Tagged With "General Federation of Labor"
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Re: 1000's Drawn to North Dakota
I have not done that, Rob, but I do have some friends in North Dakota. The wages are good, but before anyone makes the jump there, be sure you understand the cost of housing and such. Apartments and homes are in short supply and expensive. But as you pointed out, so is labor. So if you can share an apartment with someone and are willing to work more than 40 hours a week, you can save a nice stash of cash. Don't just go. Educate yourself. There are excellent job opportunities in the Dakotas,...
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Re: Museum find: GE's 'missing' electric car
A great piece! Amazing to me how some of the best products of their day were not built commercially . Even when they were, sometimes they were not successful. Cars like the GE-100 are great examples of that. A true find and thanks for teaching us more!
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Re: Museum find: GE's 'missing' electric car
Love it! Exactly the type of finding that makes a trip memorable. Something proponents of electric cars seem to forget or choose to ignore -- where does the electricity come from? Currently mostly from coal and oil fired plants, so the practical side of having them for most doesn't currently make that much sense (might as well burn the oil product in the car engine, right). But I am hopeful that was energy technology improves, as it surely will, we'll develop better ways of charging these...
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Re: Museum find: GE's 'missing' electric car
The argument, and I'm not informed enough to judge it, is that the amount of fossil fuel needed to generate electricity for a plug-in is far less than that required to run a gasoline engine. The same sort of argument that points out that a gallon of fuel moves far more freight on a diesel train than a diesel truck. On the other hand, that's about plug-in cars. For hybrids, it's a different story because the batteries charge while the car is running on gas. So less gas is used than using gas...
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Re: Museum find: GE's 'missing' electric car
As I understand it, with hybrids the batteries charge when the car brakes are applied (transferring the energy of moving to the battery), so they're especially well adapted to city driving in places with lots of stop signs and traffic lights. Less useful for driving on open road because you don't brake often. So living in Brooklyn, I think the hybrid would be a reasonable choice for you. I don't think battery technology is anywhere near "ripe" yet, but as with the Mercury and Gemini...
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Re: Museum find: GE's 'missing' electric car
Much further to go, of course, but even in a highway driving situation (and a city/highway mix), hybrids are generally cheaper to run than their gas-only counterparts. That's Camry vs Camry hybrid, for example, not Corolla vs Prius.
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Re: Museum find: GE's 'missing' electric car
A little further research confirms what I thought: at least in the Toyota and Ford hybrids, the gasoline engine powers a generator/charger while in use. That's in addition to the power captured from braking.
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Re: Museum find: GE's 'missing' electric car
I have some friends with a Prius, and their greatest fuel efficiency comes when driving in the city, not on the highway. Paradoxical, but it shows how good the braking is at building up a charge. Good to know there is a backup generator. While the hybrids save on fuel, they also cost thousands of dollars more than their non hybrid counterparts. For an average consumer, it takes many years to recapture that extra cost for the hybrid on fuel savings, if they ever will. And there's the issue of...
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Re: Certosa e Museo di San Martino, Naples
Nicely done article and photos. My wife and I nearly visited Naples a few years ago, but we were strongly advised to divert our plans because there were violent labor protests going on throughout the city. We went to Sorrento and Capri instead which were both intriguing and beautiful.
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Re: Campaigners ask: Can the QE2 be saved?
I read some years ago of extensive ship-breaking on the Bangladesh coast, where labor is cheap and regulations scanty...an immense amount of dangerous work, but because the labor is cheap, the scrap profits are high, or higher than they would be if the cost of recovery were high. Which leads me to wonder: what would be the economic value of that long tow to Brownsville as opposed to scrapping the ship on the West Coast? Ideas, anyone?
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day. January 14, 2014: Calgary Peace Bridge
Completely agree with my colleague and dear friend. (Folks may not know that Dr.Y and Dr.F are specialists in the same field). If you want the best weather and maybe to attend the Calgary stampede, come in early July. Warmest weather (and the summers are beautiful, non humid and the days long) is July and August. My favorite time of year is in September, especially the week after labor day. The crowds are greatly thinned, the weather is still lovely, and the alpine areas of the mountains are...
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Re: Gold Country, California: The Empire Mine
The company towns in the coal territories had another function as well...they made the miners dependent on the company for housing, paid in scrip redeemable at the company store (remember "Sixteen Tons"?). That not only gave the company a second profit from the miners' labor through high prices; it also gave the company a great deal of control over miners' lives—because striking or being fired meant a total uprooting and expulsion. I guess the model didn't take root in the gold camps!
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Boeing in SC: First 787-9 delivered, union election set
Two milestones for Boeing's plant in North Charleston, SC. This week the plant, which has been building the original 787-8, delivered its first stretch 787-9 version, and the International Association of Machinists, the union representing most Boeing...
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AA, USAir: Next step, combining reservations
USAir, AA planes at Washington on the morning of their 2013 merger. That was the easy part... Now that American/USAir is past the legal hurdles, tidied up labor contracts, and merged the loyalty programs, they're ready for the big one: merging...
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"Kona Coffee": Greenwell Farms Coffee Tours
Kona coffee is world famous for its full-bodied, non-bitter, bold flavor. Hard to put the taste into words, but it's good coffee! The micro-climate just south of Kona, around 1000 - 2000 ft above sea level, is perfect for...
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Scandinavia strikes disrupt SAS, Norwegian
Air service in Scandinavian countries has seen days of disruption by strikes over labor rights, and it may get worse tomorrow (Wed. March 4). SAS cabin crew have forced cancellation of some flights in a dispute over assignments to a domestic...
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US Airlines Case Against Gulf -Carriers Goes Public
American, Delta ,and United had a press conference on Thursday that made public the argument they've been making against Emirates,Qatar and Etihad . They stated those airlines are violating the fair-play terms of their...
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Magnolia Plantation: Beautiful but Complicated
This story started out simple: A visit to a beautiful riverside plantation, renowned for its centuries-old formal gardens. But the past is usually not so simple, and in this instance involves not only the ugly story of the slavery that made...
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Louvre Abu Dhabi almost ready to open
Five years behind schedule, the Gulf nation's branch of the Louvre opens Nov. 11.
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Apr. 13, 2017: An afternoon at Crystal Cove State Park
Crystal Cove State Park is a fine example of why people fall in love with California...Sand, Sun, and Surf.
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Pompeii: Ancient Ruins, Modern Images
The works of a modern French-Polish sculptor provide both a contrast and a complement to the ancient ruins of Pompeii.
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April 27, 2017: Lake Winnipeg Ice Crystals, Manitoba, Canada
Ottoman stumbled upon this amazing sight while visiting his father a few days ago.
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A Visit to Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum
Join Samantha on a visit to the memorial for the 168 who died when a right-wing terrorist destroyed a federal office building in 1995.
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Three Churches in Nürnberg
Only blocks apart, these three churches each have their own history and feel, despite sharing common medieval roots.
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French bus drivers at war over heat and pants
Faced with a heat wave and an uncooperative bus company, French drivers turn to skirts to make a point
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Alitalia up for sale: What’s next?
With no rescue plan in sight, the bankruptcy commissioners call for buyers. Otherwise, they’ll sell off the assets.
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July 18, 2017: Marblehead Lighthouse, Ohio
The oldest lighthouse on the Great Lakes, Marblehead is surrounded by picnic areas and features a Lifesaving Station museum.
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Burano: A Venetian Treasure
Join Marilyn Jones on a visit to one of Venice's outer islands for a different view of the area's life.
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5 Top Destinations to Check Out When Visiting Sydney
Sydney is the oldest and biggest city of Australia. It lies in between the intermingling of land and sea. In 1788, commander of the First Fleet Captain Arthur Phillip established the first British colony in Sydney Cove of Australia. Tourists can no visit Sydney's fabled history in the narrow cobbled laneways and historic buildings surrounding the area. After booking your flight and choosing the best hotel such as Four Seasons and Holiday Inn accommodation , it is time to explore the various...
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Visiting Key West and the Hemingway House
Stephanie shares a visit to the Key West, a highlight of which was exploring the Hemingway home.
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Top Labor Day destinations listed
Expedia's list of where Americans are going this year is topped by New York and Las Vegas
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August 5, 2017: The Potter and his Wife
DrFumblefinger visits the home of a village potter in Rajasthan, and learns a few lessons in molding clay and the Caste system.
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CARES: Travel winners and losers
The airlines are sharing out a big chunk of the emergency money, but the outlook is less rosy for other travel businesses.
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Norwegian cruise line says it may go under
With ships unable to sail and possibly lower interest by customers, the giants of the cruise industry are sailing into troubled waters.
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Turquoise Trail: A beautiful trip through New Mexico
Jonthan L takes us on a trip along The Turquoise Trail, with stops at Tinkertown and Madrid.
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College of the Ozarks, Branson
DrFumblefinger visits the beautiful campus of the College of the Ozarks, and is impressed by the place and the students who work and study here.
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Can a new kitchen cut flight delays?
You'd never believe how many times your flight was delayed because the meals weren't ready!
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Monumental Madrid
PHeymont examines some of the outward aspects of buildings that give Madrid its character.
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Tren del Fin del Mundo, Ushuaia
DrFumblefinger takes a train journey to the "end of the earth", in southern South America.
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Gasoline Alley: Rides from 1918 - 1928
Our visit to Gasoline Alley in Calgary continues. We've previously looked at this fine museum's collection of antique gasoline pumps and vehicles from 1907 - 1917 . Today our tour continues with my favorite cars and trucks from...
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One-day strike set for Thursday by Alitalia pilots
Alitalia check-in at Rome's Fiumicino/Leonardo da Vinci Photo: SpecExpert / Wikimedia Alitalia pilots will strike for 24 hours from Thursday midnight, causing disruptions at flights...
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Old Faithful Inn, Yellowstone National Park (Where Gumbo was #126)
Gumbo was visiting the Old Faithful Inn , a historic lodge in Yellowstone National Park (one of the USA's UNESCO World Heritage Sites). Described by some as the world's largest log cabin, the Inn is situated immediately adjoining...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, August 27, 2015: Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Red Rocks Park, Colorado
Throughout the years I have noticed that many of my favorite recording artists have performed at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, which is located in Red Rocks Park (part of the Denver Mountain Parks system) near Morrison, Colorado, 15 miles west of...
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Lufthansa strike Day 2: 1000 cancellations
Lufthansa's pilots, who struck intercontinental flights yesterday, have extended their strike for a second day. As a result, Lufthansa has cancelled over 1000 short and medium-haul flights affecting 140,000 passengers. The strike, which is the...
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West Indian Parade in Brooklyn to draw 2 million
Paraders pass the Brooklyn Museum Photo: Fordmadoxfraud / Wikimedia Brooklyn's annual Labor Day West Indian parade is New York's biggest parade, and possibly the largest single Carnival celebration in...
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Air controllers strike Spain again today
Air traffic over Spain will be tangled today as air traffic controllers stage a 12-hour protest strike, the next installment of the long-running battle between Spain's air traffic controllers and Enaire, the public corporation that manages Spain's...
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Church of the Holy Spirit, Heidelberg (Where Gumbo Was #125)
The Heiliggeistkirche, to give it its German name, is the most imposing church in Heidelberg; it stands out above the Altstadt (Old City) section of the city so distinctively that I dared not include an exterior view among the clues. I make amends...
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Delhi NY - A drive through the Catskills
If you have never been to the Catskill Mountains in New York State you are missing one of the real beautiful areas of the Northeastern United States. The Catskills fill the area between the Hudson River to the east and the Delaware River to the...
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Lufthansa faces cabin staff strike Friday
Lufthansa, which has been struck 13 times in the past two years by its pilots, now faces a 7-day strike starting Friday by cabin crew. The issues are similar: workforce reductions and pay. The union will announce shortly what routes will be affected....