Traveling

[O Really]

Today we rode about 20 of the 72 miles of Trail of the Coeur D'Alenes
https://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/pa ... r-d-alenes

We've been on a lot of rail/trails and this is one of the best. Light traffic, good trailhead and turnout facilities, well-maintained surface, beautiful country with river, lakes, marshland, forest, mountains. Saw eagles, otters, muskrats, beavers, deer, moose, lots of birds including trumpeter swans, and no nazis.

That's an amazing array.

It was indeed. We actually saw the eagles from the car in a place where the road was on a hillside and the treetops weren't that far away. Eagle swooped by so close you could see its face. Big surprise was the moose, toward the end of the day just wandering out from the woods. River and lakes were just full of water creatures.

[neoplacebo]

Photos from the National Geographic photo contest. Good stuff.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/national-geo ... 59960.html

[O Really]

If the expected weather holds up, we'll be taking a road trip for a few days in Kelowna,BC.



We're finding that except for winter (a big except, unfortunately), there really isn't any reason to leave Canada. Some things are expensive - cell service, med insurance if you're not on Canada Medicare, gas - currently over $5US - but most everything else is reasonable - and everything can be bought in $CAN converted dollars or with a US-based Canadian credit card that, with the exchange rate, costs about 30% less.

[Whack9]

It's no secret, and it's been said before, but traveling to new places really does open the mind. Ive met a lot of people who've barely ever left the upstate, let alone the region. I know a few who live less than a mile from where they were born and grew up. Not that there's anything wrong with this.

I think shuffling back and forth to other places jolts you out of the habits and norms implicit to wherever you live. Stuff that you gradually become accustomed to to the point where you don't really notice them anymore and just kind of accept them as fact and "how things are done".

Whenever I bounce out of the south for a bit then return I notice patterns here that I wouldn't have really noticed otherwise. Also, patterns in myself. Same for when I return back to my home state.

Really helps in keeping your outlook on life malleable. Keeps you from getting stuck in a routine.

[neoplacebo]

It's no secret, and it's been said before, but traveling to new places really does open the mind. Ive met a lot of people who've barely ever left the upstate, let alone the region. I know a few who live less than a mile from where they were born and grew up. Not that there's anything wrong with this.

I think shuffling back and forth to other places jolts you out of the habits and norms implicit to wherever you live. Stuff that you gradually become accustomed to to the point where you don't really notice them anymore and just kind of accept them as fact and "how things are done".

Whenever I bounce out of the south for a bit then return I notice patterns here that I wouldn't have really noticed otherwise. Also, patterns in myself. Same for when I return back to my home state.

Really helps in keeping your outlook on life malleable. Keeps you from getting stuck in a routine.

Yes, very much so. I can remember being ashamed to be an American after spending time in places in Southeast Asia where I could recognize that the policies of our country were not necessarily good for the people in those countries. It was a humbling experience. Other humbling experiences included visiting a 900 year old Buddhist temple and drinking from the natural spring that was on the grounds and being able to hear the ancient bells tone when it's struck by a wooden log. Just the aura of the place was overwhelming for me.

[O Really]

You get a lot more value by spending your money on experiences instead of stuff.

But the broadening experience of travel doesn't always work on everybody. They spend their time whining about how everything is better "back home" and nobody knows how to cook here and there's no McDonald's or the bagels are awful or it's too hot/cold or whatever. There's a lot to be learned, but you have to be willing to learn it.

[O Really]

Some things I've picked up being a seasonal Canadian -

A lot of Americans act like Canada is just another US state. It's not, and it's insulting to act like it is, and especially if the American is saying that as a compliment.

Americans often expect Canadian businesses to take US dollars. In some touristy areas they will, but generally just take USD at even value, costing the uninformed American about 30%.

Canadians really do have a culture of politeness, and a typical American acting in typical American ways sticks out like a sore thumb. Tourists should quickly pick up the habit of saying "Sorry" - and it's pronounced "Sore-y"

American tourists often bitch about distances and speed limits in Kilometres, weights in grams, temperatures in Celsius, and labels/signs in both English and French. See comment 1, above.

Being familiar with Celsius really does take a while though. I've found it easier to just go with benchmarks: 10c is chilly/light jacket; 20c is comfortable warm; 30c is hot. Just estimate the parts in between.

It's discouraging to calculate the price per gallon of gas. It always ends with "holy shit!" Just go with the litre price and don't look at the total.

[neoplacebo]

You get a lot more value by spending your money on experiences instead of stuff.

But the broadening experience of travel doesn't always work on everybody. They spend their time whining about how everything is better "back home" and nobody knows how to cook here and there's no McDonald's or the bagels are awful or it's too hot/cold or whatever. There's a lot to be learned, but you have to be willing to learn it.

Yeah, it's weird that a lot of folks frame everything they're exposed to in a way that they compare to what they consider normal instead of looking at it in a different way and perhaps getting so;me insight. But I suppose it's a natural primitive instinctual sort of twisted self preservation sort of thing; predates electricity and most languages.

[O Really]

You're comfortable with what is familiar, sure, but that doesn't mean it's better than some alternative. Try the strange-looking local food. I ate sheep eyeball once so as not to offend my hosts. Didn't like it, but it makes a fun story. Florida bumper sticker (real) "We don't care how you did it up North"

[Whack9]

You get a lot more value by spending your money on experiences instead of stuff.

But the broadening experience of travel doesn't always work on everybody. They spend their time whining about how everything is better "back home" and nobody knows how to cook here and there's no McDonald's or the bagels are awful or it's too hot/cold or whatever. There's a lot to be learned, but you have to be willing to learn it.

All inclusive resorts in places like the DR or Mexico. Seems like a wasted opportunity if you're barricaded in a walled off enclave. I understand you dont go to experience a foreign culture, you go to be catered to. But still, seems like a lost opportunity. You're essentially spending your holiday in a bubble. On the flip side, there's a time and a place for everything and sometimes you just wanna take it easy.

You know what man, it sucks that traveling is off limits to a lot of people due to financial reasons. But I firmly believe that many people can come close to the experience through literature. It's accessible to everyone provided they can read. I think one of the few ways you can really get the feel for a foreign culture without actually traveling there. It helps you get a feel for a cultures soul.

[O Really]

Not everybody can go to Europe or do a US Tour de Parks, but travel doesn't have to be distant. People can cultivate an attitude of exploration, taking what trips might be available, even if they're less than 50 miles. Lots of people don't even bother to find out what's around them.

[Whack9]

Western Begpackers in southeast Asia drawing the ire of some:

https://www.boredpanda.com/begpackers-t ... BPFacebook

[Vrede too]

Western Begpackers in southeast Asia drawing the ire of some:

https://www.boredpanda.com/begpackers-t ... BPFacebook

Disgusting.

... I have yet to see a darker shade of white.

Great line!

Real beggars. I thought the article was going to be about:

Ice Cream Truck Owner's New Rule: Instagram Influencers Pay Double

At least influencers claim to be selling something of equal value.

[1 CAT FAN]

CANCELLED FLIGHT

I was seated in 1st class coming home. Eleven Muslim men got on the plane in full Muslim attire. Two of them sat in 1st class and the rest seated themselves throughout the plane, in coach class, all the way to the back. As the plane taxied out to the runway, the stewardesses gave the safety spiel that we are all so familiar with.

At that time, one of the men in 1st class, got on his cell and called one of his companions back in coach. He proceeded to talk on the phone in Arabic very loudly and very, very aggressively. This activity took the 1st stewardess out of action for she repeatedly told the man that cell phones were not permitted at that time. He ignored her as if she were not there. The man, who answered the phone back in the coach section, did the same and this took out the 2nd stewardess. Further back in the plane, at the same time, two younger Muslims, one in the back on the aisle, and one sitting in front of him by the window, began to show footage of a porno video they had taped the night before. They were very loud about it.

The 3rd stewardess informed the two men that they were not to have any electronic devices on at this time. One of the men said "shut up infidel dog!" The stewardess attempted to take the camcorder and the Muslim began to scream in her face in Arabic. At that exact moment, all eleven of the men got up and started to walk throughout the cabin. I guess that because of the noise, the flight crew must have decided that there was something amiss and changed the plane's directions to head back to the terminal.

The commotion and noise was reaching a feverish pitch, and at this point I had had enough! I got up and started towards the back of 1st class when I heard a voice behind me from another Texan twice my size, say, "I got your back." Then I grabbed the man, who had been on the cell phone, by the arm and said, "You WILL sit down in your seat or you WILL be thrown from this plane!" As I "led" him around me to take his seat, the fellow Texan grabbed him by the back of his neck and his waist and headed him back to his seat. I then grabbed the 2nd man and said, "You WILL do the same!"

He protested loudly, but my adrenaline was flowing now and he was going to go also. Just as I escorted him forward, the plane stopped, the doors opened and three TSA agents and four police officers entered the cabin. Myself and my new Texas friend were told to cease and desist for they had the situation under control.

I was quite happy to oblige, actually. There was still some sort of commotion in the back, but within moments, all eleven Muslim men were escorted off the plane. The TSA agents then had their luggage unloaded. We talked about the occurrence and were in disbelief that it had happened.

Then suddenly, the door opened again and in walked all eleven Muslim men! Stone faced, eyes front and robotic, (the only way I can describe it) and they were reseated. The stewardess from the back had been in tears and when she saw the men, she was having NONE of it! Since I was up front, I heard and saw the whole ordeal. She told the TSA agents that there was NO WAY she was staying on the plane with the Muslim men. The agent told her that they had searched the men and were going through their luggage with a fine tooth comb. However, nothing had been found and that the men were allowed to proceed on to Houston .

The captain and co-captain came out of the cockpit and told the agent, "We and our crew will not fly this plane!" After a word or two, the entire crew, luggage in tow, left the plane. Five minutes later, the cabin door opened again and a whole new crew walked on. Again, this was where I had had enough! I got up and asked the TSA agent, What the hell is going on?


I was told to take my seat. The airlines and TSA were sorry for the delay and we would be home shortly. I said, "I'm getting off this plane". The stewardess sternly told me that she could not allow me to get off. Now I'm really mad! I said, "I am a grown man who bought this ticket, whose time is mine, with a family at home, and I am going through that door, or I'm going through that door with you under my arm, but I AM going through that door!"

And then I heard a voice behind me say, "So am I!" Then everyone behind us started to get up and say the same thing. Within two minutes, I was walking off that plane where I was met by more TSA agents, who asked me to write a statement about the incident. I had five hours to kill at this point waiting for the next flight to Houston , so why the hell not give them my statement. Due to the amount of people who got off that flight, it was canceled. I was supposed to be in Houston at 6 PM, but I finally got there at 12:30 AM. If you don't believe this, look up the date and then
Flight 297 from Atlanta to Houston .

If this wasn't a terrorism dry run, I don't know what is. The terrorists wanted to see how TSA would handle it, how the crew would handle it, and how the passengers would handle it. I'm telling this to you because I want you to know. The threat IS real. I saw it with my own eyes.

- Chuck Norris

[O Really]

(Yawn) that story has been attributed to several people since 2009, and is refuted by numerous people on that flight and by AirTran themselves. Basically one obnoxious muslimy looking guy refusing to turn off his phone. Little else in the story appears accurate.

But really, CAT, I'm sure you knew that and wouldn't expect such a tale to be taken at face value. You're always just wanting to entertain, aren't you?

[Vrede too]

(Yawn) that story has been attributed to several people since 2009, and is refuted by numerous people on that flight and by AirTran themselves. Basically one obnoxious muslimy looking guy refusing to turn off his phone. Little else in the story appears accurate.

But really, CAT, I'm sure you knew that and wouldn't expect such a tale to be taken at face value. You're always just wanting to entertain, aren't you?

Possibly even a camera rather than a phone and a Muslim who just didn't understand English.

Awww, looking things up is so haaaard. Where does one even begin? It’s not like there are a dozen or more fact check sites out there one can just click to, right? Better to just be a pants-wetting pansy bigot and swallow the story whole. You just can’t be too careful when it comes to Muslims.
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/flight-297/

Making the author "Chuck Norris", a celebrity that can easily confirm or deny is a bizarre bit of added stupidity. All that's missing is that they were chanting "Obama Akbar!"

[O Really]

I think there's some writers' club out there somewhere that writes stuff like that for sport, just to see how far it will spread and be believed by the same people that happily give up their credit card number to the (unknown) caller from their bank wanting to "straighten up an error in their account that could cause trouble with the IRS..."

The stories follow a pattern, that often includes some encouragement for the reader to "check it" but obviously thinks the reader is too dumb/lazy to do so. In "Norris's" story, he says check the date and the flight number, but opps - there is no date. And no airline name, either. It is a fun game, though, if you don't think about the number of people in the country whose mindset is such as to want to believe stories of evil Muslims.

[Vrede too]

I think there's some writers' club out there somewhere that writes stuff like that for sport, just to see how far it will spread and be believed by the same people that happily give up their credit card number to the (unknown) caller from their bank wanting to "straighten up an error in their account that could cause trouble with the IRS..."

The stories follow a pattern, that often includes some encouragement for the reader to "check it" but obviously thinks the reader is too dumb/lazy to do so. In "Norris's" story, he says check the date and the flight number, but opps - there is no date. And no airline name, either. It is a fun game, though, if you don't think about the number of people in the country whose mindset is such as to want to believe stories of evil Muslims.

By definition, bigots are "dumb/lazy".

[neoplacebo]

(Yawn) that story has been attributed to several people since 2009, and is refuted by numerous people on that flight and by AirTran themselves. Basically one obnoxious muslimy looking guy refusing to turn off his phone. Little else in the story appears accurate.

But really, CAT, I'm sure you knew that and wouldn't expect such a tale to be taken at face value. You're always just wanting to entertain, aren't you?

Ignorant begat Gullible

[GoCubsGo]

1-Naive pussy or low rent troll?