There’s been much media commentary related to the 20th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, widely regarded as one of the greatest foreign policy blunders in history.  g to go into the wayback machine for my take on it, below, a piece written in 2007 for the late Gatsby Magazine, one of the international magazines I wrote Letters from Washington columns for. It’s a stab at divining the self-righteous mentality that popped open Pandora’s Box with the March 20th, 2003 invasion of Iraq under the false pretenses of Saddam Hussein harboring weapons of mass destruction and being in league with Al-Qaeda. This was amplified by journalists and politicians who should have known better, some of whom likely did.

There was plenty of cheering, meowing, chirping, and woofing in Orlando, Florida this past March 23rd. The American Pet Products Association (APPA) and Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA) announced the winners of the 13th annual New Products Showcase Awards.

Walking along the Ft. Myers Yacht Basin in the center of the city, you would never know that three months ago, it was littered with boats and destruction, havoc wreaked by Hurricane Ian. The feeling of calm felt almost eerie as I remembered the horrific TV images of months past.

I have just returned from Surreal360: A Salvador Dalí Experience, which is now open in Miami. Opening night guests embarked a journey into the mind of Salvador Dalí, the Spanish surrealist artist world-renowned for his technical skill and precise draftsmanship. In addition to over 170 original artworks by Dalí, there is an immersion aspect similar to popular Van Gogh exhibits.

Cigarette smoking is considered a health risk not only for the smoker but for everyone else around them as well. Because of this, many countries today have implemented smoking bans or laws to reduce smoking. Most recently, Mexico made changes to its tobacco control law that includes no-smoking rules for any workplace and outdoor locations where people gather. These locations range from public squares and parks to beaches and sports stadiums. The new provisions aim to ensure better protection of general public health.

The Palladian Traveler meanders around the town that George Washington envisioned, stopping long enough to smell the cherry blossoms, soak in the history, marvel at the art and architecture and inhale the aromas of epicurean delights as he files his latest dispatch from the US capital.

The name rolls off the tongue in a poetic and memorable ring, the resonance tantalizing the ear like a beloved song. Dusseldorf, a little over an hour train ride from Frankfurt is world removed, and refreshingly faithful to art and fashion. Overlooking the vast Lower Rhine River in the heart of Germany, the city is brimming with energy and vitality with an elevated living standard and a five-star lifestyle, eminent among the best cities in Europe.

The Gateway Arch towers over the mighty Mississippi. Built in 1963, it is today the symbol of St. Louis. Blues music fills the night, and St. Louisans sit at sidewalk cafes in the historic Soulard neighborhood in front of tables of toasted ravioli, paper-thin square-cut pizza, and frosted mugs of Bud, the beer here that is still king.

Here’s my list of 76 - 101 Greatest Film Directors. I encourage you to assault, disagree or perhaps even agree, and send in your own list in our readers’ section at ad***@tr**********.com . What is most important is to keep a dialogue going about cinema as a visual medium for artistic expression where it takes its place among other art forms.

So yes, of course, the highlights of our Blue Danube River Cruise with Grand Circle Tour Company were the four European capitals we were visiting: Prague, Czech Republic, Vienna, Austria, Bratislava, Slovakia and Budapest, Hungary. But it was the many surprises surrounding the experiences on the ship that truly enhanced the trip.