Two things

First, the A380. Now that Airbus's double-decker A380 has successfully completed its first test flight, it's an appropriate time to point out that in the near future, the Boeing 747 will no longer be the largest passenger jet out there. That's historic. Someone else put it quite nicely:

"Anyone in aviation can tell you that first flights rank way up there on the list of exciting, memorable, and emotional highlights in our industry. You might even add "spine-tingling" to those descriptions.

So, it's got to be a great feeling for the Airbus team, now that the A380 has completed its first test flight early this morning (Seattle time). "Hats off" to them."

Where did that quote come from? Boeing's web site.

Sure, it's all marketing- Boeing is smart enough to realize that it's smart to be a bit conciliatory toward their arch-competitor.

But I appreciate that.

Second, George Bush. I watched his press conference tonight (only the fourth prime-time press conference of his presidency, for what it's worth), and this nugget jumped out at me.

And I quote: "One of the reasons why I thought it was important to have a missile defense system is for precisely the reason that you brought up. Perhaps Kim Jong Il's got the capacity to launch a weapon and wouldn't it be nice to be able to shoot it down?"

Here, read it again: "One of the reasons why I thought it was important to have a missile defense system is for precisely the reason that you brought up. Perhaps Kim Jong Il's got the capacity to launch a weapon and wouldn't it be nice to be able to shoot it down?"

Here's my favorite part: "...wouldn't it be nice to be able shoot it down?"

Maybe, instead of hating George W. Bush, I actually love him.

Seriously.

Maybe everything's going according to plan.