Monday, November 9, 2009

Embraer RJ145 Jet - Continental Flight Rating


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I flew to Cleveland, Ohio over the weekend and wanted to clear up some things that I read on the net about the plane that I took - the Embraer RJ145 Jet via Continental Airlines. Before I took the trip I looked up what kind of jet I would be flying in and I found that it was going to be the rather small Embraer RJ145 Jet. I searched the jet and found a few comments floating around that I had to clear up.

The Embraer RJ145 is a small jet, two isles, one seat on one row and two seats on the other - but don't let this freak you out - the ride is smooth and comfortable, and the staff at Continental Airlines was friendly and prompt.

There was NO significant difference in the turbulence when compared to other large jets, despite many posts that there was more turbulence. I flew on the Embraer RJ145 on the way to Cleveland and on the way back and both trips were very smooth and the pilots got us to our destination early both ways.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Elton John, Billy Joel Face 2 Face tour at Sprint Center


Elton John and Billy Joel at the Sprint Center announced today! Elton John and Billy Joel will bring their Face 2 Face tour to Kansas City's Sprint Center in the Power and Light District on December 1st, 2009.

Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday for the Face 2 Face Tour. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com or charged by phone at 1.800.745.3000.

Elton John and Billy Joel's Face 2 Face tour started in March and has sold out over 40 venues. The concert starts out with Elton and Billy seated at the pianos doing songs in a duet style, almost like dueling pianos. The show then expands to include each artist's own backing band and concludes with the two back at the pianos together, "face to face".

Monday, October 12, 2009

DUI Checkpoints after Chiefs Games


Heading southbound on I-435 after a KC Chiefs game is quite an experience. The cars move in and out of lanes with sloppy, sudden movements - and most everyone is going about 15 mph under the speed limit. Basically, everyone is wasted - and driving. Although I've never seen any serious wrecks, or have really never heard about any serious problems with the post-game drunken parade - it seemed curious that there is never a DUI checkpoint set up by Kansas City Police.

After speaking to a few Kansas City residents about this phenomenon, we told that the KCPD attempted a DUI checkpoint after a Chiefs game a couple of seasons ago. The KCPD set up a DUI checkpoint on Southbound 435 and immediately backed up traffic on the major highway for almost 17 miles! Just imagine being a trucker heading to your destination and having to sit through 17 miles of parking lot gridlock. The results of the DUI checkpoint were astounding. After stopping over 4000 vehicles, only 7 arrests were made.

The results of the KCPD's DUI checkpoint after a Chiefs game were so embarrassing and unsuccessful that they have not conducted one since.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Can the USA Run Like a Business?

When a company falls on difficult times, one of the things that seems to happen is they reduce their staff and workers. The remaining workers must find ways to continue to do a good job or risk that their job would be eliminated as well.

Wall street, and the media normally congratulate the CEO for making this type of "tough decision", and his board of directors gives him a big bonus. Our government should not be immune from similar risks.

These ideas might help the USA reach financial stability:

Reduce the House of Representatives from the current 435 members to 218 members.

Reduce Senate members from 100 to 50 (one per State). Then, reduce their staff by 25%.

Accomplish this over the next 8 years(two steps/two elections) and of course this would require some redistricting.

Some Yearly Monetary Gains Include:

$44,108,400 for elimination of base pay for congress. (267 members X $165,200 pay/member/ yr.)

$97,175,000 for elimination of their staff. (estimate $1.3 Million in staff per each member of the House, and $3 Million in staff per each member of the Senate every year)

$240,294 for the reduction in remaining staff by 25%.

$7,500,000,000 reduction in pork barrel ear-marks each year. Current estimates for total government pork earmarks are at $15 Billion/yr.

The remaining representatives would need to work smarter and improve efficiencies. It might even be in their best interests to work together for the good of our country!

We may also expect that smaller committees might lead to a more efficient resolution of issues as well. It might even be easier to keep track of what your representative is doing.

Congress has more tools available to do their jobs than it had back in 1911 when the current number of representatives was established. (telephone, computers, cell phones to name a few)

A Note:
Congress did not hesitate to head home when it was a holiday, when the nation needed a real fix to the economic problems. Also, we had 3 senators that were not doing their jobs for the 18+ months (on the campaign trail) and still they all have accepted full pay. These facts alone support a reduction in senators & congress.

Summary of opportunity:

$44,108,400 reduction of congress members.

$282,100,000 for elimination of the reduced house member staff.

$150,000,000 for elimination of reduced senate member staff.

$59,675,000 for 25% reduction of staff for remaining house members.

$37,500,000 for 25% reduction of staff for remaining senate members.

$7,500,000,000 reduction in pork added to bills by the reduction of congress members.

$8,073,383,400 per year, estimated total savings. (that's $8 BILLION just to start!)

Big business does these types of cuts all the time.

If Congresspersons were required to serve 20, 25 or 30 years (like everyone else) in order to collect retirement benefits, tax payers could save a bundle. Now they get full retirement after serving only ONE term..

IF you are happy with how Congress spends our taxes, ignore this message. Otherwise, I assume you know what to do.

REVISED ARTICLES TO THE CONSTITUTION

A NEW PREAMBLE TO THE CONSTITUTION 

Times are changing, and this news writer thinks that it's time to make some revisions to the preamble and to a few articles of the United States Constitution.

"We the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt-free liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great-grandchildren, hereby try one more time to ordain and establish some common sense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt ridden, delusional, and other liberal bed-wetter's. We hold these truths to be self evident: that a whole lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim they require a Bill of NON-Rights."

ARTICLE I: You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV, or any other form of wealth.. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything.

ARTICLE II: You do not have the right to never be offended.. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone -- not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc.; but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.

ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful; do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.

ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes.

ARTICLE V: You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we're just not interested in public health care.

ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don't be surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair..

ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don't be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won't have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.

ARTICLE VIII: You do not have the right to a job. All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful. (AMEN!)

ARTICLE IX: You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you have the right to PURSUE happiness, which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an over abundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights.

ARTICLE X: This is an English speaking country. We don't care where you are from, English is our language. Learn it or go back to wherever you came from! (Lastly....)

ARTICLE XI: You do not have the right to change our country's history or heritage. This country was founded on the belief in one true God. And yet, you are given the freedom to believe in any religion, any faith, or no faith at all; with no fear of persecution The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST is part of our heritage and history, and if you are uncomfortable with it, TOUGH!

If you agree, share this with a friend. No, you don't have to, and nothing tragic will befall you if you don't. I just think it's about time common sense is allowed to flourish. Sensible people of the United States speak out because if you do not, who will?

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