Thursday, July 31, 2008
Oh, Yes, You Will Testify
KAHHHHHN!
Luggage system breakdown delays JFK flights
Backup has left American's terminal brimming with hundreds of bags
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Baggage glitch forces delays, waiving of fees July 30: A computer error crippled American Airlines' entire baggage handling system Wednesday, creating flight delays and forcing the airline to waive its baggage fees for the day. NBC's Brian Williams reports. Nightly News |
NEW YORK - A software glitch crippled the baggage handling system in an American Airlines terminal at Kennedy Airport on Wednesday, delaying some flights and causing a luggage pileup at the ticket counters.
The malfunction created big problems throughout the day for passengers flying out of Terminal 8, one of the newer buildings at JFK.
Thousands of customers had to leave their luggage behind and hope it would be delivered later. The breakdown was galling to some passengers already steamed over the airline's recent decision to start charging fees for each checked bag on flights within the United States and Canada.
"I'm just not happy. I think it's crazy," said Mike Howell, who was en route to San Diego after visiting New York City. "If they do charge people 15 dollars per bag, they should get it right."
The problem developed at around 4:45 a.m., when a piece of software failed in the computer that reads the bar code on each piece of tagged luggage, and then whisks the bag via conveyor belt to the proper gate.
With the automated system out of service, airline employees were forced to sort each bag by hand. They quickly became overwhelmed by the task.
The airline tried delaying flights for 60 to 90 minutes, hoping that would be enough extra time to get them loaded, but lots of luggage still didn't make it aboard.
The airline's engineers and technicians from the system developer were still working to diagnose the software problem Wednesday afternoon, said airline spokesman Tim Wagner.
Because of the crisis, American waived its fees Wednesday for travelers checking fewer than three bags at JFK. Starting in June, the airline, like most of its competitors, has charged $15 for one checked bag or $40 for two bags. Passengers may still carry on luggage for free.
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The airline had about 67 scheduled departures at JFK on Wednesday.
Some bags were being diverted to nearby LaGuardia and Newark airports and put on alternative flights.
Wagner said he could offer no immediate estimate on how long it might take the airline to sort through the backlog and get each bag to its proper destination.
Look Familiar?
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1827371,00.html
" But the 300 million or so Indians living in acute poverty are being crushed by inflation. If they thought washing the floors, driving the cars and cleaning the windows of the middle class would open the doors to a better life, they know now that they were wrong. With prices rising, their savings are being eaten away. Higher food and fuel prices are being driven by big changes in the global economy that look set to continue. Even the most cheerful optimist in the past decade has seen the huge divide between the haves and have-nots, but the hope has persisted that it would somehow go away. Inflation has set like cement into that divide, solidifying the gap between the two Indias. The future for the country is two futures: rosy and grim. Indian companies will buy more foreign businesses and more Indian children will starve. In economic terms, India has become neither the U.S. nor Sudan, but something in between — a Latin American republic with an entrenched class chasm. Higher levels of crime and social unrest are almost certain to follow. For years or decades to come, we will not be able to talk of one destiny for all the people of the country."
Your Tax Dollars At Work In Iraq.
"One example in the report is that the U.S. authority in Iraq decided the Iraqis needed a financial management information system but never considered the host country's requirements. As a result, the program was stopped because the Iraqi government did not support it and, more troubling, because the project leader was kidnapped."
Lost Another Bird
This adds to the B-52 lost off Guam. The birds are getting old.
Navy's Turn
Another confirming 4T sign: The captain and exec held accountable. When you can't hide, or blame your failures on somebody else, it's a 4T.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
A Little Primal Scream Therapy
They at least got one hearing. After being shit on for eight years, they needed the vent. This will probably be the last we'll ever hear of it, save for scattered confessions, prosecutions, and deathbed confessions.
Somebody's Bitter Already
Sticking it to unfriendly media has been an art since before Rome.
Yeah, he's (Obama) got his share of arrogance. If he wins, we'll just have to see what he does.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Ted Stevens Indited!
One more Senate Seat.
DOJ Scandal Continues
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/law/july-dec08/doj_07-28.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/28/AR2008072801007.html?hpid=topnews
A Democrat Makes Sense
Besides, he likes doggies.
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