Incredible Video: Discovery Launch Viewed from Passenger Flight
I’m not one to spend much time watching amateur videos on YouTube, but I stopped working to watch this video of Space Shuttle Discovery’s final launch — shot from a passenger aircraft flying near Kennedy Space Center — over and over for about 30 minutes. Don’t send me any complaints when you end up doing the same! I’ll let the video speak for itself.
Via geek.com.
Apple Launches MacBook Pros, Thunderbolt
Apple just announced a new line of MacBook Pro notebook computers, with three major improvements: incredibly fast processors, new graphics, and Intel’s brand-new Thunderbolt interface. What does that mean for you? Well, if you just bought a brand new MacBook Pro before today, you’re gonna want to jump in your car right now and return it to Apple.
Kept under wraps by Intel until just a few minutes ago, Thunderbolt technology enables you to connect a huge variety of devices — from high resolution displays to external hard drives — to a computer through a single port. Because up to six devices can be daisy-chained, one port is really all you need. Thunderbolt supports 10 Gbps of throughput, making it 20 times faster than USB 2.0, and twice as fast as USB 3.0 — a technology which has yet to become mainstream, and is less likely to now, after Thunderbolt’s release. According to Apple, “Thunderbolt allows you to access multiple streams of uncompressed HD video — from your notebook — at speeds that let you edit an HD feature film in real time.” That’s pretty incredible.
Apartment Rentals: An Affordable Alternative in Paris
Like New York City, hotel nights in Paris can range from $250 to $500, and up, so if you’re headed to the city with a family or small group, renting an apartment is likely to be the only affordable option. I just returned from a 4-night stay at an incredible 3 bed/2 bath, 1200 square foot penthouse apartment in the French capital’s 4th arrondissement (an ideal location for tourists) — and the entire stay cost less than a single night in a comparable hotel suite. With five beds and an inflatable mattress borrowed from a French friend, the apartment was able to sleep eight New Yorkers very comfortably (at a cost of under $50 per person, per night).
I found the apartment on VRBO.com (Vacation Rental by Owner), which I’ve also used to successfully book apartment rentals in Hong Kong and Athens in the past. The unit was on the fifth and sixth floors of an elevator building (though the elevator is only large enough to accommodate three people without luggage), included a large, open kitchen, dining and living room on the second floor, along with a private furnished rooftop terrace, with views of the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame (just a 10 minute walk), and Sacre Coeur. Advertised rates range from €300-350 for four people, depending on the season, but from my experience, rates can be negotiated significantly lower during the low season (non summer/holiday months).
Click “read more” for more photos and information about this apartment.
Israel: Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum
I spent nearly two weeks this month and last touring Israel, from the Golan Heights in the north to the Negev (desert) in the south. Over the next two weeks, I’m going to be sharing photos and stories from the trip. Click here for more information.
Even if you’re not a “museum person,” a trip to Yad Vashem — Israel’s Holocaust museum, located in Jerusalem — is a must. The museum was established in 1953, just a few years after the State of Israel declared its independence from Britain in 1948.
The museum recently underwent a significant expansion, so plan to spent at least two hours walking through the exhibits. If you visit with a group, you may even have an opportunity to meet with a Holocaust survivor — an opportunity that will likely soon disappear, as survivors continue to age.
Click the “read more” link for more photos.
They’re Here! Gummy Bear Earbuds
Take a seat, Apple In-Ear Headphones — it’s Gummy Bears all the way, today. About a month ago I wrote a somewhat-sarcastic post about Gummy Bear Earbuds, for the “From the Inbox” tech- or travel-related product series. Every day I receive literally dozens of emailed pitches about tech and travel products and services, and on a “slow news day,” I’m more than happy to choose a product at random to feature on the blog. Well, my sample of Gummy Bear earbuds arrived yesterday (or perhaps even a few weeks ago, since I haven’t been around to receive packages in quite a while), and I’m using them exclusively today.
First impressions:
- The “Gummy Bear Scent” definitely complements Aerosmith’s Love in An Elevator (I’m gearing up for Monday’s Aerosmith Roller Coaster ride at Disneyland Paris)
- They look better than they sound — even with some fine-tuning of the EQ settings in iTunes
- They’re not edible my teeth aren’t strong enough to decapitate the (R) bear — correction: they are in fact not edible … from the packaging: “This is not Candy. Do not eat!”
Israel: Golan Heights Winery and Kibbutz
I spent nearly two weeks this month and last touring Israel, from the Golan Heights in the north to the Negev (desert) in the south. Over the next two weeks, I’m going to be sharing photos and stories from the trip. Click here for more information.
Not far from the Galilee Region near the Syrian border, the Golan Heights has an average altitude of 3,300 feet. The area is a popular tourist destination, and is home to much of Israel’s agricultural production.
The area is also home to several kibbutzim — Israeli farms where many of the workers volunteer their time in exchange for room, board, and occasionally a small stipend. In the photo above, visitors observe a newborn calf at a Golan Heights kibbutz.
Click the “read more” link for more photos!
Northern Israel: Tzfat and Galilee
I spent nearly two weeks this month and last touring Israel, from the Golan Heights in the north to the Negev (desert) in the south. Over the next two weeks, I’m going to be sharing photos and stories from the trip. Click here for more information.
Today’s post focuses on the city of Tzfat and the Galilee region, both located in the North District of Israel near Syria and Lebanon. The photo above was taken at sunrise at the Sea of Galilee, in the town of Tiberias.
The town of Tsvat is the center of Jewish mysticism. But it’s also a typical Israeli town, with plenty of restaurants, Internet cafes, and nightlife. The town’s high elevation contributes to its seasonal climate, with warm summers and cool winters — it’s not unusual for the town to be blanketed in snow, on occasion.
Click the “read more” link for more photos from Tzfat and Galilee!
