Commentary: More things I am afraid of on an airplane

It seems that the Rosetta Stone Languages chaos regarding Juan Williams being fired from NPR is continuing….all because he indicated that he had some fears about going on an airline.Michael F. ShaughnessyEastern New Mexico UniversityPortales, New MexicoHopefully, I will not be fired from EdNews.org but in reviewing my last column, I realized there are some other things that I am somewhat fearful about in terms of being on an airline but I will try to put these in an educational context .1) I am somewhat afraid of this unlikely event of a water landing. Now, here I am into linguistics .what do they mean by the unlikely event of a water landing? I would like to know if there is a certain probability? Is there a .10 level of confidence that we will or will not have a water landing? Or is there a .05 level of confidence? Or is it .01? .I would like to know. I am afraid when I hear these statements.2) They keep talking about this flotation device. My seat can be used as a flotation device Now, they never taught me very much about flotation in science. And flotation device sounds so technical. Can I get an operational definition?3) Okay, I doubt it would happen, but I am afraid of sitting next to Arne Duncan on a plane. Rosetta Stone V3 I am sorry, but I would have to educate him a bit about South Korea. You see I have been to South Korea. I am very happy to acknowledge all of the Universities in South Korea since I have spoken at them all, as well as the Minjok Leadership Academy. I am afraid that I would have to tell Arne about the fact that in many of the schools, there is discipline, a high value is placed on learning, information, higher order thinking, critical thinking and technology. There are many other differences between the United States and Korea. And I still maintain contact with some of the scholars in South Korea- and if anyone is really interested, I can tell them about some of these scholars, and their work, and their master's theses that I have served on.4) Turbulence is another word that kind of scares me on an airline. What exactly do they mean by this? I realize there is some turbulence in the country right now, but what does this turbulence mean up there in this metallic crate?5) And I read in these magazines on these airlines about leg problems. I would hope not to get any of these. But I am afraid a bit about getting one of these vein problems. I try to exercise. I make inferential leaps at times. And like some people who fire others, I jump to conclusions at times.6) Now, as some of you know, I review manuscripts for various journals for publication. These journals ask me to serve on their editorial board and I try to do this fairly and objectively. But I am afraid of sitting next to someone whose paper I have rejected. I would hate to be the third reviewer that causes all the problems. Those of you who have see Scientific Review circa 1940 will understand Rosetta Stone Arabic what the third reviewer is responsible for. So, I am somewhat fearful of sitting next to a person whose paper I have rejected. But one cannot do t-tests on three treatment groups- not appropriately I would add.7) I am somewhat afraid of pickpockets on an airline- but then again- where would they run to? But these fears as I know are irrational. Of course I have fears of losing money- have you ever seen how much they charge in airports? I think Jerry Seinfeld did a sketch on this once-he wrote a book called SEINLANGUAGE- it was in paperback a few years ago. And then the stewardesses tell us about the air bags that drop down from the ceiling. And I think that is something to be legitimately concerned about. And what about the mother that has two children with her on a flight. She might be accused by someone of favoritism.9) And I am afraid of landing at Gatwick or Heathrow and having to walk into London. I know that the city of London had both the Underground Steelers Jerseys and a bus attacked. I worry about having to walk to London and Ebury Street if there was ever an attack on the Heathrow or Gatwick Express. But I guess I could take a cab. Or walk. Or find a bed and breakfast at Clapham Junction. 10) I guess I should be afraid of sitting next to Michelle Rhee or Joel Klein or even Rod Paige. But I think I could have a cordial, congenial conversation with them and agree to disagree, agreeably on certain points.