Hoppin' Mad

New at Reason: Jesse Walker on air rage as entertainment.

Comments

[Jason Ligon]

Herr Zwiebel:

Spring love may be up someone's alley, but just from my experience of sitting on that god awful uncomfortable hunk of crap seat for almost a whole day, I can assert with confidence that springs don't do it for me.

Don't get me wrong, some of my best friends are springs ...

[Zwiebel]

*LOL*
Most Excellent, Sir Ligon. You get the Zorro Triple Snap.

Herr Zwiebel

[JSM]

Joe, I have considered the train, but it takes nearly a full day to get from Seattle to Portland, a typical 3 hour drive (2.5 for me).

TO defend my choice of driving from eco-nutz, I am lining up my drive with various work related stops along the west coast plus a stop at some old college haunts in San Luis Obispo. It should be a nice drive with very little stress and avoiding the possible gloved finger probe that exists with flying. There should be no reason for the probing, but considering my all American profile, there shouldn't be any reason to pulled out of line and be forced to nearly undress down to my scibbies.

Thoreau, I once had 6 hours to get from Santa Barbara to my flight at LAX on a fine Wednesday morning. I missed my flight by an hour! The 101 is a bitch, too.

[Jason Ligon]

JSM:

Have you ever considered relocating to somewhere less obnoxious?

[JSM]

Jason, if you are referring to Seattle, it is far less obnoxious (IMHO) than any of California or even the beltway for that matter. If you are referring to the dominant liberal attitudes of Seattle, Oregon (as in the Willamette Valley) always seems to make Seattle look more moderate! However, I do live in Rep. Jim McDermott's district.

[Warren]

I'd trust the market to correct this problem, except that the airlines won't correct, they'll just come to Washington with their hands out. In a few years we can look forward to Amair.

[Jason Ligon]

Just talking about the commute, JSM, but the lefties don't make it sound any more appealing.

[JSM]

Sounds like a big rant, Jesse. But, what you experienced is becoming the norm in air travel. We should hopefully see the market correcting this. Case in point, my company has given us employees the option to rent a car and drive to out of town destinations. The CEO had an incredibly bad ordeal and has expressed interest in avoiding air travel where ever possible. So in February, I will be driving from Seattle to San Diego for 3 days and still getting paid for my travel time with a company vehicle.

[Argyles]

More market correction: Any incentive I had before 9/11 to take a cheap airline flight (instead of the bus or train) has been erased, so for me it's the 'Hound or Amtrak. In fact, for two Thanksgivings running ('01 and '02), the return bus route I take from home to "folks" was subject to rent-a-cop wanding and bag-rifling; that ceased this year, perhaps because the 'Hound found the meager security bump was not worth it if it meant increased delays and surly riders.

[joe]

JSM, take the train, and rent a car in SD if you need it. Do you really want to drive the highway through SF, then the highway through LA, then the highway through SD?

People get scared off by Greyhound's lower class vibe, but honestly, their busses are a lot more comfortable than any plane I've ever been on.

[thoreau]

Joe-

I think the point is that every hour, um, I mean, day, spent on the 405 is time he doesn't have to be in the office. Personally, I would have volunteered to walk Seattle to San Diego. I'd get there just as fast, but I'd get some exercise.

I've been stuck in traffic on the 405 at 1am. And no, there wasn't any road construction or a traffic accident. That's just the 405.

[Jason Ligon]

You guys have had different GH experiences from mine.

I took one from NJ to Boston once. A day later I arrived. The on board potty was, er, not working correctly and there was a poorly singing drunk on the ride for extra enjoyment.

Oh, I must have had the low rent bus, because I had an uncoiled spring in my ass the whole ride.

Never again.

[Zwiebel]

"... I had an uncoiled spring in my ass the whole ride"

shouldnt' that be a part of a different thread?

Man on Spring love?

inquiringly,
Herr Zwiebel