THE MORNING RANT: WSJ Advocates for Airline Consolidation into an Even Tighter Oligopoly…<i>to Enhance Competition</i>

THE MORNING RANT: WSJ Advocates for Airline Consolidation into an Even Tighter Oligopoly…to Enhance Competition

Spirit Airlines is in the news as its massive debt burden can no longer be serviced, especially with its pricing model and cost structure, forcing it to declare bankruptcy. The discount airline is not going out of business, or at least not for now, but is reorganizing through bankruptcy court. Its stockholders have had their investments wiped out, and the bondholders are getting a haircut - they too may lose everything. If the reorganization doesn’t work out, Spirit may eventually shut down.

This is all part of the cycle of failed startups, successful corporations, wealth creation, creative destruction, etc. that we who champion capitalism understand and expect.

But the “pro-business” editors at the Wall Street Journal are appalled that the government has not come to Spirit’s rescue by consenting to a competition-suppressing merger with JetBlue Airlines. That merger would have reduced the number of major airlines to just five, who combined would have 78% control of the market. In an editorial earlier this week, the WSJ Editorial Board opined that not allowing the airlines to coalesce into an even tighter oligopoly is “anti-business” and would result in “less competition.”

For the record, I am assertively pro-free market and pro-capitalism, but I am distressed how the term “pro-business” is now becoming a synonym for the embrace of anti-competitive corporatism.

The WSJ editorial makes the case that “the Justice Department cut off a lifeline by blocking its merger with JetBlue Airways.” No, bankruptcy court still remained as a lifeline, and the court has now been engaged.

This line was particularly funny, coming from the Wall Street Journal’s editorial page:

Too bad the government won’t compensate the workers, flyers and creditors harmed by its blunder.

This is the same editorial page that spent decades championing the destruction of American manufacturing while celebrating the economic displacement of those whose jobs were offshored. We now know of at least one occasion when the Wall Street Journal does not rejoice at working class Americans losing their jobs.

[Justice Department] antitrust chief Jonathan Kanter never lets economic reality interfere with his anti-business crusades. DOJ challenged the merger as anti-competitive.

The Justice Department hailed the [JetBlue - Spirit] deal’s termination as “a victory for U.S. travelers who deserve lower prices and better choices.” Now passengers can look forward to fewer choices and higher prices as a result of Spirit’s bankruptcy.

More competitors is “anti-competitive.” More airlines to choose from is “fewer choices.” Advocating for more businesses in a market is “anti-business.” War is peace. Freedom is slavery.

Don’t forget, Spirit will continue to fly post-bankruptcy filing, and it will be competing with Jet Blue rather than being a part of JetBlue.

The Wall Street Journal might consider me “anti-business” since I want businesses to face competition - and possibly fail - rather than consolidate into a too-big-to-fail cartel that allocates customers, rather than competing for them. And maybe Spirit will still not survive at all, despite its visit to the bankruptcy court. Fine. Let another challenger rise in it place.

There is no bigger critic of the Biden administration than me, but no, Spirit’s bankruptcy is due to mismanagement and cash flow/debt mismanagement, not a refusal to approve a competition-suppressing merger. Spirit deserves to fail. Let it. And may a successor rise in its place.
— Buck Throckmorton (@BuckThrockmort) November 19, 2024

Outside of JetBlue and Spirit, there are four airlines that control 68% of the US airline market: American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Airlines, and Southwest. There are many once-great airline names such as TWA, US Air, America West, Western Airlines, Continental Airlines, Northwest Orient, and others that have merged, consolidated, merged some more, and consolidated some more to get down to these four airlines. Rest assured, there will be merger talk among these remaining carriers too, with all the usual suspects stating that we need to let the airlines consolidate further – in the name of “competition.”

*****

Throckmorton’s First Law of Live Music: “If there’s an upright bass in the band, it’s probably going to be good.”

In the spirit of today’s topic, here is Merle Haggard’s classic “Silver Wings” as performed by the Kenny Vaughan Trio from a beer-soaked honky-tonk in Nashville.

I’ve been in enough honky-tonks and dancehalls in my life that I can actually smell this video as I watch it.

Have a great weekend.

[buck.throckmorton at protonmail dot com]

Posted by: Buck Throckmorton at 11:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Hola

Posted by: Thanatopsis at November 22, 2024 11:01 AM (GYt5+)

2 Amateurs.

Posted by: People's Express at November 22, 2024 11:02 AM (DobEs)

3 I flew Spirit once. Once, never to be repeated. That may have something to do with their problems.

Posted by: Archimedes at November 22, 2024 11:03 AM (xCA6C)

4 Wasn't Spirit the... uh... urban-focused airline where there were reliably going to be fights while boarding?

Posted by: Boron Cobbie was called a pharisee onager for rejecting abortion and child sex slavery at November 22, 2024 11:04 AM (Tzbdw)

5 Poor li'l fella.

MSNBC really published this grotesque story claiming Laken Riley's killer "never stood a chance"

https://is.gd/vgqBGV

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Peppermint Mocha! at November 22, 2024 11:04 AM (L/fGl)

6 I thought Jet Blue acquired Spirit Airlines??

Posted by: Chairman LMAO, AI Expert at November 22, 2024 11:05 AM (LPS7w)

7 Patsy Cline on the wall in the video..

Posted by: tubal at November 22, 2024 11:05 AM (PCK5/)

8 I don't care, as I've given up flying due to the massive pain in the ass it's become.

Posted by: Angzarr the Cromulent at November 22, 2024 11:05 AM (XMwZJ)

9 Heard a nun about PSA, pacific southwest airlines, as Poor Sisters Airlines.

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle at November 22, 2024 11:05 AM (5NDhQ)

10 "I’ve been in enough honky-tonks and dancehalls in my life that I can actually smell this video as I watch it."

Stale beer and cheap perfume?

Posted by: BignJames at November 22, 2024 11:05 AM (Yj6Os)

11 Top 17?!?

Posted by: Grayman27 at November 22, 2024 11:06 AM (pgwxJ)

12 Sorry, didna read the f'in article. *hides in shame*

Posted by: Chairman LMAO, AI Expert at November 22, 2024 11:06 AM (LPS7w)

13 10 "I’ve been in enough honky-tonks and dancehalls in my life that I can actually smell this video as I watch it."

Stale beer and cheap perfume?
Posted by: BignJames at November 22, 2024 11:05 AM (Yj6Os)

At least in the old days the cigarette smoke would cover the other stenches…

Posted by: tubal at November 22, 2024 11:06 AM (PCK5/)

14 Laken Riley's killer "never stood a chance"

Gas him.

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle at November 22, 2024 11:06 AM (5NDhQ)

15 I kind of assume that the upstart's failure is baked into the business model.

Legacy pension costs are a huge burden on the bigs, so someone can come along with a startup that has no such obligations, and fly for 20 or 30 years. Then when their pilots start retiring, they declare bankruptcy, and the cycle starts again under a new name.

Posted by: Archimedes at November 22, 2024 11:07 AM (xCA6C)

16 Just watch some YouTube videos of airport meltdowns and they're almost always Spirit. Frightening and hilarious at the same time.

Posted by: Josephistan at November 22, 2024 11:07 AM (y9ksN)

17 14 Laken Riley's killer "never stood a chance"

Gas him.
Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle at November 22, 2024 11:06 AM (5NDhQ)
----
Hopefully a rival gang shanks his ass in prison.

Posted by: Chairman LMAO, AI Expert at November 22, 2024 11:08 AM (LPS7w)

18 3 I flew Spirit once. Once, never to be repeated. That may have something to do with their problems.
Posted by: Archimedes at November 22, 2024 11:03 AM (xCA6C)

They have a few flights in/out of the old Pease AFB in NH. I'll stick with JetBlue.

Posted by: Our Country is Screwed at November 22, 2024 11:08 AM (N39Ws)

19 14 Laken Riley's killer "never stood a chance"

Gas him.
Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle at November 22, 2024 11:06 AM (5NDhQ)

Or a bullet in the back of the neck. Cheaper. Bill our DHS for the bullet.

Posted by: tubal at November 22, 2024 11:08 AM (PCK5/)

20 @Boron Cobbie

I caught your comment about the iconic Trump photo at Butler.

To paraphrase Erik Prince, the head of Trump's USSS detail in Butler that day, Sean Curran, totally cocked that one up.

Get him horizontal and off the X. No laying under fat women involved in that.

Posted by: one hour sober at November 22, 2024 11:08 AM (Y1sOo)

21 I'm confused as to why the Biden admin would be doing anything that makes sense, and if I ever found myself agreeing with what they are up to I would have to do some serious soul searching.

Posted by: ... at November 22, 2024 11:08 AM (lbAks)

22 I lurve all the Spirit Airlines fights and meltdowns in the terminals on YT. It's right up there with Waffle House and Mac-Donalds.

Posted by: Count de Monet at November 22, 2024 11:08 AM (Aqu9a)

23 Flew Spirit one time about 10 years on a short 2 hour flight to Florida (how bad could it be?) and it was the worst flying experience of my life. That is saying a lot given what a nightmare it has become. And all to save maybe $50. Never again. I would rather take a bus than experience that again.

Posted by: Ripley at November 22, 2024 11:09 AM (GUOwU)

24 To answer a question from the last thread, I don't think Saab manufactured aircraft engines, but Volvo does. They're basically Swede-ified Rolls Royce engines

Posted by: Josephistan at November 22, 2024 11:09 AM (y9ksN)

25 4 Wasn't Spirit the... uh... urban-focused airline where there were reliably going to be fights while boarding?
Posted by: Boron Cobbie
=====
Look on the bright side, if you do not fly Spirit, those folks are not flying with you on the other airlines. Without Spirit, they are liable to be sitting next to you on your next flight.

Flying nowadays, unless in first or business class, resembles mass transit in urban areas.

Posted by: whig at November 22, 2024 11:09 AM (ctrM5)

26 "I’ve been in enough honky-tonks

At the Palomino club (long gone) saw a waitress searching the floor. Contact lens? No, her benzedrine pills.

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle at November 22, 2024 11:09 AM (5NDhQ)

27 They're underestimating Newsom.

California's Annual Deficits Rising to $30 Billion, "No Capacity" for New Spending

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Peppermint Mocha! at November 22, 2024 11:10 AM (L/fGl)

28 Going to miss the brawls in the airport.

OK, not really but they were entertaining.

Posted by: NR Pax at November 22, 2024 11:10 AM (RjOoY)

29 Tanned, rested, and ready to resurrect from the ashes.

Posted by: People Express Airline at November 22, 2024 11:11 AM (Aqu9a)

30 Heard a nun about...
Apropos typo.

Posted by: Angzarr the Cromulent at November 22, 2024 11:11 AM (XMwZJ)

31 Air travel sucks.. on the best flights. First class is ridiculously expensive… the air staff are too often assholes.

Posted by: tubal at November 22, 2024 11:11 AM (PCK5/)

32 27 They're underestimating Newsom.

California's Annual Deficits Rising to $30 Billion, "No Capacity" for New Spending
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Peppermint Mocha! at November 22, 2024 11:10 AM (L/fGl)
-----
China to the rescue? They have a lot of hooks in CA politicians.

Posted by: Chairman LMAO, AI Expert at November 22, 2024 11:11 AM (LPS7w)

33 Well, this seems like an appropriate thread to let y'all know that my son-in-law will be playing at the Grand Ole Opry Saturday

Posted by: Swamp Rabbit at November 22, 2024 11:11 AM (EFZgU)

34 I caught your comment about the iconic Trump photo at Butler.

To paraphrase Erik Prince, the head of Trump's USSS detail in Butler that day, Sean Curran, totally cocked that one up.

Get him horizontal and off the X. No laying under fat women involved in that.

Posted by: one hour sober

-

I would've preferred the same folks just told the guy on the roof with the gun "Hey, get down" or shot him or gotten the POTUS off the stage until the man with the gun was removed from the roof, but I guess they're the professionals.

Posted by: Boron Cobbie was called a pharisee onager for rejecting abortion and child sex slavery at November 22, 2024 11:11 AM (U0Dlz)

35 Posted by: Ripley at November 22, 2024 11:09 AM (GUOwU)
Well, now you HAVE to tell the story!

Posted by: Angzarr the Cromulent at November 22, 2024 11:12 AM (XMwZJ)

36 Well, this seems like an appropriate thread to let y'all know that my son-in-law will be playing at the Grand Ole Opry Saturday
Posted by: Swamp Rabbit
--------------
That's pretty cool. Will you be able to attend?

Posted by: scampydog at November 22, 2024 11:12 AM (2bFN5)

37 Flew Spirit one time about 10 years on a short 2 hour flight to Florida (how bad could it be?) and it was the worst flying experience of my life. That is saying a lot given what a nightmare it has become. And all to save maybe $50. Never again. I would rather take a bus than experience that again.
Posted by: Ripley at November 22, 2024 11:09 AM (GUOwU)

Welcome onboard. Sit back, relax, and leave the driving to us.

Posted by: Greyhound Bus Lines at November 22, 2024 11:13 AM (Aqu9a)

38 This isn’t a real rant.
There’s no monkey.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at November 22, 2024 11:13 AM (jbnUc)

39 Da fuq?

Harris Campaign Raising Money for Recounts So They Can Experience Losing Again

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Peppermint Mocha! at November 22, 2024 11:13 AM (L/fGl)

40 Dang, we're having snow flurries here in NoVa. Where is FEMA???

Posted by: Archimedes at November 22, 2024 11:13 AM (xCA6C)

41 31 Air travel sucks.. on the best flights. First class is ridiculously expensive… the air staff are too often assholes.
Posted by: tubal
=======
Like most of modern life, airline travel used to be glamorous and pleasant for the most part.

Nowadays, it resembles a trip on Con Air.

Posted by: whig at November 22, 2024 11:13 AM (ctrM5)

42 The GOPe allied with the left in part because they got them to agree to the socialization of losses while maintaining the privatization of gains.

Obviously if you are a large scale investor this is incredible - its like going to a casino with a guarantee your losses will be paid back - of course you'd throw money at the games you'd never otherwise have played...

Companies have to be allowed to fail. And even connected elitists need to lose their shirts if they make bad choices

Posted by: 18-1 at November 22, 2024 11:14 AM (oZhjI)

43 Haven't flown since 2014. Don't miss it at all.

Posted by: davidt at November 22, 2024 11:14 AM (i0F8b)

44 39 Da fuq?

Harris Campaign Raising Money for Recounts So They Can Experience Losing Again
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Peppermint Mocha! at November 22, 2024 11:13 AM (L/fGl)

That is some brazen grifting there.. a Dem and their money are soon parted…

Posted by: tubal at November 22, 2024 11:14 AM (PCK5/)

45 There’s no monkey.
Posted by: Dr. Claw

Buck is proudly monkey-free.

Posted by: Bulg at November 22, 2024 11:14 AM (v6JzV)

46 Huh. Talk of bygone airlines made me look up Braniff. Wiki says they ceased operations in May of '82, but I'd swear I flew with them a bit later than that.

Posted by: Zombie Robbo the Llama Butcher at November 22, 2024 11:14 AM (LxER7)

47 Harris Campaign Raising Money for Recounts So They Can Experience Losing Again
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Peppermint Mocha! at November 22, 2024 11:13 AM (L/fGl)

How else are they gonna pay off their debt?

Posted by: ... at November 22, 2024 11:14 AM (lbAks)

48 I'm sure the Haitians shooting at Spirit Airlines planes didn't help

Posted by: SMOD at November 22, 2024 11:15 AM (RHGPo)

49 Like most of modern life, airline travel used to be glamorous and pleasant for the most part.

Nowadays, it resembles a trip on Con Air.

It's the people (passengers) that make the difference. The people who used to fly had to have money, so were UMC at least. Now, it's everyone, so you get lowest common denominator behavior.

Posted by: Archimedes at November 22, 2024 11:15 AM (xCA6C)

50 Outside of on plane entertainment air travel has generally gotten worse over the last several decades.

And why is that?

Its because it is heavily regulated.

Compare the difference in cars over the same time period, which are less regulated.

Posted by: 18-1 at November 22, 2024 11:15 AM (oZhjI)

51 With the upcoming release of Wicked, the film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, moviegoers have reported disruptions from fans, a.k.a. “theater kids,” singing along to the soundtrack at screenings.

Posted by: SMOD at November 22, 2024 11:15 AM (RHGPo)

52 "There are many once-great airline names such as TWA, US Air"

I remember US Air but I don't remember it being great ? Formerly Allegheny Airline, our nickname was Agony Air.

Posted by: Next2Nothing at November 22, 2024 11:15 AM (tA1/w)

53 >>I would've preferred the same folks just told the guy on the roof with the gun "Hey, get down" or shot him or gotten the POTUS off the stage until the man with the gun was removed from the roof, but I guess they're the professionals.

Quite true. Another reason why Sean Curran has no business being named head of the USSS.

But as whig stated, it's Trump's call.

Posted by: one hour sober at November 22, 2024 11:15 AM (Y1sOo)

54 I just came back from the supermarket. 2 bits of good news:
Philadelphia Inquirer big font headline:
Casey concedes senate race

Gas in DE: 2.89/ gallon

IT’s a TRUMPY day here in SEPA!

Posted by: kallisto at November 22, 2024 11:16 AM (2Mt9C)

55 TSA has ruined what was left of air travel. Well, that and exorbitantly priced air fares. And exorbitantly priced airport food. And exorbitantly priced airport parking. And fugly flight attendants or whatever their called these days. Guys shouldn't even be flight attendants

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead...Wearing Pants and Working at November 22, 2024 11:16 AM (luW68)

56
WSJ is treading the same path as the Economist.

And corporations are being run by people as hostile to capitalism as bureaucrats.

Posted by: Auspex at November 22, 2024 11:16 AM (j4U/Z)

57 "Laken Riley's killer "never stood a chance"

Gas him.
Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism"

In response to her murder and ensure student safety the city and university are taking firm action. Installing lights and cameras!

They will install TSA like security everywhere before inconveniencing or "marginalizing" the illegals in their midst.

Assholes libs refuse to learn.

Posted by: Ripley at November 22, 2024 11:16 AM (GUOwU)

58 Flying used to be fun. It morphed into cattle transport and security has become a tyrant's dream. It's become the most dreaded part of anyone's travel plans.

Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at November 22, 2024 11:16 AM (g8Ew8)

59 Spirit is a dogshit airline chosen only as a last resort.

Posted by: mr tmz at November 22, 2024 11:16 AM (rJ48h)

60 Last time I flew was in 2016. The last time prior to that was in 2002. I was shocked at how badly flying had deteriorated in the interim.
And that was 8 years ago.

Posted by: sal at November 22, 2024 11:17 AM (f+FmA)

61 With a name like Spirit, how was it not doomed to die from the beginning?

Posted by: ShainS -- We shot them under DOD Directive 5240.01 at November 22, 2024 11:17 AM (MpEy/)

62 Defunct airline names.. Eastern Airline, Ozark Airline..

Posted by: tubal at November 22, 2024 11:17 AM (PCK5/)

63 That's pretty cool. Will you be able to attend?
Posted by: scampydog
--------------
Sadly no. Already have another commitment

Posted by: Swamp Rabbit at November 22, 2024 11:17 AM (EFZgU)

64 lurve all the Spirit Airlines fights and meltdowns in the terminals on YT. It's right up there with Waffle House and Mac-Donalds.
Posted by: Count de Monet at November 22, 2024 11:08 AM (Aqu9a)

The absolute best McDonald's police video ever is the guy who called 911 to complain about his French fries being too cold, which is ridiculous enough, But wait, there's more! As the police officer was filling out his report, the guy gets an "Oh shit!" Look on his face, grabs the officer's note pad and starts to run. The cop tackles him and we find out this guy has a warrant out for murder! Imagine calling the police over cold fries not being the stupidest thing you'll do all day.

Posted by: Josephistan at November 22, 2024 11:17 AM (y9ksN)

65 Regarding airlines, Delta "Comfort+" seating now has seats just as narrow as economy, but with superficial extra padding on the seats and about 3" more legroom than economy. Other than getting to board after first class and diamond medallion, if you're short it's not worrh it. First class ticket pricea have gone up a LOT in the last couple of years. All the airlines suck.

Posted by: Chairman LMAO, AI Expert at November 22, 2024 11:17 AM (LPS7w)

66 JetBlue and Alaska are the best. The others can suck it. Southwest was quirky yet useful but their wokeness ruined them.

Murdoch had a hissy fit around the pandemic and dumped all his airline stock, said airlines are too volatile of an investment. He's not far off.

Posted by: LizLem, Lord of the Rings and the Reckonings at November 22, 2024 11:18 AM (wcIbG)

67 More competitors is “anti-competitive.” More airlines to choose from is “fewer choices.”

In other news, water is dry.

Posted by: Buzz Adrenaline at November 22, 2024 11:18 AM (JRP2U)

68 Like most of modern life, airline travel used to be glamorous and pleasant for the most part.
******

And all you needed was to show up at the gate with your boarding pass

Posted by: kallisto at November 22, 2024 11:18 AM (2Mt9C)

69 Back in the day, Eastern Airlines used to have champagne flights to Miami.

Posted by: SMOD at November 22, 2024 11:18 AM (RHGPo)

70 Andrew McCabe has issued a ringing endorsement of Kash Patel, saying he'll do irreparable damage to the FBI.

Posted by: Meade Lux Lewis, Domestic Terrorist at November 22, 2024 11:18 AM (paSBy)

71 What's a handful of billions of dollars?

FTX Co-founder Gets No Prison Time After Cooperating in Case Against Sam Bankman-Fried

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Peppermint Mocha! at November 22, 2024 11:18 AM (L/fGl)

72 Spirit's biggest problem is they didn't embrace electric airplanes.

All that fuel savings...

Posted by: Stateless at November 22, 2024 11:19 AM (jvJvP)

73 62 Defunct airline names.. Eastern Airline, Ozark Airline..
Posted by: tubal at November 22, 2024 11:17 AM (PCK5/)
---'
Who can forget TWA and Pan-Am?

Posted by: Chairman LMAO, AI Expert at November 22, 2024 11:19 AM (LPS7w)

74 Back in the day, Eastern Airlines used to have champagne flights to Miami.

There was one weird rule .. they couldn't open the bottles until they have passed thru Virginia because it was a "dry state"

Posted by: SMOD at November 22, 2024 11:19 AM (RHGPo)

75 Too bad the government won’t compensate the workers, flyers and creditors harmed by its blunder.

I can't imagine having the US taxpayer backstop all of my business transactions and stock trades. Must be nice.

Posted by: t-bird at November 22, 2024 11:19 AM (qh15L)

76 Murdoch had a hissy fit around the pandemic and dumped all his airline stock, said airlines are too volatile of an investment. He's not far off.
Posted by: LizLem
===

Are you referring to Warren Buffett? He dumped his holdings at the an all time low

Airlines have always been terrible investments. Too regulated and too many unions.

Posted by: Leupold at November 22, 2024 11:20 AM (4pwAx)

77 FWIW, According to the media aside from Bongino who admits that he has not talked with Trump about the position.

Trump is also reportedly considering Sean Curran, the current head of the president-elect’s security detail, and Robert Engel, the former leader of his detail, for the position, which does not require Senate confirmation.

RCP has a third contender, "Tom Armas, "a U.S. Marine general who also previously served several years as a Secret Service agent but spent the majority of his career in the Marines. Armas worked with Bongino in the Secret Service's New York Field Office." Guy was a 9/11 hero carrying people out of the Trade Center that day.

Posted by: whig at November 22, 2024 11:20 AM (ctrM5)

78 This administration hasn't ever gotten anything right.

On purpose? Don't know.

Posted by: Seems Legit at November 22, 2024 11:20 AM (jyAD3)

79 17
‘ Hopefully a rival gang shanks his ass in prison.’
I’ll bet ‘rival gang’ could make some money if they did a GoFundMe first.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at November 22, 2024 11:20 AM (jbnUc)

80 >>>The absolute best McDonald's police video ever is the guy who called 911 to complain about his French fries being too cold, which is ridiculous enough

Getting cold fries at McDonald’s should be a crime. It’s the only thing on their menu that’s halfway decent.

Donald is with me on this one, I know it.

Posted by: Disinterested FDA Director and Pfizer Board Member at November 22, 2024 11:20 AM (FC8SQ)

81 Flying used to be fun. It morphed into cattle transport and security has become a tyrant's dream. It's become the most dreaded part of anyone's travel plans.
Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at November 22, 2024 11:16 AM (g8Ew

And the pretzels suck!

Posted by: Count de Monet at November 22, 2024 11:20 AM (Aqu9a)

82 >>> Defunct airline names.. Eastern Airline, Ozark Airline..
Posted by: tubal at November 22, 2024 11:17 AM (PCK5/)

=====

In the 70's my grandmother would fly to visit on Ozark's. Milwaukee to Des Moines.

Posted by: Turn 2 at November 22, 2024 11:20 AM (JfxgE)

83 Dang, we're having snow flurries here in NoVa. Where is FEMA???
Posted by: Archimedes

You DID remember to take down your Trump/Vance signs, right?

Posted by: Bulg at November 22, 2024 11:20 AM (v6JzV)

84 With the upcoming release of Wicked, the film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, moviegoers have reported disruptions from fans, a.k.a. “theater kids,” singing along to the soundtrack at screenings.

Posted by: SMOD

--

I'm interested to see how that does. A gay-focused musical, with an unattractive lead, and that unattractive lead appears outside of the movie in intentional ways to make herself even more hideously unattractive before attacking fans and being all around terrible about almost everything.

Spoiler alert: You *might* be able to do that if you're cute. You don't get that luxury when you're green and have a septum piercing.

AND it's a musical, which moviegoing audiences tend to reject on the whole.

The latest I heard was that some superfan made a poster that more accurately represented the ad for the play, and the green lady got FURIOUS because it canceled her or something. Even though it looks fantastic and true to the very thing the lady is going to ruin.

https://tinyurl.com/26e5hukg

Posted by: Boron Cobbie was called a pharisee onager for rejecting abortion and child sex slavery at November 22, 2024 11:21 AM (U0Dlz)

85 Two small companies (relative to the industry) want to merge, the government says no, and you're down with that? Because they can just go bankrupt instead?

That doesn't sound "assertively pro-free market and pro-capitalism".

Posted by: Xander Crews at November 22, 2024 11:21 AM (rEmVK)

86 There was one weird rule .. they couldn't open the bottles until they have passed thru Virginia because it was a "dry state"
Posted by: SMOD at November 22, 2024 11:19 AM (RHGPo)

That was in case they crashed. Didn't want to get arrested.

Posted by: ... at November 22, 2024 11:21 AM (lbAks)

87 there are four airlines that control 68% of the US airline market: American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Airlines, and Southwest

Simple solution - let foreign airlines operate routes within the United States.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at November 22, 2024 11:22 AM (uxCna)

88 And seats pitched at 29 inches. Seriously. And you gotta buy those little snacks....

However... I flew Mexicana while back, on a 727 no less. Not only was it clean and everything worked, but we had hand made sammiches as the inflight meal, served with coffee in a real cup and flan served on a real plate with a real knife and fork, and a real napkin.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead...Wearing Pants and Working at November 22, 2024 11:22 AM (luW68)

89 American Airlines Flight 191, a McDonnell-Douglas DC-10 aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Chicago O’Hare Airport.
A special touch was that they were an early adopter of a camera in the cockpit, so all 271 souls on-board could see the end coming.

Posted by: SMOD at November 22, 2024 11:23 AM (RHGPo)

90
Would you fly a Saab fighter jet into battle?

What if you couldn't get out of 2nd gear? Or the wzter pump seized?

Posted by: Soothsayer at November 22, 2024 11:23 AM (lKHyZ)

91 He's like Jesus.

Kevin Dalton@TheKevinDalton
“I don’t care who you voted for. I care about Trump supporters, I care about Robert Kennedy Jr supporters, I care about Tucker Carlson supporters, I care about Charlie Kirk supporters, I care about Ben Shapiro supporters, I care about all people.” - Gavin Newsom

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Peppermint Mocha! at November 22, 2024 11:23 AM (L/fGl)

92 Thom Tillis posted on X about a meeting they had on the Helene survivors. That's what they are doing, having meetings.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at November 22, 2024 11:23 AM (gfViB)

93 In the 70s, Fred MacMurray was a spokesmouth for Greyhound. Think he actually rode the dog?

Maybe he did as he was a notorious cheapskate.

Posted by: Married to June Haver-Pocket Grable at November 22, 2024 11:23 AM (nS6qG)

94 Trump hasn’t even been sworn in yet and things are getting better.

Gas price dropping, caravans headed for US Border breaking up and turning back, at least one major corporation unceremoniously dumped its DEI initiative…I look forward to my mtg pmt dropping next reset in April

Posted by: kallisto at November 22, 2024 11:23 AM (2Mt9C)

95 Rest assured, there will be merger talk among these remaining carriers too, with all the usual suspects stating that we need to let the airlines consolidate further – in the name of “competition.”

-------------

I, for one, do not look forward to our future General Motors Airlines overlord oligarchs who've been bailed out by the feral government.

[Blast from the past -- Trump in 2018:] "If GM doesn't want to keep their jobs in the United States, they should pay back the $11.2 billion bailout that was funded by the American taxpayer ..."

Posted by: ShainS -- We shot them under DOD Directive 5240.01 at November 22, 2024 11:24 AM (MpEy/)

96 Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Peppermint Mocha! at November 22, 2024 11:23 AM (L/fGl)

Should have appended "2028" to his name.

Posted by: ... at November 22, 2024 11:24 AM (lbAks)

97 I never dared fly Spirit. If they had all their stupid no fringe rules, like you pay to carry on a bag and you pay to breathe, BUT they were Nazis when it came to being on time and planes working, they could have survived. People will put up with no frills for punctuality and stellar customer service. But you can't have zero amenities and zero customer service and zero reliability. You deserve to go under.

Pan Am was the classiest! I'm glad they saved the old Pan Am terminal in NYC and turned it into a retro hotel. Very pretty.

Posted by: LizLem, Lord of the Rings and the Reckonings at November 22, 2024 11:24 AM (wcIbG)

98 They will install TSA like security everywhere before inconveniencing or "marginalizing" the illegals in their midst.
Los Angeles wants to TSA metro buses. If I can't carry a pocket knife, as I have since a boy scout, then fuggit. No mo bus.

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle at November 22, 2024 11:25 AM (5NDhQ)

99 Terribly sorry- I know very little about aviation and thus will not comment on that topic. I will, however, happily chime in when this thread goes off the rails.

Posted by: Don Black at November 22, 2024 11:25 AM (/7KEl)

100 I'm a Greyhound veteran. I still remember the smell.

Posted by: davidt at November 22, 2024 11:25 AM (i0F8b)

101 There was one weird rule .. they couldn't open the bottles until they have passed thru Virginia because it was a "dry state"

Wasn't there a case once where some Kansas law enforcement person tried to arrest a stewardess because Kansas was dry, and the plane was flying over Kansas?

Posted by: The ARC of History! at November 22, 2024 11:25 AM (uxCna)

102 Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Peppermint Mocha! at November 22, 2024 11:23 AM (L/fGl)

This is the sound of a demorat whose kingdom is getting redder

Posted by: kallisto at November 22, 2024 11:25 AM (2Mt9C)

103 Buck, you are probably right about Spirit since I haven't paid much attention to it. And I have not read the WSJ because I'm not gonna fucking pay for it. But, But, government interference in the marketplace, no matter how well intentioned, is anti-business and anti-competitive. That is an identity as true as any that exists.
We only have 5 major airlines because of government protection in one way or the other. Eliminate all of that, not increase it as you are advocating, and the number of airlines will not matter since competition will provide the market discipline you claim to crave.

Posted by: Earl Schlobodowicz at November 22, 2024 11:25 AM (P7Iz+)

104 First time I flew was on Piedmont Airlines. Martin 404. Going to Parris Island. They didn't have the common courtesy to fly us into Savannah for a bus ride. They flew into MCAS Beaufort where a sadistic fucker and a cattle car were waiting.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at November 22, 2024 11:26 AM (gm9Sb)

105 >>>JetBlue and Alaska are the best.

Been years since I’ve flown JetBlue, but it was pretty good. Alaska is great. They also used to have $99 upgrades to business class.

Hawaiian is also pretty good. I mostly fly United these days, as they seem consistently decent. I’ve had too many bad experiences with American.

Posted by: Disinterested FDA Director and Pfizer Board Member at November 22, 2024 11:26 AM (FC8SQ)

106 I own a double-bass. They're huge. It's like having a silent roommate who never moves.

He just watches and judges you.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at November 22, 2024 11:27 AM (WPL6O)

107 Gee, the mix is just sad on that music video.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 22, 2024 11:27 AM (6ZWLr)

108 Two small companies (relative to the industry) want to merge, the government says no, and you're down with that? Because they can just go bankrupt instead?

That doesn't sound "assertively pro-free market and pro-capitalism".
Posted by: Xander Crews at November 22, 2024 11:21 AM (rEmVK)

Yeah. My mind is grappling with this logic also.

Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at November 22, 2024 11:27 AM (g8Ew8)

109 He's like Jesus.

Kevin Dalton@TheKevinDalton
“I don’t care who you voted for. I care about Trump supporters, I care about Robert Kennedy Jr supporters, I care about Tucker Carlson supporters, I care about Charlie Kirk supporters, I care about Ben Shapiro supporters, I care about all people.” - Gavin Newsom

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Peppermint Mocha! at November 22, 2024 11:23 AM (L/fGl)

---------------

"Except, of course, I care about third-world criminal illegal alien invaders more than the rest!"

Posted by: ShainS -- We shot them under DOD Directive 5240.01 at November 22, 2024 11:27 AM (MpEy/)

110 Without knowing anything else about the proposed merger, just that it was under a Dem admin, I am confident that the reason the merger was blocked was insufficient grease.

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at November 22, 2024 11:28 AM (6U1c2)

111 And FEMA? Well, they've brought in one mobile, which is enough for them to close the shelters. Whenthey boot you out, the state gives you 30 days to find shelter or they take your kids. They took the kids from a woman that dug her four kids out of a slide to save their lives. And the kids are taken to a different state and you may or may not have a car to be able to see them.

But folks from FEMA are fine.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at November 22, 2024 11:28 AM (gfViB)

112 One time I flew on KLM. Pure class, cute Dutch stews, good food and beer.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at November 22, 2024 11:28 AM (gm9Sb)

113 We only have 5 major airlines because of government protection in one way or the other. Eliminate all of that, not increase it as you are advocating, and the number of airlines will not matter since competition will provide the market discipline you claim to crave.
Posted by: Earl Schlobodowicz at November 22, 2024 11:25 AM (P7Iz+)

We have expansion plans ready to go and investors lined up. Let's do it!

Posted by: Grace L. Ferguson Airline (and Storm Door Co.) at November 22, 2024 11:28 AM (Aqu9a)

114 One of the major reasons that air travel competition is stifled is the big airlines control over gates at airports.

Moving to a bidding system on gates would allow new startups access to little used gates.

Another would be allowing foreign airlines of trusted allies (no Russian nor Chinese airlines) more access to flying point to point within the US such as KLM, British Airways, etc.

Posted by: whig at November 22, 2024 11:29 AM (ctrM5)

115 I own a double-bass. They're huge. It's like having a silent roommate who never moves.

He just watches and judges you.
Posted by: BeckoningChasm at November 22, 2024 11:27 AM (WPL6O)

I have a a couple of plants that do that.

Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at November 22, 2024 11:29 AM (g8Ew8)

116 I know SW wanted to expand into Bellingham, north of Seattle. Lack of jets halted it.
Those bankruptcy jets are worth more today than they were new.

Posted by: MkY at November 22, 2024 11:29 AM (lDJs+)

117 They flew into MCAS Beaufort where a sadistic fucker and a cattle car were waiting.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at November 22, 2024 11:26 AM (gm9Sb)

But things got better...right?

Posted by: BignJames at November 22, 2024 11:29 AM (Yj6Os)

118 "Posted by: Ripley at November 22, 2024 11:09 AM (GUOwU)
Well, now you HAVE to tell the story!

Posted by: Angzarr the Cromulent"

Since you asked, I had to go to Miami to look at a small construction job we were working on in a hospital in Miami on short notice. Boarding was a pain and seat very uncomfortable to say the least but I survived. After looking at the job-site for a couple hours we returned to the airport and I arrived at the check in around 3 PM They woudl NOT give me a boarding pass since I missed their ridiculous cutoff time by a minute or two but there was still plenty of time to get to the gate on time (I was in line well before cut-off time but line was incredibly slow) I think they had already sold my ticket and I had to wait an hour for the crowd to clear before they would attend to me. They finally gave me a ticket for the last flight of the day around 11pm and I arrived at 1 AM in the morning in Atlanta.

Worst part: this was all the day before Christmas and completely missed what we had planned with wife and kids for Christmas eve. Spirit is asshoe

Posted by: Ripley at November 22, 2024 11:30 AM (GUOwU)

119 It's during these times that someone inevitably tries to resurrect the corpse of nationwide high-speed rail.

Posted by: Citizen Cake at November 22, 2024 11:30 AM (CwhoI)

120 117 Footprints. Yellow footprints.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at November 22, 2024 11:30 AM (gm9Sb)

121 Just spoke to President Trump regarding
Mike Rogers going to the FBI. It's not happening — In his own words, "I have never even given it a thought." Not happening.

Posted by: SMOD at November 22, 2024 11:30 AM (RHGPo)

122 As a kid, flew to the Azores. No jets could land at tiny airport.
DC 3. Pilot invited me to stand in cockpit for landing. No, didn't ask if I liked gladiator movies.

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle at November 22, 2024 11:31 AM (5NDhQ)

123 To answer a question from the last thread, I don't think Saab manufactured aircraft engines, but Volvo does. They're basically Swede-ified Rolls Royce engines
Posted by: Josephistan at November 22, 2024 11:09 AM (y9ksN)

Saab built these:

https://tinyurl.com/359u8vs9

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 22, 2024 11:32 AM (6ZWLr)

124 >>>Just spoke to President Trump regarding
Mike Rogers going to the FBI. It's not happening — In his own words, "I have never even given it a thought." Not happening.

Not so fast...

Posted by: Senate Republicans at November 22, 2024 11:32 AM (CwhoI)

125 Flying has always frightened me. The good thing about being worried the wings are going to fall off is that you don't notice all the other irritants and inconveniences.

Posted by: Zombie Robbo the Llama Butcher at November 22, 2024 11:32 AM (LxER7)

126 Haven't flown since 2014. Don't miss it at all.
Posted by: davidt at November 22, 2024

***
Same here. My occasion in Sept. 2014 was to attend the fiftieth anniversary mini-convention of U.N.C.L.E. in Culver City. Had two non-stop flights, and even got the fast processing on boarding the return flight. But ever since flight "attendants" began acting like Soviet commissars over face diaper and other rules, I lost any interest in ever getting on a plane again.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at November 22, 2024 11:33 AM (J2vNu)

127 We only have 5 major airlines because of government protection in one way or the other. Eliminate all of that, not increase it as you are advocating, and the number of airlines will not matter since competition will provide the market discipline you claim to crave.
Posted by: Earl Schlobodowicz at November 22, 2024 11:25 AM (P7Iz+)

We have expansion plans ready to go and investors lined up. Let's do it!
Posted by: Grace L. Ferguson Airline (and Storm Door Co.)

We already have our DC-1, the Enola Gay, flying routes. We have our eyes on a DC-3, or a Ford Tri-Motor, for a second route.

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at November 22, 2024 11:33 AM (VNX3d)

128 Boron Cobbie, I love musicals but I hate Wicked. A lot. Just one of those things. Part of it was it was written in the Bush era and Oz is a thinly veiled Bush villain. Once I saw, I could not unsee. Keep politics out of my musical escapism.

Wicked will do well. Liberals will flock to it with Trump winning for relief and escapism. Women that have loved it for over 20 years and who are mad they didn't get the lead in the local production will go in droves. I think it will be this year's Barbie. And musicals in general do well in recessions and depressions. The top songs sold in the hippie era weren't protest rock and folk, it was musical soundtracks.

They NEED to have special screenings like they do for moms with kids with disabilities, so your kids can run in the aisle and scream and all the parents around you are ok with it. They are planning to have sing along screenings released in December. Smart! Get them hit in their wallets twice, once for opening weekend and another time for the sing along. There will be lots of drunken slur singing and dancing in the aisles.

Posted by: LizLem, Lord of the Rings and the Reckonings at November 22, 2024 11:33 AM (wcIbG)

129 Worst part: this was all the day before Christmas and completely missed what we had planned with wife and kids for Christmas eve. Spirit is asshoe
Posted by: Ripley at November 22, 2024 11:30 AM (GUOwU)

Rent a car for the trip home instead of flying?

Posted by: Del Griffith at November 22, 2024 11:33 AM (Aqu9a)

130 Gavin Newsom is asshoe

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle at November 22, 2024 11:34 AM (5NDhQ)

131 >>Terribly sorry- I know very little about aviation and thus will not comment on that topic. I will, however, happily chime in when this thread goes off the rails.

I'm a retired commercial pilot and I'm staying the hell away from this discussion. ha-ha.

And, no, I won't say which one I worked for because I don't want to get yelled at by someone who once had bad experience either at the gate or on the ride.

Posted by: one hour sober at November 22, 2024 11:34 AM (Y1sOo)

132 Another would be allowing foreign airlines of trusted allies (no Russian nor Chinese airlines) more access to flying point to point within the US such as KLM, British Airways, etc.

Britain is a "trusted ally"?

The people who want to arrest Elon Musk?

Posted by: The ARC of History! at November 22, 2024 11:35 AM (uxCna)

133 Going to disagree with you on this one.

Mergers are normal in an industry downturn. Bankruptcy is a more expensive and destructive process to free up assets. There's no benefit in preventing two small companies from merging to avoid bankruptcy during weak times. Bigger players buying out the smaller ones is more worthy of concern.

Posted by: Red Turban Someguy at November 22, 2024 11:35 AM (eYoxG)

134 Flying has always frightened me. The good thing about being worried the wings are going to fall off is that you don't notice all the other irritants and inconveniences.
Posted by: Zombie Robbo the Llama Butcher at November 22, 2024 11:32 AM (LxER7)

I actually love flying. But I loathe air travel. So I don't do it unless it's a dire emergency.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Part of the E-4 Mafia at November 22, 2024 11:35 AM (xPJvm)

135 84 With the upcoming release of Wicked, the film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, moviegoers have reported disruptions from fans, a.k.a. “theater kids,” singing along to the soundtrack at screenings.

Posted by: SMOD

Going for a modern day Rocky Horror?

Posted by: A dude in MI at November 22, 2024 11:35 AM (/6GbT)

136 As a kid, flew to the Azores. No jets could land at tiny airport.
DC 3. Pilot invited me to stand in cockpit for landing. No, didn't ask if I liked gladiator movies.
Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle at November 22, 2024 11:31 AM (5NDhQ)

You should have told the pilot, "Good luck. Everyone's counting on you".

Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at November 22, 2024 11:35 AM (g8Ew8)

137 121 Just spoke to President Trump regarding
Mike Rogers going to the FBI. It's not happening — In his own words, "I have never even given it a thought." Not happening.
Posted by: SMOD
_____

SMOD is in Trump's circle of influence.

Good, good.

Posted by: Chuck Martel at November 22, 2024 11:36 AM (fs1hN)

138 Morning.

How many mergers and bankruptcies before the Feds decide that, instead of bailouts, they just start nationalizing? I can hear the bleating of the sheep now. "All those other little countries have national airlines, why can't we?"

Posted by: Robert at November 22, 2024 11:36 AM (Zhdbv)

139 Wicked will do well. Liberals will flock to it with Trump winning for relief and escapism. Women that have loved it for over 20 years and who are mad they didn't get the lead in the local production will go in droves. I think it will be this year's Barbie. And musicals in general do well in recessions and depressions. The top songs sold in the hippie era weren't protest rock and folk, it was musical soundtracks.

-

I don't know. I think liberals and gays will go nuts for it, but it's not a movie for general audiences, even AWFLs. Especially since they're apparently advertising heavily that it's gay and for gays and full of gays.

And normal people are pretty dang sick of "look at me" gays, ESPECIALLY when it's something aimed at kids. And this very much is. There wouldn't be Rice Krispy Treats and Oreos and Lego sets if it wasn't.

Posted by: Boron Cobbie at November 22, 2024 11:36 AM (U0Dlz)

140 Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle at November 22, 2024 11:31 AM (5NDhQ)

You should have told the pilot, "Good luck. Everyone's counting on you".
Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at November 22, 2024 11:35 AM (g8Ew

You didn't bring up Macho Grande did you?

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Part of the E-4 Mafia at November 22, 2024 11:36 AM (xPJvm)

141 Outside of on plane entertainment air travel has generally gotten worse over the last several decades.

And why is that?

Its because it is heavily regulated.

Compare the difference in cars over the same time period, which are less regulated.
Posted by: 18-1 at November 22, 2024 11:15 AM (oZhjI)

On-plane entertainment? You mean shitty movies (i.e. all of them) on a screen smaller than a notebook display?

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 22, 2024 11:36 AM (6ZWLr)

142 Not so fast...

Traitor McCabe just endorsed Rogers.

Christopher Wray II.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at November 22, 2024 11:37 AM (uxCna)

143 A different link to Jaguar's head of brand strategy. Shorter, but you get a taste.

https://is.gd/nkOiGm

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Peppermint Mocha! at November 22, 2024 11:37 AM (L/fGl)

144 127 There's an outfit, maybe still in business, that flies you out from Port Clinton, OH to Catawba Island. Ford tri motor.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at November 22, 2024 11:37 AM (gm9Sb)

145 American Airlines Flight 191, a McDonnell-Douglas DC-10 aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Chicago O’Hare Airport.
A special touch was that they were an early adopter of a camera in the cockpit, so all 271 souls on-board could see the end coming.

Posted by: SMOD at November 22, 2024 11:23 AM (RHGPo)

--------------

May of 1979.

[One of those what-ifs (like Waylon Jennings as Buddy Holly's bass player giving up his seat to The Big Bopper on "The Day The Music Died"):]

My freshman year of college undergrad was at Claremont Men's College (now Claremont McKenna) beginning three months after that. Some of the guys I played football with were on the baseball team the prior year. They were in some kind of Division III regional playoff in Chicago and -- had they won instead of lost and been eliminated -- would have been on that flight.

* Sent chills up my spine the first time I heard that ... *

Posted by: ShainS -- We shot them under DOD Directive 5240.01 at November 22, 2024 11:37 AM (MpEy/)

146 Is Spirit one of those economy airlines where you pay extra for every single thing?

Posted by: Northernlurker , Maple Syrup MAGA at November 22, 2024 11:37 AM (kTd/k)

147 I would, and have, paid twice the price just to avoid this airline. In fact, I often spend hours on the road just to avoid airlines altogether. What used to be a time saver is now an invasive, disgusting ordeal. I can drive 700 miles faster than I can fly it.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at November 22, 2024 11:38 AM (lTGtQ)

148 I'm sorry, Senators, but I have an FBI jet waiting to whisk me off to my vacation house, so I don't have time to answer any more of your stupid questions.

Posted by: Christopher Wray! at November 22, 2024 11:38 AM (uxCna)

149 OT but my pet theory is the reason Senate Republicans were opposed to Matt Gaetz is because they didn't want an AG who spent so much time penciling in his eyebrows.

Seriously, what the fuck is he thinking? "Hurrrr hurrr hurrr, Matt Gaetz look like supervillain now, durrrrrrrr!!!!"

Posted by: Robert at November 22, 2024 11:38 AM (Zhdbv)

150 As a kid, flew to the Azores. No jets could land at tiny airport.
DC 3. Pilot invited me to stand in cockpit for landing. No, didn't ask if I liked gladiator movies.
Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle at November 22, 2024
*
You should have told the pilot, "Good luck. Everyone's counting on you".
Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at November 22, 2024

***
Twice -- once after landing!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at November 22, 2024 11:38 AM (J2vNu)

151 Not so fast...

Traitor McCabe just endorsed Rogers.

Christopher Wray II.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at November 22, 2024 11:37 AM (uxCna)

-------------------

What, James Comey isn't available?

Posted by: ShainS -- We shot them under DOD Directive 5240.01 at November 22, 2024 11:39 AM (MpEy/)

152 I thought the on plane entertainment was people watching.

The in terminal setting is the warmup.

The baggage claim setting is the denouement.

Posted by: Count de Monet at November 22, 2024 11:39 AM (Aqu9a)

153 American Airlines Flight 191, a McDonnell-Douglas DC-10 aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Chicago O’Hare Airport.
A special touch was that they were an early adopter of a camera in the cockpit, so all 271 souls on-board could see the end coming.

Posted by: SMOD

A relative of mine had to change travel plans, and so was not on this flight as originally scheduled.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at November 22, 2024 11:39 AM (lTGtQ)

154 I'm also betting that once Wicked hits theaters and there are openly gay scenes in a PG movie people are going to say "Wait a minute here"

Posted by: Boron Cobbie at November 22, 2024 11:39 AM (U0Dlz)

155 And, no, I won't say which one I worked for because I don't want to get yelled at by someone who once had bad experience either at the gate or on the ride.
Posted by: one hour sober
------------------------

So it was Delta...

Posted by: Swamp Rabbit at November 22, 2024 11:40 AM (EFZgU)

156 Is Spirit one of those economy airlines where you pay extra for every single thing?
Posted by: Northernlurker , Maple Syrup MAGA at November 22, 2024 11:37 AM (kTd/k)

Up to and including the pilots?

Posted by: Robert at November 22, 2024 11:40 AM (Zhdbv)

157 ***
Twice -- once after landing!
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at November 22, 2024 11:38 AM (J2vNu)

Now arriving at Gate 15....Gate 16....Gate 17...."

Posted by: Zombie Robbo the Llama Butcher at November 22, 2024 11:40 AM (LxER7)

158 Buck, it's the startups that are actively discouraged by government regulation that prevent the competition you are looking for. Regulation, not so coincidentally, advocated by the existing large players to essentially raise the barriers to entry for startups. This is true in most any industry.

Posted by: Earl Schlobodowicz at November 22, 2024 11:40 AM (P7Iz+)

159 "Rent a car for the trip home instead of flying?

Posted by: Del Griffith "

Looking back I should have even though it would have take a longer but less aggravation. My rule of thumb anymore if I can drive to destination in one day (no hotel) go by car.

Posted by: Ripley at November 22, 2024 11:40 AM (GUOwU)

160 Is Spirit one of those economy airlines where you pay extra for every single thing?

Posted by: Northernlurker

I think they discontinued the practice of charging for seat belts.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at November 22, 2024 11:40 AM (lTGtQ)

161 98
‘ If I can't carry a pocket knife, as I have since a boy scout, then fuggit. No mo bus.’

GAS THEM!

Posted by: Dr. Claw at November 22, 2024 11:41 AM (jbnUc)

162 138 Morning.

How many mergers and bankruptcies before the Feds decide that, instead of bailouts, they just start nationalizing? I can hear the bleating of the sheep now. "All those other little countries have national airlines, why can't we?"
Posted by: Robert

Arguably, a crony capitalist oligarchy is the worst of all worlds and that is our current airline system.

As a market, they are an example of a oligarchy where each of the big airlines control gates at an airport and the prime take off and landing times. Essentially, the largest airline at the airport runs the show with the others getting leavings.

Southwest got around a lot of that by merging with the likes of Air Tran and by purposefully picking airports that were lightly serviced by the bigs like Birmingham AL or Love/Hobby airports in Dallas and Houston. Now they are a big too and service/quality has slid down the toilet like the others.

Posted by: whig at November 22, 2024 11:41 AM (ctrM5)

163 A relative of mine had to change travel plans, and so was not on this flight as originally scheduled.

I was scheduled to fly Flight 191 precisely two weeks after it crashed, to attend a family gathering.

I called Mom, and said "good thing the family get-together wasn't two weeks earlier".

Posted by: Christopher Wray! at November 22, 2024 11:42 AM (uxCna)

164 And, no, I won't say which one I worked for because I don't want to get yelled at by someone who once had bad experience either at the gate or on the ride.

I understand your reticence, but let's be honest; flying has gotten so bad that you don't remember the bad experience, you remember the good ones because they're so rare.

Posted by: Archimedes at November 22, 2024 11:42 AM (xCA6C)

165 >>>Part of it was it was written in the Bush era and Oz is a thinly veiled Bush villain.

I thought Oz was supposed to be Grover Cleveland or William McKinley?

Posted by: Disinterested FDA Director and Pfizer Board Member at November 22, 2024 11:42 AM (FC8SQ)

166 >>>I’ve been in enough honky-tonks and dancehalls in my life that I can actually smell this video as I watch it.

>I said the same thing when I saw your mother, Throckmorton.

Happy Friday!

Posted by: Dr. Bone at November 22, 2024 11:43 AM (ltevi)

167 How many mergers and bankruptcies before the Feds decide that, instead of bailouts, they just start nationalizing? I can hear the bleating of the sheep now. "All those other little countries have national airlines, why can't we?"
Posted by: Robert

And when the plane crashes due to pilot or mechanic error, you can't sue unless the government says you can sue the government.

Posted by: rickb223 Gold & Silver Spot Prices at November 22, 2024 11:43 AM (ATiYV)

168 Christopher Wray!

Wrong nic.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at November 22, 2024 11:43 AM (uxCna)

169 If I remember right, in the original 'Rollerball Murder' story, of which the 'Rollerball' movies are based, the world economy consists of 5 corporations. The list was something like Food, Energy, Transporation, Housing, and Manufacturing. Sounds like the perfect economy for WSJ economist types.

Posted by: George V at November 22, 2024 11:43 AM (ugbqN)

170 How many mergers and bankruptcies before the Feds decide that, instead of bailouts, they just start nationalizing? I can hear the bleating of the sheep now. "All those other little countries have national airlines, why can't we?"
Posted by: Robert

Because an operation that has to compete for your business is inferior to one that can force you to use it at the point of a gun.

- typical leftist.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at November 22, 2024 11:43 AM (lTGtQ)

171 OT but my pet theory is the reason Senate Republicans were opposed to Matt Gaetz is because they didn't want an AG who spent so much time penciling in his eyebrows.

Here's a fascinating saga about Gaetz, Israel, McCabe, Ukraine, and others.

https://shorturl.at/DqXjX

Posted by: t-bird at November 22, 2024 11:44 AM (HBWHs)

172 Christopher Wray!

Wrong nic.
Posted by: The ARC of History!

It should be "Christopher Wray-Banned"?

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf - Remember Vic and VNN at November 22, 2024 11:44 AM (VNX3d)

173 Ford tri motor.

VNY airshow many years ago sold short hops on one. Louder than hell inside!!

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle at November 22, 2024 11:45 AM (5NDhQ)

174 Our family got stuck in the great Southwest Airlines debacle a few years ago. After 2 days sitting in airports with pilots and flight attendants who couldn't get their own flights to get to their assignments I gave up, rented a van, and drove home in the middle of the night.

Driving through rural Texas at 2 am, hopped up caffeine and sugar, was the scariest experience of my life. All the deer along the side of the road, just waiting to spring out and wreck my shit.

Posted by: Xander Crews at November 22, 2024 11:45 AM (rEmVK)

175 I think they discontinued the practice of charging for seat belts.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at November 22, 2024 11:40 AM (lTGtQ)

Do you get an actual place to sit with the base price?

Posted by: Northernlurker , Maple Syrup MAGA at November 22, 2024 11:45 AM (kTd/k)

176 Last time I flew it was to meet a bunch of you folks at the NoVaMoMe.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at November 22, 2024 11:46 AM (WPL6O)

177 158 Buck, it's the startups that are actively discouraged by government regulation that prevent the competition you are looking for. Regulation, not so coincidentally, advocated by the existing large players to essentially raise the barriers to entry for startups. This is true in most any industry.
Posted by: Earl Schlobodowicz

A lot of the regulations have to do with airline safety. Realistically, no one wants a return to the days where airlines had crashes quite often due to bad maintenance, bad planes, and sometimes bad piloting.

Control of airline gates and takeoff/landing slots has been left by FAA for the most part to local airports which are hives of conflicts of interest and catering to its largest airline at the expense of others. The now dissolved CAB controlled those slots and gates when airlines were a controlled oligopoly.

Like car manufacturing, airlines tend to produce an oligopoly due to high capital costs and relatively low returns coupled with periodic surges of fuel costs that sap profits. So, you get somewhere about where we are now primarily by deregulation by dissolving CAB. That caused a rapid consolidation of the industry for a new equilibrium.

Posted by: whig at November 22, 2024 11:47 AM (ctrM5)

178 The upright bass might be good for the visuals in the video, but it was inaudible.

Posted by: MichiCanuck at November 22, 2024 11:47 AM (DORIw)

179 145
‘ May of 1979. ’
There’s a ground perspective photo of that flight. It’s pretty sobering.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at November 22, 2024 11:47 AM (jbnUc)

180 Do you get an actual place to sit with the base price?

Posted by: Northernlurker

We laugh, but an airline in southeast Asia put in a bid for a plane that had standing restraints, so they could cram more passengers in. I think the shocked outrage caused them to kill the idea.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at November 22, 2024 11:47 AM (lTGtQ)

181 >>> All the deer along the side of the road, just waiting to spring out and wreck my shit.

Oh man, I've been through that. It's like they have a death wish and are begging to run in front of you and hit them! It's scary, but specially out in the middle of nowhere.

Posted by: LizLem, Lord of the Rings and the Reckonings at November 22, 2024 11:48 AM (wcIbG)

182 To use another example, in Oil & Gas it's not the large players that go bankrupt and disappear when prices crash like in 2020. Preventing small players from merging with each other to have the financial depth to withstand a downturn just means their assets get picked up by the larger players. Better to have a still small or perhaps barely medium player in the field than everything going to Exxon and Chevron.

It's also relatively rare for small players to pursue continual M&A as a growth strategy, that's usually more of a large company thing.

Posted by: Red Turban Someguy at November 22, 2024 11:48 AM (eYoxG)

183 All the deer along the side of the road, just waiting to spring out and wreck my shit.
Posted by: Xander Crews at November 22, 2024 11:45 AM (rEmVK)

I never understood why they like to sleep on the side of the road.

Posted by: Robert at November 22, 2024 11:48 AM (Zhdbv)

184 If I remember right, in the original 'Rollerball Murder' story, of which the 'Rollerball' movies are based, the world economy consists of 5 corporations. The list was something like Food, Energy, Transporation, Housing, and Manufacturing. Sounds like the perfect economy for WSJ economist types.

Posted by: George V at November 22, 2024 11:43 AM (ugbqN)

Acme

Posted by: BignJames at November 22, 2024 11:48 AM (Yj6Os)

185
My understanding is that passenger airlines, like passenger railroads, have over history never been profitable.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at November 22, 2024 11:49 AM (O0faj)

186 "All those other little countries have national airlines, why can't we?"

Posted by: Robert

We had one once, sorta. It was called Pan Am.

(looks around)

Nope...don't see it around anymore...

Posted by: Brother Tim, Keeper of the Tim Continuum at November 22, 2024 11:49 AM (OUMaO)

187 My best flying experiences have often been on non-,US carriers. I did fly a United 777 that was brand new out of Dulles once. Crew was top notch. 1997, I think it was...

Posted by: Joe Kidd at November 22, 2024 11:50 AM (I8RRu)

188 The upright bass might be good for the visuals in the video, but it was inaudible.
Posted by: MichiCanuck at November 22, 2024 11:47 AM (DORIw)

As were the vocals.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 22, 2024 11:50 AM (6ZWLr)

189 a plane that had standing restraints, so they could cram more passengers in.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at November 22, 2024 11:47 AM (lTGtQ)

I think one of the cut-rate European carriers looked into that. Ryan Air maybe?

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at November 22, 2024 11:50 AM (d9fT1)

190 if I ever found myself agreeing with what they are up to I would have to do some serious soul searching.
Posted by: ... at November 22, 2024 11:08 AM (lbAks)

Have a CT scan. Can't be too careful there.

Posted by: Madame Mayhem (uppity wench) at November 22, 2024 11:51 AM (4XwPj)

191 Every so often the Weather Channel has some interesting programs. They have one about a Canuck Airline that flies to remote areas of the Arctic. Outfit looks like some kind of air museum, but what's interesting is the number of young pilots.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at November 22, 2024 11:51 AM (gm9Sb)

192 if I ever found myself agreeing with what they are up to I would have to do some serious soul searching.
Posted by: ... at November 22, 2024 11:08 AM (lbAks)

Have a CT scan. Can't be too careful there.
Posted by: Madame Mayhem (uppity wench) at November 22, 2024 11:51 AM (4XwPj)

Will a human soul show up on a CT scan?

Remarkable...

Posted by: Robert at November 22, 2024 11:52 AM (8xFSn)

193 @186 you can always fire up "2001" and see Pan Am in action again.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at November 22, 2024 11:52 AM (WPL6O)

194
Driving through rural Texas at 2 am, hopped up caffeine and sugar, was the scariest experience of my life.

_______

I had to drive Her Majesty and Dutch home from Dallas after HM had an accident that required surgery. We left near midnight and got home near 5:00 AM. I was, literally, having hallucinations as we got near Houston.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at November 22, 2024 11:52 AM (O0faj)

195 Britain is a "trusted ally"?

The people who want to arrest Elon Musk?
Posted by: The ARC of History! at November 22, 2024 11:35 AM (uxCna)

Some people haven’t updated their mental map of the world since 1980 and it shows. Many of our “allies” are worse than most of our enemies these days.

Posted by: Disinterested FDA Director and Pfizer Board Member at November 22, 2024 11:52 AM (FC8SQ)

196 Boron, women that grew up loving the musical will take their kids or their nieces or gay nephews. The only thing that could sink them if the gay is so obvious and word gets out that kids shouldn't see it . If they reigned in the rainbow stuff, the visual pretty and the iconic songs these women have been belting in the car for twenty years will get them to drag their daughters and gaybies to the theater.

The book was darker, had a PG-13 sex scene, and was a clever, groundbreaking adult fractured fairy tale. They sanded off the edges and made it pretty and tame for the musical. I have no desire to see it in theaters, but I'm super curious about how it will do.

Posted by: LizLem, Lord of the Rings and the Reckonings at November 22, 2024 11:53 AM (wcIbG)

197 And when the plane crashes due to pilot or mechanic error, you can't sue unless the government says you can sue the government.

Posted by: rickb223
======
You oughta read the Montreal Convetion regarding how little heirs can get recompense if you are flying foreign airlines.
----
From Wiki
"Under the Montreal Convention, air carriers are strictly liable for proven damages up to 128,821.00 special drawing rights (SDR), a mix of currency values established by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) equal to roughly US$175,000"

Don't plan on your heirs suing Air France or British Airways for big bucks among others.

Posted by: whig at November 22, 2024 11:53 AM (ctrM5)

198

Pan Am stews wore no panties!

Posted by: Dirty Frank at November 22, 2024 11:54 AM (uJhz0)

199
think one of the cut-rate European carriers looked into that. Ryan Air maybe?
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at November 22, 2024 11:50 AM (d9fT1)

_________

There are all kinds of patents dedicated to cramming people onto planes.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at November 22, 2024 11:54 AM (O0faj)

200 195 The Polish national airline has/had a sketch of Chopin on the rudder. Pierogis and piva baby!

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at November 22, 2024 11:55 AM (gm9Sb)

201 women that grew up loving the musical will take their kids or their nieces or gay nephews.

Yeah, it has an audience, but its not a BIG audience. Most normal people weren't even aware that Wicked was a play, let alone one that was out for like a decade. Time will tell but I think its being hugely overblown by theater kids.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at November 22, 2024 11:55 AM (RsS92)

202 They have one about a Canuck Airline that flies to remote areas of the Arctic. Outfit looks like some kind of air museum, but what's interesting is the number of young pilots.

Posted by: bill in arkansas

I flew in the arctic in a 737. It had mesh grills over the engine intakes to keep the gravel out of the turbines, since they landed on dirt runways. They loaded cargo in the front of the plane, then loaded groups of palletized seats in the rear, and you walked up the back ramp to board.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at November 22, 2024 11:55 AM (lTGtQ)

203 119 It's during these times that someone inevitably tries to resurrect the corpse of nationwide high-speed rail.

I remember Biden calling for high-speed rail that could go across the country as fast as a plane. And everyone in the media gushed about how brilliant an idea that was.

Posted by: NR Pax at November 22, 2024 11:55 AM (RjOoY)

204 If you ask for an upright bass, I give you Casualties of Jazz- War Pigs (Black Sabbath cover) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oudsVWj9TjY

Posted by: McDirty at November 22, 2024 11:55 AM (NC1hU)

205 Blue Horseshoe *loves* Bluestar Airlines!

Posted by: Bud at November 22, 2024 11:55 AM (i0F8b)

206 The bit on Insty about Argentina's decrease in the rate of inflation is dramatic. Always nice to remind people what works and what is full of shit.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at November 22, 2024 11:56 AM (JQfE3)

207 >>>All the deer along the side of the road, just waiting to spring out and wreck my shit.
Posted by: Xander Crews at November 22, 2024 11:45 AM (rEmVK)

I never understood why they like to sleep on the side of the road.

Posted by: Robert

>I have five minutes of video of four five point (or ten point for you peckerwoods) whitetail sparring in the yard for juicytail. We're cultivating a herd of fearless, delicious whitetail for the future.

Posted by: Dr. Bone at November 22, 2024 11:56 AM (ltevi)

208 Dan Scavino Jr.🇺🇸🦅 @DanScavino 2h
Just spoke to President Trump regarding Mike Rogers going to the FBI. It’s not happening — In his own words, “I have never even given it a thought.” Not happening.

Donald Trump Jr. @DonaldJTrumpJr 1h
Winning

Posted by: andycanuck (hovnC) at November 22, 2024 11:57 AM (hovnC)

209 So you know that a bunch of pants wetting TDS leftists have (temporarily) swapped over to Bluesky from Twitter because they might see something new or challenging to their narrative on Elon's platform.

Bluesky just reported that they are being flooded with reports of child porn now, over 2000 an hour.

I'm sure its a total coincidence.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at November 22, 2024 11:57 AM (RsS92)

210 There are all kinds of patents dedicated to cramming people onto planes.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at November 22, 2024 11:54 AM (O0faj)

We have a design that will work . . .

Posted by: Slave Trade Sailing Vessels at November 22, 2024 11:57 AM (Aqu9a)

211 Yahoo Headline: US Economic Output hits highest level since 2022 amid greater optimism.

First sentence of the article: US economic output is roaring as businesses prepare for lower interest rates and the incoming Trump administration.

Whaaaaaa? I was assured by experts that Trump’s win will lead to a repeat of the Great Depression. All the experts said so. And they’re like experts bro!!

Weird huh?

Posted by: It is Go Time Donald at November 22, 2024 11:57 AM (l/Kmi)

212 My wife's cousin was (maybe still is) the pilot union president for Spirit.

Every time we hang out he has a whole slew of new ridiculous stories to tell about his flying experiences.

Posted by: Defenestratus at November 22, 2024 11:58 AM (1kPXh)

213 I remember Biden calling for high-speed rail that could go across the country as fast as a plane. And everyone in the media gushed about how brilliant an idea that was.

Posted by: NR Pax

At only five times the price, and just as inconvenient.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at November 22, 2024 11:58 AM (lTGtQ)

214 195 Britain is a "trusted ally"?

The people who want to arrest Elon Musk?
Posted by: The ARC of History! at November 22, 2024 11:35 AM (uxCna)

Some people haven’t updated their mental map of the world since 1980 and it shows. Many of our “allies” are worse than most of our enemies these days.
Posted by: Disinterested FDA Director
-----
I trust British Airways flying over us a lot more than whatever the current name is for Aeroflot or Chinese Airlines. Russians still have trouble in quality control matters on airlines and the Chinese airplanes are not ones that fill one with confidence either. From a simple standpoint, ersatz muh principles giveway to common sense.

Do not apply your worldview to everything whether being Pro Russian in Ukraine or whether from general desire to be a contrarian/argument picker. Same as knee jerk laissez faire types muttering about perfect markets.

I would prefer greater competition from US startups but due to capital constraints, that is more difficult for a startup nowadays than allowing some foreign airlines access to the US. It will also trim the union desires for raising wages to the point where US airlines are no longer competitive.

Posted by: whig at November 22, 2024 11:58 AM (ctrM5)

215 So you know that a bunch of pants wetting TDS leftists have (temporarily) swapped over to Bluesky from Twitter because they might see something new or challenging to their narrative on Elon's platform.

Bluesky just reported that they are being flooded with reports of child porn now, over 2000 an hour.

I'm sure its a total coincidence.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at November 22, 2024 11:57 AM (RsS92)

It would be interesting to see if Twatter has seen a reduction in the amount of PDF File material since the Great Leftard Migration.

Posted by: Robert at November 22, 2024 11:59 AM (8xFSn)

216
I remember Biden calling for high-speed rail that could go across the country as fast as a plane.

______

Ask California how well that's going.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at November 22, 2024 12:00 PM (O0faj)

217 The book was darker, had a PG-13 sex scene, and was a clever, groundbreaking adult fractured fairy tale. They sanded off the edges and made it pretty and tame for the musical. I have no desire to see it in theaters, but I'm super curious about how it will do.

Posted by: LizLem
-

Yeah, I read all of his stuff and kept up as it became a musical and then a gay musical and then a gay icon and then an iconic gay musical.

They're not shying away from The Gay in the movie. The reviews are making a point that it's super gay, and there are apparently scenes in the PG movie where the handsome male lead is attracting/influencing both men and women. The director even explicitly states he made it for kids, and that the relationship is "nuanced".

Today magazine:

"Yes, "Wicked" is for kids, director Jon M. Chu tells TODAY.com."

https://tinyurl.com/23tl9qqq

youtube interview with director talking about how the movie made and marketed to children was intentionally made super gay.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

https://tinyurl.com/29etyyd9

Posted by: Boron Cobbie at November 22, 2024 12:00 PM (U0Dlz)

218 Morning. Still here but feeling better.

Posted by: jim (in Hospital in Kalifornia) at November 22, 2024 12:00 PM (SSBCb)

219 Yahoo Headline: US Economic Output hits highest level since 2022 amid greater optimism.

This is exactly what happened last time Trump was elected. Even before he took office, businesses came alive and started investing and expanding in anticipation of a much more business friendly government climate.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at November 22, 2024 12:00 PM (RsS92)

220 Fun with chemistry!

https://is.gd/BQl2sq

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Peppermint Mocha! at November 22, 2024 12:00 PM (L/fGl)

221 210 There are all kinds of patents dedicated to cramming people onto planes.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh
======
Military has already solved that problem as anyone packed aboard Gubmint Air can tell you. C130 jumpseats are particularly comfortable if you include going numb in most of your body during a 14 hour flight to Bumfck.

If the military could get away with it, they would send you out the back on a passenger pallet with a parachute so that they could save a bit on fuel.

Posted by: whig at November 22, 2024 12:01 PM (ctrM5)

222 My Uncle was CEO when Eastern Airlines died, and the Unions decided that they wanted to kill their jobs by striking.

Posted by: Patrick From Ohio at November 22, 2024 12:01 PM (FCrpy)

223 Bluesky just reported that they are being flooded with reports of child porn now, over 2000 an hour.

Bluesky is just like Twitter, only for pedophiles.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at November 22, 2024 12:01 PM (uxCna)

224 Morning. Still here but feeling better.
Posted by: jim (in Hospital in Kalifornia) at November 22, 2024

***
Guten morgen to you , Jim!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at November 22, 2024 12:02 PM (J2vNu)

225 The bit on Insty about Argentina's decrease in the rate of inflation is dramatic. Always nice to remind people what works and what is full of shit.
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at November 22, 2024 11:56 AM (JQfE3)

I remember a bunch of lefties when Milei was elected:

- “Argentina is doomed!”
- “Capitalism will destroy what’s left of their country!”
- “Presidents can’t control inflation!”
- “Once Argentina fails will the right finally agree that the free market doesn’t work?”

They’ve all gotten strangely silent.

Posted by: Disinterested FDA Director and Pfizer Board Member at November 22, 2024 12:02 PM (FC8SQ)

226 I trust British Airways flying over us a lot more than whatever the current name is for Aeroflot or Chinese Airlines. Russians still have trouble in quality control matters on airlines and the Chinese airplanes are not ones that fill one with confidence either.

Posted by: whig

Flying in Siberia, one sees a lot of wrecks. They just use a bulldozer to push the wreckage to the side of the runway.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at November 22, 2024 12:02 PM (lTGtQ)

227 "Of the nine speaking main roles seven are LGBTQ"

from that video.

Spoiler alert: Normal people will notice.

Posted by: Boron Cobbie at November 22, 2024 12:02 PM (U0Dlz)

228 Ace is up

Posted by: BunkerintheBurbs at November 22, 2024 12:02 PM (dEYSD)

229 My Uncle was CEO when Eastern Airlines died, and the Unions decided that they wanted to kill their jobs by striking.
Posted by: Patrick From Ohio at November 22, 2024

***
Crazy Eddie!

Posted by: The Moties, Examining Human History at November 22, 2024 12:03 PM (J2vNu)

230 It would be interesting to see if Twatter has seen a reduction in the amount of PDF File material since the Great Leftard Migration.

That would be the real test, wouldn't it? Its possible that the spike on Blue Sky is from people learning that it exists and moving over to use that platform for their sleaze instead of being directly FROM leftists. But if it goes down on Twitter and up on Bluesky... yeah.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at November 22, 2024 12:03 PM (RsS92)

231 Ford tri motor.

VNY airshow many years ago sold short hops on one. Louder than hell inside!!
Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenkoism in Solidarity with the Struggle at November 22, 2024 11:45 AM (5NDhQ)

You've never flown in a loud aircraft until you've flown in a CH-47 Shithook.

Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at November 22, 2024 12:03 PM (g8Ew8)

232 195 Britain is a "trusted ally"?

The people who want to arrest Elon Musk?
Posted by: The ARC of History! at November 22, 2024 11:35 AM (uxCna)

In Russia, Musk would simply be defenestrated.

(My standard consulting fee applies).

Posted by: Defenestratus at November 22, 2024 12:03 PM (1kPXh)

233 Bluesky just reported that they are being flooded with reports of child porn now, over 2000 an hour.

I'm sure its a total coincidence.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at November 22, 2024 11:57 AM (RsS92)

I expect 99% of those complaints are unfounded, just 'tards having hissy fits. Or conservative trolls having fun.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 22, 2024 12:03 PM (6ZWLr)

234 The airline industry is a monopoly already. Fares are usually within pennies across all airlines for the same routes. Baggage fees and policies are virtually identical. There is literally no difference in price, service, or experience no matter which major airline you choose.

Yes, you can choose to save a few bucks on "discount" airlines like Spirit. But as for the major carriers, they are all the same.

Posted by: Elric The Blade at November 22, 2024 12:04 PM (iFTx/)

235 Morning. Still here but feeling better.
Posted by: jim (in Hospital in Kalifornia) at November 22, 2024 12:00 PM (SSBCb)

Yay. Flirt with the pretty (real female) nurses.

Posted by: Count de Monet at November 22, 2024 12:04 PM (Aqu9a)

236 Morning. Still here but feeling better.

Great to hear that, hang in there brother. You got this.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at November 22, 2024 12:05 PM (RsS92)

237 Ace is up
Posted by: BunkerintheBurbs at November 22, 2024 12:02 PM (dEYSD)

You might even say..."erect."

Posted by: Robert at November 22, 2024 12:05 PM (q6468)

238 215 It would be interesting to see if Twatter has seen a reduction in the amount of PDF File material since the Great Leftard Migration.
Posted by: Robert

I recall when Elon took over and he announced he was getting rid of that material. 24 hours later, Elton John announces that he's leaving Twitter.

Sounds like someone needs their computer searched.

Posted by: NR Pax at November 22, 2024 12:05 PM (RjOoY)

239 221 I was on a detail where I was doing a lot of flying on MARLOG C130s and occasionally a reserve C119 (get off my lawn). One thing I learned real quick was if you need a nap, don't stretch out on the troop seats even if there is room. A hard bank will wake you up most quickly. Crew usually had those pads like furniture movers use, so just sack out on the deck or ramp.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at November 22, 2024 12:06 PM (gm9Sb)

240 233 Bluesky just reported that they are being flooded with reports of child porn now, over 2000 an hour.

I'm sure its a total coincidence.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at November 22, 2024 11:57 AM (RsS92)

I expect 99% of those complaints are unfounded, just 'tards having hissy fits. Or conservative trolls having fun.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 22, 2024 12:03 PM (6ZWLr)

After Elon took over Twitter, it started cracking down on child porn and got a lot of outcry from the left. Maybe they're letting their freak flags fly on Bluesky.

Posted by: Red Turban Someguy at November 22, 2024 12:06 PM (eYoxG)

241 We can't have safe, efficient airlines until we solve the black hole problem.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Peppermint Mocha! at November 22, 2024 12:06 PM (L/fGl)

242 I expect 99% of those complaints are unfounded, just 'tards having hissy fits. Or conservative trolls having fun.

Well there are a few possibilities
1) Its trolling
2) Its people overreacting
3) Its leftists spotting the CP and reporting it more vigorously than before
4) Its perverts who learned that Bluesky exists and moved there en masse
5) Its leftists who are CP fans going nuts and being noticed.

If Twitter notes a drop in the stuff, that's highly suggestive, though.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at November 22, 2024 12:06 PM (RsS92)

243
Hell, we can't even get HSR between Houston and Dallas, through flat and unpopulated areas.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at November 22, 2024 12:10 PM (O0faj)

244 >>>Do not apply your worldview to everything whether being Pro Russian in Ukraine or whether from general desire to be a contrarian/argument picker.

Fair enough. I wasn’t commenting on which foreign airlines should be allowed to compete in the U.S., which I think is a good idea overall.

I was objecting to calling the UK a trusted ally. Labour sent people to directly meddle in our election and hurt Trump. Now they’re threatening Musk. I hope Trump tells Starmer off.

Posted by: Disinterested FDA Director and Pfizer Board Member at November 22, 2024 12:11 PM (FC8SQ)

245 So if you fail at a business in the US, no worries. You can just get the government to force the money out of your customers that they didn't want to give to you voluntarily.

Posted by: Tinfoil Dispenser at November 22, 2024 12:14 PM (Ij2uN)

246 I was objecting to calling the UK a trusted ally.

I think there was a time when they were, but not any more. They are barely an ally and utterly untrustworthy.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at November 22, 2024 12:20 PM (RsS92)

247 So, if Spirit fully craps out, then we end up in the same position (re: number of airlines) as we would had the merger been allowed.

Posted by: RawFWA at November 22, 2024 12:37 PM (hgz6P)

248 The only downside to the failure of Spirit Airlines is the fact that its riders will now end up on flights that I am more apt to take -- budget-friendly but not of the airborne Greyhound bus variety.

All those videos of people losing their shit in airports and in-flight, tearing out each others' weaves and slapping fellow passengers for breathing... yeah those folks are now going to be on Delta and Jet Blue.

Posted by: red speck at November 22, 2024 12:42 PM (0Id0S)

249 But the “pro-business” editors at the Wall Street Journal are appalled that the government has not come to Spirit’s rescue...

Too bad the government won’t compensate the workers, flyers and creditors harmed by its blunder.

This is why even dismantling whole departments at the federal level will not be enough to restore our Republic. This mind-set of running to DC for every little thing, with the sense that DC is supposed to make it right, is a cancer which must also be excised or will just regrow and do so more quickly than before.

Posted by: LCMS Rulz! at November 22, 2024 12:54 PM (bufu1)

250 Buck, here's the problem with your argument:

The number of airlines is more or less *guaranteed* to drop from six to five, one way or another. Either Spirit merges with JetBlue, which may preserve some jobs, and some stockholder and bondholder value, or it goes bust, in which case all the investors are wiped out and all the employees lose their jobs.

In this case (both specifically and more generally with respect to failing businesses), I don't see the merger as anti-competitive.

A better target for your ire might be the defense industry, where large, healthy companies have for decades bought other large, healthy companies and created just the kind of consolidated anti-competitive market you're concerned about.

Posted by: Cybernetic at November 22, 2024 02:14 PM (ksO5X)

251 WSJ is also the most war mongering paper I ever read - they never met a war or US invasion they didn't like. I dropped my subscription after 30 years during the first Trump administration since they went from RINO to Never Trump to Neocons over the decades I read them.

Posted by: whatever at November 22, 2024 03:53 PM (2eouV)

Processing 0.03, elapsed 0.0441 seconds.
14 queries taking 0.0104 seconds, 259 records returned.
Page size 151 kb.
Powered by Minx 0.8 beta.