About Beth
I am a freelance writer, based in Pittsburgh, PA, specializing in science and technical topics. Yes, I am available for new writing projects! Ick
I've been perusing some travel-related sites (inspired by onebag.com, the likes of which I will post about soon).
I've always liked browsing through travel gear - the items are often unusual, ingenious, and cute. Some of them skeeve me out, though, and not just because they're only available in taupe.
I guess it's because people who can afford to travel a lot, and can afford to buy special gear to do it with, tend to be old rich hypochondriacs. Or something. Do you really need "money socks" that hold that third copy of every paper you own? Do people in foreign countries really want your important documents that much? The "security" section of any travel-gear website showcases more paranoia than the Loompanics catalog. A doorstop alarm for your hotel room? Security wallets for a dozen different body parts?
I digress. That's not what skeeves me out. What skeeves me out are things like the SeatWrap, which covers your entire airplane seat so you don't have to touch fabric that somebody else's butt has touched. Or how about the (taupe) I Can Breathe Mask that protects your delicate nasal passages from "exhaust fumes and cigarette smoke". But, of course, only while you're traveling - foreign exhaust fumes must be worse than the domestic kind. Meanwhile, the SnacPac silverware kit protects you from the "iffy" silverware provided by restaurants everywhere but home.
I wonder if European travel catalogs sell iffy silverware to use when traveling to America.
I've always liked browsing through travel gear - the items are often unusual, ingenious, and cute. Some of them skeeve me out, though, and not just because they're only available in taupe.
I guess it's because people who can afford to travel a lot, and can afford to buy special gear to do it with, tend to be old rich hypochondriacs. Or something. Do you really need "money socks" that hold that third copy of every paper you own? Do people in foreign countries really want your important documents that much? The "security" section of any travel-gear website showcases more paranoia than the Loompanics catalog. A doorstop alarm for your hotel room? Security wallets for a dozen different body parts?
I digress. That's not what skeeves me out. What skeeves me out are things like the SeatWrap, which covers your entire airplane seat so you don't have to touch fabric that somebody else's butt has touched. Or how about the (taupe) I Can Breathe Mask that protects your delicate nasal passages from "exhaust fumes and cigarette smoke". But, of course, only while you're traveling - foreign exhaust fumes must be worse than the domestic kind. Meanwhile, the SnacPac silverware kit protects you from the "iffy" silverware provided by restaurants everywhere but home.
I wonder if European travel catalogs sell iffy silverware to use when traveling to America.
To fun places by Beth on
2005-08-22.