Very Cool, But Is This Really the World’s Most Terrifying Bed & Breakfast?

Jan 06 2016

I visit the Maldives each year, because I really value the seclusion. The distance to travel, and even the need for a domestic flight and boat ride to reach the Park Hyatt after arriving in the country, create a sense of separation from the world for me. I need that to relax.

There is, however, seclusion much closer to home (although a boat out to reach it will cost as much as domestic Maldivian transfers). But is it the world’s scariest?

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Marine Brings Ammunition Through Checkpoint at LAX, TSA Doesn’t Notice

bullets in a plastic bag
Jan 05 2016

An active duty marine flew Los Angeles to Taipei and was connecting on China Airlines flight CI120 to Okinawa when he was found with 40 rounds of ammunition while going through transit security. The marine explained that he had ‘forgotten to take them out’ of his bag, but he wasn’t carrying a gun to use them with in any case.

The bullets were immediately visible to screeners in Taipei using a standard x-ray machine. To screeners at LAX, not so much. They’re too busy manipulating advanced imaging machines so they could fondle attractive passengers.

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Malaysia Airlines Refuses to Transport Checked Bags on Europe Flights, Already Partly Rolls Back Policy

Jan 05 2016

oneworld member Malaysia Airlines had posted a notice that they weren’t going to accept checked bags on European flights due to unusual headwinds.

It’s hard to imagine taking a European flight with only carry ons, let alone with an economy allowance of ~ 15 pounds. And it’s unclear what it means for checked baggage to “only arrive later” (perhaps in a few days when the headwinds die down?).

The temporary change, though, is also related to how Malaysia Airlines is responding to the 2014 shooting down of one of their jets.

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Will This Be One of the Biggest Stories of the Year: The End of Europe’s Passport-Free Travel?

Jan 04 2016

The free movement of people and goods is a fundamental idea of the European Union, and one that’s driven tremendous economic benefit to the region (not to mention the individual benefit from unburdening travel). It’s embodied in the Schengen Agreement and in other agreements.

When you enter a European country you go through passport control. If you connect at an airport to elsewhere in Europe you’re generally taking what amounts to a domestic flight. Travel within Europe, for the 400 million people inside the Schengen Area, is like travel inside the U.S.

Sweden has now imposed border controls with Denmark and Denmark with Germany.

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