Short hops — January 29, 2007 — The war on runways, skycaps, and horse meat, to name a few
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The war on runway safety
Bangkok’s new Suvarnabhumi Airport hasn’t worked out as everyone hoped, with cost overruns, insufficient bathrooms, and shoddy workmanship. But now, by virtue of its failure to renew its safety certificate, it’s officially unsafe. Runways have been plagued with cracks and debris. (You’ll be pleased to know that the airport is still operating as normal. Nice. Wouldn’t want to let safety get in the way of the schedule!)
The war on skycaps
Skycaps at Boston’s Logan Airport have filed a class action lawsuit against American Airlines. The suit alleges that the airline’s policy of charging $2 per bag for curbside check-in is cutting into the skycaps’ tips. Indeed, many people assume the fee goes to the skycap, but it actually goes to the airline. The fees exist at plenty of other airports and with plenty of other airlines. Will more skycaps organize and sue?
The war on horse meat
I really don’t know what to make of this. “American Airlines and Delta Air Lines said early Thursday afternoon that they had suspended transport of horse meat to overseas markets – mainly France, Belgium and Japan – where it is consumed.” Horse butchers are angry. It’s a long story.
The war on fusion cuisine
Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture will soon travel the world, inspecting Japanese restaurants and certifying their authenticity. I realize that this is as much cultural nationalism as it is a marketing device, but it’s moronic. California rolls aren’t authentic to Japan, but they’re a standard of sushi restaurants in America. Deal with it. It’s a globalized world, and the notion of a “pure” cultural product is a sham. And it’s been a sham for some time. We’ve been globalizing for hundreds of years. (The spice trade, anyone?) But if the Japanese taxpayer wants to pay for this culinary boondoggle, have at it. (Thanks Dr. Vino!)
The war on broken in-flight entertainment
I get as irritated as the next guy when the audio-video system is broken on a long flight, but attacking the staff is probably not the way to go. Customers on board several Qantas aircraft that have been experiencing technical trouble with their video system “are becoming openly abusive and threatening” to flight attendants in flight. Not cool. Better bring a book.
The war for Delta
US Airways really, really, really, really, really wants to buy Delta. They’re now offering to raise their offer by another $1 billion if the creditors agree to postpone a meeting to discuss Delta’s in-house restructuring. Wake me up when this is over.
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January 29th, 2007 at 11:26 pm |
>The war on fusion cuisine
Wow. You mean I am not entitled to authentic Japanese meal when I am feeling homesick?
FYI, Italy, and Thailand also practices similar activities to compile list of restaurants that provide authentic recipe of their countries.
In general, getting recognized as officially recognized restaurants has two requirements:
1. The owner of the restaurant must be of their country’s nationality.
2. The indigredients must be imported from homeland.
The objective of compiling the list is both cultural and economic. By providing list of restaurants that provides authentic meal, people who wants to try real food do not have to risk eating at fake food restaurant. Also by requiring restaurants to import indigredients, it stimulates trade of country-specifc food materials that will otherwise be replaced with similar tasting indigredients.
Just because Japan compiles list of authentic Japanese restaurants does not cause fake Japanese restaurants to be any faker. It will just help you find Real Japanese restaurants in case your want to find the difference.
For more info on Thailand’s authentic recipes, please do search on ‘THAI SELECT’ programs.
January 30th, 2007 at 10:22 am |
>The war on fusion cuisine
Just as an added tidbit, this behavior, while not unique to Japan should not come as a great suprise to those that have studied or lived in the Japanese culture. The culture of Japan is built on the past and built on the concept of uncertainty avoidance (a term made famous by Geert Hofstede in the 1960’s-70’s). Basically, the Japanese culture seeks to maintain uniformity while still accepting those foreign influences that best serve the country’s needs. There is a lot of Ninjonjinron writing that discusses how the history of Japan and foreign influence has built the country. As such it wouldn’t come as a suprise to see that Japan wants to authenticate Japanese restaurants in other countries. After all, they still need to look after their “citizens” (those of Japanese decent) in other countries to ensure they have a proper Japanese meal.
January 30th, 2007 at 2:08 pm |
I don’t dispute the rights of Japan’s ministry of agriculture to go around the world certifying all the restaurants it likes according its no-doubt exhaustive criteria. I just don’t think it’s *necessarily* helpful.
Food has always been global, with ingredients and techniques adapted in new environments.
Tempura is not a native Japanese preparation: it’s Portuguese in origin. Will any restaurant in Japan that serves tempura-style food be declared un-Japanese?