Thursday Flakes: Airport Lounges, Walkable Cities and the Pacific Crest Trail

Currently I have Priority Pass lounge access thanks to my brother so before my flight back to Guadalajara last week, I spent some time exploring the different lounges in JFK Terminal 1 with Priority Pass access. My favorite was the Primeclass lounge because they had a delicious New York style cheesecake and very comfortable seating arrangements. I also checked out the Turkish Airlines and Korean Airlines lounges situated close to each other which decent food and drink options as well.

I do enjoy hiking quite a lot but have usually stuck to maximum 3-4 days of hiking at once. Although I have never considered walking for months at a time, I still enjoy watching the YouTube videos of hikers completing the famous long-distance hikes in the United States (Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail and Continental Divide Trail). Those hikes are considered the Triple Crown of long-distance hiking in the United States. I have hiked section of the Appalachian trail before in Georgia and North Carolina. Someday it would be nice to hike sections of the other two famous trails as well.

Have you ever been in an airport lounge? If so, which one is your favorite?

Have you completed any multi-day hikes?

What you would consider a walkable city?

Do you have any summer road trips planned?

What is your favorite beach destination?

Feel free to answer some of these questions in the comments below. Anyways…onto Flakes.

Nebraska Football Recruiting: 4-Star Running Back Jamarion Parker Commits to Huskers | Football | Corn Nation

Jamarion Barker, a 6-0, 185 pound dude from Cardinal Ritter College Prep in St. Louis, Missouri, committed to our beloved Huskers over a myriad of other schools, including Alabama, Colorado, Missouri, Arkansas – all the cool schools that you’d like to see listed. Barker is ranked the 3rd best player out of Missouri by 247, 340th nationally. He is ranked as the 4th-best player out of Missouri by On3, who has him as the 26th-best running back and 337th-best player nationally.

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Well here is another Matt Rhule special. Goes to a camp. Finds a player who isn’t ready to play Division One football. In fact, he hasn’t played organized football in over two years. But has a frame. Has a level of athleticism that meets their criteria. Oh ya, and has zero recruiting stars and is just starting to get Division One offers. This is the Matt Rhule special to an extreme.

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Fred and his coaching staff just received the transfer commitment of 6’9” 245 pound forward Berke Buyuktuncel. Another big man that should see ample playing time with Rienk Mast taking a medical redshirt for the upcoming season. Berke will transfer into Nebraska from UCLA. Berke was a freshman this past season for the Bruins and will have three remaining years left with his eligibility. During his only year at UCLA he averaged 4.5 points and 2.5 rebounds while averaging 16.3 minutes per game.

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The nationally ranked Nebraska track and field teams will have 19 entries this week at the NCAA Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Entering the competition, the men are 10th and the women are 13th in the USTFCCCA week 10 polls. A year ago, the women captured eighth for their best finish since 2006 and the men tied for 17th in the team race.

Tominaga to Begin National Team Camp | Basketball | Huskers.com

Tominaga will join the team later this week, as he returns to Japan following pre-draft workouts with the Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Clippers and Chicago Bulls over the last week. Japan will face Australia in a two-game series on June 22 and 23 to begin its preparation for the Paris Olympics. Tominaga could potentially face another former Husker, as Jack McVeigh could play for Australia, but Basketball Australia has not announced its roster for the event.

Andrews Signs With Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball | Softball | Huskers.com

Andrews heads to the professional ranks after a distinguished collegiate career. She played in 208 games as a Husker, batting .347 with 34 doubles, five triples, 61 home runs and 157 RBIs. Andrews posted a .432 on-base percentage, .679 slugging percentage and 1.111 OPS in her career.

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For fresh insights into the queer liberation’s seminal figures, events and venues, you won’t want to miss these six sites that made a difference to LGBTIQ+ life in the USA and the world.

How to see Utah’s “Mighty 5” National Parks on an Epic Road Trip | Travel | Lonely Planet

With only a week to spare, it’s possible to get to know the distinct personalities of each of the state’s national parks. Here’s how to plan an unforgettable drive in Utah.

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The awards consider over 1,500 lounges and travel experiences and are judged on 379,966 Priority Pass member ratings and reviews across a wide range of criteria, including quality of facilities, customer service, food and beverage selection, and overall satisfaction.

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With shrinking seats, crowded flights, and rising fees for services like checking a bag, it’s enough to make even the most savvy of travelers exasperated. But a select number of airlines continue to stand out from the rest, with refreshingly smooth operations and passenger-friendly cabins.

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A recent survey from data analytics firm J.D. Power asked thousands of fliers how satisfied they were with air carriers in the US and Canada—and the results show at least a couple airlines have earned passengers’ trust.

Spirit Airlines Unveils More Passenger Experience Improvements | Travel | Travel Pulse

The low-cost airline is now offering an increased checked bag weight allowance to 50 pounds and an extended expiration date of Future Travel Vouchers to 12 months for vouchers issued on or after June 3rd.

Cheap Flight Options to Stretch Your Summer Budget | Travel | Travel Pulse

While soaring demand for travel this season will mean exorbitant airfares for some, flexible travelers can save by knowing when to book, flying at off-peak times and choosing the right origin and destination airports. Here are some exciting flight routes that won’t blow your summer travel budget.

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In addition to social media influencers projecting an image of travel that’s often overly polished and highly glamorized, the rise of social media has driven record levels of travelers to destinations around the world. From an economic standpoint, that can have benefits, but the rise of overcrowding has proven to be problematic.

Maui Considers Eliminating 7000 Vacation Rentals | Travel | Travel Pulse

Now, the island’s government is involved and will spend $300,000 to determine the outcome of a proposal to eliminate 7,000 short-term vacation rentals. Mayor Richard Bissen is on record as saying he would like to eliminate the 7,000 rentals—about half of the available rental homes—to create more affordable housing for residents.

23 Best Road Trips in the USA | Travel | Travel + Leisure

From the dramatic California coast to the history-lined thoroughfares of New England, the U.S. is brimming with scenic drives, some more stunning than others. Take the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway for example, meandering past limestone caverns, clear mountain springs, and Appalachian majesty, offering different panoramic vistas depending on the season.

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We’ve found 10 budget-friendly places around the world — both small and large — where surf, sand, and sun are pretty much a given 365 days of the year. To compile this list, we consulted experts from International Living, specializing in life overseas, as well as multiple reports on the cost of living in cities worldwide.

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Earlier this year, the financial website Insider Monkey shared its list of the most walkable cities in the world, which it created using sources like Tourlane and WalkScore. It then took those scores, mapped the distance between each destination’s top five tourist attractions, and checked its air quality using IQAir data and crime and safety indexes to further ensure walkability.

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Running 1,051km from Ankara to Diyarbakır, it passes through stark, mountainous landscapes and some of the country’s most important historical sites.

The Lower Dolpo Circuit: A 220km Trek to the Roof of the World | Travel | BBC

Set against a stunning Himalayan backdrop, this high-altitude hike is one of the best ways to experience one of Asia’s oldest religions and search for one of its most elusive animals.

The Pacific Crest Trail: The US West Coast’s ‘Greatest Footpath’ | Travel | BBC

One hundred years after the US designated the world’s first wilderness area, an epic hike offers adventure seekers the chance to experience a slice of the nation’s wild side.

I need to start training like this in the gym.

Stop hitting yourself! Stop hitting yourself!

Something for the weiner dogs.

Hilarious or Evil?