Baseball-Tigers' Verlander not throwing in the towel

DETROIT, Oct 28 (Reuters) - The odds are stacked against them but Justin Verlander believes the Detroit Tigers have the talent, temperament and personality to become the first team to overcome a 3-0 deficit and win the World Series.

"Obviously it's not another day at the office, but it's not desperation, either," Verlander said before Sunday night's game against the San Francisco Giants.

"Not going to be easy, but we definitely have the team to do it. Our pitching could line up well, and just play the game we've played all year and see what happens."

The Tigers are clearly on the ropes but if they could win on Sunday to trim the Giants' lead to 3-1, Verlander, arguably the game's best pitcher, would start in Monday's Game Five.

Verlander said the Giants were "built on good pitching and defense and scoring opportune runs."

"That recipe has led to postseason success for them thus far," he said. "Obviously it's going to be tough to beat a team like that four in a row, but if anybody is capable of it, we are."

Tigers manager Jim Leyland bristled at suggestions that he switch the line-up around even though his club has been shut out the last two games of the series.

Detroit's two big guns, Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder, were a combined three for 19 with one RBI in the World Series.

"Everybody talks about lineup," he said. "That's a real big topic around Detroit most of the time.

"Our lineup it what it is, and we're playing in a World Series. I'm not afraid to make adjustments, but down three games to none, it's a little late for changing a lineup.

"We're here, and that's pretty good, the fact that we're here, and now we've got to try to figure out a way to win a game."

Detroit's Max Scherzer, 1-0 with a stellar 0.82 ERA in the playoffs, was facing Giants' Matt Cain (2-2, 3.52 in the postseason) in Sunday night's match-up of right-handers.

Should the Tigers survive and play on Monday, it would be a repeat of the opening game pitching match-up between Verlander and Giants southpaw Barry Zito. San Francisco rocked Verlander and won 8-3 as Zito pitched 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball.

All 23 teams who have led the World Series 3-0 have gone on to win. Twenty won the series in four straight, while the other three needed five games to win the title.

The Tigers beat the New York Yankees in four straight in the American League Championship Series and Verlander, the 2011 Cy Young Award winner, is hoping history can repeat itself.

"Hey, we won four in a row against the Yankees," he said. "Who's to say we can't do it against these guys?" (Editing by Julian Linden)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/baseball-tigers-verlander-not-throwing-towel-223137421--mlb.html

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/2msR08wkVH8/viewtopic.php

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Sprint releases push-to-talk app for Android

Sprint has launched an Android app to allow push-to-talk on some phones. The Kyocera Rise budget phone will support it, as will the upcoming LG Optimus Elite, it said.

Push-to-talk is a transmission method that turns your phone into a walkie-talkie, of sorts. The type that only allows communication one-way at a time, so like an air traffic controller, you’ll have to say “over” after each sentence, and of course “over and out” when your conversation is done.

For cell users, push-to-talk cellular is supposed to give people a way to quickly broadcast a message to receiving handsets. If multiple handsets are hooked up, a team leader can speak to all of them without ringing each one up individually.

Some apps already emulate this function, like HeyTell and Zello, but the Sprint app uses the carrier’s Direct Connect push-to-talk service. Sprint says it has a million users on Direct Connect already (most on rugged handsets), and hopes the app will allow it to tap into a new user-base.

Sprint customers can hit the Google Play link above to download the app.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/41jE35AVwyc/story01.htm

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Report: Some dietary supplements illegally labeled

This undated photo released by the Office of Inspector General of Department of Health and Human Services shows a label from a dietary supplement. Federal watchdogs say many dietary supplements marketed to help consumers lose weight or boost their immune systems are illegally labeled and rely on shoddy evidence to support their health claims, according to a new report on government oversight of the $20 billion supplement industry. (AP Photo/Office of Inspector General of Department of Health and Human Services)

This undated photo released by the Office of Inspector General of Department of Health and Human Services shows a label from a dietary supplement. Federal watchdogs say many dietary supplements marketed to help consumers lose weight or boost their immune systems are illegally labeled and rely on shoddy evidence to support their health claims, according to a new report on government oversight of the $20 billion supplement industry. (AP Photo/Office of Inspector General of Department of Health and Human Services)

This undated photo released by the Office of Inspector General of Department of Health and Human Services shows a label from a dietary supplement. Federal watchdogs say many dietary supplements marketed to help consumers lose weight or boost their immune systems are illegally labeled and rely on shoddy evidence to support their health claims, according to a new report on government oversight of the $20 billion supplement industry. (AP Photo/Office of Inspector General of Department of Health and Human Services)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ? Dozens of weight loss and immune system supplements on the market are illegally labeled and lack the recommended scientific evidence to back up their purported health claims, government investigators warn in a new review of the $20 billion supplement industry.

The report, being released Wednesday by the Department of Health and Human Services' inspector general, found that 20 percent of the 127 weight loss and immune-boosting supplements investigators purchased online and in retail stores across the country carried labels that made illegal claims to cure or treat disease.

Some products went so far as to state that the supplements could cure or prevent diabetes or cancer, or that they could help people with HIV or AIDS, which is strictly prohibited under federal law.

Consumers may not just be wasting their money on pills or tablets, but they could be endangering their health if they take a supplement in place of a drug thinking it will have the same effect, the report concluded.

"Consumers rely on a supplement's claims to determine whether the product will provide a desired effect, such as weight loss or immune support," the report said. "Supplements that make disease claims could mislead consumers into using them as replacements for prescription drugs or other treatments for medical conditions, with potentially dangerous results."

The market for dietary supplements ? which can include anything from Vitamin C tablets to capsules of Echinacea ? is a huge one with hundreds of products. The inspector general's investigation focused on one segment that officials said is booming.

Federal regulations do not require the Food & Drug Administration to review supplement companies' scientific evidence for most of their products' purported health benefits before they hit the market.

The Office of Inspector General found that in numerous cases, when companies did submit evidence to back up their health claims, it fell far short of government recommendations.

One company submitted a 30-year-old handwritten college term paper to substantiate its claim, while others included news releases, advertisements and links to Wikipedia or an online dictionary, according to the report.

Overall, the review raises questions about whether the system is allowing companies to mislead consumers, investigators said, and recommended that FDA ramp up its oversight. The report did not name individual brands or products, and also did not estimate the total number of dietary supplements on the market.

In response, the food safety agency said it would consider asking Congress for more oversight powers to review supplement companies' evidence proving their products' purported health benefits. FDA agreed that the agency should expand surveillance of the market to detect spurious claims that supplements can cure or treat specific diseases.

Investigators also found that 7 percent of the weight loss and immune support supplements they surveyed lacked the required disclaimer stating that FDA had not reviewed whether the statement on the label was truthful.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-10-03-AP-US-Nutritional-Supplements-Safety/id-3b5bad6b461949ba92ebee93ebd0f423

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Reid Not Through Yet With Online Gambling Efforts: States in Uproar ...

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is reportedly seeking opportunities to pass through a controversial Internet poker bill during a short window of time known as the Lame Duck Session.?

The National Conference of State Legislatures is unhappy that Reid?s bill calls for federal control over the industry with his home state of Nevada acting as the ultimate beneficiary.?

?The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) believes the federal government must respect the sovereignty of states to allow or to prohibit Internet gambling by their residents.? It went on: ?NCSL requests Congress consider the perspective of the states as it examines this issue and asks that it involve state legislators in any federal efforts that seek to reform the regulation of online gaming.?

From The New American:

The federal legalization would effectively take authority away from state governments because under the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution, when states and the federal government both exercise authority in a legislative area, the federal government?s rights supersede state governments.

And it?s not just the individual states that are unhappy with Reid?s efforts, as explained by The New American:

Another organization, the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL), whose members include Canadian provinces as well as American states, has warned of potential harm from Reid?s proposal. Margaret DeFrancisco, chair of the Government Relations Committee of that organization states:

It?s all money that the states absolutely rely on?. We don?t want to be restricted by the federal government telling us what gaming policy should be in the states?. The summary that we have seen is not terribly friendly to lotteries.? It?s very restrictive. We don?t want and we don?t need any federal legislation concerning lotteries. Period.?

She also notes that the proposal seems intended just to help Reid?s home state: ?This seems to be something just for Nevada. But for lotteries, we represent almost all of the country.?

[Advertisement:? Camasino allows free play online poker with your friends via webcam and/or avatar creation.? Play for real money if you like outside the US]

Most of the firms pumping money into lobbying efforts for the federal legislation are based out of Nevada.? States like New Jersey and Delaware are also interested in acting as hubs for Internet gambling companies.?

James Kosta of 3G Studios tells Gambling911.com that Nevada needs to be at the forefront of the Web gambling industry, pointing out their expertise in regulating existing casino operations.? But even Kosta is skeptical about the Reid and Senator Dean Heller (R-Nev) proposed legislation.?

?We work closely with Reid and Heller,? Kosta told Gambling911.com.? ?The bill gives Nevada a head start. Only states that have a proven history of regulating gaming should get into this. States that haven?t had experience in regulation would be an absolute mess. Nevada is considered the gold standard in terms of gaming control. Even speaking to the European operators, they say the same thing.

?But for my company, I am a little fearful because federally legalized gambling, if it goes through establishing a poker commission and that sort of thing, it will become a mess. It will be extremely expensive. You will only see the biggest players. We would like to see a state-led process. The only thing that Reid and Heller are arguing is whether the bill should go through the House or Senate first.

?Delaware has just approved online gambling, but as they are a state with a population of only 947,000 people, they have to come up with $15 million a year for the regulation. So people in the state are saying, ?Why don?t we just partner with Nevada?? We say, if you are certified in Nevada, you are certified here. Believe it or not, there are over 10 states in negotiations with Nevada to create reciprocity. I think that is the way we are going to go, state compacts.?

- Ace King, Gambling911.com

Source: http://www.gambling911.com/poker/reid-not-through-yet-online-gambling-efforts-states-uproar-100312.html

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Activists: 2 explosions rock northern Syrian city

BEIRUT (AP) ? Syrian activists say two powerful explosions have rocked the center of the northern city of Aleppo, causing casualties and heavy material damage.

Aleppo-based activist Mohammad Saeed says the explosions went off minutes apart Wednesday at the city's main square. He says the blasts appear to have been caused by car bombs and were followed by heavy gunfire.

The area is controlled by Syrian government forces. The target of the explosions was not immediately clear.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported three powerful explosions at the main square in Aleppo but had no word on the number of casualties.

Aleppo is Syria's commercial capital and there has been heavy fighting there for days between government troops and rebels trying to oust President Bashar Assad.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/activists-2-explosions-rock-northern-syrian-city-064434546.html

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Manhunt continues for murder suspect in state park

A massive manhunt is underway in upstate New York for Eugene Palmer, who is suspected of killing his daughter-in-law outside her home last Monday and fleeing to nearby Harriman State Park. NBC's Mara Schiavocampo reports.

By NBC News staff

A massive manhunt for a 73-year-old wanted for the murder of his daughter-in-law continued in upstate New York, where police are still searching for Eugene Palmer in the thick woods of a 46,000-acre state park.?

Search teams including officers, dogs and a helicopter have been looking for Palmer around the clock for the past week, after his truck was found in the Harriman State Park area. Bloodhounds traced his trial to a campsite, before the trail went cold.

"The woods are too thick for a general sweep," Haverstraw Police Chief Charles Miller said last week. "There are so many places to hide ... [Or] he could have made it to a road and gotten picked up by somebody, and he could be staying elsewhere."

Authorities hunting for 73-year-old accused of killing his daughter-in-law

Eugene Palmer, of Haverstraw, is accused of killing his estranged daughter-in-law, Tammy Palmer, 39, who lived in a trailer 50 feet from his house, The New York Times reported.?His sister, Elaine Babcock, said he stopped by her nearby home Monday morning, gave her money for his property taxes, and then told her that he had killed Palmer before asking her to wait an hour before calling police.

But Babcock immediately called 911, The Journal News in New York's Hudson Valley reported. Officers said a separate 911 caller heard three gunshots coming from the home; they found Tammy Palmer, who has two teenage sons with Eugene's son, dead on the ground behind her trailer, NBCNewYork.com reported.

---

"She doesn't deserve to be dead," Tammy's mother, Violet Pannirello, told NBC News.

Flyers are posted all over the park to inform visitors about Palmer, whom police say is armed and dangerous.

"I'm concerned, but I'm not overly terrified, but I still don't want to be outside alone, or anything," area resident Allison Potanovic told NBC News.

Tammy Palmer and John Palmer had been married for about 17 years, John Pannirello, Tammy's father, told The New York Times, but they separated five months ago, and in the past few weeks, they had been in a custody battle over the kids.

Eugene Palmer, a former truck driver, is an avid hunter who loves the outdoors. His family says he knows every inch of the woods in the area, but Palmer also has diabetes and has recently suffered a heart attack.This week, officials started sending out cadaver dogs.

"It's a very difficult place to survive. He's been out there seven days, if he is still here, he'd have to be very adaptable to these types of conditions in order to survive that long," New York State Park Police Maj. David Herrick told NBC News.

NBC's Elizabeth Chuck contributed to this report.

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Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/02/14182537-a-week-later-search-still-under-way-for-73-year-old-accused-of-killing-his-daughter-in-law?lite

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Athletics sweep Rangers to win AL West on last day

Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Grant Balfour, top, and catcher Derek Norris celebrate after their 12-5 win over the Texas Rangers in a baseball game, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012 in Oakland, Calif. The A's clinch the AL West title with the win. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Grant Balfour, top, and catcher Derek Norris celebrate after their 12-5 win over the Texas Rangers in a baseball game, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012 in Oakland, Calif. The A's clinch the AL West title with the win. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

The Oakland Athletics celebrate their 12-5 win over the Texas Rangers in a baseball game, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012 in Oakland, Calif. The A's clinch the AL West title with the win. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Grant Balfour, top, and catcher Derek Norris celebrate after their 12-5 win over the Texas Rangers in a baseball game, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012 in Oakland, Calif. The A's clinch the AL West title with the win. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Oakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin celebrates after the A's clinched the AL West title after defeating the Texas Rangers 12-5 in a baseball game, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) ? Same chaotic, champagne dance-party scene in the clubhouse just two days later. New T-shirt: AL West champions.

The Oakland Athletics won the division title with another improbable rally in a season full of them, coming back from four runs down and a 13-game division deficit to stun the two-time defending league champion Texas Rangers 12-5 on Wednesday.

"We knew this is a beast of a team we would have to beat, and to be able to beat them three games in a row and win the division on top of it, really it's a magical-type thing," manager Bob Melvin said.

Josh Hamilton dropped a fly ball in center field for a two-run error that put the A's (94-68) ahead 7-5 in a six-run fourth inning. The A's only added to Texas' troubles the rest of the way.

While Hamilton's Rangers (93-69) are headed to the new one-game, wild-card playoff, the A's get some time off before opening the division series in their first postseason appearance since 2006.

Both teams had to wait to learn their opponents from a pair of night games: Boston at New York, and Baltimore at Tampa Bay.

"You can have all the experience as you want but when you run into a team that's hot, experience has nothing to do with it," Texas manager Ron Washington said.

The A's would earn the AL's No. 1 seed if the Yankees lose, and open the division series at the winner of Friday's wild-card playoff featuring the Rangers. If New York wins, Oakland would be the No. 2 seed and begin at Detroit.

The A's needed a sweep and they delivered to win their first division crown in six years and 15th in all. They overcame a five-game deficit in the final nine days and took sole possession of the West's top spot for the first time this year.

"It shows how important Game 162 is," Oakland's Jonny Gomes said. "I don't think it took 162 to games to check the character of this ballclub."

Grant Balfour retired Michael Young on a fly to center for the final out, then raised his arms in the air as the A's streamed out of the dugout and began bouncing up and down in the infield.

"2012 AL WEST CHAMPIONS" flashed on the scoreboard two days after the A's clinched a playoff spot Monday and held a wild dance party in the clubhouse.

"I'm glad there's not one tomorrow or Friday," owner Lew Wolff said. "I can relax and go home. I'm running out of underwear."

Players high-fived fans while taking a victory lap through the rundown Coliseum, where the outfield still has a light patch of grass from football in the venue shared by the NFL's Raiders.

Soon, the celebratory champagne and beer made its way to the field ? and players sprayed it into the stands. The A's returned to the field almost an hour later to greet fans still gathered along the top of the dugout.

Oakland pulled off another remarkable performance in a season defined by thrilling walkoffs, rallies and whipped-cream pie celebrations by a team that was never supposed to be here.

A club that trailed Texas by 13 games on June 30. A club with a $59.5 million payroll, lowest in baseball. General manager Billy Beane found ways to get a blue-collar franchise back to the playoffs for the first time since being swept by Detroit in the 2006 AL championship series.

Coco Crisp hit a tying two-run double in the fourth against Derek Holland (12-7) and Brandon Moss drove in three runs, including a two-run single in the four-run eighth.

Rookie winning pitcher Evan Scribner (2-0) left the mound in the sixth to a standing ovation from the sellout crowd of 30,067. He allowed two hits and struck out two in three scoreless innings after replacing struggling starter A.J. Griffin.

Ryan Cook, pitching for a fifth consecutive game, gave up a double to Nelson Cruz before retiring the next three Texas hitters with strikeouts of David Murphy and Mike Napoli. Catcher Derek Norris pumped his right arm as the Coliseum fans jumped to their feet.

Norris then homered leading off the bottom of the eighth for his second RBI. It was his seventh homer and Oakland's majors-leading 112th since the All-Star break.

"Ever since Day 1 I've been here, it's been, the A's can't compete with the payroll, can't compete with this team or that team," Norris said. "We're better off if we're down. It just gives us the extra energy."

The A's join the NL West champion San Francisco Giants as division champions. The Bay Area is already buzzing about a possible Bay Bridge World Series like the 1989 championship swept by Oakland, one interrupted by an earthquake.

Hamilton's miscue while charging forward might haunt the to-be free agent if his Rangers don't get past their wild-card game.

"I just missed it, man," Hamilton said. "You guys have a hard time believing we can forget about it and move ahead. But that's what we get paid to do."

Murphy's two-run single highlighted a five-run third inning that put Texas in prime position.

In the fourth, Moss drew a leadoff walk and Josh Reddick followed with an RBI double. Josh Donaldson singled and Seth Smith's base hit made it 5-3 and chased Ryan Dempster with none out and runners on first and second.

Washington turned to the lefty Holland, a starter who was tagged for four runs in the first inning of the second game of Sunday's doubleheader with the Angels before working into the seventh.

He retired the first two batters before Crisp's double down the right-field line.

The only other teams to come back from at least 13 games down to win the division were the 1914 Boston Braves, the 1951 New York Giants, the '78 Yankees and the '95 Seattle Mariners.

Oakland accomplished this with an ever-changing roster managed by Melvin in his first full season as skipper. They lost third baseman Scott Sizemore to a knee injury on the first full day of spring training workouts, never promoted slugger Manny Ramirez from the minors before parting ways, and dealt with devastating injuries all year long.

Opening day starter Brandon McCarthy took a line drive to the head Sept. 5 that required surgery and ended his season, Brett Anderson missed most of the year coming off Tommy John surgery, and Dallas Braden never pitched because of shoulder problems. Starter Bartolo Colon received a 50-game suspension in August for a positive testosterone test.

Third baseman Brandon Inge needed shoulder surgery last month and prized Cuban rookie Yoenis Cespedes missed time with a pair of injuries in May and June.

And that's just the beginning for a team that traded away catcher Kurt Suzuki to the Nationals during the year after swapping three top pitchers during the offseason ? Trevor Cahill to Arizona, NL Cy Young Award favorite and 21-game winner Gio Gonzalez to Washington and All-Star closer Andrew Bailey to Boston.

"There hasn't been a lot of luck involved," said Beane, who received a celebratory pie in the face. "The one thing about baseball, when you play 161 games, you don't get lucky this late in the season. There have been a lot of adjustments on the fly."

NOTES: The A's, whose 14 walkoff victories lead baseball, won their seventh game this year after trailing by four or more runs. ... The A's won the season series 11-8, just the second time in seven seasons they've done so. ... The sellout crowd included 1,000 standing-room only tickets. ... Holland pitched in relief for the second time this year.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-10-03-Rangers-Athletics/id-8ed11a7c360b4a67abe77e3453b5a080

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Low cost flying arrives in luxury loving Japan

NARITA, Japan (AP) ? Japan has a reputation for loving expensive things like overpriced real estate, gourmet melons and luxury brands. But the nation is finally discovering the joy of flying cheap, with the arrival this year of three low-cost carriers.

The takeoff of AirAsia Japan, Peach Aviation and Jetstar Japan could change lifestyles. No longer will air travel be mostly confined to business trips and fancy once-in-a-lifetime vacations to places such as Hawaii.

Flying is suddenly growing more casual, including for weekend dining, visits with friends, even day trips. Ticket prices are plunging by about half, to 16,000 yen ($200) trips to the southwestern resort island of Okinawa or a 5,000 yen ($60) hop to Seoul.

The airlines are not only out to woo Japanese away from regular leisure activities such as spending money at Disneyland or watching a movie. They are also out to convince the notoriously workaholic Japanese not to work so hard.

They may revitalize Japan's 3 trillion yen ($38 billion) aviation market ? already the world's third largest, comprising about 5.5 percent of global traffic and 11 percent of industry revenues ? that critics say is untapped for its tremendous potential.

Helping to drive the change is the expansion of two Tokyo airports, Haneda and Narita, which has opened up more landing slots for airlines.

Twenty-two-year-old graduate student Chie Kodama recently used Jetstar for an urban planning research trip to Okinawa, and was surprised at how the planes were "normal," like any other airline's.

"And it is so cheap you forgive any shortcomings," she said.

As with other low-cost carriers around the world, flyers get charged for meals and extra luggage. Efficiency is critical and so the airlines use online advertising and reservations, fit more seats into each jet, and take off quickly after landing.

Booking early is a must for the best deals, and refunds and schedule changes aren't allowed. The gates are typically at the farthest end of airports. Flights are sometimes delayed. The wait feels longer because LCC users have to check in extra early.

Masato Yamaguchi, 22, said his friends had to run like mad when their AirAsia flight back to Tokyo from Okinawa was delayed, and they barely had time to catch the last bus.

As he noted: What would be the point of having to pay hundreds of dollars for a cab home, if they had endured the cramped space of a low cost carrier to pinch pennies?

"There was no way to cross your legs," Yamaguchi grumbled. "You wouldn't want to use it if you're going someplace far away."

Still, the carriers are doing well so far.

During the nation's Obon holidays in August, domestic flights at Peach were 94 percent filled, those at AirAsia were at 91 percent and at Jetstar, 89 percent. The companies are hoping to do as well for the year-end and New Year's holidays.

"It's not that the meals on standard fares were ever free. The charge was just part of the ticket price," Kazuyuki Iwakata, president of AirAsia Japan, told The Associated Press. "With us, people pay only for what they need."

As a marketing ploy, AirAsia Japan, which started operations in August, offered tickets for just 5 yen (5 cents) to the first 10,000 people. They quickly sold out.

During the go-go "bubble years" of the late 1980s and early 1990s, Japanese were especially seen as finicky consumers who delighted in 3,000 yen ($30) cups of fancy coffee and snatched up 500,000 yen ($5,000) designer bags.

Such spending has lost some of its glamor as Japanese become less status-conscious, perhaps poorer and look for discounts. Such shifts in consumer tastes is underlined in the popularity, for instance, of Fast Retailing Co.'s no-nonsense Uniqlo clothing chain, which is also opening shops in the U.S.

Geoffrey Tudor, analyst with Japan Aviation Management Research, said low-cost carriers are introducing the fun of flying to young people and retirees. They are also popular with families who live apart to juggle work assignments and children's education needs ? a practice so widespread a special phrase has been coined to describe it, "tanshin funin."

Jetstar Japan Chief Executive Miyuki Suzuki said a tenth of those who use her carrier are first-time fliers.

"We aim to grow the piece of the pie," she told reporters recently. "People can travel more for less and have many more experiences."

Jetstar Japan is a third owned by Australia's Qantas Airways Ltd., and a third owned by Japan Airlines Co., which is making a soaring comeback, thanks to a 350 billion yen ($4.5 billion) government bailout from bankruptcy two years ago and generous tax breaks that continue for several years. Mitsubishi Corp. and Century Tokyo Leasing Corp. are its other shareholders with 16.7 percent each.

AirAsia Japan is 49 percent owned by AirAsia, a Malaysian low-cost carrier founded in 1993, whose motto is "Now everyone can fly," and 51 percent by All Nippon Airways Co., or ANA, JAL's rival.

ANA is also a 38.7 percent investor in Peach, a joint venture with Hong Kong investment group, First Eastern Aviation Holdings. Peach offers flights out of Kansai International Airport in Osaka, central Japan.

AirAsia Japan offers flights out of Narita, the Tokyo airport, to Sapporo, Fukuoka and Okinawa in Japan, and plans to start them to Seoul and Pusan in South Korea later this year. Flights to the Philippines and Guam are in the works as well.

While expanding Haneda has given a boost to the airline travel market, officials say more needs to be done. Landing fees at Japanese airports are among the highest in the world, endangering Tokyo's role as an Asian hub.

Tony Tyler, director and chief executive of the International Air Transport Association, said all carriers need to bring costs down if they hope to survive, but was upbeat about Japanese LCCs.

"In many parts of the world, the low-fare sector has tapped into demand from new market sectors. So they have grown the market, rather than cannibalized it," he said.

Also sold on low-cost carriers was Hirotaka Yamamoto, 22, who goes to college in Tokyo but hails from the northernmost island of Hokkaido. He surprised his parents over the summer by going home, thanks to the 24,000 yen ($300) round-trip fare on Jetstar, less than half of what he paid in the past.

"They were surprised to see me and so happy," he said. "I hope the tickets keep getting even cheaper."

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Follow Yuri Kageyama: www.twitter.com/yurikageyama

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/low-cost-flying-arrives-luxury-loving-japan-081839223.html

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