Politics

CLE Airport & Superman welcome RNC attendees

Entertainment, Events, Politics, , ,
superman

Superman was created in Cleveland! This exhibit in CLE baggage claim tells the story.

Cleveland is hosting the Republican National Convention this week and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) – and Superman – welcomed many of the 50,000 or so attendees with art, entertainment and helpful information.

And now that everyone has arrived, the airport is getting ready for everyone to depart. This advice is posted on the CLE website:

  • The heaviest departure days for convention participants and media will be July 21st, 22nd and 23rd.  If you are also travelling at these times PLEASE leave early for your flight!
  • In anticipation of a very busy departure day following the convention on Friday July 22nd, we would highly recommend the following 5-4-3-2-1 action plan:
    • 5 Hours Check out of hotel; travel to the airport
    • 4 Hours Return rental car
    • 3 Hours Check-in at airline ticket counter
    • 2 Hours Be at the TSA Security Checkpoint
    • 1 Hour Arrive at the airline boarding gate

Air France buys 20,000 Charlie Hebdo papers for passengers

Politics, Terrorism, ,

Charlie Hebdo

French flag carrier Air France purchased 20,000 copies of the first edition of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo to be published since the January 7 terrorist attack on its offices.

The cover features a representation of Mohammed holding a placard that reads ‘Je Suis Charlie.’

The initial press run of five million copies sold out quickly, but Air France passengers at both Charles De Gaulle and Orly airports could pick up a copy of the issue in departure lounges.

In-flight voter registration

Politics,

It doesn’t matter who you plan to vote for in the next local, state or national election. (Well, it does. But that’s not the point here right now…)

The point is that you vote.

And if you’ve been too busy to register to vote because you’ve flying around the country on Virgin America and using the seat-back touchscreen to order food, watch movies, listen to music, play games, buy things and chat with other passengers, you’ll be pleased to know that know you can use that same system to sign up to vote.

 

Virgin America has teamed up with Rock the Vote to let passengers use their smartphones to scan a QR code on the airline’s Red seat back entertainment platform and register to vote.

Easy. Important. Cool.

 

PETA gives Sea-Tac Airport a Proggy

Environment, Politics, ,

You wouldn’t think the folks at PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) would spend much time thinking about what goes on at airports, but it seems they do.  And they’ve awarded Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) a Proggy Award (Proggy, as in “progress”) for being the Most Progressive Airport.

Why SEA? PETA likes the fact the SEA uses radar, lasers, and pyrotechnics to keep birds away from airspace that could put them on a collision course with aircraft.

The airport has also installed netting over storm-water ponds, put in plants to deter birds from nesting, and installed underground fencing to prevent burrowing animals from reaching runways.

sea-owls

(SEA officials say these baby horned owls were removed from a nest near the runway, raised by a foster owl, and then safely released in northern Washington)

PETA’s press-release about the Proggy didn’t mention it, but last August, in an effort to find an environmentally safe way to rid the airport of invasive plants, Sea-Tac Airport officials invited a herd of goats (and three sheep) from Goat Trimmers over for lunch and let them munch their way through scotch broom and other pesky plants.

goat-at-work

(Photo courtesy Goat Trimmers)

Planning your inauguration day trip

Events, History, Politics

Planning to be in D.C. for the festivities surrounding the January 20th swearing-in of Senator Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States?

Getting plane tickets is going to be the least of your problems.

Hotels rates will be outrageous. Streets will be crowded. Restaurants will be full. Getting tickets to anything official will be just about impossible. And it’s likely to be really, really, cold.

Sound like fun?

Then take a look at my article for MSNBC.com about how to plan your inauguration trip – and get busy!

(Photo courtesy Destination DC)