The focus of our March 1999 issue was the rebirth of European rail, with improvements in technology and services making the train a winning option on the continent.
We pondered whether airlines would “pull out of certain markets altogether” to free up valuable slots for long-haul routes. It’s a subject we returned to recently in our December/January issue, with slot shortages at airports making better air-rail connections an increasing necessity.
Rebirth had also taken place in New York following its clean-up under the helm of mayor Rudy Giuliani. The murder rate had declined by an astonishing 68 per cent in five years, but our writer questioned whether some of the city’s charm had also been scrubbed away – although not in the case of the now-visible ceiling of Grand Central station which, having been concealed by grime for years, was wowing formerly jaded commuters.
How to make a presentation interesting is an eternal conundrum faced by business people. Two decades ago, our article pointed readers in the direction of the snazzy Clip Art available on Powerpoint, as well as suggesting that you “imagine the audience naked” and “video yourself so you can work on eradicating those irritating mannerisms”. Nothing like instilling a bit of confidence…
HIGHLIGHTS
Wind between the wings
A health piece offered advice to those facing in-flight turbulence of a personal nature. Our introduction: “It’s gurgling so loud that your neighbour must be able to hear it. You can’t concentrate. You can’t sleep and there’s five more hours before you land.”
Done it all in Doha
Gas was causing a stir in Doha, too, where we bemoaned a lack of diversions for those who had been drawn to the region by industry relating to the natural resource. “Surviving in this pint-sized peninsula for any length of time is a challenge.”
Welcome to Sarajevo
Our columnist Dominic O’Reilly’s account of his trip to Sarajevo was a nail-biting read that made today’s airport security look like a walk in the park: “There were sandbags around the terminal, and troops trained guns on us as we walked across the tarmac.”
Zen and now
Advice for reducing in-flight stress came in a letter from G White of Edinburgh: “Be nice… a little sensitivity, and patience, goes a long way.”
