Ever had Christmas Carollers who were so out of tune they made the experience a cringe-fest? Welcome to George Bush International Airport in Houston. Houston's airport is setting up karaoke booths for travelers, just in time for the holidays. One is already up and running. For the past two years, officials have invited choirs and bands from high schools and churches to perform at Bush and Hobby airports during the month of December, to help alleviate passenger anxiety and give them something to do while waiting for their flight (other than crossword puzzles and annoyingly talking on their cell phones). Karaoke seemed the next logical step, according to Caroline Schneider, the assistant airport manager for customer service.
"During the Holidays, we have a lot of novice travelers," she said. "We thought while they are waiting, it would be nice if they could just sing a song." Aspiring vocalists can choose from hundreds of song titles, and small prizes will be given to the singers. Let's get something straight here, most Karaoke singers sound like the American Idol out-take auditions. That sure doesn't sound like the way I want to spend my 2 pre-flight hours! If anything, a few boos mixed in to a bad singer's repertoire will not only make for a bad day, it could lead to fisticuffs or other disruption. Thanks, but I'll stick with my crossword puzzles and I-Pod.
Speaking of flights, the numbers are in for the past couple of months, and Las Vegas has taken quite a hit, with incoming travelers down nearly 13 percent compared to same-month figures in 2007. While this trend is going on, there can be some incredible bargains for anyone still willing to roll the dice (pun intended). Once the New Year hits there are lots of conventions scheduled, but anyone available for a last hurrah in 2008 should call me for a deal. NOTE: If you're even considering going out for the Super Bowl, you may already be too late for any bargains. The airlines have scaled back the number of daily flights, and many flights are at capacity or close, so there's not a moment to lose if you'd still like to make that trip.
It didn't make headlines in America this week because it wasn't Americans involved (we're like that, you know). But there was a 2nd attempt by pirates on a cruise ship in the Gulf of Aden. This time, it was a German cruise ship but the attackers were chased off by a German naval vessel. I doubt it was a coincidence that the cruise liner had an "escort" in that area of the world, and it sounds like it was a good thing they were around. I can tell you from thousands of conversations with clients, cruise customers are always looking for something a little different. New ports of call. Interesting itineraries. And for that reason, the cruise lines have created some of these more exotic passage sailings. Unfortunately, to get from point A to point B in some areas of the globe, you have to come a bit too close for comfort to these hot zones. Last week, I had a customer call me who is booked on a 7-night Caribbean sailing from Miami, going to Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, but she said "my friend told me cruise ships are being attacked by pirates." Yes halfway across the world, but there's not much chance you're going to run into Johnny Depp or his cut-throat crew in St. Thomas. The Caribbean has been safe from pirates, other than drug smugglers, for 150 years or more. Particularly when it comes to passenger vessels. My gut feeling is the cruise lines are going to have to alter some of these exotic itineraries, to remove themselves from harm's way. I'll keep you posted whenever that happens. In the mean time, don't lose sleep over your vacation cruise to Cozumel and Jamaica.
The worst pirating you'll see is the drink prices on board.
SOUP FOR YOU! Sounds like a take-off on a Seinfeld episode, eh? That's Seinfeld the show, filmed in New York. Well, check this out....with the economy flagging, a Manhattan fashion boutique has started offering free soup to entice customers. The temporary fashion boutique, calling itself "The 1929" is selling chic designer clothing, and giving away soup and coffee to prospective buyers. The store is located in one of the trendiest shopping areas, the Soho District of New York City. Manager and co-owner Aaron Genuth says the store was inspired by the Great Depression. His partner Levi Okunov says they want people to go to the store, have a bowl of soup and try on some clothing.The store sells the work of independent designers on its ground floor. The basement is an art and performance space, where the free nourishment is doled out. The store is expected to remain open through next month. My guess is there's got to be a sign somewhere, "If you spill cream of broccoli on it, you bought it!"
You may have heard this one on the news earlier in the week, but if not it bears repeating. 21 years ago, Joe Richardson from central Texas lost his brand-new, blue-stone class ring. The one Mom and Dad bought him the year he graduated, and even had it engraved with his name inside. This week the ring turned up, but not under the dresser. Not in an old pair of Converse All-Stars. Not even in a pocket of an old duffel bag. Nope, it showed up inside an 8-pound bass caught on Lake Sam Rayburn, about 100 miles Northeast of Houston. A fisherman discovered the tarnished ring inside his catch, and after seeing the engraved name contacted Richardson on Nov. 28, after tracking him down with help from the Internet. The fisherman asked to remain anonymous. Richardson, 41, said he lost the ring about two weeks after his 1987 graduation from Universal Technical Institute in Houston. His parents had paid around $200 for the ring back then, and were none too pleased when it went missing. Asked if he's going to wear it now, Richardson said "no, it would take some pretty hefty cleaning, and I'm not cleaning it." Nice to know gifts from Mom and Dad still mean so much....I'm gettin' a little misty-eyed.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
I Want A New Drug
Thank you, Huey Lewis, and frequent fliers may agree. Have you ever experienced "jet lag" symptoms? It's not pretty, and some people deal with it much worse than others. Help may be on the way, though, in the form of a new drug that has shown early success in resetting the body's natural sleep rhythms. In two clinical trials, the drug tasimelteon helped volunteers whose sleep pattern had been delayed to fall asleep faster, and sleep longer. The drug mimics the effects of melatonin, which is a naturally-occurring hormone in humans that regulates the natural human clock, known as the circadian rhythm (not to be confused with a cicadian rhythm, which would be noisy insects having a party) . When the circadian rhythm is disrupted, such as by traveling across time zones, the most common symptoms are insomnia when trying to sleep and excessive sleepiness while trying to remain awake. It turns your body clock into a photographic negative of itself. Melatonin improves the quality of sleep and dulls the awakening signal in the body clock.
The studies on tasimelteon were undertaken by researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, and Monash University in Australia. They conducted two trials with 450 volunteers whose sleep patterns had been disturbed by keeping them awake for five hours longer - usually the time difference between New York and London. In both studies, tasimelteon proved to have a positive regulating effrect. The drug could be an alternative to addictive sleep therapies such as benzodiazepines. Melatonin-like drugs only exert a modest sleep-promoting effect, by comparison. If approved, the drug could be on the market within three years.
In the meantime, experts say there are natural ways travelers can combat the effects of jet lag. Here are some to keep in mind before you travel:
>Avoid late meals and alcohol (they're killin' me already)
>Take cat-naps whenever possible (that's a can-do)
>Eat meals on a schedule appropriate for your destination, to prepare your body for time change (I eat ALL the darn time)
>Get a good night's sleep before traveling (Yeah, right)
>Go for daytime walks and get plenty of sunlight (huh?)
>A break/connecting flight on long-hauls can help, though most people want nonstops (I say just GET me there yesterday!)
>Noise-canceling headphones block out cabin noise, and help you sleep (I can vouch for that, plus they ROCK!)
There's a report on USAToday.com about tourism in the Dominican Republic. If you're not sure where that is, it's half of the large island just East of Cuba. Part of the island is Haiti, and the other half the Dominican Republic. Over the last few years, the beautiful beaches of the Dominican Republic (or D.R. as it's known) have made for a super-boom in construction of upscale resorts, most notably in the Punta Cana area. Americans have enjoyed the D.R., and it also brings a flock of Europeans as an easy entryway to The Caribbean. However, in the last year or so, tourism numbers are drastically off. The total number of visitors just between July and October of this year fell by 1.1 million people! That was a drop of 5.6%, but October and November were even worse at 10% dropoff. For people still wanting to travel on a reasonable budget, that spells OPPORTUNITY! There is availability at hotels, and they have promotional rates which can make this an affordable time to experience a luxury resort on the Southeast coast of the D.R. Check with us for rates, and we'll get you booked.
The Nevada Highway Patrol says a drunken driving suspect in Reno was gassed in more ways than one. A 40-year-old Reno woman was arrested early Tuesday after an ambulance crew saw her driving erratically on U.S. Highway 395. Patrol spokesman Chuck Allen said the crew tried to signal the woman after they spotted her green Subaru wagon crossing the center line about 4:30 a.m. but couldn't get her attention. Patrolman Allen said the crew eventually initiated a traffic stop and radioed for state troopers. Upon their arrival, the woman failed a sobriety test and was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence. Initially, it was not her driving that caught the Highway Patrol's attention. Although she was weaving, it was very slight and may not have caused enough of a ripple to draw attention. No, what caught their eye was the fact she was driving down the highway with a fuel nozzle sticking out of her gas tank, trailing approximately 6 feet of fuel hose. Authorities still have been unable to locate the affected gas station, but they are hoping the driver can give them more details when she sobers up.
Attention Casino Owners! You pay your Pit Bosses and Dealers quite well. The waitresses make fabulous tips. NOTE TO SELF: Please increase payroll allowance for proofreaders. That's what I said, proofreaders - particularly those in your Marketing Department. The Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course in Pennsylvania wanted to do something nice for the Holidays, for its top 1,000 customers. They wanted to send them free slot-machine credits. However, instead of the top 1,000, the promotion was accidentally sent to 55,000 people on their mailing list. If everyone claims the reward, the casino could be on the hook for a boatload of money. Hollywood Casino executives decided Monday to partially honor the offer, after frantically calling tens of thousands of customers over the weekend. The mistake was first reported by WGAL-TV, which said some customers had begun trying to take advantage of the offer that went into effect Monday. The reward program was for $100 in slots credits per week from Dec. 1 through Jan. 4, plus two free visits to the buffet at the casino in Grantville, PA. If all 55,000 customers were allowed to redeem $100 credits for five straight weeks, plus two $14 buffet visits, it would cost the casino more than $29 million dollars. In a bid to cut its loss, a casino spokesman said the casino is offering $100 in credits per customer and two buffet passes, if they are redeemed by Christmas. "Rather than say 'Sorry, it was an error,' we've said 'Sorry, let's try to come up with a reasonable redemption plan.' " He said he did not know what might happen if a customer were to insist on the terms of the mailing. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has weighed in, saying it has referred the matter to investigators, to determine whether there were any regulatory violations.
I can already hear those buffet customers..."Waddya MEAN you're out of fresh shrimp?!"
The studies on tasimelteon were undertaken by researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, and Monash University in Australia. They conducted two trials with 450 volunteers whose sleep patterns had been disturbed by keeping them awake for five hours longer - usually the time difference between New York and London. In both studies, tasimelteon proved to have a positive regulating effrect. The drug could be an alternative to addictive sleep therapies such as benzodiazepines. Melatonin-like drugs only exert a modest sleep-promoting effect, by comparison. If approved, the drug could be on the market within three years.
In the meantime, experts say there are natural ways travelers can combat the effects of jet lag. Here are some to keep in mind before you travel:
>Avoid late meals and alcohol (they're killin' me already)
>Take cat-naps whenever possible (that's a can-do)
>Eat meals on a schedule appropriate for your destination, to prepare your body for time change (I eat ALL the darn time)
>Get a good night's sleep before traveling (Yeah, right)
>Go for daytime walks and get plenty of sunlight (huh?)
>A break/connecting flight on long-hauls can help, though most people want nonstops (I say just GET me there yesterday!)
>Noise-canceling headphones block out cabin noise, and help you sleep (I can vouch for that, plus they ROCK!)
There's a report on USAToday.com about tourism in the Dominican Republic. If you're not sure where that is, it's half of the large island just East of Cuba. Part of the island is Haiti, and the other half the Dominican Republic. Over the last few years, the beautiful beaches of the Dominican Republic (or D.R. as it's known) have made for a super-boom in construction of upscale resorts, most notably in the Punta Cana area. Americans have enjoyed the D.R., and it also brings a flock of Europeans as an easy entryway to The Caribbean. However, in the last year or so, tourism numbers are drastically off. The total number of visitors just between July and October of this year fell by 1.1 million people! That was a drop of 5.6%, but October and November were even worse at 10% dropoff. For people still wanting to travel on a reasonable budget, that spells OPPORTUNITY! There is availability at hotels, and they have promotional rates which can make this an affordable time to experience a luxury resort on the Southeast coast of the D.R. Check with us for rates, and we'll get you booked.
The Nevada Highway Patrol says a drunken driving suspect in Reno was gassed in more ways than one. A 40-year-old Reno woman was arrested early Tuesday after an ambulance crew saw her driving erratically on U.S. Highway 395. Patrol spokesman Chuck Allen said the crew tried to signal the woman after they spotted her green Subaru wagon crossing the center line about 4:30 a.m. but couldn't get her attention. Patrolman Allen said the crew eventually initiated a traffic stop and radioed for state troopers. Upon their arrival, the woman failed a sobriety test and was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence. Initially, it was not her driving that caught the Highway Patrol's attention. Although she was weaving, it was very slight and may not have caused enough of a ripple to draw attention. No, what caught their eye was the fact she was driving down the highway with a fuel nozzle sticking out of her gas tank, trailing approximately 6 feet of fuel hose. Authorities still have been unable to locate the affected gas station, but they are hoping the driver can give them more details when she sobers up.
Attention Casino Owners! You pay your Pit Bosses and Dealers quite well. The waitresses make fabulous tips. NOTE TO SELF: Please increase payroll allowance for proofreaders. That's what I said, proofreaders - particularly those in your Marketing Department. The Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course in Pennsylvania wanted to do something nice for the Holidays, for its top 1,000 customers. They wanted to send them free slot-machine credits. However, instead of the top 1,000, the promotion was accidentally sent to 55,000 people on their mailing list. If everyone claims the reward, the casino could be on the hook for a boatload of money. Hollywood Casino executives decided Monday to partially honor the offer, after frantically calling tens of thousands of customers over the weekend. The mistake was first reported by WGAL-TV, which said some customers had begun trying to take advantage of the offer that went into effect Monday. The reward program was for $100 in slots credits per week from Dec. 1 through Jan. 4, plus two free visits to the buffet at the casino in Grantville, PA. If all 55,000 customers were allowed to redeem $100 credits for five straight weeks, plus two $14 buffet visits, it would cost the casino more than $29 million dollars. In a bid to cut its loss, a casino spokesman said the casino is offering $100 in credits per customer and two buffet passes, if they are redeemed by Christmas. "Rather than say 'Sorry, it was an error,' we've said 'Sorry, let's try to come up with a reasonable redemption plan.' " He said he did not know what might happen if a customer were to insist on the terms of the mailing. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has weighed in, saying it has referred the matter to investigators, to determine whether there were any regulatory violations.
I can already hear those buffet customers..."Waddya MEAN you're out of fresh shrimp?!"
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
What's the Hubbub, Bub?
St. Louis has a new Transportation Center. Why is that important to you? It may not be, but in the grand scheme of city planning, it may be coming to a hometown near you sooner, rather than later. It employs something you really don't see much of in government planning these days. Common sense. St. Louis just opened its new $28 million dollar transportation "hub", Gateway Transportation Center, which consists of a place where you can catch Amtrak trains, local commuter light rail, city bus service and Greyhound. This project had been in the works for 20 years (now THAT sounds like government in action....or should I say inaction). Basically, it's a one-stop-shop for getting around on publicly available transport, for St. Louis and beyond. The new hub is one block south of Scottrade Center in downtown St. Louis, and features 24-hour services, security, and even a food court area. In the past, I've had customers from the Charlotte area want to take a cruise, but they couldn't afford to fly to Florida so they investigated Amtrak. Don't get me wrong, Charlotte's a nice city but when it comes to certain forms of transportation you hit the "you can't get there from here" syndrome. To get to Miami, you'd have to take a train to Washington DC, overnight, pick up another heading to Miami, and once you arrive you're still a long and expensive taxi ride to and from the ship. That's an example of how badly our interconnecting transportation services can be. But folks in St. Louis are waking up to a new day, and if it goes as well as intended, this could be a blueprint for your community down the road.
Winter has started blowing its icy breath around the country, which gives way to meanings other than "we're deep into the NFL season". A couple weeks ago I mentioned skiing in the powder out West. Particularly Utah and Colorado. But some folks think that's just too boring...they want more nightlife and entertainment options than are offered in smaller ski resorts (not too many show-biz personalities hanging out in Salt Lake City, to entertain you nightly). Well ladies and germs, I have the answer. Nevada. I mean California. I mean Nevadafornia. Don't be confused - such a place actually exists. It's one of the prettiest areas in the USA, right on the California/Nevada border, the cities of Reno and Lake Tahoe. People think of Lake Tahoe for fabulous clear water and Summer sports, but Winter is equally as active with buses running right up to the slopes from downtown. Ski awhile, then hit one of the many casinos, then catch a rising comedy star at Catch A Rising Star, or The Improv. As for Headliners, it may not quite be Vegas but it's still top shelf. Joan Rivers, Frank Caliendo, Wanda Sykes, Bob Newhart, Don Rickles and more lead the traditional comedy-style shows. Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, The Four Tops, and Little Anthony and the Imperials will take you back to 60's Motown. If you're more rock 'n roll like this here sailor, look for Foghat, Kiss, Styx, The Pretenders, Motley Crue and The Tubes. And that's just some of the acts set to appear between now and January! So there's plenty of action, plenty of great skiing and sightseeing options, and it might be the cure for those Wintertime blues. Call us today for pricing and availability.
Another thing winter brings is deer hunting season, but in Missouri you'd better bring your gun, some grenades and maybe a bazooka or two. On Nov. 19th, Randy Goodman, age 49, came across a large buck in the woods, and fired two well-placed shots with his .270-caliber rifle. The deer fell to the ground, and thinking the deer looked dead he approached him. Seconds later, the nine-point, 240-pound animal jumped up, knocked Goodman down and attacked him with his antlers in what the veteran hunter called "15 seconds of chaos." The deer then ran a short distance, fell down and died. Soon, Goodman started feeling dizzy and noticed his vest was bloody, so he drove to a hospital, where he received seven staples in his scalp and was treated for a slight concussion and bruises. Aretha Franklin sang R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Maybe Mr. Goodman needed a bit more of that, before the deer got his sweet R-E-V-E-N-G-E.
A Wisconsin radio station had to make an offer that couldn't be refused, in order to get 2 contestants to quit a game to win a new car. Tommy Kempfer, 26, of Sun Prairie, and Lisa Thompson, 40, of Westfield, had been living in a truck, hoping to outlast the other in an effort to win a new $30,000 vehicle from WMAD-FM in Madison. Some contestants dropped out after a few hours of confinement. However, after 55 days, the station became concerned that neither Mr. Kempfer or Ms. Thompson were going to budge. "We sensed these two were not going to back down," said John Flint, a co-host on the station's morning show. "There was no way we expected this to go on like it has. If it was not for the deal, it's possible they could have gone on until New Year's or longer." Last Tuesday, the station offered them a compromise: End the contest and receive $10,000 toward the purchase of a car, and receive a handful of small prizes, or continue indefinitely with the runner-up receiving nothing. Within 15 minutes, both agreed to the deal. Ms. Thompson called the contest a very good experience, but said she wouldn't do it again. There is no way to substantiate a rumored, newly-found romantic involvement between the two, though a scratch pad was found inside the vehicle afterward, with scribbled wedding vows that read:
"With this tire iron, I thee wed...."
Winter has started blowing its icy breath around the country, which gives way to meanings other than "we're deep into the NFL season". A couple weeks ago I mentioned skiing in the powder out West. Particularly Utah and Colorado. But some folks think that's just too boring...they want more nightlife and entertainment options than are offered in smaller ski resorts (not too many show-biz personalities hanging out in Salt Lake City, to entertain you nightly). Well ladies and germs, I have the answer. Nevada. I mean California. I mean Nevadafornia. Don't be confused - such a place actually exists. It's one of the prettiest areas in the USA, right on the California/Nevada border, the cities of Reno and Lake Tahoe. People think of Lake Tahoe for fabulous clear water and Summer sports, but Winter is equally as active with buses running right up to the slopes from downtown. Ski awhile, then hit one of the many casinos, then catch a rising comedy star at Catch A Rising Star, or The Improv. As for Headliners, it may not quite be Vegas but it's still top shelf. Joan Rivers, Frank Caliendo, Wanda Sykes, Bob Newhart, Don Rickles and more lead the traditional comedy-style shows. Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, The Four Tops, and Little Anthony and the Imperials will take you back to 60's Motown. If you're more rock 'n roll like this here sailor, look for Foghat, Kiss, Styx, The Pretenders, Motley Crue and The Tubes. And that's just some of the acts set to appear between now and January! So there's plenty of action, plenty of great skiing and sightseeing options, and it might be the cure for those Wintertime blues. Call us today for pricing and availability.
Another thing winter brings is deer hunting season, but in Missouri you'd better bring your gun, some grenades and maybe a bazooka or two. On Nov. 19th, Randy Goodman, age 49, came across a large buck in the woods, and fired two well-placed shots with his .270-caliber rifle. The deer fell to the ground, and thinking the deer looked dead he approached him. Seconds later, the nine-point, 240-pound animal jumped up, knocked Goodman down and attacked him with his antlers in what the veteran hunter called "15 seconds of chaos." The deer then ran a short distance, fell down and died. Soon, Goodman started feeling dizzy and noticed his vest was bloody, so he drove to a hospital, where he received seven staples in his scalp and was treated for a slight concussion and bruises. Aretha Franklin sang R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Maybe Mr. Goodman needed a bit more of that, before the deer got his sweet R-E-V-E-N-G-E.
A Wisconsin radio station had to make an offer that couldn't be refused, in order to get 2 contestants to quit a game to win a new car. Tommy Kempfer, 26, of Sun Prairie, and Lisa Thompson, 40, of Westfield, had been living in a truck, hoping to outlast the other in an effort to win a new $30,000 vehicle from WMAD-FM in Madison. Some contestants dropped out after a few hours of confinement. However, after 55 days, the station became concerned that neither Mr. Kempfer or Ms. Thompson were going to budge. "We sensed these two were not going to back down," said John Flint, a co-host on the station's morning show. "There was no way we expected this to go on like it has. If it was not for the deal, it's possible they could have gone on until New Year's or longer." Last Tuesday, the station offered them a compromise: End the contest and receive $10,000 toward the purchase of a car, and receive a handful of small prizes, or continue indefinitely with the runner-up receiving nothing. Within 15 minutes, both agreed to the deal. Ms. Thompson called the contest a very good experience, but said she wouldn't do it again. There is no way to substantiate a rumored, newly-found romantic involvement between the two, though a scratch pad was found inside the vehicle afterward, with scribbled wedding vows that read:
"With this tire iron, I thee wed...."
Monday, December 1, 2008
Well Excuuuuuuuse Me!
I'm back on the bridge, Sailors. This morning, I showed up at the Federal Courthouse and got myself prepared for jury duty. Turns out, it was a civil case involving a contract between a consulting firm and a software provider. By coincidence, I happen to be a shareholder in the software company that was involved, and the next thing I knew they had selected a jury of peers without my old carcass on the panel. Excused! Duty served, and I'm grateful because I had a lot of work piled up that I didn't want to leave for my shipmates to have to cover. The funny part for me was after getting out of the courthouse and coming in to work, I was walking across the parking lot when in between cars stepped a harbinger of bad news. At least, that's what legend says. There I was strolling up to the gangway, and a black cat jumped right out in front of my path, and looked me straight in the eye. I just smiled and said "Yer too late, little fella. They've already let me go!" And so it was that I now have time to share the rest of the day with you.
On the news front, everyone is aware of the tragedy in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) over the weekend. Today, the US State Department officially listed a warning for Americans, against traveling to India until further notice. Kind of goes without saying, but they said it and now I'm reporting it. Also in the news, the "Nautica" from Oceania Cruises was sailing in the Gulf of Aden earlier today, and came under attack by pirates, most likely from Somalia. The Captain noticed 2 small skiffs approaching, and immediately powered up to maximum speed and took evasive maneuvers. One of the small vessels made it within 300 yards, and Nautica took on approximately 8 rifle shots, before outrunning the pirates. I know cruise lines hate altering their itineraries, but right now I don't think anybody should be anywhere near Somalia without armed protection. Yes, they outran 'em today. And they might tomorrow. But these guys have become so brazen, if you give them enough opportunity to do damage, somebody will get lucky (or unlucky, when it comes to passengers), and you'll have a full-blown International incident unlike anything we've ever seen before. I think eventually the world community will get together and take some kind of decisive action...maybe setting up traps with armed vessels, to either take these guys down or blow them out of the water. Obviously the Somali government either can't or won't do anything about this. For the moment, my tug is going to stay about half a planet away from them, and the only pirate I'll see will be Johnny Depp on the big screen.
Well, the news from Black Friday weekend shocked all the experts. Bad economy, but somehow sales were up more than 7 percent over last year. Sounds good, doesn't it? Yeah, the geniuses on Wall Street felt so good about it they crashed 680 points off the Stock Market today. Is it just me, or don't you feel like there are some chumps up there just playing with our lives? And our livelihoods? It just about makes me wanna bump some heads together, I'll tell you. Good news breeds bad, bad news breeds good. Mates, I consider myself a not-completely-ignorant Cap'n, but when it comes to the way these eggs are treating us and our money, I flat out don't get it. You can't even vote 'em out, either. They're just in there rooting around to see how much trouble they can stick us in. When they hit the Pearly Gates, I hope there's a special heated room for them to reflect on for, oh, say, eternity....
You know what those guys remind me of? Merle Sorensen. Yep. Merle for sure. You don't know him? Well, Mr. Sorenson is from Quincy, Washington, and in October he had to be rescued from the Columbia River. He had nearly drowned after driving his Humvee off of a boat launch. He told rescuers that he was trying to clean his tires in the river, and wanted to see how far he could drive the vehicle into the water, before he was unable to back out. Guess what, Merle...you found out. That's about what those Wall Street dingbats are doing, seeing how far they can drive us in the river. Makes me wanna spit.
Here's a California classic. Facing a State budget crisis in July, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger fired 10,000 temporary and part-time workers, and ordered the 200,000 permanent employees to be paid the minimum wage of $6.55 an hour. That was to last until the legislature passed a crisis-solving budget. A bit extreme, maybe, but it got worse for the "Governator." One week later, State Controller John Chiang pointed out that state payroll records could not be changed to accommodate the cut, because they were written in the antiquated COBOL computer language. None of the full-time State computer wizards knew how to operate the system, to fix it so the government could continue operation. Who did know the system, you ask? The only people who knew the code were some of the part-time workers, who Gov. Schwarzenegger had just fired. Yikes (I mean "I'll Be Back").
OK, one last note from your Gub'mint in action. This time it's the United States Patent Office, who recently approved a product design that had been submitted back in 2007. Apparently a Plainfield, Illinois company has patented a bra, whose cups could function as an air filtration system, in case of chemical attack. And someone felt that idea warranted an official government sanction. Although I'm tempted to give them an F, I'll give those cups a D.
On the news front, everyone is aware of the tragedy in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) over the weekend. Today, the US State Department officially listed a warning for Americans, against traveling to India until further notice. Kind of goes without saying, but they said it and now I'm reporting it. Also in the news, the "Nautica" from Oceania Cruises was sailing in the Gulf of Aden earlier today, and came under attack by pirates, most likely from Somalia. The Captain noticed 2 small skiffs approaching, and immediately powered up to maximum speed and took evasive maneuvers. One of the small vessels made it within 300 yards, and Nautica took on approximately 8 rifle shots, before outrunning the pirates. I know cruise lines hate altering their itineraries, but right now I don't think anybody should be anywhere near Somalia without armed protection. Yes, they outran 'em today. And they might tomorrow. But these guys have become so brazen, if you give them enough opportunity to do damage, somebody will get lucky (or unlucky, when it comes to passengers), and you'll have a full-blown International incident unlike anything we've ever seen before. I think eventually the world community will get together and take some kind of decisive action...maybe setting up traps with armed vessels, to either take these guys down or blow them out of the water. Obviously the Somali government either can't or won't do anything about this. For the moment, my tug is going to stay about half a planet away from them, and the only pirate I'll see will be Johnny Depp on the big screen.
Well, the news from Black Friday weekend shocked all the experts. Bad economy, but somehow sales were up more than 7 percent over last year. Sounds good, doesn't it? Yeah, the geniuses on Wall Street felt so good about it they crashed 680 points off the Stock Market today. Is it just me, or don't you feel like there are some chumps up there just playing with our lives? And our livelihoods? It just about makes me wanna bump some heads together, I'll tell you. Good news breeds bad, bad news breeds good. Mates, I consider myself a not-completely-ignorant Cap'n, but when it comes to the way these eggs are treating us and our money, I flat out don't get it. You can't even vote 'em out, either. They're just in there rooting around to see how much trouble they can stick us in. When they hit the Pearly Gates, I hope there's a special heated room for them to reflect on for, oh, say, eternity....
You know what those guys remind me of? Merle Sorensen. Yep. Merle for sure. You don't know him? Well, Mr. Sorenson is from Quincy, Washington, and in October he had to be rescued from the Columbia River. He had nearly drowned after driving his Humvee off of a boat launch. He told rescuers that he was trying to clean his tires in the river, and wanted to see how far he could drive the vehicle into the water, before he was unable to back out. Guess what, Merle...you found out. That's about what those Wall Street dingbats are doing, seeing how far they can drive us in the river. Makes me wanna spit.
Here's a California classic. Facing a State budget crisis in July, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger fired 10,000 temporary and part-time workers, and ordered the 200,000 permanent employees to be paid the minimum wage of $6.55 an hour. That was to last until the legislature passed a crisis-solving budget. A bit extreme, maybe, but it got worse for the "Governator." One week later, State Controller John Chiang pointed out that state payroll records could not be changed to accommodate the cut, because they were written in the antiquated COBOL computer language. None of the full-time State computer wizards knew how to operate the system, to fix it so the government could continue operation. Who did know the system, you ask? The only people who knew the code were some of the part-time workers, who Gov. Schwarzenegger had just fired. Yikes (I mean "I'll Be Back").
OK, one last note from your Gub'mint in action. This time it's the United States Patent Office, who recently approved a product design that had been submitted back in 2007. Apparently a Plainfield, Illinois company has patented a bra, whose cups could function as an air filtration system, in case of chemical attack. And someone felt that idea warranted an official government sanction. Although I'm tempted to give them an F, I'll give those cups a D.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Turkey Serving?
Yes, that would be me. I received a Federal Jury Summons a couple of weeks ago, which was to run for a period of 3 weeks. Over the first 2 weeks, I called in whenever I was instructed to do so, and was informed I'd have to call back at a later time. Over and over. I almost got the notion in my head that I was going to be exempted somehow. Riiiiiiiight. This evening when I called in as directed, I was told to be at the Courthouse at 8:00am tomorrow morning. Because of that, I've tied my trawler to the pier and locked her down. The bridge will be vacant until I'm back holding the wheel my own self.
Hopefully this will be a 1-day event, but it's a civic service and far be it from me to try to wiggle out of something, particularly since everybody's supposed to take a turn doing it. There is a likelihood I won't be blogging while I'm serving on Jury Duty, so just go on about yer lives and keep checking back here daily, until you see some kind of new heading. I promise I'll include all the latest whatever-it-is-at-the-moment for the betterment of your well-being, especially as it relates to travel or a bit of comedy to lighten the load. Later, Mates.
Hopefully this will be a 1-day event, but it's a civic service and far be it from me to try to wiggle out of something, particularly since everybody's supposed to take a turn doing it. There is a likelihood I won't be blogging while I'm serving on Jury Duty, so just go on about yer lives and keep checking back here daily, until you see some kind of new heading. I promise I'll include all the latest whatever-it-is-at-the-moment for the betterment of your well-being, especially as it relates to travel or a bit of comedy to lighten the load. Later, Mates.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Aloha Also Means Goodbye
A short while ago, gas was over $4 per gallon, and airlines were raising rates a dozen times a day. For many folks, that only meant fewer trips to Grandma's house, and maybe we'll take the train or a bus instead of fly or drive. However, we have a STATE that is completely surrounded by water, nearly 2400 miles from the Mainland USA. No Amtrak or Greyhound service available, sorry. Tourism, the life-blood of Hawaii, is in the midst of a serious landslide. Nearly 14% fewer visitors arrived in October 2008 than the same month a year ago, making it the 8th straight monthly decline and 5th consecutive double-digit drop in tourism. That's huge, and although everyone is talking about Detroit and Michigan's economy with the auto industry, Hawaii is being hammered in a different manner. There are still people coming to the islands, but they are staying at more moderate properties and also shortening their stays by about 12% as well. Industry insiders expect this trend to continue, at least in the short term due to the economy, even if airfares come back down to earth with lower fuel costs.
Having said all that, Hawaii is not blameless here. They know they are a one-of-a-kind destination, and have loaded visitor tax on top of visitor tax. They put in place protectionist policies such as no casino gambling, which along with the infamous "Jones Act" has kept cruise ships from being a successful venture there. Just 3 years ago, Norwegian Cruise Line was running 3 ships from the islands, with dreams of a lucrative permanent market. However, you can only charge so much for drinks and shore trips, and the lack of casino revenue forced them to remove 1 ship, then a 2nd ship, leaving only the Pride Of America remaining. Even that has been a difficult sell, though compared to a hotel-based Hawaii vacation where you do not have meals included, it's still an absolute BARGAIN. Maybe when the Dow was at 13,000, the local officials were able to strap visitors with hefty fees and service charges, and get away with a little moderate gouging. Guess what, guys. Aloha means hello, and it also means buh-bye. It may be time to re-think a little about "want" versus "need" these days, and very few people in the lower 48 "need" to come to Hawaii. A little love goes a long way, so maybe you can freshen your approach and not make people feel they're being taken advantage of at every turn. At this point, it can't hurt!
The one bright spot for Hawaii has been Canada, where more people have visited this year, while the Canadian Dollar enjoyed a better margin against US currency than in a very long time. That is changing rapidly, though. Earlier this year, the Canadian Dollar actually passed the US Dollar in value, which hasn't happened in decades. Reality check! As of this morning, the Canadian Dollar is back below .81cents against US, meaning fewer Canadians will be visiting Hawaii moving forward. So once again, I encourage Hawaiian Tourism officials to re-think some of their strategies, before they drive more businesses under in a stark economy. Anyone still interested in visiting the islands, check with us for discount rates on Pride Of America. As I mentioned, your meals and nightly entertainment are included, AND you get to sample Oahu, Maui, the Big Island of Hawaii (2 stops) and the lush beauty of Kauai. Plus the 7-day itinerary includes two overnight stays, so it's a fabulous way to check out the various islands, while holding down costs!
I mentioned the fall of the Canadian Dollar over the last ten months, but for Americans that means one thing: NOW is the time to book a vacation trip to Canada! You don't have to be an outdoorsman or lumberjack. Myth! My favorite city in the World is Toronto, and there is a great article on USAToday.com about what to see and do "on the cheap." Here's a link:
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2008-11-25-toronto-on-a-budget_N.htm
Forget the part about staying in a youth hostel, but it's an excellent article overall! You can also visit the likes of the Hockey Hall Of Fame, Second City Comedy Club, or Wayne Gretzky's Restaurant & Bar. Toronto's theater district rivals the best in the world. And sports of all kinds, professional or otherwise. There's amazing shopping at Eaton Center. Friendly people. World-class cuisine from fine dining to the finest "street hot dogs" on the planet. Toronto has it all, and you're only 2 hours away from Niagara Falls, and only 3-4 hours away from wilderness areas of amazing beauty. Right on Lake Ontario, too!
The Associated Press reports puzzled Japanese zookeepers have finally cleared up a mystery, over a lack of chemistry between two polar bears at a Japanese zoo. Tsuyoshi, a four-year-old male polar bear, and his 11-year-old female partner, Kurumi, have been living together since June at the Kushiro Municipal Zoo in Hokkaido, Japan. But much to the frustration of breeders and zookeepers, the bear couple showed no signs of "special chemistry", the kind polar bears (and some of us humans) have when mating. Tsuyoshi has never once tried to perform with Kurumi, even during a normal mating period. Observing his behavior almost continuously, zookeepers became suspicious, and sent Tsuyoshi for fertility testing. He was put under anesthesia earlier this month, where it was discovered he was a she! Upon learning this, Tsuyoshi and Kurumi have decided to adopt, and have asked for an immediate transfer to the San Francisco zoo....
Two men are accused of outfitting their car with red and blue flashing lights, then using it to make fake traffic stops according to police in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. An anonymous tip led Monroe County sheriff's detectives to 2 men, who on Monday faced charges of being party to false imprisonment, impersonating an officer and disorderly conduct. 20-year-old Cody Hobson and 21-year-old Ronald Lyons, both of Sparta, Wisconsin are alleged to have stopped two motorists on Nov. 18, but the men didn't make contact with either driver after pulling them over. A 3rd stop was attempted, but aborted without incident, when the driver hesitated to pull over . During one of the stops, 1 of the 2 men arrested turned to the other and said, "No matter how many times we do this, it never gets old!" How would authorities know about that exact conversation? Because these 2 brain surgeons filmed the entire thing from inside their car, and posted the video on YouTube. The anonymous tipster instructed the police to view the video, which incriminated Hobson and Lyons. The pair are free on $5,000 bond, pending an upcoming trial. Man, I'd like to be on that jury.
OH YEAH, Sailors. I almost forgot to tell you something very important...
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
The Cap'n
Having said all that, Hawaii is not blameless here. They know they are a one-of-a-kind destination, and have loaded visitor tax on top of visitor tax. They put in place protectionist policies such as no casino gambling, which along with the infamous "Jones Act" has kept cruise ships from being a successful venture there. Just 3 years ago, Norwegian Cruise Line was running 3 ships from the islands, with dreams of a lucrative permanent market. However, you can only charge so much for drinks and shore trips, and the lack of casino revenue forced them to remove 1 ship, then a 2nd ship, leaving only the Pride Of America remaining. Even that has been a difficult sell, though compared to a hotel-based Hawaii vacation where you do not have meals included, it's still an absolute BARGAIN. Maybe when the Dow was at 13,000, the local officials were able to strap visitors with hefty fees and service charges, and get away with a little moderate gouging. Guess what, guys. Aloha means hello, and it also means buh-bye. It may be time to re-think a little about "want" versus "need" these days, and very few people in the lower 48 "need" to come to Hawaii. A little love goes a long way, so maybe you can freshen your approach and not make people feel they're being taken advantage of at every turn. At this point, it can't hurt!
The one bright spot for Hawaii has been Canada, where more people have visited this year, while the Canadian Dollar enjoyed a better margin against US currency than in a very long time. That is changing rapidly, though. Earlier this year, the Canadian Dollar actually passed the US Dollar in value, which hasn't happened in decades. Reality check! As of this morning, the Canadian Dollar is back below .81cents against US, meaning fewer Canadians will be visiting Hawaii moving forward. So once again, I encourage Hawaiian Tourism officials to re-think some of their strategies, before they drive more businesses under in a stark economy. Anyone still interested in visiting the islands, check with us for discount rates on Pride Of America. As I mentioned, your meals and nightly entertainment are included, AND you get to sample Oahu, Maui, the Big Island of Hawaii (2 stops) and the lush beauty of Kauai. Plus the 7-day itinerary includes two overnight stays, so it's a fabulous way to check out the various islands, while holding down costs!
I mentioned the fall of the Canadian Dollar over the last ten months, but for Americans that means one thing: NOW is the time to book a vacation trip to Canada! You don't have to be an outdoorsman or lumberjack. Myth! My favorite city in the World is Toronto, and there is a great article on USAToday.com about what to see and do "on the cheap." Here's a link:
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2008-11-25-toronto-on-a-budget_N.htm
Forget the part about staying in a youth hostel, but it's an excellent article overall! You can also visit the likes of the Hockey Hall Of Fame, Second City Comedy Club, or Wayne Gretzky's Restaurant & Bar. Toronto's theater district rivals the best in the world. And sports of all kinds, professional or otherwise. There's amazing shopping at Eaton Center. Friendly people. World-class cuisine from fine dining to the finest "street hot dogs" on the planet. Toronto has it all, and you're only 2 hours away from Niagara Falls, and only 3-4 hours away from wilderness areas of amazing beauty. Right on Lake Ontario, too!
The Associated Press reports puzzled Japanese zookeepers have finally cleared up a mystery, over a lack of chemistry between two polar bears at a Japanese zoo. Tsuyoshi, a four-year-old male polar bear, and his 11-year-old female partner, Kurumi, have been living together since June at the Kushiro Municipal Zoo in Hokkaido, Japan. But much to the frustration of breeders and zookeepers, the bear couple showed no signs of "special chemistry", the kind polar bears (and some of us humans) have when mating. Tsuyoshi has never once tried to perform with Kurumi, even during a normal mating period. Observing his behavior almost continuously, zookeepers became suspicious, and sent Tsuyoshi for fertility testing. He was put under anesthesia earlier this month, where it was discovered he was a she! Upon learning this, Tsuyoshi and Kurumi have decided to adopt, and have asked for an immediate transfer to the San Francisco zoo....
Two men are accused of outfitting their car with red and blue flashing lights, then using it to make fake traffic stops according to police in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. An anonymous tip led Monroe County sheriff's detectives to 2 men, who on Monday faced charges of being party to false imprisonment, impersonating an officer and disorderly conduct. 20-year-old Cody Hobson and 21-year-old Ronald Lyons, both of Sparta, Wisconsin are alleged to have stopped two motorists on Nov. 18, but the men didn't make contact with either driver after pulling them over. A 3rd stop was attempted, but aborted without incident, when the driver hesitated to pull over . During one of the stops, 1 of the 2 men arrested turned to the other and said, "No matter how many times we do this, it never gets old!" How would authorities know about that exact conversation? Because these 2 brain surgeons filmed the entire thing from inside their car, and posted the video on YouTube. The anonymous tipster instructed the police to view the video, which incriminated Hobson and Lyons. The pair are free on $5,000 bond, pending an upcoming trial. Man, I'd like to be on that jury.
OH YEAH, Sailors. I almost forgot to tell you something very important...
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
The Cap'n
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
2008 New Ship of the Year
Over the last week or so, I've noted a few comments about Celebrity's new "Solstice", and the votes of industry critics are now in. Even though the new Carnival Splendour and Ruby Princess had their moments in the sun, Celebrity Solstice is the hands-down and near-unanimous victor of this year's best newbie award. At a cost of $750 million dollars, the Solstice will price higher than the competition as well, so it'll be interesting to see in the current economy how that translates. But all indications are that people will pay more for better. Historically, they always have. There are reasons why finer hotels such as the Ritz-Carltons of the world remain full and in high-demand. Congratulations to Celebrity on a lot of ground-breaking ideas, and for anyone who is able to travel on short notice, there are still some bargain rates on Solstice for last-minute travel. Once word gets out completely, and in light of this award, many of the "deal" prices will disappear.
Didja ever hear about a good relationship gone bad? How about a bad relationship gone worse?! That's apparently the case with the TSA's airport screeners and the traveling public. In a report on USAToday, the dysfunction came pouring out when groups of passengers and screeners met for the first time with a TSA consultant. Passengers complained that screeners are "poorly skilled, poorly paid and mistake-prone." Screeners bristled at "daily instances of lack of respect and abuse." A 73-page report by the Manhattan company provides rare insight into the perception of a high-profile Federal agency, and illustrates how public opinion shapes policy. For example, after hearing business travelers and families say they didn't like sharing security checkpoints, the TSA began guiding them into separate lanes at nearly 50 airports. Last week, TSA rolled out a series of videos accessible through travel websites that explain why passengers have to take off their shoes, take out their liquids and show IDs at checkpoints. YES, apparently we need videos to explain all this to us (good heavens). Watching the news every night of our lives isn't nearly enough!
The research approach is the brainchild of Ellen Howe, the TSA's chief spokeswoman and head of Communications and Public Affairs. The company she hired held five 3½-hour sessions with 16 to 18 passengers in New York City, Minneapolis and Washington, D.C. Two three-hour sessions were held with 12 to 15 screeners at Chicago O'Hare and New York's John F. Kennedy airports. Passengers were told only that they would be asked about travel. "Some of it was hard to hear," Howe said, "and they weren't holding back, either." The report points out that passengers want to respect screeners, so they can have confidence and feel they really are safe. The consulting firm had suggestions for screeners, such as no slouching, pristine uniforms, making eye contact and (get this) smile a little. They also suggested checkpoint signs should be "less dense", although I often think it's the passengers who are a few carrots short of a bunch, which you just can't really blame on the signs, now can you? A.J. Castilla, a screener and union leader at Boston's Logan International Airport, said the TSA needs to do a better job marketing the seriousness and deadliness of the job. He sees passengers assault screeners and heave shoes across a checkpoint. European passengers are far more respectful, Castilla said, because their countries have seen more terrorist acts, such as the attempted car bombing of the airport in Glasgow, Scotland.
So here's the deal, friends and neighbors. Whenever you come on board my vessel, I'm gonna be standing there by the gangway, and I'm all smiles and says "Welcome, Land-lubber." That's about the time I expect you to smile back and say "Thanks, Cap'n!" 'Cause if'n you don't, or you make some kind of snide remark about how my ship needs a fresh coat of paint or why does that Cap'n guy have grease on his shoes, you'd better be prepared for an impromptu bath, overboard as quick as she goes. Respect me, and I'll respect you, and vicey versey. If it works on my tug, it ought to work at the airport just about the same way. C'mon people now, smile on your brother everybody get together, try to love one another right now...
In 2003, retired Colorado businessman John Haines, visited the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, and was disturbed by the number of cracks and the condition of the monument overall. He decided to take matters into his own hands, and wanted to set things right for this historic and reverent gravesite. Mr. Haines went on a 1-man crusade, and after going to great lengths of personal research and expense, he was able to find and purchase a huge slab of the identical high-grade white marble of which the Tomb is constructed. As a service to the United States as a concerned citizen, he offered his astounding find free of charge and including shipping, to the U.S. Army, whom he had read had been considering reconstruction of the Tomb, since 1987. It was the answer to everything the Army needed, absolutely without cost to the American taxpayer. Oops. That's a problem. Apparently Mr. Haines thought of the idea, not Army brass. So now, in the ensuing five years according to a story in the Denver Post, the Army continues to ignore Mr. Haines' generosity. They simply won't take his gift, or even contact him about it. Periodically, however, they discuss opening up the proposed reconstruction project to competitive bidding! This kind of thing gripes me no end, and we can only hope for better under the next Administration. I only wish the newspaper would have named names on who is turning down a free donation. It would be nice to see who among the Army's top dogs needs to be demoted, or have their backsides booted for ignorance.
Here's your daily dose of KARMA! The Dayton (Ohio) Daily News tells a story about local police, who were trying to arrest a 31-yr old man on dog-fighting charges. Dayton Police Lt. Patrick Welsh said his department received a tip, and when the suspect was confronted, he turned-tail and ran off into the night. Luckily, the anonymous tip had been answered by a K-9 Unit, and the suspect was brought to the ground by a furry, 4-legged officer. He was treated for dog bites to his wrist and ankles, and taken directly to jail. RUFF justice, Mates!
Didja ever hear about a good relationship gone bad? How about a bad relationship gone worse?! That's apparently the case with the TSA's airport screeners and the traveling public. In a report on USAToday, the dysfunction came pouring out when groups of passengers and screeners met for the first time with a TSA consultant. Passengers complained that screeners are "poorly skilled, poorly paid and mistake-prone." Screeners bristled at "daily instances of lack of respect and abuse." A 73-page report by the Manhattan company provides rare insight into the perception of a high-profile Federal agency, and illustrates how public opinion shapes policy. For example, after hearing business travelers and families say they didn't like sharing security checkpoints, the TSA began guiding them into separate lanes at nearly 50 airports. Last week, TSA rolled out a series of videos accessible through travel websites that explain why passengers have to take off their shoes, take out their liquids and show IDs at checkpoints. YES, apparently we need videos to explain all this to us (good heavens). Watching the news every night of our lives isn't nearly enough!
The research approach is the brainchild of Ellen Howe, the TSA's chief spokeswoman and head of Communications and Public Affairs. The company she hired held five 3½-hour sessions with 16 to 18 passengers in New York City, Minneapolis and Washington, D.C. Two three-hour sessions were held with 12 to 15 screeners at Chicago O'Hare and New York's John F. Kennedy airports. Passengers were told only that they would be asked about travel. "Some of it was hard to hear," Howe said, "and they weren't holding back, either." The report points out that passengers want to respect screeners, so they can have confidence and feel they really are safe. The consulting firm had suggestions for screeners, such as no slouching, pristine uniforms, making eye contact and (get this) smile a little. They also suggested checkpoint signs should be "less dense", although I often think it's the passengers who are a few carrots short of a bunch, which you just can't really blame on the signs, now can you? A.J. Castilla, a screener and union leader at Boston's Logan International Airport, said the TSA needs to do a better job marketing the seriousness and deadliness of the job. He sees passengers assault screeners and heave shoes across a checkpoint. European passengers are far more respectful, Castilla said, because their countries have seen more terrorist acts, such as the attempted car bombing of the airport in Glasgow, Scotland.
So here's the deal, friends and neighbors. Whenever you come on board my vessel, I'm gonna be standing there by the gangway, and I'm all smiles and says "Welcome, Land-lubber." That's about the time I expect you to smile back and say "Thanks, Cap'n!" 'Cause if'n you don't, or you make some kind of snide remark about how my ship needs a fresh coat of paint or why does that Cap'n guy have grease on his shoes, you'd better be prepared for an impromptu bath, overboard as quick as she goes. Respect me, and I'll respect you, and vicey versey. If it works on my tug, it ought to work at the airport just about the same way. C'mon people now, smile on your brother everybody get together, try to love one another right now...
In 2003, retired Colorado businessman John Haines, visited the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, and was disturbed by the number of cracks and the condition of the monument overall. He decided to take matters into his own hands, and wanted to set things right for this historic and reverent gravesite. Mr. Haines went on a 1-man crusade, and after going to great lengths of personal research and expense, he was able to find and purchase a huge slab of the identical high-grade white marble of which the Tomb is constructed. As a service to the United States as a concerned citizen, he offered his astounding find free of charge and including shipping, to the U.S. Army, whom he had read had been considering reconstruction of the Tomb, since 1987. It was the answer to everything the Army needed, absolutely without cost to the American taxpayer. Oops. That's a problem. Apparently Mr. Haines thought of the idea, not Army brass. So now, in the ensuing five years according to a story in the Denver Post, the Army continues to ignore Mr. Haines' generosity. They simply won't take his gift, or even contact him about it. Periodically, however, they discuss opening up the proposed reconstruction project to competitive bidding! This kind of thing gripes me no end, and we can only hope for better under the next Administration. I only wish the newspaper would have named names on who is turning down a free donation. It would be nice to see who among the Army's top dogs needs to be demoted, or have their backsides booted for ignorance.
Here's your daily dose of KARMA! The Dayton (Ohio) Daily News tells a story about local police, who were trying to arrest a 31-yr old man on dog-fighting charges. Dayton Police Lt. Patrick Welsh said his department received a tip, and when the suspect was confronted, he turned-tail and ran off into the night. Luckily, the anonymous tip had been answered by a K-9 Unit, and the suspect was brought to the ground by a furry, 4-legged officer. He was treated for dog bites to his wrist and ankles, and taken directly to jail. RUFF justice, Mates!
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