Taiwan establishes first quasi-government presence in China with tourism office

Taiwan opens first tourism office in China

BEIJING – Taiwan opened a tourism office Tuesday in Beijing that represents the island’s first official presence in China’s capital since the two sides split amid civil war in 1949.
China will open a counterpart office in Taipei later this week as part of reciprocal steps aimed at opening up … Read : Taiwan establishes first quasi-government presence in China with tourism office.

Osmond family gathers in Idaho town to dedicate mother’s home as museum

Osmond matriarch’s home dedicated as museum

SAMARIA, Idaho – Members of the Osmond family gathered Monday in the small southeastern Idaho town of Samaria to honor their mother with the dedication of the “Olive May Davis Osmond Cabin and Museum.”
Olive Davis Osmond was born 85 years ago in a two-room cabin in Samaria. She died in …. Source  : Osmond family gathers in Idaho town to dedicate mother’s home as museum.

Flight forced to land after man bangs on cockpit door, claims to be alien, want to fly plane

Passenger disruption forces flight diversion

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho – A SkyWest Airlines flight from Helena, Mont., to Salt Lake City was diverted to Idaho Falls after a passenger began banging on the cockpit door, saying he was a space alien and wanted to fly the plane.
Idaho Falls Police Sgt. Phil Grimes says other passengers on the …. Read the original article  : here.

Snapshot of world’s fairs past

World’s fair snapshot
A world’s fair snapshot:

PARIS INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, 1889
More than 30 million visitors over six months. Produced the Eiffel Tower, perhaps the most famous world’s fair structure ever, according to historian John E. Findling, who wrote the “Encyclopedia of World’s Fairs and Expositions.” One of the few fairs to make a profit.
CHICAGO WORLD’S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION, …. Source  : Snapshot of world’s fairs past.

Alappuzha Beauties: Kerala Alappuzha “Venice of the East”

ALAPPUZHA, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com) — Alappuzha is a district of Kerala, situated in the southern fringe of India. It’s a picturesque town with panoramic beaches, multiple canals, backwater and lagoons. Alappuzha was named “Venice of the East” by Lord Curzon. You can feel its eternal beauty once you make a visit to Alappuzha.
History revealed that [..] Read the original article: here.

Delta waives 1st checked bag fee for airline’s AmEx cardholders and traveling companions

First bag free on Delta with airline’s AmEx card

Delta says it will waive the fee on the first checked bag for most customers with Delta SkyMiles credit cards.
The move on Wednesday by Delta and the card issuer, American Express, could pressure other airlines to waive bag fees for their credit card users, too. The cards …. Source  : Delta waives 1st checked bag fee for airline’s AmEx cardholders and traveling companions.

Nelson museum lures Egypt lovers with 2,300-year-old coffin, revamped galleries in Kansas City

Kansas City museum to open new Egyptian Galleries

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – King Tut, that popular Egyptian boy king whose traveling tomb lured gangbuster museum crowds two decades ago, is once again touring the country.
But Egypt lovers who can’t make a trip to Denver or New York and don’t want to pay nearly $30 to see …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Nelson museum lures Egypt lovers with 2,300-year-old coffin, revamped galleries in Kansas City.

US Coast Guard searches for cruise ship worker who went overboard near Puerto Rico

Cruise ship worker goes overboard near Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for a Royal Caribbean cruise ship worker who climbed over the ship’s railings as it traveled past Puerto Rico, officials said Thursday.
After crew members reported him missing on Wednesday night, officials reviewed the ship’s video cameras and … Read more >>.

Florida officials want visitors to know beaches are still fine, for now

Fla. officials say tourists shouldn’t cancel trips

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida officials want to set the record straight: The beaches are still open for vacationers despite the Gulf’s gushing oil spill.
David Halstead, head of the Division of Emergency Management, says the spill is still a long way from the peninsula.
Halstead says reports of tarballs washing ashore … Read more : Florida officials want visitors to know beaches are still fine, for now.

Smart Spending: It’s not too late to find a deal on a summer vacation rental

Smart Spending: Vacation rentals
CHICAGO – Temperatures are rising, the school year is ending and vacations are on the brain.

If you and your family want to go away for more than a few days, renting a beach house or lakeside cabin can cost about half as much as a hotel stay. That means more cash to …. Original source  : Smart Spending: It’s not too late to find a deal on a summer vacation rental.

US official: Airlines must now check for updates on no-fly list more often or face penalties

Airlines required to check no-fly list more often

WASHINGTON – The government is requiring airlines to check no-fly lists within two hours of being notified of list updates – a move aimed at preventing known terror suspects from boarding airplanes as the man accused in the Times Square bombing attempt did.
Faisal Shahzad, who prosecutors say tried … Read : US official: Airlines must now check for updates on no-fly list more often or face penalties.

AP answers your questions on the news, from the Bay of Valdez to emergency vehicles on 9/11

Ask AP: The Bay of Valdez, 9/11 emergency vehicles

Why is Alaska’s Bay of Valdez pronounced more like the Bay of ValDEEZ?
That’s one of the questions in this edition of “Ask AP,” a weekly Q&A column where AP journalists respond to readers’ questions about the news.
If you have your own news-related question that you’d like to … Read this article on Gaea Times at : AP answers your questions on the news, from the Bay of Valdez to emergency vehicles on 9/11.

Iraq says British court lets Iraqi airline chief leave despite airplanes dispute with Kuwait

Court lets Iraqi airline chief leave Britain

BAGHDAD – The head of Iraqi Airways can now leave Britain after being held there for more than a week over a two-decade-old dispute with Kuwait, Iraq’s Transportation Ministry said Thursday.
A British court announced the airline chief, Kifah Jabar Hassan, had his passport returned and was now free to …. Read the original article  : Iraq says British court lets Iraqi airline chief leave despite airplanes dispute with Kuwait.

Spirit Airlines CEO says carry-on fees will be disclosed, overall ticket prices still lowest

Spirit CEO says carry-on fees will be disclosed

WASHINGTON – The CEO of the airline that wants to charge passengers as much as $45 for certain carry-on bags says he agrees with federal regulators that the fee needs to be disclosed plainly to consumers when they buy their tickets.
Ben Baldanza of Spirit Airlines says he met …. Read the original article  : Spirit Airlines CEO says carry-on fees will be disclosed, overall ticket prices still lowest.

2010 World Expo: Tips for navigating the crowds and culture of Shanghai

Shanghai Expo: Squat toilets, touch screens

SHANGHAI – Several million foreigners, including thousands of Americans, are expected to visit Shanghai over the next six months to see the Expo. For many, it will be their first trip to this sprawling city of 20 million people.
Here are some tips to help you navigate the crowds, logistics and …. Original article  : 2010 World Expo: Tips for navigating the crowds and culture of Shanghai.

Architecture, culture, shopping and food: Plenty of fun and even some wow at Shanghai Expo

Finding the wow amid the kitsch at Shanghai Expo
SHANGHAI – Crowds at the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai have subsided, which is good news for travelers planning a visit during its six-month run. But even without the long lines that plagued its May 1 opening and the days that followed, visitors may have …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Architecture, culture, shopping and food: Plenty of fun and even some wow at Shanghai Expo.

Iranian state TV says families of 3 detained Americans to be allowed to visit them in prison

Report: Families to visit Americans jailed in Iran

TEHRAN, Iran – An Iranian state television channel said Monday that the families of three Americans arrested along the Iraqi border in July will be allowed to visit them in a Tehran prison.
Iran’s English-language Press TV did not say how it obtained the information, adding only that a …. Read the original article  : Iranian state TV says families of 3 detained Americans to be allowed to visit them in prison.

At France’s new Pompidou museum, the building steals the spotlight from the Picassos

At new French museum, the building steals the show

METZ, France – It’s France’s newest architectural wonder, and it looks something like an enormous white floppy sun hat. Or a giant swimming manta ray, or maybe an alien spacecraft.
The new Pompidou Center art museum in the eastern French city of Metz has generated a big buzz … Original article on : At France’s new Pompidou museum, the building steals the spotlight from the Picassos.

JetBlue offers $10 seats for travel on Tuesday and Wednesday across its network

JetBlue offers $10 seats for last-minute trips

NEW YORK – Sometimes being impulsive comes in handy.
JetBlue is selling all remaining seats on nonstop flights Tuesday and Wednesday to 59 destinations for $10 each way.
The airline didn’t specify how many seats are available in the sale.
JetBlue Airways Corp., based in Forest Hills, N.Y., serves 61 cities in … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : JetBlue offers $10 seats for travel on Tuesday and Wednesday across its network.

NYC’s Whitney Museum receives major gift of more than 350 works of art

NYC’s Whitney Museum receives major artwork gift

NEW YORK – The Whitney Museum of American Art has received a major gift of more than 350 works of art from a longtime benefactor.
The museum said Friday the donation was made by philanthropist and art collector Emily Fisher Landau. The 367 pieces include works by Carl Andre, Jasper … Original source on Gaea Times at : NYC’s Whitney Museum receives major gift of more than 350 works of art.

JetBlue partners with South African Airways so customers can fly on both with a single ticket

JetBlue forms partnership with South African Air

NEW YORK – JetBlue has formed a partnership with South African Airways that will allow travelers to fly on both airlines with a single ticket.
Starting May 12, JetBlue customers will be able to travel to 40 international cities served by South African Airways. South African Airways passengers will be …. Original source  : JetBlue partners with South African Airways so customers can fly on both with a single ticket.

Art official: lady’s portrait found in Italian palace storeroom might be a Raphael original

Art official: painting in storage may be Raphael’s

ROME – A finely painted portrait of a demurely looking woman nestled in an exceptionally ornate frame that was kept in an Italian ducal palace storeroom appears to be a Raphael original and not a copy as long thought, an art official in central Italy said Friday.
However, experts …. Source  : Art official: lady’s portrait found in Italian palace storeroom might be a Raphael original.

Indiana tourism agency aiming at social media with new summer travel discount offers

Ind. aiming at social media with tourism deals

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana’s tourism agency, armed with a dwindling budget, is offering summer travel deals – but only to those who follow the agency through e-mail and on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman, who oversees the Indiana Office of Tourism Development, began …. Original source  : Indiana tourism agency aiming at social media with new summer travel discount offers.

Swiss museum opens Europe’s most extensive retrospective of US artist Jean-Michel Basquiat

Swiss open Europe’s largest Basquiat retrospective

GENEVA – A Swiss museum will present what it says is the broadest retrospective ever seen in Europe of the work of American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.
The ambitious show hosted by the Beyeler Foundation features over 100 paintings, drawings and objects by Basquiat, with many borrowed from private collections, the foundation …. Original source  : Swiss museum opens Europe’s most extensive retrospective of US artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Government says US airlines improved on-time performance in March to 80 percent

Airlines improve on-time performance in March

DALLAS – The government says U.S. airlines are doing better at staying on schedule.
The Transportation Department said Tuesday that the airlines averaged an 80 percent on-time arrival rate in March, better than February and better than March 2009.
Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Pinnacle Airlines had the best on-time ratings. JetBlue, …. Original article  : Government says US airlines improved on-time performance in March to 80 percent.

Program for African-American students disbanded after criticism of separate field trip

Program ends after field trip for black students

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – A program for African-American elementary students in Michigan has been disbanded after a field trip to meet a black rocket scientist that excluded children of other races.
Ann Arbor Schools spokeswoman Liz Margolis tells AnnArbor.com that the “Lunch Bunch” program at Dicken Elementary has ended.
Officials …. Read the original article  : Program for African-American students disbanded after criticism of separate field trip.

Baltimore wants visitors to find their happy place in Charm City with new campaign

Baltimore sells smiles with new tourism campaign

BALTIMORE – Baltimore’s tourism agency is all smiles.
The group Visit Baltimore plans to unveil a $500,000 marketing campaign Thursday with the slogan, “Find Your Happy Place in Baltimore,” according to The Baltimore Sun. It will target nearby states.
As part of the unveiling, the agency will attempt to set a … Read more : Baltimore wants visitors to find their happy place in Charm City with new campaign.

City of Knoxville sponsoring canoe tours of Holston and Tennessee rivers this summer

City of Knoxville sponsoring summer canoe tours

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The City of Knoxville Parks and Recreation Department is giving canoe tours again this summer.
Paddlers can tour the Holston and Tennessee rivers, beginning in Holston River Park and traveling to downtown Knoxville.
The Parks and Recreation aquatics staff will be on each tour to help with canoeing …. Source article  : City of Knoxville sponsoring canoe tours of Holston and Tennessee rivers this summer.

British Airways cabin crew plan strikes totaling 20 days in May and June

BA plans fresh strikes
LONDON – Cabin crew at British Airways PLC announced plans on Monday to strike for a total of 20 days in May and June, threatening yet more chaos for tens of thousands of travelers just weeks after an Icelandic volcanic ash cloud shut down European air space.

BA warned that the unprecedented scale …. Original article  : British Airways cabin crew plan strikes totaling 20 days in May and June.

Berlin’s Jewish Museum expanding to add more research and education space

Berlin’s Jewish Museum expanding
BERLIN – Berlin’s Jewish Museum says it is expanding to meet increasing demand for research and education.

The museum said Tuesday it will group its archives, library and education center under one roof across the street from the zigzag-shaped main building designed by architect Daniel Libeskind.
The new building, built in the 19th century … Read more >>>.

Visas approved for mothers of 3 Americans held in Iran; departure date unknown

Moms of 3 Americans jailed in Iran get visas

MINNEAPOLIS – Visas have been approved for the families of three American hikers jailed in Iran but no date has been set for the families to visit them, a mother of one of the hikers said Wednesday.
Nora Shourd told The Associated Press that that family of 27-year-old … Original source on Gaea Times at : Visas approved for mothers of 3 Americans held in Iran; departure date unknown.

Jessica Watson Sails Back Home

SYDNEY (GaeaTimes.com)-Australian teenage sailor Jessica Watson who has set a new record for becoming the youngest person to sail the globe on her own and uninterrupted has returned to her homeland in Australia. She set out for a voyage seven months back that lasted for a whopping 210 days but finally she succeeded in …. Read the original article  : Jessica Watson Sails Back Home.

Chicago’s Field Museum cleans Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton Sue for exhibit’s 10th anniversary

Field Museum cleans T. rex Sue for her anniversary

CHICAGO – One of the world’s most famous dinosaurs is getting a cleaning before the celebration of her 10th anniversary begins at Chicago’s Field Museum.
The Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton known as Sue went on display at the museum 10 years ago this month, and museum officials expect big …. Source  : Chicago’s Field Museum cleans Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton Sue for exhibit’s 10th anniversary.

NY group promotes tours of ‘Gold Coast’ mansions on Long Island

NY group promotes ‘Gold Coast’ mansions
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – The operators of some of Long Island’s Gold Coast mansions are trying to make it easier for tourists to see the stately rooms and gardens that housed some of the country’s wealthiest people.

The Gold Coast Mansion Alliance is launching a marketing campaign, similar to the Newport …. Source  : NY group promotes tours of ‘Gold Coast’ mansions on Long Island.

Volcanic ash may affect UK flights beginning Sunday, German flights starting on Monday

UK, Germany eye possible ash travel disruptions

LONDON – Volcanic ash from Iceland could disrupt air travel in both Britain and Germany in the next few days, officials said Saturday.
The British Department of Transport said there was a risk that parts of British airspace could be closed beginning Sunday and those problems could continue through Tuesday. … Read more »».

Milwaukee Art Museum features new exhibition featuring quilts from the 1700s and 1800s

Milwaukee museum features quilt exhibition

MILWAUKEE – A new exhibit at the Milwaukee Art Museum will feature one of the world’s finest collections of early American quilts.
Featuring rare textiles of the late 1700s and early 1800s, it’s called “American Quilts: Selections from the Winterthur Collection” and it runs Saturday through September 6.
Quilts make political statements, celebrate … Read : Milwaukee Art Museum features new exhibition featuring quilts from the 1700s and 1800s.

O’Keeffe County: Northern NM saturated with beauty that inspired American modernist painter

O’Keeffe draws art lovers to northern New Mexico

GHOST RANCH, N.M. – Sandstone cliffs rise from the desert floor in layers of orange, pink and yellow, limited only by the expansive blue sky that pushes down on the sprawling northern New Mexico ranch from above. Save for a few birds chirping and a breeze whistling through …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : O’Keeffe County: Northern NM saturated with beauty that inspired American modernist painter.

JetBlue adding another nonstop route from Boston, this one to Phoenix

JetBlue to launch Boston-Phoenix nonstop service

NEW YORK – JetBlue will offer nonstop service from Boston to Phoenix beginning in September, the airline said Tuesday.
JetBlue, based in New York, has been ramping up service at Boston’s Logan International Airport as it attempts to become more entrenched in the Northeast.
JetBlue Airways Corp. is offering introductory fares starting … Original article on : JetBlue adding another nonstop route from Boston, this one to Phoenix.

NM Hispanic art museum temporarily closes for cleaning through June 17

NM Hispanic art museum temporarily closes
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The art museum at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque is closing for a month.

The 11,000-square-foot art museum will be shut down from Monday through June 17 for a thorough cleaning of exhibition space and art work due to a fire in the adjacent forested area … Read more : NM Hispanic art museum temporarily closes for cleaning through June 17.

US airfares fall 7.4 pct. in 4Q of 2009, marks largest year-over-year decline since 2001

Government says US airfares fell in 4th quarter

NEW YORK – Average airfares in the U.S. fell 7.4 percent in the last three months of 2009, the biggest year-over-year decline since 2001, the Transportation Department’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics said Wednesday.
Airfares in the fourth quarter of last year were also the lowest for that three-month period …. Source  : US airfares fall 7.4 pct. in 4Q of 2009, marks largest year-over-year decline since 2001.

British Airways cabin crew begin 5-day strike; airline says most passengers will fly anyway

British Airways cabin crew begin 5-day strike

LONDON – The union representing British Airways cabin crew has begun a five-day strike but the airline says it will still be able to carry 70 percent of passengers who have booked flights.
Monday’s strike follows the failure of weekend talks between the Unite union and the airline. A key …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Arts endowment program allows military families to tour 600 US museums for free this summer

600 museums offer military families free admission

WASHINGTON – More than 600 museums nationwide are offering free admission to military families all summer in a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.
The list includes some of the nation’s premier art museums, including New York’s Museum of Modern Art and the Art Institute of Chicago, as … Original source on Gaea Times at : Arts endowment program allows military families to tour 600 US museums for free this summer.

Chicago neighborhoods to be featured as city plans tourism website expansion

Chicago to expand tourism website
CHICAGO – More detailed information about Chicago neighborhoods is to be available online.

Chicago tourism officials say a redesign of the city’s travel website will launch Monday. The website is to be updated with nearly 2,000 neighborhood sites and facts. Officials gave a few examples, including a medieval armor shop in Norwood … Original source on Gaea Times at : Chicago neighborhoods to be featured as city plans tourism website expansion.

Cabin crew strike disrupts British Airways operations for a second day, mainly at Heathrow

British Airways hit by 2nd day of crew strike

LONDON – A strike by cabin crew disrupted British Airways flights for a second day on Tuesday, mainly at London’s Heathrow airport, one of Europe’s busiest travel hubs.
The airline is struggling to operate as many flights as possible during the five-day walkout by the British Airlines Stewards [..] Read the original article: here.

Don’t confuse a pouf with a blowout: Glossary for Jersey shore vacation

Glossary to guide your GTL regimen at Jersey shore

GTL: Gym-tan-laundry. Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino’s prescription for a perfect daily regimen at the Jersey shore.
Grenade: A difficult woman, aka one who is not immediately interested in sleeping with you.
Pouf: A gravity-defying female hairstyle in which hair is piled high atop the head and teased more than … Original article on : Don’t confuse a pouf with a blowout: Glossary for Jersey shore vacation.

NH tourism division launches 2nd annual “Dream Vacation” photo contest

NH tourism launches dream vacation contest

CONCORD, N.H. – New Hampshire’s 2nd annual “Dream Vacation” photo contest is under way.
The program, which runs through September 6, features an online photo contest, with the winner receiving a vacation package worth $2,500. Participants have to download and print a sign that reads “I Love it Here” and then … Original source on Gaea Times at : NH tourism division launches 2nd annual “Dream Vacation” photo contest.

In the lion’s den: Rome to let tourists see Colosseum underground, where gladiators waited

Rome to let tourists see Colosseum underground

ROME – Rome culture officials say tourists will soon be able to visit the underground of the Colosseum, where gladiators once prepared for fights and lions and tigers were caged before entertaining a bloodthirsty public.
Officials say several months of work has made the area safe for visits and the … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : In the lion’s den: Rome to let tourists see Colosseum underground, where gladiators waited.

Harley-Davidson Museum hosts exhibit on motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel

Harley-Davidson Museum hosts Evel Knievel exhibit

MILWAUKEE – The Harley-Davidson Museum is hosting an exhibit on motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel.
Wednesday marks the 35th anniversary of his Wembley Stadium jump in London, where he crashed and broke his back while trying to jump over 13 buses.
“True Evel: The Amazing Story of Evel Knievel” will run from July …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Harley-Davidson Museum hosts exhibit on motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel.

Foe of capitalism in life, Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara spawning own tourism industry in death

Tourist route traces footsteps of ‘Che’ Guevara

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – In life, Ernesto “Che” Guevara fought to overthrow a corrupt, capitalist elite. In death, he is spawning his own tourism industry – soon to include a three-country “Che Trail.”
Tourism officials in Argentina, Cuba and Bolivia are collaborating on a historic route that will allow Guevara … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Foe of capitalism in life, Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara spawning own tourism industry in death.

Don’t panic when the pilot says ‘turbulence’: Just turn on your iPad and check out this app

These apps will help you conquer a fear of flying

As family, friends and that woman who sat next to me on my last flight all know, I’m a nervous flyer. My anxiety has gotten better over the years – I don’t weep openly anymore – but I still get sweaty palms and a racing heartbeat …. Original source  : Don’t panic when the pilot says ‘turbulence’: Just turn on your iPad and check out this app.

Yellowstone ready for Memorial Day visitors

Yellowstone ready for Memorial Day visitors

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. – All entrances and interior roads at Yellowstone National Park are open to the public and the park is ready for Memorial Day weekend visitors.
The park says there will be no daytime delays or overnight closures as a result of construction on any park roads during …. Read the original article  : Yellowstone ready for Memorial Day visitors.

New contemporary art and architecture museum to open in Rome

Contemporary art museum to open in Rome
ROME – A huge museum for contemporary arts and architecture opens in Rome this weekend in a bid to draw avant-garde art lovers to a city defined by its ancient monuments and Baroque fountains.

The MAXXI museum designed by Iraqi-born architect Zaha Hadid is the latest and most ambitious project … Original source on Gaea Times at : New contemporary art and architecture museum to open in Rome.

Coopers Beach, Southampton, NY, named top beach; others in Hawaii, Fla., NC, SC, Calif., Mass.

NY’s Southampton beach tops Dr. Beach’s 10 best

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. – Here is the list of top 10 beaches for 2010 from Stephen P. Leatherman, director of Florida International University’s Laboratory for Coastal Research, also known as Dr. Beach. He has compiled the list annually since 1991 using 50 criteria, including water quality and temperature, cleanliness, …. Original article  : Coopers Beach, Southampton, NY, named top beach; others in Hawaii, Fla., NC, SC, Calif., Mass..

British Airways, union resume talks to try to avert 10 more days of strikes

British Airways, union meet before next strike

LONDON – British Airways is holding talks with union leaders to try to avert 10 more days of strikes planned by cabin crews.
The talks Friday aim to resolve a dispute over changes to pay and working conditions and comes on the final day of five-day walkout by staff.
Cabin crews … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : British Airways, union resume talks to try to avert 10 more days of strikes.

Coopers Beach in Southampton, NY tops 10 best beaches; 2 Fla. sites on list

Dr. Beach: NY’s Southampton beach tops list

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. – Hamptons hoi polloi probably assumed it was always No. 1.
Coopers Beach, with pristine white sand gently sloping toward a shoreline of lapping waves, convenient parking and amenities and nary a gum wrapper in sight, has been selected as America’s best beach in an annual survey released … Original source on Gaea Times at : Coopers Beach in Southampton, NY tops 10 best beaches; 2 Fla. sites on list.

Coopers Beach in Southampton New York: Best Beach in US

New York (GaeaTimes.com) Coopers Beach in Southampton, New York has been ranked #1 in Dr. Beach’s list of best beaches in U.S. Stephen P. Leatherman, aka Dr. Beach makes an annual list of the best beaches. His deciding conditions include factors like water temperature, sand quality, waves, smell and the presence of jellyfish. … Read more >>.

Marine born on 4th of July becomes 1,000th US death in Afghan war _ days before Memorial Day

1,000th GI killed in Afghan war was on 2nd tour

KERRVILLE, Texas – The 1,000th American serviceman killed in Afghanistan was born on the Fourth of July. He died several days before Americans honor fallen troops on Memorial Day.
Marine Cpl. Jacob C. Leicht was killed Thursday when he stepped on a land mine in Helmand province … Read : Marine born on 4th of July becomes 1,000th US death in Afghan war _ days before Memorial Day.

Lost ark or African treasure? A British scholar’s relic theory stirs Zimbabwean passions

Lost ark or African treasure? Relic stirs passions

HARARE, Zimbabwe – Tudor Parfitt has spent years chasing a theory that a lost tribe of Jews wound up in Southern Africa. But his latest leap has landed him in a minefield.
The subject at hand is this British scholar’s contention that the remains of a 700-year-old bowl-shaped relic … Read : Lost ark or African treasure? A British scholar’s relic theory stirs Zimbabwean passions.

Lake Powell levels up; so too are houseboat and lodging reservations

Snowmelt to raise Lake Powell, keep shortcut open

SALT LAKE CITY – The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation says snowmelt will raise Lake Powell to levels higher than last summer, keeping a notable boating shortcut open.
Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas says houseboat reservations for prime season are up by a third over this time last year.
Resort vice … Original article on : Lake Powell levels up; so too are houseboat and lodging reservations.

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts hosts exhibition about flowers featuring works from its collection

Exhibit about flowers in art in Kalamazoo
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts is hosting a new exhibition about flowers featuring works from its holdings.

“Flowers in Art: Selections from the Collection” opens Saturday and runs through Sept. 12 at the museum in Kalamazoo. The selections on display feature flowers as a centerpiece, adornment and …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Kalamazoo Institute of Arts hosts exhibition about flowers featuring works from its collection.