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Challenge: Where on Earth? [Search Research]
Lifehacker16 May 2012 | 1:30 pm -
9 Childhood Rules Best Forgotten by Adults
Stepcase Lifehack16 May 2012 | 8:00 amI recently read a story about how we get pulled into yesterday each time we follow the sage advice of our parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents. Do you ever find yourself — at 30, 40, or 50 years of age — still carrying through on that advice? For the longest time into my adulthood I didn’t go outside for fear that I’d “catch my death of cold.” Same with going outside barefoot in the winter. To this day I still want to throw salt over my right shoulder (or is it my left?) after knocking over the salt shaker because Grandma said it would keep evil spirits away. I wonder… -
Digital analogs are no longer sufficient
Seth's Blog16 May 2012 | 2:00 amThe parking meter was rebooting. I guess we're supposed to walk to the other end of the garage and find one that's working. We're seeing digital awareness coming to just about everything. In this case, it was the parking meter near the library. Of course, it's not really a parking meter, it's a centralized fee collection system that saves the town a lot of money. It's easier to collect from, certainly, it doesn't waste the time of meter readers (who get alerted as to what spaces aren't paid for, as opposed to checking them all) plus it doesn't let a new parker enjoy a few minutes of the last… -
Are energy fees about to make a comeback?
Elliott.org15 May 2012 | 10:00 pmThe Oyster Bay Beach Resort is a highrise hotel in St. Martin that promises guests white sand beaches, "breathtaking" views of the Caribbean and a "paradise found." -
Behind the Scenes in the British Virgin Islands
Stuck in Customs15 May 2012 | 10:01 pmBehind-the-scenes Enjoy this brand new video that we just shot down in the islands! Daily Photo – The Mining Coast And here is the final shot from the how-to video above!
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Lifehacker
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Challenge: Where on Earth? [Search Research]
16 May 2012 | 1:30 pmMore » -
Boost Your Creativity by Improving Your Working Memory [Mind Hacks]
16 May 2012 | 1:00 pmOne study demonstrates: More » -
What Employers Look for in Entry-Level Job Candidates [Job Search]
16 May 2012 | 12:30 pmMore » -
What Do You Actually Want Out of Search? [Ask The Readers]
16 May 2012 | 12:00 pmMore » -
Grant Your Desktop Superpowers with These Superhero (and Villain) Wallpapers [Wallpaper Wednesday]
16 May 2012 | 11:00 amMore »
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Stepcase Lifehack
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9 Childhood Rules Best Forgotten by Adults
16 May 2012 | 8:00 amI recently read a story about how we get pulled into yesterday each time we follow the sage advice of our parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents. Do you ever find yourself — at 30, 40, or 50 years of age — still carrying through on that advice? For the longest time into my adulthood I didn’t go outside for fear that I’d “catch my death of cold.” Same with going outside barefoot in the winter. To this day I still want to throw salt over my right shoulder (or is it my left?) after knocking over the salt shaker because Grandma said it would keep evil spirits away. I wonder… -
15 Minutes to Workplace Sanity
16 May 2012 | 2:00 amEver have one of those days when you’re just completely overwhelmed? Too much to do, not enough time. Deadlines looming (or whizzing past), phone ringing, emails pinging. Just everyday life for a lot of us. And most days we manage to roll with it, deal with things as they come up, and get along just fine. Some days, though, the clamor of multiple competing demands on our time, energy, and attention can be just too much to bear. We feel overwhelmed and out of control. It can paralyze us — dozens of things to do, and we do none of them, because we don’t know where to start. We… -
What Can Software Developers Teach us About Crushing the ‘Perfection Bug’?
15 May 2012 | 7:58 pmImagine this: Your desk is full of paper and it’s all related to unfinished work. Also, your task list never seems to shrink – instead, it’s growing bigger and bigger. Even if you work hard on your tasks, you have this nagging feeling of incompletion in your head. You also feel that it is impossible to meet your inner critic; you are never satisfied to your results. You are frustrated and burnt out. And even if that’s not enough, you start to procrastinate on your tasks. You only wish that you could leave the office at 5PM and spend time with your family. And then you look at the… -
It’s Time to Change Your Life
15 May 2012 | 2:00 pmToo often we come home after a long day at work and open the takeout food, then plop down on the couch and watch TV until it’s time for bed. The next day, we do the same thing again. While I have been known to indulge in this from time to time, there’s an issue with this lifestyle. You basically spend each day, trying to get through it. You’re just living for the weekend. The weekend is never long enough, of course, and then it’s another week of the same. The problem with this is that months — or years — can go by. That’s time you won’t get… -
The Top 5 To-Do Apps for iPhone
15 May 2012 | 10:00 amTo-do apps are great because they help you to remember and complete the tasks that you need to do. Whether it is a task in business or family life (or any other field), to-do apps can help you keep on top of them and complete them in time. They make your life easier. They make you more productive. The iPhone has many to-do apps available, but it can be difficult for you to find out the best to-do app for your iPhone from the plethora of choices from both paid and free app lists. To help you get started on being more productive with your iPhone, let’s take a look at the top five to-do…
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Seth's Blog
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Digital analogs are no longer sufficient
16 May 2012 | 2:00 amThe parking meter was rebooting. I guess we're supposed to walk to the other end of the garage and find one that's working. We're seeing digital awareness coming to just about everything. In this case, it was the parking meter near the library. Of course, it's not really a parking meter, it's a centralized fee collection system that saves the town a lot of money. It's easier to collect from, certainly, it doesn't waste the time of meter readers (who get alerted as to what spaces aren't paid for, as opposed to checking them all) plus it doesn't let a new parker enjoy a few minutes of the last… -
Hard work on the right things
15 May 2012 | 2:00 amI don't think winners beat the competition because they work harder. And it's not even clear that they win because they have more creativity. The secret, I think, is in understanding what matters. It's not obvious, and it changes. It changes by culture, by buyer, by product and even by the day of the week. But those that manage to capture the imagination, make sales and grow are doing it by perfecting the things that matter and ignoring the rest. Both parts are difficult, particularly when you are surrounded by people who insist on fretting about and working on the stuff that makes no… -
Worldliness
14 May 2012 | 2:41 amIntelligence is the combination of knowing a lot about a little while you also know a little about a lot. Deep domain understanding helps you create analyses. Your ability to understand how a particular system (no matter how small) works allows you apply a confident analysis to new systems you encounter. Once you know everything there is to know about nuclear physics, soccer or the praying mantis, it makes it easier to understand new systems. At the same time, it's impossible to be smart without also being aware of the wider world. That's because it's the random interactions and the… -
The reason the customer is always right...
14 May 2012 | 2:08 amIf you insist that they are wrong, they stop being your customer* (if given half a chance). People spend their time and attention and money in places that make them feel valued. *There's nothing wrong with asking customers who are wrong to leave. Just be sure you do it on purpose. -
Dedicating the merit
13 May 2012 | 2:02 amFor an author, one of the nicest parts of the traditional book is the dedication page. The dedication is far more than an acknowledgement to someone who helped you write the book, it's a permanent signpost, a capstone to the work of a year or more. Even if the person you've dedicated the book to can't read it, the writer benefits from the knowledge that a connection was made and that a memory was preserved. Here's the thing: you can dedicate just about anything. A project, a meeting, a tweet. You don't have to tell anyone but yourself. This blog post, like all the posts before it, has a…
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Elliott.org
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Are energy fees about to make a comeback?
15 May 2012 | 10:00 pmThe Oyster Bay Beach Resort is a highrise hotel in St. Martin that promises guests white sand beaches, "breathtaking" views of the Caribbean and a "paradise found." -
Am I being scammed by Celebrity Cruises?
14 May 2012 | 10:00 pmarryl and Carolyn Sigel believe they were scammed by their cruise line. After you read about what happened to them on the Celebrity Summit, you might agree with them. -
I slammed my Kona condo online and now it’s keeping my deposit
13 May 2012 | 10:00 pmWith its dramatic black volcanic rock, stunning seascapes, and impossibly tasty coffee, Kona, Hawaii is one of the world’s most unexpected destinations. And when Lynn Regan booked a condo there last year, she was looking forward to experiencing the Big Island’s differentness. -
What do you really know about the TSA?
13 May 2012 | 5:30 amWhen it comes to the TSA, you may know less than you think. -
Hey, are you listening?
12 May 2012 | 7:33 amDo airlines listen to their customers? In this week's newsletter, I ask the question.
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Stuck in Customs
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Behind the Scenes in the British Virgin Islands
15 May 2012 | 10:01 pmBehind-the-scenes Enjoy this brand new video that we just shot down in the islands! Daily Photo – The Mining Coast And here is the final shot from the how-to video above! -
Lonely River in Iceland
14 May 2012 | 10:01 pmThe Histogram eBook We have a new eBook over at Flatbooks.com about Histograms! Go grab it — it’s filled with great information and I think you’ll really enjoy it! Favorite Fish? While posting this photo, I was thinking of my favorite fish restaurant in the world about 20 km from this spot below. They didn’t have my favorite kind of fish, which is black cod, but they did have a delicious selection. What’s your favorite? Daily Photo - Lonely River in Iceland I wonder sometimes if I project my own emotions onto the landscape around me. I’m really not… -
France in Epcot
13 May 2012 | 10:01 pmThe new Photoshop CS6 – what is your “line”? Like you, I’ve been watching the videos of CS6 and playing with it myself. (notice the important “it” in that sentence) Things are gettin’ a little crazy with post-processing eh? What are your limits for what you’ll do with your photos? It’s a very personal thing… I won’t judge you… I’m just interested! Here’s my post-processing line (which I reserve the right to change at any time): I will: I will remove things like lightposts or ugly animals or tourists wearing… -
He Watches
12 May 2012 | 10:01 pmMuseum Photography Do you like to take photos in museums? It’s very challenging… To me, I like to try to take a photo of the actual museum or a photo of some art and its relation to the museum. I find taking photos just of the art itself to be a little boring. It seems so obvious… and it seems like kind of a disservice to the art itself, unless you are adding something new or seeing it in a new light. It depends on the art, of course. A photo of a painting always falls flat, but a photo of a statue can be interesting. Daily Photo – He Watches And so it was with… -
Suspicious Chipmunk
11 May 2012 | 10:01 pmBehind-the-scenes – A War Worth Fighting My friend Curtis Simmons posted this story on his blog — some more about what has been happening recently behind the scenes And… speaking of funny YouTube videos My kids and I love watching funny animal-related YouTube videos… the more the better! Any you want to share with me? I promise, I’ll click on any YouTube link that has some possible destination of animal hilarity! Daily Photo - Suspicious Chipmunk Why is the chipmunk so suspicious? How much intrigue and backstabbing can there be in the world of the woodland…
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Peter Greenberg Worldwide
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Voluntourism Spotlight: Learn French & Volunteer in Africa
16 May 2012 | 9:59 amThis weekend Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio is coming to you from Paris, France. We’ve already told you how you can restore castles in France and now we’re focusing on the French language. This week’s voluntourism spotlight shows you how to learn French while volunteering in Africa. Check back every Wednesday for more voluntourism opportunities and tune into Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio on Saturday for more information. Often volunteer travel can be the gateway to a second career working on the ground in developing nations. Did you know that being proficient in French… -
Ask Peter: When to Book Summer Flights & Is Courier Travel Real?
16 May 2012 | 7:30 amLooking to book your summer travel then, ask Peter! The Travel Detective will be standing by to take your calls all summer long on his weekly Peter Greenberg Worldwide broadcasts. You can talk to him at 1-888-88-PETER (1-888-887-3837), email him at peter@petergreenberg.com, tweet questions to @petersgreenberg (use #askPeter), or post questions on his Facebook page. He will be standing by to take your calls today at 6pm. This week, Peter shares his thoughts on the sweet spot for booking flights, the old myth of courier travel and just why travel insurance is so important. Becky tweeted: We… -
Travel Tip: Free Events at Art Festivals
16 May 2012 | 6:00 amIt’s festival season again and that means art lovers are fighting for tickets. But what you want to do is look for all the freebies that come along with these summer art festivals. In late May, Charleston, South Carolina comes alive for the Spoleto Festival, a 17-day performing arts festival that’s among the biggest in the country. Most events are ticketed, but there’s no cost for the opening ceremonies, a visual art exhibit at the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, and one-on-one interviews with festival artists. So you can get a taste of the festival without having to… -
Are the Skies Unfriendly & Unsafe? A CBS This Morning Report
15 May 2012 | 8:22 amPilots at United Airlines have gone almost a decade without a formal agreement and last week they launched the Unfriendly Skies publicity campaign that alleges that not only is the airline mistreating their pilots, but its decisions are putting passengers at risk. Perhaps you thought that United is the only airline whose pilots are flying without a contract. Not so! US Airways pilots have been without a contract since 2005 and American Airlines pilots have been without one since 2007. Watch the CBS This Morning report as Captain “Sully” Sullenberger, Charlie Rose, Erica Hill,… -
The Secrets to Lowering International Voice & Data Costs
15 May 2012 | 7:45 amCell phone fees abroad continue to skyrocket, especially as data use increases. As the bills climb, so too do the potential solutions. Gadget and Gear expert Phil Baker shows you the best alternatives that U.S. carriers are hoping you don’t discover. At this time of year, when many of us are planning our summer vacation travels, figuring out how to stay connected while overseas needs planning as well. Data usage and phone calls could exceed the price of your flight if you’re not careful. It’s not uncommon to see cellular bills of thousands of dollars. That’s because cellular…
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Spot Cool Stuff: Travel
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The Best Socks for Travel (and for the time between trips)
8 May 2012 | 8:40 amTravelers spend big money on upgraded airline tickets and medium money on upgraded luggage. Yet, for only a few extra dollars (or pounds or euros or yen or somoni) an upgraded experience can be had on an arguably more significant piece of travel gear: socks. Travel (save for the armchair variety) tends to involve a lot of standing and walking and being outside. And a surprising percentage of one’s physical comfort starts with one’s feet. For the previous few months Spot Cool Stuff has been trying out different socks; some were provided to us and others we purchased ourselves. The… -
Indoor Caravan Camping
2 May 2012 | 9:20 amWhen visiting Berlin will you stay in an artsy boutique hotel? In a low cost hostel? In a trailer park? The wonderfully cool thing about The Hüttenpalast is that the accommodations are all three of those—at once! At Spot Cool Stuff we’ve reviewed more than our share of unusual hotels. But rarely have we found one that offers such an unconventional experience with such a relatively high level of comfort at such a relatively low price†. Der Hüttenpalast—literally “the hut palace”—occupies a portion of a building that was formerly a vacuum cleaner factory. Walking… -
The Titanic To Set Sail. Again.
30 Apr 2012 | 5:30 amTitanic, the movie, was an enormous success. Titanic, the ship, not so much. Though it set sail on its half voyage more than a century ago, the RMS Titanic is still infamous for having provided its passengers with a rather suboptimal travel experience. So it seems peculiar that anyone would want to recreate it. Yet that’s exactly what one billionaire plans to do. Clive Palmer, a mining magnate and one of Australia’s richest men, has announced his intention to build the Titanic II. Unlike the original Titanic, which was built in Northern Ireland, the Titanic II will be constructed… -
The Million Beer Bottle Temple
23 Apr 2012 | 8:15 amWhen life gives you lemons, make lemonade. And if you are a Buddhist monk and life gives you empty beer bottles . . . build a temple out of them. That was the philosophy of a group of Thai monks in the early 1980s who looked at the innumerable glass beer bottles littering their eastern Thailand hometown of Khun Han and saw more than trash. They saw potential. At first, the monks picked up a few of the bottles to create artistic decorations from. Then they gathered more discarded vessels to build a modest monk living quarters. Eventually, they decided to construct an entire temple out of found… -
The Portable Treehouse
20 Apr 2012 | 9:35 amThey call it a “portable suspended habitation unit.” It functions like a hybrid between a tent and a hammock. We think of it as a portable treehouse apartment. It’s the Tentsile. Suspend one between trees and the Tentsile provides a cocoon-like sleeping and living area above the forest floor. It might not be “the world’s most versatile tent” that the manufacturer claims it to be. But it is one of the coolest glamping (glamorous + camping) products we’ve seen. Three models of Tentsile are available: The 2-person unit is strung between two trees and…
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BootsnAll Travel Articles
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Coming Home from a RTW Trip: Adjusting Your Expectations
16 May 2012 | 1:03 amOn a RTW trip we arrive in countless foreign, strange locations with nothing but an out-of-date guidebook and a general idea of where the cheap hostels are. Yet often, the most intimidating and unanticipated destination to which we travel is back home. This is likely because the return can be packed tighter with rigid expectations than your 50 liter pack: we need to get a job, we want to assimilate seamlessly back into our former lives, we feel compelled to equal the contemporaries we left behind in social and career status. But when we are preparing for a trip, expectations rarely make the… -
6 Ways to Experience Nepal in Pokhara
16 May 2012 | 1:01 amTourism in Nepal is mainly fueled by trekkers who flock to the Himalayas with sights set on climbing the most famous peaks in the world, namely Mt Everest. A traditional route to Everest leads you through Kathmandu and on to Lukla and Sagarmatha National Park on the eastern side of the country. The Annapurna Mountains sit off to the west of Kathmandu, with their base for trekking being the city of Pokhara. Though most travelers use Pokhara only as a jumping off point for their treks, Pokhara is a destination in and of itself. Either a short flight or a six-hour bus ride from the capital,… -
Adventures in the Dark: Nighttime Activities Around the World
15 May 2012 | 1:03 amWhen it comes to evening activities, people tend to separate neatly into two categories: the partiers and the homebodies. Or, put another way, the young-at-hearts and the gettin’-olds. But the night and the darkness offer many other opportunities for adventure and exploration that don’t require alcohol or uncomfortable encounters with strangers. By night, places take on a different tone and ambiance; things that appear innocuous by day may take on whole new dimensions. On the one hand, the darkness impairs our sight, taking away information and forcing us to approach a place in a… -
We Are Intrepid… Are You? [Sponsored Post]
15 May 2012 | 1:02 amThis post is brought to you by Intrepid Travel. For more information on sponsored posts read here. We are Intrepid… Are you? Tell us and you could win a trip for 4 anywhere we travel… Do you like getting off the beaten path? Exploring a country under the surface, at the local level? Like to escape from the tourist masses and instead travel in small groups? If you answered 'yes' to any or all of these questions, then you're most likely an Intrepid traveler! For travelers who want to take a wrong turn every now and then, to be amazed and to see the unseen - Intrepid are your partners in… -
How a Dog Walk Changed My Life Forever
14 May 2012 | 1:03 amA little over five years ago, my wife and I were well on our way to the "American Dream." She was an attorney, I a high school English teacher. We were saving money to buy our first home. Then one evening, we took our dog for a walk. Sometimes it's tiny, seemingly insignificant moments that can shape what your life becomes. On that April evening in 2007, my wife uttered a couple sentences that literally changed the course of our lives. "So, I was reading a blog at work today of this couple who went on a trip around the world. We should totally do that." Those two sentences, spoken…
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SmarterTravel.com: Travel Deals
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Fall Hawaii Flights from $350 R/T
16 May 2012 | 1:19 pmIt's only spring yet still not too early to plan your fall getaway. -
Delta International Sale from $418 R/T
16 May 2012 | 1:01 pmFrom as near as the Caribbean to the other side of the globe and many points of interest in between, Delta's latest international sale discounts travel to many worldwide destinations. Valid for a week, this sale features cheap flights to the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Italy, China, and South Africa. -
Costa Rica: Six-Day Fly-and-Drive Vacations from $719
16 May 2012 | 1:01 pmThis vacation package includes airfare, hotels, and your rental car. From rock climbing to zip-lining to tubing, this could be the adventure of a lifetime! -
Virgin America Spring and Summer Sale from $85 O/W
16 May 2012 | 12:54 pmExciting cities across the nation (Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York City, Washington, D.C., more) are on sale for spring and summer travel with Virgin America. -
India: Golden Triangle Tours with Air from $1,619
16 May 2012 | 12:43 pmGate 1 Travel is offering eight-day India vacation packages with airfare, hotel, and sightseeing included.
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Travel Blog - Tripbase
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Hippies, Hashish and Banana Pancakes: The History of Backpacking
9 May 2012 | 7:21 amOver the years, backpacking has become a popular rite of passage for many young adults. But some claim that backpacking has fallen the way of other heavily marketed travel niches and become too packaged and formulized. Has backpacking lost its edge? Read on to find out. 1) The First Backpackers While humans have been traveling for thousands of years, it’s only been in the last 300 that they’ve done so for reasons that don’t involve escaping from life-threatening situations like famine, war or the odd saber-toothed tiger. Prior to the 17th century, people traveled purely for… -
6 Don’ts for Dating Women Abroad
2 May 2012 | 8:58 amDating is never an easy thing to do, no matter where you live. Add traveling to another country or moving to a different continent and it takes the hardships of dating to a whole new level. But it doesn’t have to all be bad. So many places in the world provide beautiful backdrops for romantic dates, and the excitement of being in a new place may lead to a great experience. There are certain things to keep in mind, though, when approaching a foreign woman for a date and what to do once you’ve gotten to know each other a bit better. Here are 6 tips to remember when you begin dating… -
8 Backpacking Myths Uncovered
24 Apr 2012 | 9:00 amBackpacking is surrounded by assumptions and stereotypes that are usually found to be untrue once on the journey. Here are 8 myths about backpacking debunked: 1) You need to be young A common assumption is that backpacking is a joy of the youthful and that you need to be able-bodied, strong enough to carry all of your possessions and willing to sacrifice many comforts. While all of this is true, the youth requirement is not. During my travels, I met people of all ages: brothers in their 30s who had broken up with girlfriends and quit jobs in order to travel, a man in his 40s who had suffered… -
15 Things I’ve Learned from 10 Years of Living and Traveling Abroad
19 Apr 2012 | 8:24 amWriter and life-long expat James Baldwin once wrote, “I met a lot of people in Europe. I even encountered myself.” In the last decade, I’ve traveled to nearly 40 countries and lived in five, in Disney World and on a cruise ship. And while I’ve learned a lot about the world, I’ve found that the most profound insights I’ve gained over the years haven’t been about a specific country or culture, but rather, myself. The following are some of those insights. 1) I’m good enough as is (frizzy hair and all) Whilst I’d grown up being told to… -
6 Ways to Learn a Language (and Get Paid for it)
11 Apr 2012 | 7:52 amLearning a language can be hard work but what about combining it with a job? Check out these job opportunities for adventurous types eager to learn and keen to travel. 1) Work as an Au Pair Most au pair programs include housing and food plus a small stipend for personal expenses in exchange for the care of one or more children. Salaries vary based on the country you are in, but it should be enough for you to enjoy yourself in the country. Basically, as an au pair, you live with a family as a mix between an employee and a family member. You will be expected to speak English with the children…
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Cheapest Destinations Blog - Travel the World!
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Travel Prices in Slovakia
15 May 2012 | 8:25 amDespite using the euro, Slovakia is a good enough value that it’s taking another country’s place for the Europe section of the next edition of The World’s Cheapest Destinations. I used to think that the Czech Republic and Slovakia split up after the fall of the Soviet Union because of big national pride issues. In [...] Related posts:Why Travel to Slovakia? Prices in Prague for Travelers Turkey Travel Prices in Late 2011 -
T-shirts That Don’t Translate
11 May 2012 | 10:17 amThis cheap travel blog has been packed with informative posts and photos to make you drool lately, so time for a bit of fun instead. It always gives me great joy to find the English language used as a mere design element rather than to communicate. In most countries it is very difficult to find [...] No related posts. -
A Little Taste of Transylvania
8 May 2012 | 4:45 amI’m making my way through the cheaper countries of Europe right now, finding good values all over compared to their neighbors to the west. Next stop, Romania. I spent most of my time in Transylvania, which I’ll discuss without mentioning any mythical creatures of the night. This is the area where most travelers gravitate to [...] Related posts:Travel Prices in Slovakia Why Travel to Slovakia? Prices in Prague for Travelers -
Opening Burma, the Maasai Warrior Scholar, and Locked Down in Waikiki
5 May 2012 | 4:43 amTravel can be unpredictable. Sometimes that’s half the fun, sometimes it can mean big problems. This month’s issue looks at perceptions and impermanence in three destinations. Michael Buckley is back with a timely story on a travel destination that may finally be getting its act together to stop being a pariah state: Myanmar. See Slipping [...] Related posts:Tranquilandia, Outback Pubs, and a Hang Gliding Leap of Faith The Happiest Country, the Driest Landscape, and the Most Loved Dog in the World Spotty Monsters, Lost in Spain, and a Bears-eye View of B.C. -
Travel Prices in Guatemala: Antigua Edition 2012
1 May 2012 | 8:50 amToday’s guest post is from Darcie Connell, co-founder of Trekity.com. She’s been living in Antigua, Guatemala for the past three months and is giving us the lowdown on current prices. While Guatemala gets a bad rap for being dangerous (with a much higher homicide rate than more publicized Mexico), it’s quite safe for tourists if you’re aware [...] Related posts:Updates on the Cheapest Places to Travel, April 2012 Wet Bangladesh, Newfoundland Trekking, and a Bloodthirsty Raccoon in Guatemala Travel Prices in Bangkok – Summer 2011
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Wanderlust and Lipstick
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We Bought a Library! (in Zambia)
11 May 2012 | 8:51 amActually, YOU bought a library. And it was officially 2 libraries that were funded when you donated to Passports with Purpose in 2011 during our annual 2-week fundraiser. As co-founders, Michelle Duffy of WanderMom, Debbie Dubrow of DeliciousBaby and I got to visit one of the libraries during an opening ceremony. (Sadly, our other co-founders, Pam Mandel of NerdsEyeView and Meg Paynor, our amazing PR person, couldn’t make the journey due to prior commitments.) It’s really not fair to have to put into words what we experienced at the library yesterday. I know that I can’t… -
Evocateur Cuff ~ WanderGear Wednesday
9 May 2012 | 6:00 amI was so tempted to post only this photo and a link to the website where you can buy one of these cuffs for yourself because I think this speaks for itself. But that wouldn’t be fair to the folks at Evocateur, who produce a wide range of jewelry, with an entire line that appeals to the traveler. First, about this elephant cuff… The Indian Elephant cuff is 1.5 inches wide and has 3 little elephants dancing around it. It’s 22k gold leaf and has a high gloss covering it so there’s little to no risk of chipping or scratching the surface. A red gem adorns the center… -
Booking a Room in Rome (via HouseTrip)
8 May 2012 | 12:25 pmMy recent trip to Italy was the first time I’ve ever stayed in a short-term apartment rental during my travels. I’ve Couchsurfed, GlobalFreeloaded, stayed in hostels, hotels, bed and breakfasts and pensions. But for vacation travel, I have a feeling that apartments stays are going to be my preferred accommodation from now on. Jon joined me after my presentation at Travel Bloggers Unite in Assisi and we ventured onward to Venice, Florence and Rome. In the latter 2 cities, we stayed with HouseTrip in two very different but comfortable rentals. You can see the Florence apartment… -
Florence, Italy ~ Photo of the Day
4 May 2012 | 6:53 amUnfortunately, we had just 2 nights in Florence. Enough time to see some of the highlights and just barely soak up a bit of the amazing culture and art. One of the most symbolic pieces of architecture in Florence is the Ponte Vecchio – the ancient bridge stretching across the Arno River. It’s believed that the bridge was first built in the 10th century and that it was destroyed and rebuilt numerous times since then. (The story goes that Hitler wouldn’t allow this bridge to be bombed during the war – he liked it so much – while all the surrounding bridges were… -
Running Gear ~ WanderGear Wednesday
2 May 2012 | 3:51 pmAs you may be aware, I started running recently. This is a new thing for me. It began last fall because I was traveling too much to get to a gym regularly but I needed to get fit for my trek to Bhutan. Running made the most sense because I can do it anywhere. Besides loving the fact that I can put on headphones and listen to my favorite music for 30 – 45 minutes, what I’ve enjoyed most about this new (to me) exercise routine, is that when I get to a city, I can explore (albeit for a short time) in ways I’d never thought of before. This week in Italy, for example, I ran…
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Soul Travelers 3
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Secure Public WiFi? Data Protection and Travel? Best VPN? Witopia Review
16 May 2012 | 1:30 amSecure Public WiFi? Data Protection and Travel? Best VPN? Witopia ReviewWith so many free Wi-Fi hot spots around the world, from McDonald's and Starbucks to IS PUBLIC WIFI SAFE?With so many free Wi-Fi hot spots around the world, from McDonald's and Starbucks to neighborhood cafes and campgrounds, the convenience makes it is easy to forget that it's not safe and you may be putting yourself and your computer at risk. WHY YOU NEED A VPN FOR SECURITYMore and more people are using these handy public outlets at home and during travel abroad, without realizing the security risks because these free… -
Penang at Night
14 May 2012 | 1:39 amPenang at NightPenang is known for it's exciting nightlife which is intricately connected to it's Penang is known for it's exciting nightlife which is intricately connected to it's famous hawker stalls and night markets. Penang is very famous for it's food and eating culture. Many in Asia think it is the best in the world and even Singaporeans happily drive nine hours to enjoy the world-renown food. You'd be amazed at what they come up with, often just using a bicycle made into a mobile kitchen. One can almost feel the hustle and bustle of Gurney night life in this photo, where locals and… -
Paris for Families - Walking the Left Bank
11 May 2012 | 1:54 amParis for Families: Walking the Left Bank Bringing the kids to Paris? For families considering a trip to Europe with children, PARIS WITH KIDS Bringing the kids to Paris? For families considering a trip to Europe with children ( from toddlers to teens), the City of Lights is a fabulous choice, we highly recommend. Paris is often thought of as an adult destination, but it is perfect for families with no shortage of things to do and activities for children. One of the best enchanting, educational and free things to do as a family in Paris, is just wandering about, enjoying this beautiful,… -
Bhutan's Breathtaking Green Organic Terraced Hills
9 May 2012 | 2:00 amBhutan's Breathtaking Green Organic Terraced Hills To visit this magical kingdom of Bhutan, tucked into the Himalayan To visit this magical kingdom of Bhutan, tucked into the Himalayan mountains between China and India takes ones breath away at every turn and gives us a glimpse of an isolated land, untouched in many ways by the 21st century. Most of the land is very mountainous and green, where more than 70% of it is covered in old growth, pristine forests protected by the government. The unique animals, plants and birds, surviving here for centuries untouched, are all protected. There is… -
Beautiful Bird in the Florida Keys
7 May 2012 | 2:49 amBeautiful Bird in the Florida KeysWow, I loved this beautiful bird that was just sitting at the dock as I walked by in Key Largo, Wow, I loved this beautiful bird that was just sitting at the dock as I walked by in Key Largo, Florida when we stopped there to swim with dolphins. Bird watching is a popular activity in the Florida Keys as it is one of the top destinations in the world for bird fans and we can see why. Learning about animals as we travel the world as a family is one of the many ways we use our travel as education. We were at Dolphin Plus to swim with dolphins as we did in…
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USATODAY.com Feed
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JFK Airport trains employees to be nice
16 May 2012 | 11:56 amJohn F. Kennedy International Airport is teaching some of its employees how to be N.I.C.E. -
Vegas on Lake Erie? Cleveland gets a casino
16 May 2012 | 9:45 amA new casino opened in Cleveland this week under a new law permitting legal gaming venues in Ohio. -
New Oceania Cruises ship no copy of sister
16 May 2012 | 9:41 amThe 1,250-passenger Riviera sets sail today on its maiden voyage. -
British Airways upgrades in-flight service
16 May 2012 | 9:11 amPassengers on British Airways will see some major in-flight changes within the next couple of years: better food, upgraded cabins. -
Atlanta airport opens Maynard Jackson international terminal
16 May 2012 | 6:12 amAtlanta airport opens a new, $1.4 billion international terminal that the city calls its "new front door" for the world.
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View from the Wing
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British Airways Business Class Sale Under $2000 All-in Roundtrip
16 May 2012 | 8:16 amThrough Friday, May 18 at 11:59pm Pacific British Airways is offering business class roundtrip fares from select US cities to London and Manchester for $1952 all-in for travel between May 26, 2012 and June 9, 2012. You are cordially invited to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s reign. To mark this historic occasion, we are offering a special all-inclusive Business Class fare for just $1952 round-trip in Club World (Business Class) to London and Manchester from select US gateway cities, coast to coast. Simply book your flights between now and May 18, 2012 for travel between May… -
Bits ‘n Pieces for May 16, 2012
16 May 2012 | 6:49 amJust Another Points Traveler signs up for Miss Travel (“Who Needs Money, Beautiful People Travel Free!) and gives it a spin. Over at Conde’ Nast’s Daily Traveler I highlight some of the best current credit card signup bonuses. Intercontinental Hotels — Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, Intercontinental, etc. — is offering a $75 prepaid gift card as a rebate for spending 2 consecutive weekend nights by September 3rd. You have to register, there’s a rebate form, and a mail-in process… (Via Online Travel Review) A Department of Homeland Security Office of… -
Club Carlson Adjusting Hotel Redemption Category Assignments, and It Isn’t Bad
15 May 2012 | 1:09 pmClub Carlson is adjusting hotel categories for 270 properties. This begins May 31, and at first glance doesn’t represent any sort of devaluation. First, at least there’s a couple weeks’ notice. I like more notice, but good to get this out there transparently and in one easy to read chart and in time for folks to make bookings at current rates if they’re interested in a hotel whose award cost is going up. Second, kudos for making these changes before folks have made a whole bunch of stays in the monster bonuses which started running today. Now, that Club Carlson was… -
Bits ‘n Pieces for May 15, 2012
15 May 2012 | 4:46 amItems that came across my virtual desk this morning, but that don’t necessarily warrant their own standalone posts: The link for the 1000 Priority Club point bonus for every qualifying night between June 1 and September 3 (up to 20,000 bonus points) isn’t yet live. However, via Pizza in Motion, it’s up on Facebook — and by registering through Facebook the promo starts right away instead of June 1. Sofitel is running a 40% off sale through May 20 for stays between June 25 and September 3. A great way to use the free Platinum status that many of y’all have. Frugal… -
Big Club Carlson Bonuses Are Live – Register Now
15 May 2012 | 4:35 amClub Carlson’s huge bonus point promotions of 50,000 points for a one-night stay at a Radisson and 44,000 points for a one-night stay at a Country Inns & Suites are now live (44,000 points for a Park Inn stay goes live on the 22nd). Some folks stayed up all night to register, not me, when they ran the promo back at the end of 2011 the cap on registrations wasn’t reached for weeks. Since I wrote about the offer over the weekend, it’s gotten even a little bit better — Frequent Miler reports that TopCashBack will now offer a 10% rebate on Radisson hotel bookings…
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World Hum
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Paul Theroux on ‘Multilayered and Maddening’ Hawaii
14 May 2012 | 7:43 amPaul Theroux lives in Hawaii but finds aspects of the archipelago’s culture to be mysterious and nearly impenetrable. When he set out to talk with natives about local traditions, he was met with silence and monosyllabic replies, even when he turned up with gifts of honey from his own bees. I had never in my traveling or writing life come across people so unwilling to share their experiences. Here I was living in a place most people thought of as Happyland, when in fact it was an archipelago with a social structure that was more complex than any I had ever encountered—beyond… -
Video: Luis Alberto Urrea on the U.S.-Mexico Border
9 May 2012 | 9:22 amLuis Alberto Urrea has written a number of great books—fiction and non-fiction such as “The Devil’s Highway”—about the U.S.-Mexico border and life in the two countries. He appeared on Moyers & Company recently, where he discussed migrant deaths, book-banning in Tucson, growing up in Tijuana and a San Diego suburb, and a range of related topics. Great stuff. Here’s the hour-long show: -
River a Mile Deep
2 May 2012 | 1:57 pmMichael Shapiro rafts down the Colorado in the wake of Captain John Wesley Powell -
River a Mile Deep: Three Videos
2 May 2012 | 1:54 pmVideos from Michael Shapiro's 24-day rafting trip down the Colorado River -
River a Mile Deep: Five Great Photos
2 May 2012 | 9:19 amImages from Michael Shapiro's 24-day rafting trip down the Colorado River
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Matador Network
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Places I've shot a thousand times
16 May 2012 | 7:00 amOops, I shot it again...the classic view from Grand Canyon South Rim, looking toward Bright Angel Creek and the North Rim. Photo by author. Jerry Mitchell snaps another picture he knows he’s taken many times before, and muses on the relationship between photography, moments, and memory. I TOOK THE SHOT, enjoyed the scenery for a few moments more, and then realized I have once again just taken a picture that I have taken a thousand times before. I was on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, enjoying the evening like so many times before, walking with friends. I’d just taken a photo that… -
The invisible ones: Growing up blind in Russia
16 May 2012 | 6:00 amPhoto: Misha Maslennikov This story was produced by the Glimpse Correspondents Program. TANYA REACHES HER ROUND HAND INTO THE REFRIGERATOR and snatches Krasik from his hiding place. The 3-year-old hands her small friend to her mother, who quickly pretends along that Krasik (or Red, Tanya’s imaginary friend) has escaped her hold and run away. Tanya squeals and goes off in search of Krasik, who she cannot see for more than one reason. Tanya has been blind from birth, although the pink-rimmed, thick glasses attached to her head with a yellow cord help her to distinguish some colors. Having… -
How to rock a war zone
16 May 2012 | 6:00 amAfghanistan, and other sounds beside bombs, helicopters, and gunfire. All photos by David Gill Matador introduces Tough Music in Tough Places, a new story series about people who risk their lives for music in war zones and totalitarian regimes around the world. THERE IS SOMETHING SEDUCTIVE about loud cathartic music — especially thrash metal, hard rock, punk, and hiphop — that surprises, frightens, and potentially changes a person. Experiencing this music live, one feels energized, arteries pulsating, busting scalps, smashing skull rings, moshing without judgment, and laughing… -
How NOT to date on Craigslist
15 May 2012 | 7:58 amPhoto by jonrawlinson The place you buy your used couches is where I find my boyfriends. I’M KIND OF A DATING GURU. Not because I’ve been successful in dating (I haven’t) or because I have some sort of spiritual insight into the practice of dating (I don’t), but because I’ve tried everything from bars to eHarmony to blind dates and back again. Also, Craigslist. That’s right, friends: the place you buy your used couches is where I find my boyfriends. And as I’ve read hundreds of ads (and posted a good couple dozen myself), I like to think I have a little insight into what will… -
15 things I learned in Indonesia
15 May 2012 | 7:37 amPhoto: Author Matador Community member and MatadorU student Lindsay Anne Williams experienced a different Indonesia than she expected. AFTER WORKING AS A TEACHER in China for a year with my husband, we were desperate for some beach time. We’d been to the sands of many South East Asian countries and wanted to see something new. We’d heard that Indonesia was home to some of the most beautiful beaches. When I turned up in Bali, I found that beautiful beach, and it was riddled with trash. Indonesia surprised me in many ways. 1. Indonesia is the 4th largest population in the world. Home to the…
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Travel Happy
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Amarapura, Sagaing and Inwa – A Day Trip To Burma’s Ancient Capitals
16 May 2012 | 4:29 amBeyond Mandalay’s modern city hubbub lie three of Myanmar’s ancient capitals – Amarapura, Sagaing and Inwa – which can be visited in a day and includes the must-see U Bein Bridge. Bob James goes exploring. Amarapura's U Bein Bridge at Sunset Mandalay is an established tourist stop but Myanmar’s second-largest city is, for the most part, a soulless collection of wide, well-paved streets, neon, and karaoke joints with a smattering of overpriced hotels. There are few reasons to tour Mandalay – its attraction is what lies beyond: the ancient capitals of… -
Kevin Kelly In Myanmar
13 May 2012 | 9:41 amWired magazine co-founder and Asia Grace author Kevin Kelly is currently travelling in Myanmar, blogging as he goes on Google+ Yangon by Kevin Kelly Kevin Kelly, co-founder of Wired magazine, tech futurist and author of the stunning travel photo book Asia Grace, is currently traveling Myanmar and keeping a blog of sorts on his Google+ page. Kelly is mainly focusing on the Inle Lake area but his Google+ page already has some fascinating updates and photos from his first few days in Burma. If you visit the page, his Myanmar travels begin on 29th April (they’re posted in reverse… -
Hsipaw – Trekking In Myanmar’s Shan State
12 May 2012 | 3:45 amA self-sufficient village deep in Myanmar’s Shan State, Hsipaw offers a taste of real Burmese village life and some beautiful trekking routes in the surrounding countryside, as Bob James explains Farmland spreads out from Hsipaw village's northern border to the hills and waterfall beyond In a country that hosted only about 300,000 western tourists in 2011, there’s really no such thing as the “beaten path” for tourists. But if you want to get off what path there is, then a stop in Hsipaw is a great option. While Internet travel forum curmudgeons have labeled Hsipaw… -
Gokteik Viaduct, Myanmar – The Jawdropping Railway Bridge Between Two Mountains
10 May 2012 | 11:03 amOne of Burma’s most stunning man-made marvels built by the colonial British, Gokteik Viaduct is a spectacular railway bridge over 100 metres above the ground and nearly 700 metres long. Bob James takes the plunge. The Gokteik Viaduct is one of Myanmar's must see landmarks There are definitely faster ways to travel between Mandalay and Hsipaw than by train. You’ll spend an entire day of your Myanmar adventure going by rail, but it’s worth it because, in this case, the journey IS the adventure. It’s not the train itself, which, although colourful, is a broken-down relic… -
Travelling In Myanmar (Burma) In 2012 – Why You Should Go Now
8 May 2012 | 7:44 amAs Myanmar opens up to the rest of the world, Bob James explains why now is the time to go before mass tourism fully takes hold of this fascinating and diverse country Two young monks make their way across Amarapura’s U Bein Bridge Ask anyone lucky enough to have visited the “new” Myanmar and you’ll be bombarded with a variety of superlatives, but also one singular piece of advice, expressed in the most-urgent of tones: Go now, because it won’t stay this way for long. Isolated and ostracized for decades for the abuses of its former military leaders, Myanmar is in the…
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Gizmodo
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What Google Could Learn from Windows 8 About User Experience [Windows 8]
16 May 2012 | 1:20 pm -
Merrell Barefoot Road Glove Lightning Review: Minimalist Foot Heaven [Fitmodo]
16 May 2012 | 1:00 pmMore » -
Verizon to Kill Grandfathered Unlimited Data Plans. This Is Bullshit. [Verizon]
16 May 2012 | 12:56 pmMore » -
These Girls Are Wearing Nothing But Light [Fashion]
16 May 2012 | 12:40 pm -
Brain Tapeworms Are Real, And They're Disgusting [Health]
16 May 2012 | 12:20 pm
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Engadget
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Viacom and Time Warner Cable call truce, TWC TV mobile apps will stream Colbert after all
16 May 2012 | 1:27 pmGood news ahoy if you've liked Time Warner Cable's TWC TV streaming app but were frustrated with content providers pulling channels over licensing rights: the cable giant and Viacom have reached a settlement that will see Viacom's channels return to your Android or iOS gear. Comedy Central, CMT, MTV and other channels will be back in the next several weeks, and the two sides even managed to bury the hatched over "unrelated business matters," according to a joint statement. Just what led to the about-face is being kept secret, although Viacom's tendency to sue over retransmission rights in the… -
Boost Mobile set to offer Smith Micro's Visual Voicemail features starting on May 31st
16 May 2012 | 1:22 pmUp until now, the Boost Mobile crowd's been missing out on those fancy visual voicemail creations, but that's about to change starting on May 31st. Earlier today, Smith Micro announced it's delivering its Visual Voicemail features to the prepaid-friendly carrier, with the upcoming Boost-branded HTC EVO Design 4G being the first slab to offer said tidbits. Smith Micro is also adding an optional service dubbed "Voicemail-to-Text," which -- for an extra $1.99 per month -- will essentially turn those vocal messages into words and send them to you via text message or email. With the launch of the… -
Rare Commodore KIM-1 hits eBay, shows you the PET's barebones roots
16 May 2012 | 1:00 pmMost of us think of Commodore's pre-C64 computing history in terms of the still-legendary PET-2001, but an eBay auction run by Lawrence Bezuska shows just how far back the tradition really goes. He's selling a KIM-1, the stripped-down hobbyist computer from Chuck Peddle that was the foundation for what the PET became. It's so old that it was originally made by MOS Technologies in 1976 -- Commodore bought the company and kept making the KIM-1 until 1981. Inside, you're still looking at a 6502 chip, although you get just 1.12Kb of RAM and lose more than a few things that even DIY enthusiasts… -
Eton anticipates next natural disaster with self-powered FRX radios
16 May 2012 | 12:38 pmEton, the name behind solar-powered sound systems and emergency radios, is updating its disaster-preparedness portfolio with the new FRX series of self-powered radios. The FRX 1, FRX 2 and FRX 3 use hand-turbine energy to keep the internal lithium ion battery juiced, and all include a glow-in-the-dark indicator, LED flashlight and DC input. While the FRX 1 offers only the basic components, the FRX 2 and 3 have solar panels for recharging, along with a headphone jack and a USB port for powering other gadgets. The FRX 3 boasts a digital alarm and radio -- as opposed to the analog radio on the… -
X-mini KAI capsule Bluetooth speaker review
16 May 2012 | 12:00 pmSpeakers these days! They are everywhere, in constantly evolving iterations, smaller and more versatile than ever before. Singaporean manufacturer X-mini has a pretty good foothold in this game with a consistent brand message of "Sound Beyond Size." That indicates the portability, mass, and reproductive capacity of its products in a pretty nebulous fashion, so we decided to grab its latest offering, the Bluetooth-toting KAI, and place it in our real lives for a few months. It's available now for $99, which will take it off the table for many casual listeners, but those who crave what's next…
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Apple iPod Touch
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Apple releases iOS 5.1.1 fixing security issues
8 May 2012 | 9:06 pmApple has released an update to its mobile device operating system iOS 5.1.1. This release has many bug fixes including many security related ones. The iOS 5.1.1 addresses the following: Bug related to the issue with switching between 2G and 3G networks on the new iPad.AirPlay video playback... -
ClashMob update for Infinity Blade II Game released
12 Apr 2012 | 10:04 pmClashMob update for the award-winning game Infinity Blade 2 has been released by Epic Games. Available as a free update the ClashMob puts you through dynamic challenges by teaming up with many players. You can recruit friends in your own MyMob and earn special perks as well as unlock new... -
New 5th generation iPod Touch reference found in iOS5.1
9 Apr 2012 | 6:41 pmAccording to a new report, a file inside the iOS 5.1 code has been found that references the 5th generation iPod touch. 9to5Mac reports that they have found a reference to "iPod5,1" which indicates that the apple might be working on the 5th generation iPod Touch. The 4th generation iPod touch was... -
Max Payne game coming to iPod touch, iPhone & iPad
7 Apr 2012 | 10:43 amGaming company Rockstar Games is all set to release its popular original Max Payne game ported on to the iOS eco system. The game called Max Payne Mobile will be available in iTunes on April 12. It will be compatible with iPod Touch 4g, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4s and all models of the iPad.... -
Reckless Racing 2 game powers into AppStore
3 Feb 2012 | 9:24 pmThe folks at Polarbit have released a sequel to their top rated extremely popular racing game Reckless Racing. The new game is called Reckless Racing 2. It is now bigger and better, promising to provide an incredible racing experience with features like new selection of 18 highly-detailed cars...
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Digital Camera Resource Page
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Olympus OM-D EM-5 gallery posted
13 May 2012 | 4:00 pmI've posted what should be the complete photo gallery for the Olympus OM-D EM-5. The review is moving along fairly well and should be online in the second half of the week. -
Check out our Facebook page and get early access to the Olympus OM-D gallery!
11 May 2012 | 9:00 pmFans of our Facebook page have been enjoying an early look at the Olympus OM-D EM-5 photo gallery for the last few days. Come "like" DCResource on Facebook so you can join in! -
Fuji introduces Wi-Fi equipped FinePix XP170 rugged camera
8 May 2012 | 1:00 pmOlympus isn't the only one who has a new rugged camera to show off today, as Fujifilm just announced one of their own. The FinePix XP170 doesn't have the fast lens of the Olympus, but it does have Wi-Fi, something the TG-1 lacks. Here are the details on the XP170: -
Olympus announces Tough TG-1 rugged camera with F2.0 lens
8 May 2012 | 1:00 pmOlympus has introduced a new premium rugged camera, known as the Tough TG-1 iHS. The big selling point on the TG-1 is its fast F2.0 lens, which makes capturing photos in low light a lot easier than on competitive models. The TG-1 also supports conversion lenses -- a first for a camera in this class. Here are all the details: -
Pentax K-01 review posted, at last
5 May 2012 | 3:00 pmIt took two bodies and seven lenses, but our Pentax K-01 review is finally here! Is there a great camera hiding under the K-01's unusual design? Find out in our review!
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News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
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The Atlantic magazine looks at the Russian space programme today
15 May 2012 | 5:41 pmThe Atlantic's 'In Focus' photo blog has collected a fascinating series of images from the Russian space program. Looking at both Zvyozdny gorodok, the training center just outside Moscow better known as 'Star City,' as well as the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the pictures give an insight into post-Shuttle space flight. Astronauts and scientists from different countries train together, as do entrepreneurs preparing for their paid trips into space. The collection uses a variety of photographic styles and beautifully conveys the faded futurism of space travel. (from The Atlantic) -
Nikon D800 wins Camera Grand Prix 2012 award and public 'best camera' vote
15 May 2012 | 12:30 pmNikon's D800 has been awarded the prestigious Camera Grand Prix 2012 title and also won the public vote for best camera. The awards, organized by the Japanese 'Camera Journal Press Club' also recognized the Canon EF8-15mm F4L USM as lens of the year. Meanwhile, the editors awards were given to Sony's NEX-7 and the Olympus m.Zuiko 45mm F1.8. -
Fujifilm creates wide-angle adapter and firmware v1.3 for X100
15 May 2012 | 9:59 amFujifilm has announced the WCL-X100 wide-angle adapter lens for its X100 large sensor, fixed-lens compact. The 0.8x adapter extends the camera's 35mm equivalent field of view out to 28mm equivalent. It is designed to match the X100 in terms of both appearance and quality, sharing the camera's Fujifilm's Super EBC coating and made-in-Japan construction. The WCl-X100 will be available from June at a price of around $350. To enable use of the converter, the company has also issued firmware v1.30 which adds a function for its use as well as fixing two minor operational bugs. -
Just Posted: Canon PowerShot SX150 IS review
14 May 2012 | 5:11 pmJust posted: Canon PowerShot SX150 IS review. The PowerShot SX150 IS is a mid-priced compact superzoom - it's not as slim or stylish as the Panasonic TZ (ZS) models that have helped define the class, but it still boasts a 28-336mm equivalent zoom range and a comprehensive set of features, both in terms of special effects and manual controls. It also differentiates itself through the use of AA batteries and a CCD sensor - both helping to keep costs down. So has Canon cut too many corners in pursuit of cut-price capability? -
Adobe will fix security bug in CS5.x, having originally said CS6 was the fix
14 May 2012 | 9:56 amAdobe has confirmed that it will fix the security problems with Photoshop and other CS5.x packages, having originally suggested that a paid upgrade to CS6 was the only solution. The security concerns, raised by the company on May 8th, were rated as 'critical,' meaning it could 'allow malicious native-code to execute, potentially without a user being aware.' Despite this, the original solution raised in the company security bulletin was to upgrade to CS6, leaving CS5.x users vulnerable. The bulletin has now been updated.
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Pixiq
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Planning “National Geographic” style photo travel
16 May 2012 | 4:37 amGreat photographic experiences are often hit or miss, when you don’t have travel support and pre-arrangements to meet the right people, the right places and be there at the exact right time of day. Scenery may be breathtaking, but it’s people who make your photos exciting. I love looking at landscapes as much as the next person, but for me, in the end, a landscape is just a stage onto which some action is about to happen. People doing something make travel pictures intrinsically interesting. Not the “wish you were here” camera watchers. Give me town… -
How To Buy Digital Photo Frames For An Exhibit - Part 2
16 May 2012 | 2:10 amJoin me on Facebook. Become a 'fan' of my Facebook page on Experimental Digital Photography. Click on the 'like' button at the top of the Facebook page. Buying A Digital Photo Frame - Part 2 A Consumer Guide to finding the right DPF for your needs NOTE: On Saturday, April 28 I opened a month long one man show of my work: a 25 Year Digital Photography Retrospective in Beaufort NC at the Beaufort Art Center, 204 Turner St. See my article about this on Pixiq Or more on Facebook Because of this exhibit, I have been thinking about exhibiting in the digital age and how presentations might be… -
U.S. Department of Justice Slaps Baltimore Police Over Right to Record Issue
16 May 2012 | 1:24 amThe U.S. Department of Justice is coming down hard on the Baltimore Police Department as it prepares to issue a settlement to a man whose footage they deleted after he recorded them making an arrest. The settlement stems from a 2010 incident at the Preakness Stakes, which prompted the Department of Justice in January to send a statement of interest to the judge presiding over the resulting civil suit, advising him that such blatant action violates the Constitution and should not be tolerated. That letter provoked the police department into issuing a 7-page General Order to its officers… -
MiMedia, letting you access your media, wherever you are
16 May 2012 | 12:28 amWhen Google Drive launched a couple of weeks ago, everything was cool and groovy until some eagle-eyed types noticed that the permissions clauses weren't altogether straight forward. It turned out that unless you did some fastidious box-ticking, your images stored there could, theoretically, wind-up spearheading Google Drive's advertising campaign. That wasn't exactly blowing back everyone's hair, and some bigger names in online storage donned their halos and smiled angelically, convincing consumers that they were the safest and surest guardians of our online content. That's all very well and… -
Blogger Confronts Newspaper Publisher On Camera Over Copyright Infringement
15 May 2012 | 8:14 pmYou know the tide has turned in the media landscape when bloggers begin demanding payment from newspapers for copyright infringement. After all, it was not too long ago when a Las Vegas company was shaking down bloggers for copyright infringement on behalf of newspapers. Righthaven burst on the scene in 2010 under the guise that they were saving journalism. Or as Las Vegas Review-Journal publisher Sherman Frederick stated at the time: Yet, when it comes to copyrighted material -- news that my company spends money to gather and constitutes the essence of what we are as a business -- some…
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Unclutterer
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Unitasker Wednesday: Pizza Plates
16 May 2012 | 7:20 amAll Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy! A few years ago, my husband and I got rid of all of our dining ware except for our Wedgwood White bone china. Our friends and family graciously gave us the set when we got married, and in more than 10 years we have only lost one bowl due to breakage (and that happened outside, on a brick patio). We use the china for every meal, including meals we serve to our two-year-old son. The stuff is incredibly versatile (tea with the Queen or holding chips and dip… -
A year ago on Unclutterer
16 May 2012 | 5:45 am2011 Ask Unclutterer: Concert ticketsReader Ali wants to know how best to display her concert, play, festival, and movie tickets she has kept over the years. 2010 Ask Unclutterer: Regular car maintenanceDo you have any tips to keep track of upkeep for your vehicle, such as when to have tires rotated, etc.? 2009 Be organized with a Butler BagThe Butler Bag makes purse organizing a breeze. Like this site? Buy Erin Rooney Doland's Unclutter Your Life in One Week from Amazon.com today. -
Unstuck: An app that helps you achieve your goals
15 May 2012 | 10:34 amI’m always on the lookout for smart phone and iPad applications that can improve my productivity. It’s probably not a good idea to keep app switching all the time (it certainly makes more sense to stick with what works), but if I did that I wouldn’t have discovered Unstuck, a free iPad app. Basically, if you’re stuck in a rut, Unstuck can help. It helps you to get rid of said rut, take action, and “live better every day.” I’ve decided to use it for a project that’s been hanging over my head for a bit, and it’s time to get it moving. But,… -
New additions to the Unclutterer family: Introducing Deb Lee
15 May 2012 | 8:42 amWe are happy to announce that two writers are joining our content team here at Unclutterer. Starting today, there will be three active voices bringing you advice, reviews, inspiration, and a little bit of humor regarding home, office, and life uncluttering and organizing. Twice a week, Deb Lee will bring her seasoned perspective to the site (she’s a phenomenal professional organizer who knocks my socks off with her depth and breadth of knowledge about how people can improve their lives with order). And, twice a month, Dave Caolo will share his wit and wisdom (he’s a technology… -
Five tasks to keep your Monday morning productive
14 May 2012 | 6:11 amMonday mornings can be tough, especially rainy ones like we’re having in the Mid-Atlantic this morning. Instead of wasting away your morning, try these simple five tasks to keep your productivity from stalling: Read and sort any stray emails that somehow went unread and processed last Friday when you were thinking about your upcoming weekend. Inspect your rain gear — umbrellas, boots, rain coats, compact poncho — and look for any damages, proper size and fit, unnecessary duplicate items, etc. Weed out anything that is past its prime, donate to charity any unnecessary…
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Dumb Little Man - Tips for Life
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How to Focus When You’re Juggling Lots of Different Tasks
12 May 2012 | 8:08 amHave you ever noticed that the times when you really need to focus are the times when it’s toughest?On days when you have far too much to do — an overflowing inbox, meetings to prepare for, chores to complete — it’s easy to end up darting from one task to the next, never making any real headway.When you’ve got a lot to juggle, you need a battle plan. Here’s what to do:Write a ListIt’s impossible to focus when you’re constantly thinking “I mustn’t forget to send that email” or “I need to call John.” Write down everything that needs to get done today. Your list… -
7 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Triathlon
7 May 2012 | 8:51 pmTriathlons can be intimidating.The mere mention of one conjures up images of genetically perfect athletes speeding through race segments so fast that they're blurry. Fortunately, you don't have to be a genetic freak in order to be able to run your first triathlon. A sprint distance triathlon is typically only a 400-600m swim, a 12.4 mile bike and a 5k run and is one of the fastest growing sports in North America. If you decide to race a triathlon, you can run your first sprint distance triathlon in about 3 months of training and as it turns out, triathlons aren't as intimidating as they… -
One Simple Way to Impress: Do What You Say You'll Do
7 May 2012 | 5:41 amOver the past week, two people have – independently – thanked me for simply doing what I said I’d do.In a perfect world, we’d take it for granted that people would actually come through on their promises and commitments. But in the real world, it’s the sad truth that many people – in business and in their personal lives – don’t always put their words into action.You probably know a few people who always talk big, but never come through for you. Perhaps they promise to help out, and let you down at the last minute. Maybe they’re constantly running late. And, over time, you… -
14 Action Inducing Lessons from Benjamin Franklin
29 Apr 2012 | 6:58 amBenjamin Franklin was a man of action. Over his lifetime, his curiosity and passion fueled a diverse range of interests. He was a writer (often using a pseudonym), publisher, diplomat, inventor and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States.His inventions included the lightning rod, bifocals and the Franklin stove. Franklin was responsible for establishing the first public library, organizing fire fighters in Philadelphia, was one of the early supporters of mutual insurance and crossed the Atlantic eight times. Self-development was a constant endeavor throughout his incredible… -
You've Got One Change Left. What Do You Do?
16 Apr 2012 | 8:12 amSomething extraordinary happened while you slept last night. Your world has changed forever, because today you woke up being able to make just one more change before you die. You get to make a single change before you buy the farm, pop your clogs and kick the bucket. One last thing you can implement. One last thing you can transform. One last thing you can make a difference to.And everything else must stay the same for the rest of your life. Exactly as it is right now.How will you react knowing that you only have a single change left to make in your life? How comfortable are you knowing that…
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The Happiness Project
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7 Tips for Good Behavior–from the 16th Century.
16 May 2012 | 7:50 amEvery Wednesday is Tip Day. This Wednesday: 8 tips for how to behave yourself, from sixteenth-century scholar Erasmus. One thing is true about happiness: there are very few new truths out there. The greatest minds in history have turned their attention to the subject, so while it’s often challenging to put that wisdom into actual practice, it’s pretty clear what kinds of actions are likely to yield a happier life. Likewise, “tips lists” have been around for a long time. I get a big kick out of uncovering tips lists from the past: Sydney Smith’s tips for cheering… -
An Overlooked, Exquisite Source of Hapiness? Giving Deserved Praise.
14 May 2012 | 4:33 amOne of the most exquisite of pleasures, and one that’s too often overlooked, is the joy of giving well-deserved praise. I’m a gold-star junkie myself, and maybe that’s why I love the opportunity to give good praise. Yesterday, I was able to do this. In the New York Times Book Review, I wrote about Kristin Cashore’s new book, Bitterblue. As I’ve often noted, I love children’s literature and young-adult literature, and Cashore is one of the best YA novelists writing today. I’ve been a raving fan since I read the first two books in this trilogy, … -
Trying To Be More Virtuous Can Undermine Your Sense of Virtue.
12 May 2012 | 4:53 amFurther Secrets of Adulthood: -
Do You Make Time to “Treat” Yourself? You Should.
11 May 2012 | 12:46 pmLast week, I posted a question: What are the small treats you give yourself? I was very interested to see the range of “treats” people identified in the comments, and I got some good ideas for myself. I do think it’s important to take time for treats, because treats help us to feel energized, restored, and light-hearted. Without them, we can start to feel resentful, depleted, and irritable. My younger daughter has “Choice Time” every day in first grade, and I think we adults need some “Choice Time” ourselves, at least occasionally. However, in… -
“Happiness Without a Good Work Ethic Is Pretty Impossible.”
10 May 2012 | 6:29 amHappiness interview: Hugh MacLeod. Hugh is a cartoonist with a wildly popular blog, gapingvoid. He is the master of capturing a large idea in a single drawing, and a great deal of his work focuses on happiness: how to find happiness in work; how to have the courage to be yourself, do what you love, and take risks; how to build a life around your own values, interests, and temperament. He has a new book, Freedom Is Blogging in Your Underwear, where he explores how blogging, and the intellectual and creative freedom it gives him, changed his life. Having a blog isn’t the right route to…
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Get Rich Slowly - Personal Finance That Makes Sense.
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When a Woman’s Work Is Done
16 May 2012 | 5:00 amThis is a post from staff writer Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the adviser for The Motley Fool’s Rule Your Retirement service. He contributes one new article to Get Rich Slowly every two weeks. One of my jobs at The Motley Fool is to serve as the internal financial planner for Fool employees. Lately, however, I’ve been answering more questions my colleagues have about their parents — and it’s more likely about their mothers or mothers-in-law. The truth is, women face a more difficult task when it comes to retirement planning, for… -
Your Friends are Marketing to You (How to Like Them Anyway)
15 May 2012 | 5:00 amThis post is by staff writer Sarah Gilbert. Your friends may be marketing to you. I know: I’m taking the internet-shocking tactic I hate seeing elsewhere, but if I didn’t have evidence in my very inbox from (as I’m writing this post) three minutes ago, not to mention The New York Times and other well-regarded media, I would still have all the stuff that’s not headline material. You probably know it as “keeping up with the Joneses” or “being cool”; it’s the reason I carried a screen-printed canvas Esprit tote bag in high school even though… -
Trading Time for Money
14 May 2012 | 4:00 amLast week, I was complaining to my Spanish tutor (who, by the way, thinks I always complain). “Ideally, I’d be writing less,” I told her. “I want to have more time to learn Spanish and to focus on other passions. But I just got an offer to write a couple more articles per week. And I would get paid for the work!” My tutor shook her head. “Por la plata baila el mono,” she told me: The monkey dances for money. She didn’t have to explain what she meant. It was obvious. Money makes us do things we wouldn’t do otherwise; it turns us into… -
Reader Story: Saying Good-Bye to a 16-Year-Old Car
13 May 2012 | 4:00 amThis guest post from Joel Berry is part of the “reader stories” feature at Get Rich Slowly. Some stories contain general advice; others are examples of how a GRS reader achieved financial success or failure. These stories feature folks with all levels of financial maturity and income. Want submit your own reader story? Here’s how. I’m writing this post as a follow up to my first post about why I drove a 13-year-old car. In that article, I set some goals for myself and came up with a plan to help me achieve those goals. Today I’m going to share where I succeeded… -
Ask the Readers: What Do You Wish You’d Learned About Money?
11 May 2012 | 4:00 amWhen we’re young, we think we know it all. We make decisions — financial and otherwise — based on what little we know of the world, and these decisions are colored by a relentless optimism that comes from not having to deal with the harsh realities of the world. Realities like the high cost of health insurance, steep interest rates on credit cards, and trouble finding a job. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could go back and give your younger self some words of wisdom? Since time travel doesn’t exist, the best thing you can do is try to help other young people.
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@ProBlogger
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5 Effective Tricks to Create a Killer Call to Action
16 May 2012 | 7:04 amThis guest post is by Greg Digneo of Sales Leads in Thirty Days. Here’s the dirty little secret: there are actually two steps to building an extremely popular blog. The first and most popular step is to drive traffic by guest posting, social media, and SEO. The far less sexy step is to convert that traffic into loyal readers who will become the backbone of your community. Who will share every piece of content you produce with their friends. And who will ensure that every post sparks an engaging discussion. But most of all, they will be the first to buy your products and services. The… -
Get Obsessed with Your Message
15 May 2012 | 1:01 pmThis guest post is by Danielle LaPorte of DanielleLaPorte.com. Blog = up? Posts = rolling? It’s time to get obsessed with your message. A quick dictionary moment, to differentiate between your voice, your topics and your message. Your voice is what makes your writing distinctive, compelling, unmistakably you. You’ll carry your voice from your blog, right into your book. Seamless, identifiable. Individual. Your topics are the categories or subjects you write about (Eco-luxe weddings on a shoestring budget! Savvy corporate management, with heart and soul! Thrifty vegan recipes!) Your… -
On the Elusive “Next Level” of Blogging
15 May 2012 | 7:04 amWe’ve all heard of it—the elusive “next level” that so many bloggers talk about online. But what is the next level? How many levels are there? Is there an end point in leveling up? These are all worthwhile questions—especially for more experienced bloggers who have spent a lot of time and energy in reaching the level they’re already at. For these bloggers, trying to reach the next level can involve a degree of risk, so the steps that get us toward the next level might be taken slowly and with care. On the other hand, the web isn’t exactly undersupplied with… -
Grab Your BWE Virtual Ticket for $100 Off—24 Hours Left
14 May 2012 | 5:09 pmWish you could get to Blog World Expo this year, but can’t make it to New York? Me too. I’ll be in Queensland with the winners of my blogging competition, but I know there are plenty of bloggers from other countries, as well as within the States, who won’t be able to attend Blog World this year. Fortunately, you and I don’t need to miss out on the information and fun of the Expo (and if the speaker list for this year is anything to go by, the conference is going to be really impressive). We “remote” bloggers can still “attend” on a BWE virtual… -
Install Your First WordPress Theme
14 May 2012 | 7:09 amThis guest post is by Karol K of ThemeFuse. Seeing a headline like “How to Install a WordPress Theme” on ProBlogger might seem strange at first. This doesn’t sound like a “pro”-thing at all, right? If you’ve been dealing with WordPress for a while then this is probably even more than obvious to you. However, everyone starts somewhere, and there are plenty of experienced bloggers who haven’t ever installed a WordPress theme—but would like to give it a try. Maybe you’re installing your first theme right now, and you’re searching for a…
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Copyblogger
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What Does it Take to Write a Billion-Dollar Marketing Story?
16 May 2012 | 4:00 amIn 1984, two artists used a simple process to create a story that captivated an audience for years and generated billions of dollars in revenue. That same process is being used today by a master copywriter to attract hundreds of thousands of paying subscribers. With companies creating millions of web pages of content marketing, finding an untold story or a new angle can feel like an impossible task. Especially when you want to avoid creating a story so unique nobody understands it … or wants to pay for it. So how do you create a story that cuts through the noise and strikes at the heart… -
How to be a World-Changing Writer
15 May 2012 | 4:00 amAs a copywriter, you know that words have power. You know words can influence, inform, and inspire. They can persuade your fellow humans to do some amazing things (or to do the wrong things, but we won’t go there today). What you may not realize is that your words can change the world. Here’s something else that’s really cool that you might not have realized … The keys to world-changing writing are also the keys to damn good copywriting. But as you know, good writing doesn’t happen all by itself. So let’s talk about what it takes to be damned good …… -
WordPress Hosting That Means Business
14 May 2012 | 8:00 amDid you know Copyblogger Media has a WordPress hosting division? Many people don’t, because it’s been a bit under-the-radar. The whole thing started with our frustration with web hosting in general. Specifically, the fact that a lot of “WordPress hosting” amounts to generic one-click installation of the CMS on a standardly-configured box — which simply doesn’t cut it for optimal performance and security. So, last year we decided to manage our high-traffic network of content and product sites ourselves. We did this by bringing into the family a team of people who themselves… -
The Truth About Making Money While You Sleep
14 May 2012 | 4:00 amWant to hear about the day in the life of a so-called “successful entrepreneur?” Yesterday, I stayed in bed until about 2 PM. I watched the last few episodes of Mad Men. Around sunset, I took a leisurely stroll down the beach. When I got back, I hung out with a friend for a couple of hours, ate dinner, and went to bed. In other words … I goofed off. And while I was goofing off, my business generated a pretty decent chunk of revenue. You want to know the coolest part? I did absolutely nothing to “earn” it. I didn’t check my email. I didn’t talk to… -
7 Instructive Content Marketing Links
12 May 2012 | 6:00 amThis week on The Lede … Are Content Publishers Waking Up from Their App Dreams Nightmares? An Email Marketing Autoresponder Schedule that Sells 3 Quick Tips To Conquering Your Fear of Public Speaking Does Your Domain Say “Trust Me?” Why “Freemium” Fails for Startups: 3 Business Lessons from the Band New Order 5 Basic SEO Truths We Can Learn from Star Wars Peter Shankman on the Value of an Audience If you want to grab more useful links (than the seven we highlight here) every week, follow @copyblogger on Twitter. Are Content Publishers Waking Up from Their App Dreams…
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Arts & Life
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'Kickstart Shakespeare': Of Sonnets, Beer, And Online Fundraising
16 May 2012 | 12:15 pm"It was written for the masses," says the director of a New York organization raising money to bring Shakespeare's work to new audiences.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us -
'The Dictator' Rules With A Satirist's Fist
16 May 2012 | 9:15 amThere was Ali G, Borat and Bruno — and now, in The Dictator, Sacha Baron Cohen has a new character to add to his repertoire: the capricious ruler of an oil-rich country who travels to the U.N. to assert his right to have nuclear warheads.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us -
ABC's Fall Schedule: Reba McEntire, Country Music, And Satan The Landlord
16 May 2012 | 8:55 amABC's new schedule features some old favorites, a return to an old comedy structure, and two different country-themed shows.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us -
Just What's Inside Those Breasts?
16 May 2012 | 8:24 amIn her new book, Breasts: A Natural and Unnatural History, Florence Williams offers her take on why breasts are getting bigger and developing earlier, why tumors seem to gravitate toward the breast, and how toxins from the environment may be affecting hormones and breast development.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us -
A Fleeting Memory Of Carlos Fuentes
16 May 2012 | 6:04 amThe Mexican literary legend's passing this week spurred a particular recollection from NPR's Linton Weeks, who spent time with him in 1995.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
