Politics are always a touchy subject and not one I like to bring up all the time. But as election 2008 heats up, I am faced with a dilemma.

I registered to vote as soon as I turned eighteen and have since been eligible to vote in one presidential election, the 2004 election. I am ashamed to admit that I think a large part of my vote in that election was based on the opinions of those closest to me - family, friends, etc. I feel I made an uniformed vote based on other opinions and not my own, and I vowed to voted differently in this election.

I am registered as an Independent because I still do not feel like I have a strong affiliation to either of the major political parties. So, this time around, I have watched the convention coverage, explored McCain’s and Obama’s websites, watched the first debate, etc. I have formed some of my own opinions, but I still find myself swayed by the opinions of my coworkers, friends and family. It’s like I can relate to this person’s thoughts about one candidate, while I completely understand what another person is saying about that other candidate. Maybe it is because I do not have a strong affiliation to either party, I have a harder time. If I did, I think my decision would be a no brainer! And, I think I am a bit skeptical that either candidate and either party can deliver everything they promise. It is stressing me out!

So, my question to you - how did you learn to separate the political opinions of those around you from your own? What made you choose your political affiliation? What do you base your choices on?

I want to make the right choice, my own choice!

Oh, and on another note, the Phillies start their playoff play today. As you know from my previous blog, I am a big fan! John Wroblewski and I have a friendly wager going if a Phillies/Cubs match-up arises. Go PHILLIES!!!

-Kimberly Krol, eFlyer editor and circulation and public relations executive

After returning from an exciting first experience at NBTA in LA, I was eager to see the Emirates A380 make its first successful landing from Dubai to JFK. It was a part of history seeing this jumbo jet, filled with 489 passengers, land safely on US soil.

From the Emirates First Class lounge at JFK, press, VIP guests and Emirates supporters enjoyed champagne and appetizers as we waited patiently for the A380 to appear out of the sky. At that moment, the dramatic music was cued and we all glued our faces to the window. With a wing span of 261 feet, the A380 resembled a friendly dinosaur. As it taxied its way to the gate, one of the pilots slid open his window and, like a teeny worm sticking out of an apple, stuck his head out and gave a thumbs up to the wide-eyed crowd of workers below.

As it takes a full 2 hours to clean the jet after the passengers exit, a press conference took place before we were able to tour the upper deck of the A380, which is solely for business- and first-class passengers. While the president of Emirates, Tim Clark, answered many questions about the plane, the pilot who made the historical flight stole the show; many of the questions were directed towards him as attendees wanted to know what it was like to actually fly the thing.

After the press conference, we viewed the 76 business seats, 14 first-class seats, lounges, showers and the bar on the upper deck. The technology and showers were most impressive, and the first-class suites, to me, resembled what I would imagine to be the ultimate luxury vanity table, complete with a 180-degree lie-flat bed. Everything needed and wanted for comfort is an arm’s length away in the suites. Business class is huge with 76 seats, but also is impressive and intimate with mood lighting.

-Courtney Centeno, account executive

It was announced this morning that Silverjet will be going out of business. As recently as Friday it seemed they had found another investor to bail them out. I was thinking the other day that it never ceases to amaze me that there is always somebody willing to toss money at a model that has not worked time after time. After all, it is not as if this model has not been tried before - all business class, all first class. The trend seems to cycle in from time to time.

As we see from Silverjet, the model is not working again. A press release posted this weekend announced:

“The administrators of collapsed British business airline Silverjet Plc said a potential rescue deal has fallen through and it has been forced to sack Silverjet’s 420-strong workforce.

Kingplace, an Irish registered company managed by Swiss investment group Heritage, is no longer able to buy Silverjet as a going concern following ‘unusually complex negotiations with third parties’, administrator Begbies Traynor said in a statement.”

And as further confirmation, an email was sent this morning from Lawrence Hunt, Silverjet CEO:

“It is with great sadness that we have decided to draw a line under our efforts to raise additional funding for Silverjet. As you know, we have been battling for months to gain the additional investment we need to reach critical mass. In the end, the investment climate has become too cautious and the economic conditions very difficult for us to gain the scale we needed. …. “

On the other side of this, tried and tested carriers like Lufthansa, Swiss and Singapore Airlines can sustain all business class flights for a very simple reason. They can demand the highest fare for these seats.

I recently chatted with an airline executive that I have known for over 20 years and she agreed. Sitting in board meetings, listening to people about all business class/all premium flights - like this is a new idea and has never been tried. The only difference now is that it is more difficult to make money with fuel at record highs.

EOS left passengers high and dry, they left magazines and media holding never to be paid invoices for advertising. And as we can see from these airlines, shutting down, then reopening, or trying to reopen (similar to one of GT’s magazine competitors) leaves a bad taste in consumer’s mouths.

-Fran Gallagher, publisher and CEO

After months of rumors flying, the truth was confirmed this morning on the Today show. New Kids on the Block, the original boy band circa late 80s/early 90s, are officially reuniting! I was elated to hear the news as I got ready for work this morning. A true blast from my past, I felt nostalgic thinking about the group. They kicked off what would become a longstanding love of boy bands throughout my adolescence and teens (I am not ashamed to admit!).

I can clearly remember my obession with NKOTB (for short). Their concert was the first concert I ever attended, at the ripe old age of five. I can remember my cousin and I huddled together, creating a poster that declared our undying affections for Jordan Knight and Joey McIntyre. I had posters, pins, a complete doll collection (who needed a Ken doll when Barbie could fall in love with a New Kid?) and even a hideous hot pink bedspread with all their faces on it. I was a true fan, through and through. I can still remember the lyrics to all the songs 20 years later.

For all my fellow NKOTB fans, here is the complete update. The first performance will be May 16th as a part of Today’s concert series.  New songs will be released in May, an album of new material will be released in the summer and tour dates will be announced in the fall. Hopefully they will come to Philadelphia or New York, but I think I’ll skip the poster making this time.

Bands break up and reunite all the time and I’m sure many can relate to the excitement I felt this morning. I think I am so thrilled for the reunion because New Kids on the Block was the first music group I can really remember being a fan of and enjoying. Since I was so young when my cousin introduced me to them, in some ways, it was the beginning of music for me.

-Kimberly Krol, circulation and public relations executive

This past weekend, my family and I departed on our first family trip in probably 10 years. The trip included my brother and his wife, my parents and myself on a 6 AM Northwest flight to Memphis. The morning went smoothly and quietly, for me at least, as I slept the way down. (FYI - Bar Blanc in the West Village is a great venue for a date night).

We hit the ground running and then collectively slowed down quickly as no one else in the airport, or the city for that matter, was moving too fast! We were not on a time table, so we embraced the slower pace (a difficult task for my family who can’t sit at a dinner table for more than 45 minutes). Now, I could go on and on about the differences between NYC and southern Memphis, but the main point of the trip was to attend an event that unites the whole country - a baseball game!

It was the last exhibition game of spring training for the NY Mets. They were playing the Chicago White Sox in Memphis for a charity game to raise money for the National Civil Rights Museum. Prior to the game, the players visited the National Civil Rights Museum, which was formerly the Lorraine Motel where Dr. King was assassinated nearly 40 years ago.

It was a star studded event with actress Ruby Dee and hall of famer Frank Robinson in attendance. Martin Luther King III threw out the first pitch! It was a memorable ceremony to be a part of and it was interesting to see the timeline they gave of baseball players breaking through civil rights barriers. History was kept alive that day and the game was a great way to further understand American history.

The only downfall was the weather, which was rainy and cold, but, of course, the Mets, decked out in a 1950s style uniform, prevailed. The history, southern hospitality and Memphis style BBQ ribs at Ralph’s Palace on Beale Street were well worth a trip down South!

-Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher