Gadfly Mayor Newsom!
The thin-as-a-rail snake-oil-salesman - that is the one-and-only Mayor of San Francisco - is quite a piece of work.
Channel surf a smidgen when visiting the fair city by the Bay, and nine times out-of-ten, tourists will stumble on his likeness on a local cable outlet spouting off about this 'n that.
Any day now, I expect Mayor Newsom will be pitching for a reality show, to boost his image to voters around the State of California.
One of Newsom's claims to fame unfolded - when he took a stab at introducing the high-stakes world of Wi-Fi technology by offering up free Internet Access to savvy world-class travellers and common Joe's alike as they glided through the San Francisco airport daily.
At press junkets, His Honor patted himself on the back for lauching the SFO endeavour.
But, when tourists plunk themselves down for a stint at the laptop, it's apparent that Newsom leaves a lot to be desired in the credibility department.
At a time when most high-end coffee shops like Starbucks (McDonald's McCafe, too) are providing unlimited free Wi-Fi access to the thronging masses on-the-go - a splash box at the SFO site notes that the internet access is provided for a paltry forty-five minutes or so - before the plug gets pulled.
What if there is a flight delay?
Or, unexpected stormy weather back east strands loved ones in a snow drift on the tarmac somewhere?
How will the messages get back-and-forth to soothe the fears once the Wi-Fi goes kaput?
If 'ya ask me, the Mayor is a cheap skate!
Notwithstanding, I have to admit that the futuristic environs of the San Francisco Airport, are not half-bad when it comes to coolin' the heels for an hour or so.
If a traveller cruises into SFO on Bart, they are quickly wowed by eye-catching aesthetic surroundings that smack of a futurisic city.
One mural, abreast of an escalator, appears to be a shimmering green-inspired water-fountain - when, in fact - it is actually a clever artist's rendering that facilitates sheer fabric to fool even the keenest eye unless inspected up-close.
A monrail (featuring red & blue lines) - automated - whisks the upwardly mobile to a handful of terminals where they are quickly ushered to their destinations at airline counters, shuttle bus service centers, or well-wishers at curbside.
Throughout the lightweight facility - graced with soaring skylights and soothing interior reliefs - there is a lot of "greenery" which appeals to the human sensibilities.
Here, travel has become a fanciful foray into the welcome unknown, and no longer remains the dreary prospect that it was once in unimaginative eras of yesteryear when the concept of travel was all about practicality and utilitarian civic service.
Thank Newsom and the City Fathers for that much, at least!
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