Kim Mance

iPhone 4S Siri answers my absurd questions and likes Star Trek, but not war

2012-01-19T22:16:10Z

If you haven't heard, the iPhone 4S has a talking assistant named Siri. She talks and takes orders like a champ. She's also apparently programmed to handle some pretty random questions with sarcasm, elegance and ease. This makes me have a little crush on the Apple programmers.

I'm an unabashed gadget geek. So, since it was a work holiday, my sister Cayla and I designated Monday as Phone Day. Then we stayed up late into the night asking our iPhone 4S Siri assistants questions.

Absurd questions.

Yes, various folks have tried this since the shiny new phone came out in late 2011, but we wanted to push the envelope, get creative, and ask the anthropomorphized phone software the most random (and pressing) questions possible to, ahem, test its capability.

Not the most efficient use of time, but it was fun. And it took our minds off annoying things going on in our lives.

Following are the results of our useless experiment. All images below are real screenshots of 'conversations' with our neat iPhones.

And in case you're a little slow on the uptake, the phrases in bold quotes are things we asked, the non-bold answers came, audibly and in text, from our phones.

Siri on love and (mixed) emotions

Siri is ambivalent on chocolate, but clearly anti-war

Siri on fictional characters (and technology)

Siri answers (some) personal questions

Siri gets annoyed

So thanks for all the fun and games Siri. And, also, thanks in advance for the directions to bars, restaurants and places to hide a dead body (as necessary).

Village life in Lesotho, Africa - photo essay

2011-09-02T15:13:14Z

In May I took a pony trek through rural parts of the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho, in southern Africa. It was one of the best things I've ever done.

One of the biggest privileges it provided was being able to sit quietly and watch remote villagers go about their day as if a lone tourist wasn't in their midst. Here's what it looked like:

In charge of the entire village of Sekoting's population of toddlers (about 12) while parents were harvesting wheat, was this heroic grandmother. Traditional 'rondavel' homes are round because locals believe evil spirits can hide in corners.

Village women of Sekoting harvesting wheat for the community grain stores -- it was the southern hemisphere's fall when I visited in May.

Grinning and laughing a lot seemed to be a theme amongst the men and women as they harvested Sekoting's wheat fields together.

The ladies in a tiny village called Ribaneng had an almost dance-like technique for separating chaff from corn maize for the community's shared grain stores.

Ribaneng's women have eagle eyes when it comes to sorting out bad corn kernels; the good ones are stored over winter in a community grain hut.

Adorable kids played all afternoon while their parents worked on terraced hillside fields down below the village's huts.

You can see my entire Lesotho photo album here.

(Posted as part of #FriFotos, a weekly Twitter chat founded by @EpsteinTravels.)

Kim Mance is Galavanting’s editor-in-chief and host of travel and adventure webseries Galavanting.tv. She’s based in Brooklyn, NY and has blogged for places like Marie Claire, Travel + Leisure, Huffington Post, and Babble. Kim is also host of the popular TBEX conferences in North America & Europe.

She’s @kimmance on Twitter.

Czech Republic C02 and Vancouver Riots

2011-06-29T18:32:30Z

Just a couple of random updates: I recently hung out amongst non-rioting Canadians during game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals in Vancouver, after seeking refuge from tear-gassed rioters.

I was also wrapped in a plastic bag in an obscure region of the Czech Republic so my legs could be bathed in carbon dioxide at a medical spa.

All in a couple of days' work...

My Facebook Status is True

2011-01-27T07:44:11Z

I love a good sandwich, and I love The Colbert Report.

What else can I say?

My intriguing facebook status. A few minutes ago.

Brooklyn, The Lazy Digital Age & My Hair Stylist

2011-01-15T06:05:32Z

The shit-ass photo I (Kim Mance) took while driving into NYC upon my move to the largest, most intimidating city in the US-of-A. While driving toward the Lincoln Tunnel, furniture in tow. DO NOT try this at home (or inside heavy machinery).Ah yes, I did move -- to New York. As in THE CITY. The big one.

Well, at least an outer borough of said city. And quite a delightful one if I might say so.

I've (thankfully) received emails from multiple folks politely wondering why the hell I decided to up and move to New York (yay, I have friends!) and haven't answered most of them yet. This is mostly because of the 492,000 boxes I had to unpack. Seriously. I used a lot of newspaper for the breakables.

Yet here, in a blog post, I can lazily email everyone back with one single URL reference. Because I was raised in the digital age, and that's what we do: Use technology. We don't draw maps on paper anymore, we send a Google Maps link so your smartphone can find it.

Anywhoo.

The answer to my move involves an amicable split, a semi-long-term-custody swap, a lot of work opportunites with less air travel between Chicago & NYC, a Big Apple (as in THE big apple), and bagels. Lots of New York City bagels. Not to mention the 'none of your damn business unless you're my therapist' factor -- no offense of course.

But especially, it's because my fabulous born-and-raised-in-Long-Island-City-but-now-owns-the-hippest-salon-in-Williamsburg hair stylist is in Brooklyn. And I love her. She loves me back.

So, here's the new spot in which I've landed to make a little nest, which rims the outer edge of the terrific Prospect Heights neighborhood. (And an apartment which happens to be owned by the most fun LandLady ever, @TravelingAnna, otherwise knowns as the keeper of a Frill Seeker Diary and co-chair of TBEX's NYC Chapter):

I have to say I've been quite enjoying the little abode in its unpacked state before I trot off to Jasper and Banff Lake Louise next week for the Ice Magic Festival along with Galavanting's trusty and awesome managing editor / filmographer Joseph Hernandez. Perhaps I'll spot the Banff Squirell while there (fingers crossed). But I'm assured I will hold a chain saw and learn to make an ice sculpture -- from an expert -- and I will likely wear goggles.

Stay tuned.

And since I'm a NYC newb, I'm taking any and all advice from those who know things about NYC (especially Brooklyn or rat-prevention). That is, unless your advice is terrible, then I'll just be polite and pretend to listen.

But I'm just sayin': Hey there friends, weigh in.

If there are still questions about why I moved to New York, let me just leave you with this...

H/T to The Notorious Meg for the freaky rat video she featured on Twitter.

_______

The fine print (but hypocritically wouldn't be necessary if ink was used to produce this text):

The FTC would like me to inform you I'm traveling to Jasper/Banff on their dime (not the FTC's, the tourism folks'). But as usual, my opinions, antics, and potential chainsaw-induced-limb-losses are my own. If you're an [United States of] American consumer, consider yourself protected.

The nearest dream recedes — unrealized

2011-01-04T03:42:55Z

Even in the 19th Century, things didn't always work out....

The heaven we chase

Like the June bee

Before the school-boy

Invites the race;

Stoops to an easy clover

Dips — evades — teases — deploys;

Then to the royal clouds

Lifts his light pinnace

Heedless of the boy

Staring, bewildered, at the mocking sky.

Homesick for steadfast honey,

Ah, the bee flies not

That brews that rare variety!

~ Emily Dickinson, 1862

TBEX Europe in Copenhagen

2010-11-09T14:50:44Z

Me welcoming attendees to TBEX Europe in Copenhagen, Denmark. // photo by Johnny JetI'm just back to the States from Copenhagen, Denmark where we had the first-ever TBEX Europe conference of travel bloggers and writers. Now back at my computer to see what all the tweeting and blogging attendees thought of the meeting, I also found that the cool folks over at Wonderful Copenhagen and Momondo (our presenting sponsors) put together a fun little video overview of what the meeting was like...

Hamlet (Paul Brady), Rosencrantz (Robert Reid) and Ophelia (Kim Mance) dramatize the issues bloggers face when dealing with SEO. // photo by Johnny Jet I'm glad they captured a bit of the atmosphere of the meeting venue, which I fell in love with during an early site visit and realized there was no other place to have TBEX Europe than at the quirky, colorful, and historic Cirkus building. It lent itself to creativity and fun, and even a Shakespearian skit about SEO, written and performed by me, Robert Reid from Lonely Planet (also featured in the video above), and Paul Brady from Condé Nast Traveler magazine.

There are so many other highlights, I won't try and capture them all in one post and place, but I should say that National Geographic's digital nomad Andrew Evans gave a Saturday afternoon talk that was so helpful and inspiring I gave him a hug on stage before moving on with the program. It even sparked many of the attendees that very same night to tell a story, even though the subject was bar hopping. And that makes all the planning and logistics worth it to me.

Happy Effing Halloween (profanity involved)

2010-11-01T02:04:47Z

This is Stephen. He is a person whose legs don't work. But he loves 'Transformers', the colors green and pink, and wants to be a movie director when he grows up. He beat cancer inside his spinal cord (a few times), so he'll probably be a kickass director someday. Or whatever else he chooses to be. Don't treat him sub-human to make yourself feel more comfortable when you see him. Thanks.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT -
For all those who feel a little bit uncomfortable when you see someone in a wheelchair and don't want to stare: Just look at them and do whatever you'd do with someone else whose legs were making them move around. Don't avert your gaze, or be awkward, or try hard. Just treat them like a person. They are a person. Just like you. Nothing prepared them for a wheelchair -- just like nothing has prepared you for a wheelchair if you end up in one at 10 am tomorrow.

Don't be a condescending douchebag.

Bear with me. I'm still a little pissed about our Halloween trick or treating experience. Here's the deal: My kid's legs don't work (see right).

And here's the story, if you're in interested: My kids were having a great time, getting way too much candy, then third-to-last house on the route, the kids all said "trick or treat" (it took me years to get them to all say it when the person opens the door, then said "thank you" and / or "happy halloween" at some point), then my rosy-cheeked nine year-old son Stephen happily followed up with, "Trick or treat!" again -- because she didn't notice him, since he couldn't get to onto her porch because of his wheelchair. (Which, by the way, this is the first year he's had the new motorized one and I couldn't even keep up, such a difference, he can nearly go anywhere.)

But I was soon to find out this Halloween Candy-Giving Lady was one of those loud people. Someone who says everything especially loudly, so everyone within a quarter-mile radius hears how 'brilliant and profound' everything that comes out of her mouth is.

She gave candy to my eldest son PJ, and young daughter Abby (they both use their legs for mobility). Then walks over to Stephen (who is chatting jovially and dressed as a bandit cowboy, but sitting in a wheelchair), and says, "Wow. Way to make the best of a bad situation", nodding her head 'understandingly'.

I wanted to punch her in the face. Stephen is 9 years-old. He didn't understand what she meant, but in about a year or two he will -- and I don't want him to lose faith in humanity because of insensitive, ignorant, horrid people like this. ...Who does she think she is? Seriously?? He was already traumatized by a DUMBASS guy at O'Hare airport once saying, "Awww, how sad", while looking right at him.

But back to Halloween 2010. If I'd not had the faintly-mustered amount of discretion I had, I would've told that idiotic woman, "Yeah, we're making the best of the situation of being around a sensitivity-impaired candy-giver who can't censor herself for one fucking moment to have any amount of common decency in front of children. Do you think because his legs don't work his brain doesn't, you MORON?"

But I didn't.

I opted for a simple and teeth-gritted "Happy Halloween" and quick turnaround instead.

Yet don't think I haven't pointedly humiliated people before for similar offenses. I don't like being rude, but sometimes I will mess people up -- throw them off track from their well-meaning condescension. ...Like the guy on the DC platform who looked over at Stephen and told me 'Gawd' struck him with illness 'because America allows abortions'. I made sure he knew if he spoke one more word he'd be on the electrified tracks nearby.

But this particular dumabass woman was from the 'burbs. Where people think family values run through their bloodstream yet actually have no common decency in many situations. Still inexcusable if you ask me.

Kim Mance is a travel and lifestyle writer with three kids. Two of them have special needs, but nothing prepared her for it -- just like the parking ticket that messed up your entire life that one time. She also travels the globe a lot for work but doesn't answer the question "How do you do that [as someone who has lady parts]?" with a straight face. Deal with it.

Nostalgia Wrapped Up in Travel Dreams: The Red Balloon

2010-10-19T16:50:15Z

I had a sudden memory last night of a magical movie which left an impression on me as a small kid. After a little searching, I found a full version of short film The Red Balloon. Honestly I can't remember who showed the movie to me, but I thank them. It not only captured my imagination, it planted a seed for what would become a great love affair with France - and travel.

It's not only nostalgic because I saw it as a child, it's a reminder of a time when people had attention spans. The filmmaker, Albert Lamorisse, used his own kids as actors. It doesn't have a yellow brick road, CGI, or robots that transform into cars and trucks. No explosions either. But it's a fantasy film nonetheless, and a captivating one at that. I double-dog dare you to watch the whole thing.

The 34-minute film won the Palme d'Or Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, and a 1956 Oscar for best original screenplay. Other fun fact: Lamorisse is also the guy who created the board game "Risk".

Without further ado, The Red Balloon (Le Ballon rouge).

Enchanting.

If I Had a Rocket Launcher

2010-09-15T12:45:59Z

Fort Churchill's now defunct rocket launching complex located in Churchill, Manitoba. It even had a stint being run by the U.S. Army (from 1959 to 1970), but was mostly used by Canadian researchers sending sounding rockets to and fro from the 1950s through the mid-80s before it was abandoned. The area is now inhabited by wildlife management scientists.

When a travel destination gets a little bit eerie and exhilaratingly quirky, you know you're in Churchill, Manitoba. There aren't any roads to bring visitors to this remote northern bit of Canada which sits on the Hudson Bay. Instead, a prop-plane flight or 40 to 48-hour (or so) journey by train is required to make a visit.

One afternoon, while in search of polar bear sightings, we took a little detour to an abandoned rocket launching facility. Lively tour guide, Rhonda Reid, had a spring in her step while happily bellowing lyrics from Canadian singer Bruce Cockburn's song "If I Had a Rocket Launcher", as we both excitedly entered this obscure piece of history.

Yes, that is a fire alarm just about 35 feet from the area where rockets were launched and hinged doors swung open due to all the flames bursting out of them.

And the trip inside didn't disappoint. An entire control panel full of huge buttons seemed like they could set off a slew of atomic energy at any moment. Empty rusted rocket fuel bottles, scienc-y looking goggles, and hard hats were abandoned along with the building and conjured many thoughts about the cold war era.

The rocket launcher was a very small part of my visit to Canada's north (articles & video to come), but it was a fun and unexpected experience. Which was par for the course in Churchill.

My rocket launcher experience was courtesy Tourism Manitoba and North Star Tours (nortours@mts.net / 800-665-0690). And my rocket launcher views are my own.