Quote of the Week- Aki Kaurismaki

We conclude our quotes from famous Scandanavians this month, with a quip from the great Finnish director Aki Kaurismaki. He is featured in the current issue of "Film Comment," where he discusses his latest film "Le Havre," which happens to be in French!

Aki's most acclaimed film to date in American film circles has been "The Man Without a Past" (2002).

Here is his quote:

"Cinema is dead. It died in 1962. I think it was October."

For the record, he was five years old in 1962.

Quote of the Day- Bernardo Bertolucci

This month (September), we have been quoting famous film directors. We conclude with one from the great Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci ("The Conformist," "The Last Tango in Paris"). My friend Bilge Ebiri, a New York film critic, is a huge admirer of his work and he has written about Bertolucci for the Australian web site "Senses of Cinema."

I also consider him to be a brilliant director; here is his quote:

"A monculture is not only Hollywood, but Americans trying to export democracy."

Ideal Childhood

I'm allowed draw and paint all over the walls.


I eat rice with ketchup as often as I want. 


I never have to get out of my abandoned princess orphan costume.


I scream and cry. 


The word "lady" never enters my vocabulary. 


The playroom looks like a room children play in, instead of a room well-behaved children never make a mess in. 


My family always wants to see my homemade plays. 


I am allowed to collect rolly-polly's. 


I don't have to brush my hair, ever. 


I can play with cars too. 


Barbie never makes an appearance. 


Disney movies are banned. 


There's space for me to run around. 


I can rip the wrapping on presents. 


I don't have to speak up in class; I'm allowed to be quiet and shy. 


I sleep in a tent.


I am not careful with my clothes, they're inexpensive and they can get dirty and messed up. 


I am told that I am a beautiful little girl, and that I can have as many dreams, realistic or not, as I want.


We don't always get the childhoods we want and need; sometimes we have to give them to ourselves as adults. And, maybe, we can give a little bit of them to our children, if we're sensitive enough to know what they each need.

As the caretaker I wish I'd had to my Inner Child, I ask Little Larissa, What do you need today? If I can give it to her- to myself- I do. And so, all those impulses and dreams that were stifled long ago, begin to live again...

There's nothing as touching and sweet as a happy child who's allowed to dream, I think.

Potty Humor in Las Vegas Hotels

Vegas Chatter: Probably not the no. 1 or no. 2 most important thing you'll do today, but care to guess which Vegas hotel is really into potty humor?

We had no idea fellas were the butt of this hotel's joke until we found this pic on Flickr. Being a chick, we've never been mocked in the Vegas loo, but we have been greeted by some attentive ladies ourselves. Except these gals left nothing to the imagination. And, we really mean, nothing.

Apparently, there's a lot more to flush out about the Vegas potty scene, because there's even a blog dedicated to it now, too. The Straight Flush only has a handful of posts and has been a bit silent of late (perhaps a laxative is in order?), but has already shared some hidden and disgusting finds.

Come back tomorrow to find out which Sin City loo is pictured above. Update: It's the Las Vegas Hilton.

Index Weighs Consumer Attachment to Brands

Charlie's Angels

USA Today: What do American Airlines and the new fall television show Charlie's Angels have in common? Apparently, a large number of consumers who love them both.

So say the findings of a 2011 television program study by NewMediaMetrics, a strategic marketing and analytics company, which has developed an index that measures the level of emotional attachment consumers have to different brands — and how that mirrors their connections to media, ranging from magazines to mobile phones.

A look at airlines and the new fall TV lineup reveals that 33.8% of those who felt a strong attachment to American Airlines had similarly strong feelings for ABC's updated take on the 1970s viewers' favorite with Farrah Fawcett. Among Delta's biggest fans, 35.2% felt equally strong about the CBS drama Unforgettable. And 35.5% of those who most loved JetBlue were also strongly drawn to the Fox series New Girl.

The information can help companies figure out the best media in which to place their ads, either to boost sales to customers who already feel a strong bond, or to woo those whose feelings aren't as intense, says Gary Reisman, NewMediaMetrics' co-founder.

"If you're attached, you are loyal," Reisman says. The company's index, using a scale of 0 to 10, has measured emotional connection to hundreds of brands in the past six years.

"If we target … the people attached to the brand and attached to the (TV) program, those individuals are three times as likely to consider buying and using the brand."

Similarly, those consumers who are slightly less attached to a carrier might be swayed if the airline's ads target shows they are more passionate about.

Stacey Frantz, a spokeswoman for American Airlines, says having an emotional link to passengers is key to customer loyalty. "We are always interested in where our customers are connecting emotionally," Frantz says. "In fact, it's one of the key barometers by which we measure the success of our advertising concepts."

While the airline hasn't used NewMediaMetrics' research, it has conducted its own.

"We leverage a significant amount of customer research to make decisions like this about where our customers are best connecting emotionally as it relates to our brand," Frantz says.

The TV study also looked at other travel companies. The new ABC show Revenge, for instance, was popular with many who felt most attached to online travel sites Expedia, Travelocity and Hotels.com. Many who felt a strong connection to Hilton hotels had similar feelings for the new show Person of Interest on CBS.

People who like this airline also like that show

Consumers with the strongest emotional attachment to these airlines, cruise lines and hotels had a similarly strong one to these new TV shows, according to a new NewMediaMetrics survey to measure the level of attachment to different brands.

Airlines:

American Airlines
Charlie's Angels (ABC)
Curiosity: The Questions of Life (Discovery Channel)

Delta
Unforgettable (CBS)
Curiosity: The Questions of Life (Discovery)

JetBlue
New Girl (Fox)
Curiosity: The Questions of Life (Discovery)

Southwest
Person of Interest (CBS)
Curiosity: The Questions of Life (Discovery)

United
The X Factor (Fox)
Impractical Jokers (TruTV)

Cruise lines:

Carnival Cruise Lines
Prime Suspect (NBC)
Semi Pro (TruTV)

Disney Cruise Lines
Unforgettable (CBS)
Rocco's Dinner Party (Bravo)

Norwegian Cruise Lines
Pan Am (ABC)
Impractical Jokers (TruTV)

Hotels:

Embassy Suites
New Girl (Fox)
Rocco's Dinner Party (Bravo)

Hyatt
Revenge (ABC)
Curiosity: The Questions of Life (Discovery)

Marriott
New Girl (Fox)
Curiosity: The Questions of Life (Discovery)

Sheraton
New Girl (Fox)
Falling Skies (TNT)

13 Reasons Why Delta Might Kick You Off a Flight

AirFareWatchdog: Every airline has different rules published in their contracts of carriage stating under what conditions they might refuse to fly you. As noted earlier, United has a rule governing the transport of passengers who don't fit in a single seat or are so large that they can't lower an arm rest between them and fellow passengers.

Delta has a slightly different set of rules. You can be removed or refused transportation if you can't buckle your seat belt. As with United's contract, no shoes, no service and if you're stinky, it's no go. But in addition, there's a rule about passenger conduct, and it's somewhat vague (no word if it includes two women kissing). Here are the 13 reasons you might not be able to fly on Delta, from Delta's contract:

1) When the passenger’s conduct is disorderly, abusive or violent.

2) When the passenger is barefoot.

3) When the passenger appears to be intoxicated or under the influence of drugs.

4) When the passenger attempts to interfere with any member of the flight crew in the pursuit of his or her duties, or fails to obey the instruction of any member of the flight crew.

5) When the passenger has a contagious disease that may be transmissible to other passengers during the normal course of the flight;

6) When the passenger has a malodorous condition;

7) When the passenger is unable to sit in a seat with the seatbelt fastened;

8) When the passenger requires an onboard stretcher kit;

9) When the passenger’s behavior may be hazardous to himself/herself, the crew, or other passengers;

10) When the passenger is seriously ill, and fails to provide a physician's written permission to fly.

11) When the passenger is traveling in an incubator.

12) When the passenger’s conduct creates an unreasonable risk of offense or annoyance to other passengers.

13) When the passenger’s conduct creates a risk of harm or damage to the carrier’s aircraft and/or property, or the property of other passengers.

Entrepreneurs Race to Create Best Bed Bug Killer

Fox News: Some want to bake them. Others prefer to freeze them. Still others dehydrate them.

Inventors will try just about anything to kill bed bugs, those nasty, reddish-brown, blood-sucking parasites that are the worst nightmare of many hotel guests. America's obsession with bed bugs has led to a rush of entrepreneurs seeking profit from exterminating them, and about 75 companies gathered this week in hopes of launching the perfect beg bug killer.

"I never figured I'd be in Chicago for a bed bug conference. I never thought that in my wildest dreams," Mike Bourdeau, operations manager at Flynn Pest Control in Massachusetts, said at the second annual Bed Bug University. Bourdeau said bed bug business is booming. It went from virtually zero percent of Flynn Pest Control's business less than five years ago to about 20 percent of what the company brings in today.

"It's probably going to be a big part of our business for ... the next ten years," he said.

A study this year by University of Kentucky researchers and the National Pest Management Association showed 80 percent of surveyed pest control companies had treated hotels for bed bugs within a year, up from 67 percent a year ago. More than 80 percent of the surveyed companies said they believed bed bug infestations were on the rise.

Whether there are more bed bugs these days or just more publicity about them is hotly debated, but there is general agreement that the problem is here to stay.

"It will become like roaches and ants. It's not going anywhere. We will deal with bed bugs the rest of our lives," said Phillip Cooper, chief executive officer of BedBug Central, a research and information firm.

Companies attending the conference showed search and destroy methods ranging from bug-sniffing dogs to vacuum-like machines that spout carbon dioxide to freeze the bugs. For example, The Bed Bug Baker features a heated tent that can hold a dining room's worth of furniture to bake away bed bugs at home. For hotel room infestations, there's an electric heater that can bake the whole room.

Another product is a dust made of crushed fossils called diatomaceous earth that can be sprinkled on floors. It kills bed bugs by dehydrating their shell. Bed bugs walk through the dust, which is also a desiccant, and gradually dry out, said Jeffrey White, an entomologist with BedBug Central.

The measures might seem exotic, but academics and inventors say the number of bed bug hiding spots in hospitals, hotels, homes or even on public transportation, make it hard to apply a "silver bullet" treatment.

While hotel infestations get the most attention, a new study conducted by the University of Kentucky showed college dormitories, nursing homes, hospitals and office buildings are the new battlegrounds. Pest control companies report double-digit growth from last year in treating bed bugs at each place.

"It's no longer going to be the hotels that are the problem," said Mike Lindsey, president of Bedbug Boxes. "So you're going to have to keep chasing it around and find that solution for that particular place."

Lindsey quit his six figures engineering job to chase the dream of being a bed bug entrepreneur. He invented a box lined with what look like solar panels to heat clothes or luggage to temperatures that kill bed bugs after his family brought the pests home to Colorado from a Mexico vacation. Now he is marketing a suitcase that uses the same strips to roast any bed bugs inside.

Kenneth F. Haynes, a professor who studies insect behavior at the University of Kentucky, said people have a stigma about bed bugs, and are often embarrassed to get help treating an infestation. The industry is trying to defeat the stigma, which could unlock more customers.

For now, a scramble is on to tap a growing market. Once extermination products for the pest are widely accepted the need for a gathering of experts will fade away.

"We don't have a roach conference. We don't have a mouse conference. So, once we get to that point, there will be no need for a bed bug conference," Cooper said.

Priceline Unveils 'Tonight-Only Deals' Mobile App

USA Today: Need to book a hotel room in a pricey city tonight and still want a deal? As of today, Priceline.com is ready to help. The hotel discounter is unveiling a mobile service, Tonight-Only Deals, aimed at travelers who are looking for a room at the last minute and want a deal — and the identity of their hotel — before they make a purchase. Priceline says consumers can expect up to 35% off published room prices by using the service.

Priceline is best known for its "name your own price" feature promoted by actor William Shatner. It offers up to 60% off published rates in exchange for hiding the hotel's name until the purchase is complete. Last-minute bookers will find the Tonight-Only Deals featured on Priceline's 2-year-old Hotel Negotiator app for iPhones. The app doesn't yet exist for Android phones.

"Think of this as a way to get savings but also know the hotel upfront," says John Caine, Priceline's senior vice president of marketing.

Priceline thinks the service will be a hit given the mobile world's "I want it now" attitude. An example of rates Wednesday night that Priceline says would be typically available on Tonight-Only Deals: A same-day room at the luxury Taj Boston was $230 compared with $280 on Hotels.com and $349 on the hotel's website. Priceline decided to go after the same-day booking market after finding that 70% of its mobile bookings are made the same day, Caine says.

So far, Priceline has little competition in the app world for travelers with constantly changing plans or those who are planning a last-minute getaway. Only one company — app-only start-up HotelTonight — targets these travelers.

HotelTonight founder Sam Shank says his service has seen steady growth since its launch in February. Today, Shank says, HotelTonight will expand into weekend-getaway hotels, resorts and bed-and-breakfasts near four major cities, including Boston and New York.

HotelTonight offers same-day deals in 22 cities. Priceline is launching its new service with 34 cities, including New York, Las Vegas and Boston. Deals will be posted at 11 a.m. local time.

Legoland Florida Ready for Soft Opening

Orlando Sentinel: The rides at Legoland Florida are up and ready to roll, as Central Florida's newest theme park prepares for its first guests this weekend — the contractors who built the park and the families of the park's 1,000 employees.

Legoland doesn't open to the public until Oct. 15., but the Winter Haven park is nearly ready, with rides in working order, landscaping all but complete, and hundreds of Lego sculptures scattered throughout the property, waiting to be discovered by eager eyes.

"We're in full training mode. Our merchandise people are filling in the stores, our food people are practicing food preparation," Jill Swidler, the park's marketing director, said Wednesday. "So we'll be ready to go Oct. 15."

Legoland conducted a brief, technical rehearsal Wednesday of part of its water-ski show, the first time the show has been done in full costume. Dubbed "The Battle for Brickbeard's Bounty," the show includes a boxy Lego pirate named Brickbeard and the "spicy and brave" heroine, Ms. Miranda, who defends Legoland's happy harbor with her Lego soldiers and a pirate-eating shark named Sawtooth. The show set comes complete with a large-scale model of a Lego pirate ship.

"We actually have a Lego ship that we modeled this after," said Marc Kish, project manager for Nassal, the Orlando company that built the set piece. "We had to make sure every line and every seam and every placement is true."

The park also gave members of the media a sneak peek of Lego City, with its Boating School, Ford Driving School and Lego City Rescue Academy — a firefighter-inspired race that pits family against family in a bid to battle a burning building.

"The rides at Legoland are really special rides in that, instead of being a passive participant, you're an active participant," said Bill Vollbrecht, the park's senior project designer. "Everything they do, it's hands on. They drive the car — there's no track. They drive the boat on open water."

The park's Lego Technic Test Track was also ready Wednesday. The steel roller coaster offers a high-rise view of the park before riders plunge down a 45-foot drop.

Legoland said it will soon begin selling discount tickets at area Publix Super Markets. At $60 for adults and $50 for children, the tickets cost $15 less than those purchased at the gate and $5 less than pre-opening prices available online.

Park officials also expressed confidence in their annual-pass sales, saying area residents are already clamoring to get into the attraction.

"Our pass sales are going through the roof, totally exceeding our expectations," Swidler said. "We know the locals are totally excited to get in here."

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Elvis Presley

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Elvis presley biography

Elvis Aron Presley was born January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi was a rock 'n' roll legendary United States. Elvis presley is also known as "The King" and "The King of Rock 'n' Roll". In addition to singer, The King was a music producer and actor.Thanks to his songs that combined rhythm of rock 'n' roll with songs ballad, the world of rock 'n' roll sound commercial gain can be further developed musicians rock 'n' roll of his successors.


In its heyday, attended concerts of Elvis fans (mostly teenagers) in a very large number. Style, nature, and how clothing has become a symbol for rock 'n' roll fans and much imitated. Even the 4000 British teenager consecrated as king Elvis hairstyle trendsetter throughout the ages.

Early introduction to the world of Elvis began recording in the summer of 1953.Elvis paid U.S. $ 3.98 to record two songs in the company of Sun Studios as a birthday present for his mother. Sun founder Sam Phillips, attracted to his voice and called him in June 1954 to fill positions that are vacant ballad singer.

1956 was Elvis's early career as a professional singer. January 27, Elvis released his first single, Heartbreak Hotel, under the label RCA Victor Records. March 23, RCA released Elvis's first album, titled: Elvis Presley.

In the same year, 16 November, Elvis's first movie, LOVE ME TENDER, was launched. The film is reaping a lot of criticism, but got a very good sales figures.Overall Elvis appeared in 31 films.

Proceeds from sale of Elvis's debut album exploded late 1950s with the hit-hits, including All Shook Up, (Let me be your) Teddy Bear and I Need Your Love Tonight. Nonetheless, many critics are not impressed. In addition, the appearance of Elvis on stage a lot of criticism, because it is considered as pornography.

December 1957, Elvis called to join the military duty with the U.S. Army. He officially entered the Army on March 24, 1958, then stationed in Germany, and with respect dilepastugaskan two years later.

Returning from military service, his musical career had faded due to "disturbed" other professions as an actor and the loss of her role in selecting the type of songs he played. In addition, there was a musical awakening Britain / UK (British Invasion: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and others).

Elvis make a comeback, that success through a television appearance on December 3, 1968, entitled '68 Comeback Special. His musical career shining again after he had the opportunity during the event to play in the path of least she likes, rock 'n' roll.

The following year, Elvis started a best-selling live performances at various places, starting from Las Vegas and continue other states in the United States.Between 1969 and 1977, The King of Rock 'n' Roll show in the 1000 event sold out.

As a result of addiction to drugs such as sleeping pills doctors, health and appearance has decreased by about the mid-1970s. The King appeared for the last time in a concert at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana on June 26, 1977.

On August 16, 1977, Elvis was found dead at his home in Graceland, Memphis of a heart attack. At that time he was 42 years. cause of death is similar to Michael Jackson who died of a heart attack.

elvis presley picture gallery

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Are you there God? It's me Margaret.

Well it really is. If you're looking for gossip about puberty or such, read the book. This post, sorry to break it to you, is about God. Or G-d as some like to say. He (or she!) is the same as Allah or Yahweh. I'm going to tell you it straight up, I don't preach. I don't convert. I believe what I believe and let you believe what you do. I don't care if you're Protestant, Jewish, or even Buddhist. I don't care if you have one god or fifty. Your views. Your life. My views. My life. Don't be offended by any of this. I'm not targeting anyone in particular. Yes I am. Who am I kidding. I'm saying please.... Please don't force your views upon me.
Please don't tell me that I'm going to hell.
Please don't pray for me concerning my religious views.
Please don't tell me that my religion is wrong.
Please don't say false things about my religion.
Telling me I'm going to hell because I don't believe what you do doesn't settle well with my fellow baby eaters. Oh yeah. Forgot. We don't eat babies. Or children for that matter.
Telling me that my bible is wrong because it isn't yours and doesn't have a few books just makes me want to burn yours more.
Telling me that God is always right just makes me question your religion more.
Will you gain a convert? No. Not a chance.
I've been having a problem with the views of my religion teacher. He views that his religion is right and all others (including mine) are obviously wrong.
Just because it's a Catholic school doesn't mean that the entire school is Catholic. There's Methodists, Lutherns, Non-Denominationals, Protestants, and even kids who aren't religious at all. Please, before you go preaching to me, consider the fact that I go here because of the quality of education not so that I can be taught your religion. I don't want to follow your Magisterium. Heck, I don't even really care what they are and what they do.
My mom went in and talked to this teacher. Well lets just say it resulted in my mom having a deep conversation with the teacher. None of it concerning the fact that this teacher sits up there and preaches instead of teaches. Two different things, bud. Your preaching tends to offend many of us non-Catholics. I'm not a fan either that my book teaches just how you preach.

I think I'll grab some chocolate and turn on a romance movie. It's been a long day. Thankfully, three day weekend tomorrow. We had a "walk in the woods" or a walk-a-thon to raise money for the school. They still got the money we just don't have to do any walking. They canceled for the weather. 90% chance of rain. That's funny. They didn't seem to see the weather was a problem two years ago when it downpoured all three wet, hilly, slippery and muddy miles. My school waits until 4 a.m. to cancel school for a snow day. It's suprising they'd actually cancel something more than 4 hours in advance.

How Mobile Technology Will Streamline Airport Check-In

Fox Business: The future looks bright for travelers with smartphones wanting a smoother travel experience at the airport. Airlines recognize that one of the major pain points for travelers is the check-in process, which often involves a long wait time. They’re making strides to ameliorate the inefficient and annoying process using mobile technology.

According to SITA’s 2011 Airline IT Trends survey of the top 200 passenger carriers, over 90% are planning to invest in passenger mobile services this year, with the focus on check-in, flight status notifications, and electronic boarding passes.

Here’s a look at the current state of mobile check-in technology - and why it’s about to get even better.

Current: Emailed Mobile Barcodes
Travelers with smartphones are quickly adopting mobile boarding pass technology - airlines surveyed by SITA say that 15% of all air travelers will use a mobile phone to check-in at the airport and obtain an electronic mobile boarding pass by 2014. Self-service check-in at kiosks already offers some convenience, but using a mobile device to do so without the burden of printing and keeping track of a paper boarding pass with make the process even faster and easier. The time-saving benefit for travelers is indisputable - Quantas says frequent flyers using its Next Generation Check-In Program (which incorporates a mobile boarding pass) can complete the process in 5 seconds. Great news - but what happens at the check-in scanner when the traveler’s mobile device isn’t getting a great wireless signal, and retrieving the barcode pass from email is impossible? Enter Near Field Communication...

Future: e-Travel Documents via Near Field Communication (NFC)
Near Field Communication technology enables secure data sharing between a traveler’s mobile device and a reader at the airport. That means not only boarding passes but all travel documents - e-Passports, e-Visas, baggage receipts, itineraries, immigration forms and more - can be stored electronically and retrieved without an Internet connection. SAS Scandinavian Airlines is an early adopter of this technology, allowing their frequent flyers to use an NFC-based Smart Pass sticker at check-in, security, lounges, and gates throughout the airport. Newer smartphones already on the market have an embedded NFC chip that will send encrypted data, ensuring the privacy of sensitive traveler information.

As new passenger-centric technology like NFC is introduced and adopted, the airport experience will evolve from streamlined to seamless - all travelers will need to remember is a smartphone.

Republican Humor- Dear Casey

The following is meant to be political satire. Just so everyone in Generation Z or those of you from Belarus get the joke, Dear Casey or The Long Distance Dedication was a segment that was "Casey's Top 40," an American fm-radio music show when I was a teenager in the 1980s.


"Dear Casey:


I know that even though you are a political liberal like myself and a fellow person of Middle-Eastern heritage, you may hesitate to play this song for a truck driver I don't know in Sioux City, Iowa, as I am making this request for poltical reasons. Casey, I am afraid that the Republicans will nominate another execution-happy evangelist governor of Texas for their presidential candidate, and should Rick Perry actually become president I would have to flee America for Costa Rica or Iceland. Even though I'm sure those countries are wonderful places, I am not fluent in either Spanish or Icelandic, and I imagine this would make life very difficult for me. So, Casey, it is for these reasons that I am dedicating Conway Twitty's 1973 smash hit "You've Never Been This Far Before" to that truck driver I don't know in Sioux City, Iowa, in the hopes that_ and I never thought I'd say this_ vote for Mitt Romney in his town straw poll."

Conway Twitty (1933-1993) is alas no longer with us. I am actually a fan of his music (believe it or not) even though I'm not usually a listener of country music. Twitty was originally from Helena, Arkansas, and he is also known for his "Hello Darlin'" which was a big hit for him in 1971. Anyone living in the Chapel Hill, NC, area (not where I reside) may find vinyl records of his albums at All Day Records in nearby Carrboro, NC.

Casey Kasem is thankfully alive and well at age 79, which means that if Twitty were still alive they would be about the same age. Kasem was born in Detroit, and is active in both politically liberal and Arab-American causes (I am actually a Turkish-American). In addition to the famous radio show he hosted, Kasem was the voice of Shaggy on the original "Scooby-Doo," which first aired in 1969.

Real 'Pan Amigos' to Reunite in Miami

Jaunted: Pan Am is back in on the air and the real-life pilots and flight attendants who inspired the ABC show are coming out of the woodwork... er, retirement.

In this Miami Herald rundown of the airline's ties to the city, we learn that there is a group of former Pan Am-ers who stay in touch via the Pan Amigo newsletter. And it's not restricted to former employees either—'industry friends' who'd like to stay in touch can also become Pan Amigos.

The group of old-timers are having a 'Worldwide Family Reunion' October 20-23 in Coconut Grove—to celebrate Pan Am and the centennial of aviation in Miami. According to the Herald, they're expecting members to come from Norway, London, Australia and Germany. (Reckon they'll spend the first hour comparing notes on the abysmal state of flying today? Or will it be all: "I'm Christina Ricci," "No, I am!"?)

For the regular plane spotters among us, there's another way you can get your Pan Am on in Miami: The University of Miami’s Otto G. Richter Library has a collection of 1,600 Pan Am documents and photos. The library regularly gets calls from people interested in learning more about the storied airline, including ABC producers who studied photos and plans from the archives before designing the terminal set for the show.

The Richter is a private research library, so unless you're a student or alum of The U, you'll have to call ahead and make an appointment to visit and gawk at the Pan Am ephemera. (Info on all that good stuff here).

Finally, if your Miami travels take you to the Opa-locka airport, you can feast your eyes on the restored 1958 DC-7B that was used in the filming of the show. It was actually operated by Eastern Airlines, but whatevs. There's nothing a little TV magic can't fix...

The Bubble Hotel: Rooms With a View

Not far from the city of lights, a new hotel offers weary Parisians the chance to fall asleep beneath the glow of the stars. The unique Bubble Tree hotel is the brainchild of French designer Pierre-Stephane Dumas.

Strategically placed in areas chosen for their natural beauty, the air-filled bubble rooms allow guests to experience nature without the hassle of setting up a tent. This particular bubble tree is situated near the bucolic grounds of the Chateau Mal-maison, once home to Napoleon’s wife, Josephine de Beauharnais.

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Jamaican Resort Launches Fantasy, Fetish Weddings

USA Today: Hedonism II resort, the adults-gone-wild playground in Negril, Jamaica, has a new come-on. It offers fantasy, fetish weddings, for $250 with a minimum six-night stay (room is extra, but rates include all you can eat and imbibe).

Twilight and True Blood fans can tie the knot in vampire regalia; kinky romantics can opt for a "leather and lace" union; and outlaw duos may choose a "Pirates & Wenches" celebration.

The "fantasy and fetish Weddings" at the resort that bills itself as a place where "almost anything goes," include a ceremony and cocktails, a cake, a specially decorated room and more. Hedonism staffers on hand will dress according to the theme. Vampire duos get costume fangs to wear, a blood orange champagne cocktail, plus red, black and white cake, and a bouquet and boutonnière of black or red roses.

Leather and lacers wield play whips and chains; brides are encouraged to strut down the aisle in lingerie and high heels. There's a set of handcuffs waiting in the room. Pirates and wenches get a "happily ever after" treasure hunt.

Florida Won't Inspect Legoland Rides

Orlando Sentinel: The roller coasters and other rides at Legoland Florida, the theme park scheduled to open in Polk County next month, won't have to undergo any state safety inspections.

State officials agreed last month to spare Legoland from safety oversight because the Winter Haven theme park will qualify — albeit barely — for a 22-year-old exemption that was initially written into Florida law for Walt Disney World and other big theme parks.

The move makes Legoland parent company Merlin Entertainments Group the fourth park owner in Florida to operate free of state ride-safety regulation. The others are the Walt Disney Co.; NBC Universal, which owns Universal Orlando and Wet 'n Wild; and SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, which owns SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

"Within our industry, it is common practice for the theme parks to govern themselves as far as ride inspections go," Legoland spokeswoman Jackie Wallace said Tuesday. "We are following suit."

To be exempt from the state's inspection-and-permitting requirements, Florida law requires a theme park to have a minimum of 1,000 employees. Legoland is not there yet. It currently has 994 workers — "with offers out to the last six," Wallace said. If Legoland's employment falls below 1,000 at any point, state officials say, the park would become subject to regulation by theFlorida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

The law requires exempt parks to employ full-time, in-house safety inspectors and to file annual affidavits with the state certifying that each of their rides has been inspected. Legoland Florida, whose approximately two dozen rides range from the relatively tame Big Rig Rally — a semi-truck ride for toddlers — to the more extreme Flying School — a suspended, steel roller coaster that promises kids the "thrill of flight" — said it has 28 people in its rides division whose duties include inspections.

Boosters of self-regulation say theme parks already have ample motivation to take safety precautions, as accidents can spark negative publicity and public backlash. They also say the biggest parks design ride systems and safety protocols that are far more sophisticated than anything that would be mandated by the state, which focuses in large part on traveling fairs or carnivals and smaller attractions.

Jim Miller, Legoland's director of maintenance, said the park's in-house inspections — some of which are conducted daily — will go beyond what would otherwise be conducted by the state. "I think we have more expertise. We surpass what the state is asking for as far as inspections," Miller said. "We feel like we go above and beyond when it comes to the safety of our guests on the rides."

Legoland also plans to contract with a third-party company, Recreation Engineering Inc., which will conduct certain types of tests and submit required documentation to the state. In addition, Legoland has agreed to abide by the terms of an existing "memorandum of understanding" between the other big theme parks and the Florida Bureau of Fair Rides Inspection, in which the parks submit quarterly reports with basic details of injuries that occur on their rides.

Some argue that Florida's voluntary reporting requirements are insufficient. Barry Novack, a California lawyer who has been involved in a number of personal-injury lawsuits against parks, say records produced from some of those suits show that parks frequently underreport the number of injuries suffered on their rides.

He said the situation is particularly acute in Florida — home to eight of the 11 busiest theme parks in the U.S. — because parks have to report only injuries that result in an immediate hospital stay of more than 24 hours "for purposes other than medical observation."

"What they [the theme parks] say is very few have been injured compared to the number that ride. It's not that very few have been injured, it's that they've only disclosed very, very few," Novack said. "It's really a farce." Whatever the reason, reported injuries are rare.

SeaWorld Orlando and its sister water park Aquatica, which drew an estimated 6.6 million visitors last year, haven't reported an official guest injury since the second quarter of 2008, according to state records. Busch Gardens and sister water park Adventure Island, which drew an estimated 4.8 million visitors last year, haven't reported an official injury since the second quarter of 2006, according to the records.

Disney World, whose four theme parks and two water parks drew 51 million visitors in 2010, has reported 87 injuries since the second quarter of 2008. Universal, whose two parks drew 11.2 million guests last year, reported 14 injuries over the same period. Wet 'n Wild, which drew 1.2 million, has reported five.

A spokesman for SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment said the company takes injury reports seriously and goes as far as to alert the state even to medical conditions that occur on a ride but are unrelated to the ride's operation.

"Each of our rides is inspected daily to ensure all components and equipment are operating within manufacturer-recommended specifications," spokesman Fred Jacobs added. "Each ride is subject to a rigorous schedule of preventative maintenance and nondestructive testing according to ride-cycle parameters, as specified by manufacturer specifications, state and local requirements, and internal SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment standards. Our rides-maintenance teams remain in contact with ride manufacturers for ongoing support, parts and service for the life of the attraction."

Disney World noted that it employs more than 1,000 "engineers, mechanics, safety professionals and specialists" who are dedicated to the safety of guests and workers.

Supporters of the current system also say it fosters a culture of collaboration, because the parks annually consult with state regulators on best practices and safety trends. Universal Orlando recently hosted a session during which it showed inspectors new portable, emergency-shut-down units it has given to employees working three big thrill rides: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, and Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges.

"No one cares more about the safety of our guests than we do. No one knows more about how to keep our guests safe than we do," Universal spokesman Tom Schroder said. "We are always willing to discuss ways to enhance our industry's strong safety record, but more government programs and regulations are not the answer."

UK Theme Park Super-Sizes Its Seats

UK Press Association: A theme park has installed super-sized seats on one of its most popular rides after an "embarrassing" number of people had to be turned away because they were too big.

Thorpe Park in Surrey said it had to tackle the heavyweight issue to make sure all its customers could enjoy the Nemesis Inferno ride.

The park's divisional director Mike Vallis said: "We listen to the concerns of our customers and continually monitor trends, so that we can modify our offering to ensure we're giving them the very best possible experience.

"The reality is that we are super-sizing - and that's a fact we're embracing. Why shouldn't people be comfortable when they are enjoying a day out with their friends or family?"

Victoria Azarenka Female Tennis Player

Viktoriya Fiodorovna Azarenka, also known as Victoria Azarenka (Belarusian: Вікторыя Азарэнка, Азаранка, Russian: Виктория Фёдоровна Азаренко; born 31 July 1989) is a Belarusian professional tennis player. Her career high ranking is World No. 4, which she achieved on 9 May 2011. Her current ranking is World No. 4 at Wimbledon 2011. She became the highest-ranked Belarusian player ever, surpassing Natasha Zvereva by one spot.

Azarenka has won two mixed doubles Grand Slam titles – 2007 US Open with Max Mirnyi and 2008 French Open with Bob Bryan. She has won seven singles titles, including the Premier Mandatory Sony Ericsson Open in 2009 and 2011 and has made one Grand Slam semifinal appearance at the 2011 Wimbledon Championships and five quarterfinal appearances.

Her move to Scottsdale from Minsk, Belarus was aided by National Hockey League goalie Nikolai Khabibulin and his wife, who is a friend of Azarenka's mother. In 2009 she posed in the French edition of FHM 

In 2005, Azarenka won the Australian Open and US Open as a junior and was named the ITF Junior Girls World Champion for that year, the first player from Belarus to do that. She also won her first ITF title in Pétange, Luxembourg in the same year. In Guangzhou, China, she reached her first pro-level semi-final, winning three qualifying rounds and defeating Martina Suchá and Shuai Peng in the main draw before losing to eventual champion Yan Zi.

In 2006, at the event in Memphis, Azarenka defeated her first top-20 player, Nicole Vaidišová, and two months later defeated her second top-30 player in Jelena Janković at Miami. On clay, Azarenka pushed 2004 French Open champion Anastasia Myskina to 7–6 in the third in Rome, and took clay-court specialist Anabel Medina Garrigues to 9–7 in the third set in the first round at Roland Garros. At the 2006 US Open, she had her first win over Myskina in the first round and lost to Anna Chakvetadze in the third round, her best result in a grand slam event to that date. In her next tournament, Azarenka reached her second pro-level semi-final in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, losing to Tiantian Sun. She finished the year reaching the final of an ITF event in Pittsburgh, losing to Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak.

Ranked World Number 96, Azarenka began the year by playing two tournaments in Australia. She lost in the second round at the Moorilla Hobart International to Serena Williams. At the Australian Open, Azarenka reached the third round of a Grand Slam singles tournament for the second consecutive time, where she lost to World Number 11 Jelena Janković in straight sets. She was upset in the first round of the French Open by Karin Knapp of Italy, and at Wimbledon, she lost in the third round to 14th-seeded Nicole Vaidišová.

At the US Open, Azarenka upset former World Number 1 Martina Hingis in the third round before 2004 US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova beat her in the fourth round. In mixed doubles, Azarenka and countryman Max Mirnyi won the title, defeating Meghann Shaughnessy and Leander Paes. She ended her year at the Tier I Kremlin Cup in Moscow where she upset World Number 4 Maria Sharapova in the second round. She then lost to the eventual winner of the tournament, World Number 14 Elena Dementieva, in the quarter-final. At the same tournament, Azarenka and her doubles partner Tatiana Poutchek, also of Belarus, lost in the final to the World Number 3 team of Liezel Huber and Cara Black in three sets. Azarenka's results at the Kemlin Cup elevated her rankings to career highs of World Number 27 in singles and World Number 29 in doubles.

Azarenka began the year at the Mondial Australian Women's Hardcourts tournament in Gold Coast, Australia. Unseeded, she reached the semi-finals, where she beat fifth-seeded Shahar Pe'er of Israel, Azarenka's sixth top 20 victory. In her third career WTA tour final, she lost to Li Na, but the points she earned in this tournament were enough to improve her ranking to a career-best World Number 25. Azarenka was seeded 26th at the Australian Open. This was her first appearance as a seeded player in a Grand Slam singles tournament. She showed no ill effects from a leg injury while winning her first two matches but lost in the third round to seventh-seeded and defending champion Serena Williams. In doubles, Azarenka and her partner Pe'er were seeded 12th. They made it to the finals before losing to the unseeded team of Kateryna and Alona Bondarenko.

She was seeded 16th at the French Open. She defeated 18th-seeded Francesca Schiavone of Italy in the third round before losing to fourth-seeded Kuznetsova in the fourth round. Azarenka teamed with American Bob Bryan to win the mixed doubles title at the French Open, defeating the top seeded team of Katarina Srebotnik and Nenad Zimonjić in the final.

At Wimbledon, Azarenka was seeded 16th in singles and 6th in doubles (with Pe'er). In singles, Azarenka was defeated by 21st-seeded Nadia Petrova of Russia in the third round. In doubles, Azarenka and Pe'er reached the quarter-finals where they lost to the top-seeded team of Cara Black and Liezel Huber. Azarenka was seeded 14th at the US Open but was defeated by 21st seeded Caroline Wozniacki in the third round.

Azarenka began the year at the Brisbane International as the second seed. She defeated Kateryna Bondarenko, Jarmila Groth, Lucie Šafářová and Sara Errani all in straight sets to reach her fifth career final. In the final Azarenka defeated third seed Marion Bartoli 6–3, 6–1 to win her first WTA career title. Azarenka was seeded 13th at the Australian Open. She advanced to the fourth round for the first time, winning the first set against World No. 2 Serena Williams before she was forced to retire because of heat stress with the score being 6–3, 2–4.

Azarenka began the season at the Hong Kong Tennis Classic exhibition. She was part of Team Europe along with Caroline Wozniacki and Stefan Edberg. In her first match she defeated Gisela Dulko 6–1. The match was played best of 1 set due to rain. She withdrew from her remaining matches due to illness. She was seeded 6th at the Medibank International. She won her first three matches, all 7–5 in the 3rd set. In the semifinals she fell to the 5th seed Elena Dementieva 6–3, 6–1.

At the Australian Open she was seeded 7th. She lost to Serena Williams in the quarterfinal 4–6, 7–6(4), 6–2 giving up a 4–0 lead in the second set. This was the third consecutive year she has lost to Williams at this tournament. Seeded 4th at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships, on her way to the final, she defeated Vera Zvonareva in the quarterfinals and Agnieszka Radwańska in the semifinals. In the final she lost to defending champion Venus Williams 6–3, 7–5. At the 2010 BNP Paribas Open, she was seeded 3rd, but was upset in the 3rd round by María José Martínez Sánchez 7–6(4), 6–2.

Azarenka began her year at the Medibank International as the 7th seed where she lost to Kim Clijsters in the quarterfinals 6–3 6–2. At the 2011 Australian Open Azarenka was seeded 8th. She lost to the ninth seed and eventual finalist, Li Na, 6–3 6–3 in the fourth round. Azarenka partnered with Maria Kirilenko in the women's doubles event but the pair lost to Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta in the final. Azarenka then travelled to Israel to compete in Fed Cup. They beat Croatia, Austria and Greece in the group stage without losing a match. The Belarusian team then defeated Poland 2–0 to qualify for the World Group II Play-Offs in April where they will play Estonia.

Azarenka was the 4th seed at the 2011 French Open. She beat Andrea Hlaváčková in the first round, Pauline Parmentier in the second round, 30th seed Roberta Vinci in the third round and Ekaterina Makarova in the fourth round to reach her fourth career Grand Slam quarterfinal. She lost to Li Na in the quarterfinals. Azarenka is the 4th seed at the 2011 Wimbledon Championships. She beat 25th seed Daniela Hantuchová in a three set third round match before beating Nadia Petrova. She followed that up with an easy victory over Tamira Paszek. In the semi-finals, Azarenka was beaten by Czech player Petra Kvitová, going down in 3 sets 1–6, 6–3, 2-6 .

 

Victoria Azarenka Photos

Victoria Azarenka Photos

Victoria Azarenka Photos

Victoria Azarenka Photos

  Victoria Azarenka Photos

Victoria Azarenka Photos

Victoria Azarenka Photos

Victoria Azarenka Photos

Victoria Azarenka Photos

Victoria Azarenka Photos

Victoria Azarenka Photos

Victoria Azarenka Photos

Victoria Azarenka Photos