Re: the Salon interview: what a dink. His "insights" about Iran are completely predictable: Ooooh, people are alike all over. The Iranians have families and dreams just like us. Reminds me of the lefties who used to take package tours of the Soviet Union in the '70s and '80s and come back gushing over how many big airplanes the Soviet Union seemed to have.

I don't disagree that Americans live insular lives but I don't think Ricknik-type travel necessarily helps. He decomplicates other cultures and makes them into hit-list itineraries you can "do" in two days. Stoned, in his case. Who is more welcome in a faraway place than a fully baked American in a fanny pack who has 30 minutes to see the local cathedral and get a bargain sandwich in the cafe Rick Steve recommended?