Well, it was a controversy – but it’s over now.

Seems a move to rename tiny Souther Field of Americus, Georgia ran into some opposition from the locals – who weren’t thrilled by the sound of “Jimmy Carter Regional Airport”.

Some of those nay-sayers said it was a matter of history – for 90 years, the little airfield was called Souther in honor of Maj. Henry Souther, a WWI Army aviation pioneer.

If they were going to rename it for anyone, why not Charles Lindbergh? He lived at Souther Field for a few weeks back in 1923 while he learned to fly (he bought his first plane at Souther, for $500). But maybe it would get confused with San Diego.

Whatever – Souther is now Carter – at the moment, anyway. The former president said he figured in another 20 or 30 years, it would be time to change the name again.

O tempora o mores!

That’s what our President did this week – he and the missus parked in the Waldorf Astoria’s Presidential Suite, and you can too. Assuming you have $7K.

What’s it like? Well every president since Herbert Hoover has stayed there, as well as plenty of other international Big Cheeses, like Khrushchev, de Gaulle, and possibly Rick Seaney.

It has four bedrooms, a rocking chair once owned by JFK and a writing desk that was Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s.

If you happen to be president of the U.S., they’ll even hand-monogram the towels for you, upon your visit. That alone is enough to makes me consider campaigning.

Too steep? Well, bunk with a friend — but at least you can afford the airfare – if you use FareCompare’s deal finder for flights to New York.

Thanks, Gadling!

How high does Miyuki Hatoyama fly? High enough to get to Venus. Or so she says.

Actually, she wrote that in a book some 20 years ago, titled “Very Strange Things I’ve Encountered”. In it, she tells us that Venus is a “very beautiful place and it was really green.”

If you’re wondering how she got there, it was via UFO.

By the way, Miyuki’s husband, Yukio Hatoyama, once had a nickname, based on his appearance (something to do with his eyes) – he was known as, “the alien”.

I guess I’d have to say that’s a very strange thing that I’ve just encountered.

Pity poor Mytchell Mora, a 39-year-old “freelance entertainment news producer.” This guy can’t get arrested!

Literally. Mora traveled to Cuba, breaking the U.S. travel ban there, and upon his return, ‘fessed up to the Customs folks, and – nada.

He didn’t even get his purchases confiscated – including his red-and-green souvenir Che Guevara beret!

His point, of course, is to challenge the travel ban, and I suppose, do away with it. However, this is the fourth time he’s apparently broken the law by traveling to Cuba, with little to show for it. Apparently, no one cares – or else the feds got bigger fish to fry.

Make that, walk and chew gum – at the same time!

It hadn’t been possible before at the fancy-schmancy Palm Beach International Airport in Florida because they banned gum sales for the past 20 years (“maintenance nightmare” according to ABC).

Until now, that is. What changed? Well, like most things, it all came down to filthy lucre.

You see, people like to buy and chew gum – and at least one shop at the airport estimated gum sales could bring in an additional $225,000 each year. Apparently, the county commissioners were moved by the shop’s plight – especially when someone pointed out that county itself could get an extra 50-grand from that revenue.

Ban lifted. Chomp away.

We already told you about Obamaland I – it’s Hawaii – or more specifically, the parts of Hawaii that used to be the stomping grounds of our 44^th president (who was born in the 50^th state).

Tourism officials there are making a big deal out of Pres. Obama to lure in visitors — and it’s inspired the folks in D.C. to do something similar.

Our nation’s capital – Obamaland II? Why not? In fact, a group called Destination D.C. is already planning a tour that may well include the inaugural route, the White House and more.

We’d prefer to tour the places Pres. Obama has gone to eat – including Ben’s Chili Bowl and the Equinox.

And – Obamaland III? Gotta be Chicago. Stay tuned.

Our new Commander-in-Chief is busy doing many things, including trying to fix this financial mess we’re in – but President Obama may be playing a more direct role in the resurrection of Hawaii’s economy than even he realizes.

Just check out the “Obama section” of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau website – and, you too can follow the path of our nation’s 44^th president. It gives you an “insider’s view” on Obama haunts in Oahu – and he has quite a few, seeing as how he was born and partly raised there. Highlights include:

• Favorite “shave ice” institutions
• Specialties O’ Spam
• Beaches of Obama

Check it out — these days, Hawaii can use the tourism boost -and the tourism officials sure hope this website addition helps.

Of course, every time the Presidents comes to Honolulu for vacation, he’ll be helping his native state simply because he’ll be accompanied by about a million members of the press corps. I seem to recall that members of the Fourth Estate generally get some sort of expense account… ]]> http://standarduprightposition.com/2009/01/23/visit-obamaland/feed/ 0