Have you ever had a friend who was so coarse and boorish that you cringed whenever he would launch into conversation with a random stranger? And yet despite his complete lack of boundaries - or perhaps because of it - this friend would make meaningful connections with all different types of people? There are lessons to be learned from such people, and they are perfectly encapsulated in the character of Homer Simpson, loyal father, inattentive employee, and world traveler.

That's right, those of us who err too far on the side of timidity to avoid the label of Ugly American (or its regional equivalent) could benefit greatly from the teachings of Master Homer. The friendly people over at Canadian Online Explorer have compiled a list of the top ten Simpsons travel destinations, from China (pictured) to Australia, providing a perfect primer on how to deal with different customs and cultural mores around the world. To share just one pearl of wisdom, the people of central Africa will appreciate your efforts in breaking up any chimp-labor operations that might be going on. Absent that, just relax and don't be so self-conscious. Everybody's cooler when they keep it real like Homer.

[Photo: canoe.ca]

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· Top Simpsons Travel Destinations [Canadian Online Explorer]
· Simpsons Travel Coverage [Jaunted]]]> Victor Ozols 2009-01-04T11:06:17-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/5/21/133512/531

Yesterday we spent the afternoon bumming around Universal Studios in Hollywood. Our first (and pretty much only) order of business was to check-out the brand-new Simpsons Ride.

You may remember that this ride replaced the Back to the Future ride which we were sad to see go. But have no fear, next to the Simpsons gift store--aka the Kwik-E-Mart--Doc Brown still lives on in his Doc Brown's Fried Chicken Stand.

Then again, Doc Brown is positively dwarfed by Krustyland, the pseudo-amusement park in which the Simpsons Ride takes place.

]]> juliana 2008-05-21T15:00:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/4/25/14725/0750

We already knew The Simpsons Ride would be green, and now we've gotten a look inside. Set to open on May 15, the ride has been going through previews at Universal Orlando, and reports on what to expect are already leaking out.

The theme park obsessives at Orlando United have a super-detailed rundown of every aspect of the ride, from the lines outside to spoilers. (We won't spill any secrets here.)

We will mention that there's a clever nod to the Back to the Future attraction The Simpsons experience has replaced. "Technical Rehearsals" will continue until the official opening if you absolutely can't wait to ride this thing.

Related Stories:
· The Simpsons Ride Technical Rehearsal [Orlando United]
· Simpsons Ride Spoilers [LAT]
· The Simpsons' Universal Home Goes Green [Jaunted]
· What's Inside the Simpsons Ride at Universal Studios? [Jaunted]

[Photo: Orlando United]]]> pbb 2008-04-25T14:07:53-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/4/23/131929/361

In last summer's "The Simpsons" movie, an evil EPA head plans to cover up Homer Simpson's eco-unfriendly error by enclosing Springfield in a giant glass dome.

But America's first cartoon family actually cares a lot about the environment, if Universal Studios is to be believed: The new "Simpsons" rides at both Universal Hollywood and Universal Orlando use green technology to save over 600,000 watts of power a day, enough to run your laptop computer around the clock for a year and a half.

Designers of the ride, which is based on the TV show and the movie, used energy-conserving software, more advanced motors and LED lighting to achieve the energy savings. Take that, Russ Cargill!

Related Stories:
· What's Inside the Simpsons Ride at Universal Studios? [Jaunted]
· The Simpsons Ride: The Krustiest Place On Earth [Jaunted]
· Green Travel coverage [Jaunted]]]> egw 2008-04-23T15:30:02-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/4/9/144913/3833

It's kinda hard for us to get excited about the Simpsons Ride opening at Universal Studios on May 17 because to open this ride meant closing down the totally awesome Back to the Future ride.

Still, we should be happy that replacement is something equally iconic. (We just wouldn't go for, say, a Snakes on a Plane experience.)

The LA Times' Daily Travel and Deal blog has some deets on the ride which is housed in the old BTTF ride structure and has the same motion simulator concept.]]> juliana 2008-04-09T15:43:16-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/8/3/10265/11838 Contribute your Simpsons inspired locations by uploading your photo, with address to the Jaunted Flickr Photo Pool, or just send us the information and we will add it to the map.

At the behest of folks who have already seen The Simpsons Movie, we have added a Simpsons Spoilers map.  The map is similar to the Simpsons Movie Map Mashup we put together, which plots the overwhelming geographic evidence that proves the cartoon clan is from Portland Oregon.  However, this new map plots points directly from the movie, which is what makes it a spoiler map.  We can't say it any clearer, you have been warned.

No doubt the movie supports our original thesis -- the Simpsons are from Portland.  If you have seen the movie, or don't care about spoilers, check it out.  As always, Send your evidence here and we will magically turn it into a map point.

CLICK HERE FOR THE SIMPSONS OF PORTLAND MAP (With Spoilers)

CLICK HERE FOR THE SIMPSONS OF PORTLAND MAP (With Out Spoilers)

Related Stories:
·   The Simpsons Travel [Jaunted]

[Map: egw]]]> markj 2007-08-03T10:33:44-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/7/30/215522/558 Contribute your Simpsons inspired locations by uploading your photo, with address to the Jaunted Flickr Photo Pool, or just send us the information and we will add it to the map.

We just can't stop thinking about The Simpsons -- guess that over hype marketing machine at Fox is actually working -- and we hardly think we're the only ones, given that the movie made over $70 million this weekend. (According to Homer Simpson, that makes us suckers. So what?)

Our latest additions to the Simpsons Movie Map Mashup? Matt Groening's comic origins and his alma mater, plus Skinner's Butte. Help us add more Simpsons inspired locations to the map. Send your evidence here and we will magically turn it into a map point.

CLICK HERE FOR THE SIMPSONS OF PORTLAND MAP

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·   The Simpsons Travel [Jaunted]]]> egw 2007-07-31T11:39:09-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/