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Travel (General/Chat)

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  • Florida Judge Could Hold Up Carnival’s Restart of Operations

    10/18/2020 1:25:35 PM PDT · by Capt. Tom · 32 replies
    Cruise Hive ^ | Oct. 18, 2020 | Robert McGillivray
    While Carnival Corporation focuses on restarting operations in December, a Florida judge might throw a spanner in the works for them. The Miami Herald reports that U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Florida Patricia Seitz, who heads an investigation against the company for environmental crimes, announced she would require the company to comply with their probation obligations 60-days before ships re-enter U.S. waters. The order will require each ship to carry certification from CEO Arnold Donald regarding its environmental compliance status and serve a 60-day notification period before re-entering. Carnival Corporation lawyers scrambled to have a delay of...
  • Judge Warns Carnival of Needing Ship Certification 60 Days Prior to Sailing

    10/17/2020 2:27:54 PM PDT · by Capt. Tom · 16 replies
    Travel Pulse ^ | OCTOBER 17, 2020 | RICH THOMASELLI
    A federal judge in Miami is warning Carnival Corp. that she plans to hold the cruise line to the parameters of its probation, meaning the company must certify that every ship is compliant 60 days before setting sail again in U.S. waters. The stern reminder from U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Florida Patricia Seitz will certainly endanger Carnival’s plan to resume operations on Dec. 1, assuming the Centers for Disease Control lifts its ‘no-sail order’ on Nov. 1, according to the Miami Herald. Carnival has been on probation since April 2017 after pleading guilty to dumping oily...
  • Is someone really flying around LAX in a jet pack? Trying to solve an aviation mystery

    10/17/2020 12:35:27 PM PDT · by DUMBGRUNT · 24 replies
    LA times ^ | 16 Oct 2020 | SAMANTHA MASUNAGA
    Those sightings occurred Aug. 30. The case took another twist Wednesday when a China Airlines pilot approaching LAX reported seeing a jet pack flying at an altitude of 6,000 feet. That’s more than a mile up “To fly up to 6,000 feet from the ground, to fly around long enough to be seen by China Airlines and then to descend again, you’d be out of fuel,” he said. Instead, he suggests a more likely scenario, an electric drone — perhaps with a mannequin attached. the strongest evidence that the LAX sightings is a person with a jet pack — as...
  • Ben Shapiro Parts Colorado River While Leading Exodus From California

    10/15/2020 5:19:41 PM PDT · by Tolerance Sucks Rocks · 7 replies
    The Babylon Bee ^ | October 13, 2020 | The Babylon Bee
    EHRENBERG, CA—In a miraculous sign, Ben Shapiro has parted the waters of the Colorado River for the millions of desperate Californian refugees trying to escape the failed state. After Gavin Newsom closed all the bridges over the river in a desperate attempt to prevent his people from going, the Editor Emeritus of The Daily Wire created a path through the middle of the river, allowing the children of California to cross on dry ground. Shapiro stretched out his hand over the waters and said, "Be still gang, and witness the salvation of the Lord! But first, let's talk about Policy...
  • Expanded Probe Into Allegations White House Interfered in CDC No Sail Order

    10/15/2020 11:27:56 AM PDT · by Capt. Tom · 36 replies
    Cruise Hive ^ | Oct 15, 2020 | Robert McGillivray
    While the cruise industry waits for a decision on when cruising can resume, the White House and CDC are being asked to elaborate on allegations they may have intervened in the Centers for Disease Control decision-making process. The Chair of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, Sean Patrick Maloney, has now requested additional documentation from the CDC after it was reported that the White House had interfered with the CDC’s decision to extend the No Sail Order. According to widely publicized publications, the Trump administration intervened last month when Dr. Robert Redfield of the CDC wanted to...
  • UP UP AND AWAY Another ‘man in jet pack’ seen above LAX as China Airlines crew ‘spots mysterious flier at 6,000ft’ and FAA alerts cops

    10/15/2020 8:20:59 AM PDT · by Red Badger · 24 replies
    www.the-sun.com UK ^ | Oct 14 2020, 18:28 ET Updated: Oct 15 2020, 0:01 ET | Neal Baker - Fionnuala O'Leary
    ANOTHER apparent sighting of a man in a jet pack flying above Los Angeles International Airport was made on Wednesday – with a China Airlines crew reporting seeing the mystery flier at 6,000ft. The Federal Aviation Administration has alerted law enforcement and is investigating the report, which is the second such sighting in weeks. An FAA spokesman told The Sun: "A China Airlines crew reported seeing what appeared to be someone in a jet pack at an approximate altitude of 6,000 feet, about seven miles northwest of Los Angeles International Airport around 1:45 pm [on] Wednesday. "The FAA alerted local...
  • Flight crew reports man flying in jet pack above Los Angeles for second time

    10/14/2020 8:08:10 PM PDT · by DUMBGRUNT · 39 replies
    NY Post ^ | 14 Oct 2020 | Ben Feuerherd
    A man flying in a jet pack has been spotted for the second time in two months hovering thousands of feet above the ground near Los Angeles International Airport, authorities said Wednesday. A man flying in a jet pack has been spotted for the second time in two months hovering thousands of feet above the ground near Los Angeles International Airport, authorities said Wednesday. In September, the flight crew of an American Airlines flight saw a man in a jet pack hovering about 3,000 feet above the ground near the airport, according to CNN
  • Is There Any Hope of a Carnival Cruise This Year?

    10/14/2020 12:08:57 PM PDT · by Capt. Tom · 35 replies
    Cruise Hive ^ | Oct 14, 2020 | Robert McGillivray
    When Carnival Cruise Line announced they would be canceling all cruises from the home ports of Miami and Port Canaveral, many people’s thoughts went to their December cruises. What will happen to cruises booked from the homeports in December, and is it even reasonable to think that Carnival will be cruising this year? We look at the complexity that Carnival Cruise Line has to navigate to offer a cruise in December, what measures are needed, how much depends on the CDC and White House decisions, and what efforts will be needed to get the crew to the vessels. One thing...
  • Iceland's Most Active Volcano Looks Like It's Getting Ready to Erupt Again

    10/12/2020 9:07:13 PM PDT · by BenLurkin · 20 replies
    sciencealert.com ^ | 9 OCTOBER 2020 | DAVE MCGARVIE,
    Grímsvötn volcano on Iceland produced an unusually large and powerful eruption in 2011, sending ash 20 kilometres into the atmosphere, causing the cancellation of about 900 passenger flights. In comparison, the much smaller 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull led to the cancellation of about 100,000 flights. Grímsvötn is a peculiar volcano, as it lies almost wholly beneath ice, and the only permanently visible part is an old ridge on its south side which forms the edge of a large crater (a caldera). And it is along the base of this ridge, under the ice, that most recent eruptions have occurred. Another...
  • Carnival Cruise Line Cancels Miami and Port Canaveral Cruises in November

    10/12/2020 1:15:50 PM PDT · by Capt. Tom · 24 replies
    Cruise Hive ^ | Oct 12, 2020 | Robert McGillivray
    As the only major cruise to still hold out for cruises in November from Miami and Port Canaveral, Carnival has announced the cancellation of all voyages leaving in November from these two ports. The cruise line, which has held out until the last possible moment, feels that doing cruises in November is now no longer feasible. Guests booked on the voyages in November have already or will be contacted by their travel agents or Carnival directly. December Voyages Still Planned To Go Ahead As for the cruises in December, these are still planned as going ahead. However, Carnival does mention...
  • Warren's campaign stop for Biden.....

    10/12/2020 12:41:49 PM PDT · by Red Badger · 48 replies
    Twitter Web App ^ | 1:15 PM · Oct 10, 2020· | I Hate The Media
    She's either waving to a non-existent crowd, or practicing her 'HOW!' greeting................
  • Xos gets first Class 8 electric truck deal from Hino ... [Xos formerly called Thor Trucks]

    10/12/2020 10:51:56 AM PDT · by Red Badger · 19 replies
    www.freightwaves.com ^ | Wednesday, October 7, 2020 | Alan Adler
    Startup Xos trucks originally pitched itself as a custom electric chassis maker for Class 8 trucks. After pivoting to medium-duty trucks, the company is back on mission with a contract from Japan’s Hino Trucks. Xos, formerly Thor Trucks, will supply its X-Pack, a modular battery pack system, to the Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE: TM) subsidiary. The X-Pack is built from the cell-level up to operate as an intelligent standalone unit. After giving up its original name, Xos proceeded with deals to make electrified chassis for United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS) and cash-hauling armored truck company Loomis US. Surprising timing The...
  • The Best Cities in the U.S.: 2020 Readers' Choice Awards

    10/10/2020 5:51:29 PM PDT · by ConservativeStatement · 28 replies
    Conde Nast ^ | Oct. 6, 2020 | BY VALERIE MARINO
    It's no wonder Chicago is topping this list again. A world-class destination known for its impressive architecture, first-rate museums, brilliant chefs, and massive brewing scene, it’ll take several repeat visits to get through your list of must-dos. Most people start with the downtown—from the Magnificent Mile, ritzy Gold Coast, and funky Old Town, not to mention the business-oriented Loop—but there are 77 neighborhoods to explore, where you'll find cutting-edge restaurants, chilled-out corner bars, and, no matter where you go, some of the most pleasant people you'll find anywhere.
  • The Palestinians' Most Dangerous Enemy Is Archaeology

    10/10/2020 11:11:05 AM PDT · by SunkenCiv · 34 replies
    Algemeiner ^ | October 7, 2020 | Stephen M. Flatow
    A 2,000-year-old mikvah (ritual bath) was recently uncovered in the Lower Galilee. Most people probably would never have heard about the discovery if not for the dramatic photos of the entire structure being carried by truck to a nearby kibbutz for preservation. The remarkable sight of a truck-borne mikvah, however, also makes one pause and reflect on the remarkable implications of the archeological find. It means that 2,000 years ago, the residents of the Lower Galilee were practicing the exact same religious rituals that Orthodox Jews throughout the world practice today. Those Galileans, in other words, were Jews. They weren't...
  • Should cruise ships require masks, social distancing? Cruiser views are changing

    10/09/2020 10:54:10 AM PDT · by Capt. Tom · 67 replies
    the Points Guy ^ | Oct. 8, 2020 | Gene Sloan
    Will Americans still cruise if they have to wear a mask and social distance on ships? A few months ago, many were saying “no” in the strongest possible terms, according to industry watchers. But there’s been a sea change, so to speak, in the thinking on the topic as the coronavirus crisis has dragged on. “Back in March, they said ‘no way’ to things like masks and social distancing,” Colleen McDaniel, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic, said Wednesday at Seatrade Cruise Virtual, an online version of the cruise industry’s annual meetup. “They’re much more prepared to take (it) on now.” McDaniel,...
  • Who Was The Real Christopher Columbus?

    10/09/2020 9:32:16 AM PDT · by SunkenCiv · 60 replies
    YouTube ^ | uploaded October 2020 | Timeline
    Was Christopher Columbus born in Genoa, Italy? Most definitely not, say an unlikely collection of experts from European royalty, DNA science, university scholars, even Columbus's own living family. This ground breaking documentary follows a trail of proof to show he might have been much more than we know.Who Was The Real Christopher Columbus? | Secrets and Lies of Christopher Columbus | Timeline
  • Hong Kong's last authentic junk in troubled waters

    10/09/2020 8:50:28 AM PDT · by SJackson · 25 replies
    BBC News ^ | Justin Harper
    Hong Kong's last authentic junk boat is struggling to stay afloat due to a lack of overseas tourists. The Dukling normally takes foreign visitors on scenic trips around its bays but these have dried up due to travel restrictions. Its owner says it is fighting to survive and having to focus on local citizens during the downturn. Junk boats have a long history in the former British colony dating back to the Han Dynasty. "The Dukling is the icon of Hong Kong, I am not only running a business on it, I am trying to maintain this treasurable piece of...
  • Oldest worship place in Black Sea region unearthed [Kahin Tepe]

    10/09/2020 7:56:12 AM PDT · by SunkenCiv · 10 replies
    Hurriyet Daily News ^ | September 28 2020 | unattributed
    The Kahin Tepe excavations in the northern province of Kastamonu's Araç district have unearthed findings belonging to the Neolithic period in the the oldest place of worship found in the Black Sea.... Düzce University head of the Protohistoric and Near Eastern Archaeology Department, Nurperi Ayengin... said that they started the excavations in the region two years ago for a dam rescue project near Basköy village... "We discovered the settlement dating to the Aceramic Neolithic period, which lasted between 12,000 and 7,000 BC." ..."We think that this is a sacred area where people came at certain times of the year to...
  • The Last Pontiac Fiero Ever Built Is Going Up for Sale for the First Time

    10/09/2020 3:36:19 AM PDT · by Joe 6-pack · 93 replies
    thedrive.com ^ | 10/07/2020 | Peter Holderith
    The Pontiac Fiero is just one of those cars that gets a bad rap. It was never quite as good as it seemed on paper, but its poor standing among mid-engine sports cars is more a result of its often shoddy transformation into European exotics. It may seem like all Fieros have met this fate, but alas, that isn't so. In fact, the final Fiero that rolled off the line has been preserved for history. Its interior is still festooned with the pre-delivery plastic, the entire exterior of the car is immaculate, and to say it hasn't been used much...
  • "This is About Survival:" Alaska Ports Issue Plea For 2021 Cruise Season

    10/08/2020 11:38:58 AM PDT · by Capt. Tom · 17 replies
    Cruise Critic ^ | October 07, 2020 | Aaron Saunders
    After facing a devastating year that saw no cruise vessels call on ports in Alaska and British Columbia as a result of the global COVID-19 health pandemic, cities on the itineraries that rely on tourism say that having ships return in 2021 is crucial for their survival. Andrew Cremata, borough mayor for the popular Alaskan cruise port of Skagway, Alaska, remarked on the current situation faced by his town, and numerous other port of call in Southeast Alaska, during a panel discussion at the Virtual Seatrade conference Wednesday morning. "This is about survival for Skagway," said Cremata, who said that...