Where to Throw Your Next Party

When we started typing here, we hadn't planned on giving advice to terroristsprotesters, strikers, rioters & the like. (We hadn't crossed it off the list, either.) One never knows how one can best serve the public. And today's public service tip is: Have your next function at the nearest international airport.

Last month, a massive group of Thai anti-government protesters invaded Bangkok's two main airports, leaving more than 300,000 travelers stranded and paralyzed the nation's tourism industry. For the protesters, the airport siege ended in triumph: A Thai court last week ordered the dissolution of the ruling People's Power Party for electoral fraud. It was too early to tell whether the Thai protest would inspire others elsewhere, but, in Britain at least, activists vowed to keep up the pressure on the country's airports. The Stansted demonstrators — speaking to British media during the protests — said they had Heathrow,Europe's biggest airport by passenger volume, in their sights. One industry-watcher said that was no idle threat. "This is not the last we'll see of them," said David Learmount, of industry journal Flight International.

Commerce be dammed! Closing an airport is much more effective than breaking shop windows.