I'm a southie in the midst of a Narita shuttle trip. I'm guessing this had to be really, really fun about 20-25 years ago. Now it looks like a Bingo game might just happen in the hotel lobby. Any decent places to go nearby?

Since it is 10 am there, go to downtown Tokyo. The hotel has a shuttle that will take you to the train station. If you do not have the amount of time, go the the mall, temple etc in Narita city. The hotel also has a bus that goes there as well.

I actually enjoy the flying over there. Can't beat a 45 hr block 82 hr credit 12 day.

Any idea how the new rest rules will affect that? It looks to me like there will have to be a 56? hour break in the middle somewhere since 12 days exceed 168 hours (7 days)... but I dunno.

If you have enough time to recover, go to the Roppongi district and bar hop.:D

ACL is right, don't stay in the hotel room,

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be like Carl, get out and go do some karaoke... maybe you'll meet some new folks...

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_la...637go1_500.jpg

but don't confuse yourself... there's only 1 Carl Spackler.

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I say a Tebow for Bill Murray having made a movie about being stuck in Japan. So great.

Regular ATL M88 B Pilot who shaves everyday...

http://www.musicrooms.net/files/cele..._897093047.jpg

Reserve ATL M88 B Pilot in the summer who only shaves when at work...

http://i2.squidoocdn.com/resize/squi...l_evan_baxter_

Same Reserve ATL M88 B pilot in January...

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I hope this is as good as it looks--

Red Tails

That trailer is better than the one they're showing on tv. The NFL rally thing, seems a bit modern, I hope they just tell it straight because it's a good enough story on its own.

Funny thing, but Cuba Gooding Jr. is in this one but he also did a Tuskegee Airman HBO movie years ago and Jimmy Leeward flew his P-51 in the movie. Supposedly he said there's a picture of him with his face painted black and Gooding standing next to him laughing and grinning. I think they painted the P-51 two different schemes or numbers so it'd look like more planes if he taxied left and right across the screen. :D

Speaking of movies, our once a year chance to go to the movies is upon my wife and I. Thanks to Rottentomatoes.com I have eliminated New Years Eve! Clap for me. So Sherlock Holmes, Girl with the Dragon Stamp Tramp and Tom Cruise/Matrix/MI4. Rottentomatoes says Tom Cruise... yes? no?

I agree, great story about some truly heroic Americans. I think Lucas will do it justice, even though the movie will take some liberties. It was, after all, almost 70 years ago (!). The dogfight scenes look pretty good, less video-gamey than some other cgi effects based movies, but with Lucasfilm behind it, that's no surprise. I met one of these guys on a layover in SAN a few years ago, bought his book. Some real gentlemen, these fellows.

Wish I could help out with a recommendation, but if it's not on DL, I haven't seen it yet ; ) Don't forget to sneak in the beer... Enjoy the show!

TGE is right down the road from Auburn, occasionally we'd fly over there. The barracks are still there, I think I noticed them in the movies. They had a reunion over there for a long time from what I know. It's strange you say 70 years, that's crazy. I'm glad I get to say the FAA guy who did my checkrides back in Virginia was a P-47 guy and early jet guy at LFI. Nicest guy, drank a beer during the checkride which was entertaining to a 17 year old. He died a few years ago like most others, it's a testament to those who have lived so long and so well.

I will say I liked Spielberg's aviation flick the best so far. Not only because it makes me want a PBY and some bass boats to harass but also because of the one liner from the airport manager: "every time you come in the firetrucks go out!" Ah, Embraer 120 days. ;)