Bayan Muna Representative Teddy Casiño. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker on Tuesday slammed the Supreme Court’s order stopping the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) from implementing its fixed salary policy for bus drivers and conductors.
Bayan Muna Representative Teddy Casino said that the high court’s decision was a “setback” since without the fixed salary, employees of bus firms would need to go back to “stretching their time and bodies to the limit just to feed their families.”
He urged members of the House of Representatives to push for the passage of House Bill 3370, which sought to provide workers of bus firms with fixed wages and driving hours in an effort to lessen the chances of accidents caused by buses.
The said bill was filed days after veteran journalist and professor Lourdes Estella Simbulan died in a road accident involving the taxi she was riding and a bus along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.
Aside from providing bus drivers and conductors with fixed salaries and working hours, the measure also seeks to penalize operators of erring bus companies who will face suspension of franchises and fines ranging from P100,000 to P200,000.
“I’m calling on the House leadership to prioritize House Bill 3370 so that the policy can be institutionalized into law and not questioned in the courts,” Casino said.
Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise went from zero to nuclear war in an instant when she filed divorce papers, but it was little Suri who became the peacemaker ... sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ.
Our sources say ... a week ago Thursday, after Katie filed, the hostility between the two was palpable and Suri became a weapon. Katie wanted to strip Tom of all decision-making power in Suri's life, and Tom responded by unleashing the biggest legal guns around to fight her.
We're told what turned everything around was a series of conversations that Suri would be irreparably damaged by parental warfare. It registered big time with both Tom and Katie, and it allowed their lawyers to strike a deal in what could be record time for this type of divorce.
Fact is ... it generally takes celebs in these high-profile divorces a lot longer to realize how bitterness affects small kids, so credit to both.
Lady Gaga claims her next album will have a ”tremendous lack of maturity,” in contrast to the grown up lyrical themes of her last record, ‘Born This Way’.
Lady Gaga’s next album will have a ”tremendous lack of maturity.”
The ‘Judas’ singer’s last record, ‘Born This Way’, incorporated grown up lyrical themes – including addressing homosexuality on the title track and her grandfather’s death on ‘The Edge of Glory’ – but she is planning her next album to be more lighthearted.
Speaking during a performance in Perth, Australia, yesterday (08.07.12), she told the crowd: ”Let’s just say I feel that when I wrote ‘Born This Way’, I demonstrated a sense of maturity. ’And I feel that, on the next album, there’s a lack of maturity. It’s a tremendous lack of maturity or sense of responsibility.”
Gaga has already debuted one new track, ‘Lady Die’, which has proved controversial because of its lyrics, which appear to reference Diana, Princess of Wales’, tragic death in a Paris car crash in 1997. On the track, Gaga sings: ”And wish that I would go / In my rich boyfriend’s limo / Right after he proposed / With a 16-carat stone wrapped in rose gold / With the paparazzi all swarming around /So bob head your head for another dead blonde.” Diana and her lover Dodi Fayed both died in the Paris crash, and it is rumoured the businessman had recently proposed to her.
Gaga’s Born This Way Ball tour starts its next leg in Europe, performing in Sofia, Bulgaria, on August 14.
Perceptive Pixel, the outfit behind the infamous “Magic Wall” displays trotted out every U.S. Election Day on the cable news networks, is now a Microsoft company. But Perceptive Pixel’s software - not hardware - could be the key to the deal.
Terms of the acquisition, announced during the effects-laden keynote of Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) in Toronto this morning, were not disclosed. Nor was a clear reason for the purchase. But there are some clues.
Really Big Screens
Most obviously, Perceptive Pixel Inc. (PPI) makes screens. Big, interactive screens with multitouch capabilities. Microsoft could see a fit with its own Windows 8 offering.
Specifically, the New York-based PPI makes multitouch displays that range from 27 to 82 inches diagonally. This well-known technology powers applications such as CNN’s Magic Wall. These giant displays were first used in several networks' 2008 Election Night coverage. They’ve been seen as useful if not flashy, and not as horrifically awkward as CNN’s holograms.
A Fit With Windows 8 Metro
Given that Windows 8’s Metro interface is particularly designed for a touch interface, it’s a fair reach to surmise that PPI’s big-screen tech will be part of Microsoft’s overall Windows 8 strategy. But PPI also makes a lot of software, including Storyboard, a flexible presentation program, and has a number of strong programming interfaces (APIs) for multitouch display use.
Microsoft Surface notwithstanding, the company probably doesn’t want to become a hardware manufacturer. Plus, Microsoft already has a 40-inch multitouch display, now called PixelSense. If Microsoft bought Perceptive Pixel just because someone couldn’t figure out how to hang PixelSense on a wall, the company is in even more trouble than anyone recognizes.
“We are incredibly excited to be working together on our mutual passion to build technologies that enable people to collaborate and communicate,” PPI founder Jeff Han said. “By joining Microsoft, we will be able to take advantage of the tremendous momentum of the Microsoft Office Division, tightly interoperate with its products, and deliver this technology to a very broad set of customers.”
Big Customers, Too
Software or hardware, this is not kiddie tech. Perceptive Pixel has an impressive customer list, which demonstrates that its technology can find a home with some major players. Perceptive Pixel’s software could, with some further development, be used to enhance Microsoft’s existing collaborative software from PowerPoint all the way up to SharePoint.
In the collaboration and communications space, Microsoft has already demonstrated that it will grab whatever tech it needs to get ahead, and it looks like the acquisition is yet another step toward that goal.
After months of praise and encouragement during her run at the title, season 11 "American Idol" runner-up Jessica Sanchez has landed a major-label deal alongside winner Phillip Phillips. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the 16-year-old high schooler has inked a deal with show mentor Jimmy Iovine's Interscope Records. The pint-size diva's debut album is debut is due out in October and will eschew the big, poppy ballads Sanchez was saddled with on the show for a more urban-flavored sound that matches her expressive voice.
Though details about producers and songwriters for the as-yet-untitled disc have not yet been released, Sanchez appears to have already begun work on it. For the past week, Sanchez has tweeted a series of messages to her followers about the recording grind, including one on Sunday, in which she wrote, "Another day at the studio #musicmakin'." Earlier, she told them, "At the stuuuuudio recording some amazing tracks for the upcoming album ;) <3"
You may think you know her from her soaring Mariah and Whitney ballads on the show, but when it comes to her album, well, you have no idea.
"I don't want people to just hand me music and be like, 'Here, you sound good on this. Sing it.' I want to be able to say, 'This is me,' " Sanchez told MTV News recently , adding that she has high hopes for some A-list contributors on the album.
"This is going to seem odd, but I love Eminem, because he has so much conviction and emotion in the way he raps; every word that he raps, you feel it," she said. "And I think our talents would mesh. So, hopefully, it could happen, and I would just die if he'd collaborate with me!"
Sanchez will have to keep the tracks rolling on the road, since the "Idol" top 10 are preparing to kick off their summer tour on July 6 with a show in Detroit. After some health issues that threatened to sideline him for the outing, champ Phillips appears to be on the mend following kidney surgery .
During recent tour rehearsals, Sanchez said it was great to get the gang back together. "It's so much fun," she said of reuniting with her "Idol" pals. "It's just like the old days when we were first auditioning and everyone was just a big family and just jamming out."
At last week's Newark, New Jersey, auditions for the upcoming 12th season of "Idol," host Ryan Seacrest reacted to rumors of Sanchez possibly joining the cast of "Glee" and said he's all for it. "I saw that [and] I wasn't surprised she made the cast of 'Glee,'" he said of reported talks between the singer and show runner Ryan Murphy about a multi-episode arc in the middle of the upcoming fourth season. "I was surprised that Phillip wasn't asked to be on the cast ... He's perfect for 'Glee!' I'm kidding you, I'm kidding you, he's doing just fine without! But I think that's perfect for her, that's what this show can do for you."
Ever since Carrie Underwood won season 4 of American Idol, there was no question that she could very well rival the biggest Idol star at the time, Kelly Clarkson. Since then, both have soared to the top and stayed there, with Underwood overtaking Clarkson in total album sales (13,205,000 and 11,664,000 copies sold, respectively). But now the original Idol can claim the top spot in a different area.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Kelly Clarkson's single "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" is now the best selling American Idol single of all time, having now sold 3,510,000 copies, overtaking Carrie Underwood's massive hit "Before He Cheats" (at 3,509,000 sold). (The previous runner-up was Jordin Sparks' "No Air.")
This is especially impressive, considering "Stronger" has only been available for less than a year, while "Before He Cheats" was first released five years ago.
Welcome to our 15th annual Worst Airports for a snooze (or long transit).
So how do we come up with the these lists? Every year, our airport sleepers send in their airport reviews and they vote in our polls. Then we consider the important stuff - our four C's: comfort, conveniences, cleanliness and customer service. This data combined with information about the airport's facilities and passenger services somehow ends up being our Best and Worst Airports lists.
This year the following airports have been voted as our airport sleeper's least favourite airports for reasons such as safety concerns, lack of comfortable seating, rude staff, hostile security, poor facilities, no (or few) services to pass the time, bribery, being kicked out at night or just general hassles of being in the airport.
The list this year is very heavily European, simply because that's where the most airport sleeping adventures are to be had. We base our list on user reviews and poll votes and we just happen to receive more reviews for overnight sleepovers for European airports. Certainly there are worse airports than the ones listed below, but there is no use writing about them if our readers aren't going there anyways. :-)
When you are done here, check out the Best Airports.
VOTE for the Best & Worst Airports of 2012 - CLICK HERE.
The annual survey is based on polls and surveys on the site, traveller airport reviews, Facebook comments and information provided on airport web sites or directly from airports. This list intended for travellers who plan to sleep in or transit through the airport.
Why? There will be numerous and long queues. The older terminal (Terminal 1) is in bad shape. Earlier this year, some bad press regarding the state of the airport made airport officials promise to clean its Terminal 1 toilets and provide running water and soap. Imagine.... they actually had to "promise" to offer this! In May, a ceiling at Terminal 1 caved in, while over at Terminal 3 a report came out in early October 2011 stating that the 9 year old terminal was "structurally flawed".
We're not finished yet.....there's more.
Forget about sleeping in this airport! You will not want to even close your eyes here! Bribery and theft exists. Airport taxes are collected, but the money does not seem to go towards the betterment of the airport. Document holders have been told their papers are not correct, but a fee of x amount should clear up the matter.
In terms of facilities, visitors will have better luck at the newer Terminal 3, where it is clean, spacious and one can find an internet connection.
The terminals are lacking services such as left luggage and pay-in lounges for transit passengers. However, the one big plus is the Free WiFi in the "passenger movement" areas.
This is what a few of our reviewers have told us this year:
"I lost my cellphone between the drop-off at the entrance and the security check! The phone was in my side pocket of my handbag and this side pocket was slashed with a sharp knife! I mentioned it to the PNP officer and he referred me to an airport policeman. This guy had the guts to suggest that I go to the lost and found office and check if they found it. Long story short, he didn't even get my name and address to file a report and was just saying: ma'am there are many thieves in this airport. Just look after your belongings!"- Monette
“The concession stand down at the gates was selling bottles of water that had already been opened, reused bottles with broken seals and they pretended to break the seal on the bottles when selling.” – living abroad
“Their arrival ramp is not user friendly because it slopes downward!! If you happen to be pushing your loads of baggages through this ramp watch out or your baggage might get to the bottom of the ramp before you!!" – tiffycality “I've travelled to many airports and have stayed overnight at some of them, but nothing compares to the experience at NAIA. In short, it's a horrible waste of time and you should all hold onto your wallets as tightly as possible. I especially advise any foreign travellers to avoid this airport, the amount of corruption and bribery is just mind blowing." – shizumasa
Update 21 Oct 11: Was it a slow news week or something? In what has turned out to be a SleepingInAirports first, the results of our survey seems to have caused an uproar in the local media. As a result, recent news reports indicate that there are ongoing efforts to improve Terminal 1. We encourage future travellers to share their reviews about these new improvements as they will be ongoing and everything cannot be done all at once. You can also participate in the annual survey here.
Update 06 Nov 11: After weeks of media attention surrounding the results of our annual worst airports survey, it was announced today that Manila NAIA 1 will be receiving a P-1 billion dollar facelift (approx. US$ 23,268,773) starting in January 2012. Hopefully there are funds earmarked for employee retraining and cleaning out the corruption.
Redeeming Qualities: Free WiFi, Day rooms [airside Terminal 1] ($)
Why? Paris Beauvais airport closes between the hours of 1130pm-630am. You WILL be kicked out!!!! Travellers who have written reviews for the site have ended up sleeping between sliding doors, in nearby telephone booths, out in the nearby fields and in the bathroom portables. This is probably not an airport for the first-time airport sleeper. You need to be prepared to camp! There are no services and airport seating is limited.
“once we arrived we occupied some benches, we bought some stuff to eat and drink and then we just lay there when all of a sudden the security guy came and told us that the airport was closing in 10 minutes.” – peppocricc "First time I took the plane from Beauvais, I thought it was a joke! The boarding zone was looking more like a tent from Elysee garden party!" - Nicolas
Redeeming Qualities: The low fare you probably paid to fly out of this airport, Pub ($), WiFi ($)
Why? Inhospitable to airport sleepers! Considering their country's nasty volcano introduced many travellers to the concept of airport sleeping, they REALLY should be more tolerant. There are signs warning travellers not to stay overnight. If the guards are in a good mood, you may be permitted to stay, but you must sit there with your eyes open. No laying down or looking like you are resting your eyes. The terminal is cold even in summer. There are no overnight food facilities (obviously). For the transit passenger, there are a few shops and restaurants airside.
"if you decide to spend the night, buy those Homer Simpson glasses with the open eyes!" - elysia
"around 1:30am we all got the fateful kick at our feet from security telling us 'no camping, go outside to sleep'. half of the people left... i just went back to sleep. was woken up maybe half an hour again and was told i was allowed to stay if I sat up and did not stretch my sleeping bag out on the floor (??)." - bikepath
Why? Besides a lack of facilities, overnight campers will not have an easy sleep at the Bergamo airport. This airport will be crowded, noisy and security will keep moving people from one area to another throughout the night.
“I slept in several airports, but this was a nightmare! The security staff will not let you sleep, they will kick you to the arrival area, then in two hours to departure area and in another hours they keep running around you to wake u up. Horrible. Only one working electric outlet in whole airport. Did I mention toilets? Horror! You will not believe this, until you check it on your own.” – Mandela
"The security guy woke me up with his feet" Fery on our Facebook Page
"its fidelitas [wake] you up at 1:30am with words 'stand up please', and when you move to another section of terminal, they wake you up again" - Juraj on our Facebook Page
Redeeming Qualities: Pay-in Lounge [airside] ($), Left Luggage ($)
Why? Back in the early days of the site, we were entertained by the horror stories coming out of this airport. Then it became quiet for a few years and once again, traveller's are not enjoying their time at this airport. Complaints of limited seating and no services for long-term stays or transits.
"One of the worst experiences I had at this small overcrowded airport. people are rude, especially the security and airport staff. I had to leave early morning to moscow for office work and the night was pathetic. No seating area... limited number of seats, no bar or proper toilets. If you want to smoke you have to go out in the cold with your luggage everytime. the main problem with that airport is that it is very very small.. and its an international airport. " - sasha
Why? Limited seating; bucket seats, and a lack of passenger facilities. A very basic airport for budget airlines.
"It's not as bad as you can imagine as long as you sleep on the floor. There are almost no benches and the airport is crowded with young people (some of them were drunk and pretty loud). I slept on the carpet of Hertz-car-renting and it was OK. The floor is quite dusty and dirty so I covered it with a Newspaper. The security don't care at all - you can sleep almost anywhere." - kriti03
Redeeming Qualities: The low fare you probably paid to fly out of this airport, Baggage Storage ($)
Why? Basic facilities and services. Annoying announcements. Freezing temperatures. There is limited seating, all of which is uncomfortable. Most people sleep on the floor.
“When we get there, there was no seats available to sleep, because it was already full of people, we slept on the floor, but the lights never go out, and there was always loud notices from the airport. Besides there were kids crying all the time.” – lupop
"Luton is freezing cold, no place to put a head down" Andrzej on our Facebook Page
Redeeming Qualities: The low fare you probably paid to fly out of this airport, Internet Cafe ($), Chapel, Baggage Storage ($), pay-in Airport Lounge
The lawn where overnight sleepers get surprised by the sprinklers by christophercjensen
Why? The Pisa Airport is closed from the last flight (approx. 1am) to 4am. You will be kicked out!!! Reports indicate that security is very rude as they are tossing travellers out. Summer travellers who sleep outside the terminal will be surprised by the courtesy shower provided by the automatic sprinkler system. Once inside, the terminal is cold, especially if you've just come in after being attacked by the sprinkler system.
"All passengers of the flights of the day after were sleeping in front of the airport when Automatic sprinklers started and make us wet.. Bad idea to leave for Norway with a wet luggage" - pogoPete
"they close the terminal !! and [security] are indeed very rude !!" - Lex on our Facebook Page
Third World inspired Terminal 3 complete with tin roof. by SleepingInAirports.net
Why? If we were to determine this list solely on the number of votes, CDG would have come in second this year. However, we must look at a few more factors such as traveller reviews, airport facilties and whether or not sleep is actually possible. For those reasons, after ranking as our #1 Worst Airport in 2009 and 2010, we are going to give CDG a break this year. Here's why:
1) There have been many more positive reviews coming in (for Terminal 2E). It probably helps that travellers have been going to CDG with low expectations after visiting this site. 2) Back in December 2010, we began to hear reports that the homeless population was being segragated to Terminal 3 at night. 3) Sleep can be had at this airport. You just need to make sure you go to the right terminal. For the overnight campers, Terminal 2E is a good place to go. Security was friendly when I was there and they let people sleep. There is no reason to sleep in the older, scary terminals and if you try, you're crazy!
“Terminal 3 check in counters are narrow. Not what I would call a lobby. Dark, gray, and interior pretty much looked like a fuhrerbunker we see in Hitler movies. Gray concrete, chipping off etc. Restrooms here are, dirty. Being in a city of grandeur such as Paris, I think CDG is mislocated.” – scientifico_0729
“At the middle of the night, some homeless started to walk around. Even if they didn't create any trouble, they had a really bad odour, so I had to change place.” - dandiaz1718
“On the outside of security, there is limited seating. The seats that are available are filled with a variety of homeless. Some smell as if they have pooped in their pants, while others smell more like urine and alcohol.” - pward2988
"Didn't know you couldn't take photos (even fast ones) while disembarking through the tarmac (unlike in other airports). Rude staff had to hit my camera lens so I would stop taking a photo of the Concorde. Come on, they could have just told me. No need to hit my camera. Which by the way showed signs of problems after.” - scientifico_0729
So how can CDG improve? Not that they are asking for (or care to read) our opinion, but here is our wishlist to help make Paris CDG a better place. - Provide a 24 hour food concession. Vending machines don't count! There was a rumour of a 24-hour coffee shop. If one truly exists, can someone please tell us where it is! - Offer more than 15 minutes of Free WiFi. Offer unlimited WiFi! This will help distract people who have nothing to do at the airport. - Offer a landside pay-in lounge with showers, food, movie room, etc. The only problem would be making it big enough to accommodate all the people who would pay money not to be in the public area of the scary terminals during their long connections.
Redeeming Qualities: WiFi ($), Internet Cafe ($), Pay-in Lounge [Terminal 1 airside] ($), Multimedia Terminal ($), Massages ($), Beauty Salon ($), Children's Play Areas, Playstation Areas, Games room ($), Prayer room, Workstations, Left Luggage ($)
Why? This is a busy, crowded traveller processing centre....er, airport. Seating is limited - the floor is your best option, so bring a mat to sleep on! Rude immigration/security staff who automatically assume you are a terrorist or that you will never leave their country. Bathrooms are in poor condition. Signage is poor. There are no conveniences for people in transit....not even a 24 hour coffee shop. Transiting between the 9 terminals is often difficult and confusing.
“LAX can be very noisy at night because of the bright lights, the frequent announcements about suspicious packages/USO Club/no smoking, and especially the cleaning crew, who run their machines all night long with no mercy. Oh, and late night is also a popular time for airport maintenance, so don't be surprised if you wake up to the sounds of hammering, scissor lifts, or workers shouting orders. I ended up giving up on sleep and spent the rest of the night reading a book. None of the 20-odd travelers near me got anything close to a good sleep- you could see them toss & turn, or get up and glare at the floor polishers for a while before trying to sleep again.” – JoeS
“you have to actually go OUTSIDE and walk along the sidewalk to get from one terminal to the next. I'm glad I was able to carry and roll my own luggage, but what about elderly?” – SpruceBudworm
"Sleeping in Tom Bradley isn't nice. There are very few places to stretch out. Most seats have armrests and not the kind you can tetris yourself into. ” – xtero
Welcome to our 15th annual Best Airports for a snooze (or long transit).
So how do we come up with the these lists? Every year, our airport sleepers send in their airport reviews and they vote in our polls. Then we consider the important stuff - our four C's: comfort, conveniences, cleanliness and customer service. This data combined with information about the airport's facilities and passenger services somehow ends up being our Best and Worst Airports lists.
These lists are intended for airport sleepers and transit passengers based on what our readers have shared with us about their experiences. We don't track stuff like on-time flight performance, likelihood of strikes and incidents of air traffic controllers falling asleep on the job.
VOTE for the Best & Worst Airports of 2012 - CLICK HERE.
Here are the winners of our 2011 Golden Pillow Award:
1 | SINGAPORE
For the 15th year, Singapore Changi has scored the coveted top Golden Pillow Award. Over the past year, airport sleepers have flooded our polls and once again crowned "Club Changi" as our best airport.
In addition to those typical amenities that we rave about at other airports such as free WiFi, internet cafes, prayer rooms, and good eats, add these upgrades available at Changi: snooze chairs and napping areas in transit, city tours, a swimming pool and Jacuzzi, 24 hour massage and spa facilities, video games, music lounges, live bands, gardens, pay-in lounges for us poor economy passengers and free movies -- all at the airport. There really is no reason to leave Club Changi. Several contributors have raved about Singapore's Changi airport and have suggested you stay a few nights there even if you have the money for a hotel.
The thing we love about Changi is their ability to make the airport fun! From its Entertainment Deck with the Movie Theatre and XBox/Playstation consoles to the new 4-storey slide at terminal 3, being at the airport does not have to be a boring, coma-inducing experience.
Everything is not all sunshine and roses at our beloved Changi though. There have been recent reports of the terminal being too cold and construction noise at night. The Budget Terminal also continues to be a black mark on this shining star. Pack a sweater and ear plugs just in case.
"The bathrooms are awesome [and] they smell good, large space, and has couches. " - deangie
"it's just like sleeping inside a mall." - airporter
Airport Services/Facilities: Free WiFi, Free Internet Kiosks, Food-24 hours ($), Baggage Storage($), pay-in Lounges ($), Shower ($), Gym & Spa ($), Massage ($), Swimming Pool & Jacuzzi ($), Convenience Stores/Supermarkets ($), Prayer rooms, Business Centres ($), Singapore City Tour, Nature Trail (including a Butterfly Garden, Cactus Garden, Fern Garden, Koi Pond, Orchid Garden, Sunflower Garden, Fragrant Garden, Night Light Garden), airside Rest Areas with snooze chairs, Aviation Gallery, Children's Play Area, Entertainment Deck (including a Jam Studio, Lan Gaming, Music Area, MTV Booth, Movie Theatre, XBox and PlayStation consoles), The Slide @ T3 - 4 storey slide ($), Grand Prix Race Stimulators ($), Transit Hotel ($).
It was a close race between Hong Kong and Seoul's Incheon airport, but this year the number 2 position goes to Hong Kong due to the number of facilities and services available. The Hong Kong airport has four 24 hour pay-in lounges (airside and landside), 24-hour food and drink (airside and landside), a nearby 9 hole golf course, an interactive movie studio and the largest 4D Movie Theatre in Asia. If you are in transit and really need to rest, look for the lounge chairs hidden behind shrubbery.
"The airport is new, big, clean, safe, with free unlimited wi-fi, the security guards don't bother you, it's not cold, you can sleep comfortably in the double chairs in a row, or in one throwing your legs on the trolley." - Martian
Airport Services/Facilities: Free WiFi, Internet Kiosks, Showers ($), Baggage Storage ($), Pay In Lounges-24-hour ($), Food/Drink-24-hour ($), Miniatures Gardens, airside Resting Areas, Exhibitions and Demonstrations/Workshops (such as Tea-making or Chinese Medicine), 4D Extreme Screen ($), 9 hole golf course ($), PlayStation Gateway, Sports Simulators (soccer, basketball, golf, boxing, skiing, car racing, shooting), Asia Hollywood is an interactive movie studio ($), Aviation Discovery Centre, Children Play Areas, Children's TV Lounges,
Seoul Incheon offers free WiFi, 24-hour Food and Drink (airside and landside) and comfy seats airside for the transit passengers.
"Incheon is great. It's airy, comfortable, super squeaky clean, quiet, and efficient. The food choices are great - we ate in the cafeteria-style place which serves tasty and affordable Korean food with free self-service side dishes (banchan). There's free WiFi, and an area where you can use the internet for free on provided laptops." - ana_siam
Airport Services/Facilities
Food-24 hours ($), WiFi, Internet Kiosks/Stations ($), Sauna and Spa-24 hours($), Shower ($), Massage ($), Baby Care Lounges, Children's Play Areas, Korean Cultural Museum, Traditional Craft Gallery, Observation Deck, Gardens (Pine Tree, Woody Plant, Alpine, Green, Cactus, Water, Four Gracious Plants, Star Garden and Wildflower), Driving Range ($)
There are two terminals -- KLIA and the LCCT. The KLIA terminal is nicer and more comfortable. Both terminals have 24-hour pay-in lounges that economy passengers can access. The LCCT terminal has one located landside. On the downside, both terminals are lacking 24 hour food facilities.
"the announcements are terribly loud but ebbed off after 11pm, so that i could sleep quite well (with a whole cusioned bench without armrests for myself) until 5am when the airport became more lively again." - ire
Airport Services/Facilities: Free WiFi, Free Internet Kiosks, Pay in Lounges-24 hours ($), Showers ($), Baggage Storage ($), Massage ($), Observation Gallery, Prayer and Silent Rooms, Children's Play Area, KLIA.TV, Transit Hotel ($).
Amsterdam's Schiphol airport is large hub which rates high for its airside/transit facilities and comfort. Airside you'll find recliners and rest zones. The situation is not the same landside, so landside reviews are poor for this airport. This year the airport introduced Free WiFi for 1 hour. A unique feature at this airport would be that you can hold your wedding here. They promote "Get Married at Schiphol Airport"....so all of you young brides who have dreamed of that airport wedding ....Schiphol is the airport for you. :-)
"Amsterdam's airport is by far the best airport I have ever slept in. Once through customs, you can find a small area of lounge style chairs. I'd guess there are probably 150 of them in the section I slept in." - pward2988
Airport Services/Facilities: Free WiFi, Food-24 hours($), pay-in Lounges ($), Baggage Storage ($), Internet Stations ($), Showers ($), Observation Terrace, Get married at Schiphol ($), Spa-24 hours ($), Gym ($), Sauna ($), Casino ($), Massage ($), Museum/Art Exhibits, Meditation room, Floating Dutchman Bus Tour ($), 6D Motion Theatre ($).
Munich promotes itself as "More than an Airport" and that it is! From the beach volleyball tournaments and mini golf to the Customs Office tours where you can actually view items seized at customs, you may actually want to get up off your bench or piece of airport floor and experience this airport.
"The Munich airport is like a huge shopping mall, and the two terminals are connected by a very large courtyard. " - AnnArborTraveler
"The first floor was unbearable wooden seats. We crashed for a minute there and then the cleaning guy motioned up stairs for sleep. When we got to terminal 2 there were cotts!! We were so surprised and happy that we didn't have to continue sleeping on benches. " - pattella2001
Airport Services/Facilities: WiFi ($), Food-24 hours ($), Baggage Storage ($), Showers ($), Mini golf ($), Casino/Gaming Arcade ($),Visitor Terrace ($), Massage ($), Airport Tours ($); Customs Office Tour ($); Visitors Center with the airport exhibition, free aviation themed movies and shows, Climb 172 steps to the viewing platform on the top of Visitors Hill ($); airside Relax zones; Laundry Service ($), Kinderterminal for kids.
There is not a lot in terms of entertainment, but the Vancouver airport is quiet at night, comfortable and has friendly staff. There is free WiFi. For a reasonable fee you can access one of the 3 pay-in lounges or use the shower and enjoy the pool and gym facilities at the Fairmont Hotel attached to the airport. There are 24-hour food concessions available landside and airside.
"the airport that pretty much go dormant around 10-11 until about 5 am, and it is easy to find somewhere to crash without too much hassle. If security or airport staff ask you to move, ask them where, and they will help you out." - seanmac
Finding a spot may require a bit of effort. Landside: chairs are not comfortable for the most part, but with a little effort you can enjoy such gems as coffee shop couches and spots under the coat hangers. Airside: there are special rest areas with comfortable chairs. The airport is quiet at night as everything shuts down. Staff and security are helpful. During the day, the airport, offers a variety of activities such as airport tours and bicycle and inline skate rentals for exploring the area outside the airport.
"Starbucks is definitely the place to go...plenty of couches left out and there are a few power outlets for laptops, cell phones, etc. Overall great experience, would do it again." - dc484153
Airport Services/Facilities: WiFi ($), Baggage Storage ($), Showers ($), Airport Tours ($), Observation deck ($), Bicycle and Roller Blades Rentals ($), Chapel and Prayer Room, Rest Area with reclining chairs, Kids Parties with 30 minute tour ($), pay-in Lounge ($), Internet Kiosks ($).
Frankfurt is another large and busy airport, so you may have to walk around to find a quiet corner. The thing we love about German airports is that they have facilities and services like casinos and airport tours.
"After getting my ticket I went to find a place by the gate to rest, and found these lovely lounge-chair-esque seats waiting for me to sleep on." - phoenixtears
A new entry to the top 10 list. It may take a while for you to find a quiet spot at Toronto Pearson, but empty gates and armrest free seating can be found. Big pluses are its availability of food (24 hours-landside) and its 5 pay-in lounges where you can shower the next morning. The airport introduced free WiFi this year.
"I work at Terminal 3 in Toronto and the New Tim Hortons just opened on the departures level. Very exciting. There are always lots of people sleeping in the arrival level, but it is never full. Area C is always loud and packed, head down towards Areas B and A for less people. It is an older building so it can get a little drafty and cold, lots of automatic doors." - ?
Whether you're trying to avoid checked bag fees or heavy lifting, packing lightly doesn't have to be difficult. Especially in summer, a few tips can help you limit your luggage.
I really enjoy packing, which I guess is due to a combination of trip anticipation and inner organizational neat freak. In packing to travel abroad and domestically, I have learned how to cut back on what I include. Here are some guidelines I find helpful.
Start early: For a trip that's a week or longer, I typically get my suitcase out two or three days before I'm leaving. It helps me get into travel mode early, which means I'll have time to think of things like laundry and outfits.
Make a list: My mom recently brought up that when my brother and I were little, she made a point of teaching us how to pack our own bags. List-making was always the first step to doing it efficiently.
Stick to a few versatile pieces of clothing and pairs of shoes: Choose colors and patterns that will mix and match easily so that you'll be able to wear each piece more than once. This forethought reduces how much you'll pack and can make getting dressed easier. For women, dresses are pretty foolproof. Include things that can transition from casual to dressier; for shoes, think loafers for men or ballet flats for women. (And I never pack more than three pairs.)
Think about outfits: Similarly, you'll end up bringing less stuff if you spend a few minutes planning outfits. By having incorporated versatile tops and bottoms, you'll still have options to choose from depending on your mood when you're traveling. Women can include a few staple pieces of jewelry, which won't take up much space but can change a look.
Dress your heaviest onboard: I travel wearing my bulkier items, which for airplanes in the summer includes pants and the only cardigan I'm bringing.
Learn what you don't have to pack: To save suitcase space you can easily forgo many items, particularly hair dryers and most toiletries. Hotels and hosts typically will oblige, and, if need be, you can pick up toiletries at a drugstore. And in general remember that when it comes down to it, very few things (e.g. prescriptions and contacts) are essential.
Go for light reading: I love to read while traveling and try to stick to paperbacks under 300 pages or else magazines. At those times, I avoid tomes (I'm looking at you, The Brothers Karamazov.)
Scarlett Johansson's turn as Black Widow in "The Avengers" was so well-received that producers are willing to throw some serious cash her way for the sequel. According to The New York Post, she has been offered a record-breaking $20 million to reprise her role in the second film.
That's a cool $1 million more than Angelina Jolie earned for "The Tourist," the ill-received 2010 film that actually ended up bringing in $278 million worldwide.
For some perspective, Forbes ranked Kristen Stewart as last year's highest-paid actress, but she can "only" bank about $12.5 million per film (Stewart made $34.5 million over 12 months). Cameron Diaz was second on this year's Forbes list at $34 million, but acted in three movies for that sum.
Marvel and Disney have plenty of money to toss around, as "The Avengers" is now the third-biggest global box office draw in history, having brought in over $1.355 billion in worldwide sales (that's more than "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2").
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Premiere Of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" - Arrivals
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11: Actress Scarlett Johansson arrives at the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" - Arrivals
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11: Actress Scarlett Johansson arrives at the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" - Arrivals
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11: Actor Chris Evans arrives at the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" - Arrivals
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11: Actor Jeremy Renner arrives at the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" - Arrivals
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11: Actor Robert Downey Jr. and his wife Susan Downey arrive at the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" - Arrivals
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11: Actor Samuel L. Jackson arrives at the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" - Arrivals
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11: Actor Chris Hemsworth arrives at the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Actor Mark Ruffalo (R) and Sunrise Coign
Actor Mark Ruffalo (R) and Sunrise Coigney arrive at the the world premiere of Marvel’s 'The Avengers', at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, April 11, 2012. AFP PHOTO / Robyn Beck (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" - Arrivals
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11: (L-R) Actors Alexander Skarsgard and Stellan Skarsgard arrive at the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Actress Scarlet Johansson arrives at the
Actress Scarlet Johansson arrives at the the world premiere of Marvel’s 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, April 11, 2012. AFP PHOTO / Robyn Beck (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" - Arrivals
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11: Actress Scarlett Johansson arrives at the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" - Arrivals
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11: Actor Jeremy Renner arrives at the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" - Arrivals
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11: Actor Chris Hemsworth arrives at the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" - Arrivals
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11: Actor Robert Downey Jr. arrives at the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" - Arrivals
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11: Actor Mario Lopez arrives at the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" - Arrivals
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11: Actor Tom Hiddleston arrives at the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" - Arrivals
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11: Actress Scarlett Johansson arrives at the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" - Arrivals
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11: Actress Scarlett Johansson arrives at the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" - Arrivals
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11: Actress Scarlett Johansson arrives at the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" - Arrivals
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11: Actress Scarlett Johansson arrives at the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" - Arrivals
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11: Musician Chris Cornell arrives at the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" - Arrivals
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11: Sunrise Coigney (L) and actor Mark Ruffalo arrive at the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" - Arrivals
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11: Actor Jeremy Renner arrives at the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" - Arrivals
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11: Actor Jeremy Renner arrives at the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" - Arrivals
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11: Actor Chris Evans arrives at the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" - Arrivals
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11: Actor Samuel L. Jackson arrives at the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" - Arrivals
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11: Actors Clark Gregg (L) and Jennifer Grey arrive at the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" - Arrivals
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11: Writer/director Joss Whedon arrives at the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" - Arrivals
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11: Writer/director Joss Whedon arrives at the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Actor Chris Hemsworth arrives at the the
Actor Chris Hemsworth arrives at the the world premiere of Marvel’s 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, April 11, 2012. AFP PHOTO / Robyn Beck (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" - Arrivals
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11: Actor Chris Evans arrives at the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" - Arrivals
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11: Actor/comedian Hal Sparks arrives at the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Actress Scarlett Johansson arrives for t
Actress Scarlett Johansson arrives for the world premiere of “Marvel’s The Avengers', at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, April 11, 2012. AFP PHOTO / Robyn Beck (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" - Arrivals
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11: Actor Alexander Skarsgard arrives at the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Marvel Studios' "Marvel's The Avengers" - Arrivals
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 11: Actor Jon Favreau arrives at the premiere of Marvel Studios' 'The Avengers' at the El Capitan Theatre on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes have reached a divorce settlement, their reps have confirmed.
"We are committed to working together as parents to accomplish what is in our daughter Suri's best interests. We want to keep matters affecting our family private and express our respect for each other's commitment to each of our respective beliefs and support each other's roles as parents," reads the statement from Holmes and Cruise's reps, Nanci Ryder and Amanda Lundberg respectively.
It is not yet known what kind of spousal and child support Katie will receive, but sources tell People Magazine that the former couple were working on an arrangement in which 6-year-old Suri would live with Holmes in New York with Cruise having "generous visitation rights."
Holmes filed for divorce on Thursday June 28 in New York citing irreconcilable differences, and in the court papers she also requested sole custody of Suri. The 33-year-old actress recently moved into a new 3-bedroom apartment in New York City, while Cruise's primary residence is his Beverly Hills mansion, which he shares with his teenage kids, Connor, 17, and Bella, 19.
Wonder what prompted such a quick settlement? Possible all that bad press about Scientology?
Fassbender would play Desmond Miles, a man whose ancestors were expert assassins. Using some whiz-bang technology, he revisits their memories to find ancient artifacts that could change mankind forever.
So far there have been two "Assassin's Creed" games -- one taking place during the Crusades, the other during the Renaissance -- with a third one set for release in October. (There are also spin-off games in the "Assassin's Creed" franchise, including "Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" and "Assassin's Creed: Revelations.")
Also, busy. Fassbender -- who co-starred in "Prometheus" -- is currently shooting "Twelve Years A Slave," which reunites him with "Shame" director Steve McQueen. He's also playing the lead role in Ridley Scott's "The Counselor," which is set to begin filming this summer. Additionally, Fassbender will reprise his role as Magneto in the "X-Men: First Class" sequel, which could start production at the end of this year. Just when Fassbender -- who was snubbed by the Academy Awards last year for his performance in "Shame" -- will have time to star in "Assassin's Creed" is unclear.
Whenever it happens, though, expect big box office. A 2011 report from VG247.com noted that the "Assassin's Creed" franchise had sold 30 million copies since 2007. If those 30 million copies turn into 30 million tickets sold, "Assassin's Creed" could put itself in some pretty spectacular company at the box office.
For more on "Assassin's Creed," including how Ubisoft plans to finance the film, head over to Variety.
Glam rocker Adam Lambert is reportedly set to join the judging panel of American Idol — the Fox talent show that catapulted him to the top of the Billboard charts in 2009.
The flamboyant singer is reportedly in talks with show bosses, who see the former runner-up as the perfect addition to the aging singing competition, E! News reports. After all, he has a large fanbase and would understand the challenges facing contestants.
One snitch squeals:
“He personifies the show and will be a popular choice right from the start. He knows what it’s like to be on the receiving end of the judges’ comments, he has a human touch and they know they can’t go wrong if they bring him on. He would be able to bring a unique perspective to the show. People love him.”
The current judging panel features Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler and veteran pundit Randy Jackson. Despite the question marks hanging over Jennifer’s future on Idol, insiders suggest Adam is not being eyed as her replacement.
Oh no — instead, it would be Randy who could be given his walking papers if Lambert decides to sign on. Touche!
“Randy is great, but he’s part of the old Idol. They want to keep the soul of the show but have a new look and for that reason he may well not be part of the new lineup.”
Steven, who like Jennifer joined the show two years ago, is also said to be “up in the air.” But A.I. bosses want to do whatever it takes to keep their lone female judge.
Another source said:
“I don’t know if they can afford Jennifer, but they have let it be known that she has a guaranteed spot if she wants it. She appeals to everyone so the big bosses are in favour of keeping her on.”
Earlier this year, the “Waiting for Tonight” hit-maker climbed to the top of Forbes magazine’s Celebrity 100 list. Lopez edged out Lady Gaga, Rihanna and even Oprah Winfrey for the title of Hollywood’s Most Powerful Celebrity. She is estimated to have earned approximately $52 million between May 2011 and May 2012.