Travelin' Light

Darius Cappille Exposes Himself, Punches Seatmate, Gets Naked on Airplane

2009-08-21T13:16:00.004-04:00

People: They're the worst. That Seinfeld line runs through my brain every time I sit down in an airplane. And I've never had the "pleasure" of sitting next to Darius Cappille either.

Mr. Cappille -- although extending any sort of gentlemanly title to his name seems like at this point -- pulled off the remarkable "nightmare passenger on an airplane" trifecta recently, as he managed to expose himself, punch his female seatmate in the face and then strip naked while on a Southwest flight from Oakland to Las Vegas.

Now, I'm not entirely sure where to go with this -- after all, someone did get punched. So it seems a bit inappropriate to make a "Donkey Punch" joke (although, any reasonable amount of foresight would probably tell me that's highly inappropriate anyway). And it doesn't seem fair to do what Gadling did and point out that passengers are worse than terrorists these days (because, after all, that would mean that the terrorists have won, no?) Instead, I'll just assume that he really, really hates rapping flight attendants and doesn't know how to focus his anger.

Photo Via

'Always Sunny in Philadelphia' Musical, 'The Nightman Cometh' Is on a Real Tour [Dayman!]

2009-08-19T13:41:00.005-04:00

Watch out, Broadway, because the boys (and lady) of Paddy's Pub -- the fictional bar from 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' -- are going on a for realsies tour of America with 'The Nightman Cometh,' Charlie Day's musical from Season 4's finale.

Yes, that's right, the masters of karate and friendship for everyone will be hitting a city near you. Hopefully, anyway -- there are currently six shows listed on the tour. You can purchase tickets for five of them right now (the Beacon Theater in New York is currently unlisted) by visiting Live Nation (cue booing).

And the best part of the whole shindig? It's the actual actors -- Rob McElhenney (Mac), Day, Glenn Howerton (Dennis), Kaitlin Olson (Sweet Dee) and Danny DeVito (Frank) -- who will be performing.

The folks at FX warn that tickets will go on sale quickly, so join me in a Live Nation stare starting at 9 am tomorrow morning as we all attempt to get tickets for what is sure to go down as the best musical ever. Oh, also join me in watching internet weirdos recreating 'Dayman' in one of the best YouTube clips ever.

Thorpe Park in Britain Imposes 'Say No to BO,' Bans Waving Arms in Air on Rollercoasters

2009-08-19T11:56:00.006-04:00

When people ride rollercoasters, they put their arms in the air. They then wave them wildly about and scream at the top of their lungs. It's what happens. But not at Thorpe Park, a British amusement park which has now banned any patrons from waving their arms, in order to reduce the amount of human odor being emitted by customers.

That's right. In order to reduce body odor, they're bringing out the fun police.

Park director Mike Vallis said: "When it tops 25C, the unpleasant smells can become unaccept-able and we receive complaints. Our rides are really scary and people sweat more than normal due to the fear and anticipation while queuing."

"We felt a ban in temperatures of 25C-plus would be the best way to ensure guests have the most enjoyable experience and aren't exposed to any unsavoury armpits."

Now, I don't care for rollercoasters and I don't live in Britain so this isn't a huge deal at all. But that doesn't make it any less ridiculous and stupid -- theme parks are the home of stinky people. They are a respite from the daily grind for the common man, and while I can't speak to this in Europe, in the US they are most certainly the home of the mesh tank top.

Additionally, when you pay XX.XX just to enter the park and then have to wait in line for three hours just to ride a single ride and then you have to pay more for drinks and food (provided you aren't cheap enough to drink the mist from the cooling sections), well, you should have the right to do whatever the hell you want with your arms, provided it doesn't cause any physical harm to other patrons.

And no, nasal damage does not count; in fact, once I inherit a million dollars and buy my own theme park, I'm going to make a rule that any cheeky little punk who complains to park adminstrators about the smell of another patron will be immediately beaten up, thrown out of the park and banned for life. Because, well, intolerance will not be tolerated.

United Breaks Guitars Part Two

2009-08-19T10:44:00.002-04:00

Dave Carroll returned to YouTube and viral fame this past week with his second installment of "United Breaks Guitars." This follows on the heels of a disputed "apology" from United Airlines (they only acted sorry AFTER Carroll's video went huge on these here interwebz) and a donation to a charity where, if I understand correctly, one of the main UA execs is on the board. So, awkward. Hence, part two, which has a little more Lyle Lovett and his big band feel to it. And which I love.

Tetons and Hotsprings

2009-08-14T15:18:00.014-04:00

Earlier this week we posted some photos of the Grand Canyon of North Carolina... (i.e. the beautiful Linville Gorge Wilderness Area). Today our focus is slightly further West.

The Grand Teton Range is one of the world's youngest and most stunning formations. The Tetons rise so suddenly from the valley floor that they look more like a rising tidal wave than a millennia old mountain range. Driving the two-lane road north from Jackson Hole Airport to the Southern entrance of Yellowstone provides some majestic views... especially when they're contrasted with the serenity of a snowshoe hike to Huckleberry Hotsprings in Yellowstone. Enjoy.

1. Jackson Hole, Wyoming has the country's only airport contained completely inside of a National Park. Needless to say, taking off and landing is positively breathtaking.

2. This photo was taken just south of Jackson Hole on a drive to the Snake River. Any time of year, in any kind of weather, it's hard to take an ugly photo in Jackson Hole.

3. View of the Teton Range while driving North toward Yellowstone National park.

4. Beautiful pond you pass while snowshoeing to Huckleberry Hotsprings in Yellowstone.

5. Ducks, serenity and snow.

6. Snow melting on the edge of the hotsprings. It's amazing to see deciduous plant life thriving in the bitter cold environment.

7. The grotto, shot from above. The rock dam makes a nice knee-deep pool for relaxing.

8. Air temperature: 19 degrees. Water temperature 110 degrees. Getting in feels great, getting out is another story. We strongly recommend having a dry towel handy.

Hedonism II & LoveVoodoo Launch Partnership

2009-08-13T10:41:00.004-04:00

Hedonism II, a notorious Negril resort that encourages guests, "to be wicked for a week," recently announced a partnership with LoveVoodoo.com, a swingers' website.

The partnership is a fitting match and they will begin staging events next spring:

LoveVoodoo Loco, a Latin-themed happening from May 1 to 9; Big on The Beach, a plus-size event from June 12 to 19; Colorful Fantasies, an event for people from different backgrounds to meet, July 10 to 17; and LoveVoodooFest, a signature yearly happening from Nov. 14 to 21.

Its scandalous reputation aside, Hedonism II does offer one of the best all-inclusive values in the Caribbean.

Unlike many so-called "all-inclusives" that try to hide fees for entertainment or alcoholic beverages, everything at Hedonism is included in one flat rate: three meals a day, open bars, entertainment, activities, and the hollow ache that comes from the profound lack of true companionship.

Linville Gorge: The Grand Canyon of North Carolina

2009-08-12T08:56:00.009-04:00

Travelin' Light's lead blogger is out of town this week rafting the Grand Canyon, so in honor of his outdoor adventure we'll be posting some photos highlighting the various nature excursions from our backpacking past. Our tour begins close to home in North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains.

Often referred to as the Grand Canyon of North Carolina, Linville Gorge is one of the most beautiful wilderness areas on the east coast. You may not realize it, but if you've seen Last of the Mohicans, you've already seen a good deal of Linville Gorge. Most of the movie was filmed there, as well as in North Carolina's DuPont State Forest and Chimney Rock State Park.

Enjoy the photos of Linville...

1. View from the Chimneys looking south toward Lake James
2. Even in springtime the Gorge can be a chilly place. Dress warm and be prepared for STRONG winds.
3. 7am. Facing east from the chimneys.
4. 10 minutes later...
5. Taken later the same day from the top of the Babel Tower formation, looking south towards Table Rock and the Chimneys (where all the earlier photos were taken from).
6. Pumping water near the intersection of the Linville Gorge Wilderness Trail and Babel Tower Trail.
7. Same creek from the photo above, just before it joins the Linville River.
Hope you enjoyed the photos, we'll be posting more later this week (next up: Huckleberry Hotsprings in Yellowstone NP). In the meantime, let us know your favorite 'lesser known' spots (at least, lesser known than the Grand Canyon).

Megabus Sells 50,000 Tickets at $1, Breaks Website

2009-08-05T12:08:00.005-04:00

Megabus is growing in terms of popularity for transportation in America (and England too!). Why? Because it's a bus sans the stigma of Greyhound, and the price tag, with fares usually topping out at around $43.50 (and starting at just $1).

And it just got a lot more popular, because the company is now offering an additional 50,000 $1 tickets for customers traveling between September 14 and November 19. (Make sure and use the promotional code HOTDEAL).

Update: You can beat the system and the web traffic mentioned below by directing your browser to: megabus.com/us/index.html

All you have to do is book at Megabus.com/US for your Midwest -- Pittsburgh, Ann Arbor, Columbus, Kansas City, Louisville, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Indy to name a few -- or East Coast -- Baltimore, Boston, New York, Washington are a few of the majors -- trip. (See their bus stops page for more deets.)

There is a bit of a catch right now, though. Because of the 50,000 tickets they're offering, Megabus' site has been a touch, ahem, busy lately. In fact, I've only been able to actually get online with the company once in the past few hours and you can expect that these tickets are going quickly for those booking times; fares, by virtue of Megabus' transactional setup, rise incremently.

So if you want to book a really, really cheap trip, warm up your refresh finger, head over to their website and hope you can land one of these silly low fares.

250-Foot Water Slide in Michigan Makes Everyone Forget About the Economy

2009-08-05T12:00:00.003-04:00

Everyone loves a good Slip-n-Slide during the summer. Nothing says excitement like "10-feet of thrilling movement down a barely wet piece of plastic." I know, I know. I'm a little too sarcastic sometimes; but it's people like Rich Haralson that restore my faith in humanity. See, Haralson created the 250-foot Slip-n-Slide "inspired ride" down the side of a hill in Grand Rapids, Michigan that actually is a legit summertime thrill ride.

New Southwest Commercial Makes a Subtle, Valid Point

2009-08-04T10:16:00.003-04:00

I don't find the following commercial (via Nuts About Southwest) all that funny. At all. In fact, it's kind of lame. But, it does make a valid (and very awesome) point: Southwest Airlines doesn't charge consumers for checking baggage, one of my biggest beefs with any member of the airline industry. So, yeah, that alone makes it worth posting/discussing/applauding, regardless of the humor present.

California Earthquakes near Baja, Tijuana Register 6.9, 5.8 on Richter Scale

2009-08-03T15:04:00.004-04:00

A pair of earthquakes near Baja, California Monday afternoon appear to have a been monsters, registering a 6.9 and a 5.8 on the Richter Scale, respectively, and sending shakes all the way to San Diego.

The quakes, which occurred in Mexico's Gulf of California, first were felt at 11:00 AM PST Monday -- that being the larger quake, which registered a 6.9 and which was centered 76 miles north-northeast of Baja and 331 miles southeast of Tijuana.

A mere five minutes later, another monster (this time a 5.8) was reported in the "same general area."

At this time, no damage has been reported out of California

Crocs on a Plane! (The Obvious Egyptian Sequel)

2009-07-31T11:13:00.005-04:00

An EgyptAir flight out of Abu Dhabi was nearly overrun by a baby crocodile en route to Cairo recently. Okay, "overrun" might be a stretch, but you saw what happened when they let those damn snakes on the plane, right?

Anyway, apparently someone had the foot-long baby croc in their hand luggage and the sucker wriggled free, started running up and down the isles and caused a panic among the passengers. Because, as you know, crocodiles and alligators -- even baby ones -- are freaking scary.

The EgyptAir flight crew eventually wrangled up the animal -- apparently it's much more kosher to tackle a grown man who's naked than it is to kick a baby crocodile -- and none of the passengers claimed the croc, probably because it's absolutely, 100% illegal to transport exotic animals in and out of Egypt (hence keeping a foot-long freaking gator in your hand-held luggage).

Anyway, when reached for comment, Samuel L. Jackson had this to say: "I. Smell. A Sequel. SON."

According to the TSA, Hand Grenades Are 'Not Carry Ons'

2009-07-30T11:34:00.005-04:00

Surely there's no reason why the TSA Blog (yes, they have one) needs to explain that hand grenades are not valid "carry-ons" right? Wrong!

They do. And they did -- yesterday in fact, when "Blogger Bob" of the "TSA Blog Team" outlined why grenades are not acceptable items for carrying on an airplane. Of course, most of the article focuses on the fact that people routinely bring different "novelty hand grenade items" into airports and onto airplanes.

So why is it such a big deal if the grenades are inert or just a novelty item? Well, that’s why passengers usually don’t think twice about bringing these items. They know inert grenades or novelty grenade shaped items can’t cause any harm. However, we don’t know that. All we see on the x-ray is a realistic image of a grenade complete with pin and spoon and we have to go through the motions.

People: stop being so stupid. Seriously. You (yes, you, guy with a belt buckle shaped like a hand grenade and the haircut that makes Joe Dirt look like Don Draper) seriously caused our government to pay Blogger Bob and the Team TSA $19.50 -- standard blog pay + government inflation -- because you won't stop walking into the airport with items shaped like hand grenades.

Typically, I am loathe to credit the TSA for anything (although I do have a long overdue story about a TSA agent in Boston who saved my computer's life that is forthcoming), but gracious. This is on the collective genius of the American people.

(Ed. Note: For those so persnickety about the spelling of grenades, please note we were using the Southern phonetic spelling. Thanks much.)

Mexico City Is Handing Out Free Health Insurance to Tourists

2009-07-29T17:30:00.000-04:00

Mexico City is having an awfully tough time pulling in tourists. Why? Well, there's this little "Swine Flu" thing that people are all hung up on (you may also have heard of H1N1?) and it's keeping tourists away from the border.

But fear not, dear traveller, for the kind Mexico City Tourism Board has a solution for you: free health insurance.

That's right: as an incentive to increase tourism to Mexico, the city's tourism office teamed up with (well, "teamed" may be too nice a word) MAPFRE, a private insurance company.

Anyone staying at a Mexico City hotel is eligible for coverage, officials said, and can get help by dialing a call center, which will have attendants fluent in English, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish. A deductible will apply for some services, but officials did not provide details.

Obviously, in an ideal world, this isn't even an issue and everyone goes to Mexico City, doesn't contract H1N1 and gets to come home without having to pay any deductible or visit any Mexico City hospitals.

Well, actually, in an ideal world, my bosses call me into their offices and say, "Hey, you! You're great. Here's a two-week vacation to Cancun. Enjoy!" And then I go there and don't get H1N1 and actually get offered a job blogging about paradise from a cabana and never have to come back to America. But things don't always work out like we want.

So, um, yeah. The point I was trying to make is that it seems pretty clear -- based on the potential financial loss here -- that Mexico is safe now. Right? Or maybe not. Regardless, it's just the flu.

There Will Be No More Fing in the Village of Fing

2009-07-28T14:30:00.002-04:00

The village of Fucking in Austria (Quick disclaimer: I didn't name the village, okay? It's real. And it's travel news. So don't go calling me "vulgar" or "lacking class" or anything. At least I blurred the picture.) is fed up with the amount of sex that occurs within their awkwardly named confines.

After all, when you name a village the vulgar word for engaging in sexual activity, you have to assume that tourists will travel to said village to partake in intercourse in front of the sign for your village. Which is, naturally, exactly what tourists have been doing. So the village-folk are combating their actions by installing video cameras.

That's right -- a group of villagers in a obscenely (albeit only American, really) named area of the world are sick and tired of a bunch of voyeuristic tourists making that sweet, sweet love in front of their fence. And their answer is, again, installing video cameras.

Now, in case you missed the entire premise of this article, the people that the villagers are sick of WANT TO RECORD THEIR INTERCOURSE. They want to. So, unless you have a police officer ready to arrest these folks, these video cameras are going to be utterly and totally useless. Unless the village is trying to assemble the greatest collection of porn every known to man. Then, this is a good idea.

Gadling Via Digg

American Airlines Raises Checked Baggage Fees ... Again

2009-07-27T15:35:00.004-04:00

American Airlines has been squeezing consumers out of money recently (although to be fair, what airline hasn't been trying to get more money for pedantic services?) vis a vis checked baggage charges.

I actually checked a bag for the first time in freaking forever when I went to Chicago two weeks ago and, well, good Lord: It's absolutely insane that you have to pay $15 to stow your bag in the belly of an airplane for which you have already paid $300 to fly on. Good news is, you won't have to pay $15 any more. Now it's $20!

Yup, that's right: an additional $5 per bag when you check your luggage. How wonderful. In case anyone's curious, yes, this is precisely what leads to that jerk behind you stuffing your bag further bag into the compartment with his "carry-on" which weighs roughly 600 pounds.

Blue Footed Boobies Are So Not NSFW

2009-07-23T15:17:00.001-04:00

God bless you, Galapagos Islands and Blue Footed Boobies for allowing me to sit at my work computer and stare at boobies. Because, really, it's not very often you can look at boobies while you're sitting at work, right? On the serious tip, their mating dance is awesome.

British Airways Pretends to Battle Swine Flu

2009-07-21T10:10:00.007-04:00

Sure it sounds like a good idea. The motivation behind it could even be applauded. Some might say, "They're just trying to keep passengers healthy."

Except that they're not, and they can't, and it may be the travel industry's worst idea of 2009 (aside from the galactically stupid Pet Airways).

British Airways recently announced that passengers displaying the symptoms of swine flu will be turned away at check-in and asked to provide a doctor's note saying they are fit to fly.

There are a whole list of reasons this is a terrible idea, so let's just take it from the top:

(1) The people at the check-in counter are qualified to diagnose H1N1? Are you serious? The airline claims check-in workers have been trained to identify the disease by looking for the following symptoms: headaches, runny noses and sore throats. F*cking Brilliant.

(2) What's to keep someone from contracting the virus AFTER they visit a doctor? Is there some magic germ-barrier that surrounds people holding "fit-to-fly notes"?

(3) Apparently all the MDs in Britain were just sitting around waiting for something to do. So naturally, they need a few thousand extra patients seeking signatures and smiley faces over a head cold. I'm sure they'll appreciate the fact that the referrals came from the medical experts at the AIRPORT CHECK-IN DESK.

(4) Finally, they really want to do this for the swine flu? Come on. Every single year the world loses between 200,000 and 500,000 people to the flu. Just the regular old flu, for which, we already have a vaccine. It's not that H1N1 doesn't matter, but people need to have a little perspective...

And apparently British Airways will not be providing that perspective. Instead they've opted to exploit people's irrational fears with an ignorant and backwards policy that will do nothing to halt the spread of a relatively unalarming disease. Cheers.

Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris Named 'Worst Airport to Sleep In'

2009-07-20T11:10:00.003-04:00

Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris was named the "Worst Airport to Sleep In" by SleepingInAirports.net, a site which seems pretty determined to cover one very niche subject. (Seriously though, that's an awesome name; how did someone already have the dot-com there?)

There are a TON of reasons why de Gaulle is listed by the site's readers as the worst airport, but this is probably my favorite (if only because, well, being propositioned multiple times while traveling seems like the worst possible thing that could happen to anyone who wasn't seeking a sexual encounter.)

"I was propositioned not once but twice by the same man asking me for casual sex, which was understandably a little frightening for a lone 20 year old woman wandering the airport at night"

Yeah, so that's beyond creepy -- you can almost guarantee that it's some older dude with a weird accent too. Crazy foreigners!

Seriously though, de Gaulle is listed on the site as a "must-read" because it's so bad, which kind of amazes me, given the other airports listed, especially Los Angeles Airport and O'Hare, two places I've visited recently, and two places that are gross.

O'Hare is significantly better than LAX, I guess, but still, not great. And LAX just made me want to vomit the entire time I was there; for such a posh (theoretically anyway) city to rock out such a shoddy place for its visitors to see on the way in/out is almost inexcusable.

I'd also like to take a moment and point out that, although it would never be mentioned because it's not really a "major" airport despite being international, PTI in Greensboro, NC, which is where I generally fly out of, is just awful. 90% of the filth/smell of PTI is because up until about five years ago, you could smoke in there, but still, just not a fun place to sleep.

Sears Tower Name Change Official: Welcome to Willis Tower

2009-07-16T11:56:00.003-04:00

On the somewhat terrifying -- and certainly earpopping -- ride back down from the Sears Tower Ledge, myself and several others in the crammed elevator noticed that the term "Willis Tower" was being thrown around. This was no surprise as a Sears Tower name change had been previously tossed around.

However, it seemed safe to say that Chicago natives wouldn't warm up to that idea, no more than renaming Wrigley Field "The Tribune Stadium at Wrigleyville" or something silly like that. But, it appears as if the new owners of America's tallest building are going ahead with the renaming process and as of this Thursday, the Sears Tower will be no more.

Ladies and gentlemen, we present to you the WILLIS TOWER. Cue the angry mob of Chicago natives demanding that they get to keep their piece of history in addition to the "What you talking about Willis?" jokes. Sigh.

Man Overcomes Fear of Heights in Worst Way Possible: the Sears Tower Ledge

2009-07-15T00:00:00.003-04:00

And yes, that "man" = "me." So you know you're in for some excitement. Or, instead of "excitement", how about "watching a grown man terrified of heights to the point that he is somehow impressed he didn't lose a bowel/start crying while standing out on a 4.5 foot glass ledge 103 stories above the ground"? Does that work? Excellent. Because I was in Chicago last week and managed -- thanks to the kind folks at the Sears Tower Skydeck -- to summon the courage to walk onto THE LEDGE, the new addition to one of the world's biggest buildings.

Basking Shark Washes Ashore on Long Island [Video]

2009-07-14T17:15:00.003-04:00

A giant basking shark, 20 feet in length, washed ashore Long Island today. The shark appears to be dying due to some kind of illness, according to Tracy Marcus of Cornell Cooperative Extension, because there are no wounds on the shark's body. And please remember people: basking sharks are not great white sharks and they are not considered dangerous, so no shark jokes, please. They have feelings too.

Man Plunges to Death at Grand Canyon Near Thunderbird Lodge and El Tovar Hotel

2009-07-14T14:25:00.004-04:00

The Thunderbird Lodge and the El Tovar Hotel near the Grand Canyon in Arizona are usually wonderful places to stay, but they handled a pretty morbid scene early Monday morning as a motorist plunged 600 feet to his death after driving his car over the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

According to an AP report, the body and car were found below the South Rim and there is currently an investigation underway by the National Parks Service.

Obviously our condolences go out to the family and friends of the as-yet-unnamed gentleman who passed in this accident. However -- and I, in all honesty, mean absolutely zero disrespect here -- it might at least be worth pointing out that, provided he wasn't drunk and/or passed out at the time of his crossing over the edge of the South Rim, that is one hell of a way to leave this world.

Southwest Airlines Hole in Airplane Forces Emergency Landing [Photo]

2009-07-14T10:28:00.004-04:00

A hole in a Southwest Airlines' Flight 2294 -- apparently the size of a football -- caused the passenger jet, headed for Baltimore, Maryland, to make an emergency landing in West Virginia just under an hour after it left Nashville, Tennessee.

Just to clarify: this was a freaking FOOTBALL SIZED HOLE (you can see in the picture above, via Airline Biz at the DMN, who scored it from a passenger on the plane) in the freaking fuselage of the freaking airplane where the freaking passengers sit. Or, less dramatically:

"Nothing like this has ever happened before," airline spokeswoman Marilee McInnis said.

Okay, maybe that wasn't so much less dramatic, but still: you get what's going on here, right? In the middle of a flight, a big chunk of the airplane (I consider "big chunk" to equal "anything that causes the cabin to lose pressure immediately and require an emergency landing") ripped off.

Now, I won't go all Joe Biden on you and tell you not to think about traveling -- Southwest is always diligent with their customer service and remains one of my favorite airlines -- but I would caution against willy-nilly hopping aboard any of their 300 series 737's, which is what Flight 2294 was. At least until they go back through and inspect them all (which, apparently, they are going to do).

Some Airlines to Begin Adding First-Class Airbags in the Fall

2009-07-13T14:31:00.003-04:00

Here's a crazy idea: come October 27, some airlines will begin adding airbags. On the surface, this seems pretty logical; after all, airbags have proven themselves as a beneficial safety feature in cars and, hey, who wouldn't like to feel a little bit safer when traveling 30,000 feet above the ground?

Of course, as always with airlines, there's a catch. Or two.

Starting this fall, all new airplanes will be required to have seats that will stay in place when subjected to stresses up to 16 times the force of gravity. The old seats had to meet stresses of only nine times the force of gravity. And, in a safety measure borrowed from automobiles, some seats will be equipped with air bags.

[...] The new rules have taken effect gradually. Airplane models introduced after 1988 were required to have the new seats, known as “16g” seats. So planes like the Boeing 777 and the swarm of new regional jets all have them. But older models that were still in production were not required to have the seats.

Of course, that's not the best catch of all, though! What's not mentioned in my selection of blockquotes from the Times article is that these airbags are going to be -- if I understand everything correctly -- implemented in first-class seats only.

Which is awesome, obviously. Why? Because people with more money deserve to be safer than anyone else. Or, alternately, not at all -- the really impressive thing would be for the airlines to just pony up and start making all the seats in all the airlines more safe ... since, you know, everyone's supposed to be equal and what-not.

And don't get me wrong -- I understand the inherent problem here: airbags in airplanes aren't going to keep people from dying 90% of the time. When you crash from six miles in the air, you die most of the time, regardless of an inflatable bag opening up in your face. But in terms of skids off the runway and "smaller" crashes, this is a fantastic idea. It's just too bad it won't help anyone but the rich people.

Whitetail Resort To Help in Skinny Dip Record

2009-07-10T15:18:00.005-04:00

At 3pm this coming Saturday, July 11th, Virginia's Whitetail Resort will help set the skinny dipping world record. The resort is participating in Guinness World Record's Largest Skinny-Dip Across North America.

The event has been organized by the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR). First of all, how awesome is it that we live in a country where such a group exists? Secondly, thank GOD they decided to choose swimming. Can you imagine the Largest Nude Flag Football Game Across America? How about Ultimate Frisbee?

We all owe a big "thank you" to the dedicated men and women who made sure thousands of American's will visit various resorts this weekend, strip naked and jump into water for basically no reason. Cheers.

If you're interested in showing your support, first-time nudists are encouraged to join in the event. Just bring a photo ID and show up early to get registered.

Dave Carroll's 'United Breaks Guitars' Music Video Is a Huge Hit

2009-07-08T09:47:00.003-04:00

Normally, airlines can get away with treating customers like crap. Why? It's the 800-pound gorilla thing. Or the capitalistic thing. But every now and then, when someone like, hypothetically, United Airlines breaks, say, Dave Carroll's Taylor Guitar, the little man fights back. That's exactly what Dave Carroll did with his freaking awesome "United Breaks Guitars" song. And it's only Part 1 -- with over 120,000 views so far on YouTube, one would think United might be shopping for some six-stringers right now.

Disney World Monorail Crash Video

2009-07-06T11:28:00.002-04:00

The following is an amateur video taken at Disney World following a recent Monorail crash. The person filming the crash is kicked out by park authorities because he/she is too close to the accident immediately after it occured. Please do not watch the video if the idea of seeing the accident is frightening to you at all and remember that we are only reporting the news and that our thoughts and prayers go out to all of those people on the train.

US Airways Flight Diverted After Passenger Strips Naked and Goes Crazy Mid Flight

2009-07-01T16:06:00.005-04:00

US Airways Flight 705, en route from Charlotte to Los Angeles, was diverted to New Mexico earlier this afternoon when a passenger stripped naked mid-flight and became "unruly" according to KRQE-TV.

The male passenger apparently removed all his clothes and began to run around the cabin naked; other passengers aboard the plane "helped to restrain the man until the plane could land."

Now, call me crazy or stupid or homophobic even, but if a dude strips totally naked and starts running around a plane I'm on, there's no chance I'm playing the Steven Seagal role. Or even the Kurt Russell "I'm kind of tough enough to save a plane but no one really believes" it role.

No sir-e-bob: I'm playing the Oliver Platt role which generally entails running to the bathroom and locking the door. Because, honestly folks, if a guy is naked, he poses no real threat (he's not a terrorist, clearly, and you can actually see that he has no weapons on his person, right?) to my immediate safety other than permanently harming my retinas.

So my advice to you: don't play the hero when some dude decides to eat an ounce of mushrooms (what? you have a better explanation?) before he hops on a six hour plane ride and then wigs out with only about an hour left on the ride and decides that clothes just became optional.

And yes, I can make these jokes because everyone is safe, the streaker is in FBI custody and the plane kept on moving to Los Angeles.

What a Volcano Looks Like Exploding From Space

2009-07-01T10:36:00.003-04:00

From the Discovery blog via Digg is one of the cooler, albeit nauseating, videos I've ever seen. And while I may have just lost my breakfast on my desk, at least I know what a volcano exploding from outer space looks like.

Date Set for Thieves Who Stole a Beach in Jamaica

2009-06-30T09:59:00.007-04:00

Although it sounds like a case from Carmen Sandiego, thieves actually stole a beach in Jamaica.

In July of 2008, 500 truckloads of white sand were stolen from a resort development in Coral Spring, along Jamaica's northwest coast.

The crime initially puzzled police, but after a few months and a laboratory analysis of the sand at competing resorts, investigators charged the two principals of Bedrock Building and Aggregates, operator of a Kingston-based mining business. Three other men were charged as accomplices.

On August 18th, the men will stand trial at a Jamaican court in Falmouth.

In the meantime, Felicitas, the resort developer from whom the sand was stolen, has filed an 8.1 million dollar lawsuit against Bedrock Building and Aggregates. The suit also names the owners of several major resorts in Jamaica thought to be recipients of the stolen sand: Grand Palladium Hotel & Resorts in Lucea, Riu Tropical Bay in Montego Bay, and Palmyra Resort & Spa at Rose Hall in Montego Bay.

Although this case seems to be closed authorities can't rest for long, there's trouble brewing in Central America. It seems the terrible trio of Ruth Less, Joy Rider, and Rob M. Blind have struck again. They've stolen all the coffee from Costa Rica...

Air New Zealand's 'Bare Essentials' Campaign Is Just Awkward

2009-06-30T09:49:00.003-04:00

Everyone wants to be viral these days. So you can imagine a bunch of Air New Zealand PR folks sitting around a conference room, tapping their pencils, pounding ~~Bud Light~~ Foster's and thinking, "How can we go viral?" Naturally, the answer is the "Bare Essentials" campaign, which involves the basic tenants of air safety ... only it's made HILARIOUS by the fact that these attendants have their uniforms painted on. One problem: this is only sexy when it happens in the SI Swimsuit issue. The idea of having my knee jacked by the drink cart, wincing and then looking as an attendant walks past me only this time there's NO uniform involved, well, color me shuddered.

Rapping Flight Attendant Opens Southwest LaGuardia Terminal

2009-06-29T15:02:00.001-04:00

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee's baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack. (Of course he is, right?) The "Rapping Flight Attendant," David Holmes, made famous by such national websites as CNN and PTG, was on hand to open up Southwest's new terminal in LaGuardia Sunday. Naturally, what ensued was good ole' fashioned hilarity and confused-looking, elderly CEO-types clapping to a beat they don't really understand. Good times! Seriously, shouldn't this guy have a record deal at this point? Or is Southwest just paying him so much money that he can't leave? I'm going with the latter.

Greasy Pole Competition in Gloucester Is This Weekend

2009-06-24T15:27:00.004-04:00

Warm up those, um, greasy poles, folks, because it's that time of the year again. That's right -- GREASY POLE COMPETITION TIME. WOO. YEAH. Because nothing says "uber-excitement" and "super awesome" quite like "people trying to walk -- drunkenly -- across a greased 45-foot telephone pole." Actually, I kid sarcastically (of course). As the good folks at Oh Concierge pointed out, the greasy pole event is probably a ton of fun to compete in, and definitely way more fun to watch. If you're in the General Mass area this weekend, hit it up. Bonus: Video from 2007.

Kevin Coster's Doing Turkish Airlines Ads, Career Officially Over

2009-06-24T09:35:00.003-04:00

I'm sure the folks at Turkish Airlines are fantastic people. And I loved Kevin Costner in Bull Durham. And Tin Cup. But let's just say that if Costner were to find himself doing an advertisement for said Turkish Airlines where someone keeps whispering "I feel like a sta-ah" in a gravely voice as Costner travels across the globe, well, both parties have hit a new low. Fortunately, that's exactly what happened! VROOM-VROOM, PARTY STATER!

Alternately, this could simply be Costner doing charity work to make up for producing Waterworld and The Postman, although surely donations to help the children of a third world country would be more productive.

Airlines Set to Charge You for Not Checking Bags Online

2009-06-23T10:33:00.003-04:00

Checked bag fees are, quite arguably, the devil. There's nothing more irritating in my mind: how can you rationally travel somewhere without taking bags? Exactly. And so, airlines, in my humble opinion, are taking advantage of folks by charging for checked bags.

A few of the airlines have decided to actually increase that too, according to Budget Travel, tacking on $5 fees for folks that don't check their bags before they get to the airport.

That's right. More baggage fees! United and US Airways are the big culprits here, too, because they already charge $15 for the first bag and $25 for the second ... now, if you pay those fees at the airport, they will charge you an additional $5. (Yes, it's very much like rebooking at the terminal -- for whatever reason, they want to charge you and additional $15.)

But are there other airlines instituting similar policies? Of course there are! Delta and Northwest will begin charging an additional $50 for a second checked bag on international flights (which I wouldn't really have a problem with, save the fact that you almost always need two bags when traveling to another frigging country). And Alaska Air will charge $15 for the first checked bag. I have no problem with this, since I don't go to Alaska. Although I'm sure Alaskan travelers may have some beef, since you dont' exactly take day trips up there.

The long and short here is that you're always, always, always smarter to just carry-on two bags when possible (and to pack accordingly, obviously) but the reality is that a lot of people simply can't manage to get all their stuff in that amount of space.

And while it's nice to see the airlines "stimulating the economy" by "trying not to go bankrupt," I'll be honest -- at some point, these baggage fees are going to send enough people far enough over the top where we score a giant boycott and dump all the tea in the ocean. Or something.

PETA Asks Phish to Change Name to 'Sea Kittens'

2009-06-19T16:16:00.005-04:00

Quickly, for relevance purposes: people who listen to a lot of Phish travel frequently, and Phish's new green travel blog is known as "Traveling Light" (lawsuit forthcoming, natch.) With that out of the way, let's get down to the nitty gritty (and get this show on the road): PETA spokespeople have asked Phish to change their name ... to the "Sea Kittens."

Is this the stupidest thing ever and a blatant publicity stunt by an increasingly irritating organization hell-bent on punching everyone in America squarely in the eye? Most likely. Hence, a letter issued to media outlets!

The letter, addressed to Trey Anastasio, Jon Fishman, Mike Gordon and Page McConnell, says the request is an attempt to gain empathy for fish, "because few people are aware that fish are actually smart animals with personalities."

"For example, they communicate and develop relationships with one another, feel pain when injured (their lips are particularly sensitive, and they use them like we use our fingers), show affection by gently rubbing against other fish, and even grieve when other fish they like die," the letter continues.

OhmysweetGod. COME ON. I mean, really. REALLY? This is what it's come to now that Michael Vick has served his prison sentence and Phil Spector is no longer allowed to wear dead squirrels on his head? Harrassing a hippie-trust-funded jam band that doesn't seek in any shape or form to take empathy away from actual fish?

It's not even annoying anymore, it's just freaking sad.

CEO Gets Fed Up With iPhone Battery, Dissects Apple's Popular Product [Pics]

2009-06-19T13:01:00.000-04:00

Apple’s iPhone has been a raving success, completely reshaping the smart-phone market overnight. With the recent release of the iPhone 3G S and the iPhone 3.0 software update, Apple hopes to address a few issues that have been irking their normally entrenched customer base.

Which problems you ask? Well, there was the lack of a cut, copy and paste function; the lack of MMS capability; no system-wide search, and a few other issues that have been successfully addressed with the iPhone 3.0 software update.

As for hardware, the iPhone’s notoriously poor battery life has been improved on the new iPhone 3G S and the change is a welcome one. Unfortunately for one user, that change came a few weeks to late.

ProfessionalTravelGuide.com CEO Peter Nicas recently became frustrated after the battery on his iPhone 3G failed during an important call. It wasn’t the first time the phone had died at an inopportune time, but it would be the last.

Peter decided to treat the phone to a little TLC (body-slammed it on his coffee table) and then take it to dinner (went to Taverna Fiorentina in Atlanta, Georgia and dissected the phone on the table) and, like any true gentleman, he even tried to call the next day. Unfortunately, AT&T didn’t provide service in his area. On the bright side, at least we all know what the inside of an iPhone looks like now.

Continental Pilot Dies Mid-Flight, Jet Still Lands Safely

2009-06-18T16:00:00.000-04:00

"Human error" is typically a strong reason for plane crashes. "Death" doesn't necessarily qualify as "error" of course, but when an airline pilot dies mid-flight, you can reasonably expect that a non-positive fate will become those on the plane. Not so for Continental Airlines passenger Flight 61, which landed successfully even though its pilot, a 61-year-old employee with 32 years of service for the airline, died tragically mid-flight.

The 777 Boeing, which landed in Newark at approximately noon -- while carrying a very terrifying 247 passengers -- had an emergency declared onboard and received special treatment in terms of landing at the airport.

It's a tragic and awful story, of course, because someone died. Death is never, ever cool (with maybe some mild exceptions). But, in a weird way, don't you kind-of/sort-of have to think that if a pilot is going to go out, this is how they want to go?

He died of natural causes according to Continental spokeswoman Kelly Cripe, who stated that, "The flight continued safely with two pilots at the controls," after an onboard relief pilot took over his seat, and that, "No one [onboard] knew ..."

I mean that seriously, too -- he died at like 30,000 feet in the air, doing what he presumably loves, and, yet, the plane still managed to land safely. I'm not saying there's a feel-good story here, people, just that there's the posibility of a silver lining somewhere in this very grey cloud.

Optimus Prime Is Prepared to Eat Tokyo

2009-06-16T10:58:00.002-04:00

I don't particularly care for the Transformers movie -- I felt like it was a little bit overrated (Megan Fox excepted, natch) and perhaps a little too intense. And that's coming from a guy who, as a younger child, was a freaking Transformers junkie. But whatever, this video of a giant robot built in a Tokyo park (via Weird Asia News) is awesome. It's there to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Gundam (giant robots) in the movies.

Mark Malkoff Spends Month on AirTran to Overcome Fear of Flying

2009-06-16T10:52:00.005-04:00

The fear of flying is a perfectly acceptable one (and there's nothing wrong with being afraid of rollercoasters, OKAY?). But life, often, is about overcoming fears. Which is exactly why Mark Malkoff, a 33-year-old comedian and filmmaker, is living on AirTran planes for the next thirty days: he wants out of the dark shadow of fear.

This isn't some publicity stunt either (as far as I can tell): Malkoff seems to legitimately want to get over this fear of flying ... how else can you reasonably explain him taking a shower in an airplane.

In fact, he's avoiding the airport, changing planes via the tarmac (the first hint that AirTran is obviously involved here) and doing push-ups and sprints in the aisles of the airplane for exercise.

Of course, my theory that he's not doing it as a publicity stunt could be shot down by the fact that he's Twittering/Facebooking the whole thing and has a website up about his experience: MarkonAirTran.com.

However, in this day and age, if you do anything remotely resembling a 30-day excursion on a slew of various airplanes, you should probably consider creating a blog about the experience; it's the modern-day, electronic version of a journal, and there's always the chance that some PR firm (say, hypothetically, um, AirTran's???) could pick up on the experience and offer to cop you for the flights -- which, I would presume, is what the airline is doing in this case.

Mark's obviously no stranger to that experience either; he's done previous "projects" like "Mark Lives in IKEA" where he lived in an IKEA store for 30 days and "171 Starbucks" where he visited 171 Manhattan Starbucks in one day. So, yeah, he gets this viral stuff.

Plus, this is the type of story that everyone loves (hence this posting) and in a world where people get famous for doing stupid things on YouTube, there's always a free 15 minutes to be had out there -- it's pretty obvious that Malkoff figured out exactly how to get his.

(Picture via Mark's fantastic Flickr stream. If that's not cool, email me and I'll swap, sir.)

Traffic Barrel Monster Man Arrested in Raleigh, NC

2009-06-15T10:52:00.004-04:00

Artists are oftentimes quite bizarre people -- they tend to flirt with the mores of society in order to push the limits. Or something. Whatever, Joseph Carnevale is apparently one of those people and he was arrested recently.

What for? Creating the uber-awesome traffic barrel art located to the right. You see, Carnevale apparently caused an utterly devastating $360 worth of damage when he took some of these barrels, chopped them up a bit, painted them and turned them into Traffic Barrel Monster Man. (My name.) So sayeth the Smoking Gun (where they have larger photos.)

According to an arrest warrant, Carnevale "destroyed threeroad blocking barrels by cutting and screwing them together to form a statue." Police estimated that Carnevale's artwork caused $360 in damages to Hamlett Associates, the North Carolina construction company that owned the barrels. Carnevale is scheduled for a July 21 court appearance in Wake County.

I suppose that the authorities in Wake County (who, I'm sure are lovely people, although I've never met any of them, insofar as you know) kind of had to arrest him, right? I mean, the guy did steal some stuff and then take said stuff and make it unusable ever again. Even if "stuff" is "five traffic barrels," which is probably lower than the number that get accidentally run over each night on I-40.

It's just a little annoying that in a time when we all need a little comic relief, we've got the good city of Raleigh plowing through hundreds of dollars in taxpayer money just to make sure that this guy -- this LAWBREAKER -- somehow ends up paying for his heinous crimes of nature. Sigh.

Soccer Still More Important Than Everything Else in Argentina

2009-06-11T11:37:00.007-04:00

Aerolineas Argentinas made headlines this week after a controversial decision to bump 90 passengers from a flight.

Flight 1302, providing service from Buenos Aires to Miami, had been scheduled to depart Ezeiza International Airport at 11:25pm on Tuesday night.

The flight was pushed back to 10:48am Wednesday morning after the Argentinian government decided to use the Airbus 340 as a charter flight to transport the national soccer team to Quito, Ecuador, for a World Cup Qualifying match.

Unfortunately the Argentinian National Team didn't enjoy themselves any more than the stranded passengers. The Argentines lost the game 2-0, ironically citing altitude as their downfall. Quito's stadium is perched at a staggering 2800m (9,186 ft) above sea level and visitors often struggle in the thin air.

South Korea Offers to Pay Tourists Who Contract Swine Flu

2009-06-11T09:31:00.003-04:00

South Korea has a new twist on swine flu: if you get, you also get paid! I know, it seems ridiculous, but it's their big "tourism promotion" for 2009.

See, the H1N1 New Strain Influenza Cash Relief Program is designed to keep tourism alive in South Korea and remind people that even if you contract a possibly deadly (who knows, right?) or possibly harmless version of the flu, you can still get straight paid.

Well, kind of -- they're offering NT $100,000 to any tourist who contracts the swine flu while traveling in South Korea. The good news? It's money! The bad news? It's only $3,000 American.

But as we discussed in the PTG corporate headquarters, it's not like getting the swine flu is going to kill you or anything*. Or, at least, it probably won't. And if you contract it in South Korea, you're getting three grand for your troubles.

Additionally, after July 1, if you fly on Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, China Airlines, Eva Airways or TransAsia Airways and contract H1N1, you're getting three Grrr as well.

This is, of course, the first ever program of its kind: no tourism board as ever offered money for contracting a virus. And it probably would have made our list of "viral" marketing schemes for 2009 if it had been announced this week, because even as big of a pessimistic gamble as the whole thing seems, it's still pretty fascinating and at least worth getting some love by the media.

Also, the economy's down and money is nice, no?

*Please note we may not be considered licensed physicians in the United States.

Top Trends in Travel Advertising of 2009 [Viral, Baby, Viral!]

2009-06-08T15:27:00.004-04:00

Is there a sexier word in advertising right now than "viral"? Of course not -- it's like the Gisele of the advertising industry. (And yes, sadly, "strategic partnerships" are the Paris Hilton. Go 'way, strategery.) And while the PTG editorial team was racking it's collective brain about virality and whatnot, we thought we'd toss together a list of the best meme-type things that have worked for folks looking to push their product. MEME FTW!

9. America's Best Bathroom

This hasn't even fully blown roof (yes, pun intended) in terms of being viral yet -- the finalists were just recently announced. But the folks at Cinta do extensive research on these bathrooms, and as the contest draws closer, they beef up the PR effort to really promote the contest. Plus, it's just freaking quirky to discuss bathrooms and cleanliness in terms of offering up a prize for "Best Bathroom."

8. Digg.com

Yes, this is a heavily oversimplified "meme" and probably one that doesn't even count unless you're totally down with thinking about memes in a very meta way; Digg, most of the time, is the site that creates the memes. (Rumor has it, in fact, that Digg runs the interwebz.) But the truth of it is that newspapers have simply done an outstanding job of promoting their product and driving traffic on Digg: the Los Angeles Times travel section is consistently located on Digg's Front Page, and as a result, they've seen their traffic skyrocket amidst a shoddy economy and a failing newspaper industry. No comment on how they're able to succeed so much.

7. Fantasy Football Aruba

If fantasy football were universally popular, this little offering from the Renaissance Aruba might top the list: essentially, they are providing a "Draft Day Package" whereby a group of eight guys get together, pay basically $100/night and get multiple night stay in Aruba to draft their fantasy football team, complete with drink and casino packages. Yes, it is the most awesome thing ever.

6. RyanAir

This probably classifies as a "failure" because we've got a multiple-use tag here at TL whereby we rip on RyanAir for their various decisions in advertising: using stewardess for a pinup calendar, attacking bloggers, or charging for bathroom trips on plane flights. But hey, we're talking about it right? And you know what they say about bad word > no word.

5. 67 Days of Smiles

Orlando is chock full of amusement parks and crazy rides. At a lot of those, you get your picture taken in mid free-fall while smiling. So, Orlando, in order to get all "strategically viral" and whatnot, decided to bust out a YouTube-style contest where people submit themselves as the potential face of Orlando tourism. The prize? 67 days of riding amusement park rides and (basically) blogging about it. It's not as popular as some other ideas, but still, clever.

4. Cleveland Tourism Videos

I'm not even sure how this fits into "real advertising" because the Cleveland Tourism Vids -- which are absolutely hilarious -- are also blatantly fake. But, here's the thing: they went "viral" because even the Inside the NBA crew on TNT spoofed them. And at this point, someone needs to grow up, say "Yes! Our city is bland and boring and tiny and not normally worth visiting, but if we can replicate that, maybe, just maybe we can drive some tourism when it's not Furniture Market." (Yes, I'm looking at you High Point.)

3. Rapping Flight Attendant

Southwest, in my humble opinion, is the best airline around. Primarily because they don't tack on silly bag charges, they're really, really helpful about letting consumers switch scheduled flights, and the people who work for them are generally just more friendly than other airlines. A perfect example? David Holmes, the rapping flight attendant who got so large even CNN covered him. Actually, he's bigger than that -- he went viral twice after explaining GAAP to Southwest's investors at their annual shareholder meeting.

2. Twitter

Twitter is by far and away the most love/hate filled meme-trend on the internet right now; I know people involved in advertising that simply can't stand the 140 character micro-blogging tool (you know who you are) but then others, myself included, are straight up addicted. It's a fantastic method for communicating your deals, plans, and corporate insight to consumers without seeming intrusive ... or without paying any money! Just ask Marriott International, whose Twitter account ranks up there with the finest in terms of corporate synergy PR work. (PS: Follow PTG on Twitter, obvs.) And if you think Twitter is going away, you should definitely remember what they said about blogz a few years ago, and look where they are.

1. Best Job in the World

Queensland, Australia: an awesome place but not necessarily a tourism mecca, no? Well, when they announced that they were hiring for the "Best Job in the World" recently, they received such a flood of applications, website traffic and wannabe viral videos that the whole internet shut down! Well, their internet anyway. But the folks in Queensland did everything related to their campaign perfectly: they offered a substantial sum of money for someone to hang out on an island and blog about it, and it put more eyes on their natural product than any amount of advertising budget possibly could.

Disneyland and Disneyworld Square Off in Dumbest. Bet. Ever.

2009-06-08T09:05:00.003-04:00

Wow. Two straight NBA posts here on the old travel blog! Just gets me all excited thinking about the overlap. Or something. What doesn't get me excited is the idea of having to watch the presidents of the two Disney properties (one's in "California" so he gets to root for the Lakers and one's in Orlando so, duh, Magic) squaring off in an NBA Finals bet. If the Lakers win, Meg Crofton will wear purple and gold Mickey Mouse ears that say "Go Lakers!" while walking down Mainstreet USA. If the Magic win, well, you guessed it! Ed Grier will rock blue and silver Mickey ears. Obviously, Grier's feeling pretty good right now.

Mickael Pietrus Uses Shoes to Honor Air France Flight 447

2009-06-05T12:52:00.005-04:00

Mickael Pietrus has a few nicknames -- "Air France," "The Michael Jordan of France" -- that are very indicative of his country of origin. Obviously, then, the recent crash of Air France flight 447 moved him.

So much, in fact, that he decided to honor those that lost their lives in the plane crash by wearing shoes that read "AF 447" last night during the first game of the NBA Finals.

"I have a nickname: Air France," Pietrus said. "I wanted to send my prayers to all those people who lost their lives on that plane. You realize how life can be. I know that families are having hard times right now and hopefully they'll have better days in the future."

"It could be any family that it happened to," Pietrus said. "Life is short and sometimes people suffer. And you've got to try to do the right thing."

The Orlando Magic didn't win, obviously, but that's no reflection on the classy action by Pietrus in this case: I'm not sure if what he did is "legal" or not (the NBA generally is pretty stringent, like most pro sports leagues) about allowing players to honor others in an individual fashion on their uniforms, but for Pietrus to give a shoutout on a national stage to his fallen countrymen and the others that passed in the tragic accident is an impressive statement nonetheless.

Six Flags Over Texas Has a Ridiculous Deal Running

2009-06-04T15:11:00.004-04:00

Six Flags Over Texas was recently featured (kind of) in our Top Ten Amusement Parks list for good reason: Six Flags dominates rollercoasters.

Of course, that domination usually comes at a price to your wallet. But not in Texas, baby -- starting tomorrow, Six Flags Over Texas customers can purchase SIX admissions for the low, low price of $49.99. No joke.

"While it’s tough and everyone has to watch their discretionary spending, value’s going to win out. Tried and true is going to win out. Those that are investing in the product are going to win out," said [Mark] Shapiro [Six Flags CEO], who walked the grounds with Steven Martindale, Six Flags Over Texas president. They stopped to inspect the Texas Giant wooden roller coaster, slated for $10 million in new track, trains and controls in the fall.

Hey, what can I say? That's a freaking steal. It's a bit of a nightmare that they're not pushing it to all their parks -- I have zero chance of going to Six Flags Over Texas six times this summer, and, again, I don't care for rollercoasters, but the fact of the matter is that the park is fun enough on its own and if this was an option at Carowinds (just an hour from my house) you can bank on me being there six times over the course of the summer, just out of sheer principle.

Yamaguchi: One Dead, 20 Sick After Hotel Gas Leak

2009-06-02T12:13:00.004-04:00

A young photographer died and 20 others fell ill after a gas leak in a Yamaguchi Prefecture hotel in Japan.

The Yamaguchi Shuhou Plaza Hotel was occupied by around 80 people at the time, most of them part of an elementary school group from Takatsuki visiting the famous Akiyoshi Cave.

A photographer in his 20s died after being taken to a hospital and a teacher briefly lost consciousness, according to the police. There were no students who felt seriously ill, they said.

The police said three nurses accompanying the students and teachers first collapsed soon after entering a top-floor room in the three-story hotel, while most of the students were eating dinner on the first floor. Teachers and others who tried to rescue them also collapsed.

The Yamaguchi prefectural police said the poisoning appeared to be from carbon monoxide. The students will visit the mine Wednesday as planned, before returning to their home town of Takatsuki in the Osaka Prefecture.

Twitter Robbery of Arizona Man Could Freak Some Folks Out

2009-06-02T10:29:00.007-04:00

Twitter -- you know what it is, obviously, please, in addition to following PTG and myself? -- doesn't have many downsides, provided you're not some cranky old person that hates "those dang kids and their blog machines!" Or if you're Twitter user "@IzzyVideo" who recently tweeted that he and his family were going on vacation. Good times, right? Um, no. He got robbed, likely as a result of the social media site's ability to reach hundreds of thousands of people.

On May 24th, Izzy dropped this:

We made it to Kansas City in one piece. We're visiting @noellhyman's family. Can't wait to get some good video while we're here. :-)

And then four days later ...

Well, it's confirmed. Someone stole my Mac Pro and two displays while I'm visiting relatives here in Kansas City.

But, fortunately (I guess) the robbers left his Xbox. Now, before everyone decides to freak out and blame the Twittermachinez for this horrible travesty, let's go ahead and point out the same thing that Izzy did: his Twitter account automatically updates his Facebook status. That means Izzy could have accidentally sent this message out to thousands of people (I'm not his friend, so I have no clue how many he has) in addition to the over 2,000 folks that follow him on Twitter.

And the other thing, as I tell my parents often, is that we live in a very transparent world when it comes to internet personalities -- most of the "interwebz people" aren't hidden behind some odd name or false front anymore, particularly if they earn their living online. Which means that if you see Person X tweet that they're somewhere on vacation, and that person has a website where they make a living, you can probably find out where they live (or at the very least, check the WhoIs.net registration for the site) or at the very least get your Google/White Pages on.

Izzy actually has his full name, Facebook, Myspace, Twitter and mobile phone number on his website. That's not particularly shocking, because it's his business site, but the thing is with a mobile number and a first and last name, you can track anyone in the world down to their home address pretty quickly. Which is what someone, obviously, decided to do.

Either that or one of Izzy's friends is a real jerk. The lesson? Well, it's not that "Twitter is evil" or the "Internet will kill us all" as many people will probably shout once they see his story all over the news (it's been picked up by ABC, NBC, CBS and then tweeted by IJustine, who's actually bigger than all of those, somehow).

The lesson is that you have to be careful when you broadcast something on the interwebz. Yes, it's that simple: just think before you tweet, folks.

67 Days of Smiles: Orlando Presents Free Money to Do Nothing

2009-06-02T09:17:00.005-04:00

Queensland, Australia already made international news with the "Best Job in the World" promotion. Now, Orlando, Florida is trying to follow suit with their "67 Days of Smiles" promotion, which is going to pay two lucky people $25,000 to hang out for three months and ride amusement park rides.

No, it's not as long or as tropical as the BJITW, but it's still pretty sweet.

Work and play are one-and-the-same! The selected pair will experience everything from roller coaster riding to hang gliding, swimming with dolphins, golfing, shopping, spa-ing, gator wrestling, museum exploring, theatre-going and more.

The catch? There isn't one! No, there's not really. All that's required is that you "pick a partner," (bf, gf, brother, random homeless person, whatever) and create a 1-minute video which somehow explains why you're qualified to run around Orlando and have fun. Then you take pictures of your smiles (which might make the random homeless dude a bad choice) and apply online.

Orlando's Tourism board asks about a "blog, Facebook, Friendfeed, Flickr, Linkedin, Myspace, Twitter and YouTube" so it's pretty obvious that they want someone with tons of social media experience and an ability to spread the word VIRALLY (it's so buzzy and hip!) about Orlando's fantastic attractions.

Of course, that doesn't make it less awesome that you get to smile for a camera over the next 67 days, or generally hang out and ride rollercoasters while getting paid 25k for it, but it does mean that if you can figure out what Orlando's trying to do here -- and I believe I just told you, right?? -- that you stand a much better chance of making yourself an attractive candidate for the gig.

Via Walletpop:

Cleveland Tourism Videos [Late Meme Action]

2009-05-29T10:33:00.002-04:00

We couldn't possibly be more tardy on the Cleveland Tourism Videos (note: they're not real, ya'll) internet meme. But that's okay. They're still hilarious. And when I saw that TNT decided to spoof a spoof with their Inside the NBA promo last night, I couldn't help but realize that late or not, people needed more of Cleveland. YEAH! Seriously, it stinks to be Cleveland and get dogged here, but these are hysterical.

And the second one ...

JetAmerica Offering $9 Airplane Tix

2009-05-29T10:15:00.000-04:00

Airplanes typically tend to favor bigger markets; this is an obvious economic trend based on the fact that more people and more money reside in said markets.

But just like .OBP was ignored for years in baseball (see Michael Lewis' Moneyball), the large-market trending of airlines creates a value void of sorts: which is exactly why JetAmerica is offering $9 airplane flights from various mid-size markets.

Clearwater, Fla.-based JetAmerica said 34 nonstop passenger flights a week will
start July 13 at Toledo, Ohio; South Bend, Ind.; Melbourne, Fla.; Newark, N.J.;
Minneapolis and Lansing, Mich. Twenty-eight flights start or end at Newark
Liberty International Airport. The carrier will add six more flights — from
Toledo to Minneapolis — starting Aug. 14.

And the reason they're flying into places like this is that, as mentioned above, the mid-size markets have been ignored. Oh, that and they're getting subsidies from the various geographical locations in order to provide service there for cheap, cheap rates.

Yes, the word "subsidy" sends a shiver down my spine too, but remember, these are coming from the airfields themselves. It's not some awkward GM/Big Tobacco situation.

Rapping Flight Attendant Explains Generally Acceptable Accounting Principles to Southwest Shareholders

2009-05-27T09:59:00.004-04:00

No. The title is not a mistake. Southwest's upper management people decided that they should bring David Holmes, the famous rapping flight attendant, to the shareholders' meeting in the role of "rhythmic ambassador" to explain actually what "Generally Acceptable Accounting Practices" are. As the CEO explained, "Now GAAP is fun!

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'Cheese Rolling and Wake' Festival: Where Hilarity Always Ensues

2009-05-26T14:02:00.002-04:00

I wish I could possibly attempt to explain the unintentional hilarity revolving around the annual Gloucestershire 'Cheese Rolling and Wake' at Cooper’s Hill near the village of Brockworth. But I can't. What I will tell you is that the "winner" of the "race" is a five-time winner (consecutive, no less!) named Chris Anderson, who, at the age of 21, just retired from the "sport."

David de Rothschild to Sail the Pacific in the Plastiki, a Boat Made Entirely of Recyclable Plastics

2009-05-26T09:24:00.005-04:00

The Plastiki is an odd "boat," mainly because it is made entirely of recyclable plastics. Of course, that would just be kitschy, if David de Rothschild's didn't plan on sailing across the Pacific Ocean in the literal piece of junk. Via the New Yorker.

Disney Plans D.C. Hotel at National Harbor

2009-05-21T16:17:00.004-04:00

Earlier this week, Disney Parks and Resorts purchased a 15-acre site from the Peterson Companies at the National Harbor in Prince George's County, Maryland.

The property overlooks the Potomac and is being considered for a new stand-alone Disney hotel. Milton V. Peterson, chairmen of the Peterson Companies, was thrilled over the sale:

Disney is the top family entertainment company in the world, and its purchase is a great vote of confidence in the future of National Harbor.

For Disney's part, Jay Rasulo, Chairman of Parks and Resorts, said the family entertainment giant had plenty to offer and plenty to gain from a Washington DC property:

As we began identifying possible locations to grow our business, the Washington, DC area immediately jumped to the top of the list. National Harbor offers an array of entertaining activities for regional visitors, but it is also a family-friendly base camp, from which visitors from around the world can explore the stirring sights and inspirational stories of our nation’s capital.

Disney's new resort hotel will join an already wide variety of National Harbor attractions, including a variety of restaurants and venues, boutique stores and J. Seward Johnson Jr.'s mildly terrifying but completely awesome sculpture, "The Awakening." (pictured above)

Norweigian Cruise Lines Announces Addition of Blue Man Group to Entertainment Facilities

2009-05-21T12:20:00.000-04:00

The eternally creepy Blue Man Group, for whatever reason, remains one of the most popular entertainment acts in the world. And beginning in 2010, they will be cross-transcontinental (or something) as they'll be the featured act on Norweigian Cruise Lines' newest boat: The EPIC.

Also featured? The classic Norweigian go-to, Second ~~City~~ Stage group will perform in a comedy club aboard the 4,200 passenger ship.

But wait! There's more!

The EPIC will also have a bar made of ice (I have no clue as to why it's relevant, but it seems pretty freaking cool), cabins with curved walls, seen below in quite dope fashion, and a "Cirque Dreams" (think de Sol) show in the Spiegel Tent, which looks like a Barnum and Bailey tent party. People will have their waters refilled by ILLUSION, in which the air will lift a pitcher and pour water ... well, you get it. Excitement, etc., especially for family cruising.

Hyatt Gives Away Vacation Via Twitter

2009-05-20T14:46:00.004-04:00

Twitter. You know you want to know what's going on with it. And now you have an excuse -- you want to win a free, paid vacation to the Hyatt Regency Tamaya.

That's right. It's "social media FTW" time; Twitter isn't just for nerds who like to engage with the world in bursts of 140-character, pedantic (and sometimes snarky) messages. It's for people who like to win vacations too!

What can you win? Excellent question. How about a 3-night stay for two persons in a luxury suite at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya, airport transportation, daily breakfast, one dinner, two spa visits and 18 holes of golf (or a trail ride; if you select the latter, just sell me your golf.)

Now, of course, there is kind of a catch. See, you have to have a Twitter account (duh) and you have to provide your Twitter name, Twitter password (boo), email address (quadruple boo) and your name.

The Twitter password isn't a huge deal because basically, the Twitter-Contest page will just automatically tweet the news that you entered the contest, which I believe is a requirement. What creeps me out is the email address ... because I have a hunch that you might suddenly be getting some Hyatt newsletters. Of course, I'm much too lazy to read the terms and conditions, but I bet if I did, there would be something about opting-in found within the small print.

However, if you like free stuff and you don't care about emails relating to Hyatt hotels, hit it up. What's the worst that can happen? (Answer: Spam! Upside: Free vacation!)

Airline Service Improves Slightly, Fliers Agree

2009-05-19T10:32:00.005-04:00

According to recent consumer research, airline service has gotten better over the last several months. Although the numbers aren't dramatic, it's important to note that the improved passenger experience is in spite of additional airline fees for second bags, snacks and much more.

The airline business scored 64 out of 100 in the first quarter of this year, a 3.2% increase over the same period a year ago, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index, which randomly surveyed thousands of consumers across the U.S. Major carriers saw improved scores, or at least no decline.

Despite the fact that airlines managed to break even or improve slightly in customer satisfaction, their overall performance is relatively dismal.

Airlines were still among the lowest-scoring businesses in the index, which measured customer satisfaction with the products or services of hotels, restaurants and 14 other sectors. Full-service restaurants scored highest at 84. Airlines scored far below their own index high of 72, achieved in 1994.

Since it's graduation season, let's use an educational metaphor... that means that at their very best in 1994, fliers still gave airlines a C minus (on the 10-point scale). That makes their current "64 out of 100" a solid 'D'. But even that disappointing review may have given them too much credit.

"It certainly looks like most of these increases, if not all, are due to lower passenger load," says Claes Fornell, professor of business at the University of Michigan and index founder, noting that the recession has kept many Americans from traveling.

To continue the metaphor from earlier, airlines would have completely failed the service test, but there was a big enough curve for them to squeak by with a D.

Now to be fair, airline satisfaction will never be as high as it will for full-service restaurants. The reasons are obvious... having a well prepared meal will always be more enjoyable than spending five hours trying to sleep against a bulkhead. Not to mention security. When was the last time you had to walk through a metal detector to eat at a five star restaurant? Yet, security is a much needed aspect of air travel.

Despite all the "necessary evils" that plague air travel, there are still plenty of ways airlines could easily improve customer satisfaction and flier experience. If you need a good example, look no further than Dustin Curtis' excellent critique and redesign of American Airlines' homepage.

Privacy Groups to Protest Creepy Airport Security Measures

2009-05-18T15:50:00.000-04:00

The TSA, everyone's favorite shining beacon of national security, announced recently that they plan to employ "full body imaging" for airports in the future. It's a notion that seems, well, horrible.

No one in their right mind wants to see America naked one person at a time, even for the sake of safety. Oh, right. And it's a total and utter violation of privacy. At least that's what various "privacy protest groups" are claiming.

"People need to know what's happening, with no sugar-coating and no spinning,"
said [Lillie] Coney [associate director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center].

Which is why the EPIC is banding together as many people and organizations as possible in order to keep the TSA and the government from moving forward with the permanent placement of these full-body imaging machines in airports.

Chris Calabrase, an ALCU attorney, echoed similar feelings and also brought up one of the most important points: misuse of these images.

"A choice between being groped and being stripped, I don't think we should pretend those are the only choices," he said. "People shouldn't be humiliated by their government" in the name of security, nor should they trust that the images will always be kept private.

"Screeners at LAX [Los Angeles International Airport]," he speculated, "could make a fortune off naked virtual images of celebrities."

Now, certainly all of the TSA employees are upstanding citizens sworn to protect America's safety one hassled traveler at a time, but Calabrase is being realistic here -- everyone has their price, and if that price happens to be $15,000 for a slew of shots of Justin Timberlake "naked" (as naked as he can be in an x-ray machine) from TMZ, well, let's just say that said TSA employee would probably fall closer to the median American person than the one with high standards.

But that's not to totally bemoan the TSA's attempts to keep us safe; it's just that when you're dealing with privacy -- just as with, conveniently, naked pictures of yourself on the Internet -- once that line is crossed, it's hard to turn back and go the other way. So in that frame of mind, I fully applaud the kind people of these protestacularly caring institutions.

Mexican Resorts Raise the Stakes

2009-05-18T14:57:00.004-04:00

It's no surprise that the H1N1 flu virus (swine flu) has taken an incredible toll on Mexico's tourist industry. As a result, some resorts in Mexico are going to great lengths to restore tourists' confidence.

The PR strategies began simply, with several destinations in Mexico touting their own lack of fatal swine flu cases. Now resorts are taking a similar approach to American automakers who assuage consumer fears by promising to cover payments in the event of a job loss... with an obvious medical twist:

Real Resorts is offering any guest who contracts the H1N1 flu virus within 14 days of visiting any of its resorts in Cancun or Playa del Carmen up to one free return trip a year for the next three years (same dates, length of stay and accommodation).

The guest must have it confirmed as H1N1 and must provide a positive blood result for the flu by a state-certified laboratory within 14 days of checkout, Real Resorts said. The "flu-free" guarantee applies to travel between May and October.

The deal was released less than a week after AMResorts launched an almost identical offer of three free vacations to any guest who books in Mexico between May 8 and June 30 and contracts the flu while staying at an affiliated property anytime through Dec. 20.

For more information on these incredible deals and resorts, call your travel agent or visit www.professionaltravelguide.com.

United States Airlines Collect $1.1 BILLION in Extra Baggage Fees in 2008

2009-05-18T09:17:00.003-04:00

Bag checking is a dirty industry. There's no two ways about it -- if you're charging your consumer extra cash to bring their stuff with them then you shouldn't sleep at night. But it's not just a dirty industry ... it's also a billion dollar industry.

That's right -- US air carriers pocketed an absolutely obscene $1.1 BILLION in extra baggage fees in the 2008 year.

American Airlines led the way, earning $278 million in extra profit for checked baggage, with US Airways and Delta (not that) close behind at $187.1 and $177.1 million, respectively.

Of course, many economy-minded folks argue that it's wholly necessary for the airlines to charge these baggage fees; after all, they're facing a tough financial situation and need to recoup the losses incurred over the past 12 months.

I'm cool with that -- and to an extent, I don't think luggage charges are bad. My problem is that too often, airlines are charging for "standard" luggage. Southwest, for instance, allows two checked bags. That's "standard." If you're going on a trip for any reasonable length, you need to bags most of the time. Forcing people to pay simply to check reasonable amounts of luggage is just too aggressive for my tastes, even if it's worth a billion dollars.

Air Jamaica Begins Worst Policy Ever

2009-05-14T09:19:00.005-04:00

Air Jamaica effectively eliminated second bags today when they announced the dumbest airline policy since Ryanair considered charging passengers to use the bathroom.

Charging additional fees for everything from checked bags to pillows and peanuts has become modus operandi for airlines in tough times, but Air Jamaica has taken the absurdity to new heights.

On Monday, Air Jamaica started charging passengers $25 for the second checked bag on flights from New York to Grenada and Barbados, but the second checked bag won't be on their flight.
Air Jamaica will transport the first checked bag on passengers' flights, at no charge. All other bags will be transported within seven days and must be picked up at the airport, Air Jamaica said.

Here's another suggestion. Why not freight all that luggage from New York to the Florida Keys and then launch it to Grenada and Barbados using a giant catapult? That way when the policy fails miserably there would at least be the satisfaction of a splash as your personal belongings disappear into the Caribbean Sea.

Plus, you wouldn't have to wait "up to 7 days" for the splash.

If this policy was really put in place because of "weight restrictions on the plane" does that mean that the same rules apply on the return flight home? This is clearly just another case of inane boardroom decision making that has no basis in reality.

Southwest Airlines Flight Catches Fire on Runway

2009-05-13T09:28:00.003-04:00

Landing on a runway, for those that are scared of flying, means one thing: safety. Typically speaking, once your plane's wheels hit terra firma, you're safe. And that ended up being the case for the passengers in the video below, although they got quite a scare when their Southwest Airlines flight caught fire as the plane landed.

Airlines Eye New Seats to Save Weight, Accidentally Satisfy Passengers

2009-05-12T14:25:00.005-04:00

While the current economic crisis has left countless people jobless or underwater with worthless mortgages, there is one group that may benefit from the downturn: air travelers.

Generally speaking, money (whether high in the black or deep in the red) is the main driver behind change in a business. Fortunately for air travelers, they may get to reap a few unexpected benefits. To cut costs in these trying times, airlines have begun exploring new seat designs.

Currently, airline seats weigh between 24 and 33 pounds a piece and sport backs that are roughly 3 inches thick. New seat designs aim to reduce costs by reducing weight and potentially, allowing more seats to fit on each plane.

Thankfully for airline passengers, there could be unexpected benefits to the new designs. Nearly all new seat models offer more personal space and they accomplish it in a variety of ways. Some include better footrests, some have a hard shell back that never moves and floating cushions that slide down and forwards when the passenger reclines.

Perhaps the most creative concept are the staggered seats (shown above) by Thompson Aero Seating. The unique design eliminates the competition for elbow and shoulder room without reducing the number of seats. Even the most economical of the new seats, a slender 20-pound model made for short haul flights, still offers 4 and a 1/2 extra inches of shin and leg room compared to current economy seating.

The bottom line: airlines have finally found a way to save money that doesn't involve an extra charge, and they may improve passenger experience in the process.

Japan Airlines Plane Snacks on Cargo Box

2009-05-12T09:15:00.003-04:00

If you were an airplane, what would you eat? "Hot dog" or "bbq spare rib" come to mind immediately, but how about "a giant box of cargo?" Because that's exactly what a Japan Airlines Boeing 747 did late last night while attempting to take off from Los Angeles International Airport. There were 245 passengers on board, and fortunately nothing was hurt except for the plane's pride (this is the equivalent of your child having its head stuck in a chair at the local Chinese restaurant in the middle of a Sunday buffet with everyone in town there pointing and ... anyway, I digress.) Enjoy the video of the plane looking hungry and foolish.

Swine Flu Cancels Tijuana Potros' Baseball Season

2009-05-11T16:45:00.006-04:00

The swine flu has claimed another economic casuality, this time in the form of the Tijuana Potros, who were scheduled to begin their first season in the Golden Baseball League.

The Potros' games -- which apparently represented 10% of the GBL's total schedule -- will force the GBL to readjust their schedule, and the Potros have stated that they intend to play in another year, but don't believe the 2009 season to be economically viable.

"The H1N1 virus health risk and the necessary government response and actions have wreaked havoc with the economy and businesses small and large throughout the country," said Tijuana Potros President Jose Manuel Pena. "It is not possible to operate with this uncertainty that keeps sponsors from committing, fans from buying tickets, and the stadium unavailable to host public events."

Now, not to make light of swine flu (EVER!) but, really? Couldn't they just rent out a baseball park in Arizona to play the games? Or have the league schedule the first half of their season on the road while we wait for this thing to go all SARS-y on us? I mean, that would guarantee at least some revenue without dogging the rest of the league over. And the people of Tijuana would get their baseball. Of course, people might not be so gung-ho to play road games, but worst case: the Potros could parlay multiple forfeits into postseason home-field advantage and a championship in their first year.

Via Rovell's Twitter

Ireland's Surfing Is Surprisingly Intense [Video]

2009-05-11T10:40:00.000-04:00

"Powers of Three," a new movie set to release shortly, chronicles the incredible, unknown surfing in and around Ireland. The trailer below depicts some of these intense waves.

Flesh-Eating Bacteria Claims Life of Cruiser

2009-05-08T10:18:00.008-04:00

The British media has been hard at work covering the story of a cruise passenger who died after contracting a flesh eating bacteria.

58-year-old Raymond Evans was on a Mediterranean cruise two months ago when he fell in a port city and injured his knee. Upon returning to the ship Evans was treated by the ship's doctor and given rounds of antibiotics.

Some time later, a black spot had shown up on the back of his knee. The knee continued to worsen, and the "blotchy blackness" and deterioration spread to his chest, elbow and fingers.

Evans was placed in the ship's hospital for care and transferred to an intensive care unit at a hospital in Alexandria, Egypt, where he died of multiple organ failure. His death came less than 24 hours after the black spot first appeared on the back of his knee. The cause: a flesh-eating bacteria called necrotizing fasciitis.

According to CDC estimates, necrotizing fasciitis causes between 10,000 and 15,000 infections in the United States every year. Of those, 2,000 to 3,000 prove fatal. The bacteria is most commonly contracted through a wound, often after surgery or injury.

Raymond Evans death was a tragedy, but it's paramount that news organizations not blow these types of events out of proportion. Even if he was infected on board the ship, it doesn't change the reality that cruising has been and remains one of the safest options for travel. It is no more dangerous than staying in a hotel in a major city or using public transportation.

Swine Flu (A H1N1 Virus) dominated the news cycle for the last two weeks as the world watched the infected count rise into the low hundreds. There was even a news story about how the only pig in Afghanistan, on display at a Kabul zoo, had been quarantined to quell local fears and misunderstandings about the virus.

According to the CDC, since January more than 13,000 Americans have died of complications with seasonal flu. The very same flu that comes around every single year. The CDC also estimates that worldwide deaths from the standard seasonal flu number between 250,000 and 500,000.

All this isn't to say that swine flu is a casual issue or that Raymond Evans' death was insignificant, both are important events and deserve to be reported. Evans' widow deserves answers about her husband's medical treatment aboard the ship and in the hospital in Alexandria and our condolences go out to her.

But none of these stories justify sounding the alarm bells over cruising or travel in general. If they do, then people may as well just stay inside for the rest of their lives, stop driving cars, stop eating at restaurants, etc...

What the world really needs right now is a vacation... not another incredibly obscure reason to be afraid.

easyJet Wants to Really Open Up the Mile-High Club

2009-05-07T09:33:00.003-04:00

"I now pronouce you ..."

People get married in odd places (underwater, Las Vegas chapels, haunted houses, funeral homes, etc.) all the time. Go ahead and add "30,000 feet in the air" to that list, because easyJet has requested permission to hold wedding ceremonies on airplanes.

"If our request is replied positively, then so called 'floating on cloud nine' would get a new meaning for people in love - and we can offer another special service to our passengers."

[...]EasyJet captain Jeffery Husson added: "To officiate a wedding is a special honour for me.

"It would be exciting if I could marry couples above the clouds."

It would also be awkward if no one was flying the plane too, Cap. Of course it would make more sense (logically speaking) to have an actual ordained minister performing these rituals. But fiscally, I suppose a guy trained to fly an airplane will suffice in administering the holiest of vows.

Of course, there's one key issues here: where do the folks go for the honeymoon? The restroom seems the only logical place and, well, that's just awkward. Actually there are probably more, but I suppose when you concede to getting married by an airplane pilot, that's just one of the things you prepare for.

You May Now Commence Riding Topless at Disneyland

2009-05-06T16:45:00.000-04:00

Disneyland had a long-standing (10 years) policy about topless behavior on their Splash Mountain ride, as well as a handful of other rides, at Disney's California Adventure and Disneyland. Obviously, you weren't allowed to reveal yourself.

That's changed in the past few days as Disney has announced that they will no longer have employees specifically designated to monitor whether people are flashing the cameras or lifting their shirts on the rides.

Disneyland spokeswoman Suzi Brown says the changes took effect Sunday at Splash
Mountain, Tower of Terror, Space Mountain and California Screamin'.

Riders are photographed on the attractions and can then buy souvenir copies. Some have exposed their breasts in hopes that the picture would make it onto a photo preview screen at the ride's exit.

Ms. Brown stated that the "actual inappropriate behaviors by guests are rare" but my guess would be that "the wonderful economy" won't allow the park to continue "paying people to look for breasts."

Besides, shouldn't the inherent shame of showing one's fairly private parts on a screen at a Disney park be ample punishment for the deed at hand anyway? I say so. Free hat! Er, shirt.

Ben Southall Wins 'Best Job in the World'

2009-05-06T13:30:00.000-04:00

"The Best Job in the World" has been chronicled all over the place, and now there's a winner: Ben Southall, an English "adventurer."

The news was announced today via Queensland Premier Anna Bligh:

“It was a tough challenge for both the candidates and the selection panel and I am proud to announce that on July 1 Ben Southall will become Tourism Queensland’s newest employee as Caretaker of the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef," Ms Bligh said.

“We are looking forward to Ben starting his role ... and showing us what he can do during the six months.”

Yes, aren't we all. Except by "looking forward to" what she mean is "plan on being insanely jealous of." Now, I'm not sure what Southall will do, but he darn sure better be quirky, because if he's not, this is going to end up being a pretty lame promotion.

And yes, that's just me being bitter. Congrats to Mr. Southall.

Cruise West Announces World's Longest Cruise

2009-05-06T12:42:00.004-04:00

Around-the-world cruising isn't a new concept, but no one's ever done it quite like this.

Cruise West recently announced its plan to circumnavigate the globe in a leisurely 335 days. The cruise will be, by far, the longest of its kind in the industry. More information and an itinerary are expected later this month, but for now the cruise line has kept details to a minimum:

The ship will visit 59 countries over 14 oceans and seas during a cruise that intends to trace the destinations of historical sailors and explorers.

Jules Verne eat your heart out. For more information about Cruise West or their individual ships, visit PTG's unbiased professional review with information on everything from amenities to services and the history of the cruise line.

Branson, Missouri, to open America's First Private Commercial Airport

2009-05-05T15:16:00.007-04:00

Put on your spangles and break out the moonshine! Branson's gettin' an airport!

But not just a regular airport, America's first privately-funded, privately-owned, for-profit commercial airport. Private airports are old hat in Europe and Latin America, and growing in popularity in Asia, but until now every commercial airport in the US has been built with or subsidized by taxpayer money.

The airport will be modest, only offering four parking spots for planes, a single runway, no jet bridges (passengers will deplane directly to the tarmac via staircases), and an incredibly modest 58,000 square foot terminal. The best part: taxpayers didn't pay a cent for it. The airport was built using money from a group of private investors that include Citigroup and Aviation Facilities Co.

Although the airport's investors predict Branson will be a success, industry experts are skeptical the move will catch on, if it works at all. According to industry consultant Mike Boyd:

Branson Airport is not likely to be the vanguard of airport privatization. It's too hard disentangling existing airports from their government financial and legal tethers, and financial prospects at most airports probably aren't good enough to justify the risk.

In Branson's case, the local population is too small, and the region's attractions aren't sufficient to consistently generate sufficient traffic for profitable air service.

According to Steve Peet, Branson Airport CEO and one of the original investors, the key to success will be attracting low-cost air carriers whose clientele will be attracted to Branson's family-friendly environment and live music. Peet said that the airport's traffic will speak for itself:

If we're not handling 225,000 to 250,000 passengers a year three years down the road, then we'll be in a tough situation. But I don't think that's going to be the case.

Swine Flu: Some Good News for a Change

2009-05-05T14:30:00.000-04:00

I'll cop to not believing in the power of swine flu. I mean, yes, it seems dangerous, but only so much in the sense that SARS was. But, I was starting to come around: that's what will happen to you if you're embedded in the media or the internet too much.

However, recent evidence from many scientists, as reported by Wired.com, appears to indicate at least some marginally good news.

[Their] findings fit the notion that more Mexicans are infected than was
originally thought, that severe cases represent a fraction of the outbreak, and
that mortality rates are lower than originally feared.

“If the calculations are correct,” said Slezak, “it’s indeed supportive of the other
data that seems to agree that this is not going to be a catastrophic
outbreak."

So, yeah. Not "catastrophic"!!!! Seriously, this is good news though; we've got everyone in the world freaking out about the swine flu, and to possibly hear that something (read: anything) "not horrible" might stem out of this piggy pandemic is a huge bonus. Carry on with your freakout.

Roman Catacombs in 3D [Video]

2009-05-04T15:55:00.003-04:00

Catacombs are mysterious places where bodies reside and where only Indiana Jones dares explore. But recently, a team of 10 archaeologists, scientists, architects, and computer nerds have teamed together to create 3-D videos of the catacombs from laser scans. Yes, this sounds fake. No, it is not: witness the video below, from the BBC via Digg.

'Alien Skull' on Mars Is Stupidest Claim. Ever.

2009-05-01T09:19:00.005-04:00

People routinely see Jesus in their macaroni and cheese. Or elsewhere. It's usually a pile of mularky, of course, but they see it. Just like scientists saw an "alien skull" on Mars recently. At least that's what they're saying, in very serious tones.

"There appears to be a narrow pointed small mouth, so this creature most likely
is a carnivore."

Another joked: "The coronal ridge shows ample structure to support the musculature of antennae, although none are visible in this view.

"The nose area is broad and blunted as you would expect to see in a cold and windy landscape. Is he decapitated or is he buried up to his neck?"

I mean, if they had anything remotely legitimate to claim as an "alien skull" and not a "deformed bowling ball" then there would be some serious debate. As it is, this particular phenomenon shouldn't even be up for discussion. Feel free to judge for yourself though, in the picture above.

Oh, in totally unrelated news, I lost my pet rock last week. Please call 1-800-555-DERP if you've seen it.

Hogwarts Campus to Open in Chicago Museum

2009-04-29T14:53:00.003-04:00

If you've read all the Harry Potter books (or even just seen the movies) have we got good news for you. The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago is launching a new Harry Potter exhibit full of artifacts from the books and movies.

The Exhibition takes visitors from the Hogwarts Express train platform through the Gryffindor common room, classrooms, the Great Hall, the Forbidden Forest and Hagrid's hut. The tour is populated with creatures from the seven novels by J.K. Rowling and six Potter movies: life-sized centaurs, Buckbeak the hippogriff, dementors, thestrals and Dobby the house elf.

According to museum president and CEO David Mosena, the exhibit could be a traffic driver at a time when most museums are seeing a decline in attendance. The hope is that the new exhibit will attract visitors the same way pop-culture-oriented exhibits have in the past (e.g. Star Wars and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation).

The exhibit opens April 30th and runs through September 27th, at which point it will go on tour. The greatest benefit of all this will not be increasing museum revenue, but exposing children to the scientific side of their favorite fantasies.

Anne Rashford, director of temporary exhibits at the museum, had this to say:

Museums recognize that if popular culture can get kids excited to come to the museum and then we can expose them to 14 acres of science, that's a really good thing.

FareFinder: Wednesday April 29

2009-04-29T13:45:00.000-04:00

Miley Cyrus (aka, Hannah Montana) and Atlantis, Paradise Island are teaming up for the "Miley Cyrus Weekend in Paradise" package, which includes accommodations and tickets to an exclusive Miley Cyrus concert on May 16. Rates start at $499 per person, $209 per child (ages 11 years and under). No word on whether Jaimie Foxx is scheduled to appear.

Princess Cruises' Escape the Economy sale going on now. Offers include 2-for-1 deals on select cruises and free upgrades.

The state of Colorado wants you to visit, so much so that the state's tourism board has launched HOTDEALSCOLORADO.com, providing vacationers easy access to more than 250 great vacation deals from throughout the state.

Your weekly Continental.com last-minute airfare deals include roundtrip airfare from Houston to Acapulco for $159. Combine that with some really great deals on hotels and you've got a cheap vacation all set.

Delta.com's weekly web fares include LA or San Francisco to Kennedy for $99 each way.

Myrtle Beach Cast in Rare Negative Light

2009-04-28T12:56:00.008-04:00

One of the most popular beach destinations in the U.S., Myrtle Beach has faced tough headlines in the last week.

Home to outlet malls, myriad golf courses, beautiful beaches and endless rows of vacation rentals, Myrtle Beach normally enjoys positive press and a carefree reputation.

That all changed last week when a fire that began near Conway, S.C. raged out of control burning 30-square-miles and destroying 70 homes. Fog and smoke from the fire were so widespread, many roads in the area have been closed for days.

Firefighters battled hard over the weekend and have contained much of the fire, but a few areas are still burning freely. They're hoping to have it 100% contained by Tuesday evening.

Negative headlines continued with the mysterious disappearance of Brittanee Drexel, a 17-year-old spring breaker from Rochester, New York. Brittanee had been visiting Myrtle Beach with a few older friends when she suddenly disappeared on Saturday night.

Police are investigating the disappearance and Dawn Drexel, Brittanee's mother, appeared on CNN Monday night. So far leads have proved inconclusive.

While Myrtle Beach is generally a fun, safe, family-friendly destination, it's important to excercise caution whenever you're traveling. If you're vacationing at the South Carolina coast this summer, be sure to stay read our Myrtle Beach Safety & Travel Security Guide.

Hermitage Hotel Pulls Off Rare Double-Flush, Wins Second Straight 'America's Best Bathroom' Award

2009-04-28T12:00:00.001-04:00

The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee houses America's Best Bathroom. AGAIN. This is according to the America's Best Restroom(ABR presented by Cintas) which recently announced the winner of its 2009 award. The Heritage -- a five-star hotel in Nashville -- was also the winner of the 2008 award and a recent ABR Hall of Fame inductee.

And frankly, while this could seem like a joke, I don't think it's really stated enough how important having an awesome bathroom is. I was in the Philadelphia airport yesterday -- picking up the swine flu, natch -- and I couldn't use the bathroom despite the, um, necessity of it. Why? Because it was freaking disgusting. And this happens all time. The Hermitage, on the other hand, dominates in terms of cleanliness and awesomeness.

The ABR's primary criteria are hygiene, style and access to the public. And according to Cintas, "tens of thousands" of people voted following the close of nominations on March 31, 2009.

The Heritage dominated again, with its art-deco theme, duel shoeshine seats, authentic terrazzo floors and leaded-glass tiles.

And it's a truly a statement to the Hermitage's staying power that they could wipe the competition out and win this award for the second consecutive year. And sure, it may sound corny, but word on the street is that people see the Heritage's bathroom and "fall in love with it."

That's obviously the case with most of America and the bathroom-judgers (the world needs them too, Danny!) who fancy themselves connoisseurs of such a thing. For the Hermitage, it's a tremendous honor. But for the rest of the competition, it's back to square one.

Mexico City Earthquake Causes Citizens to Expect 'the Apocalypse'

2009-04-27T15:15:00.005-04:00

Mexico is struggling right now, folks. As noted earlier today, the dreaded Swine Flu is causing U.S. officials to kindly nudge American citizens away from travel below the southern border. And an earthquake in Mexico City earlier today won't help things either.

The quake ripped through the city on Monday and registered a 5.7 on the Richter scale. But that pales in comparison to how the citizens of Mexico feel about the natural disaster, viewing it as the potentially penultimate sign that the Earth is about to explode. Or something.

"I'm scared," said Sarai Luna Pajas, a 22-year-old social services worker standing outside her office building moments after it hit. "We Mexicans are not used to living with so much fear, but all that is happening — the economic crisis, the illnesses and now this — it feels like the Apocalypse."

[...]"If [the world is coming to an end], it is God's plan," Gutierrez said, speaking over a green mask he wore to ward off swine flu.

So, yeah, spirits aren't so high in Mexico right now. The swine flu, the perceived crime rate, this giant earthquake, hot Satanic lava and brimstone spewing from a Mayan temple -- yeah, just not good.

Which is why I would like to emphasize what I said in an earlier post: GO TO MEXICO. DO IT. It's going to be insanely cheap right now, and it's not as if you have to parachute into a gaping chasm of pigs that fell in when the Earth ripped apart at its seams. You have plenty of higher end options that will leave you no less unprotected than having to sit at work with that jerkstore who won't stop sneezing and coughing all day.

Swine Flu Concerns Cause US Officials to Caution Against Mexican Travel

2009-04-27T14:57:00.003-04:00

The dreaded SWINE FLU is making the "bird flu" rounds in America right now: everyone is terrified of this virus that's sweeping the nation with it's coughing and sneezing and occasional hospitalization.

And as a result, US officials are cautioning against "nonessential travel to Mexico."

This isn't the first time either (this year even!) that people are becoming terrified of our neighbors to the South. Crime sprees near Tijuana had people all kinds of freaked out earlier -- and much of that terror still remains, only now it's being amplified by the threat of semi-serious disease.

What's weird is that the CDC (Center for Disease Control) is kind of freaking out about this, yet, everyone has recovered from the dreaded SWINE FLU. I'm not saying we should take it lightly and laugh at it (Lord knows I think I actually contracted a case sitting in a phone booth at the Philadelphia airport this morning) but what I don't get is that if this virus makes people feel sick why they would treat it any differently than a normal case of the flu.

But here's a more relevant point in terms of travel: GO TO MEXICO. Seriously, do it. Swine flu isn't sweeping the entire country, no more than it is infecting all of America. Which means, right now, you can probably sneak across the border for a Caribbean vacation on the straight-up cheap. Personally, I recommend checking out some of Apple Vacations' deals.

Southwest Mystery City Sale: Bay Area

2009-04-27T09:00:00.003-04:00

On the final day of Southwest Airlines' Mystery City Sale, the low-cost carrier provides you with not one, but three cities to choose from.

The San Francisco-Bay Area and its three airports -- San Francisco International, Oakland International and Mineta San Jose International -- are the focus of the final day of Southwest's four-day Mystery City Sale.

Like the other days, you must book your flights today and fly between May 4 and June 10. The only blackout dates are May 21-25 (Memorial Day Weekend).

Over the course of the four-day sale, Southwest has offered 50% off flights to Philadelphia, Nashville and Albuquerque, so it wasn't a stretch to think that it would head to the West Coast for the final day. But to provide three airports for their half-off sale? Kudos to Southwest for providing four days of great savings.

Southwest Mystery City Sale: Albuquerque

2009-04-26T08:02:00.004-04:00

First Philadelphia, then Nashville. Now, Southwest Airlines' Mystery City Sale heads west of the Mississippi to Albuquerque.

That's right. Home to BioPark, Sandia Crest and Route 66, Albuquerque flights are 50% off today at Southwest.com. Today is the third stop on the airline's Mystery City Sale Tour, which will end tomorrow. Based on the trend, we might see someplace on the West Coast (Burbank, anyone?) end up as the final destination.

Come back tomorrow for the final destination.

Southwest Mystery City Sale: Nashville

2009-04-25T08:10:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, Southwest Airlines brought you to Philly for 50% off. Today, they're taking you to Music City.

Nashville, TN, is the second stop on Southwest Airlines' Mystery City Sale. Just book today for travel between May 2 and June 10 using promo code LUVBNA to receive half-off your flight. That means, for example, a four-day trip from Baltimore to Music City at the end of May (Thursday through Sunday) costs around $136 including taxes.

One note we didn't mention yesterday -- none of the Mystery City Sale fares are valid during Memorial Day weekend travel (May 21-25). But other than that, every day is fair game.

Philadelphia Southwest Fare Special -- Wanna Get Away Sale with Southwest

2009-04-24T10:03:00.007-04:00

Fans of Southwest Airlines already know what a great deal it is. Now there's even more of a reason to love the multi-colored and recognizable airliner.

Starting today, Southwest is running a four-day Mystery City Sale, where they'll discount airfares up to 50% off for one city, each day. Today's city's Philly, with fares half-off for people flying to and from the City of Brotherly Love between May 1 through June 10.

We'll keep you posted about what other cities Southwest plans to unveil as they are announced. In the meantime, get booking!

Myrtle Beach Fires Consume Coast

2009-04-23T09:35:00.006-04:00

Myrtle Beach is currently experiencing some of the worst fires that we've seen in a while on the East Coast; the damage caused by the quickly spreading flames has become so bad that authorities are discussing the possibility of the fire "moving to North Myrtle Beach."

According to the Charlotte Observer, 40 homes have already burnt down, between 8,000 and 9,000 acres in Horry County have been torched and 2,500 residents (or visitors) have been forced into emergency shelters.

For now, our thoughts and prayers go out to anyone down in the Myrtle Beach area that might be in danger; we'll have more as this story develops.

Hashima Island Reopens To Travel After 20 Years

2009-04-22T09:28:00.006-04:00

After more than 20 desolate years, Hashima Island has reopened for visitors.

Hashima Island, more commonly called Battleship Island, is one of several hundred uninhabited islands considered part of the Nagasaki Prefecture in Japan.

The island was established as a coal mining facility in 1887, but as petroleum began to replace coal in the 1960s, Hashima was shut down in 1974.

During 1959, at the height of its productivity, Hashima Island had the highest population density of any area ever measured: an astonishing 1,391 people per hectare lived in the residential district. To put that number in perspective, consider this: New York City has a population density of around 104 people per hectare. Clearly, Hashima was not for the claustrophobic.

Today the concrete buildings (including Japan's first large concreted building, which dates to 1916) and seawall are all that remains, but that could soon change. As of April 22, 2009, tourists will be allowed to set foot on this historic island (under consideration as a UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Until now the only way to view the concrete buildings and industrial facilities was by sightseeing boats that made trips around the island.

Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg ... Is Shockingly Misspelled

2009-04-21T16:40:00.000-04:00

Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg is a real place. For serious, it is. Just look at the picture above, where some guy is posing oddly in front of the lake's sign, which is misspelled, allegedly.

According to area locals anyway.

The Webster-Dudley-Oxford Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors has unanimously agreed to correct the spelling problems on the signs on Route 12 near Oxford and Route 193 near Thompson.

The 45-letter name is misspelled, with an “o” where a “u” should be, at letter 20, and an “h” instead of “n” at letter 38.

I mean, yeah. I suppose I could rant about the fact that you shouldn't name anything any name that included forty-five letters and how it's ironic that it's misspelled. But at this point, it seems a little obvious, no?

FareFinder: Tuesday, April 21

2009-04-21T14:30:00.000-04:00

MSC Cruises has rolled out its lineup of Theme Cruises, which include a Baseball Greats cruise, Golf cruises and cooking cruises. Also, the cruise line's Balcony Bonanza promotion for European sailings has been extended through May 31.

Aer Lingus Vacations is offering an Ultimate Affordable Luxury package that includes roundtrip business class airfare to Dublin, six nights in a suite at the Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt, full-size rental car for a week with unlimited mileage and GPS Navigation, dinner at celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay's restaurant at Powerscourt and more for $2,999 per person.

Your Continental.com last-minute airfare specials for the week, plus some from JetBlue and Delta.com.

Last-minute cruise special from Royal Caribbean: Three-night Bahamas cruise departing Miami on Friday for $249, or a seven-night Caribbean cruise departing San Juan on Saturday (disembark in Norfolk, VA) for $549.

Delta Has an Idea to Generate Revenue: More Bag Charges!

2009-04-21T12:30:00.000-04:00

Bag charges. They're the worst. But here's some even more annoying news: they're going up!

Yes, that's right. Delta has decided that people traveling a really long way shouldn't be able to pack more than one bag for anything other than highway robbery, as they've raised their "second bag price" on international flights to a whopping $50.

Effective today, for international travel beginning July 1, Delta will charge customers a $50 fee to check a second bag, which the company expects to generate more than $100 million annually.

Well, goodie for Delta, who will make a ton of money. The downside: this is, um, not awesome news for consumers. The airline may have posted huge losses recently, but that's still not an excuse to seek awkwardly aggressive methods of charging consumers in an attempt to recoup some money. They're better off doing something counter intuitive like giving out free peanuts. I'd buy more airplane tickets.

Alcoholic Architecture : Getting Drunk on Air

2009-04-20T11:59:00.009-04:00

A London bar will be offering alcoholic air for the rest of April. The bar, called Alcoholic Architecture, is the brainchild of gastronomes Sam Bompas and Harry Parr.

(Their past projects include scratch-and-sniff movies and a jelly banquet.)

Decorated with giant limes and over-sized straws, the bar gives the sensation of being inside a giant gin and tonic.

In order to complete the sensation, an actual mixture of gin and tonic is misted into the room. Patrons wear special plastic jump suits so their clothes don't get wet (or stink of gin).

The mixture isn't too strong, roughly equivalent to drinking a single cocktail every 40 minutes, but doctors were still consulted in the mixing process to ensure safety.

Although Alcoholic Architecture has been well-received, Parr and Bompas aren't wasting any time enjoying the moment. Parr said:

Here we've vaporised a cocktail. In the future I would like to make a liquid banqueting table.

There's no news yet on when a liquid banquet table could be ready for public consumption, or what it might include. Hopefully, Parr and Bompas won't be too ambitious with their selections. The idea of drinking a glass of roast turkey or taking a deep, satisfying breath of mashed potatoes just doesn't seem as appetizing as a finely-misted gin and tonic.

National Park Week: Amazing Photos

2009-04-20T10:30:00.000-04:00

In honor of National Park Week (April 18-26), the folks at Professional Travel Guide have put together a photo tour of America's most beautiful national parks.

The photos included above and below are from Havasu Falls in Grand Canyon National Park and Hidden Lake in Glacier National Park, respectively. Check out the full photo tour of amazing parks at PTG.

Chubby Flier Rules Now in Effect at United

2009-04-20T09:30:00.000-04:00

In Canada, obese people, or "fatties" if you will, are given the privilege an additional seat for the price of one, if they simply cannot fit in one seat. That won't be the case with anyone flying United Airlines though, because the company announced late last week that obese folks are required to buy a second ticket.

There's literally zero chance this doesn't a) end up in a court or b) cause some sort of really awkward domestic disturbance. Why? Just listen to the procedure.

As of Wednesday, passengers too large to fit comfortably in a coach seat may be required to buy a second ticket or upgrade to business class, where seats are larger -- if United's flight attendants can't find two open seats for them.

In other words, yes, this encounter could occur after said large person is on the plane, which is just beginning for a scene from Meet the Parents, only ... bigger. OR, alternately, a flight attendant could stop a large person on their way into the plane and ask them to purchase an additional ticket, only to have that person explain they're not that fat. (Hilarity/debate ensues, obviously.)

Personally, I'm fine with this policy. While it may seem somewhat discriminatory, it's a total and utter nightmare to end up sitting next to someone who does need two seats, and it's just an unfair way to spend a flight ... whereas having TWO seats is secretly kind of awesome.

Fort Lauderdale Cessna Plane Crashes Into House Shortly After Takeoff

2009-04-17T14:00:00.001-04:00

A Cessna 421 twin-engine prop flying out of Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport crashed into a nearby house after apparent mechanical failures, according to news reports.

The Cessna was carrying four people including the pilot.

"Shortly after it got in the air, it did report trouble to the tower," Adams said. "The tower cleared it to come back and land. In trying to make it back, that's when it went down."

"I don't see any possibility of a survivor," said Matt Little, a spokesman for Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue, which was offering mutual aid to Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue trucks at the scene.

The tragic situation is apparently somewhat familiar to residents of the neighborhood, with one person stating to news stations that "They need to stop flying here."

Regardless of the city and local issues surrounding the flight, our thoughts and prayers are obviously with the passengers and their families.

Pet Airways: For People With Awesome Priorities!

2009-04-17T11:25:00.008-04:00

This week in completely unrealistic business models, co-founders Dan Wiesel and Alysa Binder announce the launch of Pet Airways: an airline dedicated completely to transporting people's pets between major cities.

Traditionally, pets are transported in carriers in a plane's cargo hold. But according to Wiesel, the experience can be an unpleasant one:

The experience is frightening to the pets, and can cause severe emotional and physical harm, even death. This is not what most pet owners want to subject their pets to, but they have had no other choice, until now.

Pets, or "Pawsengers" will fly in the main compartment of a turboprop plane and be attended to by caring workers. According to the airline's website, attendants will be within "a cat's meow" at all times.

The inaugural flight is slated for July 14th and the airline will serve New York, Washington DC, Chicago, Los Angeles and Denver.

Pet Airways is going to be a success for several reasons:

(1) Who doesn't have enough money hanging around to fly their pet on it's own f***ing airline?

(2) These people's priorities are top-notch and they've got the business savvy to match. Right now is the perfect time to start a pointless, extravagant service that no one really needs.

(3) It sends a positive message to the world that help is on the way! If Americans are willing to fly their cats and dogs on their own special plane, it's just a matter of time before all human beings have access to clean water and basic health care.

FareFinder: Thursday, April 16

2009-04-16T09:55:00.006-04:00

Get ready to cruise: Carnival Cruise Lines' 72-hour Summer Sale is going on now, which offers a free stateroom upgrade plus up to $240 on board credit with select bookings. Oh yeah, 3-4 day Baja Mexico cruises start at $209 a person.

Piggy-backing on Tuesday's post, Southwest has started selling its Boston (Logan) flights, which take off in August. The airline will fly Boston to Baltimore/Washington and Chicago (Midway).

Between May 1 and July 31, 2009, the Starwood Preferred Guests' Free Weekends promotion lets any new or existing SPG member earn one Free Weekend Night Award after every two stays. Redeem awards any Friday, Saturday or Sunday through the end of September with no blackouts.

JetBlue is now offering frequent flyer miles for you and your pets. Thanks to Jaunted for the heads up.

Obamas, Clinton living large in Trinidad

2009-04-15T08:50:00.010-04:00

While the U.S. government grills corporate executives for spending on things like retreats in Las Vegas and other high-profile destinations, President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are on their way to the crystal clear waters of Trinidad in the Caribbean.

The fifth Summit of the Americas gets underway in Port-of-Spain this week, which will bring leaders from North and South America together to discuss topics ranging from the global economy to social prosperity. And the digs couldn't be nicer.

Accommodations for the [Obamas] have not been officially confirmed, but speculation has them either at the private residence of Prime Minister Patrick Manning or in a large suite at the 380-room Hilton. Clinton will be staying at the 428-room Hyatt Regency Trinidad, the headquarters hotel for the summit.

While I'm sure the summit is all for a good cause, how much work could you get done looking out on this each day?

Note: The Hilton Trinidad is currently closed to the public, as it is hosting only summit attendees while undergoing a complete facelift.