BEST AND WORST AIRPORTS IN THE WORLD

First, the usual news summary:

• Israel-Hamas war.
• Rockets are about all there is today, including to Tel Aviv.
• Israel army readied to invade Gaza Strip and reinforce the north. 
• While there is a war unity alliance, Netanyahu's position is weakening within the country.
• Misinformation.  Both sides are using the virtual media to exaggerate their claims to gain international understanding.  This is leading to a lot of misinformation and doubt about what really is going on.
• More online fake news.
• 
  U.S. House of Representatives.
• Jim Jordan will come up for a floor vote next week to become speaker.  Exact date?  His position is too weak to do this yet.   Lots of luck James.
• Bipartisan unity?

Well, on to the topic of the day, which is travel.  Why?  We are exactly two weeks away from our trip to Japan.  Nine-days on the Diamond Princess around Japan, with a stop in Busan, South Korea, plus three separate 7-day green car Japan Rail Passes to follow the fall colors from Hokkaido down to Kagoshima at the bottom of Kyushu.

I've landed at all the following airports, except for the new one in Istanbul.  I only have bad thoughts about their former landing field because their computer system tended to screw up my flight connections, and at one stop, lost one of my teeth while eating something in the Turkish Airline executive lounge.  

I recently stayed at the Crown Plaza located within Changi Airport.    Honolulu deserves to be among the worst airports, if there is such a list.

1. Singapore (SIN) 90.12
2. Istanbul (IST) 87.62
3. Seoul Incheon (ICN) 87.15
4. Doha (DOH) 86.78
5. Zurich (ZRH) 83.79
6. Hong Kong (HKG) 83.41
7. Tokyo Haneda (HND) 83.02
8. Dubai (DXB) 82.40
9. Helsinki (HEL) 81.13
10. New Delhi (DEL) 80.88

Actually, there is a list of the 30 worst airports, and, amazingly enough, I've been through most of them, and generally agree with the ranking.  

• Paris and London airports are deserving of being so recognized.   Worse, each city has three airports in this list.
• The entire USA only has one airport, Newark Liberty International (EWR).  But EWR was recently upgraded, and still was selected as the worst U.S. mega airport.
• Interesting that Hong Kong also made this list, and is ranked #6 above.
• From J. D. Power, similarly, Hawaii's airports, after a $2.3 billion refurbishment, all rank at the bottom of U.S. airports.  
• Well, not quite, for HNL was only the second worst large airport...next to La Guardia.  Wait a minute, what happened to Liberty?  It must be in the mega category.  Miami was #1.
• Also, OGG (Kahului, Maui) was also only the second worst of the medium size ones.  Indianapolis was #1.
• Found a 2016 survey indicating that HNL was the 5th best airport in the USA, with LaGuardia as the worst.

By now you kind of know what items you can't bring through the airport check-in system.  Here is a Condé Nast list of 9 unexpected things you didn't know you could bring through TSA as carry ons:

• Completely frozen liquids.  The volume can exceed the limit of liquids.
• Raw eggs in the shell, but keep them chilled, for they can only stand two hours away from refrigeration.  But why anyone would want to do this?
• Pies and cakes.
• Live lobsters in a spill-proof container.  But some airlines don't allow this.
• Bowling balls.  But, baseball bats and golf clubs must be placed in checked luggage.
• Snow globes if they are around the size of a tennis ball.
• In addition to cats, birds property contained, pet fish, but with a 100 ml volume limit container.  Don't pass through scanner.  Same for live coral.
• A microwave oven that fits within the size limit and fit in the overhead compartment.  But some airlines don't, so check ahead of time.
• Tatoo gun.  This is what a tattoo artist uses to tattoo you.
• You can also tweet a question to @askTSA, or text your question to 275-872 (ASK-TSA).

For the first time in history, a standalone women's world championship Ironman triathlon is being held this Saturday in Kailua, Kona, Hawaii.

• The men's version occurred in September in Nice, France, won by Sam Laidlow of France.
• Until at least 2026 the men and women will switch cities.
• More than 2000 female triathletes from 73 countries.
• Reigning champion is Chelsea Sodaro of the USA.  She will wear bib #1.
• As you might know, the triathlon is:
• 2.4 mile swim.
• 112 mile cycle ride.
• 26.2 mile marathon run.
• Started today at 6:25 AM (12:25 EDT).  Estimated time at finish:  3 PM Hawaii.
• Is being streamed for free on the Ironman.com website, the IronManNow Facebook page and the event's YouTube channel.  
• Want watch?  Click on THIS. 
• I wonder why they did not call this IronWoman.

Finally, from the New York Times this morning:

“Saturday Night Live” (Saturday): Now that the writers’ strike has ended, late-night television is back, and that includes “Saturday Night Live.” The sketch comedy show returns for its 49th season, following a strike-shortened 48th, with a season premiere hosted by the “S.N.L.” alumnus and Staten Island Ferry boat owner Pete Davidson. Ice Spice is the musical guest. The entire Season 48 cast is back (fingers crossed for a new “Lisa From Temecula” skit!), plus a new featured member, Chloe Troast.

And about the premiere of a much anticipated film next Friday, October 20.

 “Killers of the Flower Moon” (Friday): This long-awaited movie about the murders of members of the Osage nation in the 1920s is Martin Scorsese’s adaptation of the book written by David Grann. It comes with a star-studded cast (Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jesse Plemons), a breakthrough performance by Lily Gladstone and a 3½-hour running time. When our chief film critic Manohla Dargis saw it at Cannes, she described it as “shocking, at times crushingly sorrowful, a true-crime mystery that in its bone-chilling details can make it feel closer to a horror movie.”

I can add Brendan Fraser (who won the acting Oscar this year, and is a villain in this production) and John Lithgow to the acting list.  Rotten Tomatoes reviewers gave the film a 95 rating.

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