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That's the British spelling of course. Because now that Gordon Brown is gone, my vow not to visit the UK is over.

I took this vow a few years back when shortly after taking office, Brown imposed an £80 airport tax for people who fly in "premium" cabins and a £40 tax for those in economy. Either way, it's an outrageous tax that was supposed to be "for the environment". Except after the first year of the tax, forensic accountants found out that the money collected went to the general fund, instead of the "environment". As a result, I vowed not to visit the UK until Brown was tossed out.

Except now we have Cameron, allegedly a Tory that sounds more like a limousine liberal. If he's truly a Conservative, how about repealing all those airport taxes imposed during his predecessor's regime?

If he doesn't pan out, maybe they can draft Jeremy Clarkson for PM? It's not like if it hasn't been tried before. His manifesto reads a bit libertarian to me...

Often, travelers will groan when they check into a hotel and they get a lower floor. Usually, higher floors are reserved for elite guests (much like upgrades and E+ are usually for elite flyers). In some cities, like New York or Hong Kong, a higher floor is a must because you get a feel for the city. Hong Kong and New York are defined by their skylines so it's best to able to see them.

From the sixth floor, overlooking Roppongi Keyakizaka Dori. Happy New Year!

Having a lower floor at the Grand Hyatt Roppongi, for example, isn't the end of the world. In fact, it gives you a sense of having bearings since there's not really an outstanding icon of Tokyo to focus on. No million dollar skyline or Art Deco canyons here. What Tokyo has is street life. It's the best city to explore on foot (provided you've not twisted your ankle before the trip) and its full of neat things you won't find riding on the Hato Bus. The hotel is part of the Roppongi Hills complex and it serves (along with Tokyo Midtown) as an oasis from the silliness that Roppongi is known for.

Hallway from the room to the front door. Nice!

The rest of the room, including a wet bathroom and a properly firm bed!

The question will arise; how could I stay here on my usual low budget? My stay here was an award night from Hyatt's Faster Free Nights promotion. During my last stay in LA, I stayed at two Hyatts, thus earning me a free night anywhere there was availability. What's important is that the service was sublime, the room was comfortable and I had a place to fall flat faced after the 10 hour flight from SFO. Despite being on a "lower floor".

Grand Hyatt Tokyo
6-10-3 Roppongi, Minato-Ku,
Tokyo, Japan 106-0032
Tel: +81 3 4333 1234 Fax: +81 3 4333 8123

Each year, United Airlines hosts a Friends and Family event at the Maintenance Center at SFO. It has a classic car show, some UA hardware on display, lots of booths aimed toward their employees, a A319 for a plane pull and oh yeah, the Blue Angels.

Firing up the engines

Inspection

Walkaround

Waiting for the "go"

Fat Albert takes off to take readings for the air show

Finally off!

The height of Fleet Week is the airshow over the Marina Green and the waterfront. Due to weather (lots of low fog), the Saturday show was cancelled. This show would be the only one and because of the slightly higher fog, they had a "flat show".

Besides the Angels, there's the other events...

Each year, there's a plane pull between the Blue Angels and two groups of Flyertalkers (who usually lose pretty badly)

UA took part in the Fleet Week Airshow for the first time with this low flying 747-400

The USAF sent two F-16s

And to wrap this up, here's SQ15 enroute to Seoul Incheon

This is the ONLY time I will quote Mao in this blog. "The Chinese people have stood up".

It begins on MUNI with an Auntie who is willing to stand up and fight when she's attacked. Guess people will think twice now before attacking Chinese in San Francisco, I hope.

Good advice from the past for these troubled times via Shaky.

History of this poster here. The store here.

Like wow...only three more new episodes and BSG is done!

This two parter left me with a butt-ache. Which means that I was firmly planted on the floor, watching these episodes (mild spoilers after the gratuitous pic!). I think Jack Bauer could relate to the day that Adama had.

Yeah, I think the General would approve...

Some thoughts: Starbuck is Patton. If any of you are familiar with the movie or his history, you'll know he was truly alive when he was doing one thing. Starbuck is the same. Except she looks MUCH better doing it.

There IS a reckoning at the end of Blood on the Scales. The question, will there be follow through with the rest? And what about the political loose ends?

Wah, breathless!

Here's the word of the day: fasching.

Sounds like fun...!

When I mean a "stimulus package", I'm not talking about handouts to unions, such as what has been happening in the United States. I mean this:

20% personal income tax rebate, 40% property tax rebate

There will also be 40 per cent property tax rebate for owner-occupied homes in 2009.

The ordinary people are the ones who bear the brunt of the bad economy, not gahmen and their cronies, the unions. In Singapore, the people (not gahmen or unions) are getting tax relief, in the United States, the gahmen and the unions get the free money and the people are forced to pay for it. I mean, if you're giving out all that money, someone's got to pay for it. If you're a US passport holder, just look into a mirror. That's who's gonna pay. Sheesh.

Well, the first week of January has come and gone and MacWorld has done the same. My reaction: "Har"?

Prior to this year, I've been to 12 of these shows. Strangely enough, nothing worth going for this year. All the buzz is in Vegas at CES where Palm (remember them?) may have a device (with a very dumb name) that will give Apple a run for its money (and incentive to improve features and lower its price on the iPhone).

Besides CES, there's another convention happening concurrently. In fact, the industry that this other convention is showcasing is asking for a bailout (as are the rest of American industry). I wonder if they'll actually get some?

I'm waiting for the "Legacy Airline Bailout". Once they get that, nothing will change, except the fares, which will go up. More of the same...

Found a fun site for those of us who don't lurk in the mainland China BBSes and what not.

It's called ChinaSMACK and they translate and post in English, many of the silly viral stories that come from the country with the most internet users in the world!

That means a lot of "interesting" stories. Such as a dress and conduct code for nannies. How about the 2 million RMB public toilet? (of course, US$293K to build a toilet in San Francisco isn't that much here but in mainland China, twas a lot). These are some of the stories that keep you reading. What's even better is that some of the more interesting comments posted by Chinese readers are part of the entry.

Some people read CMZ and celeb sites, I read ChinaSMACK! Check it out...