The one that always drives me up the wall (given that I lived for 6 years in Japan) is that nobody on US TV or radio (even, to their everlasting shame, NPR) can properly pronounce Kyoto or Tokyo.

It's Kyoh-toh guys, not Ki-yo-to. Two syllables. Long vowels.

I also regularly crack up over the horrible Japanese that's spoken on Heroes. My wife runs from the TV room screaming in pain.

My entire family did the flight in August, and did some experiments (Diet coke and mentos in ZeroG -- recorded in high-speed video -- and a hard drive gyroscope). The ZeroG folks are incredibly science-friendly, and we're already working on improved experiments for next time.

If you're into science at all, this is an absolute must-do experience. Don't be afraid of it - the strange thing is, when you are in free fall, you don't feel like you are falling! This was the most surprising thing to me.

I've blogged about the experience and the experiments here: http://rjwoodhead.blogspot.com/

PS: Xeni, if you think you had a bad hair day, let me tell you, there was a teenager on our flight who had long, curly red hair. She became a total puffball.

The whole point of the sullivan nod and other techniques is to generate a social connection between the parties, which induces reciprocal behavior -- especially in tipping situations.

Techniques that raise average tips include: the table touch, squatting when taking the order (to match eye levels), and writing a named thank-you on the check. Nonverbals work best.

When I see a server really laying on this stuff I mercilessly tease them about it, critique their execution, etc. And then I tip more because of the increased social connection we've just made.

!&#$*@(*@!!!!

One thing that should be in everyone's laptop bag is a cheap multi-adapter. I got mine at WalMart for under a buck, you plug it in to the wall and it turns 1 plug into 3. Great for when there's only one plug and multiple people who want to recharge. I bought a few extra and give them away to people who let me use mine to share the plug they're currently using, and I always plug in using it so that people can see that there are extra plugs available.

As for "security concerns," I have yet to hear of a terrorist who was desperate to recharge his bomb before his flight left.