According to this item on a poll by independent market research firm GMI, Inc., people from the G8 countries aren’t so hot on the idea of coming to the U.S. for business, pleasure, and one would have to assume, meetings:

GMI’s World Poll, which samples 8,000 individuals from all G8 economic countries* (1,000 representative sampling in each), is the first internationally focused public-opinion survey to compile data linking the Bush administration’s foreign policies directly to consumers’ willingness to purchase American good and services abroad. The poll reveals that 55% of Japanese, 36% of Germans and 32% of French are less likely to visit America for business or tourism, due to America’s global war on terrorism and unilateral foreign policies. Fifty-five percent of international consumers surveyed cite an increasingly negative perception of the United States, while 67% of international consumers believe American unilateral foreign policies are guided by “self interests” and “empire building.”

They’re also not wild about flying on U.S. carriers: “When respondents were asked if they avoid flying on American-owned and operated airline while taking an international trip, 57% of Japanese, 44% of Chinese, 42% of French, and 38% of British responded yes. Out of those respondents who replied yes, 92% of Japanese, 88% of Chinese and 87% of British cited their fear of terrorists as a reason to avoid American-owned and operated airlines. Furthermore, out of the respondents that replied yes, 36% of French and 24% of Germans cited that they avoided flying American-owned and operated airlines on international trips because they were boycotting American products and services.”

Regardless of your political beliefs, this perception is something that people planning meetings in the U.S. need to take into account if they count on international attendees to come.

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Remember when you could send away for X-ray glasses in the back of comic books? Looks like London’s Heathrow Airport bought a whole bunch of them:

An X-ray machine that sees through air passengers’ clothes has been deployed by security staff at London’s Heathrow airport for the first time.

The device at Terminal 4 produces a “naked” image of passengers by bouncing X-rays off their skin, enabling staff instantly to spot any hidden weapons or explosives.

But the graphic nature of the black and white images it generates — including revealing outlines of men and women — has raised concerns about privacy both among travellers and aviation authorities.

In America, transport officials are refusing to deploy the device until it can be further refined to “mask” passengers’ modesty.

For more on the technology, click here. As for me, I’m going to be calling Superman to see if he can recommend a source for X-ray-vision-proof bodysuits…

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Someone on the MIMlist listserve posted a link to this site, which hosts a collection of strange but true things. So many items to choose from, but a random sampling of my favorites:

Strange-sounding organization: The Institute of Totally Useless Skills

Line from a recommendation letter to describe a person who is totally inept: “I most enthusiastically recommend this candidate with no qualifications whatsoever.”

Unusual U.S. city law: In Portland, Oregon, you can not rollerskate into a public restroom

Strange actual classified ad: Illiterate? Write today for free help.

I won’t even go into the odd things that people eat section–eew! But it’s a great way to waste some time, especially when, like me today, you don’t have any time to waste.
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This article is from 1997 and may not be totally correct, but its commentary about some of the more unusual associations cracked me up:

“Pickle Packers International (whose tongue-twisting address is 1 Pickle and Pepper Plaza)”

“Flying Funeral Directors (for morticians who are pilots)”

“Marine Mammal Stranding Center (which actually does the opposite of what its name implies and, better still, publishes a newsletter called the Blowhole) and the American Council of Spotted Asses (we know what you’re thinking, but it’s really just a coalition of donkey owners)”

“International Hibernation Society: When we called, everyone was mysteriously unavailable.
Loners of America: Think about it. An association of loners.”

Sorry, but I needed a good laugh this morning! What’s the weirdest-sounding association you’ve heard of?

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