For an eye-opening view of some of the attitudes of the typical flight attendant working for a U.S. carrier, read "Confessions of a Flight Attendant," over at Budget Travel.

Says this flight attendant, "Basically, you never want to push the call button at all."

Oh, and apparently, "Tipping is not encouraged by the airlines, but greatly appreciated by the staff. The key is insisting that we take the money; we're not allowed to accept it on the first attempt. I make doubly sure to attend to the needs of anyone who has tipped me, sometimes throwing in a free round--and the drinks are always strong."

So, basically, don't ask for anything at all, AND, give them some extra money, and maybe, maybe, maybe, they won't be utterly surly to you, or give you a crummy, weak little drink for your $4.00!

Of course, they're not going to bring you a hot towel, or act like the crew on a high-end foreign airline, but hey, fork over a few bucks and be grateful if they fill your soda more than halfway, and don't snarl at you...

Ahhh....the joys of flying in the U.S.' airlines' cattle cars with wings...

is not a political strategist or speechwriter for Obama.

If you just watched Obama's announcement earlier this morning, it's clear that while Obama is informed by the past, he looks to the future.

In the meantime, one has to wonder if Rasenberger's just another Salon writer who is, for inexplicable reasons, trying to do a hit job on Obama (ala Debra Dickerson), except in this case, we're not debating Obama's "blackness," but rather complaining about why he hasn't based a major political speech in his career on an otherwise obscure 100 year old political event that Jim Rasenberger should in reality be talking about during his next stint as guest speaker to the Ladies' Historial Society of Springfield.

Salon, do you think maybe you might find one, just ONE writer who will write something rational and sensible about Barack?

What's next, Cary Tennis offering heartfelt advice for Obama about his "addiction" (Barack's a smoker) and why Cary thinks Obama needs a 12-step program for nicotine?

Or can we look forward to Patrick Smith talking about how awful it is that the flight attendants on Obama's campaign planes don't wear kimonos and hand out hot towels?

COME ON SALON!!!! Can't we get some meaty, decent coverage of Barack that isn't ridiculous, contrived pot shots!!!!!

Well, there I was, thinking I was going to vote for Obama, because the guy's liberal, smart, charismatic, opposes the war, and always did, and inspires people.

But geez-o-man, after reading Salon, I realize that I can't vote for this loser.

After all, he's not really black, he's actually this "African African-American but not black because he's not the descendent of West African slaves" black, and he's out of touch with real "black" black culture and all, and well, he made his announcement to run for President and he didn't spend most of it telling us the 100-year old history of Springfield, Illinois' race riots, and well, you know, he's actually evolved as a politician, and wasn't nearly as good a speaker in the past as he is now, so what DOES that say about him?

Gee, thanks, Salon. What would we do without your constant barrage of pointless coverage of Obama that is all subtly designed to take him down a few pegs.

What's the deal, anyway. Joan, you got an inside track for a job in a Hillary Clinton administration?

Why don't we have a front page, above the fold lengthy 3-page story, analyzing Hillary Clinton's craven and pandering policies re: the Iraq situation?

Why don't we have some hack writer analyzing Hillary's various pathologies, and determining that she's an overambitious scorned wife who, when rebuffed by American on her health plan, and then cuckolded publicly, has found the outlet for her pain and the way to achieve her just desserts?

Why don't we have some in-depth analysis condemning her for not including a history of the women's rights struggle from the past two centuries when she made her presidential announcement?

Why don't we have an article on how for a women, she's just not FEMININE enough?

Oh, right, sorry. She's HILLARY, and not Obama, and so she gets a pass while Obama gets the bum's rush...

Wow...a two-fer, Salon.

I already sent you my email indicating why I don't plan to re-up on my premium membership -- something to do with too much ridiculously biased trashing of Obama portending poorly for the value of your "Election 2008 coverage," (with a little "too much Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan" thrown in.)

I was a charter subscriber.

No more.

This clinches it.

Did ya notice that none of us paying our way were clamoring for the return of Paglia?