Chicago: Recent United Airlines computer breakdowns completely disrupted all of their weekend flights. O'Hare Airport and others were jammed with delayed passengers.

We’ve all had it happen to us, and have concluded there's not much you can do about flight delays. You can get angry, yell and stomp around. That will do no good at all, except raise your blood pressure.

Or, you can find ways to make the time pass. First, whenever you go to the airport for a flight, be sure you have a pull-down visor cap to reduce the lights. Look for a place on a terminal seat or against a wall for as much privacy as you can find. Then turn on your magic device.

1. Ebook: The electronic wonder can hold hundreds of titles, enough to keep you reading for days, including novels, histories, biographies, languages to learn and scads of other subjects.

2. Mini CD player: Clamp on your earphones and drift off to fantasy land. Play live radio, recorded music, dramas, novels, language learning and old radio programs.

3. Laptop/DVD player/video: Get the smallest, lightweight all-purpose iPod or other all-purpose device: This little gizmo can keep your mind/eyes/ears busy for hours with all kinds of work. Use the keyboard to send out Emails, write essays or outlines for next business campaigns.

If you use any of these little miracles, the hours will seem like minutes until your flight is finally scheduled to depart.

If you have ever dreamed of going to an exotic destination and renting a motorcycle, here's a guide to do just that.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/8067993/motorcycle_guided_tours_are_a_great.html

In your travels through airports and other terminals over the Memorial Day weekend, you’ll see many servicemen and women. They’ll be on their way home for the holiday or returning to duty.

Take a moment to thank at least one of them for what they’re doing to keep you and other citizens free and safe. You’ll make them feel appreciated, and you’ll go on your way knowing you’ve done something positive to make their lives just a little bit better.

Additionally, if you happen to have friends and relatives who’ve served in the Armed Forces, use the Memorial Day theme to thank those veterans for their services in past years.

How many times does it happen? You have a two-flight schedule, with an hour to spare between them. However, too often Murphy’s Law takes over ,and your first flight is late and you miss the connecting flight.

It happened to me recently on a flight from Fort Lauderdale FL to Tucson AZ. We sat in Lauderdale for three hours, and by the time we got to Las Vegas for the connecting flight, it had already departed.

I was told there was another flight leaving in an hour, but was completely booked. The next flight wouldn’t go until five hours later. Then, I did exactly what NOT to do. I fumed and fussed at the check-in desk, demanding to get on the next flight.

I’m actually a harmless old guy, and didn’t intend to do anything menacing, but one of the clerks was so distressed, she ran crying to the ladies’ room. I apologized to the surviving clerk, and politely asked if she  could help. She said she had no authority to get me on that earlier flight, and suggested I call the airline hotline.

I did, and suddenly there was an available seat on the flight I wanted. Did I learn a lesson? Yeah, something about getting more bees with honey.