[{"_createdAt":"2024-11-25T21:57:29Z","body":[{"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Let’s face it: As great as the holiday season can be, there are aspects of it that often","_key":"f1025c22fc360","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" trigger anxiety and stress","_key":"ea917118c701"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". And usually, there’s not an ","_key":"0abbe8ab7c21"},{"_type":"span","marks":["06cd93b420cf"],"text":"opportunity","_key":"f1025c22fc361"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" to sneak away for some meditation or yoga.","_key":"f1025c22fc362"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e583f68f75a8","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.npr.org/2024/11/22/g-s1-35435/techniques-reduce-stress-holiday-travel-anxiety","_key":"06cd93b420cf"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Fortunately, experts say a few simple steps can help refocus your mind and clear out confusing or negative thoughts even in the most irritating situations. Here are a few of the most common holiday stressors and how you can minimize their impact on your mood:","_key":"ad302138e2530"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"2f0c15842b2d"},{"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"Running behind schedule","_key":"d45700af00080","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": Holiday travel can be frustrating enough on its own, but if you get stuck in traffic, need to pull off the interstate for a bathroom visit, or run into some other delay it can turn into a nightmare. If that happens to you, though, simply forcing your face to smile can send a direct message to your brain that there’s no need to become anxious.","_key":"64085bd1f7d0"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"23211c50ee66","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[]},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"809d422aaa36","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"Last-minute responsibilities","_key":"b9d4f574a9c20","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": So much work goes into hosting a holiday gathering … and if you get stuck with those chores without enough time to prepare, it might be easy to blow a gasket. But simply singing a happy song or even using a silly voice to describe the stressful situation might be enough to snap you out of that funk and get you focused on the tasks at hand.","_key":"86ac821b68da"}]},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"5e435f1c94c6","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Fighting on the highway","_key":"dfe754c7cbc20"},{"text":": Road trips sometimes bring out the worst in families, particularly after hours stuck inside a small vehicle. If your loved ones begin arguing while you’re driving down the road, though, you can take steps to calm yourself (and then everybody else, hopefully) by taking deep breaths and prioritizing mindfulness.","_key":"99ab1654e8b5","_type":"span","marks":[]}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"These certainly aren’t all of the things that go wrong, but no matter the situation","_key":"c0a7f7c8b0870"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" there’s likely a simple technique","_key":"dc15e7b277df"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" that can help you manage the holiday stress.","_key":"ce52de6ac867"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"abecc4c61a3d"}],"image":{"attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"_id":"image-e8733e7ca9ea304d8f2f67532cb0fa3e240b52a5-480x270-gif","originalFilename":"0552086b-34d2-42a1-8df1-d2064d6397c8.gif","uploadId":"dEwkldV70VtYz3gQbpgEEyzKFCs9Hp5m","sha1hash":"e8733e7ca9ea304d8f2f67532cb0fa3e240b52a5","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/e8733e7ca9ea304d8f2f67532cb0fa3e240b52a5-480x270.gif","assetId":"e8733e7ca9ea304d8f2f67532cb0fa3e240b52a5","_createdAt":"2024-11-25T21:56:29Z","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","size":2251485,"_updatedAt":"2024-11-25T21:56:29Z","extension":"gif","metadata":{"_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"background":"#5f4033","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":3.73},"muted":{"population":3.12,"background":"#907569","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"lightVibrant":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.78,"background":"#be8a71","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"darkVibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":2,"background":"#6f100a","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"lightMuted":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":6.8,"background":"#d0bab4","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"vibrant":{"background":"#b62220","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":1.64},"dominant":{"background":"#d0bab4","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":6.8}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480,"aspectRatio":1.7777777777777777,"height":270},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"M3CF6bz;01t7Tc00_M%#9Zn4~WMwMx-;kX"},"_rev":"rfDRiN2sN83CYUw1bv3hbJ","source":{"name":"GIF by FOX TV","id":"hXO6eo9MrQ2Juhwqos","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/foxtv-hXO6eo9MrQ2Juhwqos"},"url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/e8733e7ca9ea304d8f2f67532cb0fa3e240b52a5-480x270.gif","mimeType":"image/gif"},"crop":{"right":0,"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop"},"hotspot":{"height":1,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.9520547945205478,"x":0.5,"y":0.5},"_type":"image"},"visibility":"true","_rev":"rfDRiN2sN83CYUw1bv3lrA","_type":"story","title":"These Stress-Busting Tips Might Come In Handy At Your Next Holiday Event","summary":"This can turn into a tense time of the year, but it doesn't have to. ","category":"travel","publishDate":"2024-11-26","_id":"0ef818b6-42a9-4dc0-b656-cd07763936c7","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"slug":"/story/2024/11/these-stressbusting-tips-might-come-in-handy-at-your-next-holiday-event","id":"0LyvnkXb","_updatedAt":"2024-11-25T21:57:29Z"},{"_rev":"WQPE94xQOPaayTATUv1Fwb","_type":"story","title":"UberXXL Is Offering Travelers The Most Spacious Airport Pickup Yet","summary":"It could mean one less worry the next time you have a flight to catch.","_id":"8c3ca415-4fa3-4f12-96c4-d05de1c0bafe","id":"RpMjMVua","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"slug":"/story/2024/11/uberxxl-is-offering-travelers-the-most-spacious-airport-pickup-yet","body":[{"style":"normal","_key":"2ca0fefac3af","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.theverge.com/2024/11/20/24300853/uberxxl-uber-app-new-update-features","_key":"6bf52b0e9e1f"}],"children":[{"_key":"87c60366a1130","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Whether you’re hauling bags and people to the airport for a flight or arriving after a trip with a ton of luggage in tow, there’s not much more frustrating than the "},{"_type":"span","marks":["6bf52b0e9e1f"],"text":"realization","_key":"87c60366a1131"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" that there’s not enough room for it all.","_key":"87c60366a1132"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But you can make sure everything has its place if you grab a ride from Uber’s latest option.","_key":"f81511eec3e60"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4c44f63d1a43"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Adding another X","_key":"3b9256d006590"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ab18375ea549"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"While UberXL already offered rides for up to six people, the company determined that there’s a market for even bigger vehicles — thus, UberXXL was created. With an emphasis on ","_key":"99d8780b6b6d0"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"packing in as many passengers and bags","_key":"4a616f4fdfec","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" as possible, the service is only available for rides to and from an airport.","_key":"f4375d1fbb00"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"641c90e4e42f"},{"_key":"f3b58bfddf3e","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"That would seem to suggest that Uber has determined a need among airline travelers that the market hadn’t been adequately meeting. And it further segments the range of services offered on the ride-share company’s app.","_key":"27c64b768b7e0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ac7340e43e8c","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"For now, UberXXL is only available at ","_key":"904101ac7be40"},{"_key":"a727e11676d5","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"60 airports around the world"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". If successful in those markets, we could see the number of options start to grow.","_key":"fa4316d83623"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"547231dc0849","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"bc28d33576050","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Something for everyone"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The launch of UberXXL is a nod to the customization that the ride-sharing industry (among others) have been able to achieve through technology. Cab companies famously presented ","_key":"cc1d46e628230"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"a one-size-fits-all transportation solution","_key":"5981100c466d"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" and, unless you could afford a limo, there wasn’t much you could do about it.","_key":"7fedc85f6759"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3d3ec944f8eb"},{"_key":"eb3a48e7ff8c","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Uber, on the other hand, allows riders to customize the experience they want based on a variety of factors. As for UberXXL, rides are expected to cost more than UberXL but less than the luxury Uber Black option.","_key":"cfff6dcf64460","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c473782e9ea9","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And it’s not the only airport-focused service the company has launched. Earlier this year,","_key":"4643c603b0430"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" Uber Shuttle debuted in New York","_key":"8f3aeca7e767","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", allowing passengers to reserve discounted seats on an airport-bound vehicle.","_key":"853b8e050f69"}]}],"_updatedAt":"2024-11-20T21:28:14Z","_createdAt":"2024-11-20T21:25:49Z","image":{"asset":{"uploadId":"4Yv7YXmWypGzm8j5TN4lHksTRJmSYvnV","_rev":"cCaI4pkvYcgN3yBp766VNs","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","_id":"image-a8879fc2994c3169e46ebddf3e78dd935a56adb9-480x270-gif","metadata":{"blurHash":"M99?^A$x000h~BoixBNHIp-V0dI.^Q=?9u","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"vibrant":{"population":0.08,"background":"#1f387c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"dominant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":10.47,"background":"#cea29b"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"background":"#2d3e65","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.61},"muted":{"title":"#fff","population":0.01,"background":"#94544e","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"lightVibrant":{"population":0,"background":"#94aae4","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff"},"darkVibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":10.13,"background":"#1d2f5f","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"lightMuted":{"background":"#cea29b","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":10.47}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"width":480,"aspectRatio":1.7777777777777777,"height":270,"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions"},"isOpaque":true},"source":{"name":"Los Angeles Airport GIF by FOX TV","id":"nnzYNhvcfwopvvjawe","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/foxtv-fox-family-guy-lax-nnzYNhvcfwopvvjawe"},"size":519247,"originalFilename":"5336c7e3-8e7d-41bd-adfb-5ac632b403de.gif","extension":"gif","mimeType":"image/gif","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/a8879fc2994c3169e46ebddf3e78dd935a56adb9-480x270.gif","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/a8879fc2994c3169e46ebddf3e78dd935a56adb9-480x270.gif","_createdAt":"2024-11-20T21:26:55Z","sha1hash":"a8879fc2994c3169e46ebddf3e78dd935a56adb9","assetId":"a8879fc2994c3169e46ebddf3e78dd935a56adb9","_updatedAt":"2024-11-20T21:26:55Z"},"crop":{"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0,"left":0},"hotspot":{"height":1,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.9657534246575341,"x":0.5,"y":0.5},"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy"},"visibility":"true","publishDate":"2024-11-21","category":"travel"},{"visibility":"true","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"summary":"It might be another reason to plan a family trip to Florida.","title":"Explore The ‘Epic Universe’ Coming Soon To Orlando","_id":"29896189-31ff-42c9-99d9-5ee12f0bb79b","slug":"/story/2024/10/explore-the-epic-universe-coming-soon-to-orlando","_rev":"ttq6WwhcLQa5YLmqJwDorv","body":[{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"When it comes to theme park locations, Orlando, Florida, reigns supreme. And existing properties in the area continue introducing new features and resorts in a bid to maintain that constant influx of tourist cash.","_key":"a7aefb90112c0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"8b0dd72032f7"},{"markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/17/24272653/universal-orlando-epic-universe-harry-potter-nintendo-opening-day","_key":"51beb168e003"}],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"But there’s one ","_key":"374a34992b180","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["51beb168e003"],"text":"expansion","_key":"374a34992b181"},{"marks":[],"text":" set to be unveiled in May that is significant even by Orlando standards.","_key":"374a34992b182","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"47f13408eb74"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"More than the mouse","_key":"0bc795924ed70"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ce8732a2ff01","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Walt Disney World might be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Orlando theme parks, but","_key":"b46de7ba450a0"},{"text":" Mickey’s chief rival ","_key":"2e53f12bfae8","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"marks":[],"text":"continues to attract an enviable number of guests to its resort each year.","_key":"273f84da5ef2","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"28653ae7f4d7"},{"children":[{"text":"Now, Universal Orlando is preparing for a brand new network of parks under an umbrella it calls “Epic Universe,” appealing to a wide-ranging and diverse crowd. Here’s what we know so far about the five distinct but connected new properties:","_key":"348dbeae58ce0","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7df3bb52701d","markDefs":[]},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Celestial Park ","_key":"4207c83c45790"},{"marks":[],"text":"is the hub, offering a hotel and shops","_key":"fbfab572df33","_type":"span"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"76dee5f3b22e"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"95c31b77b2e3","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Super Nintendo World ","_key":"4dd65105dc1e0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"takes Super Mario fans to some familiar places","_key":"84c17ea73f2c"}],"level":1},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Harry Potter Park ","_key":"32792a5417110"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"brings the franchise’s Ministry of Magic to life","_key":"bdb1ecbc6ee9"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c6e0e1e25d48"},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"74dc8e19ad67","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Dark Universe World","_key":"3f4f2494e6e20"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" is an ode to classic movie monsters","_key":"b6550e62e991"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"The Isle of Berk ","_key":"978815d125a20","_type":"span"},{"text":"presents the world of How To Train Your Dragon","_key":"46435495027e","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7b4b34a395b0","listItem":"bullet"},{"_key":"c0bb74d47aec","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Whether you’re a superfan who plans to spend an entire vacation in one park or an explorer with plans to cover as much ground as possible, Epic Universe seems to be Universal’s effort to provide a little something for everyone.","_key":"93f4a76a98fd0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"da94f06dc124","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Preparing for the rush","_key":"affe0d44c3b10","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_key":"4dd4f638c40c0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"As it stands, Epic Universe won’t begin welcoming guests for at least"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" six months at the earliest","_key":"7b0448438cae"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". But there’s still plenty of buzz as new details emerge about the rides and attractions that are expected to be included in the resort.","_key":"5eb9bd8f393d"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"412979a95925","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"If this “epic” adventure sounds appealing, you can be among the first to grab your tickets when they go on sale starting Tuesday.","_key":"c057231f444c0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"67438c353445"}],"image":{"crop":{"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0},"hotspot":{"x":0.5,"y":0.5,"height":0.9559022401661994,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":1},"_type":"image","attribution":"Video screenshot/Universal Orlando Resort","asset":{"_id":"image-b69e4016aab9c18a57b15deae432d38e239d6d64-1010x796-png","extension":"png","mimeType":"image/png","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/b69e4016aab9c18a57b15deae432d38e239d6d64-1010x796.png","size":1194252,"_createdAt":"2024-10-17T22:04:56Z","metadata":{"lqip":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAABQAAAAQCAYAAAAWGF8bAAAACXBIWXMAABYlAAAWJQFJUiTwAAAEJElEQVQ4jR3MW09aBwDA8fMZli1ZstbUtiKClYpaLoJ4REAuh4sgtwMcBMSWm4AoupaiWC2uRa3ruqVt1jTZJVuztd2ydHtZtuxxH+q/dA+/159wfXWf8eweKqXLsHwbdSCHKJrwW9WYzDNYFpzIPicJn4vlgJ/V8AIxmwq9XsMlMcSQr8hlqciEVGA2kEeQan081SNspUP0az300XVcDgthUcuCzYjH66USddOIOshHPKxHRBLzoximxxlzRBgP3UIXusVMaB3LchGh2HlE8c4pyu6AYLPPklIi4ptDcetISjaqq3GO6zIPqxF28yHqiQWyi2MsmiaweiIsJUr45TKeRAlHvIRQv/+UraMv2Tl8TGn3PgklSz5kZmNZTzvt4Lie4aSVY9BI06/GuJNdpOS9xvKclmXPEo3VAr1SmcZambhSRWj3v6B7/xGHhwO2tnZRYn4KPj3l0BTttJ176yG6OT+drMRe0U87Y6fg0REyq4jbjewpcc5LeTqFPIVMAaF/74BB7y6DTptOLU8lJnIzMMla2EBFnqeVnKMenKIi6anFZyklbSTdk0imEaI2Hc0VD7uZGOXECrnoCsLrxwe8Od/j2/4mZ5sytxWRRuwG9aSRVtpMK6anJqmpeEepR3TU4zPkJB1h2yhx8Rql8CK1TIxiRqaQkRH+fnHEn88PePWgwXk7QXfdyXbaxFZCTzuqYzs8TjOooREYoxXU0AppKPvGSNvfhxoy3lly8SCr2TRKTkH47UmHHwdNvurmebAV4ajm5lPFzGZ4gp2wjm7cQC9lYT9p4XZkhqZPS3lplFvuMfLOMZIOHZmASC4RIJuJIXx/VOKsFeXehp/jppfjsp29lIED2cDTmpufuzJv97K82k3zciPMiSKyE9DRkrQ0JS0FlxbFPU0+YOVm0o1wUpXYjJtoJg301qz0FAP9lJFv2iH+elzm3+eb/POoyu+9PL/eyfBdM0I/ZWVLGqfl11Byq4laRwiaVciO6wgl/yTK4ig3vRq2Y5PsRCZ4oFh4ta/w9qzB29Mabz4r8XInxUnRS1cWqUhTrDtU1NwjlN0qwsaLiNqPcUxcQIhZrpKYvUTeMUI1OE7Np+FuzMjpxjIPt9Ocbqd41snxsBKh7DcSnlXh0l8kYrzAmn2YdedVIoYLiOoPMV/9CCFlHiJjHiJpu0LaqWbNrqLp0dGJ29jPODhadTEo+tmXnVRdU+SsY8imK2Qtw6zODxOfG8Y//Qnu8Q9ZUH+AUHFqWBNVhC0qJIua7Nwod92TnEfmeJZc4IW8yNeykycrIqcBC2eBWU5CZnrBaQp2Ne4bl3HphwhOXfifsBudp+Y3k1ycIWTTkxf1DCQTP8UXeJdy8sd7soN3CTu/ROd5HZ3nh/g8n0etlFxT+Iwa3DNqlo1qVsxa/gPEnY51sjMkfQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":1010,"aspectRatio":1.2688442211055277,"height":796},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"V8ELKW~V1*o#^+3FT0?Ixuoz0mE49]NbM|TIoIE1M|od","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"dominant":{"population":6.31,"background":"#9a8571","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":1.93,"background":"#604634"},"muted":{"title":"#fff","population":6.31,"background":"#9a8571","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"lightVibrant":{"background":"#e6bf8f","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":1.13},"darkVibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":0.06,"background":"#7d4413","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"lightMuted":{"population":0.07,"background":"#b1aea3","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff"},"vibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":0.01,"background":"#bc5434","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"}},"hasAlpha":true},"uploadId":"J6nRs6u9oiZlQtvS7sWeN90vISI5y6TZ","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/b69e4016aab9c18a57b15deae432d38e239d6d64-1010x796.png","assetId":"b69e4016aab9c18a57b15deae432d38e239d6d64","originalFilename":"Screenshot 2024-10-17 at 6.04.31 PM.png","_rev":"9SSXMCikZwE1IoOhG3nryd","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","sha1hash":"b69e4016aab9c18a57b15deae432d38e239d6d64","_updatedAt":"2024-10-17T22:04:56Z"}},"_type":"story","publishDate":"2024-10-18","_updatedAt":"2024-10-17T22:06:21Z","_createdAt":"2024-10-17T22:02:22Z","id":"oNVNSURQ","category":"travel"},{"publishDate":"2024-09-20","title":"A Major Cruise Line Is Ready To Book Vacations To The Moon … Well, Not Exactly","body":[{"_key":"55846de90797","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/cruise-moon-norwegian-reveals-ship-140414908.html","_key":"62587539ae31"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Amid the recent advancements within the private space travel industry, it seems as if it will only be a matter of time before ordinary folks will be able to take ","_key":"05ea992014060"},{"_type":"span","marks":["62587539ae31"],"text":"trips","_key":"05ea992014061"},{"marks":[],"text":" into Earth’s orbit or beyond. But if you can’t wait until then, Norwegian Cruise Lines might have the next best thing.","_key":"05ea992014062","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4dc9fdace236","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Aqua and Luna","_key":"9387798812c20"}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"9f0b2d9a74f1","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"The name of the cruise line’s new moon-themed ship is, appropriately enough, the Norwegian Luna. And even though it stays in the water like any of the company’s other vessels, it’s clear that its designers had an out-of-this-world vision.","_key":"bfeef010deba0","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"For starters, there’s a massive mural extending well over 1,000 feet that Norwegian says depicts “humanity’s deep-rooted ","_key":"de9401a18ffe0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"connection with the celestial forces","_key":"87ad48123cd5"},{"_key":"802de4b9a71f","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in space as human beings are intrinsically linked to the ebb and flow of the moon.”"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"182915283f66","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"488d4c5403b5","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Norwegian Cruise Line President David J. Herrera offered his own celebratory reaction to the forthcoming ship.","_key":"cfb05b5fe0550","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“Inspired by the relationship between the moon and the tides of the ocean, we are excited to introduce Norwegian luna as the vessel that perfectly complements her sister ship, Norwegian Aqua. “The debut of Norwegian Luna truly showcases our ongoing commitment to providing guests ","_key":"02a91224ea940"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"more of what they enjoy and value","_key":"5684b3ded4b9"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" — a brand-new ship with the latest, innovative offerings sailing to the beautiful, tropical destinations of the Caribbean.”","_key":"e7c27e84f9eb"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"2059497f2ed6"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Bon voyage","_key":"89ac323215990"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b2f612edb4ce"},{"style":"normal","_key":"7cd8ad20854a","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"badd42ec89dc0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Although you might not actually experience weightlessness, Norwegian says there’s plenty about this cruise that will"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" thrill and delight passengers","_key":"49749eb6b261"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" when it sets off for its maiden journey — expected to be in April 2026.","_key":"90de33b8e0bb"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Here are some highlights:","_key":"9fe4bf878a9d0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"8c49e297b676"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"3,550 ","_key":"482517c146be0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"maximum occupancy","_key":"a2c9687b9f0b"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b1d4dddb9e09","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"e8e3e4d76446","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A combination ","_key":"073010b8f9060"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"water slide-roller coaster","_key":"274cef11d7f9"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A 10-story ","_key":"ffa74fc280dc0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"free-fall slide","_key":"c201f6f17ee8"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"64ef91ac957e"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Along with the fine dining and nightlife travelers expect from a luxury cruise, the Norwegian Luna represents a new take on a time-tested form of travel.","_key":"15cc168c0ad00"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a10a5206618a","markDefs":[]}],"author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_id":"e151ce42-aa28-4936-9696-992257046b4f","_updatedAt":"2024-09-19T20:31:41Z","visibility":"true","image":{"_type":"image","attribution":"YouTube screenshot/Norwegian Cruise Line","asset":{"_rev":"Hgpl2qr1Y4XHiGzseag6g7","mimeType":"image/png","assetId":"15a90215daa4b151110ad7718e2d6eeb73d97d4f","_createdAt":"2024-09-19T20:30:11Z","_updatedAt":"2024-09-19T20:30:11Z","uploadId":"xLn4loig7G4LbrVSPoHdSJS7MZ16Czba","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/15a90215daa4b151110ad7718e2d6eeb73d97d4f-2032x1132.png","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/15a90215daa4b151110ad7718e2d6eeb73d97d4f-2032x1132.png","size":2518422,"_id":"image-15a90215daa4b151110ad7718e2d6eeb73d97d4f-2032x1132-png","originalFilename":"Screenshot 2024-09-19 at 4.29.47 PM.png","extension":"png","sha1hash":"15a90215daa4b151110ad7718e2d6eeb73d97d4f","metadata":{"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/png;base64,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","dimensions":{"aspectRatio":1.795053003533569,"height":1132,"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":2032},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"MpFFKls:jXf8WB~VoeoJjuWC-:j[a#a{fk","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"darkVibrant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.02,"background":"#5a1255","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"lightMuted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":11.65,"background":"#cec0b4"},"vibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":0.13,"background":"#ba8f54","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"dominant":{"background":"#cec0b4","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":11.65},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.18,"background":"#553831"},"muted":{"background":"#836f7c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.67},"lightVibrant":{"background":"#dcc5ae","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#000","population":1.14}}}},"crop":{"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0},"hotspot":{"width":0.8698630136986302,"x":0.5,"y":0.5,"height":1,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot"}},"category":"travel","_type":"story","slug":"/story/2024/09/a-major-cruise-line-is-ready-to-book-vacations-to-the-moon-well-not-exactly","_rev":"KRL8xHMQVCjHlmhLWSvQjz","id":"owxipAjc","_createdAt":"2024-09-19T20:25:43Z","summary":"Boarding this ship isn't as daunting as strapping into a spaceship. "},{"image":{"crop":{"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0},"hotspot":{"width":0.8561643835616437,"x":0.5,"y":0.5,"height":0.9945205479452055,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot"},"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"path":"images/8mioycse/v3/525c7ee927a71c677b198ffc1035362317c630bc-2560x1601.jpg","_createdAt":"2024-09-16T22:30:34Z","originalFilename":"COSTCO_gas_station.jpg","mimeType":"image/jpeg","size":1284608,"extension":"jpg","uploadId":"V4otUt2IjTBws9ns27aiqRBxT41zzalK","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","_id":"image-525c7ee927a71c677b198ffc1035362317c630bc-2560x1601-jpg","_updatedAt":"2024-09-16T22:30:34Z","metadata":{"_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"muted":{"background":"#8b8e71","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":1.97},"lightVibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.04,"background":"#d28495"},"darkVibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":12.32,"background":"#5b650c"},"lightMuted":{"population":0.09,"background":"#cb9fa2","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff"},"vibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":0.01,"background":"#c1b416","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"dominant":{"background":"#5b650c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":12.32},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":4.03,"background":"#696b37"}},"hasAlpha":false,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":2560,"aspectRatio":1.599000624609619,"height":1601},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"V9E{k7oa00-.IV00-:?Z9F%M4pIU%N.8WA-@NHM}xvRi"},"_rev":"hTmlDoHOHlWutOGYDNfP7H","sha1hash":"525c7ee927a71c677b198ffc1035362317c630bc","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/525c7ee927a71c677b198ffc1035362317c630bc-2560x1601.jpg","assetId":"525c7ee927a71c677b198ffc1035362317c630bc"}},"category":"travel","_rev":"rkCszy9rIDJ6V0kUgj3Pbl","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_updatedAt":"2024-09-16T22:32:17Z","visibility":"true","title":"Here’s How To Save Both Time And Money When Filling Up With Costco Gas","_id":"51d706db-b2d9-4d8c-94a8-6fdcc4de46d1","body":[{"markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://earlychirp.com/story/2024/09/do-you-have-a-costco-card-make-sure-youre-not-missing-out-on-these-benefits","_key":"a33e3d9f2667"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"If you read our recent ","_key":"e2d50cb8d04c0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["a33e3d9f2667"],"text":"article","_key":"e2d50cb8d04c1"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" about the not-so-obvious benefits of a Costco membership, you’ll recall that gasoline was on the list. Not only is it generally several cents cheaper per gallon than surrounding gas stations, but it’s also guaranteed to be certified as ","_key":"e2d50cb8d04c2"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"“top tier” petroleum","_key":"90716783a75b"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".","_key":"12135931666f"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"46419dceb322"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"507e793ac08a","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://finance.yahoo.com/news/getting-gas-costco-could-soon-123017056.html","_key":"f1e614f065ea"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And if you’ve been bypassing these pumps due to the long line of cars waiting to gas up, we’ve got some ","_key":"1b29e0ea5f8d0"},{"marks":["f1e614f065ea"],"text":"tips","_key":"1b29e0ea5f8d1","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" that might help you get in and out much quicker.","_key":"1b29e0ea5f8d2"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"5444b4b7d342","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"The CEO’s promise","_key":"009e5f201b4f0"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d0e0492759ba","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"During a recent earnings call, Costco CEO Ron Vachris referenced the frequent backups that plague fueling stations outside of warehouse locations nationwide.","_key":"3df68f21417f0"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"23776b5ada96","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"He reassured interested parties that part of his corporate vision for the club involves “","_key":"982ac8fa744f0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"gas expansions where those are needed","_key":"6639daf5557d"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".”","_key":"143b41dfdc70"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"There’s reason to believe that promise was more than just hollow words. Costco has been busy adding more pumps to its locations including Sacramento, California, and Rochester, New York.","_key":"d84b400920920"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b15032037e75"},{"children":[{"text":"In the meantime","_key":"6d9a2ba581420","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"9f7dbeb7e589","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"While you wait for your local Costco location to receive an expansion, there are a few things you can do to minimize the amount of time you spend waiting for a spot at the pump.","_key":"babb984e72f10","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"8ea66aefede1"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"77ce2c5a692c","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"5c9a487792930","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Show up late"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": Most gas customers are also there to shop, but some fueling stations remain open after the warehouse closes. The lines are typically shorter during these evening hours.","_key":"40748601b349"}],"level":1},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"bd6155563348","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Take a break","_key":"3d3bb79300800"},{"marks":[],"text":": If you can get away from your job during mid-morning weekday hours, you’ll probably find shorter-than-average lines at the Costco pumps.","_key":"78975ca43b37","_type":"span"}]},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Check the app","_key":"ab6bb640d9290"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": Costco’s app can do more than tell you what’s on the shelves. In some cases, it provides real-time tracking of gas pump data and can tell you approximately how long customers are waiting in line.","_key":"04bce9b41411"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"cc4b5723cd3a"}],"slug":"/story/2024/09/heres-how-to-save-both-time-and-money-when-filling-up-with-costco-gas","summary":"When it comes to finding the shortest lines, timing is everything.","_createdAt":"2024-09-16T22:27:58Z","publishDate":"2024-09-17","_type":"story","id":"UYWYwaNx"},{"_type":"story","_id":"1bd01385-e639-404c-9084-20069cf1c515","slug":"/story/2024/09/what-are-aparthotels-and-should-you-consider-booking-one-for-your-next-getaway","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"body":[{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Finding the right place to stay for a vacation or business trip can be a crapshoot. Big chain hotels might be consistent, but they often lack any original atmosphere. Boutique hotels can be kitschy and fun, but you never quite know what you’re going to get. And then there’s Airbnb, which has left more than a few guests frustrated by the additional fees and chores that often come along with the stay.","_key":"db1d74efdbe70"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b8424fceee54"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"But there’s another option","_key":"82046077cc270"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"bed968e2283c"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c431dfc6abb9","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/news/i-love-staying-at-aparthotels-for-solo-travel-they-combine-the-best-parts-of-hotels-and-airbnbs-/articleshow/113370432.cms","_key":"be11961bda3c"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"For those who have discovered the ","_key":"8024ee4a20cc0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["be11961bda3c"],"text":"appeal","_key":"8024ee4a20cc1"},{"text":" of so-called “aparthotels,” this form of accommodation seems to take ","_key":"8024ee4a20cc2","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"the best of all other options","_key":"d02fd4ce83a2"},{"marks":[],"text":" and combine them into one experience.","_key":"93cfcd1b5cb6","_type":"span"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The term itself is a portmanteau of the words “apartment” and “hotel,” which pretty well sums up what you can expect if you book one. According to a traveler who recently wrote about the joys of staying at an aparthotel, there’s plenty to love, including:","_key":"078c627469f60"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"94383adbf48b"},{"_key":"6b3a5acfd327","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"The ","_key":"d2b429f35f830","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_key":"34bdd8491cc3","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"security and safety"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" of a major hotel chain","_key":"3f4671d91a4a"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"8d4b4fe06433","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The ","_key":"202b3a8325940"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"unique amenities","_key":"4e9776993a2a"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" of a boutique resort","_key":"30d31423062c"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"a688fc6dd6f1","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The large,","_key":"75a47c4186080"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" fully furnished space","_key":"f31aa8eab761"},{"_key":"1023fc429325","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" of an Airbnb"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"b03bd1708884","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And as Aparthotels become more popular, there are new ones popping up in cities around the world.","_key":"ec93642a5cc20"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"d4e003752164","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Perfect for solo travelers","_key":"92d6bf80dbf90"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"48ce42214570","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Although couples, groups, and families could easily feel right at home in an aparthotel, some say it’s particularly well suited for those who are traveling alone.","_key":"03885ea77e580"}],"_type":"block"},{"_key":"d85d0a3fcc34","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It provides ","_key":"594f7f5ecc420"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"all of the household necessities","_key":"dbf8f6fee5e2"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" — from a comfy living room to a full kitchen — that a person would need while away from home. And the prices are generally within the same ballpark as hotels and other rentals in the same area.","_key":"768c80f79f19"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"They also generally include common areas where travelers (if they’re so inclined) can","_key":"1c04379670e50"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" hang out and meet other travelers","_key":"a8000b2103d3","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". With solo travel on the rise, it seems likely that the aparthotel industry will continue to grow.","_key":"74a429094786"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b6d48e2af791"}],"image":{"hotspot":{"y":0.5,"height":1,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.9178082191780819,"x":0.5},"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"metadata":{"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAALABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFwAAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUGB//EACQQAAEDAwQBBQAAAAAAAAAAAAECAxEABTEEBhMhEhY1QlFx/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwH/xAAYEQEBAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABABECA//aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8Ahb/vy2Xi86YMsOcDaIUTGfynG4bmzpNrsa+3qYS70VIiSR9Csb2iAby0CJzmr3Xe3vDqEgQIxSceZiyGpIvXrknmYHlPxPVFTLjSCtRKRmipEl//2Q==","dimensions":{"aspectRatio":1.7777777777777777,"height":270,"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"MKCizFxuE0%g%g~Vt7tSozkWw[NGkXRjM{","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"vibrant":{"background":"#b48144","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.39},"dominant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.09,"background":"#7a7685","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":5.79,"background":"#4b3644","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"muted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.09,"background":"#7a7685"},"lightVibrant":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#000","population":1.44,"background":"#eaead1","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"darkVibrant":{"population":0,"background":"#743c04","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"lightMuted":{"background":"#bebebb","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":5.69}},"hasAlpha":true},"_id":"image-eb858fabebc995109976d669ab3a37fdb6304f8f-480x270-gif","originalFilename":"771979e8-fd15-48ba-a494-2026de924c69.gif","mimeType":"image/gif","sha1hash":"eb858fabebc995109976d669ab3a37fdb6304f8f","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/eb858fabebc995109976d669ab3a37fdb6304f8f-480x270.gif","size":2193336,"uploadId":"Wtf8i1s4EeByoFmlRUNXfASpNRIbV7rE","_rev":"rkCszy9rIDJ6V0kUgZBgLB","_updatedAt":"2024-09-15T20:25:09Z","assetId":"eb858fabebc995109976d669ab3a37fdb6304f8f","_createdAt":"2024-09-15T20:25:09Z","extension":"gif","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","source":{"name":"This Way Work GIF by Wakelet","id":"jyPWfqzhit2HEBDymN","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/wakelet-open-door-stairs-jyPWfqzhit2HEBDymN"},"path":"images/8mioycse/v3/eb858fabebc995109976d669ab3a37fdb6304f8f-480x270.gif"},"crop":{"right":0,"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop"}},"title":"What Are Aparthotels And Should You Consider Booking One For Your Next Getaway?","category":"travel","_updatedAt":"2024-09-15T20:26:30Z","visibility":"true","_rev":"rkCszy9rIDJ6V0kUgZBknx","publishDate":"2024-09-16","id":"CzyCQnsm","summary":"Fans say they represent the best of hotels and Airbnb rentals. ","_createdAt":"2024-09-15T20:22:02Z"},{"_id":"f502a6b1-6a5a-4264-bb5d-2ecbd618a174","category":"travel","slug":"/story/2024/08/why-flying-can-dry-out-your-skin-and-what-you-can-do-to-prevent-it","image":{"hotspot":{"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.9554794520547945,"x":0.5,"y":0.5,"height":1},"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"uploadId":"AFBrk1LMQMa6z8GnDmy7VBcreklu7LTV","mimeType":"image/gif","_updatedAt":"2024-08-21T20:54:45Z","originalFilename":"8071ac13-8315-4ecd-a184-73bc9378d136.gif","source":{"name":"conan obrien GIF by Team Coco","id":"jVbSPim9yFR5lociIs","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/teamcoco-conan-obrien-jordan-schlansky-jVbSPim9yFR5lociIs"},"url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/cee9c556278ee8ce6fcf483639dfbb7cbf562ae4-500x247.gif","_createdAt":"2024-08-21T20:54:45Z","_id":"image-cee9c556278ee8ce6fcf483639dfbb7cbf562ae4-500x247-gif","metadata":{"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"MOC?u=x]VWnMtS?dx]Z~xCoz^~xtogt7fk","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"vibrant":{"background":"#e8f115","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#000","population":3.1},"dominant":{"population":7.51,"background":"#31261b","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":7.51,"background":"#31261b","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"muted":{"background":"#4e89a6","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":7.07},"lightVibrant":{"background":"#e8c8b2","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#000","population":0.03},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#756413","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.89},"lightMuted":{"background":"#b9b4a4","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":7.36}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":500,"aspectRatio":2.0242914979757085,"height":247}},"_type":"sanity.imageAsset","sha1hash":"cee9c556278ee8ce6fcf483639dfbb7cbf562ae4","extension":"gif","_rev":"xmLgxbZsNbaVAbq862UYmX","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/cee9c556278ee8ce6fcf483639dfbb7cbf562ae4-500x247.gif","size":767648,"assetId":"cee9c556278ee8ce6fcf483639dfbb7cbf562ae4"},"crop":{"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0}},"body":[{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b02f072341d1","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"There’s no shortage of frustrations when it comes to flying — securing a parking spot, finding your terminal, dealing with annoying passengers, looking for your luggage, etc. — so the impact it has on your skin might not be at the top of your list of concerns.","_key":"345c87fb5c440"}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"b4af61ca0c8e","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.nbcnews.com/select/shopping/best-in-flight-skin-care-rcna167560","_key":"3a3db541622d"}],"children":[{"text":"Nevertheless, taking a flight can","_key":"00b8e51a01450","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" take a toll on your skin","_key":"8aa0ffd7d1f1"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" … and fortunately, this is one ","_key":"e19c782b11f9"},{"marks":["3a3db541622d"],"text":"issue","_key":"00b8e51a01451","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" that’s easier to address than many of those other air travel irritations.","_key":"00b8e51a01452"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"Know the risks","_key":"bb28e17454f10","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"94633ae2eb50"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"18ef796d9b13","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Low humidity during flights can cause your skin to become dry and, in turn, trigger more oil production that could increase the chances of acne or other breakouts.","_key":"073a3fb677e60","_type":"span"}]},{"_key":"d6ffa5345bce","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Dermatologist Dr. Adriana Lombardi noted that simply the thought of navigating a crowded airport can also be enough to negatively affect your skin.","_key":"51ce8055c4190"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"745249f20774","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“The process of","_key":"91fee12bddee0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" flying can typically be stressful","_key":"96664282e004"},{"text":" for most and this can increase cortisol production,” she advised. “Cortisol can cause [an] increase in acne and other inflammation.”","_key":"8d9f71e6fdf4","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"3de1ae23c90b","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"b5a5afe354b20","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And those who regularly experience dryness or other skin issues might be even more acutely impacted by the effects of flying."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"children":[{"_key":"4d8063b549ff0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Know the remedies"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"49c1e03b56a6","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"A few simple steps can help anyone reduce the risk of developing irritated or dry skin during a flight. Experts recommend:","_key":"26fefcca8f4b0","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0bfa2b071a07"},{"style":"normal","_key":"c2bd96f15ec3","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Stick to water ","_key":"ea393021d6d40","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"instead of wine or soda","_key":"ba74cd9d32ab"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" while in the air, and drink plenty of it.","_key":"9dfff501009f"}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Opt for ","_key":"19a1fc74c5570","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"text":"fresh produce","_key":"27a071d88573","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"marks":[],"text":" as a snack instead of salty, processed foods.","_key":"d555f311636e","_type":"span"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"2dd608e84a85","listItem":"bullet"},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"5a2ad209f33b","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Forgo makeup that ","_key":"8ab0bcbd34fa0"},{"_key":"e10d037041cd","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"might clog your pores"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" and choose a moisturizing product.","_key":"5002308e60fd"}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"7c836ef020ce","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"While there are a lot of products on the market that claim to protect against skin dryness, dermatologists say","_key":"1cc788ee639e0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" some work better than others","_key":"3fc18c63001b"},{"_key":"a74102a74011","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" — particularly during longer flights."}],"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"d850405d6a7c","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Relatively inexpensive products like Curology Barrier Balm and Holy Hydration! Hydrating Coconut Mist from e.l.f. Cosmetics, and good old Vaseline Healing Jelly are among their recommendations.","_key":"d1f724f7e9e60"}],"_type":"block"}],"title":"Why Flying Can Dry Out Your Skin And What You Can Do To Prevent It","summary":"It's one of the many frustrations associated with air travel.","publishDate":"2024-08-22","id":"YY23bYRq","_type":"story","visibility":"true","_rev":"5tvoSqw8xdi3wL38xSRrKu","_createdAt":"2024-08-21T20:53:24Z","author":{"_type":"reference","_ref":"phCNL32Gn"},"_updatedAt":"2024-08-21T20:56:21Z"},{"body":[{"_key":"1891bc10958c","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.nbcnews.com/business/travel/budget-summer-travel-flights-hotels-rcna163868","_key":"faed71ef448d"}],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Fall is around the corner and school is getting started across the U.S., but that doesn’t mean you can’t still plan a last-minute vacation. And if you’re a little ","_key":"ade02115f52e0","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["faed71ef448d"],"text":"flexible","_key":"ade02115f52e1"},{"_key":"ade02115f52e2","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", chances are you can plan a getaway that won’t break the bank."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"176bd49834ad","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"Where to find the best deals","_key":"b99042a5c3a30","_type":"span"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"You probably remember some of the horror stories in the months after COVID-19 lockdowns were lifted. People were flocking to airports in droves to make up for the fact that they’d been cooped up in their homes for more than a year.","_key":"f3a4757043c20"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"5cc0c737a259"},{"style":"normal","_key":"8fb24bdd0407","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"This fueled higher prices while also causing widespread flight delays and complications. But that boom appears to have fizzled out, and now travel-related industries are hoping to attract business by slashing prices.","_key":"178c7a7247840"}],"_type":"block"},{"_key":"712b1e3486e2","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Airline tickets are between ","_key":"9c87e1071e950"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"5% and 6% cheaper","_key":"34f75159d26a"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", on average, than they were last year","_key":"a4151c7376e1"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Auto rental prices have also ","_key":"e3a391d7bff30"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"dropped by roughly 6%","_key":"6509df5b1ea6"},{"marks":[],"text":" during the same period","_key":"2fb082db44ff","_type":"span"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f7e51d414631","listItem":"bullet"},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"aa6deff3a4460","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Hotels haven’t really gotten cheaper, but the average room price "},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"hasn’t gone up","_key":"b0eefbb8a381"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"cf30dab00df5"},{"style":"normal","_key":"e0ddd4a7f4f6","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And these are just the averages. If you know how to game the system, you can take advantage of some even bigger savings.","_key":"8c2a034370a00"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Don’t be afraid to be impulsive","_key":"50244abcbef60"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"48f3ee94d708","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"5891c4f6efdc","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"d943b12198130","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Even though weeks or months of anticipation before a vacation can be fun, it’s also exciting (and surprisingly affordable) to plan a last-minute getaway."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Given the current market situation, airlines and other industries are offering ","_key":"8220be967d480","_type":"span"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"deep discounts, free upgrades, and other extras","_key":"990d7cc075ce","_type":"span"},{"text":" to those who can fill openings on short notice.","_key":"2f362355866d","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"57d6914b8c02","markDefs":[]},{"children":[{"text":"In addition to reduced airfare or car rental rates, savvy shoppers can score nicer rooms, comped meals, and other perks by renting vacant hotel rooms.","_key":"65c021bebf4c0","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"adef8eb8d0b7","markDefs":[]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"bc1f40253d0b","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A travel agent can help find some of these benefits, but you can also","_key":"e669c740184b0"},{"text":" do your own research","_key":"51bf7c885bb2","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" with various online services like Google Flights that identify the lowest prices available.","_key":"4a5538aa1401"}]}],"author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"image":{"hotspot":{"height":0.9269406392694064,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.9315068493150683,"x":0.4982876712328767,"y":0.5365296803652968},"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"_rev":"nGVGpqymM9rmqMoU4EI9IQ","source":{"name":"Traveling Season 3 GIF by Broad City","id":"3o6nUYKzUwcW3mDgqI","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/broadcity-season-3-episode-9-3o6nUYKzUwcW3mDgqI"},"size":726932,"_id":"image-91737d8c5768f38d7ce5aa8db6bd9f3ddd370ea7-480x270-gif","extension":"gif","metadata":{"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"width":480,"aspectRatio":1.7777777777777777,"height":270,"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions"},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"M8BzOYH=MxyYtRu6M{Mw-ptRW9RPjFoIoe","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"darkMuted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":5.44,"background":"#604f35"},"muted":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":3.19,"background":"#937b63","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"lightVibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0,"background":"#dfaa9a"},"darkVibrant":{"population":0.01,"background":"#4c2418","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"lightMuted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#000","population":2.5,"background":"#bbd0d6"},"vibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":0,"background":"#c15b3d","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"dominant":{"background":"#604f35","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":5.44},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette"},"hasAlpha":true},"uploadId":"wbXMGUOHFrZW2nqrd3bLL91OCKr4RX5w","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/91737d8c5768f38d7ce5aa8db6bd9f3ddd370ea7-480x270.gif","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/91737d8c5768f38d7ce5aa8db6bd9f3ddd370ea7-480x270.gif","_createdAt":"2024-08-11T19:56:15Z","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","assetId":"91737d8c5768f38d7ce5aa8db6bd9f3ddd370ea7","originalFilename":"e8c414bb-47f4-456a-8125-62a9c7f78e4b.gif","mimeType":"image/gif","sha1hash":"91737d8c5768f38d7ce5aa8db6bd9f3ddd370ea7","_updatedAt":"2024-08-11T19:56:15Z"},"crop":{"right":0,"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop"}},"_createdAt":"2024-08-11T19:57:20Z","publishDate":"2024-08-12","id":"0ZfyOmVR","summary":"You can pack your bags for a last-minute getaway for less than you might think.","_type":"story","_updatedAt":"2024-08-11T19:57:20Z","category":"travel","title":"The Time Might Be Right To Book A Cost-Cutting Summer Getaway","_id":"67a41723-2c25-432c-ba01-36c39a78bee7","visibility":"true","_rev":"nGVGpqymM9rmqMoU4EIFHO","slug":"/story/2024/08/the-time-might-be-right-to-book-a-costcutting-summer-getaway"},{"id":"kXmaUcdN","publishDate":"2024-08-05","body":[{"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Like a handful of other global brands, Starbucks has become ubiquitous across the U.S. and around the world. In some locations, two or more of the chain’s cafes are located within walking distance of each other.","_key":"6f3816f888b60","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4104ef43a6a9","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://slate.com/life/2024/08/starbucks-coffee-stores-starbucking-winter-travel.html?via=rss","_key":"54964a6c9086"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"If you’re a fan of the company, you probably have your favorite beverage, location, and barista … but you might think that there’s ","_key":"bd8d95b0d57c0"},{"_key":"2da7d0912a11","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"not that much difference "},{"_key":"f3d97f8ed7b9","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"from one Starbucks to another. But one uniquely focused "},{"_type":"span","marks":["54964a6c9086"],"text":"globetrotter","_key":"bd8d95b0d57c1"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" has been proving that assumption false for nearly 30 years.","_key":"bd8d95b0d57c2"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"eabacc71e785"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"05a839670bf0","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"4614188fb3c40","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Winter’s tale"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"6e40d81d85e0","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Since 1997, a resourceful tourist named Winter has been pursuing his goal of visiting every Starbucks on the planet. So far, he has made it to locations in every U.S. state and 70 nations for a total of 19,511 cafes and counting.","_key":"8a1fde2995c90"}]},{"_key":"fe2a1fef6ae1","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"On the surface, it might seem that Winter is","_key":"802667f7183b0","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_key":"b9933613a5c4","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" simply a superfan "},{"_key":"855ccf701baa","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"of the brand. And while that might be true, there’s something deeper driving his mission."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Instead of visiting destinations in search of instantly recognizable landmarks, he sets out to explore Starbucks, offering him a different and more intimate look at local communities.","_key":"48be0382ccac0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"fca645ecd75b"},{"style":"normal","_key":"fafdca02c50f","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Not only does he get to experience the lives that locals lead in a much more direct way than most traditional tourists, he also sees the","_key":"3cdbdee96b3d0"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" unique amenities and menu items","_key":"756db802b9a8","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" Starbucks offers around the world.","_key":"ad96a6868fc7"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Facing challenges","_key":"4fd74427da630"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"bd2f027b240e","markDefs":[]},{"children":[{"text":"Now in his early 50s, Winter acknowledges that he’ll","_key":"4805fb3f74fe0","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" have to start slowing down","_key":"0dca31704d4b"},{"text":" at some point even though he wants to keep exploring Starbucks for decades to come. And with new locations opening up all the time, it’s unlikely that he’ll ever be able to cross every cafe off his list.","_key":"0a81702eb3a1","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c4cccc1591de","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But he continues his mission,","_key":"e6d64da05cda0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" living a nomadic life","_key":"2c20743ed1a0"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in pursuit of new Starbucks adventures and a glimpse into the way various communities experience the brand.","_key":"9b4239e353d0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"65af834c7a7a"}],"_updatedAt":"2024-08-04T18:16:24Z","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_type":"story","title":"One Man’s Mission To Visit Nearly 20,000 Starbucks Locations (So Far)","summary":"It's about a lot more than just ordering another cup of coffee. ","category":"travel","_createdAt":"2024-08-04T18:16:24Z","_id":"6cab60da-2725-4f76-94d3-8fc64a652c75","visibility":"true","image":{"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"uploadId":"lireE6n3gTUmjKmKVNyveYfQXi5tbrfu","assetId":"4ba06b1a9225d27fcc8eed199c7e8465b22300c8","_rev":"CvG3B19wIuU4FmKGz7sedT","sha1hash":"4ba06b1a9225d27fcc8eed199c7e8465b22300c8","source":{"name":"starbucks GIF","id":"KI2fJqtsBhwkw","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/forever-starbucks-KI2fJqtsBhwkw"},"url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/4ba06b1a9225d27fcc8eed199c7e8465b22300c8-480x270.gif","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/4ba06b1a9225d27fcc8eed199c7e8465b22300c8-480x270.gif","size":165322,"extension":"gif","metadata":{"_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"vibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":0.02,"background":"#c5744a","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"dominant":{"population":8.05,"background":"#52432c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"background":"#52432c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":8.05},"muted":{"population":7.36,"background":"#998c79","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"lightVibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":0.63,"background":"#d9a578","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"darkVibrant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.05,"background":"#663d1b","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"lightMuted":{"background":"#cdb79e","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":1.2}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480,"aspectRatio":1.7777777777777777,"height":270},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"MAG+8c~q4;00NH00V@%M%MM{00t7Ri?bsp"},"originalFilename":"dc203fcc-48cc-46c3-8f9d-570fa1f1de72.gif","_createdAt":"2023-05-14T23:10:43Z","_id":"image-4ba06b1a9225d27fcc8eed199c7e8465b22300c8-480x270-gif","_updatedAt":"2023-05-14T23:10:43Z","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","mimeType":"image/gif"},"crop":{"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0,"left":0},"hotspot":{"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.9109589041095888,"x":0.5,"y":0.5,"height":1}},"slug":"/story/2024/08/one-mans-mission-to-visit-nearly-20000-starbucks-locations-so-far","_rev":"6GzFPQhhvK4puPB5r1d1Cd"},{"visibility":"true","category":"travel","body":[{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Security checks, pre-boarding hassles, crowded seats, layovers, and countless other annoyances can make commercial flight a chore. But it’s still the fastest — and often most economical — way to travel long distances.","_key":"34b8c1965f270"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e310729caeaa"},{"markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://finance.yahoo.com/news/best-worst-u-airlines-according-131300565.html","_key":"c99a2630a71a"}],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"So if you’re planning a flight, you might want to know which carriers are likeliest to provide the best experience … and now there’s a handy ","_key":"c83fe30bdaed0","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["c99a2630a71a"],"text":"guide","_key":"c83fe30bdaed1"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" to help you make your choice.","_key":"c83fe30bdaed2"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"39e22ff91766"},{"_key":"489c2c1f20db","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"An array of options","_key":"c1c691aa155d0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Passengers have an abundance of choices these days, with some airlines prioritizing price, others promising comfort and convenience, and a few that ","_key":"016eae3767560","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_key":"7084c4612005","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"seem to offer it all"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".","_key":"af41e60f0abc"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"49a6e6e97b20"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Depending on your priorities, there might not be a perfect carrier, but a review of complaints filed with the Department of Transportation resulted in a list of the best (and worst) airlines currently taking off from U.S. airports.","_key":"b722c8ddee880"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b5b271284262"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But first, let’s take a look at all the data:","_key":"87729b12d2180"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ca1bd7e6539d"},{"style":"normal","_key":"e3611d79844a","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"U.S. airlines received a combined","_key":"b857c814fd4f0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" 61,233 complaints","_key":"491b8ac9ea5a"},{"marks":[],"text":" during 2023","_key":"dc6155364286","_type":"span"}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"c259bd5944a4","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"That’s","_key":"11a7235de7690","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" nearly 29% more","_key":"a3132359c181"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" than the 47,600 complaints filed the previous year","_key":"5f5164512f88"}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The number of passengers rose by","_key":"e19e5907fc0e0"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" less than half","_key":"740b17337b5c","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" that percentage","_key":"c356e7a7dfea"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3e2b426a83ac","listItem":"bullet"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"So it seems that things are getting worse, and we’ve all seen reports of delays, cancellations, and midair mishaps recently. Some carriers, however, have managed to keep complaints to a minimum.","_key":"d7c20c8236d30"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"826d5acc2a79"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f04c7a846f8d","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"The best of the bunch","_key":"cd6503fbabb70"}]},{"_key":"466c0aff3055","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Based on the number of complaints per 100,000 passengers, one airline ","_key":"527f318e6e130","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"text":"came out on top","_key":"fa0ee43e6671","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". Alaska Airlines registered just 2.34 last year.","_key":"228c2b56fb1b"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Some larger carriers","_key":"8bd13aeee7d30","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" also fared pretty well","_key":"c86b6c15bbc9"},{"_key":"ba0502f7a7ca","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", including Delta (3.64 per 100,000) and Southwest (3.61 per 100,000)."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"01c96e6bce9d"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"On the","_key":"7667d19ee0860"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" other end of the scale","_key":"6413b1ad1744"},{"_key":"5e399274a723","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" is Frontier, which came in at just under 33 complaints per 100,000 passengers — far more than others near the bottom of the list, like Spirit Airlines (14.76) and JetBlue (13.32)."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"57ee5a4b4425"}],"_createdAt":"2024-07-11T20:20:23Z","id":"znIZNXkZ","_type":"story","title":"This Guide Might Make Your Next Flight A Little More Bearable","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_rev":"LzMMAw2NHFv7raLqEPpCAt","_id":"af0e6d6d-b0f7-4290-bc0c-112c92e4b28e","_updatedAt":"2024-07-11T20:20:23Z","summary":"Choosing the right carrier can make all the difference.","publishDate":"2024-07-12","slug":"/story/2024/07/this-guide-might-make-your-next-flight-a-little-more-bearable","image":{"attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"extension":"gif","source":{"url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/happy-great-cheering-2Yd459wzKW9NtkNCAS","name":"happy well done GIF","id":"2Yd459wzKW9NtkNCAS"},"url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/67ec2bf8095d40389862b18d734051bd1f9453aa-480x356.gif","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/67ec2bf8095d40389862b18d734051bd1f9453aa-480x356.gif","size":838947,"originalFilename":"2a931e0f-6bd0-4a7f-b360-a2b37cd52430.gif","_rev":"EGzH5Zkj3c2UqNSeo1offh","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","mimeType":"image/gif","_id":"image-67ec2bf8095d40389862b18d734051bd1f9453aa-480x356-gif","metadata":{"dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480,"aspectRatio":1.348314606741573,"height":356},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"VdH2sWR*.7xuV?~oWB%Nt6RkD%WBoMbIt7IqRjV?R*xu","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"darkMuted":{"title":"#fff","population":6.16,"background":"#242f4c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"muted":{"background":"#4e67a0","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":5.26},"lightVibrant":{"population":1.34,"background":"#acb9dc","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff"},"darkVibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.08,"background":"#04246f"},"lightMuted":{"title":"#fff","population":4.41,"background":"#babbc2","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"vibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.16,"background":"#2159ce"},"dominant":{"background":"#242f4c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.16},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette"},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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"},"uploadId":"tyJpWqlbhQpvgemvB74EFt8NAu4qStPR","sha1hash":"67ec2bf8095d40389862b18d734051bd1f9453aa","assetId":"67ec2bf8095d40389862b18d734051bd1f9453aa","_createdAt":"2024-07-11T20:19:11Z","_updatedAt":"2024-07-11T20:19:11Z"},"crop":{"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0},"hotspot":{"width":0.949090909090909,"x":0.5,"y":0.5,"height":0.916649642492339,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot"},"_type":"image"}},{"publishDate":"2024-07-08","id":"A61P6QId","_createdAt":"2024-07-07T19:50:16Z","image":{"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"extension":"gif","mimeType":"image/gif","sha1hash":"9b437a64226034d8154eacbb06d57d39b2b0e5ca","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/9b437a64226034d8154eacbb06d57d39b2b0e5ca-480x270.gif","_updatedAt":"2024-07-07T19:49:01Z","metadata":{"palette":{"vibrant":{"background":"#883628","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.05},"dominant":{"population":6.45,"background":"#7b6968","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.16,"background":"#4d342a"},"muted":{"background":"#7b6968","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.45},"lightVibrant":{"background":"#e0a398","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0},"darkVibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":3.07,"background":"#7b1614","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"lightMuted":{"background":"#af908d","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":6.36}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480,"aspectRatio":1.7777777777777777,"height":270},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"M39Zl=L1000L+u00+^yX}[x]ELaexb-oWB","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata"},"_createdAt":"2024-07-07T19:49:01Z","size":2918483,"_id":"image-9b437a64226034d8154eacbb06d57d39b2b0e5ca-480x270-gif","originalFilename":"dc4c0703-9091-412e-9424-9f042001b696.gif","uploadId":"Qns6Csn3treiAOGOzfnAe0J7NtuBswUy","_rev":"0BsiJUSjeQAdeGLuzbWeA3","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","source":{"name":"Comedy Trip GIF by ABC Network","id":"SUzZeMOfhdmEMAdmOW","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/abcnetwork-comedy-home-economics-homeeconomics-SUzZeMOfhdmEMAdmOW"},"url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/9b437a64226034d8154eacbb06d57d39b2b0e5ca-480x270.gif","assetId":"9b437a64226034d8154eacbb06d57d39b2b0e5ca"},"crop":{"right":0,"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop"},"hotspot":{"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.9554794520547945,"x":0.5,"y":0.5,"height":1}},"summary":"We're still taking trips, but the destinations are a little different now.","_updatedAt":"2024-07-07T19:50:16Z","slug":"/story/2024/07/heres-how-climate-change-is-having-a-longterm-impact-on-summer-vacations","category":"travel","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_type":"story","body":[{"_key":"2b5669a33333","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.nbcnews.com/business/travel/extreme-heat-summer-vacation-climate-change-rcna158929","_key":"c67908d4f2bf"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"While heat waves are nothing new this time of year, the prolonged and extreme nature of hot spells in recent years have fueled concerns about the impact climate change is having on the planet. And although it might not be the most pressing factor, ","_key":"7f89f3ce4f680"},{"_type":"span","marks":["c67908d4f2bf"],"text":"evidence","_key":"7f89f3ce4f681"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" shows that more frequent high temperatures are fundamentally changing how we vacation during the summer.","_key":"7f89f3ce4f682"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Choose your destination wisely","_key":"2d6268341fd30"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0e89737d650e","markDefs":[]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"With kids out of school, summer has long been a peak travel season for families looking to get away. That hasn’t changed, but these days new tourist destinations are gaining popularity.","_key":"ab4189afc9690"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e3e0e4e25773","markDefs":[]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"09b8128fff43","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"If you’re thinking that people are flocking to places like Minnesota or Alaska, that’s generally not the case. Instead, they’re looking at some spots you ","_key":"c634e7158da10","_type":"span"},{"text":"might not initially consider ","_key":"b482507fa091","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"text":"a respite from the heat … like Florida.","_key":"a131d84e369f","_type":"span","marks":[]}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"97426eb8a582","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A hotel manager in Delray Beach, for example, said reservations have increased significantly compared to last year. And while some of these guests are from elsewhere across the Sunshine State, others are coming from locations that are typically much cooler, like New York and Pennsylvania.","_key":"a0e2eb294e0f0"}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"d9e759d8648f","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"That doesn’t mean that Florida will offer lower temperatures. As much of the Midwest and Northeast has been hit with almost unprecedented heat, however, Cathay Balestriere says her neck of the woods at least offers “","_key":"66592ab893320"},{"_key":"d94f474574e3","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"the ocean breeze"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" and access to the beach and refreshing pools.”","_key":"8fc03eaa6865"}],"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"b3acb0331af3","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Planning an international escape","_key":"15b28cd7686f0"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Some countries are geographically more protected against warming trends, and they’ve seen a major boost in tourism as a result. Nordic countries have seen a particularly large spike in bookings:","_key":"919cd321c2c20"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7aee238c62ed"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The region overall has seen","_key":"1ef2f04078a00"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" a 25% bump","_key":"aaf72634eb75"},{"_key":"5206e29ab32e","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" since 2023"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0f3fd89f51e8","listItem":"bullet"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In Sweden, the increase currently ","_key":"3805a00cbe640"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"stands at 47%","_key":"8c18aaadc7d0"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"5622e27795e9","listItem":"bullet"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Iceland leads them all with a","_key":"bc199ee44a190"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" nearly 50% surge","_key":"c9e24c15bbc1"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0b6307c7f877","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"ff83cf06a360","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"There’s even been a 33% increase in the Netherlands despite that country’s effort to reduce tourism.","_key":"5f88550b32450","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block"}],"title":"Here’s How Climate Change Is Having A Long-Term Impact On Summer Vacations","_id":"28a831a2-41a6-41b1-bac6-c9e02f3f7f24","visibility":"true","_rev":"Q1OSDv7ENubrvujoM6dxGa"},{"slug":"/story/2024/06/current-trends-show-that-luxury-air-travel-isnt-just-for-the-rich-and-famous","_type":"story","_id":"faac5c52-8920-4944-b2d1-88f8c422f02b","id":"fZoOJJfa","category":"travel","summary":"When you really want to arrive in style, economy class just won't do. ","_createdAt":"2024-06-27T20:51:43Z","image":{"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"_id":"image-d21c61a9b15d8cef01d71faaf64a0deeea8f30ab-480x270-gif","_rev":"chQWOmp2AIkRT8OQXLjawM","mimeType":"image/gif","uploadId":"zoEYhZzCfpUZa634vUvgZ2W6A0Hv8K6j","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/d21c61a9b15d8cef01d71faaf64a0deeea8f30ab-480x270.gif","size":2101716,"originalFilename":"b4d271e8-52f9-4eb9-aafd-0a1c925ee876.gif","extension":"gif","metadata":{"blurHash":"MOF62;MxoH_4-=?cD%Rjt8V@kDM{xaM{kC","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"darkMuted":{"background":"#5d4030","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":8.24},"muted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":4.9,"background":"#7f8088"},"lightVibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":0,"background":"#9db9dc","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#263f61","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":3.25},"lightMuted":{"title":"#fff","population":3.7,"background":"#b5b9cd","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"vibrant":{"background":"#2d527f","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":1.41},"dominant":{"title":"#fff","population":8.24,"background":"#5d4030","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette"},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480,"aspectRatio":1.7777777777777777,"height":270},"isOpaque":true},"assetId":"d21c61a9b15d8cef01d71faaf64a0deeea8f30ab","_createdAt":"2024-06-27T20:51:14Z","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/d21c61a9b15d8cef01d71faaf64a0deeea8f30ab-480x270.gif","_updatedAt":"2024-06-27T20:51:14Z","sha1hash":"d21c61a9b15d8cef01d71faaf64a0deeea8f30ab","source":{"name":"Adam Devine Travel GIF by Shark Week","id":"ehZzdZPnnQFDqNn0MF","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/sharkweek-discovery-shark-week-trip-ehZzdZPnnQFDqNn0MF"}},"crop":{"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0},"hotspot":{"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.8801369863013698,"x":0.5,"y":0.5,"height":0.9878234398782344}},"visibility":"true","title":"Current Trends Show That Luxury Air Travel Isn’t Just For The Rich And Famous","_updatedAt":"2024-06-27T20:51:43Z","body":[{"style":"normal","_key":"f50ed42b7bd6","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"For many people, the journey matters more than the destination. And there’s no better way to prove it than by splurging on a private jet or a first-class airline ticket.","_key":"d771d4259aae0"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_key":"6b312dc9db320","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"According to industry insiders, there’s a lot more "},{"text":"luxury","_key":"6b312dc9db321","_type":"span","marks":["4a3a82ef4c0c"]},{"marks":[],"text":" flying taking place these days than our uncertain economic conditions might suggest.","_key":"6b312dc9db322","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a85a7349133b","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.crunchbasenewstoday.com/luxury-air-travel-is-on-the-rise-experts-say-you-dont-have-to-be-rich-to-experience-it/","_key":"4a3a82ef4c0c"}]},{"_key":"ccb5f95a7361","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“Revenge travel”","_key":"cb8796c564340"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Economy-class flights certainly serve an important purpose. As the name suggests, these tickets get you where you want to go for the lowest price possible.","_key":"244f6589ceeb0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"2dd644f5d54e","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"12430fd048d3","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But if you want to arrive in style, it’ll cost you … and a growing number of travelers are","_key":"40ecfdc4ae250"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" willing to pay the price","_key":"fe8b03d0a58a"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".","_key":"c0150dde3f4a"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_key":"e462dbab93950","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"As we mentioned yesterday, a new term — “funflation” — has been coined to describe the post-pandemic “you only live once” behavior of"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" spending big bucks","_key":"e315f7b4526c"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" on vacations, dining, and other experiences.","_key":"4447163ce584"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ba6ed6d570b1","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"0d136be8d746","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"That trend also applies to air travel.","_key":"093ec294fb8b0","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"c7cdd8b60c0a","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Oliver’s Travels cofounder Oliver Bell knows about arranging luxury getaways for his clients and says he’s seen a significant uptick in what he refers to as “revenge travel,” or the willingness of travelers to “spend more for incredible experiences” in the aftermath of COVID-19 lockdowns.","_key":"6d24317897430"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"Know your options","_key":"5d1bf00cd32d0","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c03c45a43858"},{"_key":"bc0c33702e4c","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Sure, buying a private jet and hiring a personal pilot might not fit into the budget. But there are other options that can give your next flight a serious upgrade without completely breaking the bank.","_key":"d5eebafddeb60"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Here are some options experts say are worth considering:","_key":"c4f16a2b54c40"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"5713c7aa7f60"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"09571637dcaf","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Semi-private jets","_key":"4759786e3c630"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": If you’ve got a flexible schedule, you might be able to catch a surprisingly affordable ride on a semi-private jet operated by some regional carriers.","_key":"1903d094d2fc"}],"level":1},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7507a6761c2d","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Perks and points","_key":"7efeb42db7f70"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": First-class tickets can be a lot less expensive for those with credit cards that offer reward points.","_key":"98e1aaab7a0f"}]},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"33a87d9c208b","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Affordable luxury","_key":"36a753778547"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": Just below first-class is “premium class,” offering upgrades over economy like more legroom, complimentary food and drinks, and priority boarding.","_key":"4f7c610b8faa"}]}],"author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_rev":"chQWOmp2AIkRT8OQXLjbAa","publishDate":"2024-06-28"},{"_rev":"6yhpv8Ex8x74bdbddsWJFk","summary":"There's been a massive spike in phishing schemes over the past 18 months.","_type":"story","category":"travel","image":{"asset":{"sha1hash":"1e1b1149528cc41a8ab78cdfe51dbb99eb8f6756","_id":"image-1e1b1149528cc41a8ab78cdfe51dbb99eb8f6756-480x270-gif","originalFilename":"fb2e451b-6038-4fb0-aefe-dfc6865df48c.gif","extension":"gif","metadata":{"dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480,"aspectRatio":1.7777777777777777,"height":270},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"MHIX?Xm+iGu6%gX;Mw4.E2IURNNxW@VXaJ","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"vibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.15,"background":"#ad6950"},"dominant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":6.41,"background":"#adc1d4"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"title":"#fff","population":3.6,"background":"#5e3d31","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"muted":{"title":"#fff","population":4.86,"background":"#a27e63","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"lightVibrant":{"population":1.19,"background":"#e4c38e","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff"},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#815a38","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":4.15},"lightMuted":{"population":6.41,"background":"#adc1d4","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff"}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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"},"_type":"sanity.imageAsset","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/1e1b1149528cc41a8ab78cdfe51dbb99eb8f6756-480x270.gif","_createdAt":"2024-06-21T00:48:57Z","_updatedAt":"2024-06-21T00:48:57Z","mimeType":"image/gif","source":{"name":"Scamming Joanne The Scammer GIF by Super Deluxe","id":"d4aU23AzE8YEQJ7W","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/superdeluxe-joanne-the-scammer-d4aU23AzE8YEQJ7W"},"path":"images/8mioycse/v3/1e1b1149528cc41a8ab78cdfe51dbb99eb8f6756-480x270.gif","uploadId":"QxdVoeVaQGt7zqvcNvwpPeeGakYa9j8R","_rev":"UU5Xfjrqun1nrUABczHngX","size":2531990,"assetId":"1e1b1149528cc41a8ab78cdfe51dbb99eb8f6756"},"crop":{"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0,"left":0},"hotspot":{"width":0.9280821917808219,"x":0.5,"y":0.5,"height":1,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot"},"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy"},"visibility":"true","slug":"/story/2024/06/planning-a-summer-vacation-beware-of-rapidly-spreading-ai-scams","_updatedAt":"2024-06-21T00:50:02Z","body":[{"markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8003dd8jzeo","_key":"b93c42079d9e"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Since the earliest days of the internet, there have been nefarious folks using a variety of means in an effort to scam victims out of their money. But now that generative AI platforms are capable of doing most of the work on their own, the ","_key":"84d4e86d76650"},{"_type":"span","marks":["b93c42079d9e"],"text":"issue","_key":"84d4e86d76651"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" has become much more troublesome.","_key":"84d4e86d76652"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"92f456a8a172"},{"style":"normal","_key":"26cbc6b59e45","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"A staggering spike","_key":"bd5b8d72ba370"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"So just how bad has it gotten? Marnie Wilking, who oversees internet safety for Booking.com, cited evidence that travel scams have","_key":"649eeb89523d0","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"text":" increased by up to 900%","_key":"165b1fa04542","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"marks":[],"text":" in just the past year and a half, with most involving phishing schemes via email.","_key":"ce30770521cb","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"923432f76be1"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“The attackers are definitely using AI to launch attacks that mimic emails far better than anything that they've done to date,” she explained.","_key":"b954eb7cb95a0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f662d88b251d"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c6e04dc6db8c","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And travel sites ","_key":"3455e3b6f3160"},{"_key":"37147567eede","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"are particularly susceptible"},{"_key":"0596b8fafeb2","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", since they typically communicate with customers through email."}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d665dd6eae75","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"After hooking a victim with a fraudulent message, scammers generally take the money and run — but some brazen criminals take it further in hopes of bilking their prey out of even more cash.","_key":"3388e307d09f0","_type":"span"}]},{"_key":"02064621323c","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"What you can do","_key":"baed07f25dd50","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"e17fe30a2219","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In the past, phishing schemes were pretty easy to spot. The emails often contained glaring grammatical errors and/or images that just didn’t look legitimate. But AI has made it much more difficult to spot a fake, so experts say travelers should use take a few extra steps to address this new security threat:","_key":"dc29434b6fdd0"}],"_type":"block"},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7a01209098ba","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Two-factor authentication","_key":"0104e9528c230","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" adds an extra layer of safety by requiring validation through a second device or app.","_key":"8aa2552479ab"}]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Paying with a credit card ","_key":"149d6d9875ed0"},{"_key":"9e5f35c67cf5","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"usually provides some additional fraud protection coverage."}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"2e03a1b7749b","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"ffcb59be010b","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Buying a package deal","_key":"ff5cbf7fd5520"},{"text":" (flight, hotel, etc.) instead of using multiple platforms will limit your exposure to scams.","_key":"59979febef47","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"68368221298d0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And consumer advocate Jane Hawkes added: “Check that contact details are readily available on websites and that there is a telephone number — many scam sites purposely don’t have one.”"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d79c61754cac"}],"title":"Planning A Summer Vacation? Beware Of Rapidly Spreading AI Scams.","_id":"9e0504e4-937b-4c66-b08e-5fb27d3a3621","_createdAt":"2024-06-21T00:47:25Z","publishDate":"2024-06-21","id":"WW7jvAIG","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"}},{"summary":"Troubling headlines only tell part of the story.","_rev":"UU5Xfjrqun1nrUABcv4ntJ","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_id":"549a43a7-f2f7-42df-bef6-6fd16af2a315","id":"EejzRDoX","visibility":"true","publishDate":"2024-06-20","slug":"/story/2024/06/airline-mishaps-are-all-over-the-news-but-dont-give-up-on-flying-just-yet","_type":"story","_createdAt":"2024-06-19T23:53:52Z","category":"travel","image":{"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"extension":"gif","metadata":{"dimensions":{"width":480,"aspectRatio":1.7777777777777777,"height":270,"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions"},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"MwHLF}xZoeazay~Vs,jsazay^jjsj[j[fQ","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"lightMuted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.77,"background":"#c4aea1"},"vibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":0,"background":"#f47f0a","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"dominant":{"population":7.48,"background":"#747886","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"population":7.3,"background":"#414049","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"muted":{"background":"#747886","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":7.48},"lightVibrant":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#000","population":4.64,"background":"#fcdcbc","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"darkVibrant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0,"background":"#7e4205","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAALABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFwAAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUGA//EACYQAAICAQIDCQAAAAAAAAAAAAECAAMEBREGITEHEhMUFyMyQXH/xAAWAQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgP/xAAbEQADAAIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIxUQMRIf/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8AYHtA4hWu03mpEHIcvuKb+PdXbZ/P7MOgB2kO2TdYgV7GZR0Bmi49VgXvoDIl8axIu6eWV/qBqp+Wcd/2EQ4uDjeEPZSE07nQ+7P/2Q=="},"uploadId":"nUZQVw0DL6y3P6PZ8CI1PGZXdyRH4OeZ","source":{"name":"plane cargo GIF","id":"tcwfvN1qOScIU","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/plane-cargo-qatar-tcwfvN1qOScIU"},"size":4325885,"assetId":"bdabf7a169aa51a564ebc0492580b20f93a6e472","_id":"image-bdabf7a169aa51a564ebc0492580b20f93a6e472-480x270-gif","originalFilename":"e1978715-555b-47a3-bd13-8fc5b275bf0a.gif","_createdAt":"2024-06-19T23:52:45Z","_updatedAt":"2024-06-19T23:52:45Z","_rev":"ReC8dwFPgTpUpdBZu1TB1W","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","mimeType":"image/gif","sha1hash":"bdabf7a169aa51a564ebc0492580b20f93a6e472","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/bdabf7a169aa51a564ebc0492580b20f93a6e472-480x270.gif","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/bdabf7a169aa51a564ebc0492580b20f93a6e472-480x270.gif"},"crop":{"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0},"hotspot":{"height":0.9878234398782344,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.9212328767123285,"x":0.5,"y":0.5}},"body":[{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1d58126202b7","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/19/business/airplane-safety-flight-problems.html","_key":"bb6ca68fdfe1"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"With all the news surrounding frightening issues aboard commercial aircraft (particularly those made by Boeing) in recent months, it might be tempting to swear off flying entirely. But before you decide to take a car, train, or boat to your next destination instead, let’s take a look at the actual ","_key":"ed895610667f0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["bb6ca68fdfe1"],"text":"risks","_key":"ed895610667f1"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" associated with air travel.","_key":"ed895610667f2"}]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"“An abundance of caution”","_key":"5b6f785bef7a0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0403283f5717","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"2d8bd0eac76d","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It’s true that there have been several troubling reports lately. And while passengers have generally avoided serious injury, some of these problems could have easily turned deadly.","_key":"d69a4fdc505c0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But travel of any type is susceptible to mishaps and flying is still statistically much safer than driving or other common means of transportation.","_key":"9d99919456900"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"39f8f62e06ae"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"2fa62aa3a084","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Nevertheless, things can happen … and that’s why","_key":"7ce880d3f6830"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" modern jets include redundant features","_key":"3c877c625501"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" to kick in when something goes haywire. Although most midair incidents are minor, the pros in the cockpit understand the assignment.","_key":"40102cdba0d4"}]},{"_key":"45003819ce79","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Aviation professor Shawn Pruchnicki explained: “The pilots are saying, ‘I’ve been highly trained, I’m highly educated in this airplane, and we have to return to the gate and get the experts involved out of an abundance of caution. ","_key":"a317005f4f2b0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"That is the system working perfectly.","_key":"14b9045e36fa"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" That’s a good thing.”","_key":"35ea7f06e750"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"44a694de79e8","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"“Sources of variability”","_key":"975146453bc00"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Boeing has seen its reputation tarnished over the past several years due to highly publicized incidents — but is the company actually to blame or is it just a convenient scapegoat?","_key":"c1ae7a9fcf640"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1b3da2519053","markDefs":[]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Airlines, regulatory agencies, and inspectors all have a role in ensuring planes are airworthy, and there are many factors that can","_key":"160e1ab3728f0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" take their toll on planes","_key":"bfa01ac017ae"},{"text":" manufactured by Boeing or any other company.","_key":"fc6a620ef6b1","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ce3ba48944f5","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"“There’s always questions of whether the weather is good enough to fly, whether you might hit turbulence or not,” said pilot Amy Pritchett. “All of these things are sources of variability that need to be actively managed.”","_key":"f5bd0e2f29ec0","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0bc21bed36b0"}],"title":"Airline Mishaps Are All Over The News, But Don’t Give Up On Flying Just Yet","_updatedAt":"2024-06-19T23:53:52Z"},{"_updatedAt":"2024-03-08T00:31:36Z","publishDate":"2024-03-08","_createdAt":"2024-03-08T00:31:36Z","_type":"story","slug":"/story/2024/03/selfservice-security-checkpoints-coming-to-an-airport-near-you","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"summary":"The TSA is following in the footsteps of your local supermarket.","category":"travel","_rev":"D25I4efnAE4dWOWasmZs0D","image":{"asset":{"extension":"jpg","metadata":{"hasAlpha":false,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":5467,"aspectRatio":1.4998628257887516,"height":3645},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"VLC7EMxA9ZZ~.Su6w[tRi_NeyYv|M|I:xaKQrWM{NdoL","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"population":1.69,"background":"#27404d","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"muted":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.56,"background":"#727e8b","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"lightVibrant":{"title":"#000","population":0.44,"background":"#edc9c0","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"darkVibrant":{"population":0.96,"background":"#801014","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"lightMuted":{"title":"#fff","population":0.59,"background":"#b2c3d6","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"vibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":4.39,"background":"#15b6e8","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"dominant":{"background":"#727e8b","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.56}}},"_type":"sanity.imageAsset","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/b05dde590ea61876441df11ef57f2c8e27944d93-5467x3645.jpg","_updatedAt":"2024-03-08T00:30:22Z","originalFilename":"sstk-14268483b.jpg","_rev":"piwByiNk2M0JyXFbELkVZG","mimeType":"image/jpeg","creditLine":"SHAWN THEW/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock","size":3326045,"_createdAt":"2024-03-08T00:30:22Z","_id":"image-b05dde590ea61876441df11ef57f2c8e27944d93-5467x3645-jpg","uploadId":"bdezJ4TlWYA5SFzewuWyMa6IvbdL9Hiu","description":"A passenger's documents are checked at a TSA checkpoint prior to departure at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, USA, 21 December 2023. The American Automobile Association (AAA) predicts this holiday season will be the busiest ever for air travel with 7.5 million people projected to fly over the year-end holiday period.","sha1hash":"b05dde590ea61876441df11ef57f2c8e27944d93","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/b05dde590ea61876441df11ef57f2c8e27944d93-5467x3645.jpg","assetId":"b05dde590ea61876441df11ef57f2c8e27944d93"},"crop":{"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0},"hotspot":{"x":0.5496575342465755,"y":0.4922868073553005,"height":0.8920153029742071,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.9006849315068491},"_type":"image","attribution":"Shutterstock"},"_id":"2944aca0-1422-4613-955f-d03ac50210fb","id":"s0qPGRo8","body":[{"_key":"d682667128bf","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"If you’re like a lot of consumers, you find the prevalence of self-serve kiosks at supermarkets and other retailers to be a bit of a hassle. But would your opinion of the technology change if it meant skipping those invasive airport security checks?","_key":"74c92fe478bc0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a71a765c4142","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.businessinsider.com/tsa-self-service-security-screening-airport-test-2024-3","_key":"0be9a81ba7a0"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Well, you might soon have an ","_key":"38eec55d147d0"},{"marks":["0be9a81ba7a0"],"text":"opportunity","_key":"38eec55d147d1","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" to find out.","_key":"38eec55d147d2"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"a8657bc58cb70","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"What happens in Vegas…"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"5aa43667c437"},{"children":[{"text":"There’s a new system underway at Sin City’s Harry Reid International Airport that will allow passengers, at least in many cases, to conduct their own pre-board screening. This is the first system of its kind and is set to begin operation for those enrolled in the Transportation Security Administration’s PreCheck program by the end of this month.","_key":"672f0faeaa3e0","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"cbf9738fb8d7","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"85fb1e585048","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Here’s how the process is designed to go:","_key":"651ee0a173220","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Approach the digital display for instructions and","_key":"28c55dfce1b40"},{"_key":"ca84497ab39b","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" access a virtual TSA agent"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" for additional help.","_key":"a6d11dec2ab8"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ec8f7758d182","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"720069fd2d7a","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Place items in the appropriate basket and allow it to","_key":"65a7f2904b800"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" go through the conveyor belt","_key":"51c2d632cda9","_type":"span"},{"_key":"8893f31a1c43","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"."}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3ac59c84b398","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Move through the body scanner and, if it still shows an issue after three attempts, ","_key":"92c12a6e6a690","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"a human agent will intervene","_key":"6d7afdf18228"},{"_key":"2341f63a9b8b","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"."}]},{"_key":"a1e3edb34a91","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Once the process is over, automatic doors will open, allowing passengers to continue through to retrieve their items.","_key":"c4f9b56b0bf50"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"1e6d000e4954","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"The beginning of a trend","_key":"69e39d2928190"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"cab118e847be","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"While it’s not yet clear how much time, if any, the self-serve system will save the typical passenger, there are obvious benefits for the TSA. Instead of needing to provide ","_key":"70354c797b210","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"as many as a dozen agents","_key":"a6e0c5b2ae6c"},{"text":" at an airport’s security checkpoint, this process will provide similar screening capabilities with just two — one at the body scanner and another available to check bags.","_key":"08885e27c144","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"b4e12f00dff8","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The TSA’s Security Science and Technology Directorate is responsible for the implementation of the program, and Undersecretary Dimitri Kusnezov the agency is “","_key":"1c8e862c74d40"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"pushing the envelope","_key":"77c047b209ea"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" with new technologies and concepts toward designing the airport of the future.”","_key":"c853195d5362"}],"_type":"block"}],"visibility":"true","title":"Self-Service Security Checkpoints: Coming To An Airport Near You?"},{"slug":"/story/2024/02/transporting-nuclear-weapons-is-a-tricky-business-and-heres-how-its-done","image":{"hotspot":{"height":0.9313725490196081,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":1,"x":0.5,"y":0.5},"_type":"image","attribution":"Wikipedia","asset":{"assetId":"d5716773707ad8f712a44723f9bfabd3a51ddb1e","originalFilename":"Missile_and_Space_Gallery_overview_at_the_USAF_National_Museum.jpg","extension":"jpg","metadata":{"dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":3000,"aspectRatio":1.25,"height":2400},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"V4A,UcD%00-;^i01xZ~US5R-00t7~VV?%M?ZofIpM{M|","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"lightMuted":{"title":"#fff","population":1.43,"background":"#c9b79d","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"vibrant":{"background":"#9c5c3c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0},"dominant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.12,"background":"#9b876f"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"background":"#503e29","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.72},"muted":{"title":"#fff","population":6.12,"background":"#9b876f","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"lightVibrant":{"title":"#000","population":0,"background":"#ecd49c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#2c0c04","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.01}},"hasAlpha":false,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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"},"mimeType":"image/jpeg","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","sha1hash":"d5716773707ad8f712a44723f9bfabd3a51ddb1e","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/d5716773707ad8f712a44723f9bfabd3a51ddb1e-3000x2400.jpg","_createdAt":"2024-02-07T23:28:47Z","_id":"image-d5716773707ad8f712a44723f9bfabd3a51ddb1e-3000x2400-jpg","_updatedAt":"2024-02-07T23:28:47Z","uploadId":"8KkG2Tj6DrleGcH96AtAgxpso5K2lNdZ","_rev":"dLUUcnaW316X3m8PIjRMcJ","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/d5716773707ad8f712a44723f9bfabd3a51ddb1e-3000x2400.jpg","size":2370251},"crop":{"right":0,"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop"}},"category":"travel","visibility":"true","publishDate":"2024-02-08","summary":"The process probably occurs more frequently than you thought.","_rev":"dLUUcnaW316X3m8PIjSSIv","body":[{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"2d96375ca876","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"The United States currently has a stockpile of well","_key":"4709763edc600","_type":"span"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" over 5,000 nuclear weapons","_key":"286aa7541914","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", which are located at","_key":"3e9ae9bb2b66"},{"text":" nearly 500 secured silos","_key":"840907cecdf2","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" across the United States.","_key":"ab40c542a393"}]},{"markDefs":[{"href":"https://youtu.be/N2OUzBrLEFk?si=vUlQYD6StGPH2gxa","_key":"57b23194ac83","_type":"link"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And while they are always ready to be detonated from the ground, air, or underwater, they often have to be ","_key":"623db837c4c80"},{"_type":"span","marks":["57b23194ac83"],"text":"moved","_key":"623db837c4c81"},{"marks":[],"text":" without triggering a deadly explosion.","_key":"623db837c4c82","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3ab886458188"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Several times a week","_key":"ad0979b2cbd70"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4f29e088e279","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"That’s how frequently federal agents must safely transport nukes from a silo to one of the highly specialized sites capable of providing proper maintenance.","_key":"d5b3a8f3847c0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4f114f41f047"},{"_key":"72a98a97c5ef","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Since the plutonium inside of these weapons can expire and","_key":"ed628ef4bdd30","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" no one knows exactly when that will be","_key":"b0d150c32529"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", the Energy Department errs on the side of caution and regularly recycles the material, replacing it with new plutonium.","_key":"ce42a6d695ae"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"4eb74f0e2aac","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"This part of the process is difficult enough, but things get particularly tricky when the time comes to move them to and from the facilities along the nation’s interstates.","_key":"7114212f06400"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"edbfde1314a8","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"More than just a truck","_key":"03add2530e450","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"a7fcb84b74cd","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Although the weapons are loaded onto what appears at first glance to be an ordinary 18-wheeler, these trucks are much more than meets the eye.","_key":"998a24276d690"}],"_type":"block"},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The cargo compartment is bulletproof","_key":"24ba1d803cef0"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ca346b3cb5a8"},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"5712c8cd3c570","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The doors are made of"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" 12 inches of steel","_key":"520461447dfe"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"2009c2def60d"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"df19b46760fe","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"ca2426ffa9480","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The tires are"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" impervious to puncture","_key":"c6d5f4654ced"}],"level":1},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"14171ab2d41d","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The trailer can withstand a fuel fire","_key":"6c43b7ccbfca0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" for 60 minutes","_key":"8bac4a47a582"}],"level":1},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The ","_key":"948873fd250c0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"axles will explode","_key":"ce9ae6a783be"},{"_key":"6bf8214c6549","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" if the truck is stolen"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"52a43a96830b","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"0be8fe6a1fff","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"There are other safeguards against disaster, including rapidly expanding foam that will fill up the cargo bay if someone tries to intercept it as well as on-board weapons capable of electrocuting or shooting anyone deemed a threat.","_key":"260fe37291410"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"07d756c092df","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"b5af63c16bcc0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Each truck is flanked by other specialized vehicles as part of a convoy that travels "},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"a classified and predetermined route","_key":"6607093565b9"},{"text":". Those involved have the Energy Department’s highest clearance level and are authorized to directly enforce more than two dozen laws — including those involving lethal force.","_key":"d89dbb540582","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block"}],"_updatedAt":"2024-02-07T23:30:30Z","title":"Transporting Nuclear Weapons Is A Tricky Business … And Here’s How It’s Done","_type":"story","id":"Wu0zXkAw","_id":"73735cb4-c0aa-4f3b-b488-4c8f34caf5c2","_createdAt":"2024-02-07T23:25:31Z","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"}},{"publishDate":"2024-01-19","image":{"attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"metadata":{"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"MCFFW@-;EKxv%Mne4oM_-ooK_NogR5t3E1","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"dominant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":2.63,"background":"#c5ac82"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.6,"background":"#5c5431","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"muted":{"population":0.95,"background":"#a18d65","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"lightVibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":2.63,"background":"#c5ac82"},"darkVibrant":{"population":0.84,"background":"#5d4e1e","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"lightMuted":{"title":"#fff","population":2.49,"background":"#ccb6a0","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"vibrant":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.11,"background":"#c4a94f","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"height":272,"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480,"aspectRatio":1.7647058823529411}},"uploadId":"OHWWAhHi2NIYS1CQ39E5sRuciLKTIrlE","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/5955468add99920fe67c22e7ed66ee1f3d72d57c-480x272.gif","_rev":"4A550hyVSGx50kBPRtYT04","mimeType":"image/gif","size":1812121,"source":{"name":"Aidy Bryant Snl GIF by Saturday Night Live","id":"zeWtKwlMU3Y3QP0d3W","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/snl-saturday-night-live-season-47-zeWtKwlMU3Y3QP0d3W"},"assetId":"5955468add99920fe67c22e7ed66ee1f3d72d57c","_createdAt":"2024-01-18T22:35:32Z","_id":"image-5955468add99920fe67c22e7ed66ee1f3d72d57c-480x272-gif","originalFilename":"bc6679cb-1576-4db3-ac30-99d00ea2461b.gif","extension":"gif","sha1hash":"5955468add99920fe67c22e7ed66ee1f3d72d57c","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/5955468add99920fe67c22e7ed66ee1f3d72d57c-480x272.gif","_updatedAt":"2024-01-18T22:35:32Z"},"crop":{"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0},"hotspot":{"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.9349315068493148,"x":0.5,"y":0.5,"height":1},"_type":"image"},"title":"Experts Predict These Will Be Among The Top Tourist Destinations Of 2024","_id":"80f975bb-ebe6-4ce8-83e9-de053096f745","category":"travel","_type":"story","_updatedAt":"2024-01-18T22:37:09Z","_rev":"haX3qlMc71eU6YHcXfjFtE","id":"xkDs33uL","_createdAt":"2024-01-18T22:33:31Z","slug":"/story/2024/01/experts-predict-these-will-be-among-the-top-tourist-destinations-of-2024","body":[{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Whether your travel plans for the year are already finalized or you prefer to put things off until the last minute, chances are you’ve spent a little time ","_key":"0b505bcad9700"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"daydreaming about that perfect getaway","_key":"586cb74e4410"},{"text":". And if you’re like many people around the world, your mind has gravitated toward one of a ","_key":"37278498e675","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["cd573ca61614"],"text":"handful","_key":"0b505bcad9701"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" of vacation destinations.","_key":"0b505bcad9702"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0efbd88ea813","markDefs":[{"href":"https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/18/travel/destinations-2024.html","_key":"cd573ca61614","_type":"link"}]},{"_key":"7f16b6e485eb","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"A pair of travel sites — Kayak and Hopper — have compiled a list of places they believe will be among the year’s hottest attractions. In no particular order, they include:","_key":"458b73956bda0","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"0413231611f6","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"e50a31c099110","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Perennial favorites"},{"_key":"f44363fb3cfe","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": Some places are popular year after year, and many spots that were flooded with tourists in 2023 will likely remain that way throughout this year. A few examples include Tokyo, Rome, London, and Las Vegas."}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"d99c36ec2234","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"d5c7e0a1a79e0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Beaches are in"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": Who doesn’t love a relaxing beachside vacation? In addition to Cancun (which could have been in the previous category), some of the trending destinations for 2024 include French Polynesia and the Cayman Islands.","_key":"2de1a81dca76"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"children":[{"text":"Keeping it cool","_key":"1ab4bb2b3b8e0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": You might not believe it given the cold front still moving across much of the U.S., but many tourists are expected to beat the heat this year with trips to cooler climates across Scandinavia, most notably Denmark and Norway.","_key":"24630eb3e36c"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3c55056229e8","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"8bb49fd38b02","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Astronomers’ paradise","_key":"364fe065bf3a0"},{"text":": Folks who want to get an unforgettable glimpse of a total solar eclipse in April are starting to plot their trips to places with the best views, which include areas in New York, Missouri, Texas, and Mexico’s Mazatlan coast.","_key":"29ed4dabfd2e","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"7b9a52e8fdba","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"61c0b372bab70","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But perhaps you’re looking for a place that isn’t on everybody's short list. If so, Global Citizen Journeys founder Joshua Smith has a recommendation: Malta."}],"_type":"block"},{"_key":"1ede25045c46","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“From its","_key":"cfd07ed0babd0"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" history and architecture","_key":"5f83704ee5f1","_type":"span"},{"text":" to the food, Malta maintains the comfort of Europe with solid tourism infrastructure, but without the crowds.”","_key":"6630ffd460cf","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"}],"visibility":"true","summary":"If you want to visit these locations, you might want to start planning now.","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"}},{"title":"Is TikTok Turning A Real-Life 9-Month Cruise Into The Next Must-See Series?","image":{"_type":"image","attribution":"YouTube screenshot/Royal Caribbean","asset":{"uploadId":"SJkbDDhiYU7IcM2znV5vnkM9lYy5O6wS","sha1hash":"a5862e65bf4e1b45dcc37d5d271c020e82877648","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/a5862e65bf4e1b45dcc37d5d271c020e82877648-1238x906.png","_createdAt":"2024-01-11T22:57:59Z","metadata":{"lqip":"data:image/png;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":1238,"aspectRatio":1.3664459161147904,"height":906},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"VaBXQmofIoogRj.AofayayayNMa}xtWBt6x_WCj[ofj[","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"dominant":{"background":"#193c65","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.24},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"background":"#2c3c65","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.02},"muted":{"background":"#516d9b","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":5.65},"lightVibrant":{"background":"#94bceb","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":3.79},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#193c65","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.24},"lightMuted":{"background":"#cfd2dc","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#000","population":1.48},"vibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":6.22,"background":"#3d5e96","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"}},"hasAlpha":true},"extension":"png","_rev":"1js8Eqc7nziBHN8dN4j47i","mimeType":"image/png","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/a5862e65bf4e1b45dcc37d5d271c020e82877648-1238x906.png","_updatedAt":"2024-01-11T22:57:59Z","originalFilename":"Screenshot 2024-01-11 at 5.57.44 PM.png","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","size":1030050,"assetId":"a5862e65bf4e1b45dcc37d5d271c020e82877648","_id":"image-a5862e65bf4e1b45dcc37d5d271c020e82877648-1238x906-png"},"crop":{"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0,"left":0},"hotspot":{"y":0.4656776939332872,"height":0.8136789099235595,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.931899641577061,"x":0.4982078853046595}},"_rev":"EjU9fE3cAMHW1YyVOkcXPt","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"summary":"There's a growing cast of interesting characters.","category":"travel","_type":"story","body":[{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7094c5576455","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://techcrunch.com/2024/01/11/world-cruise-tiktok-nine-month/?guccounter=1","_key":"37d2a3f4ec12"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Whether you love spending days aboard a floating city of excess or think cruises are passe, you probably wouldn’t expect one to provide captivating content for Gen Z-dominated TikTok. But when the cruise in question lasts nearly a year and involves","_key":"d65c9ae14c1c0"},{"text":" a constantly changing cast of character","_key":"fbaf9991629d","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_key":"2cb178a93df0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"s, it has all the "},{"marks":["37d2a3f4ec12"],"text":"makings","_key":"d65c9ae14c1c1","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" of a social media reality show.","_key":"d65c9ae14c1c2"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"42d8569b27be","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Off to a rocky start","_key":"c0615a61f7de0"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0280733752d2","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The concept of ultra-long cruises isn’t altogether new, but there have been some issues in the past. Most notably, a company called Life at Sea Cruises promised to launch a massive yacht for a whopping three-year voyage … but it ","_key":"c82cfdbb29670"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"canceled plans at the last minute","_key":"2d07ffb942dc"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" and was forced to admit it didn’t even have a ship!","_key":"1cb5103b3167"}]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Then, established cruise line Royal Caribbean stepped in with its plan for a shorter nine-month cruise.","_key":"b8c7ffa4f1db0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ddeecd92b530","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"The Love Boat 2024?","_key":"4ac9de246b330","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4c4f794ba816"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Just like the sitcom “The Love Boat,” this ship has developed quite a following due to the large cast of revolving characters. The difference is that","_key":"1aa5fd415bd10"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" these are real people","_key":"9a401a167ba5","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" actually participating in their dream vacation.","_key":"22571f4c1f12"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"dd8c60991b9f"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Whether they’re looking for attention or just post videos that users find interesting, there’s no shortage of viral content recorded aboard the ship.","_key":"d3ccf3d6d2e20"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7ff1e9404f0e","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"d3a9754c0ff5","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And some popular TikTokers are even figuring out ","_key":"ad007ef7d0eb0"},{"_key":"ec8ec08202b7","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"ways to join the adventure"},{"_key":"42499f4abeb3","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", like Marc Sebastian, who was able to find a sponsor to foot the bill for his 18-day stay on the ship."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"fece3ffa559d","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"The world is watching","_key":"1fad3703dad50","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"We’re about a month into the cruise, and it’s","_key":"2384a1f752a90"},{"text":" still a popular topic of discussion ","_key":"5df89a023a89","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"marks":[],"text":"on social media — and traditional media (even the “Today” show featured a segment recently).","_key":"943894a0a00e","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e767fd90b43d"},{"_key":"675e79cb2d70","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"As the ship makes stops in dozens of ports around the world, you can expect a lot more unintentional","_key":"48ebd5ef35450"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" drama, comedy, and maybe even romance","_key":"040385fa36b9"},{"_key":"029d15067107","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" to play out on what’s become known as “CruiseTok.”"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"}],"slug":"/story/2024/01/is-tiktok-turning-a-reallife-9month-cruise-into-the-next-mustsee-series","_id":"9365df26-e948-498a-93d2-a714550a8c6a","id":"yq9LF3of","publishDate":"2024-01-12","visibility":"true","_updatedAt":"2024-01-11T22:59:59Z","_createdAt":"2024-01-11T22:21:14Z"},{"author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"visibility":"true","publishDate":"2024-01-11","_type":"story","_createdAt":"2024-01-11T00:13:47Z","title":"What Really Happened To That Alaska Airlines Boeing 737?","_updatedAt":"2024-01-11T00:13:47Z","image":{"asset":{"_id":"image-d250018f08157347450ba4f8a1a3dff8f8892ea7-5472x3648-jpg","extension":"jpg","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","mimeType":"image/jpeg","sha1hash":"d250018f08157347450ba4f8a1a3dff8f8892ea7","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/d250018f08157347450ba4f8a1a3dff8f8892ea7-5472x3648.jpg","creditLine":"NTSB HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock","size":1336726,"originalFilename":"sstk-14290793j.jpg","description":"A handout photo made available on 08 January 2024 by the National Transportation Safety Board taken during the investigation into the sudden fuselage failure on a Boeing 737-9 MAX airplane being operated by Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 on 07 January 2024 in Portland, Oregon, USA. On 05 January 2024 fuselage panel on the plane suddenly blew out forcing pilots to make an emergency landing and resulting in the NTSB grounding all Boeing 737-9 MAX models for inspection.","assetId":"d250018f08157347450ba4f8a1a3dff8f8892ea7","_createdAt":"2024-01-11T00:12:06Z","_updatedAt":"2024-01-11T00:12:06Z","metadata":{"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"VOFr-Q_34U9Fxu~q%MDiDif69FRjt7M{IUM{Rj%M-;of","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"background":"#4a4234","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.55},"muted":{"population":0.01,"background":"#ac8c5e","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"lightVibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0,"background":"#d4c5a4"},"darkVibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":0,"background":"#1c3450","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"lightMuted":{"title":"#fff","population":0.62,"background":"#b3a691","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"vibrant":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.03,"background":"#b3975c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"dominant":{"background":"#b3a691","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.62}},"hasAlpha":false,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"width":5472,"aspectRatio":1.5,"height":3648,"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions"}},"uploadId":"xUjrmO06iZnR1uSX1UjQT2SWeId1mq8U","_rev":"1EU3Df1QiXRis8fT05l4kN","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/d250018f08157347450ba4f8a1a3dff8f8892ea7-5472x3648.jpg"},"crop":{"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0},"hotspot":{"width":0.8835616438356163,"x":0.44178082191780815,"y":0.43829445884240403,"height":0.8765889176848081,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot"},"_type":"image","attribution":"Shutterstock"},"body":[{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7484d62419c1","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Commercial air travel has been in a prolonged state of disorder with staffing shortages, delays, cancellations, and a series of terrifying near-misses on the ground and in the air.","_key":"85e26ad6a8810"}]},{"_key":"2cad5482ac86","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.vox.com/2024/1/8/24030677/boeing-alaska-airlines-plane-737-max-door-plug","_key":"cd661538b9a3"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And when ","_key":"a7ef7b31b8090"},{"text":"a hole ripped in the side","_key":"d7de84a4f13b","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"text":" of a Boeing 737 Max 9 jet flying shortly after taking off from Portland last week, the ","_key":"f6dc30c04aba","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["cd661538b9a3"],"text":"issue","_key":"a7ef7b31b8091"},{"_key":"a7ef7b31b8092","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" was suddenly front-page news. You might be familiar with some of the details, but let’s dig deeper into the cause and effect."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"18a1ace7af71","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"It could have been much worse","_key":"11cfd5db923d0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"63571945c0e4","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Based on official reports and anecdotes from those aboard the Alaska Airlines flight, here’s what happened about 20 minutes into the trip.","_key":"781132e99c220"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"There was a loud pop when the door plug came off, ","_key":"1b0de7d907a00"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"leaving a huge hole","_key":"15fc873ffd6e"},{"_key":"a31ac3548004","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in the fuselage."}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"cae6c2367935","listItem":"bullet"},{"style":"normal","_key":"a575fec528d4","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"A host of small items,","_key":"f93d788694230","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" from cellphones to clothing","_key":"d99fe054f623","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", were sucked out of the plane.","_key":"440ae18a0e27"}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"39e592d4dfed0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Oxygen masks fell from overhead and the jet staged"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" an emergency landing","_key":"db14e182d43e"},{"_key":"1bd71a49c834","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in Portland."}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"6a372a181c8b","listItem":"bullet"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"076a8f19029b","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Since it occurred so shortly after takeoff, passengers still had their seatbelts on. Authorities say there could have been much more serious consequences if it had happened later in the flight.","_key":"88ad746b23ff0"}]},{"children":[{"text":"Federal regulators get involved","_key":"61b40bc938100","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"9a79109b86d4","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"a494520e9a250","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Officials from agencies including the FAA and NTSB are now probing the incident and at least 171 Boeing jets"},{"_key":"a6f377360f41","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" are undergoing thorough inspections"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". As of the latest updates available, five of those planes had door plugs that were too loose.","_key":"f8de9336c3d4"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"19e2acf72c8b"},{"style":"normal","_key":"4f305cb0ce72","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"f46d598811390","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"For Alaska Airlines and other carriers that use Boeing 737 Max 9 jets, the incident has resulted in flight cancellations expected to last for at least a few more days."}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"After two previous Boeing 737 Max crashes, it’s only natural to be concerned, but aviation expert Dan Bubb","_key":"5425736472ee0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" tried to put things in perspective","_key":"9ac5602b2ebf"},{"_key":"18fff4e06146","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"671db4d8efcb"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d1f82bef2741","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"“I know it is alarming,” he said. “But the thing to remember is flying is still very safe.”","_key":"630afb058bf10","_type":"span"}]}],"id":"qjJ98A9J","_rev":"8nyshk7okP6N8Q6fFkHhk9","summary":"It's the latest in a series of troubling developments for the industry.","category":"travel","slug":"/story/2024/01/what-really-happened-to-that-alaska-airlines-boeing-737","_id":"0a7cb8c6-d3e5-4f5a-b6ca-d107167b9cb0"},{"body":[{"_key":"66c0c3e676b1","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Sin City is known to attract a few distinct types of people … including gamblers who want to “play the numbers” and couples wanting to get hitched at one of the various themed chapels on the Strip.","_key":"2dbb3868b4670"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ebfe0379d687","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://apnews.com/article/las-vegas-wedding-new-years-eve-2024-6437521c2d6124a129fe9d8d0760fde2","_key":"70540dca14e2"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Sunday will offer a unique ","_key":"e8b5dd7407750"},{"_type":"span","marks":["70540dca14e2"],"text":"opportunity","_key":"e8b5dd7407751"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" for people who fall into both categories.","_key":"e8b5dd7407752"}]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Save the date","_key":"7b3491ae1f9c0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"143e6f449a94","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"273ac2ae9f42","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Not only is New Year’s Eve already a holiday associated with big parties, but because it’s 2023 there’s a unique aspect to the date that only occurs ","_key":"34349939690e0","_type":"span"},{"_key":"2fa62bc89eff","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"once every 100 years."}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Writing out the shorthand version of Sunday’s date — 12/31/23 — reveals a repeating “1-2-3” pattern that experts say should prove appealing to people who want to","_key":"db1cc43a6bea0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" mark their Vegas wedding","_key":"8c37ccd8e3c1"},{"_key":"edfb0722e4fc","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" with a memorable date. There’s even a name for such occurrences among those who work in the city’s niche wedding industry: a “specialty date.”"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"acfeeb52ac7a"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"04ee76faccec","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Melody Willis-Williams, whose company, Vegas Weddings, operates a number of venues in the city, called Sunday a “double whammy” that could bring big business to Vegas chapels.","_key":"d4f3c33085c90","_type":"span","marks":[]}]},{"_key":"54b0488c8b3b","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"“Anytime you get these specialty dates,","_key":"ab21fd5d114f0","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_key":"b4ee1a4dfe21","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" they’re always hugely popular"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":",” she said. “But tie that in with New Year’s Eve and it’s a showstopper.”","_key":"543faabe448f"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"1efdcb3f87b0","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"The countdown is on","_key":"9def066737e00","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d06d9354afa1","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Vegas Weddings is already booked solid for Sunday with","_key":"8bcd293a2a0a0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" more than 120 couples","_key":"02fe44263fd1"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" expected to tie the knot at one of its venues and a handful set to deliver their vows just as the clock strikes midnight.","_key":"93462b609557"}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"22b2ef496a2e","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But if Sunday is going to set an all-time record as some insiders predict, it’s going to require a truly massive turnout.","_key":"6d1a92d37ee10"}],"_type":"block"},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"f4cbc586efc30","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Somewhere"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" around 500 couples","_key":"a37eedf20a7a"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" get married in Vegas on a typical New Year’s Eve","_key":"28c29863abb8"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c4d56b8cd0f1"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"923f90f386f80","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The current record "},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"set on July 7, 2007","_key":"4b96154dc382"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" (07/07/07) is nearly 10 times that high: 4,492","_key":"af4138f700a6"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f3ef83ca77cc","listItem":"bullet"},{"_key":"0dd433d1ee7d","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Another specialty date — 11/11/11 — comes in second place with ","_key":"9502b00210b30"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"3,125 weddings","_key":"3375301efc1f"},{"text":".","_key":"f6e42cd0a0e8","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal"}],"visibility":"true","title":"‘A Double Whammy’: Why Las Vegas Could Break Its Wedding Record On Sunday","_createdAt":"2023-12-28T21:28:30Z","category":"travel","id":"FYXZAmb4","summary":"There's something special about the date.","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_rev":"m0kd2z7be8Dsm3U2vDMHnv","publishDate":"2023-12-29","_id":"f8a0f697-c826-4386-8827-d72421846901","slug":"/story/2023/12/a-double-whammy-why-las-vegas-could-break-its-wedding-record-on-sunday","image":{"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"extension":"gif","_rev":"w5bEdlhABDOfP4EINOG46d","mimeType":"image/gif","size":2328425,"assetId":"d43ea3ffdffb363a9f8b4625071692089833ec40","_createdAt":"2023-12-29T01:18:47Z","metadata":{"dimensions":{"height":270,"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480,"aspectRatio":1.7777777777777777},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"MOE2;5jFMxt7xv~qaxRiWBR+V?offlWBM_","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"dominant":{"title":"#fff","population":5.17,"background":"#4b2424","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"title":"#fff","population":1.11,"background":"#5a422e","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"muted":{"title":"#fff","population":0.01,"background":"#aa686c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"lightVibrant":{"background":"#d3a5a5","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0},"darkVibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":5.17,"background":"#4b2424"},"lightMuted":{"title":"#fff","population":0.88,"background":"#b7bfd6","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"vibrant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0,"background":"#ac5252","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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"},"_type":"sanity.imageAsset","sha1hash":"d43ea3ffdffb363a9f8b4625071692089833ec40","_id":"image-d43ea3ffdffb363a9f8b4625071692089833ec40-480x270-gif","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/d43ea3ffdffb363a9f8b4625071692089833ec40-480x270.gif","_updatedAt":"2023-12-29T01:18:47Z","originalFilename":"3c2979a3-1422-4e6b-b10f-3a5a8763b9b1.gif","uploadId":"6irW0TEzuWQefCg4mral76FeaLVqND56","source":{"name":"Las Vegas Wedding GIF by Movistar+","id":"HP4LXFrIILU0zkMp83","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/MovistarPlus-susi-caramelo-free-susifree-HP4LXFrIILU0zkMp83"},"path":"images/8mioycse/v3/d43ea3ffdffb363a9f8b4625071692089833ec40-480x270.gif"}},"_updatedAt":"2023-12-29T01:18:49Z","_type":"story"},{"image":{"crop":{"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0},"hotspot":{"x":0.5686274509803919,"y":0.5514705882352939,"height":0.7549019607843146,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.8627450980392162},"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"metadata":{"palette":{"vibrant":{"background":"#ae373f","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.16},"dominant":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.62,"background":"#cec7bc","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"background":"#694037","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.27},"muted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.02,"background":"#a6684e"},"lightVibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0,"background":"#df9a9e"},"darkVibrant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.47,"background":"#5f1f16","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"lightMuted":{"population":0.62,"background":"#cec7bc","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff"}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"width":500,"aspectRatio":1,"height":500,"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions"},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"e58;Pq9F-;-;RPV[-pIokCWD00_3jFM{%LyDD*t7t7M{~p4ns:t7IU","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata"},"path":"images/8mioycse/v3/378e869faf0473e591b2204e38862e1f32a5b67b-500x500.gif","uploadId":"KA3s8jPHuyEw2rCsgSxd6rCyxXV7RpKn","sha1hash":"378e869faf0473e591b2204e38862e1f32a5b67b","source":{"name":"season 1 starz GIF by American Gods","id":"3ohzdFJTly2bdBQrEk","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/americangods-starz-american-gods-3ohzdFJTly2bdBQrEk"},"assetId":"378e869faf0473e591b2204e38862e1f32a5b67b","_updatedAt":"2023-12-17T22:58:34Z","_rev":"m0kd2z7be8Dsm3U2uusXNx","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","mimeType":"image/gif","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/378e869faf0473e591b2204e38862e1f32a5b67b-500x500.gif","originalFilename":"a5994ea9-baa9-464f-91c3-28201c23edad.gif","extension":"gif","size":5081042,"_createdAt":"2023-12-17T22:58:34Z","_id":"image-378e869faf0473e591b2204e38862e1f32a5b67b-500x500-gif"}},"_id":"45c60fc8-9d55-45b7-982e-1880e35d2924","visibility":"true","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"title":"Air Travel Doesn’t Have To Be A Drag … At Least If You’re At These Airports","category":"travel","_updatedAt":"2023-12-17T23:00:16Z","publishDate":"2023-12-18","_rev":"82FHgd9pw3o6Yf54cT2ZGd","id":"Ci0LMlfP","_type":"story","slug":"/story/2023/12/air-travel-doesnt-have-to-be-a-drag-at-least-if-youre-at-these-airports","summary":"These destinations are showing others across the country how it's done.","_createdAt":"2023-12-17T23:00:16Z","body":[{"style":"normal","_key":"4e00fd06a3e6","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"We’ve all seen the horror stories about the airline industry in recent years with major delays, unexpected flight cancellations, understaffing, and a host of other potentially vacation-ruining interruptions.","_key":"1e8e48cfba1f0"}],"_type":"block"},{"_key":"0ea04076fc11","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But there’s a glimmer of hope for those who are planning to fly on a commercial jet. A number of large airports have invested heavily in ","_key":"ff851716e0bf0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"streamlining operations ","_key":"3cd0a65b80e7"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"and ","_key":"7d377ee6da23"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"providing innovative services","_key":"c838f6a9c5fa"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in a bid to make the departure and arrival process as smooth and enjoyable as possible.","_key":"f3bca8f42406"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"890e3f37bd26","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.wsj.com/story/the-10-best-large-us-airports-of-2023-bbec6602","_key":"944243c822d6"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A new ","_key":"9f0f99d1183f0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["944243c822d6"],"text":"ranking","_key":"9f0f99d1183f1"},{"text":" for 2023 recently emerged that selected the top contenders based on ","_key":"9f0f99d1183f2","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"text":"a few criteria","_key":"b53ec07f2e80","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":":","_key":"8588f024baf2"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3bcb52664896","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"The most on-time flights","_key":"0dfb3c1a37540","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"level":1},{"children":[{"_key":"79566fb9ca330","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The shortest waits"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"abbf8e40338d","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[]},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"The most desired amenities","_key":"219f48f537e00","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"2ae80a6c5c5e"},{"style":"normal","_key":"77aab5773079","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Here are the three large airports that topped the list.","_key":"98c1464380880","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Los Angeles International Airport","_key":"4c1f7362b5090"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"001c5772c3a2"},{"_key":"627d065dfe30","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Coming in at number three is LAX, which earned its reputation for offering a particularly quick security clearance experience, having the second-lowest number of cancellations, and providing a better rate of on-time arrivals than all but two other major airports.","_key":"bac56cb9fe9b0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d9c47ee79227","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport","_key":"b9c4d8b16bbd0"}]},{"children":[{"_key":"b247ac3c87940","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Despite the region’s penchant for heavy snowfall, MSP has maintained a truly impressive record of getting planes in and out on time — and even when there are delays, they’re typically shorter than many other airports. It was good enough to earn a #2 spot on the list."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"be8a19dd30a7","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport","_key":"060a50dac68d0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"822ed2469004"},{"style":"normal","_key":"7184d3fa49ed","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"From freezing Minnesota to sweltering Arizona, extreme weather isn’t an excuse for poor service. And PHX proved that by providing the fewest cancellations of any large airport. The top contender also boasts among the briefest waits on the tarmac before takeoff and shortest average delays of any major airport.","_key":"3fe8bfcbc89d0"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Honorable mentions","_key":"fb0da560d0cf0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4ceeb162b794"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is always busy but gets passengers in and out with extreme efficiency. And Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport has impressive stats as well as an easy-to-understand layout.","_key":"211dbcfb848f0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a3f93e84d81c","markDefs":[]}]},{"publishDate":"2023-12-07","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_updatedAt":"2023-12-06T21:34:15Z","image":{"hotspot":{"height":0.6914722942120202,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.9726027397260276,"x":0.5,"y":0.47171829363610185},"_type":"image","attribution":"Shutterstock","asset":{"metadata":{"palette":{"muted":{"population":5.38,"background":"#83ab57","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"lightVibrant":{"title":"#000","population":3.2,"background":"#e3ce6b","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"darkVibrant":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.66,"background":"#c4a618","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"lightMuted":{"background":"#c0b4c8","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.18},"vibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":10.46,"background":"#fcc505","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"dominant":{"title":"#fff","population":10.62,"background":"#5b8248","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":10.62,"background":"#5b8248","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"}},"hasAlpha":false,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"aspectRatio":1.5,"height":3840,"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":5760},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"VRO{m0t8o$xaoM}rrUN|S5S69@t7T3j^bd^iO^SPnfW=","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata"},"_type":"sanity.imageAsset","description":"Logo on a train of the private railway Brightline Schnellzug Bahn at West Palm Beach station, USA","_id":"image-8e301ea65ea81410f052aff740486c94719b5b33-5760x3840-jpg","_updatedAt":"2023-12-06T21:25:07Z","uploadId":"ICb9rftfT2fTDBviIhUa7HWkg6B5Dc7I","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/8e301ea65ea81410f052aff740486c94719b5b33-5760x3840.jpg","originalFilename":"sstk-13900349ak.jpg","mimeType":"image/jpeg","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/8e301ea65ea81410f052aff740486c94719b5b33-5760x3840.jpg","extension":"jpg","_rev":"47hgfdWzyz0CGehAjgwHxr","sha1hash":"8e301ea65ea81410f052aff740486c94719b5b33","creditLine":"Markus Mainka/imageBROKER/Shutterstock","size":824521,"assetId":"8e301ea65ea81410f052aff740486c94719b5b33","_createdAt":"2023-12-06T21:25:07Z"},"crop":{"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0}},"visibility":"true","summary":"It could help redefine transportation in the United States.","title":"LA To Vegas In About Two Hours (And No Airport)? Yes, Please!","_type":"story","category":"travel","body":[{"_key":"8d94d7dcc6b3","markDefs":[{"href":"https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjvn75/americas-most-exciting-high-speed-rail-project-gets-dollar3-billion-grant-from-feds","_key":"3fb4d4b22b23","_type":"link"}],"children":[{"text":"High-speed rail has been a big part of the transportation sector around the world, but it’s been difficult for such projects to really take off here in the States.","_key":"5362a8c0f94d0","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" That might soon be changing","_key":"5245ae626541"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", though, with increased government funding like a $3 billion ","_key":"b0e3baa1999c"},{"_key":"5362a8c0f94d1","_type":"span","marks":["3fb4d4b22b23"],"text":"grant"},{"marks":[],"text":" in the infrastructure bill President Joe Biden signed into law.","_key":"5362a8c0f94d2","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"What’s the goal?","_key":"2d6fdf96c1c40","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"9597e3e35586"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"There are a few routes being proposed across the country, but the one that will benefit directly from the multibillion-dollar grant promises to take passengers from Los Angeles to Las Vegas (or vice versa) at","_key":"af8718af1fc30"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" a truly impressive speed.","_key":"152d202a0810"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"eca9c996e645"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"A private company, Brightline West, is behind the project — and here are a few key details:","_key":"5cc307150ac80","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f12e85138bc3"},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d63dc4e92709","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"All-electric trains will travel ","_key":"47ce935cd80e0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"as fast as 180 mph","_key":"f32fa4d4b255"}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"df0e1563a514","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"The entire route will span","_key":"4c64f7fa86300","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" more than 200 miles","_key":"efb8a63a32c1"}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"bdfe771051430","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The trip will take"},{"_key":"240e83ecfb0d","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" half the time"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" of driving","_key":"216cbd906838"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1562d5032427"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In total, the route is expected to cost somewhere around $12 billion. That includes the construction of additional stops along the way. As for the route, developers say it’ll stick close to Interstate 15 most of the way.","_key":"0482eb12b18e0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"6dcd010942e7","markDefs":[]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Why this route?","_key":"73820dd9b75c0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"eeef85f40c8d","markDefs":[]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e3b3bfe8dbe3","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://earlychirp.com/story/2023/09/tracking-floridas-unexpected-path-to-highspeed-rail-domination","_key":"0b6c22ed6d08"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Brightline ","_key":"64f77e86358d0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["0b6c22ed6d08"],"text":"began","_key":"64f77e86358d1"},{"marks":[],"text":" offering high-speed service between Miami and Orlando earlier this year, though with","_key":"64f77e86358d2","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" a lower 125 mph top speed","_key":"2db8e97bfe8d"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". And that was seen as a good starting point because the 250-mile journey was generally seen as too far to drive and not far enough to warrant a flight.","_key":"b9930079c845"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"That’s also a factor in the L.A.-to-Vegas line, but there are other reasons insiders are optimistic. There’s already significant interest in travel between the cities, and Vegas is unique in that most people who arrive there","_key":"d8aa7c5b481a0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" don’t need a car to get around","_key":"47b1ddd5e8ad"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" … meaning that a train could be an ideal form of transportation to and from Sin City.","_key":"10155e6741dd"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"00f5d520d7e8"}],"_id":"9f59aad4-4a19-457e-85be-b79ebc63c798","_rev":"47hgfdWzyz0CGehAjgxjkY","_createdAt":"2023-12-06T21:34:15Z","id":"tzQGyCbR","slug":"/story/2023/12/la-to-vegas-in-about-two-hours-and-no-airport-yes-please"},{"_updatedAt":"2023-11-22T22:02:10Z","_createdAt":"2023-11-22T21:52:48Z","_id":"ba293aec-d5fa-4a95-86a0-500b68223587","id":"81lXEwzH","title":"These 128 Airlines Are Banned In Europe … Here’s Why","image":{"_type":"image","attribution":"Shutterstock","asset":{"_updatedAt":"2023-11-22T21:50:34Z","originalFilename":"sstk-13944197jt.jpg","mimeType":"image/jpeg","assetId":"14a98fef2e6f84b5717a30879d1e630d22fc3e17","size":2319716,"description":"An Avior Boeing 737-400 aircraft with registration number YV3317 at Bogota Airport, Colombia","sha1hash":"14a98fef2e6f84b5717a30879d1e630d22fc3e17","_rev":"gAzu8Y5tTZmfii9VopH2kx","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/14a98fef2e6f84b5717a30879d1e630d22fc3e17-5760x3840.jpg","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/14a98fef2e6f84b5717a30879d1e630d22fc3e17-5760x3840.jpg","_createdAt":"2023-11-22T21:50:34Z","extension":"jpg","metadata":{"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":5760,"aspectRatio":1.5,"height":3840},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"VTG[vUxuRjozt7~qjZR%jZay%LWXj[jZWVxuRkxuj[Rj","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"lightMuted":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.11,"background":"#d4bda3","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"vibrant":{"background":"#dc6776","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.26},"dominant":{"population":4.8,"background":"#6c2828","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"title":"#fff","population":1.46,"background":"#614f33","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"muted":{"background":"#9a8d65","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.67},"lightVibrant":{"background":"#da9ba1","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.24},"darkVibrant":{"population":4.8,"background":"#6c2828","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"}},"hasAlpha":false},"creditLine":"Markus Mainka/imageBROKER/Shutterstock","_id":"image-14a98fef2e6f84b5717a30879d1e630d22fc3e17-5760x3840-jpg","uploadId":"USWvzqdIps013SGLfuwzprYDCOa9fXdo","_type":"sanity.imageAsset"}},"author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"visibility":"true","publishDate":"2023-11-23","category":"travel","_type":"story","summary":"Most aren't on the list because they're prone to dropping out of the sky.","body":[{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"If you’ve ever been a little nervous before getting on a commercial flight, you might have heard the common adage that air travel is ","_key":"16d873c96f030"},{"_key":"799d510661ac","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"much safer than driving"},{"marks":[],"text":".","_key":"063f9f4ccd8f","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"002555429a08","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But that doesn’t mean that every airline has the same high standards of safety.","_key":"a1b6ff1f3f060"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1a6b38f6a0f7"},{"markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vUISQVtMZ4","_key":"b48f4599e148"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In fact, 128 have been ","_key":"bcc042ccf3500"},{"marks":["b48f4599e148"],"text":"banned","_key":"bcc042ccf3501","_type":"span"},{"text":" in the European Union, and the reasons fall into three categories.","_key":"bcc042ccf3502","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"759ff0181462"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Country of origin","_key":"68deac9c33c00"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7f8de3ba12d8","markDefs":[]},{"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"For a whopping 101 of those banned airlines, the problem lies in the respective nations where they’re headquartered. The International Civil Aviation Authority requires that nations be able to ","_key":"bb740102b8b30","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"provide a host of assurances","_key":"2d2aa29717eb"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", from technical personnel to pilot licensing, to legislation to deal with safety concerns. And if a nation isn’t able to meet those demands, all of its carriers can be banned.","_key":"bc9b3fc25634"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"5b03cecfc49c","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"8d447929e016","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"Russia","_key":"8676778b35280","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"8bc39f7d37f20","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"One country is in a category of its own. All 22 of Russia’s carriers were banned from European Union skies after it"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" refused to return about 500 aircraft ","_key":"fc75c36a0508"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"that had been under lease to their respective nations. This was not only a pretty rude thing to do, but it led to concerns that Russia wouldn’t be able to provide sufficiently reliable certification to meet international standards.","_key":"3a38398e64de"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"8b99c3288b78"},{"_key":"1d75269a01fd","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Actual safety issues","_key":"cd02aa59f95e0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"d2c3bfebb4dc","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The remaining five airlines on the banned list have a record that is so troubling they’ve been kicked out of EU skies even though other carriers in their nations of origin area allowed. They include:","_key":"b69c589d864f0"}],"_type":"block"},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4a55751c5d17","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"cb87724e7da30","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Aseman Airlines"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" (Iran) for “unaddressed safety deficiencies”","_key":"d5d57a339ed1"}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"d2da03e9ef5c","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Avior Airlines","_key":"086adcd88cd30"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" (Venezuela) after a 2017 emergency landing when passengers said the smelled smoke and saw fire","_key":"644fabaa2374"}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"_key":"12af4eb78fe7","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Blue Wing","_key":"a01b0ba699bc0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" (Suriname), which had three plane crashes in the span of just over two years","_key":"0d44a0b3f0cd"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"f5bee03e997e","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Air Zimbabwe","_key":"80c92eb669b10","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" had engine failures, malfunctions, and hundreds of millions of dollars in debt","_key":"c60a90dc53e7"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Iraqi Airways","_key":"15065881d70e0"},{"text":" had several pilot-related issues, including a mid-flight fistfight in 2018.","_key":"94a3886744bb","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"858333cba611","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[]}],"slug":"/story/2023/11/these-128-airlines-are-banned-in-europe-heres-why","_rev":"ssAM18Y73h4ADYSDJM8XyL"},{"visibility":"true","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"publishDate":"2023-11-22","_updatedAt":"2023-11-22T00:40:19Z","image":{"attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"_updatedAt":"2023-03-27T20:15:25Z","metadata":{"dimensions":{"width":480,"aspectRatio":1.7777777777777777,"height":270,"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions"},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"MG9@VRiut6f+,T%%slVrofemFgWBM{WXIo","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"vibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":1.18,"background":"#1e76ae","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"dominant":{"background":"#5fa5d7","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":5.9},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":5.19,"background":"#55382f","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"muted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":3.86,"background":"#9f786d"},"lightVibrant":{"background":"#5fa5d7","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":5.9},"darkVibrant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.02,"background":"#093474","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"lightMuted":{"title":"#fff","population":1.23,"background":"#b5b4b7","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAALABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAGQAAAgMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAcDBAUG/8QAIBAAAgEEAgMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDAAQFERIhExQxYf/EABUBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIB/8QAGREBAQADAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIAESED/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwBc5LIw4/K2vrPG6xaPkBJUirMWfea6JSRI2G+DL0TuuJJIW30fqHdQWbHyq2zvf3dIqoTvDKkek1s6mMhsRBfkXF3zjlcdjmO/2isuBmktoWdiSU+k0Ua0q4ppkDRn/9k="},"url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/3ae97e9586f535fb51fafec6bb4f3f713b0cc4c5-480x270.gif","mimeType":"image/gif","source":{"name":"The Goldbergs Comedy GIF by ABC Network","id":"eHU3vch7yAxSFMRmpj","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/abcnetwork-abc-the-goldbergs-thegoldbergs-eHU3vch7yAxSFMRmpj"},"path":"images/8mioycse/v3/3ae97e9586f535fb51fafec6bb4f3f713b0cc4c5-480x270.gif","size":2753679,"assetId":"3ae97e9586f535fb51fafec6bb4f3f713b0cc4c5","_createdAt":"2023-03-27T20:15:25Z","_id":"image-3ae97e9586f535fb51fafec6bb4f3f713b0cc4c5-480x270-gif","_rev":"bIVddnNZ26lRmkJgKCr3l1","uploadId":"CuFV2nac5OY6QGp4sBAjIEnsLxtTWwim","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","sha1hash":"3ae97e9586f535fb51fafec6bb4f3f713b0cc4c5","originalFilename":"ec56c36c-2d3e-47ff-9006-146b0f8c211c.gif","extension":"gif"},"crop":{"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0},"hotspot":{"width":0.9109589041095888,"x":0.5,"y":0.5,"height":0.9452054794520548,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot"},"_type":"image"},"_createdAt":"2023-11-22T00:40:19Z","_id":"3e15f301-9a72-45f6-b676-4153f27d337e","title":"Airlines Prepare For Possible Record-Breaking Holiday Crowds","slug":"/story/2023/11/airlines-prepare-for-possible-recordbreaking-holiday-crowds","summary":"Expect some big crowds throughout the rest of the week.","_type":"story","body":[{"children":[{"_key":"49643607137f0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Thanksgiving is almost here and, as in years past, a lot of people will be spending the holiday "},{"_type":"span","marks":["a17855b1791a"],"text":"traveling","_key":"49643607137f1"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". That includes folks who will be ","_key":"49643607137f2"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"driving and flying to their destinations","_key":"b8fc5fa824f3"},{"text":", so if you’re going to be among them, we hope you’ll have a safe journey.","_key":"335f7893a06b","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"af1640a513c3","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/record-crowds-expected-air-roads-thanksgiving-105056353","_key":"a17855b1791a"}]},{"_key":"ebcfa3a79e11","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"9f8984a87eb00","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Preparing for the spike"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"While Thanksgiving traditionally brings with it a boost in highway and air travel, this year could see even more traffic for a couple of important reasons.","_key":"a9c11e904e1a0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"392f2b2d3d97"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"First, as the pandemic fades further into our collective memories, people are getting more comfortable with the idea of taking major trips.","_key":"56a22aea189f0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"803dfd24754c","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Then there’s the price factor. A gallon of gas is about ","_key":"152a7076b6f30"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"37 cents cheaper","_key":"04c4a11b33fc"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" than it was this time last year and the cost of an average airline ticket — $268 — is 14% less than Thanksgiving 2022.","_key":"7646cd293924"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"5da4e07857a3"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Here’s what analysts are predicting:","_key":"1fc078f7380c0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3cd0a9e6bb11","markDefs":[]},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Between yesterday and today, ","_key":"6b83238e151f0","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"more than 5 million Americans are","_key":"2d5ada096545"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" expected to take to the skies.","_key":"3435d1c214e8"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"9b0466783822"},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"About ","_key":"1f486f5dc0370","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"2.9 million are slated to fly","_key":"7887e0ae5969"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" back home on Sunday, which would beat a record set in late June.","_key":"9170aecdb239"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1c9219ee9062"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"962fa3d6e307","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Roughly ","_key":"18f7478f046b0"},{"_key":"3d85bbab23d4","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"55.4 million will travel"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" more than 50 miles via highway between today and Sunday.","_key":"1c33bacb46ce"}],"level":1},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"12e6e19f772d","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"And while you’ll probably run into some crowds no matter which mode of travel you choose, there is some optimism regarding the chaos that has defined airline travel in recent years.","_key":"ed09ad42023a0","_type":"span","marks":[]}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"71d9a416c97d","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"The Buttigieg promise","_key":"e103d8984c6d0"}],"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"5051103cc136","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"After delays, cancellations, understaffing, and irate passengers have given the industry a black eye lately, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said there are new routes, more air traffic controllers, and additional efforts underway to make flying less of a chore.","_key":"27fca08074230"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Of course, inclement weather could always ","_key":"f34a4e7fb6fe0","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"throw a monkey wrench","_key":"0084d5c57b5e"},{"_key":"7011ebf0cf81","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" into any travel plans, so be sure to check the forecast before you head out on the road or to the airport this week."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"9dea49b281fd","markDefs":[]}],"category":"travel","id":"zSaMUUyA","_rev":"r0PN3IvDkf0GuQd2h45UZZ"},{"_id":"6fe33f75-1f72-4e12-909c-2ddf8e7086d7","slug":"/story/2023/11/a-few-reasons-why-ultraluxury-vacations-are-on-the-rise","_type":"story","image":{"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"source":{"url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/fsnNbATnG7YT2lSfQV","name":"Spring Break Vacation GIF by MOODMAN","id":"fsnNbATnG7YT2lSfQV"},"_updatedAt":"2023-04-07T21:26:01Z","uploadId":"i1uiBPCzbDzwaW3ecmU46AABZEN3jZhv","_rev":"P6LC2MfcuWvjRDypv5afY1","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","mimeType":"image/gif","sha1hash":"2c2999d48292794dec35552903c7a5207c4a3122","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/2c2999d48292794dec35552903c7a5207c4a3122-480x270.gif","metadata":{"_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"lightMuted":{"title":"#fff","population":5.59,"background":"#ccb9a1","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"vibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":0.01,"background":"#b47c44","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"dominant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":5.93,"background":"#485119"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"population":5.15,"background":"#575e2c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"muted":{"background":"#9a8c73","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":4.1},"lightVibrant":{"background":"#bc9969","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.26},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#485119","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":5.93}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"aspectRatio":1.7777777777777777,"height":270,"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"M5D+h:.50w$z03009t?^n*xvCSE200NK-5"},"assetId":"2c2999d48292794dec35552903c7a5207c4a3122","_id":"image-2c2999d48292794dec35552903c7a5207c4a3122-480x270-gif","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/2c2999d48292794dec35552903c7a5207c4a3122-480x270.gif","size":1527269,"_createdAt":"2023-04-07T21:26:01Z","originalFilename":"c07c4463-0952-4a50-8e7d-4572a2713bf4.gif","extension":"gif"}},"body":[{"style":"normal","_key":"8d74a9362349","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.insider.com/what-travelers-splurge-on-for-vacation-trends-2023-11","_key":"096dbd275205"}],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"You don’t have to look very far these days to find evidence of a global economy teetering on the edge. But that hasn’t stopped a growing number of travelers from plopping down a small fortune on ","_key":"2cdba746c0c20","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["096dbd275205"],"text":"opulent","_key":"2cdba746c0c21"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" outings and elaborate excursions.","_key":"2cdba746c0c22"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"What’s behind the trend?","_key":"36eee07738410"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1dcb842a0abe","markDefs":[]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e540683f7c3d","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"310e5a41610d0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"After the COVID-19 crisis began to cool off a bit, many people found themselves with extra cash and a pent-up desire to get out of the house. This led to a rise in so-called “revenge travel,” but the pandemic alone doesn’t explain the spike in luxurious trips."}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"2da1410c6ede","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Experts believe there’s a newfound sense that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed, which has motivated people to seize the opportunity to enjoy the finer things in life while they can.","_key":"a54d07fc8f810","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4d9707bdc612","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Contrary to what you might think, inflation hasn’t been a huge dealbreaker. One study found that just ","_key":"4db4af958fd10"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"22% of people","_key":"1c5b28c9ef1c"},{"_key":"a5559555749f","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" said higher prices would “greatly impact” their travel plans and a whopping "},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"91% of Americans","_key":"e6b66b10e637","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" indicated they planned to take a vacation within the following six months.","_key":"3891f5efe3fe"}]},{"_key":"4b8146cedad9","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"But since prices are higher, these travelers seem determined to make the money they spend count, often by turning an ordinary vacation into a VIP experience.","_key":"b4b37692a2b60","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Where’s the money going?","_key":"66951d538f180"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3667dc8dc750"},{"_key":"ea9b616f9892","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Just because vacation cash is flowing doesn’t mean folks aren’t being selective about where they spend it. Based on anecdotal evidence from travelers themselves, there are three ways they want to describe an ideal vacation:","_key":"e33f1bcc08880"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"Comfortable","_key":"1cf16f7caf130","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": Whether it’s extra leg room on the plane or a hotel suite, this is a big factor in any luxury trip.","_key":"514bac068371"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3bcd5042cf19"},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"8f94f439de1a","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Convenient","_key":"4bde1e061f030"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": Springing for a direct flight or paying someone to take care of all the planning can make a vacation less stressful and more enjoyable","_key":"e82329f06c62"}]},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"Costly","_key":"0fa918a9370d","_type":"span"},{"_key":"57f1e68ea92f","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": Vacations can provide people with an excuse to order expensive foods, try new things, or pamper themselves."}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"29c01f8c11d4"}],"visibility":"true","_rev":"r0PN3IvDkf0GuQd2gkPbmz","title":"A Few Reasons Why Ultra-Luxury Vacations Are On The Rise","id":"ANPngVqQ","summary":"They might cost a pretty penny, but today's travelers think the experience is worth it.","category":"travel","publishDate":"2023-11-20","_updatedAt":"2023-11-20T01:57:08Z","_createdAt":"2023-11-20T00:05:50Z","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"}}]