The AirlineReporter blog has recently done an interesting five part series that follows flight attendant trainees with Air Tran. After reading the series, you might be surprised to learn just how complex flight attendant training is, even with Air Tran, and earn a new respect for flight attendants.
A recent Associated Press article (“Rampant cheating hurts China's research ambitions”) has noted how plagiarizing and faking results has become so rampant in Chinese academia that some now worry it could hinder China's efforts to become a global leader in science - although it should be pointed out that “plagiarizing” and “fakes” have not hindered China’s ability to become a manufacturing powerhouse. The article is well worth a quick read.
Forbes.com has recently profiled the world’s most unusual tree houses. However, these are not your typical backyard tree houses but “a new generation of luxury tree houses is elevating the dream, with designs and prices no sidewalk lemonade stand could finance.” The article also includes a slideshow of tree houses.
The AirlineReporter blog has reported an unusual incident where a passenger on Qantas flight QF31 from Sydney to Singapore, who appeared to be drunk or high on drugs, thought he could crash the plane using his mind. Taking no chances, flight attendants cuffed the man’s arms and legs for the rest of the flight to Singapore where he was met by police.
The Airliner Blog has recently noted an odd story of a sleeping passenger who woke up in the aircraft hanger 90 minutes after the plane had landed! Apparently, the “heavy sleeping” passenger was in the backseat and no one noticed he was still there after all the other passengers disembarked (a hangar mechanic found him). You can read more about the incident on the Airliner Blog. Mizozo.com or in the Montreal Gazette.
If you plan to visit Dubai soon, it would be a good idea to know what the rules are for public behavior there. Hence, a recent Christian Science Monitor article entitled: “In Dubai, public kissing can land you in jail” - is well worth reading along with an additional article (“What are the rules for public behavior in Dubai?”) that covers public etiquette. In other words, when in Dubai, do as the Dubaians would.
Breitbart.tv recently posted an interesting video entitled: “Off-the-Hook Hypocrisy: Rep. Waters Used to Love ‘Vulgar’ & ‘Outlandish’ Protest Rallies” Now, if only tea party rallies could get this exciting!
If you think airline travel has gotten bad, read The Lunatic Express by Carl Hoffman. According to a Wall Street Journal book review about the book (“Planes, Trains And Miseries: Planes, The hugger-mugger squalor endured by the planet's traveling billions"), Hoffman will show you what travel is like for the Planet’s poor:
“…which means the vast majority of humanity—the simple business of getting from place to place is almost invariably a savage and insufferable nightmare, unsafe and unsanitary, run by incompetents and regulated by crooks.”
After reading the book, you will never again complain about Amtrak or budget airlines!
In case you found that much of Australia is still in a 1980s time warp, a recent article in the Asia Wall Street Journal ('I Am Big in Australia') will confirm your suspicions as it noted an interesting phenomena of stars long past their prime who are still big in the land down under. These stars include Whitney Houston, Leo Sayer, Deep Purple and the list goes on and on…. So in case you missed the 1980s or simply can’t get enough 80s music, go to the land down under!
The Asian Wall Street Journal recently had an interesting article (“A Banker Wades Into New Markets by Floating Loans From a Boat”) about a banker who floats loans from a boat that plies the Amazon River. However, I think we can assume that the only bailout this banker may need would be to occasionally bail water! The article is definitely an interesting read.
Talk about unfriendly competition, the Airline Reporter blog is reporting that when Norwegian Air Shuttle offered US$.19 fares to celebrate a new route between Copenhagen and Karup, the employees of Danish airline Cimber Sterling bought more than 650 tickets with one employee purchasing 458 tickets and two board members purchasing 18. The CEO of Cimber Sterling later called the CEO of Norwegian Air Shuttle to apologize... 
