State Department made decision to authorize Americans’ departure from Mexico before killings

Decision on Americans’ departure was before deaths

WASHINGTON – After deciding last week to help family members of U.S. consulate employees in northern Mexico leave the area, the State Department waited until Sunday to announce the move.
On Saturday three people associated with the consulate in Ciudad Juarez were gunned down.
It’s not clear that an earlier announcement … Original source on Gaea Times at : State Department made decision to authorize Americans’ departure from Mexico before killings.

Free food won’t fly for many on Continental Airlines starting this fall

Continental Airlines to charge for food
ATLANTA – Attention coach passengers. Continental Airlines, which used to boast about giving away free hamburgers and barbecue while rivals passed out tiny bags of pretzels, is changing its tune on food.

Continental plans to launch a food-for-sale program that mirrors what other carriers are already doing.
A spokesman said Monday that … Read more »».

JetBlue adds 2 more flights to Los Angeles-LAX from JFK, doubling daily flights to the airport

JetBlue adds 2 more flights to LAX from JFK

NEW YORK – JetBlue said Monday it is adding two daily flights to Los Angeles International Airport from New York’s John F. Kennedy International this summer, doubling its flights to the city.
The new flights will begin on July 1. Along with its LAX service, JetBlue offers the …. Source  : JetBlue adds 2 more flights to Los Angeles-LAX from JFK, doubling daily flights to the airport.

Driving the Americas on a trip around the world: 4 months, 13,000 miles, NY to Buenos Aires

A 13,000-mile drive south: NYC to Argentina

CHACABUCO, Argentina – It was just like driving to work, except that I kept on going: From New York to Argentina, through 12 countries, for four months and more than 13,000 miles.
It’s the first leg of my overland trip around the world, an expedition that I consider the last …. Original source  : Driving the Americas on a trip around the world: 4 months, 13,000 miles, NY to Buenos Aires.

Full-body scanner debuts at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport

Body scanner debuts at O’Hare
CHICAGO – The first and only full body scanner at the nation’s second largest airport is now open for business.

Aviation officials at O’Hare International Airport showed off the technology to reporters Monday before starting to send passengers through the machine.
The scanner looks like two blue telephone booths standing side-by-side.
Federal transportation authorities …. Source  : Full-body scanner debuts at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.

Funeral band, mixing Chinese and American influences, keeps Chinatown tradition alive

Funeral brass band keep Chinatown tradition alive

SAN FRANCISCO – Traffic along the teeming streets of Chinatown came to a standstill: death was parading by, heralded by the clear, sharp notes of a brass band. Women looked up from their grocery shopping; tourists pulled out their cameras.
In San Francisco, the traditions of Chinese-American funeral processions, with [..] Read the original article: here.

Nudity still shocks! NYC exhibit with naked performers in narrow doorway causes discomfort

Art in the flesh causes discomfort at NYC museum

NEW YORK – A new exhibit at The Museum of Modern Art is causing discomfort among some visitors by bringing them close to nude performers – some might say too close.
Two nude performers stand inches apart in a narrow doorway of the exhibit of work by Yugoslavian-born …. Source  : Nudity still shocks! NYC exhibit with naked performers in narrow doorway causes discomfort.

Southwest Air launches 72-hour sale on flights into and out of Philadelphia

Southwest Airlines launches 72-hour Philly sale

DALLAS – Southwest Airlines on Tuesday launched a 72-hour fare sale for flights to and from Philadelphia, a step in its plan to grab customers from major Philly competitor US Airways.
The airline said the fares are available for select markets nationwide, including Raleigh/Durham, N.C., starting at $30 each way, Chicago …. Read the original article  : Southwest Air launches 72-hour sale on flights into and out of Philadelphia.

JetBlue adds 2nd daily nonstop flight to Kingston, Jamaica as part of Caribbean expansion plan

JetBlue adds 2nd daily flight to Kingston, Jamaica

NEW YORK – JetBlue Airways said Tuesday it has added a second daily nonstop flight to Kingston, Jamaica from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport starting June 17.
The airline will now run two nonstop flights from JFK to Kingston, two nonstops from JFK to Montego Bay, one …. Read the original article  : here.

London’s Jewish Museum reopens after major facelift, telling story of pride and prejudice

London Jewish Museum reopens after major facelift

LONDON – A museum tracing the history of Britain’s 300,000-strong Jewish community is reopening after a 10 million pound ($15 million) expansion.
The Jewish Museum calls itself the only such gallery in London dedicated to a minority group. It includes a large collection of Jewish ceremonial art as well as … Read more >>>.

Kilts, green body paint decorate NYC as marchers worldwide parade in honor of St. Patrick

Nation, world go green for St. Patrick’s Day
NEW YORK – All the world from the Sydney Opera House to the Empire State Building turned Irish, or at least Irish for the day, as revelers marked St. Patrick’s Day with bagpipes, dancing, emerald lights and green body paint in a flurry of celebration.
New Yorkers …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Kilts, green body paint decorate NYC as marchers worldwide parade in honor of St. Patrick.

Crowds gather in Savannah for annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, festivities

Savannah marks St. Patrick’s Day
SAVANNAH, Ga. – Crowds gathered along the parade route Wednesday morning as Savannah prepared for its 186th annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

The city’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities attract hundreds of thousands of people, the biggest tourist event of the year in the city of about 150,000.
The celebration was started in 1824 …. Source article  : Crowds gather in Savannah for annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, festivities.

Virgin America apologizes for grounding passengers in NY-bound plane for 4?? hours

Virgin America apologizes over grounded plane

LOS ANGELES – Virgin America has offered refunds to “Dancing With the Stars” judge Carrie Ann Inaba and other passengers who were stranded for hours on a grounded plane bound for New York from Los Angeles.
Virgin America CEO David Cush sent an apology letter Tuesday to each passenger, promised refunds …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Smithsonian’s Natural History museum opens $21 million permanent exhibit on human evolution

Smithsonian opens $21M human evolution hall

WASHINGTON – The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History is opening a new permanent exhibit exploring human evolution over 6 million years.
The nearly $21 million Hall of Human Origins opens Wednesday. It will include more than 285 fossils and artifacts, including the only Neanderthal skeleton in the United States.
Curator Rick …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Smithsonian’s Natural History museum opens $21 million permanent exhibit on human evolution.

Green globe: 70 million Irish at home, abroad cheer St. Patrick’s Day from Sydney to San Fran

Irish at home, worldwide cheer St. Patrick’s Day
DUBLIN – Much of the world is turning green Wednesday for St. Patrick’s Day, the annual celebration of all hues of Irishness.
Half a million people were forecast to line the 3-kilometer (2-mile) route of the flagship … Read more >>>.

Ecuador: 16 Canadians rescued from grounded yacht in Galapagos Islands

Canadians rescued from grounded yacht in Galapagos

QUITO, Ecuador – Sixteen Canadian tourists and eight Ecuadorean crew members were rescued from a yacht that ran aground in the Galapagos Islands, officials said Thursday.
No injuries were reported in the Wednesday evening rescue by navy and national park vessels, which the 140-foot yacht’s operator described as “safe and … Read more >>.

Obama postpones Asia trip, will stay in Washington for final health care vote

Obama postpones Asia trip to focus on health care
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama has postponed his trip to Asia until June so he can stay in Washington for a possible Sunday vote on his health care overhaul plan.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Thursday the president is disappointed and regrets having …. Read the original article  : here.

Maharaja Express Chugs Out!

AHMEDABAD, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced several long distance superfast trains including her brainchild Duranto express, but her latest offering Maharaja Express is meant for, well, literally the Kings and emperors! It is going to begin its maiden run today and the minster will flag off the super luxury … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Maharaja Express Chugs Out!.

Ancient Greek artifacts go on display in Rome after being returned by the Met

Rome to display ancient Greek silverware
ROME – A collection of ancient Greek silverware dating to the third century B.C. is going on display in Rome after being returned by the Metropolitan Museum in New York, officials said Friday.

The 16 pieces of silverware with gold detail were returned as part of Italy’s aggressive campaign against illegal … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Ancient Greek artifacts go on display in Rome after being returned by the Met.