Hasta la Vista, Aloha

Today is the last day of service for Aloha Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy last week. Cargo service will continue, but no more passenger reservations are being booked past today.

Wonder how those planes would look with “Hasta La Vista Air” stenciled on the side?

Lots of airlines have reciprocal arrangements with partners…honoring passenger tickets, frequent flier miles, etc. Aloha has a reciprocal agreement with the Italian carrier, Ariva Derce Air.

Beijing is going to ban smoking starting May 1st, as China prepares for the Olympics.

Hmmm… let’s think this through for a minute:
Do you want to be waiting in a line administered by some Chinaman who’s smoked all his life…and hasn’t had a nicotine fix for six weeks…?

You know what’s going to happen when that Olympic Torch shows up?
Everyone’s going to want to light-up.

China has about 350 million smokers--about 25% of its population--which accounts for a third of the world's smokers. I don't want to be around when they all start having nicotine-fits.

Speaking of mass hysteria...the roll-out of the Paulson Plan for Fed-management of anything resembling a financial institution has begun. If you like the way the Fed has performed over the past few years, you’re going to love this one.
(By the way, is there a genetic link between Henry and Pat Paulson?)

As I have said many times over the years, business that fails to regulate itself—or takes advantage of the public trust—is in danger of coming under government scrutiny and meddlement.

Does the US Banking System need to be re-jiggered?
Or are a few rogue players running fast and loose going to result in sweeping changes we all must endure? Bottom line is, do we want more government intervention or less in the way we operate?

Come to think of it, I'd love to hear what Pat Paulson would have said about this!