What do you wear to stay warm? A hat? Some mittens? Perhaps a pair of boots? You’re a fool. When temperatures plunge below freezing, you can’t rely on down and wool to keep you from dying of hypothermia. And body heat alone won’t suffice when you’re lost in the wilderness. If you’re going to keep frostbite at bay you need to bring your own heat to the party. This week, SkyMall Monday looks at the latest in feet-warming technology with this gem from SkyMall: Rechargeable Heated Slippers.

Read the entire SkyMall Monday post on Gadling.

As kids, it’s natural to imagine ourselves as superheroes. Heck, some of us still fantasize about that as adults. How cool would it be to have super powers and to defend the world against supervillians. Sadly, however, reality is such that this isn’t really possible. Even if you tried to be a superhero, you’d probably just end up in trouble with the law. At the end of the day, there are no supervillians and vigilante justice is frowned upon. So, even if you had otherworldly powers, you’d still be stuck in your humdrum life. Even if I could fly, I’d still be writing SkyMall Monday every week, albeit from different places around the world. Even this week’s featured SkyMall product, which resembles Wolverine’s claws, will simply make landscaping your yard only slightly cooler. Even X-Men need to keep a tidy lawn, and that’s why you need the Leaf Rake Hands.

Read the entire SkyMall Monday post on Gadling.

Over drinks last night with Kim Mance of TBEX and Galivanting fame, we got to talking about places we had never been. Eventually, we began to confess about places that we visited way later in our lives than we’d ever hoped or expected. What we realized, however, was that there was nothing wrong with us. While some people might say, “You’ve never been to [insert name of place],” while staring at you incredulously, you should never feel bad about how or where you’ve traveled. Having a wish list is great. Being envious of your friends’ trips is natural. But there is nothing wrong with you if you haven’t been to as many places as you’d like. There’s no shame in travel.

Kim and I want to know the destinations that you’ve missed (or delayed) that have made you feel shame in the past so that you can start to feel better about them. Never been to Europe? There’s no shame in that! Didn’t get to New York City until your wife dragged you there for your 20th wedding anniversary? There’s no shame in that!

Tweet your no-shame confession using the #notravelshame hashtag. I’ll start:

I didn’t visit California until my 30th birthday (thanks, Jeremy Kressmann and Grant Martin).

Update: Thanks to Pam Mandel for supplying us with the #notravelshame theme song!

There are many perks to staying at a hotel. You get to crank the air conditioner without having to pay the electric bill. You can leave your wet towels on the floor and find dry news ones perfectly folded in your bathroom later. M&M’s are always close by (assuming you don’t mind the minibar price of $34.98 for a single-service bag). What often does bother me in hotels, however, is the beds. Hotel beds are a mixed bag, but I can usually count on certain things that always grind my gears, Here’s what bugs me most:

Tight Tuck
Is this the Marriott or the Naval Academy? If I have to break a sweat just to get myself into bed, something is horribly wrong. Loosen up, housekeeping…literally.

Throw (Away) Pillows
I’ve never understood the purpose of pillows on beds that are intended for anything other than sleeping. Sure, you want to prop yourself up to watch TV, but any more than two throw pillows is just clutter.

Beastly Bedspreads
What’s wrong with solid colors? Why are hotel bedspreads a celebration of geometric shapes, explosions of color and fibers that have entirely too much in common with sandpaper? I’ve seen Rorschach tests that stir up less hostility in my subconscious.

Not So Fresh & Even Less Clean
Things I don’t mind finding on my hotel bed: the room service menu, the TV remote and a mint. Things I do mind finding on my hotel bed: pubic hairs, stains and an empty mint wrapper.

What bothers you most about hotel beds? Have any horror stories? Dish the dirt in the comments.

I’m off to Turkey for just over a week on a trip sponsored by Intrepid Travel. I’ll be tweeting along the way, so be sure to follow me. I’ll also be posting stories on Gadling about the trip. I’ll be trying my best to write from the road, but we all know how tricky that can get after a night out with some raki.

In the meantime, I’ll be eating my weight in shaved meat, indulging in numerous honey-coated desserts and trying my best to learn at east 14 Turkish words – all while trying to find worthwhile stories and experiences to share with you.

I’m off to Jackson, WY for a couple of days and then driving up to Yellowstone National Park for the weekend. Looking forward to good people, fresh air and some wild game (both for viewing and eating). Expect some radio silence on the ol’ blog until I’m back in the big city.

Know any hot spots in Jackson or tips for Yellowstone? Let me know, will ya?

Tacos are great (even the chocolate variety). To that end, I’m heading to Texas for the weekend. I’ll be in Austin until Sunday evening. Holler if you’re in town or if you have any good recommendations.

People are so sensitive these days. Everyone wants to be so progressive and politically correct. That’s made jokes about other cultures and stereotypes completely off limits. However, many stereotypes and clichés are rooted in truth and it’s OK to laugh at them.

This French guy rode passed me with a baguette sticking out of his bag. Japan is riddled with Harajuku girls. Iceland really does treasure trolls and their homes. Clichés exist everywhere and stereotypes often hold true. Heck, we’re often known as “Fat Americans” and, well, we’re pretty plump. I’ve seen it firsthand.

I’m not saying that mean-spirited jokes are appropriate. To the contrary, racist and hurtful comments are just plain wrong. But playful joking and taking the piss out of each other on a global level is really no different than teasing our friends. So, celebrate clichés, embrace stereotypes and laugh with each other rather than at each other.

There are several reasons to share a room with a friend when you’re traveling:

Safety: There’s strength in numbers. Staying with others helps ward off criminals looking to steal your money and/or innocence.

Savings: Often accommodations will be the most expensive aspect of your trip. Splitting the cost of a hostel or hotel will leave you with more money to splurge on snow globes.

Camaraderie: You may think that you know your friend well. But nothing strengthens a friendship like having to see each other in your pajamas. If you can survive sharing a bathroom in India, you can guarantee that you’ll be friends for life.

It’s Adorable: This may only be true if you’re husky puppies.

Whatever your reason for sharing a room on the road, you’ll end up with more money in your pocket, less attempts on your belongings and a stronger bond with your friend. It just makes sense.

It’s one thing to not feel 100% like yourself when you’re traveling. Long flights can leave you dehydrated and you’re bound to get the squirts on one of your trips. But if you feel really sick – the kind of sick that has you calling home to tell your mother that you loved her – then your best bet is to find a doctor.

There’s no shame in seeking medical help. It might just be the difference between you telling the tale yourself someday or the NY Post doing it for you with an awful pun.