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Solar Impulse 2: Will Sky-Sailing Ever Go Commercial?

The experimental aircraft recently completed of round-the-world flight. It was propelled strictly by the sun’s power, with no need for fossil or other types of today's expensive and volatile fuel.

While solar-powered commercial aircraft are still decades into the future, consider the advantages when it happens. With no dependence on the price-manipulated oil industry, passenger fees should be considerably lower.

Aboard the quiet aircraft, the experience will feel like a sailing schooner in the sky, with the design of a luxury cruise ship. The interior will be roomy for strolling passengers and gatherings, rather than today’s required stuffing everyone into a tight seat during flight.

On its around-the-world journey, Solar Impulse 2 flew at a speed of 35 mph, about 10 mph faster than the average cruise ship. As with ocean-going vessels, the aircraft will also be be affected by winds and weather. www.bbc.com/news/science-environment

NYC memories: Mulberry Street, Little Italy, 1905

Little Italy, NYC

This colorized photo shows the typical scene, when the immigration of Italian families to America was at its height. In the decade, nearly a million came from Tuscany, Lombardy, Sicily and other parts of the old country.

Little Italy and adjoining Chinatown in Lower Manhattan are on the National Register of Historic Places. For sightseeing, shopping and great dining, next time you’re in New York City, be sure to visit.

How to keep trim on all-you-can-eat cruise

Popeye

The food is there and everywhere on a cruise, all very attractive and available nearly every hour of the day and evening. You’re on vacation. Live it up! The brisk sea air enhances your appetite. So why not enjoy it all, plus more, and then some?

According to travel statistics, the average adult gains a pound a day on a cruise. Think of what you’d drag home after a three-week voyage. Despite the temptations, there are ways to keep from gaining weight on a cruise.

1. It’s OK to try the buffet, and you can enjoy all the delish varieties. Just take small portions of healthy salads, vegetables (including Popeye’s cooked or raw spinach), lean meat, seafood and poultry. Stay away from deep fried anything. Go easy on fatty meats, gravy, bread, butter, cookies and cakes. Make it a fresh piece of fruit for dessert and between-meal snacks.

Florida: Getting close up and personal with a lily

Red lily

A flower-loving traveler shoots a blooming blood lily (Scadoxus multiflorus) at the Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami , Florida. The Garden is an natural oasis of palms, cacti, cycads and other tropical plants.

The blood lily, which is native to North Africa, also goes by names such as football lily, poison root and fireball lily. It’s very hardy, and its bulbs can flourish in both indoor and outdoor conditions except in very cold climates.

American Airlines helps GIs, kids and vets

AA is a solid backer of the U.S. military. The airline is proud that 60 percent of its pilots are veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. They include some currently-active duty reservists who are taking a year or more out of their careers to serve in current deployments.

AA is the official airline of the USO, which provides entertainment for our Armed Forces personnel all over the world. AA also participates in various free programs to fly current and retired service veterans to rehab and other destinations.

AA also sponsors Snowball Express, which provides flights to free vacation destinations for young kids of service personnel who’ve lost their lives in Middle East combat.

Avoiding hotel rooms reeking of old cigarettes

Smoking chimp

Q: I’m a lifelong non-smoker and am grateful there’s a growing trend in hotels and terminals to ban cigarettes totally. However, too many hotels and motels still allow it in rooms. Often, even in designated non-smoking rooms, lingering odors of decades-old burned tobacco make the room very unpleasant.

How can I avoid booking those smelly rooms?

Marian P., Boston MA