DARJIX

I snapped a few photographs of airplane mechanics on my way to Northwest Arkansas this week. It did not really occur to me until after my flight that they were working on the engine immediately before the flight. I really hope that it was a routine repair, and not something unusual.

In the photograph above, you can see two mechanics working on something. The way they are sitting is sort of interesting. It almost looks like they are having lunch. The photo below is my favorite though, because it reminds me of Dr. Strangelove.

I should just stop worrying and love to fly.

I don’t print out my boarding pass ahead of time because I’m lazy. Unfortunately, the airport on Monday morning was busy. There was a long line and it looked like there was a half hour wait. I’ve done this trip dozens of times so I know that there are some additional kiosks a short walk away. When I got to those kiosks I found that they were free.

Clearly, I was the beneficiary of an asymmetry of information. If everyone knew what I know everyone would have gone to the empty kiosks erasing my advantage.

It’s good to know that I can find an advantage at 5 AM Monday morning at Logan. I was beginning to doubt if I could find a good value situation to save my life.

Bloomberg has an article that speculates that the airlines will begin charging by passenger weight.

Airlines may report combined losses of $6.1 billion this year, the worst since 2003, the International Air Transport Association said yesterday in Istanbul.

The airlines need to find another operating model, because right now it is uncomfortable, arduous, and expensive for travellers and at the same time the airlines are losing money. There has to be a better way.

As I suspected, I am a walking ecological disaster. I found out from Ben Menoza that my Dopplr profile now tracks my carbon profile.

I am responsible for 6,902 kg CO2 up to date. I am responsible for 1,763 kg CO2 in the month of May (and I didn’t even get all my trips into Doppr).

My carbon footprint is bigger than yours. :(

I had a hellish travel day yesterday. It started when I flew home, at 2 AM early Saturday morning. After spending a short weekend in Boston, I jumped on an flight to Chicago at 6 PM EST. Once reaching Chicago, I had an hour and a half layover. This was extended to three and a half hours, since my departing flight was late. First it was just a delay in the incoming flight. Then I sat through another maintenance delay.

By the time I got into Northwest Arkansas, it was 2 AM CST. I was dead tired and driving from the airport to my corporate apartment. The road from the airport has very few lights and requires a lot of high-beams to avoid skunks, snakes, raccoons and beavers.

I was trying to change the audio on the brand new Ford Focus that I got from Hertz. So naturally, I didn’t see the bunny rabbit sitting in the middle of the road.

I swerved right onto the shoulder to avoid the little guy. But he decided to head off the road. I then swerved left to try to run directly over it. I was hoping that it would miss the wheels and wouldn’t get hit by the low car. I was hoping that it would just pass safely under the car. Sadly, the rabbit decided to switch directions yet again. I hit him directly with my left front wheel.

There was a sickening crunch as it went under the tire. I imagine that it is probably the same crunch you get as if you eat an Ortolon.