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'Calculated misery': Here's why airlines want you to be uncomfortable

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:58 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — Watch any old movie where the characters take a flight and it looks like a glamorous getaway in-and-of-itself — but the days of comfort in the skies are long gone for most of us. And it may not surprise you to know that air travel these days is designed to be less comfortable.Have you ever heard of "calculated misery"? It's the theory behind what we all know deep down: airlines want us to be miserable so we pay more for upgrades. These are the 7 ‘most offensive’ behaviors that break airplane etiquette The idea was first distilled in this way back in 2014 by Columbia Law School professor Tim Wu for the New Yorker. "Here’s the thing: in order for fees to work, there needs be something worth paying to avoid. That necessitates, at some level, a strategy that can be described as “calculated misery.” Basic service, without fees, must be sufficiently degraded in order to make people want to pay to escape it," Wu writes. "And that’s where the suffering begins."Wu explains that...

More than 100 guns found at AUS so far in 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:58 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Officials with the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) said it was on track to break another record. But this time, it's not for the number of passengers.So far this year, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents confiscated 101 guns at AUS. Austin-Johnson Airport? Mayor in talks to possibly rename AUS after former president Last year, TSA discovered a total of 150 guns at the airport, so officials believe the airport was on track to surpass that number this year.Of the 101 found so far this year, three firearms were found Friday in a passenger's carry-on luggage--one of which was loaded, according to airport officials. The passenger from the incident now faces a fine of up to $15,000.

CapMetro rail services suspended Saturday for construction

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:58 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — CapMetro will suspend all rail services Saturday to allow crews to work on the McKalla Station. The public transportation provider will have alternative services in place on Saturday. Here are the changes in routes: Leander: Shuttle Route 454, Route 985 Leander/Lakeline DirectLakeline: Shuttle Route 454, Route 985 Leander/Lakeline DirectHoward: Shuttle Route 454Kramer (at Braker & Burnet or The Domain): Route 3 Burnet/Menchaca and Route 803 Burnet/South LamarCrestview: Route 1 North Lamar/South Congress, Route 7 Duval/Dove Springs and Route 801 North Lamar/South CongressHighland: Route 7 Duval/Dove SpringsMLK: Route 18 MLKPlaza Saltillo: Route 4 7th StreetRegular rail service will resume Oct. 23, according to CapMetro. Riders with questions can call Customer Service at 512-474-1200.The under-construction McKalla Station will be near Q2 Stadium and is expected to open before the 2024 Austin...

INSIGHT: Austin Heart and Stroke Walk 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:58 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Heart & Stroke Walk 2023 began at 9 a.m. Saturday, and the event has helped spread the word to advocate for heart health and heart disease awareness.Greg Underwood, a heart disease survivor, joined KXAN’s Jennifer Sanders to share his story and time volunteering at the Heart Hospital of Austin for the last 13 years.Austin Heart & Stroke Walk 2023 at Q2 stadium (KXAN photo/Frank Martinez) Austin Heart & Stroke Walk 2023 at Q2 stadium (KXAN photo/Frank Martinez) Austin Heart & Stroke Walk 2023 at Q2 stadium (KXAN photo/Frank Martinez) Austin Heart & Stroke Walk 2023 at Q2 stadium (KXAN photo/Frank Martinez) Austin Heart & Stroke Walk 2023 at Q2 stadium (KXAN photo/Frank Martinez) Austin Heart & Stroke Walk 2023 at Q2 stadium (KXAN photo/Frank Martinez) Austin Heart & Stroke Walk 2023 at Q2 stadium (KXAN photo/Frank Martinez) Austin Heart & Stroke Walk 2023 at Q2 stadium (KXAN photo/Frank Martinez) Read a transcription of the discussion below or watch the...

Rockies Journal: MLB pitch clock, shorter games were huge success

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:58 GMT

The Rockies’ 103-loss season was interminable. Or so it seemed.But it was actually 1,579 minutes shorter than their 94-loss season a year ago.We can all thank the baseball gods, Major League Baseball, and the pitch clock for that. Despite the objections of the players’ association, MLB instituted a pitch clock this season set at 15 seconds with the bases empty and 20 seconds with runners on base.Players might have grumbled during spring training but the change was a grand slam and any controversy melted into the background. I can’t tell you how many games I covered where the Rockies were in the seventh or eighth inning at the two-hour mark. I was amazed, pleased and thankful that deadlines weren’t pressed quite as often.Plus, it was nice to often see the fans — especially the kids — still in the stands at the end of the night. The 3 1/2-hour games that used to be commonplace at Coors Field are not so common anymore.It’s not just that the games wer...

The pallid bat is California's newest state symbol: Here’s what makes it special

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:58 GMT

California’s list of official state symbols continues to grow after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 732, which designated the pallid bat as the official state bat.The bat’s official designation as a state emblem is more than just a coincidence as Halloween approaches but more so because bats play a significant role in the state’s agriculture.Bats eats “many pest species, including those contributing to health risks such as mosquitoes, wasps, and flies. A female bat nursing her young will eat more than two-thirds of her body weight in insects and arthropods every night,” according to the bill’s text. New California law to limit how much landlords can charge for security deposits Bats statewide also provide “more than $1,000,000,000 worth of pest control to California agriculture."State Sen. Caroline Menjivar, D-Los San Fernando Valley, authored the legislation inspired by one of her constituents.“I had a constituent of my district from Granada Hills come up to me when she was ...

Bay Area high school football roundup 2023: Best of Week 9 action

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:58 GMT

Welcome back to the Bay Area News Group’s high school football roundup.Here, you’ll find all the details from the weekend’s action in this news organization’s coverage area, which encompasses teams that play in leagues based primarily in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.Check back every Saturday during the season for scores, highlights and top performers, updated throughout the day.If you have not already, please subscribe here for complete digital access all season long. Your contributions keep us going.On to the roundup …Ranked teamsNo. 2 De La Salle 31, No. 6 El Cerrito 12On an emotional day for De La Salle after the sudden death of defensive line coach Steve Jacoby, the Spartans scored the first 31 points, which included a scoop-and-score by linebacker/edge rusher Drew Cunningham. DLS improved to 6-2. El Cerrito is 7-1. Darren Sabedra has the full story here.No. 3 San Ramon Valley 14, No. 7 California 0Marco Jones ran for a touchdown, caught a TD, blocke...

Child care unaffordable for most Va. families with young children, state report says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:58 GMT

Child care is unaffordable for the majority of Virginia families with young children, and nearly all of the state’s low-income families with young children, according to a new report by the state’s oversight agency of the Virginia General Assembly.The Oct. 16 report by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, “Virginia’s Self-Sufficiency Programs and the Availability and Affordability of Child Care,” seeks to “review the effectiveness of the Commonwealth’s programs for helping poor Virginias improve their employment and wages and make progress toward self-sufficiency.”Child care is unaffordable to 85% of Virginia families with infants, 82% of families with toddlers and 74% of families with preschoolers, according to the report.For low-income Virginians, the percentages are even higher: Child care is unaffordable for 98% of families with infants and toddlers, and 97% with preschoolers, the report said.The JLARC report says ful...

Pittsburgh Steelers come off bye for rare road meeting with Los Angeles Rams

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:58 GMT

PITTSBURGH (3-2) at LOS ANGELES RAMS (3-3)Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EDT, FoxBETTING LINE: Rams by 3, according to FanDuel SportsBookAGAINST THE SPREAD: Steelers 3-2; Rams 3-1-2.SERIES RECORD: Rams lead 15-10-2.LAST MEETING: Steelers beat Rams 17-12 on Nov. 10, 2019, in Pittsburgh.LAST WEEK: Steelers had bye, beat Ravens 17-10 on Oct. 8; Rams beat Cardinals 26-9.STEELERS OFFENSE: OVERALL (30), RUSH (28), PASS (27), SCORING (30)STEELERS DEFENSE: OVERALL (30), RUSH (29), PASS (25), SCORING (20)RAMS OFFENSE: OVERALL (7), RUSH (17), PASS (6), SCORING (12)RAMS DEFENSE: OVERALL (13), RUSH (22), PASS (13), SCORING (11T)TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Steelers plus-5; Rams minus-1STEELERS PLAYER TO WATCH: LB T.J. Watt. The All-Pro edge rusher’s eight sacks through five games are well ahead of his pace in 2021 when he tied Michael Strahan’s NFL record with 22 1/2 and won Defensive Player of the Year. Watt has also swatted down four passes, forced three fumbles, recovered two and scored a touchdown...

¿Cómo funciona el balotaje en las elecciones en Argentina? ¿Cuándo se da?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:58 GMT

(CNN Español) — El balotaje es la manera en que las elecciones en Argentina se resuelven cuando en primera vuelta no hay un ganador contundente y, de cara a las elecciones presidenciales que se avecinan en el país, los candidatos están pendientes de si habrá o no segunda vuelta después de las elecciones del 22 de octubre.El balotaje está establecido por ley en el Código Electoral en el artículo 148 que establece que tanto presidente como vicepresidente se elegirán por votación nacional al menos tres meses antes de que se termine el periodo del presidente en curso.La segunda vuelta llegará si una fórmula presidencial no alcanza el 45% de los votos válidos emitidos. O si esa fórmula obtiene el 40% de los votos, pero no tiene una diferencia mayor a 10 puntos porcentuales del total de los votos afirmativos válidos.“Si ninguna formula alcanzare esas mayorías y diferencias de acuerdo al escrutinio ejecutado por las Juntas Electorales, y cuyo resultado único para toda la Nación...