Compliments to the Complimenter

Alright ladies, we have a miscommunication here...

So, it has come to my attention in the recent past that I have said some flattering things about some girls on Facebook and said girls have taken it the wrong way.

Here's what I don't get though:

Everyone likes compliments on their looks, or anything in that matter. We like positive praise. Hell, if a stranger on the street came up to me and liked my t-shirt, yeah, it might be awkward, but I would be a little happy about it. If I find a girl attractive or looks pretty in a photo, I am obligated to leave a positive comment. And I usually only tell a girl she's pretty if it's the truth to me. Again, what I think is attractive and what you think is attractive is a different story.

But, if you're offended in any way, let me know. I'll simply stop commenting. And by the way, maybe you'll get the hint that I find you attractive, and not just because of appearances.

2012: Year in Review and Goals/Resolutions for 2013

2012 will go down as much of a mediocre year as it was a great and successful year in other ways. I got to see Philadelphia a few times (I still owe the City of Brotherly Love a cheesesteak try). Part of that was the High Speed Rail Congress put on by the APTA and the UIC (International Union of Railways, of which the USA is not a member of). I got to ride my first high speed train this year, Amtrak's Acela, but I don't think I topped out at over 125. I graduated college. I applied for more jobs, and landed one, which I start tomorrow (and yes, I'm a little scared). I'm almost finished writing my first novel. I've been writing more. And I realized that while I still want kids, I wouldn't mind having just one kid, and if it be a daughter, makes no difference. Honestly, my family name in the United States is dying out. Heck, my kids might have a hyphenated last name, as tacky as they are.

Goals:

-Have another long term, hopefully permanent relationship. Except for Snow Ball and maybe early July, I didn't date much this year. If any girls want to go on a date with a sweetheart, make you voice heard. Preferably someone younger than my brother's girlfriend. (Except for one girl, all the girls my  brother has dated have been older).
-Leave my comfort zone much more often.
-Get a job in the airline industry. Again, I don't mind loading bags onto airplanes. It's fine. I can put up with it.
-Write more often than I do. 
-Make a successful transition between Northern NY and the Catskills.
-Play more computer games in addition to Flight Simulator.
-Be the best Sasha I can be.

Politicians, Guns and Newspapers

As much as I have an issue with Gannett with their whole gimicky way of doing things, I have to say that this article (that Yahoo News is referencing) is muckraking journalism at its best.

But as we all know, I have a real strong dislike of state Senator Greg Ball, the Republican from Patterson who represents Putnam County (and if I am not mistaken also represents parts of Westchester and Dutchess as well). This quote of Ball's really busts my balls, pun intended:

The asinine editors at the Journal News have once again gone out of their way to place a virtual scarlet letter on law abiding firearm owners throughout the region.

And who made you God? You are part of the reason why I have a strong dislike now for Putnam County, an uptight d**kw*d of a county. I don't care that you served our country in the military. I appreciate all of our men and women in uniform, veteran or not. But you come off like a snob. A real snob. People like you make me only want to enter politics more. And how the hell did Putnam County become a Republican one-party place?

No part of New York should have a Southern United States mentality.

In a perfect world....

-I would be married to a wonderful woman who I find attractive in multiple ways.
-Have at least one kid but no more than three.
-I would be involved in numerous ventures
-I would own a home in the Catskills, an apartment in Buffalo, a crash pad in NYC, and two small homes in both Ukraine and Australia.
-A fulfilled goal of being the first person on the autism spectrum elected to major public office in the United States, thus being to the autism community what Harvey Milk was to the LGBT community.
-Being successful in the ideal of how I see success.
-Some sort of world peace,
-Eastern Europe more financially stable and politically stable
-Reza Pavlahi as Shah of Iran (he seems like a more decent man than his father was, and out for his native land's interests, not his own)
-Joseph Kony wiped off the face of the planet.
HOME FRONT:
-Rail service linking Albany, Syracuse and Buffalo to Binghamton. Albany and Syracuse a definite, a huge "maybe" on Buffalo.
-Hourly rail service between NYC and Albany, including some of those trains being operated by Metro North
-Commuter rail in Albany and Buffalo
-GO Transit serving Buffalo with at least two round trips daily, no more than four. Commuter rail, Amtrak and buses would all stop at a completely refurbished Buffalo Central Terminal.
-Stewart Airport would be the fourth busiest airport in New York State (possibly third, but I want to give some love to Buffalo).
-An airline industry protected from its own stupidity, and a ten-year ban on airline mergers. -Incentives on startup regional airlines.
-A move to have more Americans living in existing land, uses of old structures encouraged.
-Upstate New York's population would have more in common with 1950 than 2012.
-Three strong third parties in addition to the GOP and Democrats OR no political parties.
-Contraception funding for all
-Same-sex marriage for those who want it.
-A military three-fifths the size it is now.
-The conservative (more the anti-intellectual side of it) movement in America discredited. I have a cousin who is in the Air Force as a fighter pilot, and he and I disagree on a few things but I thank him from the bottom of my heart for defending a nation that gives me the right to disagree AND for not being entirely closed minded. We both agree that American interventionism is unavoidable.
-Manufacturing to come back to America faster than you can say "Wow"!
-New York producing more yogurt than anyone knows what to do with
-Keith Olbermann hosting his own YouTube channel so I can continue to see him bashing people in his "World's Worst Person" segment. Sorry, but that part of his shows were the funniest. But true, Keith-O probably doesn't have the temperament for political coverage. 
-A nation more minded to the small town and big city instead of the suburb.

America's Most Depressed Airport

...shouldn't have to be this way.

It's an airport that's close to my heart, an airport that New Yorkers just won't fly out of.

While doing a search to see what Stewart Airport's airspace is like, I found that passenger numbers drop dramatically.

For the first time, I see the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey as an inept organization. That or the airlines want to see Stewart fail.

What the tri-state area needs to do is set passenger caps on Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark. MAKE airlines fly out of Stewart, and make them charge the same fares as they would any other New York metro area airport.

Sasha's Barometer: December 28, 2012

I just love the idea of the fiscal cliff.

Not the unemployment, but other things.

First, Grover Norquist should not be credible when it comes to anything related to the twenty-first century American government. 

The Republicans are totally fixated on shrinking government to the size it was back in 1900. 

What would it take to bring the United States back to where it was in 1950, when all our "stuff" was made here, the rich paid up the ying-yang in taxes, when the trains ran on time, heck, no, when we had trains and mass transit. That's the America I want to see. And what happened to Jonas Salk, the guy who developed the polio vaccine (or got the credit for it)? He didn't even keep the rights for it, what a gracious guy. He was famous but modest. I like that. 

I want to enter politics for a weird reason: to help people. And to do it right. People hate politicians but love rock stars. Combine the two!

The problem I have with the Time Magazine words that should be banned list is that I think all of them are ridiculous. YOLO has GOT TO GO. I'm concerned about the well-being of American teenager. And another words that should go is artisanal.

Truth be told, Windows 8 stinks because it's not meant for PCs.  PCs will always have a place because we need media hubs.

P.S. Google, the Blogger interface SUCKS.

More thoughts

...and they're harsh ones.

For all those that insult the state of New York, you're insulting my home. I know, it might sound pathetic for some of you anti-New Yorkers, but I love the state I live in. This is my home. And although for work I might have to temporarily call other places home, my true home will be in the Empire State.

For those of you who call Western New York home, trust me, although I have never resided in that part of the state, I wish and I plan to, one day, when I have the money, I will pour a whole lot of money into cities like Lockport, Batavia, Rochester, Niagara Falls, and last but the most important, Buffalo. I want to restore Upstate New York to the charm it had back in the 1950s. Screw nations with lower labor costs. We were here first, and goddamit, if I have to, I will find some way to turn New York into a paradise. If I have things my way, I will tear up the current state constitution and force the Legislature to write a new one, one that will allow New York to be competitive again. I vow to be a compassionate Carl Paladino, with some of the man's better ideas and most of my own.

It literally pains me to see Buffalo die a slow painful death. It's like suffering cancer for the last half of your life. But I hope that one day that cancer that is killing Buffalo is cured.

In my personal book, I believe that progress doesn't mean leaving aspects of the past behind. Upstate New York can grow, but it needs the right reform and tools to do so. Governor Cuomo has laid the groundwork. Although he I don't think is as popular as he was at the beginning of the year, he's still (compared to most governors) a popular governor. He's had shit thrown on him this year like no elected official. He's seen Sandy destroy a significant chunk of his native Queens (of which I am also a native of).

But to see cities like Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Detroit and Cleveland look like literal ghost towns is eery. I want to move to Buffalo when I make it rich and clean it up a little.

Everyone knows my strong dislike of hipsters. But thank God for them also. They've turned dying neighborhoods in Brooklyn into hot properties. Buffalo is next on that list. My generation hates the suburbs. Many of us want to live and raise our kids in the city.

Another thing: the United States Postal Service came to be what it is today because of a postal strike in 1970. I'm pro-union, but there are some agencies whose strikes are extremely disruptive to the functionality of our nation. Of course, as this article shows, CNN's Opinion area is one of the most frightening parts of the site. And a lot of people are going to be screwed if the USPS goes under. I still get Christmas cards, and one day I want to send them out too.

I'm also still very worried but also somewhat (causiously) optimistic about the idea of the Buffalo Bills staying in Buffalo. It's a team that makes money. Not much, but it makes money. I believe in fate, and I believe the year Ralph Wilson passes away will be the year Buffalo has a winning season.

Also, the "assholes" who want to shut down the Adirondack Scenic Railroad have their 10,000th signature according to the Press-Republican. I say too bad. Train are more important, especially since once you tear up train track, it's almost unheard up to put them back in. People in this country can't give two fucks about public transportation. I'm with the Adirondack Scenic Railroad on this one. The right of way is just big enough to have a trail right next to the tracks. And there's been talk of an overnight Lake Placid-NYC train. I understand that for many the trail is more important. I strongly dislike people who want to tear out train tracks only to put in recreational trails. It's not practical to travel a couple hundred miles by bicycle.

I'll be honest though. I am a VERY firm believer in people relying on one another for things. We need to be a more interdependent society. The days of "dog eat dog" need to come to an end. I'm a conservative in the fact of going back to the way we used to do certain things (reusable diapers, taking public transportation, living in cities). I'm just saying, but the suburbs are the thing destroying America.

BOOBIES!!!!

...and I'm not talking about that hot YouTube comedienne from the Midwest

But some simple things that will make us guys happy.

According to a researcher from America's most liberal college (if you're Rush Limbaugh), squeezing boobies can stop breast cancer. Damm, this sounds good! I know, for an early morning, it's a bit vulgar, but c'mon, let's live a little! According to this guy from Gizmondo with his user name all "d"s,

this makes me miss my ex girlfriend :( she once sweetly offered me her boobs as stressballs. thinking she was joking, i said "those aren't for squeezing," and she sweetly replied "YEAH THEY ARE!!" brb gonna die alone

Dang!!! Lesson here guys: no matter how tiny, boobs are boobs. We need them (I'd like to say I'm correct) for our mental health as much as women need us to squeeze them for their physical health.

I know, the topic itself is vuglar and taboo, but heck, it exists.

Thoughts on a Sunday Morning

Since I'm planning to work in the airline industry, I really need to watch what I say. But sometimes I need to call out bats**t crazy. US Airways wants to swallow up an American icon, that being American Airlines. As much as I'm not entirely crazy about either airline, I must admit that

In fact, the only time I ever had a meal on a domestic airline flight that I can remember was in 2001 on an American Airline flight heading from La Guardia Airport to Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, on the way to Denver. I had cold chicken fingers and salad. Needless to say, I enjoyed that meal, and it brings back happy memories, despite being in the rear of an MD-80 with no window seat.

But before US Airways goes swallowing up more airlines, it should attend to the one that American West started with it. In fact, as of THIS November, pre-merger US Airways and America West cabin crews are working under separate contracts. Kudos go out to Roger Holmin and Deborah Volpe, who are the presidents of the pre-merger US Airways and America West cabin crews, respectfully, for coming together as one, even if their contract doesn't mention any union between the two groups. Traditionally, cabin crew in merged airlines are at war with each others groups for a period of time. The flight attendant groups seem like two step-siblings trying to get their respective biological parent and respective stepparent to recognize that the two siblings want to lead a normal, happy family life. And United and Continental employees are still unhappy about their merger. Quoting David C. Forward from the January 2013 issue of Airways Magazine, the feature "Coach Flyer" on a trip from Newark to London and back:

The flight was only one-third full, and the flight attendants delivered excellent service. Two of them explained that CO crews must continue to work on "Continental metal," and it was evident from their comments that insofar as many former CO employees are concerned, this is not yet one happy family.

Not to sound like a jerk or anything, but what are the people at the Justice Department smoking? They've allowed for two super-mergers and seem to not give any concern to airline employees and passengers. If you want an inside into "class warfare", look no further than the airline industry. Exceptions exist, but they're mostly contained to regionals like SkyWest and the low cost carriers like jetBlue and Southwest, who pride themselves on happy employees that above all love their job and do it with pride, safety and with a smile. I've spoken to cabin crews on TATL (trans-Atlantic) flights, some of the older female FA (flight attendants), some of who were of Pan Am stock, said they missed the old days. And I'd have to agree with them.

Now back to the business side of things: I believe that just because you have a master's of business administration doesn't mean you're qualified to run an airline. You need to have a certain level of common sense, and one that is aviation-business oriented. Business grad program can't teach that in my opinion. You need to work in the industry first. There are airline execs who make me smile, but I won't give names. And if the need for all these airline mergers are because of discontent investors, well, maybe employees should start buying stock like they do at carriers like SkyWest and jetBlue. I believe employees work harder when they actually own stake in the company, even if it is a meaningless number of shares: it's the symbolism behind it. But who is this so-called airline butcher?

Everyone knows how I feel about W. Douglas Parker. He's the airline industry's snake oil salesman. Under his steed, he bought out the remains of a couple local airlines (that combined were the pre-2005 US Airways, since the companies were formed from local service carriers) and tried to throw Delta in the ring. A salute goes out to the Delta employees who kept US Airways from going the way of fallen flags (a rail industry term which I think goes well with the airlines too). And let's not forget about Parker's DUI. I would expect that someone like Parker would know better. He's in an industry where safety comes first.

At the same time, three major US carriers would have an advantage, and that advantage is the number of airlines itself. THREE. The inequalities of scale if for instance US Airways/American hooked up with United (Continental). It would create a mess. It would be twice the size of Delta.

I fear an American-US Airways merger as a genuine low cost carrier would lose. jetBlue would see itself lose it's interline with American, since I have a feeling Parker would be more than happy to axe that. I applaud jetBlue for a smart business model, great employees (but I think that goes for most of the industry) and not merging with airlines that are totally incompatible. It's a shame Southwest bought AirTran, but at the same time, Southwest I believe has that magic of being able to make mergers work. I need to applaud Southwest for that. And jetBlue gets the most credit for expanding without needing to buy airlines. (Just stay out of airline alliances)

The industry has gotten to the point where no one wants anymore competition. It makes it near impossible for anyone to enter into the industry. There are plenty of under-served airports in the United States that are calling for more service. The Mid-Hudson Valley doesn't have flights to Atlanta or Chicago. Mergers threaten this already unstable equilibrium. Truth be told, I'll be the first to admit that.

Anyways, it's off to bed for me. If I'm up any later I'll stop making sense.

End of Ze World (For Ye Idiots)

According to the now-extinct ancient Mayans, we're all screwed come Friday.

Wait, God, before I die, could I have at least one legitimate sexual experience? PLEASE? (Disregard if I wake up alive and the world is intact on Saturday morning).

But joke or now, I for the first time living in Northern New York have as much respect for the (Plattsburgh) Press-Republican as I do for the Malone Telegram. I've always found the columns in the Press-Republican disgusting, almost written for people who are as scared as Catholic extremists and paranoid gun owners. But Steve Ouellette's column on "Extinction event on the way", whether written as a joke or not, is still absurd, considering the amount of idiots who believe the end of the world is near.

As much as I call myself a Christian, I don't believe in the End Times and the Second Coming UNTIL the exact moment that time comes. I know, there's the "live like this is your last day" creed, but I also follow the "there's always a tomorrow". Always be prepared to wake up in the morning, even if (God forbid) you don't.

John Boehner Needs Coffee

That or the Democrats seriously need a restraining order between him and the Tea Party.

Boehner's problem is of all things the Tea Party Caucus, run by the insanity that is Michele Bachmann. I should thank the Lord that my mother is Laura Baci Clark and not Michele Bachmann. She, Sarah Palin and my stepdad's ex-wife all have that charm about them-a lack of charm.

Senate majority leader Harry Reid, who is no angel himself, said "It would be a shame if Republicans abandoned productive negotiations due to pressure from the tea party, as they have time and again." I'm going to play Keith Olbermann for a second and say "So it seems the GOP is ACTUALLY losing touch with reality. They want their cake AND they want to eat it."The problem is the Tea Party has too much control over what goes on in Congress, and progress isn't what they strive for. Of course that's just my observation.

I feel this way: the Tea Party and anti-government Republicans need to come out and just say it: they will not rest until the United States government resembles that of 1789 or even 1900. But the world is a different place, and the Republicans refuse to factor that in. The Republican obsession over shrinking the United States government is more damaging than productive. If I was President Obama, I'd include some of the major Tea Party players in discussions, since they have so much power in Congress. I don't think I could trust anyone in Congress with the federal budget. And CNN gives a scary (and slightly whacked out) explanation. If the Tea Party and someone with more courage than Boehner were in office, this whole issue would be moot. I'm a bit of an extremest when it comes to proving points, but I'll say it: the US government credit rating should be downgraded until the agencies (S&P and Moody's for example) see the nation run by competent legislators. Term limits anyone? America needs to change, even if it comes down to kicking and screaming.

But that would backfire on everyone. The Tea Party is less favorable than it was two years or even a year ago. And people would question Obama in so many ways. And for Obama to give the Tea Party attention would be an ego boost that the Tea Party does not deserve.

So, it appears New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority chair Joseph Lhota is expected to step down from his position as Chairman to run for Mayor of New York City. I wish him luck, both humorously and in all seriousness. The MTA, for those of you who are not familiar with the Tri-State area, is constantly getting bad press for service problems, fare hikes and general perception of corruption (although that could generally be a result of a pension program that is quite possibly TOO generous). The question now would he who to replace Mr. Lhota with.

My issue with Mr. Lhota is he just doesn't have that Mike Bloomberg-esque charm. Yes, I believe that Mayor Bloomberg has a certain charm to him, being open-minded, calling people out when necessary and despite being a native of Beantown (Boston), he comes off quite New York-ish. But I will give Mr. Lhota credit. Except for the Long Island Rail Road and a section of the IND Rockaway line,

However, New York City, as liberal as a city it is, has elected two Republicans* since 1993. But nonetheless, even Mayor Bloomberg's critics have an once at least of respect for him, some even more, for speaking clear conscience.

And in other news, Apple didn't get their way. Samsung was given a favorable judgement, which allows them to continue selling their most popular smartphones here in the U.S. I give kudos to Judge Lucy Koh for seeing competition in the digital ecosystem necessary.

I have told people for years that I will never buy an iPhone unless it were for work and if it were only a GSM model. But I have problems with the way Apple goes about the iPhone route. The SIM is for all practical purposes locked, meaning that you need to go to AT&T to get international roaming, which is monopolistic. In general however, I believe the smartphone subsidy system is absurd. Just like data caps. I understand having limits on cell phone data, since no one should use a cell signal for streaming Netflix. But for using the internet at home? The average American household goes through close to 2TB of data transmission a month. I know I go through quite a bit myself, through flight simulator addons, movie streaming, Facebook (which is surprisingly data hungry) and online gaming, which is another data hog if I recall correctly. If everyone were to get data caps for whatever internet they use, YouTube and Netflix would be out of business. America (and the world) needs unlimited internet.

And as I write this, there's a move to have Ben Affleck represent Massachusetts in the US Senate. And with what qualifications? Sure, he's a liberal and he seems like a nice guy. But still. 

To close, I had my interview with jetBlue. Other than the fact I mentioned I'm at the moment ineligible to get a pilot's license due to meds and that I want to be an airline vice-president and/or start my own regional airline, I think I did pretty well. I was a little nervous, but not as nervous for when I interviewed for Premier Technologies. If jetBlue wants a company historian one day, count me in! ;-)

*Mike Bloomberg ran and was a registered Republican when he ran for Mayor in 2001. He left the party a few years later, citing disagreements with the party on social and environmental issues, both crucial to a mayor in a city as populated and diverse as New York City.

A Housatonic Valley Massacre and a Bad Luck Boeing and Other Rubbish

I am Alexander Ivanoff, and I admit that there is bias through this entire blog entry.

First, my heart goes out to the communities in my (formerly) next-door neighbor county of Fairfield County, Connecticut. I know people from Connecticut and the school shooting in Newtown is almost as if it happened right in Brewster (Southeast), a community whose school system often has exhibition games with schools in Fairfield Count.

Gun control should be a constant topic in American political circles, not just when shootings in theatres, military bases, shopping malls and schools occur. It should be everyday. Although coming from Northern New York, where a strong gun culture that stems from recreational hunting exists, I believe that guns should ONLY be used for gathering food for your family (and indirectly controlling the deer population), NOT for harming the lives of innocent human beings. The life of every human, no matter how depressing or horrid that might be, is valued and should be with utmost dignity. I applaud NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg for starting the Mayors Against Illegal Guns coalition. If I were a mayor or town supervisor in New York, I would sign the statement of principles, no matter how hard it would be for my conscience to allow me to sign it. Gun ownership is a privilege and not a right, and should always be treated as such, even if our national Constitution allows gun ownership.

But the plot thickens. As I write this, while taking a break from flying planes on the computer (something I have discovered I can only do so much of) the shooter, whose name I won't mention out of respect for all involved, was reported as having Asperger syndrome. As many of you know, I myself have Asperger sydrome.  It's painful. I've had some really sickening thoughts run through my head at times. But then I realize: first, I don't want to hurt anyone intentionally. Whether it be through words or actions, I just don't. I cringe when I kill wasps/hornets because I was taught not to kill living things. But I worry though that one day, I'm going to have an anaphylactic shock because of a bee sting. I still haven't been the first person elected to political office on the autism spectrum!

Even today, society portrays those with Asperger's syndrome no better than they did of those with much more severe mental handicaps/developmental disabilities only three decades ago. It's a shame and we can do better as a society. Most, and I think all of us on the spectrum can feel pain. Unfortunately, the way we can express that pain can come out in the worst of ways. But to jump to the conclusion, like the writers at Rupert Murdoch's New York City rag did is horrifying.

What's even more tragic is the deaths of all involved. Like the heroic teacher who was in my eyes just doing her job. There's some polite and flattering things that I would want to comment about her in this entry, but once again, out of the respect for all, I'm not going to. And those children, younger than my two middle-school aged half-brothers, who will never be able to experience aspects of life. These children are so young that Bush was President when they were born. Growing up, my brain has matured enough to where I now see elementary school teachers in a brighter light.

And onto another less disturbing topic. As many of you know, I think of Airbus as a spoiled rotten brat run by a spoiled rotten brat. I know of people by the last name of Leahy, and the ones I know I love and adore, whether they live in the North Country or the Mohawk Valley or the Green Mountain State (and help represent it with America's only elected socialist at the national level, no less).

Except for one, John Leahy, the COO at Airbus.

*Disclaimer: I am being somewhat constructive of what I say, as I am applying to work for a company which is an Airbus client AND Mr. Leahy is a Syracuse University graduate, making him a New York native of any sort.

I do give Airbus a significant amount of respect. I think the A3(XX) series of aircraft are intelligent designs, which makes it possible for one to be crossed trained on the A318 to A380 and everything in between in no time at all. Boeing has yet not entered the realm of cockpit commonality, which upsets me. And Boeing could (with some serious design work, MAYBE) raise the height of the 737. Being low to the ground does present problems, even though I think every plane should be designed like a 757. 

But I am a Boeing "fanboy" by nature. My dad's cousin Walter is a former Boeing engineer whose work made the 777 and 787 (and quite possibly the 737NG as well) possible. He's a fibre-optics guy who still knows people there and on very rare occasion works with Boeing (I need to clarify that somehow). And Boeings are designed (mostly designed at least) and assembled in America, just like Cessnas (sans the C162 Skycatcher, with Cessna Textron should really rethink)

Anyways, I was on aviation site FlightAware and an article popped up on how the head of Qatar Airways had thrown a hissyfit over the grounding of his company's Boeing 787 Dreamliner due to maintenance issues. In the interest of sourcing all of what I say, here is the original article.

I had to agree with the person who started the discussion, with a few disagreements. Most of this paranoia about the 787 has stemmed from Boeing's problems from Day One on the plane. Boeing should have brought parts suppliers under its control, should have written off several billion on the plane itself because of its forward technology and the general cost of developing a new aircraft.

The 787 will be a success, and customers are satisfied despite the bugs. JAL is connecting Boston with Asia, San Jose, CA, which needs a link to Asia because of the Silicon Valley, is getting a flight through ANA, ditto for San Diego. I understand how with aviation fuel so expensive, airline execs are antsy. They need planes that will make cash.

It comes down to that Boeing should call up Rolls-Royce and GE and offer them into a 767 reengining project. Ditto for the 757 if something can be done in that arena. If I was an airline exec and I was already happy with a 767 fleet, I'd want to build on that with a new engine. The USAF did a few years back by re-engining the KC-135 transports/tankers and a company founded by a former McDonnell Douglas executive, Jackson McGowan, whose company, Cammacorp, turned out about 100+ re-engined Douglas DC-8s with high-bypass turbofans.

Hey, can someone give me money to start an airline?

 And if all that wasn't bad enough, a CNET writer gave me the exact reason why I've lost a fair bit of interest in Apple: the rumor mills. I stopped going on MacNN and it's affiliate websites a few years back. I probably don't even know my password for their forums.

Once again, people are putting words in the mouths of celebrities. Give Morgan Freeman a break. As much as it sounds wonderful and I'd like to believe that Freeman would write something like that, I can't. Not in today's society which resembles the phone chains we did in elementary school (back to that again!)

And finally, I close by yet another argument: Jennifer Lawrence, from the Hunger Games fame, looks just like someone I went to college with who honestly is one of the most attractive ladies I've come into over the years.

I'm done. There might be updates to this for clarity's sake and all that jazz, and because I like that stuff.

Signed,
Mediocre Man

P.S. Rachel, if you're reading this, disregard liking this because I know almost anything I say you agree with. 

Sasha's commentary for 3 December 2012 (TWO WEEKS LATE)

1) I might be totally wrong here, but I want to pose this theory:

I'm now advocating for going back to the one room schoolhouse. Centralizing the s*** out of American public education has failed. It's interesting how once school districts merged across the nation, the quality of American education suffered and in fact has become more expensive.

That or bring in the overseas experts. We're trying to have Americans solve our education crisis when I wonder if Americans are competent enough to do it. I would like to believe we are.

Now for my opinion on the news:

In a recent Huffington Post blog from former NBCUniversal (GE) chief Bob Wright, who is now one of the honchos over at Autism Speaks wrote how

A little memo to Mr. Wright: I support much of the work that Autism Speaks has done, but there's one BIG problem: in the autism community (as in those who are autistic and are active in self-advocacy and whatnot) Autism Speaks has a public relations issue. Ask your run of the mill Aspie out there, and they will tell you that Autism Speaks is the work of Satan himself. Of course I am exaggerating a bit, but still. Most HFA (high functioning autistics) and Aspies don't want to be cured of autism, for various reasons. I worry that if I were to become neurotypical, I would lose most of my polymath abilities. (I shouldn't speak too soon, because Bruce Dickinson, the leader (and chief pilot) of metal band Iron Maiden is a polymath, almost to where he could be a semi-savant, but he's neurotypical).

How about this Mr. Wright: instead of "It's time to listen" how about "We're listening". Because a lot of auties/Aspies out there have a lot to say, and it's fairly critical. Personally, I have not much of a problem with Autism Speaks (except they come off a little bureaucratic and pushy) but some hate the organization outright. It's time for a new strategy, and one where auties and Aspies are accepted for who they are.

I tried starting an Autism Speaks chapter at SUNY Potsdam, where not so long ago I attended. It didn't get off the ground, but I at least hope that autism awareness on the campus of my alma mater is now ignited. I tried getting a Quidditch team running at Potsdam, and that was a farce, but with this new Harry Potter oriented "do-gooder" group, who knows. A lot of their fundraisers (I think) have been through Quidditch matches. But that's besides the point.

Well, it's official. The Dutchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, is baking the future king/queen of England. Next summer, it'll be Prince William all over again, circa 1984. Yay. Can we go on with our lives and be happy for William and Kate and let them have their privacy. I'll quote the Queen herself: "It's a private matter".

According to CNN, Lake Placid is a real life wonderland. Cool. New York has something other states in the Northeast don't have. A mini Aspen right in our own backyard. But CNN, you got something SERIOUSLY wrong. It's not "43 peaks for hiking". It's 46. Do your homework CNN.