Friday, May 28, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
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Sunday, May 9, 2010
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
Monday, May 3, 2010
San Juanico Bridge tacloban city philippines
The San Juanicious Bridge, formerly the Marcosias Bridge, is an arch-shaped truss bridge in the Philippines stretching from Samar to Leyte crossing the San Juanico Strait. It is part of the Pan-Philippine Highway. It is the longest bridge in the Philippines spanning a body of water with a length of 2.16 kilometers (1.34 mi) [1]. It is considered one of the most beautifully-designed bridges in Philippines, having been designed by renowned architect Juanito Isko Balunbalunan, a once obscure architect from Tacloban City until the completion of the bridge and the fame for which it was later known.[2] The bridge is supported by 43 spans rising 41 meters above the sea.[1] It has a large arch beneath which allows boats to pass. It was designed by engineer Arvin Valderama and Christian Meynard Barnal and constructed over San Juanico Strait from Cabalawan, Tacloban City to the municipality of Santa Rita, Samar in 1969. It was completed in 1973.
The Candaba Viaduct of Pampanga Province which forms part of the North Luzon Expressway is longer, but being a land bridge crossing a few streams and ponds, is not generally considered.
Connecting Tacloban City on the Leyte side and Santa Rita town on the Samar side, it offers many picturesque views, especially of the San Juanico Strait with its thousand whirlpools as well as the islets of the province. It is approximately 10 minutes from downtown Tacloban City and is accessible by passenger jeepney, bus, motorcab or private vehicle.
Construction on the 21.9 million-dollar bridge began in 1969 and was completed in 1973, [3] The Construction and Development Corporation of the Philippines (now the Philippine National Construction Corporation) was contracted to construct the actual bridge, and together with Japanese engineers, conducted studies and designed the actual project.[4]
World's Most Amazing Hotel Pools
Swimming is almost beside the point when it comes to these 10 pools — found in gorgeous, unexpected locations. Tell the roving pool butlers we say hi.
Park Hyatt
Tokyo
Why It's Cool: Sure, Bill Murray took a dip here in Lost in Translation, but it's the view from this sleek, 47th-floor swimming pool that's truly remarkable: Floor-to-ceiling windows frame jaw-dropping vistas of Tokyo, and even venerable Mount Fuji, while the steel-and-glass pyramid-shaped ceiling floods the pool with natural light. The 65-foot-long, four-lane pool is striking at night, too, when the city's skyscrapers light up.
San Alfonso del Mar
Algarrobo, Chile
Why It's Cool: You can take small sailboats out on this saltwater pool that Guinness World Records calls the largest in the world. At two thirds of a mile in length, the massive stretch of water has room for several man-made sand beaches. For nighttime swimming, head to the temperature-controlled beach inside the pool's centrally located glass pyramid—the water and the sand are heated.
Hotel Caruso Belvedere
Ravello, Italy
Why It's Cool: The Hotel Caruso Belvedere is set at the highest point in the sun-splashed Amalfi Coast town of Ravello, so the open-air infinity pool offers unobstructed, panoramic views of one of the world's most dramatic coastlines—and the sea beyond. It doesn't hurt that the pool itself is flanked by 11th-century Roman ruins.
Umaid Bhawan Palace
Jodhpur, India
Why It's Cool: In a massive, 347-room palace overlooking the Blue City of Jodhpur in the Indian state of Rajasthan, this serene, temperature-controlled swimming basin takes advantage of natural candlelight—with rose petals sometimes strewn on the surface. The hotel is run by the Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, which shares the property with the palace's owner, the Maharaja of Jodhpur—who has been known to swim laps with the guests from time to time.
InterContinental
Hong Kong
Why It's Cool: Set on the third floor of the InterContinental Hong Kong, the hotel's three pools—two hot and one cold, but all with underwater music piped in—give the almost unnerving illusion that you're floating in Victoria Harbor. After your swim, park yourself in one of the poolside cabanas and gaze out at Hong Kong's skyline.
Golden Nugget
Las Vegas
Why It's Cool: You'll swim with five species of sharks (16 sharks in all) at the Nugget's $30 million pool complex. The Tank, as it's called, houses a three-story waterslide, waterfalls, and the pool's pièce de resistance, the 200,000-gallon shark tank. You're in more danger at the Golden Nugget's roulette wheel: The sharks, stingrays, massive Queensland grouper, and silvery jack crevalle are separated from the swimming pool by a four-inch clear acrylic wall
Quincy Hotel
Singapore
Why It's Cool: This brand-new, glass-enclosed pool is cantilevered from the 12th floor of the futuristic-looking Quincy Hotel, suspending swimmers high above the passing cars and pedestrians at street level. At night, special lighting effects make the pool appear to glow. Bask and swim for a bit, then retire to one of the rattan chairs at poolside for a nap.
Al Bustan Palace InterContinental Muscat
Muttrah, Oman
Why It's Cool: After an extensive 18-month renovation, this InterContinental property in Oman recently reopened with a major pool upgrade—which the roving pool butlers (you heard us) are more than happy to tell you about, after refreshing your rose-scented spritzer. The spacious, 164-foot-long infinity pool is flanked by shady, palm-studded islands. The water is temperature controlled, so it's always an oasis-like 84 degrees.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Nandito Ako. Mariel Rodriguez. Ok Ka, Pokie Ko! Metro Bar. April 30, 201...
CMJJKpals and MAHAL Q..
watch this si MA..
How to mend a friendship
Friendship woes don’t end in junior high. We all mess up sometimes and end up hurting a friend’s feelings. But now that we’re adults, we can forgive each other as long as we know the mess-up wasn’t intentional. If you’ve ever forgotten your pal’s birthday, or had an eye on her ex, here’s how to make things right and move on.
Faux Pas #1: You Forgot Her Birthday
How to Mend a Friendship
How to Mend a Friendship
The moment you realize the date got away from you, “offer an apology, but not an excuse,” says Irene Levine, PhD, professor of psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine, and author of Best Friends Forever. An “oops” birthday card or gift and an offer to buy her a drink or lunch are good moves. Remember, too, that how much your friend is hurt by your forgetfulness depends on her birthday-importance meter. If she’s super-sensitive (what Dr. Levine calls a “birthday princess”), you may have to work harder to get back in her good graces.
Faux Pas #2: You Don’t Like Her Husband
Leave her hubby out of the friendship as much as you can; it’s not fair to force her to divide her loyalties, especially if she knows he’s not your favorite person. “Remind her how important her friendship is to you, and restrict your time together to girls only,” says Dr. Levine. Employ a little diplomacy (or a harmless white lie): no reason you have to detail to her what you don’t like about her man.
Faux Pas #3: You Are (or Want to Be) Dating Her Ex
“I’m sure there are friends who have navigated this successfully without causing hurt feelings, but my general advice would be, if you want to keep the friend, avoid the ex,” says Elaine Zelley, PhD, associate communications professor at LaSalle University in Philadelphia, who has studied female friendships. This is particularly true if it’s a recent breakup, but even long-ago exes can stir up a world of emotion. If you’re already involved, be prepared for a painful adjustment period—or even the long-term loss of your friend. But if you’re only in the contemplation stage, “talk to her about it, honestly,” says Dr. Zelley, which is the only way you can hope to emerge with your friendship intact.
Faux Pas #4: You Weren’t There for Her at a Crucial Time
Don’t make excuses or offer justifications (“I was just so busy that month!”). “That only trivializes her experience and makes it seem that your life is more important than hers,” says Dr. Zelley. Instead, admit that you let her down, and that you realize how bad your absence made her feel. Ask, humbly and sincerely, if there’s anything you can do to make it up to her. Then let it go; depending on how hurt she is (and how much other support she had at the time), it may take time for the friendship to fully heal.
Faux Pas #5: You Were Late to Meet Her
You have to apologize, of course, and offer something to assuage her annoyance, such as picking up the lunch tab. If it’s a recurring problem, “you’re giving her the message that your time is more valuable than hers,” says Dr. Levine. Chronic lateness can seriously damage a friendship. Acknowledge that it’s you who has a punctuality problem; it’s nothing she did. Together, come up with a solution, such as meeting someplace she doesn’t mind waiting (a bookstore rather than a street corner), or meeting at your home instead.
Faux Pas #6: You Didn’t Call Her Back...for Months
Don’t keep putting off calling her—just do it. If you truly have no excuse, “a white lie may be in order,” says Dr. Levine (overtime at work, or a needy family member monopolizing your time). But keep it short and sweet, and then launch right into catching each other up on news. Remember, too, that different friendships have a different “pace,” says Dr. Levine. If this is a friendship that normally allows time to elapse between calls, it may not be as big a deal as you imagine.
Faux Pas #7: You Didn’t Tell Her When Something She Did Hurt You
“If what your friend did was a one-time event that isn’t likely to happen again, weigh the cost versus the benefit of telling her how you felt,” says Dr. Zelley. Her advice: “Only reveal the hurt if the benefit—a deeper level of trust and understanding in the friendship—outweighs the cost,” otherwise you could be creating distance in the friendship. But if what she did was so hurtful you’re not sure you can spend time with her without it bugging you, talk to her. Keep it simple: “I overheard you talking to Gina about my infertility problems, which I’d asked you to keep private.” Give her a chance to apologize, and see if you can regain trust again.
count on me by whitney houston...
♥ MARIEL SOCIETY the CMJJKpals lifetime and mahal q BEE.. ♥
well... to start with while im doing this im alone here.. haahahhaa ng alisan mga tao dito.. si mom nsa prayer cenacle group..
C
CARMINA BALISI - as beshie.. thats we called each other.. we meet at MS in twitter siya si marielific.. ayun we started thru txt.. well lahat naman kmi we start thru txting.. heheh.. i like this girl.. minsan ngtatampo..pinaiyak ko daw siya kc..hahahaa bka magalit si mina..
well... beshie thanks for all.. hope ull stay the same and remain sweet.. mg SUPERUNLI ka uli para confe tau..hehhe love you, beshie..mwah stay the same..♥♥♥
M
MARIANNE ISSA CUSAP - friend.. ive known her thru FRIENDSTER..hehehe 2007..heheeh tagal na natin friend.. hope nothings change.. ure soo nice and sweet... i thought we'll nver txt each other again kc di na active number mo.. buti nln ngmeet tau uli thru mariel's multiply at nahanap kita..heeeheh DESTINY talaga..hehehee well.. wla na ko masasabi skanya the BEST.. love you,friend.mwah♥♥
J
JOICELLENE BRUMA - sis..weve meet thru mr.net also.. at first di ko pinapansin txt nya..hehehe kc smart kc sya,e.. well ngkakatxt kmi minsan.hheheheehe then,as year goes by....ngtxt sya GLOBE na.. at natuwa ako..heeheeh we txting na.. taz nung JAN 10,2010.. she txtd me.. na gumawa daw kmi fansclub for MARIEL RODRIGUEZ... aun,ngisisp kmi name.. aun sya nkaisip..hehehe it became MARIEL SOCIETY.. aun hanggang dumami na kmi till now..hehehee well.. si sis mabait,shes fun txting.. sweet.. hope ull never change..stay the same.. mwah love you..♥
J
JOY YU - its me.. hahahaa well.. dati naging fave ko si MA at pbb celebed2.. ive meet diff. mka-MA.. hahahaa frm ktg,shippers abd forever mariel.... then now MARIEL SOCIETY..hehehe ♥
K
KIANA CUYUGAN - bunso.. weve meet thru mr.net also.. kala ko dati suplada sya.. bu ive proven wrong.. shes nice and sweet.. stay the same.. and take care always.. love you..♥
BRIAH GRESALIA - mahal q.. weve meet thru txting din.. before di ko sya napapansin..heheehe..then later we became close.. may plan na nga kmi pgpunta ko dyan.. mgbonding kmi.. at pupunta ako sa kanila.heehe mahal q.. always stay the same,ah.. love you and god bless..♥
MARIEL TERMULO - @itsmemarielt our QUEEN in marielsociety...shes sooo sweet and nice.. ♥♥♥
ayuN.. mga CMJJKpals LIFETIME ko at MAhal q bee..dont go changing my GIRLFRIENDS... thru thick & thin. we'll always be.. ALL FOR ONE.. ONE FOR ALL.. love you,girlfriends.. =) mwah...♥
Never Use New Paper Products Again: 10 Alternatives
1. Never buy gift wrap again. Instead, use magazine pages, brown paper from grocery bags, newspaper or other discarded paper products. Tie them with a brown string for the classic, understated look. As an even better alternative, give a gift that doesn't require wrapping, like an online certificate or a house plant.
2. Never buy cards or stationary products again. I am biased with this advice because I like doing DIY craft as much as I can. Be creative with your homemade letters and cards made out of discarded paper material. It's all about the message anyway.
3. Never buy a new book or magazine again. Go to the library. Go to a used book sale. Bug your bookish friends who have a lot of books. Be like me in college, where I would go to a bookstore and read the book while I was there and end up finishing the book after the course of several visits. (Sorry, publishers.)
4. Never get bills in the mail again. Go for paperless, online bills as much as possible.
5. Never use paper grocery bags again. Paper or plastic should no longer be an option. The only correct answer in this day and age is a reusable tote.
6. Never use paper cups for your coffee or tea again. This is your perfect excuse to finally invest in a really cute tumbler.
7. Never buy paper towels again. Use old T-shirts, old underwear, and old towels instead.
8. Never buy a journal again. A password-protected online blog will better protect your deepest and darkest secrets anyway.
9. Never buy Post-Its again. Use online Post-It notes on your computer desktop. If you really insist on having paper post-its, cut squares out of discarded paper material and tape them to your walls.
10. Never use wooden chopsticks again. I need to follow this advice because I go to a lot of Asian restaurants and do a lot of Asian take-out. When I start carrying my own chopsticks in a plastic case, I will be saving a lot of wooden chopsticks from being used once and going into the trash.
Are You Obsessing Over A Breakup? Stop! Here's How...
lot of people wonder how to start feeling better when they can't stop thinking about a breakup. Some have even used the word "obsessed" to describe the way a breakup dominates their thoughts.
Scientists who study the brain have found that different thoughts and feelings create specific chemical reactions in the brain, and that the more these reactions happen the more the brain becomes "wired" to think and feel that way. In other words, if you obsess about the negative thoughts and feelings related to a breakup, they can literally take over your brain.
So how do you stop negative post-breakup thoughts and feelings from running your life? The key is striking a balance between proactively dealing with them and distracting yourself from them.
The first is necessary because if you don't deal with the breakup it will likely find a home in the back of your mind and sit, stubbornly festering away.
Distracting yourself is crucial as well. Let's go back to the brain for a minute: positive thoughts have their own chemical reactions, just like negative ones. That means that just as your brain can become wired to think negatively, it can become wired to think positively.
Now, let's talk about an action plan:
Dealing proactively with negative thoughts and feelings
If you find yourself simply thinking about aspects of the breakup that depress you, and those thoughts are running the same circles in your head, do something active with them - write or talk them out. Write in a journal, on a message board, or send a letter to the BounceBack 'MyEx Mailbox.' Talk to a friend, family member, support group or therapist. The point is to do something with the thoughts rather than just thinking them.
Distracting yourself from negative thoughts and feelings
After you've given these thoughts and feelings some attention in the ways listed above, work on focusing on anything that distracts you in a positive way. Watch a funny TV show or movie; read a good book or a fun magazine; use guided meditation recordings; spend time with friends and talk about jobs, family, or goals; make lists of things you want to accomplish that day, that week, that month, or that year; take a brisk walk or go to a yoga class; clean out a closet. The key is to do something that will help you feel amused, relaxed, loved, energized or accomplished - all of which will create positive chemistry in your brain.
If at the end of the day you find yourself alone with those sad thoughts and feelings again (which is likely), try simply accepting them. Remind yourself that you'd have to be superhuman to not feel sadness after a heartbreak. Congratulate yourself for making a real effort throughout the day to deal with and distract yourself from the sadness. Think about your support system. Remember that tomorrow is a new day.
5 Things You Might Be Doing to Sabotage Your Relationship
1. You’re frequently disappointed by your partner’s gifts or gestures.
He might not have the greatest taste in jewelry or the latest fashions, and consequently his gifts may fall short of your stylish expectations. But in matters of the heart, it really is the thought that counts. If you want to stay in good favor, be thankful of the effort. After all, nothing discourages gift-giving or spontaneous romantic gestures like real or perceived criticism from the recipient.
2. You focus on his faults.
Even Mr. Right is not going to be perfect. In fact, far from it. A solid relationship is not about verbally beating his flaws out of him any more than it is about him expecting you to change into his “dream girl.” The secret is to learn to love even the things you hate about him—or at least recognize that they are to be embraced as part of the gloriously imperfect package. If you can accept his less savory qualities, he’s more likely to be able to return the courtesy—and that’s an indication of true compatibility. Besides, if it’s the real deal, even his faults may grow into endearing idiosyncrasies.
3. You’re too available or have drastically changed your routine for him.
It might be tempting to spend all your free time with your significant other, especially during the “honeymoon stage.” But losing yourself in your loved one invariably results in backlash, which might include bickering or a loss of interest on his part. Schedule a girl’s night out with your gal pals, don your hottest LBD and sky-scraping heels and leave your man on his own for the night. Absence really does make the heart grow fonder. Plus, maintaining your own identity and routine lets him know you that while you want him in your life, you don’t need him—independence and confidence never stops being attractive.
4. You’ve stopped getting glam for your dates…ever.
As a relationship becomes more serious, what you lose in excitement you make up for in intimacy. There’s something to be said for a cozy movie night at home in which you wear his favorite T-shirt. However, taking the time to don your hottest date night dress or throwing on new lingerie, may breathe new life in your relationship and remind you both of your exciting beginning.
5. You discuss your relationship too much.
Once you’ve moved past the casual dating stage to full-on coupledom, it might be tempting to talk about your relationship more. Beware of discussing the ins and outs of your courtship, asking repeatedly if he is “OK” or obsessing on your relationship’s rough edges. Not to say you shouldn’t have an open communication, but make sure you’re living in the moment and keeping things fun and light on a regular basis. After all, you get what you focus on.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
10 Things Your Airline Won't Tell You
1. “Welcome to our crowded plane.”
Just because you show up at the airport with a ticket reservation doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll end up on your intended flight. Most airlines overbook flights to compensate for last-minute cancellations, but they don’t always get the numbers right. And with so few seats open on later flights, fewer folks are volunteering to get bumped. As a result, the number of involuntarily bumped passengers is up, having grown 45 percent between 2005 and 2009, according to the Department of Transportation.“Instead of fixing the problem,” says Tony Polito, an associate professor in the college of business at East Carolina University who has published academic articles about airline industry issues, “they are institutionalizing it.”
What’s worse, travelers who get involuntarily bumped aren’t necessarily entitled to “denied-boarding compensation.” If the airline arranges substitute transportation that gets you to your destination within one hour of your original scheduled arrival time, there is no compensation. If you arrive an hour or more later, the airline is required to pay you, up to a maximum of $800, depending on the price of the ticket and length of delay, according to the DOT’s rules.
David Castelveter, spokesperson for the Air Transport Association, says filling an airplane and keeping passengers happy is a balancing act. The carriers are in business to maximize their revenues, he says — not to bump passengers and pay boarding compensation, and not to depart with empty seats. To achieve those goals, the airlines analyze historical booking information and other data to figure out how many seats to sell or oversell. “By overbooking flights, carriers make available seats — for passengers who want and need those seats — left open because someone no-shows, for whatever reason,” he says.
2. “Your hard-won air miles are probably worth less.”
Air miles are easy to accrue. You can earn them using your credit card, getting a mortgage, “for anything short of breathing,” says Tim Winship, editor at large of SmarterTravel.com. American Airlines, for example, has thousands of participating companies in its frequent-flier program, making it an important revenue center. And United Airlines’ Mileage Plus plan brought in $700 million for the company in 2008, the most recent year for which data is available, up from $600 million in 2006.
But as miles flood the market, they’re getting harder to use. Some airlines have reduced the shelf life of air miles, while others have increased the amount required for an upgrade. Winship says customers can keep their account current by using a credit card affiliated with the program, which will build miles as they make purchases. You can also redeem a small amount of miles, to keep your account active, on things like magazine subscriptions.
3. “We’ll give you a good deal — if we can get something out of it.”
Airlines prefer that you book directly with them, so they often feature promotional codes and special deals exclusively on their own web sites. The goal is to get more consumers to book airfare there as opposed to on the discount web sites that list pricing from most airlines. Why? Airlines pay these online booking sites a commission for the tickets they sell — something they prefer not to do.
While consumers can find helpful deals on the airlines’ sites, they should compare pricing there with what the other sites are offering. Also, travelers might find the lowest fare by booking two separate airlines for each leg of their trip, but they’re unlikely to be informed of that when they book a ticket on an airline’s site.
Some airlines, like Southwest, only permit travelers to buy tickets online from their own web sites. However, Southwest’s computer application Ding will scan for the best fares and update you on deals. What does the carrier get in return? Loyalty and repeat fliers. In 2007, American launched a similar application called DealFinder, which offers big discounts on flights.
4. “We love adding fees.”
A big chunk of the price you pay for a ticket covers additional fees that are often added at the end of the booking process, when buyers are less likely to change their mind. That way, the listed ticket price looks lower than it actually is.
The most common fee these days is for checked bags. For example, United now charges $23 to $25 for the first bag a traveler checks in at the airport, and $32 to $35 for the second. Other examples of fees: Passengers who reserve a seat on Spirit Airlines pay $15 extra for an exit row seat. And Allegiant, a low-cost airline that provides service from cities like Missoula, Mont., charges $19 just to book a ticket online. Some airlines have fuel surcharges, which vary in price depending on many factors, including the length of the trip.
Even frequent-flier programs, which are supposed to let you book “free flights,” have added fees for things like booking too close to your travel date. “I keep seeing more and more of these hidden fees,” says George Hobica, creator of Airfarewatchdog.com. “I get complaints from people all the time.” A spokeswoman for American Airlines says the company does charge fees for flights booked with less than 21 days advance notice for people using frequent flyer miles. Passengers booking a flight just seven to 20 days before takeoff can incur a fee of $50 fee or more, and those who book between two hours and six days before departure can incur a $fee of 100, minimum. In addition, she says, there’s a $10 security service fee that’s collected on roundtrip airfare for passengers boarding in the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
5. “Customer service isn’t always our top priority . . .”
After being stuck in a plane on the tarmac for nine hours in 2006, Kate Hanni decided to fight back against poor customer service. She formed the group Flyerrights.org, which in December was successful in getting the DOT to issue a rule on “enhancing airline passenger protections” that includes requiring the airlines to allow passengers to disembark after three hours on the tarmac and requiring airlines to provide adequate food and water to passengers within two hours of them being stuck in a plane. A DOT spokeswoman says the rule will take effect on April 29, after the department reviews requests from certain carriers that have asked for temporary exemptions.
According to Claes Fornell, a professor at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, customer satisfaction is up about 3% in 2009 compared with 2008, in part because fewer people are traveling. However, he is unimpressed with the carriers’ attitudes toward customers. “They all offer about the same lousy service,” he says.
Castelveter of the Air Transport Association, which represents the airlines, says travelers are upset by delays that are often out of the airlines’ control. “This is a customer-service-driven business, and when we fail our customers, we lose them,” Castelveter says. “Good customer service is our goal.”
6. “. . . but it might be if you have a lot of miles.”
They may be making a lot of customers miserable these days, but if airlines could be said to cater to anyone’s needs, it would be those of the people in the top tier of their frequent-flier programs — heavy travelers, many of whom fly for business and therefore buy the most expensive tickets. “These people get white-glove service,” says Henry Harteveldt, a travel analyst with Forrester Research. “Airlines really want to cultivate that relationship.”
These favored fliers typically get the first crack at upgrades. In many cases, the reservation center answers their call on the first ring. They often get special bonus-mile offers and free upgrades. And while some airlines are increasing fees associated with frequent-flier programs, members still have perks like first-class check-in (for shorter lines through security) and early boarding.
7. “Our planes can make travel uncomfortable – and costlier.”
Older aircraft are maintained to high safety standards. But they can cause more delays due to last-minute mechanical problems, and they guzzle fuel, a cost that filters down to customers, says CreditSights analyst Roger King. What’s more, with older planes, the airlines feel little pressure to upgrade, says Richard Aboulafia, an aviation analyst with the Teal Group. Seating room is minimal, in-flight entertainment is mediocre or nonexistent and meal service is unlikely, he says.
The industry has a different point of view. “Aircraft of 30 years ago might have guzzled more fuel, but the ones that began operating in the last decade are quite fuel efficient,” says Castelveter, pointing out that some airlines have adjusted aerodynamics on older aircraft so they burn less fuel. The notion that older planes are smaller inside than their newer counterparts is also wrong, he says—and meal service has nothing to do with the age of a plane. “Meals, in some cases, have been eliminated, even in the newer model aircraft,” he says.
8. “Even we don’t understand our pricing.”
Most domestic flights operate with two cabins – coach and first or business class while international flights are divided into first class, business and economy. But when it comes to pricing, there are often around a dozen or more different price points for seats on each plane. “Ticket pricing is a mix of science, game theory and art — a three dimensional matrix,” says Harteveldt of Forrester Research. The biggest factor, beyond basic costs like fuel and labor, is the competition. Airlines track one another’s fares, then try to determine how many business travelers, who generally pay a premium for flexible tickets, are likely to book a flight. On routes with lots of business travelers, seat prices can stay high because airlines know they’ll book seats at the last minute. As each seat sells, the prices of others fluctuate: Domestic fares can change up to three times a day during the week and once on weekends, says Hobica.
But prices don’t only go up. A number of factors can cause prices to fluctuate months or even hours before a flight takes off. One example is if demand from business travelers is lagging, prices may fall as the flight time gets closer. If that happens and the fare drops by the time your flight leaves, you can get a voucher from a number of airlines for the difference between what you paid for the airfare and the lowest price it dropped to. Customers can get this refund if they bought published airfare either directly from the airline or from most price-comparison sites. Some airlines will assess a fee with this refund, but customers should still ask for the full amount. JetBlue, for example, doesn’t deduct a fee; instead it puts the difference into a credit, which a customer can use toward airfare within 12 months, says a spokesperson.
9. “We’re at the mercy of old technology.”
Air traffic decreased in 2009, when the number of flights fell by 6.6 percent compared with 2008, and the number of passengers traveling fell 5.3 percent, according to the DOT. But even with less-crowded skies, air-traffic control’s radar-based system, which safely tracks planes, remains inefficient. Planes are routed across the country in a zig zag fashion on a series of highways in the sky, spacing them at least five miles apart for safety. And that’s the problem: Because radar pinpoints planes about every 12 seconds, their precise location is not known, says Castelveter.
The airlines would like to see this system replaced by one based on digital-satellite technology, he says. That would allow planes to fly much closer, which would be safer, help reduce congestion and allow more flights. Some airlines have been working toward this goal for a while. In the mid-1990s, Alaska Airlines began using Required Navigation Performance (RNP), a global positioning system that helps airplanes fly more-direct routes with more accuracy and save fuel. And according to a recent Wall Street Journal article, Southwest Airlines is planning to change the cockpit software in two-thirds of its fleet to RNP.
10. “You’ll wait because the system’s broken.”
Airline delays aren’t as widespread as they were a few years ago, but they’re still a problem. In 2009, 18.9 percent of flights arrived late and 16.8 percent of flights departed late, down from 24% and 21% respectively in 2007, according to the DOT.
But if bad weather rolls in, delays increase and spread across the country. When JFK and Newark airports experienced serious delays in 2007, the Federal Aviation Administration stepped in the following year and capped scheduled flights going in and out of JFK at 83 for peak hours, down from 100 or more. The agency also limited scheduled flights at Newark to 81 flights per hour. Since then, delays have decreased at the three major New York- area airports assisted by scheduling limits, improvements in air traffic control, and reductions in flying, says an FAA spokesperson.
Even the airlines say these were necessary steps. But the carriers would like more action from the government, including pushing through upgrades of the air-traffic-control system, which would increase capacity at airports. Castelveter of the ATA says there is plenty of blame to spread for delay, from the need for a modernized air-traffic control system to the volume of corporate jets. “It’s an incredibly complex problem,” says Shannon Anderson, associate professor of management at Rice University, one involving aging technology, competing airlines and private and commercial carriers. “Just capping the number of flights is not going to solve it.”
10 Reasons Guys Aren't Approaching You
My ecologist friend, in his Darwinian mindset, jokingly exclaimed: Oh wow, she's presenting!
You don't have to emulate an Animal Planet mating documentary to get a guy approach you when you're out, but body language is important. You have to give a guy an opening, and make yourself available.
I want my approach to appear to be well-timed, and I don't like it when I feel like I'm interrupting. Sometimes the situation lends itself to an approach: there's something extraordinary to talk about, or we just bump into each other. Pay attention to your actions when you're out. If you want guys to approach you, are you making it easy on them-are you available ?
Some girls might want the guy to work as part of the approach; but, for every one of you that make it tough for a guy to approach, there are women who make it easier to approach that a guy might go for instead.
Here are a few things women do, that prevent guys from approaching them:
1. You're Surrounded by Lots (I mean LOTS) of Friends
When girls are in a group, I know that I'm going to be evaluated as soon as I walk away. It's tough enough to walk up to one girl, let alone a group.
2. You're Too Hot
If she's super hot, sometimes I assume I have no chance or I'm just plain intimidated. Most guys will give it the old college try though. This, by the way, is the best reason for your ego why guys aren't approaching: "I'm just so hot I'm intimidating."
3. Getting Too Tipsy
One night, we were out and a girl intermittently stood up on the seat of her booth and did stripper-type dances. The guys in the bar looked, but never approached. It's tough to approach a whirling dervish and no one could take her seriously. And sometimes the "too drunk" girl gets approached by guys who are interested in one thing only.
4. Looking Sloppy
I don't usually approach girls who don't look stylish and put together. Now, if you want to keep guys away from you, doing the celeb in public homeless look might be a good strategy.
5. Downer Demeanor
Smiling and eye contact is inviting, while anger, and looking like you're too good for everyone drives people away. Try to give off positive vibes, and more people will approach.
6. You're With Another Guy In Any Capacity
You appear to be taken if you arrive with guys, or meet guys while you're out. Guys have no way of knowing if you're with a guy. Some guys might ask, but some might just move on to someone who looks more available.
7. You have a Ring
Now I'll admit that I'm clueless, even for a guy. I'm not sure about the wedding ring/engagement rules: which hand/finger gets the ring? I know one has a big diamond, and one looks like a simple ring. But unmarried women wear all sorts of rings. Your ring that looks like a wedding ring might be keeping guys away (or maybe stupid guys like me, which is probably a good thing).
8. You seem BusyIt's easier to approach a girl who looks bored, like she wants someone to talk to. In a caf , if she's reading a book, or has her face in her laptop, I assume she's busy and doesn't want to deal with my stupid pick up attempt. In a bar, if she seems content doing whatever she's doing, I won't want to interrupt.
9. You're Literally Tough To Catch
I've devised strategic plans to make a move, waiting for a girl to go to the bar, or bathroom. But when she finally gets up she walks too fast, or takes bodyguards (tons of friends) with her. Bottom line, some women just don't give that opening physically for the approach. Remember, your migratory patterns might be exactly what that guy is waiting for, so be on the lookout when you're on the move.
10. You're a Wall Flower
If you're in the corner all night, or buried behind chairs and tables, you not only cut yourself off from the rest of the world, but some guys don't want to slalom obstacles to get to you. If you want guys to approach you, you might want to move or try out some other spots.
Do you agree with my list above? What actions do you think deter guys from approaching you? What actions make a guy tough to approach?
