T-Boy Society of Film & Music’s Best Pictures of 2019

Best Picture

1. Parasite: Bong Joon-ho
2. The Irishman: Martin Scorsese
3. Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood: Quentin Tarantino
4. Pain and Glory: Pedro Almodóvar
5. 1917: Sam Mendes
6. Joker: Todd Phillips‎
7. Marriage Story: Noah Baumbach
8. Us: Jordan Peele
9. Synonyms: Nadav Lapid
10. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: Marielle Heller

Profiles in Courage

Written by then-Senator John F. Kennedy

Profiles in Courage is a 1956 volume of short biographies describing acts of bravery and integrity by eight United States Senators under enormous pressure from their parties and their constituents. Written by then-Senator John F. Kennedy, who won the Pulitzer Prize for the work. The staff at Traveling Boy suggests that Utah Republican Senator Mitt Romney might fit the bill as a Profile in Courage due to his recent vote to convict fellow Republican Donald Trump in the Senate Impeachment trial. He was unable to stand in line with other Republic Senators as a result of his deeply-felt oath of office, the US Constitution and personal relationship with God.

The subjects of Profiles in Courage are John Quincy Adams, Daniel Webster, Thomas Hart Benton, Sam Houston, Edmund G. Ross, Lucius Lamar, George Norris, and Robert A. Taft.

Impeachment Trial a ‘Teachable Moment’ for History Teachers

Teachers weaving the trial into lessons about the constitution, democracy

Courtesy Ali Tadayon, Journalism Resident at Edsource

For the first time in more than two decades, teachers have the opportunity to use the political drama of the impeachment trial to liven their lessons and teach history as it unfolds.

The Oldest Person in the World Turns 117

By Brigit Katz, smithsonianmag.com

Last week, Kane Tanaka celebrated her birthday with a party at a nursing home in Fukuoka, Japan. Dressed in a gold kimono with a cluster of purple flowers tucked behind her ear, she enjoyed a big birthday cake.

“Tasty,” she said after the first bite, as quoted by Reuters. “I want some more.”

Predicting the Future of Travel in 2040

Allianz Partners’ Futurology Report Predicts Airline Passenger Numbers will Double, ‘Faces’ via Facial Pattern Recognition Systems Will Replace Passports and Boarding Passes

Courtesy Allianz Global Assistance

By the year 2040, international travel will be a faster, easier and more ecologically sustainable activity than ever before, according to a report commissioned by Allianz Partners to help prepare for the travel-related needs of their customers in the future. Allianz Partners is a world leader in B2B2C assistance and insurance solutions, delivering global protection and care, and offers dedicated travel insurance services through the Allianz Travel brand.

Cruise Lines Pledge Australian Bushfire Relief Cash

Courtesy Travel Weekly UK

Carnival Corporation and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings have both made donations to help support Australian bushfire disaster recovery efforts.

How to Plan an Antarctica Cruise Aboard These Luxury Ships

Courtesy Departures

One of the best ways to experience the white desert is aboard a luxe Antarctica cruise.

English Pronunciation Isn’t Easy But This Quick Primer Can Help You Get it Right

Courtesy Olivia Valdes, ThoughtCo

We all know the embarrassing feeling of discovering we’ve been mispronouncing a word for years. On the other hand, some words are so commonly mispronounced that the “correct” pronunciation sounds downright strange. Don’t feel bad if you’ve been mispronouncing some of these tricky words. A living language like English evolves and thrives precisely because it’s spoken every day.

Random Acts of Canine Kindness

Cedric the Dog takes a well-deserved break after an ill fated attempt to shut down a white supremacist rally in Indiana.

You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog. – Harry S. Truman

Mexico City Blues [113th Chorus]

Jack Kerouac – 1922-1969

Got up and dressed up
and went out & got laid
Then died and got buried
in a coffin in the grave,
Man —
Yet everything is perfect,
Because it is empty,
Because it is perfect
with emptiness,
Because it’s not even happening.

Everything
Is Ignorant of its own emptiness —
Anger
Doesn’t like to be reminded of fits —

You start with the Teaching
Inscrutable of the Diamond
And end with it, your goal
is your startingplace,
No race was run, no walk
of prophetic toenails
Across Arabies of hot
meaning — you just
numbly don’t get there.

Send Deb your favorite travel poems

10 Crowd-Free Alternatives to America’s Most Iconic National Parks

For every national park swarmed by visitors, dozens of state and federal preserves, parks, and monuments go relatively untraveled.

Secrets the Cruise Lines Don’t Tell You

Courtesy Erika Silverstein, Cruise Critic

Cruise ship life can be a little mysterious. Your choices aren’t always spelled out in black and white. The more you cruise, the more you pick up on the unofficial secrets the cruise lines don’t tell you — which give you more options, let you save money and generally allow you to have a better time onboard.

Newly Discovered Treasures Came From the Same Sunken Ship That Carried the Controversial ‘Elgin Marbles’

The “Mentor,” a vessel owned by the notorious Lord Elgin, sank in 1802 while carrying panels and sculptures looted from the Parthenon

Courtesy Jason Daley, smithsonian.com

In September 1802, the H.M.S. Mentor sank off the coast of Avlemonas, Greece, sending 17 crates of antiquities tumbling to the bottom of the Mediterranean. More than 200 years later, the Greek Ministry of Culture reports, marine archaeologists tasked with exploring the wreck have recovered gold jewelry, cooking pots, chess pieces and an array of other artifacts connected with the trove.

Protect Yourself Against Airport Checkpoint Theft

Airport theft is becoming a major problem for travelers, so make sure to get to your destination with all your items intact.

Kirk Douglas (1916 – 2020)

T-Boy Society Film & Music selects Kirk Douglas’ best film appearances followed with comments by Mr. Douglas.

Top 5 — In order of preference

1. Lust for Life (1956)
   “Acting is make-believe. I never believe I’m the character; I want you to believe. But with Lust for Life, I got so involved with van Gogh… it really was frightening, because I felt like the character was overtaking me… It was a very, very interesting experience. I have never felt that way on any other picture.”
2. Paths of Glory (1957)
   “I saw a little picture that Stanley Kubrick had done [the 1956 film The Killing], and I said, ‘Gee, he’s very talented.’ I called him and said, ‘Do you have any other projects?’ He said, ‘Yes, I have a project, but nobody wants to do it.’ And he sent me Paths of Glory. I said, ‘Stanley, this picture won’t make a nickel, but we have to do it.’”
3. Ace in the Hole (1951)
   “I thought that Billy Wilder was such a brilliant director… [That character was a lot to handle, so I asked him if I should tone him down a bit, but he told me to do just the opposite.] ‘Both knees! Give it both knees!’”
4. The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)
   “You know, it’s tough to make a movie about movies… We’re all too close to it. But The Bad and the Beautiful was very good. And Lana Turner, I think, did her best job; she was very good. I was good, too!”
5. Spartacus (1960)
   “I was intrigued with the character of Spartacus, and I just had to make it. And, at the same time, we were going through a terrible period, the McCarthy era… I’m very proud that Spartacus broke the blacklist [by giving blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo screen credit], because that was very important… It happened at the right time for me. I was young enough to be foolish… It’s nice to make a movie that people enjoy and that does something.”

Honorable Mention

Lonely Are the Brave (1962)

“I love that character and his relationship with his horse. And I always consider that my best movie. It was not a big success. It’s gotten to be more of a cult film right now… Again, Dalton Trumbo wrote the screenplay. It was the one time we never changed a word; it was perfect, like a hole in one.”

Kirk Douglas Bio

Anna Karina: The French New Wave Icon, Has Died at Age 79

Anna Karina, the Danish-born actress who became a symbol of  La Nouvelle Vague in Jean-Luc Godard’s seven 1960s films, died last month in Paris. Her death was confirmed by France’s culture minister, who said the cause was cancer.

MORE

Film Comment ’s 10 Best Films of the Decade

In the last decade, filmmakers pushed cinema to new and strange heights, shaping time and images and telling stories in novel ways.

Without further ado, here is Film Comment’s top ten films of the last decade.

MORE

Australia’s Fires May Have Implications for Cruise Tourism

Courtesy Maritime Executive

The devastating fires affecting southeastern Australia are having an effect on cruise itineraries as well. The damage has already led to alterations for several voyages and may affect more.

MORE

Skeletons Unearthed in Connecticut May Belong to Revolutionary War Soldiers

By Theresa Machemer, smithsonianmag.com

Construction workers renovating a home in Ridgefield, Connecticut, last month were surprised to discover human bones under the property’s foundation.

MORE

The Trial of Joan of Arc

By Kat Eschner, smithsonianmag.com

In January of 1431, the preliminary trial of Joan of Arc began. After leading the French army in battle against England, Joan underwent trial and was accused of witchcraft and heresy and burned at the stake by the English and their allies. It’s been almost 600 years since the trial and execution of Joan of Arc, and her memory hasn’t faded. From novels, plays and movies to scholarly books and endless theories about how she heard the voices that led her to lead an army, her story has been regularly re-explored by generations in France and elsewhere. Here are a few reasons we can’t forget Saint Joan.

MORE

Should You Be Skipping Breakfast to Lose Weight?

By Malia Frey

You’ve probably heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But many smart dieters are skipping breakfast to lose weight. It’s true. For some people, not eating breakfast is actually a better way to slim down. But this trick doesn’t work for everyone.

MORE

Paris’s Museum of Art and History of Judaism Appoints Geoffrey Weill Associates for Public Relations

Located in the magnificent 17th-century Hôtel de Saint-Aignan in the Marais neighborhood of Paris, the Museum of Art and History of Judaism (Musée d’art et d’histoire du Judaïsme – known as “mahJ”) has appointed Geoffrey Weill Associates to widen its awareness in North America.

MORE

How to Block Spyware From Snooping on You

Courtesy Brenna Miles, Lifewire

It’s rather easy to define spyware, which is a type of malware that tracks your internet activity in order to gather sensitive information such as credit card numbers or demographics. Most of the time, spyware works in the background of a device, invisible to the unsuspecting.

MORE

Purging Your Stuff Is the New Conspicuous Consumption

Inside the world of minimalism and tidying are the makings of a seismic shift in American consumerism.

Courtesy Leslie Patton

On a recent Saturday afternoon in downtown Chicago, Tara Latta’s 36th-floor apartment with stunning river views is a complete mess. I’m watching the 39-year-old trying to jam the contents of a storage unit into her new one bedroom, and it doesn’t appear to be going well. Her kitchen table is teeming with CVS receipts, unused thank-you notes, catalogs, utility bills and to-do lists. U-Haul boxes are stacked halfway to the ceiling. The counters are overflowing with tea cups, mixing bowls and water bottles.  But all is not as it seems. Latta is in the midst of her second of three, five-hour sessions with tidying consultant Kristyn Ivey.

MORE

10 Mediterranean — Gifts for the Food Lover in Your Life

More than a mix of rich history, gorgeous beaches, and warm blue waters, the countries along the Mediterranean Sea and their people have a history of living longer and healthier lives and you can too! By simply following a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil, nuts, beans, fish, fruits and vegetables, even drinking wine with meals, you can prevent diseases and prolong your life.

MORE

How to Renew a Passport in 24 Hours

Courtesy Shannon McMahon

By partnering with an existing service called RushMyPassport, FedEx is facilitating a nationwide solution for those who need very fast passport renewal.

MORE

The post T-Boy Film Critics Winners, Kirk Douglas on His Acting appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Impeachment Trial a ‘Teachable Moment’ for History Teachers

Teachers weaving the trial into lessons about the constitution, democracy

Courtesy Ali Tadayon, Journalism Resident at Edsource

For the first time in more than two decades, teachers have the opportunity to use the political drama of the impeachment trial to liven their lessons and teach history as it unfolds.

The Oldest Person in the World Turns 117

By Brigit Katz, smithsonianmag.com

Last week, Kane Tanaka celebrated her birthday with a party at a nursing home in Fukuoka, Japan. Dressed in a gold kimono with a cluster of purple flowers tucked behind her ear, she enjoyed a big birthday cake.

“Tasty,” she said after the first bite, as quoted by Reuters. “I want some more.”

Predicting the Future of Travel in 2040

Allianz Partners’ Futurology Report Predicts Airline Passenger Numbers will Double, ‘Faces’ via Facial Pattern Recognition Systems Will Replace Passports and Boarding Passes

Courtesy Allianz Global Assistance

By the year 2040, international travel will be a faster, easier and more ecologically sustainable activity than ever before, according to a report commissioned by Allianz Partners to help prepare for the travel-related needs of their customers in the future. Allianz Partners is a world leader in B2B2C assistance and insurance solutions, delivering global protection and care, and offers dedicated travel insurance services through the Allianz Travel brand.

Cruise Lines Pledge Australian Bushfire Relief Cash

Courtesy Travel Weekly UK

Carnival Corporation and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings have both made donations to help support Australian bushfire disaster recovery efforts.

How to Plan an Antarctica Cruise Aboard These Luxury Ships

Courtesy Departures

One of the best ways to experience the white desert is aboard a luxe Antarctica cruise.

English Pronunciation Isn’t Easy But This Quick Primer Can Help You Get it Right

Courtesy Olivia Valdes, ThoughtCo

We all know the embarrassing feeling of discovering we’ve been mispronouncing a word for years. On the other hand, some words are so commonly mispronounced that the “correct” pronunciation sounds downright strange. Don’t feel bad if you’ve been mispronouncing some of these tricky words. A living language like English evolves and thrives precisely because it’s spoken every day.

Random Acts of Canine Kindness

Cedric the Dog takes a well-deserved break after an ill fated attempt to shut down a white supremacist rally in Indiana.

You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog. – Harry S. Truman

Mexico City Blues [113th Chorus]

Jack Kerouac – 1922-1969

Got up and dressed up
and went out & got laid
Then died and got buried
in a coffin in the grave,
Man —
Yet everything is perfect,
Because it is empty,
Because it is perfect
with emptiness,
Because it’s not even happening.

Everything
Is Ignorant of its own emptiness —
Anger
Doesn’t like to be reminded of fits —

You start with the Teaching
Inscrutable of the Diamond
And end with it, your goal
is your startingplace,
No race was run, no walk
of prophetic toenails
Across Arabies of hot
meaning — you just
numbly don’t get there.

Send Deb your favorite travel poems

Purging Your Stuff Is the New Conspicuous Consumption

Inside the world of minimalism and tidying are the makings of a seismic shift in American consumerism.

Courtesy Leslie Patton

On a recent Saturday afternoon in downtown Chicago, Tara Latta’s 36th-floor apartment with stunning river views is a complete mess. I’m watching the 39-year-old trying to jam the contents of a storage unit into her new one bedroom, and it doesn’t appear to be going well. Her kitchen table is teeming with CVS receipts, unused thank-you notes, catalogs, utility bills and to-do lists. U-Haul boxes are stacked halfway to the ceiling. The counters are overflowing with tea cups, mixing bowls and water bottles.  But all is not as it seems. Latta is in the midst of her second of three, five-hour sessions with tidying consultant Kristyn Ivey.

Secrets the Cruise Lines Don’t Tell You

Courtesy Erika Silverstein, Cruise Critic

Cruise ship life can be a little mysterious. Your choices aren’t always spelled out in black and white. The more you cruise, the more you pick up on the unofficial secrets the cruise lines don’t tell you — which give you more options, let you save money and generally allow you to have a better time onboard.

Newly Discovered Treasures Came From the Same Sunken Ship That Carried the Controversial ‘Elgin Marbles’

The “Mentor,” a vessel owned by the notorious Lord Elgin, sank in 1802 while carrying panels and sculptures looted from the Parthenon

Courtesy Jason Daley, smithsonian.com

In September 1802, the H.M.S. Mentor sank off the coast of Avlemonas, Greece, sending 17 crates of antiquities tumbling to the bottom of the Mediterranean. More than 200 years later, the Greek Ministry of Culture reports, marine archaeologists tasked with exploring the wreck have recovered gold jewelry, cooking pots, chess pieces and an array of other artifacts connected with the trove.

Anna Karina: The French New Wave Icon, Has Died at Age 79

Anna Karina, the Danish-born actress who became a symbol of  La Nouvelle Vague in Jean-Luc Godard’s seven 1960s films, died last month in Paris. Her death was confirmed by France’s culture minister, who said the cause was cancer.

MORE

Film Comment ’s 10 Best Films of the Decade

In the last decade, filmmakers pushed cinema to new and strange heights, shaping time and images and telling stories in novel ways.

Without further ado, here is Film Comment’s top ten films of the last decade.

MORE

Australia’s Fires May Have Implications for Cruise Tourism

Courtesy Maritime Executive

The devastating fires affecting southeastern Australia are having an effect on cruise itineraries as well. The damage has already led to alterations for several voyages and may affect more.

MORE

Skeletons Unearthed in Connecticut May Belong to Revolutionary War Soldiers

By Theresa Machemer, smithsonianmag.com

Construction workers renovating a home in Ridgefield, Connecticut, last month were surprised to discover human bones under the property’s foundation.

MORE

The Trial of Joan of Arc

By Kat Eschner, smithsonianmag.com

In January of 1431, the preliminary trial of Joan of Arc began. After leading the French army in battle against England, Joan underwent trial and was accused of witchcraft and heresy and burned at the stake by the English and their allies. It’s been almost 600 years since the trial and execution of Joan of Arc, and her memory hasn’t faded. From novels, plays and movies to scholarly books and endless theories about how she heard the voices that led her to lead an army, her story has been regularly re-explored by generations in France and elsewhere. Here are a few reasons we can’t forget Saint Joan.

MORE

Should You Be Skipping Breakfast to Lose Weight?

By Malia Frey

You’ve probably heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But many smart dieters are skipping breakfast to lose weight. It’s true. For some people, not eating breakfast is actually a better way to slim down. But this trick doesn’t work for everyone.

MORE

Paris’s Museum of Art and History of Judaism Appoints Geoffrey Weill Associates for Public Relations

Located in the magnificent 17th-century Hôtel de Saint-Aignan in the Marais neighborhood of Paris, the Museum of Art and History of Judaism (Musée d’art et d’histoire du Judaïsme – known as “mahJ”) has appointed Geoffrey Weill Associates to widen its awareness in North America.

MORE

How to Block Spyware From Snooping on You

Courtesy Brenna Miles, Lifewire

It’s rather easy to define spyware, which is a type of malware that tracks your internet activity in order to gather sensitive information such as credit card numbers or demographics. Most of the time, spyware works in the background of a device, invisible to the unsuspecting.

MORE

10 Crowd-Free Alternatives to America’s Most Iconic National Parks

For every national park swarmed by visitors, dozens of state and federal preserves, parks, and monuments go relatively untraveled.

MORE

10 Mediterranean — Gifts for the Food Lover in Your Life

More than a mix of rich history, gorgeous beaches, and warm blue waters, the countries along the Mediterranean Sea and their people have a history of living longer and healthier lives and you can too! By simply following a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil, nuts, beans, fish, fruits and vegetables, even drinking wine with meals, you can prevent diseases and prolong your life.

MORE

Protect Yourself Against Airport Checkpoint Theft

Airport theft is becoming a major problem for travelers, so make sure to get to your destination with all your items intact.

MORE

How to Renew a Passport in 24 Hours

Courtesy Shannon McMahon

By partnering with an existing service called RushMyPassport, FedEx is facilitating a nationwide solution for those who need very fast passport renewal.

MORE

The post Teachers on Impeachment, Anna Karina Remembered appeared first on Traveling Archive.

The Oldest Person in the World Turns 117

By Brigit Katz, smithsonianmag.com

Last week, Kane Tanaka celebrated her birthday with a party at a nursing home in Fukuoka, Japan. Dressed in a gold kimono with a cluster of purple flowers tucked behind her ear, she enjoyed a big birthday cake.

“Tasty,” she said after the first bite, as quoted by Reuters. “I want some more.”

Predicting the Future of Travel in 2040

Allianz Partners’ Futurology Report Predicts Airline Passenger Numbers will Double, ‘Faces’ via Facial Pattern Recognition Systems Will Replace Passports and Boarding Passes

Courtesy Allianz Global Assistance

By the year 2040, international travel will be a faster, easier and more ecologically sustainable activity than ever before, according to a report commissioned by Allianz Partners to help prepare for the travel-related needs of their customers in the future. Allianz Partners is a world leader in B2B2C assistance and insurance solutions, delivering global protection and care, and offers dedicated travel insurance services through the Allianz Travel brand.

Cruise Lines Pledge Australian Bushfire Relief Cash

Courtesy Travel Weekly UK

Carnival Corporation and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings have both made donations to help support Australian bushfire disaster recovery efforts.

How to Plan an Antarctica Cruise Aboard These Luxury Ships

Courtesy Departures

One of the best ways to experience the white desert is aboard a luxe Antarctica cruise.

English Pronunciation Isn’t Easy But This Quick Primer Can Help You Get it Right

Courtesy Olivia Valdes, ThoughtCo

We all know the embarrassing feeling of discovering we’ve been mispronouncing a word for years. On the other hand, some words are so commonly mispronounced that the “correct” pronunciation sounds downright strange. Don’t feel bad if you’ve been mispronouncing some of these tricky words. A living language like English evolves and thrives precisely because it’s spoken every day.

How to Block Spyware From Snooping on You

Courtesy Brenna Miles, Lifewire

It’s rather easy to define spyware, which is a type of malware that tracks your internet activity in order to gather sensitive information such as credit card numbers or demographics. Most of the time, spyware works in the background of a device, invisible to the unsuspecting.

Purging Your Stuff Is the New Conspicuous Consumption

Inside the world of minimalism and tidying are the makings of a seismic shift in American consumerism.

Courtesy Leslie Patton

On a recent Saturday afternoon in downtown Chicago, Tara Latta’s 36th-floor apartment with stunning river views is a complete mess. I’m watching the 39-year-old trying to jam the contents of a storage unit into her new one bedroom, and it doesn’t appear to be going well. Her kitchen table is teeming with CVS receipts, unused thank-you notes, catalogs, utility bills and to-do lists. U-Haul boxes are stacked halfway to the ceiling. The counters are overflowing with tea cups, mixing bowls and water bottles.  But all is not as it seems. Latta is in the midst of her second of three, five-hour sessions with tidying consultant Kristyn Ivey.

10 Crowd-Free Alternatives to America’s Most Iconic National Parks

For every national park swarmed by visitors, dozens of state and federal preserves, parks, and monuments go relatively untraveled.

Random Acts of Canine Kindness

Cedric the Dog takes a well-deserved break after an ill fated attempt to shut down a white supremacist rally in Indiana.

You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog. – Harry S. Truman

Protect Yourself Against Airport Checkpoint Theft

Airport theft is becoming a major problem for travelers, so make sure to get to your destination with all your items intact.

How to Renew a Passport in 24 Hours

Courtesy Shannon McMahon

By partnering with an existing service called RushMyPassport, FedEx is facilitating a nationwide solution for those who need very fast passport renewal.

Australia’s Fires May Have Implications for Cruise Tourism

Courtesy Maritime Executive

The devastating fires affecting southeastern Australia are having an effect on cruise itineraries as well. The damage has already led to alterations for several voyages and may affect more.

MORE

Skeletons Unearthed in Connecticut May Belong to Revolutionary War Soldiers

By Theresa Machemer, smithsonianmag.com

Construction workers renovating a home in Ridgefield, Connecticut, last month were surprised to discover human bones under the property’s foundation.

MORE

The Trial of Joan of Arc

By Kat Eschner, smithsonianmag.com

In January of 1431, the preliminary trial of Joan of Arc began. After leading the French army in battle against England, Joan underwent trial and was accused of witchcraft and heresy and burned at the stake by the English and their allies. It’s been almost 600 years since the trial and execution of Joan of Arc, and her memory hasn’t faded. From novels, plays and movies to scholarly books and endless theories about how she heard the voices that led her to lead an army, her story has been regularly re-explored by generations in France and elsewhere. Here are a few reasons we can’t forget Saint Joan.

MORE

Should You Be Skipping Breakfast to Lose Weight?

By Malia Frey

You’ve probably heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But many smart dieters are skipping breakfast to lose weight. It’s true. For some people, not eating breakfast is actually a better way to slim down. But this trick doesn’t work for everyone.

MORE

Paris’s Museum of Art and History of Judaism Appoints Geoffrey Weill Associates for Public Relations

Located in the magnificent 17th-century Hôtel de Saint-Aignan in the Marais neighborhood of Paris, the Museum of Art and History of Judaism (Musée d’art et d’histoire du Judaïsme – known as “mahJ”) has appointed Geoffrey Weill Associates to widen its awareness in North America.

MORE

Mexico City Blues [113th Chorus]

Jack Kerouac – 1922-1969

Got up and dressed up
and went out & got laid
Then died and got buried
in a coffin in the grave,
Man —
Yet everything is perfect,
Because it is empty,
Because it is perfect
with emptiness,
Because it’s not even happening.

Everything
Is Ignorant of its own emptiness —
Anger
Doesn’t like to be reminded of fits —

You start with the Teaching
Inscrutable of the Diamond
And end with it, your goal
is your startingplace,
No race was run, no walk
of prophetic toenails
Across Arabies of hot
meaning — you just
numbly don’t get there.

Send Deb your favorite travel poems

10 Mediterranean — Gifts for the Food Lover in Your Life

More than a mix of rich history, gorgeous beaches, and warm blue waters, the countries along the Mediterranean Sea and their people have a history of living longer and healthier lives and you can too! By simply following a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil, nuts, beans, fish, fruits and vegetables, even drinking wine with meals, you can prevent diseases and prolong your life.

MORE

Secrets the Cruise Lines Don’t Tell You

Courtesy Erika Silverstein, Cruise Critic

Cruise ship life can be a little mysterious. Your choices aren’t always spelled out in black and white. The more you cruise, the more you pick up on the unofficial secrets the cruise lines don’t tell you — which give you more options, let you save money and generally allow you to have a better time onboard.

MORE

Newly Discovered Treasures Came From the Same Sunken Ship That Carried the Controversial ‘Elgin Marbles’

The “Mentor,” a vessel owned by the notorious Lord Elgin, sank in 1802 while carrying panels and sculptures looted from the Parthenon

Courtesy Jason Daley, smithsonian.com

In September 1802, the H.M.S. Mentor sank off the coast of Avlemonas, Greece, sending 17 crates of antiquities tumbling to the bottom of the Mediterranean. More than 200 years later, the Greek Ministry of Culture reports, marine archaeologists tasked with exploring the wreck have recovered gold jewelry, cooking pots, chess pieces and an array of other artifacts connected with the trove.

MORE

The post World’s Oldest Person, Future Of Travel, Joan of Arc appeared first on Traveling Archive.

No, wait, I’m being told by Brian Cannon, the Historic Site Lead Interpreter: Do not compare New Castle with Colonial Williamsburg, though that was the hook that originally got me there. CW, as Cannon not-so-affectionately refers to the tourist town, is frozen in July 1776 and its many buildings built over many centuries have been “restored” to that hallowed place in history. They’re what are not real.

New Castle, on the other hand, Cannon explains, “is a continuously occupied community containing over 500 buildings spanning four centuries of Colonial, Federal and Victorian architecture.” He adds: “We celebrate our historic diversity. CW has no historic diversity.” Admonished, I move on.

Fortunately, New Castle is replete with history unrelated to the Revolutionary War, as well. William Penn, of nearby Pennsylvania fame, first set foot on American soil here is October 1682. At an alleyway called Penn’s Place – no surprise there – is found the oldest building foundation in town which dates its original construction back to Penn’s arrival. Take that, Williamsburg! You can’t get more authentic than that.

Fast forward a half-century to 1732 when the Old Courthouse was built. Of course, it was later updated. The modern renovations? The new steps put in in 1845, right about the time Thomas Garrett and his pal, Harriet Tubman, were hustling runaway slaves to freedom via the Underground Railroad, whose many stations ran right through neighboring Wilmington.  Garrett, Tubman’s right-hand man and “head stationmaster,” was tried for just such activities in the New Castle Courthouse in 1848. The presiding judge? Conservative Supreme Court Justice Roger Taney of the Dred Scott decision fame denigrating the Constitutional rights of African-Americans. Not surprisingly, he ruled against the abolitionist, bankrupting him.  Garrett’s reply: “Judge, thou has left me not a dollar, but I wish to say to thee and to all in this courtroom that if anyone knows a fugitive who wants a shelter and a friend, send him to Thomas Garrett and he will befriend him.” Pretty impressive courthouse to this day!

And yes, there is also a Revolutionary War connection. On June 15, 1776, the Delaware Assembly meeting in the same courthouse declared independence from Great Britain, predating the rest of the country. Williamsburg didn’t catch up for another month! Somehow these comparisons are hard to avoid.

Further American history abounds everywhere, with several houses of famous people over several centuries dotting the streets. And the cemetery at the Immanual Episcopal Church, founded in 1689, is home to its own well-known clientele, many of whom lived in those houses.  Gravesites from the early 1700’s to the present-day, of Founding Fathers to state governors, generals from the War of 1812 and Civil War to WWI and WWII veterans. The past brought into the present in a beautiful peaceful setting that does justice to both.

Two of the oldest houses in New Castle include the original framing structure of the Dutch House on East Third Street, which dates from 1690-1700 and is the best example of an intact original period dwelling, and No. 8 The Strand which was built as a much smaller brick house around 1690.

Williamsburg can’t boast such early architectural edifices. And another several hundred homes cover multiple centuries and architectural styles, with close to a hundred spanning the 17^th-19^th century time frame. Did I mention the cobblestone streets upon which I was sure the sounds of stagecoaches still reverberate?

A visit to Jessup’s Tavern and Colonial Restaurant: more confusion, more confirmation. The sign stating that it is now home to the largest selection of Belgian beers in Delaware, despite the Dutch, Swedish and British flags flying overhead, was jarring.  I’m pretty sure that’s not one of the more famous legacies of the Revolutionary – or any other American – War.  But once inside, impressions change. Beer of any country served in a crock mug somehow tastes better that way. Several flavors of “Colonial” ice cream are a sweet testimonial to the Colonists if not in reality a favored dessert. And although there are indeed dishes on the Bill of Fare representative of all the flags – and therefore history of New Castle – it is the English pub fare and candle-lit ambience that pre-dominate.

The server was dressed like…well…what can I say? The word wench comes to mind. Not that I know what one would actually look like, but the menu written is Olde English script is exactly what I assume a wench would write.

So yes, very much the feel of an 18^th-century tavern. And how would I know? Well, okay – I experienced one in Williamsburg. Admittedly, the USB charger in the center of the napkin holder was somewhat disorienting.  But as we were leaving, I spotted a Revolutionary War musket on the wall – somehow that made me feel better. But shhhh – don’t tell Mr. Cannon. Get more information about New Castle.

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