Oil Hits $100, Travelers Feel the Squeeze
Talking and Driving Can Cause Traffic Jams
Against the Odds, Male Belly Dancing Comes Back in Egypt
Help Wanted: Hotel Chief Beer Officer
Katrina-Displaced Chefs Spread the Cajun-Creole Love
OIL HITS $100, TRAVELERS FEEL THE SQUEEZE – Wall Street Journal
Oil prices have skyrocketed from just over $10 a barrel a decade ago to a record high of $100 on Tuesday, putting a strain on everyone from American commuters to the small African country of Malawi, while causing an economic boom in the Middle East. If jet fuel prices keep rising, travelers will suffer the most with decreased flights and smaller planes. The good news, according to economists, is that even this record spike isn’t enough to cause a global recession.
Link: Wall Street Journal
TALKING AND DRIVING CAN CAUSE TRAFFIC JAMS – Information Week
A new study by the University of Utah has found that talking on your cell phone while driving can cause traffic jams. The study showed that drivers talking on their cell phones, tended to move slower, and caused traffic to slow down. The study also showed that the main distraction was the conversation, not the lack of hands-free devices. Previous research has also shown that young adults talking on cell phones had reaction times that are as slow as those of senior citizens.
Link: Information Week
AGAINST THE ODDS, MALE BELLY DANCING MAKES A COMEBACK IN EGYPT – Bloomberg
Gyrating men are proliferating in Egypt as belly dancing makes a comeback despite suppression from the government and religious officials. Male belly dancing has long been associated with homosexuality, a taboo subject in Egypt. But against the odds, the ancient tradition is shimmying its way back into society.
Link: Bloomberg
HELP WANTED: HOTEL CHIEF BEER OFFICER - NPR
If you’re entering the job market, consider tweaking your resume for this position, should it open up again: The Four Points hotel chain, a division of Sheraton, went searching for a Chief Beer Officer (CBO) for its new worldwide beer program. The part-time position, which involves visiting breweries, festivals and bars to choose beers for hotel menus, has already attracted 7,000 applicants. The new hiree is a 27-year-old brewery manager who is reported to decorate his home with beer barrels.
Link: NPR
KATRINA-DISPLACED CHEFS SPREAD THE CAJUN-CREOLE LOVE – USA Today
Authentic Creole and Cajun cuisine used to be a New Orleans tradition, but chefs and cooks displaced by Katrina are taking root in other parts of America. From Nevada to West Virginia, former New Orleans residents are setting up shop and sharing their knowledge with locals. Some customers greet the exotic cuisine with a wary eye, but once they sample tasty beignets, jambalaya and muffaletta, many locals have turned into die-hard converts.
Link: USA Today
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