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100 Worst Songs Ever -- Part Five of Five {AOL Radio Blog}
Sep 11th 2010 7:35PM I forgot to mention that I like "We Didn't Start The Fire," which many of you complained about. Why do I like it? Because it's the story of life! I was an inveterate follower of the news from early childhood, and over three decades of national and world events are in it. I thought it was clever.
Everyone hates "MacArthur Park." And I do not disagree with them.
Gee, nobody likes all the "teenage death songs" from the 50s and 60s? I thought they were hilarious.
100 Worst Songs Ever -- Part Five of Five {AOL Radio Blog}
Sep 11th 2010 10:21AM The only song that has ever caused me to walk - and quickly - out of a store when it came over the speaker system was the Julio Iglesias/Willie Nelson (Willie! WHY?) monstrosity "To All the Girls I've Loved Before." It was a hymn to Iglesias' massive ego and boastfulness about all his seductions, and to men who prey on foolish women. I despise it.
A writer once named "A Horse With No Name" as the most annoying song he'd ever heard. I wouldn't go that far, but I certainly don't like it.
Among the 100 bad are a few that I liked and one that I love, for various reasons. Lady In Red, and I'm Gonna Be %00 Miles because of the scenes they set in movies. Afternoon Delight because it was... well, about something delightful. Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm simply because it appeals to my dark, twisted sense of humor.
And there was the one that I LOVE, and it was number 2!! Who Let the Dogs Out!! Love it, love the images, and love dogs!! I especially enjoy the dance version.
Re. Readers Comments: Decades ago, Newsweek tagged Surfin' Bird as the worst rock song ever released. MacArthur Park - long and stupid. And have you ever BEEN to MacArthur Park? I walked there early one evening in 1994. It's in L.A. It was dark and scary and full of homeless encampments and drug dealers. I left very quickly. Midnight at the Oasis? Well, I came to like it because of my visits to the Oasis bar in Havana (yes, that Havana)and yes I was once there at midnight. The Chipmunks? Bin Ladin should be locked up forever and made to listen to them 24/7. Far worse than death. A college dorm mate once surprised me when he borrowed one of my classical records. When I expressed surprise, he said "I like everything except the Chipmunks."
Blue Bell Ice Cream vs. Breyers {Slashfood}
Aug 23rd 2010 8:30PM Breyers rules! I won't say how long ago this was - we were living in NYC and ordered ice cream at a soda fountain (well, that gives you an idea!) and when the vanilla ice cream was presented to us, my wife complained that it looked "dirty." Of course, it was the bits of Breyers' ground up all-natural vanilla beans! We still laugh about that one!
10 Passengers We Love to Hate {AOL Travel News}
May 26th 2010 12:12PM I have big legs and fly coach, and usually have to sit in such a way that at least one knee is jammed against the seatback. I've learned the hard way that when a person starts a seat-reclining attempt and will succeed only by crushing my knee, to immediately ask him,/her politely to cease and desist.
I learned this the hard way on a Spirit flight two years ago, when the woman in front of me made such an attempt twice and didn't succeed because of my knee blocking her. I didn't say anything. Minutes after the second attempt, she drew herself up and flung herself backwards into the seat with all her strength, nearly crushing my knee and causing me to scream in pain. She knew exactly what she was doing, and my response was to unashamedly curse her out. She didn't say a word in response, and made no further such attempt.
I would like to express my particular contempt for people who think that any passenger has an unalienable right to push his seat back even if it would result in injury to the person behind him/her. Several people whom I know have expressed such a view to me. After what happened to me, I resent it.
The World's Scariest Runways {AOL Travel News}
May 26th 2010 11:59AM The two scariest runways in my experience are also two of the busiest in America - New York's LaGuardia and Boston's Logan. Both involve coming onto the runway immediately from over the water. Logically, it should be no scarier than coming in from over land. But it just is.
Are Budget Airlines in Danger of Disappearing? {AOL Travel News}
May 26th 2010 11:48AM Budget airlines will eventually drive away people by nickel-and-diming them to death. I use Spirit's special fares all the time and have over 70,000 miles on them, but come August 1 when their carry-on fees go into effect, I will never fly them if the trip involves more than a one night stay and a normal-size carryon, even if they give me the ticket. I simply refuse to pay for the "privilege" of carrying my own bag! I find it offensive. I've never flown RyanAir, but I'd walk or hitchhike before paying to use an airplane lavatory!
Call for Alarm: Readers Voice Their Opinions on Airplane Cell Phone Use {AOL Travel News}
May 26th 2010 11:42AM I'm tired of cellphone-phobes who are fine with loud face-to-face talking but freak out when someone is having an ordinary conversation over a cellphone. What is the big deal!
My suggestion? If you can't stand hearing other people conversing, become a hermit!
Secret Beaches of the US {AOL Travel News}
May 25th 2010 12:47PM Speaking of clothing-optional - greater Miami, FL has the only officially-designated clothing-optional beach in the United States. No, it's not simply tolerated, or not even "just" legal - it's officially designated as such by Miami-Dade County and its Parks and Recreation Department. It's the 1/3 mile northern-most section of the public beach at the county's Haulover Park, which lies on SR A1A between the municipalities of Bal Harbour and Sunny Isles Beach. Like other county beaches, it has lifeguards and police patrols (to provide security, not to hassle) and even outdoor freshwater showers. A beach support group has volunteers who patrol, counsel those who (rarely) act inapporpriately, and, when necessary, contact the lifeguards. There's a pedestrian tunnel under A1A; parking at its other end is $6/day. Note: On weekends, the northernmost 100-150 yards or so is populated mostly by gay males. Also, if you are discrete, you won't be hassled about bringing alcohol; just make sure it's not in glass bottles. Further info is at www.sffb.com.
Elvis Costello Cancels Israel Gigs {Spinner}
May 19th 2010 12:43PM I wonder if that closet anti-semite would be willing to perform in Egypt? or Lebanon? or China? or Cuba? or Zimbabwe? Or Russia? Thank God I never bought one of his records, tapes, cassettes, CDs or songs! And now I never will!
Top 10 Rules We Wish Airlines Would Enforce {AOL Travel News}
Apr 7th 2010 11:50AM 1. Passengers shall place their carry-on bags in the overhead bin directly above their seat.
Problem is, it's not always possible to do that. Often, the space above my seat - which, remember, is usually part of a row of 2 or 3 seats - is already filled.
Elininating carryon baggage will eliminate me as a customer. I stopped checking baggage years before they began charging for it after having my bag misplaced on two consecutive flights - plus when I exit the plane, I like to leave the terminal quickly and go about my business. Having an airline employee at the gate or elsewhere to enforce checking of obviously over-sized carryons willwork just fine.
2. Drunk passengers shall not be allowed to board.
Being checked every time with a breathalyzer on top of all the other security stuff will also eliminate me as a customer. It's also insulting. And if a person has obviously been drinking - maybe because of fear of flying - but is obviously still in control of him/herself - then who cares?
3. Airlines shall tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
All fees should be prominently posted, and if a flight is delayed, an announcement should be made no less often than every 15 minutes that truthfully explains why.
4. All children shall have their own seat.
I don't buy this one. I once flew cross country with my daughter and her nursing infant. How are you going to fasten a little 20-pounder into an airline seat. This under-two policy is the one break given to facilitate family visits. There are ways to restrain an under-2 in his/her parent's lap.
5. Passengers shall not violate the personal space of others.
Now that it has become unacceptable to (in chronological order of when it did become unacceptale) discriminate against Catholics, Irish, Jews, blacks, women, Hispanics, developmentally disabled and gays, the only socially acceptable form of bigotry left is againhst fat people - and its intensity and hatred in travel websites is sickening and ought to be treated the same as vulgar expressions of other types of bigotry. Believe it or not, fat people aren't fat because they want to be fat. People burn calories at different rates, and the inability to control and miknimize food intake and cravings is real.
SouthWest has come under fire not simply for their "persons of size" enforcement, but because it is left to the "judgement" of any employee, and often imposed in an arbitrary and humiliating way - AND because they enforce it even if the plane is half-empty, and then make the person jump through hopps to apply for a refund on the second seat.
Only supervisors should be allowed to make these decisions, and passengers should be dealth with quietly and in a manner not obvious or audible to others. If there are any empty seats, there should be no charge. Passengers can always be asked, and even offered travel vouchers, to change their seats.
6. Passengers shall have proper hygiene.
This is ridiculous. If someone stinks, don't board them. Otherwise, leave people alone. Are you really going to tell someone on a six hour flight that he/she can't take his/her shoes off?
7. Airlines shall thoroughly clean the planes.
This is a real problem. In their desire forquick turnarounds, passengers are often subjected to filth. There was the notorious case of a woman sat down in a urine-soaked seat - the flight crew knew about it, but made no warnings. I've found crud in the pocket in front of me, but so far, thank God, not a used barfbag.
8. Passengers shall keep the noise down.
I never had a probem with this, and headset use has become universal. As for almost everyone turning on their cell briefly at touchdown to alert someone, so what? If you're that hypersensitive to other people talking, go live in a cave.
9. Airlines shall institute dual boarding.
Won't work on most planes. They'd have to cut new doors and use extra (and expensive) jetways. Would be nice, though.
10. Passengers with tight connections shall always be allowed to deplane first.
You can ask for this, but how can it possibly be enforced? The airlines should advise passengers to book seats near the front, and flight attendants should be forceful in asking for passengers who don't have quick connections to remain in their seats until those who do have left.
Now, here's MY rule!
11. Seat backs should be fixed in place and incapable of being pushed back if the pitch behind them (legroom measurement) falls below a certain point - OR if the flight is three hours or less. On long flights and especially redeyes, if a passenger is tightly wedged in and knows that tilting the seat in front of him/her back will cause extreme discomfort and possible injury, then he/she should have the right to have a request to not push the seat back enforced by flight attendants. Passengers could of course all be advised in advance of this policy.
I live in south Florida and have a daughter in Atlanta. I used to drive there. (There's no train, and Greyhound? Ewwww...) Our houses are exactly 700 miles apart on land, door to door. Driving alone, with food and water supply, and no driving more than 5 MPH above the posted limit, and two quick intermediate stops for bathroom and coffee, took me 10 1/2 hours, door to door. Then Spirit Airlines started in with their $9 club and $38 roundtrips, gradually going to $53, so I no longer drove. But if these sales ended, or their prices went up to "normal" airline range, I'd be driving again. Door to door, flying was 5 hours, even though time in the air is 90 minutes.
Make it too dfficult, humiliating or nitpicking to fly - as if it isn't pretty much that already - and the airlines will destroy their short-haul business and drastically reduce their mid-range business. Yes, I'd still have to keep flying to visit my Caalifornia daughter, but I'd stay longer and cut the frequency of trips.
