Explorers Find 22 Ancient Shipwrecks In Greek Archipelago

Explorers working off the coast of Greece found more than 20 ancient shipwrecks in September, an astonishing discovery that sheds new light on the role of the area in ancient times. 

The expedition in the Aegean Sea was spearheaded by the Greek Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities (EUA) and the U.S.-based non-profit RPM Nautical Foundation. Team members searching the Fourni archipelago found 22 shipwrecks, most of them dating back to the Archaic Period (700-480 B.C.) through the 16th century.

Local residents played a crucial role in the success of the exploration. Fisherman found pieces of ancient artifacts in their fishing nets, and local sponge divers and free divers also participated in the expedition.

Among the wreckage, explorers found several kinds of amphoras -- a type of ancient container. Some originated in the Black Sea region and others in the Middle East. It is the first time that some of these amphoras have been discovered in the Mediterranean.

Experts say the discoveries are of great importance, since they prove that the Fourni archipelago, which is located along an ancient trade corridor between Greece, Egypt and Cyprus, was a maritime commercial hub during ancient times. 

The expedition along the Greek coastline will continue, and more shipwrecks are expected to turn up. Archeologists estimate that there may be up to 40 shipwrecks in the area. 

The expedition was funded by the Honor Frost Foundation, a U.K. charity supporting research in the Mediterranean. 

Take a look at more photos from the incredible find: 

This story originally appeared on HuffPost Greece. It has been translated into English and edited for clarity.

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7 Black Passengers Kicked Off Flight Claim Racial Discrimination

A Spirit Airlines crew kicked seven black passengers off a flight from Los Angeles to Dallas-Fort Worth Monday, and the passengers blame discrimination by white flight attendants.

Police initially escorted one couple off Flight 868 just after 7 p.m., accusing a man of being disruptive when he refused to give up his seat, according to the New York Daily News. But five more passengers -- all black -- were removed from the aircraft after they questioned police and the Spirit Airlines crew.

Nobody was charged with a crime, but police said the airline was within its rights to kick off passengers.

“It’s a business dispute,” LAX police spokesman Rob Pedregon told the Daily News. “It’s up to (Spirit) to define what is disruptive.”

Witnesses say the confusion began when a passenger's seat got double-booked. An argument ensued between that passenger and a white flight attendant, who told him he was a threat and needed to leave. He refused, and police boarded to take him and the woman he was with off the plane, according to ABC-7.

When five other passengers got involved, they were kicked off, too. Passenger Alexandra Wright was among them, and said racial discrimination played a role.

“It was more than just us having a conversation,” she told KCAL. “Why is it that, what, six black people get kicked off the plane?"

Other witnesses cried foul on Twitter.

cops kicking them off the plane for being black @SpiritAirlines racist racist racist pic.twitter.com/tYG9HwPHKj

— TYLER GROS$O (@tylergrosso) November 3, 2015

“I’m really humiliated just of the simple fact that you hear about this kind of stuff in America, you know, discrimination issues,” Wright added. “But to actually experience it first-hand?”

Other witnesses said all the passengers knew one another and that the remaining five elected to get off the flight to stay with their group, according to the Washington Times.

Spirit Airlines has yet to release a statement on the incident and didn't return calls for comment from The Huffington Post. All the passengers' flights were reportedly rebooked, and Spirit Airlines handed out hotel vouchers.

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Terrifying Viral Photos Prompt Important Conversation About Car Seat Safety

A viral Facebook post from a Florida fire department used car accident photos to share a very important message with families.

On Monday, the Wakulla County Fire Rescue shared some dramatic images from a three-vehicle crash that affected a mother and her two toddlers. The photo album was titled "Car Seats SAVE two children!"

"A one year old and three year old escaped serious injury and possibly worse because their mother took the time to assure they were secured in their approved child seats," the post reads in part. "The children, their mother and the driver of a third vehicle were transported to TMH with what appears to be minor abrasions. Take a look at the car seat that was holding the younger child, the impact even broke to seat itself. Responders were amazed when they arrived to find the massive damage and discovered no life threatening injuries."

The post has been shared over 7000 times and the comments section is flooded with messages about car seat safety. "This is why you should ALWAYS keep your young children in car seat. And wear your seat belt," wrote Facebook user Beth Horton. 

Some commenters pointed out, however, that the car seats in the accident photos appeared to be installed incorrectly. Notably, the car seat for the 1-year-old was front-facing, while safety experts typically recommend that children remain in rear-facing seats until at least two years of age or until they reach the upper age and weight limits specified by the car seat manufacturer. Studies have also shown that around 75 percent of parents face their children's car seats in the wrong direction.

The Wakulla County Fire Rescue addressed the car seat safety issue this morning in a follow-up Facebook post after the photos went viral. 

"The IMPORTANT thing is the message about using car seats has been spread," the post reads in part. "[Y]es WCFR acknowledges there is a proper method for using the approved seat however we continue to commend this Mom for taking the time to assure her kids were strapped in her vehicle which certainly saved them from a worse fate. WCFR has a Paramedic that is certified in car seat installation and Wakulla Health Department does as well."

 Wakulla County Fire Rescue Chief Mike Morgan echoed this sentiment in an interview with The Huffington Post. "We are very thankful that the occupants escaped serious injury," he said, adding, "I communicated with the Mom this morning and she advised she had researched the seats and felt her children met the recommendations to secure them as she did. WCFR is proud that this mother did choose to secure them and the fact that some feel it was not done according to some recommendation is secondary. The facts are that the children survived."

For more information about car seat safety, consult SafeCar.gov and local child passenger safety experts. 

H/T Yahoo

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Couple Takes Old Dog Hiking In The Most Ingenious, Adorable Way

The first time Melissa Lipani and her husband, Adam Holmes, went hiking with their foster dog, Luna, they figured she might actually use her own four legs.

It's how their other two dogs get around, so why not the 8-year-old Frenchie, whom they'd temporarily taken in through a local rescue group, too? 

But it didn't work out like that.

"I ended up carrying her most of the way, which wasn't a great situation for me," Lipana said. "She loved it."

The second time, Lipani and Holmes came up with a different plan. 

Lipani was familiar with some specialty backpacks made to carry around small animals.

She and Holmes are avid rock climbers and hikers -- their house in Salt Lake City abuts hiking trails -- and "and before I went to spend a lot of money, I wondered if any of the 8,000 packs in my garage could work," Lipani said.

As it turns out: yes. An old one, made by a Canadian company called Blurr, had an outside pocket just big enough for the 23-pound pup. (Note that Lipani and her husband are ultra-competent both with gear and animals; us ordinary folks should probably opt for the specialty backpacks. Here's one that gets good reviews.)

They tried out their new contraption at home to make sure Luna was amenable. Which she was. Extremely.

"I fully expected her to wiggle and try and jump out, but once we plopped her in it, she just relaxed like she knew it was going to be fun," Lipani said.

Since moving in with Lipani and Holmes just a few short weeks ago, the dog's been spoiled with all kinds of enjoyable activities.

There was a spa day, a mac and cheese tasting party and a wee pumpkin costume that Luna got all dolled up in. 

Lipani says it's great fun for Luna -- plus, of course, for her and Holmes.

It also helps prove that all kinds of pets can be wonderful companions -- which is an important point for Lipani, personally as well as professionally; she works for the animal advocacy group Best Friends Animal Society.

"Sure, there are lifestyle considerations," Lipani said. "But never let breed, age or ability get in the way of finding a wonderful new family member, hopefully at your local rescue or shelter!"  

The hiking adventures continue, as well, of course.

This past weekend, Luna got carted around outside for an hour of hitting the trails. It was an unqualified success for all concerned.

Lipani and Holmes had a great day outside with their furry companions (plus a bit of an extra workout, by trading off carrying Luna around).

And Luna got to enjoy being with her foster siblings and her people, in a beautiful place. Without having to exert too much effort herself.

"She just smiled and enjoyed it, never once fidgeting," says Lipani. "She seemed to take in all of the sights, smells and views like she'd always gone on hikes this way."

Know a shelter or rescue group doing great work? Have another animal story to share? Get in touch at arin.greenwood@huffingtonpost.com! 

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Man's Custom Kayak That Fits Two Dogs Is Totally Paw-some

The doggy paddle has gotten a major upgrade.

David Bahnson, a dog owner from Vermont, modified a kayak to allow two canine companions to join him out on the water, the Dodo reported. Redesigning two of the baggage compartments as dog-friendly seats, Bahnson is able to enjoy one of his hobbies alongside his adoring pets.

“We've gone miles and miles of paddling with our dogs," Bahnson told the Dodo. "They just really enjoy going places."

The original wooden kayak, called a Coho, was equipped with a rear baggage opening that Bahnson transformed into a seat for his first golden retriever. When a second pup joined his family, he built a second space, turning the boat into a comfortable triple-seater.

"Our dogs have always loved to travel with us in cars, in my airplane, in boats,” he told HuffPost UK. “Building a way for them to kayak with us just seemed like a logical choice, and the boats are fun to build anyway.”

Of course, some dog training was required to prevent possible capsizing, but Bahnson says the pups were quick to learn. Bahnson was also always careful never to paddle too far from shore, even though his dogs were strong swimmers, and the pups only went for a swim if told.

“They never flipped me over, but I also had them trained so they would hold still on command if I thought I was going into a situation like a big boat going by,” he said in an interview with Canoekayak.com. “I would command them to sit and stay, and they would.”

The two dogs Bahnson originally designed the kayak for have sadly since died, but his new dog, Piper, is continuing the family tradition and has taken over the role of canine captain.  

“I love my dogs,” he told the Dodo. “I love training them, the companionship.”

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How To Make Grasshopper Trail Mix With Oaxacan 'Chapulines'

If you consider yourself a foodie and you want to take a trip, look no further than Oaxaca, one of Mexico's most important gastronomical hubs, for a unique culinary experience. 

The southwest state's cuisine is rooted in indigenous traditions that attract food tourists from across the world, including the Travel Channel's Andrew Zimmern. The host of "Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern" traveled to the region to try several of its delicacies, including the specially seasoned chapulines, or grasshoppers. 

In an exclusive clip for The Huffington Post, Hugo Sandoval and Roberto Perez of the Imalim company in Oaxaca show Zimmern the step-by-step process of how to properly cook grasshoppers. The business owners have studied the centuries-long "art" and tradition of preparing chapulines for more than 10 years, and are now attempting to ship their Oaxacan trail mix abroad. 

Check it out below:

 

For more on Zimmern's visit to Oaxaca, which includes tasting Chicatana flying ants, check out the full episode Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. EST on the Travel Channel. 

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You Can See The Northern Lights In So Many U.S. States This Week

The northern lights will continue appearing across parts of the contiguous U.S. this week, Accuweather reports, giving stargazers rare access to the most epic light show on Earth. 

Viewers reported seeing the lights on Monday night and early Tuesday morning in Michigan and Iowa, thanks to a massive solar storm. The University of Alaska Fairbanks' Aurora Forecast predicts it will continue Tuesday in parts of Vermont, Nebraska, Indiana, Maryland, Montana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Oregon, Idaho and Wyoming. 

Mostly and sunny and warm today...but before the sun comes up, did you see the #NorthernLights? Pic from Ludington! pic.twitter.com/nRlEHrtgbW

— FOX 17 (@FOX17) November 3, 2015

The #NorthernLights are showing up in central Iowa now. ISCN's Brennan Jontz captured this photo just now #iawx pic.twitter.com/4NdTwZcvM2

— Iowa Storm Chasing (@IAStormChasing) November 3, 2015

The northern lights aren't commonly seen in the lower 48 states; on our continent, they're typically easier to spot in places like Alaska and Canada. But sometimes, when conditions are right, they appear further south -- and it's remarkable.

You'll have the best chance to see them in dark areas with low light pollution, far from cities and towns. Cloud cover may be an issue in some areas, particularly the Pacific Northwest.

And if you can't catch the northern lights stateside, you just might just have to take a trip somewhere exotic.

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