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

Google ‘My Maps’ Debuts With Oral History of Route 66

Not a day goes by that I don’t ask myself “what did we ever do without Google?” Their innovation and creativity never fails, and this is a very cool feature indeed! (Coming from a history dork, mind you.) The stories told about Route 66 are worth a listen to during your lunch break.

Too add to that last comment Google is now part of the English language.

Google is great at technology, but they are still weak when it comes to building places. They don’t have enough people over there to get the warms and fuzzies right. So, their sites, while they work well, all feel very cold and sterile, don’t really build a social community.

Hell yeah, Google is leading the way in online innovation. Google maps is such a great tool. Buddy at this mmorpg community told me he could see cats in windows by his house with it haha...kinda scary but cool at the same time.

Yes I think Google maps is very important
tools.