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	<description>The Voice of Travel, Adventure and Arizona Mountain Biking</description>
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		<title>Former Arizona Republic Writer&#8217;s Blog: Great Reading</title>
		<link>http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/02/journalism-in-phoenix/</link>
		<comments>http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/02/journalism-in-phoenix/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:24:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>WanderingJustin</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[Journalism in Phoenix sucks. We have one bland uber-paper, a pugnacious free weekly (brave, but in dire need of editing), a bunch of chicken-dinner rah-rah community rags.
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<li><a href='http://wanderingjustin.com/2011/07/great-ideas-for-urban-planning-the-scramble-crosswalk/' rel='bookmark' title='Great Ideas for Urban Planning &#8211; The Scramble Crosswalk'>Great Ideas for Urban Planning &#8211; The Scramble Crosswalk</a> <small>Travel is more than fun - it's a great way...</small></li>
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			<p>Journalism in Phoenix sucks. We have one bland uber-paper, a pugnacious free weekly (brave, but in dire need of editing), a bunch of chicken-dinner rah-rah community rags.</p>
<p>That’s it. For one of the largest metro areas in the nation.The the uber paper &#8211; <em>The Arizona Republic</em> &#8211; and the lamented and lost-in-all-but-name <em>East Valley Tribune</em> has some outstanding people. A longtime colleague and friend pointed me out to a blog by someone called the <a rel="nofollow" href="http://roguecolumnist.typepad.com/rogue_columnist/2009/09/why-do-you-hate-arizona.html" >Rogue Columnist</a>.</p>
<p>My friend recommended a <a rel="nofollow" href="http://roguecolumnist.typepad.com/rogue_columnist/2012/01/phoenix-101-maryvale.html" >post about Maryvale</a>, a declining neighborhood in the West Valley. I clicked. I read. I nodded. I said “damn, this guy is good. Who is this?”</p>
<p>None other than John Talton, former columnist for <em>The Arizona Republic</em>. Most of the time, he wrote about real estate. As a young breaking news writer, the topic wasn’t really my bag. But John … he always views things through a different prism. After getting roped into a few of his columns, his byline became a hallmark of quality. If he wrote it, I read it.If you like real estate, read Rogue Columnist. If you like architecture, read Rogue Columnist. If you like excellent writing, read Rogue Columnist.</p>
<p>Just to give <em>The Arizona Republic&nbsp;</em>credit for now and then hiring someone with real ability, let me point out Norm Frauheim. As a sportswriter, I mostly knew his work covering boxing. I honestly don’t care about boxing. But I was probably at lunch and in dire need of reading material &#8211; so I read one of his stories. And he roped me in, time after time. If he bothered to write it, he wrote it well.</p>
<p>Journalism in Phoenix is stuck in a mentality that mashes Ricky Bobby’s “If you’re not first, you’re last” credo with the celebrity and sex-driven world of Idiocracy. How much better might our local media be if <em>The Arizona Republic</em> cultivated people, enhanced their skills, gave them room to write? Online breaking news and being the first to Tweet is great … but great writing born from deep thought, solid reporting and perspective would trump it.<br />
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<hr /><h2>Related posts:</h2><ul><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2010/10/odd-buildings-phoenix/"  rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: 3 Bizarre Buildings Still Stand Tall in Phoenix">3 Bizarre Buildings Still Stand Tall in Phoenix</a></li><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2009/08/airline-update-phoenix-jamaica/"  rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Airline Update &#8211; Phoenix to Jamaica">Airline Update &#8211; Phoenix to Jamaica</a></li><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2010/04/hometown/"  rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Forget Where You&#8217;re From &#8211; Be Where You Are">Forget Where You&#8217;re From &#8211; Be Where You Are</a></li><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2009/01/2thingsphx/"  rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Two Things About Phoenix That Should Be True">Two Things About Phoenix That Should Be True</a></li><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2009/07/national-geographic-bungles-story-on-new-zealands-tongariro/"  rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: National Geographic Bungles Story on New Zealand&#8217;s Tongariro">National Geographic Bungles Story on New Zealand&#8217;s Tongariro</a></li></ul><hr /><small>Copyright &copy; 2008<br /> This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. <br /> The use of this feed on other websites breaches copyright. If this content is not in your news reader, it makes the page you are viewing an infringement of the copyright. (Digital Fingerprint:<br /> )</small><a href="http://getinboundwriter.com/wordpress/" ><img src="http://wanderingjustin.com/wp-content/plugins/inboundwriter/images/h_solidpurple.png" alt="h solidpurple Former Arizona Republic Writers Blog: Great Reading" class="alignleft" style="border:0;clear:both;" title="Former Arizona Republic Writers Blog: Great Reading" /></a><p>Related posts:<ol>
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		<title>24 Ore di Roma – American-Style Mountain Bike Racing in Italy</title>
		<link>http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/02/24-ore-di-roma-american-style-mountain-bike-racing-in-italy/</link>
		<comments>http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/02/24-ore-di-roma-american-style-mountain-bike-racing-in-italy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:29:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>WanderingJustin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[biking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[24 hours of canaan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[24 ore di roma]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ameria]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cycling culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[epic races]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mountain bike]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[The United States owes a lot of its cycling culture to Italy – from vocabulary to some of its most sought-after brands. But it looks like American mountain bike culture has returned the favor: Twenty-four-hour racing has made its way to Rome.
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			<div id="attachment_5109" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 370px"><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/02/24-ore-di-roma-american-style-mountain-bike-racing-in-italy/film-life-of-brian/"  rel="attachment wp-att-5109"><img class=" wp-image-5109 " title="Film  Life of Brian" src="http://wanderingjustin.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/life_of_brian_1358087c-400x250.jpg" alt="life of brian 1358087c 400x250 24 Ore di Roma – American Style Mountain Bike Racing in Italy" width="360" height="225" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">&quot;My gweat fwiend Biggus is going all the way to Wome to wace!&quot;</p></div>
<p>The United States owes a lot of its cycling culture to Italy – from <a href="http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&amp;id=9988&amp;status=True"  target="_blank">cycling vocabulary</a> to some of its most sought-after brands.</p>
<p>But American mountain bike culture has returned the favor: Twenty-four-hour racing has made its way to Rome. My Italian language skills are non-existent, so I&#8217;ll just say this – <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/24hroma"  target="_blank">the official 24 Ore di Roma Twitter account</a> followed me and grabbed my interest. It was the first I&#8217;d heard about 24-hour mountain bike races in Italy.</p>
<p>Is this Italy&#8217;s first? I have no idea. But it appears the <a href="http://nuke.24hroma.it/"  target="_blank">24 Ore di Roma</a> course actually does go through Rome and follows the format laid down by the original <a href="http://www.adventurecorps.com/when/1993canaan.html"  target="_blank">24 Hours of Canaan</a> – and replicated by … well, just about everyone with a 24-hour race.</p>
<p>As an American mountain bike enthusiast with a taste for long races, I feel a twinge of pride: A format once only the purview of mentally mutated mountain bike perverts has made it to one of the world&#8217;s iconic cities – in a country where bikes are beloved.</p>
<p>It makes me wonder how many 24-hour races are going on worldwide. But that&#8217;s fodder for a future post.</p>
<p>If you are a mountain biker of means, book your ticket and hotel. Pack your bike. The fun starts Sept. 14-16.</p>
<p>And if you <em>do</em> go, bring your goofiest 24-hour race loungewear, costumes and attitude. Show them how a citizen of the country that birthed 24-hour mountain bike races rolls at 3 a.m.</p>
<p>If anyone who reads this can set me straight about the 24 Ore di Roma and its history, I&#8217;d love to hear about it.<br />
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<hr /><h2>Comments</h2><ul><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/02/24-ore-di-roma-american-style-mountain-bike-racing-in-italy/" >February 6, 2012</a>, <a href="http://girlfromarizona.com"  class='url'>Girl From Arizona</a> writes: I don't know much about 24h Roma, but 24h Finale in the northern Liguria region has been going on for more than 10 years and is one of the best international mtb races. It's a huge party on the mesa overlooking in the Ligurean Sea where the race stages and the whole town is comes out for the night. This year they are introducing the World Endurance Solo championships a week before the traditional 24h race. The races are in May, and if you time it right you can also catch a leg of the Giro d'Italia in nearby Savona. 

http://www.wembo.com.au/italy/about/about-the-race</li><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/02/24-ore-di-roma-american-style-mountain-bike-racing-in-italy/" >February 6, 2012</a>, <a href="http://www.wanderingjustin.com"  class='url'>WanderingJustin</a> writes: Well, that sounds like a ton of fun to me! Have you gotten into the mountain bike thing, or do you stick with rock climbing?</li><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/02/24-ore-di-roma-american-style-mountain-bike-racing-in-italy/" >February 7, 2012</a>, <a href="http://girlfromarizona.com"  class='url'>Girl From Arizona</a> writes: I used to mountain bike in Oregon. Love riding in the forest, hate riding in the desert. I stick to climbing in Finale. It's equally famous for the thousands of limestone sport routes in the rocks that line the valleys feeding into the sea. The mtb is all bad-ass downhill. It looks freakin' awesome, but I'm not near skilled enough to try it.</li></ul><hr /><h2>Related posts:</h2><ul><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2009/12/mbaa-seeking-off-road-hand-cycle-racers/"  rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: MBAA Seeking Off-Road Hand-Cycle Racers">MBAA Seeking Off-Road Hand-Cycle Racers</a></li><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/01/get-the-latest-arizona-mountain-bike-news/"  rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Get the Latest Arizona Mountain Bike News">Get the Latest Arizona Mountain Bike News</a></li><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2009/11/mountain-bike-monday-bike-shorts/"  rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Mountain Bike Monday &#8211; 5 Things About Bike Shorts">Mountain Bike Monday &#8211; 5 Things About Bike Shorts</a></li><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2010/02/8-things-about-kona-old-pueblo/"  rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Eight Things to Know about the Kona 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo">Eight Things to Know about the Kona 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo</a></li><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2010/08/help-mountain-bike-scene/"  rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Help Needed for Local Mountain Bike Scene">Help Needed for Local Mountain Bike Scene</a></li></ul><hr /><small>Copyright &copy; 2008<br /> This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. <br /> The use of this feed on other websites breaches copyright. If this content is not in your news reader, it makes the page you are viewing an infringement of the copyright. (Digital Fingerprint:<br /> )</small><a href="http://getinboundwriter.com/wordpress/" ><img src="http://wanderingjustin.com/wp-content/plugins/inboundwriter/images/h_solidpurple.png" alt="h solidpurple 24 Ore di Roma – American Style Mountain Bike Racing in Italy" class="alignleft" style="border:0;clear:both;" title="24 Ore di Roma – American Style Mountain Bike Racing in Italy" /></a><p>Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://wanderingjustin.com/2011/09/6-ways-to-boost-your-mountain-bike-steet-cred-trails-edge/' rel='bookmark' title='6 Ways to Boost Your Mountain Bike Steet Cred &#8211; Trail&#8217;s Edge'>6 Ways to Boost Your Mountain Bike Steet Cred &#8211; Trail&#8217;s Edge</a> <small>am one smoove, cool mountain biker. To surpass me, you...</small></li>
<li><a href='http://wanderingjustin.com/2011/07/portland-bike-friendly-but-wheres-the-mountain-bike-scene/' rel='bookmark' title='Portland: Bike Friendly, But Where&#8217;s the Mountain Bike Scene?'>Portland: Bike Friendly, But Where&#8217;s the Mountain Bike Scene?</a> <small>Portland is a bike-friendly city, for sure. But mountain bikes...</small></li>
<li><a href='http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/01/mountain-bike-race-recap-mcdowell-meltdown-2012/' rel='bookmark' title='Mountain Bike Race Recap &#8211; McDowell Meltdown 2012'>Mountain Bike Race Recap &#8211; McDowell Meltdown 2012</a> <small>Here's what's on my mind after the 2012 MBAA Race...</small></li>
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		<title>Asian Airports &#8211; Random Photo Fun</title>
		<link>http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/02/asian-airports-random-photo-fun/</link>
		<comments>http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/02/asian-airports-random-photo-fun/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:13:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>WanderingJustin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Asia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[flying]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[air]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[airports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Asiana Airlines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[body scanners]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Incheon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Korean Air]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TSA]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Asian airports - there’s nothing like them. They link cities like Seoul, Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong. They crackle with commerce and pulsate with cultural experiences in the making. 
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<li><a href='http://wanderingjustin.com/2011/12/random-photo-fun-keflavik-iceland/' rel='bookmark' title='Random Photo Fun &#8211; Keflavik, Iceland'>Random Photo Fun &#8211; Keflavik, Iceland</a> <small>Sometimes random stuff is cool and fun. I'm digging into...</small></li>
<li><a href='http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/01/random-photo-fun-this-is-air-travel/' rel='bookmark' title='Random Photo Fun &#8211; This is Air Travel!'>Random Photo Fun &#8211; This is Air Travel!</a> <small>Air travel sucks and you know it. But only if...</small></li>
<li><a href='http://wanderingjustin.com/2011/12/random-photo-fun-superior-ariz/' rel='bookmark' title='Random Photo Fun &#8211; Superior, Ariz.'>Random Photo Fun &#8211; Superior, Ariz.</a> <small>Today's random photo takes us to the perlite quarries near...</small></li>
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			<div id="attachment_4812" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 370px"><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/02/asian-airports-random-photo-fun/imgp9115/"  rel="attachment wp-att-4812"><img class=" wp-image-4812 " title="Airbus A380 Incheon" src="http://wanderingjustin.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/IMGP9115-400x265.jpg" alt="IMGP9115 400x265 Asian Airports   Random Photo Fun" width="360" height="239" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The A380 - one of many widebodies nesting at any given Asian airport.</p></div>
<p>Asia airports &#8211; there’s nothing like them. They link cities like Seoul, Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong. They crackle with commerce and pulsate with cultural experiences in the making.</p>
<p>This is <a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2011/12/incheon-international-airport/"  target="_blank">Incheon International Airport</a>, and you see the Korean Air Airbus A380. Regardless of how you feel about the A380 &#8211; <a href="http://www.giantbomb.com/forums/off-topic/31/does-anybody-else-think-the-airbus-a380-is-ugly/405655/"  target="_blank">and boy, does it polarize!</a>- it is an emblem of Asian airports. These airports are not the domain of the single-aisle, workaday Honda Civics of the Sky that dominate the taxiways at American airports.</p>
<p>Nope. Even the so-called “domestic” airports here have 747s come calling. There are too many people to move, too far. This is a job for the widebody, the heavy. The sheer scope of these aircraft, and so many of them, adds something to an airport visit.</p>
<p>Hating airports is now just short of a varsity sport in America. I get it. Honestly. We have the Transportation Security Agent and its radiation-emitting full body scanners (aka Nude-O-Scopes). We pack onto small planes and disembark to see the same chain stores before we even leave the terminal. Onboard, you generally get starved and dehydrated into a cranky mass of semi-intelligent tissue. The airports themselves bark at us with loud TVs and announcements &#8211; and <a href="http://www.salon.com/2012/01/31/where_are_the_books/singleton/"  target="_blank">starve us of any intellectual stimulation</a>.</p>
<p>It doesn’t have to be that way. Asian airports are the proof.<br />
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<hr /><h2>Related posts:</h2><ul><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2011/12/random-photo-fun-keflavik-iceland/"  rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Random Photo Fun &#8211; Keflavik, Iceland">Random Photo Fun &#8211; Keflavik, Iceland</a></li><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/01/on-the-mountain-bike-trail-random-photo/"  rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: On the Mountain Bike Trail &#8211; Random Photo">On the Mountain Bike Trail &#8211; Random Photo</a></li><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2011/12/random-photo-fun-superior-ariz/"  rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Random Photo Fun &#8211; Superior, Ariz.">Random Photo Fun &#8211; Superior, Ariz.</a></li><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/01/random-travel-photo-getting-ahead-in-life/"  rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Random Travel Photo &#8211; Getting Ahead in Life">Random Travel Photo &#8211; Getting Ahead in Life</a></li><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/01/random-photo-fun-this-is-air-travel/"  rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Random Photo Fun &#8211; This is Air Travel!">Random Photo Fun &#8211; This is Air Travel!</a></li></ul><hr /><small>Copyright &copy; 2008<br /> This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. <br /> The use of this feed on other websites breaches copyright. If this content is not in your news reader, it makes the page you are viewing an infringement of the copyright. (Digital Fingerprint:<br /> )</small><a href="http://getinboundwriter.com/wordpress/" ><img src="http://wanderingjustin.com/wp-content/plugins/inboundwriter/images/h_solidpurple.png" alt="h solidpurple Asian Airports   Random Photo Fun" class="alignleft" style="border:0;clear:both;" title="Asian Airports   Random Photo Fun" /></a><p>Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://wanderingjustin.com/2011/12/random-photo-fun-keflavik-iceland/' rel='bookmark' title='Random Photo Fun &#8211; Keflavik, Iceland'>Random Photo Fun &#8211; Keflavik, Iceland</a> <small>Sometimes random stuff is cool and fun. I'm digging into...</small></li>
<li><a href='http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/01/random-photo-fun-this-is-air-travel/' rel='bookmark' title='Random Photo Fun &#8211; This is Air Travel!'>Random Photo Fun &#8211; This is Air Travel!</a> <small>Air travel sucks and you know it. But only if...</small></li>
<li><a href='http://wanderingjustin.com/2011/12/random-photo-fun-superior-ariz/' rel='bookmark' title='Random Photo Fun &#8211; Superior, Ariz.'>Random Photo Fun &#8211; Superior, Ariz.</a> <small>Today's random photo takes us to the perlite quarries near...</small></li>
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		<title>Arizona Centennial &#8211; Recognizing the State&#8217;s Worst</title>
		<link>http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/01/arizona-centennial-recognizing-the-states-worst/</link>
		<comments>http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/01/arizona-centennial-recognizing-the-states-worst/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Feb 2012 04:58:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>WanderingJustin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Arizona]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Arizona Centennial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Governor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JD Hayworth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sal DiCiccio]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sheriff]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Worst of Arizona]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Celebrate the upcoming Arizona Centennial Wandering Justin-style - by remembering the Worst of Arizona! This is the first in a series.
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			<div>The Arizona Centennial is upon us! The local news outlets have all sorts of maudlin pap lined up for you to celebrate 100 years of Arizona-ness. You’ll get a heaping dose of everyone from Frank Lloyd Wright to Barry Goldwater to Gabriel Giffords to Tom Mix. It will be cloying and one-sided.</p>
<p>Not here. Celebrate the Arizona Centennial with my Worst of Arizona. Political figures lead it off &#8211; now I could break a keyboard writing about Arizona’s crooked, corrupt and no-good. These float to the top of the toilet. Stand by for more, including media/entertainment figures and our very worst criminal elements. I have to say, the categories have too much overlap for comfort. And yes, let me know if I missed on of your least-favorite Arizona politicos!</p>
<p><strong>Sheriff Joe Arpaio</strong> &#8211; He calls himself “America’s Toughest Sheriff.” He’s great at endangering people in is jails, ringing up giant legal bills, buying military toys, using his powers against political opponents and grandstanding before the media. Meanwhile, his underlings break the law and cost taxpayers a truckload of money. He thanks his lucky stars for the geriatric Sun City voters who keep re-electing him, especially after he glommed on to immigration as a platform. A fun fact for your Arizona Centennial party: <a href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Jan/30/arpaio_campaign_attracts_out_of_state_donations.html" >Most of his campaign contributors live out of state</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Sal Diciccio</strong> &#8211; Search for him on this very blog. He has no respect for constituents’ privacy, he is paranoid about unions (in a right to work state?), he uses his children as political pawns and he never misses a chance to berate city workers. He’s also not very bright, obviously using bad math to “prove” his half-baked points about city employee salaries (I don’t see him doing much to reduce his own staff’s very high payroll). If you drive a Beamer and live in Ahwatukee, he’s got your back. Otherwise, run for the hills.</p>
<p><strong>The Governor</strong> &#8211; Pick which governor I mean: From Brewer most recently wagging her finger at President Obama to Mecham turning impeachment proceedings into a trend to Napolitano leaving mid-stream to make the Transportation Security Administration an even-bigger debacle, Arizona’s recent heads-of-state are embarrassing. Oh, and don’t forget Fife Symington!</p>
<p><strong>JD Hayworth</strong> &#8211; A windbag as a sportscaster, an even bigger windbag as a U.S. congressman. Of course, he shrank some when he got a gastric bypass. He also lost a Senate race against John McCain. Sign of trouble: when McCain can make you look like a drunk primate at will. I also loved it when Radar online named Hayworth one of the <a href="http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2006/10/17/radar-americas-10-dumbest-members-of-congress" >10 dumbest members of Congress</a>.</div>
<div></div>
<div>That&#8217;s it for now. Coming up next in the Arizona Centennial, Wandering Justin-style: The Worst of Arizona media and entertainment figures.</div>
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		<title>Yelp: Stealing Your Sense of Adventure?</title>
		<link>http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/01/yelp-stealing-your-sense-of-adventure/</link>
		<comments>http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/01/yelp-stealing-your-sense-of-adventure/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:24:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>WanderingJustin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[food]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[adventure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[salon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yelp]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Is Yelp.com making you less adventurous? At least one writer at Salon.com thinks so. 
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			<div>Is Yelp.com making you less adventurous? At least one writer at Salon.com thinks so.It boils down to this: People post online to talk about businesses and their experiences with them. This shucks people of the thrill of finding new-to-them places. So says Will Doig in the story titled “<a href="http://www.salon.com/2012/01/28/how_yelp_destroyed_the_thrill_of_exploring/" >How Yelp destroyed the thrill of exploring</a>.”</p>
<p>Doig assumes that all people use Yelp.com the same way. If he actually bothered to talk to Yelp users, he’d find a hefty proportion that turn to Yelp after trying a new businesses. I do this all the time because I’m curious about what other people think of my favorite places.</p>
<p>He quotes one academic who claims that Internet crowdsourcing reduces “happy accidents.”</p>
<p>That depends on the person. Weeks ago, I found <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/curry-corner-tempe" >Curry Corner</a> in Tempe just by driving past it. Did I whip out my smartphone to see what Yelpers had to say? No &#8211; I thrust my snout in the door, inhaled, said “yep, let’s try it”. Thirty minutes later, I had a goat curry-induced smile on my face.</p>
<p>Days later, I thought of Curry Corner and looked it up on Yelp to see what others had to say. Nothing I saw changed my mind, least of all the person who gave it one star.</p>
<p>Doig’s story is a classic case of most of the commenters showing more insight than the author. The very first commenter said “No one is forcing you to seek out other people&#8217;s opinions before you patronize an establishment. Just go there and see for yourself.” Others agreed.</p>
<p>If you feel like Yelp and other crowdsourcing sites have robbed you of spontaneity, blame yourself. Shut off your smartphone. Go pound the pavement. The choice is yours.</p>
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		<title>Life Force of Mountain Biking: The Beginner</title>
		<link>http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/01/life-force-of-mountain-biking-the-beginner/</link>
		<comments>http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/01/life-force-of-mountain-biking-the-beginner/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:24:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>WanderingJustin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Mountain biking got you burned out? Are the local trails getting dull? Look to beginners for your salvation.
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<li><a href='http://wanderingjustin.com/2011/04/bc-bike-whistler-squamish/' rel='bookmark' title='Best of British Columbia: Whistler and Squamish Mountain Biking'>Best of British Columbia: Whistler and Squamish Mountain Biking</a> <small>Headed to British Columbia? Love mountain biking? Here's what you...</small></li>
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<div id="attachment_5085" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 410px"><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/01/life-force-of-mountain-biking-the-beginner/still-2-2/"  rel="attachment wp-att-5085"><img class="size-medium wp-image-5085" title="riders eye view" src="http://wanderingjustin.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Still-2-400x300.jpg" alt="Still 2 400x300 Life Force of Mountain Biking: The Beginner" width="400" height="300" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The view from your bike got you jaded? Talk to a beginner for a reality check.</p></div>
<p>Mountain biking got you burned out? Are the local trails getting dull? Look to beginners for your salvation in your favorite sport.</p>
<p>New mountain bikers remind the old hands of the way it’s supposed to be: silly fun, learning new stuff, discovering new places, meeting new people, making incremental progress.</p>
<p>I know plenty of way-fast riders, like all the characters I encounter in the <a href="http://www.examiner.com/mountain-biking-in-phoenix/rain-brings-relief-at-tuesday-s-short-track-at-papago-race"  target="_blank">Short Track at Papago races</a>. And they’re all good people. But beginners like Tammy Smith do more than anyone to rekindle my mountain biking enthusiasm. They help me rediscover the sport and inspire me to ride more.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.examiner.com/mountain-biking-in-phoenix/new-mountain-biker-shares-thoughts-about-her-first-race" >Tammy did a Q &amp; A session with me on Examiner.com</a> just after her first race &#8211; the MBAA McDowell Meltdown. It’s full of mountain biking wisdom for riders of all levels. Veterans will get a reminder of what’s so cool about the sport. Newcomers will get inspiration to try racing. People contemplating their first mountain bike purchase will discover that it’s not just a sport for energy drink-addled 20-somethings, nor exclusively for heart rate monitor-obsessed fitness fiends. They don’t train &#8211; they <em>ride.</em></p>
<p>Tammy and riders like her also make the bicycle industry work economically. They throw down for their first bike and all the trimmings &#8211; helmets, hydration packs, gloves, shorts and the rest. They are why your 27-pound, 30-speed, five-inches-of-travel, dual-suspension bike works so much better than bikes for the same price did 10 years ago.</p>
<p>Mountain biking newbies, you are the marrow of this sport. Thanks for all you do to keep it fresh for the rest of us. Welcome!</p>
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		<title>Airborne Bicycles Flight Crew &#8211; Tossing My Name In</title>
		<link>http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/01/airborne-bicycles-flight-crew-tossing-my-name-in/</link>
		<comments>http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/01/airborne-bicycles-flight-crew-tossing-my-name-in/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:18:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>WanderingJustin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Arizona]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[biking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blogging/writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Airborne Bicycles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Flight Crew]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mountain biking]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[This is my call to Airborne Bicycles to pick me for this year's Flight Crew.
Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://wanderingjustin.com/2011/09/t6_flight/' rel='bookmark' title='Remembering my Warbird Flight'>Remembering my Warbird Flight</a> <small>An ultimate flying adventure ends with the loss of two...</small></li>
<li><a href='http://wanderingjustin.com/2011/09/four-reasons-specialized-should-pick-mtnbikinggirl-com-for-trail-crew/' rel='bookmark' title='Four Reasons Specialized Should Pick Mtnbikinggirl.com for Trail Crew'>Four Reasons Specialized Should Pick Mtnbikinggirl.com for Trail Crew</a> <small>My Canadian blogging buddy Teresa (aka Mountain Biking Girl) is...</small></li>
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			<div id="attachment_5073" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 370px"><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/01/airborne-bicycles-flight-crew-tossing-my-name-in/justin-2-mac/"  rel="attachment wp-att-5073"><img class=" wp-image-5073 " title="justin 2 mac" src="http://wanderingjustin.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/justin-2-mac-400x266.jpg" alt="justin 2 mac 400x266 Airborne Bicycles Flight Crew   Tossing My Name In" width="360" height="239" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">If Airborne chooses me for the Flight Crew, my next race photo will show me on a much more colorful ride.</p></div>
<p>A few days ago, <a href="http://www.examiner.com/mountain-biking-in-phoenix/mountain-bike-roundup-three-great-deals"  target="_blank">Airborne Bicycles</a> started taking applications for this year&#8217;s Flight Crew. It&#8217;s not a race team &#8211; more of a group of brand ambassadors. They fly the Airborne brand (or ride, but I like the metaphor) and where its livery (again with the flight metaphor) to promote Airborne.</p>
<p>So why would I want to promote Airborne Bicycles? The number-one reason is they make moderately priced bikes for real people. I have nothing against expensive bikes and the people who ride them &#8211; just watch me drool at first sight of a <a href="http://www.formcycles.com/FORM_cycles/MOUNTAIN.html"  target="_blank">Form Cycles Prevail</a>. But more than such finely wrought beauty, I also love value. That&#8217;s the Airborne Bicycles universe &#8211; all the bike you need, none of the extra digits in the price that you don&#8217;t.</p>
<p>Why would Airborne want me out there on one of its bikes, in its jersey? &#8216;Cause I am plugged in and switched on when it comes to Arizona mountain biking. &#8216;Cause I&#8217;ll always stop to help another rider, a hiker, an equestrian. I am not faster-than-thou, but I have enough skill and speed to have a lot of fun. I am a mountain bike missionary with a voice and an audience.</p>
<p>Airborne Bicycles knows this from my application and <a rel="nofollow" href="http://t.co/7d6YSX3C"  target="_blank">from a past encounter with me</a>. I hope that&#8217;s what it takes to put me astride one of its crazy Goblin 29ers!</p>
<p>So if you&#8217;re so inclined, Tweet to Airborne or post on its Facebook wall. Tell them Wandering Justin (@wandering_j on Twitter) is the right guy for the Flight Crew. You can even use the hashtag #JustinForFlightCrew. And pass it on!</p>
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<hr /><h2>Comments</h2><ul><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/01/airborne-bicycles-flight-crew-tossing-my-name-in/" >January 25, 2012</a>, <a href="http://healthkitten.com"  class='url'>Carolyn @healthkitten.com</a> writes: Done and done!</li><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/01/airborne-bicycles-flight-crew-tossing-my-name-in/" >January 25, 2012</a>, <a href="http://www.wanderingjustin.com"  class='url'>WanderingJustin</a> writes: Woo-hoo! Resistance is futile, Airborne Bicycles!</li></ul><hr /><h2>Related posts:</h2><ul><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2009/05/virgin-america-gets-absinthe-minded/"  rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Virgin America Gets Absinthe-Minded">Virgin America Gets Absinthe-Minded</a></li><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2009/08/27-injured-in-jets-rough-ride/"  rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: 27 Injured in Jet&#8217;s Rough Ride">27 Injured in Jet&#8217;s Rough Ride</a></li><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2011/09/remembering-the-mad-dogs-of-the-sky/"  rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Mad Dogs of the Sky">Mad Dogs of the Sky</a></li><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2009/06/game-changing-boeing-787-first-flight-coming-soon/"  rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Game-Changing Boeing 787 &#8211; First Flight Coming Soon?">Game-Changing Boeing 787 &#8211; First Flight Coming Soon?</a></li><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2009/02/ims-marathon-the-final-post/"  rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: IMS Marathon &#8211; The Final Post">IMS Marathon &#8211; The Final Post</a></li></ul><hr /><small>Copyright &copy; 2008<br /> This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. <br /> The use of this feed on other websites breaches copyright. If this content is not in your news reader, it makes the page you are viewing an infringement of the copyright. (Digital Fingerprint:<br /> )</small><a href="http://getinboundwriter.com/wordpress/" ><img src="http://wanderingjustin.com/wp-content/plugins/inboundwriter/images/h_solidpurple.png" alt="h solidpurple Airborne Bicycles Flight Crew   Tossing My Name In" class="alignleft" style="border:0;clear:both;" title="Airborne Bicycles Flight Crew   Tossing My Name In" /></a><p>Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://wanderingjustin.com/2011/09/t6_flight/' rel='bookmark' title='Remembering my Warbird Flight'>Remembering my Warbird Flight</a> <small>An ultimate flying adventure ends with the loss of two...</small></li>
<li><a href='http://wanderingjustin.com/2011/09/four-reasons-specialized-should-pick-mtnbikinggirl-com-for-trail-crew/' rel='bookmark' title='Four Reasons Specialized Should Pick Mtnbikinggirl.com for Trail Crew'>Four Reasons Specialized Should Pick Mtnbikinggirl.com for Trail Crew</a> <small>My Canadian blogging buddy Teresa (aka Mountain Biking Girl) is...</small></li>
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		<title>Haggis Continues to Elude Me</title>
		<link>http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/01/haggis-continues-to-elude-me/</link>
		<comments>http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/01/haggis-continues-to-elude-me/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:29:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>WanderingJustin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[extreme]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[food]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gross]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[haggis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scotland]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Wherever I travel, I find revel in trying foods that are strange, squishy, pungent and putrid. And I eat them with a smile … with the exception of one thing: haggis. The chance to sample this Scottish delight has eluded me for five years.
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			<div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 366px"><img class="     " title="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Haggis.JPG" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/03/Haggis.JPG" alt=" Haggis Continues to Elude Me" width="356" height="237" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Haggis, sweet haggis! (By Jonathunder) </p></div>
<p><em>This is the continuing food voyage of Wandering Justin. My ongoing mission &#8211; to find strange new foods, to seek out new ingredients both plant and animal, to boldly eat whatever some crazy cook puts in front of me.</em></p>
<p><em></em>I’ve lived up to these words. Wherever I travel, I find the strange, squishy, pungent and putrid. And I eat it with a smile … with the exception of one thing: haggis.</p>
<p>For five years &#8211; as long as it took the <em>Enterprise</em> to zoom through the galaxy in the original series &#8211; I have pursued haggis. But this Scottish signature concoction of sheep innards and the Highlander’s original blend of spices simmered in the stomach of a wee sheep has eluded me.</p>
<p>I found a restaurant serving it in the <a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2008/11/australia-post-2/"  target="_blank">Australian town of Katoomba</a>, just steps away from the train station. But sure enough, it was closed by the time I finished hiking. I figured I’d get it before I took the train back to Sydney. No dice &#8211; my departure time from the Blue Mountains was … before the restaurant opened for the morning.</p>
<p>Back in merry ol’ Flagstaff, I thought for sure I would be victorious. It was the weekend of the Scottish Highland Games! But wouldn’t you know it? The fickle demon that is northern Arizona weather smashed its mailed fist through the event. Sheets of rain and jet-blast winds stole my shot at haggis.</p>
<p>The Highland Games came to Phoenix, though, just last spring. And surely I had a winner, right? Well, I rolled into the event with haggis &#8211; and only haggis &#8211; on my mind. I shook down every food vendor. I all I could find was some abomination of the original called chicken haggis. It’s enough to make Duncan MacLeod’s head fall off! I think I may have even seen a haggis burger. My inquiries for the real thing got me strange “why would you want to eat that?” stares. Nobody had the real-deal haggis, perhaps because its import into the United States is, in true nanny-state fashion, illegal. Why not just make it here? Or just allow it to be imported? Is it any worse than the goop that becomes a Big Mac?</p>
<p>To console myself, I tossed a trainee’s version of a caber, along with some stones. I flung hay bales with a pitchfork over a goal post thing. But I didn’t eat haggis. Yet again, defeated.</p>
<p>I can only conclude that the haggis gods hate me. My only hope would be an invitation to a Burns family party; <a rel="nofollow" href="http://merrilymarylee.wordpress.com/2012/01/19/anyone-comin-thro-the-rye/"  target="_blank">blogger Mary Lee writes that the other guests are finding excuses to NOT eat the haggis</a>. Invite me, and I&#8217;ll show them how it&#8217;s done!</p>
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<hr /><h2>Related posts:</h2><ul><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2009/07/5-reasons-why-youd-hate-traveling-with-me/"  rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: 5 Reasons Why You&#8217;d Hate Traveling With Me">5 Reasons Why You&#8217;d Hate Traveling With Me</a></li><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2011/11/next-trip-scotland-and-wales/"  rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: On the List for Next Trip: Scotland and Wales">On the List for Next Trip: Scotland and Wales</a></li><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2010/01/some-news-on-local-phoenix-coffee/"  rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Some News on Local Phoenix Coffee">Some News on Local Phoenix Coffee</a></li><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2010/01/take-a-ride-mcdowell-mountain-parks-trails/"  rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Take a Ride McDowell Mountain Park&#8217;s Trails">Take a Ride McDowell Mountain Park&#8217;s Trails</a></li><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2011/09/arizona-espresso-coffeehouse-news/"  rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Arizona Espresso &#038; Coffeehouse News">Arizona Espresso &#038; Coffeehouse News</a></li></ul><hr /><small>Copyright &copy; 2008<br /> This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. <br /> The use of this feed on other websites breaches copyright. If this content is not in your news reader, it makes the page you are viewing an infringement of the copyright. (Digital Fingerprint:<br /> )</small><p>No related posts.</p>
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		<title>Beyond Travel: Things I Like at the Moment</title>
		<link>http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/01/beyond-travel-things-i-like-at-the-moment/</link>
		<comments>http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/01/beyond-travel-things-i-like-at-the-moment/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 03:42:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>WanderingJustin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Cool & Unusual]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Big Eddy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[e-reader]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fly me to visit someone]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Imaginaerum]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kindle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nightwish]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nymgo]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[I don’t get to travel all the time … or even as much as I’d like. That means I have to find my fun wherever it lies. What’s putting a smile on my face? Read on.
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<li><a href='http://wanderingjustin.com/2011/03/fun-of-flying/' rel='bookmark' title='1 Moment at LAX Restores the Thrill of Air Travel'>1 Moment at LAX Restores the Thrill of Air Travel</a> <small>One fleeting moment taxiing to the gate at LAX reminded...</small></li>
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<div id="attachment_2293" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 330px"><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2010/03/first-ascent-outerwear-shootout-downlight-versus-serrano/sdc10086/"  rel="attachment wp-att-2293"><img class=" wp-image-2293 " title="SDC10086" src="http://wanderingjustin.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/SDC10086-400x300.jpg" alt="SDC10086 400x300 Beyond Travel: Things I Like at the Moment" width="320" height="240" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">I want my winter ... give me more snow! And tell me, are those goggle not epic?</p></div>
<p>I don’t get to travel all the time … or even as much as I’d like. That means I have to find my fun wherever it lies. What’s putting a smile on my face? Read on.</p>
<p><strong>Beverages</strong></p>
<p>Grab a bottle of Leinenkugel’s <a href="http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/710/39334" >Big Eddy</a>. Pour it, hand it to a craft beer fan, refuse to tell them what it is ‘till the finish it. They’ll be shocked. This isn’t the sort of beer that fits the Leinenkugel’s brand &#8211; a thunderous Russian imperial stout. OK, big malty monsters of its ilk aren’t uncommon &#8211; but the company from Wisconsin (though owned by giants SABMiller) has also made it cheap. It’s definitely one of the better inexpensive beers you’ll ever find.</p>
<p><strong>Companies</strong></p>
<p>Right now, I don’t have to think about making international calls. My friends who are on the road, though, can get a round-the-world plane ticket from one of the companies that connects them to home. You and a friend can snag one of five round-the-world tickets from <a href="http://nymgonews.com/" >Nymgo</a>. What’s it take? A great photo with an even better caption. It’s all part of the  &#8221;Nymgo, fly me to visit someone&#8221; contest on its regional Facebook pages &#8211; <a rel="nofollow" href="http://facebook.com/nymgobangladesh" >Bangladesh</a>, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://facebook.com/nymgoegypt" >Egypt</a>, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://facebook.com/nymgoindia" >India</a>, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://facebook.com/nymgonigeria" >Nigeria</a> and <a rel="nofollow" href="http://facebook.com/nymgopakistan" >Pakistan</a>. I approve of just about anything that gets people to travel more!</p>
<p><strong>Gadgets</strong></p>
<p>My Kindle is a godsend. I took it to Korea and Japan, where it took up a quarter of the space as the books I took to Iceland. I’ve dropped it and stomped it &#8211; yet it continues to entertain me. I rarely leave the house without it. I’d have to say, it probably doesn’t matter which e-reader you buy &#8211; if you love books, you’ll love your e-reader. Yeah, yeah, you like the way books feel and smell. Totally valid. But you’ll find other things to love about an e-reader that you haven’t yet imagined.</p>
<p><strong>Music</strong></p>
<p><em><a rel="nofollow" href="http://voices.yahoo.com/nightwish-debuts-us-billboard-chart-27-with-10867329.html?cat=33" >Imaginaerum</a></em> is the dense, rich and jarring latest album from Nightwish. It’s the soundtrack to a yet-to-be-released movie by the same name. It’s Tim Burton in a high-speed head-on with a heavy band. My favorite track, “Ghost River,” took several listens to grow on me. There are many moments of weirdness &#8211; but I grasp what’s going on as part of a soundtrack.</p>
<p><strong>Winter</strong></p>
<p>Well, I’m actually torn about winter. Our ski resorts need a good charge of fresh snow. But I’ve been revelling in the ability to do anything outdoors &#8211; run, ride, you name it. There are races coming up, and I’m starting to shake off the holiday lethargy and get moving. It’s funny &#8211; in the books of <em>A Song of Fire and Ice</em>, the Stark family always warns that “Winter is Coming.” Here’s it’s the opposite: Summer is coming, and it will soon be hot as hell. Live it up while you can!</p>
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<hr /><h2>Comments</h2><ul><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/01/beyond-travel-things-i-like-at-the-moment/" >January 23, 2012</a>, <a href="http://healthkitten.com"  class='url'>Carolyn @healthkitten.com</a> writes: I'm going to have to hunt down that Leinies beer! One of those instances where living in MN has its benefits! 

I got a Kindle Touch for Xmas and I absolutely LOVE it. I read it daily - on the bus, in bed, weekend afternoons with a hot cup of tea - and the batter life is something else. Can't wait to take it on a trip! 

Question with that - do the airlines freak out with takeoff/landing having a Kindle turned on? I would think with the wi-fi turned off, it wouldn't affect anything. Just curious.

We just started to get some real winter weather around here, and I was doing just fine without it. I suppose 30-40 degree weather and no snow for winter is an anomaly here in MN! But I was loving it!</li><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/01/beyond-travel-things-i-like-at-the-moment/" >January 23, 2012</a>, <a href="http://www.wanderingjustin.com"  class='url'>WanderingJustin</a> writes: Yes, you need to find one. They're super-tasty! 

You know, I power everything down for takeoff/climbout and landing. It probably wouldn't affect anything with the wi-fi off. But I can deal without it for the 10 minutes up and down. It beats stressing the cabin crew out over it. 

Ha! My sis-in-law lives in St. Paul, and she recently had a goolie-freezing high of 8 degrees. If there's no snow to go with it, that really sucks!</li><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/01/beyond-travel-things-i-like-at-the-moment/" >January 25, 2012</a>, <a href="http://curesfortinnitushq.com"  class='url'>Catherine67 @ tinnitus remedies</a> writes: I make sure to turn off everything when I'm in a flight. I saved to have my self a Kindle as a Christmas gift and I really love this!</li></ul><hr /><h2>Related posts:</h2><ul><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2009/01/2thingsphx/"  rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Two Things About Phoenix That Should Be True">Two Things About Phoenix That Should Be True</a></li><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/about-2/"  rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: About Me">About Me</a></li><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2011/03/fun-of-flying/"  rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: 1 Moment at LAX Restores the Thrill of Air Travel">1 Moment at LAX Restores the Thrill of Air Travel</a></li><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2009/08/27-injured-in-jets-rough-ride/"  rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: 27 Injured in Jet&#8217;s Rough Ride">27 Injured in Jet&#8217;s Rough Ride</a></li><li><a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2010/12/my-travel-themed-christmas-wish-list/"  rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: My Travel-Themed Christmas Wish List">My Travel-Themed Christmas Wish List</a></li></ul><hr /><small>Copyright &copy; 2008<br /> This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. <br /> The use of this feed on other websites breaches copyright. If this content is not in your news reader, it makes the page you are viewing an infringement of the copyright. (Digital Fingerprint:<br /> )</small><p>Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://wanderingjustin.com/2011/03/fun-of-flying/' rel='bookmark' title='1 Moment at LAX Restores the Thrill of Air Travel'>1 Moment at LAX Restores the Thrill of Air Travel</a> <small>One fleeting moment taxiing to the gate at LAX reminded...</small></li>
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		<title>Save Phoenix Views: Now Serving Spam</title>
		<link>http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/01/save-phoenix-views-now-serving-spam/</link>
		<comments>http://wanderingjustin.com/2012/01/save-phoenix-views-now-serving-spam/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:10:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>WanderingJustin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[billboards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Phoenix City Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[phoenix politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sal DiCiccio]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Save Phoenix Views]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Arizona Republic]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[People in Phoenix, Arizona, now have another busybody political group inundating their email accounts with unwanted spam messages. Who are they, and what do they want to accomplish besides spamming your email account?
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<div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 394px"><img class="  " title="File:Phoenix.skyline.750pix.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Phoenix.skyline.750pix.jpg" alt="Phoenix.skyline.750pix Save Phoenix Views: Now Serving Spam" width="384" height="288" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Don&#39;t worry, Phoenix citizens! Save Phoenix Views will protect your view of this magnificent, er ... nice, um ... somewhat adequate skyline! (Photo courtesy of www.pdphoto.org)</p></div>
<p>People in Phoenix, Arizona, now have another busybody political group inundating their email accounts with unwanted spam messages. I received my first message from SavePhoenixViews.com on Jan. 20.</p>
<p><strong>The group touts its mission to “protect views” and “pristine Phoenix neighborhoods.” Its sworn enemy?</strong> Billboards. These slabs of advertising are apparently a threat to “unobstructed views of the skyline, mountains, sunrises and sunsets from your backyard.” Yes, that world-renowned Phoenix skyline … it’s the stuff of postcards and fine works of art. The group wants to ensure that such architectural wonders as the Chase Bank building aren’t hidden behind new billboards or electronic billboards.</p>
<p><strong>I had never heard of this group of superheroes so intent on defending my way of life.</strong> I never signed up for its email newsletter. Since I also receive unsolicited emails from Phoenix City Council member Sal DiCiccio, I wondered if this is connected to his brand of small-time Phoenix politics. About a year ago, a group he backed also <a href="http://wanderingjustin.com/2010/10/nofee2hikea/" >had me on its e-mail list</a>. And wouldn’t you know, it only took 30 seconds of Google searching to discover a link between <a href="http://www.phoenixblogspot.com/phoenix_news/phoenix-oks-new-billboard-rules" >DiCiccio and Save Phoenix Views</a>. Clearly, e-mail privacy is not one of his pet crusades. The best thing about my move to Scottsdale is that Sal DiCiccio is not on the Scottsdale City Council.</p>
<p><strong>I’m embarrassed for the people behind Save Phoenix Views</strong>. Worries about billboards are the epitome of a “<a href="http://first-world-problems.com/" >First World Problem</a>.” What’s really this group’s motivation? My bet is money. Someone stands to lose, so they’re organizing a “grassroots” campaign to stop the evil billboards (someone <em>puh-leeze</em> save us!). Anyone with an ounce of political knowledge will tell you: Behind every so-called grassroots neighborhood movement is money and hired PR guns dressing it up all folksy and down-home. I haven’t figured out the money trail yet, but it has to be there considering the efforts to the group has made and the money it has spent. It would be nice to see a full-time journalist with time and resources put Save Phoenix Views under the microscope (hint, hint &#8211; that’s my Bat Signal to <em>The Arizona Republic</em>).</p>
<p><strong>The e-mail I received came to me “via politicalcommunicationsspecialists.com.” Naturally, I went to the URL … and got a white screen with the words “Could not locate requested resource”.  </strong></p>
<p>This means someone is hiding. Typical dirty Phoenix politics. So far, 15,000 people have signed a petition to get the group’s wad of “Whereas”, “Notwithstanding” and “Therefore” on the ballot. It’s been nearly a decade since I was a news reporter &#8211; but I remember a Maricopa County official who told me every item on the ballot costs upward of $200,000. Does Phoenix have that kind of money to spend on non-problems?</p>
<p><strong>The group also wrings its hands about higher accident rates from drivers being distracted by electronic billboards.</strong> I’ll swallow that line of BS only if every single person who signed the petition will look me in the eye and say “That’s right, I’ve never used my cell phone or texted/e-mailed while I drive.” I’d bet a year’s pay that phone use distracts far more drivers and causes far more accidents than electronic billboards do.</p>
<p>Who could, in good conscience, put such energy into such a trifling cause? A few suggestions for more important matters: Address the many empty buildings, the waste of water, the unsustainable building, the tax handouts to big businesses.</p>
<p>I also sent an e-mail to the group asking to know how I wound up on its distribution list. Let’s see if anyone responds.</p>
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