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Travel notes

9 comments on Travel notes

Travel notes

: So I’m in Aspen to attend an Aspen Institute session on journalism; more on that later. A few travel notes:

: Hadn’t seen this before: Whenever the cockpit door was opened on my United flight, two stewardesses went up front; they wheeled the meal cart in front of the aisle to block it; one stewardess opened the door; the other rode shotgun on the cart. She just stared down the aisle. All that stood between us and doom should some insane Islamofascists decide to attack is a stewardess and a lunch cart. Weird.

: Also weird: As the guy in the next seat finished reading each of many newspapers and magazines, he tore them up. Looked normal otherwise. Had to be some method to the madness. Maybe he runs newsstands and hates people sharing publications.

: Got on the puddle-jumper to Aspen and we were introduced to our pilot, Bob. Hmmm. Pilot Bob. Doesn’t instill confidence.

9 responses to “Travel notes”

  1. Yehudit Avatar
    Yehudit

    “All that stood between us and doom should some insane Islamofascists decide to attack is a stewardess and a lunch cart.”
    Well, no. That would certainly slow down any terrorist who tried to charge the cockpit. It would give air marshalls and pilots enough time to draw their guns. I feel for the stewardess though.

  2. Joi Ito Avatar
    Joi Ito

    I saw the pilot door blockaroo on my flight too. I just left Aspen and am in Denver now. Shitty weather. When did you get to Aspen! We should have hung out.
    The guy probably worked for the RIAA or something. Probably didn’t want someone steal any of his articles.

  3. Andy Avatar
    Andy

    You forget that pilots are armed now. You probably had some cowboy pilot looking for an excuse to blow someone away.
    RE; Agitated reader
    I have seen people destroy their magazines, newspapers and books when they finish reading them. I have met people who crush their cars rather than sell them as used. They are no fun to do business with. They have a heightened sense of territory and property. They are quick to hire lawyers and seldom compromise. But that’s why we travel for business. We need to meet people and viscerally confirm or reject what we learned through email-fax-courier negotiations. I never sign until I have met the person on their turf. I also have learned to never override that “gut instinct”.
    Spend enough time traveling and you see/meet many strange humans. You also see/meet many who are the most wonderful people. On average, the good guys out number the weird/bad guys by a large percentage

  4. Andy Avatar
    Andy

    You forget that pilots are armed now. You probably had some cowboy pilot looking for an excuse to blow someone away.
    RE; Agitated reader
    I have seen people destroy their magazines, newspapers and books when they finish reading them. I have met people who crush their cars rather than sell them as used. They are no fun to do business with. They have a heightened sense of territory and property. They are quick to hire lawyers and seldom compromise. But that’s why we travel for business. We need to meet people and viscerally confirm or reject what we learned through email-fax-courier negotiations. I never sign until I have met the person on their turf. I also have learned to never override that “gut instinct”.
    Spend enough time traveling and you see/meet many strange humans. You also see/meet many who are the most wonderful people. On average, the good guys out number the weird/bad guys by a large percentage

  5. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Small points:
    1. They’re not called “stewardess,” they’re called “flight attendents.”
    2. I flew from Manila to Bangkok on Lufthansa in the first class upper-deck. The cokpit door was not closed for one minute during the entire two-hour plus flight. By the way, it never once occurred to me that I was in danger. You people must see teerorists around every corner.

  6. Brad Fringer Avatar
    Brad Fringer

    I fly United frequently, and notice the “food cart positioning” that you speak of only on United flights. Perhaps they have their own protocol for what to do when pilots need to stretch or do other things…

  7. Joi Ito Avatar
    Joi Ito

    I wonder if any of the terrorists for 9/11 were flying first class? I wonder if they trust first class customers more. If they did, I’m sure the terrorists would start flying first class…

  8. Joe Baby Avatar
    Joe Baby

    A conference in Aspen…sheesh.
    Local school took kids on a “community service” trip last spring break…apparently the only place they could find to do cs work was in Maui, HI.
    Why doesn’t anyone ever conference in Duluth, Rochester, or Ardmore?

  9. Bob Pence Avatar
    Bob Pence

    I’ve occasionally left finished books and magazines behind in airports for others (the magazines are sent to my private mailbox rather than home address). Not sure they last the next sweep of a cleaning crew, so I might just be littering.
    But The Atlantic weighs about three pounds and I lug it to work, to class, and to diners and fast food joints over the course of several days. So I’ve taken to reading from the outside in and tearing off the already-read pages to reduce the weight, ease folding, and make it easier to find my place. The habit has expanded to the trade publicastions and news and business weeklies I receive. Next time I fly, I’ll make sure not to do it to The Week, and maybe someone else will be able to read my copy.