From:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&v=sLQwp-kTXEg&NR=1

David Letterman Talks with Johnny Carson about Jay Leno Hosting "The Tonight Show" - 1991

Jimmy Fallon Mocks Jay Part 2

Facebook Leans In - How Facebook Is Really Just A Data Set That Lets Advertisers Micro-target You

Ever since Facebook’s ballyhooed, bungled I.P.O., its share price has languished, with Wall Street asking when the social-media giant is going to grow up and make money. From confidential reports, visits to the company’s sprawling campus, and interviews with its press-shy founder and C.E.O., Mark Zuckerberg, and C.O.O. Sheryl Sandberg, Kurt Eichenwald pieces together the largely unnoticed shift in Facebook strategy: new content, new algorithms, and new alliances, combined to power a marketing model that could have the rest of the world scrambling to catch up.  

Some companies say they have begun to use Facebook not only to interact with customers but also to find out what kind of products they want. 

“We want to put the power in the hands of consumers so they create our brands with us,” says Debbie Weinstein, the vice president of global media at Unilever, the multi-­national consumer-goods company.

More here...

http://www.vanityfair.com/business/2013/05/facebook-future-mark-zuckerberg-sheryl-sandberg

Rock's Cradle

A history of early rock 'n' roll that looks beyond country blues to big band, 'hokum' and 'jump music.'

By WILL FRIEDWALD

It is generally accepted that the first jazz recording was made by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band in 1917. But the identity of the first true rock 'n' roll record is a matter of debate. In "Before Elvis," a study of the "prehistory of rock," Larry Birnbaum makes a compelling case for "Roll 'Em Pete," recorded in 1938 by blues shouter Big Joe Turner and boogie-woogie pianist Pete Johnson.

Before Elvis

By Larry Birnbaum
Scarecrow, 463 pages, $40

Redferns/Getty Images

"Roll 'Em Pete" has all the energy, drive and attitude of the classic R&B sides of a decade later—say, Roy Brown's 1947 "There's Good Rockin' Tonight"—not to mention early rock hits from five years after that, like Bill Haley's 1954 "Rock Around The Clock." Mr. Birnbaum calls "Roll 'Em Pete" "a full-fledged rocker in all but instrumentation"—meaning that there is every element associated with rock except for the electric guitar. "Johnson's bass line is a Chuck Berry-like chug," he writes, "and his furious right-hand embellishments anticipate Berry's entire guitar style."

The author allows that Turner's lyrics ("You so beautiful, but you gotta die some day / All I want [is a] little lovin', babe, just before you pass away") are more direct than most 1950s rock lyrics, which were sanitized for teenage audiences. He also thinks that the performances of Turner and Johnson are "too sophisticated for rock 'n' roll: the music has yet to be formularized for mass consumption." But in the larger picture, the music itself had pretty much already arrived at where it was going; young white audiences just took 15 years to find it.

This analysis is just one example of the iconoclastic thinking that makes Mr. Birnbaum's book invaluable. His good ear and deep original research help him overturn much of the conventional wisdom about where rock came from.

The hoariest truism is that rock grew out of country blues (Robert Johnson and Charley Patton) and the early electric blues exemplified by Muddy Waters and Howling Wolf. This idea is an invention of the 1960s, when British rockers in particular were looking back to the country bluesmen. Mr. Birnbaum reveals a more direct connection from the big swing bands of the 1930s, whose bluesier side developed into postwar R&B.

One of Mr. Birnbaum's preferred methods is to start with a rock 'n' roll standard, then take it backward in time, to illustrate how ideas developed over the generations. Starting with "The Train Kept A-Rollin' " (aka "Stroll On") by the Yardbirds in 1966, he takes us back to a 1956 rockabilly version by the Johnny Burnette Trio and then to a 1951 version by black bandleader Tiny Bradshaw. From there, he shows us that "The Train Kept A-Rollin' " is itself adapted from "Cow-Cow Boogie," a 1942 hit by the white pianist Freddie Slack's orchestra—a revelation that transports us into the life of Charles "Cow Cow" Davenport, a lesser-known boogie-woogie pianist who didn't write the song but who did, apparently unknowingly, lend his name to it.

Mr. Birnbaum follows the train tracks backward, going ever deeper into the past, whizzing by such iconic figures as the 1920s country-blues legend Papa Charlie Jackson and the pioneering blues composer W.C. Handy. Along the way, he productively looks in on short-lived genres that played a key role in the invention of rock, such as late-'30s "jump music" and the "hokum" songs of the mid-'20s. Jump music was an interim step between big-band swing and R&B. Hokum was a comedy song, often with risqué lyrics, set in a verse-and-refrain format, with close ties to the blues, jazz and country music—"Rock Around the Clock" was essentially a hokum song.

Some of the book's most satisfying sections make a case for artists like trumpeter Oran "Hot Lips" Page, songwriter Sam Theard and bandleader Lucky Millinder, who are barely mentioned in histories of jazz. Mr. Birnbaum suggests that Theard's "Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee" (a hit record for blues shouter Sticks McGhee in 1947) was a "pivotal" milestone in the development of rock, an archetype for dozens of other bouncy, fast-tempo, boogie-woogie-driven numbers about drinking and dancing.

The author ends by lamenting that "the definitive study of rock 'n' roll origins has yet to be written." It seems clear that with the present volume, a damned good start has been made.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324266904578456630310068680.html?KEYWORDS=Will+Friedwald

The Superhuman Appeal of Superman

By WILL FRIEDWALD

Associated Press

'Man of Steel' is just the latest reboot of the 75-year-old story.

When Superman returns to the big screen on June 14 as the star of "Man of Steel," he'll be doing a lot of heavy lifting for a character who turned 75 this year. Untold legions of Superman fans spanning both the continents and the decades can rattle off his celebrated "powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men": super strength, super speed, super vision, and the ability to fly. But not least among his more amazing powers has been a superhuman charisma and ever-enduring appeal.

In Superman's various incarnations over the years, he usually isn't reborn as someone fundamentally different from the character first seen in Action Comics No. 1—except in alternate-universe and "elseworlds" stories, like the intriguing "Red Son" comic book miniseries of 2003, which postulated what might have happened had the Kryptonian rocket landed in the Soviet Union rather than the American Midwest. Just the same, Superman's mythology has been continually fine-tuned and rewritten, most recently in the 2009 series "Secret Origins," and expanded in the two bestselling "Earth One" graphic novels of 2010 and 2012. One point that seems constantly up for grabs: the number of individuals, both heroes (Supergirl) and villains (General Zod)—and even animals (Krypto the Superdog)—who actually survived the destruction of Krypton.

The recasting began early. When Superman made his first appearance in print, it was explained that he was raised in an orphanage on Earth after a "passing motorist" stumbled across the rocket containing the superinfant. Then, in June 1939, when Superman became the first comic-book character to star in his own self-titled publication, his background was retrofitted to become somewhat closer to the story we know today, in which the toddler of steel was raised by a kindly elderly couple named Kent. It wasn't until 1949 that Superman himself became aware that he was a "strange visitor from another planet."

Superman stories have proliferated in every medium, beginning with his two extremely long-running comic-book titles and a newspaper comic strip that launched in 1938-39. A radio series aired from 1940 to 1951, and Max Fleischer, best known for Betty Boop, produced the original animated series, which ran in movie theaters in 1941-1943. The first live-action depiction—a pair of Saturday-morning serials—arrived in 1948 and 1950.

These, in turn, led to a true classic of early television, the 104 episodes of "Adventures of Superman" (1952-58), which continue to captivate millions of kids in perpetual reruns and home-video releases. Lovers of "I Love Lucy" also have long cherished the unforgettable 1957 episode of that series in which TV's Superman (George Reeves) rescues Lucy (Lucille Ball) after one of her harebrained schemes backfires. "Do you mean to say that you've been married to her for 15 years?" Superman asks Ricky (Desi Arnaz). "And they call me Superman!" Clearly, Jerry Seinfeld was right: the Man of Steel's most compelling power is a super sense of humor.

For the past 35 years, in particular, Superman has been especially omnipresent. Four big-screen, big-budget features, from 1978 to 1987, starred Christopher Reeve as the Man of Steel. In 1989, Superman launched a marathon run of TV series that only a superhero could keep up with: "Superboy," "Lois and Clark," "Superman: the Animated Series" and "Smallville" have kept him in front of viewers with barely a pause to change his tights from 1988 to 2011.

The expectations for a Superman project have soared so high that the 2006 theatrical feature "Superman Returns" was considered a failure even though it grossed nearly $400 million. The new "Man of Steel" will have what this 21st-century predecessor didn't: an origin story, which brings it more in line with such successes as "Batman Begins," as well as biopics like "Ray" and "Walk the Line."

Superman has also been a persistent icon in popular music, from a dedicatory piece by Benny Goodman in 1940 to the ingenious 1966 Broadway musical "It's a Bird . . . It's a Plane . . . It's Superman," which was recently restaged by City Center Encores! in New York with Edward Watts as the Baritone of Steel. There were also less flattering musical depictions, such as the 1979 "Rapper's Delight," in which the Sugar Hill Gang denigrates him as someone "flying through the air in pantyhose."

In print, even more than in movies and on TV, Superman continues to be a juggernaut. He still appears in multiple comic-book titles a month and is the subject of at least three serious "biographies" in the past year, including Larry Tye's "Superman: The High-Flying History of America's Most Enduring Hero" and Brad Ricca's "Super Boys: The Amazing Adventures of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster—the Creators of Superman."

Apart from his obvious gifts, Superman's capacity for continual rebooting has kept him fresh from generation to generation: from leaping tall buildings in 1938 to traversing the solar system and even traveling through time in the 1960s and '70s, to surviving both death and matrimony in more recent decades. With "Man of Steel," it's a sure bet that yet another generation of youngsters will be tying red towels around their necks and pretending that they can fly.

Mr. Friedwald writes the weekly "Jazz Scene" column for the Journal.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323855804578511160621687642.html#printMode?KEYWORDS=Will+Friedwald

Universal Packing List - Europe for 10 Days

http://upl.codeq.info/customize

Universal Packing List - Europe for 10 Days

By this I mean the things you usually have to fix before you go. The list does not contain any of the travel preparations you have to do, like buying tickets, getting visas and such. To do for most trips Check the expiration date of your passport Some countries requires that your passport has at least 6 months validity left. Make a lunch By having a few sandwiches made in advance you can save quite a lot of money. Turn down (or up, depending on where you live) the temperature in your home If nobody is home, why waste energy heating or cooling it? Empty all trash cans Vegetables left in the trash can quickly become pretty disgusting. Confirm airline tickets and seats Everyone is recommending you confirm airline tickets a few days before the flight. Sign up to get your airmiles. Most companies offer signup and monitoring online. Order special air meals Some people claim the vegetarian meal by far is the best to avoid the ordinary beef or chicken. Memorize PIN codes to credit cards and your phone's SIM card So that you can use them with ATM machines to get cash. Unlock your credit card for use in other countries Some credit cards are locked by default for use abroad, or gets locked after a few months of unuse abroad. Check out what hospitals are covered by your health insurance Check out beforehand which hospitals are covered by your health insurance. Get travel insurance  Make sure your insurance covers the activities you plan to do, such as climbing! Change money/currency You can often get a much better deal if you change money at home. Install or recharge batteries It is such a pain and hassle to get these replaced in cameras etc during the trip. Get maps It can be easier to get maps of your destination from home. Hold delivery of mail and newspapers Put your mail on hold and pause/resume newspaper delivery until you come back. Empty your wallet  It may get stolen, so only bring what you need, and leave behind everything not needed. Wash clothes It is nice to have all your clothes shining clean for when you return home. Leave expensive watches and jewelery at home In case you lose them, or they get stolen. E-pay the bills So you don't get hit with late payments when you're away. Turn down the temperature on your water heater If nobody is home, why waste energy keeping water warm? Empty your fridge of perishables  Vegetables, for example, are pretty disgusting if they rot while you're away. Give copies of your keys to someone else  It is a good idea to let someone else have copies of your keys if you are out on a longer trip. Packing List for Men Underwear Can be obtained very cheaply in many towns, but if you prefer the western style, you'd better get a basic set of these at home before you go. Definitely stay with cotton, or possibly silk, if you can afford it. Shirts There is almost no place on the globe where you can be without needing a good warm shirt. I usually bring one or two tough flannel shirts, but I leave them at home if my destination is really hot. T-shirts Pretty impossible to be without, unless you just use thin shirts. You can buy them cheaply along the road. Shorts This is a must unless you travel in cold climates. I think it is one of the most important pieces of clothing you use. Buy one or two pairs of very good quality. Shorts can double as swimming trunks. Don't use sport shorts made for running, since their length may be too short to be considered decent clothing in some countries. Socks Good quality socks can be a blessing. Wool is best. If you are hiking, be sure to bring a lot of socks in case the weather is bad - walking in wet socks is horrible! Remember that if it is hot summer at your travelling destination, you may not end up using socks at all, just sandals! Trousers ( Pants, Jeans )  I like black jeans at home, but leave them at home if you're going to a really hot place. Shorts will be a much better choice. Sweater A must in colder climates, and a good idea if you're flying. Cap ( Hat )  Two out of every three Australians who live to the age of 75 can expect to develop some type of skin cancer, so hats are more or less government recommendation in Australia. I'm not too fond of hats, but I have burnt my nose to pure coal so many times now that I've bought myself a cool hat. Clothes for men Some extra clothes applicable only (?) to men. Suite/Sports coat If you need to look formal. Tie Shoes Very important. Only use good quality shoes! Sandals ( Flip-flops )  Very nice to have in hot climates, or on filthy bathroom floors. Training shoes Nice if you want to do some kind of sports during a trip, but the risk is great that they will never be used. Optional clothes Pick the ones you like, and leave the rest at home. Belt Swimming trunks ( Bikini )  Takes virtually no space in your backpack, and can be very nice. Pyjamas ( Pajamas )  Slippers Beach pants Thin cotton pants that are great when shorts are too casual and it is too hot for regular trousers. Also nice on long flights, since they are very comfortable. Jewelry Easily stolen, so I wouldn't bring anything too valuable. Money and documents This list is about what kind of documents and what kind of money you better not be without. Basic documents Passport Some countries requires that your passport has at least 6 months validity left. Visas A trip to Africa can be very difficult to plan since you have to get so many visas. I'm not kidding when I say that it can take you two months to get all the visas you need. Plan ahead! Vaccination certificate A small yellow booklet containing stamps and signatures from doctors and nurses that proves that you have taken various vaccines. Many countries demand that you have such a certificate when you enter their countries. Insurance certificate ( Health Insurance card )  Very handy if you want to rent a car in the US without having to pay for insurance. The insurance that covers your car at home often also covers cars you rent, but check with your insurance company before you go, to be sure. Paper from your local social insurance office In this bright new Europe I have been told that I need a paper from my local social insurance office EACH TIME I go somewhere in the European Community! Cash If you bring cash, the equivalent of US $10 and $50 are the most convenient denominations. Credit/ATM cards ( Visa, Eurocard/Mastercard, American Express etc )  They take virtually no space in your backpack. American Express has the advantage of letting you use the Amex office facilities. In a group, have each person bring a different brand of card. Make sure to carry the phone numbers to call to report if your card is stolen! Remember, typical free numbers (such as 800 or 888 numbers in the US) often do not work from outside your country (for example, calling american 800-numbers from Sweden is bound to fail). Make sure you bring "normal" phone numbers together with the free (800) numbers. Driver's license Can often double as your ID card. ID card I have my Swedish driver's license for security if I lose my passport. Address list (with phone numbers and email addresses) For writing letters, sending emails from a cyber cafe, or for phoning home to Mom for more money. Optional documents Some of the items on this list might be very good to have with you. Notebook Notepad For writing letters. This packing list Can be very handy if you have things stolen. It can be darn hard to remember what you lost otherwise. Photocopies of passport and other important documents Keep a set of these in case you lose your passport or any other valuable document. Might be of help. Of course, keep them separate from the important documents. International Student Identification Card ( ISIC )  Can save you some money in Youth Hostels, trains, museums, planes, so get one if you qualify as a student. If you can, get the brochure with addresses to student travel organisations in different countries, and tear out the pages you want. You will need these addresses if you want to buy student plane tickets. Tourist organization certificate Can save you money in a way similar to an ISIC card. Addresses and phone numbers to embassies Just in case you get into problems. Calendar Very nice souvenir, since I like to write down where I have been each day to help me remember what happened on a trip. Envelopes For keeping documents in, or for letters. Business cards They can sometimes give you an air of respectability that your appearance might not warrant. Some people bring small cards with just their name and address on. Handy when you swap addresses with someone. Hotel and car rental vouchers For those that book in advance. Membership cards If you have any of these (AAA, Hertz, Avis, Hilton, ...), going abroad may be a good opportunity to use them. For carrying money and documents You might end up carrying a lot of important documents, as well as money. This list gives some hints on how to carry them. Remember to carry these things in 2 or more locations. Unless everything gets stolen, this way you'll have some extra money and papers that will make it easier to replace what was stolen, not to mention that some extra money can make it possible for you to continue your travels while waiting for new travellers cheques or documents. When making purchases, be modest. Don't flash large amounts of cash. The wallet of a westerner has tempted people in poor countries to commit murder! Please remember this! Wallet This is my favourite! They have a distinct disadvantage though - pickpockets! Where pickpockets are a problem, carry your wallet in your front trousers pocket. Paper folder I tend to carry quite a lot of paper with me; to prevent it from becoming unreadable from the massive pressure in my backpack, I put it all in a sturdy paper folder. I have never regretted this. The folder also gives some steadiness in the backpack. The stiff envelopes available from Federal Express or Express Mail (in the US) are great for carrying the assortment of papers one picks up. They are a little stiffer than folders and available free of charge. Tickets Maybe you'll be hitch-hiking. The rest of us might need tickets. Airline tickets Maps I always travel with lots of maps. Remember that good maps can be pretty hard to find in many countries. Small scale map I like to have a small scale map for the occasions when I sit at a cafe and try to figure out where to go next. Large scale map For more detailed kind of travelling. In cities in the western world you can often get them for free in tourist information offices. Good souvenirs! Small world map For showing people where YOU live. You may have one in your diary. Books Books are heavy but hard to be without. Phrase book Saying hello, goodbye and thank you in the local language may give you a friendlier response outside heavily loaded tourist areas. You may find these words in your guidebook, or by asking people you meet (even better response). Some people prefer dictionaries. Novels You may end up waiting a lot on most trips, so a novel or two or three will make your trip more enjoyable. A guideline is to bring one book per week of travel. Books in your native language are all nice and cosy on the road, but the price of it on the second hand market may be reduced. Travellers often swap books, so if you have a book in Swedish you may be out of luck. Choose English. Guidebook I usually have a Lonely Planet guide with me, but they're approaching the weight of a brick nowadays, so try to reduce it by ripping out pages or leave it at home. A too-complete guide-book is kind of boring, since it reduces the thrill of finding your own hotels and magic places around the globe. You can be pretty sure that if a place is in the guidebook, it is more or less crowded with travellers. At the same time, it is a bad idea to go to a place like Africa without a guide, since you will be unaware of local rules, conflicts and other things that are bound to put you in lots of uncomfortable situations. Equipment Quite a few lists of general equipment handy in different situations. Things for packing Items that enable you to bring along the other items as effortlessly as possible. Small extra backpack ( Knap sack, Day pack )  I can't be without a small extra backpack, since that is where I carry things when walking around in cities. It serves two other purposes as well. First, it gives you a chance to carry more things along the road since I try to keep the small backpack more or less empty from the start. Second, when carrying the big backpack, I have the small one attached by a carabiner (a climbing D-ring with a spring-loaded latch, and possibly a safety lock so that it will not disconnect) to the shoulder strap of the big one. This way I have easy access to tickets and other important things in the small backpack. The carabiner makes it impossible for thieves to just grab the small backpack and run. To be honest, I'm pretty proud of this idea. Plastic bags ( Ziploc )  Excellent to put stuff in. Stuff Sack I have a set of small sacks (up to 3 litres) made of cloth with a drawstring, in different colours. I keep different types of things in different sacks, and with this colour code I can easily find what I'm looking for in my backpack. Without these sacks, your backpack will look like a mess in no time. Bring a few spare ones as well. Small box Can be a good idea for small things that easily get lost in the backpack. Such a box is also a good place to put fragile stuff in, such as a pair of extra glasses. Suitcase For trips of a more businesslike character, or if you really hate to see all your clothes wrinkled up, it might be worthwhile to bring all clothes in a large suitcase. I have one of the new plastic types with three clasps, and it is very good. Some people dislike travellers with backpacks. A suitcase could make such people treat you better. Luggage belt It helps identifying your luggage at the airport quickly (many suitcases looks the same). It can also stop your suitcase from cracking open during the (mis)handling at the airport. Luggage tags With the name, address and phone number to you, so you might get your luggage back faster if it gets lost. Padlock Necessary when using a steel cable or chain to lock your loggage, but also works in cheap hotels where you don't trust the default padlocks provided by the hotel. Some backpacks are lockable by allowing you to lock the zippers. Keep an extra key somewhere separate so that you don't end up with a locked room if you somehow lose the first one, or, preferably, buy a combination padlock and make sure you remember the combination! There are also locks that double as motion alarm. Things for sleeping Things that might give you a better sleep, or actually give you a chance to sleep at all. Sleeping mask A black hair-band is said to work as well, when for example trying to sleep on an intercontinental flight, a bus or on a ferry. Inflatable neck supporter Kind of wimpy, but has given me some good nights sleep. Eating equipment This list contains items that might be good to bring along even if you don't cook your own food. Swiss army knife I think a multi-tool is better, like a Leatherman. Multi-tool ( Folding knife )  A Swiss army knife is good for many things, but the blade is usually too short for slicing bread or fruit. Avoid anything that might look military unless you want problems at border crossings. Bottle opener Bring a good Swiss army knife or multi-tool instead. Thermos Nice for keeping liquid cold in hot climates, as well as keeping liquid warm in cold climates. A metallic indestructible thermos can double as a water bottle. Heavy. Miscellaneous equipment Things that just didn't fit into any other list. Pens You can buy them anywhere, but the quality is often very bad. Bring a bunch of good ones. Bring one in your carry-on luggage in case you're flying, to fill out immigration cards. Works as much appreciated gifts to kids. Bring a few with a very fine point felt top since they are excellent for writing compact letters. Poker cards ( Playing cards )  Can be a hit when waiting for transport. Earplugs Invaluable on long flights. Packs very small and can also save you (or your fellow traveller) a night's sleep. Sunglasses Small ones are cool but will leave your eyes pretty unprotected. Keys To places you plan to visit that you have keys to. Extra things If any of your equipment breaks or you lose something. There are actually kits you can buy that contain many of the items below. It could be an option instead of buying them one by one. Safety pins You are wrong if you think you don't need them. Paper clips Sewing Kit These are normally the size of a softcover book of matches, and can be purchased for a reasonable price from most travel stores, and many airlines even give these out for free. They usually contain 2 needles, a little bit of different coloured threads, and a couple of buttons. This can be *VERY* handy sometimes, and does not take up any space at all. Unfortunately the kits you get for free invariably have the cheapest, weakest cotton thread made. Bring a few yards of strong black, grey or light brown thread, and throw away the thread in the kit. Duct tape ( Racing tape )  Rolls of silvery grey sticky tape are standard issue for National Geographic photographers out in the field, and it is also used by astronauts! Cable ties ( Zip ties )  Hygiene This is a list of the kind of hygiene things all of us are likely to bring with us. It is a good idea to put most of these things in a separate pouch so that you can easily bring everything with you when you go to the bathroom. Hygiene Toilet bag ( Bathroom bag, Necessaire )  A handy bag where you put all your hygiene items. Razor Either a razor with disposable blades, or disposable light-weight razors. They are actually good for several shaves. Extra blades for Razor This only applies to we who prefer to avoid electric shavers, since they are heavy, and electrical standards are different all over the world. Shaving gel ( Shaving foam )  Make sure you bring along a really small can. Another option is to use brushless shaving cream, or shaving oil, or gentle soap. Electric shaver If you are just going for a shorter trip and don't mind the weight. But then again, if it is a short trip, why not just leave it and shave when you get home? Mirror Must be pretty sturdy. Glass may not be a good idea for some journeys. Highly polished stainless steel mirrors are available. Also very reflective are the undersides of CDs. Toothbrush ( Electric toothbrush with charger )  One of the few things you can buy all over the world. Toothpaste Can be bought almost everywhere. Toothpicks Handy for that strange vegetable plate with the stringy stuff, or to reset a PDA because of a different time zone. Shampoo If you are really hard-core, you can use soap, but, well, I'm kind of wimpy and prefer real shampoo. Not as available as soap, but it should be no real problem getting it in most towns all over the world. Also available at all hotels, free of charge, but it may not smell like you're used to. Styling gel ( Hair gel )  I don't use it myself, but most other people do, it seems. Deodorant Some say this is a must. Some even say "lots of deodorant, PLEASE!!! Towel I just used a T-shirt on one trip, but now I think a small towel is a must, unless I know I will be staying at hotels all the time. Sunblock lotion Can be hard and/or very expensive to get in some countries. Bring some heavy duty stuff! Extra glasses If you are like me, blind without glasses, you need some kind of backup. Carry your prescription as well, and keep the glasses in a sturdy box so that they will not be crushed in your backpack. Reading glasses In case you need glasses specifically for reading books and newspapers. Lip balm ( ChapStick )  If the climate is dry or windy, or if the sun is just outrageously strong. Hygiene (optional) After taking a sneak look at some womens makeup "equipment", I realize that this list could easily grow to ridiculous proportions. Comb You might be pretty unhappy without it. Packs very small. Hair brush Bulkier than a comb. Barrettes, headbands, hair ties To keep your hair in place. Clothes pegs ( Clothes pins )  Pretty usable, actually. I carry with me a few of these magnificent inventions. Laundry bag A special bag where you put your dirty laundry, to keep it separate from your clean clothes. Dental floss Is said to be perfect as a cheese slicer, and reports say it is perfect as heavy-duty sewing thread! Fingernail clippers Moisturizer Can also be used on hair if sun makes it impenetrable for your comb. Hand sanitizer After a dirty bus or train journey. Before you eat. Qtips Cotton on a stick to clean the ears after dusty bus trips. Tweezers The metal tongs women use to pluck hairs from their eyebrows, but also handy for pulling out splinters. Baby wipes ( Towlettes )  The pre-moistened disposable ones. Health Things which can help preserve health on your trip. Put most of your things in this category in a special pouch. On long trips through many remote parts of the tropical world you should count on becoming ill at some point and make allowances for this eventuality. Many things can be sorted out, given time and care - be prepared to forget your schedule and stay put for a week or so. For other sources, check our resource/reading checklist, as well as about other health concerns. General health items Prescription medicine Condoms Can be kind of hard to find in some countries. Don't go abroad without them! As for birth control pills/devices, these can cause some raised eyebrows (or worse) at customs checks in some countries if the woman is travelling alone. Wearing a wedding ring even if you're single is often recommended. Sore tape ( Adhesive tape )  If you need to protect and/or cover these blisters you got from your shoes. Band-Aid/bandages work alright for this; however, there are excellent products available which are made specially for walking blisters/sores. Insect repellent Very good to have in Malaria prone countries, as well as in Canada or Scandinavia during the summer. Avoid putting it on the skin of small children. They should only be protected by clothes in the day, and mosquito nets at night. Band-Aids ( Plaster )  These are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Take a good selection as well as some tape rolls. First aid kit I have never had to use one, but I carry one with me, just in case. Water bottle If you go to Africa, Asia, South America or even the Rocky Mountains in Canada, you'll be very sorry if you didn't bring a good watertight bottle. Soda bottles are sometimes OK, but they don't last very long. Buy one of the metallic types (e.g. Sigg, they also make fuel bottles) or a sturdy plastic one (Nalgene). Pour in some dubious water and throw in some of these purifying tablets; in some minutes you have some horrible tasting water, but bad tasting water is better than Amoebic Dysentery or "Beaver Fever" (Giardia). Trust me. If you hike in the mountains, bringing along a water bottle is more important than many people think. Any climb of a mountain is bound to make you sweat. At high altitude water is very important, if only to reduce the risk of headaches. Bring enough of it in your backpack. You also absolutely need a water bottle or two with water if you travel with children. Water purifying filter If you know you have to purify large amounts of water for a long time, then this gadget might be an option. Quite expensive and quality varies. Many water filters have appeared on the camping market in recent years. It would be wise to read reviews about them before purchase, or stick with the old standard (Katadyn). Water filters also vary in what they will remove. Some are capable of removing virus organisms and even chemicals. Others filter only larger organisms and particulates. Determining what your needs are will help simplify your choice. Chewing gum Helps adjust to cabin pressure changes during flights. Copy of prescriptions It can be a good idea to bring along copies of the prescriptions you use at the pharmacy back home. The prescription itself is not valid abroad, but it can give a doctor you meet in another country a good hint as to what medication may be best for you. Pills, tablets and medicines There's a lot on this list, since there are many diseases you can catch. Remember that with a backpack full of strange pills, you can get into border problems. Keep the pills in their original containers, and stuff them all in a box so that they don't end up being ground to dust by the pressure in your backpack. Water purifying tablets Take lots. Perfect gifts in poor villages in Africa. Remember that they are also necessary in "civilised" places like the Canadian Rocky Mountains, where there is now a greater incidence of "Beaver Fever", a form of giardiasis. Motion sickness tablets Also available are "patches" which attach to your skin (behind the ear) and slowly release the required medication. There are also devices, wrist bands, which are reported to provide relief by applying pressure to wrist pressure points. Jetlag tablets Melatonin and Tylenol-p is supposed to work, but I don't know personally. Fever tablets Paracetamol/acetaminophen is recommended by some. Pain killers Headaches are quite common during travels. You can easily get it from not drinking enough, or any of the various sicknesses you can get. Or altitude. There are many different types, so make sure you bring a type that works for you. Allergy pills ( Anti-histamines )  Malaria tablets Don't mess around with malaria! I've seen travellers get very sick with it, so bring lots of malarial medicine. There are several different types of Malaria medicine (Chloroquine, Proguanil, Mefloquine, Doxycycline, Fansidar) and any single type doesn't work everywhere. So in many cases you will be recommended to take two or more types. You must ask your local specialist about this! Bring more than you need - you can always discard them (safely!) or give them away. Please note: Malaria is endemic in many parts of the tropical world. There is a wide range of resistance to current malaria drugs! Seriously, the only sure way to avoid getting malaria is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. An alarming fact is that many doctors in the Western world seem to be pretty out of touch when it comes to resistant strains of Malaria. Malaria is one of the most popular topics among travellers! Electrical stuff General electrical or electromechanical stuff sometimes worth bringing with you. General electrical items Cell Phone ( Mobile Phone, Cellular Phone )  Remember that there is a risk your phone may not work in other countries. It could be the wrong network technology, or your phone service doesn't allow you to use it outside your own country, or even outside your own state in the US. An alternative is to rent a phone at your destination, but that is probably expensive. Charger to Smartphone/Cell Phone Remember that you may need a Wall socket adapter if you wish to recharge the batteries of the telephone, unless you have one of those new solar-powered cell phone battery chargers. Multi Power Outlet These days travellers carry all sorts of electric equipment that requires charging at night. Smart Phones, cameras, toothbrushes, laptops, etc. It can sometimes be hard to find enough many wall sockets to charge all your gear, so bringing along a multi power outlet is a really good idea, since you can charge all your gear from just one wall socket. Also, if you're in a foreign country with weird wall sockets, you'd need to find adapters for each and every item, unless, you have a multi power outlet. Alarm clock ( Travel alarm )  I think a watch with alarm would be perfect, but I sleep like a rock and need an alarm clock that can wake the dead. Essential if you have a flight very early in the morning. Many PDAs and cell phones works as an alarm, so don't pack one too many. Computer There are many choices from Laptop, Notebook to Subnotebook. Make sure you really need it, since many of them are heavier than you first might think! Many times an internet cafe will be all you need to process your emails. Remember that you may need a Wall socket adapter if you wish to recharge the batteries in the computer. Wall socket adapter There are at least half a dozen different wall socket designs in the world. I forgot to bring an adapter to the US recently and if it wasn't for a well-stocked Radio Shack store, my portable computer would have run out of charge without any way for me to recharge it. Watch I use a cheapo watch when I travel. No big deal if it gets stolen. Be sure the battery is fresh! Flashlight ( Torch )  I have a Maglite (a thin black slick metallic torch with an adjustable magnifying glass) that I like to bring with me. It's nice to carry along at night in strange neighbourhoods abroad. Kind of expensive. The smallest Maglite is called "Solitaire" and can hang off your key ring. An alternative is the tiny, long-lasting LED lights that cost about $10 US. Get the kind with the lockable on/off switch for hands-free use. Bookmark reading light A small travel light in the form of a bookmark. Very useful and works with AA batteries. Also good for fully discharging lithium batteries, which help prolong their life. Extra batteries for your camera, flash, torch, watch, MP3-player and GPS Portable DVD player and disks Perfect for long flights, especially if you travel with children. Many laptop computers these days can read and display DVD disks (or even ripped ISO files from the hard drive), so bringing it on as hand luggage can be a really good idea. Camera equipment In many cases a digital camera is probably a better choice for a trip than a normal camera, since they are so much simpler to handle, takes up less space in your luggage, and are cheaper to use in the long run. Camera Be sure the batteries are fresh, or bring along a charger. Memory cards Some memory cards are now so large that you are able to get away with a single card for the whole of your trip. Try to estimate how many pictures you'll take during your trip, and how much memory they normally take up on your memory card, and you should be able to calculate what size memory card you'll need. Film Bring lots of it. Anything other than 35mm can be hard to find in many countries, but if you travel in Europe or the US you can buy film anywhere. If you fly, bring all film with you as carry-on luggage and kindly ask the airport staff to check it manually. In your check-in luggage it might be zapped by X-ray. Putting your film in a lead-lined film shield bag may very well mean your check-in luggage will be opened for manual inspection, which is not recommended. Extra lenses Flash Battery charger for camera If your camera uses non-standard batteries, and you're off to a longer trip. You may also need a Wall socket adapter. Associated cables To your charger, or from the camera to your computer, in case you want to move some of the pictures off your memory card, to make room for more pictures. Generic photo equipment Various things to bring with you if you bring along a camera or video camera. Camera bag Music items A music player can be heaven and hell. It can be stolen, and it can also give you some of the best highlights of a trip. Music player ( Cassette, CD, MiniDisc, MP3 )  For travels it is probably best to take an MP3 player since they pack small and can hold a lot of music, as well as many MP3 audio books. Particularly great if you can't read on buses. Even better if it has a radio tuner. There are solar cell battery chargers you can buy, so that you don't need to buy so many batteries. Remember that you may need a Wall socket adapter if you wish to recharge batteries the normal way. Headphones Can also be a good idea on long flights, since the ones you're offered on planes are often of very low quality. Music media ( Music cassettes, CDs )  If you bring too many, they take up a lot of place in your backpack. If you bring too few, you get sick and tired of them in a flash. One option is to leave them all at home with your music player. That way all your music will be like brand new when you come home. Microphone Tapes with sounds from trains or cities can be marvellous to have to remember what the trip was like. Packs very small. Headphone 'doubler' plug It plugs into your the headphone 'out' socket but has two sockets on the other end to plug two sets of headphones into. That way two of you can listen at the same time.

Rodney Dangerfield's Best One Liners

Rodney Dangerfield's Best One Liners

1. I was so poor growing up if I wasn't a boy, I'd have had nothing to play with.
2. A girl phoned me the other day and said, "Come on over, nobody's home. "I went over. Nobody was home.
3. During sex, my girlfriend always wants to talk to me. Just the other night she called me from a hotel.
4. One day I came home early from work. I saw a guy jogging naked. I said to the guy, "Hey buddy, why are you doing that?" He said, "Because you came home early."
5. It's been a rough day. I got up this morning, put a shirt on and a button fell off. I picked up my briefcase and the handle came off. I'm afraid to go to the bathroom.
6. I was such an ugly kid that when I played in the sandbox, the cat kept covering me up.
7. I could tell my parents hated me. My bath toys were a toaster and radio.
8. I was such an ugly baby. My mother never breast fed me. She told me that she only liked me as a friend.
9. I'm so ugly that my father carries around a picture of the kid who came with his wallet.
10. When I was born, the doctor came into the waiting room and said to my father, "I'm sorry. We did everything we could, but he pulled through."
11. I'm so ugly that my mother had morning sickness.....AFTER I was born.
12. I remember the time that I was kidnapped and they sent a piece of my finger to my father. He said he wanted more proof.
13. Once when I was lost, I saw a policeman and asked him to help me find my parents. I said to him, "Do you think we'll ever find them?" He said, "I don't know kid. There's so many places they can hide."
14. My wife made me join a bridge club. I jump off next Tuesday.
15. I'm so ugly that I worked in a pet shop and people kept asking how big I'd get.
16. I went to see my doctor. "Doctor, every morning when I get up and I look in the mirror I feel like throwing up. What's wrong with me?" He said, "I don't know but your eyesight is perfect."
17. I went to the doctor because I'd swallowed a bottle of sleeping pills. My doctor told me to have a few drinks and get some rest.
18. With my old man I got no respect. I asked him, "How can I get my kite in the air?" He told me to run off a cliff.
19. Some dog I got. We call him Egypt because in every room he leaves a pyramid. His favorite bone is in my arm. Last night he went on the paper four times - three of those times I was reading it.
20. One year they wanted to make me poster boy - for birth control.
21. My uncle's dying wish was to have me sitting in his lap; he was in the electric chair.
23. My cousin is gay; in school while other kids were dissecting frog, he was opening flies.
24. Oh, when I was a kid in show business I was poor, I used to go to orgies to eat the grapes.
25. Last year my birthday cake looked like a prairie fire.
26. Acting deals with very delicate emotions. It is not putting up a mask. Each time an actor acts he does not hide; he exposes himself.
27. For two hours, some guy followed me around with a pooper scooper.
28. I was so depressed that I decided to jump from the tenth floor. They sent up a priest. He said "On your mark... "
29. Men who do things without being told draw the most wages.
30. When I was a kid my parents moved a lot, but I always found them.
31. I met the surgeon general - he offered me a cigarette.
32. I'm at the age where I want two girls. In case I fall asleep they will have someone to talk to.
33. At twenty a man is full of fight and hope. He wants to reform the world. When he is seventy he still wants to reform the world, but he knows he can't.
34. My problem is that I appeal to everyone that can do me absolutely no good.
35. My wife has to be the worst cook. Her specialty is indigestion.
36. One day as I came home early from work... I saw a guy jogging naked. I said to the guy, "Hey buddy, why are you doing that?" He said, "Because you came home early."
37. One year they asked me to be poster boy - for birth control.
38. The other night a mugger took off his mask and made me wear it.
39. I went to the doctor because I'd swallowed a bottle of sleeping pills. My doctor told me to have a few drinks and get some rest.
40. My wife made me join a bridge club. I jump off next Tuesday.
41. My cousin is gay; he went to London only to find out that Big Ben was a clock.
42. You wanna have laughs? Do what I do. When I go through a tollbooth, I keep going. I tell the guy, "The car behind me is paying for two."
43. 
    
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47. http://www.pagetutor.com/jokebreak/228.html
48. http://quotations.about.com/od/funnyquotes/a/rodney_danger1.htm

Top 50 hotels under $150 in the West

Napa, Aspen, or Maui at under $150 a night? Yes, it’s possible. Check out our fave bargain hotels that don’t skimp on style

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Poolside R&R done right at Hotel Maya

J.P. Greenwood

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What’s happening to room rates? We’ve noticed the creep for a while, but now it feels like any hotel near a body of water or mountain or winery, regardless of whether it’s been renovated since the Reagan era, is north of $250 per night. And that’s before you throw in add-ons like parking and wireless.

So we set out to find rooms—weekend rooms—for under $150 per night*. Call us cheap, but for that price we also want our own bathroom, no bedbugs, and rooms, or at the very least lobbies, with a dash of personality. And each one of these hotels is in a place we really want to go. (*All hotels have an under-$150 rate for at least 1 weekend through late spring and summer. Rates do not include tax.) What follows is our list of the best.

Southern California

1. 29 Palms Inn, near Joshua Tree National Park.Just outside the north entrance of the park is an inviting clutch of 20 brightly colored adobe bungalows and wood-frame cabins, plus a pool to splash in after a day spent exploring the park’s desertscape. Many rooms have views across the desert, some from private patios.$132; 2-night minimum; 29palmsinn.com  

2. Hotel Maya, Long Beach. With a cheerily mod lobby, a waterfront pool with cabanas that seem to float, and a brightly colored nuevo Latino vibe, the 196-room Maya is a touch of the tropics in SoCal and got an upgrade in 2009. Ask for a room facing the harbor, not the docks. If you’re headed downtown, a water taxi is definitely the stylish way to go. $148; hotelmayalongbeach.com      

3. Figueroa Hotel, Los Angeles. Moorish-romantic touches like ottomans, lanterns, and magic-carpet rugs give this 1920s hotel an Old World vibe. The theaters and sports arenas of the L.A. Live and Staples Center are right across the street, but it’s just as easy to stay put at the candlelit bar by the bougainvillea-shrouded pool.$148; figueroahotel.com 

4. The Pearl Hotel, San Diego. A block from the harbor, this vintage motel turned boutique hotel has kept its spirit with classic cocktails and movies by the kidney-shaped saltwater pool. Nab a lounge chair before showtime; afterward, head back to your room with a platform bed and va-va-voom mirrored ceiling.$129; thepearlsd.com  

5. Motel 6, Santa Barbara. At the first-ever Motel 6, the 51 rooms have been snazzed up with flat-screen TVs and bold splashes of color. Rooms are tiny, but you’re a half-block from the beach—and in this tony town, you cannot beat the price. $136; motel6.com     

6. Wine Valley Inn, Santa Ynez Valley wine country. Like much of the olde Denmark–loving town of Solvang, the inn looks like it could be the hideout of Snow White, down to the bridge crossing a babbling brook out back. More to the point, though, the 65-room inn is an easy home base for exploring town or driving out to taste the Santa Ynez Valley wineries’ best Pinots. $134; 2-night minimum; winevalleyinn.com     

7. Del Marcos Hotel, Palm Springs. A portrait of Ol’ Blue Eyes greets you in the lobby of this midcentury-modern charmer 1 block from downtown. The 17 rooms wrap around a saltwater pool flanked by striped chaises, a firepit, shuffleboard court, and palm-dotted mountain views that just don’t get old. Cute black cruiser bikes are a bonus. $139; 2-night minimum; delmarcoshotel.com      

8. Pacific Edge Hotel, Laguna Beach. Perhaps it’s the moment when a beach sherpa scurries out with your chair and umbrella on the white-sand beach that happy shock sets in. Or when you’re curled up in a yellow Adirondack above the waves on your beachfront balcony that you’ll shake your head in giddy bafflement. How you can be camped out at a chic hotel on the prettiest stretch of beach in Laguna and not be going into credit card debt is best left a mystery. Here, the shag carpets and polyester pillows of a former 8-building Vacation Village were ripped up, making way for sassy chartreuse walls, Endless Summer surf art, and pillow menus that you’ll appreciate when you’re not on the sand, in one of the 2 pools, or finally taking that surf lesson.$149; pacificedgehotel.com

Northern California

9. Boonville Hotel, Anderson Valley. This homey roadhouse in the low-key wine region of Anderson Valley has a sprawling garden out back, a (really good) family-style restaurant spilling from the lobby onto a patio strung with lights, and, upstairs, a hallway lined with 8 tidy, stylish rooms accented by flowers cut from the garden. $125; boonvillehotel.com   

10. Ripplewood Resort, Big Sur. Staying here is a couple steps up from camping—you get all the benefits of sleeping in the forest but have a bathroom, kitchen, and mattress (plus heat if you need it). Of the 17 rustic cabins, we prefer the ones closest to Big Sur River—some have firepits—though they’re pricier. A hearty breakfast at the resort’s cafe isn’t included, but it’s still a steal. $125; 2-night minimum; ripplewoodresort.com   

11. The Cottage Inn, Lake Tahoe. This 22-room B&B is classic Tahoe all the way, down to the knotty-pine paneling, hammocks hung under evergreens, and the path down to a private beach for a bracing dip in the blue, blue lake. Mornings, there’s breakfast on the deck (or, if it’s nippy, in by the fire); afternoons, wine and cookies for the nibbling. $145; 2-night minimum; thecottageinn.com   

12. Point Reyes Seashore Lodge, Point Reyes / Olema. After switchbacking up Highway 1 to Point Reyes, road-weary guests beeline for the row of Adirondack chairs out back with a view of the sloping, sparkling green lawn and gardens. Across the small creek are 70,000 acres of national seashore, not to mention kayaking and oyster slurping up the road at Tomales Bay. The lodge has 22 rooms; get one that faces away from the road.$135; pointreyesseashore.com   

13. The Crescent Hotel, San Francisco. Union Square’s shopping and shows are just down the street, but the hotel’s jazzy Burritt Room bar is a great reason to stay put, Sazerac in hand. The 79 rooms are teensy but stylin’, with white leather headboards, oversize black mirrors, and exposed brick. $149; crescentsf.com       

14. Marina Inn, San Francisco. Pack your earplugs to block out busy Lombard Street when you check into a room that’s more country flowery than city-motel drab. You’re just blocks from the sparkling bay and on top of Chestnut Street’s shops. $99; 2-night minimum; marinainn.com   

15. L&M Motel, Sonoma wine country. The big selling point of this 19-room roadside motel, just off 101, is that it’s a 6-minute walk from Healdsburg square. Run by the great-granddaughter of the original 1940s owners, it has a funky indoor “spa” with a sauna and hot tub. $120; 707/433-6528.      

16. West Sonoma Inn, Sonoma wine country. The main action of this 32-room hotel in Guerneville, a few miles off winery-packed Westside Road, is its lovely pool and wine garden and the winemaker tastings it hosts on some Saturday evenings. The pick of the under-$150 litter is room 128, which looks out to Korbel’s vineyards. $149; 2-night minimum; westsonomainn.com   

17. Maison Fleurie, Napa Valley wine country. Yountville, home of the French Laundry and a row of must-try restaurants, has become a haven for high-end hotels too. The exception is Maison Fleurie, which has 13 small but country-sweet rooms just a stroll from town. $140 (1 room at this rate, with a full bed; others are $170 and up); maisonfleurienapa.com      

18. Doubletree Napa Valley, Napa Valley wine country. Rooms come dear in these parts, and the Doubletree (formerly the Gaia) is one smart solution: 9 miles south of Napa, next to a storage facility along the store-lined main drag into the valley, this pioneer in the eco-hotel trend has 132 just-fine rooms and a courtyard with a pool, hot tub, and lagoon. $109; napavalleyamericancanyon.doubletree.com   

19. Elk Cove Inn, Mendocino Coast. Along the ruggedly spectacular coast south of Mendocino, the Elk Cove Inn is known for its perch above a driftwood-strewn beach. Plus its decadent breakfast and free cocktail hour. There are some truly affordable rooms in the mix, tucked into the 1883 home of a mill supervisor. From $100; 2-night minimum; elkcoveinn.com    

20. Carmel Mission Ranch, Carmel. Yes, this is his place—Mr. Million Dollar Baby and “Make My Day,” the man with 4 Oscars and a face crinkling into monument-dom. But in an era when celebrity enterprises inspire deep suspicion—see “debit card, Kim Kardashian”—Clint Eastwood’s Mission Ranch delivers. Many Carmel digs tend to be fussy and claustrophobic (not to mention overpriced), but the minute you turn into Mission Ranch’s drive, your blood pressure drops at the sight of so much beautiful space: simple, milk white board-and-batten buildings scattered near a curve of Carmel Bay, with Point Lobos floating on the horizon. Cottages aren’t cheap, but many rooms are so reasonable, you’ll begin to suspect this is Clint’s thank-you gift to all of us who’ve been filling multiplex seats for years. Or maybe he just likes it here—last time we took in the ranch’s Sunday jazz brunch, he was there too, looking like he was having the time of his life. $145; 2-night minimum; missionranchcarmel.com   

Northwest

21. Green Springs Inn, near Ashland, OR. Where the Cascades meet the Siskiyous in Southern Oregon, a broad-porched inn draws regulars to a supper of buffalo burgers and marionberry pie. Out back in a grove of firs, 8 unfancy but clean lodge rooms are your jumping-off point for rafting the Klamath and Rogue Rivers or dipping into Ashland for a play. Six of the rooms have a hot tub for a post-hike soak, so ask for one.$89; greenspringsinn.com   

22. Hotel Modera, Portland. A luxe-redux of a frumpy former Days Inn in downtown, the 174-room Modera skimps in only one way: the price. It has a clean-lined modernism, but there’s warmth in the details—like black walnut floors, faux-fur bedspreads, and outdoor firepits. The coolest spot is the courtyard, where you’ll dig the living wall of native plants. $139; hotelmodera.com   

23. Hotel Elliott, Astoria, OR. From the rooftop deck, take in views of the Columbia River clear across to Washington. You’ll hear the rising bustle of “downtown” Astoria—known for its food and its arts scene, not to mention an idyllic seaside spot. A 2003 redo of this 1924 hotel left its 32 rooms pretty posh for the price, with heated bathroom floors and pillowy beds. $139; hotelelliott.com   

24. Chehalem Ridge B&B, Newberg, OR. With a view that it shares only with the hawks, this modern cottage has 4 cozy but unfancy rooms within striking distance of dozens and dozens of Willamette Valley wineries. Breakfast is a multicourse affair that on nice days is served out on the deck.$140; chehalemridge.com   

25. Sylvia Beach Hotel, Newport, OR. Along with an ocean-view, author-themed room (fancy the Steinbeck or the Austen?), and the attic library of your dreams comes a lively communal breakfast in the Tables of Content dining room. Quirky, yes, but if you want to dig into a novel—or just relax—this blue-shingled boardinghouse perched above the surf is your ticket. $139; 2-night minimum; sylviabeachhotel.com 

26. McMenamins Hotel Oregon, Willamette valley wine country, OR. There’s lots to love about this 42-room historic hotel on McMinnville’s Main Street. Even the smaller rooms, which can be had for two digits (and a shared bathroom), come with cotton robes. Then again, the king suite is an easy splurge at $135. Above you is a rooftop bar, below a friendly pub, and all around are Willamette Valley vineyards.$125; mcmenamins.com/hoteloregon 

27. Mt. Hood B&B, Mt. Hood, OR. On cool mornings, a fire blazes in a wood-burning stove, and scents of cinnamon and brown sugar waft from the kitchen, where breakfast is sizzling. Out the window, the perfect pyramid of the mountain rises above the 4-room, Victorian-style farmhouse’s 42 acres of orchards and pasture.$130; mthoodbnb.com 

28. West Beach Resort, San Juan Islands, WA. Way out on the west end of Orcas Island, you can rent one of the resort’s 21 pine cabins (13 have water views) with a wood-fired stove and kitchen. It’s your base for exploring by canoe or bike, crabbing on the beach, and fishing off the pier (feel free to hang your catch in the smokehouse). $140; 2-night minimum; westbeachresort.com 

29. Cedarbrook Lodge, Seattle. Yes, it’s a (free) 5-minute shuttle ride to Sea-Tac, but don’t you dare call it an airport hotel. The 104-room Cedarbrook feels more like a country lodge; it’s set on 18 acres of wetlands 20 minutes south of downtown. And it pours on extras, like a breakfast buffet and afternoon snacks.$129; cedarbrooklodge.com    

30.The Sylvia Hotel, Vancouver, B.C. Ivy climbs up the brick walls of the stately 1912 Sylvia, ideally located across the street from English Bay and a couple of blocks from Stanley Park. Pedal or jog along the seawall to take in the big water views or to dip into downtown, 5 minutes away. $149; sylviahotel.com   

Southwest

31. Hotel Andaluz, Albuquerque. A recent renovation polished up the original 1930s Moorish architecture, with plush curtained nooks and beamed ceilings, and the 107 rooms have been completely redone, each with its own personality—one is decorated with balls and jacks, another with photos of famous couples like Lucy and Desi. Drop your bags and head up to tip back cocktails at the rooftop bar. $139; hotelandaluz.com  

32. Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort, Ojo Caliente, NM. This spa retreat offers mineral waters, a mud pool, and miles and miles of trails for practically a pittance. People have been coming here for a century and a half, though never quite so comfortably as since the recent multimillion-dollar overhaul. Bathrooms in the 1916 hotel lack showers—then again, a private nighttime soak next to a kiva fireplace is only $50.$139; ojospa.com  

33. Hotel Valley Ho, Scottsdale, AZ. In its first life, back in the ’50s, with Bing Crosby and Zsa Zsa Gabor hanging around, the Valley Ho was no slouch. But its second life, since a 2005 reboot, may be even more happening: parties around the pool and mai tais in the on-site Trader Vic’s. The 193 colorful rooms have luxe touches (feather-top beds, flat-screen TVs, private balconies) that can make them pricey, but time it right and you can nab a steal. $144 last weekend of May with advance purchase, $139 most of Jun–Aug; hotelvalleyho.com  

34. El Rey Inn, Santa Fe. A traditional 1930s roadside motel along what was once Route 66, the El Rey is a 5-acre tangle of gardens, courtyards, and patio nooks. The 86 rooms are filled with paintings, carved headboards, and armoires by local artists. It’s a good 2 miles into downtown, but a bus stops right out front and the distance will save you big-time bucks. $99; elreyinnsantafe.com  

35. The Historic Taos Inn, Taos. As Southwest as they come, from the rockin’ margaritas and bedside kiva fireplaces right up to the exposed-beam ceilings. This 1936 slice of history has 44 rooms (with free ethernet, not Wi-Fi; the adobe walls are too thick for it) and is just a block from the plaza. Its hopping restaurant and great wine list also give you a wonderful excuse to stay put. $105; taosinn.com 

36. Bright Angel Lodge & Cabins, Grand Canyon. The people’s national park lodge Let the fancy national park hotels—the Ahwahnees and El Tovars—host the platinum-card-toting swells who order their personal assistants to carry them down to Plateau Point and back up again. That’s not Grand Canyon’s Bright Angel Lodge. Like the national parks themselves, Bright Angel is democracy in action, awe for everybody. That mile-deep canyon outside the front door? For you! The mule rides you book at the front desk? Yours too. And so are the rickety but charming cabins, the ice cream parlor, and—best of all—the lodge’s fireplace, its rock layers perfectly duplicating those of the canyon, from Vishnu Schist to Kaibab Limestone. And all these pleasures come at prices just about anybody can pay. E pluribus amazing. $113; grandcanyonlodges.com 

Rockies

37. The Limelight Lodge, Aspen, CO. Aspen is easy to love but tricky to afford. The Limelight bridges the gap with a good downtown location and chic look, but rates that are friendlier than the town’s more storied hotels. Now that the snow is going, going, gone, book one of the lodge’s 126 rooms and take in the green mountain views. An add-on we like: The nightly resort fee (included in the room rate) gets you perks like airport pickup, ski valet, and gym access. $133; limelightlodge.com       

38. Hotel Terra, Jackson Hole, WY. Before Memorial Day, you can slip into this stylin’ eco hotel for as low as $125. Soak up luxe touches like flat-screen TVs, heated bathroom floors, deep tubs, and a third-floor infinity pool that looks out over the village and up the mountain’s slope. $125; hotelterrajacksonhole.com    

39. Mariposa Lodge B&B, Steamboat Springs, CO. They cook up a mean breakfast at this homey 4-room ranch house on the banks of Soda Creek, with bentwood rockers on the wraparound porch and homemade quilts on pine-log beds. Now that ski season’s over, Steamboat is primed for hiking and biking on Emerald Mountain, plus kayaking down the Yampa River in search of the hot springs along its shores. $139; 2-night minimum; steamboatmariposa.com  

40. Vail Mountain Lodge, Vail, CO. The rooms at this cushy yet rustic mountain lodge have gas fireplaces and soaking tubs, and the rate includes freebies like breakfast at the bistro and all the yoga and Pilates classes you can take in the massive gym. Nearby, explore the village or amble along Gore Creek.$139; vailmountainlodge.com  

Next: Hawaii, Mexico, and our top picks for 4-star service at 2-star prices   

Hawaii

41. Ha‘iku Plantation Inn, Maui. This sugar plantation turned 4-room inn in Maui’s horsey upcountry is close to the Haleakala Crater, Pa‘ia town, and the gorgeous beach at Baldwin.  So you get a head start on all the Hana day-trippers schlepping from the resorty south shore. $119; haikuleana.net 

42. Ohana Waikiki East, Honolulu, Oahu. If you’re willing to walk a couple of blocks to the beach, you can save big bucks at the 441-room Ohana Waikiki East high-rise hotel—or either of its sister hotels, the Waikiki Malia or Waikiki West. Here’s the deal: You get a no-frills room (ask for an upper floor to cut down on street noise) and a pass to the trolley that endlessly circles Waikiki. $105; ohanahotels.com  

43. Hotel Lana‘i, Lanai. Lanai is the most fancy-pants of all the Hawaiian islands—virtually every visitor is bound for one of its two Four Seasons Resorts. But a few choose the Hotel Lana‘i in town, built in 1923 for pineapple plantation execs. The 11 rooms aren’t 5-star but are loaded with charm: Hawaiian quilts on the bed, hardwood floors, white wainscoting. Dinner here isn’t cheap, but it’s a must. $99; hotellanai.com  

Mexico

44. Petit Hotel Hafa, Sayulita. The laid-back vibe at this family-owned boutique hotel suits Sayulita’s slow charms. But the joint’s got style too, with Moroccan- and Mediterranean-inspired decor in the 6 rooms and rooftop lounge. Wander the 2 blocks to the beach or hit up owners Christophe and Marina for other local faves.$50; 3-night minimum; hotelhafasayulita.com    

45. Villa Amor, Sayulita. Life is all right from a private villa on the cliffs high above Sayulita Bay. Each of the 42 rooms and suites here is different in its own arty way, but all have coastal views and a gauzy-curtained bed. Tip: Rates are halved in the low season (Jul–Sep). $110; villaamor.com   

46. Villa Mirasol, San Miguel de Allende. Hotel Built around a pretty terra-cotta-colored courtyard, this 12-room hotel (once a house) is just a few blocks from the main square of one of Mexico’s most loved hill towns. Tile floors and wrought-iron headboards charm. $70; villamirasolhotel.com  

47. The Hotelito, Todos Santos. An unmarked dirt road just outside town leads you to the brightly colored casitas at the Hotelito, where each of the 7 rooms comes with a private patio slung with a lacy rope hammock. The beach is a short walk; you can also just plunge into the saltwater pool. $90; 2-night minimum; thehotelito.com      

Top picks: 4-star service, 2-star price 

These hotels are a schlep from any major airport, but the payoff is huge.

48. La Posada,Winslow, AZ. Everyone needs to see this. Got it? Everybody needs to see La Posada. The last great Western railroad hotel is out in the middle of nowhere, but that was the idea: Iconic architect Mary Colter designed this 45-room masterpiece to lure travelers to the Painted Desert and nearby Petrified Forest. Now the trackside hacienda, 3 hours from Phoenix, has been restored so you can marvel at its spectacular public spaces and Turquoise Room restaurant. $109; laposada.org

49. Grand Union Hotel, Fort Benton, MT. One of the West’s most opulent hotels happens to be in a sleepy Montana river town, sunken into the plains about 31/2 hours east of Missoula. The Grand Union dates from the era when Fort Benton was a bustling steamboat port on the Upper Missouri; now the town’s cottonwood-shaded streets have a slower pace. Lavishly restored, this hotel is a red‑brick palace with 26 rooms, a very good restaurant, and a sense of magic that comes from finding something splendid in an unlikely setting.$130; grandunionhotel.com

50. Marcus Whitman Hotel, Walla Walla, WA. Its fame as an up-and-coming wine producer notwithstanding, at heart Walla Walla—about 4 hours east of Portland—remains an easygoing farm town. Which is why the Marcus Whitman is such a surprise. The 1928 vintage tower in downtown is urbane without ever seeming snooty, and the Marc Restaurant has a wine list packed with great local Cabs and Syrahs.$149; marcuswhitmanhotel.com

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