The Week in Travel: April 23, 2010

My computer, perhaps taking a cue from me, is being slower than usual. So if this post ends up being a short one, it’s because I became utterly fed-up and consoled myself with a box of Trader Joe’s chocolate covered raisins. I have excellent coping skills. Also, I realized that most of what I’m writing about has nothing to do with travel … but I suspect that doesn’t really matter, anyway.

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This week brought controversy courtesy of Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the guys behind South Park. Their most recent episode of the program (which was to feature Muhammad in a bear suit) was censored by Comedy Central after they received death threats from an Islamic website. The site was later hacked with – you guess it – photos of Muhammad in a bear suit (the entire site is now down). What’s worse? The dudes behind the threats won’t even own up to them. They just said that when they posted photos of a murdered Theo Van Gogh, along with Parker and Stone’s home addresses, they did so as a case study. Wow. If you’re going to have radical views, at least stand up for them. It’s what Matt and Trey did.

The major irony? Muhammed’s already appeared as a character on the show.

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On a much, much more lighthearted note, I absolutely love Louis C.K.’s take on airplane travel, and how we’ve all become spoiled by technology. And this is coming from someone who doesn’t find him funny in the least.

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This world map necklace from Uncommon Goods is kind of adorable. And what girl doesn’t want the world at her collarbone?

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While others may disagree, I find this segment of the write’rs circle to be weirdly pro-feminist. Spoiler: two grown men fight over tampons. (via @PerronBrothers)

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In a segment I like to call, “Stuff only people in Seattle will care about, probably,” I am pleased to report that the Aurora Bridge is finally getting a suicide rail. For those of you, who, like me, have seen people getting wrestled by police officers intent to stop them from jumping over the edge, it’s good news. Not so much for the folks who live close to it and will have to endure nighttime drilling, hammering, and building, but it’s still more than worth the trouble.

In other, interesting-only-to-Washingtonians news, a Bothell-couple just bought the tiny town of Wauconda, Washington, for $360,000. Anyone up for a road trip? Because I so want to meet the resident named “Prospector Paul.”

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I just plain love this.

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And a quiet note of congratulations to all my friends who’ve either been making babies, having babies, or celebrating the birthdays of their not-quite-a-baby-anymore babies in the last few months. You’ve all clearly been observing the whole pagan-fertility-festival thing, and good on you. Call me if you need a baby-sitter. I’m not saying I’ll answer, but do call.