Two news feeds, courtesy of BBC.
First, something unthinkable has happened in Canada. The Conservative Government of Stephen Harper was facing a no-confidence vote that, if allowed to unfold, would've ended Harper's reign as the Prime Minister. To block this, Harper asked for a temporary shutdown of the Parliament - and got his wish through January. This is the first time that such a set of events ever unfolded in Canada. Harper is referring to the opposition coalition as "anti-Canadian," as it includes the Parti Quebecois, which supposedly stands for Quebec independence. I must give a hand to Harper's smearing tactics, which are so similar to those used by the outgoing Republicans in the US and their colonial puppets here in South Korea. I wonder if the Moonies have significant presence in Canada too?
BBC
Second, a Republican Congresswoman from South Florida hung up on Barack Obama twice, thinking he was a prankster from a local radio station. As it turned out, however, it was the real Obama. On the third try, Obama did end up having a great chat with the Congresswoman for a while on a variety of foreign relations issues, and later shrugged off the mishap as a non-event. I was originally alerted to this news item through Yahoo's South Korean website as I logged on there to get weather forecasts; some discussions from fellow Yahoo! users indicated that if it were an opposition South Korean politician hanging up on 2MB, s/he would've surely gone straight to jail as a "communist sympathizer."
BBC
Speaking of weather, Seoul will remain frozen all day today and tomorrow. I'll make sure to bundle up.
Showing posts with label US states: Florida. Show all posts
Showing posts with label US states: Florida. Show all posts
04 December 2008
23 February 2008
Orlando wrap-up
This is how my final Orlando day went.
I returned to Epcot early, and took a photo of this dedication plaque.
I continued my tour of Future World, where I noticed that all major attractions had a corporate sponsor. This is Nestle-sponsored greenhouse, toured aboard a slow-moving boat, in the Land section. I also took a ride on Soarin', a glider simulation flying over various California landmarks.
By 11, I realized that I pretty much covered everything in Epcot, in a grand total of 12 hours spread over two days. After a lunch at the Mexico pavilion, I decided to upgrade my ticket to a Park Hopper for $45, then took the monorail to Magic Kingdom.
Statue of Walt Disney and Mickey at Magic Kingdom.
Here, I decided to find out what the key similarities and differences were compared to the original Disneyland back in California. The layout of themed lands was identical, but the rides were somewhat different. For example, It's A Small World loaded from an indoors dock, as opposed to Disneyland's open-air dock; this worked out pretty well today, due to heavy showers pounding the place. Despite the showers, Magic Kingdom was packed!
Magic Kingdom's Cinderella fountain, next to the magic castle.
This is the last float in a long parade, showcasing Disney's key cartoon characters.
I took many familiar rides, including the Haunted House, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Space Mountain, as well as a few rides unique to Magic Kingdom, such as an alien-themed ride. Although Space Mountain was a mild roller coaster, it was more intense than the Disneyland version, with many sharp turns and negative G forces; I had to be mindful of my wig.
I turned in around 7PM, heading back to Epcot for a Chinese dinner before leaving Walt Disney World altogether, for the final time.
All in all, I ended up covering three of the four parks, as well as a glimpse of many of the resorts spread over the landscape. If I ever return to Orlando, I would probably go for a 4-5 day Park Hopper ticket right off the bat (after 3 days, the extra days are practically free), and explore all four parks at my own pace. I still don't like the rampant corporatism and reactionary politics of Walt Disney Company, but these people at least know how to run theme parks. (I also appreciated the rainbow Mickey pins available for sale, though I didn't buy one.)
I have an early flight tomorrow. Hopefully I'll get to catch up on sleep in my first class seat.
I returned to Epcot early, and took a photo of this dedication plaque.
I continued my tour of Future World, where I noticed that all major attractions had a corporate sponsor. This is Nestle-sponsored greenhouse, toured aboard a slow-moving boat, in the Land section. I also took a ride on Soarin', a glider simulation flying over various California landmarks.
By 11, I realized that I pretty much covered everything in Epcot, in a grand total of 12 hours spread over two days. After a lunch at the Mexico pavilion, I decided to upgrade my ticket to a Park Hopper for $45, then took the monorail to Magic Kingdom.
Statue of Walt Disney and Mickey at Magic Kingdom.Here, I decided to find out what the key similarities and differences were compared to the original Disneyland back in California. The layout of themed lands was identical, but the rides were somewhat different. For example, It's A Small World loaded from an indoors dock, as opposed to Disneyland's open-air dock; this worked out pretty well today, due to heavy showers pounding the place. Despite the showers, Magic Kingdom was packed!
Magic Kingdom's Cinderella fountain, next to the magic castle.
This is the last float in a long parade, showcasing Disney's key cartoon characters.I took many familiar rides, including the Haunted House, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Space Mountain, as well as a few rides unique to Magic Kingdom, such as an alien-themed ride. Although Space Mountain was a mild roller coaster, it was more intense than the Disneyland version, with many sharp turns and negative G forces; I had to be mindful of my wig.
I turned in around 7PM, heading back to Epcot for a Chinese dinner before leaving Walt Disney World altogether, for the final time.
All in all, I ended up covering three of the four parks, as well as a glimpse of many of the resorts spread over the landscape. If I ever return to Orlando, I would probably go for a 4-5 day Park Hopper ticket right off the bat (after 3 days, the extra days are practically free), and explore all four parks at my own pace. I still don't like the rampant corporatism and reactionary politics of Walt Disney Company, but these people at least know how to run theme parks. (I also appreciated the rainbow Mickey pins available for sale, though I didn't buy one.)
I have an early flight tomorrow. Hopefully I'll get to catch up on sleep in my first class seat.
22 February 2008
Visiting Epcot
As planned, I spent most of the day at Epcot, after finishing up my business in the morning hours. Here is how my day went at Epcot, as I arrived at noon.
Although the Florida humidity was very noticeable, and temperatures were very warm (80s), it wasn't too bad. The showers held off, which helped.
Spaceship Earth, the symbol of Epcot. Inside is a slow ride talking about the human communications evolution. But I decided to save that ride for later, and hit the back half of the park, the World Showcase, right away.
The World Showcase has pavilions representing eleven different nations, ringing this huge lake. It's possible to make out, from left to right, Chinese, German, and Italian pavilions. I spent most of today here, to see if the presentations of the nations were authentic (I've been to a good number of the nations represented).
I went counterclockwise, starting at Canada, where I saw a CircleVision movie called "O Canada" narrated by Martin Short. It was very lovely to see the familiar Vancouver and Montreal skylines again - and get hints of the Rockies, Toronto, and other Canadian locales I have yet to visit. In front of the pavilion is this garden, modeled after Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia.
The UK pavilion was next. It was a dud, save for some fish & chips. There is a Beatles tribute band performing here, but I missed it.
This waiter plays with the chairs at a cafe in the French pavilion. Here, I watched another movie, this time about the various parts of France. Again, it was so refreshing to see the Parisian cityscape. I noted that the attendants here were native French speakers, and their heavily accented English was hard to understand. Of course, basic French lesson was given, from "bonjour" to "oui" to "merci."
This gate, in Morocco, is based on a city gate in Fez. Behind it lies markets and restaurants. Although I was hungry at this point and the kebabs sounded pretty good, I moved on.
I liked the Japan pavilion, complete with three restaurants and a huge department store. This storyteller (in orange) tells the story of a fisherman named Taro, who rescues the turtle and travels to the underwater world, only to return 150 years later. The man next to the storyteller is a guest playing the role of Taro. Just like France, Japan's staff were natives with heavy accents.
After listening to a drum troupe, I ate fast food lunch here, consisting of sukiyaki beef and teriyaki chicken with rice.
This drum and flute troupe in Revolutionary War costumes played various patriotic music at the US pavilion, culminating in "God Bless America" which all spectators were expected to sing along. Here, I entered a colonial building, where an a capella group in 19th Century costumes sang even more patriotic and folk music, before showing a movie about the American spirit. Glad to see the unique, in your face, American-style patriotism, but I dozed off during the film, so I will need to return here tomorrow.
Italy simulates Venice's St. Mark's Square. A man was juggling soccer balls, but beyond that, not much to see.
Next was Germany, where these figurines are ringing in the 4 o'clock hour already. This clock tower, along with the beer hall, was supposed to represent Munich; honestly I was disappointed, since I was expecting something more elaborate, like Glockenspiel in the real Munich. There was a band playing in the beer hall, but I had to buy the expensive buffet to get in, so I gave up, and moved on.
China was represented by this small replica of Beijing's Temple of Heaven. Having seen the real thing, I was nevertheless impressed by how good it looked. It led to a few things...
These are fake terra cotta warriors representing the Qin emperor's tomb in Xi'an. Alongside were exhibits showing Chinese burial practices. After seeing these, I watched another CircleVision movie, showcasing the major landmarks of China. Again, I was glad to see the familiar sights of Beijing's Forbidden City.
The China gift shop had various goods for sale, including these Buddhist sculptures, from Buddha to Kwan Yin. Honestly I wanted to buy a traditional Chinese dress in mini length, but the ones for sale were too long for my tastes.
The Norway pavilion had a Viking boat ride with a long wait. I obtained a FastPass and spent some time over at the Mexican pavilion next door, before coming back for the ride, which was gentle despite a drop. After the boat ride, I had to watch a 5-minute movie on Norway before exiting.
The mariachi band played at the last pavilion, Mexico. They almost made me homesick - with Los Angeles being so close to Mexico (and having so many Mexicans), mariachi music is a fact of life for me. After enjoying their performance, I hopped on a boat ride, much like It's a Small World except that everything was Mexican-themed.
I saw this collection of Disney princess dolls for sale. From left to right: Cinderella, Belle, Sleeping Beauty, Ariel, and Snow White. Not in the picture, but just above them, was Jasmine from Aladdin.
This pretty much wrapped up my World Showcase tour, leaving me about three hours to spare before park closing. I immediately went on General Motors' Test Track, which propelled me at 65 MPH in open air (I had to really watch my hair on that one!). Then I took a long ride on Ellen's Energy Adventure, which was a dud despite the presence of lesbian icon Ellen DeGeneres. Rides on Mission: Space and Spaceship Earth wrapped up my day.
As the night fell and the park closed, this fireworks show, called IllumiNations: Earth, took place at the large lake in the middle of World Showcase. It was a good sight to end the day with.
I will return tomorrow to finish Future World, revisit some of the World Showcase pavilions, and have good time in general, before preparing for the flight home. All in all, a wonderful day, and a wonderful end to a nice week. I've always wanted to visit Epcot since its opening in 1982, and it surely did not disappoint today.
Although the Florida humidity was very noticeable, and temperatures were very warm (80s), it wasn't too bad. The showers held off, which helped.
Spaceship Earth, the symbol of Epcot. Inside is a slow ride talking about the human communications evolution. But I decided to save that ride for later, and hit the back half of the park, the World Showcase, right away.
The World Showcase has pavilions representing eleven different nations, ringing this huge lake. It's possible to make out, from left to right, Chinese, German, and Italian pavilions. I spent most of today here, to see if the presentations of the nations were authentic (I've been to a good number of the nations represented).
I went counterclockwise, starting at Canada, where I saw a CircleVision movie called "O Canada" narrated by Martin Short. It was very lovely to see the familiar Vancouver and Montreal skylines again - and get hints of the Rockies, Toronto, and other Canadian locales I have yet to visit. In front of the pavilion is this garden, modeled after Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia.
The UK pavilion was next. It was a dud, save for some fish & chips. There is a Beatles tribute band performing here, but I missed it.
This waiter plays with the chairs at a cafe in the French pavilion. Here, I watched another movie, this time about the various parts of France. Again, it was so refreshing to see the Parisian cityscape. I noted that the attendants here were native French speakers, and their heavily accented English was hard to understand. Of course, basic French lesson was given, from "bonjour" to "oui" to "merci."
This gate, in Morocco, is based on a city gate in Fez. Behind it lies markets and restaurants. Although I was hungry at this point and the kebabs sounded pretty good, I moved on.
I liked the Japan pavilion, complete with three restaurants and a huge department store. This storyteller (in orange) tells the story of a fisherman named Taro, who rescues the turtle and travels to the underwater world, only to return 150 years later. The man next to the storyteller is a guest playing the role of Taro. Just like France, Japan's staff were natives with heavy accents.After listening to a drum troupe, I ate fast food lunch here, consisting of sukiyaki beef and teriyaki chicken with rice.
This drum and flute troupe in Revolutionary War costumes played various patriotic music at the US pavilion, culminating in "God Bless America" which all spectators were expected to sing along. Here, I entered a colonial building, where an a capella group in 19th Century costumes sang even more patriotic and folk music, before showing a movie about the American spirit. Glad to see the unique, in your face, American-style patriotism, but I dozed off during the film, so I will need to return here tomorrow.
Italy simulates Venice's St. Mark's Square. A man was juggling soccer balls, but beyond that, not much to see.
Next was Germany, where these figurines are ringing in the 4 o'clock hour already. This clock tower, along with the beer hall, was supposed to represent Munich; honestly I was disappointed, since I was expecting something more elaborate, like Glockenspiel in the real Munich. There was a band playing in the beer hall, but I had to buy the expensive buffet to get in, so I gave up, and moved on.
China was represented by this small replica of Beijing's Temple of Heaven. Having seen the real thing, I was nevertheless impressed by how good it looked. It led to a few things...
These are fake terra cotta warriors representing the Qin emperor's tomb in Xi'an. Alongside were exhibits showing Chinese burial practices. After seeing these, I watched another CircleVision movie, showcasing the major landmarks of China. Again, I was glad to see the familiar sights of Beijing's Forbidden City.
The China gift shop had various goods for sale, including these Buddhist sculptures, from Buddha to Kwan Yin. Honestly I wanted to buy a traditional Chinese dress in mini length, but the ones for sale were too long for my tastes.
The Norway pavilion had a Viking boat ride with a long wait. I obtained a FastPass and spent some time over at the Mexican pavilion next door, before coming back for the ride, which was gentle despite a drop. After the boat ride, I had to watch a 5-minute movie on Norway before exiting.
The mariachi band played at the last pavilion, Mexico. They almost made me homesick - with Los Angeles being so close to Mexico (and having so many Mexicans), mariachi music is a fact of life for me. After enjoying their performance, I hopped on a boat ride, much like It's a Small World except that everything was Mexican-themed.
I saw this collection of Disney princess dolls for sale. From left to right: Cinderella, Belle, Sleeping Beauty, Ariel, and Snow White. Not in the picture, but just above them, was Jasmine from Aladdin.This pretty much wrapped up my World Showcase tour, leaving me about three hours to spare before park closing. I immediately went on General Motors' Test Track, which propelled me at 65 MPH in open air (I had to really watch my hair on that one!). Then I took a long ride on Ellen's Energy Adventure, which was a dud despite the presence of lesbian icon Ellen DeGeneres. Rides on Mission: Space and Spaceship Earth wrapped up my day.
As the night fell and the park closed, this fireworks show, called IllumiNations: Earth, took place at the large lake in the middle of World Showcase. It was a good sight to end the day with.
I will return tomorrow to finish Future World, revisit some of the World Showcase pavilions, and have good time in general, before preparing for the flight home. All in all, a wonderful day, and a wonderful end to a nice week. I've always wanted to visit Epcot since its opening in 1982, and it surely did not disappoint today.
19 February 2008
Photos/Update
My hotel Internet connection is acting better now. So here are the Sunday pictures.
Here is my rental car - a red 2007 Toyota Prius, with Hybrid Synergy Drive. The CVT and the push-button starter take getting used to, but it is a blast to drive, and I've averaged 47 MPG. Driving like a grandmother actually gets fun, when the onboard computer tells me how much fuel I am saving that way.
As the opening time nears at the Animal Kingdom, Minnie, Goofy, and Pluto put on a brief show for the waiting guests. Mickey is nearby at the huge Tree of Life, the centerpiece of the park.
I immediately headed for the popular African safari, where I could see this hippo.
Another safari scene, with zebras and impalas.
I saw other great animals, from lions to a pooping elephant, but the photos came out blurry, due to the continuous motion of the safari truck (it wasn't allowed to stop at all).
A Lion King-themed show, with Simba.
The Asian section of the park had a walk-through trail, the pedestrian equivalent to the African safari. I could see these bulls toward the far end of the trail, as well as tigers and bats.
I continued on to Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center. In the distance is Launchpad 39B, one of the two launchpads used during the Apollo missions and the space shuttle program. The first shuttle launched from 39B was Challenger in January 1986, which exploded 73 seconds afterwards... The gravel road in front is used to carry the Apollo and space shuttle launch vehicles from the assembly building to the pad.
The business portion of my trip is going well, and I just came back from souvenir shopping at Downtown Disney. No photos tonight though, and no more photos until I hit Epcot at the end of my week.
Here is my rental car - a red 2007 Toyota Prius, with Hybrid Synergy Drive. The CVT and the push-button starter take getting used to, but it is a blast to drive, and I've averaged 47 MPG. Driving like a grandmother actually gets fun, when the onboard computer tells me how much fuel I am saving that way.
As the opening time nears at the Animal Kingdom, Minnie, Goofy, and Pluto put on a brief show for the waiting guests. Mickey is nearby at the huge Tree of Life, the centerpiece of the park.
I immediately headed for the popular African safari, where I could see this hippo.
Another safari scene, with zebras and impalas.I saw other great animals, from lions to a pooping elephant, but the photos came out blurry, due to the continuous motion of the safari truck (it wasn't allowed to stop at all).
A Lion King-themed show, with Simba.
The Asian section of the park had a walk-through trail, the pedestrian equivalent to the African safari. I could see these bulls toward the far end of the trail, as well as tigers and bats.
I continued on to Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center. In the distance is Launchpad 39B, one of the two launchpads used during the Apollo missions and the space shuttle program. The first shuttle launched from 39B was Challenger in January 1986, which exploded 73 seconds afterwards... The gravel road in front is used to carry the Apollo and space shuttle launch vehicles from the assembly building to the pad.The business portion of my trip is going well, and I just came back from souvenir shopping at Downtown Disney. No photos tonight though, and no more photos until I hit Epcot at the end of my week.
17 February 2008
Orlando kickoff
Due to the unreliable Internet connection at my cheap extended-stay hotel, I won't be able to upload pictures until I return home.
Today was spent at the newest of Disney parks, the Animal Kingdom, as scheduled, after a sleepless night. I only spent four hours though, since I took most of the popular rides early on, negating a need for a FastPass. The crowd level was below what I had expected; I am suspecting the current economic recession. The African safari was impressive with its variety of real animals, but the rest left a bit to be desired, delivering neither the presentation of other Disney parks nor the authenticity of real zoos. After watching a few shows, I decided to head out, skipping a Yeti-themed roller coaster which did have a long wait even with FastPass.
This unexpected early exit from Disney's Animal Kingdom allowed me to visit Kennedy Space Center today, instead of on the 22nd as originally scheduled. I was able to visit the buildings used for the space shuttle program, explore the space shuttle and Apollo programs, and watch an IMAX movie. Although Endeavour was being prepped for next month's launch, it was hidden inside the vehicle assembly building and couldn't be seen. I stayed until the closing hour of 6PM, though I had no luck buying suitable souvenirs. (I'll head back to Disney parks for souvenirs.)
My rental Prius continued to deliver 48+ MPG even with high-speed freeway cruise. I've never been this engaged with a rental car, since I rented a Citroen Xantia in London 10 years ago. The Citroen was my first right-hand-drive and my first stickshift car; the Prius is my first hybrid and my first CVT car. The Prius will now do duty as my commuter, as I start doing my work duties for the weekdays.
Those duties will be done Friday morning at the latest, however, leaving me with 1 1/2 days to spend on Epcot. I still have high hopes for Epcot, as it is the most unique of Disney's four Orlando theme parks. I'll probably also spare a weekday evening for Downtown Disney and another for a local mall.
It will be very busy, exhausting, yet fun stay here in Orlando, until I return to California.
Today was spent at the newest of Disney parks, the Animal Kingdom, as scheduled, after a sleepless night. I only spent four hours though, since I took most of the popular rides early on, negating a need for a FastPass. The crowd level was below what I had expected; I am suspecting the current economic recession. The African safari was impressive with its variety of real animals, but the rest left a bit to be desired, delivering neither the presentation of other Disney parks nor the authenticity of real zoos. After watching a few shows, I decided to head out, skipping a Yeti-themed roller coaster which did have a long wait even with FastPass.
This unexpected early exit from Disney's Animal Kingdom allowed me to visit Kennedy Space Center today, instead of on the 22nd as originally scheduled. I was able to visit the buildings used for the space shuttle program, explore the space shuttle and Apollo programs, and watch an IMAX movie. Although Endeavour was being prepped for next month's launch, it was hidden inside the vehicle assembly building and couldn't be seen. I stayed until the closing hour of 6PM, though I had no luck buying suitable souvenirs. (I'll head back to Disney parks for souvenirs.)
My rental Prius continued to deliver 48+ MPG even with high-speed freeway cruise. I've never been this engaged with a rental car, since I rented a Citroen Xantia in London 10 years ago. The Citroen was my first right-hand-drive and my first stickshift car; the Prius is my first hybrid and my first CVT car. The Prius will now do duty as my commuter, as I start doing my work duties for the weekdays.
Those duties will be done Friday morning at the latest, however, leaving me with 1 1/2 days to spend on Epcot. I still have high hopes for Epcot, as it is the most unique of Disney's four Orlando theme parks. I'll probably also spare a weekday evening for Downtown Disney and another for a local mall.
It will be very busy, exhausting, yet fun stay here in Orlando, until I return to California.
16 February 2008
Arrived in Orlando
The flight here was very rough due to severe storms over Texas and Louisiana, but United Airlines' first class was wonderful, and I arrived in Orlando in one piece.
I'm also glad to report that my rental Toyota Prius got 53 MPG on its way to the hotel, according to its on-board computer.
Tomorrow, Disney's Animal Kingdom awaits. Hoping for a good day, even though forecast calls for hot and muggy day.
I'm also glad to report that my rental Toyota Prius got 53 MPG on its way to the hotel, according to its on-board computer.
Tomorrow, Disney's Animal Kingdom awaits. Hoping for a good day, even though forecast calls for hot and muggy day.
12 February 2008
Countdown to Orlando
Only four days until my departure.
This is a well-needed trip due to rising tensions at work and home. I'll see how I can come back more relaxed AND more ready to work.
I've changed my plans and decided to take my laptop after all. I will do some writing - definitely during the evenings, and maybe on the flights as well. Moreover, contributing to the Democracy Cell Project blog with an iPhone does not work (and even if it did, typing on a laptop is a whole lot faster anyway).
I've double-checked all details for the local attractions I plan to visit on my days off, as well as reservations for my flights, hotel, and rental car. I'm also monitoring the weather forecast; for now, it looks like I will have a muggy, possibly wet Sunday as I visit Disney's Animal Kingdom, but cool and dry out as I start the week. As for the work-related activities, I am also reading a book that happens to cover the very subjects I will learn during my trip.
It's a long trip - 9 days, 8 nights. I really hope this trip helps my spirits.
This is a well-needed trip due to rising tensions at work and home. I'll see how I can come back more relaxed AND more ready to work.
I've changed my plans and decided to take my laptop after all. I will do some writing - definitely during the evenings, and maybe on the flights as well. Moreover, contributing to the Democracy Cell Project blog with an iPhone does not work (and even if it did, typing on a laptop is a whole lot faster anyway).
I've double-checked all details for the local attractions I plan to visit on my days off, as well as reservations for my flights, hotel, and rental car. I'm also monitoring the weather forecast; for now, it looks like I will have a muggy, possibly wet Sunday as I visit Disney's Animal Kingdom, but cool and dry out as I start the week. As for the work-related activities, I am also reading a book that happens to cover the very subjects I will learn during my trip.
It's a long trip - 9 days, 8 nights. I really hope this trip helps my spirits.
11 January 2008
Another travel post
While Netroots Nation in Austin is half a year away, I have another trip coming up, next month. I've already mentioned it in my novel blog.
I am headed for Florida for the first time ever, specifically Orlando. While I am going on business, I have scheduled enough downtime to allow me to visit some of Orlando's top attractions. Granted, I am no fan of Florida's conservative politics, but since I have to be there, I might as well make the best of it. (Besides, Florida is probably not much different from Southern California, when all is said and done.)
In particular, the Disney parks are on the agenda. Granted, I am still incensed at Disney for producing the "Path to 9/11" propaganda back in 2006. But Disney is also LGBT-friendly, and shows an Ellen DeGeneres film at Epcot. Since other parks in Orlando (SeaWorld, Universal Studios) are carbon copies of what I find right here in Southern California (that's even true of Disney's Magic Kingdom), I guess I'll be stuck with the Disney parks. I have time for two parks, and I'll be hitting Epcot and Animal Kingdom. (Guidebooks actually suggest two full days for Epcot. I will see if one day will be enough.)
I am also expecting to drive over to Cape Canaveral for a half-day tour of Kennedy Space Center.
Travel arrangements have been made. I will fly first class on United Airlines for discount economy fare, thanks to my frequent flier miles; the upgrade is already confirmed, despite my lack of elite status. Once on the ground, I will be driving a Toyota Prius hybrid for the duration of my stay. Although I have no intention of ever buying a Prius (Toyota is another company that I disapprove of), living with a hybrid for a week should be a nice experience. A cheap extended-stay hotel will be my home for the week.
It will be a very interesting trip.
I am headed for Florida for the first time ever, specifically Orlando. While I am going on business, I have scheduled enough downtime to allow me to visit some of Orlando's top attractions. Granted, I am no fan of Florida's conservative politics, but since I have to be there, I might as well make the best of it. (Besides, Florida is probably not much different from Southern California, when all is said and done.)
In particular, the Disney parks are on the agenda. Granted, I am still incensed at Disney for producing the "Path to 9/11" propaganda back in 2006. But Disney is also LGBT-friendly, and shows an Ellen DeGeneres film at Epcot. Since other parks in Orlando (SeaWorld, Universal Studios) are carbon copies of what I find right here in Southern California (that's even true of Disney's Magic Kingdom), I guess I'll be stuck with the Disney parks. I have time for two parks, and I'll be hitting Epcot and Animal Kingdom. (Guidebooks actually suggest two full days for Epcot. I will see if one day will be enough.)
I am also expecting to drive over to Cape Canaveral for a half-day tour of Kennedy Space Center.
Travel arrangements have been made. I will fly first class on United Airlines for discount economy fare, thanks to my frequent flier miles; the upgrade is already confirmed, despite my lack of elite status. Once on the ground, I will be driving a Toyota Prius hybrid for the duration of my stay. Although I have no intention of ever buying a Prius (Toyota is another company that I disapprove of), living with a hybrid for a week should be a nice experience. A cheap extended-stay hotel will be my home for the week.
It will be a very interesting trip.
02 March 2007
While the Mann blabbers away...
Steve Stanton, soon to be Susan, a competent city manager as far as anyone has known, is losing his job to bigotry, as I mentioned earlier today.
This is so unfair.
Supporters of Stanton have set up a website. Please visit.
Save Stanton.com
(The site also says that Stanton asks to be referred to with male name and pronoun until his transition officially begins.)
This is so unfair.
Supporters of Stanton have set up a website. Please visit.
Save Stanton.com
(The site also says that Stanton asks to be referred to with male name and pronoun until his transition officially begins.)
Florida city official fired
For attempting to transition on the job.
"If Jesus was here tonight, I can guarantee you he’d want him terminated."
While many spoke in defense of Largo city manager Steve Stanton (soon to be Susan), many others used mean-spirited Christian diatribes to get him dismissed. The city's mayor and the lone African-American city commissioner voted to keep him, while their five colleagues voted to fire him.
I will never forgive the state of Florida and its Christian death cult, for bringing to the rest of the nation the 2000 presidential race fiasco, the reactionary Cuban McCarthyism, Jeb Bush, Katherine Harris, intolerance, and more. I have never set foot in Florida, a state that has been making transgender lives miserable by denying recognition of the most basic rights, and I will never visit Florida for the rest of my life. In fact, when global warming raises sea levels and floods most of the state, all I can say will be "good riddance from your hate-filled God."
And doesn't Mann Coulter have a residence in Florida? Why don't we fire THAT sodomite instead?
(Though, I must admit, Southern California, with its Korean and Vietnamese McCarthyism and shared Disney dominance, not to mention Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger, is not much of an improvement.)
MSNBC
"If Jesus was here tonight, I can guarantee you he’d want him terminated."
While many spoke in defense of Largo city manager Steve Stanton (soon to be Susan), many others used mean-spirited Christian diatribes to get him dismissed. The city's mayor and the lone African-American city commissioner voted to keep him, while their five colleagues voted to fire him.
I will never forgive the state of Florida and its Christian death cult, for bringing to the rest of the nation the 2000 presidential race fiasco, the reactionary Cuban McCarthyism, Jeb Bush, Katherine Harris, intolerance, and more. I have never set foot in Florida, a state that has been making transgender lives miserable by denying recognition of the most basic rights, and I will never visit Florida for the rest of my life. In fact, when global warming raises sea levels and floods most of the state, all I can say will be "good riddance from your hate-filled God."
And doesn't Mann Coulter have a residence in Florida? Why don't we fire THAT sodomite instead?
(Though, I must admit, Southern California, with its Korean and Vietnamese McCarthyism and shared Disney dominance, not to mention Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger, is not much of an improvement.)
MSNBC
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