Reason.TV has compiled this funny video (with a subtle jab at the Transportation Security Administration) in time for the holiday travel season. As you board planes this holiday, please be aware of 12 actual banned items from the TSA. :)
(Source: The Telegraph, UK)
Living under a flight path with noisy planes whizzing over your head could jeopardize your heart health, according to a new study from Switzerland.
Researchers found that dying from a heart attack was more common among people with increased exposure to aircraft noise.
The group of experts, led by Dr. Matthias Egger from Univ. of Bern (Switzerland) identified 15,532 heart attack deaths among 4.6 million Swiss residents between late 2000 and the end of 2005 using detailed information from an ongoing mortality study called the Swiss National Cohort.
Some of the study results include:
Living within 300ft of a major road also increased the risk of heart attack but the researchers found no impact of particulate-matter air pollution on the heart. Mr Egger said road and air traffic produce different noise patterns that might not be easily comparable as road traffic noise was more constant and arguably easier to get used to.
Transportgooru Musings: This makes rail travel to/near urban hubs (relatively) more appealing over aviation. Propulsion systems technology in the commercial aviation sector is still heavily reliant on fossil fuels and conventional engines. On the other hand, many new train sets in today’s rail market are amazingly quiet and smooth. This could be a good marketing point for many pro-rail advocates and politicians lobbying for big investments in High-speed rail connecting the big cities.
Dude faces some serious time in prison and a $250,000 fine for his actions.
SEATTLE – A former supervisor for the federal Transportation Security Administration has pleaded guilty to stealing $20,000 worth of jewelry and other items from checked luggage at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Pepper was fired in July 2009 after another TSA worker saw him removing items from checked luggage. Surveillance video confirmed it, and investigators discovered Pepper had pawned the items. Prosecutors say they included gold diamond rings and sterling silver necklaces and earrings.
