It’s Festivus for fed-up flyers as long as they keep their moves PG.
The Orlando International Airport (MCO) set up a comment box with a pen and paper where annoyed travelers could submit “airing of grievances” Saturday alongside a traditional Festivus pole inspired by an episode of “Seinfeld.”
“For those that celebrate today’s date, please join us for the ‘Festivus for the rest of us,’” read the poster set up in the airport on Dec. 23 – the annual day for the unofficial holiday.
“Please use the comment box for the Airing of Grievances,” it stated, in reference to one of the main traditions associated with the non-secular, fictitious holiday.
The bustling Florida terminal only asked patrons to please not bust a move on the unadorned metal pole — the anti-commercial alternative to a Christmas tree in Festivus lore — noting it was not for pole dancing.
“Please do not climb on the Festivus Pole,” the message read. “The Festivus Pole is not a Dancing Pole.”
The Orlando International Airport (MCO) set the comment box for the tradition called the “airing of grievances” inspired by an episode of “Seinfeld.” Orlando International Airport
Festivus has grown in popularity after it was introduced on a Dec. 18, 1997 episode of the sitcom “Seinfeld.” In the episode titled “The Stike,” George Costanza’s (Jason Alexander) father, Frank, (the late Jerry Stiller) created the unusual observance with its own specific set of traditions in a fight against Christmas commercialization.
One tradition is called the “feats of strength” and involves a wrestling match with the head of the household.
The airport requested travelers refrain from that holiday activity in its note.
Jerry Stiller (L), who played Frank Costanza on the hit sitcom, created the unusual observance with its own specific set of traditions in a fight against Christmas commercialization. Orlando International Airport
And MCO insisted travelers not take a swing on the pole that appropriately lacked tinsel because as Frank would say, it’s “distracting.”
“It’s got a very high strength-to-weight ratio and no tinsel!” the airport tweeted in a nod to the metal beam used by the elder Costanza in lieu of a Christmas tree.
Social media users voiced compliments as well as tongue-in-cheek complaints over the single-day fixture.
Festivus has grown in popularity after it was introduced on a Dec. 18, 1997 episode of the sitcom “Seinfeld.” Orlando International Airport
“I got a lot of problems with you people … and you’re gonna hear about it!!.”one user tweeted. “(Not actually you, @MCO).”
“My grievance is that I missed,” another user wrote with the crying face emoji.
In the fine print of a poster, the airport made clear the celebration was a “source of homage, parody, satire, and humor.”
“If you’re still reading this, we hope your day is full of Festivus Miracles!” the signage concluded.
A reptile handler says her love life is a load of croc.
Savannah Boan revealed that even though she loves her job feeding crocodiles and other deadly creatures, the cost is that her dating life suffers.
“My job affects my dating life in the way that I believe most people are afraid to date such a strong woman that works with prehistoric beasts on a daily basis,” the Florida native told NeedToKnow.Online. “Maybe they’re afraid of me? Maybe they’re afraid of the animals I work with? Maybe they think I’m crazy? I’m not too sure.”
Boan said that any partner of hers “would have to be a superhero just like me” but is also quite sure there is someone out there for her.
In the meantime, Boan said that she is quite content with loving her deadly creatures.
“My romantic interests are always put off by what I do, but I like the alligators and crocodiles better anyway,” admitted Boan. “At least the animals’ intentions are always clear.”
Savannah Boan revealed that even though she loves her job feeding crocodiles and other deadly creatures, the cost of such a job is that her dating life suffers. Jam Press/@savannahboan Boan said that any partner of hers “would have to be a superhero just like me” but is quite sure there is someone out there for her. Jam Press/@savannahboan
“Humans are a bit more difficult to try and figure out when it comes to motives,” she continued.
Even without a romantic partner, Boan manages to keep busy with her job at Gatorland in Orlando, Florida.
“I get into work early in the morning and check all the animals under my personal care – feeding, setting up nesting areas, general husbandry, enrichment activities for all the animals including huge alligators, saltwater crocodiles, American crocodiles and Cuban crocodiles,” said Boan.
Boan’s passion for taking care of animals started at a young age.
“I have been saving bugs, snakes, lizards and more since I was knee-high to a grasshopper,” recalls Boan. “My family thinks my job is right in line with my personality.”
“Prior to Gatorland I worked with some smaller crocodilians, huge pythons, monitor lizards and other various venomous and non-venomous reptiles at a Reptile Zoo in Southern California.” Jam Press/@savannahboan
Boan said that before landing her dream job, she worked with smaller animals in California.
“Prior to Gatorland I worked with some smaller crocodilians, huge pythons, monitor lizards and other various venomous and non-venomous reptiles at a Reptile Zoo in Southern California,” explained the croc handler.
“I’m a Florida girl at heart though and I have always wanted to work for Gatorland.”
Even without a romantic partner, Boan manages to keep busy with her own job at Gatorland in Orlando, Florida. Jam Press/@savannahboan
Boan achieved that dream in 2016 when she started working at Gatorland.
“I’ve definitely achieved a life goal by working at the alligator capital of the world every day alongside modern-day dinosaurs,” gushed Boan. “I watch over huge alligators, giant saltwater crocodiles, Nile crocodiles, Orinoco crocodiles and more.”
Since joining the team, Boan has become an ambassador for the preserve as well as developed a taste for danger.
Boan achieved that dream in 2016 when she stared working at Gatorland. Jam Press/@savannahboan
“Gatorland is a very safe park but danger is always part of the day,” stated Boan. “One day a lady dropped her phone into our main lake and we had to take a boat out to get it – she dropped it under a walkway.”
”We had to paddle the boat under the walkway into the darkness to try and retrieve the phone,” continued Boan. ”As we were splashing in the water searching for the phone under the walkway we came face to face with a 13-foot alligator eye level with us.”
Boan speculates that the phone retrieval team might have startled the reptile from a nap because it allegedly turned and splashed away from the phone retrieval team.
According to Boan, there is a sense of camaraderie between reptiles and handlers.
“Our alligators and crocodiles pretty much know us by sight and I know them all by name,” said Boan. “Their behavior patterns are all different individually, so getting to know them personally is key to working with them.”
Boan loves her job but has been the subject of many trolls online.
“Any pushback I ever get is generally from men though I have some excellent male colleagues at Gatorland and throughout the world,” said Boan. “There are lots of women working in crocodile conservation and we are all very supportive of one another.”
“Male colleagues that I work with directly are generally great and respectful if they know me,” continued Boan. “However the internet is filled with men and women that think I’m ill-equipped for my position because I’m female and because of my southern accent.”
“People have commented things such as it’s only a matter of time” stated that she doesn’t let the haters get her down, despite the nasty comments she receives on her social media page where she shows off some of the animals she works with.
“I don’t let their hate or wishes for me to be injured bother me though,” stated Boan. “People have commented things such as it’s only a matter of time or even ‘she’ll be dead soon.’”
Boan, who flaunts a whopping 247,000 followers on Instagram, dedicates her page to a few of her favorite crocs including the fan-favorite named Jaws, who in one clip shows off how much he loves when Boan pets him.
“He looks a little like Godzilla lol,” commented one user.
The 9-year-old Florida girl killed in the shooting rampage Wednesday was remembered by her devastated family as an excellent student, “amazing gymnast” and “true joy” whose life was cut short by “senseless violence.”
T’yonna Major, 9, was killed and her mom, Brandi Major, was wounded by Keith Moses, 19, after he opened fire on a Spectrum 13 news crew.
The journalists were covering an earlier murder in Orlando’s Pine Hills neighborhood, where Moses allegedly shot and killed a 38-year-old acquaintance named Nathacha Augustin
Reporter Dylan Lyons, 24, was killed and photographer Jesse Walden was injured, authorities said.
Phyllis Turner, T’yonna’s maternal great-aunt, told NBC News that the tragic girl was “the apple of her parents’ eye — she was just a true joy to them.”
She said T’yonna was an “extremely smart” student at Pine Hills Elementary School who was at the top of her class and also “an amazing gymnast.”
T’yonna Major, 9, who was killed in the shooting rampage in Florida, was remembered by her family as an excellent student, “amazing gymnast” and “true joy.”GoFundMe
Her coach wanted to “really take her under her wing” because she believed she had the potential to compete in college and even “go to the Olympics,” Turner told the outlet.
“She was a perfectionist. She didn’t like second and third place,” Turner said. “She just believed in excelling in everything she did.”
She said T’yonna also was a “funny little girl” who “brought so much joy and laughter to everybody,” adding that her parents are “absolutely devastated” by the incomprehensible loss.
Turner said Brandi was shot in the arm and has been released from the hospital.
Jesse Walden, the Spectrum News photojournalist injured in Wednesday’s shooting.Linktree/@Jessewalden Dylan Lyons, the Spectrum 13 journalist killed in the rampage.AP
Dad Tokiyo Major wrote in a GoFundMe post that T’yonna was “a light to everyone that knew her,” adding, “She was everything to us. Senseless violence has taken the life of my little girl.”
Neighbor Thermon Patterson, 66, told NBC News that he saw Major rush out into the street crying for help after T’yonna was shot.
He said he didn’t see the gunman but felt he could have easily been targeted because he often sits outside his nearby home.
“I’m glad he’s off the street,” Patterson said about Moses.
Pine Hills Elementary School Principal Latonya Smothers said T’yonna was a “kind and beautiful young girl with an infectious smile. She will be missed dearly.”
She added in the message: “I know I speak for our entire Pine Hills community when I express the grief that we feel at the loss of one of our own.”
Keith Moses, 19, has been charged with second-degree murder and additional counts are expected.Getty Images
Moses was charged with second-degree murder related to Augustin’s death, but additional charges are expected.
The “known gang member” has a lengthy criminal record that includes arrests for theft, battery-domestic violence and armed robbery, NBC News reported.
State Attorney Monique Worrell said Moses had a single arrest since becoming an adult, a 2021 marijuana possession charge that was later dropped.
A Florida man reportedly fended off a bobcat attack on his daughter’s dog by swinging his fists, clocking the wild animal in the face.
Paul Broadhurst told Fox 32 Orlando that he was walking the dog, Koda, on Feb. 11 in the Stoneybrook neighborhood of East Orlando when the bobcat pounced.
“He got away lucky,” Broadhurst said about the family pet who was uninjured during the attack.
“This is a very high-traffic area,” Broadhurst explained. “People walk their dogs, and have their kids, there are small kids in area 1-, 2-, 3-year-olds and if the bobcat got on them, it would be a bad outcome.”
Paul Broadhurst was walking Koda at the time of the attack. FOX 35 Orlando
Paul Broadhurst says he was left with scratches from the encounter. FOX 35 Orlando
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Paul Broadhurst said the attack happened at a high traffic area where people walk their dogs. FOX 35 Orlando
Paul Broadhurst said Koda got away lucky. FOX 35 Orlando
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Broadhurst’s home is next to a conservation area and Environmental Education Awareness Research Support’s Frank Robb suggested that people walking their pets should carry an object like a walking stick that they can put between their pets and any animal that is rabid or looking for food.
“When homes get built these wild areas are being taken away, you’re going to see more conflict like this with wildlife,” Robb said. “Be aware of your surroundings and know where you live.”
The Orlando amusement park ride that a 14-year-old Missouri teen fell to his death from earlier this year will be taken down, the park announced Thursday.
Tyre Sampson plummeted from the “Orlando Free Fall” at ICON Park as it was travelling down its 430-foot descent at a speed of 75 mph on March 24. Tyre, who was staying with a friend’s family during the trip, died after being rushed to a local hospital.
There is no timeline for when the ride will be taken down, but the park said it will “be determined by the approvals of all involved parties and regulatory entities.”
“Tyre’s death is a tragedy that we will never forget,” said ICON Park.
An autopsy found that the teen was nearly 100 pounds over the ride’s weight limit of 287 pounds, allowing him to slip out of the safety harness and to the pavement below. The seat was still in the locked position after the ride came to a rest, staffers told authorities.
Tyre suffered internal injuries along with trauma to his head, neck and torso. The ride has been closed since the tragedy.
His family immediately asked the Florida park to dismantle the ride, which opened in December 2021 and claims to be the country’s tallest free-standing drop tower.
An autopsy found that Tyre was nearly 100 pounds over the weight limit of the ride. AP
Tyre fell when the ride was nearly halfway down its 430-foot descent. AP
Tyre’s family asked the ride to be taken down immediately after the teen’s death. AP
ICON Park will be removing the ride that resulted in teenager Tyre Sampson’s March death.Facebook/Vanessa Rivera
“We are devastated by Tyre’s death. We have listened to the wishes of Tyre’s family and the community, and have made the decision to take down the FreeFall,” said Ritchie Armstrong, who owns the tragic freefall ride.
Armstrong’s company, Orlando Slingshot, will honor the teenager by creating a scholarship in his name, he said.
Details on the scholarship will be released after consultation with Tyre’s family, the statement said, but Armstrong insinuated it would extend to the classroom and the football field, where Tyre was known to spend much of his free time.
A 21-year-old Florida woman was charged with first-degree murder for allegedly stabbing her sister to death after learning she had been flirting with her boyfriend.
Fatiha Marzan reportedly killed her younger sister, 20-year-old Sayma Marzan, at 4:30 a.m. on Sept. 26 in the bedroom they shared in the family’s Orlando home, according to local reports.
Fatiha had just found out that her long-distance boyfriend of five years and her sister had been flirting with one another in messages exchanged through a video game they played together, the Orlando Sentinel reported.
She allegedly decided to kill Sayma after she learned her boyfriend had told Sayma he loved her. She purchased a “dagger style knife set” from Amazon two weeks before the stabbing, investigators said.
She hid the knives in a closet and waited until her family members went to bed before pulling out a knife and allegedly stabbing her sister in the heart three to four times in the bedroom they shared, police said.
Fatiha called 911 hours later at 7:30 p.m. and reportedly said she stabbed her sister. Deputies responded and found Sayma dead inside the home.
Fatiha confessed to stabbing Sayma three to four times, specifically in the heart, authorities said.
She is being held in Orange County Jail without bond.
Disney on Wednesday said its profit slipped in the recently ended quarter but its theme parks and streaming service Disney+ were booming.
The entertainment giant reported net income of $470 million (about Rs. 3,645 crore), just over half of the $912 million (about Rs. 7,075 crore) profit it made in the same period a year earlier.
But park attendance that had fallen due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic rebounded and Disney+ gained 7.9 million subscribers to hit 137.7 million.
When adding in subscriptions to Disney’s streaming services Hulu and ESPN+, the overall number tops 205 million.
“Our strong results in the second quarter, including fantastic performance at our domestic parks and continued growth of our streaming services once again proved that we are in a league of our own,” said Walt Disney CEO Bob Chapek.
Chapek told analysts Disney is open to raising its streaming service subscription price in the future, but has no specific plans. Disney+ is pursuing a version of the service that would be supported by advertising, set to launch later in 2022.
Disney+ gained more subscribers than analysts had expected, in stark contrast to a dive in subscriber numbers reported by rival Netflix in the first quarter of this year.
A drop of just 200,000 users — less than 0.1 percent of the total Netflix customer base — caused shares in the Silicon Valley firm to plunge and prompted a shareholder to file a lawsuit accusing the streaming television titan of not making it clear that subscriber numbers were in peril.
“Disney+ has been taking Netflix out at the knees [in the US],” tech analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group told AFP.
“Kids have always chased their content, and for parents it has been a no-brainer to get their service.”
About half of Disney+ subscribers are families with children, executives said on the earnings call.
Disney stopped licensing its coveted content to Netflix to make it exclusive to its own streaming service, and said it planned to stick with the tactic when it comes to rivals in the market.
Parks and politics
Disney said that as its streaming television service continues to grow strongly, its resorts and parks are generally operating without any of the significant COVID-19 related restrictions on capacity that were in place last year.
The pandemic does continue to vex film and television show production, Disney said, but it has been able to release films in theatres so far this year.
“Our slate for the remainder of this year is incredibly strong,” Chapek told analysts while discussing the company’s line-up of shows for streaming and theatres.
Chapek acknowledged challenges getting Disney films released in China, saying the situation there is “very complicated” from political and business standpoints.
He said he was encouraged by the fact that a freshly released Doctor Strange film based on a Marvel comics character took in more than $500 million (about Rs. 3,877 crore) in its first week, even without being shown in China.
Disney has run into political turbulence closer to home, with the Florida governor recently signing a law that eliminates a statute that has for decades allowed the entertainment giant to act as a local government in Orlando, where it has a theme park.
The move was the latest episode in a dispute between the state’s Republican administration and Disney, after the company criticised the passage in March of a law banning school lessons on sexual orientation.
“From a financial standpoint, Disney will come out ahead with the plug pulled,” analyst Enderle said.
“It’s almost like Florida gave them a monetary favour; Disney was covering all the costs of the municipality they are in.”
The Reedy Creek Improvement District was an area created by Florida’s congress in 1967 to facilitate the construction of Disney World in Orlando.
Under that agreement, Disney runs the district as if the entertainment juggernaut were a local government, including collecting taxes and guaranteeing essential public services such as garbage collection and water treatment.
Under Florida law, if the special district is dissolved, its assets and debts would be transferred to local governments that surround the area.
“Removing district could transfer $2 billion (about Rs. 15,515 crore) debt from Disney to taxpayers,” state Democratic senator Linda Stewart warned after the bill was signed.
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