“Jeanie Reavis has come for Mardi Gras and Jazzfest and Creole Christmas, dozens of trips to the city she loves. She will head to New Orleans again Monday, undeterred by the destruction she witnessed on her TV screen from 700 miles away.” Link: cnn.com

“A husband-and-wife team reached the Pacific Ocean on Saturday after a 4,900-mile cross-country hike, becoming the first to backpack the transcontinental American Discovery Trail in one continuous trek.” Link: cnn.com

“World Music Central is a portal dedicated to World Music. Featuring the latest World Music news, CD and concert reviews, articles, an events calendar, and resources for music fans, industry professionals and researchers.” Link: http://www.worldmusiccentral.org

“The Italian Ambassador to Slovakia Antonio Provenzano officially opened Irish airline Ryanair’s new route between Bratislava and Milan (Bergamo), the TASR news wire reported. Ryanair plans to carry around 100,000 passengers on this route in its first year.”Link: slovakspectator.sk

“Irish no-frills airline Ryanair defended its policy on disabled passengers on Thursday after it was slammed for ejecting nine blind and partially sighted passengers from one of its flights.” Link: airwise.com

“Because your first trip to Tokyo can be like going to another planet. Planet Tokyo there to guide you through the culture shock that many western travellers experience upon arrival in Japan. If you’re planning a trip, or just hoping to learn something new and interesting have a look at this western traveller’s guide to…

“The three newest inhabitants at the London Aquarium move like all others in nearby tanks, but the brightly colored fish are robots.” Link: CNN.com

???¢?¢?€š?¬?…?€?Until now it was believed potatoes had no single origin US scientists have found that all modern varieties of potatoes can be traced back to a single source – a spud grown in Peru over 7,000 years ago.???¢?¢?€š?¬?‚?? Link: bbc.co.uk

“Conservation groups are calling for a UN moratorium on the fishing practice known as bottom trawling.” Link: bbc.co.uk

“Summer is gone in the Alps, but those who remain are glad. It’s taken the crowds and high prices with it, but left crystal clear air, brilliant foliage and vantage points uncluttered by tour parties or even any other people at all.” Link: cnn.com

???¢?¢?€š?¬?…?€?Work on an underwater dam to try to save the lagoon city of Venice from floods will go ahead, Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has said, despite mounting calls for it to be halted because of environmental damage.???¢?¢?€š?¬?‚?? Link: cnn.com

“Tony Blair and family flew Ryanair to Carcassonne for a recent chateau holiday in south-west France, not far from where Lionel Jospin takes his holidays. And Lord Lawson, former Chancellor of the Exchequer, bought a 19th-century retreat in Gascony a few years ago.” Link: Independent Online Edition

“Ryanair has promised to fly two million passengers to Malta within four years and base six aircraft on the island in return for a long-term low-cost deal which the airline claims would “save” Malta’s tourism.” Link: The Times & The Sunday Times, Malta

“Mini-scoop about Ryanair: sometimes is cheaper to book two one-way tickets separately than a round-trip ticket.” Link: www.alfb.net