I had a connecting flight through Cincinnati, which is approximately 1.5 hours from Indianapolis. Here is how this final leg of my journey home went with Delta:

• 6:00pm: Arrival at Cincinnati. 8:25pm flight initially showing on time departure.
• 7:00pm: I finish my dinner. Flight is delayed until 9:20pm. Told that they are waiting on a single flight attendant who was flying in from Indy.
• 8:30pm: Our flight is delayed again until 10:25pm. Told that our entire crew has not even left Indy yet. No other crews available, so our plane just sits there empty as the stores in the airport begin to close.
• 9:45pm: Crew coming from Indy is finally en-route and scheduled to arrive in Cinci at 10:58pm.
• 11:15pm: Crew has supposedly arrived, though I only saw the pilot briefly enter our gangway.
• 11:55pm: Told the flight will be canceled since they crew is now "over their hours". Incredulous that this simple arithmetic wasn't performed before they left Indy.
• 12:05am: Given the option to stay the night and fly out on 1:30pm flight the next day, or take a bus that will arrive in an hour to drive us to Indy. I go with the bus because I miss home and losing an entire day sucks.
• 1:20am: About 20 of us board the bus for Indy.
• 3:00am: Bus arrives at Indy airport. No taxis anywhere.
• 3:15am: Find out that no taxis are allowed to pickup passengers at the airport before 4am (per airport policy). After dialing a few companies I finally wake up some independent guy who is willing to take me home.
• 4:25am: Arrive home after a $55 cab ride.

So I now will actively avoid flying Delta or United.

Obama has been in the public spotlight for more than 10 years: first as an Illinois state senator, then as a United States Senator. His past and present has been thoroughly investigated by literally thousands of reporters across hundreds of news organizations. There have been numerous dirt-diggers across all of his opponent's campaigns during the last decade. I'm certain that the United States government has performed some serious background checks, especially since he served on the "Foreign Relations, Environment and Public Works" and "Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs" committees. The FBI is extremely thorough when it comes to matters of national security.

The idea that a smear campaign at the 11th hour will reveal any new or relevant information smells of desperation and delusion. Let's assume all of these allegations are true: the level and depth of a conspiracy capable of hiding these nefarious accusations is mind boggling. It makes the crazies who think the moon landing was a hoax look rational.

The original forwarded e-mail follows. My comments are in bold:

COULD THIS BE A THIRD COLUMN WITHIN, AS FREQUENTLY MENTIONED OF HITLER'S NAZI IN WW II ??
Trying to associate Hitler with Obama... do I really have to point out how ridiculous that is?

Ok, guys, you can Snopes & Google till your heart's desire, but there's too many scary questions here.....................................

I realize that I'm "preaching to the choir" but thought you might find this interesting - it's everything that we have been asking for months. As a rule I'm not paranoid, but some answers need to be given

I'm sending it to you all because you may know people that are still on the fence - I don't. If you do, please send this on.
Translation: We are trying to scare undecided voters by using the "he's not one of us" argument. Hopefully we can spread around enough baseless fear to decide our president based on that alone instead of something like policy, judgment, or integrity.

This letter is from a friend of ours who we believe wrote this with great concern. I think it is important to send this on so anyone that is open to ideas and wants what is best for our country can have good information to use when making up their mind regarding who to vote for. This is not a political slant, but a REAL person doing research on an individual who will be in charge of our country. Just read it and make your own decisions.
REAL person, eh? Not like those thousands of reporters across hundreds of newspaper organizations - THOSE aren't REAL people. They're only professionals who would just hate to break this kind of story about a presidential candidate - surely they must have missed this incredibly well researched and fact-supported series of slanders.

Thank God, too, that this individual has waited until the final 3 weeks of the election to "reveal" such a frightening series of "discoveries" found on the "internet" (a very reliable source).

To All My Friends, this is long, but every important, please take the time to read it.
You can stop now if you can't take anymore - I wish I could...

This election has me very worried. So many things to consider. About a year ago I would have voted for Obama. I have changed my mind three times since then. I watch all the news channels, jumping from one to another. I must say this drives my husband crazy. But, I feel if you view MSNBC, CNN, and Fox News, you might get some middle ground to work with. About six months ago, I started thinking 'where did the money come from for Obama'. I have four daughters who went to College, and we were middle class, and money was tight. We (including my girls) worked hard and there were lots of
student loans.
Maybe you should watch one of those news channels you listed for more than a few minutes - it might help with your apparent confusion. Obama worked hard as well, and by the time he graduated both he and his wife Michelle had racked up huge debt in the form of student loans. Those loans were paid off using the proceeds of Obama's books - even Fox "News" was able to figure that out.

I started looking into Obama's life.

Around 1979 Obama started college at Occidental in California. He is very open about his two years at Occidental, he tried all kinds of drugs and was wasting his time but, even though he had a brilliant mind, did not apply himself to his studies. 'Barry' (that was the name he used all his life) during this time had two roommates, Muhammad Hasan Chandoo and Wahid Hamid, both from Pakistan.

During the summer of 1981, after his second year in college, he made 'around the world' trip. Stopping to see his mother in Indonesia, next Hyderabad in India, three weeks in Karachi, Pakistan where he stayed with his roommate's family, then off to Africa to visit his father's family. My question - Where did he get the money for this trip? Nether I, nor any one of my children would have had money for a trip like this when they where in college.
Partly true, but I'm confused about what it's supposed to imply? Too much international experience and you are somehow unqualified to lead a nation? So this guy can't fathom how Obama traveled internationally during college, despite the fact that thousands of college students do it every semester. Why does he assume some evil financier?

When he came back he started school at Columbia University in New York. It is at this time he wants every one to call him Barack - not Barry. Do you know what the tuition is at Columbia? It's not cheap to say the least! Where did he get money for tuition? Student Loans? Maybe. After Columbia, he went to Chicago to work as a Community Organizer for $12,000 a year. Why Chicago? Why not New York? He was already living in New York.
"Maybe" student loans? No: definitely. See my comments above.

Personally I only trust people named John, Bob, Barry, or Bubba. Everyone else must be a terrorist because their name sounds foreign to me.

And if you don't understand how someone can choose to do meaningful work to better a community instead of working only for money, then I pity you.

By 'chance' he met Antoin 'Tony' Rezko, born in Aleppo Syria, and a real estate developer in Chicago. Rezko has been convicted of fraud and bribery this year. Rezko, was named 'Entrepreneur of the Decade' by the Arab-American Business and Professional Association'. About two years later, Obama entered Harvard Law School. Do you have a ny idea what tuition is for Harvard Law School? Where did he get the money for Law School? More student loans? After Law school, he went back to Chicago. Rezko offered him a job, which he turned down. But, he did take a job with Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Galland. Guess what? They represented 'Rezar' which is Rezko's firm. Rezko was one of Obama's first major financial contributors when he ran for office in Chicago. In 2003, Rezko threw an early
fundraiser for Obama which Chicago Tribune reporter David Mendelland claims was instrumental in providing Obama with 'seed money' for his U.S. Senate race. In 2005, Obama purchased a new home in Kenwood District of Chicago for $1.65 million (less than asking price). With ALL those
Student Loans - Where did he get the money for the property? On the same day Rezko's wife, Rita, purchased the adjoining empty lot for full price.

The London Times reported that Nadhmi Auchi, an Iraqi-born Billionaire loaned Rezko $3.5 million three weeks before Obama's new home was purchased. Obama met Nadhmi Auchi many times with Rezko.
The Resko association has been heavily dissected and generally discarded as a non sequitur - it's not a big deal. Rezko is slime, but just knowing someone or working for someone where he was a client doesn't make you a dick as well. You want to hear about a real scandal? Read up on "Keating 5".

Now, we have Obama running for President. Valerie Jarrett, was Michele Obama's boss. She is now Obama's chief advisor and he does not make any major decisions without talking to her first. Where was Jarrett born? Ready for this? Shiraz, Iran! Do we see a pattern here? Or am I going crazy?
Going crazy? You're already the mayor of Crazytown. Mrs. Jarrett is a Chicago lawyer, businesswoman, and civic leader who is just one of many Obama advisors. There is nothing odd or alarming about that.

Who would you want to advise you in international affairs - someone who actually understands the complexities of countries, or someone who just got a passport in 2007, doesn't know the difference between Shia and Sunni, and couldn't point out the Gaza Strip on a map (I'm look at you Sarah)?

On May 10, 2008 The Times reported, Robert Malley, advisor to Obama, was 'sacked' after the press found out he was having regular contacts with 'Hamas', which controls Gaza and is connected with Iran. This past week, buried in the back part of the papers, Iraqi newspapers reported that during Obama's visit to Iraq, he asked their leaders to do nothing about the war until after he is elected, and he will 'Take care of things'.
Take some time and actually read about Robert Malley. He is a high respected Middle East expert who has advised previous presidents. As soon as the meeting with Hamas was discovered by the campaign he was removed and the campaign immediately severed all ties with him... would you have preferred he be kept on as an adviser?

The allegation about Obama's visit to Iraq is a complete fabrication - the Republicans with him on the trip even refuted this bogus claim. The author of the original accusation, Amir Taheri, has an agenda and has been shown citing "non existent" sources and "distorting the facts beyond recognition" (sourcewatch).

Oh, and by the way, remember the college roommates that where born in Pakistan? They are in charge of all those 'small' Internet campaign contributions for Obama. Where is that money coming from? The poor and middle class in this country? Or could it be from the Middle East?
Not even close to true. Imad Husain is now a Boston banker and Mohammed Hasan Chandoo is a self-employed financial consultant living in Armonk, New York.

I have personally given to his campaign - it was the first time I have ever given to a politician in my life. I am not alone. There is a ban on political contributions and expenditures by foreign nationals, first enacted in 1966 as part of the amendments to the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), an "internal security" statute. Both the campaign and the FEC are strongly committed to not break the law - if you believe otherwise I suggest you put your tin foil hat back on your head.

And the final bit of news. On September 7, 2008, The Washington Times posted a verbal slip that was made on 'This Week' with George Stephanapoulos. Obama on talking about his religion said, 'My Muslim
faith'. When questioned, 'he made a mistake'. Some mistake!
Yeah, he's a secret Muslim - that's the only explanation for a verbal gaffe.

All of the above information I got on line. If you would like to check it - Wikipedia, encyclopedia, Barack Obama;Tony Rezko; Valerie Jarrett: Daily Times - Obama visited Pakistan in 1981; The Washington Times - September 7, 2008; The Times May 10, 2008.

Now the BIG question - If I found out all this information on my own, Why haven't all of our 'intelligent' members of the press been reporting this?
You mean all those stories that you cited, they don't exist? Maybe you're just upset that everyone else has already read what you are just discovering, and you're arriving late to the party. People have moved on and are more worried about the economy, health care, energy, and a thousand other issues that are more important and relevant than Barack's freshman college roommates.

A phrase that keeps ringing in my ear - 'Beware of the enemy from within'!!!
The only enemy I see is your blatant bigotry.

I have a few gripes:

• Outlook sucks. If I click "Reply", but then decide not to reply and close the window, it still marks the message as being replied to. That's stupid.
• Also in Outlook, when I am composing a new message you like to save my drafts in the Inbox, even though there is a beautifully labeled (and empty) "Drafts" folder right next to it. That's just bad form, good buddy. Thanks Matt!
• Why, for the sake of sweaty donkey balls, does Windows limit the total path length of every file on my computer to 256 characters. What the hell is wrong with you Windows?
• Explorer doesn't allow me to create/rename files that begin with a period. I can think of numerous programs that use this naming convention (".project", ".cvsignore", ".classpath", etc). However, when I ask Explorer to create or rename a file to begin with a period it tells me: "You must type a file name." Well I did, dumbass. The file name is ".project". Just because it starts with a period doesn't make it an invalid file name. Even your sorry excuse for a command prompt allows me to create/rename files that begin with a period. Stop being such a douche, Explorer.
• Hey Explorer, I'm not done with you yet! How about when I am renaming a file and accidentally make a mistake (such as including an invalid character or typing the same name as an existing file). Do you keep what I have entered so far and allow me to fix my error? Oh no, my friend. You declare that if a single character was mistyped then ALL of my changes must be erased and forgotten. Yeah, good decision there chief.
• And finally I come to cornbread. Ain't nothing wrong with that.

love,
Mike

Usually the incoming code we see from these other coders is ok. But occasionally we see some astounding bad code that deserves to be put on a wall of shame.

I give you Exhibit A, a nice little snippet of JavaScript stupidity:
if ((document.Form1.theField.value == " ") ||
(document.Form1.theField.value == " ") ||
(document.Form1.theField.value == " ") ||
(document.Form1.theField.value == " ") ||
(document.Form1.theField.value == " ") ||
(document.Form1.theField.value == " ") ||
(document.Form1.theField.value == " ") ||
(document.Form1.theField.value == " ") ||
.... (continues for 30 more lines!)


Yikes! I sometimes make small mistakes or typos, but this... this is insane.

It's more than incompetent: the programmer should have their keyboard access permanently revoked. I wouldn't trust this person to write an e-mail without accidentally formating their hard drive.

Oh, and if you're wondering, the picture in this post is Bill Gates posing for a teenie magazine spread (back in the day).

"The improper communications between Congressman Mark Foley and former House Congressional pages is unacceptable and abhorrent. It is an obscene breach of trust," Hastert, R-Ill., Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Majority Whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo., said Saturday in a written statement.

No. What Foley did was despicable, immoral, pedophilic, and wrong. The obscene breach of trust was done by the Republican leaders in congress who allowed this man to continue to violate the very laws on pedophilia he was creating for several years.

Where is the public outcry? Why am I only seeing Democratic blogs and editors digging deeper into this terrible situation? Where the hell is the religious right?

Now Foley's lawyer is claiming that Foley is gay and was molested as a teenager by a clergyman. And... so what? Is that supposed to excuse him in some way?

Now the questions became really pointed. What do you think about 9/11? What are your views on the Iran issue? Do you think government is too big, too powerful? Would you ever "make a point?"

He asked me if I knew how to make a bomb. "I have a degree in physics, and I'm not an idiot." Of course I knew how to make a bomb -- what kind of question is that?? The better question is, WOULD I make a bomb? The answer is no.

All this guy did was lose his iPod down an airplane toilet (after which he informed the flight attendants exactly what happened). What the hell is wrong with these people? It could even be argued that the reaction to this minor incident was itself a minor act of "terror" for all the people involved.

Obvious Alert: life is dangerous. Very little of what is being by the government can help. Get over it.

And another thing: the feverish search by the media for how "terrorists" could possibly hurt us is out of control. There are a million ways to hurt people - listing them out or having experts explain exactly how each can be executed actually HELPS terrorists (I'm talking to you, Fox "News").

These "embryos" (more accurately "clusters of cells") are already being created and destroyed by the tens or hundreds for each couple undergoing such fertility treatment. It seems incredibly wasteful to NOT use these cells for some utility after a chlid has been successfully conceived. But Bush continues to bow to crazies in his party that demand control over science based on their interpretation of a 2,000 year old book.

As always, Ask A Ninja's resident ninja has some funny things to say about the movie and how much it sucks.

The man doesn't know what he is talking about, yet this is the man is spear-heading the anti-net-neutrality movement. The man just sounds senile trying to explain how the internet works. Funny (and sad) quotes from his 10-minute speech against net-neutrality (taken from a recent Dvorak column):

They want to deliver vast amounts of information over the Internet. And again, the Internet is not something you just dump something on. It's not a truck. It's a series of tubes.

And if you don't understand those tubes can be filled and if they are filled, when you put your message in, it gets in line and it's going to be delayed by anyone that puts into that tube enormous amounts of material, enormous amounts of material.

Wow. If a seven-year-old said something like this it would probably be cute (though I would wager any self-respecting elementary school student already knows more about the internet than Stevens).

Senator Stevens is claiming that we, as consumers, are getting a free ride on the internet (hey jackass, what am I paying $20/month for?). He also supports allowing telecommunication companies to ask content providers to pay more money just to ensure that their packets aren't delayed. Someone get this man out of office!

The story is exceptionally convoluted, but it now appears that the theater will be torn down in the name of "money for schools." School District 131 stands to benefit if (and that's a big IF) they can sell the 8 acres donated by Bigelow Homes. Not coincidentally, Bigelow Homes is also the developer who proposed to expand it's existing communist commune HomeTown Aurora by 240 homes where the theater stands today. Big surprise.

You can follow all the drama at the excellent Aurora-based blog OpenlineBlog, specifically this entry which talks about the public hearing Shannon and I attended last night (you might have been able to see us in the picture if it were not blurred).

The whole situation makes me ill. I feel bad for all of the "concerned parents" who were fooled into believing that the hypothetical 1.3 million dollars the donated land was claimed to be worth could help their schools. The problem is that this estimation comes from the developer (who gets a tax write-off for the "value" of the land) and there are no current buyers for the land (in fact there are multiple parcels of land in the area that are currently on the market and not being sold, much less for the per-acre cost used to estimate the land's value). Money is not going to solve their problems: the East Aurora High School (the only in District 131) already spends $2,000 more PER STUDENT than the surrounding districts. City Hall is not who they should be protesting - they should be protesting outside of their own school board's meetings. Besides, with the addition of 240 homes and the accompaning children that come along with that influx of people, do they really think that's going to help their already over-crowded schools? Morons.

I am against violence, but these people need to get their faces smacked with a heavy gauntlet of truth and common sense. About 85% of the people who spoke at the meeting supported the Drive-In, many passionately and with excellent supporting arguments backed by facts. The other 15% lived in HomeTown and appeared to be ignorant of the actual issues surrounding the drive-in. They spoke, for the first time in this months long debate, "because we care about our kids education." Great! But this wasn't the place to do it, you naive wastes of carbon, and you sure as hell don't have a clue about what damage you did last night to you, your children's, and Aurora's future.

To the moronic few: Thanks for destroying a wonderful landmark (something unique in the western suburbs), removing cheap family entertainment (now we have to drive elsewhere to spend our money), and driving our property values down with shoddy housing and cheap strip malls (which will go unsold if they have the same luck as the half-empty strip mall 2 kilometers down the road).

This is why I hate stupid people.

current twc: 14,467

I wrote them a letter to let them know how much they suck. Maybe I'll get something for my troubles, but I highly doubt it. One thing is certain: if given the choice I will avoid this airline in the future.

Has anyone had a similar experience, either with United or another airline? Am I being too harsh over something that all airlines suffer from?