"Hey, where'd everybody go?" The Marie Celeste after her crew vanished On December 4, 1872, the merchant boat Dei Gratia happened upon a ship drifting in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Everything seemed normal with this ship: its sails were still intact, the cargo hold still full of merchandise bound for the markets of Europe. The only odd thing was that all of the ship's passengers were missing. Weather in the area had been normal and there were no signs of foul play. How could an entire group of experienced seamen simply vanish into thin air? The strange disappearance of the crew of the Mary Celeste has intrigued historians, mystery-lovers, and conspiracy theorists for over a hundred years. The Mary Celeste had set sail from New York City in early November bound for Italy with over a thousand barrels of alcohol on board. The ship was manned by seven veteran sailors, their experienced captain, and the captain's wife and young daughter. But when the crew of the Dei Gratia discovered the Mary Celeste a month later in the North Atlantic between Africa and Portugal, no one remained aboard. Furthermore, the entire ship was drenched with water, its compass destroyed, and important papers, sailing tools, and the only lifeboat aboard were missing as well. But there was no evidence of violence, either natural or man-made, and the entire stock of alcohol barrels remained secure onboard. Inquiries made by both Great Britain and the U.S. initially suspected the crew of the Dei Gratia of orchestrating the Mary Celeste incident in order to obtain salvage rights to the ship. But the captains of both ships had been longtime friends and nothing of value onboard had been taken. Other suspects included North African pirates. But again, the ship's cargo was intact and pirates hadn't operated in the Atlantic in years. There was some conjecture that the Mary Celeste's owners and its captain had conspired in an insurance scam, but the financial benefits to such a scheme were minimal at best. More scientific explanations included such ocean disasters as a freak storm or an earthquake, or a rare event like a tsunami or waterspout (a tornado on the ocean). It's possible that any of these incidents could have swept the passengers overboard, or, perhaps (more likely) given them the impression that the ship was sinking. They then abandoned the ship and got into the lifeboat, which then either sank itself or drifted long enough for all aboard to succumb to illness or starvation. But no inclement weather or seismic activity were noted by other ships in the area or on land nearby. Another possible explanation stems from the Mary Celeste’s cargo: alcohol barrels. Upon docking in Italy, nine of the 1000 barrels were found to be empty. A leak of alcohol could potentially cause an explosion, panicking the crew into abandoning ship. All of these explanations are probable, but certainly not as interesting as whispers of murder, mutiny, or piracy. And then there are the outlandish theories of alien abduction, sea monsters, ghost ships, or Bermuda Triangle-like phenomena that stem primarily from fictional works by science-fiction and fantasy writers like Arthur Conan Doyle and Dean Koontz. Personally, I like to picture the crew of the Mary Celeste docked off the coast of Atlantis, sharing drinks with Amelia Earhart, Jimmy Hoffa, Judge Crater, and D.B. Cooper. But that’s just me. Suggested Sites... The Mary Celeste: Fact not Fiction - dedicated to remembering the Mary Celeste and her passengers, as well as to investigating theories behind their disappearance. Smithsonian Channel: The Mary Celeste - watch videos from the Smithsonian that explore the strange disappearance of the Mary Celeste's passengers and possible explanations. Ghosts at Sea - learn about the Mary Celeste, the Flying Dutchman, and other "phantom ships." NUMA: The Mary Celeste - images and information about the shipwreck thought to be the Mary Celeste.

Directory categories: Phantom Ships, Sailing, Ships, U.S. Maritime History, Paranormal Phenonena

Archived under: 19th Century, American History, Boating, Disappearances, Disasters, Missing Persons, Mysteries, Paranormal, Pirates, Shipwrecks, Transportation

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"Where are we going?!" (Photo by Curtis Perry) Recreational vehicles have come a long way since Americans started using them to tour the country in the 1920s. "Tin Can Tourists" were (and are still) blessed with curiosity and a sense of adventure, but didn't necessarily want to give up the amenities of home -- and thus was born the RV. After World War II, such companies as Airstream and Winnebago sprang up, dedicated to giving motor tourists comfort in a surprisingly compact form. Even Hollywood got into the act, as Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz attempted to drive across the U.S. in their movie, "The Long, Long Trailer" (a feat emulated 32 years later by Albert Brooks and Julie Hagerty in "Lost in America"). And just what do these road warriors want to see? Well, they might start in Collinsville, IL, just to get a peek at the World's Largest Catsup Bottle, then it's east to Flanders, NY, where the "Big Duck" holds court. After that, it's northwest to Ironwood, MI, home of Hiawatha, "The World's Tallest and Largest Indian." Finally, it's all the way west to Livermore, CA, and the World's Oldest Working Lightbulb (burning continuously since 1901!) -- or any number of other unique destinations. The price of gas may be high, but so is their enthusiasm. Suggested Sites... RV Advice - recreational vehicle events, tips and tricks, FAQs, and more. Roadside America - you're out on the road; here's what to see. Roadside Architecture - keep your eyes peeled for one-of-a-kind buildings, restaurants, and giant... things. Gas Buddy - get your motor runnin' and head out on the highway -- but first know where to find the cheapest gas. Vintage Vacations - restoring and selling period trailers and campers.

Directory categories: Road Trips, Recreational Vehicles, Roadside Attractions, RV Parks

Archived under: 1920s, 1940s, 1950s, Adventure, Autos, Camping, Cultures, Driving, Fanatics, Parks, RVs, Roadside Attractions, Society and Culture, Tourist Attractions, Transportation, Travel, Vacations

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"All aboard!" The "MUNI Diaries" logo Muni Diaries – whether you live in San Francisco and ride its slow and human-stained MUNI buses and trains or not, you can still be amused, shocked, and/or disgusted by these fascinating tales of the publicly-transported in all their tired, smelly, and crammed-together glory. Populated largely by user-submitted content, the "Muni Diaries" blog shows public transportation for what it is: a strange social experiment, a fecund human Petri dish where the rich and poor, the young and old, and the healthy and sick cram together with all the nudity, violence, vomit, and sexual indiscretion that keeps the riding citizens endlessly entertained -- and always coming back for more. SticK – because quitting smoking, saving money, or exercising regularly is hard, StickK.com has devised a web-based method to help you keep the achievement of your goals on track. If you set a goal and do not achieve it, StickK.com will charge your credit card accordingly and send the money to a designated recipient. I Do Now I Don’t – these pre-owned wedding and engagement ring auction sites are becoming quite a burgeoning little industry. Every time I see a new one, I think, “Oh, that’s kinda funny,” until I start looking at the pictures of the rings and thinking about the stories of heartbreak that many of them hold, and then it just starts to seem sad. "I Do Now I Don't" also sells wedding dresses, which makes sense because teardrops can usually be washed right out of most fabrics. Airfare Watchdog – a new take on the airfare-deal-finding website, "Airfare Watchdog" provides you a list of surprisingly-inexpensive flights to and from various destinations with limitations on travel dates and times. If you’re just looking to get out of town and you’re flexible on your dates (or even your destination), a quick browse through their daily list of fares might be of interest. Cat Workout – sites like this really make me want to lose my job and hang around my house all day coming up with funny things to blog. "Cat Workout" helps users see the real value in having a cat: you can save money on exercise equipment! Having a cute little kitty in my arms while I’m doing “European squats” would not only provide me with soft and fuzzy joy, but would also provide the resistance that I need to maximize the effectiveness of my workouts. Suggested Sites... Muni Diaries - SF Muni adventure blog with stories, news, videos, and commentary about the bus-tastic San Francisco Municipal Railway. Get Muni news and submit your own Muni adventures, photos, videos, and stories. SticK - enables users to form commitment contracts to help them achieve their personal goals. These goals may be to lose weight, run a marathon, exercise regularly, quit smoking, or a personalized goal. Cat Workout - work out with these cat workout videos. Exercises include leg lifts, European squats, biceps training, and more. Airfare Watchdog - alerts consumers to fare reductions, airline discounts, and other unusually low airfares from a wide variety of sources. I Do Now I Don't - buy and sell pre-owned wedding rings, engagement rings, jewelry, and wedding dresses.

Directory categories: San Francisco Municipal Railway (MUNI), Personal Growth, Airfare Consolidators, Cats, Online Jewelry Auctions

Archived under: Air Travel, Animals, Auctions, Blogs, California, Cats, Cities, Commuting, Diets, Exercise, In Character, Internet, Motivation, Recycling, San Francisco, Shopping, Smoking, Trains, Transportation, Travel, Weddings, Yahoo! Directory

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Unfortunately, modern pirates don't warn their victims with a Jolly Roger (Photo by Simon Bisson) We love pirates! We love pirate jokes, fashion, and that swashbuckling Johnny Depp in eyeliner, so naturally we're big fans of Talk Like a Pirate Day (and any other excuse to dress up, dress down, or speak strangely, really). In years past, we've reported on buried treasure, the kraken, pirate myths, and the history of Talk Like a Pirate Day itself. But even though it seems that the pirate fad is waning (avast!) and we've strip-mined the topic, there's one area we've neglected: modern-day piracy. Unfortunately, it's not very funny. Most of us don't sail the Seven Seas anymore, so the only piracy we worry about involves borrowed software and downloaded MP3s. But in recent years, old-fashioned seafaring piracy has been on the rise. While the famed buccaneers of the Golden Age were fearsome and brutal, history has rendered them romantic, mythical characters, with their tall ships, cannons, and cutlasses. Modern pirates in speedboats, armed with automatic weapons and grenade launchers, don't have the same panache -- and frankly, sound a lot scarier. Interpol even classifies them as terrorists, and we think everyone can agree that there's nothing very romantic about terrorism. Current pirate hotspots include the waters around Indonesia, especially the Strait of Malacca, and both coasts of Africa, thanks to instability in Somalia and Nigeria. But the increased pirate activity has not gone unnoticed. This summer, a UN Security Council resolution granted states the right to help protect ships from acts of piracy, and, after a recent naval raid freed two hostages held by Somali pirates, French President Nicolas Sarkozy called for a global effort to combat piracy. Unless you're looking to ruffle some feathers today as you talk like a pirate, you might want to stick to the old-fashioned and/or fictional kind. After all, it's not Talk Like an International Terrorist Day... though it wouldn't surprise us if someone created that holiday next. Suggested Sites... International Marine Bureau Weekly Piracy Report - up-to-date news on pirate attacks around the world, with a handy map to know which areas to avoid. Noonsite.com: Piracy - reports of recent attacks, messageboards, and articles about modern pirates. Introduction to Modern Yacht Piracy - what you need to know to protect yourself from pirates. Cargo Security International: Piracy - news and stats about modern pirate attacks.

Directory categories: Maritime Transportation, Historical Piracy, Pirates and Buccaneers, Maritime History, Somalia

Archived under: Boating, Crime, Pirates, Regional, Talk Like a Pirate Day, Terrorism, Transportation

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(Photo by Megan Ann) Need to get some exercise and burn some calories? Reduce your carbon footprint and stress? Save money? Voilá: your bike is the answer to all your needs. With a level of commitment to suit any cyclist, we give you Bike to Work Day/Week/Month. While much of the world sees bicycles as everyday transportation and a sensible resource, many in the U.S. merely identify cycling with leisure or exercise. To help encourage a change in perception, many cities around the nation are organizing Bike to Work activities with Energizer Stations to help promote cycling as a legit commuting alternative. And if you do make the commitment and sign up for the event, you can even map your ride to see just how great your accomplishment is. Now if you don't yet have a bike, that conundrum can be easily resolved. From top-of-the-line road bikes to urban hipster fixies, beach cruisers, folding bikes, and even electric bikes, there's a bike out there to suit your needs (not to mention a trailer). So really, there isn't any good reason not to get on out there and ride your bicycle -- anywhere you like! Suggested Sites... League of American Bicyclists - official site for National Bike Month. BicycleSafe.com - for those of us not looking to get run over. Sprocket Man - bicycle safety comic courtesy of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission [PDF]. New York Bike Messenger Association - where every day is Bike to Work Day.

Directory categories: Bike Commuting, Cycling Advocacy, Bike Safety, Cycling Products and Services, Bike Messengers

Archived under: Bike to Work Day, Biking, Commuting, Green Living, Health, Sports, Transportation, Work

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