| Jet Airways, Virgin forge frequent flier partnership
In a major initiative to provide more choices to its passengers and reward members of its frequent flier programme, Jet Airways has forged an alliance with Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic to offer facilities on a reciprocal basis. The partnership would offer Jet Airways' JetPrivilege members the benefit of accessing a choice of destinations on the Virgin Atlantic network. Similarly, Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club members would be able to tap into Jet Airways vast domestic network, besides the various international destinations served by Jet Airways. Jet Airways said in a statement that JetPrivilege members would now be able to earn and redeem JPMiles on all Virgin Atlantic flights to over 34 destinations worldwide, including North America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and Australia.
BJ's Wholesale profit rises sharply, beats Wall Street forecast
NATICK, Mass. -- BJ's Wholesale said its fourth-quarter profit increased fourfold, beating Wall Street expectations, as the warehouse club benefited from a retail environment that's benefiting discount stores. BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. reported today that its net income rose to about $50 million, or 80 cents per share, in the three months ended Feb. 2. That is up from a profit of almost $12 million, or 18 cents per share, in the fourth quarter a year earlier. Sales rose 2 percent to $2.48 billion. The latest quarter's profit beat by 6 cents per share the consensus forecast of 74 cents a share by analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial. Massachusetts-based BJ's cited strong January sales, favorable profit margins and lower-than-expected expenses. .
Smoltz pulls up shorts (and socks), goes to work
He'd still pitch in plenty of games, just not every fifth day. The way he figures, the plan makes sense this spring for two reasons: It would better allow him to work on the two-seam fastball and curveball he wants to hone; and would allow the Braves to get some starts for the several pitchers who will likely compete for one or two jobs at the back of the rotation. Smoltz said the Braves' improved depth should help him and Tim Hudson feel less pressure to carry so much of the load for the pitching staff. He thinks it might allow Smoltz or Hudson to skip a start or two, if one of them has some soreness, the kind of soreness they wouldn't have let keep them out of a start when the short-handed Braves relied on them so heavily for each start in recent seasons. "I'm not a 'glass' player, I'm not fragile," said Smoltz, who pitched 205-2/3 innings last season and had his first DL stint since 2003, for an inflamed shoulder after he slipped while making a warmup pitch in an early season game.
Local Gas Station Charging Over $4 Per Gallon Near OIA
ORLANDO, Fla. -- There was a break for the holidays, but gas prices are ready to rise again. One local gas station, though, is already charging customers much more than others. RAW INTERVIEW: Manager Defends $4.49 Per Gallon Customers at the independent gas station near the Orlando International Airport are paying $4.49 a gallon. Some of the customers don't know the price they're paying until it's too late. There are no large signs showing the prices at the station. Most customers are tourists returning rental cars before catching flights at Orlando International Airport. Not all believe it's an honorable way to conduct business. "It's not fair. It's definitely price gouging during the holiday season," said tourist Les Lazarus. Even at $4.49 a gallon for regular, most of the pumps were busy at Suncoast Energys on Friday morning.
Coal representatives oppose stream saver bill
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the committee heard from university scientists, coal interests, and people who live in the shadow of mountaintop removal sites and are calling for lawmakers to protect their streams from pollution. The committee took no vote Wednesday night – Moberly said he wanted the full committee on hand before calling the measure for a vote."There needs to be this kind of discussion," Moberly said Wednesday night after two days of testimony on the bill concluded. "That discussion has not been had in the Natural Resources Committee and it it's not going to be had in that committee, then as long as I'm chairman it's going to be discussed here."The bill would require coal operators to put back the spoils or overburden removed to get at the coal – or remove it to another abandoned mine site.
Aussie's snowball charges dropped
BRECKENRIDGE, Colorado: US prosecutors have dropped assault and harassment charges against an Australian man who threw a snowball at a ski resort co-worker. It was in "the best interest of justice" to dismiss the case against 21-year-old Andrew Thistleton, prosecutors said. Mr Thistleton said he was overjoyed at the outcome. "It's been a long time but you know all's well that ends well and I'm just happy that it's finished and it's over after all this time," he told the Seven Network from Colorado. Mr Thistleton, a Sydney University and former Scots College student, was scheduled to go on trial today for a second time. His first trial ended in a mistrial last week. Authorities said Mr Thistleton hit Michelle Oehlert on the back with the snowball last February when both were working at a Copper Mountain ski resort rental shop.
K.J. gets overlooked, but shouldn't | Braves
Well I didn't plan to crank out another blog before the weekend, but for some reason there were more than 800 posts on the last one after a coupl days. Humm, seems to be a lot of interest in some cat going by the screen name U Kno Who. Seriously, it was a good couple of days with our special blog guest, and hopefully we can get Chipper and other Braves to stop by during the coming weeks while we're sequestered at Dark Star, and perhaps even during the season. In the meantime, we'll keep plugging away with the nice, motley cast we've assembled. So I'm just gonna give you a quick blog here today, providing a clean slate on which to post on through the weekend. We'll start daily blogs middle of next week from that familiar 'burb just outside Orlandopolis, where the only thing sunnier than dispositions of well-trained Disney employees is the sun itself.
I "went on strike" with Broadway...
The theaters let this happen and considering it's the holiday season it's a bad move on their part.
At least I got to spend a lot of time talking to John Lloyd Young! I had met him once before and he remembered me... he's so nice. I feel so bad that he's not going to spend his last few weeks with Jersey Boys performing. I also got to hang out with Lance Bass (who is friends with my sister and I have met him before as well). He's such a sweetheart and I love him! So, I hung around with the cast and crew of both shows for several hours. Everyone seemed to be enjoying eachothers company, visiting with the people across the street. I hope this gets cleared up soon but some people said it could even last until christmas. .
Maybe at Denny's...But Unacceptable Anywhere Else!
A Texas Roadhouse restaurant cook could face 3 1/2 years in jail along with a hefty fine of 10,000 dollars after he allegedly put his own pubic hair in the middle of a medium rare steak. The prankster chef, Ryan Kropp, was upset when one of the restaurant's customers complained about the way his steak was cooked. As revenge, witnesses say he cut a slit in the steak and inserted his long-and-curlies. Next time you think about sending your food back, consider what happens behind the scenes. .
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