ITALY: Captain In Cruise Ship Disaster Sentenced To 16 Years In Prison

One Million Moms Vs Hotwire

I've changed the headline because you-know-who is already wailing about this ad. Just in via email:

Joe, Hotwire.com is in hot water with conservative families over their newest commercial. Consumers should be aware of the offensive ad because there are many other travel sites to choose from if parents are warned about this indecent ad. The commercial is about a couple going away for their anniversary while the grandparents take care of their kid for the night. But while one partner is dreaming of sleep and says, "It's all about sleep," the other partner says disappointedly, "Not all about sleep!" The dialogue goes on to say, "For me it is." And the reply is, "Lucky me." A commercial should not discuss what does or doesn't happen in bed, plus the couple consists of two men. Hotwire is obviously not concerned about the message they are sending our children. TAKE ACTION: Please send Hotwire.com an email letter asking them to pull their "Lucky Me" commercial immediately.

Open Thread Thursday

Tell us about your favorite summer getaway.

Open Thread Thursday

Any big plans for the summer?

The Grandeur Of The Seas

The cruise industry has had it tough the last few years. Details.

Morning View

American Airlines Launches Bag Delivery

If you just can't be bothered to hang around that carousel all day, American Airlines has launched a bag delivery service.

The service, which can be purchased when booking the trip or up to two hours before the flight, costs $29.95 to $49.95, depending on the amount of luggage. The service is available at more than 200 U.S. airports and some cities abroad. If the bag's destination is 40 miles away or less, it should get there within one to four hours, the airline says. If the address is farther away, delivery will cost a dollar more for every extra mile, and delivery time ranges from four to six hours. "We think it's a great product for business travelers who need to go into a meeting or office and don't care to claim their luggage," says David Vance, American's managing director-customer operations planning. "But it's also a great service for families traveling with children and they have a number of bags they're having to deal with."

American has already delivered bags to me twice. Of course they were coming from a city I'd never traveled to....

Open Thread Thursday

Any plans for the summer?

Sold For Scrap

The actual Love Boat has been sold for scrap.

Turkish demolition company Cemsan reportedly bought the ship for just over 2.5 million euro, or about $3.3 million. Built in 1971 for $25 million for Flagship Cruises as the Sea Venture, the ship was originally built for New York to Bermuda cruise service, reports Maritime Matters. It sailed between Bermuda and U.S. ports for three years, before it was sold to Princess Cruises in 1974, and renamed “Pacific Princess”.

Cruise Ship Death Count Rises To 11

And more are still missing including two Americans. Today the local port authority released a transcript in which they accuse the captain of abandoning the ship during rescue operations. Another report claims that ship ran aground after the captain veered off course in order to sound the vessel's horn at a friend on the shore. He is presently in jail awaiting charges that may include negligent homicide.

Cruise Ship Capsizes Off Italy

Three dead, thousands rescued.

Three people are confirmed dead after a cruise ship carrying more than 4,000 people ran aground off Italy. There were scenes of panic as the Costa Concordia hit a sandbar on Friday evening near the island of Giglio and listed about 20 degrees. People reached land by lifeboats but some swam ashore. Rescue teams have been going from cabin to cabin, searching for survivors. Italians, Germans, French and British were among the 3,200 passengers. There were also 1,000 crew on board. Helicopters evacuated the last 50 people on the deck who were in a "worsening" situation.

Authorities report a 30-yard gash in the ship's hull.VIDEO: American passengers made a cell video.

Gay Tips On Visiting South Korea

Their blog is mostly about K-pop, with which I had a brief but intense fascination during the summer of 2010.

The Saddest Sign In Key West

Another week in Key West gone in a dizzying blur. This time I hardly stepped foot out of the fabulous Island House at all. So. JMG meetup at Fort Lauderdale's Alibi tonight?

Menu Of Services

Naturally, I pondered the grammar more than anything else.

Afternoon View - Bourbon Street Pub

In what has become a nationally televised tradition, on New Year's Eve the Bourbon Street Pub will lower local drag star Sushi in a giant red pump.

Morning View - Island House Poolside

It's still a bit early for last night's hard-partying crowd, so we more responsible adults are enjoying some relative solitude. Yeah. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Gawd, that moon is bright.

A Room With A View

Submitted Without Comment

Afternoon View - Porky's Seafood Shack

On Marathon Key, we've stopped at our usual on-the-way to Key West spot for conch fritters, oysters, and pulled pork. That's Father Tony in the shadows with the pig. (That sentence may also apply at other times in the coming week.)

Morning View - Fort Lauderdale Beach

Father Tony and I are about to embark on a trip across the gorgeous Overseas Highway on our way to gay gay gay Key West, where you can expect a week of slightly drunken poolside blogging from the lovely Island House. Our fourth visit in about 18 months!