In one particularly reductionist version of German philosopher Hegel’s idea of internal relations everything is effected by everything else. If I stop at 7-11, the world is different for everyone than if I didn’t. We don’t know what the alternative world looked like exactly, and the change might be large or small, but I’ve altered the path of history.
Small actions can have large consequences. So when SkyWest’s United Express 50 seat regional jet from Chicago O’Hare to Muskegon, Michigan cancelled Paul Kuharevicz rented a car and drove the three and a half to four hours instead.
He had left his bike at the office. So he went to grab it. This is not the kind of day where I’d say I should play the lottery. But Mr. Kuharevicz did – stopped at a store, bought a Mega Millions ticket and won a million bucks – thanks, in part, to the airline.
If United hadn’t cancelled his flight, he wouldn’t have rented a car. If he hadn’t rented a car he wouldn’t have made the stop. Without the stop he wouldn’t have bought the ticket.
United’s poor operational reliability on that day was worth a million dollars to this passenger. That’s a much easier path to making millions than the last disserviced United Express passenger at O’Hare who walked away with millions took.
(HT: Jeff W.)
If I got a million bucks for every flight United I’ve been on that was cancelled…
Nice story 😉
new slogan for UA, “Fly United, your luck can’t get any worse”
Gary, Speaking of operational reliability. I had a 7PM American flight home from RSW on Nov. 28 which was cancelled, they moved me to 2:45!!! I won’t be done by then. Can I demand they put me on Delta which has a 5PM flight? I rather doubt it but cancelling only 3 months in advance is Bull$#@t! Plus I paid for emergency row seats with recline and they put me in a non recline emergency row seat!
If his parents hadnt had sex, he wouldn’t be around to win the lottery. So have more sex.
If all the guys hadn’t cheated on the mother, she wouldn’t have married his father and he wouldnt be around to win the lottery. So guys cheat on your girl friends, only good things come from it, even if not obvious immediately.
And other non sensical, stupid fake causal relationships that one can think of.
He likely needed the million dollars the pay for the one way car rental surcharges 🙂
lol fun story, congrats Paul!
@credit
and thanks to your snarky and oftentimes Debbie Downerish comments, I am reminded to be especially grateful for the value to be found in other comments that are actually helpful. Way to go! See, you ARE a valuable member of the community in your own special way!
Gary, Et Brute !?
Your sub head line is misleading, sesalization at work ! You have good info flow, no need to cheapen yourself.
@Pat I really don’t get this comment? What’s misleading? My snippet, which is actual content from the post?
Minor point. You write “everything is effected by everything else.” The correct word is ‘affected,’ which means ‘influenced.’ ‘Effected’ means ‘brought about.’
I do appreciate your avoiding the commonly used ‘impacted,’ which is so overworked that it ought to be tabooed, if not banished.
BTW, thanks for the story. I wonder if you thought of the proverb that begins “for want of a nail…”
It’s not a proverb exactly; it’s the (incomplete) last line of a quotation by Benjamin Franklin in Poor Richard’s Almanac