archives: News
Is the Pound Headed for Parity with the Euro?
Well, it sure looks that way. One tourist-hungry British village is already accepting the currencies at par, hoping to attract for Irish and contine [...]
R.I.P. Helen Suzman, 1917-2009
Helen Suzman, the lone anti-apartheid voice in the South African parliament for more than a decade, died today. She was 91. Suzman served as a South [...]
Editors’ Roundup: Matador 2008 Year in Review
Earlier this month we asked everyone on the editorial staff what their picks were for the best of 2008, both personally and at Matador. As expected it [...]
Now Hiring Travelers: U.S. Foreign Service
Well, tough economic times may be upon us, but at least one large-scale employer is looking for fresh blood — and travel experience is a plus. [...]
7 Memorable Matador Stories that Went Popular on Digg in 2008
44 Matador articles graced the Front Page of Digg in 2008. Here's a look back at 7 of our favorites. [...]
Last Call For Injustice
A US pre-trial hearing for a Canadian child soldier (sorry, make that child “enemy combatant”) who’s been held in Guantanamo for si [...]
Mugabe: “Zimbabwe Is Mine”
The BBC reports the latest ravings from Zimbabwe’s resident lunatic megalomaniac: I will never, never, never surrender. Zimbabwe is mine, I am [...]
Guantanamo Bay to Close? Gates Says Pentagon Working on Plan
According to a Spanish language article in the newspaper, El Pais, the Pentagon has announced that it has (finally) begun to develop a proposal for [...]
Rwandan Genocide “Masterminds” Convicted, Sentenced
More than 18 years later, three of the leaders behind the Rwandan genocide have been convicted of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, a [...]
Sometimes, The News Hurts
I hate to admit it, but after awhile the grim headlines from around the world can become a bit of a blur: Kidnappings, floods, shootings, famine, bomb [...]
Greyhound Canada: How To Piss Off All Your Customers Without Actually Making Them Any Safer
I used to really, really hate traveling by bus, for a variety of reasons (among them, that the contraptions make me a little queasy) — so it ju [...]
Stephanie Nolen: Goodbye Africa, Hello India
Photo by Lollie-Pop (Creative Commons) Stephanie Nolen, the Globe and Mail’s one-woman African bureau, is one of my favourite journalists ̵ [...]
Cuba-U.S. Relations Set to Normalize?
Travelers who have visited Cuba tend to describe the island as a time capsule or a freeze frame 1950s-era photo. In some ways, that’s true. [...]
LA Times, Chicago Tribune Publisher Goes Bankrupt
In breaking “is this the death of print?” news, the New York Times reports that the Tribune Company, the publisher of both the Los Angele [...]
Riots in Greece
With all the bad news over the past few weeks– protests in Bangkok, terrorist attacks in Mumbai, and political chaos in Canada–you might h [...]
A Day at Guantanamo Bay: One Guard’s Perspective
I applied for a press pass to visit the US Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in February 2008. Seven months later, I was notified I’d been appr [...]
Zimbabwe: Kenya Calls It Like It Is
Photo by dearbarbie (Creative Commons) Yup, it’s Zimbabwe Day again here at Pulse. A few months back, I noted that Botswana’s government [...]
Bus Companies vs. Rideshare: It’s Like Napster All Over Again
File this news story under “out of touch”. Remember when Napster first came on the scene, and everyone in the music industry was in a gre [...]
Black Friday: Consumerism Kills
Here’s a piece of news that reads like a dark satire: A Wal-Mart employee on Long Island was killed this morning by crazed, stampeding shopper [...]
Take Me Out To Citi-Taxpayer Field…?
Sports events can be a great way to connect with local culture when you travel. And now, they can be a great way to learn about recession politics, [...]
Chaos in Mumbai
I’m still trying to piece together what’s been going on in Mumbai in the last 24 hours. Reports are confusing, but it does seem clear that [...]
40 Years Later: The Vatican Gives John Lennon a Chance
Happy birthday, White Album. It’s been 40 years since the iconic Beatles album was released — and hey, in honor of the milestone the Vati [...]
WiFi in the Friendly Skies
Depending on your point of view, this news will either revolutionize your flight experience or make it even more revolting: WiFi is now available in [...]
[Insert “Yarr!” Joke Here]
So unless you’ve been living in a yurt somewhere, you’ve probably heard about the Saudi super-tanker that was hijacked by modern-day pira [...]
This Week in Archaeology: Pyramids in Egypt, Chariots in Bulgaria
There have been a couple of pretty exciting archaeological discoveries worth noting in recent days: First up, a new pyramid has been discovered in Eg [...]
Snowbirds, Take Note: Australian Desert Off Limits
As the chill of winter begins to descend upon some parts of the world, that group of travelers known as “snowbirds” are evaluating the p [...]
Why the Economic Crisis May Be an Opportunity for Travelers and Travel Writers
Everyone I know is worried about the economic crisis. And with reason. 401(k) values are plummeting. The safety net—if there ever was one—is f [...]
Could a Travel Boycott Be Headed Utah’s Way?
Quick follow-up to yesterday’s post about the Proposition 8 protests in California and across the States this weekend: Meg Massie over at Gadli [...]
Where’s the Love? A Blogger at the Prop 8 Protests
Ed. Note: Matador author Robyn Johnson attended one of this past weekend’s massive protests, in San Francisco. Here’s her take on the scen [...]
Responsible Tourism Awards 2008: The Winners!
The results are in for the latest round of Responsible Tourism Awards, and New Zealand was the year’s big winner. NZ took the overall prize bec [...]
Rest in Peace, “Mama Africa”
South African singer Miriam Makeba died this week at age 76. Nicknamed Mama Africa, Makeba was known throughout the world not only for her singing bu [...]
Special Comment: Keith Olbermann Tears Proposition 8 Apart
In the latest of his legendary comments, Olbermann went to town on Proposition 8 and its supporters. It wasn’t an angry attack, though, but an [...]
This Is What Inflation Looks Like
I’ve mentioned Zimbabwe’s staggering inflation problem here on Pulse before, but these pictures bring it home in a way words never will: [...]
“Chicago! It’s YOUR Kind of Town!”
Frank Sinatra might have thought Chicago was his type of town, but travel writers, airlines, and tourism boards are scrambling, in the wake of Obama [...]
The World’s Best Spots for a Same-Sex Wedding
Okay, so you’ve probably heard by now that Proposition 8 passed last night in California, banning same-sex marriage in the state. It’s a [...]
OH and PA go to Obama = Nail in the Coffin
CNN hasn’t called it. MSNBC hasn’t called it. FOX News hasn’t called it. NPR hasn’t called it. We may be jumping the gun, [...]
Matador’s Blogging Live from NPR HQ in DC!
I’m currently blogging live from NPR HQ in Washington, D.C., along with 20 other bloggers from around the country. I’ll be posting here on [...]
Election 2008: Who Are You Watching Tonight?
Photo by stricklin_family (Creative Commons) There’s more televised election coverage airing tonight than you can shake a stick at - but not a [...]
Attention, Passengers: Your baggage will be delayed due to…
a cheetah. How’d you like to get up close and personal to that face? It was all in a day’s work for a baggage handler at Atlanta’ [...]
What’s $15 Billion? Putting Exxon Mobil’s Record-Breaking Profits Into Perspective
In a time when many Americans are losing their homes, their jobs, and their retirement savings, Exxon’s quarterly earnings of almost $15 billion se [...]
Branson vs. the Bermuda Triangle
Apparently, even Sir Richard Branson is no match for the mighty Triangle. The billionaire called off his attempt at setting a new trans-Atlantic sai [...]
Media Games: What Happened on the Syrian Border?
Here’s an interesting exercise: Take two media accounts of the same news event, and compare them. Step 1: Read what the Globe and Mail had to [...]
Well, Finally! Making Planes Run On Bio-Fuel
A team of scientists in North Dakota has successfully created jet fuel from plant oils, Scientific American reports, and the resulting product is [...]
Disaster Aid: Killing with Kindness?
Natural disasters strike all too often, especially in places ill-equipped to handle the resultant humanitarian crises. When well-publicized, these m [...]
Protest of the Day: Cuffing Karl Rove
As the global financial crisis worsens, tempers are running high. One woman expressed herself recently by attempting to handcuff the notorious ex-Bus [...]
News From The French-Speaking World
The French language has been in the news a lot lately - in part, because this weekend saw the 2008 summit of the Francophonie - an organization of Fr [...]
Save those Souvenirs!
A segment on the local news caught my attention the other night: The last living survivor of the Titanic, 96 year old Millvina Dean, is auctioning o [...]
Pimp WHOSE Ride?
The Straight Talk Express may have lost a wheel, but don’t worry. McCain won’t need to pimp his ride: he’s got 13 cars to back him u [...]
Meanwhile, in Zimbabwe…
I’ve been so wrapped up in the American and Canadian elections these past few weeks, I’ve gotten a little slack in monitoring the news in [...]
A day without Mexicans…and Thanksgiving without turkey
I doubt my hometown has ever made national headlines, but it might just seize its 15 seconds of fame this week. Unfortunately, it won’t be for [...]
Obama Supporter Shot In London
A man in London is reporting that he was shot three times while attempting to flee a threatening gunman — and all because he was wearing a Bara [...]
From Bling to Broke: Iceland Going Bankrupt?
Last night, the Associated Press reported that Iceland–yes, the country–is “teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.” I’ll [...]
NYC Blog Contest Winner Announced!
A week ago, Pulse announced a contest: write an entertaining blog about an NYC experience and win a Not For Tourists NYC Guide. You can find the win [...]
“Thanks, but we’re already famous.”
Tonight, the “world’s greatest tenor,” Placido Domingo, gave a concert at Chichen Itza, one of the seven wonders of the modern wor [...]
Matador Goes to Guantanamo!
After seeing the documentary, “Gitmo: The New Rules of War,” earlier this year, I applied for a press pass to visit the US military’ [...]
The FBI May Be Listening… Even When Your Phone Is Off
So says Fox News: Are You Friggin Kidding Me - Watch more free videos Incidentally, this might be the first time I’ve ever repeated something I [...]
Churches Endorse John McCain, Face Wrath of IRS
Several dozen American pastors put their wallets on the line this weekend, breaking a decades-old ban on political endorsements from the pulpit. In a [...]
Remembering Paul Newman, World Citizen… & Actor
Paul Newman died yesterday at the age of 83. He’ll be remembered most as an iconic actor of the 20th century (and a damn handsome one), but I [...]
Pure Genius
Imagine: Your phone rings. You answer. Someone on the other end of the line says: “Congratulations. We think you’re a genius. And by the w [...]
Facilitating Martial Law? US Army’s New Dwell-Time Mission Set to Begin in October
Earlier this month, ArmyTimes.com reported that the 3rd Infantry Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team (1st BCT) is being trained as an on-call federa [...]
Matt Damon: Palin As President Is Like “A Really Bad Disney Movie”
How do you like them apples, Mrs. Palin? [...]
Chinese Elephant Kicks Smack Habit, Heads Home
In kinda-funny-til-you-really-think-about-it (then-it-gets-really-sad) news, a young Asian elephant, Xiguang, has recently returned home to China aft [...]
Si Se Puede: Yes you can…sell your art!
Are you a starving artist desperate to sell your work? So is Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, apparently. Or was. The Associated Press reported o [...]
Green Airport for the Galapagos?
The government of Ecuador has just announced that it has green-lighted plans to build the world’s first “ecological airport”… [...]
Smoky’s Narc Cousin? Bear Busts Utah Grow-Op
In Utah’s Garfield County, the sheriff’s office has revealed that they found remnants of a major marijuana operation - apparently shut do [...]
NYC for $38 a Night?!
Budget travelers, take note! New York City is suddenly within your reach! The Broadway Hotel & Hostel, a self-described “designer hoste [...]
Is Water The New Oil? Global h2o Consumption Doubling Every 20 Years
It’s a familiar story: A finite, precious resource, long taken for granted in North America, but now coming under increased demand from the em [...]
All Inclusive Vacation: Spray Paint Not Included
Have you heard about Jim Clay Harper (a.k.a. “Ether”) and his girlfriend, Danielle Bremner (a.k.a. “Dani”)? They’re th [...]
Storm Warning for Burning Man
Dust storms could mean burners are in for a wild ride at Burning Man. [...]
Room for You… in Space
So, if you haven’t been following news from outer space lately, here’s an update. Last year, Galactic Suite Limited established itself a [...]
Madrid Crash Kills 153
Today’s crash of Spanair flight JK5022 upon take off at Madrid’s Barajas Airport was the latest in a series of recent air disasters that h [...]
Shooting for a Darwin Award? Kite Surfer Tries to Ride Hurricane Fay
A kite surfer got a lot more than he bargained for today, when he apparently tried to take on Tropical Storm Fay on a Fort Lauderdale beach. A news c [...]
U.S. Passport Card: Worth the Hassle?
Christine Gilbert says skip the passport card and stick with the real deal. [...]
Botswana Takes On Mugabe (Finally!)
Photo by openDemocracy The President of Botswana has broken ranks with most of his African colleagues, and called Robert Mugabe’s so-called re [...]
The World’s Primates: See Them Before They’re Gone?
Photo by peasap (Creative Commons) Sad news from CNN: a new report shows that nearly 50% of the world’s primates are at risk of extinction. T [...]
This Just In: Fast Food Isn’t Good For Your Kids?!
Photo by Xurble (Creative Commons) In the “duh!” news item of the day, the Associated Press reports that 93% of meal options at America& [...]
Weekly Airline Rant: $2 for Water?!
Frequent fliers have been joking for awhile that we’ll soon be paying for the air we breathe while flying. And the way things are looking now, [...]
Where the Wild Things Are
For years, tourists have been planning their travels around tales of otherworldly creatures, hoping to confirm with their own eyes what they’ [...]
100 Days & Counting…
With just 100 days left in what’s easily been the most exciting presidential race in my lifetime, voters are beginning to ask: Who will McCain [...]
Kayaking Safety Bill In The Works
U.S legislation that would require kayaking schools to increase their training for beginners has passed the House. Under the new law, schools would ha [...]
When in France… Drink Tap Water
That’s right, if you want to “do as the French do” on your next trip to Paris or Provence, better put down that bottle of Evian and [...]
Americans Afraid of Travel?: Response to Obama Trip Suggests “Yes”
Barack Obama has had a busy week, jetting through the Middle East and Europe to take the pulse of the world’s attitude towards America and to [...]
There Will Be… Guns?
Of all the travel destinations that are uniquely American, perhaps none are more cherished than the system of national parks. From Assateague Natio [...]
Minimum Wage on the Rise
A wage increase goes into effect today for American workers who get paid the hourly minimum. Up 70 cents to $6.55, the two percent of Americans who [...]
Hello, Dolly!: Latest Hurricane News
Hurricane Dolly made landfall earlier today in the coastal region of Texas and northern Mexico. While locals brace for gale-force rains and winds, a [...]
Big In Kosovo: Passports
It’s been five months since Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia - an act that sparked violence between ethnic Albanians and Serbs in t [...]
What would you do with $100 billion?
In Zimbabwe, the answer is: not much. The troubled country has just introduced a $100 billion banknote - according to this CNN story, it is equivalen [...]
Sleepless in SEA? (or JFK, LAX, or ORD?)
If you’re a regular Pulse reader, then you know that every few weeks or so I’m due a new rant on the American airline industry. ItR [...]
What have you watched on YouTube lately?
Photo by Shht! (Creative Commons) Thanks to a U.S. district court, media megalith Viacom Inc. could be about to find out. Last week, in the latest r [...]
From Diplomat’s Daughter to FARC Hostage: Ingrid Betancourt Timeline
1961: Ingrid Betancourt is born in Bogota, Colombia. Her father, Gabriel Betancourt, was Colombia’s Minister of Education, assistant director of [...]
Ingrid Betancourt: LIBRE!!
I couldn’t have been happier to come home last night to the news from journalist and Colombia-based Matador member Richard McColl that Ingrid Be [...]
Bye-bye backpacker, hello flashpacker?
Guest Editorial by Matador member Matt Kepnes Somewhere before my bus broke down in Australia, I was called a flashpacker. Despite being on the road [...]
Police Blotter: News from Mexico City
Every week is a big news week as far as the police of Mexico City are concerned, and the MCPD’s PR folks clearly have their jobs cut out for t [...]
Save Our Archives!
Photo by moriza (Creative Commons) ‘Wow,’ someone said to me the other day, after I’d finished telling him about my recent career [...]
Megabus or Megabust?
If you’re a budget traveler, I’ll bet you’re already hip to the cheap tickets for the so-called Chinese buses that run between Chi [...]
Reality Check: South Africa
Photo by Lollie-Pop (Creative Commons I can still remember the first time a college professor opened my eyes to the way ‘Africa’ (and, o [...]
Afro-Latins: No Longer the Silent Minority
A few years back, my husband and I had some Spanish teachers over for dinner. They were lovely people and we’d enjoyed a spirited conversation [...]
Picks of the Week: Update from Zimbabwe
The grim ins and outs of the Zimbabwean ‘elections’ this spring have been tough to keep up with. Vote-rigging, intimidation and violence, [...]
You can bet your bottom dollar…
that I’ll be avoiding all these new bag charges that US airlines are imposing. After the April announcement that they’d be charging a & [...]
SOBRO, Represent!
SOBRO, in case you didn’t know, is the hip new name for the South Bronx (or, if you prefer ‘Da South Bronx). Imagine my surprise upon fin [...]
On Bad Terms with Tourism?
I’ve just cleaned out my mailbox after being on the road for six weeks, and a bundle of magazines and review copies of travel related books now [...]
‘It all starts with respecting yourself’
Adam Beach isn’t just one of the more high-profile Canadians in Hollywood these days - he’s also almost certainly the most high-profile Ab [...]
Call Me Cynical…
I’m an airplane seat scavenger, picking up the newspapers and magazines other travelers have left behind. That’s my only excuse for readi [...]
Big in Canada: Vegan KFC
Photo by bigbold (Creative Commons) Check your calendars, folks: April Fool’s Day was more than two months ago. So, yes, this is for real. Aft [...]
Sunshine Guaranteed…or Your Money Back
So, you’ve plugged away in your cubicle all year and can FINALLY see your vacation days on the horizon. Your bags are packed, you’re on y [...]
NY Times: Manitoba is a Must-See
Photo by Matt Callow (Creative Commons) Imagine my surprise when, scanning the New York Times list of 31 closer-to-home places to visit this summer, [...]
“Oh give me a home…”
If you’re a writer, you don’t need me to tell you about that creeping feeling of anxiety that swells up at the end of each month when yo [...]
Here’s one way to spend your ‘economic stimulus check’…
Photo by babasteve (Creative Commons) I came across this grim story on TheRoot.com yesterday about fistula - a potentially life-threatening conditio [...]
Can Cell Phones End Poverty?
That’s the question Sara Corbett asked in a recent New York Times Magazine article about the varied uses of cell phones around the world. Corb [...]
How To Get Aid To Burma
Photo by khaipi (Creative Commons) One of the more agonizing aspects of the Cyclone Nargis aftermath has been watching Burma’s military rulers [...]
Battle Over Border Searches Heats Up
Photo by androog (Creative Commons) An unlikely coalition of activists is warning travelers to think twice about the data on their laptops before cr [...]
Attn. All Wired Travelers!
Photo by Jace (Creative Commons) For those of you who travel fully wired, the airport internet service provider, Boingo, is offering a promotion for [...]
