Chinese Food For Thought

Yellowstone. Yosemite. Grand Canyon. Glacier Bay. Mammoth Cave. Hawaii Volcanoes. Those are just a few of the designated National Parks of the United States. They are as diverse in style as they are in location, from the US Virgin Islands to Alaska to American Samoa there are more than 60 recognized landmark areas, which make up our National Parks system. In fact, these great destinations represent a connect-the-dots of vacations for many travelers. Why go halfway around the world for sightseeing, until you've seen what's in your own back yard? Many people check these parks off a list as they go, hoping to see them all in their lifetime. To make that easier, some tour operators even combine National Parks and sightseeing trips in the region in a travel goulash called "Canyonlands". It's a great way of seeing a lot of American wonder, in the shortest period of time. What got me thinking about this today is a story on USAToday.com about China, mentioning that China just announced last month its first officially named "National Park". It's an area near the Russian border that at one time was stripped clear of vast forests, fueling the Communist Revolution in the 60's. Now it's back, and the Chinese government is aiming to preserve the area for future generations, as well as creating a National Parks system like the one we enjoy here. Think about that. We're many years ahead of the curve, compared to other major countries and civilizations, in trying to save natural beauty for future generations. So when was the last time you visited a National Park? Hmmm? Don't need a passport, you just walk right in and start taking pictures. Did you know if you do an Alaska cruise and a couple of extra days extension, you could actually experience 3, 4 even 5 National Parks? On your next gambling junket to Las Vegas, if you don't feel like sitting at gaming tables every day, did you know you can do day-trips to Death Valley? Zion? Grand Canyon? Great Basin? It's true.

Thinking of going to San Francisco for a few days, and maybe hitting the wine region as well? Sounds great, but don't forget you're less than 6 hours away from Sequoia, Redwoods, and only 4-5 hours from Yosemite! Do a combo vacation. There are so many fantastic parks in the US, yet sometimes people get blinded thinking the only two things they can do on vacation is go to the Caribbean or Disney. Not that those are a bad thing, certainly! But talk to your family and see if you might like a taste of adventure mixed in with your next getaway. You'll have a new appreciation for the USA, without ever leaving "home".

There's a new TOP TEN list out, this time from Oxford University, whose researchers compiled the 10 least-favorite expressions people use in conversation. The researchers created the list by monitoring the use of phrases in databases, books, papers, magazines, broadcast networks, the internet, and just plain talkin' to folks. It's oxymoronic language, over-used meaningless filler words, or things that just stick in yer craw and give you the willies when people say them. I would have thought George W Bush's butchering of the word Nuclear (Newk-u-lar) would have clearly made the grade, but NO - there are others! People hate hearing phrases like "isn't it ironic" when irony is not even in the example, or folks using new-age words like synergy or even worse, synergistic. Ready for the list? Break out your checklist, to see if you're guilty of any of these guilty pleasures in human mis-speak:

10) It's not rocket science

9) 24/7

8) Shouldn't of (instead of shouldn't have)

7) It was a nightmare

6) Absolutely!
6a) You Betcha! (thanks, Sarah Palin)

5) With all due respect

4) At this moment in time (or and time)

3) I personally (unnecessary)

2) Fairly unique (it's unique or it's not)

And the #1 most hated, at the end of the day?

1) At the end of the day

Son of a gun....I made the list at least once or twice. Did you?