So Now What Will the Airlines Say?

A new report from the Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress, has issued a study investigating the issue of commercial airline delays.

The vast majority of air-traffic delays in 2007 occurred before airplanes took off for flight. Almost 60 percent of delays occurred at the gate, while 20 percent of flight delays occurred while taxiing out to the runway. Only about 15 percent of the JEC estimated total delay occurred during airborne minutes.

The airline executives continue to snivel about how the airspace systems needs overhaul, but it's a smokescreen to make their case to take over the national airspace system at the expense of the general aviation industry. This report is another example of proof that all the airlines have to do to find the reason for their unprofitability is to look in the mirror.
.: Joint Economic Committee :: Reports :.
Technorati Tags: aviation, airlines

Very Late Winter Scene

I've been way behind, as you can see, on getting my photos posted. This photo really wasn't taken that long ago, just March. But alas, the rest of the set will probably have to wait until the time is right again. I guess I just said that I'd be keeping the blog going for at least that much longer.

Aspen, Colorado.

Most Amazing Picture Ever Taken

You are the HiRISE camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. You are in orbit around Mars. You receive orders to point in a specific direction, and take a picture. What shows up is the Phoenix lander UNDER PARACHUTE as it descends toward the surface and its successful landing. Show me a picture of a commercial jetliner shot by a spy satellite, except with both objects 150 MILLION miles away! And BOTH objects are moving faster than a speeding bullet!! Are there enough exclamation points to portray how amazing this is!!!

Tip o' the chute to Dr. Phil.

OMG!! Parachute!!!! Photo!!!!! - The Planetary Society Blog | The Planetary Society

Today's Weird Story

Comes to us from Vancouver, Canada.

He added that there are beaches that collect mostly rights and others that collect mostly lefts because the winds or currents sort out left and right foot wear.

Fourth severed foot found on B.C. coast - Seattle- msnbc.com

From the Bad Astronomer

It takes a great bit of luck to catch a supernova just when it explodes. That happened recently, and Dr. Phil writes about it. It's really freaking cool.

The hemoglobin in your blood, the bones in your body, and the
wedding ring on your finger — all of these can trace their lineage back
to a star that exploded like SN2008D. Every heavy element in the
Universe was created in such an event, in the heart and fury of a
supernova.

We owe our very existence to stars that explode.

Bad Astronomy Blog » Birth cry of a supernova

View From Blue Mound

This is the view from the top of Blue Mound, in the state park of the same name west of Madison, Wisconsin. Elevation 1,716 feet, seventh highest in the state.

What a great weekend. Even with the rain showers Friday night, and some heavy showers Saturday night, I would call the weather perfect.

Got Legs?

Display window of a hosiery shop on Cannery Row, Monterey, California.

The Start of Another Season

This weekend, the new action movie "Speed Racer" opens across several thousand screens. In state of the art movie (and IMAX) theaters across the country, viewers will enjoy the film in living room comfort, with the latest thundering surround sound THX technology beating them into their stadium seats.

Not in Litchfield, Minnesota. Here, around dusk, cars will be heading up the grass lined drive at the Starlight Drive-In to pay $6 for adults and $3 for children for the privilege of parking on a grass lawn (bring your own bug spray). The sound will only be as good as your car stereo, and don't forget to load up on the redhots and popcorn from the refreshment stand (outside food and drink is NOT allowed).

Reminds me of my youth, taking Henny to the drive in and maybe catching half of the first feature before the windows fogged up. Good times.

Technorati tags: minnesota, drive in, sign, sign, marquee

San Jose Airport Holiday Inn, Room 124

Some things cause me to involuntarily reach for the camera, no matter how mundane. I hope you see what I saw in the bathroom of my hotel room that night.