America's Most Notorious Prison

America's Most Notorious Prison


April 1, 2025 | Samantha Henman

America's Most Notorious Prison


Although Alcatraz gained a reputation as the toughest prison in the U.S. due to brutally inhumane conditions—that wasn’t the reason the prison was ultimately shut down.


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Man Sleeping on a Woman’s Shoulder in an Airplane

I fell asleep on a long flight and woke up to find my seatmate using my shoulder as a pillow. Am I allowed to report that?

Long-haul flights turn strangers into temporary neighbors crammed into metal tubes hurtling through the sky at 500 miles per hour. You've settled into your seat, maybe scored the window spot, popped in your earbuds, and drifted off somewhere over the Atlantic. Then you wake up to an unexpected situation: your seatmate has turned your shoulder into their personal pillow. Their head's resting there, possibly drooling on your favorite travel hoodie, and you're stuck in this weird limbo between politeness and personal space violation. The question isn't just whether you can report this behavior, but whether you should, and what actually counts as reportable conduct at 35,000 feet. Airlines deal with thousands of passenger complaints annually, but where does uninvited shoulder-napping fall on the spectrum of airplane etiquette violations?
February 5, 2026 Miles Brucker
Woman At the airport gate with concern

Americans used to need only a passport to visit the UK. Now without a new Electronic Travel Authorization you can’t board the plane—and it isn’t free.

For decades, Americans could hop on a plane to the United Kingdom with just a valid passport and show up ready for adventure. No pre-travel approvals. No online forms. No extra steps. Passport in hand—that was enough. But that era is officially over.
February 5, 2026 Jesse Singer
Guest at the hotel reception

My hotel front desk refused to give me extra towels because they said I’d “already had enough.” Is that normal policy?

The request itself was ordinary. A guest asked for extra towels, expecting the kind of neutral response hotels usually give without pause. Instead, the answer felt abrupt, as if a basic comfort had suddenly turned into a favor. Moments like this tend to linger because they disrupt expectations rather than violate rules. Towels are rarely noticed when available, yet their absence becomes symbolic when access feels restricted. What should have been forgettable becomes oddly memorable. These interactions raise larger questions about how hospitality defines “reasonable,” where cost and environmental concerns quietly intervene, and how small refusals reshape a guest’s perception of care. This article examines standard towel practices, explains why denials sometimes happen, and outlines what both guests and hotels can learn when everyday comfort becomes negotiable.
February 5, 2026 Miles Brucker
Closed Border Nations

Places Americans Can’t Easily Travel To Anymore

Passports don’t always open doors anymore. Political rifts and sudden policy shifts are the deciding factor for where Americans can go. These factors turned ordinary travel dreams to specific nations into an uneasy recalculation.
February 5, 2026 Marlon Wright
the tsa

15 Things The TSA Wants Us To Stop Doing

Discover the top 15 things the TSA wants travelers to stop doing. Our article highlights common mistakes and tips to streamline your airport experience. From packing tips to security line etiquette, find out how to make your next trip smoother and stress-free.
February 5, 2026 Marlon Wright

When I returned to the U.S. from vacation, I was denied entry at the border. I'm a citizen and veteran. What gives?

Can a U.S. citizen be denied entry at the border? A veteran’s experience reveals how border delays happen and what travelers should know.
February 5, 2026 Jack Hawkins