Monday, April 19, 2010

Why All Carry On Luggage Should Be Banned


Spirit Airlines, a small Florida based airline, has caused an uproar with a plan to charge those who carry on luggage. I gasped the first time I witnessed the news. It was a happy gasp. Finally, an airline with a brain.


When major airlines began charging for checked baggage, I was outraged. How could they? Our drinks and peanuts where stripped from our trips and then a charges for luggage? What was the airline industry thinking? How expensive could a can off of soda and a bag of peanuts really be? Why not just put the expense into the ticket and forget the thought ever crossed anybody's mind?


After years of traveling, people with carry on luggage bug me to no end. For one thing, even with posted signs about the size the airline accepts for these bags, no one seems to abide by them. It's like explaining to a child they can only buy the toy under $10 and having to repeatedly say to them as they choose, it's over the limit. Someone is always going to try and manipulate the system and get past with a bag too big. Then when they are boarding the plane, they take forever to shove the too big bag into the too small compartment. In return the rule breaker takes up all of the room for the one who followed the rules. We've all witnessed it. Standing in the aisle waiting for it to move and looking ahead to the person huffing a puffing with the oversized bag thinking to yourself, "What an idiot. Come on!! I want to sit down."


Why the airline should ban all carry on luggage:


It's a nuisance for the passengers:


How many times have you tried to board a plane only to stop midway down the terminal because every person on board it pushing and shoving their bag into an overhead bin. If it doesn't fit under the seat, you cannot bring it on board. All bags carrying clothing and other knickknacks should be treated as freight. It fits in the bottom part of the plane designed for cargo.


It's a nuisance for airline crew:


How many time have you seen after all the overhead bins are full, the staff tagging bags unable to fit, preparing them for gate check? It's time to help out the crew and let them get back to handing out peanuts and drinks, not toting luggage around.


It's a safety hazard:


The inside of an airbus is not designed for traffic. It's a one way street. If people are standing in the aisle with luggage, safety of passengers and crew is in jeopardy. How many times have you been smacked with a piece of luggage as someone walks by or tripped over the luggage with pull handles? Not a pleasant feeling.



So many people are outraged carry on luggage may have a charge attached to it that your US Senators are taking aim at the airline industry and demanding fees be stopped. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-NY, is leading the charge to get airline to back off. Last Wednesday, Schumer introduced a bill along with the help of other senators, Mendez, D-NJ, Shaheen, D, NH, Frank Lautenburg, D-NJ, Ben Cardin, D-MD, and Amy Klobuchar, D-MN, seeks to efficently ban the fees by imposing an excise tax on fees collected by the airline.


The easiest way to clean up this mess is to ban all carry on luggage that would fit into an overhead bin. If it fits under the seat, it's fine.









Tuesday, April 13, 2010

What do the Kardashian's Sell?


To revamp the Miami store owned by the infamous Kardashian Sisters, Dash, Khloe and Kourtney pose nude.

Khloe blogged, "Kourt and I came to Miami to revamp Dash, and that's exactly what we did! We worked our little tushies off and we are so excited about the store's fab new makeover that we thought what better way to celebrate than by getting one of our own?" [UsMagazine]
Together with two of their "Dash Employees," the reality television stars are covered in air brushed bodysuits that say "Dash Miami."
After seeing the news, I began to wonder just what these girls were selling. After searching online for awhile, I have concluded: I can't tell.
From the pictures they are selling the public though, it seems a lot less like clothing than airbrushing for the body.


Monday, April 12, 2010

Lady Gaga: Poster Child for Abstinence?


Lady Gaga is treading into uncharted territories speaking about reasons why not to have sex. Usually dressed in provocative outfits that warrant tell-tale signs of sexuality, no one could have ever guessed she would be one to preach abstinence.

Recently while attending a M.A.C. Viva Glam event, Lady Gaga surprised herself by saying "I can't believe I'm saying this -- don't have sex. It's not really cool anymore to have sex all the time. It's cooler to be strong and independent. It's OK not to have sex, it's OK to get to know people. I'm celibate. Celibacy is fine." [CNN]

To young women out there who were pressured into having sex because all the cool kids were, she is saying: you don't have to do something unless you want to do it.

I think she is really awesome for being up front and honest with her fans on actions that can occur when partaking in risky sexual behaviors that change many women and men forever. Whether it be STD's, AIDS, unwanted pregnancies or emotions that come along with being physically intimate with another, Lady Gaga embraces her fame in ways many in the spotlight of media do not. She tells her fans to take care of themselves and not worry what others are doing.

With a fan base of many pre-teens, Lady Gaga realizes her role as a role model. Many look up to her because of her individuality and spunkiness. Speaking to men and women on why choosing not to have sex until they are ready is a huge step in gaining ground on helping those who have yet to learn not to let peer pressure run their lives. Isn't that what mom's and dad's around the world hope for their children?

Wait, until you are ready.
Whew! And it only took a half dressed popstar to say it!