Don't Go There

After years of listening to our nation’s preeminent expert on travel, Peter Greenberg, I scooped up his latest book, "Don't Go There" online today.

Greenberg tells it like it is by uncovering secrets that the airline, hotel, cruise and rental car industries don’t want consumers to know. If you've ever had a vacations from hell, horrible experiences on planes, bad hotels, Peter can relate.

In this latest, he writes: "We’ve all suffered through bad vacations: tourist traps, terrible package deals, high-rise hotels, revolting food, and the worst airports on earth. The world abounds in dismal destinations, and it’s just as important to know the hellholes to avoid as it is to be familiar with the most idyllic spots (especially when some of these idyllic places don’t deserve their reputations!)"

Island Ambitions

Everyone is pleading with PilotGirl to help them win what is being called "the best job in the world" -- pocketing a 6-digit salary for living like a castaway on a beautiful tropical island for 6 months.

Australia's Tourism Queensland is looking for a spokesperson to promote tourism on the island of Hamilton. There are a few minor tasks like keeping the pool clean and feeding the fish but letting everyone know what’s taking place on the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef is the most pressing.

Rather than help these wanna-be winners I'm tossing my own name into the mix and producing a knock-out 60 second spot. Daily blog reports, travel acumen, photo journals and production experience is a must as is scuba, snorkeling and shark diving. Check, check and check again.

I've done all these things as well as jumped from perfectly fine airplanes, wrapped my neck with snakes, lived among Dalits and swam with manatees. Who doesn't love ecology in an endangered reef system more than me?

Fingers crossed that the judges will think my video warrants a winner because, frankly, it's my escalating debt that really needs publicity. If I could just abscond from July to December with camera in one hand and my aging pup in the other, this gig would be the best thing that happened to my wallet.

Hold that thought... if I could bring back a single Australian heartthrob that believes in climate change, worships independent film and listens to NPR religiously, then that would be the best thing that ever happened to me.

Documentary of the Year

The documentary is called "Beyond the Epic Run" and it begins "In February, 2000, a couple left home in Switzerland to run around the world...alone. A small crowd of friends and family gathered in the morning hours in the shadows of the Matterhorn in Sion, Switzerland. They were there to send Serge and Nicole Roetheli off with great fanfare to begin what would be an epic journey."

And what a journey it was! 25,000 miles, 33 countries and 5 continents later the documentary is complete with its premiere showing right here in Albany, NY last night at the Spectrum theater.

Producers Paul Rutherford of Clifton Park, Tom Sammon of Hollywood and Bob English of Lake Luzerne fielded questions from a rapt audience of about 75. An audience made up of friends, family and dozens of marathon runners captivated that a mid-age man could run a marathon every day for 5 straight years despite the odds. I played a role in the documentary as well, shooting interviews with Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim, boxing trainer Kevin Rooney, Runners World magazine Editor Amby Burfoot and dozens more. You may recall a blog entry about a trip to Sion, Switzerland in October 2007... that's when I filmed Serge and Nicole's hometown.

Runners World magazine is sponsoring the premieres in Boston, NYC and Washington, D.C. next month. The riveting 90 minute adventure will also play at the Tribeca Film Festival in NYC between April 22 and May 3. Save the dates and if you need more information, let me know.

This is a documentary that will inspire, beguile, uplift and challenge your every notion that nothing is impossible!

A Good Hollywood TearJerker

Waving a fond farewell to the reign of error, Barack Hussein Obama became the nation's 44th president today and America's first black president. His inaugural address balanced hope with reality, rhetoric with inspiration and responsibility with blame.

To the Environmental Advocates he said:

"We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories."

To the blue collar manual labor workers who built this country, he said:

"In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom."

To the men and women who have died in uniform he said:

"For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn. Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction."

To the Rushes and Hannitys and agitators of the world, he said:

"What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them — that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works."

His tough talk was clear, decisive and tactful but it was when he said the following when myself and many of my friends began to cry:

"To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist."

Soggy Feet, Warm Tunes

Here's another little sample montage for all those eager to see more on Malaysia's notoriously soggy Rainforest Music Festival. Learn more about the adventure, here.

Disproportionate Violence

My friends are usually strong supporters of Israel but the slaughter in Gaza is just plain wrong. Many are totally outraged with the relentless massacre of both Christian and Islams in response to Hamas shelling.

By various media reports, that's nearly 1,100 Palestinians killed and 5,000 wounded in 21 days. Yes, Hamas has been seriously weakened but 400 innocent children and 100 women have died as a result. No amount of unilateral cease-fires can change that.

My Jewish friends are equally infuriated that Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Ehud Barak would allow attacks on dense civilian targets like homes, mosques, universities and schools. They've been growing skeptical of their country's illegal take over of land and building of walls in Palestinian territories for some time now.

The truth is Qassam rockets have no guidance system and a range of only 12 miles. Many rockets and mortar attacks end up in empty crop fields and on dirt roads. On the other hand Israel uses superior advanced ground forces and a prepared air force, navy and laser defense system. Much of these technical advantages are purchases from US companies because of our close diplomatic and military ties with Israel.

In fact, 25 Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth-enabled bombers are planned for purchase in 2010.

No amount of innocent killing should be tolerated but 8 Israelis died while 1,1000 Palestinians were buried in rubble. As they say "An eye for an eye makes everyone blind. A bomb for a bomb makes everyone dead."

Bush/Cheney war mongers will argue that the Palestinians got what they deserve because they voted for the terrorist leadership two years ago. Or, that bombing civilians is collateral damage because Hamas uses them as "human shields".

What they don't understand is that Hamas barely won the popular vote and the election was fraught with voter rigging and intimidation. Also that a strong majority, especially negotiating partner, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, craves peace.

Lets hope Barack Obama shows more concern, care and leadership for a humanitarian solution than the current administration has.

A Muddy Memorable Music Fest

My article called A Muddy Memorable Music Festival debuts today on GoNomad.com as does a video I shot/narrated and edited. Take a few moments to watch and if you have any questions, email me anytime. Beyond the Rainforest Music Festival is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multilingual society that deserves a visit someday.

The Quintessential Chocolate Martini

Ogden Nash observed that "Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker." To prove that theory we sucked down 2 chocolate martini's in record time. It did the trick! The potion melted away the arctic chill and our frozen noses in seconds.

The quintessential chocolate martini, perfected by beverage guru and event coordinator, Sam Jaminez of 'The Standard', makes the world's yummiest on the planet. All great mixologists have their own variations on this classic but Sam's secret - Godiva white chocolate!

Sam provides 2 classy looking martini glasses, chilled, and decorated with gooey chocolate swirls on the inside. He takes 2 cocktail shakers, each half full of cracked ice and ingredients and shakes and strains the tempting elixir into our glasses at a nice and leisurely pace. The concoction measures even with the tip of the glass.

My eyes are bulging out of my sockets at this point. Hurry, hurry, leave us be now Sam, leave us be. As he turns, Denise and I torpedo for our drinks. We toast only briefly, skipping a speech entirely, and sinking our dry palettes into taste-bud bliss. Every nerve ending on our tongues is tingling, dancing, doing cartwheels, as we cannonball the concoction.

Ahhhhh, guilty pleasures before even the appetizers arrive, you'll get all that and more at 'The Standard'. I'm taking the whole gang back on Sunday - see you there Sam.

Trees

When it's really windy in my neighborhood the older taller pines whistle and crack in the winter. They sound almost like a live orchestra. The bark rubs back and forth on other trees like a violin and bow and when the wind blows through the hollow branches it sounds like flutes and recorders. Which reminds me of one of my favorite poems by Alfred Joyce Kilmer. It's called Trees (1913):

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

Nothing Like Live TV

A gig landed me at WMHT to run camera with my local PBS crew and with best-selling author and NBC chief medical editor Dr. Nancy Snyderman last week. She was a pleasure to work with surprising me with her tv acumen and clear speaking doc-talk.

Some of you might remember her on ABC Good Morning America for 17 years talking about controversial subjects like Thimerosal in vaccines and autism. She's reported on medical topics affecting children, men and women and has traveled the world extensively. Now she's using PBS to push healthy conversations in her series of tapes and books and social networking site called Be Well. No topic is taboo from depression to cancer to reproductive issues to sex and relationships.

The phones rang off the hook during the live taping of the show. As well, it was entertaining to watch the crew keep up with a national live broadcast on PBS. Live TV is still exciting when it's done right. Might you been watching?

Bonding Through Hard Times

What I wouldn't give to be in San Francisco right now. Macworld 2009 kicked off without Steve Jobs but Phil Schiller did an admirable job of showing off the latest from Apple, so says a friend of mine who is there.

Rather, I talked for a good 90 minutes on the phone with a Apple Rep the other day about a computer problem. The problem surfaced a few months ago and after hours of searching the internet for a solution, I reluctantly, called Techie Headquarters, convinced that I'd be spending another few hours waiting on hold to talk to someone. Rather, within seconds, I spoke with Joelle.

Here's how the conversation went:

Joelle: "Hello. How can I help you today?"

Me: "Yes, I think I need to a buy a new computer because I need more RAM because....blah, blah, blah...."

Joelle: "Well, let me take your name, phone number, just in-case we get disconnected, and serial number on your computer." Okay. Now, bear with me as I check a few things."

Joelle puts me on hold briefly to the sounds of some really funky new alternative hits. I groove and wait. A few minutes later she's back.

Me: "Okay, what did you find out?"

Joelle: "Well, the unfortunate news is your current computer can not handle more RAM however that doesn't seem to be the problem. Rather than go out and buy a new computer with more RAM, how about I suggest you bring your current computer in for our tech guys to check? They can make sure the optical drive is working the way it's suppose to work."

Me: "My optical drive might be the culprit not the need for more RAM?" I ask.

Joelle: "Yes, that's correct. And, based on your warranty, you still have 45 days. You'll be without your computer for 7 days but it won't cost you a dime because you still have a warranty."

Me: "Really? Your telling me NOT to upgrade to a new computer just yet?"

Joelle: "Yes, that's right. Everyone knows that these are tough economic times right now and we all know how few of us have the money to drop on an expensive new machine."

---Yes, Joelle really did say this!-----

Me: "May I have your bosses email address so I can tell him to give you a raise, Joelle?"

Joelle laughs.

Does it really take a recession to bond us as a nation to give such wonderful customer care service? Maybe, just maybe... Now, if only Hawaii could do the same at car rental counters as well as in hotels!

Thank you Apple.

Going Once, Twice.... Sold to the Highest Bidder!

The folks are back from paradise and though the islands were amazing, I thought I'd tell ya about a few roadblocks concerning Hawaii that everyone should know before they go.

First off, a gripe about rental car companies. This reminds me of that Seinfeld episode...

Just because you reserve a car for a cheap deal on the internet doesn't mean you'll have a car waiting for you when you arrive. Rental car companies are thieves. There's nothing preventing them from renting out to higher paying customers FIRST even though you reserved a car for less earlier.

When my parents arrived at the counter they had to wait nearly an hour. That was because all other customers willing to pay more were bumped ahead of them. It was like an antiquated barter system. My folks waited alongside other frustrated customers, like themselves, some who bid online at priceline.com or scored the car at half the rate.

It's hard to believe this practice is tolerated but apparently ALL the car rental companies in Hawaii do it. My folks insisted it wasn't fair and threatened to go to another rental service. The woman at the counter brushed them off and told them to "go ahead, do it, all rental companies work this way in Hawaii." What nerve!

To make matters worse, Dad learned that hotels treat their customers the same way. A hotel on the island of Kauai bumped them from a beautiful ocean-view suite (that they were promised and paid for) into a handicap room. Why? Because some last minute walk-in was willing to pay the standard rate. That's why. Unbelievable!

Mailbox Mayhem

Big box retailer, Lowe's hardware store made a killing selling mailboxes this weekend. Profits probably exceeded the entire Christmas season! In fact, so many mailboxes were sold on Saturday that they ran out. That's because teenagers were caught vandalizing nearly 100 mailboxes Friday night, including my own.

Two rotten little hoodlums, one driving the car and the other hanging out the passenger side wielding an iron bat smashed 80 mailboxes and then tried to hide from police.

I heard the crack of what sounded like firecrackers going off at 3am but I figured it was probably left-over merrymaking from New Years Eve. Fortunately my neighbor's brother jumped to the window in time to identify the suspects car. He called the local dispatcher and the officers arrived in time to nab the 17 and 18 year old teenagers hiding in a random driveway, face down in the front seat.

I'm told that one of the teens is a local high school football player and failed the sobriety test.

Personal destruction like spray painting or egging mailboxes, garages or driveways is one thing but clubbing mailboxes to smithereens while stamped mail blows away with the wind should be cause for retribution. May I suggest buying and installing 80 new mailboxes for starters?

If I was caught doing this at 17 (or any age) my father would kick my ass straight to the moon and then shadow me while I fixed, mended, repaired and apologized to every last mailbox owner in the neighborhood. And that would be just the beginning of my punishment.

Both of these kids have surfaced in the Bethlehem police blotter before so odds are good they haven't learned their lesson nor will they ever. I'll even hedge my bets that the next time we see them they'll be on the local tv news going off to jail for far more violent crimes than this.

Age is Not Important Unless You're Cheese

The T-shirt reads 'Save Water, Get Dirty'; the perfect belated birthday gift to assuage my fanatic longings for a better world!

'Merci Beaucoup' my beautiful blond friend, Stacy Pavlus!

Last night, at my house, not only did Deb, Carrie, Karen, Stacy and me save water by toasting to bottles of vintage vino but I also shopped at Albany's Honest Weight Food Coop on Central Ave., saving me the frustration of dining sans raclette cheese. Drinking water with raclette interferes with the digestion of the cheese, so, thanks to Gustov, the Capital Region's best cheeseman, I found enough to make a meal of it for 5 hungry friends.

I caught onto the Raclette cheese craze while in Switzerland a few weeks ago. Raclette is a semi-firm, salted cheese that's heated using an electric table-top grill with small metal trays underneath the coils. It takes minutes for the cheese to melt and seconds to scrape over grilled veggies and meat.

My friends were new to the experience so I showed them how. Their taste buds did a triple lindy on grilled potatoes, onions, eggplant, artichokes, green and red bell peppers, zucchini, broccoli, jumbo shimp and free-range chicken swimming in melting raclette. It was a true winner.

Finding the perfect Raclette Grill was easy too. There are plenty of department stores in Switzerland selling them but for $300... I didn't think so. Rather, like a mouse in a trap, SkyMall magazine lured me into a cheaper model. Who hasn't found themselves tempted by some screwball invention or pseudo-science wellness gadget in SkyMall magazine? In this case, the Raclette Grill was worth the money spent.

Last nights Raclette soiree went over so well I'm determined to make a habit of it every month. All mice who bring bottles of Long Island red and Finger Lakes white are welcome!