Travelers 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…
Selected by spotcoolstuff
-
Most Topular Stories
-
The Best Socks for Travel (and for the time between trips)
Spot Cool Stuff: Travel8 May 2012 | 8:40 am -
Colorful Colorful Joseph Joseph
Spot Cool Stuff: Design16 May 2012 | 5:35 amBright colors, durable materials and smart designs come together in the selection of creative kitchenware produced by Joseph Joseph. The New York City-based company founded by twin brothers, Richard and Antony Joseph, makes all sorts of cool serving bowls, chopping boards, kitchen tools and food preparation items. Here’s our review of some of our favorites: Joseph Joseph Food Preparation Nest The lusciously colorful Joseph Joseph Food Preparation Nest looks so strikingly cool that it can take some time to realize how practical it is too. Mixing bowls, colanders, measuring cups and other… -
Canon EOS 5D Mark III vs Mark II
Spot Cool Stuff: Tech10 May 2012 | 11:57 amFor years now, the Canon EOS 5D Mark II has been a favorite mid-range digital SLR among serious photographers. The workhorse of a camera took professional-quality images and offered a huge feature set—and did so for a relatively low price. Then, two things happened: First, Canon came out with an updated version of the Mark II—the EOS 5D Mark III. Second, Canon reduced the price of the Mark II by $500. Both the 5D Mark II and 5D Mark III are, inarguably, excellent full-feature SLR cameras. But now that there’s a serious 5D choice, which of the two is the better option for you? Spot… -
Hickenlooper And List On Pre-Election Atmosphere
Talk of the Nation16 May 2012 | 10:00 amThe push for civil unions recently failed in Colorado, and Governor John Hickenlooper has some ideas about why. Also, former Nevada Governor Bob List talks about the influence of Ron Paul on the Republican Party. And NPR's Political Junkie columnist Ken Rudin rounds up the news.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us -
NPR: 05-09-2012 Technology
NPR Topics: Technology Podcast9 May 2012 | 8:06 pmStories: 1) Top Universities Expand Free Online Classes 2) These Apps Are Going To The Birds, And People Who Watch Them 3) Bill Would Have Businesses Foot Cost Of Cyberwar 4) Cyber Briefings 'Scare The Bejeezus' Out Of CEOs
-
Spot Cool Stuff: Travel
-
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…
-
Spot Cool Stuff: Design
-
Colorful Colorful Joseph Joseph
16 May 2012 | 5:35 amBright colors, durable materials and smart designs come together in the selection of creative kitchenware produced by Joseph Joseph. The New York City-based company founded by twin brothers, Richard and Antony Joseph, makes all sorts of cool serving bowls, chopping boards, kitchen tools and food preparation items. Here’s our review of some of our favorites: Joseph Joseph Food Preparation Nest The lusciously colorful Joseph Joseph Food Preparation Nest looks so strikingly cool that it can take some time to realize how practical it is too. Mixing bowls, colanders, measuring cups and other… -
Psychology of Color Infographic
11 May 2012 | 10:30 amMost of us are not consciously aware of the large extent to which color affects our moods. Green creates a feeling of tranquility. Blue makes you feel productive. Yellow infuses you with energy—and makes babies cry. The Psychology of Color, a cool infographic produced by NowSourcing, is all about color and its effect on our psyche. When deciding what hue to paint a room, or what color pallet to choose for your home decor, you might want to consider the psychological impacts of your choice as shown on this infographic. If you don’t like the infographic or the information that’s… -
4 Sleeping Bags That Look Like Something Else
4 May 2012 | 4:08 amNone of the four sleeping bags reviewed below are ones you’ll come across shopping the REI sleeping bag finder. Practical, portable, warm—these four sleeping bags have none of those qualities. But each does have a design that’s novel (to say the least) and a look that resembles something un-sleeping-bag-like: Slice of Pizza Sleeping Bag Up late one drunk night in college, Spot Cool Stuff had the idea of selling a sleeping bag that looked like a slice of pizza. We never followed through on our idea, probably because we thought of it while in college and sleep deprived—and… -
Design Your Own Dress Shirt
21 Apr 2012 | 6:44 amYou needn’t be an avid fashion designer, à la a Project Runway contestant, to create your own men’s dress shirt. All you need is access to a cool website. Like Blank Label. On Blank Label most anyone can create their own shirt—within limits, of course. The basic shirt concept and range of fabrics is pre-determined. But within that, it is impressive how many design options you have. Read the rest on our websites review blog -
The Flintstones House In Real Life
19 Apr 2012 | 12:29 pmRecently deceased American TV and radio legend Dick Clark was best known for hosting American Bandstand, the game show Pyramid and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. But the man often described a “the world’s oldest teenager” left behind more than memories and an impact on American culture. He also had a house that was inspired by the 1960s Hanna-Barbera cartoon The Flintstones. Clark’s abode is not the first inspired by an animated film or television show. Among the fictional houses created in real life are The Simpsons house and the flying house…
-
Spot Cool Stuff: Tech
-
Canon EOS 5D Mark III vs Mark II
10 May 2012 | 11:57 amFor years now, the Canon EOS 5D Mark II has been a favorite mid-range digital SLR among serious photographers. The workhorse of a camera took professional-quality images and offered a huge feature set—and did so for a relatively low price. Then, two things happened: First, Canon came out with an updated version of the Mark II—the EOS 5D Mark III. Second, Canon reduced the price of the Mark II by $500. Both the 5D Mark II and 5D Mark III are, inarguably, excellent full-feature SLR cameras. But now that there’s a serious 5D choice, which of the two is the better option for you? Spot… -
Take a Google Street View Tour of the Amazon
10 May 2012 | 11:47 amYou might think of Google Street View as that feature of Google Maps that let’s you look at ground level photographs of your childhood home, a new restaurant you are trying to locate or some other street-side destination. But for several years now, Google has been expanding Street View to all sorts of locations that, well, don’t have any streets. You can use Street View to climb up the Swiss Alps, trek in Antarctica or tour some of the world’s greatest art museums. And, now, you can also use Google Street View to explore along the Amazon River. Read the rest on our cool… -
The Samsung Galaxy Note: Phone or Tablet?
28 Apr 2012 | 12:50 pmIs it a tablet? Or is it a phone? That’s the tagline on billboards advertising the new Samsung Galaxy Note. When the company selling a product expresses uncertainly about what exactly their product is, you know you are dealing with something different. Indeed, the Samsung Note really is something different—a new hybrid product that’s both an oversized phone and an undersized tablet. The phonelet weighs 6.3 ounces (178 grams) and has a 5.3-inch display—more than the largest smartphone and less than the smallest tablet. The Android operating system, powered by 1.4GHz dual-core… -
Scam or Deal? SatelliteDirect TV On Your Computer
13 Apr 2012 | 11:05 amIt’s becoming increasingly easy to ditch your monthly cable or satellite bill and watch television over the internet instead. Several networks stream their television shows directly on their own websites. In addition, you can watch television through services like Cracked and Hulu, and stream movies on a computer, smart TV or portable media player via Netflix and Amazon Instant Video. Of course, none of those offer an array of live television channels over the internet. But there is a software product that claims to: SatelliteDirect. But does the service really deliver 3,500 channels of… -
Face Wash Is Now an Appcessory
5 Apr 2012 | 9:06 amSpot Cool Stuff wakes up cranky. We are not morning people.† This is why we depend upon caffeine. And why we are fans of Chief’s Energizing Face Wash for men. Dabbing it onto your skin, then splashing water onto your face, it’s hard to not feel like you’re in a York Peppermint Patty commercial. Indeed, there’s a fair amount of peppermint in Chief’s Face Wash. There’s eucalyptus too. And ginseng and menthol and a hint of rosemary. Altogether, it wallops you with a refreshing minty morning pick-me-up. So what’s a review of a face wash doing on a…
-
Talk of the Nation
-
Hickenlooper And List On Pre-Election Atmosphere
16 May 2012 | 10:00 amThe push for civil unions recently failed in Colorado, and Governor John Hickenlooper has some ideas about why. Also, former Nevada Governor Bob List talks about the influence of Ron Paul on the Republican Party. And NPR's Political Junkie columnist Ken Rudin rounds up the news.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us -
Democrat 'Appalled' By Wisconsin Recall
16 May 2012 | 10:00 amWisconsin Democrats hope to unseat Republican Governor Scott Walker in a recall election. In the Los Angeles Times, Jonathan Zimmerman, a lifelong Democrat, says he is "appalled." The recall, he writes, "epitomizes the petty, loser-take-all vindictiveness of contemporary American politics."» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us -
'Life, Interrupted' By Cancer Diagnosis At 22
16 May 2012 | 10:00 amMonths after moving to Paris to start her first full-time job, Suleika Jaouad was diagnosed with leukemia. Now, she is coping with relying on her parents for care while dealing with adult issues of mortality, infertility and disease. She writes about her experience for the New York Times Well blog.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us -
Activist Bob Fu Helped Chen Call Congress
16 May 2012 | 10:00 amBlind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng called into a U.S. congressional hearing to describe violent attacks on his family and "trumped up" homicide charges against his nephew. He was able to call in to the hearing through the help of his friend, fellow activist Bob Fu.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us -
At 96, Historian Lewis Reflects On 'A Century'
15 May 2012 | 11:12 amOver his long academic career, Bernard Lewis has arguably become the world's greatest historian of the Middle East. Now, at 96, Lewis turns his attention inward in Notes on a Century, a memoir that looks back on his life, work and legacy.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
-
NPR Topics: Technology Podcast
-
NPR: 05-09-2012 Technology
9 May 2012 | 8:06 pmStories: 1) Top Universities Expand Free Online Classes 2) These Apps Are Going To The Birds, And People Who Watch Them 3) Bill Would Have Businesses Foot Cost Of Cyberwar 4) Cyber Briefings 'Scare The Bejeezus' Out Of CEOs -
NPR: 05-02-2012 Technology
2 May 2012 | 8:07 pmStories: 1) In Cell Era, Timepieces Are Fashion Trend To Watch 2) Could Iran Wage A Cyberwar On The U.S.? 3) Mining Quarries Millions Of Miles From Earth 4) Designing The Pied Piper Of Fish 5) Profiled By The TSA? There's An App For That 6) Europe Pressures U.S. Tech On Internet Privacy Laws -
NPR: 04-25-2012 Technology
25 Apr 2012 | 8:08 pmStories: 1) To Read All Those Web Privacy Policies, Just Take A Month Off Work 2) Arab Tech Startups Try To Seize The Moment 3) Robot Eyes As Good As Humans When Grading Essays -
NPR: 04-18-2012 Technology
18 Apr 2012 | 8:05 pmStories: 1) An Online Shopping Passion Keeps Them Clicking 2) Hearing In Megaupload Case To Determine Fate Of Users' Data 3) Who Is A Parent? Surrogate Technology Outpaces Law 4) Redefining 'Hacker' In Technology Hotbed 5) Another Tech Bubble? Maybe Not 6) Cybersecurity Bills Compete For Attention -
NPR: 04-11-2012 Technology
11 Apr 2012 | 8:02 pmStories: 1) America's Magnet For Innovation, And Investments 2) Intel Legends Moore And Grove: Making It Last 3) Phone Tracking Big Business For Cell Companies 4) A Brief History Of The Mobile Phone 5) Cochlear Implants Redefine What It Means To Be Deaf 6) Social Media Changing The Nature Of Activism?
-
NPR: It's All Politics Podcast
-
It's All Politics May 10, 2012
10 May 2012 | 7:44 pmThis week Ken Rudin and Ron Elving discuss Barack Obama becoming the first U.S. President to endorse same-sex marriage. They also weigh-in on Senator Richard Lugar's loss in the Indiana Republican primary this week and the inmate who won 41-percent of the Democratic primary vote in West Virginia. -
It's All Politics May 3, 2012
3 May 2012 | 5:42 pmThis week Ron Elving and Ken Rudin discuss President Obama's surprise trip to Afghanistan to mark the anniversary Osama bin Laden's death. They also discuss Newt Gingrich officially dropping out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination and preview next week's Democratic primary in Wisconsin. -
It's All Politics April 26, 2012
26 Apr 2012 | 2:03 pmThis week, Newt Gingrich decides to drop out next week, the veepstakes kick into high gear, Obama slow jams the news, primary battles further endanger moderates, and John Edwards returns to the headlines. -
It's All Politics April 19, 2012
19 Apr 2012 | 6:32 pmThis week Ron Elving is joined by National Political Correspondent Don Gonyea who is sitting in for Ken Rudin. They discuss the recent scandals in the GSA and the Secret Service as well as Newt Gingrich's run-in with a penguin. Plus, a game show called "Name That Vice President" where Ron tries to identify potential Vice Presidential running mates of Mitt Romney from just the sound of their voice.. -
It's All Politics April 12 2011
13 Apr 2012 | 8:38 amRick Santorum ends his presidential bid, the parties compete for women voters, Dick Lugar faces a tough primary, and Wisconsin Dems compete for the spot on the Walker recall ballot, join NPR Washington Editor Ron Elving and Political Editor Ken Rudin.
-
Music Interviews
-
Garth Knox: One Viola And 1,000 Years Of Musical History
14 May 2012 | 1:36 pmOn his new album, Saltarello, the adventurousviolist creates surprising musical juxtapositions.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us -
Stop The Music: A Dancer Tries Silence
13 May 2012 | 11:23 amAmy O'Neal is a choreographer who recently took on a daunting task: an entire performance without a single note of music.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us -
Days With Dizzy: Arturo Sandoval On His Trumpet Mentor
12 May 2012 | 9:00 amThe Cuban trumpeter first met Dizzy Gillespie in 1977, when the American jazzman came to Havana to play a concert. It was the start of a friendship that would last until Gillespie's death in 1993.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us -
Paul Thorn: Music From The Margins
9 May 2012 | 1:59 pmA former boxer and factory worker, Thorn says his music has always focused on "people of meager means." His newest album, a collection of covers by a motley selection of songwriters, is no different.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us -
Behind 'Parsonz Curse,' The Bellowing Howl Of Royal Thunder
8 May 2012 | 12:40 pmAs a kid, Mlny Parsonz found her voice by growling a Whitney Houston song in the back of a van.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
-
Happy Hotelier
-
Lola Lo-Lo-Lo-Lo Lola – Not what you Think!
14 May 2012 | 3:10 pmSee this Quirky Bicycle? Rather than resting on its side standard or a back standard, it rests on its front standard in front of a shop in The Noordeinde in The Hague. Lola? Off course when I hear or see “Lola” I associate that immediately with the famous Kinks song “Lola“, but this is not about that Lola and maybe I’m too old for you to remember this;-) The name of the shop is Lola Bikes and Coffee soon daringly being opened officially in the posh Noordeinde in The Hague directly opposite the Lion’s Den of the huge Dutch coffee brand Douwe Egberts. A… -
Impressions of Today’s 070 Twitterlunch in The Hague by 020
24 Apr 2012 | 2:52 pmLocation just next to The “New” Church of The Hague which dates back to 1658 Birdies were necessary to keep the tweeps focussed Excellent sandwiches and soup by Pavlov KeesBteA had had his hair sharply coiffured for the occasion. The Organizing Trio. Thanks! Twitterlunch The Hague Yesterday Dutch Government resigned after Geert Wilders withdrew his support for the minority Government led by Mark Rutte. Today there was a big debate in Parliament here in The Hague whether or not to have new elections and before or after the summer holidays… But for me the most important event… -
The End of the Wilders Era?
21 Apr 2012 | 2:33 pmThe End of the Wilders Era? As you may know, my hometown The Hague is the center of Dutch Government. Today Geert Wilders left the coalition talks that lasted already 7 weeks and were aimed to create an acceptable package of cutting expenditure by Dutch Government. Wilders stated he withdrew his support for the minority Government led by Mark Rutte. Less than two years, on another platform I presented Rutte (left on the photo) and Maxime Verhagen (right on the photo) as our new Prime Minister and Vice Prime Minister when they started this adventure. Both with the typical Geert Wilders hairdo. -
America’s Cup World Series in Naples
14 Apr 2012 | 1:21 pmTeam Energy Wins First Naples Fleet Race Photo AC The Spectacle is back with AC 34 For quite some time I’d left the America’s Cup for what it was: A court room affair. It was not very clear where they were heading. Returning to them again I see that Larry Ellison who is the defender of record with his team Oracle, has made some clever moves to bring spectacle back to the race courses. The 34th America’s Cup brings the competition for the oldest trophy in international sport back to the United States: New boats, a new format for the racing and television and web coverage as… -
Happy Easter!
8 Apr 2012 | 3:29 amAnd a Happy Easter to you all! Happy Easter! is a post from: Happy Hotelier. Would you like to subscribe to my newsfeed, or my weekly newsletter?
-
Vagabondish
-
Win 25,000 Points for Stays at Any U.S. Starwood Hotel!
16 May 2012 | 12:33 pmDo you like hotels? Specifically free hotel stays? No way – us too! Which is why you should definitely enter our latest giveaway! As a member of the brand new Starwood Preferred Guests American Express blogging partners program (phew!), we’re thrilled to announce the giveaway of 25,000 points from Starwood/Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express! W New York – Times Square, New York City There are more than 30 Starwood hotels in the New York City area. All you have to do is check out the complete list and tell us via Twitter which one you’d most love to stay… -
Rhode Island Introduces “Family Guy” Tour
16 May 2012 | 10:00 am“giggity giggity” ©The Daily Mail Rhode Island’s tourism board has sponsored the latest tour to promote their state–Rhode Island as depicted by the animated TV show “Family Guy”. Fans of the show won’t be able to find the fictional town of Quahog, R.I. on the map, but real landmarks featured in Family Guy can be found on the tour. Van Wickle Gates at Brown University, the Breakers mansion in Newport and even the real Drunken Clam are featured tour stops. More on the “Family Guy Experience” can be found here. -
World’s Oldest Backpacker to Set Off on Two-month Journey
16 May 2012 | 6:00 amBackpacking–not just for the young © slgckgc At 95 years old, backpacker Keith Wright isn’t showing signs of slowing down. The native Australian only started traveling solo 10 years ago. Much like a cash-strapped college student, Wright does the full backpacking experience–hosteling included. This summer, Wright will travel all over Europe for two months by train, bus and ferry. He’s planning to make a special trip to London to see his favorite racehorse, Black Caviar, race in the Royal Ascot. My belief is that if you are fit and able to travel independently, it… -
A Foreigner’s Lesson on How to “Deal” with Foreigners
16 May 2012 | 5:20 amI’d just completed my walkabout of a one-street town filled with takeaways and information centers for those seeking to kayak down the Whanganui River. I stumbled upon an all-too-common sight in the traveling experience: the irritated, flustered local and the non-native language speaking tourist. In this case, a Chinese woman was attempting to locate the proper bus heading north, while the Kiwi bus driver tried to explain that he was traveling south. What I witnessed was some of the most condescending human behavior in the history of time: This one … going to Wanganui … over… -
Hub Innovations Prizm: The Ultra-Portable Tablet Stand for Travelers
16 May 2012 | 4:57 amA growing number of travelers are leaving laptops at home in favor of simply toting their iPads or other tablets. Hub Innovations is looking to make that decision more obvious and ergonomic. Their latest Prizm tablet stand features a sleek, sexy, 2-piece aluminum construction designed to pack completely flat. Throw in a Bluetooth keyboard (or not) and you have the perfect netbook replacement. Pricing & Availability Available now in various colors from $29.95 (USD) directly from HubInnovations.com.
-
Soul Travelers 3
-
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…
-
Been-Seen
-
Plus One Berlin
15 May 2012 | 12:46 pmWhen arriving in a foreign city for the first time, what hip traveler hasn't wished for a plugged-in local to take them around and show them all the truly cool stuff that never makes it into the guidebook? If you're heading to Berlin, you'll be able to do just that. Berlin's always been a city on the cutting edge of new trends. Now British ex-pat and former PR manager for the Design Hotels Group Clare Freeman is taking hospitality to a new level with Plus One Berlin, an exciting concept that blends local knowledge, great design, and a sense of adventure for a totally… -
Places to Go: Margaret River, Australia
7 May 2012 | 4:21 pmHead Down Under to beat the heat this summer and take in some amazing views from the Ooi House, a private holiday home in Margaret River, Australia. The award-winning design features 4 bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, sliding glass walls that open up to a spacious patio, an interior courtyard with a sparkling Koi fish pond, a separate chalet, and a prime location with awesome river vistas. Don't forget to bring your surfboards either; Ooi House is only a mile from the beach. See you there! -
Dogs Love Vacation, Too!
7 May 2012 | 4:05 pmHey, where are you going with those suitcases? Are you going on vacation…without me? I hate being stuck at home while you're traveling the world! It's the worst thing ever: my best friend is out having fun without me and I'm left behind with strangers. It's no fair; dogs love vacation as much as humans do. I know what you're thinking: dogs aren't welcome in hotels and vacation rentals but that's not true! There's lots of places we can go together. In fact I've made a list to prove it. Feel like getting some mountain air? We can go… -
Play L.A.
1 May 2012 | 9:13 amIf you've been in Los Angeles over the last three weeks you may have noticed the unexpected presence of decorated pianos in landmark areas around the city. From the Santa Monica Pier to Union Station in downtown, thirty pianos have been placed in public spaces as part of a traveling art installation entitled Play Me, I'm Yours. The installation, the brainchild of British artist Luke Jerram, has been on a world tour since 2008 but only just arrived in our city in the beginning of April — and are only here for another week until they move on to their next home in… -
Simple Luxury in Germany: elisabeth am see
16 Apr 2012 | 9:28 amelisabeth am see is a peaceful waterfront hideaway on Lake Templin in Germany's beautiful lake district. The home was originally built in 1930 and modernized in 2009 to meet new standards of environmentally-friendly, holistic building techniques. The interiors are an oasis of calm with stunning lake views from every room. With a large garden, in-house spa, free-standing gazebo, and picturesque jetty, elisabeth am see is the perfect getaway for travelers looking for a private place to rejuvenate and restore. Outdoorsy folk will find many opportunities for boating, yachting, and…
-
Nomadic Matt's Travel Site
-
The Beautiful Temples and Gardens of Kyoto
15 May 2012 | 6:44 amI’ve dreamed of Kyoto and its thousands of temples for as long as I’ve dreamed of Japan. I love Japanese architecture and zen gardens. One day, when I own a home, my backyard will be designed as a Japanese zen garden, complete with pond, koi fish, rock garden, and little waterfall. On my recent visit to Japan with G Adventures, Kyoto was the only place I wanted to see as much as Tokyo. Though it rained (sometimes heavily) during my visit, Kyoto, with its temples and gardens, was even more beautiful than I had imagined. I spent hours wandering historic streets and darting in and… -
The Weekly Photo: Khao Sok Park in Thailand
13 May 2012 | 7:24 amA rushing river in the lush Khao Sok National Park in ThailandTraveling soon? Book your travel below with my favorite companies and help support this website: Cheap Flights from Vayama | Travel insurance from World Nomads | Accommodation from HW | Guidebooks | G Adventure Tours©Nomadic Matt's Travel Site. -
How to (Legally) Stay in Europe for More Than 90 Days
8 May 2012 | 9:12 amAs I’ve been planning my move to Sweden, I’ve been trying to figure out how to get past the 90-day limit placed on tourist visas. This is a problem encountered by travelers every year and a question that regularly pops up in my inbox.“How can I stay in Europe for more than 90 days?” I am asked.It’s a great question with a very complicated answer. I’ve always known it to be difficult but until I started researching on how to stay there, I never knew how difficult. But in the process of this research I’ve come to learn there are a few ways to stay in Europe longer than… -
The Weekly Photo: Kanazawa Castle
6 May 2012 | 7:19 amKanazawa Castle in Kanazawa, JapanTraveling soon? Book your travel below with my favorite companies and help support this website: Cheap Flights from Vayama | Travel insurance from World Nomads | Accommodation from HW | Guidebooks | G Adventure Tours©Nomadic Matt's Travel Site. -
Why Jessica is Never Going to Ireland With Her Boyfriend But You Can Realize Your Dreams to Go Anywhere
3 May 2012 | 9:30 am“Your job sounds like the most exciting job in the world,” the cute blond girl — let’s call her Jessica — said to me. Jessica had just overheard a conversation with some friends I hadn’t seen in years and they were peppering me with questions about my job and lifestyle. People I meet usually do, and I’ve gotten used it.“He has the best job,” replied my friend.“So, can you get me to Ireland cheap? I really want to go.”“Sure,” I replied. “Tell me about your trip.”Normally when I’m asked about these things, I talk a little bit about my travel guides…
-
Subtraction.com
-
Recursive Drawing
14 May 2012 | 1:07 pmThis made the rounds last week but it’s worth playing with — or at least watching the video. It’s a novel and quite startling concept in object-oriented drawing that’s fascinating to see in action. Via Chunk Anderson. To follow me on Twitter click here. -
When Letraset Was King
9 May 2012 | 12:50 pmA look at two 1970s-era catalogs from Letraset Ltd. To follow me on Twitter click here. -
Stijn Debrouwere on Journalism
9 May 2012 | 7:44 amA sobering diagnosis of how extensive the crisis is for journalism as something people need in their lives. Stijn is a technologist working in journalism and has an apparently keen understanding of the situation that he expresses clearly and urgently. Full blog post here. Via Mike Davidson. To follow me on Twitter click here. -
Why Publishers Don’t Like Apps
8 May 2012 | 7:08 pmFrom MIT Technology Review, a summary of the publishing industry’s ill-fated dalliance with iPad apps, including first hand experiences. “And Technology Review? We sold 353 subscriptions through the iPad. We never discovered how to avoid the necessity of designing both landscape and portrait versions of the magazine for the app. We wasted US$124,000 on outsourced software development. We fought amongst ourselves, and people left the company. There was untold expense of spirit. I hated every moment of our experiment with apps, because it tried to impose something closed, old,… -
Tracking Airfare Prices
4 May 2012 | 8:48 amAir fares to Europe are up significantly this year, as I recently discovered when my girlfriend and I started planning a trip to France to see relatives. To try to get a sense of whether there were any deals to be had, I started manually checking prices every day and tracking them in a Google Docs spreadsheet. I did this for about two weeks. It was laborious, but it was fascinating in that it let me decrypt just a little bit of the arcane logic that goes into the fluctuation of ticket prices. There’s not a tremendous amount of pattern recognition that you can glean from a sample size as…
-
Ponoko - Blog
-
3D printed earbud adapter
16 May 2012 | 5:37 amMaking the not-so-ergonomic, ergonomic again… Apple is usually revered as an shining example in the design world. There is the ocassional exception, however. They seem unwilling to design a mouse that takes into account biomechanics and ergonomic factors of the human hand since at least the early 90’s. The iPod earbud style headphones are another instance – where Apple has a priority of designing a geometric neo-minimalist form, rather than ensuring comfort and performance. Cupped headphones are also much better at isolating your ears away from the ambient noise of the world. These… -
Modern Eco-spirit of Feistyelle
14 May 2012 | 7:58 pmRetail Ready: small business interview with a creative entrepreneurLeslie Yang is passionate about jewelry, eco-awareness and San Fancisco. Her jewelry line Feistyelle is yet another fantastic example that green design doesn’t have to be all brown rice and sandals, but can communicate a polished, modern aesthetic. A Ponoko regular for a number of years, Leslie was the first person to laser cut felt for jewelry. With that innovative approach to materials she has been evolving her ever-popular, wearable laser cut designs and regularly introducing new ideas. Getting Started • What made you… -
DIWire Bender
13 May 2012 | 9:38 pmCNC wire bender creates 2D and 3D forms The versatility of 3D printers is much lauded, and there are many reasons why we hold them in high regard. But what happens when you need to output lines in space rather than volumes? That’s where a CNC wire bender comes in handy. Usually found in factories and serious machinery setups, CNC wire benders tend to be out of reach for the DIY maker. Not any more. The guys over at Pensa have developed a handy little unit they call the DIWire Bender. This table-top device is a prototyping machine that can bend metal wire into 2D and 3D shapes. -
Laser cut nori – ’nuff said
13 May 2012 | 9:01 pmThe Laser Cutter Roundup — a weekly dose of laser-cut love: #77 Hey, Sam here,back collecting the post from The Laser Cutter. It’s been two weeks and it’s time for the big news: TLC has a Facebook page so you can submit you work to be featured through there! Maybe that wasn’t as exciting as I thought… Anyway, above is laser cut Nori from UMINO. Photo courtesy of Bored Panda. After the jump, a bike safe, another wedding invitation, and Melbourne Laser Cutter… Above is a laser cut steel bike safe from steelpipe1. Above is a laser cut wedding invitation from Julia… -
3D-printed mini lathe
11 May 2012 | 4:45 pmGetting some serious work out of your hobby 3D printer. It has been said that once you have a lathe you can make just about any other tool. This open-source printable mini lathe could be the perfect place to get started. With the quality of hobby printers increasing so rapidly, it is great to see complex mechanical models like this making their way out into the ecosystem. (We’ve seen a printed mini-lathe before, but that project seems to be obsolete now.) Posted in 3D Printing, Hardware, Open Source, Rich Decibels, Tools + Apps by Rich Decibels | 1 Comment
