Final answer

I have completed my one day turn around to Atlanta. A very successful trip to say the least.

As I returned from Atlanta on Airtran I paid close attention to the level of service in the Hartsfield Airport. It is just as poor in Atlanta as is was in Orlando. Not sure why the airport folks are so grumpy but they are M.I.S.E.R.A.B.L.E! I will go on a letter writing campaign when I get home.

The flight attendants are very pleasant. I swear it is good cop, bad cop! They should host customer service training and let the flight attendants run the show. Training might make this an OK organization. Right now they are broken and are in need of some fixing!

Until such time that there is a customer service summit at Airtran, I will not use them for my flying needs. I recommend you do the same and book with another airline unless you enjoy piss poor service.

Fredrick Kong
321.662.9014
Tadashi70@gmail.com

Customer Service training....Sir

I am back at my favorite people watchn spot, MCO or Orlando international aeroport. Headed to the Capitol of the south, 'Hot-lanta' for the day. I am flying on Airtran for the first time in years. I usually like to build up my
Massive collection of Skymiles so I can get more useless magazines with said points. But I chose Airtran for some odd reason.
Checkin was not available online because they were upgrading their site for better service. Checking in at the plane depot for 'me' today. I left a few minutes early just to be safe. I arrived to an empty counter, is was devoid of passengers but there were 6 or 7 airtran employees chatting it up behind the counter.

With the absence of human life forms in the make shift maze they built for crowd control I proceeded to the counter. Once I reached this vast counter with no patrons I was greeted with 'where are you going?". Not hello or good morning. I replied with a hardy "good morning!" Still no response. 'atlanta' rolled off my tongue. Where is your boarding pass? Was the next question from this delightful, over weight employee with bad coffee breathe. I wanted to offer her one of my brand new pieces of gum that I had just purchased at 7-11 on my way to the air-limo place. That's another story, MCO does not allow the sale of gum for what ever reason. I don't think she would have taken the gum.

"Sorry online check in was not working on my fancy inter-web this morning. So I stand before you trying to check in". The next statement blew my mind, you need a boarding pass to checkin. I looked around because I thought Ashton Kutcher was going to jump out and inform 'me' I was being punked! No such luck, this was as real as it was going to get. I looked around for a ticket agent and the plane, still nothing. "ain't dis where I's posed to be getn me board pass" trying not to blow a gasket on this lazy beotch.

She started to speak and I cut her off by asking for her supervisor, who was
standing right next to her. This woman was 5'1" tall and looked to be 300lbs. The two of them together looked like twiddle dee and twiddle dum. The ball shaped women repeated what her matching bookend had just told me. You need a boarding pass to checkin. I asked what purpose the counter serves? This is were people checkin with their luggage. Ok, now we are getting some where! I asked if people with luggage need a boarding pass to
Check their luggage? "no, we provide them with boarding passes when the
check their luggage" Can you guess my next question? "Why can't you provide me with a pass?" "You aren't checking luggage!" "Do people travel without luggage?" yes and they have boarding passes!" "where can I get a pass if I didn't print it at home?" there was a long pause.....

I asked for their names and went in search of a self-checkin kiosk. Found one and checked in.

Security was packed, the experienced traveler line was 50 deep. The other lanes, filled with families were pAcked. The family lane had not a sole in it. I walked through with no issues. Made to Starbucks in no time flat.

Green tea latte in hand and bathroom
Break covered, I made my way to the
gate. Again no one in line. I walked up to find three airtran employees deep in a bitchfest about their jobs. The women in front if me went out of her way not to assist me. She looked down and acted as if I was not there. One of her buds asked me what I wanted. I asked if we were leavn on time. He pointed at the board and they began to bitch again. And so started this entry into my blog.

If I was not working on my temper I would have been in a hot mess of trouble. This is a far to common experience for many people. It's sad that it has come to this! If you don't like your job, quit, make a change, go play in traffic...I don't care, just stop making my life tougher with your negative attitude! Life is not easy for anyone, why make it tougher with your constant bitchn? I'm sorry you didn't pay attention in 3rd grade and could make it through elementary school without lithium. Don't project your
miserable existence on the rest of us. I like my life and what it has provided for myself and my family.

Customer service is dead, hit it with the paddles and bring it back.

P.S. The flight attendants on the way to The Atl more than made up for the
fiasco I experienced earlier. Thanks Rachael!!!

Fredrick Kong
321.662.9014
Tadashi70@gmail.com

Customer Service training....Sir

I am back at my favorite people watchn spot, MCO or Orlando international aeroport. Headed to the Capitol of the south, 'Hot-lanta' for the day. I am flying on Airtran for the first time in years. I usually like to build up my
Massive collection of Skymiles so I can get more useless magazines with said points. But I chose Airtran for some odd reason.
Checkin was not available online because they were upgrading their site for better service. Checking in at the plane depot for 'me' today. I left a few minutes early just to be safe. I arrived to an empty counter, is was devoid of passengers but there were 6 or 7 airtran employees chatting it up behind the counter.

With the absence of human life forms in the make shift maze they built for crowd control I proceeded to the counter. Once I reached this vast counter with no patrons I was greeted with 'where are you going?". Not hello or good morning. I replied with a hardy "good morning!" Still no response. 'atlanta' rolled off my tongue. Where is your boarding pass? Was the next question from this delightful, over weight employee with bad coffee breathe. I wanted to offer her one of my brand new pieces of gum that I had just purchased at 7-11 on my way to the air-limo place. That's another story, MCO does not allow the sale of gum for what ever reason. I don't think she would have taken the gum.

"Sorry online check in was not working on my fancy inter-web this morning. So I stand before you trying to check in". The next statement blew my mind, you need a boarding pass to checkin. I looked around because I thought Ashton Kutcher was going to jump out and inform 'me' I was being punked! No such luck, this was as real as it was going to get. I looked around for a ticket agent and the plane, still nothing. "ain't dis where I's posed to be getn me board pass" trying not to blow a gasket on this lazy beotch.

She started to speak and I cut her off by asking for her supervisor, who was
standing right next to her. This woman was 5'1" tall and looked to be 300lbs. The two of them together looked like twiddle dee and twiddle dum. The ball shaped women repeated what her matching bookend had just told me. You need a boarding pass to checkin. I asked what purpose the counter serves? This is were people checkin with their luggage. Ok, now we are getting some where! I asked if people with luggage need a boarding pass to
Check their luggage? "no, we provide them with boarding passes when the
check their luggage" Can you guess my next question? "Why can't you provide me with a pass?" "You aren't checking luggage!" "Do people travel without luggage?" yes and they have boarding passes!" "where can I get a pass if I didn't print it at home?" there was a long pause.....

I asked for their names and went in search of a self-checkin kiosk. Found one and checked in.

Security was packed, the experienced traveler line was 50 deep. The other lanes, filled with families were pAcked. The family lane had not a sole in it. I walked through with no issues. Made to Starbucks in no time flat.

Green tea latte in hand and bathroom
Break covered, I made my way to the
gate. Again no one in line. I walked up to find three airtran employees deep in a bitchfest about their jobs. The women in front if me went out of her way not to assist me. She looked down and acted as if I was not there. One of her buds asked me what I wanted. I asked if we were leavn on time. He pointed at the board and they began to bitch again. And so started this entry into my blog.

If I was not working on my temper I would have been in a hot mess of trouble. This is a far to common experience for many people. It's sad that it has come to this! If you don't like your job, quit, make a change, go play in traffic...I don't care, just stop making my life tougher with your negative attitude! Life is not easy for anyone, why make it tougher with your constant bitchn? I'm sorry you didn't pay attention in 3rd grade and could make it through elementary school without lithium. Don't project your
miserable existence on the rest of us. I like my life and what it has provided for myself and my family.

Customer service is dead, hit it with the paddles and bring it back.

P.S. The flight attendants on the way to The Atl more than made up for the
fiasco I experienced earlier. Thanks Rachael!!!

Fredrick Kong
321.662.9014
Tadashi70@gmail.com

'Friends' how many of us have them....

A little over a week ago as I walked through my kitchen I received a chime on my iPhone4.(useless plug) I had been notified of an invite to my good friends birthday party. This was to be held at a wonder French Bistro in an older part of Orlando. As I read the Facebook invite and walked to my bedroom to tell my wife, I was struck with a warm feeling. A feeling of happiness that we were thought off as part of their inner circle.



Now we do a great deal with this couple and have called them friends for the better part of four years, as couple. The wife has known the birthday girl much longer through various social circles, pre-facebook CRAZE! With this type of longevity you come to expect that you will be invited to important events in each others lives. Birthdays, weddings, dinners, BBQs, babysitting your oldest child as you welcome the newest into the world. These types of events, the kind that life time memories are built, the kind that define you in your adult years.



I was still pleased that we would be together will a group of friends, talking, laughing, eating and drinking. Catching up on the happenings in our lives. I knew that it would be a great dinner with a great company.



(fast forward 10 days)



The birthday dinner was upon us. We were the third couple to arrive and were greeted by our host with a warm hugs and smiles, status quo, I expected nothing less. Words were exchanged, others arrived with more hugs and hang shakes. 20 or so minutes later all were in place in a very cozzie atmosphere. Drinks and food were ordered and everyone settled in. Our hosts treated all of us to a very important announcement. Early in the day they had visited the OBGYN and found out the sex of their unborn baby. IT"S A GIRL! was pushed from her lips and we all cheered as if we were at a sporting event. Everyone was happy and congratulations flowed in their direction. The evening wore on we ate and drank, laughed and shared stories. Life was good for all at the table. A newly married couple sat to me left. Two expecting couples sat across from me. A soon to have their second baby any day now couple sat at the other end and a newly minted we are in love couple sat across from them. So as you can see all in attendance were in a good place.

Friends...how many of us have them? I have them in spades! I shared in all of their lives and they in mine. We have grown together with the families additions, advice about child care, birthday parties in Vegas, 1st, 2nd and 3rd birthdays for our kids. No envy, no ill will just smiles and back slaps, hugs and kisses. This is the evolution of our friendships and our lasting memories. I look forward to building on the foundation we have all started and I thank god that I am able to call others my FRIEND!

The Open Championship

July 18, 2010....Tiger Woods is o-3 in major Championships. In fact he has zero wins in 2010. End of story....Even the best fall on hard times, he will be back in form soon.
Now the story in my opinion is not that an unknown (Louis Oosthuizen) won the British Open or if you prefer The Open Championship. it is that non of the greats stepped up and gave the young man a true test. Tiger started strong with two birdies in the first three holes and them faded into the bylines of the tournament. To be fair after the opening day TW was not a factor. Phil M. played his usual balls to wall game in an area that requires feel. Paul Casey and Lee Westwood had a chance to apply pressure but failed in the end. Steve Stricker the most recent winner on tour and #4 in the World rankings never showed up. Rory M. showed heart on the weekend but was undone by an 80 on Friday.

Louis Oosthuizen played for solid days of golf at the home of golf and deserved the win. he didn't fold under the pressure. His swing didn't break down and he seemed to glide around St. Andrews with relative ease. Good for him and his family. He accomplished what all professional golfers dream of, he won a Major Championship. All of the other players need to study the tape on this win. Watch this guy and how he handled himself for four days on the big stage. He acted as if he had been there before. Let's hope that this is not a flash in the pan and that he continues to build on this victory. If he builds or falters he will always be able to call himself a Major Championship winner. He has one more, major win, than a lot of great players that shall remain nameless. I know this guy won't remain nameless.

Reality TV just got Real!!!

It's Wednesday night and I'm settled in watchin one of my all time favorite shows, Deadliest Catch. If you have been living under a rock for the past 5 years, I'll bring you up to speed.

The Discovery Channel in HD embarked on a mission several years ago to film the lives of Crab fishermen on the Bering Sea. During any given season these grizzled fisherman set out to catch the world king crab supply. For weeks at a time they are at sea braving the cold, each other and the real threat of death every single day. For what you ask....The king crab we all take for granted, the California rolls we eat and Oscar we put on our steaks. These men risk it all for a huge some of money and an even large amount of risk.

Today's show was a tribute to a one of the most colorful members of the Deadliest Catch, Captain Phil Harris. He passed onto the great crab grounds in the sky. Phil lived hard, fished hard and died hard. He left two son's, a great tradition and numerous friends on the sea on in living rooms around the world.

What really got me was not the fact that he passed away, I knew that months ago. But that he spent his final hours and days apologizing to his sons for not being a better father. He felt that he had let them down in some way. Both sons assured him that he was way off base and that he could not have been a better father.

Like any live changing event we look inside ourselves and take stock. We are either happy with what we find or drastic changes are on the horizon. Why does it have to be a life changing event that lights a fire under our asses. Why must we be backed into a corner to make a change in our lives. Why don't we just make the change, if it is needed, now! Don't wait until it is too late to be a better friend, son, daughter, mother, father or what ever you are to someone else. Be the best you can be now in this moment. Love those in your life and keep them close. Live you life to the fullest and try not to create regret.

Capt Phil Harris lived his life up until death was near, the only way he knew how. He felt some regret for not being what he felt was a good father. I'm sure he was a good father with flaws. I'm also sure that he could have done more. We all feel that way! I am glad that he allowed all of us to share in his life and that of his sons. RIP Capt. Phil Harris, you will be missed!

The Art of Lebron

The hype and build up has come to a close. LeBron James took his ball
and went to play for another team, the Miami Heat. His exit was in
plain sight of millions on a one hour special thanks to ESPN. He was
interviewed by Jim Gray, infamous sports reporter. JG has been linked
to some of the more colorful sports stories of the last 15 years or
so.

Art Modell left Cleveland for the greener industrial street of
Baltimore in the middle of night. Very few knew about his plans in
Cleveland or Baltimore. He felt he had a better chance of winning and
making more loot in the financial Mecca known as balmore or if you
prefer...Baltimore.

Both of these men have left Cleveland and both men are hated by the
populous of that city. Some would say LBJ is hated more than Art. I
think this is because the latest departure just occurred or Cleveland
has a group of lovable losers that play in the NFL. Either way both me
have conveniently have become the fall guys for the negativity that is
Cleveland.

Forbes is reporting the Lebron was responsible for 150 Million dollars
a year to the franchise and the city of Cleveland. One man generating
so much revenue for one small city. No wonder everyone is pissed.
Their meal ticket is gone. It has nothing to do with family or love
for LeBron. It has everything to do with the dollars he meant to the
City. If this was not true, Clevelanders will still sell out every
home game and spend the dollars they were spending while he was there.
I believe the average person that attended a game spent $150.00 per
game. With an arena that holds just over 20k, that is a lot of
Cheddar. Real Cavs fans will still continue to spend that and more
just to make a point. The point, according to the owner, they do not
need LBJ to win a title.

Dan Gilbert has personally Guaranteed a title for Cleveland prior to
LBJ winning one. Ummmmm, I will go on record that Cleveland will not
win an NBA World Championship title anytime with the next 10 years. No
one worth their weight in gold will play for this man. His emotionally
charged letter to LeBron and Cleveland fans displayed the heart of the
man. It's tragic that he will be forever linked to that letter and
people will make up their own opinions about the man. Th

Some say that LeBron knew prior to the morning of The Decision that he
was going to Miami. I believe that he made up his mind to go the day
of the interview with Jim Gray. I believe that this 25 year old man
was torn between his home and the glitz and Glamour of South Beach.
The exposure and A list of South Beach will help to grow the Brand we
know as Lebron James 'TheKing'. He will make more money and get
greater cache from his South Beach address than anywhere else in the
world. The laid back atmosphere, the beautiful people, piles of money
and an endless stream of "yes" people will help LeBron and Co. win
numerous titles. These titles will be hard fought and will not be
easy. As long as this squad picks up a few more pieces and stays
together, they will win numerous titles.

The boo-birds will be at every game and I mean every game. They will
never go away. LeBron has just enter the world, he know has detractor
and supporters. He will be tasked with winning right away and if he
doesn't he will be reminded of it everyday until he does. If he shows
the resolve that got him to the finals three years ago he will win and
win often, If 08 and 09 LeBron shows up, he might as well dig a hole
and climb in. I think we are getting ready to see history unfold
before our eyes. Records will be broken over the next four years.

Fredrick Kong
321.662.9014
Tadashi70@gmail.com

Free Agents...I think not!!!!

July 1st, 2010 marked the beginning of Free Agency within the NBA. Some of the most sought after roundballer, King James, DWade, Bosh, JJ & Dirk, are available to the highest bidder. And trust me bids will be high especially for the services of Lebron James. You will hear stories of star treatment and crazy offers from various teams through out the league. The stars may even get involved. I keep waiting for a TV commercial to be produced begging one of these players to come to their city.

Will the presence of one of these players positively affect the economy? Will it be like when CES rolls into Vegas and pumps 100 of millions into the local economy? Will jobs be created or roads be built? What do the people of the various cities have to gain from D. Wade signing with their team? Dade County has 3 million residents give or take 100K. How many of these residents know who D. Wade is? How many are fans? I'd have to say less than 20% know or care who he is. I Know who he is and I can appreciate his talent, but he isn't doing anything but playing hoops. He may have a foundation or two but how far does that reach?

The free agents that are on the market are going to be anything but free. Combined salarys for the five before mentioned NBA Stars will fall into the $750 million range over the life of the contracts. This is the same amount of money we pumped into the US economy after the failed housing experiment. Five guys will command three quarters of a billion in Salary, WTF!

I've never been one to belly ache about another man's paycheck, but this is a little out of touch when you think about the scope of the situation. Free Agency comes around every year but this year is heavily loaded with great talent that puts butts in the seats, jerseys on the backs of coutnless fan, peanuts on the floor of local bars and 100s of millions in the fat cats that sit in the various Vegas books. Their impact does not reach as far as some would like, but they do have an impact. I think the name of this period should be changed to Mo Money, Mo Money!!!! But I guess Homie don't play that. Sit back and enjoy the countless stories over the next week and half.

Happy Fourth of July to all.


The term 'Free Agency' puzzles me.