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.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
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!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Terminal Illness
A while back, Tom Hanks appeared in a movie called "The Terminal". It certainly wasn't anything Oscar-worthy, but it killed a couple of hours in a theater. There's an old saying that art imitates life, but now life imitates art. Hiroshi Nohara is a Japanese citizen who had a layover connection in Mexico City back in early September. It has now lasted almost three months, and he has no plans to leave. For reasons no one seems to be able to explain, the Japanese man has been in Terminal 1 of Benito Juarez International Airport since Sept. 2, surviving off donations from fast-food restaurants and passengers, while sleeping in a chair. At first, he frightened fellow air-travelers, and airport authorities asked the Japanese Embassy to investigate why the foul-smelling man refused to leave. Now, he's become somewhat of a celebrity, capturing Mexico's collective imagination with near- daily TV reports on his life at the food court. Tourists stop to pose with him for photos or get an autograph. A native of Tokyo, he flew into Mexico with a tourist visa and a return ticket home, but inexplicably never left the airport. In a recent interview, he said he had no motive and doesn't know how much longer he'll remain.
"I don't understand why I'm here," he said through an interpreter. "I don't have a reason." The embassy can't force him to leave if he's mentally competent (apparently he is), and since Nohara's visa is valid, all Mexican officials can do it wait for it to expire in early March. During his stay, Nohara's wiry goatee has grown into a scraggly mess. His red-tinted hair is speckled with dust and dandruff, and his jacket and fleece blanket are dingy with overuse. He hasn't had a shower in months. Various stalls in the food court give Nohara free snacks and drinks, and strangers often buy him pastries or hamburgers; of the two, he clearly prefers hamburgers.
Is it just me, or wouldn't this whole scene put a damper on the ambiance of the food court? Then again, how much ambiance is there in a food court in Mexico City to begin with? Hopefully in March Mr. N will make his way back home. It would be nice to know exactly which day he's going to fly, as I'm sure nobody is going to want to be on that same plane. Pheeew!!
Phoenix-based Residential Cruise Line is the latest to try the super-luxury cruises, aimed at a condominium/time-share concept. There will be an invitation-only sales event in Dubai on Dec. 15th, and if you're one of the lucky bidders you can get the top-of-the-line suite. Pricetag? A mere $18 million dollars. In this economy. I might send out those top executives for drug testing at this point, but then again maybe rich folk have more money than sense. Anyway, the ship's $18 million Portofino penthouse (there are TWO of them, too!), comes with 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms and measures more than 4,300 square feet. Yeah, I know whenever I cruise I like to bring the aunts, uncles, a few dozen Gypsies and a small Midwest town.
The other day, I blogged about a not-too-smart rap "artist", who got himself convicted by rapping the true details about his crimes. Well, if that was "A" this is "B"....
When 24-year-old Andrew Vactor of Urbana, Ohio, was convicted of violating the city's noise ordinance, Judge Susan J. Fornof-Lippencott offered to reduce the normal fine of $150 to just $35, if he agreed to listen to 20 hours of classical music. Wanting to save money, Mr. Vactor agreed to the unusual punishment. The sentence was to include Beethoven, Chopin, Bach, and Debussy. Chief Probation Officer Glenda Runkle says the department keeps three CDs on hand, and he was getting a "greatest hits" assortment of the classics. Judge Fornof-Lippencott often assigns creative sentencing options." She selects episodes of Dr. Phil & The Oprah Winfrey Show that she considers relevant to other misdemeanor offenses, supplying copies to the probation department for forced viewing. The idea is to inspire people not to come back for the same violation, and at the same time broaden their horizons. Vactor, a student at Urbana University, listened to a full 15 minutes of the classics before calling the judge, to say he'd changed his mind. He agreed to just pay the full $150 fine! He claims it had nothing to do with the musical style, only that he was late for basketball practice. So much for "YO"hann Sebastion Bach.
"I don't understand why I'm here," he said through an interpreter. "I don't have a reason." The embassy can't force him to leave if he's mentally competent (apparently he is), and since Nohara's visa is valid, all Mexican officials can do it wait for it to expire in early March. During his stay, Nohara's wiry goatee has grown into a scraggly mess. His red-tinted hair is speckled with dust and dandruff, and his jacket and fleece blanket are dingy with overuse. He hasn't had a shower in months. Various stalls in the food court give Nohara free snacks and drinks, and strangers often buy him pastries or hamburgers; of the two, he clearly prefers hamburgers.
Is it just me, or wouldn't this whole scene put a damper on the ambiance of the food court? Then again, how much ambiance is there in a food court in Mexico City to begin with? Hopefully in March Mr. N will make his way back home. It would be nice to know exactly which day he's going to fly, as I'm sure nobody is going to want to be on that same plane. Pheeew!!
Phoenix-based Residential Cruise Line is the latest to try the super-luxury cruises, aimed at a condominium/time-share concept. There will be an invitation-only sales event in Dubai on Dec. 15th, and if you're one of the lucky bidders you can get the top-of-the-line suite. Pricetag? A mere $18 million dollars. In this economy. I might send out those top executives for drug testing at this point, but then again maybe rich folk have more money than sense. Anyway, the ship's $18 million Portofino penthouse (there are TWO of them, too!), comes with 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms and measures more than 4,300 square feet. Yeah, I know whenever I cruise I like to bring the aunts, uncles, a few dozen Gypsies and a small Midwest town.
The other day, I blogged about a not-too-smart rap "artist", who got himself convicted by rapping the true details about his crimes. Well, if that was "A" this is "B"....
When 24-year-old Andrew Vactor of Urbana, Ohio, was convicted of violating the city's noise ordinance, Judge Susan J. Fornof-Lippencott offered to reduce the normal fine of $150 to just $35, if he agreed to listen to 20 hours of classical music. Wanting to save money, Mr. Vactor agreed to the unusual punishment. The sentence was to include Beethoven, Chopin, Bach, and Debussy. Chief Probation Officer Glenda Runkle says the department keeps three CDs on hand, and he was getting a "greatest hits" assortment of the classics. Judge Fornof-Lippencott often assigns creative sentencing options." She selects episodes of Dr. Phil & The Oprah Winfrey Show that she considers relevant to other misdemeanor offenses, supplying copies to the probation department for forced viewing. The idea is to inspire people not to come back for the same violation, and at the same time broaden their horizons. Vactor, a student at Urbana University, listened to a full 15 minutes of the classics before calling the judge, to say he'd changed his mind. He agreed to just pay the full $150 fine! He claims it had nothing to do with the musical style, only that he was late for basketball practice. So much for "YO"hann Sebastion Bach.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Chinese Food For Thought
Yellowstone. Yosemite. Grand Canyon. Glacier Bay. Mammoth Cave. Hawaii Volcanoes. Those are just a few of the designated National Parks of the United States. They are as diverse in style as they are in location, from the US Virgin Islands to Alaska to American Samoa there are more than 60 recognized landmark areas, which make up our National Parks system. In fact, these great destinations represent a connect-the-dots of vacations for many travelers. Why go halfway around the world for sightseeing, until you've seen what's in your own back yard? Many people check these parks off a list as they go, hoping to see them all in their lifetime. To make that easier, some tour operators even combine National Parks and sightseeing trips in the region in a travel goulash called "Canyonlands". It's a great way of seeing a lot of American wonder, in the shortest period of time. What got me thinking about this today is a story on USAToday.com about China, mentioning that China just announced last month its first officially named "National Park". It's an area near the Russian border that at one time was stripped clear of vast forests, fueling the Communist Revolution in the 60's. Now it's back, and the Chinese government is aiming to preserve the area for future generations, as well as creating a National Parks system like the one we enjoy here. Think about that. We're many years ahead of the curve, compared to other major countries and civilizations, in trying to save natural beauty for future generations. So when was the last time you visited a National Park? Hmmm? Don't need a passport, you just walk right in and start taking pictures. Did you know if you do an Alaska cruise and a couple of extra days extension, you could actually experience 3, 4 even 5 National Parks? On your next gambling junket to Las Vegas, if you don't feel like sitting at gaming tables every day, did you know you can do day-trips to Death Valley? Zion? Grand Canyon? Great Basin? It's true.
Thinking of going to San Francisco for a few days, and maybe hitting the wine region as well? Sounds great, but don't forget you're less than 6 hours away from Sequoia, Redwoods, and only 4-5 hours from Yosemite! Do a combo vacation. There are so many fantastic parks in the US, yet sometimes people get blinded thinking the only two things they can do on vacation is go to the Caribbean or Disney. Not that those are a bad thing, certainly! But talk to your family and see if you might like a taste of adventure mixed in with your next getaway. You'll have a new appreciation for the USA, without ever leaving "home".
There's a new TOP TEN list out, this time from Oxford University, whose researchers compiled the 10 least-favorite expressions people use in conversation. The researchers created the list by monitoring the use of phrases in databases, books, papers, magazines, broadcast networks, the internet, and just plain talkin' to folks. It's oxymoronic language, over-used meaningless filler words, or things that just stick in yer craw and give you the willies when people say them. I would have thought George W Bush's butchering of the word Nuclear (Newk-u-lar) would have clearly made the grade, but NO - there are others! People hate hearing phrases like "isn't it ironic" when irony is not even in the example, or folks using new-age words like synergy or even worse, synergistic. Ready for the list? Break out your checklist, to see if you're guilty of any of these guilty pleasures in human mis-speak:
10) It's not rocket science
9) 24/7
8) Shouldn't of (instead of shouldn't have)
7) It was a nightmare
6) Absolutely!
6a) You Betcha! (thanks, Sarah Palin)
5) With all due respect
4) At this moment in time (or and time)
3) I personally (unnecessary)
2) Fairly unique (it's unique or it's not)
And the #1 most hated, at the end of the day?
1) At the end of the day
Son of a gun....I made the list at least once or twice. Did you?
Thinking of going to San Francisco for a few days, and maybe hitting the wine region as well? Sounds great, but don't forget you're less than 6 hours away from Sequoia, Redwoods, and only 4-5 hours from Yosemite! Do a combo vacation. There are so many fantastic parks in the US, yet sometimes people get blinded thinking the only two things they can do on vacation is go to the Caribbean or Disney. Not that those are a bad thing, certainly! But talk to your family and see if you might like a taste of adventure mixed in with your next getaway. You'll have a new appreciation for the USA, without ever leaving "home".
There's a new TOP TEN list out, this time from Oxford University, whose researchers compiled the 10 least-favorite expressions people use in conversation. The researchers created the list by monitoring the use of phrases in databases, books, papers, magazines, broadcast networks, the internet, and just plain talkin' to folks. It's oxymoronic language, over-used meaningless filler words, or things that just stick in yer craw and give you the willies when people say them. I would have thought George W Bush's butchering of the word Nuclear (Newk-u-lar) would have clearly made the grade, but NO - there are others! People hate hearing phrases like "isn't it ironic" when irony is not even in the example, or folks using new-age words like synergy or even worse, synergistic. Ready for the list? Break out your checklist, to see if you're guilty of any of these guilty pleasures in human mis-speak:
10) It's not rocket science
9) 24/7
8) Shouldn't of (instead of shouldn't have)
7) It was a nightmare
6) Absolutely!
6a) You Betcha! (thanks, Sarah Palin)
5) With all due respect
4) At this moment in time (or and time)
3) I personally (unnecessary)
2) Fairly unique (it's unique or it's not)
And the #1 most hated, at the end of the day?
1) At the end of the day
Son of a gun....I made the list at least once or twice. Did you?
Apology to Dolly P
Earlier this week I mentioned Dollywood and Ms. Parton in my blog, regarding the interactive portions of the new Titanic museum in Pigeon Forge. The newspaper source I referenced made a connection between the 2 that proved to be inaccurate, so my apologies to her. Dollywood and Ms. Parton are not involved in any way. No apologies are forthcoming, though, regarding my disdain for the interactive portions of that museum. At least when I'm wrong, I'll admit it.
Cap'n Bob
Cap'n Bob
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Project Runway...FABulous!
No, I'm not talking about Heidi Klum, or any of the skinny, over-chic'ed girls from the Bravo Network. We're talking real runways here. Chicago O'Hare. Seattle-Tacoma. Washington Dulles. Each of these 3 hyperactive airports have new additions to be proud of, one extra runway apiece, which is the largest 1-day capacity increase in the US in more than a decade. Even though airlines have scaled back the number of flights in some areas, these cities still were having major delay issues and long waits on the tarmac. This won't be an immediate complete fix, but it's gotta help with backlog. Estimates are they will allow an additional 20 flights per hour, which should curb delays and taxiway backups at least to a degree. The fact that all three of these airports act as connection points for international flights (such as people heading to Europe or Asia), means anything that eases connection times and puts people's minds at rest is welcome.
Puerto Rico has long been known as one of the most affordable vacation destinations in the Caribbean. But new airfare competition and promotions are making it an even better deal this winter. Plus, U.S. travelers to Puerto Rico don't need passports, unlike all other Caribbean destinations (except the U.S. Virgin Islands). Not having to spend an extra hour or more to pass through Customs means you'll be on the beach that much faster! The new air-wars started when American announced it would cut routes to the island. Almost immediately, JetBlue, AirTran, Continental, Delta and USAirways jumped in, adding more service from various cities. American then got back in the game (after kicking a few backsides for a bad decision), and announced it would continue its service after all. What first looked to be a loss in service has turned into a boom, and travelers benefit from the increased competition, especially when hotels are running sales or promotions. San Juan in particular is incredibly rich in history, featuring such sights as El Morro Castle which guarded the harbor for hundreds of years, and there's the little-known but very interesting Casa Blanca. Casa Blanca is only a couple of blocks from El Morro, but most tourists never see it because you have to walk instead of taxi. It was the original Governor's mansion on the island, back when Ponce De Leon was its 1st Governor. He then famously headed off to Florida searching for the Fountain Of Youth, but met an untimely death at the hands of the Seminole Indians. The people of Puerto Rico decided to maintain Casa Blanca as a shrine to Ponce De Leon, and all the original trappings are still there. San Juan has numerous casinos, the Bacardi Rum factory (daily tours available), and if you want an eco-friendly day rent a car or hire a driver and head to the El Yunque rainforest, which is less than 2 hours away. Add in duty-free shopping, great golf and nice beaches, and you've got a fantastic Caribbean vacation spot! If you'd like to visit Puerto Rico, contact us for special rates and deals.
A New York pastor says one of his congregants donated a winning lottery ticket worth $3 million to his church. Pastor Bertrand Crabbe of the True North Community Church in Port Jefferson NY says the donor, who asked to remain anonymous, donated the “Ba Da Bling” scratch-off ticket immediately after he won. A state Lottery official says the independent Christian church will get a little over $100,000 a year through 2028. The amount could be higher if withheld taxes are refunded because of the church’s nonprofit status. Crabb says the 650-member church will give the first year’s proceeds to other charities. Kind of renews your faith in humanity, doesn't it? The old saying "God works in mysterious ways" has never been more true, working through a program called Ba Da Bling.
The Colorado Springs chapter of the Salvation Army has taken new steps towards having a successful Holiday season. They will still have their iconic Red Kettle and bell-ringers, stationed outside grocery stores, malls, pretty much wherever you go. But instead of asking people to drop in spare change, these Salvation Soldiers will now be able to process credit cards and debit cards on-site. Each of the new-and-improved kettles is equipped with a machine for processing plastic, and people seem to like the idea. One was quoted as saying "I always want to pitch something in the pot, but often I'm not carrying cash." I'll give 'em a thumbs up for being enterprising.
Yo! Yo! Yo! A rapper in Dublin, Georgia was so proud about shooting a man twice, he wrote a song about it, according to AP reports from the local police. The smart-mouthed thug went so far as to describe the shooting in details that only the perpetrator would know, and even calling the victim by his real name. Maybe that would make him a not-so-smart-mouthed rapper, eh? In what amounted to an audio confession, a judge sentenced 25-year-old Rico Todriquez Wright Monday to spend the next 20 years in prison, for 2 counts of aggravated assault. His victim, Chad Blue, had actually heard the song and mentioned the hip-hop confession to police. Mr. Blue told police he had known Wright before the September 2006 shooting, and that the men weren't friendly. (This story might be stranger if he had said they were buddies). At trial, he testified that Rico's companions egged him on, as he chased and shot him twice. It was only later he recognized the voice on a CD, the rapper saying "Chad Blue knows how I shoot."
Yo! Yo! Bozo! Why don't you hip-hop up on the upper bunk, and chill for a couple of decades while you get some religion about right, wrong, and stupidity, Dog.
Puerto Rico has long been known as one of the most affordable vacation destinations in the Caribbean. But new airfare competition and promotions are making it an even better deal this winter. Plus, U.S. travelers to Puerto Rico don't need passports, unlike all other Caribbean destinations (except the U.S. Virgin Islands). Not having to spend an extra hour or more to pass through Customs means you'll be on the beach that much faster! The new air-wars started when American announced it would cut routes to the island. Almost immediately, JetBlue, AirTran, Continental, Delta and USAirways jumped in, adding more service from various cities. American then got back in the game (after kicking a few backsides for a bad decision), and announced it would continue its service after all. What first looked to be a loss in service has turned into a boom, and travelers benefit from the increased competition, especially when hotels are running sales or promotions. San Juan in particular is incredibly rich in history, featuring such sights as El Morro Castle which guarded the harbor for hundreds of years, and there's the little-known but very interesting Casa Blanca. Casa Blanca is only a couple of blocks from El Morro, but most tourists never see it because you have to walk instead of taxi. It was the original Governor's mansion on the island, back when Ponce De Leon was its 1st Governor. He then famously headed off to Florida searching for the Fountain Of Youth, but met an untimely death at the hands of the Seminole Indians. The people of Puerto Rico decided to maintain Casa Blanca as a shrine to Ponce De Leon, and all the original trappings are still there. San Juan has numerous casinos, the Bacardi Rum factory (daily tours available), and if you want an eco-friendly day rent a car or hire a driver and head to the El Yunque rainforest, which is less than 2 hours away. Add in duty-free shopping, great golf and nice beaches, and you've got a fantastic Caribbean vacation spot! If you'd like to visit Puerto Rico, contact us for special rates and deals.
A New York pastor says one of his congregants donated a winning lottery ticket worth $3 million to his church. Pastor Bertrand Crabbe of the True North Community Church in Port Jefferson NY says the donor, who asked to remain anonymous, donated the “Ba Da Bling” scratch-off ticket immediately after he won. A state Lottery official says the independent Christian church will get a little over $100,000 a year through 2028. The amount could be higher if withheld taxes are refunded because of the church’s nonprofit status. Crabb says the 650-member church will give the first year’s proceeds to other charities. Kind of renews your faith in humanity, doesn't it? The old saying "God works in mysterious ways" has never been more true, working through a program called Ba Da Bling.
The Colorado Springs chapter of the Salvation Army has taken new steps towards having a successful Holiday season. They will still have their iconic Red Kettle and bell-ringers, stationed outside grocery stores, malls, pretty much wherever you go. But instead of asking people to drop in spare change, these Salvation Soldiers will now be able to process credit cards and debit cards on-site. Each of the new-and-improved kettles is equipped with a machine for processing plastic, and people seem to like the idea. One was quoted as saying "I always want to pitch something in the pot, but often I'm not carrying cash." I'll give 'em a thumbs up for being enterprising.
Yo! Yo! Yo! A rapper in Dublin, Georgia was so proud about shooting a man twice, he wrote a song about it, according to AP reports from the local police. The smart-mouthed thug went so far as to describe the shooting in details that only the perpetrator would know, and even calling the victim by his real name. Maybe that would make him a not-so-smart-mouthed rapper, eh? In what amounted to an audio confession, a judge sentenced 25-year-old Rico Todriquez Wright Monday to spend the next 20 years in prison, for 2 counts of aggravated assault. His victim, Chad Blue, had actually heard the song and mentioned the hip-hop confession to police. Mr. Blue told police he had known Wright before the September 2006 shooting, and that the men weren't friendly. (This story might be stranger if he had said they were buddies). At trial, he testified that Rico's companions egged him on, as he chased and shot him twice. It was only later he recognized the voice on a CD, the rapper saying "Chad Blue knows how I shoot."
Yo! Yo! Bozo! Why don't you hip-hop up on the upper bunk, and chill for a couple of decades while you get some religion about right, wrong, and stupidity, Dog.
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