Traveler helps to catch a flier who smuggled a gun on a plane
Earlier today at Philadelphia airport, one passenger saw another passenger hand a U.S. Airways employee a bag, who then carried it around, instead of through, airport security. Alarmed, the passenger notified security, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Officials tracked down the bag on the plane as it was preparing for take-off. Turns out there was an unloaded gun in the bag, say news reports. Flight 1195 was bound for Phoenix.
UPDATE: June 5:
According to an FBI affadavit, the passenger who has been accused of carrying the bag on board denies that he circumvented security procedures. The FBI says that the unloaded Smith & Wesson 9 mm semiautomatic handgun is registed in his name and he has a valid permit to carry it.
The Philly Inquirer reports that the passenger had been roomates with the US Airways official. Both have been arrested for violating federal laws about carrying weapons aboard aircraft, authorities said. It appears that this plot was a dumb idea for one friend to help another move a gun across country and there was no plan to do anyone any harm.
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Q&A: An author travels where his clothes take him
Kelsey Timmerman, author of Where Am I Wearing, didn't need much of an excuse to travel—an old T-shirt was all it took for him to set off on a trip to Honduras, in search of the people who made it. Timmerman ended up traveling through Bangladesh, Cambodia, and China. We picked his brain for a little advice. For more info, check out his website. Q: Tell us about your book. How were you inspired to write it? A: I had this T-shirt with Tattoo from the TV show Fantasy Island on it. Remember Tattoo? He was the short fella that would holler, "De Plane! De Plane!" Anyhow, around Tattoo's smiling mug was the phrase, "Follow Me To My Tropical Paradise." I was curious where Tattoo's tropical paradise was. I looked at the tag; it read Made in Honduras. I thought: What if I went to the countries where my clothes were made and met the people who made them? Where was I wearing? I thought I should know a little something about the people who make our clothes. I piled up my favorite items of clothing on the floor, checked the tags, and hit the road. Q: What's your best tip for travelers going to foreign countries—like really foreign countries? A: Trust someone you meet, but be weary of anyone who approaches offering help. Q: How do you make sure you're experiencing a place as a local would? A: That's easy. Experience a place with a local by your side. Make friends. Go to the local university and just start chatting up students. They're usually pretty open to talking with a foreigner. And play. I always travel with a Frisbee. I'm like the international ambassador for Ultimate Frisbee. Nothing bridges the language gap like the universal language of play. Some of the best local friends that I've made are the result of games of cricket, soccer, and baseball. Q: Did you discover any locations you'd like to go back to? A: I loved Bangladesh. The people there are some of the most genuinely friendly folks I've ever met. I treated 19 kids and an old man to a day at an amusement park, celebrated the Bengali New Year with supermodel Bibi Russell, and took a three-day trip on a paddleboat south of Dhaka. I would like to go back and hang out with the friends I made, make some new ones, and do other things that don't involve underwear factories. Q: So what do you wear when you travel, and has that changed since you wrote this book? A: I would prefer to wear shorts, a T-shirt, and flip-flops, but find that folks in places like Bangladesh and Cambodia, regardless of how sweltering the heat, wear long pants and collared shirts. Since I'm often doing things like setting up interviews or going undercover as an underwear buyer, I follow suit. I'm a big fan of Patagonia. In their catalog and on their website they list where all of their products are made and even have a feature on their site called the Footprint Chronicles that follows a product from field to factory.
5 open-air music festivals aim to outdo Bonnaroo, Coachella
Open-air music festivals let you see dozens of your favorite bands for a single ticket. The booming attendance numbers for Austin City Limits, Bonnaroo, Coachella, and Lollapalooza have, in turn, spawned a wave of other outdoor events. Here are five newcomers, listed in their order of appearance this summer. Rothbury, Mich. Six miles from Lake Michigan, the scenic Double JJ Ranch hosts the second annual Rothbury Festival. Bob Dylan, the Dead, and Willie Nelson take center stage, while smaller acts such as the Black Crowes, Cold War Kids, and Guster round out a slew of jam bands. July 2–5; advance weekend pass $250; two-day Saturday/Sunday pass $152, rothburyfestival.com. Cavendish, Prince Edward Island, Canada Country mainstays like Tim McGraw, Reba McEntire, and Big&Rich; have large followings in the South, but this summer they're heading up north for the first annual Cavendish Beach Festival, where they'll be joined by Canadian stars like Paul Brandt and smaller bluegrass acts like the Grass Mountain Hobos. July 10–12; three-day pass $174; $54 Friday; $73 each Saturday and Sunday, cavendishbeachmusic.com. Commerce City, Colo. Denver-natives the Fray will play their hometown for the second Mile High Music Festival, which will take over 18 soccer fields in a park just outside the capital city. They'll share stages with dozens of other musicians, such as Widespread Panic, India.Arie, and Matt Nathanson. Tool will perform live for the first time in two years. July 18–19; two-day pass $162.50; single day $90, milehighmusicfestival.com. Jersey City, N.J. All Points West Music & Arts Festival's three stages in Liberty State Park have views of the Manhattan skyline, the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island. A big hit on its debut last year, the festival aims for an even better second year. Beastie Boys, Tool, and Coldplay headline three nights of more than 65 artists. July 31–August 2, 3-day pass $199; single day $89, apwfestival.com. San Francisco, Calif. Sixty-four acts took over Golden Gate Park last year at the inaugural Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival, and it's back this August with a killer lineup, including Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, M.I.A., Jason Mraz, and the Black Eyed Peas. August 28–30; advance 3-day tickets $225.50; regular three-day is TBD, sfoutsidelands.com. EARLIER 3 bold new summer thrills for '09 Video Quest: Dive in the natural waterfall where Jason Mraz filmed his hit video
As the dollar weakens, Paris gets pricier
Those heading to Paris this summer are starting to worry about their spending power. The dollar tumbled this week to 1.40 against the euro—its lowest point in five months—and analysts fear that it's only gonna get worse. It might even deteriorate to the point we saw last April when it cost $1.60 to make a single euro. The greenback was so worthless back then that I half-expected to see Americans trying to pay for their hotel rooms with used Levis. The shifting value of these two currencies really does make a difference to your holiday budget. Imagine booking a Paris hotel for €200 per night. If the dollar gains a few points from today's value and hits 1.30 against the euro, a three-night stay will cost you $780. If the dollar tumbles to 1.60, that same stay will cost $960—almost two hundred dollars more. Changes like that can easily happen within a year. To confuse an already complex situation, some travel guides convert local prices and relate them in dollar figures only. That can lead to surprises, especially if the review is a few years old. For example, picture a Paris restaurant with an unchanging €50 menu. A review published today would convert that to $70. Something printed five years ago—and you'll find plenty of these online—would price it at $56. And one year ago, that same menu would be $80. That's a pretty big difference! To cut the confusion, Affordable Paris gives you the price in both currencies. And we're ramping up our coverage of lower-priced hotels and restaurants to ensure that the City of Light remains within reach during even the worst dollar slump. Slimming down the lunch bill at Paris restaurants Affordable Paris: Two new "designer hostels" for $40 a night Paris: Museums for free Paris attractions: Top 5 free events in June
