With all the news on TV lately about New Orleans, mud slides in South America, massive tsunami waves in Asia destroying everything in its path, along with dire predictions made by such films as 'The Day After Tomorrow', we shouldn't forget that Australia has its share of devastating weather too.
This photo illustrates the damage caused to a friend's home from a storm that passed through the other night. It really makes you cherish what you have, and reminds us not to take things for granted. Take care of yourself and be safe.
Friday, September 30, 2005
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Houses to avoid
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I gotta start hanging out here!
I just have to figure out a way to get a job there. They must have very interesting clients! :-)
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Don't buy petrol day...
Loretta's co-worker is a nice enough and well meaning woman. Her political views are very much leftist and quasi-socialist. She is a big supporter of The Labour Party. She and I do not see eye-to-eye on much. So her trying to get me to join a boycott got me very suspicious.
"So tell me why should I refuse to buy petrol tomorrow?” I asked her.
"Because we are tired of the high petrol prices.” she explained. "We are going to show the oil companies that we aren't going to take it."
"So how exactly will not visiting a petrol station tomorrow reduce petrol prices?"
"Because it will hurt them in the pocketbook."
I asked her "Are you going to drive to work tomorrow?"
"Of course.” she answered.
"So even if you do not visit a petrol station tomorrow, you will probably need to fill up sometime with in the next few days. Right?"
"Yes.", she answered.
"If you really want to make an impact, then why don't you refuse to USE petrol products tomorrow, instead of just deferring the purchase for 24 hours?"
She looked at me blankly, like I had suggested that she fly to the moon.
"In fact." I said, "Why don't you plan to ride a bike to work once a week, and take the train 3 times a week? Won't that make more of an impact that this little boycott of yours?"
By now I could tell she was getting angry with me. Leftists hate common sense logic.
"By the way," I added, "The prices being charged by the oil companies are only that high because we consumers are willing to pay it. As long as you and I are willing to spend $1.50AUD a litre for petrol, then why can't they go ahead and charge it? If you don't like it, then don't buy it."
Oh boy. She was getting mad now.
"Well not all of us can walk to work or ride a bike!" she said. "What about a mother with kids? It is not fair that she has to pay for petrol!"
"Ok... So what exactly are you saying? Are you suggesting that having a child entitles someone to cheap petrol? Even if that were true, how on earth would you implement such a plan? How would that be fair to those without kids? What about those who are injured? Why can't they also get the same discount? What about senior citizens? Where do you draw the line?"
"I don't know." she countered. "It just doesn't seem right."
This got my conservative blood boiling. I lit into her.
"If you are so damn worried about moms with kids." I continued, "Then how about demanding that the government reduce some of the special fuel taxes that they impose on every litre of petrol that is sold in this state? Right now it costs about 50 cents a litre in taxes! They can cut that in half tomorrow if they had the balls, and it would make a huge difference in the price you pay."
"Further, moms with kids already get a discount on expenses. It is called a tax-deduction. They get to claim a deduction for every kid they support. That means more money in their pocket. Thousands of dollars more. Then it is up to the family to decide how to spend that money. They can spend it on petrol to drive the kids around. They can buy public transportation tickets. They can buy a fuel efficient car. Why should they get an addition discount at the pump when they already get it on their taxes?"
I finished "Your boycott idea is a futile gesture of impotence. You are only proving to the petrol vendors that you need them, which will convince them that they can charge whatever they feel the market will bear for their product. If they charge too much, then alternative energy solutions become economically viable competitors that you can use. If you really want to make a difference, then walk to work tomorrow."
So as I expected, she drove to work and filled the tank up over the weekend. What a clueless fool.
When Parades Go Bad
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| Hamas Parade | The Deathmobile |
Hamas naturally blamed Israel for the accident and subsequently lobed a series of missiles into Israel as retaliation for Hamas' own stupidity. Israel hit back with airstrikes and the usual stuff. More of the same-old, same-old. But I digress.
Now I couldn't help but think of this as another example of When Parades Go Bad. The classic "Parade Gone Bad" was the homecoming parade in the film "Animal House" when the banned Delta House fraternity decided to wreck revenge on Faber College with their Deathmobile.
As a common sense rule-of-thumb, transporting live weapons in vehicles is considered a risky endeavors. Usually weapons are disarmed during transport to help prevent accidental detonation. In addition, other safety steps should be taken against shock, collisions, static electricity, etc. The risks are endless.
Another rule-of-thumbs is that home-made weapons, especially the explosive type, are usually very unstable and unsafe under the best of circumstances.
Murphy's law states "If anything can go wrong, it will, at the worst possible moment".
Combine the two rules-of-thumb with Murphy's Law, and the result is obvious.
Now parents. If you want to your kids to live past their 18th birthday, it is a good idea to avoid parades put on by (a) militant terrorist groups that feature live weapons built and manned by untrained idiots, (b) angry drunken college fraternities.
Monday, September 26, 2005
The Queen's Birthday
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| Man I'm old! |
Since she never sent me a card for my birthday, I snubbed her and did not send one to her. However, I have heard a rumor that if you reach the ripe old age of 100, she will send you a birthday card. (One of those raunchy ones I hope!).
BTW... did you know that the royal family has their own web site? No word if the queen has her own rantings blog like me.
How to survive long flights
As a veteran of many flights between Perth and Los Angeles, I think I can claim with some authority that I know what I am talking about here. It takes between 19-22 hours of flying to get to LAX from here. There is a 5 to 6 hour hop across Australia to an east coast airport, usually Sydney. Then there is a 14-17 hour trans-Pacific flight across the Pacific to the US.
Being the anal-retentive worry-wart that I am, I've given the matter of how to best survive this ordeal a lot of thought. Also, I have had requests from friends of mine for advice. So I figured I would just lay it all out here on my blog.
What I have done is to bring everything I need during the flight in one carry-on backpack. I've grouped all the items by function, and then packed them together into smaller bags which are placed into the larger backpack. These smaller bags are:
The In-Seat hygiene Bag.
This contains everything I need while seated to stay healthy. This bag is a tiny airline comfort bag that the airlines give you on long flights. They usually come with a strap. In this bag I pack the following items:
This contains all the items I use to keep myself comfortable. This isn't one bag. It is actually a group of items that I place into the backpack.
The In-Flight Lavatory Bag.
Like the in-seat bag, this is also a tiny airline flight comfort bag. It has the items I take with me to freshen up in the aircraft's lavatory. It contains:
This is a mid-size bag the size of a large shaving kit. This Contains the items I use while at a transition airport. It also functions as my emergency luggage should my bags not arrive at my destination. It contains:
This is not a bag, but a clever portable file cabinet. It contains all the documents and loose items that I need for travel. It has
I prefer to sit in a window seat. There are many reasons for this.
Also, I try to sit before the wing if I can. This is because most of the noise from the engines travels aft, so there is more vibration and noise the further back you go. It is slightly quieter in front of the engines. It can make a difference on a long flight.
One thing to be careful of on Qantas flights is getting stuck on the crib row. The rows right behind the center galleys or lavatories have drop down cribs for newborns that are mounted on the bulkhead. So guess where all the screaming babies sit? That's right, they go on crib row. When stuck on a 14 hour flight, babies get pretty loud.
Food & Drink.
I will not drink coffee or alcohol before or during a flight. They just screw you up more than they help. Also avoid softdrinks (caffeine and sugar), tomato juice (too much salt), and too many fruit juices (they often contain extra sugar).
I will drink water. You have to stay hydrated. I bring a bottle of water with me. The Qantas jets have a small water spigot where you can refill your bottle. I love cold water on a flight!
I will accept a cup of coffee within a hour of landing at my destination just to get things kick started.
As for food, I don't eat a lot when I fly. First, I'm not crazy about the airline chow. Second, you don't really need it. When doing the trans-Pacific leg, I will only accept their breakfast service to take the edge off my hunger. I sleep though the dinner service.
I am a big fan of seedless grapes. They are the perfect flight food. They taste good. They keep you hydrated. They are not full of sugars and additives and God knows what else. Don't bring too much because you will have to dispose of any leftover grapes at your destination. Bringing fruit in is a no-no. So I will bring washed and picked seedless grapes in a zip-lock bag to snack on if needed.
A small bag of trail mix is good too. It is easy to carry, and gives you plenty of energy.
Entertainment.
Most long flights offer in-flight entertainment. I give it a miss. I find it simply isn't worth the energy it takes to watch it. I use that time to sleep.
The films they show on flights are dumbed down and edited versions for a wide audience with the idea if not offending or scaring anyone. Also you have to watch it on a scrappy little screen. If you really want to see a particular film, then rent it home where you can watch it as the director intended you to. Life is too short to waste your time on half-ass imitations of art.
If I had my way, there would be no in-flight entertainment on trans-Pacific flights. One time I flew from LAX to Melbourne. Within 30 minutes of take off the entertainment system failed. There were no movies, videos, or music. So what did the passengers do? They all went to sleep. It was by far one of the most comfortable and peaceful flights I have ever done. I had a chat with the lead flight attendant at the end to tell her how great the flight was. She told me that she had not received one complaint, and instead had received many compliments. When daylight broke and we approached Australia, everyone was well rested and happy, instead of the usual cranky and tired.
For some reason, passengers feel compelled to watch the entertainment offerings. So they force themselves to stay awake. They squirm and they fidget and they cough and make noise. They turn their seat lights on and off. All of these actions can be felt and heard by the other passengers. And they do wake you up, even if only for a second. You can not get a sound, restful sleep when there is so much going on. It is like putting a television in a child's room and then wondering why the kid doesn't get enough rest.
My advice? Bring a good paperback. There are thousands out there. They are small, and can entertain you for hours and hours. They don't need electricity or anything. They pack up nice and are easy to carry.
The Items.
Here I will go into detail about each item, with the how and why. I am a strong believer on not over-packing. A small number of well chosen quality items will take care of most everything you encounter.
Saline Nasal Spray:
The cabin of aircraft gets very dry. Your sinuses will dry out and the inside of your nose will dry out. A simple saline nasal spray will keep you comfortable. I just give myself a pump every hour or so. I like the tiny little pump bottles. It will be more than enough to last 22 hours. You can refill it at home.
Something else to think about. You might be a snorer. In consideration of your fellow passenger, bring something with you to held mitigate this.
Lip Balm (like Chapstick)
Not much to say here. Like your sinus passage, the dry air will cause your lips to chap. Just put some lip balm on and stay comfortable.
Listerine Pocket Pack.
These are those tiny little film strips that you put on your tongue and they dissolve. You only need one pack. They will help keep your breath under control, more your fellow passengers than yourself.
Relaxation pills
I use Temazepam, which is prescribed by my GP for my flights. They are not sleeping pills. I do not like sleeping pills because of the side effects. They leave me feeling foggy and stupid. These are relaxation pills. They help me unwind enough so that I can fall asleep on my own, which is far more natural. It is like having a couple of stiff drinks without the side effects.
Hankerchief:
You always need one of these. They come in handy for mopping up messes, blowing your nose if needed, or whatever.
NadaChair Slouch!Buster
This is my secret weapon! I've written about this before on my blog. I find that this model, their smallest, allows me to sleep sitting upright. It keeps me from slouching, which strains the lower back. What I do is put this on, put the seat almost upright, put the seatbelt snug across my lap, and I can sleep for hours with no discomfort.
This folds up into a self contained bag. It is about the size of a paperback book.
Bose Quiet Comfort 2 Noise canceling Headphones: Oh yes. My other secret weapon. These aren't cheap. They cost $300 USD. But they are worth it. They contain electronics that monitor the sound around you, then produce the same sound inside the headphone, but with the opposite wave pattern. When the manufactured wave and the wave from the external sound intersect, they cancel each other out, leaving no sound to enter your ear.
These are the same earphones that are loaned to you in first class by Qantas and Singapore Air.
They are not perfect. Bose made them to not cancel out the frequencies of the human voice. This is a safety issue. Otherwise, you would not be able to hear anyone speaking to you, like a FA telling you to prepare for a crash. Audiophiles have panned these for their audio reproduction when compared to the Sony noise canceling headsets. However, I don't buy them for their noise reproduction. I bought them for their noise canceling, which they excel at.
Where they work best is eliminating low frequency sounds. This is what is produced by the jet engines and is what will cause you exhaustion and irritability. When you when spend 13 hours sitting behind a jet engine strong enough to push a fully loaded 747 across the Pacific Ocean, every bit helps.
To overcome the mid-frequency sounds that the headphones do not eliminate, I have other tools... the ear plugs and the MP3 player.
Custom Fitted Earplugs:
Don't waste your money on those cheap foam ear plugs. For around $50 you can have a set of custom made ear plugs molded for your ear canals. These custom made plugs will eliminate 2 to 3 times as much sound as the best over-the-counter ear plugs you can buy. Also, once you get them made, you can use them over and over again for years. Just clean them before each use.
If you don't want to get some made, the get the wax moldable type.
MP3 Player loaded from "Sounds of Nature" CD:
As much as I like the Apple iPods, I can't recommend them here because they don't have replaceable batteries. Personally I use the little Nike MP3 player. It runs about 20 hours on a AAA battery. It only has 64KB of storage, but that is all I need for this purpose. You can buy a cheap little MP3 that uses AAA batteries for almost nothing these days.
I only have one track on the MP3 player. It is an hour long rip from the CD "Sounds of Nature: Beach". It took me a while to find the perfect sound, and this is it. Too many of the nature/medication/relaxation CD's contained man made music. When I finally found some CD's that featured only natural sounds, I found they decided to put some stupid whales singing or birds screeching on them. This CD contains only 1 hour long track of waves gently washing on a sand beach. No stupid animals. No stupid Yanni style new-age music crap to get on my nerves.
I set up the MP3 to repeat the track over and over. Non-stop waves. Perfect!
Eye shades:
I use the little cheap ones that the airlines give you for free. There are some that claim to be better. I have not tried them. I like the little ones I use because they are very small and I can store them inside the Bose Headset case.
Extra AAA batteries:
The Bose Headset and the MP3 player use these. I bring two extra batteries. I store them inside the Bose Headset case. I buy good quality alkaline batteries.
inflatable Neck Pillow:
Because I am 6'-3", my head it too high to rest on the back of the seat. The seat comes up to my neck, if I am lucky. Thus, there is nothing to rest my head on when I sleep. So a good pillow is critical. I used an inflatable U-shaped pillow. When deflated, it folds up very small and fits inside a small pouch that comes with it.
It is not that comfortable. I've seen some travelers with jell filled neck pillows that look and feel much more comfortable. But of course they take a lot more room when you are not using them.
There is also a "ring" style you can buy which also supports your chin and keeps your whole head upright. It is tempting to try. Bit I am afraid it just looks too weird for me.
Bottle of water:
Nothing too big. You can refill it at the water fountain at the aft of the plane.
Toothbrush:
Qantas gives you a small travelers toothbrush with a spit of toothpaste when you board. However, since I'm really picky about my dental care, I prefer to use my own toothbrush. I found on that I which folds into itself. It makes it very small, but better than the crap one Qantas gives you.
Toothpaste:
Like the brush, I'm picky about my toothpaste too. My dentist gives me small sample packs of good toothpaste that they give him. They are very small, about 3-4 servings. Perfect for traveling packs. Ask your dentist for some samples.
Dental Floss:
Call me anal. I love floss. My teeth just don't feel clean with out them. Again, my dentist supplies with tiny little sample packs of floss. Perfect size.
Antiperspirant:
I am a fan of Nivia products. They sell a tiny little pump action antiperspirant that works perfect for this function. It is called " NIVEA deodorant DRY Compact". It works well and is good quality and just the right size.
Cologne Samples:
Rather than bring a whole bottle of cologne, I take some of those little samples that they give out at the cosmetic counter at the department store. They come it little tiny plastic vials with a small cap. One vial contains enough for two doses. You can get them free at your department store. Just tell them you want to try it.
WetOnes:
One of the best inventions ever. A self contained bath. They are pre-moistened anti-bacterial towelettes. They sell a small pack about the size of your palm for a couple of bucks.
Skin moisturizer:
Again, I like the Nivia. They sell a small pump of a face moisturizer that smells very clean. It is great to use before you land to freshen up.
A clean pair of underwear, a clean pair of socks, and a clean shirt:
I keep these in the layover bag. They are for two things. One, if I feel grungy during a layover I'll take a shower and change. Two, they function as my emergency clothes should my checked luggage fail to show up.
Mini travel towel:
You can get these at any camp outfitter shop. It is a highly absorbent shammy. It won't get you bone dry, but dry enough. It rolls up very small, about the size of fist. And it can be wrung dry before you re-pack it. I take this because you never know if there will be a towel to use at the airport showers. For example, in the Melbourne airport, there is a secret shower that international travelers can use. But it doesn't come with anything. Just hot water and a shower. This lets me use that shower.
Body Soap:
Goes with the travel towel. All I do is use the tiny liquid body soap that they give away at nice hotels. Nice and small.
Expanding 6-pocket Wallet:
This has been an awesome little trick that helps me keep organized when traveling. I found a small plastic expanding pouch with 6 slots at an office supply store. The top lid is secured with an elastic band on to a button. I like it because it keeps everything organized for me. In one slot I put the airline tickets. In another slot the car information. Another contains my passport and any travel documents I need.
This is also a more expensive variety known as a "ticket wallet", a "travel document organizer", or a "Departure Case". LL Bean sells an expensive leather one. But I find that cheap $2 plastic one from an office supply store works fine.
I find one thing that really helps is to use small ziplock bags for hold foreign currency. When I go to the US, I put all my Australian cash in the small bag and put it one of the slots. Just the reverse for the US cash.
In another slot I pack a couple of small Manila envelopes for receipts. Makes keeping up with all my expenses easy as can be.
Putting it all together:
So I plug the MP3 player into the Bose headsets. I take one the relaxing pills, strap on the Nadachair, put on the neck pillow and eye shade, kick off my shoes, and I'm out for 10 hours straight. Because I can't feel or hear anyone or anything else, I'm sitting on the beach in Broome listening to the ocean. It is very peaceful.
Being the anal-retentive worry-wart that I am, I've given the matter of how to best survive this ordeal a lot of thought. Also, I have had requests from friends of mine for advice. So I figured I would just lay it all out here on my blog.
What I have done is to bring everything I need during the flight in one carry-on backpack. I've grouped all the items by function, and then packed them together into smaller bags which are placed into the larger backpack. These smaller bags are:
- The In-Seat hygiene Bag: This contains everything I need while seated to stay healthy.
- The In-Seat Comfort Bag: This contains all the items I use to keep myself comfortable.
- The In-Flight Lavatory Bag: This contains the items I take with me to freshen up in the aircraft's lavatory.
- The Transition Bag: This Contains the items I use while at a transition airport.
- The Document Bag: This contains all the documents and loose items that I need for travel.
The In-Seat hygiene Bag.
This contains everything I need while seated to stay healthy. This bag is a tiny airline comfort bag that the airlines give you on long flights. They usually come with a strap. In this bag I pack the following items:
- Saline Nasal Spray
- Lip Balm (like Chapstick)
- Listerine Pocket Pack
- Relaxation pills (I use Temazepam, which is prescribed by my GP for my flights)
- Hankerchief
This contains all the items I use to keep myself comfortable. This isn't one bag. It is actually a group of items that I place into the backpack.
- A NadaChair Slouch!Buster. This folds up into a self contained bag.
- Bose Quiet Comfort 2 Noise canceling Headphones
- Custom Fitted Earplugs
- MP3 Player loaded from "Sounds of Nature" CD.
- Eyeshades
- Extra AAA batteries
- inflatable Neck Pillow which come in their own little pouch.
- Bottle of water.
The In-Flight Lavatory Bag.
Like the in-seat bag, this is also a tiny airline flight comfort bag. It has the items I take with me to freshen up in the aircraft's lavatory. It contains:
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Floss
- Antiperspirant
- Cologne Samples
- WetOnes
- Skin moisturizer
This is a mid-size bag the size of a large shaving kit. This Contains the items I use while at a transition airport. It also functions as my emergency luggage should my bags not arrive at my destination. It contains:
- A clean pair of underwear
- A clean pair of socks
- A clean shirt
- A mini travel towel
- Body Soap
This is not a bag, but a clever portable file cabinet. It contains all the documents and loose items that I need for travel. It has
- Airline ticket(s)
- Passport/visas
- Car rental information
- Cash
- Cards
- Receipts
- Pants: I usually wear a pair of comfortable cargo pants with no belt. The metal in the belt sometimes sets off metal detectors which slows you down. Don't wear blue jeans because the metal rivets can also set off sensitive detectors.
- Shirt: I wear a comfortable long-sleeve cotton shirt. The sleeves can be rolled up or down depending on how warm or cold it is.
- Underwear: I wear nice looking and comfortable boxers. Nothing silly or grungy. You never know if you are going to be pulled aside for a strip search. So you might as well have something on that doesn't make you look silly when you are standing there in your underwear infront of inspection officers.
- Socks: I wear dark thick cotton socks that will keep your feel warm when you sleep. If they get dirty, no one will notice.
- Shoes: I wear comfortable shoes that you can walk a couple of miles in if you have to.
- Jacket: I usually do not carry a jacket unless I am going somewhere where I expect colder weather. Otherwise, it is just extra weight.
I prefer to sit in a window seat. There are many reasons for this.
- First off, you get a few more millimeters of space. The space between the seat and the window can make a big difference when you are crammed in like sardines.
- Being in the window seat means that you one have to deal with one other passenger, not two. That means one less elbow in your ribs.
- The window and side of the aircraft can be used as a surface to lean against for rest. You don't get this option in center or isle seats.
- No interruptions! Because you are not between the isle and another passenger, you are never disturbed when they have to get up to go to the lavatory.
- Storage. The small space between the seat and the wall can be used to store your hygiene bags. That makes one less thing getting in the way or getting lost.
Also, I try to sit before the wing if I can. This is because most of the noise from the engines travels aft, so there is more vibration and noise the further back you go. It is slightly quieter in front of the engines. It can make a difference on a long flight.
One thing to be careful of on Qantas flights is getting stuck on the crib row. The rows right behind the center galleys or lavatories have drop down cribs for newborns that are mounted on the bulkhead. So guess where all the screaming babies sit? That's right, they go on crib row. When stuck on a 14 hour flight, babies get pretty loud.
Food & Drink.
I will not drink coffee or alcohol before or during a flight. They just screw you up more than they help. Also avoid softdrinks (caffeine and sugar), tomato juice (too much salt), and too many fruit juices (they often contain extra sugar).
I will drink water. You have to stay hydrated. I bring a bottle of water with me. The Qantas jets have a small water spigot where you can refill your bottle. I love cold water on a flight!
I will accept a cup of coffee within a hour of landing at my destination just to get things kick started.
As for food, I don't eat a lot when I fly. First, I'm not crazy about the airline chow. Second, you don't really need it. When doing the trans-Pacific leg, I will only accept their breakfast service to take the edge off my hunger. I sleep though the dinner service.
I am a big fan of seedless grapes. They are the perfect flight food. They taste good. They keep you hydrated. They are not full of sugars and additives and God knows what else. Don't bring too much because you will have to dispose of any leftover grapes at your destination. Bringing fruit in is a no-no. So I will bring washed and picked seedless grapes in a zip-lock bag to snack on if needed.
A small bag of trail mix is good too. It is easy to carry, and gives you plenty of energy.
Entertainment.
Most long flights offer in-flight entertainment. I give it a miss. I find it simply isn't worth the energy it takes to watch it. I use that time to sleep.
The films they show on flights are dumbed down and edited versions for a wide audience with the idea if not offending or scaring anyone. Also you have to watch it on a scrappy little screen. If you really want to see a particular film, then rent it home where you can watch it as the director intended you to. Life is too short to waste your time on half-ass imitations of art.
If I had my way, there would be no in-flight entertainment on trans-Pacific flights. One time I flew from LAX to Melbourne. Within 30 minutes of take off the entertainment system failed. There were no movies, videos, or music. So what did the passengers do? They all went to sleep. It was by far one of the most comfortable and peaceful flights I have ever done. I had a chat with the lead flight attendant at the end to tell her how great the flight was. She told me that she had not received one complaint, and instead had received many compliments. When daylight broke and we approached Australia, everyone was well rested and happy, instead of the usual cranky and tired.
For some reason, passengers feel compelled to watch the entertainment offerings. So they force themselves to stay awake. They squirm and they fidget and they cough and make noise. They turn their seat lights on and off. All of these actions can be felt and heard by the other passengers. And they do wake you up, even if only for a second. You can not get a sound, restful sleep when there is so much going on. It is like putting a television in a child's room and then wondering why the kid doesn't get enough rest.
My advice? Bring a good paperback. There are thousands out there. They are small, and can entertain you for hours and hours. They don't need electricity or anything. They pack up nice and are easy to carry.
The Items.
Here I will go into detail about each item, with the how and why. I am a strong believer on not over-packing. A small number of well chosen quality items will take care of most everything you encounter.
Saline Nasal Spray:
The cabin of aircraft gets very dry. Your sinuses will dry out and the inside of your nose will dry out. A simple saline nasal spray will keep you comfortable. I just give myself a pump every hour or so. I like the tiny little pump bottles. It will be more than enough to last 22 hours. You can refill it at home.
Something else to think about. You might be a snorer. In consideration of your fellow passenger, bring something with you to held mitigate this.
Lip Balm (like Chapstick)
Not much to say here. Like your sinus passage, the dry air will cause your lips to chap. Just put some lip balm on and stay comfortable.
Listerine Pocket Pack.
These are those tiny little film strips that you put on your tongue and they dissolve. You only need one pack. They will help keep your breath under control, more your fellow passengers than yourself.
Relaxation pills
I use Temazepam, which is prescribed by my GP for my flights. They are not sleeping pills. I do not like sleeping pills because of the side effects. They leave me feeling foggy and stupid. These are relaxation pills. They help me unwind enough so that I can fall asleep on my own, which is far more natural. It is like having a couple of stiff drinks without the side effects.
Hankerchief:
You always need one of these. They come in handy for mopping up messes, blowing your nose if needed, or whatever.
NadaChair Slouch!Buster
This is my secret weapon! I've written about this before on my blog. I find that this model, their smallest, allows me to sleep sitting upright. It keeps me from slouching, which strains the lower back. What I do is put this on, put the seat almost upright, put the seatbelt snug across my lap, and I can sleep for hours with no discomfort.
This folds up into a self contained bag. It is about the size of a paperback book.
These are the same earphones that are loaned to you in first class by Qantas and Singapore Air.
They are not perfect. Bose made them to not cancel out the frequencies of the human voice. This is a safety issue. Otherwise, you would not be able to hear anyone speaking to you, like a FA telling you to prepare for a crash. Audiophiles have panned these for their audio reproduction when compared to the Sony noise canceling headsets. However, I don't buy them for their noise reproduction. I bought them for their noise canceling, which they excel at.
Where they work best is eliminating low frequency sounds. This is what is produced by the jet engines and is what will cause you exhaustion and irritability. When you when spend 13 hours sitting behind a jet engine strong enough to push a fully loaded 747 across the Pacific Ocean, every bit helps.
To overcome the mid-frequency sounds that the headphones do not eliminate, I have other tools... the ear plugs and the MP3 player.
Custom Fitted Earplugs:
Don't waste your money on those cheap foam ear plugs. For around $50 you can have a set of custom made ear plugs molded for your ear canals. These custom made plugs will eliminate 2 to 3 times as much sound as the best over-the-counter ear plugs you can buy. Also, once you get them made, you can use them over and over again for years. Just clean them before each use.
If you don't want to get some made, the get the wax moldable type.
MP3 Player loaded from "Sounds of Nature" CD:
As much as I like the Apple iPods, I can't recommend them here because they don't have replaceable batteries. Personally I use the little Nike MP3 player. It runs about 20 hours on a AAA battery. It only has 64KB of storage, but that is all I need for this purpose. You can buy a cheap little MP3 that uses AAA batteries for almost nothing these days.
I only have one track on the MP3 player. It is an hour long rip from the CD "Sounds of Nature: Beach". It took me a while to find the perfect sound, and this is it. Too many of the nature/medication/relaxation CD's contained man made music. When I finally found some CD's that featured only natural sounds, I found they decided to put some stupid whales singing or birds screeching on them. This CD contains only 1 hour long track of waves gently washing on a sand beach. No stupid animals. No stupid Yanni style new-age music crap to get on my nerves.
I set up the MP3 to repeat the track over and over. Non-stop waves. Perfect!
Eye shades:
I use the little cheap ones that the airlines give you for free. There are some that claim to be better. I have not tried them. I like the little ones I use because they are very small and I can store them inside the Bose Headset case.
Extra AAA batteries:
The Bose Headset and the MP3 player use these. I bring two extra batteries. I store them inside the Bose Headset case. I buy good quality alkaline batteries.
inflatable Neck Pillow:
Because I am 6'-3", my head it too high to rest on the back of the seat. The seat comes up to my neck, if I am lucky. Thus, there is nothing to rest my head on when I sleep. So a good pillow is critical. I used an inflatable U-shaped pillow. When deflated, it folds up very small and fits inside a small pouch that comes with it.
It is not that comfortable. I've seen some travelers with jell filled neck pillows that look and feel much more comfortable. But of course they take a lot more room when you are not using them.
There is also a "ring" style you can buy which also supports your chin and keeps your whole head upright. It is tempting to try. Bit I am afraid it just looks too weird for me.
Bottle of water:
Nothing too big. You can refill it at the water fountain at the aft of the plane.
Toothbrush:
Qantas gives you a small travelers toothbrush with a spit of toothpaste when you board. However, since I'm really picky about my dental care, I prefer to use my own toothbrush. I found on that I which folds into itself. It makes it very small, but better than the crap one Qantas gives you.
Toothpaste:
Like the brush, I'm picky about my toothpaste too. My dentist gives me small sample packs of good toothpaste that they give him. They are very small, about 3-4 servings. Perfect for traveling packs. Ask your dentist for some samples.
Dental Floss:
Call me anal. I love floss. My teeth just don't feel clean with out them. Again, my dentist supplies with tiny little sample packs of floss. Perfect size.
Antiperspirant:
I am a fan of Nivia products. They sell a tiny little pump action antiperspirant that works perfect for this function. It is called " NIVEA deodorant DRY Compact". It works well and is good quality and just the right size.
Cologne Samples:
Rather than bring a whole bottle of cologne, I take some of those little samples that they give out at the cosmetic counter at the department store. They come it little tiny plastic vials with a small cap. One vial contains enough for two doses. You can get them free at your department store. Just tell them you want to try it.
WetOnes:
One of the best inventions ever. A self contained bath. They are pre-moistened anti-bacterial towelettes. They sell a small pack about the size of your palm for a couple of bucks.
Skin moisturizer:
Again, I like the Nivia. They sell a small pump of a face moisturizer that smells very clean. It is great to use before you land to freshen up.
A clean pair of underwear, a clean pair of socks, and a clean shirt:
I keep these in the layover bag. They are for two things. One, if I feel grungy during a layover I'll take a shower and change. Two, they function as my emergency clothes should my checked luggage fail to show up.
Mini travel towel:
You can get these at any camp outfitter shop. It is a highly absorbent shammy. It won't get you bone dry, but dry enough. It rolls up very small, about the size of fist. And it can be wrung dry before you re-pack it. I take this because you never know if there will be a towel to use at the airport showers. For example, in the Melbourne airport, there is a secret shower that international travelers can use. But it doesn't come with anything. Just hot water and a shower. This lets me use that shower.
Body Soap:
Goes with the travel towel. All I do is use the tiny liquid body soap that they give away at nice hotels. Nice and small.
Expanding 6-pocket Wallet:
This has been an awesome little trick that helps me keep organized when traveling. I found a small plastic expanding pouch with 6 slots at an office supply store. The top lid is secured with an elastic band on to a button. I like it because it keeps everything organized for me. In one slot I put the airline tickets. In another slot the car information. Another contains my passport and any travel documents I need.
This is also a more expensive variety known as a "ticket wallet", a "travel document organizer", or a "Departure Case". LL Bean sells an expensive leather one. But I find that cheap $2 plastic one from an office supply store works fine.
I find one thing that really helps is to use small ziplock bags for hold foreign currency. When I go to the US, I put all my Australian cash in the small bag and put it one of the slots. Just the reverse for the US cash.
In another slot I pack a couple of small Manila envelopes for receipts. Makes keeping up with all my expenses easy as can be.
Putting it all together:
So I plug the MP3 player into the Bose headsets. I take one the relaxing pills, strap on the Nadachair, put on the neck pillow and eye shade, kick off my shoes, and I'm out for 10 hours straight. Because I can't feel or hear anyone or anything else, I'm sitting on the beach in Broome listening to the ocean. It is very peaceful.
Americans are so dramatic!
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As we are sitting there, some female guest of Dr. Phil was getting all emotional about something that was obviously very traumatic or important to her. There was no sound on, so we could only see the woman crying and getting all bent out of shape about something. Loretta watched this for a minute, then turned to me and stated "That is the problem with you Americans. You are so dramatic about everything."
"Huh?", I answered. "Where on earth did you get that idea?"
"Everything to you guys has to be dramatized. You can't every just sit down and talk rationally in a normal voice. You have to scream and yell and cry and try to talk over each other. Every little thing is made to be the biggest problem in the world. They are always having so-and-so sleeping with someone's wife or sister or mother. You guys are all insane."
So I'm sitting there looking at her. Here is an Italian woman telling me, Mr. 'raised as a Lutheran Norwegian', that we are emotional. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!
"Um, Loretta. It is television. It is not real. They don't bother to film people to sit and talk normally because no one would watch it. Besides, I'm pretty sure that these guests make up half the crap, or are simply acting from script."
Loretta thought about it for a minute, and then agreed that I might be right. I asked her "I'm an American. Do you find that I act like those people?"
"No. You are different. I know you.", she answered.
"So what makes you think that we are all like that? Remember, there are 280 million of us."
"Well you all may not be like that. But that is the impression that world gets of you because of these shows."
I pointed out to Loretta that these shows are produced for American consumption. It is not our fault that an Australian TV network decided to buy and broadcast it for consumption here. If anything, the purchase of the show by overseas networks only serve to convince the producers that they are doing something right.
So there you have it. One the major causes of America's image problem throughout the world is Jerry Springer and other similar programs. When that is all they see, that is what they think we are really like. So next time an American gets ignored by a French waiter in Paris, they can thank Jerry Springer!
What does "Downtown" mean?
I discovered something this weekend. Many Australians do not know what "Downtown" means. I found out that they think it means "the outskirts" of a city. To an Australian, to go in to the middle of a city, is to go "in to town". Thus, if the heart of the city is "In Town", then "Down Town" must be somewhere else.
Taken literally, it means "at a lower altitude". It is thought of as the lower part of the city. The parts that are swamps, or flood zones, or with no commanding views.
In addition, the word "down" could also have a negative connotation, such as "down on their luck", or "down market". It also logically means the opposite of "Up Town", which has positive connotations of being expensive and exclusive. Therefore, downtown is assumed to be a poorer, undesirable, fringe neighborhood.
Lesson Learned:
Taken literally, it means "at a lower altitude". It is thought of as the lower part of the city. The parts that are swamps, or flood zones, or with no commanding views.
In addition, the word "down" could also have a negative connotation, such as "down on their luck", or "down market". It also logically means the opposite of "Up Town", which has positive connotations of being expensive and exclusive. Therefore, downtown is assumed to be a poorer, undesirable, fringe neighborhood.
Lesson Learned:
When talking to Aussies (or any non-American), use the more precise term "In Town". Or as the Aussies like to use, "The CBD" (Central Business District).
The West Coast Eagles lost
I watched a little of the game on TV. They have nothing to be ashamed of. They put up a good fight, even leading at one point. They did manage to make it to the final game, which is nothing to be ashamed of.
There were no parades or celebrations for the teams' return home. Too bad. They should had given them them some sort of recognition for how well they had done.
Update: I stand corrected. I read in yesterday's newspaper that there as a rally held Subday at the Subiaco Oval. About 5000 fans showed up to give their thanks and appreciation to The Eagles. Good!
Saturday, September 24, 2005
Flatulance Filter
Of course for $40 you could just buy a big cork and a bottle of super glue.
Friday, September 23, 2005
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
The film is funny as hell. The detail he puts into every scene is amazing. The humor is at all levels. Like the Simpsons, there is humor at all levels. The adults will laugh at jokes directed at them that kids don't even recognize.
Go see this, no matter how old or young you are.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
I was let down. I'm glad that I didn't pay money for this. The story felt like it was written by a committee who threw out anything that might be controversial and thought provoking. It was so watered down. It was as bland as Porridge.
The thing the bothered me the most was how they made the principal character perfect. In other words, he did not change at all. There was no "character arc". He learned nothing. He was never challenged. Everything he did and said was saintly and politically correct.
In the original film, Charlie and his grandfather were not perfect. They too, like the other children, yielded to temptation. However, Charlie redeemed himself. The film was about redemption. This version... I have no idea what it was about.
It is hard to identify with someone who has no faults.
On a lesser note, the character Willie Wonka, as played by Johnny Depp, was creepy. I couldn't help but think of him as a self-deluded, Michael Jackson style, pedophile man-child who should be kept as far away from children as possible. Watching him walk into his "Neverland" with those kids gave me the creeps. But we know how I feel about Michael Jackson.
The new version of the Oompa Loompas as one computer multiplied actor, Deep Roy, was interesting, and actually more true to the book than the 1971 version. But the musical acts were terrible. Don't hold this against Deep Roy. He has an impressive acting resume and has been around a very long time.
This is a $2 rental. Wait for when you to have a mindless movie night at home.
The Aussie "Superbowl" is this weekend
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Needless to say, Perth is pretty excited about this. Perth fans are doing everything they can to get to Melbourne this weekend to support their team. I heard that a round trip airfare on Qantas to Melbourne skyrocketed to over $1000 a seat after The Eagles won their last playoff game to get into The Grand Final.
I heard a story yesterday about a local Perth man who got 15 of his friends together and they each chipped in $1000 to charter a jet to take them to Melbourne, and it was still cheaper than flying commercially.
Most fans left yesterday, Thursday. The rest will leave today. It feels like a ghost town around here today. Tomorrow afternoon when the game is on, I expect there won't be anyone outside.
North Korea agrees to give up nukes. Yea, Right.
Well. If you believe that, then I have some swamp land in Florida to sell you.
I'm sure the NK will find a way to weasel out of their own promise. I'm betting that soon they will claim to uncover a sinister American plan to attack NK and use that as an excuse to renig. I've already noticed that they are attaching more and more conditions to their promise.
The peaceniks will no doubt believe everything that the Dear Leader says. After all, they believed Saddam too.
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Fear of public speaking
As I have gotten to know her, I've been deeply impressed with her approach and her view on people, images, manners, and human behavior. It is clear to me that she is very observant and has given the matter a lot of thought.
We were talking about the issue of public speaking. I personally don't have a problem with it. I'm not great at it. But I have not found myself disabled with fear about it. However, many people do fear it. Even people who you think shouldn't.
Yes, self confidence has a lot to do with overcoming this fear. But her and I were discussing "Why is the fear is there in the first place? Why is it so common? Why is it so strong?" Natalie has given the matter a lot of thought and has come up with her own theory. It makes a lot of sense.
We humans are social animals. When we are matched with most other animals on the planet, we a wimps. We are, pound-for-pound, very weak animals. Most other animals on the planet can out-run, out-swim, out-jump, and out-fight us. Our greatest strength, and the key to our success on the planet, is our ability to work as a group.
We humans simple can not survive on our own. To be part of a group is part of our very being. It is so fundamental that we don't even know how deeply it controls us. To the human animal, the biggest threat to survival is being banished. To be expelled from a group is a death sentence. So the instinct to stay in the group and avoid banishment is very, very strong.
Public speaking puts the person at risk of banishment. It puts them in a position to be judged, and possibly rejected, by others. Of course these days you aren't going to be eaten by a saber-tooth tiger, or starve. But the fear of rejection is just as real.
This overwhelming desire to belong is strong enough to instill an unreasonable fear into seemingly normal and confident people. You don't even know why you are nervous. Why does your stomach tie it self in knots? Why does your pulse rise? Why do you sweat? Why do you feel such dread?
By convincing your subconscious self that you will not die if you fail, you can overcome this fear. It is nothing to be ashamed of. It is perfectly natural and human to feel it. It is your survival instinct kicking in.
Crowds fighting to buy a $125 pair of Nike Air Jordans
WTF? I'm speechless. I saw this little news story from Sacramento this morning.
FLORIN MALL FIGHTS - Fights Erupt As Crowds Gather For New Shoes
Nike Air Jordans Sell For $125 A Pair
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Fights erupted at an area mall over the weekend as large crowds gathered to buy a newly released pair of shoes.
Dozens lined up outside Florin Mall Saturday hoping to get a pair of Nike Air Jordans, but after trouble started, authorities were forced to shut down the entire mall.
"It was crazy. People were running and screaming .... there was like six or seven cop cars here. Like four or five people got arrested," witness Rachele Delnero said.
People started lining up at 2:30 a.m.
That level of hype is typical for the $125 shoes every time a new pair is released. By Saturday afternoon, most stores were sold out.
Because of the of security problems, Florin Mall was forced to open more than an hour late Saturday.
"I think that all the fighting over shoes is ridiculous. We came here to buy a backpack for my daughter and you can't go to the mall because people are fighting over shoes that most people can't even afford. I think it's very sad," shopper Sandra Keller said.
Ernest Wong said he finally got a pair of the new shoes, but only after he left Florin Mall.
"I made a phone call to my sister and she got me (the shoes) from Arden Mall. I just walked away from it," Wong said.
Other area malls also reported long lines for Air Jordans, but there were no other reports of violence.
Florin Mall security officials declined to comment about the incident.
KCRA.com
POSTED: 11:20 am PDT September 19, 2005
UPDATED: 12:00 pm PDT September 19, 2005
Copyright 2005 by KCRA.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
I can't believe that anyone in their right mind would stand in line at 2:30 in the morning for the privilege of spending $125 for a pair of tennis shoes. Further, I can't believe that anyone would find it worth fighting over.
From a marketing perspective, this must be a mandatory case study for marketing 101 students. How on earth does Nike get customers to override their common sense and reason and feel so compelled to have their product that they are willing to go to such extremes?
The product can be made in infinite quantities, so it can't be a lack of supply driving the price. Other tennis shoes can be purchased for fraction of the cost, so it can't be a low price driving the demand. The customers already have shoes on their feet, and have access to other shoes, so it can't be a critical resource. As far as I know the shoes do not have some sort of narcotic element that causes a physiological addition that overrides reason.
Nike seems to have captured lightning in a bottle with this. What is so fantastic about these shoes that make people go to these extremes? What exactly has Nike done to convince these people that they must have this? I would really, really like to know.
I can't help but thing that the answer is scarier and more sinister. I think that someone in Nike's marketing department has figured out exactly how to manipulate fear, because fear is the only emotion strong enough to so overwhelm reason. But fear of what? Fear of being left out? Fear of not being considered good enough?
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Katrina: A modern Titanic?
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The implementation of, what now seem like common sense, vigulance and precautionary procedures after the Titanic sank have saved countless lives. I can only hope that similar steps are taken after Katrina sank New Orleans.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
25 Mind-Numbingly Stupid Quotes About Hurricane Katrina And Its Aftermath
From Daniel Kurtzman
1) "I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees." –President Bush, on "Good Morning America," Sept. 1, 2005, six days after repeated warnings from experts about the scope of damage expected from Hurricane Katrina (Source)
2) "What I'm hearing which is sort of scary is that they all want to stay in Texas. Everybody is so overwhelmed by the hospitality. And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway so this (chuckle) – this is working very well for them." –Former First Lady Barbara Bush, on the Hurricane flood evacuees in the Houston Astrodome, Sept. 5, 2005 (Source)
3) "It makes no sense to spend billions of dollars to rebuild a city that's seven feet under sea level....It looks like a lot of that place could be bulldozed." –House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), Aug. 31, 2005 (Source)
4) "We've got a lot of rebuilding to do ... The good news is — and it's hard for some to see it now — that out of this chaos is going to come a fantastic Gulf Coast, like it was before. Out of the rubbles of Trent Lott's house — he's lost his entire house — there's going to be a fantastic house. And I'm looking forward to sitting on the porch." (Laughter) —President Bush, touring hurricane damage, Mobile, Ala., Sept. 2, 2005 (Source)
5) "Considering the dire circumstances that we have in New Orleans, virtually a city that has been destroyed, things are going relatively well." –FEMA Director Michael Brown, Sept. 1, 2005 (Source)
6) "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job." –President Bush, to FEMA director Michael Brown, while touring Hurricane-ravaged Mississippi, Sept. 2, 2005 (Source)
7) "I have not heard a report of thousands of people in the convention center who don't have food and water." –Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, on NPR's "All Things Considered," Sept. 1, 2005 (Source)
8) "Well, I think if you look at what actually happened, I remember on Tuesday morning picking up newspapers and I saw headlines, 'New Orleans Dodged the Bullet.' Because if you recall, the storm moved to the east and then continued on and appeared to pass with considerable damage but nothing worse." –Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, blaming media coverage for his failings, "Meet the Press," Sept. 4, 2005 (Source)
9) "I mean, you have people who don't heed those warnings and then put people at risk as a result of not heeding those warnings. There may be a need to look at tougher penalties on those who decide to ride it out and understand that there are consequences to not leaving.” –Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA), Sept. 6, 2005 (Source)
10) "You simply get chills every time you see these poor individuals...many of these people, almost all of them that we see are so poor and they are so black, and this is going to raise lots of questions for people who are watching this story unfold." –CNN's Wolf Blitzer, on New Orleans' hurricane evacuees, Sept. 1, 2005 (Source)
11) "What didn't go right?'" –President Bush, as quoted by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), after she urged him to fire FEMA Director Michael Brown "because of all that went wrong, of all that didn't go right" in the Hurricane Katrina relief effort (Source)
12) "Now tell me the truth boys, is this kind of fun?" –House Majority Leader Tom Delay (R-TX), to three young hurricane evacuees from New Orleans at the Astrodome in Houston (Source)
13) "We finally cleaned up public housing in New Orleans. We couldn't do it, but God did." –Rep. Richard Baker (R-LA) to lobbyists, as quoted in the Wall Street Journal (Source)
14) "Louisiana is a city that is largely under water." –Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, news conference, Sept. 3, 2005 (Source)
15) "I also want to encourage anybody who was affected by Hurricane Corina to make sure their children are in school." –First Lady Laura Bush, twice referring to a "Hurricane Corina" while speaking to children and parents in South Haven, Mississippi, Sept. 8, 2005 (Source)
16) "It's totally wiped out. ... It's devastating, it's got to be doubly devastating on the ground." –President Bush, turning to his aides while surveying Hurricane Katrina flood damage from Air Force One, Aug. 31, 2005 (Source)
17) "I believe the town where I used to come – from Houston, Texas, to enjoy myself, occasionally too much – will be that very same town, that it will be a better place to come to." –President Bush, on the tarmac at the New Orleans airport, Sept. 2, 2005 (Source)
18) "Last night, we showed you the full force of a superpower government going to the rescue." –MSNBC's Chris Matthews, Sept. 1, 2005 (Source)
19) "You know I talked to Haley Barbour, the governor of Mississippi yesterday because some people were saying, 'Well, if you hadn't sent your National Guard to Iraq, we here in Mississippi would be better off.' He told me 'I've been out in the field every single day, hour, for four days and no one, not one single mention of the word Iraq.' Now where does that come from? Where does that story come from if the governor is not picking up one word about it? I don't know. I can use my imagination." –Former President George Bush, who can give his imagination a rest, interview with CNN’s Larry King, Sept. 5, 2005 (Source)
20) "We just learned of the convention center – we being the federal government – today." –FEMA Director Michael Brown, to ABC's Ted Koppel, Sept. 1, 2005, to which Koppel responded " Don't you guys watch television? Don't you guys listen to the radio? Our reporters have been reporting on it for more than just today." (Source)
21) "I don't want to alarm everybody that, you know, New Orleans is filling up like a bowl. That's just not happening." -Bill Lokey, FEMA's New Orleans coordinator, in a press briefing from Baton Rouge, Aug. 30, 2005 (Source)
22) "FEMA is not going to hesitate at all in this storm. We are not going to sit back and make this a bureaucratic process. We are going to move fast, we are going to move quick, and we are going to do whatever it takes to help disaster victims." --FEMA Director Michael Brown, Aug. 28, 2005 (Source)
23) "I don't make judgments about why people chose not to leave but, you know, there was a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans." –FEMA Director Michael Brown, arguing that the victims bear some responsibility, CNN interview, Sept. 1, 2005 (Source)
24) "I understand there are 10,000 people dead. It's terrible. It's tragic. But in a democracy of 300 million people, over years and years and years, these things happen." --GOP strategist Jack Burkman, on MSNBC's "Connected," Sept. 7, 2005 (Source)
25) "Thank President Clinton and former President Bush for their strong statements of support and comfort today. I thank all the leaders that are coming to Louisiana, and Mississippi and Alabama to our help and rescue. We are grateful for the military assets that are being brought to bear. I want to thank Senator Frist and Senator Reid for their extraordinary efforts. Anderson, tonight, I don't know if you've heard – maybe you all have announced it -- but Congress is going to an unprecedented session to pass a $10 billion supplemental bill tonight to keep FEMA and the Red Cross up and operating." –Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), to CNN's Anderson Cooper, Aug. 31, 2005, to which Cooper responded:
"I haven't heard that, because, for the last four days, I've been seeing dead bodies in the streets here in Mississippi. And to listen to politicians thanking each other and complimenting each other, you know, I got to tell you, there are a lot of people here who are very upset, and very angry, and very frustrated. And when they hear politicians slap – you know, thanking one another, it just, you know, it kind of cuts them the wrong way right now, because literally there was a body on the streets of this town yesterday being eaten by rats because this woman had been laying in the street for 48 hours. And there's not enough facilities to take her up. Do you get the anger that is out here?" (Source)
Quotes That Didn't Make the Top 25
"This is the largest disaster in the history of the United States, over an area twice the size of Europe. People have to understand this is a big, big problem.'' –Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Sept. 6, 2005 (Source)
"A young [black] man walks through chest deep floodwater after looting a grocery store in New Orleans..."
"Two [white] residents wade through chest-deep water after finding bread and soda from a local grocery store after Hurricane Katrina came through the area in New Orleans..." –captions at Yahoo News, Aug. 30, 2005 (Source)
"There are a lot of lessons we want to learn out of this process in terms of what works. I think we are in fact on our way to getting on top of the whole Katrina exercise." --Vice President Dick Cheney, Sept. 10, 2005 (Source)
"But I really didn't hear that at all today. People came up to me all day long and said 'God bless your son,' people of different races and it was very, very moving and touching, and they felt like when he flew over that it made all the difference in their lives, so I just don't hear that." –Former First Lady Barbara Bush to CNN's Larry King, after King asked her how she felt when people said that her son "doesn't care" about race, Sept. 5, 2005 (Source)
"I'm going to go home and walk my dog and hug my wife, and maybe get a good Mexican meal and a stiff margarita and a full night's sleep." –FEMA Director Michael Brown, on his plans after being relieved from his role managing Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, Sept. 9, 2005 (Source)
"Judge Roberts can, maybe, you know, be thankful that a tragedy has brought him some good." –Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson, arguing that Supreme Court nominee John Roberts stands to benefit from Hurricane Katrina because "inflamed rhetoric in the United States Senate is just not going to play well now," Sept. 1, 2005 (Source)
"Bureaucracy is not going to stand in the way of getting the job done for the people." –President Bush, Sept. 6, 2005 (Source)
"Louisiana's Senator Landrieu announced on network television, 'I might likely have to punch him, literally.' And my question, since 'him' is the President, and both punching and threatening to punch the President is a felony, has her qualifying words 'might likely' saved her from arrest and prosecution?" -unknown reporter to White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan, Sept. 6, 2005 (Source)
"As of Saturday (Sept. 3), Blanco still had not declared a state of emergency, the senior Bush official said." –Washington Post staff writers Manuel Roig-Franzia and Spencer Hsu, who didn't bother to fact-check the blatant lie peddled by the Bush administration as part of its attempts to pin blame on state and local officials, when, in fact, the emergency declaration had been made on Friday, Aug. 26 (Source)
"Just to get you on the record, where does the buck stop in this administration?" –White House reporter
"The President." –White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan, Sept. 6, 2005 (Source)
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