We taxied by and there in the back row of the GA ramp spied one of the spiffy new CRJ 700s. We speculated that it was a factory demonstrator on a sales call and sure enough this was the appearance. The lumbering 767 preceeding us probably oblivious, failed to notice the economic significance. The marketplace will rule. The camel’s nose is under the tent.
All posts by cs
rude awakening
The alarm clock went off at o’dark hundred this morning. Hushed and switching on the bedside table lamp twas stunned with a blue green flash as the light bulb burned out and then a fraction later the phone rings with the wakeup call backup. Okay! I’m awake! I’m awake! I suppose a bucket of water in the face is worse.
pressure
The FO has his first baby due July 5th. Don’t think that he’s not checking his voice mail everytime we hit the deck 😉 I like the choice of dates. If the doctor had proclaimed the baby due on the 3rd — and it didn’t happen — why then he’d be on the hook for the holiday 4th. There’s no pressure or external influence in this calculation is there?
The FA (35 and single) has been working on her private pilot’s license for about a year now and is scheduled for the big checkride next month. She takes offense and shows various degrees of friendly irritation when asked “has she got it done yet”. She trys to be one of the guys but it’s a female frustration to be harangued about marital status, and when she’s finally married “any children yet”.
sweetness and light
The NYPD and the NYFD suffered mightely in the September attacks. Alot of people did… Both of these agencies need to go back to work. They should not assume that they may grieve indefinately. It is not their place to appoint themselves as living monuments to the event. They should not be charity workers leveraging their hero status in the licensed merchandise market. We don’t want the NYPD/NYFD for a mascot. Respect those that were lost — but the others — get on with it.
anchors aweigh!
Away that is! My fault. I’d positioned the mushroom anchor on the swim platform with the idea to set it as a stern anchor. S’man asked if he should tie it on now and I said naw. He had the right idea because when I accelerated the boat to our landing spot it slid aft and off — kur-plunk. Unfortunately, that’s not a do-over. It’ a gonner.
When the prop sniffs bottom, it lets you know with the most horrible of grinding sounds and pounding vibrations. A real attention getter because you imagine the blades mangled and the prop shaft tweaked. (On aircraft a prop strike includes a mandatory engine tear down!) With the local drought conditions and the low water, what was once navigable may now not be is not. Lucky no damage. This time.
sponsor
It’s great that Bush is promoting fitness. Is that all that they are promoting? Shades of Judge Ito’s OJ Simpson courtroom when the computer monitors were boldly embossed with the SONY trademark. Here we have two staffers flanking the No. 1 with T shirts sponsering RunTex and Runners World magazine. The bearers have taken pains to insure that the messages are not obscured by their running number signs.
Well, maybe I’m imagining all of this maybe not. One thing is for sure — Bush is muttering under his breath, “stay behind me boys… I’m win’in this thang”.
cheese
City of Phoenix has it all figured out. In order to curtail the folks who run the red light, they’ve installed cameras onto the overhead traffic signal. I’m going to guess that 95 percent of these are dummies (cameras not the folks). But, who can tell for sure? That’s the beauty of it. When the program first went into effect police took numerous photos and wrote citations. These early offenders were made public with high profile media coverage to boot. So now the other public is aware and camera shy. The (fake) black boxes sit high on their perches like psuedo Owls. Scare Crows.
prediction
Southwest Air will eat their words. By antagonizing the obese, the fat, the overweight and many thin people who sympathize they will loose market share. After all, if the governments statistics are to be believed, and that this segment is in fact huge (no pun intended), they have alienated a significantmarket segment.
Seems like yesterday SW was promoting goodwill and low fares with ‘kids fly free’, 2 for 1 and etc.
Good damage control, after this insult, will be an apology and then a reversal with special phat fares.
upgrade
Should be interesting. The phone rep says “even your mother could do it” — refering to the do-it-yourself kit. “otherwise it’s 200 dollars installation fee to have the guy come out to your house”. “BTW, what’s your tech support number??” “MOM may be calling you!” I said that she’d try the self install and bit my lip. I had her spin the pc mini tower around for a look at the business end and a dry-run to see which cable goes into which receptacle. I drew a simple schematic drawing and with goesinta labels. “When the CD comes, Mom, just pop it in and follow the step-by-step…” (and keep my fingers crossed)
crashdummy
I was itching to ride the new GM Test Track at Epcot but it had been closed most of the morning due to tech difficulties (a common occurrence I understand) When they finally got it back up we waited out the 100 minute line and finally got our turn. It was worth it and we got the full effect except for the last 10 yards toward the unloading platform when the whole thing ground to a screeching halt. Broken down, again. We sat there strapped in like crash dummies unable to extricate ourselves. The lap/shoulder belts lock up for good until somebody in some control room pushes the red button. I mean, there is no emergency way out! After 10 minutes I was wishing for my Leatherman knife tool (back in the hotel) for with to start sawing my way out. So we waited it out and finally they powered down and they sprung us and we walked out. You should have seen the look of dejection on the faces of those who were waiting to board. They had been waiting near 2 hours for their chance and then — Sorry this ride is closed! I mean, some of them had actually made it into a waiting car and were ready to Go! Euuuuu — they were a little bit testy…