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Sunday, May 11, 2008

Grad Students a ‘Security Threat’?

Problems arising from use of the homeland security's Transportation Worker Identification Credential. Large difficulties loom for students at MIT and elsewhere.

Government Declares Some Grad Students Are ‘Security Threats’ - The Tech

From MIT's paper.

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Wednesday, April 16, 2008

DOT doubles compensation available for bumped fliers

Starting in May 2008, new DOT rules affecting air travel take effect. A summary of the changes includes:
  • Travelers forced onto another flight that takes them to their domestic destination more than two hours after their original arrival time will be paid the full price of their fare up to $800.
  • If bumped passengers arrive less than two hours after their original arrival time, the new compensation limit for domestic flights is $400, according to the new rule.
  • The arrival time limit is four hours for international flights.

The new bumped fliers rule also applies to more planes, covering most aircraft that carry more than 30 passengers instead of 60.

The agency also announced several initiatives Wednesday intended to decrease air travel delays, including a plan to reroute planes through Canadian air space to avoid summer storms.

More Travel Tips discussions.

Safe travels!

-Tom



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Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Travel Tips: Northwest and Delta Airlines Merger

The jury is still out on the benefits of the Northwest and Delta merger. It may bode well for the two airlines and it may just as likely bode ill for employees (namely, job cuts) and consumers (namely, higher fares industry-wide) . Many stories are appearing discussing the pros and cons. See more below. In any case, be sure you understand what will happen to your miles, privileges and the like.

From NPR

From The Enquirer of Cincinnati

From SmartMoney

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Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Best Tartines in Paris and Other Culinary Travel Delights

The Best Tartines in Paris ~ Bon Appétit Editor's Blog at Epicurious.com

Ever on the lookout for new culinary experiences and gastronomique delights, these tartines, or open-faced sandwiches, are a special treat to enjoy the next time you travel to Paris, France.

Here are some other culinary discussions to assist in planning your next culinary travel itinerary!

Chocolate & Zucchini Blog - Clotilde Dusoulier
Chocolate & Zucchini is a blog written by Clotilde Dusoulier, a Parisian woman who lives in Montmartre and shares her passion for all things food-related -- thoughts, recipes, musings, cookbook acquisitions, quirky products, nifty tools, restaurant experiences, ideas, and inspirations.

Ms. Dusoulier's new book, Edible Adventures in Paris, is available on Amazon.com

Living the Sweet Life in Paris - David Lebovitz

David received much of his training at Alice Waters' world-famous restaurant Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California. He spent over twelve years in the pastry department. David was named one of the "Top Five Pastry Chefs in the Bay Area" by the San Francisco Chronicle, and he's received critical acclaim in such publications as Bon Appétit, Chocolatier, Cooking Light, Food and Wine, Gourmet, Condé Nast Traveler, Cook's Illustrated, Newsweek, the New York Times, People, Saveur, Sunset and USA Today. David has appeared on both local and national television programs on PBS, the Discovery Channel and NBC's Today Show.

His culinary education includes learning the art of chocolate at Callebaut College in Belgium and advanced coursework in baking and the art of confectionery at the renowned Ecole Lenôtre in Paris.

David's books can be found on Amazon.com

A Foodie in Paris
Written by a Parisian woman obsessed with good food and hidden treasures in Paris, this is an excellent resource for a French culinary travel planning.

Orangette by Molly Wizenberg

Molly is an award-winning blogger, featuring the food and lore of her travels.




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Monday, March 31, 2008

Ancient Gold Necklace Discovered in Peru

Ancient Gold Necklace Discovered in Peru
SFGate.com (San Francisco Chronicle Online)

Gold necklace proves to be 4000 years old, making it the oldest found in the Americas. It was found in Perú near Lake Titicaca.


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Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Vatican Art on U.S. Road Show

Ancient Roman Glue Sticks Around

Friday, February 15, 2008

EDP24 - Norfolk skeleton unearthed

Právo: Treasure hunters plundering archaeological sites - Prague Daily Monitor - 17.01.2008

timesofmalta.com - Cistern found to have been ancient tomb

An Altar Beyond Olympus for a Deity Predating Zeus - New York Times

Does a cave prove Romulus and Remus are no myth? - USATODAY.com

The Comet - Digging up daily life of the Romans

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Abelard and Heloise: The Love Affair

Paintings by Four Masters Stolen in Zurich - washingtonpost.com

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Zeugma: City and Figure of Speech

Gaia or a maiden? Image from iStockphoto.comMention the names of the rivers Tigris and Euphrates and many people today will immediately think of Iraq and the strategic location of Baghdad.

Of course, the importance of these rivers, if we remember well into our past, is biblical, mythological and legendary.

Along the two rivers, many important cities have risen, thrived and been destroyed. Ancient Babylon is not so very far away from modern Baghdad.

But a city that shares its name with a figure of speech has lost its match with human destiny.

Ancient Zeugma (or more properly, the twin cities of Seleucia and Apamea) was the literal link between cultures. The Romans built a bridge between the two cities--the only bridge over the Euphrates built in ancient times--and called the union Zeugma; Greek for a band, yoke or bridge, or a yoking or a joining. The new city became the garrison town of legio IV Scythica of the Roman army.

The ancient city eventually faded into memory, buried by Turkish sand; now it has been drowned. The need for water is a never ending need for humans, and one of our favorite structures is a dam. A dam can supply badly needed water for irrigation and for domestic use. The enormous lakes that result behind the dam can become popular recreation sites.

And it can (and often does) mean the drowning of past towns, cities and villages. Such was the fate of Zeugma when Turkey undertook to build a dam at Birecik. The flooding caused by the dam is significant, but archaeologists were able to persuade authorities to let them excavate as much as possible up to the flooding moment. Fortunately, there are some areas of Zeugma that now have a lakeside view and are giving up some fantastic ancient artifacts.

Finds at Zeugma before the flooding and currently have included Roman bronze armor, enormous mosaics, figures of Aphrodite and Mars.

Oceanus and Tethys mosaic; Image from iStockphoto.comWhile the ancient city lives no more, the figure of speech continues to survive, though we'd be hard pressed to find many who could call it by its name of the top of their heads.

A zeugma is when one word, such as a preposition or a verb, is used with two other words in different senses. For example, (slight variation on Shakespeare), "Lend me your ears and some money."

For an overview of the mosaics and archaeology at Zeugma, visit Nova and PBS.

Tom

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Saturday, June 16, 2007

Travel Tips: Passports (IV)

Just a few days ago, I mentioned that the Government has decided that US citizens who had applied for passports but had not received them could still travel between the US and Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda with proper government issued photo identification (such as a driver's licenses) and a Department of State official proof of application for a passport. (See Travel Tips: Passports (III).)

Now the Government is willing to go a step further.

If you paid the extra fee for expediting your applications but still did not receive the passport, you may be able to receive a refund of that expedite fee.

However, the Department of State has been slow to inform citizens about the refund. As of today, there is no notice of the refund prominently available on its site; even so you can read about it on the site here: Expedite Fee Refund.

If you believe you are entitled to a refund, you should send a refund application to the Department of State's refund office in Washington (see below for address). Be sure to include your passport number (if you know it), your name, your date and place of birth, the date (or approximate date) you applied for your passport, and your mailing address and phone number.

There is no word yet how long you will have to wait for your refund.

The government is insisting that the the requirements for passports for travelers driving between the US and Mexico or Canada (to be in-hand by January 2008) is not expected to change.

Address to write for a refund (note that the decision is made on a case-by-case basis and there is not set 'entitlement' to the refund).

Department of State
Passport Services/PPS/Refunds
2100 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20037-3202

Tom
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Monday, June 11, 2007

Travel Tips: Passports (III)

By now, we should all know that passports are required for travel by between the US and Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda.

However, just when we were getting used to the requirements, things have changed slightly. Because of the backlog in processing applications, the US Departments of State and Homeland Security have decided to allow those US citizens who have already applied for a passport but not received it, to travel by air without the passport.

Does this mean it is like the 'old days?' Can I just use my driver's license?

No.

You must have a government issued photo identification (such as your driver's licenses) and a Department of State official proof of application for a passport. It is expected that processing should return to normal by September 30, 2007. For more, see the US Department of State's site: Temporary Travel Accommodations for those with Pending Passport Applications.

Tom
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Saturday, June 09, 2007

Paris Sewers Redux

Sometime ago, I wrote about the sewers of Paris and the fascinating tour you can take through them (Exploring the Sewers of Paris). Once again I have thrilled at taking uncertain travelers through les égouts.

At first, everyone seems a bit put off. "You want me to do what?" I try to enchant them with the idea. First, I tell them that all the water that comes into Paris has to get out somehow, and ask them to imagine how many miles of underground streams there must be. I then tell them that the now-famous district, the Marais, is so named because it was a swamp. That swamp, thanks in part to the sewers, is now livable.

But the final clincher that really gets travelers in the mood is when I tell them that the Jean Valjean of Les Misérables used the sewers to move about Paris.

Then they go in.

Once in, and once over the sometimes obvious stench, they become as fascinated as I am. The smell isn't bothersome for too long and before we reach the exit, the conversation is filled with amazement and wonder.

So, have some fun next time you are in Paris and visit the sewers!

Tom
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Travel Tips: Travel Insurance

We are probably a lot a like. We don't really think about insurance until we need it.

But since I have been working with large numbers of travelers and taking them around the world, I have learned the value of travel insurance.

The recent case of Andrew Speaker traveling with tuberculosis makes the idea of having travel insurance particularly relevant.

Travel insurance has many facets it to it, and whatever company you use to purchase it, make sure you understand the details. But the basic coverage is this: trip delay and cancellation, travel accident, and medical expenses and evacuation.

It is this last point that applies to Andrew Speaker. Depending on the insurance he bought and a few other factors, he may have received emergency medical evacuation. This might have only been to a hospital in Italy that could have helped him, but in any case, he would have had no worries about cancelling his honeymoon travel plans. He could have cancelled, potentially received a refund of (most) of his travel costs and had assistance in seeking medical attention. In fact, his bride-to-be may have also received a refund due to his cancellation and medical emergency.

This is an extreme case, but it is in the extreme that the value of travel insurance proves itself. For a few hundred dollars, he could have saved himself and a lot of other people a big headache.

Whatever you do, be sure to shop around. Your own policies may cover you, but most do not cover you once you leave the country.

Most travel insurance companies base their policies on a number of factors, including age, length of the trip and the cost of the trip. Some do not consider the cost of the trip.

Some travel insurance companies to consider: AIG Travel Guard, Travel Safe, and Access America. You can also purchase it from STA Travel. Again, be sure to read all the details. Some have coverage for pre-existing conditions, but require purchase of the insurance within a certain time frame after the trip purchase, and in the case of STA Travel, the exception applies only if the trip is bought through them.

Travel Guard also offers a full year of coverage. If you travel often throughout the year, this makes great sense. The coverage cannot be found on their website, you need to call them.

And if you don't like having to call each and everyone to find out premium amounts, you can try a comparison site such as InsureMyTrip.com.

Tom
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Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Travel Tips: Cell Phone and Internet Phone Guide for Travelers

Cell phones have become a staple of American life. From kids to grandparents, nearly everyone has a cell phone. Whether it is used for convenience, social interaction or emergencies, we have become accustomed to having quick and easy access to family and friends. The utility is no different and perhaps even greater when traveling internationally.

Whether you need to notify a friend that you are running late for dinner or that your train is delayed, it can be useful. It is especially helpful if you are lost and need to call your travel companions or hotel for directions!

Use Your Current Cell Phone and Wireless Carrier Outside the US

If you have a cell phone, it may be possible to use your current phone when traveling outside the US. This is true of “tri- or quad-band” phones that work on multiple types of cell phone networks including GSM, TDMA and GPRS. These types of phones are sometimes called “international” or “world” phones because of their ability to be used internationally.

Having a tri- or quad-band international phone does not mean that your wireless service provider offers service in other countries. An example includes Verizon Wireless, which uses a proprietary transmission system (CDMA) that is only available in the US. Your Verizon phone may work in Europe, but Verizon does not provide wireless service outside of the US.

Other wireless carriers, including Cingular “The New AT&T”, Sprint and T-Mobile all provide international roaming with international phones. These services, however, are not without additional roaming fees, including calling charges of $1 to $4 per minute for both incoming and outgoing calls.

Some wireless carriers offer special discounts for international travelers. Cingular, for instance, allows subscribers to add an international calling plan prior to travel. Please visit http://www.cingular.com/international for more information.

Your cell phone number remains that same – friends in the US can call you using your local number but you will pay a per minute fee for the incoming call. Additionally, callers from outside the US will have to dial the US number and pay associated international long distance fees.

Use Your Current Phone and Purchase Foreign Wireless Service

Another option if you have Verizon Wireless or you just want a foreign wireless number for your travels is to purchase a pay-as-you-go plan at your destination. Virtually every wireless service provider offers this option. Purchasing the service is quick and can be completed easily at many electronics and wireless service stores available in most cities.

Be sure to ask about plan options, per minute costs for voice calls and SMS text messages, and other fees associated with roaming during your travels if you will be traveling through multiple countries.

After completing required paperwork documenting your name and address, (your passport may be required for proper identification) you will be given a SIM card. This card is placed in the phone, typically in a slot located under the battery. The SIM card connects your phone to the wireless carrier and provides your international phone number. SIM cards typically cost about 20 to 60 euros (€).

The pay-as-you-go service can be a little more expensive, but it offers the advantage of paying only for the minutes you need. Minutes can be recharged by calling the wireless provider, visiting a website or by purchasing a refill card available through many retailers.

Each wireless carrier has different requirements for keeping the number active. Typically, you have to use the phone credits within 6 to 18 months and keep the card “charged” with talk time or minutes.

Purchase or Rent International Phone

If you do not currently own a wireless phone or you are not able to roam internationally with your current wireless phone, another option is to purchase an inexpensive mobile phone. These can be purchased in the US prior to departure (see Phone Resources below) or once you arrive at your destination.

Internet Phone – Skype, Vonage, VoIP

For the tech savvy traveler, consider using Skype or Vonage services. Both services require a computer with a broadband or high speed internet connection. With Skype, you can communicate freely on the internet with other Skype users or you can “Skype-out” and use Skype to dial phone numbers around the world. International rates are very inexpensive.

Vonage offers a new service via a small device plugged into the USB-port on your laptop computer. For a low monthly fee, users can travel with phone access and place calls for low rates. Calls from the US to many European countries are free with unlimited calling plans.

International Travel with Your Phone

If you are planning to use your current phone while traveling, be sure to visit your wireless carriers website or call to confirm that your phone and service plan are set up for international roaming. You may need to add international service or adjust your phone settings.

Do you have other travel tips or suggestions? Please provide your feedback!

Safe and pleasant travels!

Thomas Talboy, PhD Classics, Director of Ubiquity International and Certified Destination Specialist for Italy and European Culture & Heritage.

E-mail Tom or visit http://www.ubiquityinternational.com/


Phone Resources

US Wireless Service Providers

Verizon

Cingular

Sprint

International Wireless Service Providers

GSM Operators & Coverage Maps


Purchase an International Phone in the US

Cingular

Mobal

Telestial

Rent Phone an International Phone

World Cell

Telestial

Planet Omni

Cell Hire

Internet Phone and VoIP Resources

Vonage

Skype

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Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Seven Wonders of the Modern World

Most of us have heard of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. And perhaps we have even been to visit them.

Now you can add your vote for the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. There are some pretty incredible new wonders that are worth listing.

Click on the image below to become a part of this historic event.


Vote for the new 7 world wonders

You will need to register an email before you can vote, but it is worth it. Also, you only get to vote once, so make your choices wisely and then make a final submission.

Tom

PS. What are the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World?

They are the Pyramids of Giza, The Lighthouse (Pharos) of Alexandria, The Colossal Statue of Zeus in Olympia, the Colossal Statue of Helios guarding the harbor of Rhodes, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

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