Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.gadling.com/media/feedlogo.gif Gadling http://www.gadling.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Budget Travel: Toronto]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/21/budget-travel-toronto/http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/21/budget-travel-toronto/http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/21/budget-travel-toronto/#commentsFiled under: ,


With a metro area of more than 8 million people, Toronto is one of North America's largest cities. It is the economic and cultural center of Canada and is by far the country's most international city. Even when compared to New York and LA, it is a culturally diverse place. Nearly half of Toronto's residents were born outside of Canada. Because all these different cultures have been absorbed into one place, Toronto is unlike anywhere else.

It is also a destination for budget travelers who want an urban vacation but do not want to deal with New York or LA prices.

Getting in

It is easy to get to Toronto by car. Highways 404, 401, 400 and 427 converge on the city. Driving is also advantageous if you plan to explore the outlying areas of this spread out metropolis.

Pearson Int'l Airport hosts a majority of the flights from the US. You might be able to hook into a cheap Air Canada flight, although it is often a better investment to fly into Buffalo and then take a bus to Toronto. Megabus runs regular service between NYC and Toronto via Buffalo. Greyhound also runs the route, as well as connecting Toronto with Chicago and Detroit.

Continue reading Budget Travel: Toronto

Budget Travel: Toronto originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>budget-travelbudgetdestinationsbudgetdestinationsDbudgettravelcanadacn towerCnTowerfnikensingtonlake ontarioLakeOntarioNorth yorkNorthYorkSubwaytorontotoronto travelTorontoTravelWed, 21 Jan 2009 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Budget Travel: Minneapolis, Minnesota]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/12/budget-travel-minneapolis-minnesota/http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/12/budget-travel-minneapolis-minnesota/http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/12/budget-travel-minneapolis-minnesota/#commentsFiled under:


Minneapolis. What comes to mind? Prince's purple jumpsuit, Francis McDormand's accent in the movie Fargo, the Mall of America and six months of winter.

Perhaps the larger of the Twin Cities (Saint Paul being the smaller) is not on the tourist map, but it often gets props for being a nice place to live. (Forbes called it most affordable city to live well. The Minneapolis suburb of Plymouth was rated the best place to live by CNNMoney).

So it's a fine place to live. But why visit?

First, there is the food...then the live music, the art, the coffee shops, and, of course, the fact that Minneapolis is second only the New York in number of theater seats per capita.

Bring your coat (and if your ears are delicate, a hat as well) during the winter, but don't expect ice fishing weather from April to October. That is when the city's lakes, trails, and outdoor events make it a budget traveler's dream destination.




Continue reading Budget Travel: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Budget Travel: Minneapolis, Minnesota originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>budgetbudget travelbudget-travelbudgetdestinationsbudgetdestinationsDBudgetTraveleatingethnic restaurantsEthnicRestaurantsfnilakeslive musicLiveMusicminneapolisMinneapolis institute of artsMinneapolisInstituteOfArtsminnesotamusicst paulStPaulstrolltheatertheaterstwin citiesTwinCitiesMon, 12 Jan 2009 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Chaos as immigration computers crash at Taiwan airport]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/07/chaos-as-immigration-computers-crash-at-taiwan-airport/http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/07/chaos-as-immigration-computers-crash-at-taiwan-airport/http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/07/chaos-as-immigration-computers-crash-at-taiwan-airport/#commentsFiled under: ,

A computer crash at Taiwan's Taoyuan International Airport caused a major headache on Monday. The computer system used by the National Immigration Agency (NIA) failed, forcing immigration agents to get back to basics, taking down people's information by hand. Needless to say, lines became quite long, and frustrated expressions of passengers were commonplace. Add to that the fact that yesterday was an exceptionally busy travel day as people headed home after their holiday vacations.

Approximately 20,000 people left the country during the computer blackout. NIA had to wait until the system came back online to see if anyone had entered or exited the country illegally. The agency recently terminated its contract with the company that performed computer maintenance tasks. A new company began working on the system only last week.

According to airport officials, no one missed an outgoing flight as a result of the system's crash. However, the incident comes of the heels of a baggage mishaps a day earlier. People on a dozen flights were forced to leave without their checked baggage after a conveyor belt broke down for almost two hours.

[Related]

Chaos as immigration computers crash at Taiwan airport originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Computercomputer crashcomputer crashesComputerCrashComputerCrashesimmigrationimmigration agentsImmigrationAgentstaiwanTaiwan immigrationTaiwanImmigrationtaoyuanTaoyuan airportTaoyuanAirportWed, 07 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Drunk man forces Moscow-Atlanta flight to divert to Canada]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/06/drunk-man-forces-moscow-atlanta-flight-to-divert-to-canada/http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/06/drunk-man-forces-moscow-atlanta-flight-to-divert-to-canada/http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/06/drunk-man-forces-moscow-atlanta-flight-to-divert-to-canada/#commentsFiled under: ,

Yesterday, a Delta Airlines flight from Moscow to Atlanta had to make an unexpected stop in Newfoundland after the pilot decided that an unruly passenger had to be removed from the plane. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police were waiting at the gate in the town of Gander. They immediately took the man into custody.

Few details about his behavior were given, but he was said to be drunk, aggressive, and unruly. However, the man did not injure any other passengers. The flight arrived in Atlanta about 4 hours late. There were more than 200 people on board.

Canadian authorities are expected to file charges against the man, who is still being held by the Mounties. His identity has not yet been released. A passenger told an Atlanta newspaper that he noticed an empty bottle of Chivas (the 1.5 liter variety) next to the man's seat. Other passengers said that the man had also taken prescription medication along with the alcohol.

Continue reading Drunk man forces Moscow-Atlanta flight to divert to Canada

Drunk man forces Moscow-Atlanta flight to divert to Canada originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aggressiveairlinesatlantacanadadeltadelta airlinesDeltaAirlinesNewfoundlandunrulyunruly passengerunrulypassengerTue, 06 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[In Las Vegas, sin and forgiveness are side by side]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/01/in-las-vegas-sin-and-forgiveness-are-side-by-side/http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/01/in-las-vegas-sin-and-forgiveness-are-side-by-side/http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/01/in-las-vegas-sin-and-forgiveness-are-side-by-side/#commentsFiled under: ,

It might be called Sin City, but that doesn't mean that it is a complete place of moral decay (sorry). There are churches of the Catholic denomination located right on the Las Vegas Strip. The most noticeable one is Guardian Angel Cathedral, which located next to the newest of the Wynn casinos. It is actually not preaching fire and brimstone to the tourists who descend upon the city throughout the year. Its main goal is to serve the legions of casino employees, nearly 40% of whom claim to be Roman Catholic. Of course, that probably doesn't discourage a few down-on-their-luck craps players from lighting a votive candle for good luck.

Las Vegas development guru Steve Wynn offered to construct a new church in return for turning the land where the old one sat into a parking garage for his new project. Church leaders decided not to take Wynn up on his offer, saying that the current church had already been blessed and therefore couldn't be destroyed. So even in Sin City, you can still get holy, if you want.

[via LA Times]

In Las Vegas, sin and forgiveness are side by side originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 01 Jan 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>catholiccatholic churchCatholicChurchcatholicschurchgamblinglas vegasLasVegasLVprostitutionthe stripTheStripvegasvegas stripVegasStripThu, 01 Jan 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Syria's Sexy Side]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/31/syrias-sexy-side/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/31/syrias-sexy-side/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/31/syrias-sexy-side/#commentsFiled under:

Bras with flashing lights, transparent g-strings, underwear that is made from little more than fake butterflies and plastic flower petals. No, it is not the dressing room of a Las Vegas gentleman's club, it's a shop in a Damascus souk. BBC correspondent Martin Asser recently uncovered some unexpected retail spaces in the Syrian capital. It turns out that, despite the penchant for non-form-flattering outdoor apparel, there is a market in this Levantine country for so called "indoor apparel."

According to one of the country's most successful undergarment tailors, religion and sex are not at all at odds, as long as marriage is also involved:

"Our work is all about igniting the desires of a husband for his wife, so he doesn't go looking elsewhere. It's a good thing and there's nothing wrong it."

Asser also mentions that sexual dissatisfaction is a legit reason for divorce in the Islamic faith.

See the related video here. There is even a book featuring some of the more outlandish designs found in Syrian souks (pictured above).

[via BBC]



Syria's Sexy Side originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bracustom madeCustomMadedamascusdesignerlingeriemarketmarried lifeMarriedLifemoralsmorespantiessouksyriaWed, 31 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Weather and bad behavior cause rides to stop at Hong Kong Disney]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/30/weather-and-bad-behavior-cause-rides-to-stop-at-hong-kong-disney/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/30/weather-and-bad-behavior-cause-rides-to-stop-at-hong-kong-disney/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/30/weather-and-bad-behavior-cause-rides-to-stop-at-hong-kong-disney/#commentsFiled under:

According to the operations manager of Hong Kong's Disneyland, the leading cause of ride stoppages is weather. Nearly seventy percent of all prematurely stopped rides are due to high winds, lightning, or rainfall. But that does not mean that there are not other reasons for cutting the fun short. One of the largest reasons, besides weather, is bad behavior.

According to the park: "The human causes include standing up during rides to take photographs, striking backdrops with umbrellas, or noticeably terrified children being forced onto rides by parents." So, think twice before dragging Junior on to the super-coaster.

The safety-first rules occasionally cause confrontations between park staff and unruly guests. Staff have recently received training in dealing with guests who don't know or care about the rules.

The park's most time consuming task is not enforcing its safety code or watching the skies. It is the nightly inspection of rides, bolt by bolt, that eats away most of the Mouse's security budget.




Weather and bad behavior cause rides to stop at Hong Kong Disney originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amusement parkamusement parksAmusementParkAmusementParksbad behaviorbad behaviourBadBehaviorBadBehaviourchinahong konghong kong disneylandHongKongHongKongDisneylandridesweatherTue, 30 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The land of badly behaving Buddhists]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/23/the-land-of-badly-behaving-buddhists/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/23/the-land-of-badly-behaving-buddhists/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/23/the-land-of-badly-behaving-buddhists/#commentsFiled under:

Cambodia's dictator for life prime minister, Hun Sen, recently appealed to the country's Buddhist clergy, telling them to clean up their act. The PM told a convention of top religious leaders that the actions and poor judgment of individual monks has given the whole religion a black eye.

He cited several situations including monks accepting roles as dancers in a music video and an abbot using offerings of money to buy himself a new car. Also, disputes between monks and laypeople are on the rise, according to an independent social analyst.

Hun Sen concluded his address to the holy people by saying "These are individual monks making problems. Citizens should not consider it an issue of the whole religion, but equally, we must not be careless about this issue."

Buddhist monks have long been revered in Cambodia. Many have become involved in various forms of social work. However, it seems that the recent economic development has affected the religious world as much as the general public.

[via Phnom Penh Post]

The land of badly behaving Buddhists originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buddhismbuddhistbuddhist monkBuddhistMonkcambodiacambodiancorruptcorruptionhun senHunSenmonksmoralityphnom penhPhnomPenhTue, 23 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Went to Beijing without your condoms? Buy a bus card]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/22/went-to-beijing-without-your-condoms-buy-a-bus-card/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/22/went-to-beijing-without-your-condoms-buy-a-bus-card/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/22/went-to-beijing-without-your-condoms-buy-a-bus-card/#commentsFiled under: ,

Safe sex is going high-tech in Beijing. The old, bright yellow coin-operated condom dispensers were finally ditched by the city's authorities. They will be replaced by state of the art vending machines that look more like touch screen ATMs than the final stop for those who are about to get their naughty on. The government has installed 411 of the machines already. thousand's more will be popping up over the coming months. They will be located near bars, nightclubs, in hotels, and adjacent to construction sites.

The Beijing AIDS Prevention Committee has made a deal with the city's public transportation arm. All you have to do is swipe your OneCard (used for bus and subway fares) and out comes your prophylactic (which costs 5 yuan). And it talks too. (No, not the rubber, the machine). The brightly lit LCD screens will broadcast safe sex and anti-AIDS messages throughout the day.

[via Danwei]

Went to Beijing without your condoms? Buy a bus card originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beijingbus cardBusCardChinacondomcondom salescondom usecondomsCondomSalesCondomUsepublic transit cardPublicTransitCardsubwayvending machinevending machinesVendingMachineVendingMachinesMon, 22 Dec 2008 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Can new leader save Thailand? ]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/19/can-new-leader-save-thailand/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/19/can-new-leader-save-thailand/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/19/can-new-leader-save-thailand/#commentsFiled under:

The King of Thailand, who somehow manages to stay above the country's constant political woes, has official accepted former opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva as the new prime minister. He is the 3rd man to hold the post in the past 12 weeks.

Abhisit was formerly the opposition leader in parliament. He brings youth (he's only 44) and a reputation for honesty to the country's top job. Like the Illinois governor's office, corruption is almost expected from Thailand's leadership. Abhisit's perceived incorruptibility might be just what the country needs to start trusting its governing body again.

What does this new political era mean for Thailand's massive tourism industry? Nothing yet. Until the rift between rival political parties and their supporters is mended, more events like the occupation of Suvarnabhumi Airport are entirely possible. The infrastructure is still in place, but until the unpredictable political climate calms down, it would be hard to expect tourists to flock back to Thailand's beaches and shopping venues.

[via BBC]

Can new leader save Thailand? originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Abhisit VejjajivaAbhisitVejjajivabangkokcorruptionKingking of thailandKingOfThailandpoliticalpoliticspolitics thailandPoliticsThailandthailandthailand politicsThailandPoliticsThaksinFri, 19 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[British Airport Authority told to sell Gatwick, Stansted and Edinburgh airports]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/18/british-airport-authority-told-to-sell-gatwick-stansted-and-edi/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/18/british-airport-authority-told-to-sell-gatwick-stansted-and-edi/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/18/british-airport-authority-told-to-sell-gatwick-stansted-and-edi/#commentsFiled under: ,

England's British Airports Authority (BAA) was told by the country's Competition Committee that it has to sell Gatwick, Stansted, and Edinburgh airports. The watchdog group has pointed to a lack of competition as the reason for advising the sales. "Under separate ownership, the airport operators including BAA, will have a much greater incentive to be far more responsive to their customers, both airlines and passengers."

BAA was bought by Spanish company Ferrovial two years ago. The Competition Committee's criticism of BAA might look like a bid to bring ownership back to the U.K. However, that is not likely to happen. BAA put Gatwick on the market in August. The top bidders thus far are German and Australian companies. Virgin Atlantic is also trying to organize a consortium of investors to make a bid.

The Scottish airports and Stansted remain in BAA's hands for now. The organization responded to the watchdog's report by saying that there was no compelling evidence proving that the airports, especially Stansted, should be sold.

British Airport Authority told to sell Gatwick, Stansted and Edinburgh airports originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airportairportsBAAcompetitionedinburgheathrow airportHeathrowAirportsalesscottishstansted airportStanstedAirportThu, 18 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Adultery can get you jail time in South Korea]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/18/adultery-can-get-you-jail-time-in-south-korea/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/18/adultery-can-get-you-jail-time-in-south-korea/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/18/adultery-can-get-you-jail-time-in-south-korea/#commentsFiled under:

It is a news headline you'd expect to see in a theocratic Islamic nation in the Middle East: "Actress given 8 months in jail for adultery." But, this time, the headline could refer to the case of South Korean actress Ok So-ri.

The Korean adultery law was created in 1953 and has been upheld despite four major challenges over the past two decades. In Ok's case, the judges denied her arguement that the current law was an invasion of privacy and had "degenerated into a means of revenge by the spouse, rather than a means of saving a marriage." Despite the possibility of a two year sentence, Ok was given a eight month suspended sentence. Her lover, a Korean pop star, was given a six month suspended sentence. Neither will spend time in jail. The judge's reasoning: adultery is damaging to the country's social order.

According to the BBC, a recent survey showed that 70% of men and 12% of women have admitted to having sex outside of marriage. Ironic, especially given Ok's statements about the law being used by spouses for revenge.

[via SMH)

Adultery can get you jail time in South Korea originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adulteryjailk-popkorean popKoreanPopmoralityOk So-riOkSo-risouth koreasouth koreansouth korean lawSouthKoreaSouthKoreanSouthKoreanLawThu, 18 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Man sues United, claiming alcohol service caused him to beat his wife]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/18/man-sues-united-claiming-alcohol-service-caused-him-to-beat-his/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/18/man-sues-united-claiming-alcohol-service-caused-him-to-beat-his/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/18/man-sues-united-claiming-alcohol-service-caused-him-to-beat-his/#commentsFiled under:

A man on a flight from Osaka to San Francisco had too much to drink. Soon after landing, he started beating his wife. After he ended up in police custody and sobered up, he didn't sheepishly apologize to his wife. Nope. He decided to sue United for serving him too much alcohol, which, he alleges, caused him become violent. The man, Yoichi Shimamoto, was arrested by police at a customs checkpoint after he struck his wife in the face half-a-dozen times. The suit alleges that United's cabin crew served him wine at 20-minute intervals throughout the flight and that he was so drunk that he could not control himself. Shinamoto and his spouse are seeking $100,000 from the airline as well as more money for pain and suffering.

United responded to the suit, saying "We believe that a lawsuit that suggests that we are somehow responsible for the consequences of a passenger's physical assault on his own wife is without any merit whatsoever."

[via Today in the Sky]

Man sues United, claiming alcohol service caused him to beat his wife originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abuseairplane barAirplaneBaralcoholalcohol serivceAlcoholSerivcedomestic abusedomestic violenceDomesticAbuseDomesticViolencedrunkdrunk flyingDrunkFlyingOsakaSFOUnitedviolenceThu, 18 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pilot tells passengers "I am not qualified to land the plane"]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/17/pilot-tells-passengers-i-am-not-qualified-to-land-the-plane/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/17/pilot-tells-passengers-i-am-not-qualified-to-land-the-plane/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/17/pilot-tells-passengers-i-am-not-qualified-to-land-the-plane/#commentsFiled under: ,

A Flybe Airlines flight from Cardiff to Paris had to turn around because of fog at Charles De Gaulle Airport. The fog did not force the airport to close. Rather, the pilot, a man with 30 years of experience, had never completed low-visibility training for the particular aircraft that he was flying.

Passengers on the flight were stunned when, 20 minutes shy of De Gaulle, the pilot got on the PA system and, instead of announcing the imminent arrival, said the following:

'Unfortunately I'm not qualified to land the plane in Paris. They are asking for a level two qualification and I only have a level five. We'll have to fly back.'

And fly back they did. The bizarre incident is nothing if not humorous, but I doubt the passengers on the flight were amused.

A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority said that such a situation was rare, but not unheard of. "There are different classifications of aircraft and when an aircraft is updated, pilot's who have flown an older version have to completely retrain."

Continue reading Pilot tells passengers "I am not qualified to land the plane"

Pilot tells passengers "I am not qualified to land the plane" originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bad weatherBadWeathercardiffcertificationcharles de gaulle airportcharles de gaulle international airportCharlesDeGaulleAirportCharlesDeGaulleInternationalAirportFlybeflyingfogfogginessfoggyfrancenewsParispilottrainingWed, 17 Dec 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[2010 World Cup will not be moved from South Africa]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/16/world-cup-will-not-be-moved-out-of-south-africa/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/16/world-cup-will-not-be-moved-out-of-south-africa/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/16/world-cup-will-not-be-moved-out-of-south-africa/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It could have ended quite badly for South Africa. The first African nation to host the FIFA World Cup almost didn't get the chance. Earlier this year, FIFA prez Sepp Blatter, the most powerful man in soccer, told the media that his organization had an alternative plan should South Africa not be ready to host in 2010. He cited concerns about security, infrastructure, and construction projects as the reasons for having a plan B.

But yesterday Blatter opened his mouth again. This time he had good news for South Africa: "There definitely is no plan B or C. The only plan is to make the South African event a success." The tournament will undoubtedly be a huge boost for South Africa's tourism industry. Security concerns and lagging construction projects are still problematic, and there is still the risk that bad press during the event could kill any buzz the World Cup could bring to the country. But Blatter's promise not to move the tournament is a huge step for S.A., which can now focus on hosting duties, not on kissing FIFA's ass.

[Via AFP]

2010 World Cup will not be moved from South Africa originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>constructioncrimefifafifaworldcupsecuritysepp blatterSeppBlattersouth africasouth africanSouthAfricaSouthAfricanworld cupWorld Cup 2010WorldCupWorldCup2010Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Delta offers buyouts to 75,000 employees]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/16/delta-offers-buyouts-to-75-000-employees/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/16/delta-offers-buyouts-to-75-000-employees/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/16/delta-offers-buyouts-to-75-000-employees/#commentsFiled under: ,

Despite promises that job cuts will be minimal as a result of the Northwest/Delta merger, Delta recently offered buyouts to 75,000 employees. Delta CEO Richard Anderson explained that the airline needs to make the cuts because of the economy: "To deal with the effect of the recession, we are moving quickly and decisively to decrease system-wide capacity by 6 to 8%." This could be bad news for Delta employees. Severance packages are offered in lieu of lay-offs, but if not enough workers opt for the buyouts...

Northwest and Delta have hinted that their merger will lead to an unspecified number of job cuts. The Delta buyouts might allow Northwest employees at hubs in Minneapolis and Detroit to rest a little easier. Delta is offering buyouts to its own employees instead of swooping in to Northwest hubs and giving their own workers the best jobs. The only thing that is certain is that the drama is far from over.

[Via Today in the Sky]

Delta offers buyouts to 75,000 employees originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buyoutbuyoutscutsdeltaDeltaNorthwest mergerDeltanorthwestMergerjob cutsJobCutsmergermergersnorthwestnorthwest airlinesNorthwestAirlinesTue, 16 Dec 2008 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Tossing shoes: How to insult (or avoid insulting) someone in the Middle East]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/15/tossing-shoes-how-to-insult-or-avoid-insulting-someone-in-the/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/15/tossing-shoes-how-to-insult-or-avoid-insulting-someone-in-the/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/15/tossing-shoes-how-to-insult-or-avoid-insulting-someone-in-the/#commentsFiled under:

You've probably seen this clip or at least heard about what happened. For entertainment's sake, here it is again: President Bush dodging a pair of shoes flung by a disgruntled Iraqi journalist.


Hitting someone with a shoe or even pointing the soles of your shoes at someone is considered an insult in the Middle East (and in many other parts of Asia as well); feet are the lowest part of the body and considered unclean. It is unclear if President Bush understood the meaning of the shoe throwing incident. I guess if you launch anything at another person's head, you don't think too highly of them.

Throwing shoes seems a bit impractical to me - after all, what are you going to wear when it is time to run away? Here is another Middle Eastern cultural no-no that could have been employed: shake hands or wave with your left hand. Next to the feet, this appendage is considered the dirtiest. For desert nomads past and present, the left hand is used for cleaning oneself after nature calls. Therefore, waving or shaking a left hand is traditionally considered unclean.

On the practical side, Bush's latest misadventure in the Middle East has highlighted some cultural dos and donts that travelers headed to the Middle East might find useful. Remember: don't throw shoes, don't wave your left hand, and don't be named Bush....There, you're good to go.

Tossing shoes: How to insult (or avoid insulting) someone in the Middle East originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 15 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bush admininstrationBushAdmininstrationcultural differencescultural normsCulturalDifferencesCulturalNormsdisrespectdisrespectfulfootwearinsultiraqpresident bushPresidentBushshoe throwingshoesShoeThrowingMon, 15 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Monaco abandons man-made island plan]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/13/monaco-abandons-man-made-island-plan/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/13/monaco-abandons-man-made-island-plan/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/13/monaco-abandons-man-made-island-plan/#commentsThe nation of Monaco was planning to follow the lead of Dubai. The gigantic man-made island called The Palm recently opened in the ridiculously wealth emirate. Not only did The Palm (which is shaped like a palm tree if seen from the air) bring publicity to Dubai, it also drastically increased measurable shoreline of the city.

Monaco had similar designs. As the world's most densely populated country, it would have benefited from the added area. However, the nation's ruler, Prince Albert II, has announced that the current state of the global economy makes such a project inappropriate. Monaco's financial situation is not as dire as many other countries, but the Prince wants Monaco to focus on other infrastructure projects such as hospitals, housing developments, and a new yacht club.

Albert did not rule out restarting the man-made island project at a later date. But, for now, it will just be business as usual in Monaco.

Monaco abandons man-made island plan originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 13 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Sat, 13 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[JAL's CEO takes bus to work and eats at the cafeteria (even when the press aren't following him)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/11/jals-ceo-takes-bus-to-work-and-eats-at-the-cafeteria/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/11/jals-ceo-takes-bus-to-work-and-eats-at-the-cafeteria/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/11/jals-ceo-takes-bus-to-work-and-eats-at-the-cafeteria/#commentsFiled under:

Every couple of days here in Minneapolis, Northwest CEO Doug Steenland is on the television telling the thousands on Northwest employees living in the Twin Cities not to worry about losing their jobs after the merger with Delta is completed. Judging by the number of strikes and employee complaints NW has experienced over the past few years, I'd say no one takes him too seriously. If you you headed a company that performed so poorly and you still made Steenland's salary (before perks), you wouldn't be worried about anything or anyone.

Perhaps top execs at US airlines could learn something from JAL CEO Haruka Nishimatsu. After major lay-offs three years ago, Nishimatsu cut all his perks and then slashed his salary. In 2007, he made $90,000. A tidy sum, but much less than many of JAL's pilots make. He takes public transit to work and eats lunch next to the plebes in the cafeteria.

Perhaps you could chalk up Nishimatsu's approach to cultural differences between the US and Japan. But his explanation of the rational behind cutting his own perks and salary makes perfect sense to me.

"We in Japan learned during the bubble economy that businesses who pursue money first fail. The business world has lost sight of this basic tenet of business ethics."

Is this ethical approach working? JAL is faring reasonably well. Compared to US airlines, it is quite successful. So you can be ethical and successful? Amazing.



JAL's CEO takes bus to work and eats at the cafeteria (even when the press aren't following him) originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Airline CEOAirlineCeoairlinesceoceo payCeoPayceoscorporate PerksCorporatePerksHaruka NishimatsuHarukaNishimatsuJALjapan airlinesJapanAirlinesperksThu, 11 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Your ticket was expensive and your plane crowded, but at least you took off on time]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/11/your-ticket-was-expensive-and-your-plane-crowded-but-at-least-y/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/11/your-ticket-was-expensive-and-your-plane-crowded-but-at-least-y/http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/11/your-ticket-was-expensive-and-your-plane-crowded-but-at-least-y/#commentsFiled under: ,

Is there an upside to the fact that the airline industry is struggling? Perhaps you can feel smug knowing that the CEOs of legacy carriers will probably be taking home six-figure bonuses this year, instead of the usual seven or eight digit haul ("Ha, greedy bastards finally got what they deserve," you might say to yourself).

But all you smiling, glass-half-full folks out there can take comfort in this: airlines have the highest on-time percentages they've had in a long, long time. According to USAToday, 86% of all flights were on time during the month of October. That is compared to 78% during the same month of 2007.

A plane is considered on time if it reaches its destination within 15 minutes of its scheduled arrival time. I assume they mean less than 15 minutes later than scheduled; although I'm sure there is the odd person out there who might be put off by arriving 15 minutes early.

So look on the bright side of air travel. You may have to spend more for your ticket and your plane is bound to be crowded and, perhaps, noisy. But at least you have a good chance of getting where you are going on time.

Your ticket was expensive and your plane crowded, but at least you took off on time originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airlineairline industryairline performanceAirlineIndustryAirlinePerformanceairlinesdelaydelayson-timeon-time performanceon-timeperformancescheduleschedulingThu, 11 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST