Beijing tourism officials are asking restaurants not to serve xiangrou, aka - dog meat, during the Olympic Games this summer. If a patron of the restaurant requests a dog dish, the wait staff is supposed to suggest an alternative. I was very disappointed to hear this. One of my favorite parts of traveling is trying the local cuisine! When you go to Chicago, you demand the deep dish pizza. When you go to Galveston, you sample the shrimp kisses. When you go to China, you should be able to consume the canine.

University of Michigan political scientist, Ronald Inglehart, has finalized his happiness study and has found that Zimbabwe is Earth’s least happiest nation. In happier news, Denmark leads in smiles and rainbows. His survey dates back an average of 17 years and has reached over 350,000 people in 52 countries around the globe. These people were asked two simple questions: (more…)

The town of Westmore, VT recently hit the news when some residents decided to push for an anti-nudity ordinance. In Westmore is the Southwest Cove of Lake Willoughby - one of the country’s most famous nudist beaches. It has been for 25 years and it’s not a secret. The beach is on public land that isn’t visible from the highway. The state also advises visitors with a sign that warns “be advised, you may encounter nude bathers.” But I’m not writing this to rant my opinion about the few pains in the ass that are trying to ruin something that really isn’t bothering anyone anyway (ok, maybe a little opinion in there). I want to know Mestew Nation’s thoughts on nudist beaches. More specifically, would you go nude at the beach if it were acceptable like it currently is at Southwest Cove? Or if you have been to a nudist beach, what was your experience like?

As many of you know, M.E. and I took Mestew to the Big Apple this past weekend. The trip was intended to be a pilgrimage to the soon to be demolished Yankee Stadium. Yes, that was the intent, but the result was so much more. So with out further ado, I give you the Mestew lessons learned from NYC. (more…)

I am an idiot. Like many men-and probably women as well- I often make decisions based on what I want rather then what makes logical sense. I did this while buying a car recently. I could have gone with a 4-valve, small block, highly efficient engine that would have saved me large amounts of money at the pump. This would have been logical, especially when you consider that I recently began a new job that forces me to drive long distances. Did I do that though? No, of course not. Remember, I am an idiot. Instead I went with a 5.7 liter, V8 Hemi ran machine. This sucks down gasoline like a fat kid at the business end of a milkshake straw. Oh, and I have to use Mid Grade Unleaded which adds another 10 cents per gallon. So, perhaps I deserve the pain at the pump, but I still say the prices are out of control. I propose a rollback or suspension of the gas tax or the governmental control of prices or the abolishment of massive profits for gas and oil companies or something that helps me from being bent over every time I drive into a Speedway or a Shell. I know I am not alone here. So answer me this Nation, HOW ARE THE PRICES AT THE PUMP IMPACTING YOU? No poll options here, I just want you to sound off your rage and tell me your individual feelings and dilemmas regarding our current gasoline rates.