A chemistry teacher from the Sichuan province of China plans to put his glue-making skills to the ultimate test: He's planning to set sail across the Taiwan Strait in a six-foot-long paper boat on October 31.
Teacher Zhu Yalin has made a similar--if shorter--journey before, taking a different paper boat 50 miles down the Mingjiang River in 2005. Perhaps surprisingly, he says this trip will be easier:
According to my observations and experience, the conditions in the Taiwan Strait are much better than the Mingjiang River. I am really looking forward to it.
That said, he's still planning to have a lifeboat along for the trip.
Related Stories:
· Sea Trek by Paper Boat [Ananova]
· Scary China Travel: Algae Attack! [Jaunted]]]>
Wednesday we learned that possible traces of Steve Fossett were recovered in the California wilderness. Today, the National Transportation Safety Board announced that it has:
Dispatched investigators to California to investigate the crash of a small plane that was found yesterday that appears to be the aircraft piloted by adventurer Steve Fossett. The Bellanca 8KCAB (N240R) has been missing since September 3, 2007.
The wreckage is sitting at about 10,000 feet in the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Mammoth Lakes, California.
Meanwhile, it seems even more likely that the IDs that were found earlier this week belonged to Fossett: The name, address, date of birth and certificate number on them match FAA records, the agency says.
Update: Officials now say that the wreckage is in fact Fossett's plane.
Related Stories:
· NTSB Investigating Crash in California [Official Site]
· Possible Traces of Steve Fossett Recovered in California [Jaunted]
· Steve Fossett coverage [Jaunted]]]>
A hiker in a remote area near Mammoth Lakes, California found two "well-weathered" IDs, about $1,000 in cash and a size XL black Nautica pullover fleece that may have belonged to Steve Fossett. The items were found not far from where backcountry superstar Simon Donato was searching for Fossett this summer.
Because the IDs don't have pictures, it's hard to say with absolute certainty that the pilot ID and separate FAA ID are Fossett's, and no plane wreckage has yet been found in the area. Still, it's the first lead on the missing adventurer in months, despite numerous efforts to track down any trace of the world record holder.
Fossett, you'll remember, was declared dead by a judge in February after he disappeared after what was to be an easy afternoon flight from Barron Hilton's ranch in September 2007.
Related Stories:
· Apparent Steve Fossett Belongings Found [CNN]
· "Steve Fossett Items" Found [AFP, via Google]
· Possible Fossett ID, Items Found [AP, via Google]
· Steve Fossett coverage [Jaunted]]]>
Ridiculous man-slash-publicity machine David Blaine has begun his hang above Central Park's Wollman Rink. The "illusionist" will try to stay there for 60 hours.
Obviously, he's calling it his hardest stunt ever.
But how hard can it be if he's taking 10 minutes off every hour to rest right-side-up on a cherry picker?
Related Stories:
· Wollman Rink [Official Site]
· David Blaine Is an Idiot and a Fraud [Mollygood]
· David Blaine Hangs Upside Down over Central Park [AFP, via Google]
· What Spider-Man and David Blaine Have in Common [NYT]
· Google Maps coverage [Jaunted]]]>
Turns out the $81 million Bayport Cruise Terminal in Houston will actually get some use--and all it took was a Category 2 hurricane steamrolling Galveston! In the wake of Hurricane Ike, Carnival Cruise Lines decided to bypass the island, instead operating its ships Conquest and Ecstasy out of the brand new-but-unused passenger terminal closer to downtown.]]>
So. Sarah Palin. She's Alaska's 11th governor--it's only been a state since 1959!--and before that she was the mayor of the town of Wasilla. But where the heck is Wasilla?
It's about 40 miles north of Anchorage, and it's an 80-mile drive to get to Ted Stevens' house in Girdwood. To get to Alaska's capital of Juneau, it's 568 miles as the crow flies; if Palin is headed to One Observatory Circle this January, it's gonna be one hell of a red-eye: Washington, DC is 3,351 miles from Wasilla.
Related Stories:
· McCain Picks Alaska Governor Sarah Palin [Jaunted]
· Minnesota, Pregnant with Anticipation [Jaunted]
· RNC Chill [Jaunted]
· Google Maps/Where Is... coverage [Jaunted]]]>
The US Open started today, and right this second, Rafael Nadal is beating Bjorn Phau in a first round matchup. Olympic gold medalist Elena Dementieva has already advanced to the second round. (Roger Federer plays tomorrow.)
We've already told you where to eat at Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, but we were a little short on the other details. Plot a route on our map between the courts and nearby transportation options. Just don't, for the love of God, try to drive.
Related Stories:
· Visiting the Open [Official Site]
· Public Transportation Options from NYC's MTA [Official Site]
· Olympic Champ Dementieva Opens with Win [AP, via Google]
· Watch the Open Without Leaving Manhattan [Gothamist]
· Back of the Envelope Eating Guide: Where to Grub at the US Open [Jaunted]]]>