Two Seater Synchronicity

This morning I found that I appeared in the lead paragraphs of a Suburban Journal article about someone else entirely. They even had a photo of us with our tandem behind the object of the subject (bike rack, artist). It was just an accident that we happened to ride to coffee at the time when the Journal photographer was looking to illustrate the art as bike rack. It's almost a pity that this journal is no longer delivered annoyingly and inevitably every Wednesday to form the bulk of our recycled paper. I should find a store that has the tree-based copy to show me mum. Anyway, yesterday I posted a video of my experience this weekend in another kind of un-motorized two seater. That's the synchronicity part.

Continue ReadingTwo Seater Synchronicity

Spending time at the Dallas-Fort-Worth Airport (DFW)

I spent the afternoon at Dallas-Fort-Worth Airport, unsuccessfully trying to get on a standby flight, then waiting for my originally scheduled flight. While I waited, I walked about, amazed at the size of the airport. The airport stretches as far as the eye can see. Gazing out of the terminal, you can see several control towers in the distance. A woman at the information booth told me that DFW covers more ground than Manhattan. I had a difficult time believing it, but it turns out that it's true. I learned here that DFW covers more than 29.8 square miles (18,076 acres), whereas Manhattan covers only 22.96 square miles. The airport is so big, that it is necessary to travel between terminals on an elaborate tram system ("Skylink" covers a 5-mile route at speeds of up to 35 mph). The vast grounds of DFW are lone-star-attitudeoverwhelming, but so is the interior. It's an entire city, staffed with 60,000 employees. There must be hundreds of restaurants and stores. Including this one, called "Lone Star Attitude." I noticed this store because I sat across from it waiting for my standby flight. It was a bit creepy, looking at the cows dressed up in human clothes. I think I'll get over it, but I did wonder whether this was an effective form of marketing. Perhaps only in Texas. cow-mannequins [Photos by Erich Vieth]

Continue ReadingSpending time at the Dallas-Fort-Worth Airport (DFW)

Report from a friend stranded in Thailand

Thailand's major airports have been taken over by protesters, as reported by the L.A. Times: Hundreds of protesters seeking to topple Thailand's prime minister seized Bangkok's international airport terminal Tuesday, forcing cancellation of all flights. Members and supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy stormed through police lines at Suvarnabhumi…

Continue ReadingReport from a friend stranded in Thailand

A pilot complains about the airport “security theater.”

I've sometimes wondered what insiders think about pre-flight security. Here is a recent account by one pilot: Before we take off, I would like to apologize on behalf of this and every airline for the hassle you just endured at the security checkpoint. As is patently obvious to any reasonable…

Continue ReadingA pilot complains about the airport “security theater.”