What constitutes an "international airport?"

The sign greeting air travelers in the hub city of the South Plains proudly proclaims its name: Lubbock Preston Smith INTERNATIONAL Airport.

Ok, so the all caps version of "international" was my added emphasis.

But, it was that word that sparked an interesting discussion around this little corner of heaven recently.

Just what DOES an airport have to do or have to qualify as an "international" airport?

LPSIA, as I fondly abbreviate it, has NO international flights. But, it is not alone. Other similarly lacking airports claim the name, apparently as a reflection of their future plans and ambitions. (i.e. Gary/Chicago International Airport in Indiana)

Still other airports that one would think had international flights, do not: London's Heathrow, Detroit's Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, and (my favorite) George Bush Intercontinental.

Another presidential namesake, Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan, claims the status as a result of part-time customs/immigration staff on site.

I guess, all of this goes to show that an airport can pretty much name itself whatever it wants--even after some obscure Texas governor. Truth in advertising rules need not apply!

Faulkner v Hemingway

Yours truly received a surprisingly large number of emails in response to the humorous quotes tossed into ye olde dryer yesterday.

So, I couldn't resist throwing out this exchange between two of my favorite writers.

Faulkner said of Hemingway, "He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary."

Hemingway's reply: "Poor, Faulkner! Does he realy think big emotions come from big words?"

I think Ernie won that round . . . Sorry, Billy . . .

Triska-what?!

And, now for the latest item in the "words really do have meaning" file in honor of Friday the 13th and all its associated paranoia.

Ye socks who fear that day are said to suffer from TRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA.

A daunting word for something so inane, no?

Not so daunting if you break it down into the original Greek components, though:

TRIS = Three
KAI = And (ye brothers of Beta Theta Pi already knew that one)
DEKA = Ten
PHOBIA = Fear

Methinks it behooves us to be a bit more specific in labeling today's fears, though. I mean, after all, it's more than just the fear of three-and-ten. It's a fear of the combination of 13 AND Friday, right?!

In that case, I would say those of you who fear Friday the 13th actually suffer from: FRIGGATRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA.

Whaddaya mean, that doesn't sound nice?!

FRIGGA just means Friday!

Ah, well. So, sometimes words take on a greater meaning than is sometimes intended. I'm not the first person to make that mistake . . . there's a town full of people like that on the banks of the Potomac!

Another Friday the 13th?!?

We just did this last month, didn't we?!

Well, I've actually never been too freaked out by the superstitions surrounding that combination of day and date.

And, I'm not sure if the plethora of Friday the 13th's lately is symptomatic or a contributory factor in this curent economic mess we're in.

Probably not worth spending too much time contemplating.

But, ye socks know me and my love of words. So, I did want to point out to those of you who do suffer from fear of Friday the 13th, that your condition is NOT "triskaidekaphobia."

That word applies to folks who are afraid of the number 13 in general.

If you fear Friday the 13th's specifically, then you suffer from "paraskavedekatriaphobia."

Much longer word, and thus more impressive, no?!

Good weekends, all!