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A coalition of USAir labor unions is expected to respond within the next two weeks to the financially troubled carrier's request for pay and benefit cuts.
In March, the Arlington, Va.-based airline asked its unionized workers -- including pilots, flight attendants, mechanics and some other ground workers -- to come up with a proposal to help curb its spiraling costs. Since then, labor has been analyzing the company's finances and operations, though no direct negotiations have taken place.
"We do realize the company needs employee help. We intend to do what's necessary to work out a plan."
Mr. Ison said that labor will be seeking "a major restructuring" of the airline. Some have speculated that the unions will ask for an equity stake in the company in exchange for their concessions.
About half of USAir's 45,500 workers are represented by unions, and concessions from them are seen as critical to the airline's survival. In 1990, the unions agreed to temporary concessions in exchange for job protection.
USAir is the dominant carrier at Baltimore-Washington International Airport, offering half of BWI's daily flights. In the past year, the airline added flights and cut fares significantly to compete with Continental Airlines' CalLite program and with Southwest Airlines.
Continued losses, however, could force the airline to cut back its operation at BWI and elsewhere.
"We've given them the numbers we need to achieve and asked them to come up with a proposal about how we can get there," Dave Shipley, a spokesman for the Arlington, Va.-based airline, said yesterday. "There's no timetable."
While the company has been low-key, two major stockholders, who together own more than a third of USAir stock, have publicly pressured the unions. Last month Omaha investor Warren Buffett threatened to resign from the airline's board of directors unless the carrier soon reaches an agreement with its unions.
That warning came just months after British Airways PLC vowed to withhold the next phase of its $750 million investment unless the airline gets its spiraling costs under control.
During the past four years, USAir has lost more than $2.2 billion, including $200 million in the first quarter this year. Its stock has plummeted from $24.25 in April last year to $6.375 yesterday.
Some analysts have speculated that without labor concessions, the carrier could be forced to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. But Mr. Shipley said last week the airline had $386 million in cash at the end of the first quarter.
"There's no cash crunch," he said. "And our cash position has improved somewhat since the first quarter."
A newly staked sign at Midlands Caldwell Boat launch warns fishermen of local fish advisories: Carp, catfish and white bass should not be eaten at all, and some other species should be limited. The warnings have been in place for decades, but the postings are brand new metal signs funded by The Dow Chemical Co.
As part of its state-mandated, dioxin-associated corrective action efforts, Tittabawassee River public access areas now have a combination of advisories, some noting contaminated fish and some cautioning parkgoers about contaminated soil.
Midland, however, will host only the fish alert. City officials have declined requests by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to put up soil advisory signs at Caldwell, saying there is no scientific evidence showing that exposure to dioxin-contaminated soil poses a public health threat.
"Where dioxin is a health threat, we are supportive of those efforts," said City Manager Karl Tomion. "We believe very strongly that fish advisories are necessary."
Thats because experts have concluded that dioxin in peoples bodies gets there from the food supply. While even fish and meat sold in grocery stores contain dioxin, fish and wildlife from the Tittabawassee River and its flood plain have shown levels higher than background levels.
What experts have not concluded is whether dioxin gets into peoples bodies when they come into contact with soil. The University of Michigan is in the final stages of a dioxin exposure study that could answer that question, with results due in 2006.
Tomion and Midland County Health Department Director Michael Krecek say the results of that study are crucial, and they expect the state to use the results in determining how to proceed with dioxin remedies sign posting or otherwise.
The DEQ, however, believes the signage is important. Soil advisories have been posted at Freeland and Saginaw parks, and officials plan to make another attempt at including Midland.
Soil testing at Caldwell Boat Launch has shown dioxin levels lower than 300 parts per trillion but higher than the states 90 ppt standard. Levels uncovered on nearby property during a recent round of testing conducted by Dow showed more than 8,000 ppt.
"Some of the latest data weve seen is showing the highest levels of dioxin closest to the river," said DEQ Deputy Director Jim Sygo. "If people are going down there to fish, they ought to know what theyre sitting on."
The City of Midland will not provide the required consent unless science shows that the soil could be a threat to people, Tomion said.
Alternatively, the DEQ has approached Dow about placing the signage on nearby property under its ownership. The company also refused.
"We feel its unreasonable," said Dow spokesman John Musser. He added that the Dow property is overgrown and provides little access to the river.
In Madrid, the constantly shifting food scene is as exciting at Michelin-star level as it is at the crowd-pleasing produce markets.
Visitors and locals flock to Salamanca for lunch, to tuck into tapas at gastro food court Platea, which is housed in a former art deco cinema, and by early evening it seems that many of the Spanish city’s residents have gathered in the buzzing bars, snacking on anchovies and tortilla, as they plan where to eat dinner that night.
Come December, many of those plans will likely involve trying to get a table at Etxeko restaurant, one of the most anticipated new openings of the year.
Set inside the new 111-room Bless Hotel Madrid – the first property from new Palladium Hotel Group brand Bless Collection Hotels – it heralds the return to the city of pioneering Michelin-starred Basque chef Martín Berasategui, who holds eight stars in total, more than any other Spanish chef.
“It is a dream come true to return to Madrid after 25 years, and to have the opportunity to create a new project here,” enthuses Berasategui of the forthcoming opening.
The chef is renowned for his avant-garde cuisine showcasing top-notch local ingredients and skilled cooking techniques – and that’s exactly what diners at Etxeko can expect. “I want to go back to my origins, to the flavours and popular recipes of yesteryear, but make them more modern for today’s diners,” he says.
Characterised by his hallmarks of creativity, innovation and a deep understanding of how to marry diverse flavours and raw ingredients, the dishes on offer will be a reflection of Berasategui’s 43 years of extensive experience in the kitchen and his wide culinary repertoire.
Having grown up around restaurants – he was taught to cook by his mother and aunt, who ran a traditional Basque restaurant, Bodegón Alejandro, in Donostia-San Sebastián – he spent much of his spare time studying food, from pastry to charcuterie and ice-cream. He took over the restaurant after his father died, eventually winning his first Michelin star. The rest is restaurant history.
At Bless Hotel Madrid, Berasategui will oversee the entire food offering, including an oyster and caviar bar, a Vermouth bar and a cafe serving freshly baked pastries and snacks.
The hotel’s other social spaces include the rooftop pool, a retro bowling alley and the Sky Lounge, which has panoramic views of the city. And just as the menu at Etxeko focuses on traditional dishes with a contemporary twist, the design of the restaurant by prolific Spanish designer Lázaro Rosa-Violan, of Cotton House Hotel and Soho House Barcelona fame, is all about giving diners an authentic experience so they really feel as if they are in Madrid.
The design team has recreated the atmosphere of a historic Spanish taberna, using the yellow and red colour palette typically found in a bullring and decorative details such as brocade curtains, cast iron lamps, cross-stitch patterned ceramic tiles and textured amber crystals.
A new gastronomic temple for the city, Etxeko will be a place for making connections and memorable moments, and a new hip hang-out for the artistic and creative set at the heart of this luxury hedonist hotel.
The Bless Collection Hotels properties represent the perfect marriage between luxury, hedonism and creative innovation.
These are worrying times for Socceroos World Cup contender Bruce Djite as he finds himself unable to get a first team game at Turkish club Genclerbirligi.
It has been two months since the 22-year-old former Adelaide United striker made his first and only appearance in a competitive fixture in his second season at Genclerbirligi and that was off the bench.
For the moment at least, the seven-time capped Socceroo is prepared to continue his fight for a starting berth at the Istanbul-based club.
But he knows his 2010 World Cup dreams could start to slip away if things do not change.
"[My] club situation is not the best at the moment, if I'm going to be honest," Djite said.
"I've spoken to the coach and he understands what I want to do with my career, especially in the short term with the World Cup around the corner.
"In January if the situation hasn't changed I'll definitely look at a move, whether it's a loan or a permanent transfer."
Earlier in the season, Djite was linked to Croatian giant Hajduk Split and also attracted interest from Denmark during last August's transfer window.
"I'd leave it to the people who take care of my affairs like that," Djite said.
"I don't want to think about it too much, I just want to concentrate on being ready if a move arises.
"I think we shouldn't talk too far down the track, just wait and see what happens.
"Anything can change and next week I can be playing or in two weeks I could be playing and score and the whole picture changes."
Dr Joseph (Joe) Young was heading to Michigan to attend an academic conference there, but to save on travel expenses, he hopped on the train for the Los Angeles-to-Michigan leg (and back), taking a small side trip into Wisconsin in the process.
A weekly review and analysis of new CD releases.
Equality for women with feminist blogger Deborah Russell. Work life balance and the almighty Chore Wars.
The stories that we have told about invisibility are not stories of a technical capability but of power, desire, concealment, morality and corruption. What are these old tales of invisibility really saying, and how has the scientific understanding of light influenced them? Ideas of invisibility are, like all ideas rooted in legend, ultimately parables about our own hopes and fears.
Award-winning former British broadcaster Mark Coles presents his pick of the best new music releases and demos from around the planet. A glorious mix of brand new sounds from all over the world, real conversations with music makers and tales of everyday life as seen from an English garden shed (1 of 13, MCM).
WASHINGTON — Casting aside rare censure from Republican lawmakers, President Donald Trump aimed new blasts of invective at the late John McCain Wednesday, even claiming credit for the senator's moving Washington funeral and complaining he was never properly thanked.
By the time the president began his anti-McCain tirade in Ohio, several leading Republicans had signaled a new willingness to defy Trump by defending the Vietnam War veteran as a hero seven months after he died of brain cancer. One GOP senator called Trump's remarks "deplorable."
When Theresa May signed a letter in March 2017 to trigger Article 50, few would have predicted that on the eve of her subsequent Withdrawal Agreement going before the Commons she would be faced with what looks to be an inevitable defeat.
Barring a miracle, Tuesday evening’s meaningful vote will require the Prime Minister to formulate a Plan B. Whether that be revisions to her current deal, a new focus on pushing forward with a no deal, an extension of Article 50, or Mrs May and her Cabinet being removed entirely, will all likely depend on the margin of defeat inflicted upon the Government.
Peanut brittle has been around for a long time. Its origin isn’t known, but today’s candy may trace back to an ancient Celtic confection of baked sugar and nuts. Peanut brittle has become an American tradition, and you’ll find recipes in many cookbooks. There’s even a National Peanut Brittle Day on Jan. 26. If you’re good at making this enduring favorite, your hobby may be a way of starting your own business.
Develop a written business plan. It doesn’t have to be a formal document. A business plan is primarily the process of thinking through and writing down your ideas in an organized manner. Making and selling peanut brittle is your basic idea, but here are points you need to think through before you start. Decide on your goal. You may want a full-time business or just to make some money on the side. Ask yourself where you can sell your peanut brittle and what resources you’ll need to produce it on a large scale. Estimate how much it will cost to get started and how long it will take for revenue to start coming in.
One strategy for selling peanut brittle is to contact local merchants. Restaurants, coffee shops and independent grocers are possible outlets for your product. You can arrange to rent a booth at local crafts shows and cultural festivals). Another option is to set up a space at a nearby flea market. Many flea markets are ongoing enterprises, so you may be able to establish a permanent location using this approach at a lower cost than is required to open a conventional retail store.
Choose a name for your peanut brittle business. The name should be distinctive and easy for your customers to remember. Package the candy attractively, with a label featuring the name you choose and the ingredients. Include contact information such as a website address so customers can get updates about new products, merchants that carry the peanut brittle and special offers. You may want to add variations on your basic peanut brittle recipe. For example, peanut brittle can include chocolate or be made with pecans, walnuts or other nuts. These variations offer choices that attract more customers and increase sales.
If you decide to make money selling peanut brittle at festivals and flea markets, design a booth that is attractive and professional. A canopy for outdoor locations helps to make your booth more visible and provides protection in bad weather. Everything – tables, display cases and storage containers – should be kept spotlessly clean because you are selling food. Provide napkins for samples and bags for customers to carry their purchases.
When you start a business, you have to follow some regulations. Your city or county department of taxation will require a business license. If your state levies a sales tax, you’ll need a state tax ID number. You may need a health permit from your county health department and possibly a zoning permit if you make the peanut brittle in your home. You will also need a federal employer identification number if you hire anyone to help you make or sell your peanut brittle. Register your business name with your state or county government as a “doing business as” name to protect your right to it.
UTHSC students provide dental care to a middle schooler.
A significant amount of kids across the nation lack access to oral health care.
According to a Pew Center on the States report, an estimated 17 million low-income children — one out of every five — go without dental care every year.
The event will take place Thursday, February 5th from 8:30 a.m. until noon.
This is the fourth consecutive year UTHSC has participated in National Give Kids A Smile Day. The program was launched in 2003 by the American Dental Association with the goal of making dental education and services more accessible to underserved children.
Faculty, students and staff from the UTHSC’s College of Dentistry will provide more than 80 students at Memphis Academy of Health Sciences Middle School with free dental screenings, teeth cleaning and a range of other oral health services. Students will receive assistance on the third floor of UTHSC’s Dunn Dental Building (875 Union Avenue).
The value of the nearly 2,000 dental procedures that UTHSC has donated to Memphis students thus far reportedly amounts to more than $57,000.
In addition to Memphis, there are UTHSC College of Dentistry clinics in Jackson, Tennessee and Little Rock, Arkansas. Dental clinics in Bristol and Union City are scheduled to open this summer. Facilities in Nashville and Knoxville are slated to launch next year.
All UTHSC dental clinics are supervised by faculty and staffed by senior-level students. The clinics are focused on serving underserved adults and children.
Thanks to Mark Loman of SurfRight for his behind-the-scenes work on this article.
SophosLabs and our SurfRight colleagues just alerted us to an intriguing new ransomware sample dubbed RAA.
This one is blocked by Sophos as JS/Ransom-DDL, and even though it’s not widespread, it’s an interesting development in the ransomware scene.
Ransomware, like any sort of malware, can get into your organisation in many different ways: buried inside email attachments, via poisoned websites, through exploit kits, on infected USB devices and occasionally even as part of a self-spreading network worm.
But email attachments seem to work best for the cybercrooks, with fake invoices and made-up court cases amongst the topics used by the criminals to make you think you’d better open the attachment, just in case.
In 2015, most ransomware arrived in Word documents containing what are known as macros: script programs that can be embedded in documents to adapt their content in real time, usually as part of your company’s workflow.
The problem with macros, however, is that they aren’t limited to adapting and modifying just the document that contains them.
Macros can be full-blown programs as powerful as any standalone application, and they can not only read and write files on your C: drive and your local network, but also download and run other files from the internet.
In other words, once you authorise a macro to run, you effectively authorise it to install and launch any other software it likes, including malware, without popping up any further warnings or download dialogs.
You can see why cybercrooks love macros!
Fortunately, macros are turned off by default, so the crooks have to convince you to turn them back on after you open their malicious documents.
By the start of 2016, many crooks were steadily shifting their infection strategy as the world began to realise that enabling macros was a really bad idea.
Windows doesn’t show file extensions by default. So a file called Invoice.txt.js shows up as the altogether more believable Invoice.txt.
But JS/Ransom-DDL takes a different approach.
The crooks used freely-available cryptographic source code in the malware. This made the implementation much easier, because the hard programming work was already done.
No additional software is downloaded, so once the JS/Ransom-DDL malware file is inside your network, it’s ready to scramble your data and pop up a ransom message all on its own.
This document was created in a newer version of MS Word and cannot be opened with your version of WordPad.
Contact the creator of the file, or open the file with MS Word 2013.
Some parts of this content may not be displayed properly.
The decoy file contains a bogus error message that is supposed to convince you that the file you just opened really was a document, and to distract your attention while the ransomware goes to work.
Strictly speaking, this ransomware isn’t completely self-contained: like many ransomware families, its first step is to “call home” to a server operated by the crooks to acquire an encryption key.
The server replies with a uniquely-generated identifier and a randomly-created AES encryption key, so that victims can’t share decryption keys with one another.
If your data ends up scrambled, you need to quote your unique identifier and buy back the matching AES key to unscramble your data.
Your files have been encrypted by the RAA malware.
The AES-256 algorithm was used for encryption – the same encryption that is used to protect state secrets.

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