News and notes from around the interweb:

• US airlines get paid by the government to make their fleets available in an emergency, and now those carriers participating in the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program are being asked to fly people that have escaped Afghanistan out of places like Qatar and Bahrain to the U.S.

  Civil Reserve Air Fleet is an absolute waste of course, and will cost millions more than chartering planes in the region from Emirates, Qatar, etc.

• The YouTube comedian behind the viral Frontier Airlines duct tape flight attendant interview.

• There are a lot of great deals out there (points, cheap stays) for attending timeshare presentations. The key is not to buy when you’re pitched, and to have fun with it rather than seeing it as something to endure.

  I’m one of the few who likes going to timeshare presentations.

  My persona: single, financial analyst who wants to visit Antarctica. It’s a great objection handling test.

  — Rakesh Agrawal (@rakeshlobster) August 21, 2021

• It is frustrating when you are on a secret watch list. Yoi don’t know which list or why. You are harassed every time you travel. There is no one to appeal to, no way to prove your innocence,, you’re toyed with just because the state can and you’re helpless. A thread.

  Good afternoon! Waiting @DFWAirport as the @TSA fills out their paperwork on me and what I look like. My build is the same as it was three days ago as are my shoes. But today my jacket is a blue jean. A thread below on what’s been happening. pic.twitter.com/yWBSYPYGrB

  — Leila Fadel (@LeilaFadel) August 21, 2021

• United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8s get Channel 9 installed