There are two things we Americans hold dear to our hearts: TV and mobility.
Sick of all the smoke, mirrors and general b.s. about all the changes in the works, I did a little research and came up with a few essential facts according to the latest policies.
Traditional analog TV broadcasts will end "no later than February 17, 2009." This means that everyone who wants to watch TV in the USA will need to convert to digital TVs or have digital converters within the next two years. I'd wait until they make us do it in 2009 or later (if there are political delays).
New passport laws: According to the U.S. State Department (verbatim):
Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air [emphasis added] between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, if applicable.
As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries.
Finally, here are the State Department's places to avoid. Notably, Cuba is not on the list, though you're still supposed to sneak into that colorful country via Canada or Mexico or elsewhere. And we can't, ridiculously, legally buy Cuban cigars, even though Detroiters can safely smoke them in Windsor or anywhere else in Canada. Too bad the Loyalists didn't win back in the day. We might now have a multi-party system and a truly representative parliament if they had instead of a bogus two-party farce. And the right to smoke the best cigars in the world in our own homes.
Iraq and Afghanistan are on the list. I wonder of any of the Poor Bloody Infantry have pointed this out to their commanders, and with what success?
Current Travel Warnings
Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department recommends that Americans avoid a certain country. The countries listed below are currently on that list. . . . .
Lebanon 12/22/2006
Algeria 12/20/2006
Central African Republic 12/19/2006
Saudi Arabia 12/19/2006
Congo, Democratic Republic of the 12/18/2006
Côte d'Ivoire 12/18/2006
Nepal 12/08/2006
Pakistan 12/05/2006
Chad 11/20/2006
Syria 11/13/2006
East Timor 11/01/2006
Sri Lanka 10/23/2006
Yemen 10/13/2006
Iran 10/10/2006
Sudan 10/05/2006
Uzbekistan 10/04/2006
Syria 09/14/2006
Israel, the West Bank and Gaza 08/29/2006
Iraq 08/28/2006
Nigeria 08/24/2006
Kenya 08/10/2006
Haiti 07/07/2006
Burundi 06/23/2006
Afghanistan 06/22/2006
Philippines 06/16/2006
Eritrea 06/05/2006
Somalia 06/05/2006
Bosnia-Herzegovina 03/30/2006
Liberia 03/30/2006
Colombia 01/18/2006
Indonesia 11/18/2005
Today's Rune: Breakthrough.Bon Voyage -- if you're allowed to leave the country.
8 comments:
That's a hell of a lot of countries not to visit. I'm glad mine isn't on the list (Lesotho).
*grin*
Huh? No Clara Pellar? That was her name, wasn't it?--The old lady from the Wendy's commericials?
On a different note, some of the Canadian employees at my facility vacation in Cuba quite frequently. Not that I'm planning on going there any time soon.
I wonder if people will heed the warning about traveling to Lebanon. Last year they didn't and got caught in the hostilities.
Of course, they blamed the government for not doing enough to evacuate them from a country the government told them they shouldn't visit in the first place.
That's kind of like trying to sue the toaster company when you drop it in your bathtub.
It's all George's fault.
When I went to Costa Rica, I somehow made it back into the states with 25 Cuban cigar. It was a real thrill getting through customs, but I shouldn't have to feel like I'm some kind of drug runner. They're Cohibas, not cocaine.
I love Cubanos.
Yeah-- Cuba's a safe place to visit-- it's just somehow a threat to the United States nearly two decades after the end of the cold war (like it was a threat even then).
"Bogus two-party farce"
It's bogus as it's ONE party, all dressed up for the TV - actually, ditch the TV full stop.
Same as the UK - the pendulum swing has slowed, but both parties offer nothing but minimal difference.
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