I have one set of Grandparents that are still alive. They were born in 1911 and 1913 and still live in their house. They're doing as well as can be expected for being 95 and 93.
When they were growing up there was no electricity, cars, indoor plumbing. But they did have WWI and II and the great depression.
I was born in the 60s.
Where we lived until I was 16 was a town where they had one TV station. So if you wanted to see the other two networks, you had to have a large antenna on a pole that had a motor on it that you could turn to point the antenna toward the city that had the station. So not only did you have to get up and change the channel, you had to move this antenna. When we watched the moon landing, it was on a black and white portable that had about 3 boxes of tin foil on the antenna.
There were no computers, Internet, email, blogs, video blogs, IM, chat rooms, Internet pedophiles
no touch tone phones
no call waiting
no caller ID (prank calls were much easier)
no cable
no satellite
no TIVO
no porn in the home...porn was either a Playboy or if you were really perverted you went downtown to the seedy section to watch it on the big screen
no riding lawn mowers and you either mowed your own grass or paid some kid (me) $5 to cut it...there certainly weren't huge companies with illegals to mow your yard
Mexicans lived in Mexico
no cellphones
no portable phones...you had one on the kitchen wall that had 500 feet of tangled cord attached to the handset
no microwave oven
no instant anything
nasty TV dinners but that was it
long distance cost a fortune, you very rarely made a long distance call
few two car families...I rode the bus to school and if you wanted to get somewhere else you rode your bike
no digital cameras
no VCRs
home movies were on film that had to be developed
no reality shows....Miss America was a big deal
women wore bras, panty hose and girdles
If you were bad in school they beat you
a couple of houses we lived in didn't have central air, one summer we all slept in the basement to stay cool
no in ground automatic sprinklers like my house has now.....you pulled the hose out and turned on the thing that went back and forth
flying was only for the rich
we drove on a vacation to Florida in a VW square back in July with no air-conditioning
Coke was in bottles with bottle caps
there was only one kind of tennis shoe...Converse
no hair gel...and if there was a guy certainly didn't put it in his hair...the old men slicked theirs down with Brylcreem
Those were the days
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Torture
Every USAF pilot has to go to survival school.
It is three weeks long and held at Fairchild AFB....Spokane, Washington.
The first week is academics. You learn all kinds of things. What you can eat, signal building etc.
The second week is in the woods. They take you about 2 hours northeast of Spokane into the Collville National Forest.
The first 3 days or so are camping....with no food or shelter. Just like you parachuted out of an airplane. You got what you got. You learn how to make a fire, build a shelter, map read, what you can eat (ants are tasty), triangulate, all that kind of stuff.
Then the last three days are escape and evasion. You take all the things you've learned in the past 10 days and you and a partner evade the bad guys for three days. Just like if you got shot down behind enemy lines.
Then the real fun starts.
You go to 3 days of Prisoner of War camp.
I can't say much about what goes on there because it's classified....but
I can say that alot of the things that they are talking about regarding the way we've allegedly tortured some people are right out of their playbook.....
The psychological games they can play with your head is amazing...and we knew it was a game.
I can't imagine what it's like for real.
The main thing you take out of the POW experience is that you really really really really really
don't want to ever ever ever ever get caught. And you will do everything in your power to make sure that doesn't happen.
So, I am against torture. I don't think we should do it and I for sure don't think we should get other people to do our dirty work.
It is three weeks long and held at Fairchild AFB....Spokane, Washington.
The first week is academics. You learn all kinds of things. What you can eat, signal building etc.
The second week is in the woods. They take you about 2 hours northeast of Spokane into the Collville National Forest.
The first 3 days or so are camping....with no food or shelter. Just like you parachuted out of an airplane. You got what you got. You learn how to make a fire, build a shelter, map read, what you can eat (ants are tasty), triangulate, all that kind of stuff.
Then the last three days are escape and evasion. You take all the things you've learned in the past 10 days and you and a partner evade the bad guys for three days. Just like if you got shot down behind enemy lines.
Then the real fun starts.
You go to 3 days of Prisoner of War camp.
I can't say much about what goes on there because it's classified....but
I can say that alot of the things that they are talking about regarding the way we've allegedly tortured some people are right out of their playbook.....
The psychological games they can play with your head is amazing...and we knew it was a game.
I can't imagine what it's like for real.
The main thing you take out of the POW experience is that you really really really really really
don't want to ever ever ever ever get caught. And you will do everything in your power to make sure that doesn't happen.
So, I am against torture. I don't think we should do it and I for sure don't think we should get other people to do our dirty work.
Monday, September 25, 2006
What does the President do?
This weekend on the radio they announced the President's schedule for this week.
Or course he's campaigning for republicans running for office this fall.
Hello? We're at war. Anything else better to do?
He's having at least two dinners for somebody. I guess it's OK to have people over for dinner.
But he has lots of meetings that are just big schmoooze fests. I can't imagine that they really accomplish much other than the fact that you've met with the President of the United States.
And he by his actions, who he meets with, sends signals to whomever about what he thinks is important.
So maybe that's the reason he has these meetings. To show what he thinks is important.
I know what I think is important.
Iraq is a huge mess. Soldiers are coming back dead or maimed.
New Orleans is a fiasco.
Global warming is real.
People by the millions are being slaughtered and living in unbelievable conditions in Darfur.
Our deficit is a mess.
Our schools are a joke.
Jobs fly overseas as fast as they can.
The borders aren't secure.
Our civil liberties are being attacked every day.
We have no energy policy.
Other countries that we really don't like have us by the you know what because they have oil.
We have other nation states torture people for us.
Most people in other countries truly don't like us or our government. Not each one of us personally but what the USA does.
Well, anyway, below is a press release from this morning about one of the President's meetings.
Bush met with business leaders who will be rebuilding Lebanon.
Does the President really need to do that?
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 25, 2006
President Meets with Business Leaders on Lebanon Private Sector Initiative The Oval Office
9:38 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: I've just had a fascinating discussion with four business leaders and members of my administration, all of whom are strategizing on how to help the good people of Lebanon recover from the recent crisis.
Our goal, and our mission, is to help Lebanese citizens and Lebanese businesses not only recover, but to flourish, because we believe strongly in the concept of a democracy in Lebanon.
Right from the beginning of the crisis I had stated that our objective is to help the Siniora government -- the Siniora government, which is a democratically elected government. And now we've got generous citizens of the United States, people who are very busy in their own right, who are willing to step forward and to strategize and raise monies to help people in Lebanon.
And this is a very important mission for our country. It's a public/private partnership. Our federal government has committed $250 million; OPEC, under Chairman Mosbacher's lead, has arranged financing. And now private sector individuals and businesses will work together to send a clear message to the Lebanese people: We care about you; we want you to live in a free society; we've got great hopes for you; we believe in your Prime Minister, Prime Minister Siniora; and we will back up our words with actions.
So I appreciate John Chambers, who has taken the lead for this group, and I appreciate you all taking time to go over to Lebanon and show the face of America -- we're a compassionate people, we care when people suffer and we care about the type of governments that people live under. And we strongly support the young democracies in the Middle East; we support the democracy of Lebanon; we support the democracy of Iraq. And our dream is one day for there to be a Palestinian democracy living side by side in peace with Israel.
Thank you all very much for your commitment. May God bless the good people of Lebanon.
Thank you.
Or course he's campaigning for republicans running for office this fall.
Hello? We're at war. Anything else better to do?
He's having at least two dinners for somebody. I guess it's OK to have people over for dinner.
But he has lots of meetings that are just big schmoooze fests. I can't imagine that they really accomplish much other than the fact that you've met with the President of the United States.
And he by his actions, who he meets with, sends signals to whomever about what he thinks is important.
So maybe that's the reason he has these meetings. To show what he thinks is important.
I know what I think is important.
Iraq is a huge mess. Soldiers are coming back dead or maimed.
New Orleans is a fiasco.
Global warming is real.
People by the millions are being slaughtered and living in unbelievable conditions in Darfur.
Our deficit is a mess.
Our schools are a joke.
Jobs fly overseas as fast as they can.
The borders aren't secure.
Our civil liberties are being attacked every day.
We have no energy policy.
Other countries that we really don't like have us by the you know what because they have oil.
We have other nation states torture people for us.
Most people in other countries truly don't like us or our government. Not each one of us personally but what the USA does.
Well, anyway, below is a press release from this morning about one of the President's meetings.
Bush met with business leaders who will be rebuilding Lebanon.
Does the President really need to do that?
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 25, 2006
President Meets with Business Leaders on Lebanon Private Sector Initiative The Oval Office
9:38 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: I've just had a fascinating discussion with four business leaders and members of my administration, all of whom are strategizing on how to help the good people of Lebanon recover from the recent crisis.
Our goal, and our mission, is to help Lebanese citizens and Lebanese businesses not only recover, but to flourish, because we believe strongly in the concept of a democracy in Lebanon.
Right from the beginning of the crisis I had stated that our objective is to help the Siniora government -- the Siniora government, which is a democratically elected government. And now we've got generous citizens of the United States, people who are very busy in their own right, who are willing to step forward and to strategize and raise monies to help people in Lebanon.
And this is a very important mission for our country. It's a public/private partnership. Our federal government has committed $250 million; OPEC, under Chairman Mosbacher's lead, has arranged financing. And now private sector individuals and businesses will work together to send a clear message to the Lebanese people: We care about you; we want you to live in a free society; we've got great hopes for you; we believe in your Prime Minister, Prime Minister Siniora; and we will back up our words with actions.
So I appreciate John Chambers, who has taken the lead for this group, and I appreciate you all taking time to go over to Lebanon and show the face of America -- we're a compassionate people, we care when people suffer and we care about the type of governments that people live under. And we strongly support the young democracies in the Middle East; we support the democracy of Lebanon; we support the democracy of Iraq. And our dream is one day for there to be a Palestinian democracy living side by side in peace with Israel.
Thank you all very much for your commitment. May God bless the good people of Lebanon.
Thank you.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Rockport Shoes
I like Rockport shoes. They fit my feet well and they're comfortable.
Unfortunately, when I wear them, I look like I either work in a hospital or just celebrated my 100th birthday. Too bad.
Rockport is headquartered near Boston and has been in business since 1971.
Rockport shoes used to be made in Portugal.
I am very aware of where things are manufactured.
It's almost impossible to buy something made in the USA. Especially shoes.
So now where are my Rockport's made?
China?
Wrong.
Try Vietnam.
That truly amazes me.
First someone has to fly over there which takes forever and who knows how you get there, make contact with someone or someones, and figure out how to make these shoes over there.
Get the raw materials, set up the factory, quality control, box em up and prepare for shipping at least 1/2 around the world. Then truck the things all over the US.
So if they're selling a pair of shoes for $60 and the store is probably getting 1/2 of that....so know we're down to $30 and Rockport probably makes $15 on each shoe....how much are they paying those Vietnamese people to make my shoe....maybe $1/shoe?
How much fossil fuel does it take to get my shoe to the US from Vietnam?
Unbelievable...I guess China is too expensive now...so let's go to Vietnam.
But you know what......I would pay more than $60 for shoes if I hadn't taken a 50% pay cut like the rest of our country. At least I have a job and don't have to buy $5 Walmart shoes.
We've all been Wal-Martized and that's all we can afford.
Unfortunately, when I wear them, I look like I either work in a hospital or just celebrated my 100th birthday. Too bad.
Rockport is headquartered near Boston and has been in business since 1971.
Rockport shoes used to be made in Portugal.
I am very aware of where things are manufactured.
It's almost impossible to buy something made in the USA. Especially shoes.
So now where are my Rockport's made?
China?
Wrong.
Try Vietnam.
That truly amazes me.
First someone has to fly over there which takes forever and who knows how you get there, make contact with someone or someones, and figure out how to make these shoes over there.
Get the raw materials, set up the factory, quality control, box em up and prepare for shipping at least 1/2 around the world. Then truck the things all over the US.
So if they're selling a pair of shoes for $60 and the store is probably getting 1/2 of that....so know we're down to $30 and Rockport probably makes $15 on each shoe....how much are they paying those Vietnamese people to make my shoe....maybe $1/shoe?
How much fossil fuel does it take to get my shoe to the US from Vietnam?
Unbelievable...I guess China is too expensive now...so let's go to Vietnam.
But you know what......I would pay more than $60 for shoes if I hadn't taken a 50% pay cut like the rest of our country. At least I have a job and don't have to buy $5 Walmart shoes.
We've all been Wal-Martized and that's all we can afford.
Paying for College
I have a friend of mine who is going to retire in the next two years or so from the US Air Force.
He's been in 23 years and is a 0-6, a full Colonel.
His retirement pay will be about $4500/month. Not bad. He could live on that and not work if he wanted to....he makes about $120,000/year now.
So, he has 2 kids. They will be going to college in a couple years. Four years I think until the oldest goes.
He is freaking out about how to pay for their college. So, when he retires he thinks he needs a big paying job in addition to his retirement to pay for the kids schools.
The news said recently that it costs $42,000/year to attend Boston College.
Who has $200,000 to pay for 4 years of college. I guess some people do and if you started when they were born and saved a fortune maybe you would.
But is it the parents responsibility to pay for this? Most seem to think so.
I told him to tell his kids to get a scholarship. Or loans or whatever.
I can see helping your kids in college but to pay $200,000 per kid that is ridiculous.
And to ruin yourself financially or work yourself to death for that is crazy in my opinion.
There's nothing wrong with state schools, community colleges, etc.
The problem is that with a degree from Harvard, Yale etc you command big bucks when you get out. It doesn't necessarily mean you're smarter or will do a better job.
Our recent CEO who was fired was a Harvard graduate. He didn't do so well.
And unless you're learning a trade like engineering, computer science, you're going to learn most of what's important on the job.
I'd like to see a list of successful people who attended state schools or community colleges.
Or those who didn't even go to college.
Of course those people are self-starters and made their own way unlike the privileged who graduate from Harvard and leave Delta Airlines after 5 years of rotten service with $65 million.
So maybe $200,000 to go to Harvard is worth it if you can steal $65 million later on.
Back to my original question.
Do most people think they have to break their backs to pay for the kids school?
Probably so.
He's been in 23 years and is a 0-6, a full Colonel.
His retirement pay will be about $4500/month. Not bad. He could live on that and not work if he wanted to....he makes about $120,000/year now.
So, he has 2 kids. They will be going to college in a couple years. Four years I think until the oldest goes.
He is freaking out about how to pay for their college. So, when he retires he thinks he needs a big paying job in addition to his retirement to pay for the kids schools.
The news said recently that it costs $42,000/year to attend Boston College.
Who has $200,000 to pay for 4 years of college. I guess some people do and if you started when they were born and saved a fortune maybe you would.
But is it the parents responsibility to pay for this? Most seem to think so.
I told him to tell his kids to get a scholarship. Or loans or whatever.
I can see helping your kids in college but to pay $200,000 per kid that is ridiculous.
And to ruin yourself financially or work yourself to death for that is crazy in my opinion.
There's nothing wrong with state schools, community colleges, etc.
The problem is that with a degree from Harvard, Yale etc you command big bucks when you get out. It doesn't necessarily mean you're smarter or will do a better job.
Our recent CEO who was fired was a Harvard graduate. He didn't do so well.
And unless you're learning a trade like engineering, computer science, you're going to learn most of what's important on the job.
I'd like to see a list of successful people who attended state schools or community colleges.
Or those who didn't even go to college.
Of course those people are self-starters and made their own way unlike the privileged who graduate from Harvard and leave Delta Airlines after 5 years of rotten service with $65 million.
So maybe $200,000 to go to Harvard is worth it if you can steal $65 million later on.
Back to my original question.
Do most people think they have to break their backs to pay for the kids school?
Probably so.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
More Airline Stuff
I am now going to give you some secret telephone numbers.
They're not really secret but unless you're in the airline business you wouldn't know what they were.
They are "code-a-phone" messages that get updated every week or so from some part of the airline.
In the good old days, we would have code-a-phone wars.
During contract negotiations, management would put out a message about how the union was going to kill the airline and then the union would post a message rebutting management. All in very colorful language.
The VP for Flight Operations actually said on the code-a-phone once, if not now when, it not us, who?
He is now retired and luxuriating on his yacht the Miss-Management.
So here are the numbers.
They're not as fun as they used to be.
1-800-325-3599 Delta's Vice-President for Flight Operations Message
1-800-257-2638 then Press 1 Delta's Airline Pilot's Association Message
1-800-272-7456 then press 1 American Airlines Pilot's Association Message
1-866-548-7328 Delta's CEO Jerry Grinstein's Message
1-877-715-1700 Delta's Executive Vice-President's Message Joe Kolshak...FYI he was hired as a Delta Pilot...former Marine pilot
He talks in a lot of airline lingo.
A-14 means does the airplane arrive within 14 minutes of scheduled arrival
D-0 means does the airplane leave (push from the gate) exactly on time or early
Completion factor means does the flight actually go or is it cancelled
East operation in Atlanta means that the runways are oriented East and West. If you're taking off to the east, the gates are right next to the runway with very little taxiway room for people to wait to take-off unlike taking off to the west which is a long taxiway and much more room to put airplanes waiting to take off
Runway resurfacing means that in Atlanta on one of the 5 runways they have taken the runway down to the dirt and are resurfacing. This also means a big mess in Atlanta.
1-800-715-4001 then press 1 Delta Airlines Corporate Communication Daily Message from The Ministry of Propaganda and Misinformation
Have Fun
They're not really secret but unless you're in the airline business you wouldn't know what they were.
They are "code-a-phone" messages that get updated every week or so from some part of the airline.
In the good old days, we would have code-a-phone wars.
During contract negotiations, management would put out a message about how the union was going to kill the airline and then the union would post a message rebutting management. All in very colorful language.
The VP for Flight Operations actually said on the code-a-phone once, if not now when, it not us, who?
He is now retired and luxuriating on his yacht the Miss-Management.
So here are the numbers.
They're not as fun as they used to be.
1-800-325-3599 Delta's Vice-President for Flight Operations Message
1-800-257-2638 then Press 1 Delta's Airline Pilot's Association Message
1-800-272-7456 then press 1 American Airlines Pilot's Association Message
1-866-548-7328 Delta's CEO Jerry Grinstein's Message
1-877-715-1700 Delta's Executive Vice-President's Message Joe Kolshak...FYI he was hired as a Delta Pilot...former Marine pilot
He talks in a lot of airline lingo.
A-14 means does the airplane arrive within 14 minutes of scheduled arrival
D-0 means does the airplane leave (push from the gate) exactly on time or early
Completion factor means does the flight actually go or is it cancelled
East operation in Atlanta means that the runways are oriented East and West. If you're taking off to the east, the gates are right next to the runway with very little taxiway room for people to wait to take-off unlike taking off to the west which is a long taxiway and much more room to put airplanes waiting to take off
Runway resurfacing means that in Atlanta on one of the 5 runways they have taken the runway down to the dirt and are resurfacing. This also means a big mess in Atlanta.
1-800-715-4001 then press 1 Delta Airlines Corporate Communication Daily Message from The Ministry of Propaganda and Misinformation
Have Fun
Friday, September 22, 2006
My Airline
I really wish I could post the letter I just received from the Vice-President of flight operations.
He is a pilot who schmoozed his way through the ranks and weaseled his way into upper management. I mean that in the nicest way.
I don't understand why a pilot would want to sit behind a desk for his entire career. Why did he become a pilot in the first place? Oh well.
I changed my mind about posting the letter.
The company name is now ****.
Anyway, what is funny about this letter is the italicized part.
I get letters or bulletins on a frequent basis that the airline has gathered a "cross-divisional team" to fix problem abc.
The problem is it never works because once they have their big pow-wow and make new policy, nobody ever follows through with consequences to make sure it is being implemented.
The other reason it never works is that they change their policy constantly. Because they don't have consequences and accountability, changes never work. Consequently, another "cross-divisional team" is assembled to make more recommendations and changes that again will not be followed. Sooner or later the employee who has now seen 54 "cross-divisional teams" with their changes now says when he receives one of the letters, "yea, right, whatever" because they know it's all nonsense that won't happen. A better use of time would be to use the letter as a place setting while you eat a piece of pizza waiting for the next "cross-divisional team" to be assembled.
***** never has any consequences. If you mess up at ***** airline, they really don't do anything. Except to the pilots of course who will get vaporized by the FAA.
Another telling statement about this letter is the fact that for the last 5 years, their previous attempts to reduce APU fuel burn have been a bust. That is because of......see above. No accountability.
Well, the guy who sent this letter out is actually a new sheriff in town. We'll see if he puts some teeth into this and gets it to work.
I hate to be a party pooper...but I doubt it.
Ladies and Gentlemen....I give you the Emperor
As everyone knows, unpredictable and unstable fuel costs can have a significant impact on the success of our company's transformation.
**** has implemented numerous fuel conservation efforts throughout the company to reduce these fuel cost pressures, and as part of these efforts, a cross-divisional team has focused on excessive fuel consumption by aircraft Auxiliary Power Units (APU).
For the last five years, our attempts to reduce APU fuel burn have met with minimal success.
Rather than continue on a path that has not yielded the desired results, we plan to fundamentally change the way the entire company views APU usage.
Reducing APU fuel burn by fifty percent equates to more than $30 million in savings to ****. In order to capture those savings, we are implementing new policies and the following requirements for domestic operations starting October 1, 2006:
1. On terminating flights, flight crews should shut down the APU upon exiting the aircraft.
• On terminating flights, flight crews should complete the secure checklist and shut down the APU at all domestic stations. If ground power is not connected, this will result in a dark aircraft. The only exception to this policy is if an AMT is standing in the jet way ready to work on the aircraft and the APU is required to accomplish that work. Ground personnel shall not make requests to start or leave APUs running when contacting flight crews.
• Maintenance and ramp crews will exhaust all efforts to ensure ground power/air units are used for cleaning and servicing of overnight aircraft.
• Currently, forty-three ***** aircraft are re-positioned each night for follow-on arriving flights. When it is necessary to reposition an aircraft after block-in at the gate, qualified ground personnel will be required to start the APU to comply with safety requirements during aircraft towing.
• If overnight maintenance requirements exist and ground power is unavailable, maintenance personnel will be required to start the APU to provide system access.
• Once taxiing or maintenance is completed and ground power/air units are connected, the APU will be shut down.
• Crews should submit CORs or POEs or contact their Chief Pilot when requested to start or leave the APU running.
• The Technical Operations APU shop will gauge success of this new policy by measuring the reduction in APU hours per departure. This information will be communicated directly to the front line on a regular basis.
2. The current ATL policy of starting the APU just prior to arriving at the gate in order to expedite shutting down the main engine will be expanded to all domestic stations.
• While this policy will very slightly increase APU fuel burn, overall fuel usage should decrease as delays in switching to ground power currently increase aircraft engine fuel burn.
• Upon arrival in the gate area, flight crews should time their APU start so that the APU reaches operating speed just prior to the aircraft coming to a stop at the gate.
• Ramp crews should immediately connect ground power/air so that flight crews can shut down the APU as quickly as possible.
• For B-737-800 and MD88/90 aircraft, flight crews shall have the option of leaving the APU off on arrival. If the flight crew judges that ground electrics and conditioned air appear to be positioned for a rapid hook up (two minutes or less), then an APU-off gate arrival is approved. Due primarily to aircraft height, all other fleets shall start the APU as a standard practice.
• In order to realize improvements through this new policy, it is critical that ramp crews rapidly apply ground power. Once completed, flight crews should immediately shut down the APU. If there is a delay in the application of external power, flight crews should attempt to remedy the situation prior to leaving the aircraft.
• Passenger comfort remains a high priority and should be considered when facing extreme temperatures in the decision to shut down/start the APU. Moderate temperatures experienced during the spring and fall seasons enhance the ability of ground conditioned air to cool the aircraft.
• One other aspect of this new policy applies to stations operating an aircraft on a reduced turn time. When this occurs, the same policy applies and the APU shall be shut down as quickly as possible. Stations personnel shall not request APU start to facilitate "quick turns." APU fuel burn during quick turns must also be controlled aggressively.
• The OCC Fuel and Air Traffic Management department will determine the success of this new policy by measuring reductions of taxi-in times and reduced overall fuel usage as a result of quicker aircraft engine shut down and beacon turn off.
These new policies represent significant changes in the ways our APUs are currently used. The Fuel Conservation Team has thoroughly analyzed methods and policies that other carriers use to control APU usage and frankly, some of our competitors are doing a better job of managing their APU usage than we are. We are going to fix that through a major change in our mindset and culture. We will develop a culture of ownership surrounding APUs – if we see an APU running at a gate, we need to ask ourselves "why" and take ownership of that problem and get the situation resolved. Remember, if we reduce APU fuel burn by fifty percent, we can save the company over $30 million dollars at today’s fuel prices!
As with any change of this magnitude, there will be initial challenges and questions. Use these as opportunities to identify, improve and refine our policies, GSE equipment and procedures that are currently impeding APU fuel reductions. We are working hard to aggressively reduce fuel cost and improve our bottom line. Your involvement and dedicated support is critical to supporting *****'s transformation and the future of our company.
Thank you.
He is a pilot who schmoozed his way through the ranks and weaseled his way into upper management. I mean that in the nicest way.
I don't understand why a pilot would want to sit behind a desk for his entire career. Why did he become a pilot in the first place? Oh well.
I changed my mind about posting the letter.
The company name is now ****.
Anyway, what is funny about this letter is the italicized part.
I get letters or bulletins on a frequent basis that the airline has gathered a "cross-divisional team" to fix problem abc.
The problem is it never works because once they have their big pow-wow and make new policy, nobody ever follows through with consequences to make sure it is being implemented.
The other reason it never works is that they change their policy constantly. Because they don't have consequences and accountability, changes never work. Consequently, another "cross-divisional team" is assembled to make more recommendations and changes that again will not be followed. Sooner or later the employee who has now seen 54 "cross-divisional teams" with their changes now says when he receives one of the letters, "yea, right, whatever" because they know it's all nonsense that won't happen. A better use of time would be to use the letter as a place setting while you eat a piece of pizza waiting for the next "cross-divisional team" to be assembled.
***** never has any consequences. If you mess up at ***** airline, they really don't do anything. Except to the pilots of course who will get vaporized by the FAA.
Another telling statement about this letter is the fact that for the last 5 years, their previous attempts to reduce APU fuel burn have been a bust. That is because of......see above. No accountability.
Well, the guy who sent this letter out is actually a new sheriff in town. We'll see if he puts some teeth into this and gets it to work.
I hate to be a party pooper...but I doubt it.
Ladies and Gentlemen....I give you the Emperor
As everyone knows, unpredictable and unstable fuel costs can have a significant impact on the success of our company's transformation.
**** has implemented numerous fuel conservation efforts throughout the company to reduce these fuel cost pressures, and as part of these efforts, a cross-divisional team has focused on excessive fuel consumption by aircraft Auxiliary Power Units (APU).
For the last five years, our attempts to reduce APU fuel burn have met with minimal success.
Rather than continue on a path that has not yielded the desired results, we plan to fundamentally change the way the entire company views APU usage.
Reducing APU fuel burn by fifty percent equates to more than $30 million in savings to ****. In order to capture those savings, we are implementing new policies and the following requirements for domestic operations starting October 1, 2006:
1. On terminating flights, flight crews should shut down the APU upon exiting the aircraft.
• On terminating flights, flight crews should complete the secure checklist and shut down the APU at all domestic stations. If ground power is not connected, this will result in a dark aircraft. The only exception to this policy is if an AMT is standing in the jet way ready to work on the aircraft and the APU is required to accomplish that work. Ground personnel shall not make requests to start or leave APUs running when contacting flight crews.
• Maintenance and ramp crews will exhaust all efforts to ensure ground power/air units are used for cleaning and servicing of overnight aircraft.
• Currently, forty-three ***** aircraft are re-positioned each night for follow-on arriving flights. When it is necessary to reposition an aircraft after block-in at the gate, qualified ground personnel will be required to start the APU to comply with safety requirements during aircraft towing.
• If overnight maintenance requirements exist and ground power is unavailable, maintenance personnel will be required to start the APU to provide system access.
• Once taxiing or maintenance is completed and ground power/air units are connected, the APU will be shut down.
• Crews should submit CORs or POEs or contact their Chief Pilot when requested to start or leave the APU running.
• The Technical Operations APU shop will gauge success of this new policy by measuring the reduction in APU hours per departure. This information will be communicated directly to the front line on a regular basis.
2. The current ATL policy of starting the APU just prior to arriving at the gate in order to expedite shutting down the main engine will be expanded to all domestic stations.
• While this policy will very slightly increase APU fuel burn, overall fuel usage should decrease as delays in switching to ground power currently increase aircraft engine fuel burn.
• Upon arrival in the gate area, flight crews should time their APU start so that the APU reaches operating speed just prior to the aircraft coming to a stop at the gate.
• Ramp crews should immediately connect ground power/air so that flight crews can shut down the APU as quickly as possible.
• For B-737-800 and MD88/90 aircraft, flight crews shall have the option of leaving the APU off on arrival. If the flight crew judges that ground electrics and conditioned air appear to be positioned for a rapid hook up (two minutes or less), then an APU-off gate arrival is approved. Due primarily to aircraft height, all other fleets shall start the APU as a standard practice.
• In order to realize improvements through this new policy, it is critical that ramp crews rapidly apply ground power. Once completed, flight crews should immediately shut down the APU. If there is a delay in the application of external power, flight crews should attempt to remedy the situation prior to leaving the aircraft.
• Passenger comfort remains a high priority and should be considered when facing extreme temperatures in the decision to shut down/start the APU. Moderate temperatures experienced during the spring and fall seasons enhance the ability of ground conditioned air to cool the aircraft.
• One other aspect of this new policy applies to stations operating an aircraft on a reduced turn time. When this occurs, the same policy applies and the APU shall be shut down as quickly as possible. Stations personnel shall not request APU start to facilitate "quick turns." APU fuel burn during quick turns must also be controlled aggressively.
• The OCC Fuel and Air Traffic Management department will determine the success of this new policy by measuring reductions of taxi-in times and reduced overall fuel usage as a result of quicker aircraft engine shut down and beacon turn off.
These new policies represent significant changes in the ways our APUs are currently used. The Fuel Conservation Team has thoroughly analyzed methods and policies that other carriers use to control APU usage and frankly, some of our competitors are doing a better job of managing their APU usage than we are. We are going to fix that through a major change in our mindset and culture. We will develop a culture of ownership surrounding APUs – if we see an APU running at a gate, we need to ask ourselves "why" and take ownership of that problem and get the situation resolved. Remember, if we reduce APU fuel burn by fifty percent, we can save the company over $30 million dollars at today’s fuel prices!
As with any change of this magnitude, there will be initial challenges and questions. Use these as opportunities to identify, improve and refine our policies, GSE equipment and procedures that are currently impeding APU fuel reductions. We are working hard to aggressively reduce fuel cost and improve our bottom line. Your involvement and dedicated support is critical to supporting *****'s transformation and the future of our company.
Thank you.
The Rich Get Richer
Below is an excerpt from a Forbes article on the 400 richest in America.
For the first time ever they are all Billionaires.
The part in italics is ironic. This guy got rich by brokering low-income housing projects.
Oh well, there's really not much more to say.
The Billionaires' Club
Edited by Matthew Miller and Tatiana SerafinForbes.com
A nine-figure fortune won't get you much mention these days, at least not in these pages. This year, for the first time, everyone on The Forbes 400 has at least $1 billion. The collective net worth of the nation's wealthiest climbed $120 billion, to $1.25 trillion.
Surging real estate, oil and other asset prices paved the way for 28 new members.
Developer John P. Manning used political savvy to build a $1.1 billion fortune, in part by brokering low-income housing projects
For the first time ever they are all Billionaires.
The part in italics is ironic. This guy got rich by brokering low-income housing projects.
Oh well, there's really not much more to say.
The Billionaires' Club
Edited by Matthew Miller and Tatiana SerafinForbes.com
A nine-figure fortune won't get you much mention these days, at least not in these pages. This year, for the first time, everyone on The Forbes 400 has at least $1 billion. The collective net worth of the nation's wealthiest climbed $120 billion, to $1.25 trillion.
Surging real estate, oil and other asset prices paved the way for 28 new members.
Developer John P. Manning used political savvy to build a $1.1 billion fortune, in part by brokering low-income housing projects
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Coming Home for Christmas
The troops were told that they would be home for Christmas.
Oooops. The Generals changed their minds.
The situation in Iraq is so bad that now they have to stay until at least April until replacements come.
I think when I was in the USAF, I only missed one Thanksgiving. Maybe two.
There isn't a worse feeling that on Thanksgiving or Christmas to be 1/2 way around the world without your family. It stinks. And when I did it people weren't trying to kill me and I was sleeping in a bed in a hotel not in a tent.
So take that feeling and add onto it the disappointment of thinking you'll be home for Christmas only to have your hopes crushed.
That is really bad.
I know that they are serving their country and things aren't certain and they have to make sacrifices. Whatever. This stinks.
I feel so sorry for those soldiers and I hope that they all come home in one piece very soon.
Oooops. The Generals changed their minds.
The situation in Iraq is so bad that now they have to stay until at least April until replacements come.
I think when I was in the USAF, I only missed one Thanksgiving. Maybe two.
There isn't a worse feeling that on Thanksgiving or Christmas to be 1/2 way around the world without your family. It stinks. And when I did it people weren't trying to kill me and I was sleeping in a bed in a hotel not in a tent.
So take that feeling and add onto it the disappointment of thinking you'll be home for Christmas only to have your hopes crushed.
That is really bad.
I know that they are serving their country and things aren't certain and they have to make sacrifices. Whatever. This stinks.
I feel so sorry for those soldiers and I hope that they all come home in one piece very soon.
Oil, Venezuela, the Devil and Bush
President Chavez, the Venezuelan dictator, gave a speech at the United Nations the day after President Bush's speech.
He called Bush the devil in his speech.
News reporters and the administration were aghast that he would say such a thing on our own soil against our El Presidente.
Well, first we have free speech, don't we?
We should applaud our freedoms and say great, see Chavez, you can say whatever you want here and you don't do to jail.
And the only reason anyone cares one hoot about Chavez or what he has to say is......OIL.
If it weren't for oil, no one in this administration would care.
But because of our failed or better yet, no energy policies, we have to bow down to countries like Venezuela and Iran because they can turn the spigot off.
Then we would be hosed. And they know it.
What a mess we have ourselves in.
He called Bush the devil in his speech.
News reporters and the administration were aghast that he would say such a thing on our own soil against our El Presidente.
Well, first we have free speech, don't we?
We should applaud our freedoms and say great, see Chavez, you can say whatever you want here and you don't do to jail.
And the only reason anyone cares one hoot about Chavez or what he has to say is......OIL.
If it weren't for oil, no one in this administration would care.
But because of our failed or better yet, no energy policies, we have to bow down to countries like Venezuela and Iran because they can turn the spigot off.
Then we would be hosed. And they know it.
What a mess we have ourselves in.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Bump on the Head
The other day there was a couple flying on my plane that were in their 70s I would say.
As they were getting up to get out of the plane, a passenger in the aisle pulled a carry on out of the overhead and hit the woman in the head.
She went ballistic.
She was hot.
And mad at us.
What in the world do we have to do with a dingbat who pulls their stuff out and smacks some one in the head.
Maybe not even a dingbat.
I've almost done it.
It's a mistake, an accident, an oops.
And the lady wasn't hurt. I looked at her. She was just furious.
So the gate agent is trying to help her and get all of her information which made her livid.
What did she want?
We asked he if she wanted us to get the paramedics.
Then she said, well, you know I don't even want to sue Delta.
Good. Because we didn't do anything, much less anything wrong.
Plus we're in bankruptcy, so sue us and get in line with everybody else.
As they were getting up to get out of the plane, a passenger in the aisle pulled a carry on out of the overhead and hit the woman in the head.
She went ballistic.
She was hot.
And mad at us.
What in the world do we have to do with a dingbat who pulls their stuff out and smacks some one in the head.
Maybe not even a dingbat.
I've almost done it.
It's a mistake, an accident, an oops.
And the lady wasn't hurt. I looked at her. She was just furious.
So the gate agent is trying to help her and get all of her information which made her livid.
What did she want?
We asked he if she wanted us to get the paramedics.
Then she said, well, you know I don't even want to sue Delta.
Good. Because we didn't do anything, much less anything wrong.
Plus we're in bankruptcy, so sue us and get in line with everybody else.
Two Ladies
I saw this exchange today.
Two ladies were going into Petsmart. Both were carrying pets inside, cats I think, in carriers.
They recognize each other and the one says:
Oh Margaret, how are you
Hangin in there, but just barely
Me too, just making it (in other words, I don't want to hear your woes)
She doesn't get this subtle clue that her friend isn't interested and starts in:
Oh my Mother died recently and I have all these ailments that she starts to list.
The other lady looked like she was going to die....AHHHHH don't tell me your troubles
That was an interesting display of human nature.
I wonder why the lady that recounted all of her woes didn't pick up on the clues her friend was giving that she didn't really care or have time to see how she was doing?
And why did the friend not pick up on her obvious distress and put her cat down and say, Oh Margaret, you don't sound well, tell me what's going on.
I guess they both got what they wanted.
Two ladies were going into Petsmart. Both were carrying pets inside, cats I think, in carriers.
They recognize each other and the one says:
Oh Margaret, how are you
Hangin in there, but just barely
Me too, just making it (in other words, I don't want to hear your woes)
She doesn't get this subtle clue that her friend isn't interested and starts in:
Oh my Mother died recently and I have all these ailments that she starts to list.
The other lady looked like she was going to die....AHHHHH don't tell me your troubles
That was an interesting display of human nature.
I wonder why the lady that recounted all of her woes didn't pick up on the clues her friend was giving that she didn't really care or have time to see how she was doing?
And why did the friend not pick up on her obvious distress and put her cat down and say, Oh Margaret, you don't sound well, tell me what's going on.
I guess they both got what they wanted.
Friday, September 15, 2006
Ford Workers Get it
I feel their pain and know exactly what they're going through.
Do to the gross mismanagement of their company, the workers are going to take it you know where.
The worst part is the uncertainty.
This lady says it best.
"I'm a nervous wreck about this," said Angelita Church, who has worked for 10 years at Ford. "If our plant closes, our jobs are gone."
So she spends 10 years working at Ford and this is what she has to deal with.
This kind of stress will really mess you up.
The story is below.
Workers ponder their options
Buyouts range from $35,000 to $140,000
Sharon Terlep / The Detroit News
WAYNE -- Ford Motor Co.'s jittery blue-collar ranks welcomed news Thursday that the automaker will offer more buyouts to thin its factory work force, though many remain fearful about their future.
All of Ford's 75,000 hourly workers in the United States will be eligible for at least one of several buyout packages, which range from college tuition payments for themselves or their family members to $140,000 lump-sum payouts.
"The way things are right now in the industry, I probably don't stand a chance of retiring with this company anyway," said Felicia Stewart, who works at Ford's Wayne Asssembly Plant where the Focus is built.
Stewart, 38, has two teenagers and said she could use help sending them to college. She's considering taking a buyout even though she is years from retirement age.
"This would give me a chance at something new," she said.
News of the buyout deal reached with the United Auto Workers came a day before Ford planned to lay out details of a restructuring plan that likely will include major job cuts and accelerated plant closings.
The buyout packages are tied to length of service and other eligibility factors. They include five options that were offered to UAW Ford hourly workers in some locations in February, during a first round of buyout offers, plus three additional options. Offers include $35,000 payouts that come with full retirement benefits, $140,000 buyouts with no coverage, and include options to pay for up to $100,000 in college or vocational education for workers, their spouses and children.
"Our goal is to help our members and their families, and to make sure than any reduction in the work force at Ford takes place on a voluntary basis," said UAW Vice President Bob King, who directs the union's Ford Department.
Ford workers will have to sign up for the buyouts by Nov. 27. Ford wants to complete them by Sept. 1, 2007.
Some want new start
For many workers like Stewart, the plan gives them a better chance at starting a new life outside the factory. They can open businesses, take other jobs or go to school in hopes of launching a new career. Several workers who didn't make the cut in the first round of buyouts said on Thursday they will take the new offers.
For many younger workers, the buyouts provide hope that they will be able to keep their jobs as more senior employees opt to leave.
"Everybody's hoping they'll take the buyouts and free up space so people like me will have jobs," said David Labon, who has 16 years at Ford. "Everyone's nervous and no one knows what's going to happen.
"Even though we're on overtime right now," making the Focus, he said, "we know things can change in a second."
Employees getting off their 10-hour morning shifts at the Wayne plant were eager to learn of the deals. Many spent the day at work trying to learn any details they could.
Workers feel fearful
"I'm a nervous wreck about this," said Angelita Church, who has worked for 10 years at Ford. "If our plant closes, our jobs are gone."
Church said even if she takes a buyout, a plant closing would hit hard since she lives in Wayne, home to Wayne Assembly and Ford's Michigan Truck plant.
"Half the people in my city have their house for sale or in foreclosure," she said. "I don't know if I'm about to join them."
Church gathered in the plant parking lot with some coworkers after work and speculated on their futures with Ford.
Tammy Ayres has worked at Ford 12 years and has two children, a 5-year-old and a teenager attending Michigan State University.
"Where's Michigan going to go after all this?" she said. "Maybe we're all going to have to move to Mexico where they're building new plants."
Rhonda Faulkner, with 16 years at Ford, said she's struggling with whether to take a buyout. She thinks she needs to keep her plant job since she couldn't afford to live on what she's being offered to leave.
"If I stay, are they going to put me down to $14 an hour?" she said. "I can't live on that."
Do to the gross mismanagement of their company, the workers are going to take it you know where.
The worst part is the uncertainty.
This lady says it best.
"I'm a nervous wreck about this," said Angelita Church, who has worked for 10 years at Ford. "If our plant closes, our jobs are gone."
So she spends 10 years working at Ford and this is what she has to deal with.
This kind of stress will really mess you up.
The story is below.
Workers ponder their options
Buyouts range from $35,000 to $140,000
Sharon Terlep / The Detroit News
WAYNE -- Ford Motor Co.'s jittery blue-collar ranks welcomed news Thursday that the automaker will offer more buyouts to thin its factory work force, though many remain fearful about their future.
All of Ford's 75,000 hourly workers in the United States will be eligible for at least one of several buyout packages, which range from college tuition payments for themselves or their family members to $140,000 lump-sum payouts.
"The way things are right now in the industry, I probably don't stand a chance of retiring with this company anyway," said Felicia Stewart, who works at Ford's Wayne Asssembly Plant where the Focus is built.
Stewart, 38, has two teenagers and said she could use help sending them to college. She's considering taking a buyout even though she is years from retirement age.
"This would give me a chance at something new," she said.
News of the buyout deal reached with the United Auto Workers came a day before Ford planned to lay out details of a restructuring plan that likely will include major job cuts and accelerated plant closings.
The buyout packages are tied to length of service and other eligibility factors. They include five options that were offered to UAW Ford hourly workers in some locations in February, during a first round of buyout offers, plus three additional options. Offers include $35,000 payouts that come with full retirement benefits, $140,000 buyouts with no coverage, and include options to pay for up to $100,000 in college or vocational education for workers, their spouses and children.
"Our goal is to help our members and their families, and to make sure than any reduction in the work force at Ford takes place on a voluntary basis," said UAW Vice President Bob King, who directs the union's Ford Department.
Ford workers will have to sign up for the buyouts by Nov. 27. Ford wants to complete them by Sept. 1, 2007.
Some want new start
For many workers like Stewart, the plan gives them a better chance at starting a new life outside the factory. They can open businesses, take other jobs or go to school in hopes of launching a new career. Several workers who didn't make the cut in the first round of buyouts said on Thursday they will take the new offers.
For many younger workers, the buyouts provide hope that they will be able to keep their jobs as more senior employees opt to leave.
"Everybody's hoping they'll take the buyouts and free up space so people like me will have jobs," said David Labon, who has 16 years at Ford. "Everyone's nervous and no one knows what's going to happen.
"Even though we're on overtime right now," making the Focus, he said, "we know things can change in a second."
Employees getting off their 10-hour morning shifts at the Wayne plant were eager to learn of the deals. Many spent the day at work trying to learn any details they could.
Workers feel fearful
"I'm a nervous wreck about this," said Angelita Church, who has worked for 10 years at Ford. "If our plant closes, our jobs are gone."
Church said even if she takes a buyout, a plant closing would hit hard since she lives in Wayne, home to Wayne Assembly and Ford's Michigan Truck plant.
"Half the people in my city have their house for sale or in foreclosure," she said. "I don't know if I'm about to join them."
Church gathered in the plant parking lot with some coworkers after work and speculated on their futures with Ford.
Tammy Ayres has worked at Ford 12 years and has two children, a 5-year-old and a teenager attending Michigan State University.
"Where's Michigan going to go after all this?" she said. "Maybe we're all going to have to move to Mexico where they're building new plants."
Rhonda Faulkner, with 16 years at Ford, said she's struggling with whether to take a buyout. She thinks she needs to keep her plant job since she couldn't afford to live on what she's being offered to leave.
"If I stay, are they going to put me down to $14 an hour?" she said. "I can't live on that."
The President and his Party Detractors
President Bush wants to change the Geneva Convention and allow Al-Queada suspects to be tried in a military court etc.
Sen John McCain is against this and he was a POW for several years in Viet Nam.
General Colin Powell who the President duped into giving that false speech at the United Nations in support of the war is against it.
A lot of other former generals and high ranking Republicans are too.
It's a really bad idea because it can affect how our prisoners will be treated in future wars.
If we just discard the Geneva Conventions and make up our own rules then that is exactly what will happen to our POWs in the future.
At what point will Bush get a clue?
I understand sticking by your guns and your principles. But when your own party members and very respected military people tell you this is a bad idea, shouldn't you rethink this?
And especially if they're telling you this weeks before the election.
They certainly wouldn't speak up unless they thought it was really egregious.
Does Bush ever say, you know, I've thought about this again and I was wrong. Changed my mind.
I don't think he's ever changed his mind about anything.
A good leader takes input from many people and does change his mind and the direction he's going.
I guess that isn't something the George can do.
Sen John McCain is against this and he was a POW for several years in Viet Nam.
General Colin Powell who the President duped into giving that false speech at the United Nations in support of the war is against it.
A lot of other former generals and high ranking Republicans are too.
It's a really bad idea because it can affect how our prisoners will be treated in future wars.
If we just discard the Geneva Conventions and make up our own rules then that is exactly what will happen to our POWs in the future.
At what point will Bush get a clue?
I understand sticking by your guns and your principles. But when your own party members and very respected military people tell you this is a bad idea, shouldn't you rethink this?
And especially if they're telling you this weeks before the election.
They certainly wouldn't speak up unless they thought it was really egregious.
Does Bush ever say, you know, I've thought about this again and I was wrong. Changed my mind.
I don't think he's ever changed his mind about anything.
A good leader takes input from many people and does change his mind and the direction he's going.
I guess that isn't something the George can do.
Dr. Laura
Dr. Laura has really changed.
I stopped listening to her a few years ago because she was so mean and nasty.
Really mean.
But now she's different.
It's the same message but now she acts like a human being.
I don't know if this is true but I would say that it had something to do with her transformation.
When she was mean, she was on the top of the world.
Always on Larry King and then she got her own TV show.
The show bombed right after she went after the gays. I don't think that had anything to do with it because her TV show was horrible.
Then her only child...and don't take this the wrong way....enlisted in the Army.
She used to talk about Derrick on the show and how smart he was etc.
He was her baby and I'm sure that she had visions of him going to college and becoming a successful whatever.
Money sure wasn't the issue for not going to college.
Well little Derrick didn't go to college. He enlisted in the Army.
There's nothing wrong with the Army. It's a great place. But....if you're able to afford college and don't go....it seems to me that he was probably rebelling against his mother or at least that's the way she probably thinks that the public sees it...and she's right.
Her family and life isn't so perfect after all. A little humble pie has done her a lot of good and now she's very entertaining to listen to and I actually agree with most of what she says.
That for me is the entertaining part. Listening to the callers and then trying to figure out what I would say to them and then see if I was in agreement with her.
So for now, I'm back as an occasional Dr. Laura listener.
I stopped listening to her a few years ago because she was so mean and nasty.
Really mean.
But now she's different.
It's the same message but now she acts like a human being.
I don't know if this is true but I would say that it had something to do with her transformation.
When she was mean, she was on the top of the world.
Always on Larry King and then she got her own TV show.
The show bombed right after she went after the gays. I don't think that had anything to do with it because her TV show was horrible.
Then her only child...and don't take this the wrong way....enlisted in the Army.
She used to talk about Derrick on the show and how smart he was etc.
He was her baby and I'm sure that she had visions of him going to college and becoming a successful whatever.
Money sure wasn't the issue for not going to college.
Well little Derrick didn't go to college. He enlisted in the Army.
There's nothing wrong with the Army. It's a great place. But....if you're able to afford college and don't go....it seems to me that he was probably rebelling against his mother or at least that's the way she probably thinks that the public sees it...and she's right.
Her family and life isn't so perfect after all. A little humble pie has done her a lot of good and now she's very entertaining to listen to and I actually agree with most of what she says.
That for me is the entertaining part. Listening to the callers and then trying to figure out what I would say to them and then see if I was in agreement with her.
So for now, I'm back as an occasional Dr. Laura listener.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
The Employee Bus and Hair
The employee bus in Atlanta is exceptionally unpleasant.
There are usually people yelling on their cell phones, it's dirty, crowded and stinks of exhaust fumes.
But, occasionally there is some entertainment. Or entertainment for me since I am not normal.
A few rows ahead and off to my left is a Captain who has a unique head.
First the head is big and strangely oblong.
Second the top 2/3 of the head look like a finely polished piece of marble.
What was really weird was about two inches above his ears was dark brown very very thick luxurious hair.
Now there wasn't a strand above this line. Nothing. But all of a sudden, out of this marble, was growing thick beautiful chocolate brown hair. And it was in the back in a weird semi-circular pattern.
Now I looked at him and thanked God that I have my hair. Thank you thank you thank you.
Then I wondered what I would do with that head if it was mine.
Currently it looked really ridiculous. If you shaved it all off, you would have a huge piece of marble.
So I think what I would do would be to shave the hair that is left way down. So it didn't look so strange.
Thank you Mr Marblehead.
You made my bus trip seem much faster.
There are usually people yelling on their cell phones, it's dirty, crowded and stinks of exhaust fumes.
But, occasionally there is some entertainment. Or entertainment for me since I am not normal.
A few rows ahead and off to my left is a Captain who has a unique head.
First the head is big and strangely oblong.
Second the top 2/3 of the head look like a finely polished piece of marble.
What was really weird was about two inches above his ears was dark brown very very thick luxurious hair.
Now there wasn't a strand above this line. Nothing. But all of a sudden, out of this marble, was growing thick beautiful chocolate brown hair. And it was in the back in a weird semi-circular pattern.
Now I looked at him and thanked God that I have my hair. Thank you thank you thank you.
Then I wondered what I would do with that head if it was mine.
Currently it looked really ridiculous. If you shaved it all off, you would have a huge piece of marble.
So I think what I would do would be to shave the hair that is left way down. So it didn't look so strange.
Thank you Mr Marblehead.
You made my bus trip seem much faster.
Asleep at the Wheel
I did another all night flight from the west coast to the east coast a few weeks ago.
We left about 2am east coast time.
Flying time going eastbound is usually 4-5 hours. Sometimes more depending on the wind.
I got about 3 hours sleep before the flight which is unusually good for me.
And I slept about 45 minutes in the plane. (we're not supposed to do that)
My co-pilot was not able to sleep before the flight or in the air.
So, here we are on downwind for the airport on the east coast at 4000 feet. Downwind means that you are parallel to the runway and will make two more turns for landing.
I look over a the co-pilot and his mouth is open and eyes closed. I knew he was having a hard time because during the flight he got progressively more cranky.
I wondered when I looked at him if he was asleep.
I was flying and he was working the radios.
After two missed radio calls he came to and yes, he was asleep.
He didn't intend to go to sleep, he just did.
Uncontrolled sleep at 4000 feet.
Cool, huh?
Anyone else want to defend all night flying?
We left about 2am east coast time.
Flying time going eastbound is usually 4-5 hours. Sometimes more depending on the wind.
I got about 3 hours sleep before the flight which is unusually good for me.
And I slept about 45 minutes in the plane. (we're not supposed to do that)
My co-pilot was not able to sleep before the flight or in the air.
So, here we are on downwind for the airport on the east coast at 4000 feet. Downwind means that you are parallel to the runway and will make two more turns for landing.
I look over a the co-pilot and his mouth is open and eyes closed. I knew he was having a hard time because during the flight he got progressively more cranky.
I wondered when I looked at him if he was asleep.
I was flying and he was working the radios.
After two missed radio calls he came to and yes, he was asleep.
He didn't intend to go to sleep, he just did.
Uncontrolled sleep at 4000 feet.
Cool, huh?
Anyone else want to defend all night flying?
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Uncle Jerry
I just received this letter from our CEO Jerry Grinstein.
He added a PS at the end, just like a cheesy Ed McMahon letter would, inviting me to share this letter with my friends. Which means to me, all of you.
Let me give you some background on Jerry.
He is a zillionaire who has been on Delta's board of directors for 17 since the Western Airlines merger.
So first there was Ron Allen our CEO until the mid 90s. Ron was mildly retarded but even he could make money in the old days.
Then they fired him and hired Leo Mullin.
Leo knew nothing about airlines and was a banker.
Here are some of Leo's accomplishments.
Immediately alienated the entire pilot group.
Messed up a already done deal merger with Continental because he told their CEO he was going to fire 5000 Continental employees and no Delta people.
Bought back 2 Billion dollars (in cash) of Delta stock which is now worth nothing.
Lost about $700 million down the drain on the Comair strike.
Completely misunderstood what the Internet was doing to the airline industry which contributed to our ruin.
Thought after 9/11 everything would return to normal with business people paying $3000 for one way tickets.
Created Senior Executive Retirement Plans for himself and a few others totalling $65 million to ensure and safeguard their pensions that they didn't earn while the employees lost theirs.
On and on.
Who was on the board of directors during this entire time?
You guessed it.
Uncle Jerry.
Now Jerry says that during this time he didn't know what was going on and certainly didn't approve of any of these things.
Isn't that what the board of directors does?
Silly me.
This letter is all propaganda from the Delta Airlines Ministry of Misinformation.
Lot's of good news. But the paragraph below is the one that really ticks me off.
They can't say anything good without couching it in doom and gloom.
Look Jerry. I do my job, you do yours. The drivel below about competition, fuel costs blah blah blah is your problem. Stop trying to scare me.
"Clearly, we are not out of the woods financially and our work to improve and give you the tools you need to do your job well is far from over. The competition is relentless; we’re headed into historically slower traffic months; the marketplace is more challenging and unpredictable than ever – particularly in light of consistently elevated fuel prices and added complexities and strains associated with new security concerns; and we need to be able to afford to invest in our airline and our people going forward."
So without further ado and because Uncle Jerry asked me to share this with you, I give you.....His Royal Highness:
Take it away Jerry.
Gerald Grinstein
Chief Executive Officer
August 25, 2006
Dear Delta Colleague:
We fast are approaching the one-year mark of our Chapter 11 filing – a good opportunity to review what we have accomplished together so far under difficult circumstances, and take a look at what lies ahead. Without a doubt, these are demanding times at Delta. Even so, we are ahead of expectations and surpassing our own aggressive milestones in our quest to emerge from bankruptcy by mid-next year as a profitable, more fiercely competitive, stand-alone airline – a mission that must and will benefit all Delta people. The pace of this progress is a tribute to you and your superior work.
Even as Delta people were significantly improving our company, you also were contributing to the success of an equally crucial effort in Washington, D.C. In yet another example of Delta people ’s hard and effective work, the Pension Protection Act was signed into law on Aug. 17. The legislation provides Delta with the opportunity to preserve the already-earned defined pension plan benefits for tens of thousands of active and retired ground employees and flight attendants – something we very much wanted to do. There is no question that the more than 100,000 messages sent and countless visits to Congress by active and retired Delta people helped bring victory to the campaign for pension reform. You are the real champions of an historic effort that will make a difference in people ’s lives for years to
come. Congratulations! A special “thank you” also must go to Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) for his leadership, and to Delta pilots for their unwavering support even after it became clear that this legislation could not save their plan.
Anyone unaware of what Delta people can accomplish when they rally together to meet a challenge need look no further than pension reform – although closer to home, you all are racking up plenty of other examples and your good work is beginning to get the recognition it deserves:
•Improving operations : Delta moved up from the middle of the pack to top-tier in on-time
performance, and recently was awarded the highest cabin cleanliness ranking among the majors, wresting the title from Continental for the first time;
•Exceptional customer service: In another survey, we just became the first network carrier to beat a low-cost carrier in customer service, while at the same time managing record load factors;
•Better products: With almost 300 of our fleet’s cabins refurbished and another 50 scheduled this year, we are the only airline to receive an “Among the Best” rating – the highest rating – for our aircraft interiors in the recent J.D. Power customer satisfaction survey. And there’s more to come.
Just wait until our customers experience the long overdue improvements we’re making to our JFK and Atlanta facilities and fly on the first of the Song airplanes being converted to mainline. With its state-of-the-art features, we expect it to create a new standard for trans-continental service when it
rolls out this fall;
•Expanded, more profitable network: With the December schedule, Delta will be the only U.S. carrier serving five continents non-stop from New York and, with our Delta Connection carriers, will remain the only carrier serving all 50 states. This year’s addition of nearly 50 new international routes to 40 cities in 23 countries gives us one of the world’s fastest growing international route systems, even as we eliminate more than 100 older, less efficient aircraft from our fleet;
•New opportunities: Our plans to add 10 757s with ETOPS capability able to fly across the
Atlantic and to Hawaii, gain access to the world’s most popular business route – New York to London through Gatwick – and become a leader in the Los Angeles-to-Mexico marketplace by expanding our service in what is one of the country’s largest Hispanic travel markets are just some of the new opportunities Delta is pursuing to more nimbly capture market share and grow.
•Improved financial condition: As a result of better service and products, smart pricing actions, significant international expansion and a more strategic domestic schedule, in June we generated 95 percent of industry-average unit revenues – a significant turnaround from June of last year’s 90 percent. To date, this reflects a significant revenue improvement over our 2006 operating plan. Remarkable – and necessary, because we still are expecting to post a significant loss this year.
Clearly, we are not out of the woods financially and our work to improve and give you the tools you need to do your job well is far from over. The competition is relentless; we’re headed into historically slower traffic months; the marketplace is more challenging and unpredictable than ever – particularly in light of consistently elevated fuel prices and added complexities and strains associated with new security concerns; and we need to be able to afford to invest in our airline and our people going forward.
We must remain diligent and embrace the notion that change and the need for continuous improvement will be constant companions as we strive to regain and maintain the top spot in the industry. Because of this, and our commitment to ensure the contributions you’ve made to this company will not be squandered, we’re involving all Delta stakeholders in our restructuring and aggressively pursuing every opportunity to operate more efficiently and bring all of our costs in line with the new market realities:
•We are implementing our restructuring plans for the majority of our mainline fleet, with lower lease payments and the return or sale of older, less efficient aircraft, that so far are expected to result in almost $400 million in annual cost savings;
•Restructuring plans for nearly one-third of our regional jet fleet are being implemented, with more to come;
•We have reached preliminary agreements to achieve much of our targeted savings on airport and other facility costs – with more in the pipeline, and more than 600 vendor contracts are being reviewed and renegotiated;
•Our fuel hedging program has saved millions of dollars during the first four months of this year, and we have almost half of our anticipated third-quarter fuel needs hedged as of July 31. A newly launched tool designed to save fuel by more evenly spacing landings at our Atlanta hub, coupled with many of your suggestions and our other initiatives, could help us realize more than $40 million in fuel savings this year;
•The process to reduce Delta’s costs for retiree medical health care benefits has begun; and
•A partnership with IBM has been formed to significantly reduce technology infrastructure costs while enhancing our information technology capabilities.
As a result of ongoing efforts like these and your contributions, Delta has closed the gap between our cost structure and the low-cost carrier average by more than a third.
To be on track to achieve a $2 billion financial turnaround in just 12 months – or more than two-thirds of our total $3 billion restructuring goal in annual financial improvements by the end of this year – while at the same time improving our customers’ experience, executing and excelling at the safe, clean and ontime fundamentals, and generating greater revenues is nothing short of extraordinary. And remember – this is on top of the $5 billion transformation plan Delta already achieved as compared to 2002. Most companies and their people could not handle this magnitude of change and the pressure it brings – but Delta could and is, and it is because of Delta people like you.
While our pace is by necessity fast, we are in a marathon, not a sprint. Therefore, we also must focus beyond our planned emergence from bankruptcy by mid-next year. Accordingly, we are developing a five-year plan designed to place and keep us positioned to succeed in what is a highly competitive and never-ending race. You will be hearing more about Delta’s five-year plan, which is a key component of our strategy to exit Chapter 11, in the months ahead.
Delta’s progress is good. There is no question your hard work is helping transform Delta’s goals into realities in what we cannot forget is the most challenging of times for the most uncertain and toughest of industries. As thestreet.com recently proclaimed, “The biggest surprise in the airline industry may be taking off in Atlanta!” – and it is due to you. Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
P.S. This letter is being sent to your home because we thought you might like to share it with your family and friends. We appreciate that the change our industry and Delta are going through has affected them too. They should know how much their support has mattered, and be able to share in the pride of the progress your hard work and contributions are helping make possible.
He added a PS at the end, just like a cheesy Ed McMahon letter would, inviting me to share this letter with my friends. Which means to me, all of you.
Let me give you some background on Jerry.
He is a zillionaire who has been on Delta's board of directors for 17 since the Western Airlines merger.
So first there was Ron Allen our CEO until the mid 90s. Ron was mildly retarded but even he could make money in the old days.
Then they fired him and hired Leo Mullin.
Leo knew nothing about airlines and was a banker.
Here are some of Leo's accomplishments.
Immediately alienated the entire pilot group.
Messed up a already done deal merger with Continental because he told their CEO he was going to fire 5000 Continental employees and no Delta people.
Bought back 2 Billion dollars (in cash) of Delta stock which is now worth nothing.
Lost about $700 million down the drain on the Comair strike.
Completely misunderstood what the Internet was doing to the airline industry which contributed to our ruin.
Thought after 9/11 everything would return to normal with business people paying $3000 for one way tickets.
Created Senior Executive Retirement Plans for himself and a few others totalling $65 million to ensure and safeguard their pensions that they didn't earn while the employees lost theirs.
On and on.
Who was on the board of directors during this entire time?
You guessed it.
Uncle Jerry.
Now Jerry says that during this time he didn't know what was going on and certainly didn't approve of any of these things.
Isn't that what the board of directors does?
Silly me.
This letter is all propaganda from the Delta Airlines Ministry of Misinformation.
Lot's of good news. But the paragraph below is the one that really ticks me off.
They can't say anything good without couching it in doom and gloom.
Look Jerry. I do my job, you do yours. The drivel below about competition, fuel costs blah blah blah is your problem. Stop trying to scare me.
"Clearly, we are not out of the woods financially and our work to improve and give you the tools you need to do your job well is far from over. The competition is relentless; we’re headed into historically slower traffic months; the marketplace is more challenging and unpredictable than ever – particularly in light of consistently elevated fuel prices and added complexities and strains associated with new security concerns; and we need to be able to afford to invest in our airline and our people going forward."
So without further ado and because Uncle Jerry asked me to share this with you, I give you.....His Royal Highness:
Take it away Jerry.
Gerald Grinstein
Chief Executive Officer
August 25, 2006
Dear Delta Colleague:
We fast are approaching the one-year mark of our Chapter 11 filing – a good opportunity to review what we have accomplished together so far under difficult circumstances, and take a look at what lies ahead. Without a doubt, these are demanding times at Delta. Even so, we are ahead of expectations and surpassing our own aggressive milestones in our quest to emerge from bankruptcy by mid-next year as a profitable, more fiercely competitive, stand-alone airline – a mission that must and will benefit all Delta people. The pace of this progress is a tribute to you and your superior work.
Even as Delta people were significantly improving our company, you also were contributing to the success of an equally crucial effort in Washington, D.C. In yet another example of Delta people ’s hard and effective work, the Pension Protection Act was signed into law on Aug. 17. The legislation provides Delta with the opportunity to preserve the already-earned defined pension plan benefits for tens of thousands of active and retired ground employees and flight attendants – something we very much wanted to do. There is no question that the more than 100,000 messages sent and countless visits to Congress by active and retired Delta people helped bring victory to the campaign for pension reform. You are the real champions of an historic effort that will make a difference in people ’s lives for years to
come. Congratulations! A special “thank you” also must go to Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) for his leadership, and to Delta pilots for their unwavering support even after it became clear that this legislation could not save their plan.
Anyone unaware of what Delta people can accomplish when they rally together to meet a challenge need look no further than pension reform – although closer to home, you all are racking up plenty of other examples and your good work is beginning to get the recognition it deserves:
•Improving operations : Delta moved up from the middle of the pack to top-tier in on-time
performance, and recently was awarded the highest cabin cleanliness ranking among the majors, wresting the title from Continental for the first time;
•Exceptional customer service: In another survey, we just became the first network carrier to beat a low-cost carrier in customer service, while at the same time managing record load factors;
•Better products: With almost 300 of our fleet’s cabins refurbished and another 50 scheduled this year, we are the only airline to receive an “Among the Best” rating – the highest rating – for our aircraft interiors in the recent J.D. Power customer satisfaction survey. And there’s more to come.
Just wait until our customers experience the long overdue improvements we’re making to our JFK and Atlanta facilities and fly on the first of the Song airplanes being converted to mainline. With its state-of-the-art features, we expect it to create a new standard for trans-continental service when it
rolls out this fall;
•Expanded, more profitable network: With the December schedule, Delta will be the only U.S. carrier serving five continents non-stop from New York and, with our Delta Connection carriers, will remain the only carrier serving all 50 states. This year’s addition of nearly 50 new international routes to 40 cities in 23 countries gives us one of the world’s fastest growing international route systems, even as we eliminate more than 100 older, less efficient aircraft from our fleet;
•New opportunities: Our plans to add 10 757s with ETOPS capability able to fly across the
Atlantic and to Hawaii, gain access to the world’s most popular business route – New York to London through Gatwick – and become a leader in the Los Angeles-to-Mexico marketplace by expanding our service in what is one of the country’s largest Hispanic travel markets are just some of the new opportunities Delta is pursuing to more nimbly capture market share and grow.
•Improved financial condition: As a result of better service and products, smart pricing actions, significant international expansion and a more strategic domestic schedule, in June we generated 95 percent of industry-average unit revenues – a significant turnaround from June of last year’s 90 percent. To date, this reflects a significant revenue improvement over our 2006 operating plan. Remarkable – and necessary, because we still are expecting to post a significant loss this year.
Clearly, we are not out of the woods financially and our work to improve and give you the tools you need to do your job well is far from over. The competition is relentless; we’re headed into historically slower traffic months; the marketplace is more challenging and unpredictable than ever – particularly in light of consistently elevated fuel prices and added complexities and strains associated with new security concerns; and we need to be able to afford to invest in our airline and our people going forward.
We must remain diligent and embrace the notion that change and the need for continuous improvement will be constant companions as we strive to regain and maintain the top spot in the industry. Because of this, and our commitment to ensure the contributions you’ve made to this company will not be squandered, we’re involving all Delta stakeholders in our restructuring and aggressively pursuing every opportunity to operate more efficiently and bring all of our costs in line with the new market realities:
•We are implementing our restructuring plans for the majority of our mainline fleet, with lower lease payments and the return or sale of older, less efficient aircraft, that so far are expected to result in almost $400 million in annual cost savings;
•Restructuring plans for nearly one-third of our regional jet fleet are being implemented, with more to come;
•We have reached preliminary agreements to achieve much of our targeted savings on airport and other facility costs – with more in the pipeline, and more than 600 vendor contracts are being reviewed and renegotiated;
•Our fuel hedging program has saved millions of dollars during the first four months of this year, and we have almost half of our anticipated third-quarter fuel needs hedged as of July 31. A newly launched tool designed to save fuel by more evenly spacing landings at our Atlanta hub, coupled with many of your suggestions and our other initiatives, could help us realize more than $40 million in fuel savings this year;
•The process to reduce Delta’s costs for retiree medical health care benefits has begun; and
•A partnership with IBM has been formed to significantly reduce technology infrastructure costs while enhancing our information technology capabilities.
As a result of ongoing efforts like these and your contributions, Delta has closed the gap between our cost structure and the low-cost carrier average by more than a third.
To be on track to achieve a $2 billion financial turnaround in just 12 months – or more than two-thirds of our total $3 billion restructuring goal in annual financial improvements by the end of this year – while at the same time improving our customers’ experience, executing and excelling at the safe, clean and ontime fundamentals, and generating greater revenues is nothing short of extraordinary. And remember – this is on top of the $5 billion transformation plan Delta already achieved as compared to 2002. Most companies and their people could not handle this magnitude of change and the pressure it brings – but Delta could and is, and it is because of Delta people like you.
While our pace is by necessity fast, we are in a marathon, not a sprint. Therefore, we also must focus beyond our planned emergence from bankruptcy by mid-next year. Accordingly, we are developing a five-year plan designed to place and keep us positioned to succeed in what is a highly competitive and never-ending race. You will be hearing more about Delta’s five-year plan, which is a key component of our strategy to exit Chapter 11, in the months ahead.
Delta’s progress is good. There is no question your hard work is helping transform Delta’s goals into realities in what we cannot forget is the most challenging of times for the most uncertain and toughest of industries. As thestreet.com recently proclaimed, “The biggest surprise in the airline industry may be taking off in Atlanta!” – and it is due to you. Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
P.S. This letter is being sent to your home because we thought you might like to share it with your family and friends. We appreciate that the change our industry and Delta are going through has affected them too. They should know how much their support has mattered, and be able to share in the pride of the progress your hard work and contributions are helping make possible.
9/11
I was driving 250 miles yesterday and listened to a replay of a radio program that was orgiannaly broadcast on 9/11.
The show started out normal and then the news started to come in about the world trade center towers.
I didn't think that it would be that difficult to listen to.
But it was.
It was like reliving it all over again. The uncertainty. What's next? Are we safe where we are? What's happening. Who is doing this and what? And just the unbelieveable horror of it all.
We all live with an undercurrent of anxiety now just waiting for the next big thing to happen.
I want the good old days back.
The show started out normal and then the news started to come in about the world trade center towers.
I didn't think that it would be that difficult to listen to.
But it was.
It was like reliving it all over again. The uncertainty. What's next? Are we safe where we are? What's happening. Who is doing this and what? And just the unbelieveable horror of it all.
We all live with an undercurrent of anxiety now just waiting for the next big thing to happen.
I want the good old days back.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
More Speeches
President Bush is making a speech right now about 20 miles from my house.
It seems that is all he is doing these days. He is a salesman flying around trying to get people to get fired up about the way he is conducting business especially when it comes to our foreign policy and wars.
Isn't it strange that after we were attacked on our own soil and thousands died that the President would have to sell anything. If it weren't such a mess right now he wouldn't have to go around like a vacuum salesman all over the country. People should by default automatically be behind him. He's the President and we're at war. But they've so totally messed it up that they have to try to sell it to us.
Here's my other point.
Why is he flying around making these speeches. Why not do it from the White House and show it on a screen.
Right now he is at a mall in Atlanta. I wouldn't think there could be more than 1000 people there. But his speech is broadcast all over the world.
He is taking an entire day to fly to Atlanta, mess up the traffic and spend who knows who many thousands of dollars to make this speech.
When I was in the USAF, I was in a squadron that flew the President's cars around. We provided Presidential support. I actually got to sit in the President's limo.
The door weighs about a zillion pounds and other than a phone there's nothing else in it. No snacks, DVD player, booze, playing cards, no nothing.
Anyway, when the President goes somewhere it is a major production. There is AF One... the 747. Then there is at least one C-17 humongous military transport plane carrying SUVs, the limo etc.
This is big bucks.
All to give a speech and sell vacuums.
Doesn't he have something more constructive to do?
It seems that is all he is doing these days. He is a salesman flying around trying to get people to get fired up about the way he is conducting business especially when it comes to our foreign policy and wars.
Isn't it strange that after we were attacked on our own soil and thousands died that the President would have to sell anything. If it weren't such a mess right now he wouldn't have to go around like a vacuum salesman all over the country. People should by default automatically be behind him. He's the President and we're at war. But they've so totally messed it up that they have to try to sell it to us.
Here's my other point.
Why is he flying around making these speeches. Why not do it from the White House and show it on a screen.
Right now he is at a mall in Atlanta. I wouldn't think there could be more than 1000 people there. But his speech is broadcast all over the world.
He is taking an entire day to fly to Atlanta, mess up the traffic and spend who knows who many thousands of dollars to make this speech.
When I was in the USAF, I was in a squadron that flew the President's cars around. We provided Presidential support. I actually got to sit in the President's limo.
The door weighs about a zillion pounds and other than a phone there's nothing else in it. No snacks, DVD player, booze, playing cards, no nothing.
Anyway, when the President goes somewhere it is a major production. There is AF One... the 747. Then there is at least one C-17 humongous military transport plane carrying SUVs, the limo etc.
This is big bucks.
All to give a speech and sell vacuums.
Doesn't he have something more constructive to do?
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Celebrity
I was looking a people magazine and wondering what it would be like to be a celebrity.
I think it would be horrible. Having a lot of money would be great but having no privacy, people taking pictures of me constantly would not be fun.
Surprisingly enough, being an airline pilot is something like that.
Now people don't follow me or take my picutre constantly, sometimes they do ask to take the pilot's picture.... But they do stare. If you are in uniform in an airport people bore holes into you with their eyes.
In the beginning it really freaked me out. Every once in a while it would get to me and I would trip over the floor which was entertaining.
Everybody stares at the pilots. And I guess all crew members. People watching is fun especially at an airport where there's nothing to do. I stare at the pilots.
So now after all this time I'm used to it. It doesn't bother me in the least.
Except when something has gone wrong like a maintenance delay or something and then I go into hiding.
If the plane is broken or delayed and you wondered, where is the crew?
Either on the plane or in the crew lounge........
They are hiding from you.
I think it would be horrible. Having a lot of money would be great but having no privacy, people taking pictures of me constantly would not be fun.
Surprisingly enough, being an airline pilot is something like that.
Now people don't follow me or take my picutre constantly, sometimes they do ask to take the pilot's picture.... But they do stare. If you are in uniform in an airport people bore holes into you with their eyes.
In the beginning it really freaked me out. Every once in a while it would get to me and I would trip over the floor which was entertaining.
Everybody stares at the pilots. And I guess all crew members. People watching is fun especially at an airport where there's nothing to do. I stare at the pilots.
So now after all this time I'm used to it. It doesn't bother me in the least.
Except when something has gone wrong like a maintenance delay or something and then I go into hiding.
If the plane is broken or delayed and you wondered, where is the crew?
Either on the plane or in the crew lounge........
They are hiding from you.
Monday, September 04, 2006
Happy Labor Day
Well Happy Labor Day.
If you are a worker there is really nothing for you to be happy about except that hopefully you got a day off.
Your wages are going down, you are losing your pensions and your job is being shipped overseas. But other than that, everything is dandy.
President Bush today gave a labor day speech at of all places a labor union. What union in their right mind would invite the most anti-labor president to give a speech? Have they lost their mind? Bush of course talked about cutting taxes, blah blah blah. Nothing about anything to do with labor or its sorry state in our country.
AND
If I were the president and things were as messed up as they are now, I would tell my staff: "Staff, no more stupid speeches until we get this mess in Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Iran, North Korea, New Orleans and the USA under control. Questions?"
Doesn't he have better things to do than give any kind of speech or anything that is not directly contributing to fixing the disastrous conditions that we find ourselves in? Like Americans being killed everyday in Iraq, etc etc etc.
Soon he'll be going all over the place campaigning for the next election this November. What a waste of time and money.
Mr. President.
Get with the program, acknowledge the mess we're in, and get busy fixing it.
Thank you, that is all, you may return to your BBQ.
If you are a worker there is really nothing for you to be happy about except that hopefully you got a day off.
Your wages are going down, you are losing your pensions and your job is being shipped overseas. But other than that, everything is dandy.
President Bush today gave a labor day speech at of all places a labor union. What union in their right mind would invite the most anti-labor president to give a speech? Have they lost their mind? Bush of course talked about cutting taxes, blah blah blah. Nothing about anything to do with labor or its sorry state in our country.
AND
If I were the president and things were as messed up as they are now, I would tell my staff: "Staff, no more stupid speeches until we get this mess in Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Iran, North Korea, New Orleans and the USA under control. Questions?"
Doesn't he have better things to do than give any kind of speech or anything that is not directly contributing to fixing the disastrous conditions that we find ourselves in? Like Americans being killed everyday in Iraq, etc etc etc.
Soon he'll be going all over the place campaigning for the next election this November. What a waste of time and money.
Mr. President.
Get with the program, acknowledge the mess we're in, and get busy fixing it.
Thank you, that is all, you may return to your BBQ.
Checking In
I deadheaded recently. If you want to know what that is read the next post.
So I had to check-in with the agent at the ticket counter.
She had a sullen, no friendly look on her face. Which I soon understood because she was completely incompetent.
I gave her my information and she started typing. Very fast and with very long painted fingernails. I would say about 63% of her keystroke entries were wrong due to the speed of typing and those painted things.
So she types and types and types and looks and looks and looks and types some more.
This is something that should take about 25 seconds to do.
She gives up and asks her supervisor to help.
More typing, typing over her shoulder, instructions, more typing and looking.
30 minutes later I finally get my boarding card.
Then I ask her to put me on the stand by list for first class. If we are deadheading and there are seats available we can sit in first. In my opion we should always be in first on a deadhead. But anyway.
She said to me, OK thanks, I'll put you on the list for first. So basically, see ya, please go away. Well I wasn't going nowhere. I've had this happen before. I ain't leavin until you give me a card that says I'm on the standby list.
Some agents will go through the gyrations to put you on the list and never give you a card. When you question them about it they say, Oh I don't know why that didn't print but you are on the list. Well, I've learned you're not. They suckered you.
See we pilots get treated like garbage. It's an intentional cultural divide that Delta has purposely encouraged. Since we are the only unionized group on the property, we are constantly villanized. So the majority of the employees hate us.
Nothing new.
So back to the story.
I stand there and wait for my card.
To know what happened See above. Typing, hand wringing, etc.
15 minutes later I finally get it. This transaction that should have taken at the most 3 minutes took 45. While the line behind me got bigger and bigger.
Who's fault is this. DELTA.
Their training is horrible. Obviously. This lady was clueless.
Secondly, this is 2006. Their computers are ridiculous. It should be like McDonald's where the cash register has pictures of hamburgers and french fries and you just push the picture of what they ordered.
You shouldn't have to type 100 weird keystrokes like *smith/1434$psup12141998//seg1
to get something to work. And that's what they have to do. The codes are meaningless but they have to know all of them. Delta's computer interface is worthless.
No wonder we can't make money.
We paid that woman 45 minutes of pay to help me which generated 0 dollars for Delta.
So I had to check-in with the agent at the ticket counter.
She had a sullen, no friendly look on her face. Which I soon understood because she was completely incompetent.
I gave her my information and she started typing. Very fast and with very long painted fingernails. I would say about 63% of her keystroke entries were wrong due to the speed of typing and those painted things.
So she types and types and types and looks and looks and looks and types some more.
This is something that should take about 25 seconds to do.
She gives up and asks her supervisor to help.
More typing, typing over her shoulder, instructions, more typing and looking.
30 minutes later I finally get my boarding card.
Then I ask her to put me on the stand by list for first class. If we are deadheading and there are seats available we can sit in first. In my opion we should always be in first on a deadhead. But anyway.
She said to me, OK thanks, I'll put you on the list for first. So basically, see ya, please go away. Well I wasn't going nowhere. I've had this happen before. I ain't leavin until you give me a card that says I'm on the standby list.
Some agents will go through the gyrations to put you on the list and never give you a card. When you question them about it they say, Oh I don't know why that didn't print but you are on the list. Well, I've learned you're not. They suckered you.
See we pilots get treated like garbage. It's an intentional cultural divide that Delta has purposely encouraged. Since we are the only unionized group on the property, we are constantly villanized. So the majority of the employees hate us.
Nothing new.
So back to the story.
I stand there and wait for my card.
To know what happened See above. Typing, hand wringing, etc.
15 minutes later I finally get it. This transaction that should have taken at the most 3 minutes took 45. While the line behind me got bigger and bigger.
Who's fault is this. DELTA.
Their training is horrible. Obviously. This lady was clueless.
Secondly, this is 2006. Their computers are ridiculous. It should be like McDonald's where the cash register has pictures of hamburgers and french fries and you just push the picture of what they ordered.
You shouldn't have to type 100 weird keystrokes like *smith/1434$psup12141998//seg1
to get something to work. And that's what they have to do. The codes are meaningless but they have to know all of them. Delta's computer interface is worthless.
No wonder we can't make money.
We paid that woman 45 minutes of pay to help me which generated 0 dollars for Delta.
Deadhead
A deadhead is when the airline wants a crew member to fly somewhere as a passenger to get to a location to work a flight.
We deadhead all the time.
We might deadhead from Atlanta to Cincinnati and then fly an airplane from Cincinnati to Las Vegas.
Now I can only fly 8 hours per day. That is an FAA rule and a good one. Flying more than 8 hours without a relief pilot is too much.
But what I can do is deadhead for 6 hours and then fly 4 hours. Because the deadhead doesn't count toward 8 hours of flying time.
That is ridiculous.
It is at least, if not more, fatiguing to sit in coach between two fat people for 6 hours as it is to sit in the cockpit.
This is just another one of our ridiculous rules that the FAA has approved that compromises safety so that companies can make more money and you can fly for $99.
We deadhead all the time.
We might deadhead from Atlanta to Cincinnati and then fly an airplane from Cincinnati to Las Vegas.
Now I can only fly 8 hours per day. That is an FAA rule and a good one. Flying more than 8 hours without a relief pilot is too much.
But what I can do is deadhead for 6 hours and then fly 4 hours. Because the deadhead doesn't count toward 8 hours of flying time.
That is ridiculous.
It is at least, if not more, fatiguing to sit in coach between two fat people for 6 hours as it is to sit in the cockpit.
This is just another one of our ridiculous rules that the FAA has approved that compromises safety so that companies can make more money and you can fly for $99.
Nicotine
There is a report that came out a few days ago that said that the tobacco companies have been increasing the nicotine in cigarettes by as much as 40% in the last 6 years.
The brands that are the most affected are the ones that are the most heavily purchased by kids.
This is outrageous.
The tobacco companies settled that huge lawsuit and in the the meantime purposefully increase the level of nicotine in cigarettes without telling anyone.
The only reason to increase the level is to get people addicted faster.
And quitting becomes that much harder too.
How can someone, especially a scientist who is doing this work, look themselves in the mirror everyday and not want to pull the trigger.
My job boys and girls is to scientifically figure out ways to hook people on cigarettes faster, make it harder to quit and kill people.
Thank you Mr. Jones for coming to our class today and explaining your work.
I doubt that the kid brings his dad to school for career day.
The executives responsible for this should be caned.
That's right. Caned. On TV. In the open. I think that would be a fitting punishment.
Unbelievable the depravity of man just to make a few extra bucks.
The brands that are the most affected are the ones that are the most heavily purchased by kids.
This is outrageous.
The tobacco companies settled that huge lawsuit and in the the meantime purposefully increase the level of nicotine in cigarettes without telling anyone.
The only reason to increase the level is to get people addicted faster.
And quitting becomes that much harder too.
How can someone, especially a scientist who is doing this work, look themselves in the mirror everyday and not want to pull the trigger.
My job boys and girls is to scientifically figure out ways to hook people on cigarettes faster, make it harder to quit and kill people.
Thank you Mr. Jones for coming to our class today and explaining your work.
I doubt that the kid brings his dad to school for career day.
The executives responsible for this should be caned.
That's right. Caned. On TV. In the open. I think that would be a fitting punishment.
Unbelievable the depravity of man just to make a few extra bucks.
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