I stay in a lot of different hotels. At least half the time there is some confusion on check-in.
Have they finally figured out how to do it?
From David Pogue of the NY Times:
The other day, I checked into a hotel for a TV shoot (the Omni in San Diego). I was astonished when the check-in desk attendant said: “Good evening, Mr. Pogue. Here’s your key. Have a great stay.”
Do you see what happened there!? There was no tappy-tapping on the keyboard for five minutes. No “May I have your credit card for incidentals?” No speech about the spa hours. No disappearing into the back room for a while. No interrogation of any kind. They just had my key already waiting, and just handed it over. …
Why isn’t that just the way hotel check-ins work everywhere?
… In a mature nation, President Obama could go on TV and say, “Listen, we’re doing the best we can, but some terrorists are bound to get through.” But this is apparently a country that must be spoken to in childish ways. The original line out of the White House was that the system worked. Don’t worry, little Johnny.
When that didn’t work the official line went to the other extreme. “I consider that totally unacceptable,” Obama said. I’m really mad, Johnny. But don’t worry, I’ll make it all better.
Meanwhile, the Transportation Security Administration has to be seen doing something, so it added another layer to its stage play, “Security Theater” — more baggage regulations, more in-flight restrictions.
At some point, it’s worth pointing out that it wasn’t the centralized system that stopped terrorism in this instance. As with the shoe bomber, as with the plane that went down in Shanksville, Pa., it was decentralized citizen action. The plot was foiled by nonexpert civilians who had the advantage of the concrete information right in front of them — and the spirit to take the initiative. …
I’ve read and listened to several interviews with Israeli security expert Rafi Sela:
“The Ben-Gurion Airport in Israel is arguably the airport with the highest level of threat in the world and, at the same time, one of the safest in the world. Remarkably, it accomplishes this while allowing retail operations to rank sixth in the world in terms of retail revenue per passenger,” …
He thinks the Security Theatre of North American airports is a joke:
“It is mind boggling for us Israelis to look at what happens in North America, because we went through this 50 years ago,” said Rafi Sela, …
“Israelis, unlike Canadians and Americans, don’t take s— from anybody. When the security agency in Israel (the ISA) started to tighten security and we had to wait in line for – not for hours – but 30 or 40 minutes, all hell broke loose here. We said, `We’re not going to do this. You’re going to find a way that will take care of security without touching the efficiency of the airport.'” …
When I was in the Dubai airport a couple of weeks ago, the place still looked to be booming.
Despite the much reported financial crisis in Dubai, some investors are already predicting a turnaround. My guess is that Dubai’s still a great long term investment.
The Burj Dubai – which means Dubai Tower – opens Monday with a fun-filled ceremony complete with fireworks and a hair-raising parachute jump.
The skyscraper, now the world’s tallest building, soars a half mile into the air, can be seen from 59 miles away and has 160 floors. …
Security theater consists of security countermeasures intended to provide the feeling of improved security while doing little or nothing to actually improve security. …
There seems to be no way we can protest over zealous security measures in airports. Aside from avoiding flying. Avoid flying via the U.S.A. if you can.
Sure U.S. airlines will over-react. But Air Canada was one of the quickest to jump on the bandwagon:
… Air Canada’s Web site read, “during the final hour of flight customers must remain seated, will not be allowed to access carry-on baggage, or have personal belongings or other items on their laps.” …
Humour columnist Kate Zimmerman is on holiday with her family. She literally mailed in her latest article.
… Puerto Vallarta is glorious. It was made even more so by reports that Edmonton had posted its lowest temperature ever, at minus 47. We Canadians get a whole lot of schadenfreude for our tropical vacation buck. Our travel ads should probably use it as a lure. “Your package includes complementary continental breakfasts and bottomless delight in the abject misery of those you’ve left behind.” …
Her husband, Stanley let’s call him, is once again the foil of her jibes. Who does she think he is, Homer Simpson?
… Puerto Vallarta fulfilled his wildest dreams when he discovered a restaurant where a half-blind bartender mixed a regular vodka martini, the only thing he drinks, with about six ounces of vodka.
He was already on his way to becoming the Canadian version of National Lampoon’s bumbling Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase). The first day, the Mexican man at the front desk of our condo building introduced himself to us as “Juan José.” Repeating what he thought was the man’s name, Stanley said, “Nice to meet you, Juan Hossein,” remarking to us later that Middle Eastern employees must be rare in Puerto Vallarta.
That night he dove wholeheartedly into the vodka (“Vitamin V,” as he calls his beloved tipple). As the evening progressed, four local musicians approached our table, offering to serenade us with their acoustic guitars and bongos.
“Play something for the young people,” Stanley said grandly, indicating our teenagers. “Perhaps some Nirvana.” … Not that our children are remotely interested in Nirvana. The alternative band fronted by Kurt Cobain (1967-1994) was just the most contemporary group that tipsy Stanley could think of at the time. Vitamin V is like that. And Stanley is even more like that. …
This article is not yet posted online. But it will be linked from Kate’s blog soon.
Update: Ron and Kate Skyped me. … They could have simply emailed, but Skype video was more effective in displaying the beauty of their Pacific Ocean balcony view. Paradise.
I showed them the frozen Canadian wasteland outside my window.
Flyglobespan, Scotland’s biggest airline, has become the latest airline to go bust. The airline made the announcement yesterday, canceling all of its flights and firing all 800 of its employees.
The workers got a bad deal getting fired just before Christmas, but at least they get to suffer at home, unlike the more than 4,500 passengers left stranded in foreign countries. …
I thought I was “worldly”, … yet I knew almost nothing about Bangladesh before going there as a volunteer this Fall.
The first thing people talk about in the capital Dhaka, is the traffic.
You might average 20km/hr. Walking is sometimes faster.
Actually, if you can get off the road, the countryside is green and lush. It’s one giant flood plain.
Bangladesh is a fast growing economy (growth 6-7%/yr), devoutly Muslim … but with few security problems. The nation is focused on economic growth, looking to bring millions out of poverty. Agriculture and clothing manufacture are the main industries.
Bangladesh celebrated Victory Day Wednesday, heralded by a 21 cannon salute that rang through the capital at dawn, while the president laid a wreath at the National Memorial in Savar to commemorate those who gave their lives for independence.
On this day in 1971, the Pakistan army surrendered to the allied forces of Bangladesh and India at Ramna Racecourse Maidan in Dhaka, ending the painful nine-month war that saw a new nation emerge.
National Parliament building (Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban)
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Rick McCharles 