- Stand with the ACLU and Oppose Government Travel Abuses
- Full-body scans at airports go too far, some say
- Point-Counterpoint: Full-Body Scans at Airport Security
- Full-Body Scanners 101: How Naked Is Full-Body Scan Naked?
- One Hundred Naked Citizens: One Hundred Leaked Body Scans
- Airport body-scan radiation under scrutiny
Monday, November 22, 2010
The Airport Pat-Down
We are hardly surprised about the hoopla that has erupted in response to the full-body scans at U.S. airports and the related pat-downs. Having our bags scanned and being forced to take off our shoes is one thing -- the kind of humiliation that many passengers have experienced at the hands of TSA workers is quite another. Despite the administration's insistence that the policy will remain in place for "our safety," we predict that one way or another, we'll see some changes -- attempts at better training, more rules detailing what is appropriate and what isn't, and so forth. One reason we are so sure that this won't simply pass into accepted practice is related to the degree of media attention this issue is receiving. Here is a sampling:
Monday, November 15, 2010
10 Travel Tips for 2010
- Book your flight early - prices seem to keep rising as the end of the year approaches.
- Check out the new wing at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
- To make the most of your money see our list of budget travel tips.
- Try one of Philly's famous cheesesteaks.
- See Al Pacino perform in the Merchant of Venice in New York City.
- For a smoother trip through the airport, review the instructions on the TSA website.
- For amazing views of San Francisco, climb up to the top of Coit Tower.
- Delight in the pink sands of Bermuda.
- Pack wisely using The Insider Travel Guide's packing guide.
- Practice your putting on one of Hawaii's best golf courses.
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
New York City Boutique Hotel - Book it at a Reduced Rate Now!
Two months young, Park Avenue's newest hotel starlet, the Gansevoort Park Avenue, pushes the envelope of architecture and design and champions a new breed of the rooftop experience — a tri-level pool and bar. With some of the city's fiercest (and largest) crash pads, eclectic furnishings and killer city views, this central trendsetter has successfully commandeered the NYC spotlight. Now you can check out this chic New York City newcomer with significant savings from Jetsetter.com. Click here to visit the sale.
Friday, November 05, 2010
Top 10 Tips for Riding the NYC Subway
November and December are two of the busiest months for visitors to New York City. And given the mid-town grid-lock that all these extra people create, many tourists wisely opt for public transportation instead of attempting to navigate NYC traffic on their own. Crime is at record low levels in NYC, but that doesn't mean that it has been completely eradicated. To avoid being a victim, follow these tips from the NYPD Transit Bureau:
1. STAY ALERT….BE AWARE - sounds simplistic, so why are thefts of electronic devices the major crime in our city? Because many people are preoccupied while talking on their cell phone, absorbed in
playing a game or listening to music when walking down the street or on the subway or bus.
2. SUBWAY RIDERS - GO INTO SUBWAY ENTRANCES WHERE THE BULBS ARE
LIT IN GREEN-THESE ARE FULL SERVICE STATIONS. Red bulbs indicate limited service and may not have an attendant.
3. BUDDY UP – Don't travel alone
4. It is usually safer to ride the trains in the car where the conductor is located, or in the front of the train. Experience has shown that when fights break out, they usually occur in the last two cars of the train.
5. If you're going to rendezvous with friends---meet at a pizza place, the park, or someone's home instead of the subway platform.
6. TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS AND AVOID POSSIBLE ALTERCATIONS. If you see a group of kids on the subway platform, or the street, walk another way. Go into a store or doorman building if you feel
threatened until the danger passes. If your electronic device is taken from you, don't fight, it's not worth getting hurt over.
7. KEEP AWAY FROM SUBWAY DOORS WHEN LISTENING TO YOUR MUSIC- why make it easy for someone on the platform to reach in and grab your player?
8. DO NOT WALK OR RIDE BETWEEN TRAIN CARS.
9. DON'T TEMPT A THIEF WITH YOUR ELECTRONIC GAME OR DEVICE- Put it away when you're on the subway and disguise your player by changing your earpiece color.
10. IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING….CALL 911.
1. STAY ALERT….BE AWARE - sounds simplistic, so why are thefts of electronic devices the major crime in our city? Because many people are preoccupied while talking on their cell phone, absorbed in
playing a game or listening to music when walking down the street or on the subway or bus.
2. SUBWAY RIDERS - GO INTO SUBWAY ENTRANCES WHERE THE BULBS ARE
LIT IN GREEN-THESE ARE FULL SERVICE STATIONS. Red bulbs indicate limited service and may not have an attendant.
3. BUDDY UP – Don't travel alone
4. It is usually safer to ride the trains in the car where the conductor is located, or in the front of the train. Experience has shown that when fights break out, they usually occur in the last two cars of the train.
5. If you're going to rendezvous with friends---meet at a pizza place, the park, or someone's home instead of the subway platform.
6. TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS AND AVOID POSSIBLE ALTERCATIONS. If you see a group of kids on the subway platform, or the street, walk another way. Go into a store or doorman building if you feel
threatened until the danger passes. If your electronic device is taken from you, don't fight, it's not worth getting hurt over.
7. KEEP AWAY FROM SUBWAY DOORS WHEN LISTENING TO YOUR MUSIC- why make it easy for someone on the platform to reach in and grab your player?
8. DO NOT WALK OR RIDE BETWEEN TRAIN CARS.
9. DON'T TEMPT A THIEF WITH YOUR ELECTRONIC GAME OR DEVICE- Put it away when you're on the subway and disguise your player by changing your earpiece color.
10. IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING….CALL 911.
Thursday, November 04, 2010
New York City-Area Hikes
November is a great time to hike in and around New York City. The summer heat is long gone; the winter winds have yet to make their appearance. Here are five hikes that are especially interesting:
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge: The wide, level 1.8-mile loop around scenic West Pond in the rustic Jamaica Bay bird sanctuary is a great introduction to hiking. For more info: nps.gov/gate, (718) 318-4340.
Native Forest, New York Botanical Garden: Fifty acres of Yosemite-size timber, the largest tract of virgin forest left in New York City, lies at the heart of this Bronx oasis better known for orchids and roses. Easy trails meander amid centuries-old trees beside the restored Bronx River. For more info, nybg.org, 718-817-8700.
Old Croton Aqueduct Trail: A wide, easy path traces the linear route of New York City’s historic water pipeline. The most interesting 5.5 miles run from Ossining (train-accessible site of historic bridges, weirs and a visitor center) north to Croton Gorge Park (crowned with a 300-foot dam at the Croton Reservoir). For more info, aqueduct.org, 914-693-5259.
Shore Trail, Palisades Interstate Park: This waterfront path on the Jersey side of the Hudson River sits in the shadow of the sheer Palisades cliffs just north of the George Washington Bridge. For easy access: Park near the Englewood Picnic Area and walk north, following the white trail blazes. For more info, njpalisades.org, 201-768-1360.
David Weld Sanctuary: Easy trails through The Nature Conservancy’s compact 125-acre preserve near Nissequogue, Long Island (north of Smithtown), run past swamps, fields, shoreline bluffs and examples of the region’s glacier-scarred geologic past. For more info, (631) 367-3225.
(Hiking tips are from Skip Card, author of “Take A Hike New York City,” a guide to 75 hiking trails within two hours of Manhattan.)
Nov. 5, 2010
Update: Apparently great minds think alike: a day after we posted this piece, The NY Times printed a piece about hikes that help you enjoy the fall color at NYC parks. You can read their article by clicking here.
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge: The wide, level 1.8-mile loop around scenic West Pond in the rustic Jamaica Bay bird sanctuary is a great introduction to hiking. For more info: nps.gov/gate, (718) 318-4340.
Native Forest, New York Botanical Garden: Fifty acres of Yosemite-size timber, the largest tract of virgin forest left in New York City, lies at the heart of this Bronx oasis better known for orchids and roses. Easy trails meander amid centuries-old trees beside the restored Bronx River. For more info, nybg.org, 718-817-8700.
Old Croton Aqueduct Trail: A wide, easy path traces the linear route of New York City’s historic water pipeline. The most interesting 5.5 miles run from Ossining (train-accessible site of historic bridges, weirs and a visitor center) north to Croton Gorge Park (crowned with a 300-foot dam at the Croton Reservoir). For more info, aqueduct.org, 914-693-5259.
Shore Trail, Palisades Interstate Park: This waterfront path on the Jersey side of the Hudson River sits in the shadow of the sheer Palisades cliffs just north of the George Washington Bridge. For easy access: Park near the Englewood Picnic Area and walk north, following the white trail blazes. For more info, njpalisades.org, 201-768-1360.
David Weld Sanctuary: Easy trails through The Nature Conservancy’s compact 125-acre preserve near Nissequogue, Long Island (north of Smithtown), run past swamps, fields, shoreline bluffs and examples of the region’s glacier-scarred geologic past. For more info, (631) 367-3225.
(Hiking tips are from Skip Card, author of “Take A Hike New York City,” a guide to 75 hiking trails within two hours of Manhattan.)
Nov. 5, 2010
Update: Apparently great minds think alike: a day after we posted this piece, The NY Times printed a piece about hikes that help you enjoy the fall color at NYC parks. You can read their article by clicking here.
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