Thursday August 23, 2001
Payphone Use Way Down
I noticed a little announcement on the business wires that BellSouth is getting out of the payphone business ASAP. They say that payphone use is way down because of cellular and wireless phones.
It might be an interesting story to see where people NEED payphones and how they view the service. Ask the phone company where the busiest payphones are in your community.
A whole generation is growing up that has no experience with payphones. They did not know a time before cell phones.
Travel Agents Getting Hit Hard
What are travel agents for these days? Travel agents say it’s a matter of time before other large airlines follow American Airlines’ steep cut in commissions, a move to cut costs as carriers grapple with a financial slump. American slashed the maximum travel agent commission to $20 from $50 for round-trip travel within the United States.
The AJC reports: “As of Monday, Delta Air Lines and top carriers had not yet matched. “I think you’re going to see other airlines following,” said Arthur Salus, owner of Duluth Travel. “I see very little that travel agents and trade organizations can do about it.” It’s the latest blow to travel agents, who also must compete with increasingly popular Internet booking sites. Many have added fees to offset the commission cuts.”
Why not put some travel agents to the test. See if they can find lower fares and better deals than you can online. How often do people call them, get info, then go online and book fares and get the discounts? When does it make sense to use an agent?
More Mold
This time there is enough mold growing in a Chicago-area school that it forced authorities to keep the school closed, according to The Chicago Tribune.
Here is an Al’s Morning Meeting where we looked at Mold as a Growth Industry for Lawyers.
In October, there will be a national meeting of building mold experts in Atlanta. The Web site says: “Addressing mold problems in homes and buildings entails a concerted effort, and “requires coordination among the medical, public health, microbiological, housing, and building science communities” (HUD, 2001). Molds produce allergens, irritants and sometimes toxins that may cause reactions in humans. It is estimated that 25% of airways disease, and 60% of interstitial lung disease may be associated with moisture in the home or work environment.” (HUD, 2001)
All molds have the potential to cause health problems such as allergic reactions, asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and other immunologic effects.”
And you guys are worried about sharks! Watch the mold.
Chewing Tobacco Regulations
From The Boston Globe: “American chewing-tobacco makers have the technology to dramatically reduce the level of cancer-causing agents in their products but have not used it, a (MA) state study says. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health, which released the report this week, said the states should consider regulating the levels of tobacco-specific nitrosamines, or TSNA, in smokeless tobacco — a step which would probably set off a court fight.
”There can be no excuse for this failure to remove a known toxin from an already hazardous product when the technology exists, and U.S. manufacturers should respond immediately,” the report says.
A Massachusetts effort to regulate chewing tobacco, or oral snuff, would mark the first time a state sought regulations over a tobacco product. The federal Food and Drug Administration attempted such a move nationally over tobacco products in 1996, only to be rebuffed by the U.S. Supreme Court last year. But Massachusetts public health officials said the findings demonstrate that the state should use its powers to force manufacturers to use a process that will result in a less toxic product.”
