Geeky Traveller

July 28th, 2005

Heading to Transylvania?

You never know when you’re going to run into the fanged undead. To defend yourself, pick up a Vampire Killing Kit on eBay:

Otherwise, what you have here is a vampire killing kit complete with stakes, a few crosses, a bible “USED TO READ THE GOSPEL OVER CHILDRENS HEADS AS A REMEDY AGAINST ATTACKS AND ALSO FOR EXORCISM

By admin -- 0 comments

July 22nd, 2005

Stick Your Shuffle to Your Forehead

Via Gizmodo
(and guest editor Regine
DeBatty), we find the iPop (no product
site per se, just some useless Flashy Flashness), yet another way for Apple
cultists to part with their money. The iPop adds a suction-cup bottom to your
iPod shuffle, enabling you to stick it on train windows, hotel headboards or
your travelling companions rock-hard buttocks.

Fortunately this won’t cost much of your monthly Apple tithe, as it only retails
for US $12.

By admin -- 0 comments

July 22nd, 2005

The C-64 Roadtrip

I know almost nothing about this wacky Flickr photo set (thanks, Rebekah). It features photos of a boy and his Commodore 64 as they travel around the US. As you can see, the lucky computer visits the Utah salt flats and Death Valley.

The boy in question is one Kevin Teague. He works at Canada’s Micheal Smiths Genome Sciences Centre as a web developer, so I’m guessing he qualifies as a geeky traveller.

By admin -- 0 comments

July 19th, 2005

Weather-Predicting Clothespin

I’m not really seeing the point on this one, and you can’t actually buy it, but this was too peculiar to pass up:

A central holder relays weather forecasts to the individual pins and latches them closed when wet weather is predicted. It’s always nice to see real science and engineering knowledge going into common products, and in this regard Oliver MacCarthy may now be crowned king.

So, what if your clothes are already out and it looks like rain? You can’t take them down? This is as absurd as my numbered socks.

By admin -- 0 comments

July 18th, 2005

Bizarre Cars a Plenty

This site rarely discusses cars because, well, I don’t like them. Still, we can’t ignore them as a great potential for geeky travelling.

Troy points to not one put two fancy, fancy Smart cars. The first is a convertible, doorless number, while the second is, charmingly, being driven in a rally.

Meanwhile, the Business 2.0 blog has higher aspirations. They point to a rocket car on eBay. Bidding’s currently at a cool US $20,100.00, so save your drahkmas.

By admin -- 0 comments

July 14th, 2005

Dam Big Glory Hole

Derek Miller found this super-cool alternative dam just above Napa Valley. Well, he didn’t actually find it, but he read about it somewhere, and we’re all better for it. The Monticello Dam has a peculiar feature, hilariously named the ‘glory hole’:

Monticello Dam holds back Putah Creek to form Lake Berryessa. Rather than having a spillway to the side as some dams do, Monticello has a glory hole set behind the dam into which water will spill rather than rise to a height where it would flow over the dam. Water from Lake Berryessa is discharged from the dam into the beginning of Putah Creek.

Nifty. Derek even thinks he’s found a satellite view from Google Maps, though you can’t see the hole.

By admin -- 1 comment

July 12th, 2005

Hurray for Bluetooth-Enabled Headphones

Though dull to the average geek, I’m pretty excited about these iPod-friendly, bluetooth-enabled headphones (thanks to Popgadget). I’m deeply tired of messing about with my current headphones, which inevitably tangle themselves whenever I’m not looking:

Logitech´s Wireless Headphones for iPod® use advanced Bluetooth™ frequency hopping technology for interference free, crystal clear audio. Digital wireless technology provides over 30 feet of range, and rechargeable batteries can play up to eight hours per charge.

They’re not earbuds, and they don’t come in black, but they’re still a welcome alternative to the earphone spaghetti. Here’s a very thorough mixed review from iLounge.

By admin -- 0 comments

July 7th, 2005

Wifi on Airplanes–It’s About Time

On July 19, Boeing is inviting a bunch of bloggers to show off their new Connexion by Boeing signature high-speed in-flight Internet service. From Steve at Blog Business Summit:

In addition to a sneak preview of new service features, attendees will have the opportunity to meet with members of the Connexion by Boeing team, hear about Connexion’s participation in the upcoming Blog Business Summit, and enjoy dinner. Connexion by Boeing has been involved in the Blog Business Summit since its inception, and is a platinum sponsor for the upcoming San Francisco conference.

Why didn’t they invite me? Check out my audience–it’s perfect! Regardless, I wonder what the pricing will be for this badboy. If they take the lead of hotels, expect to pay 14.4 zillion dollars per nautical mile.

By admin -- 0 comments

July 5th, 2005

How to Get Upgraded

I was recently upgraded to first class on a flight from Vancouver to Amsterdam. It’s the first time I’d experienced international first class travel and let me tell you (to borrow from the Red Hot Chili Peppers), it freakin’ rocks out with its cock out. If Heaven is like international first class, then bring on the reclining seats and stewardesses.

Via the always excellent GridSkipper, here are some tips from a stewardess on experiencing your own little slice of Nirvana:

Always be willing to move when asked. I know of a man who refused to move because he was seated on the aisle. What he didn’t realize was that the seat they were offering him was in first class.

At my current rate, I should get upgraded again some time around the age of 60.

Technorati Tags:
upgrade airlines airtravel geekytraveller tickets

By admin -- 0 comments

July 5th, 2005

Google Maps Walking Routes

Cartographic scale can be a surly temptress. Occasionally I’ll be foiled by a poor-quality map in a guidebook or brochure, and end up walking six kilometers to cover an inch of map. GPS-enabled geeks don’t have this problem, but we can’t all travel to Tuscany with a utility belt.

If you’re looking for a simpler solution, check out the latest Google Maps hack, gmapPedometer:

As a runner training for a marathon for the first time, I found myself wishing I had an easy way to know the exact distance a certain course is, without having to drag a GPS or pedometer around on my runs. Looking at Google Maps, and knowing there was a vibrant community of geeks hacking it, I knew there had to be a way. So here it is.

It’s a great hack, and works very smoothly. Here’s a route I commonly take to work in Vancouver. Here’s a route I used to walk to work when I lived in Dublin.

Feature requests for future versions of gmapPedometer: allow me to enter a beginning and end address and then let me draw the route in-between, provide distances in kilometers as well as miles and let me annotate points on my route (bonus points for geo-locating Flickr phtotos).

By admin -- 0 comments