Category: Travel

Ernest Hemingway, born in the last year of the 19th century, seemed to embody the kind of gruff masculinity that John Wayne would’ve looked up to. In pictures, he looks like he wore sweaters made of brillo pads. He participated in three wars. He had strong opinions about all kinds of things—guns, fine art, boxing, European cities—and was always up at dawn, claiming to have seen every sunrise since he’d been born. He was never happier than when hunting or fishing, really anything murderous. He survived two plane crashes in two consecutive days and after the second was believed dead, until he emerged from the jungle holding a bunch of bananas and a bottle of gin, Time magazine would report later, “battered but unbowed.”He was also, as noted, a famous and exuberant drunk, the kind of guy who orders a cocktail at the airport he arrives at, who drinks Champagne with breakfast and goes on epic, several day benders, and whose habits inspired an entire book just about his relationship to alcohol. Everything was outsized, everything turned fantastic: Hemingway was the kind of guy who could tell a story about how when he was in Montana he lived with a bear, got drunk with him, slept side by side and were indeed close friends, and you suspect he’s probably telling the truth.His fame, combined with his nomadic nature and his gargantuan appetite for drink, has led to cottage industries in a half dozen cities, Hemingway Drinking Tours, with some bar or another claiming to be the author’s favorite haunt in Venice or Paris or Key West or, in the case of the Hemingway Daiquiri, Havana, to which the author decamped in 1939. Hemingway came to Cuba to leave his second wife and write what would ultimately become For Whom the Bell Tolls, and for his first few months, he set up at a hotel just up the street from a little bar called La Florida (affectionately referred to as “La Floridita”), which was already famous for making the best Daiquiris in Cuba.In 1934, the bar had published Bar La Florida Cocktail Book, featuring four different house versions of the Daiquiri. In an updated printing in 1939, they’d add a Daiquiri No. 5, as well as an entry a few pages later, the “E. Henmiway Special,” which was identical to their Daiquiri No. 3 except it had no sugar syrup and was blended, as opposed to shaken and strained.

Source: Hemingway Daiquiri Recipe: How to Make a Rum and Maraschino Cocktail – Robb Report

One thing nearly all air taxi concepts share in common is fast-spinning propellers or ducted fans somewhere outside the aircraft’s fuselage, pushing air to develop thrust whichever way they’re pointed.

Source: Jetoptera VTOL aircraft design features “bladeless fans on steroids”

What is seekUTseekUT is a free, online tool and website that can assist you and your family in making informed decisions about your college education and financial future.How does it work?seekUT presents straightforward and understandable data that tells you what real UT graduates are earning – based on campus and major – one, five, and ten years after graduation. It also tells you what Industries are employing UT graduates in Texas along with predicted job openings.Additionally, seekUT tells you what the median student loan debt is at graduation for those who took out loans, the percentage of students who borrowed, and the estimated monthly loan payment compared to median monthly earnings.Once you realize your foreseeable earnings compared to your expected loan debt, you can better grasp the value of your higher education journey.What will the data tell me?National and Texas earnings – 1, 5, and 10 years after graduationStudent loan debt – median loan debt, monthly loan payment, debt-to-income ratioIndustry of employmentJob openings by occupation (2012-2022)Other interesting information, such as basic degree requirements, time to degree, and the percentage of students who go further in their educationWho is included in the data?Data are available for approximately 300 degree majors at the bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and professional levels at UT institutions. It is based on UT graduates working full-time nationally. UT System is partnering with the U.S. Census Bureau and Texas Workforce Commission to provide valuable information about its graduates living throughout the United States.Who benefits from the data?Whether you are preparing to go to college for the first time, embarking on graduate school, or studying for a medical career, seekUT presents real data based on actual graduates to help you have realistic expectations about your future.Where can I access seekUT?seekUT can be easily accessed on your desktop, laptop, or tablet; or on a smartphone through seekUTMobile.When should I use seekUT?There’s no better time to plan for your college career than the present. Whether you are in high school, graduate school, or planning a transfer between campuses/institutions, seekUT has helpful data to support your decision process.Get started right now by letting UT System make planning a little easier for you.

Source: What is seekUT | seekUT

Parliament made history yesterday and overjoyed climate and civil society groups took a victory lap as the Senate passed Canada’s first-ever climate accountability legislation, just hours before adjourning for the summer.The Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act (Bill C-12) had passed the House of Commons less than a week before, setting the stage for senators to decide the fate of the legislation—and the years-long research, policy, and advocacy effort that brought it into being.“The adoption of Bill C-12 by both Houses of Parliament is a groundbreaking moment and ushers Canada into a new era of accountability to its climate commitments,” said Climate Action Network-Canada (CAN-Rac) Executive Director Catherine Abreu. “After decades of broken climate promises made on the international stage, years of relentless mobilization by the climate community led to this legislative milestone. While the Bill is by no means perfect and we will work to ensure its robust implementation, this moment is a testament to people power, and a big step forward for Canadian climate action.”“Canada finally has a climate accountability framework—now we need to implement it,” wrote Ecojustice lawyer Alan Andrews, whose organization played a pivotal role in developing the legal arguments and strategies behind the bill.“Despite knowing for decades that climate change is a rapidly growing threat to our health, environment, communities, and economy, Canada has missed every single greenhouse gas target it has ever set,” he added. “In the absence of a climate accountability law, successive governments have faced few consequences for this ongoing failure.”Which is why “establishing a framework to support Canada in finally meeting its pollution targets is a practical and necessary step to change this trajectory.”Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson introduced what critics saw as an “underwhelming” C-12 in the House in November, 2020. Months later, it was still languishing on the Order Paper, with few visible signs that the government planned to move it to committee for detailed study. The bill went through a requisite effort by the Conservative opposition to quash it entirely, before the Liberals and New Democrats agreed on a package of revisions and climate hawks pushed hard for further improvements.By the time the Commons held its final vote on C-12 last week, a Senate committee was already conducting a pre-study of the bill, Senate sponsor Sen. Rosa Galvez (ISG-Quebec) was optimistic it would pass the Red Chamber, and even fossil senator Doug Black (CSG-Alberta) seemed kindly disposed to the measure.“Kudos to the Senate and @SenRosaGalvez for getting this climate accountability bill through at the end of session,” Sussex Strategy senior counsel Shawn McCarthy tweeted late yesterday afternoon. “The bill doesn’t ensure success of Canada’s net-zero ambition but is an important tool for accountability.”In a release, Galvez said yesterday’s vote marked a break from the Senate’s “shameful record of killing climate and environmental legislation.”With 15 other countries already operating under comprehensive climate accountability frameworks, she added, Canada is “late to the race, and given our history of failures to meet unambitious targets, we need this methodically planned framework to hold this and all consecutive governments accountable for demonstrating how they will achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Governments will no longer be able to set climate targets without being accountable to Canadians on their plan to achieve our objectives.”CAN-Rac, which played a central part in the legislative fight for the bill, says the final version:• Establishes a long-term target of reaching net-zero emissions in 2050;• Contains a legislative requirement for emissions reductions targets at five-year milestones beginning in 2030, with an interim objective in 2026;• Requires governments to set climate targets 10 years in advance;• Creates a framework for detailed climate policy planning and progress reporting;• Legislates a Net-Zero Advisory Body composed of diverse stakeholders and rights-holders to advise the minister of environment and climate change on targets and plans;• Requires the minister to consider the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in climate planning and target-setting;• Mandates a legislative review of the bill, five years after its adoption.“Bill C-12 is not perfect,” said Ecojustice’s Andrews. “But it does bring Canada closer to taking the action needed to stave off a climate catastrophe. Crucially, we finally have a legislative framework that will require the federal government to have a plan to meet pollution targets (and take more action if they are off track). Over time, this law can be improved if experience shows it isn’t up to the task.”“Canada has missed every climate target it has set for itself because climate change has never been seen as a true emergency, like COVID-19,” said West C

Source: Senate Vote on Climate Accountability Act Counters ‘Decades of Broken Promises’ – The Energy Mix

India is a land known for its cultural heritage and beauty. But apart from that, India is also blessed with some of the beautiful and eye-catchy natural wonders. India is a peninsular country blessed with hills, mountains, islands, seas, oceans, rivers, and lakes. India is not only diverse in cultural aspects but also in geological aspects.India has the hottest deserts, snowy mountains, and dense forests. It sounds great just to hear itself, right? What if you are given a chance to travel through the amazing landscapes of India on a train?

Source: 20 Most Beautiful Train Routes In India

Greece is reopening to US travelers and expects a big return in tourists this summer.The Greek Islands are among the most beautiful places to visit in Greece, especially Santorini.The best hotels in Santorini boast dramatic views, private pools, beaches, and suites for families.With the recent announcement that Greece will open to travelers this summer with proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test, now is the time to plan a visit to one of the country’s gems, Santorini.The island is best known for its iconic, whitewashed clifftop towns that offer striking panoramas of the world-famous caldera, a crescent-shaped bay with volcanic islands peeking out from the glittering blue Aegean Sea. “Santorini, and the Greek islands in general, are ideal for post-pandemic travel because most services take place outside and visitors won’t spend a lot of time indoors or in closed spaces with others,” says Mina Agnos, president of Travelive, a luxury travel firm that has been sending mainly US-based clients to the island for 20 years.”Now is also a great time to visit Santorini since there will be fewer cruises and crowd sizes will be much smaller than in the past,” she said.  That’s great news for travelers looking to stay in the popular villages of Oia, Imerovigli, Firostefani, and Fira, making now a unique time to visit before the majority of travelers return in full.With expert input, we compiled top hotels based on value, location, as well as amenities such as private pools. And keep reading for tips on where to stay, how to find cheap deals, and what to know about travel restrictions in Greece.The best hotels on Santorini were selected based on the following criteria:Hotels are located all over the island in popular towns that offer dramatic caldera and sea views, close proximity to popular tourist attractions, and beachfront access.Every hotel offers rooms with coveted perks such as cave-style architecture, cliffside rooms with Aegean views, private pools, or jetted tubs.Hotels are small or intimate properties to avoid crowds and encourage social distancing.Hotels cater to a wide range of travelers, from couples to families. Each has a Booking.com rating of 8.9 or above with a plethora of positive reviews and is highly rated on other trusted traveler sites such as Trip Advisor.Hotels range in price from $97 to $809 per night to suit a range of budgets, depending on the season, though, keep in mind most island hotels operate only from May to mid-October.All have COVID-19 protocols and procedures in place, which we’ve noted with each listing.

Source: The Best Hotels in Santorini in 2021

(CNN) — Remote working has become a possibility for many during the pandemic, meaning the office can now be anywhere from a kitchen table to a sandy beach on the other side of the world.And while relocating to a picturesque Italian town might also factor on many people’s lists, that prospect just got even better with two destinations offering to pay workers who make the move.In an attempt to lure newcomers, Santa Fiora in Tuscany and Rieti in Lazio will pay up to 50% of the rent of anyone who decides to move and telecommute on a long-term basis.Rents are already relatively low, so the deal is potentially very attractive, but make no mistake, this is no paid vacation.Applicants must have an “active” job, even if they can do it in front of a laptop on a panoramic terrace overlooking olive groves while sipping a glass of red wine.It doesn’t matter what you do for a living, as long as you’re tech-savvy enough to do it anywhere.Although Italy is still slowly emerging from its latest pandemic wave, it hopes to reopen properly to travelers over the next few weeks, raising the tantalizing prospect of a proper Italian summer.And while Covid has hit Italy particularly hard compared with some of its European neighbors, one silver lining has been that people have been relocating to previously depopulated towns, bringing new life to previously declining areas that now offer social distancing and lower contagion rates.So-called “smart working villages” are now flourishing in Italy as local authorities grasp the potential of boosting high-speed internet and setting up equipped “labs” for telecommuters.

Source: These beautiful Italian towns will pay you to work remotely | CNN Travel

One of the stranger little side alleys of booze history is that in order to tell the story of the Sazerac—that most New Orleans of cocktails, essentially an Old Fashioned wearing a beret—you first need to talk about a pale-yellow aphid called phylloxera, which found its way to France about 150 years ago and proceeded to eviscerate the French wine industryPhylloxera lives in the soil and spends its time sucking on the roots of grape vines, which, as it turns out, is a fairly effective way to kill them. At first, farmers didn’t know what was affecting the vines, and could merely witness—concern turning to fear, which then turned to abject panic and horror—as entire fields began to wither and die. It is difficult to overstate the near apocalyptic experience for winemakers, watching waves of destruction slowly roll through their villages and regions. They tried everything—building walls, quarantining or burning afflicted fields, recruiting armies of chickens and toads to eat all the insects—all to no avail. The first case was recorded in the Languedoc, in 1863. By the 1900s, some 70 percent of all vines in France were dead.

Source: Best Sazerac Recipe: How to Make the Rye and Absinthe Cocktail – Robb Report