DavidAlport

This is me.  Today.   On a Continental flight from Geneva to New York, just hours before an Icelandic volcano screwed up global air travel more than anytime since 9/11. Oh, and this is my last blog post for Upright & Stowed.   Forever. I started writing Upright & Stowed during a (sort of) tough period in my life, personally and professionally.   I had completed my Out & About journey years before, and I was struggling to find the next travel-related work pursuit.   I’d been thinking about... Read Full Story

So.  I'll likely soon be able to get married to my non-existent lover in Portugal.  And in Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Norway.  But not in New York, New Jersey or California. Wow.  Weren't we the country that once rushed into Europe carrying the banner of freedom, liberty and justice for all?  It looks like the student has far surpassed the teacher.  Thanks Western Europe for helping show us the way. Read Full Story

Look ...  I've never really cared for New Jersey.  Other than the fact that it's home to my cousin Lisa and my college friend Sarah, I 've generally wanted nothing to do with the state.  Today NJ's political elite joined the louses of my own in rejecting gay marriage.  With a new conservative governor coming to power, it's clear that the marriage battle is lost in NJ for a loooong time. I'm ready for a new approach to securing equal rights and protections for the gay community.  Gay marriage... Read Full Story

It's too cloudy in San Francisco to see tonight's blue moon.  But I'm taking the presence of the first New Year's blue moon since 1990 (and the last til 2028) as a sign that 2010 is going to be a very good year.  One in which we apply the things we've learned in the last decade towards making the next one better, smarter, and more compassionate.  Happy New Year! Read Full Story

Photo The world's human population is about 6.8 billion, according to the Population Divisio n of the UN.  China (20%) and India (17%) are the giants in this list.  There are only nine other countries with populations over 100 million people.  In case you're interested, here they are:  United States, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Russia, Japan and Mexico.  For the full list on country populations, click here . Read Full Story

After two years of delays, the Boeing 787 "Dreamliner" took off on its maiden voyage yesterday.  I am such an airplane geek that I kind of teared up watching the video below.  As dedicated blog readers know, my past few years have been full of their own work-related fits and starts.  Travel idea ... consulting ... new travel idea ... consulting ... internet startup ... consulting ... non-profit shift ... consulting.  It was all getting a bit tedious, even though the goal of meaningful work in... Read Full Story

Peter Eisenman's Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (in the heart of Berlin) is one of the most moving pieces of memorial art I've ever seen.  Its stark beauty and massive scale manage to convey the enormity of the loss and the terror of the time in ways that take your breath away.  Last week it was reported that EasyJet ran a fashion spread in its "Traveller" magazine ... shot among the concrete slabs of the memorial.  All I can say is "Oy Vey."  What were these people thinking?  Pure... Read Full Story

If you’ve read this blog over time, you know how I love Maine (though not its recent vote on gay marriage).   Maine is a rugged, magical place, and I have visited many times over the years, usually as a guest of my dear college friend Michael and his younger brother Danny (who was my BF for four years).    Michael and Danny grew up in Portland.   They also have a family house on Sebago Lake, a picture-perfect vision of wooded Maine.   Heaven on earth. If you fly to Maine, you’ll likely being... Read Full Story

Additional words unnecessary.  Happy Thanksgiving to all! Read Full Story

Domesticated turkey’s can’t fly, which is at complete odds with my family’s celebration of Turkey Day.  Thanksgiving is the holiday most likely to see my family hitting the road or taking to the skies to gather together in our homeland, St. Louie, MO.   Sadly for us, American Airlines has decimated its flight schedule to/from St. Louis, but we persevere.   Herewith, the travel dossier of my family for this year’s Gateway City Thanksgiving.    Fingers crossed for clear skies.   Cause I’m... Read Full Story