Travel
We're at our most vulnerable when we take on the role of tourist. If we aren't cheated by unscrupulous travel agents and tour guides, we have all the discomforts, dangers, and pitfalls of our chosen mode of travel to look forward to. We make our way through territory unfamiliar to us, places where we may not speak the language or understand the local customs and culture — with disastrous results. And who knows what might be lurking in those souvenirs we innocently cart home from abroad ...
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News
Elon Musk Proposes Aggressive Agenda to Put Humans on Mars by 2022
The project being pushed by Musk would put humans on Mars before NASA missions achieve that goal. Read More
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Language
Russian President Vladimir Putin Wins Reelection
Putin's United Russia party also won a majority of votes amid a "record low" voter turn-out of 47.8 percent. Read More
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Fact Check
Hiding in a Hotel as 'Unlisted'
An internet rumor suggested that registering as "unlisted" in a hotel made guests "untouchable," but we couldn't find evidence of any such universal policy. Read More
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Fact Check
Biometric Passports
Under Department of Homeland Security guidelines implemented in April 2016, some visitors to the U.S. could be denied entry without biometric passports. Read More
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Fact Check
Flying with Animals
Can claiming your pet is an "emotional support animal" get it past airport security and onto your plane? Read More
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Fact Check
Mysterious Arrows
History: Concrete arrows guided early airmail pilots across the U.S. Read More
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Fact Check
No Axe-Ident
Rumor: A commercial airline pilot who accidentally locked himself out of the cockpit had to hack down the door with a fire axe to regain entry. Read More
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Fact Check
Landmark Travel
Rumor: Map shows an optimal route for driving across the USA and hitting major landmarks in every state. Read More
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Fact Check
Tourist Trap
Urban legends about the piftalls of tourism. Read More
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Fact Check
Landmark Travel
Rumor: Map shows how to 'drive across the USA hitting all the major landmarks.' Read More
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Fact Check
Pudding on the Ritz
Rumor: A clever consumer earned millions of miles of free air travel by taking advantage of a pudding sales promotion. Read More
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Fact Check
My Retirement Plan
Rumor: Some people have eschewed retirement homes in favor of living on cruise ships. Read More
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Fact Check
Flogsta Meme
Swedish residents participate in a 'Flogsta scream' each night at 10 or 11 PM. Read More
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Fact Check
Foreign Relations
Urban legends and folklore about cultural differences. Read More
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Fact Check
The Bedbug Letter
Apology letter to wronged customer is marred by attached instructions to send the standard form letter. Read More
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Fact Check
Crash Position
Does brace position kill passengers quickly in the event of an air crash? Read More
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Fact Check
Obnoxious Passengers
A bigoted and obnoxious airline passenger demanding special treatment gets more than he bargained for. Read More
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Fact Check
Floor Show
New residents in unfamiliar housing circumstances adapt in unusual ways. Read More
