Blog - foXnoMad

Post Highlights: [1/19]

by Anil Polat | Jan 19, 2008 | Discussion | 0

Make sure your next hotel isn??t on a list of places with known infestations. This Stormtrack thread has a detailed list, as does the Bed Bug Blog.

Flier Etiquette Tips

There are some basic rules that we can all follow to make the experience of being jammed in a metal cylinder with 100 other people for hours more enjoyable.

Protect Your Gadgets With the Invisible Shield

The Invisible Shield is a scratch protection film that was developed by US military to protect helicopter blades.

The Best iPod Touch (and iPhone) Hacks for Travelers

The iPod (any flavor) has become a travel essential for most of us. Since Apple introduced the iPod Touch (and the iPhone) travelers now have the potential for a much more versatile device by their sides.

The Best iPod Touch (and iPhone) Hacks For Travelers

by Anil Polat | Jan 18, 2008 | Tech | 8

The iPod (any flavor) has become a travel essential for most of us. Since Apple introduced the iPod Touch (and the iPhone) travelers now have the potential for a much more versatile device by their sides.

Although the iPod Touch comes with Safari, YouTube, and a calculator, you can add many more features such as Nintendo game emulators, Internet radios, and even use the device as a level. First you’ll need to get your iPod Touch (all of this works for the iPhone too) ready to be hacked. This is called “jailbreaking” and it’s easy to do. Here is a good tutorial or watch this helpful video. Keep in mind that you’ll need to be using version 1.1.1 of the iPod firmware. If you’re not, you’ll need to downgrade first (here’s how).

Once you’ve that all in order you’re ready to have the Swiss Army knife of gadgets to entertain and inform you on your next trip. Use the Installer icon now on your screen to install the following recommendations.

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Salad Dodger, Kipper, or Man Flu; Australians Vote For Their Favorite New Words of 2007

by Anil Polat | Jan 17, 2008 | Culture | 0

The Aussies are looking to pick their favorite new words of 2007 in a contest sponsored by the Macquarie Dictionary.

Manscaping: Male grooming procedures involving the removal of body hair.
Tanorexia: An obsessive desire to have tanned skin.

Many of these terms must be a down-under thing since I’ve never heard of them. You can find out what a salad dodger is and vote until January 31.

[photo by: aaardvaark]

Airplane Contrails Raise and Lower Temperatures In Heavy Flight Corridors

by Anil Polat | Jan 17, 2008 | Green | 0

Contrails, those wispy clouds that form when ice crystals condense on jet engine vapors have been shown to raise and lower temperatures over large cities.

It was learned that contrails lower daytime and raise nighttime temperatures slightly in high-traffic jet corridors. Lacking those clouds for a few days after Sept. 11, the spread between daily high and low temperatures increased by about 2 degrees Fahrenheit.

There has been controversy over the global impact that jets have on the Earth’s atmosphere. Some of the comments in Upgrade: Travel Better’s post on the subject questioned if 3 days of data could really be conclusive. Those of you who’ve calculated the carbon impact of a recent vacation will find that air travel is where most of your carbon tonnage comes from.

Reliable Snow Ski/Snowboard Destinations

by Anil Polat | Jan 16, 2008 | Culture | 2

Travel out to the Rockies to find reliable snow in the West (duh) or to lake-effect positions ski resorts in the East to find the white stuff.

The placement of the big Utah resorts ?? Snowbird, Alta, Deer Valley, Park City, The Canyons and Solitude ?? seems to increase the chances of them receiving good snow. In Colorado, several ski resorts such as Keystone, Winter Park and Breckenridge are situated at such high altitudes that quality natural snow can usually be found at just about any time during the season.

Family Travel [via Family Ski Resorts] recommends Cockaigne in New York and Grand Targhee in Wyoming for skiing with less frills. Out in the DC area? Try Wisp. You can get the snow statistics and average conditions on anywhere you decide to go with by making online ski/snowboard preparations.

[photo by: khuasi]

International Ski Resorts Close To Airports

by Anil Polat | Jan 16, 2008 | Culture | 0

Flying in for business or want to make good on that long layover? Jaunted has a map of ski resorts around the world that are within miles of a major airport.