BEEN-SEEN.COM - A DIFFERENCE IN WHERE AND HOW WE TRAVEL

As calming summer breezes transition to nippy fall mornings, it's a good time to start dreaming about late autumn holidays. Just a few photos of Albergo il Monastero and I knew what I wanted to put on my wish list.

What is it like to witness history being made? Today, the world found out when the United States of America elected Barack Obama to be its 44th President. More than just the first 'black' president, President Barack Obama (oh, I can't type that often enough!) is a citizen of the world, and as such, the world rejoiced.

It seems like everyone is trying to invent a new way to get around these days. Dutch invention Wheelsurf is hardly a replacement for your gas-guzzler - it was created purely for fun. It's hard to figure out what it does just by looking at it, but it's described as a 'single-wheeled, ride-inside conveyance'. A what?

I was lucky enough to live in Québec for a few years when I was a teenager. But I'm well aware that it's pretty far off the beaten track for most people. So, Strangers in Good Company is a chance to see a little of what it's like. Sure, you could watch Jésus de Montréal, an urban tale which came out the same year (and you probably should), but for rural atmosphere Strangers is hard to beat.

I've never fitted in, which is why Barack Obama is so appealing. That probably doesn't make much sense, so let me explain. 

Happy Halloween. And if you're in Los Angeles this Saturday, make sure you check out the sixth Hollywood Forever Day of the Dead festival. 

If you've ever flown a paper airplane, you might wonder why passenger jets have looked the way they have for as long as they have. This prototype jet, the X-48B, created by Boeing Phantom Works, NASA and the US Air Force, turns conventional design on its head. 

It's 110 degrees and humid as hell. You've got the air conditioning on, but it doesn't seem to make any difference. You've turned on every fan and are sitting on an ice pack. Sounds like you need an air-conditioned shirt. Yeah really.

With high gas prices and environmental concerns, alternative energies for transportation are on the tip of everyone's tongues. There's electric, solar and even wind power, but as of yet no car has managed to combine them all. Until now. Welcome Venturi's Eclectic, the first solar and electric autonomous car in the history of the automobile.

There's a lot of controversy over how many names Eskimos really do have for snow, but it's interesting to discover their word for iceberg. The Seeko'o Hotel in Bordeaux, France, takes its name from this word, and it's easy to see why.

Are we there yet? After months of incessant campaigning the two-year-long road trip known as the US presidential election is nearly over. Finally. The day for US voters to decide between Messrs. McCain and Obama is upon us. For the undecided among us, constant media scrutiny of the candidates and their running mates has left few stones to look under. But here's one issue that hasn't been discussed as much as others - travel.

We all want to save the world, but sometimes recycling and composting can get a bit, well, dull. How about dancing to prevent the destruction of the human race? That's the idea behind Surya, a new club in London.