The other jumpseat
An airline passenger discovers there is no joy in being assigned the “other” jumpseat. (Story)
Than Shwe, you held your sham vote instead of helping millions of your cyclone victims. Grats. (Story)
Bank tellers tend to get a little suspicious when you start throwing around 360 billion dollar checks. (Story)
My exercise habits have been very poor. This morning, I discovered I now run a 13 minute mile.
A 13 minute mile.
Now maybe in 30 years, that’ll be something to be proud of. But I used to be able to run one under 7. Nowadays, if you stick me in a race with the 38-ish chessloser and 50-something Polly, they’d be breezing through like a couple of Olympians to the finish line while the crowd starts mocking me as I’m only halfway through, wheezing and gasping.
Hahaha gotta love the 360 billion dollar check story… Maybe he should’ve tried 360 million instead, I’m sure that would’ve been much less suspicious.
Comment by Chessaholic | 13 May 2008
Comment by Tacticus Maximus | 13 May 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0bjMnGQDt8
Comment by Tacticus Maximus | 13 May 2008
no matter how out of shape you think you are in, go down to your local more-than-all-you-can-eat buffet and watch the cattle graze. they can’t even walk a mile, much less walk one in 14 minutes.
Comment by chessloser | 13 May 2008
i never thought the day would come that i could accuse another person of having an OCD, but you got some kind of fixation on the airline industry, or your living where you do connected to some major company??
maybe it is THEY who has an OCD. its called keeping the public safe, at all cost. see reAssemblers post on Prison Walls, one two posts back, was it?
Comment by David K, Seattle | 13 May 2008
You’re out of shape? You should see the horde at a typical day at McDonalds near my place. If those fellas entered the Biggest Loser, Bob and Gillian would’ve kicked them back out of the house.
Look on the bright side, a 13 minute mile isn’t that bad…… Roger Bannister could only pass you twice.
Comment by tanc (happyhippo) | 13 May 2008
a 13 minute mile? bravo! I remember in high school we’d get A’s for running 7 minute miles. a 13 min mile would have been a C. I always hated PE.
You are actually quite buff. At least your waist doesn’t look like a muffin top.
Comment by annie | 13 May 2008
Donnie - this is your future self speaking - ignore all the positive comments here and GET SOME EXERCISE. 40 comes early ’round here and it takes no prisoners.
(- signed, the guy sitting motionless in front of his computer at 11:30pm)
Comment by Derek Slater | 13 May 2008
When I was training for the marathon in Spain that I crapped out of, I was running 13 minute miles. I suck at running now. Fortunately I still can bike, walk and I’m doing my Tae Kwon Do. I used to be able to run 7:30 miles, but that’s ancient history. Now I’m happy to be able to walk at 15:00 pace. Exercise in any form is better then totally packing it in.
Comment by Polly | 13 May 2008
@Chessaholic: Why cash a check for billions when you can cash a check for…millions?
@Tacticus: Paul Simon! Am I the only one who prefers his solo stuff over the S&G stuff?
@chessloser: There’s nothing more rewarding than being able to lord mediocrity over those who are bottom-feeders.
@David K: OCD? LOL. Well, not yet…I work for an airline so I do have some interest in keeping up with the industry.
@tanc: What a great way to shoot for a goal. “As of today, Bannister can only lap me ___ times.” Inspirational!
@annie: Buff? Unless you’re referring to my skin color…not so much. Although I am thin enough to have made this accidental discovery: if I twist my torso just right, it looks like I have a six-pack.
@Derek: I’m calling you out on the being motionless part. You probably moved your fingers to type the comment.
@Polly: OK, this is motivating. I want to do a marathon now. And actually be faster than you.
Comment by Donnie | 14 May 2008
Me? A Paul Simon fan? Well, maybe. Mostly just call him Simon. I think he looks a lot like his grandpa — a five time world champion.
Comment by Tacticus Maximus | 15 May 2008
Donnie — you are a programmer and work for an airline? Interesting. I used to do development and consulting for the airline and travel industries…
Comment by Tacticus Maximus | 17 May 2008
Yes, but I don’t do very much programming now, maybe 10-15% of the time.
Which airlines have you done work for?
Comment by Donnie | 17 May 2008
You are actually quite buff. At least your waist doesn’t look like a muffin top.
You’re thinking of the wrong guy. That’s me, not Donnie.
Comment by The Mascot | 17 May 2008
I developed the first PC based reservation system in 1984 and did some consulting on same with AA/Sabre. I consulted for SATO, Inc. and SATO Overseas on reservation and accounting systems. We also did some work for EDS which was operating one of the ACH for ATA.
Comment by Tacticus Maximus | 17 May 2008
The first PC reservation system? By yourself? Dadgum.
Comment by Donnie | 17 May 2008