Archive for the 'Travel Video' Category
Department of Homeland Security launches a YouTube channel
July 23, 2009 11:52am
What do you know about the Department of Homeland Security? That it controls the color-coded threat levels at the airport? Maybe you’ve seen a big bus with the agency’s name on the side like I did while it was driving north on I-5 the other day. No matter what you already know about the work it does, we now have access to more information: The DHS is getting on the social media wagon, with the launch of a YouTube channel and a revamp of its website.
“Social media plays an increasingly large role in our engagement with the public, especially in the event of an incident or disaster,” said DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano. “These new tools will facilitate an open dialogue about the department’s security efforts across the nation and around the world.”
When I checked out the YouTube channel, a video about families making an emergency plan immediately started playing. In the list of other videos on the channel, I saw an assortment of videos about the department: I watched a couple on its role in protecting our infrastructure, and a travel security video for incoming foreign visitors and the procedures they can expect at customs (shown above). You can also watch speeches and events, including the time Michelle Obama visited Homeland Security in April.
You can even find the Department of Homeland Security on Twitter (@dhsjournal).
– Jen Leo, Los Angeles Times Travel & Deal blogger
[Video: YouTube]
United makes nice, but guitarist’s YouTube songs will go on
July 8, 2009 7:00pm
Dave Carroll, the songwriter whose bouncy tale of damaged six-string baggage has been lighting up YouTube and tweaking United Airlines for the last two days, is declaring victory. And astonishment.
He doesn’t want any money from United, the 41-year-old Nova Scotia singer-songwriter says, even though he wound up paying $1,200 to repair damages suffered by his guitar on a spring 2008 series of flights from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Omaha, Neb. And he’s still trying to fathom the web-media explosion that brought his case to the world’s attention.
“Any day you’re on Wolf Blitzer’s screen in ‘The Situation Room,’ it’s a big day,” said Carroll late Wednesday, winding down after a medley of interviews.
Smashed guitar, YouTube song — United is listening now
July 7, 2009 7:02pm
Here, without rhythm, harmony or rhyme, is Dave Carroll’s problem: Last year, while he was flying from Nova Scotia to Nebraska on United Airlines, somebody broke his $3,500 guitar.
Big deal, you’re thinking. Who has time to keep track of all the things United breaks? (See bottom of story for some statistics, which suggest that several other airlines are worse.)
But Carroll and his band, Sons of Maxwell, have told their tale with rhythm, harmony, rhyme, not to mention some wicked humor, and their four-minute, 37-second complaint, “United Breaks Guitars,” above, is racking up views on YouTube.
Statue of Liberty is on Twitter and offers insider’s e-tours
July 4, 2009 1:37am
How hip is this for a 122-year-old lady? The Statue of Liberty is tweeting on the social networking site Twitter.com (@statuelibrtynps) and giving e-tours of her innards, just in time for the Fourth of July, when the icon’s crown opens for the first time since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
So far, the tweets have been pretty tame, but they give useful tips, such as how to get through statue security (cleverly titled: “No bag ladies allowed” ). Tweeters include rangers and “associated staffers,” said Mindi Rambo, spokeswoman for the National Parks of New York Harbor.
The “Statue of Liberty National Monument eTour” is a good ride, with videos, 360-degree panoramas, ranger talks and fun facts. (This link sends you to a page that offers high-speed and dial-up options for downloading the “Virtual Tour” and tells how to navigate the tour.)
The Titanic Awards reveal the world’s worst in travel
May 19, 2009 5:01pm
Who do you think has the world’s worst national cuisine? I said Lithuania, but Doug Lansky, author of ”The Titanic Awards,” to be published by Peigree/Penguin and released in spring 2010, said consensus revealed that travelers disliked their meals from the U.K. the most. On the Web, Lansky, who has written several books, including the “Signspotting” series for Lonely Planet, has already started taking nominees for the world’s worst in travel.
Take the survey: Who has the world’s rudest flight attendants, dirtiest beaches, most dangerous country roads, even the worst architecture? Speak your mind by taking this quick and easy survey. Sure, the long list of obscure countries might make a person who takes an international trip every year still feel a bit under-experienced - but Lansky says that skipping questions (there’s a blank space at the top of the list) is totally natural.
In a nutshell, the Titanic Awards are the Darwin Awards for travel — only nobody dies.
Roundup: Take a cruise with New Kids on the Block; $39 each-way JetBlue sale; travel video tips
January 14, 2009 8:37am
Cruise news | Former boy band New Kids on the Block will add its name to rock stars hitting the open-to-consumer seas. Tickets go on sale Jan. 14 for a three-night cruise between Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and the Bahamas. Prices start at $849 with four to a room. If you think that’s high, just wait till you party with the stars and get your photo taken with them. You can watch a video of the group’s announcement on People.com. Before you book your ticket, you might want to consider sailing with John Mayer from Los Angeles to Cabo San Lucas (March 27 to 31, 2009), with rates starting at $799, pre-tax. Keep your eye on Sixthman for other cruises with rock stars.
Roundup: Blogger gives away 25,000 miles; Nerd’s Eye View tweets emergency landing at O’Hare; new SWA Blog-o-spondent
September 23, 2008 8:47am
Good morning, travelers! It just so happens we have a bit of a travel blogger news roundup. Enjoy.
Airport news | Did you hear about the American Airlines flight routed between Seattle (SEA) and New York (JFK) that was diverted to Chicago’s O’Hare Airport? Travel blogger Pam Mandel of Nerd’s Eye View was on board Flight 268 and twittered her experience during the emergency landing with pics and all. Her post, “Unscheduled Landing,” describes the whole event and Mandel told me, “The AA crew was fantastic.”
New Southwest Airlines blogger | Congratulations to Kaci Beeler, who was chosen as SWA’s Ultimate Southwest Airlines Blog-o-spondent. Kaci will be flown to four different destinations and create a video at each one. Here’s her quirky and engaging video (and above) in Vegas that was her submission as a finalist in the contest.
Roundup: Tina Fey travel tip; ‘The Amazing Race’ wins an Emmy; luxe California dog-friendly hotels
September 22, 2008 5:30am
Good morning, travelers! I hope you had a good weekend. Did you know that this is National Stay at Home Week? It’s an ABC gimmick to get us to stay at home and watch their premiere week. Laugh with me at the notion and get out of town this week. It doesn’t mean you can’t record “Grey’s Anatomy” or watch it somewhere else. I’m going to San Francisco.
Emmy-related travel | Congratulations to “The Amazing Race” for beating “American Idol,” “Dancing With the Stars,” “Project Runway” and “Top Chef” to win an Emmy in the category of reality-competition program. But it was Tina Fey who gave me the travel tip of the night — an American Express Platinum Card member can get into an airport lounge with the flash of the card, even if flying coach. In the commercial (above) she flashed her card to follow Martin Scorsese into the lounge. One look at the AmEx Platinum Card benefits online and, sure enough, Platinum Card members and their spouses and children (or two traveling companions) can get free access to participating airport club locations worldwide.
Blog for Southwest Airlines, get free trips
August 16, 2008 1:00pm
If you’re sitting there reading this and thinking, “Hey, I like travel. I like blogging,” then have we got a contest for you. Southwest Airlines is on the hunt for a video blogger to showcase four destinations covered by the wonders of the low-cost flier.
Contest details: Hopefuls have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Aug. 31 to upload their entries to southwest.spigit.com, where the viewing public has been determining if they’re hot or not. Southwest will whittle the top 10 down to three finalists and fly them to Las Vegas from Sept. 19 to 21 to compete in a “top secret” assignment at the Blog World and New Media Expo. (Hint: Spokeswoman Christi Day said the task will be similar to past Southwest videos. ) These finished projects will go on Southwest’s website, where readers will decide Sept. 21 who will be the new Nuts About Southwest Blog-o-spondent.
The Grand Prize: Over the course of a year, Southwest will fly the winner to four different markets and cover accommodations and other expenses as he or she creates an original video about each city. Though they have some destinations and video ideas in mind, the company is “open to any fun and creative ideas that the winning Blog-o-spondent brings to the table,” said Southwest spokeswoman Paula Berg.
To see more of the fine print and vote for current submissions, check out southwest.spigit.com.
– Whitney Friedlander, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
[Image: Southwest Airlines]
What would you give up for a cheap flight?; Ewan McGregor’s new doc; Death Valley ultramarathon
July 15, 2008 8:25am
On July 15, 1799, the Rosetta Stone, now in the British Museum, was found in Egypt. Fast-forwarding to the present, today’s travel-news circuit is also full of interesting discoveries and tidbits…though admittedly not anything that will be immortalized. Not yet anyway. The day is young.
Survey says | Would you give up restroom access during your flight if it would slash your ticket fare in half? According to a recent Travelzoo survey of 1,000 American adults, 40% of travelers would indeed give up restroom rights. In addition, 28% of survey respondents would stand during the flight, rather than sit, if that meant a 50% fare decrease. What would you put up with to obtain a lower fare?
