Wings of Love (BOTB)

No Flying for Me

       If things are going according to schedule I'm now in Tennessee.  Though I may have been flying down the highways, my wheels (and my feet) have been planted firmly on the ground.  It's not that I don't like flying when I travel--actually I do enjoy the experience of flying.  It's the process that I don't like.

         Security and the entire hassle of getting to and through the airport before even getting on the plane is something I don't much enjoy.  I can deal with it all, but preferably I'd rather be behind the wheel of my van driving and enjoying the scenery and having the luxury of going where I want when I want and doing what I want to do when I want to do it.

           Planes can be so uncomfortable as well.   A long flight cramped into a small seating area is something I find unpleasant.  Now if I had a luxury jet to myself it would be grand.  I do enjoy looking down on the land as I pass over it.  Seeing the world from several thousand feet up can be rather spectacular.

           As long as I can make the trip across country driving in my own vehicle that's the way I'll do it.   Well, unless I get that private jet.   And someday if I have to fly commercially in order to see my loved ones then I'll deal with the inconvenience and discomfort of the experience.

          Or better yet, maybe one day I'll live closer to my children and grandchildren where I don't have to deal with airlines or marathon driving trips.   They can visit me easily and I them.   Just wheels of love in short doses.  Not wings of love.   Someday maybe that will happen.  Then I hope I can still make long driving trips, but for the love of the travel and not the necessity of travel for the love.


Battle of the Bands

       Battle of the Bands is the blogging event started by Far Away Series and now hosted by StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands.   This event happens twice each month on the 1st and 15th.   The premise is simple:  Listen to the songs presented below and then in the comments vote for your favorite and tell us why you liked it.  Then visit the links listed near the bottom of this post for more Battle action.


Nirvana  "Wings of Love"  (1967)

         Don't be confused by the name--this is not the grunge band Nirvana from the 1990's.  Instead this Nirvana was a psychedelic band formed in London, England in 1965.  In 1967 they released a narrative concept album called The Story of Simon Simopath which predated the Who's Tommy by two years.  I first discovered this album in the cut-out bins in the early 1970's and still own my copy.  It's light orchestrated rock music--a style that I still enjoy hearing.  "Wings of Love" comes from this concept album.





Herman's Hermits "Wings of Love"  (1968)

        Another English band, Herman's Hermits was part of the English Invasion of the 1960's.  Initially fronted by pretty boy Peter Noone, the Hermits had a string of popular songs on the charts.  "Wings of Love" was not among them though it was featured on their Best of Herman's Hermits Volume 3 album released in 1968.





Time to Vote!

         Same song with very similar presentations--but they are slightly different.  Can you notice the differences?  Let us know what you think about these two recordings. Is there one that you prefer over the other?    If you're visiting a Battle of the Bands post for the first time then let me briefly explain.  Please give each song version a fair listen to decide which one you enjoy the most.  If you don't like either then at least tell us which recording was least innocuous to you. This comes down to your preference and it's as easy as that.

     Please vote on your favorite by letting us know your choice in the comment section and tell us why you prefer the version you chose. Then after you've finished here, please visit the other blogs listed below who may or may not be participating this time around. And if you've put up your own BOTB contest let us know that as well so we can vote on yours.

Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts:


 StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands

 ‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’ 

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

DC Relief Battle of the Bands

The Doglady's Den 

Angel's Bark  

Cherdo on the Flipside  

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 

Janie Junebug Righting & Editing.
  
J. A. Scott  

Quiet Laughter

Holli's Hoots and Hollers

Be ReInVintaged


Winner Announced on Monday August 8th

          I'll try my best to make my voting rounds and tally up votes for my Battle before Monday August 8th.   There shouldn't be much problem doing this, but life (and vacations) can happen so bear with me if my intentions aren't carried out as I have expressed them.   Hope to be back next Monday.

           Do you like flying on commercial airlines?    What is your favorite airline?   Do you have to go very far to visit family or do you prefer not to visit them?


Question of the Month

The Question of the Month is hosted by Michael G D'Agostino from A Life Examined. The first Monday of each month I'll be answering a question posed by Michael prior to event day. Click on the link to his blog for more participants. 

This month's question:

“What’s your favorite beach?”
         
One thing that is fairly certain for me that is if I were to travel anywhere be it by air or otherwise, a beach would not be my primary destination. I've never been a big fan of going to the beach. I like to look at the ocean or even walk along the beach at sunset or on a cool day, but going into the salt water, languishing on the sand, or baking in the sun is not my idea of a good time. My favorite beach is probably the one I see in a picture or from a distance. During my visit to New Jersey we took a stroll on the boardwalk at Asbury Park. That beach looked okay, but I wouldn't say it was my favorite. I guess I really don't have a favorite beach.

Insecure Writer's Support Group

Join us on the first Wednesday of each month in Alex J. Cavanaugh's Insecure Writer's Support Group--a forum of writers who gather to talk about writing and the writer's life. For a complete list of participants visit Alex's Blog.




Speaking of Flying

        Here I am with another year over half gone and none of the writing goals I had set at the beginning have been accomplished. Not many at least. But it's been a good year otherwise and I've had some good times. I don't guess it's really insecurity that I'm talking about here. It's just that time flies and I keep missing planes.

Has Airport Security Gone Too Far?

             In the weeks to come, many of us will take to the airways as we travel for the holidays.  Since 9/11 we have seen an increasing amount of invasive and time devouring security tactics thrust upon us, making air travel a most unpleasant experience.  Between TSA security and continual add-on pricing foisted upon us by the airlines, flying is something I try to avoid.

             Since I live on the west coast and much of my and my wife's family are scattered throughout the United States, we have usually taken our trips via whichever airline has the best Orbitz pricing for what we want to do.  Not this year.  This Christmas we are going to drive and forget about the hassles of flying.  Sure it will take longer and it will mean hotel expenses, but I don't mind a road trip even with the risk of inclement winter weather.  And it's easier to change my driving plans than it is to alter flight plans.

            I miss those more relaxed days of flying when everyone could go to the gate and you could see people off or meet them as they exited the plane.   It was much more pleasant when you didn't have go to the airport two or more hours ahead of the flight in order to get through security. 

             The most recent violation to our privacy has been the latest news fodder.  Potentially dangerous x-ray screening equipment is the most recent addition to airport security.  Those who are randomly selected to go through this machine are scanned while some perverted drooling TSA agent studies their naked bodies on a screen.  It's supposedly anonymous, but as far as I'm concerned it's plain weird.   They say it's all safe, but I don't know if I want to take a chance on finding out.

           Of course, one can opt out of this scanning procedure and instead choose the getting-to-know-you intimate feel-up by your friendly TSA agent.   This might be fun under certain circumstances, but, please, not at the airport by some surly federal employee.  Who might be getting out of this?  An outcry is coming from Muslims complaining that this would be against their religion.   Let's see---do I see a problem with this?

            We pretty well know who the typical terrorists have been in the past.  Shouldn't there be more focus on certain more suspicious parties, and less on you and me and our families.  There has got to be a better way of approaching security on airlines.  The previous bad guys had for the most part already been spotted and under surveillance by our government before they ever got on a plane.  Why were they able to fly so easily?

            I truly believe that most of the security issues arise before anyone even gets to the airport.  Somebody in law enforcement is not doing their job.   Sure, some security measures need to be taken at the airport, but maybe not to the extreme level that they have come to.  What do you think?

Has airport security become too extreme?

          What do you think are the best solutions?    Do you have a pretty good idea about who the terrorists are most likely to be these days?   Are some profiling measures necessary?    Have issues with airport security and the hassles of flying affected your travel habits?   Will you  be flying this holiday season?