Monthly Archives: February 2013

Titanic, Titanic Miscellaneous

Titanic Belfast Tops IrishCentral Top Ten Things To See In Ireland For 2013

Okay so you are planning a trip to Ireland this year, so what do your put on the list to see? Susan Byron at IrishCentral has put together a list of the top ten places to consider visiting while in Ireland. At the top of the list is Titanic Museum in Belfast. She advises to book tickets online as visitors are limited per hour. She also advises the Galley restaurant on ground floor is pretty busy so book afternoon tea upstairs in the salon by the Grand Staircase where it is much quieter. Or if you want more hearty fare hop a cab to Crown Liquor Salon for beef in Guinness pie and a pint of Ireland’s favorite beer. Here are the other places she recommends:

Bunratty Castle & Folk Park Bunratty, County Clare

Museum of Country Life Castlebar, County Mayo

Croke Park Museum, Croke Park, Dublin

Glasnevin Cemetery Museum, Dublin

Bantry House, Bantry, County Cork

Mizen Head Lighthouse, County Cork

Lismore Castle Gardens Lismore, County Waterford

Limerick City Gallery of Art, Limerick

Swiss Cottage Cahir, County Tipperary

Source: IrishCentral, Ireland’s Top Ten Tourist Attractions In 2013 – Where To Go And What To See In Ireland, 11 Feb 2013


Titanic

Colne Wants Remembering Wallace Hartley To Become Annual Event

Wallace Hartley is long remembered for leading his band on that fateful night in 1912. His Wallace Hartleyold hometown of Colne has honored him already but now wants to turn it into an annual event. According to the Lancashire Telegraph, plans are being made to create a memorial wall and the Titanic in Lancashire Museum is planning a wreath laying ceremony at Hartley’s memorial. Also a possibility is having a courtroom drama based on the Mersey inquiry and history walks.

And the music plays on….

Source: Lancashire Telegraph, Titanic Festival Plans For Colne, 11 Feb 2013


Titanic, Titanic Exhibitions

Titanic Exhibition Opens In Grand Rapids

Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition has opened in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. The traveling exhibition will remain in Grand Rapids until July. The museum expects it will draw visitors from across the state, Indiana, and possibly Illinois. Some are even dressing up by showing up in period clothes. Of course the museum has high hopes for the exhibit. It usually draws high numbers of people. For more information as to admission fees, dates and times, go to grmuseum.org.

Source:WZZM 13, “Titanic: the Artifact Exhibition”opens in Grand Rapids, 9 Feb 2013


Titanic

Titanic News For 8 Feb 2013

1. UPDATE on Titanic Sinking Hotel:  First Pictures Inside Liverpool’s Titanic Sinking Boutique Hotel (8 Feb 2013, Liverpool Echo)
Among its three bedrooms is a plushly-padded suite with a huge framed mirror hanging over the bed – which was definitely not part of the doomed liner’s fittings. On the black-buttoned headboard is a Titanic nameplate and the White Star Line houseflag. Daylight comes in through brass-rimmed port-holes, which are arranged in downward slanting rows to give the effect of sinking. The mustard-coloured grand saloon has a large bulkhead mural of the original Titanic’s atrium staircase (made famous in the Titanic film) and a mirror clock with the hands stuck at 11.40pm.

2. WZZM Looks Which Is More Accurate-Cameron’s Titanic or Titanic:The Artifact Exhibition-Reality Check: Titanic Exhibit Vs. Movie(7 Feb 2013, WZZM)
For many people, James Cameron’s 1997 movie is the window into which we see Titanic, but how accurate is the movie compared to real life? With the new Titanic exhibit at the Grand Rapids Public Museum opening up this Saturday, we talked with the curators to find out. The movie is a about a first class maiden falling in love with a poor boy aboard the luxurious doomed Titanic, but this story took some liberties with reality. For example, the characters of Rose and Jack were made up.

3. Mini-Titanic Owner Has Love For Another Sunken Ship(7 Feb 2013,WWL)
Mark Koch made quite a traffic-stopping impression last May when he toured Lake Pontchartrain in his 23-foot long replica of the Titanic, marking 100 years since its ill fated voyage. Inside Koch’s Metairie home is a shipwreck museum, but not of the Titanic. It’s of the Andrea Doria. It’s been nearly 60 years since the Andrea Doria went down off the coast of New York, and today only two lifeboats exist. Mark Koch owns both of them. “So I viewed it as a wonderful opportunity to further promote our concept of bringing history to life and using these boats to once again tell the story of the Andria Doria.”

4.  Ferry Trial: ‘Like Watching The Titanic Movie’(7 Feb 2013,The Province)
The former chief engineer of the Queen of the North says the sinking of the B.C. Ferries vessel in March 2006 was “like watching the Titanic movie.” Brian Erickson was testifying at the trial of Karl Lilgert, a former deck officer of the vessel who has pleaded not guilty to two counts of criminal negligence causing the death of two passengers. Erickson said he’d retired for the night and the first thing he remembered was hearing deck officer Karen Briker pounding on the cabin next to him. “And she was saying, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”


Titanic Miscellaneous

Perils of Pizza Online-Papa John’s

Papa John’s has taken online ordering and made it slick. They make it easy to set up an online account, make choices from their menu, and have it delivered to your home or office. You can even do it from a mobile phone! While I have had no problems with the local end of Papa John’s, my problem has been with promotional emails and coupon codes not working. Take getting promotional emails. I signed up for them when I first registered yet it took several weeks for it to work. And then suddenly they stopped. I asked about it and they had me change my password and select the email option. That did not work and I reported it as such. And then suddenly they came back on again.

Now before Christmas I decided to turn off getting those promo emails and turned them back on in January. And then nothing, I contacted Papa John’s by email about the problem and was told to call in for assistance. And then presto, I got an email welcoming to Papa John’s online promotions. So whatever the problem was, they were able to fix it. I suspect the problem is software related. It seems to have a problem noticing when you sign-up or in some cases just stopping the emails.

Then came one after Superbowl Sunday promising 50% off the menu. A great deal except the coupon code did not work. An email requesting clarification was sent back the first time as “user unknown” but a resend got through. The response though was quite odd:

———
From: Consumer_Services@papajohns.com
Subject: Re: Please Authenticate 50% off promotion
To: Mark Taylor

xb49mzvvv9zc

Operations Call Center
Papa John’s International
1-877-547-7272

Order Pizza Online @ www.papajohns.com

Please Authenticate 50% off promotion

Mark E. Taylor
to:
consumer_services
2/05/2013 04:13 PM

——-

The message is simply gibberish. I tried calling Papa John’s and incredibly I got a busy signal each time I tried. I gave up and sent an email about the poor response. I also noted the previous problems. Now to be fair they did send out another promotion for a $9.99 large pizza (which is a good deal and I ordered one) but it does not fix the underlying problem that seems to plague their computer system. And it makes me not want to trust ordering online anymore because of it. I recall many months ago they sent out a promotion that had totally inaccurate information on the promotion code and how to use it. They had to resend it with a correction.

It just makes you wonder who is running the place-perhaps those mischievous Cornish pixies from Harry Potter. Or perhaps someone is purposefully mucking up the system (hackers) and they are loathed to admit it. Get your house in order Papa John’s. Such problems left untreated grow and eventually bring down companies. As for me, I think I will give Papa John’s a break for a while. There is nice Chinese restaurant not far from where I live that serves delicious dim sum.


Titanic, Titanic Exhibitions, Titanic Miscellaneous

Wednesday Scramble; The Lozier Car and Titanic Exhibition Opening Soon In Grand Rapids

Until recently, I never heard of the Lozier car. I came across the name in a story from Lozier 1908 Touring CarWZZM 13 about Titanic survivor Dickson Bishop. According to the story, upon returning to American soil, he called up his chauffeur and ordered him to come get him with the Lozier. The Lozier was one America’s early luxury cars that sold between $4,600- $7,750 at a time when the average price was around $750. The company, founded by Henry Abraham Lozier, lasted from 1900-1915. Since its cars were sold to a select few, it only produced a few thousand cars. The high watermark was in 1912 when it produced 600. Competition and defections of important employees to other companies apparently doomed the company.

The cars are not forgotten though. A car identical to the one driven by Dickson Bishop is on display at the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, Michigan.

Source: WZZM13, Titanic Survivors Returned To Michigan In Style, 6 Feb 2013

Reminder: Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition is set to open in Grand Rapids this Saturday (9 Feb) at the  Grand Rapids Public Museum. For hours and admission prices, go to grmuseum.org. The exhibition lasts until 7 July 2013.


Titanic

Titanic News For 5 Feb 2013

1.  Titanic House A Big Draw For Architects (30 Jan 2013, Belfast Telegraph)Titanic House, Belfast (March 2012)
The Belfast Telegraph reports that the former headquarters of Harland & Wolff is being turned into a new business hub. An architectural firm has already moved in on the second floor of the three story sandstone building built in stages between 1909 and 1919.

2.  Duke Of York Tours Titanic Shipyard(29 Jan 2013, Belfast Telegraph)
The Duke of York has visited the spot where the Titanic was built during a tour in Belfast. Prince Andrew viewed the cavernous dry dock in which the liner, which sank with the loss of more than 1,000 people, was prepared for sea. Okay I admit this is filler since hardly anyone except palace watchers will care about his. At least this as nothing to do with a certain reality star whose initials are K.K., a crazed Lohan, or whether or not two judges on American Idol hate each other.


Titanic, Titanic Exhibitions, Titanic Miscellaneous

Titanic News For Superbowl Sunday

Sorry folks for being away for a while. Simply put, got busy and there was not much news to report on. February has finally arrived and it is Superbowl Sunday here in the U.S. For those outside of the U.S., it is a national day of watching two teams battling it out for supremacy. Like our Thanksgiving day, people gather together to eat lots of high caloric foods but not as formal as that day. In fact, according to recent news reports, many food companies see this as one of their biggest days of the year. Pizza ranks pretty high on the list, so those ovens get fired up early in the morning and the prep work is pretty frantic to get those pizzas out the door. If you have not ordered your pizza by now, it will be a long wait for it to arrive in time for the game.

Moving on, here are some Titanic stories you might find interesting:

1. Titanic Show Sails Into Macau (31 Jan 2013, SinoShip News
Professor Palmer said while Titanic was not scheduled to visit China or Asia, Titanic II’s ties with China will be significant. “I have commissioned CSC Jinling Shipyard to build and coordinate the construction of Titanic II in China,” he said. “This signifies the future relationship between Titanic II and China, as Titanic II offers a tremendous opportunity for CSCJinling to showcase their abilities and grow their business, as well as establish China in the luxury cruise ship market.” Palmer said Titanic will be remembered when guests meet to enjoy the same lavish eleven course menu as first class passengers did on April 14, 1912.

2. Treasure Hunter Continues Quest To Recover Gold Buried With Titanic’s Sister Ship(30 Jan 2013, IrishCentral)
According to the Boston Herald, Bayerle sought and was eventually awarded the exclusive salvage rights to the wreck in 2005 by now retired U.S. District Court Judge Nancy Gertner. But the twist in the tale came when another judge scuttled his lawsuit last week against a maritime historian he believes holds blueprints to the ship and the keys to the success of his mission. (Related story at Boston Herald)

3. Titanic Memorial(30 Jan 2013, C-SPAN)
This video is about the Titanic Memorial in Washington D.C. Has some interesting background information about the person who designed it.

4. Titanic’ Exhibit Sails Into The Grand Rapids Public Museum(30 Jan 2013, MLive.com)
 “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition” opens February 9 and runs through July 7. Tickets can be purchased at startickets.com or at 800/585-3737. Tickets are timed and limited. Tickets for nonmembers are $17/adults, $16/seniors, $12/children 3—18; and free/children 2 and under. For members, tickets are $12/adults, $11/seniors, $10/children 3—18, and free/children 2 and under. Tickets include admission to the rest of the Museum.

5. Museum To Host Titanic Exhibition(20 Jan 2013, The Northern Echo)
Darlington Railway Museum will hold an exhibition and performance from the History Wardrobe on the famous ship, which sank on April 15, 1912 after striking an iceberg. There will be displays of costumes, documents and survivor testimonies, with a show telling the story of dress designer Lady Lucy Duff-Gordon, who escaped from the ship when it began sinking in the North Atlantic Ocean. (Show date: 17 Feb at 2:00p.m.)

6. Titanic Museum Debuts New Children’s Gallery(25 Jan 2013, Branson Tri-Lakes news)
More than 2,200 people were on board the RMS Titanic when it set sail on its doomed maiden voyage more than 100 years ago, and the Titanic museum attraction in Branson is making sure people don’t forget their stories. This year, the museum added a new gallery dedicated to the children who were on board. Mary Kellogg-Joslyn, executive vice president of operations for the museum’s parent company, Cedar Bay Entertainment, said the new exhibit is just one way the museum is changing to appeal to new, and sometimes younger, visitors. This year the museum also is adding an additional audio tour aimed at children. The tour, Kellogg-Joslyn said, “makes the artifacts come to life and gives them a voice.”

7. Largest Paper Model Of The Titanic: Ronald Luntz Breaks Guinness World Record(20 Jan 2013, World Record Academy )
Ronald Luntz, 70, spent more than eight hours a day in his Apple Valley home for the past three months and built a 7-foot model of the Titanic which is a foot wide and 3 feet high and sets the new world record for the Largest paper model, according to the World Record Academy: www.worldrecordacademy.com/. The Guinness world record for the argest model railway engine was set by the Thomas the Tank Engine character ‘James’, which is 264.3 cm high, 149.6 cm wide, 652 cm long (104.05 x 58.59 x 256.69 in) and weighs nearly 1.5 tons (236.2 st).  Guinness World Records also recognized the world record for the largest model of DNA; it measured 28 m (91 ft 10 in) and was created by Nu Skin Greater China in Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. “People don’t understand how sturdy cardboard is,” he said. “If you give me enough cardboard and glue, I can make you a bridge you can drive across. That’s a fact.”

Some odds and ends

1. James Cameron’s Titanic was a major hit but according to The Inquisitr the Taliban did not like Afghan boys getting haircuts similar to Leonardo DiCaprio’s in the movie. They arrested at least 30 barbers and many Afghan teenage boys who got the cut. Many were beaten and forced to shave their heads. Many tried to hide their haricuts by wearing hats. Underground barbers emerged to give the banned haircuts after hours and outside of public view. Another reason to oppose such regimes in the strongest possible terms.
Source: The Inquisitr, Taliban Hated The Movie Titanic And Banned Leonardo DiCaprio’s Haircut, 29 Jan 2013

2. A “Titanic” cigar measuring 19 feet long and 3 feet wide was recently sold for $18,500. It titanicigarweighs 1,600 pounds making it nearly 25,000 normal sized cigars into one. You have to wonder how this came about. Was it after a few beers where someone mentioned about the largest cigar ever made? Or a wager to see if you could actually make one and sell it. Since it can never be used (except by a giant), it can only be used as a display. Perhaps in the entry way of a building. Or if you really want to poke some fun at the anti-smoking crowd, have it placed outside one of their main offices. Should really get them up in arms. Nanny Bloomberg is probably already outraged and calling on federal agents to seize the offending Titanic cigar (possibly for violating some obscure law).
Source: 8countnews.com,  Titanic Cigar Sells For $185000, 2 Feb 2013