Southwest, Continental Airlines Profits Rise on Fares (Update2)

Oct. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Southwest Airlines Co. and Continental Airlines Inc. said third-quarter profits rose as increased travel demand let them fill more seats at higher fares.

Southwest, the biggest low-fare airline, said today that net income more than tripled from a year earlier to $162 million. Earnings at Continental, the fourth-largest U.S. carrier, rose 1.7 percent to $241 million.

AMR Corp.'s American Airlines and Delta Air Lines Inc. also posted higher profits this week. So-called legacy carriers such as Continental, American and Delta boosted ticket prices at least four times in the quarter as fuel costs rose, and Southwest increased fares twice. Most legacy airlines also slowed U.S. growth and expanded internationally, where demand was stronger.

``It looks like it's going to be a good quarter for the airlines,'' said Ray Neidl, a Calyon Securities analyst in New York.Audio Cables

Hidden Vista tools

The sheer number of Vista's tools can be overwhelming. We look at some of the best ones.

If Sven Hallauer ever has a moment to reflect in his Redmond office, he can feel quietly pleased with himself. As the release manager for Vista, he had overall responsibility during the development period for the success of the Most Secure Windows Ever' project. For Hallauer, however, the flexibility of the new operating system is just as important as the security features. In particular, Vista is equipped with far better admin tools than previous versions. Previously, administrators were forced to add tools from Resource Kits, but now Vista comes with a lot of tools already on board, as we'll explain later. You can tell just by looking at the increased minimum hardware requirements that there's a lot more in the new version of Windows.

N.C. beach house fire kills 7 students

An intense fire ravaged a beach house packed with college students early Sunday, killing seven and leaving little left of the structure but its charred frame and the stilts on which it stood.

Six survivors were hospitalized and released, including one who jumped from the burning home and into a waterway, Mayor Debbie Smith said.

"There were three kids sitting on the ground screaming," said newspaper deliverer Tim Burns, who called 911 after seeing a column of smoke rising from the house. "There was one guy hanging out the window, and he jumped in the canal. I know he got out because he was yelling for a girl to follow him."

Burns said he didn't know whether that girl was able to escape.

Officials at the University of South Carolina said six of the students who died were from the school in Columbia; the seventh attended Clemson University.

National Guard gives Santa air lift

Editor's note: Throughout the holiday season, the Journal will depict a few examples of how the Alaska community comes together to help brighten the season for those who need a little cheer.

WAINWRIGHT Santa Claus flew aboard an Alaska National Guard Hercules C-130 for an early visit to Wainwright this year, with gifts for the children, a holiday turkey dinner for all, and music provided by Elmendorf Air Force Base's Alaska Brass band.

The entourage accompanying Mr. and Mrs. Claus on Nov. 3 included state officials, representatives from the Salvation Army, and owners and managers of Anchorage businesses whose firms were major contributors to the party.

There were also several military dignitaries, including Maj. Gen. Craig Campbell, who is the adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard, on hand for the first event of the 51st year of the National Guard's Operation Santa Claus.Sauna Kits
3 Phase Electric Generators

Poll: 2.67 million Canadians drive aggressively

A new survey suggests almost 3 million Canadians were guilty of aggressive driving last year, while more than a quarter of a million took risks behind the wheel "just for the fun of it."

The poll was conducted by the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) and sponsored in part by Transport Canada.

"Aggressive driving is a broad issue that includes behaviours like excessive speeding, running red lights, honking the horn, taking risks for fun while driving, and, in the extreme, physical violence," Ward Vanlaar, a research associate for TIRF, said in a press release Tuesday.

The report, based on interviews from 2006, said 12 per cent of drivers admitted to "frequently driving well over the speed limit," which corresponds to about 2.67 million Canadians on the road.

Naruto Dvds Movies
Projectors Panasonic Consumer Electronics

Hamilton rips Sonics, losing streak hits 7

This early in the season, Richard Hamilton understands it's tough not to have lulls in the course of a game.

Hamilton and his Detroit teammates just happened to be very good at the right times on Sunday night -- the beginning and end.

Hamilton scored 10 of his season-high 32 points during a torrid first quarter, then the Pistons showed their veteran moxie in the final minutes to hold off Seattle 107-103, dropping the SuperSonics to 0-7, their worst start ever.

"We had spurts of great basketball," Hamilton said. "Early in the season, it's really tough to put 48 minutes together. But I thought we did a great job."

The Pistons experience was clearly evident in the first quarter, and then in their execution in the final few minutes, after squandering a big first-half advantage.Std Tests
St

5 reasons to check out a non-hotel

Your next hotel might not be a hotel. It could be a condo, a rental apartment or a home.

And maybe it should be.

It isn't just that traditional hotels, inns and resorts turn off many travelers. There are plenty of reasons to check out of the lodge these days — through-the-roof room rates, being nickeled and dimed for every little extra item — and the alternatives are often roomier, less expensive and more convenient.

No one is predicting the demise of the hotel industry. Not by a long shot, but when it comes to overnight accommodations on your next trip, you might consider an alternate to a traditional hotel.

Here are five reasons:

1. Lots of room. Renting a house or condo almost always gives you more room for less money.Free Social Security Death Records
Funeral Flowers In Tucson And Nationwide

High school groups praised for beach work

How long does it take to plant 10,000 dune grass seedlings? About three hours if you have the help of about 15 Central Regional High School students, plus another 25 residents of the Berkeley Shores community.

That is how long volunteers including students from the high school environmental club known as OCEAN, or Our Campuses Environment Action Network, and members of the Key Club, Interact Club, and Student Congress spent planting 10,000 dune grass seedlings at the Allen Road Beach in Berkeley Shores on the Barnegat Bay on Nov. 3.

Bill Grochowicz, president of the Berkeley Shores Homeowners Civic Association, praised the work of students at the Central Regional Board of Education's Nov. 15 meeting.

"They did such a great job, and I wanted you to know about it," said Grochowicz, as he showed the board "before" and "after" photographs of the beach.Consolidation Consumer Counseling Debt
Free Credit Counseling And Debt Counseling