I'm a sucker for witty writing that is of the dripping-with-sarcasm-yet-only-one-inch-from-the-truth category.

This is a prime example. Although Seattle is finally getting it's 3rd runway this November after decades of constipation, London Heathrow (perhaps the most important international aviation gateway on Earth) is just now getting it's druthers and really getting deep into the expansion mode.

So my fellow airliner geeks at airliners.net (a.net) have risen to the occasion and have commented on possible timelines as such!

to wit, in part (fair use):

"June 2009 - Submit public tenders for various designs for its replacement.

July 2009 - All designs rejected by local residents.

August 2009 - A rare and previously thought to be extinct breed of dust mite is discovered in T2.

Late-August 2009 - A charity single entitled "Save the mites = Save our future (and our Children's future)" is released by two ex-Pop Idol nobodies. It goes straight in at number one.

September 2009 - Local residents set up an action group called T.W.A.T.S - (Team Worried and Against Terminal Success) which pickets Parliament to demand that the area is left for animals to graze on, as anything other than this course of action represents what basically amounts to Planetary Homicide. They lodge their formal complaints to the planning commission, which rules that in light of the new complaints against the massive expansion of Heathrow airport and the obvious and irrefutable damage replacing the terminal building will do to London's green belt, that all previous planning permissions and tenders are null and void. A new planning process is started.

October 2009 – T.W.A.T.S chain themselves to a chainlink fence on the airport perimeter and are forcibly removed by police.

November 2009 – T.W.A.T.S climb in the roof of T5 and splash red paint all over the place to illustrate the murder of the green belt. One tries to break a window and falls to his death. "stinky" as he is known, of no fixed address, is immediately Martyred. The local Government releases a statement expressing their sincere sorrow at his death. His wife/partner "Crusty" also of no fixed address, sues BAA for having lax enough security to let them in in the first place, and is awarded three million quid in damages. She cuts her hair, has a bath, moves to Kensington, sets up an advertising firm and buys a Range Rover. "

--CHRISBA777ER
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/4154257/

It goes on -- worth a read for anyone. LOVE IT.

OK, I'm late to the party... (big surprise!)

This commercial that United aired during the Olympics is simply a masterpiece. It is an epic film in 60 seconds.

Normally I'm not a huge sappy guy, but this one softens even my hard edges. It is so nuanced and heartfelt -- literally; the way the heart gets cut-out and slipped in a pocket. They way you see the light thru the empty heart during the presentation. They way the bird flies thru it and the score is outstanding. Plus just a hint of United's famous use of Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" at the end, which has to be one of the most effective, and really great, corporate identities out there.

Just too bad United is really going through some rough times, as obviously they have some incredible talent and feeling somewhere in that leviathan body. This is beautiful.

Anyways, here it is...

But of course if they are pretty and nicely dressed you can parade them on TV and that's not using them for anything...