For the hour or so that the nation stopped on Thursday, dying of anticipation and worry for the boy that supposedly had floated off from his family's backyard in a homemade balloon, we were entertained, titillated, alarmed...but most of all we were duped. It was declared over the weekend, after authorities spoke with the Heene family and after the boy, Falcon, made the statement that "we did this for the show" during an interview with Wolf Blitzer, that the whole incident had been a hoax to gain publicity.

Publicity for what? Well, a reality show of course, although one that doesn't exist and probably never will if felony charges are filed as promised. The Heenes, a storm-chasing family that regularly conducts science fiction-y experiments (hence the balloon) and has been featured on several dramatic episodes of Wife Swap had been shopping around a reality show following their family life; a "Jon and Kate Plus 8," but more like "Richard and Mayumi Plus 3 Boys Living Dangerously." So dangerously, that everyone believed that Falcon was indeed inside the balloon, only to later discover that he was hiding in a box in the garage's attic at home. ]]> JetSetCD 2009-10-19T08:54:55-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/10/15/155140/23

Update 8am EST 10/16: The boy was found hiding in the attic at this house. Since then, the family has been interviewed several times, managing to embarrass themselves when the boy possibly revealed it all as a hoax on Larry King Live and then vomited live on air during the Today Show. We're sure this story will continue.

This afternoon, an emergency story gripped the nation and the internet as it was announced that a 6 year-old boy, Falcon Heene, had taken off in a homemade UFO-shaped balloon and was floating towards Denver International Airport, causing helicopters and air traffic authorities to mobilize in order to track it and bring it safely to the ground.

The balloon, a weak craft with a plywood bottom and a small door through which it is believed the child entered, floated between 5,000 to 7,000 feet for hours, taking off from near Ft. Collins and landing a field near Hudson, CO. The child was not inside of the craft and the search for him continues.

In the meantime, we have realized (as has Huffington Post) that the boy is the son of one of the families featured on the popular TV show Wife Swap. The family, the Heenes, were the reckless family who were stormchasers and daredevils; the wife was switched to a ultra safety-conscious mom. The episode was so spectacular that it opened the season for the show, and one of the children notoriously says "F*ck these rules" to the swapped mom. Check out a clip of that here.

The video, after the jump. ]]> JetSetCD 2009-10-15T15:51:40-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/2/18/92330/2335

Yesterday in Denver, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law, his job-creation and spending bill aimed at getting the economy back on track. Comprising $787 billion in spending, there's something for everyone in the stimulus package; while the American Society of Travel Agents called the bill "a missed opportunity" for its failure to help small-business owners, you may already be a winner thanks to infusions for these sectors:

Road-trippers and commuters. -- One provision in the $82.1 billion slice dedicated to tax credit payments will allow buyers of new cars to deduct sales or excise taxes on vehicles up to $49,500 (as long as you make less than $125,000). City dwellers got some goodies too: You can now set aside $230 a month in pre-tax dollars to pay for public transit to get to work (up from $120) if your employer participates in a program like TransitChek.]]> egw 2009-02-18T11:07:05-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/12/21/11184/471

A Houston-bound jet skidded off the runway and caught on fire during takeoff in Denver Saturday night, resulting in 38 injuries but no fatalities. Some witnesses said the Continental 737 hadn't left the ground yet when it veered off the runway and into a ravine.

There's no doubt it was a terrifying situation for the 112 passengers on board, who had to exit the plane via inflatable slide, but I'm sure most of them consider themselves lucky right now, like they just got a new lease on life. Just think about how much worse it would have been if the plane was a few hundred feet in the sky before going out of control.

It also sounds like the evacuation went pretty well. College student Emily Pellegrini told the Denver Post that she just "went with the flow off the plane," leaving behind her cell phone and carry-on bag. Somebody's been paying attention to the passenger emergency procedures demonstration.

Investigators are on the scene, and the cause of the accident is under investigation. Not surprisingly, the incident has resulted in some delays, but for one fortunate group of fliers, that probably doesn't seem like a big deal right now.

[Photo: AP]

Related Stories:
· DIA Crash Injures 38 [Denver Post]
· Accident Coverage [Jaunted]]]> Victor Ozols 2008-12-21T11:18:04-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/10/10/105241/06

It's Friday. You've been working and you've just about had it. Unless you're one of those lucky people already at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver this weekend, in which case: We hate you. Now get off the Internet and buy us a pint!

The fest, administered by the Brewers Association, is a brewers' competition and a tippler's delight with some 1,800 beers. But you can't actually get a pint of any of them--instead, they are served in one-ounce tasting portions more familiar to fans of "Sideways" than, well, "Beerfest."

The show is sold out according to its organizers, but for the dedicated drinker Craigslist shall provide. The party runs through Saturday at the Colorado Convention Center.

Related Stories:
· A 750 Mile Taxi Ride For A Beer [Jaunted]
· Boozy Travel: World Beer Festival [Jaunted]
· Beer coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: duggus]]]> egw 2008-10-10T12:00:42-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/27/233259/927

Please, I'm here to work! Charlize Theron keeps her head down en route to the premiere of her new politically motivated movie "Battle in Seattle" in Denver yesterday.

The directorial debut of Theron's beau Stuart Townsend costars Ray Liotta, Andre 3000 and Channing Tatum and takes place during the 1999 WTO protests in Washington state. While negotiations faltered inside, nonviolent crowds outside prompted the city to call in the National Guard, but talks eventually had to be relocated to Qatar. (Liotta plays the embattled mayor!)

Hopefully the flick won't induce traumatic flashbacks in any DNC visitors who may have also been active in that movement.

Related Stories:
· Where Real "Grey's Anatomy" Nurses Hang Out In Seattle [Jaunted]
· Celeb DNC Travel: Sheryl Feels Inspired [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: JustJared] ]]> egw 2008-08-28T08:45:18-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/18/132816/291

The Democratic National Convention will be held August 25-28, and we bet a lot of people would love to be there whether they support presumptive nominee Barack Obama or not. And stars are no exception: Gossips are predicting an unprecedented level of celeb sightings next week in Denver.]]> egw 2008-08-18T14:05:12-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/