The future of plane travel ~ Coriolistic Anachronisms - A Vancouver Blog

Hi, I'm your friendly Coriolibot (as in "ro-bot").

It would seem Vince (shame on him) hasn't posted a fresh entry in a couple of days, so I am here to keep you entertained no matter what!

The post below is a random entry that we hope you haven't read before. Regular current entries follow. Enjoy, and come back soon for brand new posts!

Note: this random entry is served on a per-visit basis and will change if you reload the page. It will also not show up on regular RSS, Feedburner and Twitter feeds.

Oct 21
   Vintage! This is a random post. The year was 2007...

Vancouver has grown into me, it has slipped under my skin and become part of me. I talk to it and it responds. I can feel its moods and I know some of its secrets. We confide in each other, casually, as friends exchange impressions on their daily routine.

But now I am suddenly trying to see the city through someone else’s eyes. Ironically, after two years working in the tourism industry, it’s the first time I completely immerse myself in that perspective. Hundreds of questions arise daily, trying to imagine what she will see, what she will think. The smallest things I take for granted can now be redrawn into possible surprises or exclamation marks.

What will she think of the innumerable coffee shops? Will the fancy Caffe Artegiano win with its classic elegance, or will it be the funky decor of Trees Organic Coffee, or the busy JJ Bean on Commercial Drive? Will Granville Island’s public market appeal to her cooking spirit or is it too pretty and not spontaneous enough to match the real European markets? Will Stanley Park have the same magical effect on her it has on me, erasing the urban core from my conscience in as little time as it takes to walk a block or two? Will the Seawall and its mesmerizing views make her stare in awe? Will the outrageous richness of Yaletown’s waterfront be too much to accept or will it just be an urban feast for the eyes? What will she think of Lynn Canyon, which I consider to be the most beautiful spot in the lower mainland? Am I just biased about it or is the magic real? Will she see the colors I see in our West Coast sunsets, how will they compare to eastern ones? Will the sight of a graceful harbour seal poking its head through the calm waters of Coal Harbour make her smile and point like I still do? Will she laugh at people respectfully waiting for the signal to change to cross an empty street, at passengers thanking the bus driver when leaving, at girls waring flip-flops in the autumn rain? Will she share my childish excitement when riding the gondola up to Grouse, and when overlooking the Greater Vancouver at night? Will she enjoy the Seabus ride to North Van, and the False Creek Ferries, unavoidable floating links between here and there in our city surrounded by water?

What will Marie think of Vancouver? I almost wish I was in her shoes, ready to discover the city all over again. But she’s bound to like it. Vancouver has beauty everywhere one looks, and beauty is what makes Marie tick. And me too.

Defined tags for this entry:

 

2007-10-21 19:12 • Posted in Always: & Vancouver:

3 Comments

Display comments as(Linear | Threaded)
  • 1 - Marie says:

    « Does this mean I can bring my flipflops??? So...when it rains in Canada and girls wear flipflops, is Canada so clean that no mud flicks onto the backs of their legs??? - because if that is true I’m moving now.

    I can’t wait to see your city.

    And I thought you didn’t like...ticks...:-) »

  • 1.1 - Vince answers:

    « Well, no, nothing is that perfect. The flips still flick mud on the chicks’ legs and no, I don’t like ticks. ;-) »

  • 2 - Anonymous says:

    « Don’t worry, Marie is running through life with the eyes of a child.
    She will love you both.
    ;-) »

Add Comment


Enclosing asterisks marks text as bold (*word*), underscore are made via _word_.
Standard emoticons like :-) and ;-) are converted to images.

To prevent automated Bots from commentspamming, please enter the string you see in the image below in the appropriate input box. Your comment will only be submitted if the strings match. Please ensure that your browser supports and accepts cookies, or your comment cannot be verified correctly.
CAPTCHA

BBCode format allowed


We now go back to current chronological entries:
Aug 12

[Excerpts from Canadian Airports Security Notices]

August 9th, 2006 – The Canadian Government has raised the national alert level to red, or Maximum and Transports Canada has decided to restrict liquids and gels aboard aircrafts to match the new US regulations. The Prime Minister Mr. Harper is exempt from this new measure and can also talk on his cell phone during landing and take off.

September 11th, 2007Transports and Taxes Canada has placed the national air traffic system at a purple, or Catastrophic alert level, the last step before Global Panic. As a result, no hand luggage will be allowed onboard airplanes. All electronic devices are now also prohibited, including but not limited to laptop computers, cell phones, watches, mp3 players and portable bombs. Passengers are encouraged to get proficient in the smoke signal technique in order to replace their phone at their destination. Mr. Harper, you can keep yours, of course.

February 14th, 2008 – A new level of national alertness has been put in effect; as of midnight last night, Canada is now under black alert, or Global Panic level. Consequently, Transports and Immigration Canada has prohibited for passengers to carry any kind of luggage, checked or carry-on. Clothing is to be kept to a minimum and no unnecessary items will be allowed. Among prohibited clothing items are coats, jackets, gloves, scarves, hats, ties, belts, boots, adult diapers and kilts (we shouldn’t have to endure the sight of an ugly man’s legs). Passengers are advised to plan ahead and dress appropriately from home since disallowed clothing items will be confiscated and burned. Mr. Harper can wear his three piece suit and diapers.

November 35th, 2008 – As a result of an attempt by a Swiss citizen to carry a Swiss Army pin-size bazooka onboard an A-390 Airbus, all jewelry is now also prohibited by Transports and Culture Canada on all aircrafts. Earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, watches, piercings, hair pins and flowered flip-flops are now prohibited. Mr. Harper can disregard this rule and keep his nose and nipple rings.

July 14th, 2009 – Canada has been placed under a transparent, or We’re Dead alert level. Transports, Women’s Rights and Liquors Canada will implement new safety measures accordingly for the next two weeks. After that, wearing personal clothes aboard an airplane will become illegal. Passengers will be issued hospital gowns at the gate after removing all clothing including underwear. The Gap, Ralph Lauren and Levi-Strauss have been issued new airport franchise permits in order to setup retail stores in arrival terminals within the shortest delays. Airlines are already discounting fares from St-Tropez and Vancouver’s Wreck Beach. Mr. Harper is welcome aboard all airplanes in an Eskimo coat if he wishes.

December 14th, 2009 – Consequence of a failed attempt by an Irish citizen to smuggle liquid explosives aboard his flight by mixing it with beer and drinking it, passengers are now advised by Transports, Arts and Crafts and Diplomacy Canada that they will be subjected to a mandatory bladder clearing before boarding the aircraft. Tremendous flight delays are expected. Airlines recommend avoiding the consumption of fluids 72 hours prior to departure. Mr. Harper can arrive at the plane completely drunk. He probably always does any way.

March 10th, 2010 – The Government of Canada and its regulating agency Transports and Celebrities Canada have declared plane travel to be illegal for passengers between the age of 5 and 175. The purchase of airline tickets remains legal, just like for radar detectors, and fares are expected to drop slightly as people will likely keep buying seats in hope of a law amendment. Mr. Harper gets his flights for free. He also has begun flight school.

July 2010 – Mr. Harper has failed his Private Pilot License flight test for the 12th time. His secretary commented off the record that « The Prime Minister has unsuccessfully applied his knowledge of politics to flying, promising the control tower he would touch and go but never complying, and later attempting to save his ass by declaring an emergency for a sneezing attack. »

Mr. Harper later admitted that he’ll stick with politics. He declared that « Politics are a child’s game compared to an airplane’s stick. I find manipulating voters much easier than handling an airplane. Pushing people’s buttons is rather straightforward. On an aircraft, there are so many buttons I wouldn’t know where to start. »

Defined tags for this entry:

 

2006-08-12 21:56 • Posted in ICMOL:

5 Comments

Display comments as(Linear | Threaded)
  • 1 - Anonymous says:

    « You do well to laugh « this » out, while we still may laugh it out.
    The way things are going, your joking might soon become prophetic.
    Pathetic, really !
    ;-) »

  • 2 - Sigrid says:

    « I can’t believe you get little or no reaction to the funniest post you wrote in a long time...I personally loved it so that I put a direct link to it on AFO...great stuff. »

  • 2.1 - Vince answers:

    « Hehe, if I wrote for reaction, I would be a very unhappy blogger ;-) But Thanks! »

  • 3 - Sigrid says:

    « A quip for the day:
    « Airplane travel is nature’s way of making you look like your passport photo. » - attributed to Albert Arnold Gore, Jr., former US vice president. »

  • 4 - fab says:

    « Still catching up with the reading of your blog.
    This is a great post! I’m still laughing, but yellow as we say in French! Because flying from England is not funny anymore since the scare a few weeks ago.
    This post is comedy material Vince. Well done, I love it. »

Add Comment


Enclosing asterisks marks text as bold (*word*), underscore are made via _word_.
Standard emoticons like :-) and ;-) are converted to images.

To prevent automated Bots from commentspamming, please enter the string you see in the image below in the appropriate input box. Your comment will only be submitted if the strings match. Please ensure that your browser supports and accepts cookies, or your comment cannot be verified correctly.
CAPTCHA

BBCode format allowed