Comments on: Flights of fancy http://crookedtimber.org/2006/08/11/flights-of-fancy/ Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made Mon, 22 Mar 2010 14:39:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Steve LaBonne http://crookedtimber.org/2006/08/11/flights-of-fancy/comment-page-1/#comment-168473 Steve LaBonne Sun, 13 Aug 2006 14:33:33 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/08/11/flights-of-fancy/#comment-168473 <blockquote>...the fact is that the 5% of us who actually make anything happen in modern society didn’t get to where we are by developing brains that happily switch off when asked to do so.</blockquote><blockquote> You could spend the time meditating on teh delusions which give rise to your massively unjustified self-esteem. With luck you eventually might become a decent human being.</blockquote>
…the fact is that the 5% of us who actually make anything happen in modern society didn’t get to where we are by developing brains that happily switch off when asked to do so.
You could spend the time meditating on teh delusions which give rise to your massively unjustified self-esteem. With luck you eventually might become a decent human being.

]]> By: J. Michael Neal http://crookedtimber.org/2006/08/11/flights-of-fancy/comment-page-1/#comment-168462 J. Michael Neal Sun, 13 Aug 2006 06:59:45 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/08/11/flights-of-fancy/#comment-168462 <i>I recommend strong sedatives. Which raises another question: will people be choosing to drink themselves into a stupor in the airport bar, rather than endure the flight conscious?</i> I have a Valium prescription. Imagine what I could sell those babies for in the waiting area. I recommend strong sedatives. Which raises another question: will people be choosing to drink themselves into a stupor in the airport bar, rather than endure the flight conscious?

I have a Valium prescription. Imagine what I could sell those babies for in the waiting area.

]]> By: jeremy http://crookedtimber.org/2006/08/11/flights-of-fancy/comment-page-1/#comment-168453 jeremy Sun, 13 Aug 2006 02:05:34 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/08/11/flights-of-fancy/#comment-168453 I wonder if it might be worthwhile to think of these recent changes to flight rules as part of a larger cross-purpose war against cosmopolitanism. terrorism keeps people at home, the flight restrictions keep people at home. the lack of travel certain impinges upon peoples capacity to see the other as self in terms of worldliness.... I wonder if it might be worthwhile to think of these recent changes to flight rules as part of a larger cross-purpose war against cosmopolitanism. terrorism keeps people at home, the flight restrictions keep people at home. the lack of travel certain impinges upon peoples capacity to see the other as self in terms of worldliness….

]]> By: nick s http://crookedtimber.org/2006/08/11/flights-of-fancy/comment-page-1/#comment-168435 nick s Sat, 12 Aug 2006 22:47:35 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/08/11/flights-of-fancy/#comment-168435 <i>Our corporate travel department has suggested that I fy into Paris, and then take the Eurostar (chunnel train) from Paris to London.</i> I've not flown out of a London terminal in about five years; changing at Schiphol is much more convenient if your destination is outside the Home Counties. And I suspect that changing at Schiphol/Paris/Frankfurt on long-hauls is likely to become even popular. <i>the fact is that the 5% of us who actually make anything happen in modern society didn’t get to where we are by developing brains that happily switch off when asked to do so.</i> I recommend strong sedatives. Which raises another question: will people be choosing to drink themselves into a stupor in the airport bar, rather than endure the flight conscious? It's only a matter of time, I think, before we hear of soused passengers being dumped off in Maine or Newfoundland. Our corporate travel department has suggested that I fy into Paris, and then take the Eurostar (chunnel train) from Paris to London.

I’ve not flown out of a London terminal in about five years; changing at Schiphol is much more convenient if your destination is outside the Home Counties. And I suspect that changing at Schiphol/Paris/Frankfurt on long-hauls is likely to become even popular.

the fact is that the 5% of us who actually make anything happen in modern society didn’t get to where we are by developing brains that happily switch off when asked to do so.

I recommend strong sedatives. Which raises another question: will people be choosing to drink themselves into a stupor in the airport bar, rather than endure the flight conscious? It’s only a matter of time, I think, before we hear of soused passengers being dumped off in Maine or Newfoundland.

]]> By: Fledermaus http://crookedtimber.org/2006/08/11/flights-of-fancy/comment-page-1/#comment-168400 Fledermaus Sat, 12 Aug 2006 17:49:40 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/08/11/flights-of-fancy/#comment-168400 In the bar the other night, while suddering at the idea of nekkid flying (have you seen the people on an average flight? Do you really want to see them nekkid?) we came up with a really good idea - put locks on the overhead bins that can only be opened from the cockpit. Our thinking was that this is only annoying because I like to carry on my suitcase so I don't have to wait for the luggage to show up at the terminal. In the bar the other night, while suddering at the idea of nekkid flying (have you seen the people on an average flight? Do you really want to see them nekkid?) we came up with a really good idea – put locks on the overhead bins that can only be opened from the cockpit.

Our thinking was that this is only annoying because I like to carry on my suitcase so I don’t have to wait for the luggage to show up at the terminal.

]]> By: Mo MacArbie http://crookedtimber.org/2006/08/11/flights-of-fancy/comment-page-1/#comment-168395 Mo MacArbie Sat, 12 Aug 2006 16:37:59 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/08/11/flights-of-fancy/#comment-168395 I get to fly on Wednesday, and I have have a mind to bring a couple bags of empty bottles with me just to dump them at security. Flood the system! I get to fly on Wednesday, and I have have a mind to bring a couple bags of empty bottles with me just to dump them at security. Flood the system!

]]> By: Matt McIrvin http://crookedtimber.org/2006/08/11/flights-of-fancy/comment-page-1/#comment-168385 Matt McIrvin Sat, 12 Aug 2006 15:29:13 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/08/11/flights-of-fancy/#comment-168385 A few years ago I wrote a zine-published short story that opened with a character getting off an airplane shivering in disposable paper clothes, and stepping into in what was called an "arrival vestibule" containing clothing shops (he ends up in the paper jumpsuit longer than planned due to being whisked out a side door to a Secret Government Installation). I think I mentioned that all luggage had to be shipped on a separate flight. It was hardly original with me, of course. A few years ago I wrote a zine-published short story that opened with a character getting off an airplane shivering in disposable paper clothes, and stepping into in what was called an “arrival vestibule” containing clothing shops (he ends up in the paper jumpsuit longer than planned due to being whisked out a side door to a Secret Government Installation). I think I mentioned that all luggage had to be shipped on a separate flight. It was hardly original with me, of course.

]]> By: Maynard Handley http://crookedtimber.org/2006/08/11/flights-of-fancy/comment-page-1/#comment-168376 Maynard Handley Sat, 12 Aug 2006 14:52:07 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/08/11/flights-of-fancy/#comment-168376 " On reflection, maybe the ban on carry on luggage won’t be so bad: without a pc, let alone a phone, there need be no guilt about watching some movies on the seat-back video instead of working. " You know, Matt, it is these sorts of snarky, idiotic comments, the sorts of things that suggest you have never flown in your life, that make David Brooks so irritating. Leaving aside the issue of the quality of inflight entertainment, there remains * a long wait in the airport between security and boarding a plane (at least an hour, often two hours, frequently four to six hours when planes are delayed) * a long wait in the plane as it takes on people, taxies, takes off, and then general doing nothing that I've never understood, before the inflight entertainment kicks in (at least an hour, often two) * and then the reverse of these two processes prior to landing, taxiing, waiting to disembark, and waiting in various lines before you can leave the airport. While GWB and his supporters may consider the prospect of sitting slack-jawed for six hours staring at the walls not especially problematic, the fact is that the 5% of us who actually make anything happen in modern society didn't get to where we are by developing brains that happily switch off when asked to do so. ”
On reflection, maybe the ban on carry on luggage won’t be so bad: without a pc, let alone a phone, there need be no guilt about watching some movies on the seat-back video instead of working.
”

You know, Matt, it is these sorts of snarky, idiotic comments, the sorts of things that suggest you have never flown in your life, that make David Brooks so irritating.

Leaving aside the issue of the quality of inflight entertainment, there remains

  • a long wait in the airport between security and boarding a plane (at least an hour, often two hours, frequently four to six hours when planes are delayed)
  • a long wait in the plane as it takes on people, taxies, takes off, and then general doing nothing that I’ve never understood, before the inflight entertainment kicks in (at least an hour, often two)
  • and then the reverse of these two processes prior to landing, taxiing, waiting to disembark, and waiting in various lines before you can leave the airport.

While GWB and his supporters may consider the prospect of sitting slack-jawed for six hours staring at the walls not especially problematic, the fact is that the 5% of us who actually make anything happen in modern society didn’t get to where we are by developing brains that happily switch off when asked to do so.

]]> By: NPCurmudgeon http://crookedtimber.org/2006/08/11/flights-of-fancy/comment-page-1/#comment-168370 NPCurmudgeon Sat, 12 Aug 2006 13:45:02 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/08/11/flights-of-fancy/#comment-168370 I'll be traveling to England next month. Our corporate travel department has suggested that I fy into Paris, and then take the Eurostar (chunnel train) from Paris to London. Unless the carry-on ban is somehow extended to trains -- a pretty tough call, in my opinion -- or de Gaulle follows Heathrow's lead, this sounds like a pretty good idea to me. I’ll be traveling to England next month. Our corporate travel department has suggested that I fy into Paris, and then take the Eurostar (chunnel train) from Paris to London. Unless the carry-on ban is somehow extended to trains—a pretty tough call, in my opinion—or de Gaulle follows Heathrow’s lead, this sounds like a pretty good idea to me.

]]> By: Rory http://crookedtimber.org/2006/08/11/flights-of-fancy/comment-page-1/#comment-168357 Rory Sat, 12 Aug 2006 10:30:12 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/08/11/flights-of-fancy/#comment-168357 A point that seems to have been forgotten: holds aren't heated, and batteries don't like being frozen. Is it worth coming out at the other end of a ten-hour flight with a laptop that holds a charge for twenty minutes? And who'd be a musician... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4784225.stm?ls A point that seems to have been forgotten: holds aren’t heated, and batteries don’t like being frozen. Is it worth coming out at the other end of a ten-hour flight with a laptop that holds a charge for twenty minutes?

And who’d be a musician…

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4784225.stm?ls

]]> By: Ray http://crookedtimber.org/2006/08/11/flights-of-fancy/comment-page-1/#comment-168349 Ray Sat, 12 Aug 2006 07:24:50 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/08/11/flights-of-fancy/#comment-168349 There isn't a complete ban on books and papers. You can't bring them through the first security check, but you can buy them in the departure area and carry them on board. There isn’t a complete ban on books and papers. You can’t bring them through the first security check, but you can buy them in the departure area and carry them on board.

]]> By: bad Jim http://crookedtimber.org/2006/08/11/flights-of-fancy/comment-page-1/#comment-168348 bad Jim Sat, 12 Aug 2006 07:09:30 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/08/11/flights-of-fancy/#comment-168348 There's an old story that one airline's promotion of its leather seats in first class suffered in translation: "Fly in leather" became "Fly naked" in Spanish. Unfortunately, it seems only to be a joke; had it been real, the response could have been offered as marketing data. There’s an old story that one airline’s promotion of its leather seats in first class suffered in translation: “Fly in leather” became “Fly naked” in Spanish.

Unfortunately, it seems only to be a joke; had it been real, the response could have been offered as marketing data.

]]> By: The Ridger http://crookedtimber.org/2006/08/11/flights-of-fancy/comment-page-1/#comment-168335 The Ridger Sat, 12 Aug 2006 02:57:37 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/08/11/flights-of-fancy/#comment-168335 Who was it on The Daily Show a couple of years back - Vance DeGeneres? Stephen Colbert? someone - suggested that everyone fly naked with no luggage and just buy everything new when they got where they were going: security and a boost to the economy at the same time! Who was it on The Daily Show a couple of years back – Vance DeGeneres? Stephen Colbert? someone – suggested that everyone fly naked with no luggage and just buy everything new when they got where they were going: security and a boost to the economy at the same time!

]]> By: abb1 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/08/11/flights-of-fancy/comment-page-1/#comment-168301 abb1 Fri, 11 Aug 2006 21:49:47 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/08/11/flights-of-fancy/#comment-168301 First they have to make sure no one on the plane is wearing those orange Leeuwenhose trousers. Strip 'em, bastards. There is already a precedent, so no problem here. Then they can extend it to other colors. First they have to make sure no one on the plane is wearing those orange Leeuwenhose trousers. Strip ‘em, bastards. There is already a precedent, so no problem here. Then they can extend it to other colors.

]]> By: Don McArthur http://crookedtimber.org/2006/08/11/flights-of-fancy/comment-page-1/#comment-168299 Don McArthur Fri, 11 Aug 2006 21:36:39 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/08/11/flights-of-fancy/#comment-168299 'Fly Naked' was suggested by Archie Bunker in the original 1970's "All In The Family" TV sitcom. He was speaking with Mike ("Meathead") about the first air hijackings, and he proposed that everyone not only fly naked, but be issued a handgun at the start of the flight. Don't let Instapundit hear of it, it'll be before Congress... ‘Fly Naked’ was suggested by Archie Bunker in the original 1970’s “All In The Family” TV sitcom. He was speaking with Mike (“Meathead”) about the first air hijackings, and he proposed that everyone not only fly naked, but be issued a handgun at the start of the flight.

Don’t let Instapundit hear of it, it’ll be before Congress…

]]>