Airports, are the only aspect of air travel that has improved markedly over the last decade. On Monday, at the annual conference of domestic airport executives, they are worried about uncertain federal aid. The long-delayed FFA bill remains in Congress as lawmakers argue about how much money to cut. Catherine Lang, the F.A.A.’s deputy associate administrator for airports, said she worried about the “half-built runway projects and half-built terminals". The airlines are making increasing demands as airports try to keep up. Most Americans don’t have the same positive feelings about airlines as we do about airports. Many Americans stopped air travel due to heavy fees for checked bags and deteriorating customer service.Airlines are also raising extra revenue by adding charges for some coach seats that used to be assigned free.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
NY Times #12
LED technology is used in digital clocks, and is predicted to eclipse traditional lightbulbs. A company in California is developing an eye-pleasing version of the energy saving lightbulb. Other companies have introduced LED bulbs as well in the last few years, but most have the same problems: because LEDs are powered by semiconductors, they project light in only one direction and lack the warmth of their incandescent counterparts. Switch Lighting claims to have solved these problems by mounting outward-facing LEDs on metal fingers and cooling them with an inert liquid, making a warmer, brighter output. The bulbs are also recyclable and, like most LEDs, mercury free. They will be available in 40-, 60- and 75-watt equivalents, for about $20 each, later this year.
NY Times #11
Moviegoers will probably reguard the new movie "Prom" as another crappy Disney-teen movie. And theyre right, new tween stars, and another revamp of the same plot. Nova, a do-gooder student is serious abour the prom, but her prospect date doesnt ask her to go (oh-no!). The decorations get ruined, and she has to rebuild them with "bad-boy", Jesse. Of course, they end up together in the end. Lots of side plots, mostly kids that didnt get dates ahead of time. In the end, Prom happens, there is high school love, and lessons are learned.
NY Times #10
Ed Harris alway locates the esscence of every character he portrays. He plays a soft-spoken, bow-tie wearing, middle school teacher in the new movie "That's What I am" a reflection on bullying and tollerance. It is a sentimental movie, whose narrator looks back on his middle-school experience. His beloved teacher (Harris), is portrayed as a martyr-like figure. A bully spreads rumors about the teacher's sexuality, which he refuses to deny out of principle, which leads the small town on a sort of witch-hunt. The movie portrays the children as naive, especially for the 1965 standards. The film is produced by WWE Studios, so they slip in a wrestling star to play the homophobic father of the bully. "Thats What I Am" opens on Friday in Manhattan.
NY Times #9
The Beastie Boys-a rap group that would be considered retro today, has recently released their eighth studio-album: “Hot Sauce Committee Part Two”. The three rappers are now in their forties, and often refer to themselves as "grandpas of rap". In the new album, the group keeps to their old ways of boasting and name dropping. They mention New York locations, and foods throughout the album. They are in competition with "Sucker Rappers" with the ever-changing vocabulary and targeting young kids. Unlike their old albums which featured samples, the boy's new album features all their own backup. They feature vintage sounding Reggae (featuring Santigold). and Noisy-rock. The Beasties boys have always been outsiders in the hip-hop communtiy (White, jewish rappers), however, they were always popular and remain happy on the outside.
NY Times #8
Video games are no longer being upgraded with internet speeds. Microsoft and Sony are especially taking their time to update. The video game industry does not expect an upgrade from either company until the year 2014. That would make a nine-year gap for Microsoft, and and eight-year gap for sony.
Analysts say that the reason for extending the console's life-span is cost. They are invested in to hace intensive graphics and complex gameplay. It is also said that the companies are trying to recoup their investments. Nintendo has suffered less losses, and is sticking to the traditional upgrade cycle. Today, these companies are facing competition from online games such as Farmville on Facebook. Nintendo's Wii is targeted towards women, children and seniors, and is immensely popular. Microsoft and Sony's movement consoles are significantly less popular. Sony says that they think the PS3 is "hitting its stride". Nintendo is considering redoing the Wii so it will appeal to the hardcore gaming crowd, with better graphics. Nintendo wants to make movies appear in HD, the way they do on Sony and Microsoft systems.