People really, really like to complain about airplanes, boarding planes, airplane seats, the TSA, the staff on those planes and everything else having to do with air travel.

One regular comment that appears regularly after airport and airlines articles reads something like “well soon everyone will be going through security naked.” Removing your belt and shoes doesn’t not make you naked, not even in Amish country. Plus the new full body scanners already have that covered. (And no, some rogue TSA agent is never going to download your body scan and put it on hotdesmoinesladytravelers.blogspot.com)

A second frequent comment is “Well I stopped flying – it’s easier just to drive everywhere.” This is excellent advice provided you don’t live out west, are retired or have days upon days of free time, and have no interest in ever leaving the country save for Canada.

Another regular term thrown around alludes to boarding an aircraft being akin to a “cattle call.”

CNN featured a piece today titled “Misery of Flying Reaches New Heights,” certain to spur hundreds of personal anecdotes in the comments containing the above examples. Bruce Selcraig recently penned an enjoyable article about Spain’s new AVE train. However this sentence made me roll my eyes and wonder why this hyperbole filled out of place line even needed to be included.

How do you put a price on being able to avoid the dehumanizing security lines at airports, the cattle-like boarding process, the fetal-position seating and the anxiety, for many, of takeoffs and landings?

Oh please. I don’t know when “cattle call” started being used to decribe walking onto to a plane. I think it was a jab at Southwest’s original boarding process and the stress associated with scrambling to find a good seat. But now everyone from top notch writers to part time bloggers can’t stop saying “Boarding an aircraft is such a cattle call.”

This makes me wonder: How was it done BEFORE everyone decided flying sucks? Back in the 70s did people not LINE UP to get on a plane? Was there zero crowding? Did people not occasionally bump into each other as one stopped at their seat to put their bag overhead? Was there four feet of aisle space in those old 747s with pianos and cocktail bars?

United, which I fly the most often, boards in groups. Rarely is there a line of more than 15-20 deep in the jetway. Southwest boards in small batches depending on your priority number. This past Saturday afternoon I boarded a plane in Tampa, and the gate agents opened up the REAR door, in addition to the jetway, allowing rear seated passengers to walk up the stairs if they chose – thus speeding up the process significantly.

All of these were exactly what I’d expect when moving a large group from one area through a door to a smaller area.

I have witnessed two real life cattle calls. One was while driving through Western Nebraska on I-80. I was approaching a small county road overpass and saw 150-200 cows or steer being funneled over the bridge from one side of a farm or ranch to the other. The other was at a friend’s family farm in Nebraska, when I helped move about 10 cows from a barn to the pasture. We simply got behind them and and gently corraled them towards the gate while raising our hands and slowly saying “Whoooo Mooooove oooo.”

The process for both was quite dignified. For the animals at least.

The fact that in post 9/11 life airport gates aren’t cluttered with meeters and greeters makes it even less accurate of a term. Do people complain about being in a cattle call after a football game ends and thousands amble en masse through the the exits? Do people write complaint comments about crowds at Macy’s the weekend before Christmas? Those examples are far more of a human crush than boarding or exiting an aircraft with 150 other people.

I enjoy flying. I like airports, design, and infrastructure. I also like being able to fall asleep on one continent and wake up on another. There are negative things to be said about flying. Fees for one, and the TSA’s demented antics and lack of continuity is always a puzzle. But the term “cattle call”, and its overuse is just dumb, and deserves to be retired.

Photo credit by me – somewhere south of Castle Rock.

In short:  My airline ticket name was incorrectly entered by an agent.  The agent could not correct the name, OR refund the $1,300 price. He only offered to “exchange” it for another package. I requested a far cheaper $65 hotel “package” to get rid of the $1,300 on my card.

Read entire post here.

Joel Frey from Travelocity read my story and commented promising follow up. This week he refunded the $65 “hotel package,” (the substitute I didn’t really want,) and also sent a $100 credit towards future use on Travelocity.

In his email to me he noted my frustration and apologized. I sensed some ambiguity over whether myself or the agent entered my name, so in my thank you email back I included the following:

I do want to clarify: The name was improperly entered by the AGENT, not by me. Because my original package was declined I had called back and accepted a higher price. The package was cancelled and reprocessed over the phone, not by me on the website.

I’ve entered my name on hundreds of web forms and have never once misinterpreted or incorrectly entered my own name in the “first name” and “last name” fields.

I’m very big on personal responsibility, and I read many travel complaints involving customer caused screw-ups and wonder how people can accept tickets and packages without reviewing the clearly printed summary and details that they selected, but in this case the error, (and lack of correction,) was on the agent side.

Joel also wrote that they will use this as additional training with agents so that names are processed correctly, especially given airlines’ strict policies. Hopefully phone agents can be more empowered to assist others who find themselves in the same situation.

My thanks for the quick response and outreach. I have a weekend in New York City coming up, so perhaps I’ll use the credit to make a dent in a hotel price – and hopefully have an better Travelocity story upon return.

Related: Travelocity Last Minute Packages

Summary:  Travelocity incorrectly booked my name on an airline ticket.  They would not correct the error OR refund the money.  I should have known better, but found a interesting loophole.

When I book travel I always start with a broad search on Kayak.com, which searches multiple airlines. After selecting Kayak then gives you a list of providers, for example Orbtiz, Priceline or the airline directly.  I always, always recommend booking directly through the airline. Anytime you involve a third party, especially a large inaccessible company acting as a “travel agent,” it only creates a wall between you and your purchase. There’s ZERO advantage to buying through “CheapoAir” or similar if you can find the fare on the airline’s website. If you’re booking an eight person trekking tour to Asia a knowledgeable travel agent would be prudent, but flying yourself from A to B rarely requires professional assistance.

Earlier this year I found flights to Mexico on Orbitz, (via Kayak,) which bundled a United flight with Aeromexico for a rate cheaper than a single airline. All went smooth, and I thought I might find something similar  with a hotel. I was wanting to travel somewhere over Christmas and had been tinkering with Travelocity’s “Last Minute Packages” for a few weeks. I’d find one I liked, for example two people to Montreal with flight/hotel for $700, and after selecting it then the following page informs me, “Sorry, our packages sell so fast yours isn’t available – but here’s the same thing for $1,000.” Screw that I thought. Try it for yourself on their site:

I should have heeded that warning, but I kept searching packages until I found Puerto Vallarta for three nights, flights and hotel for $995 over Christmas weekend. That was a very good price for two people over Christmas just eight days out. Having been to Puerto Vallarta before I knew the hotel offered in the old town was decent. I was happily surprised when I arrived at the booking page with no increase in price. (As if that’s something for Travelocity to be proud of.) I entered my details and credit card information.

An hour later my confirmation email had not arrived, so I called the special “Last Minute Package” number: 800-255-1068. I was connected to an international call center and a nice gentleman explained to me that the airline could not provide the fare I had just purchased. I begrudgingly listened to his recalculation, which brought the price to $1,300.  I should have simply declined, but I was excited about going, sick of searching online, and $1,300 while not a great deal anymore was still acceptable to me. (Though the practice of arriving at that price was deplorable and I should immediately ceased all contact with Travelocity.)

This time I received my confirmation email providing the flight info and hotel confirmations. I hopped on the US Airways site to double check, and found my first name was listed as “JamesVan,” and “Dellen” as the last. This was due to the agent re-processing the package himself via phone, rather than me via the web. Wanting to mitigate any problems, especially traveling internationally, I called US Airways the next day to fix it. They said Travelocity must to change the name.   I called Travelocity, who said there was no way to change a name without booking a new package, (for a higher price.) I asked for a supervisor, and spoke to Valentino who confirmed the only thing they could do was “Cancel and Refund.”

The next day I searched flights on Kayak and a few airline websites and realized now, (a day later,) I could purchase flights for now under $1,000.  A quick call found my favorite condo in Puerto Vallarta was available, which I preferred over Travelocity’s hotel. My outbound flight was non-stop, so I booked flights and the condo on my own.

I called back Travelocity requesting Valentino in order to cancel. Valentino told me that “Cancel and Refund” did not apply, but my money could only be applied to a FUTURE package. I told him “You just said I could CANCEL, because I don’t care to fly with an incorrect name and nobody will fix it.” “Yes” he replied, “Cancel and apply to a new package.”

I became irritated, but Valentino stuck to his script and repeated the same points. Stalling a bit while considering my options I started Googling Travelocity and found head of customer relations Christine Bullock.  I could take my problem to P.R., who might eventually issue a refund if badgered with my emails, calls and a blog story like this. Or I could dispute it with my credit card. Being a busy time of year though I wanted NO extra work and simply wanted to be done with it as quickly as possible. And I wanted the $1,300 hold off my card.

I then had light bulb moment and asked Valentino, “If I book a cheaper package is the difference refunded?” He confirmed is was, so I said, “I’d like a package to Colorado Springs.” He asked if I’d need flights, car and hotel, to which I replied, “Hmm, just hotel I think.” He found a Days Inn for $75 and offered to change it.

I laughed out loud. I couldn’t tell if bureaucratic Valentino, simply following the directives of his job, realized how completely asinine that concept was. Travelocity will not REFUND a package of $1,300 but they can EXCHANGE a package for a fraction of the price. If I bought a hotel for $75, which I won’t even use, I could just call it a “stupidity fee” on my part and eat the loss.

I then remembered I have an early morning flight out of Chicago this January, which means leaving my family’s house in Michigan in the middle of the night, or staying at a friend’s place or motel in Chicago the night before. I asked Valentino to check hotel “packages” to Chicago O’Hare vicinity, and he found one all in for $65.  

$1,300 to $65, and it’s something I can use.  Boggling.

While still annoyed, this was an easy solution to my “refund.” I’m still shaking my head at the logic of that loophole. It was a solution I happened to think of on the spot, but what about other people who have butchered packages and are offered no assistance?

I probably could have flown US Airways with my name jumbled up on the ticket, but I didn’t want to. Travelocity’s response to THEIR mistake was to “Too bad, you can only cancel with no refund.” When a traveler says “I do NOT want to fly under an incorrect name” a complete cancellation and refund should be offered if unable to correct. Period. Someone less astute might not think to change their package to my “$65 O’Hare Special” and would be stuck with $1,300 held in the Travelocity bank.

I would love to hear a response from Travelocity. I don’t even care why it’s acceptable to “sell” a package then make the customer call in to find the price is higher. I’m sure there are pages of legal for that. (And in my case I even accepted the higher package price.)  I’d like to know why no assistance is given after information is entered INCORRECTLY by Travelocity. All I wanted was my name corrected. Had that been done promptly I would still be traveling under my original Travelocity package.

I don’t know whether to congratulate myself for thinking of that idea or to kick myself for letting it get to that point.  I’m tempted to just dispute the $65 charge and forget the hotel too.  After reading Travelocity’s guarantee above it’s clear that the terms of agreement were not met:

“Everything about your booking will be right, or we’ll work to make it right.”

Using this article as documentation I’m certain my credit card company would agree. 

A lesson to everyone including myself in this case: If you don’t like the way a company does business, DO NOT give them your business. Hopefully this post will inform and educate others.   In the end I had a great Christmas weekend in Puerto Vallarta, put together on my own.   I’m curious how others would have handled Travelocity’s response.

A Travelocity reponse, (including a $65 refund for the Chicago hotel I don’t want,) would be welcome.

Now that people are told they have to be seated for the final hour, (of a two or three hour flight,) there’s suddenly no problem with 20 people lining up like kindergartners to pee and freshen up. I say kindergartners because on this flight, (inbound from Mexico,) the FAs actually encouraged us to “make things go quickly,” – as there was still a line down to the exit rows approaching the one hour cutoff. Lucky me in the back row…

The fact that four days ago it was BAD for everybody to be up milling about the cabin, but NOW it’s ok provided it ceases 60 minutes prior to touchdown – it just shows how REACTIVE the entire process is… And the people that stopped the potential attack, the PASSENGERS, are the ones being treated like children.

Similar to other flights we were also told not to retrieve items from the seat back or engage in any entertainment other than books, and that our hands may not be covered with clothes or a blanket.

Plot may have been foiled, but the knee jerk reactions creating nonsense and inconvenience are astounding.

by James Van Dellen . Caleb Cross . Denver

We don’t have meetings at Perkin’s or anything, however most of us have blogs where we document cases of wastefulness. We can respond to Yellow Pages’ marketers and have engaging discussions about why SO MANY unused print directories are created and distributed. (Answer: Circulation and ad sales.) It also creates a venue where phone book employees can drop in and pretend to be businesses which still thrive upon the phone book’s circulation - as seen here in the fifth comment of The Deet’s blog.

I took these photos while biking around in industrial neighborhood of Denver last weekend. Note these are THREE different books. Which means at one point a book was lying there, (or two books,) and a delivery person threw another one at the building. I admit it was probably 4am when the free lance employees were driving around in their trucks chucking out books left and right. However this building is obviously unattended with the windows darkened, doors boarded up, and weeds growing out of the concrete. I don’t think the ghosts of the former employees have any need for one phone book much less three.

Nobody is against phone books and their publishers, however we are for strict opt out lists – or at least opt out lists that are at least ATTEMPTED to be followed rather than completely ignored. Also we are for ceasing delivery at vacant houses and buildings, and stopping the practice of delivering pallets upon pallets of yellow pages to apartment buildings and office complexes.

My posts on Yellow Pages/Phone book waste.
Minneapolis blogger Ed Kohler’s articles and analysis of YP companies and waste.

Massachusett’s representative Ed Markey is proposing a bill to establish the “International Travelers Bill of Rights Act,” which would require travel companies to provide State Department warnings and related info on their websites. I assume this would include airline websites, in addition to big names like Orbitz and Expedia.

I am against it:

1. The state department already provides travel warnings, which are easily accessible to anyone. Those that book travel of any kind are adults, and thus capable of doing the necessary research on their destination. The government doesn’t need to hold their hand, or meddle into how companies handle a simple task like booking a hotel or flight beyond our borders.

2. Travel sites are already cluttered enough; littered with agreements to accept, ancillary promotions, and page after page of offers to accept or decline. This is in addition to the required process of making your reservation. I don’t want more pages to muddle through, simply to book a ticket from A to B.

3. This bill would make the U.S. appear even more of a nanny state paralyzed with fear. We’re supposed to be getting over that.

Reading the below bullet points it would seem HR 3099′s list of requirements are geared towards hotels and resorts, but that’s not specified.  Below are some general points, but they’re ambiguous and lack any sort of context.  I’m sure Costa Rica has a nurse or defibrillator SOMEWHERE in the country, but specifics aren’t found:

-State Department travel warnings and travel alerts
-Whether the destination employs a physician or a nurse
-Whether the destination has an automated external defibrillator and employs personnel trained in its use
-Whether the destination employs personnel trained in CPR
-Whether the destination employs a lifeguard, if there are swimming areas

Again, what is this referring too? Is Priceline required to know if EVERY hotel they partner with outside of the U.S. meets these factors?

If Markey is concerned about our U.S. citizens lacking the ability to research their destination in advance, then why not also include domestic information as well? Perhaps those traveling to Chicago from Boise should know about the recent uptick in crime. Why is it necessary to provide pages of “warnings” for Uruguay, but not Gary, Indiana?

Lastly, why does this only apply to the internet? Why shouldn’t a local company like “Dottie’s Travel Bee” be obligated to give the same info? Answer: It’s unenforceable, so why bother.

It’s unneeded, intrusive, and insulting to basic intelligence.

If Ed Markey or his crew reads this I would love further details. Perhaps he himself had a bad travel experience which is what brought this on. Fortunately I suspect we won’t be hearing much more of it.

From the Victora TX Advocate:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Massachusetts Rep. Ed Markey has announced legislation intended to force Web sites that sell international travel to Americans to offer information about the health and safety conditions at their destinations.

Markey says the International Travelers Bill of Rights Act would keep Americans informed before they book a trip online.

The Democrat is a senior member of the House energy and commerce committee, which has jurisdiction over consumer protection. The required information would include State Department travel warnings and alerts, whether the destination employs a physician or a nurse and whether it has an automated external defibrillator and employs a person trained to use it.

Photo: Grace McCarthy/Webshots.

Related: Extreme Eating in the Nanny State
NYC to Ban iPods.

by James Van Dellen . Denver

Read for yourself Douglas Brown’s compelling local piece on sexy 40somethings and the younger generation they chase:  “Cougers on the Prowl”

A comment by “Mike 8″ pretty much sums up my thoughts…

Front page news? Are you kidding me? No wonder the Post’s circulation is dropping like a stone. As to the “human interest story” that somehow pushed a Supreme Court nomination and the demise of the US auto industry off the front page, well, just another blow for feminism, eh? Rah, rah, raw. Sheesh. Mike

I also noticed that the “news ticker” is something about lottery doings in Aurora.

I received this email today from manager Paul Christ.  I’m posting his correspondence below because I think it’s important to hear an alternative to the mainstream barrage of pig flu “news.”    The non-stop coverage may have fallen since last week, but unfortunately the economic damage has been crushing.   There are thousands of people like Paul who own businesses or rely on tourism dollars, a great percentage of it from Americans.

Whether or not you agree with the technical aspects of his note I think it’s very well worded and worth reading.  He also references this biting editorial from Alternet, which provides some less heard opinions too.

In light of the current international fixation on the spread of the Type A virus, H1N1, I have decided that it is time to communicate a few facts to friends of Hotel Mercurio. We have, like all hotels and businesses in Puerto Vallarta, been hit with a rash of cancellations in the past week. New reservations are almost non-existent. The situation is dire. We are struggling to avoid layoffs. If you’ve stayed with us, you know that our employees are a family, and we are responsible for their well being. And while we understand the abundance of caution, it is also important to us that you know the real situation regarding the flu in Puerto Vallarta.

Just as the U.S. media has done with regard to border area violence, they have painted Mexico with one broad brush. It seems incredible to those of us in Mexico that the U.S. seems so oblivious to the immense size and diversity of Mexico. All the major TV media outlets depict Mexico as a uniformly dangerous, violent place, source of illegal and undesirable immigrants, and which is now “plagued by contagious disease.”   The fact is, most of Mexico, including Puerto Vallarta, is peaceful, safe, and healthy. The violence is over 1,000 mile away. Puerto Vallarta has a lower crime rate than MANY U.S. cities…perhaps even yours! The nearest case of H1N1 virus is some 600 miles away.

To CNN and other 24/7 news outlets, we say this: Please check your map. Mexico is somewhat larger than Rhode Island, and Mexicans resent being depicted generally as gangsters, victims, or dying of illness.  U.S. media treatment of Mexico is neither accurate nor fair.
So, here are some facts.

There have been no confirmed or even suspected cases of H1N1 flu in Puerto Vallarta. In fact, there have been no cases in the state of Jalisco (which includes Guadalajara, the second largest city in Mexico), where Vallarta is located. If you live in a U.S. state or city where H1N1 has been confirmed, you are more at risk of contracting the virus at your local grocery store than you are in Puerto Vallarta. But even going to your grocery store, your major risk would be an auto accident on the way… not catching a case of the Swine Flu.

The Secretary of Health for Mexico has announced that the number of cases in Mexico generally, is beginning to decline. This is in keeping with epidemiological models that predict the rise and decline of contagions based on a number of factors such as the season, general health of a population, population density, etc. Thus, it’s no surprise that this is turning out to be much less of an “event” than the U.S. media has made it out to be during the past week.

There is, to date, no scientific evidence that the behavior of this particular strain of flu is any different from normal, seasonal flu virus. It seems no more contagious, and does not seem to have a higher mortality rate than normal, seasonal flu (which may kill over 30,000 people per year, but this doesn’t make the news!).

All the aforementioned being said, the response of the Mexican government has been both rapid, and admirable. Not because there was any certainty that this could become a vast and deadly pandemic, but out of an abundance of caution. The most recent indications are that, in Mexico, the worst is over, and it wasn’t nearly the big deal that the media made it out to be. Bars and clubs that were ordered closed in Puerto Vallarta are re-opening today. Schools will be opening this week. It is time to get back to normal (because, in fact, nothing abnormal has occurred).

Most of the public does not understand the scientific community’s use of the term “pandemic.” It does not refer to the deadliness of an outbreak of illness. It means merely that the outbreak is spread across multiple countries, and is spread from human to human, thus has the potential for many cases to develop. The fact is, we have a number of pandemics of flu every flu season, but it doesn’t become the #1 item on CNN round the clock for weeks on end.

The airlines are not refunding, but are allowing re-scheduling. We feel no obligation to offer more than the airlines are offering. This is particularly the case given the utterly unfounded fears that have become rampant this past week. This situation is not YOUR fault, but it isn’t OUR fault, either. If anyone might be blamed, it seems the MEDIA is responsible here.

So, if you have vacation plans for Puerto Vallarta, we simply ask you to look beyond the hype, and come to enjoy our beaches, our friendly people, our vibrant nightlife, our endless variety of gastronomic delights, and the natural beauty of our area.

We’re here to serve you, and look forward to your visit!
Paul Crist and the entire team at Hotel Mercurio

On December 20th this Houston bound 737 aborted takeoff from Denver and careened into a field.  Fortunately all passengers escaped into the frigid night before the battered plane caught fire.

I haven’t read any follow up pieces hinting at a cause. The only stories a news search provides are more lawsuit filings. This relatively minor aviation accident has also been overshadowed by Captain Sully and crew’s dramatic Hudson River landing of USAir 1549, and then the recent tragedy of Colgan/Continental 3407 in Buffalo.

My main beef with this suit was the law firm naming of the pilots PERSONALLY, as well as a complete lack of understanding in describing wind shear.  That and the skeezy appearance of the firm and website of the lawyer gave the entire package a less than savory feel.

Aaron was kind enough to comment on my article and offer his expertise on WHY it’s necessary to name the causes I find absurd and ridiculous.  In addition he notes the role the NTSB plays in the courtroom and also stresses the contract Continental makes with their passengers.

His comment is detailed and insightful and an excellent compliment and counter to the original post.  I wanted to summarize and repost as it’s a great comment and I appreciate his time in writing it.

Such theories make me wonder about workplace liability.  For example what if I worked at McDonald’s and I gave the Heimlich to a fellow diner, but proceeded to fracture their rib in the process?  What if that person came after me personally?  (Rather than insurance laden McDonald’s.)   I realize a rational judge would throw the case out, but having to face that process while worry of my assets and home being garnished would stress me out greatly.  (Perhaps enough to countersue.)

I see the same circumstances with these pilots.  They sensed a bad situation and stopped it, albeit creating a heart stopping scare the passengers won’t soon forget.  However almost all past serious emergencies past takeoff point have resulted in death.  They definitely should answer to an investigative panel, but I don’t feel they should be immediately subjected to lawsuit happy passengers – at least not until proven they carry responsibility beyond the inherent risks of random life.

Check out my original post and comments.  I’ve reposted his comment below:

Hey James,

I like your blog.

There are several things that need to be addressed.

First with regard to suing the pilots personally.
In tort law there is a doctrine known as respondeat superior. It basically means that if one is injured by an employee acting within the scope of his employment compensation may be sought against both.

Second, the timeliness of the lawsuit being filed (in that it is being filed before ‘fault’ is determined). Any good lawyer files early and often, if the statute of limitations elapses before the suit is file, no claim. If you don’t include possible causes of action, etc in your initial few pleadings, they cannot be brought up in court. You throw every possible scenario in your initial and ammended complaints and then through the discovery process elements of fact become available. This, combined with the NTSB report is how it is determined if the pilots were drinking appletinis or texting or overly tired or confronted with a mechanical problem or…or…

While the NTSB report is definitely evidence as to who is at ‘fault,’ it is ultimately up for a fact-finder (judge or jury) to decide if it was pilot error (pilot/continental) or something outside the realm of human control. The NTSB report is for the NTSB, to provide information to remedy chronic problems and ensure the air system is safe, it is not to determine fault in tort cases.

Which brings me to the next point. Common carrier (like airlines) are generally strictly liable to passengers when there is an accident. Carriers know this, they carry insurance for that purpose, it is called special-purpose wealth. Continental is no more paying for the destroyed plane as they are for the injuries suffered by any of the passengers, Lloyd’s or one of those guys is.

Yes, this attorney obviously makes his money by capitalizing off of ambulance chasing. BUT, these girls were injured and it is a shame they are going to such a scumbag, but they do deserve to be made whole.

When one purchases an airline ticket they are not consenting to being in an air crash, they are contracting a carrier to take them from point A to point B. This is exactly what Continental agreed to do as well. Instead, they were thrown into a field and set on fire, Continental and its employees violated their contract for WHATEVER reason, be it crantinis, texting, windshear, a blown tire or a wayward prairie dog (or maybe one of those creepy rabbits that hang out in the economy lots).

I appreciate the expertise you provided on the aviation side of things, this is just my take on the legal side of things.

Cheers!

Aaron

PS, sorry that last guy was such an ass.

Caleb Cross, Denver, Colorado

So in addition to documenting the absurd quantity of waste and trash the Yellow Pages creates, I took my own little unscientific sampling the morning after the big dump.  

I live in a nine unit townhome complex.  My neighbors are mostly 30s and 40s professionals like myself, which a few older folks retired or approaching retirement, plus a few guys in their 20s renting a unit.  One of whom seems to think my flower pot is an ashtray.

Before going to work I did some scouting:

Three phone book packages were in the recycle bin, including mine thrown in just after I took this photo. 

One bag was in the dumper. 

Three were still on the doorsteps.  (One unit is vacant, so that counts as trash.)

Two must have been brought inside, because I didn’t see them out back or on the steps.

So assuming the two remaining bundles will be picked up and brought inside (like an unwanted baby at a fire station,) that still is only FOUR out of NINE homes will bring the phone book inside.  A meager 40 percent!  And I’m erring that the two remaining bundles on the doorsteps will even be brought inside. 

Over in Albany they’re consideration legislation to ban the distribution of phone books on public property, or leaving bundles of them in building lobbies and such.

Hung up on how many phone books you receive?

A hearing will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in Albany City Hall on a proposed law regulating phone-book distribution. The law proposed by Common Council member Joseph Igoe would require the books to have a toll-free number on the cover for opting out, which would mean no book delivered to your address for a year. It also would bar dropping the books on public property, in rights of way or at vacant buildings.

With all the economic turmoil and what not what business is it of a local government and stomp on private business?  Number one phone book crusader Ed Kohler and his readers agree explain multiple times that when a business fails to be a responsible member of a community, or more to the point makes its business by littering and heaving trash all over a city, that leaves little choice but for a local government to step in.

Good for Albany.  Hopefully more towns will follow suit!  When it comes time for a Denver city council meeting I’ll have every one of my blog posts, (with photos,) in hand.

On December 20th a Continental 737 encountered some sort of wind or mechanical phenomenon that is yet to be fully determined by investigations.

Approaching rotation speed the aircraft experienced a sharp swerve, uncorrectable by rudder, and the pilots opted to abort the takeoff before VR – the speed at which takeoff is the only option.  The plane then went careening off the runway and into an open field.  Everyone managed to escape the plane and all survived.  (I’ll remember that next time complaining about DIA’s location far off on the empty prairie.  Open fields can serve a good purpose.)

The passengers fled the plane into the cold night, with the pilots’ help everyone exited before one side of the plane caught fire.  It was the best possible outcome in this situation. I attribute it to the pilots’ decision, the lack of structures in the path, and luck.

Less than a month later, and many months out from determining the actual cause of the crash, Houston attorney Jason Gibson took on newfound lawsuit buddies Melissa Craft and Emily Pellegrini in order to sue Continental.  They are charging the Continental pilots PERSONALLY with recklessness, and claim Continental has the knowledge but is hiding the true reasons for the crash.

Now I wasn’t in the cockpit, so who knows – maybe the pilots were texting their girlfriends and drinking Crantinis during the takeoff roll.  However I highly doubt it. There is absolutely no current evidence of pilot error or misconduct.

Here are some quotes from the stories which I found conflicting, interesting, and hilarious:

Melissa Craft and Emily Pellegrini allege in their suit that the pilot “negligently aborted” the flight shortly after it took off on Dec. 20. The eight-page complaint names Continental and pilots David Butler and Chad Levang as co-defendants. The suit does not specify how the aborted takeoff was negligent.

So it was negligent, but they can’t say how.  Should the pilots have taken off with a potential control surface problem? (FYI that’s a big one.)

Pellegrini was stuck when she couldn’t open her seatbelt as the plane caught fire. She suffered a back injury and emotional trauma in the crash.

No shit.  She was in a plane crash. It was scary.  But why not save the lawsuits until a cause is determined?

Without any experience in aeronautics, Pellegrini insists they should have taken off.   What makes that part of it interesting is Emily Pellegrini’s quote to the Denver Post a day after the crash. (Here from Fox News:)

Passenger Emily Pellegrini told The Denver Post that as the plane headed down the runway, “It was bumpy, then it was bumpier, then it wasn’t bumpy.”

It was bumpier, then it wasn’t bumpy.   This attests to her aviation knowledge, yet she wanted the pilots to continue takeoff.  Yikes.

Meanwhile their attorney Jason Gibson offers this insight:

“Continental knows what happened already,” he said. “It’s clear it was not wind shear. No other planes or pilots had any issues that day in the same position. It was pilot error, mechanical issues, or a combination of both, and either way Continental is responsible.”

It doesn’t sound like Jason knows what wind shear is if he’s comparing 1404′s experience to others on THAT DAY.  Wind shear is NOT CONSTANT.  Hence it can have a rapid and immediate effect on one aircraft, and be gone 20 seconds later.  A FULL DAY is a light year in the timeframe of wind shear. 

In checking out the Gibson Law Firm website it seems Jason Gibson is also an expert on cases of falling merchandise, dietary supplements, rare coins, and radon gas emitted by granite countertops.  So why not add wind shear to the roster of expertise?

I find it reprehensible to be filing suit AGAINST THE PILOTS that should be praised for saving their lives with their quick decision making. A suit against them involves their family, homes, and personal assets, when again – they haven’t been found at fault.

Back to their claim of “Continental hiding the truth. ”  Continental doesn’t handle the investigation, the NTSB does.  I’m sure the NTSB can go into whatever Continental file cabinets it wants to, plus they have both black boxes, aerial photos, and the entire airplane.   I don’t see this as being some sort of Erin Brockovich conspiracy in which the truth is being buried in the desert.  Or under a Houston Megachurch.   Why not find out first if it was weather, pilot error, or aircraft maintenance that caused the incident?  

How can you have a basis for a lawsuit without a complete and comprehensive knowledge of the actual event?  Its despicable.   If that’s how the legal system works I fear for the first graders at Houston’s JFK elementary school.

These girls would be well served to research cases in which planes were PAST their takeoff speed with a major problem and didn’t have the option of sledding across an open field.   Air France flight 4590 and Air Florida flight 90 come to mind.   Staying on the ground probably saved their lives, and they should be grateful. 

If compensation is sought it should be taken up with Continental for specific reasons and not generalities.  And unless proved to be in error the pilots should be left out of any lawsuits, and hopefully it will be dismissed.

References:

Fox News 12/21
Denver Post 1/12
Rocky Mountain News 1/13
Houston Chronicle 1/12
Photo from Fox News.

Caleb Cross, Denver, Colorado

The reviews from critics and are mixed.  Some label it just another boorish reality show, and others say the show could be a tool for training criminals.

Everybody has engaged in the guilty pleasure of watching mind numbing reality shows at one time or another.   I have too. The show “Rehab: Party at the Hard Rock Hotel” is a compelling look into Las Vegas’ biggest pool party, and the many breasts involved. However some shows, like COPS, feature authority figures, (or quasi authority figures like Dog the Bounty Hunter.)  When I see these the the issue of privacy rights always comes to mind.

Lawsuits have arisen from past situations in which camera crews have barged in WITH police or EMTs filming inside someone’s residence, or making similar invasions into their private life before obtaining consent.   If I was having a seizure and a bunch of cameras and sound guys busted into my house with the paramedics I’d be ticked off too.  Even if I declined to participate in the show they still have no right to be there.

If I understand the process correctly I assume that after whatever melee transpires the producers then request consent from the person to be used on the show. If they do NOT consent than the compensation is then increased, or their face ends up being blurred out.  If someone works in television please correct me.

So –  How exactly is this situation being handled on “Homeland Security USA?”  After taping a person’s interaction with customs and immigration, are they then paid by ABC for the use of their image?  Take this for show highlight:

There aren’t any terrorist plots uncovered, though viewers do get to watch agents thwart drug smugglers. And then there’s the lighter side of the job. In one scene, for instance, an immigration officer deports a busty belly dancer from Switzerland.

Even though compensation is never discussed on the show or even behind the scenes there HAS to be money involved.  Unless the participant just wants celebrity status. Which means even if you’re turned away at the border you still get some cash by an American company.  In this case the “busty belly dancer,” now has a role on a U.S. TV show.

Also, if a foreigner shows up at the border and DOESN’T make it into the U.S. – doesn’t a U.S. company PAYING them for an “acting” role create some sort of work permit conflict?

I don’t have a strong opinion on the security issue, but I can’t help but feeling this just makes the U.S. look ridiculous.  Explain to me why you can’t take a PHOTO inside U.S. customs queues, but the whole process can be exported to television?

Surprise!  It’s kind of like Cash Cab, only run by the government and a huge TV network.

Welcome to America.

Also featured in this article is a story by Minneapolis TV station KARE – about, get this – possible state legislation to reduce deliveries by the masses of publishing companies, and treat unwanted deliveries as they should treated: As trash.

If I throw something on your lawn, it is called littering. If the phone company does it, it’s called marketing.

Related posts:

The Life of a Phone Book
I Am a Termite
Phone Books, Blogs, and New Media
Dear Phone Book Publisher
More on Phone Books
Phone Book Follow Up
More Phone Book Pontification

I’m sure my regular readers are sick of weekly posts bitching about phone books, so here’s something more exciting: Another installment of Future Gringo TV. Many of my favorite bloggers are now making videos: Vinny at Insignificant Thoughts produces short commentaries voicing his opinions on culture and politics. The beautiful diabetes blogger Kerri at SixUntilMe.com is video blogging from her car. (Don’t worry she’s not living in it.) The only videos I’ve posted are of me sniffling in the chilly weather while biking around Amsterdam.

So here’s my latest short film: La Vida de Las Páginas Amarillas. (It sounds more important if its foreign.)

Although the quality is far less superior than the above bloggers, and the onset of darkness at 4pm virtually blacks out the climax, (the heaving into the recycle bin,) it still carries a strong message: Prompting advertisers to realize that many of these phone books are simply unwanted, considered unnecessary by a large demographic, and go unused.

I may recut this tomorrow afternoon, but only after hiring a professional light crew and sound person. In the meantime visit these related posts for info on opting out and reducing this wastefulness.

I Am a Termite
Phone Books, Blogs, and New Media
Dear Phone Book Publisher
More on Phone Books
Phone Book Follow Up
More Phone Book Pontification

This nonsense courtesy of YellowBook, which somehow is different than Dex, Verizon, and the many other companies that insist on leaving these worthless paperweights at your door.

I’m baffled at how this is profitable. The demographic of this neighborhood is twenties to early forties tops. I predict most of these will go straight to the recycle bin or garbage. We’ll see what day this dump truck makes it to my doorstep…

In the meantime visit Yellow Pages Goes Green to learn how you can opt out.

Related phone book articles:

I Am a Termite
Phone Books, Blogs, and New Media
Dear Phone Book Publisher
More on Phone Books
Phone Book Follow Up
More Phone Book Pontification