American Airlines to Cut Nearly 7,000 Jobs
Mandatory Evacuations as Fire Rages in Big Sur
Euro Falls Against Dollar
China’s New Olympic Nightmare: Algae
Marijuana As Cure for Air Rage?
AMERICAN AIRLINES TO CUT NEARLY 7,000 JOBS – Los Angeles Times
American Airlines, the world’s largest carrier, reported Wednesday that it expects to cut 6,840 workers, which is equivalent to about 8 percent of its workforce. The cuts are expected to occur by the end of the year, as American slashes capacity by 11 percent, grounding older planes and cutting routes. In addition, the airline’s parent company, AMR Corp. plans to write off nearly $1.2 billion on its financial books to reflect the reduced value of the grounded aircraft. “While we are still working through the specific impact to employee work groups, both voluntary and involuntary employee reductions commensurate with the overall system capacity reductions are expected companywide as we reduce the size of the airline,” reported Jeff Brundage, the airline’s head of human resources, in a memo to employees.
Link: Los Angeles Times
MANDATORY EVACUATIONS AS FIRE RAGES IN BIG SUR – Associated Press
Big Sur residents were ordered to evacuate the scenic coastal community Wednesday as an out-of-control wildfire “jumped” a fire line. “The fire is just a big raging animal right now,” said Darby Marshall spokesman for the Monterey County Office of Emergency Services. The fire near Big Sur is one of more than 1,100 others that have destroyed 65 homes and buildings across northern and central California. In the Big Sur area alone, the fire has destroyed 16 homes since it was ignited by lightning on June 21 in Los Padres National Forest. As of Wednesday, the fire was only about 3 percent contained, and officials have stated that they don’t expect it to be fully contained until the end of the month. There are about 850 residents who live along the Big Sur coast, and 25 miles of road have been shut down.
Link: Associated Press
EURO FALLS AGAINST DOLLAR - Bloomberg
The 15-nation euro dropped not only against the pound and yen, but it also fell the most against the dollar in more than two months. The fall occurred after European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said he might not increase interest rates again. “Trichet clearly sounded more dovish,” said Emanuele Ravano, managing director and co-head of European strategy in London at Pacific Investment Management Co. “That is a big change in stance by the ECB. We might have hit a point where the euro doesn’t have a lot to stand on.” On Wednesday the euro fell 1.2 percent, and during the past two months the dollar has traded from $1.53 to $1.59 per euro.
Link: Bloomberg
CHINA’S NEW OLYMPIC NIGHTMARE: ALGAE – Salon.com
Pollution? Check. Traffic jams? Check. Algae blooms? That’s right, China’s latest Olympics nightmare is an algae bloom that is covering one-third of the sea near Qingdao, where Olympic sailors will be competing next month. The algae is so dense that athletes are referring to it as a “carpet” or a “fairway,” among other nicknames. “We almost think of it as land,” said Carrie Howe, a member of the U.S. team whose unofficial job is to remove the algae from the rudder several times an hour. Chinese officials have sent hundreds of soldiers to clean it up by hand, joined by 10,000 citizens. Crews on more than 1,200 fishing boats and other vessels are also joining in the effort by hauling in the stuff with nets. The algae was first detected in May and has grown to stretches of up to a few miles long. Factors such as warmer seas, winds from the south and a different strain of algae are being blamed for what is being called a natural disaster.
Link: Salon.com
POT THE CURE-ALL FOR AIR RAGE? – News2
Due to a bout of “air rage” incidents on flights diverted to Denver, an organization called SAFER (Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation), has suggested that passengers should be allowed to smoke a bowl before takeoff. But, since smoking pot violates federal laws, those who want to light up wonder how they can do so without getting in trouble. SAFER argues that the Denver International Airport rests under the Denver Police jurisdiction; therefore, since the new city ordinance banished all penalties for adult marijuana possession, the group believes the airport smoking lounge is up for grabs. SAFER Executive Director Mason Tavert noted that smoking weed is less dangerous than getting drunk by referring to last week’s air rage incident in Denver: “A woman became so belligerent that she broke through her plastic handcuffs and punched a flight attendant in the face. This madness has got to stop. And we’re providing a very viable solution.”
Link: News2
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