U.S. airlines flock to foreign repair shops (International)
Carriers cut costs as they outsource repairs and inspections.
Southwest airlines changed it's mind about outsourcing some of its maintenance to a Salvadoran repair shop called Aeroman. Aeroman does not mind though there have alreasy been other airlines who jumped on the opportunity to save up to 25% on labor and maintanace fees.
It is not surprising. The airlin industry is alreasy dealing with high fuel prices in the United States and then there is the post 911 security costs.
MRO (for maintenance, repair and overhaul) is expected to reach nearly $41 billion in the next decade. When your spending that much money as a business the 25% starts to look very appealing.
The airline industry already outsources half of its MRO costs, so it should not come as a shock to anyone.
All stories that are factual and sourced will often come down to black or white, true or false, right or wrong, I include personal opinions about where these stories fall in that spectrum and allow humor whenever possible to lighten the topics. Goto @twiggles4u for more.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Media Spotlight II
The Rev. Wright's comments alarm black ministers in Los Angeles (National)
Disputing his characterization of the church, they say they fear Obama's former pastor will hurt the Democratic candidate's chances.
Rev. Wright has spent the last few days back in the spotlight and standing behind all of his words that have offended Americans.
Other black ministers have condemned what Wright has said and do not think it will do Senator Obama any good for his campaign.
Wright seems to have jumped on the money bandwagon and has a book coming out that he obviously wants to use the publicity he is getting in order to sell it.
It is going to be very hard to distance himself as far from Wright as he should have in the very beginning when the con traversal speeches first hit the media.
Obama has tried to denounce them now that more rhetoric has hit his campaign about Wright. It seems that Wrights new words have finally angered Obama enough to make some very harsh decisions that Obama found it hard to do the first time.
I am sure Obama wants to get his campaign back on the talking points about the real issues. Wright ended up not being worth the admiration that Obama may have had for him. It is clear today that Obama wishes he would have distanced himself a bit farther from Wright when he first had the chance.
Disputing his characterization of the church, they say they fear Obama's former pastor will hurt the Democratic candidate's chances.
Rev. Wright has spent the last few days back in the spotlight and standing behind all of his words that have offended Americans.
Other black ministers have condemned what Wright has said and do not think it will do Senator Obama any good for his campaign.
Wright seems to have jumped on the money bandwagon and has a book coming out that he obviously wants to use the publicity he is getting in order to sell it.
It is going to be very hard to distance himself as far from Wright as he should have in the very beginning when the con traversal speeches first hit the media.
Obama has tried to denounce them now that more rhetoric has hit his campaign about Wright. It seems that Wrights new words have finally angered Obama enough to make some very harsh decisions that Obama found it hard to do the first time.
I am sure Obama wants to get his campaign back on the talking points about the real issues. Wright ended up not being worth the admiration that Obama may have had for him. It is clear today that Obama wishes he would have distanced himself a bit farther from Wright when he first had the chance.
On the Bypass
U.K.'s Prince William makes secret Afghan visit (International)
Some call second in line to throne's quick flight to meet troops a PR stunt
Some call second in line to throne's quick flight to meet troops a PR stunt
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Media Spotlight II
Pope Benedict XVI shows a personal side in New York (International)
The pontiff humbly describes himself as a 'poor successor' to St. Peter and brings up his youth amid Nazism.
It has been far too long that the people have waited to see this day.
Finally Pope Benedict XVI has come forward and apologized to the people who have been abused by priests in their childhood.
It was probably against the wishes of many other members of the church, but I am glad that the decision to ignore the protests of church insiders and finally make it publically known that what these priests were doing was wrong and condemmed by the church was very necessary.
The tears that fell on their faces as the pope apologized to them and blessed them was very moving.
It may just restore some faith that their institution has moved away from this terrible shame. I believe in this pope. I know he will never hide such terrible acts and keep them blanketed in secrecy as some have done in the past.
Media Spotlight II
LAX will use body imaging scanning (Local)
LAX will use body imaging scanning
The sophisticated technology may prove to be a more effective way to check passengers for dangerous materials, officials say. But critics say it's extraordinarily invasive and amounts to a virtual strip search.
Another violation of our privacy. To say they are pushing their luck is definately an understatement.
I cannot believe that people are so easily pursuaded in to letting them violate so many of our rights for the FEELING of being safe. This is such a smoke and mirrors trick and the American people act as if this is actually going to make a difference as far as keeping us safe from terrorists.
This is the last thing this will do. It is just another way to keep pulling the reigns tighter and locking more of our innocent citizens in jail.
There are far too many people in jail today as it is. Another bill the taxpayers cannot afford I might add.
LAX will use body imaging scanning
The sophisticated technology may prove to be a more effective way to check passengers for dangerous materials, officials say. But critics say it's extraordinarily invasive and amounts to a virtual strip search.
Another violation of our privacy. To say they are pushing their luck is definately an understatement.
I cannot believe that people are so easily pursuaded in to letting them violate so many of our rights for the FEELING of being safe. This is such a smoke and mirrors trick and the American people act as if this is actually going to make a difference as far as keeping us safe from terrorists.
This is the last thing this will do. It is just another way to keep pulling the reigns tighter and locking more of our innocent citizens in jail.
There are far too many people in jail today as it is. Another bill the taxpayers cannot afford I might add.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
On the Bypass
Carter meets Hamas chief over Israeli, U.S. objections (International)
DAMASCUS, SYRIA -- Former President Carter met today with the exiled leader of Hamas and the militant group's deputy chief, men the U.S. government has labeled as global terrorists and Israel accuses of masterminding suicide bombings and kidnappings.
DAMASCUS, SYRIA -- Former President Carter met today with the exiled leader of Hamas and the militant group's deputy chief, men the U.S. government has labeled as global terrorists and Israel accuses of masterminding suicide bombings and kidnappings.
Route 66
Polygamist sect's 416 children to remain in state custody (National)
A judge in Texas rules that the children might face sexual abuse if they returned home. Sect members are ordered to provide DNA samples for maternity and paternity tests.
Freedom Tower blueprints found in trash (National)
The discovery by a homeless man prompts an internal Port Authority investigation into disposal of documents relating to the project on the World Trade Center site.
Pacific Post
Cement plant in Rubidoux charged with releasing a carcinogen (Local)
The site is believed to be emitting carcinogenic hexavalent chromium.
The site is believed to be emitting carcinogenic hexavalent chromium.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Media Spotlight I
New atom-smasher could fill gaps in scientific knowledge -- or open a black hole (National)
Europe's enormous $8-billion particle accelerator, to be activated as early as this summer, is generating both excitement and fear.
Fear they should as this smashing machine mashes protons and lead ions together at energies reaching 14 trillion electron volts and could produce a miny black hole that may have the ability to gobble up everything in its path including earth.
Just the simple fact that this COULD be a scenario should make us all hesitant to allow some scientist to do it just to see what happens.
It is beyond getting permission as nobody should be allowed to permit such a thing unless they call themselves the almighty (GOD). The real scary thing is thinking that there are scientists out there who do NOT see this as an eminent threat to the world.
What kind of nut jobs do they hire to say that? They cannot be respectable scientists as they would not want to take on the responsibility of having a mishap that may turn into world inhalation.
Europe's enormous $8-billion particle accelerator, to be activated as early as this summer, is generating both excitement and fear.
Fear they should as this smashing machine mashes protons and lead ions together at energies reaching 14 trillion electron volts and could produce a miny black hole that may have the ability to gobble up everything in its path including earth.
Just the simple fact that this COULD be a scenario should make us all hesitant to allow some scientist to do it just to see what happens.
It is beyond getting permission as nobody should be allowed to permit such a thing unless they call themselves the almighty (GOD). The real scary thing is thinking that there are scientists out there who do NOT see this as an eminent threat to the world.
What kind of nut jobs do they hire to say that? They cannot be respectable scientists as they would not want to take on the responsibility of having a mishap that may turn into world inhalation.
Media Spotlight II
Lawsuit challenges prosecutors' immunity (National)
The Supreme Court has been asked to rule where responsibility lies in instances of wrongful convictions.
The Supreme Court has been asked to rule where responsibility lies in instances of wrongful convictions.
In the 70's, our justice system was undermined by a substantial amount of jailhouse informants who were promised various deals in exchange for their testimony saying they overheard a jail mate confess to a crime.
As obvious as this may be to the average American, reading into this situation was not something prosecutors were paid to do. Their job was to get a conviction and if that meant going to some sleazeball in the county jail and asking for their cooperation to help put someone else behind bars while offering to lesson their own personal sentences, then so be it.
Worse of all, they didn't even tell the truth when they were asked about making promises. They said that the informant was offered nothing in exchange for his testimony from them, but they failed to say if anyone else in their office had any deals with them.
Restrictions on jailhouse informants were in dire need of immediate changes and they were about to be put in place when the Legislature approved a bill last year. The last line of this article says it all ... "but in October Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed it. He called the measure "unnecessary" because this "perceived problem . . . arises in very few criminal cases.""
Sunday, April 13, 2008
On the Bypass
Blast kills 9 gathered to hear cleric speak in Iran (International)
Bomb targets Shiites in the city of Shiraz listening to a speech against Sunni extremism, news agency reports. More than 100 are injured.
Guantanamo detainee Omar Khadr argues friendly fire might have killed soldier (International)
The Canadian terrorism suspect's lawyer cites newly obtained reports on the 2002 battle in Afghanistan.
Bomb targets Shiites in the city of Shiraz listening to a speech against Sunni extremism, news agency reports. More than 100 are injured.
Guantanamo detainee Omar Khadr argues friendly fire might have killed soldier (International)
The Canadian terrorism suspect's lawyer cites newly obtained reports on the 2002 battle in Afghanistan.
Pacific Post
Some in Antelope Valley oppose jail expansion (Local)
Residents fear that inmates could be brought from elsewhere in L.A. County and lead to an increase in crime. Sheriff Baca says the facility would be for prisoners from Antelope Valley.
Southern California heat makes history (Local)
Instead of April showers, about a dozen weather records are broken as temperatures reach into the 90s.
Residents fear that inmates could be brought from elsewhere in L.A. County and lead to an increase in crime. Sheriff Baca says the facility would be for prisoners from Antelope Valley.
Southern California heat makes history (Local)
Instead of April showers, about a dozen weather records are broken as temperatures reach into the 90s.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Media Spotlight I
8 teens charged with beating girl so they could videotape the attack for YouTube (National)
This story is sick and a sad reminder of just how vicious girls can be at this age. Actually boys too. Unfortunately web sites like youtube and myspace have seen other cases that involve attacks and cruelty causing some teens to even commit suicide. The verbal abuse online continues non-stop until the child feels alienated by others and like they have no other choice. The attackers inflict a feeling of self-loathing and general worthlessness on their targets.
This episode has turned to physical pain. Beating a girl and posting on youtube for everyone to see their victory. The only thing we can do is thank them for helping to prosecute them now for the violence with the evidence we need to do so.
I hope the punishmnet is swift and harsh and proves as a dissuasion for others who may be thinking about doing this to someone else. The bully's committing these violent crimes against others need more than a slap on the wrist or parol. They need to serve a tough jail sentence to send a message to others that we have a zero tolerance for this behavior.
This story is sick and a sad reminder of just how vicious girls can be at this age. Actually boys too. Unfortunately web sites like youtube and myspace have seen other cases that involve attacks and cruelty causing some teens to even commit suicide. The verbal abuse online continues non-stop until the child feels alienated by others and like they have no other choice. The attackers inflict a feeling of self-loathing and general worthlessness on their targets.
This episode has turned to physical pain. Beating a girl and posting on youtube for everyone to see their victory. The only thing we can do is thank them for helping to prosecute them now for the violence with the evidence we need to do so.
I hope the punishmnet is swift and harsh and proves as a dissuasion for others who may be thinking about doing this to someone else. The bully's committing these violent crimes against others need more than a slap on the wrist or parol. They need to serve a tough jail sentence to send a message to others that we have a zero tolerance for this behavior.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Media Spotlight II
In Europe, many seek to rebuke China at Beijing Olympics (International)
Thousands of protestors are expected tomorrow in the city of San Francisco to boycott the Olympic Games in China. This is not the first time the Olympics have been boycotted. This article mentions two other times in history we have seen this happen.
This boycott has very good reasons for it as people in Tibett are being killed by China everyday. The people in Tibett are claiming that China violates human rights on a daily basis and that is not something the Olympics stand for.
The Olympics stand for freedom which is something China does not support.
The polls taken have shown that most people believe a boycott should take place and they are finally recognizing that the people of Tibett are becoming desperate. At least 30 journalists have been killed there just trying to report what was happening. The Olympics will be tarnished forever if the games go on without a hitch.
Thousands of protestors are expected tomorrow in the city of San Francisco to boycott the Olympic Games in China. This is not the first time the Olympics have been boycotted. This article mentions two other times in history we have seen this happen.
This boycott has very good reasons for it as people in Tibett are being killed by China everyday. The people in Tibett are claiming that China violates human rights on a daily basis and that is not something the Olympics stand for.
The Olympics stand for freedom which is something China does not support.
The polls taken have shown that most people believe a boycott should take place and they are finally recognizing that the people of Tibett are becoming desperate. At least 30 journalists have been killed there just trying to report what was happening. The Olympics will be tarnished forever if the games go on without a hitch.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Media Spotlight I
Brain-damaged woman at center of Wal-Mart suit (National)
This is a sad story about Wal-Mart suing a lady who got in the accident that left her mentally handicapped from a truck that sideswiped her.
Wal-Mart paid her medical bills because she was an employee, but there was a clause that said if the employee sues for money then Wal-Mart is entitled to sue her for the medical bills they paid.
So, Mrs. Shank sued the trucking company who hit her for a million dollars, and after paying the attorney fees she ended up with approximately $500,000 in a trust fund for her care to which Wal-Mart promptly sued her for.
To make matters worse she is suffering from having only short term memory, so
every time she wakes up and asks about her son who is fighting in Iraq it is as if she is hearing for the very first time that he died about a week after her accident.
Wal-Mart: Brain-damaged former employee can keep money (National)
Well, for once a story ended with a very happy ending indeed. Wal-Mart decided to overturn their decision and allow Mrs. Shank to keep the money in her trust fund for her future care. Bravo Wal-Mart! It may have had something to do with Kieth Olbermann running the story continously on his show as the "Worst persons in the world" and said he would keep running it everyday until they atoned. Thank you Kieth! You are one of the last responsible journalists that is on top of all "political shake-ups" and "corperate gluttony" and we thank you for it! If only there were more journalists out there like you, America might have been saved its future care like that of Mrs. Shanks.
This is a sad story about Wal-Mart suing a lady who got in the accident that left her mentally handicapped from a truck that sideswiped her.
Wal-Mart paid her medical bills because she was an employee, but there was a clause that said if the employee sues for money then Wal-Mart is entitled to sue her for the medical bills they paid.
So, Mrs. Shank sued the trucking company who hit her for a million dollars, and after paying the attorney fees she ended up with approximately $500,000 in a trust fund for her care to which Wal-Mart promptly sued her for.
To make matters worse she is suffering from having only short term memory, so
every time she wakes up and asks about her son who is fighting in Iraq it is as if she is hearing for the very first time that he died about a week after her accident.
Wal-Mart: Brain-damaged former employee can keep money (National)
Well, for once a story ended with a very happy ending indeed. Wal-Mart decided to overturn their decision and allow Mrs. Shank to keep the money in her trust fund for her future care. Bravo Wal-Mart! It may have had something to do with Kieth Olbermann running the story continously on his show as the "Worst persons in the world" and said he would keep running it everyday until they atoned. Thank you Kieth! You are one of the last responsible journalists that is on top of all "political shake-ups" and "corperate gluttony" and we thank you for it! If only there were more journalists out there like you, America might have been saved its future care like that of Mrs. Shanks.
Media Spotlight II
Remains found of U.S. soldier captured in Iraq (International)
The remains of Staff Sgt. Maupin, 20, had been missing since 2004, when his fuel convoy was ambushed west of Baghdad. The parents lobbied hard for their son to be listed as missing captured so that the Army would continue looking for him. They refused to believe that a tape found of their son getting shot in the back if the head was him because they couldn't positively identify him
Finally the wait is over and their son is on his way home. The father said, "at least they cannot hurt him anymore."
The remains of Staff Sgt. Maupin, 20, had been missing since 2004, when his fuel convoy was ambushed west of Baghdad. The parents lobbied hard for their son to be listed as missing captured so that the Army would continue looking for him. They refused to believe that a tape found of their son getting shot in the back if the head was him because they couldn't positively identify him
Finally the wait is over and their son is on his way home. The father said, "at least they cannot hurt him anymore."
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
On the Bypass
In Iraq, U.S. caught in middle of Shiite rivalry (International)
With the Iraq government cracking down on Sadr fighters in Basra, the U.S. military's own gains with the militia are at risk.
With the Iraq government cracking down on Sadr fighters in Basra, the U.S. military's own gains with the militia are at risk.
Route 66
Judges can still punish acquitted defendants (National)
In refusing to consider a Wisconsin man's appeal, the Supreme Court says jurists can issue prison sentences even if the jury has cleared a defendant of certain crimes.
In refusing to consider a Wisconsin man's appeal, the Supreme Court says jurists can issue prison sentences even if the jury has cleared a defendant of certain crimes.
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