Is the U.S. Forest Service spying on visitors?

by Jeremy Kressmann on

Our country’s national parks and forests are intended as sanctuaries, zones of peace and quiet where visitors can get away from the give and take of modern life. But don’t expect to have it all to yourself: these days you might be joined by hidden cameras, placed by the U.S. Forest Service. Don’t break out the tinfoil hat just yet; this “conspiracy theory” may have some truth to it. According to a South Carolina newspaper, the agency has been placing hidden cameras in forest areas for some time.

Visitor Herman Jacob was camping and looking for firewood in South Carolina’s Francis Marion National Forest last month when he stumbled across a wire. The wire took him to a video camera and a remote antenna sitting in the middle of the woods. Perplexed, Jacob took the camera home with him and contacted the local police, who explained it had been set up to monitor “illicit activities” and demanded its return. Further investigation by the Island Packet, the newspaper that researched the story, confirmed that the Forest Service has used the cameras as a tool of law enforcement for “numerous years.” A Forest Service spokesperson quoted in the article indicated that images taken of those not targeted by an investigation are not kept.

In light of the fact drug cartels have been growing marijuana on federal land for some time, this type of surveillance makes more sense. And, legally, the cameras are on public land – surveillance is permissible. But is a policy that allows this type of monitoring, particularly in a quiet forest, a violation of our trust? Or is it a necessary evil, preventing misuse of public land? Leave us your thoughts in the comments.

[Via Metafilter]%Gallery-77777%

%Gallery-37520%

January visits to U.S. offer glimmer of hope

by Tom Johansmeyer on

The rush of data from the U.S. Department of Commerce continues. In January 2010, 3.4 million international visitors came to the United States, an increase of 10 percent from January 2009. This is the fourth month in a row that international visitation ticked higher. But, this surge in arrivals hasn’t been enough to lift spending, as the cash put out by visitors from outside the country fell 3 percent from January 2009 to January 2010.

Seventeen of the top 20 countries (in terms of sending visitors to the United States), showed increases – nine of them double digits. Canada, Brazil, South Korea, China (and Hong Kong), Australia, Argentina, Spain, Colombia and Switzerland put up the big growth numbers in January.

Canada posted an increase of 13 percent, with 1.3 million coming to the United States, while Mexico was only good for a 3 percent gain (416,000 visitors in January). Western Europe was sluggish, with a gain of only 1 percent, though travel to the United States increased for seven of the top 10 markets in this region: Germany (5 percent), France (4 percent), Italy (7 percent), Spain (10 percent), Netherlands (3 percent), Sweden (5 percent) and Switzerland (14 percent). The United Kingdom dragged the average down, with a year-over-year decline of 5 percent.
Seven of the top 10 markets in Asia posted increases, as well, led by South Korea (40 percent), Singapore (18 percent) and China (15 percent). In South America, Brazil, Argentina and Colombia were up 30 percent, 12 percent and 20 percent, respectively. Visits from Venezuela were off 8 percent.

The money may be down, but visits are up, and that’s a step in the right direction. It’s still too early to call this a travel market recovery, as airlines remain under pressure and hotel pricing is expected to remain flat through the end of the year. But, the up-tick in international at least means that people are getting on planes again and coming to the United States.

Qatari diplomat on United flight mistaken for shoe-bomber

by Aaron Hotfelder on

A Qatari diplomat aboard a United flight from Washington D.C. to Denver last night was mistakenly suspected of trying to blow up the plane after sneaking a cigarette in the airplane’s lavatory. The man, Mohammed al Modadi, was asked about the smell of smoke coming from the restroom and joked that he was trying to light his shoes on fire, a reference to the infamous incident with shoe-bomber Richard Reid.

The U.S. air marshall on board the flight apparently did not catch the humor. Two F-16 fighter jets were scrambled and escorted the United flight into Denver approximately 30 minutes ahead of schedule.

Modadi was restrained and questioned while on board the flight; it’s unclear what criminal charges, if any, will be filed against him.

For more, check out The Atlantic‘s minute-by-minute account of the incident, which was originally falsely reported as a terrorist attack by several news outlets.

GadlingTV’s Travel Talk 008: Chilean drinking game, inside Loopt for the iPad, & ‘Bring Your Own Big Wheels’!

by Stephen Greenwood on

GadlingTV’s Travel Talk, episode 8 – Click above to watch video after the jump
Bring your own big wheels! Join in this week for a San Francisco flashmob tradition that involves steep wet streets, plastic tricycles, and a need for speed.

We’ll look into the origins of legal drinking ages on airplanes, temporary marriage in Shi’ite Islam, protests against the protests in Thailand, top-secret Russian ships turned airplanes, and why most of U.S foreign aid might not be going where you would expect.

If you’re looking to get social in South America, tune in to see Vanessa teach us how to play a Chilean drinking game and then relax with some spiced Chai in Tea Time. We’ll also take an exclusive look at Loopt’s brand new iPad application with the company’s co-founder, Alok Deshpande.

If you have any questions or comments about Travel Talk, you can email us at talk AT gadling DOT com.

Subscribe via iTunes:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Show directly in iTunes (M4V).
[RSS M4V] Add the Travel Talk feed (M4V) to your RSS aggregator and have it delivered automatically.

Links
Loopt – Discover the world around you.
Going to Russia? Check out the locations of these ekranoplans!
Brush up on your Pyramid rules before you play…

Hosts: Stephen Greenwood, Aaron Murphy-Crews, Drew Mylrea
Special Guests: Alok Deshpande & Vanessa.
Produced, Edited, and Directed by: Stephen Greenwood, Aaron Murphy-Crews, Drew Mylrea


%Poll-44103%

Music:

Tea Time
“Tint of Fusion Sitar”
Gokul Salvadi
myspace.com/gsalvadi

Travel Tech
“Pipe Dreams”
Addamantium
myspace.com/addamantium

Pyramid
“All We Need Is Love (Remix)”
Dominic Balli & Mark Suhonen
myspace.com/marksuhonenproduction

Adventure of the Week
“Tech Romance”
Her Space Holiday
herspaceholiday.com

“Dancefloor Lover”
Electrobuddha
myspace.com/electrobuddha2

Name a cactus, win a vacation

by Annie Scott on

The Boulders Resort and Golden Door Spa is holding its third annual cactus naming contest. For those of you who already name everything you see anyway, this is the contest for you.

Visit the Name Our Cactus website and have a gander at the six cacti. Does one remind you of a celebrity? An animal? Do you have a great cactus name saved up you’ve just been dying to use? Go for it; you could win one of six “amazing vacation getaways to this world-renowned Boulders Resort including transportation vouchers, accommodations, dining, golf and more” — and have the opportunity to be introduced to your cactus and maybe even stroke it lightly.

More detail about what winners will receive:

  • Two nights in a deluxe casitaat the AAA Award winning, Waldorf Astoria Collection The Boulders Resort and Golden Door Spa.
  • $500 airfare giftcard
  • Daily breakfast for two at Palo Verde
  • Two twosomes at The Boulders Golf Course

For a little guidance, check out the previous winners here. Seriously, they’re pretty cute — the one pictured here was named “Applause.”

Click here to enter by June 1, 2010!