Sunday, 30 November 2014

10 Reasons You Should Go To Hawaii This Holiday Season

It's happening. Decorations are going up, temperatures are dropping, and your local grocery store is selling those cheap colored ornaments.

The winter holidays are quickly closing in on us, and word on the street is, this year, it's going to be a cold one. Brrrr.

'Tis the season to cash in your vacation days and book that beach getaway. Can't decide where to go? Aerial photographer Cameron Brooks has ten really good reasons why Hawaii should top your list.

Because winter is inevitable, but a little salt water and sunshine make it so much more enjoyable:

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See you on the beach!

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/28/hawaii-holiday-aerial-photos_n_6175678.html?utm_hp_ref=travel&ir=Travel and provided by entertainment-movie-news.com

Midway Airport Security Line Reportedly Over 1 Mile Long

Holiday travelers faced a literal nightmare on Sunday morning when the line for security checks at Midway Airport in Chicago was reportedly over a mile long.

KOMO reporter Denise Whitaker said that the line was 1.2 miles long. An airport spokespersonsaid that she wasn't surprised by the crowds.

“This happens sometimes,” Chicago Aviation Department rep. Karen Pride told the Chicago Sun-Times. “There was a period of time earlier this morning, between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m., that lines were long because that is when most people are traveling for the holiday period.”

Twitter users posted pictures of the hellish scene. The end of the line was literally outside of the airport.

















Twitter user TumbleDry said that it took 75 minutes to get through the line. According to ABC7 Chicago, the airport cleared up by 9 A.M.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/30/midway-airport-line-security-1-mile_n_6244282.html?utm_hp_ref=travel&ir=Travel and provided by entertainment-movie-news.com

Civita Di Bagnoregio, The Magical Little Italian Town That's Slowly Eroding Away

Almost two hours from Rome, Civita di Bagnoregio -- Italy's "Jewel on the Hill" -- rises up from the surrounding hills, a majestic sight on the skyline.

Though the view is sublime, there's one problem rocking this isolated, ancient town to its core -- bits of Civita are slowly eroding away, and have been for years.

civita di bagnoregio

The main culprits of the erosion are continuous rains and the streams that line both sides of the approximately 2,500-year-old town.

Civita was built by the Etruscans, and their architecture is still prominent throughout the city, as evidenced by a massive stone arch that welcomes locals and visitors alike.

civita di bagnoregio

civita di bagnoregio

The arch comes after the often foggy, quarter-mile-long footbridge you must walk up to reach the town, as there are no cars allowed here.

civita di bagnoregio

Even though it's quite the hike to get to Civita, tourists love the town's enchanting ancient history, narrow roads and medieval ruins that litter the little hilltop town.

Tourists make up most of the people in the town during the day, as there is only a small population of full-time residents in town.

Those who have visited said that "pictures can't describe this beautiful place" and that the overall experience is "surreal, magical and beautiful."

civita di bagnoregio

civita di bagnoregio

civita di bagnoregio

So on your next Italian escape, make sure to say ciao to Civita di Bagnoregio!

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/19/civita-di-dagnoregio_n_6186802.html?utm_hp_ref=travel&ir=Travel and provided by entertainment-movie-news.com

Saturday, 29 November 2014

Alleged Oinking Menace Gives Flying Pigs

WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. (AP) -- This was a pig that truly could not fly.

The pig was ordered off a U.S. Airways plane at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut on Wednesday after crewmembers determined the animal had become disruptive, said Laura Masvidal, a spokeswoman for U.S. Airways parent American Airlines said Friday. The pig had been brought aboard the flight by a passenger as an emotional support animal, Masvidal said. She said both the pig and its owner left the aircraft before it took off. She had no other details and did not immediately know where the flight was headed.

Jonathan Skolnik, a University of Massachusetts professor who was on the flight, told ABC News that he initially thought the female passenger was carrying a duffel bag.

"But it turns out it wasn't a duffel bag. We could smell it and it was a pig on a leash," he said.

The woman sat in an empty seat next to him and tethered the pig -- which he estimated weighed 50-70 pounds -- to the arm rest, but the animal began walking back and forth, Skolnik said.

Emotional support animals are allowed on commercial flights under U.S. Department of Transportation rules as long as they are not disruptive, Masdival said.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/29/flying-pigs-us-airways_n_6240668.html?utm_hp_ref=travel&ir=Travel and provided by entertainment-movie-news.com

Pope Francis Prays In Turkey's Blue Mosque In Interfaith Outreach (PHOTOS)

ISTANBUL (AP) - His head bowed and hands clasped in front of him, Pope Francis stood Saturday for two minutes of silent prayer facing east inside one of Istanbul's most important mosques, as he shifted gears toward more religious affairs on the second leg of his three-day visit to mainly Muslim Turkey.

Following in the footsteps of Pope Benedict XVI who visited Turkey in 2006, Francis prayed alongside the Grand Mufti of Istanbul, Rahmi Yaran, who had his palms turned toward the sky in a Muslim prayer, inside the 17th-century Sultan Ahmet mosque.

"May God accept it," Yaran told the pope at the conclusion of a poignant moment of Christian-Muslim understanding.

The Vatican spokesman, Rev. Federico Lombardi called it a moment of "silent adoration." Lombardi, who was standing behind the pope, said Francis told the mufti two times that we must "adore" God and not just praise and glorify him.

It was a remarkably different atmosphere from Fran cis' first day in Turkey, when the simple and frugal pope was visibly uncomfortable with the pomp and protocol required of him for the state visit part of his trip. With President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's mega-palace, honor guard and horseback escort now behind him, Francis got down to the business of being pope, showing respect to Muslim leaders, greeting Istanbul's tiny Catholic community and later meeting with the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians.

Francis nodded, smiled and looked up in awe as Yaran gave him a tour of the Blue Mosque, famed for its elaborate blue tiles and cascading domes. Francis listened intently through an interpreter as Yaran explained verses of the Muslim holy book.

Presenting the pope with a blue, tulip-designed tile, Yaran said he prayed to God that his visit would "contribute to the world getting along well and living in peace."

"We are in need of prayers. The world really needs prayers," Yaran said.

Benedict had visited Turkey amid heightened Christian-Muslim tensions and prayed at the mosque in a gesture of respect for Islam that was appreciated by many Turks. The Vatican added the stop at the Blue Mosque at the last minute to show Benedict's respect for Muslims.

The Vatican also acted to avoid offense to its Muslim hosts by moving up Francis' visit to the mosque so it wouldn't coincide with noon prayers.

After he left, Francis walked a short distance - greeting crowds for the first time in his visit - to tour the nearby Haghia Sofia, which was the main Byzantine church in Constantinople - present-day Istanbul - before being turned into a mosque following the Muslim conquest of the city in 1453. The Haghia Sophia is now a museum, although some Islamic groups want it to be converted back into a mosque.

Pope Paul VI, who made the first-ever papal visit to Turkey in 1967, fell to his knees in prayer inside Haghia Sophia, triggering protests by Turks who claimed Paul had violated the secular nature of the domed complex. Francis avoided any religious actions inside.

Halfway through his tour, the Muslim call for prayer echoed off the Haghia Sophia's marble walls, an evocative moment that symbolized the crossroads of East and West that Istanbul represents.

Museum director Hayrullah Cengiz pointed to a niche with a Byzantine fresco of the Virgin Mary holding an infant Jesus, saying it was his favorite corner because the area also features Arabic writings of the names of the Prophet Mohammed and Allah.

"They are all together," Cengiz said.

A few dozen well-wishers outside Haghia Sophia waved a combination of the Turkish and the flag of the Holy See. One carried a banner that read: "You are Peter."

Francis nearly tripped over while walking the carpet from his plane to a VIP terminal at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport. The governor of Istanbul and Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians , helped the pontiff as he tottered.

Later on Saturday, Francis will meet with Bartholomew - the real reason for his visit to Turkey.

The two major branches of Christianity represented by Bartholomew and Francis split in 1054 over differences on the power of the papacy. The two spiritual heads will participate in an ecumenical liturgy and sign a joint declaration in the ongoing attempt to reunite the churches.



Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/29/pope-francis-blue-mosque-_n_6240352.html?utm_hp_ref=travel&ir=Travel and provided by entertainment-movie-news.com

Rabbit Beach May Just Be The Best Beach In The World

You wouldn't be the first person to think this is the best beach in the world. Isola dei Conigli, or "Rabbit Island," is an island waaay out in the Mediterranean Sea. In 2013, its main beach was rated the best in the world by TripAdvisor, whose travelers adore it for its "crystal clear" water, "soft sand" and "aquamarine colors."

You'll find tiny Rabbit Island next to Lampedusa, an almost-as-tiny Italian island far from the Sicilian coast. With mainland Italy a whopping 105 miles away, this place is truly remote -- and truly gorgeous.

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Rabbit Island is, ironically, not home to an overwhelming rabbit population -- instead, you'll find plenty of loggerhead turtles and other wildlife roaming the rocky grottos.

Temperatures are currently hovering around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, but that doesn't stop us from plotting a trip to Rabbit Island. We imagine trekking down to the sandy beach, going for a snorkel or dive, and soaking in that warm Mediterranean sun.

And when you're tired of perfection, the rest of Lampedusa doesn't look too bad, either. You'll find remains of prehistoric huts, Roman ruins, an underwater sculpture installation, and of course that bluer-than-blue wet stuff...

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Cala Pulcino

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Sign us up for the next ferry or flight! See you soon, Lampedusa!

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/19/rabbit-beach-italy_n_6185160.html?utm_hp_ref=travel&ir=Travel and provided by entertainment-movie-news.com

Friday, 28 November 2014

Charles Blackwell Dies On Flight From Atlanta To Seattle

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — An Alabama man died on a commercial flight from Atlanta to Seattle and the airplane was diverted to Billings Logan International Airport.

Yellowstone County Coroner Cliff Mahoney tells The Billings Gazette (http://bit.ly/1z2jiEI ) that the passenger was 70-year-old Charles Blackwell of Atmore, Alabama. Blackwell suffered a heart attack on a Delta flight on Wednesday. The airplane was diverted to Billings at about 3 p.m. and paramedics took Blackwell's body off the plane.

Mike Glancy with airport operations in Billings said a medical doctor on the flight had been tending to the man. The flight departed for Seattle two-and-a-half hours after arriving in Billings.

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Information from: The Billings Gazette, http://www.billingsgazette.com

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/28/charles-blackwell-plane_n_6238278.html?utm_hp_ref=travel&ir=Travel and provided by entertainment-movie-news.com

Flight Attendant Serenades Passengers With 'Royals,' Wins Praise From Lorde Herself

In-flight entertainment? Flight attendant Robynn Shayne’s got you covered.

Shayne, who reportedly works for American Airlines, recently wowed passengers during a flight when she began performing a stellar rendition of Lorde's hit song, “Royals.”

“On a lovely winter day I came across my coworker Robynn who I noticed was carrying a guitar with her on our trip,” said YouTuber Nick Stracener, who uploaded this clip online Sunday. “I then asked her if she played and she said she loves to play and sing. Then this happened.”

Stracener’s video has since racked up more 60,000 views, winning praise from all corners of the Internet -- and even from Lorde herself.

“Robynn, I love you,” the 18-year-old singer wrote on Twitter Thursday.

“Love ya back!” a thrilled Shayne responded.

According to her website, Shayne -- who lives in Austin, Texas -- is a musician. She released a self-titled EP in 2012.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/28/fight-attendant-royals-lorde-robynn-shayne_n_6238062.html?utm_hp_ref=travel&ir=Travel and provided by entertainment-movie-news.com

The Quadrofoil Hopes To Be The Boat Of The Future

If Teslas are the cars of the future, the Quadrofoil hopes to be the boat of the future.

The electric personal watercraft looks like something James Bond would drive over Lake Como in a high-speed chase. Sleek and futuristic looking, the watercraft uses hydrofoil technology to “fly” above the surface of the water, making it virtually emission-free.

Hydrofoil technology is not new, but according to Quadrofoil's president and CEO, Marjan Rožman, "What is new on Quadrofoil are electric drive and patented steering technology that enable stability and agility at the same time."

As the boat reaches a speed of 6 knots (about 7 mph), its hydrofoil wings create lift and raise the boat out of the water, which, Rožman told The Huffington Post, enables it to be driven through most environmentally protected sanctuaries. Its nearly silent, all-electric motor also means there's no oil or exhaust to muck up the marine ecosystem. The design's hollow hull and composite, lightweight construction also makes the vessel "almost unsinkable," as the website puts it.

Rožman boasts that the state-of-the art, touchscreen steering wheel is the only control mechanism on board. It displays how much battery power is left, as well as the boat’s speed and range. The Quadrofoil can travel more than 60 miles on a single charge, according to designers.

The smooth ride, however, comes at a cost. The boat comes with a $18,700 price tag, has virtually no onboard storage, and reaches a top speed of only 21 knots (about 24 mph). Rožman recognizes the challenges, but told HuffPost his goal is for "Quadrofoil to become a synonym for electrical personal watercrafts," with future models offering more.

Quadrofoils are due to ship out in March next year, and available for pre-ordering on Quadrofoil’s website.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/28/quadrofoil-boat-personal-watercraft_n_6111188.html?utm_hp_ref=travel&ir=Travel and provided by entertainment-movie-news.com

Big Cat Tracker Boone Smith On Why We 'Have A Responsibility' To Protect Lions

It's no secret that big cats are in trouble.

Four of the five feline species that fall under that umbrella are endangered or near threatened: snow leopards, jaguars, leopards and tigers. Lions, whose populations once numbered close to 200,000, have lost most of their historical range to farms and could face extinction by 2050. They face a slew of threats, from habitat loss and poaching, to retribution killings and the illegal pet trade.

For Boone Smith, a fourth-generation big cat tracker who cut his teeth trapping mountain lions in Idaho and star of Nat Geo WILD's upcoming show "Man v. Lion," the fight to save these species is an "uphill battle" that we still have time to win. The Huffington Post spent time with Smith at a private game reserve in South Africa earlier this month to learn about the threats lions and other cats face as urban sprawl threatens to overtake all of the land once ruled by the king of the jungle.

This interview has been edited for clarity and content.

You grew up collaring mountain lions, why are they doing so well compared to other cats?

Cats in general have a lot of similarities, generalities that you can say “ok, all cats do this, do that.” The difference that I see is that the success for something like mountain lions versus African lions is maybe a little bit of the ability to adapt. African lions have lost a lot of habitat... and when you’re a big animal like that and you need a big space and you don’t have that, conflict with humans is a little different. Whereas mountain lions, we talk about mountain lions a little different as living in deserts, jungles, the rockies and now we talk about urban mountain lions and their ability to adapt and live in California.

Lions are a little bit too big to go under the radar… and there’s that confidence, almost an arrogance of “I’m this big and bad and I’m going to do what I want.” Mountain lions aren’t like that, they’re secretive and shy and they’re elusive, so some of it’s personality, and differences in management, and that’s what makes it all great is that it's unique everywhere you go, and the animals are unique.

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What kind of response do you have when you're tracking? Fear? Respect?

People always say “are you afraid,” and I say I’m always a little afraid, but I do a good job of keeping my head about me and processing things, but you have to show these animals a lot of respect. You think what the lifecycle of a big cat is, if you don’t kill, you don’t eat, and you die. So we’re talking about the best of the best in mother nature, and this has been honed, evolutionarily over millions of years, they’re really good at what they do, and you need to have a healthy respect for that.

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Do you think most people have that sense of respect?

I guess it’s like anything, it’s what you’re used to, it’s time and experience and feeling comfortable.

So many times I hear people say “if we just leave them alone, we came into their world.” And I agree with that wholeheartedly, we did, we’ve encroached. The idea that we just leave it alone and it’ll fix itself, we have to take into account our effect, our footprint’s everywhere, we have such an impact whether we want to or not. And we don’t acknowledge that we are not collecting the best information. Acknowledging our screw ups, but our successes, we can do a lot for a lot of species, and I think we have a responsibility. Whether they were here first or not, we have a responsibility to make sure that there’s wild places, that there’s wild things there and that they can function in a natural environment. We're kind of guardians in that way a little bit and if we don't take that responsibility serious we’ve got great examples of how that’s caused big problems and impacts on ecosystems, and when you lose it, you don’t get it back.

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What needs to be done to stop the downward trend?

Everybody wants a magic bullet, a fix-it-all, one thing that if we do this it will solve the problem, and it doesn’t exist. I think we really need to look at big picture things, education is so important, and that doesn’t fix problems, but when people are educated about it they are more likely to make compromises.

Why should we all work towards saving big cats?

Big cats are important because with them comes big wild places. Being able to go into the wild and be somewhere where you are not the top of the food chain, I think it really, it makes you alive. When I go to the wild places it’s a spiritual thing, it renews you it fires you up. I’m not saying we go there and get scared and be afraid that everything’s going to eat us and we’re going to die, but certainly I think it does something for us spiritually.

I think that’s good for us, because we lose touch of that. I love not being at the top of the food chain. It keeps you alive. You have to focus differently, you’re not glued to that phone, you’re looking up, you’re smelling these different things. I think it lets us reconnect with nature.

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Nat Geo WILD's fifth-annual Big Cat Week starts Friday, Nov. 28 and runs through Dec. 3. Tune in Friday to watch Boone Smith in "Man v. Lion" at 9 p.m. EST and again on Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 10 p.m.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/28/big-cats-boone-smith_n_6236412.html?utm_hp_ref=travel&ir=Travel and provided by entertainment-movie-news.com

Binge Watch Your Home Decorating Angst Away With These Thanksgiving TV Marathons

'Tis the season to eat loads of turkey, curl up on the couch and stay there for at least a few hours, and we want to help you in your quest to be as comfortable and entertained as possible. Check out the best home shows for binge-watching your way through the weekend.

FRIDAY

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. on HSN

Top Picks For Home Gifts

Black Friday straight from your couch? Yes, please!

10:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. on HGTV

"Caribbean Life"

Just because you don't live on island time doesn't mean you can't enjoy watching a house-hunting family that does.

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. on HGTV

"Hawaii Life"

HGTV really wants to transport you to a locale that is likely much warmer than your own.

4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. on HGTV

"Beachfront Bargain Hunt"

Four hours of affordable beach house hunting? Sign us up.

8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. on HGTV

“Love It or List It”

Sounds like the perfect evening activity to us.



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8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. on HGTV

"House Crashers"

Licensed contractor Josh Temple takes "ambush renovation" indoors. You will enjoy every minute of these transformations.

8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. on DIY Network

"Renovation Realities"

This is not your simple before-and-after renovation show. Be prepared for some major drama.

10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. on HGTV

"Fixer Upper"

hgtv shows

Right location but wrong house is no problem for this duo that will transform that less-than-desirable abode into the house of your dreams.



12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. on DIY Network

“The Shatner Project”

shatner hgtv

Who wouldn't want to watch three hours of TV icon William Shatner managing the project that is remodeling his home?

3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. on DIY Network

"Raising House"

Watch every step of a dream house get built while you comfortably sit on your couch with a mug of tea.

3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. on HGTV

“House Hunters: Where Are They Now?”

You watched them pick their perfect house, now see how they've turned it into a home.

8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. on DIY Network

"Renovation Realities"

We all know before-and-afters are never as easy as they look on TV. Finally, a show that captures all the drama.

8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. on HGTV

"Property Brothers"

hgtv shows

Consider this the mini marathon to get you ready for the main event.

SUNDAY



8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. on HGTV

"Flea Market Flip"

Great things happen when contestants are tasked with flipping inexpensive items found at a flea market into covetable items with much higher price tags.

8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. on DIY Network

"House Crashers"

You might have already watched a few episodes on Saturday morning but why not spend a few more hours watching incredible ambush renovations?



10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. on DIY Network

"Million Dollar Contractor"

Manhattan's most high-end luxury properties come with crazy price tags for a reason.

12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. on HGTV

"Property Brothers at Home"

Were you just scanning the list looking for this particular marathon? We can't blame you. Seven blissful hours await.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/28/home-decorating-thanksgiving-tv-marathons_n_6219792.html?utm_hp_ref=travel&ir=Travel and provided by entertainment-movie-news.com

Malaysia Airlines Apologizes For Insensitive Tweet, Reports Losses

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia Airlines on Friday said its loss widened last quarter and apologized for a promotional tweet slammed as insensitive after two deadly passenger jet disasters this year.

In its last public financial result before a planned privatization and overhaul, the flag carrier said its net loss in the July-September quarter rose 53 percent from a year earlier to 576.1 million ringgit ($170.3 million). The airline's business has suffered after a Malaysia Airlines jet with 239 people on board, mostly from China, went missing March 8 while en route to Beijing. No trace of it has been found. In July, a Malaysia Airlines jet was shot down over Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board.

As the airline's overhaul gathers pace, it said Friday it will continue to focus on building revenue through aggressive marketing and promotions, and better capacity management.

However, its marketing strategy came under fire after the airline tweeted Thursday, "Want to go somewhere, but don't know where?" It removed the tweet Friday, saying it was meant to inspire travelers but "unintentionally caused offence to some."

It was not the first faux pas for the airline since the disasters. In September, it scrapped the title of a competition asking people what activities and destinations are on their "bucket list." A bucket list is a term used by some English-speakers to describe a list of adventures they want to have before they die.

The airline said its quarterly revenue fell 12 percent from a year earlier to 3.33 billion ringgit ($976 million) amid poor market sentiment due to the double whammy of the disasters and intensified competition.

Declining fuel prices have helped stem losses but the airline said it continues to struggle as business in some markets, especially China, remains challenging.

The airline will be delisted and taken completely under the wing of the government by the end of the year under a $1.8 billion overhaul by majority shareholder, state investment arm Khazanah Nasional.

Under the revamp, Malaysia Airlines will cut 6,000 workers, which is 30 percent of its current workforce of 20,000.

Khazanah aims to restore Malaysia Airlines to profitability by the end of 2017 and then relist its shares on the stock exchange by the end of 2019.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/28/malaysia-airlines-apology_n_6236110.html?utm_hp_ref=travel&ir=Travel and provided by entertainment-movie-news.com

10 Reasons You Should Go To Hawaii This Holiday Season

It's happening. Decorations are going up, temperatures are dropping, and your local grocery store is selling those cheap colored ornaments.

The winter holidays are quickly closing in on us, and word on the street is, this year, it's going to be a cold one. Brrrr.

'Tis the season to cash in your vacation days and book that beach getaway. Can't decide where to go? Aerial photographer Cameron Brooks has ten really good reasons why Hawaii should top your list.

Because winter is inevitable, but a little salt water and sunshine make it so much more enjoyable:

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See you on the beach!

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/17/hawaii-holiday-aerial-photos_n_6175678.html?utm_hp_ref=travel&ir=Travel and provided by entertainment-movie-news.com

Thursday, 27 November 2014

Harvard Extension Student Allegedly Fell Naked Through Bathroom Ceiling, Bit Man's Ear Off

A 26-year-old Harvard Extension School student is being held without bail after he allegedly fell naked through the ceiling of a women's bathroom in Boston's Logan Airport and then bit an 84-year-old man's ear off, according to CBS News.

The Associated Press has more on the story:

B
OSTON (AP) — A Boston man who police say fell naked through the ceiling of a women's bathroom at Boston's airport and then assaulted an elderly man has been ordered held without bail pending a hearing next week.

Cameron Shenk was arraigned Wednesday on charges that include attempted murder, assault and battery on a person over 60, and lewd and lascivious conduct.

Police say the 26-year-old Shenk fell through the ceiling at about noon Saturday. He had allegedly sneaked into the bathroom, undressed inside a stall and climbed into the ceiling crawl space. Police say he then fled the bathroom and assaulted an 84-year-old man.

Shenk's lawyer said he is a student studying economics at Harvard Extension School and has no history of mental illness.

A hearing to determine whether he is dangerous to the public is scheduled Monday.


Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/27/student-fell-through-bathroom-naked_n_6232510.html?utm_hp_ref=travel&ir=Travel and provided by entertainment-movie-news.com

Target 10 Releases 'Home For The Holigays' Infographic Detailing Queer Holiday Travel Experience

What are experiences like for gays and lesbians who travel home for the holidays to visit their families in 2014?

In pursuit of the answer, Target 10, a gay marketing agency for top-tier consumer brands, products and services, asked 150 gays and lesbians about their holiday travel experiences. Through these responses the company developed an infographic titled "Home for the Holigays" that provides a survey of what these trips are like for queers who visit their families during November and December.

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The findings are intriguing. According to Target 10, 90 percent of gays and lesbians visiting their families sleep in the same bedroom, even outside of the more liberal eastern and western coastal regions. Additionally, "the majority of couples showed mostly unchanged levels of affection in front of family, whereas only about half of single respondents are even out to their entire family."

Curious to learn more? Check out the infographic above.

Happy Holigays!

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/27/target-10-queer-holidays_n_6221438.html?utm_hp_ref=travel&ir=Travel and provided by entertainment-movie-news.com

How Thanksgiving Tables And Traditions Got That Way

When it comes to setting our Thanksgiving table, most of us know very little about the history of the elements that decorate our tables. We spoke to Jim Baker, the author of "Thanksgiving: The Biography of an American Holiday," Richard Pickering, the Plimoth Plantation's deputy director and Amy Traverso, the senior lifestyle editor of Yankee Magazine for a mini-crash course in how our tables got this way -- and some myths about the first Thanksgiving.

The First Celebrations Were Held At Multiple Tables.

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The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth, oil on canvas by Jennie Augusta Brownscombe (1914).

Credit: Wikicommons

"If you Google pilgrim paintings... there are these gorgeous 1930s paintings of Pilgrims sitting at a very long table and these beautiful Pilgrim women walking along the table with steaming turkeys, and there are a couple Native people sitting on the ground at the end of the table," says Pickering. "Actually, you’ve got 48 people surviving the first winter in Plymouth, and at a minimum there are 95 Native men accompanying [them.]" Pickering says that at that feast, since there were so many more Native Americans there than we have imagined, they would most likely be dining in small groups, rather than one large table.

The Cornucopia Is Older Than You Think.

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Those horns filled with fruits and vegetables you see on many Thanksgiving tables are actually a symbol from Greek mythology, displaying a magical goat's horn, which could be filled with whatever the owner wished. The word cornucopia originated from cornu copiae, meaning "horn of plenty" in Latin, and its first known use was in 1508.

Baker estimates that the cornucopia first appeared in glass, pottery and silver in the late 19th century, while basket versions arrived in the 20th century.

Corn Might Mean More Than The Turkey, Symbolically-Speaking.

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Traverso says that corn saved the lives of the first settlers during their first harsh year in the country. Since many of their other crops essentially failed (including bean crops), corn became a saving grace, mostly because they were taught how to properly grow it. "The symbol of the corn is so significant because the corn is what saved the pilgrims from starvation," says Traverso. "They really didn’t know how to farm in this climate. It was Indian corn, as they called it, which was taught to them by the Native Americans living at the time... that kept them alive."

Even At The First Thanksgiving, Sports Were Entertainment.

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"In the one eyewitness description that we have of this event, there is just as much emphasis on the sports and just as much emphasis on the military practices as the dining," Pickering says. "It was an opportunity for the English men -- now that their agricultural labors were put aside -- to be able to muster and practice, because they were also soldiers now. There's no one else to defend them but themselves." Pickering says games such as running races and pitching the bar were played during the first celebration.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/25/thanksgiving-traditions-history_n_6222984.html?utm_hp_ref=travel&ir=Travel and provided by entertainment-movie-news.com

Wednesday, 26 November 2014

94-Year-Old Stopped At NYC Airport WIth Gun: TSA

NEW YORK (PIX11) - TSA officers stopped a Brooklyn man at LaGuardia Wednesday after he allegedly tried to walk through security with a gun.



Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/26/gun-confiscated-laguardia_n_6228292.html?utm_hp_ref=travel&ir=Travel and provided by entertainment-movie-news.com

Thanksgiving Travel Along Northeast Slowed By Snow And Rain

MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) -- A sloppy mix of rain and snow rolled into the Northeast on Wednesday just as millions of Americans began the big Thanksgiving getaway, grounding hundreds of flights and turning highways hazardous along the congested Washington-to-Boston corridor.

By early afternoon, more than 600 flights had been canceled, the bulk of them in the Northeast, during what is typically one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Thousands of flight delays were also expected as the snow from the nor'easter piled up.

Some travelers tried to change their plans and catch earlier flights to beat the storm, and major airlines waived their re-booking fees. But most planes were already filled.

Numerous auto accidents were reported across the Northeast, where by midafternoon the line between rain and snow ran roughly along Interstate 95, the chief route between Washington and Boston.

Schools and businesses also closed in some areas, and state government offices let workers go home early.

Pat Green and her husband drove from Saugerties, New York, to the Albany airport for the first leg of their trip to San Francisco. She said the drive on the New York State Thruway was "a little hairy," but they made it, and their flight was on schedule so far.

"It was snowing so hard you couldn't see the car ahead of you," she said. "We slowed down so we were fine. We also give ourselves a lot of extra time."

Major Northeast cities were likely to see moderate to heavy rain most of the day, though New York could see 1 to 4 inches of snow, and its northern suburbs 6 to 8 inches, the National Weather Service said. Higher elevations west of the I-95 corridor could see as much as 6 to 12 inches.

New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo activated the state's Emergency Operations Center and had 1,800 plow operators standing by to clear snow between New York City and Albany.

Dan Albert hoped to beat the snow as he, his wife and 15-year-old daughter refueled their SUV Wednesday morning along I-81 in Hagerstown, Maryland, about halfway between their Greensboro, North Carolina, home and their Thanksgiving destination in Mahwah, New Jersey.

"Traffic was fine last night, no problems at all, but today's going to be a real booger," Albert said. But he added: "Got to see the folks. We only get to see them once a year. Got to muscle through it, right?"

At a rest stop on the New Jersey Turnpike, tired families grabbed large cups of coffee and breakfasts of pizza and fried chicken before heading back to the slushy road.

Abdullah Masud, a lawyer who lives in Kuwait, was heading from Boston to Washington with a cousin.

"We were originally planning on leaving Wednesday morning, but when we heard about the snowstorm we changed our mind and left Tuesday night. But I don't think it made that much of a difference," he said, noting the heavy traffic.

By early afternoon, airlines had canceled more than 10 percent of their flights at Philadelphia, Newark Liberty and LaGuardia airports.

The wintry weather was not confined to the Northeast. An Alberta clipper left many highways in North and South Dakota slick, and a winter storm warning was issued for parts of Minnesota.

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is often called the nation's busiest travel day of the year, but that's probably not true. A U.S. Transportation Department study based on 2001 figures found that when car trips are taken into account, Thanksgiving Day itself is a heavier travel day.

An estimated 41.3 million travelers are expected to hit the nation's highways between Wednesday and Sunday, a 4.3 percent increase over last year, said Robert Sinclair Jr. of AAA New York.

As for air travel, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving didn't even rank among the Top 10 busiest days of 2013, the Transportation Security Administration found.

The top airline travel day last year was the Sunday after Thanksgiving, with 2.2 million passengers. The Friday before Memorial Day was second at 2.1 million.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie also declared a state of emergency on Wednesday afternoon. "I've authorized state officials to take all necessary action to prepare, and my administration will continue monitoring conditions throughout the remainder of the storm," he said according to NJ.com.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/26/thanksgiving-travel-northeast-snow_n_6227808.html?utm_hp_ref=travel&ir=Travel and provided by entertainment-movie-news.com

Airline Brings Passengers To Tears With Surprise Letters From Loved Ones Before Takeoff

Air travel these days is largely an impersonal affair.

Nothing says "you're valued" quite like frequent flier numbers, boarding groups and hundreds of identical packs of peanuts.

In a bid to change that, KLM and Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport launched a campaign called "Cover Greetings," which capitalized on the heartfelt farewells exchanged by passengers and their friends and family to make the boarding process a bit more human.

Unbeknownst to passengers, friends and family were invited to write a note to their loved ones after they parted ways at the security line, which KLM employees then whisked to the flight ahead of time and posted to each person's assigned seat, just in time for the passengers to read as they boarded the plane.

If you've ever wanted to see people brought to tears by their seat covers, you'll love this.

Judging from the surprisingly emotional video they posted from the campaign on YouTube, it was a huge success.

WATCH the video, above.

H/T Today.com

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/26/klm-cover-greetings-campaign-video_n_6221380.html?utm_hp_ref=travel&ir=Travel and provided by entertainment-movie-news.com

'I Hate Thailand' Video Produced By Thai Tourism Authority

BANGKOK (AP) — It's been a bad year for tourism in Thailand, and at first glance it looked like a new YouTube video was adding to the misery.



The video called "I Hate Thailand" drew more than 1 million views within days of being posted last week.



But it turned out the clip was produced by Thailand's tourism authority, using a counterintuitive strategy to attract tourists after the country's image was battered by a military coup in May and the brutal murders of two British tourists on an idyllic beach in September.



The 5-minute video shows an angry British tourist on a beach. He introduces himself as James and says his bag was stolen: "I hate this place. I hate Thailand," he tells a handheld camera. After mouthing off to a policeman, he meets an attractive Thai woman and finds reasons to like Thailand. In the end, the unshaven, bare-chested foreigner cleans up, puts on clothes, befriends the locals and gets his bag back — wallet, passport and all.



Several Thai newspapers reported the video as a real news item last week, prompting the Tourism Authority of Thailand to issue a press release Monday saying it was behind what it called the "romantic-comedy short film."



"There's been much hype and speculation following the release of the I Hate Thailand video," TAT Governor Thawatchai Arunyik is quoted as saying. "The intention of this video is solely to depict the renowned Thai hospitality."



The tourism authority said it was inspired by research showing that "unbranded" advertisements tend to receive more interest than conventional commercials.



The video, which bears no indication of being funded by the Thai government, was posted on a YouTube account that also gave no clue of ties to officialdom.



The strategy is part of a massive campaign to restore Thailand's battered image overseas and revive tourism, which accounts for about 7 percent of the economy.



The tourism authority has forecast that tourist arrivals for 2014 will drop for the first time in years, after a record year in 2013 when 26.7 million visitors came to Thailand.



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Online: Tourism Authority of Thailand's 'I Hate Thailand' video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54uzEouACYs



Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/26/i-hate-thailand-tourism_n_6223776.html?utm_hp_ref=travel&ir=Travel and provided by entertainment-movie-news.com

You'll Go Cuckoo For This Gigantic Clock Carved Out Of A Single Tree

A remarkable cuckoo clock forged from a single maple tree is being used to crow about Portland, Oregon.

Designed by Nicolas Gros and carved by chainsaw sculptor J. Chester Armstrong, the 24-foot-high, 7,000-pound clock is being shown off around the Northwest to reinforce Travel Portland's "Portland Is Happening Now" tourism campaign.

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The piece is reportedly the tallest freestanding cuckoo clock in the country. Design flourishes represent Portland icons such as Voodoo Doughnut, the Portlandia statue and Stumptown coffee, notes local outlet KGW.

Travel Portland's Megan Conway told The Huffington Post that ad agency Weiden + Kennedy came up with the idea for a clock in the summer. "We agreed that playing on the element of time and the fact that there is something going on in Portland every second, minute and hour of every day was a nice evolution of the Portland is Happening Now ... campaign from last year," she said.

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A chiseled rooster emerges every hour.


The promotional barnstorming will not be the end of the road for the clock; it will eventually have a permanent home in Portland, Conway added.

Good to know that time isn't running out for this gorgeous work.

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H/T AdWeek

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/26/cuckoo-clock-portland_n_6220940.html?utm_hp_ref=travel&ir=Travel and provided by entertainment-movie-news.com