claustrophobia

Mumbai is the most densely populated city in the world with 29,650
people per square kilometer.
{That's about 34 square meters per
person!}

America is a sick society

The following is a quote from a popular blog about the recent homicide-suicide of a popular, world champion wrestler:
Chris Benoit has broken my heart.
We expect wrestlers to die young of the same kinds of ailments that football players and boxers die from.
America is a gladiator society and so we glorify the acts of our gladiators, relish in their victories, and suffer in their tragedies.
Benoit was a legit tough-man in a "fake" sport. Wrestling fans have been drawn to Benoit for years because of his unrivaled physical gifts.

what to do on a cruise ship...

Freedom of the Seas

The ship features three swimming areas; an interactive water park, a
dedicated adult pool and the main pool. There are 2 whirlpools
cantilevered out from the ship's sides. The Royal Promenade sports a
coffee shop, Sorrento's Pizzeria, a Ben and Jerry's ice-cream shop,
Vintage's winery, the Bull and Bear Irish pub, and many Duty-free
shops. The 13th deck features a sports area with amenities such as a
rock climbing wall, the FlowRider (an onboard wave generator for
surfing), a miniature golf course and a full size basketball court.
Other items include an ice skating rink, a casino, a Johnny Rockets (see below),
Wi-Fi capabilities throughout the ship, flat panel televisions in all
staterooms, and cell phone connectivity.

Johnny Rockets is an American burger restaurant franchise whose motif
is meant to recreate the American malt shops of the 1940s and 1950s.
Its restaurants' decor include jukeboxes, chrome accents and red
leather seats, and customers are waited on by waiters and waitresses
dressed in attire of the period. The staff are also known to sing and
dance every half-hour, twirl straws and make smiley faces of ketchup.
All orders are made-to-order.

Cruise Ships for Hurricane Survivors?

Hurricane Katrina Charters
Three of the Carnival cruise ships were chartered by the United States
government for six months to serve as temporary housing in the
aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The Holiday was docked in Mobile,
Alabama, and the Ecstasy and Sensation were docked at New Orleans,
Louisiana. The six-month contract cost $236 million!!!
The contract was widely criticized because the vessels were never
fully utilized, and Carnival received more money than it would have
earned by using the ships in their normal rotation. Carnival did not
have the same fuel, entertainment, staffing, and other expenses they
would have incurred had the ships been on their normal routes!
(Albeit, the line did not receive revenues from on-board gambling,
alcoholic beverages, and other product and service sales that would
have been generated had the vessels been engaged in cruising.)