The book world is shaken this week by a massive price war in which two major retailers and an online behemoth battle it out to prove that avid readers love them best. After Wal-Mart announced it would be knocking the price of 10 recently released and pre-order-ready hardcovers to $10, Amazon stepped up and did the same—so Wal-Mart dropped the price to $9, and Jeff Bezos' baby did the same. Target has since followed suit, and indie bookstores are crying foul; sadly, $8.98 is still $8.96 too many to be paying for Sarah Palin's new "memoir," which is included in the sale at all three outlets.

Just the words "book" and "sale" together tend to raise our blood pressure, but the money you save on these blockbusters can go directly into your travel fund. Here are some of the places the anointed bestsellers will take you this fall: ]]> egw 2009-10-22T15:26:47-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/7/6/71222/16660

Whether your heart is still aching over her loss in last year’s election or the fact that she's still around, you better hustle up to Juneau, since time is running out for Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Over the long weekend, she decided to light off some of her own fireworks by announcing she wouldn’t be seeking a second term, nor would she even be finishing out her term in office; she’ll be wrapping up her duties and stepping down by the end of July.

Go to Alaska and bring home a souvenir eBay can be proud of: go to Alaska’s Capitol Building and try to get her to sign your ticket stub. The facilities are open all summer, obviously to take advantage of all those cruisers looking for glaciers, moose, and 2012 presidential candidates. The tours last for about thirty minutes, are totally free, and run daily. The state legislature, governor, and lieutenant governor all call this building their home away from home. ]]> kjb 2009-07-06T11:12:32-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/2/2/12431/44019

Desperate times call for desperate measures: Under pressure to balance the budget, the Mississippi state legislature is contemplating selling its private jet, Sarah Palin-style.

House Appropriations Chair Johnny Stringer cited Palin as an inspiration when he proposed putting the $3.7-million Cessna Citation 8-seater, which costs $1,600 an hour to operate, up for sale. That would leave just three state-funded planes for lawmakers to share, including the jet's most frequent passenger, Republican Governor Haley Barbour.

Critics of the plan call it a partisan stunt and mention that the state still owes $500,000 on the jet. eBay might not even be the way to go after all: When a buyer for Alaska's $2.7 million jet fell through online, the state took a $600,000 hit and got rid of it privately.

Related Stories:
· Miss. may sell state jet on eBay [Clarionledger.com]
· Opinion: Think It Over Before Selling Governor's Jet [Hattiesburg American]

[Photo of Gov. Barbour, who may be forced to drive everywhere: DayLife.com]]]> egw 2009-02-02T13:41:00-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/11/7/10926/9777

Just like the politician who put it to use, Sarah Palin's campaign Embraer 190 will quietly slink back to its ordinary routine now that the election is over. The jet, which was specially tricked out for the GOP, made its final trip of the season on November 5, ferrying the Palin clan back to Alaska after they were on hand for John McCain's concession in Arizona.

The 100-seat jet was scheduled to fly back east to JFK on Thursday, and for the time being, it's simply a spare. A JetBlue spokesman tells USA Today:

On November 12 it will go to our Embraer paint shop in Nashville to be fully repainted with JetBlue livery. The jet returns to revenue service mid-November once repainted.

Just because the livery is gone, though, doesn't mean diligent planespotters can't pick out the only jet to ever serve a female Republican veep candidate: Look for tail number N239JB next time you're transiting T5.

Related Stories:
· Palin Plane Returned to JetBlue [USA Today]
· McCain Concedes Close to Home [Jaunted]

[Photo: Stephen Toernblom, JetBlue]]]> pbb 2008-11-07T10:15:08-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/11/5/8535/01438

John McCain hushes a booing crowd during his concession speech at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix last night, flanked by running mate Gov. Sarah Palin.

Early punditry blamed the Arizona Senator's loss on a combination of tactical errors (including, some might say, the Palin pick), an inability to stick to a message that reached undecided voters and the shadow of President George W. Bush.

But McCain was all grace last night as he told a crowd, "I would not be an American worthy of the name, should I regret a fate that has allowed me the extraordinary privilege of serving this country for a half a century."

Related Stories:
· For CNN, It's Never Over [NYT]
· McCain's Speech Last Night [JohnMcCain.com]
· Possible Presidents '08 coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: NYTimes.com]]]> egw 2008-11-05T08:45:07-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/11/5/74012/1946

Democrat Barack Obama took to a stage facing Chicago's Grant Park last night.

Obama was declared the president-elect shortly before 11 pm Eastern by the major networks and took Republican John McCain's concession call shortly after, before addressing supporters on the same ground where crowds turned into rioting mobs during the 1968 Democratic National Convention.

Democrats also picked up seats in both houses of Congress in races largely shadowed by a long, expensive and bitterly fought presidential campaign. In fact, last night's coverage was everything the campaigns weren't: Cautious, measured and gracious. There have been no major calls for recounts yet, although delayed returns on California have both supporters and opponents of Proposition 8 mumbling about irregularities. 2008: The year C-A needed the recount?

Related Stories:
· Watch Obama's Speech From Grant Park [YouTube.com]
· [91% reported] Gay Marriage Ban Leading [LAT]
· Possible Presidents '08 coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: NYTimes.com] ]]> egw 2008-11-05T08:00:07-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/11/4/84255/5774

Today is the great nailbiter for people on both sides of the aisle. By tomorrow we'll know who will be our next president... Or will we? Anyone who still remembers falling asleep in front of the TV in 2000 is wary of any pat resolution.

Of course, for the tiny town of Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, there's nothing else to do but wait: The traditional first place in the nation to vote went for Barack Obama in the first rush of ballots. Polls opened at 6 am in most East Coast states

Want to celebrate or cry with your candidate of choice tonight? Obama supporters are amassing in Chicago's Grant Park tonight to count returns. It's ticketed to the tune of about 78,000, but the Sun-Times estimates 250,000 could rush the waterfront, so if you don't like crowds, stay home.

For John McCain, head to the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, in the shade of the gorgeous Camelback Mountains. There seems to be a little confusion over whether McCain will be outside on the lawn or in the grand ballroom, so make sure to arrive plenty early. The Biltmore has hosted every president since Herbert Hoover, and the hotel told the Arizona Republic they've got plenty of bubbly in reserve.

Related Stories:
· What to Expect for Obama's Grant Park Bash [Chicago Sun-Times]
· Obama Wins in Earliest Vote in Tiny Dixville, NH [AP, via Google]
· McCain to Shake Up Election Night Party at the Biltmore [HC]
· Resort Hosts McCain Camp, Prepares for Global Publicity [Arizona Republic]
· Scary, Scary Close [Jaunted]

[Photo: walknboston]]]> egw 2008-11-04T09:10:55-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/