Looks like the "Pope-mobile" is changing from a Mercedes Benz to an Indian rickshaw!

An auto-rickshaw, a black and yellow 3-wheeler that can seat no more than 3 people, is India's most used form of private transport. The Pope has just received a personalized, completely white one with special insignia, that he will be using for public appearances as he commutes around the Vatican.

The Times Of India has hyped this piece of news as a symbolic step in marking India's connection with the spiritual leader.

Definitely unique news and a novel marketing gimmick by Piaggio Ape Calessino, the rickshaw manufacturing company, but not worthy of front page status.

In my opinion, the Pope making use this mode of transport from a developing country is a feather in the cap for India's awesome transportation system, but other than that, no big deal.

With stock prices plummeting, the Midwest flooding, and all other difficulties in the world, I looked over the Gadling posts this week for the cheery and creative stuff.

• George Carlin's death wasn't cheery news, but Aaron's post made me laugh. He recounted one of George Carlin's routines, "A Place for My Stuff." That's cheery and creative.
• Kelsey told us that if your car breaks down on a highway in Mexico, the Green Angels will come to save you. This is cheery news to know.
• If you don't have the money to travel around the world, Jeremy suggested The Brickskeller in Washington, D.C. Here you can drink your way around the world. That's one creative way to experience an aspect of various countries from the comfort of a bar stool.
• When it comes to that perfect signature piece of furniture, Anna pointed out airplane drink trolleys. They have been jazzed up for the home. Heather was cheered by that news, and they certainly are creative.
• And Abha wrote about "Buns and Guns" an eatery in Lebanon that, if nothing else, is creative.

But, the most cheery of all is Matt Harding's video "Dancing 2008." If you haven't seen it, you are missing out. I've watched it at least eight times.

Here's hoping you have a cheery weekend and that you find something creative to do.

Using Matt Harding's concept of dancing as a way to unify the world in his "Where the Hell is Matt?" videos, Jeff Hoskinson highlighted his home state, Iowa in a spoof of sorts.

He kind of looks like Matt, but he's not Matt. Matt does appear in the video in the "Inspiration" by section. There is a handy reference guide in the YouTube description that lists everywhere featured in the video. As Hoskingson states, this was one way to have a reason to head to all the places he's heard about since he was a kid.

If you can't make it to EVERYWHERE in a state or a country, why not just pick your county or province? How about just your city, village or town? Pick a neat song and go for it. All you need is a camera and a person to film you. It's doable. I'm not doing it yet--but you go for it and let me know if you've posted the results on YouTube. I'm enamored with the idea. Whatever you do, just keep dancing.

One thing this video does make me cognizant of is Iowa's flooding problems. I wonder which of these sites were affected and wish the good folks in Iowa well.

There's a new reality TV show that starts on ABC tonight. It could either be really funny or absolutely awful. I Survived a Japanese Game Show took 10 contestants--six women and four men-- to Japan where they competed in some sort of wacky game show called Majide in front of a Japanese audience.

Not only do the contestants compete in the game show, they are immersed in aspects of Japanese culture they didn't quite expect. The reason they didn't expect it is because when they showed up a the studio to participate in a reality television show, they didn't know what the show involved. Nothing. Nada. Next thing, Japan.

I saw a preview last night and admittedly, I was laughing out loud. Okay, here's the thing. I thought The Three Amigos was funny and loved Joe VS. The Volcano. I amuse fairly easily, although Abha, I promise, I wouldn't think The Love Guru is at all amusing.

I do love the idea of putting people in cultural situations they are not quite sure about as long as the culture isn't demeaned and the people in the situation aren't elevated in stature. In this case, I'd say the Americans have plenty of opportunity to look fairly ridiculous.

Here's one contest, for example. In the "Chicken Butt Scramble," contestants dress up like chickens and try to break large "eggs" filled with goo by sitting on them and bouncing hard. It's not easy.

As the weeks progress, contestants will be eliminated until the last person wins $250,000.

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I had high hopes someone would rescue the "Electric Map" at Gettysburg, but I haven't seen anything new about it since the plug was pulled on the attraction in April. (See article) Here's a link to "Save the Map," a movement started to, well, save the map, but it doesn't say the map was saved.

The map used to be at the Gettysburg National Park Visitor's Center, but the new visitor center, now called Gettysburg Museum of the American Civil War dumped it for more modern trimmings.

I suppose the film A New Birth of Freedom narrated by Morgan Freeman is a fine way to let visitors know about the Civil War and the battle at Gettysburg, but I'll miss the map when I go to here the next time.

That map, though, was funky and I think worth saving if nothing else for its nostalgic value and history. It was first displayed in the 1939. Perhaps another organization will acquire it. I hope so.

I went to Gettysburg when I was in the 5th grade. The electric map is about the only thing I remember. For a map experience via YouTube video, keep reading.

Matt Harding, as in "Where the Hell is Matt," --the guy who dances around the world, has found the answer to world peace. Don't believe me? Just watch his video, Dancing 2008 and you'll be smiling in a few seconds. Halfway through, you'll feel like dancing yourself. The song "Praan" is perfect.

As Matt dances his way around the world through 42 different countries, people join him. Along the way there are laugh-out-loud surprises and joy. (To see the high quality version, click on the video. It will take you to the YouTube site. Click on "watch in high quality" under the video--or go here for the video via Matt's Web site.)

What a great way to travel. Matt, you're brilliant.

If you've ever wondered what it's like to be in a New Jersey jug band, tootling the roads to Ohio for the annual Washboard Festival in Logan, Fender's Excellent Adventure video will do the trick. I loved this. It starts out in Jack and Joe's RV and goes from there. These two are members of the Dirdy Birdies Jug Band. Evidently, if you play a jug, it's no match for a washboard. The captions of audience members are a hoot.

In the midst of the funny stuff is excellent footage of the music at the festival, the dance the Charleston, and a tour of the Columbus Washboard Factory. Stick around for the credits. Since the festival is happening this weekend, I'm passing this onto you. Seriously, this is mini-documentary quality. Very, very good.

GOOD magazine is putting together it's 11th issue, which is focusing on travel. Toward that end, the editors over there are looking for contributors to show off their hometowns by submitting video "tours" of their cities and towns that answer a pretty simple question: What makes this place stand apart?

Got a secret spot in Boston? Know the best blues bar in Chicago? Can you take readers beyond usual guidebook dross to the real Paris? GOOD wants to hear from you.

The mag is looking for contributors to take readers on a video guided walk through their favorite neighborhoods, highlighting can't-miss watering holes, eateries and unique sights and attractions. At some point in the future they'll pick the best video entry and award someone with two round trip domestic tickets on JetBlue.

You can learn more about the project here.

You can go here to submit videos.

Happy filming.

Here's another version of canopy tours, much different than the ones in Hocking Hills, Ohio and near Kuala Lumpur. At the Ysterhout Gorge in Magaliesberg, South Africa, trees are sparse, but the gorge is mighty. This is a well-done edited version that shows each step of the experience. The scenery is gorgeous. The family in this video consists of a young girl as well. You really know how much you trust a tour guide when you send your child flying along a cable, feet dangling high above the rocky ground. There's a point where my heart would jump. Part with fright, part with their excitment--and I'm the one who once took my 3 month-old on long boat rides in Thailand, passing him above the water while he was strapped in a car seat carrier. Here is a resource to find canopy tours in South Africa, plus a Gadling post from former blogger Erik Olsen that presents options in other places.

At 3:00 p.m. today, there is a supposed to be a moment of silence to honor those who have died in war. I'm not usually one to be moved by pomp and circumstance, although, during high school graduations, the song "Pomp and Circumstance" played by a high school band does tear me up. Even though this is how I am, the "Changing of the Guard" at the Tomb of the Unknowns, another name for the memorial in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., is an experience I've never forgotten. There is something tender and honorable in the gesture of remembrance. So, here is my 3:00 p.m. EST offering.

The laying of a wreath at the tomb is one in which the public can participate. Here are four middle schoolers doing just that. Ignore the kid at the end of the video. The person who shot the tape was not too pleased, but in a way, that's how life is. As we travel about, those we come in contact with don't necessarily see life--or memorials, the way we do.