One way to see the world

Duluth railroad museum offers glimpse into railroading heyday

DULUTH, Ga. – For 40 years, the Southeastern Railway Museum has been dedicated to the preservation of Georgia Railroad’s History.

“Georgia’s Official Transportation History Museum” first opened on a 12-acre site in Duluth donated by Southern Railway. The museum remained at that location until 1997, it moved just down the … tracks – literally.

That year, the museum accepted a donation of roughly 30 acres from Frank M. Ewing of Chevy Chase, Md. The site, previously used by J. J. Finnigan Railcar Co. for metal fabrication and repairs, was about one mile from the museum’s then current home.

With some help from Norfolk Southern, the museum “ferried” 79 pieces of rolling stock on Sept. 26 and Sept. 27, 1998. Norfolk Southern closed its double track mainline for several hours on both days to allow the move to the vastly-larger site.

Over the years, the museum has been the beneficiary of dozens of pieces of rolling stock and locomotives. When open, the museum offers trips around its grounds and information for self-guided tours of its buildings.

A 1950 General Electric locomotive routinely pulls trains around the museum. The museum’s railroad exhibits include a number of passenger cars, maintenance-of-way equipment, cabooses and freight cars. In addition to the railroad exhibits, a number of historic buses also reside at the museum.

The former Duluth railroad depot was relocated to the museum in August 2008.

Some interesting pieces of rolling stock include:

• U.S. Army No. 200 was built in 1944 by American Car and Foundry. It was used to prepare and serve food on troop trains. It was donated to the museum in 1966.

• Savannah & Atlanta No. 750, a 4-6-2 locomotive was built in 1910 by American Locomotive Co. for the Key West expansion of the Florida East Coast Railroad. In the 1920s, the locomotive was wrecked and later rebuilt. The locomotive, which operated in the early days of Southern Railway’s steam program, last saw action pulling excursion trains on the New Georgia Railroad in the 1980s.

• Seaboard Coast Line No. 301, better known as the “Superb,” was built by Pullman in 1911; it is the second-oldest steel private car in existence. Once of the museum’s “oldest and most prized” exhibits, President Woodrow Wilson at times used the car. In 1923, President Warren G. Harding used the car for a cross-country tour. Later, the car was used in a funeral train and carried his casket from San Francisco to Washington.

• Southern Railway No. 6901 was built in 1951 by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors and was originally numbered 2924. In 1979, this engine powered the final running of Southern Railway’s Crescent passenger train.

The museum’s address is 595 Buford Highway in Duluth. For more information, log onto http://www.srmduluth.org/.

Legoland Florida to open by 2011

Edited from PRNewswire

Merlin Entertainments announced a multi-million dollar investment in the biggest family tourist centre in the world with the planned opening of Legoland Florida.

Merlin purchased the historical Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven Florida from property investment company Land South Group and will open Legoland Florida on the site at the end of 2011. The deal to buy the 145-acre site includes the freehold on the current theme park and waterpark as well as an operating lease in perpetuity on the historic botanical gardens.

The Florida development will be Merlin's second Legoland Park in North America. Its design will mirror the successful concept of the four existing Legoland Parks in Denmark, Germany, U.K. and California.

"Legoland Florida will be one of the most exciting and important projects Merlin has ever developed.  It is a unique opportunity for us; Florida is the biggest family tourist center in the world," Nick Varney, chief executive of Merlin Entertainments, said in a news release. We have been looking for the right site there for some time and in Winter Haven we plan to create one of the best and certainly most beautiful, theme parks in the world. Legoland California has already proven how much U.S. families love the unique Legoland concept."

The development follows Legoland California which opened in 1999. Legoland California was recently voted the country's best children's theme park by Amusement Today for the sixth year running.  It is also recognized as the fastest growing theme park in the US, enjoying an increase in visitor numbers year-on-year, including 6 percent in 2009.

Legoland Florida will be the biggest Legoland Park ever opened and will offer a unique mix of more than 50 rides, shows and attractions, including spectacular Lego models and other interactive elements for the whole family to enjoy together.

The project is expected to create more than 1,000 new jobs by opening.

Obama Announces $8 Billion for High-Speed Rail

Railfanning.org News Wire

TAMPA, Fla. — President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden today announced the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is awarding $8 billion to states across the country to develop America’s first nationwide program of high-speed intercity passenger rail service.

Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the funding will help create jobs and transform travel in America, federal officials contend. Critics say foreign companies that have experience in high-speed rail could end up with the jobs.

“Through the Recovery Act, we are making the largest investment in infrastructure since the Interstate Highway System was created, putting Americans to work rebuilding our roads, bridges, and waterways for the future,” President Obama said. “That investment is how we can break ground across the country, putting people to work building high-speed rail lines, because there’s no reason why Europe or China should have the fastest trains when we can build them right here in America.”

Today’s awards will serve as a down-payment on developing or laying the groundwork for 13 new, large-scale high-speed rail corridors across the country. The major corridors are part of a total of 31 states receiving investments, including smaller projects and planning work that will help lay the groundwork for future high-speed intercity rail service.

BTS: Q3 2009 airfares drop to lowest July-to-September level since 2005

Average domestic air fares in the third quarter of 2009 fell to their lowest July-to-September level since 2005.

Fares dropped 14.4 percent from the third quarter of 2008 in the largest year-to-year decline on record, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported.

The $306 third-quarter 2009 average fares were down 14.4 percent from the all-time high, not inflation-adjusted, of $358 in the third quarter of 2008 and down 26.8 percent from the inflation-adjusted high for any third-quarter since 1995 set in 2000. The third quarter 2009 average fares were up 3.3 percent from the post-9/11 third-quarter $297 in 2004.

Fares are based on the total ticket value which consists of the price charged by the airlines plus any additional taxes and fees levied by an outside entity at the time of purchase. Fares include only the price paid at the time of the ticket purchase and do not include other fees, such as baggage fees, paid at the airport or onboard the aircraft.

Averages do not include frequent-flyer or "zero fares" or a few abnormally high reported fares.

Senators: Legislation would close visa loophole

ATLANTA – A number of senators are sponsoring legislation they say could have prevented the would-be Christmas Day airplane bomber from boarding an American-bound airplane.

Under the legislation, the Department of Homeland Security would conduct on-site visa reviews in so-called “high-volume visa posts” and “high-risk countries.” The department would also have the power to revoke visas and require that law enforcement and consular databases be updated to reflect the revoked visa.

“The attempted terror attack on Christmas Day was a frightening reminder that there are still those who remain intent on harming Americans and that our national security system is still lacking,” U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson said in a news release. “It is essential that we do everything we can to prevent this kind of incident from ever happening again. This legislation would go a long way toward correcting the flaws in our visa system that allowed this man to board a plane in the first place.”

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was indicted on six counts, including attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and attempted murder within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. If convicted, Abdulmutallab faces life in prison.

Federal authorities say Abdulmutallab tried to destroy Northwest Airlines flight 253 from Amsterdam as it prepared to land at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Abdulmutallab tried to ignite an explosive device concealed in his underwear.

“This bill will make our country safer by ensuring that those visitors who have their visas revoked due to suspected terrorist involvement will not be able to remain in the United States to endanger our citizens,” U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., said in a news release.

Ga. lawmaker wants voters to decide on horse racing

ATLANTA – A state lawmaker wants voters to decide whether to amend the state constitution to allow betting on horse racing.

State Rep. Harry Geisinger, R-Roswell, contends horse racing would increase revenue for the state and result in jobs.

“In these difficult times we must seek out opportunities to create sustainable jobs and raise state and local government revenues,” Geisinger said in a news release. “By following the examples of Florida and Louisiana, we can expand Georgia’s equine industry and create thousands of equine jobs throughout our great state.”

Horse racing is allowed in 38 states and represents $39 billion in annual economic impact nationally, according to Geisinger. Also, the state representative noted that other southern states – Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and South Carolina – do not have horse racing, meaning Georgia’s would-be horse racing industry could face less competition.

“The racetrack itself is the very tip of the iceberg as far as economic development,” Stephen Fisch, President of the Florida Quarter Horse Racing Association, said, according to the news release.

Geisinger is chairman of the House Equine Industry Study Committee.

Feds ban texting by truckers and bus drivers

The federal government today announced a guidance prohibiting texting on cell phones by drivers of commercial vehicles such as large trucks and buses.

The prohibition is effective immediately and is the latest in a series of actions taken by the Department to combat distracted driving since the Secretary convened a national summit on the issue last September.

"We want the drivers of big rigs and buses and those who share the roads with them to be safe," U.S Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a news release. "This is an important safety step and we will be taking more to eliminate the threat of distracted driving."

The action is the result of the Department's interpretation of standing rules. Truck and bus drivers who text while driving commercial vehicles may be subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750.

"Our regulations will help prevent unsafe activity within the cab," Anne Ferro, administrator for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), said in a news release. "We want to make it crystal clear to operators and their employers that texting while driving is the type of unsafe activity that these regulations are intended to prohibit."

FMCSA research shows that drivers who send and receive text messages take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds while texting. At 55 miles per hour, this means that the driver is traveling the length of a football field, including the end zones, without looking at the road.

Drivers who text while driving are more than 20 times more likely to get in an accident than non-distracted drivers. Because of the safety risks associated with the use of electronic devices while driving, FMCSA is also working on additional regulatory measures that will be announced in the coming months.

How to find that quirky roadside destination

ATLANTA – How many random roadside attractions are there?

Too many to count, most likely, but finding them may be a little easier for travelers with iPhones.

“The app makes it easy for travelers to instantly see what’s nearby,” Doug Kirby, publisher of RoadsideAmerica.com, said in a news release. “It’s up to them whether to veer off to see a mustard museum or a colossal hot dog.

“It’s the trip tool we’ve always wanted for our own use,” Kirby added. “After years of navigating with map in lap, this finally connects our collection of places in a practical way, using the latest mobile and geo-location smarts.”

RoadsideAmerica.com is chock full of random and bizarre attractions along the country’s highways – whether it be a field of concrete corn in Dublin, Ohio; the “Smallest Church in America” in South Newport, Ga.; or a giant chicken in Marietta.

For travelers without an iPhone, RoadsideAmerica.com contains dozens of attractions in and around Atlanta. So, the next time you’re looking for a random place to see on your way to work or you’re looking to take a quick daytrip from Hotlanta, check out: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/location/ga.

Boeing, Ethiopian Airlines announce 737-800s order

Special to The Travel Trolley

Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines today announced an order for 10 Next-Generation 737-800s. The order is valued at $767 million at list prices.

Based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the carrier is investing in the additional airplanes to expand its fleet and broaden its network, officials said.

"Since its founding in December 1945, Ethiopian Airlines has been a dedicated Boeing operator -- from [the carrier's] first flights using DC-3 propeller-driven airplanes between Addis Ababa and Cairo, to recent orders for the long haul 787s and 777-200LRs, and continuing now with 737-800s. Ethiopian Airlines has been among the most profitable airlines in the region and one of our most valued partners," said Marlin Dailey, vice president of sales for Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

In 2009, Ethiopian Airlines became the first African carrier to order and operate the ultra-long-range 777-200LR model. Ethiopian also was the first African carrier to order the 787 Dreamliner, ordering 10 in 2005, according to Boeing.

"The Boeing Next-Generation 737 has proven to be a reliable and profitable component of our fleet," Ethiopian Airlines Chief Executive Officer Ato Girma Wake said.

Ethiopian Airlines is an all-Boeing operator. With the exception of the 747, it has operated every heritage Boeing commercial airplane since the 707.

The airline operates five 737-700s and two 737-800s. Ethiopian also operates nine 757s, 10 767s and one MD-11BCF (Boeing Converted Freighter), with a second MD-11BCF arriving in August.

White House suffers decline in value, still popular tourist attraction

By Todd DeFeo / (c) 2010 Todd DeFeo

It’s the most prestigious address in the country, but even The White House isn’t immune to the downturn in property values.

According to Zillow, the house at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. is valued at $292.5 million, as of Jan. 18. That’s down from its estimated value of $308.1 on Jan. 8, 2009, and $331.8 million on Jan. 8, 2008.

The 55,000-square-foot, 132-room house features 16 bedrooms and 35 bathrooms. Of course, there’s always the underground bunker, no doubt a major selling point these days.

“Built in 1792, this magnificent 132-room mansion is the rarest of homes in the U.S. since it is not only the residence of the U.S. president and his family, but it also has two wings with offices for the president, the First Lady, top staff and aides,” Zillow notes in its description of the home.

The house, designed by an Irish architect, is visited by hundreds of thousands of guests each year.

Progress delayed

It's the economy, stupid.

Buckhead Skyline

Greetings From the McPherson Monument in Atlanta

Atlanta's Gen. McPherson monument

2010: Year of the cruise?

This year looks like it could be a good year for a cruise – at least in terms of deals.

“We expect 2010 to be a consumer’s market for cruisers,” Jessica Labaire, merchandising manager for Orbitz.com, said in a news release. “With prices already unbelievably low and value-added offers like free onboard spending on everything from spa treatments to shore excursions, travelers can feel good about booking early and getting a great deal on a cruise.”

Orbitz, for example, has launched its Winter Cruise Event, which runs through Feb. 4.

“With early 2010 cruise pricing even lower than 2009, consumers continue to take advantage of these historically low rates,” Labaire said in the release. “We’re seeing that cruisers are able to extend their vacations, making 7-day cruises the most popular cruise length this winter season.”

According to Orbitz, the least expensive cruise ports are:

• Mobile, Ala.
• Long Beach, Calif.
• Jacksonville, Fla.
• Miami
• Port Canaveral, Fla.

Duluth railroad museum offers glimpse into railroading heyday

 

By Todd DeFeo

DULUTH, Ga. – For 40 years, the Southeastern Railway Museum has been dedicated to the preservation of Georgia Railroad’s History.

“Georgia’s Official Transportation History Museum” first opened on a 12-acre site in Duluth donated by Southern Railway. The museum remained at that location until 1997, it moved just down the … tracks – literally.

That year, the museum accepted a donation of roughly 30 acres from Frank M. Ewing of Chevy Chase, Md. The site, previously used by J. J. Finnigan Railcar Co. for metal fabrication and repairs, was about one mile from the museum’s then current home.

With some help from Norfolk Southern, the museum “ferried” 79 pieces of rolling stock on Sept. 26 and Sept. 27, 1998. Norfolk Southern closed its double track mainline for several hours on both days to allow the move to the vastly-larger site.

Over the years, the museum has been the beneficiary of dozens of pieces of rolling stock and locomotives. When open, the museum offers trips around its grounds and information for self-guided tours of its buildings.

A 1950 General Electric locomotive routinely pulls trains around the museum. The museum’s railroad exhibits include a number of passenger cars, maintenance-of-way equipment, cabooses and freight cars. In addition to the railroad exhibits, a number of historic buses also reside at the museum.

The former Duluth railroad depot was relocated to the museum in August 2008.

Some interesting pieces of rolling stock include:

• U.S. Army No. 200 was built in 1944 by American Car and Foundry. It was used to prepare and serve food on troop trains. It was donated to the museum in 1966.

• Savannah & Atlanta No. 750, a 4-6-2 locomotive was built in 1910 by American Locomotive Co. for the Key West expansion of the Florida East Coast Railroad. In the 1920s, the locomotive was wrecked and later rebuilt. The locomotive, which operated in the early days of Southern Railway’s steam program, last saw action pulling excursion trains on the New Georgia Railroad in the 1980s.

• Seaboard Coast Line No. 301, better known as the “Superb,” was built by Pullman in 1911; it is the second-oldest steel private car in existence. Once of the museum’s “oldest and most prized” exhibits, President Woodrow Wilson at times used the car. In 1923, President Warren G. Harding used the car for a cross-country tour. Later, the car was used in a funeral train and carried his casket from San Francisco to Washington.

• Southern Railway No. 6901 was built in 1951 by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors and was originally numbered 2924. In 1979, this engine powered the final running of Southern Railway’s Crescent passenger train.

The museum’s address is 595 Buford Highway in Duluth. For more information, log onto http://www.srmduluth.org/.

King Cotton’s story on display in Augusta Cotton Exchange

By Todd DeFeo

AUGUSTA, Ga. – During the latter half of the 19th century and early part of the 20th century, cotton was indeed king here in Augusta.

In fact, in its prime, Augusta was the “second largest inland cotton market in the world,” according to the National Park Service, following only Memphis.

Nowhere is that more apparent that at the Cotton Exchange building at 8th and Reynolds streets. Built in the mid 1880s and designed by Enoch William Brown, the Queen Anne-style building today serves as a bank and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

At the building, people could buy and sell cotton – known as white gold to many – from across the Georgia. In an average year, between 400,000 and 500,000 bales of cotton were traded at the Exchange annually.

In addition to a cotton exchange, the building served as Augusta’s business center.

The cotton industry in Georgia declined in the 1920s after the boll weevil invaded, and the Cotton Exchange eventually fell into disrepair. Cotton brokers last used the Exchange for its intended purpose in 1964.

But, the building has been restored and today includes a number of exhibits about cotton’s place in Augusta history. Perhaps the most-prized artifact is a 45-foot blackboard that once featured market information.

“The Cotton Exchange had been the economic center for the city for many years and now it is coming full circle,” The Augusta Chronicle quoted the president of the Augusta Convention and Visitor’s Bureau as saying in 2003.

A new meaning for 'scenic vista'

Trying the Christmas Day terrorist is the wrong decision?

By Todd DeFeo

ATLANTA – President Obama and the Justice Department are being criticized over the decision to federally charge a Nigerian national with trying to blow up an airplane on Christmas Day rather than detain him as an enemy combatant.

Last week, a federal grand jury indicted Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab on six counts, including attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and attempted murder within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. Federal authorities say Abdulmutallab tried to destroy Northwest Airlines flight 253 from Amsterdam as it prepared to land at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

He has pleaded not guilty.

"He was singing like a canary, then we charged him in civilian proceedings, he got a lawyer and shut up," The Sunday Telegraph quoted Slade Gorton, a member of the 9/11 Commission, as saying.

"I find it incomprehensible that this administration is treating terrorism as a law enforcement issue," Gorton added. "The president has finally said that we are at war with al-Qaeda. Well, if this is a war, then Abdulmutallab should be treated as a combatant not a criminal."

Concurrently, 22 senators signed a letter calling on Obama to rethink his decision to prosecute Abdulmutallab in federal court.

"We fear this decision has resulted in a missed opportunity to collect timely intelligence, and is indicative of a troubling pre-9/11 mentality that treats terrorism as a law enforcement rather than intelligence matter," the senators wrote.

"If we are to ensure that similar failures never occur again, it is imperative that we understand what the U.S. government knew about Abdulmutallab prior to his attempted attack and where there was a failure to take appropriate action or connect the information," they added. "We cannot fully answer these questions, however, unless we examine the methods and means Abdulmutallab used to avoid detection by U.S. officials.

"Unfortunately, our ability to get these answers has been and will continue to be severely hampered by the decision to put (Abdulmutallab) almost immediately into a civilian judicial forum with all the rights, protections, and privileges afforded American citizens."

James Oglethorpe also founded Georgia’s second city

AUGUSTA, Ga. – James Oglethorpe’s role in founding Georgia is well-known. For instance, many people readily know Oglethorpe founded Savannah in 1733.

But what many may not realize is that two years after he founded Savannah, Oglethorpe sent troops up the Savannah River with the command to build at the head of the navigable portion of the river to serve as an inland trading post. That settlement is today known as Augusta, a name Oglethorpe selected in honor of Princess Augusta, who was married to the Prince of Wales.

So, in 2003, city leaders unveiled a $10,000 statue of the “Father of Georgia” who so greatly influenced not only Augusta, but Georgia as a whole.

The statue – of Oglethorpe in his mid 30s, his age when he founded the city – is located in the Augusta Common. Oglethorpe’s 1736 plan for the city “called for a large common area in the city’s center,” although it took about two centuries for the common area to appear, The Augusta Chronicle reported in 2003.

Jeffrey and Anna Koh Varilla sculpted the 200-pound statue, which features Oglethorpe holding the Georgia charter in one hand and a sword in the other. The statue is located in the Augusta Common along Broad Street between 8th and 9th streets – about 50 yards away from the statue of another famous Augusta resident, James Brown, the “The Godfather of Soul.”

“Oglethorpe seemed to be a highly dignified person,” The Augusta Chronicle in February 2003 quoted Mr. Varilla as saying. “I hope that kind of feeling kind of exudes from the sculpture.”

UPDATE: Officials make arrest in Newark security breach

Video footage of the Newark Airport Security breach

A 28-year-old Piscataway, N.J., man faces charges he breached security at Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday, prompting officials to empty a terminal, which delayed flights for upwards of six hours, The Associated Press reported.

The incident caused massive delays as passengers who already passed through security had to be re-screened following the breach.

Officials say the man entered the airport’s secure Terminal C through an exit. The man passed by a security post that a TSA guard left unattended.

Following the breach, an officer working the “exit lane was reassigned to non-screening duties pending TSA's decision on further disciplinary action,” the TSA said in a statement. “On Tuesday, January 5, the officer was placed on administrative leave.”

Following the breach, authorities disclosed that surveillance cameras did not record the incident. However, a Continental Airlines camera did record the breach. That video was released in response to pressure from U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J.

On a related note, a new survey by Destination Analysts found that 47 percent of American leisure travelers say they either agree or strongly agree that the TSA’s “passenger screening techniques are currently not sufficient to ensure my safety when traveling by air.” Roughly 20 percent of travelers disagree with the statement and think the TSA’s screening measures are adequate, the survey revealed.

The incident is just one of many involving airport or airlines in recent days.

On Friday, a 46-year-old Virginia man, Muhammad Abu Tahir, was arrested in Colorado after he refused to follow flight crew instructions on an Atlanta-to-San Francisco AirTran Airways flight. On Christmas Day, a 23-year-old Nigerian national, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, tried to blow up a Northwest Airlines airplane as it neared the Detroit airport, according to authorities.

Officials make arrest in Newark security breach

A 28-year-old Piscataway, N.J., man faces charges he breached security at Newark Liberty Airport on Sunday, prompting officials to empty a terminal, which delayed flights for upwards of six hours, The Associated Press reported.

The incident caused massive delays as passengers who already passed through security had to be re-screened following the breach.

Officials say the man entered the airport’s secure Terminal C through an exit. The man passed by a security post that a TSA guard left unattended.

Following the breach, an officer working the “exit lane was reassigned to non-screening duties pending TSA's decision on further disciplinary action,” the TSA said in a statement. “On Tuesday, January 5, the officer was placed on administrative leave.”

Jekyll Island Authority celebrates the opening of first new hotel to the island since 1974

Special to The Travel Trolley   JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. -- On Jan. 7, the Jekyll Island Authority celebrated the opening of the Hampton Inn and Suites, the first new hotel to open on Jekyll Island since 1974.   The 138-room, beachfront property is jointly owned by Jekyll Ocean Oaks, LLC, an affiliate of the ownership group of the Jekyll Island Club Hotel. New Castle Hotels & Resorts, a hotel development and ownership company and third-party manager, will operate the hotel.   "The Hampton Inn project is an excellent example of what our intention is for the overall revitalization of Jekyll Island," Bob Krueger, Chairman of the Jekyll Island Authority Board said in a news release. "These additional rooms are vital as Jekyll Island once again becomes a choice destination for conventions and family vacations. This is a win-win-win - a win for the Jekyll Island Authority, a win for the hotel owners and a win for the guests who choose to stay at this hotel."   The new facility will offer 138 guest rooms, 88 of which are suites with balconies. Amenities include a lobby bar, beach access, revitalized nature trails, an expansive pool deck, a kid's pool, and a large hot tub.   The hotel, which utilizes solar panels for water heating, will be a member of the Green Hotel Association, a group of environmentally friendly properties whose managers are eager to institute programs that reduce solid waste and save water and energy.

Photos: Tallulah Falls Railroad Museum

Tallulah Falls Railroad Museum

What’s going on with Walt Disney World?

By Todd DeFeo

Make no mistake; I thoroughly enjoy Walt Disney World. Heck, I even started a blog to showcase my interest in the resort. Besides, who else would write an entire blog post about how amazing the faux-spur track is at the end of Big Thunder Mountain?

But frankly, I’ve grown increasingly frustrated with my recent encounters with vacation planners at Walt Disney World.

See, my whole family is taking a vacation next month to Walt Disney World, the one place we visited on a regular basis growing up. We booked separately – nine people on four different reservations with one common experience. Briefly, the frustrating and confusing experiences the nine of us encountered during the reservation process include:

• Agents didn’t make clear the advance payment system.
• We couldn’t pay online because the Disney online payment system is so poor. It’s only 2010, how important is e-commerce?
• Agents continually try to sell the dining plan. Free advice: Don’t do it. You won’t come out ahead unless you have an insatiable appetite for dessert with every meal. When I bought the plan last summer, I asked numerous times whether we could swap out a desert for an appetizer. No dice. Restaurants wouldn’t even let diners make the swap even if the appetizer cost less.
• Are you seriously pushing water park tickets for a February visit?
• Apparently, there isn’t a payment confirmation system. But, there is a payment due notification system – regardless of whether the payment has already been made. Perhaps, in an effort to not offend anyone into canceling, the “payment due” letter I received after I paid for my week-long vacation was so ambiguous, I decided to call the resort, which only added to my frustration.
• The automated phone system is worse than my gas company’s system. I asked for an agent and it tried to give me park hours. Hold on pal, I might still cancel this reservation.

When I started my brief career working at the resort – which included a stint as a professional photographer and nearly two summers of driving the fire engine on Main Street U.S.A. – trainers emphasized that guests are paying a lot of money to visit, so make the experience the best it can be.

Now, frustration ensues before one even sets foot on property. Truth be told, Walt Disney World isn’t the only place where one can spend thousands of dollars.

Look, I know a lot of resort guests complain about a lot when they’re on property. Trust me, I know. But leaving people with a bad taste in their mouths when they’re only trying to make a reservation or confirm payment doesn’t make one look forward to the visit.

I received a lot of hollow apologies, but little action from the booking agents.

It’s a shame. Walt Disney World used to be so different – they offered exemplary customer service. Now, a call to the resort is on par with calling my cable company – I end the call more frustrated than when I started, my service is still mediocre and I’m out of more money.

Todd DeFeo is a freelance travel writer and editor of The Travel Trolley blog. Contact him at todd.defeo@thetraveltrolley.com.

Bookmark your favorite road

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) - Planes and trains may have their place in our society, but for the dedicated traveler there's still nothing like getting in your car and taking a trip along America's highways.

Half the fun of road trips, in the minds of many, is getting home and telling friends and family about the adventure - and the roads they traveled.

In the past, drivers' road stories were largely told by word of mouth to a few people at a time. Now drivers can tell their tales to millions via the Internet. FavoriteRoad.com is a new Web site that features America's favorite highways and byways.

The site encourages you to post your favorite roads and explain why you like them. Simply log on to submit a photo and story of your favorite road. Use links posted on the site to share your road via popular social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. Your submission may even win a prize in contest giveaways.

The past year's economic downturn has reintroduced the word "infrastructure" to our vocabulary. As a result of stimulus legislation passed in 2009, the federal government has allocated millions of dollars to specifically improve state roads and highways. And, with more affordable gasoline prices, people are increasingly using America's roads for leisure travel.

What's your favorite road? Log on and tell the world at FavoriteRoad.com.


A brief history of paved roads

625 B.C.
The Babylonians are credited with the first recorded use of asphalt as a road building material. The ancient Greeks were also familiar with asphalt (the word comes from the Greek "asphaltos," meaning "secure").

1500s
Christopher Columbus landed off the shores of Trinidad in 1498 and discovered the famous Asphalt Lake, which would later be used on the Pennsylvania Avenue project in Washington, D.C. covering 54,000 square yards.

1800s
Macadam roads became popular in the U.S. for rural road construction during the 1830s and 40s. Belgian chemist Edmund J. DeSmedt laid the first true asphalt pavement in the U.S. in Newark, N.J. The Cummer Company opened the first central hot mix production facilities in the U.S. The first asphalt patent was filed by Nathan B. Abbott of Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1871.

1920s
World War I ended and the use of the automobile was steadily rising, but roads outside the city limits were frequently too muddy or dusty for travel. To fix this problem, road engineers used oils and asphalt.

1940s-1950s
The modern American turnpike is born. After World War II, full scale automobile production resumed along with major levels of road maintenance and new highway construction. By 1950, vehicle registration exceeded 40 million cars and 8 million trucks. In 1956, President Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act and launched the Interstate System to create an infrastructure highway program unmatched anywhere in the world.

1970s
A national move to conserve energy and materials initiated a widespread interest in recycling of pavement materials; asphalt is now America’s most recycled product.

1990s
A traffic study by the World Road Association indicates that asphalt pavements are at least 4 decibels quieter than concrete pavements.

2000s
The U.S. population has increased 23 percent since 1990 and the number of miles driven has risen by 41 percent. Only half of the nation’s major roads are in good condition, based on an analysis of recent Federal Highway Administration data.

Terrorist charged in Michigan federal court for Christmas Day bomb plot

A grand jury today formally indicted a 23-year-old Nigerian national suspected in the attempted Christmas Day bombing of a Northwest Airlines airplane as it neared the Detroit airport.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was indicted on six counts, including attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and attempted murder within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. If convicted, Abdulmutallab faces life in prison.

Federal authorities say Abdulmutallab tried to destroy Northwest Airlines flight 253 from Amsterdam as it prepared to land at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Abdulmutallab tried to ignite an explosive device concealed in his underwear that contained pentaerythritol, also known as PETN, according to prosecutors.

“The charges that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab faces could imprison him for life,” Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement. “This investigation is fast-paced, global and ongoing, and it has already yielded valuable intelligence that we will follow wherever it leads. Anyone we find responsible for this alleged attack will be brought to justice using every tool – military or judicial – available to our government.”

“The attempted murder of 289 innocent people merits the most serious charges available, and that’s what we have charged in this indictment,” U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan said in a statement.

Passengers on board the flight subdued Abdulmutallab after he detonated the bomb.

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'The system worked' ... 'the system has failed in a potentially disastrous way'

ATLANTA – At first glance, it seemed simple enough: The TSA offered up “new security directives” for international flights to the United States.

“The new directive includes long-term, sustainable security measures developed in consultation with law enforcement officials and our domestic and international partners,” the TSA said in a statement. “…Every individual flying into the U.S. from anywhere in the world traveling from or through nations that are state sponsors of terrorism or other countries of interest will be required to go through enhanced screening.”

Then, published reports appeared indicating that not all countries felt obligated to comply with the “new security directives.”

“Everything is the same. There is no extra security,” The Associated Press quoted an aviation official from Lebanon as saying. And Lebanon is on the list of 14 nations that have been “deemed security risks,” the AP reported.

Now, officials admit the airport security system that was supposed to stop a 23-year-old Nigerian national from trying to destroy a Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam completely failed. This, just days after Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Dec. 27 told CNN “one thing I’d like to point out is that the system worked.”

On Tuesday, President Obama said, “When a suspected terrorist is able to board a plane with explosives on Christmas Day the system has failed in a potentially disastrous way.”

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Nigerian national, faces federal charges of attempting to destroy Northwest Airlines flight 253 from Amsterdam as it prepared to land on Christmas Day at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Authorities say Abdulmutallab tried to ignite an explosive device that contained pentaerythritol, also known as PETN.

Furthermore, just when it appeared that airlines might have a 2010 worth celebrating, USA Today is reporting that airlines could lose hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue, if travelers feel that new security restrictions aren’t worth the hassle.

THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everybody. I just concluded a meeting with members of my national security team, including those from our intelligence, homeland security and law enforcement agencies involved in the security reviews that I ordered after the failed attack on Christmas Day.

I called these leaders to the White House because we face a challenge of the utmost urgency. As we saw on Christmas, al Qaeda and its extremist allies will stop at nothing in their efforts to kill Americans. And we are determined not only to thwart those plans, but to disrupt, dismantle and defeat their networks once and for all.

Indeed, over the past year, we've taken the fight to al Qaeda and its allies wherever they plot and train, be it in Afghanistan and Pakistan, in Yemen and Somalia, or in other countries around the world.

Here at home, our intelligence, homeland security and law enforcement agencies have worked together with considerable success: gathering intelligence, stitching it together, and making arrests -- from Denver to Texas, from Illinois to New York -- disrupting plots and saving American lives. And these successes have not come without a price, as we saw last week in the loss of our courageous CIA officers in Afghanistan.

But when a suspected terrorist is able to board a plane with explosives on Christmas Day the system has failed in a potentially disastrous way. And it's my responsibility to find out why, and to correct that failure so that we can prevent such attacks in the future.

And that's why, shortly after the attempted bombing over Detroit, I ordered two reviews. I directed Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano to review aviation screening, technology and procedures. She briefed me on her initial findings today, and I'm pleased that this review is drawing on the best science and technology, including the expertise of Secretary of Energy Steven Chu and his department.

I also directed my counterterrorism and homeland security advisor John Brennan to lead a thorough review into our terrorist watch-listing system so we can fix what went wrong. As we discussed today, this ongoing review continues to reveal more about the human and systemic failures that almost cost nearly 300 lives. We will make a summary of this preliminary report public within the next few days, but let me share some of what we know so far.

As I described over the weekend, elements of our intelligence community knew that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab had traveled to Yemen and joined up with extremists there. It now turns out that our intelligence community knew of other red flags -- that al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula sought to strike not only American targets in Yemen, but the United States itself. And we had information that this group was working with an individual who was known -- who we now know was in fact the individual involved in the Christmas attack.

The bottom line is this: The U.S. government had sufficient information to have uncovered this plot and potentially disrupt the Christmas Day attack. But our intelligence community failed to connect those dots, which would have placed the suspect on the "no fly" list.
In other words, this was not a failure to collect intelligence; it was a failure to integrate and understand the intelligence that we already had. The information was there. Agencies and analysts who needed it had access to it. And our professionals were trained to look for it and to bring it all together.

Now, I will accept that intelligence, by its nature, is imperfect, but it is increasingly clear that intelligence was not fully analyzed or fully leveraged. That's not acceptable, and I will not tolerate it. Time and again, we've learned that quickly piecing together information and taking swift action is critical to staying one step ahead of a nimble adversary.

So we have to do better -- and we will do better. And we have to do it quickly. American lives are on the line. So I made it clear today to my team: I want our initial reviews completed this week. I want specific recommendations for corrective actions to fix what went wrong. I want those reforms implemented immediately, so that this doesn't happen again and so we can prevent future attacks. And I know that every member of my team that I met with today understands the urgency of getting this right. And I appreciate that each of them took responsibility for the shortfalls within their own agencies.

Immediately after the attack, I ordered concrete steps to protect the American people: new screening and security for all flights, domestic and international; more explosive detection teams at airports; more air marshals on flights; and deepening cooperation with international partners.
In recent days, we've taken additional steps to improve security. Counterterrorism officials have reviewed and updated our terrorist watch list system, including adding more individuals to the "no fly" list. And while our review has found that our watch-listing system is not broken, the failure to add Abdulmutallab to the "no fly" list shows that this system needs to be strengthened.

The State Department is now requiring embassies and consulates to include current visa information in their warning on individuals with terrorist or suspected terrorist connections. As of yesterday, the Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, is requiring enhanced screening for passengers flying into the United States from, or flying through, nations on our list of state sponsors of terrorism, or other countries of interest. And in the days ahead, I will announce further steps to disrupt attacks, including better integration of information and enhanced passenger screening for air travel.

Finally, some have suggested that the events on Christmas Day should cause us to revisit the decision to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay. So let me be clear. It was always our intent to transfer detainees to other countries only under conditions that provide assurances that our security is being protected.

With respect to Yemen in particular, there's an ongoing security situation which we have been confronting for some time, along with our Yemeni partner. Given the unsettled situation, I've spoken to the Attorney General and we've agreed that we will not be transferring additional detainees back to Yemen at this time.

But make no mistake: We will close Guantanamo prison, which has damaged our national security interests and become a tremendous recruiting tool for al Qaeda. In fact, that was an explicit rationale for the formation of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. And, as I've always said, we will do so -- we will close the prison in a manner that keeps the American people safe and secure.

Our reviews -- and the steps that we've taken and will continue to take -- go to the heart of the kind of intelligence and homeland security we need in the 21st century. Just as al Qaeda and its allies are constantly evolving and adapting their efforts to strike us, we have to constantly adapt and evolve to defeat them, because as we saw on Christmas, the margin for error is slim and the consequences of failure can be catastrophic.

As these violent extremists pursue new havens, we intend to target al Qaeda wherever they take root, forging new partnerships to deny them sanctuary, as we are doing currently with the government in Yemen. As our adversaries seek new recruits, we'll constantly review and rapidly update our intelligence and our institutions. As they refine our tactics, we'll enhance our defenses, including smarter screening and security at airports, and investing in the technologies that might have detected the kind of explosives used on Christmas.

In short, we need our intelligence, homeland security and law enforcement systems -- and the people in them -- to be accountable and to work as intended: collecting, sharing, integrating, analyzing, and acting on intelligence as quickly and effectively as possible to save innocent lives -- not just most of the time, but all the time. That's what the American people deserve. As President, that's exactly what I will demand.

Thank you very much.

Unique corn field pays tribute to town’s farming past

DUBLIN, Ohio – Dublin is a charming suburb of Ohio’s capital city. Celebrating its bicentennial this year, the town of 40,874 is perhaps best known for the annual Dublin Irish Festival or as the home of Wendy’s.

But one of the city’s true gems resides near the intersection of Frantz and Rings roads. On a small plot of land tucked in between office complexes, “Field of Corn (with Osage Orange),” better known as Cornhenge, features 109 six-foot-tall concrete ears of corn.

The eerily symmetric rows of corn were erected as a public art exhibit and tribute to the corn that once grew here. Sam Frantz, a pioneer of hybrid corn and his wife, Eulalia, previously owned the land and grew corn here.

Malcolm Cochran sculpted the concrete corn statues as part of the project commissioned by the Dublin Arts Council. The field was completed in 1994, and the project wasn’t without its share of controversy.

“It was very controversial when it was completed and even during the process,” the executive director of the Dublin Arts Council said in a July 2009 article published on thisweeknews.com. “The main problem with the piece was (people) thought tax money was being spent on 109 ears of concrete corn and that’s not the case.”

While the art exhibit has attracted much criticism over the years, it’s also drawn visitors from across the country.

“It’s quirky, weird and cool – all at the same time,” said Ruth Mitcham, a visitor from Atlanta. “I love how you’re driving down the road and all of the sudden, there are giant ears of corn sprouting from the ground. It’s crazy.”

A one-stop guide to Marietta, Ga., the Gem City of the South

MARIETTA, Ga. – The Gem City of the South is steeped in history. Located about 20 miles north of Atlanta, the city is one of Metro Atlanta's largest suburbs.

Like so many other North Georgia cities, Marietta unwillingly played host to William T. Sherman during 1864. But that only helped to shape the city into what it is today.

Places to see

The Kennesaw House: The one-time cotton warehouse and former hotel is one of the oldest buildings in Marietta. The building is the starting point for anyone who wants to retrace The Andrews Raid of 1862. A museum inside offers a series of exhibits dedicated to the city's history and features memorabilia, including photographs and artifacts, related not only to the Andrews Raid, but also to the Civil War in general.

Gone with the Wind Museum: This is a must-see for Gone with the Wind fans. The museum is home to more than 1,000 pieces of memorabilia, including costumes worn during the filming.

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park: Located between Marietta and Kennesaw, the 2,923-acre national park offers visitors the chance to learn about the Civil War and the bloody battle fought here while enjoying the great outdoors. The park features 18 miles of walking trails, including some steep ones as they approach the top of the mountain.

Historic cemeteries: The Marietta Confederate Cemetery dates to 1863 when Jane Porter Glover donated a portion of her plantation for the burial of 20 Confederate soldiers who were killed in a nearby train wreck. Today, the cemetery is home to more than 3,000 soldiers. The adjacent Marietta City Cemetery is the final resting place of a number of prominent city residents. Down the road, the Marietta National Cemetery, established in 1866, is home to more than 17,000 soldiers – including 3,000 unknown – who gave their lives to their country.

Where to stay

There are a number of national chain hotels in Marietta. For a complete list, check with the Marietta Welcome Center: http://www.mariettasquare.com/lodging.html.

Where to eat

Hemingway's, http://www.hemingwaysmarietta.com

Marietta Pizza Company, http://www.mariettapizza.com

Shillings on the Square, http://www.shillingsonthesquare.com

A more comprehensive list of dining options is available from the Marietta Welcome Center: http://www.mariettasquare.com/dining.html.

Web sites to visit

Marietta Welcome Center: http://www.mariettasquare.com/

City of Marietta: http://www.mariettaga.gov/

Marietta Daily Journal: http://www.mdjonline.com/

Editor's Note: One-stop guides are intended to provide travelers with an overview of the city. This is not a complete list of all attractions, but a number of places one can visit in a rather short timeframe.

Fewer officers killed in the line of duty in 2009

Fewer police officers were killed in the line of duty last year compared to the previous year, according to a national police organization.

As of Dec. 28, 124 officers in 35 states and Puerto Rico were killed in the line of duty, compared to 133 fatalities in 2008, preliminary numbers from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund show. Despite the decrease, authorities expressed concern that 48 officers were shot and killed last year – up from 39 in 2008.

“This year’s overall reduction in law enforcement deaths was driven largely by a steep, 21 percent drop in the number of officers killed in traffic-related incidents,” NLEOMF Chairman and CEO Craig W. Floyd said in a statement. “However, that bit of good news was overshadowed by an alarming surge in the number of officers killed by gunfire.”

The 124 deaths in 2009 were the fewest since 1959, when 108 officers were killed in the line of duty.

“To reach a 50-year low in officer deaths is a real credit to the law enforcement profession and its commitment to providing the best possible training and equipment to our officers,” Floyd said. “But we cannot allow ourselves to be lulled into a state of complacency.

“There are nearly 60,000 criminal assaults against our law officers every year in this country, resulting in more than 15,000 injuries,” Floyd added. “And, over the past decade, more than 1,600 officers have been killed in the line of duty. Many of the cold-blooded career criminals our officers confront each and every day do not think twice about assaulting or killing a cop.”

Sunset