VIDEO: ?????? Sisters Mimi and Nikki have dealt with Thailand's tropical climate and exceeded expectations to produce award-winning wine, and are at the forefront of #viticulture in the face of climate change
?? @Klein_Jonathan pic.twitter.com/SKZooS8J4j
— AFP news agency (@AFP) July 15, 2020
"Where I live there are no male ballet dancers like me. When people see ballet they think it is only for girls"
Meet 11-year-old Anthony Mmesoma Madu who's challenging ballet stereotypes in Nigeriahttps://t.co/0rIn6m2vfY pic.twitter.com/fr90ZMF6zF
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) July 12, 2020
"They are so special, there's nothing like them in the rest of Kenya or for that matter the rest of the world"
Meet the man fighting to save Africa's hirola – one of the world's rarest antelopehttps://t.co/Wk1Cu0zgZb pic.twitter.com/aUtz6NB3Oe
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) July 12, 2020
Steeplejack
When I lost the housecat in April, a silver lining was that it opened up the possibility of more travel. But, uh, coronavirus. I look forward to the day when I can get away for some road trips.
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
I miss traveling. Not only do I not even get to go to Canada or Mexico for the first time in my life, I don’t even think I’ll be able to do Vegas for a CLE I’m signed up for.
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
On the good side, from a position of wishful thinking, we’re planning to go to Dark Mofo in Tasmania next Summer Solstice. Weird offensive art, nude swims and inverted crosses will rule the day….
JCJ
There is a winery in Thailand named Monsoon Valley. I always liked that name. I am not a wine expert by any stretch, but their wine is not bad at all!
jl
Thanks for the inspirational videos. We USAers will be able to travel again someday.
After the vaccine, we just have to show papers that say we got our shots, maybe a 14 day quarantine. The quarantine officials won’t think we are as cute as the cats and dogs, though I assume our quarters will be at least as posh. Probably make fun of us, they won’t do that to a cute dog or kitty cat.
Chins up, everyone!
Viva BrisVegas
I’m going to try some traveling.
The winter cold has been seeping into my bones, so I’ve decided to fly up to tropical Cairns for a short holiday at the beginning of next month. It will also give me a chance to see if flying for 2.5 hrs with a mask is doable, and I don’t even have to risk crossing any state borders that may close behind me.
Dan B
The Nigerian ballet dancer faces the same homophobic hatred that is rooted in hierarchy / misogyny and tribalism. Boys can’t be soft or be delighted with pretty things and girls can’t be decisive leaders because the world order will collapse.
This is the power that the Chad Wolf’s are exploiting to try to gain total control. They would probably not last long in North Korea because only a small number of alphas can be allowed. They hate when the hippies rip off their clothes and go wild with joy for undisciplined and sensual life.
There were excesses in the 60’s and 70’s but this pendulum has swung too far.
mrmoshpotato
Heavy thunderstorms for tonight.
BRING ‘EM ON! 😃🎉
aliasofwestgate
I miss being able to go to canada, but i will go again. We will get that vaccine.
BeautifulPlumage
@Dan B: speaking of Chad Wolf…where are the federal forces harassing Portland being quartered, anyone know?
BeautifulPlumage
@Dan B: and “Hi Dan” 👋 I miss Seattle-area meetups.
The Moar You Know
The day we can travel again is the day I leave the United States forever. And I am quite looking forward to that.
As to where, it will be wherever we are allowed to settle. But we are not staying here.
frosty
Re: traveling again. I’m working out routes and reservations for another winter/spring National Park road trip, without a lot of confidence that we’ll be clear enough of COVID that things won’t be shut down still or again. But hey, if we don’t make the plan it definitely won’t happen.
I’m most disappointed in the Mississippi segment — I’ve wanted to see the Mississippi Blues Trail. Apparently it’s mostly roadside historic signs, but there are a few things around Clarksdale worth a stop, including the Delta Blues Museum. However, there’s no place to park an RV trailer closer than 30-40 miles away, except the Coahoma County Expo Center RV park. The *best* review said it was “kind of sketchy”.
Maybe some other time. Or timeline.
Emma from FL
Right at this time I was supposed to have been on a Danube cruise with a stop to see the Obergammerau Passion play. All I have is an airline ticket that I am told I can use next year. Even if the Play were to be performed, I don’t know if restrictions will be lifted by then, or that, considering my father’s health, I would be able to travel at all.
I hate these people with the strength of two thousand of Einstein’s Monsters.
frosty
@aliasofwestgate: I have cousins that own one of the Thousand Islands, purchased by their grandparents from Queen Victoria in the 1890s. I go up every few years. I’m looking forward to going again someday and I’m sure my cousins are frustrated being stuck in the states.
jl
In the US, a freedom loving, consumer choice oriented society, we’ll be able to choose our tag styles.
National Band and Tag Company
Rabies Vaccination Tag Styles
https://www.nationalband.com/dog-and-cat-tags/
NotMax
An eclectic smattering of travel music.
Paris
New York
Brazil
Austria
Kentucky
.
aliasofwestgate
@frosty: My Mom is canadian, so i have a slew of family i have over there too.
Jay
As a Canadian, I have been very lucky. I got to travel much of the world.
And in my late 30’s, realized much of what I was travelling for, can be found in Canada.
Mallard Filmore
This doesn’t really fit in with a “Respite” theme …
If this virus had come 3 months later, I would be riding out the crisis by living in Thailand on a retirement visa, enjoying the hell out of life while crying about what has become of my country. As Maxwell Smart used to say, “Missed it by –><– THAT much."
*Sigh* After a lifetime of wasted years, one more year has to go down the shitter.
HumboldtBlue
I’m just broke.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
here’s an article on the vaccine research team at Oxford. Dr Fauci advises against too much optimism….
Jay
@Mallard Filmore: sorry.
Jay
@HumboldtBlue:
sorry. It’s tough, hang on, please hang on.
Another Scott
@The Moar You Know: Every country has problems. Look before you leap.
Cheers,
Scott.
Matt McIrvin
Been thinking about the possibility that maybe we won’t ever be able to travel again. No vaccine but the rest of the world will have beaten this by simple public health measures, and the United States will be the one country that is just sick forever, a pariah nation wracked by endless repeated waves of COVID-19 because, unique among all the people of the world, we won’t do what we need to to beat this. Everyone will have caught it over and over, resistance wearing off after a few months, and the whole surviving population will be stricken with post-COVID syndrome, coughing and moving slow.
Delk
For the first time in 37 years my friend from Seattle wasn’t able to visit. Fucking virus.
Marcopolo
@Another Scott: I mean, I guess there are folks who are allergic to wool, but what are the other serious knocks on NZ?
Salty Sam
Billeted in citizen’s homes. Fuck the 3rd Amendment…
Matt McIrvin
@The Moar You Know: I don’t want to taint another country by emigrating.
mrmoshpotato
@HumboldtBlue: As has been said before, feel free to vent here.
Also, if you need to unplug for a while for your health, there are plenty of people who are fighting the good fight for you to take a breather.
I have days when I stay away from it all. No shame in that.
Find what still makes you happy and enjoy those things for some time uninterrupted by the firehose of bullshit.
Jay
@Matt McIrvin:
until their is a vaccine, and 80% have taken it, and it lasts, more than a year, this ain’t even close to being over.
Salty Sam
Puerto Rico is back in lockdown due to outbreaks. Ironically, I’d love to come back to Texas for a visit, our eight month old granddaughter is growing up,fast, and FaceTime just ain’t cutting it.
Yutsano
Well, if I didn’t announce it here before, I got pulled out of the office again. So I’m back to sitting around at home, getting paid, and generally not doing much. My travel plans for my birthday are most likely upended. So I’ll be sitting back accumulating leave. I definitely plan going to Vancouver to see friends, some whom I haven’t seen in years. Then depending on budget, huffing over to Europe for a spell. Then we’ll see.
Marcopolo
@Jay: Not sure it would have to provide a full year of protection. If push came to shove I think we’d be able to live with something we’d need to re-up every say six months or so. But honestly worrying about that now seems like wasted energy. On the other hand, that 25-30% of the population might just go cuckoo for cocoanuts and refuse to be vaccinated is something to worry about and maybe figure out ahead of time.
Ruckus
@Steeplejack:
I’m planning to retire next year. I just had my 71 birthday and I’m still working, trying to make up for the last republican recession. Now COVID and the worst republican president of my lifetime is making every damn thing worse because he’s a real republican, far more useless than a venereal disease and not near as smart.
Comrade Colette Collaboratrice
@The Moar You Know:
We need to get the yoot’ finished with high school – he’s scheduled to graduate next spring – and lock down our retirement plans, but then I’m with you all the way. Both M. Colette and I can probably work remotely for the remaining 3-4 years of our careers. Our combined pensions should be enough to live modestly in France. Even in a Biden admin, this shit is not going away any time soon – but we can.
Kay
This whole poll is an utter disaster for Trump.
Oh, and it’s Biden on “law n order” too. Nothing even remotely good for Trump here at all.
Comrade Colette Collaboratrice
@Kay: From their lips to the FSM’s noodly appendages.
Seriously, who the hell is in this 34%? People in caves? I had no idea the US had so many caves. Must be including mine shafts, Mom’s basements, and bunkers.
The Moar You Know
@Another Scott: The way I’m looking at it, if we elected a Trump once we can do it again. Which is one reason Germany’s off the list.
Jay
@mrmoshpotato: 👏👏👍👍👍
Marcopolo
@Kay: Lol, I tried to keep this thread to travel by posting about this poll in the mostly dead Trump folks turning on each other thread below. But since it is here now–my favorite number:
Biden is leading Trump by 6 in the South. Lordy, I never thought I’d see that.
Ruckus
@Another Scott:
Always good advice.
I’ve traveled a bit and seen some places that look really nice. Gitmo wasn’t one of the nice ones, BTW. But every place has something, often something great and almost as often something far less than great. Thinking that this is the only country with racism or poverty or conservatism would be daft. It’s not even the only one with all three. Not even close. And then their is the weather. It’s rare, a country that isn’t too cold in the winter or too hot in the summer, and rarer still that it isn’t both.
Jay
@Marcopolo: The People who have beened polled!, yeah,
below 80%.
Ruckus
@Marcopolo:
They drive on the wrong side of the road, or is it the correct side? Anyway it isn’t the right side. It is a beautiful country by any account though. I like the south island better although I never saw anyplace I didn’t like. I did an almost 4000 km motorcycle tour of both islands, fantastic place and people. Still, while it isn’t home I did look into relocating there. Missed any possibility by being 1-2 yrs too old.
Jean
@Kay: I read the poll results, and this section was a bit confusing:
“Notably, too, Biden wins registered voters who are very worried about catching the coronavirus by an overwhelming 82-14%, and those who are somewhat worried by a narrower 53-41%. Those who are less worried, by contrast, prefer Trump, 69-26%.
Indeed, in a statistical analysis called regression, being worried about catching the coronavirus is a significant independent predictor of vote preference, controlling for other factors including partisanship, ideology and demographics.” If you’re “less worried” about Covid, you prefer TRUMP by 69-26% WTH?
Ruckus
@The Moar You Know:
It is of course possible, but if you look at the last 60 yrs of US politics, we have traveled a conservative road that led us to shitforbrains and while there are a number of people who are more conservative, someone with his pedigree and mental deficits is hopefully rarer than – can not be elected again, at least in the lifetime of anyone alive today. OK pollyanna time is over…..
Ruckus
@Jean:
Idiots like shitforbrains. Racist idiots to be specific. They hate far more than they understand politics. They can’t be reasoned with, they can’t understand because their minds are closed to any concept other than hate.
Matt McIrvin
@Jean: Preferring Trump makes you less worried about COVID, because Trump is telling you not to be worried about it. These people are capable of just deciding to believe any spew that comes out of him.
Matt McIrvin
@Kay: Trump still leads on “the economy”, whatever that is, as always.
Jean
@Matt McIrvin: and Ruckus: I guess so! Depressing.
Raoul
@The Moar You Know: We somewhat forget because of the current horror, but GW Bush was pretty awful disaster. Many of our putative allies were not happy with us (though the Obama ‘apology tour’ was of course a fever swamp nonsense, he did have a fair bit of fence-mending to do).
So the electorate (and our awful Electoral College and venal SCOTUS) already used up the “fool me twice”. It will take far more than a Biden term to mend relationships. Maybe I’ll live long enough for us to be welcomed in decent company. If decency makes it through.
The Dark Ages could make a comeback … with a high-tech veneer, perhaps.
CaseyL
I’m very lucky to have done a lot of traveling already, but there were still a few places on my bucket list that I doubt I’ll be able to get to now. I may never get to England/Ireland/Scotland. Iceland was another country I really wanted to see. Visit my brother in Norway? – not gonna happen now. I used to go up to Canada semi-regularly: no more, at least not for the foreseeable future.
It’s so odd to think of being cut off from the rest of the world.
There’s a really terrific SF novel from a few years ago, “Spin,” about a mysterious forcefield that surrounds planet Earth, cutting it off from the rest of the solar system. Outside the field, time proceeds at normal speed; inside, on Earth, time goes so much more slowly that a 100 million years goes by outside for every year on Earth.
That’s what this feels like to me. We’re stuck in an endless Present, and the rest of the world is hurrying on without us.
Matt McIrvin
I was being only partially facetious above about not wanting to pollute another country by emigrating, but: I find I can’t muster the attitude some people have when they consider horrible American politics and consider themselves above it, or better than it. I identify with this country. It’s mine. When it’s shit, I feel that I’m shit, and I couldn’t run away from that. I’m branded. If I went somewhere else I’d still be the dumbshit American forever, the guy from the dumbshit country that elected Donald Trump. No washing that away. In fact, it’d probably be a stronger association, because people don’t make fine political distinctions when they look at foreigners.
So I’ll probably just keep trying to fix this irreparably broken country one pointless exhortation at a time.
Benw
@NotMax: NY state of mind :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hI8A14Qcv68
David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch
@Kay:
They buried the lede in the 13th paragraph.
They so want a horse race. They couldn’t even say “Biden leads”, instead they say Americans are “divide[d]”.
Fucking pathetic.
BeautifulPlumage
@Salty Sam: thankfully I have low BP despite my age, so I don’t concern myself with salt intake
I’m serious about the infrastructure supporting these federal troops. They are not robots; where do they eat, sleep, piss, & poop? Are they all local to Portland & commuting in from the suburbs? Staying at a Motel 6?
Seems to me there are “Bridgegate” opportunities in knowing which routes are vital to the changing of the guard.
Another Scott
@Marcopolo: https://internationalhotdish.com/bad-things-about-new-zealand/
Plus, one needs $100,000 to be able to invest.
I’m not going anywhere, myself. I’m going to do what I can to make things better here.
ETA – note the comments.
Cheers,
Scott.
Another Scott
@Matt McIrvin: +1.
Cheers,
Scott.
Chief Oshkosh
@Matt McIrvin: I’ve traveled a lot and I have long-time friends in France, England, Ireland, China, Mexico, and Canada and spent a lot of time in those countries.
They all have problems. They all have right-wing groups. On any given day, they can be just as vicious, evil, and violent as anything we grow here. Of course, ours have guns…
Matt McIrvin
@Chief Oshkosh: I think a lot of Americans dream of becoming expats because they want to go to a place where the bad politics is not assumed to be their fault. They can kind of not worry about it because it’s not their problem. Though if you actually immigrate, it becomes your problem!
One of the first social-media friends I had to unfollow was a seemingly nice lady in Austria who started getting more and more insistent about driving all the Muslims out of Austria. At one point she proudly announced that she was incapable of feeling anything for Syrian refugee children who drowned.
WaterGirl
@Matt McIrvin:
She seems nice.