Right Wing Penguins

by Erik Olsen on

One would guess that given their tastes and proclivities, hard-core conservatives don’t get out to the movies much.
It’s hard to think of many recent films that they would much enjoy.
Team America, World Police featured themes they
might have found satisfying, what with the harsh liberal bashing in the film (poor Michael Moore, you might remember,
blew himself up as a suicide bomber). That said, I doubt that Red State Mel and Martha would have much enjoyed the
puppet 69 scene (let alone the sex scenes that were cut).

This summer, though, held a treat for
movie-going conservatives
and the nutty off-branch of religious loonies who favor intelligent design. March of the Penguins has become a major
hit among conservatives who say that the cinematic depiction of emperor penguin mating habits offers lessons on
monogamy and, yes, intelligent design (who, but an intelligent designer could come up with eggs that survive extreme
cold? Yes, you in the back with your hand up, Mr. Darwin, is it?). One reviewer said it was the best movie he’d seen
since The Passion of the Christ. Not to get into the whole evolution debate (let’s leave that up to the folks
at the Daily Show who are running a superb
week-long series called Evolution Schmevolution), but suffice it to say, it could be the first time that
cuckoos have expressed such interest in penguins. 

San Francisco Trail

by Erik Olsen on

San Francisco and the Bay Area is already known as one of the most outdoorsy regions in the country. Head down to
the bay and you can windsurf and frolic in the frigid water (but don’t swim too far lest the bay’s tide drag you out to
sea), take a run through magnificent Golden Gate Park, take your mountain bike into the
Marin Headlands. And of course there are surfing beaches all over the
place.

Now here’s another idea, one that could make for an excellent goal, if goal-setting is your thing.
The San Francisco Trail is a 270-mile
omniumgatherum of hiking trails and bike paths that wends and weaves its way through 47 cities and towns and nine
counties (and passes innumerable strip malls along the way, so you can almost always satisfy a
Yoshinoya jones).

The trail is always growing, adding bits here, pieces there, and it creates a jagged ring around the bay, with ends
stretching from San Jose to Napa…meaning, of course, that you can savor the dismal sprawl of the south bay and the
verdant loveliness of wine country without ever leaving the trail.

Border Disputes

by Kelly Amabile on

According to the
CIS World Factbook, as of August 30, 2005, there
are 325 international land boundaries separating 192 independent states and 73 dependencies/areas of special
sovereignty on this planet. Additionally, there are 130 maritime boundaries. That adds up to a lot of borderline, and a
huge portion of it is in some sort of ongoing dispute.

The Factbook keeps an updated list of
current border disagreements around the world. Some are relatively minor maritime boundaries disputes (the US and the
Bahamas can’t agree on alignment of a particular boundary); or there are migration issues (like the increase of migrant
passage from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico); and, of course, there are serious and
dangerous conflicts that have caused violence and fighting, like the troubles in the Gaza Strip.

The CIA’s brief dispute summaries are a good resource to review for quick lessons in the major border conflicts
around the world. Bookmark it and refer to it before planning your next adventure journey overland or by sea.

[via TMN]

Columbia’s Centennial Museum

by Adrienne Wilson on

While I’m playing virtual tour guide I figured I’d give the Columbia’s
Centennial Museum a
mention of it’s own. Opened to help celebrate the Columbia Restaurant’s 100 years in
Ybor City the exhibit highlights the heritage of the Hernandez and Gonzmart families. It’s a small museum once you step
out of the gift shop packed with take-home sangria mixes, beautiful tiles like the ones found decorating the
restaurant itself, and other trinkets. Artifacts collected by both families over time fill the glass cases and
captions help paint a greater picture of the area that was once cigar capital of the world.

Located not too far from the restaurant on the corner of 21st Street and 7th Ave it’s a good way to steal
some A.C. after a filling meal.

Tampa Bay’s Latin Quarter & Centro Ybor

by Adrienne Wilson on

No trip to Tampa, Florida is ever complete without one tour down the historic streets of Ybor City. So while my gal friends from Jersey were in town it was only natural that a good day and a half would be spent strolling the streets, shops, restaurants, and a night of all out debauchery at a dance club or two. They had the time of their life and though Ybor may not be for everyone depending on which time of day you choose to go, it’s always worth a glance. Being a tour guide wore the life out of me these last couple of days which is why I will provide you all with a couple pointers on your next trip to Tampa. It saves me a hell of a lot of gas and the wear and tear of playing tourist along with you.

Many will want to start with Centro Ybor. Being the center of the 7th Ave strip, it sets the mood. I recommend a visit in the day time first so the quiet streets can charm you a little. You’ll find several small shops where cigar aficionados can build their own smokes or buy some premium goods to take back as a souvenir. Other small shops include Ybor Ybor, a good places for cheap gifts, Marble Slab Creamery, which helps tremendously on the hottest of days, and La France, a must for the ladies and men that love antique and vintage clothing. Take in a movie at the beautiful Muvico theater, visit the International Bazaar, or stop in to take a personality test with the Scientologists.

Restaurants such as Fresh Mouth, Dish, Adobe Gila’s, and Big City Tavern can be found easily and all provide delicious menus. However, it is the Columbia Restaurant a little ways down the strip that is a must visit. The food, service and atmosphere all make it the top place to dine as well as the live flamenco shows in the evening. I’ve blogged about the restaurant before in its own entry and suggested the Palomilla steak, but I’d also like to add the “Cayo Hueso” Mahi-Mahi which I recently clamped my jaws on.

As the sun sets and evening turns into night young and old come out for drinks, music and more. Ybor can seem a bit rough around the edges at night as many young ladies come quite under dressed with tiny pieces of clothing on ready to dance and the fellahs become frisky. If you go at night I suggest clubs such as Prana, Code, and Green Iguana for a nice mixture of people and music. The Castle is also great place for industrial and 80’s sounds. When all is said and almost done stop into the Bistro and have a yummy crepe for the road. (They have an endless menu of crepes.)

No matter which way or time of day you decide to head to the Latin Quarter there’s no denying a promising and perhaps rewarding visit. Everything you almost need to know can be found here.