Friday, 25 July 2014

Air Algerie flight 5017 Likely Crashed, 110 Feared Dead

Air Algerie flight 5017 Likely Crashed, 110 Feared DeadAir Algerie-1

It is likely that Air Algerie flight 5017 crashed on Thursday in Mali. Officials had lost contact with the jet, an MD-83, fifty minutes after it departed Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso bound for Algier’s Houari Boumediene Airport.
Initial reports from the airline that the airplane was believed to have gone down near Tilemsi appear to be in dispute.
The flight carried 110 passengers, two pilots, and four cabin crew members. According to reports, 51 French, 27 Burkina Faso nationals, eight Lebanese, six Algerians, five Canadians, four Germans, two Luxemburg nationals, one Swiss, one Belgium, one Egyptian, one Ukrainian, one Nigerian, one Cameroonian and one Malian were on-board the flight.
The airplane was one of two MD-83 aircraft that Air Algerie has in its fleet, both are currently on lease from Spanish charter-carrier Swiftair.
Radar at the time showed stormy activity in the vicinity, though nothing has been confirmed. The region has also seen extensive fighting between French/Malian forces and local insurgents. The US has banned carriers from over-flying the African nation due to the threat of RPGs, rockets, and other dangers. It was not known if there was any connection between such activity and the crash.
July 24, 2014 0905: Reuters is reporting that an Algerian aviation officials has said the aircraft has crashed, and there have been other reports saying the aircraft crashed in Mali.
July 24, 2014 0900: Swiftair said: “We have lost contact with the plane. At this moment, emergency services and our staff are working on finding out more on this situation.”
On Twitter, Air Algerie said: “Unfortunately, for the moment we have no more information than you do. We will give you the latest news live.”
There have been unconfirmed reports that there have been up to 50 French nationals on-board the flight, and France is actively seeking information.
“We are entirely mobilized in Paris as well as in Algiers and Ouagadougou where our embassies are in constant contact with local authorities and the airline,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
PlaneFinder Tweeted a map that shows large storm clouds over Burkina Faso. Reuters is reporting, citing a diplomat in West Africa, that there may have been a large storm in the area about the same time the plane disappeared.
Stay tuned…
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ANA To Receive Its First 787-9 Next Week

ANA To Receive Its First 787-9 Next Week

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ANA’s first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner will arrive in Tokyo, Japan next Tuesday.
The airline will begin flying the jet on domestic flights next month. It will be deployed on international routes in April.
Before paying passengers will fly on the 787-9, ANA will be operating a special commemorative flight “Dreamliner” with American and Japanese elementary school children in Japan on-board. The aircraft will fly over Mount Fuji, after departing from Haneda. Additionally, the TOMODACHI logo will be displayed on the aircraft to support the initiative to strengthen Japanese-US ties.
It appears that ANA may beat the 787-9s launch customer, Air New Zealand, in operating the world’s first passenger flight of the jet.
The first 787-9 will arrive with domestic route specifications with 395 seats; 60 more than the 787-8.
Currently, ANA has 28 787s in its fleet, and in a press release, the carrier said that “The fuel savings achieved from the 787 aircraft already in service are sufficient to operate 500 round trips from Tokyo to Frankfurt and are reducing CO2 emissions by 150,000 tons a year. When all 80 Dreamliners are in operation, the CO2 reduction will be 450,000 tons, with enough fuel saved to operate 1,400 round trips to Frankfurt.”
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ANALYSIS: American Airlines Posts Record Profit in Second Quarter

ANALYSIS: American Airlines Posts Record Profit in Second Quarter

American Airlines Group reported its highest quarterly profit ever on Thursday, announcing a net profit of $864 million, or $1.17 per diluted share. Excluding special items, the Dallas-based airline reported a net profit of $1.5 billion as it continue its astoundingly quick post-bankruptcy recovery after consummating a merger in December of 2013.
Disclosure, the author owns AAL equities
Total operating revenues leapt 10.2% year-over-year (YOY) to $11.35 billion, Strong mainline revenue performance drove much of the improvement, rising 10.3% YOY to $8.21 billion. Regional revenue rose as well, climbing 4.1% to $1.70 billion, while cargo revenue rose 8.3% YOY to $221 million. Both of these figures belied the trend amongst American’s peers, as both United and Delta saw regional and cargo revenue decline. Despite the economic recovery in the United States, the air freight market remains exceedingly soft. Other operating revenue, which includes things like revenue from credit card agreements to sell frequent flyer miles, grew 20.5% YOY to $1.21 billion. Overall, a 6.5% increase in yields to 17.34 cents drove a 5.9% YOY increase in passenger revenue per available-seat-mile (PRASM) to 14.57 cents.
Broken down by geographic region, domestic PRASM was up 9.9% to 14.13 cents, while Latin American PRASM declined 2.5% to 12.75 cents. The second quarter represents a trough period for Latin America, so that figure is not too concerning to us. And Trans-Atlantic operations performed well, with PRASM up 2.7% to 12.39 cents. Pacific operations, which AA has struggled with, recorded PRASM growth of 9% to 10.81 cents.
The Pacific is an interesting growth avenue for American, who recorded strong PRASM performance from an extremely low base. Conversely, Latin America continues to be a drag on the overall revenue operation, mostly due to the situation in Venezuela. While each of the three largest US carriers has some exposure to Venezuela, American has the largest Venezuelan network by far, so it has commensurately suffered the greatest losses as a result. On the airline’s quarterly earnings call, American executives shared a telling statistic. American operated one flight per day between Caracas and San Juan and six flights per day between Miami and San Juan, yet 30% of revenue on Miami – San Juan came from passengers connecting from Caracas despite multiple daily nonstop flights between Miami and Caracas. In terms of overarching financial impact, American expects to take a one percentage point PRASM hit in the third quarter and a two percentage point PRASM hit in the fourth quarter. In the trans-Atlantic theater, American has reduced its capacity growth plans for the second half of the year by three percentage points to 2%, reflecting the fact that pre-merger US Airways’ trans-Atlantic network (particularly out of Charlotte) is likely uneconomical at the new American’s cost levels.
Operating expenses grew 7.0% YOY to $9.95 billion. Labor costs ballooned 10.2% to $2.16 billion on 3.1% capacity growth as measured by available seat miles (ASMs). Aircraft fuel costs rose 2.8% YOY to $2.83 billion, reflecting a 1.3% uptick in consumption on a 1.5% increase in per-gallon prices to $3.03, but a reduction YOY on a per-ASM basis. Aircraft renting costs fell 6.7% to $312 million, but the decrease was offset by a 13.8 YOY increase in depreciation and amortization cost, due to changes in the composition of American’s fleet. Every other expense-line item decreased YOY on a per-ASM basis, and consolidated costs per ASM (CASM) rose 3.7% to 14.62 cents, while CASM excluding fuel and special items rose 2.5% to 9.31 cents.
For the quarter, American generated nearly 1.5 billion of operating cash flow, and recorded an operating profit of $1.4 billion, good for an operating margin of 12.3%, slightly worse than that of rival Delta Air Lines, but stronger than that of United. In terms of capital deployment, American spent $630 million in the first half of the year on purchasing aircraft off of lease, and plans on utilizing an additional $370 million of cash thru 2014 on the same model. Pre-merger US Airways’ fleet philosophy erred strongly on the side of owned aircraft, and the new American appears to have abandoned Tom Horton’s final gambit of winning extremely cost effective operating leases from Airbus and Boeing while attempting to conserve capital before exiting Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Since the merger, American has prepaid nearly $420 million in aircraft debt and it plans to prepay an additional $480 million in revenue bond obligations. American’s share repurchase plans include an authorization from the board to buy back $1 billion worth of shares by December 31, 2015. And in a pair of moves that reflect the unprecedented state of the US airline industry’s finances, American plans to contribute $600 million to its pension plans in 2014 (above the $120 million base requirement), and pay out a cash dividend of 10 cents per share (American’s first cash dividend since 1980!)
Unlike United and Delta, who have had time to accrue synergies from their merger and the reduction of 50-seat regional jets in the fleet, American’s strong financial performance belies the fact that it likely has several hundred million, if not more than a billion dollars worth of synergy improvement forthcoming. Specifically on the topic of synergies, initiatives such as putting more seats in aircraft, re-banking the American hubs, and changing pre-merger US Airways’ revenue model to become more aggressive are expected to begin boosting revenue as early as the fourth quarter.
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Thursday, 24 July 2014

Google hit with lawsuit over data-slurping

DATA-SLURPING: YouTube use could be combined with Google Map location data and Google search histories to create data that's very attractive to advertisers.

Many internet users may not be aware Google slurps up data about how they use apps such as search, maps, Gmail and YouTube to create one major data profile. 
Where you go, what you search, who you email, what you send and which videos you watch online are all collection data points.
All the tech giant needs to tie it together with where you go, what you search, what you talk about and what you like is that you're signed in with a Google account such as a Gmail address, or a Google+ or YouTube account when doing those searches.
To activate these accounts you must agree to Google’s privacy policies,which in March 2012 were updated to allow the company to combine user data from a range of different apps.
The data-scoping and organising is coordinated by machines rather than humans, and the data is sorted into aggregate insights and keyword targeting, both of which are valuable to advisers. It is also used to develop Google's produts.
But the US-based company’s almost unfettered ability to harvest and capitalise on the online activities of their users is set to face a challenge in the Californian courts.
A US federal judge has rejected an application by Google to dismiss a privacy lawsuit by Android phone users.
The Android operating system is a Google product. Google's privacy policy allows the company to access images and text messages on Android phones.
The lawsuit claims the company ‘commingled user data across different products and disclosed that data to advertisers without permission’.
In a 28-page decision, Judge Paul Grewal said his decision that Google must face the breach of contract and fraud claims was a close call.
"Like Rocky rising from Apollo's uppercut in the 14th round, plaintiffs' complaint has sustained much damage but just manages to stand," Grewal said. in a 28-page decision.
The applicants in the court case are claiming Google made the changes to privacy protocols without their consent and with no way to opt out.
Agreeing to revised privacy conditions like those that allowed the commingling is usually as simple as clicking a button on a pop-up. Often users don’t even need to scroll through the long passages of dense explanations.
Applicants will argue the changes risked their privacy by exposing names, locations and contact details as well as a host of other personal information, which increased the risk of harassment and identity theft.
They suggest it was an attempt by the company to compete with the data-collecting clout of Facebook. The social network is rich in user personal data that is conveniently organised into one profile, proving the company ample commercial opportunities, such as targeted advertising.
This is the third time Android users have attempted to sue Google on similar grounds.
Despite the breakthrough for the applicants in the case, Grewel dismissed their claim that they were forced to change phones to a non-Android phone after the changes.
The case only involves American Android smartphone users, who have greater privacy rights than most as five of the amendments to the US Bill of Rights concern privacy.
Google has faced a range of lawsuits from American citizens and privacy groups over a range of their products.
In October 2013, a judge refused to dismiss a class action against Google for analysing emails and selling the insights to advertisers.
In March 2013, the company admitted they had violated people’s privacy after being sued by 38 states. The New York Times reported Google admitted the cars equipped to take photographs for Google Street view were also scooping up personal data from computers in the homes they drove past.
A Google spokeswoman declined to comment for this story.
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Google engineer raped woman in his East Village apartment, is being probed for other sexual assaults: prosecutor

NYC PAPERS OUT. Social media use restricted to low res file max 184 x 128 pixels and 72 dpiJustin Chan, center, is seen Tuesday in Manhattan Supreme Court, where he appeared on charges that he raped a woman at his apartment.
A Google engineer busted for an alleged rape in his East Village apartment is being probed for “numerous” other reported attacks, the Daily News has learned.
Justin Chan, 28, was arraigned in Manhattan Supreme Court Tuesday on rape charges stemming from the alleged sexual assault June 1 inside his E. 12th St. apartment.
Chan, who hails from Canada but works for the technology giant in New York, approached the victim on the street and “they had a shot of whiskey” before going back to his apartment, prosecutors said.
She told him she wanted to leave but he forced her to say and forced a sexual encounter around 8:30 p.m., the district attorney says.
Accused rapist Justin Chan works at Google's New York office.PRESTON RESCIGNO / GETTY IMAGESAccused rapist Justin Chan works at Google's New York office.
“Although the defendant doesn’t have a criminal history, he has numerous complaints of sexual assault against (him) which are being investigated at this time,” a prosecutor told Justice Charles Solomon on Tuesday.
Chan, who pleaded not guilty to his indictment, is free on $50,000 cash bail. Prosecutors wanted to have his bail hiked to $150,000, based on the ongoing investigation.
“There's no change of circumstances,” his attorney, Kimberly Summers, argued.
NYC PAPERS OUT. Social media use restricted to low res file max 184 x 128 pixels and 72 dpiJEFFERSON SIEGEL/NEW YORK DAILY NEWSJustin Chan, right, is being investigated for other alleged sexual crimes, prosecutors say.
As the details where read in court, Chan shook his head in disagreement.

Both he and Summers, declined to comment after the hearing. Chan left the courthouse with his girlfriend, who is he moving in with, and another pal.
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Wednesday, 23 July 2014

Real Life Spongebob Cafe!? I Want A Krabby Patty!

You guys! This is so COOL! Some awesome Spongebob lovers just built a real life Krusty Krab!
The real life Krusty Krab is in Ramallah, Palestine - for real, they're onFacebook - and is opening soon. I wish there was one nearer to me!
If you compare pictures, they've done a pretty good job of recreating a Krusty Krab Spongebob could be proud of...
They're even gonna have models and costumes for staff so you can hang out with Mr Krabs and the gang for a sandwich filled with Jellyfish Jelly...

The Krusty Krab isn't the first time that a mega-fan has lovingly recreated a movie setting in real life....Check out a few others....

The Bat Cave

A private buyer in Connecticut had a $2 million home cinema installed, designed to look like The Bat Cave!
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Diagon Alley

Take a trip to Orlando, Florida if you wanna see a whole bunch of Harry Potter scenes. Imagine walking down Diagon Alley!
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Biohazard Bar & Grill

Tokyo's Resident Evil-themed restaurant is pretty darn cool...although you wouldn't want a gaggle of zombies bursting in and slobbering over your burger, right?
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Jancy Richardson2232 people voted
Which of these awesome real life movie settings would you prefer to visit?
  • The Krusty Krab
  • The Bat Cave
  • Diagon Alley
  • Biohazard Bar
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15 comments
Floyd Jones
Floyd Jones
The should make a fortress of solitude one 
Reply
Amanda May
Amanda May
Wish there was one in the United States 
Reply
Rdohla Monk
Rdohla Monk
Wish they had a button for all the above! 
Reply
Anthony Campbell
Anthony Campbell
batcave 
Reply
Caleb barajas
Caleb barajas
Batcave too 
Anthony CampbellCaleb barajas
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Chase Chandler
Chase Chandler
Sponge Bob sucks, possibly the worst cartoon ever made... 
Reply
Xavier Taylor
Xavier Taylor
I went to Daigon Alley a few weeks ago. There's also Hogsmeade! It's so much fun. Everything from the movies is there (that I can remember at least). 
Reply
Kaden Iverson
Kaden Iverson
Couldn't 1 of the krusty krabs be in utah 
Reply
Everytown4gunsafety
Everytown4gunsafety
Wonder what kind of Kosher food they sell? Lol at the Kosher Krusty Krab. 
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Chris Campbell
Chris Campbell
Biohazard Bar looks bad ass. check it outhttp://www.c2s.co.jp/biohazard/stars/index2-e.html  
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BIOHAZARD CAFE and GRILL S.T.A.R.S
BIOHAZARD CAFE and GRILL S.T.A.R.Sバイオハザード初の公式レストラン BIOHAZARD CAFE and GRILL S.T.A.R.S
Judy Swift
Judy Swift
What? No Star Wars Cantina? 
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