IraqiGeek's Blog

Going through my day

C. S. Lewis once said:

Part of every misery is, so to speak, the misery’s shadow or reflection: the fact that you don’t merely suffer but have to keep on thinking about the fact that you suffer. I not only live each endless day in grief, but live each day thinking about living each day in grief.

This is a very accurate description of how I feel as I go through my day.

Its a good day today

Today, is a very, very, very good day. In fact, its the best day I had in a very long time.

First “non-staff” flight for the A380

This Friday morning, the Airbus A380 made its first “non-staff” flight from Toulouse in southern France with about 200 journalists and media members on board as passengers, and some 48 tonnes of fuel for the one hour tour.

Yesterday, I watched CNN’s Business Traveler with Richard Quest as he flew on board this awesome superjumbo.

According to Richard, the plane was fitted in a 3-class configuration which enabled the plane to carry “only 519 passengers”!!! This is already more than what the venerable Boeing 747-400 “jumbo jet” can carry. Considering that the A380 is certified to carry 800 passengers when fitted entirely with economy class seats, the plane on Friday had only 65% of its seats capacity and 25% of its passenger.

Again, according to Richard, the plane was very quiet. One could barely hear the engine noise in the mics during the show, which while not an accurate measure of noise, is somewhat of a statement to how quiet the plane is.

I look forward to seeing this majestic monster enter service later this year. Heck, I’m even thinking of going on to Singapore for a weekend (Singapore Airlines the launch partner for the A380) just to see how it feels to be on board such a huge monster of a plane on a long haul trip.

The longest day in my life

Today, is going to be one of the longest, if not the longest ever, day in my life.

Abbas Chechan Iraqi Poetry

A very touching poem about Iraq, the Iraqi people, their suffering, and their future.

Wonder when, if ever, we will be able to call Baghdad home again…

Thanks to Yaarub for the heads up. Miss you guys…