In case you think The Cap'n has lost his mind, the answer is no. At least not completely. But I always get excited about the night of The Grammy Awards. Not for the music. Good heavens no, there hasn't been anything resembling good music for at least a decade. The Grammys is always chock-full of people you've never heard of, or people you've heard of but detest, and a few of whoever-is-hot-that-year celebrities thrown in, to drum up some semblance of respect for wasting a night of network television. The performances are nearly always forgettable, usually under some ill-conceived dance routine or stage setting that is an atrocious match for the song. So why do I look forward to The Grammys? Because it means another horrible year of music is finally over, and I have hopes that maybe - just maybe THIS will be the year that brings us back to musical sense as a people. Yes, I'm an eternal optimist (which is similar to being an eternal optometrist, but without the extra schooling and having to stare into people's eyes all day). You're probably thinking I'm just old and set in my ways when it comes to music. Well, that's possible. I'm certainly old, but I'm always up for new things and welcoming new artists, as long as it's truly music. Having been a music major back in college, I still consider harmony and melody as necessities. Even Metal can have harmony and melody, so I'm not locked in to Pop, Easy Listening, Country or Top 40. I'm a fan of talent. Not just vocals, but instrumental too. The entire generation who is growing up on various forms of "spoken music" have no idea what they're missing. They're getting bad poetry to a beat box. It'll be interesting to see if these people go to their 20th or 30th reunion and still want to hear the junk they're posing to now. Only time will tell.
I had to laugh today at an article I read earlier, where a passenger complained about some jewelry she bought on a cruise ship, not living up to her expectations. She said she got home and within a couple of months, the gold started turning green. Seems this person took home one of the great tourist traps you'll find on vacation, "Gold By The Inch." Does that sound like high-quality to anyone out there? That would be like telling someone to reach in to a container, and pull out a fistful of diamonds for X amount of dollars. It's strictly the sale of "bling" for bling's sake, at the lowest common denominator you can legally call gold or diamonds. Gold has so many variations on purity, buying inches at a time can't be a reliable quality source, regardless of what the salesperson tells you. It can be a pretty bargain if you only want something that shines, but to look at it as anything more than costume jewelry is a wrong assumption. Granted it shouldn't turn color, and the cruise line DID stand behind it and give her a refund. But if you want a beautiful gold necklace, don't look for something that's too good to be true. That's where the saying came from! Think about where you're standing....a retail gift shop on a cruise ship. It's true they have some nice jewelry pieces on board, because they have to compete with the duty-free shops in the various ports. But 99 times out of 100, buying by-the-inch is a sucker bet. You're never getting Cartier at Big Lots.
Griddle Me This, Batman!
Seems New York City has had some olfactory issues of late. No, you need to read closer. I didn't say they're having problems with 'ol factories. This issue is strictly about smell, and a sweet breakfast-like smell at that. MAPLE this will help you understand: At odd times since 2005, New Yorkers have noticed the unmistakable smell of maple syrup, wafting through the streets of The City. As quickly as they would arise, they would dissipate and be gone. Inexplicable! But after nearly 4 years, Mayor Bloomberg and City investigators have tracked down the source of the scent that has puzzled its residents. No offense, New Jersey, but you stink! The harmless, but long-confounding smell which has drifted through areas of the city at least nine times over the last 4 years, was finally traced to a facility across the Hudson River that processes seeds for use in artificial flavorings. Mayor Bloomberg said that a team of odor investigators, environmental protection workers, health department and emergency management workers "put our noses to the ground" to identify the culprit after another whiff in early January. The investigation involved mapping the time and place of all the odor complaints to the city's 311 hot line, data that were then compared with wind and atmospheric conditions. Those were checked against air sampling tests during the periods that New Yorkers reported smelling the odor. Bloomberg said the odor has been detected by New Yorkers only a small number of times because the conditions apparently had to be quite specific."You have to have a day with winds at the right speed, going in the right direction, and high humidity, but no rain," he said. Officials found that the highest concentration of calls often came from the Upper West Side of Manhattan, and that the odor reports tended to come on days when wind speed was fast enough to carry odors, but slow enough that they were not immediately dispersed. The probe found that one facility in Hudson County was processing fenugreek seeds on the evening of Jan. 29, when multiple odor complaints came in. Fenugreek is a common ingredient in curry powders, and its extract is also used in artificial vanilla, caramel, butterscotch and maple flavorings. New Jersey officials say the facility, operated by a company called Frutarom, does not appear to be violating any rules or regulations. I'm sure New Yorkers are glad to hear that the hundreds of thousands of their tax dollars needed for such a task force, have finally borne fruit. Or a fruity smell anyway.
Starting a family might be a little easier than you thought, with just a single trip to Ripley's Believe It or Not museum in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The museum on Thursday opens a month-long display of fertility statues. The 5-foot tall wooden statues were acquired on the Ivory Coast of West Africa in 1993. The company says they were then placed in its corporate headquarters in Orlando, Fla., and within a few months, 13 women became pregnant. According to the company, more than 2,000 women have reported becoming pregnant after touching the statues. They will be on display at Ripley's through the first of March. The company says couples wanting to have a baby can touch the statues for free during business hours.
Sorry, I'll stick with the old-fashioned method thank you very much...
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
Let's Get Stimulated!
Prez Obama is finding some rough sledding, getting the 30- and 40-year career Washingtonians to get on board his economic stimulus package. Imagine that. The Good-'Ol-Boy Network fighting change. Regardless how loud the American people SCREAMED FROM THE MOUNTAINTOP that they were sick of the status quo, some statuses will always remain quo. Until they are booted from office. Sad, sad, sad. Anyway, I wanted to see Miriam Webster's take on stimulus:
Stimulus: something that rouses or incites to activity: a) incentive b) a stimulant c) an agent that directly influences the activity of a living organism or one of its parts, such as by exciting a sensory organ or evoking muscular contraction or glandular secretion. Now THAT sounds like something the Good-'Ol-Boys could get behind! The reality of America's future hasn't seemed to sink in to these talking heads, though. They're comfortable with the reality of politics, trying in the first 30 days to teach the voting public how wrong they were to disagree with their way of thinking. Again, it's sad. I'm rooting and cheering out loud for the Prez, and I hope he takes names and kicks some behind along the way!
Recent polls show that people are still cruising (rightfully so), but they are dramatically cutting back on some of the main onboard revenue producers. Casino revenues are in the ditch. Spa treatments and beauty salon have been halved. Beverage consumption is down almost 10%. Shore excursions, while still popular, have been downplayed as well, with more and more people researching the islands before they get there, then doing their own thing. It's true there are outside companies who can provide shore trips, sometimes for less money. But you don't know exactly what you're getting in many cases, and there are pitfalls. If there is an incident with one of the ship's tours, you have recourse as a paying passenger, and the cruise line stands behind their product. If you go elsewhere and there's a problem, have a nice time trying to work that out between you and Party X. Also, if you're on a ship tour and your bus breaks down an hour away from the pier, they know it. You're on a computer manifest, and they do a headcount before departing, and will hold the ship as needed until their tours return. Same scenario, if you did it on your own? Oh my! Best of luck getting a flight to the next island (often by flying at your own expense back to the USA to get a connection). Also, cruise line shore trips have a small amount built in for insurance, to cover them (and you) in case of a catastrophic accident or incident. So my suggestion is to gamble less if times are tight, cut back on grooming and spa services if you will, and (*gulp*) even cut back on alcohol if you must - but be wary of going too far out on a limb with private excursions. Nothing ruins a vacation faster than standing on the pier, watching your ship sail off, knowing she's not turning around. "Buh-bye!"
The Westminster Dog Show has been in the news. Some countries don't have anything quite like it, but they have other venues. Take for example Saudi Arabia. This oil-rich country is host to several camel beauty pageants each year. 2008 was the country's first goat beauty pageant, held in Riyadh, highlighted by the distinctive Najdi breed, featuring high nose bridges and silky, shaggy hair. In fact, most of the goats in the competition had the same father, Burgan, whose progeny typically fetch the equivalent of $25,000 and up. Prize-winning show camels can bring 10 times that amount, for the greater status they convey to their owners. But Saudis still enjoyed the first-of-its-kind goat beauty contest. Burgan himself did not appear, because his owner feared that a jealous competitor would have an "evil eye" cast upon him. I wonder if that's what happened to the Lassie-look-alike collie at Westminster last year?
Even though casino revenues are down world-wide, there is a newsworthy attempt to construct one in California that's created a stir. Numerous federal lawsuits tried to block it, but by the end of last month, a federal judge had dismissed the last pending lawsuit standing in the way of the new Indian casino in Amador County. Amador is where the Federally-recognized
Me-Wuk Tribe, of Buena Vista Rancheria, has its 67-acre reservation. A representative of the Tribe had filed an application to build a new Indian casino, and locals tried unsuccessfully to block it. Why did residents of the area object to the Me-Wuk Tribe's casino? Possibly because the Me-Wuk consists only of Rhonda Morningstar-Pope and her 5 kids. By coincidence, none of them lives on Tribal land. I'm not sure what constitutes a Tribe legally, but that sounds more like a Posse or Scout Troop to me. Federal judges are working on something like this, while the world around us crumbles. Somehow our priorities have run over the edge of a cliff...
"Living in China: So easy, a cave man can do it." That will probably never be a National slogan in the Great Land of Asia, but the idea itself definitely has a following. A large number of Chinese have their residences in caves, and often it's not a bad deal, according to a McClatchy Newspapers dispatch from Miaogou Village. In addition to advantages (such as no mortgage), some caves have been in the family for generations, and have electrical wiring, plumbing and cable TV. Some are even part of communities of connected caves. Cavaminiums! Researchers said that earthen insulation keeps the inside temperature from dropping below about 55 degrees Fahrenheit, even in the dead of winter. Like me, you're probably wondering how many people actually live like this. Because all things are bigger in China when it comes to numbers, my initial impression from the story would be they're talking about 30-thousand, maybe 40-thousand people. Not so much. According to the researchers, an estimated 20-million people in China could do Geico commercials from their caves! That's 20,000,000 as in 20 followed by 6 zeroes. And you thought you had it rough getting cable installed, outside the city limits.
Stimulus: something that rouses or incites to activity: a) incentive b) a stimulant c) an agent that directly influences the activity of a living organism or one of its parts, such as by exciting a sensory organ or evoking muscular contraction or glandular secretion. Now THAT sounds like something the Good-'Ol-Boys could get behind! The reality of America's future hasn't seemed to sink in to these talking heads, though. They're comfortable with the reality of politics, trying in the first 30 days to teach the voting public how wrong they were to disagree with their way of thinking. Again, it's sad. I'm rooting and cheering out loud for the Prez, and I hope he takes names and kicks some behind along the way!
Recent polls show that people are still cruising (rightfully so), but they are dramatically cutting back on some of the main onboard revenue producers. Casino revenues are in the ditch. Spa treatments and beauty salon have been halved. Beverage consumption is down almost 10%. Shore excursions, while still popular, have been downplayed as well, with more and more people researching the islands before they get there, then doing their own thing. It's true there are outside companies who can provide shore trips, sometimes for less money. But you don't know exactly what you're getting in many cases, and there are pitfalls. If there is an incident with one of the ship's tours, you have recourse as a paying passenger, and the cruise line stands behind their product. If you go elsewhere and there's a problem, have a nice time trying to work that out between you and Party X. Also, if you're on a ship tour and your bus breaks down an hour away from the pier, they know it. You're on a computer manifest, and they do a headcount before departing, and will hold the ship as needed until their tours return. Same scenario, if you did it on your own? Oh my! Best of luck getting a flight to the next island (often by flying at your own expense back to the USA to get a connection). Also, cruise line shore trips have a small amount built in for insurance, to cover them (and you) in case of a catastrophic accident or incident. So my suggestion is to gamble less if times are tight, cut back on grooming and spa services if you will, and (*gulp*) even cut back on alcohol if you must - but be wary of going too far out on a limb with private excursions. Nothing ruins a vacation faster than standing on the pier, watching your ship sail off, knowing she's not turning around. "Buh-bye!"
The Westminster Dog Show has been in the news. Some countries don't have anything quite like it, but they have other venues. Take for example Saudi Arabia. This oil-rich country is host to several camel beauty pageants each year. 2008 was the country's first goat beauty pageant, held in Riyadh, highlighted by the distinctive Najdi breed, featuring high nose bridges and silky, shaggy hair. In fact, most of the goats in the competition had the same father, Burgan, whose progeny typically fetch the equivalent of $25,000 and up. Prize-winning show camels can bring 10 times that amount, for the greater status they convey to their owners. But Saudis still enjoyed the first-of-its-kind goat beauty contest. Burgan himself did not appear, because his owner feared that a jealous competitor would have an "evil eye" cast upon him. I wonder if that's what happened to the Lassie-look-alike collie at Westminster last year?
Even though casino revenues are down world-wide, there is a newsworthy attempt to construct one in California that's created a stir. Numerous federal lawsuits tried to block it, but by the end of last month, a federal judge had dismissed the last pending lawsuit standing in the way of the new Indian casino in Amador County. Amador is where the Federally-recognized
Me-Wuk Tribe, of Buena Vista Rancheria, has its 67-acre reservation. A representative of the Tribe had filed an application to build a new Indian casino, and locals tried unsuccessfully to block it. Why did residents of the area object to the Me-Wuk Tribe's casino? Possibly because the Me-Wuk consists only of Rhonda Morningstar-Pope and her 5 kids. By coincidence, none of them lives on Tribal land. I'm not sure what constitutes a Tribe legally, but that sounds more like a Posse or Scout Troop to me. Federal judges are working on something like this, while the world around us crumbles. Somehow our priorities have run over the edge of a cliff...
"Living in China: So easy, a cave man can do it." That will probably never be a National slogan in the Great Land of Asia, but the idea itself definitely has a following. A large number of Chinese have their residences in caves, and often it's not a bad deal, according to a McClatchy Newspapers dispatch from Miaogou Village. In addition to advantages (such as no mortgage), some caves have been in the family for generations, and have electrical wiring, plumbing and cable TV. Some are even part of communities of connected caves. Cavaminiums! Researchers said that earthen insulation keeps the inside temperature from dropping below about 55 degrees Fahrenheit, even in the dead of winter. Like me, you're probably wondering how many people actually live like this. Because all things are bigger in China when it comes to numbers, my initial impression from the story would be they're talking about 30-thousand, maybe 40-thousand people. Not so much. According to the researchers, an estimated 20-million people in China could do Geico commercials from their caves! That's 20,000,000 as in 20 followed by 6 zeroes. And you thought you had it rough getting cable installed, outside the city limits.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Cruise Ship Headlines -- The Ridiculous Media Bias
It's amazing. Whenever I'm surfing around travel sites, USAToday, CNN.com, etc. my eye is always scanning for the word "cruise." But every time I see a headline with that word in it, there's almost surely something wrong. Somebody fell overboard. Somebody just hit a huge storm. Some little tub (that's still called a "cruise ship" in the headline), which should have been retired 20 years ago is sinking. Today I woke up to Super Bowl Sunday, and clicked on my Road Runner home page. There it is - HEADLINE: CRUISE SHIP STUCK IN ICY RIVER!
Okaaaaaay. It's the first day of February. What in the heck is any cruise ship doing in a river, for one thing, a river in February for another, and why are they in ice? I've heard of swimming with the dolphins, but cruising with the polar bears? On further inspection, it's a Canadian cruise ship that had been CHARTERED by 300 skiers from Quebec, to travel up the St. Lawrence Seaway from Montreal to the Gaspe Peninsula, to celebrate the region's 475th Anniversary. Can you people not drive to the area? Or snowmobile if it's frozen over? The vessel in question was not operating as normal. The ship is the CTMA Vacancier, a cruise ship that usually operates one-week cruises in the summer. Not February! Not On Frozen Pond! Whoever came up with such a convoluted idea needs his head examined, as the ship had to be rescued (at no small expense) by a Canadian Coast Guard Icebreaker, the Terry Fox. Conditions were so extreme, even the Terry Fox got stuck for nearly 24 hours. I hope the Coast Guard sends the bill to the idiots who chartered the Vacancier in the first place.
Bottom line: Once again, nothing good ever happens in the cruise industry, right? I mean, I'm sitting in Charlotte, North Carolina and my Road Runner headlines are supposed to represent the most important news items happening anywhere in the world. Scientific breakthroughs. World events. Important changes to the Human Condition. The Super Bowl for heaven's sake! So what's my headline today?
"Cruise Ship Stuck In Icy River!" You know, Mr. and Mrs. Media, there really are millions of happy, satisfied cruise customers every year. Seriously. You can check. Try Google...
8-6-7-5-3-O-niyeeine. Jenny, Jenny. Anyone who knows the song knows name and the number, and after 5 years of fielding thousands of calls to one of rock's most celebrated phone numbers, disc jockey Spencer Potter is hanging up. Jenny's seven digits are familiar to anyone who paid attention to pop music in the early 1980s, from a song immortalized by the band Tommy Tutone (bet you can't name another!). Mr. Potter and his roommates requested the phone number, for their home phone in northern New Jersey. Luckily (or unluckily) for them, they got it - plus about 30 to 40 calls a day. "Is Jenny there?" Well, what did you THINK they were gonna ask?! The 28-year-old Potter says he's selling his DJ business, A Blast Entertainment, and moving to New York. The business and the phone number are up for sale on eBay, where the high bid was about $1,000 as of Sunday morning. Hey bidders. Be careful what you wish for.
Just the other day, I ran an article about something that happened in Everett, Washington. Apparently it's a news-worthy-kinda-town. According to the Everett Herald, police pulled over a man Thursday evening at 3 a.m., who appeared to be driving erratically. He was clocked at 2 m.p.h. You heard right. Seems this 29-year old was seen driving a piece of construction equipment, in the lift bucket, down the street in the wee hours of the morning. The man, who appeared to have been drinking, was in the lift bucket of a Genie Boom, with a 6-pack of beer and a bag of beef jerky when police pulled him over. At first he told police he was just going to the store. But when pushed further, and asked him why he was in a bucket lift, he said he was delivering the $20,000 piece of construction equipment on a dare, from a stranger he met on CraigsList. Now, I've never talked to Craig personally, or read his List, or shared my life history with a stranger there, but sometimes you read an article like this and the only term that comes instantly to mind is "thinning the herd."
Whether you like Disney or not, they sure got it right when it comes to Super Bowl marketing. They let all the other companies vie for a piece of meat, during bathroom breaks when people tend to miss at least some of the ads. No, Disney waits until the game is over, someone is named Most Valuable Player, then they pay that person to look into the camera, smile, and say "I'm going to DISNEY WORLD!" Perfect. The best of the best. Then again, what works for them may not work for another company. Just imagine.....the game ends, and a Most Valuable Player is named. The announcer says "Johnny Blue! You just won the Super Bowl. What are you gonna do now?" Johnny Blue smiles, looks into the camera, and says "I'm going to drink a bottle of KAOPECTATE!"
Aren't you glad Disney thought of it first?
Okaaaaaay. It's the first day of February. What in the heck is any cruise ship doing in a river, for one thing, a river in February for another, and why are they in ice? I've heard of swimming with the dolphins, but cruising with the polar bears? On further inspection, it's a Canadian cruise ship that had been CHARTERED by 300 skiers from Quebec, to travel up the St. Lawrence Seaway from Montreal to the Gaspe Peninsula, to celebrate the region's 475th Anniversary. Can you people not drive to the area? Or snowmobile if it's frozen over? The vessel in question was not operating as normal. The ship is the CTMA Vacancier, a cruise ship that usually operates one-week cruises in the summer. Not February! Not On Frozen Pond! Whoever came up with such a convoluted idea needs his head examined, as the ship had to be rescued (at no small expense) by a Canadian Coast Guard Icebreaker, the Terry Fox. Conditions were so extreme, even the Terry Fox got stuck for nearly 24 hours. I hope the Coast Guard sends the bill to the idiots who chartered the Vacancier in the first place.
Bottom line: Once again, nothing good ever happens in the cruise industry, right? I mean, I'm sitting in Charlotte, North Carolina and my Road Runner headlines are supposed to represent the most important news items happening anywhere in the world. Scientific breakthroughs. World events. Important changes to the Human Condition. The Super Bowl for heaven's sake! So what's my headline today?
"Cruise Ship Stuck In Icy River!" You know, Mr. and Mrs. Media, there really are millions of happy, satisfied cruise customers every year. Seriously. You can check. Try Google...
8-6-7-5-3-O-niyeeine. Jenny, Jenny. Anyone who knows the song knows name and the number, and after 5 years of fielding thousands of calls to one of rock's most celebrated phone numbers, disc jockey Spencer Potter is hanging up. Jenny's seven digits are familiar to anyone who paid attention to pop music in the early 1980s, from a song immortalized by the band Tommy Tutone (bet you can't name another!). Mr. Potter and his roommates requested the phone number, for their home phone in northern New Jersey. Luckily (or unluckily) for them, they got it - plus about 30 to 40 calls a day. "Is Jenny there?" Well, what did you THINK they were gonna ask?! The 28-year-old Potter says he's selling his DJ business, A Blast Entertainment, and moving to New York. The business and the phone number are up for sale on eBay, where the high bid was about $1,000 as of Sunday morning. Hey bidders. Be careful what you wish for.
Just the other day, I ran an article about something that happened in Everett, Washington. Apparently it's a news-worthy-kinda-town. According to the Everett Herald, police pulled over a man Thursday evening at 3 a.m., who appeared to be driving erratically. He was clocked at 2 m.p.h. You heard right. Seems this 29-year old was seen driving a piece of construction equipment, in the lift bucket, down the street in the wee hours of the morning. The man, who appeared to have been drinking, was in the lift bucket of a Genie Boom, with a 6-pack of beer and a bag of beef jerky when police pulled him over. At first he told police he was just going to the store. But when pushed further, and asked him why he was in a bucket lift, he said he was delivering the $20,000 piece of construction equipment on a dare, from a stranger he met on CraigsList. Now, I've never talked to Craig personally, or read his List, or shared my life history with a stranger there, but sometimes you read an article like this and the only term that comes instantly to mind is "thinning the herd."
Whether you like Disney or not, they sure got it right when it comes to Super Bowl marketing. They let all the other companies vie for a piece of meat, during bathroom breaks when people tend to miss at least some of the ads. No, Disney waits until the game is over, someone is named Most Valuable Player, then they pay that person to look into the camera, smile, and say "I'm going to DISNEY WORLD!" Perfect. The best of the best. Then again, what works for them may not work for another company. Just imagine.....the game ends, and a Most Valuable Player is named. The announcer says "Johnny Blue! You just won the Super Bowl. What are you gonna do now?" Johnny Blue smiles, looks into the camera, and says "I'm going to drink a bottle of KAOPECTATE!"
Aren't you glad Disney thought of it first?
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Did Juneau? Nome, but Alaska!
The State that gave us bears, glaciers, Eskimos, Palins, and a poorly-thought-out cruise passenger head tax, is starting to squirm a little in its seat. Now that Alaska has raised taxes to exorbitant levels on visitors, and the ships that bring them, the gouging has had a whiplash effect on future plans by the cruise lines. Even this year there are fewer ships than in the past, as cruise operators are looking for destinations where they can earn a tidy profit without the additional operating expenses. Now the 2010 plans and itineraries are starting to emerge, and the capacity continues to dwindle. Royal Caribbean announced they are pulling the Serenade Of The Seas out of the Alaska market next year, reducing their capacity to just 2 ships. So what does that mean to the local economies? It's impossible to get an exact figure, but suffice it to say there will be 42,000 people NOT coming to Alaska on board Royal Caribbean ships next year. The people of Alaska had their voice, and now the cruise lines are responding with a very loud:
"Oh really?!" Be careful what you wish for, citizens of the Great White North. In what could be a related article, Alaska Air Group, Inc. posted a 4th quarter loss of more than $75 million dollars, citing fuel costs and "slower sales" among the reasons. Removing another 40K passengers from the mix by eliminating a ship adds to the bleak prospects moving forward.
Furthermore, Alaska cruise pricing could be facing another whammy. If the demand is still there, but the supply continues to be pulled (other cruise lines may follow suit), that can only mean one thing from an Economics 101 standpoint: higher prices. So higher taxes create higher prices that feed reduced capacity that feeds higher prices that....well, I think you get it. Alaska may have, to quote a hunting phrase, shot itself in the backside. Having said all that, what does that mean for people wanting to go to Alaska? Guess what - it's not 2010 yet! The booking season for 2009 Alaska cruises is in full-swing, and because we can see the handwriting on the wall, you need to get up from your computer and call us today, to book yourself on an Alaska cruise for this year. There are still some excellent values available, but they won't last long and it sounds like they may not be back in the future.
A 24-yr. old man from Everett Washington, who was already on probation for a robbery conviction, is facing new legal troubles. He's accused of using his cell phone in a restroom stall yesterday, trying to complete a sale of Oxycodone, a prescription painkiller, and other drugs. The problem is, this conversation was overheard and when the suspect emerged from the stall, he was face-to-face with a plainclothes Detective who flashed his shield and gun, before placing the man under arrest. Police Sergeant Robert Goetz says the perp "admitted trying to deal drugs and turned over his stash to the arresting officer. He was jailed for investigation of illegal drug possession, with intent to sell." So was this guy just unlucky? Not really. Wrong place at the wrong time? OH YEAH! As it turns out, the drug-deal-gone-bad was performed from a restroom stall in an Everett Washington Police Station. Talk about flushing away your future...
Carr Car - Cowabunga!
In London, the relatives of Dr. Harold Carr found an extremely rare 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante, as they were going through his belongings after his death. The dusty two-seater car, unused since 1960, didn't look like much sitting in the garage in Gosforth, northern England.
Bugatti once represented the height of motoring achievement. The supercar was so ahead of its time it could go up to 130 mph when most other cars topped out about 50 mph. This particular car is even more valuable, because it was originally owned by Earl Howe, a prominent British race car driver, and because its original equipment is intact, so it can restored without relying on replacement parts. Dr. Carr, an orthopedic surgeon who died at age 89, was described by relatives as an eccentric hoarder who never threw anything out. He also left behind a beat-up Aston Martin, which was sold, and a Jaguar that was scrapped because it was in such poor condition. But the Bugatti, though dusty, was held close to original condition.
Dr. Carr's relatives figured it's an old car, it would probably clean-up pretty nicely, and they might even be able to get $50,000 for it. Upon further investigation, they found that only 17 of these cars were ever made, and this is considered the Holy Grail for car collectors. The 57S-Atalante is to be auctioned off at an event in Paris, and experts estimate the car could go for as much as $4.3 million, and possibly much more!
Drivers in Austin, Texas were in for a surprise during their morning commute, when two road signs on a busy stretch of road were taken over by hackers. The signs near the intersection of Lamar & MLK Blvd. normally warn drivers about upcoming construction, but Monday morning they said something completely unexpected:
"Zombies ahead! Run for your lives"
"I thought it was pretty funny," said University of Texas sophomore Jane Shin, who saw the signs while driving with friends Sunday night. "We wondered who did it." The City of Austin does not own the signs, but they are responsible for the message. A contractor on the construction project owns the signs. A city spokesperson said the hacked messages were only up for a few hours, until the construction project manager saw them during his morning commute and immediately ordered them to be changed back. "Even though this may seem amusing to a lot of people, this is really serious, and it is a crime," said spokesperson Sara Hartley. This crime is a class C misdemeanor in Texas, and Hartley said it endangers the public.
In a possibly-related incident, 3 people in the Austin area were eaten by Zombies yesterday, in an outlying area of the city devoid of road signs...
"Oh really?!" Be careful what you wish for, citizens of the Great White North. In what could be a related article, Alaska Air Group, Inc. posted a 4th quarter loss of more than $75 million dollars, citing fuel costs and "slower sales" among the reasons. Removing another 40K passengers from the mix by eliminating a ship adds to the bleak prospects moving forward.
Furthermore, Alaska cruise pricing could be facing another whammy. If the demand is still there, but the supply continues to be pulled (other cruise lines may follow suit), that can only mean one thing from an Economics 101 standpoint: higher prices. So higher taxes create higher prices that feed reduced capacity that feeds higher prices that....well, I think you get it. Alaska may have, to quote a hunting phrase, shot itself in the backside. Having said all that, what does that mean for people wanting to go to Alaska? Guess what - it's not 2010 yet! The booking season for 2009 Alaska cruises is in full-swing, and because we can see the handwriting on the wall, you need to get up from your computer and call us today, to book yourself on an Alaska cruise for this year. There are still some excellent values available, but they won't last long and it sounds like they may not be back in the future.
A 24-yr. old man from Everett Washington, who was already on probation for a robbery conviction, is facing new legal troubles. He's accused of using his cell phone in a restroom stall yesterday, trying to complete a sale of Oxycodone, a prescription painkiller, and other drugs. The problem is, this conversation was overheard and when the suspect emerged from the stall, he was face-to-face with a plainclothes Detective who flashed his shield and gun, before placing the man under arrest. Police Sergeant Robert Goetz says the perp "admitted trying to deal drugs and turned over his stash to the arresting officer. He was jailed for investigation of illegal drug possession, with intent to sell." So was this guy just unlucky? Not really. Wrong place at the wrong time? OH YEAH! As it turns out, the drug-deal-gone-bad was performed from a restroom stall in an Everett Washington Police Station. Talk about flushing away your future...
Carr Car - Cowabunga!
In London, the relatives of Dr. Harold Carr found an extremely rare 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante, as they were going through his belongings after his death. The dusty two-seater car, unused since 1960, didn't look like much sitting in the garage in Gosforth, northern England.
Bugatti once represented the height of motoring achievement. The supercar was so ahead of its time it could go up to 130 mph when most other cars topped out about 50 mph. This particular car is even more valuable, because it was originally owned by Earl Howe, a prominent British race car driver, and because its original equipment is intact, so it can restored without relying on replacement parts. Dr. Carr, an orthopedic surgeon who died at age 89, was described by relatives as an eccentric hoarder who never threw anything out. He also left behind a beat-up Aston Martin, which was sold, and a Jaguar that was scrapped because it was in such poor condition. But the Bugatti, though dusty, was held close to original condition.
Dr. Carr's relatives figured it's an old car, it would probably clean-up pretty nicely, and they might even be able to get $50,000 for it. Upon further investigation, they found that only 17 of these cars were ever made, and this is considered the Holy Grail for car collectors. The 57S-Atalante is to be auctioned off at an event in Paris, and experts estimate the car could go for as much as $4.3 million, and possibly much more!
Drivers in Austin, Texas were in for a surprise during their morning commute, when two road signs on a busy stretch of road were taken over by hackers. The signs near the intersection of Lamar & MLK Blvd. normally warn drivers about upcoming construction, but Monday morning they said something completely unexpected:
"Zombies ahead! Run for your lives"
"I thought it was pretty funny," said University of Texas sophomore Jane Shin, who saw the signs while driving with friends Sunday night. "We wondered who did it." The City of Austin does not own the signs, but they are responsible for the message. A contractor on the construction project owns the signs. A city spokesperson said the hacked messages were only up for a few hours, until the construction project manager saw them during his morning commute and immediately ordered them to be changed back. "Even though this may seem amusing to a lot of people, this is really serious, and it is a crime," said spokesperson Sara Hartley. This crime is a class C misdemeanor in Texas, and Hartley said it endangers the public.
In a possibly-related incident, 3 people in the Austin area were eaten by Zombies yesterday, in an outlying area of the city devoid of road signs...
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Coffee, Tea or Johnnie Walker Red Label?
Airlines have not had an easy time of it since 2001, and everyone understands their efforts to stay afloat (aloft, actually). When fuel costs spiralled out of control, first came fuel supplements and higher prices. Then came checked baggage fees, which I've blogged my disapproval of previously. When will it end? Don't get your hopes up...it doesn't sound like it's any time soon. In fact, flight attendants for Spirit Airlines are unhappy with their new uniform design, which is being echoed by The Association Of Flight Attendants. As part of their new uniforms, they are being asked to serve wearing aprons that clearly and openly display brand names and logos for alcoholic beverage companies. The complaint says the uniforms send the wrong signal to passengers, make it harder for flight attendants to enforce alcohol intake and safety regulations. Deborah Crowley, president of Spirit's flight attendants' union chapter, said in a statement the airline is "turning flight attendants into walking billboards, which is unacceptable." You can just about see it now, can't you? Airplanes are soon going to be stickered to look like NASCAR racers:
This overhead bin is brought to you by T.G.I.Fridays, Pennzoil, Mattel, Glaxo-Smith-Kline and McDonald's.
Neither/Nor-o. Everyone has heard about the Norovirus, which is the nasty little strain of bug that seems to hit groups of people in an enclosed area (long plane flights, hotels, cruise ships, schools, etc). But it seems the public education programs may be paying off, telling people how the illness is spread and how to AVOID infection, by being careful and always washing your hands before every meal. Like your Mom told you to do! The CDC reports that in 2006, there were 34 confirmed Norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships. Then in 2007, the number dropped to 21. The figures for 2008 are in, and the reduction continues, with only 15 posted. Being humans, and in many cases humans that drink while on vacation, the likelihood is we'll never see a complete drop to zero of Norovirus cases. But it's promising to see people actually appear to have listened and learned. Good humans! You get a tasty people-treat, but WASH YOUR HANDS first!
You've heard the phrase "brotherly love?" A Michigan man may have taken it to the extreme. Authorities say a 24-year-old man broke into a gas station, then called 911 to report himself, claiming he wanted to go to jail so he could be with his incarcerated brother. St. Clair County Sheriff Tim Donnellon tells the Port Huron Times Herald that deputies were happy to oblige, arresting the man early Tuesday. Authorities say the call came in about 4:30 am, from inside a gas station in Capac, a village northeast of Detroit, and he made no attempt to resist the attending patrolmen. The man's name wasn't released, pending his arraignment later today.
Maybe it was to save other family members (the few who are not in the slammer) from complete embarrassment...
Man. Talk about not adhering to the spirit-of-the-moment! An Ohio firefighter has been given a six-month suspension from his role in an "incident" during President Obama's Inauguration. Video clearly shows Drum Major John Coleman giving a nod and a fleeting wave to the new President, as the Cleveland Firefighter's Memorial Pipes & Drums marched past the podium. Band leader Pipe-Major Mike Engle, said the firefighter from Cleveland Heights violated the proper decorum required in a military parade. He said all members were warned in advance, not to make such gestures during the parade. Coleman says Obama smiled and waved, and that he was just acknowledging the president. Message to Pipe-Major Mike Engle: Other than to the members of your little troupe, this seems like a horrific power-play on your part. If you want to make the man clean the bathrooms, so be it. But a 6-month suspension? Insane.
This overhead bin is brought to you by T.G.I.Fridays, Pennzoil, Mattel, Glaxo-Smith-Kline and McDonald's.
Neither/Nor-o. Everyone has heard about the Norovirus, which is the nasty little strain of bug that seems to hit groups of people in an enclosed area (long plane flights, hotels, cruise ships, schools, etc). But it seems the public education programs may be paying off, telling people how the illness is spread and how to AVOID infection, by being careful and always washing your hands before every meal. Like your Mom told you to do! The CDC reports that in 2006, there were 34 confirmed Norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships. Then in 2007, the number dropped to 21. The figures for 2008 are in, and the reduction continues, with only 15 posted. Being humans, and in many cases humans that drink while on vacation, the likelihood is we'll never see a complete drop to zero of Norovirus cases. But it's promising to see people actually appear to have listened and learned. Good humans! You get a tasty people-treat, but WASH YOUR HANDS first!
You've heard the phrase "brotherly love?" A Michigan man may have taken it to the extreme. Authorities say a 24-year-old man broke into a gas station, then called 911 to report himself, claiming he wanted to go to jail so he could be with his incarcerated brother. St. Clair County Sheriff Tim Donnellon tells the Port Huron Times Herald that deputies were happy to oblige, arresting the man early Tuesday. Authorities say the call came in about 4:30 am, from inside a gas station in Capac, a village northeast of Detroit, and he made no attempt to resist the attending patrolmen. The man's name wasn't released, pending his arraignment later today.
Maybe it was to save other family members (the few who are not in the slammer) from complete embarrassment...
Man. Talk about not adhering to the spirit-of-the-moment! An Ohio firefighter has been given a six-month suspension from his role in an "incident" during President Obama's Inauguration. Video clearly shows Drum Major John Coleman giving a nod and a fleeting wave to the new President, as the Cleveland Firefighter's Memorial Pipes & Drums marched past the podium. Band leader Pipe-Major Mike Engle, said the firefighter from Cleveland Heights violated the proper decorum required in a military parade. He said all members were warned in advance, not to make such gestures during the parade. Coleman says Obama smiled and waved, and that he was just acknowledging the president. Message to Pipe-Major Mike Engle: Other than to the members of your little troupe, this seems like a horrific power-play on your part. If you want to make the man clean the bathrooms, so be it. But a 6-month suspension? Insane.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Yer up, Yer down!
A little play-on-words for Europe (Yer up) to start things off today. There is certainly good reason for most major cruise lines to leave Europe in October/November, planning to hibernate in the warmth of the Caribbean Sea until mid-April. Europe can get mighty cold, and the Northern Atlantic Ocean is not necessarily a cake-walk when it comes to smooth sailing. Yesterday, the British cruise ship "Balmoral" faced 60 mph winds and 50-foot seas. Because they service the UK and have mainly UK passengers, they're stuck with having to live with whatever weather abounds in that part of the world. And from this unfortunate event, a handful of passengers actually had to be hospitalized in Spain due to broken bones from the jolting. I'll bet those passengers wished they had invested in the airfare to fly to Miami or San Juan, to take a cruise in the 80-something degree weather and smoothness of the Caribbean Sea. There are also cruises departing from cold-weather ports in the US as well, and frankly I'm amazed at how many people are willing to shiver for a day or 2 coming and going, just so they can save on an airline ticket. Oh well, enjoy laying on the Lido Deck in your longjohns and down parka!
I saw a report on USAToday.com, that tourism in South Dakota for calendar-year 2008 was up by 2.8%. A National poll was taken, and it was discovered that as many as 6 people cared. You have to wonder what passes for news sometimes...
Who Dat on the corner? Is it a bird? Is it a plane?
No - it's Carl!
They are either civic-minded folks or people with image issues, but in several dozen cities across the USA there are men (and a few women) who dress in homemade superhero costumes at night, patrolling questionable neighborhoods to deter crime. Seriously. Phoenix has The Green Scorpion. New York City is home to Terrifica, while Orlando's Master Legend and Indianapolis' Mr. Silent are just a few of the 200 gunless, knifeless vigilantes listed on The World Superhero Registry. If you're like me, you sleep better at night just knowing such a registry exists. Most of these Mighty Mice presumably have day jobs, but they see themselves cleaning up the mean streets at night. According to two recent reports, in Rolling Stone magazine and The Times newspaper of London, these "Reals" as they call themselves seem to share a couple of major complaints. They're nearly all bored from a lack of crime, and during the summer they tend to get skin irritations from their itchy spandex outfits. Maybe it's harder to track down savvy criminals dressed in a San Diego Chicken outfit than originally thought. I mean, think about it. Say you're a criminal. You're in San Quentin and your cellmate asks if you were taken down by the FBI or a Homeland Security Task Force. You hang your head a little, and whisper, "No, it was those 2 do-gooders, Burnt Marshmallow Girl and The Plaid Pilgrim." Your street cred will never be the same, Homes.
In case you think I'm kidding, here's a link to a Rolling Stone article on Master Legend and his sidekick, Ace: http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/25020634/the_legend_of_master_legend
And another from New York magazine on Terrifica:
http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/people/columns/intelligencer/10359/
Here's one from the BBC News, in a similar vein. Torvald Alexander, 39, was leaving his house December 31st in Edinburgh, Scotland, heading for a New Year's costume party. According to the report, as he was preparing to leave he came face to face with another man, who was just in the process of breaking in to his home. It turns out Mr. Alexander was garbed in his full regalia of the evening for the party, dressed as Thor, the hammer-wielding Norse god of thunder! He had on a Viking helmet, breastplate and was carrying a huge hammer. Alexander said the burglar took one look at him, turned, jumped out the window, slid down a sloped roof and landed on the ground, where he took off running.
I saw a report on USAToday.com, that tourism in South Dakota for calendar-year 2008 was up by 2.8%. A National poll was taken, and it was discovered that as many as 6 people cared. You have to wonder what passes for news sometimes...
Who Dat on the corner? Is it a bird? Is it a plane?
No - it's Carl!
They are either civic-minded folks or people with image issues, but in several dozen cities across the USA there are men (and a few women) who dress in homemade superhero costumes at night, patrolling questionable neighborhoods to deter crime. Seriously. Phoenix has The Green Scorpion. New York City is home to Terrifica, while Orlando's Master Legend and Indianapolis' Mr. Silent are just a few of the 200 gunless, knifeless vigilantes listed on The World Superhero Registry. If you're like me, you sleep better at night just knowing such a registry exists. Most of these Mighty Mice presumably have day jobs, but they see themselves cleaning up the mean streets at night. According to two recent reports, in Rolling Stone magazine and The Times newspaper of London, these "Reals" as they call themselves seem to share a couple of major complaints. They're nearly all bored from a lack of crime, and during the summer they tend to get skin irritations from their itchy spandex outfits. Maybe it's harder to track down savvy criminals dressed in a San Diego Chicken outfit than originally thought. I mean, think about it. Say you're a criminal. You're in San Quentin and your cellmate asks if you were taken down by the FBI or a Homeland Security Task Force. You hang your head a little, and whisper, "No, it was those 2 do-gooders, Burnt Marshmallow Girl and The Plaid Pilgrim." Your street cred will never be the same, Homes.
In case you think I'm kidding, here's a link to a Rolling Stone article on Master Legend and his sidekick, Ace: http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/25020634/the_legend_of_master_legend
And another from New York magazine on Terrifica:
http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/people/columns/intelligencer/10359/
Here's one from the BBC News, in a similar vein. Torvald Alexander, 39, was leaving his house December 31st in Edinburgh, Scotland, heading for a New Year's costume party. According to the report, as he was preparing to leave he came face to face with another man, who was just in the process of breaking in to his home. It turns out Mr. Alexander was garbed in his full regalia of the evening for the party, dressed as Thor, the hammer-wielding Norse god of thunder! He had on a Viking helmet, breastplate and was carrying a huge hammer. Alexander said the burglar took one look at him, turned, jumped out the window, slid down a sloped roof and landed on the ground, where he took off running.
Monday, January 26, 2009
"You got mud on your face..."
Although you might think I'm singing We Will Rock You by Queen, I'm actually talking about something new from Carnival Cruise Lines. Just today, they announced they will allow guests to pre-book Spa treatments, which is an industry first. Here's a link to the story: http://www.usatoday.com/travel/cruises/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=61919764.blog. Although it does require payment up-front (refundable if you cancel the cruise), that's a small price to pay for the convenience of this new option. People who tend to book spa treatments are those who appreciate pampering anyway, and they'll definitely give a kelp-wrapped thumbs-up to Carnival on this one.
Must-Fly/Must-See TV: On March 1, 2009 American Airlines will debut a new in-flight video provider, NBC and its affiliates. In the past, they've used CBS, but are switching to NBC Universal for video news, information and entertainment programming. NBC Universal will produce four exclusive 90-minute programs each month for American, featuring content from NBC, USA, Bravo, Sci Fi, MSNBC and CNBC. The programs will also include films from Universal Pictures and shows from NBC News, NBC Sports and other NBC Universal divisions. All this, after you had just said to yourself, "I guess the only place to escape Keith Olbermann is at 30,000 feet!
Billy....reporting for duty, Sir! As the old song goes, South Side of Chicago is the baddest part of town. Apparently so bad, some people can't wait to join the force. Police spokesperson Monique Bond said a male in full police uniform entered a South Side police station last week, asking where he should report for duty. The Desk Sergeant didn't recognize the person initially, so he started checking further before assigning him to patrol. It turns out, the person was not a licensed Officer Of The Law....yet. He was part of a youth program, for boys interested in police work. The pseudo-cop turned out to be just 14 years old, and he was cited as a juvenile for impersonating a police officer, and remanded into the custody of his parents. Ms. Bond also wanted to point out to the public that the un-named Future-Five-Oh was neither armed, nor had he ever been behind the wheel of a cruiser.
Pick Three. Pick 'Em Again! Suddenly, I hear Phil Collins singing "Against All Odds" in my head, but it's official: Last Monday, the winning Pick Three numbers in the Nebraska Lottery were 1, 9 and 6. Tuesday night, they held the drawing again just like they do every day. The winning numbers? 1, 9 and 6. Lottery spokesman Brian Rockey says two separate computers randomly generated the exact same numbers, in the exact same combination for both night's drawings. I'm sure you're asking, as I did, "What are the chances of THAT?" One in a million. Mr. Rockey says the one person won the game's top prize of $600 Monday failed to pick the same 3 numbers the following night. Three other people, however, won on Tuesday. Three in a million...
Must-Fly/Must-See TV: On March 1, 2009 American Airlines will debut a new in-flight video provider, NBC and its affiliates. In the past, they've used CBS, but are switching to NBC Universal for video news, information and entertainment programming. NBC Universal will produce four exclusive 90-minute programs each month for American, featuring content from NBC, USA, Bravo, Sci Fi, MSNBC and CNBC. The programs will also include films from Universal Pictures and shows from NBC News, NBC Sports and other NBC Universal divisions. All this, after you had just said to yourself, "I guess the only place to escape Keith Olbermann is at 30,000 feet!
Billy....reporting for duty, Sir! As the old song goes, South Side of Chicago is the baddest part of town. Apparently so bad, some people can't wait to join the force. Police spokesperson Monique Bond said a male in full police uniform entered a South Side police station last week, asking where he should report for duty. The Desk Sergeant didn't recognize the person initially, so he started checking further before assigning him to patrol. It turns out, the person was not a licensed Officer Of The Law....yet. He was part of a youth program, for boys interested in police work. The pseudo-cop turned out to be just 14 years old, and he was cited as a juvenile for impersonating a police officer, and remanded into the custody of his parents. Ms. Bond also wanted to point out to the public that the un-named Future-Five-Oh was neither armed, nor had he ever been behind the wheel of a cruiser.
Pick Three. Pick 'Em Again! Suddenly, I hear Phil Collins singing "Against All Odds" in my head, but it's official: Last Monday, the winning Pick Three numbers in the Nebraska Lottery were 1, 9 and 6. Tuesday night, they held the drawing again just like they do every day. The winning numbers? 1, 9 and 6. Lottery spokesman Brian Rockey says two separate computers randomly generated the exact same numbers, in the exact same combination for both night's drawings. I'm sure you're asking, as I did, "What are the chances of THAT?" One in a million. Mr. Rockey says the one person won the game's top prize of $600 Monday failed to pick the same 3 numbers the following night. Three other people, however, won on Tuesday. Three in a million...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
