Old rule still holds magic for stranded air travelers — chicagotribune.com It served as a secret handshake, of sorts, between airlines and passengers for decades.Travelers whose flights were delayed, or who simply were running late, would sidle up to ticket counters and whisper, “Rule 240 me.” And the airline workers usually would oblige, putting them on the next flight to their destination, even if it were on a rival carrier. The days of Rule 240 as an official component of the era of regulated air travel are long gone. But in this summer of endless delays, steamed passengers and overcrowded…
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Padre Mickey’s Dance Party: Padre Mickey invites you to Join Us! JOIN US!!!! Dear Bishop or Rector, Are you a Bishop up for presentment by TEC? Are you a Rector accused of some sort of monkey-business with parish funding? Are you a member of a major dissenting organization? Are they oppressing you because of your adherence to the teachings of the orthodox so-called? Are you ready to practice the new Anglican tradition of jumping ship just before charges are presented? Why go to the Southern Cone or Nigeria or even Rwanda, when you and your congregation can join the Real…
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The collapse of Karl Rove | Salon News In Pennsylvania, Judge Jones’ angry repudiation of the Christian majority on the school board was both a portent and part of the dissolution of the union over which Rove presided in 1994 in Fort Worth. Jones, a Tom Ridge protégé, was unequivocal in asserting the primacy of the Separation Clause over the religious interests of local governing bodies. Like this moderate judge, the larger public — and even the Republican Party, if the candidacy of Rudy Giuliani means anything — has grown weary of the Christian right. It was a marriage as…
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I finally got around to viewing the DVD, which I purchased from the Field Museum’s shop – they have an entire section of their very large shop devoted to fair trade items and environmentally-sensitive gifts. In spite of my pre-2000 dismissal of former Vice President Al Gore Jr. as a slightly dorky wonk, I was very moved by his presentation and the lifelong passion he’s had for learning about the environment, and for raising the alarm about climatic change. Yes, it’s annoying that he uses buzzwords and talking points, just like the Republicans, but also it’s incredibly frustrating and sobering…
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Robert L. Borosage: The Utah Mine Disaster: Don’t Call It an Accident – Politics on The Huffington Post At Crandall Canyon, the miners were working at depths that test the limits of safety. Although Murray denies it, federal regulatory officials say that retreat mining was being practiced. Retreat mining is a perilous technique in which pillars of coal hold up portions of the roof, and when the area is mined, the pillars are pulled down, capturing the useful coal and collapsing the roof. Even hard-driving mine owners aren’t allowed to run amok. There are federal and state laws and regulations…
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Romney Wins Iowa Straw Poll by a Sizable Margin – New York Times For all the hoopla and hype — there were news crews here from around the globe — the political significance of this event was questionable. Rudolph W. Giuliani of New York, like Mr. McCain, said he would not compete in the poll, citing the early advantage that Mr. Romney had built. In addition, this was not exactly a textbook case of American democracy in action. It cost $35 to cast a vote, and most of the campaigns picked up the cost of the voting tickets. Mr. Romney…
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I had a flashback yesterday on the phones. I was working with a client the day before who needed hotels booked from one end of Utah to the other, because she’d just been transferred to the West and had a long, long, long, skinny district to check out. We were chatting along and kidding around a little while I made with the flying fingers – I’m faster booking things “old skool” although the graphical tool we have is useful for “set it and forget it” bookings. So this woman was laughing about something I’d said to crack her up, and…
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How a ‘Good War’ in Afghanistan Went Bad – New York Times A year after the Taliban fell to an American-led coalition, a group of NATO ambassadors landed in Kabul, Afghanistan, to survey what appeared to be a triumph — a fresh start for a country ripped apart by years of war with the Soviets and brutal repression by religious extremists.With a senior American diplomat, R. Nicholas Burns, leading the way, they thundered around the country in Black Hawk helicopters, with little fear for their safety. They strolled quiet streets in Kandahar and sipped tea with tribal leaders. At a…
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My husband David and I saw “The Bourne Ultimatum” earlier this afternoon -and it was a thoroughly enjoyable couple of hours’ worth of entertainment, thrills, and surprisingly apt commentary that transcends mere “spy movie” convention. The Trib had this to say about it, and it cheers me to see that I also picked up on the three important little words that boost this flick from “ho-hum second sequel action movie” to “great thriller that dares to be political.” It’s (pant) not just (pant) a chase movie (whew!) — chicagotribune.com People may be drawn to the film by the promise of…
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Church cancels gay vet’s memorial – Focus on Faith – MSNBC.com ARLINGTON, Texas – A megachurch canceled a memorial service for a Navy veteran 24 hours before it was to start because the deceased was gay.Officials at the nondenominational High Point Church knew that Cecil Howard Sinclair was gay when they offered to host his service, said his sister, Kathleen Wright. But after his obituary listed his life partner as one of his survivors, she said, it was called off. “It’s a slap in the face. It’s like, ’Oh, we’re sorry he died, but he’s gay so we can’t help…