August 11, 2012 – Hour 1

Our man in London, former NBC-TV exec in charge of Olympics logistics, Vic Garvey, checks in with his final report on the London summer games. And in case you think of a cruise as a place where you can leave the world behind, maritime security expert Randall Jaques says crimes on the high sea occur more frequently that we think. Besides thefts, sexual harassment, rape and child molestation occur but are often not reported by victims out of embarrassment. Jaques says it’s not just crew members who might have a criminal record; there are men who buy tickets to go on cruises with the express intent to commit a crime, that cruise ships are a “buffet” for sexual predators. And he offers a series of suggestions on how to stay safe while cruising. American commercial aviation has enjoyed a very good safety record the past several years. But journalist and former flight operations manager William McGee writes in his new book, Attention All Passengers, that outsourcing the maintenance of planes to Asian countries and others such as El Salvador make it difficult for federal safety inspectors to keep an eye on the work practices and replacement parts being used to keep aircraft safe. And, finally, what lengths will travelers go to to avoid having a stranger sit next to them? A Yale graduate student of sociology, Esther Kim, rode buses around the US for three years cataloging the behavior of folks in this regard. Fascinating stuff. Plus, Rudy has the latest in travel news and his deals of the week.