Monday, July 9, 2007

Monday Evening Home Blogging

Hello from my natural habitat: In my computer chair in my office in my home. I realized too late that I should have posted something this morning when we were in Pittsburgh for the sheer novelty of having posts up here from three different states in one day.

I also didn't think that typing the phrase "All Northwest flights seem to be running on schedule today..." on my weblog would be bad luck. About three minutes after I posted the previous message, our flight home was delayed an hour...which then turned into two hours.

Several of you have explained in layman's terms what's happening with Northwest Airlines and why they're suddenly on schedule again (for the most part) after a week or two of cancelling flights the way that big bottle of Raid cancels cockroaches. The pilots work under a contract that stipulates a maximum number of hours per month that they can fly. Northwest has cut back and does not have enough pilots, especially when they're exerting a little negotiating pressure by all calling in sick at judicious moments. Ergo, near the end of the month, there aren't enough pilots available and flights must be cancelled. The problem went away when a new month started so the early part of July has been relatively happy. The end of the month may not be as pleasant.

I have stuff to do and stuff to unpack. Good to be home.

• Posted at 11:48 PM · LINK

Monday Airport Blogging

We're coming to you, largely because we can, from a Northwest Airlines WorldClub lounge in the Detroit airport. All Northwest flights seem to be running on schedule today but I still sympathize with those of you who wrote to tell me that your recent trip on this carrier didn't go as planned.

Nothing much to add to my Anthrocon report except that after four days there, it's unsettling to be among crowds where no one is dressed as a puma. I hope I didn't sound like I was suggesting that everyone rush to attend a "furry" convention, especially this one next year. Not only are they not for everyone but the Anthrocon management would dearly appreciate it if their gatherings didn't get much bigger and, therefore, less intimate. I have nothing against big conventions and when folks complain that the Comic-Con in San Diego has lost "something" as attendance totals have reached five and now six digits, I always say, "Yes, but there are other conventions and maybe you'd be happier at one of them."

I want to thank all those who responded to my request for a scan from a Simon-Kirby Fighting American comic book. I got what I needed, thank you. I also got ten more messages telling me the Blue Rabbit is Stitch.

The next time you hear from me, I should be in my natural habitat. Catch you later.

• Posted at 10:48 AM · LINK

Today's Video Link

The last hit record Allan Sherman made was his 1965 "Crazy Downtown," a parody (of course) of the even-greater hit by Petula Clark. In fact, it was Mr. Sherman's second-best selling single of all time, "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh" being numero uno. An associate of Sherman's once told me that the high fee he had to pay to secure the rights to rewrite "Downtown" and the hassle he had getting the song's composer to okay his silly lyrics dissuaded him from attempting many more spoofs of current hits. That was kind of a shame since his career crashed and burned soon after that.

One of many reasons his version did so well was that he made the rounds of every TV program that would let him on to perform it. Here he is on Shivaree, which was a syndicated music show in 1965 hosted by a gent named Gene Weed. Allan is lip-syncing to the record here and I'm guessing this is when it had just come out because he doesn't seem to know the lyrics and looks like he's reading them relentlessly off the cue cards. Still, it's Allan Sherman and some great dancers. What more do you want?

• Posted at 10:31 AM · LINK