Project Runway...FABulous!

No, I'm not talking about Heidi Klum, or any of the skinny, over-chic'ed girls from the Bravo Network. We're talking real runways here. Chicago O'Hare. Seattle-Tacoma. Washington Dulles. Each of these 3 hyperactive airports have new additions to be proud of, one extra runway apiece, which is the largest 1-day capacity increase in the US in more than a decade. Even though airlines have scaled back the number of flights in some areas, these cities still were having major delay issues and long waits on the tarmac. This won't be an immediate complete fix, but it's gotta help with backlog. Estimates are they will allow an additional 20 flights per hour, which should curb delays and taxiway backups at least to a degree. The fact that all three of these airports act as connection points for international flights (such as people heading to Europe or Asia), means anything that eases connection times and puts people's minds at rest is welcome.

Puerto Rico has long been known as one of the most affordable vacation destinations in the Caribbean. But new airfare competition and promotions are making it an even better deal this winter. Plus, U.S. travelers to Puerto Rico don't need passports, unlike all other Caribbean destinations (except the U.S. Virgin Islands). Not having to spend an extra hour or more to pass through Customs means you'll be on the beach that much faster! The new air-wars started when American announced it would cut routes to the island. Almost immediately, JetBlue, AirTran, Continental, Delta and USAirways jumped in, adding more service from various cities. American then got back in the game (after kicking a few backsides for a bad decision), and announced it would continue its service after all. What first looked to be a loss in service has turned into a boom, and travelers benefit from the increased competition, especially when hotels are running sales or promotions. San Juan in particular is incredibly rich in history, featuring such sights as El Morro Castle which guarded the harbor for hundreds of years, and there's the little-known but very interesting Casa Blanca. Casa Blanca is only a couple of blocks from El Morro, but most tourists never see it because you have to walk instead of taxi. It was the original Governor's mansion on the island, back when Ponce De Leon was its 1st Governor. He then famously headed off to Florida searching for the Fountain Of Youth, but met an untimely death at the hands of the Seminole Indians. The people of Puerto Rico decided to maintain Casa Blanca as a shrine to Ponce De Leon, and all the original trappings are still there. San Juan has numerous casinos, the Bacardi Rum factory (daily tours available), and if you want an eco-friendly day rent a car or hire a driver and head to the El Yunque rainforest, which is less than 2 hours away. Add in duty-free shopping, great golf and nice beaches, and you've got a fantastic Caribbean vacation spot! If you'd like to visit Puerto Rico, contact us for special rates and deals.

A New York pastor says one of his congregants donated a winning lottery ticket worth $3 million to his church. Pastor Bertrand Crabbe of the True North Community Church in Port Jefferson NY says the donor, who asked to remain anonymous, donated the “Ba Da Bling” scratch-off ticket immediately after he won. A state Lottery official says the independent Christian church will get a little over $100,000 a year through 2028. The amount could be higher if withheld taxes are refunded because of the church’s nonprofit status. Crabb says the 650-member church will give the first year’s proceeds to other charities. Kind of renews your faith in humanity, doesn't it? The old saying "God works in mysterious ways" has never been more true, working through a program called Ba Da Bling.

The Colorado Springs chapter of the Salvation Army has taken new steps towards having a successful Holiday season. They will still have their iconic Red Kettle and bell-ringers, stationed outside grocery stores, malls, pretty much wherever you go. But instead of asking people to drop in spare change, these Salvation Soldiers will now be able to process credit cards and debit cards on-site. Each of the new-and-improved kettles is equipped with a machine for processing plastic, and people seem to like the idea. One was quoted as saying "I always want to pitch something in the pot, but often I'm not carrying cash." I'll give 'em a thumbs up for being enterprising.

Yo! Yo! Yo! A rapper in Dublin, Georgia was so proud about shooting a man twice, he wrote a song about it, according to AP reports from the local police. The smart-mouthed thug went so far as to describe the shooting in details that only the perpetrator would know, and even calling the victim by his real name. Maybe that would make him a not-so-smart-mouthed rapper, eh? In what amounted to an audio confession, a judge sentenced 25-year-old Rico Todriquez Wright Monday to spend the next 20 years in prison, for 2 counts of aggravated assault. His victim, Chad Blue, had actually heard the song and mentioned the hip-hop confession to police. Mr. Blue told police he had known Wright before the September 2006 shooting, and that the men weren't friendly. (This story might be stranger if he had said they were buddies). At trial, he testified that Rico's companions egged him on, as he chased and shot him twice. It was only later he recognized the voice on a CD, the rapper saying "Chad Blue knows how I shoot."

Yo! Yo! Bozo! Why don't you hip-hop up on the upper bunk, and chill for a couple of decades while you get some religion about right, wrong, and stupidity, Dog.