Slog - Comments on The Miracle of Flight http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight My flight to Washington, D.C., is delayed by two hours. So I'm going to miss my connection to Burlington, Vermont, and since there isn't another flight to Burlington tonight, I'm going to have to spend the night in Washington, D.C. (perhaps in the airport), and fly to Burlington tomorrow. But this has happened before and I'm pretty zen about it. Besides, flying is immoral and we frequent flyers deserve to suffer and anything the airlines can do to make the flying experience more miserable—pack us in filthy planes, charge to check bags, randomly cancel flights, strand us in ugly airports—is... Copyright 2008 Fri, 30 May 2008 14:12:44 -0800 Sat, 31 May 2008 13:37:48 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Lee ummm...no? is that the right answer?

]]> Lee http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036282 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036282 At Large Fri, 30 May 2008 14:20:37 -0800 Comment by NapoleonXIV Just wait until your favorite carrier sticks you with a $150.00 "carbon footprint tax".

At least then, you won't have to feel so guilty about flying.

Oh, you don't? I guess I missed the point. ;)

]]> NapoleonXIV http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036289 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036289 At Large Fri, 30 May 2008 14:23:47 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle No, travel is always extra.

People who hate travel work for the Bushies.

Just look at what they've done to travel in their eight years of incompetence and hatred ...

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036294 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036294 At Large Fri, 30 May 2008 14:25:25 -0800 Comment by Balt-O-Matt Where are you flying into? You can stay with my bro! Or, if BWI, take a cab to Baltimore!

]]> Balt-O-Matt http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036297 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036297 At Large Fri, 30 May 2008 14:26:06 -0800 Comment by Dan Savage Dulles, Balt. That close?

]]> Dan Savage http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036302 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036302 At Large Fri, 30 May 2008 14:27:59 -0800 Comment by poppy Airplane travel accounts for about 2% of global warming gases. Livestock (beef) accounts for about 18%, not including related transportation.

So, to answer your question, only the frequent flyers who eat hamburgers deserve to suffer flight delays and lost luggage.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0220/p03s01-ussc.html

]]> poppy http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036313 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036313 At Large Fri, 30 May 2008 14:32:27 -0800 Comment by Balt-O-Matt Dan--

According to Google Maps it takes 1 hour and 22 minutes to get from Dulles to my front door.

No fun.

]]> Balt-O-Matt http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036333 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036333 At Large Fri, 30 May 2008 14:39:32 -0800 Comment by Bauhaus People will still fly no matter how miserable the experience. The airlines are learning that. And they gotten used to whiners - of which there are many.

Your trip to Burlington would take four days each way on a train. Are you ready for that?

So, what will happen is this: People will be made more and more miserable and start taking it out on each other. I haven't had one plane trip in five years wherein I haven't encountered at least one rude or inconsiderate son-of-a-bitch. I'm expecting more of the same. It has gotten to the point where I don't fly anywhere unless I really, really, really need or want to go there.

]]> Bauhaus http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036349 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036349 At Large Fri, 30 May 2008 14:46:31 -0800 Comment by My Hot Rod @6, hey, let's say we adopt the no-eating-cows philosphy. And by we, I mean all of us. Everyone. What happens to those cows? Aren't we at the very least morally obligated to keep feeding them? And then what do we do with them? Sterilize so they can't reproduce? I fear a world without cows.

]]> My Hot Rod http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036373 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036373 At Large Fri, 30 May 2008 15:05:20 -0800 Comment by Fnarf If you need to fly, you fly. If you need to feel guilty, you feel guilty. The two are not related in any way.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036393 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036393 At Large Fri, 30 May 2008 15:12:58 -0800 Comment by dawicksta Now you have time to come up with a GREAT plane alias! If I'm ever flying I've learned not to EVER tell people what I really do, lest I want to spend the rest of the flight hearing their entire life story, including all the messed up parts they usually skip for strangers. I can only imagine in your job! I recommend insurance agent. If you lead off with insurance agent and spew a few things like you're attempting to make a pitch to your new best friend your plane seat buddy, you will have SILENCE for the rest of the flight.

]]> dawicksta http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036400 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036400 At Large Fri, 30 May 2008 15:17:56 -0800 Comment by E If mankind had been mean to fly, we'd have all been born with tickets.

]]> E http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036411 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036411 At Large Fri, 30 May 2008 15:24:26 -0800 Comment by Fnarf @11 - until the day you sit next to an insurance agent.

I'd go with Boar Semen Extractor.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036453 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036453 At Large Fri, 30 May 2008 15:33:29 -0800 Comment by dawicksta @13 I am SOOOO using that one next time! (hopefully NOT sitting next to a boar semen extractor - nah - what are the chances!) Maybe I should also carry barely played albums with questionable cover art as well, to REALLY keep them at bay?! Nah - too risky for being a conversation piece...you made me laugh AGAIN today!

]]> dawicksta http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036488 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036488 At Large Fri, 30 May 2008 15:40:33 -0800 Comment by Vince Don't fly. Hope I never have to. Hate the airlines.

]]> Vince http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036515 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036515 At Large Fri, 30 May 2008 15:47:35 -0800 Comment by AtlSea Dan must have gotten a great airfare to connect in Dulles for a flight to New England. Better luck next time transferring at JFK or O'Hare. Besides, I always see cute guys at Kennedy, no toe tapping though.

Cum to think of it, Minneapolis was another possibility. Dan, what were you thinking!

]]> AtlSea http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036536 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036536 At Large Fri, 30 May 2008 15:54:11 -0800 Comment by JimmyA Knowing Burl as I do, this is not necessarily a bad thing. KIDDING. Lovely place THIS time of year.

]]> JimmyA http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036559 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036559 At Large Fri, 30 May 2008 16:03:43 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle @8 - or in Europe it would take 8 hours on a train instead of the 4 days we put up with to take a train that distance here ...

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036577 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036577 At Large Fri, 30 May 2008 16:10:15 -0800 Comment by PopTart @13 I'm assuming you read Bonk...

Airplanes have become Greyhound buses with wings. If you want to go anywhere you have to put up with TSA hassles, overcrowding, and screwed up flight schedules. They have us over a barrel and with no efficient alternative form of transportation we are forced to abide by conditions that range from barely tolerable to execrable (the leaking toilet flight comes to mind).

]]> PopTart http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036645 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036645 At Large Fri, 30 May 2008 16:28:30 -0800 Comment by Harry the Guy with the Snake on his Face I'll only ever fly if they let me sit next to this guy.

]]> Harry the Guy with the Snake on his Face http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036671 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036671 At Large Fri, 30 May 2008 16:36:55 -0800 Comment by CP Oh, sure, Europe has fast trains, but when are we going to expand the Alameda-Weehawken burrito tunnel?

http://idlewords.com/2007/04/the_alameda-weehawken_burrito_tunnel.htm

]]> CP http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036845 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036845 At Large Fri, 30 May 2008 18:03:08 -0800 Comment by Ayden Whenever the world starts to overwhelm me, all I gotta do to cheer up is come to SLOG...

]]> Ayden http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036957 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036957 At Large Fri, 30 May 2008 20:19:24 -0800 Comment by MiddKid Damnit, Dan. Why are you going to Vermont right after I left for the summer?

]]> MiddKid http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036961 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1036961 At Large Fri, 30 May 2008 20:25:20 -0800 Comment by Epimetheus Just wait 'till they serve you non-dairy topping! Bwaa ha ha.
It seems "Movable type" doesn't want me to comment on the post where you imply you are in first class. "No such entry '37596'."


You know, I bought one of your books at full retail, if it had been on the remainder table I wouldn't mind so much your bragging about flying first class, but as it is I hope hell is saving some hot razor blades for you (it's in the third paragraph if you don't want to read the whole thing, and I wouldn't blame you if you didn't)

]]> Epimetheus http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1037018 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1037018 At Large Fri, 30 May 2008 21:29:02 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle Maybe Dan is in the Santa film my dad's been working as an extra in, which is filming in Vermont?

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1037090 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1037090 At Large Fri, 30 May 2008 23:38:43 -0800 Comment by Catalina Vel-DuRay "Your trip to Burlington would take four days each way on a train. Are you ready for that?"

YES!!! How fun!!! When are we going? Should we take the Empire Builder across the upper plains, or maybe take the Starlight down to Sacramento and get on the Zephyr? It's much more scenic, but it gets delayed a lot, and the food isn't as good.

East of Chicago, I vote the Lakeshore Limited. And let's just go into NYC and spend the night, and get on the Vermonter the next morning. We could probably just transfer in Springfield or something, but why not have an evening in New York?

On the way back, let's just go up to Montreal, and take the train to Toronto, and ride The Canadian back, OK?

Ooooo!!! This will be fun! I love a train ride!!! I'll bring my travel scrabble, and we can play all the way across the country!!

]]> Catalina Vel-DuRay http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1037160 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1037160 At Large Sat, 31 May 2008 08:14:57 -0800 Comment by BELMONT PLACE Where is our Howard Beale (Peter Finch in "Network") and if he arrives, will we follow him?

Americans have caved into complete proletarian wusses. The airlines have become the Politburo and the TSA is our KGB. We submit to unreasonable body searches and snooping into our possessions. We're treated like cattle with credit cards.

But as we're completely plugged-in and mollified and desensitized by our cyberstuff, a revolution is quite unlikely, and the perps will return to Crawford and their various gated estates, unindicted.

Meanwhile, we will be kept busy reliving and rewriting "An American Tragedy", and the difference among the old white guy, the half-white young guy and the middle-aged harpie won't matter of hill of fava beans.

Ask not "who is John Galt?" - but "where is Howard Beale?"

]]> BELMONT PLACE http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1037263 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1037263 At Large Sat, 31 May 2008 13:36:05 -0800 Comment by BELMONT PLACE "...won't matter A hill of fava beans..."

]]> BELMONT PLACE http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1037265 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/the_miracle_of_flight#c1037265 At Large Sat, 31 May 2008 13:37:48 -0800