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Saturday, June 29, 2013

Heaven's On Fire

Where you’ve been, where you’ve been
I look into your eyes and you’re gone

And like the wind, like wind
You’ve been pushing me away for so long

A sweet September got away
And I’m losing more and more each day

Heaven’s on fire
And I’m in a world of broken dreams
You twisted the knife
Left me alone and now I see
Heaven’s on fire
Heaven’s on fire

Where you’ve been, where you’ve been
Tell me, were we living a lie

‘Cause I would never, I would never
leave someone and then tell them goodbye

A sweet September got away 
And I’m losing more and more each day
Losing more and more each day

Heaven’s on fire
And I’m in a world of broken dreams
You twisted the knife
Left me alone I can’t break free
Heaven’s on fire
Heaven’s on fire
It’s tearing the sky up
Heaven’s on fire

Heaven’s on fire
It’s tearing the sky up










The lyrics says it all with how Pia did the song, I am just out of words to describe. There is this little part of me whenever I listen to this song, it just brought me to this one place I always try to hide away from. But well, we know that somehow it is just a matter of time we face our demons.

To break free from what we are trap from always have that fight with out inner self. I somehow still denying this part from what I've overheard. I knew it was an easy way for me to get out from that conversation from my parents whenever they try to talk about "it". Maybe I will never be ready to listen to what they have to say. But for now, my denial is eating me up in whole.

I wanted everything to be easier. I wanted life to be simple. I wanted life to be just that. There is so much going on right now. I wanted to just let it out and just break down. But I myself was holding myself together not allowing me to do so. Maybe somehow I should stop wanting. Maybe it wouldn't hurt that much that way. It would be easier that way.


P/S - A shout out to the inspirational Shin Yong, Happy birthday to you and many great wishes returns. And of course, lotsa love!!!! Hugs..

American Airlines Gets Cameo Role In New Disney Movie 'Planes'

In the 3D animated film "Planes," set to be released in August, Tripp bears American's newly revamped logo and is drawn from the carrier's latest addition to the fleet, the Boeing 777-300ER.

To kick off the collaboration, passengers traveling through Los Angeles International Airport Thursday morning were surprised with gate festivities and giveaways including guest appearances by the film's director Klay Hall and actor Carlos Alazraqui, who is the voice of one of the movie's characters, El Chu.

Passengers were also shown a new custom-directed ad for American Airlines which featured the cast of Disney characters in a spot that promotes the carrier's new fleet and brand makeover.

In the UK British Airways jumped on the chance to promote the animated film and is the headline sponsor for special screenings of the film in Leicester Square in London on July 14. Other screenings across the UK and Ireland will also be held in the lead-up to the public release.

The full-length film will be shown on long-haul flights later this year while American Airlines will debut the movie one month before other airlines around the world.

The film hits theaters in the US August 9 and the UK August 16.








Malaysia Airlines Increases Cabin Baggage Allowance To 7kg From July

Malaysia Airlines will be enhancing its cabin baggage allowance for all its domestic and international flights effective July 1.

In a statement today, the national carrier said Economy Class guests will now be allowed one piece of cabin baggage up to a maximum seven kg instead of five kg.

Guests in First and Business Class have an allowance of two pieces of cabin baggage with a maximum weight of seven kg each.

Each cabin baggage should have a maximum height of 56cm, length of 36cm and width of 23cm.

“This guideline is applicable for all air travel and will be strictly implemented across the airline’s extensive global network effective July 1,” it said.

Apart from the streamlined cabin baggage allowance, each guest can bring on board either a notebook/laptop or briefcase or a binocular bag.

In addition, guests can also bring one small handbag and a walking stick.

Those travelling with infants below 24 months old may also bring one bag containing baby food and nappies weighing up to five kg, a carry cot and a fully collapsible baby stroller.

All cabin baggage must conform to local laws and security measures applied at the respective airports, Malaysia Airlines said, adding that its regular rates will be applied to cabin baggage in excess of these allowances.

Friday, June 28, 2013

Acoustic Overloaded - Stageit With Pia & Jared

Stageit is an online venue where artists perform live, interactive, monetized shows for their fans directly from a laptop, offering fans unique experiences that are never archived.

On Stageit, artists perform live, online shows from their laptop that are never recorded or archived. That's right! Every Stageit show is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that's not to be missed.


And yet tonight, it was in the history of Stageit that two amazing artists set the most amazing show. (To me at least it was)

Pia Toscano and Jared Lee performed live from the StageIT headquarters was just mind blowing to me! They played some of their favorite covers along with debuting brand new original material! The setlist were amazing. They both started off with one of Jared's tracks on his EP called Beautiful World. It really gives a different twist to it with this track. It is just a night filled with pure acoustic vibe overloaded. 
These are the times in our lives that we wait for,
these are the days and the nights that we pray for,
and I'll say it again, its a beautiful world
I'll say it again its so beautiful.
These words were just heart felt with their harmonies. I couldn't really put into words how I really felt like when they sing together. Somehow this song is something I could relate to what I am going through in life I suppose. Fighting with cancer, and expressing myself in my own music. (How I wish I could also sing. LOL) But I am grateful for living my dreams to be able to write my music and work with amazing people to share all of that with the world. And yes, I really look up to Jared with his own music expression. It is just pure honesty in his tone and heart felt. If you haven't got his EP Falling Through Holes, I really reckon you guys to get it NOW! You will understand how I felt like with his music.

From there, they both sang this beautiful classic Time After Time. Pia and Jared did this cover before in the past. The first time I heard them sang it was at universal studio. And yet, their chemistry were just unbelievably powerful. It doesn't sound like listening to some old classic music being covered. They just owned that moment. They both did some solo performance too. Pia put a new twist on her previous single This Time. I have to say, I love the acoustic version better! Jared did one of my favorite song from his EP - It's Over (Goodbye).

Pia did one song that I kinda didn't expect that she will do. The song that made me fall in love with her. - I Stand By You. The only time I saw her did it live was during Idols. She blew the whole studio away with that. I have to say, she still has it. Did I mention Jared was tearing listening to her singing this? Hahaha.. Jared, you aren't the only one. Pia touches people's heart with her voice. 

I have to say that this show just kept getting better and better. This was a song I was really looking forward to listen. Written by these two amazing souls. Wake Me Up, debut on Stageit! I have to say, it is amazing! It is really raw. It reflects that understanding that you don't have all the time in the world, living in the moment. How can I not look up to these guys and not being inspired right? As much as we can deny this, how many more artist would keep that artistry and the value of really expressing themselves in their music? I am not saying there aren't any but most of them would just rather go for a hit song than writing something that comes from the heart. I have to say as a music writer, sometimes we would come to a point that many of the labels will tell you they needed something that sells. Of course sales is important, but the essence of keeping what we believe in music and the things we feel is not easy to sell. But having seeing these two doing this, just some sorta like motivates me to keep doing what I am doing. 

Every good thing has to come to an end right? When I thought Wake Me Up was the highlight of the show, I was totally wrong! Jared and Pia certainly kept the best for last! This last song was just the cherry on the toppings. It was phenomenal! I think THIS IS the BEST song Jared has ever written. 

Heaven's On Fire

As we all know, Pia just has a way to put all that emotions into a song. Every single word was heart felt. The scores were just mind blowing. It is really simple yet that sophisticated and powerful emotions that came out from that tone. I didn't know what was that. The whole track got me from the first verse. One day somewhere in the near future, I know I will look back to this very day remembering what I felt when I first listen to this song. The message was so strong, I sat there and looking around, and reminded myself. This is life. No matter how things are or were, it will somehow will mean something at some point. Good or bad, it is just how life is, that balance of the good things and the bad things in life. And for that, I am really thankful. 

Pia Toscano and Jared Lee, thank you so much for an amazing and such intimate performance. Keep writing good music. You guys will always be my anchor and my inspiration. On my music, and also in my life. Tonight I can easily say it was the best of my life.  Music just always has it ways to touch people's heart in ways we least expected. 

Thursday, June 27, 2013

BA Reveals Boeing 787 Launch Routes: Toronto, New York/Newark

British Airways has chosen Toronto and Newark as launch routes for its first Boeing 787 services as the airline revs up its marketing machine ahead of the Dreamliner's official debut next week.

BA's London-Toronto Boeing 787 service will begin on September 1, with London-Newark following on October 1. BA says the Boeing 787 "will also be doing shorthaul flying to Stockholm" sometime after October 1.

The Dreamliner service will make its international inaugural on the daily BA93/92 service between London and Toronto, while the daily London-Newark BA187/186 flight will score the 787.

Travellers can book special launch fares on their website with £787 (A$1300) return in World Traveller Plus premium economy from London to Toronto and Newark. Another £787 return will get you an upgrade to Club World business class.

The Dreamliners will also be rostered onto selected and as-yet-unannounced domestic and European routes prior to starting international flights.

Also released today was this 787 teaser including a few fleeting glimpses inside BA's Dreamliner.

The seating plan shows room for 214 passengers divided into the predictable mix of business, premium economy and economy – BA has joined other Boeing 787 airlines in dropping the first class cabin from the next-gen jetliner in order to focus on a cost-effective three-class layout. 35 Club World business class seats sit at the pointy end in a new 'triple' configuration of 2-3-2.

That's followed by 25 World Traveller Plus premium economy seats laid out 2-3-2; and 154 World Traveller economy seats split 3-3-3.

BA's 'Big Bang' launch


British Airways will take delivery of its first Boeing 787 in London today, with another expected to follow early next week, ahead of a worldwide media launch for both its Boeing 787 and Airbus A380 at London’s Heathrow Airport on Friday July 5.

The Boeing 787 and Airbus A380 are part of a ten-year A$8.2 billion upgrade to BA's long-distance fleet, which will include retiring the older and less fuel-efficient Boeing 747-400 jumbos.

"The 787 will become a mainstay of the British Airways fleet over the next few years" promises Willie Walsh, chief executive of BA parent IAG.

"This is the first of 24 that will arrive by 2017, and we have announced plans to convert further options for the aircraft into firm orders for delivery from 2017, including for the new larger 787-10 version."

Over the next 12 months, BA expects to take delivery of one new long-range aircraft every two weeks, including its 12 Airbus A380s and six additional Boeing 777-300ERs.

The Airbus A380 will begin from London to Los Angeles from October 15 and Hong Kong from November 15, and like the 787 will fly several routes closer to home in the lead-up to LAX.

British Airways First Dreamliner Arrives In Heathrow


The British Airways 787 departed Paine Field in Everett, Wash., on Wednesday, June 26, arriving at London's Heathrow Airport today at 12:10 pm local time. The airplane was welcomed to its Heathrow home by Willie Walsh, chief executive officer of International Airlines Group (IAG), the company that owns British Airways.

"The 787 is a tremendous, innovative aircraft which sets new standards for environmental performance and operating efficiency and I'm sure British Airways' customers will love it," said Walsh. "The 787 will become a mainstay of the British Airways fleet over the next few years."

British Airways has announced that the airline will operate the 787 from Heathrow to Toronto from Sept. 1 and Heathrow to Newark from Oct. 1.

"The delivery of the first of BA's 787s is an exciting milestone for Boeing and British Airways," said Todd Nelp, vice president of European Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The 787 is the most technologically advanced and fuel-efficient commercial jetliner in its class. Its improved lighting, bigger windows, larger overhead bins, lower cabin altitude and cleaner cabin air will offer BA's passengers an unparalleled flying experience."

The 787 Dreamliner is composed of lightweight composites and features numerous systems, engine and aerodynamic advancements, with unmatched fuel efficiency using 20 percent less fuel than today's similarly sized airplanes. It is the first mid-sized airplane capable of flying long-range routes, providing airlines with unprecedented fuel economy and low operating costs and enabling airlines to open new, non-stop routes preferred by passengers. On a 787 with Rolls-Royce engines, UK companies make about 25 percent of the 787 by value.

The British Airways 787 Dreamliner carries 214 passengers and is configured with 35 seats in Club World, 25 in World Traveller Plus and 154 seats in the World Traveller cabin.

British Airways operates more than 140 Boeing airplanes within its fleet including 52 777s, as well as the world's largest fleet of 747s with 52.

This is the first of 24 787s British Airways has on order. In addition, IAG recently announced that it will convert 18 787 options to firm orders for British Airways, subject to shareholder agreement. Twelve of these will be 787-10s, meaning British Airways will operate the entire 787 family – the 787-8, 787-9 and 787-10.

British Airways employs approximately 40,000 people, based mainly in the UK, although it has staff based in more 75 countries around the world. The airline has 14,500 cabin crew and 3,500 pilots. The airline's route network currently serves in excess of 177 destinations and it operates in excess of 300,000 flights per year.

Malindo's New Local Destination



Malindo Air announced that its new services to Alor Setar, Kuala Terengganu and Langkawi from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport Subang will commence on August 1.

The services will utilise the airline’s new ATR72-600 aircraft, it said in a statement.

There will be twice daily services connecting Subang and Alor Setar, and daily services between Subang and Kuala Terengganu as well as Langkawi.

Currently, Malindo Air’s turbo-prop operation flies to Penang, Kota Baharu and Johor Baharu from Subang.

"Malindo Air’s emergence at Subang Airport has been warmly received by the public. Our flights to Kota Baharu have been flying with more than 90 per cent capacity most of the time," Malindo Air chief executive officer Chandran Rama Muthy said.

Promotional fares are being offered at an all-inclusive RM109, from now until August 4, 2013.

Second Thoughts On First Class

Life no longer looks so sharp when you're flying at the pointy end of the plane. In the post-GFC era – and the post-post-GFC era which all too quickly followed – an increasing number of airlines are dropping first class.

A new breed of business class seats are taking pride of place, especially in the next generation of airlines rolling out of the Airbus and Boeing factories.

Take the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which has been ordered by more than 50 airlines but has yet to see a single first class seat installed.


First class circa the 1970s isn't a patch on even the business class cabin of today.

"We're seeing many airlines starting to reduce their full-blown first class offering, mainly because business class is beyond what first class used to be," a Boeing spokesman told High Flyer.
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"Business class is where the better airlines spend money because passengers are willing to pay for it."

Airbus executive Didier Evrard agrees that airlines buying their own A350 - the French maker's next-generation competitor for the 787 - are unlikely to fit first class seats.

"I don't think there will be many airlines doing this," he says, adding that competition between carriers and the desire to maximise revenue means "the pressure of the market is very high".

This may well change when Airbus and Boeing roll out their lanky 787-10 and A350-1000 models, which will stretch these mid-sized airliners to 'mini-jumbo' extremes.

But this trend also reflects the evolution of business class, with wide seats that convert into fully lie-flat beds, duvets and mattresses, handy side tables, shoe nooks, large-screen video panels plus mains power and USB sockets.

Simply put, today's best business class seats are as good, if not better, than first class was only a decade ago – and airlines can fit more of them into the space demanded by first class.

"It's quite an indulgence just for airlines to have a first class cabin," says Luke Hawes, director of leading UK aviation design firm PriestmanGoode, which has crafted first class cabins for Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways and Swiss, along with the original concept designs for the Airbus A380.

Hawes estimates that a first class cabin of 12 seats costs an airline around $3 million.
None of this is to suggest that first class is on the way out entirely. It's still a proud part of most airlines' flagships such as the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 777-300ER, although Emirates is considering a two-class variant of the A380 that would eliminate first class.

Garuda is one airline that's going against the flow, and will next week add first class to its fleet – which currently tops out at business class – in the Indonesian carrier's new long-range Boeing 777-300 jet.

And next month Singapore Airlines will reveal the second generation of its ground-breaking first class suites.

PriestmanGoode's Hawes predicts that first class may eventually evolve beyond suites, and into a private jet-like cabin.

"We might be able to have more of a flexible configuration where you can maybe zone off a number of seats where people are flying together," he suggests.

"You could almost create a cabin within a cabin. I think that could be quite appealing, and there are concepts we're working on which are along those lines."





Budget Airline Hong Kong Express To Fly To Malaysia, Mainland China

Hong Kong Express Airways said yesterday it will fly to two mainland cities and Malaysia when it starts operating as a budget carrier in October.

Prices will be at least 30 per cent lower than those of rival Cathay Pacific Airways.

The airline, controlled by mainland-based HNA Group, has disposed of its Boeing 737s. It now has three Airbus 320s but will increase that number to five by September.

It will have a fleet of 30 planes in five years and plans to hire 150 staff by the end of the year.

"For too long Hong Kong has been denied the opportunity to travel at low cost to the mainland and the rest of Asia," deputy chief executive Andrew Cowen said.

Yang Jianhong, the executive chairman of Hong Kong Express, said the firm would lower costs per seat by 40 per cent by increasing the use of aircraft to 13 hours per day from nine and having no free catering or check-in baggage on board.

Yang added he expected the carrier to break even within two years.

The airline's transformation involves a management reshuffle. Steve Allen is the carrier's commercial director. Two other expatriates from low-cost carriers have also joined the airline.

The carrier will operate independently from sister company Hong Kong Airlines.

It will start flying to Sabah, Malaysia, and the mainland cities of Kunming and Chongqing.

Hong Kong is not a typical market for low-cost carriers as it does not have a budget terminal and labour costs are high.

Cowen said the absence of low-cost carriers from Hong Kong made the city an expensive place to fly to and from.

Ninety-four airlines fly to Hong Kong. Ten are budget carriers. The penetration rate of the budget carriers is 5 per cent of capacity.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Breaking News: US Supreme Court Strikes Down Defense Of Marriage Act


Reports National Public Radio:
In a highly anticipated ruling today, the Supreme Court ruled the federal Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional.

"DOMA is unconstitutional as a deprivation of the equal liberty of persons that is protected by the Fifth Amendment," SCOTUSblog reports.

The 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, was signed into law by President Bill Clinton, barring federal recognition of same-sex marriages for purposes such as Social Security survivors' benefits, insurance benefits, immigration and tax filing.

Section 3 of the law defines marriage as "a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife" and a spouse as "a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife." That provision had been struck down by eight lower courts before the Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling in United States v. Windsor.

The majority opinion was written by Justice Anthony Kennedy.

We're still waiting on another major decision on gay marriage which concerns California's ban on gay marriage.
Related Off-site Links:
Supreme Court DOMA Decision Rules Federal Same-Sex Marriage Ban Unconstitutional – Ryan J. Reilly (The Huffington Post, June 26, 2013).
Supreme Court Strikes Federal Marriage Provision – Mark Sherman (Associated Press via Yahoo! News, June 26, 2013).

It Is Better

When you believe it will get better, it will eventually gets better. Today marks a remarkable day in history.
President Obama said:

"When all Americans are treated as equal—no matter who they are or whom they love—we are all more free." 
President Obama's statement on Supreme Court striking down  Defence Of Marriage Act! California made a great move towards equality. So much I can talk about it but I know it really meant so much for us who kept this fight alive. Change is here and it took us years and years to stand for what we believe.

Honestly, I have a lot of things going on in my mind right now. I over heard things that I wasn't suppose to hear. I am not sure I am ready to talk about it just yet. I told two souls about it. All I can say that I really have the greatest love one can ever ask for. When I told Mr D about what I heard, he just knows what best to say to calm me down. I really didn't know how I feel at this very moment. But what he says was really touching.
To me it doesn't mean you're incomplete. your personality shines more than your physical self & its BLINDING!
For some reasons, I think I am just looking for ways to cope with what I might be facing in the near future. It's not gonna be easy or I should honestly say, I am still in denial hoping it wasn't what I over hear earlier. I believe there are angels among us. They come to you to show us how to live and teach us how to give. To guide us with the light of love.

Life is still a mysteriously beautiful thing that I couldn't or anyone to fully understand. Whenever I think that things were bad for me, there will be something that will somehow shows me that I am blessed. Always be grateful for what you have because you never know if you could lose it all.

Someone told me today on facebook about how things can be in life. The odds is out of 7 billion that walks of life. When you believe it somehow, you can make it happen. I know I kinda stop writing on my Live Today With My All series but I promise I will finish the last few chapters soon. I am looking for answers still. I still question what should I choose from here. Do I wanna live what I am suppose to or I should just choose a better quality of life. There are so many questions but there ain't any answers. Maybe a part of me is just too tired to move on. Maybe for now, I am just ain't ready.

Well, as this title says, it is better somehow. Today is a day that worth celebrating. I just need to give myself a break and sleep on it at the moment. It will get better from here. I believe it will.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Vampire Diaries Season 5, The Originals 2013 Premiere Dates Announced!

Are you ready to find out when The Vampire Diaries Season 5 premiere is? We're so excited! The news we’ve been waiting for from The CW finally arrived today: When will The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, and the rest of their new and returning shows premiere in the fall?

According to a new press release from the network, The CW will once again be rolling out its fall schedule in early October. While most other networks start their seasons in mid to late September, The CW is waiting a few weeks for strategic reasons.

The Vampire Diaries Season 5 starts on October 10, while its spin-off, The Originals, debuts the following week on October 15. By holding the shows’ premieres until October, the breaks between episodes will be more infrequent and the hiatuses will be shorter.

The CW used this technique for the Fall 2012 schedule, and it certainly seemed to help. Most of their shows have 22 episodes, so by shortening the series runs to October through May, as opposed to September through May, the need for several lengthy breaks is diminished a bit.

Sure, it means the summer hiatus is extended a few weeks, but we prefer to have our TVD uninterrupted once the action starts!

Check out all The CW’s fall premiere dates below.

2013 FALL PREMIERE DATES:

MONDAY, OCTOBER 7

8:00-9:00 PM HART OF DIXIE (Season Premiere)

9:00-10:00 PM BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (Season Premiere)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9

8:00-9:00 PM ARROW (Season Premiere)

9:00-10:00 PM THE TOMORROW PEOPLE (Series Premiere)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10

8:00-9:00 PM THE VAMPIRE DIARIES (Season Premiere)

9:00-10:00 PM REIGN (Series Premiere)

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15

8:00-9:00 PM THE ORIGINALS (Series Premiere)

9:00-10:00 PM SUPERNATURAL (Season Premiere)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25

8:00-9:00 PM THE CARRIE DIARIES (Season Premiere)

9:00-10:00 PM AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL: GUYS AND GIRLS

Monday, June 24, 2013

Malindo Air Receives Fourth B737

Malindo Air will receive its fourth Boeing 737-900ER aircraft this week.

The new single-aisle aircraft took off from Boeing’s factory in Seattle on Monday and is due to arrive at Malindo’s home base in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday 26 June 2013, following stops in Hawaii and the Philippines. The aircraft will be used to launch a new route connecting KL with Tawau, on the east coast of Malaysia’s Sabah state.

The arrival will mark the second new aircraft to join Malindo’s fleet this month. On 10 June, the airline welcomed its third B737 which was used to launch flights to two destinations in Sarawak – Miri and Sibu.

Malindo operates its B737-900ER in a two-class configuration with 180 seats – 12 in business class and 168 in economy. Despite being a low-cost carrier, it also offers personal in-flight entertainment in each seat.

LA Airport LAX Gets $US4.1 Billion Upgrade



When it opens in August, the cavernous Tom Bradley International Terminal will highlight the excesses of Los Angeles, with a lineup of duty-free shops featuring luxe boutiques such as Hermes and Gucci. Its Parisian bar features champagne and caviar that passengers can carry onto a plane.

Liquor is a key fixture for travelers with expensive taste, with one shop offering a $US20,000 ($21,700) bottle of cognac.

The terminal is part of a $US4.1 billion upgrade at the nation's third-busiest airport that seeks to elevate the reputation of the facility from a place some travelers try to avoid to one they don't want to leave.

The new terminal's 46,000-square metre Great Hall will be named Villaraigosa Pavilion after the city's outgoing mayor.

Michael Lawson, president of the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners, said Asian travellers are among those expected to be attracted by the terminal that will eventually include 18 gates, nine of which can accommodate the double-decker Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger plane that holds more than 800 people.

Meanwhile, a destination board features two side screens that show images and information on destinations when flight information changes for a particular city. People travelling to Hong Kong, for example, would see their departure time alongside a ship with red sails floating on the South China Sea or a map with factoids about Hong Kong's history.

There's a 24-metre "Welcome Wall'' that greets arriving passengers with a series of visual cascades, ranging from a flowing cloudscape to an LA shoreline. Throughout the 15,000-square-metre lobby are 60 retailers and restaurants.

Although it's behind schedule and still two years from full completion, the $US1.9 billion terminal is being showcased in advance with media tours and open houses for the public. Three new gates are in operation, with five more to be opened by the end of summer.

Curtis Fentress, the project's architect, said one of the biggest challenges was translating the multifaceted identity of Los Angeles into physical forms.

"We spent a lot of time trying to understand the culture and what really makes this place unique,'' Mr Fentress said.

"What did people want the airport to be?''

At meetings around the city, the public was asked to tell designers what they thought reflected the city. Hollywood and the ocean were common responses. And so, for example, the terminal roof was built to look like ocean waves, a nod to the city's beach lifestyle.

While construction continues, there is a legal fight over other aspects of the project, notably moving a runway closer to neighbouring homes. Opponents of the expansion raised concerns over the effects of noise, traffic and air-quality from modernising the airport.

Los Angeles World Airports, which operates and manages the airport, said the project is built in a way that minimises environmental harm to surrounding areas, including the designation of specific routes for construction vehicles to and from the site, and using equipment with emission and noise reduction devices.

Emirates A380 To Fly Los Angeles In December

Emirates on Monday announced an upgrade of service from Dubai to Los Angeles (LA) with the introduction of the flagship A380 starting on December 2, bringing Emirates award-winning service to its first US West Coast destination and facilitating connections to the western US.

"Demand for our award-winning onboard service has steadily grown and customers have been requesting our industry-leading A380 to LA for some time now," said Orhan Abbas, Emirates Commercial Senior Vice-President of the Americas. "As Los Angeles is known for its luxury and the Hollywood lifestyle, bringing our A380 into the market was a natural fit as it allow every Emirates passenger the chance to experience the glamorous life at 35,000 feet before they arrive in LA."

The 489-seat Emirates A380 offers 14 Private First Class Suites, 76 lie-flat beds in Business Class and 399 spacious seats in Economy Class. First Class passengers have access to two Onboard Shower Spas, while all premium passengers on the upper deck can socialise at the Onboard Lounge with an array of beverages and snacks. Passengers in all classes of service experience Emirates renowned hospitality, receive a generous baggage allowance, have in-flight Wi-Fi and mobilephone connectivity, as well as access to the industry-leading ice entertainment system which boasts more than 1,400 channels of films, TV programmes, games and music. This aircraft replaces the Boeing 777-300 ER which has serviced the route previously.

The A380 service will operate daily as EK215 departing Dubai at 0820hrs (local time) and arriving at Los Angeles' Tom Bradley International Terminal at 1250hrs (local). The return flight, EK216, departs Los Angeles at 1600hrs (local) and arrives in Dubai at 1950hrs (local) the following day. The arrival time of the A380 in LA will offer passengers easy connections to desirable destinations in the US such as Phoenix, Las Vegas, San Diego and Honolulu.

The announcement of the A380 on the airline's longest route in terms of distance comes on the heels of last week's announcement of A380 service added to Zurich, Switzerland. The A380 to Los Angeles compliments the double daily A380 flights already in place between Dubai and New York's John F. Kennedy airport and becomes the 23rd A380 destination on the Emirates global route network. Emirates, the largest A380 operator in the world, has 34 A380s in service and an additional 56 A380s on order; receiving one A380 delivery per month, on average.

UK & Malaysia Declare Open Skies

UK Aviation Minister Simon Burns has welcomed an Open Skies deal with Malaysia that he describes as "one of the most liberal agreements of its type worldwide".

"This is excellent news for consumers and the aviation industry alike," he said.

"I very much hope that it will generate competition among airlines, allowing passengers to reap the benefits of greater choice and lower airfares."

Currently, only Malaysia Airlines flies between London and Kuala Lumpur, with a twice-daily A380 service from Heathrow.

The deal will also ease restrictions on flights to onward destinations from the UK and Malaysia.

Under the agreement, airlines from both countries will be free to pick up and set down passengers or cargo at intermediate or beyond points.

Carriers will also be free to operate services within each other’s country and from each other’s country to other point.

While the agreement formally comes into effect with an exchange of diplomatic notes, it is being applied administratively with immediate effect.

Limits on the number of services between the two countries will be lifted from October 27.

In the Asean region, the UK closed an Open Skies agreement with Singapore in 2007.

Airbus Edges Boeing in Paris Air Show Orders

Flyovers are business as usual at the Paris Air Show, the commercial and military aerospace sector’s biggest event of the year.

But EADS’  Airbus A350’s well-choreographed sky dance — swooping low over the main runway at the Le Bourget airfield just one week after its maiden flight — is a clear sign that the battle for dominance in the next-generation wide-body jet market has risen to the next level. That’s particularly true since Airbus is positioning the A350 as a head-to-head competitor with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner and the smaller versions of its 777.

Don’t dismiss Boeing, though — it brought its “A” game to Paris as well, taking advantage of the show’s 50th anniversary to launch its new 787-10, a stretch version of the Dreamliner that can seat 300 to 330 passengers. The Dreamliner aircraft family — just like the A350 — boasts a carbon-composite fuselage, a lighter material that plays a significant role in boosting fuel efficiency by at least 20%.

The Paris Air Show proved two things to investors. First, the competition between Boeing and Airbus has now reached a fever pitch — and airlines are certain to play the two manufacturers against each other to secure the sweetest deals on advanced, fuel-efficient aircraft.

Second, while there is a huge global market for single-aisle, narrow-body jets like the Boeing 737MAX and the Airbus A320neo, this year’s dogfight is hottest in the so-called “mini-jumbo” space — twin-engine aircraft that can seat around 350 passengers and travel long distances.

The A350-1000, which has 350 seats, is expected to enter service in 2017; the first delivery of the 323-seat 787-10 is expected in 2018. United Airlines inked a deal for 10 new A350-1000s at the show and converted 25 existing A350 orders to the 1000 model. Boeing’s new, 400-seat successor to the 777 “mini-jumbo,” dubbed the 777X, reportedly will enter service around 2019.

All told, Airbus racked up orders for 466 aircraft at a list price of $69 billion — including 59 orders for the A350 from Singapore Airlines and Air France-KLM. Boeing booked orders for 442 aircraft valued at some $66 billion, including 102 orders for the 787-10. United will be the North American launch customer for the stretch Dreamliner; other launch customers include British Airways and Singapore Airlines.

Boeing’s strong orders — particularly for the 787-10 — are a bright spot in what has been a challenging year so far. Although BA stock has defied gravity in 2013, its Dreamliner only recently returned to service after being grounded by the FAA for nearly four months over lithium-ion battery problems. While the battery problem was addressed, unrelated glitches have continued to dog Boeing’s flagship aircraft.

Earlier this month, All Nippon Airways cancelled a flight when cockpit sensors indicated an engine problem. The next day, a Japan Airlines flight bound for Singapore returned to Tokyo’s Haneda airport after instruments suggested there was a problem with the aircraft’s de-icing system. The day after that, an ANA flight had to be cancelled after one of the 787’s two Rolls Royce engines failed to start.

While Boeing senior executives were promoting the Dreamliner in Paris, the glitches kept coming. On Tuesday, a United 787 bound for Tokyo from Denver was diverted to Seattle because of an oil filter issue. On Thursday, another 787 flying from London to Houston was diverted to Newark after a low-oil warning.

The Dreamliner’s troubles are one reason Boeing downplayed the likelihood of major announcements at the Paris Air Show. At last year’s Farnborough Air Show (the annual show is held in France and the U.K. in alternate years), BA snagged $72.2 billion in orders, compared to $16.9 billion for Airbus.

Bottom Line


The Paris Air Show proves that the battle for supremacy in the global commercial aircraft market is heating up — and Airbus’ A350 orders dramatically raise the stakes for both manufacturers. Boeing and Airbus are both racing do the impossible: produce top-quality, low-priced jets that are delivered to market fast — and ready for prime time.

Although the new Dreamliner glitches are likely to be little more than minor idiot lights over the aircraft’s service life, they are a big distraction that BA doesn’t need right now. The perception issues are potentially a bigger challenge — particularly if airlines view the prospects of delivering new jets like the 737MAX and the 777X through the prism of the Dreamliner’s delays and difficulties.

If airline customers who are counting on these jets to reduce fuel costs and move more passengers more efficiently and profitably doubt that BA can deliver its next-generation jets on time and ready for prime time, Airbus is positioning itself to steal that business. From an investor’s standpoint, the big winners of this battle are airlines like United, who will be able to play Boeing and Airbus off each other, securing hot, new aircraft at bargain prices.

Shakespeare Says... 莎士比亚说...

莎士比亚说... 时间会辞破青春的华美精致, 会吧平行线刻上美人的额角。没有什么可以逃过他横扫的镰刀。 但有一样东西,却不会被他的镰刀收割。是我们的毅力。我们的生命一天天的转动着。秒针, 分针, 时针。而我,我们,就在这时代里,最最渺小微茫的存在。

你不知道生活在什么时候就改变了方向。你被失望拖进深渊,被疾病拉进坟墓。你被挫折践踏得体无完肤,在这之前,在世界末日 天翻地覆之前,让我活在我的没怨没恨的小世界里。永远有青春, 永远有热血, 永远有梦想的世界里。  

从懵懂中慢慢成长,在寂寞里静静等待。盼过日出日落 凝望几多交错之愁。
从晨曦的绚烂中期盼,在夕阳的映衬下回眸, 眼前总也丢不掉那抹迷雾。

曾经的年少轻狂跳跃燃烧的天真梦想,在时光的消磨中慢慢退却雕琢出千丝万缕的惆怅与悲伤。此时便不敢再有痴想或是那些灿烂自由的憧憬。 只是带着满脸的伤感胆怯的低头行走。没发现什么时候自己被时代落下。

也许,等待中的四季变换如梭。也许我的眼泪会从春天的牛毛细雨变为秋雨潇潇;也许,我的心会从夏天的炽热变为隆冬的彻骨。倘若明天我仍在迷雾中孤独的等待,那我的故事就应该与那些游荡的情感偷窥者一起飘走,然后落在一棵多情的白桦树上,安静的沉睡。

Shakespeare said : 
Time doth transfix the flourish set on youth, And delves the parallels in beauty's brow, Feeds on the rarities of nature's truth And nothing stands but for his scythe to mow:
But there is one thing, will not be mowed by its scythe.That is our will to live. Everyday, we lived within every second, minute and hour. Yet I, we are just like a tiny grain among all the stars in the universe, the smallest of all existence. 

We will never know when life changes it's course. When despair walks side by side with disappointment. Sickness and diseases haunting us to our grave. But before this course changes, live what we are meant to live. Live with hot blooded passions, live with no ending of youth, live with dreams that we are meant to live in. Without hatred and regrets. 

I really got no idea why am I so wanted to write in mandarin these few days. I suppose it is just one of those days that things changes it course. It's just emotion writings. I wanted to fully translate every single sentence above, but somehow realize that when words can be just at a lost. Just couldn't bear to find the right words for that right emotions to express.  I know there is a big part of it being left out. But anyhow, I hope that this will be my last post in mandarin for the time being. Will just lay it to rest. 

I guess somehow taking a break from writing on my Live Today With My All series and focusing on what is around me does help me to focus on what I needed to. Honestly, it is getting tougher but I am still holding up to it. Whenever things were the way they were, it happens for a reason somehow. At this point, I am just taking it up as much as I possibly could. For just some reasons, I just wanted to let it be and making out my good days up to the bad days that could possibly hit me. 

For everything that is happening around me, I just wanted to stay positive and looking forward to head back to New York. Holding up to what I am grateful for. 

Qatar Set For Early Entry Into Oneworld

When the airline first announced last year that it was to join the alliance, Qatar gave itself a deadline of March 2014 for entry into Oneworld.

But a senior Qatar source at the Paris Air Show has revealed that an entry date of October has now been cemented.

British Airways is serving as Qatar's sponsor in joining Oneworld, supported by the central alliance team which mentors the Doha-based carrier through its alliance implementation programme.

Qatar Airways will be Oneworld's second member airline based in the Middle East, alongside Royal Jordanian, which became the first airline from the region to join any of the global alliances (see online news, October 2005).

Qatar's network serves 120 destinations in 70 countries in the Middle East, Europe, Africa, North and South America, Asia and Australasia. Fifteen of its destinations and three countries - Iran, Rwanda and the Seychelles - will be new to Oneworld.

Qatar already has codeshare deals with Oneworld member Malaysia Airlines.

Oneworld members will be able to take advantage of Qatar's home airport, the New Doha International Airport, when it opens later this year with an eventual capacity for 50 million passengers annually.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

赢家

有人说,爱让一个人低声下气,爱让一个人失去了自我。他们说,谁爱得多,谁就输得多。是的,我承认,爱情是一场博奕。但爱情不是战争。爱不是用来制约对方,也不是用来打败对方的。爱是一种力量,爱是一种宏博、柔韧、持久、坚强的力量。人与人之间,并无高下可分,谁更优秀过谁,谁更爱谁,谁更付出多一些,这些都无关紧要,重要的是你愿不愿意跟对方携手到白头。

之前,可能爱过很多人,之后,你还将爱多少人呢?过去的无从计较,未来的无从预知,唯有今朝,你是否一心一意的对待着这份感情。

如果把对方深重的爱看作为制约的要害,那么对双方来说都是一件极为可悲的事。爱的人,得不到尊重和珍惜,被爱的人,在骄纵的背后得到的是虚荣,那么幸福将遥遥隔着重山重水。
初时,所有的人在付出的时候,都是口口声声说,不曾求愿过回报。并且,不怨不悔,不嗔不怪。可是,到了最后,所有的人,都想着付出的要得到相应的回报,甚至应该更多。只因为一直都在付出,未曾有所体谅。爱情中没有对不起与对得起,也没有先来后到,有的只是爱或不爱,不要等到错过了再去后悔当初自己为什么不去争取,争取过才不会后悔。

爱情里没有输赢,只有爱与不爱,爱就要爱的痛快,不爱就忘得干脆,哭哭啼啼挽回的不是爱而是同情。同情与爱不对等,让一个人同情自己结果只会更加受伤更加心痛。是真正的爱就不要太在乎自己的自尊了,是真正的爱就该让爱的人得到自己真正的幸福。要死要活不是爱一个人的表现,那样只会让对方更加无耐,这不是在爱他而是在折磨他。明知没有结果的事为什么还要去做?为什么不让自己早日解脱?以同情换回的爱还有意义吗?明明感觉到对方一直在敷衍自己还一直在苦苦爱着,又是何必!
我想在爱情里面,是没有输赢之分的。爱了就投入地去爱一场。谁又会说爱得深爱得多的那个人就是输家呢。我倒认为,投入感情最深最真的那一个是最幸福的。他爱得真实,爱得彻底,给得完整,在生命中体验到了真爱,这是很难得的。有多少人一生都没有遇到自己的真心爱人呢。
爱情是享受的那份美好的过程。如果不得不分开,也彼此道一声珍重。在未来的日子里所有的过往也会成为你温馨的回忆。人生总有那么多无奈,可还是有那么多爱的幸福,所以,用一颗感恩的心去看待你的爱人吧,不管他是不是在你的身边。
爱情,最好是能并头齐进。天平倾斜的时候,两个人,不应该是争执感情砝码的轻重,不应该是骄纵所被宠爱的。
若要爱的幸福,两个人,付出对等的爱,善待对方的爱。那么,在爱的路上,两个人都将会是共同的赢家。

我的梦•我的泪•彼时•此时

我的梦像秋千
起起伏伏 飘忽不定
在风吹雨打中锈迹斑斑

我的梦像风筝
越飞越高 渐渐失去控制
飞到了天际 变成永久的梦

我的泪像秋雨
在萧瑟秋风中飘荡
枯萎在泛黄的杂草丛中
凋零在干瘪的落叶里

我的泪像雨季的泥泞
潮湿阴暗的细菌在四周肆意挥霍
梦想的纯洁被玷污的一塌糊涂
扭曲的神经折磨着最原始的情愫

彼时的青涩叫做清纯
彼时的梦想叫做天真
彼时的心境叫做稚嫩
而此时那?

此时再没有清纯可言
此时不知道什么是梦想
此时的方向盘掌握在“潮流”手中
此时的心境是氤氲的
此时的压力像个牢笼
严严的把我们遮的密不透风

 

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