BEATLE BEAT TRIVIA HODGEPODGE
A T-Boy staffer was listening the other morning to “Breakfast with the Beatles,” and DJ Chris Carter (more than a serious Beatle-ologist) said years ago a friend posed this question to him: “If you encountered a visitor from another world and could play only ONE Beatles song that would explain their overall greatness, what would that song be?” Carter said his friend “then shoved a note into my pocket and said, ‘I already know what your answer will be and I wrote it down on that piece of paper.’” Carter continued, “Well, the pressure was on… so I went through all the mental deductions like, can’t use anything off Sgt. Pepper for example because those songs would only be representative of their psychedelic era…etc.” Anyway, he came up with a song and it was indeed what his friend had written down on the note.
I was initially floored by his answer, but it made perfect sense and was the best choice the more I thought about it. (I likely would not have arrived at this on my own).
Ready For A Nap?
Weary travelers can rent sleeping pods and shower time in the Nine Hours hotel at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport
Courtesy Chris Weller – Business Insider
There aren’t many frills at the Nine Hours hotel, but when you’re only staying for a nap or a layover between flights, soft sheets and a dark space are pretty much all you need. Nine Hours is a Japanese chain of pod hotels started in 2009, with each chain designed to accommodate people for between one and nine hours depending on their needs. For $44, guests gain access to a private pod, sleepwear, and access to the bathrooms and lounge. Or for $7 you can just take a shower.
MOREThe Shortest Path to Real-Life Conversations
Which language would you like to learn? Try it out for free!
MOREJohn Heard – RIP
Actor John Heard (1946–2017) passed away on July 21, 2017. He was 72-years-old. Though much has been made of him as a ‘character actor’ in trifles like Home Alone and Big, there are many who have been enamored by him for his earlier leading roles. In particular, his acting in Ivan Passer’s Cutter’s Way is regarded as a true Shakespearian performance. In the film Heard plays a cynical, hard drinking, conspiracy driven Vietnam War veteran who lost an arm, leg and one-eye on the battlefield. Romantic roles included Joan Micklin Silver’s Head Over Heels (aka Chilly Scenes of Winter) and Paul Schrader’s remake of Cat People. Between The Lines (JM Silver again), Trip to Bountiful, Martin Scorsese’s After Hours and his portrayal of Jack Kerouac in Heartbeat were also among critic’s favorites.
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Clear Your Schedules: Events Throughout Buenos Aires Fill Up The 2017 Calendar
South America’s Capital of Cool Abounds with Festivals Throughout the Year
Buenos Aires, a city renowned for its vivacity, cuisine, passionate people and unique culture gets even more thrilling and interesting in 2017, with a top-notch lineup of festivals and events. Travelers visiting Buenos Aires this year will have many things to see and do including agricultural festivals, tango competitions, design and fashion events, and gay parades. Festivals are also a great way to meet the Porteño locals, who are known for their warmth and welcoming attitude.
Upcoming events in the City of Many Passions during the second half of the year, include:
MOREHappy Summer Months from the staff at TravelingBoy
We have designated this Summer to think of those who suffer from great sorry and misfortune. Here are some of our favorite charities.
MOREStar Wars Resort Coming to Disney World
Disney World vacationers will one day have the opportunity for an all-encompassing Star Wars experience, from hotel to theme park.
Every Star Wars fan knows the park attraction is coming in 2019 (the 14-acre land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando now has an official name, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge). A Florida resort is coming, too, and Disney touts it as a “one-of-a-kind experience where a luxury resort meets a multi-day adventure in a galaxy far, far away.”
John Lennon’s Typewriter
SFO’s mini art exhibit has a gem right now in current exhibition.
TIME CAPSULE CINEMA
The Battle of Algiers – A Look Back
By Walt Mundkowsky
Directed by: Gillo Pontecorvo
Writing Credits: Franco Solinas and Gillo Pontecorvo
Music by: Ennio Morricone and Gillo Pontecorvo
Cinematography by: Marcello Gatti
Cast: Brahim Hadjadj, Jean Martin, Yacef Saadi
Hands down, this Canadian gem is our pick for the most hilarious, madcap travel show on the cybersphere.
In this zany episode, the Travel Guys take on a Mediterranean Cruise.
MOREHow to Resolve Fights over Reclining Airplane Seats
An investigation into the economics of reclining
Courtesy of Christopher Buccafusco & Christopher Jon Sprigman, Evonomics
Not since the Battle of the Somme has such little space been the subject of such intense conflict.
MORECountries That Require Visas for Americans
The State Department’s Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management (ACS) administers the Consular Information Program, which informs the public of conditions abroad that may affect their safety and security. Country Specific Information, Travel Alerts, and Travel Warnings are vital parts of this program.
MOREStay Informed, Stay Connected, Stay Safe!
The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
MOREMan Tried to Bite Flight Attendant, Jumped From Plane
The man then made his way to the galley, pried open the door and jumped. He appeared in federal court Friday on a charge of assaulting/intimidating a flight crew member.
Tipping Etiquette Around the Globe
As North Americans, tipping is a reality, and we are sensitive that the wait staff receives their due. We generally like to tip at the amount of 15% to 20%. After all, the wait staff in North America depends on it.
But if you are confused about tipping in other destinations, we determined what’s best to tip outside of North America.
- Africa: 10% to 15%
- Australia/New Zealand: None (the wait staff is well compensated in their hourly salary
- Caribbean & Central America: 10%
- China: None. (Tipping is against the law)
- England: 10%
- Germany: 10%
- Ireland: 12%
- Italy: None (except for great service, where you round out bill)
- Japan: None. (tipping is considered rude, but you always offer your chef a beer)
- Middle East: 15%
- South America: 15
We Are All Terminal – We Just Don’t Know Our Expiration Date
Addressing the elephant in the room about your own death is something most couples avoid doing together and it is a big mistake.
MORE10 Strange Laws from Around the World
Courtesy SmarterTraveler
From a stiletto ban in Greece to the pinball crackdown in South Carolina – give travel a unique flavor.
MORETop 25 Most Interesting Webcams
Selected from hundreds of nominees by a panel of EarthCam producers, EarthCam announces the most unique and compelling webcams of the year.
MORENew Luxury Hotel Orania.Berlin to Open in Berlin’s Edgy Kreuzberg District
A Schloss Elmau sister property, the Orania.Berlin will be the first high-end hotel in the diverse and authentic district.
Los Angeles / Berlin – For 28 years, Berlin’s Kreuzberg district was in the shadow of the Berlin Wall, home to squatters, draft dodgers, anarchists, free thinkers and the largest Turkish community outside of Turkey. Graffiti strewn, edgy Kreuzberg is the cultural heart of the city – but also the antonym of luxury. Yet, the team behind the famous Bavarian Schloss Elmau spa hotel chose Kreuzberg’s Oranienplatz square for their new hotel, the Orania.Berlin. The 41- room luxury hotel will be opening in a many-times-repurposed historic building from the early 20th century and feature subtle but rather luxuriously furnished rooms, minimalist design, and wood floors throughout. Soft opening is scheduled for August 21, 2017.
MORELos Angeles Times Expeditions
The Los Angeles Times has introduced a series of travel packages that include a movie backlot tour with film critic Kenneth Turan, an exploration of World War II-era art theft in Vienna with staff writer Deborah Vankin and a swing through New Orleans Jazz Fest with music journalist Randy Lewis. Los Angeles Times Expeditions, a series of custom small-group tours, are open for booking now with the first trips departing in 2018.
“Los Angeles Times journalists have a wealth of experience, traveling the world and telling some of the most compelling stories of our time,” said Times Editor-in-Chief and Publisher Davan Maharaj. “This travel program is another way for us to spread our journalism, connect with readers and share a deeper understanding of the world around us.”
The tour packages were developed in collaboration with Academic Travel Abroad Inc., combining The Times’ expertise in its hometown, world affairs, food, the arts and photography with ATA’s decades of experience in the planning and logistics of education-oriented travel.
Each itinerary is designed to give travelers rare opportunities to experience some of the most interesting subjects that The Times covers accompanied by journalists and experts who can share first-hand knowledge, insider tips and behind-the-scenes access. Destinations include Southern California guided by a host of Times writers and editors including Christopher Reynolds, Yosemite with photographer Mark Boster, Oaxaca with author Lesley Téllez, Cuba with features writer Alice Short, Tuscany with restaurant critic Jonathan Gold, Milan with fashion editor Marques Harper, Johannesburg with managing editor Scott Kraft and Dubai with architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne. More than a dozen different trips are planned with the first expedition setting off next February.
For more information about the tour packages, itineraries and travel dates, visit latexpeditions.com.
The 2017 Global Peace Index finds that the world became more peaceful in the last year, however, over the last decade it has become significantly less peaceful.
MORERandom Acts of Canine Kindness
Cedric the Dog takes a well-earned break after organizing a protest at a Mississippi puppy mill.
To a Mouse
By Robert Burns
Wee, sleekit, cow’rin, tim’rous beastie,
O, what a panic’s in thy breastie!
Thou need na start awa sae hasty,
Wi’ bickering brattle!
I wad be laith to rin an’ chase thee,
Wi’ murd’ring pattle!
I’m truly sorry man’s dominion,
Has broken nature’s social union,
An’ justifies that ill opinion,
Which makes thee startle
At me, thy poor, earth-born companion,
An’ fellow-mortal!
I doubt na, whiles, but thou may thieve;
What then? poor beastie, thou maun live!
A daimen icker in a thrave
‘S a sma’ request;
I’ll get a blessin wi’ the lave,
An’ never miss’t!
Thy wee bit housie, too, in ruin!
It’s silly wa’s the win’s are strewin!
An’ naething, now, to big a new ane,
O’ foggage green!
An’ bleak December’s winds ensuin,
Baith snell an’ keen!
Thou saw the fields laid bare an’ waste,
An’ weary winter comin fast,
An’ cozie here, beneath the blast,
Thou thought to dwell-
Till crash! the cruel coulter past
Out thro’ thy cell.
Thy wee bit heap o’ leaves an’ stibble,
Has cost thee mony a weary nibble!
Now thou’s turn’d out, for a’ thy trouble,
But house or hald,
To thole the winter’s sleety dribble,
An’ cranreuch cauld!
But, Mousie, thou art no thy-lane,
In proving foresight may be vain;
The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men
Gang aft agley,
An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain,
For promis’d joy!
Still thou art blest, compar’d wi’ me
The present only toucheth thee:
But, Och! I backward cast my e’e.
On prospects drear!
An’ forward, tho’ I canna see,
I guess an’ fear!
Send Deb your favorite travel poems.
The Rich and Famous Get Their Own Terminal at LAX
Courtesy Tim Winship, SmarterTravel
Los Angeles airport has a new terminal where wealthy travelers can enjoy private suites and chauffeured BMW rides across the tarmac to their gates.
MOREThe Most Affordable Countries to Visit in 2017
In the World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017, countries were given scores on 14 sets of criteria. These are not your typical tourist destinations, which can add to their price competitiveness.
MOREMoney-Saving Tips all Travelers Should Try
As part of USA TODAY’s new travel research portal Embark, an expert panel of travel bloggers has been assembled to share their best advice to help you travel smarter, safer and more economically.
MORESolving the Puzzle: When the First Humans Arrived in the Americas
A Newcastle University expert is leading a new study which aims to resolve a longstanding debate about how and when people first came to the Americas.
Courtesy Phys.org
MOREWhat Not to Wear in the Airport Security Line
Roll through security like a pro by avoiding the following attire
Courtesy: Smarter Travel
The best way to ease through airport security is to dress for success. Certain garments and accessories could get you flagged for extra screening, slowing down your progression through the airport. Want to roll through the security line like a pro? Avoid wearing the following attire:
MOREAirplane-Provided Water, Ice, Coffee, or Tea
It’s important to stay hydrated while flying, but you’re better off BYOW (Bringing Your Own Water) rather than grabbing a free drink from the beverage cart.
Tests done by the EPA a few years ago showed that one out of every seven planes had tank water that did not meet federal standards, and in fact contained bacteria like E. coli. Although beverage carts might give you “bottled” water from a large bottle, that bottle could have been refilled using the tank water. Coffee and tea are often made from the same tank water, which is usually not heated enough to kill germs. Ice is also sometimes made on board, so it’s best to pass on that as well.
10 Urban Legends About Flying That Aren’t True
Courtesy Caroline Morse, SmarterTravel
From terrifying tales about airplane bathrooms to mid-flight door-opening fears, there are a lot of myths about air travel flying around out there. Here are 10 urban legends that just aren’t true.
MORECarry-on Luggage Tips for a Stress Free Security Check-in at the Airport
MOREHow Does the U.S.’s Amtrak Compare to China’s Bullet Trains?
China’s high speed railway is the most heavily used in the world, with 1.44 billion passengers every year. Amtrak in 2016 hit a new record with around 31.3 million passengers. So, how do they compare?
MORE8 Ways to Live Hygge While Traveling
Even if you don’t know the word, you know hygge when you feel it
Courtesy Ashley Rossi, SmarterTravel
After all it’s a feeling of comfort and coziness, like a good conversation by the fire, a cup of steaming coffee in a warm cafe on a cold day, or a blissful moment of contentedness that holds you like a hug. And while travel is typically the opposite of hygge, there are plenty of ways you can bring the concept to your travels. Whether it’s the destination you pick or a hotel’s design, here are eight ways you can be a hygge-happy traveler. While you’re at it, check out T-Boy’s A 24 Hour Quest for Hygge.
MORE
Being on the ground in over 180 countries means you get the full story.
Together in Spirit – The Best Friends Animal Society
At the core of Best Friends Animal Society’s work is the dream that one day animals will no longer be killed in America’s shelters.
MOREOperation Homefront
A national nonprofit, Operation Homefront leads more than 4,500 volunteers with nationwide presence who provide emergency and other financial assistance to the families of service members and wounded warriors.
MOREWorldwide Vacation Rankings
U.S. News Travel’s Best Vacations rankings identify the top destinations by region and vacation type.
MORE7 Frequent-Flyer Tricks Worth Learning
Master the art of earning miles, attaining elite status, and working the system to earn free flights and other perks.
MORE
The Best Place to Find Cheap Flights
MOREBeatle Beat Trivia Hodgepodge Answer
The one they picked was “We Can Work It Out,” which I thought was brilliant in hindsight. It captures both the “sunniness” of the early Beatles and the introspection of the middle and later periods. The harpsichord gives a nod to the musical experimentation that was to come… but perhaps most importantly, it was a classic Lennon/Macca collaboration with Lennon writing the middle 8 (“life is very short …”). It also features the trademark John and Paul harmonies on the chorus. In some respects, “We Can Work It Out” is a transitional song which reflects the overall greatness of the Beatles’ sound, and who they were, in one stunning song.
