As Venice continues to suffer from both climate change and overtourism, and cities like Rome and Florence are overrun with visitors during peak summer months, an alternative concept rooted in Italy’s ancient hill villages is gaining momentum. It’s designed for travelers who want to go beyond the usual stops on the Grand Tour and experience local life — without overwhelming residents.

Alberghi diffusi, the literal translation of which is widespread hotels (or scattered hotels), represents a unique model that redevelops abandoned buildings in small villages with an eye to hosting tourists. These lodgings, instead of being in one vertical building, are distributed horizontally among various restored buildings around the settlement, integrating guests within the community. At least one of those buildings houses a central reception and common space. Typical hotel services, like housekeeping and room service, are provided under the realm of a single manager.

Read more at Skift.

For the first time ever, marine biologists have recorded the heart rate of a blue whale in the wild—the results of which even surprised the scientists.

New research published Monday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences is the first to provide a heart rate profile for free-ranging blue whales. The resulting data shows how the hearts of these enormous cetaceans help them hold their breath for prolonged periods of time as well as how they’re suddenly able to exert the energy needed for lunge feeding and then replenish their blood oxygen levels when back at the surface.

Read more at Gizmodo.

Earlier this year Nicole Davis arrived at one of the San Antonio, Tex., offices of the audiology practice she co-ownsready to see the day’s patients. But upon entering her office, Davis says she quickly noticed a noxious odor that smelled like paint thinner. Her eyes started burning. By noon, she felt nauseated and dizzy, with the burning sensation spreading to her nose and throat. Her mouth went numb. Co-workers in the building told Davis that they felt ill, too. By the evening, she says, she was vomiting.

Two days later, Davis received an e-mail from an employee for a construction firm that was doing work that week on municipal pipes below street-level near the building. The employee apologized in the e-mail for Davis’s “recent experience,” and attached a technical document describing the hazards and health risks associated with materials used to make plastic in the pipe project. The e-mail and attachment do not state that the work caused the odor or Davis’s reaction.

Read more at Scientific American.

Uber faced a blow on Monday when London regulators refused to renew the ride-hailing company's operating permit because of safety concerns. The biggest issue lawmakers cited was drivers using false identities as they ferried unsuspecting passengers.

At least 14,000 trips were made by unauthorized drivers, according to city regulator Transport for London. The way it worked is this: A number of drivers would share one account, and whenever one of them went out to drive, they'd upload their own photo to fool passengers. The unauthorized drivers were able to pose as vetted, licensed and insured, when often they weren't.

Read more at CNET.

Do you understand the strategic importance of cover letters? They are intended to complement the job seeker perspective of your resume with a focus on employer needs. The cover letter’s job is to prove you are what the employer is looking for.

This checklist focuses on the strategic elements of cover letter content. If you’re planning a cover letter or have one ready to send, take a stroll through this list to ensure strategic optimization.

Read more at The Ladders.

Sometimes a technology comes along and changes the way we live forever. It often starts quietly. The tech might have to pass through a few iterations before its value becomes clear. The first cars needed three operators, including one to walk in front of the vehicle while waving a red flag. Thomas J. Watson, chairman of IBM, might not have actually put the total demand for computers at five, but an early model made by his company picked up just eleven pre-orders. It cost between $12,000 and $18,000 a month to rent.

So some of the technology that you’re ignoring today could well turn out to be stuff you can’t live without tomorrow. Here are five technologies you need to watch.

Read more at Inc.

Experts generally recommend you don’t cancel a credit card because it can have a negative impact on your credit score. But if you’re being charged a high annual fee or interest rate, it can be beneficial to close a credit card. If you’re looking to close your oldest credit card, take a minute to evaluate your decision to make sure it’s a smart choice.

The Capital One CreditWise app offers a simulator so you can see how taking certain actions (closing a card or paying off a balance) might impact your credit score. This is a good place to start if you’re worried that closing your card might make your score go down.

Read more at CNBC.

Costa Rica was the first country to make a focused effort to attract American retirees and second home buyers. Costa Rica now competes with dozens of countries that are vying for the attention of American retirees considering living overseas. Here's how to determine whether Costa Rica could be the right retirement spot for you.

Before choosing Costa Rica for retirement, spend extended time in the country. There is a rainy season from May through November when rainfall is regular and sometimes dramatic. All-day rains are not common, but rain can fall hard and quick enough to create flash flooding and wash out roads. If you're considering life in one of this country's beach towns, which often sit at the end of unpaved roads, this is an important consideration, as access can be a challenge some months of the year. On the other hand, the rainy season has advantages. There are far fewer tourists during the rainiest months, and prices are lower.

Read more at US News.

Several senior members of Congress called for investigations Monday into how President Donald Trump's intervention on behalf of a Navy SEAL at the center of a war crimes case may have influenced the firing of Navy Secretary Richard Spencer, the circumstances of which remain unclear.

Multiple – and at times conflicting – narratives have emerged since Defense Secretary Mark Esper announced Sunday that he had fired the embattled Navy leader, who indicated in a letter that the president issued an unlawful order.

Read more at US News.