Category Archives: Rants and Raves

EMERGENCY LANDING!!?!?!?

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I never want to hear that phrase again. Why? Because it’s a sensationalist phrase that the press loves to use to sell papers and boost ratings. Everybody loves to gather around the TV to hear about emergency landings, right? This week a commercial flight made an EMERGENCY LANDING!!! in Louisville due to smoke and an electrical smell on board. It made the Dallas Morning News. Another flight made an EMERGENCY LANDING!!! in DFW due to a pressurization problem. It made the news. If an aircraft develops a gear problem and circles a bit to burn off fuel, the news stations scramble the choppers to provide live coverage (see jetBlue last year). By emphasizing the unusual flights, the media’s obsession makes aviation seem quite dangerous when it truly is the safest form of transportation you can use. Imagine what TV would be like if the news media ran a story about every car that broke down or got in a wreck in a given day. You could have a 24/7 channel on car problems that wouldn’t cover half of the day’s tally!

The truth is, most EMERGENCY LANDINGS!!!, while interesting due to their rarity, are just not that big of a deal. In 2 years of dispatching, touching perhaps 20,000 flights or more, I’ve had only a handful of flights make an “emergency landing,” as the press would call it. On a given weekday, Southwest Airlines alone operates over 3000 flights. Combined, the US airlines probably operate 15,000 or more. But if the press hears about just one of those flights diverting, especially for a mechanical problem, you can bet it’ll end up on the news, generally with inaccurate information because the reporter doesn’t understand aviation. Pilots train extensively for a huge variety of unusual and difficult situations, facing problems in the simulator that many of them never see in an entire career. They have detailed checklists to follow for in-flight failures and problems. For most situations, if X happens, the checklist says to do Y, which sometimes means diverting. They also have radio links to mechanics and dispatchers for an outside opinion. So in the unlikely event that a serious problem does arise, they can handle it successfully.

Forgive my rant, but I want people to keep these stories in perspective. I also promise something fun and fluffy for my next entry. =)

Sensitivity Training

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In American society, one of many people’s standard questions for young married couples like us is “So, when are you guys having kids?” It seems like a logical and innocuous question to them because in their mind, children are simply the appropriate next step, and all it takes to get pregnant is a simple choice to try. The longer a couple has been married, the stranger it seems to be childless, and the more often those questions arise from well-meaning people – at work, at church, among friends, and especially at family events. Unfortunately, this seemingly friendly question often pours salt in an open wound. Why? Because not every childless couple is childless by choice.

Some couples have medical issues that prevent them from ever having children. Some have a chance, but only with specialized medical assistance. Some have no obvious medical problems but just don’t have any luck. Some want children but can’t even try right now due to work, school, or financial barriers. Some got pregnant but recently miscarried. If you don’t know about a couple’s situation, it’s probably best just not to ask. First, it’s none of your business. Second, the couple might be in one of these situations, and just getting the question (again) could be painful.

For those who don’t already know, we’ve been trying for over a year to get pregnant with no luck and no clear explanation. We’ve started seeing a wonderful specialist in Irving who has helped some of our friends. He might have figured out the problem, and if he’s right, the solution is relatively easy. We ask for your prayers and understanding, both on our behalf and for all the other couples out there who are struggling with infertility.

Finally, if you know someone fighting this battle, please be careful with your efforts to comfort or help them. Many of the pat responses, such as “Just relax and it’ll work,” “You can always adopt,” “Adopt, and then you’ll get pregnant – it works every time!”, “Have you tried _________?”, “My friend tried for XXX years and finally got pregnant”, etc., are more frustrating/hurtful than helpful. Just tell them you’re very sorry and you’ll pray for them.

Sushi for Me, Sushi for You

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After a jam-packed, long overdue entry last time, today I want to talk about one thing: sushi. Many people who have never tried sushi cringe at the very thought. I admit I was a bit skeptical at first when my sister suggested that I go to the sushi bar with her. But I gave it a shot, and it turns out that I really like it! Sushi is a delicious blend of flavors and textures unlike any other type of food I’ve ever tried. I have two personal favorites: salmon, which has a wonderfully smooth texture and very little “fishy” flavor, and California rolls, which normally include cooked crab (or imitation crab), cucumber, seaweed, and sushi rice. Sushi is food as art. The appearance and presentation are just as important as the flavor, and many creations are quite beautiful. The word “sushi” actually refers to the type of sticky rice that are part of many “sushi” dishes. Yes, much of the fish is raw, but it is handled very carefully to keep it safe. Millions of people every day eat sushi with no ill effects. Some items are cooked, such as the California rolls and a special sweet egg dish called tamago. So if you’re one of the skeptics, I urge you to try it just once. Start with an order of California rolls and then start experimenting. If you live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, I strongly recommend Midori Sushi in Irving. It was my first sushi experience, and it’s still the best sushi I’ve ever had. They also give you free miso soup (delicious!) as an appetizer and a sliced orange for dessert. You can find Midori Sushi at the corner of MacArthur and Northgate in Irving.