HitchBOT, hitchhiking robot, meets demise in Philadelphia after two weeks in U.S.
An experiment that tested the machine/human relationship as well as human generosity ended ignominiously is Philadelphia. The machine that had hitchhiked across Canada and through much of Europe, even stopping for a beer, and had started its trip across the USA, didn’t make it past Philadelphia.
American Airlines will no longer transport big game trophies
The aftermath of the death of Cecil the lion is still reverberating across the world. Airlines are now getting into the act. Of course, this process started as an economic calculation several months ago, well before the killing of Cecil. However, today it makes good PR. American Airlines jumped on the ban bandwagon even though it has no flights to Africa where these animals are located.
The world’s largest airline announced on Twitter Monday that it would no longer carry buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion or rhino carcasses.
Spokesman Ross Feinstein said it’s largely a symbolic gesture since the airline does not serve Africa but prohibits carrying such items on any flight.
The first ban was initiated by South African Airways in April, followed by British Airways, Emirates and Lufthansa.
Delta Air Lines, which has direct service to Africa, adopted a ban earlier on Monday.
Cell phones and risk of brain tumors: What’s the real science?
California will start telling consumers there may be a link between cell phone radiation and brain cancer. This controversial bill mandates that new safety rules be explained to all cell phone customers. Will it change behavior? For travelers, a cell phone is becoming a must-have tool.
The ordinance, called the Right to Know law, will start to require retailers to give customers a handout or display a sign in the store telling them about federal guidelines on the amount of radiation that cell phones can emit and the instructions on safe phone use.
Lawyers and clinicians involved in creating the new law said that it is meant to make consumers aware of the already existing regulations. However, the information will also go beyond the current regulations by stating that children and anyone carrying their phone in a pocket or bra could be at increased risk of radiation exposure, said Joel M. Moskowitz, director of the Center for Family and Community Health at University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health. Moskowitz was involved in creating the law.
What the law does not require is that consumers be provided information about the specific health risks of being exposed to radiation.
Charlie Leocha is the President of Travelers United. He has been working in Washington, DC, for the past 14 years with Congress, the Department of Transportation, and industry stakeholders on travel issues. He was the first consumer representative to the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protections appointed by the Secretary of Transportation from 2012 through 2018.