It’s not like I’m a ‘frequent flier’ but I’ve taken my fair share of flights in recent years and always find it amusing when, upon landing, the passengers see fit to applaud the work of the pilots.
Pardon me, but isn’t that what they are supposed to be doing? Flying the plain and landing safely?
Seriously.
On Friday October 23rd some passengers on their way to Minneapolis got the special scenic route to Wisconsin, that before the crew and people on the ground were able to get the attention of the pit crew. Oops.
Thankfully no one was hurt and the plane turned around and landed at the original destinations, I be they didn’t get any applause!
I know it’s a hard job, I know there is training and regulations and lots of dials and do-hickeys that need to be observed and monitored – isn’t that why the pilots shouldn’t be sleeping? (oh.. right.. they were in a deep discussion of policy that rendered them incapable of hearing radio communications. Right. Gotcha. wink wink nudge nudge)
There are all together too many possibilities as to what those pilots were doing for at least 14 minutes behind closed doors but deep in discussion and loosing track of time and faculties aren’t at the top of my guess list.
Me? I’ll continue to “expect” a smooth take off and landing and won’t be joining the practice of applauding the fact that we all survived a plane landing – perhaps if we go back to expecting a job well done – we will have to worry less about what exactly the pilots are doing .
OK, I’m a little tired of the Michael Jackson thing.
Don’t get me wrong. I grew up “with” Michael. We watched the Jackson 5 on t.v. regularly, enjoyed all the specials they were a part of, I even had a bit of a crush on him as a kid.
As an adult, I enjoyed his music but had a hard time with his ‘personal life’ and yes, it was a shocker when I heard he was dead.
However, I am loath to say that I don’t think all the attention is warranted. Especially still months after his death.
Maybe I’m wrong but I don’t, or maybe ‘won’t’ hold “Wacko Jacko” in the same league with Lennon, Elvis, and Dianna who’s deaths shocked and rocked the world. This is a man who, while a talented artist, did not live his life in a manner deserving of so much posthumous attention. Even if the allegations child molestation were indeed false, there is still the tiny matter of his passion for self mutilation.
My opinion. He lived a sad sad life and while I do hope he is at peace now. Let’s all just let him rest and move on.
Forbes came up with a list of the quietest places in the world. Many of which I will never see but, there were a few that didn’t make the list.
- My back yard on a fall evening
- Darlington provincial park mid week in September
- My car with the radio off and no traffic
- When all my kids are asleep – in my house
- Bon Echo
- Algonquin
- My deck in the early morning
The older I get the more quiet I seem to need. I don’t have any trouble finding it – just the time to enjoy it.
My guess is that there will come a time that quiet is the last thing I’ll want – but for now, when I get the opportunity – silence is golden.