Monthly Archives: March 2014
Rain, it’s Your Turn
Yesterday, at some point during the afternoon in Columbus, Ohio, there were snow flurries blowing around like its hair was on fire (talk about fire and ice). Snow can be fun and an incredible sight, but not this kind of snow and cold. I had the shades drawn in my office, so it was a genuine shock looking out my co-workers window as I was preparing to leave. “What in the world? I thought Winter was ‘technically’ over?”
Driving home, there was no visibility beyond 15 feet in front of my car. Didn’t Spring kick-off on March 20th? Of course, it is Ohio, so…
Still, the calendar is only days away from flipping into April. This means that instead of relentless snow we shall (surely) now endure relentless rain. However, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s certainly better than any Polar Vortex!
Occasional rain reminds me of a couple things, which includes singing and splashing around in puddles like a child, as well as…
(Skip to 1:37 for the rain)
Even though it’s usually better to wish for no rain as opposed to rain, it has the potential to bring with it a fun, magical purpose.
It’s like traveling back in time to our childhood when we just went with things as they came about, which can certainly be a good thing every once in a while in between the daily grind.
If nothing else, at least there’s no frost with rain!
Flying out of a Garage
If you can, pick the window seat.
Florian Seiffert on Flickr (“Düsseldorf in the morning”)
Flying on an airplane is not what is used to be and this is true in a myriad of ways, specifically regarding comfort and cost. Back in 2012, Joe Brancatelli of Seat 2B-fame in The Business Journals publication discovered a fascinating (yet frustrating) trend of modern air travel that’s taken-off and continues to rise.
“In 2001, fuel was 10 percent of the airline industry’s operating costs. Today, energy consumes about 35 percent of their budgets…”
Is there a solution on the horizon?
Who knows?
Hopefully there is…Nonetheless, perhaps the most devastating reality of higher fuel costs is the constraints it puts on adventure-minded individuals all around the globe who yearn to immerse themselves in new cities and cultures for memories that will last a lifetime (regardless of age). It’s a surreal experience to witness others living in a completely different way than ourselves…and in many of these cases, people are smiling, content and just grateful for what they have.
To see it is incredible, enlightening and inspiring.
And the fun to be had on such excursions is unforgettable, wherever the destination.
Connectivity has undeniably taken on its own language within the digitally overwhelming social media universe, but what about aimlessly walking foreign streets one afternoon and meeting a local baker or taking in a show in a beautiful theater or witnessing an impromptu dance competition with kids in the activity center of a worn down neighborhood in the Indonesian hillside?
To paraphrase Thomas Friedman, the world has never been flatter. However, most of the world (financially) seems to be in a static state of uncertainty. Imagine the possibilities if we were to open up more affordable lanes of travel again by discovering a cheaper fuel alternative? That would be a connection (pardon the pun) that could provide more chances to travel more randomly on a whim.
It is mid-boggling to look at round-trip flights just from Columbus, Ohio to NYC and see air fares that start at $300-$400. I mean, I’m not looking to leave tomorrow or fly on a water bed. It can be unbelievable…the fares, that is.
There is a television commercial that highlights how some of the greatest innovations of the 20th century started in American garages. It’s time for the next era of consumer aviation to spread its wings out wide. Maybe someone is sketching out the answer to the fuel cost problem on a tool table right now?
Hey, crazier things have happened.
The cost of (not) flying reaches far beyond the pump and into the unknown.
Hopefully (thanks to someone with crazy ingenuity), we’ll know soon.
Happy Monday!
It’s strange.
Even in 2014, some people in positions of authority still have to spoil the party for the rest of us. Thankfully, someone still has the their feet (or foot) firmly planted on the floor of reality and is willing to let loose to show everybody what’s right these days.
Ladies and gentlemen, it’s Kevin Bacon + the 30th anniversary of some small movie role he had in the ’80s.
Let’s just roll the tape…
Happy Monday!
Looking 4ward to More Laughs
Three seasons in with the elusive fourth season comeback finally within reach by way of an available Netflix account.
Two many laughs to recap in a single blog post.
One wondrous video to watch that captures/recaptures some (admittedly not all) of the best moments from the first 3 seasons of the hilariously acted and written show, Arrested Development.
March 21st (or 3/21) seems like a perfect day to celebrate such a momentous countdown.
Jimmy's Daily Planet 