Category: Travel

Athenae, Economy, Travel

Other People Aren’t Your Tourist Attraction

Allison Hantschel

On seeing Cuba “before it’s ruined.”  I appreciate good art direction just as much as anyone else, and I see that Cuba looks like a beautifully destroyed photo op. But it’s not your photo op. The old cars are not kitschy; they are not a choice. It’s all they have. The old buildings are not preserved; their balconies are falling and killing people all the time. The very, very young girls prostituting themselves are not doing it because they can’t get enough of old Canadian men, but because it pays more than being a doctor does. Hospitals for regular Cuban … Continue reading Other People Aren’t Your Tourist Attraction

Current Affairs, Doc, Travel8 Comments

Planes, Complaints and a Prick Named Gary

docphd

Occasionally, I’ll read a story like this one, where a woman was removed from a flight for singing “I Will Always Love You” at the top of her lungs for three hours. Or one like this, w here a guy was apparently throwing “gang signs for Jesus” on an aircraft. I often wonder what the hell is wrong with these people. Now, I have figured it out. When an extremely rigid set of rules are combined with massive quantities of ineptitude and arrogance, it is possible to feel completely justified in taking a shit in the middle of an airport … Continue reading Planes, Complaints and a Prick Named Gary

Current Affairs, Doc, Travel8 Comments

Planes, Complaints and a Prick Named Gary

docphd

Occasionally, I’ll read a story like this one, where a woman was removed from a flight for singing “I Will Always Love You” at the top of her lungs for three hours. Or one like this, w here a guy was apparently throwing “gang signs for Jesus” on an aircraft. I often wonder what the hell is wrong with these people. Now, I have figured it out. When an extremely rigid set of rules are combined with massive quantities of ineptitude and arrogance, it is possible to feel completely justified in taking a shit in the middle of an airport … Continue reading Planes, Complaints and a Prick Named Gary

Current Affairs, Doc, Travel8 Comments

Planes, Complaints and a Prick Named Gary

docphd

Occasionally, I’ll read a story like this one, where a woman was removed from a flight for singing “I Will Always Love You” at the top of her lungs for three hours. Or one like this, w here a guy was apparently throwing “gang signs for Jesus” on an aircraft. I often wonder what the hell is wrong with these people. Now, I have figured it out. When an extremely rigid set of rules are combined with massive quantities of ineptitude and arrogance, it is possible to feel completely justified in taking a shit in the middle of an airport … Continue reading Planes, Complaints and a Prick Named Gary

Current Affairs, Doc, Travel

Planes, Complaints and a Prick Named Gary

docphd

Occasionally, I’ll read a story like this one, where a woman was removed from a flight for singing “I Will Always Love You” at the top of her lungs for three hours. Or one like this, w here a guy was apparently throwing “gang signs for Jesus” on an aircraft. I often wonder what the hell is wrong with these people. Now, I have figured it out. When an extremely rigid set of rules are combined with massive quantities of ineptitude and arrogance, it is possible to feel completely justified in taking a shit in the middle of an airport … Continue reading Planes, Complaints and a Prick Named Gary

Current Affairs, Doc, Travel8 Comments

Planes, Complaints and a Prick Named Gary

Occasionally, I’ll read a story like this one, where a woman was removed from a flight for singing “I Will Always Love You” at the top of her lungs for three hours. Or one like this, w here a guy was apparently throwing “gang signs for Jesus” on an aircraft. I often wonder what the hell is wrong with these people. Now, I have figured it out. When an extremely rigid set of rules are combined with massive quantities of ineptitude and arrogance, it is possible to feel completely justified in taking a shit in the middle of an airport … Continue reading Planes, Complaints and a Prick Named Gary

Tommy T, Travel1 Comment

Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – Cheesy Burgher in Paradise edition

tommyfd

Morning, everyone! Barbara and I are currently cooling our heels in Playa Del Carmen at an AI that stands alone in not paving the jungle over –the Iberostar Quetzal ! Instead of vast expanses of marble and concrete, they built around the jungle in a U-shape, leaving the center full of Agouti, Coatamundi, peackocks, flamingos, Swans, iguanas, and several famalies of howler monkeys. I t’s like walking through a zoo, only the animals roam freely to look at the amusing people. Combine that with an incredibly intelligent long-term planning decision by Playa Del Carmen to prohibit buildings taller than three … Continue reading Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – Cheesy Burgher in Paradise edition

Tommy T, Travel1 Comment

Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – Cheesy Burgher in Paradise edition

Morning, everyone! Barbara and I are currently cooling our heels in Playa Del Carmen at an AI that stands alone in not paving the jungle over –the Iberostar Quetzal ! Instead of vast expanses of marble and concrete, they builtaround the jungle in a U-shape, leaving the center full of Agouti, Coatamundi, peackocks, flamingos, Swans, iguanas, and several famalies of howler monkeys. I t’s like walking through a zoo, only theanimals roam freely to look at the amusing people. Combine that with an incredibly intelligent long-term planning decision by Playa Del Carmen to prohibit buildings taller than three stories (and … Continue reading Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – Cheesy Burgher in Paradise edition

Athenae, Diary, Geek Cred, Travel4 Comments

BAAAAAACK

Allison Hantschel

*pokes head in door* Hi, guys! Tommy called me on the super-seekrit First Draft sat-phone and told me somebody tried to smuggle a komodo dragon into the crack van “to feng shui it,” and last he checked on Claire she was drinking Jude’s bong water while Doc fed Riot all the Doritos and peanut butter I was saving for my lunch. He also said Adrastos let some hippie camp in the yard. I assume that’s where the goat came from. I HOPE THAT’S WHERE THE GOAT CAME FROM. In all sincerity, thanks for your patience while I made a valiant … Continue reading BAAAAAACK

Athenae, Diary, Geek Cred, Travel4 Comments

BAAAAAACK

*pokes head in door* Hi, guys! Tommy called me on the super-seekrit First Draft sat-phone and told me somebody tried to smuggle a komodo dragon into the crack van “to feng shui it,” and last he checked on Claire she was drinking Jude’s bong water while Doc fed Riot all the Doritos and peanut butter I was saving for my lunch. He also said Adrastos let some hippie camp in the yard. I assume that’s where the goat came from. I HOPE THAT’S WHERE THE GOAT CAME FROM. In all sincerity, thanks for your patience while I made a valiant … Continue reading BAAAAAACK

Adrastos, Current Affairs, Music, Travel4 Comments

Irony is not dead, it’s just shipwrecked

Peter Adrastos Athas

The name of the disabled Carnival cruise ship that set out from NOLA and just returned to the Port of Mobile is, ahem, the Triumph. The story is about to take over our local media, which is looking for a bright shiny object now that the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras are over. Hell, it’s ironic that it belongs to the Carnival line since it crapped out during, well, Carnival. This gives me a swell excuse to post this sea chanty version of Shenandoah featuring Tom Waits and Keith Richards: Via my friend Dave Doremus’ Facebook page. Thanks, dude. Continue reading Irony is not dead, it’s just shipwrecked

Adrastos, Current Affairs, Music, Travel4 Comments

Irony is not dead, it’s just shipwrecked

The name of the disabled Carnival cruise ship that set out from NOLA and just returned to the Port of Mobile is, ahem, the Triumph. The story is about to take over our local media, which is looking for a bright shiny object now that the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras are over. Hell, it’s ironic that it belongs to the Carnival line since it crapped out during, well, Carnival. This gives me a swell excuse to post this sea chanty version ofShenandoah featuring Tom Waits and Keith Richards: Via my friend Dave Doremus’ Facebook page. Thanks, dude. Continue reading Irony is not dead, it’s just shipwrecked

Music, Of Interest, Travel5 Comments

Interesting Times

southernbeale2014

As I posted over at my place this morning, Mr. Beale and I have just returned from a long weekend in New York City. New York is both America’s cultural and financial center, so the stuff I see there always resonates on a bigger level with me. It’s a place that always makes me think about where this country is and where it’s going. And sometimes what I think is, WTF? For instance, this, seen somewhere around West 53rd and 7th Avenue: I couldn’t see that and not think of Andrew Breitbart ranting, “stop raaaping people … stop raaaping people … Continue reading Interesting Times

Music, Of Interest, Travel5 Comments

Interesting Times

As I posted over at my place this morning, Mr. Beale and I have just returned from a long weekend in New York City. New York is both America’s cultural and financial center, so the stuff I see there always resonates on a bigger level with me. It’s a place that always makes me think about where this country is and where it’s going. And sometimes what I think is, WTF? For instance, this, seen somewhere around West 53rd and 7th Avenue: I couldn’t see that and not think of Andrew Breitbart ranting, “stop raaaping people … stop raaaping people … Continue reading Interesting Times

Pony, Bitches!, Tommy T, Travel4 Comments

Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – Cheesy Burgher in Paradise Edition

Good morning, all ! No post today, as Barbara and I are on our annual pilgrimage to theIberostar Quetzal in Playa Del Carmen, where agouti, peacocks, howler monkeys, and smiling bartenders roam the gounds freely. It’s co-incides with our wedding anniversary, and these good people always make it special. There will also be omelettes. Here’s a cheesy home movie I made of last year’s trip for those fo you who would like to glimpse something besides Janurary weather – incudes Bonus Barbara Wave: https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=183253625048900 Hasta luego! Tommy and Barbara Continue reading Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – Cheesy Burgher in Paradise Edition