tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35831962011-04-21T11:30:36.662-07:00The Latest on Transportation IssuesXXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1641100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-837787802002-10-30T09:32:00.000-08:002002-10-30T09:32:04.160-08:00

Due to time constraints and a general lack of motivation, I will no longer be updating this site with much frequency. If I find an interesting article, I'll post it, but it's too time consuming to do this daily and I have other interests and projects I am currently persuing. -Rahul

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-830360402002-10-15T16:01:00.000-07:002002-10-15T16:01:04.783-07:00

[Slate] : Daniel Gross tears a hole into BP's "Beyond Petroleum" ad campaign, and explains why it is "dishonest" and disingenuous. An excellent read.

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-830328472002-10-15T14:41:00.000-07:002002-10-15T14:42:49.000-07:00

There was a very interesting conversation with George Dyson (son of famous physicist Freeman Dyson) on NPR's To the Best of Our Knowledge last weekend. He talked about a plan from the late 1950s to propel large spacecrafts into space with the force from atomic bomb explosions (!). He claimed that the bombs would be dropped from the craft at the rate of one to four per second, but the rate was low

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-828539672002-10-11T12:13:00.000-07:002002-10-11T12:13:48.096-07:00

[Guardian] : Jeremy Riffkin, author of The Hydrogen Economy: The Creation of the World Wide Energy Web and the Redistribution of Power on Earth, has an article in the Guardian which discusses the need for the US to start looking to the future of fuel, instead of "desparately holding on to the past."

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-828022842002-10-10T11:30:00.000-07:002002-10-10T11:30:13.523-07:00

Chrysler has some new ad campaigns about how "your car will be watching the road, even if you're not."

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-827977252002-10-10T09:39:00.000-07:002002-10-10T09:39:26.003-07:00

[CNN] : Yet another article on hydrogen fuel cell cars. Honda claims that its latest model gets 220 miles on a tank of hydrogen, vs. 90 miles on Mercedes's latest.

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-826529232002-10-07T13:37:00.000-07:002002-10-07T13:39:59.000-07:00

Reader Response In response to this posting from 9/26/2002 : Interestingly, Riffkin claims that several large oil companies have funneled a lot of money into alternative energy sources, including BP, whose new slogan is apparently "beyond oil." Reader Haresh Kamath writes: I know this ["beyond oil"] came from Mr. Rifkin and not from you, but the slogan is "Beyond Petroleum." You know, like

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-826528232002-10-07T13:35:00.000-07:002002-10-07T13:35:24.340-07:00

[MSNBC] : Question : How come Amtrak-- an organization was was never intended to make a profit-- gets punished by the government, while airlines, which have only turned a $3 billion profit since 1938 (including a $5 billion taxpayer-funded subsidy) get so much respect?

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-826418242002-10-07T09:14:00.000-07:002002-10-07T09:14:55.336-07:00

[CNN : AP] : The FAA wants the airline industry to install new seats into commercial planes, at an estimated cost of $500 million. The new seats would save lives, says the organization, which wants better seat belts, better head protection, and a more sturdy attachment to the aircraft. Under the proposal, the changes would come within the next 14 years.

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-826416592002-10-07T09:11:00.000-07:002002-10-07T09:11:14.630-07:00

[CNN] : The ultimate standoff : penny-pinching passengers vs. broke airlines. Better break out that wallet if you want to get your ticket changed.

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-826256672002-10-06T23:20:00.000-07:002002-10-06T23:20:22.113-07:00

Kinda lame "are you a bad driver quiz." Sample item: Do you roll through stop signs?

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-821599512002-09-26T13:05:00.000-07:002002-09-26T13:11:55.000-07:00

Interview with an Air Head [Salon] : Salon has a good interview with Jeremy Riffkin, author of the new book "The Hydrogen Economy," which trumpets Hydrogen as the next big energy source. Interestingly, Riffkin claims that several large oil companies have funneled a lot of money into alternative energy sources, including BP, whose new slogan is apparently "beyond oil." He also states that hydrogen

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-820073332002-09-23T12:43:00.000-07:002002-09-26T13:12:10.000-07:00

Financial Nosedive [Yahoo] : Airlines are still losing money. And they want the government to help them out some more.

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-820073022002-09-23T12:42:00.000-07:002002-09-26T13:15:01.000-07:00

[Salon] : An interesting tale of how GM doesn't want purchasers of its electric cars driving them anymore. Why? Some say it's because GM wants the electric car market to be a failure.

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-818434462002-09-19T15:58:00.000-07:002002-09-19T15:58:37.830-07:00

[Philadelphia Inquirer] : Are air marshals really preserving the peace? One man on the infamous flight where an air marshal pointed a gun at a passenger for more than a half hour says he doesn't feel any safer on planes with them there. Bob Rajcoomar, a naturalized Indian citizen, former Army major, and former military doctor was detained after the flight for more than three hours after air

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-817827732002-09-18T11:24:00.000-07:002002-09-18T11:24:13.003-07:00

Keith Bradsher's new book is causing some auto execs to flipIn his new book "High and Mighty: SUVs, the World's Most Dangerous Vehicles and How They Got That Way," New York Times Correspondent Keith Bradsher blasts SUVs: "[they] roll over too easily, killing and injuring occupants at an alarming rate, and are dangerous to other road users, inflicting catastrophic damage to cars that they hit and

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-816912562002-09-16T14:50:00.000-07:002002-09-16T14:50:54.000-07:00

[SF Chronicle] : The Chronicle has an article about how market forces drive our technological forays into alternative fuel sources for vehicles. Some of the issues discussed: 1) Consumer uncertainty about performance. 2) Resistance to change by automakers. 3) Safety. 4) Aesthetics of alternative fuel source vehicles. Japanese car manufacturers Honda and Toyota hope to introduce their first

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-815601542002-09-13T10:05:00.000-07:002002-09-13T10:05:57.196-07:00

Sorry for the lack of updates in the past week. I've been extremely busy at the office, and there hasn't been a ton of notable news.

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-812535362002-09-06T14:49:00.001-07:002002-09-13T10:05:22.000-07:00

[San Jose Mercury News] : It's dangerous to eat while driving. Nevertheless, the amount of in-car eating has gone up dramatically in the last few years [stats included]. Also Hagerty Classic Insurance has included the top 10 offenders list of food that you shouldn't eat while driving: 1. Coffee 2. Hot soups 3. Tacos 4. Chili 5. Juicy hamburgers 6. Any barbecued food 7. Fried chicken 8. Jelly and

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-812535042002-09-06T14:49:00.000-07:002002-09-13T10:01:16.000-07:00

[San Jose Mercury News] : A high-speed bullet train initiative will be on the 2004 ballot in California!

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-812507012002-09-06T13:34:00.000-07:002002-09-13T09:59:52.000-07:00

Guns in the Sky [WP] : Bush to allow pilots to carry guns.

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-811926242002-09-05T08:59:00.000-07:002002-09-05T13:39:35.000-07:00

[CNN] : Because a federal air marshal drew a loaded weapon at a crowd of passengers on a crowded airline flight several days ago, more questions are being asked about whether having armed gunmen in aircrafts is such a great idea after all. While the Transportation Security Administration has yet to admit that any wrongdoing occurred (TSA spokesperson Robert Johnson explained that the marshals

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-809992032002-09-01T11:29:00.000-07:002002-09-03T09:06:38.000-07:00

Ford Ends Think Line of Electric Cars, Starts Work on Vegetate Line [Reuters] : Ford has decided to end their line of Think electric cars, citing a lack of customer demand and an indifferent government. Earlier, the factory had hoped to produce 5,000 of the cars per year, but the actual number produced was closer to 1,000. "The bottom line is we don't believe that this is the future of

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-809860052002-09-01T00:38:00.000-07:002002-09-03T09:05:28.000-07:00

Air Today, Gun Tomorrow Today [AP] : Passengers aboard a Delta Flight claim that a federal air marshal kept his handgun pointed directly at a passenger for more than 30 minutes. Authorities say that the marshal was attempting to deal with a man who was behaving in "an odd and obstreperous manner." Other passengers were more indignant and avoided using unusual words to obfuscate their point: "If

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-809215452002-08-30T09:09:00.000-07:002002-08-30T09:10:09.000-07:00

Air Today, Gun Tomorrow [USA Today] : Air marshals are quitting by the dozen, USA Today has disclosed. At least 250 have already left their jobs and federal officials are now struggling to deal with the problem-- not that there is one, according to the Transportation Department, who issued a statement stating that the marshals' complaints do not ''individually or collectively, constitute a

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-808882722002-08-29T14:39:00.000-07:002002-08-29T15:00:40.000-07:00

Putting sugar in your gas tank [CNN/Reuters] : A recent scientific discovery could aid in the eventual use of hydrogen in powering vehicles and other energy consuming devices. Scientists at the University of Wisconsin at Madison found that heating sugar to 392 degrees and passing it over a platinum catalyst caused the compound to break up into hydrogen and carbon dioxide molecules. This method

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-808078972002-08-27T20:42:00.001-07:002002-08-29T14:59:47.000-07:00

Seniors think the Segway Human Transporter is SHT [San Francisco Chronicle] : The Senior Action Network is starting a campaign to ban Segway scooters on San Francisco sidewalks. Protesters marched outside city hall on Monday carrying perplexing signs like "Stop the Segway slaughter," and "Segway: Zero Emissions, Senior Killer," which effectively condensed their negative opinions of the device.

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-808078632002-08-27T20:42:00.000-07:002002-08-29T14:50:40.000-07:00

Police Officer : Too many children behind the wheel [San Francisco Chronicle] : Forty-eight children have been killed so far in 2002 by vehicles running over them, compared to forty-one for all of 2001. Part of the problem, according to San Jose Police Sgt. Steve Dixon, is the popularity of SUVs-- which are major killers of children in this respect. "People have these SUVs that are higher from

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-808000682002-08-27T17:33:00.000-07:002002-08-29T14:50:52.000-07:00

From the Not a Plug department: State Farm Insurance has issued their annual top 10 most dangerous intersections list. Topping the list is an intersection in Pembroke Pines, Florida, followed by two in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Also included are pictures that give you an idea of why these intersections cause so many crashes. Unfortunately, the list doesn't cite specific figures regarding these

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-807852052002-08-27T11:06:00.000-07:002002-08-29T14:51:01.000-07:00

Gov't : Hey! Screeners are Costing Us Money! [AP] : The cost of hiring security screeners at airports has gone up, according to a government report. Private companies who hire the screeners have increased their rates substantially, one nearly doubling them. Though government officials are somewhat understanding of the increase, given the current climate where security is more important than

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-807805172002-08-27T09:07:00.000-07:002002-08-27T09:25:28.000-07:00

[CNN] : The Transportation Security Administration has admitted that screeners at Norfolk International Airport in Virginia went through training for bomb screening in "10 minutes, 15 tops." Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge reacted to the news with a bit of concern: "Fifteen minutes dealing with this fairly sophisticated technology is unacceptable. I hope

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-806797292002-08-24T22:38:00.000-07:002002-08-27T09:19:52.000-07:00

[Slate] : Cartoonist Daryl Cagle has compiled political cartoons from around the country documenting the current fiasco with the major airlines' financial problems.

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-806745752002-08-24T19:55:00.000-07:002002-08-27T09:16:59.000-07:00

[CNN] : Here's a story confirming what you already knew: digital toys like cell phones and CD players are distracting drivers from watching the road. Experts are stating that nationally, something like 30 percent of crashes are the result of distractions related to mobile communications devices. The article also describes commuters adding VCRs, DVD players, and fax machines(!) to their vehicles.

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-806236982002-08-23T11:35:00.000-07:002005-01-24T22:30:05.223-08:00

Offroading in SUVs is not as common as manufacturers would have you to believe, say activists.[New York Times] : Here's an article about militant anti-SUV activists who have been 'ticketing' gas-guzzlers around New York City. SUV owners haven't been too happy about receiving the fake violations, saying that the group should mind their own business. Some recipients have sent the protest leader

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-806221652002-08-23T10:55:00.000-07:002002-08-23T12:36:03.000-07:00

[Washington Post] : The government is finally loosening overzealous security regulations like not allowing passengers to bring coffee past the security gate. Also, they are de-instituting the law that requires check-in staff to ask you those nearly pointless (from a security standpoint) questions like: "did any strange men give you mysterious packages to carry in your bags?" Also included in this

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-806196202002-08-23T09:49:00.000-07:002002-08-23T09:49:42.473-07:00

[Washington Post] : In other airline news, Southwest-- AKA the only airline that has actually turned a profit this year-- is egging the industry on by cutting the price of its most expensive tickets (i.e. first class and business) by 25%. Other airlines, who are already having a hell of a time trying to stay in the black, will now be forced to compete with the budget-priced carrier. "Southwest

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-806190822002-08-23T09:35:00.000-07:002002-08-23T09:35:12.080-07:00

[CNN/Money] : Delta, Northwest, and Continental have entered a "codeshare" agreement, which will allow the airlines to book passengers on flights belonging to the other partners. The purpose of the arrangement is to make more flights and destinations available to customers while each individual airline cuts capacity and certain destinations. Regulators will have to get involved, though codeshare

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-805742152002-08-22T09:43:00.000-07:002002-08-22T14:54:30.000-07:00

[CNN/Money] : US Air has reported that it will be cutting 13% of its flights, reducing its fleet by 31 aircrafts, and laying off at least 250 pilots-- possibly 500-- by next year. The company has also gotten $570 million in wage concessions from its unions, so that they may win $1 billion in federal loans. This comes after the airline announced bankruptcy earlier in the month. In other US Air

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-805378302002-08-21T13:59:00.000-07:002002-08-21T14:26:57.000-07:00

NASA is denying the claim that they will be using high-tech equipment to "read terrorists' minds" at airports. The response comes a week after several media sources* started reporting the bizarre story. The technology supposedly involved in the process would analyze brainwaves and heartbeat patterns to detect potentially threatening passengers. *Incidentally, I haven't seen the article reported

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-804929612002-08-20T14:40:00.000-07:002002-08-20T14:41:23.000-07:00

[UPI] : Continental just announced some cost cuts they are undergoing in an effort to save $350 million a year. Although no personnel have been laid off yet, the company is now under a hiring freeze. And following in suit of other airlines, they also announced a $20 surcharge for paper tickets. Link via Drudge

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-804916492002-08-20T14:05:00.000-07:002002-08-20T14:05:04.923-07:00

There's an interesting, if marginal, history of the sailor's exclamation "Ahoy!" on the Straight Dope today.

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-804885072002-08-20T12:50:00.000-07:002002-08-20T12:50:01.476-07:00

[CNN] : According to a Air Transport Users Council (ATUC) study, airlines are not taking customer complaints seriously. British Airways and Air France are the two airlines that top the list of negligent transporters, but a British Airways airways spokesperson said, "On the list BA is by far the largest airline so the figures have to be put into perspective. We have high standards of customer care

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-804378742002-08-19T11:13:00.000-07:002002-08-19T11:19:17.000-07:00

Is this glorified scooter the miraculous invention that Dean Kamen was talking about?[ZDNet] : A transportation conspiracy theory? Well, sort of. Some Ginger/IT/Segway scooter obsessives are claiming that the Segway scooter unveiled to the world last year is neither the revolutionary, life-changing device that inventor Dean Kamen claimed to be working on, nor the mysterious invention that wowed

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-804116992002-08-18T20:07:00.000-07:002002-08-19T09:40:12.000-07:00

[CNN] : Kenneth Powell, a man being tried for manslaughter, vehicular homicide and aggravated assault, has been acquitted of all charges. If you'll recall from the earlier post about this, the case was a landmark trial because Powell was not even at the scene of the accident.

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-803341512002-08-16T14:11:00.000-07:002002-08-18T08:31:26.000-07:00

Chesley Bonestell painted fantastic pictures of futuristic space scenes back in the mid-20th century. His scenes depict majestic views from other planets, strange transportation systems, and other bizarre visions into the future. It was these scenes that helped inspire the space program as we know it. Make sure to check out Bonestell's fantastic Saturn as Seen From Titan picture on the page!

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-803236362002-08-16T09:25:00.000-07:002002-08-16T14:12:51.000-07:00

[MSNBC] : On Wednesday, GM unveiled photographs of their hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle. The vehicle, which is affectionately being called a "skateboard" due to the fact that it has no mechanical parts and a skateboard-like chassis, has the official name of the Hy-wire, a name which GM research and development VP Larry Burns says “conveys the message we’re above the crowd, we’re willing to take risks

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-802812102002-08-15T09:32:00.000-07:002002-08-15T09:32:50.500-07:00

[Slate] : Here's a good article on why United's impending bankruptcy could be a huge blow to a promising new relationship between labor and management. You see, 55% of the company is owned by its own employees. "Combining elements of socialism and capitalism," this relationship could have gone far, but the employees aren't willing to make the sacrifice, says Daniel Gross, Slate's Moneybox editor

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-802803332002-08-15T09:08:00.000-07:002002-08-15T09:08:42.160-07:00

[CNN/Money] : So now the chairman of the much respected Hooters restaurant chain is thinking about buying the recently bankrupted Vanguard Airlines. Does this mean a flying Hooters, complete with half-naked trailer trash flight attendants? Maybe, says Vanguard spokesperson Elizabeth Cattell. Maybe.

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-802792242002-08-15T08:41:00.000-07:002002-08-15T08:41:16.143-07:00

[WP] : It hasn't been a good week for airlines. Now the second-largest airline in the country, United, is talking about filing for bankruptcy. If it can't obtain serious concessions from its creditors and employees, the airline will go belly up, they said in a disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The airline, which lost $2 billion last year, has $875 million due this fourth

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-801889362002-08-13T08:57:00.000-07:002002-08-13T08:57:52.476-07:00

[WP] : The world's largest carrier, American Airlines, is cutting 7,000 of its staff, as major financial setbacks force downsizing. This comes just two days after U.S. Air filed for bankruptcy.

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-801499252002-08-12T13:24:00.000-07:002005-01-24T22:30:29.450-08:00

While browsing the message boards at ilxor.com, I found this message: "I was throwing away a miscopy at CopyMax, and I saw this letter staring up at me from the waste basket: July 14, 02 Dear Michael Jackson, I'm an inventor & electrical engineer living in Denver Colorado. I enjoy your music and dancing skill. I, like you, am very interested in the life sustaining properties of liquid

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-801453852002-08-12T10:31:00.000-07:002002-08-12T10:31:30.170-07:00

[CNN] : U.S. Air filed for bankruptcy Sunday, stating that it would continue operations while restructuring its finances. Although the filing did not come as a surprise to those in the industry since the airline's troubled finances were well known long before Sept. 11, the decision does seem to re-emphasize the poor state of affairs in the airline industry in general. The airline hopes to come

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-800315532002-08-09T09:27:00.000-07:002002-08-09T09:28:42.000-07:00

[CNN : Reuters] : Deaths on U.S. highways reached an 11-year high last year, as 42,116 motorists were killed in 37,795 fatal accidents. Not surprisingly, drunken driving deaths accounted for 40 percent of all traffic fatalities (17,448 people), a number that was consistent with the statistics from the year before. The total number of vehicle crashes dropped slightly to 6.32 million, and the

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-800172232002-08-08T23:48:00.000-07:002002-08-08T23:48:15.316-07:00

Scientists are now saying that the water vapor trails that you see coming from the ends of jet planes are affecting our climate. Though they aren't sure whether the effects are good or bad (if there is such a thing when speaking about altering the environment), a scientist at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and a scientist at Penn State University got a perfect opportunity to test out their

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-799944222002-08-08T12:43:00.000-07:002002-08-08T12:45:19.000-07:00

[CNN] : A landmark drunk driving case is about to be made in New Jersey regarding the fate of a man who wasn't even at the scene of the accident, didn't buy any alcohol, and wasn't even drunk. Kenneth Powell is facing charges of manslaughter, vehicular homicide and aggravated assault in connection with the deaths of his friend and another man. Here's the story: Powell picked up his friend Michael

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-798496052002-08-05T09:23:00.000-07:002002-08-07T13:03:30.000-07:00

I apologize for the lack of updates, I've been a bit busy at the office... Hopefully some updates very soon. Thanks!

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-797485002002-08-02T13:45:00.000-07:002002-08-02T13:46:00.000-07:00

[NBC] : A man is suing Delta Airlines for placing him next to an obese man on a flight. Philip Shafer says that Delta breached their contract to provide him with a "full seat and reasonable comfort." Delta lawyers are calling the suit trivial. Link via Drudge

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-797432912002-08-02T11:21:00.000-07:002002-08-02T11:21:58.986-07:00

Sure, we all know about tandem bikes, but have you seen this? The conference bike seats 7 people in a circle, for when you want to ride around with a group of people. Seems pretty cool if you ask me.

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-797393462002-08-02T09:36:00.000-07:002002-08-02T09:39:15.000-07:00

Powerful fuel from soap? A company claiming to have developed a method of creating "Hydrogen on Demand" (TM) is getting its day as DaimlerChrysler's Natrium project undergoes testing. It sounds exciting, but some are skeptical. Just in case you need background info, here's a quick primer on the hydrogen economy and its production... This link, completely and shamelessly stolen from MetaFilter.

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-797035052002-08-01T13:50:00.000-07:002002-08-02T15:38:31.000-07:00

[READER COMMENTS] : Haresh Kamath writes: The obstacles to commercial supersonic jets (like the Concorde) have tended to be economic and market obstacles rather than technical ones. The plane is smaller but more expensive than a regular jet (so the capital cost per passenger is higher), and it uses considerably more fuel per trip, which means the price to customers is higher. This wouldn't be

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-796954922002-08-01T10:32:00.000-07:002002-08-01T13:44:25.000-07:00

The SUV of airplanes is actually more fuel efficient than its predecessors. [CNN] : The longest commercial plane ever built took its maiden voyage today, on a flight from London to New York. The Virgin Airlines A340-600 is 16 feet longer than any other commercial plane, carries 311 passengers, has a bar, a large screen television, and an "in-flight beauty therapy area." Virgin Airlines is

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-796561702002-07-31T13:35:00.000-07:002002-08-01T13:45:19.000-07:00

An anonymous insider described the gas-guzzling behemoth as "too goddamned big to conscientiously produce any longer."[Auto.com] After the 2004 model year, Ford will be discontinuing its 19 foot long, 7,200lb. Expedition SUV despite the fact that a Ford spokeswoman described it as "extremely well-liked by consumers." The gas-guzzler got about 12 miles per gallon, which some speculate didn't sit

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[BBC] : A jet that flies 7 times the speed of sound is currently being tested in the Australian desert. A flight from London to Sydney in the jet takes about 2 hours at Mach 7.6 according to the article. "Scramjets," as planes like these are called, have engines that are far lighter than conventional engines, and have no moving parts. This one collects oxygen as it flies and burns it with small

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-796544532002-07-31T12:53:00.000-07:002002-07-31T12:54:32.000-07:00

[BBC] : The BBC is reporting that Nissan may put their hydrogen fuel cell car on limited sale by next year. Oddly, this means that the car is far ahead of schedule. Read all about it here.

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[CNN] : Norwegian Cruise Lines has been slapped with a $1 million penalty for illegally dumping waste to avoid having to pay for proper waste disposal procedures. The authorities were tipped off after a whistleblower went to the Environmental Protection Agency. "We took responsibility and fixed the problem, at a very substantial cost," Norwegian President and CEO Colin Veitch said. "Instead of

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-796494592002-07-31T10:48:00.000-07:002002-07-31T12:17:00.000-07:00

[New York Times] : Here's an interesting article on the explosion in popularity of airline clubs. These formerly mysterious, tucked-away rooms in airport cul-de-sacs are now thriving hang-outs for the entire family. I liked them when they were underground, man.

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-796477552002-07-31T10:06:00.000-07:002005-01-24T22:32:33.323-08:00

Some Englishmen are grinding their teeth over the solution to the congestion problem[CNN] : London is taking an innovative approach to countering congestion : charging a lot of money to get into the city center (er, "centre"). Starting next year, the city will make motorists pay a £5 ($7.9) toll to drive around in the heart of London. The decision comes after a court decided in favor of London

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-796051002002-07-30T11:50:00.000-07:002002-07-30T11:50:38.293-07:00

Vanguard Airlines has filed for bankrupcy. Because the company is going out on a classy note, employees can visit the company's website to see their pink slip.

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[San Francisco Chronicle] : In Bay Area news, the long-awaited BART train to SFO (San Francisco International Airport) is 97 percent complete. A test train rolled into the airport yesterday for the first time, after 4 1/2 years of construction. BART officials hope that the route will be open to the public by January 2003. Here is a 3 picture slideshow that supplements the story, showing a map of

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[Washinton Post] : The Washington Post has a nice retrospective on the massive Chesapeake Bay Bridge, which connects Southeastern Virginia and the Delmarva Peninsula in Eastern Maryland. The 4.35 mile bridge cost $45 million to build, and last year carried 23.9 million vehicles. The article speaks for itself, but there's a funny little tidbit I picked up: The Great Depression thwarted initial

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[CNN : Reuters] : On Monday, United Airlines announced that it would be charging a $20 fee for passengers who wanted paper tickets. The move is a step in eventually phasing out paper tickets in favor of electronic tickets, which the company hopes to do by January 2004. Last month, American Airlines made a similar announcement.

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[NY Times] : The big question on the mind of epicureans around the world is: Are airlines passengers going to continue getting meals? Or are they going to be cut back in favor of, well, nothing? The Times tells you what's going on in the world of airline food, and lets you know how you can help your chances of getting that tepid, bacteria-filled chicken and rice plate you've been craving since

XXX XXXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3583196.post-795634132002-07-29T13:45:00.000-07:002002-07-29T13:45:03.263-07:00

NEWS FLASH [Washington Post] : An Amtrak train has derailed in Maryland, causing injuries to 60 passengers, 6 of them serious.

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[Slate] : Okay, this isn't exactly transportation per se, but it's somewhat related: a Western journalist goes to Thailand and finds a large Buddist cult worshipping near a giant, mysterious spacecraft.

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[BBC] : According to the BBC, Boeing engineers are trying to build a device that defies gravity. The company is looking into the research of one Yevgeny Podkletnov, a Finnish scientist who claims that he has developed an instrument that can keep objects from affected by the Earth's pull. The scientist says that he noticed that objects sitting above a superconducting ceramic disc rotating over

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Reader Kyle Dellamano has sent in an interesting article that suggests that the Hindenburg disaster mentioned in yesterday's post on hydrogen fuel-cell cars wasn't due to the hydrogen. Former NASA researcher Addison Bain, who was a Hindenburg obsessive, noticed that the famous picture shows a very visible explosion. Hydrogen explosions, he noted, are not fiery bursts. They are very near invisible

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[Straight Dope] : Cecil Adams has a good column today about Howard Hughes's Spruce Goose! In case you're unfamiliar with it, the Spruce Goose was by far the largest airplane ever made (Adams comments that the wing span was 20 feet longer than a football field!), and if that weren't enough, it was made out of wood. The plane has only flown one time, for less than a minute. Adams explains the

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[Seattle Post-Intelligencer : AP] : From the "It's because you weren't there" department:One hundred and sixty three passengers and crew members, or 13% of the total population aboard a Holland America cruiseliner in Alaska got sick with flu-like symptoms this week. The ship's crew has now disinfected all the rooms and common areas on the ship. Cruise companies are required to report such

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[San Francisco Chronicle] : Honda's hydrogen fuel cell car got approval yesterday from the Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board as a low-emissions vehicle. Honda is still waiting for approval for passenger safety certification, but the company is optimistic that at least one of the cars will be on California's highways by the year's end. Some of the downsides of

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Comedian Denis Leary once commented that New York was the most exciting place in the world because "there are so many ways to die in New York City." If you are curious as to your chances of dying in transportation related mishaps, the National Safety Council has analyzed the statistics, and have cranked out some numbers that may satiate your morbid curiousity. Your odds of dying in:

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[CNN : AP] : Guess what, everyone? Air pollution-- like the kind that comes from trucks billowing out plumes of thick, black smoke-- makes you feel worse when you have a cold. This conclusion comes from the July issue of the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, which states that cold viruses and pollutants both cause cells to release inflammatory agents-- adding that when the two are in

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[CNN : AP] : A Senate committee is now debating whether to arm pilots with guns. Sen. Ernest Hollings, head of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, had an interesting proposal that I had never heard before. He suggested that the doors that lead into airplane cockpits should be impenetrable, and never opened during flight. "Once that's fixed, we've solved the problem of an

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[Washington Post] : If airlines can only sell tickets at a loss, then does it make sense for them to cut prices even further? Yes, says Stephen M. Usery, US Airway's vice president of marketing and revenue management, who said that US Airways wasn't the one who started the recent fare war, but slashed prices in order to compete. Keith Alexander, Washington Post writer, wonders why an airline

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[BBC] : Think pirates went the way of the Dodo? The International Maritime Bureau is reporting that instances of sea piracy are on the rise. The rate of attacks have gone up 3.1% since last year. One-hundred-seventy-one attacks worldwide have been made on shipping vessels in the first half of 2002.

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I saw a quote today that I found quite interesting: "There has grown in the minds of certain groups in this country the idea that just because a man or corporation has made a profit out of the public for a number of years, the government and the courts are charged with guaranteeing such profit in the future, even in the face of changing circumstances and contrary to public interest. This strange

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If you are interested in airport security, make sure to check out an extremely interesting paper written by Samidh Chakrabarti and Aaron Strauss on the effectiveness of the CAPS system. CAPS, or Computer Assisted Passenger Screening system, was put in place in American airports in 1999. The system utilizes profiling to determine the risk factor for a passenger. However, the authors of the paper

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[BBC] : The much-hyped Segway scooter made its British debut yesterday at a prominent air show. Currently, a plant in Japan is producing enough to meet the world's, uh, demand, but the article suggests that if the device catches on as hoped, the Segway company may open a plant in England.

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Here's something old, but maybe useful: a list of the 25 busiest U.S. airports by passenger traffic.

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[CNN : AP] : Congress is investigating the TSA's (Transportation Security Administration) progress in securing U.S. airports. They will be examining whether the TSA will be able to have federal airport screeners by the Nov. 19 deadline, and a December 31 deadline for inspecting all checked baggage for explosives. Also in question are current practices employed in airport security. "You have 535

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[NY Times] : If you're travelling long distances with children... oh, do I even need to finish that sentence? The New York Times has an article on how you can keep your children occupied.

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[READER COMMENTS] Hydrogen or Hot Air? [In regards to the posting regarding GM's efforts at a hydrogen powered car, a reader writes:] GM has a nasty habit of taking great ideas and turning them into garbage (witness Saturn and the EV-1). [Also,] two things about the efficiency. . . I think Wagoner's comment was taken out of context in the article when he's quoted as saying, "The internal

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[CNN] : Every major airline company reported huge losses this quarter-- except the notoriously bare-bones Southwest Airlines. Here are some quick statistics for your consideration: US Air : minus $250 million American Airlines : minus $500 million Delta Air: minus $185 million Southwest Airlines: plus $102 million Good thing these guys got a $15 billion bailout, huh?

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[from the "It's funny when it's not you" department] : Watch this plane get struck by lightning! Creepy, huh? Incidentally, lightning strikes like this occur all the time. The charge is dissipated, so don't worry about the passengers.

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[CNN] : Here's an interesting article about "space freeways." It's a somewhat obvious method of travel when it comes to space, but I'd never thought of it. Essentially, you map out gravitational fields caused by planets and other astral bodies in space, and then use them to gain speed and propel yourself around. Cool, huh? I think a potential snag might be that there's nothing around for

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[Yahoo : AP, Reuters] : Here's a good 21-frame slideshow of the experimental Japanese plane crash. There are also informative captions in case you didn't hear about this before. Click the "NEXT" bar at the top of the screens to forward through the slideshow.

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[MSNBC] : After six months on the job, TSA (Transportation Safety Administration) head John Magaw has been forced into early retirement by Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta. Failures on the part of the TSA to improve security was the cause of the dismissal, but many are blaming outdated bureaucracies, not Magaw, for the shortcomings. Mineta tried to sugar-coat the firing by issuing this

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[BBC] : London tube station employees are on strike today, leaving millions of commuters without a method for getting to work. The workers are striking over a government proposal to privatize the subway line, a move that the RMT (Rail Maritime and Transport) union is opposed to. They say that they have not been given time to assess to proposals or raise objections. Meanwhile, many workers just

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[BBC] : According to the BBC, California Gray Davis is planning to sign a bill forcing car manufacturers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their vehicles by the year 2009. While auto makers complain that the new law will "result in higher priced vehicles, reduce choice and cost jobs," others say that the bill is a step forward for reducing pollution. Auto execs are worried that their sales

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[CNN] : According to Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, the TSA (Transportation Security Administration)-- the department that deals with airline security-- is going to be broke by the end of the month. How reassuring.

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[Time, via Drudge] : President Bush will be naming former National Transportation Safety Board chairman Marion Blakey new head of FAA sometime soon. She will be replacing current head honcho Jane Garvey. Excellent choice, says the author of the article. [CNN] : Another article about the same here.

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