Well, as I'm typing this I am supposed to be in Charlotte, but I'm still in Texas.
Want to take a guess as to why? Yesterday I stood in line at the Austin airport for four hours after American cancelled my flight, only to find out that the earliest they could get me on a plane was 6:00 this evening. Just a little too late since my workshops were supposed to be today.
So, in the twelve years that I've been doing workshops for National Business Media, this is the first time that I couldn't make it. In fact, I've never even been late to a class before.
I really feel bad that I couldn't get there, but it was just a little out of my control. Luckily, I hadn't checked my luggage in yet.
Today, I hear that they are canceling 900 more flights, so there will still be folks in the airports that have been stuck for days.
To all those that made it to Charlotte...hope you have a good time. Maybe Glenn will buy my lunch another time.
Posted by Monte Jumper (Member # 1106) on :
So...What did you do on your vacation?
Posted by Ricky Jackson (Member # 5082) on :
It seems that almost every week there is a new reason to hate the airlines. I was in Houston last week for our convention and a TSA dork screamed at me because I left my boarding pass in the plastic bin with my shoes, etc. I carried my camera the whole time because I didn't want it being stolen by TSA out of my luggage like my GPS unit was last September on the way back from Alaska. I know that safety is important but it isn't like the planes were suddenly all going to start falling out of the sky. The FAA could have came up with some sort of plan that wouldn't have been so devastating to probably a million people. I'd sure hate to have stock in American right now.
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
The FAA got caught with their pants down!
Now they are being a**holes to get even for the embarassment! Typial of Civil Service employees...they don't give a rat's rump about the people they are supposedly serving!
Posted by Curtis hammond (Member # 2170) on :
the cause. Cheap air airfares. Why so cheap? Because of certain legislation signed in to law about 12 years ago.
It said that new start up airlines such as jet blue etc could lease 500 million aircraft for free for ten years.
Why? to cause competition that would lower prices and increase services. The net effect is that majors that have been around for generations must compete with newbs that virtually use new aircraft for free. \ So then the FAA sat on their butts and shrank their inspection staffs forcing airlines to "bend " the rules because FAA inspectors were not available. All the while airlines are operating in the red and were forced to get away with as much as they could just to get by.
So now we have huge pay cuts for flight crews, service cuts, and planes sitting on the ground when they could be operating if only they were inspected on time. Thus causing us even more discomfort and missed flights costing our country millions in lost production.
Posted by Bob Rochon (Member # 30) on :
Time to Dust off that horse and Buggy
Posted by Cam Bortz (Member # 55) on :
Raymond's story reminded me just how much I detest flying nowadays. And its not just those in the "cheap seats", everyone has to deal with understaffed check-in counters, overcrowded planes, an antiquated air-traffic control system, and bieng treated like criminals by the TSA and like cattle by the airlines. Top it off with the FAA's latest cluster**** with American, and people still wonder why I would rather drive halfway across the country to a meet, than fly.
One word. Trains.
Posted by David Wright (Member # 111) on :
What's a matter here; is that new little White match box toy of yours all for show and not about the go? Did it come with one of those electronic fence collars that keep it within a 25 mile radius of home? Come on, it's only 17 hours from Temple to Charlotte! Oops, never mind, didn't consider the RWS factor (Raymond Wayfinding System). Maybe it would be more like 24hours. Is it true that On-Star has already sent you a refund check and asked you to stop calling because you were single handily keeping them from profitability?
Well, I need to go. There is this little newsletter that is due out tomorrow and then I can concentrate on “finding myself”. I’m Yankee Bob and I approved this [attack] ad.
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Ricky, I really want to have the same mindset as you (and knee jerk reaction fashion, I do), “but it isn't like the planes were suddenly all going to start falling out of the sky.”. Unfortunately, with the wonderful litigious society we have allowed ourselves to become, “if” one of those birds “waitlisted” did in fact fall out of the sky and it was determined to be wiring related….well, I don’t even want to think about the outcry and the lawyers lining up. While very broad and simple in delivery, I am board with Curtis’s logic and explanation. Prime example of being careful in what you wish for as it just may come true.
To bring this back to being sign related (I’m trying Stevo!); how many folks in this very online community a few years ago were commenting, in a negative fashion, about the price of equipment (ABC company are just ripping us off, they can’t cost that much to make, etc.). Then, a few months removed, they are commenting, again negatively, that the prices are too cheap (they are just giving them away, everyone and their brother has one, etc.).
I include myself in the following; be careful in what you wish for as it just may come true. It’s not just about today, think about tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, next generation, etc. I like to live for today, however, I believe there is responsibility attached with such action. Soapbox now returned for someone else to use.
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
well......i look at all this from the FINANCIAL MOOD OF THIS COUNTRY. so called down sizing of govt(FAA is FEDERAL)along with the downsizing of many other GOVT PROTECTION ACENCYS(FDA, COMSUMER PROTECT, MEAT INSPECTOR, BOARDER PATROL, pick one...that hasnt been downsized EXCEPT DHS(such a joke)and you then begin to see WHY PEOPLE who work in these jobs....dont do it as well as it should be. airlines are caught in a damned if ya do and damned ya dont place. raise prices, less people fly, try to keep prices low, book more now you got OVERBOOKING. how do you they manage to get all things done with less people and LESS MONEY? fuel cost have almost doubled since 2000, peoples wages havent.....it aint lookin good for all of us.....if BIG BUSINESS is struggling.....there has to be a trickle down effect....more like a GULLY WASHER......is inevitable.
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
What is Yankee Bob smoking, anyway?
Actually, I did think about driving while I was standing in line....but not for very long. I would have had to drive all night to get there, teach two classes and then drive back.
On Star would have given me directions, but they would not get in and drive the HHR for me.
Where does he get all this stuff about me getting lost?
By the way, that little white Matchbox toy is a ball to drive. And it sure is nice not to have to stop by the gas station every three days.
We are swamped with work right now, so I haven't found any time to put a sign on it yet.
Posted by mike meyer (Member # 542) on :
Texas....man I loved Texas back in 1982, stationed at Ft. Sam Houston.....we would go to New Branfels to the "Wurstfest", saw Conway Twitty in Hondo at the airport, went to Cannon Lake almost every weekend, Luckenbach, Lone Star Beer hall of Horns, Del Rio Rodeo, Honkytonkin at Moe and Joe's near Houston....Why would ya wanna leave Raymond? Love that Pearl beer.
Doom and Gloom Old Paint, sounds like a great retirement...
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
Mike - was just leaving for a day or two. Some folks said that they would give me a few dollars to come over and talk awhile, so I thought that sounded like a good deal.
Texas is home. No reason to leave that I have found. I'm American by birth and Texan by the grace of God.
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
In defense of the FAA, the airlines did have a year and a half to replace the wiring harnesses in question, and they didn't do it.
If they didn't have the money to make the repairs and keep their fleet maintained, maybe they shouldn't be operating a business where safety is such a concern.
If any one of us were dependent upon our vehicles in order to stay in business, but we didn't keep them maintained and our respective States failed them at safety/emissions inspection, it's certainly not the State's fault for putting us out of business.
Posted by mike meyer (Member # 542) on :
All I know is this Raymond, I have witnessed people who do not know the Texas flag, ask a Texan why they are flying the Cuban flag.....EK!
RUN!, the FUR will FLY! Texans are PROUD, very PROUD! Glad to know ya Raymond, now get that HHR Lettered before it rusts! Are you gonna put horns on the front?
Posted by Jillbeans (Member # 1912) on :
Raymond, maybe you were meant to stay home this weekend. Maybe you will make a difference in a local person's life. Maybe something really nice will happen at home that you would have missed otherwise. Or maybe you will just be out in the shop coating some MDO. Love....Jill
Posted by mike meyer (Member # 542) on :
Thanks Duncan, even tho these are backwards, you get the idea....That's me drinkin a Lone Star on the weekly case o beer I had to haul while riding bit*h on the back of my roomates chopper...He liked to light stuff on fire, he was a paratrooper, got really drunk one night, tried to kill himself jumpin off the 3rd story roof of our barracks, he did a perfect airborne 3 point roll and walked away mad...The MP's released him to ME...me!??? (Why me, HE TRIED TO KILL HIMSELF!!!!!) I guess I had a calming effect on him...he also brought the engine from his Harley in our room one day....we failed room inspection...the other pic is me in my daily uniform,Dress Blues, petting a deer inside the "Quadrangle" where Geronimo was held. They had other animals in there including peacocks. Can you believe the Army actually had a job for a soldier to feed the deer and repair furniture?? No kidding! Texas is a very interesting place...can't wait to go back someday.....
Posted by Ricky Jackson (Member # 5082) on :
Mike I didn't know they had 18 months to comply. That sure changes my thinking. Sorry about the knee-jerk response; it's just that I've seen things always get goofed up when the govt puts their hands on something - anything. Mike, we loved living in San Antonio; did lots of work for Ft. Sam. Sure made some good memories there. I remember Alton inspecting a modified bumper sticker I had on my Amigo; it said "Don't mess with me Texas", LOL.
Posted by mike meyer (Member # 542) on :
No problem Ricky, The Riverwalk is still a great place to hang out! Don't get me wrong, the Gov still screws things up, I agree. I always wondered about the Texas "Package Stores"...When I went into them, all they sold was BOOZE, I couldn't find any "Packages" to buy!?? Do the stores with "BEER WINE LIQUOR" signs sell "Packages" inside????
Guess it's a Texas thing...?? y'all
Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :
Yep. Missed ya at the show, Ray. I saw that they had marked your classes as Canceled.
Drat! Drat! Drat!
.
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
Ricky, yep and their 18 months are up.
However, the other side of the story is, that's also 18 months during which the FAA could have been checking up to make sure the work was getting done.
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
Ray, most of the folks scheduled for your class are probably scattered in airports also, feeling bad about missing you.
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Did it come with one of those electronic fence collars that keep it within a 25 mile radius of home? ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
Come on, it's only 17 hours from Temple to Charlotte! Oops, never mind, didn't consider the RWS factor (Raymond Wayfinding System). Maybe it would be more like 24hours. ![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
Is it true that On-Star has already sent you a refund check and asked you to stop calling because you were single handily keeping them from profitability? ![[Embarrassed]](redface.gif)
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