10 Tourist Traps That Are Actually Worth The Money

niagra falls, new york, ontarioThe best travel experiences happen when you get off the beaten track, but that doesn't mean all so-called tourist traps are no-nos. While many are overcrowded and underwhelming, a choice few are worth their inherent hassles.

So here are 10 that we love in spite of ourselves, crowds and all.

Niagara Falls, New York And Ontario

Say what you will about the casinos and restaurants built up around the Niagara River, but there's no dampening our enthusiasm for the natural spectacle of North America's mightiest waterfall.

We love Niagara Falls for its views, its accessibility, and for the Maid of the Mist, which gets you as close to the falls as possible (short of an ill-advised barrel ride).

We think Niagara is especially enchanting at night when the sky is lit with fireworks or rainbow-colored lights.

Machu Picchu, Peru

Best experienced after days of walking the fabled Inca Trail, the sudden appearance of the Lost City of the Incas through the mountain mist is a once-in-a-lifetime thrill.

And while it feels great to earn your visit with sore muscles and fresh blisters, you're unlikely to regret the trip no matter how you get there.

(The train from nearby Cusco will do the trick just fine.) Don't sweat the crowds, either; the Peruvian government limits visitors to just 2,500 per day.

Grand Canyon, Arizona

The Grand Canyon swells with visitors in the summer months, but you don't have to venture very far to leave the maddening crowds behind.

Park rangers say an average visit to the South Rim lasts about 15 minutes, and most people never leave the rim. We think the park is best explored on foot or by pack animal.

Even if you only have a few hours, take one of the well-marked trails from the South Rim to see this geological phenomenon up close.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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Israel May Feel Need To Strike Syria Again As Assad Weakens

israeli jetIsraeli attack on Syria could be beginning of new strategy as Assad's grip on power weakens

BEIRUT (AP) — An Israeli air attack staged in Syria this week may be a sign of things to come.

Israeli military officials appear to have concluded that the risks of attacking Syria are worth taking when compared to the dangers of allowing sophisticated weapons to reach Hezbollah guerrillas in neighboring Lebanon.

With Syrian President Bashar Assad's grip on power weakening, Israeli officials fear he could soon lose control over his substantial arsenal of chemical and advanced weapons, which could slip into the hands of Hezbollah or other hostile groups. These concerns, combined with Hezbollah's own domestic problems, mean further military action could be likely.

Tzachi Hanegbi, an incoming lawmaker in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party and a former chairman of parliament's influential foreign affairs and defense committee, signaled Thursday that Israel could be compelled to act on its own. While Israel's preference is for Western powers to gain control over Syria's arms stockpile, he said there are no signs of that happening.

"Israel finds itself, like it has many times in the past, facing a dilemma that only it knows how to respond to. And it could well be that we will reach a stage where we will have to make decisions," Hanegbi told Israel's Army Radio Thursday. Hanegbi, like other Israeli officials, would not confirm Israeli involvement in the airstrike.

In this week's incident, Israeli warplanes conducted a rare airstrike inside Syria, according to U.S. officials who said the target was a convoy carrying anti-aircraft weapons bound for Hezbollah, the powerful Lebanese militant group allied with Syria and Iran.

The Syrian military has denied the existence of any weapons shipment and said a military research facility outside Damascus was hit.

On Thursday, Syria threatened to retaliate, while Hezbollah condemned the attack as "barbaric aggression." Iran, which supplies arms to Syria, Hezbollah and the Hamas militant group in Gaza, said the airstrike would have significant implications for Israel. Syrian ally Russia said it appeared to be an unprovoked attack on a sovereign nation.

Syria's ambassador to Lebanon, Ali Abdul-Karim Ali, said Damascus "has the option and the capacity to surprise in retaliation." He told Hezbollah's al-Ahd news website that it was up to the relevant authorities to choose the time and place.

For now, Israeli officials seem to be playing down the threats.

"Israel took a big gamble out of the belief that Iran and Hezbollah won't retaliate. The question is, 'Are they right or not?'" said Moshe Maoz, a professor emeritus at Hebrew University who specializes in Syria.

Officials believe that Assad's position in Syria is so precarious that he cannot risk opening a new front with Israel. With an estimated 60,000 Syrians killed in the civil war, Israeli officials also think it's too late for Assad to rally his bitterly divided nation behind him.

"Syria is in such a bad state right now that an Israeli retaliation to a Syrian action would be harsh and could topple the regime. Therefore Syria is not responding," Maoz said.

Israel is far more worried about the threat of sophisticated weapons reaching Hezbollah. In a monthlong 2006 war, Hezbollah fired some 4,000 rockets and missiles into Israel before the conflict ended in a stalemate. Israeli officials believe the guerrilla group has restocked its arsenal with tens of thousands of missiles, some capable of striking deep inside the Jewish state.

Resigned to this fact, Israel has set a number of "red lines" for Hezbollah that it says are unacceptable, in particular the acquisition of new weapons that it believes would change the balance of power in the region. These include chemical weapons and sophisticated anti-aircraft and surface-to-sea missiles.

This week's airstrike targeted trucks containing Russian-made SA-17 anti-aircraft missiles, according to a U.S. official. The trucks were next to the military research facility identified by the Syrians, and the strike hit both the trucks and the facility, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about the operation.

If the SA-17s were to have reached Hezbollah, they would have greatly inhibited the Israeli air force's ability to operate in Lebanon. Israel has frequently flown sorties over Lebanese skies since 2006.

The airstrike is part of an Israeli strategy known to military planners as "the policy of prevention," or the "war between wars." In recent years, Israel is believed to have launched a number of covert missions, including airstrikes in Sudan and assassinations of key Hezbollah and Hamas militants, aimed at disrupting the flow of weapons to its Iranian-backed enemies. Israel has never acknowledged involvement.

Israeli security officials believe that Hezbollah, despite its claims of victory, is still deterred by the experience of the 2006 war, in which it lost hundreds of fighters. Instead of a direct war, Israel fears Hezbollah might try to strike Israeli or Jewish targets around the world. Israel has accused Hezbollah of a string of attacks on Israeli targets in recent years, including a deadly attack on Israeli tourists in Bulgaria last July.

The Israeli airstrike comes at a particularly sensitive and vulnerable time for Hezbollah in Lebanon. Despite its formidable weapons arsenal and political clout in the country, the group's credibility and maneuvering space has been significantly reduced in the past few years.

Hezbollah still suffers from the fallout of the 2006 war, which many in Lebanon accused it of provoking by kidnapping soldiers from the border area. Since then, the group has come under increasing pressure at home to disarm, leading to sectarian tensions between its Shiite supporters and Sunnis from the opposing camp that have often spilled into deadly street fighting.

When Hezbollah sent an Iranian-made reconnaissance drone over Israel in November, the group boasted of its capabilities — but critics in Lebanon slammed it for embarking on a unilateral adventure that could provoke Israel.

Despite persistent reports and accusations that Hezbollah members are fighting alongside the military in Syria, Hezbollah has largely approached the Syria conflict with caution, mindful that any action it takes could backfire.

"In different times, Hezbollah would have reacted to Israel's surgical strike, but not today," said Bilal Saab, director of the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis, North America. "This is a time for hunkering down and weathering the storm."

The uprising in Syria, the main transit point of weapons brought from Iran to Hezbollah, presents the group with its toughest challenge since its inception in 1982.

The group could still get weapons, but would struggle to get them as easily without the Syria supply route. Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah's public support for the Assad regime has proved costly and the group's reputation has taken a severe beating. Former champions of the group now describe it as hypocritical for supporting Arab Spring uprisings in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt, but not in Syria.

As for Israel and Syria, although they are bitter enemies, they have avoided direct conflict for most of the past 40 years. Israel has been careful to stay out of Syria's civil war, not wanting to be seen as supporting any side in the conflict.

While the attack overnight Tuesday, believed to be the first by Israel on Syrian soil since 2007, appeared to come out of nowhere, signs of impending action were evident in recent days.

On Jan. 23, the day after national elections, Netanyahu convened top security officials for an emergency meeting to discuss the situation in Syria.

One of the meeting participants, Vice Premier Silvan Shalom, warned this week that Israel could be forced to carry out a pre-emptive attack under certain circumstances. The same day, Israel suddenly moved a new, state-of-the-art rocket-defense system to the northern city of Haifa, which was hit hard by Hezbollah rocket fire during a 2006 war.

Uzi Rabi, a military analyst at Tel Aviv University's Dayan Center, said the attack was a "kind of message" sent by Israel to Syria and Hezbollah.

"It says we do have capabilities when it comes to intelligence gathering ... and this would serve as kind of a warning sign to Hezbollah not to transfer chemical weaponry from Syria to Hezbollah," he said.

___

Federman reported from Jerusalem.

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Woman Sues California Pizza Kitchen For $5 Million, Shocked That Frozen Pizzas Could Be Unhealthy

Sure, you could assume that because it’s illegal for restaurants in your state to use trans fats in the foods they serve, a frozen meal branded with the name of a restaurant chain wouldn’t have trans fats in it. You would be wrong, but you’re certainly free to make that assumption. That’s what a California woman who bought some California … [More]

Source: http://consumerist.com/2013/01/31/woman-sues-california-pizza-kitchen-for-5-million-shocked-that-frozen-pizzas-could-be-unhealthy/

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Hostess Has Tasty, Cream-Filled Starting Bid Of $410M On The Table For Twinkies

Remember when we were all terrified that we’d never have the chance to cradle a cream-filled snack cake in our hands ever again, that Twinkies would finally and irrevocably disappear and cast us all into a cake-less hole of utter despair? That’s probably not going to happen, as Hostess Brands confirmed it’s received a first offer of $410 million … [More]

Source: http://consumerist.com/2013/01/31/hostess-has-tasty-cream-filled-starting-bid-of-410m-on-the-table-for-twinkies/

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Want To Keep All Your Kickstarter Money? Use These Services Instead

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The two big names in crowdfunding are Kickstarter and Indiegogo, but it turns out that you have plenty of other options that grant you a degree of control over your campaign that the bigger names don't.

The advantages here are huge – keep all the money you raise, tweak your page to look exactly the way you want it to look, and otherwise maintain your independence in your fundraising efforts.

These are some off-the-beaten-path crowdfunding solutions we've come across.

Crowdhoster is a brand new service by crowdfunding site CrowdTilt that lets users manage their campaigns on their own using CrowdTilt's API. Collect cash via services like Stripe and Amazon Payments.

  • Pros: completely free to use, keep all the money you raise
  • Cons: currently invite-only

Selfstarter is the open-source crowdfunding platform that Crowdhoster is built on.

  • Pros: completely customizable, doesn't require another company's API
  • Cons: only supports Amazon Payments (but you can teach it to make use of other platforms), requires some coding know-how to unleash its full potential

Mimoona isn't entirely free, but we felt compelled to include it because the company offers 24/7 support via email and telephone (with internet chat on the way). If you meet your fundraising goal, it takes a small percentage.

  • Pros: full integration with your own site while supporting Google Analytics and Twitter and Facebook connectivity
  • Cons: not entirely free – if your campaign is successful, Mimoona takes at least 2.5%, limited options in payment

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Benefits of Credit Card Debt Consolidation

Consolidation Loans with Bad Credit Is debt consolidation a good solution for my credit card debts? Debtors, upon realizing that in a few years their credit cards would have accumulated thousands of dollars through interests ask the same question. Credit card purchases, in many instances are actually more expensive because of high interest rates. Someone [...]

The post Benefits of Credit Card Debt Consolidation appeared first on legal debt help online.

Source: http://www.legaldebthelponline.com/2012/06/29/benefits-of-credit-card-debt-consolidation/

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Get Eye-Opening Savings on Glasses -- Savings Experiment

Warby Parker glasses
For many, eyeglasses are a necessity, but now that the functional frames have become a fashion accessory, prices have gone way up. Fear not, though, frugal shoppers. There are still places that offer stylish options at a deep discount.

First, a quick recap on how glasses, which were once viewed as undesirable, went from geek to chic. According to 60 Minutes, eyewear giant Luxottica has been at the forefront of the industry, teaming up with luxury brands to manufacture frames. Over the years, the Italian company has signed deals with the likes of Chanel, Prada, Gucci, Ralph Lauren and Versace, just to name a few, and has not only changed the perception of glasses, but raised the prices on them, too. On top of owning brands like Ray-Ban and Oakley, retail chains like LensCrafters, Pearle Vision and Sunglass Hut are also under Luxottica's umbrella.

"Luxottica's dominance ... it's what's called a price maker, which means that essentially it can set prices and other people will follow in its make," SmartMoney.com writer Brett Arends said when he sat down with the CBS news program. This explains why your local optician's prices are still high.

Although it is relatively inexpensive to make a pair of glasses, they generally retail for 20 times their cost -- and that's just for the frames. With prescription lenses, you could be looking at a $600 bill, if you were to opt for a pair of designer specs. The average cost of a pair of glasses is $300, which is still a hefty price tag for plastic, glass and metal.

Despite Luxottica's dominant market share, consumers can still get a deal on frames. The company's CEO Andrea Guerra names Walmart and Costco as its biggest competitors, while online retailers like Warby Parker, 39 Dollar Glasses and Eye Buy Direct are selling eyewear for hundreds less than their average cost.

Warby Parker, in particular, is giving luxury brands a run for their money by offering a line of trendy frames for $95, including prescription lenses made of polycarbonate plastic. According to the New York Times, the company "keeps prices low by ordering from manufacturers and selling directly to consumers."

"After we learned there was no reason that glasses should be this expensive, we said, why don't we create a different model?" Warby Parker co-founder David Gilboa told the paper. "We can bypass the retail channel and sell them for a hundred dollars and still have a very viable business."

In the end, that means you can afford fashionable frames at a lower price tag. So, the next time you're shopping for new glasses, consider looking online or heading to Walmart or Costco. Your eyes and your wallet will thank you.

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Source: http://dailyfinance.com/2013/01/30/get-eye-opening-savings-on-glasses-savings-experiment/

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Here?s What Should Happen When Your Family?s Washer Is Out Of Commission

Last week, we published a story from a reader whose Kenmore washer might be repaired someday…maybe, leaving him to buy a cheap temporary replacement in the meantime. Reader Brian noticed the story because he had a similar experience when his local Home Depot sent installers too honest to leave him with a dented dryer. When he complained to the store … [More]

Source: http://consumerist.com/2013/01/30/heres-what-should-happen-when-your-familys-washer-is-out-of-commission/

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Benefits of Credit Card Debt Consolidation

Consolidation Loans with Bad Credit Is debt consolidation a good solution for my credit card debts? Debtors, upon realizing that in a few years their credit cards would have accumulated thousands of dollars through interests ask the same question. Credit card purchases, in many instances are actually more expensive because of high interest rates. Someone [...]

The post Benefits of Credit Card Debt Consolidation appeared first on legal debt help online.

Source: http://www.legaldebthelponline.com/2012/06/29/benefits-of-credit-card-debt-consolidation/

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