4 items to comment/report on thus far from Australia....
Radio Interview: There's a pretty decent chance that I'll be doing an in-studio radio interview/chat/call-in program while in Sydney next Monday after the keynote presentation. Details will be forthcoming once we get it all worked out. Topic likely to be technology policy, security, and the digital society. Security Comment #1: Interestingly, Singapore Air gave us "real" knives with our (multiple and quite delectable) meals on the Newark-to-Singapore leg of the journey. They also didn't scramble to move the drink carts to block the aisle whenever the cockpit door was opened during the flight, like several US-flagged airlines are doing post-911, including on my Continental flight from DC to NY earlier that evening. However, on the flight from Singapore to Perth, we were given plastic knives to use with our meals, and a little note apologizing for the "security requirements" involved with flights "to certain countries." I bet Australia and the US have similar feel-good-but-totally-useless security "rules" about in-flight cutlery on commercial flights entering (but not exiting?) their airspace. Can anyone say "security theater?" As such, I'm wondering if my flight from Perth to Sydney later this week will include passengers being told "not to congregate near the bathrooms" during the flight....something that US carriers are telling their passengers these days, too. Security Comment #2: It never fails to amaze me -- from points in Europe to Asia and the Middle East, nearly every airport I've been in has conducted much more effective, highly-professional, and less stressful passenger screenings than we do in the States....even after our many so-called post-911 "improvements." In a change from nearly every other airport I've visited, Singapore seems to have its security checkpoints and screening done at EACH gate, and each gate area is separated from the main concourse by glass walls. An interesting approach -- as was the fact that they manage to conduct decent passenger and bag screening without 30+ rent-a-clowns trying to enforce nonstandard checkpoint procedures. Airline Recommendation: Singapore Airlines rocks. For folks who need to arrive at their long-haul overseas destination refreshed, well-fed, and actually able to land and go directly to a business meeting, Singapore Airlines' "Raffles" (Business) Class has no comparison, and is, I think, light-years ahead of every other First class service I've encountered. They will get repeat business from me, that's for sure. - Rick from Perth -- You are a subscribed member of the infowarrior list. Visit www.infowarrior.org for list information or to unsubscribe. This message may be redistributed freely in its entirety. Any and all copyrights appearing in list messages are maintained by their respective owners.
