Just imagine how fun the flights from Heathrow today will be. Full of cranky, flaky, itchy, dehydrated and deathly bored people.

The Japanese obsession with robots: [link]

If she were anything other than a robot, Saya, the receptionist at the Science University of Tokyo, would have a very strong lawsuit against her employers. On a hot summer day last week, engineering students peered into her lifeless skull while her blouse was wide open, revealing—strangely enough for a robot—a brassiere. Which raises an important question: why do robots need underwear? “There are actually speakers in her chest. Using a brassiere was a cheap way to achieve the feminine shape,” says Dr. Hiroshi Kobayashi, the mechanical engineering professor who created Saya with his (all male) students.

Saya uses a few hundred phrases to converse with the university’s visitors and has six facial expressions at her disposal: surprise, fear, anger, revulsion, happiness and sadness. Most also inadvertently convey the illusion of digestive trouble.

Hm. I hope my parents were flying yesterday and not today. They don't tend to catch the morning news.

Just got an email about the restrictions. In pertinent part, it notes:

No electrical or battery operated items including laptops, mobile phones, ipods, remote controls etc. can be carried in the cabin and must be checked as baggage. Please advise clients of same.

Checking laptops?!! That doesn't sound good.

(However, I'm OK with checking my remote control. I guess I can be without it for a couple hours.)

Checking laptops does sound scary. I think the thing that's going to catch people up (in the security line, I mean) is the car remote control on people's keychains.

Is that for here? Or overseas?

You know, with the lighter confiscation, I always thought they should have a bucket with the sign "Need a lighter? Leave a lighter?" where you'd be allowed to take a lighter once you were outside security. Or have them give out little "good for one free lighter at destination from security" slips. (Actually, at BWI, there was a section outside by the SW terminal where people'd go to smoke. The sill of the window was lined with lighters. Communal lighters! I've seen it in Houston, too.)

I now envision a whole little barter store for confiscated toiletries and lighters.

my husband has a friend in England right now with $30k of camera gear, which cannot be checked since camera lenses shouldn't be subject to extreme cold. GHA. they will have to mail it home to themselves.

Gawd, the thought of a translatlantic flight without the benefit of a laptop or iPod is just scary. Flying is a much nicer experience for me when I can watch DVDs/videos on a laptop or iPod.

Is that for here? Or overseas?

I can't tell-- it came from American Express Travel, which runs our travel department. If anyone finds out, give a shout, cuz Bob Bob is flying domestic tomorrow with his laptop.

(However, I'm OK with checking my remote control. I guess I can be without it for a couple hours.)

::promises never to leave remote::