Sunday, September 21, 2008

BBQ Report #2

I'm home and in my favorite chair. Decent flight. If I could get past their tendency to lose my luggage (which didn't happen this time), I could really like Southwest Airlines. They leave on time. They get in early. They have cheery and helpful employees. Their flights always seem to be packed, which I guess is why they're one of the few airlines showing a profit these days.

One other thing I don't like about them: They have "open seating," which means you get on the plane and select your own seat. It sounds good but what it means is that if you're travelling with three or more people and you aren't among the first third to board, it's highly unlikely you'll all get to sit together.

I got home to a couple of outraged e-mails from barbecue partisans. It's apparently a big deal to some people that I didn't prefer (or sample) their favorite place for ribs. Hey, you like some places better than others. We liked Jack Stack. Great rib ends. Some of the best barbecued chicken I ever had. It's fancier than Arthur Bryant's and it doesn't have the history...and I'm not saying I didn't have a great dinner at Arthur Bryant's and wouldn't go back. But we do have this little competition going. Everyone who recommended a barbecue place to me told me it was The Best. So I'm just telling them what I think is The Best of the two places I tried. The world will still continue to revolve if I prefer the ribs at a different establishment.

Lots of unpacking and catching-up to do. More here later.

• Posted at 11:07 PM · LINK

K.C. Masterpiece

This posting is being made possible by the free wi-fi at Kansas City International Airport. Sergio Aragonés, Stan Sakai, Tom Luth and I are waiting for the flight that will carry us homeward following a most enjoyable time at the Mo-Kan Comics Conspiracy. Note to anyone else who writes and/or draws comic books: If these guys ever invite you to be a Guest of Honor, accept. They're wonderful hosts and they put on a friendly little convention filled with interesting folks. Our thanks to all and especially to Cho Ravada, their genial guest wrangler.

En route to the airport, we stopped for a late lunch/early dinner (pick one) at another K.C. barbecue temple that came highly recommended...Fiorella's Jack Stack. Sorry, Arthur Bryant's boosters. Your fave is no longer ours. As fine as the meat is at Arthur Bryant's, we all liked Jack Stack a bit more. I'll write later as to why. Just wanted to report now in case any of you had money riding on the outcome. Next time I get to these parts, I'll try a couple of the other nominations we got (like Gates) but I'm sure going to try to return to Jack Stack.

I'd better go. Stan Sakai is having trouble getting his samurai swords through security, Tom Luth is attempting to color his boarding pass and Sergio is demanding to be strip-searched. The next message here should start with me announcing I'm home and in my favorite chair. I have to go see if they let bloggers pre-board.

• Posted at 3:34 PM · LINK

Recommended Reading

I don't know enough about economics and banking laws and such to know whether the big "bail out" plan is the best way to deal with our nation's current financial crisis. But I do note a growing consensus among pundits — and it goes across party lines — that the way the Bush administration plans to tackle the problem is not a good idea. Sebastian Mallaby is one such pundit.

Hey, I've got an idea that might help a little. How about a Windfall Profits Tax on former execs and investors who walked away with zillions when their companies went under?

• Posted at 12:13 AM · LINK

Correction

Back in this message, I said that Joe Biden had voted for Phil Gramm's big "deregulate financial institutions" bill. I was wrong. He voted against it. Bill Clinton, on the other hand, did sign the thing.

• Posted at 12:08 AM · LINK

Today's Video Link

Nine minutes of The World's Foremost Authority, Professor Irwin Corey. This is from a 1981 special saluting the nightclub, the hungry i, and its owner, Enrico Banducci. If you watch carefully, you may spot a couple of moments in this where Professor Corey appears to actually know what he's saying.

• Posted at 12:04 AM · LINK