Channel 9 Lets Passengers Hear Cockpit Chatter

Four Masterpieces, Worth $163 Million, Stolen

Six Degrees Could Change the World

Venti Order of Wi-Fi at Starbucks

UFO Sightings Mount

CHANNEL 9 LETS PASSENGERS HEAR COCKPIT CHATTER - The Wall Street Journal
While Wi-Fi in the sky is becoming a reality, some seasoned air-travelers plan to stick to the tried-and-true “Channel 9,” which allows passengers to listen to communications between the cockpit and air-traffic controllers. Channel 9 is unique to U.S. airlines, and many seasoned travelers prefer it to the second-rate movies or stale Muzak available on other channels. One traveler who tuned in to Channel 9 “knew to run to the bathroom” as soon as he heard the announcement for upcoming turbulence as he figured he could end up strapped in, unable to go, for the next hour. Questions are now being raised as to how “transparent” the goings-on in the cockpit should be.

Link: The Wall Street Journal

FOUR MASTERPIECES, WORTH $163 MILLION, STOLEN – The New York Times
Four 19th-century paintings were stolen from a private museum in Switzerland by three men wearing ski masks. This theft is considered to be one of the largest art robberies ever, and it was the second multimillion-dollar art robbery to occur in Switzerland in less than a week. The missing Cézanne, Degas, van Gogh and Monet masterworks together are estimated to be worth $163 million; however, these paintings are not the most valuable in the museum’s collection. Lukas Gloor, the museum director, said “It is a very bad experience because as museum director you live with these pictures day in [and] day out; you become attached to them like family.” Prior to this incident, a theft occurred near Pfäffikon, and two Picassos estimated at $4.4 million were stolen.

Link: The New York Times

SIX DEGREES COULD CHANGE THE WORLD - The Green Guide
Mark Lynas, author of “Six Degrees,” participated in the filming of National Geographic’s “Six Degrees Could Change the World,” a film that expresses grave concern for how greenhouse gas emissions affect the environment. According to the film, which was inspired by his book, Earth’s climate will be terribly affected with every degree of increase in temperature. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), never in the past 1,300 years has our planet been as warm as now. Lynas urges people to reduce their carbon emissions. Although he travels, he normally takes the train or bikes, and when he flies, he only takes long-haul flights.

Link: The Green Guide

VENTI ORDER OF WI-FI AT STARBUCKS – Information Week
Starbucks has dumped T-Mobile services in favor of AT&T, which will offer two free hours of high-speed wireless service in 7,000 locations. iPhone users will be able to download music and videos, and supporters claim that Wi-Fi is much faster than AT&T’s EDGE network, which is what iPhones use. Future AT&T plans include offering Wi-Fi service for staggered prices in more than 70,000 Wi-Fi hotspots worldwide.

Link: Information Week

UFO SIGHTINGS MOUNT - The Independent (UK)
According to the Ministry of Defense, a man’s tent, car and dog were abducted by a UFO in Britain—this is one of 135 UFO sightings reported last year. Three pilots reported sightings, as well. Two of the pilots were flying over Alderney in the Channel Islands when they spotted bright orange objects, and the other saw a “balloon-like object” over the Southwest. The number of sightings rose from 2006, during which 97 sightings were reported. Unless the reportings are considered to be a threat to national security, they are not investigated.

Link: The Independent (UK)

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