tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370534.post2145624334160954370..comments2023-10-31T04:37:20.113-07:00Comments on Bloviating Zeppelin: Rampant Stupidity ContinuesBloviating Zeppelinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01359816456769157176noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370534.post-26417181178352929062007-03-20T08:07:00.000-07:002007-03-20T08:07:00.000-07:00BWH: Whipple. Isn't that the guy in the market wh...BWH: Whipple. Isn't that the guy in the market who squeezes the Charmin?<BR/><BR/>BZBloviating Zeppelinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01359816456769157176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370534.post-74345998405615362152007-03-20T08:06:00.000-07:002007-03-20T08:06:00.000-07:00AJ: I'm with you completely. I would much rather ...AJ: I'm with you completely. I would much rather prefer to drive unless absolutely dragged kicking and screaming a great, great distance (or unless someone else pays!). It's simply so much of a pain in the overall ass.<BR/><BR/>BZBloviating Zeppelinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01359816456769157176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370534.post-67747367323041544492007-03-19T19:55:00.000-07:002007-03-19T19:55:00.000-07:00The funniest thing is the fella's name.The funniest thing is the fella's name.bigwhitehathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05378526701377764387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370534.post-32035336949201077932007-03-18T12:13:00.000-07:002007-03-18T12:13:00.000-07:00You start to do the math when you think about trav...You start to do the math when you think about travel, these days:<BR/><BR/>Time spent in line at the airport or generally waiting: 1.5 hours<BR/><BR/>Time spent in flight: x hours<BR/><BR/>Time spent waiting for luggage, getting it and getting out of the airport: 1 hour (more or less by experience for those who have luggage that isn't all carry-on, which is getting prohibitive since you can't carry all that stuff on any more).<BR/><BR/>So call it 2.5 + x hours.<BR/><BR/>Driving 2.5 hours at an average of 55mph = 137.5 miles, but call it 137. You do not take a plane for any distance less than that.<BR/><BR/>Upper limit is per individual, but if you can get 8 hours of driving in and can stand it, that gets you around 440 miles. On the non-urban part of interstates that actually gets you over 500 miles. When I was younger 10 hours per day of driving was a *good deal* and I could push Buffalo to Denver in two days driving solo.<BR/><BR/>So depending on stamina and number of stops and drivers and such, plus other factors you start looking at a 500 mile trip and say: Lets drive it. Yes it will take nearly twice as long as the entire trip by air... but you know you will get there, you can stop and take a rest, and you are not restricted to a cramped cabin and seats made for munchkins.<BR/><BR/>I will be moving cross-country and loathe the idea of traveling by air. Driving is not an option as I am no longer safe for that and my lady has limited duration at the wheel and we have two cats to take care of. We won't be coming back, so that limits choices.<BR/><BR/>For a Nation with so much freedom, we do have very few choices for long distance travel. Perhaps I can get a private jet rental for it... anything but the airlines.A Jacksonianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07607888697879327120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370534.post-37485257944705874872007-03-18T09:28:00.000-07:002007-03-18T09:28:00.000-07:00Thanks all! And the point about Southwest -- enti...Thanks all! And the point about Southwest -- entirely correct. Southwest is one of the few airlines actually producing a profit these days.<BR/><BR/><BR/>BZBloviating Zeppelinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01359816456769157176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370534.post-40018477696770543442007-03-18T09:24:00.000-07:002007-03-18T09:24:00.000-07:00LOL .... give em hell BZ!Just a couple of things. ...LOL .... give em hell BZ!<BR/><BR/>Just a couple of things. Southwest Airlines is one of the very few airlines worldwide that is actually turning a profit. I flew with Skywest from here to Chicago. It was a 4 hour flight, and the plane had 1 washroom for around 80 people. They had removed the front washroom to make room for a first class section. Even the flight attendants were complaining, and were controlling who was next in line based on the expression on their face... LOL.. it was pure hell the whole way through. On my return flight, I made sure I never drank anything that morning, and didn't drink anything on the flight ... The CEO's of these airlines need to fly some of the routes they institute these ridiculous policies on.ABFreedomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15979515909350208660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370534.post-14264729509353627262007-03-18T08:48:00.000-07:002007-03-18T08:48:00.000-07:00I haven't flown since 1987 and get around the US b...I haven't flown since 1987 and get around the US by car. (sort of like sportscaster John Maddon, I had arrangements with my employer).<BR/>I would definitely use rail passenger service if it was as<BR/>ubiquitous as back in the 40s. Then, as a youngster with my family, we went all over, stopping at any little town. I have never figured the economics<BR/>that make 50 tons of big city compressed garbage more lucrative to haul than humans for the modern<BR/>railroads.BB-Idahohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01168862935045755393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370534.post-33906672497111063572007-03-17T22:58:00.000-07:002007-03-17T22:58:00.000-07:00That was a great rant! I'm not sure what the answ...That was a great rant! I'm not sure what the answer to the problem is (even JetBlue has their problems) but I know the answer isn't more government.Nightcrawlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04646350111182511131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370534.post-1145245935407327932007-03-17T19:13:00.000-07:002007-03-17T19:13:00.000-07:003S10: excellent -- where WILL people go when they ...3S10: excellent -- where WILL people go when they are completely driven from planes? Answer: to their cars -- precisely where Enviro's DON'T want people to go! Imagine that! But, after all, what's left? Camels? Elephants? Well, that would be objectionable to PETA. What's left? Canoes? That would be objectionable to protectors of rapids. Anything else left? <BR/><BR/>No. Then I guess it remains to simply stay the fuck at home.<BR/><BR/>Of course, that's so good for our economy.<BR/><BR/>And being an historian of railroads I know about UP's predilection to kill passenger service -- it wasn't making MONEY then. Not then and not NOW. Which is why Amtrak is BLEEDING cash and has done so for years.<BR/><BR/>American's don't walk, they don't do studio apartments and they don't do trains or light rail. They DRIVE. Hey, anyone remember our history or "Manifest Destiny?"<BR/><BR/>BZBloviating Zeppelinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01359816456769157176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370534.post-74395623227740701842007-03-17T18:45:00.000-07:002007-03-17T18:45:00.000-07:00I left off, ass much income as freight in line ten...I left off, ass much income as freight in line ten. I add this to avoid any more doofus credit than necessary.Three Score and Ten or morehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04323013128311124905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370534.post-60107114000817582052007-03-17T18:44:00.000-07:002007-03-17T18:44:00.000-07:00I don't know how this relates, or even if it does,...I don't know how this relates, or even if it does, but it came to mind. When I was a Union Pacific Railroad Employee in the late fifties I talked to a carman(in charge of upkeep for passenger cars) who was prohibited from repairing a car air conditioner because the railroad managment had come to the conclusion that, since air passenger service was growing quickly, and RR passenger service didn't generate as much income, the railroad was trying to drive the passengers off the trains (this included intentional lateness of trains etc.) I wonder where you go when the planes have driven the passengers off.Three Score and Ten or morehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04323013128311124905noreply@blogger.com