Honest people still exist – NYC Cabbie returns handbag with $21,000 in cash

by Scott Carmichael on

When Bangladeshi cabbie Mukul Asadujjaman found a handbag containing $21,000 in cash, passports and jewelry in the back of his cab, he could have shrugged and handed it in to lost and found. Some cabbies may even have decided it was their lucky day, and pocketed the cash.

Mr. Asadujjaman did the best possible thing – he drove 50 miles to the original pickup address, left his phone number, and reunited the owners with their property. He wouldn’t even accept a reward, turning it down saying that as a Muslim he could not accept it.

Of course, this should serve as a reminder to anyone with that much cash, that carrying it in a handbag in a New York cab is a really bad idea.

The money belonged to an Italian family, visiting the United States, and the loss of all their money and passports would have severely screwed up their plans. Kudos to Mr. Asadujjaman, it really is refreshing to see that honest people still exist.%Gallery-67351%

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TSA fails to detect gun at Montana airport – may be replaced by private firm

by Scott Carmichael on

Stories of poor TSA security screenings are not new – several days ago we wrote about a man who passed through a Milwaukee checkpoint with shotgun shells. In this “TSA screw-up of the day”, we head to Gallatin Field, serving Bozeman, Montana.

This may be a fairly small airport, but that should not be an excuse for the TSA to miss a firearm in a carry-on bag. The gun belonged to an “unidentified man”, who was honest enough to notify the cabin crew when he noticed his error. As is normally the case, the plane returned to the gate, and was delayed for over an hour while the TSA did their job (again).

Now, I understand how our constant “TSA bashing” be be getting a little boring, but this story suddenly gets really interesting. Airport director Brian Sprenger is so fed up with the government screeners, that he is seriously considering replacing them with an outside security firm.

Of course, a local union leader is “strongly opposed”, claiming for-profit security firms are a bad idea, because they’ll need to make a profit, while working with the same budget offered to the TSA. But to be honest, I don’t see how a private firm could be any worse than the government workers in place right now.

Failing to detect a gun is the kind of mistake that could cost the lives of everyone on the plane. Too much emphasis is placed on items like water bottles and false no-fly list passengers, that you sometimes get the feeling they forget to keep a close eye on the most obvious issues.

There are no immediate plans to replace the TSA at Bozeman just yet – but the airport is in the exploratory phase, which on its own should set off some alarm bells within government.

Check out these other stories from the airport checkpoint!

Jack Bauer’s back! Affinia Hotels NYC hosting 24-hour $24 room giveaway

by Melanie Nayer on

The date: Jan. 17
The place: New York City
The man: Jack Bauer
The purpose: $24 hotel room rates

(cue the heart-thumping, blood-pressure rising music)

Affinia Hotels in New York is feeling the “24” fever and hosting a giveaway via their Twitter account. Jack Bauer (played by Kiefer Sutherland, for those of you living under the rock that Jack built) is bringing his crime-solving, action-packed intense 24-hours to the streets of New York City on Jan. 17, and Affinia Hotels is helping fans celebrate the highly anticipated return of 24’s eighth season with a giveaway on its @affiniahotels Twitter page.

If you’re not on Twitter, you’re missing out on the action. To be eligible, participants must:

– Follow @affiniahotels on Twitter
– Post the contest message “Jack is back! Celebrate NYC debut of 24 w/ a $24 Affinia Shelburne stay. Follow @affiniahotels & RT this msg 2 enter: www.affinia.com/24” between 12pm EST on Wednesday, January 13 and 12pm EST on Thursday, January 14.

After the 24-hour contest period, Affinia Shelburne’s General Manager David McManus will pick a winner at random, who will then be announced on the hotel’s Twitter page on Thursday, January 14.

But as anyone who watches “24” knows, there’s always something more to the story… and this hotel giveaway is no exception. The Affinia reps just emailed me a note letting me know they’re throwing in an extra bonus: everyone who enters the contest will receive a special link on Thursday afternoon that offers them the $24 rate for that Sunday, January 17 night only. There will be 24 rooms available for that rate, and everyone will have access to the hotel’s viewing party.

The premier will air live in the hotel’s lobby lounge, located at 303 Lexington Avenue, and attendees can enter a drawing to win one grand prize of the $24 overnight rate at Affinia Shelburne, plus additional 24 Season 1-7 DVD giveaways. Official contest rules and more information about the on-site party are available by visiting www.affinia.com/24.

Gary, Indiana to honor the late King of Pop with a theme park

by Scott Carmichael on

It is hard to write about Gary, Indiana without insulting them. I’ll admit that most of my experiences with Gary have involved little more than driving through the city on my way to Michigan, but from what I’ve seen when speeding down I90 has never really been interesting enough to stop and learn more about what they have to offer.

That is all about to change, because Gary has decided to build a theme park dedicated to its most famous one time resident – Michael Jackson. Before Jackson passed away, I did not even know he was born in Gary, something I’m sure I share with many others.

Work on the theme park is scheduled to begin this year – and will include a rollercoaster (called Thriller), a Ferris wheel, a zoo, a museum and even classic carnival rides moved from the pop singers famous Neverland Ranch.

Now, before you load up the family truckster for a trip to Gary, you’ll be disappointed to know that constructing the theme park will be a ten year project, and will start with a museum and an art center. Out of respect for Gary, I’ve added a photo of the Neverland Ranch – you’d be surprised to know that there are no cheerful photos of Gary on the Internet.

[Via: Jaunted]

Click the pictures to learn about other unusual amusement parks, from R-Rated “Love Land,” to a park based on the works of Charles Dickens, from a park with a ride called “Dog Fart Switchback,” to a park that’s twice the size of Disneyland.


Get tips on visiting Disney with a special needs child at Mouse-Aid

by Katie Hammel on

Disneyland and Disney World are supposed to be the happiest places on Earth. Every child wants to go to this place of wonder and excitement, and special needs children are no exception. But for parents of these children, the thought of organizing a trip may seem like a far too difficult task. That’s where the Mouse-Aid website comes in.

The website is not affiliated with Disney, but it is designed to help parents of children with special needs negotiate the obstacles to taking their kids on a Disney vacation. There are tips for travel, packing, get around the parks, dining and choosing a room, and what issues parents of special needs kids should consider The special needs covered range from physical and mental disabilities to ADHD and terminal illness.

For many parents, the most helpful part of the site might be the forums. Here parents can discuss the issues important for their children, like which rides might scare kids frightened of the dark. They can also find support in parents dealing with similar issues as themselves. As the aunt of a special needs child, I’ve seen how just knowing that there are other parents who understand your situation can be a big help in and of itself. If you are the parent of a child with special needs, and you are planning a trip to a Disney theme park, it might be worth checking out the Mouse-Aid site.