Air France criticized for attitude towards disabled passengers

The editors at Emerging Horizons have a great deal of personal experience with the challenges of travelling with a disability. One of the editors is a paraplegic, thus necessitating much research in advance of any trip.

Air France received the rather unenviable distinction from the editors of Emerging Horizons, for the unwillingness of one of its senior captains to allow a prominent, disabled passenger to board a flight. Michelle Daly, an advisor working for the French government, had a ticket to fly from Paris to London-Heathrow in order to serve as a participant at a conference on disabilities. Daly's plans, however, were nixed, when the captain came out of the cockpit and cast doubt on whether the government advisor had the ability to walk. Daly pointed out that she could not, in fact, walk on her own, and shortly after hearing this, the captain asked her to leave the plane, noting that the advisor posed a "safety and health risk to everyone on the plane."

Air France publicly stood by its captain and argued that it was not safe for Daly to fly, because the aircraft in question was not equipped to handle passengers with disabilities.

Victory or defeat?

Conventional wisdom about American voters is a powerful currency in the pundit economy. Reporters and consultants trade generalizations like legal tender in their political commentary. Unfortunately, some of their factual coinage turns out to be counterfeit.

As this election year unfolds, it's helpful to separate myth from fact. Much of what we think we know — and that which gets repeated as gospel in explaining election results — turns out to be apocryphal.

Those are the main conclusions from an insightful new book titled, "Unconventional Wisdom — Facts and Myths About AmericanVoters," by political scientists Karen M. Kaufman, John R. Petrocik and Daron R. Shaw. Reading this book will help anyone interested in understanding the 2008 election, avoid common pitfalls in political interpretation that are perpetuated by the absence of rigorous analysis.

The Incredibles

The most glaring difference one sees when comparing the two companies is the attitude and execution of their labor practices.

The average hourly wage of a Wal-Mart employee is $9.68, while the average hourly pay of a Costco employee is $16. The average Costco employee makes over $40,000 after working there for three years, at which point Costco is also paying for over 90 percent of the employee's health insurance.

One almost wonders how such a generous company stays in business. The management of the company has stated again and again, however, that treating their workers well is not altruistic, but simply good business, and it would appear that they're right: Relative to the amount of revenue pulled in by each company, just under 10 percent of Costco's money goes toward paying its workers, while Wal-Mart ends up spending about 17 percent.

Improving

Mangrove snapper fishing is improving - Bradenton Herald
Bait fish in the bays of the Manatee/Sarasota area are about as thick as I have ever seen in recent memory. The bulk of the action continues to be mangrove snapper, trout and redfish, but there are also some Spanish mackerel, flounder, bluefish

The candidates' positions on energy policy - Detroit Free Press
• Expand offshore oil and natural gas production. • Offer tax credits for zero- and low-emission cars and a $300-million prize for breakthrough battery development; enforce CAFE standards; support flex-fuel vehicles and alcohol-based fuels

Credit card debt rates high on list of taboo subjects - Chicago Tribune
T alk about taboo subjects. It seems most Americans would rather discuss their love lives with somebody they just met than how much they owe on their credit cards. They would also rather talk about their salaries, mortgage or rent payments, health

Very little concern for Business or Citizens

The take or leave it attitude of the government will continue to prevail and will not change until civil society and the business community can translate their call into action plans and assert themselves which can then impact the government and the opposition in some form which would then force them to view their demands constructively. The great Aristotle once observed that no state would be well administered unless and until civil society holds sway. This is very true in Sri Lanka and in many developing countries. People elect leaders for five to six years, watch in silence while they do what they desire for that period, and then attempt to throw them out in disgust and hope for better options at election times. This attitude of electing a dictatorship for six years is not the essence of democracy.

BODYBUILDING: Falls' Primareno flexes at states

For that, he thanks girlfriend Jill Fiocco, who prepared his meals, kept him company during cardio sessions and helped him keep a positive attitude."I also can't thank my brother enough," he said.About 18 months ago, Primerano left his job as a customs broker at FedEx to join his brother in the fitness industry. He now has more than 50 clients, and begins his 10-hour days at Summit Fitness at 5:30 a.m."It doesn't feel like work," Primerano said, adding that competing helps him do his job."In this business, it's very important to practice what you preach. If they see you could diet down, that gives them the inspiration to work harder at their diet and training regimen."Contact reporter Jonah Bronstein at 282-2311, ext. 2258.

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Spiritual mothering

Out of "tough love" she decided to send Nicole to a camp for attitude adjustment.

"There is a fine line between equanimity and coldness," she noted. "But out of love, you need to do what we have to do to instil strong discipline with loving support.

"Back then, I lit a candle each night when not having control to remind myself that I'm here for now, and to hold on to love as a mother, knowing that nothing can change that love."

While a spiritual practice can help a mother calmly cope with the child's teenage angst, sports, music, any forms of passions will provide some discipline, which will help them through to adulthood against negative peer pressure and media influences, she advised.

"Remember, the child learns from who you are.