Dec 24th, 2010 at 9:30AM: Once again this year, Google and NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) have teamed up to help eager girls and boys the world over track Santa's progress throughout the day. What is new this year is that you'll also be able to follow jolly St. Nick using Google Maps and Google Earth, as well as your mobile phone.
As you read this, Santa has already set off on his appointed rounds and ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
christmas posts
Track Santa's progress tonight courtesy of Google and NORAD
Dec 24th, 2010 at 9:30AM: Once again this year, Google and NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) have teamed up to help eager girls and boys the world over track Santa's progress throughout the day. What is new this year is that you'll also be able to follow jolly St. Nick using Google Maps and Google Earth, as well as your mobile phone.
As you read this, Santa has already set off on his appointed rounds and ...Christmas travel begins -- are you wearing your travel pants?
Dec 24th, 2010 at 8:00AM: If you're one of the millions of Americans traveling this week for this Christmas holiday, you're probably already dreading the journey. Metropolitan streets across the country are jam-packed each evening, filled with worker bees fleeing the concrete jungles and filtering back across country roads to their home bases. Security checkpoints are stuffed to the gills, confusion reigns at the ticket ...Photo of the day (12.23.10)
Dec 23rd, 2010 at 5:00PM:
Just one shopping day left until Christmas, maybe two if you want to push it. Even if you aren't gift shopping, festive holiday decorations and frustrated holiday shoppers are everywhere. Flickr user jrodmanjr snapped this shot at San Francisco's Union Square in the reflection of a tree ornament. It's a beautiful composition and cleverly captures the festive street scene and shoppers ...Heathrow CEO kisses bonus goodbye
Dec 23rd, 2010 at 3:00PM: The backups and mayhem at Heathrow, the largest airport in Britain, have come with a very personal price tag. With thousands of flights cancelled and crowds of disgruntled passengers forming, it only makes sense that there would be some consequences. So, while passengers look for ways to get to their ultimate destinations this holiday season, there will be a little less under the tree in one ...Ten clear signs you're in the wrong city for Christmas
Dec 23rd, 2010 at 10:30AM: Christmastime is a special time for Christians, and also for non-Christians who don't mind the excuse to decorate, eat, and exchange presents. One of the main chagrins of perpetual travelers is that they often find themselves in the wrong city for Christmas. Being away from family is one thing, but sometimes, December 25 can roll by without feeling like a "real Christmas" at all. I feel weird even ...A Single Square of Christmas
Dec 23rd, 2010 at 10:00AM:
"Here," she gestured. "Try this," and I opened my mouth. The chocolate landed on my tongue and began to melt. It was unlike anything I'd ever tasted. It reminded me of the carob chips foisted upon me during my mother's hippy stage. It was also a bit like the Hershey's Special Dark miniatures I always traded for my sister's Mr. Goodbars at Halloween. But this chocolate was definitely a ...Christmas list: five things I want from the airlines
Dec 22nd, 2010 at 1:00PM: 'Tis the season, right? Regardless of beliefs, we're all secretly wishing for something, even if we're not hoping for a big fat guy to slide down a slim chimney to deliver it. And, I don't think I'm unusual in having my own list of wishes. I'm not so naïve as to think the airline industry will turn my Christmas list into its New Year's resolutions, but I can always dare to dream!
So, here ...Christmas in Hawaii: 5 steps to surviving the holidays alone on an island
Dec 22nd, 2010 at 12:00PM:
As a New Englander, it's hard to imagine Christmas without snow and bitter cold. Almost. There's something to be said for a "white Christmas", but there's also something to be said for Mai Tai's on the beach in Hawaii. There's nothing like pine trees draped in snow; then again, there's something great about a Christmas tree standing between two palm trees and tiki torches.
When I first told ...Galley Gossip: Snow globes, gifts, packing - just a few tips for travelers this Christmas
Dec 22nd, 2010 at 9:00AM: 1. LEAVE THE SNOW GLOBE AT HOME: This time last year I asked a TSA agent in Dallas about the craziest thing he'd ever seen. I won't lie, the answer shocked me, which is why I won't repeat it here. Then he then went on to complain about the number of snow globes he'd collected. For the last few years snow globes have been on the list of banned carry-on items due to the fact that they contain an ...Four amazing edible Christmas displays at Walt Disney World
Dec 21st, 2010 at 12:00PM: At holiday time, the pastry kitchens in and around Walt Disney World must kick into overdrive, churning out all the holiday desserts served in the restaurants and bakeries at the resort.
But beyond the cookies and cakes, Walt Disney World's ovens are filled with some important construction materials - hundreds and hundreds of house and roof tiles, all made out of gingerbread.
Here's a look ...TSA your holiday ... or, "What Santa Claus looks like under the scanner"
Dec 20th, 2010 at 3:00PM: Ever wonder what Santa Claus is really hiding under that big red suit, or what he "sees" in Mrs. Claus? Thanks to new website TSA Your Holiday, now you can. Mr. & Mrs. Claus, Frosty, Scrooge, and even Ruldolph take to the scanners (no opt-outs here!) for their big reveals.
Says the site:
In a scoop of WikiLeak-ian proportions, Curley & Pynn has secured highly confidential images of ...The 10 easiest ways to improve air travel this holiday season
Dec 16th, 2010 at 3:00PM: It's time for you to drag your screaming kids, annoying spouse and endless amounts of overstuffed bags through the airport, as you find your way over the river and through the woods. Thanksgiving is behind us, and that's the really ugly time to travel, but Christmas is no picnic either. The gate areas and bars will be crowded, and it's going to be awfully hard for you to be happy while darting ...Galley Gossip: Gifts for flight attendants (and travelers)
Dec 16th, 2010 at 9:00AM: A stun gun, Xanax, travel massager that glows in the dark, ten foot pole for not touching things with, these are just a few of the things my flight attendant friends want for Christmas. What, not your gift-giving style? Okay so perhaps one of these will do....
1. PASSPORT COVER - In this day and age you might not want to advertise your country of origin. Not to mention it's kind of fun dressing ...Top ten holiday season foods from around the world
Dec 15th, 2010 at 11:30AM: No matter where in the world you live, whatever your ethnic or religious heritage, the holidays are inextricably linked with food. Whether there's symbolic meaning behind these seasonal treats, or they're everyday dishes that have become festive additions to the seasonal repertoire, they're hard to resist.
Below, I've picked some of my favorites, most of which have personal meaning (although ...Coworth Park's 12 Days of Christmas Facebook contest
Dec 14th, 2010 at 2:00PM: Still not sure what to get your special someone for Christmas? Take your chances and try and win one of the 12 exclusive gifts from Dorchester Collection's Coworth Park hotel's Facebook contest.
From Monday, December 13, the team at Coworth Park will be hosting a little competition on their Facebook page for a chance to win one of the 12 unique gifts. All you have to do is become a fan of ...A new nativity scene: Jesus, Mary, and a Pile of Poo
Dec 10th, 2010 at 3:30PM: When I was little, it was my Christmastime job to arrange my family's nativity scene on a shelf for all to see. I would ponder how the birth of Christ must have gone down, where the wise men had stood to get the best view, and whether camels and sheep got along. The one thing I didn't think about was someone needing to take a dump. That was mistake number-one.
It was my first holiday season ...Seven reasons cell phones kill people on road trips
Dec 8th, 2010 at 12:00PM: Even though Thanksgiving is behind us, there are still plenty of reasons to road trip before the end of the year. Well, there's one reason, really, and that's Christmas. But, a lot of people are going to get behind the wheel or whine in the back seat. Of course, we can expect a lot of people to be on their cell phones while they're driving about, according to the Insurance Information Institute's ...Disney World at Christmas: Expect crowds. BIG crowds.
Dec 7th, 2010 at 2:00PM: I spent many a childhood vacation driving back and forth to Florida. My family loved to vacation here. We went to various beach communities around the state, and our trips would often involve a day or two spent at Walt Disney World.
So the whole family was excited when, in 1984, one of my aunts moved to Florida. It was immediately decided that the extended family would spend Christmas there. ...SkyMall Monday: Money Maze & Bilz Pinball Game
Dec 6th, 2010 at 1:00PM: The holiday season is in full swing and everyone is looking for the best gifts for friends and family. The SkyMall Monday headquarters is filling up with presents for our favorite people. Sometimes, though, you simply have no idea what to get for someone. No matter how much you rack your brain, you just can't come up with the perfect gift for someone in your life. Whether it's your coworker, ...How to buy a Disneyland candy cane (and why you would want one)
Dec 2nd, 2010 at 9:00AM: Disneyland candy canes are a sought after item during the holidays. In fact, they are in such short supply that Disney has devised a ticketing system for buying them. That's right, you need a ticket to buy a candy cane. For $9.95 each, no less.
The sweets are made at Candy Palace on Main Street U.S.A. at the California theme park.
To get one, you'll need one of those magic tickets. They are ...
