 2007?" I'm sure there is some merit to the question, although there is virtually NO merit to the situation. As it turns out, Eileen Wilbur owes the City of Attleboro .01 cent. That's right, her bill was for a penny. Ms. Marcoccio spent .42cents of taxpayer money, not counting any manpower time spent (wasted), asking the offender to pay .42cents as well, to collect a penny. Mrs. Wilbur's daughter, Rose Brederson, called the entire incident laughable and ridiculous, and said she'll drop the penny off at the City Collector's office when she's downtown next week. I can just hear Collector Marcoccio's thoughts in reply to that: "You'd BETTER, that's all I have to say...."
Or what, Madam?! A quick P.S. to the daughter, Ms. Brederson....get a receipt....
The Colombia SC State newspaper has also reported a situation involving a public servant, who is doing her best to be her worst. Police in Cobb County, Ga. recently accused County Commissioner Annette Kesting of asking a local high voodoo priestess, GeorgeAnn Mills, to perform a death ritual on her longtime political rival, Woody Thompson. Ms. Kesting didn't want it to be too gruesome or exotic, asking only for something simple like cancer or a car accident. Mills acknowledged taking money from Kesting, to attend to some "family" issues for her by sacrificing three hens and a rooster, but said she would never be involved in anything criminal. Heaven forbid! Or if not Heaven, maybe it's that other place.
Congratulations to British citizen Sarah Burge, age 49, who has just made it into the Guinness Book Of World Records, according to the London Daily Mail on Oct. 29th. The lovely Sarah B. broke the standing record for most cosmetic surgery procedures, having now spent what amounts to around $850,000 US dollars on more than 100 nips, tucks, squeezes, slices, dices, juliennes, peels, layers, removals, additions, insertions and extractions. Joan Rivers could not be reached for comment. Sarah said "It's all good, really. The only downside, besides the financial part, is that people often mistake me for Michael Jackson or a car that's been dropped from a 10-story building. Otherwise, it's pretty much life as usual...."
Monday, November 17, 2008
Celebrity Meets Paparazzi
Last weekend, Celebrity Cruises introduced their new ship "Celebrity Solstice" to the world, and early reports are that she is stunning. There is still a large segment of the population unfamiliar with Celebrity, and that's a shame. Ever since their inception nearly 20 years ago, they've made themselves known more by word-of-mouth than advertising. More recently they've tried some ads, but they're too laid-back and not representative of the actual onboard product. With as many ships as I've sailed on, if you told me I could have a free ticket to go on any cruise I wanted, it would almost certainly be a Celebrity ship. The level of service, the cuisine, and overall ambiance compared to the dollars spent is second to none. The only downside to sailing them has been no new ships for years. That's not much of an issue for me, since I've sailed and piloted ships 50+ years old. But just like cars or anything else mechanical, age tends to mean more can go wrong, and technology is behind the times. That's why there's so much excitement for the new Solstice - it's the best of all possible worlds!
Last night, new Prez Obama gave a fascinating interview to 60 Minutes. With all the challenges to be faced, I'm not sure I've ever seen someone carry more dignity and calm into the job. Somehow he makes you feel like it's going to be OK, and in these turbulent times, that's about all we can ask up-front of anyone assuming such a role. I wish him all the best, and hope America is smarter than a 5th grader, to will rally around him.
Holy Theft, Batman!
Orthodox officials in a central Russian region say an abandoned church building, which was intended to be put back into use, has been stolen by local villagers. Say what? Orthodox priest Vitaly of the regional diocese said officials last saw the two-story Church of Resurrection intact in July. When they returned to the area in early October, the church was gone. Sometime during those 3 months, he said, people from the nearby village of Komarovo (near Moscow) had dismantled the building and stolen it, brick by brick. Villagers apparently sold the structure to a local businessman, for one ruble (about 4 cents) per brick. "Of course, this is blasphemy," he told The Associated Press. "These people have to realize they committed a grave sin." Vitaly said police were investigating the theft of the 200-year-old building, which no longer had its icons and other religious valuables. Most recently it had been a school for disabled children during the Soviet era, before it was closed down in 1998 and turned over to the church. The businessman in question claims complete innocence in the situation. He says that after the church "went missing", he simply wanted to perform a community service, by re-building a similar structure for the townsfolk. That's why he offered money for bricks, to complete the project. He said he had no knowledge of where those bricks came from, and purchased them in good faith. Kind of reminds be of the scene in This Is Spinal Tap, where they talk about how their drummer died. Can't really tell the story in this-here clean-cut bloggin' thing, but if you know the movie, you know what I'm talking about.
According to the Plymouth Guardian newspaper, Researchers at Plymouth University in England, using a small Arts Council grant, wanted to test the theory that an infinite number of monkeys, with an infinite number of typewriters, could eventually produce the works of Shakespeare. However, like I said it was a small grant. So instead of an infinite number of monkeys and time, they got six Crested Macaque monkeys and a computer, and decided to base their research over a four-week period. According to a report in The Guardian, the little critters produced a total of five pages of text between them over the month-long project, mostly consisting of the letter "S". According to University professor Geoff Cox, the monkeys spent a lot of time sitting on the keyboard, and the "S" appeared to be a pressure point on the keyboard.
I wouldn't complain if I were professor Geoff Cox. Lots of worse things COULD have happened, with monkeys plopped down on your keyboard. Some even start with "S"....
Last night, new Prez Obama gave a fascinating interview to 60 Minutes. With all the challenges to be faced, I'm not sure I've ever seen someone carry more dignity and calm into the job. Somehow he makes you feel like it's going to be OK, and in these turbulent times, that's about all we can ask up-front of anyone assuming such a role. I wish him all the best, and hope America is smarter than a 5th grader, to will rally around him.
Holy Theft, Batman!
Orthodox officials in a central Russian region say an abandoned church building, which was intended to be put back into use, has been stolen by local villagers. Say what? Orthodox priest Vitaly of the regional diocese said officials last saw the two-story Church of Resurrection intact in July. When they returned to the area in early October, the church was gone. Sometime during those 3 months, he said, people from the nearby village of Komarovo (near Moscow) had dismantled the building and stolen it, brick by brick. Villagers apparently sold the structure to a local businessman, for one ruble (about 4 cents) per brick. "Of course, this is blasphemy," he told The Associated Press. "These people have to realize they committed a grave sin." Vitaly said police were investigating the theft of the 200-year-old building, which no longer had its icons and other religious valuables. Most recently it had been a school for disabled children during the Soviet era, before it was closed down in 1998 and turned over to the church. The businessman in question claims complete innocence in the situation. He says that after the church "went missing", he simply wanted to perform a community service, by re-building a similar structure for the townsfolk. That's why he offered money for bricks, to complete the project. He said he had no knowledge of where those bricks came from, and purchased them in good faith. Kind of reminds be of the scene in This Is Spinal Tap, where they talk about how their drummer died. Can't really tell the story in this-here clean-cut bloggin' thing, but if you know the movie, you know what I'm talking about.
According to the Plymouth Guardian newspaper, Researchers at Plymouth University in England, using a small Arts Council grant, wanted to test the theory that an infinite number of monkeys, with an infinite number of typewriters, could eventually produce the works of Shakespeare. However, like I said it was a small grant. So instead of an infinite number of monkeys and time, they got six Crested Macaque monkeys and a computer, and decided to base their research over a four-week period. According to a report in The Guardian, the little critters produced a total of five pages of text between them over the month-long project, mostly consisting of the letter "S". According to University professor Geoff Cox, the monkeys spent a lot of time sitting on the keyboard, and the "S" appeared to be a pressure point on the keyboard.
I wouldn't complain if I were professor Geoff Cox. Lots of worse things COULD have happened, with monkeys plopped down on your keyboard. Some even start with "S"....
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