In the United States? Catch a free ride with the Kindness Cab

by Jessica Festa on

From now up until November 13, 2011, anyone located in between Washington D.C. and Los Angeles, California, can catch a free ride in a 1985 London Sterling taxi. CouchSurfer Leon Logothetis started driving the Kindness Cab in a an effort to give back to the community as well as raise money for charity. If you’re interested in hitching a ride with him, you can click here to follow his whereabouts and connect.

Years ago, Logothetis hitchhiked from New York to L.A., relying on the kindness of strangers to get around. Now, as he re-traces his original route, he is repaying the favor. On his first day in New York, he drove thirteen hours and picked up thirty passengers. The entire journey will end on November 13, 2011, World Kindness Day.

Here is a list of where and when you can catch the Kindness Cab next:

October 31- Chicago
November 3- St. Louis
November 7- Denver
November 9- Santa Fe
November 10- Phoenix
November 11- Las Vegas
November 13- Los Angeles

Meet Take A View’s Landscape Photographer of The Year: Robert Fulton

by Elizabeth Seward on

Robert Fulton considers himself to be a ‘serious amateur’ photographer, but I think he’s just being modest, which is a perfectly decent way to be. But despite whatever might qualify Fulton as an amateur photographer, his work feels professional to me. Fulton was recently awarded the ‘Landscape Photographer of The Year’ title from www.take-a-view.co.uk. 10,000 British Pounds later, Fulton is only the fifth person to win this accolade.

His imagery is wet. When I sit still and soak in the scenes from his landscape shots in the slideshow on his website, I feel immersed in the respective places, immersed as if in water, with the colors draping over my own skin. And no matter how poetic I think photography is, this sort of arousal in a viewer isn’t an easy one to work up. Fulton’s images make one thing certain: he is a landscape photographer head over heels in love with nature. And isn’t that the way it should be?

For anyone interested in seeing his photography in person, his award-winning landscape series will be on display at The National Theatre in London from December 5th, 2011 until January 28th, 2012. Admission is free and the exhibition will feature over 100 photos taken by Fulton.

Will Canada dump the beaver?

by Kraig Becker on

For more than 35 years, the official national animal of Canada has been the beaver. The creature earned that lofty honor due to its industrious behavior and the importance that the trade in beaver pelts played in the country’s history. But now, if one Canadian Senator gets her way, the beaver may be replaced as a national symbol with another animal – one that is also closely associated with Canada.

Last week, Senator Nicole Eaton made an impassioned plea to her colleagues asking them to consider changing Canada’s official animal to the polar bear. Calling the beaver “a dentally defective rat,” Eaton said the creatures are a nuisance, citing her own issues with the beasts gnawing on the dock at her lakeside cottage. She went on to argue that the polar bear has “strength, courage, resourcefulness and dignity,” qualities which would make it the perfect symbol for Canada.

Environmentalists have been quick to criticize the suggestion, saying that Eaton’s Conservative party supports environmental policies that could spell the end of polar bears before the 21st century is over. Eaton countered by saying that Canada has an excellent track record for managing its polar bear population, demonstrating its commitment to the endangered creatures.

It’s too early yet to know if the rodent will be replaced with the ferocious predator, but this is essentially akin to the U.S. dumping the eagle in favor of another animal. There is sure to be all kinds of discussion, both for and against.

One in four travelers smuggle liquids through TSA checkpoints

by McLean Robbins on

A new survey from Skyscanner suggests that as many as one in four travelers smuggle liquids past security – both accidentally and on purpose.

Of the 1,000 poll respondents, 42% agree that current rulings are too restrictive and one in five complaining that airports tend to enforce rules differently. Only 2% believed the legislation did not go far enough.

About 4% of respondents admitted that they have purposely smuggled liquids through security – and got away with it.

We’ve certainly noticed airport security becoming more lax with the 3-1-1 rulings, particularly when the creams and liquids are within travel-sized containers in carry-on or gate checked luggage. Still, it probably isn’t a good idea to try to smuggle in liquids that are in flagrant disregard of the rules. Anything that makes travel more difficult for you and your fellow patrons likely isn’t a great idea.

Divers can experience coral spawning in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia this November

by Jessica Festa on

In 1981, the first scientific observation of coral spawning took place. Coral spawning can be thought of as a coral orgy or sex on the Great Barrier Reef, with the process beginning six months prior when eggs and sperm begin to form in the coral. Certain factors must be present for the coral spawning to take place, such as water temperatures being 27 degrees Celsius and a full moon (the spawning with occur from the 2nd to 6th night following).

If you want to see coral spawning for yourself first-hand, visit Queensland, Australia, from November 15-17th, 2011 and signup for a night dive. While the dates are not 100% guaranteed, it is predicted that this is when the coral spawning will occur this year. Want to check it out from the comfort of your computer chair? Watch this video: