Wednesday, 31 May 2017

Flight Attendant Gives 'Despacito' The Sky High Remix It Deserves

A flight attendant from Spain is on cloud nine after his reworked version of “Despacito” went viral.

Javier Otero, a steward for low-cost Irish airline Ryanair, sang his interpretation of the Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber smash hit over the intercom during a flight from Gran Canaria to Seville last week.

Video of his passionate performance, in which he changed the song’s lyrics and title to “Dos Euritos” (two little Euros) to promote the sale of scratch-off tickets, was shared to Facebook on Saturday:




The video also features Spanish former Arsenal and Atlético Madrid soccer player José Antonio Reyes clapping Otero on. It had garnered more than 4 million views by early Wednesday.

I am the one who does the public announcements,” Otero, from the southwestern city of Cadiz, told BuzzFeed España. “And I like to do them my way, with a little grace, so that they are not boring, since in Ryanair they give me a freedom that other airlines do not give its workers,” 




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Why Retirees Are Moving To This Town In Thailand


On a typical morning in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Marie Frederickson wakes up to the sound of temple bells marking the call for Buddhist monks to begin their daily meditation and prayer. This ritual is one of those cultural traditions that Frederickson, a Boston native who’s lived as a semi-retired expat in Thailand for the last 15 years, doesn’t take for granted.

“I fell in love with the place. The people, the food, the crafts, the landscape. Just about everything,” she said. The view of rice fields, chickens, cows and the occasional water buffalo meandering by the kitchen window of her traditional Lanna (northern Thai) style home don’t hurt either, she said.

At 73, Frederickson, a self-described “very, very active retired lady,” decided to move to Thailand after a visit with her youngest brother and his wife left her “hooked.” Today, Frederickson stays busy the way most retired people do: Reading, gardening, painting and cooking. She also volunteers with the local theater group and works as a promoter and online marketer for her housemate’s company Best Tuk Tuk Tours.

Chiang Mai, nicknamed the ‘Rose of the North,’ is widely considered the country’s cultural and spiritual heart. With no shortage of things to do, between its abundance of beautiful temples, charming riverside cafés and contingent of retired expats along with newly developed shopping malls replete with multiplexes and artisanal coffee shops, Chiang Mai has seen a steady rise in it retired expat community over the years.

“If you’re going there just to retire, Chiang Mai is a really great place to do that,” Steven LePoidevin, a Canadian expat and former Chiang Mai resident, said. “People go to Thailand, whether it’s Bangkok or the islands for a number of reasons, but Chiang Mai in particular because there are so many other expats. And the cost of living is probably one of the cheapest in the world.”

Chiang Mai was ranked by International Living as one of the top places to retire abroad in 2017, thanks to the low cost of healthcare and climate as well as overall quality of life. 

“You can live in Chiang Mai and still be living in the States basically,” Mr. LePoidevin, who lived there for three years until recently with his wife, Nancy, said. “Most people I’ve talked to say they want to move to a place where there’s a built-in community and a big number of expats already. Chiang Mai is the perfect place for that.”

While the exact number of expats is unknown, the Chiang Mai Expats Living Guide estimates that around 40,000 documented expats live Chiang Mai, a figure LePoidevin said is definitely underreported. “You’re looking at 40,000 expats and some people say there could be as many as 60,000 or even more because there are a lot of people there that are living off the grid. Of that 40,000 the biggest group there is still Americans and a lot of that is retirees,” he said. 

LePoidevin said while there’s an eclectic mix of nationalities, Australians, North Americans and the U.K., are among the highest represented areas.

The Chiang Mai Expats Club (CEC) which hosts monthly meetups such as coffee mornings, brunch outings and outside group activities, is the “glue that holds many of the retired expats together,” LePoidevin says. The fact that Thailand celebrates all of the American holidays including Christmas and New Years also make the transition much easier. 

“The longer you live in these other countries, the more you realize how screwed over North Americans are,” Mr. LePoidevin said. “I mean you can rent a really nice condo in downtown Chiang Mai for $500 or $600 dollars a month in a city of one million with five modern malls and a modern cinema across the street and great restaurants. You can’t get that anywhere in the States anywhere in the downtown area.”

For Marie Frederickson, her home in Chiang Mai is one she said she “never wants to leave.”

“After almost 15 years I still haven’t seen it all,’ Frederickson said. “I love the local people. Their smiles, legends, superstitions and sense of family and generosity. The list can go on and on.”

 

Michelle Gross is a Jersey City based travel, food and culture reporter. Her work has been featured in Vogue, Travel+Leisure, Food&Wine and Men’s Journal. Please follow her on Instagram and Twitter @mtothegnyc

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This Town Is So Adorable, You're Forbidden To Take Pictures In It


One municipality in Switzerland has instituted a fine for anyone who takes photos there, saying the pictures will cause envy and extreme unhappiness for people who see them on social media.

Lawmakers in Bergün/Bravuogn claim their region is so beautiful, footage may prompt crippling FOMO.  

“It is scientifically proven [that] beautiful vacation photos on social media make the viewers unhappy, because they themselves can not be on the spot,” the tourist office said in statement. Naturally, the office recommends visiting the village of Bergün to avoid this dreaded FOMO. 

They have a point: Every Instagram already taken there is gorgeous. 






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Local lawmakers passed a law on Tuesday that threatens a fine of about $5 for anyone who takes a photo in Bergün/Bravuogn. Of course, the whole thing is mostly a marketing ploy to attract tourists, and it’s unlikely the fine will actually be enforced, tourism director Marc-Andrea Barandun told The Local. 

The ploy is clearly working: We’re newly fascinated with Bergün, a stop on the century-old Albula railway line which starts in the town of Thusis and ends in St. Moritz. Bergün boasts painted houses, an 800-year-old church and a Roman tower, and the 1952 film “Heidi” was filmed in a village nearby. There’s skiing in winter, hiking in summer and perfect vistas all year round. 

Looks like the perfect place for a camera-free trip.


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H/T Travel + Leisure

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Pippa Middleton Proves She's Not Afraid Of Heights On Her Honeymoon






One honeymoon location just isn’t enough for Pippa Middleton and her new husband, James Matthews. 

The two jetted off to Tetiaroa, French Polynesia ― one of Obama’s recent vacation spots ― after their wedding last weekend. Apparently they’ve had their fill of South Pacific sun, as Middleton and Matthews were recently spotted in Sydney, Australia. 


On Wednesday, Middleton and her hubby climbed the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge at night. The bridge offers 360-degree views of Sydney and stands about 440 feet in the air.

The night climb costs around $253 - $388 for adults and can take up to 3.5 hours to complete. 


The couple is staying at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Sydney, which offers views of the Sydney Harbour and the Sydney Opera House, according to a press release.

So far, they’ve explored the city by way of a water taxi and a sea plane. The two recently flew a seaplane to lunch at the Cottage Point Inn, which looks like a cute spot for the newlyweds: 


Sunday morning vibes #nature #beautiful #photography #restaurantaustralia #weekend #sydney #eatout #seeyousoon

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#weekend #lunch #finedining #food #eatout #sydney #seeyousoon

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Haven't dined with us in a while?! Come see what's new! #eatout #sydney #finedining #newchef #newmenu #seeyousoon

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Where will they jet off to next?

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The Viral Swimsuit Moms Are Back To Take On Traveling With Kids




The funny ladies behind the web series “#IMomSoHard,” are back with another hilarious video ― this time tackling the nightmare of flying with kids.

“Your youngest has to be 5 before there is an expectation of travel, so everybody just has to come to you,” co-host Kristin Hensley declares in the video.

The other funny mom, Jen Smedley, then points out the problems with baby-changing stations in airports and on planes. That’s when things get really wacky...

The video has been viewed almost 1 million times. Many parents shared their own air travel experiences in the comments section.













Good luck out there (er ... up there!), parents!

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15 Underrated But Totally Romantic Beach Destinations

Bali, Fiji, the Maldives... When it comes to romantic beach trips, the options can seem surprisingly overdone, overcrowded or overpriced ― especially if you’re craving someplace that’s not in the typical playbook for a honeymoon or couple’s vacation.

Below are 15 coastal destinations you may not have considered before, ranging from domestic shores to far-flung islands. Most can be experienced on budgets big or small, and all are epically romantic. Bon voyage!

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United May Get Fined $435,000 For Operating Plane That Wasn't 'Airworthy'

United Airlines seriously can’t catch a break. 

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday proposed fining United $435,000 for operating 23 flights in 2014 with a Boeing 787 that the government alleged was not in airworthy condition. The news comes about seven weeks after the fateful incident in which officers dragged a passenger off a plane when he refused to give up his seat for a United employee.

The FAA alleged that back in June 2014, United mechanics replaced a fuel pump pressure switch on the Boeing aircraft but failed to perform a required inspection before returning the aircraft to service. A United spokesman said, “The safety of our customers and employees is our top priority. We immediately took action after identifying the issue and are working closely with the FAA in their review.”

United has faced public backlash in the wake of April’s incident, which was followed by more public relations fiascos including the death of a large rabbit on a United flight. Last week, a gay dad said he planned to sue the airline after a flight attendant allegedly accused him of molesting his son.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Sunday, 28 May 2017

Stephen Colbert Imagines Another Batch Of Donald Trump's Postcards Home




Donald Trump has got the postcard-writing bug. Kind of.

On Friday’s “Late Show,” Stephen Colbert imagined another batch of notes Trump has been sending back to his family members and allies during his first big trip abroad as president.

“The Pope has a Golden Throne too!” “writes” the president to his son Donald Trump Jr. in one of his missives, in reference to meeting Pope Francis at the Vatican.

“But for some reason, his doesn’t flush,” he adds.


Check out the rest of the postcards in the clip above.


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Friday, 26 May 2017

Explore America’s Stunning Marine Sanctuaries Without Getting Wet

The United States is home to many underwater treasures: the haunting shipwrecks of Thunder Bay, the colorful corals of Gray’s Reef, the barnacle-covered statue of Christ in the Florida Keys.

For most Americans, however, these sights are out of reach. Though half of the U.S. population lives within 50 miles of a coast, only a tiny fraction — fewer than 5 percent, according to some industry estimates — actively dive or snorkel.

But thanks to an online project spearheaded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, everyone can now experience these underwater wonders in vivid detail. Diving knowledge isn’t required and you won’t even get wet; all you need is a smartphone, tablet or computer.

The Virtual Dive Gallerylaunched earlier this month, allows users to explore U.S. national marine sanctuaries online. There are currently 360-degree, virtual reality images of five sanctuaries available: the ship graveyard of Thunder Bay in Lake Huron, the Florida Keys, Gray’s Reef in Georgia, Flower Garden Banks in the Gulf of Mexico, and the coral reefs around American Samoa. A virtual reality headset isn’t necessary to enjoy the images, but makes the experience all the more true to life.

“We can put a window to the ocean in the palm of someone’s hand and let them explore the underwater world and national marine sanctuaries through that window,” Mitchell Tartt, chief of the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries’ Conservation Science Division, told The Verge this week of the VR gallery.

This window doesn’t introduce people just to the beauty of underwater environments, but to the tragedies found there too. Climate change, pollution and other human actions are damaging many marine sanctuaries in the U.S., said NOAA — destruction that many Americans will never see firsthand. The virtual gallery is a way for people to better connect with these problems by witnessing the degradation for themselves.

“Sometimes, seeing really is believing,” Chiara Zuccarino-Crowe, tourism and recreation coordinator at NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, told HuffPost in an email Wednesday. “The majority of the public doesn’t have regular opportunities to go scuba diving or snorkeling, so they can’t experience these environments first-hand. The virtual dive galleries let us bring sanctuaries to the public. The thrill of seeing them in a totally new way ― as if you were there underwater ― makes the environmental and resource protection issues more tangible.”

The gallery currently includes images from American Samoa of staghorn corals before, during and after a 2015 bleaching event. Bleaching, caused by warming temperatures and pollution, is devastating reefs worldwide.

People can also explore images of bleached corals in Flower Garden Banks, and invasive species like lionfish, which are wreaking havoc on ecosystems in sanctuaries like the Florida Keys.

“Being in the middle of a coral reef undergoing a bleaching event ― and being able to flash forward a couple months at the click of a button to see the extent of coral death or recovery ― really underscores the urgency in addressing the stressors impacting our marine environment,” Zuccarino-Crowe said.

The virtual gallery is a collaboration between NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and the privately funded XL Catlin Seaview Survey, a global project aimed at documenting the health of the world’s reefs. It has been many years in the making, beginning back in 2014.

Since then, divers have been collecting images from marine sanctuaries across the U.S. using cameras enclosed in waterproof boxes. No extra lighting is used unless the shoot takes place more than 10 feet underwater, Tartt told The Verge. This way, viewers are offered a more authentic experience. 

“Part of what I like about these images is not to post-process them too much,” Tartt said. “Part of the engaging part is to make them look like they would look like if a diver went there.” 

NOAA said it will continue to add virtual dives to the gallery as more images become available. The hope is to eventually have all 13 U.S. marine sanctuaries in the gallery, the agency said.

Virtual dives for Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale sanctuary and Monterey Bay are among those currently in the works. NOAA said it aims to roll out a new virtual dive location every month. 

Explore the Virtual Dive Gallery for yourself here.

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Siesta Beach Is The Best In The U.S., According To Dr. Beach


Siesta Beach in Sarasota, Florida is the best beach in the country right now, according to the prestigious annual rankings from “Dr. Beach.”

Every year, Florida International University professor Stephen P. Leatherman, aka Dr. Beach, ranks U.S. coastlines on 50 criteria including water temperature, sand quality and upkeep of the natural environment. Siesta Beach is the only one to top his rankings twice in their 26-year history: It previously won the honor in 2015. 

Siesta Beach beat out shorelines in Hawaii, California and elsewhere with its fine, white sand and a recent $21 million makeover that resulted in more picnic areas, more parking spaces and a new playground. 

And of course, the water here looks gorgeous at any time of day:


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Here are the top 10 beaches for 2017, according to Dr. Beach:

 

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Gay Dad Plans To Sue United Airlines After Being Accused Of Molesting Son On Flight




A North Carolina man is “devastated” after he says a United Airlines flight attendant accused him of inappropriately touching his son’s genitals. 

Henry Amador-Batten said he and his 5-year-old son, Ben, were greeted at Raleigh–Durham International Airport on Friday by a group of police officers, The Durham Herald-Sun reported. He soon learned that a flight attendant had seen him cuddling with his son on their flight from Newark, New Jersey, and felt that his hand rested too close to the boy’s genitals. 

Amador-Batten, who was returning home from a family visit in Puerto Rico, said he was caught completely off guard by the accusation, but cooperated with police. He said he explained to the officers that Ben was afraid of flying, and he’d simply placed his hand on his son’s lap to comfort him as he fell asleep. Meanwhile, Amador-Batten’s husband, Joel, waited for the pair outside of airport security as the ordeal unfolded.  

In the end, Amador-Batten was not charged with a crime and released. However, he told HuffPost that both he and Ben remain traumatized by the experience. “That flight attendant’s false accusation did not save a child, it put an entire family in danger,” he said. “We’re [made to] understand that families like ours, created out of choice and love, are fragile by nature. ... We are not as protected nor solidified, and we need to be.” 

The case comes at a time when United Airlines has come under heavy media scrutiny for its treatment of passengers. The Chicago-based airline faced backlash in April after a passenger, later identified as David Dao, was filmed being violently dragged off one of their planes in video footage that went viral. 

The company reportedly reached an undisclosed settlement with Dao, but the incident remains “a watershed moment” for the airline, United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz has said. 

In an email sent to HuffPost, a spokesperson said that United Airlines had apologized to the Amador-Batten family. “Our customers should always be treated with the utmost respect,” he wrote. “We have followed up with the customers directly and we apologized for the situation.”

Amador-Batten acknowledged that he’d received an apology from a United representative, but called it “empty and hollow.” He and his husband, who are in the process of adopting a second son, have hired an attorney and are now planning to seek damages from the airline. The ordeal has been especially difficult for Ben, he said. 

“The most painful part of this continues to be how this affected my son, and how it may continue to,” he said. “He’s not been sleeping well, refusing to sleep in his own room and just wants to be by his daddies.” 

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This Device Holds Your Head Up So You Can Nap Hands-Free




One of the most annoying problems with napping on a plane happens when your head lolls about and you can’t find a comfortable and considerate way to prop it up. Inventors have offered up various fixes over the years, from inflatable hoodies to a head hammock, but this solution looks more promising than any we’ve seen in a long time. 

The JetComfy is a cushioned platform for your head that attaches to an armrest and extends to your desired height. While other travel nap gadgets involve blow-up wraps, only support your chin, or require sticking your head into a dark hole, JetComfy takes a more basic approach, says co-founder David Brecht.

“Our goal was to mimic the natural resting pose of resting your head on your hand,” he told HuffPost. 

The JetComfy is a memory foam cushion on an extendable base, which you can slide onto your armrest and clip into place. Adjust the cushion’s tilt to your liking, then nap away. Then retract the base and fold it back up when you’re done. 

At first glance, it looks like this gadget would annoy the heck out of your seat mate because it takes up armrest space. But supporting your head the usual way could be more obnoxious, Brecht suggested. 

“JetComfy takes up only a very tiny portion of the armrest, leaving it available for your neighbor to still use. If you didn’t have a JetComfy, you would be resting your arm on the shared armrest which takes up much more space,” he said. 

It’s worth noting it seems people tend to place their arms on the armrest anyway when using the JetComfy, according to photos posted to the company’s Facebook page


The gadget hit the market late last year and retails for $49.99 on jetcomfy.com and $39.99 on Amazon. It has built-in power packs to charge electronics, too.

Some reviewers said the JetComfy is too bulky, complained its cushion bumps into their neighbor, and said it doesn’t strap on correctly in aisle seats. Others report no such issues and call it a lifesaver for long flights. 

JetComfy meets TSA carry-on guidelines, so you should be able to bring it onboard with no problem. Whether your seat mate will complain or not is a whole other issue, however: In 2014, a travel gadget called the Knee Defender sparked national debate after causing an in-flight skirmish between passengers when one used it to prevent another from reclining her seat.

If all else fails, you can always try falling asleep on a plane sans gadgets. Sweet dreams!

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Thursday, 25 May 2017

How To Make The Most Of A 3-Day Weekend


The weather is finally heating up in many areas of the country, just in time for Memorial Day. A season of lake trips, barbecues and sunny days is on the horizon. So, to spend the first long weekend in front of the television would be almost criminal. 

“If we don’t plan our weekends, they just kind of go by,” Phoenix-based productivity expert Nicole Bandes told HuffPost. “Be intentional with the time you’re going to have for the three days.”

The key here is balance. You certainly don’t have to plan each moment of the long weekend. But making time for a few activities can leave you recharged and happier once the holiday has passed.

Here are some expert and research-backed ideas on how to make the most of your Memorial Day Weekend while improving your wellbeing in the process:

1. Enjoy a staycation.


Sure, adventures like camping can be fun, but they also require a lot of work to plan. This may lead to feeling the opposite of relaxed, Bandes said. (Unless, of course, you are a hardcore camper and you wait all year to go. You do you!) 

Instead of tackling a big trip, she recommends trying activities that are close to where you live. For example, visiting a local winery, going to the zoo or checking out a nearby waterfront are all low-effort ways to recharge your batteries. 

2. Tackle a big project.


A three-day weekend is a great opportunity to tackle the “never-quite-get-to” projects, Bandes said. This could come in the form of painting a room, clearing out the garage, working on the car or finally getting around to organizing your closet using the Konmari method (which comes with its own added wellness perks).

3. Host a group gathering.


Invite family or friends over for a meal over the weekend. A meal-centric hangout with your crew can bring some perks: Not only are there psychological benefits to baking for other people, research shows that being around a best friend can help lower stress.

4. Take a digital detox.


Some research suggests that too much time on your devices is correlated with more negative thoughts, anxiety and depression. 

Bandes recommends putting your phone away for a few hours or even half a day. It’ll pay off: unplugging every so often can increase focus, lower stress, increase sleep quality and help you think more creatively. 

5. Volunteer for a worthy cause.


Carve out some time this weekend all in the name of generosity. 

A 2013 study found that people who volunteer are more likely to improve their overall wellbeing and life satisfaction than people who aren’t altruistic. Giving and unselfishness is also associated with having a lower risk of early death, a stronger marriage and decreased depression






6. Catch up on sleep.


Schedule in some rest. An estimated 1 in 3 American adults are not getting enough sleep on a regular basis, according to a 2016 report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Good sleep makes your memory sharper, improves mood and focus and literally clears your mind: Neurological science shows that proper sleep clears toxins which build up in the brain

7. Plan your next vacation.


The happiest part of vacation isn’t necessarily the vacation itself: Research shows wellbeing boosts with the anticipation prior to leaving. Use a couple of hours over the three-day weekend to get yourself pumped for the next big trip you’d like to take. Search for locations, places to stay, how much it will cost and what you might need to save in order to go.

8. Go dancing.


Busting a move isn’t just fun ― it’s actually really good for your health. Dancing contributes to a healthy heart, improves stamina, strengthens bones and muscles and keep illnesses at bay.

You don’t have to be Fred Astaire, either. Turn up the beats in your living room, grab your partner, kids or go for it solo. You need little more than your favorite song to do something good for your body, and let’s be real, just let loose. Here are some happy tunes that can help get the dance party started.

9. Optimize your back-to-work-plan.


Many people feel stressed out by their workload after a few days out of the office. It’s actually a major reason Americans say they don’t want to take off in the first place. But streamlining your tasks can help you feel empowered walking back into work, rather than anxious.

Set aside a little time to get organized the day before you head back into the office. List high-priority tasks to take care of first thing so you can hit the ground running ― and refreshed.

Because truly feeling refreshed is the whole point of enjoying a long weekend. 

“From a productivity standpoint, [you want] to be able to do a thorough recharge,” Bandes said.

Recharge and refresh? Challenge accepted. 





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The Upsetting Reason Millennial Women Take Less Vacation Than Men


According to a recently released study from the U.S. Travel Association’s “Project: Time Off,” America saw its biggest uptick in people taking vacation days in the past 15 years. But there’s a discouraging trend in how many vacation days women take.

Despite the fact that more women than men ranked vacation as “extremely” important to them in the survey, it remains that 48 percent of men used up all of their vacation days in 2016, compared to just 44 percent of women.

Millennial men took off more days than millennial women, which shouldn’t be too shocking, as men of all ages in the survey took more vacation than women of all ages. 

But the disparity between millennial men and millennial women is even greater than the disparity in other age groups. Only 44 percent of millennial women take time off compared to 51 percent of men, with the women citing guilt, fear of looking less committed to their job and work martyr habits as the reason. 

“We need to put to rest the fallacy that ‘work ethic’ is equivalent to work martyrdom,” Cait Debaun, director of communications for Project: Time Off, said in a press release. “Not only are employees not getting ahead by sacrificing time off, these habits may also be harming their careers.” 

Senior director of Project: Time Off Katie Denis, who authored the report, told Fortune that this gap might be because millennial men feel more confident and secure in their jobs. She added that millennial women are more likely to hide their needs for a vacation and, when they do take a break, then apologize for time off. 

The health benefits of taking a vacation are innumerable. Time off gives your brain and your body a chance to recover from the stress of everyday life. People who make it a priority to go on trips have a lessoned risk of heart disease, better ability to control their emotions and can even experience happier relationships. When it comes to benefits at work, those who took time off reported being more focused at work when they returned from their trip. 

And while some of the statistics in the survey are bleak, Denis pointed out that the problems are all fixable. 

“The issues facing our workforce around vacation culture, while alarming, also present clear opportunities and solutions. Americans are using more vacation, and the positive change can continue if American workers—particularly senior leaders—prioritize conversation, planning, and modeling of good vacation behavior,” Denis said in a statement. 

The survey was conducted online by GfK between Jan. 26 and Feb. 20. GfK polled 7,331 U.S. workers over the age of 18, all of whom work more than 35 hours a week and receive paid time off from their employer.

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This Couple's Splash Mountain Proposal Is A Disney Fantasy Come True

Nothing quite says true love like a thrilling plunge down a waterfall ― at least for Eugene Williams and his new fiancé, Chris.

Williams popped the question during the couple’s Monday visit to Disneyland, and his proposal was not for the faint at heart. While many couples opt to use Sleeping Beauty Castle or other Disney landmarks as a backdrop for the big moment, Williams asked Chris to marry him with a handmade sign on Splash Mountain’s climactic, 50-foot drop, and made clever use of the attraction’s on-ride camera to capture the moment for posterity with a souvenir photo. 

Williams told HuffPost that he “always knew” that he wanted to propose to Chris at Disneyland, as the California-based couple visit the Anaheim theme park at least once a month. He said he chose Splash Mountain specifically after seeing a viral photo of a 16-year-old Disneyland visitor, who came out as gay to her parents in a similar fashion. 

Despite Williams’s best effort, there were a few unexpected twists and turns along the way, as one would expect of a thrill ride proposal. “I wanted to get to the park before it opened, but Chris and I overslept and ran into traffic on the way. I was very angsty and nervous the whole time leading to him seeing the photo,” he explained. “I was worried my plan wouldn’t work and the park would be too crowded to get our own log ― after all, it was a hot day.”

Fortunately, a polite request to a Disney cast member ensured that Williams could pull off his plan without a hitch after all. “I was nervous the whole time on the ride, but just kept giving him hugs and kisses on the ride,” he said. “I told my boyfriend that we should pretend to be shocked for the photo. When the ride was over we walked to see our photo and he said he immediately knew when he saw the sign in the photo what it was and he cried!”

Williams uploaded the photo to Reddit Tuesday, where it had racked up over 1,200 comments as of Wednesday afternoon. “We are big Disney park fans, and now every time we go we’ll be reminded of that one time I proposed and he said yes,” he told HuffPost. “My fiancé means a lot to me and seeing the joy on his face when he saw the photo was priceless.”

May you live happily ever after, gentlemen! 

For the latest in LGBTQ news, check out the Queer Voices newsletter. 

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Wednesday, 24 May 2017

Trump's Policies May Cost The U.S. $1.3 Billion, And That's Just In Travel


The U.S. will likely miss out on more than $1.3 billion in travel-related expenditures this year, in part due to the Trump administration’s policies, one international business travel group predicts.

A loss in that range could mean thousands of lost jobs, and some other analysts project the overall monetary losses will be much higher.

Political events like Brexit, President Donald Trump’s executive order “travel bans,” new laptop bans in the U.S. and U.K. and rumors of an expanded U.S. laptop ban have created “uncertainty” that’s keeping some international travelers from visiting the U.S., according to a new report from the Global Business Travel Association, which represents corporate travel managers and professionals.  

The organization’s researchers analyzed airfare bookings, figures like GDP and oil prices and a Department of Commerce survey to come up with an “uncertainty forecast” of $1.3 billion in losses in hotel, food, rental car and shopping spending related to travelers. The figure also includes $175 million in lost business travel-related wages for Americans during 2017.

“This devastating economic impact could take years to recover from,” wrote GBTA’s executive director & COO Mike McCormick. 

Staff at Oxford Economics said that projection is far too low. The global advisory firm is predicting an even bigger drop in travel to the U.S. this year, one that would result in a total loss of over $2.4 billion. The cause, they say, is Trump’s harmful rhetoric affecting perceptions abroad.

“’America first’ rhetoric, which was pronounced during the campaign and Trump’s inauguration speech, is finding consistent expression in policy,” said Adam Sacks, president of Oxford Economics’s tourism department. “International markets are receiving a message that America is no longer a welcoming destination.”

The federal government estimates the value of international travel and tourism to the U.S. at about $250 billion annually, with three percent growth projected every year, said Patrick Surry, chief data scientist at travel site Hopper. The GBTA’s forecasted $1.3 billion loss represents about a .5 percent shift. But that’s too conservative in Surry’s eyes: Hopper’s recent research shows a more pronounced drop in U.S. travel interest since Trump took office. Chinese travelers, for example, have searched for flights to the U.S. 40 percent less than average since Trump took office.

The Middle East represents a particularly big hit, according to both the GBTA and Oxford Economics.

“We’re seeing a 30 percent decline in travel to the U.S. from the Middle East at the moment,” Sacks said. “This means that the U.S. economy stands to lose about $1 billion from Middle East travelers alone [this year].” 

Emirates Airlines recently cut service to the U.S. after demand weakened in the wake of Trump’s travel bans and the Department of Homeland Security laptop ban, which was enacted in late March. And in a GBTA poll conducted after Trump’s initial travel ban, about half of European business executives said they would plan their travel elsewhere.

Amid Trump’s review of certain work visas and rumors of an expanded laptop ban, “global travel markets will take further cues that the U.S. is not as welcoming as it once was,” Sack said.

Ouch.

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