and they wonder?

okay, so I wrote this at the end of July as I was planning my trip back to Lansing

MSP - ORD - DTW: . . . Northwest Airlines: there & back = $219

MSP - LAN: . . . Northwest Airlines: there & back = $475

MSP - LAN: . . . VW Passat: there & back = $120

StPl - Lansing: . . . Amtrak train: there & back = $192

And they think they'll convince me to fly? And then have to rent a car & pay for gas anyway? And they wonder why they're losing money? I might do it if I thought there was a snowball's chance in Hell of

a) getting a comfy seat without someone's elbows in my ribs
b) getting anything to eat
c) arriving on time

just getting (a) and (c) would be great.

Amtrak would get me (a) and (b) and (c) ... but it would also take an entire day to get there plus an entire day to get back.

.

The Sounds of Silence

Since the airport shut down one of the runways for construction, the traffic to Minneapolis-St.Paul Airport over our house has more than doubled: more planes and much lower approach paths. It is occasionally extremely annoying. Like when you can't hear the person sitting next to you. Some people in our neighborhood are doing some serious NIMBY whining. "waa, you didn't ask my opinion." At least this is only temporary. Maybe they can get a feel for what it's like living in the parts of the city where no one really gives a damn about your opinon because no one there votes/makes above minimum wage.

It was noticeable Saturday morning that Air Force One had stopped by. At least the only noise we had to overcome was Jr. Gopher #1's soccer game. Our neighborhood's mail-list had this posted (we're at 36th & 16th):

Dear Mr President,
Thank you for coming to Mpls today. Those of us that live on the N/S airport
runway area of S. Mpls appreciated the quiet of the early day. You are most welcome anytime!
Mala V.
34th & 16th