What happened to guidebooks? Over the years, guidebooks have begun to disappoint. They have some severe limitations in terms of space (number of pages); when published, the information is already a year old; plus, these days, guidebook writers are rarely the kind of travelers who can truly appreciate the kinds of establishments I would want to dine or sleep in.

B737 breaks delivery and order records, United 787 makes emergency landing in New Orleans, an Iceland traditional Christmas