Hmm, mockchoi, I never thought PS was being an apologist for the pilots who make the news.

I think he's just making a sensible, logical point that these reported incidents are less than something like 0.001% of the flights that take place. How is that a sign of the complete degradation of the profession (to sum up what you just wrote)? Are people in your profession perfect all of the time?

Patrick's point is that the media love these incidents and report them out of all proportion to their real impact on, or risk to, airline passengers.

Thanks for pointing that out.

I am sorry to hear of your mother's passing.

The photo you shared of her is wonderful. :)

And thank you for the column...I looked forward to what you would have to say about the NWA story.

That seems ironic. Anyway, this was a publicity stunt. And also a boring publicity stunt.

Is this just me?

Anyway. Cool picture of St Elmo's fire, Patrick. & thinking about your columns in the past got me through a sickeningly turbulent flight a month ago. A solid hour of people and things flying around the cabin, sudden drops..oy. I was terrified, but tried to remember you said it was manageable from the cockpit. So, thank you.

My first thought was, hey, just like the old days with guys in their short-shorts throwing rackets and screaming.

And I don't recall any of those guys ever groveling at a press conference, so I think Ms. Harding has a point. Is it possible there's more sexism than racism though? That she was 'unladylike'? Or maybe sexism opens the floodgates for all sorts of -isms. Hmm

But what about kids? Yeah, it's a slippery slope with the illegal immigration issue, but - is it so hard for Americans to just embrace the POV that we should take care of our sick - be they elderly, young, middle-aged, parents, single, or of *any* ethnicity? Are we really so myopic as to not want basic care for one another?

Because that myopia has dug us this endless fiscal hole. Sorry, but the plural of anecdote is NOT data. I don't buy the huggy, misty-eyed socialized medicine stories any more than I do the-guy-who-died-waiting-for-a-heart story posted solemnly from Canada.

But: it seems we either aim to do right by our people, or we don't. And right now, in my opinion, we don't. Even leaving demographics aside.

Or Hepburn and Tracy...?

Ha! Pretty much our future in a nutshell. Pretty funny.

Thank you for writing it.

That is all.

I can't get to the other blogs linked - this was for an undergraduate degree? I had no idea those subway schools were so expensive...

I've been in this relationship. I foolishly co-signed a loan, thinking this would wake him up to financial responsibility. It didn't work. We broke up, finally, and I've been picking up the pieces for two years, even though I was in perfect financial health on my own for a decade previously.

For some reason, women (I can't speak for anyone but women in this situation; nobody get mad) ignore that nagging bad feeling about a man's financial immaturity. Cary's musings at the end are all good questions.

I wish LW the best of luck in dealing with this difficult situation.

has really stirred the pot for some people.

ANYWAY, I was interested to know the difference between the preservation of articles left behind at the Vietnam Memorial versus Arlington. The espionage stuff going on among staff members...meh, this happens in all companies with egomaniacal bosses. I live that in real life, but thanks.

I am really curious as to how the records have not yet been computerized. ?Maybe it's a revolving door of people or poorly funded?

I feel really safe when I'm flying. Sooooo many hours logged worldwide versus little old me flying for business! And I'm grateful for Patrick's column to reinforce my relative fearlessness!

And also I don't drive. :)

It involved a lot of visualization about the 'little girl' in me, who needed reassurance during stressful situations; otherwise, the adult and the kid shut down. You do have an adult sensibility who can take care of you now.

The fact that you signed your letter 'little girl' - well, Cary's advice is dead-on. Try and find some therapy. Good luck.

And it is heartbreaking, but what a couple of wonderful young people. I wish there was some way to support people who choose adoption. To clarify, I am pro-choice, but those adoptive parents seemed so loving. Not sure I'll make it through the reunion show they are previewing!

Every time I'm in a waiting room and I pick up a magazine, it seems like Brad Pitt is telling an interviewer about his favorite brand of olives or making vague statements as to how 'truly amazing' Angelina is. Such things are personal, but also **EXTREMELY BORING**. I always just thought Kevin Spacey was wise enough not to bore everyone with his personal life.

His observation, in this piece, on the audience laughing at telling moments in character revelations, well...that was interesting. And succinct, and astute.