Discover Top Posts Tagged with #kedged

What? Wireless Air Travel? Yes, it is time

In early 2007, OnAir will arrive. OnAir is a service that uses satellite technology for airline passengers to use wireless devices such as mobile phones, Internet connections from computers and blackberries during a flight. The debate on the use of wireless technology in flight has been going on for years, and now that it is about to happen, is the debate likely to heat up.First of all you should know that the first wave of this will not happen on U.S. flights. Airbus plane manufacturer who creates the technology, sell it to AirFrance. AirFrance expected to have the service available to passengers in early 2007. Whether passengers will have to pay for the service they pay for the headphones for a film is not known yet. Two other airlines, the British airline BMI and TAP Air are both considering using OnAir, but nothing has been finalized, yet.So what is the debate about? Who would not want the convenience of using their mobile phone during a long flight, get important e-mails on his Blackberry or who has the luxury of surfing the Internet to kill time? Apparently lots of people and for some very valid reasons.The Security ConsiderationThere been concern that the use of mobile phones (cell phones to us Americans) and other devices that use wireless technology can interfere with aircraft navigational equipment. Recent technological advances in both navigation devices and mobile phone technology seems to negate this concern, but not everyone is convinced. There is concern that the navigational equipment on older aircraft may be affected.The Phone DebateOkay Suppose security issue taken care of and there is no concern that wireless communications will interfere with aircraft navigational equipment. What opposition is there to use mobile phone during a flight? Studies have shown that the majority of air travelers is the use of cell phones on an airplane because it would be purely annoying to sit next to someone who is receiving and to call for hours on a flight. They imagine being stuck between two uninterrupted speakers. Common sense seems to say that people do not really would be so inconsiderate to have hour long conversations on their mobile phones during a flight. But experience has shown us in the case of mobile phones, most people lose their common sense. People will keep highly personal conversations in restaurants and shops and on buses. They will be driving with a hand-held mobile phone also states where it has been made illegal. So does anyone really think people will use common sense and consideration during flights? Not really.It is easy to see the scenario. Businessmen who intend to be considerate will get what they consider to be a very important business calls and finally talking longer than they expected. Or a mother who just want to check on their children for one minute will stop to chat with every one of them before she can hang up. It is no wonder that air passengers are concerned that the use of mobile phones will be a shock in flights. They are already an annoyance to the ground. Another concern some air travelers will thrill to all this discomfort will create, perhaps making already jittery fliers more frustrated and pushing them over the edge. Some people are already nervous just about flying. Add a cramped, overcrowded planes to the mix, the constant threat of terrorism, restrictions on what can be exercised, and now the addition of a ruthless mobile phone user sits next to the nervous flyer, and someone may just snap. ; How Internet Travelers are not as adamantly against the use of Internet connections for laptops and PDAs as Blackberrys?. These units are quiet. Many passengers already use their laptops on a flight, it's just not connected to the Internet when they use it. Being able to send and receive e-mails while on a flight may be convenient for most people, especially business travelers. It does not seem much of a debate on these devices as long as safety is not a concern.What can be done? When do you start concerned with this issue? As of now, U.S. carriers seem not considering using OnAir or any service it. A report on the MSN Travel said that the airline they asked - AirTran, Spirit and U.S. Airways - all said they have heard their passengers say they do not want cell phones used on aircraft and is opposed to adding service. But the question is whether these services are not catching on in Europe and prove to be a money maker for the carriers that use it, the carriers jump onboard? In an era of declining profits, they will be able to resist? So if the trial that AirFrance give OnAir prove successful and the carriers to jump on board, what can be done to ensure that mobile phone usage does not become a problem on board? One solution is to have no cell phone usage times. Perhaps next to the little light above your seat that lets you know if you need to have your place secured or not, there could be another view that lets you know if there is a good time to use your cell phone or not. Mobile phone time may be limited on long flights and on flights over night when most people would like sleep.Another solution is to give the crew the opportunity to turn off the voice capability of units for a limited time. During these times of SMS and e-mail would be allowed, but talking would be disabled.

http://softonic.com

#travel #Vacation #ski #South America #kedged #tetrapteron

Mining Union Wins Bonuses, salary increases on the world's largest copper mine

Santiago, Chile - Workers at the world's largest copper mine has made landmark progress in their ongoing labor dispute, winning thousands of dollars in bonuses and higher wages for the unionized members. The Escondida mine, located in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, will pay each of its workers a bonus of U.S. $ 25,340, giving them a 5 percent raise, increasing their health and benefits training, and provides easy access to up to U.S. $ 6,339 in loans. The union, which has about 2250 members, voted to accept the offer with a 72 percent affirmative vote. The union contract would expire in December 5.This latest concession by Escondida, owned by British / Australian mining giant BHP Billiton and produces five percent of world copper will certainly influence labor negotiations at other Chilean mines, including Spence, another BHP Billiton mine, and the Andina division of state-owned copper, CODELCO.At Spence, where the workers are on strike, the union leaders require benefits beyond those won in Escondida. "We are open to resume the dialogue, but we warn that we can afford to continue striking for months," union leader Andrés Ramírez told El Mercurio. He said his union was not blocking the access of workers or vehicles entering mine.Still will Escondida's success does not necessarily carry over to other industrial disputes by Juan Carlos Guarjardo, head of the Santiago-based Center for Copper and Mining Studies (CESCO). "I do not think it is possible to extrapolate the same number to all cases, but it will play an important role in establishing a higher standard," he told El Mercurio and pointed out that several mining contracts will end later this year, which puts the Escondida settlement in the center of the mining industry's attention.Escondida workers fought for higher wages in 2006 also, and after a 25-day strike, won a bonus of U.S. $ 16,290 and a 5 percent salary hike.Copper has long been the main pillar of Chile's economy . According to the Chilean Central Bank, in 2008 copper represented 42.49 percent of Chile's exports and 15.5 percent of its gross domestic product product.SOURCES: El Mercurio, EQUITY, Reuters, The Australian

http://simplyhired.com

#travelers #vacations #snowboarding #San Pedro de Atacama #kedged #crap