Destinations

Category Archives for Destinations.

Why ‘Standardization’ Means One Woman Can’t Have Her Name On Her Passport

by Gary Leff

Aug 30 2021

When government knew little about its subjects, their location, and their wealth it was difficult to monitor, tax, and regulate. Over time we saw the development of permanent last names, land surveys and population measures, and standard weights. We get planned transportation networks. Local systems and customers were mapped onto more standard grids that allowed for central recording. State institutions seek to order nature and society.

And that, it seems, is why one woman can’t have her name printed on a passport.

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Qantas Says Australian Borders To Re-Open In December

by Gary Leff

sydney opera house at sunset
Aug 30 2021

Qantas announced plans for the re-start of its international route network, beginning on December. That planned seemed crazy with the country facing an upswing in Covid-19 cases – more than they’ve seen at any point in the pandemic – and what once seemed like an idyllic refuge from the global pandemic now seems like a dystopian science fiction film.

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European Union Expected To Recommend Restrictions On Many American Travelers On Monday

by Gary Leff

passport getting stamped
Aug 27 2021

The European Union has begun the process to re-impose restrictions (quarantine, testing) for unvaccinated Americans. The U.S. will be removed from a list of countries whose citizens are allowed to travel freely in Europe without Covid restrictions.

A key consideration for whether and when countries re-impose restrictions is the extent to which their economies rely on tourism. It’s no coincidence that Greece, France, and Spain were among the first Schengen countries to announce they’d welcome Americans before Europe had taken broader action.

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Will The U.S. Ban Europeans From Coming Here Until Thanksgiving?

by Gary Leff

Aug 24 2021

U.S. travel restrictions are for show. There’s a huge status quo bias in policy. Lifting restrictions looks ‘soft on Covid’ which is galling from an administration that was supposed to be ‘guided by science’ yet has been unwilling to reverse the policies put in place by the previous administration. These restrictions have real consequences separating families and raising the cost of doing business.

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Qantas Commercial: Get Vaccinated And Maybe The Government Will Let You Leave The Country

by Gary Leff

qantasplane
Aug 23 2021

Australia is caught in a bind. They managed the early stage of the pandemic well, so well that they’ve backed themselves into a corner haven’t had an end game. Lockdowns have increased, frustrations have grown, and citizens haven’t been able to travel abroad – and often even domestically – for a year and a half.

Against this backdrop Qantas has a new commercial: get vaccinated and maybe the government will let you leave the country. I cried watching this.

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