The catch basin at the top of my skull can only absorb so much b------t before some of the frustration has to escape, so me take on two adversaries at the same time; fi rst the environmental wackos that almost caused 155 deaths and secondly, the surviving passengers who make their survival a game show where they get cash awards and lots of other goodies for surviving.

The Daily News had a photo of a Canadian Goose on the front page as if the unfortunate birds who fl ew into the jet engines did

so on their own volition. Kind of like a mass bird suicide; a Jim Jones event but with feathers and wings. But no, it was not the geese who owe us an explanation; how about looking at the folks who prevented the Port Authority from getting rid of the birds. Now there’s a novel thought; make the responsible people responsible. Let’s take a page out of the book of our new President’s recommendations for us citizens and make the responsible people – environmentalists – responsible. But no, like the US Congress who set the stage for this economic disaster we are now in the midst of, and who then gratuitously put the blame on the banks, Wall Street, Uncle Jakes Deli and every but themselves; the responsibility for this near air disaster will be deflected to the birds, the airline, or the lady who took the reservations. The onus will be on someone; anyone, but the real culprits. They will walk away unscathed; I’m talking about those wild and crazy environmentalists. Oh, by the way, the folks who gave us this combination of recession, deflation, and job mess now want lots of money; 747 freighter loads of greenbacks to fix it; like a guy who just hit you over the head with a bat forcibly insisting on doing the brain surgery.

My second set of editorial dart throwing targets will surprise you; it’s the air disaster survivors. Not all of them; maybe not even most of them, but some of them are getting ridiculous. The passengers on the fl ight, which crashlanded off Manhattan in the Hudson River on Jan. 15, will receive US Air’s Chairman’s- Preferred status through March 2010. Chairman’s Preferred is US Airways’ top frequent-fl ier status, typically reserved for customers that fl y 100,000 miles or more in a calendar year. Perks for Chairman’s- Preferred members include automatic upgrades on mainland domestic fl ights, two upgrades on overseas fl ights, access to a special reservations number and double miles on every fl ight. Though earning such elite status is the dream of many frequent fl iers, the Post’s story fi nds passengers on Flight 1549 who called the gesture too little and insincere. “Some who were on the plane … said the temporary tease of fi rst-class perks is for the birds; “an unfortunate play on words perhaps. But the Post’s story is not the fi rst in which passengers from Flight 1549 have groused about their

compensation - which included a $5,000 check to assist “with immediate needs” and reimbursement for the ticket. In a recent story, USA Today writes “many US Airways passengers who endured a crash landing in the Hudson River ... say they appreciate the $5,000 that the airline has offered — but some say it’s not enough.” That story unleashed a torrent of feedback from USA Today readers, with nearly 1,300 comments posted. Many of those lashed out at the Flight 1549 survivors who complained about compensation. One reader commented; “$5,000 … is ample. There was no negligence here; why do Americans think they should get rich when they see an opportunity.” Another reader says passenger gripes about compensation “makes me ill.” It’s an American disease that is now at epidemic levels; entitlement.

Over Two hundred JFK business-people attended the January 14th JFK Chamber of Commerce Luncheon at the Ramada Inn’s main ballroom. The room was jam packed and it was a great kick-off for the newly appointed Chamber executive board. We can safely say that one of the reasons for the interest was the appearance of Christopher Ward, the Executive Director of The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (and President of the Port Authority’s wholly owned entities: Port Authority Trans- Hudson Corporation, the Newark Legal and

Communications Center Urban Renewal Corporation, and the New York and New Jersey Railroad Corporation). And the subject matter was also intriguing; a detailed status report indicating where the Port intends to dedicate resource and money in the future. Ward’s presentation spoke to the future, and the investments that the Port Authority is making in their airport infrastructure, including; $110 Million dollars for runways, $178 Million for airfi eld just at JFK alone. JFK also has to upgrade ramps and taxi-ways to handle the larger aircraft, such as the Airbus A380, that are now using our facilities. We may be in an economic slump at the moment but the Port Authority is investing in the future based on an optimistic view of the aviation business.

More people than ever used the Port Authority’s AirTrain systems for travel to and from John F. Kennedy International and Newark Liberty International airports in 2008, fi nal statistics released by the agency. AirTrain JFK and AirTrain Newark combined last year to serve nearly 6.7 million paid riders, in addition to the tens of millions of air passengers and people employed at the airport who used the two rail systems to travel free of charge between terminals, parking, and car rental areas. The 2008 combined total eclipses by nearly 8 percent the previous record of about 6.2 million paid riders set in 2007. Both AirTrain systems have enjoyed year-to-year passenger traffi c increases since they’ve been operational. AirTrain Newark, which extended the existing Newark Airport monorail to link with the Northeast Corridor railroad line used by NJ...

You still have a week to shop for your spouse or signifi cant other so why not head over to the Food and Shops at LaGuardia to view a great assortment of gifts. You work in Newark you say! Well, I cannot help you there; unless of course you can convince your boss to send you to LGA. The Food & Shops at L a Guardia Airport is celebrating Valentine’s Day with a special ‘Gifts to Go’ shopping program to help busy airport workers as well as travelers to shop for their sweetheart. Retailers, including

Border’s Books, The Body Shop, and Taxco Sterling, among others, will offer special ‘Gifts to Go’ tables in front of their stores with a vast selection of gifts ranging from $25.00 to $50.00 that will make the ideal Valentine’s Day present. As a special treat, the Food & Shops will also be handing out complimentary chocolate kisses to patrons and travelers passing through LaGuardia Airport on February 14.