Gadling

The culture in aviation has always been focused around how to make flying even more safe. The FAA, NTSB and even Congress are looking into ways to improve air safety after the 49 people were killed in the Colgan Air accident in February–the only fatal accident in the U.S. so far in 2009.

I'd be willing to wager that more money goes toward ensuring the safety of the flying public than to life saving procedures or infrastructure in any other industry or activity. I've likely benefited from that investment, with far fewer of my colleagues lost in airplane accidents in the past ten years than in any previous decade.

But it's easy to become hyper-focused on ways to make air travel safer without considering the opportunity costs. As a society, we have a limited amount of resources we can use to save lives. And somehow we tend to overlook the fact that, on average, 123 people are killed every day in the U.S. while driving in automobiles. That's equivalent to an airliner crashing every day. Clearly that would be unacceptable.

But there are still a few areas of low-hanging fruit that could make air travel safer at a relatively low cost. Here are my top three:

Airway Offsetting

Today airplanes usually fly between two published points, essentially creating a 'road' in the sky called an airway. When these airways were designed, they were given four miles left and right of the imaginary centerline. GPS equipped airplanes occupy just a few hundred feet of that width, since they now fly very close to the center of the airway.

Air Traffic Control does an amazingly good job keeping airplanes at different altitudes to prevent opposite direction traffic from colliding.

But because of the precision of GPS equipped airliners, if two airplanes were heading in opposite directions on the same airway at the same altitude, a collision is relatively certain.

One of the best features of the MSC cruise I took with my 17 year-old-daughter and 7-year-old son this summer from Venice to a Greece was the kid's club. It wasn't that I wanted a place to dump my son--we took him on every shore excursion, but when we were on the ship, it gave him a chance to play with other kids and use up energy. He has a lot of energy.

For anyone taking a cruise with a child--or a teen for that matter, look to see what the options are for his or her age group. Also, make sure that before you get your mind set on a particular cruise that your child is age appropriate for that cruise.

Look at the shore excursion options if you're interested in those to see what age a child has to be in order to go. Some trips have age requirements due to safety factors. If excursions are mostly for adult passengers, maybe you ought to reconsider your choice.

There's a handy press release guide at CruiseCompete.com that highlights cruise line offerings for the younger crowd--even infants. When planning a cruise vacation with a child this can be a handy place to start. As you read through each listing, you'll notice specifics like what ages are programs geared towards and what services are offered for babies. Some cruises don't have any specific programs for kids, while others are a kid's paradise.

Checking out options is a great way to visualize a cruise in the first place. That's what happened to me. I imagined my son on the cruise and then we had to go.

Let me open by admitting that I have a hard time dealing with hotel alarm clocks. I've never come across one that was really easy to operate, and every time I program its alarm, I'll set my phone alarm as a backup, because I just never know if it'll work correctly.

In this Gadling gear review, I'll show you the cure for the crappy hotel alarm clock. The Moshi voice control travel alarm clock does exactly what the name implies - it allows you to program its various setting with your voice. The voice recognition is absolutely amazing, and during my tests, it never once let me down. The clock itself is very compact, and is the perfect size for popping in your travel bag. The display features a backlight, and only turns on when you press the snooze/light button. It has three different alarm tones, a volume setting and manual time controls for when Moshi can't understand you

Next to the snooze button is the voice recognition button. To program Moshi, you simply press this button, and speak your command. She understands everything from "alarm on" to "set time" and even "temperature". Setting an alarm is as simple as telling Moshi the time you want her to wake you. I've included a brief video clip of how to operate Moshi, which will give you a better idea of how well this travel alarm clock works.

One of the smartest features on the Moshi travel alarm clock is the keylock button - this allows you to block access to all the keys, which is perfect when you put it in your bag as it'll prevent you from changing any of the settings when you travel. Best of all, the Moshi voice control travel alarm clock only costs $24.99. It is available directly from Moshi in white, black, pink and blue.

For a while now most news out of Zimbabwe has been bad. Gross mismanagement by President Robert Mugabe led the country to financial ruin and hyperinflation, with people using gasoline as currency because nobody wanted the government's $50 million dollar bills.

But with the return of relative stability thanks to the new unity government, tourists are coming back to Zimbabwe. The nation's Council of Tourism reports that 362,000 people visited Zimbabwe by August 2009, up from 100,000 in the same period in 2008. It wasn't clear if this figure only counted tourists or all foreign visitors. A decade ago, Zimbabwe raked in $250 million annually in tourism revenue. That dipped to just $40 million in 2005, but has risen to $100 million since the unity government came into power in 2008.

However the numbers are created, it's still good news. With the country's economy in shambles, an influx of foreign currency is sure to help. The government has been offering tax incentives for companies wanting to invest in Zimbabwe tourism. And with attractions such as Victoria Falls (pictured here) and abundant wildlife, if you're looking for good deals on an African trip you may want to consider Zimbabwe. They'll certainly be glad to see you.

As we slowly head into the worst time of year to be traveling, Orbitz has revealed which airports to avoid this Thanksgiving.

The list is not really filled with any surprises, but it is always nice to see some solid research done by those that actually have the data needed to make a top ten like this.

Of course, as with any busy time of year, it pays to be prepared. Know how to pack, know the current TSA rules, and know how to control your anger when you arrive at the airport and find that it looks like something out of a disaster movie.

Here are the top ten "Orbitz Insider" busiest airports for Thanksgiving 2009.

1. Chicago, IL - Chicago O'Hare International (ORD)
2. Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles International (LAX)
3. Denver, CO - Denver International (DEN)
4. San Francisco, CA - San Francisco International (SFO)
5. Atlanta, GA - Atlanta Hartsfield International (ATL)
6. Boston, MA - Boston Logan International (BOS)
7. New York, NY - New York LaGuardia (LGA)
8. New York, NY - New York John F. Kennedy International (JFK)
9. Newark, NJ - Newark Liberty International (EWR)
10. Seattle, WA - Seattle Tacoma International (SEA)

If you have already booked a flight in or out one of these airports, well, then it sucks to be you. All is not lost for those still waiting to book - Orbitz also compiled a list of the 10 least busy airports.

Hank Leukart, while savoring blueberry pie and a cup of chai at the University of Zoka in Seattle proclaimed it the best coffee shop in the world. As what happens when one proclaims something the best in the world, he immediately began to wonder if he overshot by his gushing. What does he know anyway? After all, had he been in every coffee shop in the world? Of course not, but he has been to a few.

In his essay, "searching for the best coffee shop: a lifelong quest for caffeine nirvana" on his blog without baggage, Leukart extols on the virtues of several coffee shops in various parts of the world. Read his essay and you'll have visited through his eyes several coffee shops that range from Afro Cafe in Cape Town, South Africa to Latte Da in Lee Vining near the east entrance of Yosemite.

To make it to the best coffee shop list,according to Leukart, there are seven attributes a great coffee shop must have:

1. great coffee
2. great tea/Chai,
3. comfortable seats for relaxing and intermingling
4. a full menu of good food
5. free Internet access
6. laptop outlets
7. an unlocked bathroom

My current favorite coffee shop is the Crimson Cup in the Clintonville section of Columbus, Ohio. It doesn't have a full menu, but it has all the other attributes. Although there isn't a full menu, the eats are fresh baked and awesome, particularly the offerings from Pattycake Bakery that specializes in vegan treats.

For anyone in need of a caffeine fix, check out the side bar that accompanies Leukart's article. He has several suggestions.

By the way, Leukart doesn't drink coffee. He's a fan of chai. I love chai, but have yet to find a coffee shop that serves it unsweetened.

Who does visit Myanmar these days? For Southeast Asia travelers exposed to a daily diet of CNN, Myanmar is literal no-fly zone, a destination with an infamous reputation for unrest, opium and political repression. Even as other "notorious" Asia destinations like Cambodia and Vietnam emerge into adolescence on the global tourist stage, Myanmar remains largely hidden from view - a mysterious actor shrouded in myth and secrecy.

It's been nearly two years since Gadling's Leif Pettersen first visited Myanmar, lifting the curtain on a country of sacred Buddhist shrines, Betel chewing and nary a fast food chain in sight. Not surprisingly, in the years since Leif's visit, not much has changed. As I soon discovered, everything moves more slowly in Myanmar, from the masochistic 15-hour bus rides to the condensed milk that slowly oozes into your cup of Burmese tea. This "slowness" is further exaggerated by Myanmar's isolation from the international community and the devastating Cyclone Nargis which hammered the country in 2008. The country's already-meager tourist industry is still reeling from the shock.

But while Myanmar is indeed a tough place to visit, it rewards persistence. For Southeast Asia travelers willing to move beyond the media reports, one of the most incredible destinations on earth awaits your discovery: deserted temple ruins, gorgeous beaches, awe-inspiring festivals and most importantly, some of the friendliest, most welcoming people on earth. And despite what you've heard, Myanmar is actually one of the safest places to visit in Southeast Asia. Intrigued? Let's start with a look at the details (and ethics) of visiting below...

Gallery: Inside Myanmar

Here are the hottest gear deals for today, Monday November 23rd 2009. Remember, these deals are often valid for just one day, so act fast before they are gone.

Today's first deal comes from Woot.com where you'll find a Memorex HD pocket camcorder for just $49.99. I can't comment on the quality of it, but it should be able to record video in 720p and photos in 5 megapixels. Shipping is just $5. Click here for this deal.

The very stylish Plantronics Discovery 925 Bluetooth headset is on sale at Newegg for $44.99, with free shipping. This headset comes with a nice leather case which doubles as a battery charging pack. Click here for this deal.

Once again, the Audio Technica ATH-ANC3 noise canceling headphones are on sale for $54.95. These are some of the best in-ear noise canceling headphones on the market. They come with a carrying case, extension cable, plug adapter and various ear gels. Click here for this deal.

And finally in today's lineup, Amazon is selling a Fujipix 10 megapixel digital camera for just $79.99. When you add the camera to your cart, you can add a 2GB memory card and a Case Logic case for free. These accessories are worth $20. Click here for this deal.

Winter is still officially a month away, but the snow has already started to fly, and ski season is underway in a variety of locations across the U.S. With Thanksgiving nearly upon us, many skiers and snowboarders will hit the slopes for the first time this week, and many of them will be wondering where the best snow can be found. Fortunately, for them, The Adventure Life has compiled a complete list of all of the ski resorts in the U.S., offering suggestions on where to go from Alabama to Wyoming, and just about everywhere in between.

All told, there are 481 resorts on the list, ranging in size from a few snow covered hills with a rope tow, to massive mountain resorts with multiple runs and chair lifts up to places where the air is thin. The Adventure Life offers links to the website for nearly everyone of those resorts, and when ever possible, a second link to the latest snow reports from the hill as well. So, if you want to know what the current conditions are at Snowbird, in Utah, for instance, you could go to this site to find out that they currently have 17" of powder, with more expected in the days ahead.

For ski bums across the country, this is an invaluable list, with suggestions on where to ski no matter where they are. But for some industrious soul, it will no doubt be seen as a challenge as well. How long before someone sets out to ski every one of these 481 resorts?

Today's photo comes to us from Flickr user SuBho_Photography, who caught this vibrant, dynamic shot. Though the photo doesn't say where it was taken, I picture the scene somewhere along the Ganges in India. I particularly like the sense of movement and rich colors: the arc of purple liquid, the man's outstretched arm and the tiny circular depressions from raindrops on the river surface. It's an image that feels full of life and rich detail.

Want your pics considered for Gadling's Photo of the Day? Submit your best ones here.