The rumors have been flying around for a while now... is Cuban dictator Fidel Castro dead or still alive and just in hiding?
Is his absence from public view doing anything to help/harm his cause? Will the regime continue after his death? Will the embargo ever end?
I don't know what to think. What's your take on it?
... back in the day (actually, just a few years ago) when you could walk through airport security with your shoes on? Those days may be getting closer to return thanks to a shoe-scanner that's in the works. Unfortunately, it's not ready for widespread use anytime soon.
Read the full story here.
Wouldn't it be great if, one day -- and maybe I'm dreaming here -- you could take a trip where a two-hour flight didn't mean you have to reserve your entire day for travel (ie waiting around in lines, airport lounges, etc.) and can spend more of it at your destination, doing what you're headed there to do?
Have you ever been traveling in another country and found yourself ashamed to be American because of the behavior of some fellow countryman (or woman).
I have.
For 45 years, it's been law: You cannot travel from the U.S. to Cuba.
I understand why the embargo was put in place. And maybe it made sense 45 years ago, but in recent years, it just seems kind of silly and pretty darn ineffective.
You want to visit the island for a little rum and Coke? To smoke an authentic Cuban cigar? To work on your salsa moves or scope out the culture? You just grab a flight to Mexico and go from there.
But check out this story about how federal regulators fined Travelocity.com $182,760 for booking trips between the two countries. The story also notes that the regulators fined individuals hundreds of dollars for purchasing Cuban cigars through the Internet.
Come on.
Cuba sits fewer than 100 miles off the coast of Florida -- closer than our own Puerto Rico -- yet it's tierra prohibida, or forbidden terrority for Americans. Even for the thousands of Cubans and Cuban Americans whose friends and family are still on the island.
I'm not in favor of supporting Castro or communism, but really, how much good is this embargo doing?
What's your take -- is it time to give it up or is the embargo still effective?
... check out this story from USA Today. It includes a searchable database where you can find out how healthy or polluted your favorite shore spot is.
