This is a full-page, illustrated color advertisement for American Airlines.
The main image shows the interior of an airplane cabin. A woman is seated alone in a wide, upholstered airline seat next to a window. She is wearing a pink dress and is smiling while reading a letter or document held in her hands. A pen, papers, and a small booklet or wallet rest on her lap or the seat tray area. The seat has a white cloth headrest cover, and a second passenger, an older man, is partially visible in the seat behind her. Overhead, small round air vents and light fixtures are visible above the window. The scene suggests a quiet, comfortable, first-class or premium seating environment.
Below the illustration is large headline text reading, “Travel ALONE and love it…”
To the right of the headline is a block of printed text describing air travel as convenient and comfortable for women traveling alone, emphasizing meals served at the seat, assistance from stewardesses, and freedom from inconveniences associated with surface travel.
At the bottom of the advertisement is the American Airlines logo, featuring an eagle emblem, and text stating: “ALL YEAR ’ROUND, TRAVEL IS BETTER BY AIR… BEST BY AMERICAN AIRLINES INC.”
The overall tone presents air travel as modern, comfortable, and especially appealing for solo women travelers.
Having read the long read on the background to the Sex Discrimination Act, I was astounded that there was no mention of the wartime Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) led by Pauline Gower, who pioneered sex equality in the workplace in the ATA, equal pay for male and female pilots, and equality of opportunity based on merit.
To the female pilots who joined the ATA this was astounding, given the sex discrimination and misogyny that they were subjected to in their prewar flying careers. These women are the subject of an excellent book by Becky Aikman that I have just finished reading: Spitfires – The American Women Who Flew In The Face Of Danger During World War II, which tellingly recounts how their experiences in the ATA opened their eyes to the need for sex discrimination to be eliminated in the US.
They aspired to serve on the frontline, but this was prohibited by the ATA and United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) as they were not part of the armed forces. They looked to the postwar world in the US for their flying futures in civil airlines, but this aspiration was stifled by the unchanging sex discrimination, coupled with a large cadre of demobbed male USAAF pilots seeking civilian careers.
Unfortunately, much the same was true here in the UK. Sadly, Gower died in 1947, aged only 36. One wonders what might have been had she lived longer and been able to continue promoting workplace equality for women and the banning of sex discrimination.
Paul F Faupel
Somersham, Cambs
A dark-bodied hummingbird flies against the sun. Light is shining through a square patch in his wings. This is the male Buff-winged Starfrontlet. Hacienda del Bosque. Nov 2025. Photo by Peachfront.
Ever ask yourself just how small a hummingbird is? Here is a female Ruby-topaz at the Parque Nacional de la Uva where a large field of these flowers is planted for them
If you really squint, you can see a tiny hummingbird with flared white tip tailfeathers drinking from a one of the many tall yellow flowers in this field. Yep. Female/immature Ruby-topaz. The adult males were there -- I saw two or the same one twice flashing away -- but they were too quick for me to photograph. Nov 2025. Photo by Peachfront.
The head of the bird is just left of the middle of the photo.
The bird is flying to the left.
It has the wings wide open.
In the background is Lake Superior the breakwall and the sky.
As we walked farther along the coastal pathway between Arnarstapi & Hellnar, I noticed some birds were flying inland from the cliff colonies. So I took time to change camera settings for birds in flight, just in case I was lucky enough, & Ay, I was lucky enough.
A Northern Fulmar soars gracefully over a grassy field with its wings fully extended and its pink feet in a downward position readying for landing. The backdrop of mountains and sky creates a serene atmosphere. Photography by Debra Martz
You all don’t know what you’re talking about. Elon absolutely is a visionary. Who else could come up with the new Tesla Roadster with rocket thruster package (source)? Now, actually brining that vision to market, yeah Elon might not be your guy. Now that I think about it, his visions are more like delusions. Maybe let’s call him a delusionary.
Also gonna put this here if you would like to read more of his delusions. https://elonmusk.today/
Airport X-ray imaging can detect all sorts of threats, along with the water bottle you forgot to trash, and many other embarrassing snafus ranging from a buzzing vibrator that sounds like a potential bomb threat to cannabis accidentally carried into a state or country where it carries criminal charges.
@popsci tells us what TSA bag scanners actually see:
The head of the bird is just left of the middel of the photo.
The bird is fluing,there are some trees in the bottom of the photo.
The bird is flying to the right.
Wow that took a lot of courage to speak out about! It is important to spread the word about this issue. I personally know people who are avoiding getting help so they don't loose their ability to fly. Besides being cruel to those that have to avoid getting help, it can be dangerous. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj0H8oVS7qg#aviation#faa#flying#mentalhealth#mentalcare#safety
Osprey On The Hunt by Debra Martz
I was panning my camera as I followed a Bald Eagle through the sky when this Osprey crossed through my viewfinder. I immediately changed course on which bird to follow as this one was much closer than the Eagle.
Image captured at the Great Salt Plains State Park in Oklahoma.
A bird of prey soars through a clear blue sky, wings spread wide in a graceful flight. The sunlight highlights the intricate patterns on its feathers. Photography by Debra Martz
Fk'n Legend