Olympic Torch Relay’s Contribution to Global Warming
Delta, Northwest Could Announce Merger Next Week
First Dig at Stonehenge in 40 Years Unearths New Clues
Putting Relationships to the Road Test
Midwest Airlines Cancels Flights
OLYMPIC TORCH CONTRIBUTES TO GLOBAL WARMING – Wired
Though Olympic protestors mainly express concern about human rights violations in China and freeing Tibet, another concern covered less in the media is the fact that the Olympic torch emits tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere—5,500 tons, in fact. This pyro-parade will span 23 countries, has stopped in London, Paris, and San Francisco, and will continue on to Bangkok, Islamabad and Almaty, among others. When the torch isn’t being passed from bearer to bearer, it travels by plane. For the 2012 Olympics, London plans to devise a plan to ensure the torch relay will be carbon neutral, but Beijing must have one, too … right? Well, when Wired contacted Olympic media relations representative Sally Lu, she said she hasn’t heard about a carbon emissions incentive, but she thinks that one might exist. Hmm …
Link: Wired
DELTA, NORTHWEST COULD ANNOUNCE MERGER NEXT WEEK – USA Today
As fuel prices continue soaring, Delta and Northwest airlines hope to solidify a merger deal as soon as next week. Originally announced in February, the merger was postponed for months so unions representing their pilots would make quick decisions on how memberships should be merged. Although the pilots have yet to formulate an agreement, the carriers feel pressured to move forward. The airlines initially promised they wouldn’t proceed without an agreement from pilot seniority, but the jet fuel crisis has given them little choice. This decision may alienate the pilots, and their support is vital for a successful merger.
Link: USA Today
FIRST DIG AT STONEHENGE IN 40 YEARS UNEARTHS NEW CLUES – BBC
After unearthing smaller “bluestones” at Stonehenge, archaeologists now believe they’ve found at least part of the site’s original structure, which in turn may give credence to why the site was built in the first place. In response to the bluestones—which the ancients thought held medicinal powers—researchers speculate that Stonehenge was once a place of healing. In the first dig to take place at Stonehenge in over 40 years, archaeologists are preparing to extract organic materials from the sockets holding these bluestones so that the original dates can offer more clues to the site’s mysterious history. Other equally as intriguing artifacts have been found, including Roman ceramics and stone hammers. In total, the excavation will take two weeks, and it eventually will be featured on BBC as part of a special “Timewatch” program airing this fall.
Link: BBC
ROAD-TESTING NEW ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS – Los Angeles Times
Are you in a new relationship and want to put it to the test? Then take a mini-vacation, or a “holidate,” together. Mandy Gresh and her boyfriend, having been together for only six weeks, chose to vacation to Quebec City for a weekend. Shortly after Gresh booked airline tickets and reserved a hotel room, she was hit with anxiety. What if they got in a fight? What if they broke up before the trip? “I was like, ‘Oh my God, the trip is as far away as we’ve been dating,’ ” Gresh said. Although they suffered through a missed flight, cold weather, and a tedious search for the cheapest airfare, their relationship passed the “holidate” test. Will yours?
Link: Los Angeles Times
MIDWEST CANCELS SOME FLIGHTS - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
American Airlines may have grabbed most of the headlines, but the smaller Midwest Airlines also took about half of its MD-80 jets out of service for inspections. Unlike American, which canceled hundreds of flights, Midwest had canceled only 14 flights as of midday today. Midwest generally uses Boeing 717s and Canadair regional jets, which were not affected by the recent FAA inspection orders.
Link: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Related Link: FAA Maintenance Fallout Merry-Go-Round: American Airlines Again!
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