Like many other religiously and socially driven discussions in the United States, I find the recent debates over contraception to be completely inundated with irony. After all, those decrying the recent HHS mandate, to be addressed shortly, fail to understand the irony of the Church's opposition to contraception via the...

On March 14, Krystal Ball appeared on The Dylan Ratigan Show, soapbox in tow, for her segment known as the 'Daily Rant.' She began by waxing poetic about the sacrifices of our great civil rights leaders and how we can all make a difference before -- with the...

On October 6th, thousands of volunteers sat down with millions of children across America and around the world, participating in Jumpstart's annual event, 'Jumpstart's Read for the Record'. During a day that proved to be both emotional and educational, parents, volunteers, politicians and celebrities stood up for a cause they...

The race for the White House is heating up and, as candidates debate, issues surrounding the fiscal and social future of the United States are dominating headlines and newscasts across the country. Strangely enough, though, one issue has been largely ignored, an epidemic that both reduces the competitiveness of our...

Travel guides and writers try to steer travelers away from the typical and towards a more authentic experience, but sometimes sights are "touristy" for a reason: They're simply amazing. Rome is a perfect example of this principle. The fact of the matter is that Rome, in late summer, is inundated...

Switzerland is one of the most naturally beautiful countries in Europe, but, as a backpacker or budget traveler, it can be easy to spend your time worrying about how light your wallet is getting. Plan well and a trip to Switzerland -- while modestly more expensive than a visit to...

It doesn't take a lot of time to realize that Munich is both a world class destination and an unassuming city. The (relatively) quiet streets and the seemingly pleasant dispositions of the locals make the metropolis seem more like a small town. With museums nearly as plentiful as its Bavarian...

Berlin had a busy century. The city saw the end of an empire, two World Wars, the rise and fall of "The Wall" and - more recently - great artistic migration and widespread gentrification. As if that wasn't enough, the city has another few hundred years' worth of sights and...

With the recent end of NASA's manned space shuttle program, millions of interested fans have been left at the proverbial altar wondering, "What's next?" and -- while no single country or agency can wholly respond to this question -- some answers can be found at the European Space Operations Centre...

Amsterdam is a city with a reputation for two things and let's just say neither of them is healthy living. That being said, the city is more than its image in popular culture. Here are winding streets, stunning pieces of architecture and a deeply moving Holocaust memorial.

Activities
Biking...

Belgium, specifically the cities of Brussels and Bruges, offers an entirely different backpacking experience than it's more popular neighbors, France and Germany. The people here have an easy-going disposition and the old cities are beautiful. Belgium may play second fiddle, but it plays it quite well.

Food & Drink
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Now one of the most diverse places on the planet, London is the brilliantly industrial capital of one of the most impressive empires that the world has ever seen. Just hours outside of the city, though, one can find the remnants of civilizations past, namely Roman ruins and even some...

There is something to be said of a capital city that prohibits buildings from exceeding six stories, to ensure that the sun can reach the streets.

Food and Drink
I'm not going to sit here and spout off every famous restaurant in Paris for a couple of reasons:

1....

A city with a storied past, Madrid has played host to royalty and dictators alike. Now - decades after the fall of Franco's regime - Madrilenos have begun to make up for lost time by, well. losing time. Experiencing Madrid is about experiencing the art of relaxation, enjoying life one...

The city and surrounding area of Pamplona, nestled deep in the northern Spanish mountains, seems like it would be a very tranquil, small town any of the other 51 weeks of the year.

Thankfully, this is not one of those weeks. This is San Fermin.

The first stop of my European tour, Barcelona, immediately struck me as one of the most beautiful cities that I have ever visited. Clearly, the "city that Gaudi built", Barcelona, is heavily influenced by his style of organic, surreal architecture. At the same time, the Mediterranean supplies the city with...

In 1981, an era of human space exploration began. NASA launched its first space shuttle, Discovery, in April 1981 and -- since that historic flight -- more than 100 missions have brought hundreds of astronauts into orbit.

In 2011, 30 years after the first launch of Discovery, the shuttle program...

The "college experience" has often been depicted in popular culture in a myriad of ways. Movies and television shows portray these four (or six) years as a nerd haven, raunchy sex party and everything in between. What's the more accurate portrayal is up for debate, but what is most commonly...