Tripping

Catching a Few ZZZZs on the Flight

Nothing better than catching up on some sleep on a long flight,huh?  Isn't that what most travelers hope for?   BUT...maybe you aren't hoping for the pilot to be the one taking the snooze.

A captain and his co-pilot on the packed 325-seat Airbus A330 had decided to take turns in having 20-minute naps during the journey on August 13.

But less than two hours after take-off, both were reportedly asleep, leaving the plane cruising on autopilot with no-one to take control in the event of an emergency.

A recent poll showed that 9 out of 10 people preferred
pilots that aren't exhausted. 

They admitted what had happened to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), blaming longer shifts over the peak holiday season, which left them unable to get more than five hours’ sleep in the preceding 36.

The watchdog has declined to name the airline concerned for fear of deterring other pilots from reporting problems.

It confirmed the carrier was UK-based but would not say where the plane had departed from or where it was heading.

Last month a survey of more than 2,000 adults commissioned by the association suggested that nine out of 10  people would be worried about being in an aircraft flown by a pilot who has been awake for 22 hours.

The airline's name has since been released but I decided not to throw the plane under the bus. British pilots are allowed to sleep in the cockpit under certain conditions so neither the pilot or the co-pilot are being disciplined.    I find this pretty amazing, British pilots not only can fly planes but they can do it in their sleep.

Duck Discrimination

A duck used by insurance company Aflac was let loose inside a subway station in Manhattan, angering PETA and the MTA. (seems the TA TAs are aren't happy.) Aflac employees followed the little guy/duck around taking pictures and tweeting to a Twitter account for the sake of some publicity.

The website Gothamist reported that commuters on an undisclosed N and R train subway posted images of
 the duck, but it found out that it was Aflac’s doing.

“Ducks don’t belong on the subway, especially waddling through stations, and especially not when they’re used as part of a publicity stunt that makes it harder for our customers to get around,”  spokesman for the MTA, Adam Lisberg,  said in a recent statement,

He added: “We did not know about this stunt, we did not approve it, and we’ve made clear to Aflac that it was improper. New Yorkers know that animals are only allowed in the subway when they’re enclosed in containers that will prevent them from annoying any other passengers.”

The duck is calling fowl on the blatant discrimination on NYC subways. BTW...Here at TAOBC we aren't promoting ducks taking public transportation.  It is true that it might not be the safest option for them.   Note to Ducks: Next time ask Aflac to call a limo service for you. 

Bike Love

A 55-year-old nurse in England named Eileen Remedios was visiting a patient's house recently. And when she went to leave, she couldn't because someone had stolen her bike while she was inside

Eileen obviously wasn't happy about it, but she kept her sense of humor and taped a note to the lamppost she'd leaned the bike against. The note said, "Please return my bike. It is old but loved, and will be frightened without its owner."

Now, obviously Eileen never REALLY expected to see the bike again. But when she returned to the patient's home the next day, the bike was chained to the same lamppost.

And the keys to the lock were under the doormat, taped to a note that said, quote, "A great big fat SORRY from the reformed bike thief." Then at the bottom, the person assured her that they hadn't mistreated the bike in any way.

Eileen ended up writing ANOTHER note thanking them, and letting them know the bike was "happy" to be home. No word yet on whether or not they've responded again.


Am I being harsh in thinking if you are going to be a thief...even a considerate thief...you should know the "i before e except after c rule".  If you can't spell it don't be it. 

And the Award Goes To

I have been very busy this week...well...busy might be a tad of an over statement. I have been otherwise occupied with the pursuit of being a lazy bum.  While that might not seem plausible that a person could fill up  entire days whiling away time, I have proven it is possible.

Our  little band of travelers have been hanging out in the Ozarks again.  If you haven't been to Big Cedar Lodge near Branson, Missouri,.... it is truly a beautiful resort.)

BUT...For today...It's time for a few of the odd stories that appeared in the media this week. 

I will be giving awards out again this week as some people just deserve to be recognized.

Third Place Award .....Worst Driving Test Fail

A video of a South Korean woman failing her driving test has become an on-line hit. In a mere SEVEN seconds, a woman manages to overturn her car while the examiner is screaming in Korean at her. (I have to think that there are some four letter equivalents in there but can't say for sure.)

According to the You Tube users that speak Korean, supposedly the driver is asking, "What do I do? What do I do?" The driving instructor  (allegedly) says "Goddamn it! I said press the brakes. What are you doing not even knowing which pedal you are pressing? I am going to go crazy. Get out of this car!".



 Can anyone out there speak Korean and tell us what is being said?   That is surely worth more than just one bad word.

Second Place Award for the Worst (or maybe co-worst or maybe tri-worst) Candidate in New York City Political Race

Just when you thought the race for public offices in NYC couldn't get any more tainted, ...it did.
In the latest twist to the scandal ridden campaign season in New York, Kristen Davis has tossed her hat into the ring.  (that would  be the ring as in a 'three-ring circus'.)

Kristen, who is running for the office of comptroller against the former NY governor, Eliot Spitzer.

Surely, there are a couple of reasons
people might vote for this
comptroller.

Talk about irony...Spitzer resigned as governor amidst a scandal involving prostitutes and Kristen Davis used to be a Manhattan madam. (as in managing aforementioned prostitutes).  Obviously, they have a few things in common.

It's not the fact,  that Kristen is an ex-madam that is the presenting a problem.  Her current woes are she has been indicted with four counts  of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute a controlled substance. She currently has been released on $100,000 bond.  She has said she plans to plead not guilty.

Gauging the quality of the candidates, this may or may not hurt her chances to get elected.



First Place Award....The most idiotic mistake made by a builder

This mistake has taken an OOPSIE to a staggering new level.  That level would be about 47 floors off the ground.

The Intempo skyscraper in Denidorm, Spain, was built to be a striking symbol of hope and prosperity.  It was a testament to Denidorm showing the world that  the city was  coming out of financial crisis.

biggest piece of exercise equipment ever

The problems with Intempo started early on during the construction phase.  Initially it was funded by  a bank called Caixa Galicia but after the project started the funding was changed to Sareb. Sareb has the distinction of being  called Spain's "bad bank."  The amount of the mortgage was taken down.

Also, there was the problem that the original plan was for the building to be 20 floors high but the developers decided to raise it to 47 stories so they could place 269 units in. More floors, more units equals more profit...right??? Not so fast.

As it happened,  the design was never reworked to include an elevator past the 20th floor.

Yeah...no elevator.  Nor did they allow any room large enough to house the mechanicals that would be needed to install an elevator of the type that could run up and down 47 floors of a building. 

I'm not sure how Caixa Galicia got the reputation for being the "bad bank" but I bet the missing elevator gets the Intempo's builder the "bad builder" nod.  Nothing as inviting as a 47 floor walk-up.

You Are Such an Animal

While looking for our assorted "odd" news this week,  there seemed to be a number of reports concerning "animals".  For you animal lovers out there, you might want to hurry and get over to the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds and watch the Ugliest Dog Contest that starts today.

 

Who Invited You?

When Andrew and Karma Madgwick decided to have their wedding reception at the Paignton Zoo in Devon, UK, they probably didn't anticipate having their wedding crashed  by one of the local residents.  

Is this the buffet line?

 Photographer, Vicki Boulter was taking the wedding pictures of the bride and groom when a Sumatran Tiger wandered into the shot. 

Keep Your Paws to Yourself