The Large US Companies That May Disappear In 2008

Here are the big ones that probably won't make it
24/7 Wall St.

Firestone. American Motors. Texaco. Pan Am. Worldcom. At one point or another these large American companies were at the top of their industries. Pan Am was the leading global airline for decades. All are gone. Some were sold off. Others went bankrupt. Who could have predicted it?

There are several iconic US companies that may well not exist at the end of 2008. Some may not even make it halfway through the year. Not all will go out of business. Some may simply be auctioned off in pieces. Others may be bought. These companies will not exist in their current forms as they are known to their shareholders and consumers now.

When a company ceases to exist as an independent entity, it is not necessarily bad for shareholders. Some may be worth more in parts. Often a bust-up or merger is what brings owners the most money.

Here are the big ones that probably won't make it.

See who these companies are: http://www.247wallst.com/2008/01/the-large-us-co.html

KNN Celebrates its 2nd Anniversary

Thanks to everyone for 2 wonderful years
Ahtur Keymah B.N. Aharon
KNN-Cleveland

Greeting family and friends. We at KNN are blessed to announce that this month we will celebrate our 2nd year of reporting on breaking news around the world. It has been our divine honor in serving you and keeping you up to date on events occurring within all sectors of society and within the Hebrew Israelite Community. It is our prayer that our articles have been informative, enlightening, and thought provoking.

Within these past 2 years we have had over 30,000 people visit KNN and we are excited about reaching even more people in the years to come. It is our goal to continue to provide you with up to date news articles that will give you a broader understanding about the world that we all live.

Thank you again for all of your support and for plugging in to KNN. Peace and Blessings.

Fliers will have to pay to check a second bag

United on Monday became the first major U.S. carrier to impose a $25 fee each way on domestic passengers
By Marilyn Adams
USA Today News

Millions of passengers who like to pack heavily on trips soon will have to pay extra to check a second bag on United Airlines (UAUA).

Citing the extraordinary cost of jet fuel, United on Monday became the first major U.S. carrier to impose a $25 fee each way on domestic passengers who buy the cheapest tickets and check two suitcases. Checking a third bag will cost an additional $100 each way.

Until now, checking two bags on flights has been free on United, the USA's No. 2 airline, and every other major carrier.

But luggage is heavy, and extra weight requires more fuel to transport. In the October-December quarter, fuel cost United $1.4 billion, 26% more than a year earlier. Fuel is airlines' largest expense, eclipsing wages.

"The passenger who checks two bags should pay the extra cost of carrying two bags," said Robin Urbanski, spokeswoman for the Chicago-based carrier.

See: Fliers will have to pay to check a second bag

Metabolic Syndrome Linked to Diet Soda

People who drink diet have a 34 percent higher risk of heart disease and diabetes
AOL News

People who drink one diet soda a day have a 34 percent higher risk of factors leading to heart disease and diabetes than those who do not, a study finds. The report's co-author says it's unclear whether the jump is caused by chemicals in the drinks or a behavioral pattern common to diet soda lovers.

See: Metabolic Syndrome Linked to Diet Soda

The Earth Enters a New Epoch In History

Man's Impact On The Planet Brings About New Epoch In Earth's History
ScienceDaily

Geologists from the University of Portsmouth are proposing that humankind has so changed the earth that it has brought about an end to one epoch of earth’s history and marked the start of another. They believe that human dominance has so physically altered the earth that the Holocene epoch has ended and we have entered a new epoch - the Anthropocene.

Dr Andrew Gale of the University of Portsmouth and his colleagues on the Stratigraphy Commission of the Geological Society of London identified the major causes of human impact on the planet and discovered that the last 200 years had caused more impact then previously understood.

They examined phenomena such as changes in the patterns of sediment erosion and deposition, major disturbances to the carbon cycle and global temperature, ocean acidification and wholesale changes to the world’s plants and animals.

“Human activity has become the number one driver of most of the major changes in Earth's topography and climate, said Dr Gale. “You can’t have 6.5 billion people living on a planet the size of ours and exploiting every possible resource without creating huge changes in the physical, chemical and biological environment which will be reflected dramatically in our geological record of the planet.”

See: Man's Impact On The Planet Brings About New Epoch In Earth's History