...Cause somebody's going home.
Somebody ought to tell the McCain campaign to "warm up the bus", cause the game is over. When Colin Powell speaks, the election God listens. Even accounting for latent racism in this election, Obama blue is turning even the reddest states purple. This is accompanied by a probable *gulp* Democratic supermajority Legislature. Call me too Jeffersonian, but I feel that a supermajority sounds like something from the Empire Strikes Back. (Actually, Empire Strikes Back will be the Republicans in two years...they act more like the Empire anyway. So let's call this "Return of the Jackass").
I trust Obama as President 10 times farther than I trust Reid or Pelosi to run a supermajority for 2 years. Will Obama be a strong enough leader to temper the Party's pet agenda?
They say that this election marks a turning point in the U.S. political culture--perhaps a turn towards 'market-friendly socialism'; replacing Bush's entirely mislabeled 'compassionate conservatism' aka: "Eat, Drink, (War), and Be Merry, for tomorrow I suicide the Republican Party"
Either way: market crash, credit crises, inflation, rising unemployment, Global recession, wars, rumors of wars, Democratic Supermajority...tell me if you've heard this before.
Ah yes...the Great Depression and the New Deal. The list of the surviving New Deal programs read like a rap sheet of modern mega money mismanagement: Social Security, Federal Housing Commission and....Fannie Mae!
(PS...the New Deal wasn't very successful...in fact, New Deal legislation was largely repealed during WWII. The only proven effective answer to the Depression is a good dose of disgruntled Germans starting a Global War which decimated all America's economic rivals and, in just 4 years, grew the US military from 240,000 men to over 8.2 million and many times that employed in U.S. warmaking factories.)
This time could be different however, in spite of the media drool and blubbering, Obama seems to be something special...as well as, in case you haven't heard, being black...which, in itself is not a qualification, but it is, as a friend remarked, "an inspirational step for America." In this time of patriotic pessimism and insecurity, 'an inspirational step' might really mean something.
Anyhow, McCain ought to just hope that he beats Republicans worst ever electoral showing (1938) where they lost 57% to 39% to Democrats and (472-59 electoral votes).
Monday, October 20, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
When in doubt, fly Jetblue
Last weekend I travelled to San Diego to play.
I went to Seven Peaks "fright night" and it was actually pretty fun. Also went to the beach and hung out downtown.
I used to prefer Jetblue solely because they had newer planes with bigger seats, more baggage space, cool gadgetry (like live tv) and more attractive stewardesses who smile a lot and often are near my age. Now I have an additional reason:
My Delta flight departed at 615 am--without me. You see, I was late getting to the airport, arriving at 545; and then waited in Delta's line for 20 minutes before being told, "Sorry, but you have missed your flight, you should have told us you were waiting in line for that flight." Oh, my bad.
Thus, since it was 'traveler fault', I had to pay $100 more to catch the 1pm Delta flight. So, in the meantime, I went to the beach and ate breakfast. Upon coming back to the car around 10am, my phone showed an unknown number had called me It was Delta--who left no message. So I called them, waited on hold until 1010, operator asked me why I was calling, I asked her why they called me--she didn't know. After a bit of investigation on her part, the only thing she knew was that I was booked on the 1130 flight. "You mean 1pm, right?".
"No, the 1130...there is no 1pm flight to SLC." she responded. "You sure?," I responded,"Cause I could swear i'm holding a reciept for $100 for a 1pm Delta flight from SD to SLC."
"Hmmm" she hmmmed. "Is that it? Is that an answer?" I asked. "Hmmmmm" she responded...and then "Mmmm..let me see something...clicky clack click (background typing) OH! that's it, your 1pm flight was cancelled so you've been rebooked on the 1130."
"Uh, really? So you guys called to tell me my flight leaves 1.5 hours earlier than expected, and didn't leave a message?" I inquired, stupified.
"Uh huh" she merrily replied. " May I help you with anything else?"
"Uh, what time is it?" I asked, panicked...I didn't have my watch.
"I don't know, I'm in Tampa...anything else?" she cheerfully replied.
No...I hung up and checked my phone 1030, I had 30 minutes to check in.
After racing to the airport in 15 minutes, the computer kiosk couldn't find me. Luckily I got to speak with the same Delta representative as earlier that morning when I missed my flight. "Hi Carl, remember me?" He did, and smiled--I was the one he helped to miss a flight. Cheers.
"Um Carl, the kiosk can't find my reservation. If you recall, you booked me on the 1pm, it was subsequently cancelled 40 seconds later, and I was magically and secretly rebooked on the 1130 but the computer can't find me...help"
Carl typed his clickity clack on the computer and suddenly his cement smile cracked. "Uh, Mr. Goble, you are booked for tomorrow's 1130 flight. Will you need a car or place to spend the evening?"
Well shoot. (I didn't say that out loud). I've got a life, bed and, importantly, a job awaiting me in SLC (I didn't say that out loud either). Instead I begged for him to find me a plane, train or automobile to SLC before tuesday. He couldn't. I asked him whether any other airlines had flights. He checked. Nope, all other possible flights today were booked to SLC.
I told him to hold on for a few minutes, I'd be back after making some phone calls. Instead of making a phone call, I walked, literally 10 steps over to the Jetblue counter (I love Jetblue for so many reasons), and asked "Help. Can you get me to SLC today?"
The plucky middle aged lady in Jetblue uniform responded cheerily, "Sure, we have a half empty flight leaving at 120pm and if you order it online you can save $15!"
This was stated literally within earshot of Carl, the delta representative. He looked over, shrugged and said, "They are not part of our partnership network, so they don't show up on my search for flights, nor may we comp that flight."
"Who is in your 'partnership network? And can I get a refund?" I asked, trying so hard to mask my ire, irritation and sarcasm.
"American, Continental and United; Ummmm, I'll ask my supervisor if you can get you refund". (that leaves out Jetblue, Southwest and like 6 other possible airlines operating in the American west who may run flights from SD to SLC...)
The moment Carl said that to me, a guy from the (very large) Delta line asked in a loud voice,"Does JetBlue have a flight to SLC?"
Carl, and all of the other Delta employees faces turned ashen and turned to await my bubbly reply:
"Yep, but it it won't show up on Delta's flight search because they don't partner with Jetblue. It costs $215 and is empty-- $200 if you order online." Half of the Delta line moved ten paces to their right...into the Jetblue line. Apparently I wasn't the only guy who got screwed by the cancellation of the 1pm flight. Very quickly, Delta also granted my partial refund (anticipating many, many more requests I'm sure).
So I got home around 4pm yesterday. Lesson, whenever possible, fly Jetblue.
I went to Seven Peaks "fright night" and it was actually pretty fun. Also went to the beach and hung out downtown.
I used to prefer Jetblue solely because they had newer planes with bigger seats, more baggage space, cool gadgetry (like live tv) and more attractive stewardesses who smile a lot and often are near my age. Now I have an additional reason:
My Delta flight departed at 615 am--without me. You see, I was late getting to the airport, arriving at 545; and then waited in Delta's line for 20 minutes before being told, "Sorry, but you have missed your flight, you should have told us you were waiting in line for that flight." Oh, my bad.
Thus, since it was 'traveler fault', I had to pay $100 more to catch the 1pm Delta flight. So, in the meantime, I went to the beach and ate breakfast. Upon coming back to the car around 10am, my phone showed an unknown number had called me It was Delta--who left no message. So I called them, waited on hold until 1010, operator asked me why I was calling, I asked her why they called me--she didn't know. After a bit of investigation on her part, the only thing she knew was that I was booked on the 1130 flight. "You mean 1pm, right?".
"No, the 1130...there is no 1pm flight to SLC." she responded. "You sure?," I responded,"Cause I could swear i'm holding a reciept for $100 for a 1pm Delta flight from SD to SLC."
"Hmmm" she hmmmed. "Is that it? Is that an answer?" I asked. "Hmmmmm" she responded...and then "Mmmm..let me see something...clicky clack click (background typing) OH! that's it, your 1pm flight was cancelled so you've been rebooked on the 1130."
"Uh, really? So you guys called to tell me my flight leaves 1.5 hours earlier than expected, and didn't leave a message?" I inquired, stupified.
"Uh huh" she merrily replied. " May I help you with anything else?"
"Uh, what time is it?" I asked, panicked...I didn't have my watch.
"I don't know, I'm in Tampa...anything else?" she cheerfully replied.
No...I hung up and checked my phone 1030, I had 30 minutes to check in.
After racing to the airport in 15 minutes, the computer kiosk couldn't find me. Luckily I got to speak with the same Delta representative as earlier that morning when I missed my flight. "Hi Carl, remember me?" He did, and smiled--I was the one he helped to miss a flight. Cheers.
"Um Carl, the kiosk can't find my reservation. If you recall, you booked me on the 1pm, it was subsequently cancelled 40 seconds later, and I was magically and secretly rebooked on the 1130 but the computer can't find me...help"
Carl typed his clickity clack on the computer and suddenly his cement smile cracked. "Uh, Mr. Goble, you are booked for tomorrow's 1130 flight. Will you need a car or place to spend the evening?"
Well shoot. (I didn't say that out loud). I've got a life, bed and, importantly, a job awaiting me in SLC (I didn't say that out loud either). Instead I begged for him to find me a plane, train or automobile to SLC before tuesday. He couldn't. I asked him whether any other airlines had flights. He checked. Nope, all other possible flights today were booked to SLC.
I told him to hold on for a few minutes, I'd be back after making some phone calls. Instead of making a phone call, I walked, literally 10 steps over to the Jetblue counter (I love Jetblue for so many reasons), and asked "Help. Can you get me to SLC today?"
The plucky middle aged lady in Jetblue uniform responded cheerily, "Sure, we have a half empty flight leaving at 120pm and if you order it online you can save $15!"
This was stated literally within earshot of Carl, the delta representative. He looked over, shrugged and said, "They are not part of our partnership network, so they don't show up on my search for flights, nor may we comp that flight."
"Who is in your 'partnership network? And can I get a refund?" I asked, trying so hard to mask my ire, irritation and sarcasm.
"American, Continental and United; Ummmm, I'll ask my supervisor if you can get you refund". (that leaves out Jetblue, Southwest and like 6 other possible airlines operating in the American west who may run flights from SD to SLC...)
The moment Carl said that to me, a guy from the (very large) Delta line asked in a loud voice,"Does JetBlue have a flight to SLC?"
Carl, and all of the other Delta employees faces turned ashen and turned to await my bubbly reply:
"Yep, but it it won't show up on Delta's flight search because they don't partner with Jetblue. It costs $215 and is empty-- $200 if you order online." Half of the Delta line moved ten paces to their right...into the Jetblue line. Apparently I wasn't the only guy who got screwed by the cancellation of the 1pm flight. Very quickly, Delta also granted my partial refund (anticipating many, many more requests I'm sure).
So I got home around 4pm yesterday. Lesson, whenever possible, fly Jetblue.
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