Upgraded: Some clarity for travelers
Downgraded: 14 countries’ citizens
The TSA has issued new rules (and an accompanying statement) regarding international travel to the United States. The centerpiece: If you are from — or traveled through — Afghanistan, Algeria, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Somalia, or Yemen, you will be subject to pat-downs and carry-on bag checks. But we didn’t hear the actual policy or the list of affected countries from the TSA. Oh no. The official line only specifies that security will be higher for passengers who come from (or through) “nations that are state sponsors of terrorism or other countries of interest.” The details of who that affects were provided (leaked?) by an unnamed TSA official to the media.

Downgraded, again: TSA’s mad Adobe Acrobat skillz
Seth at Wandering Aramean has uncovered yet another TSA redaction error, with the agency this time exposing explosives detection procedures because they can’t properly edit a PDF.

Downgraded: The next generation of airport scanners, before they’re even installed
Full-body scans would not have detected the Christmas Day crotch-bomber, because the explosive powder packets in his underwear weren’t dense enough. In the UK, the Independent on Sunday labeled the push for more full-body scanners “a scam.” And al Qaeda has reportedly already been practicing ways of beating the body scanners, allegedly on scanners they’ve purchased.
Update: And now the Guardian reports that these scanners could be in violation of British child pornography laws, as they create “indecent images” of children. The hits just keep on a-comin’!

Enough with airport security and the TSA! On to lighter fare:

Upgraded: Argentine tit-for-tat
If you are a citizen of a country that charges Argentines an entry fee or visa charge, then prepare to pay that same exact fee when you enter Argentina. For Americans, that means paying US$131. Only Buenos Aires (EZE) is charging the fee for now, but that will expand to other locations.

Downgraded: Hotel descriptions and accompanying photos
This hotel’s five-star description doesn’t match the imagery. WhereToStay.com’s description of the Hotel Nikko Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands takes the reader to a tropical paradise… until you look at the photo. First, here’s the description — painful in its own right, thanks to a misguided obsession with capitalization:

Set Amidst Crystal Clear Pacific Waters Surrounded By Lush Palm Trees, White Sand Beaches, And Alive With Outdoor Fun And Activities Such As Snorkeling, Diving And Water craft Rides, The Hotel Nikko Saipan With Its 14 Floors And 313 Guest Rooms And Suites Provide A Truly Relaxing Ambience For An Unforgettable Experience. Combined With State of The art Facilities And Gracious Hospitality In A Truly 5 Star Deluxe Setting, The Hotel Nikko Saipan Guarantees All Of Their Guests An Ideal Stay. And With Golf Courses Near By As Well As Racketball, Tennis, Scuba Diving And A Host Of Other Outdoor Activities, Saipan Proves To Be A Truly Memorable And Brilliant Destination.

And here’s the photo they put with it:

I’ve heard of hotels changing hands and rebranding, but this isn’t quite what the Nikko is expecting…

The hotel page is here. A screenshot, in case they take it down to make corrections, is here.

Happy New Year!