When one goes on vacation, visiting relatives, or whatever, there is one, and probably only one reason to fly:
You don’t need a box or two to house all the crap you bought while shopping at your final destination.
As I see it, that’s the only advantage to air travel over driving.
-k-
I’ve always reported vital statistics about my rental cars here on this old blog, but I’ve never before had an image of any car. Well, with this last trip, things have changed; we rented a Buick Lucerne CXS, which turns out to be the top-of-the-line Lucerne.
The life-to-date fuel economy increased from 21.7 MPG to 23.3; a noticeable, though not earth-shattering increase. As it turns out, this ol’ Buick had a 4.6L NorthStar V8. I noticed it had plenty of punch motor-wise, but compared to a Saturn, a lot of cars do.
There was also an electronic doo-dad that tracked LTD Average speed; with road driving, that went from 45.3 MPH to 55.3 MPH.
And talk creature comforts; I’d previously decided that heated leather seats perfectly symbolized America’s decline into excesses reminiscent of the Roman Empire. This car had them, SWMBO used them; she has a bad back, and finds it tedious at best and uncomfortable at worst to sit for any extended period. The butt-and-back warmers helped her to endure being confined in the passenger seat. It even had a heated steering wheel; I tried that out, just to say I had.
Having never experienced a dual-zone front air conditioning system, I’d have to label that a winner. SWMBO likes it significantly cooler than I; the dual-zone made it possible for us to maintain our preferred degree of warmth.
Then, there were the side rear-view mirrors, which automatically tilted down when the car was put into reverse, as well as the totally glare-free inside rear view, which made rolling across chunks of Tennessee at night tolerable.
There are doubtless features we totally missed, not knowing which buttons to push and all.
Why don’t I buy one? At a base MSRP of $35,440, it’s simply above my vehicular purchase threshold. I’ve lived in cheaper houses than that; don’t laugh, I come from humble roots, and am proud of that. However, when our travel plans call for long distances via car, I’m renting another one just like this one.
-k-
The picture was lifted via screen-capture from the Buick website. If any humorless GM/Buick tightasses object; then:
From Hot Springs AR, where SWMBO and I arrived tired and crabby yesterday afternoon. A good night’s sleep, and excellent weather, and we’re much better now.
I’m posting this from the blog’s admin interface; a first for me. I’m also using my brother-in-law’s Windows powered machine to post. I’ll try not to make the Windows thing a habit.
Happy Thanksgiving, and safe travels to all.
-k-
The Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau has established a website to extol the Big-D’s virtues as a destination for visitors of the gay and lesbian persuasion.
From the website, emphasis added:
Dallas continues to propel itself forward, now a richly diverse American city with a melting pot of cultures, religions and lifestyles. It has left behind stereotypes of big-haired women and rowdy cowboys — that is, unless you count sassy drag queens and strapping gay rodeo champs.
I didn’t realize Dallas was such a haven. From this article:
“It’s not about being politically correct, it’s about being economically correct,” said Phillip Jones, president and CEO of the tourism bureau. He said gay travelers spend an average of $100 more per day than other travelers and plan four to six trips a year.
The greenness of the money has no gender or gender preferences. A market has developed, and it’s being served. I just thought it queer that Dallas aspires to prominence in it.
-k-
Technorati Tags: Dallas, glbtdallas
When I left for Raleigh last Sunday, I had hotel reservations through tonight. In the back of my mind, I thought I’d leave after today’s exam, and roll on home. Rain was in today’s forecast, I’m tired, and hence I stuck to the original plan, and will be heading north tomorrow early in the day.
So, tonight, I’m gathering up and packing my stuff in the room, watching the World Series, and liquidating the unconsumed beers that have accumulated through the week.
Travel light, that’s my motto.
-k-
Sorry for the shouting in the post title, but it’s straight off the TSA “Prohibited Items” website, wherein they detail the latest liquid-free, gel-free edicts for safe air travel. And they are really on it; amongst the latest knee-jerk-off reactions is this gem:
We encourage everyone to pack gel-filled bras in their checked baggage.
If you don’t have a gel-filled bra, by all means acquire one. An involved citizenry is key to the war on terror. Who would have thought it was that simple?
-k-
h/t: Bruce Schneier, for the pointage.
Update: A commenter on Bruce’s post observes the following:
TSA: Protecting America from suicide boobers.Hey… Someone had to say it.
Heh.
Technorati Tags: BruceSchneier, TSA
It was good news all around, after the travel travails of this morning. The truck driver was interviewed on the evening news; the fire actually started from a stuck brake or wheel, according to him; he saw it in his mirror, and thought it was a tailgater. After another look, he realized his rig was on fire, and as calmly as he could, got it off the road to an as-out-of-the-way-place as he could, and then ran away from it, shortly before the explosion.
What composure; who knows how many lives were spared because of his heads up response? And his comments at the end of his interview on NBC4, Washington DC:
Chew said that he’s thankful to be alive just one day before Thanksgiving.
“I think I need to go kiss my kids, mother, wife,” he said. “You never know when your life will be over in a split second while doing your job … just simply doing your job.”
Words for us all to live by, and act accordingly.
-k-
Today, at the start of rush hour, and on the busiest travel day of the year, a tanker carrying 8700 gallons of fuel has overturned on I-95, where the Capitol Beltway splits off. The fire is lighting the predawn sky as the load of fuel is allowed to burn off. I-95 south is closed, and will be for hours. I-95 north has been partially open, but appears to be closed now.
What amazes me, watching the TV coverage, is the use of those amber-colored road advisory boards. Advisories are being posted on these in Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, so that drivers can select alternate routes.
Fortunately, there are no fatalities nor injuries, as far as I’m aware now.
-k-
UPDATE: These state highway personnel, and the rescuers, do an amazing job.
I’d seen those amber-colored message boards used, generally for more localized notices. But, if you’re on I-95 southbound, north of the accident, I guess you are local to this, or will be soon.
The shuttle Discovery is safely back home. I’ll admit to taking the space program for granted for a lot of years. My naïveté regarding space travel has since been profoundly shattered. So let’s be thankful for a successful flight and return. Welcome back!