Free Republic

The skies are eerily empty these days, presenting a new challenge for the world’s embattled airlines as they work to safeguard thousands of grounded planes parked wingtip to wingtip on runways and in storage facilities. More than 16,000 passenger jets are grounded worldwide, according to industry researcher Cirium, as the coronavirus obliterates travel and puts unprecedented strain on airline finances. Finding the right space and conditions for 62% of the world’s planes and keeping them airworthy have suddenly become priorities for 2020. Aircraft can’t simply be dusted back into action. They need plenty of work and attention while in storage,...

Some Pittsburghers are being ticketed or warned not to park in their own driveways under an obscure ordinance that requires them to pay $225 for a permit if they wish to park within 30 feet of a street.Some residents have complained about the tickets and warnings, which are issued by the city’s Bureau of Building Inspection. The agency is caught in the middle, contend John Jennings, its acting chief. …

<p>Shep Smith was on his 3PM EST segment and talking with Wayne Simmons about paying for news in Iraq. Somehow the talk changed to Murtha and when Simmons said Murtha had bad-mouthed (or words to that effect) our troops, Shep went ballistic.</p>

Starting New Year's Day, if your car breaks down on a Houston freeway, expect a tow truck to show up promptly to whisk you out of the way whether you want the service or not. Houston's new towing ordinance takes effect Saturday. It is a major piece of Mayor Bill White's traffic-management plan that declares all freeways to be tow-away zones. The city has signed contracts with wrecker companies to patrol 29 freeway sections and immediately remove any stalled or wrecked cars, expanding a pilot project that's been in place on the Katy Freeway since March. White contends the policy...

Link post: Geology Picture of the Week, April 6-13, 2003, with bonus image links

This just made me chuckle.