Gadling

Trails under attack, organization needs our help, today

Chris Owen — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Biking, Climbing, Hiking, North America, United States, Camping, Consumer Activism

Rails to Trails, the nonprofit charged with creating a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines is reminding us that Thursday, February 2 is the day congress begins work on a bill that is bad news for trails, walking and bicycling efforts.

"We anticipated some of the terrible provisions; others were simply shocking in scope and shortsightedness," says Rails to Trails (RTC) in a statement urging us to contact our representatives now, using an online form, and ask that they speak to colleagues on the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee.

"We need those T&I members, in turn, to tell Reps. Petri and Johnson of their support for the amendment. It sounds complicated, but there's no time to waste-we absolutely need all the support we can rally," says Rails to Trails.

Rails to Trails say the bill would:

Eliminate dedicated funding for the Transportation Enhancements (TE) program-the nation's largest funding source for trails, walking and bicycling. (Terrible news, but we expected it.)
Remove the rail-trail category from TE eligibility.
Completely eliminate funding for the Safe Routes to School program.
Eliminate funding for bicycle and pedestrian coordinators at state DOTs.

Continue reading Trails under attack, organization needs our help, today

Trails under attack, organization needs our help, today originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Photo of the Day: Monterosso - CinqueTerre, Italy

Chris Owen — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Italy, Photo of the Day, Consumer Activism

Our Photo of the Day comes from flickr member stellarviewer and is an HDR composite image of five D-200 images showing the town of Monterosso in the Cinque Terre section of Italy using a Nikon D200.

Cinque Terre is a rugged portion of coast on the Italian Riviera in the Liguria region of Italy, west of the city of La Spezia. About 200 miles to the south is where the island of Giglio is located along with that grounded cruise ship, Costa Concordia.

Upload your best shots to the Gadling Group Pool on Flickr. Several times a week we choose our favorite images from the pool as Photos of the Day.

Photo of the Day: Monterosso - CinqueTerre, Italy originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The world's most ethical tourism destinations

Jessica Marati — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Mauritius, Latvia, Serbia, Bahamas, Costa Rica, Dominica, Palau, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Ecotourism, Consumer Activism

Each year, non-profit organization Ethical Traveler conducts a survey of the world's developing nations, analyzing their progress toward promoting human rights, preserving their environment, and developing a sustainable tourism industry. The study, run by Ethical Traveler's all-volunteer staff, factors in country scores from databases like Freedom House, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and the World Bank, then dives into actions that governments have taken to improve circumstances within their countries in the previous year.

The top countries are celebrated in Ethical Traveler's annual list of the Developing World's Best Ethical Tourism Destinations, with the hope that increased tourism will help those countries continue to improve. "Travel and tourism are among the planet's driving economic forces, and every journey we take makes a statement about our priorities and commitment to change," they say. "Ethical Traveler believes that mindful travel is a net positive for the planet. By choosing our destinations well and remembering our role as citizen diplomats, we can create international goodwill and help change the world for the better."

This year's list includes Argentina, the Bahamas, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominica, Latvia, Mauritius, Palau, Serbia, and Uruguay. Explore these countries more in the slideshow below.

Gallery: The world's most ethical tourism destinations

[Flickr image via Lisandro M. Enrique]

The world's most ethical tourism destinations originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A funny letter of complaint to an airline with an unusual response from customer service

Jessica Festa — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Business, Stories, North America, United States, Airlines, News, Consumer Activism

Apparently, Southwest Airlines' passenger B.J. Schone had a rather unpleasant experience on his flight, or at least once he got off, as his brand new TravelPro suitcase had been damaged. Instead of taking the action that most people on a late-night flight home for Christmas would take (i.e. cursing out a staff member or writing a nasty letter to the company), Schone took a different approach and wrote the funniest letter of complaint I have ever seen, complete with animations, photos, jokes, and a polite ending asking for help.

While many people who have seen the letter, which you can read by clicking here, are skeptical of its validity, what's even more shocking is the reply that Schone apparently received from a person named Verity from Southwest Airlines, which you can read by clicking here. Instead of just offering to solve the problem, the return letter is written in the same comedic and animated style of Schone's original, with a happy ending awarding Schone a check for new luggage.

Are the letters real? On Southwest Airlines Twitter account they sent a message to Schone on January 5 saying "Hey BJ! We saw your web site. Someone from our customer relations team will be in touch today!" Then, on Schone's Twitter account on January 12, he posted the response letter and tagged not only Southwest Airlines in the tweet but also Verity herself, followed by a message saying "Thank you very much. You guys rock!"

While the answer to the validity of these letters isn't 100% confirmed, it does appear that it is possible. Either way, they're definitely worth a read.

[flickr photo via MarinaAvila]

A funny letter of complaint to an airline with an unusual response from customer service originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bowermaster's Adventures: Running out of water in the Maldives

Jon Bowermaster — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, Learning, Paddling, Asia, Maldives, Ecotourism, Consumer Activism

Kunahadhoo Island-- On a very hot, very typical, mid-morning in the Maldives I walk the streets of this tiny island just north of the equator.

Most of its 800 residents had gathered at the shoreline to greet visitors from a nearby island. While they focused on a first-of-a-kind beach clean-up along the rocky coast, accompanied by a drum band and dancing, I took a small walking tour looking for something the Maldives doesn't have much of: drinking water.

(A late morning visit to its elementary school provided another interesting glimpse into island life; while most of the students raised their hands said they knew how to swim, yet virtually none had ever worn a mask and snorkel, so had no idea of the rich life that surrounded their island home.)

It was quickly evident from the jury-rigged plumbing systems fitted to the exteriors of most of the one-story cement homes that the options for delivering clean water were few. Some homes had barrels for collecting rainwater; others had wells dug into the rocky island terrain. Most of them, they admitted, leaked.

Everyone on the island also admitted that if it weren't for the arrival of the weekly cargo boat, and its bottles of water in plastic, they wouldn't last a week on what they had in storage.
A recent news story from another Maldivian island group exemplified the problem, reporting that a dozen islands had nearly run out of water completely.

Continue reading Bowermaster's Adventures: Running out of water in the Maldives

Bowermaster's Adventures: Running out of water in the Maldives originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Orbitz "Insider Index" predicts London, Chicago and Austin will be popular in 2012, looks at 2011 and 2012 travel trends

McLean Robbins — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business, Europe, North America, Hotels and Accommodations, Budget Travel, Internet Tools, News, Consumer Activism

According to Orbitz's annual survey, released this week, London, Chicago and Austin are primed to be top travel destinations in 2012. The "Insider Index" used both travel experts and the OTA's booking and consumer search data to predict what they think will happen in the 2012 travel market.

Hotspots for 2012

London: London will mark its place in history as the only city to host the modern Olympic Games three times when it welcomes the 2012 games this summer. In late June, the city will also host one of its most beloved events, Wimbledon, where spectators can watch some of the best tennis champions compete on the court.

Austin: The trendiest part of Texas only seems to grow in popularity each year and 2012 will be no different, Orbitz experts predict. Regarded as a music lover's mecca, tens of thousands of revelers flock to the self-proclaimed "Live Music Capital of the World" every spring for the annual South by Southwest Festival, which takes place March 9-18 this year.

Chicago: The city that attracts 40 million visitors a year is gearing up to welcome even more as it serves as the backdrop for two high-profile world events in 2012. The 12th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates will make its North American debut in Chicago in April followed by the G8 Summit in May. For those who find their own version of peace on the back nine, Chicago will also host the Ryder Cup in September- a bi-annual international golf event eagerly followed by golf enthusiasts around the world.

Sure Bets for Great Deals in 2012

San Diego: Whether a mountain adventurer or a coastal relaxer, there is something for everyone at a price that works in San Diego. And this year, there's even more of a reason to visit this coastal city. The convention business is growing, but has yet to reach the peak levels attained during 2007. This, combined with an increase in supplier inventory, means great values throughout the city.

Washington, D.C. : A bit of a hush falls over the nation's capital during election years with the Washington insider crowd outside the Beltway campaigning. "As candidates hit the campaign trail in 2012, more hotel rooms and flights have space available and that can add up to great deals for travelers looking to explore Washington, D.C.," said Donna Mulligan, Washington, D.C. destination expert and regional director for Orbitz Worldwide.

Riviera Maya: Soft white sand and beautiful aqua water make Mexico's own Riviera an oasis for travelers seeking relaxation. With its large hotel infrastructure-the biggest in Mexico-Riviera Maya has long been a shoo-in for travel deals. However, trending declines in visitors from foreign countries will make the area even more affordable in 2012.

Continue reading Orbitz "Insider Index" predicts London, Chicago and Austin will be popular in 2012, looks at 2011 and 2012 travel trends

Orbitz "Insider Index" predicts London, Chicago and Austin will be popular in 2012, looks at 2011 and 2012 travel trends originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 08 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is this the year hotels become more autism-friendly?

Melanie Renzulli — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: North America, United States, Hotels and Accommodations, Consumer Activism

It isn't easy traveling with a child with autism. In every piece of literature I've read about autism and sensory disorders and in every daily decision I've witnessed in my own son, autism is driven by routine. Travel is anything but routine. The fact that so many facets of travel are left up to chance makes many parents of autistic kids, as well as many adults living with autism, uneasy about leaving the comforts of home to explore new cities, countries, or cultures.

Since Gadling first reported on the Clinton Inn Hotel, a property in Tenafly, New Jersey, that re-designed its Alpine Suite to cater to families traveling with autistic children, more hotels are (slowly) starting to reach out to autistic travelers with autism-sensitive accommodations and amenities. The Center for Autism & Related Disorders, or CARD, a Tampa-based clinic, is ushering in many of these changes by working with local hotels to establish a standardized criteria by which accommodations can be deemed "autism-friendly." In 2010, CARD designated the Wyndham Tampa Westshore as the first autism-friendly hotel in Tampa. Since then, five Tampa-area hotels and resorts, including the Tradewinds Resorts on St. Pete Beach, have earned "autism-friendly" status.

So, what makes a hotel "autism friendly?"

Continue reading Is this the year hotels become more autism-friendly?

Is this the year hotels become more autism-friendly? originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 07 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bowermaster's Adventures: Protecting the Maldives

Jon Bowermaster — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Festivals and Events, Asia, Maldives, Ecotourism, Consumer Activism

Laamu, Maldives-- The recent four-day, ocean-focused conference -- dubbed WaterWoMen by its sponsors, Six Senses Resortsand +H2O-- was a first-of-a-kind blend of water sport activities and intellectual athleticism.

Equal part coming out party for the resort on this remote Maldivian atoll just a100 miles north of the equator included were not just some of the world's top water athletes (surfers, windsurfers, free divers, kite boarders) but some of the planet's more thoughtful thinkers on ocean issues as well.

On the athlete side were surfers Layne Beachley and Buzzy Kerbox , windsurfers Levi Silver and Keith Teboul, kite surfers Mark Shinn and Alex Caizergues and extreme wake boarder Duncan Zuur.

The slightly less active contingent included biologist and oceanographer Dr. Callum Roberts; aquatic filmmaker and 3rdgeneration ocean lover Fabien Cousteau; Carl Gustaf Lundin, director of the IUCN's Global Marine Program; Bollywood producer/director Shekhar Kapur; Chris Gorell Barnes, executive producer of the film "End of the Line;" and Water Charity co-founders Dr. Jacqueline Chan and Averill Strasser.

The Maldives is a perhaps the perfect place for such a meeting since warming sea temperatures have put its coral reefs at risk, thus endangering both its local population and the tourism industry that is its economic base. The event was prudently also a fundraiser for a trio of ocean non-profits:

The Blue Marine Foundation(www.bluemarinefoundation.com), created by Barnes, a recent initiative pushing for ten percent of the world's ocean to be placed into marine reserves by 2020 (today less than one percent is thus protected);

Plant A Fish(www.plantafish.org), Fabien Cousteau's hands-on marine education and restoration effort to engage local communities around the globe through schools, businesses and government agencies to "re-plant" aquatic plants and animals in environmentally stressed areas;

Water Charity(www.watercharity.org), focused on providing safe drinking water, effective sanitation and health education to those most in need via the most cost-effective and efficient means.

Continue reading Bowermaster's Adventures: Protecting the Maldives

Bowermaster's Adventures: Protecting the Maldives originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Travel the world through the photography of Kyle Marquardt

Jessica Festa — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, Learning, Festivals and Events, Photos, Africa, Antarctica, Budget Travel, Internet Tools, Consumer Activism

While there are a lot of beautiful travel photos out there, the images of Kyle Marquardt have a way of capturing those quick, often missed moments while helping people to discover places not often seen by tourists, like a penguin the first second he goes to jump out of the water, a cheetah in hot pursuit of a gazelle, or an iceberg half underwater and half above. So how does he capture such moving shots?

"A certain amount of planning and expectations are required to go traveling, but when I'm finally out there in the wild, I have to respect that mother nature is in full control of the itinerary," he explains. "I might expect that I want to get to see certain things, but you just can't ask a group of penguins to jump into the water or a cheetah to sprint after a gazelle in front of you minutes after the sun rises in the Serengeti. You just have to show up and see what you get this time."

Marquardt is also a photography guide, leading groups into the wild and helping them to enhance their picture taking skills while capturing images they never thought possible. When possible, Marquardt also tries to help the communities he visits. For example, on a guided photography tour in Tanzania, Africa, the group visited LOHADA, a local organization providing care, education, and shelter to young children and adults. After pooling donations, the photography group went out and bought the locals in need supplies like food, toothbrushes, toothpaste, toiletries, vitamins, paper, and pens.

Notes Marquardt, "We came to Africa for travel, luxury photography and excitement and could have forgone a visit to an orphanage. In doing what we did we left with an entirely different kind of fulfillment."

Interested in taking a Photo Safari with Marquardt? Click here. And, if you'd like to immerse yourself in foreign cultures and landscapes without leaving your chair, check out the gallery below, which contains both published as well as never-before-seen photographs by Marquardt.

Gallery: Photography by Kyle Marquardt

Travel the world through the photography of Kyle Marquardt originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 24 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New eco-friendly destination for 2012: Yoyogi Village, Japan

Jessica Festa — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, Stories, Asia, Japan, Ecotourism, News, Consumer Activism

While the existence of the Yoyogi Village in Tokyo, Japan, is nothing new, it has never been much of a tourist destination. Aside from Yoyogi Park, one of the largest parks in Tokyo, there has never been too much there to draw the attention of visitors. That has all changed this past November, as the rarely-noticed area has been completely remodeled to be an eco-friendly hub of activity.

The project is one of many for innovative thinker, Takeshi Kobayashi, who has been involved in many initiatives to help people live a more simplistic and natural life. With this latest project, Kobayashi aims to show the enjoyable side of sustainable goods and organic foods.

The new Yoyogi Village is separated into zones that symbolize the balance of enjoyment and ecology. For example, in the Container Zone you can find venues like clothing stores, book shops, a travel agent, and an art gallery, while the Village Zone features a music bar, special VIP room, and an upscale dining facility called Code Kurkku. There is also a holistic mind and body center where you can enjoy reflexology, mind therapy, and aromatherapy.

It isn't surprising that profits made from the new Yoyogi Village don't go to board members, but to other farm and restaurant-based businesses to help continue the eco-friendly cycle.

To learn more about Yoyogi Village in Japan, click here.

New eco-friendly destination for 2012: Yoyogi Village, Japan originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Deloitte business travel survey shows growth in corporate travel; split between generational preferences

McLean Robbins — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business, Hotels and Accommodations, Consumer Activism

Deloitte's new business travel survey for 2012 predicts an uptick in travel, particularly among Millennial and Gen X workers. Notably, the survey also showed a growing divide between the preferences of the younger (18-44) travelers and the 45+ demographic.

"Corporate travel plays a key role in driving growth for the travel industry as a whole," said Adam Weissenberg, vice chairman, Deloitte LLP and global travel, hospitality and leisure sector leader. "The results of our survey offer an encouraging sign for hotels, airlines and other service-providers."

Who Is Traveling
"The outlook for next year is relatively positive, which surprised me," said Weissenberg. Of the 19 percent of business travelers who expect less travel in 2011, more than six of 10 (64 percent) cite the recession as the primary reason, and 14 percent say a job change. The survey particularly shows optimism in terms of younger workers, he noted.

Specifically, 85 percent of business travelers surveyed expect to take more or the same number of trips next year with 27 percent of 18-44 year olds expecting to take more trips in 2012, while only 16 percent of business travelers 45 years old and above are planning to take more trips next year.

Moreover, reflecting on 2011 travel activity, the majority of survey respondents (81 percent) anticipate taking more or the same number of business trips than they did in 2010.

Generation Gap May Define Hotel Preferences
The majority of business travelers surveyed feel experiences at hotels operating under the same brand name differ depending on location, with six in 10 (60 percent) noting that facilities and service quality vary widely.

However, when looking at perceptions around hotel consistency among different age groups, 49 percent of respondents aged 30 and older believe hotel brands are inconsistent whereas only 39 percent of those ages 18-29 indicate the same. When considering loyalty, nearly half (46 percent) of the 18-29 year olds say they prefer to stay at their favorite hotel brand even if it is not conveniently located, whereas 37 percent of those 30 and older do the same.

"While it's important for hotels to focus on the burgeoning number of young business travelers, finding a middle ground to retain brand loyalty among Generation X and Y, and boosting brand loyalty among the potentially more discerning baby boomers, will likely be a challenge for hotels in 2012," continued Weissenberg.

[Flickr via RegusMedia]

Continue reading Deloitte business travel survey shows growth in corporate travel; split between generational preferences

Deloitte business travel survey shows growth in corporate travel; split between generational preferences originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bowermaster's Adventures: Learning how to breathe in the Maldives

Jon Bowermaster — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Asia, Maldives, Ecotourism, Consumer Activism

LAAMU, Maldives -- A fast-moving rainstorm blew over the small atoll late in the afternoon, briefly cooling a humid day just 100 miles north of the equator. But within twenty minutes the sun was back hot and bright, the air even thicker with dampness. Aaaaaah paradise!

I was desperate for some cooling off, having spent the morning learning something I thought I'd mastered long ago: How to breathe.

The lessons had taken place in a pool behind one of the guesthouses at the new Six Senses Laamu resort where I'd joined a dozen superstar water athletes from around the world -- surfers, kite boarders and wind surfers -- learning not so much how to breathe, but how not to. My skimpy personal best for holding it while hanging onto the edge of the pool was about two-and-a-half-minutes; a couple guys went to five minutes and nearly blacked out.

Our task-master, standing waist-deep in the pool as we dunked our heads, stop-watch in hand, was German free diver extraordinaire Anna von Boetticher, one of the world's best at holding her breath. While we were experimenting in the relative safety of a four-foot-deep, suburban variety chlorinated pool she has dived to record depths wearing just a pair of oversized swim fins and mask to more than 270 feet.

She was most enlightening when debunking the "Baywatch" notion of saving near-drowning victims by pumping violently on their chests and blowing spittle into their mouths. She demonstrated the preferred method, which she said most are actually "saved" by, which involves light blowing on the cheeks and a little slap. Of course if that doesn't work, she admitted, then move quickly to the chest pumping and spit swapping.
A one-of-a-kind inaugural crowd -- the event was dubbed WaterWoMen, co-sponsored by Six Senses and +H2O -- had gathered at the newly opened resort, equal parts coming out party for the remote resort and a conference that included a bunch of world-class athletes as well as some of the planet's more thoughtful thinkers on ocean issues.

Continue reading Bowermaster's Adventures: Learning how to breathe in the Maldives

Bowermaster's Adventures: Learning how to breathe in the Maldives originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Online travel agency donates 100% of profits to charity

Jessica Festa — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, Business, Budget Travel, Internet Tools, Consumer Activism

For those who love to travel, there is now a way to see the world while also doing a good deed. A brand new online travel agency, Teleotravel, operates under a generous philosophy and donates 100% of its net profits to charity.

Explains Adam Beardwood, the Founder and President of Teleotravel, "My idea for Teleotravel came out of a need to create a sustainable way to financially help charities in a consumer forum. That is, people and businesses can participate in ending extreme global poverty as simply as doing something they are already doing, like buying travel...My hope is to capture a small percentage of [the online travel booking market] which could potentially raise millions, if not hundreds of millions of dollars for charities."

Travelers making a booking on the site can choose from a list of charities that they would like the net profits from their booking to go to. So, why do you have to choose a charity from a predetermined list? Because the team at Teleotravel want to make sure that these bookings are making a significant impact. Instead of myriad charities getting one single donation, a set group of specific charities can receive significant contributions each day. As of now, the official charity partners of Teleotravel that can benefit from bookings made on the site include:

Says Beardwood of the mission of the site, "My partners and I did not start this business in order to build up our own wealth but to help others succeed in rising out of poverty, may that be nationally or globally."

To learn more or to make a charitable travel booking with Teleotravel, click here.

Online travel agency donates 100% of profits to charity originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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5 Phnom Penh restaurants where you can eat ethically

Jessica Marati — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Food and Drink, Asia, Cambodia, Consumer Activism

In Cambodia, Phnom Penh is known for its great restaurants. And since many of the city's eateries are run by NGOs or function as social enterprises - companies that operate for profit while providing a social benefit - it's easy to combine social responsibility with sustenance. Here, a sampling of Phnom Penh restaurants that allow you to eat ethically.

Friends Restaurant
As the name implies, Friends is a popular, cheerful café run by local non-profit Mith Samlanh, in partnership with international NGO Friends International. Street children and other marginalized youth are trained in every aspect of running a restaurant in Phnom Penh, from cooking to serving to management. Many move on to higher-paying hospitality jobs, or start small enterprises of their own.
Try: Delicious fresh fruit shakes in off-beat combinations.
#215, Street 13

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5 Phnom Penh restaurants where you can eat ethically originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Versalette convertible travel garment will revolutionize your packing list

Jessica Marati — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Business, Gear, United States, Consumer Activism, Women's Travel

When you're living out of a suitcase, the less items of clothing you have to pack, the better. That's the thinking behind The Versalette, a convertible garment from {r}evolution apparel that easily goes from a shirt to a skirt to a dress to... well, basically anything you can imagine. For a female traveler with a packing list of basic white tees and khaki cargo pants, it's a dream travel piece. Plus, it's ethically and sustainably developed.

The Versalette launched as a project on Kickstarter in mid-November, and within 14 days it was fully funded. As of Monday morning, $38,120 had been pledged from 470 backers, and the project still has another two weeks to go.

{r}evolution founders Kristin Glenn and Shannon Whitehead are travelers themselves, and they met while living and working in Australia. After several months of friendship, they separated and embarked on their own adventures, traversing five continents independently. But they kept in touch, and in mid-2010 they reunited in the United States to pursue an idea: a minimalist clothing line for female travelers.

Continue reading Versalette convertible travel garment will revolutionize your packing list

Versalette convertible travel garment will revolutionize your packing list originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Horse slaughter: the meat of the matter now that Congress has lifted controversial ban

Laurel Miller — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, Business, Food and Drink, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Japan, United States, News, Consumer Activism, Central America

If you're of a certain age, you might recall that until the 1940's, horse was eaten in the United States--most notably during World War II, when beef prices rose and supply dwindled. By the eighties, dining on Mr. Ed definitely wasn't culturally acceptable, even if purchased for "pet food," and in 1998, California Proposition 6 outlawed horse meat and slaughter for human consumption.

Why, when so much of the world--including much of the EU, Central Asia, Polynesia, Latin America, and Japan--routinely dines upon this delicious, lean, low cholesterol, abundant meat, do we shun it? Blame anthropomorphism and our fervent equestrian culture. Like dogs, cats, guinea pig, alpaca, and other cute, furry creatures consumed with gusto by other ethnicities, Americans just aren't down with eating what we consider pets.

According to The Chicago Tribune, however, it's likely that at least one national horse abattoir (slaughterhouse) will be opening soon, most likely in the Midwest. As stated in the story, "Congress lifted the ban in a spending bill President Barack Obama signed into law Nov. 18 to keep the government afloat until mid-December."

Before you get on your high horse (sorry) over this seemingly inhumane turn of events, let's examine why the ban was passed in the first place, and why reversing it isn't necessarily a bad thing. I should also state that I grew up on a horse ranch, and to me, meat is meat. My issues regarding its consumption have and always will lie with humane treatment of said animals during their life up until what should be a quick, merciful death. Is there such a thing as a humane death? Let's just say that some methods of livestock slaughter are less traumatic than others. But that's a separate issue, and not the point of this piece.

Despite our cultural aversion to eating horse, the U.S. still slaughtered old, sick,and injured animals, as well as retired racehorses and wild horses and burros (it's necessary to cull wild herds to keep mustang and burro populations sustainable, and starvation and predation are a far crueler demise than the abattoir). Even young healthy animals were sent to slaughter for a variety of reasons including overbreeding, profit, or abandonment.

The U.S. exported horse meat to countries that do consume it, although it was also sold domestically to feed zoo animals. In 2007, the last horse slaughterhouse in the U.S., in DeKalb, Illinois, was shut down by court order, and that was that until the ban was lifted last month.

Photo credit: Flicker user Atli Harðarson]

Continue reading Horse slaughter: the meat of the matter now that Congress has lifted controversial ban

Horse slaughter: the meat of the matter now that Congress has lifted controversial ban originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 04 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eco-tourism gets edible with the Ritz Carlton, Charlotte's, giant green gingerbread house

Jessica Festa — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, Business, Festivals and Events, Food and Drink, North America, United States, Hotels and Accommodations, Ecotourism, Consumer Activism, Women's Travel, Luxury Travel

The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte, in North Carolina, is taking their eco-friendly hospitality to a whole new level. From Thanksgiving Day through December 28, 2011, the hotel will showcase a life-sized "edible eco-manor", designed by architects and made by pastry chefs using all-natural and organic ingredients. The structure will be 12 feet high by 14 feet wide by 10 feet deep and will also feature LED lights and a green "moss" eco-roof.

So what goes into making a giant eco-friendly gingerbread house?

350 pounds of organic white, brown and confectioner's sugar
70 pounds of organic egg whites
300 pounds of organic bread flour
100 organic eggs
24 pounds of molasses
Four pounds of salt
Four pounds of baking soda
120 pounds of shortening
24 ounces of cinnamon
Two gallons of organic milk
Eight ounces each of nutmeg, allspice and cloves
Nine ounces of ginger

This unique exhibit complements The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte's, already eco-friendly programming. The property is LEED-certified, meaning that the hotel's construction and design follows the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design guidelines. Some sustainable practices of the Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte, include building materials that use 30% less energy than most hotels, reduced water usage by 35%, a green, vegetated rooftop, recycling more than 80% of construction waste, and having bicycles as available transportation for guests, among other initiatives.

For more information on the hotel's green programming, click here.

Eco-tourism gets edible with the Ritz Carlton, Charlotte's, giant green gingerbread house originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 04 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Pirate Wi-Fi on New York City subway

Elizabeth Seward — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, Stories, North America, United States, Video, News, Consumer Activism

WeMakeCoolSh.it "L Train Notwork" Behind the Scenes from Matthew McGregor-Mento on Vimeo.

There was recently a pirate wi-fi network on New York City's L train. Available only in the last cars of the Brooklyn-bound train and only from 8am until 10am, this underground pirate wi-fi network was live and available only for a week. If you're wondering why or how or who put this together, allow me to fill in those blanks as best as I can. WeMakeCoolSh.it tends to do precisely what their name advertises--they really are masters of cool. The L Train 'Notwork' was just one of their endeavors and here's how it went. The people over at WMCS powered the 'Notwork' with person-portable battery-powered web servers. The wi-fi didn't connect commuters to the internet, though. Instead of connecting train passengers to the whole world wide web, it connected them to content provided by local artists in addition to a chat room. Check out the behind the scenes video above for a look into the the world and work of the people who put this project together.

Find out more about what WMCS did for the L train here on Laughing Squid and keep up with WMCS so that you might be tuned in for their next cool endeavor here on the WMCS website.

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Video: Pirate Wi-Fi on New York City subway originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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American students bring Thanksgiving's message of coexistence to the Middle East

Jessica Festa — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, History, Learning, Festivals and Events, Food and Drink, Stories, North America, Israel, United States, Consumer Activism, Middle East, Women's Travel

This Thanksgiving, holiday traditions and messages are going farther than the family dinner table. In fact, they are going all the way to the Middle East as American young adults spending time abroad will be spreading the message of coexistence throughout diverse communities by recreating the Thanksgiving feast from their childhood.

Masa Israel Journey, a project of the Jewish Agency for Israel and the Israeli Government, sends more than 6,000 young Americans to Israel each year to study, intern, and volunteer, as well as spread a peaceful and harmonious message. Diverse groups of people such as Arabs, Israeli Jews, Palestinians, Europeans, and American peers are all positively affected by the introduction and blending of Thanksgiving traditions.

Some examples of how American young adults have spread their traditions and the message of coexistence include:

Abra Berkowitz, a Boston-native who studied at Masa Israel's Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, shared a potluck dinner with other students from Jordan, Isreael, the Palestinian Territories, South Africa, Canada, and Australia. A blending of cultures could be seen by a turkey seasoned with zaatar and a side dish of tahini stuffing.
Detroit-born Josh Kanter, who enrolled in Masa Israel's Career Israel internship program, celebrated Thanksgiving at a Herbrew University-sponsored dinner with other international students from Argentina, Uruguay, Guatemala, Israel, and the United States. While there was turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce, hummus was also a big hit at the table.
Jessica Simon from Philadelphia, who studied at Masa Israel's Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, was also volunteering at Jerusalem Open House, the organization that supports LGBT people and their allies in Jerusalem. She planned a Thanksgiving potluck and read from a gay friendly prayer book with Hebrew explanations about Thanksgiving to the Israeli attendees. Because sweet potatoes were not available, Simon substituted them with carrot soup.

For information on Masa Israel Journey and how they help spread the message of coexistence, click here.

American students bring Thanksgiving's message of coexistence to the Middle East originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10 best wine hotels around the world

Jessica Festa — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Learning, Food and Drink, Africa, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, France, Italy, Spain, United States, New Zealand, Argentina, Hotels and Accommodations, Ecotourism, Consumer Activism, Women's Travel, Luxury Travel

What's better when you're on vacation than a day at the vineyards? How about wineries that let you stay the night, as well? No more worrying about drinking and driving or figuring out transportation as these ten wine hotels offer guests vino tastings as well as a comfortable place to sleep.

Marqués de Riscal
Elciego, Spain

Situated in the middle of the Vinos de los Herederos de Marqués de Riscal's vineyard, the hotel itself opened in September, 2006. The building was designed by world-renowned Frank O. Gehry and combines wine-growing traditions with 21st century avant-garde design. Guests can stay in one of forty-three luxury rooms and suites that include unconventional furniture, high-quality linens, and Wi-Fi internet. After the sun sets, visitors can move from the vineyards to the informal Wine Bar or a rooftop lounge with panoramic views. Another option is to snuggle up next to the fireplace and sample the myriad vinos from the hotel's cellar.

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10 best wine hotels around the world originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 20 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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