That’s the British spelling of course. Because now that Gordon Brown is gone, my vow not to visit the UK is over.
I took this vow a few years back when shortly after taking office, Brown imposed an £80 airport tax for people who fly in “premium” cabins and a £40 tax for those in economy. Either way, it’s an outrageous tax that was supposed to be “for the environment”. Except after the first year of the tax, forensic accountants found out that the money collected went to the general fund, instead of the “environment”. As a result, I vowed not to visit the UK until Brown was tossed out.
Except now we have Cameron, allegedly a Tory that sounds more like a limousine liberal. If he’s truly a Conservative, how about repealing all those airport taxes imposed during his predecessor’s regime?
If he doesn’t pan out, maybe they can draft Jeremy Clarkson for PM? It’s not like if it hasn’t been tried before. His manifesto reads a bit libertarian to me…
Sights (but no sounds) of the Emerald Bowl 2009
This is my second year attending this local Bowl game. Since USC (and Boston College) is in it this year and it’s at PacBellPark, it was an opportunity to watch the Trojans win again. Which they did, 24-13.
Then of course, like any other SC game, there’s the sideline show. Song Girls performing in San Francisco winter.
Yell Leaders and the Spirit of Troy, The Greatest Marching Band in the history of the Universe.
SFO UA Fleet Week event 2009
Each year, United Airlines hosts a Friends and Family event at the Maintenance Center at SFO. It has a classic car show, some UA hardware on display, lots of booths aimed toward their employees, a A319 for a plane pull and oh yeah, the Blue Angels.
Firing up the engines
Inspection
Walkaround
Waiting for the “go”
Fat Albert takes off to take readings for the air show
Finally off!
The height of Fleet Week is the airshow over the Marina Green and the waterfront. Due to weather (lots of low fog), the Saturday show was cancelled. This show would be the only one and because of the slightly higher fog, they had a “flat show”.
Besides the Angels, there’s the other events…
Each year, there’s a plane pull between the Blue Angels and two groups of Flyertalkers (who usually lose pretty badly)
UA took part in the Fleet Week Airshow for the first time with this low flying 747-400
The USAF sent two F-16s
And to wrap this up, here’s SQ15 enroute to Seoul Incheon
Chinese stands up in San Francisco
This is the ONLY time I will quote Mao in this blog. “The Chinese people have stood up“.
It begins on MUNI with an Auntie who is willing to stand up and fight when she’s attacked. Guess people will think twice now before attacking Chinese in San Francisco, I hope.
A message from the past for these troubled times
BSG! The Oath/Blood on the Scales
Like wow…only three more new episodes and BSG is done!
This two parter left me with a butt-ache. Which means that I was firmly planted on the floor, watching these episodes (mild spoilers after the gratuitous pic!). I think Jack Bauer could relate to the day that Adama had.
Yeah, I think the General would approve…
Some thoughts: Starbuck is Patton. If any of you are familiar with the movie or his history, you’ll know he was truly alive when he was doing one thing. Starbuck is the same. Except she looks MUCH better doing it.
There IS a reckoning at the end of Blood on the Scales. The question, will there be follow through with the rest? And what about the political loose ends?
Wah, breathless!
Learning German
Here’s the word of the day: fasching.
Sounds like fun…!
Now THIS is a stimulus package!
When I mean a “stimulus package”, I’m not talking about handouts to unions, such as what has been happening in the United States. I mean this:
20% personal income tax rebate, 40% property tax rebate
Households will get a 20 per cent personal income tax rebate for Year of Assessment 2009, capped at S$2,000.
There will also be 40 per cent property tax rebate for owner-occupied homes in 2009.
The ordinary people are the ones who bear the brunt of the bad economy, not gahmen and their cronies, the unions. In Singapore, the people (not gahmen or unions) are getting tax relief, in the United States, the gahmen and the unions get the free money and the people are forced to pay for it. I mean, if you’re giving out all that money, someone’s got to pay for it. If you’re a US passport holder, just look into a mirror. That’s who’s gonna pay. Sheesh.
MacWorld? Har? And bailouts galore!
Well, the first week of January has come and gone and MacWorld has done the same. My reaction: “Har”?
Prior to this year, I’ve been to 12 of these shows. Strangely enough, nothing worth going for this year. All the buzz is in Vegas at CES where Palm (remember them?) may have a device (with a very dumb name) that will give Apple a run for its money (and incentive to improve features and lower its price on the iPhone).
Besides CES, there’s another convention happening concurrently. In fact, the industry that this other convention is showcasing is asking for a bailout (as are the rest of American industry). I wonder if they’ll actually get some?
I’m waiting for the “Legacy Airline Bailout”. Once they get that, nothing will change, except the fares, which will go up. More of the same…
Watchdoggy
I came across this well guarded door in the Meatpacking District
The things you come across in Manhattan…
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