In a way, it is good to know that they actually screened those checked bags. I was always skeptical about how many they honestly scanned.

Yesterday, the FBI arrested a 32-year-old Jamaican man because he allegedly tried to board a plane at Orlando International Airport with pipe bomb components and instructions in his checked luggage, Reuters reports. Agents found two galvanized pipes, end caps, two small containers of air gun pellets, batteries, two containers of an unknown liquid, a laptop computer and bomb-making literature.

Bomb-making literature? Is that a part of the "self-help" book genre?

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The 6 dumbest hijacking attempts ever:


Click to read the bizarre stories

I was just as surprised by this headline as you were: marijuana isn't already legal in Jamaica?

Despite the fact that government commissions recommended legalizing pot in 2001 and 2003, marijuana is still illegal in Jamaica. Of course, a sizable minority of Jamaica's 2.6 million people are Rastafarians, many of whom use the drug as part of their religion and have long argued that it should be legal.

Jamaica's courts, like those in the United States, are inundated with marijuana-related cases, but the Caribbean nation may face economic sanctions from the U.S. if they legalize the drug.

A seven-member government panel has recently been exploring the idea of drug law reform, and Jamaica's Deputy Prime Minister says that their report and recommendations will be complete in the near future.

We'll keep you posted, Trustafarians.

More here.

Gadling bloggers have been as busy as Santa's elves this week. It's hard to choose five posts from so many, so this week I'm offering five categories:

• Animals: Brett covered stress-reducing felines in Tokyo and how to adopt a Tasmanian devil, Jerry told us the touching story of a woman who is raising a pet coyote, and Iva suggested adopting an orangutan to give as a gift for Christmas.
  
• Poop: I could've used the more polite term "toilet" or "lavatory," but let's face it -- it's the poop we're interested in. Justifying this fact is Abha's post on excrement on display in London, and Grant's suggestion that rhino poop would make a great holiday gift. Martha wrote about how to find the best and worst bathrooms in North America, and Grant also warned us that several restaurants in Chicago are serving ice cubes with more bacteria in them than toilet water.
  
• Drinking: Grant gave us precious info on how to bring wine back from abroad, Kelly reminisced about Hungarian wine, I covered the Around the World in 60 Pubs tour, Abha wrote about debauchery tourism, and Martha recalled the place ouzo had in her first big trip.
  
• Airlines: It just wouldn't be a normal week at Gadling without some kind of airline news. This week, Spirit Airlines kicked off a MILF sale, part of a random wing was found off of a runway in Indonesia, and we found out that cellphones might replace boarding passes.
  
• On the road: Neil infiltrates North Korea, Iva muses on her past year's trips -- all taken while she underwent chemotherapy -- and Matthew continues to entertain us with the details of Japanese life -- this week, he discusses the not-too-uncommon incidences where Japanese have literally worked themselves to death.
  

There you have it! Lots of fun stuff to peruse over your weekend -- enjoy it!

Wow. This is exactly what I need right now – a blissful landscape gently whispering sweet nothings into my slightly-stressed brain. Can't you just feel the peace that this wonderful shot evokes and how very wonderful it would be to slip inside and soak it all up?

I suppose it's possible. All you need to do is hop on a plane and make your way to Negril, Jamaica where Bernard-SD so expertly captured this magnificent shot. Of course, conditions might vary once you make it there, but I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Babble too much and you could be called one of these on your fun-sun beach vaca in Montego Bay.

Today's word is a Patois word from Jamaica:

Mout-a-massy - someone who talks too much. A gossip.

You can expand your 'Rasta Patois' in several ways. The most rewarding way is straight from the horse's mouth, so you may wish to seek the knowledge from some West Indian folks in your neighborhood. If you can't learn anything that way due to the low number of West Indian peeps in your circle, try watching films. The Rockers is an awesome and entertaining starting point. The 25th anniversary edition DVD has great features, including a small Rasta Patois dictionary. A good source on the net is Jamaicans dot com and Jahworks seems decent.

Past Patois words: satta, gwaan, labrish, mash up, budufbaf, tegareg, peenywally, obeah

Running low on luck these days? According to Wikipedia, Obeah, a type of sorcery practiced in Jamaica and various parts of the West Indies contains many traditions for helping, healing and bringing love and money to those who are seriously without. I'd never heard of it until a couple of days ago when I went searching for words for tonight's word plug and I also wouldn't mess with it, but I'm also not at rock bottom in my life. Anyhow, just throwing this one out there for anyone who wishes to further investigate.

Today's word is a Patois word from Jamaica:

obeah - a brand of witchcraft practiced in Jamaica

You can expand your 'Rasta Patois' in several ways. The most rewarding way is straight from the horse's mouth, so you may wish to seek the knowledge from some West Indian folks in your neighborhood. If you can't learn anything that way due to the low number of West Indian peeps in your circle, try watching films. The Rockers is an awesome and entertaining starting point. The 25th anniversary edition DVD has great features, including a small Rasta Patois dictionary. A good source on the net is Jamaicans dot com and Jahworks seems decent.

Past Patois words: satta, gwaan, labrish, mash up, budufbaf, tegareg, peenywally

Trying to decide on the Caribbean island that's best for you? I know, the decision can be a toughie, but shouldn't be too much of a strain. The Miami Herald features an excellent piece highlighting noteworthy hotels, environmental aspects, restaurants and the basic 'why' you should come questions all there to help you plan. Ready to go nude? Try visiting St. Maarten's Orient Beach to score your full body tan. Need a good reason to head over to St. Lucia? If beautiful beaches aren't enough, grab a sunset cocktail at Ladera and just lounge to the sweet sounds of island music. Whether it's live or from the stereo I'm sure there will be some coming from somewhere. Oh, and there's my personal island favorite - Trinidad & Tobago. If you can't make it for Carnival next year try planning a week long getaway to hike and bird watch. There's always a blissful thing to do in Trinidad & Tobago - if you ask me. See the Miami Herald for all their spicy Caribbean island recommendations.

I'm gearing up for my big run tomorrow, but I just wanted to send this funny looking piece of Patois your way.

Today's word is a Patois word from Jamaica:

peenywally - firefly

You can expand your 'Rasta Patois' in several ways. The most rewarding way is straight from the horse's mouth, so you may wish to seek the knowledge from some West Indian folks in your neighborhood. If you can't learn anything that way due to the low number of West Indian peeps in your circle, try watching films. The Rockers is an awesome and entertaining starting point. The 25th anniversary edition DVD has great features, including a small Rasta Patois dictionary. A good source on the net is Jamaicans dot com and Jahworks seems decent.

Past Patois words: satta, gwaan, labrish, mash up, budufbaf, tegareg

Call me lame for doing this, but those of you who have come looking to find details for this year's World Championship of Dominoes will be upset to learn that the event has passed and just by a hair. The event was held from October 18-21, 2006. I too thought it would do me some good to slam some bones on the table and punish my opponent in a most embarrassing round of dominoes for some extra pocket cash ($25,000 U.S. for First Prize), but we will all have to wait until next year. That gives everyone who needs some polishing up extra time to prepare. The Air Jamaica World Championship of Dominoes appears to take place annually in or around Montego Bay, Jamaica and is one of many dominoe playing affairs. So if your heart should be filled with sorrow from this bad, yet good news turn your frown upside down and learn how to get into next year's event here.

Time for a quick run through the islands again - I think it's been awhile anyway.

Today's word is a Patois word from Jamaica:

tegareg - someone with no class, uncouth, a hooligan

You can expand your 'Rasta Patois' in several ways. The most rewarding way is straight from the horse's mouth, so you may wish to seek the knowledge from some West Indian folks in your neighborhood. If you can't learn anything that way due to the low number of West Indian peeps in your circle, try watching films. The Rockers is an awesome and entertaining starting point. The 25th anniversary edition DVD has great features, including a small Rasta Patois dictionary. A good source on the net is Jamaicans dot com and Jahworks seems decent.

Past Patois words: satta, gwaan, labrish, mash up, budufbaf