Here is part two of a three part series. Reported by Chrissy Russo of Fox 5 San Diego. Here is the Link:
http://www.fox5sandiego.com/videobeta/b2687253-3e98-4084-a6bf-2ab9ac191947/Community/Self-Defense-on-an-Airplane-Part-2
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Self Defense on an Airplane Part 1
I saw the first part of this video series this morning. Chrissy Russo for Fox 5 San Diego interviews former FBI agents and will also demonstrate safety techniques while in the airport and on an airplane. This is part one of three, which will follow. Here is the link for you..
http://www.fox5sandiego.com/videobeta/3547ab7e-5419-44d9-a0da-6d22e2d3635d/Community/Self-Defense-on-an-Airplane-Part-1
http://www.fox5sandiego.com/videobeta/3547ab7e-5419-44d9-a0da-6d22e2d3635d/Community/Self-Defense-on-an-Airplane-Part-1
Sunday, August 29, 2010
A day at the Irvine Spectrum
http://www.shopirvinespectrumcenter.com/
Saturday, August 28, 2010
15th Annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
15th Annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival by the numbers: 690,000 Tasty Festival Treats + 33,000 Bottles of Wine & Champagne = 1 Fun-Fact-Filled Festival at Walt Disney World Resort
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Walt Disney World guests can sip great wines, savor new tastes and enjoy live entertainment all day long as the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival celebrates 15 years of Delicious Discoveries Oct. 1-Nov. 14, 2010.
The six-week outdoor festival at Disney’s Epcot theme park serves up authentic cuisine; wine, beer and spirits; entertainment; and cultural exhibits of more than 25 international regions. Exotic marketplaces from South Korea to Belgium offer exciting taste treats. The festival is the largest food and wine event of its kind in the world, beginning at the Festival Welcome Center in Future World and fanning around the promenade encircling World Showcase Lagoon.
Here are some facts about the 15th annual event:
· More than 300 national and international wines
· 45 fabulous days long
· More than 75 kinds of international foods, each appetizer-sized portion priced $3-$8
· More than 270 chefs including America’s most celebrated culinarians and Walt Disney World chefs
· 405 wine and beer seminars
· More than 1,200 fireworks rockets exploding each night over World Showcase Lagoon in“IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” grand finale to the festival
· 135 Eat to the Beat! concerts performed
· 33,000 bottles of wine and champagne
· 690,000 sumptuous samplings
· 338,000 wine glasses
· 100,000 desserts including freshly baked waffles with berry compote and whipped cream (Belgium marketplace), pear streusel pudding cake (Desserts & Champagne marketplace) and chocolate cannoli (Italy marketplace)
· 3,000 gallons of soup, including best-selling cheddar cheese soup (Canada marketplace), chicken soup with rice (Puerto Rico marketplace) and bison chili with wild mushrooms (United States marketplace)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Walt Disney World guests can sip great wines, savor new tastes and enjoy live entertainment all day long as the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival celebrates 15 years of Delicious Discoveries Oct. 1-Nov. 14, 2010.
The six-week outdoor festival at Disney’s Epcot theme park serves up authentic cuisine; wine, beer and spirits; entertainment; and cultural exhibits of more than 25 international regions. Exotic marketplaces from South Korea to Belgium offer exciting taste treats. The festival is the largest food and wine event of its kind in the world, beginning at the Festival Welcome Center in Future World and fanning around the promenade encircling World Showcase Lagoon.
Here are some facts about the 15th annual event:
· More than 300 national and international wines
· 45 fabulous days long
· More than 75 kinds of international foods, each appetizer-sized portion priced $3-$8
· More than 270 chefs including America’s most celebrated culinarians and Walt Disney World chefs
· 405 wine and beer seminars
· More than 1,200 fireworks rockets exploding each night over World Showcase Lagoon in“IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” grand finale to the festival
· 135 Eat to the Beat! concerts performed
· 33,000 bottles of wine and champagne
· 690,000 sumptuous samplings
· 338,000 wine glasses
· 100,000 desserts including freshly baked waffles with berry compote and whipped cream (Belgium marketplace), pear streusel pudding cake (Desserts & Champagne marketplace) and chocolate cannoli (Italy marketplace)
· 3,000 gallons of soup, including best-selling cheddar cheese soup (Canada marketplace), chicken soup with rice (Puerto Rico marketplace) and bison chili with wild mushrooms (United States marketplace)
Thursday, August 26, 2010
New iPhone app sends real-time alerts when airfares drop
New iPhone app sends real-time alerts when airfares drop
By Laura Bly, USA TODAY
Tracking airfare deals is getting easier for iPhone users, thanks to a new free app from the price comparison site FareCompare.com that sends users real-time alerts when fares drop significantly on a chosen route.FareCompare's new iPhone app sends alerts of airfare price drops in real time.
While several travel websites already alert travelers of fare reductions via e-mail, Facebook and Twitter, this is the first time such notifications have been "pushed" to mobile users via real-time, text message-like notifications, says FareCompare CEO Rick Seaney.
Travelers can set up price alerts - which will be sent up to six times a day - by picking a departure airport and month, and then choosing a U.S. or foreign destination from a drop-down menu in 17 categories that range from "top U.S./Canadian destinations" to "casinos." The lowest current fares are then listed by destination (though not in alphabetical order, alas) or displayed via interactive Google map. Price alerts are sent when fares drop at least $15 below the current lowest fare for U.S. tickets, or at least 5% below the lowest international fare.
Despite a few obvious shortcomings - users are linked to Orbitz.com for actual booking, they can't specify individual airports in Washington, D.C., Chicago or New York City, and Southwest Airlines isn't included - this looks like a useful weapon in a bargain hunter's arsenal of apps.
By Laura Bly, USA TODAY
Tracking airfare deals is getting easier for iPhone users, thanks to a new free app from the price comparison site FareCompare.com that sends users real-time alerts when fares drop significantly on a chosen route.FareCompare's new iPhone app sends alerts of airfare price drops in real time.
While several travel websites already alert travelers of fare reductions via e-mail, Facebook and Twitter, this is the first time such notifications have been "pushed" to mobile users via real-time, text message-like notifications, says FareCompare CEO Rick Seaney.
Travelers can set up price alerts - which will be sent up to six times a day - by picking a departure airport and month, and then choosing a U.S. or foreign destination from a drop-down menu in 17 categories that range from "top U.S./Canadian destinations" to "casinos." The lowest current fares are then listed by destination (though not in alphabetical order, alas) or displayed via interactive Google map. Price alerts are sent when fares drop at least $15 below the current lowest fare for U.S. tickets, or at least 5% below the lowest international fare.
Despite a few obvious shortcomings - users are linked to Orbitz.com for actual booking, they can't specify individual airports in Washington, D.C., Chicago or New York City, and Southwest Airlines isn't included - this looks like a useful weapon in a bargain hunter's arsenal of apps.
FAA fines American Airlines $24M for safety lapses - USATODAY.com
Check out this article that I saw in USA TODAY's iPhone application.
FAA fines American Airlines $24M for safety lapses
http://usat.me?39855494
To view the story, click the link or paste it into your browser.
To learn more about USA TODAY for iPhone and download, visit: http://usatoday.com/iphone/
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
10 great places to thrill to a roller coaster
Summer may be roller-coaster season, but not all thrill rides are created equal. A coaster should be like a perfectly orchestrated play, says Paul Ruben, North American editor of Park World, a trade magazine for the outdoor amusement industry. "The pacing should provide non-stop action," Ruben says. "You should never have a moment to regain your composure." Ruben, 73, estimates he has ridden nearly 800 coasters. He shares some favorites with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY.
MORE 10 GREAT: Themed lists and expert picks
Bizarro, Six Flags New England
Agawam, Mass.
Ruben calls this ride "the best coaster on the planet" with high speeds, fog-filled tunnels and darting turns. The ride is enhanced by a soundtrack played through headrest speakers. It provides riders so much airtime — periods of perceived weightlessness — that "the seats are superfluous." 413-786-9300; sixflags.com/newengland
Millennium Force, Cedar Point
Sandusky, Ohio
An elevator cable pulls riders to a 30-story peak before they plunge down a near-vertical track at speeds of up to 92 mph. "It has overbanked turns, tunnels and four moments off your seat that are unforgettable," Ruben says. At 6,600 feet, it's the longest steel coaster in the Western Hemisphere. 419-627-2350; cedarpoint.com
Thunderbolt, Kennywood
West Mifflin, Penn.
Known affectionately as the T-Bolt, this classic wooden coaster takes advantage of its setting along the Monongahela River. It starts with a drop halfway down the bank, then finishes with its steepest drop at the end. "It's as if the coaster is built backward," Ruben says. 412-461-0500; kennywood.com
X2, Six Flags Magic Mountain
Valencia, Calif.
This Southern California park is home to a unique coaster with separate rails for the seats, so riders find themselves twisting and turning as they fly through the air. "This bizarre coaster breaks the paradigm of how a coaster should work," Ruben says. 661-255-4100; sixflags.com/magicmountain
The Beast, Kings Island
Mason, Ohio
This wooden coaster is the world's longest in both time and length, thrilling riders for more than four minutes on a track that stretches 7,400 feet, Ruben says. It includes a 540-degree helix that twists through a partially covered tunnel. "You can hear the screams echoing through the forest." 513-754-5700; visitkingsisland.com
Ravine Flyer II, Waldameer Park
Erie, Pa.
Riders plunge down an embankment and across a four-lane highway on this unique 2-year-old coaster. "There are several moments when the train changes direction and it tries to pull the seat out from under you. That's nasty," Ruben says. "From start to finish this feels like controlled mayhem." 877-817-1009; waldameer.com
Viper, Six Flags Great America
Gurnee, Ill.
Inspired by the classic Cyclone at Coney Island, N.Y., this coaster is "10 feet taller, a little faster and a whole lot wilder," Ruben says. "Everything that's good about the Cyclone is even better on the Viper." It masterfully employs the picket-fence effect — rushing past stationary objects to add to the illusion of speed. 847-249-4636; sixflags.com/greatamerica
Intimidator, Carowinds
Charlotte
Pedestal-style seats have thrill-seekers leaning back with their feet off the floor. "It's like riding in an out-of-control easy chair," Ruben says of this brand-new steel coaster that reaches speeds of 80 mph. "Anything that makes the rider feel more vulnerable is good. It enhances the sense of imagined danger." 704-588-2600; carowinds.com
Intimidator 305, Kings Dominion
Doswell, Va.
NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt inspired this steel coaster, which boasts an "incredibly high" average speed of 68 mph, nearly double the pace of most rides, and faster than traffic can legally travel on adjacent Interstate 95, Ruben says. It starts with a drop from a 305-foot hill. "I counted six moments of air and several way-too-fast turns," he adds. 804-876-5000; kingsdominion.com
Hades, Mt. Olympus
Wisconsin Dells, Wis.
You can learn mythology from this wooden coaster, which pays homage to the underworld with a 700-foot-long tunnel under the parking lot. It comes up, turns around and dives underground again. "The sense of immediate decapitation is often present," Ruben says. "It's pitch-black in there, and there's a turn inside you don't see coming." 800-800-4997; mtolympuspark.com
MORE 10 GREAT: Themed lists and expert picks
Bizarro, Six Flags New England
Agawam, Mass.
Ruben calls this ride "the best coaster on the planet" with high speeds, fog-filled tunnels and darting turns. The ride is enhanced by a soundtrack played through headrest speakers. It provides riders so much airtime — periods of perceived weightlessness — that "the seats are superfluous." 413-786-9300; sixflags.com/newengland
Millennium Force, Cedar Point
Sandusky, Ohio
An elevator cable pulls riders to a 30-story peak before they plunge down a near-vertical track at speeds of up to 92 mph. "It has overbanked turns, tunnels and four moments off your seat that are unforgettable," Ruben says. At 6,600 feet, it's the longest steel coaster in the Western Hemisphere. 419-627-2350; cedarpoint.com
Thunderbolt, Kennywood
West Mifflin, Penn.
Known affectionately as the T-Bolt, this classic wooden coaster takes advantage of its setting along the Monongahela River. It starts with a drop halfway down the bank, then finishes with its steepest drop at the end. "It's as if the coaster is built backward," Ruben says. 412-461-0500; kennywood.com
X2, Six Flags Magic Mountain
Valencia, Calif.
This Southern California park is home to a unique coaster with separate rails for the seats, so riders find themselves twisting and turning as they fly through the air. "This bizarre coaster breaks the paradigm of how a coaster should work," Ruben says. 661-255-4100; sixflags.com/magicmountain
The Beast, Kings Island
Mason, Ohio
This wooden coaster is the world's longest in both time and length, thrilling riders for more than four minutes on a track that stretches 7,400 feet, Ruben says. It includes a 540-degree helix that twists through a partially covered tunnel. "You can hear the screams echoing through the forest." 513-754-5700; visitkingsisland.com
Ravine Flyer II, Waldameer Park
Erie, Pa.
Riders plunge down an embankment and across a four-lane highway on this unique 2-year-old coaster. "There are several moments when the train changes direction and it tries to pull the seat out from under you. That's nasty," Ruben says. "From start to finish this feels like controlled mayhem." 877-817-1009; waldameer.com
Viper, Six Flags Great America
Gurnee, Ill.
Inspired by the classic Cyclone at Coney Island, N.Y., this coaster is "10 feet taller, a little faster and a whole lot wilder," Ruben says. "Everything that's good about the Cyclone is even better on the Viper." It masterfully employs the picket-fence effect — rushing past stationary objects to add to the illusion of speed. 847-249-4636; sixflags.com/greatamerica
Intimidator, Carowinds
Charlotte
Pedestal-style seats have thrill-seekers leaning back with their feet off the floor. "It's like riding in an out-of-control easy chair," Ruben says of this brand-new steel coaster that reaches speeds of 80 mph. "Anything that makes the rider feel more vulnerable is good. It enhances the sense of imagined danger." 704-588-2600; carowinds.com
Intimidator 305, Kings Dominion
Doswell, Va.
NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt inspired this steel coaster, which boasts an "incredibly high" average speed of 68 mph, nearly double the pace of most rides, and faster than traffic can legally travel on adjacent Interstate 95, Ruben says. It starts with a drop from a 305-foot hill. "I counted six moments of air and several way-too-fast turns," he adds. 804-876-5000; kingsdominion.com
Hades, Mt. Olympus
Wisconsin Dells, Wis.
You can learn mythology from this wooden coaster, which pays homage to the underworld with a 700-foot-long tunnel under the parking lot. It comes up, turns around and dives underground again. "The sense of immediate decapitation is often present," Ruben says. "It's pitch-black in there, and there's a turn inside you don't see coming." 800-800-4997; mtolympuspark.com
Is JetBlue's 'All You Can Jet' Pass worth it?
By Laura Bly, USA TODAY
JetBlue is bringing back its popular All You Can Jet Pass, which gives unlimited travel Sept. 7-Oct. 6.
CAPTIONBy Michael Dwyer, APLike a lot of travel addicts, I greeted yesterday's announcement that JetBlue is bringing back its month-long, "All You Can Jet" Pass - unlimited travel to more than 60 cities from Sept. 7 through Oct. 6 for $699, or $499 if you exclude Friday and Sunday flights - with stars in my eyes and a hand reaching for my credit card.
But setting aside the wanderlust quotient, is a pass really worth it - or practical for anyone except retirees with an open schedule and a healthy 401K, given all the extra dough you'd spend on hotels, rental cars and restaurants?
When JetBlue offered an unlimited pass for $599 last fall, it sold out in two days (this time, the cut-off date for purchase is Aug. 20, or "while supplies last.") And "with fares up 20% compared with last year, it's still a very good deal," FareCompare.com's Rick Seaney told SmartMoney.com. The pass is good for any available flight, but you'll have to fork over taxes and fees on international and Puerto Rico flights (an extra $96.89, for example, on a roundtrip between New York and Cancun).
Both business and leisure travelers are likely to get the most bang for their bucks from JetBlue's $499 version, says Seaney, who adds that "generally, flying coast-to-coast twice is your break-even point." Indeed, a quick search for September flights on ITASoftware.com (which gets my vote for easiest way to calculate the cost of a potential trip) showed that the cheapest roundtrip between New York and Los Angeles for a stay of three to six nights is $279.
Other advice from SmartMoney: Since you must book flights at least three days ahead and most flights are already operating close to capacity, travelers who don't have much flexibility may have a tougher time getting seats this year. Customers who cancel an "All You Can Jet" flight within three days of departure must pay a $50 fee, and failing to show will cost you $100 and the use of your pass until you pay the fine.
And, adds Ed Perkins of SmarterTravel.com, you have to be realistic: "It sounds like a really good idea, but the problem is, I don't know that many people who could or would even want to take that much time off to do nothing but fly," he says.
JetBlue is bringing back its popular All You Can Jet Pass, which gives unlimited travel Sept. 7-Oct. 6.
CAPTIONBy Michael Dwyer, APLike a lot of travel addicts, I greeted yesterday's announcement that JetBlue is bringing back its month-long, "All You Can Jet" Pass - unlimited travel to more than 60 cities from Sept. 7 through Oct. 6 for $699, or $499 if you exclude Friday and Sunday flights - with stars in my eyes and a hand reaching for my credit card.
But setting aside the wanderlust quotient, is a pass really worth it - or practical for anyone except retirees with an open schedule and a healthy 401K, given all the extra dough you'd spend on hotels, rental cars and restaurants?
When JetBlue offered an unlimited pass for $599 last fall, it sold out in two days (this time, the cut-off date for purchase is Aug. 20, or "while supplies last.") And "with fares up 20% compared with last year, it's still a very good deal," FareCompare.com's Rick Seaney told SmartMoney.com. The pass is good for any available flight, but you'll have to fork over taxes and fees on international and Puerto Rico flights (an extra $96.89, for example, on a roundtrip between New York and Cancun).
Both business and leisure travelers are likely to get the most bang for their bucks from JetBlue's $499 version, says Seaney, who adds that "generally, flying coast-to-coast twice is your break-even point." Indeed, a quick search for September flights on ITASoftware.com (which gets my vote for easiest way to calculate the cost of a potential trip) showed that the cheapest roundtrip between New York and Los Angeles for a stay of three to six nights is $279.
Other advice from SmartMoney: Since you must book flights at least three days ahead and most flights are already operating close to capacity, travelers who don't have much flexibility may have a tougher time getting seats this year. Customers who cancel an "All You Can Jet" flight within three days of departure must pay a $50 fee, and failing to show will cost you $100 and the use of your pass until you pay the fine.
And, adds Ed Perkins of SmarterTravel.com, you have to be realistic: "It sounds like a really good idea, but the problem is, I don't know that many people who could or would even want to take that much time off to do nothing but fly," he says.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
FOX News: Delta Opens Ticket Counter on Facebook
I thought you might be interested in this article: Delta Opens Ticket Counter on Facebook.
Sent via the FOX News iPhone App. Download the app here.
Sent via the FOX News iPhone App. Download the app here.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Virgin America's newest destination: Dallas/Fort Worth - USATODAY.com
Check out this article that I saw in USA TODAY's iPhone application.
Virgin America's newest destination: Dallas/Fort Worth
http://usat.me?104805
To view the story, click the link or paste it into your browser.
To learn more about USA TODAY for iPhone and download, visit: http://usatoday.com/iphone/
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
Another New Kids on the Block cruise in the works - USATODAY.com
Check out this article that I saw in USA TODAY's iPhone application.
Another New Kids on the Block cruise in the works
http://usat.me?104476
To view the story, click the link or paste it into your browser.
To learn more about USA TODAY for iPhone and download, visit: http://usatoday.com/iphone/
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