I am going to try to engage part of America's Op Ed on repealing the Second Amendment. There is a good Huff Post article with background on this at America, Catholic Magazine, Calls For Repeal Of Second Amendment In Controversial Editorial .
Here here is at least part 1 of a hopefully series of posts.
America as background takes on the the now famous Heller case .
On June 26, 2008, in a closely watched, far-reaching decision, the Supreme Court of the United States struck down the D.C. law, ruling that it violated the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which states: “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” In the court’s majority opinion, Associate Justice Antonin Scalia wrote: “We are aware of the problem of handgun violence in this country, and we take seriously the concerns raised by the many amici who believe that the prohibition of handgun ownership is a solution.... But the enshrinement of constitutional rights necessarily takes certain policy choices off the table.”
Justice Scalia was right. Even those who subscribe to methods of constitutional interpretation other than Mr. Scalia’s brand of modified originalism must concede the basic point: The Second Amendment impedes the power of the government to regulate the sale or possession of firearms. Unfortunately, the grim consequence of this constitutional restriction is measured in body counts. The murder of 20 elementary school children and six adults in Newtown, Conn., in December was merely the latest in a string of mass shootings: Virginia Tech, Fort Hood, Tucson, Aurora, Oak Creek. In the last 30 years, there have been 62 mass shootings (each leaving at least four people dead) in the United States. Since the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School in Columbine, Colo., there have been 130 shootings at schools; nearly half involved multiple deaths or injuries.
Now there is major problem here. It is true that Heller is far reaching since they are explict that firearm ownership is a individual right. However they DID NOT touch on the many many many many laws and regulations that go as to sale or possession of firearms.
Let us see if all "reasonable" gun restrictions have Gone with the Wind in D.C that was the subject of the Heller case .
Lets says a good Jesuit that lives in the District of Columbia wishes to buy a handgun. What will he have to do.
Step 1 Buy your Handgun but make sure it's on the approved 3 state list.
Make sure it holds no more than 10 rounds. Note you are going to have to go to a local dealer in the area since most handguns come with a standard 13 mag. That means you got to get someone to open the box switch out the mag with a 10 one so it can be accepted for delivery in the district . That means most big online sales from dealers are not going to happen. No one is going to be switching out mags at the warehouse. Your 10 DAY WAITING PERIOD begins.
Step 2 PAY ( they don't do this for free ) to have the gun you purchased to be shipped to the ONLY federal firearms licensee (FFL). That is D.C.’s only legal gun dealer.
Step 3 - Get the required forms you need from the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department. Sadly these forms are not online ( of course ) so you have to go get them or call them to send them to you.
Step 4 - Fill out forms send them back the D.C. 's ONLY legal gun dealer.
Step 5 - Take 30 minute online Course on fundamentals, safety and local laws. Then print our Certificate sign it .
Step 6- The handgun arrives to D.C. ONLY LEGAL GUN DEALER so you have to set up an appointment to fill our registration form. Go to the MPD where the gun dealer is at .Bring $125 fee in cash and the FBI BACKGROUND CHECK IS DONE.
Step 7 Take the test ( though this is pretty easy )
Step 8 Fill out more forms get photographed and fingerprinted
Step 9 GO TO THE DMV ( Horrors ) This step alone perhaps is enough to stop most handgun buying in you live in the District. After waiting through the long line ( s) Pay $48 dollars in Cash get receipt .
Step 10 Take your and receipt and trek back to the Metropolitan Police Department. The registration office staff will tell you what day to come back for the end of the ten-day waiting period. Don't expect them to call you.
Step 11- Go back to the MPD. The day before waiting period ends contact D.C. only legal gun dealer located in the MPD too see if application approved. Then make appointment to pick gun up. Make sure you have a lock and a case so you can transport the gun home.
Suggested Step 12- Make sure to keep up with all D.C. gun laws in the future so you don't accidentally become a criminal and have to go through a long legal process.
All these restrictions though burdensome are likely to survive court scrutiny up in the District. . Just like the District's ban on assault weapons.
So it's not really the case that just because the Court has ruled that one cannot just art Blanche ban the most common firearm in American that Judges just left and and right are striking now "reasonable" gun laws done by our elected officials.
I think America is missing that fact that it doubles down like they did in the Op-Ed . In this case waiting periods , registrations , background checks , plus a lot of hassle have all been proposed as reasonable. In fact they are have been proposed as necessary to prevent misuse of firearms by gun control advocates. There is no real indications these laws are going away in the District.
Thanks to this article that explains process on how to buy an gun if one lives in the District of Columbia .
25 Şubat 2013 Pazartesi
A D.C. Jesuit Buys A Gun - Engaging America 's Repeal The 2nd Amendment Op Ed Part 1
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Why Should We Exempt Religious Folks and Organizations From Laws - NPR Discussion
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I am going to try to hit on the defense of rreligious exemptions or as the freedom from religion folks more often call it " religious privilege" as to laws later on more fully.I truly think that the effort to exempt these are a true threat to human freedom and human dignity.
Till then NPR had an nice little program on their show called Talk of the Nation that touched on this.Prof Rick Garnett that participated in the program has the link to the vid and transcript here at Garnett on religious exemptions on "Talk of the Nation" . Exempt
Thoughts On Mandatory Gun Insurance
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In our " national conversation on guns " there has been some talk on mandatory gun insurance for gun owners. In fact there has been some bill filed in some state legislatures.
Josh Blackman has been blogging on this issue for some time. His latest piece is here at The Constitutionality of Mandating Firearm Insurance where he talks about the legal and indeed moral hazard problems involved.
A few thoughts of my own. From a pragmatic sense this seems like a idea that gun control people would want to run away from for various reasons.
First it does not take a lot of imagination to see this in a poll tax sort of way and our history with that. That it is very likely that this have a disparate impact on poor folks and very much poor folks of color. Which to be honest might be part of the intent. It's no secret that the modern gun control movement partly got its start because people were freaking out over riots by black citizens in the 60 ' s.
Second it seems just to confirm the worse fears of gun rights folks that are told their fears are so unreasonable. That is the "reasonable" request that gun owners should register their firearms will eventually lead to a tax and/ or confiscation.
Last but not least the car insurance issue does not seem very apt. When I cannot pay my car insurance That means I cannot drive the car off my property. I can have an car without insurance to my hearts content on my property. In fact I believe in all states I can pretty much Drive and use my car all over my private property. No one is going to confiscate it if I let the insurance lapse. That is good since I might have some investment in my vehicle.
Mandatory gun insurance is perhaps the least likely of all regulation to pass in my opinion. The problem is for gun control advocates just the serious discussion of it likely results in a ton of anti gun control laws in response and other assorted blowback.
SACRAMENTO: Gatsby's Diner
To contact us Click HERE
As a fan of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, I have longwanted to visit Gatsby’s Diner in Sacramento. This Christmas visit, I playedthe “Dad” card and insisted the family gather there for dinner. No one wasdisappointed.
We descended on Gatsby’s, which is fairly close to our kids’homes, with three of our adult children and one grandchild in tow, and staffcould not have been more welcoming. We’d made a reservation – which theyrecommend because of the popularity the show has brought the place – so theyhad a table and high chair ready.
My wife and I had been particularly fascinated by a coupleof items prepared on the show: the beet sliders and the beef rouladen.
We ordered a side of sliders for the table and, although theothers were initially wary of tasting what looked like “beet sandwiches,”everyone immediately understood why they are one of Gatsby’s signature dishes.
Three ½-inch thick beet medallions are par-boiled inGatsby's own pastrami seasoning, which gives the beets a flavor reminiscent ofpastrami while preserving their vegetarian qualities. The slices are thengrilled on flattops that used to be teppan yaki grills when the place was aJapanese steakhouse in a previous life, then served with shaved red onion andhouse-made Green Goddess dressing on toasted slider buns.
The restaurant’s web page says, “We love beets but those whodon’t probably wouldn’t even know what they were eating if they ate with theirmouths closed.” While I'm sure they meant "ate with their eyes closed," I could hardly have said it better myself.
After the appetizer, it was on to our main courses.
I had the German beef rouladen, which are rolls of thinlysliced beef, Dijon mustard, bacon, dill pickle and onion, served with savorygravy, German red cabbage and parsley potatoes. Being partly of German heritage,I’ve enjoyed rouladen since my childhood.
While Gatsby’s rouladen were very tasty, they should probablyhave been cooked a little longer, as they were still a bit tough. Rouladenoriginally evolved as a way to make cheaper cuts of meat edible by poundingthem thin, then cooking for a long time to ensure tenderness. The potatoescould also have used some additional cooking time, as my wife and I agreed theywere a bit underdone.
My wife, also of German heritage, opted for the porkschnitzel: a pork loin filet, breaded and fried, served with red cabbage andGerman potato salad, which is made without mayonnaise. While the schnitzel and cabbage were quite flavorful, the optionof a warm potato side dish would have been welcome on a cold pre-Christmasevening.
One of the kids tucked into a huge burger, which heimmediately pronounced delicious. Burgers, according to many of the reviews I've read elsewhere, are what Gatsby's is known for.
After dinner, we enjoyed a luscious, light crème brûléeflamed tableside, and a chocolate-peanut butter milkshake. The latter soundsheavy, even for chocolate and/or peanut butter lovers, but surprisingly, itwasn’t. It was very light and tasty.
Despite Gatsby’s decidedly casual “diner” atmosphere,service was helpful and attentive. As an extra, added attraction, the place hada good selection of beer and a pretty decent wine list, too. Coupled with itsexcellent selection of comfort food, Gatsby’s has everything you'll need for asuccessful evening out.
Photos by Carl Dombek
Click on photos to view larger sized images
Sacramento Vacations
We descended on Gatsby’s, which is fairly close to our kids’homes, with three of our adult children and one grandchild in tow, and staffcould not have been more welcoming. We’d made a reservation – which theyrecommend because of the popularity the show has brought the place – so theyhad a table and high chair ready.
My wife and I had been particularly fascinated by a coupleof items prepared on the show: the beet sliders and the beef rouladen.
We ordered a side of sliders for the table and, although theothers were initially wary of tasting what looked like “beet sandwiches,”everyone immediately understood why they are one of Gatsby’s signature dishes.
 |
| Beet sliders |
The restaurant’s web page says, “We love beets but those whodon’t probably wouldn’t even know what they were eating if they ate with theirmouths closed.” While I'm sure they meant "ate with their eyes closed," I could hardly have said it better myself.
After the appetizer, it was on to our main courses.
I had the German beef rouladen, which are rolls of thinlysliced beef, Dijon mustard, bacon, dill pickle and onion, served with savorygravy, German red cabbage and parsley potatoes. Being partly of German heritage,I’ve enjoyed rouladen since my childhood.
 |
| Beef rouladen |
My wife, also of German heritage, opted for the porkschnitzel: a pork loin filet, breaded and fried, served with red cabbage andGerman potato salad, which is made without mayonnaise. While the schnitzel and cabbage were quite flavorful, the optionof a warm potato side dish would have been welcome on a cold pre-Christmasevening.
One of the kids tucked into a huge burger, which heimmediately pronounced delicious. Burgers, according to many of the reviews I've read elsewhere, are what Gatsby's is known for.
After dinner, we enjoyed a luscious, light crème brûléeflamed tableside, and a chocolate-peanut butter milkshake. The latter soundsheavy, even for chocolate and/or peanut butter lovers, but surprisingly, itwasn’t. It was very light and tasty.
Despite Gatsby’s decidedly casual “diner” atmosphere,service was helpful and attentive. As an extra, added attraction, the place hada good selection of beer and a pretty decent wine list, too. Coupled with itsexcellent selection of comfort food, Gatsby’s has everything you'll need for asuccessful evening out.
Photos by Carl Dombek
Click on photos to view larger sized images
Sacramento Vacations
American's Longest Flying F/A Steps Down
To contact us Click HERE
An interesting article in the Dallas Morning News about American Airlines' oldest active flight attendant stepping down after 54 years in the air.
The article provides some interesting history about how flight attendants used to be selected and what they were required to do, but left out some key points related to some pretty stringent physical requirements.
First, F/As had to be attractive. I know that's subjective, but it was definitely a requirement of the job, just as the requirements that flight attendants be single and under 32 years of age.
Second, flight attendants' weight was monitored very closely and those who gained beyond a certain point were grounded, either temporarily until they could lose the extra pounds, or permanently. In addition, there were some fairly narrow height parameters: F/As could neither be too tall nor too short. For example, the now-defunct PanAm required that F/A's be at least 5'2" tall and weigh no more than 130 pounds.
Some things probably needed to change, but others should never have been allowed to change, such as the requirement that flight attendants actually take care of their passengers. Back in the day, they made sure passengers were comfortable, had what we needed, and generally made us feel welcome. They didn't just sling us drinks, then hide behind the galley curtain to read the latest fashion magazine or pulp novel.
Generally, though, the Dallas Morning News piece about Carole DiSalvo is well worth reading.
The article provides some interesting history about how flight attendants used to be selected and what they were required to do, but left out some key points related to some pretty stringent physical requirements.
First, F/As had to be attractive. I know that's subjective, but it was definitely a requirement of the job, just as the requirements that flight attendants be single and under 32 years of age.Second, flight attendants' weight was monitored very closely and those who gained beyond a certain point were grounded, either temporarily until they could lose the extra pounds, or permanently. In addition, there were some fairly narrow height parameters: F/As could neither be too tall nor too short. For example, the now-defunct PanAm required that F/A's be at least 5'2" tall and weigh no more than 130 pounds.
Some things probably needed to change, but others should never have been allowed to change, such as the requirement that flight attendants actually take care of their passengers. Back in the day, they made sure passengers were comfortable, had what we needed, and generally made us feel welcome. They didn't just sling us drinks, then hide behind the galley curtain to read the latest fashion magazine or pulp novel.
Generally, though, the Dallas Morning News piece about Carole DiSalvo is well worth reading.
24 Şubat 2013 Pazar
This blog's mission
To contact us Click HERE
This post is a bit more personal. For the few readers that I have left, I feel that I owe an explanation of some sort for the sparse postings. In short, things have been happening in my life - both good and bad - that have made posting on a regular basis a challenge. I recruited Bill Fisher last fall to help out, but neither of us intended for him to run the show, and it's not fair to him that I sort of dropped out. I have not found the time to write about the dozens of articles that I've bookmarked or ideas floating in my head. Indeed, I have several unwritten drafts that have not - and likely will not, due to a lack of timeliness - be published.
When I first started this blog, I was feeling cornered by the TSA and I wanted to protest in some way. It was a great outlet for me to feel that I was making an impact. Since then, many other venues have popped up - from Becky Akers' new blogging position at lewrockwell.com to Boycott Flying on Facebook, to the many viral stories of TSA injustices. While this hasn't reduced my passion, it has reduced my feeling of responsibility to get any and all TSA-related news out there.
I have reason to believe that this summer may allow me more time to post on this blog - but no promises! In the meantime, I will continue to reflect on what this blog's purpose is now - only a year and a half after I started it up - and how I can meet that mission while keeping the content interesting. Although I feel that I've shirked some responsibility for the last half year plus, I have been so hopeful by the ever increasing backlash against the federal agency that has significantly changed my life. I don't know what is in store for this blog, but, the dissolution of the TSA and all of its shenanigans remains a fervant wish of mine.
When I first started this blog, I was feeling cornered by the TSA and I wanted to protest in some way. It was a great outlet for me to feel that I was making an impact. Since then, many other venues have popped up - from Becky Akers' new blogging position at lewrockwell.com to Boycott Flying on Facebook, to the many viral stories of TSA injustices. While this hasn't reduced my passion, it has reduced my feeling of responsibility to get any and all TSA-related news out there.
I have reason to believe that this summer may allow me more time to post on this blog - but no promises! In the meantime, I will continue to reflect on what this blog's purpose is now - only a year and a half after I started it up - and how I can meet that mission while keeping the content interesting. Although I feel that I've shirked some responsibility for the last half year plus, I have been so hopeful by the ever increasing backlash against the federal agency that has significantly changed my life. I don't know what is in store for this blog, but, the dissolution of the TSA and all of its shenanigans remains a fervant wish of mine.
Alkon: Don't go quietly
To contact us Click HERE
Amy Alkon has an entry on her latest violation at the hands of the TSA. After years of degradation by the TSA, there is nothing particularly remarkable about her experience: she was sexually assaulted because she bought a plane ticket.
I wholeheartedly agree with her final remarks:
I wholeheartedly agree with her final remarks:
I will at least make a spectacle of myself and in turn of what they are doing.If you are having trouble finding a place to publish your story, please send it to me using the contact form on this blog.
Don't go quietly, please. And name names of those who violate you -- post their name (THEDALA MAGEE!) and a picture of them if you can find or take it. (To avoid a libel suit, be absolutely sure it's the right person -- there were a number of Tiffany Applewhites, and most of them are regular people who don't appear to grope people's genitals for a living.)
If more people screamed and yelled and protested in some way, we might be able to make some change. In so many ways lately, our constitutional rights are being eroded. Keeping quiet will not end well for any of us.
SACRAMENTO: Gatsby's Diner
To contact us Click HERE
As a fan of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, I have longwanted to visit Gatsby’s Diner in Sacramento. This Christmas visit, I playedthe “Dad” card and insisted the family gather there for dinner. No one wasdisappointed.
We descended on Gatsby’s, which is fairly close to our kids’homes, with three of our adult children and one grandchild in tow, and staffcould not have been more welcoming. We’d made a reservation – which theyrecommend because of the popularity the show has brought the place – so theyhad a table and high chair ready.
My wife and I had been particularly fascinated by a coupleof items prepared on the show: the beet sliders and the beef rouladen.
We ordered a side of sliders for the table and, although theothers were initially wary of tasting what looked like “beet sandwiches,”everyone immediately understood why they are one of Gatsby’s signature dishes.
Three ½-inch thick beet medallions are par-boiled inGatsby's own pastrami seasoning, which gives the beets a flavor reminiscent ofpastrami while preserving their vegetarian qualities. The slices are thengrilled on flattops that used to be teppan yaki grills when the place was aJapanese steakhouse in a previous life, then served with shaved red onion andhouse-made Green Goddess dressing on toasted slider buns.
The restaurant’s web page says, “We love beets but those whodon’t probably wouldn’t even know what they were eating if they ate with theirmouths closed.” While I'm sure they meant "ate with their eyes closed," I could hardly have said it better myself.
After the appetizer, it was on to our main courses.
I had the German beef rouladen, which are rolls of thinlysliced beef, Dijon mustard, bacon, dill pickle and onion, served with savorygravy, German red cabbage and parsley potatoes. Being partly of German heritage,I’ve enjoyed rouladen since my childhood.
While Gatsby’s rouladen were very tasty, they should probablyhave been cooked a little longer, as they were still a bit tough. Rouladenoriginally evolved as a way to make cheaper cuts of meat edible by poundingthem thin, then cooking for a long time to ensure tenderness. The potatoescould also have used some additional cooking time, as my wife and I agreed theywere a bit underdone.
My wife, also of German heritage, opted for the porkschnitzel: a pork loin filet, breaded and fried, served with red cabbage andGerman potato salad, which is made without mayonnaise. While the schnitzel and cabbage were quite flavorful, the optionof a warm potato side dish would have been welcome on a cold pre-Christmasevening.
One of the kids tucked into a huge burger, which heimmediately pronounced delicious. Burgers, according to many of the reviews I've read elsewhere, are what Gatsby's is known for.
After dinner, we enjoyed a luscious, light crème brûléeflamed tableside, and a chocolate-peanut butter milkshake. The latter soundsheavy, even for chocolate and/or peanut butter lovers, but surprisingly, itwasn’t. It was very light and tasty.
Despite Gatsby’s decidedly casual “diner” atmosphere,service was helpful and attentive. As an extra, added attraction, the place hada good selection of beer and a pretty decent wine list, too. Coupled with itsexcellent selection of comfort food, Gatsby’s has everything you'll need for asuccessful evening out.
Photos by Carl Dombek
Click on photos to view larger sized images
Sacramento Vacations
We descended on Gatsby’s, which is fairly close to our kids’homes, with three of our adult children and one grandchild in tow, and staffcould not have been more welcoming. We’d made a reservation – which theyrecommend because of the popularity the show has brought the place – so theyhad a table and high chair ready.
My wife and I had been particularly fascinated by a coupleof items prepared on the show: the beet sliders and the beef rouladen.
We ordered a side of sliders for the table and, although theothers were initially wary of tasting what looked like “beet sandwiches,”everyone immediately understood why they are one of Gatsby’s signature dishes.
|
| Beet sliders |
The restaurant’s web page says, “We love beets but those whodon’t probably wouldn’t even know what they were eating if they ate with theirmouths closed.” While I'm sure they meant "ate with their eyes closed," I could hardly have said it better myself.
After the appetizer, it was on to our main courses.
I had the German beef rouladen, which are rolls of thinlysliced beef, Dijon mustard, bacon, dill pickle and onion, served with savorygravy, German red cabbage and parsley potatoes. Being partly of German heritage,I’ve enjoyed rouladen since my childhood.
|
| Beef rouladen |
My wife, also of German heritage, opted for the porkschnitzel: a pork loin filet, breaded and fried, served with red cabbage andGerman potato salad, which is made without mayonnaise. While the schnitzel and cabbage were quite flavorful, the optionof a warm potato side dish would have been welcome on a cold pre-Christmasevening.
One of the kids tucked into a huge burger, which heimmediately pronounced delicious. Burgers, according to many of the reviews I've read elsewhere, are what Gatsby's is known for.
After dinner, we enjoyed a luscious, light crème brûléeflamed tableside, and a chocolate-peanut butter milkshake. The latter soundsheavy, even for chocolate and/or peanut butter lovers, but surprisingly, itwasn’t. It was very light and tasty.
Despite Gatsby’s decidedly casual “diner” atmosphere,service was helpful and attentive. As an extra, added attraction, the place hada good selection of beer and a pretty decent wine list, too. Coupled with itsexcellent selection of comfort food, Gatsby’s has everything you'll need for asuccessful evening out.
Photos by Carl Dombek
Click on photos to view larger sized images
Sacramento Vacations
American's Longest Flying F/A Steps Down
To contact us Click HERE
An interesting article in the Dallas Morning News about American Airlines' oldest active flight attendant stepping down after 54 years in the air.
The article provides some interesting history about how flight attendants used to be selected and what they were required to do, but left out some key points related to some pretty stringent physical requirements.
First, F/As had to be attractive. I know that's subjective, but it was definitely a requirement of the job, just as the requirements that flight attendants be single and under 32 years of age.
Second, flight attendants' weight was monitored very closely and those who gained beyond a certain point were grounded, either temporarily until they could lose the extra pounds, or permanently. In addition, there were some fairly narrow height parameters: F/As could neither be too tall nor too short. For example, the now-defunct PanAm required that F/A's be at least 5'2" tall and weigh no more than 130 pounds.
Some things probably needed to change, but others should never have been allowed to change, such as the requirement that flight attendants actually take care of their passengers. Back in the day, they made sure passengers were comfortable, had what we needed, and generally made us feel welcome. They didn't just sling us drinks, then hide behind the galley curtain to read the latest fashion magazine or pulp novel.
Generally, though, the Dallas Morning News piece about Carole DiSalvo is well worth reading.
The article provides some interesting history about how flight attendants used to be selected and what they were required to do, but left out some key points related to some pretty stringent physical requirements.
First, F/As had to be attractive. I know that's subjective, but it was definitely a requirement of the job, just as the requirements that flight attendants be single and under 32 years of age.Second, flight attendants' weight was monitored very closely and those who gained beyond a certain point were grounded, either temporarily until they could lose the extra pounds, or permanently. In addition, there were some fairly narrow height parameters: F/As could neither be too tall nor too short. For example, the now-defunct PanAm required that F/A's be at least 5'2" tall and weigh no more than 130 pounds.
Some things probably needed to change, but others should never have been allowed to change, such as the requirement that flight attendants actually take care of their passengers. Back in the day, they made sure passengers were comfortable, had what we needed, and generally made us feel welcome. They didn't just sling us drinks, then hide behind the galley curtain to read the latest fashion magazine or pulp novel.
Generally, though, the Dallas Morning News piece about Carole DiSalvo is well worth reading.
Lisa Pistolis Hooter's Waitress and Party Girl Charged With Murder In DUI Case
To contact us Click HERE
The crash that killed a man on Interstate 526 in Charleston was caused by a woman who was driving while intoxicated and while she was out on bail awaiting trial on a previous DUI charge.
Lisa Pistolis, 25, of Gemstone Boulevard, Hanahan, South Carolina is a Hooter's waitress and well known local party girl.
Police and media reports state that she was driving eastbound about 4:30 p.m. Sunday on I-526 when the Mustang she was driving drifted off the roadway into the grassy median in the center, North Charleston police spokesman Spencer Pryor said.
Pistolis tried to get back on the road but hit a sport utiltity vehicle. The SUV also flipped several times in the wreck. Pistolis was charged with felony DUI involving death and felony DUI with great bodily injuries.
She was reportedly driving the same Mustang when she was arrested last year.
Some of the dozens of her FaceBook photos that show her party hard lifestyle.
Lisa Pistolis, 25, of Gemstone Boulevard, Hanahan, South Carolina is a Hooter's waitress and well known local party girl.
Police and media reports state that she was driving eastbound about 4:30 p.m. Sunday on I-526 when the Mustang she was driving drifted off the roadway into the grassy median in the center, North Charleston police spokesman Spencer Pryor said.
Pistolis tried to get back on the road but hit a sport utiltity vehicle. The SUV also flipped several times in the wreck. Pistolis was charged with felony DUI involving death and felony DUI with great bodily injuries.
She was reportedly driving the same Mustang when she was arrested last year.
Some of the dozens of her FaceBook photos that show her party hard lifestyle.
23 Şubat 2013 Cumartesi
This blog's mission
To contact us Click HERE
This post is a bit more personal. For the few readers that I have left, I feel that I owe an explanation of some sort for the sparse postings. In short, things have been happening in my life - both good and bad - that have made posting on a regular basis a challenge. I recruited Bill Fisher last fall to help out, but neither of us intended for him to run the show, and it's not fair to him that I sort of dropped out. I have not found the time to write about the dozens of articles that I've bookmarked or ideas floating in my head. Indeed, I have several unwritten drafts that have not - and likely will not, due to a lack of timeliness - be published.
When I first started this blog, I was feeling cornered by the TSA and I wanted to protest in some way. It was a great outlet for me to feel that I was making an impact. Since then, many other venues have popped up - from Becky Akers' new blogging position at lewrockwell.com to Boycott Flying on Facebook, to the many viral stories of TSA injustices. While this hasn't reduced my passion, it has reduced my feeling of responsibility to get any and all TSA-related news out there.
I have reason to believe that this summer may allow me more time to post on this blog - but no promises! In the meantime, I will continue to reflect on what this blog's purpose is now - only a year and a half after I started it up - and how I can meet that mission while keeping the content interesting. Although I feel that I've shirked some responsibility for the last half year plus, I have been so hopeful by the ever increasing backlash against the federal agency that has significantly changed my life. I don't know what is in store for this blog, but, the dissolution of the TSA and all of its shenanigans remains a fervant wish of mine.
When I first started this blog, I was feeling cornered by the TSA and I wanted to protest in some way. It was a great outlet for me to feel that I was making an impact. Since then, many other venues have popped up - from Becky Akers' new blogging position at lewrockwell.com to Boycott Flying on Facebook, to the many viral stories of TSA injustices. While this hasn't reduced my passion, it has reduced my feeling of responsibility to get any and all TSA-related news out there.
I have reason to believe that this summer may allow me more time to post on this blog - but no promises! In the meantime, I will continue to reflect on what this blog's purpose is now - only a year and a half after I started it up - and how I can meet that mission while keeping the content interesting. Although I feel that I've shirked some responsibility for the last half year plus, I have been so hopeful by the ever increasing backlash against the federal agency that has significantly changed my life. I don't know what is in store for this blog, but, the dissolution of the TSA and all of its shenanigans remains a fervant wish of mine.
Alkon: Don't go quietly
To contact us Click HERE
Amy Alkon has an entry on her latest violation at the hands of the TSA. After years of degradation by the TSA, there is nothing particularly remarkable about her experience: she was sexually assaulted because she bought a plane ticket.
I wholeheartedly agree with her final remarks:
I wholeheartedly agree with her final remarks:
I will at least make a spectacle of myself and in turn of what they are doing.If you are having trouble finding a place to publish your story, please send it to me using the contact form on this blog.
Don't go quietly, please. And name names of those who violate you -- post their name (THEDALA MAGEE!) and a picture of them if you can find or take it. (To avoid a libel suit, be absolutely sure it's the right person -- there were a number of Tiffany Applewhites, and most of them are regular people who don't appear to grope people's genitals for a living.)
If more people screamed and yelled and protested in some way, we might be able to make some change. In so many ways lately, our constitutional rights are being eroded. Keeping quiet will not end well for any of us.
Viking Cruises expands with additional longship order
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VikingRiver Cruises in early December placed an order for 10 additional Viking Longships, bringing the total number of new ships launching in 2013 to 10 and the number launching in 2014 to eight.
The launch plan will "easily surpass the industry record Viking set in 2012 with the introduction of six new ships in a single season," the cruise line said in a statement announcing the order.
"By the end of 2014, the company will have introduced a total of 24 new ships in a three-year period, a fleet expansion unprecedented in the cruise industry," the statement continued.
The company's chairman, Torstein Hagen, credited the rapid growth of the river cruise segment to travelers being inspired "to experience old destinations in a new way.”
I believe there are also other factors at play.
First and foremost is the single factor that has kept my wife and me from ocean cruising (save for my sole repositioning cruise): the gargantuan size of the ships, which literally carry as many people as the average aircraft carrier. Viking Longships carry 190 passengers.
Second, the itineraries seem to offer a much more leisurely pace. Couple that with the smaller groups disembarking and reboarding and, once again, a more leisurely pace results.
Third, more large cruise lines are catering to families. While we love our children and grandchildren, we've always envisioned a cruise as a sophisticated, adult experience, not a visit to Chuck E. Cheese's. A cruise surrounded by active children, even if they are well-behaved (and -- no surprise here -- many kids today simply aren't) would not be the relaxing, adult experience we're seeking.
While I don't have information on the demographics of Viking's passengers, the line appears to actively court members of the Baby Boom and Greatest generations rather than families with small children.
I think of a gentleman named Lefty and his wife, whom I met in 2009 in an airline lounge at Chicago's O'Hare Airport as we were waiting for our flight to Amsterdam. He had spent his career as the sales manager for Encyclopedia Brittanica during the pre-Internet days when many Boomers grew up with a set of encyclopedias a fixture in their family room. By then long retired, he and his wife were traveling to the Netherlands to take a river cruise from Amsterdam to Bratislava, sans kids.
Viking plans to inaugurate the first eight Viking Longships of 2013 in a first-of-its-kind simultaneous christening ceremony in late March in Amsterdam. The two newest ships, Viking Baldur and Viking Magni, will join the fleet in late August and September, respectively. Both vessels will sail Viking’s 15-day Grand European Tour (Amsterdam-Budapest), with Viking Baldur also sailing the 8-day RhineGetaway (Amsterdam-Basel) and Viking Magni also sailing the 8-day Danube Waltz (Passau-Budapest). The eight new ships in 2014 will also sailViking’s most popular itineraries in Europe.
Viking Longships employ design, technology, and amenities that reflect guestpreferences and current travel trends, the company said.
Thenew ships include two Explorer Suites, which Viking calls “the largest rivercruise suites in Europe.” At 445 square feet, they are definitely generous,eclipsing even many land-based hotel rooms. Each suite features a separateliving room, bedroom and private wraparound veranda, and offers a 270-degreeview.
The shipsalso include seven two-room Veranda Suites with a full-size veranda in theliving room and a French balcony in the bedroom, 39 Veranda Staterooms withfull-size verandas, and 22 French Balcony Staterooms.
The indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace allows guests to experience a panoramic view of the riverscape in any type of weather, thanks to retractable floor-to-ceiling glass doors, which also allow guests to dine al fresco when weather permits, according to thecompany.
Thenew ships will feature luxury in-cabin amenities that include heated bathroomfloors and mirrors, Sony HD TVs, and premium bath products.
Sustainabilityupgrades include solar panels, an on-board organic herb garden, andenergy-efficient hybrid engines that also reduce vibrations and provide asmoother ride than conventional engines.
The new ships will be built at the Neptun Yard in Germany, which is part of the Meyer Neptun group.
The ships are scheduled to sail four of Viking's most popular European itineraries.More details are available at VikingRiverCruises.com.
Amsterdam Vacations
The launch plan will "easily surpass the industry record Viking set in 2012 with the introduction of six new ships in a single season," the cruise line said in a statement announcing the order."By the end of 2014, the company will have introduced a total of 24 new ships in a three-year period, a fleet expansion unprecedented in the cruise industry," the statement continued.
The company's chairman, Torstein Hagen, credited the rapid growth of the river cruise segment to travelers being inspired "to experience old destinations in a new way.”
I believe there are also other factors at play.
First and foremost is the single factor that has kept my wife and me from ocean cruising (save for my sole repositioning cruise): the gargantuan size of the ships, which literally carry as many people as the average aircraft carrier. Viking Longships carry 190 passengers.
Second, the itineraries seem to offer a much more leisurely pace. Couple that with the smaller groups disembarking and reboarding and, once again, a more leisurely pace results.
Third, more large cruise lines are catering to families. While we love our children and grandchildren, we've always envisioned a cruise as a sophisticated, adult experience, not a visit to Chuck E. Cheese's. A cruise surrounded by active children, even if they are well-behaved (and -- no surprise here -- many kids today simply aren't) would not be the relaxing, adult experience we're seeking.
While I don't have information on the demographics of Viking's passengers, the line appears to actively court members of the Baby Boom and Greatest generations rather than families with small children.
I think of a gentleman named Lefty and his wife, whom I met in 2009 in an airline lounge at Chicago's O'Hare Airport as we were waiting for our flight to Amsterdam. He had spent his career as the sales manager for Encyclopedia Brittanica during the pre-Internet days when many Boomers grew up with a set of encyclopedias a fixture in their family room. By then long retired, he and his wife were traveling to the Netherlands to take a river cruise from Amsterdam to Bratislava, sans kids.
Viking plans to inaugurate the first eight Viking Longships of 2013 in a first-of-its-kind simultaneous christening ceremony in late March in Amsterdam. The two newest ships, Viking Baldur and Viking Magni, will join the fleet in late August and September, respectively. Both vessels will sail Viking’s 15-day Grand European Tour (Amsterdam-Budapest), with Viking Baldur also sailing the 8-day RhineGetaway (Amsterdam-Basel) and Viking Magni also sailing the 8-day Danube Waltz (Passau-Budapest). The eight new ships in 2014 will also sailViking’s most popular itineraries in Europe.
Viking Longships employ design, technology, and amenities that reflect guestpreferences and current travel trends, the company said.
Thenew ships include two Explorer Suites, which Viking calls “the largest rivercruise suites in Europe.” At 445 square feet, they are definitely generous,eclipsing even many land-based hotel rooms. Each suite features a separateliving room, bedroom and private wraparound veranda, and offers a 270-degreeview.
The shipsalso include seven two-room Veranda Suites with a full-size veranda in theliving room and a French balcony in the bedroom, 39 Veranda Staterooms withfull-size verandas, and 22 French Balcony Staterooms.
The indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace allows guests to experience a panoramic view of the riverscape in any type of weather, thanks to retractable floor-to-ceiling glass doors, which also allow guests to dine al fresco when weather permits, according to thecompany.
Thenew ships will feature luxury in-cabin amenities that include heated bathroomfloors and mirrors, Sony HD TVs, and premium bath products.
Sustainabilityupgrades include solar panels, an on-board organic herb garden, andenergy-efficient hybrid engines that also reduce vibrations and provide asmoother ride than conventional engines.
The new ships will be built at the Neptun Yard in Germany, which is part of the Meyer Neptun group.
The ships are scheduled to sail four of Viking's most popular European itineraries.More details are available at VikingRiverCruises.com.
Amsterdam Vacations
SACRAMENTO: Gatsby's Diner
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As a fan of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, I have longwanted to visit Gatsby’s Diner in Sacramento. This Christmas visit, I playedthe “Dad” card and insisted the family gather there for dinner. No one wasdisappointed.
We descended on Gatsby’s, which is fairly close to our kids’homes, with three of our adult children and one grandchild in tow, and staffcould not have been more welcoming. We’d made a reservation – which theyrecommend because of the popularity the show has brought the place – so theyhad a table and high chair ready.
My wife and I had been particularly fascinated by a coupleof items prepared on the show: the beet sliders and the beef rouladen.
We ordered a side of sliders for the table and, although theothers were initially wary of tasting what looked like “beet sandwiches,”everyone immediately understood why they are one of Gatsby’s signature dishes.
Three ½-inch thick beet medallions are par-boiled inGatsby's own pastrami seasoning, which gives the beets a flavor reminiscent ofpastrami while preserving their vegetarian qualities. The slices are thengrilled on flattops that used to be teppan yaki grills when the place was aJapanese steakhouse in a previous life, then served with shaved red onion andhouse-made Green Goddess dressing on toasted slider buns.
The restaurant’s web page says, “We love beets but those whodon’t probably wouldn’t even know what they were eating if they ate with theirmouths closed.” While I'm sure they meant "ate with their eyes closed," I could hardly have said it better myself.
After the appetizer, it was on to our main courses.
I had the German beef rouladen, which are rolls of thinlysliced beef, Dijon mustard, bacon, dill pickle and onion, served with savorygravy, German red cabbage and parsley potatoes. Being partly of German heritage,I’ve enjoyed rouladen since my childhood.
While Gatsby’s rouladen were very tasty, they should probablyhave been cooked a little longer, as they were still a bit tough. Rouladenoriginally evolved as a way to make cheaper cuts of meat edible by poundingthem thin, then cooking for a long time to ensure tenderness. The potatoescould also have used some additional cooking time, as my wife and I agreed theywere a bit underdone.
My wife, also of German heritage, opted for the porkschnitzel: a pork loin filet, breaded and fried, served with red cabbage andGerman potato salad, which is made without mayonnaise. While the schnitzel and cabbage were quite flavorful, the optionof a warm potato side dish would have been welcome on a cold pre-Christmasevening.
One of the kids tucked into a huge burger, which heimmediately pronounced delicious. Burgers, according to many of the reviews I've read elsewhere, are what Gatsby's is known for.
After dinner, we enjoyed a luscious, light crème brûléeflamed tableside, and a chocolate-peanut butter milkshake. The latter soundsheavy, even for chocolate and/or peanut butter lovers, but surprisingly, itwasn’t. It was very light and tasty.
Despite Gatsby’s decidedly casual “diner” atmosphere,service was helpful and attentive. As an extra, added attraction, the place hada good selection of beer and a pretty decent wine list, too. Coupled with itsexcellent selection of comfort food, Gatsby’s has everything you'll need for asuccessful evening out.
Photos by Carl Dombek
Click on photos to view larger sized images
Sacramento Vacations
We descended on Gatsby’s, which is fairly close to our kids’homes, with three of our adult children and one grandchild in tow, and staffcould not have been more welcoming. We’d made a reservation – which theyrecommend because of the popularity the show has brought the place – so theyhad a table and high chair ready.
My wife and I had been particularly fascinated by a coupleof items prepared on the show: the beet sliders and the beef rouladen.
We ordered a side of sliders for the table and, although theothers were initially wary of tasting what looked like “beet sandwiches,”everyone immediately understood why they are one of Gatsby’s signature dishes.
|
| Beet sliders |
The restaurant’s web page says, “We love beets but those whodon’t probably wouldn’t even know what they were eating if they ate with theirmouths closed.” While I'm sure they meant "ate with their eyes closed," I could hardly have said it better myself.
After the appetizer, it was on to our main courses.
I had the German beef rouladen, which are rolls of thinlysliced beef, Dijon mustard, bacon, dill pickle and onion, served with savorygravy, German red cabbage and parsley potatoes. Being partly of German heritage,I’ve enjoyed rouladen since my childhood.
|
| Beef rouladen |
My wife, also of German heritage, opted for the porkschnitzel: a pork loin filet, breaded and fried, served with red cabbage andGerman potato salad, which is made without mayonnaise. While the schnitzel and cabbage were quite flavorful, the optionof a warm potato side dish would have been welcome on a cold pre-Christmasevening.
One of the kids tucked into a huge burger, which heimmediately pronounced delicious. Burgers, according to many of the reviews I've read elsewhere, are what Gatsby's is known for.
After dinner, we enjoyed a luscious, light crème brûléeflamed tableside, and a chocolate-peanut butter milkshake. The latter soundsheavy, even for chocolate and/or peanut butter lovers, but surprisingly, itwasn’t. It was very light and tasty.
Despite Gatsby’s decidedly casual “diner” atmosphere,service was helpful and attentive. As an extra, added attraction, the place hada good selection of beer and a pretty decent wine list, too. Coupled with itsexcellent selection of comfort food, Gatsby’s has everything you'll need for asuccessful evening out.
Photos by Carl Dombek
Click on photos to view larger sized images
Sacramento Vacations
American's Longest Flying F/A Steps Down
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An interesting article in the Dallas Morning News about American Airlines' oldest active flight attendant stepping down after 54 years in the air.
The article provides some interesting history about how flight attendants used to be selected and what they were required to do, but left out some key points related to some pretty stringent physical requirements.
First, F/As had to be attractive. I know that's subjective, but it was definitely a requirement of the job, just as the requirements that flight attendants be single and under 32 years of age.
Second, flight attendants' weight was monitored very closely and those who gained beyond a certain point were grounded, either temporarily until they could lose the extra pounds, or permanently. In addition, there were some fairly narrow height parameters: F/As could neither be too tall nor too short. For example, the now-defunct PanAm required that F/A's be at least 5'2" tall and weigh no more than 130 pounds.
Some things probably needed to change, but others should never have been allowed to change, such as the requirement that flight attendants actually take care of their passengers. Back in the day, they made sure passengers were comfortable, had what we needed, and generally made us feel welcome. They didn't just sling us drinks, then hide behind the galley curtain to read the latest fashion magazine or pulp novel.
Generally, though, the Dallas Morning News piece about Carole DiSalvo is well worth reading.
The article provides some interesting history about how flight attendants used to be selected and what they were required to do, but left out some key points related to some pretty stringent physical requirements.
First, F/As had to be attractive. I know that's subjective, but it was definitely a requirement of the job, just as the requirements that flight attendants be single and under 32 years of age.Second, flight attendants' weight was monitored very closely and those who gained beyond a certain point were grounded, either temporarily until they could lose the extra pounds, or permanently. In addition, there were some fairly narrow height parameters: F/As could neither be too tall nor too short. For example, the now-defunct PanAm required that F/A's be at least 5'2" tall and weigh no more than 130 pounds.
Some things probably needed to change, but others should never have been allowed to change, such as the requirement that flight attendants actually take care of their passengers. Back in the day, they made sure passengers were comfortable, had what we needed, and generally made us feel welcome. They didn't just sling us drinks, then hide behind the galley curtain to read the latest fashion magazine or pulp novel.
Generally, though, the Dallas Morning News piece about Carole DiSalvo is well worth reading.
22 Şubat 2013 Cuma
Puking...It's Not Just For Breakfast Anymore
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Wowza...you know what is cool about totally puking all morning and then going to work, besides your abs being really tight the next day...nothing. You know what else is totally cool...when you (me) confuse the cross dressing meth priest with the handcuffed priest in the rectory. Like, are they different priests or is it different ways to describe the same weirdo. Anyhoo...
You know who can clear up the confusion, the bishop. I mean look at what a great job the bishops did with the clergy abuse scandal (aka boy fucking). Bishop Thomas Paprocki speaking about the Rev. Thomas Donnovan said, "(he) is suffering from a psychological condition that manifests itself in self bondage as a response to stress." So when Father Bondage gets stressed, he ties or handcuffs himself in a position where he can't get out because that, to him, relieves stress.
Me, "Whaaa(?)."
Look man I'm a freak about sex and not in a good way. I'm the only musician in the universe that doesn't sleep around. Y'all wanna do that, go right ahead. Unfortunately for me it is the last residue of my Filipino-Catholicism that I can't shake (nor do I see it's necessary). But wait...it's not about sex, it's about bondage.
Me, "Whaaa..."
Father Bondage's therapist calls it "nonsexual self bondage" and that was what Father Bondage was doing in the rectory that nite he called the police to *release* him. They found him alone in the rectory with his hands cuffed so he couldn't get himself out wearing an orange jumpsuit with a leather bondage mask with a bar in it (whatever the hell that is. yuck). Allegedly, he was alone.
Weird as it is...that is not illegal. Weird as it is... "non-sexual self bondage is not in the current DSMV (they are on five now, right). Weird as it is...I had to look it up. I found this and then I went home and bathed in bleach and did the rosary (1).
Who fucking cares...my abs are tight as fuck right now.
(1) Just kidding about that last part.
* No offense to anyone and their particular trip it takes many people to make the world go round and round and last time I checked...the world is still going round and round.
* I think they want you to subscribe to their newsletter. I did.
 |
| The rectory of my youth is on the right. |
You know who can clear up the confusion, the bishop. I mean look at what a great job the bishops did with the clergy abuse scandal (aka boy fucking). Bishop Thomas Paprocki speaking about the Rev. Thomas Donnovan said, "(he) is suffering from a psychological condition that manifests itself in self bondage as a response to stress." So when Father Bondage gets stressed, he ties or handcuffs himself in a position where he can't get out because that, to him, relieves stress.Me, "Whaaa(?)."
Look man I'm a freak about sex and not in a good way. I'm the only musician in the universe that doesn't sleep around. Y'all wanna do that, go right ahead. Unfortunately for me it is the last residue of my Filipino-Catholicism that I can't shake (nor do I see it's necessary). But wait...it's not about sex, it's about bondage.
Me, "Whaaa..."
 |
| I don't even know what this is. |
Weird as it is...that is not illegal. Weird as it is... "non-sexual self bondage is not in the current DSMV (they are on five now, right). Weird as it is...I had to look it up. I found this and then I went home and bathed in bleach and did the rosary (1).
Who fucking cares...my abs are tight as fuck right now.
(1) Just kidding about that last part.* No offense to anyone and their particular trip it takes many people to make the world go round and round and last time I checked...the world is still going round and round.
* I think they want you to subscribe to their newsletter. I did.
Lisa Pistolis Hooter's Waitress and Party Girl Charged With Murder In DUI Case
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The crash that killed a man on Interstate 526 in Charleston was caused by a woman who was driving while intoxicated and while she was out on bail awaiting trial on a previous DUI charge.
Lisa Pistolis, 25, of Gemstone Boulevard, Hanahan, South Carolina is a Hooter's waitress and well known local party girl.
Police and media reports state that she was driving eastbound about 4:30 p.m. Sunday on I-526 when the Mustang she was driving drifted off the roadway into the grassy median in the center, North Charleston police spokesman Spencer Pryor said.
Pistolis tried to get back on the road but hit a sport utiltity vehicle. The SUV also flipped several times in the wreck. Pistolis was charged with felony DUI involving death and felony DUI with great bodily injuries.
She was reportedly driving the same Mustang when she was arrested last year.
Some of the dozens of her FaceBook photos that show her party hard lifestyle.
Lisa Pistolis, 25, of Gemstone Boulevard, Hanahan, South Carolina is a Hooter's waitress and well known local party girl.
Police and media reports state that she was driving eastbound about 4:30 p.m. Sunday on I-526 when the Mustang she was driving drifted off the roadway into the grassy median in the center, North Charleston police spokesman Spencer Pryor said.
Pistolis tried to get back on the road but hit a sport utiltity vehicle. The SUV also flipped several times in the wreck. Pistolis was charged with felony DUI involving death and felony DUI with great bodily injuries.
She was reportedly driving the same Mustang when she was arrested last year.
Some of the dozens of her FaceBook photos that show her party hard lifestyle.
Augusta Georgia Plane Crash
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Five bodies from last night’s plane crash at the Thomson-McDuffie County Airport near Augusta Georgia, have been taken to the GBI crime lab in Atlanta.
John Bankhead, public information officer for the GA Bureau of Investigation said that the five bodies will undergo autopsies there in the coming days.
McDuffie County Fire Rescue Chief Bruce Tanner said that the bodies were removed from the scene around 4 a.m. today.
Tanner said that the bodies were strewn throughout the main crash site. He added that the wreckage stretched for about a mile.
NTSB officials say the plane was attempting to land at the Thomson McDuffie Regional airport just after 8 p.m. last night when the pilot over-shot the runway.
Witnesses said that they saw the plane over run the runway then pull up to avoid the Milliken plant building. Tanner said that the plane clipped a set of large electric transmission lines that run behind Milliken, shearing off one entire wing.
Power to more than 5,000 electric customers was out for a brief time last night in McDuffie and Columbia counties. The power at the Kinsgley Mill plant was turned back on this morning. Tanner said there were two survivors. One of the survivors was the pilot who was found by rescue workers as they arrived, walking about 300 feet from the wreckage. The other survivor was found in the wreckage still in his front cockpit seat. Both were airlifted out to the GA Regents Medical Center trauma unit; however GRU says that they have one victim at the hospital who is listed in critical condition.
Members of the NTSB go team have arrived in Thomson and are expected to have a press conference sometime today to give preliminary information on the crash. There is still no confirmation on the identities of the victims.
Cedar's Take: This accident has some surprising similarities to the 2010 crash of Jack Roush's private jet at Oshkosh. WI.
Same identical aircraft also doing a go around.
From Wikipedia:
On July 27, 2010, Roush crash-landed in his Hawker Beechcraft Premier 390 jet, (registration N6JR,) during an approach to the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture Fly-In in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in the late afternoon.[5] He walked out of the plane and was taken to a nearby hospital.[6] His condition was listed at serious but stable that evening. On August 3, Roush was upgraded to fair condition.[6] On August 13, Roush made his first at track appearance since the incident at the Michigan International Speedway. During that time he confirmed that he fractured his back, broke his jaw, and lost his left eye as a result.[7] The National Transportation Safety Board attributed the cause of the crash to pilot error, specifically, "pilot's decision not to advance the engines to takeoff power during the go-around, as stipulated by the airplane flight manual, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at a low altitude."
Also see:
http://aol.sportingnews.com/nascar/story/2012-06-22/jack-roush-plane-crash-pilot-error-2010-oshkosh-wisconsin-ntsb-report
The owners of Vein Guys had recently traded up from the Beechcraft King Air to the higher performance Hawker Beechcraft Jet
Five bodies from last night’s plane crash at the Thomson-McDuffie County Airport near Augusta Georgia, have been taken to the GBI crime lab in Atlanta.
 |
| The Aircraft was smilier to this Beechcraft Hawker |
John Bankhead, public information officer for the GA Bureau of Investigation said that the five bodies will undergo autopsies there in the coming days.
McDuffie County Fire Rescue Chief Bruce Tanner said that the bodies were removed from the scene around 4 a.m. today.
Tanner said that the bodies were strewn throughout the main crash site. He added that the wreckage stretched for about a mile.
NTSB officials say the plane was attempting to land at the Thomson McDuffie Regional airport just after 8 p.m. last night when the pilot over-shot the runway.
Witnesses said that they saw the plane over run the runway then pull up to avoid the Milliken plant building. Tanner said that the plane clipped a set of large electric transmission lines that run behind Milliken, shearing off one entire wing.
Power to more than 5,000 electric customers was out for a brief time last night in McDuffie and Columbia counties. The power at the Kinsgley Mill plant was turned back on this morning. Tanner said there were two survivors. One of the survivors was the pilot who was found by rescue workers as they arrived, walking about 300 feet from the wreckage. The other survivor was found in the wreckage still in his front cockpit seat. Both were airlifted out to the GA Regents Medical Center trauma unit; however GRU says that they have one victim at the hospital who is listed in critical condition.
Members of the NTSB go team have arrived in Thomson and are expected to have a press conference sometime today to give preliminary information on the crash. There is still no confirmation on the identities of the victims.
Cedar's Take: This accident has some surprising similarities to the 2010 crash of Jack Roush's private jet at Oshkosh. WI.
Same identical aircraft also doing a go around.
From Wikipedia:
On July 27, 2010, Roush crash-landed in his Hawker Beechcraft Premier 390 jet, (registration N6JR,) during an approach to the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture Fly-In in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in the late afternoon.[5] He walked out of the plane and was taken to a nearby hospital.[6] His condition was listed at serious but stable that evening. On August 3, Roush was upgraded to fair condition.[6] On August 13, Roush made his first at track appearance since the incident at the Michigan International Speedway. During that time he confirmed that he fractured his back, broke his jaw, and lost his left eye as a result.[7] The National Transportation Safety Board attributed the cause of the crash to pilot error, specifically, "pilot's decision not to advance the engines to takeoff power during the go-around, as stipulated by the airplane flight manual, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at a low altitude."
Also see:
http://aol.sportingnews.com/nascar/story/2012-06-22/jack-roush-plane-crash-pilot-error-2010-oshkosh-wisconsin-ntsb-report
The owners of Vein Guys had recently traded up from the Beechcraft King Air to the higher performance Hawker Beechcraft Jet
Friday Wrap Up - Sunshine Edition
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CMPD Captain Chuck Adkins termination hearing is now set to be called on Monday February 25 at 8:30 a.m.
The Civil Service Board hearings are held at The Charlotte Mecklenburg Government Center Room 14 Room Basement.
CMPD Chief Rodney Monroe is seeking to fire Capt. Chuck Adkins but as with all terminations officers can appeal the termination to the Civil Service Board.
The board, which can overturn the firing, was scheduled to take up Adkins’ earlier this month but the hearing was postponed at the last moment.
According to the Charlotte Observer "Adkins, was assigned to the watch commander's office often overseeing police operations on nights or weekends, has stated publiclly he doesn’t believe his actions warranted termination. and has asked the hearing be held in public."
Cedar's Take: The highly unusual move should shed some "Sunshine" on CMPD's termination process and the effectiveness of the Civil Service Board.
More from the Charlotte Observer here.
Jerry Orr - Charlotte's curmudgeonly airport manager is keeping a low profile as he continues to push his secession plan. Cedar Posts has long pointed out that Charlotte's cash cow, the airport needed tighter control and should contribute to the city's bottom line.
Now a number of revelations have exposed some shady financial dealings and that is just the tip of the "berg". Meanwhile local Democrats are crying foul, yet make no effort to clean up the mess and there are few if any guarentees that taking the aiport away from the City of Charlotte will clean up the mess.
CMPD Promotions - Water cooler talk is that Eddie Levins will be promoted to Deputy Chief and Freda Lester will get the nod to Major. Other promotions will follow, but notable are those who were passed over, including Majors Sheri Pearsal and Cam Selvey.
Cedar's Take Big Head Ed needs to step up his game and honor the spirit of the thin blue line.
Social Media Follies - While a number of Charlotte's news personalities have Facebook and Twitter accounts, apparently only WCNC "requires" reporters and anchors to "tweet" at least once a day and follow strict guidelines and polices which are deemed to "enhance" the stations visibility.
WCNC's Dianne Gallagher created her "required" Facebook page adding "I reluctantly present my mandatory Facebook Page. I just didn't want to make a page....but I don't really have a choice."
Dianne Gallagher is an award winning reporter/anchor at NBC Charlotte/WCNC. Political junkie. Sport nut. Dog Lover. Polyglot (x6) News tips: dgallagher@wcnc.com
Cedar's Take: Micro managers are the scourge of the business world. In other words, if it is not broken don't fix it.
Charlotte's Mayor Foxx - had his twitter account hacked over the weekend and suddenly his followers found themselves on the receiving end of tweets advertising "Sunshine wants to share her private photos with you".
Cedar's Take: Only an idiot would actually click on the link and then enter his password which automatically turned his account in a spambot.
CMPD Officer Trial Postponed - Cecil Brathwaite who is still on the CMPD payroll was on the Mecklenburg Superior Court calendar this week, but his trial was moved back to April 25, 2013. Brathwaite is charged with false imprisonment and assault with a gun during a domestic dispute with his ex wife and the victim the ex wife's boyfriend.
More on Brathwaite's arrest here.
The Civil Service Board hearings are held at The Charlotte Mecklenburg Government Center Room 14 Room Basement.
CMPD Chief Rodney Monroe is seeking to fire Capt. Chuck Adkins but as with all terminations officers can appeal the termination to the Civil Service Board.
The board, which can overturn the firing, was scheduled to take up Adkins’ earlier this month but the hearing was postponed at the last moment.
According to the Charlotte Observer "Adkins, was assigned to the watch commander's office often overseeing police operations on nights or weekends, has stated publiclly he doesn’t believe his actions warranted termination. and has asked the hearing be held in public."
Cedar's Take: The highly unusual move should shed some "Sunshine" on CMPD's termination process and the effectiveness of the Civil Service Board.
More from the Charlotte Observer here.
Jerry Orr - Charlotte's curmudgeonly airport manager is keeping a low profile as he continues to push his secession plan. Cedar Posts has long pointed out that Charlotte's cash cow, the airport needed tighter control and should contribute to the city's bottom line.
Now a number of revelations have exposed some shady financial dealings and that is just the tip of the "berg". Meanwhile local Democrats are crying foul, yet make no effort to clean up the mess and there are few if any guarentees that taking the aiport away from the City of Charlotte will clean up the mess.
CMPD Promotions - Water cooler talk is that Eddie Levins will be promoted to Deputy Chief and Freda Lester will get the nod to Major. Other promotions will follow, but notable are those who were passed over, including Majors Sheri Pearsal and Cam Selvey.
Cedar's Take Big Head Ed needs to step up his game and honor the spirit of the thin blue line.
Social Media Follies - While a number of Charlotte's news personalities have Facebook and Twitter accounts, apparently only WCNC "requires" reporters and anchors to "tweet" at least once a day and follow strict guidelines and polices which are deemed to "enhance" the stations visibility.
WCNC's Dianne Gallagher created her "required" Facebook page adding "I reluctantly present my mandatory Facebook Page. I just didn't want to make a page....but I don't really have a choice."
Dianne Gallagher is an award winning reporter/anchor at NBC Charlotte/WCNC. Political junkie. Sport nut. Dog Lover. Polyglot (x6) News tips: dgallagher@wcnc.com
Cedar's Take: Micro managers are the scourge of the business world. In other words, if it is not broken don't fix it.
Charlotte's Mayor Foxx - had his twitter account hacked over the weekend and suddenly his followers found themselves on the receiving end of tweets advertising "Sunshine wants to share her private photos with you".
Cedar's Take: Only an idiot would actually click on the link and then enter his password which automatically turned his account in a spambot.
CMPD Officer Trial Postponed - Cecil Brathwaite who is still on the CMPD payroll was on the Mecklenburg Superior Court calendar this week, but his trial was moved back to April 25, 2013. Brathwaite is charged with false imprisonment and assault with a gun during a domestic dispute with his ex wife and the victim the ex wife's boyfriend.
More on Brathwaite's arrest here.
Vein Guys Plane Crash Victims Named
To contact us Click HERE
GBI Crime Lab positively identified victims in Wednesday's plane crash as Dr. Steven Roth, a managing partner of the Vein Guys, and Vein Guys employees; nurse anesthetist Lisa Volpitto, ultrasound technician Tiffany Porter, and Dr. Roth's Administrative Assistant, Kimberly Marie Davidson, 43.
The medical examiner is still working to identify a fifth fatality. However, the family of Heidi McCorkle, an ultrasound technician, said they had been notified that she had also died.
Local papers have reported that Richard Trammell, was being treated and was in critical condition they have no named the pilot who was reported as having only minor injuries.
Cedar Posts has learned that the private jet that crashed Wednesday night is the same type and model that Jack Roush crashed in 2010. In fact Jack Roush was attempting to abort a landing in Oshkosh Wisconsin when his plane crashed.
The Hawker Beechcraft 390 I has been very popular with the NASCAR crowd in that it is very fast and relatively affordable.
Clint Bowyer Racing owns the same type and model as well.
Additionally Cedar Posts has learned that Thomson McDuffie Regional Airport is known to have a deer hazard. One pilot who has flown into the airport at night said he was surprised to find a number of deer standing just off the runway one night a couple of years ago.
Since the airport doesn't have a control tower often at the night the airport is void of staff or other pilots who might notice the deer. The airport information available on line also notes: "DEER ON RWY AT NIGHT".
In depth coverage from the Augusta Chronical here.
The following is an update from the Associated Press:
THOMSON, Ga. (AP) - A small private jet carrying a surgeon and members of his clinic staff aborted its landing at a Georgia airport before it hit a 60-foot utility pole and crashed in a flaming wreck, killing five people onboard and injuring two, federal authorities said Thursday.
National Transportation Safety Board member Robert Sumwalt said fuel leaking from the plane ignited in flames Wednesday night after it hit the concrete pole with enough force to sheer off the left wing. He said investigators found pieces of the plane strewn over 100 yards.
"The wreckage was severely fragmented, and it is almost completely destroyed by fire," Sumwalt said at a news conference Thursday afternoon. "...You walk up and you say to yourself, `Where is the airplane?'"
Investigators don't yet know why the plane aborted its landing at Thomson-McDuffie Regional Airport, a small terminal with a 5,500-foot runway about 30 miles west of Augusta.
The plane with seven people aboard had departed from John Tune Airport in Nashville, Tennessee, Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said.
Sumwalt said investigators would interview air-traffic controllers to see if the pilots made a distress call and search for a flight-data recorder from the plane that might yield clues. He also said authorities had obtained video from a security camera at the airport but had not yet reviewed it.
The Hawker Beechcraft 390/ Premier I, a small business jet that seats two pilots and six passengers, was carrying five staff members of the Vein Guys clinic of vascular medicine specialists in Augusta, said Dr. Stephen Davis, a plastic surgeon who works for an affiliated Vein Guys clinic in Nashville.
The crash started a brush fire in the woods behind an industrial plant near the airport. Witnesses reported power outages in the area as well.
The private jet had been flying fairly frequently from the Thomson airport during the past several months, said Keith Bounds, the airport's general manager.
"The pilots were familiar with the facility, familiar with the area and familiar with the runway," Bounds said.
"And the airplane was immaculate. The pilots kept it in pristine condition."
The pilots had sent an electronic message to close out their flight plan before the jet overshot the runway - a sign that they began their landing approach without problems, Bounds said. Skies in the area were clear Wednesday night with light wind, he said.
There was no damage or other physical signs that the jet ever touched down on the runway, Bounds said. The plane crossed a five-lane state highway near Interstate 20 before it struck the utility pole about a quarter-mile from the end of the runway.
The medical examiner is still working to identify a fifth fatality. However, the family of Heidi McCorkle, an ultrasound technician, said they had been notified that she had also died.
 |
| Clockwise from the top left Heidi McCorkle, Lisa Volpitto, Dr. Steven Roth, Tiffany Porter, Kim Davidson |
Local papers have reported that Richard Trammell, was being treated and was in critical condition they have no named the pilot who was reported as having only minor injuries.
Cedar Posts has learned that the private jet that crashed Wednesday night is the same type and model that Jack Roush crashed in 2010. In fact Jack Roush was attempting to abort a landing in Oshkosh Wisconsin when his plane crashed.
 |
| Jack Roush's Hawker Beechcraft 390 Premier I N6JR |
The Hawker Beechcraft 390 I has been very popular with the NASCAR crowd in that it is very fast and relatively affordable.
Clint Bowyer Racing owns the same type and model as well.
 |
| Clint Bowyer Racing's Hawker Beechcraft 390 Premier 1 N78CB |
Additionally Cedar Posts has learned that Thomson McDuffie Regional Airport is known to have a deer hazard. One pilot who has flown into the airport at night said he was surprised to find a number of deer standing just off the runway one night a couple of years ago.
Since the airport doesn't have a control tower often at the night the airport is void of staff or other pilots who might notice the deer. The airport information available on line also notes: "DEER ON RWY AT NIGHT".
In depth coverage from the Augusta Chronical here.
The following is an update from the Associated Press:
THOMSON, Ga. (AP) - A small private jet carrying a surgeon and members of his clinic staff aborted its landing at a Georgia airport before it hit a 60-foot utility pole and crashed in a flaming wreck, killing five people onboard and injuring two, federal authorities said Thursday.
 |
| Workers from Georgia Power repair electrical lines near the site of a private jet crash east of the Thomson-McDuffie County Airport. |
National Transportation Safety Board member Robert Sumwalt said fuel leaking from the plane ignited in flames Wednesday night after it hit the concrete pole with enough force to sheer off the left wing. He said investigators found pieces of the plane strewn over 100 yards.
 |
| View of Vien Guys Jet Crash Site Thomson-McDuffie Airport |
"The wreckage was severely fragmented, and it is almost completely destroyed by fire," Sumwalt said at a news conference Thursday afternoon. "...You walk up and you say to yourself, `Where is the airplane?'"
Investigators don't yet know why the plane aborted its landing at Thomson-McDuffie Regional Airport, a small terminal with a 5,500-foot runway about 30 miles west of Augusta.
The plane with seven people aboard had departed from John Tune Airport in Nashville, Tennessee, Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said.
Sumwalt said investigators would interview air-traffic controllers to see if the pilots made a distress call and search for a flight-data recorder from the plane that might yield clues. He also said authorities had obtained video from a security camera at the airport but had not yet reviewed it.
The Hawker Beechcraft 390/ Premier I, a small business jet that seats two pilots and six passengers, was carrying five staff members of the Vein Guys clinic of vascular medicine specialists in Augusta, said Dr. Stephen Davis, a plastic surgeon who works for an affiliated Vein Guys clinic in Nashville.
The crash started a brush fire in the woods behind an industrial plant near the airport. Witnesses reported power outages in the area as well.
The private jet had been flying fairly frequently from the Thomson airport during the past several months, said Keith Bounds, the airport's general manager.
"The pilots were familiar with the facility, familiar with the area and familiar with the runway," Bounds said.
"And the airplane was immaculate. The pilots kept it in pristine condition."
The pilots had sent an electronic message to close out their flight plan before the jet overshot the runway - a sign that they began their landing approach without problems, Bounds said. Skies in the area were clear Wednesday night with light wind, he said.
There was no damage or other physical signs that the jet ever touched down on the runway, Bounds said. The plane crossed a five-lane state highway near Interstate 20 before it struck the utility pole about a quarter-mile from the end of the runway.
21 Şubat 2013 Perşembe
Best of the Road -- Christmas Update
To contact us Click HERE
By their nature, "best of" lists are always limited and subjective. That said, I present my personal evaluations of the "best of" my recent hotel experiences, as updated at Christmastime 2012.
My most recent focus is on Internet connectivity.
As we're heading into 2013 (having escaped the Mayan apocalypse), when most of us travel with at least one laptop or tablet and a smart phone or two, good connectivity is vital. A personal pet peeve are those properties that actively solicit meeting and conference business, yet provide substandard connectivity. I mean seriously, if we're there on business, we need to stay connected -- and at rates that are faster than dial-up!
INTERNET CONNECTIVITY: Lodge at SunCadia/Cle Elum, WA While an in-room connection speed of 1 or 2 Mpbs per second download is typical (if arguably unacceptable) the Lodge at SunCadia provided in-room Internet access at a blazing 40 Mbps download speed, as measured using Speakeasy.net.
Worst: Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, where speeds were 0.75 Mbps, despite a "resort charge" of $25 per day that supposedly included "high speed Internet access." As I write this, I'm at a humble Homewood Suites, which provides 2 Mbps speed, almost three times as fast as The Del.
BATHROBES: Spindrift Inn/Monterey, CA and Oxford Hotel/Bend, OR (tie)
TOWELS: Hiltons (the flagship brand, not other associated brands like Hilton Garden Inns)
BED: Spindrift Inn/Monterey, CA (sorry Westin; your Heavenly Beds are great, but the Spindrift Inn's bed edges you out!)
HAIRDRYERS: Spindrift Inn/Monterey, CA; Rosewood Hotel Georgia/Vancouver, BC.; Westin Hotels (three-way tie). The Spindrift Inn and Westin hotels provide the powerful Andis 1850 watt blow dryers, while the Rosewood Hotel Georgia provides an equally powerful ConAir unit.
IN-ROOM COFFEE: Oxford Hotel/Bend, OR; Rosewood Hotel Georgia/Vancouver, BC (tie). These hotels offer coffee that is distinctly different, from each other as well as from standard hotel coffee. The Oxford Hotel provides a French press, freshly-ground coffee, a hot pot for heating water, and instructions. The Rosewood Hotel Georgia provides Nespresso machines with a variety of different coffee capsules.
AMENITIES: Ritz-Carlton/Lake Las Vegas, NV (now closed) Bulgari amenities provided a true touch of class.
BUSINESS CENTER: Hilton/Ft. Collins, CO This facility was spacious, provided all the usual business machines at modest per-use costs, and offered free internet access.
MINIBAR: None. While many hotels still offer minibars, none was really outstanding. In addition, they are fading in popularity, as hotels can provide better selection and freshness (and have better control over access) at lobby bars or pantries.
VIEW:
Bay - Spindrift Inn/Monterey, CA
Mountains - Hilton/Ft. Collins
Ocean - Inn at Spanish Head/Lincoln City, OR
I'll be updating this post as I find new "bests" so stay tuned!
Bend on Dwellable
My most recent focus is on Internet connectivity.
As we're heading into 2013 (having escaped the Mayan apocalypse), when most of us travel with at least one laptop or tablet and a smart phone or two, good connectivity is vital. A personal pet peeve are those properties that actively solicit meeting and conference business, yet provide substandard connectivity. I mean seriously, if we're there on business, we need to stay connected -- and at rates that are faster than dial-up!
INTERNET CONNECTIVITY: Lodge at SunCadia/Cle Elum, WA While an in-room connection speed of 1 or 2 Mpbs per second download is typical (if arguably unacceptable) the Lodge at SunCadia provided in-room Internet access at a blazing 40 Mbps download speed, as measured using Speakeasy.net.
Worst: Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, where speeds were 0.75 Mbps, despite a "resort charge" of $25 per day that supposedly included "high speed Internet access." As I write this, I'm at a humble Homewood Suites, which provides 2 Mbps speed, almost three times as fast as The Del.
BATHROBES: Spindrift Inn/Monterey, CA and Oxford Hotel/Bend, OR (tie)
TOWELS: Hiltons (the flagship brand, not other associated brands like Hilton Garden Inns)
BED: Spindrift Inn/Monterey, CA (sorry Westin; your Heavenly Beds are great, but the Spindrift Inn's bed edges you out!)
HAIRDRYERS: Spindrift Inn/Monterey, CA; Rosewood Hotel Georgia/Vancouver, BC.; Westin Hotels (three-way tie). The Spindrift Inn and Westin hotels provide the powerful Andis 1850 watt blow dryers, while the Rosewood Hotel Georgia provides an equally powerful ConAir unit.
IN-ROOM COFFEE: Oxford Hotel/Bend, OR; Rosewood Hotel Georgia/Vancouver, BC (tie). These hotels offer coffee that is distinctly different, from each other as well as from standard hotel coffee. The Oxford Hotel provides a French press, freshly-ground coffee, a hot pot for heating water, and instructions. The Rosewood Hotel Georgia provides Nespresso machines with a variety of different coffee capsules.
AMENITIES: Ritz-Carlton/Lake Las Vegas, NV (now closed) Bulgari amenities provided a true touch of class.
BUSINESS CENTER: Hilton/Ft. Collins, CO This facility was spacious, provided all the usual business machines at modest per-use costs, and offered free internet access.
MINIBAR: None. While many hotels still offer minibars, none was really outstanding. In addition, they are fading in popularity, as hotels can provide better selection and freshness (and have better control over access) at lobby bars or pantries.
VIEW:
Bay - Spindrift Inn/Monterey, CA
Mountains - Hilton/Ft. Collins
Ocean - Inn at Spanish Head/Lincoln City, OR
I'll be updating this post as I find new "bests" so stay tuned!
Bend on Dwellable
Reflections of a Virgin virgin - my first experiences flying Virgin America
To contact us Click HERE
I flew a Virgin airline for the first time this Christmas season and found that Virgin America is, as its marketing “positioning statement” says, “A breath of fresh airline.”
Thanks to my procrastination in booking our flights to see family, tickets directly to our destination of Sacramento were ridiculously expensive. Casting about for other options, I hit upon flying into SFO, then driving to Sac. We would be renting a car in either case, so the difference of a couple of hours on the road saved us $600 in airfare.
A fair trade, I thought, and the opportunity to fly Virgin America would be a bonus. It would be the first time for either my wife or me on Sir Richard Branson’s U.S. carrier.
A Baby Boomer and rock-n-roller, Branson is an upstart who has never been afraid to go against the grain. That attitude shows in the airline’s relaxed, casual approach. Not that its employees are in any way unprofessional, unless you consider enjoying your job unprofessional.
The rock-n-roll theme is not over-the-top but is definitely evident from the start. Passengers are greeted by music as they approach the main counter, either to check in or just drop their pre-checked bags, setting an upbeat mood in most cases (the occasional maudlin Janis Ian tune is an exception).
Because I’d opted in, Virgin sent me reminder text to my phone before the flight, suggesting that, “Because it’s the holiday season, please arrive at the airport two hours prior to your domestic flight.”
Seriously?
We arrived a little more than an hour and a half before our 6:15 a.m. flight to find the Virgin ticket counter wasn’t even open yet. Once it did open, the counter agents took care of the long line of folks ahead of us in about 15 minutes. Would that TSA was as efficient at getting the crowds through the security gauntlet that would follow.
Once through that ordeal, we made our way to our gate and boarded the Airbus A320 that would take us to SFO.
The standard main cabin seats were not significantly more spacious than any other U.S. carrier these days, though the airline boasts a pitch of 32” (space between the back of your seat and the back of the seat in front of you) compared to the 31” or even 30” pitch on many other domestic carriers. There are also Main Cabin Select seats with a 38” pitch available at an extra cost.
Both types of main cabin seats had amenities that made the trip more comfortable.
Each seat has a video screen that offers entertainment options, as well as the ability to order and pay for food and drink right from the seat. Even in coach, each seat has an A/C power plug for the electronics we all carry. And of course, the airline offers in-flight wireless connectivity. For a fee, flyers can log on via GoGo.
Probably because of its casual, fun approach, Virgin’s passengers seemed to be younger on average than other airlines I’ve flown recently. Not that we Boomers were made to feel unwelcome; it’s just that there were many young people, including families with little ones, heading 37,000 feet over the river and the woods on their way to Grandmother’s house. But that may have also been because of it was, after all, the Christmas season.
For our return trip, I took advantage of the space-available First Class upgrades to reward ourselves for being such great grandparents (as if I needed an excuse). Although a relatively short two-hour flight, the fee was also more reasonable than similar arrangements on other airlines: $79 per person, and they refunded the $25 per bag check fee, so by my calculations, going home first class cost an extra $54 per person.
During a recent trip on U.S. Airways, I’d upgraded to a Choice Seat, but would have not received a refund or credit if I’d upgraded to one of the first class seats available. Other airlines, take note!
The upgraded fare included food and beverages, including both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. I opted for the sparking wine because, like so many airlines and even restaurants, Virgin America offered two reds – both Cabernet Sauvignons – and two whites – both Chardonnays. That is my only criticism: as a self-proclaimed “California-based” airline, offer California wines and include more variety. Not everyone likes Chardonnay.
Virgin America’s first-class seats are without a doubt the best domestic first class seats I’ve even flown. Done in white leather, they are very comfortable in the full upright position, but also recline more than most easy chairs. Not quite fully flat, but very comfortable.
As a result, however, there is no underseat storage in first class; everything has to go in the overhead bins. In addition, there is no place to hang up coats; they, too, must be folded and placed in an overhead bin. But that’s a small sacrifice.
As in the main cabin, each seat has its own entertainment center that offers games, on-demand movies, TV, and other offerings. Candidly, I don’t remember whether first class passengers can order food and drink on their screens, but our flight attendant, Louis, was so attentive there was no need to go looking.
Louis was like the other Virgin crew: young and hip, but also professional and eager to please. Probably because the whole vibe is casual and friendly, his responses of “You got it!” and “No problem!” seemed surprisingly appropriate.
In addition, Louis is one of the few F/As to use correct grammar in his cabin announcements. Notably, as we were approaching Seattle, he said, “The captain has turned on the seatbelt sign, so please keep it fastened for the remainder of the flight.” Too many use the word “duration,” and when I told him so, he said it just didn’t seem like the right word to him, so he changed it.
My late freshman English teacher would be proud.
As I noted earlier, I had never before flown a Virgin airline; neither Virgin America, Virgin Atlantic, nor Virgin Australia. However, based on this experience, I’m definitely looking forward to the next time. And there WILL be a “next time.” Of that, I am certain.
Photos by Carl Dombek
Click on photos to view larger images
San Francisco Vacations
Thanks to my procrastination in booking our flights to see family, tickets directly to our destination of Sacramento were ridiculously expensive. Casting about for other options, I hit upon flying into SFO, then driving to Sac. We would be renting a car in either case, so the difference of a couple of hours on the road saved us $600 in airfare.A fair trade, I thought, and the opportunity to fly Virgin America would be a bonus. It would be the first time for either my wife or me on Sir Richard Branson’s U.S. carrier.
A Baby Boomer and rock-n-roller, Branson is an upstart who has never been afraid to go against the grain. That attitude shows in the airline’s relaxed, casual approach. Not that its employees are in any way unprofessional, unless you consider enjoying your job unprofessional.
The rock-n-roll theme is not over-the-top but is definitely evident from the start. Passengers are greeted by music as they approach the main counter, either to check in or just drop their pre-checked bags, setting an upbeat mood in most cases (the occasional maudlin Janis Ian tune is an exception).
Because I’d opted in, Virgin sent me reminder text to my phone before the flight, suggesting that, “Because it’s the holiday season, please arrive at the airport two hours prior to your domestic flight.”
Seriously?
We arrived a little more than an hour and a half before our 6:15 a.m. flight to find the Virgin ticket counter wasn’t even open yet. Once it did open, the counter agents took care of the long line of folks ahead of us in about 15 minutes. Would that TSA was as efficient at getting the crowds through the security gauntlet that would follow.
Once through that ordeal, we made our way to our gate and boarded the Airbus A320 that would take us to SFO.
 |
| In-seat entertainment center |
Both types of main cabin seats had amenities that made the trip more comfortable.
Each seat has a video screen that offers entertainment options, as well as the ability to order and pay for food and drink right from the seat. Even in coach, each seat has an A/C power plug for the electronics we all carry. And of course, the airline offers in-flight wireless connectivity. For a fee, flyers can log on via GoGo.
Probably because of its casual, fun approach, Virgin’s passengers seemed to be younger on average than other airlines I’ve flown recently. Not that we Boomers were made to feel unwelcome; it’s just that there were many young people, including families with little ones, heading 37,000 feet over the river and the woods on their way to Grandmother’s house. But that may have also been because of it was, after all, the Christmas season.
For our return trip, I took advantage of the space-available First Class upgrades to reward ourselves for being such great grandparents (as if I needed an excuse). Although a relatively short two-hour flight, the fee was also more reasonable than similar arrangements on other airlines: $79 per person, and they refunded the $25 per bag check fee, so by my calculations, going home first class cost an extra $54 per person.
During a recent trip on U.S. Airways, I’d upgraded to a Choice Seat, but would have not received a refund or credit if I’d upgraded to one of the first class seats available. Other airlines, take note!
 |
| Order from your seat! |
Virgin America’s first-class seats are without a doubt the best domestic first class seats I’ve even flown. Done in white leather, they are very comfortable in the full upright position, but also recline more than most easy chairs. Not quite fully flat, but very comfortable.
As a result, however, there is no underseat storage in first class; everything has to go in the overhead bins. In addition, there is no place to hang up coats; they, too, must be folded and placed in an overhead bin. But that’s a small sacrifice.
 |
| En route map. |
Louis was like the other Virgin crew: young and hip, but also professional and eager to please. Probably because the whole vibe is casual and friendly, his responses of “You got it!” and “No problem!” seemed surprisingly appropriate.
In addition, Louis is one of the few F/As to use correct grammar in his cabin announcements. Notably, as we were approaching Seattle, he said, “The captain has turned on the seatbelt sign, so please keep it fastened for the remainder of the flight.” Too many use the word “duration,” and when I told him so, he said it just didn’t seem like the right word to him, so he changed it.
My late freshman English teacher would be proud.
As I noted earlier, I had never before flown a Virgin airline; neither Virgin America, Virgin Atlantic, nor Virgin Australia. However, based on this experience, I’m definitely looking forward to the next time. And there WILL be a “next time.” Of that, I am certain.
Photos by Carl Dombek
Click on photos to view larger images
San Francisco Vacations
SACRAMENTO: Gatsby's Diner
To contact us Click HERE
As a fan of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, I have longwanted to visit Gatsby’s Diner in Sacramento. This Christmas visit, I playedthe “Dad” card and insisted the family gather there for dinner. No one wasdisappointed.
We descended on Gatsby’s, which is fairly close to our kids’homes, with three of our adult children and one grandchild in tow, and staffcould not have been more welcoming. We’d made a reservation – which theyrecommend because of the popularity the show has brought the place – so theyhad a table and high chair ready.
My wife and I had been particularly fascinated by a coupleof items prepared on the show: the beet sliders and the beef rouladen.
We ordered a side of sliders for the table and, although theothers were initially wary of tasting what looked like “beet sandwiches,”everyone immediately understood why they are one of Gatsby’s signature dishes.
Three ½-inch thick beet medallions are par-boiled inGatsby's own pastrami seasoning, which gives the beets a flavor reminiscent ofpastrami while preserving their vegetarian qualities. The slices are thengrilled on flattops that used to be teppan yaki grills when the place was aJapanese steakhouse in a previous life, then served with shaved red onion andhouse-made Green Goddess dressing on toasted slider buns.
The restaurant’s web page says, “We love beets but those whodon’t probably wouldn’t even know what they were eating if they ate with theirmouths closed.” While I'm sure they meant "ate with their eyes closed," I could hardly have said it better myself.
After the appetizer, it was on to our main courses.
I had the German beef rouladen, which are rolls of thinlysliced beef, Dijon mustard, bacon, dill pickle and onion, served with savorygravy, German red cabbage and parsley potatoes. Being partly of German heritage,I’ve enjoyed rouladen since my childhood.
While Gatsby’s rouladen were very tasty, they should probablyhave been cooked a little longer, as they were still a bit tough. Rouladenoriginally evolved as a way to make cheaper cuts of meat edible by poundingthem thin, then cooking for a long time to ensure tenderness. The potatoescould also have used some additional cooking time, as my wife and I agreed theywere a bit underdone.
My wife, also of German heritage, opted for the porkschnitzel: a pork loin filet, breaded and fried, served with red cabbage andGerman potato salad, which is made without mayonnaise. While the schnitzel and cabbage were quite flavorful, the optionof a warm potato side dish would have been welcome on a cold pre-Christmasevening.
One of the kids tucked into a huge burger, which heimmediately pronounced delicious. Burgers, according to many of the reviews I've read elsewhere, are what Gatsby's is known for.
After dinner, we enjoyed a luscious, light crème brûléeflamed tableside, and a chocolate-peanut butter milkshake. The latter soundsheavy, even for chocolate and/or peanut butter lovers, but surprisingly, itwasn’t. It was very light and tasty.
Despite Gatsby’s decidedly casual “diner” atmosphere,service was helpful and attentive. As an extra, added attraction, the place hada good selection of beer and a pretty decent wine list, too. Coupled with itsexcellent selection of comfort food, Gatsby’s has everything you'll need for asuccessful evening out.
Photos by Carl Dombek
Click on photos to view larger sized images
Sacramento Vacations
We descended on Gatsby’s, which is fairly close to our kids’homes, with three of our adult children and one grandchild in tow, and staffcould not have been more welcoming. We’d made a reservation – which theyrecommend because of the popularity the show has brought the place – so theyhad a table and high chair ready.
My wife and I had been particularly fascinated by a coupleof items prepared on the show: the beet sliders and the beef rouladen.
We ordered a side of sliders for the table and, although theothers were initially wary of tasting what looked like “beet sandwiches,”everyone immediately understood why they are one of Gatsby’s signature dishes.
|
| Beet sliders |
The restaurant’s web page says, “We love beets but those whodon’t probably wouldn’t even know what they were eating if they ate with theirmouths closed.” While I'm sure they meant "ate with their eyes closed," I could hardly have said it better myself.
After the appetizer, it was on to our main courses.
I had the German beef rouladen, which are rolls of thinlysliced beef, Dijon mustard, bacon, dill pickle and onion, served with savorygravy, German red cabbage and parsley potatoes. Being partly of German heritage,I’ve enjoyed rouladen since my childhood.
|
| Beef rouladen |
My wife, also of German heritage, opted for the porkschnitzel: a pork loin filet, breaded and fried, served with red cabbage andGerman potato salad, which is made without mayonnaise. While the schnitzel and cabbage were quite flavorful, the optionof a warm potato side dish would have been welcome on a cold pre-Christmasevening.
One of the kids tucked into a huge burger, which heimmediately pronounced delicious. Burgers, according to many of the reviews I've read elsewhere, are what Gatsby's is known for.
After dinner, we enjoyed a luscious, light crème brûléeflamed tableside, and a chocolate-peanut butter milkshake. The latter soundsheavy, even for chocolate and/or peanut butter lovers, but surprisingly, itwasn’t. It was very light and tasty.
Despite Gatsby’s decidedly casual “diner” atmosphere,service was helpful and attentive. As an extra, added attraction, the place hada good selection of beer and a pretty decent wine list, too. Coupled with itsexcellent selection of comfort food, Gatsby’s has everything you'll need for asuccessful evening out.
Photos by Carl Dombek
Click on photos to view larger sized images
Sacramento Vacations
American's Longest Flying F/A Steps Down
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An interesting article in the Dallas Morning News about American Airlines' oldest active flight attendant stepping down after 54 years in the air.
The article provides some interesting history about how flight attendants used to be selected and what they were required to do, but left out some key points related to some pretty stringent physical requirements.
First, F/As had to be attractive. I know that's subjective, but it was definitely a requirement of the job, just as the requirements that flight attendants be single and under 32 years of age.
Second, flight attendants' weight was monitored very closely and those who gained beyond a certain point were grounded, either temporarily until they could lose the extra pounds, or permanently. In addition, there were some fairly narrow height parameters: F/As could neither be too tall nor too short. For example, the now-defunct PanAm required that F/A's be at least 5'2" tall and weigh no more than 130 pounds.
Some things probably needed to change, but others should never have been allowed to change, such as the requirement that flight attendants actually take care of their passengers. Back in the day, they made sure passengers were comfortable, had what we needed, and generally made us feel welcome. They didn't just sling us drinks, then hide behind the galley curtain to read the latest fashion magazine or pulp novel.
Generally, though, the Dallas Morning News piece about Carole DiSalvo is well worth reading.
The article provides some interesting history about how flight attendants used to be selected and what they were required to do, but left out some key points related to some pretty stringent physical requirements.
First, F/As had to be attractive. I know that's subjective, but it was definitely a requirement of the job, just as the requirements that flight attendants be single and under 32 years of age.Second, flight attendants' weight was monitored very closely and those who gained beyond a certain point were grounded, either temporarily until they could lose the extra pounds, or permanently. In addition, there were some fairly narrow height parameters: F/As could neither be too tall nor too short. For example, the now-defunct PanAm required that F/A's be at least 5'2" tall and weigh no more than 130 pounds.
Some things probably needed to change, but others should never have been allowed to change, such as the requirement that flight attendants actually take care of their passengers. Back in the day, they made sure passengers were comfortable, had what we needed, and generally made us feel welcome. They didn't just sling us drinks, then hide behind the galley curtain to read the latest fashion magazine or pulp novel.
Generally, though, the Dallas Morning News piece about Carole DiSalvo is well worth reading.
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