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Watch a Tornado Hit the Runways at Denver International Airport

June 18, 2013 at 6:23 PM | by | Comments (0)

In 2011, St. Louis Airport suffered a direct hit by an F-4 tornado, causing significant damage to the terminal buildings (but no deaths). The event was a reminder that as secure as an airport may be, it's never safe from the whims of Mother Nature, a lesson learned today by Denver International Airport.

Around 2.15pm local time, a tornado warning was issued for the area around Denver Airport. It didn't last long—only 40 minutes—but it was enough time for a funnel to form and touch down on the eastern runways of the airport, sending travelers scurrying into the tornado shelter, bathrooms, stairwells, storerooms and other more sheltered areas of Denver Airport.

Flights were delayed, of course, but the airport itself hasn't reported any damage or injuries. despite winds which reached 97mph.

In the meantime, social media once again proved the best reporting source of what exactly was going on at DIA, with amazing images of the live tornado such as these:

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How To Get Tickets To The 2013 Breeders' Cup

June 18, 2013 at 3:17 PM | by | Comments (0)

The Breeders' Cup returns to Santa Anita Park on Friday, Nov. 1 and Saturday, Nov. 2, and it's not too late to get tickets for the new swanky View section at this year's race.

The Breeders’ Cup is one of Thoroughbred horse racing’s most prestigious events, consisting of 14 races with purses and awards totaling more than $27 million.

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This is the Future: New York to Get Free Solar-Powered Cell Phone Charging Stations

June 18, 2013 at 2:46 PM | by | Comments (0)

First Citi Bikes, and now this? Fast Company reports that New York City will be installing free solar-powered cell phone charging stations throughout the city.

A shared project of AT&T and solar energy company Goal Zero will bring the charging stations to 25 rotating locations in New York for just three months.

Considering what a mess the city was post-Hurricane Sandy and how many people struggled to find places to charge their phones while their homes were without power, three months is not going to cut it. Somebody has GOT to make these charging stations permanent. (Until then, hit Destination Bar on 13th Street and Avenue A to charge your phone while you have a beer. You're all welcome in advance.)

Does this mean that cell phone theft in NYC is about to skyrocket? We'll have to wait and see.

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Forget Central Park and Pack a Picnic for These 6 Semi-Secret NYC Parks

June 18, 2013 at 11:46 AM | by | Comment (1)

Maybe it's not your first time to New York City. Maybe you're sick of the sweaty scene at Central Park. Maybe heading off to the end of the subway line in another borough sounds cool. Whatever the reason, you've just got to check out these six semi-secret city parks in the Big Apple.

Note that these six are not just some we're listing off because we've been once or twice; all of them we frequent on the regular, after having had our fill of Bryant Park, Central Park, Battery Park and the other usual suspects. We're not even sure it's wise to spread the word since there's the chance you could end up sitting on our favorite bench, but that's a chance we'll happily take if it means you'll stray from the beaten tourist path every so often.

Our 6 secret NYC parks are:

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Pan Am in 1969: 'Stewardesses, Like Jetliners, Must Be Slinky Sex Symbols'

June 18, 2013 at 10:44 AM | by | Comments (0)

There seems something innately disingenuous about illustrating a story on the history of flight attendants solely with GIFs, but alas good ol' Buzzfeed has gone and done it. Luckily it's for good reason; it seems NBC has dug up an old documentary of theirs on Pan Am flight attendants from 1969, entitled "Every Young Chick Wants to Fly."

If that title offends, then just wait until you watch the short film. Head over to Buzzfeed to view, but here's two of the creepier lines to prepare you:

'Stewardesses, like jetliners, must be slinky sex symbols. Pilots may be homely and bald.'

'The stewardess works an average of 18 months, then quits…Some get married, frequently to passengers'

[GIF: Buzzfeed]

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Can't Make It to Paris? Have the Sweetest Snacks of France Shipped to Your Door

Where: France
June 18, 2013 at 9:44 AM | by | Comments (0)

Finally travelers who miss the flavors of Paris need not wait until their next European trip to fulfill a craving for French snacks. A new company, named Try the World, seeks to deliver those yummies right to your door, or to the mailbox of any Francophile you love enough to gift such a thing.

Try the World has only recently launched, offering "The Classic Paris Box," but has plans to expand to other destination-inspired boxes and even a subscription service a la Birchbox, but for foreign snacks! The concept is simple (and genius) enough:

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Samoa Air Weighs Fliers, Creates Special Seats for 'Passengers of Size'

Where: Samoa
June 18, 2013 at 9:04 AM | by | Comment (1)

Back in April, we told you about Samoa Air's move to charging passengers per kilo of bodyweight after they hop on the scales (with their luggage) at check-in. Now at least there is some better news for passengers of size or for those who simply like to stretch their legs.

The island airline has created an Executive Row called X-L Class for its new flights between Samoa and American Samoa. You'll find the minimal business class onboard their Cessna and BN Islander aircraft for island-hopping passengers weighing 130 kg or more—that's just about 285 pounds. The seats will offer about 12-14 inches of extra space during the 40 minute flight.

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The Crazy Costa Concordia Drama Continues as a Lawsuit Comes to Court

Where: Italy
June 18, 2013 at 8:32 AM | by | Comments (0)

Just when you thought the world had perhaps moved on from that dreadful cruise ship grounding in Italy, the Costa Concordia is again popping up as the trial starts next month. This time it's not the ship that's the focus so much as the ship's dancer who was keeping the captain company on the bridge when the incident occurred.

If you can remember back, there were reports that Captain Schettino had welcomed Moldovian dancer, Domnica Cemortan, into the control room of the ship with hopes of wowing her. Since we weren't there we have no clue what actually happened, but we all know the outcome. Now, Cemortan is suing not only the Costa Cruises, but the captain himself and the media for smearing her angelic reputation.

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Road Tripping South Africa via the Garden Route: Out from Plettenberg Bay

June 17, 2013 at 6:59 PM | by | Comments (0)

If you're going to road trip in South Africa, let it be on the Garden Route. This popular stretch of road connects Heidelberg and Storms River Village along the N2, traversing mountain passes interspersed with views out to the Indian Ocean. We recently drove it in a 2014 Subaru Forester XT, opting for the most picturesque (and least paved) stretches from Plettenberg Bay to Cape Town. Come along for the ride all this week!

First things first. We flew into Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International Airport and, minutes after the passport stamp, hopped on a charter flight to Plettenberg Bay (onboard a Beechcraft Super King Air), where the on-the-road action finally began. A more popular airport with frequent commercial service on both Kulula and South African Express is George Airport (GRJ).

We departed Plettenberg Bay after a jet lag-heavy sleep and immediately came across the vistas for which we'd traveled halfway across the world. This part of the route, from Plettenberg Bay west, took us north through the Meiringspoort, up and around the Swartberg Mountain range, and eventually back down through the Swartberg Pass to the town of Oudtshoorn.

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Buddhist Monks Hop a Private Jet, Ignite a Controversy

Where: Thailand
June 17, 2013 at 6:31 PM | by | Comments (0)

What do you call three Buddhist monks with Louis Vuitton luggage in a private jet?

You call them not a joke.

That's right—the following video is real, just as real as the cool attitudes and Evian waters of the monks traveling in style, complete with aviator glasses. The video is currently creating quite an uproar in Thailand, enough to make Nopparat Benjawatananun, Director-General of The Office of National Buddhism, clarify to the AP that the monks have been reprimanded and instructed "not to repeat the lavish behavior."

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A New Supreme Court Case Will Determine How Airlines Talk to the TSA

June 17, 2013 at 5:10 PM | by | Comments (0)

The Supreme Court announced today that it will hear a case over whether the law that created TSA means that an airline can't be sued for reporting that a soon-to-be ex-employee on a different airline's flight had a gun when in fact he didn't. Confused yet? So are most of the reporters that have been covering the case, from what we can tell.

The USA Today writeup is probably one of the cleaner accounts we've seen, and even it takes 6 paragraphs before getting to the legal issue at stake. The case is actually kind of important for airline security—it goes to the heart of how lawmakers encourage airlines to report suspicious behavior—so let's see if we can't unpack it below.

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Harrison Ford Spent Fathers Day Flying Himself to LA

June 17, 2013 at 2:25 PM | by | Comments (0)

Harrison Ford piloted his own Father's Day flight back home to Los Angeles on Sunday.

Ford chose a green Cessna 680 for the post-vacation ride, which he took with his some Liam. The 70-year-old actor owns several other planes and helicopters, including a de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver and a Bell 408 Helicopter.

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