en route

[cellio]

As I write this, I am sitting in Atlanta. I had been under the impression that pretty much all major airports had wireless internet access by now, but I found no evidence of it in either Pittsburgh or Atlanta. Either that or the driver on this borrowed laptop is misconfigured; since I don't have wireless at home and was specifically told not to use it at work with this machine, I had no way to test that. Oh well. If the access in the hotel is wired, as I suspect, then it's not much of an issue. (Added later: it's wired.)

So, wave hi to dragontdc; sorry I visited your fair city without actually making contact.

My flights today are on AirTran, whose web site would not allow me to print a boarding pass from home. Fooey on them. The first kiosk I tried was broken (the "E" key was broken and was a required component of my confirmation number). But the lines were short, so no biggie.

In Pittsburgh I was the lucky winner of detailed security scrutiny. That hand scanner sure is sensitive. I wasn't all that surprised that it beeped on my belt buckle -- just a minimal buckle, mind, without big ornaments or the like -- but was surprised that it beeped on the (metal) button on my pants and on my (small, thin) necklace. Oh, and there was something in my wallet that it didn't like, though I still don't know what. (No, my wallet does not have a zippered or snapped compartment. It's really just a billfold with some pockets for credit cards.)

There's a new (to me) addition to the takeoff/landing spiel. Seatbelts, blah blah... tray tables, blah, blah... window blinds? They care that the blinds be up? I wonder why. By the time someone standing in the aisle can look out the side windows and see an oncoming plane, it's too late.

Ah, there's no wireless because they sell network access (via a data port) for 50 cents per minute. Ok, that's fair. (Added later: but it's a phone jack, not a network plug.)

Apropos of nothing, I've been reading (over Shabbat and on the plane) Jewish Living: A Guide to Contemporary Reform Practice by Rabbi Mark Washofsky. Very interesting read, emphasizing many of the same points I do about Reform being a serious movement, and giving reasons behind some of the decisions where reform has deviated from the norm (such as the so-called "patrilineal descent" and getting rid of the second day of yom tov). I haven't finished it yet, but so far I would recommend it to anyone who wants to know what Reform is really about.

Comments

[cahwyguy.livejournal.com]

I've noted the book recommendation. Eventually, it will make its way onto the Reform Reading List.

[ginamariewade.livejournal.com]

Turn to the southeast and yell really loud, and I might hear you. I'm about 90 miles from you if you're still at the airport.

We always joke that when you get to your car from the terminal, you've already walked halfway home.

[ichur72.livejournal.com]

The Atlanta airport is not my favorite place. There are some mitigating features, but wireless access is not one of them. On the whole, my verdict on the place is: evil. (But then again, I don't like airports all that much.)

[cellio]

Sorry, but by the time I posted this I was in Memphis. My lungs aren't that good. :-)

[cellio]

I don't care for airports, but that may just be because I don't care for flying. I didn't see too much of the Atlanta airport -- one stretch of gates and the interspersed vendors. Oh, and there wasn't enough seating at the gate (for my next flight) for the number of people waiting for it. That's pretty much it for my impressions of this airport; you don't see much when you don't want to leave the secure zone.

[cellio]

This book is sort of like Klein (Conservative) but for Reform instead, and with more background and explanation of some points.

[dr-zrfq.livejournal.com]

I kinda like flying myself, but I *loathe* airports.