text:
(CNN) -- Terry Thompson, the Ohio man who authorities say set his exotic animals free just before killing himself, once supplied a lion cub for a photo shoot with supermodel Heidi Klum.

"I wrote a letter to Heidi Klum's people," said Larry Hostetler, the executive director of the Animal Shelter Society of Muskingum County. "I strongly voiced my opinion that if they're going to hire animals for entertainment, they might want to check handlers' backgrounds -- that Terry Thompson had been convicted of animal cruelty.

"Of course, I never heard anything back."

Thompson and his wild animal farm had long been on authorities' radar. Thompson had been kicked out of the local pet fair for bringing exotic animals that snarled at children. He had been convicted in November 2005 of animal cruelty, allowing an animal to roam freely and rendering animal waste without a license.

He had even threatened to let all his animals go when investigators visited after repeated calls of animal abuse or neglect.

But while investigators kept a close eye on him, Thompson professed his love for his animals to most anyone. He would often be seen driving down the road with a wild animal.

"My cats are happier than most people," Thompson once told the Zanesville Times-Recorder. "I feed them every day, and they have a great place to live. How many people can say they have all they can eat and don't have to worry about a place to live?"

In a 2008 video in New York, Thompson is seen smiling, holding a cub and handing it over to model Klum. "We heard about Terry Thompson from all of his work in movies and commercials and felt he had a great track record. The day of our shoot, he was very kind, loving and protective towards his animals," said Christoph KÃÂ¶rfer, the head of the German TV-station ProSieben in charge of the shoot. "This is definitely a tragic situation."

Yet on Tuesday, a strained marriage collided with the stress and the expense of caring for so many animals, people close to the investigation told CNN.

"He was so depressed he said, 'That's it. I'm going to let them go,' " said Columbus Zoo director emeritus Jack Hanna, who helped authorities in the search for the wild animals.

The 62-year-old Thompson had been released from prison in recent weeks after serving a year behind bars on an illegal firearms conviction.

Authorities say Thompson unlocked his animal cages, opened the farm's gates and shot himself to death.

Thompson freed dozens of exotic animals -- from Bengal tigers to grizzly bears to baboons -- setting off a frightening scenario outside Zanesville, a town of 25,000 in central Ohio. Authorities killed at least 49 animals, including 18 rare tigers.

"What happened here was one of the largest animal escapes in our country's history," said Hanna.

Sheriff Matt Lutz defended his officers, saying they had no choice but to kill the roaming animals. "I had deputies that had to shoot animals with sidearms at close range. That's how volatile this situation was."

Thompson was known as a flamboyant, volatile man. The sheriff's department had been to the property on dozens of occasions over the last decade to check into reports of animal cruelty or animals on the loose.

Thompson would stare down those who entered his property with his steely blue eyes. He'd cuss and scream.

"I'll be damned," Thompson would shout, according to county Humane Officer David Durst. "I'll let them animals go!"

"He was definitely a different breed," said Durst, who investigates every case of animal cruelty in the county.

"We were just afraid that this was going to happen. It wasn't a matter of if it was going to happen, it was a matter of when."

Durst said Thompson would often buy his exotic animals from people in other states and offer to host them on his property for vacation. "They'd visit and see the situation and they'd freak out and they'd call me," he said. "They'd say, 'I was horrified.'"

In the last year, even while Thompson was imprisoned on the weapons charges, Durst said he got at least one call a month about animals roaming loose.

Every time he visited Thompson's farm, Durst was escorted by at least three sheriff's deputies because he feared for his safety.

He said local authorities had alerted the U.S. Department of Agriculture, state representatives and other power players about their fears concerning Thompson and his wild animals.

"And now we're dealing with this."

Hostetler with the Animal Shelter Society said Thompson was an animal collector who had a horrible reputation for the treatment of his animals.

Opinion: Wild animals should be left in the wild

"It's been a nightmare out there for a decade," Hostetler said. "I never thought he'd do something like he's done. But I knew eventually something bad would happen out there."

Hostetler said Thompson would bring his wild animals to the shelter's annual pet fair, where people bring their dogs and cats. Thompson showed up once with bear cubs, once with tiger cubs and another time with a baby ape. Children would rush toward the exotic animals. "The animals were growling and snarling back at the children," Hostetler said.

Every year, officials would ask Thompson to leave the fair. He'd argue it was his right to bring his animals. It got so testy that officials eventually changed the rules just to keep Thompson and his animals away. Now, only domestic house pets are welcome.

Durst and Hostetler said officials had tried to get state and federal authorities to take control of the animals while Thompson was imprisoned in the last year.

"We were trying and trying to get help," Durst said. "Hopefully a tragedy like this will get the ball rolling with the state of Ohio and the ownership of exotic animals.

"The laws are so weak in Ohio, it's ridiculous. You can have one permit and pretty much have all the exotic animals you want."

Added Hostetler: "For me the sad part of this is that the court system could've removed those animals, and it's really sad it reached this point."

The Humane Society of the United States urged Ohio officials Wednesday to issue an emergency rule to crack down on exotic animal ownership. A previous emergency order issued by then-Gov. Ted Strickland that prohibited people convicted of animal cruelty from owning exotic animals expired in April.

The Humane Society said Thompson "would almost certainly have had his animals removed by May 1, 2011, if the emergency order had not expired."

When he was first sentenced to animal cruelty charges in 2005, Thompson told the judge: "I've learned a lot from this case, and I do love my animals."

Investigators have learned a lot from Thompson too, and must now contemplate what could have been done to stop Tuesday's tragedy.

CNN's Ann O'Neill contributed to this report.

text: CNN

text: Terry

text: Thompson

text: the

text: Ohio

text: man

text: who

text: authorities

text: say

text: set

text: his

text: exotic

text: animals

text: free

text: just

text: before

text: killing

text: himself

text: once

text: supplied

text: a

text: lion

text: cub

text: for

text: a

text: photo

text: shoot

text: with

text: supermodel

text: Heidi

text: Klum

text: I

text: wrote

text: a

text: letter

text: to

text: Heidi

text: Klum

text: 's

text: people

text: said

text: Larry

text: Hostetler

text: the

text: executive

text: director

text: of

text: the

text: Animal

text: Shelter

text: Society

text: of

text: Muskingum

text: County

text: I

text: strongly

text: voiced

text: my

text: opinion

text: that

text: if

text: they

text: 're

text: going

text: to

text: hire

text: animals

text: for

text: entertainment

text: they

text: might

text: want

text: to

text: check

text: handlers

text: backgrounds

text: that

text: Terry

text: Thompson

text: had

text: been

text: convicted

text: of

text: animal

text: cruelty

text: Of

text: course

text: I

text: never

text: heard

text: anything

text: back

text: Thompson

text: and

text: his

text: wild

text: animal

text: farm

text: had

text: long

text: been

text: on

text: authorities

text: radar

text: Thompson

text: had

text: been

text: kicked

text: out

text: of

text: the

text: local

text: pet

text: fair

text: for

text: bringing

text: exotic

text: animals

text: that

text: snarled

text: at

text: children

text: He

text: had

text: been

text: convicted

text: in

text: November

text: of

text: animal

text: cruelty

text: allowing

text: an

text: animal

text: to

text: roam

text: freely

text: and

text: rendering

text: animal

text: waste

text: without

text: a

text: license

text: He

text: had

text: even

text: threatened

text: to

text: let

text: all

text: his

text: animals

text: go

text: when

text: investigators

text: visited

text: after

text: repeated

text: calls

text: of

text: animal

text: abuse

text: or

text: neglect

text: But

text: while

text: investigators

text: kept

text: a

text: close

text: eye

text: on

text: him

text: Thompson

text: professed

text: his

text: love

text: for

text: his

text: animals

text: to

text: most

text: anyone

text: He

text: would

text: often

text: be

text: seen

text: driving

text: down

text: the

text: road

text: with

text: a

text: wild

text: animal

text: My

text: cats

text: are

text: happier

text: than

text: most

text: people

text: Thompson

text: once

text: told

text: the

text: Zanesville

text: Times

text: Recorder

text: I

text: feed

text: them

text: every

text: day

text: and

text: they

text: have

text: a

text: great

text: place

text: to

text: live

text: How

text: many

text: people

text: can

text: say

text: they

text: have

text: all

text: they

text: can

text: eat

text: and

text: do

text: n't

text: have

text: to

text: worry

text: about

text: a

text: place

text: to

text: live

text: In

text: a

text: video

text: in

text: New

text: York

text: Thompson

text: is

text: seen

text: smiling

text: holding

text: a

text: cub

text: and

text: handing

text: it

text: over

text: to

text: model

text: Klum

text: We

text: heard

text: about

text: Terry

text: Thompson

text: from

text: all

text: of

text: his

text: work

text: in

text: movies

text: and

text: commercials

text: and

text: felt

text: he

text: had

text: a

text: great

text: track

text: record

text: The

text: day

text: of

text: our

text: shoot

text: he

text: was

text: very

text: kind

text: loving

text: and

text: protective

text: towards

text: his

text: animals

text: said

text: Christoph

text: KÃÂ¶rfer

text: the

text: head

text: of

text: the

text: German

text: TV

text: station

text: ProSieben

text: in

text: charge

text: of

text: the

text: shoot

text: This

text: is

text: definitely

text: a

text: tragic

text: situation

text: Yet

text: on

text: Tuesday

text: a

text: strained

text: marriage

text: collided

text: with

text: the

text: stress

text: and

text: the

text: expense

text: of

text: caring

text: for

text: so

text: many

text: animals

text: people

text: close

text: to

text: the

text: investigation

text: told

text: CNN

text: He

text: was

text: so

text: depressed

text: he

text: said

text: That

text: 's

text: it

text: I

text: 'm

text: going

text: to

text: let

text: them

text: go

text: said

text: Columbus

text: Zoo

text: director

text: emeritus

text: Jack

text: Hanna

text: who

text: helped

text: authorities

text: in

text: the

text: search

text: for

text: the

text: wild

text: animals

text: The

text: old

text: Thompson

text: had

text: been

text: released

text: from

text: prison

text: in

text: recent

text: weeks

text: after

text: serving

text: a

text: year

text: behind

text: bars

text: on

text: an

text: illegal

text: firearms

text: conviction

text: Authorities

text: say

text: Thompson

text: unlocked

text: his

text: animal

text: cages

text: opened

text: the

text: farm

text: 's

text: gates

text: and

text: shot

text: himself

text: to

text: death

text: Thompson

text: freed

text: dozens

text: of

text: exotic

text: animals

text: from

text: Bengal

text: tigers

text: to

text: grizzly

text: bears

text: to

text: baboons

text: setting

text: off

text: a

text: frightening

text: scenario

text: outside

text: Zanesville

text: a

text: town

text: of

text: in

text: central

text: Ohio

text: Authorities

text: killed

text: at

text: least

text: animals

text: including

text: rare

text: tigers

text: What

text: happened

text: here

text: was

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: largest

text: animal

text: escapes

text: in

text: our

text: country

text: 's

text: history

text: said

text: Hanna

text: Sheriff

text: Matt

text: Lutz

text: defended

text: his

text: officers

text: saying

text: they

text: had

text: no

text: choice

text: but

text: to

text: kill

text: the

text: roaming

text: animals

text: I

text: had

text: deputies

text: that

text: had

text: to

text: shoot

text: animals

text: with

text: sidearms

text: at

text: close

text: range

text: That

text: 's

text: how

text: volatile

text: this

text: situation

text: was

text: Thompson

text: was

text: known

text: as

text: a

text: flamboyant

text: volatile

text: man

text: The

text: sheriff

text: 's

text: department

text: had

text: been

text: to

text: the

text: property

text: on

text: dozens

text: of

text: occasions

text: over

text: the

text: last

text: decade

text: to

text: check

text: into

text: reports

text: of

text: animal

text: cruelty

text: or

text: animals

text: on

text: the

text: loose

text: Thompson

text: would

text: stare

text: down

text: those

text: who

text: entered

text: his

text: property

text: with

text: his

text: steely

text: blue

text: eyes

text: He

text: 'd

text: cuss

text: and

text: scream

text: I

text: 'll

text: be

text: damned

text: Thompson

text: would

text: shout

text: according

text: to

text: county

text: Humane

text: Officer

text: David

text: Durst

text: I

text: 'll

text: let

text: them

text: animals

text: go

text: He

text: was

text: definitely

text: a

text: different

text: breed

text: said

text: Durst

text: who

text: investigates

text: every

text: case

text: of

text: animal

text: cruelty

text: in

text: the

text: county

text: We

text: were

text: just

text: afraid

text: that

text: this

text: was

text: going

text: to

text: happen

text: It

text: was

text: n't

text: a

text: matter

text: of

text: if

text: it

text: was

text: going

text: to

text: happen

text: it

text: was

text: a

text: matter

text: of

text: when

text: Durst

text: said

text: Thompson

text: would

text: often

text: buy

text: his

text: exotic

text: animals

text: from

text: people

text: in

text: other

text: states

text: and

text: offer

text: to

text: host

text: them

text: on

text: his

text: property

text: for

text: vacation

text: They

text: 'd

text: visit

text: and

text: see

text: the

text: situation

text: and

text: they

text: 'd

text: freak

text: out

text: and

text: they

text: 'd

text: call

text: me

text: he

text: said

text: They

text: 'd

text: say

text: I

text: was

text: horrified

text: In

text: the

text: last

text: year

text: even

text: while

text: Thompson

text: was

text: imprisoned

text: on

text: the

text: weapons

text: charges

text: Durst

text: said

text: he

text: got

text: at

text: least

text: one

text: call

text: a

text: month

text: about

text: animals

text: roaming

text: loose

text: Every

text: time

text: he

text: visited

text: Thompson

text: 's

text: farm

text: Durst

text: was

text: escorted

text: by

text: at

text: least

text: three

text: sheriff

text: 's

text: deputies

text: because

text: he

text: feared

text: for

text: his

text: safety

text: He

text: said

text: local

text: authorities

text: had

text: alerted

text: the

text: U.S.

text: Department

text: of

text: Agriculture

text: state

text: representatives

text: and

text: other

text: power

text: players

text: about

text: their

text: fears

text: concerning

text: Thompson

text: and

text: his

text: wild

text: animals

text: And

text: now

text: we

text: 're

text: dealing

text: with

text: this

text: Hostetler

text: with

text: the

text: Animal

text: Shelter

text: Society

text: said

text: Thompson

text: was

text: an

text: animal

text: collector

text: who

text: had

text: a

text: horrible

text: reputation

text: for

text: the

text: treatment

text: of

text: his

text: animals

text: Opinion

text: Wild

text: animals

text: should

text: be

text: left

text: in

text: the

text: wild

text: It

text: 's

text: been

text: a

text: nightmare

text: out

text: there

text: for

text: a

text: decade

text: Hostetler

text: said

text: I

text: never

text: thought

text: he

text: 'd

text: do

text: something

text: like

text: he

text: 's

text: done

text: But

text: I

text: knew

text: eventually

text: something

text: bad

text: would

text: happen

text: out

text: there

text: Hostetler

text: said

text: Thompson

text: would

text: bring

text: his

text: wild

text: animals

text: to

text: the

text: shelter

text: 's

text: annual

text: pet

text: fair

text: where

text: people

text: bring

text: their

text: dogs

text: and

text: cats

text: Thompson

text: showed

text: up

text: once

text: with

text: bear

text: cubs

text: once

text: with

text: tiger

text: cubs

text: and

text: another

text: time

text: with

text: a

text: baby

text: ape

text: Children

text: would

text: rush

text: toward

text: the

text: exotic

text: animals

text: The

text: animals

text: were

text: growling

text: and

text: snarling

text: back

text: at

text: the

text: children

text: Hostetler

text: said

text: Every

text: year

text: officials

text: would

text: ask

text: Thompson

text: to

text: leave

text: the

text: fair

text: He

text: 'd

text: argue

text: it

text: was

text: his

text: right

text: to

text: bring

text: his

text: animals

text: It

text: got

text: so

text: testy

text: that

text: officials

text: eventually

text: changed

text: the

text: rules

text: just

text: to

text: keep

text: Thompson

text: and

text: his

text: animals

text: away

text: Now

text: only

text: domestic

text: house

text: pets

text: are

text: welcome

text: Durst

text: and

text: Hostetler

text: said

text: officials

text: had

text: tried

text: to

text: get

text: state

text: and

text: federal

text: authorities

text: to

text: take

text: control

text: of

text: the

text: animals

text: while

text: Thompson

text: was

text: imprisoned

text: in

text: the

text: last

text: year

text: We

text: were

text: trying

text: and

text: trying

text: to

text: get

text: help

text: Durst

text: said

text: Hopefully

text: a

text: tragedy

text: like

text: this

text: will

text: get

text: the

text: ball

text: rolling

text: with

text: the

text: state

text: of

text: Ohio

text: and

text: the

text: ownership

text: of

text: exotic

text: animals

text: The

text: laws

text: are

text: so

text: weak

text: in

text: Ohio

text: it

text: 's

text: ridiculous

text: You

text: can

text: have

text: one

text: permit

text: and

text: pretty

text: much

text: have

text: all

text: the

text: exotic

text: animals

text: you

text: want

text: Added

text: Hostetler

text: For

text: me

text: the

text: sad

text: part

text: of

text: this

text: is

text: that

text: the

text: court

text: system

text: could

text: 've

text: removed

text: those

text: animals

text: and

text: it

text: 's

text: really

text: sad

text: it

text: reached

text: this

text: point

text: The

text: Humane

text: Society

text: of

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: urged

text: Ohio

text: officials

text: Wednesday

text: to

text: issue

text: an

text: emergency

text: rule

text: to

text: crack

text: down

text: on

text: exotic

text: animal

text: ownership

text: A

text: previous

text: emergency

text: order

text: issued

text: by

text: then

text: Gov

text: Ted

text: Strickland

text: that

text: prohibited

text: people

text: convicted

text: of

text: animal

text: cruelty

text: from

text: owning

text: exotic

text: animals

text: expired

text: in

text: April

text: The

text: Humane

text: Society

text: said

text: Thompson

text: would

text: almost

text: certainly

text: have

text: had

text: his

text: animals

text: removed

text: by

text: May

text: if

text: the

text: emergency

text: order

text: had

text: not

text: expired

text: When

text: he

text: was

text: first

text: sentenced

text: to

text: animal

text: cruelty

text: charges

text: in

text: Thompson

text: told

text: the

text: judge

text: I

text: 've

text: learned

text: a

text: lot

text: from

text: this

text: case

text: and

text: I

text: do

text: love

text: my

text: animals

text: Investigators

text: have

text: learned

text: a

text: lot

text: from

text: Thompson

text: too

text: and

text: must

text: now

text: contemplate

text: what

text: could

text: have

text: been

text: done

text: to

text: stop

text: Tuesday

text: 's

text: tragedy

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Ann

text: O'Neill

text: contributed

text: to

text: this

text: report

question: What has Terry Thompson been convicted for?

answer: animal cruelty.

text: animal cruelty.

question: Terry Thompson was convicted of what crime?

answer: animal cruelty.

text: animal cruelty.

question: What happened when investigators visited his property?

answer: . He'd cuss and scream

text: . He'd cuss and scream

question: When was Terry Thompson convicted?

answer: November 2005

text: November 2005


text:
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Events commemorating the bombing of an American airliner over the Scottish town of Lockerbie were taking place Sunday in both the UK and the U.S. to mark the 20th anniversary of the attack which killed 270 people.

Mourners gathered at a wreath-laying ceremony Sunday to mark the Lockerbie bombing.

All 259 people on board Pan Am flight 103 from London to New York were killed when the plane exploded in midair on December 21, 1988. A further 11 people died on the ground as debris rained down on Lockerbie.

In Scotland, mourners watched as a commemorative wreath was laid at Dryfesdale Cemetery, the site of a permanent memorial and remembrance garden to the victims of the attack.

Canon Michael Bands, who led the service, said that the disaster had "long ceased to be a Lockerbie event and become a world event."

"It is awful that we should gather today on this stormy sort of day to feel the sadness again of the tragedy that took place here 20 years ago," Bands said, according to the UK's Press Association.

Services marking the exact time of the attack at 1903 GMT were also due to take place later in local churches. A private service for relatives of victims and former Pan Am employees will also take place at London's Heathrow airport, where the airliner began its final flight.

In the U.S., remembrance services were scheduled to take place at Arlington National Cemetery and at New York's Syracuse University, which lost 35 students in the bombing.

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said the anniversary marked an opportunity to reflect on "the lasting links that have been established with those in other nations who were touched by the disaster."

"I know that through the events being organised in Lockerbie, at Syracuse University, and at other locations in the UK and the U.S., that fitting tribute will be paid to those who so tragically lost their lives and those, in the south of Scotland and beyond, whose lives have been affected by the atrocity."

A former Libyan intelligence officer, Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, was convicted of the bombing in 2001. Al Megrahi, who is serving a life sentence in Scotland's Greenock Prison, last month lost an appeal to be released because he is suffering from advanced prostate cancer.

Al Megrahi has always denied any involvement in the bombing. He was convicted after prosecutors argued he had placed the bomb, hidden in a suitcase, on a flight from Malta to Frankfurt, Germany.

There, prosecutors said, the bomb was transferred onto the Pan Am jet that went first to London's Heathrow Airport and then was to continue to New York.

The prosecution maintained that Megrahi, who worked at Malta's Luqa Airport, was an agent for the Libyan intelligence services and had been seen buying clothes that were in the suitcase that contained the bomb.

In 2007 Scottish judges granted Megrahi the right to make a second appeal against his conviction on grounds that he may have suffered a miscarriage of justice. That process is ongoing.

Another man -- Al-Amin Khalifa Fahima -- was also tried in the bombing but was acquitted.

Libya has formally accepted responsibility for the bombing, though Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi later denied any culpability.

The north African country has paid out more than $500 million to the families of victims of the attack as part of a wider $1.5 billion settlement to end its legal liability in U.S. terrorism cases and restore diplomatic full relations with Washington.

text: LONDON

text: England

text: CNN

text: Events

text: commemorating

text: the

text: bombing

text: of

text: an

text: American

text: airliner

text: over

text: the

text: Scottish

text: town

text: of

text: Lockerbie

text: were

text: taking

text: place

text: Sunday

text: in

text: both

text: the

text: UK

text: and

text: the

text: U.S.

text: to

text: mark

text: the

text: anniversary

text: of

text: the

text: attack

text: which

text: killed

text: people

text: Mourners

text: gathered

text: at

text: a

text: wreath

text: laying

text: ceremony

text: Sunday

text: to

text: mark

text: the

text: Lockerbie

text: bombing

text: All

text: people

text: on

text: board

text: Pan

text: Am

text: flight

text: from

text: London

text: to

text: New

text: York

text: were

text: killed

text: when

text: the

text: plane

text: exploded

text: in

text: midair

text: on

text: December

text: A

text: further

text: people

text: died

text: on

text: the

text: ground

text: as

text: debris

text: rained

text: down

text: on

text: Lockerbie

text: In

text: Scotland

text: mourners

text: watched

text: as

text: a

text: commemorative

text: wreath

text: was

text: laid

text: at

text: Dryfesdale

text: Cemetery

text: the

text: site

text: of

text: a

text: permanent

text: memorial

text: and

text: remembrance

text: garden

text: to

text: the

text: victims

text: of

text: the

text: attack

text: Canon

text: Michael

text: Bands

text: who

text: led

text: the

text: service

text: said

text: that

text: the

text: disaster

text: had

text: long

text: ceased

text: to

text: be

text: a

text: Lockerbie

text: event

text: and

text: become

text: a

text: world

text: event

text: It

text: is

text: awful

text: that

text: we

text: should

text: gather

text: today

text: on

text: this

text: stormy

text: sort

text: of

text: day

text: to

text: feel

text: the

text: sadness

text: again

text: of

text: the

text: tragedy

text: that

text: took

text: place

text: here

text: years

text: ago

text: Bands

text: said

text: according

text: to

text: the

text: UK

text: 's

text: Press

text: Association

text: Services

text: marking

text: the

text: exact

text: time

text: of

text: the

text: attack

text: at

text: GMT

text: were

text: also

text: due

text: to

text: take

text: place

text: later

text: in

text: local

text: churches

text: A

text: private

text: service

text: for

text: relatives

text: of

text: victims

text: and

text: former

text: Pan

text: Am

text: employees

text: will

text: also

text: take

text: place

text: at

text: London

text: 's

text: Heathrow

text: airport

text: where

text: the

text: airliner

text: began

text: its

text: final

text: flight

text: In

text: the

text: U.S.

text: remembrance

text: services

text: were

text: scheduled

text: to

text: take

text: place

text: at

text: Arlington

text: National

text: Cemetery

text: and

text: at

text: New

text: York

text: 's

text: Syracuse

text: University

text: which

text: lost

text: students

text: in

text: the

text: bombing

text: Scotland

text: 's

text: First

text: Minister

text: Alex

text: Salmond

text: said

text: the

text: anniversary

text: marked

text: an

text: opportunity

text: to

text: reflect

text: on

text: the

text: lasting

text: links

text: that

text: have

text: been

text: established

text: with

text: those

text: in

text: other

text: nations

text: who

text: were

text: touched

text: by

text: the

text: disaster

text: I

text: know

text: that

text: through

text: the

text: events

text: being

text: organised

text: in

text: Lockerbie

text: at

text: Syracuse

text: University

text: and

text: at

text: other

text: locations

text: in

text: the

text: UK

text: and

text: the

text: U.S.

text: that

text: fitting

text: tribute

text: will

text: be

text: paid

text: to

text: those

text: who

text: so

text: tragically

text: lost

text: their

text: lives

text: and

text: those

text: in

text: the

text: south

text: of

text: Scotland

text: and

text: beyond

text: whose

text: lives

text: have

text: been

text: affected

text: by

text: the

text: atrocity

text: A

text: former

text: Libyan

text: intelligence

text: officer

text: Abdelbaset

text: Ali

text: Mohmed

text: Al

text: Megrahi

text: was

text: convicted

text: of

text: the

text: bombing

text: in

text: Al

text: Megrahi

text: who

text: is

text: serving

text: a

text: life

text: sentence

text: in

text: Scotland

text: 's

text: Greenock

text: Prison

text: last

text: month

text: lost

text: an

text: appeal

text: to

text: be

text: released

text: because

text: he

text: is

text: suffering

text: from

text: advanced

text: prostate

text: cancer

text: Al

text: Megrahi

text: has

text: always

text: denied

text: any

text: involvement

text: in

text: the

text: bombing

text: He

text: was

text: convicted

text: after

text: prosecutors

text: argued

text: he

text: had

text: placed

text: the

text: bomb

text: hidden

text: in

text: a

text: suitcase

text: on

text: a

text: flight

text: from

text: Malta

text: to

text: Frankfurt

text: Germany

text: There

text: prosecutors

text: said

text: the

text: bomb

text: was

text: transferred

text: onto

text: the

text: Pan

text: Am

text: jet

text: that

text: went

text: first

text: to

text: London

text: 's

text: Heathrow

text: Airport

text: and

text: then

text: was

text: to

text: continue

text: to

text: New

text: York

text: The

text: prosecution

text: maintained

text: that

text: Megrahi

text: who

text: worked

text: at

text: Malta

text: 's

text: Luqa

text: Airport

text: was

text: an

text: agent

text: for

text: the

text: Libyan

text: intelligence

text: services

text: and

text: had

text: been

text: seen

text: buying

text: clothes

text: that

text: were

text: in

text: the

text: suitcase

text: that

text: contained

text: the

text: bomb

text: In

text: Scottish

text: judges

text: granted

text: Megrahi

text: the

text: right

text: to

text: make

text: a

text: second

text: appeal

text: against

text: his

text: conviction

text: on

text: grounds

text: that

text: he

text: may

text: have

text: suffered

text: a

text: miscarriage

text: of

text: justice

text: That

text: process

text: is

text: ongoing

text: Another

text: man

text: Al

text: Amin

text: Khalifa

text: Fahima

text: was

text: also

text: tried

text: in

text: the

text: bombing

text: but

text: was

text: acquitted

text: Libya

text: has

text: formally

text: accepted

text: responsibility

text: for

text: the

text: bombing

text: though

text: Libyan

text: leader

text: Moammar

text: Gadhafi

text: later

text: denied

text: any

text: culpability

text: The

text: north

text: African

text: country

text: has

text: paid

text: out

text: more

text: than

text: million

text: to

text: the

text: families

text: of

text: victims

text: of

text: the

text: attack

text: as

text: part

text: of

text: a

text: wider

text: billion

text: settlement

text: to

text: end

text: its

text: legal

text: liability

text: in

text: U.S.

text: terrorism

text: cases

text: and

text: restore

text: diplomatic

text: full

text: relations

text: with

text: Washington

question: How long will the Libyan intelligence office serve in jail?

answer: life sentence

text: life sentence

question: What anniversary is marked?

answer: the bombing of an American airliner over the Scottish

text: the bombing of an American airliner over the Scottish

question: Where are the services to be held?

answer: take place at Arlington National Cemetery and at New York's Syracuse University, which lost 35 students in the bombing.

text: take place at Arlington National Cemetery and at New York's Syracuse University, which lost 35 students in the bombing.

question: It was the 20th anniversary of what event?

answer: the bombing of an American airliner over the Scottish

text: the bombing of an American airliner over the Scottish

question: How many people were killed when the Pan Am flight exploded?

answer: 259


text:
Carnes, Mississippi (CNN)  -- The deaths of two Mississippi teens are about to put a national focus on a little-recognized problem.

Devon Byrd, 16, and Wade White, 18, were killed when a natural gas tank at a well production site exploded last fall in Carnes, in southern Mississippi. Local teenagers said the site is a popular hangout because it's quiet and secluded.

But the dead teens' parents say the explosion could have been prevented if some warning signs had been posted -- "something simple as fences, gates and signs, probably very inexpensive, and certainly a lot less expensive that what a child's life is worth," said White's father, Phillip.

Police say they don't know exactly what ignited flammable vapors inside the tank. When it exploded, the teenagers were killed instantly. Their bodies were found about 40 yards from the tank's base; the tank landed another 20 yards from them. Investigators say they found a lighter, but don't know whether it was involved.

"I couldn't believe that my child was gone," White's mother, Wanda, told CNN.

The White and Byrd families have an ally in their camp. The Chemical Safety Board, created by Congress, investigated the accident and found at least 40 other deaths involving oil and gas wells in the past 25 years. Most of them involved young people.

The CSB says it found a patchwork of laws nationwide that don't uniformly address security around oil and gas wells. It's asking the industry to police itself by voluntarily installing fences and warning signs.

"If these tanks are sitting out there in the middle of nowhere, no protection around them, no warning, they are just an accident waiting to happen," CSB Chairman John Bresland told CNN.

Delphi Oil, the company that owns the tank that blew up, told CNN it could not discuss the accident because of pending negligence lawsuits filed by the families. A spokesman called the boys' deaths tragic, but the company says it is complying with all rules.

However, authorities tell CNN there are no state regulations requiring locked gates or no-smoking signs.

"He may be in compliance," Forrest County Sheriff Billy McGee told CNN. "But there's nothing in the rules for him to be in compliance with."

Carnes is about 40 miles north of the Gulf Coast. In nearby Laurel, city zoning laws require oil and gas tanks to be fenced in with warning signs, according to Emergency Management District Executive Director Terry Steed.

The CSB asked family and friends of Byrd and White to help them make an educational video about the dangers of oil and gas production sites. It's called "No Place to Hang Out," and it's part of a national campaign starting this week to teach young people about the potential danger of tanks. But it also urges the industry to improve itself.

"There's nothing we can do to bring Devon and Wade back, " said White's girlfriend, Maria Thompson, 16. "But if it can save someone else's life, I'd like to see it happen."

"Like McDonalds," added another friend, Shawn Ashlee Davis. "They have to put 'Caution. This coffee's hot' (on their cups). I really think they need signs warning 'This is a dangerous place.' "

Mississippi state Sen. Billy Hudson told CNN he plans to introduce a state law requiring barbed-wire-topped fences, locked gates and "Danger - Keep Out" signs.

"There's no guarantees," Hudson said. "You could cut the fence with a bolt cutter, or you can shoot off a lock. But it'll be a deterrent, and it's a step in the right direction."

White's father says his son would be proud that friends and family are speaking out: "He'd be proud that we're trying to do something to keep other kids and other families from going through what we're going through."

text: Carnes

text: Mississippi

text: CNN

text: The

text: deaths

text: of

text: two

text: Mississippi

text: teens

text: are

text: about

text: to

text: put

text: a

text: national

text: focus

text: on

text: a

text: little

text: recognized

text: problem

text: Devon

text: Byrd

text: and

text: Wade

text: White

text: were

text: killed

text: when

text: a

text: natural

text: gas

text: tank

text: at

text: a

text: well

text: production

text: site

text: exploded

text: last

text: fall

text: in

text: Carnes

text: in

text: southern

text: Mississippi

text: Local

text: teenagers

text: said

text: the

text: site

text: is

text: a

text: popular

text: hangout

text: because

text: it

text: 's

text: quiet

text: and

text: secluded

text: But

text: the

text: dead

text: teens

text: parents

text: say

text: the

text: explosion

text: could

text: have

text: been

text: prevented

text: if

text: some

text: warning

text: signs

text: had

text: been

text: posted

text: something

text: simple

text: as

text: fences

text: gates

text: and

text: signs

text: probably

text: very

text: inexpensive

text: and

text: certainly

text: a

text: lot

text: less

text: expensive

text: that

text: what

text: a

text: child

text: 's

text: life

text: is

text: worth

text: said

text: White

text: 's

text: father

text: Phillip

text: Police

text: say

text: they

text: do

text: n't

text: know

text: exactly

text: what

text: ignited

text: flammable

text: vapors

text: inside

text: the

text: tank

text: When

text: it

text: exploded

text: the

text: teenagers

text: were

text: killed

text: instantly

text: Their

text: bodies

text: were

text: found

text: about

text: yards

text: from

text: the

text: tank

text: 's

text: base

text: the

text: tank

text: landed

text: another

text: yards

text: from

text: them

text: Investigators

text: say

text: they

text: found

text: a

text: lighter

text: but

text: do

text: n't

text: know

text: whether

text: it

text: was

text: involved

text: I

text: could

text: n't

text: believe

text: that

text: my

text: child

text: was

text: gone

text: White

text: 's

text: mother

text: Wanda

text: told

text: CNN

text: The

text: White

text: and

text: Byrd

text: families

text: have

text: an

text: ally

text: in

text: their

text: camp

text: The

text: Chemical

text: Safety

text: Board

text: created

text: by

text: Congress

text: investigated

text: the

text: accident

text: and

text: found

text: at

text: least

text: other

text: deaths

text: involving

text: oil

text: and

text: gas

text: wells

text: in

text: the

text: past

text: years

text: Most

text: of

text: them

text: involved

text: young

text: people

text: The

text: CSB

text: says

text: it

text: found

text: a

text: patchwork

text: of

text: laws

text: nationwide

text: that

text: do

text: n't

text: uniformly

text: address

text: security

text: around

text: oil

text: and

text: gas

text: wells

text: It

text: 's

text: asking

text: the

text: industry

text: to

text: police

text: itself

text: by

text: voluntarily

text: installing

text: fences

text: and

text: warning

text: signs

text: If

text: these

text: tanks

text: are

text: sitting

text: out

text: there

text: in

text: the

text: middle

text: of

text: nowhere

text: no

text: protection

text: around

text: them

text: no

text: warning

text: they

text: are

text: just

text: an

text: accident

text: waiting

text: to

text: happen

text: CSB

text: Chairman

text: John

text: Bresland

text: told

text: CNN

text: Delphi

text: Oil

text: the

text: company

text: that

text: owns

text: the

text: tank

text: that

text: blew

text: up

text: told

text: CNN

text: it

text: could

text: not

text: discuss

text: the

text: accident

text: because

text: of

text: pending

text: negligence

text: lawsuits

text: filed

text: by

text: the

text: families

text: A

text: spokesman

text: called

text: the

text: boys

text: deaths

text: tragic

text: but

text: the

text: company

text: says

text: it

text: is

text: complying

text: with

text: all

text: rules

text: However

text: authorities

text: tell

text: CNN

text: there

text: are

text: no

text: state

text: regulations

text: requiring

text: locked

text: gates

text: or

text: no

text: smoking

text: signs

text: He

text: may

text: be

text: in

text: compliance

text: Forrest

text: County

text: Sheriff

text: Billy

text: McGee

text: told

text: CNN

text: But

text: there

text: 's

text: nothing

text: in

text: the

text: rules

text: for

text: him

text: to

text: be

text: in

text: compliance

text: with

text: Carnes

text: is

text: about

text: miles

text: north

text: of

text: the

text: Gulf

text: Coast

text: In

text: nearby

text: Laurel

text: city

text: zoning

text: laws

text: require

text: oil

text: and

text: gas

text: tanks

text: to

text: be

text: fenced

text: in

text: with

text: warning

text: signs

text: according

text: to

text: Emergency

text: Management

text: District

text: Executive

text: Director

text: Terry

text: Steed

text: The

text: CSB

text: asked

text: family

text: and

text: friends

text: of

text: Byrd

text: and

text: White

text: to

text: help

text: them

text: make

text: an

text: educational

text: video

text: about

text: the

text: dangers

text: of

text: oil

text: and

text: gas

text: production

text: sites

text: It

text: 's

text: called

text: No

text: Place

text: to

text: Hang

text: Out

text: and

text: it

text: 's

text: part

text: of

text: a

text: national

text: campaign

text: starting

text: this

text: week

text: to

text: teach

text: young

text: people

text: about

text: the

text: potential

text: danger

text: of

text: tanks

text: But

text: it

text: also

text: urges

text: the

text: industry

text: to

text: improve

text: itself

text: There

text: 's

text: nothing

text: we

text: can

text: do

text: to

text: bring

text: Devon

text: and

text: Wade

text: back

text: said

text: White

text: 's

text: girlfriend

text: Maria

text: Thompson

text: But

text: if

text: it

text: can

text: save

text: someone

text: else

text: 's

text: life

text: I

text: 'd

text: like

text: to

text: see

text: it

text: happen

text: Like

text: McDonalds

text: added

text: another

text: friend

text: Shawn

text: Ashlee

text: Davis

text: They

text: have

text: to

text: put

text: Caution

text: This

text: coffee

text: 's

text: hot

text: on

text: their

text: cups

text: I

text: really

text: think

text: they

text: need

text: signs

text: warning

text: This

text: is

text: a

text: dangerous

text: place

text: Mississippi

text: state

text: Sen.

text: Billy

text: Hudson

text: told

text: CNN

text: he

text: plans

text: to

text: introduce

text: a

text: state

text: law

text: requiring

text: barbed

text: wire

text: topped

text: fences

text: locked

text: gates

text: and

text: Danger

text: Keep

text: Out

text: signs

text: There

text: 's

text: no

text: guarantees

text: Hudson

text: said

text: You

text: could

text: cut

text: the

text: fence

text: with

text: a

text: bolt

text: cutter

text: or

text: you

text: can

text: shoot

text: off

text: a

text: lock

text: But

text: it

text: 'll

text: be

text: a

text: deterrent

text: and

text: it

text: 's

text: a

text: step

text: in

text: the

text: right

text: direction

text: White

text: 's

text: father

text: says

text: his

text: son

text: would

text: be

text: proud

text: that

text: friends

text: and

text: family

text: are

text: speaking

text: out

text: He

text: 'd

text: be

text: proud

text: that

text: we

text: 're

text: trying

text: to

text: do

text: something

text: to

text: keep

text: other

text: kids

text: and

text: other

text: families

text: from

text: going

text: through

text: what

text: we

text: 're

text: going

text: through

question: What did local teens say the sight was?

answer: is a popular hangout because it's quiet and secluded.

text: is a popular hangout because it's quiet and secluded.

question: What is being pushed to keep the area safe?

answer: fences and warning signs.

text: fences and warning signs.

question: Where did the explosion happen?

answer: Carnes, in southern Mississippi.

text: Carnes, in southern Mississippi.

question: What did the parents say was preventable?

answer: explosion

text: explosion

question: Who were killed in the gas tank explosion?

answer: Wade White,

text: Wade White,

question: What are parents pushing for oil tank facilities to have?

answer: warning signs

text: warning signs


text:
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. border officers found a wire between two fences along the U.S.-Mexican border that, when stretched taut, could have seriously harmed or even decapitated Border Patrol agents, Congress was told Wednesday.

The wire was about 4 feet high when pulled tight, or about neck level for an agent on an ATV, officials say.

"It was configured in a way so that, if it was pulled, it would take off the head of a Border Patrol agent riding in an open car," Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said at a House budget hearing.

The wire was discovered Saturday when authorities monitoring a surveillance camera saw two people on the north side of the border east of the San Ysidro Port of Entry, in the San Diego sector.

Border Patrol agents sent to the area found a thick metal wire tied to a secondary fence.

The wire stretched across the border road and led into Mexico through a hole in the primary fence, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

When pulled tight, the wire would be about 4 feet high -- about neck level for an agent riding on an all-terrain vehicle, CBP said.

Officials said they suspected that drug or illegal immigrant smugglers were involved.

No arrests were made on either side of the border. The wire was removed, and no injuries or damage took place, CBP said. E-mail to a friend

text: WASHINGTON

text: CNN

text: U.S.

text: border

text: officers

text: found

text: a

text: wire

text: between

text: two

text: fences

text: along

text: the

text: U.S

text: Mexican

text: border

text: that

text: when

text: stretched

text: taut

text: could

text: have

text: seriously

text: harmed

text: or

text: even

text: decapitated

text: Border

text: Patrol

text: agents

text: Congress

text: was

text: told

text: Wednesday

text: The

text: wire

text: was

text: about

text: feet

text: high

text: when

text: pulled

text: tight

text: or

text: about

text: neck

text: level

text: for

text: an

text: agent

text: on

text: an

text: ATV

text: officials

text: say

text: It

text: was

text: configured

text: in

text: a

text: way

text: so

text: that

text: if

text: it

text: was

text: pulled

text: it

text: would

text: take

text: off

text: the

text: head

text: of

text: a

text: Border

text: Patrol

text: agent

text: riding

text: in

text: an

text: open

text: car

text: Homeland

text: Security

text: Secretary

text: Michael

text: Chertoff

text: said

text: at

text: a

text: House

text: budget

text: hearing

text: The

text: wire

text: was

text: discovered

text: Saturday

text: when

text: authorities

text: monitoring

text: a

text: surveillance

text: camera

text: saw

text: two

text: people

text: on

text: the

text: north

text: side

text: of

text: the

text: border

text: east

text: of

text: the

text: San

text: Ysidro

text: Port

text: of

text: Entry

text: in

text: the

text: San

text: Diego

text: sector

text: Border

text: Patrol

text: agents

text: sent

text: to

text: the

text: area

text: found

text: a

text: thick

text: metal

text: wire

text: tied

text: to

text: a

text: secondary

text: fence

text: The

text: wire

text: stretched

text: across

text: the

text: border

text: road

text: and

text: led

text: into

text: Mexico

text: through

text: a

text: hole

text: in

text: the

text: primary

text: fence

text: according

text: to

text: U.S.

text: Customs

text: and

text: Border

text: Protection

text: When

text: pulled

text: tight

text: the

text: wire

text: would

text: be

text: about

text: feet

text: high

text: about

text: neck

text: level

text: for

text: an

text: agent

text: riding

text: on

text: an

text: all

text: terrain

text: vehicle

text: CBP

text: said

text: Officials

text: said

text: they

text: suspected

text: that

text: drug

text: or

text: illegal

text: immigrant

text: smugglers

text: were

text: involved

text: No

text: arrests

text: were

text: made

text: on

text: either

text: side

text: of

text: the

text: border

text: The

text: wire

text: was

text: removed

text: and

text: no

text: injuries

text: or

text: damage

text: took

text: place

text: CBP

text: said

text: E

text: mail

text: to

text: a

text: friend

question: When did the agents discover it?

answer: Saturday

text: Saturday

question: Where did the wire lead to?

answer: into Mexico

text: into Mexico

question: When did agents discover it?

answer: Saturday

text: Saturday

question: Have any arrests been made?

answer: No

text: No

question: What number of arrests were made

answer: No

text: No

question: Where was this?

answer: the U.S.-Mexican border

text: the U.S.-Mexican border


text:
(MENTAL FLOSS) -- When we think of economic crises in America, two periods come to mind -- the Great Depression and whatever it is we're in the middle of right now. But the U.S. stock market has crashed more times than we'd like to admit. Historically, our economy has been brought to its knees by everything from greedy bankers to horse illnesses.

Horses, cows, whales and a failed copper scheme caused economic panics earlier in U.S. history.

So let's take a deep breath and remember that panics are just part of the American way of life.

1. The Panic of 1873: America stops horsing around

During the late 19th century, the American economy relied on horses the way it depends on gas today. Horses unloaded cargo from ports, transported goods from city to city, worked the farms, supported the army, and served as the emergency vehicles of choice. Without them, the American workforce would have ground to a halt.

And that's exactly what happened in 1872, when an estimated 99 percent of all horses in America contracted equine influenza. The highly contagious strain started in Canada and spread through New England to the South in a matter of months, leaving horses across the country too weak to stand and coughing uncontrollably.

Street buggies stopped running, paralyzing commerce in the cities. Railroads were stymied because trains run on coal -- coal that was hauled out of mines by horses. And as the horse flu spread, U.S. military troops had to go into battle on foot (they were fighting Apache Indians at the time).

More tragically, a fire in Boston raged for three days because there were no horses to carry water. The flames destroyed more than 700 buildings, causing an estimated $73.5 million in damages and killing at least 20 people.

The "Great Epizootic," as it was called, spiraled out of control in less than a year. At the height of the panic, as many as 20,000 businesses failed, a third of all railroads went bankrupt, and unemployment spiked to almost 15 percent. The economy took nearly a decade to recover. Ironically, nearly all of the horses recuperated by the following spring.

2. The Winter of 1886: When the cows don't come home

During the second half of the 19th century, cattle ranches in the American West were thriving. From the Montana grasslands to the Texas prairie, ranches were attracting investors back East and across the pond in Europe. But by 1886, things were getting dicey. Overgrazing, coupled with a hot and dry summer, had left the plains almost bare.

Then came the snow. Known as the "Winter of Death," the following season saw one of the worst cold spells in recorded history. More than half the cattle in the West froze to death, unable to move in the thick snow.

Ghoulish firsthand accounts describe the bodies of dead cows stretching for miles across the horizon. When the spring thaw and floods came, thousands of bloated corpses floated into the streams and rivers. Some ranchers quit the business entirely and didn't even bother to round up their surviving cattle. Mental Floss: Bold business scams that failed miserably

By the end of 1887, the disaster had wiped out more than half of the United States' western cattle and debilitated the national economy. Most cattle investors went bankrupt, and thousands of cowboys were left unemployed.

But more than anything, the winter of 1886 put an end to all those turn-of-the-century, idyllic fantasies of open-range ranching in the Wild West.

3. The Panic of 1907: Captains of industry to the rescue!

The Panic of 1907 started the way many panics do, with a greedy capitalist. Multimillionaire Augustus Heinze, who had made his fortune mining in Montana, believed he had enough control over the copper industry to corner the market.

With the help of several major banks, he concocted a scheme to buy up all the shares of United Copper. But Heinze had overestimated his prowess, and the scheme failed, bringing down Heinze, United Copper, the banks, and many, many stockholders. Mental Floss: Who is Ponzi and what was his scheme?

The debacle sent ripples of anxiety throughout the market, and investors started pulling their money out of banks altogether. After one of New York City's biggest trusts went under, panic ensued, and the stock market collapsed.

At the time, there were no central banks in place, so the federal government had no means of bailing out businesses or injecting cash into the economy. It just stood by, idly waiting for a hero to save the day. Amazingly, one did.

James Pierpont Morgan, banker extraordinaire, rescued the American economy. He propped up many of the failing banks in New York by twisting the arms of other financiers, and he assuaged investors' fears by backing up the market with his own vast cash reserves. Before long, Wall Street was on the mend.

The government also learned its lesson. With the panic resolved, it created the Federal Reserve, ensuring that it could buttress the economy during hard times. Since then, the government has taken a more active role in financial matters and relied less on the kindness of robber barons.

4. Whale of a Crisis: The collapse of America's first oil industry

During the early 19th century, America was one of the top oil-producing countries in the world. But it wasn't petroleum the nation was exporting; it was whale oil. By the mid-1800s, the high-risk, high-profit business was the fifth-largest industry in the United States. Mental Floss: 6 things you probably don't know about oil

At its height, the American whaling industry produced more than 10 million gallons of oil a year and sold it for $1.77 a gallon (about $35 per gallon today). Better still, an American fleet of 1,000 ships had exclusive access to the North Atlantic territories, which ensured profits.

What could have stopped such a juggernaut of an industry? For one thing, other sources of oil. In 1846, Canadian geologist Abraham Gesner developed a technique for distilling kerosene from petroleum, and within a few decades, kerosene had replaced whale oil as the most popular fuel for lamps.

Another reason for the decline was that the whales were dying off. The enthusiastic slaughter throughout the 1800s drove some whale species to extinction and put others on the brink. With so few left to hunt, the cost of whaling became prohibitively expensive.

The final blow to whalers came during the harsh winter of 1871, when the North Atlantic ice trapped and crushed the bulk of the American fleet.

Although American consumers didn't suffer as the country switched from whale oil to petroleum, coastal towns in New England and the Mid-Atlantic languished, and shipbuilders and fishermen found themselves out of work. By the time of the Civil War, whaling ships had become so worthless that Union soldiers loaded a fleet of them with stones and sank them into Charleston harbor. The hope was to blockade the South from the port, but when the plan didn't work, the ships were no great loss. America's first oil industry had been tapped out.

For more mental_floss articles, visit mentalfloss.com

text: MENTAL

text: FLOSS

text: When

text: we

text: think

text: of

text: economic

text: crises

text: in

text: America

text: two

text: periods

text: come

text: to

text: mind

text: the

text: Great

text: Depression

text: and

text: whatever

text: it

text: is

text: we

text: 're

text: in

text: the

text: middle

text: of

text: right

text: now

text: But

text: the

text: U.S.

text: stock

text: market

text: has

text: crashed

text: more

text: times

text: than

text: we

text: 'd

text: like

text: to

text: admit

text: Historically

text: our

text: economy

text: has

text: been

text: brought

text: to

text: its

text: knees

text: by

text: everything

text: from

text: greedy

text: bankers

text: to

text: horse

text: illnesses

text: Horses

text: cows

text: whales

text: and

text: a

text: failed

text: copper

text: scheme

text: caused

text: economic

text: panics

text: earlier

text: in

text: U.S.

text: history

text: So

text: let

text: 's

text: take

text: a

text: deep

text: breath

text: and

text: remember

text: that

text: panics

text: are

text: just

text: part

text: of

text: the

text: American

text: way

text: of

text: life

text: The

text: Panic

text: of

text: America

text: stops

text: horsing

text: around

text: During

text: the

text: late

text: century

text: the

text: American

text: economy

text: relied

text: on

text: horses

text: the

text: way

text: it

text: depends

text: on

text: gas

text: today

text: Horses

text: unloaded

text: cargo

text: from

text: ports

text: transported

text: goods

text: from

text: city

text: to

text: city

text: worked

text: the

text: farms

text: supported

text: the

text: army

text: and

text: served

text: as

text: the

text: emergency

text: vehicles

text: of

text: choice

text: Without

text: them

text: the

text: American

text: workforce

text: would

text: have

text: ground

text: to

text: a

text: halt

text: And

text: that

text: 's

text: exactly

text: what

text: happened

text: in

text: when

text: an

text: estimated

text: percent

text: of

text: all

text: horses

text: in

text: America

text: contracted

text: equine

text: influenza

text: The

text: highly

text: contagious

text: strain

text: started

text: in

text: Canada

text: and

text: spread

text: through

text: New

text: England

text: to

text: the

text: South

text: in

text: a

text: matter

text: of

text: months

text: leaving

text: horses

text: across

text: the

text: country

text: too

text: weak

text: to

text: stand

text: and

text: coughing

text: uncontrollably

text: Street

text: buggies

text: stopped

text: running

text: paralyzing

text: commerce

text: in

text: the

text: cities

text: Railroads

text: were

text: stymied

text: because

text: trains

text: run

text: on

text: coal

text: coal

text: that

text: was

text: hauled

text: out

text: of

text: mines

text: by

text: horses

text: And

text: as

text: the

text: horse

text: flu

text: spread

text: U.S.

text: military

text: troops

text: had

text: to

text: go

text: into

text: battle

text: on

text: foot

text: they

text: were

text: fighting

text: Apache

text: Indians

text: at

text: the

text: time

text: More

text: tragically

text: a

text: fire

text: in

text: Boston

text: raged

text: for

text: three

text: days

text: because

text: there

text: were

text: no

text: horses

text: to

text: carry

text: water

text: The

text: flames

text: destroyed

text: more

text: than

text: buildings

text: causing

text: an

text: estimated

text: million

text: in

text: damages

text: and

text: killing

text: at

text: least

text: people

text: The

text: Great

text: Epizootic

text: as

text: it

text: was

text: called

text: spiraled

text: out

text: of

text: control

text: in

text: less

text: than

text: a

text: year

text: At

text: the

text: height

text: of

text: the

text: panic

text: as

text: many

text: as

text: businesses

text: failed

text: a

text: third

text: of

text: all

text: railroads

text: went

text: bankrupt

text: and

text: unemployment

text: spiked

text: to

text: almost

text: percent

text: The

text: economy

text: took

text: nearly

text: a

text: decade

text: to

text: recover

text: Ironically

text: nearly

text: all

text: of

text: the

text: horses

text: recuperated

text: by

text: the

text: following

text: spring

text: The

text: Winter

text: of

text: When

text: the

text: cows

text: do

text: n't

text: come

text: home

text: During

text: the

text: second

text: half

text: of

text: the

text: century

text: cattle

text: ranches

text: in

text: the

text: American

text: West

text: were

text: thriving

text: From

text: the

text: Montana

text: grasslands

text: to

text: the

text: Texas

text: prairie

text: ranches

text: were

text: attracting

text: investors

text: back

text: East

text: and

text: across

text: the

text: pond

text: in

text: Europe

text: But

text: by

text: things

text: were

text: getting

text: dicey

text: Overgrazing

text: coupled

text: with

text: a

text: hot

text: and

text: dry

text: summer

text: had

text: left

text: the

text: plains

text: almost

text: bare

text: Then

text: came

text: the

text: snow

text: Known

text: as

text: the

text: Winter

text: of

text: Death

text: the

text: following

text: season

text: saw

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: worst

text: cold

text: spells

text: in

text: recorded

text: history

text: More

text: than

text: half

text: the

text: cattle

text: in

text: the

text: West

text: froze

text: to

text: death

text: unable

text: to

text: move

text: in

text: the

text: thick

text: snow

text: Ghoulish

text: firsthand

text: accounts

text: describe

text: the

text: bodies

text: of

text: dead

text: cows

text: stretching

text: for

text: miles

text: across

text: the

text: horizon

text: When

text: the

text: spring

text: thaw

text: and

text: floods

text: came

text: thousands

text: of

text: bloated

text: corpses

text: floated

text: into

text: the

text: streams

text: and

text: rivers

text: Some

text: ranchers

text: quit

text: the

text: business

text: entirely

text: and

text: did

text: n't

text: even

text: bother

text: to

text: round

text: up

text: their

text: surviving

text: cattle

text: Mental

text: Floss

text: Bold

text: business

text: scams

text: that

text: failed

text: miserably

text: By

text: the

text: end

text: of

text: the

text: disaster

text: had

text: wiped

text: out

text: more

text: than

text: half

text: of

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: western

text: cattle

text: and

text: debilitated

text: the

text: national

text: economy

text: Most

text: cattle

text: investors

text: went

text: bankrupt

text: and

text: thousands

text: of

text: cowboys

text: were

text: left

text: unemployed

text: But

text: more

text: than

text: anything

text: the

text: winter

text: of

text: put

text: an

text: end

text: to

text: all

text: those

text: turn

text: of

text: the

text: century

text: idyllic

text: fantasies

text: of

text: open

text: range

text: ranching

text: in

text: the

text: Wild

text: West

text: The

text: Panic

text: of

text: Captains

text: of

text: industry

text: to

text: the

text: rescue

text: The

text: Panic

text: of

text: started

text: the

text: way

text: many

text: panics

text: do

text: with

text: a

text: greedy

text: capitalist

text: Multimillionaire

text: Augustus

text: Heinze

text: who

text: had

text: made

text: his

text: fortune

text: mining

text: in

text: Montana

text: believed

text: he

text: had

text: enough

text: control

text: over

text: the

text: copper

text: industry

text: to

text: corner

text: the

text: market

text: With

text: the

text: help

text: of

text: several

text: major

text: banks

text: he

text: concocted

text: a

text: scheme

text: to

text: buy

text: up

text: all

text: the

text: shares

text: of

text: United

text: Copper

text: But

text: Heinze

text: had

text: overestimated

text: his

text: prowess

text: and

text: the

text: scheme

text: failed

text: bringing

text: down

text: Heinze

text: United

text: Copper

text: the

text: banks

text: and

text: many

text: many

text: stockholders

text: Mental

text: Floss

text: Who

text: is

text: Ponzi

text: and

text: what

text: was

text: his

text: scheme

text: The

text: debacle

text: sent

text: ripples

text: of

text: anxiety

text: throughout

text: the

text: market

text: and

text: investors

text: started

text: pulling

text: their

text: money

text: out

text: of

text: banks

text: altogether

text: After

text: one

text: of

text: New

text: York

text: City

text: 's

text: biggest

text: trusts

text: went

text: under

text: panic

text: ensued

text: and

text: the

text: stock

text: market

text: collapsed

text: At

text: the

text: time

text: there

text: were

text: no

text: central

text: banks

text: in

text: place

text: so

text: the

text: federal

text: government

text: had

text: no

text: means

text: of

text: bailing

text: out

text: businesses

text: or

text: injecting

text: cash

text: into

text: the

text: economy

text: It

text: just

text: stood

text: by

text: idly

text: waiting

text: for

text: a

text: hero

text: to

text: save

text: the

text: day

text: Amazingly

text: one

text: did

text: James

text: Pierpont

text: Morgan

text: banker

text: extraordinaire

text: rescued

text: the

text: American

text: economy

text: He

text: propped

text: up

text: many

text: of

text: the

text: failing

text: banks

text: in

text: New

text: York

text: by

text: twisting

text: the

text: arms

text: of

text: other

text: financiers

text: and

text: he

text: assuaged

text: investors

text: fears

text: by

text: backing

text: up

text: the

text: market

text: with

text: his

text: own

text: vast

text: cash

text: reserves

text: Before

text: long

text: Wall

text: Street

text: was

text: on

text: the

text: mend

text: The

text: government

text: also

text: learned

text: its

text: lesson

text: With

text: the

text: panic

text: resolved

text: it

text: created

text: the

text: Federal

text: Reserve

text: ensuring

text: that

text: it

text: could

text: buttress

text: the

text: economy

text: during

text: hard

text: times

text: Since

text: then

text: the

text: government

text: has

text: taken

text: a

text: more

text: active

text: role

text: in

text: financial

text: matters

text: and

text: relied

text: less

text: on

text: the

text: kindness

text: of

text: robber

text: barons

text: Whale

text: of

text: a

text: Crisis

text: The

text: collapse

text: of

text: America

text: 's

text: first

text: oil

text: industry

text: During

text: the

text: early

text: century

text: America

text: was

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: top

text: oil

text: producing

text: countries

text: in

text: the

text: world

text: But

text: it

text: was

text: n't

text: petroleum

text: the

text: nation

text: was

text: exporting

text: it

text: was

text: whale

text: oil

text: By

text: the

text: the

text: high

text: risk

text: high

text: profit

text: business

text: was

text: the

text: fifth

text: largest

text: industry

text: in

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: Mental

text: Floss

text: things

text: you

text: probably

text: do

text: n't

text: know

text: about

text: oil

text: At

text: its

text: height

text: the

text: American

text: whaling

text: industry

text: produced

text: more

text: than

text: million

text: gallons

text: of

text: oil

text: a

text: year

text: and

text: sold

text: it

text: for

text: a

text: gallon

text: about

text: per

text: gallon

text: today

text: Better

text: still

text: an

text: American

text: fleet

text: of

text: ships

text: had

text: exclusive

text: access

text: to

text: the

text: North

text: Atlantic

text: territories

text: which

text: ensured

text: profits

text: What

text: could

text: have

text: stopped

text: such

text: a

text: juggernaut

text: of

text: an

text: industry

text: For

text: one

text: thing

text: other

text: sources

text: of

text: oil

text: In

text: Canadian

text: geologist

text: Abraham

text: Gesner

text: developed

text: a

text: technique

text: for

text: distilling

text: kerosene

text: from

text: petroleum

text: and

text: within

text: a

text: few

text: decades

text: kerosene

text: had

text: replaced

text: whale

text: oil

text: as

text: the

text: most

text: popular

text: fuel

text: for

text: lamps

text: Another

text: reason

text: for

text: the

text: decline

text: was

text: that

text: the

text: whales

text: were

text: dying

text: off

text: The

text: enthusiastic

text: slaughter

text: throughout

text: the

text: drove

text: some

text: whale

text: species

text: to

text: extinction

text: and

text: put

text: others

text: on

text: the

text: brink

text: With

text: so

text: few

text: left

text: to

text: hunt

text: the

text: cost

text: of

text: whaling

text: became

text: prohibitively

text: expensive

text: The

text: final

text: blow

text: to

text: whalers

text: came

text: during

text: the

text: harsh

text: winter

text: of

text: when

text: the

text: North

text: Atlantic

text: ice

text: trapped

text: and

text: crushed

text: the

text: bulk

text: of

text: the

text: American

text: fleet

text: Although

text: American

text: consumers

text: did

text: n't

text: suffer

text: as

text: the

text: country

text: switched

text: from

text: whale

text: oil

text: to

text: petroleum

text: coastal

text: towns

text: in

text: New

text: England

text: and

text: the

text: Mid

text: Atlantic

text: languished

text: and

text: shipbuilders

text: and

text: fishermen

text: found

text: themselves

text: out

text: of

text: work

text: By

text: the

text: time

text: of

text: the

text: Civil

text: War

text: whaling

text: ships

text: had

text: become

text: so

text: worthless

text: that

text: Union

text: soldiers

text: loaded

text: a

text: fleet

text: of

text: them

text: with

text: stones

text: and

text: sank

text: them

text: into

text: Charleston

text: harbor

text: The

text: hope

text: was

text: to

text: blockade

text: the

text: South

text: from

text: the

text: port

text: but

text: when

text: the

text: plan

text: did

text: n't

text: work

text: the

text: ships

text: were

text: no

text: great

text: loss

text: America

text: 's

text: first

text: oil

text: industry

text: had

text: been

text: tapped

text: out

text: For

text: more

text: articles

text: visit

text: mentalfloss.com

question: What kills 99% of horses?

answer: equine influenza.

text: equine influenza.

question: when was the event

answer: 1872,

question: what was the percentage of ill horses

answer: 99 percent

text: 99 percent

question: what Disease kills 99 percent of horses in 1872?

answer: equine influenza.

text: equine influenza.

question: What wipes out half the cattle in West?

answer: "Winter of Death,"

text: "Winter of Death,"


text:
(CNN) -- And they're off!

Tens of millions of Americans are on the move for the annual November trek to see family and friends, feast on turkey and pumpkin pie, and rediscover the joys of their hometown on Thanksgiving.

You probably know the drill: packed airports, crowded flights and lots of out-of-state license plates on the road.

All eyes are on the weather, which can turn a simple trip into a nightmare -- cue visions of Steve Martin and John Candy struggling to get to snowy Chicago in "Planes, Trains and Automobiles."

Should you recline your seat? The etiquette of crowded flying

Travelers faced stormy conditions in the Pacific Northwest, the threat of floods and severe storms in the South, lots of rain in the Northeast and the possibility of snow in parts of New England.

On Tuesday afternoon, weather-related flight delays were reported at airports including Philadelphia International, O'Hare, Newark International, LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International.

Check FAA flight delay information

But the threat of bad weather is not keeping people home.

AAA projects that 42.5 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles during the Thanksgiving weekend, an increase of 4% from last year.

Slightly fewer people are choosing to get to their destinations by plane.

About 23.2 million travelers will fly over a 12-day period surrounding Turkey Day, a 2% drop from last year, according to a forecast by the Air Transport Association of America.

Unlike last year, when the "National Opt-Out Day" movement against airport body scanners threatened to snarl security lines across the country, air travelers are not facing the prospect of protest-induced delays. (The Opt-Out Day turned out to be a non-event.)

The TSA says it's preparing its work force for a "smooth holiday travel experience for travelers."

iReport: Tell us how your trip is going

The busiest air travel days for the Thanksgiving holiday period are expected to be Sunday, November 27, and Monday, November 28, the Air Transport Association of America said.

If you're flying into or out of Los Angeles International, Chicago's O'Hare International or Orlando International, brace yourself for lots of company. Those will be the nation's busiest airports this Thanksgiving, based on flight bookings, according to Orbitz.com.

(And in case you're wondering, Mineta San Jose International in California and Kahului Airport in Maui, Hawaii, will be the least busy.)

No matter where you start your journey, flight attendants say, it's a week when they see lots of extra-grumpy passengers worried about flight delays and cancellations.

"There's a little bit more at stake. Oftentimes, people are trying to get someplace to be with their family, so naturally they would be upset if they're not going to make it," said Rene Foss, a veteran flight attendant for a major U.S. airline.

"However, in general, it's also kind of a festive time. Sometimes, contrary to what you might think, people are in a good mood because they are going for something kind of fun as opposed to just a business meeting or something related to work."

Flying with food or gifts? Check out the TSA's guide to what you can and cannot bring through an airport security checkpoint. The agency reminds you not to wrap gifts you are taking on the plane because security officers may have to unwrap them if they need to take a closer look.

The TSA also offers tips on how to get through the security line faster, including packing coats and jackets in checked bags whenever possible and putting your shoes directly on the conveyor belt instead of a bin when they go through the X-ray machine.

Then, there are things you can't control: Snow, fog or rain may mean you won't fly on time or at all.

To avoid being stuck at the airport, sign up for airline alerts and check your flights frequently online before you leave home. If your flight is canceled, get in line for assistance and try your airline by phone or online at the same time to get an edge over other fliers who are trying to rebook.

Winter weather travel tips

If you're driving through an area that's expecting wintry weather, AAA recommends that you keep at least half a tank of gas in your car at all times and pack a cell phone, plus blankets, gloves, hats, food, water and any needed medication in case you're stranded.

Stay safe out there, and happy travels.

text: CNN

text: And

text: they

text: 're

text: off

text: Tens

text: of

text: millions

text: of

text: Americans

text: are

text: on

text: the

text: move

text: for

text: the

text: annual

text: November

text: trek

text: to

text: see

text: family

text: and

text: friends

text: feast

text: on

text: turkey

text: and

text: pumpkin

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text: and

text: rediscover

text: the

text: joys

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text: hometown

text: on

text: Thanksgiving

text: You

text: probably

text: know

text: the

text: drill

text: packed

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text: and

text: lots

text: of

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text: state

text: license

text: plates

text: on

text: the

text: road

text: All

text: eyes

text: are

text: on

text: the

text: weather

text: which

text: can

text: turn

text: a

text: simple

text: trip

text: into

text: a

text: nightmare

text: cue

text: visions

text: of

text: Steve

text: Martin

text: and

text: John

text: Candy

text: struggling

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text: get

text: to

text: snowy

text: Chicago

text: in

text: Planes

text: Trains

text: and

text: Automobiles

text: Should

text: you

text: recline

text: your

text: seat

text: The

text: etiquette

text: of

text: crowded

text: flying

text: Travelers

text: faced

text: stormy

text: conditions

text: in

text: the

text: Pacific

text: Northwest

text: the

text: threat

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text: in

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text: lots

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text: rain

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text: the

text: Northeast

text: and

text: the

text: possibility

text: of

text: snow

text: in

text: parts

text: of

text: New

text: England

text: On

text: Tuesday

text: afternoon

text: weather

text: related

text: flight

text: delays

text: were

text: reported

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text: airports

text: including

text: Philadelphia

text: International

text: O'Hare

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text: LaGuardia

text: and

text: John

text: F.

text: Kennedy

text: International

text: Check

text: FAA

text: flight

text: delay

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text: But

text: the

text: threat

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text: bad

text: weather

text: is

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text: keeping

text: people

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text: AAA

text: projects

text: that

text: million

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text: will

text: travel

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text: least

text: miles

text: during

text: the

text: Thanksgiving

text: weekend

text: an

text: increase

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text: from

text: last

text: year

text: Slightly

text: fewer

text: people

text: are

text: choosing

text: to

text: get

text: to

text: their

text: destinations

text: by

text: plane

text: About

text: million

text: travelers

text: will

text: fly

text: over

text: a

text: period

text: surrounding

text: Turkey

text: Day

text: a

text: drop

text: from

text: last

text: year

text: according

text: to

text: a

text: forecast

text: by

text: the

text: Air

text: Transport

text: Association

text: of

text: America

text: Unlike

text: last

text: year

text: when

text: the

text: National

text: Opt

text: Out

text: Day

text: movement

text: against

text: airport

text: body

text: scanners

text: threatened

text: to

text: snarl

text: security

text: lines

text: across

text: the

text: country

text: air

text: travelers

text: are

text: not

text: facing

text: the

text: prospect

text: of

text: protest

text: induced

text: delays

text: The

text: Opt

text: Out

text: Day

text: turned

text: out

text: to

text: be

text: a

text: non

text: event

text: The

text: TSA

text: says

text: it

text: 's

text: preparing

text: its

text: work

text: force

text: for

text: a

text: smooth

text: holiday

text: travel

text: experience

text: for

text: travelers

text: iReport

text: Tell

text: us

text: how

text: your

text: trip

text: is

text: going

text: The

text: busiest

text: air

text: travel

text: days

text: for

text: the

text: Thanksgiving

text: holiday

text: period

text: are

text: expected

text: to

text: be

text: Sunday

text: November

text: and

text: Monday

text: November

text: the

text: Air

text: Transport

text: Association

text: of

text: America

text: said

text: If

text: you

text: 're

text: flying

text: into

text: or

text: out

text: of

text: Los

text: Angeles

text: International

text: Chicago

text: 's

text: O'Hare

text: International

text: or

text: Orlando

text: International

text: brace

text: yourself

text: for

text: lots

text: of

text: company

text: Those

text: will

text: be

text: the

text: nation

text: 's

text: busiest

text: airports

text: this

text: Thanksgiving

text: based

text: on

text: flight

text: bookings

text: according

text: to

text: Orbitz.com

text: And

text: in

text: case

text: you

text: 're

text: wondering

text: Mineta

text: San

text: Jose

text: International

text: in

text: California

text: and

text: Kahului

text: Airport

text: in

text: Maui

text: Hawaii

text: will

text: be

text: the

text: least

text: busy

text: No

text: matter

text: where

text: you

text: start

text: your

text: journey

text: flight

text: attendants

text: say

text: it

text: 's

text: a

text: week

text: when

text: they

text: see

text: lots

text: of

text: extra

text: grumpy

text: passengers

text: worried

text: about

text: flight

text: delays

text: and

text: cancellations

text: There

text: 's

text: a

text: little

text: bit

text: more

text: at

text: stake

text: Oftentimes

text: people

text: are

text: trying

text: to

text: get

text: someplace

text: to

text: be

text: with

text: their

text: family

text: so

text: naturally

text: they

text: would

text: be

text: upset

text: if

text: they

text: 're

text: not

text: going

text: to

text: make

text: it

text: said

text: Rene

text: Foss

text: a

text: veteran

text: flight

text: attendant

text: for

text: a

text: major

text: U.S.

text: airline

text: However

text: in

text: general

text: it

text: 's

text: also

text: kind

text: of

text: a

text: festive

text: time

text: Sometimes

text: contrary

text: to

text: what

text: you

text: might

text: think

text: people

text: are

text: in

text: a

text: good

text: mood

text: because

text: they

text: are

text: going

text: for

text: something

text: kind

text: of

text: fun

text: as

text: opposed

text: to

text: just

text: a

text: business

text: meeting

text: or

text: something

text: related

text: to

text: work

text: Flying

text: with

text: food

text: or

text: gifts

text: Check

text: out

text: the

text: TSA

text: 's

text: guide

text: to

text: what

text: you

text: can

text: and

text: can

text: not

text: bring

text: through

text: an

text: airport

text: security

text: checkpoint

text: The

text: agency

text: reminds

text: you

text: not

text: to

text: wrap

text: gifts

text: you

text: are

text: taking

text: on

text: the

text: plane

text: because

text: security

text: officers

text: may

text: have

text: to

text: unwrap

text: them

text: if

text: they

text: need

text: to

text: take

text: a

text: closer

text: look

text: The

text: TSA

text: also

text: offers

text: tips

text: on

text: how

text: to

text: get

text: through

text: the

text: security

text: line

text: faster

text: including

text: packing

text: coats

text: and

text: jackets

text: in

text: checked

text: bags

text: whenever

text: possible

text: and

text: putting

text: your

text: shoes

text: directly

text: on

text: the

text: conveyor

text: belt

text: instead

text: of

text: a

text: bin

text: when

text: they

text: go

text: through

text: the

text: X

text: ray

text: machine

text: Then

text: there

text: are

text: things

text: you

text: ca

text: n't

text: control

text: Snow

text: fog

text: or

text: rain

text: may

text: mean

text: you

text: wo

text: n't

text: fly

text: on

text: time

text: or

text: at

text: all

text: To

text: avoid

text: being

text: stuck

text: at

text: the

text: airport

text: sign

text: up

text: for

text: airline

text: alerts

text: and

text: check

text: your

text: flights

text: frequently

text: online

text: before

text: you

text: leave

text: home

text: If

text: your

text: flight

text: is

text: canceled

text: get

text: in

text: line

text: for

text: assistance

text: and

text: try

text: your

text: airline

text: by

text: phone

text: or

text: online

text: at

text: the

text: same

text: time

text: to

text: get

text: an

text: edge

text: over

text: other

text: fliers

text: who

text: are

text: trying

text: to

text: rebook

text: Winter

text: weather

text: travel

text: tips

text: If

text: you

text: 're

text: driving

text: through

text: an

text: area

text: that

text: 's

text: expecting

text: wintry

text: weather

text: AAA

text: recommends

text: that

text: you

text: keep

text: at

text: least

text: half

text: a

text: tank

text: of

text: gas

text: in

text: your

text: car

text: at

text: all

text: times

text: and

text: pack

text: a

text: cell

text: phone

text: plus

text: blankets

text: gloves

text: hats

text: food

text: water

text: and

text: any

text: needed

text: medication

text: in

text: case

text: you

text: 're

text: stranded

text: Stay

text: safe

text: out

text: there

text: and

text: happy

text: travels

question: What are the busiest airports?

answer: Los Angeles International, Chicago's O'Hare International or Orlando International,

text: Los Angeles International, Chicago's O'Hare International or Orlando International,

question: Which three airports will be the busiest?

answer: Orlando International,

text: Orlando International,

question: What are the eyes on?

answer: the weather,

text: the weather,

question: What is the nightmare feared?

answer: weather,

text: weather,

question: What can turn a simple trip into a nightmare?

answer: weather,

text: weather,

question: What number of Americans will travel at least 50 miles this Thanksgiving?

answer: 42.5 million

text: 42.5 million


text:
(Tribune Media Services) -- Kristin Budden's hotel promises her a refund for her nonrefundable hotel room after a hurricane strikes. But months later, there's no sign of the money and the hotel has gone into radio silence. Should she kiss the money goodbye?

A guest's hotel promised her a refund, but she hasn't received anything.

Q: I think that you may be my only hope! My father and I were supposed to meet in San Antonio before a conference. Lucky for us, the weekend that we were to be in San Antonio was the same weekend Hurricane Ike plowed through Texas. After experiencing Gustav just two weeks prior in Baton Rouge, I was not very keen on going for round two. My flight was canceled, anyway.

We had made reservations at the Holiday Inn on the Riverwalk for the weekend. The rate was pre-paid and nonrefundable, which at the time of booking was fine. However, when we saw where the hurricane was headed, we called to cancel our reservations independently.

After some discussion about the storm, the hotel told us both independently that, due to the extreme circumstances, we would receive refunds. I have an e-mail from the hotel regarding my "refund."

Despite numerous e-mails to the hotel over many months, we've received nothing. Any assistance that you can offer me would be greatly appreciated.

-- Kristin Budden, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

A: I think Holiday Inn owes you a refund. Not because of the hurricane, or because it was the right thing to do (although both are true) but because a hotel representative promised one in writing.

If you had disputed the hotel charge on your credit card -- which would have been one of your options -- then the e-mail from your hotel is almost like money in the bank. During a dispute, a hotel may counter that by citing its nonrefundability policy, but from your credit card's perspective, a written statement from the property that it agrees to override its rule is compelling evidence in your favor.

Many resorts offer hurricane guarantees that give guests a no-questions-asked refund when a storm is on the way. Holiday Inn wasn't one of those hotels as far as I can tell, but the commonly accepted practice in the travel industry is to not hold a customer accountable for a trip that can't be taken because of circumstances beyond his or her control.

(Remember, we let travel companies off the hook when they can't operate a plane because of bad weather or a hotel shuts down during a flood -- it's only fair that they should do the same thing for us.)

It looks as if you limited your correspondence to the hotel. In a situation like this, it's useful to begin with a brief, polite e-mail to the corporate guest-relations section on its Web site. Many hotels pass these complaints along to the hotel and may fine it if the grievances aren't resolved quickly. However, dealing with the hotel directly puts it under no such pressure and it may feel as if it can ignore your repeated requests.

Next time you reserve a room during hurricane season, consider one that's refundable. And if not, then at least consider taking out a travel insurance policy that would cover you if a hurricane hit your hotel.

I contacted Holiday Inn on your behalf and it promised you a full refund.

Christopher Elliott is the ombudsman for National Geographic Traveler magazine. E-mail him at celliott@ngs.org.

text: Tribune

text: Media

text: Services

text: Kristin

text: Budden

text: 's

text: hotel

text: promises

text: her

text: a

text: refund

text: for

text: her

text: nonrefundable

text: hotel

text: room

text: after

text: a

text: hurricane

text: strikes

text: But

text: months

text: later

text: there

text: 's

text: no

text: sign

text: of

text: the

text: money

text: and

text: the

text: hotel

text: has

text: gone

text: into

text: radio

text: silence

text: Should

text: she

text: kiss

text: the

text: money

text: goodbye

text: A

text: guest

text: 's

text: hotel

text: promised

text: her

text: a

text: refund

text: but

text: she

text: has

text: n't

text: received

text: anything

text: Q

text: I

text: think

text: that

text: you

text: may

text: be

text: my

text: only

text: hope

text: My

text: father

text: and

text: I

text: were

text: supposed

text: to

text: meet

text: in

text: San

text: Antonio

text: before

text: a

text: conference

text: Lucky

text: for

text: us

text: the

text: weekend

text: that

text: we

text: were

text: to

text: be

text: in

text: San

text: Antonio

text: was

text: the

text: same

text: weekend

text: Hurricane

text: Ike

text: plowed

text: through

text: Texas

text: After

text: experiencing

text: Gustav

text: just

text: two

text: weeks

text: prior

text: in

text: Baton

text: Rouge

text: I

text: was

text: not

text: very

text: keen

text: on

text: going

text: for

text: round

text: two

text: My

text: flight

text: was

text: canceled

text: anyway

text: We

text: had

text: made

text: reservations

text: at

text: the

text: Holiday

text: Inn

text: on

text: the

text: Riverwalk

text: for

text: the

text: weekend

text: The

text: rate

text: was

text: pre

text: paid

text: and

text: nonrefundable

text: which

text: at

text: the

text: time

text: of

text: booking

text: was

text: fine

text: However

text: when

text: we

text: saw

text: where

text: the

text: hurricane

text: was

text: headed

text: we

text: called

text: to

text: cancel

text: our

text: reservations

text: independently

text: After

text: some

text: discussion

text: about

text: the

text: storm

text: the

text: hotel

text: told

text: us

text: both

text: independently

text: that

text: due

text: to

text: the

text: extreme

text: circumstances

text: we

text: would

text: receive

text: refunds

text: I

text: have

text: an

text: e

text: mail

text: from

text: the

text: hotel

text: regarding

text: my

text: refund

text: Despite

text: numerous

text: e

text: mails

text: to

text: the

text: hotel

text: over

text: many

text: months

text: we

text: 've

text: received

text: nothing

text: Any

text: assistance

text: that

text: you

text: can

text: offer

text: me

text: would

text: be

text: greatly

text: appreciated

text: Kristin

text: Budden

text: Baton

text: Rouge

text: Louisiana

text: A

text: I

text: think

text: Holiday

text: Inn

text: owes

text: you

text: a

text: refund

text: Not

text: because

text: of

text: the

text: hurricane

text: or

text: because

text: it

text: was

text: the

text: right

text: thing

text: to

text: do

text: although

text: both

text: are

text: true

text: but

text: because

text: a

text: hotel

text: representative

text: promised

text: one

text: in

text: writing

text: If

text: you

text: had

text: disputed

text: the

text: hotel

text: charge

text: on

text: your

text: credit

text: card

text: which

text: would

text: have

text: been

text: one

text: of

text: your

text: options

text: then

text: the

text: e

text: mail

text: from

text: your

text: hotel

text: is

text: almost

text: like

text: money

text: in

text: the

text: bank

text: During

text: a

text: dispute

text: a

text: hotel

text: may

text: counter

text: that

text: by

text: citing

text: its

text: nonrefundability

text: policy

text: but

text: from

text: your

text: credit

text: card

text: 's

text: perspective

text: a

text: written

text: statement

text: from

text: the

text: property

text: that

text: it

text: agrees

text: to

text: override

text: its

text: rule

text: is

text: compelling

text: evidence

text: in

text: your

text: favor

text: Many

text: resorts

text: offer

text: hurricane

text: guarantees

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text: give

text: guests

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text: no

text: questions

text: asked

text: refund

text: when

text: a

text: storm

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text: on

text: the

text: way

text: Holiday

text: Inn

text: was

text: n't

text: one

text: of

text: those

text: hotels

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text: as

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text: can

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text: the

text: commonly

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text: the

text: travel

text: industry

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text: customer

text: accountable

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text: a

text: trip

text: that

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text: n't

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text: taken

text: because

text: of

text: circumstances

text: beyond

text: his

text: or

text: her

text: control

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text: we

text: let

text: travel

text: companies

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text: the

text: hook

text: when

text: they

text: ca

text: n't

text: operate

text: a

text: plane

text: because

text: of

text: bad

text: weather

text: or

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text: hotel

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text: down

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text: a

text: flood

text: it

text: 's

text: only

text: fair

text: that

text: they

text: should

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text: the

text: same

text: thing

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text: looks

text: as

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text: limited

text: your

text: correspondence

text: to

text: the

text: hotel

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text: a

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text: like

text: this

text: it

text: 's

text: useful

text: to

text: begin

text: with

text: a

text: brief

text: polite

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text: mail

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text: the

text: corporate

text: guest

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text: section

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text: its

text: Web

text: site

text: Many

text: hotels

text: pass

text: these

text: complaints

text: along

text: to

text: the

text: hotel

text: and

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text: fine

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text: grievances

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text: quickly

text: However

text: dealing

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text: the

text: hotel

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text: no

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text: pressure

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text: may

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text: if

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text: can

text: ignore

text: your

text: repeated

text: requests

text: Next

text: time

text: you

text: reserve

text: a

text: room

text: during

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text: season

text: consider

text: one

text: that

text: 's

text: refundable

text: And

text: if

text: not

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text: consider

text: taking

text: out

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text: travel

text: insurance

text: policy

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text: would

text: cover

text: you

text: if

text: a

text: hurricane

text: hit

text: your

text: hotel

text: I

text: contacted

text: Holiday

text: Inn

text: on

text: your

text: behalf

text: and

text: it

text: promised

text: you

text: a

text: full

text: refund

text: Christopher

text: Elliott

text: is

text: the

text: ombudsman

text: for

text: National

text: Geographic

text: Traveler

text: magazine

text: E

text: mail

text: him

text: at

text: celliott@ngs.org

question: For how long did the guest try to get her money back?

answer: months

text: months

question: What did Holiday Inn agree to?

answer: a refund,

text: a refund,

question: What did the email say?

answer: "refund."

text: "refund."

question: For how long the guest was trying to get her money back?

answer: months

text: months