Mobissimo

Holy crawling pythons, the new Samuel L. Jackson movie hasn't even been released yet, and it's already become one of the most popular topics to mock in the blogosphere since Brokeback Mountain. The movie, as you can guess from the title, is about some bad people who release snakes on a plane to kill good people. Here's a good summary of the latest pop culture event from Wikipedia:

The film generated much pre-release interest on the Internet due to its absurdist title and premise. Much of the publicity Snakes on a Plane has received is due to a blog entry made by film industry insider Josh Friedman, who had been offered a chance to work on the script. [1] The casting of popular actor Samuel L. Jackson further increased anticipation. Julianna Margulies had also been associated with the project, but her character was written out in a later draft of the screenplay. Ronny Yu was originally slated to direct and spoke enthusiastically about the project before leaving due to budget disputes and "creative differences." He was replaced by David R. Ellis.

At some point, the film's working title was altered to Pacific Air Flight 121, to the consternation of many. In August 2005, a perturbed Samuel L. Jackson told an interviewer, "We're totally changing that back. That's the only reason I took the job: I read the title." [2] BR>The film was soon reverted to the working title of Snakes on a Plane. On March 2nd 2006, IMDb reported that the film had been renamed S.O.A.P. (standing for Snakes On A Plane)[3]. However, a week later, IMDb reported that the name had again been changed back to "Snakes on a Plane," for reasons unstated.

Soon after Josh Friedman's blog entry, the title became a catch-phrase for common idioms such as whattya gonna do? and shit happens, as well as for expressing mocking fear over a mild situation. It has inspired bloggers to create songs, apparel, poster art, pages of fan fiction, and even a mock movie trailer.

Several independent T-shirt manufacturers have made T-shirts with graphics illustrating various humorous representations of "Snakes on a plane". One depicts a frontal exterior view of a plane cockpit. The pilot and copilot, viewed through the windows, are depicted to be snakes. Another uses vintage road signs to formulate "Snakes + Plane = Snakes on a Plane". A third, with a cartoon representation of Samuel L. Jackson's character from the Star Wars series Mace Windu cutting down snakes with a lightsaber, was pulled, presumably for copyright reasons.

The film was featured in Wired Magazine as "The worst film of 2006," despite being given the "award" in January 2006, based only on the title and concept of the movie.

On March 16, 2006, New Line Cinema publically announced a [4] contest on TagWorld and a [5] website promoting the film. The contest allowed artists on TagWorld to have their music featured on the movie, whose release date was set for August 18, 2006.

Give them credit for trying to squeeze blood from a stone. Northwest announced today that they would offer passengers extra leg room for a couple of extra bucks. So those emergency exit rows you used to sit in at no extra cost are now going for $15:

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) - For an extra $15, Northwest Airlines Corp. will sell coach passengers a few more inches of legroom.

Starting Tuesday, Northwest will ask passengers on most domestic flights if they're interested in paying extra for certain prime seats in coach - exit-row seats or aisle seats near the front of the cabin.

The "Coach Choice" program will involve about 5 percent of seats on domestic flights.

Northwest's exit-row seats can have 10 to 13 inches of extra leg room, And many air travelers prefer the convenience and extra elbow room of aisle seats to center and window seats.

If they really want to make some money, they should open it to the highest bidder eBay style. Oh, and they should charge to go to the bathroom and to de-plane first. And maybe a few duckets for a glass of water. In fact, EasyJet and RyanAir pioneered the whole "nickel and dime you to death business model" a few years back charging for things like carry on baggage. Northwest should look across the pond for interesting revenue opportunities like gambling and lottery tickets.

If you travel with children, a child carrier is a must, particularly in less developed countries where roads and sidewalks are not stroller friendly. On a recent visit to Northeast Brazil, our carrier was a godsend since pushing a stroller over cobblestone or unpaved streets was a nightmare. The Post Gazette has some good reviews of carriers. Though I've never used it, I am intrigued by the Kelty backpack/stroller combo. My main hesitation though is the stroller part just doesn't look that comfortable for the child. It's basically just the backpack on wheels. Via GoBlog.

If you need to rent, might as well rent from Avis if the price is right and get a few free songs for your IPOD:

	1. Register* today. 2. Reserve your car through Avis.com. 3. Receivean email containing your music download code(s) for the iTunes Music Store® just days after you complete your rental. *Open to US residents only on valid rentals through 6/30/2006

Via TravelPost.

It's still winter and I'm cold. So I'm heading to warmer digs to shed my clothes and warm up a bit. From the Travel Channel:

10. Little Beach, Hawaii: Little Beach is an isolated strand surrounded by high shrubs, craggy volcanic rocks and driftwood. Although nude sunbathing is illegal in Hawaii, the law has not been enforced here for years.

9. Red, White and Blue Beach, California: Red, White and Blue Beach has been the choice of Bay area naturists for more than 30 years. Nudity is allowed from the parking lot to the beach.

8. Haulover Beach, Florida: Just north of Miami lies one of the few county-run and government-sanctioned clothing-optional beaches in the United States.

7. Red Beach, Greece: With its cobalt blue waters, sun-bleached cottages, ancient ruins and red sandstone cliffs, Crete's Red Beach is picturesque to say the least. Made famous in 1968 when hippies from across Europe flocked to its shores, the resort at Red Beach has remained a naturist favorite for its rustic charm and its tolerance (nudity is allowed everywhere except the dining room).

6. Praia do Pinho, Brazil: Although the barely-there, dental-floss bikini debuted here, nude beaches in Brazil are somewhat rare. However, naturism has caught on in some parts of the country, including Praia do Pinho (a.k.a. Pinho Beach), located in the southern state of Santa Catarina.

5. Hedonism II, Jamaica: Unlike most other nude beaches, Hedonism II promotes a freewheeling and indulgent naturist experience for playful singles and couples.

4. Samurai Beach, Australia: As one of the sportiest nude beaches worldwide, it is only appropriate that Samurai Beach hosts the annual Nude Olympics every November. Events include the Nude Torch Relay, Nude Surfing and the Nude Beach Girl and Guy Competition. What a sight this must be!

3. Wreck Beach, British Columbia: Just several hundred steps below the University of British Columbia, the three-mile-long beach is a wildlife and nesting area for both bald eagles and bald bodies.

2. Ocho Rios, Jamaica: The site for nude novices is the Couples Resort in Ocho Rios, a popular Jamaican port-of-call.

1. Montalivet, France: Travelers looking for an authentic nude beach experience should go to Centre Hélio Montalivet, the birthplace of the international naturist movement.

Via GoBlog's World's Best Nude Beaches.

Eos was so comfortable; I wanted to go around again….the service was excellent and the seats were extremely comfortable.”
- Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York
 
"Eos is perfect. I now prefer London Stansted to Heathrow… from touchdown through customs, to the Stansted Express Train took only 20 minutes."
- Mark Tercek, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs
 
Jessica Biel "I have to travel so much for my job that it makes me truly appreciate the difference in the service and comfort of Eos."
- Jessica Biel, Movie and TV Actress

When the Duchess of York and Jessica Biel are used for an airline's customer testimonials, you know I won't be flying it any time soon. Don't get me wrong, if I was a semi-successful actress that nobody has ever heard of or the black sheep of British loyalty I would absolutely pay $3,000 for a business class ticket. What else am I going to do with my money? I'm rich damn it. Filthy stinking rich. And people love me. From the WSJ:

Eos, named for the winged Greek goddess of the dawn, promises something more like a corporate jet experience than the standard airline squeeze on its Boeing 757s, fitted with just 48 seats on an airplane that typically carries 180. Seats will fold down into beds six-feet-six inches long, outfitted with cashmere blankets and cotton sheets. Instead of tray tables, Eos seats will have large credenza-like surfaces, and "companion seats" for in-flight meetings. Fares will be around $6,500 round trip, about 20% below the high end of existing business-class fares. The company is starting with three planes and two round-trip flights per day.

Fly EOS Airlines and see how the other half lives.

Here's a travel story, of sorts:

HAGATNA, Guam, Feb. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lost at sea for more than a month after their boat engine failed, a couple from the Pacific island of Kiribati is finally flying home today (March 1) on Continental Micronesia.

"The story of how this couple survived more than a month at sea is miraculous," said Continental Micronesia Staff Vice President of Marketing and Sales Walter Dias. "It's also a heartwarming story of the warmth and hospitality of the Pacific islanders who took this couple in. Being part of this tradition of hospitality in the islands is why we wanted to help," said Dias.

The couple is leaving Chuuk on their journey home with complimentary air travel provided by Continental Micronesia.

On Dec. 30, 2005, the couple took their 19-foot wooden boat with a 40 h.p. outboard motor from Tarawa, the capital of Kiribati, to an outer island to pick up a relative. Just as they were a few miles away from their relative's island, the outboard motor died. Winds pushed them faraway. The Kiribati government called a search and rescue, but it was not successful.

The couple drifted for more than a month, almost two thousand kilometers from their country of Kiribati. Finally a fishing vessel's helicopter spotted the wooden boat close to the island of Kapingamarangi, south of Pohnpei. The chopper picked up the couple and brought them to the mother ship, which in turn took them to Chuuk, according to Mason Fritz, Director of Chuuk Visitors Bureau, who has been helping to take care of the couple.

Moral of the story? Keep a paddle in your boat next time your'e picking up relatives. Read the whole story here.

Travel Channel has another interesting list, this time it's the world's best bathrooms. Visit the site to see the complete list and start planning your "2006 World Bathroom Tour" now. Here is a sample of their top picks:

10. Best See-Through Bathroom: Sloan's Ice Cream Parlor Bathroom walls made from clear glass! 9. Best Rest Stop: Switzerland's M-1 Highway Famed Swiss architect Heinz Eisler designed both the rest stop and its bathrooms. 8. Best Ladies' Room: Pasha Restaurant and Club Open 'til 5 a.m. on weekends. 7. Best Men's Room: The Madonna Inn Spend a night in the Caveman Room, complete with rock walls, floor and ceiling. 6. Best High-Tech Toilet: Maximus Salon and Day Spa This toilet can be ordered and owned for a mere $1,200. 5. Best Portable Toilets: Classic Loos England's Royal Family has used these portable toilets.

4. Best Bathrooms for Flirting: Club Sugar A great spot for star gazing — Hollywood-style. 3. Best Bathroom As Work of Art: The John Michael Kohler Arts Center One bathroom is tiled with the imagined silhouettes of Arts Center members who have submitted their names and one-sentence bios. 2. Best Unisex Bathroom: Mandalay Bay Resort's China Grill Restaurant Nibble on divine Tempura Sashimi or Sake Steamed Green Mussel appetizers before hitting the restrooms. 1. World's Best Bathroom: Lam Sai Wing's Golden Bathroom Special Bonus Bathroom: The Jenny Lind Suite The suite is named after the famed Swedish opera singer, a former guest of the Willard.

It's hip to be square at the Kube Hotel in Paris. With square rooms, square chairs, and an ice bar, your digital camera will be full of pictures to send to all your hip friends after your stay. From Design Hotels:

As its name suggests, the Kube hotel is dominated by one particular geometric shape in its interior design. In addition to, obviously, lots of cubes, the themes of coolness and transparency, which are emphasised throughout the public spaces are offset by the warming sense of privacy and comfort that pervades the guestrooms. The courtyard of the revamped 19th century building features a see-through cube, which contains the necessary reception facilities in a suitable way. Sashaying into the stylish bar, which serves as the heart of the hotel, you’ll find yourself transported to a rather futuristic space, complete with generously high ceilings, lots of stainless-steel gratings, floor-to-ceiling curtains and a long counter in tarnished silver. Cubic seats and lounge chairs accented in fur set off the black glass of the walls, which are animated in turn by a whole row of plasma-screen televisions. Bars play a pivotal role in the hotel’s concept so you’ll find the “Ice Kube” bar on the mezzanine, which sits directly above the central bar.

Travel & Leisure picked the adidas ToGo shoe for their annual design award. Here's what they had to say:

Super lightweight and foldable, these are "the ultimate travel shoes," said the jury. Made of malleable neoprene, they nonetheless provide decent arch support. Perfect for the longest of flights, and dashes through the airport.

Check out the other design winners on their site.

If you're looking for some luxury snow camping in the Alps consider Whitepod:

Whitepod is not just another hotel. In fact, it's not a hotel at all. It's your home in nature, far from the crowds, yet still offering the highest standards of sophistication, comfort and style. There is no reception desk, no check-in or check-out. Located in the heart of the Swiss Alps, at the feet of the Dents du Midi with peaks over 3,000m, it consists of six pods (dome shaped tents) pitched on raised wooden platforms around a traditional Alpine chalet. A change of view... Each pod serves as a bedroom, designed for double or single occupancy. Heated by a wood burning stove and insulated with the latest technology, they are wonderfully warm day and night. Huge windows facing the bed offer breathtaking views to wake up to. Soft lighting by petrol lamps, organic bedding and throws - all enhance the sense of physical and spiritual well-being that Whitepod seeks to nurture. I-pods for your entertainment... Maglite torches for your convenience - the little touches are all of the very highest quality. Relive the day in a traditional alpine chalet... The Alpine chalet dates back to 1820 when it was used as a farmhouse. It stands proudly in front of impressive mountain ranges, snowy pastures and forests. Beautifully and sensitively refurbished using quality local materials, it houses the dining room, lounge with wood burning stove, the bathrooms and the spa. Every need is anticipated... The Whitepod team includes a camp manager, mountain guides, paragliding pilots, dog sledgers, massage therapists and a resident chef who specializes in regional dishes prepared using organic or highest quality local produce. All members of the team are experienced professionals who delight in excellent service. Your needs will be discussed in detail when booking so they can be fully satisfied.

If you've always wanted a butler, but just couldn't find someone with the right accent and sartorial elegence you've come to expect from your household staff, fret no more. Karisma, a collection of resorts on the Mexican Riviera Maya, is making indentured service fun again:

Karisma is offering such unusual all-inclusive amenities as beach butlers and baby robes. "We think we're raising the entire level of all-inclusive resorts," said Lubo Krstajic, a co-owner and executive vice president of sales and marketing.

Read the article here or visit the Karisma site.

What's a person or company to do if they buy an island in the Seychelles? Well, turn it into a luxury retreat and charges prices starting at $3,400 per night:

We bought North Island in recognition of its potential as a Noah’s Ark; a sanctuary where natural habitats could be rehabilitated and where critically endangered Seychelles fauna and flora could be re-introduced and given a place to regenerate.

North Island is the most interesting conservation project we have ever undertaken. It is very seldom that the opportunity arises to make such a significant and positive impact on a region, a specific area, its wildlife and surrounding environment.

On this beautiful island we have built an exclusive luxury lodge. We have, where possible, utilised materials reaped from the rehabilitation process. In doing so we have paid particular attention to capturing the true essence of North Island, a rare experience in harmony with the environment.

The development on North Island is unashamedly aimed at providing the very best in privacy, location, accommodation, services, facilities and experience. The Island has only 11 guest Villas – exquisitely designed to celebrate nature and offer an authentic home-from-home ambience. The result is a special destination that touches the lives of its guests and inspires them long after they have left. North Island is an example of a sustainable ecologically sensitive utilisation of a precious natural treasure.

We're sure if you have the money it's well worth it. So let us know how it is. We'll be staying at the Holiday Inn down by the airport. *Sigh.

Leading Hotels of the World has released their list of top spas. And in the tradition of Top Hotels Of The World, we highlight our favorite names:

• The Scotsman, Edinburgh,Scotland, UK: Scotland and spas? Com'on now, we all know Scotland is known for it's Scotch, highlands, tripe, and fantastic blue face paint, but Spas? Go figure. Freeeeeedooooooom!
• The Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa, Cape Town, South Africa: Wow. Nice name. Great facials, just don't eat dinner or it might just be your last supper.
• Royal Plantation,Ocho Rios, Jamaica: Naming a spa after a plantation seem a lot like naming your cat Fido. Just doesn't seem to fit. Like military intelligence. Or airline food. Or detailed summary? I mean really, when did plantations become bastions of relaxation?
  
• Parrot Cay & Shambhala Retreat, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands: I donn't know about you, but the last place I want to spend a relaxing vacation is with a bunch of squawking parrots. I'm just saying.

See the complete list after the jump.

Travel and Leisure has put together a comprehensive list of their picks for top hotels around the world:

The T+L 500, a compendium of the greatest hotels around the globe, as chosen by Travel + Leisure readers in our annual World's Best Awards survey. To assist you even further, we've called on T+L insiders from Sweden to South Africa, from Chile to Thailand, to give us the scoop on each property. On the following pages, you'll learn not only how readers thought these hotels compared (see the overall score) but also what distinguishes them from their competitors, where the best rooms are in each, and how to make the most of your stay. It's the ultimate hotel guide—and it's yours to use all year long.

The list is sortable by service, value, location, food, screaming kids per sq. foot, and carpet color. Well, not the last two, but I'd pay to know carpet color before I arrived. Nothing bums me out more than a brown carpet. Read the whole article here. BTW, is anyone else amused by some of the names of the hotels on the list? Or am I just bored today?

• Tu Tu' Tun Lodge Like in really fat ballerinas?
• Willard InterContinental Wasn't Willard a movie about man eating rats? Or was it rat eating men?
• White Barn Inn Rooms come with a barnyard animal of your choice. Suuuweeeee.
• Jekyll Island Club Hotel Rule #1 of hotel naming. No schizophrenic homicidal maniacs, even if they're just fiction.
• Die Swaene Is it me or is it just plain weird to name your hotel Die Swine...
• CuisinArt Resort & Spa Free blender with stay.