China’s Train Crash Blamed on Human Errors, Excessive Speed
Business Travel Driving Trends Change As Gas Prices Rise
A Laptop’s Journey More Interesting Than Its Owner’s
TSA Allows Airlines to Store Passengers’ Personal Data
“Magic Mushrooms” May Be Banned in the Netherlands
CHINA’S TRAIN CRASH BLAMED ON HUMAN ERRORS, EXCESSIVE SPEED - Associated Press
In China’s deadliest train accident in 10 years, officials could identify only 26 of the 70 people killed. By Tuesday, the tracks had been repaired and tangled cars had been removed—barely one day after the accident that is now being blamed on human error. Updates coming from China’s official Xinhua News Agency state that speeds reaching 81 mph, 31 mph over the posted speed, are to blame for the incident, which climaxed when the train jumped its tracks and collided with an oncoming train.
Link: Associated Press
BUSINESS TRAVEL DRIVING TRENDS CHANGE AS GAS PRICES RISE - USA Today
Rising gas prices are forcing some business sectors to re-evaluate their sales strategies. Gas prices have reached well into the $3-$4 range, and businesses are adjusting trips and travel costs, accordingly. Some companies have begun looking into buying smaller, more fuel-efficient cars to cope with the gas prices, while others are simply postponing buying fleet vehicles because they’re focusing more on operations. The rise in gas prices may well spark new trends in business travel, such as consolidating trips, replacing some visits with emails or conference calls, or seeking out cheaper pumps.
Link: USA Today
A LAPTOP’S JOURNEY MORE INTERESTING THAN ITS OWNER’S – The New York Times
When you check your bags, you may imagine that they experience a rather bland journey in the cargo hold. But, one woman’s bag had a more interesting journey than its actual owner. On a flight to Chicago, Michelle Labrosse reluctantly had to check a backpack on a—carrying her invaluable laptop—because of an injury. But when she touched down in her destination, her backpack was no where to be found. Nearly a month after the unfortunate incident, her assistant said someone was using her instant message name—a Nicaraguan man who was on the prowl for a girlfriend. Labrosse and her assistant created a fake profile and seduced the alleged thief, during which time he supplied them with his personal details, including his name and address. There’s no happy ending to this story though: In the end, the authorities in Nicaragua, the United States Consulate, the F.B.I., and the T.S.A. were contacted, the online romance fizzled, and the laptop never was found.
Link: The New York Times
TSA ALLOWS AIRLINES TO STORE TRAVELERS’ PERSONAL DATA – Cleveland Plain Dealer
As if Americans don’t feel that their privacy is violated enough, the Transportation Security Administration now is allowing airlines to store a person’s birth date to verify that he or she is not part of the terror watch list. The new system will be designed to avoid mistaking a person for someone else who is on the watch list, which happens to innocent passengers frequently. The TSA has two lists: one which prevents travelers from boarding a plane, and one which alerts security officials that a passenger needs further screening and questioning. Unfortunately, the government’s watch list is fraught with inaccuracies and outdated information, so we’ll see how successful the new system proves to be when airlines are included.
Link: Cleveland Plain Dealer
“MAGIC MUSHROOMS” MAY BE BANNED IN THE NETHERLANDS – The Sydney Morning Herald (AU)
Bad news for ’shroom heads: The Dutch government wants to ban “magic mushrooms” and will deliver a bill before Parliament backed by the ministers of health and justice. The government has expressed concern because the number of incidents resulting in the use of hallucinogenic mushrooms had risen from 55 in 2004 to over 100 in 2007, and the majority of incidents mainly occurred in Amsterdam. Though selling dried mushrooms are illegal, pushing fresh ones is still within legal limits.
Link: Sydney Morning Herald
Related Link: Where in the World Is Matt Lauer? Amsterdam, Netherlands.
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