Eleven years ago, I knew virtually nothing about art. Sure, I had been to a few museums, but I didn't know anything about any artists beyond the classics, and the thought of collecting fine art never entered my mind. I was on a cruise through the Baltic, and signed up for a tour of the…
The countdown to a trip is always a source of excitement for me. Last minute arrangements, sourcing my favorite travel sites for recommendations, and generally figuring out what I am going to do (though I always try to remain flexible) are a lot of fun. So here I am in the final days before my…
I have resisted doing a Royal Tour interview in Los Angeles. After all, it is my home, and I feel that I know the place well. However, the world of Hollywood is mysterious to me, and the chance to speak to someone intimately involved in that, not as a superstar, but as someone who moved…
A couple of weeks ago, I had a fascinating conversation with my best friend Ari. We talked about the emergence of Hulu TV as a possible industry-shifting change for cable companies, and the need of other companies to shift their business strategies or possibly risk going out of business. We discussed this new competition as…
I find the desert relaxing. Skies that extend as far as the horizon, wide open spaces, rock monoliths, all combine to make me feel very small, and therefore my problems insignificant. So when the chance to spend a few days in Death Valley National Park came up this week, I jumped at it. Death Valley,…
There are many ways to travel, and as many kinds of traveler. There is the outdoor adventurer, the partier, the beachgoer, and the foodie, just to name a few. Most people fall into several categories. And then there is the deep thinker. So what makes a deep thinking traveler, and how do you know if…
When most people think of St. Louis, they think of the Gateway Arch. And as well they should; the 630 foot stainless steel monolith towers over the city. (It is in fact the tallest structure in the metro area.) But while the Gateway Arch is spectacular in its own right, especially in context to the…
It is a dream and a goal of mine to travel to Japan to see the famous cherry blossoms. However, I am not the only one with such a desire, so it can be outrageously crowded and expensive. Fortunately, the city of Huntington Beach, California has emerged as an alternative for those of us who…
Today, we are strong enough and honest enough to... admit that the Treaty has been imperfectly observed. I look upon it as a legacy of promise. It can be a guide to... all those whose collective sense of justice, fairness and tolerance will shape the future. In 1990, Queen Elizabeth II visited Waitangi and admitted…
[We] acknowledge New Zealand as a Sovereign and independent State... the admission of their rights... is binding on the faith of the British Crown. The Queen... disclaims... every pretention to... govern the Islands of New Zealand... unless the free and intelligent consent of the Natives... shall first be obtained. This excerpt from the instructions of…