A few thoughts about holiday air travel

 

My wife and I encountered the US commercial air travel industry during the holiday week, and I made a few observations. I offer them here in no particular order.

Many American adults have no sense of what it means to dress for stepping out in public, and have even less sense of how to conduct themselves. I work in a middle school and have grown accustomed to seeing young people dress in sweatpants and pajamas. It's the style of their age group. 

It set me back to see adults in their 40s and older dressed in a similar style, at an airport. Many looked as though they had just left their bedrooms for a short walk to their kitchens and then back again. I saw adult men and women dressed in pajamas and sleepers, others were dressed in torn and tattered bottoms, and a few walked about the terminal clutching bedroom pillows. 

It might explain why Sean Duffy, the U.S. secretary of transportation, recently urged Americans to follow some basic standards when dressing for air travel during the holiday season. Apparently, few paid any attention to him. 

I saw this attire both at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport and Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, not some back-water, stopover locations.  When I mentioned my thoughts about the attire to another frequent air traveler, he shrugged and noted it's part of today's culture.  He told me he and his wife recently attended a symphony performance in a major city and observed another couple in attendance wearing bedroom slippers. 

"We live in a Tik-Tok culture and everyone thinks they're at home, even when in public," he said.

It's behavior, not just attire:

It's a familiar story and each of us has a story - people behaving poorly in public, everything from ignoring simple courtesies to poor parenting, and flat-out rude conduct. It's all on display at an airport.  On this trip I saw a mother play with her under-dressed child in an open doorway, while 30-degree air rushed in and hit others waiting for car rides. I saw a young woman consume a foul-smelling fish dish in-flight, and saw a man peel off his dirty white sox and leave them on his seat. Who does this sort of thing? 

Pay the extra fee:

My wife and I paid an extra $40 for additional leg room (I'm 6'2"), and it was worth it, in my opinion. Yes, I know the commercial air industry once gave us that extra space for no charge, but those days are gone. If you're tall and need the extra space, pay for it.  You'll be glad you did.  I saw how many of the others were packed in, and I was grateful my wife urged me to spend the extra money.

But here's the main point:

My wife and flew roughly 2,000 miles (roundtrip), spent several days with her sister and her family, enjoyed a wonderful time together, including a delicious holiday meal, and did it all in relative comfort and safety. Yes, there is a lot I could complain about. There was much that I found unusual and disappointing. However, I must note and applaud the air industry for getting my wife and I to our destination and home again safely and on time. 

-- Thanks for reading. Your comments are always welcome. Post them here or send an email to kbotterman@gmail.com. 

A few film favorites from long ago: My hits from 1965

 

A favorite practice of mine at this time of year is look back over the years and consider the my favorite films a given year, and today I'm looking at the year 1965, simply because it's 2025, and I wanted to review what Hollywood offered 60 years ago.

My list includes personal favorites, a few that genera audiences also liked, and one or two that did well at the Oscars. The list also includes a few that didn't do well at the box office, but that I've enjoyed again and again.  Here's my list, in no particular order:

"Doctor Zhivago"

"Cat Ballou"

"The Great Race"

"The Sound of Music"

"In Harm's Way"

"Von Ryan's Express

"The Greatest Story Ever Told"

"Shenandoah"

"The Sons of Katie Elder"

"Major Dundee"

And one other: A personal favorite, that appears here as sentimental favorite from my childhood - "Beach Blanket Bingo." 

Those are my favorites. I'm always interested in learning what my readers think. Please post a comment a or question. 

Massive school debt: It's Chicago's problem today, but it will likely be our trouble before too long

 

Chicago's public schools are in a serious financial situation, according to Macquline King, the school system's interim superintendent.

The school system is facing a budget short fall of nearly $734M, or more than $201M in debt than previously reported, King announced June 26. In addition to that debt, the school district is carrying more than $8.6B in long-term debt, in the form of bonds, mostly for building construction and improvements. And there's more.

The school system also has a significantly under-funded pension program. As of late 2024, the pension system was funded at 47.2%.

In announcing the new numbers, King promised to make addressing the debt a top priority, but offered no details. The Chicago Public School Board approved a four-year, $1.5B contract with the Chicago Teachers Union in May. The union represents more than 25,000 teachers.

There's significant debt before the school board and firm commitments on the table. The school board needs to address both.

The state's 2026 fiscal year begins July 1. The state's new $55B budget includes $11.2B for the Illinois State Board of Education (up from $10.8B), according to Chalkbeat.org, which covers public education in Illinois. 

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker just announced that he intends to seek election to a third term next year, but he's also made it clear that he's considering a run for president in 2028. As a Democrat, JB thinks taxpayers throughout Illinois should help Chicago residents address their financial challenges - which not only the school system, but the city's transit system, the city's pension system for the police and fire departments, and the city's government. In other words, the pain must be shared, and "we're all in this together," as elected officials often say just before they screw the taxpayers. 

And while the budget shortfall facing the Chicago school board appears at first glance to be a Chicago problem, it is in reality an Illinois problem, and possibly, in time, a national problem, one requiring federal tax dollars. 

That's how I see it. 

-- Thank you for reading. Your comments and questions are always welcome.

Riding the rails still fascinates me

 

My adult daughter reminded this week that traveling by railroad remains a fascinating means of transportation.

She works with developmentally challenged adults. She and a few of her coworkers are leading a group of the adults they work with on a summer vacation that includes travel by Amtrak from Chicago to Colorado and then to Utah, before returning back to Chicago. My daughter emails me regular updates and photos from the journey, and these reports indicate everyone is enjoying a wonderful time.

Amtrak, I know, has its critics and much of their criticism of the rail service is accurate and well-founded, I think, but none of that is important to my daughter and the individuals she is supervising on the trip. 

They're too busy enjoying the views from Amtrak's touring cars, the unique experience of dining on a train, and the deep sleep they enjoy from being rocked to sleep by the motions of a moving train. That's what my daughter reports, and her pictures capture images that support every detail.

Her email reports make me happy. I've always enjoyed trains, and everything about them. I grew up near multiple rail lines that carried both commuter and freight traffic. 

My dad frequently took me and my younger siblings to sit and watch the trains travel through town. It always interested me to see the passing trains and wonder where they were headed, what freight they carried, and who were the people riding in those commuter cars? 

Several of my neighbors at that time were businessmen who rode the commuter trains to Chicago during the business week, and their routine fascinated me as I child. Going back and forth to the big city by train seemed exciting, and I thought each day must have held the promise of thrilling new adventure on the rails.

I can still recall my first ride on that commuter train, and my first ride on Chicago subway. I've always enjoyed reading the history of railroads in this country and elsewhere. 

I suppose Hollywood's depiction of railroads and what is widely considered the "golden era" of rail travel (the late 19^th century through the mid-1950s) fuels some of my interest. Wouldn't it be nice to travel in the luxury of the Orient Express or something similar, particularly after enduring modern air travel? 

I seldom need to ride a commuter train today, but still try to enjoy the experience when I do. It's been more than 40 years since I've traveled by Amtrak. What I recall most is that the seating was comfortable, the train departed on time, arrived on time, and delivered us all safely. All of that was important to be me then, and remains a top priority to me today. 

In her most recent note to me, my daughter encouraged me to plan a trip by Amtrak. I'll discuss that with Mrs. B. We might look at that for next summer. In the meantime, I'm glad my daughter and her travel companions are enjoying their time riding the rails across America.

And that's the way I see it. 

-- Thank you for reading, You comments and questions are always welcome.

Midwest Summers: Only the strong survive

 

Most of the nation is in the fifth day of an early summer heat wave. Daily temperatures where I live are in the mid-90s, about 15 degrees above normal for late June, and humidity readings are high, making life uncomfortable for most. It's clear that many people simply don't know how to cope with these conditions.

Media news reports include advice and tips for staying safe and alive. These include staying indoors, drinking lots of water, avoiding alcohol, and strenuous work, or prolonged periods outdoors. I can usually follow the advice.  My circumstances permit me to mostly stay indoors and to dress appropriately for the weather when I must be outdoors. 

But I'm also in my mid-60s and have lived in the Midwest all my life. I've experienced extreme temperatures at both ends of the thermometer and learned valuable lessons at a young age. 

I always think of my childhood during these periods of high heat and humidity, back during the 1960s and '70s, before my parents could afford to install central air conditioning in their home. It was hot inside the house, particularly on the second floor, where most of my siblings and I shared bedrooms. We relied on floor and window fans to move air around the rooms and provide some relief. 

Mostly we learned to adapt and endure the uncomfortable heat. It was just the way it was, and most everyone else in the area lived as we did. As a child and later as a young adult I could easily dress for the weather. During the late '70s and in the years that followed, society relaxed its standards regarding personal attire in public, and before long nearly everyone dressed as though they were in their teen years and ready to spend the day in front of the TV. Visit a grocery store today, and you'll see exactly what I mean. 

Yet I recall thinking even back during my teen years about those who had come before, those in the 1950s and earlier, who endured challenging summer weather and were expected to dress for set social standards that called for dresses for females, and attire for males of nearly ages that we today would call business formal - dress pants, shirt, a tie and most likely a suit coat to complete the look. 

In addition, men were expected to wear a hat in public. My dad preferred a fedora. He wore one during the work week all the way through the mid-1970s. He had a Homburg hat for formal occasions. 

It amazes me even to this day when I think that he and nearly every other male dressed to this standard in hot weather simply because the manners of the day and good social comportment expected it. What's more is that they did so without the media telling them to stay hydrated and indoors. They drank when they were thirsty, and they sat down to cool off when they felt it was necessary. 

I'm all for dressing for weather conditions, particularly when temperatures reach 90-degrees, but I also miss the days when individuals put an effort toward appearance and style when stepping out in public. 

I also miss the days when newscasters simply reported the news and didn't act like nannies to us all. I might be wrong, but I think most people will figure out how to survive a heat wave on their own, one way or another. 

And that's the way I see it.

- Thank you for reading. Your comment and questions are always welcome. 

Joe Digby aims to get one thing right

 Joe Digby, an old friend from an earlier business life, recently connected with me while passing through town. We haven't seen each other in years, and it was good to visit for a few hours that passed much too quickly.

Joe is still working, but is preparing to retire at the end of the year. He says he's looking forward to retirement, but insists he still enjoys working, not only his job, but on improving himself, even at his age.

"It took me a long time to figure it out," Joe said. "But I learned years ago to focus on doing one thing right each day. I'd write a note to myself in the morning of what I wanted to focus on, and then I'd do it. It would be one thing that I could control, and if I could do that one thing right, then I could go home happy at the end of my day." 

Oftentimes Joe focused on small things - being patient and kind to everyone he encountered at work. And he often focused on the same things day after day or several different days in a month, Joe said. He found that by repeating these little things over time they became regular habits. 

His favorite habits, the ones he enjoyed most and the ones that make his job satisfying are the habits that involve him serving his clients and coworkers. 

"I like to end my day by taking a quick count of how many times I was able to help one of my coworkers, or assist a client with a problem they were trying to resolve. It's always a nice way to end my work day," Joe said. 

I think Joe made a good point. My daily work agenda is usually full of ongoing projects and multiple tasks. It's important stuff in its own way, but Joe offered a good reminder that I need to also remember to make time to focus on performing one thing each day that is all mine, something that I alone can control. 

I'm like Joe. I'm nearing the end of my working career, and I'd like to give Joe's strategy a try during the time I have left in the workplace. Maybe you'd like to give it a try, too. 

-- Thanks for reading. Your comments and questions are always welcome. 

My Gene Hackman Appreciation

 

I know I'm a little late posting my appreciation of Gene Hackman's film work, but I figured as long as so many people are still talking about the circumstances of his death, better late than never. 

I think Hackman's best work occurred during the early years of his career, the 1960s through the early 1980s, but he offered impressive performances, even when the productions didn't provide much to the cast.

 

Others have praised Hackman's skill at portraying the ordinary man, but I think his performances went well beyond that. I think it is better said that he was skilled at capturing the ordinary man who finds himself in extraordinary circumstances ("The Conversation," "The French Connection," and "Hoosiers").

Hackman is rightly praised for having been a solid leading man and reliable box-office star, but I think some of his best work was as a supporting actor ("Bonnie & Clyde," "Downhill Racer," and "Young Frankenstein"). 

With those points established, I submit my list of favorite Hackman performances.

1. "March or Die" (1977)

2. "The Conversation" (1974)

3. "Bonnie & Clyde" (1967)

4. "The French Connection" (1971)

5. "Under Fire" (1983) 

6. "Superman" (1978)

7. "Unforgiven" (1992) 

8. "Night Moves" (1975)

9. "Get Shorty" (1995)

10. "Downhill Racer" (1969)

11. "Hoosiers" (1986)

12. "Young Frankenstein" (1974)

That's my list.  I hope I offered something for you to think about. I welcome comments and questions. As always, thank you for reading.