Posted by John Mayfield
Travel
Wednesday, July 6th, 2011
Potential Airline Threats
Recent U.S. government officials warning say that terrorists are now considering surgically implanting explosive devices in people as an attempt to circumvent airline screening procedures.
They insist there is no indication of an immediate threat but that new information could find new additional screening procedures throughout the nation’s airports. Some of the existing scanners can’t detect bombs which are implanted under a human’s skin, according to experts.
The information says that such a threat could come from overseas and not domestic groups, but federal officials are making precautions both in the United States and abroad.
This idea of surgically implanting bombs in humans has been inspected by intelligence agencies before, but the new information suggests that terrorists groups are strongly considering the new technique, according to officials.
Nicholas Kimball, a spokesman for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), states that airline passengers flying into the United States are likely to be subject to additional screening.
“These measures are designed to be unpredictable, so passengers should not expect to see the same activity at every international airport,” Kimball commented. “Measures may include interaction with passengers, in addition to the use of other screening methods such as pat-downs and the use of enhanced tools and technologies.”
Existing scanners are not able to detect certain explosive materials like PETN under human skin. They would have to rely on explosive trace detection swabs to detect bombs which are under the skin of a human, and currently these are only done on a fraction of the passengers.
Posted by John Mayfield
Travel
Sunday, July 3rd, 2011
Final Patriotic Mission
NASA’s space shuttles are icons for American spaceflight for more than 30 years, but the historic space planes will retire for good after one final mission this month.
The shuttle Atlantis is expected to launch NASA’s final shuttle mission and is called STS-135. It will happen on Friday at 11:26 a.m. EDT from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Atlantis will soar to a 12-day mission at the International Space Station where they will deliver supplies and spare parts. It will mark the 135th and final mission of the shuttles since flights began in 1981.
While NASA plans to shut down the iconic shuttle program, let’s take a look at some of the most patriotic shuttle mission that has ever been flown.
The first space shuttle mission, STS-1 (Columbia), was launched on April 12, 1981. This mission began three decades for the historic shuttle program. The first mission came twenty years after the (former) Soviet Union beat the first leg in the space race by placing the first person in space which was Yuri Gagarin. STS-1 was 54 hours in length, and the shuttle orbited the Earth a total of 37 times.
The STS-1 is the most complex spacecraft ever and it should be noted that it was the first U.S. manned spaceship which was launched without an unmanned test flight. Because of this heroic event, NASA continues to describe the mission as “The boldest test flight in history.”
When testing the Manned Manned Manuevering Unit or MMU for short, astronaut Bruce McCandless II ventured the most further away from the safety of the ship than any previous astronaut ever attempted. The MMU was a nitrogen jet propelled backpack that was used during a 1984 shuttle mission. He became known as the first true “human satellite.”
The Discovery space shuttle launched the STS-31 mission on April 24, 1990 at 8:33 a.m. EDT. The mission included the deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope, the first of NASA’s Great Observatories that reached orbit. It is the only telescope that is also designed to be repaired and serviced in space.
Every 97 minutes, Hubble completes an orbit around Earth, moving at the speed of about 5 miles per second — which is fast enough to travel across the United States in roughly ten minutes.
The space shuttle program has made history time and time again. To learn more about the heroic missions of the space program visit NASA’s website or better yet, take a trip to NASA. It is well worth a full day of adventure.
Posted by John Mayfield
Travel
Tuesday, June 28th, 2011
Air Travel Experience
Traveling can end up being a truly bad experience if you don’t prepare properly before you head out on your excursion. However if you follow these useful tips, you can have a much more pleasurable trip.
Prepare
If you plan on Airport travel it is imperative that you prepare ahead of time and know the type of things you will need to be ready for as far as inspections, what you can and carry on, etc. It is better to check with your Airline’s website or give them a call a day before your flight so you can be educated on these types of issues. Rules do change occasionally so it is better to know ahead of time to avoid delays.
Properly Pack
It is better to start with a list to ensure nothing you need is forgotten. Keep everything in its place like putting outfits together to make things less stressful and easier when you go to unpack. If you do need to carry on items such as perfume, and other standard toiletries just make sure they are in the proper size containers to again avoid delays. These containers should also be in clear bags to lessen inspection time at the Airport.
Park
The easiest thing to do is to take advantage of offsite parking options and booking this ahead of time. It is usually less costly and you will spend less time than trying to find a spot in the usually airport lot. Many times a valet is available as well to make things even easier.
Provide Yourself Some Stress Relief and Leisure Things to do in Case You do Have to Wait.
No matter how prepared you are, there are always going to be times where you will have to wait at airport. It is just a fact of life. IPods, cell phones, even portable mini TV’s are some of the things you can bring to help pass the time. Most Airports have a small store which will sell magazines but it is helpful to bring ones you prefer. Also keep in mind some things for kids to play with if you do happen to be traveling with children.
Keep in Touch
Check your flight information through the Internet or call the Airlines directly. Many times flights are delayed and a quick call can save a lot of time if a flight has been cancelled or delayed.
Just following these few tips can make things much easier and less stressful.
Posted by John Mayfield
Travel
Saturday, June 25th, 2011
Disneyland New Attractions
Disneyland is set to premier several new rides this summer and the same can be said for Disney California Adventure Park.
At California Adventure Park, one of the main rides to debut is based on Disney’s The Little Mermaid from 1989. It will be a family oriented ride with music from the movie in an underwater setting.
Another area of the park is based on the Disney Movie Cars. The 12-acre park area will not be completed until 2012.
At Disneyland, probably the most innovative ride which is now open takes riders on a journey based on 54 possible storylines. Riders can experience a different journey each time they ride.
Also at Disneyland’s Main Street, drummers and dancers along with many Disney characters debuted on May 27th and it are known part of Mickey’s Soundsational Parade.
Not to be outdone, other theme parks in the Southern California area are also opening new rides.
Based on the movie, The Green Lantern, a new roller coaster at Magic Mountain in Six Flags will help them recapture the title “Roller Coaster Capital of the World”. It will include plunging drops that will feel like a free fall and riders will be on suspended trains. The ride also includes parts that will rotate completely upside down and back and forth and is sure to be a hit.
At another nearby park in Buena Park, California, Knott’s Berry Farm, a ride called the WindSeeker will open in July or possibly late June depending on construction. Riders will be treated to a 30 m.p.h. one minute spin while being extended 45 degrees from the tower’s top.
In San Diego County, Legoland opened the Star Wars Miniland. This area includes battle scenes, massive machines, and cityscapes in 1:20 scale based on the famous movie. The attraction used Lego bricks to capture the movie timeline from the first film to include even the cartoon series and includes 1.5 million of the tiny bricks Lego is known for.
Posted by John Mayfield
Travel
Wednesday, June 15th, 2011
Red Wine Counteracts Negativity
Good news for oenophiles: Wine can counterbalance the unhelpful effects that weightlessness brings. We’ve already witnessed the first beer brewed for space drinking — any vintners want to take on the test of bottling the first zero-g grenache?
Scientists have been reassuring us that red wine has great health benefits because it contains resveratrol and antioxidants which are good for the heart, according to the Mayo Clinic. Now a study shows that resveratrol prevents muscle atrophy and bone density loss. These are two problems which commonly plague astronauts and people who lead a sedentary life.
Researchers in France have been working with rats in an environment which is much like the weightlessness of spaceflight. By hanging the rats up by their tails and giving one group daily doses of resveratrol and none to the other group.
The control group had muscle density and bone loss and also developed insulin resistance according to the Federation of the American Societies for Experimental Biology. The resveratrol group did not have these side effects.
“Resveratrol may not be a substitute for exercise, but it could slow deterioration until someone can get moving again,” said editor-in-chief of the FASEB Journal, Gerald Weissmann, M.D.
Astronauts who are on long duration trips to the ISS or Mars spacecraft could take resveratrol supplements and similarly people with sedentary lives due to disabilities could benefit. Or they could drink some red wine.
Posted by John Mayfield
Travel
Friday, June 10th, 2011
Space Shuttle…Not For Wimps
No doubt Spaceflight is dangerous stuff. You have no air, no gravity, no pressure, all that radiation and the many things that can go wrong from blast-off to final landing. Complex technologies can fail in complex ways. NASA has discovered such in moments of tragedy throughout the years. In reading about the Columbia accident it concludes that due to budget pressures the shuttle was never designed for maximum safety. Rather it was “a compromise vehicle that was less than optimal for manned flights.”
The CAIB report says, “NASA designed and developed a remarkably capable and resilient vehicle, consisting of an Orbiter with three Main Engines, two Solid Rocket Boosters, and an External Tank, but one that has never met any of its original requirements for reliability, cost, ease of turnaround, maintainability, or, regrettably, safety.”
The report also gets into culture issues and failure of communications as well as flawed mindsets.
Meanwhile some old-timers are not happy at all with the retirement of the shuttle. Some believe that we need it in case of emergencies on the International Space Station. Chris Kraft is a NASA legend and his opinion matters.
If you want to know what’s really happening with the space industry than you should follow the Nasa Watch and Space Politics blogs.
Posted by John Mayfield
Travel
Monday, May 30th, 2011
England Best Destination
England is a country of art, history and culture and reflects these by its cathedrals, castles, museums, monasteries, abbeys, gardens and Roman cities. We are talking about music, literature, entertainment and sports. This is what makes England so spectacular.
England is the largest constituent country of the United Kingdom and owns a history of hundreds of years. Because of that, the country has lots of historical places such as castles, cathedrals, monuments, palaces, and historic houses and buildings. Some of England’s attractions are known worldwide. Making England one of the world’s most popular visitor destinations.
London and many other cities in England are large and are also popular travel destinations. Some of them include: Liverpool, Birmingham, Manchester, York, Brighton Oxford, Leeds and other places.
The capital, London, is a metropolitan place and is important for finance, culture and fashion. London has many attractions to see. One of the world-wide famous places is Trafalgar Square. There are many palaces including: London Eve, Palace of Westminister, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Kennsington Palace, Buckingham Palace, Kew Palace, St. James Palace and Madam Tussaud’s. London Zoo is among the most popular attractions.
There are many beautiful parks in London like Kensington Garden’s and Hyde Park apre places you will want to see too. Art is important in London with many must-see places such as National Gallery, Tate Modern and Royal Academy just to name a few.
In Manchester there are many attractions for everyone to visit. There are museums and sports stadiums and arenas, art galleries and music and theatre venues to visit.
When people think of Liverpool the Beatles are always what come to mind. The city of Liverpool is the home of the famous Beatles and also offers architecture, sports and music for each visitor.
Cambridge is known as the university town in England. Birmingham is Britain’s next largest city and offers many things to do.
Posted by John Mayfield
Travel
Friday, May 27th, 2011
Chocolate Farmers Honored
Mayas in 1000 B.C. knew the “food of the gods” was Belize’s rich chocolate. It has now emerged as an irresistible treat for international travels. It has also become a solid contributor to the economy of that country.
The weekend before, Belize dedicated the launch of a culinary campaign called SavorBelize. It was introduced to the growing cacao industry at the 5th Annual Toledo Cacao Festival (TCF). Hundreds of tourists and Belizeans celebrated four chocolate producers from the country and more than 1,100 cacao farmers.
Belize was once a struggling industry but now generates approximately $200,000 per year from raw cacao exports. It projects a 300 percent increase in production in the next five years. This is a testament to the long-term sustainability of investment by local supporters and cacao farming. This includes supporters such as the Toledo Cacao Growers’ Association known as TCGA and the Belize Tourism Board or BTB.
“Belize has a long and proud history of producing chocolate, and our cacao beans have always had a rich, distinct flavor because of our unique tropical climate and soil,” said the Director of Tourism for the BTB, Seleni Matus. “We are pleased to see that our cacao industry has been able to evolve and expand to match our country’s deeply-rooted appreciation of chocolate, allowing both tourists and wholesalers to now experience our treasured sweets.
At the helm of Belize’s chocolate production is the country’s four chocolate makers, including: Cotton Tree Chocolate, Goss Chocolate, Belize Chocolate Company and Cyrila’s Chocolate. The Belize Chocolate Company which is also known as Kakaw and uses hand-picked beans from local cocoa farms. Each batch of Cotton Tree Chocolate is made from one farmer’s harvest. They produce a unique blend each and every time.
Among the family-owned companies, one creates organically-grown, 100 percent all natural chocolate and it is Goss Chocolate’s trademark as it is found in bright gold wrappers.
Posted by admin
Travel
Saturday, May 21st, 2011
Beach Hut Resorts
While beachfront resorts are common throughout the world, overwater bungalows offer something a little more specialized and exotic to your vacation. With around two-thirds of the 90 overwater bungalow resorts in the world located in the Maldives, shallow lagoons and peaceful waters are abundant.
Check out some of the top Overwater Hut Resorts we’ve found:
Constance Moofushi Resort, Maldives
Not only home to some of the best dive sites in the world, there are many water villas located on this picturesque South Ari Atoll. After deplaning at Maldives International Airport, take in the amazing views of the Indian Ocean from your chosen bungalow. The resort also offers many activities including night fishing, snorkeling and scuba diving. The resort’s “Robinson Crusoe” experience affords couples either a half or full day on a deserted island for an extra fee. Meals, drinks and other amenities are all-inclusive and start at $705 a night for single occupancy water villas. During the holidays, the rates go up to $1,700 per night.
Four Seasons Bora Bora
The Four Seasons in Bora Bora offers 100 overwater villas which sit on stilts over the blue lagoon. The roofs are thatched with pandanus leaves and the interiors are furnished in teak wood. A 2011 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice award winner as one of the top hotels for romance and luxury in the South Pacific, the Four Seasons Bora Bora have villas with views of Mount Otemanu and some with private plunge pools for about $2,700 per night.
Bora Bora Nui Resort & Spa, Bora Bora
Another TripAdvisor 2011 Travelers’ Choice winner, Bora Bora Nui is on Motu Toopua. Dozens of overwater bungalows are featured in the resort which features the only two-story overwater villas in French Polynesia. The huts which provide unparalleled luxury encourage privacy throughout the resort. During the summer with an advance purchase, a king overwater deluxe villa is around $1,170 per night.
Posted by John Mayfield
Travel
Friday, May 20th, 2011
Human Smuggling Business
Recently, 513 immigrants were caught in two in Chiapas, which boarders Guatemala. In January, a trailer was apprehended carrying 219 people. The transportation of human immigrants across the border into the United States represents millions of dollars in business for the transporters.
Immigrants pay illegal transportation services anywhere from $7,000 to $30,000 per person to be smuggled into the United States. According to the United Nations, smuggling migrants across the Mexican border just into the United States takes in annual revenue of $6.6 billion. An estimated $1 billion is paid by non-Mexicans to cross from Guatemala. “There are more and more people coming from all other regions of the world using the Central American and Mexican corridor to reach the North American market,” says Antonio Mazzitelli of the regional United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
An estimated 300 to 500 illegal immigrants cross the border into Mexico every day according to Guatemalan officials. The price for the crossing has doubled in two years with immigrants paying as much as $10,000 to enter the United States. According to a United Nations report, by 2006 95 percent of Mexicans crossing into the United States were paying smugglers to assist their transport, mostly via truck. In 2003, 19 Central Americans suffocated inside a scorching tractor-trailer near Houston.
Mexican transportation outfits are obviously clandestine organizations that authorities have an increasingly difficult time tracking. There is speculation of gang involvement while others say that Mexico’s brutal drug gangs don’t involve themselves in human smuggling. Others intimate that local and even federal authorities. In recent raids on operations in Reynosa, across from McAllen Texas, both local police and federal immigration agents were arrested.
