As part of its latest budget request, the US Department of Homeland Security has asked Congress to fund a study of the "feasibility" of charging "user fees" for the cost of "security screening" for people... Read more »
Bad DHS idea of the day: Fees for crossing th…
Date: April 25th, 2013 @ 10:00
Travel Photo Thursday: Cactus Flowers
Date: April 25th, 2013 @ 00:00
Some unusual flowers appear in the landscaping of my Tucson neighborhood in the Spring. Time to break out the traveler’s favorite companion, a cactus flower identification book. Here are a few of... Read more »
European parliamentarians question surveillan…
Date: April 24th, 2013 @ 23:42
Today in Brussels the "LIBE" (civil liberties) committee of the European Parliament decisively rejected a proposal backed by European police and some European national governments (and heavily lobbied... Read more »
Visiting the Shire: Hobbit Movie Home in New …
Date: April 24th, 2013 @ 09:00
Cultural Travel By Jessie Voigts Destination: New Zealand Movie: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Hobbit movie set you can visit in New Zealand. Photo by Ian Brodie. Last summer, my students and I read... Read more »
“Speak out now on the TSA’s full-…
Date: April 23rd, 2013 @ 17:33
I'm quoted in Christopher Elliott's syndicated travel column today in the Chicago Tribune (and previously in the Washington Post and elsewhere) about the TSA's ongoing solicitation of public comments on... Read more »
California legislature considers transit priv…
Date: April 22nd, 2013 @ 16:02
I can't make it to Sacramento today, but the Committee on Transportation of the California Assembly will be holding a hearing on two bills of interest: Assembly Bill 179 (status) would extend the privacy... Read more »
Best Books : A Tribute to Literary Boston
Date: April 22nd, 2013 @ 09:00
Boston Commons, Charles River Tribute to Literary Boston Our attention was focused on the tragedy in Boston and subsequent manhunt all last week. Thank goodness– and thanks to the people of the city... Read more »
The Amazing Race 22, Episode 8
Date: April 22nd, 2013 @ 03:59
Grindelwald (Switzerland) - Dresden (Germany) - Berlin (Germany) [The new U.S.-built Berlin Wall, with its sentry boxes, extending out from one wing of the Brandenburg Gate, near right, around the new... Read more »
Why Vasco da Gama of Portugal Sailed Around A…
Date: April 19th, 2013 @ 09:00
Destination: Portugal and Explorations to India Book: The Last Crusade: The Epic Voyages of Vasco da Gama by Nigel Cliff (Previously published as Holy War) “Master, if you know the sea is crazy... Read more »
“Mystery Computer Problem Grounds All A…
Date: April 18th, 2013 @ 01:44
I'm quoted at some length in this article today on TechNewsWorld.com: Mystery Computer Problem Grounds All AA Flights By John P. Mello Jr. Finger Pointing Relations between Sabre and American have... Read more »