World Hum’s Most Read: May 10-16

What We Loved This Week: ‘The Zen of Bobby V,’ ‘When the Levees Broke’ and Arriving With Our Baggage

How Bad is the Violence in Mexico?

Tony Horwitz Blogs From the Road

Tony Horwitz: Rediscovering the New World

Ben Keene talks to the author of the new book “A Voyage Long and Strange” about travel, American myths and the importance of visiting places where “history happened”

In Patagonia, In Patagonia

Tim Patterson packs his fleece and long underwear, and enters the Twilight Zone where corporate branding meets the multilayered reality of place. 

Should I Quit Law School so I can Travel the World?

Vagabonding traveler Rolf Potts answers your questions about travel

‘The Worst Guidebook Writer Ever’?

Lonely Planet author Robert Reid reviews Thomas Kohnstamm’s “Do Travel Writers Go to Hell?” and weighs in on the controversy surrounding it

Have a Hockey Night in Canada

From Montreal to Sault Ste. Marie, the sport is the country’s greatest passion. Eva Holland explains where to go to indulge—and who you need to know.

Promised Land Closed

And other odd and unlikely signs from around the world. Aficionado Doug Lansky, editor of the book “Signspotting,” recounts his 10 favorites.

10 Sizzling Hot Travel Tips From Sir Francis Bacon

Rolf Potts repackages the 17th century philosopher’s ‘Of Travel’ essay in the manner of a 21st century magazine feature

Environmentalist on Antarctica: ‘Do We Want This to Become Disneyland’?

Is there any reason to promote tourism in the Antarctic? Does this in any way help local conservation? I wouldn’t be the one to suggest that we all just stay at home, but some parts of the globe should simply be uncruised and untouristed.

So much to say about this, but I’ll keep my comment brief. First, no one familiar with Antarctic tourism is surprised that a tour vessel has sunk. We’ve been waiting for it. That this was one of the most ice-strengthened vessels should be a wake-up call, even for the merely self-regulated industry. There are no teeth in whatever rulings exist for protection of the Southern Ocean; witness the depletion of Patagonian toothfish, the taking of hundreds of Minke whales by the Japanese. The increasing numbers of larger ships, regardless of how far offshore they may stay, mean that further environmental and human crises are expected. The IAATO will be far more concerned with preserving their client base - telling them that the voyage is a safe one - than in forcing its members to build new Antarctic-bound vessels. Perhaps the best thing we can do to help the industry rethink its priorities is to scare away their customers.

On a lighter note, I liked the NYTimes photo of the Explorer clients packed knew-to-knee in the Chilean Herc for their flight north; that was an authentic Antarctic experience.