Articles by Jonathan Spira
Editorial: Gold-Plated Travel Should Not Be Standard Government Issue
One government official’s penchant for flying first-class has caught the attention of the media, government watchdogs, and other politicians. Scott Pruitt, the Environmental Protection Agency’s administrator, along with his aides have put forth the dubious argument that he must fly up front because he is not safe in economy. Apparently, people haven’t been very nice to him in the rear of the plane.
“Unfortunately, we’ve had some incidents” he said in …
Briefly Noted: ‘The Outsider’ at Paper Mill Playhouse – Theater Review
Ponder the question, “what is the role of government?” In brief, a political scientist might explain that it exists to accomplish, as a group, that which individuals alone cannot. This would include building infrastructure, such as roads that connect people and cities, maintaining that infrastructure such as maintaining and keeping the roads clear, providing schools, and establishing a safety net for the less fortunate. Do the people want someone who …
Peacocks on a Plane
It took a peacock to bring everyone to his senses.
Oddly enough, it wasn’t the pig, the duck, the snake, the spider, the chicken, the rooster, or the turkey that brought the pot to a boil.
It was the peacock.
As most people know by now, an over-entitled woman tried – albeit without success – to bring a peacock onto a United Airlines flight out of Newark in January, claiming that the peafowl …
The Westbury, Mayfair-London, England – Hotel Review
My first stay at the Westbury was when I was 17. It was a memorable one but, for no particular reason, I hadn’t had the opportunity to return to the Westbury until recently.
Back then, my parents, brother, and I had been walked from a heavily overbooked Churchill, and a London taxi brought us to the serene and supremely elegant Westbury, where the first suite we were shown was so nice …
A Conversation with Frequent Traveler Laurie Haspel, CEO of Haspel Clothing
The seersucker suit has been considered the mainstay of a gentleman’s summer wardrobe, tracing its origins back to its introduction by Joseph Haspel Sr. in 1909. Today, Laurie Haspel Aronson, Joseph Haspel’s great-granddaughter, is CEO of Haspel Clothing, which is based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
As a long-time aficionado of seersucker – the thin, puckered, all-cotton fabric is the perfect way to dress well in warmer climes – I was pleased …
Review: Is the Mobile Passport App Better than Global Entry?
Mobile Passport, available on both Apple iOS and Android platforms, is a relatively new app, introduced just a little over a year ago.
The app works by supplying arriving international travelers with a QR code after having them fill out an app-based copy of an electronic customs declaration form.
In some respects, it sounds strikingly similar to Global Entry, but it may be faster to clear passport control than Global Entry given …
Essay: How Tech Has Changed How We Travel
When I first began traveling across the globe with my parents, the biggest concern they had was bringing sufficient batteries for photo flash units and also ensuring that exposed film didn’t pass through x-ray machines at security checkpoints. All I had to do was bring along my 35mm SLR, a few paperbacks and many car magazines to read, and I was all set.
Of course, I had to choose my shots …